Foul Play at Seal Bay by Judy Leigh - Book Review

Series: Morwenna Mutton Mystery #1

Publication Date: 07th August 2023

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: A decent start to a new cozy mystery series 

***

Set in a sleepy small town, the book introduces Morwenna Mutton, a sexagenarian librarian and wild swimming enthusiast. She loves cycling to work and enjoys spending time with her 80+ mother, 28yo daughter, and 5yo granddaughter. 

When a local businessman Alex, who wants to buy her family Tea Room is found dead, Morwenna knows she needs to go sleuthing and solve the case. After all, DI Rick Tremayne doesn’t seem to know how to handle it effectively. Can Morwenna find the killer, or will she end up as one of the victims? 

The story comes from Morwenna’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

I love cozy mysteries and enjoyed a couple of the author’s other books before, so this seemed a great choice to add to my list. While the book isn’t fab, it does have some merits and might grow into a better series. 

Morwenna is a gusty 60+ woman with silvery wild hair and colorful dresses. She cycles her way through the village and hills, even if the upward journey is getting harder. After all, nothing like cycling and wild swimming to stay fit. Her family comes first, and we see it throughout the book. 

I love the concept of wild swimming and wasn’t aware it was a thing. Swimming in cold sea/ ocean waters once a week is sure to revitalize the senses (apparently, it also has other health benefits). This aspect is seamlessly woven into the plot and Morwenna’s arc. 

The setting is broodingly beautiful while presenting the harsh realities of not having enough business during the off-season. After all, it’s not easy to survive in the cold winters without enough money from the business. 

The Mutton ladies (Lamorna, Morwenna, and Tamsin) have different personalities yet common traits. Of course, Elowen, Tamsin’s daughter (5+ yo), has the best of all three. That girl is smart, outspoken, and determined. She’s the cutest addition in the book with Oggy, her invisible dog, and Oggy Two, her purple plush toy. 

Raun, Morwenna’s ex-husband, a fisherman, is a sweet guy. Can the two find a way to sort out their issues, or will they remain polite friends? I love that he does a lot of cooking in the book and takes care of his family even though they no longer live together. 

The central mystery was decent, if not great. The criminal is easy to identify with all the clues provided, and I’m glad we don’t have any unexpected twists. There are a couple of things left to explain but nothing major. 

The side characters are interesting, even if a bit stereotypical. The DI is pretty much useless, but PC Jane has a sound mind. I wish she gets more space in the subsequent books. I also like the other inspector who arrives in the last quarter. He should definitely be a recurring character. Not that I’d mind DI Rick being put in place by the Mutton ladies. 

There’s a side track with a lady ghost in the library where Morwenna works morning shifts. Is it really a ghost or a living being? The reveal is predictable but still fun. 

There are a few Cornish words (bewty, bleddy, derckly, etc.). They were easy enough to guess (with explanations for others). I like how it brought a native touch to the dialogue. 

The book has a couple of action scenes too. Morwenna sure shows she can deal with some physical attacks, though I hope she doesn’t have too many injuries through the series.  

To summarize, Foul Play at Seal Bay is a medium-paced cozy mystery plus family drama set in a Cornish village. While the book has much to offer, the spark is missing (the reason for not rounding it to 4 stars). However, the series has potential, and I’ll read the second book to see how it goes. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #FoulPlayatSealBay

Positively, Penelope by Pepper D. Basham - Book Review

Series: Skymar #2 

Publication Date: 01st August 2023

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Sweet and heartwarming (with some OTT elements) 

Penelope Edgewood is more than a ray of sunshine. She’s the entire summer sun minus the sweaty heat. Positively keeps her going, though Penelope is no stranger to pain and heartbreak. Penelope has work cut out for her when she joins The Darling House, an old theatre on the island of Skymar. She is supposed to revive the theatre’s presence as a marketing intern. 

Of course, Penelope being who she is, takes up more than her job. She decides the Grays (owners of the theatre) could do with some help; at least, grumpy Matt Gray and his dotty Iris need her sunshine. Someone is trying to cause trouble, so it’s up to her to sort everything out and maybe choose the right man to love in the process. 

The story comes in emails and chat messages between different characters and third-person POV. 

