Maya Banks is a very popular author whose works I have been waiting to read but never got to. Keep Me Safe, book #1 in the Slow Burn series was pickedMaya Banks is a very popular author whose works I have been waiting to read but never got to. Keep Me Safe, book #1 in the Slow Burn series was picked up with a lot of expectations and I think it just played spoilsport for me.
The basic premise of the story was interesting. Psychic heroine who not only sees visions but gets connected to the victim in real time which plays major havoc with her state of mind. The hero Caleb Devereaux subjects Ramie to extreme trauma to discover the whereabouts of his kidnapped sister and seeing firsthand the distress that each vision causes Ramie, I liked how Caleb is all in to save her. But his decision is not welcomed by his two brothers and his abused sister.
This is only the first book in the series and it is evident that Caleb’s family has their character graphs to be developed but I still would have preferred a little kindness to the woman who is the sole reason for your sister being alive. The romance is instant and Caleb is the quintessential alpha hero. Usually, I have no trouble with such characters, well, anything in fiction, but here again, I had a problem with Caleb and his dominating personality because Ramie is primarily sketched as a meek mouse. So the balance never works out and the alpha bit becomes stronger than bearable.
The climax part of the story had me speechless and left me wondering how would any couple get over being put through that kind of an experience by the love of your life. Not going into any detail to leave out spoilers but in all, Keep Me Safe was an engaging read though I expected fireworks.
My first book by the author and the 4th book in the series. Didn’t feel like missing anything pertinent related to the story so good to be read as a sMy first book by the author and the 4th book in the series. Didn’t feel like missing anything pertinent related to the story so good to be read as a stand alone.
The paranormal world created by the author was quite fascinating to begin with especially the GIMs. The characterization of Mary and Jack was wonderful and being a fan of enemies to lovers trope this one perfectly suited my needs.
There is sizzling chemistry between the leads but I loved how the author explored Jack and the abuse that he had endured. The murder mystery that forces Jack and Mary to work together and the suspicion Mary has for Jack all solidify into good suspense and I was pleasantly surprised with the reveal of the murders. Mary’s characterization could have been more rounded in my opinion as there are times when I felt she was giving in way too easily to Jack and other times when she came across as too strident. Both Jack and Mary have enough past traumas that would last them for a lifetime and I loved the quick witted banter that spices up the tension between the two.
If you are a fan of alpha heroes and lovable heroines who forgive their sins in the name of love, this one would surely whet your appetite.
Ha, I just love that familiar trope of two childhood friends reconnecting after years and all that sparks flying around. To top it off, in Frozen GrouHa, I just love that familiar trope of two childhood friends reconnecting after years and all that sparks flying around. To top it off, in Frozen Ground, Debra Webb adds in a raging snowstorm with a killer on the loose, and the story packed with suspense just races to the finish line like a torpedo.
Abbey Gray is back to her hometown after her father’s death to sell the family home. She is a successful bestselling author and has no plans to remain in Montana, especially with the traumatic past of her mother’s murder and her brother being arrested for it. Well, as they say about best laid plans, her arrival coincides with her neighbor’s death in the precise manner of how her mother had been killed, and adding to the tension is the fact that her brother has been released from prison. Garret Gilmore, the sheriff has his hands full with the storm bearing down on them, a murder to investigate amidst this, and of course, Abbey the love of his life back in the town and facing danger.
Debra Webb creates that perfect atmosphere for heightening the danger around Abbey. With the high winds and the snow blinding everything, Abbey and Garret are forced to support and rely on each other to get to the bottom of the murder mystery. The “who” would probably be easy to guess for most seasoned readers but the why was twisty. The romance between the leads was more implied than in action but the chemistry was simply sizzling, esp with both of them unwilling to lose the friendship they share and thus refusing to give in to the attraction.
The audiobook was narrated by Kelsey Navarro and I must say that the narration was absolutely on point with how I had Abbey to sound in my imagination. Brilliantly done.
