The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens by Jaimie Admans - Book Review

Publication Date: 12th Sep 2023

Genre: Small Town Christmas Romance 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Adorable (but a bit too long) 

***

The Mistletoe Gardens is set to be demolished in the coming January to make space for a real estate venture. Folkhornton is aghast. How can their beloved garden with such a legend (you’ll have a year full of happiness if you kiss your love under the mistletoe in the garden) be destroyed by the council? 

Local baker Essie Browne announces a mega Christmas celebration as a goodbye to the Mistletoe Gardens. She plans to make a huge gingerbread house that will attract people from all over to visit the event. However, Essie has no idea how to get this done. 

Joss Hallissey, aka Joseph Hallissey Jr. (don’t call him that), is a grumpy local builder who wants nothing to do with the event or the townfolk. However, he agrees to help Essie after some persuasion. Can the two make it happen, or will the Mistletoe Gardens not even get a last goodbye? 

The story comes in Essie’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

This is my second book by the author, and I enjoyed it more than the first. I also see a few common themes in both. 

Essie and Joss are sunshine vs. grumpy at the initial glance, but soon, we realize that both are dealing with personal issues. While Joss’s issues seem heavier, it’s clear the two complement each other very well. I like both of them. 

Though this is a small-town book where the community members have good roles, the focus is more on the main lead and the mega gingerbread house. We see them know more about each other, become friends, and maybe more. 

The scenes with baking are, of course, my favorite. I always love reading about cakes, cookies, and icing. The side characters are decent; some better than others. Essie’s mom can feel like surviving a dust storm. She’s a go-getter with endless energy, and let’s say even reading about her can be a little tiring at times. It helps establish one of the themes in the book – comparing children to their parents and expecting them to be the same. 

Little Rob is such a cute addition! He (I’m assuming the gender) even gets to be on the cover. Isn’t that super sweet? 

The narration is slow. The story moves at a languid pace. Repetition doesn’t help (this happens in the other book too). The story feels a little too long at times. I wouldn’t have minded if it was short by some 20-30 pages. 

However, I like how the main leads have enough time to spend with each other to talk and heal. It’s sort of a slow burn with enough bits of humor. I chuckled and laughed quite a few times throughout the book. 

There is a mini third-act breakup. I was afraid of this, but the issue was handled well towards the end. There are a few lighthearted and funny moments, even during this stage. It balances out things to a good extent. 

The solution to the core issue is thoughtful and sensible. It provides a rounded solution where the past and present co-exist while also being practical enough to generate money for the council. After all, communities need money to survive. 

The tidbits about gingerbread (and gingerbread houses) at the beginning of each chapter are a great idea. I tend to skip quotes under the chapter titles, but not in this one. I read each of them. 

It’s a clean romance with some kisses towards the end. The characters do go touchy-feely a lot (it was the same in the other book, too). Since I like touch as a love language, I enjoyed these scenes in both books. It may not work for everyone. 

To summarize, The Gingerbread House in Mistletoe Gardens is a sweet, heartwarming, Christmasy book dealing with second chances, love, healing, self-confidence, and small-town communities. 

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

#NetGalley #TheGingerbreadHouseinMistletoeGardens

***

P.S.: I wish Beryl would crochet me a Santa zombie hat or a gingerbread vampire. Her creativity is next level! 

The Hanging City by Charlie N. Holmberg - Book Review

Publication Date: 1st August 2023

Genre: Fantasy, Romance 

3 Stars 

One Liner: Got its moments; a mixed read 

***

Lark has been on the run for seven years, trying to escape the men her father sends for her. There is no place left except Cagmar, the city of trolls. Trolls and humans have been enemies forever, but Lark is desperate. If nothing, her skill could be useful in convincing the trolls to let her live with them. 

While Lark does get a chance, she also ends up in a tricky position. She makes enemies with a powerful troll who hates humankind. But she also makes friends and finds love. However, Lark cannot move on until she faces her past. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Lark. 

My Thoughts: 

After enjoying the first two books of the Whimbrel House Series, I was excited to read a standalone by the author. The cover and the premise are alluring, too!

The story begins with a prologue, introducing the MC in her younger days and setting the stage for her adventures six years later. The world-building starts with a bang. Imagine a city under the bridge with complex lifts, cramped apartments, and dark spaces. The complex caste system was also interesting. 

We also see the MC’s special ability and get a teaser about her past. As the story progresses, the teaser turns into repetition. While new information is revealed, it comes with a lot of repetitive statements. In fact, the entire book is so full of repetition that it could have easily been 40 pages shorter. 

Even the world-building takes a hit. There seems to be a lot of information, but very little is useful. Lark cooks so many times, yet we hardly know what she cooks except ‘meat’, which could be any meat! She nibbles on some fruit disks, but there isn’t much info about those either. 

