About the Book:

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London 1815. Although newly widowed Lily Adler is returning to a society that frowns on independent women, she is determined to create a meaningful life for herself even without a husband. She's no stranger to the glittering world of London's upper crust. At a ball thrown by her oldest friend, Lady Walter, she expects the scandal, gossip, and secrets. What she doesn't expect is the dead body in Lady Walter's garden.

Lily overheard the man just minutes before he was shot: young, desperate, and attempting blackmail. But she's willing to leave the matter to the local constables - until Lord Walter bribes the investigating magistrate to drop the case. Stunned and confused, Lily realizes she's the only one with the key to catching the killer.

Aided by a roguish navy captain and a mysterious heiress from the West Indies, Lily sets out to discover whether her friend's husband is mixed up in blackmail and murder. The unlikely team tries to conceal their investigation behind the whirl of London's social season, but the dead man knew secrets about people with power. Secrets that they would kill to keep hidden. Now, Lily will have to uncover the truth - before she becomes the murderer's next target.

~


I do not mind admitting that when I saw the title and the blurb of the book, I couldn't but help think of Irene Adler. Can you blame me though? A lady with the famous last name in the London society set in the 1800s! I am both happy  to report that Lily Adler is a headstrong individual who I loved anyway.

Lily Adler is newly widowed and as she makes her way back into the London society scene, she sees things and people in a new light. The society doesn't have much patience for a stubborn, independent girl and is busy covering up their secrets and scandals. Lucky for Lily though, she has Jack Hartley, her late husband's friend in her corner. As she attends a ball thrown by her friend, she is ready to get back into the thick of things. She finds the expected scandal and gossip, but she also finds a dead body in the garden. When Lily finds out foul play with regards to the case, she decides to take matters in to her own hands. Armed with the knowledge that the victim had been blackmailing someone at the party and a sense of justice, Lily has a uphill battle to fight.

I loved the character of Lily Adler. She is in no way perfect, but I love her stubborn streak, her sense of right and wrong, and she is quite brilliant really. Reading about her little adventure, set in an era when people expected women to be weak and meek little creatures who keep themselves busy with the household is amusing really. The naval officer Jack Hartley makes for a good assistant as someone who is not hindered by society's hypocrisy. But seriously, Jack's character could do with a bit more depth. I hoped to see a sense of equality between these two which was lacking. They share a connection because of Freddy (Lily's late husband) and there are some light and frank moments between them… but they are far from being good friends themselves. Ms.Oswald on the other hand made much more impact on me.

The plot is well laid down and has red herrings sprinkled throughout. The author almost had me on a false trail… almost. With a slow start to the book, the pace does pick up later on and by the time we reach the climax, the book had a hook in me completely. It was a page turner. I liked the way the author handled the subjects of corruption and race in the book. I am pretty sure that I would love to read more in the series though I do hope for a better pace.

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Jack and Jill are twins who were raised by a very paranoid mother, Clare. Clare had made it her priority to train her children in the art of survival. As a result both Jack and Jill are masters of combat, weaponry and in the art of espionage. But they were often pitted against each other and in addition were the mind games that Clare played with them. As a result, though Jack and Jill can work together, they lack the bonding that we usually see in twins. Now, they are all grown up and are trying to lead ‘normal’ lives separately… Yet when Clare’s safe house explodes and she is nowhere to be found, Jack and Jill will have to set their differences aside and work together; especially because it seems that wherever they turn to, someone wants them dead.

Jack and Jill are interesting protagonists. I have always wondered about nature vs nurture and here the ‘nurture’ provided by Clare was unconventional to say the least. The twins are as different from each other as they possibly could be yet their banter and squabbling throughout the book was entertaining for most parts. I kind of had a love hate relationship with the character of Clare because of the way she handled Jack and Jill. Once the plot unravels, the readers get to see where her paranoia was coming from, but I still wished that she had handled it differently. The kind of dysfunctional familial relationship portrayed through the book was bit disconcerting. 

The book is not very plot driven as the plot outline is very simple. It is the characters and the action, even though it was sometimes a bit too exaggerated, that keeps the pages flying. Add in a bit of humour and you have a thriller that keeps you excited. However, a personal quirk of mine disrupted my reading experience of this book. While I do not mind a couple of slangs here and there to get the point through, I really had trouble with the overuse of it in the book. It kind of takes away the effect of using an f-word when it is used so copiously.

If you are looking for an action packed thriller, give this book a try.

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There had been so many theories and rumours about Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna while I was growing up that her story intrigued me. I was one of those who hoped beyond hope that she had escaped and the kid in me hoped that she ‘had a great adventure’ while being on the run. I have read quite a few articles on her before and this is the second fiction book that I have read based on her character.

