Eve Koguce's Blog, page 18

Book review / The Mermaid from my Nightmare by Kristina Gallo

The Mermaid From My Nightmare by Kristina Gallo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“The Mermaid from my Nightmare” by Kristina Gallo is a short, gripping story you can read in one sitting, but it will remain with you for a while after “the end”. Characters are vivid, everyone with their own flaws, some with haunting mistakes from their past, while others with problems that cloud their seemingly impeccable present.

A young girl gifted with beauty, a wife of a respected businessman with a beautiful house and two kids, a picture-perfect family. Is happiness only a façade in all these people’s lives? And if so, what will act as a trigger for their carefully built and maintained house of cards to fall down to pieces?

Set in Brazil, “The Mermaid From My NightmareThe Mermaid from my Nightmare” is full of unexpected twists, suspense, and secrets.





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Book review / On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


There was something unpleasantly disturbing about this book that didn’t let me fully enjoy reading it. I couldn’t make myself care about the characters, even though their inner struggles and reasons why they are the way they are were well depicted by the author.

Edward and Florence, both in their early twenties and virgins, are newly-weds, having just gotten married and arrived in Dorset for their honeymoon. The storyline swerves from the present moment when the couple is having what is supposed to be a festive dinner in honour of their wedding to both young people’s pasts.

Both Edward and Florence had their share of uncomfortable and sad experiences, besides, as was stated by the author, they are unlucky to be young in the time just before the general course shifted from strict morality rules to sexual freedom. So, here comes the source of my feeling of disturbance. The story is too centered around intimate relationships. Indeed, it is an integral part of life, and the book’s main characters are newlyweds. But to me, it felt flat and somewhat boring that the only thing two educated, intelligent people in love could think of was the moment they would get into bed together. And that the simple act they are supposed to perform there causes so much trouble and leads to their first wedding night becoming a complete disaster.

The last few pages of the book saved the story for me. I found it fascinating how the lives of Edward and Florence turned out to be after that first wedding night, what paths they took, and where they led them.

I bought this book solely because of the title. Chesil Beach is the backdrop of my own love story, and the Dorset coast will always have a special place in my heart. Alas, in the book, there were only tiny glimpses of the magnificent landscapes of the Jurassic Coast.








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On Chesil Beach

Book review / Masked Intent by Kimberly Greer

Masked Intent: A Modern-Day Morality Play by Kimberly Greer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Have you ever wondered what hides behind a polished façade of a womaniser? In literature and onscreen the men who refuse to commit and form a long-term relationship are usually depicted from the perspective “I’ve chosen it myself because it’s cool and I need nobody in my life”. James Bond doesn’t count – he has a dangerous profession.

In “Masked Intent” by Kimberly Greer, Alexa meets such a man, and despite a strong attraction she instantly feels towards him, she knows that nothing good can come out of their relationship. But is she right? And is it Mateo’s reputation that holds her off from accepting him, or the reason for her doubts are her own secrets and troubles?

“Masked Intent” is a multi-dimensional story, offering insights into two people’s minds and hearts. It is an intense read that digs deep into two people’s path towards a relationship they both crave but are afraid to succumb to. When they meet, Alexa and Mateo already have accumulated life experiences that taught them life isn’t a walk in the park with balloons bubbling joyfully above one’s head. If viewed from the outside, they both are successful, confident, leading the kind of lives many can only dream about. Does it save them from feeling insecure and lonely? “Masked Intent” provides an explicit answer to that question.

I really enjoyed office scenes since they reminded me of people and situations from my own past. Underqualified employees’ ambitions, management’s non-willingness to accept risky solutions to a company’s problems, profits earned in dishonest ways – it is obvious that the author is familiar with issues that are inseparable from high-level entrepreneurship.

Characters in this book aren’t flat or predictable. The author draws vivid and complex portraits not only of the two main characters but also of people who play important roles in their lives, adding relatability to the storyline.






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Masked Intent: A Modern-Day Morality Play

Book review / Dark by Kat Kinney

Dark by Kat Kinney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The description of this book warns – “sizzling hot romance” – and that’s what a reader gets! So, be prepared and leave all your modesty behind when you open “Dark” by Kat Kinney, the first instalment of the Blood Moon, Texas Shifters series.

