4.3 Stars

Megan is the black sheep of the family and the village when she ran away from her wedding to Issac five years ago. However, she has to attend the family Christmas dinner that year. With Issac being engaged and Megan’s love life nowhere in sight, she isn’t sure if going home would do her any good. 

Christian likes Christmas and his family, but he is fed up with being the odd one out while everyone has a partner to love. Well, he is fine, but maybe he is not fine, either. 

Megan and Christian bump into each other (literally) in a pub in Dublin. As childhood school friends, they recognize each other and chat up. Of course, this gives them a plan to solve their Christmas problem – why not fake-date each other for a while and make both families happy? 

But then, we all know how risky this is! And with the festive magic in the air, the duo might find what they want. 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Megan and Christian in alternate chapters. Though standalone, it should be read after Holiday Romance. 

After enjoying the author’s previous two books (Holiday Romance and Matchmaker), I was excited to read this one. And the book doesn’t disappoint. It occurs a couple of years after Holiday Romance and has the couple (Molly and Andrew) play an active part. Zoe also waltzes in and out, adding her trademark sparkle to the story. 

The first-person POV for both characters makes it a little hard to track in some scenes. Though their voices are distinct, things get confusing at times. 

Christian is such a darling. Undoubtedly the best book boyfriend if you want one (or more). He is compassionate, understanding, patient, caring, attentive, supportive, thoughtful… the list goes on (and oh, those washboard abs). 

Megan stands equal, though it seems like he is the one giving more than her. Since she is the ‘villain’ in the town for breaking Issac’s heart, she does have more to deal with than him. Her actions/ reactions make sense and align with her character arc. 

No third-act breakup or miscommunication. Both of them are mature enough to acknowledge their feelings when the time comes. They communicate well, too. It’s endearing to see them trusting each other and sharing their vulnerabilities. Their relationship progresses and strengthens as they get to know each other more. 

As always, the book has a healthy dose of humor – some chuckles, some laugh-out-loud moments, and some ‘silly’ smiles. Even the scenes with high drama have a touch of humor to lighten the situation without taking the focus away from it. I love how easy and natural the humor reads. 

It feels good to re-visit characters from Holiday Romance. This can easily be a longer series. After all, we have at least two more potential candidates to find their true love. Let’s hope there will be one next year. 

The Christmas theme seamlessly blends with the plot, and the setting is a flavor enhancer. The snow, family, food, last-minute rushing, gifts, music, and whatnot decorate the story. 

Megan’s love for knitting is more than just a character quirk. It is a part of her and is integral to the plot throughout. Angry knitting is indeed a thing. ;) 

Ignore the title, though. That event doesn’t occur until the last quarter of the book. 

To summarize, Snowed In is a delightful Christmas book about love, acceptance, standing up for oneself, family bonding, and food. The pacing is quite slow, but it never gets dull. 

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

#NetGalley #SnowedIn 

 4 Stars 

Claire Keegan could be the only author whose vague and open-ended short stories are my favorite. I love how she writes, be it the setting, emotions, or the inherent intricacies of human nature – good, bad, and ugly. Almost every detail is significant, even when it seems inconsequential. 

The writing is poetic, beautiful, and immersive. She knows how to weave magic even with unlikeable characters. The stories are layered and have much to offer to readers. It’s up to us to take what we want and how much we want. 

Cathal seems to be having a routine day at the office. However, we see that it is far from an everyday occurrence. As Cathal thinks about the past, Sabine enters, bringing affection, warmth, and love, all of which are missing from his present day. So what happened and why? 

The entire story comes from the man’s perspective, providing insight into his upbringing, his flaws, patterns, parallels, and what they did to him. Of course, knowing the author, I knew this wouldn’t have a resolution. But it ends on the right note, confirming what the reader has already guessed. We also see what is likely to happen based on Cathal’s responses to his thoughts or the lack of them. 

The story deals with themes like family, relationships, marriage, toxic cycles, love, compromise, priorities, expectations, etc. The subtle and distant tone perfectly presents the characters, leaving the rest for the reader to decide.  

The Long and Painful Death – 4 Stars 

An unnamed woman, a 39-year-old writer, gets to stay at a popular writing residency for two weeks. She has plans, which have to be adjusted when a German professor wants to see the residence before he leaves. This visit by him ignites a tiny spark, leading to a long and painful death (of a character) but with great satisfaction. 

The story is dreamy, languid, and meanders aimlessly, just like the woman. However, none of it goes to waste. She may be a random explorer with half-written ideas for her book, but there’s more to her than hope. Deep inside is her determination, one that runs in parallel to the heroine of a book she’s reading. And when the right trigger flips the switch, she knows to make the most of it. 

