Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 26

A Body by the Henhouse by Kate Wells - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Malvern Farm Mystery #3

Publication Date: 12th June 2024

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

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205900171-a-body-by-the-henhouse

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery

4 stars

One Liner: Well done!

Book Blurb:

The time for celebrations is over…

Jude Gray’s farm is going from strength to strength,and even though her grumpy neighbor has concerns about the new campsite in thelower field, she is undeterred.

When a hen party arrives for a weekend away, shedoes her best to cater for their celebrations. But with a sheep needing urgentcare – an accidental mishap or something more nefarious? – she finds herselfconsulting the group, which coincidentally contains four vets.

When one of the hens goes missing, it becomes clearthere are more sinister forces at play, and someone is targeting her farm. Withthe help of close friend Detective Inspector Binnie Khatri, Jude once againdons her amateur sleuthing hat.

They uncover a web of deceit, affairs, andrivalries, but will they find the perpetrator before events turn murderous?

***

My Thoughts:

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

Book three of the Malvern Farm Mystery is possiblythe best until now. The pacing is steady. There are enough twists to keep thereader guessing about the culprit and the reason.

The ‘murder’ doesn’t happen for a long time.However, one of the characters disappears. This adds to the drama as we see theundercurrents between the women almost from the introduction.

However, the book is not limited to a mystery. Italso deals with the difficulties of farm life, be it the rising expenses or cropdamage due to various factors. The work is never-ending on a farm.

Lucy and Sebbie are, of course, a part of the book.Little Sebbie is four (already!) and adds the much-needed humor to the mystery.We get a few insights into Jude’s thoughts and uncertainties about the future.

There are five women in the hen party, which can beconfusing but doesn’t. Each of them has a distinct personality. They areflawed, some more than others. That means it is easy to take sides (and wantcertain characters to be bumped off).

DI Binnie has a lot of work to do in this book,which I really like. Though it is Jude who connects the dots, Binnie has anactive role and provides some vital information. I love how assertive andsteady she is.

Jude’s arc is much better in this one though shestill jumps to conclusions at times. However, that makes her real instead ofperfect, so no complaints. Seems she did learn her lesson after what happenedin book two.

The other side characters like Granny Margot havesmall but important roles in the plot.

To summarize, A Body by the Henhouse is an enjoyablemystery with enough twists to keep you hooked. The ending offers two surprises,so I’m excited to see where it goes next.

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

#NetGalley

*

P.S: Some sheep are poisoned but don’t worry. Theyare all alive and healthy. I appreciate that.

***

Author Bio – Kate Wells

Kate Wells is the author of a number ofwell-reviewed books for children and is now writing a new cozy crime series setin the Malvern Hills, inspired by the farm where she grew up.

Follow the Author:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatePoels

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

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

Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-wells

***

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

 

The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella - Book Review

Publication Date: 02nd July 2024

Genre: Contemporary Fiction (Men’s Fiction) 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: A warm and mellow read 

The Schmidts have run the family restaurant for decades. The beachfront setting makes it a prime location for good business. Jake had been running the establishment since his father's demise. Now at 52, he is single, exhausted, and has no life beyond the restaurant. 

With the DelDine group taking over many restaurants in the region, Jake knows he should sell his as well to them and finally live the life he wanted. Maybe find someone to call his own. However, he is tied to the place with many invisible bonds. The restaurant is his everything but leaves him with nothing. Can Jake make a fresh start or will he surrender his life to the restaurant? 

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

My Thoughts: 

After my friend recently read ‘Men’s Fiction’ I wanted to try one. Imagine my surprise when I realized this would fit the tag, though it is marked General Fiction. 

This is a character-driven story with a loose plot and an open ending. The story is divided into two parts – Jack’s indecision and what happens after he decides. 

The narrative is mellow though it deals with quite a few heavy themes (parental death, PTSD, a wayward son, depression, dementia, loneliness, suicide, etc.). However, since we get the story from Jack’s POV, things are softened to a large extent. He is the kind of person who wants to say and do a lot but ends up saying almost nothing. 

That means the reader has to really work to empathize with the characters. Though we know Jack’s internal thoughts, it doesn’t have the impact it should. While it would work well as a character study, it may not be a gripping story if you want more action. Of course, this is case-sensitive. 