What I Like:

Though it is the second book in the series, it works as a standalone. I haven’t read the first book and had no issues understanding the character arcs or backstory. I could be missing some extra, but it doesn’t directly impact the plot. I got a clear picture of Izzy, Luke (easily my favorite), Penelope, and Josephine from their conversations. 

Iris (7yo) is an absolute darling. This little girl with two dimples has a good presence in the book (though she doesn’t get many dialogues due to the chosen format). Still, I enjoyed the scenes with her. 

The theatre’s scenes are cool. Despite not having much description, it’s easy to visualize the interiors and the characters’ love for the place. The fictional location is just as beautiful, with lakes, hills, flower valleys, waterfalls, and cute shops. 

There’s a lot of baking in this one. Muffins, cookies, chocolate éclairs, strawberry tarts… you name it, we’ll probably find it here. Penelope is a great baker, which does work in her favor.

Despite the excess glitter, Penelope is a sweet FMC. She has many good traits and shows decent growth throughout the book. Given her age (23-24), she does act like a teen sometimes but displays emotional maturity when necessary. Her professional skills are noteworthy (maybe even better). 

Matt is grumpy but not rude or excessively annoying. I was rooting for him from the beginning, and the gradual change in his character is well done. Even the dynamics between Penelope and Matt are enjoyable. There’s steady progress, which makes their relationship grow from being employee-employer to friends and something more, seem realistic and unhurried. 

The book deals with grief in different forms. While Penelope celebrates her loved ones to express her grief, Matt goes into a shell, Grandpa Gray becomes a recluse, and Alec… you’ll have to read to find out. The themes are handled sensitively without feeling excessive or bland. ‘Faith’ is also just right (minimum, which is how I like it). 

What Could Have Been Better for Me:

The first quarter or more of the book is in an epistolary form with lengthy emails and messages between Penelope, Izzy, Luke, Josephine, and a few other characters. Then we suddenly have a third-person narration. Soon, the emails are fewer, and there’s an increase in direct narration. The count further reduces towards the end. In short, we have an uneven narrative device throughout the book. I wish it was streamlined. 

The first quarter is super slow because of the various emails (with PS, PPS, PPS, and goPPPPS) that talk about everything and nothing at once. Let’s say it was interesting for a while and then got annoying. I liked it better once the third-person POV became a regular feature. 

I’m not a fan of movies or musicals. Fortunately, I knew quite many references in the book, but it still feels a little too much (this won’t be an issue for most readers). I understand that’s Penelope’s character, but she is so much more than silly OTT antics. Her actual depth comes out in regular scenes. 

Too much of anything is bad, and so is excess sunshine. This has a triple sunshine vs. grumpy trope, which does feel irritating at times. More so, if you, like me, are not going to be categorized as ‘sunshine’ in real life. (NGL, Genelia did this better in the Bommarillu movie)

The book is just too long. It could have been 80 pages shorter and still delivered the same story with the same impact.  

To summarize, Positively, Penelope is a sweet and Hallmarkish romance with loads of positivity, musical references, and happy vibes. I did enjoy this book, though I have high hopes for Luke’s story (loved him in this one). Can’t wait to read it! 

This is a clean romance with some kissing in the last quarter.  

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley # PositivelyPenelope

***

P.S: What on earth is baby yoga? Just give your little ones a good oil bath for an hour every day. That’s all the ‘yoga’ a three-month baby needs. 

Murder at the Inn by Katie Gayle - Book Review

Series: Julia Bird Mysteries #4

Publication Date: 03rd August 2023

Genre: Contemporary Cozy Mystery 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Entertaining 

Julia Bird and her friends from Berrywick decide to take part in the local quiz competition. The Agatha Quizteam soon starts to win, thanks to the team members with diverse talents. Local DI Hayley Gibson and Constable Lillian Carson are in another team with equally talented members. 

However, an accident puts Hayley in bed with a broken leg, and Lillian is stabbed to death a week later. Superintendent Grave from the regional office takes over the investigation, focusing on Lillian’s professional life. There seem to be a few suspects, even if none of them might be the killer. With a few strange events occurring in the village, Julia wonders if they got it all wrong. 

It’s time for Julia and Hayley (with some help) to connect the dots and find the killer before more lives are at risk. 

The story comes from Julia’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Though this is book #4 in the series, it can be read as a standalone, as there is enough backstory for the subplots. The book balanced between mystery and subplots to set the stage for the next one. 

