Tag Archives: books

Book Review: The Karachi Deception by Shatrujeet Nath

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My Thoughts:
I am a huge huge huge fan of Shatrujeet Nath’s books and writing. Having read all his books based on Indian Mythology, I knew I had to read this book which was the first book he had written. A huge thank you to the Writersmelon team as well for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Karachi Deception is an international espionage thriller filled with mystery and intrigue and a plot that is full of twists and turns. I loved reading this book and was hooked right from the beginning. In short, the story follows three commandos as they enter Pakistan to eliminate one of the most dreaded underworld dons. As they navigate their way, follow the plan established, they seem to meet roadblocks at every stage. With secrets being kept among the superiors, no clarity on whom to trust and too many parties in play, the reader is in for a roller coaster ride.

The story is fast paced and the characters are well thought out. I really appreciate how the author has handled all the various characters, there are so many of them and each one has an important role to play whether it is big or small. Every one of the characters contributes something which makes the plot stronger and the storyline believable. As our main protagonists set out to do the impossible task set out in front of them, we are giving a glimpse into the minds of the characters and how each one thinks. The reasons behind the decisions taken and how every web of lies has some ounce of truth in it is intriguing.

Overall I loved this book and am happy that my first read of 2023 was a 5 star read! I highly recommend this book to all!

Book Review: Don’t Ask Me How I’m Doing: Life, Death and Everything in Between by Sanjay Deshpande and Co-Authors

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About the Book: (taken from Amazon India)

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Co-authored by Sanjay Deshpande (Lead Author), Sachin Rajakrishnan, Snehal Ponde, Thanisha Sehgal, Anuraag Khaund, Piuli Roy Chowdhury, Vani Verma, Nikita Wadhwani, Pallavi Saraswatula, Aditya Arun, Subeksha Poudel, and Poornima Sardana.

You are 29 and entering the gates of your dream college, you are 30 and have just moved countries with your partner to start your new life, or you are 34 and are expecting your first child. You are in the midst of truly living your life when you wake up one day and find out that you have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness such as cancer. The world as you know it turns upside down in an instant and you are left all alone grappling with multiple questions in a sea of uncertainty. The world as you know it turns upside down in an instant and you are left alone grappling with multiple questions in a sea of uncertainty.

So, when cancer knocks the living daylight out of you, what do you do? This book is a collection of stories of people in the age group of 17-39 who came together to recount what it’s like to be diagnosed with cancer at a young age or become caregivers to those diagnosed and how they navigated or are navigating their lives through such difficult times. Filled with raw, honest and vulnerable narratives of coping with something whose cause and outcome are mostly unclear, this book is a must read for anyone who wants to find support and have their own voices reflected in the stories of the authors.

My Thoughts:

When Saumita Banerjee from LetsAuthor Books reached out to me regarding this book, I was intrigued. The first thing that caught my attention was the title of the book ‘Don’t Ask Me How I’m Doing’. The second was the synopsis, straight, to the point and written in a way to grab your attention immediately.

Before I write about the book, I want to mention that I truly appreciate Sanjay for finding the courage and stepping up to talk about his experience and opening up the conversation about having or living with cancer. In addition, I have only the utmost respect for all the wonderful co authors (all in a specific age range as the synopsis suggests) who have stepped up to share with us their journeys and the impact cancer has had on their lives as well as that of their loved ones.

I cannot even begin to fathom what any of them or others in general have gone through but this book has given me some insight into how they or anyone might feel or react to the information of having cancer and later dealing with it. The authors are candid and even funny in some cases, bringing to us their thoughts, feelings, insecurities and finally strategies they used to cope with the diagnosis and further. This book is a testament to their strength and more than that their will to educate us all. I have learnt so much from this book and more than anything, I understand that sometimes people need time and space to find their way.

This is a book that is so much more than just people’s accounts. It is about their journey, adulting and in some ways providing a safe space for everyone. One message I came away with is that we are not alone! There is always someone who will understand you or what you are going through and it is okay to ask for help, to reach out to people! I highly recommend this book to all and please do forgive me if I have expressed anything incorrectly here!

New Year greetings and a look back at Year 2022!

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I would like to start off this post by first wishing you all a very happy and prosperous New Year 2023!

I would also like to thank the entire reading community, friends and everyone who has supported me and my blog. A big shoutout to the Instagram community of readers and bloggers. It is a wonderful place to talk about books and get to know fellow bibliophiles.

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Wrap Up 2022 – Top 6 favourites!

Here I’m including the images (from goodreads) of my top 6 favourite books read in 2022 in no particular order. For some of them, the review is posted already and for some the complete review will be put up soon (I am quite late on this and I have a huge backlog 😦 )

I have to say though that I enjoyed every one of the books I read in 2022 and some just stuck with me more than the others. It’s all a relative comparison for me. As you can see, the books range across many genres and I am so happy to have gotten the chance to discover so many new authors who have fast become favourites!

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Book Review: Spellbound by Crystal J. Johnson and Felicity Vaughn

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About the Book:

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Gemma inherited more than she can handle thanks to the hot inhabitants of her hotel . . .

When Gemma Fox inherits the storied Reynard Hotel from her great-aunt, she’s totally unprepared for the responsibility. It’s not the bills or the renovations or the repairs piling up. Or her family’s complete lack of confidence in her ability to manage the hotel. It’s that she’s not alone.

Bound to the hotel are two spirits, Archer and Soren Hyde. Brooding, handsome, immortal—they’ve been haunting the Reynard for generations. And Gemma is now their custodian.

As Gemma fights to keep the hotel from going under, she also finds herself fighting a growing attraction to the brothers. Each offers her something different: Archer is impish, fun, sexy, and just the distraction she needs. Soren’s arrogant, passionate, sinfully attractive, and driving her crazy. In turn, they each want something from her—one wants freedom, the other wants her heart.

It turns out that Archer and Soren are holding back a secret that might finally see them no longer spellbound. And when the truth comes out about who—and what—they are, their imperfect triangle shatters. With her life and her happiness on the line, and pressure mounting on all sides, Gemma is forced to make a decision that could change everything—for eternity.

My Thoughts:

I usually enjoy fantasy fiction and when you throw in the paranormal aspect, it gets fun. Spellbound was one such book that I truly enjoyed. I am not one to read books with ghosts or spirits in them but, this book had me hooked. The mystery surrounding the Reynard hotel drew me in and I fell in love with the setting, description and even the characters.

The story follows Gemma who inherits the Reynard hotel from her great-aunt. This makes her even more unpopular among her family members some of whom think they were cheated out of the inheritance and money. Gemma is given a time frame to be able to run the place and prove that she is capable of the task set in front of her, while most of the family deem her unfit for the responsibility. Little does anyone know that running the Reynard is the least of anyone’s worry. The secret to the hotel lies in its unexpected inhabitants who are bound to the place and who had a very special connection with Gemma’s great-aunt making them her responsibility now.

I adored the characters of Soren and Archer. The two are very different and yet have an interesting connection to the hotel and develop a connection with Gemma. As she navigates a complicated love triangle, managing the hotel, family members who want to see her fail, we meet a whole lot of characters (including Larry, Skye, Raven and many more) whom we either love or hate. The authors have done a wonderful job in describing each character and give them enough space in the plot to ensure that the reader is familiar with them.

The twists at the end and the decisions Gemma faces make the story and mystery of the place that much more interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and recommend it for all fans of the genre. Even those who do not normally read paranormal fantasy can pick up this book and enjoy the story!

Book Review: The Engagement by Samantha Hayes

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About the Book:

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You thought you had escaped him. Until he proposed to your daughter.

‘There’s someone I want you to meet,’ Belle says, as a man draws up to her side. He’s tall with dark hair and stubble on his square jaw. He’s dressed in expensive-looking clothes – tan trousers and a fitted navy shirt. He’s not exactly smiling, but the corner of his mouth curls upwards as he slides his hand around my eighteen-year-old daughter’s waist.

I grab my husband’s arm to steady myself as my heart kicks into a thunderous gallop.

I’m frozen.

It’s as though I’m under water. The room spins around me.

I stare into his eyes – jet black. Nothing and everything hidden behind them.

Fear prickles my skin as I remember what he did.

How I only just escaped.

All the lies I’ve had to tell since.

‘I want you to meet Jack,’ Belle says, bouncing up and down with excitement. ‘He’s my fiancé.’ She rests her head on his shoulder. ‘Isn’t it exciting? We’re engaged!’

I have to stop this.

If I don’t, I’ll lose everything…

My Thoughts:

Note: I received a copy of the book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.

The Engagement is a fast paced thriller that will have the reader on the edge of their seat. The story is told from 3 different points of view, one of Hannah in the present day, one of her daughter Belle and the last in Molly’s view in the past. As we read each chapter, the story unfolds from each character’s perspective giving us a sense of how the past shapes the current events.

Belle returns home from a language learning trip abroad with a shocking announcement. Not only did she not go ahead with the purpose of her trip, she spent time with a much older man to whom she is now engaged in the short span of two months of knowing each other. However, when Hannah meets this person, it is as though her past is coming back to haunt her. The story then follows her as she tries to make sense of the situation, protect her daughter and prevent some of her darkest secrets from coming to light.

The story is well-written with a lot of twists and some of them are so unexpected, you just do not see them coming. Each person has some kind of agenda and so many deeply buried secrets that it is a revelation to the reader. Some parts of the story are horrifying to read about but the author handles it all rather delicately. I truly enjoyed reading this book and was left shocked right until the very end. Even the last few pages had a twist that the reader just doesn’t see coming.

This book is a must read for all those who enjoy a good thriller.

Book Review: Fall of the Harvest Moon by Nina Walker and Kimberly Loth

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My Thoughts:
Fall of the Harvest Moon is the final book in the New World Shifters series by authors Nina Walker and Kimberly Loth. This book picks up where the last one left off and takes us on a fast paced journey towards the conclusion.

We follow Poppy as she navigates becoming a Lycan and deals with the after effects of having killed The King and biting Rhys. So many questions were left unanswered at the end of Book 3 with the clarification and conclusion coming to light in this book. Poppy starts to take control and stand up for herself and the other girls. Rhys is confused and trying to come to terms with a lot of things as well as handle being the alpha. There is also a bigger focus on the romance between the characters and an interesting twist to this equation.

The authors have done a great job in bringing the story together and tying up all loose ends. As a reader, we come away satisfied with the story and the characters and how they end up. This story is fast paced and we see much more action than in the others. In addition to this, we also see a lot of the characters grow into their own and take control of their lives. It is indeed a beautiful journey of four books that the readers will take with these characters whom they will grow to love or hate. But, it is all worth it in the end.

This is a world where werewolves, lycans and other shapeshifters come together and hopefully, eventually live in harmony with the humans. A truly wonderful conclusion to the series, I highly recommend this series and of course this book (if you have read the rest) to all fans of  books in the genres of paranormal romance.

Book Review: Not By Blood by Chris Narozny

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About the Book:

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When Tina Evans gets a call from her brother in the middle of the night, she doesn’t think much of it; she’s been fielding distress calls from Bill for the last twenty years, ever since the day their father killed their mother.

At first, this call seems just like all the others: Bill’s holed up in a Brooklyn drug den and needs her to come rescue him. But when Tina gets there, her brother’s nowhere to be found. Instead, she discovers the body of a private detective hidden in the junk heap out back. He’s been shot to death, and his gun is missing from its holster.

Tina’s about to dial 911 when she receives a three-letter text message from a number she doesn’t recognize: “Shh…”

Tina doesn’t believe in coincidence—the death of this detective and her brother’s disappearance must be related. But how? Could it be her father pulling the strings from his prison cell? And is she willing to risk her own freedom—and her life—to uncover the truth?

My Thoughts:

I received an ARC via NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. The following is my honest review of the book.

Release Date: 18 Jul 2023.

Not By Blood is a thriller that follows Tina as she searches for her brother after receiving a call in the middle of the night. In addition to this, her husband meets with an accident and is in the hospital in a coma. Finally, she is forced to question everything she knows when she discovers the body of a private detective with whom her husband and even her brother might have been in contact.

Tina investigates the mystery surrounding her brother and husband while relying on her foster brother to help her out. She is also being threatened and as she tries to figure out what is going on, she is in a race against detectives of the police department whom she doesn’t trust. The author brings out the brother-sister dynamics and the dynamics of dysfunctional families quite well. Having grown up in a foster family, we also get a glimpse into Tina’s state of mind and her affection for her brother Bill. Secrets are kept for a long time and when they are revealed, the characters are forced to face the consequences of what has happened in the past.

As the story progresses, we are given glimpses into the past as we follow Tina, her brother Bill and her foster brother Paul. We also meet Tina’s father who is in prison and a few other characters who help move the story along. The character interactions are interesting in the story though some seem completely unrelated to the main plot. The story is easy to read and a little predictable by the middle. It was not as fantastic or gripping as I had hoped it would be, but I did enjoy the mystery in the plot and the twists at the end.

Overall this is a good debut psychological thriller by the author and I did enjoy reading it. This is a one-time read and will be enjoyed by fans of the genre!

Book Blitz: A Home for Christmas by Katie Eagan Schenck

Posted in Book Blitz, BookWorld by

A Home for Christmas
Katie Eagan Schenck
Publication date: October 11th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Brad has just one wish this Christmas: to find a real home. Having lost his parents before joining the Marines, he misses that sense of belonging and family. When he meets an introverted flight attendant on his journey to start his civilian life, he wonders if this might be his chance.

After a messy divorce, Shelly has decided the only person allowed within the brittle walls of her broken heart is her daughter, Lilly. At least, until she meets a friendly man who hails from her hometown while working a routine flight. When she learns he needs a place to stay, she offers the apartment over her garage out of the kindness of her heart – and her desperate need for extra cash.

Even as Brad endears himself to Shelly by saving the town’s Christmas pageant, she attempts to keep her distance to protect the fragile stability she’s built since her divorce. But Brad’s willingness to walk the fine line between what Shelly’s heart wants and what her head allows slowly wears down her resolve. And when Brad receives a job offer near the only family he has left, Shelly must decide whether she’s willing to risk her heart again before he leaves her home, and her life, for good.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

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EXCERPT:

Lilly’s phone was still connected to the speaker and “I’ll be Home for Christmas” played. “I love this song, though it’s bittersweet.”

“Because you haven’t had a home for Christmas?”

“Well, yes,” he said, staring at the tree. “However, the lyrics aren’t really promising the singer will be home for Christmas. He mentions at the end how he’ll only be home in his dreams. For me, home isn’t about a specific place, but more about the people who make it a home.” He turned toward her. “My parents are gone and, as I told you before, my sister and I aren’t close. So my home for Christmas is truly in my dreams, because it doesn’t exist anymore.”

Shelly’s eyes softened, and she took his hand. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“It’s not your fault, and I’m not surprised.” He gave her a half smile and patted her hand before letting go. “Leave it to me to turn a lovely Christmas song into something depressing.”

“But you’re right, it is kind of a sad song.”

“Perhaps we can make it happier.” He stood, then performed a slight bow and offered her his hand. “Would you like to dance?”

She raised her eyebrows dubiously, but she accepted his hand and he pulled her to her feet. They faced each other, both unmoving, until Brad brought her closer to him and placed his free hand on her waist. Her hand rested on his shoulder as they swayed together to the beat.

She was soft and warm in his arms and he detected the faint scent of cinnamon and something floral. As they turned in the limited space of the room, he was reminded of earlier that morning when he helped her into her coat. The way his fingers tingled when they touched her skin. He recalled how the look in her eyes made his heart stop. Now, his heart was pounding, and the air seemed to hum with electricity, just like that morning.

He directed her to twirl, then caught her at the waist. This time, she was close enough to rest her head on his chest as they continued to sway. He tightened his arm around her and wished this could last forever. For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, it felt like they had known each other for years, instead of only one day.

The song’s last notes played, and they stopped swaying in the sudden silence. When she gazed up at him, her emerald eyes were sparkling. She was absolutely radiant, the happiest he had seen her since they met. He released her waist, but he held onto her hand.

With a smile, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it in what he hoped was a gentleman-like way.

“Thank you for the dance.”

Shelly averted her gaze. “You’re a wonderful dancer.”

Author Bio:

Debut author, Katie Eagan Schenck, writes sweet romance that warms the heart and gives all the feels. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s either working on regulations for the federal government or binging Hallmark movies. She lives in Maryland with her husband, daughter, and their three cats.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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Book Review: The New Wife by Amanda Brittany and Karen Clarke

Posted in Book review tours, Book Reviews by

About the Book:

The people you trust are the people who hurt you the most.

Nell Cosgrove is the new wife who got it all. She married her handsome, wealthy boss within six months of meeting him. They live in a beautiful riverside home. She has a flourishing career.

The only problem is her two stepdaughters, Ruby and Poppy, who are fiercely loyal to their mother, and reject all her overtures.

But now everything is falling apart. Nell’s marriage is starting to crack. Her husband spends more and more time away on business.

She gets creepy text messages from an unknown admirer. He sends mysterious bouquets of flowers to her office. She starts making mistakes at work.

Everything Nell thought she knew about her marriage and her new life is about to be turned upside down.

Book Links:
Buy Links – https://geni.us/dtHHa2
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63045634-the-new-wife

About the Authors:

Author Bio – Amanda Brittany


Amanda lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and cute dog. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, walking her dog, reading (her go-to is fictional crime and psychological thrillers) and she is far too keen on red velvet cake. She loves sunny days by the sea, and snowy days through the window of a cozy room. Amanda has raised over £8700 in eBook royalties for Cancer Research UK in memory of her sister. She is the author of six psychological crime thrillers, and co-writer of psychological suspense novels with author Karen Clarke.

Follow her at:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandajbrittany
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandy.brittany
Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/amanda_brittany_author

Author Bio – Karen Clarke


Karen is a multi-published author of romantic comedies and psychological suspense novels, as well as co-writing thrillers with Amanda Brittany. She lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband and three grown-up children and when she’s not writing, she reads (a lot), loves walking and taking pictures — the birds in her garden are probably the most photographed in the country.

Follow her at:
Website: https://www.karenclarkewriter.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenclarke123
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karen.clarke.5682
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenanne37/

My Thoughts:

It’s my stop on the Book Tour for The New Wife today! I am grateful to be on this tour with so many wonderful bloggers and reviewers.

The New Wife is a suspense filled psychological thriller that will have the reader on the edge of their seat. The story is narrated from two points of view. One is of Nell, “the new wife” as she is called and the second is of one of her step-daughter’s, Ruby. Nell has a very unsteady relationship with her two step-daughters as they blame her for their parents break-up and divorce. They are rude to her and make life difficult for her in the hope that their father will leave her and reconcile with their mother.

All the characters in the story are portrayed in grey shades. As cracks start to appear in Nell’s marriage, she decides that perhaps couples counselling is the best way to save them. A fiercely independent woman, Nell hoped that marriage would bring stability and happiness to her life. However, she did not expect her husband to change as he did, or perhaps this was how he always was and she did not see it from the beginning.

A lot of things start to go wrong and Nell doesn’t know whom to trust. The authors have done a great job in throwing the reader off track while always focusing on Nell’s and Ruby’s thoughts and feelings. Little do we know that there are other forces and people at play and soon everything will come crashing down. I truly enjoyed the story and the twists and turns. Though some parts of it were predictable, I definitely did not see the ending and the events of the epilogue coming. That was a major curve ball which made me realize that I could not guess the complete story after all.

The story focuses on mental health issues and how the characters deal with it. It also shows us how the decision of each person affects them and the others around them. Overall this was a gripping read and I recommend this for all fans of psychological thrillers. It is definitely worth reading!

Book Review: Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

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About the Book:

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Anju is the daughter of an upper-caste Calcutta family; her cousin Sudha is the daughter of the black sheep of the family. Sudha is as beautiful, tenderhearted, and serious as Anju is plain, whip-smart, and defiant. yet since the day they were born, Sudha and Anju have been bonded in ways even their mothers cannot comprehend.

The cousins’ bond is shattered, however, when Sudha learns a dark family secret. Urged into arranged marriages, their lives take sudden, opposite turns: Sudha becomes the dutiful daughter-in-law of a rigid small-town household, while Anju goes to America with her new husband and learns to live her own life of secrets. Then tragedy strikes them both, and the women discover that, despite the distance that has grown between them, they have only each other to turn to. Set in the two worlds of India and America, this is an exceptionally moving novel of love, friendship, and compelling courage.

My Thoughts:

Sister of My Heart is a beautifully written story of cousins Anju and Sudha and their unwavering love for each other. The story introduces us to the girls and their early childhood. We follow them as they navigate the world and even find love. They get pushed into situations that they do not expect and end up in different parts of the world. Not everything is as happy as it seems on the surface. As time passes, we come to know of a secret that will shatter everything and change everything they know and that we know too.

I have always admired the author’s style of writing and I enjoy reading her books. This was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed this story filled with love, heartbreak, a sense of belonging and maturity. The characters are well developed and interesting and grow into themselves as time passes. This is well depicted in the book and is something that pulled me instantly. The author also focuses on things left unsaid and hints of things that people want to say in a way that keeps us guessing. There is also a good understanding of their feelings and thoughts which are vital to the story. As readers, we are on a journey with these girls and the only way we can relate to them is if we understand what they are thinking and how they feel. This is brought out by the author in the way she has handled the plot and the characters, with a lot of care and love.

This story is one that will stay with the reader even after it is finished. The beauty of the relationship the two girls share and how they navigate the truth is what forms the backbone of the story. It goes to show that no matter how devasting a secret or fact is, we can go above it and still retain or even reclaim lost or broken relationships. What’s important is the understanding and maturity of a person and the choices they make. I truly enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it to everyone.