The initial pacing is slow but it picks up as we progress. The setting is also a character and the ‘snippets from the guidebook’ add to this. I like seeing the changes in Jack and his growing appreciation for the beauty around him as he learns to become active in his life. 

The side characters are intriguing but I couldn’t entirely connect with any of them. I like Vivian for her no-nonsense attitude, and Nicole manages to make a mark. And oh, Lara is great too, in whatever little space she has. I wouldn’t have minded a little more detailing for others. 

The restaurant, the responsibilities, the pressure from big chains and their exploiting tactics, etc., are very well presented and seamlessly woven into the plot without any excessiveness. No lectures or preaching. Just a situation and a possible solution that applies here. 

I like the ending is hopeful and positive but open. It’s exactly how slice-of-life stories should conclude. Not everything is tied up neatly even if it can give me my favorite HEA. It would have been a little too neat here, so this works the best. 

To summarize, The Same Bright Stars is a heartwarming read with realistic characters. It shows the various dilemmas they face in their lives and how their decisions can have long-lasting repercussions on them and others. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Scribner, for eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheSameBrightStars

A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette - Book Review

Series: Fae Flings and Corset Strings #1 (Standalone) 

Publication Date: 12th June 2024 

Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Lighthearted but could have been shorter 

Romance author Edwina Danforth needs the book contract from a publisher in Faerwyvae. After all, her books have a greater readership in the fae land than in the human world. However, William Haywood, a handsome fae and poet, popped up as her rival. 

Drunk on a fae substance, Edwina manages to make a bet with William. Whoever loses will have to give up their claim for the publishing contract. Both are determined to win but turns out there’s a lot more at stake. What happens when the rivals fall for each other? 

The story comes in Edwina’s first-person POV with a few chapters from William’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

As the original blurb suggests, this is a steamy romance with enemies-to-lovers trope. It has a historical fantasy setting with a human FMC and a fae MMC. I’d put it somewhere around the Regency and Victorian eras, though the rules in fae land are different. 

The book starts with a short note and a list of content warnings. I appreciate this. The themes have been handled with a light touch, but still, a list would help some readers. 

Now, the first section is solid. I loved the introduction of the characters and the banter between the lead couple. We also get two colored illustrations, which makes it easy to visualize them. They are not perfect and continue to make mistakes. But they also realize and acknowledge the mistakes, so that’s nice. 

The last section is again quite good despite the third-act breakup. There’s one conversation between two women which I liked a lot. It’s evident that the character arcs have been planned with care to not bring sudden and contradictory changes. 

However, I wish the book was tighter in the middle. After the initial 30%, the pacing dips drastically until about 70%. Though we get new insights about the main characters, it feels like the story is going nowhere. There’s only so much banter and sexy talk one can read. 

Still, I like that the characters take time to jump into ‘action’. There is still steamy talk and some scenes (with other characters). Some of it is almost presented in a clinical approach, which is fun to read. 

I like it when the MMC also gets a POV. However, here, it is limited to his feelings for the FMC. The POV could have added more depth to his personality. A lost chance, IMO. 

The side characters are fun. Daphne, Monty, Zane, and Cassie add to the story’s charm. They have distinct personalities and some depth. 

The setting gives mixed vibes. It is not detailed enough to imagine everything but manages to paint a decent picture. Apparently, the setting is from another series (and a couple of characters have been in other books). Kinda standalone with a bit of crossover stuff. This may not work for everyone. 

The ending is cute. There’s a bonus epilogue which is actually a teaser for the next book. For a change, I don’t mind this as I want to read their story. 

To summarize, A Rivalry of Hearts is a fluffy, cute, and spicy romance if you want a low-stakes cozy fantasy. Despite the minor issues, I'm excited to read the next book with D and M.  

Thank you, NetGalley, Crystal Moon Press, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #ARivalryofHearts

Evan Miller Is Waking Down by Jerel Law - Book Review

Publication Date: 28th May 2024

Genre: Older Middle-Grade Dystopian Fantasy 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: A decent entry-level read for the genre 

Evan lives in City 47, a place where uniformity is mandatory and no one should stand out or dare to ask questions. They follow the Primary Code and lead lives the way Elders dictate. The Incident brought this change, and no one talks about the ruins or what happened before. 

Yet, secrets are also forbidden in this land. But Evan’s realistic dreams are a secret he tries to hide from everyone. When he can no longer disguise or hide his supernatural ability, Evan has to flee City 47 and its people. But where does this take him, and what will he do? Can Evan get the answers to his questions and stay alive long enough to do so? 

