Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 2

Red Card by Maren Moore - Book Review

Series: Prescott University #1

Publication Date: 12th August 2025

Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Predictable fun 

When British rugby player Cillian “Kill” Cairney gets a permanent red card in London, there’s only one team that’ll take him, an Ivy League school in New Hampshire, even if the players don’t want him around. But he needs this chance to work, to set things right and take care of his younger sister. He has to earn the coach’s respect and impress Rory, the coach’s daughter who lives and breathes rugby. 

Rory grew up loving rugby. This made her an expert, and the team treats her like a bro. The problem is that every other guy also seems to think of her as a wing woman and a bro rather than someone they can date. After a flirting disaster, Rory comes up with an impulsively brilliant plan – Cillian will help her flirt and she’ll help him bond with the teammates. 

What could go wrong? 

The story comes in Rory and Cillian’s first-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

In a way, this is pretty predictable, but that’s not a surprise since most books in the genre are! It has a few flaws, too. On the whole, it’s a fun read if you don’t nit-pick. 

The dual POV is good as we get both their thoughts and see the story progress from their perspectives. Moreover, the voices are distinguishable, which makes it easier to read. 

Though this is a sports romance, it is basically a romance. Sports is there, but only to the extent of a bit of team tussle, mention of practices, and a couple of moves. This could go either way. I don’t mind since rugby is not my game. But if you want to know something useful about the game, you won’t find it here. 

This is a new adult romance, and surprise, surprise, one of those rare books that worked for me to an extent, probably coz it’s pretty lighthearted and the characters are mature enough for their ages. Sure, the FMC has strong pick-me-up vibes, but she doesn’t want to be that. Of course, there’s a backstory, so it doesn’t feel off. 

The MMC is presented as a bad boy but is someone dealing with loads of trauma, grief, and personal shit. He is a grump, but a good guy. I like that he can communicate and goes all in once he decides. Otherwise, which 6’4” guy would be sane enough to think a 5’2” girl has mile-long legs? Dude, our legs can’t even reach the floor if we sit in a bigger chair! 

This is spicy with open-door scenes (4+). It does feel a bit (or lot) awkward if you remember their ages, so it's better to forget/ ignore that, lol. 

You’ll likely need to suspend belief for some stuff. It goes with the territory, I guess. At least, the characters seem to be studying as well and are interested in getting a degree, so that’s something. 

GR shows this is the first in the series. Makes sense. There are a couple of good guys on the team, and then there’s the MMC’s sister (she’s cute). Some of these characters will get their own books, I guess. 

To summarize, Red Card is a lighthearted, steamy romance with some banter, funny scenes, and a bit of heavy themes. It’s low-stakes but maintains the entertainment levels pretty much throughout. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #RedCard

A Merry Irish Christmas by Clodagh Murphy - Book Review

Publication Date: 06th Sep 2025

Genre: Christmas Romance, Contemporary 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Cute! 

Mary decides to fly home to Ireland for Christmas when things end with her boyfriend. Unknown to her, her family plans a similar surprise visit to New York. The result: Mary is home, and her family is in NY. 

As if that’s not enough, the family home is now occupied by a grumpy New Yorker, Evan, who wants nothing to do with her or Christmas. Can the two of them find a way to make Christmas memorable? 

The story comes in Mary’s third-person POV with a few chapters from Evan’s POV (also in the third person). 

My Thoughts: 

This is a short and cute book you can finish in a single sitting. The descriptions are very well done. I could visualize the Irish setting, the weather, and cozy dinners. 

The FMC is easy enough to like. This made the book enjoyable since we get most of the story from her perspective. 

The MMC is a proper grump in the beginning, but he proves himself to be a sweet guy. Just how it should be. I did wish he had more chapters to balance the narrative. 

There are many side characters, though my favorite has to be the mom. She pretty much runs the book, though her scenes are limited. There is also a bit of stereotyping, but given that those characters appear only once throughout the book, I didn’t mind it too much. 

So far, the book seems to be a standalone, which means a subplot has been left open. Maybe there will be another book for that one. It’s not related to the main characters, though. 

