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3.9 Stars
“An emotional World War Two historical romance set in Italy”- this is the tagline of the book.
The story deals with Luce (pronounced Lu- Chay), a 43-year-old woman, who goes to Bosconero, a small village in Italy, to trace her roots. With her mother refusing to answer her questions, her 19-year-old son away at Photography School. Separated from her husband for three years, Luce is determined to know why her mother has erased her past.
She meets Matilde on the internet and flies to Italy (from Seattle) to meet her and connect with her Nonna and Uncle. A disastrous earthquake destroys most of the village and the nearby hamlets. There are tragedies and trauma everywhere. Luce is fighting her instincts (and her family) to not run away to safety. Ethan’s sudden entry surprises her in many ways. She needs to know what happened.
What she uncovers has a much bigger effect than she realizes, but can there possibly be a happy ending, even if it bittersweet? What about her future with Ethan? Is there one?
The cover, the blurb, and the setting made the decision for me. I had to read this book. To a great extent, I’m glad I did. The descriptions, the imagery, and details of the setting were vivid and wonderful. Watching David Rocco’s shows explore Italy, I’ve been fascinated by its countryside. I could picturize the villages, the houses, the people, and streets as I read the book.
Some of the characters are well-etched, especially Luce (she is also the narrator), Matilde, Massimo, Angelina (Luce’s mom), and Nonna. Nonna takes the cake for the number of layers she has. Until the end, we are surprised by the turns in her character. She is the core of the plot. She holds it all together, and in a strange way (no spoilers).
Other characters like Carlo and Ethan had more scope, but being women’s fiction, I suppose the focus was more on the ladies. The story goes into flashbacks in between (easy to follow) and gives us more information.
What I liked was the portrayal of Luce after the earthquake. It’s realistic without being dramatic and overwhelming. She simply doesn’t decide she wants to stay. That doesn’t happen, does it? Her internal conflict, her confusion, her anguish, and her desperation are human and true.
The story is paced well but became a bit too rushed towards the end. The actual reveal was immediately followed by another incident that soon flows into the conclusion and an epilogue. I wish this was paced better. As a reader, I’ve been invested in their lives (the writing is very good and flows beautifully) and wanted to let each incident sink into my memory.
A little more breathing space at that place, and I’d have happily given the story a 4.2 or maybe even more. I had high hopes by then. This is the first book by the author I’ve read, but I’ll be reading more for sure. I like the writing style. Luce has a lot of thoughts; she does express them but doesn’t ramble on and on.
There isn’t much about WW II, though it does play its role in the story. The story focuses on the characters, and the effects of war are just one aspect. It’s the humans who make decisions, and that’s the basis of the story.
Being an uncorrected copy, it had a few typos. Nothing that hindered my reading.
Overall, this is a beautiful book, one that touches various topics and ultimately leaves us with a soft smile.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheLostVillage #NetGalley
“An emotional World War Two historical romance set in Italy”- this is the tagline of the book.
The story deals with Luce (pronounced Lu- Chay), a 43-year-old woman, who goes to Bosconero, a small village in Italy, to trace her roots. With her mother refusing to answer her questions, her 19-year-old son away at Photography School. Separated from her husband for three years, Luce is determined to know why her mother has erased her past.
She meets Matilde on the internet and flies to Italy (from Seattle) to meet her and connect with her Nonna and Uncle. A disastrous earthquake destroys most of the village and the nearby hamlets. There are tragedies and trauma everywhere. Luce is fighting her instincts (and her family) to not run away to safety. Ethan’s sudden entry surprises her in many ways. She needs to know what happened.
What she uncovers has a much bigger effect than she realizes, but can there possibly be a happy ending, even if it bittersweet? What about her future with Ethan? Is there one?
The cover, the blurb, and the setting made the decision for me. I had to read this book. To a great extent, I’m glad I did. The descriptions, the imagery, and details of the setting were vivid and wonderful. Watching David Rocco’s shows explore Italy, I’ve been fascinated by its countryside. I could picturize the villages, the houses, the people, and streets as I read the book.
Some of the characters are well-etched, especially Luce (she is also the narrator), Matilde, Massimo, Angelina (Luce’s mom), and Nonna. Nonna takes the cake for the number of layers she has. Until the end, we are surprised by the turns in her character. She is the core of the plot. She holds it all together, and in a strange way (no spoilers).
Other characters like Carlo and Ethan had more scope, but being women’s fiction, I suppose the focus was more on the ladies. The story goes into flashbacks in between (easy to follow) and gives us more information.
What I liked was the portrayal of Luce after the earthquake. It’s realistic without being dramatic and overwhelming. She simply doesn’t decide she wants to stay. That doesn’t happen, does it? Her internal conflict, her confusion, her anguish, and her desperation are human and true.
The story is paced well but became a bit too rushed towards the end. The actual reveal was immediately followed by another incident that soon flows into the conclusion and an epilogue. I wish this was paced better. As a reader, I’ve been invested in their lives (the writing is very good and flows beautifully) and wanted to let each incident sink into my memory.
A little more breathing space at that place, and I’d have happily given the story a 4.2 or maybe even more. I had high hopes by then. This is the first book by the author I’ve read, but I’ll be reading more for sure. I like the writing style. Luce has a lot of thoughts; she does express them but doesn’t ramble on and on.
There isn’t much about WW II, though it does play its role in the story. The story focuses on the characters, and the effects of war are just one aspect. It’s the humans who make decisions, and that’s the basis of the story.
Being an uncorrected copy, it had a few typos. Nothing that hindered my reading.
Overall, this is a beautiful book, one that touches various topics and ultimately leaves us with a soft smile.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheLostVillage #NetGalley
4 Stars
From Maine to Western Ireland, the book deals with love, loss, and hope in the lives of two women whose lives are connected in the most unexpected way. The story runs in two timelines, every alternate chapter dedicated to either of the women.
