Min Jin Lee - American Hagwon

John and Helen Koh and their three children – Bo, DH and Mido – are building new lives in Korea when they find their worlds upended, first by a terrible betrayal and then by the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Striving to regain their footing, the Kohs set out to do whatever it takes to provide for their children’s futures.
They leave Seoul for Sydney and eventually settle in California, where new opportunities open for the Koh children, as the parents, strangers in a strange land, adjust to a difficult existence in which their qualifications mean little. Their way forward is lit by the faith that education will lead the next generation to the success and security that have eluded their parents.
The Kohs, their friends, relatives and even their foes move in and out of each other’s lives as they navigate love, work, fortune and fulfilment across the years. But with each new sacrifice and fresh horizon, larger questions begin to open up before them: what are we willing to give up to secure the happiness of the ones we love? What is the purpose of education? And what is truly important for a good life?

Comment: This is a very recent release but I was lucky enough to have a good friend who gifted it to me and I just could not wait so, here it is.

The Koh family is back to Seoul due to John's work but things aren't easy for all the family members, in particular to Mido, the youngest child and only daughter. Still, everyone adjusts and things seem to go well enough, in spite of the financial restrictions every family member has to adapt to. However, the Asian crisis an a few other issues force the family to leave once more, this time to Australia and later on California. But throughout all change and adaptation the family remains close, even when faced with some adversity or another because, after all, the sacrifices to be made will help the children have the education and the opportunities their parents could not have, right?

This is yet another epic tale from the author who marveled so many readers with Pachinko. I knew this book would not be similar in terms of content, but I totally expected to be impressed as I had been with that other book. In a way, this story was not as passionately delivered but somehow it marveled me more.

The story seems to be based on a very simple and almost bland premise: the Koh family faces conquests and adversity in their lives during the years between 1992 and 2007. Of course, nothing is this simple and we see them going through many ups and downs and I will confess, having read Pachinko before and remembering all the sadness there, even among the good things, made me wary of what this story would offer but, thankfully to me, nothing terrible happens. Or, better, nothing that devastates me to the point of despair. There were sad situations and I did cry sometimes, but it was an endurable thing, just seeing life moving on for these characters...

The big theme is education. The author took years of research about how education is perceived in Korea, Australia and the US, having acknowledged in a note at the end of the book the huge amount of sources and people she spoke with. The thing is, all this is inserted in this fictional story in such a way that rarely did I think about the most non fictional information. Still, after a book with 640 pages, can I summarize all the ideas/methods presented and say one is better? Social and cultural context is everything...and I think the author did a good job giving the information.

Obviously, the story isn't only about this, and there are plenty of layers into several things, regarding every character, whether they are in a specific country. I felt immersed in the lives of these people and in seeing them succeeding, even when ill intended people did things that caused the Kohs difficulties and when wronged. At the same time, I feel very glad the author never did anything to them in terms of personal disgraces. The Khos remain good people, close and always looking for to one another.

I know this sounds boring to some readers, that at least one of the five main family members should have had a more impactful personality/situation ongoing but I actually loved they are not corruptible in any way. This, however, doesn't mean they are just bland people because each one has flaws and while reading these flaws were always rather simple to watch, But they remain good people, someone one can root for and I liked it that even when things didn't go well, they remained faithful to their family and to their values.

The author was terribly good in conveying a huge range of emotions throughout the novel, even when seemingly unimportant situations were going on. I felt emotional about several things, about several discussions and point of view presented. Perhaps the lives of these characters might seem superficial for some readers, but to me the complexity of what was being said and how the characters dealt with things was pure gold. I feel nostalgic already, simply on thinking about the events in this book and how they affected everyone. Elements in close families aren't islands.... the victory and the misery of one can affect all of them....

This is a very rich story, at so many elements, mainly culturally and socially, but there's something about the whole that worked out for me well. Yes, I would adjust one or two elements to better suit me, but this will remain a memorable read, for certain.

Grade: 9/10

Debra Webb - The Last Lie Told

Legal investigator Finley O’Sullivan searches for evidence the police overlooked, wading through secrets, lies, and betrayal to find answers. With the unsolved murder of her husband still very much on her mind, Finley must confront her own personal trauma on a daily basis. Lies are part of her livelihood, but they’re also the reason she can’t get justice for the man she loved.
When a man imprisoned for murder recants his confession, claiming he cleaned up the mess for his girlfriend—the victim’s own daughter—Finley takes on the case. She discovers the victim had identical twin daughters…and the sisters have very different accounts of the crime.
As she dives headlong into the twins’ traumatic past, Finley will have to contend with her own demons to get to the truth—before it’s too late.