What a surprise this book turned out to be. I haven’t read much by this author and that itself is another surprise considering the number of historicaWhat a surprise this book turned out to be. I haven’t read much by this author and that itself is another surprise considering the number of historical romances I gobble up, but Elizabeth Hoyt and her stories have not been on my radar much. Duke of Desire is book #12 in the Maiden Lane series and I didn’t feel like missing anything with the plot line, so guess it is good to go as a stand-alone.
Elizabeth Hoyt’s Duke Of Desire is considerably darker than what I am used to in this genre. The opening chapter was a jolt to my senses with the sexual deviancy being enjoyed amongst society's peers. Raphael, Duke of Dyemore helps Lady Iris escape from a fate worse than death though Iris takes matters into her own hands and ends up having to care for Raphael.
The slow burn romance works really well in this story. It is just not the forced marriage scenario that provides the angst but Rapheal’s past that comes calling in bits and pieces that adds to the drama and haunts the reader. With the strong characterization of Raphael, I felt Iris pales into the background. The traumatic abuse Raphael survives was heartbreaking to read and I loved how that past serves as the major plot point for angst in the story. Rapahel unable to break loose of the darkness in his life has quite a journey to make towards the light that Iris offers.
Elizabeth Hoyt has offered a much grittier version of the fairy tale romance, engaging the reader’s emotions in a wholesome way.
A contemporary romance by Sandra Brown that was released in 1989. I have had this aim in my mind to read all the published works by my favorite authorA contemporary romance by Sandra Brown that was released in 1989. I have had this aim in my mind to read all the published works by my favorite authors for some time and this is my small attempt to get there for Sandra Brown.
Temperatures Rising released in 1989 has romance as its central theme, unlike her recent releases which have more of a thriller vibe in the story. Scout Ritland and Chantal DuPont are both excellent characters sketched by the talented author. Most of her works have this “greyish” tone to her protagonists which I always admire. In Temperatures Rising Chantal has to get Scout to her island community for his architectural skills but Scout is by no means gonna go meekly and take up the job and hence the fireworks explosive meeting between them and I mean that literally.
As a fan of her works, I know how efficient she is in creating sparks flying left right, and center between the hero and heroine, and here too the banter and wit between Chantal and Scout is razor sharp and makes for some interesting reading, both of them unyielding in their convictions and still feeling all hot and bothered by each other. Loved how the island and its culture have been used by the author and the volcano adds to a simmering tension between the two.
Fans of romance can easily enjoy this keeping in mind the year of publication and not expecting much from the story.
Brenda Novak is an author whose books should have been on my read shelf considering she writes in all those genres that I crave. But surprisingly thatBrenda Novak is an author whose books should have been on my read shelf considering she writes in all those genres that I crave. But surprisingly that hasn’t been the case so far and as always I am promising myself to read them ASAP and keeping my fingers crossed that the plan works.
The Secret Sister by Brenda Novak is a mix of romance, mystery, and family drama all rolled into, one exciting and thrilling story. Maisey Lazarow is a children’s author who has had a traumatic experience in life and is still struggling to come out of its shadows, but when her brother addicted to drugs attempts suicide she is left with no choice but to return to the one place that she had vowed to never return. But her arrival is just the beginning of major upheavals in her life.
The author initially explores relationships, be it the family dynamics between Maisey and her autocratic mother, the push and pull with her sensitive brother, or the blow hot and blow cold attraction with Rafe, the undercurrents existing in all these connections are conveyed brilliantly. Josephine as the matriarch of the Lazarow family comes across as cruel, who has had no time for her children’s emotions and was more than happy to dole out extreme punishments for even the most inconsequential mistake. It was fascinating to see how the author characterizes Josephine, one cannot outright hate her but it is more or less like how Maisey decides, her mother’s presence is best received in small doses. The romance is beautiful although Maisey takes her time to devote herself to Rafe but the lovable package of Rafe's daughter, Laney lifts up the story. She is such a gregarious package easy to love and cherish.
The mystery that rattles Maisey takes up the latter half of the book and even though I was sure where it was leading, the untangling of all the secrets was quite exciting. The second book in the series has Maisey’s brother Keith as the protagonist. Though I didn’t like him much in this, would surely love to see how the author turns his character around and make him someone to root for.
