Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 16

The Undoing of Violet Claybourne by Emily Critchley - Book Review

Publication Date: 07th Nov 2024

Genre: Dark Historical Drama (plus a short contemporary track) 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: The second half is stronger; impactful 

1938, Old England 

Gillian Larkin doesn’t mind being unnoticed but it sure feels good to make friends with the new roommate at school. Violet Claybourne is lively, spirited, and an enigma. When she invites Gillian to her home, Thornleigh Hall, for Christmas, Gillian is overjoyed. She sees it as a chance to meet Violet’s older sisters, Emmi and Laura. 

However, her stay in their home changes her life in many ways. An accident on the extensive grounds brings forth some truths and betrayals. Gillian needs to make some decisions, that have long-lasting effects. What happened all those years ago? 

The story comes in Gillian’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I was curious when a book with the name Violet in the title chose to present the story from Gillian’s POV. However, soon, I realized why it was done. Gillian is the right narrator even if she is a pathetic friend.

The book begins in 1999 and quickly goes to 1938 where the majority of the events take place. There are a couple of time jumps afterward and complete the circle by ending the story in 1999. Having a single narrator for all of it works the best. No distractions or confusion. 

Initially, I thought I might like the narrator but in less than a few pages, I changed my opinion. There was a short scene that established her character and the next events solidified it. It was a little clue left for readers to guess. I like that! 

Despite seeing the others from one POV, we get a clear understanding of who they are. The characterization was great (even if I didn’t particularly like a certain move towards the end. Some people are inherently selfish and evil. There’s no need to create a reason to psychoanalyze their actions.)

It has quite a few themes like friendship, toxic relationships, selfishness, cowardliness, need for approval, class differences, etc. A few triggers too but nothing graphic. TWs are at the end but contain spoilers. 

The dark vibes were subtle but effective. The Hall and the estate added to the atmosphere and tension. In fact, the war backdrop kept the entire book in a sense of uncertainty. As we entered the second half, it felt like a key being tightened to its last point. 

However, the pacing in the first half was very slow. While it does set the stage and establish the characters, readers might feel bored or tired of anticipating the ‘incident’. Once it happened, the story picked up pace and sustained a steady momentum. I couldn’t stop reading after that. 

The writing was compelling. It was hard to not feel a jumble of emotions as the characters made decisions that showed their true colors. I wanted to hug poor Violet so many times! 

The ending made it a worthy read; satisfying in many ways. I did want a short epilogue from Violet’s POV. It would have been icing on the cake. 

To summarize, The Undoing of Violet Claybourne is a dark read with flawed yet well-etched characters. It will make you feel many things, so pick up the book when you want to think about the shadow side of human nature.  

Thank you, NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK (Zaffre), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheUndoingOfVioletClaybourne

***

TW: Death of a child (accident), alcoholism, OCD and possible ADHD, animal murder, sexual assault, infidelity (mentioned), and suicide (mentioned)

 

Grimm Curiosities by Sharon Lynn Fisher - Book Review

Publication Date: 05th Nov 2024

Genre: Gothic Historical Fiction, Romance, Paranormal 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: A pretty entertaining read 

1851, York 

Lizzy Grimm is struggling to save her family shop, Grimm Curiosities, afloat after her father’s demise and her mother’s ill health. 

One day in December, Antony Carlisle visits her shop, looking for help. Turns out, his younger sister suffers from the same affliction as Lizzy’s mother. They decide to work together to find the cause for it. With a stranger showing immense interest in certain rare books collected by Lizzy’s father, they are drawn into something darker and dangerous.

Can Lizzy and Antony find the answers to their questions and fight for their budding love? 

The story comes in Lizzy’s first-person POV with a few chapters from Antony’s (also in first-person) POV. 

My Thoughts: 

The book starts with a map and an author’s note explaining what certain names mean. This was helpful (ex: words ending with gate don’t have a gate but are something else). 

The beginning is a bit slow as it establishes the plot and the conflict. Slowly, it picks up pace as the drama intensifies. The book also deals a little about privilege, class differences, sexism, etc. 