Comment: I decided to get this book because I saw it in a list of other recommendations for titles which would include some kind of legal trial. Somehow, this is a theme that catches my eye!

Finlay is a lawyer in probation and after an unexpected meltdown during a trial she is now working as an investigator for a new firm, led by her mentor Jack. When her boss accepts to represent Sophia and her twin daughters in a very complex case, Finley is eager to look for the answers necessary. At the same time, she is also having to look into the death of her husband, murdered in their house, because she is finally told some things that she unaware of in regards to his past. However, her being a known person in the area along with a sensationalist case might not help.... will Finley be able to connect the dots in time?

I will say that I didn't have many expectations about this book but while in the process of reading, I realized that this is a very prolific author, with many books published and, according to some readers, this might mean something in regards to writing consistency. I cannot compare, for this is the first book I try by the author, but I think I can understand this idea because while the story has some good elements, the big picture just didn't fully work for me.

I was interested in this book due to the legal content and I thought this would include a courtroom trial being part of the plot, but things didn't happen as I pictured. In a way, this means I was a little disappointed over some plot choices, but my biggest issue ended up being the confusion of situations depicted and the reason is simple, I just didn't feel the writing grabbed me, everything was a little superficial and cliched at times.

Finley seemed to be a likable character for the most part and I think the author managed to keep the mystery in regards to her and how many layers we could peel off as the story developed, especially when her marriage was not as plain as it looked like, and that her professional meltdown wasn't described with detail. It was also intriguing that she didn't have a good relationship with her mother and the fact she is a judge, thus is part of the professional sphere Finely belongs to as well seemed another good detail.

The plot started of well, the case about the mother and the twins and all the secondary characters Finley had to interview and investigate seemed interesting. However, as things progressed, I started noticing that some elements were there mostly for suitability and drama factor, and not a real organic need for the story to go in that direction. I started feeling less interested as things moved on and it finally got the a point I was just reading to finish and to know who the villain was, not because I really interested in the story in general.

Reading some reviews has alerted me to some inconsistencies in the legality of some situations, in how how certain things should really work and happen if it was real life. Usually, I don't mind these things unless it's something terribly glaring, but this time a few details were very obvious and then I thought if I really cared that much and I must say that no, not always. Also, all characters, Finley somehow included, started to loose likability the more I read about them. These things together made for a slightly poor novel I'm afraid.

I wasn't dazzled by the writing but the plot did have a few interesting situations... until the end. I stuck to this because I wanted to know who was the bad guy but the explanation was very badly done and extremely predictable because of how the story was written. Unrealistic ending. Then, it became obvious this was part of a series (a trilogy in fact) when the situation about her dead husband wasn't solved, and other little things were left up in the air. Sadly, I don't plan on reading more to know what happened, so I've read a few reviews of the second and third books and that is enough.

Grade: 5/10

Cole Mccade - Over and Over Again

When Luca Ward was five years old, he swore he would love Imre Claybourne forever. Years later, that promise holds true--and when Luca finds himself shipped off to Imre's North Yorkshire goat farm in disgrace, long-buried feelings flare back to life. The lines around Imre's eyes may be deeper, the once-black night of his hair silvered to steel and stone . . . but he's still the same slow-moving mountain of a man whose quiet-spoken warmth, gentle hands, and deep ties to his Roma heritage have always, to Luca, meant home. The problem? Imre is more than twice Luca's age. And Luca's father's best friend. Yet if Imre is everything Luca remembered, for Imre this hot-eyed, fey young man is nothing of the boy he knew. Gone is the child, replaced by a vivid man whose fettered spirit is spinning, searching for north, his heart a thing of wild sweet pure emotion that draws Imre into the compelling fire of Luca's frustrated passions. That fragile heart means everything to Imre--and he'll do anything to protect it. But can he resist the allure in cat-green eyes when Luca places his trembling heart in Imre's hands . . . and begs for his love, over and over again?

Comment: I had added this book years ago after seeing a positive recommendation somewhere. In spite of it, something made me put off reading and I've decided it was finally time to see if the wait had been worth it or not.

Luca Ward is adrift, not really knowing what he wants to do with his life and the situation at home isn't the best either. His parents decide to send him to the countryside, where they used to live, to stay with Imre for a while. Imre is the best friend of Luca's father and Luca has always liked him, having fond memories of his childhood at this "uncle's" house. But while Imre hasn't changed and he is still the friendly and dedicated famer Luca remembers, he is also a very attractive man and Luca knows he is gay as well. At first he feels some reluctance to stay at his house, as if he is an unwanted child, but as the days go by, the closer he feels to Imre. But there is a considerable age gap between them... will Imre ever see him as who he is now? Is a relationship between them ever feel balanced?

