3.7 Stars 

Romance author Edwina Danforth needs the book contract from a publisher in Faerwyvae. After all, her books have a greater readership in the fae land than in the human world. However, William Haywood, a handsome fae and poet, popped up as her rival. 

Drunk on a fae substance, Edwina manages to make a bet with William. Whoever loses will have to give up their claim for the publishing contract. Both are determined to win but turns out there’s a lot more at stake. What happens when the rivals fall for each other? 

The story comes in Edwina’s first-person POV with a few chapters from William’s first-person POV. 

As the original blurb suggests, this is a steamy romance with enemies-to-lovers trope. It has a historical fantasy setting with a human FMC and a fae MMC. I’d put it somewhere around the Regency and Victorian eras, though the rules in fae land are different. 

The book starts with a short note and a list of content warnings. I appreciate this. The themes have been handled with a light touch, but still, a list would help some readers. 

Now, the first section is solid. I loved the introduction of the characters and the banter between the lead couple. We also get two colored illustrations, which makes it easy to visualize them. They are not perfect and continue to make mistakes. But they also realize and acknowledge the mistakes, so that’s nice. 

The last section is again quite good despite the third-act breakup. There’s one conversation between two women which I liked a lot. It’s evident that the character arcs have been planned with care to not bring sudden and contradictory changes. 

However, I wish the book was tighter in the middle. After the initial 30%, the pacing dips drastically until about 70%. Though we get new insights about the main characters, it feels like the story is going nowhere. There’s only so much banter and sexy talk one can read. 

Still, I like that the characters take time to jump into ‘action’. There is still steamy talk and some scenes (with other characters). Some of it is almost presented in a clinical approach, which is fun to read. 

I like it when the MMC also gets a POV. However, here, it is limited to his feelings for the FMC. The POV could have added more depth to his personality. A lost chance, IMO. 

The side characters are fun. Daphne, Monty, Zane, and Cassie add to the story’s charm. They have distinct personalities and some depth. 

The setting gives mixed vibes. It is not detailed enough to imagine everything but manages to paint a decent picture. Apparently, the setting is from another series (and a couple of characters have been in other books). Kinda standalone with a bit of crossover stuff. This may not work for everyone. 

The ending is cute. There’s a bonus epilogue which is actually a teaser for the next book. For a change, I don’t mind this as I want to read their story. 

To summarize, A Rivalry of Hearts is a fluffy, cute, and spicy romance if you want a low-stakes cozy fantasy. Despite the minor issues, I'm excited to read the next book with D and M.  

Thank you, NetGalley, Crystal Moon Press, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #ARivalryofHearts 

 3 Stars

One Liner: Got potential but tries to be too many things

 

1942 

Ellen is a young Irish nurse who arrives at the May Day House to help soldiers recover from the trauma of the war and send them back. However, the treatment methods are doubtful, and Ellen is not sure. She also realizes that she has to sort her life first. 

2013-14 

Meredith falls in love with the half-damaged May Day House. She and Philip put all their money into buying the house and hope for a fresh start. However, things aren’t going as per the plan. Meredith finds comfort in reading a lost notebook from the WWII times but what happens when reality knocks on the door? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Meredith in the contemporary track and Ellen in the past timeline. 

My Thoughts:  

I enjoy books with dual timelines, even if one track works better than the other. This book promises a blend of history, mystery, drama, gothic atmosphere, and some romance (it is marked as general fiction, historical, and romance on NetGalley). 

The results are mixed, so here’s what I liked – 

The setting has terrific potential. The initial vibes of an ancient house on a small island in the River Thames are spot on. It is chilly, darkish, and alluring. 

The historical timeline deals with war patients but with a twist. Here, those suffering from psychological trauma are ‘healed’ and sent back to fight the war. The focus is not on healing but on doing anything that would make the soldier eligible enough to fight again. 