NGL, I could be missing something deeper (or maybe not). There is loneliness, yearning, determination, judgment, resentment, and much more. 

Bored with her routine life, a married woman and mother of two wonders how it would be to sleep with another man. That December, she decides to find out before it’s too late. Her trip to the city begins well. She even meets a man interested in her. However, she realizes that everything comes at a price, and this one may not leave her with anything. 

The story begins with speculation, which soon becomes action. There’s excitement, danger, recklessness, and a sense of freedom. However, the unspoken unease lingers in the background. It becomes more powerful, but not until it is too late to act or react. 

The setting suits the theme, Christmasy yet uncomfortable and threatening. The ending is more definite in this story, though it is still open and left to the reader’s interpretation. 

To summarize, So Late in the Day is a collection of three short stories dealing with several themes but with a central thread of loneliness, one that you feel so late in the day, left alone with nothing but uncomfortable thoughts for company. 

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

#NetGalley #SoLateintheDay 

Misty Pines’ Sheriff Jax Turner is slowly getting his life on track. Of course, he is still struggling, and his ex-wife, Abby, doesn’t seem to be as interested in him. However, when the local surfing legend goes missing, Jax is busy gathering evidence and digging deeper. 

Abby isn’t having it easy, either. A severed foot washes ashore, which seems connected to another missing case. Since it falls in Jax’s jurisdiction, she hands it over to him but takes up the investigation at the FBI level as more clues turn up. 

As the waters get murky, Jax will have to find a way out and expose the layers of lies and agendas without risking precious lives in the process. 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Jax and Abby. 

Reading books one and two together sure helped. This one is better and doesn’t try to bring ‘surprise twists’. Though there’s a sort of curveball, the killer and clues are pretty much aligned. 

Having Abby’s POV helped to an extent. We get to see both their perspectives about their personal lives. I also like that they are a work-in-progress, irrespective of the result. 

Jax is much better in this book. He is more in control, assured, and capable. True that he is still coming to terms and makes some mistakes, but I like his arc (possibly more than Abby’s). 

The mysteries go in parallel, and as new evidence comes to light, some things become clear, while some get murkier. The resolution is decent and not unexpected. A little more focus on the reason would have helped. 

Apart from recurring characters like Trudy, Troy, Dylan, and Jax’s team, we have two new entries- Olek (Abby’s FBI partner) and Rachel. It will be interesting to see how they contribute to the future books. 

Compared to book one, this one heavily leans on Jax and Abby’s past and present lives. There’s a reason for this. Nurse Margot, with her Maggi noodles curls, does her bit to keep the plot going. 

While the setting and descriptions are nice to read, this is a slow-burn mystery mixed with some police procedural. Unlike book one, it takes a long time for the plot to pick up pace. The urgency of the storyline is not replicated in the narrative style. This contrast makes it a little hard to stay interested. 

The book does work as a standalone, but I am not sure how much readers can connect with Jax and Abby’s strained relationship. Though we get the basic information, some important snippets are not repeated, which could make the characters feel distant (depends, though). 

To summarize, Deadly Tides is an engaging slow-burn mystery with introspective themes like grief, healing, abandonment, family, relationships, etc. I like it better and will read book #3 next year (or whenever it is available). 

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

#NetGalley #DeadlyTides 

 3 Stars (4 stars up to 75% and 2 stars for the last 25%) 

Sheriff Jax Turner is on the brink of ending everything forever when he is forced to solve the case of a missing schoolgirl. Jax is determined to not lose this chance and find the fourteen-year-old Allison. However, he soon realizes that the case is a lot more complex and might be connected to a kidnapping case twenty-five years ago. He couldn’t solve it and couldn’t let go of it either. 

Dealing with the loss of a daughter, broken marriage, and depression, Jax has to sort through the lies and half-truths of witnesses. With so many people unwilling to reveal even the necessary information, Jax’s attempts to save Allison become frantic. 

Can he save the girl this time? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of Jax Turner, with a few chapters from Elena’s. 

Book one of the Misty Pines series works well as a standalone. I got this ARC last year but couldn’t read it on time. Now that I have book two waiting, I decided to tick them off the list. 

The book starts with a short prologue where Allison is kidnapped. Then, we see Jax Turner deciding to end his life when the news reaches him. With no alternative, he begins to work on the case and hopes bringing Allison back safe might help with some of his demons. 

The first half of the book is quite good. While the beginning is slow, the pacing gets better over time. It is a bit confusing with names like Emily and Elena, but not for long. There are quite a good number of characters, though. 

