Anthony Horowitz - Marble Hall Murders

Editor Susan Ryeland has left her Greek island, her hotel, and her Greek boyfriend Andreas in search of a new life back in England.
Freelancing for Causton Books, she’s working on the manuscript of a novel, Pund’s Last Case, by a young author named Eliot Crace, a continuation of the popular Alan Conway series. Susan is surprised to learn that Eliot is the grandson of legendary children’s author Marian Crace, who died some fifteen years ago—murdered, Elliot insists, by poison.
As Susan begins to read the manuscript’s opening chapters, the skeptical editor is relieved to find that Pund’s Last Case is actually very good. Set in the South of France, it revolves around the mysterious death of Lady Margaret Chalfont, who, though mortally ill, is poisoned—perhaps by a member of her own family. But who did it? And why?
The deeper Susan reads, the more it becomes clear that the clues leading to the truth of Marian Crace’s death are hidden within this Atticus Pund mystery.
While Eliot’s accusation becomes more plausible, his behavior grows increasingly erratic.. Then he is suddenly killed in a hit-and-run accident, and Susan finds herself under police scrutiny as a suspect in his killing.
Three mysterious deaths. Multiple motives and possible murderers. If Susan doesn’t solve the mystery of Pund’s Last Case, she may well be the next victim.

Comment: This is the third - and apparently last - installment in the Susan Ryeland books, and we can thank actress Leslie Manville (from the adapted TV series) for it, since she expressed her wish to do one more season to author Anthony Horowitz. 

When this story begins, Susan is about to leave Greece definitively for her life there no longer makes sense to her. She expects that once back in England, she can find a way to go back to her work as an editor, something which has been tremendously affected since the events in the first book. Coincidentally, her current boss asks her to edit a continuation on the Atticus Pund novels, with a new author doing it, Eliot Crace, who comes from a famous family but his previous books didn't go well. Still, Susan is glad that the chapters she is given seem very alike the original author's work and she believes this can work. The problem is that Eliot isn't always reliable and the more she reads, the more it seems that, like Alan Conway, Eliot Crace is also hiding secrets in his novel...

I really love this type of novel, in which we have a story within a story. As we follow Eliot Crace's novel, it's also a means to understand the "real life" plot about Susan and those she interacts with while she does her job and investigates. This worked out very well for me in the first book, even better in the second and here, despite the cleverness of Horowitz' planning, I will have to say I wasn't as greatly wowed.

To be fair, my issue isn't with the mysteries, both the one in the fictional novel and the one involving Susan. I think my general appreciation of this novel was just a little bit lower because of the tone. I feel the tone in this book was darker and less hopeful as the others somehow made me feel. I can understand this, clearly this is aimed to be the last book - which makes sense plot and character-wise - and with that we need to deal with some finite situations and expectations. But some passages, some scenes were still a little too sad, too disheartening for me, mostly related to Susan's life while she does this job.

With this I don't mean things don't end up in suitable way; in fact, the end is pretty much a tidy bow on the series and the adventures of these characters, but some situations were quite distressing at times. I saw that some readers have been disappointed and some even think this book is pointless, but I still think it was a great story to read. I was taken by the mysteries and the complexity of what was happening and the process of it all, although one of the murderers seemed easy to guess (psychologically, I mean, not that I guessed the clues), while the other was more surprising to me.

As it had happened with the other books in the trilogy, we get to follow the two story lines in sometimes alternated parts, and they have many points in common, so we get to have an idea about what the other story might include just by reading one first. Anthony Horowitz is a very clever planner, in the sense that so many things are intricate and connect in ways we would never imagine, so the final work reads as if it's a simple mystery but it surely means countless hours planning and creating everything...I do like the wit and the depth that goes into these stories.

This time I kind of liked the real life plot a little bit better, even counting with the bleaker moments, than the fictional story within. I say this because with the other two books, the fictional historical plots featured situations I was more impressed by, which the contemporary setting didn't do as much, but in this third book the opposite happened. Perhaps due to the content and the expectation about this being Atticus Pund last case. The development felt a bit erratic.

For me, this story worked out quite well. The characters were consistent and layered and I had a great time trying to analyze their actions and what could be a clue or not. I hope the author can think about other series with these elements because the juxtaposition of two plots with connecting elements was one of the book's best features. 

Grade: 8/10

Lucy Score - Things We Never Got Over

Bearded, bad-boy barber Knox prefers to live his life the way he takes his coffee: Alone. Unless you count his basset hound, Waylon. Knox doesn’t tolerate drama, even when it comes in the form of a stranded runaway bride.
Naomi wasn’t just running away from her wedding. She was riding to the rescue of her estranged twin to Knockemout, Virginia, a rough-around-the-edges town where disputes are settled the old-fashioned way…with fists and beer. Usually in that order.
Too bad for Naomi her evil twin hasn’t changed at all. After helping herself to Naomi’s car and cash, Tina leaves her with something unexpected. The niece Naomi didn’t know she had. Now she’s stuck in town with no car, no job, no plan, and no home with an 11-year-old going on thirty to take care of.
There’s a reason Knox doesn’t do complications or high-maintenance women, especially not the romantic ones. But since Naomi’s life imploded right in front of him, the least he can do is help her out of her jam. And just as soon as she stops getting into new trouble he can leave her alone and get back to his peaceful, solitary life.
At least, that’s the plan until the trouble turns to real danger.

