Nicci Cloke - Her Many Faces

When four influential members are poisoned at London’s most exclusive private club, a young waitress is charged with their murder. Her personal life and upbringing are dissected, and five men begin to question how well they really knew her.
FIVE MEN. FIVE STORIES. BUT ARE THEY READY FOR HERS?
Her father remembers the sweet schoolgirl.
Her childhood friend bonded over a shared fascination with conspiracy theories.
Her lover regrets ever falling for her.
Her lawyer believes she is hiding something.
A journalist is convinced he knows exactly who she a cold-blooded killer.
But which is the true face of Katherine Cole? The reality lies somewhere between these very different perspectives.

Comment: I became aware of this book while checking out a list which included stories where a trial in a  courtroom would take place. I can't explain why, but books with this element somehow seem appealing to me...

Katie is a young woman accused of killing four important men at a private club, especially since that, when caught by the police she says "they all deserved it". Katie is now going to a trial, and her defense needs to convince the jurors that she is innocent, but as the evidence starts becoming available, it seems too many things are not easy to explain or when something is, more information comes forward and it all becomes muddled again. Is Katie innocent or guilty? If she is guilty, why did she do this and if she is innocent, why was she caught in the cameras? Katie is a mysterious woman, but somehow, someone must know how she really is...

This was an engrossing story to read, I will say that. I had no expectations except I wanted courtroom scenes and considering this is my first attempt at a book by this author, I had no way to compare with anything else. I saw that this seems to be her first book for adults (she has written YA stories before) so I'll try to be on the lookout for future books.

The story is told by several men who are now somehow linked to Katie. The first and last chapters are actually on third person, centered on Katie, but the rest of the book is told, in alternated chapters, by her father John, her barrister Tao, her childhood friend Gabriel, her lover Conrad and Max, the journalist investigating her life. Her father shares his POV on what Katie was growing up and what he feels now, Tao and Max present us with the contemporary events, and Gabriel and Conrad are a link to Katie's past, how she was before things got to this point.

It does seem that having so many POVs and jumps in time would make this messy, but in reality, the men's voices are distinctive, their views on what is happening and about Katie very easy to set apart. I've found myself quite eager to see what happen next, because with each new chapter we would learn something else and, more important, we would be given a new slice of life on Katie's personality, so the mystery remains until the end, is she a victim or is she guilty of the crime.

If there is one element I could do without is that a few chapters were unnecessary, because there comes  a point where the story drags a little. I'd change those chapters with more courtroom scenes or more situations where we need to keep guessing if Katie is guilty or not. I can't really say if the resolution was to my taste or not, but the process to get there was definitely fascinating. When we get Katie's, and the books', last chapter, it also felt the author wanted to leave with an extra dramatic twirl, and I cannot say this was such a great ending, but it does finish what the plot proposed, so... 

Katie is the central character but we only know her through the eyes of the five men. I liked everyone except Conrad, because of some things he does, but what makes this story successful is how nothing is every universal, everyone has layers, everyone has behaviors and emotions that change, and seeing things from just one side will always lead to incomplete results. I think the author accomplished what she aimed for, which I'm assuming was to let the reader come up with personal conclusions. Of course, beneath all these doubts about Katie, there is still a crime to be understood and when we do, I mean, sometimes we really do look for elaboration when reality is simpler.

This was a clever story, very interesting, with an unique way of storytelling. I still think a few details weren't used as greatly as they could, and in some moments we were just rehashing the same information with different words, but sometimes this didn't really add to new POVs, so... but, all things considered, this was still a great book to me, it did entertain me completely.

Grade: 8/10

Emily Sullivan - Duchess Material

When her student goes missing, an independent bluestocking must seek the help of the arrogant duke who spurned her in this sizzling tale of romance and intrigue.
Phoebe Atkinson is what society might call unconventional. Instead of marrying well like other women born to wealth, she chose to be a schoolteacher. Not to mention she lives in a leaky flat in an unfashionable part of town rather than stay in her parents’ mansion. But when her most promising pupil goes missing she has only one option: beg her sister’s best friend, the powerful Duke of Ellis, for help.
The last thing William Margrave ever expected was to inherit a dukedom. But now that he has it, he’s determined to act the part perfectly—and that includes marrying the perfect duchess. A bluestocking Bohemian schoolteacher is decidedly not duchess material. But he can’t resist her plea for help regarding her missing student.
As they fall further into the mystery, William discovers that he never got over his childhood crush on Phoebe, and he doesn’t really want to.

Comment: I got aware of this book through a site where I usually check lists of things that might interest me. The idea of this book sounded interesting and that is why I got it.

Phoebe Atkinson is a teacher at a school for girls of poor means and she just cannot accept Alice, one of her most promising pupils, has run away so when she tries to follow her it leads to her being arrested for invasion of property. Thankfully, family friend Will, now the duke of Ellis, is able to rescue her, even though they haven't been close for a long time, specifically since a summer long ago when it felt as if they could be more than friends. Now, Will needs to marry and he thinks he needs to choose a lady who is "duchess material", something Phoebe is not. But can they escape their feelings this time around, since they are older and wiser in what they need?