Lily from Maine travels all the way to Ireland after the death of her husband, Connor. There are secrets in his past, and she is determined to know them. Two decades ago, Niamh led a turbulent life in a small Oceanside town.
How do their lives intersect? What had happened in the past, and why does it affect the present? Why was Connor secretive about his life in Ireland? Will the truth break Lily?
The premise of the book sounds like a mix of women’s fiction and a thriller. But let me tell you that this is pure women’s fiction. The hints of suspicion don’t lead anywhere. The threatening email Connor receives doesn’t live up to its hype.
But, set that aside, and you’ll see the book deal with complex emotions of love and loss in different ways. We have three women who lost their loved ones. Each of them responds differently, and it’s their actions that lead to a series of events.
The book is quite heavy with grief. It ends well, though. Predictable but positive and warm. As a fan of happy endings, I have no complaints here.
The descriptions of the settings were a highlight. I enjoyed them the most, especially the way the author wove the weather and human emotions together. I wish she did the same towards the end when the story went into full-on ‘tell’ mode about how a character spent her life in the past few years. It felt as if the author wanted to give us a summary and get over with it so that she could move on to write the ending.
Rosemary, Niamh, and Lily are the three main characters of the book. Niamh is my favorite and looked like she was created and developed with a lot of care. Rosemary has two sides, both of which were interesting to read. Lily seemed a bit overdone. Guess it highlighted the difference in their lives and their backgrounds.
Overall, this was a bittersweet book to read that will touch our hearts at some places and inspire our wanderlust at others. It is a sad yet beautiful story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily sharing my review.
#TheBoatmansWife #NetGalley
From Maine to Western Ireland, the book deals with love, loss, and hope in the lives of two women whose lives are connected in the most unexpected way. The story runs in two timelines, every alternate chapter dedicated to either of the women.
Lily from Maine travels all the way to Ireland after the death of her husband, Connor. There are secrets in his past, and she is determined to know them. Two decades ago, Niamh led a turbulent life in a small Oceanside town.
How do their lives intersect? What had happened in the past, and why does it affect the present? Why was Connor secretive about his life in Ireland? Will the truth break Lily?
The premise of the book sounds like a mix of women’s fiction and a thriller. But let me tell you that this is pure women’s fiction. The hints of suspicion don’t lead anywhere. The threatening email Connor receives doesn’t live up to its hype.
But, set that aside, and you’ll see the book deal with complex emotions of love and loss in different ways. We have three women who lost their loved ones. Each of them responds differently, and it’s their actions that lead to a series of events.
The book is quite heavy with grief. It ends well, though. Predictable but positive and warm. As a fan of happy endings, I have no complaints here.
The descriptions of the settings were a highlight. I enjoyed them the most, especially the way the author wove the weather and human emotions together. I wish she did the same towards the end when the story went into full-on ‘tell’ mode about how a character spent her life in the past few years. It felt as if the author wanted to give us a summary and get over with it so that she could move on to write the ending.
Rosemary, Niamh, and Lily are the three main characters of the book. Niamh is my favorite and looked like she was created and developed with a lot of care. Rosemary has two sides, both of which were interesting to read. Lily seemed a bit overdone. Guess it highlighted the difference in their lives and their backgrounds.
Overall, this was a bittersweet book to read that will touch our hearts at some places and inspire our wanderlust at others. It is a sad yet beautiful story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily sharing my review.
#TheBoatmansWife #NetGalley
Isla grew up listening to her grandfather’s stories from his childhood. Whether it is the magic man who could summon rainbows or the hardships he faced as a Polish soldier during WWII, Isla knew her grandfather as a caring, loving, and brave man who fought against the Nazis.
A chance trip to the attic in his home challenges all that Isla ever knew about him. What is his picture in a German uniform doing in the attic? Why did her grandfather fight for the Nazis? And who does that lovely rainbow scarf belong to?
Isla knows her grandpa is in no position to answer her questions. His dementia is worsening. Her Gran insists that the picture doesn’t belong to grandpa. Unable to resist her doubts and uncertainties, Isla starts her quest for truth.
Was her grandpa really a part of the German army? Why did he join their side? What happened in his life that no one wants to talk about it? Why is grandpa's elder brother distant from them and doesn’t want to meet his own brother?
As Isla digs more, she understands how life can tear apart families, break lovers, and crush a man while still giving him hope for a new dawn.
Based on a true story, The Rainbow shows us the past of the grandfather, Thomasz, an ordinary child who was forced to grow up at gunpoint and make a choice that changed his life forever. But could that choice have been avoided? No one knows the answer.
After reading the author’s previous book, The Watchmaker of Dachau, I knew I had to pick this one as soon as possible. The Rainbow is better when it comes to narration and execution of the delicate plot. The pace is decent, even if the author could have done without a certain track.
Despite so many characters and people involved, the story seamlessly flows between the past and present. We get to read the POV of more than one character (but only when necessary), and that adds depth to the narration.
We don’t know much about Isla, but we do know her important her grandpa is to her. She doesn’t jump to conclusions or worry about what it would do to her life and career. Her focus is on emotions. Such heroines are rather pleasing to read. However, for me, the heroine of the book would be Zofia. My, she’s just so good even if limited presence.
Thomasz is not your regular hero. In fact, he doesn’t even consider himself a hero. He’s an ordinary man with flaws. A man who is afraid; someone who has to make a choice and knows he could be wrong. There isn’t any remarkable about him, but everything he has lived through is beyond imaginable.
The plight of the Polish boys forced into the German army is hardly documented, and the author writes about such boys, drawing references and details from a true story (that belongs to her family). The author said she worked on the story for 7 years, and her dedication shows.
The emotions have still been artfully balanced, and finally, leave the reader with a bittersweet experience. The book was almost a 5-star until the author introduced a new track I could do without.