The prologue hooks the reader with a promise of paranormal and mystery. Also, the prologue is not an extract from later chapters but the beginning of the book. That’s how it should be. 

The book deals with heavy themes but doesn’t make things graphic. We get enough information about what happened. I appreciate this. No excessive detail to shock the readers. 

However, there are quite a few aspects that could have been better – 

Characters are the core of the book. We need to connect with or at least feel something for the main characters. Here, it was impossible to do so with Meredith and Philip. I could feel a little for Ellen, but even that wasn’t much. 

Most of the time, it seems as if they are mediocre actors enacting a script on the stage and mouthing dialogues for the sake of it. 

Contemporary thrillers specialize in TSTL heroines. While the book doesn’t belong to that genre, the FMC does. My eyes got more-than-good exercise from all that rolling. 

The setting’s potential is not fully exploited. After the gothic feel in the beginning, it becomes just another dilapidated house with too much mess. I couldn’t see why someone would love it so much. 

The paranormal touch is another aspect. It’s there but not there, but still there. Confused? Yep, that’s how it is; as if no one was sure if the book should go that route or not. Deciding on this would have helped the book (a lot). 

The connection between the two timelines does make sense, but it could have benefitted from more emotion for the main characters. This could have been achieved if the previous aspect had been better handled. 

The pacing is uneven, with a slow beginning. Moreover, some characters have a 180-degree change by the end, which almost comes out of nowhere. Similarly, the reveals were just okayish. 

The author’s note is informative, though. 

To summarize, The House in the Water has an intriguing premise but doesn’t translate to the final output. It tries to be quite a few things at the same time, which dilutes the core. I’m a bit on the outliner island now, so this may appeal to you. 

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

#NetGalley 

Evan lives in City 47, a place where uniformity is mandatory and no one should stand out or dare to ask questions. They follow the Primary Code and lead lives the way Elders dictate. The Incident brought this change, and no one talks about the ruins or what happened before. 

Yet, secrets are also forbidden in this land. But Evan’s realistic dreams are a secret he tries to hide from everyone. When he can no longer disguise or hide his supernatural ability, Evan has to flee City 47 and its people. But where does this take him, and what will he do? Can Evan get the answers to his questions and stay alive long enough to do so? 

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

Dystopian is not my preferred genre, but I have to read it for a challenge, so a toned-down version for middle graders seemed like a great choice. I was right,+ too! 

The premise is pretty much what you expect from the genre. A city controlled by a handful of people, everything under surveillance, no access to the outside world, and one person who wants to rebel, finding like-minded people to take down the oppressors. It’s the same here, with a dose of fantasy elements thrown in. 

The book is slow until 15% to 18%. After that, it really picks up pace and keeps the action scenes coming one after another. Since we get the story from Evan’s POV, we have access to limited information as he does. 

The atmosphere is dark, with danger everywhere. This is well done without making it too scary for kids. There’s some violence (hitting, bombing, shooting, fighting, etc.), but not so much that it would terrify young readers (though I’m not sure about how sensitive kids would react). 

That said, the MC is fifteen, and there’s a sort of love track (which wasn’t necessary). There are a couple of mentions of kissing (by MC), so maybe this would work better for tweens and teens than kids. 

However, the main reason for the lower rating is the lack of proper impact. While I could feel the darkness of the setting, I couldn’t entirely connect with Evan or anyone in the book. It felt distant. Dystopia is supposed to make readers uncomfortable. That doesn’t happen here much (or maybe I’m immune to it). Evan’s character needed a little something more to make me care for him. 

The climax and ending are decent. Yet again, the internal conflict doesn’t have the punch it should. The ending is hopeful, which I appreciate considering the target audience age group. 

To summarize, Evan Miller Is Waking Down has an intriguing premise but could have worked better with a little more character depth. Still, this would be a worthy entry-level book into the genre, especially if you are not a fan of dystopian (like me). 