Given the timeline, this is no slow burn. It is insta-love. However, I don’t remember them actually saying the word, so that’s something. There’s a teeny bit of spice, but mostly closed door. The banter is fun, which I enjoyed. 

The ending is nice and hopeful, but I do miss not having an epilogue. The only way to make up for it is to complete the subplot in another book. 

To summarize, A Merry Irish Christmas is a lighthearted, cozy, and cute romance with some determined side characters added to the mix. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #AMerryIrishChristmas

Maisie vs the Himalayas by Jack Jackman - Book Review

Series: Masie vs #2 

Publication Date: 14th August 2025 

Genre: Middle Grade Adventure 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: Maisie does it again! 

After the excitement in Antarctica, Maisie travels with her dad to the Himalayas to research for a book titled How to Find Buried Treasure. Maisie sure finds the treasure, but also gets into many tussles and attracts unwanted attention as a thief while dodging dangerous explosions. 

Looks like there are many secrets Maisie doesn’t know about. Will Dad tell her about them, or will it be too late by then? 

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

My Thoughts: 

This is the second book in the series, and it will be better if you read the first one. It does work as a standalone, but if you are into proper character development and backstories, read both. And honestly, you’ll love them. 

Since the book is from an eleven-year-old kid’s POV, prepare for it to be filled with vivid imagination, sass, impulsiveness, and recklessness. Don’t look for adult maturity in it, though she can surprise you in unexpected ways. 

The day Maisie would keep her promise would probably be declared an international promise day or something (yeah, not gonna happen). As an adult, there were (many) instances I wanted to shake sense into that kid. I’m sure her dad feels the same. 

Unlike the previous book, this has very few characters and is set in just a couple of nearby locations (the caves and the adjacent hotel). However, this doesn’t restrict entertainment or adventure even a little. You can trust that kid to get into trouble even in the safest place, and an old cave is hardly safe! 

We get a little more detail about her dead mother, which, as you can guess, makes the kiddo super happy. She’s a lonely little girl wanting adventures and to spend more time with her dad, who has a superpower but writes boring books. 

Continuing the pattern, each chapter is titled as some sort of ‘How to…’. There can be some spoilers here, so skip the chapter titles if you are particular. I think kids will enjoy the creativity. 

I love that ‘little fire god’ comment. So cute and aligns with what we’d say! 

Once again, I wish the book had at least two or three illustrations. The ones from the cover could have been divided into individual illustrations and added to the file. 

To summarize, Maisie vs the Himalayas is an entertaining, adventurous, and humorous continuation of the series. Be prepared, as it will give kids many ideas that can give you a headache or high blood pressure, lol. 

Now that I know where the next adventure will be, I can’t wait to read it! 

Thank you, NetGalley and NosyCrow, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #MaisieVstheHimalayas

Love or Your Money Back by Suzy K. Quinn - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 01st July2025

Purchase Link for Amazon (UK):https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Your-Money-Back-funniest-ebook/dp/B0FDBMMZQQ

Purchase Link for Amazon (US):https://www.amazon.com/Love-Your-Money-Back-funniest-ebook/dp/B0FDBMMZQQ

 Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236605619-love-or-your-money-back

Genre: Contemporary Romance

3.5 Stars

One Liner: Fast-paced

Book Blurb:

Is marriage aboutlove or marketing?

Kat is 34, singleand running out of time – she wantsto get married before she turns 35, but her fiancé just ditched her for a21-year-old life coach.

Freddy is aruthless marketing guru who thinkslove is just transactional. He’ll use his marketing genius to make Kat the mostsought-after woman in London if she lets him rebrand her struggling company.

With her 35th birthday loomingand her love life a disaster, Kat agrees to become Project Marriage.

Can a rebrand king sellhappily ever after? Or is love something even the best marketer can't packageand promote?

A smart, funnyromantic comedy for fans of Emile Henry (Funny Story), Lucy Score, and AliHazelwood.

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Kat’sfirst-person POV and Freddy’s third-person POV.

I heard great things about theauthor’s (Probably) The Greatest Love Story Ever Told and had high expectationsfrom this one. Guess that affected my reading experience a bit.