This is a long book, and what I remember the most while reading is that it wouldn't be necessary. Yes, the main goal I'd say it that this is meant to be a slow burn and that the protagonists had to take time to develop a believable relationship in these circumstances, but there were also some moments in which everything felt a little repetitive and not as exciting as I suppose the author intended.

The setup isn't hard to imagine nor is the fact these two could feel attraction to one another. I also accept the way they (very) slowly talked and let the other understand what was on their mind, which led to a more or less believable relationship. I also liked the fact that Luca acted young as he is and that arriving at the farm calmed him down but did not give him the answers right away. I also could easily see how someone with Imre's personality and lifestyle - he is rather zen and has love and peace vibes - would want to have time to help Luca.

The romance between them is certainly different and not as common as that. I think that, to me, the most complicated idea to go through wasn't the age gap, which is considerable and includes all the big things that go into it, namely maturity levels and usually divergence in points of interest. To me, the most unlikely factor was that Luca as child had been so innocently in love with Imre and now, as a 19 year old, or 20, these feelings simply changed this easily. I mean, there are many TV shows out there with people telling about their weird obsessions and stuff, but... there were parts in this story that didn't always feel easy to see as plausible.

Then, of course, there's the issue of them being able to acknowledge their relationship. This never seemed to be a concern but in my opinion, it should be so, especially in such a small community as the one we see being described. Luca's father and his reactions also should have had more attention than just what happened and the expected worry while Luca and Imre were still debating if they could be a couple. I think Imre's personality was the main element that made me accept this whole thing as possible but, honestly, I also didn't really feel the romance was that believable.

In the end, this was a good story in some parts, a little boring in others, but I never thought of these characters as being larger than life or in such a way that I felt really invested in them or in their future. When I got to the end, it was mostly nice to have finished, rather than sad it was so.

Grade: 6/10

Nalini Singh - Atonement Sky

Justice-Psy Eleri Dias knows the end is near for her, her mind one step away from fatal psychic exposure. In the short time that remains, she is determined to atone for an act of omission that has haunted her for a long, cruel decade. But that decision not only means facing a powerful changeling wing leader, but also putting herself in the path of a serial killer.
Falcon wing leader Adam Garrett is fiercely protective of his family and his clan. After losing his parents as a teenager in a shocking act of malice, Adam has no forgiveness in him for the J-Psy who betrayed him, betrayed them, at the most painful moment of his life. But the evil that stalks his territory will allow him no respite, forcing him once more into contact with the J he has never been able to forget.
Everything that could've been between Eleri and Adam was lost years ago, a shimmering promise crushed. As they work to uncover a monster, the moment of reckoning looms ever closer. Soon, there may be no more time left for either atonement...or love...

Comment: This is the 9th installment in the Psy Changeling Trinity series or, if one wants to look at the broader side of things, the ongoing continuation of the original Psy Changeling series.

In this story Eleri Dias is back to Arizona, the place where WindHaven has their home, to hunt for a serial killer. As a J who is on the verge of Exposure, meaning her brain will fail, she is doing her best to atone for past mistakes, and to hunt killers is the way her small family of Js decides to end their lives.

Adam Garrett is the wing leader of his clan and he has lived all his life in prol of their well being, even with the heartbreak of losing his parents to an apparent accidental killing. He has both admired and loathed the J Psy who failed to stick to the justice demands their role implies. But now she is back and Adam thinks it's more than time to finally get what he wants. But will the killer prove to be smarter than they ever thought?

After so many years following the series, it is a given to say I'm a fan of this world and will likely read all the full length books the author releases. I cannot say this will be at the top of my favorites but it ended up being better than what it looked like in the beginning.

As often happens, this book can be read as a standalone, the structure and development allow for this to happen, but there some things that while not linearly or chronologically sequenced from previous books, only have importance in this context with the reader having read other books in this world. It's not required information, but some things only seem to matter if one knows why and that might not be gained totally from just reading this book.

Nevertheless, the plot works and is seemingly simple. Eleri is reaching the end of her life and she wants to atone for things she didn't have the power to do avoid before, when she was starting her career. The fall of Silence managed to help many Psy but it also accelerated the negative aspects for many, Js included. I could see her side of things and see why she would make such a choice with the options left for her.

Of course, this being a romance and in a fantasy world, there is a solution for her problem, one that seemed to have been a long time coming, in the big scheme of this world. I think that, in a way, this did tidy up some loose threads. If the author wanted to finish the series in, say two or three books, I think this one would have answered some doubts. Well, I hope that isn't the case but it's good to see some advance, especially after so many books.

