3.7 Stars

Lady Evangeline Raine prefers animals to humans, especially the little ones she rescues and cares for in her animal shelter. Her young sister, Viola, wants nothing more than a season in London and marriage. However, the season will happen if Effie (Evangeline) is also willing to attend. 

Duke of Vale, Gage Croft, was happy being a Highlander until his brother’s death made him the duke and dumped a ton load of debts on his head. He needs to settle a debt and agrees to charm Evangeline to bring her to London. However, he soon realizes that the bargain could be costly indeed! 

Can Effie and Gage find what they want, or will the secrets tear them apart? 

The story comes in Effie and Gage’s third-person POVs. 

The book starts with a short content warning note by the author, mentioning the possible triggers (and their intensity) in the story. 

Right away, we are thrown into the drama around the main characters. Reading the previous book (Never Met a Duke Like You), made it easy to follow the FMC’s character arc. This should still work as a standalone read (the others make an appearance a few times). However, I did find all that talk a bit preachy. We know what the issues are, right? No need to repeat them so often. 

The MMC is quite easy to like even if some of his decisions are bad. But that’s necessary for the plot to progress, so can’t say much. 

This is a steamy romance (4.5ish), and there are a lot of sexual innuendos throughout the book. This may not suit everyone. I didn’t mind most of it. The writing style was fun (when not preaching, so it suited the tone). 

There’s a teeny mystery as well, though it is never the main focus. Acts like seasoning and helps bring things together in the climax. 

And yes, we have a third-act breakup. I knew it would happen very early in the plot (almost after the first chapter). Being prepared helps, folks! 

We have an epilogue (yay!) that not only gives us HEA but also hints at the next book. I am waiting for that, though I suspect the spice will be all-time high, based on what we know about the characters. 

Effie’s sister isn’t easy to like, but she manages to get to the right side and show decent growth. I like that there’s no drastic change, but shows a sign of improvement. I do wish to get to know William a little more. A nice guy! 

The pacing dips in the middle but picks up again in the last quarter. It didn’t really drag or feel boring. However, some scenes are a bit OTT and take to liberty, given the historical setting. While I no longer expect proper historical romances, this one could have toned it down a little. 

The author’s note is detailed and informative, providing a glimpse into her research, which supports her plotline and character arcs. 

To summarize, The Worst Duke in London is a fun read with a high dose of spice and many contemporary sensibilities. Read it if you want something light and fluffy. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheWorstDukeInLondon 

 4 Stars

Young George is excited to spend Christmas with his Dad and Grandpa at the rented house named Wintertide. When he sees a sudden light on the cliff and hears about a dead body found in the sea, George wonders if the events are connected. Isla, his cousin, seems to have the same doubts. Soon, the tweens band together to find out more and solve the mystery, not realizing that it could very well put their lives at risk. 

The story comes in George’s first-person POV in the present tense. 

Large families are what people in small families long for and people in large families long to escape. 

The book starts with a short prologue about a body drifting in and out of the sea in the third-person POV. Then, it switches to George’s first-person narrative in the present tense. The kid and his dad are traveling to meet their family for joint celebrations (Grandpa’s birthday and Christmas). 

There’s a bit of a mystery right in the beginning about some people arguing on the road. We slowly get more information about the family dynamics, new members, the boy’s favorite ones, etc. Since it is in his POV, we don’t always know much about the others. However, this slowly changes and the undercurrents become clearer. 

The setting is perfect for the mystery. Lyme Regis is a coastal town, a bit away from the mainline. It has high cliffs, an extensive beach, and beautiful streets. The weather alternates between windy, rainy, snowy, and chilly. Naturally, this makes the mystery more interesting. 

The other kid, Isla is sweet. George is a different kind of sweet. Both are easy to like and root for. Their contrasting personalities and the slowly budding friendship between the new cousins add a nice personal touch to the plot. Of course, there are many other personal elements since this is a family trip. 

The mystery blends archeology, history, action, adventure, danger, some attempted sleuthing, and all the things children would love. As expected, the kids get into situations that could be way dangerous in real life. At least, the adults here are not fully absent. They do try to keep the children safe, and the kids also realize they are getting into tricky stuff (even if it doesn’t stop them). 

The culprit is easy to guess thanks to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) clues scattered throughout. It should keep the young readers engaged and make them guess about the whos and whys. 