Jake, the adorable chocolate lab, is now an adolescent pup but just as naughty and excited for food. He becomes friends with Julia’s bossiest chicken, Henny Penny, which leads to some funny moments in her house.

There’s a little more of Hayley in this book, though she is on leave due to a broken leg. We see a bit of her personal life too. I love Hayley’s energy and how her restlessness and helplessness are portrayed when she is not in a position to solve Lillian’s death. Lillian is her friend and colleague, which makes it even harder for her to sit and do nothing. 

Jim, the journalist, makes an appearance, too, and does his bit with Julia in digging up certain information. Sean has a relatively lesser presence, but he wasn’t necessary anyway, so it works well for the plot. 

The book artfully tackles the topic of older women and relationships. Societal expectations, assumptions, and how Julia, despite being a smart and good-looking woman, is almost invisible to the common public due to her age (she is around 60). 

We also see how Julia’s character changes from being a city person to a villager with a kitchen garden, chicken coop, part-time job, and countless activities. Her journey from someone who disliked cooking to someone who enjoys trying new recipes occurs steadily. 

The mystery has a couple of tracks. One is the arsonist Lillian is trying to nab. The other is Lillian’s murder. Then there seem to be break-ins in a couple of houses. There could possibly be an ex-convict out for revenge. Are all these events related? What’s happening in Berrywick? 

I could, as usual, connect the dots. But then Julia and others have lives to lead (how annoying), which delayed the mystery (not really, the book is fast-paced). Finally, they do what they should do and solve the case. Tada! There’s a wee bit of action, though the focus is more on introspection of the crimes and the reasons behind them. 

The personal tracks have some interesting developments. Julia sure has a few occasions to look forward to in the coming book. I’m curious to see how that will go (coz there’s bound to be another murder). 

To summarize, Murder at the Inn is a solid continuation of the series and a good entertainer. I enjoyed the mystery and Jake’s antics. Pick it up if you want a lighthearted read with the right touch of emotions and introspection. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #MurderattheInn

Twisted Tales and Turns: A Journey through the Unexpected by Smita Das Jain - Book Review

Publication Date: 23rd July 2023

Genre: Short Story Anthology (Single Author)

3 Stars 

One Liner: A decent collection 

The anthology starts with a crisp author’s note detailing how the stories have different twists. Of course, with the title and the note, my instinct was to guess the twist. However, I decided not to ruin the stories and shifted my focus to enjoying the stories and going with the flow. 

I like how the collection is categorized into sections with headings that hint at the overall theme. While this can dampen the reading experience, it structures the book well and sets the right expectations. The stories deal with various themes, with Covid lockdown, neurodivergence, family & relationships, and war & peace recurring. 

As with most anthologies, some stories are a hit, and some aren’t. The concepts, as such, are beautiful and thoughtful. They nudge the readers to contemplate the various emotions and ideas presented throughout the book. However, the writing doesn’t always do justice to the premise. In quite a few stories, the execution leaves a lot to be desired and even dilutes the impact. 

Here’s a brief overview of the stories: 

Out of this World

As the title suggests, these stories have a character that doesn’t belong to this world (aka ghosts/ apparitions/ etc.). Only one of them is mildly spooky. The others are more along the lines of social/ family drama. 

• The Figure in the Charpoy – 3.5 Stars (short and sweet) 

• Top of the World – 4 Stars (heartwarming) 

• Masterpiece – 3 Stars (has potential but average execution) 

• Till We Meet Again – 3 Stars (has potential but doesn’t stir the emotions) 

• It Starts With Us – 3 Stars (the premise is great, but the second-person POV with dual narrators did not work) 

Not too far into the Future

This set has stories set in the future or near future. They mostly deal with wars, weapons, and control. While the concepts are cool, the tone borders on preachy, reducing my reading experience. 

• Throwback to History – 2 Stars (too short to make an impact) 

• For a Better World – 3.5 Stars (intriguing premise with decent execution; the ‘lemon tea with honey’ in a future setting kinda stood out)  

• Guided Missiles, Misguided Men – 3.5 Stars (artfully handled the use of real people and setting with an alien twist) 

• Kaleidoscope – 4 Stars (mainly for the sensitive portrayal of neurodivergent people)

• Too Hot a Bot – 3.5 Stars (could have been a satirical and humorous piece but falls short in execution) 

All Doesn't End Well

This set deals with stories that don’t have a happy ending and feel more realistic. The stories are shorter, which also affects their appeal. 