Some books are made for some mindless leisure reading without having to work one’s brain much or sometimes even think much about the character one is Some books are made for some mindless leisure reading without having to work one’s brain much or sometimes even think much about the character one is reading about. A Dark Awakening by David Wiltshire is one such novel that I stumbled across accidentally in my library and it did give me a couple of hours of joy, especially at a time when I couldn’t find any time to read in the chaos called life. So in that respect, this did serve its purpose.
And surprisingly, this book is nowhere mentioned in the bio of the author and cannot be found on the Amazon website, so not really sure what the deal is. A Dark Awakening was an easily read story, Vicky is surprised to find an unexpected gift from her aunt, and despite her boyfriend's disapproval of the same, she travels in search of the source of her aunt’s surprising past. Carl is the suspicious hero who doubts her motive and after a few chapters with that suspicion and Carl’s fiancée playing the angry jealous lover and a tussle with the Italian mafia, the story ends with a happily ever Scenario.
As I said, nothing particularly captivating about the story and its characters but A Dark Awakening was thoroughly enjoyable.
I am on a JANE EYRE trip…there is an abundance of gothic romances on my plate right now… Secluded mansions, hidden passages, never opened doors, a cluI am on a JANE EYRE trip…there is an abundance of gothic romances on my plate right now… Secluded mansions, hidden passages, never opened doors, a clueless female lead unable to trust her own eyes, and a romance in there adding the spice, the genre just plays with our nerves like no other and The Secrets of Hartwood Hall is an absolute treat to dive into.
The story begins with the arrival of Margaret Lennox to Hartwood Hall, to take charge of the 10-year old Louis, and the opening chapter is itself a perfect tribute to that gothic element so essential to feel the spookiness. The weather as she arrives in the village is bleak and the first person whose help is sought for directions to the hall is rude and harsh. The stage is set for the first impression of the gothic mansion and the author didn’t disappoint. In fact, I could imagine Margaret’s first impression of this house, so lonely beyond the woods with a handful of servants roaming the halls with candlelight and the creaks and the groans of the old woods. Honestly, the author serves the chills, no worries about that but what impressed me more is the story that unfolds thru Margaret. We plunge into Margaret’s life her disability in hearing with one ear, her encompassing love for the young boy in her charge, her worry for the secretive Mrs. Eversham, and above all, the subtle hint of a murder in her own past and her definite need to enjoy her freedom.
The author explores the problematic issues governing the era with respect to women and their rights, being controlled by husband or father, even forced to read what is dictated instead of what one wants, and being abused either physically or emotionally. The reader is made to emotionally connect with Margret and her decisions and even though I was not too happy about how she treats Paul in the end, it is easy to grasp her perspective. With that action, somehow Margaret came across as selfish without making the picture clear to Paul. YES, relatable from her viewpoint but not too likable scenario.
The author is talented, no doubt about it, the method with which she has captured the maid Susan, oh my just raised goosebumps on my skin each time she was shown. Without any overt attempts, the cunning and crafty ways she threatened Margaret by her simple presence was acutely felt and truth be told, I was thankful for that threat resolving in that way at least for the sake of my galloping heart.
My umpteenth trial of an audiobook bearing fruit…Mariah Stewart’s Hard Truth narrated by Anna Fields did work for me and I am breathing a sigh of reliMy umpteenth trial of an audiobook bearing fruit…Mariah Stewart’s Hard Truth narrated by Anna Fields did work for me and I am breathing a sigh of relief. Thank God, this genre somehow is working to retain my interest in sticking to an audiobook instead of going in search of the printed version coz of the lack of patience to know how it is all going to unfold. Well, having said that I am sure I am gonna revert to myself and ditch audiobooks after 2 days of trying and then search for the ebook and finish the story in a day. Me, *sigh*…
Hard Truth is book #2 in the Truth series and I'm sure that it can safely be read as a stand-alone and other than characters being repeated, the story is focussed on a new couple in each book. Lorna has returned to her family home after losing her mother to cancer and is planning to sell the property and return to her life. Her arrival though coincides with the discovery of bones in her backyard and soon the case of her missing best friend Melinda Eagan pummel back to the forefront. Believed to have been harmed by her brother and his vanishing act soon after asserting the fact, the missing case has been lying dormant all these years. But the discovery of the bones is just the beginning as Lorna unearths the chilling and horrifying reality hidden in her grounds.