If only the author left out the supposed love track between Isla and Stefan. I couldn’t connect with it in the least. In fact, I thought Stefan would in some way be related to Kapaldi and was disappointed a little. They could have been friends, and the book would have worked better for me. Or maybe if Stefan had more role to play, I’d have seen the connection between him and Isla grow stronger.
To sum up, The Rainbow is a heartwarming story of life, choices, love, betrayal, and a faint hope to keep going in search of a better life.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheRainbow #NetGalley
A chance trip to the attic in his home challenges all that Isla ever knew about him. What is his picture in a German uniform doing in the attic? Why did her grandfather fight for the Nazis? And who does that lovely rainbow scarf belong to?
Isla knows her grandpa is in no position to answer her questions. His dementia is worsening. Her Gran insists that the picture doesn’t belong to grandpa. Unable to resist her doubts and uncertainties, Isla starts her quest for truth.
Was her grandpa really a part of the German army? Why did he join their side? What happened in his life that no one wants to talk about it? Why is grandpa's elder brother distant from them and doesn’t want to meet his own brother?
As Isla digs more, she understands how life can tear apart families, break lovers, and crush a man while still giving him hope for a new dawn.
Based on a true story, The Rainbow shows us the past of the grandfather, Thomasz, an ordinary child who was forced to grow up at gunpoint and make a choice that changed his life forever. But could that choice have been avoided? No one knows the answer.
After reading the author’s previous book, The Watchmaker of Dachau, I knew I had to pick this one as soon as possible. The Rainbow is better when it comes to narration and execution of the delicate plot. The pace is decent, even if the author could have done without a certain track.
Despite so many characters and people involved, the story seamlessly flows between the past and present. We get to read the POV of more than one character (but only when necessary), and that adds depth to the narration.
We don’t know much about Isla, but we do know her important her grandpa is to her. She doesn’t jump to conclusions or worry about what it would do to her life and career. Her focus is on emotions. Such heroines are rather pleasing to read. However, for me, the heroine of the book would be Zofia. My, she’s just so good even if limited presence.
Thomasz is not your regular hero. In fact, he doesn’t even consider himself a hero. He’s an ordinary man with flaws. A man who is afraid; someone who has to make a choice and knows he could be wrong. There isn’t any remarkable about him, but everything he has lived through is beyond imaginable.
The plight of the Polish boys forced into the German army is hardly documented, and the author writes about such boys, drawing references and details from a true story (that belongs to her family). The author said she worked on the story for 7 years, and her dedication shows.
The emotions have still been artfully balanced, and finally, leave the reader with a bittersweet experience. The book was almost a 5-star until the author introduced a new track I could do without.
Spoiler
If only the author left out the supposed love track between Isla and Stefan. I couldn’t connect with it in the least. In fact, I thought Stefan would in some way be related to Kapaldi and was disappointed a little. They could have been friends, and the book would have worked better for me. Or maybe if Stefan had more role to play, I’d have seen the connection between him and Isla grow stronger.
To sum up, The Rainbow is a heartwarming story of life, choices, love, betrayal, and a faint hope to keep going in search of a better life.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheRainbow #NetGalley
4.2 Stars
The story begins in 2019, Windsor when Amelia has just buried her mother. She had seen three deaths in two years and is looking for a way to come to terms with her. Her mother leaves her with a quest that takes her to Pembrokeshire.
Amelia not only goes to the Cliffside house with the mysterious wind chime but also travels to the past to connect the missing links between her mother and the Welsh family of Attwaters and Stones.
As the narrative shifts between the past and the present, we see events unfolding and secrets being uncovered. How will these secrets affect Amelia’s life? Why did her mother want her to trace the roots and find things that have been left buried for a reason?
First of all, I would like to highlight that this book is not a mystery. It sure has elements of mystery and discovery but calling it one would create a different impression on the readers. Luckily, I went into the book, considering it Women’s Fiction. That helped me enjoy the storyline better.
The narration is beautiful, especially when dealing with the past. I loved Osyth’s character. She’s dreamy, determined, a bit pampered, and yet good at heart. While she does make some stupid decisions, it fits her age and temperament.
The shift between the past and the present is seamless. I like how the present acted as a breather when the past got too heavy and took the story forward to spare us excessive details. That said, the story does drag a little in the middle. Guess it was necessary with so many characters involved.
Here’s one book where it’s easy to get confused by the people waltzing in and out and their relationships with each other. That said, the primary characters are easy to identify and track. Family trees are fascinating for the secrets they reveal, and this book has plenty of them.
What I loved the most was the inclusion of faerie and fae folklore, the sound of the wind chime that can be heard across the spaces, and the hint of a magical atmosphere. As someone who loves faeries, the talk of the legend of Tylwyth Teg and the stone circle made me very happy.
The mystical wind chime plays a role throughout the book. I could picturize the wind chime each time Osyth mentioned it. I appreciate the cover design even more after reading the story. Such a clever inclusion of vital elements! The author’s note was just as lovely to read.
To sum up, The Wind Chime is a beautiful, emotional, and heartwarming story that spans across generations and locations. Pick it up for the feel-good feeling you get when you read a bittersweet book.
I’ve ignored a couple of typos and errors as this is an ARC.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Sapere Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#NetGalley #TheWindChime
The story begins in 2019, Windsor when Amelia has just buried her mother. She had seen three deaths in two years and is looking for a way to come to terms with her. Her mother leaves her with a quest that takes her to Pembrokeshire.
Amelia not only goes to the Cliffside house with the mysterious wind chime but also travels to the past to connect the missing links between her mother and the Welsh family of Attwaters and Stones.
As the narrative shifts between the past and the present, we see events unfolding and secrets being uncovered. How will these secrets affect Amelia’s life? Why did her mother want her to trace the roots and find things that have been left buried for a reason?
First of all, I would like to highlight that this book is not a mystery. It sure has elements of mystery and discovery but calling it one would create a different impression on the readers. Luckily, I went into the book, considering it Women’s Fiction. That helped me enjoy the storyline better.
