The Bookshop Ladies by Faith Hogan - Book Review

Publication Date: 10th September 2024 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Sweet and cozy 

One minute Joy Blackwood was excited about spending the rest of their retirement life with her husband Yves. The next instant, he suffered a heart attack and passed away. However, his dying confession about having a daughter breaks Joy’s heart. Not knowing what to do, Joy decides to take the painting Yves left for Robyn and hand it over personally to the girl in Ballycove (Ireland). 

However, meeting Robyn brings out the protective instincts in Joy. The introverted girl is trying to keep her bookshop afloat and pining after a guy who sees her as a friend. As Joy becomes a part of Robyn’s circle, she wonders what the truth will do to them. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Joy, Robyn, and Fern. 

My Thoughts: 

The blurb and the cover make it clear that this is a heartwarming and uplifting story about women who bond with each other despite the conditions. The book delivers on what it promises. 

The story begins with Yven’s retirement, the reveal, and his death. So, straight away, we get into the main plot. Similarly, we also get the other POVs to tell us about the present and a certain incident in the past that changed everything. I like this approach we can focus on what the characters do from here on. 

Joy, Fern, and Robyn are the three main characters. Robyn is in her early twenties and easily the sweetest girl you’ll find. Her character growth is beautiful to read. From being an introvert in love with a childhood friend to becoming a confident bookseller and learning to set boundaries, I enjoyed reading her arc the most. 

Joy is a kind person, way too kind most of the time because she has a good heart. One character says, ‘You are a class act, Joy’. That sums up her arc. I wouldn’t have minded if she had a bit of a mean streak but she doesn’t. (Also, I love the alternate spelling of Joy used at times)

Fern feels more realistic in her reactions. She is flawed, which I liked, given how the other two are super sweet. She balances out the emotion well. 

Albie is easily my favorite. He is such a wonderful side character who actually plays a vital role without seeming to. This ninety-year-old is full of life, charm, and wonderful nuggets of wisdom he shares with others. And, how can I not mention his old tortoise, Dolly Patron? 

The setting is beautiful with its cloudy weather, spacious bookshop, beach, and cute streets. Typical small-town charm. (Got to mention that I first thought the book was set in Australia based on the cover. For Irish settings, my mind needs looming dark clouds or a moody sky, lol). 

I wish the ages of the characters weren’t so confusing to track. Robyn’s was easy to calculate but the other two were complicated. I’m still not sure if I got it right. 

Though the book is just 304 pages, the pacing is on the slower side, especially in the first half. Once we settle into the plot, the narrative gets better but doesn’t pick up speed. However, this pace works for the plot, so can’t complain. 

I was surprised when a new subplot was introduced so late in the book but must admit that it worked well. It was necessary not just for a certain shift but also to establish the contrast between the two characters. 

The ending is obviously happy and hopeful. Though there is no real romance, there is a wee bit of it to make the ending sweeter. It could feel a bit too sweet for some. 

To summarize, The Bookshop Ladies is a heartwarming story about finding family, forgiveness, moving on, self-worth, and second chances. It’ll make me a nice and cozy read on cold afternoons. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Aria & Aries (Aria), for eARC.  

#NetGalley #TheBookshopLadies  

The Cottage Around the Corner by D.L. Soria - Book Review

Publication Date: 03rd Sep 2024

Genre: Small Town Witchy Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Enjoyed the book but not a fan of the FMC

Charlie Sparrow’s family has owned the Chanterelle Cottage for six generations in the small-town Owl’s Hollow. She and her moms form the trio of witches in the town. The shop is her everything but they are struggling to keep it afloat. Still, her parents don’t want to make Charlie a business partner. 

The arrival of Sterling Fitzgerald aka Fitz complicates things. Fitz is a mage and has opened a magecraft store, Maven Enterprises. He comes from money, which makes him Charlie’s enemy. How will a spell shop survive when mages are around? 