Adam was actually a harder character to root for, even though he is changeling and these are usually the more expressive and expansive characters in this world. Yes, I feel sad for his losses and the weight on his shoulders but his personality wasn't particularly memorable. Perhaps this has something to do with the clan's minimal descriptions... we would need more books featuring this clan for their personalities to shine more, i'd say. I wish we had more about them and less serial killer hunting but...

Anyway, this did meet all the criteria for a good story and from half way everything seemed more interesting, there were more decisive situations and more interactions between characters, especially the changelings and Eleri and one of her J friends, Bram. In a way, this kind of settled this group of characters, in the sense I feel if no more stories featuring them were to happen, I feel happy enough with how things ended up there. But, of course, it would be nice to expand this clan and those who interact with them.

The romance between Eleri and Adam was very basic, for me. After past books where the Psy and Changeling differences were so well meshed, this time it felt like just one more example. It was still sweet yes, but not memorable level. Still, I feel glad for them.

The next book will feature an interesting couple. I hope the author really shows them in such a redeeming way that the romance feels perfect. I hope.

Grade: 7/10

Ellie Macdonald - Louisa

Louisa Brockhurst is on the run—from her friends, from her family, even from her dream of independence through the Governess Club. But sometimes it's easier for her to hide from those she loves in order to escape the secrets of her past.Handsome but menacing John Taylor is a prizefighter-turned-innkeeper who is trying to make his way in society. When Louisa shows up at his doorstep, he's quick to accept her offer to help—at a price. He knows that she's hiding something, and he can't help his protective instincts toward the beautiful woman.Their attraction grows, but will headstrong, fiery Louisa ever trust the surprisingly kind John enough to tell him the dangerous secrets from her past that keep her running? Or will the power of her feelings scare her into running yet again?

Comment: This is the last installment in the Governess Club series by Ellie Macdonald, featuring four friends who were governesses when they started the club.

Louisa is on the run again and seeing one more governess friend about to be married was the last straw for she knows the club won't last. After some weeks, she finds a new inn and offers to help cleaning in exchange of board and meals, which the owner John accepts. John used to be a fighter and has won many matches due to his size and build and it's because of his efforts he now is the owner of this inn, but he knows it does need a woman touch. At first he thinks Louisa isn't the most congenial of females but as the days go by, he finds her more and more intriguing. It also seems the feeling is mutual, but is Louisa ready to be honest and share her story with him?

Unfortunately, this ended up being my least favorite installment in the series. The books are novella sized, with all the restrictions that implies, but this time, more than the limit of characterization and plot brought the grade down. The thing is, I really disliked Louisa and that colored everything else.

It seemed to me that Louisa was very selfish in leaving her friends so suddenly and without any type of explanation, right at the end of the third book, and while her reasoning is based on something in her past which she feels was extremely grave - and it was, the way she saw it - I still think that by this time she had known her friends enough for their reaction to be something she could trust. This did paint her personality in such a way that I simply could not care much for her from then on.

The idea of her helping at the inn and than slowly but progressively become more and more a part of it was actually intriguing and a very clever way to allow her to find "peace", but between her attitude and the rather quick way John started having feelings for her, the whole thing felt a little unbalanced. Then, and call me a prude, her way of seeing John as someone ideal to have an easy affair with, no matter any conversation about feminine power and disregard for social norms, just made me see her in an even lower way. I would have preferred their romance to be set on a more traditional way, considering this is an historical setting.

Then, at some point of course she is finally in a situation in which she needs to be honest and her past catches up to her. Unsurprisingly, her past deeds aren't as terrible as she made them to seem and she is somewhat redeemed. However, I still didn't like her personality and attitude and even when the HEA happens, my main thought was that the story was over.

In general, I don't think I'll remember this series that fondly in the future and will likely not re-read, even if it were to be just favorite scenes (of which I have none). There were positive elements, some hopeful ones, but as a whole, not as much.

Grade: 4/10

CS Harris - Why Mermaids Sing

In 1811, murder has jarred London's elite. The sons of prominent families have been found at dawn in public places, their bodies mutilated and strange objects stuffed into their mouths. Although Sebastian St. Cyr is distracted by his seemingly doomed relationship with actress Kat Boleyn, the oddness of these murders nags at him-and he becomes determined to track down the assassin, even at the risk of his own life.

Comment: This is the third installment in the Sebastian St Cyr series by CS Harris, a series I'm following.

In this story Sebastian is investigating the deaths of , now, two young men, all sharing some sort of body interference, but it doesn't seem there isn't any particular connection between except in the way of their deaths. However, as he investigates, and as the police learns new information, it seems there is a connection after all. But why these men as targets is the question, and it seems as if others might be in danger as well, if the killer isn't caught. Sebastian keeps investigating, although he also has some personal issues to deal with, but will he identify the culprit in time?