I haven’t read any other book by the author so had no particular expectations going in. The mystery of the bones being discovered and the romance that blossoms between investigator TJ and Lorna was wonderfully done. I loved Lorna’s relationship with her siblings, battling her sister's sentimental attitude towards the house though refusing to take responsibility for it, her brother’s vehement denial to return there for whatever reasons, being expected to handle everything on her own, the author lovingly embodies the sibling frustrations and makes it pretty convincing. The murderer when revealed didn’t surprise me much as I had a fair inkling as to where it was being led to but the author manages to keep the reader hooked to the reveal of it all brilliantly.
The narration was top-notch, the voice matching my imagination of Lorna’s in my head and thereby making it perfectly compelling.
An easily read story in the romantic suspense genre!
Tricia Levenseller had impressed me with her writing in The Shadows Between Us and I was waiting to grab a copy of her successful Daughter of the PiraTricia Levenseller had impressed me with her writing in The Shadows Between Us and I was waiting to grab a copy of her successful Daughter of the Pirate King series. Thankfully I was not disappointed, for having grown up with Jack Sparrow, who wouldn’t wanna read a love story of pirates and all that swashbuckling? Well, I did get cheated on by the lack of a hero’s flamboyance a la Jack Sparrow but was more than compensated for it as Daughter of The Pirate King was all about Princess Alosa and her sassy kick ass attitude.
The plotline of the search for a part of a map which is to be joined together for the discovery of untold treasures on an island and Alosa forcing herself to be captured so as to explore the ship Night Farer was beyond exciting and of course what a characterization for Alosa. Author Tricia Levenseller deserves a pat on her back simply for the balance of the fine thread she manages to weave for her heroine. Alosa is at times cruel ready to slit the throat of her captors to make her point, she is a warrior in her own right and has no qualms about getting dirty to achieve what she wants. She is equal parts a fighter and a seductress. But the author carefully keeps the dry sarcastic and witty side of her behavior for the readers to connect with her human side. There is so much about Alosa that one learns with her interactions with Riden, though I did wish the chemistry between them had more spark. ’coz all the focus was on Alosa and her various activities somehow Riden’s character fails to garner much attention. The moral dilemma he suffers from being a kidnapper and interrogator never gets conveyed believably.
Hoping that the next book in the series does rectify this shortcoming and we get to see Riden as more of a force to reckon with against Alosa. The romance between them is kept to the minimum as Alosa forces herself to focus on her task of finding the map but I loved how she feels like a fool when the truth comes to light about her nocturnal activities. The background story of Alosa and the torture she endures under her father does give a sense of the steel in her backbone and again the author balances that with her empathy and love for her crew.
Looking forward to catching up with the Daughter of the Siren Queen at the earliest.
“I admit the possibility” – the words that somehow embody the spirit of human beings, irrespective of the kind of belief that drives you, irrespective“I admit the possibility” – the words that somehow embody the spirit of human beings, irrespective of the kind of belief that drives you, irrespective of the fact that you can be an atheist or a skeptic, there comes a time in everyone’s life that you want to hold on to something, some kind of HOPE to live on.
JK Rowling is a stellar storyteller, and I don’t mean that just coz of her massive success through Harry Potter but simply for the fact that she created this masterpiece of a story, an investigative thriller around a CULT. Of course, there are countless books out there on this subject but to construct something so rooted in the 21st century and make it appealing to anyone who hears about the church across all age groups, is just mind blowing.