The setting is quite atmospheric. The snowy and cold winter works well to create a sense of eeriness and melancholy, depending on the situation. The shop is easily my favorite part of the book. I would have loved to see more spookiness in there. 

Naturally, the book has many paranormal elements. The FMC knows about it, though she has a hard time correctly deciphering the clues. Can’t blame her much, though. She has a lot of pressure and practicalities to deal with. 

The MMC is a sweet guy (25yo); considerate and supportive but also tentative and not always assertive. This creates some drama in the love angle. Despite the ‘mystery’ this would be a romance book (clean stuff). 

The side characters aren’t fully developed but sometimes they shine better than the lead characters (especially Charlie and Isabel). Turns out one of them was based on a real-life person! In fact, quite a few elements in the book are taken from the real stuff. Read the note at the end to know the details. 

Despite the dark elements, the book would be categorized as a cozy read. It combines different lores and even has a Narnia touch. Some of it might go over the head if you aren’t into folklore and mythical creatures. 

The romance is understated and tentative. While I didn’t particularly feel it, the execution suited the characters. It aligns with their arcs, which is more important. There’s an epilogue and HEA. 

To summarize, Grimm Curiosities is an enjoyable read, combining folklore, paranormal, drama, and romance in a historical setting. It should be a good pick between intense books. 

Thank you, NetGalley and 47North, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #GrimmCuriosities

Murder in Verona by T.A. Williams - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries #9

Publication Date: 03rd Nov 2024

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/murderinverona

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/215966823-murder-in-verona

Genre: Cozy Mystery

3.7 Stars

One Liner: Fun!

Book Blurb:

A tragic accident?

When Italy’s greatest opera singer, Rodolfo Argento,is killed in a terrible car accident, the police initially ruled his death atragic accident or suicide. But his elderly mother, Violetta, believes this tobe poppycock! Her son was a brilliant driver and had too much to live for. Shesuspects foul play and turns to Private Investigator, Dan Armstrong to discoverthe truth.

A cheating spouse?

So Dan and Oscar travel to Verona, the city of Romeoand Juliet, to find out what really happened. There, Dan discovers Rodolfo’sprivate life could have come straight out of a Shakespeare play. Although nowhappily married, Rodolfo was a man with a reputation to rival Casanova, hispast strewn with heartbroken women. Could his death have been a star-crossedlover determined to get revenge?

A family feud?

Or does the truth lie much closer to home? With hislarge inheritance still to be settled, the motive for Rodolfo’s murder couldsimply be greed. As Dan searches for suspects while staying at the ArgentoOpera Academy (where people randomly launch into operatic arias) life for Danis complicated by the fact that Oscar has a habit of joining in with thesinging…

Can Dan solve the case before he and histone-deaf dog get thrown out?

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Dan’s first-person POV.

The ninth book in the series works as a standalone(and so do the previous books). However, you will enjoy it more if you read at leastone of the earlier books.

This time, Dan and Oscar, along with Anna, go toVerona to enjoy an opera show and solve a crime. Dan is not a fan of opera nordoes he know anything about it. Will he be a convert by the end of the book?

Oscar meets another black Lab, Elektra, and falls inlove. Of course, he still has his priorities right – food comes first; always!

The mystery is decent but doesn’t have the sametension as some of the previous ones. Of course, each case is different, so wecan’t really compare. This one is on the slower side with a lot of questioningand trying to find the clues (makes sense since the death occurred almost amonth prior).

However, it took me a while to guess the killer, sothat’s good. I was weighing my options when a certain detail made me wonder andconnect the dots.

As always, we get a tour of the region, though thistime, it’s not much. Dan spends his time on the case, so there isn’t much leftfor exploring. But… there is enough food and gelato to make you happy!

A few interesting themes are addressed using theplot and the characters. While there are quite a few suspects/ charactersinvolved, it is easy to track them. Some of them have strong personalities.

