Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 51

The Irish House by Ann O'Loughlin - Book Review

Publication Date: 14th April 2023

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming but slow; mixed feelings but satisfied  

*****

Marianne’s grandmother, Collie Keane, passed away three months ago. Marianne, living in New York (and struggling with her own things) couldn’t visit her grandmother during her last days. However, Marianne is invited to the reading of Collie’s will and is stunned to find that her grandmother left the Kilteelagh House to her, along with the responsibility of her orphaned nieces. 

Marianne’s aunt Katherine is furious. Marianne isn’t sure if she wants to uproot her life from the States and settle in rural Ireland (no matter how much she enjoyed her days with Collie). However, the now-abandoned Kilteelagh House and her grandmother’s letters nudge Marianne to give it a try. 

Life isn’t easy, but Marianne gets to know more about Collie and the house as she navigates her current situation and restarts her career. Things seem to be settling well until one letter threatens to tear it apart. Can Marianne find happiness and love with her new family? 

The story comes from Marianne’s third-person POV. 

What I Like: 

The setting is beautiful. One of the main reasons I read books set in Ireland is the setting. While the countryside and small town aren’t fully detailed, we get a clear picture of the Kilteelagh House and the beauty around it. The story needed this atmosphere to create the mood. 

Katie is a cute girl (though sometimes she acts bigger than her age). She is struggling with the loss of her mother and grandmother (and the fear of not having an adult to call her own). Yet, she is quick to love, laugh, and forgive. A darling, for sure!

Collie is such a personality! Though she isn’t alive or active throughout the book, she is the core of it. Her letters are timed to perfection and exactly match Marianne’s moods. She elevates the plot to the next level. 

Dolores is another wonderful character. As Collie’s friend, she readily becomes a supporter and guide to help Marianne throughout her struggle with the kids and the Kilteelagh House. Her no-nonsense approach cuts through the mess and makes Marianne more assertive. Fiknete enters in the second half and has a lovely role in the book. 

Jack is a good guy. There’s no romance as such in the book, but something that is supposed to be slow-moving (not burn, as there is little or no tension between the characters). Thankfully, I wasn’t looking for a strong romance, so it worked okay. 

One thing I agree with Marianne- you should never have to deal with guests and strangers on your doorstep at 6.30 AM! That is not the time to talk to people. Sigh! 

What Could Have Been Better for Me: 

The pacing is sedate and cannot be rushed. While that’s still okay, the fact that most issues that arise are solved quickly means that my interest dipped in some places. Katherine and Rachel don’t have much depth and seem to have the task of creating tension for Marianne. 

A few time jumps were confusing. Some days are long and detailed, while others have just one scene before moving on to another. Not all time jumps had scene breaks ( this is an ARC), though I hope they’ll be sorted in the final copy. 

The blurb says the kids are Marianne’s nieces, but they are her aunt’s daughters. Technically, Rachel and Katie should be her sisters/ cousins. Katherine is an aunt to both parties. (I’m assuming that’s how relations work in Ireland too). Also, it’s a little hard to fit the characters in their respective slots based on their ages. It feels like watching a Hindi daily soap after the fourth leap and half a dozen character replacements (and reentries). 

Marianne is a little hard to deal with. I think this comes from trying to make her more realistic and relatable instead of being too goody-goody. However, this makes her appear unnecessarily rude in some scenes. It’s not an issue with her character arc but with the dialogue tags and writing. 

I’m not a fan of infidelity (in fiction or real life), no matter how romantic it appears and how many sacrifices the characters make. I’m not deducting points for this, as the whole element is handled quite well (and unrealistically), but I have to mention it here. 

To summarize, The Irish House is indeed a heartwarming novel about families, relationships, love, and choices. It’s a little slow and has a few issues, but leaves us with a satisfied feeling. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheIrishHouse 

The Forgotten Palace by Alexandra Walsh - Book Review

Publication Date: 12th April 2023

Genre: Historical, Contemporary Fiction, Dual Timeline

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Got some good aspects but still a mixed read 

1900, London 

Alice Webster made a huge mistake. Her family is furious but also wants the best for her. When Aunt Agatha plans a Grand Tour, Alice joins her. They go from London to Paris to Crete, and Alice finds herself fascinated by the archeological digs at Knossos. Soon, her life is entwined with the past and others from the present. 