What made me want to read this novel was the opposites attract idea, since Will and Phoebe have had very different views on life and, now that Will is a duke, he also has other types of responsibility that require his attention in a way it didn't before the dukedom fell into him. I was interested in seeing how this would lead into them agreeing to be a couple.

Phoebe and Will had known each other since they were young because their families were neighbors and all was well until their puberty, when they started seeing each other as someone attractive. Neither could express themselves properly so they went different directions and now Will is the embodiment of something Phoebe dislikes - too much power, not enough action in society - but when the story begins, she needs his help and they reconnect.

I will say that I've found the rekindling quite fast, but they did know each other before, which adds some dynamics that validate this quickness, but I wasn't much of a fan of this tactic. I kind of wanted them to fall in love at a slower pace and for their relationship to be even more poignant. There were times where this seemed obvious, others where it wasn't, and when things were getting closer to the end, I was still thinking if I was enjoying the romance or not.

Phoebe is a fascinating young woman, a veritable modern woman in an historical setting, thus sometimes it was a little hard not to roll my eyes at certain things, which felt very anachronistic, but as a whole, I liked her and personality and her need to help the girls who were, of course, overlooked by society and not given the necessary to ensure their rights. As a person, I liked Phoebe a lot, but as a romantic heroine, I would not say she will be memorable to me.

As for Will, he does seem to be a very respectable man and he wants his influence as a duke to help others but now that he is back in the sphere of Phoebe, being with her makes him rethink certain things, namely some politics he has been trying to carry on, and the young lady who seems to be the perfect choice for a duchess, but whose father, he learns, proves to not be who he thought. I can understand all these things weighting on his shoulders, and I think the author addressed his worries well, but, again, as a romantic partner, I kind of wanted better.

And that it is, my biggest disappointment here was the romance. I liked the story, I liked the characters, but I wasn't amazed by their relationship. Thinking about it as a whole, it was simply good.

There is also the issue of what happened to Phoebe's student. The author hints at a very mild mystery which ends up being solved in a simple way, but the road there provided the main character with interesting social and political discoveries, and this did enrich the plot. I kind of liked the slight complexity of what everyone was involved in. I also felt interest in Phoebe's family dynamics and what that might mean for her sisters - I assume will be heroines in future books. Perhaps one day I might read more by this author.

Grade: 7/10

Annabeth Albert - Tight Quarters

Petty Officer Bacon, a navy SEAL and ace sharpshooter, has been on the front lines of more than his fair share of dangerous ops. Yet when a minor injury relegates him to the beta team, he’s tasked with what may be his riskiest assignment the silver fox journalist he’s babysitting is the hottest, most charismatic man he’s ever encountered.
Award-winning journalist Spencer Bryant may have been named one of Pride magazine’s most eligible bachelors of the year, but he’s not looking to change his relationship status. He’s a consummate professional who won’t risk his ethics or impeccable reputation by getting involved with a source. Even a sexy-as-hell military man. But while Spencer can resist his physical attraction to Bacon, he has less control over his emotions—especially when the mission goes sideways and the two men are trapped alone.
Getting out of the jungle alive turns out to be easy compared to facing the truth about their feelings for one another back in the real world. And whether or not they can build a future is a different story altogether.

Comment: This is the sixth installment in the Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert. I have been going through this series, but only the full length novels, although there are several novellas in the mix.

In this story we finally have petty officer Bacon as a protagonist, after several books in which he was a secondary character. Bacon has had a slight issue during a training and that is the main reason why he is assigned a special mission: journalist Spencer Bryant, an award winner and cover of a LGBT magazine, was given permission to follow a team of Navy Seals around and even to participate in an ordinary mission and Bacon is his babysitter. Some elements in the team aren't happy about this and Bacon reluctantly accepts, not expecting Spencer to be as captivating as he is. He even feels they could have something outside of this situation, but can they match their feelings with each others's very specific careers?

I had a good enough time reading this novel. I think Bacon and Spencer were good individuals to follow and I liked it that they did make an effort to be in a relationship, but I will say that sometimes the obstacles they set up for one another felt like too much work, and the reward didn't always seem to be that strong. I can believe they would get a valid HEA but I wasn't always convinced of it.

I liked the story but my favorite part was definitely the beginning, until Bacon and Spencer admit they desire each other and become intimate. Until this happens, it's all a great "game" of flirtation and wondering if the other feels/thinks the same. Added to the fact that Spencer is in a situation that is uncommon for civilians and that certain rules and expectations need to be met, I think the dynamics were quite interesting.

Bacon is a likable guy, sees himself as pan, and I was curious to see how he would feel while falling in love. I also liked how the story portrays the situation in which he felt he wasn't being treated right by some elements of his team but he had not admitted he is pan, so the need to see his self validated while debating the consequences of saying he was were adding interesting complexity to the plot. We also have several references to the characters of book #4, whose relationship caused some fraternization issues among the team and what that would mean in a setting where trust is key.