The narration is beautiful, especially when dealing with the past. I loved Osyth’s character. She’s dreamy, determined, a bit pampered, and yet good at heart. While she does make some stupid decisions, it fits her age and temperament.
The shift between the past and the present is seamless. I like how the present acted as a breather when the past got too heavy and took the story forward to spare us excessive details. That said, the story does drag a little in the middle. Guess it was necessary with so many characters involved.
Here’s one book where it’s easy to get confused by the people waltzing in and out and their relationships with each other. That said, the primary characters are easy to identify and track. Family trees are fascinating for the secrets they reveal, and this book has plenty of them.
What I loved the most was the inclusion of faerie and fae folklore, the sound of the wind chime that can be heard across the spaces, and the hint of a magical atmosphere. As someone who loves faeries, the talk of the legend of Tylwyth Teg and the stone circle made me very happy.
The mystical wind chime plays a role throughout the book. I could picturize the wind chime each time Osyth mentioned it. I appreciate the cover design even more after reading the story. Such a clever inclusion of vital elements! The author’s note was just as lovely to read.
To sum up, The Wind Chime is a beautiful, emotional, and heartwarming story that spans across generations and locations. Pick it up for the feel-good feeling you get when you read a bittersweet book.
I’ve ignored a couple of typos and errors as this is an ARC.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Sapere Books and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#NetGalley #TheWindChime
**Happy Publication Day**
*************
4 Stars
Liv, a single mother, reaches a remote Scottish island with her three girls. She’s commissioned to paint a mural inside a lighthouse. Called The Longing, the lighthouse has a dark history that still haunts the islanders.
Strange incidents disturb their lives, and things go for the worse when two of the girls are missing. Saffy, the 15 yo sulking teen, disappears, followed by the youngest daughter Clover. Only Luna is with her mother, but things are far from normal.
Twenty-two years later, Luna is pregnant, living with her boyfriend. She has a vague memory of her past and has no idea what happened to her mother or two sisters. She is still searching for the sisters, and one day an unexpected call takes her to an injured Clover.
Luna is shocked beyond belief when she sees Clover at the same age when she disappeared. How is it possible that the girl hasn't aged? Is the little girl really Clover? For Luna to know the truth, she has to go back to the same place where it began. Can Luna do it? Can she risk everything to uncover the past?
The Lighthouse Witches is told in three timelines and from three POVs- Liv in 1998, Saffy (third person) in 1998, and Luna (third person) in 2021. We also have another POV in the form of a book (grimoire) with incidents from the past connected to the events in 1998 and 2021.
Nowhere does the book get confusing or complicated despite such intricate narration. The story flows quite well from start to finish, though it drags a little in the second half. The witch hunt of Scotland was one of the biggest events where women were burned at stake. However, there is very little known about the incidents.
The book highlights these atrocities while showing how fear and hysteria make people commit horrible crimes. The islanders suffer a similar fear they never bothered to investigate. We also see the vulnerability of a teen from a broken family and how it changes her life.
The atmosphere is fantastic, especially in past timelines, and suits the paranormal mystery theme.
Coming to the characters, I’m not sure what to say. Liv sure wasn’t supposed to be perfect, but she somehow didn’t make the kind of impact she should. I understand her position. Being an artist with no permanent job and three kids to manage is no joke. Bills don’t pay themselves. Still, her character seemed more like a catalyst that kept the story moving, and there was one major reveal that rather disappointed me.
Saffy was explored very well and an angsty teen. Luna was more or less easy to understand. No matter her lack of memory and nightmares, her family came first.
Where the book gained points was suspense. It was difficult to guess the reason for the events that were connected across the centuries. The reveal was phased for each character in a way to bring it all together at the end. I really liked how the author handled this.
A few things remain unexplained, but that’s fine too. The major explanations stretched a little extra, and adding any more would have dampened the ending.
The author's note is detailed and gave me a better closure than the story itself.
To sum up, The Lighthouse Witches is an intriguing read with steady suspense and atmosphere if you ignore the minor bumps on the way. It’s a book worth reading.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheLighthouseWitches #NetGalley
P.S: I like this cover more than the other one.
*************
4 Stars
Liv, a single mother, reaches a remote Scottish island with her three girls. She’s commissioned to paint a mural inside a lighthouse. Called The Longing, the lighthouse has a dark history that still haunts the islanders.
Strange incidents disturb their lives, and things go for the worse when two of the girls are missing. Saffy, the 15 yo sulking teen, disappears, followed by the youngest daughter Clover. Only Luna is with her mother, but things are far from normal.
Twenty-two years later, Luna is pregnant, living with her boyfriend. She has a vague memory of her past and has no idea what happened to her mother or two sisters. She is still searching for the sisters, and one day an unexpected call takes her to an injured Clover.
Luna is shocked beyond belief when she sees Clover at the same age when she disappeared. How is it possible that the girl hasn't aged? Is the little girl really Clover? For Luna to know the truth, she has to go back to the same place where it began. Can Luna do it? Can she risk everything to uncover the past?
The Lighthouse Witches is told in three timelines and from three POVs- Liv in 1998, Saffy (third person) in 1998, and Luna (third person) in 2021. We also have another POV in the form of a book (grimoire) with incidents from the past connected to the events in 1998 and 2021.
Nowhere does the book get confusing or complicated despite such intricate narration. The story flows quite well from start to finish, though it drags a little in the second half. The witch hunt of Scotland was one of the biggest events where women were burned at stake. However, there is very little known about the incidents.
The book highlights these atrocities while showing how fear and hysteria make people commit horrible crimes. The islanders suffer a similar fear they never bothered to investigate. We also see the vulnerability of a teen from a broken family and how it changes her life.
The atmosphere is fantastic, especially in past timelines, and suits the paranormal mystery theme.