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

My Thoughts: 

Dystopian is not my preferred genre, but I have to read it for a challenge, so a toned-down version for middle graders seemed like a great choice. I was right,+ too! 

The premise is pretty much what you expect from the genre. A city controlled by a handful of people, everything under surveillance, no access to the outside world, and one person who wants to rebel, finding like-minded people to take down the oppressors. It’s the same here, with a dose of fantasy elements thrown in. 

The book is slow until 15% to 18%. After that, it really picks up pace and keeps the action scenes coming one after another. Since we get the story from Evan’s POV, we have access to limited information as he does. 

The atmosphere is dark, with danger everywhere. This is well done without making it too scary for kids. There’s some violence (hitting, bombing, shooting, fighting, etc.), but not so much that it would terrify young readers (though I’m not sure about how sensitive kids would react). 

That said, the MC is fifteen, and there’s a sort of love track (which wasn’t necessary). There are a couple of mentions of kissing (by MC), so maybe this would work better for tweens and teens than kids. 

However, the main reason for the lower rating is the lack of proper impact. While I could feel the darkness of the setting, I couldn’t entirely connect with Evan or anyone in the book. It felt distant. Dystopia is supposed to make readers uncomfortable. That doesn’t happen here much (or maybe I’m immune to it). Evan’s character needed a little something more to make me care for him. 

The climax and ending are decent. Yet again, the internal conflict doesn’t have the punch it should. The ending is hopeful, which I appreciate considering the target audience age group. 

To summarize, Evan Miller Is Waking Down has an intriguing premise but could have worked better with a little more character depth. Still, this would be a worthy entry-level book into the genre, especially if you are not a fan of dystopian (like me). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Tommy Nelson, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #EvanMillerIsWakingDown

Tasty Tiffin: 40+ Delicious and Healthy Lunch Box Ideas for Kids by Archana Doshi - Book Review

Publication Date: 02nd May 2024

Genre: Nonfiction; Cooking and Food

4 Stars

One Liner: Tasty indeed!

The title, Tasty Tiffin, is self-explanatory. Thebook is a collection of 40+ recipes for breakfast and tea-time meals for kiddoswho go to school. I’m no mom, but I love to cook (not clean).

Moreover, the cover reminded me of my school dayswhen I would plead with my mother to give me something different in the boxinstead of the same old stuff. But, you see, time constraints made it difficultfor her, and back then, there was no social media to give her FOMO about theartsy lunch boxes shared by other parents. Of course, I got hot meals in mylunchboxes during college, and my friends loved it! They would even send their‘requests’ through me. My mother’s curd rice was a favorite. She would pack twofull (stuffed) boxes so that 6+ people would have enough to eat.

Anyhoo, I did get a copy of the book along with aset of meal planner sheets. Oh, boy! Those will be lifesavers for busy parents.I’ve shared a picture to show how neatly it has been formatted.

But hey, a recipe book has to be reviewed based onthe recipes. So, naturally, I tried a few of those. I know many of these and sowill a lot of parents since the food is familiar to us. However, the recipesvary from one house to another, so having another version is a bonus.

What I like the best about the book is the foodcombinations. Since parents need to pack a wholesome meal for their kids, theyneed more than just idli, dosa, or parantha. That’s where the book shines. Theauthor has provided recipes in twos and threes per lunch box. For example,Lemon Rice, Stir-Fry Broccoli, and Curd form one tiffin box recipe. Parentsdon’t have to pair the recipes or mix-and-match unless they want to. This couldsave time when planning the meals and gathering the ingredients.

The introduction is short and to the point. Theauthor highlights the need for a balanced diet and hints at ways to includeproteins, carbs, fruits, etc., into the child’s diet. There is no fluffanywhere. Each recipe starts with a short note with tips and suggestions. Theingredients are neatly listed, followed by the process in clear, simple steps.The language is easy to understand. You can skim through and start cookingright away (if you are used to it).

Another advantage of the book is that the meals havebeen carefully put together to provide tasty and nutritious intake for littleones. Humans need many vitamins and minerals, and kids with growing bodies needa wholesome diet to be healthy and active. The book helps parents achieve thisthrough the recipes. It’ll be trial and error based on your kids’ tastes, sostart with what they like and take it from there.