Spencer was not as complex to me, although we are told he felt the pressure of his career choices, opposed to what his parents imagined for him as an important part of his character development. He was a good guy but he is aiming to write a book on Navy Seals and how the mental health issues are not discussed and dealt with properly. Of course this had to increase the antagonism with others, if it were to be known, but the more he gets to know Bacon, the more he debates if such a book would not cause more harm than good, at least the way he wants to expose more the negative aspects.

Individually, both the guys had interesting issues to deal with and had serious thoughts about what they could do vs what they should do, but where things kind of lost steam for me was when the romance comes into place. I'm sorry to say but I was not convinced a relationship between them would work long term, mostly because they are too different and their jobs would always clash, if Spencer is to keep up with his writing ideas. Certainly, the author solved this, but I was not sold on how.

The romance was also a little vibrant after the moment they become intimate. It no longer felt as exciting or as thrilling to imagine what they would do next or how would they evolve as a couple.... I mean, there's nothing wrong about them together, but it wasn't as fun as it was before and the emotional aspects no longer seemed as solid as the promise of them... I can't explain better. Anyway, in spite of my personal issues, of course it was a general good addition to the series. 

Now one book is missing, I hope it will be good, although one of the main characters, someone we've seen before in the series, doesn't inspire me much confidence, let's see...

Grade: 7/10

Paige Tyler - Hungry Like the Wolf

The Dallas SWAT team is hiding one helluva secret . . . they're a pack of wolf shifters.

The team of elite sharpshooters is ultra-secretive—and also the darlings of Dallas. This doesn't sit well with investigative journalist Mackenzie Stone. They must be hiding something . . . and she's determined to find out what.
Keeping Mac at a distance proves impossible for SWAT team commander Gage Dixon. She's smart, sexy, and makes him feel alive for the first time in years. But she's getting dangerously close to the truth—and perilously close to his heart...

Comment: This is another book which has been too long in the pile. To be honest, my intention in reading it was more to get it out of the pile and not a real eagerness for the story but I still hoped to be surprised...

Mackenzie Stone is a journalist who is after a good story and she just knows that there is something going with the Dallas SWAT team. Something weird is happening and not only because they all seem to deal with the missions wit perfect results. Her persistence pays off and she is able to interview the team and visit their compound one day but nothing prepared for the impact of being so close to Gage Dixon, the team's commander. When she and her cameraman finally go inside, they discover a tight team, men who are good friends but the tour of the place seems to hide nothing... but Mac won't give up and when Gage asks her for dinner, she plans on learning as much as she can...

Once upon a time, specifically two decades ago, a story like this would have been great and appealing to me. Now, despite nothing wrong with the writing itself, I was simply bored and disappointed because after years reading about other worlds featuring paranormal plots, this one fell short.

This story feels very contained, in the sense that the characters are part of a very confined setting and what happens beyond doesn't seem to matter nor play any role. For instance, we only have details about the main characters and the setting in which they are, nothing about their lives apart from the SWAT compound, nor about their personalities. Everything feels very superficial and I know I'm now a reader who prefers more layers and more complexity to the main characters, including their friends and so on.

Despite this, I wanted to cheer for the characters and whatever they would deal with, considering that it seemed the main point of this novel would be to present the werewolves as existing in the world and how Mac would react to this fact, both as a journalist and as a person who would become romantically involved with one. Regarding this, I was fine with her professional reaction, it isn't difficult to imagine her surprise, but as someone pursuing a romance, of course this story felt like it didn't offer enough vital information.

The only thing I recall about werewolves is that someone can become one after going though a traumatic situation and if they have a certain gene. OK, but apart from this, nothing else is mentioned about werewolves, nothing whatsoever related to their culture/existence and this lack of world building felt so ridiculous that I thought to myself what was the point! These guys could have been regular human and that would be enough, why include the werewolf idea if it was only going to be used in one scene or two? I was certainly spoiled by other series throughout the years where being a werewolf was important/special.

When Mac and the cameraman went to the compound to investigate, I felt sad this wasn't such a big deal as I imagined. It was also disappointing to see that there wasn't even any chemistry between the main characters and that not even the hints at her being the one for Gage - apparently the way they think of their mate - (I also hoped the cameraman could be THE one for one of the other guys but checking out the blurbs of other books, I suppose the author never considered m/m relationships in this series) were enough to make reading about them something special. The characters were very bland and they could have been anyone.

The biggest plot challenge is something to do with some bad guys who want to attack Gage and Mac at some point but I'll be very honest: I didn't pay attention, and it didn't seem I've missed much by not doing so, because the whole goal with this was to "force" Gage to protect Mac and reveal his werewolf side to her. I mean.... this is it, they kind of fight because she is still thinking about it being a good story but of course true love wins. Sadly to me, this isn't a memorable story, especially in the PNR genre, although some elements were clearly a missed opportunity. 

I can't say this is a bad story, but it isn't distinctive either. I don't plan on reading the other books.

