Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 71
October 19, 2021
Murder on the Pier- Book Review
Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery3.8 Stars One Liner: Works as a breather and a timepass read.
Flora Steele is back in action dragging Jack with her to solve yet another crime. Set in 1955 in Sussex, the story continues a few months after book one ended. Flora is busy managing the book store, All is Well, while Jack somehow completed the draft of his seventh book.
It’s winter, and the villagers have gathered in the wake of Bernie, the no-good missing husband of Kate. He was missing for months when his body was finally found. Polly arrives at the wake, all dressed up in riches.
However, she’s soon found dead and floating under the pier. The police, of course, call it an accident or a suicide. But Flora has other ideas. She knows Polly was murdered and intends to find out who the killer is. Jack has no option but to tag along. As the list of suspects increases, will the duo solve the case on time? How will they fare when the killer decides to target them instead?
I requested the ARC the instant I saw it. The first book was entertaining, and I was eager to read the next installment in the series. Murder on the Pier works pretty well as a standalone, though it can be a little confusing to remember all the characters.
The flow is decent, and so is the storyline. Flora is an amateur sleuth, and it shows. However, she’s got a brain and uses it well (at least half the time). There’s slight progress on the personal track, which is artfully woven into the main plot.
The sleuthing is interesting, and I could guess the killer halfway through. Since I don’t mind guessing it right, I was still curious to know how Flora and Jack would come to the conclusion. My once ruse is that the book didn’t feel as charming as the first one. It’s good, but not what I’d call great. Still, I’ll be reading book three and hoping that it would be set in Cornwall.
To sum up, Murder on the Pier is a light cozy mystery and works as a great timepass read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#MurderonthePierAFloraSteeleMysteryBook2 #NetGalley
October 17, 2021
On a Night Like This- Book Review
Genre: Contemporary, Chicklit, Light Women’s Fiction 4 Stars One Liner: Lighthearted, warm, and comforting.
Fran Cooper is looking for a job that doesn’t require traveling. She’s been an assistant to various corporate personalities in the past. However, not finding any decent job makes her give a shot at being the PA of a mysterious celebrity for an event.
The job takes her to a yacht that sails from London to Italy for The Crystal Ball event. Juliette, an international singer, is Fran’s boss and will be performing at the event.
However, things don’t go as planned. Fran gets a chance to enjoy the ball, wearing a fabulous gown and having a time of her life. Despite her initial hesitation, Fran enters the ball and has adventures, some of which she could’ve done without.
Yet, the event changes her. Helps her come to terms with things in her life and make decisions she should’ve made a long time ago.
Many reviewers have pointed out the Cinderella-like feel of the story. In fact, there’s a reference to the fairytale a couple of times. The book is a lighthearted contemporary fiction that still deals with issues like relationships, friendships, knowing one’s true desire, and so on.
The book is written in the first person from Fran’s perspective, and it was indeed a delight to read. She’s smart, funny, and caring; a little too caring, which leads to her suffering in silence and accepting less than what she deserves. The story takes us through her self-realization, her growth, and finally, her finding true love.
Romance isn’t the central point of the book. We still have HEA, though. Fran’s been engaged to Stew, someone I’d gladly drown in a piping hot stew. I guess that explains the kind of guy he is.
Luckily, Fran meets Evan in the second half of the book, and he’s such a sweet and understanding guy. His outlook about life and calling it a jigsaw puzzle was rather interesting to read. That guy is a keeper.
Other characters like Jess, Sarah, Juliette, and even Rachel (who’s there in the book for only a couple of chapters) are full of life and have defined personalities. Sure, the story relies on well-known tropes and doesn’t really have anything new to offer.
Yet, it’s a warm and cheerful story to read. There’s comfort in picking up such books, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Not even when Fran says and does things that’ll make us roll our eyes (Such instances are not too many. Her arc is better than other ramblings heroines).
To sum up, On a Night Like This is a funny, sweet, quirky, and light read. It’s a perfect breather between heavy books. It also has a great pace despite being 380+ pages long.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper Collins, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2021
The Lighthouse- Book Review
Genre: YA, Mystery, Magic Realism, Romance 3.5 StarsOne Liner: Mixed feelings, oh, well!
Amy is struggling to deal with the death of her mother. Her father, a police detective, is clueless about finding a way to connect with his daughter. The distance between them is growing farther, and there’s no one to fill it.
Then comes a chance to go to Seabrook, a small town with a historical lighthouse. Amy’s father has to close a cold case and hopes he gets to spend time with Amy, even if it is only for a day in the town.