There’s some light humor sprinkled at random, making George an entertaining narrator. I like the subtle change in him as things change towards the end. 

The ending is heartwarming and sweet, just as how it should be for the target age group. There are some bittersweet moments too, but hope and love do triumph over everything else. 

To summarize, Murder at Wintertide is a steady-paced mystery with young sleuths solving a crime and discovering more than what they want. This is my first book by the author, and I’m curious to read more. 

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

#NetGalley #MurderAtWintertide 

 3.7 Stars

One Liner: Needs patience in the first quarter 

 

Dr. Rowan Thorpe prefers stories to humans and is content in collecting the old folklore to document them. She lives alone and spends most of her time in the tiny room behind the library in Yorkshire. 

The arrival of Professor Conner O’Keefe, a historian, doesn’t sit right with her. The charming Irish professor is unfazed by her rude behavior. As they get to know each other, both realize they are bearing the burdens of their past. Can they help each other heal? 

The story comes in Rowan’s first-person POV with a few short chapters from the past. 

Firstly, my thanks to a Goodreads author-cum-reviewer friend (Sally) whose review prepared me to give the FMC some leeway. It helped a lot since the book is from the heroine’s first-person POV, and she is annoying until we know why. 

I wish the reason was revealed sooner at least to the readers. While there are some subtle hints, none of them leads to a concrete presumption. 

I won’t call this romance though it does have some elements. This is more of women’s fiction with a focus on the characters learning to be something beyond their pasts. The past takes a long time to be revealed and then we wait more for them to start to move on, so the love story as much occurs only in the last quarter. (closed door/ fade out) 

I enjoyed the little random snippets from different timelines (though these seem like they don’t impact the plot, there’s a reason for their presence). Halfway through, I noticed the pattern and realized that the truth is something else (this is revealed towards the end). As someone who likes folklore and understands the importance of preserving the oral stories from the past, I know why it matters. 

Even when I disliked the FMC’s attitude, I empathized with her determination to not let the past be wiped out. We already lost so much (and much of it has been misappropriated by invaders who went on multiple conversion sprees). We cannot afford to lose more. 

For a short book, the repeated arguments about the Fairy Stane got a bit boring. I can see both their points and agree to an extent with Rowan. But the way she handled it didn’t make it easy to side with her. 

The MMC is easy to like almost throughout. I find his backstory quite interesting. Not something we often see in this genre, so it does feel refreshing. I also like how it’s tackled with sensitivity. 

I was quite surprised by the repeated mention of the MMC’s Catholic upbringing. Somehow, many elements were woven with this piece of information, so it ended okay. 

To summarize, The Start of the Story is a book about second chances, moving on, acceptance, and the importance of protecting our ancient stories. It’s not a heavy read but not super light either. 

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley 

 3.5 Stars

The book is published by the Christian wing of the publisher, so God and faith get a mention more than once in the first two stories. (I saw some reviews saying they hadn’t realized this until it was too late, so putting it at the top.) 

This is a collection of three novelettes set around Christmas and feature Mistletoe in some form. Set in wintery small towns, each story has a couple that will fall in love and a community with all the cozy vibes. All stories are Hallmark-style and can be a little too sweet for some. 

TBH, I requested this book mainly to read Pepper’s The Mistletoe Prince. Prince Arran is Ellie’s brother, mentioned a few times in Loyally, Luke. I knew I had to read his story. The other two stories were a bonus. ;) 

Emmy Banks loves Christmas. After all, she lives in Mistletoe, Missouri. Kieran O’Neill has lived in Ireland, renovating a castle for over twenty-five years. He returns to Mistletoe for his mother’s seventieth birthday. Kieran is Emmy’s bestie’s older brother and a childhood friend. Renewing their friendship is easy. But what happens when they want more, and Kieran has to leave the town? 

The story comes in Emmy and Kieran’s third-person POVs. 

The characters are in their 40s, a good change from the younger romances. The setting is quite beautiful with the small-town vibe (where everyone knows everyone). The Christmas theme is also done well with an abundance of decorations, the winter fair, hot chocolate, etc. The romance is okay but I cannot help but wonder if it would have been better as a slightly longer piece. Even some 4-5 pages extra would have done the trick. It is still sweet, though. 

