Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin

A special thank you to the author for a copy of the book.

Zadie Anson, a pediatric cardiologies, and Emma Colley, a trauma surgeon, have been best friends for almost twenty. Having met in medical school, they have maintained their relationship through all life has thrown at them—their demanding careers, marriages, and children.

When a buried secret (related to a torrid affair with a chief resident) threatens their relationship, both women examine the difficult choices they made at the beginning of their careers. When it becomes evident that Emma knew more that she ever let on about the circumstances that nearly derailed both of their lives, Zadie starts to question if she really knows her friend at all.

I was thrilled to have won a signed copy from Kimmery. She is so lovely and included a hand-written note with the book.

Martin's debut is a medical drama that is a study in the complexities of relationships. The novel is narrated by both women, however, we also hear from Zadie in the past. Because of this, it becomes apparent that Emma is the one with something to hide. Someone died, and it is she who suffers immeasurable guilt. The basis of the novel is the unraveling of not only the secret, but the effect that it will have on their bond.

Zadie's story seems to centre more around her chaotic home life—she's the mother of four young children—whereas by contrast, Emma's chapters are consumed with the guilt she is harboring and the fear that she will be exposed. It is her story that gives the novel its contemporary feel.

There was enough medical jargon to make it authentic. Martin doesn't dumb anything down, instead she elevates her reader, but not enough so that readers are left confused, or worse, disinterested. There are some pretty vivid and graphic descriptions, but if you can stomach medical dramas on TV, you won't be phased.

Martin explores the sometimes delicate and obligatory aspect of a long-term relationship, especially those that are forged by women. Sometimes these relationships are tolerated, not unlike marriages, not only because of the time put in, but because of the shared secrets.

A solid debut. If you are a fan of Grey's Anatomy, I highly encourage you to pick up this book.

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KIMMERY MARTIN is still a practicing physician in addition to being an author. She is a lifelong literary nerd who enjoys reviewing books and interviewing authors. Her next book, The Antidote for Everything, will be published in February of 2020.

Martin resides in Charlotte, North Caroline with her husband and three children.

#HarperPresents: A Cozy Fall Evening with Authors Gilly Macmillan and Tarryn Fisher

Author promotional photos credit: HarperCollins Canada.  All other photos belong to Girl Well Read — do not use without written permission.

Toronto book lovers were invited to meet authors Gilly Macmillan (The Nanny) and Tarryn Fisher (The Wives) to hear about their new books. The event was moderated by Canadian bestselling author, Shari Lapena, and was followed by a candle making workshop.

Psychological thrillers

Tarryn starts with a "what if" question. "What would you do if your husband had more than one wife?" Her newest work is a modern day polygamy story that is the unravelling of one of the wives.

"I love women—how they work, view each other, how men affect them, and how women view other women. Women connect more to each other than men do to one another," Fisher said.

The Nanny is about a woman named Jo who unexpectedly lost her husband. Jo and her daughter, Ruby, return to England to live with her mother—Jo doesn't get along with her mother. She had a nanny growing up and she loved Hannah more than anything, even her mum.

Jo's mother behaves strangely after human remains are found on her estate property, and then someone claiming to be the nanny shows up after all this time. What does she want?

The story spans 2 generations of mother daughter relationships—Macmillan loves digging into family relationships.

On their writing process

Fisher is the author of nine novels. As mentioned, all of her books start with a "what if" question. She also finds inspiration in her own life including her mistakes.

Lapena asked if Tarryn was a "pantser" as in fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, or a "plotter" to which she replied that she was a pantser, but curious about a plotter and how they outline. It takes her about a year for the first draft and two months for the revisions.

Tarryn used to write with a boiling pot in the background. Now she writes using a rain machine.

Macmillan is the author of six novels. When asked about her writing process, she laughed and said that she constanstantly writes herself into corners. She also sets up too many stories and has to cut material. Gilly has been publishing a book a year, spending six or seven months on her first draft and then a few months revising.

To write, Gilly likes coffee, her dogs, and when her house is quiet.

What is your favourite part of being a writer?

"When you have good days," said Gilly. "Right stage of the book, and you have a handle on the characters."

Fisher likes the actual writing itself. "I have a baby so it's hard to write."

Before they were writers

Gilly was a housewife with three children. She has an art background and was teaching photography but wanted to see if she could write a book—she committed to a thousand words a day and her efforts turned into What She Knew.

Tarryn said that she has done every job "very poorly." She has been actively writing since the age of five. As a child, she send a letter to an editor. Fisher went to school for psychology (this is very evident in her 'Tuesdays with Tarryn' feature on Instagram). She was  fashion editor in Miami and used to write at work.