However, unexpected incidents result in Amy meeting Ryan and spending her weekend with him. Ryan is a young man caring for his father and working on their family ranch.
The pair hits off and feels comfortable talking to each other. The lighthouse, though, has other plans. The lamp flashes a strong beam after decades and results in a rush of speculations and assumptions.
Amy’s right in the middle of a mystery, and she somehow finds herself entering the forsaken and crumbling lighthouse. What does Amy find inside? How does it change her life and Ryan’s? What does this mean to the Seabrook and its people who are already obsessed with the lighthouse?
• The first half of the book is pretty much what you’d expect from a sweet YA romance with a touch of mystery.
• The midsection of the book is devoted to fantasy/magic realism of sorts with a new theory thrown in.
• The final section is a family YA story that ends with an epilogue decades later.
Now, I do like new ways to create a fantasy in a real-world setting. This one was a bit vague at first, but I understood the concept. It was interesting too.
However, the story pretty much went back to the non-fantasy track, and there wasn’t any reference to it. Not even in the epilogue (except for a distant connection). I personally love epilogues, but this one disappointed me. Guess my expectations were different than what was delivered in the book.
As much as I liked the book until about 75-80%, the rest of it didn’t work much for me. The only saving grace is that the writing is easy to read. I could finish 360+ pages in two days. Some of the dialogues are surface-level and way too generic. But since the characters were YA, I didn’t mind that much.
To sum up, The Lighthouse had a promising start only to end up flat towards the end. Also, I felt the lighthouse wasn’t used to its full potential. It was more of a convenient prop when it could have been a lot, lot more.
Thank you, NetGalley and Beacon Press Limited, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#JourneyToSeabrook #NetGalley
*****
P.S: No idea why this one is categorized as an adult book. It is typical YA and has no cuss words or explicit romance.
P.P.S: I have no experience with audiobooks. But considering the dialogues and the fantasy concept, I’m not too sure it’ll be easy listening to this one. One’s more likely to finish it faster by reading than listening.
October 13, 2021
The Keeper of Happy Endings- Book Review
Soline Russel belongs to a family from Paris that specializes in ensuring happy endings for others. Their hand-stitched bridal gowns are known to bind the couple together forever. But the blessing is also a curse. No one in the family has had a happy ending of their own. Soline tries to challenge the curse only to realize she can’t. Years later, in Boston, Rory (Aurora) is trying to find hope and stay positive. Her fiancé has been abducted in another country, and there’s no news of him. The strained relationship with her mother offers no solace. Until, by chance, Rory spots an old shop damaged by a fire accident.
It rekindles her desire to make her dreams come true. Rory’s persistence brings her face to face with Soline, the owner of the store. Soline sure has made a name for herself in an unknown country, but what’s she has lost can never let her live in peace.
Rory’s situation brings Soline out of her self-imposed exile. Of course, life isn’t easy, and things change just when their bond deepens. An unexpected decision by Rory sets the ball rolling. Secrets are revealed, and a new ray of hope is found. But is it possible to hope for the elusive happy ending for either of them?
The book is 416 pages long, and as with every historical, the start is slow. But the book picks up the pace and seamlessly flows between different timelines and POVs. We get to see the story from Soline’s and Rory’s perspectives, giving us a chance to appreciate both women. Two other women play a vital role in the book- Camilla (Rory’s mom) and Thia.
The story is beautiful and heartbreaking. At about 59%, I connected the dots, but then the author threw in a twist. Of course, my guess was right, but the way she revealed it worked better than my expectations.
A book with a title as such should have a happy ending, and this one indeed does. Some of it might seem a little too neatly tied up, but hey, I wanted a happy ending and got one. No complaints.
The characters are well developed. There are subtle hints to see beyond the obvious and delve deeper into the character’s mind. That’s clever writing.
The two biggest plus points are-
Emotions that hit the cord A fine balance between both timelinesMany such books end up with one timeline grabbing the limelight. That doesn’t happen here. However, there are a couple of minor issues that could’ve been addressed. Still, the book is a worthy read in many ways.
This is my first book by the author, and I’m surely going to read her other works.
To sum up, The Keeper of Happy Endings is a story of hope, love, second chances, family, relationships, and happy endings.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheKeeperofHappyEndings #NetGalley
October 8, 2021
A Letter from Nana Rose- Book Review
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary 3.7 Stars One Liner: Heartwarming but could have been better.