Present Day, London

Eloise De’Ath is supposed to be a grieving widow, but only she knows the truth about her husband. She escapes to a house in Crete, inherited from her history-loving father-in-law, Quinn. Eloise begins to heal with the help of friends and discovers treasures in his study. She also finds Alice's diaries and feels like her life is linked with women from the past. 

What connects Ariadne, Alice, and Eloise? 

The story comes in the limited third-person POV of Alice and Eloise with a sprinkling of random diary snippets. 

What I Like: 

There’s no denying the research that went into the book. The author’s note at the end is probably more interesting and explains what’s real and fiction. 

The beginning is solid for both tracks. The setting, especially Crete, is just how it needed to be, neither extensive nor vague. Aunt Agatha’s kids add good bits of humor to the plot. The side characters are well-established and handle their roles with great success. 

The book deals with domestic abuse and shows how even women with successful careers make mistakes and prefer to ignore abuse as they don’t want to acknowledge that they are victims. It shows how the need to be a ‘strong and efficient female’ overrides personal security and can lead to life-threatening situations. I like this observation. 

There are quite a few references to theology, especially Madam Blavatsky. As someone who grew up with bedtime stories about the Theosophical Society, this appealed to me in many ways. Also, the core concepts of life, birth, death, and reincarnation in theology are attributed to Hinduism and Buddhism as they should be. 

Another aspect I like is the observation about how even scholars are not without biases shaped by their culture and upbringing. During a discussion between two characters, one of them (a woman, unsurprisingly) points out how even a world-famous archeologist re-constructs older civilizations based on their knowledge of their culture. So, it’s not surprising that goddesses and priestesses with independent positions get pushed back and limited to their roles next to male Gods and kings. 

What Could Have Been Better for Me: 

I’m not sure why this is advertised as a time-slip novel. It’s just a dual timeline book with a few bits and pieces of diary entries to make the plot seem intriguing. The connection between the timelines doesn’t make the impact it should. Furthermore, the personal lives of the characters take more space than the actual connection between them. 

There are several characters in the book. So many that I stopped noting down their names after a point. With as many characters in each timeline, tracking them got a little too much. 

I love history and mythology, but when I read fiction, I want a story that doesn’t rely on me remembering everything I read about Greek mythology, nor do I want a crash course on it. I don’t mind the story leaning on these aspects. I just don’t want so much of it in the book that it reads like a chapter from a textbook. Some readers will enjoy it. 

In dual timeline books, I’m prepared to like one track more than the other. Usually, it’s the historical track that fares better. Here, I wasn’t particularly fond of Alice (what she did was plain stupid for someone who claims to be logical and a scholar). Moreover, by trying to suppress information for a big reveal, Alice’s character ended up shallower and bratty. What little sympathy she had got diluted because of this. Eloise’s track was marginally better, though I couldn’t sympathize with her either. 

The writing is clunky and heavy in many places. This can be edited (maybe they did edit for the final copy; mine is an ARC). On the plus side, it’s easy to speed-read and not miss anything. 

To summarize, The Forgotten Palace has some good points to ponder and presents a tale of two women divided by more than a century. However, it also gets heavyhanded and tiring at times. 

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

#NetGalley #TheForgottenPalace

The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency by Lydia Travers - Book Review

Series: The Scottish Ladies Detective Agency #1

Publication Date: 27th April 2023

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery 

3.2 Stars 

One Liner: A mixed read; decent but needs work 

*****

Edinburgh, 1911

Maud McIntyre and her lady’s maid, Daisy, start a detective agency. They are surprised and excited when the Duchess of Duddingston offers them their first case- to prevent a robbery at her house party or find the jewel thief looting the elite at parties. 

The duo attends the house party undercover to end up with a dead body. The case is now of a murder! Though Maud solves the case, she isn’t sure about the culprit. Back in town, Maud and Daisy take up other cases which may or may not be connected to the Duddingston mystery. But Maud gets another call from the Duchess and knows things are far from over. Can she and Daisy find the real culprit this time? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Maud. 

My Thoughts: 

As a fan of historical cozy mysteries, I knew I had to read this book. The cover is cute too. The results are mixed, though. 

Since it is the first book in the series, it takes time to introduce the characters and set the stage. I went in prepared to handle this. 

