Category Archives: Book Reviews

Ready or Not by Cara Bastone

16 Tuesday Apr 2024

Posted by in Authors, Book Reviews, Bookmarks, Books Read in 2024, Cara Bastone, romance

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Book Edition from BOTM – https://www.bookofthemonth.com/all-hardcovers/ready-or-not-2062

“If we wait until we re ready, we will be waiting for the rest of our lives.”, Cara Bastone. This sentence hit me hard. I know for a fact we postpone a lot of things in life for fear of not being ready. It applies to any kind of relationship. Also in most cases, it gets difficult for us to even assess or narrate what that means, but we go with the gut feel which is fueled by fear.

So i started the story with that intrigue. I was aware of the sudden pregnancy trope and also potential neglect and slight depression. But overall this was a very positive read for me. It was definitely slow burn. I like more action and things going fast. Always love banter and enemy to lover tropes. This didn’t have any or should say, it was more of a close friend to lover storyline.

Bookmark image from Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/154462768-ready-or-not

List of characters that i remember (did cheat by reviewing the book ;-))

Eve Hatch – main protagonist, the heart of the story. She grows from being someone who has difficulty committing to something to someone who can lead things.

Derek – Eve’s ex 2 boy friends – ideally not significant … but i liked to point this out

Willa – Eve’s friend. I loved the way, how her character was established. She is like a rock 80% of the time, which is pretty rare. Kudos to the author for penning such great characters.

Shep – Willa’s brother – the other main character … love of Eve’s life once she realizes what is happening around her.

Nurse Louise – the nurse who supported Eve. I feel everyone has someone not related to always look upto … they always exist and get exposed to us at the critical juncture when we need the most. This makes me feel like there is a higher power who works in mysterious ways.

Corianne – Willa’s mom … also someone who is briefly involved with Dustin, Eve’s older brother

Isamu – Willa’s husband – nice supporting character … rock also needs support to exist … and Isamu seems to be that.

Ethan rise – baby daddy … shaky character at best, but difficult to also associate much negativity. He tries to do things best he could. It would have been a shock was him too. Even though he is not physically going through the pain.

Eleni – ethen’s girlfriend … a character whom we never meet but seems to be someone of interest.

heather – shep’s ex girlfriend. Liked this character too since knowingly she supported Shep. Such people don’t exist at all 😦

Malcolm and dalton – eve’s twin brothers … Great support for Eve

Dustin – eve’s oldest brother – Father figure

Some added minor characters like Jenny (Dal’s wife), Rosie (Dal’s daughter) and Izzy (Dustin’s daughter)

Overall this was a great read for me. It was definitely slow at times, but it gave the opportunity for Eve’s character to grow. Loved the chemistry among all the characters. This was more real, no one was an actual villain. They all played their part to bring Eve’s baby to this world.

My rating is 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sky in the deep by Adrienne Young

15 Monday Apr 2024

Posted by in Adrienne Young, Authors, Books Read in 2024, Fantasy

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I have been on a Young Adult kick this year and been consuming a lot of books by popular Authors. One among them is ‘Sky in the deep’. I have never read any viking story nor from Adrienne Young and thus was curious to get into the book. I was really not sure if I would like it or not, but was rather surprised.

The story is about how different clans have always been lead to believe that they need to maintain animosity without any consideration of the fact that blood is red in color irrespective of who bleeds.

Aska and Riki clans have been against each other since long. Their root of vengeance is more mythical in nature than actual cause. They have been fighting under the assumption that since their respective gods were at war and against each other, being their follower they should do their bidding. But they have missed to realize that they were not actually being asked to fight, but its more an assumption. That said, in battle there is always loss, once you loose your loved one, we want revenge and thus even though the fights started with no human reason, it continued under the pretext of love and loss.

Evelyn is the main protagonist of the story. She is a strong willed 17 year old who has been mourning the loss of her brother or so she assumed. During one of the yearly battles between the clans, she witnesses her dead brother fighting with their rival Riki clan and chooses to follow him and unravel the mystery. Little did she know that her life is about to turn 180 degree with a slight miss turn on her part.

She gets captured by Riki, but in due process understands that there does not need to be any bad blood between the two clans and that they need to learn to live in peace for the greater good. She also falls in love with Fiske, who saves her brother in the battle he was said to have died in.

The book is short in comparison to some of the other Young Adult ones but is to the point. The focus is on Evelyn and how she understands life and how she grooms herself to rise and be a leader. Liked the family dynamics between father, daughter and son. Irrespective of the clan, blood is blood and people will go to any lengths to support their own.

My rating is yet again 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Love of my Life by Rosie Walsh

15 Monday Apr 2024

Posted by in Books Read in 2024, Psychological Thriller, Rosie Walsh

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This is not a typical thriller i was hoping and also my first Rosie Walsh book. The protagonist’s Emma and Leo are portrayed to have a healthy long relationship amidst the health issues that Emma has been through. The family dynamics and the ‘assumed’ trust was established well.