The book has a terrific pace.No denying that. Also, it will keep you hooked from start to finish. I read itin one sitting (and stayed awake longer than I do).

The dual POV, with one in thethird-person, is a wonderful choice. Not only do we get both theirperspectives, but we also have no confusion about the voice.

Another plus point is that theFMC has Multiple Sclerosis. Relapsing-Remitting MS, to be precise. She can doanything on a good day, but stress and anxiety can screw it up in a fewminutes. Living with MS is not easy, and we see clearly how it affects a personphysically, psychologically, and emotionally. It has been seamlessly integratedinto the plot.

Let’s just say that my likingand disliking of the MCs was like a Sine wave. As the story progresses, moreaspects come to light. What we see at the beginning is not what it is. However,what we see in the next few chapters is also not what it is.  

The FMC is a total despo.Cringe-level max. But this is deliberate characterization. Readers are notexpected to agree with her always. Rather, we are to see her strengths andflaws and hope that the bulb will ding over her head and enlighten her. Itwon’t be easy liking her when you want to knock sense into that brain andwonder just how naïve someone of that age can be.

The MMC is okay. Shows promiseand stays true to his arc, which means he will also annoy us quite a bit. It’salmost like a contest – who will exasperate the reader more, lol! This shouldhave made me dislike the book, but it had the opposite effect since it was doneintentionally.

There’s a QR code in the lastquarter for those who want open-door spice. The author got 50-50 votes onwhether to include spice in the book. So, she inserted it as an optional choice(kya kya karna padta hai, to keep all readers happy). Of course, I readit, but later, after finishing the book. There’s also an option to sign up andget a bonus epilogue. You know I can’t resist an epilogue!

There are some funny momentstoo. Despite everything, I can’t say I enjoyed this a lot. It was fun andinteresting, but that’s it. I wouldn’t sing praises about it, though.

Maybe if the backstories werea bit more detailed or the characters (especially the FMC) spent more timeintrospecting the toxic patterns in her life, it would have worked better. Thatwould have changed the genre from rom-com to rom, but methinks it’s worth ashot.

To summarize, Love or YourMoney Back is a quick and lighthearted read with some heavy themes that don’tweigh down the plot or narration. It should work as a beach read or an autumnafternoon read.

Thank you, Rachel’s RandomResources and the author, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and containsmy honest opinion about the book.

***

Author Bio – SuzyK Quinn

Suzy K Quinn writes romanticcomedy / rom com books / cozy mystery and has sold over 1 million booksworldwide. She is a bestseller in the UK, US, and Germany and has plans fortotal world domination with more feel-good books (bestsellers, obviously) inthe near future.

Suzy lives in Wivenhoe, Essex,with her husband Demi and two daughters. She is a twin, an incompetent parentof two, and now fully decaffeinated. Her twin sister, Cate Quinn, is also abestseller author. When she's not writing, she is reading rom coms and cozymysteries.

Suzy loves her readers and isALWAYS happy to chat on social media - she's @suzykquinn on all the socials.You can also get a free book at her website: www.suzykquinn.com

Follow the Author:

Facebook:facebook.com/suzykquinnbooks  

Tiktok: @suzykquinn

Instagram: @suzykquinn

Twitter: @suzykquinn

Threads: @suzykquinn

***

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

Will You Stay Another Day? by Samantha Tonge - Book Review

Publication Date: 11th Aug 2025

Genre: Women’s Fiction 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Hopeful 

Lili sends her best friend, Em, a knock-knock joke, not expecting a reply. After all, it’s Christmas time and almost a year since her bestie passed away. But someone responds, and Lili suggests a meeting. 

There, she meets a man, a handsome stranger, Dylan, who has also been waiting for someone he’s missing. As they spend more time together, this could be their chance to heal and hope for a happier future. 

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

My Thoughts: 

From the premise, you’ll know that the book deals with grief and mourning. Grieving a loved one is the central premise, so if that’s a trigger, you may want to be careful. That said, the book has some wonderful, heartwarming moments about learning to move on while honouring the dead. 