The book is more of a three-in-one package as Maud and Daisy handle different cases one after another. The cases are connected in some way, so the common thread keeps things together (almost). I like this aspect as we get to see them try different methods to solve the cases. 

Maud is quite capable though prone to coming up with not-so-good ideas in her excitement. Daisy seems more balanced, and I’d have liked to read her POV as well. It would have been better than Daisy relaying her conversations with others by voice-acting them. It’s fun the first time, but not much afterward. Gets too clunky and long-winded. 

Lord Urquhart seems like a good guy (or as much good as he can be as a famous rake). His character arc is definitely better than the MC’s. There isn’t much about Daisy yet, so maybe that’s for the next books. 

While I expected the book to highlight the limitations on women in those days, I didn’t guess the extent of space the suffrage movement occupied as much space. I wouldn’t have minded if it played an integral part in the mystery (Example: Death at Crookham Hall), but here it seems more like a foundation for the coming book. However, it gets a little excessive and takes the focus away from the central plot. 

The book also has references to other novels and people, which at times, feel a little excessive. Let’s keep our focus on the characters instead. Trust me, you don’t want me to think of Sherlock (ahem) when reading another book. ;) 

The climax was decent, nothing spectacular, but I don’t think the author was aiming for it, either. It’s shorter than the multi-page reveal in most cozy mysteries, so that’s a definite plus. 

To summarize, The Scottish Ladies' Detective Agency is a decent start to the series but could do better with some tightening and another round of editing. The extras weigh down the book and distract readers from the cases. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheScottishLadiesDetectiveAgency

The Ones Who Are Buried by Kerry Wilkinson - Book Review

Series: Whitecliff Bay Mysteries #3

Publication Date: 17th April 2023

Genre: Small Town Mystery 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Bleak but interesting 

*****

Kevin Ashworth is a known name in Whitecliff. A teacher, he was arrested thirty years ago when two schoolboys disappeared during a trip with him. Their bodies haven’t been found yet, and Kevin is in prison. After all these years, Kevin wants to talk but only to Guy (and Millie goes along). 

What they find on the moor unleashes more questions, and Kevin decides not to talk. Millie feels the fear of losing her son to something similar and wants to uncover the truth of what happened in the past. The more she digs, the murkier it gets. What happens next? 

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

My Thoughts: 

Book three is better than book two in terms of the mystery and Millie’s character arc. We have two cases in this one as well. Apart from Kevin’s track, Millie is helping Zoe, a small-time celeb, find an important missing item. The tracks are independent of each other. 

While there is hardly any danger in the book, there is a lot of fear and panic as Millie continues to think of Kevin’s story and worries about Eric. She almost edges on paranoia in this one. While that’s a little annoying I can see the reason for her fears. 

I like the contrast in both cases dealt with in the book. Without giving spoilers, I can say that it’s a poignant observation of interpersonal relationships between family members. There’s no preaching. It’s up to the readers to consider, analyze, compare, and draw conclusions. 

It’s good that Millie has something to do with her life instead of being a pushover with the bare minimum existence. I hope she learns to be proactive with her life rather than hide in the shadows. There’s only so much of a pity party I can read. 

The book ends on an intriguing cliffhanger (not related to the mystery), so I’m glad book four is available for request. I also hope the ex and his new wife get their due. Not sure how many books I’ll read if Millie continues to be a doormat in this issue (yeah, it’s a threat). 

Am I the only one worrying about Millie’s lack of appetite? She hardly seems to eat anything in most of the books. Maybe making her assertive about her life would bring back some love for food? 

There’s a bit of development in the mystery of Millie's parents' suicide. It does create some interest. Luke seems to be a decent guy, though I’ll wait to confirm it. 

Jack and Rishi seem to be dealing with a new set of issues. I like how Rishi’s rep is dealt with a light touch. Book two mentions he is a vegetarian and has a loving/ supporting family (a relief to read). The bit about Rishi’s parents not celebrating Christmas but his mom cooking Indian food to feed the entire street made me smile. This is so on point. 

 Guy is who he is, though there are some secrets he isn’t ready to share with Millie (just as she doesn’t want to tell him certain things). I’m curious to know more. Let’s dig into the past. 