Comment: This is the first book in the Knockemouth trilogy by Lucy Score. Several of my friends have read and enjoyed these books and since I have liked two other titles by the author myself, I decided to give this a try as well.

Naomi has just arrived on Knockemouth, a small town on Virginia, when she realizes her meeting with twin sister Tina will not happen. Worse, everyone she talks with believes she is Tina and is rude to her. To make matters even worse, Tina steals her car and her money and leaves her with her 12 year old daughter, Waylay. Luckily, or not, Knox Morgan is there to give her a reluctant hand, for he too doesn't like Tina. However, Naomi certainly isn't Tina and as time goes by, the more she establishes herself, mostly to pay bills and to start giving her niece some stability, the more people warm up to her. Knox, as well, starts feeling something, but he is a happy bachelor, will he accept that Naomi means more to him than he wants to admit?

This being my third attempt at a story by this author, the formula and style are pretty much obvious and that means that while this is extremely enjoyable and easy to read, it also has one or two elements I wish the author could do different. I also think the book could have a few less pages.

Naomi has left her groom at the altar and helping Tina is a very good excuse to make that decision, something we understand better closer to the end of the novel. At first, Naomi seems to be a bit aloof, but as the story develops, we get to see she is shy and takes some time to feel comfortable with others. She is a genuinely nice person, somehow always trying to compensate for her twin sister's failings.I liked Naomi and her personality but I wish the negative feelings she had could have been explored differently.

Knox is one of those alpha type heroes, although we learn about his softer side here and there. I liked the fact he wanted to keep his privacy, considering what he has done for the town and how, but I also liked how in tune he feels with his place in the community. His feelings for Naomi were easy to read for the most part but, again, due to the writing style, his actions and behavior wasn't always easy to appreciate, even though he is, at heart, a good man.

The romance is very sweet, despite them claiming to not like one another for a while, and the antagonism in certain situations. I would not say this is exactly slow burn, but the way the plot moves along makes it seem so. Of course, they are way more compatible than thy wished, and their love story has all the usual ingredients, including a ridiculous conflict close to the end of the story, which I suppose the author did for drama and to highlight how committed they actually were, but which to me felt unnecessary.

I'd say my issues with this novel, now that I'm used to the writing, is how some cliches are used and the tone of the story. This is a romance, more on the lighter side, even if includes some serious issues and their discussion, and I did like it, but I confess it annoyed me a little how often the characters are sarcastic or meant to be funny or that they drink so much all the time, or that have so may conversations about their sex lives and many other pointless issues when there is a lot more to develop instead. I think this happens because the story is meant to be hilarious and light, but these characters didn't need this to happen so often.

In fact, this would distract me from the story sometimes, how comedy-like some scenes were when there was other serious issues to deal with, and then for that to happen, more pages are added. I get it, it's the author's style, but here, somehow, I could do without. It can also be said that all this combined with the fact the protagonist are 36 (Naomi) and 40-something (Knox) makes them look very immature sometimes.

Despite this, I still had a mostly good time reading and I liked the interactions with other characters enough to want to read the other books. I hope the same dynamics work better with them, of course!

Grade: 7/10

Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz - Golden

Silence isn’t just the absence of noise. It’s a presence that brings us energy, clarity, and deeper connection. Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz take us on an unlikely journey—from the West Wing of the White House to San Quentin’s death row; from Ivy League brain research laboratories to underground psychedelic circles; from the temperate rainforests of Olympic National Park to the main stage at a heavy metal festival—to explore the meaning of silence and the art of finding it in any situation. 

Golden reveals how to go beyond the ordinary rules and tools of mindfulness. It’s a field guide for navigating the noise of the modern world—not just the noise in our ears but also on our screens and in our heads. 

Drawing on lessons from neuroscience, business, spirituality, politics, and the arts, Marz and Zorn explore why auditory, informational, and internal silence is essential for physical health, mental clarity, ecological sustainability, and vibrant community. With vital lessons for individuals, families, workplaces, and whole societies, Golden is an engaging and unexpected rethinking of the meaning of quiet. 

Marz and Zorn make the bold and convincing argument that we can repair our world by reclaiming the presence of silence in our lives.

Comment: I brought this book by impulse from the library. The theme seemed intriguing and I decided, why not?

In this nonfiction, the authors were determined to study the need for silence, especially in such a society where everything is rushed and loud and often people don't have time to stop and enjoy their own time or the need for quietness. In a few chapters they offer advice, suggestions and an analysis of how people can heal, rest, ground themselves by having quiet or silent moments.