Suspense

Tarryn is drawn to dark things. She even interned at a mental hospital, to which Lapena quipped  "there would have been lots of good material there."

When asked where she gets her own intuitiveness from, Gilly said that she is nosey—she's fascinated by people and what motivates them. "You can see a lot of patterns," she said. And that you have to be careful bringing in real life into your stories.

Fisher on the other hand pulls everything in. Suspense just comes out in her writing, it unfolds. She loves villains and said that if she villainizes you, it's actually a compliment.

Gilly also looks at suspense from the perspective of the reader asking "would I turn the pages if I was reading it?"

Does it ever get easier?

"No, there is pressure to be better than the last," Tarryn said.

Gilly agreed and said that it gets harder.

Tarryn was approachable, warm, and has incredible style. She exudes confidence and I have to be honest, I was a wee bit star struck. And the PLNs were out in full force (way to represent Canada, ladies).

Gilly is so lovely! She's incredibly sweet and has such a kind way about her. I've had the pleasure of corresponding with her via Instagram and it was wonderful to finally meet in person! I was more than excited to meet her and was totally fangirling.

The Nanny

Seven-year-old Jocelyn Holt is devastated when Hannah, her beloved nanny, suddenly leaves and vanishes without a trace. This monumental loss in Jo's life haunts her to this day. She grew up bitter and distant from her parents, eventually leaving Lake Hall, the family's aristocratic residence.

Thirty years later, Jo confronts her complicated relationship with her mother when she is forced to return to Lake Hall after the death of her husband. To add to the sting, Jo's daughter, Ruby, seems to be enamoured with her grandmother, Lady Victoria Holt.

In an attempt at mother-daughter bonding, Jo takes Ruby on a boat ride because it was something she loved to do as a child. The pair make a grisly discovery of some human remains in the lake that is on the grounds of the estate. Jo begins to question her past and everything she thought she knew may not be as it once appeared.

An unexpected visitor comes calling and sends Jo into a tailspin. She is desperate to piece together the mystery of who her nanny really was, why she left Jo all those years ago, and what role her mother played in all of it. The only problem is she can't seem to trust her memories.

The Nanny is a diabolical tale that exposes the dark impulses and lengths people will go to not only protect themselves, but to hurt one another. Sometimes the truth hurts so much that you live the lie instead.

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GILLY MACMILLAN is the New York Times bestselling author of What She Knew (previously published as Burnt Paper Sky in some territories), The Perfect Girl, Odd Child Out, and I Know You Know.

Gilly is Edgar Award nominated and an ITW award finalist. Her books have been translated into over 20 languages.

She grew up in Swindon, Wiltshire and also lived in Northern California. She studied History of Art at Bristol University and the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.

Macmillan lives in Bristol, UK with her husband, three children and two dogs and writes full time. She’s currently working on her sixth novel.

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The Wives

Your husband has three wives and you are wife number two. You have never met the other women. Because of this arrangement, you see your husband only one day a week—you're the Thursday wife, the best wife. You convince yourself that this agreement works because you love him so much and he's worth it.

When you are doing his laundry, you find an appointment slip in his pocket for Hannah. She has to be one of the other wives. You can't help yourself, your curiosity gets the better of you and you manage to track her down. The two of you strike up a friendship, she is quite likeable even though she is young and naive.

Hannah shows up to one of your coffee dates with bruises and you know that these marks are because she is being abused by her husband—only he's your husband too. But he's never been violent with you, so why now? Do you even really know the man that you married? And who is his mysterious first wife?

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TARRYN FISHER is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nine novels.

Born a sun hater, she currently makes her home in Seattle, Washington with her children, husband, and psychotic husky.

Tarryn writes about villains.

Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey

A special thank you to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

MISSING CHILD

Name: Emma Townsend
Age: Five
Eyes: Grey
Hair: Brown

Missing since June.

Sarah Walker is a successful entrepreneur who is nursing a broken heart.

Emma Townsend is a lonely little girl living with her calculated and cruel mother and checked-out father.

Amy Townsend is an unfit mother, unhappy with her marriage and her life.

In a chance meeting, Sarah Walker sees Emma at the airport and she is completely captivated with the child. When another chance encounter happens, Sarah takes the child. Is it wrong to take something that is not wanted and that is also in danger?

Amy's whole life has been one disappointment after another. She is incredibly unhappy not only with her marriage, but with her life. Her relationship with her daughter is a constant reminder of her inability to feel any sort of connection to the child, but now Emma is missing.

Sarah and Emma grow closer each day and the child is flourishing , but what about her family?