As the story progressed, clarity was brought into the mystery surrounding Emma. Emma and Leo’s ‘assumed’ trust and transparency was questioned.

Emma is a marine biologist and Leo is an obituary writer.

Leo being an adopted child, irrespective of being in a lovely family had issues handling the truth about this birth. Emma even though has had mental issues (revealed later) in the past was trying to handle the situation as best as she could. One common denominator that seemed to have kept the story going was the underlying love Emma and Leo shared. Their relationship was put through the test of times, but they seem to come of it in flying colors.

The idea of transparency between a couple is expected, but not always feasible. Most of the time in a relationship, we tend to hope or want to see the other person as the extended self. In some situations we may be lucky to have that but in some cases, situations don’t allow such intimate sharing. Maintaining secrets don’t mean, we are betraying the other person or loving them any less. Maybe we are just trying to avoid conflict and extend the pleasantness in the household.

No two individual with different pasts could perceive the situation the same way. Is that not why we normally say opposites attract?

Other supporting characters all came in very good.

Overall this was a good read, but found it slow in some places … definitely the mystery and how it untangled itself made sense. Loved how the story ended.

Would rate this 5/5. Love always wins at the end.

The Heiress Gets A Duke by Harper St. George

12 Saturday Feb 2022

Posted by in Authors, Books Read in 2021, Genre, Harper St. George, Historical Romance

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The story revolves around a wealthy American family attempting to make a place in the traditional hierarchy of the English culture.

Crenshaw’s come to England to visit friends and explore business opportunities, but find themselves in a situation where the Duke of Rothschild proposes to marry their daughter. August and Violet are the 2 Crenshaw sisters. This story revolves around August.

August Crenshaw’s character is portrayed as a forward thinking women, with a mind of her own. She is smart, involves herself in the family business and displays a keen sense of the finances. Her opinion is valued both by her father and brother. She is of the opinion to marry for love (as most women her age) and wants to make her place in the world of men before she can settle down with family. She despises the fact the her friend Camille Bridwell had to marry an older gentleman just to join the ranks of English society thereby making way for her family business to expand. August thought that their fate would not follow such an example until her belief was crushed by her parents.

She originally attempts to save her sister Violet who is portrayed to be an embodiment of beauty and serenity with the essential qualities of a duchess but gets trapped instead. But to her advantage, the Duke in question is neither aged nor with poor character. Though she likes the thought of the union, she fears losing her blue color position which has been her sole focus until now. Due to circumstances, she makes a deal with Evan with whom she has shared multiple kisses, and it ends up to her advantage.

Evan Rothschild unlike most English gentlemen, with 2 sisters, looks at women with a different perspective. He wants to marry for love too but decides to settle due to the dire situation of his dukedom. He is portrayed as being close to family, and a loving person. He is willing to go to any extent to support his family. But in the end, his union with August becomes less of a critical financial need but more of a preferred love match.

Book is dual perspective, where we understand the story both from August and Evan’s perspective, but my thoughts are more focused on August because of the limited amount of privileges women had. The era portrayed considered women as a commodity with no rights, more like an accessory.

Though not all men think that way, legally women had limited to no holding then. Such situations are not limited to the English society and in some cases, this situation is still prevalent in varied cultures.

I hope to see a day when gender/ race/ culture/ color, etc., don’t hold prejudice in our minds and we more or less see people for what they are than the external appearances.

My rating is still 5/5.

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

03 Sunday Jan 2021

Posted by in Authors, Books Read in 2020, Lily King, Literary Fiction

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Protagonists: Casey Peabody, friend from restaurant, book writer friend, romantic interests, brother, brother’s friend, father and mother

Casey recently lost her mother and thus was having a very difficult time focussing on the things that needs to. She was grieving and was not very successful with her coping mechanisms.

She meets a couple of men and get involved romantically in a way, though the reason for each is different.

The book focusses on how she makes the choices and how things finally align resulting in positive outcomes.

For a lot of people, Casey is unstable, amoral since she can entertain the idea of dating multiple people simultaneously. But reading the story, the background paints a vivid picture of how lost she is and how incapable of making a decision she is in at that precise juncture. She doesn’t claim physical intimacy or utter any proclamation. She enjoys both her companions but at a different levels. She doesn’t expect any favors from either.

Dating the author with kids was more towards having a family. She is more comfortable with the kids than the author of interest. Through several anecdotes, she realizes that he is self obsessed, hung over with his ex and also very controlling. That helps her understand what she wants. The other person, seems to share a lot of background similar to her including the grieving part. But since he is also trying to get his balance in life, it brings in more uncertainty than happiness.

The book was a little complex for me to read, but it grew on me and definitely ended with a positive note.

With my book of the month subscription, I have been slowly venturing into genres/ books I would have never tried and am enjoying everything very much.