I really won't prolong this post for long because I didn't particularly enjoy reading this book. When I picked it up and turned the pages very quickly, a few words caught my eye, namely some names and I imagined the book would be looking at the way silence can help people to get balanced or achieve some kind of peace and the authors would use real cases, situations they saw or guided in their workshops or even cases of people who could relate how being in a silent environment or something like that helped them. Well,not really, it turned out.

This book is divided into several chapters where the authors address their ideas and brainstorming, and they do name several people who used silence in some healing or positive way. This is great, but everything is rather clinical and quick, and the people mentioned don't really share a personal vision of their own paths, they are only named and referenced when it suits the type of information the authors want to convey. I mean, fine, but this was not what I imagined the book would be about. 

Therefore, this read like many other academic-type of texts, where it's all about the idea and the repeated notions of limiting people's access to distractions and technology, which often are the main causes of "too much noise". I get the idea of this book, and I think the authors did a good job organizing the text and the information included, but I was bored. I simply didn't think this was enlightening enough to really absorb the message and more often than not, I was eager to see the end of the book.

This said, I also think the book could have been edited and summarized in some sections. Some things were repeated in different sections and the examples used to illustrate an idea were often as random or as superficial as the idea itself. There is also a lot of stuff about other subjects (which, yes, can have an impact in how people react to what is around them and the lack of time to be in silence simply thinking) and the reader seems to be expected to agree with that POV, which I can accept, but this made the reading experience a rather "preachy" task.

This book didn't win me over, the content wasn't as entertaining or as relevant to me as I imagined. I think the whole book could be summarized into an essay, for instance, and that would have been enough for me.

Grade: 4/10

Tessa Dare - The Wallflower Wager

They call him the Duke of Ruin.
To an undaunted wallflower, he's just the beast next door.
Wealthy and ruthless, Gabriel Duke clawed his way from the lowliest slums to the pinnacle of high society—and now he wants to get even.
Loyal and passionate, Lady Penelope Campion never met a lost or wounded creature she wouldn’t take into her home and her heart.
When her imposing—and attractive—new neighbor demands she clear out the rescued animals, Penny sets him a challenge. She will part with her precious charges, if he can find them loving homes.
Done, Gabriel says. How hard can it be to find homes for a few kittens?
And a two-legged dog.
And a foul-mouthed parrot.
And a goat, an otter, a hedgehog . . .
Easier said than done, for a cold-blooded bastard who wouldn’t know a loving home from a workhouse. Soon he’s covered in cat hair, knee-deep in adorable, and bewitched by a shyly pretty spinster who defies his every attempt to resist. Now she’s set her mind and heart on saving him.
Not if he ruins her first.

Comment: This is the third story in the Girl Meets Duke series by author Tessa Dare. Although I didn't remember much from the previous books, a lot came to mind as I was reading this one...

Lady Penelope Campion is devoted to her animals, and she is content living alone with them, but the house next door finally has a new occupant and although he feels the house will be even even easier to sell with the daughter of an earl next door, the animals aren't exactly the best feature...

Penny is warned the duke of ruin, as Gabriel Duke is called, is dangerous and ruthless but she can't simply let her animals be taken from her and she agrees she will not mind them to go if he finds them a happy new home. Gabriel believes this will too easy, but he wasn't counting on enjoying every moment he spends with Penny and all the arguments they have over what can be considered a "loving" home...

The books by this author are fluffy, sweet and easy to read. All extremely anachronistic, ore fantasy than historical, but they are certainly enjoyable and entertaining. As it happened to the previous installments, here we have again an unlikely pair but things work out beautifully between them.

The real appeal of these novels for me is the character interaction. Penny and Gabriel get themselves in ridiculous situations but the base for all this is a sweet and meaningful relationship. It's a bit exaggerated of course, but it's nice to read between the lines and see them having key conversations for the growth of their bond, even if it seems silly. Well, it is silly but sometimes serious things are debated as if it's silly, and I think the author is very competent in making this happen.

The plot is not very imaginative, but the animals make for a very fun-like vibe and provide incredibly funny and cute scenes. I think some situations were more a caricature than a really appreciative moment, but like I said, between the writing and the vibe, this doesn't come across as childish nor badly done. Sure, I'd change and/or add some other things, but thinking about the bigger picture, this was well accomplished and made for an entertaining novel.

Penny is a sweet woman, whose cheery personality and disposition hides one or two disappointments and a much more serious issue than seemed at first. When she finally reveals her big secret to Gabriel, it is made to seem a bit superficial but it's actually quite devastating and I think this is where the usual cute atmosphere the books convey kind of misses something. I mean, of course, this would never be a dramatic story but the situation required other developments and part of me believes this aspect was only a way t make Penny more... layered.

Gabriel is another one of those heroes who pretends to be mean and heartless and, of course, hides a much more emotional depth than what he wants himself. He has a sad past, overlooked at the workhouse and has made himself a rich man, not caring about the lives of the rich he ruins in the process. Obviously, his actions seem easy to understand, considering his background, but he isn't truly a bad man, even though we are led to believe Penny brought the best in him...