The first quarter is quite interesting, while the second has a lot of going around in circles with some love and romance thrown in. The priorities shift to romance and continue this way. I’m glad I could guess who the love interest would be. Could have been awkward otherwise. Also, I have a few doubts about erm… based on the descriptions. 

The narration is slow-paced, which I expected. However, it doesn’t gain momentum even in the second half. Instead, the pacing is slow throughout, and things happen fast in the end, with a lot of detail left out. 

With Lark being the narrator, I couldn’t empathize much with her. In fact, I liked Azmar more (makes sense in a way) and even Unach. Still, it would have been nice to connect with Lark a little more, given that she goes through so much. The rest of the characters are pretty much flat. 

The last quarter started out great, and I was excited for the big face-off between Lark and her Daddy Dangerous (the villain). We see him for a while (not enough personality, duh!), but then… that’s it. I don’t want to reveal spoilers, but it was disappointing. 

The most important scene happens off the page because the POV comes in Lark’s first person, and her current obsession is her love interest. Moreover, our MC keeps pushing herself to her limits, which means she faints quite a few times. It’s a convenient plot device but shouldn’t be overused. 

The book’s priorities may have shifted midway through. I thought it would be about Lark facing her past and having a future. While she does face her past, there isn’t much (psychological) healing as such. Things wrap up real soon (though we already wasted too much time in repetition). 

And that ending… I can see the appeal, but this book could have benefitted from an epilogue, no matter how unrealistic the situation. Also, the decision is quite risky, and we are almost where we began, but with a plus one. Will there be a book two? Doesn’t seem possible, but who knows! 

The author’s note explains that she wrote 2/3rds of the story in 2019 before working on another series and got back to finish this recently. That explains why the book suffers from these issues. Her writing style and preferences (very likely) changed during this period. So the theme shifted from a ‘coming of age escape/ revenge plot’ to a ‘love story with some drama’. The number of buts in the review should give you an idea about how the book promises potential and doesn't deliver. 

To summarize, The Hanging City is a decent fantasy romance and a standalone with an open ending (some readers will love it). It’s got its moments and can be a light read despite the darkish contents. 

Thank you, NetGalley and 47North, for the eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheHangingCity

***

TW: attempted sexual assault, violence, and mentions of abuse. 

Murder on the Farm by Kate Wells - Book Review

Series: Malvern Farm Mystery #1

Publication Date: 04th Sep 2023

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery, Contemporary 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Darkish cozy mystery; decent start to a series 

***

Jude Gray didn’t dream of owning and working on a farm full-time. However, after the death of her husband, Adam, Jude decided to become a farmer and continue living in the same place. She manages to keep the place afloat with help from Frank, Noah, etc. 

With the lambing season in full swing, Jude is too busy to deal with anything else. However, when a dear friend is found dead (presumed suicide) on her land, Jude knows she cannot let it go. She has an idea about the cause but knows the person would never kill themselves. Soon, Jude’s half-sister Lucy and her 2yo son Sebbie arrive for a visit. Jude takes Lucy’s help in digging into the matter. 

As more bodies pile up, it’s up to Jude to get to the bottom of the truth (with DS Binnie’s assistance, of course). 

The story comes in Jude’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

The book begins with Jude attending Ben’s wedding with Tilda and meeting her other friends. Adam, Ben, Charles, and Sarah have been best friends since their school days. Jude joins the gang when she meets the town and falls in love with Adam. The bond between the friends plays a crucial role in the story. 

Jude also has a half-sister, Lucy, who is five years younger than her. Despite their father being a prick (it’s not a spoiler as such), the sisters get on well since they were children. Initially, their relationship appears strained despite Jude feeling good about Lucy. However, we see how warm their bonding is. It’s an issue with the writing, which makes things sound awkward (and dry) when they are not.

In fact, the writing in the first quarter is choppy and clunky. It doesn’t inspire much confidence in the plot or the characters. Fortunately, it gets better as the book progresses. However, I still don’t know Jude’s age. How old is she? I thought she was close to 50 and then realized she sounded to be around 35-45. The same goes for other characters. Not knowing the age range makes it hard to visualize them. 

Little Sebbie is adorable! He loves Aunt Chewdy and baby Canpake, the little lamb Jude adopts. He is a darling kid, and I enjoyed reading his broken sentences and cute words. 

DS Binita Khatri is a great addition and not just an attempt at diversity. There’s just enough information to show her ethnicity with a major focus on the mystery. Since she’s likely to be a recurring character in the series, this method of introduction works.  

The mystery is quite decent and intriguing. The case is close to Jude, so it makes sense that she would make a few assumptions and mistakes in solving it. Also, it’s her first case as an amateur sleuth, so errors are expected. 

However, I don’t like that she is careless with evidence, especially knowing their importance. Given that she lives on a farm and runs it, one would expect her to be a little more organized or at least focused on important tasks. This carelessness is used as a plot device in the book. I hope it doesn’t become a recurring feature in the coming books. 