Coming to the characters, I’m not sure what to say. Liv sure wasn’t supposed to be perfect, but she somehow didn’t make the kind of impact she should. I understand her position. Being an artist with no permanent job and three kids to manage is no joke. Bills don’t pay themselves. Still, her character seemed more like a catalyst that kept the story moving, and there was one major reveal that rather disappointed me.
Spoiler
Liv packs her kids in the car and travels to Scotland in the middle of the night because she is running away from something. I get that. But what is running away from? It’s the diagnosis of cancer cells in her body! She uprooted her kids without a word and packed them with her, drove away only to spend the night in the car because she wanted to run away from cancer. This is the strangest reaction I’ve ever seen, especially when Saffy is already annoyed and almost hating Liv for not giving importance to her feelings. I don’t know if I’m the only one to find it odd, but I still can’t understand the reaction.Saffy was explored very well and an angsty teen. Luna was more or less easy to understand. No matter her lack of memory and nightmares, her family came first.
Where the book gained points was suspense. It was difficult to guess the reason for the events that were connected across the centuries. The reveal was phased for each character in a way to bring it all together at the end. I really liked how the author handled this.
A few things remain unexplained, but that’s fine too. The major explanations stretched a little extra, and adding any more would have dampened the ending.
The author's note is detailed and gave me a better closure than the story itself.
To sum up, The Lighthouse Witches is an intriguing read with steady suspense and atmosphere if you ignore the minor bumps on the way. It’s a book worth reading.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheLighthouseWitches #NetGalley
P.S: I like this cover more than the other one.
4.5 Stars
One Liner: Beautiful!
Soline Russel belongs to a family from Paris that specializes in ensuring happy endings for others. Their hand-stitched bridal gowns are known to bind the couple together forever. But the blessing is also a curse. No one in the family has had a happy ending of their own. Soline tries to challenge the curse only to realize she can’t.
Years later, in Boston, Rory (Aurora) is trying to find hope and stay positive. Her fiancé has been abducted in another country, and there’s no news of him. The strained relationship with her mother offers no solace. Until, by chance, Rory spots an old shop damaged by a fire accident.
It rekindles her desire to make her dreams come true. Rory’s persistence brings her face to face with Soline, the owner of the store. Soline sure has made a name for herself in an unknown country, but what’s she has lost can never let her live in peace.
Rory’s situation brings Soline out of her self-imposed exile. Of course, life isn’t easy, and things change just when their bond deepens. An unexpected decision by Rory sets the ball rolling. Secrets are revealed, and a new ray of hope is found. But is it possible to hope for the elusive happy ending for either of them?
The book is 416 pages long, and as with every historical, the start is slow. But the book picks up the pace and seamlessly flows between different timelines and POVs. We get to see the story from Soline’s and Rory’s perspectives, giving us a chance to appreciate both women. Two other women play a vital role in the book- Camilla (Rory’s mom) and Thia.
The story is beautiful and heartbreaking. At about 59%, I connected the dots, but then the author threw in a twist. Of course, my guess was right, but the way she revealed it worked better than my expectations.
A book with a title as such should have a happy ending, and this one indeed does. Some of it might seem a little too neatly tied up, but hey, I wanted a happy ending and got one. No complaints.
The characters are well developed. There are subtle hints to see beyond the obvious and delve deeper into the character’s mind. That’s clever writing.
The two biggest plus points are-
• Emotions that hit the cord
• A fine balance between both timelines
Many such books end up with one timeline grabbing the limelight. That doesn’t happen here. However, there are a couple of minor issues that could’ve been addressed. Still, the book is a worthy read in many ways.
This is my first book by the author, and I’m surely going to read her other works.
To sum up, The Keeper of Happy Endings is a story of hope, love, second chances, family, relationships, and happy endings.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheKeeperofHappyEndings #NetGalley
One Liner: Beautiful!
Soline Russel belongs to a family from Paris that specializes in ensuring happy endings for others. Their hand-stitched bridal gowns are known to bind the couple together forever. But the blessing is also a curse. No one in the family has had a happy ending of their own. Soline tries to challenge the curse only to realize she can’t.
Years later, in Boston, Rory (Aurora) is trying to find hope and stay positive. Her fiancé has been abducted in another country, and there’s no news of him. The strained relationship with her mother offers no solace. Until, by chance, Rory spots an old shop damaged by a fire accident.
It rekindles her desire to make her dreams come true. Rory’s persistence brings her face to face with Soline, the owner of the store. Soline sure has made a name for herself in an unknown country, but what’s she has lost can never let her live in peace.
Rory’s situation brings Soline out of her self-imposed exile. Of course, life isn’t easy, and things change just when their bond deepens. An unexpected decision by Rory sets the ball rolling. Secrets are revealed, and a new ray of hope is found. But is it possible to hope for the elusive happy ending for either of them?
The book is 416 pages long, and as with every historical, the start is slow. But the book picks up the pace and seamlessly flows between different timelines and POVs. We get to see the story from Soline’s and Rory’s perspectives, giving us a chance to appreciate both women. Two other women play a vital role in the book- Camilla (Rory’s mom) and Thia.
The story is beautiful and heartbreaking. At about 59%, I connected the dots, but then the author threw in a twist. Of course, my guess was right, but the way she revealed it worked better than my expectations.
A book with a title as such should have a happy ending, and this one indeed does. Some of it might seem a little too neatly tied up, but hey, I wanted a happy ending and got one. No complaints.
The characters are well developed. There are subtle hints to see beyond the obvious and delve deeper into the character’s mind. That’s clever writing.
The two biggest plus points are-
• Emotions that hit the cord
• A fine balance between both timelines
Many such books end up with one timeline grabbing the limelight. That doesn’t happen here. However, there are a couple of minor issues that could’ve been addressed. Still, the book is a worthy read in many ways.
This is my first book by the author, and I’m surely going to read her other works.
To sum up, The Keeper of Happy Endings is a story of hope, love, second chances, family, relationships, and happy endings.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheKeeperofHappyEndings #NetGalley
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Too many things maybe.
Yew Tree Manor has seen a lot of tragedy and hides many secrets. No one knows what happened to Alice, the seven-year-old girl who vanished one evening in 1969.
It’s 2017, and the Manor is all set to be demolished to develop a new series of buildings. However, history repeats when Sienna, the six-year-old of Leo Hilton, disappears the same way. Leo is Alice’s elder brother and the current owner of Yew Tree Manor.
Willow James is the architect overseeing the project. She’s the daughter of Bobby James, the last person to see Alice alive, the boy who grew up into a broken man in a detention center. Willow knows there are secrets around her and intends to dig out the truth, come what may.
The task isn’t easy, of course. The story began sometime in 1945 and much before that. Willow’s great-grandmother was a midwife and lived in the Vicarage on the grounds of Yew Tree Manor. She was wronged and declared guilty for a crime she didn’t commit, and things have never been good for long ever since.
Can Willow put an end to the pain and justice for her family?
Confused by the blurb I wrote? The story pretty much moves on similar lines. It was a little easier because I copied the chart provided on the book's first page and referred to it.
The story moves in three timelines with different characters as the focal points. All of it is the limited third person, and some sudden shifts were confusing. Not the ones between the chapters but the shift between immediate past and present in the same chapter.
The beginning is slow but picks up pace as more information is revealed. The twists were transparent enough to see most of the time. I’m not sure if this would be classified as a mystery as such.
What I Like:
• The track dealing with Tessa (the midwife) and how much hatred women like her had to face.
• Bella was an effective character, and Nell was cute as a child.
• Sienna was endearing despite having a limited role in the book.
What Could Have Been Better:
• With so many characters in focus, I couldn’t feel for any of them. Tess and Bella were the strongest. Willow’s arc didn’t feel effective enough. There wasn’t enough of her to feel a connection.
• Charlie felt more like a prop than Willow’s boyfriend. He goes in and out of the story, and I feel bad for him.
• There were too many themes in the book, and none of them got full justice. The midwife’s secret isn’t even a secret, as it was revealed during the initial pages. I was expecting another bigger secret that would turn things upside down in the present, but that didn’t happen.
• I love happy endings. Still, this one felt a little too neat and convenient.
To sum up, The Midwife’s Secret was underwhelming, which could be due to many topics it tries to handle at once. The effort is commendable. I liked the portions related to the title.
Thank you, NetGalley, Mobius Books, and Headline Review, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheMidwifesSecret #NetGalley
One Liner: Too many things maybe.
Yew Tree Manor has seen a lot of tragedy and hides many secrets. No one knows what happened to Alice, the seven-year-old girl who vanished one evening in 1969.
It’s 2017, and the Manor is all set to be demolished to develop a new series of buildings. However, history repeats when Sienna, the six-year-old of Leo Hilton, disappears the same way. Leo is Alice’s elder brother and the current owner of Yew Tree Manor.
Willow James is the architect overseeing the project. She’s the daughter of Bobby James, the last person to see Alice alive, the boy who grew up into a broken man in a detention center. Willow knows there are secrets around her and intends to dig out the truth, come what may.
The task isn’t easy, of course. The story began sometime in 1945 and much before that. Willow’s great-grandmother was a midwife and lived in the Vicarage on the grounds of Yew Tree Manor. She was wronged and declared guilty for a crime she didn’t commit, and things have never been good for long ever since.
Can Willow put an end to the pain and justice for her family?
Confused by the blurb I wrote? The story pretty much moves on similar lines. It was a little easier because I copied the chart provided on the book's first page and referred to it.
The story moves in three timelines with different characters as the focal points. All of it is the limited third person, and some sudden shifts were confusing. Not the ones between the chapters but the shift between immediate past and present in the same chapter.
The beginning is slow but picks up pace as more information is revealed. The twists were transparent enough to see most of the time. I’m not sure if this would be classified as a mystery as such.
What I Like:
• The track dealing with Tessa (the midwife) and how much hatred women like her had to face.
• Bella was an effective character, and Nell was cute as a child.
• Sienna was endearing despite having a limited role in the book.
What Could Have Been Better:
• With so many characters in focus, I couldn’t feel for any of them. Tess and Bella were the strongest. Willow’s arc didn’t feel effective enough. There wasn’t enough of her to feel a connection.
• Charlie felt more like a prop than Willow’s boyfriend. He goes in and out of the story, and I feel bad for him.
• There were too many themes in the book, and none of them got full justice. The midwife’s secret isn’t even a secret, as it was revealed during the initial pages. I was expecting another bigger secret that would turn things upside down in the present, but that didn’t happen.
• I love happy endings. Still, this one felt a little too neat and convenient.
To sum up, The Midwife’s Secret was underwhelming, which could be due to many topics it tries to handle at once. The effort is commendable. I liked the portions related to the title.
Thank you, NetGalley, Mobius Books, and Headline Review, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheMidwifesSecret #NetGalley
3.75 Stars
One Liner: Effective in some ways.
Jenny is living at an elder care center and has just celebrated her 100th birthday. As her favorite caretaker Candice takes out an old wooden box from the drawers, Jenny feels the memories rushing in. She knows there’s something she needs to do, and that involves traveling to Italy.
Being a child of delicate health, it took persistence and grit for Jenny to outlive many others. She hopes for an additional couple of months to lay the past to rest. Jenny asks Candice to accompany her to Italy. It’s for physical support as well as to help Candice see the truth of her relationship with a douche bag manipulative jerk of a boyfriend Beau (eww!).
How will the trip to a place full of past events and memories help both women come to terms with their lives? Can Jenny find her peace? Can Candice force herself to see the truth she so desperately wants to ignore?