I won't say much about the romance, for it it's very unlikely and unfit for an historical setting, but it's cute and romantic and they fall in love while dealing with opposed ideas and backgrounds. Reading about them was more on the sweet, fairy tale side than in a real romance one but it managed to hit all the necessary notes and fit the goal intended for such a sweet and light historical novel. 

This book was released in 2019, the fourth and last one, apparently, will come out next year. I surely hope it is everything the hints we were given in this book are meant to be.

Grade: 7/10

Cara Hunter - Close to Home

Someone took Daisy Mason.
Someone YOU KNOW.
Twists galore, a gripping race against time, and police characters you'll love - if you were addicted to Broadchurch and Line of Duty, then CLOSE TO HOME is for you.
How can a child go missing without a trace?
Last night, 8-year-old Daisy Mason disappeared from her parents' summer party. No one in the quiet suburban street saw anything - or at least that's what they're saying.
DI Adam Fawley is trying to keep an open mind. But he knows that nine times out of ten, it's someone the victim knew.
That means someone is lying.
And that Daisy's time is running out...

Comment: I brought this book by impulse from the library. I knew some people I know had read and liked it, but I had no expectation about it before starting.

The Masons are having a small party in their backyard and it's hours before they realize Daisy, their 8 year old, is missing. The police starts an investigation and the parents appeal on TV but the more time passes by, everyone knows Daisy's chances are fewer and fewer. However, as the police starts connecting the dots, some weird details start to come to light. Are the parents telling the whole truth? Did someone see something they didn't tell? Was Daisy in danger before this party begun? And what is the Masons other child, Leo, hiding? Time does not wait for Daisy, but is the truth closer to home than anyone would believe?

I liked reading this novel. It was an easy, fluid read and the story grabbed me completely. I had never tried anything by this author but now I feel compelled to read the next story in this series, for it seems this is the first book in a series featuring the main police detective, Adam Fawley.

The plot is quite simple, young Daisy is missing and all of those who were at the party claim they had seen her running around with the other kids, but as the police investigates, we realize it wasn't like this after all. Of course, everyone is a suspect, and I did have my own theory but I never imagined the actual road this plot takes towards the end. I will say the author was quite imaginative, even though there is one detail that I felt was a bit hard to accept. Not that it cannot be so, but it isn't easy to accept it from a social POV.

Of course, the first people to be investigated are the parents, as any crime series viewer can attest, the closer family members are always somehow suspects. At first, some behavior seemed to suggest a certain status and personality, but it turns out these people have secrets and as we unravel them, they are revealed to be very different people from what they seemed, and I usually like these kinds of plots if the evolution/development is well established, has a recognizable pattern. I like it when there's some depth and psychological justification for the characters to act a certain way.

The police members were also captivating to follow, and not only because they seemed to interested in following protocol and in doing things properly. I also liked the hints at their individual personalities and backgrounds. One or two seem to have their quirks and/or secretive past which I assume will be handy as the series progress, but they seemed genuinely good people, without any weird or dark secrets that make them too distant or aloof to be likable. I hope things continue on this course in the next book.

I will share I never picture the actual resolution for this novel. This isn't the most complex investigation I've read about nor is this one of those intricate plots with lots of twists and elaborated webs of elements that we are supposed to be wowed. I liked it that the police investigated things in a believable manner and reached their conclusions in a way I think made sense, but this did happen as the secrets come to light, one by one. Still, the end was not what I imagined, and it made one or two scenes feel very differently, when I went back to re-read. Very clever without it being too brainy.

All things considered, this was an interesting read, with a lot of elements to keep it interesting until the end. I will read the next book for certain.

Grade: 8/10

Alison Cochrun - The Charm Offensive

Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it’s no wonder then that he’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchise’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star.
Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesn’t believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, he’s a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date twenty women on national television. Behind the scenes, he’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off.
As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.

Comment: I had seen positive reviews on this book and decided to try it myself. Finally, I got the opportunity to start it.

Since he was a little boy that Dev Deshpande has enjoyed the reality show Ever After and as an adult he is overjoyed to be part of it. In this new season, all seems to be set for one more fairy tale, but the new protagonist isn't quite what the producers had in mind... 

Charlie Winshaw only accepted to be in this to clear his public image but he is shy and unsure and feels out of his depth in the silly situations he sees himself in while trying to interact with all these women. His handler, Dev, seems charismatic and fun and he is a tremendous help, even if it means he is having weird thoughts about him...

As these two learn about one another while dealing with such an exhausting environment, will they realize who they are at heart seems to be so easily complemented by the other?

I thought this would be one more silly rom-com, especially since it's set around the idea of a reality show, very similar to The Bachelor, which I have never seen to be honest, but contemporary media and similar shows have been enough exposure to know pretty much all about it. The cover also seems to suggest fun and cute vibes, but this story turned out to be way more romantic than I imagined, and it also featured a lot more serious themes than what it seemed at first.