• The Mask of Pretence – 2 Stars (reads like a TV drama) 

• The Perfect Abode – 3.5 Stars (painful premise, but the emotions just don’t hit the way they should) 

• My Knight in White – 3.5 Stars (needed better exploration; too much packed into a small word count) 

• Great Things in Life – 2.5 Stars (packs too much, which dilutes the core point) 

• The Nothingness of Being – 3.5 Stars (sensitive topic dealt with care, but needed a little more depth) 

Love Comes in All Hues

In the final set, we have stories dealing with love as the central theme. Of course, these aren’t love stories but have love in various forms (or hues, as mentioned in the title). A couple of them are too short to inspire emotion, though they deal with heartwarming themes. 

• The Consent – 4 Stars (regular family drama but well-presented and sensitive) 

• The Wedding Dance – 2.5 Stars (could have been ‘aww’ but ends up ‘meh’)

• Purchased Love – 4 Stars (uses stereotypes but breaks them too; neatly done) 

• Everything Different About Me – 3.5 Stars (needs a little more emotion though the intent is evident) 

• A Matter of Her Identity – 3.5 Stars (self-love and identity; this could have been a wee bit longer) 

As you can see, most stories fall into the 3.5 range, which sums up the book perfectly. It’s a decent collection but nothing spectacular. I can already feel them fading from my memory. 

The stories were submissions for writing events hosted by different platforms. That could be one reason for the overall average feel, though they have been reworked before compilation. Another round of editing would have helped. 

To summarize, Twisted Tales and Turns is an enjoyable collection if you want to finish a book in a day. It will work better for beginner readers who want something easy but with a touch of everything. 

Thank you, Blogchatter and author Smith Das Jain, for the digital copy of the book. This review is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

You can buy Twisted Tales and Turns: A Journey through the Unexpected on Amazon. It is available as a Kindle version and paperback. 

A Lady's Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin - Book Review

Series: A Lady’s Guide #2 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 11th July 2023

Genre: Regency Romance 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: A decent entertainer 

A shy Eliza Balfour got married to Earl of Somerset, twenty-five years her senior. Almost a decade ago, it was the match of the season, even if Eliza didn’t gain much from it. 

Now, a widow with no child, Eliza is rich and free, thanks to her dead husband’s will (never mind the morality clause). Determined to enjoy her new-found freedom, she travels to Bath with her cousin Margaret and has the time of her life. 

However, the news reaches the current Lord Somerset, a young man she knew as a debutante. Soon, she realizes that her freedom has come with strings attached, and she could lose it all if things went out of control. But should she resist the opportunities that come her way? 

The story comes from Eliza’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

How you like this book will depend on a few elements – whether or not you read Persuasion, your opinion on love triangles, your tolerance levels for a mousy heroine, and how good you are with rushed endings. 

For me, it was a mixed read as I did not read Persuasion and didn’t compare the books. I also didn’t compare this book to any other historical novels, which made it easy to read the book for what it is. I don’t like love triangles, and things are a bit tricky here (more on this next). The heroine's 50-50 for me, and I dislike rushed endings. 

First, good things – The writing style is easy to read. It is light with the right touch of depth expected (based on the cover). Even the tough topics are handled with a certain ease, which keeps the overall tone lighthearted. 

The book has good humor and strong second leads (Margaret and Lady Caroline). Sometimes, they outshine the FMC, which, I think, is intentional to show her growth from a demure pushover to an assertive woman. 

Melville is an interesting character. I liked him a lot (and not just because he is half-Indian). I wish he could have been explored in depth, though we see glimpses of it. 

The racism is well done. Must say I’m glad it has not been whitewashed in the name of bringing ‘diversity’ to a book. They never liked us (and many others), and there’s no reason to pretend otherwise. 

There's a mandatory LGBT+ track too. It's done well and doesn't take over the main plot, so that's fine. 

Now, we move on to the not-so-good aspects of the book. The pacing is uneven. The first half takes too much to establish the premise. The last quarter packs so much that events trip over each other. The reader doesn’t even get the satisfaction of seeing the couple together before the book ends. And there is NO epilogue. WHY? (I would have rounded the rating to 4 stars if there was an epilogue.) 