The setting gets brownie points in this one. The tough side of farm life is detailed well with the various jobs that need to be completed to run a farm with livestock. I like how these scenes are presented and woven into the plot. Malvern Village is also easy to imagine. It’s on the darker side, which perfectly suits the plot. 

There are enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Though I guessed the killer (not because of the clues, but it was more of an instinct), I wasn’t sure why and wondered if I was wrong. The ending is well done as it ties up the case and takes the main story forward by a few months. 

To summarize, Murder on the Farm is a darkish cozy mystery set on a farm. It has some interesting characters and maintains a decent pace. While the writing isn’t great, it does get better after the initial part. Looking forward to reading book two. 

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

#NetGalley #MurderontheFarm

Purple Faerie Homes - Day 10

Image by Andreas from Pixabay

They're somewhere in the vast forest 

Lay a broken branch 

Taken over my moss and grass 

Soft, squishy, and tickling 

It conquers the dead branch 

Keeping it alive through its presence 

Weeks pass, and so do the sun, moon, and rain 

A touch of magic and there they grow 

Dainty little umbrellas with wobbly legs 

Purple-tinted tops invisible to most 

A haven for those from the other world 

Ready to welcome the winged beings to their homes

***

Brief Backstory: What better than faeries, mushroom rings, and the color purple to sign off a writing event? The title is also a nod to my latest venture, a Tarot Reading account on Instagram - The Purple Faerie. 

***

This post is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023. Thank you for joining me in the challenge. It was a fun event. 

The Graveyard House - Day 9

Image by Sandy Flowers from Pixabay

 Abandoned decades ago by living beings

The creaky structure was home to the un-living

The ones that rose from the graves around it

 

Resting on the roofs, window sills, and bare branches

Bats, owls, and ravens flew by to bring fresh news

 

Nightmares or peace, the house gave what they craved

***

Brief Backstory: As a horror writer, it's mandatory to have at least one horror poem when I do a marathon. The poem is in inverted Cherita form (lines 3-2-1 per stanza). 

***

This post is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon 2023.

How to Fake-Date a Vampire by Linsey Hall - Book Review

Series: Charming Cove #2 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 31st August 2023

Genre: Small Town Witchy Romance 

3.3 Stars 

One Liner: Nice but not great 

***

Emma Willowby is an outsider in Charming Cove and has only one chance to prove her worth. She makes a deal with a Vampire Duke, Alaric, to use his estate to host the Beltane Ball. In return, she agrees to be his fake girlfriend for his grandmother. 

They have ground rules, of course. However, Emma cannot afford to fall in love with him and lose her anonymity. But what does the future have in store for her? 

The story comes from the first-person POV of Emma and Alaric. Emma has a larger share. 

My Thoughts: 

The book is a standalone and can be read without book one. Though we have Aria in this one, she has only a minor role (with a paragraph of backstory). Oh, little Catrina appears too! 

The writing is easy to read, way too easy at times but works well if you want something lighthearted. The pacing is decent, too. 

I found the first-person voices hard to distinguish in book one. While that aspect is slightly better here (I still got confused in a couple of chapters), Alaric’s characterization seems to have been a lost opportunity. 

Alaric being a vampire is another disappointment. Negating all popular vampire myths is fine as long as we are provided with something else to remember that he and his family are vampires. However, apart from adding a dash of donated blood to their champagne and martini, there’s nothing vampirish about them. It seems like having a human sounded ordinary, so we have a highly humanized version of a vampire. Sorry, but that’s lazy. 

Emma is decent and someone I should root for. Yet, she appears judgmental in quite a few instances. Also, the repetition of her opinions (without additional information) makes her sound whiny instead of someone who needs to be loved and cherished. The emotional quotient just isn’t there to feel for her.

The magical elements are well done. I like the concept of revelation sticks and joy batteries. I’d have liked it if the party was a little more elaborate. 

Penelope the skunk is Emma’s familiar. She is the highlight of the book. Just like Aria’s Boris, Penelope has a smart mouth and is a treat to read. Yeah, both familiars have almost human-like thoughts and actions, but I don’t mind since they make the book better. 

Third-act breakups are not mandatory in romance. But if the book insists on having one, it should not be half-baked and bland. This one feels like a summarized version. And she forgives him so easily! Ugh. 

The ending is cute and has HEA, so that’s something. The side characters like Vivian, Madeline, Holly, and Harold are sweet too. However, I liked book one a lot better. The town and the magic in that one were interesting, even if the romance was a bit fast-paced. 

To summarize, How to Fake-Date a Vampire is a steady-paced and lighthearted small-town witchy romance. Don’t expect much, though (not even vampires). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bonnie Doon Press, for the eARC. 

#HowtoFakeDateaVampire #NetGalley