To summarize, Murder in Verona is anotherentertaining installment in the series and might appeal even more to opera fans(as it mentions quite a few leading singers and tracks).

Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and BoldwoodBooks, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion aboutthe book.

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – T.A. Williams

I've written all sorts: thrillers, historicalnovels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing romance andwhodunnits. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Lifeisn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we needto embrace it. Murder mystery is all very well, but it needs to put a smile onyour face, so that's why I like to inject some humour.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrevorWilliamsBooks/

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/TAWilliamsBooks

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/TAWilliamsNews

Bookbub Profile: @trevorwilliams3

***

This has been a stop on the #MurderInVerona blogtour by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources)Thanks for stopping by! 

Winterfrost Market by Jenny Sandiford - Book Review

Series: Tales of Midwinter Haven #1

Publication Date: 24th Oct 2024 

Genre: Cozy Fantasy Romance 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Sweet enough but needs more

The Winterfrost Market is famous for its Midwinter celebrations. Elsie, her sister, and their mother set up their cozy traveling tea house in the town. However, Elsie’s mom goes north to Midwinter Haven for some rare spices. The place is filled with fae, vampires, witches, elves, and other magical creatures, deemed dangerous by humans. When she doesn’t return, Elsie worries and decides to search for her. She hires a grumpy tracker to take her northward. 

Kit isn’t really a tracker but he sure knows his way to Midwinter Haven. However, he has his own reasons for letting Elsie accompany him. As a few secrets come out, Elsie and Kit may have to decide what they want, while trying to find more about her mother. 

The story comes in Elsie and Kit’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts: 

Well, cozy fantasies are a thing now, and the cover is adorable. Naturally, I had to grab this one. Though the stakes seem a bit high, the overall vibe is cozy and easy. 

The premise is great. We have intrigue, adventure, danger, royals, magic, and whatnot! However, there isn’t enough detail to make the setting come alive as it should. 

I appreciate the inclusion of a map at the beginning. It was helpful. But a map doesn’t negate the need for better world-building. While we get basic details, the writing relies on the assumption that readers would know what it means. This may not work for everyone. 

The dual POV certainly helps since we get both backstories in parallel. However, many elements are missing. It’s all surface-level, so there isn’t enough emotion to fully connect with the characters' feelings or to support their actions. 

The pacing is great. However, this is an advantage and disadvantage. The story flows fast, which keeps the tempo steady. Yet, we don’t have the time to immerse into the setting or empathize with the varied emotions the characters feel. 

Though the book is the first in the series and a standalone, it needed to be longer and more detailed. (It still is standalone but with missing elements).

It’s a bit of insta-love if we consider the timeline. Since the banter isn’t great, the ‘love’ aspect doesn’t really shine. The lack of steam (this is a clean romance) works in its favor.

The side characters are quite cool. I hope they’ll be more fleshed out (along with the world-building) in the coming books. Taking time with the descriptions and dialogues might be helpful. 

To summarize, Winterfrost Market is a decent and enjoyable read if you want something light and magical. It should be a good palate cleanser between heavy reads. Can pretty much finish the book in a single sitting. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Velikor Publishing, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #WinterfrostMarket

Death Comes at Christmas by Marie O'Regan - Book Review

Publication Date: 22nd Oct 2024

Genre: Mystery, Short Story Anthology (Multi-author)

3.7 Stars

One Liner: An eclectic collection

The book begins with an introduction by the editors.It helped adjust my expectations as I thought this would be a murder mystery.While the stories do have ‘death’ in some form, the approach is varied and leftto the author’s perspective. The settings are also varied – historical,contemporary, countryside, city, India, UK, Ireland, etc. Some stories arestronger than others, which is to be expected in an anthology.

As always, I rated each story individually withcomments written after reading the piece.

How to Commit Murder in a Bookshop by C.L. Taylor – 3.5 Stars

What happens during a Christmas party at abookstore? This is an interesting piece with a bit of chuckle and dry humor.The approach to murder is definitely different from what’s expected. A decentstart to the collection.