I liked the cover right away, but I like it better after finishing the story. That little suitcase and the cover have a great significance in the plot. 

It might take some time to get into the flow. Since we get the story from Lili’s POV, we have to remember that it shows her state of mind at that point. In fact, it’s the same throughout. 

I wish we had at least a few chapters from the MMC’s perspective. He’s a sweet guy, but I can’t tell you a lot about him. Feels a bit 2D despite having a proper backstory and description. 

Though it has romance (closed door), the focus is mainly on letting go and moving on. This applies on multiple levels. I like how both main characters’ professions align with the theme. 

Some of the side characters are really good. I like Tommo and Megs right away. Glenda, too, of course. The community vibe is strong, and it brings out the snow-town feel and the seasonal spirit to the forefront. 

The book discusses the Japanese tradition of showing respect to non-living items and honoring them the way we honor humans/ relationships. This reminded me of a video I recently saw on social media, where an old machine (in Japan) is being honoured for the service it provided. 

The book starts a few months before Christmas, though it ends with the holiday season. So, this is not exactly a Christmas story, but it has some elements of it. The ending is hopeful and sweet. 

To summarize, Will You Stay Another Day is a story of friendships, family, found family, relationships, and love. It’s a good read for a cozy autumn noon. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #WillYouStayAnotherDay 

Murder on an Italian Island by T A Williams - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries#12

Publication Date: 05th August 2025

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

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232029031-murder-on-an-italian-island

Genre: Contemporary Cosy Mystery,Italy 

 4Stars

One Liner: Mystery and history

Book Blurb:

A holiday island…

When privateinvestigator, Dan Armstrong, and his girlfriend, Anna, are invited to thegorgeous island of Elba for a much-needed break, he jumps at the chance. Thethought of sun-drenched shores makes Dan promise Anna he won't “play detective”for a whole week…

A luxury hotel…

Their luxurioushotel, with its wonderful food and picturesque seaside views, seems the perfectescape, especially with Dan's best friend Virgilio and his wife joining them.But the calm shatters with a sinister encounter and a sudden, suspicious death…

A decades old case…

Virgilio's pastconnection to the victim casts a long shadow, pulling Dan into a decades-oldcase. But beneath Elba's beauty lie secrets and resentments – the victim wasuniversally hated – but was his death the result of foul play or just a tragicaccident?

With his faithfulcanine companion, Oscar, Dan must unravel the island's mysteries, a task thatsoon takes a decidedly personal and unsettling turn.

***

My Thoughts:

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

So, the 12th book in the series shouldwork as a standalone. Go ahead and grab them all if you want to read the rest.It’s like going on a virtual tour of Italy.

This time, we travel to Elba, a beautifulisland with a history that dates back to the early times. Like many touristplaces, the island has both benefited and suffered from becoming a popularlocation for holidays.

I like how we also learn something aboutthe situation in the region with every book in the series. This time, it talksof how thriving occupations like farming, winery, etc., were replaced bytourism and its adjacent industries. By catering to tourists, many locals losttheir family lands and professions and had to adjust. Sadly, this has become acommon pattern around the world.

The mystery is nice enough withresolutions we can guess as more clues are revealed. It is still low-stakes,though there are some interesting developments and other departments involvedfor a while.

Oscar, the adorable black Lab, is hisusual best – being cuddled by everyone and fed treats coz he has the best ‘I’mstarving’ face. Of course, our dog is also a hero who can save lives.

And food, there’s loads of it. TheItalians (like Indians) serve food in generous proportions, so there’s morethan enough for the characters and the readers! If only they developed AI thatmade it possible to grab an ice cream from the book instead of writing a storyfor me. I can do my writing. Give me food!

To summarize, Murder on an Italian Islandis a lighthearted and quick mystery set on a lovely island. It combineshistory, mystery, and entertainment with ease. The windsurfing scenes werehilarious.

Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources andBoldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honestopinion about the book.