Grade: 5/10

Irina Shapiro - Murder at the Orpheus Theatre

She looks hardly more than a child, sleeping, her lashes long and thick as they rest against her rounded cheeks. But in the flickering gaslight, she is unnaturally still…
For Inspector Sebastian Bell and nurse Gemma Tate, a night at the theater becomes a deadly spectacle when the two lead actors are found dead on the stage, murdered before a stunned audience. Drawn into a shadowy backstage world, they encounter a cast of suspects, each with desperate secrets to hide…
Sebastian is determined to get justice, and to keep Gemma safe from the dangerous killer circling the cobbled streets of Covent Garden. But she is already too deeply involved, and, in a world where everyone wears a mask, could she have trusted the wrong person…?

Comment: This is the 4th installment in the Bell and Tate series by Irina Shapiro, following a police detective and a nurse as they investigate and solve crimes in the late 19th century, which I've been buddy reading lately.

In this new adventure, detective Bell needs to look into the death of two actors, on stage. Many witnesses in the audience saw nothing strange, including Gemma and the lady she is taking care of, as well as her employer. When the investigation begins, it doesn't seem the deceased had any cause to have been murdered but apparently that is exactly what happened. As the clues slowly start piling up, Sebastian and Gemma realize the world of the theater isn't as fake as it is made to seem, and everyone is hiding quite an amount of very real secrets... but why would the killer risk such a public killing?

Now that my friend and I have read four books, I think I can safely say I have a pretty good idea on what the author's style is and how the formula might go in each new book. I have thought all the books to be enjoyable, in terms of plot, and hopeful in my expectations of what will happen romantically between Gemma and Sebastian. In fact, regarding this element, in this book they finally talk and agree that their future will be brighter if they will spend it together, which will happen as soon as Gemma is out of mourning for her brother.

However, there's always this weird sensation that something isn't working as well as I'd want, at least to make this a much more seductive series, as I have thought others to be. I do like the mix of historical elements in a crime investigation and romance, even though it seems mrs Shapiro's goals are more centered on the plot's details and not as much on the main character's personal lives. Personally, I prefer the focus to be on the protagonists but I suppose this isn't a big deal if all the parts work out.

The thing is, in this series, unlike others I have enjoyed or are still ongoing, the tone is definitely a little bleak and the hopeful, cozy, warm feelings I tend to add to my usual experience aren't always present here. Sebastian and Gemma live in a moment and time in which their social situation seems to be a little unfair and complicated to change. They can't find easy/financial solutions to some of their issues and this, correctly, affects their way of seeing life. I kind of wish they could be more carefree.

Still, this would be just one more thing, if not for something I've noticed while reading this book. For the most part, with the usual exceptions, what probably has added more issues to my enjoyment of the series as a whole is probably this: pretty much all important secondary characters seem to be unlikable or face impossible situations. In general, besides the main couple, there is only one or two characters per book we can see positively, such as Gemma's employer. The other characters all have something to make me characterize them as unpleasant. It makes for a strenuous reading.

This said, the plot in this book was interesting, of course, mainly in how the connections between the characters lead them to discover who killed the actors. I will confess that I found the method to be a little far fetched for the motivation of the killer and that when we find out the reasons, they seem way more basic than the behavior suggested. Still, the way the pieces were placed together was intriguing and the final scenes and epilogue compensated for some injustices and unfairness throughout the novel.

I will keep reading, because I do want to see the main couple be happy and because my buddy read friend is also on board, but I will also admit that if not for this, I would not be too sad if I weren't to continue.

Grade: 7/10

Kerry Barrett - The Bookshop of Secrets

In a bookshop nestled in the sprawling streets of Lisbon, a shopkeeper leads a double life…
Looking for a new start after her father’s death, Lara Hope arrives in Lisbon in search of a family she’s never met.
As war storms across Europe, Lara finds solace and belonging in her landlady’s tranquil bookshop in one of the most beautiful corners of the city.
But when she witnesses a customer secretly swapping a book, she realises the bookshop is not all it seems. Lara is plunged into a labyrinthine world of mystery and facades, encountering new friends, an unexpected romance, and even royalty… Is she prepared to risk it all for this new life?

Comment: Close to the end of last year, I was browsing online to pick possible Christmas' gifts and stumbled on this book. I was immediately seduced by the idea of a story set in Portugal, even if it was in the late 1930s, just so I could see places I know represented. I was also keen on the whole bookshop idea, even though I had not read anything by the author, so I've got this one for myself instead of to give it away.

Lara is the daughter of a man who loved the theater and who also loved Portugal, the country, so much that he married a Portuguese woman and they went on to live in England. Sadly, Lara's father recently died and she is ready to travel to Portugal to learn more about her Portuguese family, since her mother lost contact with them when she moved to England. However, things don't go very well for Lara and after an unfortunate event, she sees herself in need to work to gain money so she can buy a passage back to England. In the meantime, she works in a bar and in a bookshop, where she stars having contact with very special people...

I suppose I now understand why such a recent release, even in paperback, wasn't too expensive to get. I'm afraid that the writing style of this book makes it feel very dull and juvenile, and I had a hard time enjoying it. Not even the Portuguese references won it for me...