To summarize, The Ones Who Are Buried is the best of the series until now. The writing is easy to read, and the character arcs are steady. Looking forward to reading the next book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheOnesWhoAreBuried

***You can read my review of Book One and Book Two. 

The One Who Was Taken by Kerry Wilkinson - Book Review

Series: Whitecliff Bay Mysteries #2

Publication Date: 17th April 2023

Genre: Small Town Mystery 

4 Stars 

One Liner: An intriguing and fast-paced mystery (not a standalone) 

*****

Millie and Nicola were best friends at high school until something tore them apart. Fifteen years later, Nicola calls Millie, asking for help. Nicola’s purple shoes were strung up in the backyard. These were the same shoes she was wearing on a fateful night someone tied her to a tie and hacked her hair into random bits. 

The shoes could have been placed only by Nicola’s kidnapper. But neither she nor Millie knows who it is. They decided to forget the incident back then. But it looks like they have to get to the bottom of the issue. As Millie starts inquiring, she realizes that her memories and perspective of her school days are different from reality. 

What happened then? What happens now? How will Nicola and Millie continue to keep the secret and uncover the kidnapper? 

The story comes from Millie’s POV. 

My Thoughts: 

The second book in the series begins a few months after the first one ends. This one is more compact and puts together as the primary characters are already introduced and established in the previous book. 

The book has two tracks apart from Millie’s personal life. That makes it three seemingly unrelated tracks, but there’s no confusion anywhere (even when the characters overlap. It’s a small town setting, after all). 

Millie and Guy’s friendship is steady in this one. I like how they work together and help each other. Guy is truly the godfather Millie needs and she is the daughter he never had. 

We get more than a glimpse into Millie’s childhood and teen life in the Whitecliff. More details are revealed and add depth to her character. Millie is very much a flawed character but with a good heart. She is trying, and we can’t help but root for her. 

The main mystery is intriguing, but I’m not too sure about how it concludes. As a series reader (I already started book three), I can understand the reasoning. However, some readers may not like it, considering they read 270+ pages hoping to solve the issue. 

I so wish Millie would stop letting her horrible ex-husband and his snooty fiancée treat her like this. Yeah, she was wrong, but he’s no saint, either. I hope there’s a book soon where they get their due. I don’t want to wait too long for this! 

The setting is just as atmospheric and brooding as in book one. Whitecliff is no happy place. Or maybe it highlights the darker side of small towns a lot more. 

I like the random one-star reviews Millie reads on the internet. They don’t make sense and drive the point about how stupid, prejudiced, and annoying people can be. 

To summarize, The One Who Was Taken provides more answers about Millie but raises as many questions too. This book will not work as a standalone mystery. It has to be read as a part of the series and in the order (this comes from someone who doesn’t bother following a series order). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheOneWhoWasTaken

Heir of Uncertain Magic by Charlie N. Holmberg - Book Review

Series: Whimbrel House #2 

Publication Date: 11th April 2023

Genre: Historical Mystery, Paranormal, Romance 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining; Love Owein 

The Whimbrel House is no longer magical, but Merritt’s troubles are far from over. His magical capabilities are flourishing, and he has no idea how to control them (or minimize the side effects). Hulda is in a complicated position, with Myra missing and LIKER wanting to take over BIKER. 

Can the duo deal with the new developments and safeguard their blooming relationship? Why does it feel like the danger hasn’t yet passed? What do they have to deal with this time? 

The story comes in the limited-third person POV of Hulda, Merritt, and Owein. 

What I Like: 

Owein is a darling. I love all scenes with him. His vulnerability and need for a family come across very clearly. Of course, his magic is powerful and a treat to read. 

Merritt’s character arc is better in this one as we already know the answers to who, what, and why. His fears, uncertainties, pain, and his struggle in handling his magic feel real and tangible. The family confrontation scene is just right, neither dramatic nor too light. 

Baptiste and Beth Taylor continue to do their job and more. It’s great to meet them again in this book. I hope they’ll have meaty roles in book three as well. 

There are a couple of new characters who may or may not be the good guys. We get the gist of their characters without going into a lot of detail. It keeps the pacing nice and steady. (Normally, I prefer more detailed arcs, but this works better here.)

The magic and world-building are never OTT or overwhelming. It doesn’t go illogical or weird at any point. Those who read book one will know what to expect and won’t be disappointed with the elements in this book. 

The ending is, of course, intriguing, though a part of me is worried about Owein. Merritt and Hulda have an HFN, which will, hopefully, turn into HEA in book three. 