Christmas Yet To Come by Helen Fields –4 Stars

Set in 1898, the story deals with a pompous butclever businessman and his Christmas dinner. It is easy enough to guess theevents but the writing keeps you hooked.

What She Left Me by Tina Baker – 4 Stars

The protag arrives at her childhood home after hermother’s death before Christmas. There’s a lot of trauma and grief to process.However, there also seems to be something else she needs to do. A heavy storywhere death features prominently and a reveal that may or may not be resolved.Though this is not a mystery, I rate it high for the narration.

The Red Angel by Russ Thomas – 4 Stars

Gary and his girlfriend end up driving back home ina blizzard. Their arguments have soured things between them but the couple hasa major concern to deal with when they are stranded in the middle of nowhere.Presented in Gary’s third-person POV, the plot builds slowly and reaches thefinal high. Though it is easy to predict for the fans of this genre, thesetting is atmospheric and the narration gripping.

O Murder Night by J. T. Ellison – 3.5Stars

The Edge House has a history, one, Yeats, the newowner, wants to use it to raise funds for renovation. However, when tragedystrikes, the mystery may remain unsolved forever. This is historical fictionset in Ireland. It is atmospheric and dark.

Christmas Lights by David Bell – 3.5Stars

This is a painful read of what a parent goes throughwhen their kidnapped child doesn’t return for years. While it is not a mystery,it has death, so fits the anthology (according to the foreword).

(TW: kidnapped child)

The Midnight Mass Murderer by AlexandraBenedict – 4 Stars

Sean takes his aunt/ mom Edie to a small town tohelp solve a case. Edie is known for her puzzle-solving talent and helped manyinvestigations. Can she crack this one too? How will this Christmas end? Aproper murder mystery with clues, police, and some deaths. I’ll have to checkif the Edie is part of any series. Would love to read more books with her.

The Wrong Party by Claire McGowan – 4Stars

This is a short and funny dangerous story about aChristmas party and something that goes wrong. Not much detail or backstory butit is not necessary. The writing has a humorous note, which lightens up thestory and turns it into a semi-farce.

Upon a Midnight Clear by Tom Mead – 3Stars

This is a standalone mystery with the leaddetective, Joseph Spector, who has a mystery series to his name. The historicalsetting, the possibility of a ghost, and the Christmas party are well done.However, due to the word limit, I believe, the info dump at the end is toomuch. I’ll check out the series, though.

Last Christmas by Fiona Cummins – 3.5Stars

A widowed woman, her daughter, and teenygranddaughter go to their family’s favorite hotel for Christmas to follow thesame tradition. However, this one leads to interesting developments. A nicestory with a mellowed narration; suits the main character.

The Naughty List by Sam Carrington – 4Stars

Joseph Snow gets an email about being on the NaughtyList. Is it a prank, scam, or something sinister? This is more of a thrillerthan a cozy mystery. It sustains the suspense with enough tension and deliversa strong ending.

Indian Winter by Vaseem Khan – 4 Stars

A classic locked room mystery featuring InspectorPersis Wadia of the Malabar House series (I need to read it). How did thesixty-year-old Harriet die in a locked room? Who killed her, and why? Themystery is kept simple which works for the word count. The writing style is funto read.

Postmarked Murder by Susi Holliday – 3.5Stars

What happens when a Christmas card comes withsomething extra? Tilly knows what it is but she has some decisions to make.Well, I like the story and the tone, though I wanted a little more at the end.

Frostbite by Samantha Hayes – 4 Stars

Snow, isolated cabin, and a blood trial do make agood start for this genre. Ellen might just find something after all! Well!Another thriller-ish story with death during Christmas. The themes arepredictable but I like the ending.

A Deadly Gift by Angela Clarke – 4 Stars

A locked room mystery where Miriam has to solve thecase before she gets arrested. The progress is slow but steady with teeny bitsof chuckles thrown into the mix. And there’s a surprise too! Really enjoyedthis one.