The Universal Humanitarian Church at first glance is just that, a service based group committed to doing good for the world and the author’s masterclass touch includes Hinduism and the symbolic use of LOTUS and the chants that I am so used to hearing around me honestly gave me the shivers which kind of reinforces the belief that I have always had, that it doesn’t matter how sane one is, sucked into a vortex like a cult, there would be never an escape.
The investigation begins with the Edensor family wanting their youngest son Will out of the Chapman farm and Robin being an expert in disguise, goes undercover as Rowena to unearth the skeletons hidden in the church. And this raises the tension to a crescendo as Robin to her horror undergoes physical and mental exhaustion and terrifying and traumatic experiences within the confines of the farm. I loved how the author explores Robin's psyche showing her chanting the ‘Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu’ and her partial indoctrination and her mental strength to hold on to thoughts of Strike and his reactions to regain her sanity. The mystery of the drowned girl and the goings on of the church, and its activities gave me the creeps and the characters especially Mazu with her tarantula vibes was just evil.
Unlike the other books in the series, the focus is more on the case even though the readers are made to sense the yearning of both partners for each other. As the saying goes, distance makes the heart grow fonder, Strike finally accepts his feelings for Robin as he misses her presence around him and is kind of depressed that he let Robin move further away from him due to his foolishness to maintain the status quo. Robin being already aware of her feelings for her partner is however more into the “falling out of love” phase and has a boyfriend in place and how cheeky of the author to lob a grenade at the end of the story getting the readers to crave for the next one immediately.
The are several plots explored in the story in addition to the central plot, Strike’s relationship with his sister Prudence and his acceptance of the flighty Lucy seeing her truly without any misconceptions, and of course Charlotte and the arc of that enigmatic character drawing to a close giving Strike the clarity of what he wants in his future, the sub contractors, Midge, Barclay and Dev and the newest Littlejohn who has another mystery to be unveiled, and of course, the most efficient Pat and her quips. There are also several characters to sift through, as Strike on the outside and Robin on the inside get to the bottom of the UHC and its web.
Another exemplary work by the author even though there was many a time where I felt the details were way too exhaustive to the point of boring for me, especially the parts inside the Chapman farm, Yes, Strike series is not your typical adrenaline racing thrillers, we all know that and the description does get the imagination running on all tangents but I would have loved it equally with a story more tightly wound and bound.
********************************************************************** 'Crisp', JK, please me begging for my poor wrists, not that I mind another 1000 page head spinner, LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!
What does it say about an author who uses the ‘done to death plotline’ into something so soul-touching and heart warming that all I wanna do is to conWhat does it say about an author who uses the ‘done to death plotline’ into something so soul-touching and heart warming that all I wanna do is to consider the book as a teddy bear and sleep with hugged tight!
Adorable and freakishly charming, The Bodyguard was an absolute delight to sink myself into after a hard day. The rom-com is complete with a fake girlfriend and a forced proximity plot with a hilarious ex-boyfriend that gets kicked in the balls and roasted to hell. Hannah Brooks the bodyguard or glamorously referred to as the Executive protection agent is given a new task to protect movie star, Jack Stapleton. Hannah and Jack both had my heart, they are both scarred in many ways and the situation of the fake dating for the happiness of the cancer-stricken mother was used to the maximum potential by the author. And hats off to her, cracking us up with a scene that included even cows.
The romance is feel good and the chemistry between Hannah and Jack was just off the charts. In fact, there was nothing not to love in this latest release by Katherine Center and honestly, she is my favorite go-to author for some stress-buster relief.
For all those who love to read at least one book, go ahead and pick this one up, not for the swoon-worthy hero or the kick-ass heroine or their antics, but for the sheer joy of laughing out loud for the predicament of the ex and for the humor that reigns supreme in this story.
