Srivalli Rekha (Semi Hiatus)'s Blog, page 80
January 16, 2021
Ruby Falls- Book Review
Genre: Thriller/ Mystery 3.3 Stars
The premise was exciting at its best, and I was delighted to get an ARC of the book. Ruby Falls is the story of Ruby/ Eleanor, a 26yo actress. It deals with her past where her father leaves her alone at Ruby Falls and leaves, never to come back.
Twenty years later, Eleanor is happily married to a stranger, Orlando Montague, and they move to LA for a fresh start. The story is narrated by Eleanor or Ellie, and we see how things are not what they seem.
What has happened? What is happening? Who is the victim? Who is the culprit? These questions need answers, and the book tries to work them out.
The descriptions are vivid. The setting is clear, and it was easy to visualize the scenes unfold as I read. Trying to get into Ellie’s mind was a fun exercise until towards the end. The book, as such, held a lot of promise.
Ellie grows up with psychological problems due to her father’s actions. It makes her a highly intriguing narrator if we can ignore the constant rambling (I confess I did find it hard to not roll my eyes at some of her ramblings).
Still, the plot keeps us hooked. It makes us want to know what had happened. We do get answers, but then, the ending just falls flat on the face. Literally. I should’ve guessed when the book was compared to The Silent Patient.
What could have been a wow moment turned into a ‘duh’ moment as the twist resulted in more questions that had no proper explanation in the story. There sure are subtle references to justify the twist, but the overall storyline doesn’t add up.
Considering that the book just ended without proper closure, the explanation in the previous pages seems more like an easy way out of a complex story rather than offering any real solution. What started as a 4+ story ended up with less than 3.5 stars because of this.
Overall, the book deals with some important topics of parental abandonment and lack of love from family, but that’s it. Readers who love to read stories with ‘punch in your face’ or ‘pull the rug’ twists are going to enjoy this one. It just isn’t for me.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Post Hill Press.
#NetGalley
January 14, 2021
In a Town Called Paradox- Book Review
Genre: Historical Fiction, American Fiction 3.4 Stars
The book is set in a town called Paradox and deals with the lives of its people. Corin is sent from NYC to Paradox in southeast Utah after the death of her mother. She has to live with Aunt Jessie, a spinster, and a religious rancher.
As the town’s Mayor builds an entire new town, and names it Eldorado to attract the Hollywood, life chances for the townsfolk. We see Corin grow up, try a hand at acting, and get back to ranching. We see her relationship with Cal and the entry of Ark. We see Ark’s childhood and how it shaped his ideas.
Life changes when Corin and Ark get married and tragedy strikes soon after.
Yiska, a Navajo Indian, enters the town, and we get to see his past struggles.
A few more POVs are thrown in to give us more background details about different characters whose past actions have impacted others’ lives.
The book starts out very well, interesting and engaging. But from part two, it starts to have too much information, literally dumped on the readers.
Around 55%, the book picks up again, falls a bit, and gets better until it ends on a flat note. After reading almost 300 pages, I was surprised to see that the book just ended. The ending was incomplete, with some information left for the readers to assume as they seemed fit.
While the characters were etched well, the narration wasn’t as gripping. The book sure had its moments, but the overall effect was just about average. There was a lot of filler (imagine sharing two full chapters about a bull to set the stage for the coming twist). I mean, give us a gist, and we’d have still understood.
A whole lot of research has been done about Native Americans. It certainly must be applauded. But the tone of the presentation had to suit the book. It resembled non-fiction more than fiction. The book has quite a few places where it reads like non-fiction rather than fiction. That made the book dry even when it was supposed to be emotional and even passionate about the injustice faced by women and the Native Americans.
Overall, it was a decent book that taught me something new but not strong enough to make a lasting impression.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Prestwicke Publishing.
#InaTownCalledParadox #NetGalley
***
P.S: It's sad that the authors couldn’t find the contribution of ancient Bharat when talking about the stars and universe in the book. Our land gave much to the world.
January 10, 2021
The Watchmaker of Dachau- Review
Genre: Historical Fiction, WW II 4.5 Stars
The Watchmaker of Dachau is yet another story that deals with the horrors of WW II. The main story is set during 1945, the last few months, where people who could escape for years got captured and tortured. Many more lost lives while some continued to hope and survive, waiting to be rescued.
The prologue and epilogue are set in 1996, Cornwall, England. The past is divided into three POVs (though all are written in the third person). Issac, the watchmaker, Anna, the maid, and Friedrich, the son of Senior Officer Becher and his bratty wife, are the major three people who offer us viewpoints. We see another POV, one that is filled with love, pain, confusion, memories, and philosophy.
Characters like Greta, Jan, Nina, Elijah, Levi, and others add to the story. We see many thoughts and reactions from the characters, all of which seem as real as they can get. It is evident that the author did her research very well. She and her editor also made sure not to dump their research into the book.