Now, before I end the review, here are the recipes Itried at home and enjoyed.

Black Chana Salad (I make this sometimes andpretty much follow the same recipe)

Desi Masala Pasta (my kinda recipe again, butsans the gravy I usually add)

Veggie Uttapam (I mix the veggies into the batterinstead of using them as toppings)

Tasty Paniyaram (buy the paniyaram pan if youdon’t have one already. It is a useful thing to have in your kitchen.)

Green Moong Dal Pulao (new to me; tastedgood)  

Cauliflower Curry (pretty much the recipe we useat home)

To summarize, Tasty Tiffin is a compact little bookneatly structured into different sections and with easy recipes. The full-pagecolor pictures are a bonus! This would make a great addition to your kitchen ora good gift to parents. Go grab a copy ofTasty Tiffin on Amazon!

You bet I’m saving the book to experiment on myfuture kids’ tiffin boxes (this wasn’t supposed to sound threatening!).

Thank you, Blogchatter, author Archana Doshi, andpublisher HarperCollins India, for a copy of the book. This review is poweredby theBlogchatter Book Review Program and contains my honest opinion about thebook. 

The Unretirement by Penny Mirren - Book Review

Publication Date: 23rd May 2024 

Genre: Feel Good Fiction, Contemporary

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining 

Maggie Lawford is back home after traveling the world post-retirement. However, she knows she needs to find a project/ job to be productive. Being in the food and catering industry, Maggie is passionate about cooking. When her daughter Hannah takes her to their favorite restaurant, Maggie finds her purpose. The restaurant is struggling. The chef is at his wits’ end. 

Maggie takes charge and resolves to save the restaurant. Soon, she has a plan ready to be put into action. With help from her daughter, Hannah, and granddaughter, Alice, and the people at the restaurant, Maggie is determined to make this a success. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Maggie and Hannah. 

My Thoughts: 

Well, the vibrant cover and heartwarming premise made me grab this book. As much as I like the concept and the characters, I need to first ask – why did it have to be an Indian restaurant? Why do we still need a white person playing savior to a brown family? It could have been any restaurant! 

Now the rant is done, let’s move on to the rest. 

The book starts at a slow pace but picks up momentum after 30% or so. Maggie, Hannah, and little Alice are easy to like. They have their flaws, but that makes them realistic. Alice is a sweetheart. I like books with cute kids, and this one hits the right notes. 

The dual POV from Maggie and Hannah helps advance the plot. It also prevents the book from being too repetitive and only about Maggie. However, I was confused a few times and had to reread to determine who spoke the dialogue and whose internal thought it was. This should be sorted in the final copy. 

The found family and community tropes are well done. The other characters are distinct, be it Joe, Ben, Jade, or Sav. Maybe Sav could have had a little more depth, given his role, but what we have is good. I like that Raj and Gita’s characters also have some strength and are more than just names. 

There’s a lot of food in this one (obviously!), and since some of it is Indian, I did want to get a taste of it (the vegetarian stuff). I’m not a fan of fusion dishes, but some of those in this book have been tried in cooking shows by chefs and contestants, so we aren’t dealing with anything that unique (at least to me). 

On that note, thank you for not messing up the names of the dishes. There are recipes at the end (not formatted properly in this ARC). The Fajita with an Indian twist reminded of me the Frankie Rolls we ate in college. 

Naturally, we have a happy ending. Everything gets sorted. The bad guy (of course, there is one, even if his presence is limited, thank goodness!) is put in place, and the found family is looking forward to a brighter future. 

To summarize, The Unretirement is a fun read with delicious recipes, nice characters, and a second chance at achieving one’s dreams. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon Books UK, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheUnretirement

Illustrated Girl by Josephine Angelini - Book Review

Series: The Chronicles of Lucitopia #1

Publication Date: 02nd July 2024 

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Super fun but with loose ends 

Holly is a sixteen-something teen looking to escape from the real world by burning her nose in books. All she ever wanted was a romance like in the novels, but a spell made her a part of a middle-grade medieval fantasy! 

Now, Holly is stuck in The Chronicles of Lucitopia as Princess Pleasant. She has only fifteen days to break the spell, or she will be permanently stuck in the book. Holly sets out on a quest to find a way and meets a super handsome knight on his own quest. Can she be successful in her mission, or will Holly become Princess Pleasant forever? 