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

#NetGalley #EvanMillerIsWakingDown 

 3.7 Stars

Maggie Lawford is back home after traveling the world post-retirement. However, she knows she needs to find a project/ job to be productive. Being in the food and catering industry, Maggie is passionate about cooking. When her daughter Hannah takes her to their favorite restaurant, Maggie finds her purpose. The restaurant is struggling. The chef is at his wits’ end. 

Maggie takes charge and resolves to save the restaurant. Soon, she has a plan ready to be put into action. With help from her daughter, Hannah, and granddaughter, Alice, and the people at the restaurant, Maggie is determined to make this a success. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Maggie and Hannah. 

Well, the vibrant cover and heartwarming premise made me grab this book. As much as I like the concept and the characters, I need to first ask – why did it have to be an Indian restaurant? Why do we still need a white person playing savior to a brown family? It could have been any restaurant! 

Now the rant is done, let’s move on to the rest. 

The book starts at a slow pace but picks up momentum after 30% or so. Maggie, Hannah, and little Alice are easy to like. They have their flaws, but that makes them realistic. Alice is a sweetheart. I like books with cute kids, and this one hits the right notes. 

The dual POV from Maggie and Hannah helps advance the plot. It also prevents the book from being too repetitive and only about Maggie. However, I was confused a few times and had to reread to determine who spoke the dialogue and whose internal thought it was. This should be sorted in the final copy. 

The found family and community tropes are well done. The other characters are distinct, be it Joe, Ben, Jade, or Sav. Maybe Sav could have had a little more depth, given his role, but what we have is good. I like that Raj and Gita’s characters also have some strength and are more than just names. 

There’s a lot of food in this one (obviously!), and since some of it is Indian, I did want to get a taste of it (the vegetarian stuff). I’m not a fan of fusion dishes, but some of those in this book have been tried in cooking shows by chefs and contestants, so we aren’t dealing with anything that unique (at least to me). 

On that note, thank you for not messing up the names of the dishes. There are recipes at the end (not formatted properly in this ARC). The Fajita with an Indian twist reminded of me the Frankie Rolls we ate in college. 

Naturally, we have a happy ending. Everything gets sorted. The bad guy (of course, there is one, even if his presence is limited, thank goodness!) is put in place, and the found family is looking forward to a brighter future. 

To summarize, The Unretirement is a fun read with delicious recipes, nice characters, and a second chance at achieving one’s dreams. 

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

#NetGalley #TheUnretirement 

 4 Stars

One Liner: Tasty indeed! 

The title, Tasty Tiffin, is self-explanatory. The book is a collection of 40+ recipes for breakfast and tea-time meals for kiddos who go to school. I’m no mom, but I love to cook (not clean). 

Moreover, the cover reminded me of my school days when I would plead with my mother to give me something different in the box instead of the same old stuff. But, you see, time constraints made it difficult for her, and back then, there was no social media to give her FOMO about the artsy lunch boxes shared by other parents. Of course, I got hot meals in my lunchboxes during college, and my friends loved it! They would even send their ‘requests’ through me. My mother’s curd rice was a favorite. She would pack two full (stuffed) boxes so that 6+ people would have enough to eat. 

Anyhoo, I did get a copy of the book along with a set of meal planner sheets. Oh, boy! Those will be lifesavers for busy parents. 

But hey, a recipe book has to be reviewed based on the recipes. So, naturally, I tried a few of those. I know many of these and so will a lot of parents since the food is familiar to us. However, the recipes vary from one house to another, so having another version is a bonus. 

What I like the best about the book is the food combinations. Since parents need to pack a wholesome meal for their kids, they need more than just idli, dosa, or parantha. That’s where the book shines. The author has provided recipes in twos and threes per lunch box. For example, Lemon Rice, Stir-Fry Broccoli, and Curd form one tiffin box recipe. Parents don’t have to pair the recipes or mix-and-match unless they want to. This could save time when planning the meals and gathering the ingredients. 