Secret Santa by Liz Mistry – 4 Stars

What happens when Gary’s determination to not messup the Secret Santa gift brings more trouble? Told from Gary’s third-personPOV, we see a range of emotions and thoughts, leading to the finale. This readslike a semi-thriller. A good one.

Marley’s Ghost by Sarah Hilary – 4 Stars

Ninna and Kim go to visit her family for Christmas.It sure would be fun. Right? This is a twisty story but also straightforward.It rests on Ninna’s shoulders and Kim’s eyes. I like it.

Icarus by Belinda Bauer – 2 Stars

A super short story about a statue and toxicrelationships. This was too short to feel anything for anyone. Wonder why theyput this at the end.

To summarize, Death Comes at Christmas combines cozymystery, suspense, thriller, and slow-burn narratives to create a collection ofstories where a death occurs during Christmas. Not all of them have aresolution. Read no more than one or two per day to get the maximum enjoymentout of the book.

The rating averaged 3.69, a decent number for ananthology with as many stories. The author bios are provided at the end.

Thank you, Edelweiss+ and Titan Books, foreARC. 

Murder at the Foundling Hospital by Irina Shapiro - Book Review

Series: Tate and Bell Mystery #3

Publication Date: 21st Oct 2024

Genre: Historical Mystery 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: A good mystery 

1858

Nurse Gemma Tate is heartbroken to realize that one of her wards in the Foundling Hospital has been killed. Though she trusts Inspector Sebastian Bell to solve the case, Gemma knows there are things he might never find out. She is in a position to access the gossip and secret whispers since she works in the same place. 

As new clues emerge, Sebastian and Gemma realize there’s more to the case than a random murder. They need to find the truth soon or the victim may not get justice. 

The story comes in Sebastian and Gemma’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

The victim is a young girl (a teen). The official blurb makes it clear but I’m highlighting it again just to be sure. We do get a semi-detailed description as it is necessary for the plot. 

Finally, in book three, this becomes a Tate and Bell Mystery with Gemma playing a crucial part in the investigation. The book should work as a standalone. 

Since this is a dark mystery (still borderline cozy), the setting has a life of its own. The story takes place between Christmas and New Year; a handful of days, but filled with a lot of investigation. The cold weather, the rigid rules of the Foundling Hospital, the uncertain future of the children, and the bleakness of the murder make the plot atmospheric. 

The mystery is revealed in stages, with new information coming out, and most of it does not make sense for the characters since they have yet to connect the dots. Even I couldn’t guess until the characters almost did. The reveal did make sense in a way. 

Quite a few leads are pursued to solve the case, and these provide a glimpse into the lives of the unfortunate, the social conditions, and other aspects. Nothing preachy; just showcasing how things were back then. 

The ‘romance’ track doesn’t have any progress here due to the time span and the intensity of the case. However, the characters spend some time acknowledging their feelings (to themselves). 

The pacing is on the slower side, which cannot be helped. The book demands a steady-paced narrative to let the readers think and explore the details. 

There’s a development in the overarching plot which takes the story forward in a new direction. Without revealing spoilers, I’ll say that this could make Gemma play a more active role in future investigations. I’d like that (even if she tends to get dramatic and reckless at times).

To summarize, Murder at the Foundling Hospital is a worthy read for historical mystery fans. Set in Victorian London, it takes us into the dark corners of the city where danger is a constant companion. 

I found the blurb for the next one on Amazon and saw that this book has set the foundation for it. Excited to read it! 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #MurderAtTheFoundlingHospital

Murder of a Suffragette by Marty Wingate - Book Review

Series: London Ladies' Murder Club #4

Publication Date: 28th Oct 2024

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery 

4 Stars  

One Liner: Entertaining; with a little happy surprise! 

1922

Mabel Canning is the acting secretary of Lady Fellbridge and is organizing the suffragette meeting on the estate. Many women who had been in the movement attended the event. Everything seems well until Annie Hatkins, Lady Fellbridge’s best friend and a leading suffragette is murdered in her bed. 