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

My Thoughts: 

Your enjoyment will depend on how well you like the narrative style. The first-person narration here is more like a young girl telling you her story with cheeky side notes and witty remarks. The narrator speaks to the readers at times. The tone is informal, casual, and sassy. I quite enjoyed the voice with all its quirks, though it is not my preferred style.

The beginning is slow, but the story picks up pace soon enough. The humor is lighthearted even though the plot deals with some tough topics. Everything is kept on the surface level to restrict the focus to the fantasy land and the story in the story. 

This book is YA, even if Holly is stuck in a middle-grade story. So it does have a few scenes and references appropriate for the teen folk but not kiddos. And with our FMC fully appreciating the MMC’s physique, this should work better for the 16+ readers. 

It is a cozy fantasy with stinky monsters, handsome knights, an evil sorcerer, and a girl on a quest to find her freedom. The fantasy world is not elaborate but blends reality and fantasy. Moreover, I like how it is presented. It feels fresh while giving the author some leeway to get away with basic world-building. Smart! 

However, we are also left with quite a few questions and no answers. I saw the blurbs for the other two books in the series. While the evil sorcerer is a recurring character, the plotlines seem to be independent. So, I’m not sure if these questions will be answered. 

The ending is cute and sweet, but again, leaves some things unanswered. This is the kind of read where you don’t use logic and go with the flow. I enjoyed it, so no complaints. 

To summarize, Illustrated Girl is a lighthearted and fun read for teens (preferably the older set) who want a touch of magic, romance, and humor. Don’t look for anything intense, and enjoy it for what it is! I would love to read the next book in the series. 

And… can I get my own Rancor, please? 

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

#NetGalley #IllustratedGirl 

The House in the Water by Victoria Darke - Book Review - Blog Tour

Publication Date: 27th May 2024

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

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206326604-the-house-in-the-water

Genre: Dual Timeline, Drama 

3 Stars 

One Liner: Got potential but tries to be too manythings 

Book Blurb: 

A secluded house. A lost notebook. A wartime secret.

1942: YoungIrish nurse Ellen arrives at May Day House, tasked with helping the men thererehabilitate. But there’s something strange about the house,surrounded by water, on its own island in the Thames. And then there arethe men: traumatised by their experiences of war and subject totroubling methods in a desperate race to get them back to duty. As Ellen getsdrawn into the world of May Day House, she starts to realize thiswill be no place to hide away from her own troubles…

2013: Philip andMeredith are the proud new owners of May Day House. Following a string oftragedies, the couple have moved to the area in search of a newstart. But all is not what it seems in the riverside community. As their plansfor the rundown house meet resistance from the neighbors, Meredith findsherself slowly unraveling: she hears voices on the water, seesfigures where there can be no one there. When she finds an old notebookfrom the war, she seeks solace in the stories about the former patients of theisland.

But will shadows from the past threaten her futurehappiness – and even her life?

***

My Thoughts: 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Meredith in the contemporary track and Ellen in the past timeline. 

I enjoy books with dual timelines, even if one trackworks better than the other. This book promises a blend of history,mystery, drama, gothic atmosphere, and some romance (it is marked as generalfiction, historical, and romance on NetGalley). 

The results are mixed, so here’s what Iliked –

The setting has terrific potential. The initialvibes of an ancient house on a small island in the River Thames are spot on. Itis chilly, darkish, and alluring. 

The historical timeline deals with war patients butwith a twist. Here, those suffering from psychological traumaare ‘healed’ and sent back to fight the war. The focus is not onhealing but on doing anything that would make the soldier eligible enough tofight again. 

The prologue hooks the reader with a promise ofparanormal and mystery. Also, the prologue is not an extract from laterchapters but the beginning of the book. That’s how it shouldbe. 

The book deals with heavy themesbut doesn’t make things graphic. We get enough information about whathappened. I appreciate this. No excessive detail to shock the readers. 

However, there are quite a few aspects that couldhave been better –

Characters are the core of the book. We needto connect with or at least feel something for the main characters. Here,it was impossible to do so with Meredith and Philip. I could feel a little forEllen, but even that wasn’t much. 

Most of the time, it seems as if they are mediocreactors enacting a script on the stage and mouthing dialogues for the sake ofit. 

Contemporary thrillers specialize in TSTL heroines.While the book doesn’t belong to that genre, the FMC does. My eyesgot more-than-good exercise from all that rolling. 