If only I had made a list of the 1001 careers the prolific author has carved out in her 1001 published books, maybe I would become a career guidance cIf only I had made a list of the 1001 careers the prolific author has carved out in her 1001 published books, maybe I would become a career guidance counsellor by myself. Not a joke guys seriously, Nora Roberts surely has a good collection out there. Well, most of us know how good she is in what she does best and Legacy is no doubt different. All the staple ingredients for an NR novel are in place, a feel good family story with defined characters so wonderfully written that it was easy to wish myself back in a charming place like Traveler’s Creek. The romance unlike her usual works only comes about in the 3rd section of the book which was surprising and gave me a feeling that maybe a little more build up could have helped. But again, Raylan is a widower with 2 kids and the author does take her time to put all her cards into one stack.
Loved how the author showed Adrian as this very sorted and ambitious doer right from the start at most times coming across as a pusher for good health thru yoga and nutritious food. There were places where she comes across as too pushy but I Think NR fairly managed it without it becoming too obnoxious kinda health freak. The suspense in the story again was surprisingly again milder compared to what she usually crafts in her stories coz more than half of the story is about Adrian and her establishing links, first her DVDs, then her sifting location from New York to home, her relationship with her friends and her mother and the way all her friends and family closes around her forming a protective circle of comfort with all its sugary sweetness.
Nora Roberts like always had me wiping my eyes at the shootout scenes in the school, and I am in awe of her writing skill that subtly conveys the harrowing emotional roller coaster taking place in that few minutes of shoot out. It is not in your face with descriptive language talking about it over and over again but the enormity of the tragedy does get conveyed wonderfully.
Chevy Stevens' Dark Roads is not an easy book to listen to and I honestly would have felt a little more comfortable reading this rather than listeningChevy Stevens' Dark Roads is not an easy book to listen to and I honestly would have felt a little more comfortable reading this rather than listening to the audiobook. Narrated excellently by Angela Dawe; Brittany Pressley; Isabella Star LaBlanc, Dark Roads by Chevy Steven is essentially a dark and haunting book that chills the soul and creeps the hell out of you.
The author describes the true story that inspired this tale of darkness and I can’t begin to imagine the anguish and trauma that each of the unfortunate families had to endure over the years. The missing woman, the murders, and not a clue to be found and unsolved for such a lot of time, it defies imagination.
Dark Roads explores the fictional Cold Creek Highway where a murderer lurks and girls are warned not to hitchhike or be alone at night for fear of falling prey to the danger hidden around the area. Chevy Stevens’ writing was exceptional, she literally had me scared shitless throughout the book. The description utterly oozes evil on every page, the reader is made to feel the claustrophobic murkiness that is waiting to devour you. I am sure the effect was made worse with the experience of listening to the book, as I had to suffer the panic of helplessness, as Hailey and Johnny, find themselves unable to do anything to go against sheriff Vaughn. The first part of the book that ends with Hailey and her dog Wolf almost near death, and the beginning of the second chapter introducing Beth had me scampering, wondering if I missed a chapter, but once the connections and the weaving of the story thru Beth and Hailey becomes clearer, the story explodes with a menace that was waiting to pounce on the girls. The violence was again difficult to wrap my head around but I loved how Hailey becomes like a teenage ninja and kicks ass.
The warm friendship and love between Hailey and Johnny and Wolf the dog who becomes the glue helping Hailey and Beth were wonderful and honestly, Wolf is a best friend anyone would die for and I thank the author for that spot of brightness in this disturbing story.
I am in a sort of dilemma about this story, significant parts of it were so amazing with its heart wrenching portrayal 3.5 happy …hmm…not happy stars.
I am in a sort of dilemma about this story, significant parts of it were so amazing with its heart wrenching portrayal of a misunderstood hero but there were also parts of the story, especially with the characterization of Maddy that had me irritated to the core. Now I have no idea about Quakers and their beliefs but thru this story, all I understood was that they are unyielding and uncompromising.
Christian, the hero suffers from what we now know as a stroke of some sort leaving him unable to communicate properly and after effects in his right hand. The absence of proper medical diagnosis is clear, as in the Victorian era they were just put into a mental asylum. Laura Kinsale’s writing that shows Christian’s struggle and his rage in being misunderstood were downright crippling with emotions flying high. I loved that he tried his best to save the dukedom in whatever way possible handling his crooked family and trying to make himself heard. Maddy on the other hand had a sketch that I liked but was not enamored with. It was endearing to see her giving nature ready to help Christian but irritating to see her wrapped up so much in her beliefs that everything is just blamed on Christian. She was forthright but came across as dense at key points when one would expect her to stand with Christian and understand his motives, seeing that she is the only person who can do it, she convinces herself of all the wrong reasons and goes about making things worse.