As Mabel (with help from her beau Park and her friends, Cora and Skeff) starts to investigate the crime, she realizes the truth lies somewhere in the past during the peak of the suffragette movement. Can Mabel find out what happened and expose the killer before more lives are lost? 

The story comes in Mabel’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

The fourth book of the series should work as a standalone read but I’d recommend reading at least the previous book if not all. The story takes place in the FMC’s hometown (village) with local characters and her friends from the city. 

After reading a few books that have the suffragette background, I found that there was still more to learn about the movement. There are two types of protestors – Suffragettes and Suffragists. While the former was actively engaged in the movement (marches, protests, and even being jailed), the latter chose peaceful methods (lobbying, NGOs, etc.) to get what they wanted. Both worked for the same cause but in different ways. 

Lady Fellbridge’s estate is where the major events take place. The Hall has a history and the design is quite complicated. We do get enough to have a vague idea but I felt a rough map (the one mentioned in the story) would have helped. 

Inspector Tolly seems to have finally given up. Likely that he realized it’s easier to let Mabel do her sleuthing. It saves him work, after all! I’m glad that Constable Wardle (Hildy) gets a bigger role. Being a woman constable is not a small thing.

The mystery is actually good. It took me a while to figure out who the killer was. Though I still didn’t know the reason, but suspected a little (overactive imagination and all that). The reveal did make sense and tried up with the rest of the details. 

We finally get to meet Reg Canning and Mrs. Chandekar in this book. She is an absolute darling! (Apparently, her first name is Moti. So, Moti with a hard t sound would mean fat; Moti with a soft t sound, Mothi, would mean a pearl. I presume it’s the latter but I did wonder the first time I saw the name. Unfortunately, some people write Moti even for pearl, so that might have led to that spelling in the book.)

The surprise element is the little mischievous kid from the previous books. He is very much present in at least 30-40% of the book and brings a lot of smiles and chuckles. 

The way the book ended makes me wonder if this will be the last in the series. We are at the brink now. It could end and would make sense, or it could continue and offer more cases I’m okay with either, though I would like to read at least another three books to see how Mabel handles the new responsibilities. 

To summarize, Murder of a Suffragette is a steady-paced entertainer with some danger, mischief, and drama. It is a lighthearted read that tackles a few important topics. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #MurderOfASuffragette

A Little Place in Prague by Julie Caplin - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Romantic Escapes #12 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 23rd Oct 2024  

Purchase Link (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Place-Prague-swoon-worthy-must-read-ebook/dp/B0CW1F5HX8

Purchase Link (US):https://www.amazon.com/Little-Place-Prague-swoon-worthy-must-read-ebook/dp/B0CW1F5HX8

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209353069-a-little-place-in-prague

Genre: Contemporary Romance

4 Stars

One Liner: Heartwarming and a great virtual tour!

Book Blurb:

It's been years since Anna has seen Leo Knight. Andof all the apartments in all the cities in all the world, he just happens towalk into her cozy new attic home – as her new housemate.

As the two walk the cobbled streets of Prague,taking in the sights and sounds from Wenceslas Square, frosted with snow, tothe soft glow of candlelit Charles Bridge, the enchantment of the City of aHundred Spires soon starts to work its magic on them…

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Leo and Anna’s third-person POVs.

Firstly, kudos to whoever wrote the official blurbfor the book. It is short, sweet, and shares only the bare minimum details.That means, right from the beginning, we get a series of surprises unspoiled bya lengthy blurb. This makes a lot of difference in how we perceive thecharacters and their backstories. No presumptions or assumptions!

Since I mainly got the book to enjoy a virtual tourof Prague, I can say it delivers in that aspect. The city’s charming oldbuildings, the historical sites (and relevant snippets), the warmth of thelocals, etc., are beautifully presented. The writing is easy to read. It flowswell without being overly descriptive or dramatic.

Quite a few Czech words have been used but mainlyfor the food items (with descriptions) and common terms like please, thank you,cheers, etc! This adds to the local flavor and provides an immersive readingexperience.