 However, neither can deny the attraction between them. Moreover, someone has been causing trouble with strange supernatural events affecting the whole town. It’s up to Charlie and Fitz to sort out the issue and find a common ground for their businesses and hearts. 

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

My Thoughts: 

That’s such a cute cover, right? I knew I had to read this one (and lucked out this time). 

A big yay to Charlie’s moms Alice (Mama) and Ruby (Mim). They are the definition of opposites attract and form a beautiful team (with a few parental flaws, of course). 

The side characters like Elinor, Bonnie, and Tandy are well-etched. While they start as stereotypical, we see the characters have more depth to them. The LBGT rep is cool and seamless. I also like how the white characters are mentioned as white (as opposed to assuming that anyone whose skin tone is not described is automatically white). Love this. 

The setting is lovely as it should be in small-town books. Since this one is 400+ pages, there’s enough space for world-building in terms of location and magic. Both are deftly handled with enough explanations woven into the plot. The magical world combines quite a few elements (runes, elemental magic, crystals, spellwork, nature witchcraft, etc.) 

Fitz is actually a sweet person. I admit there were many instances I liked him more than Charlie (more on this next). He is caring, loving, kind, talented, and a good businessman. He knows how to run a business, which is important if one wants to become a business partner. It helps that he also has enough trauma in his past. 

Charlie is not a bad character; just immature and idiotic. Since we get the book from her POV, her voice needs to be good and it is to an extent (I’ll say that I liked the author’s narration more than Charlie’s POV, if it makes sense). The voice is cheeky (which I credit the author and not the character). While it is interesting to have a flawed FMC, there were quite a few instances when she got annoying. The FMC’s actions (some of her interactions with the love interest) don’t make her cute. If Fitz did that, we’d be calling him a red flag and a toxic man. 

Since this is not a mystery book, the characters don’t see what’s right in front of their eyes, nor do they connect the dots until the mess becomes a bigger mess. I expected that, so wasn’t disappointed. 

There is a third-act breakup which comes early in the last quarter and extends until the end. Moreover, there is no epilogue. Why? When I read 400+ pages, why can’t have at least a 2-page epilogue? I need to know some details. Grr! 

Before I forget, I have to applaud the ease with which we have the Celtic cross (Tarot) spread presented in the first 10% of the book. Can I get a free reading too, please? 

To summarize, The Cottage Around the Corner is a cozy witchy romance with an interesting magic system and a good setting. I’d have liked it if the FMC was a little more mature, but I did love the author’s voice and the MMC. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group (Ballantine | Dell), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheCottageAroundTheCorner

Murder at the Matinee by Jamie West - Book Review

Series: Bertie Carroll Mysteries #2

Publication Date: 05th Sep 2024 

Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery, LGBT 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Cozy indeed! Read it if you like theaters

1934, London West End 

Bertie Carroll has no choice but to go when his friendly rival and playwright, Alice, gives him a frantic call. Someone had placed an advert that a murder would take place in the third act of her play. Though Bertie has no idea how or what he should do, he goes to offer moral support to Alice. 

However, a murder indeed occurs, and Alice is determined Bertie should solve it (with her help, of course)! With Inspector Hugh Chapman assigned to the case, Bertie has to navigate the clues as well as his feelings for his friend. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Bertie (mostly), Hugh, and Alice. 

My Thoughts: 

As someone who quite enjoyed the first book, I was excited to read this one. The author’s experience with theater shines even in this book. The detailing of the Gaiety theatre- the seats, the backend, etc., is so good! Also, don’t miss the author’s note at the end. 

While this works as a standalone, reading the first book will be better. That’s because unlike other LGBT+ works, this one is subtle and hush-hush (better than book one, though). It was the same in book one. Though the friction between the lead characters is a bit more apparent, it doesn’t openly highlight anything. 