The ‘love triangle’ is there, yet not really there. This one had so much potential, but the whole thing is rushed, and Eliza’s thought process just doesn’t make the impact it should. Some of it might border on cheating, but I wouldn’t call it that, either. Still, I wish it was better written. It could have been. 

Anyway, I never liked that guy and couldn’t see why Eliza was well… so sure of it until she wasn’t. This forms the crux of the plot. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get enough space. Let Eliza explore her feelings in detail. Let her interactions with parties play in her mind. Let her realize things without the next event breathing down her neck. 

Despite everything, the book is pretty quick to read, and I approve of Eliza’s choice. Of course, the other option wasn’t even an option considering the developments afterward, but they are justifications to prove her right. There was this one point Eliza knew who/ what she wanted. 

To summarize, A Lady's Guide to Scandal is a decent read and a quick entertainer with a bit of family drama, personal growth, love interests, and some twisty reveals at the end. It is a complete standalone too. 

Thank you, NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Books, for the eARC.  

#ALadysGuidetoScandal #NetGalley

The Last List of Mabel Beaumont by Laura Pearson - Book Review

Publication Date: 04th August 2023

Genre: Women’s Fiction 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming (a little slow) 

Mabel Beaumont and Arthur have lived sixty years of their lives together. When Arthur doesn’t wake up one morning, Mabel feels overwhelmed by the changes. Being all alone at eighty-six is not easy. However, when she comes across one of Arthur’s lists with a single task – Find D, she decides to complete it for him and herself. 

Dot was her friend, one of the four in the group, with Mabel, Arthur, and Bill (Mable’s dead brother). Dot left without a word more than six decades ago, and no one knows if she is even alive. As Mabel tries to find her, she realizes that she needs to do a lot more than search for a friend. 

Along the way, Mabel makes friends with women of different ages, dealing with their own issues. Can she go through the past and accept the secrets she hid? After all, it could be her last chance to find happiness and peace. 

The story comes from Mabel’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

The book almost lives up to the cover and the beautiful premise. It is a story of love, loss, friendships, relationships, bonding, learning, acceptance, and being brave enough to go after what you want. 

The story begins with a sample of how Mabel and Arthur live and have lived for most of their married life. Right away, Mabel’s thoughts hint at things outsiders don’t see in a relationship. 

The pattern continues throughout, which is an advantage and a disadvantage. Mabel doesn’t reveal the details she doesn’t want to acknowledge. This means we keep trying to connect the dots until she is ready to share (at the end). 

I love how Mabel’s arc develops as she meets different women and comes to terms with the past and present. She starts off as a closed person who likes to play it safe and stay away from others. Yet, with Arthur’s absence, she begins to crave some company. Fortunately, she has Julie - the temporary caregiver, Erin - a teenage girl she meets at the supermarket, Patty - a lively dance instructor, and Kristy - Patty’s neighbor and dog lover. 

Olly is Mabel’s dog, or rather, Arthur’s dog, which doesn’t like people. It’s great to see how Mabel and Olly’s bonding is presented. It’s different from what one would expect, making it even more real. Furthermore, Mabel's lack of desire for children adds another layer to her character. It's refreshing to see a woman from her era defy the norms of having kids. 

The side characters are well-developed. Everyone has flaws and makes mistakes. It’s heartwarming to see women from different age groups and backgrounds come together and form a bond. They all have issues to deal with. Of course, things get worse when Mabel tries to ‘help’, but they learn and sort out. 

While the actual reveal, as such, is a common trope, the execution is effective and elegant. I would have preferred another approach to lead to the reveal (the current one leaves me with a couple of questions).

The narration is slow and steady, which suits the premise. It cannot be rushed. However, it’s not so slow or boring. Things do happen, to the side characters, if not to Mabel, and she invariably becomes a part of it. 

To summarize, The Last List of Mabel Beaumont is much more than finding a person or reconnecting with lost old friends. It is a story exploring different kinds of love and how the right friends enrich our lives. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheLastListofMabelBeaumont

***

P.S.: Note that the book can be a little heavy with different kinds of grief and longing. It has some lighter moments, but the overall heaviness lingers throughout.