Prince Arran of Skymar has to spend three months in a small town in North Carolina, where his sister Ellie lives with her husband, Luke Edgewood. This ‘punishment’ is also a chance for Arran to become his former self and find out who he is if not a prince with a title. Charlie, Luke’s cousin and carpenter, is a tomboy hiding in plain sight and suffering from low self-worth. The Christmas fundraiser is her chance to prove her worth. Can the two broken hearts mend each other as the season works its magic? 

The story comes in Arran and Charlie’s third-person POVs. 

This is the longest story in the book, which means it has enough space for proper development and the traditional arc (including a sort of third-act breakup). Charlie and Arran are lovely characters and easy to root for. Luke has enough presence and adds charm to the plotline. Ellie and Penelope have a teeny scene each but that’s fine. The focus remains on the main characters and their growth. There’s a light touch of faith, similar to the other books in the Skymar series. Beautiful! 

Hailey Fairchild is a romance author whose love life is a mess, thanks to her Mistletoe weakness. Seems that she cannot resist men who kiss her under the mistletoe and learn her lesson late only to repeat the cycle. Of course, it all started with her crush on her brother’s best friend and the popular guy at school, Carwyn Davies. Back in her town for Christmas, Hailey is determined to break the cycle but life may have other plans for her. 

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

This is the shortest and weakest story in the collection. While Hailey’s voice is quirky enough, I couldn’t connect with her. (Hard to when you end up calling the MC an idiot right at the beginning). There are quite a few tropes and with no space for exploration, the story feels underwhelming. It does deal with some important themes like bullying, lack of confidence, fears, etc., but the approach didn’t work for me. 

* 

Since it is a Christmas-themed sweet romance collection, I’m rounding it up to 4 stars (also coz I liked the story I wanted to read). 

To summarize, Mistletoe Season is a super sweet set of three novelettes with a Christmas theme as the central point. Check out others' reviews before you decide. 

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and Thomas Nelson, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #MistletoeSeason 

 4 Stars

The town of Starspill had been in Fog for over 140 years, ever since the Wolf ate the Sun. But why are the cats now intent on making Zac steal one of the three Embers of the Sun from the Museum? What will the cats gain from it? Why did they steal Zac's old Map to make him do the job? 

The story comes in the third-person POV (Zac’s). 

This is more of a tween book than MG fiction but it is clean (despite the darkness). 

The premise and the cover made me request a copy right away. It has fantasy, cats, atmosphere, and kids who need to be brave.  What’s not to like? 

The book has a slow start which makes sense we need some would-building and meet the characters. Right away, we can see cats will have a major role in the plot (yay!). 

The concept is terrific – a city named Starspill that has been enveloped by the Fog for centuries, ever since the Wolf ate the Sun. The residents get light from star-powered lamps made by Startsmiths (Zac’s family) or candles (Alys’s family). 

Zac and Alys should be around thirteen (I don’t remember reading their ages). While the boy is an introvert, Alys is a firebrand (the kind who will hit first and talk later). They make an interesting team. 

The atmosphere gets full marks from me. I love how real the Fog feels as if it seeps out of the pages and envelopes the reader. 

The main characters are well done but the side ones don’t get the same attention. This is a common concern in MG fiction. I’m still not sure what to think about Martha’s character. It seems to change as required for the story. 

The cats in the book can talk. Jinx is a little black kitten with high aspirations and self-confidence a thousand times its size! 

The stakes get higher as the story progresses. There’s enough danger and adventure for kids to stay hooked and turn the pages. However, I felt the conclusion in the climax needed a little more explanation. (Also, I needed more about the green star). 

The ending is satisfactory and heartwarming. The book is a standalone but it could very well become a series with the same setting and more adventures. 

The pacing is uneven but somehow works for the plot. As we get to the last quarter, it really ups the momentum. Yet, it doesn’t feel rushed or messy. There’s tension, danger, action, courage, and empathy. Loved that little moment in the climax which showed Zac’s character. Beautiful!  

To summarize, Starspill is a delightful middle-grade (and younger YA) fantasy with an atmospheric setting and an adventure of a lifetime. I wish it had some illustrations too! 

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

#NetGalley #Starspill 

 3.5 Stars

Cassie Graves is heartbroken when her marriage of twenty-five years ends with the exposure of her husband’s affair. When her cousin Maria hits a dead-end in her ancestry research, Cassie decides to take it up. As an investigative journalist, she has a nose for stories, and finding the truth of her roots feels important when her future is uncertain. 