Bertie is easy to like, which makes this an easy and entertaining read. Alice is a force to reckon with (for the MC and readers, lol). She does bring a lot of lighthearted moments and chuckles, though. Her characterization is steady, and I would be delighted to meet her again in future books. 

Once again, the theater industry, actors, and relevant issues are the primary focus. The 1930s setting adds a lovely charm as well as provides details about how the backgrounds (for plays) were made, the local living conditions (based on income), transportation, etc. Quite a lot of history is packed into it without distracting from the plot. 

The mystery as such is easy to guess. While it should have been a whodunit, it is more of a howdunit and whydunit for me since I guessed the killer early. The repetition of certain details made it even more obvious (toning it down a little should help the plot). 

Bertie’s secretary, the efficient Miss. Gertie (Gertrude) Williams, has a small role in the last quarter. It’s fun meeting her again. Always give me characters that thrive on order and color-coded lists. 

The reveal is not a monologue but comes from more than one character and involves others asking questions and such. This works well as it keeps the reader more invested in the proceedings. 

To summarize, Murder at the Matinee is a light and cozy read set in the world of theater from the 1930s. It reads a lot like a classic mystery with the visible influence of Christie’s works. 

We are told there will be more books in the series, so I’m hoping the next one will not be a long wait. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Brabinger Publishing, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #MurderattheMatinee

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith - Book Review

Series: Wicked Games #1 

Publication Date: 03rd Sep 2024 

Genre: Horror, Romance (Historical) 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Dark but light; an entertainer 

New Orleans 

Ophelia has just taken over the family role as a Necromancer after her mother’s death. Less than a few hours later, she realizes their ancestral home is under debt and at risk of being taken from her. Her younger sister, Genevieve, decides to participate in the dangerous Phantasma challenge by entering the Devil Manor. The one who clears the nine levels gets huge prize money. 

Ophelia follows her sister into the manor intending to take her back home. However, there are rules to follow and deals to make before it can happen. When Blackwell, a long-lasting resident of the manor offers help (for a bargain, of course), Ophelia wonders what it would cost her. With the attraction between them getting stronger, there’s a lot more at stake for Ophelia. 

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

My Thoughts: 

Well, I don’t often take big books (anything over 400 pages is a big book). This one combines horror, gothic house, and romance, so I thought, why not? 

I don’t bother with the tags and comparison, so can’t say if this is like the other books or not. I prefer to read a book for what it is. 

This is historical fiction set sometime when women still wore cumbersome corsets while the mode of transport included horse carriages and automobiles. A mention of the timeline would have helped. 

The premise is highly intriguing. The book starts on a high, establishing that this will be a dark read. Not for the squeamish! The main characters seem interesting too. 

Ophelia takes time to get used to. TBH, it’s a miracle she managed to survive so far. Since this is openly discussed by the characters, I can see it is a deliberate character arc (can’t complain). Let’s just say there is a loooot of blood. 

Blackwell is your typical handsome and quirky hero with enough darkness inside. However, he manages to endear himself (faster than the FMC). 

The banter between the two is fun, despite the deadpanning (more on this next). Though the love story is on a fast track, it doesn’t feel that way due to the page count and the multiple interactions between the couple. 

Now, the steam is high here. 4.5+ (or more) and a fully open door. That means we have more than a handful of such scenes, with many in the middle of the book. It messes with the pacing. 

While the beginning is not fast, it is not slow either. The middle, however, drags. The % doesn’t just move between 40 and 70%. After that, it picks up a steady momentum until the end. I wouldn’t mind if a couple of steamy scenes were edited out to tighten the middle. 

I know some dialogue tags have to be reused but some tend to grab my attention more than others and it becomes a nuisance. The characters deadpanned seven times, which even in a 460-page book feels excessive. Unfortunately, the word caught my eye the second time, so I noticed it every damn time after that. The same with insidious which was used seventeen times (yeah, I checked). It’s not a problem if my brain misses the recurring words but it does become an issue when I spot things. Since my book is an uncorrected proof, I hope the final copy is better. 