Not Her Daughter is told from the perspective of both Amy and Sarah "Before," "During," "After," and "Now." Frey ratchets up the tension with strong pacing and complex characters. What is truly remarkable is how she positions the narrative—what if a crime is committed, but the victim of the crime is actually better off for it? Readers will find themselves identifying with Sarah, even though she is guilty, because of the justifications and positioning. This is no small feat and Frey pulls it off with her provocative narrative and impeccable writing.

Frey explores what exactly does it mean to be a mother. Do you have to give birth to a child to be a mother, and just because you have a child, does it actually make you a mother? Besides the theme of motherhood, love and sacrifice are also topics whose undercurrents are felt throughout the story. There is such depth to this subject matter, and this book is a perfect book club choice because of it.

What a solid debut! Absolutely stunning!

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REA FREY is an author (fiction and non-fiction), nutrition specialist, and International Sports Sciences Association certified trainer. She has been featured in Fitness, Ladies' Home Journal, and Whole Living.

Frey lives in Chicago, IL, with her husband and daughter.

Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

A special thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin/Berkley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Vivian's daughter, Maddie, has been given the opportunity of a lifetime when she is asked to style a member of the royal family and she's asked her mother to accompany her. Vivian is excited to take in the sights and spend Christmas in England, but what she never expected was to meet a dashing man who holds a very prominent position.

Malcolm Hudson is charming, formal, and has the loveliest English accent. He is also the longtime private secretary of Her Majesty—he doesn't usually share this part of his life, but he is utterly enchanted by Vivian and takes her on a private tour. Soon the two are exchanging flirty letters and kisses under the mistletoe.

They have mutually agreed that their romance must end on New Year's Day. With their time together winding down, Vivian and Malcolm maintain they are fine ending things...or are they?

This is the fourth instalment from Guillory's Wedding Date series and it is filled with festive touches, charming dialogue, and a budding romance. You do not need to read Guillory's other books (The Wedding Date, The Proposal, The Wedding Party) before reading this one—there are subtle references to other characters/storylines from her previous books, but there is nothing that would prevent the reader from not following what is going on in this story.

Royal Holiday is a little bit of a detour in this genre because it features characters that are more mature with age. The couple are navigating some unchartered territory—both have been single for years. This was refreshing and I think important to have this demographic represented. And can we just talk about the cameo from the Queen? Amazing!

What I love about Guillory is that she pens character that are interesting and engaging, yet are relatable. Her stories flow effortlessly and ooze charm. Jasmine's writing is charming, flirty, and clever. Like her other books, the premise is lighthearted, but smart and spirited.

Twinkling lights, festive food, a holiday romance, and the royals—what more could you ask for in a book? It was simply delightful!

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JASMINE GUILLORY is the New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Date, The Proposal, and The Wedding Party. Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, Oprah Magazine.com, and Shondaland.com.

She lives in Oakland, California.

A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier

A special thank you to Edelweiss and Viking for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Single Thread takes place in 1932. Violet Speedwell is a "surplus woman" after the Great War took both her beloved brother and fiancé. Yet she is struggling with the notion that her life will be spent caring for her grieving, resentful mother.

After saving enough money, Violet strikes out on her own and moves to Winchester, which is home to one of England's most impressive cathedrals. She gets a job as a typist and befriends the broderers —women who embroider kneelers for the Cathedral, a tradition that brings comfort to its worshipers. Many in the group are rebelling against society's rules in order to maintain any kind of happiness.

There are reports that there is another war on the horizon with the rise of the Naza party in Europe. Violet must continue to fight for her independence and craft a life for herself in a time and place where women aren't expected to thrive.

This is a story of love, friendship, and discovering one's identity.

I've been enamoured with Chevalier's work since Girl With a Pearl Earring. Recently I had the pleasure of reviewing New Boy which was part of the Hogarth Shakespeare project. She didn't shy away from the huge undertaking/responsibility of retelling Shakespeare's Othello—her compact version delivers a sucker punch and I encourage you to pick it up.

A Single Thread is both meticulous in detail and in the telling of the story. It is character-driven, so if you are the type of reader that is more interested in narratives that are plot-driven, than the pacing of this book may be too slow for you.

Chevalier's research is impeccable and meticulous. Although the real-life embroidery expert, Louisa Pesel, makes an appearance, Tracy focuses her attention on the thread of fictitious Violet Speedwell. She is an engaging character, but I was frustrated with, and didn't fully understand, her relationship with Arthur, especially after she went to such great lengths to assert her independence.

Where this book excels is in the finer writing that carefully details the art of embroidery and the history of the time period. Although this book isn't quite as memorable as her other works, Chevalier delivers a rich and authentic work of literary fiction with an interesting premise.