The plot is full of ridiculous things but what else can one expect from a reality show based story, in which is as silly to see the characters "act" and it is to imagine the real and serious work behind the scenes. I can imagine that these shows are rather fake to most viewers but they still have a big audience ratings, and there is something about making these shows feel special that can also feel captivating. I think the author did a good job setting up the story as part of a reality show and the usual ideas around it.

Of course, things come alive due to the main characters. Both Dev and Charlie are interesting guys and while they present a certain personality, there is depth to them and to who they are inside. It's interesting that both face some psychological issues and that contributes to their individual behavior, while still maintaining them as a cute couple. Clearly, the author wanted to highlight the awareness of mental illnesses and the need for therapy if people need it, and in that regard, this story did feel to be set on a stronger goal, showcasing Dev's and Charlie's struggle to be who others expect of them.

The romance has many funny moments and even more serious ones. To my personal taste, I think the balance was well done and there was the exact amount of information and angst between them, although, to be fair, there is a slight conflict close to the end, I suppose page count demands or something, because I felt the way things happened was a little unnecessary. Nevertheless, the guys were cute together and my favorite part of the story was probably the dynamics and scenes between them.

There was drama, as one had to expect, and the time it took for them to deal with their issues seemed to last a bit longer than what I think the plot merited, but the overall result is one of interesting conversations, heartfelt sharing and a constant reinforcement that therapy should be something people can use to help themselves. I think there were many positive messages here, and that helped me appreciate the novel more. Plus, it also had some funny scenes. I will look for something else by the author in the future.

Grade: 8/10

Mariana Zapata - Hands Down

Before he was Big Texas, he was Zac the Snack Pack.
Bianca Brannen knows time--mostly--heals all wounds. Including those your once loved ones might have unintentionally given you. (Those just take longer.)
She thinks she’s ready when a call has her walking back into her old friend’s life. Or at least as prepared as possible to see the starting quarterback in the National Football Organization. Before the lights, the fans, and the millions, he’d been a skinny kid with a heart of gold.
Waltzing out of Zac Travis’s life should be easy. Just as easy as he walked out of hers.

Comment: This is the 11th book by this author that I try. Except for two, one below and one above, I have placed all the books in the four star level and that is pretty much what I imagined going into this one. Sadly, despite being very illustrative of the author's usual style, I've found it a little less captivating than others.

Bianca Brannen is working part-time at a gym, dreaming of the day her co worker can find another job so that she, too, can quit and dedicate herself solely to her vlog, which is finally allowing her to pay the bills. Before that happens, she has to endure the new obnoxious boss and in the meantime her best friend and cousin VBoogie asks for her help and that is why she finds herself at the house where Zac Travis is currently living. Zac, a professional football player, seems to go through a hard time in his career, and she is certain he won't remember her from their younger years, since it's been 10 since they last spoke. She does give him the message and somehow they slowly reconnect. But for Bianca he had always been more than a friend, why revisiting all those feelings now, she wonder, could it be that he feels something too?

This author has a very recognizable style. She writes in first person, from the POV of the heroine and all her books feature people with interesting dynamics and plenty of professional/work related situations. I have enjoyed pretty much all the books' premises but two of my favorite stories have been about heroines who fin their HEA with an athlete. Therefore, I was quite hopeful regarding this one too.

Unfortunately, things didn't quite go that way, although at first I was confident they would, especially since Bianca wasn't having a good time at work. I thought the hero would join the gym and then lots of longing and stuff would happen which, with the despicable boss there, could make for interesting interactions and situations. Plus, I have previously enjoyed one or two other plots featuring main characters working at a gym, so...

Well, it turns out that being at the gym was more a side note for Bianca, to add to some frustration in her life, rather than it being a specific element for the development of the main plot. This means that the "meaty" part of the story is the slow reconnecting between her and Zac and the worries in their lives about other things. For Zac we understand he isn't feeling very confident with how things are and for Bianca all the worries about Zac and her vlog, which is now a real money maker for her. I mean, I cannot say these things are bad, only they felt a little boring to me.

When I think about the other books by the author that I liked more, part of the fun, even more than the slow burn romances, was the character interaction and the situations the characters had to deal with. Somehow, in those books, all these things seemed competent but interesting, they allowed me to have a certain notion of the characters, which is great if the story is told in first person. Sadly to me, I didn't think Bianca was that stimulating as a protagonist. In fact, there were times I felt things were very repetitive (and not only due to the book's length) because she wasn't that charming.

I wasn't very interested in her work thoughts, nor in her rehashing what had happened or not with Zac... well, basically I wasn't too taken by her. She is cute and easy to sympathize with, as are all the author's heroines, but Bianca sometimes felt a little whiny. I'm aware I'm being unfair, but that's how she read to me. Perhaps this would be solved by having the hero's POV but while I tend to like and identify with heroines who don't act confident and who have some self esteem issues, this time I couldn't get there with Bianca.

A huge part of these novels is to savor the slow burn romance. In some novels, things were quite well done, to the point that when they finally admit tehir feelings, it's like a "aha" moment. Here, it was another less positive aspect, for I didn't see any chemistry between Bianca and Zac. I don't think the author has managed to convey this properly with Bianca's POV and adding the fact this is, in part, a "friends to lovers" type of romance, with a little bit "lovers reunited" (although they had not been a couple ten years ago, they were emotionally close), two tropes I don't care much about, reading this romance novel was not very fun.

Despite these more negative aspects, the story is still fluid, the pages are easily turned with always some kind of element to grab me when I thought it would be boring again - I especially liked the vlog stuff - and, of course, there is a HEA at the end. Also, the cover is not really suitable, since there isn't much sport going on.

This author's books are long and I don't have much time to re-read but this, sadly, will probably not be a choice if I ever were to do it.

Grade: 6/10

Susanna Kearsley - The Vanished Days

In the autumn of 1707, old enemies from the Highlands to the Borders are finding common ground as they join to protest the new Union with England. At the same time, the French are preparing to launch an invasion to bring the young exiled Jacobite king back to Scotland to reclaim his throne, and in Edinburgh the streets are filled with discontent and danger.
Queen Anne's commissioners, seeking to calm the situation, have begun paying out money sent up from London to settle the losses and wages owed to those Scots who took part in the disastrous Darien expedition eight years earlier--an ill-fated venture that left Scotland all but bankrupt.
When the young widow of a Darien sailor comes forward to collect her husband's wages, her claim is challenged. One of the men assigned to investigate has only days to decide if she's honest, or if his own feelings are blinding him to the truth.
The Vanished Days is a prequel and companion novel to The Winter Sea, with action that overlaps some of the action in that book. The Vanished Days goes back in time to the 1680s and introduces the reader to the Moray and Graeme families.

Comment: This book is marked as being the third in the Slains series, stories that are connected to events set during the late 17th century, during or around the Jacobite uprising. Unlike the previous two stories, this one is solely set in the past, with no dual time featuring a contemporary setting.

In the follow-up of Scotland's political disasters related to the failed Darien expedition, queen Anne decides to try to calm things down by offering compensation to the families of those who died, and that is how Lily approaches the commissionaires for the wages due to her late husband. The problem is that her proof of marriage seems slim and the investigators need to see if she is being honest or not. Adam, one of them, is reluctant to do this and not only because he feels some attraction to her... the more they learn about Lily's life, the more doubts they have. Is she being truthful or seeking to deceive them?

I've read pretty much all the books this author has written (except the most recent release and the first ones the author published, which don't appeal much) and this is, sadly, one of the titles I have enjoyed less. This is a "me" issue, for the story is as well researched and moody as all her work is, but I wasn't captivated by the overall effect, as I have been in regards to my favorites by her.

Unlike the norm for this author, this story is set only in the past, namely in 1707, with some scenes going back to the 1680s. To be fair, I usually prefer the contemporary settings of the author's books, but I wasn't bothered by that fact here, only that this story had a definitively darker vibe and a seemingly heavier amount of political information, which I don't feel as interested in as I feel towards the characters' interactions. I know this author is a dedicated researcher and a huge fan of the time period, something we can easily see in her notes at the end of the book, but this time I felt it was a bit too much.

The setting is a harsh one, with all the political games and the intrigues around the characters' tasks and sometimes hidden goals. It's all even worse, socially meaning, since women had practically no rights and a lot of supposed rules and laws were easily twisted to suit those who could. Well, not much changed, really, but this is to say that it felt a lot more attention and a lot more details seemed to have been put into creating a realistic and informative environment, but this means the story isn't always compelling to read. Not for me. I can understand the correct use of the setting, but Lily and the other characters didn't really come alive for me, they were more characters to pity or to dislike.

The main plot hints at the investigation of Lily's claim. But this is not really so, because while the investigation happens and several people are looked for and interviewed, we have plenty of chapters going back to the 1680s and after, where we can follow Lily's childhood and young years. Her life has good things but also very bad ones, although not graphic nor fully disturbing, which means I felt sorry for her but she doesn't seem to be given enough time in the now for me to establish a connection with her. Besides, the story is seen through Adam's POV, and his opinion is clearly meant to be limited.

There were parts where I was a little bored, to be frank, and eager for things to speed up a little. My remembrance of the other books seems to suggest they were more addictive to read and I was more invested in the main characters. Perhaps the dual time plots made it easier because I do see to prefer the contemporary setting but also the story had other details for me to care about. The thing here is, the author planned for a twist. I think that I wasn't as impressed by it because when it happens - obviously close to the end - I was more concerned to check out how many pages were left. 

I mean, reading this it seems as if this is a bad story, it isn't so! Only, it didn't amaze me and I think that in the eagerness to be correct, to use the right information, to showcase how well done the research was, the author kind of lost focus on the romance part of the story, and not even the honor and the wisdom of certain characters and how they proved themselves to be worthy of defense made things as balanced as I hoped for. I know this is a personal opinion, and for others this was great, but I did expect a bit more in some areas, in particular the characterization.

This said, the story was still interesting, still mixed up facts and fiction in  avery competent manner but it didn't dazzle me as other books did. Still, no story by her compares to my absolute favorite, The Shadowy Horses. I hope the next one I have to read is better, even though it's another full on historical novel.

Grade: 6/10

Alison Espach - The Wedding People

It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She's immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe's plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.
In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.

Comment: This book was quite hyped and liked by readers last year and has been praised by many critics and has won awards. My buddy read friend and I have decided to give it a go this month and now that I have finished, I've found it to be a little meh.

Phoebe Stone just arrived at the hotel she planned to stay for one night when she realizes something odd is going on and that there are many people around who seem to be there for a wedding. She tries to ignore this sudden change to what she thought would be a quiet time but at the hotel they assume she is part of the wedding too. When she tries to explain, the bride herself somehow gets in her way and Phoebe explains what her plan is, which, of course, the bride isn't happy about because it will ruin her day. However, they start interacting and without even noticing it, Phoebe is actually now part of the wedding and is starting to be privy to these people's ideas on the whole thing. Can it be this is what Phoebe needed to changer her life?

When this book started to be hyped, I wasn't too interested in it, but a vague review here and an opinion by someone whose taste I know about there started to intrigue me. It's not that I wanted to read this right then but it started to appear enough that I didn't ignore it. I've read the blurb and was curious and my buddy read friend too, and that is why we decided to read it. I will admit I had a certain expectation about it, which wasn't how the story went, so... I can't say I'm disappointed, I was not, but the story didn't go any of the ways I imagined would have suited the main idea.

There will be spoilers.

Phoebe is the protagonist and the story is all seen through her POV. She is at a crossroads, things have happened to the point she is depressed and feeling she doesn't want to go on. She is traveling to the expensive hotel so that she can have one final splurge, to have a quiet evening doing something she has dreamed of since he new about the hotel and saw the pictures of it, but she is planing on not being accountable for anything the morning after. I think the author has done a good enough work presenting Phoebe as someone who feels she has reasons to end her life, but this can certainly be a trigger for many readers, no matter how polite the information is shared.

This seems to be a literary contemporary, with serious themes and intellectual ideas but Phoebe sees herself in a rom-com type of situation due to all the wedding stuff around her. I prefer to think this was meant to smooth the development of the story because, obviously, Phoebe doesn't go ahead with her idea and on top of it, she is now intrigued by Lila, the bride, Gary, the groom and everyone around them. She and Lila somehow bond and at the same time we start learning about Lila's life, that gives us a glimpse to Phoebe's personality as well.

The writing is polished, competent and hints at all the little things that make these characters interesting for this context, there is depth to them, there are layers to people without the book offering too much right away, which is a technique I tend to like, because it makes the story more engaging. At the same time, however, some of the situations become a little contrived because I just can't see a bride like Lila simply inviting Phoebe because she wanted to stop her from doing what she planned and I can't see Phoebe accepting with so much worry in her head, but... 

The author clearly had a plan, and the road it took was an interesting one, which could lead into interesting choices. Would Phoebe realize things were hopeless after witnessing the issues these people had but which didn't stop them from marrying anyway? Or would Phoebe see her life was worth a lot more than she thought by being with these people and finding an unexpected connection? At a certain point, I had two expectations of how things would progress but then it felt as if the author had made her pick, but then everything sort of became vague.

The pages were becoming fewer and I could not see how the author would provide the kind of end I thought she would deliver because, surprise!, that wasn't the plan! The end is very open ended, although with positive vibes. yes, I should not complain because it is implicit things will end sort of well for everyone, but I'm stubborn in my preferences and I wanted a more obvious end. I think more closure would have fit the progress of the plot but I suppose the idea was to end it in a literary, open ended note instead... I mean, it's fine, but it feels incomplete. So, for me, all things considered... meh.

Grade: 6/10

Mini - Comments

I've recently read two books, part of series I've started in the past, which were alright but not outstanding. 

Both had characters that were captivating and who seemed to be part of promising plots, but the execution wasn't as well done as I hoped for.

Mac Argeneau knows all too well: immortals can be killed. Not with holy water or silver crosses, but by decapitation or being set on fire. So when Mac’s house bursts into flames—with him inside—he’s sure it was no accident. But who would want to kill a scientist specializing in hematology? There is a silver lining: a blonde investigator appears on the scene and sparks feelings in him that have been dormant for centuries.
CJ Cummings is in town on a special investigation, but she’s been waylaid by the local police to deal with this arson case. The biggest mystery is how this sexy scientist with silvery blue eyes has emerged from a blazing inferno without a burn mark on him. He’s clearly hiding something. Sure, she’d love to see him without his lab coat, but she’s got a job to do—despite his insistence that he needs a bodyguard and...he wants her.

But when a second attempt on their lives puts CJ in harm’s way, it’s Mac who will do anything to safeguard the woman who’s destined to be his life mate.

