Liz's Updates en-US Sun, 04 May 2025 22:08:54 -0700 60 Liz's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg GiveawayRequest709076878 Sun, 04 May 2025 22:08:54 -0700 <![CDATA[<a href="/user/show/72908600-liz-mannegren">Liz Mannegren</a> entered a giveaway]]> /giveaway/show/405317-blonde-dust Blonde Dust by Tatiana de Rosnay
20 copies available, ends on May 31, 2025
Enter to win ]]> GiveawayRequest709076819 Sun, 04 May 2025 22:08:34 -0700 <![CDATA[<a href="/user/show/72908600-liz-mannegren">Liz Mannegren</a> entered a giveaway]]> /giveaway/show/412080-the-unraveling-of-julia The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline
25 copies available, ends on May 30, 2025
Enter to win ]]> Review7288410171 Sat, 03 May 2025 10:57:45 -0700 <![CDATA[Liz added 'The Last Secret Agent: My Life as a Spy Behind Nazi Lines']]> /review/show/7288410171 The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour Liz gave 5 stars to The Last Secret Agent: My Life as a Spy Behind Nazi Lines (Hardcover) by Pippa Latour
From 1941 to 1944, four hundred and seventy SOE agents were sent to France to participate in clandestine work such as sabotage, espionage, and reconnaissance. Approximately forty of those agents were female, one of whom was Pippa Latour. Having kept her WWII work a secret for decades, this memoir explores the untold story of Pippa's time as an undercover agent.

The Last Secret Agent explores Pippa's life from birth through to the end of the Second World War, and what a life she led!. Pippa had quite a unique upbringing, and her early years were full of change and loss. However, many of the skills she learned prepared her for what was to come later. While I was expecting a war memoir, I found myself thoroughly captivated by the entirety of Pippa's unusual but fascinating life.

This book was co-written by journalist Jude Dobson, and I really appreciated the writing style. The book felt well-researched without losing Pippa's voice and the memories that she had of specific events. I loved that she wasn't afraid to tell her version of events, correcting facts or information that she'd read online or in other agents' accounts. While it's clear that there were some lapses in her memory (she hadn't spoken of these events for decades), she freely admits those, and any gaps were expertly filled in with research by Dobson.

I love memoirs, particularly of women breaking boundaries and living ordinary lives in extraordinary ways, and Pippa is a great example of an inspirational woman who stepped up and did what needed to be done. Her account is one of courage and honesty, highlighting the work she accomplished while honouring her fellow female SOE agents who didn't make it home.

If you enjoy memoirs about incredible lives lived, this is definitely one to add to your shelf. Thanks to the publisher for my gifted, advance copy! ]]> Review7521202990 Sat, 26 Apr 2025 15:08:03 -0700 <![CDATA[Liz added 'The Potting Shed Murder']]> /review/show/7521202990 The Potting Shed Murder by Paula Sutton Liz gave 4 stars to The Potting Shed Murder (Hardcover) by Paula Sutton
In my opinion, when it comes to cozy mysteries, there is no setting better suited than that of an English village in the countryside. In the first of a new series by Paula Sutton, The Potting Shed Murder gives us all the quintessential elements of the genre with a curious amateur detective, a cast of quirky suspects and side characters, and a delicious small-town setting as backdrop for the murder.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery. While the story is primarily told from Daphne's perspective, we get multiple points of view from various suspects and community members -- and this all flowed smoothly, adding to the reveals and slow-building tension of the story.

The writing style is quite description-heavy and occasionally leans toward run-on sentences (particularly in the first few chapters). Initially, this made it a little more challenging to fully immerse myself in the story. However, once I got into it, this cozy, conversational vibe lent itself well to the charm of this quaint English-village setting, and I really enjoyed the writing as a whole.

The Potting Shed Murder is a slower, leisurely read. The setting is an absolute gem, and the author does an excellent job of capturing the charm of this village, complete with the hierarchies and drama within. While certain aspects of the plot were a little predictable, I always enjoy the final reveals to see if my deductions were correct. There were a lot of fantastic characters here, and I look forward to getting to know the inhabitants of Pudding Corner (such a delightful name for a setting!) further in future stories.