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – T A Williams

T. A. Williams is the bestselling authorof the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series. Trevor studied languages atUniversity and lived and worked in Italy for eight years, returning to Englandwith his wife in 1972. Trevor and his wife now live in Devon.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @TrevorWilliamsBooks

Twitter: @TAWilliamsBooks

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

Bookbub Profile: @trevorwilliams3

***

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

He Falls First by Jill Shalvis - Book Review

Series: Colburn Brothers #1

Publication Date: 05th August 2025 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Establishes the series 

Ryder Colburn is busy running the family businesses and caring for his ailing father. But a chance encounter with Penny compels him to help her and get to know her more. 

Penny has paid the price and is living in a dilapidated house with her grandmother and tween brother, trying to survive on the catering job. She has no time for anything, definitely not love. 

But maybe life has other plans! 

The story comes in Penny and Ryder’s first-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

This is my first book by the author, and I’ll be happy to read the other books in the series (fingers crossed that the publisher will make them Read Now). 

The plot is pretty thin as the focus is on building the foundation for the series and establishing the main characters (the Colburn brothers and sister). I hope the sister also gets her book. 

That said, the characters are well-developed, layered, and realistic. They have their flaws, but they are good people. They have been through enough trauma and are doing their best to be there for their loved ones. 

As the title suggests, the MMC falls first, and he is pretty open about it. The FMC calls herself a hot mess (more than a few times) and is willing to heal (always a good sign). 

The characters know their flaws and insecurities, so they have meaningful conversations even when there’s a sort of breakup. They talk about things and communicate, making it easy to root for them to be together. 

The toddlers (Abi and Alex) are little tornadoes or wolf cubs (as their mum calls them). Needless to say, the kiddos brighten up the book each time they appear on the page.

A few plot threads have been left open and will presumably be resolved in the later books. I’m curious to know where they’ll lead. 

There’s quite liberal open-door spice (3+) and a generous dose of F-bombs (alpha brothers and all that, I suppose). The banter is pretty good, though. The book has many funny moments despite having a sense of heaviness (due to dark themes like parental abuse, childhood trauma, domestic violence, death, illness, etc.). 

We don’t know about the FMC’s mom, though her grandma and half-brother are sweet. Still, I wish we had a little more backstory about her family. It would have enhanced the plot. 

To summarize, He Falls First is a heartwarming read about finding love, family support, and being there for one another. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #HeFallsFirst

A Scottish Lighthouse Escape by Julie Shackman - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Scottish Escapes #9 (standalone)

Publication Date: 30th July2025

Purchase Link (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scottish-Lighthouse-Escape-lighthouse-armchair-ebook/dp/B0D9PLQ25Y

Purchase Link (UK): https://www.amazon.com/Scottish-Lighthouse-Escape-lighthouse-armchair-ebook/dp/B0D9PLQ25Y

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223145780-a-scottish-lighthouse-escape

Genre: Women’s Fiction,Contemporary Romance

3.5 Stars

One Liner: Hopeful

Book Blurb:

Get ready to fallin love with the brand new romance in the Scottish Escapes series frombestselling author Julie Shackman.

When romance author RosieWinters’s own fairytale romance ends with a bang, she’s determined to getaway from everything. Packing up her belongings, she sets off for the furthestplace she can think of: Scotland.

Rosie spent her summers at herlate grandmother’s coastal cottage in the Highlands and knows it’ll be theperfect place to wallow for a while. Even better that there’s a gorgeouslighthouse and dolphins in the bay.

What Rosie didn’t expect wasto bump into the new lighthouse keeper, Mitch. Despite her recentheartbreak, Rosie finds herself fascinated by the mysterious Mitch. As theyspend more time together, is it possible that he needs Rosie every bit as sheneeds him…

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Rosie’sfirst-person POV.

I wondered why the author’sname sounded familiar until I realized I had read another book from thisstandalone series. Luckily, I like this a bit more than the other one.

The Scottish setting isbeautiful, and the lighthouse has a decent role, so the title suits the book. Ilove the descriptions of Rowan Bay, the sea, the misty pathways, the unexpectedstorms, etc.

Bronte and Kane, the twoadorable dogs, steal the show in many ways. You can see Brontë running on thecover. Cutie, right?