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

26 Wednesday Feb 2020

Posted by in Abi Daré, Books Read in 2020, Contemporary Fiction

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Rating – 5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am not a big fan of reading books that are sad. I did pick this book with a pinch of salt and was hesitant on how Adhunni couldn’t control much around her right from her marriage to how she lands up working for Big Madam. But after reading the book I learnt or realized a few things

– Not all situations can be controlled but they can be managed to our advantage.
– Also we can tune our mind to always extract positives
– There is also a good in tomorrow –> loved this
– Speaking your mind will lead to bitter situations but conscience will be clear
– Be sure to hang on the right people, support and stand true to your words.
– Being women and maintaining position is not easy but “where there is will, there is a way”

Each and every character in this book is memorable right from her mother, Kayus, Iya, Khadija, Etanus, Tia, Abu, Rebecca and the chef. There are some characters I would like to forget like her father, Morufu, Kofi, Big Madam and Big Daddy.

After reading through Adhunni’s journey from Ikati village to Logos and how she will able to pursue her dream, I was happy how the story ended, but feel incomplete. I wish the author comes up with a sequel? It would be nice to know

– how Adhunni’s louding voice is put to use. Especially the struggles she undergoes to bring women out of the kitchen in Ikati.
– If she ever got her money from Mr. Kofi (slave trader)
– If she ever faced her father or morufu again and especially how Khadiya’s kids faired.

Maybe the author left everything else to our imagination. Given the willpower and intent of Adhunni, path is well paved for her success through the rest of her life.

Oasis by Katya de Becerra

28 Tuesday Jan 2020

Posted by in Books Read in 2020, Katya de Becerra, Science Fiction

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Rating 5/5

Oasis is a blend of Science Fiction, Thriller and Archeology. The story revolves around 6 teens or young adults and how they survive under mysterious circumstances.

The author has done a very good job of describing all the events leading up to their ultimate move.

Alif (main protagonist) takes her friends to spend the summer at a dig site in Dubai which is managed by her Archeologist father. Her parents have been estranged for a while. She live with her dad in Melbourne and Her mother in UK pursuing her career. She thought she had made peace with that situation until her deepest desire is brought forward and made into a reality upon her encounter with the Oasis.

Tommy is an assistant to her father and also her long time crush. Since he always adorns a serious focussed stature,  she kept her urges to move forward within limits. He is also a much favored assistant by her father with him being orphaned.

On their way to the dig site, they hear rumors of the place being haunted due to a meteor crash some time ago, but the story around it was not very convincing to be accepted as truth. But on their first day, they encounter something weird. A french tourist who was supposed to be lost at least a couple of years ago in the desert, wanders to their site cabin in a dehydrated state. He also communicates something bizzare to Alif which adds fuel to her curiosity

Following that event on the same night, they hear an approaching sandstorm, Alif hearing her being summoned by someone resembling her father rushes out and navigates with greater difficulty. Even her friends along with Tommy follow her so as not to lose her out in such bad weather. But little did they know that all of them will get thrown so far far from their campsite that it will leave him in despair.

Amidst the hot desert, out of nowhere they spot an oasis which seem like an answer to their prayers but with ulterior motives. They are sense something watching their every move in the desert, but chose to not pay head and focus on filling their stomach with fruits and water. Alif refers to the being as Queen of Giants based on her dreams. After a day or 2 in the oasis, all of them are messed up in some way. They start doubting each other and develop mild animosity. They also frequently trance out making them support the desires of the sentient being hosting them at the oasis.

All their inner demons are brought to surface along with fulfillments of their most inner desire which makes them feel in support of their reactions. But for Minh and a little of Luke, no one else realize that they are being manipulated and that the being is feeding on their emotions and desires.

They also get to glimpse a version of reality where all their desires are fulfilled and their yearning to relish and enjoy it growing more leading them to approve of the symbiotic relationship as required by the alien being.

The selfish nature of people is described beautifully when each person accepts to do anything and go to any lengths for their desire to be fulfilled.

Wonderful story and definitely in my list of re-reads.

 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

23 Thursday Jan 2020

Posted by in Authors, Book Reviews, Books Read in 2020, Erin Morgenstern, Science Fiction

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Rating – 5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Not sure if I was in a slump or wanted the book to not end, I took a long time to finish this book. But it was well worth it. I definitely finished the last 150 pages in one sitting while slowly enjoying the first few 100 pages.

All the characters in this book are very well established and their part is also clearly articulated. There was not a single dull moment in the book. Celia and Marco’s love for each other was more pure and fated and it was portrayed in the most beautiful way possible.

Magic in this book felt real to me. The descriptions about what both Celia and Marco could do were remarkable. Isobel’s intervention though not very evident resulted in the attack of the clockmaker when removed. Protection spells and mind spells and what not …

Kudos to this author for doing such a wonderful job. Language was definitely flowery

I liked the ending especially how positive it was and how all the threads came together perfectly.