There’s a bit of mystery but the focus is mainly on steam and the horror house game. Some levels were cool! 

There is an array of characters (other participants and Devils). They do their job to advance the plot and bring a change in the FMC’s arc. 

The FMC’s character development is a bit wobbly but still aligns with the plot. I wish we got to see her in her actual role as a Necromancer. The MMC’s arc doesn’t have much, TBH. Once we feel who he is, nothing really changes (not even the big reveal). 

Anyway, this isn’t a book to read if you want proper character development or an intricate plot. It’s what I call a masala read but with an extra dose of chili. 

Did I enjoy it? Oh, yes! And don’t forget to read the author’s note. 

To summarize, Phantasma is a steamy romance-filled set in a gothic house. It had quite a few triggers and descriptions of gore. However, it is not an intense read or even scary (at least for me). I intend to read the next book in the series. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for a copy of the book.  

#NetGalley #Phantasma

A Murder is Fixed by Madhav Nayak - Book Review

Publication Date: 31st July 2024

Genre: Sports Cozy Mystery (Indian – Cricket)

3.5 Stars

One Liner: A good debut

Shreya Ved, an investigator in the commission probing on match-fixing in the MCL (Mega Cricket League) is found dead with her head bashed. The commission was almost done with the investigation which would put many top names in hot water.

With an increasing number of suspects each passing hour, Inspector Vichare and Constable Lobo need to find the killer. Russi Batliwala is a one-eyed retired umpire with years of experience on the cricket field. Detection is his latest obsession and thankfully, he has the brain for it. Russi offers his help to the police to find the killer.

Soon, it’s a game off the field where the stakes are too high and the players are not limited to cricketers. Can the trio of investigators solve the crime?

The story comes in the third-person omnipresent POV.

My Thoughts:

I’m a crazy fan of cozy mysteries, though most of the books I read and read (past and present) are set in other countries. Needless to say, I was excited to see this available.

Cricket is a huge thing in India (yet another colonial hangover but at least it makes money), so for a mystery set around the game was bound it to be entertaining.

What I love is the lack of caste and religion nonsense in this one. We have a diverse cast with characters from different backgrounds. However, there’s no drama about their identity. The focus is on what they do. Such a relief!

The book starts slowly and takes a few pages to establish the characters and the premise. Then, it picks up a steady pace until the end (somehow the last chapter felt a bit stretchy).

Set in Mumbai, it uses the local lingo and a liberal dose of Hindi terms/ phrases/ idioms/ etc. Some of them went over my head since I’m not that familiar with it (been a while since I watched CID so lost touch with the language). No idea if the local details (places and distances) are 100% accurate. The author lived in Mumbai for many years, so that’s there.

The mystery offers enough twists to keep the reader engaged. However, it does follow a known template which made it easy to guess the culprit. Also, the last reveal is typical of the genre (thankfully with dialogues to break the monologue). You will enjoy the book more if you are new to this genre.

The conversations could have been better though. As I said, the dialogue aims for a quirky and light tone, which is common in cozies. However, on the whole, nothing stands out and makes an impact. There’s an attempt in the last chapter to give some social commentary which also doesn’t make a mark. (Thankfully, it’s a short chapter, so I wasn’t bored)

The main characters – Russi, Vichare, and Lobo were quite entertaining. Each of them has a distinct yet stereotypical personality. Still, it works in a standalone. (Now, if this would become a series, there needs to be more character development)

Another plus point is that the police duo is easy to like. It’s actually refreshing to read about an average but honest overweight police officer wanting to do his duty and admitting that he needs help.

To summarize, A Murder is Fixed is a worthy debut mystery blending cricket, politics, drama, murder, and a bunch of suspects who stand to gain from the murder. It’s an easy read though not a memorable one.