The setting’s potential is not fullyexploited. After the gothic feel in the beginning, it becomes just anotherdilapidated house with too much mess. I couldn’t see why someonewould love it so much. 

The paranormal touch is anotheraspect. It’s there but not there, but still there. Confused?Yep, that’s how it is; as if no one was sure if the book shouldgo that route or not. Deciding on this would have helped the book (alot). 

The connection between the two timelines does makesense, but it could have benefitted from more emotion for the main characters.This could have been achieved if the previous aspect had been betterhandled. 

The pacing is uneven, with a slow beginning.Moreover, some characters have a 180-degree change by the end, which almostcomes out of nowhere. Similarly, the reveals were just okayish. 

The author’s note is informative, though. 

To summarize, The House in the Water has anintriguing premise but doesn’t translate to the final output. It tries to be quite a few things at the same time, which dilutesthe core. I’m a bit on the outliner island now, so this mayappeal to you. 

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

#NetGalley 

***

TW: Miscarriage, infertility, car accident, death by drowning, mention of sexual assault, attempted rape.

***

Author Bio – Victoria Drake 

Victoria began her working life as abroadcast journalist at the BBC, before moving into the freelanceworld. She’s worked for outlets including the Telegraph, Time Out,and Al Jazeera, and spent six years living and working inQatar. Nowadays she balances novel writing with lecturing injournalism at Kingston University.

Victoria is the author of three novels, writing asVictoria Scott - Patience, Grace, and The Women Who Wouldn’t Leave.Patience, her debut, was the Booksellers’ Association Book of theMonth.

Her first book for Boldwood will be a dual timelinehistorical suspense novel, writing as Victoria Darke. The House InThe Water will be published in May 2024.

She lives on an island in the Thames with herhusband and two children and a cat called Alice.

Follow the Author on Social Media: 

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Toryscott

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

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

***

This has been a stop on the #TheHouseInTheWater blogtour by Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources) Thanks forstopping by!

A Wonderland Wish on Ever After Street by Jaimie Admans - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: The Ever After Street #3 (Standalone)

Purchase Link: 

https://mybook.to/EverAfterStreetsocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205065105-a-wonderland-wish-on-ever-after-street

Publication Date: 24th May 2024 

Genre: Small Town Contemporary Romance 

4 Stars 

One Liner: The best hugs!

 Book Blurb: 

A brand new and utterly enchantingseries by bestselling author Jaimie Admans.

A picture-perfect town, a place wheredreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street...

There's always time for tea... unless you've lostyour teapot…

Cleo Jordan has only ever wished for one thing – toopen her own teashop in memory of her lovely gran. So when she accidentallyfools the interview board into thinking she's a brilliant baker and isoffered a prime spot on Ever After Street, she knows her dream is aboutto come true!

Stepping into The Wonderland Teapot is like fallingdown the rabbit hole - magical! But there’s a catch: Cleo hascompletely lost her love of baking! With her little white lie ticking in herear, it seems her dream is over before it’s begun.

Until she meets her very own Mad Hatter. Loved byeveryone on Ever After Street, magician Bram brings an energy to the teashopthat lifts everyone, and slowly, with his encouragement, Cleo is getting backto doing what she loves best.

But with Bram hiding secrets of his own,Cleo isn’t sure she can put all her faith in him. And when thingsstart going wrong at the teashop, Cleo wonders if the culprit sabotaging herdream is someone closer than she thinks?

If Cleo wants her wish to work, she has to learn totrust again before she loses her head and heart completely…although it mightalready be far too late for that...

Perfect for fans of Holly Martin, KatFrench, and Caroline Roberts!

***

My Thoughts: 

The story comes in Cleo’s first-personPOV. 

The book works as a standalone, though thecharacters from previous stories appear a few times. The series is themedaround fairytales, and here we have Alice in Wonderland (though it is nota Grimm’s piece). 

This is my fourth book by the author, I lovehow much care she puts into crafting her main characters. They feel soreal and flawed with fears, vulnerabilities, and temper tantrums, butalso compassion and love. 

We learn more about the characters as they get toknow each other. The layers peel, little by little, bringing them together andreaders closer to them. Though we get the entire story from Cleo, we can seeBram and understand his emotions easily, just as we would have if we got hisPOV. 