There’s also a subplot ofsorts about the FMC’s late grandmother. It was well done, even if the climaxwas a bit too saccharine (and that comes from someone who likes HEA). Guess italigns with the genre’s vibe to an extent.

The book touches upon sometriggering topics like infidelity, spousal death, death of parents and lovedones, jealousy, confidence issues, etc.

This is again women’s fictionwith a touch of romance, like the previous book I read (#7). However, it workedbetter since I could see a bit of attraction between the main leads, and itbrought everything together.

This may not be an issue foreveryone, but there are too many characters whose names start with R – Rosie,Recce, Rhea, Ruth… *eyeroll*

To summarize, A ScottishLighthouse Escape is a hopeful read despite the predictability and a too-sweetending. It’s pretty fast-paced and can be completed in a couple of sittings.

Thank you, Rachel's RandomResources and One More Chapter (HarperCollins), for the eARC. This review isvoluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Author –Julie Shackman

Julie Shackman is a feel-goodromance author from Scotland and is published by the HarperCollins imprint OneMore Chapter. When not writing or reading, Julie loves to take her Romanianrescue pup Cooper for long walks, working out, watching romcoms, and indulgingher love of music. A Scottish Lighthouse Escape is her thirteenth novel.

Follow the Author:

Website: Julie Shackman Author

Twitter/ X: (2) Julie Shackman(@G13Julie) / Twitter

Instagram: JulieGeorgina Shackman (@juliegeorginashackman) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: (5) JulieGeorgina Shackman | Facebook

***

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

The Hachette Book of Indian Detective Fiction Vol 2 by Tarun K. Saint - Book Review

Series: The Hachette Book ofIndian Detective Fiction

Publication Date: 20th June2025

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.in/Hachette-Book-Indian-Detective-Fiction/dp/935731332X

Genre: Mystery Short StoryAnthology, Multi-Author

3.53 Stars

One Liner: Pretty decent

The second volume of theIndian Detective Fiction has seventeen stories (some are translated works) withdiverse themes, timelines, and topics. It begins with the editor’s note, whichdetails that this volume focuses on police procedurals and historical mysteries.Then, the editor goes on to explain the concepts of both genres by providingbrief insights into the stories from the collection.

The independence era,colonial, and post-colonial rule seem to be recurring themes.

As always, I review each storyin brief as and when I finish reading it and compile it into a review (likethis).

DetectiveKanaicharan and the Missing Ship by Rajarshi Das Bhowmik, Arunava Sinha(Translator) – 3.5 Stars

Not a proper police proceduralas such, but it has a police detective solving a cold case from the time ofBritish rule. It’s an interesting mystery and will be more entertaining if youknow Indian history.

Kama by VikramChandra – 2 Stars

This is a bigger story and apart of the author’s Love and Longing in Bombay collection. Apparently, the MCfrom here (Sartaj) played a prominent role in Sacred Games. As a mystery (sincethat is the book’s theme), the story is pretty weak with ambiguous implicationsand some not-so-subtle hate for a certain group. The story would have workedbetter in the original collection (based on the title). The extended open-doorsex scenes add nothing to the mystery element here. (And before someoverenthusiastic readers call me a prude, I regularly read 4+ spice and have noissues with it as long as it aligns with the plot.)

A Darkling Plainby Giti Chandra – 4 Stars

This is a short and crispstory with a dark enough twist to be a mystery. Though it emphasizes the castestereotypes, the execution is tight and noteworthy. Despite having two first-personPOVs in a short piece, the voices are distinguishable, and the narrative istaut.

All That Glittersby Swati Kaushal – 4 Stars

I think this police proceduralwas written for the screen. It has OTT drama and dialogues worthy of a Hindishow. However, the scenes are super easy to visualize from start to finish. Thestory is entertaining and fast-paced. Technically, it has to be 3.5 stars, butI love the ending, so 4 it is!

The Woman with theSnake Tattoo by Ajay Chowdhury – 4 Stars

Another compact policeprocedural about murder and theft in a jewelry store (the previous story alsodeals with a jewelry store). I like that this balances the personal andprofessional life of the MC very well. The characters are rather pleasing,unlike the ‘disillusioned toxic cop’ drama most authors seem to prefer. Forthat alone, this gets a higher rating.