Someone told me that these books get better after a while, because I didn't find the first one to be as wonderful as I thought it would be. Now, I suppose this might be correct after all, because this one was a little more captivating to me, and the plot way more intense, even a little creepier I'd say.

The case being investigated seems simple at first, in the sense that the young men who were killed didn't have any link, so the killer might have been someone preying on random but convenient victims. The issue is that they were killed and then something was done to their bodies. It turns out that another young man had already been killed in a similar way but only now did the police link the several cases. But why targeting them when they didn't even know each other... of course the police and Sebastian quickly learn their fathers had shared a very specific event in the past, when a ship had a mutiny on board...

From this information on, the investigation became a lot more interesting but I admit that it also took quite a turn into something a little creepy (to me) and I was both eager to know what had really happened and dreading confirming it. What a way for the author to develop this story... one really needs to acknowledge authors' skill in planning and writing something with so much detail and elements that have to fit.

It turns out that the identity of the killer and finding that person isn't really the most intriguing element in this book, although that is the supposed end goal. To me, the most interesting element here is do learn if certain events actually happened and how that affected the main characters involved. In this regard, this story was definitely a lot more fascinating that the previous ones had been.

The accumulation of  information and the tension it originated were well done in this book, because at the same time things intensify for the case, the more things become known, the higher the tension in regards to Sebastian and Kat, the woman he is in love with and whom he plans to marry, if only she were to accept. Personally, I would prefer a different direction to this element and the way things play out might be easier to solve than what I imagined but... but then something major happens pertaining this and I really hope Sebastian can overcome its consequences (because I bet one day, who knows how many books later, he will learn the truth) without too much damage.

I'd still do some things differently, though, and I still wish the personal relationships didn't have to be so complicated and, mostly, negative/challenging as they are presented. I would prefer the family relationships, at least, to be a steadier point in Sebastian's life... will this ever happen, considering what his father and sister aren't telling him? Not to speak of his missing mother...

As a whole, this was a really engaging book and I'm looking for to read the next one.

Grade: 7/10

Susan Meissner - A Fall of Marigolds

September 1911. On Ellis Island in New York Harbor, nurse Clara Wood cannot face returning to Manhattan, where the man she loved fell to his death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Then, while caring for a fevered immigrant whose own loss mirrors hers, she becomes intrigued by a name embroidered onto the scarf he carries…and finds herself caught in a dilemma that compels her to confront the truth about the assumptions she’s made. Will what she learns devastate her or free her?
September 2011. On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, widow Taryn Michaels has convinced herself that she is living fully, working in a charming specialty fabric store and raising her daughter alone. Then a long-lost photograph appears in a national magazine, and she is forced to relive the terrible day her husband died in the collapse of the World Trade Towers…the same day a stranger reached out and saved her. Will a chance reconnection and a century-old scarf open Taryn’s eyes to the larger forces at work in her life?

Comment: Four years ago, I had read another book by this author which wasn't as great as I had hoped for, but I wondered if it had been a bad first pick. Now, I've finally decided to give another go at her writing and started this one, but I've finished with similar thoughts.

It's 1911 and emigrants arrive daily at Ellis Island. Clara Wood is a nurse there and it is her job to help with the process of them, for many might arrive ill or had been in ships where others had been ill. Clara loves her job and she feels she is being useful, especially because she is still mourning the what if after the death of a man she was sweet on and whom she believed felt the same way towards her. Things start to change when a new batch of patients arrive, in particular Andrew Gwynn, a Welsh man whose wife died on the ship. While trying to help him recovering something from his trunk, she becomes aware of a secret his wife kept from him, but should she tell him about it?

In 2011 widow Taryn still feels the loss of her husband but a recent picture in the newspaper brings attention to her and to what really happened in the day he died...

I chose this book to read rather randomly, and mostly due to the cover, for it suited a topic in a challenge I'm doing. I had read another book by the author which had been praised by many readers but that to me wasn't as marvelous. I hoped a different book might impress me more, but it really seems that the author's style doesn't change from book to book, independently of the story being told.

Comparing the two books now, I can say the writing style is concise and fluid but without matching emotional punch. Things are well written, the characters say and think things that are meant to be emotionally strong but I didn't really feel it. I will say what I said about the other book too, that the author doesn't rick enough in her writing to accentuate passion and intensity in what is happening. Everything ends up being quite bland and one could see how it might be more.