I do wish the beer brewery track was given a bitmore space. While we get introduced to different types of beer, the learningand working part takes a back seat since the focus is mostly on the personaltrack.

We cannot immediately take sides here, though wewant to. I did naturally side with one character but could see the flaws aswell. The details are revealed in stages as the plot advances, thus keeping uswondering about the whats, whys, and what next.

Some of the side characters are adorable! A few ofthem are 2D, but they do what’s required of them. The sudden change of onecharacter didn’t really fit, but she was the only one available for that scene,I guess. (There are 5 characters whose names start with J. It seems authorJulie Caplin loves the letter J.)

The book was an almost 5-star read despite a fewniggles. However, an important aspect hadn’t been dealt the way I hoped itwould be. Let’s just say that internal acknowledgment is not enough. It had tobe said out loud, followed by an apology for being an idiot and wanting to getaway with it. This is too important for me to ignore. All I needed was atwo-line dialogue!

To summarize, A Little Place in Prague is almostlike an ode to the beautiful city with a heartwarming second-chances love storythrown into the mix. There’s an epilogue, but I would have loved an extendedepilogue as well.

Either way, I’m going to check out the previousbooks in the series. They have gorgeous covers!

Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and One MoreChapter (HarperCollins), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains myhonest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Julie Caplin

Julie Caplin, formerly a PR director, swanned aroundEurope for many years, taking top food and drink writers on press trips (junkets),sampling the gastronomic delights of various cities in Italy, France, Belgium,Spain, Copenhagen, and Switzerland. It was a tough job, but someone had to doit.

These trips have provided the inspiration andsettings for the highly successful Romantic Escapes series, which has hit thebest-seller charts in Italy, Germany, and the Czech Republic and has sold overtwo million copies worldwide.

The first book in the nine-strong series, The LittleCafé in Copenhagen, was shortlisted for a Romantic Novel of the Year Award.

Follow the Author:

Twitter/ X: @JulieCaplin

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JulieCaplinAuthor/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/juliecaplinauthor/

***

This has been a stop on the #ALittlePlaceInPragueblog tour by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources)Thanks for stopping by!

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni - Book Review

Series: Keera Duggan #2

Publication Date: 22nd Oct 2024 

Genre: Contemporary Courtroom Drama, Thriller 

4.5 Stars 

One Liner: Keera does it again! 

Seattle attorney Keera Duggan is back. This time, she is approached by her friend Jenna Bernstein, the CEO of a biotech company, accused of murdering her former partner and lover. This isn’t Jenna’s first touch with trouble. Keera’s father had handled a case for her three years ago and she knows just how manipulative Jenna can get.  

Still, Keera is determined to give a case a shot. As the investigation gets deeper, Keera must determine if her client is innocent or guilty. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Keera and Frank. 

My Thoughts: 

After reading the first book, I hoped it would be a series. Keera was too good to be limited to a single book. Imagine my delight when I saw this one! 

While the plot and the courtroom drama are not as intense as in the previous one, there’s enough to keep the reader hooked. That’s why I read the book on a Sunday and finished it in two back-to-back sittings. 

There are also fewer references to chess moves, which worked just fine for me since I don’t know the game. The courtroom scenes, especially in part two, were fab. They were not filled with tension but more like a waiting game to see what she planned. 

The book relies heavily on the FMC. Keers does a great job of carrying the plot. The opening scene followed by how she dealt with the afterward shows her character. There’s a touch of ruthlessness in her which is exactly what one needs to do the job right but within the boundaries of the law.

The family is less present but we get enough to remember how dysfunctional it is. Patsy also has a smaller role which allows the plot to move steadily without unwanted distractions. 

Frank Rossi is the second lead and a detective who gets the other half of the POV. Through him, we see the police procedural parts of the case. He is a reliable, stable, and rational narrator. While Frank and Keera don’t have many scenes together (they work on the opposite sides now), I like how there’s a lot of read-between-the-lines thing going on. The development is almost non-existent but I can see the foundation being laid. It will get interesting in the next books (can’t help it; I love a bit of romance as long as it is organic).

