Lisa Goodmurphy

Just a beautiful afternoon for a walk!! #bronteoakville #oakville #discoverontario #lakeontario #brontevillage #springvibes

March reading wrap-up: 14 books read (5 books I own, 5 ARCs, 4 library books)! You can find short reviews on the Books 2024 Highlight on my profile and full reviews on Goodreads. . What are you currently reading? . Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Fun, original mystery told in conversational style. . Here We Go Again 3.5⭐️- sapphic road trip rom-com about 2 women driving terminally ill mentor across the country. (Pub date: 4/2) . The Greek Escape ⭐️⭐️⭐️- British woman working for luxury concierge company in NYC, a mysterious hit and run, a trip to Greece and romance. . Bury the Lead ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- reporter in small cottage country town in Ontario investigates murder of leading man on stage at local theatre. . One Last Shot - ⭐️⭐️⭐️- second chance romance about a super model and a photographer in Cinque Terre. (Pub date: 5/7) . Anita de Monte Laughs Last ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- dual timeline about artist murdered in New York in 1985 and art history student at Brown in 1998. . My Beloved Life 3.5⭐️- one man’s story from birth in a small Indian village in 1935 to death in 2020. . Summers at the Saint ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Murder mystery/romance set at a posh resort off the Georgia coast. (Pub date: 5/7) . Rules of Civility 4.5⭐️- a year in the upper echelons of Manhattan society in 1938. . The Great Divide 3.5 ⭐️- story of ordinary people whose lives are impacted by construction of the Panama Canal. . Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade 3.5 ⭐️- (Pub Date: 4/30) NYPL librarian working in France to set up libraries as part of WWI relief efforts. . James 4.5 ⭐️- a retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s perspective. . Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice ⭐️⭐️⭐️- 4th in a murder series with Finlay and Vero travelling to Atlantic City. . Summer at the Santorini Bookshop ⭐️⭐️⭐️- Recently unemployed book scout travels to Santorini to help eccentric grandmother who bought a bookshop. (Pub date: 5/7)

I’m reading a book set on Santorini which has me reminiscing about the day we spent there on a Mediterranean cruise a few years ago. It was before I started using Instagram and I don’t think I have shared any photos from our visit here. Such a beautiful place but we were there in August and it was hot!! I would love to go back but maybe in May or October!! What do you think is the best time of year to visit the Greek islands?

May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home. . Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! 🍀 . 📸 Dromoland Castle

February reading wrap-up: 12 books read (5 books I own, 4 ARCs, 3 library books)! You can find short reviews on the Books 2024 Highlight on my profile and full reviews on Goodreads. . What are you currently reading? . A Game of Lies 3.5⭐️- Reality show contestant goes missing on a mountain in North Wales. (Pub date: 4/23) . A Conspiracy in Belgravia ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- second in Lady Sherlock mystery series. . Truth Telling ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Essays about Indigenous life in Canada. . The Women ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- historical fiction about young nurse serving during Vietnam War and her experience returning home. . Expiration Dates ⭐️⭐️⭐️- woman who always receives note telling her when relationships will end receives note with a name but no date. (Pub date: 03/19) . Family Family ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- famous actress/adoptive mother lands in hot water when she tells reporter her movie about adoption isn’t very good. . The Phoenix Crown ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- captivating historical novel set in San Francisco in days leading up to 1906 earthquake. . Women of Good Fortune ⭐️⭐️⭐️- A soon-to-be bride and two best friends plan to steal cash gifts at her high society Shanghai wedding. (Pub date: 3/5) . Fourteen Days ⭐️⭐️⭐️- 36 authors collaborate on novel about residents of Lower East Side tenement at start of COVID pandemic. . Here for the Drama ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- rom-com about a famous playwright’s assistant who travels to London with boss for summer to work on production of a play. . Moon of the Crusted Snow ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- dystopian novel set in an Anishinaabe community in Northern Ontario. . Becoming Madame Secretary ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - historical fiction about Frances Perkins who was first female Cabinet Secretary in US. (Pub date: 3/12)

Counting down to summer days at the lake…

If you’re visiting Banff, Alberta then take the time for a stroll around the Cascade Gardens - beautiful and free!

January Instagram January reading wrap-up: 14 books read (6 books I own, 5 ARCs, 3 library books)! You can find short reviews on the Books 2024 Highlight on my profile and full reviews on Goodreads. . What are you currently reading? . My Friends ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Libyan student attends London protest in 1984 and changes course of life. . Kilt Trip 3.5⭐️- cute romance with consultant arriving in Edinburgh to advise local company re guided tours. (Pub date: Mar 7) . The Gentleman’s Gambit 3.5⭐️- historical rom-com - final in 4 book series A League of Extraordinary Women. . The Sicilian Inheritance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- woman travels to Sicily to learn about inheritance and investigate whether great-grandmother was murdered. (Pub date: April 2) . The Forgotten Home Child ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- heartbreaking story of British Home Children sent to Canada in 1936 to work on farms as servants. . The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- female aviator taking part in Dole Air Race from California to Hawaii - 1927/1987 dual timeline. (pub date: Feb 6) . Trespasses ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Catholic teacher falls in love with married, Protestant lawyer twice her age at height of The Troubles in Belfast. . The Huntress 4.5 ⭐️- war reporter and former female Soviet bomber hunting Nazi murderess after WW2. . The Berlin Letters (pub date: Mar 5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- family divided by Berlin Wall in 1961. In 1989, CIA code breaker discovers father is alive in East Berlin. . The Book of Fire 3.5 ⭐️- the aftermath of a tragic forest fire that destroyed a village in Greece. . The London Bookshop Affair ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- young bookshop employee is drawn into world of Cold War espionage at time of Cuban Missile Crisis. . Miss Austen Investigates ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- cozy mystery with young Jane Austen as amateur sleuth. (pub date: Feb 27) . The Curse of Pietro Houdini ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- wartime adventure/coming of age/art heist with 14 year-old orphan rescued by Pietro Houdini. . Queens of London ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- story of a 10 year-old girl and 3 women (a police inspector, a salesgirl and the head of a female crime syndicate) in 1925 London.