Jill and her two sisters, Rachel and Brooke, are trying to overcome the grief of losing their beloved Nana Rose earlier that year. The old lady had asked them to spend two weeks at their cottage on Dune Island as the sisters didn’t every year. She has arranged to send them letters about her past; about things she never spoke to anyone.
The sisters bond as always. Yet, Jill can’t help but worry about the underlying strain between them. It’s the letters that give them hope to make decisions and live lives the way they wanted.
Being single at thirty-nine is not something Jill calls an achievement when her sisters have happy marriages. Still, she knows that she’d never settle for less. Her Nana Rose wouldn’t let her do that.
Meeting Alex, the handsome tree surgeon on Dune Island, sparks interest in Jill. But her priority is the letters and Nana’s past. What happened back then that the old lady could never share it until after her death? How does the past affect their future, and what does it mean to Jill?
The book is in the limited third person, with Jill’s POV been provided to the readers. The story starts with Jill and her sisters visiting the cottage for a two-week stay. However, things are strained between them. The elder sisters want to be practical about the cottage while Jill puts emotions first.
The past was revealed in the form of letters, and I must admit that I enjoyed the past more than the present. In fact, I wished the past was shown to the reader instead of being told in the form of a letter. The main reason for this was the lack of enough backstory to fully understand and appreciate the dynamics between the sisters.
With bits and pieces being shared, the rest is on the reader to assume and move along with the characters. The arc just wasn’t complete for any characters. They’ve been sketched and left to fend for themselves. It worked at times and didn’t at times.
The ending was realistic and still hopeful and happy. The book is small (250+ pages) and was fast-read. Though I love small books, this one probably needed a few more pages to delve deeper into the storyline and highlight each character.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a light read with a comforting storyline, A Letter from Nana Rose would be a good choice. Nana Rose is a great character and makes her presence/ absence felt in the book.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#ALetterfromNanaRose #NetGalley
October 6, 2021
The Curse of Morton Abbey- Book Review
Genre: Historical Mystery, Gothic Romance 3.8 Stars
One Liner: Atmospheric setting with a feminist heroine, but lacks the punch of a good mystery.
Vaughan Springthorpe has been her father’s assistant for a long time. She finally has a chance to prove that she’s a worthy solicitor when women were limited to manage the house and attending parties.
Despite her mother’s doubts, Vaughan goes to Morton Abbey in Yorkshire to assist Sir Peter Spencer with the sale of the estate. Of course, her employer is away from the dark, gloomy, and mysterious place.
Vaughan has to live in the same house with a grumpy butler, a talkative housekeeper, and Peter’s invalid younger brother, Nicholas. The strange sounds and unexplained silence of the members scare Vaughan, but she’s determined to get her job done.
The job itself proves to be difficult with the library and the papers in the most kind of mess she’s ever seen. As days pass into weeks, Vaughan sets things in order. She meets Nicholas as well as Joe, the gardener at the Abbey. None of them seem to have any explanation for the incidents that trouble her mind. Moreover, she realizes that people aren’t always what they seem to be.
The nearest village, Netherton, seems to be picture-perfect until Vaughan realizes that there’s something not right. Things get complicated as Vaughan learns new things. However, some incidents are still a mystery, and she is determined to get to the bottom of them. Can Vaughan succeed in revealing the curse of Morton Abbey and finding what her heart desires?
The book has a slow start but picks up momentum later on. The writing is neither too descriptive nor bland. The mix of show and tell works well to establish the setting and the characters. While we realize a few things at the same time as Vaughan does, the other hints are provided for us to connect the dots.
Vaughan is the narrator of the story, and we see the change in her as she grows through the book. She is an independent woman wanting to make her mark in the male-dominated society. While that’s great, some of her comments seem a little too condescending about other women and their approach to life.
The other characters seem to be a hit and miss. While I loved Nicholas Spencer’s mood swings and erratic behavior, and Joe was the too-good-to-be-true kind of guy, the rest of them were pretty much casual. The romance did keep me interested to see what would happen at the end.
The mystery tends to go in and out of the spotlight. The final reveal somehow fell flat and didn’t seem to be justice to the title.
The book did have an epilogue of sorts, but even that ended almost abruptly. That kind of approach works for a short story than a full-length novel. When I read almost 400 pages, I want a better and more settled ending (especially since I’m a fan of HEA).
To sum up, The Curse of Morton Abbey is a decent atmospheric novel with elements of romance and suspense. It would make for a good one-time read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Thornfield Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheCurseofMortonAbbey #NetGalley
October 3, 2021
A Lighthouse Christmas- Book Review
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary 4 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming, hopeful, and happy ever after.