I could connect the dots and guess the way things would turn over sometime in the second half. That didn’t affect my reading experience. For me, knowing I read the clues right implies the author planned well and kept the readers informed instead of wanting to surprise them with a ‘twist’ or by hiding crucial information. 

Did I want a little more exploration of Jenna’s psychology? Yes! A bit more of cat-and-mouse games; yes! Still, no complaints about what I got. 

Also, I love this new trend of introducing new white characters as white. Keep doing it. 

To summarize, Beyond Reasonable Doubt is without doubt a solid continuation of the series and sets the tone for what’s come. I can’t wait to read book #3 and meet Keera (& Frank) again. 

There’s no author’s note in this ARC. Wonder why? The one in the previous book was lovely! 

Thank you, NetGalley, and Thomas & Mercer, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #BeyondReasonableDoubt

Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan - Book Review

Publication Date: 17th Oct 2024

Genre: YA Historical Fantasy, LGBT 

2.5 Stars 

One Liner: Will depend on how you like the FMC 

Cemmy’s life is always under threat. The only safe space for her is the In-Between, the Gray where neither the Council nor the Church can kill her. With her mother’s health failing, Cemmy becomes a thief. However, her latest project lands her and her friends in bigger trouble. 

Cemmy has to work with Chase (and others) to steal an ancient relic hidden by the Church. One wrong step could kill them and the path is filled with twists, landmines, and dead ends. Can she do it? 

The story comes in Cemmy’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

With a cover and premise like that, I couldn’t resist requesting the book knowing it is YA. Serves me right I suppose!

The author’s note is at the beginning, which I appreciate. It helped me understand the story to an extent. We also get a short list of the colors and their magic but a detailed list would have been helpful. This magic system is kinda complex without a reference. 

We know how important the beginning is for any book. This one has a great first page until the MC starts to talk to herself too often and provides too many details at once. The first two chapters were heavy, slow, and annoying. Instead of making me feel for Cemmy, I ended up being irritated by her. Easing some weight off these chapters should provide a smoother reading experience. 

Too much data about the magic system (especially when the initial chart isn’t enough) made it a laborious read in the first quarter. I was constantly pairing up colors to determine where the Hues fit and all that. I’m a go-with-the-flow kind of reader. Still, it wasn’t easy. 

The Council and Church part was a little easier. It is similar to religion vs. politicians, church vs. nonbelievers, etc., thingy. Think of something set in ancient Europe. That should give you an idea. 

Some of the side characters are cool. I like Novi; she is spunky, sassy, and a no-nonsense person. Eve and Ezzo are nice. The other girl is also nice. Though we are told there’s a found family trope, the dynamics aren’t really there. Also, lies, secrets, and repetitive wrong decisions are used to advance the plot. 

Chase, is well, supposed to be the hero. He tried. I have to admit that the poor guy tried to be the kind of hero readers would appreciate – morally gray with hidden secrets, a sad past, powerful, handsome, etc. I did like him okay. 

If you haven’t guessed by now, my issue is with the narrator and heroine, Cemmy. Thank god, her self-talk reduced considerably as the story progressed but it was too much in the beginning. I can see why it was necessary but, honestly, that girl cannot carry this plot on her whiny shoulders. Girl’s bi, so that’s the queer angle. For more than half the book, she has a thing for someone but suddenly feels attracted to the MMC. However, this ‘romance’ didn’t feel organic nor did they have much chemistry. 

There are dark elements here. Some of it can make you squeamish. That said, older teens should be able to read it. The ‘romance’ is not detailed either. 

There are a few plot holes, which raise some questions about the whole thing. I wish there was more detail about the world-building, the magic system, and the hierarchy in general. The ending is more HFN, which does align with the overall vibe. 

To summarize, Until We Shatter has an ambitious plot that rests on an angsty teenager and a group of ‘misfits’. You will like it better if you connect with the FMC. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton (Hodderscape), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #UntilWeShatter