The story starts off quite well, with protagonist Lara following her father's advice to seek her family in Portugal, namely in Lisbon, and how this would help her come to terms to what her parents' relationship was, since her mother lost contact with her Portuguese family when she went to England. Since this is set around the time WWII was starting, the reaching out could not depend on digital methods, but I was curious to see how the Portuguese setting would be depicted.

Sadly, the same day she arrives in Lisbon, Lara learns that her mother's family no longer lives where her father thought they did and no one knows where they went, thus right there this is one part of the plot out of the picture. The day after, Lara is ready to go back to England but, tragedy!, her passport and money are stolen and now she has to work to get money to pay for those things... but thankfully she is able to start a job at a bar.

We move on a few months and Lara is still at the bar, and is both entertained by learning Portuguese and imitating people, a talent she has since she is an actress and when she goes back home, she will seek this as a career. But, no, it isn't this easy because her boss catches her "performing" for a bunch of Nazis, since they are everywhere, in their attempt to control Europe. Anyway, this makes it so that Lara is dismissed and then starts working at a bookshop, an element I was tremendously interested in.

Sadly once more, this isn't much of a deal either because there isn't much plot related to the actual bookshop, but mostly about Bea, the owner, and how she is somehow involved with spying for the Resistance, which leads Lara to be in the middle of this too, and what luck, her acting skills will come in handy again. Then, there's a plan to deceive the Nazis, which involves mingling with duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, and Otto, a Nazi officer who is actually a double agent Lara finds charming...

Now, seriously. This was.... juvenile, to use a nice word. I can see why it might appeal to some readers (and it does, looking at so many positive reviews out there) but to me it wasn't a good experience, because the plot was senseless at times, Lara was not always very aware of what she should be doing, and was actually inane most of the time, considering the time period, the secondary characters were not developed at all, and the writing lacked depth.

The bookshop wasn't that important, the Portuguese references, while interesting to me for value's sake, also didn't matter much in the big scheme of things, and the end was very disappointing. There wasn't even a memorable or valid romance possibility to make it worthwhile. I'm sorry to say but this author clearly isn't for me. 

The cover is beautiful, though.

Grade: 3/10

Helen Paris - Lost Property

One lost purse. One lost woman.
A chance encounter that changes everything.
Dot Watson has lost her way. Wracked with guilt and struggling with grief, she has tucked herself away in the London Transport Lost Property office, finding solace in the process of cataloguing misplaced things. It's not glamorous or exciting, but it's solitary - just the way Dot likes it.
That is, until elderly Mr Appleby walks through the door in search of his late wife's purse and Dot immediately feels a connection to him. Determined to help, she sets off on an extraordinary journey, one that could lead Dot to reclaim her life and find where she truly belongs...

Comment: One more case of me not remembering why I've added this book to the pile. Must have seen something positive about it somewhere...

In this book we meet Dot Watson, who works for the lost and found section of the public transports system in London (or its official nomination which I might have forgotten) and she takes her work very seriously, unlike some of her co workers. Things at work have been predictable just like she prefers, while at home she is still mourning her father and dealing with the fact her mother is now at an hospice home, considering her dementia. Things with her sister haven't been great either, but Dot carries on with all these things until the day her boss announces he is leaving and the replacement is someone who shouldn't be given the this task. One thing leads to the other and, suddenly, Dot has a lot to ponder and finally deal with... but will she be able to do so?

I was ready to enjoy this story and discover what would make it a good one, but I must say that it wasn't, in general, as great as I imagined, even though there are some elements that on its own were quite compelling and interesting.

Dot is a fascinating character, quite layered and with plenty to analyze if one thinks about all the little things that make her who she is. Dot is still mourning her father, who she worshiped, in a way, even in detriment of her mother, who always seemed to prefer her sister Phillipa way more. In a way, this made Dot see her father as "her" parent, while Phillipa was their mother's, and that is why she took it so hard when her father died, which we learn at some point, wasn't due to age or an accident.

Now, her mother is in a home, which is the best for her health but there is a need to sell the house, although Dot lives there but she isn't ready to move on, although one of Dot's most treasured possession is her collection of touristic guides to other places she dreams of one day visiting. However, her work is pretty stagnated, even though she takes pride in what she does.In fact, she feels it's her duty to preserve the lost things so that one day the owners can get them again. I suppose I could go on with the metaphor of what this symbolizes for Dot, but it got to a point in the story, right when something sudden happens, that made me realize I really wasn't that eager to learn about Dot's layers.

Things started to feel a little boring to me, if I want to be honest. The writing style is clearly one we would find in any woman's fiction story, and I do tend to like these sometimes, but the juxtaposition between what Dot is going through and processing, and what happens in her life just felt too much and I struggled to focus on what elements should be more important. The themes aren't new and I think all had its appeal, but the development didn't win me over completely.

Dot is a great person and I could certainly understand why she felt she got to an impossible point, once she learns something she never imagined, about who her father really was in their family. Psychologically, this was a fascinating story and made Dot way more interesting to follow, but what surrounds her, and the whole job stuff just failed to make an impression on me. Sometimes, I felt that she could have had any other job that for her journey as a character, it wouldn't change much.

There are secrets being unveiled and there is even a slight romantic interest, mostly only alluded at, not really pertinent, but the mix of all these elements never felt truly rewarding for the amount of time we spend having them part of the plot. I also think the blurb implies at a story that will ultimately be a "feel good" one, and in reality there are more moments with sad/melancholic situations and emotions, than the other way around. It's not as if I mind it, exactly, but then the choice of certain scenes and situations feels irrelevant.

As a whole, this wasn't a bad story, but I don't think it's one I'd want to re-read, and not because of the themes. The execution just feels off here and there and there were times where the focus seemed to be on the wrong details.

Grade: 6/10

Jenn Burke - House on Fire

He’s done fighting his attraction to the sexy vampire…
To say former firefighter Colin Zhang is struggling to accept his new life would be a vast understatement. He’s bound to a vampire he didn’t choose, living in a house filled with creatures better left to the imagination—there’s a lot to resent. As much as he tries, he doesn’t resent Evan—far from it. But he needs to know that what he feels is real and that requires breaking their bond. No matter the cost.
Vampire private investigator Evan Fournier is more than willing to explore his connection with Colin, but the crisis at hand keeps getting in the way. Their bond makes it dangerous for them to be apart, so he’s forced to put the other man at risk while he investigates the latest in a series of murders. If he doesn’t find the killer soon, the paranormal community will seek retribution on all humans, not just the guilty ones.
As the tensions escalate, Evan and Colin find solace in each other and their growing attraction. But if their bond is broken, attraction—even love—might not be enough to keep them safe.

Comment: This is the second installment in the Ashes & Dust trilogy by author Jenn Burke, a follow up trilogy to another one, titled Not Dead Yet.

In this second story, Evan and Colin are still bonded, after the events in book #1 but the situation is tricky for Colin feels he isn't being much help and it's not as if he can simply do something else. For Evan, this isn't so bad, but he is the one who has a steady job to do. Then, surprisingly, Colin discovers something that happened while he was taken by the villain of the previous book, something that should have changed his life if he hadn't been taken. Now, Colin has other issues to deal with but a new problem starts in the midst of the paranormal community, someone is posting videos outing some people as paranormals. This will likely create fear among humans, and something must be done to prevent it being general knowledge. Who is behind this and why? How will this affect Colin and Evan's relationship?

This did feel like a very predictable middle book, to be honest, in the sense that some things happened but weren't decisive enough for the story to feel set on what needs to be done. Still, we do learn a few interesting things, which was great, but to me the story was somewhat lacking and I'll probably think that this book and the third would have been great if combined.

The plot is focused on two issues: the threat to the paranormal community and what exposure would do to everyone, and the status of the relationship between Evan and Colin. I can understand why the author wanted to delay the development of the romance, but the way things are presented makes the romance feel too secondary and almost superficial. It also doesn't help that Evan is the only narrator and by not having Colin's POV, there are too many things that don't seem to have enough attention.

The romance is certainly a let down, I will confess. It seems that Evan is moving at a quicker speed than Colin, and to make things even more awkward, Colin is coming out of a coma-like experience and before that, and hie new paranormal abilities, he had a hetero relationship. Of course he can identify as bi, but the thing here is that he doesn't really have time to adjust to his new life, at the same time he is dealing with the bond effect. I can understand him having doubts about the future, because there are too many unknowns for him, and in this story he discovers a new detail. Having all this from Evan's POV alone feels a little too limited, in my opinion.

The elements related to the paranormal groups are interesting, although the whole video thing seems way more hassling than the plot conveys. It's not hard to guess whoever is behind this is also somehow involved with the events that took place in the first book, but I kind of wanted more action, which added to my impression of this second book being too much of a "bridge". I also got easily distracted by the series of situations, sometimes unrelated, to which we had to pay attention. I think too much was going on and what we had wasn't given enough closure for the plot.

Yes, I know there is still a final book in which most things will be solved and explained, but that is also why this one felt too much like a transition book. I think the author could have written things differently for all elements to combine better. When the attacks on the paranormal community are "explained" to the public and then for the sake of the main characters, several things made sense but I wasn't overly impressed by what happened.

All things considered, this wasn't a bad story, despite what my words make it seem. I liked being with these characters and seeing where they are going with their lives and reading about what they do to have a good life just like everyone else. But I kind of expected more from this book anyway... the mix of romance and plot here just felt a little weak than in other things I've read by the author.

Grade: 7/10

Herbert Le Porrier - The Doctor From Cordova

The Doctor from Cordova (originally published in French as Le Docteur de Cordoue) is a 1979 biographical novel by Herbert Le Porrier that tells the life story of the renowned 12th-century Jewish philosopher, physician, and Torah scholar, Maimonides.

Comment: I got this book for a symbolic price on the purchase of a newspaper, several years ago. The newspaper had this initiative of "offering" a collection of historical romances if one were to buy the newspaper. The "offer" is not really an offer of course, but it did cost less than if one were to buy the book on a bookshop, plus the covers were all similar and I liked the idea of seeing them in the shelf.

Moses Maimonides, a possible name for this real life man, who was born in the 12th century, is the key character of this novel, narrated by him, as if he is dictating a letter to one of his disciples. In this text, he tells his story, namely of how he was born in a Jewish family in Cordova, Spain, and how everything changed when the Muslims conquered the region and forced conversions or death on those who were not of the same faith. Moses and his father and younger brother have to flee and seek another life somewhere else...

This is a short book and that helped to motivate me to pick it up now, but I will say I was positively impressed by it. Before this, I confess I had not heard of this doctor/philosopher, someone who was what we would call a trailblazer in his time, and it was a reward on itself to read about him and his ideas, at the same time I was learning a bit more about the period of time and the events mentioned. Nowadays, we are lucky to have internet to help investigate stuff if it catches our fancy!

I had not heard of the author either, thus, for clarification, the author was born in a region which is now in Ukraine, wrote this in the 1970s, using research to create a fictional life for a man who was referenced in many texts but of whom we don't have any official information beyond those references. The book is narrated as if by Moses himself and the author included not only possible events Moses saw and lived through, but also many personal moments and thoughts which are likely an interpretation.

I think what made me appreciate this book more was the fact the author perfectly blended his ideas and the descriptions of what he was going through. Moses was a Jewish man, believer and from a traditional family and when so many situations placed them in a position in which they couldn't live their faith as they thought was their duty, this placed a heavy burden on their shoulders and, perhaps, this is the origin of so much of his need to do research, to study, to match his beliefs with others. While reading, I kept thinking that, in so many centuries, we still fight nowadays over who is more right in thinking their God is the One.

I especially liked the philosophical ideas Moses presented because, being religious, some of his thoughts were certainly not seen well by many, but from a logical POV, many things make sense and are still quite viable to out contemporary way of analytical thinking. This is especially interesting when we think Moses was a doctor, at a time so much depended on the texts of former people such as Herodotus, and while understandable, some things still make me wonder how easier it would have been if certain things in the world of medicine had been made clear so long ago...

In fact, there were a few details I felt compelled to investigate, namely about some references which didn't ring a bell, and let us just say that my comprehension about certain diseases became a lot richer. To me, this was really the fascinating part, to read something that made me think and made me interested enough to seek some further information or even clarification on this or that word/concept. It's not an easy book, in the sense that it's more a book to think and link to historical events, but to me it was rewarding enough.

Grade: 7/10

Shaun Bythell - The Diary of a Bookseller

Shaun Bythell owns The Bookshop, Wigtown - Scotland's largest second-hand bookshop. It contains 100,000 books, spread over a mile of shelving, with twisting corridors and roaring fires, and all set in a beautiful, rural town by the edge of the sea. A book-lover's paradise? Well, almost ...
In these wry and hilarious diaries, Shaun provides an inside look at the trials and tribulations of life in the book trade, from struggles with eccentric customers to wrangles with his own staff, who include the ski-suit-wearing, bin-foraging Nicky. He takes us with him on buying trips to old estates and auction houses, recommends books (both lost classics and new discoveries), introduces us to the thrill of the unexpected find, and evokes the rhythms and charms of small-town life, always with a sharp and sympathetic eye.

Comment: This is another buddy read choice for me and my friend. Books about books or somehow related to books are also something we enjoy, thus why this one got on our list.

In this non-fiction diary, the author and bookseller Shaun Bythell shares several episodes of the life in his bookshop in Scotland, namely the joys and struggles of what it means to own a second hand bookshop, and the the interaction with the costumers. 

I liked this book merely because it is about a theme I appreciate and most things book related tend to interest and entertain me. I also liked that the author references several books and that he, too, reads some books and talks about them sometimes. I was also amused to see the mention of Jen Campbell's Weird Things Costumers Say in Bookshops, which I have read and enjoyed, so this was a plus I found charming. As someone who also works with public (sadly, not among books), some entries were just too realistic and one needs to find fun where it exists....

The book is presented in a diary format, with the indication of the days of the week, and the amount of money the shop made each day. The author also tells many things about his life, namely how much he enjoys fishing, and several situations related to the way the shop functions, how he helps prepare a book festival and how tricky it is to deal with those who work at the shop, considering their quirks and personalities. I liked all these things and, for the most part, the personal information was interesting, but I did expect - perhaps because of other books I had read about the life in bookshops - more examples of the fun things people say.

In fact, apart from some episodes, most of the references to people's actions were not centered on the random clients, but on repetitive ones, such as mr Deacon, and on people who interacted with Shaun daily, like Nicky, the quirky woman who works at the bookshop, and many other people who live in Wigtown and who are part of the community's life and routines. I liked these slices of life from all the people mentioned, often they were charming enough to be compelling, but sometimes it felt a little intrusive.

I liked the many facts related to how one goes being a bookshop owner, especially a second-handed one, and how much Shaun appreciated the "hunt" for special or unique books among the many people wanted to sell to him. Since the bookshop is in Scotland, there are countless references to books about things in this country, especially books on railways, fauna, flora, artists and many other things. I've found this delightful, but in a kind of distant way, you know, for many things weren't easy tor elated to, obviously.