In Santo Stefano, Italy, Cassie starts to put together the stories narrated by her grandmother and the random clues provided by strangers. Seems the women in her family had power in their blood. If they were witches, what happened to them? Why did they move across the continents from Europe to the US? 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Cassandra (Cassie) and third-person POVs of Fiora, Violetta, and Isabella.  

The book starts with a prologue, showing a glimpse into the major events from the past in Santo Stefano. Then, we move on to the present where Cassie and her cousin discuss their family tee. 

The narrative is slow-paced with chapters alternating in both timelines. While there’s no confusion (thanks to the names mentioned with the chapter head and the difference in POVs), this book needed a graphical representation of the family tree. Quite many characters are mentioned as mother, father, grandparent, niece, sibling, etc., in both timelines. This makes it hard to track who is who. 

Cassie’s POV is done well, with a good blend of determination, maturity, vulnerability, anger, hope, confusion, etc. As a person in her late 40s or early 50s going through major upheavals in her life, she manages to make readers support her. 

There’s subtle magic, just enough to add to the witch vibe. However, the setting and the atmosphere are wonderful. I loved the changing weather in Stefano and how it felt as if the place belonged to the past era. 

There are animals too! Street cats, a large and fluffy herding dog, and two donkeys (my second book this month with donkeys in it). 

In a way, the blurb reveals too much. The spell book doesn’t even appear until the last quarter. Moreover, it acts as a diary to help Cassie fill the gaps. This feels like wasted potential for such a powerful book. 

The ending is rushed and weak as if we needed to wrap up everything in less than five pages. What was close to four stars until then crashed to 3.5 with the abrupt ending. A few things have been left hanging as well. Sustaining the momentum and adding another ten to fifteen pages would have elevated the story much more. 

This is my second book by the author and somehow doesn’t feel as good as the one I read. While it had a few flaws, the narrative was compelling, and the atmosphere was more tangible than this one. It could be my expectations too, which were quite high. 

To summarize, The Witches of Santo Stefano has a great premise and some good moments. However, it doesn’t reach its full potential, especially towards the end. 

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

#NetGalley #TheWitchesOfSantoStefano 

 3 Stars

Annie Murray plans an elaborate mystery dinner to help her friend Penny (Priya’s girlfriend) raise funds to restore the historic Wentworth farmhouse. Penny already spent all her money on the place and will have to sell it if she doesn’t have more funds. 

The dinner starts with Curtis Wright annoying the actors and soon falling dead at the table. With a storm raging outside and a long list of suspects inside, Annie needs to find out who the killer is. However, she soon realizes that there’s a lot buried in the past. The killer is determined to keep their identity a secret. 

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

So… it’s settled then. The series will continue to be a super light cozy mystery. Not that I mind since I read this when I wasn’t feeling great but followed the plot and guessed the killer. 

The settings are the highlight of this series. Since the book is themed around Halloween, we get storms, power outages, old buildings, damp basements, etc. Quite atmospheric, I say! 

There’s a list of characters, though some don’t reappear, making it too easy to guess the outcome. Even Dr. Caldwell has a limited role, which I don’t mind. After all, this is Annie’s book. 

Things are better between Annie and Liam now, though methinks she is  crushing a little too much. But okay. At least, he is no longer acting like an idiot. 

There’s a slight development in the overarching case (Scarlet). Not enough to make me happy but progress nevertheless. The next book should have something significant (I hope so). 

To summarize, Death at the Dinner Party is a light cozy mystery of less than 250 pages and can be read in a single sitting if you have the time. I will continue with the series and will soon read the next book. 

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

#NetGalley #DeathAtTheDinnerParty 

 4 Stars

One Liner: Lovely! 

Thirteen-year-old Aru lives with his father, Jagdish, and aspires to become a great wrestler like Pandava Bhima from the Mahabharata. However, when his father is suddenly hospitalized and Aru needs to finish a food catering order, the boy is worried. Turns out, the mystic ladle he bought earlier that day could save him. Can Aru prove himself as a worthy chef like his idol? 

This is a short book (34 pages) with full-length illustrations. I quite like the vibes of the cover design and the color composition inside. The white text on a black background for the voiceover aligns with the tone of the illustrations. 