What Could Have Been Better for Me: 

I wondered more than once if Hulda was this annoying in book one. Somehow, she just didn’t seem to be fully there in the first half. While things got better, Hulda feels more uncertain, tentative, and constantly on the back foot. 

Myra’s character, though a prominent role, doesn’t do anything to establish her as a person. What little we get of her is not enough to make me feel one way or another. In fact, I was annoyed with Myra and Hulda many times throughout the book.  

To summarize, Heir of Uncertain Magic is entertaining and fast-paced. It takes off where book one ends and is best enjoyed if you read in the series order. While it works as a standalone, it may not be a great read. 

Thank you, NetGalley and 47North, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #HeirofUncertainMagic

Murder in Florence by T.A. Williams - Book Review

Series: Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries #3 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 07th April 2023

Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Makes me want to go to Italy! 

***

Dan Armstrong is now a private detective with an office in the Florence suburbs. He has cases, too, except that most of them deal with suspicious spouses, annoyed neighbors, etc. However, his friend and Chief of Police Virgilio sends a Hollywood case to Dan. 

A film crew with the famous heroine Selena Gardner is filming in Florence, and someone doesn’t like it. The team has been getting threats with messages wrapped around arrows. Dan takes the case and finds that there seems to be a lot of scandals and gossip than danger. But when one of the prominent team members gets killed, Dan realizes he needs to step up the game. 

Soon, Dan finds out there’s much he doesn’t know about the case, and this could put him and Oscar, his trusty black lab, in danger. Can Dan solve the case in time? 

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

My Thoughts: 

This is the third book in the series and works as a standalone. There are necessary references to the past to keep the reader up to date about Dan’s personal life. 

The chapters are shorter (thankfully), though the pacing is slow to medium. This is the kind of book you cannot rush through. With such a beautiful setting and enough mentions of food, there’s no point in rushing, either. 

The book also gives insights into the lives of celebrities and the complexities involved in making a film. Since we see things from Dan’s perspective, there’s no overload of information. 

The mystery takes time to unravel, and we have scenes where Dan and Virgilio discuss the same information multiple times. It can get a bit boring, especially in the middle, but things start to come together rather well. 

I like how seemingly unrelated bits tie up to take the story to the conclusion. The pages allocated to ‘other things’ aren’t fillers but have a role in the overall plot. Oh, there’s a short explanation of the various types of law force departments in Italy. 

I don’t like the repeated mention of Dizzy’s clumsiness. I get that she is klutzy (some of us are), and it’s okay to use it in a few scenes to advance the plot. However, repeated references make it a little too excessive. 

I don’t have to separately mention Oscar, should I? He is a darling, always ready to be cuddled by ladies and fed by anyone. The book would be boring without him. 

To summarize, Murder in Florence is a good continuation of the series, with a great setting, yummy food, an adorable doggy, and a few dead bodies. Looking forward to the fourth installment (and I’m so happy for Dan!). 

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

#NetGalley #MurderinFlorence 

Wendington Jones and The Missing Tree by Daniel Dockery - Book Review

Publication Date: 06th April 2023 

Genre: Historical Middle-Grade Adventure, Mystery 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Adventurous indeed; danger and action galore 

1920

Wendington Jones finds her world torn apart when her mother dies in a car accident. An adventurer all her life, Pennington Jones has been an inspiration for her daughter. Now, Wendington is left in her Grandmamma’s care with Rohan, a new valet, to handle the details. 

When Wendington receives a half manuscript of her mother’s latest book, she realizes that her mother might have succeeded in finding the Tree of Life somewhere in Australia. One thing leads to another, and Wendington realizes that many people want the manuscript and will do anything to take it from her. 

Determined to complete the mystery, Wendington gets the ship to Australia. She realizes that the danger is greater than she expected, and no one is who they claim to be. Can she solve the mystery and find the Tree of Life? Will the magical tree bring back her mother? 

The story comes in Wendington Jones’ limited-third person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

This is a book I wanted to love. It has everything I like in MG fiction. However, I ended the book with mixed feelings. 

The blurb calls it Enola Holmes meets Indiana Jones, and I agree with the comparison. The number of times Wendington gets into dangerous situations is exhausting. Kids who read the book should be aware that they aren’t supposed to try any of this to have an ‘adventure’. 