The focus was on bringing the characters to life and making them appear human rather than using them as mere tools to share historical details. For me, that’s what made the book so effective. I love how Friedrich’s character was used throughout the book. It’s one of the highlights of the story.
The writing is both descriptive and concise. It’s not fast-paced but is not too slow to make the reader lose interest.
Right from the prologue, we see hints provided to the reader about what’s to come. This is no crime fiction, but it’s seemed like the author’s way of preparing the reader and allowing them to make their own conclusions. It is clever writing.
I was disappointed by the ending (not for what it is was, but well, I wished it to be a wee bit different). I don’t want to say more and reveal anything. That said, I did have an inkling that it would be on similar lines (ref: hints).
Overall, this is a sad yet beautiful book about love, hope, and rebuilding a new life after surviving the worst nightmare.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheWatchmakerofDachau #NetGalley
January 2, 2021
Goya- Book Review
4.5 Stars
People who know me know how much I love to read (and write) short stories. Imagine a book with a bunch of stories in different locations, with varying themes and a multitude of characters. And when friends publish their collection of short stories, it is always special.
Goya by Priya is one such book I’ve been eager to read for a while. We have been working closely for the past year, and I appreciate her determination, humor, and dedication even more.
Coming to the book, this is a delightful collection of 27 stories belonging to different genres. Most stories are short, crisp, and still manage to pack a whole lot of emotions. The biggest story happens to be my favorite, and why not? It’s detective fiction. Nothing like a crime waiting to be solved to make me happy.
I’ve already read a couple of stories online, and one of them has been my absolute favorite-
The Second-best Bed. I’m not going to list all my favorites (don’t worry) but will mention that there’s a story for every reader.
From science fiction to YA to family drama and historical fiction, Goya is an array of genres, colors, and emotions. The writing is lucid and flows like a gentle river. You can drift from one story to another and not feel any jerks, even though the stories are far from being connected to each other. There isn’t even a common theme in the book.
Still, it took me less than two hours to read from the first page to the last and remember the stories as well. Goya is a dreamy and delicious book (minus food, of course) for readers who enjoy short doses of interesting characters.
Grab your copy today and step into the world where words carry the readers to distant lands.
*****
P.S: I have been lucky enough to get an author-signed copy of the book.
December 19, 2020
The Red Dirt Hymnbook- Book Review
3.2 Stars
Ruby Fae McKeever understands at last that marrying JW and living on a bus with his parents was not a good idea. She and her almost one-year-old baby girl are feeling suffocated. Ruby is cut off from her family, abused in the name of being learning to be a dutiful Christian and an obedient wife. Her husband can never come out from his father’s influence. Ruby can’t live with them anymore. She needs to go home. But when? And most importantly, how?
The premise of the book was excellent. The cover was perfect. I was rooting for Ruby from the very first page of the book. But guess what? It took her until the last page to get there. I never it wasn’t going to be easy. There would be pressure, manipulation, and abuse. After all, those who preach are the last ones to follow it.
But what disappointed me was the way the story went on and on. Even the 250 pages seemed like a lot at one point in time. There is too much stream of consciousness in the narration. Stories from the past pop into the storyline at random. Ruby keeps getting distracted at the slightest hint. I did like some of those, but they stretched the original plotline more than necessary.
And Ruby’s wavering mind wasn’t any help either. While it seemed realistic that her plans would go wrong, I just wished she put up more fight. Even towards the end, it wasn’t her who takes charge of the situation. At some point, she had to learn and stop being stupid, but she doesn’t.
Reading about abuse is never easy, and this book was no exception. It only made me want to knock some sense into Ruby and ask her to use her brain.
Finally, when I thought it was going to end, there came another flashback story. Not sure how it would help as I felt nothing change in me towards any of the characters.
Overall, the theme deserved better treatment and tighter editing. The story has a happy ending, and well, the book did evoke emotions in me, so it’s a decent read. I just wish it was even better.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am sharing this review voluntarily.
#BookSirens
December 12, 2020
The Boatman's Wife- Book Review
Genre: Women’s Fiction 4 Stars
From Maine to Western Ireland, the book deals with love, loss, and hope in the lives of two women whose lives are connected in the most unexpected way. The story runs in two timelines, every alternate chapter dedicated to either of the women.
Lily from Maine travels all the way to Ireland after the death of her husband, Connor. There are secrets in his past, and she is determined to know them. Two decades ago, Niamh led a turbulent life in a small Oceanside town.
How do their lives intersect? What had happened in the past, and why does it affect the present? Why was Connor secretive about his life in Ireland? Will the truth break Lily?
The premise of the book sounds like a mix of women’s fiction and a thriller. But let me tell you that this is pure women’s fiction. The hints of suspicion don’t lead anywhere. The threatening email Connor receives doesn’t live up to its hype.