“No amount of age, pride, or maturity could stop me from loving my papa with the heart of a little girl.” ― Nadine Brandes, Romanov

Romanov by Nadine Brandes follows the history of the Romanov family as they are taken hostage till their execution and then it takes on a fictional journey with Anastasia as she escapes the Bolsheviks. The first half of the book portrays the story and the different personalities of the Romanov family. The author has tried to stick to facts for most parts, but I found that she has painted the family with rose tinted colours to make them a bit more likeable to the readers. The family dynamics and the interpersonal relationships are developed well. Once the execution takes place and Anastasia manages to escape, the book takes on a complete fictional turn and the author introduces certain element of fantasy in it.

I liked the way the author has portrayed and developed the character of Anastasia. We see the rest of her family through her eye and her love for them is very evident. There are moments when she comes off a bit naïve, especially when it comes to her views about her father, yet she grows throughout the book. Love and betrayal, moments of happiness followed by hurt and anger, she emotes it all with sincerity. 

There were moments in the book that were unbelievable even if we account for the fantastical element. That was the only thing about the book that put me off a bit. For instance, someone suffering from hemophilia cannot survive the type of injuries mentioned in the book and no amount of adrenaline can account for the stunts that Anastasia pulled off. 

Overall, quite an enjoyable book while it lasted though I cannot guarantee that I would pick it up a second time.

You may live as a soldier or face death. Choose wisely.

Solanine Lucille wants her little sister back. Eight years ago, the government kidnapped her sister Ember, stole her memories, and transformed her into a soldier. But Solanine refuses to give up. Now that she and her fiancé have located the leader of a rebel group, she believes she can finally bring Ember home. But then the soldiers raid the rebels, killing her fiancé and leaving Solanine alone with her demons and all the weapons needed for revenge.

After raiding a rebel camp, sixteen-year-old Ember doesn’t understand why killing some boy bothers her. She’s a soldier—she has killed hundreds of people without remorse. But after she fails a mission, the rebels hold her hostage and restore her memories. Ember recognizes her sister among the rebels and realizes the boy she killed was Solanine’s fiancé.

Ember knows she can’t hide the truth forever, but Solanine has secrets too.

As their worlds clash, the two sisters must decide if their relationship is worth fighting for. And one wrong move could destroy everything—and everyone—in their path.


I read this book quite some time back after my request for a review copy got approved on NetGalley. The blurb and the cover, both intrigued me enough for me to request a copy in the first place. But I had mixed feelings about the book once I finished reading it.

Crimson Ash is the story of two sisters set in a dystopian world. Solanine and Ember are sisters whose lives were changed completely the night their government kidnapped Ember. Erasing the memories of people to turn them into effective soldiers is just one of the tactics that the government uses to keep the general mass under control. But Solanine is not ready to give up. She is determined to rescue her sister and for that she ventures on to find the rebel camps along with her fiancé. But not everything goes according to her plan and the loss of her love hits her hard. With secrets between them, when the sisters finally find their way to each other… will everything they have done and faced be worth it to keep them together?

What I loved about the book was the theme of choices and their repercussions throughout. It is something that always makes me stop and think… what choice would I make? Would I be able to live with the results of that choice? Whether it is Solanine or Ember, their choices have impacted each other and others around them and the crux of the plot came down to the question whether they could live with it. This in turn helped the plot to touch upon the theme of self-destruction, something we could all learn from. The thing that I love about dystopian novels is the fact that when well developed, the dystopian world can actually help us realize a lot of things about our realities; One reason why I loved Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and one reason why I loved this book.

On the other hand, the first half of the book was really slow. Given the fact that I still have questions about the world setting, not enough world building was done in the first half to make concessions for the slow start. The pace picks up after about 60% of the story is done and as such it was difficult to really get into the story at the beginning. I also felt that the dialogues (especially the ones that were meant to be hard hitting) were just bland.

Would I recommend this book to someone? I probably would, but with ample warnings about the pace and trigger content.

Three female Muslim teenagers must decide how far they are willing to go to defend their beliefs when faced with the pressures of life.

Thirteen-year-old Sadia is Muslim and passionate about one thing: basketball. When her teacher announces tryouts for this year’s co-ed team, she jumps at the opportunity. Her talent speaks for itself. Her head scarf, on the other hand, is a problem. Surrounded by her classmates and a new friend, Syrian refugee Amira, Sadia learns about standing up for herself and fighting for what is right.

Written from Sadia’s point of view, the book examines how three female Muslim teenagers experience life. Sadia wants to maintain her Muslim identity and refuses to remove her head covering at a basketball tournament; Amira is a Syrian refugee, reeling from the trauma she experienced when she fled her home; and Nazreen is ready to eschew her Muslim heritage to fit in with the popular crowd at school.

This is the story of Sadia, Nazreen and Amira. Sadia and Amira are Syrian Muslims, while Nazreen is an Egyptian Muslim who have all found their way to Canada. Sadia and Nazreen have been in Canada for a while and they have had the time to adjust to the ways of life there. Amira, on the other hand, is new to Canada and has a lot of hurdles to cross before she can settle in. The language barrier is just one example. The book explores the barriers and conflicts that these girls face.