The Memory Box has a dual time is as smooth as butter. The story weaves in and out between the 1940s and 2019. The first-person narration by Jenny and the third-person narrative to show Candice’s life seamlessly blend across the chapters.
Can’t tell you how many times I wanted to shake Candice to make her see what everyone around her saw. There were enough red flags to supply for a global red-themed party, and still have some left to spare.
The book starts slow and picks up a little pace as the story moves ahead. The focus isn’t much on the setting but rather the thoughts of the characters. Jenny feels real with her strengths, flaws, and uncertainties. Candice, well, there are girls like her. I think the author drove her point straight in about toxic relationships using Candice and Beau.
The actual story takes place after 65-70% of the book. Things crucial to the book enter the picture and bring the threads together. I guessed all the twists except for one, and I must admit I’m not fully convinced about it. It works more as a plot device, IMO. Also, a couple of things were a tad too convenient. I do like happy endings, so I’m not complaining as such.
While Jenny’s arc was pretty much stable, Candice’s arc seemed confusing in the second half. I was pretty much fed up with her by then, or it would’ve annoyed me more. That girl could do with some solid dumping of sense into her brain.
The reason the book still has it rounded off to 4 stars is the portrayal of toxic love and gaslighting in relationships. It irked me to no end to see Candice make excuses and deny the truth, and that I would say is the biggest achievement. That part is very realistic.
To sum up, The Memory Box is not a must-read historical, but it has some valuable relationship lessons that can start a discussion.
Thank you, NetGalley, Mobius Books, and Headline Review, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheMemoryBox #NetGalley
One Liner: Effective in some ways.
Jenny is living at an elder care center and has just celebrated her 100th birthday. As her favorite caretaker Candice takes out an old wooden box from the drawers, Jenny feels the memories rushing in. She knows there’s something she needs to do, and that involves traveling to Italy.
Being a child of delicate health, it took persistence and grit for Jenny to outlive many others. She hopes for an additional couple of months to lay the past to rest. Jenny asks Candice to accompany her to Italy. It’s for physical support as well as to help Candice see the truth of her relationship with a douche bag manipulative jerk of a boyfriend Beau (eww!).
How will the trip to a place full of past events and memories help both women come to terms with their lives? Can Jenny find her peace? Can Candice force herself to see the truth she so desperately wants to ignore?
The Memory Box has a dual time is as smooth as butter. The story weaves in and out between the 1940s and 2019. The first-person narration by Jenny and the third-person narrative to show Candice’s life seamlessly blend across the chapters.
Can’t tell you how many times I wanted to shake Candice to make her see what everyone around her saw. There were enough red flags to supply for a global red-themed party, and still have some left to spare.
The book starts slow and picks up a little pace as the story moves ahead. The focus isn’t much on the setting but rather the thoughts of the characters. Jenny feels real with her strengths, flaws, and uncertainties. Candice, well, there are girls like her. I think the author drove her point straight in about toxic relationships using Candice and Beau.
The actual story takes place after 65-70% of the book. Things crucial to the book enter the picture and bring the threads together. I guessed all the twists except for one, and I must admit I’m not fully convinced about it. It works more as a plot device, IMO. Also, a couple of things were a tad too convenient. I do like happy endings, so I’m not complaining as such.
While Jenny’s arc was pretty much stable, Candice’s arc seemed confusing in the second half. I was pretty much fed up with her by then, or it would’ve annoyed me more. That girl could do with some solid dumping of sense into her brain.
The reason the book still has it rounded off to 4 stars is the portrayal of toxic love and gaslighting in relationships. It irked me to no end to see Candice make excuses and deny the truth, and that I would say is the biggest achievement. That part is very realistic.
To sum up, The Memory Box is not a must-read historical, but it has some valuable relationship lessons that can start a discussion.
Thank you, NetGalley, Mobius Books, and Headline Review, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#TheMemoryBox #NetGalley
**Happy Publication Day**
One of my favorite books this year.
********
4.5 Stars
Megs Devonshire loves mathematics, equations, and physics. She finds it comforting and exhilarating to solve a problem and know that there’s only one correct answer to the question. She’s a student on a scholarship at Oxford.
George is her eight-year-old brother with a weak heart and a lively spirit. He knows the limitations of his health and finds pleasure in escaping to the fantasy lands of the books. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C S Lewis, has enchanted George, and the kid asks his loving elder sister to help find an answer to his simple question- Where did Narnia come from?
Megs is not sure if she can go and ask Lewis the question. But she finds a way for her brother. After all, she’ll do anything she can to give him what he wants.
But Jack Lewis and his brother aren’t the ones to provide straightforward answers. Instead, he tells her about his childhood and life, asking her to listen and share them with her little brother. Megs is frustrated but has no choice but to agree.
As Jack continues with his tales, Megs understands what he intends. He wants her to look at the world from a different lens. The world doesn’t fit into mathematical equations, and Megs realizes that it’s a futile attempt.
Maybe there’s more to life than maths and physics. Maybe imagination, stories, and equations are not opposites. Maybe stories and science can co-exist and actually complement each other.
George embraces the stories with eagerness, and Megs is still conflicted about whether she should give equal importance to the imagination. Yet, she can’t help but feel hope blooming inside her. Can she wish for a miracle?
This is my first book by the author, and I can say for sure that I love her prose. As someone who wants strong imagery in stories but without a thesaurus, I’m always delighted when an author paints a vivid scene using simple words.
The story is warm with a constant undertone of melancholy. We know what could happen by the end of the book. Still, we can’t help but hope. There is pain, death, fear, and sadness. However, overpowering these emotions is the strong presence of love. Love in all its glorious forms.
It’s been a while since a book moved me as much as this did. So much that I even marked a few favorite quotes (an old forgotten habit of mine).
I’m so glad that I requested this book. It fills my heart with warmth even though there’s enough pain. Tears blurred my vision more than once, and I had to stop reading to take a couple of deep breaths. It’s been so long since a book did that to me!