I’m never a fan of January but this year has been bad! It hasn’t been cold but it has been so gloomy with no sunshine at all for most of the month. I’m so happy to have blue skies and sunshine again with February just around the corner - it should help my mood immensely!! How has January been for you?

A foggy day at Lake Louise, Alberta last June.

December reading: 17 books (9 books I own, 5 ARCs, 3 library books)! Short reviews on Books 2023 Highlights on my profile and full reviews on Goodreads. . What are you currently reading? . Arthur & Teddy Are Coming Out 2.5 ⭐️- 79 year-old man and grandson come out at same time. (Pub date: 1/4/24) . A December to Remember ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- half sisters reunited after father’s death plan winter solstice celebration in village. . Good Morning, Blake ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- memoir by young man with autism sharing challenges faced/how he overcame them. . Mrs. Porter Calling ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- 3rd in Emmy Lake series about magazine journalist in WW2 London. . The Frozen River 4.5 ⭐️- inspired by life of midwife in 18th century Maine. Murder mystery, rape trial and story of marriage/motherhood. . Christmas by Candlelight 3.5⭐️- lawyer & boyfriend stop in Yorkshire to visit university friends and are trapped by storm & power outage. . The Good Part ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- 26 year-old wishes she could skip to the good part of her life - wakes up married with 2 kids and no memory of past 16 years. . The Storm We Made 3.5 ⭐️- Malayan mother spies for Japanese. 10 years later in 1945 tries to protect family from brutal Japanese occupation. (Pub date: Jan 2/24) . Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop ⭐️⭐️⭐️- sequel to The Christmas Bookshop set in historic Edinburgh. . The Wildest Sun ⭐️⭐️⭐️- young woman leaves post-war Paris to find Ernest Hemingway who she believes is her father. . Wrapped with a Beau ⭐️⭐️⭐️- spicy grumpy/sunshine holiday romance. . The Getaway List ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- YA self-discovery/romance in NYC for summer. (Pub date: 1/23/24) . The Christmas Orphan’s Club ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4 young adults who always spend Christmas together in NYC. . Countdown to Christmas ⭐️⭐️⭐️- British mum travels to small town in Québec. . Prophet Song 4.5⭐️- woman tries to keep family safe in imagined Ireland descending into tyranny. . Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies ⭐️⭐️⭐️- book tour in Italy becomes real life murder mystery. (pub date 4/30/24) . The Murder After the Night Before ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- woman wakes up with hangover and strange man in her bed then discovers flatmate is dead. (Pub date: 6/11/24)

Cheers to 2023 and Happy 2024! Wishing you all the best in the new year!! 🥳 . 📸 Banff National Park

May your days be merry and bright! 🎶🎄

Reading wrap-up for November: 14 books read (5 books I own, 4 ARCs, 5 library books)! You can find short reviews on the Books 2023 Highlights on my profile and full reviews on Goodreads. . What are you currently reading? . The Exchange 2.5 ⭐️- sequel to the Firm taking place 15 years later. . The Wishing Bridge 3.5⭐️- holiday story about family and a mid-life romance set in Frankenmuth, Michigan. . The Porcelain Maker 3.5 ⭐️- dual timeline historical novel about Nazi views on art and a porcelain factory at Dachau. . Let Us Descend 3.5 ⭐️- a story of a teenage girl born into slavery in American South infused with magical realism/supernatural elements. . Held ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- poetic novel weaving together stories spanning decades - challenging read. (Pub date: Jan 30/24 in the US) . Hercule Poirot’s Silent Night 3.5 ⭐️- entertaining new mystery by Sophie Hannah set at Christmas time featuring Agatha Christie’s famous detective. . The Burnout ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- slow burn romance between two stressed out people taking an off-season break at a seaside resort. . It Happened One Christmas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- holiday rom-com producer tries to convince grumpy mayor of small town in Quebec to let her film a movie there. . The Other Mothers ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- a thriller about murder, class and motherhood set in London. (Pub date: Dec 5) . Sisters Under the Rising Sun ⭐️⭐️⭐️- Australian Army nurses and English/Dutch women and children held in Japanese POW camps in Indonesia in WWII. . A Winter in New York ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- young chef moves to New York and discovers that her late mother’s secret gelato recipe is the same as a family gelateria’s in Little Italy. . The Museum of Failures 3.5 ⭐️- a man originally from Bombay returns from the US planning to adopt a child and learns his mother has been hospitalized. . The Wake-Up Call 3.5 ⭐️- two employees at a hotel in England with financial problems trying to keep it afloat - enemies to lovers romance. . Hamnet ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- beautifully written fictionalized account of Shakespeare’s wife, the death of their son and how it affected his work.

Enjoying the holiday season in beautiful Niagara-on-the-Lake - a festive atmosphere and a little Christmas shopping followed by a show!