The story is quite straightforward and inspiring. Despite the length, it manages to blend themes like family, ambitions, confidence, ithihasas, and a bit of magic. The focus remains firmly on Aru and his life while the other elements like the archeological site, the catering service, wrestling competition, etc., play supportive roles. 

The writing suits the age group (7+) and should keep them invested in the plot. The font size is decent and shouldn’t be hard to read. 

Aru somehow ends up having a similar expression of ‘flustered exclamation’ in many scenes. However, these seem to suit his character arc. The expressions don’t always match the text for other characters, which can be a bit confusing.  

The book has an interesting end. I like it, though I cannot say if all kids will have the same opinion as mine. Still, it should encourage them to discuss the elements and maybe even come up with their ideas. 

To summarize, Bhima’s Ladle is a quick and easy comic for all age groups. It won’t take more than ten minutes to read the book. Carry it wherever you want! 

Thank you, Penmancy and the author, for the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.  

 3.8 Stars

Calliope (Callie) wants nothing to do with the DiMaggio surname but her father, a mafia royalty proud of his family heritage, intends to ensure the legacy continues. This means Callie has to marry a man of his choice and produce an heir. All she wants is to teach history to the school kids and sing in side gigs. When her father fixes her wedding with a ruthless man, Callie needs to find a way out. 

Alessandro Costa is happy with the playboy millionaire tag, juggling different businesses and loving his family. However, he is asked to repay a debt and save the princess aka Calliope from her impending wedding disaster. This also gives him a chance to settle scores with many people. Alessandro and Callie agree to a temporary marriage of convenience. However, the stakes get higher as they develop feelings for each other. 

The story comes in the first-person POVs of Alessandro and Calliope. 

A little anecdote before I review the book: This is my first mafia romance (I think). I was tempted by the premise but unsure whether I should grab a copy or not. However, the book continued to be on the first page of the Most Requested section of NetGalley and appeared too many times on my screen. Since the publisher tends to add only limited copies. I gave in and downloaded it, lest I miss the chance! Less than 24 hours later, the book slipped from its position. Fast-forward four days, and it’s on the third page. (Sigh!) 

Anyhoo, now to the book. This is my first read by the author and won’t be the last. Boy, she sure can write an angsty romance with flawed characters. 

I’m relieved to note that the book works well as a standalone. Though it had characters from other series and book one of this series, we can enjoy the story without wondering about the whats and whos. 

The dual first-person POV was well done and is useful in learning more about both the characters’ thoughts, feelings, backstories, etc. Callie can be a little childish at times but she didn’t mess up when it mattered, so all good. 

I know mafia romances are supposed to be dark. While I don’t mind the spice and explicit scenes, I was worried about just how dark it would get. Luckily, it’s the right amount, as if testing the waters but staying on the borderline (most of the time). There’s a lot of talk but not much action (which was a relief). 

Naturally, the book had other types of action – fighting, killing, escaping, etc. These scenes were steady-paced even if the rest of the content was slow (slower than I expected). 

The side characters are an assortment of personalities. I quite liked Izzy (can’t wait to read her book whenever it is ready), Mr. Costa, and Hudson. The villain did feel a little flat but didn’t take up a lot of space, so that wasn’t a big issue. 

The book was 4+ stars but I felt the reason for the MMC’s commitment issues was too light. The guy was almost forty and had been in therapy for years. Could you give him a better reason? 

There’s no miscommunication or third-act breakup. While the couple did get separated, it wasn’t because of a lover’s quarrel (phew!). I also have to admit that the HEA lover in me was delighted with the series of endings. We get two chapters with smaller developments followed by an epilogue. This is how you write it, authors! 

To summarize, Not Mine to Keep is a slow-paced but entertaining read with banter, romance, fake marriage, mafia dons, and ruthless villains. It’s a book you go with the flow and read for what it is. 

(Would ten years qualify for an age-gap romance?) 

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

#NetGalley #NotMineToKeep 

TW: mentions of abuse and torture, killings, injuries 

The last thing Julia Bird expects is to find Dr. Eve (the town’s vet) dead at the bottom of a cliff, near their walking path. She thinks it could have been an accident until details emerge. Julia wonders if there’s something sinister at play but DI Hayley is not convinced. 

When Julia finds another body at the same spot some days later, she knows it cannot be a coincidence. Can she solve the case and expose the killer? 

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

 My Thoughts:  

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: 

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.