The introduction is short and to the point. The author highlights the need for a balanced diet and hints at ways to include proteins, carbs, fruits, etc., into the child’s diet. There is no fluff anywhere. Each recipe starts with a short note with tips and suggestions. The ingredients are neatly listed, followed by the process in clear, simple steps. The language is easy to understand. You can skim through and start cooking right away (if you are used to it). 

Another advantage of the book is that the meals have been carefully put together to provide tasty and nutritious intake for little ones. Humans need many vitamins and minerals, and kids with growing bodies need a wholesome diet to be healthy and active. The book helps parents achieve this through the recipes. It’ll be trial and error based on your kids’ tastes, so start with what they like and take it from there. 

Now, before I end the review, here are the recipes I tried at home and enjoyed. 

To summarize, Tasty Tiffin is a compact little book neatly structured into different sections and with easy recipes. The full-page color pictures are a bonus! This would make a great addition to your kitchen or a good gift to parents. 

Thank you, Blogchatter, author Archana Doshi, and publisher 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. 
 

 3.7 Stars

Holly is a sixteen-something teen looking to escape from the real world by burning her nose in books. All she ever wanted was a romance like in the novels, but a spell made her a part of a middle-grade medieval fantasy! 

Now, Holly is stuck in The Chronicles of Lucitopia as Princess Pleasant. She has only fifteen days to break the spell, or she will be permanently stuck in the book. Holly sets out on a quest to find a way and meets a super handsome knight on his own quest. Can she be successful in her mission, or will Holly become Princess Pleasant forever? 

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

Your enjoyment will depend on how well you like the narrative style. The first-person narration here is more like a young girl telling you her story with cheeky side notes and witty remarks. The narrator speaks to the readers at times. The tone is informal, casual, and sassy. I quite enjoyed the voice with all its quirks, though it is not my preferred style. 

The beginning is slow, but the story picks up pace soon enough. The humor is lighthearted even though the plot deals with some tough topics. Everything is kept on the surface level to restrict the focus to the fantasy land and the story in the story. 

This book is YA, even if Holly is stuck in a middle-grade story. So it does have a few scenes and references appropriate for the teen folk but not kiddos. And with our FMC fully appreciating the MMC’s physique, this should work better for the 16+ readers. 

It is a cozy fantasy with stinky monsters, handsome knights, an evil sorcerer, and a girl on a quest to find her freedom. The fantasy world is not elaborate but blends reality and fantasy. Moreover, I like how it is presented. It feels fresh while giving the author some leeway to get away with basic world-building. Smart! 

However, we are also left with quite a few questions and no answers. I saw the blurbs for the other two books in the series. While the evil sorcerer is a recurring character, the plotlines seem to be independent. So, I’m not sure if these questions will be answered. 

The ending is cute and sweet, but again, leaves some things unanswered. This is the kind of read where you don’t use logic and go with the flow. I enjoyed it, so no complaints. 

To summarize, Illustrated Girl is a lighthearted and fun read for teens (preferably the older set) who want a touch of magic, romance, and humor. Don’t look for anything intense, and enjoy it for what it is! I would love to read the next book in the series. 

And… can I get my own Rancor, please? 

Thank you, NetGalley, Sungrazer Publishing, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #IllustratedGirl 

 3 Stars

Disclaimer: I picked this for a reading challenge prompt. 

The little boy learns from his grandmother that witches are real and look like women. Witches are dangerous and have one goal – to get rid of children. When the little boy comes across the Grand Witch with a master plan to wipe out all the kids in England, he knows he has to find a way to stop the witches. Can he be successful in this attempt? 

The story comes in the first-person POV of the nameless little boy. 

So, my first book by a famous author is a mixed read! I know he wrote scary books for kids, but this one doesn’t seem to be great. Also, I’m super glad I watched BFG (Spielberg’s) instead of reading it. 