Here’s a fifteen-year-old girl- adamant, determined, sharp, brave, but also reckless and careless. Moreover, she is mourning the loss of her parents and is emotionally vulnerable. The book is one danger after another, which means Wendington also has numerous injuries and still keeps going, just like Indiana Jones. 

I love that Wendington is more than capable of taking care of herself. She can get things done and isn’t afraid to bend the rules when necessary. Thankfully, she also knows enough to stay away from dangerous people, if only she could easily identify who they are. 

The first chapter establishes Wendington’s character and does it with enough laughs and bittersweet moments. The first 35% of the book is fast-paced as it establishes the core plot and leads us to it. The last 25% picks up pace again, and things start to come together. However, the chunk in the middle (with Wendington on the ship) gets a little too long with endless incidents. 

One issue I have with MG and YA fiction is how the main characters think they need to take on the world on their own. Ask for help! Without giving spoilers, I can say that Wendington would have had it easier if she went to that one person who controlled the ship. Of course, she probably could have worked it out without running away from home, but then that’s no adventure. 

Grief, loss, and loneliness are presented very well. Wendingtoon goes through different emotions and learns to deal with them over time. Her emotions are real and a part of her. She does grow at the end of the book, so that’s a good thing. 

Percival is Wendington’s adopted pet newt, and he accompanies her on the adventure. The poor guy hardly has any say in the matter, though he is 100% loyal and sticks close to his new human friend. The scenes with the newt are quite funny and will appeal to the target audience. 

The writing is descriptive without being overly done. It’s easy to picturize the setting and the characters. The style is easy- informal and casual enough to keep the reader’s hooked. However, the book doesn’t have a single illustration. I hoped it would have at least a few, especially of the tree. Maybe the final copy will include artwork, but the ARC doesn’t. (The cover is perfect with those little details). 

The ending brings a hopeful and bittersweet closure for the lead character. However, I’m left with a few questions about what happened to certain people who played a major role in the book. It would have been nice to know they got their due. Since the book is very much standalone, a couple of paragraphs to tie the loose ends would have helped. 

I appreciate the Indian rep in the book, though I have to point out that India was still fighting to be rid of colonial rule during that period (and for another 27 years!). Rohan's family has been in England for years by then, and as always, this kind of thing leaves me with mixed feelings. 

To summarize, Wendington Jones and The Missing Tree is an action and danger-filled adventure story with a capable and clever lead character. The target audience will love it. However, as an adult, I couldn’t help but want to knock sense into her head and tell her to be sensible. There’s only so much danger a human body can handle! 

Thank you, NetGalley and UCLan Publishing, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #WendingtonJonesandTheMissingTree

***

TW: Parental death, mourning, shooting, near-death experiences. 

The House Is on Fire by Rachel Beanland - Book Review

Publication Date: 04th April 2023

Genre: Historical Fiction 

4.2 Stars 

One Liner: A true story told from four perspectives; poignant but not perfect 

Richmond, 1811

The winter season is in full swing, and the Virginia planters are in the capital to have some family time and entertainment. Placide & Green Company is putting on two plays per night, and the tickets are sold out. The night of Christmas is no different as people queue into the theater filled to the brim. Everything seems great until the place catches fire, and hell breaks loose. 

Four people, Sally, Cecily, Jack, and Gilbert, find that their lives change forever because of the decisions they make during the chaos. Their lives are not intertwined, whether they know it or not. And maybe, this is their chance to do what they’ve always wanted. But everything comes at a price. 

The story is presented in the limited-third person POV of the four main characters and divided into four days. 

What I Like: 

The shift in narratives works well in this one. It helps in maintaining momentum by forcing the reader to read faster and know what happens next. There are a lot of characters (not an issue for me as I make notes), and it can get overwhelming for some. 

While the writing style takes some time to get used to, it becomes easier to read as we sink into the story. I like that I could seamlessly go from one POV to another, irrespective of the chapter length. 

The book deals with various topics like slavery, racism, gender bias, lack of women’s rights, greed, obsession, ownership, loyalties, etc. It does justice to most themes, even if sometimes the author’s voice overpowers Sally’s voice. I didn’t mind it as much because it works for the plot and the setting. 

The setting comes alive, especially the theatre, the fire, and the aftermath. It’s like watching a reel play in the mind as you turn the pages. Some of it is triggering, but it is impactful and clear. The strength of the setting highlights the characters’ decisions and how these impact others’ lives. 