Meet Ethan and Hayden. Your new Romeo and Juliet – or I should probably say Edward and Bella –from the world of werewolves. Or I’d better discard all comparisons since these two are so unique and independent that it feels unfair to try to compare them to anyone.

Both are flawed, disillusioned, tough, and not willing to accept that life is crap - despite it constantly providing them proof in abundance. They move forward, and even though most of the time it feels that they are moving through an overgrown maze – yes, there is an absolutely creepy and awfully atmospheric maze in the book! – they don’t give up.

I loved the mouth-watering, delicious descriptions of food and coffee! Iced caramel macchiatos, pumpkin lattes decorated with whimsical swans, and Thin Mints are practically characters of the story in their own right. I also loved that I felt like a visitor in a small town in Texas, who is lucky to see it through a local’s eyes.

As the story unfolds, we get to see glimpses of the paranormal world with the secret agendas of its inhabitants, and when it ends, we crave to find out more.

“Dark” tells a story of two people, damaged by their life experiences, in their opinion, beyond repair, finding hope to have a different, happier life – together. Did I mention that things get really hot while they travel along the road of that discovery? Yes, I did. So, keep that in mind, and get ready to join the passionately ferocious – or ferociously passionate – couple on their ride to their happy-ever-after.





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Book review / “A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston” by Robyn Crawford

A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston by Robyn Crawford

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I don’t like writing about the books I have mixed feelings about after reading. That’s why it took me a while to write a review of “A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston” by Robyn Crawford.

It’s not that I didn’t like the book. It is just this nagging feeling that something isn’t right. After doing some thinking, I’ve managed to locate the source of my dissatisfaction. I don’t like it when people try to capitalise on something they don’t possess. It is completely understandable why people do that – the chances we receive from life aren’t unlimited.

The book is not about Whitney Houston; and although it offers an interesting insight into the behind-the-scenes world of the mega-famous singer, it says disappointingly little about that singer’s personality. While reading, I had an impression that the author didn’t know Whitney Houston at all. She offers her judgements about her actions and choices, but she doesn’t say anything about why her friend/ex-lover/employer acted that way. Despite their close relationship at the beginning of their acquaintance when they both were very young and inexperienced in how life works, this closeness hadn’t developed into a deeper relationship of mature people. Maybe it is the reason why the author’s judgements of Whitney Houston seem shallow and biased. She kept her thoughts and conclusions from the time when they were teenagers and in their early twenties, having had no opportunity to develop her knowledge of her friend after Whitney Houston became a superstar and the two grew apart.

The author has drawn a picture of Whitney Houston that is impossible not only to like but even sympathise with. To be honest, the legendary singer with one of the most remarkable voices in vocal history is displayed as an indifferent, shallow person with strong drug addiction. Why she turned out to be like that, it’s impossible to guess from the author’s account of her life events.
What I found fascinating about the book is getting one more proof that success is a matter of succession of coincidences. The author’s life followed a completely different path only because she met Whitney Houston. Now, after years in show business, due to her relationship with the famous singer, having skipped college/university, she is considered a professional in the field. It is truly remarkable.

“A Song for You: My Life with Whitney Houston” is not a book about Whitney Houston. If anything, it made me want to read a “proper” biography of the singer. I’d call this book “how my life turned out because at some point Whitney Houston was my friend”, but it wouldn’t do for promoting it to the masses.



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Book review / King of the Wicked by T.R. Hamby

King of the Wicked by T.R. Hamby

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What I love about books written by T.R. Hamby is that through her words, she places you so close to her characters that while reading you feel like you are sitting next to them. “King of the Wicked” is a fantasy story with true-to-life, likeable characters whom you immediately want to befriend despite them all having their unresolved issues.

Mel and Michael are brothers. And Angels. But they aren’t exactly angelic, at least not in the way we are used to think about angels. Nora and Gilla are humans and singers. And they also don’t do what modern women are supposed to do with their lives. Still, all four of them crave something normal, something that everyone seems to get so easily. They want to be happy, not really knowing what happiness means for them. And they don’t want to be alone, not really used to having healthy, fulfilling relationships with other people.

If you aren’t perfect, can you be happy? They seem to ask themselves this question all the time. That is before they meet each other. And then, everything changes for them. It’s a shame that not every change turns out for the better.

Nora lives in Rome. She follows her dream to become a famous opera singer. She meets Mel, rich, handsome, and with an air of mystery around him. Soon, she witnesses him doing something horrible, but she can’t condemn him since his actions seem justified. Their story of togetherness begins, and I don’t have words enough to express how sweet, deeply sincere, and, well, real their developing relationship feels while you are reading their story.

The tension between the brothers is almost palpable. Their past, which goes back not decades but millennia, hides tragedies and secrets. To humans, it might seem that the things they did to each other are impossible to forget or forgive. Still, Nora and Gilla aren’t ordinary humans. Maybe, it’s their own traumatic experiences from the past have influenced them in a way that made them able to see things from a different perspective.

“King of the Wicked” is the first book of the Banished series. It ends with a huge cliffhanger, and I can’t wait to return to Nora, Mel, and Angels who can sometimes be the most vicious villains.







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Book review / Sultry, Is the Night by Barbara Avon

Sultry, Is the Night by Barbara Avon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I always find it hard to write about a book I really loved. “Sultry, Is the Night” by Barbara Avon is one of those books. That’s why, although I finished reading it a while ago, I couldn’t simply scribble a few lines saying “oh, what a great read”. It deserves more.

Mario’s story is raw and absolutely heartbreaking. I could feel his pain, his desperation so acutely. Probably, because I know how it feels when you get thrown out of the beautiful, cosy life you were used to, and the new circumstances you find yourself in are too bleak to try to wrap your head around them. When it happens, you stop living, and everything you can do is drift along with the flow. Some drown, not having enough strength to reach calmer waters.

That’s what I was thinking about while reading. Will Mario make it to a safer, brighter shore? Will the next punch from fate destroy him? I often wonder how to put into words that special thing that makes some people endure and overcome the harshest hardships. It’s a true superpower, for if a person lacks it, he/she drowns.

The author draws a picture of a town’s degradation masterfully. I could feel the odours penetrating the buildings and the streets. The odours that come with dilapidation. I’ve witnessed it happening, and the saddest thing about it is that since your own life dilapidates along with unused edifices, you have neither emotional strength nor time to give the situation a proper thought. This is if you try to run out of this situation, fighting and still hoping – somewhere deep inside, since on the surface, you’ve lost any hope – that you’ll have your old, beautiful life back. If you don’t, you simply don’t care.

Despite the popular slogan about a man being the sole master of his destiny, it is usually the other human being that helps you stay afloat. And for Mario, it is exactly the case. Not one, but even two people enter his life with what seems a purpose from above to help him swim and reach the shore. But it can never be that easy, can’t it?

After all his dreams have been shattered, Mario finds himself alone in a world that doesn’t care a bit about him. He has no hope for a better future. The world doesn’t care that you were kind and caring; it demands from you to obey its rules. And if you don’t, you miss the opportunities the world egoistically and coldly offers – only to those who play by its rules.

Mario feels that his dreams about working in a restaurant aren’t meant to come true. He feels unworthy of love. He feels undeserving of trust. And still, there is that special spark in him that makes him grab every opportunity that promises – no matter how feebly – that he can get all these things.

“Sultry, Is the Night” is not an easy book for reading. It’s not a shiny little story wrapped up in a flashy paper that says “there is a lesson inside, kids, but you won’t get hurt while learning it”. Reading this book, you will get hurt. You will feel sadness, compassion, revulsion – the whole specter of emotions. I certainly did feel all of them, and I’m deeply grateful to the author for making me take this rollercoaster ride with her deep, controversial characters and beautiful writing.







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Book review / The Adventures of Lady Ellen Montagu by J.G. MacLeod

The Adventures of Lady Ellen Montagu: An Irish Historical Romance Trilogy by J.G. MacLeod

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Lady Ellen Montagu is the daughter of the Duke of Manchester. Although there are issues in her aristocratic family, including her father’s gambling and risk of bankruptcy, she is who she was born. For her, titles and rules of decorum are important. That’s why she makes decisions that can seem illogical to modern people. But if you think deeper about the realities of the 19th century, you see a completely different picture.

It was fascinating to read about Lady Ellen’s adventures and her gradual transformation into a more balanced person. She doesn’t become a different person, and her transformation doesn’t happen overnight. Still, despite some things staying the same – things that are extremely difficult for any person to change in themselves – she gradually learns that there are things outside the rules of aristocratic society and adapts to a new lifestyle in another country.

“The Adventures of Lady Ellen Montagu: An Irish Historical Romance Trilogy” is set in Ireland and in Canada. The author draws such vivid pictures with her words that the places she describes in the books are now on my want-to-visit list.





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Book review / Two Paths by J.G. MacLeod

Two Paths by J.G. MacLeod

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


“Two Paths” is the second book of the historical romance trilogy “The Adventures of Lady Ellen Montagu” by J.G. MacLeod. I have read all three books, and I can say that Lady Ellen is one of those book characters that become iconic, impersonating the traits of not only one person but of the whole class.

After her adventures on Inis Mor, the remote island to where her father, Duke of Manchester sent her because she had disobeyed him, in “Two Paths” Lady Ellen is back in the environment she is used to. She lives in luxury, her every need is taken care of by numerous servants, and her fiancé Lord Ardilaun is more than willing to do anything to make her feel happy.

But Lady Ellen can’t relax and enjoy this peaceful life. She has brought secrets from Inis Mor, and at least one of them she can’t hide forever.

I liked that the author has managed to capture the ambiguity of human feelings. It might seem that we always know what we would do in different situations. But in reality, we often don’t have a clue about our own actions. After reading “Lady Ellen”, the first book of the trilogy, a reader might get the impression that Lady Ellen shouldn’t have acted as she did. Still, if you dig deeper, and consider all the circumstances – first of all, the role of women in the 19th century in society – her choices become clearer.

“Two Paths” is set during the harsh times of potato famine in Ireland. The story illuminates the universal truth: any event, no matter how vast its impact on a country in general, impacts its people differently. Those who had little, suffer the most, while money provides the rich with protection against “life storms”.

There are more steamy scenes in this book than in books one and three of the trilogy, and there is a warning about it in the foreword.





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Book review / Lady Ellen by J.G. MacLeod

Lady Ellen by J.G. MacLeod

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I started reading the historical romance trilogy “Adventures of Lady Ellen Montagu” by J.G. MacLeod from the last book, “New London”. I loved the setting – the 19th century Canada – and I was intrigued by the characters' relationship dynamics and references to the setting of the previous two books. I knew even before I finished reading that I’d return to reading about Lady Ellen’s adventures.

I was absolutely charmed by Inis Mor, the Irish island, where the beauty of nature competes with the capricious climate. It reminded me of the island I spent the most turbulent and at the same time, romantic, time of my life: Isle of Portland in South West England.

Lady Ellen is naïve and stubborn. She is used to all her needs being taken care of by other people. When she wants to try to do something that is servants’ duty, she expects her whims to be respected, and, as I felt it, to be admired for her progressive views. She is a product of her time and upbringing. I like it when characters are portrayed in this way. It feels awkward when 19th-century women behave as if they already have voting rights.

Lady Ellen is torn between two men. She is young and inexperienced in love matters, so she can’t make the decisions a more mature – and modern – woman might have made in similar situations. Besides, the pressure put on her by her father who wants her to marry the man she not only doesn’t love but detests unsettles her emotions even more. After having led a protected and comfortable life in her father’s castle, she is thrown into the whirlwind of new places, being forced to interact with people from lower classes whom she wouldn’t have otherwise met.

There is a steamy touch to the romantic plotlines in the book.

I am now reading the second book of the trilogy “Two Paths”, and I don’t want the story to end, even though I do know how it ends. It is a deeply satisfying read that transports me to the gallant era – with ladies in exquisite gowns, luxurious castles, perfectly manicured lawns – every time I swipe open my Kindle.





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