It is also beyond glaring how much Shaun dislikes amazon but, at the same time, the business needs to deal with them. I understand that he, as many other booksellers out there for certain, has serious reasons to have this opinion, and it is his right to not hide it, and I liked it that he explained some things about this works and how the progress of ebooks and mostly the progress of how internet made it so simple for anyone at home to do what they want, making some jobs obsolete. Shaun often mentions how rewarding it feels to have people asking things, or buying books through the shop and not just browsing to order them online later.

I can see why some readers found this book to be a little depressing... the author does not hide the struggles nor the thoughts of why it would be so much easier to not carry on, and this can, sometimes, make for a slightly melancholic read, since it isn't as focused on cute or amusing scenes, but I still enjoyed it for what it is and, if possible, I'd read the sequel one day.

Grade: 7/10

Sophie Beaumont - The Paris Cooking School

Life rarely serves up the perfect dish, but second chances are always on the menu
There’s nothing quite so beautiful as Paris in the spring; and when you add in the chance to learn the French way of food, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, who can resist? Not Gabi Picabea or Kate Evans who have come from Australia to Sylvie Morel’s Paris Cooking School.
Both are at a crossroads, and learning to cook the French way in Paris, far away from all their troubles, seems like the perfect escape.
Still bruised from a shocking betrayal by her ex-husband, Kate is trying to find a new place for herself in life, and emotional peace, while French-Australian artist Gabi is struggling with a crippling creative block.
Meanwhile, Sylvie herself is facing challenges of her own – a mysterious harassment campaign against the School and a reassessment of her relationship with her commitment-shy lover Claude.
For each of the women, that extraordinary April in Paris will bring unexpected twists and transformations that will change the course of their lives.
A delectable novel about love, hope and the consolations of the perfect strawberry tart, The Paris Cooking School is a treat for the soul.

Comment: I brought this book from the library because the blurb seemed interesting and I imagined it would be a sweet story.

The Culinary School of Paris is a project imagined to give those who attend a true Parisian experience to learn about cooking, especially for those who are amateurs. Sylvie Morel, the owner, is proud of her life work but things haven't been great lately, and her relationship with her partner Claude is stagnated. Still, she welcomes the new students, among which Kate and Gabi, who both seek to learn more and to have a different experience in life. However, despite the things they all have in common, each one has to deal with a different challenge... will this experience be what they look for after all?

This was a sweet story, that is true, because the characters are easy to like and dislike depending on their personalities, and the narrative was pleasant and easy to follow... the issue is that there wasn't much to it, emotionally. The plot is easy but bland and the characters are likable but not as dimensional as I think the story merited.

There are three main characters in this story, three women who meet because of the school and whose lives will mix in unexpected ways. At first Sylvie is only a mentor but as things progress all of them become closer and the experiences they have individually also contribute for their understanding of each other's issues and the dynamics of who they are in the school. I think the whole school situation was not as developed as I thought. Yes, there are many references to what they do there but not in such a way I think it should, if the school is the location which brings everyone together.

All three women are interesting but not more beyond that. I really think the writing style isn't vibrant nor stimulating enough to being everyone to life or for the issues they face to be seen as urgent as it is made to seem. Sadly, this ended up being a very superficial story. I'm not saying this should have been more dramatic or something, but there is certainly some element of seriousness to what we see that is missing. The characters aren't as dimensional as they could, for instance.

Sylvie, the school's owner, is dealing with some online nuisance, then a partner who she isn't in love anymore and a son who decides to live and marry abroad. She also finally sees her neighbor for who he is for her, sentimentally. There's a lot to unpack here, but it's all very straight and narrow in how is presented, as of the author had a list of things to accomplish and say, and that was it. There was no special emotion linked to this character and her struggles besides the basics.

Gabi is at the school to learn more about french cuisine, since it means something to her parents, and in the process she falls in love with Max, a cheese expert, but their relationship is tested when it becomes known he comes from a very distinguished family and there is pressure for her to see how unsuitable they are. Of course, this break up doesn't last long and they get together again... I mean, this was cute and they do get along, but it's predictable and superficial....nothing about these two is remarkable.

Kate is the other main character, someone dealing with the end of a relationship and what it meant for a business she had with her ex. She likes cooking, like the others and she randomly meets a guy who lives in a boat and they are perfect for each other after some obstacles.... I liked Kate most of all, as a character, but the issues she is dealing with seem very forgettable and her characterization doesn't seem to evolve much from the life lessons she is supposedly learning. Her journey is cute but that's it.

It was very easy to read this book, and there are certainly many references to food, to cooking, to produce and many things that did make my mouth water just thinking about the possibility of trying some of them. I think the end was also cute enough and some of the (very) mild secrets ongoing were quickly solved. All the ladies end with a new romance. I mean, this was super predictable and average and I'm glad it was a library book because it wasn't very impressive as a reading material, so I appreciate I don't feel I "wasted" money.

All in all, this story lacked depth for me to enjoy it more. There were some interesting elements, yes, mainly the food references and it was fun to remember some Parisian locations, since I've visited as well, but the fictional part was definitely lacking.

Grade: 5/10