Frankly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the book. On one hand, the blurb of the book indicated that it would be informative about the cultural differences. On the other hand, I wasn’t really sure if the Canadian Author would be able to do justice to the protagonist’s characters. I actually checked out the author’s Goodreads profile and website to see if she had any related experience. Only thing I could connect is that she has been a teacher for about a decade and so may have had interactions with Muslim girls as her students.

The author has done a good job with her portrayal of Sadia, Nazreen and Amira. At least I feel so because the characters felt very real to me. First is Amira, a Syrian refugee. I could understand, if not relate, to her homesickness as she was forced to leave her country. Leaving Syria and moving to Canada was not a choice that she or her family consciously made. Sadia on the other hand, had moved to Canada before the borders were locked down. She sees it as a blessing in a form. I admired her conviction and faith. Nazreen confused me though. I kind of understood the peer pressure she had trouble handling. What I did not understand was her attitude towards Sadia. Was she just jealous that she did not have the same faith or conviction? Or was she just indifferent and used Sadia when needed?

The characters and the narrative style of the author really hold the book together. The book is easy to get into and it is easy to like the protagonists for what they are because of the author’s narrative style. The voices in the book rang true. The plot was weak though. For most parts, there weren’t any major conflicts and the minor conflicts that were depicted were handled pretty easily. At times it felt like the author was looking for easy resolution rather than fleshing the plot. Also, real life is much more difficult and messier than this.

WHO ARE YOU WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING?

When a beloved high schooler named Lucinda Hayes is found murdered, no one in her sleepy Colorado suburb is untouched—not the boy who loved her too much; not the girl who wanted her perfect life; not the officer assigned to investigate her murder. In the aftermath of the tragedy, these three indelible characters—Cameron, Jade, and Russ—must each confront their darkest secrets in an effort to find solace, the truth, or both. In crystalline prose, Danya Kukafka offers a brilliant exploration of identity and of the razor-sharp line between love and obsession, between watching and seeing, between truth and memory.

Compulsively readable and powerfully moving, Girl in Snow offers an unforgettable reading experience and introduces a singular new talent in Danya Kukafka.

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Girl in the Snow is a murder mystery about a girl called Lucinda Hayes. She is found murdered and left out in the snow. The story is told from the point of views of three major characters. First is Cameron, the boy who loved Lucinda from afar. He is known to have stalked her and as such some people have their suspicions about him. Then there is the fact that Cameron cannot remember where he was when Lucinda was murdered. Then there is Jade, a girl with a difficult life only made more difficult by her rebellious nature. She hated Lucinda – a girl who seemed to be loved by one and all. With her troubled home life, Jade always felt that Lucinda had the perfect life and she wanted it for herself. Then there is Russ, the officer in charge of the investigation. With a sketchy past and a promise to keep, Russ has a lot of things he must resolve in order to be able to work on this case properly. 

Who would murder the most loved girl in the school? Also, why would someone do it? And just how involved are Cameron and Jade with the case?

The author has done an exemplary job of developing the characters in the book. Each personality is very distinct and I loved the character of Russ the most. There was nothing extraordinary about him yet he stands out in a way that makes the very forgettable character unforgettable. Jade too was developed well – as a girl with a troubled life, it was easy to sympathize with her at many levels. Her confusions and convictions make her what she is. Her quirkiness is in some ways quite endearing. Cameron is probably the only character I couldn’t really connect to though by no fault of the character development. He has stalker tendencies and it makes sense to his character, but I just thought it was creepy.

The plot is well paced. The story takes off immediately and as the various aspects of it are slowly revealed, it becomes clear to the reader how the smallest and mundane details are important to the crux of it. The language and narrative worked well for the book. The author’s attention to details, especially for the setting, makes it easier for the readers to transport into the world.

Callie Reed makes a long overdue visit to her aunt Melodie, who lives in a fairy-tale cottage in quaint Keepsake Cove, home to a bevy of unique collectible shops on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Just as they're beginning to reconnect, Callie discovers her aunt's body on the floor of her music box shop. Grief-stricken, Callie finds she can't accept Melodie's death being called accidental. How could her strong and healthy aunt take such a fatal fall? And why was she there in the middle of the night?

As Callie searches for the truth, signs seem to come from her late aunt through a favorite music box, urging Callie on. Or are they warnings? If Callie isn't careful, she could meet a similar deadly fate amid Melodie's collection. 


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Callie’s life is taking a turn she doesn’t like much. She decides to take a break by paying an overdue visit to her aunt Melodie. She arrives at the quaint little town of Keepsake Cove, where her aunt lives and runs a music box shop, with hopes of clearing her mind and rejuvenating her life. But her life takes an unexpected turn even here when she finds the body of her aunt Melodie on the floor of the shop soon after arriving at Keepsake Cove. The place may have a fairytale-esque vibe, but there is a murderer lurking among them as Callie is sure that her aunt’s death was no accident.

I love Keepsake Cove. It is indeed a perfect ‘story’ town where people know and take care of each other. After her aunt’s death, the town sort of adopts Callie and take her into their folds. Each shop in the town has a charm of its own as do the residents of the town. I kind of liked Callie. Life gets overwhelming for her at a point when she decides to take a break. Haven’t we all had that feeling? Her refusal to take her aunt’s death as an accident kind of shows her presence of mind even in a shocking situation. As she hunts for the truth we see a side of her that is smart, intelligent and warm.