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TRACY CHEVALIER is a New York Times bestselling author of nine previous novels, including Girl with a Pearl Earring, which has been translated into thirty-nine languages and made into an Oscar-nominated film.

Chevalier was born and raised in Washington, DC, and now resides in London with her husband and son.

Twenty-one Truths About Love by Matthew Dicks

A special thank you to Edelweiss, NetGalley, Macmillan, and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Dan is an obsessive list maker—he tries to solve all of his problems by making lists.

This story unfolds entirely through Dan's lists where he uses them almost like journal entries in his hopes of saving his family, his bookstore, and ultimately himself.

I devoured this book in one sitting.

I'm not going to lie, at first I was disappointed when I discovered that the whole book was made up of lists, I mean...who wants to read lists? Well, when they are written by Matthew Dicks you do.

Dan is completely overwhelmed with life and is suffering from anxiety. It was suggested to him by his former therapist that he log his feelings—this is where the lists come in. And he pretty much records everything from the day-to-day mundane, to what is plaguing him.

Having left his career as a teacher to open a bookstore, Dan is feeling tremendous pressure to succeed. He has yet to turn a profit and this is causing him anxiety and guilt since he hasn't disclosed this information to his wife, Jill. Not only does she thinks that everything is going swimmingly, she's also basking in the glow of pregnancy—having a baby is another source of stress for Dan.

Jill was a widow when they met, and Dan has always felt competition with her dead husband, Peter. He feels like he can never measure up and is incredibly insecure where Peter is concerned because he wouldn't be married to Jill if Peter was still alive.

We learn so much about what it is like to be flawed and human through Dicks' unique book. This narrative style could have easily failed, but instead, readers will be utterly enchanted by the raw beauty of Twenty-on Truths About Love. It was moving, funny, and incredibly real.

MATTHEW DICKS is a writer and elementary school teacher whose novels have been translated into more than 25 languages worldwide.

Dicks lives in Newington, Connecticut, with his wife, Elysha, and their children, Clara and Charlie.

#HCCfrenzyPresents: Meet Brian Francis

Photo credit: Girl Well Read and HarperCollins Canada. Do not use without written permission.

The HCC Frenzy team hosted an event to celebrate the release of Brian Francis' new book, Break in Case of Emergency. We indulged in amazing fare and atmosphere at WVRST in beautiful downtown Toronto.

Brian was engaging, warm, and funny—he spoke at each table and readers were given an opportunity to hear about the book and ask questions.

This book is a bit of a departure for Francis in that it marks his YA debut. Although it didn't start out that way. He was originally writing an adult contemporary novel, about a female impersonator, but Francis realized that it wasn't working. He then brought in the character of the daughter, and framed the story as a dual narrative. However, after reading Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese, he was inspired to write a story about reconciliation, and then Toby took over the story as the narrator.

With Francis' signature wit, Break in Case of Emergency is a vulnerable story about a non-traditional father and daughter relationship, and a young girl reconciling with herself.

Break in Case of Emergency

Life hasn't always been easy for 15-year-old Toby. Her mother died by suicide five years ago, and her father is not in the picture having abandoned her mother when she was pregnant.

When the book opens, Toby is living on a dairy farm with her grandparents. Struggling to find any light in her world, she’s making plans to follow a similar route as her mother. But her plans are suddenly interrupted when she’s told that her estranged father is returning home. Oh, and that he’s gay, and a famous female impersonator.

BRIAN FRANCIS is the author of three novels: Fruit, Brian's first novel, was a 2009 Canada Reads finalist and is an Amazon and 49th Shelf “100 Canadian Books to Read in a Lifetime” title, Natural Order was a Best Book 2011 selection by the Toronto Star, Kobo, and Georgia Straight, and Break In Case of Emergency is his newest book and YA debut. Brian is also writer and columnist for The Next Chapter on CBC Radio.

Francis lives in Toronto.

Because You're Mine by Rea Frey

A special thank you to the author, Rea Frey, Edelweiss, Macmillan, and St. Martin's Griffin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lee is a single mother of a child with sensory processing disorder. She is highly protective of her son and spends her days making sure that Mason's routine is always adhered to so that his world stays on its axis. When her best friend, Grace, tempts her to go away for a girls' weekend in the mountains, her first instinct is to say no. But Grace won't let up and convinces her that she deserves time off, to recharge her batteries.

Noah is Mason's tutor—he's handsome, patient, charming, and is the first man that has sparked Lee's interest in what feels like forever. He has agreed to stay with Mason so that Lee can go on the getaway. It's only a weekend after all.