This book follows two narratives, which are connected through a scarf with marigolds, a belonging of Lily, Andrew's wife, and which Taryn in 2011 recovers. The point of the story is for us to see exactly how the scarf went from one place in 1911 to another in 2011. The whole plot and the main connections between the two narratives seemed good enough for me.

My favorite part was the historical one, focused on Clara,which clearly is what the author felt like too, since this is the part that takes longer to be developed. I liked Clara and her sense of duty in the island, doing her part to help these people who come for their dream. I admit I was quite taken by her story and her attempt to help Andrew and what that meant for her interactions with those who worked with her. It was also interesting to see the personal weight the death of her sweetheart had on her, to the point it felt she could not leave the island on her own,such was the trauma.

All the elements connected to Clara and what she does as the new situations pile up felt interesting and did motivate me to keep reading, but I must say that the end was a little convoluted and things didn't exactly go the way I imagined. I don't dislike the end, but,again, I think the author could have been more daring instead of just doing what was easier.

The connection to the contemporary 2011 narrative wasn't that much of a deal, it turns out, and I think this section with Taryn was actually unnecessary. Nothing really important happens in this section to validate/reinforce what we learned in the past and regarding the importance of the scarf. I mean... sadly, I think this 2011 section was only convenient to highlight one more sad event about Taryn and how she lost her husband.

All things considered, this was a good story but didn't go beyond that and it totally could have. Perhaps I'll read more by the author but now my expectations are going to be more specific.

Grade: 6/10

TBR Challenge: Gilly Macmillan - The Fall

Be careful what you wish for...
Nicole and Tom's lives are changed overnight by a ten-million-pound lottery win.
Before they know it they've moved into a state-of-the-art Glass Barn conversion in the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire.
But their dream quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool, with a wound on his head.
Someone close to home must be responsible. But other than the young couple who live in the Manor, and their housekeeper in the Coach House next door, there's no one around for miles.
Who among them is capable of murder?

Comment: October is almost over, it seems incredible, but here we are for one more TBR Challenge post. The theme for this month is "the hunt" and my mind went right away to a story in which someone is being hunted, which happens in pretty much any type of thriller. This book is set in a secluded peninsula, so I imagined that someone, at some point, might chase someone else.

In Lancout there are two incredible houses close by, one of them a state of the art glass construction where an old barn used to be. Their owners, Tom and Nicole won the lottery and were able to do things according to their preferences and all seemed to go well but now Tom is dead and the only people she can ask for help are her neighbors Sasha and Olly at the grand manor. The police arrive and start investigating but the clues don't seem to match the way they thought and the more they look up to things, the stronger the feeling something isn't quite right with the people in these houses. But what really happened? Is now Nicole in danger too?

What made me interested in this book was the cover of a different edition followed by a recommendation at a site I usually check. It seemed to imply this would be a very moody read and with a villain who would need to be found by the police so that reassured me even further when I chose it for this theme.

The plot doesn't have a huge amount of twists but there are enough surprises to make the reading exciting and seemingly fast paced. The story is narrated by many characters, Nicole, Sasha, Ollly, police officers Hal and Jen, and housekeeper Kitty. Then, a major information comes to light half way, kind of, and we also follow Tom's last day alive. There are also some journal entries by Anna, who used to own the grand manor house before Olly and Sasha. It does seem as if it's too many people but they are all different style narrators and I was able to set them apart easily, even with their names on top of the chapter indicating whose POV we were having.

The story begins with Nicole being the one finding Tom and we follow her shocking reaction while she goes to the manor to ask for help. From this moment on, we know something isn't quite right in the whole setting but as discover what secrets are being kept as we peel them off, one by one. I will admit that when the first major twist is presented, while it's not truly surprising because of the hints we had been given, it was still quite a surprise. I think the author did a great planning of the plot's development, for the most part, and at this point, I was fully convinced of it.

The more the story developed, the more interesting it became, especially if I think about the psychological aspects of everything. I say this because, in terms of action and events, this isn't the busiest plot, but the way we link what happens to characters and their motivations, personalities, then this really becomes a much more appealing story to read. Perhaps, I could say that the author didn't go as far she she could with this element, because sometimes we would have some moments about the characters (like how Hal, the police officer, thought Jen to be a good person to date, if she were to find him attractive, and in spite of them being co workers) which didn't evolve in any meaningful way. Well, not in how things are worded, at least.

The writing sometimes wasn't very polished, to be honest, and I think a better story telling here and there would have made the difference. Still, this plot did engage me completely, and I was still doubting who could be Tom's killer, although the plot's development kind of made it a little obvious but, perhaps not... I wondered if the author would write this incredible last twist or something... I'd say, for the sake of the TBR Challenge's theme, that one or two characters seemed to chase someone else at different moments, so I stand by my choice regardless of what others might think.