But, set that aside, and you’ll see the book deal with complex emotions of love and loss in different ways. We have three women who lost their loved ones. Each of them responds differently, and it’s their actions that lead to a series of events.
The book is quite heavy with grief. It ends well, though. Predictable but positive and warm. As a fan of happy endings, I have no complaints here.
The descriptions of the settings were a highlight. I enjoyed them the most, especially the way the author wove the weather and human emotions together. I wish she did the same towards the end when the story went into full-on ‘tell’ mode about how a character spent her life in the past few years. It felt as if the author wanted to give us a summary and get over with it so that she could move on to write the ending.
Rosemary, Niamh, and Lily are the three main characters of the book. Niamh is my favorite and looked like she was created and developed with a lot of care. Rosemary has two sides, both of which were interesting to read. Lily seemed a bit overdone. Guess it highlighted the difference in their lives and their backgrounds.
Overall, this was a bittersweet book to read that will touch our hearts at some places and inspire our wanderlust at others. It is a sad yet beautiful story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture.
#TheBoatmansWife #NetGalley
December 9, 2020
The Case of Kitty Ogilvie- Book Review
Genre: Historical Fiction, Crime, Murder Mystery, True Crime 4.2 Stars
The story takes place in Scotland, 1765. Kitty, aka Katherine Nairne, barely 20 years old and from a rich, influential family, marries Thomas Ogilvie, 40 years old, suffering from stomach ulcers, and belonging to a poor Scottish family. The book starts with the wedding and moves on to show how Kitty’s youthful stupidity, Thomas’s laidback approach, Patrick’s happy attitude, Lady Eastmiln’s actions in the past and the present, and the hidden agenda of Anne Clarke end up ruining and taking lives.
The atmosphere on the cover picture and the little piece of news that the book is based on a true crime made me request this book.
For someone whose Scottish stories have been limited to historical romances with the lairds, this book was a fresh and interesting take set in the same land. The Ogilvies are not rich. But they are not poor. Their lives are the opposite of what Kitty was used to. Her dreams of having a lovely marriage with her husband don’t come true.
Away in Edinburgh is Alexander, another member of the family who has never gotten the love he deserved. Anna Clarke, a relative and a mistress, offers a simple solution. Then begin the mind games and manipulations.
As readers, we know every thought and action before the characters can even comprehend them. We see what is happening and can guess what would happen (to an extent). We know whether or not Kitty killed her husband. There is injustice, and there is karmic justice. But ultimately, lives have been lost. Is it only greed? No. Alexander’s motives and actions stem from something far more personal.
What about Anne Clarke? She is the key character in this book. It’s her brain that plots and executes. Yet, underneath it, all lay emotions that never let her lead a happy and contented life.
The actual trial starts somewhere after 70% or 75% of the book. It doesn’t last long either. But the focus of the book is not the trial. It is the people, the characters, and their personalities that keep us engaged.
We could say they have been stereotyped a little, but that only makes us want to roll our eyes or smack them on their heads. The writing is steady. It starts slowly and still hooks us. The observations about the settings, the characters, and their actions are woven into the narrative with ease. Even when there was an information dump at one place, it had subtle insights that would later make sense.
I wouldn’t call it a delightful book, but it sure was entertaining. The dry humor and ironic undertones added to the narration.
Fans of historical fiction and crime (without gore) will enjoy this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Sapere Books.
#TheCaseofKittyOgilvie #NetGalley
December 6, 2020
The Day My Husband Left- Book Review
Genre: Women’s Fictions, Family Drama 3.5 Stars
Heidi and Johnny are a 50-something couple with two daughters, an upholstery restoration business, and a dark secret neither of them talks about. Johnny suffers his second heart attract a year after his first one and passes away.
The family is grieving, trying hard to cope up with the loss when Heidi finds a picture in Johnny’s phone. Her instincts tell her that she needs to find out about the picture. After much hesitation, she does and finds out something that could change her family forever.
The book starts with Johnny’s death and continues to tell us what and how things change. Will the family bonds survive, or will everything fall apart forever?
The cover picture drew me in, and the premise sounded like a wonderful read. The book started out well, and then, sigh! I just couldn’t connect with it. The characters individually were cool. They had their identities, quirks, vulnerabilities, and strengths. Zoe was an absolute favorite. They did well together too. So what’s the issue?
For me, it was the limited third-person POV that rested on Heidi’s shoulders. She was grieving, trying to handle her present and past while keeping her business afloat. She was supposed to have all of my attention. But she didn’t.
The story had too much 'tell'. The setting was 'showed' to the reader, but the emotions were told. Yes, there were a lot of gut-wrenching scenes and heartbreaking emotions. Yet, none of them reached me. In short, it was like having a transparent screen between me and the overwhelming experiences of the characters. The writing did not break through this barrier and come to me.