Right! I did enjoy this in bits and pieces. The relationship between the nameless narrator and his grandmother is beautiful. They love each other, which is easy to see. 

The little bits about training mice and mouse circus are fun. Some of the messy parts are fun, too. 

I don’t mind the outdated content since that’s when the book was written. Of course, it will have stuff we don’t like. We just explain the differences and steer little ones in the right direction. But… 

This one could give kiddos some serious nightmares. I appreciate the nonchalance with which they are presented. That does dilute the creepiness a lot. Still, a sensitive child could be disturbed by some of it. 

This seems to be standalone, or is there another book? The loose ends make me wonder if I’m missing something or if that’s how it is written. 

The illustrations are rough pencil sketches. Some are cute, and some are creepy. They gel well with the overall darkish vibe. 

To summarize, The Witches is an imaginative story, even if it is a bit simple and has outdated ideas. It is a fairly easy and fast read but may not be for everyone. I’d ask parents to read it before they share it with kids (just to be safe).  

 4 Stars

Cleo Jordon has always dreamed of owning a teahouse like her gran. But life didn’t work the she hoped, and she was left with almost nothing. When the teahouse on Ever After Street is available, Cleo presents the Wonderland Theme to apply for it. She hopes everything will get sorted. 

What’s Wonderland without Mad Hatter? Bram has only felt comfortable being a magician and putting on a façade to hide his vulnerabilities. Seeing Cleo’s struggles, he is determined to help. But with both of them struggling with the weight of their pasts, can they find a way forward and towards each other? 

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

The book works as a standalone, though the characters from previous stories appear a few times. The series is themed around fairytales, and here we have Alice in Wonderland (though it is not a Grimm’s piece). 

This is my fourth book by the author, I love how much care she puts into crafting her main characters. They feel so real and flawed with fears, vulnerabilities, and temper tantrums, but also compassion and love. 

We learn more about the characters as they get to know each other. The layers peel, little by little, bringing them together and readers closer to them. Though we get the entire story from Cleo, we can see Bram and understand his emotions easily, just as we would have if we got his POV. 

Cleo is our grumpy girl, while Bram is the cutesy sunshine. He can be a bit OTT, but I understand where he is coming from. They make an adorable couple! The romance is, of course, a slow burn with some witty banter and heartwarming moments. And oh, her books have the best hugs! Can never have enough of these. Loveee it! 

There are a couple of stereotypical characters we would love to hate. One of them does get a slightly better arc.   

The community at Ever After Street is vibrant, cheerful, and always ready to help their own. Naturally, they step in and take over whenever necessary. The small-town vibes and the magical setting give this a cozier feel. 

I always enjoy descriptions of the setting. Though we don’t get much of the outside details in this one, the tearoom comes alive on the pages. Cleo seems to have done a great job of recreating Wonderland (I haven’t read the original so can’t say much). We do go to the castle again, so yay! 

The pacing is slow and steady, something I expect from the author’s books. The constant mention of cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, etc., made me drool! Wish I could grab some from the screen (why hasn’t technology advanced as much yet?). 

We have the dreaded third-act breakup, which I expected. I could see both their POVs, so I’d say it is quite balanced. On the whole, if you ask who handled things better afterward, I would vote for Bram. Cleo levels up… eventually. 

To summarize, A Wonderland Wish on Ever After Street is a sweet tale of a new start, healing, finding one’s tribe, seeing beyond the façade, and falling in love with someone who sees the real you. 

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

#NetGalley 

1898, London 

Delia Stratham might be a lady of the nobility, but she enjoys being the manager at the city’s luxurious Savory Hotel, organizing extravagant events, and handling clients with her charm. Being thrice-widowed in her 30s, she values her job and independence more than others' approval. 

Simon Hayden comes from a middle-class family but has been given a title for his services. He is also an investor in the Savory Hotel and is intent on unearthing the financial fraud in the place. He immediately clashes with Delia, but the duo may have to work together to keep the Hotel afloat. This also means that may actually like each other a lot more than expected! 