As one can imagine, all characters hide some kind of secret, but to me it was obvious from the start who was less likely to turn out to be innocent. Thinking this, I expected a great finale but that is where the story lost some points for me. The last chapters with all the twists were captivating and the action resulting from the characters' decisions very thrilling on their own, but... But, the personality established for some characters and how they play out some choices at the end didn't match. Sure, the author could have deceived the reader all this time, but at the very end, two details disappointed me. Thus, a lower grade than the five stars I was planning on giving.

The very end was a let down. It was not necessary for those two characters to do what they did and not for those reasons so I was annoyed, I confess. Anyway... I might try another book by this author one day, to see how it compares.

Grade: 8/10

NR Walker - To the Moon and Back

Gideon Ellery had the perfect life. Nice house, great job, and a long-time boyfriend. Weeks after adopting his nephew, his boyfriend splits, leaving Gideon a single father to a newborn. Overwhelmed, sleep deprived, and unsure how to navigate fatherhood, he’s asked to return to the office. He’s overwhelmed and at his breaking point.
Toby Barlow is back in Sydney after three years of studying, travelling, and nannying in the UK. He needs work and a place to live, and the perfect solution drops in his lap. After all, caring for a sweet baby in a beautiful home owned by a gorgeous single man isn’t exactly terrible.
Gideon isn’t too keen to share his life with a stranger, but his need for help is too great. Sunshiny Toby isn’t prepared for a grumpy Gideon or his utterly adorable son, Benson. Or how easily he slots into their lives. And Gideon’s not prepared for how much he needs Toby.
Or how much he wants him.
Neither is prepared for the complications of falling in love.

Comment: I have read other books by this author before and have liked them, thus why I decided to try this one. Plus, I remember a friend once saying that is was a low angst cozy read... and that seemed good enough reason!

Gideon Ellery is now the proud father of a baby and he loves this new role but it is also a fact that he is way over hid head and needs help. His partner left him because he didn't want to be a parent, and now Gideon struggles to manage which is why he accepts his friends' suggestion to get a nanny.

Toby Barlow has been living in the UK but happily came back to Australia and to work as a nanny, especially since baby Benson is so adorable. His father is as well, but Toby knows there has to be a professional distance between them.

However, as these two bond over how much they care for Benson and on how suitable to one another they are, is there a way for them to be together if Gideon isn't paying Toby to be his employee?

This was, truthfully, a very very low angst story just as I had hear it would be and, probably, this is an element that might seem quite boring to some readers, because nothing really intense is presented here. The relationship develops slowly but in a very considerate way, the characters are likable but not over the top in any way and everything goes smoothly, even when they face some food poisoning. I can understand why it is a little boring to some people.

The story is very sweet and full of considerate elements. Everyone is a good person and that means everything is a matter of polite conversation and decision making. Nothing wrong with this, in fact what a way to convey consideration and consent at several levels, but it does not make for a tense enough read. Even the personal relationship between Toby and Gideon seemed a bit too bland at times, even though we know, from their thoughts, that they have doubts on whether the other one might feel the same.

The set up seems easy enough, but I confess the live-in nanny situation isn't one I'm very familiar with where I am. Still, it helped with proximity and a cozy environment for the guys to learn more about one another. I think the romance was sweet and very easy and the intimacy part seemed fine too. Personally, however, the idea of Gideon having a mustache that is often compared with Tom Selleck's was a bit of a let down, not that I am against mustaches, but it seemed such an obvious physical statement that made me appreciate it less.

The plot goes as easily as one can imagine, with the guys dealing with the little things in an adult way and by having honest conversations,which should be the norm but then it makes for a not as thrilling romance. Gideon has some negative aspects to deal with in his life,namely with how things went on with his ex, and how he got to adopt his sister's baby legally, which didn't happen in an easy emotional process, and I suppose this was the element to offer the necessary tension. Toby's family life was certainly less complicated and his mother, in particular, was a sweet secondary character.

Honestly, there isn't much I can say without simply describing the main events of what the characters did everyday, so the cozy label is definitely suitable. At the same time, it could have been a much more engaging novel if other things had been made to seem more complicated... anyway, it was a nice, simple read.