When Goyenda MetDaroga by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, Debaditya Mukhopadhyay (Translator) – 3.5Stars

This is a lighthearted dramawith no real mystery. I think it’s from a detective series. While it works as astandalone and has some cheeky humor, don’t expect anything more. It’s just alittle fun read.

To Be Continued byVish Dhamija – 4 Stars

How did the policeman die? Setin Nainital, the case has to be solved by a newly minted woman CID officernamed Rita. While the case as such is not too complex, the narration (feelslike a blend of news report and omnipresent), though it is in the limited thirdperson, somehow works for the plot.

Sound Motive bySalil Desai – 4 Stars

A rather dramatic story withan OTT character, and luckily, there's an almost efficient police officer incharge of the case. It’s a short one but well-written. The gruesome murder mayseem odd in the setting, but it fits. Whoever gave the title has the sametalent as I do when it comes to naming stories (IYKYK).

The Devil of Delhiby Mahendra Jakhar – 4 Stars

This is a slightly darkerstory with an efficient and determined Phoolan in the lead role. I liked herimmediately, so I enjoyed the story more. Based on the title, you can guessthat it shows the dark side of the city. Don’t worry. It only touches thesurface, which is enough for this plot.

Bravo! What aTheft by Sharatchandra Sarkar, Shampa Roy (Translator) – 3.5 Stars

This is historical fictiondivided into parts narrated by two men. Almost gives Holmes and Watson vibes,but the characters are entirely different. Given the original written date,some of the content feels outdated. But the plotline is timeless.

Ghosts of Partitionby Vaseem Khan – 3.5 Stars

I’ve read another short storyfeaturing the same FMC in another anthology. Comparatively, I liked that onebetter. The title is a spoiler here. There isn’t much of a plot or a mystery.It’s a shorter story, too.

Arsenic and theShepherd by Nev March – 4 Stars

Another historical policeprocedural, but set during the British Raj. It’s a simple case… until it isnot. I like how it ends. The concluding sentence hits the bullseye. 4 starsjust for that.

Sudden Appearancesby Anuradha Kumar – 3.5 Stars

A historical mystery about aghost that wants her story to be written. It has Rudyard Kipling as one of themain side characters. It’s of moderate length and takes some time to set thestage for the mystery. A bit of humor, too. We’ve dealt with the plot before,but the story has an appeal.  

A ConvenientCorpse by Madhulika Liddle – 4 Stars

Set in historical Delhi, Ithink during the British rule, where the Islamic rulers also had power. I likethe sleuth in this one. The plot has been done and dusted a few times. Thesetting and the characters make it interesting.

The Diva’s LastBow by Arjun Raj Gaind – 3 Stars

Not a bad story! It iswell-written. Just that the plot has been reused many times, and I could sniffit the moment the death occurred. The title is suggestive too (who knew so manyauthors are like me, lol). Oh, this is historical detective fiction.

Murder in theMonsoons by Shashi Warrier – 4 Stars

This is another historicalstory set a year before Independence. However, the mystery is focused on afamily in a little village in Tamil Nadu. It’s a cold case, too. What standsout here is not the event but the reactions to it and how things changedafterward. Something that will leave you thinking for a while.

A Scandal inPunjab by Avtar Singh – 1.5 Stars

Sadly, this is the weakeststory in the collection. It felt more like an extract than a proper story. Eventhe mystery was very lukewarm and uninteresting. Was it included because it wasset during the Partition/ Independence era? I zoned out so many times whenreading it and had to spend 30 minutes on a handful of pages.

The last story is followed byauthor bios, where you can find a few titles they’d written and look them up toadd more books to your TBR.

To summarize, The Hachette Book of Indian Detective Fiction Vol 2 is anenjoyable collection of detective mysteries primarily from the historicalfiction and police procedural subgenres. As with most anthologies, it has somegreat and not-so-great stories. What you like depends on your preferences.

My thanks to Blogchatter andHachette India for a copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains myhonest opinions.  