Jax’s POV reads semi-frantic and suits his state of mind. He is a deeply troubled man and not that easy to like. He also tends to be fixated on suspects, some with reason and some even when not necessary. Still, all of this makes him real rather than perfect. 

Trudy is my favorite character in the book. I hope she is in book two and we get to know more about her life. The other characters aren’t yet fully developed. It takes time when setting up a series, so that’s fine. 

The second half starts well, but the last quarter is a mess. I know some readers will love that kind of twist, but I hate that stuff. More than 15 years ago, I was impressed by the trope when I read it the first time, but not anymore. Also, it led to a truckload of plot holes in an otherwise decent plot. 

I did guess about the culprit, but only after the hints appeared in the last section. Readers do not have enough information to guess, which is not fair. Moreover, despite the details matching, the reveal doesn’t feel strong. 

I like the development of Jax’s arc toward the end. It makes me eager to book two and see whether he gets better. 

To summarize, Hidden Pieces starts and progresses well but falls flat at the end. Mystery writers need to stop using THAT trope. It feels amateurish. 

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

#NetGalley #HiddenPieces 

 3.8 Stars 

Pass the Cyanide is a second collection of food-based cozy (murder) mysteries with eight stories and a bonus un-themed story at the end. 

The collection starts with an author’s note detailing how she wrote book one and why book two came into existence. The quirky and humorous note sets the tone, and I did enjoy most of the stories in the collection. 

A selected list of recipes (created and tested by the author) is also provided after the stories. I might try a couple someday in the distant future. 

As always, I rate each story individually. 

Told from four third-person POVs, this is the story of Chef Ernest’s rise, fall, and rise before the finale. The story comes in stages, revealing the mystery toward the end. It’s a solid start to the collection. 

Detective Inspector Clark looks at the messy kitchen with two dead bodies covered in blood and wonders just how much went wrong. The dead man is Maurice Miller, and his wife is missing. What had happened? Well, the story comes in multiple third-person POVs, providing the necessary answers but not all. All I can say is that someone made a wise decision. 

A mobster story with some cocktails and food! It comes in the first-person narration by Andrew, a journalist. The plot, setting, and delivery are well done. Just that, I’m not much into mobster and mafia stories. 

Joyce and her husband George go to the Amazon rainforest for a holiday. Joyce is unhappy about her marriage, though she’s not sure what to do. The trip gives her an idea, though. The story comes in Joyce’s third-person POV. This was quite interesting and uses food differently. 

Dee and Finn have been having dinner at Eric Strutter’s remote mansion in the woods. Erin is Finn’s childhood friend, calling out of nowhere after 15 years. Both suspect something wron, but do they have the chance to find out and escape? Oh, this is such an intriguing theme. I won’t reveal anything. Easily the best in the collection. 

Chef Jeffrey’s publisher hires celebrity food writer Desdemona to work on his new recipe book. They are making his final recipe, the most famous mushroom sauce. But Jeffrey has a secret ingredient he doesn’t want to share. So, how does he protect his recipe? This one has the right amount of tension and anticipation. The ending stretches a bit but is necessary for his character arc. 

Ginny is upset that Iris, the new mom in town, takes over the parents’ committee. She has a plan ready for revenge during their meeting. However, as people and food come together, things may not be the way they seem. This is a steady-paced story with increasing tension towards the end. What happened? What will happen? 

Nora goes to a remote countryside village to meet her friend Dani and her new house, Marcel. What’s it about the house that Dani is willing to stay in it forever? While the story is intriguing, the ending is quite open. I’m also not sure about the food connection. 

Library of Emotions (Bonus Short Story, unthemed) 

This is a dystopian story where people can request to experience a single emotion for 30 minutes in a library. A lovely story. Short and poignant. (4.5 stars) 

As you can see, except for 2 stories, the rest touch 4, and one of them really stands out. All the stories are of decent size and easy to read in a few minutes. Stick to one per day for maximum enjoyment. 

To summarize, Pass The Cyanide is a worthy collection of food mysteries that brings a diversity of sub-themes and seamlessly blends them with the central thread. Grab this book and enjoy it with a dozen Gulab Jamuns or more! 

My thanks to BookSirens and the author for the electronic ARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions about the book. 

 3.7 Stars

Miss Phryne Fisher is back in action, handling multiple cases. Who is sending her threats? Who is the dead man found in Williamstown? What about the accounts in the Blind Institute? The first case is being handled by Tinker while Jane and Ruth (all three are her adopted kids) are dealing with the accounts. 

However, when Phryne attends the famous parties hosted by the mysterious Hong, there’s another tragedy to solve. As if things aren’t bad enough, Lin Chung, her paramour, seems to be at risk. Are the issues connected or independent? Can Phryne solve them before her life is in danger? 

The story comes in the third-person POV of different characters. 

I saw Phyrne Fisher on Netflix before researching the series a couple of years ago. Then I read a collection of short stories (The Lady with the Gun) where I found out about the differences in both worlds. However, Phryne is the same – feisty, independent, fun-loving, quirky, and always ready to solve a crime. 

This is my first entry into the book series, even if it doesn’t feel that way. The book works as a standalone, but you will enjoy it more if you know a bit about our MC and her adopted family. 

The blurb gives you an idea about the multiple tracks. The actual case doesn’t even start until after 25%. The book takes quite a while to set the stage and provide the necessary information for the mysteries to develop. It worked for me since I could use that space to reacquaint myself with the characters. Series readers might find that this slows the pacing as nothing happens (yet something happens). 

There are some lighthearted moments and the trademark Phryne humor, though somehow, the character doesn’t seem fully there in the plot. Hard to explain. It’s as if the MC is not invested in the story but goes along for the sake of it. 

The mysteries are decent. Jane and Ruth (with Phryne’s help) solve the case at the Blind Institute while Tinker does his share of work on another mystery (which isn’t fully developed). 

The main mystery about the murder in Williamstown has enough to keep the reader guessing. The resolution may seem a bit unsatisfactory to some, but it makes sense in the context. 

The book does make use of the setting and the historical context well. The author’s notes at the end and bibliography provide more information about this. 

I like the details about Phryne’s dresses (her fashion choice is a treat to read). Scents and food are also found in a healthy portion. The book concludes with a party and some happy announcements, providing a satisfactory ending. 

To summarize, Murder in Williamstown is a steady-paced entertainer (I didn’t find this slow) with multiple mysteries and several characters. I can’t help but visualize the TV show when reading the book. Too bad that Jack doesn’t get much space in this one. 

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

#NetGalley #MurderinWilliamstown 

 3.5 Stars 

Nona May Taylor was cursed by a witch to become an old woman, while the witch enjoys Nona’s stardom and career as a singer. Nona is content in her secluded cabin with her family and her agent, who were also cursed by the witch. 

However, Nona saves Charlie, a hiker, and is nursing him back to health. He brings her hope, and Nona realizes maybe there’s a chance to break the curse. Is Charlie indeed her true love? If yes, will the witch let it happen without a fight? 

The story comes in three parts in Nona’s first-person POV. 

The family dynamics are the highlight of the book. Nona is eighty-three years old (though her real age is around 22) and the only human in her family. The rest of them have been cursed to become various animals. 

From the beginning, readers can see the love and bonding between Nona’s family members, the agent included. They are quirky and have distinctive personalities, even though they don’t get an in-depth characterization. It’s refreshing to read about such positive family dynamics despite their situation. 

 The setting is also well done. The snow, cold, cabin, and woods create the right atmosphere for the plot. There are quite a few instances of hunting for food and dressing the dead animals (I don’t mind it; mentioning it for others to be prepared). 

Charlie is adorable and a sweetheart (despite one of his decisions). It is easy to see him and Nona as a young couple in love even though there isn’t enough ‘show’ where it’s necessary. 

There is enough humor to make the reader chuckle a few times. The story is more or less lighthearted and very much surface-level (this is a disadvantage too). The first half is definitely stronger. The most enjoyable part of the second half is Larry. 

There is no third-act breakup or miscommunication. And we also get an epilogue to present the story with a neatly tied bow.  

The book is a loose retelling of Beauty and the Beast. While I’m not bothered by that, I do wish the whole concept of the curse and the actual story behind it is better presented. 

As the reveals begin in the second half, the story switches to romance, which still works to an extent. However, the plot gets more and more convoluted as it progresses. 

It could have still worked if the threads were handled in detail. Instead, we get random bits and pieces of information in an attempt that bring them, which doesn’t entirely succeed. 

NGL, the threesome caught me unawares. I’m not sure why it is even there except to tick it off a checklist. Also, given the ages and their past, it makes the whole thing awkward. Some relationships don’t have to be defined by sex, and the sort of pity angle makes this even worse. 

The climax could have been a lot stronger. It started well, but the villain is a caricature, which made the whole thing feel OTT. Confrontations in snow remind me of Breaking Dawn (something I enjoyed a lot more). 

An item that plays a prominent role in the plot is quite easily obtained and used so causally that I didn’t even feel its presence and power. Moreover, Aunt Lulu and her cabin could have amplified the atmosphere but have a limited role. 