Mia goes back to Winstead Cape when her Grandma Ruth passes away. The old lady managed a historic lighthouse that has been in the family for generations.
Alice, Mia’s mother, discovers the debt left behind by Grandma Ruth. With her finances balanced on the edge and Riley, Mia’s younger sister holding a small job at the hospital, they have no option but to sell the lighthouse.
Mia has to be the strong one and take care of the renovations and arrangements. The nearing Christmas, her broken marriage, the pressure of working with her soon-to-be ex-husband threaten to overwhelm her. Yet, she steps in to take care of things. Her mother and sister step up, and they work together as a unit.
Will is the real estate Mia hired to sell the lighthouse. He has troubles of his own and some of his sister Kate’s to deal with. Yet, when Mia and Will meet and work together, they find solace and peace together.
But things get complicated soon enough. The secrets from Grandma Ruth’s past come out in the open. Mia’s life suddenly is at crossroads, and she’s trying to find her true self.
Can Christmas in the lighthouse save the place and fix things for everyone?
The book is as beautiful as Christmas books should be. It’s more of women’s fiction, and there isn’t any romance, per se. What we do get is people getting to each other and discovering themselves in the process.
The characters are well-etched and come alive on the paper/ screen (for ebooks). The hints to the secret are easy to guess. Nothing gets dragged beyond a point, either.
I love how Will is a smart and sensible guy with a good heart. He is confident, compassionate, and ready to help. Mia’s got a good head and a good heart, both of that make her a lovely person.
There’s enough angst and doubt to add some drama though everything is resolved easily. The imagery of the setting, food, and winter season was beautiful. The writing is easy and smooth. A couple of characters and themes are predictable, but that’s the comfort of reading this genre.
To sum up, A Lighthouse Christmas is a warm story about family, relationships, and listening to what the heart wants.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#ALighthouseChristmas #NetGalley
*****
P.S: Felix was such an adorable kid! Loved his character in the book.
October 1, 2021
The Field of Wrongdoing- Book Review
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Small Towns 4.3 Stars
One Liner: Twisted as hell. Not for the fainthearted.
Small towns may look perfect from the outside but are full of secrets no one wants to reveal. Nine years ago, a dead body was found in the well on Leo’s property. The killer is never caught. Soon, Leo and Cassie, two teenagers in love, get separated when Leo ends up in an accident. The event puts him in prison and away from the only girl he has ever loved.
Cassie has lost everything that night but continues to exist with neither hope nor any desire to make her life better. Leo comes back to the town and is on parole when another girl goes missing.
Cassie's stepdad is the town’s sheriff and is determined to keep Leo away from Cassie in one way or another. After what seems like an eternity, Cassie realizes that she needs to take control of her life. That means she has to find the missing girl and solve the past case.
But what does it do to her? Where will her quest for truth lead her?
The book is 360 pages long and goes by super quick. I finished it two days (appx. 3+ hours). The chapters are short and rush by. The narration slows down around 20-40% and picks up pace again.
The POV shifts between Cassie and Leo most of the time, with another third POV towards the end. The storyline goes back and forth a little, but it’s all neatly planned. There’s no confusion anywhere.
Events are revealed one after another, and we realize things aren’t what they are. The characters get darker and more twisted, except for (not saying). Most of them are bad. That’s it. No redeeming arc or even a single likable attribute.
The dark mood sustains throughout. There is no respite or a breather at any point. The story keeps pushing worse stuff as we turn the pages.
Cassie has a great arc and is the major narrator of the book. She starts as a hopeless alcoholic. Her actual personality comes out only towards the end, and we see what Cassie is capable of.
Coming to the rest of the story, there were a few things left loose. That dimmed the story’s appeal a wee bit. That shouldn’t stop you from picking this one, though.
To sum up, The Field of Wrongdoing is twisted, messed up, dark, and even suffocating at times. This one is no causal read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Level 4 Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheFieldofWrongdoing #NetGalley
TW: Rape, Attempted suicide, animal death, incest.
September 26, 2021
Christmas in the Scottish Highlands- Book Review
Genre: Christmas Romance4 Stars
Bella lives in a picturesque Scottish village and works as a kindergarten teacher. She’s the heart of the village, always helping someone, even if it means she has to spread herself thin. Being alone on Christmas doesn’t sound that good, but Bella is pretty much used to it.
When she crashes into an elderly lady, Edina, who lives in the castle nearby, and injures her foot, Bella offers to stay and help her. Bella realizes how lonely Edina feels and tries to bring cheer to her life and the castle.