Third Time Lucky by Aimee Brown - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 22nd July2025

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

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221981291-third-time-lucky

Genre: Contemporary Romance

3.5 Stars

One Liner: An escapist readwith some laughs and sweet moments

Book Blurb:

Could a blast fromthe past be the secret ingredient to their future?

Asher Wright has spent hiscareer creating and concocting the perfect dishes and is about to open his veryown restaurant. Life is good. His love life, however, is far from cooking! Hehasn’t thought about Lucy Gray in years – not since they both graduated,reeling from the shocking loss of her then-boyfriend and his best friend Kris,who tragically died at 18. So when he witnesses the breakdown of her wedding inall its humiliating glory - old wounds and long-buried emotions resurface.

As Lucy lands a right hook onher soon-to-be ex-fiancée in front of their entire wedding party, she has amoment of realization... Love is not on the menu for her! Fate, however, hasother plans... A chance twist of events lands Asher as the private chef forLucy’s spirited grandmother, Mitzi, and what begins as awkward encounters inMitzi’s Portland mansion soon evolves into a simmering connection she neverexpected.

As Asher and Lucy work throughtheir past, they discover a bond that feels both familiar and excitingly new.

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My Thoughts:

The story comes in Lucy andAsher’s first-person POVs.

At the beginning, there’s ashort note/ dedication where the author says you get two stories (HEAs) for theprice of one. Like a typical middle-class Indian, I was excited for this oneplus one offer.

We are right away introducedto the main characters and get a brief gist of their past connection. Most ofthis is done well. We are supposed to cringe at the primary side character,which happens easily, lol.

The FMC and MMC get twochapters each before a switch in POV. While this is helpful, it was rather hardto distinguish between their voices. They sounded very much alike – nervous,tensed, worried, and stressed.

I appreciate an MMC who lookstall, handsome, et al, and has loads of tattoos that give him a rugged andalpha vibe, but is actually a softie, nervous wreck with an overthinking brain.He is the opposite of cocky. It’s quite refreshing to read such a character. Iwould have liked it better if his voice were distinguishable from the FMCs.

The connection between themain characters is sweet. Despite all the overthinking, they can communicatewell enough. However, the lack of conflict makes it a bit dull compared to theOTTness of the other couple.

Moreover, the secondary couple(the free HEA) gets almost equal space, which puts the main couple at adisadvantage. Though you can clearly see that the MCs have a healthier dynamic,the drama in the secondary track takes over the stage. This can be a hit or amiss. I like how it contrasted their love stories. From a writer’s perspective,I can see why readers love drama and angst. Easy and sweet romance just doesn’thit the same way, though it has more green flags!

Mitzi is my favoritecharacter. She is a loving, caring, assertive, lively, quirky, and adorablegrandmother. The risk of having such a fab side character is that the FMC getseasily shadowed. Since the secondary female character is also more sparkly thanthe FMC, it causes some issues with the interest levels.

Despite having manylaugh-out-loud moments, the book touches upon serious themes like death,dysfunctional families, infidelity, cheating, trust issues, etc. Still, none ofthese are deep. They aren’t meant to be.

The author’s note at the endis heartfelt.

To summarize, Third Time Luckyis a lighthearted read with some funny and serious moments. It’s pure escapistfiction with characters you can root for.

Thank you, Rachel’s RandomResources and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and containsmy honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley

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About the Author –Aimee Brown

Aimee Brown is a writer ofromantic comedies set in Portland, Oregon. She writes closed-door romance (NOsex scenes, light kissing) with humor and crude language. She spends much ofher time writing, raising three kids (who are all nearly grown now),binge-watching shows on Netflix, and obsessively cleaning and redecorating herhouse. She's fluent in sarcasm and has been known to utter profanities likeshe's competing for a medal.

Aimee grew up in Oregon but isnow a transplant living in cold Montana with her husband of twenty+ years, twoof three children, and far too many pets. She is a lot older than she looks,and yes, that is a tattoo across her chest.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @authoraimeebrown

Instagram: @authoraimeeb

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

Bookbub Profile: @AimeeBrown

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