Thank you, Blogchatter and HarperCollins India, for a copy of the book. This review is powered by the Blogchatter Book Review Program and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

You can buy the paperback of A Murder is Fixed on Amazon.

Murder on a Country Walk by Katie Gayle - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Julia Bird Mysteries #6 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 11th Sep 2024

Purchase Link: https://geni.us/B0CY6BCMFNsocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209998731-murder-on-a-country-walk

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery

4 Stars

One Liner: A short and quick mystery

Book Blurb:

Julia Bird loves a walk in the countryside. There’s nothing quite like the fresh air and green rolling hills of the Cotswolds to clear your head. Unless you come across a dead body, that is…

When the local Berrywick vet, Dr Eve Davies, is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, the police believe it’s nothing more than a tragic accident, but Julia isn’t so sure. Just a few days earlier when she took her dog, Jake, to the vet, Dr Eve said she believed something awful was about to happen. It turns out she was right…

But who would want the beloved village vet dead? Was it her mother Kay, a down-and-out gambler who stands to inherit her unwedded daughter’s home? Was it her assistant Olga, who was close to getting fired? Or was it her cut-throat tennis partner Will, with whom Dr Eve had an argument shortly before she took a tumble? And who is the stranger skulking around Berrywick peering into people’s windows?

When a second body appears in the exact spot where Dr Eve was found, Julia knows it can’t be a coincidence. Both victims were pushed off the cliff, but why? Should Julia let sleeping dogs lie, or will she be like a dog with a bone to find the murderer?

A totally gripping and charming cozy mystery set in the English countryside. Fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin, and Betty Rowlands will love the Julia Bird Mysteries.

***

My Thoughts:

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

My favorite Jake is back again! The book starts with our chocolate lab participating in the dog talent show and winning an award in a category (guess which one?), much to Julia’s delight.

The MC knows the victim and is naturally sad to see her dead near the cliffs. It is never easy when she is the one to find the body.

The mystery has quite a few elements, some of which are solved pretty quickly. However, we don’t know if there’s more to be discovered! I connected the dots way before our MC did but that’s not new either.

The book deals with a few themes like conservation vs. development (hot topic), competitive spirit, addiction, shady activities, puppy farms, etc. Each of these gets different weightage based on the plot requirements.

The MC is, as usual, trying to gather more information. She isn’t the one to let something go when she knows the details don’t add up.

The side characters do their bit to provide information and entertainment. Little Sebastian makes an entry early in the book for a teeny while and manages to get into trouble.

The best thing is that I learned three new things by reading this book:

• Do you know there’s something called happy tail syndrome where the dog’s tail sprains from too much wagging? It could even cause a mild fracture if the tail hits hard objects when wagging.
• I had no idea cross-breeding dogs was a lucrative (shady) business with loads of income. There’s an increase in demand for customized crossbreeds, and the pups can cost a thousand pounds or two, depending on the breeds. Whoa!
• There’s a game called Padel (tennis) which seems to be a cross between tennis, table tennis, and maybe even a little badminton. It’s played in teams of twos (so like doubles in tennis). It is easier than tennis and hence becoming popular (as older people can also play and get good exercise).

To summarize, Murder on a Country Walk is a good continuation of the series and should work well as a standalone. There is enough detail to get an idea about the character’s backstories without weighing down the plot.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #MurderOnACountryWalk

***

About the Authors – Katie Gayle

Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of best-selling South African writers, Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Kate and Gail have, between them, written over ten books of various genres, but with Katie Gayle, they both make their debut in the cozy mystery genre. Both Gail and Kate live in Johannesburg, with their husbands, children, dogs, and cats. 

Follow the Authors –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatieGayleWriter

X: https://twitter.com/KatieGayleBooks

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Katie Gayle here: https://www.bookouture.com/katie-gayle

***

This has been a pitstop on the blog tour by Bookouture (@bookouture). Thank you for stopping by! 

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