The style of storytelling suits the genre of cozy mysteries. It sets up the backdrop to perfection, develops a bunch of characters who start to feel like a family and a protagonist who is thoroughly likeable. The charming narrative only adds to the story. There are enough clues sprinkled in the pages for the readers to play along a game of whodunnit. 

A charming and enjoyable read.

High above London, on the rooftops of the city, lives a secret society of misfits governed by a bizarre code of honour. It is a world known to only a few people on the streets below - until the murderous battle for its leadership breaks out.

As the Roofworld fights to keep the powerfully evil Chymes and his occult worshipping followers at bay, Robert Linden and Rose Leonard, two innocent outsiders, are drawn into a twilight, dangerous world. 

They face far greater terrors than they could have imagined. And the battle is on for the ultimate prize - London itself.


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In ‘Roofworld’ a whole set of characters live and fight for their lives on the, yes you got it right, rooftops of the city of London. And like the rest of the society, there is both good and evil among them. The novel revolves around the theme of light vs dark or good vs evil. Leading the league of ‘darkness’ is Chymes. They draw on occult and drugs and intend to rule over the rooftops of the city. Nathanial is the face of their opposition; a man with his own demons to fight. Will equality reign in the Roofworld or will doom take over? Caught in between are a couple of innocent people like Robert and Rose.

The only reason I am not rating this book a stellar 5 stars is the character development in the book. I did not feel connected to any of the characters in the book, whether its Robert or Rose or Nathanial or even Chymes. Even though they are quite quirky, the characters fell a bit flat for me till it was too late. In case of Nathanial, I was never sure exactly what was going on with him and what arc his character would take. Even without the hook of an interesting character, reading the book is a mighty entertaining experience. The plot and the narrative steals the show completely. The plot has an unusual setting and takes unpredictable turns keeping the readers glued to the pages. I loved how many times I was taken by surprise by the turns the plot took. The author’s narrative style is quite interesting to say the least and it is very indulging.

I have read couple of other books by the author and have enjoyed them all, but this is the most unique work I have read in a while. Thoroughly engrossing and entertaining.

Tuscany, 1096 AD. Luca, young heir to the title of Conte de Falconi, sees demons. Since no one else can see them, Luca must keep quiet about what he sees.

Luca also has dreams—dreams that sometimes predict the future. Luca sees his father murdered in one such dream and vows to stop it coming true. Even if he has to go against his father’s wishes and follow him on the great pilgrimage to capture the Holy Lands.

When Luca is given an ancient book that holds some inscrutable power, he knows he’s been thrown into an adventure that will lead to places beyond his understanding. But with the help of Suzan, the beautiful girl he rescues from the desert, he will realise his true quest: to defeat the forces of man and demon that wish to destroy the world.


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Set in the early 1900s, The Book of Whispers is the story of Luca and Suzan. Luca can see demons and that is fact that he keeps well-hidden after a childhood experience. His dreams are like premonitions and so when he sees his father getting murdered, he decides to follow his father on a journey in order to be able to prevent it. That is where he meets Suzan, a girl raised in the convent and on the run after a close call at the convent. The thing is that Suzan too can see the demons. So together they work towards stopping the demons from taking over with a little help from the Book of Whispers.

The Book of Whispers is something that Luca inherited. It is surprising to see a book with almost as many secrets and as much character as a person in the plot. Both Luca and Suzan make for interesting protagonists. There is just enough details given about them to make a reader get acquainted with their characters. I loved the setting quite a bit and how the author has sprinkled little details throughout the book.

The romance in the book adds another element to the plot though I am not very sure of it. It felt kind of instantaneous and then builds on it. It wasn’t really the kind of romance I enjoy, but then again, the romance is not the main focus of the book so it is pretty easy to look beyond it. The book has a slow start, but once all the elements are in place the pace does not lag at all. So, readers need be patient towards the beginning.

Overall, it is a YA Fantasy that will appeal to many.

Martyn Ross had a miserable life until he met Spanky, a tuxedoed chamer who's diabolically handsome, successful and ruthless. He's willing to share his wild world of wine, women and wealth - but at a price. And it has nothing to do with Martyn surrendering his soul.

Quite the reverse...



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Set in the late eighties/ early nineties, the story revolves around Martyn & Spanky and their relationship. Martyn Ross is a regular guy with a mundane job and life. There is not much going on for him and for most parts he considers himself to be a loser. When Martyn meets Spanky, who insists that he is a daemon and offers to be his muse…  Slowly Spanky becomes his friend and helps Martyn achieve his dreams and desire and change his life for good. However, Martyn soon realizes that this wasn’t a one-way deal and he has to pay Spanky for it soon.