The story comes in Delia and Simon’s third-person POVs. 

After meeting Delia in book one, I knew a story with her in the lead role would be fun. This works as a standalone and has only a few mentions of the previous characters. Max has a slightly active role, while Evie is only mentioned. 

This one is grumpy vs. sunshine, with Simon being the grumpy rude boss determined to bring changes to Savory. It is also enemies-to-lovers since the two of them clash from the very beginning. 

The banter is entertaining and keeps the narration steady. Though the pacing dips a little here and there, it doesn’t drag at any point. 

The attraction between the characters is well done, even if they fall in love a bit too soon. I can see why it had to happen before the reveal, but it could have been a little more believable. There’s a bit of steam where necessary (2.5-3ish). 

I like that both characters have depth and are more than what they seem to be. Delia’s backstory has a bit of a trigger and shows why her job is so important to her (despite her riches and the women from nobility didn’t work). 

The new side characters are interesting. Simon’s sister is a sweet girl. We are likely to see more of her in the coming books. Another track has been left open. I’m guessing it will form the main plot in book #3. 

We also have a third-act breakup (they barely got together!), which is necessary. It aligns with the overall plot development and takes the story to its natural conclusion. And there’s an epilogue, so hurray! 

To summarize, Lady Scandal is a fun read that can be finished in a couple of sittings. I can’t say about historical accuracy since most books these days tend to have some modern elements.  

Don’t miss the little note at the end about real-life characters in the book. 

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

#NetGalley #LadyScandal 

 4 stars

At seventy-four, Venetia spent fifty years of her life being a wife and a mother. After her dear husband’s death, she finally decides to find her previous self, a beautiful dance instructor who wanted to open her own ballroom school. 

Liberty is in her mid-forties and lost her mother. She also lost her job. An unexpected chance gives her a fresh start. But can she build a new life without dwelling too much on her past and making safe choices? 

What brings these two women and many others together? What decisions will they make? How will their lives change? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Venetia and Liberty, with some chapters from Kite, Crow, Swan, and Evangeline (also in the third person). 

I read the author’s The Keeper of Lost Things a few years ago and liked it. Glad to say this one gave me the same enjoyment. 

The book deals with many heavy themes like mourning, grief, parental death, assault, bullying, lost love, etc. However, none of them are overwhelming or intense. This is a low-stakes version, so the characters manage to move on without too much trauma. It may not work for everyone, but I like it since the aspect is consistent throughout the book. 

It is a story of second chances for Venetia and Liberty. They all have distinct personalities, which make them react differently to the circumstances. This also brings out a nice contrast while establishing the found family trope. 

Kite is my absolute favorite character. He is Venetia’s ten-year-old grandson, a delightful darling with a huge heart! I cannot imagine the book without him, so a majority of my rating is only for Kite and Colin Firth (secret). 

The pacing is slow, especially in the middle when we get the backstories (in the info dump). This could have been better and spread out more evenly across the chapters. Luckily, the pace picks up in the last quarter. 

There’s a spiritual church, too. I’m usually wary of such stuff, but this one is well done. It’s not really a church kind of church. More like a community center that opens the door to anyone who needs help with a touch of god’s blessings and service. 

Things start to come together even as they fall apart, just like life! Secrets are revealed, and decisions have to be made. One teeny element hasn’t been made clear. I wish there was a line mentioning that. 

Naturally, everything ties up in a sweet and neat bow at the end. It’s not that realistic, but who cares. I liked it enough and enjoyed it. 
 

(Alcohol freely flows and no one seems to get hangovers!) 

To summarize, The Phoenix Ballroom is a sweet and heartwarming book about second chances, finding one’s tribe, kindness, hope, and doing what makes one happy (without hurting others). 

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

#NetGalley #ThePhoenixBallroom 

*** 

PS: I love this cover (the blue-green one with flowers and shoes)!