So, there I loved the tortured and misunderstood hero in need but I did want Maddy’s sketch to be more than what is shown.
The Shadows Between Us was picked at random from casual browsing of my library audiobooks. To be honest, this is one of those books where you feel excThe Shadows Between Us was picked at random from casual browsing of my library audiobooks. To be honest, this is one of those books where you feel excited while reading or listening in my case but thinking back about the story would put a dampener on that said excitement. Well, yeah I was listening to it, and the narration by Caitlin Davies by the way was too good. She just captured the badass vibe of Alessandra that has been conceived by the author and it was a pleasure listening to the story unfold in the narrator’s voice.
And the story for the major part is kickass…One hell of a protagonist who is a murderer, a liar a cheating schemer who has no qualms in using whatever or whoever to get to what she wants, one might think the character is extremely unlikable but as you read, you are made to cheer for her and that was clearly a brilliant ploy by author Tricia Levenseller. Kallias as the shadow king and his powers were quite intriguing, and I loved how both of them complement each other. The friendship that develops into love takes its time as one is out for manipulation and the other is only looking to thwart his councilors.
The atmosphere of the palace and the setup had a dangerous feel to them and the feel good moments built into the story come from the interaction between Alessandra and her friends. The suspense rise to a fever pitch towards the end but somehow the climax lacked the impact that I had looked forward to. After so much build up, I wanted more action filled ending than the one given. One of the best scenes in the story was about Allesandra’s crime being discovered by King Kallias, honestly, I had imagined all sorts of scenarios but his reaction was epic and fantastic that had me smiling all the way.
The Shadows Between Us is a story that all lovers of fantasy would gobble up in seconds especially with the characters like Allesandra who is this queen Bitch that I wanted to throttle initially but absolutely adored by the end.
Jess Kidd’s Mr. Flood’s Last Resort is one of those books that make you feel all the emotional highs and lows. A story of a cantankerous old man whoseJess Kidd’s Mr. Flood’s Last Resort is one of those books that make you feel all the emotional highs and lows. A story of a cantankerous old man whose eccentric hoarding ways and belligerent attitude had run off many a caretaker except Maud and Maud herself understanding trauma and vowing to never give up on the miserly old man come what may. One can laugh, one can cry, one can feel the warmth, the pain of loneliness, the joy of giving, the utter despair of being lied to and cheated, the fun in the simple pleasures of life even to the extent of choking back tears with equal parts happiness and equal parts sadness. The whole gamut of emotions captured by the author thru this extraordinary tale of magical realism and literary fiction with the additional impetus of a mystery tugging it along, Mr. Flood’s Last Resort is sheer brilliance.
Maud and Cathal form an uneasy alliance, and the house called Bridelemer becomes as much a character in the story seeing the vast amount of things dumped into it especially a wall of National Geographic, The author's words flow leisurely so much that it was easy to lose oneself into Maud's shoes and imagine them. Cathal Flood was definitely an unlikeable character, to begin with, but like Maud, the reader begins to see beyond that grumpy front that he shows to the world. By the end, I had to wipe away tears, especially with the scenes in the hospital. The saints popping in and out of Maud’s life offers a kind of magical vibe to the story and as Maud with the much loved Renata egging her on, takes on the mystery of Mary’s death and a missing daughter, there is much unraveling to be done before the puzzle pieces begin to make some sense.
Mr. Flood’s Last Resort is a book to be read with amble time in hands, as the story takes its time to grip the reader, and as each character including the popping up whenever it pleases them, Saints, also in the picture, it does feel a bit crowded initially but once the story sets its pace and characters become more precise, the story becomes such a compelling read that it becomes hard to even let go for even a second.
Samantha Cohoe’s Bright Ruined Things narrated by Imani Jade Powers had a befitting title and an interesting premise. A broad reimagining of ShakespeaSamantha Cohoe’s Bright Ruined Things narrated by Imani Jade Powers had a befitting title and an interesting premise. A broad reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Tempest with its setting of the island and magic and a spirit named Aries, Bright Ruined Things had a lovely narration to get lost into. But somehow didn’t completely work for me.
The story of a young orphan girl who grows in the shade of the illustrious Prosper family and wishes to become something more had a resonant feel, I am all in for stories that have some character development but for Mae, it felt like a little too late after all the damage has been done. As I said, the plot was exciting with a magical island, and the spirits bound to servitude to humans, the magical well and its source, the First Night, and the family gatherings. But the story fails a bit with a whole host of unlikeable characters, Miles who sets out to use Mae for finding the truth and becoming the heir of the Prosper family, Coco who loves Mae but sees her as boring with no life, Apollo with her cruel streak, Mae herself with her growing a spine by the middle segment of the story but ending up deciding and going for all the wrong things. The only two interesting characters in the story like Ivo was always kept on the fringes while I would have loved a little more exploration of his thoughts and decisions and then Sebastian who was quite endearing but had only a blink and miss appearance in the story.
Bright Ruined Things is not a series but this is one book where I thought the author could have gone for a duology, as the plot has quite a lot going for it, especially the magical element which I simply loved. The atmosphere created by the author clearly deserves a mention, the image of the island shrouded in magic was clearly imaginable with the author’s words.
Katie Schorr as narrator for the YA paranormal romance Evermore has done a fantastic job, she has brilliantly captured the main character Ever Bloom'sKatie Schorr as narrator for the YA paranormal romance Evermore has done a fantastic job, she has brilliantly captured the main character Ever Bloom's tangled emotions exactly as I would imagine reading the book. Evermore book #1 in the Immortals series is surprisingly so similar to the successful Twilight that I kept imagining Bella as Ever and Damen as Edward for a time. Well, not for long though, Ever as a character began to lose the endearing clumsy awkward feel that Stephanie Meyer’s Bella had, and no I am not comparing the works of two different authors but honestly, this felt like a fan fiction novel to Twilight.
Ever is branded freaky in her high school and the trauma of losing her family and being reborn as a psychic has not made her life any easier. The friendship between Ever, Miles, and Haven is lovely but the story does not have much going on except for Ever realizing the truth of her relationship with Damen. After a point, the constant reminders of Ever’s tragedy begin to grate and then there is the characterization of Ever, OK, you are a teenager and are therefore entitled to some tantrums and stubbornness but really, if you have someone constantly offering help to manage your psychic abilities, would you hate the person or at least give it a try to curb the constant headaches.
I sincerely wish the author had a different story to say rather than what we have seen and read in Twilight and since Ever has failed to capture my interest I am not keen to continue this series.
Oopsie, back to back books in the romantic suspense genre but again audiobooks with 5 hrs of audio seemed the best choice for my listening trial efforOopsie, back to back books in the romantic suspense genre but again audiobooks with 5 hrs of audio seemed the best choice for my listening trial efforts. Yeah, I am getting there, without stopping the audio and downloading an ecopy.
I do love Jayne Ann Krentz in all her writing avatars as Jayne Castle or Amanda Quick. So I was fairly sure I would enjoy this story in spite of the fact this was first published almost 20 years ago. There is nothing extraordinary about the story especially if like me, you have been gobbling books for more than half of your life. But I loved how Krentz characterizes her heroine Kimberely as quite independent and deciding to live life on her own terms and I also liked the clear-cut and no-nonsense attitude that Darius displays.
The audiobook read by Lesa Lockford was fantastic, I just fell in love with how she voices Kimberely coz you certainly get that matching vibe with that character and I think the narrator did a freaking good job.
So romantic suspense audiobooks seem to be working for me as I have no patience to listen to a thriller over the course of 5 days, so might go on with listening to more of such books that I enjoy....more
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