The author’s notes at the end are the best part of the book. They detail the real incident and the people involved. The author mentions how much of the book is true, which elements she speculated on, and how she used the material to create a plot. She also writes about her thoughts, opinions, and ideas when dealing with the topic. 

What Could Have Been Better for Me: 

The characters seem almost uni-dimensional and without much depth. This could be because due to different reasons, but I think the reader’s experience could have been enriching if there was more depth to some of them. 

This also means that we have to take the actions of certain characters at face value instead of exploring them in detail. A little too convenient for the plot, even if done with the right intentions. 

The overall pacing is slow, which I expected, given the topic. However, the middle tends to stretch a little longer than necessary. Considering that the book’s ending is ‘realistic’ rather than fictional or neatly tied up, the middle part feels extra heavy and dragging once we reach the end. 

To summarize, The House Is on Fire is a poignant novel about people and how their true selves become apparent in crisis. It is not an easy book (multiple triggers), but definitely worth reading. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheHouseIsOnFire 

***

TW: Rape, assault, violence, racism, death. 

The Matchmaker by Catherine Walsh - Book Review

Publication Date: 18th April 2023 

Genre: Contemporary Small Town Romance

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Delightful and entertaining but slow 

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Katie Collins has lived in Ennisbawn, a tiny Irish village, all her life. She loves the local community, the pub she works at, her dear friends, her granny, and the surrounding hills and forests. 

However, the peaceful village is being disturbed and revamped by Glenmill developers intent on building hotels, golf parks, and spas that will bring tourists but ruin the local culture and its authenticity. 

When Kelly, the only remaining local pub, is next on the list, Katie has a faceoff with Callum, the site manager, and his boss, Jack. She is determined to revive the village’s annual matchmaking festival and help people find love. Except that she has a lot to do and not enough time, funds, or support. 

However, Katie and her friends are determined to fight to the last second. Maybe they can pull it off. And what’s a matchmaking festival without some love? What does the future have in store for Katie & Callum and the little village? 

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

What I Like: 

I have a special love for small-town settings, be it rom-com or cozy mysteries. The setting is spot on in the book. It also shows how bringing together a group of people feeling resigned and defeated is not easy. 

Anushka, Gemma, and Adam are great supporting characters and friends. I’m not sure if it’s a fluke or well-researched, but I have to admit how Anushka goes by Nush (instead of Anu) and the secularism hardwired into her psyche made me read much like an immigrant she is. There isn’t much about her background (which isn’t necessary anyway, so no complaints). 

Noah reads like a typical eleven-year-old until he shows maturity in the second half. That kid will grow up to be a good guy. And he loves cakes… ;) 

The writing seamlessly has humor and funny moments woven into the plot. I enjoy this kind of writing, even if it reads a little dramatic and cheesy at times. It’s cute, in a way.

Granny Mauve has some spunk and has a beautiful relationship with Katie. Also, Katie has a relatively happy and safe childhood. It’s comforting to read. 

Jack Dorsey’s character arc is realistic, possibly better than Callum’s, who goes from one to another real fast. 

What Could Have Been Better for Me:

I won’t complain about insta-love as I was prepared for it. However, I do wish the characters are a little more developed, especially Callum. He is the MMC of the book and needs to be something more than an enemy-turned-lover of the FMC. Those itsy bitsy bits about his childhood aren’t enough. 

The matchmaker event is crucial for the plot. While quite a lot happens, the core of it is supposed to be match-making. Here, the book misses its mark. We see Katie learning how things that look good on paper don’t always work in real life. However, this could have been elaborated on a little more. Maybe continue the conversation with her Granny and show how Katie grows as a person. It feels like a lost opportunity when multiple hints refer to this aspect. 

The side characters are sometimes more interesting than the lead couple. I love strong supporting characters, but they shouldn’t shadow the main characters. A bit more character development for Katie and Callum would have prevented this. Also, Granny needs more space. She is a darling. 

To summarize, The Matchmaker is a delightful entertainer if you want something lighthearted and sweet. You’ll enjoy it more if you go prepared for insta-love and Hallmark-ish plot. 

Needless to say, I like how the author has a natural flair for incorporating funny elements into her writing, and look forward to reading her future works.  

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheMatchmaker