Christmas in the Scottish Highlands- Book Review

Christmas in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft

Publication Date: 11th Oct 2021
Genre: Christmas Romance

4 Stars

Bella lives in a picturesque Scottish village and works as a kindergarten teacher. She’s the heart of the village, always helping someone, even if it means she has to spread herself thin. Being alone on Christmas doesn’t sound that good, but Bella is pretty much used to it. 

When she crashes into an elderly lady, Edina, who lives in the castle nearby, and injures her foot, Bella offers to stay and help her. Bella realizes how lonely Edina feels and tries to bring cheer to her life and the castle. 

Enters, Jack, Edina’s grandson, a hotshot lawyer in London. He seems arrogant, judgmental, and pessimistic about most things in life. Yet, Bella and Jack work together on Bella’s projects and learn that there’s more to the other person than first impressions. 

The Christmas Spirit is all around them, and attraction blooms between the lead couple. But with both of them having a few past issues they don’t want to deal with, will there be a future with happy ever after? 

This is a sweet, cute, cozy, and heartwarming Christmas romance with likable characters. The best part about such books is that the side characters would be endearing and lovable. This book is no exception. Be it Edina, Tavish, Kenzy, Logan, or the little munchkins from Bella’s class, everyone has a personality and potential for a short story or a novella of their own. 

Christmas in the Scottish Highlands has more than one couple finding love, and I enjoyed their stories equally. The writing flows, nice, warm and familiar with descriptions of the setting and easy conversation between the characters. 

The main reason I pick small town/ village-based romances is the familiarity of the setting and the assurance of the ending. We know how the book will end, and that’s the kind of comfort I need at times. It’s much like eating a slice of favorite cake (the book has a good number of them too) and enjoying its taste as always.

The characters have their flaws, and the writer keeps things believable most of the time. Since the book is just 200+ pages, nothing gets dragged beyond the breaking point. 

To sum up, Christmas in the Scottish Highlands is much like eating your favorite chocolate cake and sipping hot chocolate on autumn noon. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#ChristmasintheScottishHighlands #NetGalley 

A Spell of Rowans- Book Review

A Spell of Rowans by Byrd Nash

Publication Date: 26th Oct 2021
Genre: Contemporary/ Women’s Fiction, Hints of Fantasy 

4.2 Stars 

Trigger Warning: Nonsexual child abuse, suicide, attempted sexual assault. 

Vic, aka, Victoria is called home to Grimsby by her elder sister Philippa. Their mother, the infamous narcissist, Rachel Rowan has died, and her three children have to settle the details. Vic agrees to her Philippa and their younger brother Liam in the town. 

She’s been away for too long, trying to escape the suffocating life with their mother. However, she knows that nothing involving Rachel will ever be easy. 

As an empath, Vic has spent her life trying to block’s emotions for messing with hers. Philippa was her opposite and charmed people around her. Liam could tell the history of whatever object he touched. And their dead mother, Rachel, had the knack of finding secrets and controlling others. 

Things take a turn for worse the moment Vic enters Grimsby. Though she’s not surprised, Vic realizes that she didn’t know a lot of things because she kept it that way. Liam seems to have suffered the most, and Vic feels torn between wanting to help and wondering if she should. 

The past, too, has been left dangling when Vic left, and it looks like Vic has no choice but to face her fears. With her siblings to support her, Vic finds alleys in two men with powerful positions. With one of them being close to her heart, can Vic survive the intensity of complicated emotions piling on top of one another? 

A Spell of Rowans is my first book by the author, and I'm impressed by her writing. The book really isn’t sci-fi or fantasy even. It’s more on the lines of a little paranormal here and there. Most of it is a family drama with some suspense and uncertain romance thrown in. 

Since I pretty much forgot the genre, I could enjoy the book without wondering about the lack of fantasy elements (on a large scale). Also, I tend to like books with just a little touch of fantasy, so this fits my reading preferences rather well. 

Another plus point is the writing flow. After ending up with a couple of slow books, this one relieved me. My pace got back to normal, and I added the extra 0.2 stars for the same. 

The story intrigued me from the first page and kept me hooked throughout. Vic is our narrator, and we see things from her perspective. She’s the kind of character I like to read- a bit vulnerable, a little headstrong, a bit impulsive but sensible, determined, caring, and capable of carrying the story on her shoulders. 

The other characters, Philippa, Liam, and Reed, were also well etched, though Hunter needed a little more. That said, I loved Liam’s character. He’s an endearing young man, who’s been through a lot, carries a lot of baggage, and yet is a compassionate man. 

Though Rachel is dead, we feel her presence throughout the book, just the way the author intended it. Her character is defined from the first. Yet, it’s only later that we begin to see the full extent of it. 

I wished some of it was shown earlier, kind of alternating with the present. That would have better sustained the momentum at the end. Also, this book isn’t high in atmosphere or descriptions. It has some and is easy to visualize, but those looking for the high atmospheric effect will be disappointed. I should’ve been too, but, guess I picked it up at the right time. This is what I needed now, and it worked for me. 

To sum up, A Spell of Rowans is not an easy book to read (refer to the triggers), but a worthy one. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Rook and Castle Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#ASpellofRowans #NetGalley 

Down a Dark River- Book Review

Down a Dark River by Karen Odden

Inspector Corravan Series, Book 1

Publication Date: 9th Nov 2021
Genre: Historical Crime Fiction, Scotland Yard 

3.8 Stars 

Inspector Corravan, an Irish former bare-knuckle boxer and dockworker from the East End of London, is drowning under a large pile of files, pending reports, and cases. The latest mess up in the (Scotland) Yard has led to changes in the department and distrust in people. 

The Inspector manages to track down a missing woman, Mrs. Beckford, when he gets called to supervise a crime scene near the Thames. The new case takes prominence as bodies accumulate every week. 

With leads going nowhere and families unwilling to help (they’ve got to protect their secrets, after all), Corravan starts to feel the pressure. His straightforward methods seem to be doing more harm than good. 

As his young colleague Stiles discovers a few links, Corravan realizes that both his cases could very well be connected. But where do the leads take him, and who is the killer? And most importantly, what kinds of crimes have been buried, and will the victims ever get the justice they deserve? 

As someone who has a soft spot for historical crime fiction, I was eager to read this book. Since I already know that this is the first book in the series, I  could be better prepared for gaps in the backstories. 

However, the first half of the book seemed too slow and took forever to establish the plotline. Things kept hitting a dead block, much to the Inspector’s and my frustration. Luckily, the second half made up for it. 

The book picked up pace after 55%. There was enough action and information to keep me guessing and intrigued. The recurring characters are promising, and I’m looking forward to knowing more about them. 

The Inspector’s arc shifted gears at the right time. He’s not an entitled rich guy with contacts. He’s a hardworking man with strengths and flaws that make him likable and not-so likable at the same time. 

The writing is engaging, though I wished things would proceed faster at times. However, I do understand the need to go slow in the first book (let me tell you that knowing that a book is the first in the series in advance and knowing it at the end can really impact the reading process). 

The not-so-perfect side of Victorian society was portrayed accurately. The climax seemed a little less dramatic but suited the overall tone of the book. I’m satisfied with the way things went and must admit that Inspector Corravn is turning out to be an interesting character. 

To sum up, Down a Dark River is a decent historical thriller with people and incidents from real life. I’m curious enough to pick up the next in the series whenever the author has it ready for us. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Land Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#NetGalley #DownaDarkRiver

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village- Book Review

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village by Maureen Johnson; Jay Cooper

Genre: Nonfiction, Humor, Travelogue

4.3 Stars 

Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village is a short illustrated travelogue or a humor novella written with the good intention of saving lives. I appreciate the author’s efforts to come with this book and save unfortunate tourists from increasing the already high death count in English villages. 

The illustrations are perfect in their 50 shades of grey (minus erotica) and the fresh scarlet red to remind us of blood. Death follows us everywhere in a sleepy, cute, and tiny English village, and there’s no escaping it. 

The tongue-in-the-cheek humor and the author’s dry wit are a potent combination. They bring alive the deadly secrets (pun intended) of unassuming English villages. As a fan of Agatha Christie and historical cozy mysteries, I loved just about everything in the book. 

Nothing gets too much, nor does anything get boring (how can death even be boring!). From village churches to vicars, spinsters, gossip lovers, manor stairs, the hounds, the freely available knives, poison vials, and scheming members, we’ve got to be wary of everything. 

The book works as a breather between heavy reads or as a little stress buster after a long day of work. Pick it up when you need to laugh (only if you have a twisted sense of humor) and feel the day’s weight slip of the shoulders. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Clarkson Potter/ Ten Speed Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#YourGuidetoNotGettingMurderedinaQuaintEnglishVillage #NetGalley

The Bookbinder's Daughter- Book Review

The Bookbinder's Daughter by Jessica Thorne

Publication Date: 20th Sep 2021

Genre: Contemporary, Fantasy, Magic Realism, Romance

3.7 Stars 

Sophie gets a job offer to work at the Ayredale Library as a bookbinder. Her uncle, Edward, holds a prominent position at the library. Her mother has last disappeared from the same place fifteen years ago. Her father, too, used to work there until the incident made him break his ties with the Library and everyone associated with it. Sophie has little memory of the past but wants to find the truth. 

Getting away from a manipulative ex, Sophie finally begins to feel at home in the strange Library. With Will, her childhood friend and first love, being the guardian, Sophie starts to reestablish herself and dig through her memories to fill the gaps. The Library and the antique books have always called to her. In fact, they sing to her, luring her into a place of no return. 

However, the ancient power demands sacrifice and control. As Sophie’s memory returns in bits and others fill in the blanks, can she give what it takes to be the Binder of the Library? 

The premise and the cover were enticing, and I couldn’t resist requesting the book. The story starts with Sophie in London, living with her ex and working as a binder at another prestigious library, albeit a non-magical one. 

After much hesitation and a reality check, Sophie accepts the offer to work at the Ayredale Library. She realizes that she can remember much more than she imagined, and Will occupies a good portion of them. 

The writing is engaging. I wasn’t sure of the insta love between Sophie and Will, but it worked decently well in the overall plotline. Will’s character sure helped to see their love track in a positive light. The imagery is vivid and easy to imagine. 

The pacing went a bit up and down; sometimes slow, sometimes too fast. A couple of other characters were interesting enough but could have had more depth. They don’t ‘come to life’ in the book. The same goes for Sophie, in a way. Somehow, it feels odd that she would choose to live with someone like her caricature-bad ex, even when none liked him. Only Will seemed to be ‘real’. 

Of course, my favorite character is Tia. I could visualize her and Sophie’s mom, Elizabeth, with ease. Sophie paled in comparison, and even during the climax, her presence didn’t really elevate the scene. She just didn’t seem strong enough despite the scene being written for her to prove her worth. That diminished the impact a little, but Tia's presence made up for it. 

To sum up, The Book Binder’s Daughter has a lovely premise and beautiful world-building. The premise demands nothing less than the best, and the story needed better execution. It’s good but doesn’t make me go wow. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#NetGalley #TheBookBindersDaughter

The Trapped Wife- Book Review

The Trapped Wife by Samantha Hayes

Publication Date: 8th Sep 2021
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Drama

3.5 Stars 

Jen is a GP in the same small town she grew up in. She’s also newly widowed, a mother to a teen son, and currently pregnant. She’s grieving the death of her husband when things start to crash around her. 

Who is the mysterious man who claims to know her so well? What is it that she doesn’t remember? Can she ignore the breaking shards of her marriage before her husband died? 

How will she survive the pressure mounting on her from all sides?

The cover is fab, and when the title appeared too frequently on my timeline, I went ahead and requested an ARC. 

Now, I’m in two minds about it. For starters, don’t focus on the blurb. It’s a roundabout representation of the storyline. 

Second, the first half is too slow to sustain interest. This is my second consecutive slow book, and that doesn’t work in its favor (sorry). The second half is a lot better, but the story makes more sense only when you read the author’s note. And no, don’t read it first if you want to enjoy at least half of the book. 

Third, the characterization is decent, and I liked how I couldn’t fully trust any of them. However, Rhonda could have had a little more role towards the end. Don’t look for character growth here. The graph goes the other way (it’s a thriller, after all). 

Fourth, some of the story seemed too far-fetched, even with the explanation. Though an important theme has been dealt with, it comes at a time when the focus is on revealing the mystery, and that dilutes its impact. I feel a topic like that needs more space, especially since it’s not as uncommon as we want to pretend. 

The good news is that a part of the twist was well executed. It makes up for some of the other stuff. The book is pretty much a mix of things, and for me, the result is the same. 

To sum up, The Trapped Wife is an intriguing thriller if you are willing to deal with the first half of it with some patience. If not anything else, you’ll at least get to talk about quite a few themes from the book. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture. 

#NetGalley #TheTrappedWife

My Name Is Jensen- Book Review

My Name Is Jensen by Heidi Amsinck

Genre: Thriller, Noir  
3.3 Stars 

Jensen is back home in Copenhagen and working as a journalist for Dagbladet. Her day starts with discovering a dead body that leads to more murders. She calls Henrik, the DI and her (ex) lover, to the crime scene. 

The case is nowhere easy to solve, nor is Jensen’s sinking career and messed up life. Can she unravel the mystery and solve the mystery with or without Henrik’s help? 

Will it save Jensen’s career? Is that what she wants? What makes the crime different from others? Is it a serial killer on a spree or someone with a motive? 

*Unpopular Opinion*

The blurb and the cover were so good, I grabbed the book as soon as I saw a friend add it to her TBR. Since the book was less than 230 pages, I was confident about finishing it in a couple of days. There started my trouble. It took four days to finish the book. Yeah, that too when I’ve been on a reading high. I’ll keep my review brief and to the point. 

What I like about the book: 

• The structuring of the plotline. The elements are revealed in stages. There’s no information dump anywhere. 
• Jensen is not an easy character to like, but she gets better in the second half. It’s not her prickly nature that was a problem, but her way of drifting through. 
• Almost every character is flawed. I wished even Aziz had some kind of flaw. Maybe in the next book. 
• No unexpected twists or pull the rug moments to shock the readers. 
• A female sleuth in noir who isn’t simply a rehashed version of the traditional male detective. 

What I wish could have been better: 

• A little more about Jensen to understand her better. I realized that this is the first book in the series (and another case is left unsolved for the next book), but it’s hard to root for someone who doesn’t seem fully into her own story (the lead character). 
• Too slow for a thriller or even suspense. Though there’s some sort of information or update in most scenes, the overall narrative dragged. I’m wondering if the page count is probably off by 100 pages or so. 
• Infidelity is something I don't really like. When the lead characters are part of it, it’s hard to empathize with their pain or conflict. I still admire Jensen for being so honest about it. And yeah, Henrik’s a jerk. 
• I don’t prefer sweeping political statements in fiction unless they are very much necessary. Neither do I want to spend time researching the political scenario around the world nor wonder about the author’s inclinations.  
• Jensen pretty much not bothering about the case allotted to her because she’s solving this one. And a causal statement about a death at the end. It looked like not all deaths are equal (which is, of course, very true in this world).

To sum up, My Name is Jensen is perfect for readers who like slow-burn suspense that sets the stage for a series, or at least, a sequel (I wasn’t aware of it).

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Muswell Press.  

#NetGalley #MyNameIsJensen