Enters, Jack, Edina’s grandson, a hotshot lawyer in London. He seems arrogant, judgmental, and pessimistic about most things in life. Yet, Bella and Jack work together on Bella’s projects and learn that there’s more to the other person than first impressions.
The Christmas Spirit is all around them, and attraction blooms between the lead couple. But with both of them having a few past issues they don’t want to deal with, will there be a future with happy ever after?
This is a sweet, cute, cozy, and heartwarming Christmas romance with likable characters. The best part about such books is that the side characters would be endearing and lovable. This book is no exception. Be it Edina, Tavish, Kenzy, Logan, or the little munchkins from Bella’s class, everyone has a personality and potential for a short story or a novella of their own.
Christmas in the Scottish Highlands has more than one couple finding love, and I enjoyed their stories equally. The writing flows, nice, warm and familiar with descriptions of the setting and easy conversation between the characters.
The main reason I pick small town/ village-based romances is the familiarity of the setting and the assurance of the ending. We know how the book will end, and that’s the kind of comfort I need at times. It’s much like eating a slice of favorite cake (the book has a good number of them too) and enjoying its taste as always.
The characters have their flaws, and the writer keeps things believable most of the time. Since the book is just 200+ pages, nothing gets dragged beyond the breaking point.
To sum up, Christmas in the Scottish Highlands is much like eating your favorite chocolate cake and sipping hot chocolate on autumn noon.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#ChristmasintheScottishHighlands #NetGalley
September 24, 2021
A Spell of Rowans- Book Review
Genre: Contemporary/ Women’s Fiction, Hints of Fantasy 4.2 Stars
Trigger Warning: Nonsexual child abuse, suicide, attempted sexual assault.
Vic, aka, Victoria is called home to Grimsby by her elder sister Philippa. Their mother, the infamous narcissist, Rachel Rowan has died, and her three children have to settle the details. Vic agrees to her Philippa and their younger brother Liam in the town.
She’s been away for too long, trying to escape the suffocating life with their mother. However, she knows that nothing involving Rachel will ever be easy.
As an empath, Vic has spent her life trying to block’s emotions for messing with hers. Philippa was her opposite and charmed people around her. Liam could tell the history of whatever object he touched. And their dead mother, Rachel, had the knack of finding secrets and controlling others.
Things take a turn for worse the moment Vic enters Grimsby. Though she’s not surprised, Vic realizes that she didn’t know a lot of things because she kept it that way. Liam seems to have suffered the most, and Vic feels torn between wanting to help and wondering if she should.
The past, too, has been left dangling when Vic left, and it looks like Vic has no choice but to face her fears. With her siblings to support her, Vic finds alleys in two men with powerful positions. With one of them being close to her heart, can Vic survive the intensity of complicated emotions piling on top of one another?
A Spell of Rowans is my first book by the author, and I'm impressed by her writing. The book really isn’t sci-fi or fantasy even. It’s more on the lines of a little paranormal here and there. Most of it is a family drama with some suspense and uncertain romance thrown in.
Since I pretty much forgot the genre, I could enjoy the book without wondering about the lack of fantasy elements (on a large scale). Also, I tend to like books with just a little touch of fantasy, so this fits my reading preferences rather well.
Another plus point is the writing flow. After ending up with a couple of slow books, this one relieved me. My pace got back to normal, and I added the extra 0.2 stars for the same.
The story intrigued me from the first page and kept me hooked throughout. Vic is our narrator, and we see things from her perspective. She’s the kind of character I like to read- a bit vulnerable, a little headstrong, a bit impulsive but sensible, determined, caring, and capable of carrying the story on her shoulders.
The other characters, Philippa, Liam, and Reed, were also well etched, though Hunter needed a little more. That said, I loved Liam’s character. He’s an endearing young man, who’s been through a lot, carries a lot of baggage, and yet is a compassionate man.
Though Rachel is dead, we feel her presence throughout the book, just the way the author intended it. Her character is defined from the first. Yet, it’s only later that we begin to see the full extent of it.
I wished some of it was shown earlier, kind of alternating with the present. That would have better sustained the momentum at the end. Also, this book isn’t high in atmosphere or descriptions. It has some and is easy to visualize, but those looking for the high atmospheric effect will be disappointed. I should’ve been too, but, guess I picked it up at the right time. This is what I needed now, and it worked for me.
To sum up, A Spell of Rowans is not an easy book to read (refer to the triggers), but a worthy one.
Thank you, NetGalley and Rook and Castle Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#ASpellofRowans #NetGalley