Meant to Be Immortal by Lynsay Sands is book #32 in her long Argeneau series. This time, the story is focused on Macon Argeneau, brother to Katricia, from a novella (#15.5) released years ago and, to be honest, a character I remember badly. I won't repeat what I have said regarding the most recent books in the series I've read, for the same issues continue, namely the same ideas and situations without real depth into characterization and plot as the first books used to have. Macon and his love interest CJ were interesting characters, both had a good base for a solid development but I think the author was focusing on the wrong details. These books are now, basically, just a check on the list, but somehow I still find myself going back to them from time to time, who can understand why.

Grade: 6/10

* * *

As a child, Sierra Brighton traveled the world. She swam with the baby whales, danced in storm funnels, and lived in complete magical freedom. And then Momma died and Sierra ended up in foster care, an unhappy and very secret witch.
Fetched by Nell's spell, she'll no longer need to do magic on lonely beaches - but can Sierra learn to use her power safely? Or will her reckless blood put Witch Central at risk?

A Reckless Witch by Debora Geary is the third installment in the Modern Witch series. I was utterly fascinated by the first book, which I loved, even though it was a sugar fest. the second book wasn't as addictive, but most of the elements I liked were still there. There was a focus on a certain character, though, someone I wasn't too interested in, honestly. The same thing happened here, Sierra is a young woman who has a greater power than she imagined and she needs help to control it. I liked the community, the group of characters who are a huge family and I liked that this had a very mild angst content. Sadly, I think the most wonderful little things I loved in the first book weren't here. I still have hopes for the next story, though... fingers crossed it will be more similar to the first book.
Grade: 7/10

M.K. York - Necessary Medicine

In the high-intensity world of hospital residency programs, there's no room for romance. So it's a good thing for first-year surgical resident Neil Carmona that his crush on the gorgeous cardiologist Eli Newcombe is sheer fantasy. Not only is the sexy doctor Neil's superior, he's also recently divorced.
As Neil's skill as a surgeon grows, so does his friendship with Eli, and his silent, hopeless longing for more. It isn't until Neil's final year that Eli at last admits his own deepest desires. But Neil's joy is Eli has no intention of pursuing a relationship. Their positions in the hospital would make it unethical, even if he was emotionally ready for someone new.
Wounded and furious, Neil is determined to forget about Eli once and for all. But when a near-tragedy strikes, a new question Is a life without love—without Neil—a greater risk than laying his heart on the line?

Comment: I saw this book being recommended by the editor when I was reading another book from the same publisher. I got curious and investigated and the blurb seemed something I'd like, and that's why I decided to give it a go.

Neil left the world of English to become a doctor, more specifically a surgeon. However, this entails a demanding life and too many routines which means a life outside of work feels slacking off and Neil wants to prove he has what it takes to succeed. Since he needs to train several specialties, he deals with all sorts of doctors and co workers, but only dr Eli, a cardiologist, catches his eye. He knows he might not have much to offer but he can't help himself but is Dr Eli ready to have a relationship with him anyway? How does this impact Neil's career and the fact he might not stay there after his residency is over?

Just like any other medical series fan, even though I don't know much about actual medicine, it was still interesting to read a story about a training surgeon and how part of his life seems to be placed on hold while he goes through the demands of his work. I have watched enough TV shows to be able to picture some of the things Neil talks about and this intrigued me, but I can see why some readers weren't as impressed; there is, indeed, quite a lot of medical details in this story.

I should also say that the publisher's blurb is a little misleading, for it seems to suggest there's an ongoing romance between Eli and Neil and then something happens. Well, this particular situation only takes place a bit after half way. The biggest part of the story is about Neil going through his life and how we get to glimpse his longing and interest in Eli during a long time before they start spending time together. Now, this surely sounds boring to some readers, but I didn't mind it due to the writing style.

I liked this fast paced method of telling us how Neil would go from here to there without much fuss. It feels a little impersonal at first, but I was able to read between the lines and was soon captivated by Neil whose POV we have all the time, until the epilogue, when we have Eli's. I can understand this style doesn't work for most readers, but to me it was a quick adaptation. The style reminded me of Taylor Fitzpatrick's only book I tried so far. Not in content, of course, but the writing style.

Anyway, back to Mrs York story, the romance is supposedly a slow burn. I have enjoyed these types of romances before but a lot is set on the writing. I did like the style here, so that helped, but the actual romantic aspects only happen after a while. At first it was all about the awareness and the acknowledgment Neil had an interest and then feelings for Eli. When they start to interact more because of work, obviously that it makes it easier for the reader to see if the relationship could happen, and to me this worked out well, but it might seem too slow for some readers.

As for the actual romance, it had its moments, but it wasn't the most romantically described story. It felt more like a comfort romance, in the sense that they share so many common things and have so many common friends, that it feels easy to become a couple at some point. I think the longing and the sex appeal they see in each other aren't meant to be a statement, only an acceptance of a fact. I kind of liked following Neil and seeing them getting together but yes, this isn't obvious.

For me, this one worked out. I will see if the author has more things published too.

Grade: 8/10