To Sum Up, Once Upon a Wardrobe is a beautiful book that takes us to Worcestershire, Oxford, Ireland, and the distant lands of magic and myth. This is a book I’ll recommend to bookworms, storytellers, and just about everyone.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Harper Muse and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#NetGalley #OnceUponaWardrobe
************
TW:
P.S: Before anyone asks, the 0.5 deduction was for the (abundance of) adverbs. I can't help! :(
One of my favorite books this year.
********
4.5 Stars
Megs Devonshire loves mathematics, equations, and physics. She finds it comforting and exhilarating to solve a problem and know that there’s only one correct answer to the question. She’s a student on a scholarship at Oxford.
George is her eight-year-old brother with a weak heart and a lively spirit. He knows the limitations of his health and finds pleasure in escaping to the fantasy lands of the books. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C S Lewis, has enchanted George, and the kid asks his loving elder sister to help find an answer to his simple question- Where did Narnia come from?
“With stories, I can see with other eyes, imagine with other imaginations, feel with other hearts, as well as with my own. Stories aren’t equations.”
Megs is not sure if she can go and ask Lewis the question. But she finds a way for her brother. After all, she’ll do anything she can to give him what he wants.
But Jack Lewis and his brother aren’t the ones to provide straightforward answers. Instead, he tells her about his childhood and life, asking her to listen and share them with her little brother. Megs is frustrated but has no choice but to agree.
As Jack continues with his tales, Megs understands what he intends. He wants her to look at the world from a different lens. The world doesn’t fit into mathematical equations, and Megs realizes that it’s a futile attempt.
“The way stories change us can’t be explained,” Padraig says. “It can only be felt. Like love.”
Maybe there’s more to life than maths and physics. Maybe imagination, stories, and equations are not opposites. Maybe stories and science can co-exist and actually complement each other.
George embraces the stories with eagerness, and Megs is still conflicted about whether she should give equal importance to the imagination. Yet, she can’t help but feel hope blooming inside her. Can she wish for a miracle?
This is my first book by the author, and I can say for sure that I love her prose. As someone who wants strong imagery in stories but without a thesaurus, I’m always delighted when an author paints a vivid scene using simple words.
The story is warm with a constant undertone of melancholy. We know what could happen by the end of the book. Still, we can’t help but hope. There is pain, death, fear, and sadness. However, overpowering these emotions is the strong presence of love. Love in all its glorious forms.
It’s been a while since a book moved me as much as this did. So much that I even marked a few favorite quotes (an old forgotten habit of mine).
I’m so glad that I requested this book. It fills my heart with warmth even though there’s enough pain. Tears blurred my vision more than once, and I had to stop reading to take a couple of deep breaths. It’s been so long since a book did that to me!
“There is a light, a bright lantern light where all stories begin and end.”
To Sum Up, Once Upon a Wardrobe is a beautiful book that takes us to Worcestershire, Oxford, Ireland, and the distant lands of magic and myth. This is a book I’ll recommend to bookworms, storytellers, and just about everyone.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Harper Muse and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#NetGalley #OnceUponaWardrobe
************
TW:
Spoiler
Death of a siblingP.S: Before anyone asks, the 0.5 deduction was for the (abundance of) adverbs. I can't help! :(
ETA: Musings on “India that is Bharat,” Coloniality, and our Continued Struggles
Edit: I'm giving up linking the second image here. It shows for a second and vanishes. Why can't it be easy to upload an image directly like other platforms?
The review will take time. I'm drafting it... too many thoughts.
Until then, going to leave a few links and images.
What happened to indigenous kids?
*****
This was in Sep 2021 when a Minneapolis Church objected to the construction of a Hindu temple in the area.
Go here to read the letter in a better resolution.
*****
Since Goodreads refuses to show the image, here's what she said:
I'll take slavery to Jesus Christ over being part of a misogynistic demon worshiping false religion any day... thanks be to God for Portuguese missionaries
St Francis Xavier, Ora pro nobis
For those who aren’t aware, the Portuguese inquisition in Goa was one of the most brutal events where Hindus were tortured using various means to convert to Christianity and become the followers of the ‘true religion’.
The lady is mostly a fifth or sixth-generation Catholic whose ancestors were among the ones who were raped, tortured, and murdered. The way to be spared of such treatments was to embrace Christ as the only God. For someone to show gratitude for putting her ancestors through Hell when alive (to avoid Hell after death) and thank them for paving the way to spread ‘love, light, and peace’, well… it’s beyond my comprehension.
A little history into the Goan Inquisition
Note: This book doesn't cover Goan Inquisition. There are other books that do.
Edit: I'm giving up linking the second image here. It shows for a second and vanishes. Why can't it be easy to upload an image directly like other platforms?
Until then, going to leave a few links and images.
What happened to indigenous kids?
*****
This was in Sep 2021 when a Minneapolis Church objected to the construction of a Hindu temple in the area.
Go here to read the letter in a better resolution.
*****
Since Goodreads refuses to show the image, here's what she said:
I'll take slavery to Jesus Christ over being part of a misogynistic demon worshiping false religion any day... thanks be to God for Portuguese missionaries
St Francis Xavier, Ora pro nobis
For those who aren’t aware, the Portuguese inquisition in Goa was one of the most brutal events where Hindus were tortured using various means to convert to Christianity and become the followers of the ‘true religion’.
The lady is mostly a fifth or sixth-generation Catholic whose ancestors were among the ones who were raped, tortured, and murdered. The way to be spared of such treatments was to embrace Christ as the only God. For someone to show gratitude for putting her ancestors through Hell when alive (to avoid Hell after death) and thank them for paving the way to spread ‘love, light, and peace’, well… it’s beyond my comprehension.
A little history into the Goan Inquisition
Note: This book doesn't cover Goan Inquisition. There are other books that do.