But a lot can happen in 48 hours and someone winds up dead.

Everything is not as it seems and it appears that everyone has a complicated past. Lee is hiding who Mason's father is, Grace has a secret that will destroy Lee, and there's more to Noah than meets the eye. The moral of this story: trust no one.

At the beginning of the book there is a note from Frey to her readers. She shares for the first time publicly about her own experience with sexual assault as well as addresses some very important issues that come up in the story—sexual abuse, alcoholism, and suicide. It is incredibly brave of her to share this personal account with her audience.

Because You're Mine opens with someone falling to their death. Frey uses this to frame her story, alternating between a week before the fall and a week after the fall, from past to present. She deftly weaves the narrative through the perspectives of three unreliable narrators: Lee, Grace, and Noah. Her characterization is so good, readers will find themselves switching loyalties more than once.

This novel is both a character study as well as a layered and plot-driven narrative. Frey also employs some diary entries which are a compelling and effective tool to ratchet up the suspense. Someone is really struggling with a number of issues and emotions.

Through complex characters and strong pacing, this book has it all—secrets, lies, murder, revenge, betrayal, obsession. Frey explores some pretty complex relationships: between mothers and their children, between friends, between siblings, and between men and women. The writing is taut and twisty, and that ending...whoa!

REA FREY is an author (fiction and non-fiction), nutrition specialist, and International Sports Sciences Association certified trainer. She has been featured in Fitness, Ladies' Home Journal, and Whole Living. Her debut novel, Not Her Daughter, was released in August of 2018 and has been optioned for film.

Frey lives in Chicago, IL, with her husband and daughter.

The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton

A special thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Waite Clayton's pre-World War II-era story is an emotional and harrowing depiction of the Kindertransports that carried thousands of children out of Nazi-occupied Europe, and of the one brave woman who helped them escape to safety.

The Last Train to London is an illumination of an unsung hero from an actual historical event. Tante Truss, as she is known, is a fierce and brave woman that constantly risks her life to save as many innocent children as she can.  

This story is a deep, slow burn with a lot of characters to keep track of and ultimately readers may find themselves disconnected. Written in short chapters and voiced by a number of characters, Waite Clayton frequently loses any momentum which is why the story doesn't gain traction until about two thirds of the way through. The narrators are not omniscient and because there are multiple viewpoints offered, there is a lot of context given to create the much bigger picture that is going on.

What is most moving is that this book is about the profoundness of kindness, and for standing up for what you believe in—for the good and for what's right. This is a timely message as the world needs more empathy, love, and goodness right now.

The Last Train to London is a beautifully written and captivating read.

MEG WAITE CLAYTON is a New York Times bestselling author of The Wednesday Daughters, The Four Ms. Bradwells, The Wednesday Sisters, and The Language of Light. Her books have been published in six languages.

Waite Clayton was born in Washington D.C. and now resides in Palo Alto, California with her family.

Permanent Record by Mary H. K. Choi

A special thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pablo is an NYU drop out and is now working the graveyard shift at his local bodega, selling overpriced goods to the posh neighbours. He's in over his head with debt, dogging credit collectors' phone calls and letters, and doesn't know how he's going to come up with his next rent payment.

During a snowstorm, at 5:00 a.m., pop sensation Leanna Smart wanders into the shop. At first Pablo doesn't recognize her, she is by herself with no entourage in sight. There is instant chemistry and soon the two are involved in an intense relationship that has to be kept on the down-low—Pablo puts everything on hold to be with Leanna.

But then the world finds out...

Permanent Record is a character study and comment on society's warped obsession with celebrity culture and social media. True to Choi, her characterization is the perfect combination of complex and endearing. Pablo is an interesting, layered, and dynamic character with an affinity for creating unique pairings of junk food. With Lee, we get a glimpse of celebrity—how the public obsesses over them, the relentless machine of the paparazzi, and how image is everything no matter how fake. And in this artificial world, Pab and Lee's relationship is real and actually quite beautiful.

New York City is so much more than the setting. It becomes a living, breathing character in this story. Choi's sweeping descriptions of the city capture the grit and beauty—even if you have never been to NYC, you can visualize it because of her writing.

Choi strikes the right balance of teenage angst and awkwardness against a beautiful love story. Readers will love this cast as well as this whirlwind affair. Congratulations, Mary, on another fab book!

MARY H. K. CHOI is a writer for The New York Times, GQ, Wired, and The Atlantic. She has written comics for Marvel and DC, as well as a collection of essays. Mary's debut novel Emergency Contact was a New York Times bestseller.

Choi grew up in Hong Kong and Texas and now lives in New York.