To summarize, The Curse of Nona May Taylor is a medium-paced, lighthearted read with talking animals and a love story. This would have worked better if the subplots were more cohesive and detailed or removed to retain focus only on the core story. 

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

#NetGalley #TheCurseofNonaMayTaylor 

Avi is a little boy with a love for idlis. He wakes up feeling hungry, brushes his teeth, washes his face, and goes to the kitchen where Mama is making idlis. She serves him his favorite breakfast with chutney and sambar. 

As a South Indian, idli is a part of my life, so much that I don't even like it anymore! Of course, that doesn't mean I will ignore this book. 

This is a simple and teeny story with an equally straightforward concept. I admit I was hoping for more from this. The illustrations are also simple but cute too. I like the details, such as adding a banana leaf to the plate and the half-visible red chili in the sambar. The idlis don’t always look like idlis, though. Some look like pebbles (cook them wrong, and the idlis will taste like pebbles and be just as hard). 

Avi thanks his mom after having his breakfast. That’s a good touch. There’s a single-page note at the end with a brief background about how idlis, chutney, and sambar are made. A bit more detail would have been welcome. 

To summarize, this is a cute book with a sweet, idli-loving kid. Oh, parents can use this to make their kiddos eat more. Avi eats all the idlis on his plate (I’m never showing this book to my mom).  

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

#AviLovesIdli #NetGalley 

Well, this book doesn’t have dragons, or maybe it does. You have to read it to find out. ;)  

This is a quirky concept with interactive text and no proper story. Each page has an illustration with short text, teasing the reader to read more and solve the tricky question. Does the book have dragons or not? 

The community home setting brings some diversity to the characters. The backgrounds are in pastels, with the central theme highlighted in orange. This creates a nice contrast and helps kids easily identify the… shh… dragon! The humans are roughly sketched, with the kids being typically naughty. The illustrations are done in pencils (and/ or crayons), giving the book an almost ethereal and whimsical feel. The final illustration (with the cat) is such a cool touch! 

To summarize, this is a fun little book meant for entertainment and laughs. Go with the flow, and don’t look for stories or morals. 

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

#ThereareNoDragonsinthisBook #NetGalley 

 3.5 Stars

Adam Albury is shocked to find himself attending his funeral. He is even more surprised when his death was ruled a suicide. While the ghost Adam had no memory of what happened, he knew for sure that he would never take his own life. This could only mean one thing – he was murdered. 

Adam decides to take advantage of his ghost state to solve his death. Soon, he realizes that quite a few people, including his family members, have reasons to bump him off. But who is the killer, and why? Can Adam find it before his ghostly time ends? 

The story comes in Adam’s third-person POV with random first-person rants and three chapters from others’ third-person POVs. 

My primary reason for picking this book is to tick off a reading challenge prompt – a book from a ghost’s POV. And this, being a cozy mystery, was a nice addition. 

Well, Adam is a wealthy architect in his late fifties and has/ had a colorful life. He has more than his share of faults, which does make him a bit realistic and quite annoying. Dude is quite judgmental, too, though we can see where he gets it from. 

The concept of ghosts and interactions with humans doesn’t have much reasoning as it is more of a trial and error for Adam. After all, this is the first time he is a ghost. Nevertheless, most people he interacts with seem to quite easily accept his ghostly presence. There’s some doubt, naturally, but not that much. 

His dysfunctional family keeps things interesting. Each of them has a definite personality, making it easier to track who is who. I do like Adam’s relationship with his children, Matilda and Leo. His love for them resonates in his words. 

However, the writing is slow and borderline uninteresting. Adam can really ramble on, and I zoned out a few times before deciding to speed-read the book. That turned out to be the best way to stay focused. 

With such a cool premise, I expected more chills. This one is more on the comic side, but it’s not humorous either. Hard to describe, tbh. The best I can say is that it tries to be funny but doesn’t succeed. At least, not for me. 

The mystery is decent and easy enough to guess. There could be a parallel track, or maybe it is a part of the main mystery. Not saying to avoid spoilers. The reveal comes in lengthy, multi-page-long dialogues. The first part is boring, but the second reveal. I like how it is done. Suits the character perfectly. 

There’s a last chapter to round up the threads, though some are left open (which cannot be helped). However, it settles the mystery, which is the primary requirement. 

To summarize, Ghosted is a slow-paced, cozy mystery with a ghost or more. It has its moments but delivers only an average reading experience. Don’t take my word for it, though. Give it a shot if the premise appeals to you. 

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