Maybe if the viewpoints altered between the main characters, I would have been able to see things from their side and know them for who they are. Despite being a third-person narration, I only see what Heidi sees. And it looked like she couldn’t connect with any of the other characters. Sure, they shared a good bond. It just wasn’t enough for me.
Some of the dialogues were powerful. All of them belonged to other characters. Another issue with the book was that too much happened in succession, and when we come towards the end, it’s more or less sorted out. Again, without Heidi’s involvement. She is probably the weakest character of the book. I understand the reason to show her vulnerable side, she was grieving after all, and she had to be real. People make mistakes. Wrong decisions are a part of our lives. That’s always acceptable. But here, in the book, it didn’t feel real.
However, that’s just me. I know readers who would love and devour the book. I hope they read and enjoy it (especially the ending).
Overall, not everyone is going to love this book, but they will remember some of the characters.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture.
#TheDayMyHusbandLeft #NetGalley
December 1, 2020
Gone Too Far- Book Review
Publication Date: 27 Apr 2021 Genre: Mystery/ Thrillers
4.1 Stars
The book, second in the series, has Devlin and Falco teaming up with Sadie Cross again. The DDA (deputy district attorney) is found dead along with another famous businessman. The double homicide has links deeper than anyone would have expected. These lead the detectives straight to Sadie and her past (which she cannot remember except in bits and pieces).
To add to the pressure, there has been an incident at Tori’s school. Tori is the teenage daughter of Kate Devlin and is facing issues of her own. The more they dig around, the more the cases merge, complicating things from all sides.
There are powerful people who do not want their roles exposed. Orders are bypassed, and people are double-crossed. Can the trio solve the cases before more lives are lost?
I haven’t read book 1, but that didn’t make any difference. There are references to the previous case, but those are used to highlight the personalities of the characters rather than alter the current cases.
The writing is easy to read, and the story flows at a steady pace. Something or the other happens in every chapter and scene. I was never once bored with the book or wanted to skim through. The chapters are marked with the location, date, time, and character so that we know who will play a prominent role.
One of the reviewers said that the blurb doesn’t do justice to the book. I agree. This book needs a better blurb. The story is gripping, even though some of it is predictable. The emotions of the characters are neither overwhelming nor bland. They strike the right note to keep the focus on the story.
The ending isn’t rushed or abrupt. The threads are knotted one after another just as leisurely as they were unraveled. The relationship of the trio is being explored one step at a time to build the series. That works well for the book.
Even though there are quite a lot of characters to remember, it’s not a big deal once we get into the book. There isn’t a lot of intense action or violence. That’s another plus. Though I have no issues with violence in books, it wasn’t needed in this one. The author maintained that restraint rather well.
One of the tropes wasn’t that effective or gripping, but that’s fine. There are only so many tropes to try, after all.
To conclude, this is a fast-paced thriller that starts and ends well.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
#GoneTooFar #NetGalley
November 5, 2020
The Light at Wyndcliff- Book Review
Genre: Historical Fiction, European Lit, Clean Romance 3.9 stars
The story is set in Cornwall in the 1820s, with its rugged coastline and open moorlands. The book starts with a focus on Evelyn Bray’s life and how it changes with the entry of Liam Twethewey, the new owner of the Wyndcliff Hall.
The duo has to struggle through the shipwrecks that seem to have a sinister cause than the raging waves of the sea. Evelyn’s grandfather, Rupert Bray, the steward of Wyndcliff, appears to be one man to his granddaughter and another to others, especially Liam.
When shipwreck survivors (a child and her mother) are housed in the estate, Evelyn naturally takes the responsibility of caring for them.
Evelyn is uncovering, rather, overhearing conversations that make her doubt many things. She is troubled and pained by her mother’s attitude. Her attraction for Liam is another burden on her fragile shoulders.
Liam realizes the sad state of the estate and knows he needs to get started on the clay pits to start earning. He doesn’t know whom to trust, except Evelyn. His feelings for her grow stronger, but many things come in the way.
The book goes at a steady pace. It is neither too mysterious nor exactly romantic. Both genres have been touched with a light hand. The mystery part is more, but it’s easy to guess what’s going on and what will happen.
For his age, he is quite matured and capable. Evelyn is sensible and yet vulnerable. The other characters were interesting. But I wish some of them had more meat. Even Rupert Bray needed more scenes to do justice to the intricacies of his characters. Probably because the book had to fit into the clean historical genre, the author didn’t explore the flaws and gray shades in depth.
Overall, it is an engaging book with a mild mystery and a teeny bit of romance with a happy-ever-after at the end. It’s not too deep or complicated. You can just go with the flow.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheLightatWyndcliff #NetGalley