Cleo is our grumpy girl, while Bram is the cutesysunshine. He can be a bit OTT, but I understand where he iscoming from. They make an adorable couple! The romance is, of course, aslow burn with some witty banter and heartwarming moments. And oh, her bookshave the best hugs! Can never have enough of these. Loveee it!

There are a couple of stereotypical characters wewould love to hate. One of them does get a slightly better arc.   

The community at Ever After Street is vibrant,cheerful, and always ready to help their own. Naturally, they step in and takeover whenever necessary. The small-town vibes and the magical setting give thisa cozier feel. 

I always enjoy descriptions of the setting. Though we don’t getmuch of the outside details in this one, the tearoom comes alive on the pages.Cleo seems to have done a great job of recreating Wonderland(I haven’t read the original so can’t say much).We do go to the castle again, so yay! 

The pacing is slow and steady, something I expectfrom the author’s books. The constant mention of cakes, cupcakes,cheesecakes, etc., made me drool! Wish I could grab some from the screen(why hasn’t technology advanced as much yet?). 

We have the dreaded third-act breakup, which Iexpected. I could see both their POVs, so I’d say itis quite balanced. On the whole, if you ask who handled thingsbetter afterward, I would vote for Bram. Cleo levels up… eventually. 

To summarize, A Wonderland Wish on Ever After Streetis a sweet tale of a new start, healing, finding one’s tribe, seeingbeyond the façade, and falling in love with someone who sees the realyou. 

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources andBoldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinionabout the book. 

#NetGalley

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Author Bio – Jaimie Admans 

Jaimie is a 32-year-old English-sounding Welsh girlwith an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing,gardening, watching horror movies, and drinking tea,although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She lovesautumn and winter and singing songs from musicals despite thefact she’s got the voice of a dying hyena. She hates spiders, hotweather, and cheese & onion crisps. She spends far too much timeon Twitter and owns too many pairs of boots.

She will never have time to read all the books shewants to read.

Connect with the Author: 

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/be_the_spark

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jaimieadmans1/

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

Bookbub profile:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jaimie-admans

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This has been a stop on the#AWonderlandWishOnEverAfterStreet blog tour conducted by Rachel's RandomResources. (@rararesources)Thanks for stopping by!

Lady Scandal by Laura Lee Guhrke - Book Review

 Series: Scandal at the Savoy #2 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 18th June 2024

Genre: Regency Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining 

1898, London 

Delia Stratham might be a lady of the nobility, but she enjoys being the manager at the city’s luxurious Savory Hotel, organizing extravagant events, and handling clients with her charm. Being thrice-widowed in her 30s, she values her job and independence more than others' approval. 

Simon Hayden comes from a middle-class family but has been given a title for his services. He is also an investor in the Savory Hotel and is intent on unearthing the financial fraud in the place. He immediately clashes with Delia, but the duo may have to work together to keep the Hotel afloat. This also means that may actually like each other a lot more than expected! 

The story comes in Delia and Simon’s third-person POVs. 

My Thoughts: 

After meeting Delia in book one, I knew a story with her in the lead role would be fun. This works as a standalone and has only a few mentions of the previous characters. Max has a slightly active role, while Evie is only mentioned. 

This one is grumpy vs. sunshine, with Simon being the grumpy rude boss determined to bring changes to Savory. It is also enemies-to-lovers since the two of them clash from the very beginning. 

The banter is entertaining and keeps the narration steady. Though the pacing dips a little here and there, it doesn’t drag at any point. 

The attraction between the characters is well done, even if they fall in love a bit too soon. I can see why it had to happen before the reveal, but it could have been a little more believable. There’s a bit of steam where necessary (2.5-3ish). 

I like that both characters have depth and are more than what they seem to be. Delia’s backstory has a bit of a trigger and shows why her job is so important to her (despite her riches and the women from nobility didn’t work). 

The new side characters are interesting. Simon’s sister is a sweet girl. We are likely to see more of her in the coming books. Another track has been left open. I’m guessing it will form the main plot in book #3. 

We also have a third-act breakup (they barely got together!), which is necessary. It aligns with the overall plot development and takes the story to its natural conclusion. And there’s an epilogue, so hurray! 

To summarize, Lady Scandal is a fun read that can be finished in a couple of sittings. I can’t say about historical accuracy since most books these days tend to have some modern elements.  

Don’t miss the little note at the end about real-life characters in the book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #LadyScandal