The first thing that attracts the reader to this book is the element of Faustian Pact but with a twist. The second thing that stands out in the book is its dark humour. Together they give the book a solid base for the plot to play out with its characters. Martyn is partly naïve as is clear from his entering into the pact with no idea of what he must pay for it. However, it is quite easy to feel kindly towards him. Spanky on the other hand is the star of the story. He is devilishly charming and has a cunning mind.

There are moments in the book when you just cannot help but draw a parallel to our reality. For instance, the fact that nothing in life comes for free. It was a surprise to me as I picked up this book expecting it to be just another story. But the book turned out to be much more than that.

An entertaining read for a rainy evening.

Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice's prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.

The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. And most of its rules make sense. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. . . . Never mention The Pact to anyone.

Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples. And then one of them breaks the rules. The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life. And The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule. For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare. 


Alice and Jake are newlyweds. Alice used to be a musician and is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in a psychology practice. They come across as the perfect couple despite their different backgrounds.  Just as they return from their honeymoon, the receive a call from one of Alice’s prominent clients about a unique wedding present; Membership to a mysterious and very exclusive group known only as The Pact. At the face value, it seems like an interesting concept. The members must follow certain rules that are meant to help keep the couples happy in their relationship. So, Alice and Jake decide to join the club. But soon they discover that following the rules may not be as easy as it seems and there are serious repercussions in case they fail to follow them.

The book has a slow start in order able us to acclimatize ourselves to the various characters and the concept of the club. But once it settles in, the book maintains a steady pace and pages fly by. I was a bit disconcerted with the punishments for the infractions and must admit that they weren’t easy to read. Then there are the characters of Alice and Jake… I didn’t quite like Jake as one of the protagonist. If his insecurities were meant to help us like him, it did not work. And their personal relationship lacked proper chemistry that is expected from the lead couple. The other thing that bugged me is the fact that not all loops were tied up in the end. There were certain aspects of the club and its members that were not explained, like how did they know things that they clearly weren’t supposed to know.

The winner for the book is the narrative style adopted by the author. It is interesting and engaging. As a result, even with my misgivings with the book I ended up reading it really fast.

The recipe for a warm and humorous story...
In a modest bowl of Nashville, gently place a girl who is Country music, Bible belt, and a Steakhouse foodie.
Then add a surprise portion of exotic and handsome Anglo Indian, who is a passionate Bollywood director, vegetarian and Hindu.
Stir vigorously on a bed of intense attraction.
At first, the ingredients will seem to clash and separate.
Keep stirring...
Include a dollop of jealous boyfriend and a meddling mother.
Splash in a serving of fun and mischievous friends. Keep stirring...
Add a dash of crazy aunt and a minister father to keep the flavors working together.
Sprinkle in even more complicated family members to taste.
Cook on high emotions.
The secret ingredient that cuts through the sweetness is a final layer of shocking revelation that adds a surprising depth of flavor.
Finish with a twist of 'Oh My God! Is she really going to do that?'.
Serve as tasty bite-size chapters in a novel dish of mayhem and madness with a side of Country music and Bollywood dancing.


Mary is from Nashville and a daughter of a pastor. Simha is an Anglo-Indian film director. When their paths cross, there is lots of drama and romance.

The plot of the book is really very simple and straightforward. Girl meets boy. They fall in love over the story that includes A LOT of drama. For most parts the flow of the story was predictable once you get to know the characters. Talking of characters, Mary – the protagonist is not very outstanding thus Simha takes the limelight throughout. She doesn’t really have a personality or outlook that would make the readers like/love her very much; or hate for that matter. What I didn’t like about her was the fact that she never really stands up for her relationship or her boyfriend through the book. Also, Simha’s ‘exotic’ look was really at it took her to fall for him without ‘really’ knowing him. Simha on the other hand comes off as this distinguished person who shines through. Part of it is because of the lack of Mary’s personality and partly because of his charm.

The book talks a lot about religion and racism without actually dealing with it. It was really frustrating to read stereotyped adjectives and comments. I couldn’t decide half the time whether the author herself had this typical view of the world and its people or was she trying (and failing) to break the stereotypes. As a result, it was quite a tedious read overall.

The plot had some potential if it was handled properly. 

Lacey Hathaway has it all — a job she loves as a local radio DJ, a home with her adored, eccentric aunt and, best of all, a community after a childhood traveling with her musical parents. So what if her life is a little too safe? Marietta is everything to Lacey. Not only is she helping to organize the Bachelor Bake-Off and filming a documentary about the process, she’s also volunteered her brother as a Bachelor. But, when her brother backs out, Lacey has to find a last-minute replacement. And who better than her aunt’s lodger, gorgeous – if taciturn – Zac Malone?

Zac’s not exactly community-minded. In fact, he makes it clear that the sooner he’s out of Marietta the better. But when Lacey persuades him of the powerful impact the Bake-Off funds will have on local children, he decides to give it a go. On one condition. If he has to learn to bake, so does disaster-in-the-kitchen Lacey. Desserts aren’t the only thing heating up, and as the attraction flares and Zac makes plans to leave, Lacey’s beginning to realize that maybe there is a world beyond Marietta’s borders after all… if she’s brave enough to take that step. 


‘Opposites attract’ is what this book is about. On one hand we have Zac, who likes to keep to himself and cannot wait to get away from Marietta once his business is done. On the other hand, we have Lacey, a bubbly and charming girl who has only known the community life of Marietta. With Lacey’s brother backing out at the last moment, Lacey needs to find a bachelor to step in and save the day. Zac would have probably not cared otherwise but the bake off was for a cause even he could not ignore. But he sets a condition that if he has to learn to bake, then so does Lacey. With their paths crossing, and spending more and more time together it gets harder to ignore the chemistry between them. But is this attraction enough to keep them together forever? Especially when Zac’s time in Marietta is coming to an end and it is the only home Lacey has ever known.

I loved this story because of both the characters and their dynamics. The characters of Zac and Lacey are well developed. They are simple and complicated at the same time. And irrespective of the fact that their personalities are so poles apart, they make a couple that is easy to believe in. They are the anchors of the book. Apart from that the author has an easy going narrative and constant flow of the story also make the pages keep turning. The climax was predictable and expected, however that doesn’t take away much from the reading experiences.

This is the fourth book in the story but can be read as a standalone. A sweet romance that is good for a couple of hours of entertainment.

Tyler Carter is a healthy-eating gym owner who doesn’t bake. When his employees enter him into a bake-off contest to raise money for Harry’s House, an after school space for kids commemorating local first responder Harry Monroe, he needs to learn–fast!

Shy special needs teacher Stacey Allman loves to bake and often dreams of sharing her confections with her uber fit, gorgeous neighbor. So when Tyler sets off his smoke alarm and explains his dilemma, she can’t resist the temptation of playing pastry chef tutor. He offers boxing lessons in exchange. More time together? Yes please,

But when Tyler’s ex comes back to Marietta asking for his help, will it derail Stacey and Tyler’s chance at love, or will it make them see that they’re the perfect fit?

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Tyler Carter is a gym owner who knows nothing about baking. But when the community comes together for a bake-off with a cause, Tyler finds himself signed up for the contest. So, when he sets off the fire alarm while trying to practice for the bake-off and Stacey Allman, a local school teacher comes to his rescue, it is a boon for Tyler. He offers some boxing lessons in exchange, but spending so much time together in a way that neither of them could have prepared for; especially with Tyler’s ex-girlfriend back in his life.

I liked both the characters in this book. Stacey is a shy lady with grit. And Tyler is a caring hunk. Together they make a very nice couple. But what I liked about their relationship the best is that neither of them takes each other at the face value. They get to know each other closely and along the way help each become a stronger and confident individual. The fact that each of them had something to offer in the relationship made it feel real and durable. The way the author has handle the topic of special needs actually calls for a special mention. Kate Hardy has done a great job in handling Stacey’s hearing impairment all the while showing that irrespective of her own special needs, Stacey does her best to help others in need as well.

The plot did not really have a twist to offer other than the one mentioned in the blurb. But it was a pretty special read on its own with Kate Hardy’s beautiful narration.

Type-A chef Carolyn Hanson has walked away from her job at a trendy NYC restaurant after an abrupt family tragedy. Now, as a guardian to her four-year-old niece, Emma, and a very disobedient mutt – kids and dogs are so not her skill set – moving back to Marietta, Montana seems the best temporary option. But when confronted by her parents’ declining health, Carolyn has to face reality. And she’s going to need some serious help. So who better to ask than Matthew West, a blast from her high school past… and as hunky and helpful as ever.

Vet – and very eligible, if reluctant, Bachelor – Matthew West can’t believe his luck when his high school crush stumbles through his door. Dogs, kids, and gorgeous damsels in distress. Carolyn needs help with the pup, and he needs help whipping up delicious concoctions for the Bachelor Bake-Off. So she wants to make a deal: dog obedience lessons for cooking tips… but Matthew wants to broker quite a bit more…

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Carolyn Hanson has worked hard to get where she is. After a decade of hard work, she finds herself to be the sous chef of a highly rated restaurant. But with the death of her sister and brother in law dies in a car accident, she finds herself to be the guardian of her four year old niece Emma and a puppy. Struggling to cope with the grief and her new responsibilities, Carolyn moves to her hometown temporarily hoping for some help from her parents. Her hometown vet is her high school boyfriend, Matthew West. As their paths cross again, they make a deal to help each other out.

I have to say this right off the bat… I did not enjoy this book as much as I expected to. The reason for that is mainly the character of Carolyn. I get that she has been working really hard to get where she is in her professional life, and was in no way equipped to handle a toddler. I also get that losing her sister and brother in law was a shock. But her attitude simply turned me off. She seems ready to give up on family even without trying her best. I completely failed to sympathize with her. Matthew on the other hand was a much better character even though the lack of balance in his character is clearly visible too.

Keeping aside my problem with the characters, this book is an entertaining one. It has romance and drama to keep you engaged. The author’s style of storytelling is easy going and the language is a bit laidback but easy to get into the flow with. The pleasant backdrop and adorable Emma are the hooks for this book. I just wished the characters had more balance in them to make them easier to connect with.

Still reeling from the unexpected sale of the land she and her horses live on, horse rescuer Kelsey Blaine is frantic when she comes home to find her possessions already boxed up and her house being bulldozed without any notice. Normally calm and kind, Kelsey becomes furious and impulsively cuts a privacy fence to confront the culprit–her mysterious neighbor, Joe. 

Joe Kilcoyne is in a desperate place. He guards his secrets and hides from the world for a reason. He's the hottest topic of speculation around Whiskey River, but no one has ever dared to get close to him. That is, until fiery Kelsey comes barging straight into his life. 

The last thing Joe needs is for Kelsey to breach his defenses and make him confront his past. But when her sunny, open, and determined personality collide with a haunted man with no idea how to reconnect with the world, the sparks that ignite shock them both.


Kelsey finds out that her landlord has sold her property without ample notice. It is all done so suddenly and out of the blue, that she has no other option than to confront her landlord in order to save the rescue horse operation she runs. Her landlord and neighbor is Crazy Joe who keeps to himself and doesn’t take being intruded upon well. Yet this tumultuous beginning gives way to an unusual relationship between two people with completely different personalities.

Kelsey is a character that is really easy to fall in love with. She has a bright and sunny disposition to go along with her hardworking and self-respecting nature. Joe on the other hand is someone who takes time to grow on you. His reclusive nature and the barriers that he has up in place indicates a tortured past giving the readers time to get used to him. The relationship between these two is absolutely adorable. I liked the fact that they took time to really get to know each other first.

The plotline is pretty much predictable but the content keeps you engrossed. The lead characters are well developed to make the readers feel invested in their lives. The language and narrative of the author feels like a style that is developed over the years even though this is the first time that I am reading a book by this author. The book has a lot of drama and some romance making it an entertaining read. The only thing off putting was the way too clichéd moments in the book.

Perfectly pressed. Perfectly proper. Perfectly deadly. 

Paranormal museum owner Maddie Kosloski thinks she has the perfect paranormal exhibit for the harvest festival—a haunted grape press. But before she can open the exhibit, she’s accused of stealing the antique press. And when her accuser is found murdered, all eyes turn to Maddie.

Solving the crime is the last thing on Maddie’s mind, but her mother insists she investigate. Does her mother have a secret agenda? And why has the local charity, Ladies Aid, seemingly gone gangster?

In this light, cozy mystery, haunted houses, runaway wine barrels, and murder combine in a perfect storm of chaos. Facing down danger and her own over-active imagination, Maddie must unearth the killer before she becomes the next ghost to haunt her museum. 

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Maddie Kosloski owns and runs a paranormal museum. She that the haunted grape press that she has recently acquired is perfect for the upcoming festival. But before she can even open the exhibit, she is accused of stealing the press. And as if being accused of stealing is not enough of a trouble, the accuser turns up dead making Maddie the lead suspect. With a museum to run and an upcoming fair to handle, will Maddie be able to find the real murderer or will she fall as a victim?

The book is a highly entertaining one. There are a lot of things happening all over the place along with the murder investigation. So, in a way the plot is a multi-layered one. While there is only one investigation line to the plot, Maddie’s business and its reception among the public is an added aspect to it. While the murder plot was fairly simple, and a reader will probably guess the culprit correctly before it is revealed, the cast of character keep the pages turning with their antics. Maddie is an interesting person. She has to be in order to successfully own and run a paranormal museum. Her connection with her mother and her friends through rough times make her strong. But I have to say that I really did not like the detective Hammer at all, even though I know that it is what the author intended. He clearly has something against Maddie and is only happy to ignore any evidence that she has to present. The additional cast of characters (and there are quite a few) bring colour to the story making it more appealing by adding their few cents to the plot.

This is a perfect cozy mystery for a lazy afternoon!

Who is the handsome cowboy who comes into small town Marietta’s chocolate shop every week to buy a box of chocolates? More importantly…who is he buying the chocolates for? These are the questions sales clerk Rosie Linn asks herself as she waits for her sadly neglected childhood home to sell so she can pursue an exciting new career in L.A. 

Rosie finds out the answers the day rugged ranch hand Brant Willingham introduces himself and asks for her help in managing the care of his younger sister. Brant’s mother has recently died, leaving him the sole guardian of eighteen-year-old Sara Maria–who has been a puzzle to Brant ever since she began exhibiting signs of autism at age two. 
Rosie and Brant come up with a plan. She’ll help with his sister if he handles repairs and a new paint job for her old house. It seems the perfect solution, but a new dilemma is created when the couple start spending time together. Brant discovers he doesn’t want Rosie to sell and leave, and Rosie fears she will have to choose between love and her dreams.

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I really love this author. I have previously read and enjoyed quite a few of her romantic suspense novels and so decided to give her romance book a try as well.

Set in the small town of Marietta, ‘Melt My Heart, Cowboy’ is the story of Rosie and Brant. Rosie works at the chocolate shop where Brant comes in every week to buy a box of chocolates. Rosie has obviously noticed Brant and often wonders who he buys the chocolates for, but she tries not to think of him too much since she has no plans of sticking around. She has got a house to sell so that she can move out of the small town for goof. Brant’s mother died in an accident that left him to care for his autistic sister. With his job as a ranch hand, Brant has his plate full leaving him with no time for a social life. As fate would have it, these two lives were soon intertwined when Brant and Rosie get involved in helping each other out and they start spending time together.

It was quite fun to read about Rosie and Brant together. From mere acquaintances to friends to something more – their journey was rather nice. I loved the fact that their relationship grows throughout the book. This is no insta-love. While I did not particularly for Rosie or Brant individually, I loved them as a couple. Don’t misunderstand me – they both are great characters, I just didn’t feel like going gaga about them. Instead, Sara stole the show for me. She is such an adorable character and so easy to fall for. Brant’s struggle to care for his sister is endearing in a way as the reader can clearly see that he truly cares.

Simple writing style and engaging narrative kept me hooked till the end. And, by the way – I just loved the book cover!

Everyone has a story . . . but will they get the happy ending they deserve?

Emilia has just returned to her idyllic Cotswold hometown to rescue the family business. Nightingale Books is a dream come true for book-lovers, but the best stories aren't just within the pages of the books she sells - Emilia's customers have their own tales to tell.

There's the lady of the manor who is hiding a secret close to her heart; the single dad looking for books to share with his son but who isn't quite what he seems; and the desperately shy chef trying to find the courage to talk to her crush . . .

And as for Emilia's story, can she keep the promise she made to her father and save Nightingale Books? 


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I am a total sucker for books. So when I discovered a book about a bookshop, I just had to read it.

‘Nightingale Books’ is more than just an independent bookshop in the town of Cotswold.  Julius Nightingale opened the store as a single dad to Emilia. It had been more than just an income source then and it meant a lot to Emilia who has inherited it after her father’s death. Filled with her childhood memories and stories, Emilia tries to overcome her financial struggles to keep the shop running. But the store also means a lot to the locals – their stories are somehow entangled with Julius, his recommendations and Nightingale Books. Will Emilia be able to keep her promise to her father and save the bookshop?

I have always felt that independent bookshops have a different kind of charm. They are usually less organized but with friendly owners/employees, it becomes a sort of an adventure to find new reads. ‘Nightingale Books’ sounds just like my kind of a bookstore where the owner is thoroughly involved and often interact with customers at a personal level. I wish Julius wasn’t a fictional character and that I could meet him in person. It was like this fictional character’s death touched me personally! He managed to turn his business into a way to make reading interesting; a way to meet people and to get to know them. Through the bookstore we meet a wide cast of characters that are all very quirky and have their own stories to tell. It was entertaining to get to know them and their stories individually all the while learning more about Emilia and her story. The bookshop really brings these people together and with how they try to help Emilia, it is evident that Julius had really managed to touch all their lives.

The writing style is delicate and the language used is simple. Together they help you settle into the book easily. And while you get to know each character, the pages keep turning on their own accord. You reach the end before you realize and it leaves you with a happy and satisfied smile on your face. A note of warning though – once you have familiarized yourself with Nightingale books, you will never see your local bookshop in the same light again. 

What if you were on the cusp of marrying the guy of your dreams and reaching that career goal you set for yourself, only for all of it to be taken away in one fell swoop?

What if this all happened a month before you turned 30?

This is the story of Jill Stevens, who after moving back home, finds a list she made in high school of thirty things she wanted to accomplish before her thirtieth birthday.

With a month left and hardly anything crossed off her list, she teams up with old friends to accomplish as much as she can before the big 3-0. Along the way, she discovers her true self and realizes it’s not about the material successes in life but the journey. 

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This book managed to really catch me by surprise and I enjoyed it more than I expected.

Jill thought she had it all; a high flying career with a law firm where she expected to be made partner soon and a loving boyfriend to come home to. Then it all came crashing down. The day she gets fired from her job is also the day she finds her boyfriend cheating on her. She has no choice but to move back in with her family where she finds a list that she had made during school days. It is a list of things to be accomplished before she turned thirty. With a mere month to her turning thirty, she decides to accomplish as many things from the list as possible. With the support of her family and friends, she takes on the challenge and in the process discovers new things about her life and those around her.

The plot is not very unique and we have all either read books or watched movies with the similar theme. And as such the first question that came to my mind while picking up the book was if this book had anything new to offer and whether it could hold on its own. So, let me answer those questions first and the answer is a resounding yes! The author has narrated the story with just the right amount of drama with a generous amount of wit and humour. I kept laughing and smiling throughout the book and once I was done reading, it left me feeling good. For that reason alone this book is worth reading. But if you need more, then worry not as this book has other things to offer as well. The language and narrative style are unpretentious and easy to get into. The supporting characters have been given enough importance and developed well along with the storyline.


The best part about the book is perhaps the fact that it sends across a very important message even through its light hearted narration. It is sure to make a reader to take a moment and reflect on their lives as well.