Thanks to the publisher for my gifted advance copy! ]]> Review7518375971 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 12:51:17 -0700 <![CDATA[Liz added 'The Great Dinosaur Sleepover']]> /review/show/7518375971 The Great Dinosaur Sleepover by Linda Bailey Liz gave 5 stars to The Great Dinosaur Sleepover (Hardcover) by Linda Bailey
You really can't go wrong with a book about dinosaurs -- especially when all our Jurassic favourites show up for a party! This is a sweet story with lovely, large illustrations, and was a particularly fun read for my four and six-year-olds.

We're a bit dinosaur-obsessed in this household, so this book has quickly become a go-to re-read!

The four-year-old's review:
"It was good! I liked trying to find the T-Rex. Can you read it to me again now?"

Thanks to the publisher for our gifted copy! ]]> Review7481874054 Fri, 11 Apr 2025 22:16:31 -0700 <![CDATA[Liz added 'Detective Aunty']]> /review/show/7481874054 Detective Aunty by Uzma Jalaluddin Liz gave 4 stars to Detective Aunty (Kausar Khan Investigates, #1) by Uzma Jalaluddin
When Kausar Khan's daughter Sana calls to say she's been arrested for murder, Kausar packs her bags and heads to Toronto for the first time in years. A widow with a keen eye for observation and sharp intuition skills, Kausar is determined to help her daughter by doing more than just caring for her granddaughters and taking care of the household duties -- she's going to catch the real killer and prove her daughter's innocence.

Detective Aunty is a delightful cozy mystery set in Toronto, featuring an amateur detective in her mid-fifties and a vibrant South Asian Canadian and Muslim community. This story is full of family dynamics, mystery, humour, and a whole lot of heart. It's a modern cozy mystery with a lead character who is unique, well-rounded, and absolutely steals the show.

I love that we're getting to see more middle-aged characters play lead roles in cozy mysteries, and Kausar's character was a joy to follow along with here. A recent widow, Kausar has experienced her share of grief throughout her life, and that has impacted her relationship with her daughter, Sana, and her other family members. We see those family dynamics come into play within the story, and I thought that added to the complexity of an otherwise light and cozy mystery. Kausar is intelligent and witty, full of life and grief, and not only is she actively attempting to solve a murder, but she's also navigating what she wants this "second act" of hers to look like.

There are a lot of characters in this book, each with secrets, and the mystery kept me guessing until the last moments. (Complete with the classic mystery trope of bringing all the suspects together for the final reveal!) Teenage characters, in particular, can be difficult to capture correctly, and I think the author did an excellent job creating Kausar's grandchildren and drawing out the emotions and responses they would have during this time.

Overall, this book kept me engaged throughout and captivated me with its characters and sense of community. While it may be a slower mystery, its focus is on the love of a mother and the strength of family and neighbourhood in times of hardship, all wrapped up into the wit and clever detecting of a woman redefining her life after loss.

This was my first read by Uzma Jalaluddin, but I will certainly be back for more! Thanks to the publisher for my gifted advance copy! ]]> ReadStatus9294391984 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:18:53 -0700 <![CDATA[Liz wants to read 'Famous Last Words']]> /review/show/7478610518 Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister Liz wants to read Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
]]> ReadStatus9294391680 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:18:48 -0700 <![CDATA[Liz wants to read 'The Stolen Queen']]> /review/show/7478610375 The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis Liz wants to read The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis
]]> ReadStatus9294391493 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:18:46 -0700 <![CDATA[Liz wants to read 'Kill for Me, Kill for You']]> /review/show/7478610265 Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh Liz wants to read Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh
]]> ReadStatus9294391178 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:18:41 -0700 <![CDATA[Liz wants to read 'The Dressmakers of London']]> /review/show/7478610097 The Dressmakers of London by Julia Kelly Liz wants to read The Dressmakers of London by Julia Kelly
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