Grade: 7/10

A.K. Caggiano - Throne in the Dark

His dark destiny awaits, and nothing will stand in his way. Except her.
Dark lord
Demon spawn
Prophesied realm destroyer
With a demon for a father, Damien Maleficus Bloodthorne’s destiny could be nothing but nefarious, and with the completion of his most vicious spell, Damien is on the cusp of fulfilling the evil inevitability all of his dark machinations have led to.
And then, her.
Bubbly
Obnoxious
Blonde
Harboring secrets of her own, a tiny yet troublesome thief calling herself Amma completely upsets Damien’s malevolent plans when she mistakenly gets chained to his side through magic, forcing him to drag her across the realm. Killing her would fix things, of course, but the nauseatingly sweet Amma proves herself useful on Damien's unholy crusade and then proves herself the source of something even more sinister: feelings.
Will Damien be forced to abandon his villainous birthright to help the tender thorn in his side? Or will he manage to overcome the virtue Amma insists on inspiring and instead cut it out at the heart?

Comment: I decided to give this book a try after seeing it being recommended as having a grumpy/sunshine pairing and I do like this romance pairing, so...

Damien is the son of an evil lord and he feels his destiny is to be as evil. He also wants to help free his father, who has been imprisoned in a crystal, and to do that he finally comes up with the perfect tool, a magical orb. However, his plans to use the orb, which would allow him to control someone in the best place to be useful, go terribly wrong when he meets this young woman at a market and she tries to rob him. In the process, she grabs the orb, which is then absorbed by this woman, making it necessary for him to stick close to her...

Amma is on a mission, she wants to retrieve a certain scroll, and she had to travel to a shady area where it's supposedly located, but all goes wrong when she meets Damien. Now, not only does she need to stay close to him but she is being controlled by him. Nevertheless, she is able to see a side of him that isn't as evil as he claims to be, but how will he react when he learns her secrets?

I didn't have a great reading experience with this one, to be honest. The little summary I wrote above is pretty much all I got from this story, because the details are very fuzzy and I can't say I'm really disappointed I didn't get more details. This was a boring story to me.

Of course I can now say that the writing style didn't work for me, I could not see the opposites attract trope nor the world building being as attractive as it was meant to be. I struggled with having interest and I confess I actually forced myself to keep going, just to not DNF another book. What I liked, which is the reason I didn't grade this even lower, was the individual details about some characters and the magical elements here and there.

The plot is confusing to me, the only thing I got out of it was that both main characters had a mission, had to accomplish a certain task and then they went, looking to do it. On the way, it seemed as if they were on a sort of road trip, in which they met many new people, for some reason or another, and sometimes that gave them a new perspective things and of one another, sometimes it felt as if they were simply doing stuff because the plot had to advance.

Since I wasn't particularly interested in either mission - at first Damien seemed he would be a complex character but I quickly lost interest - I was just turning the pages without retaining much information. I got the feeling not much was happening and the goal was for Damien and Amma to become aware of each other and realize there was more to them than what seemed at first. Usually, I love these types of romances, in which protagonists "peel off" layers as they get to know each other, but this time I didn't have that sensation.

When I finished, I saw the reference that the story would continue in the next installment, thus this being a trilogy of course not everything was made obvious here, but I don't feel interested in going on. I liked Damien, for the most part, and would not mind knowing more about him, something that can be remedied by looking at reviews on the next books, but Amma wasn't a character I empathized with, personality wise. She's a great person but... not captivating to me. Clearly, their romance was pretty much nonexistent here, this is the first book and things were mostly being set up.

This didn't work out for me. Several elements were cute, yes, but the ensemble of them didn't seem to fit properly, even more so when the tone was also meant to be slightly funny (it wasn't, for me). Anyway, one more off the pile.

Grade: 4/10

Fredrik Backman - My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

Elsa is seven years old and different. Her grandmother is seventy-seven years old and crazy—as in standing-on-the-balcony-firing-paintball-guns-at-strangers crazy. She is also Elsa’s best, and only, friend. At night Elsa takes refuge in her grandmother’s stories, in the Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas, where everybody is different and nobody needs to be normal.
When Elsa’s grandmother dies and leaves behind a series of letters apologizing to people she has wronged, Elsa’s greatest adventure begins. Her grandmother’s instructions lead her to an apartment building full of drunks, monsters, attack dogs, and old crones but also to the truth about fairy tales and kingdoms and a grandmother like no other.
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry is told with the same comic accuracy and beating heart as Fredrik Backman’s bestselling debut novel, A Man Called Ove. It is a story about life and death and one of the most important human rights: the right to be different.

Comment: One more book I try by this author... this was also available at the library and that is the reason I decided to read it, for some of the books I tried before by this author had not met my personal expectations.

Elsa is a seven year old who lives in a building with many neighbors, all unique somehow. Elsa loves her grandmother, whom everyone claims is crazy, but that is what helped her to be someone Elsa loves, especially with her skill to share stories. However, Elsa's grandmother is ill and dies when this story starts, which leaves Elsa with a final request on her hands. She now has to hand in letters to the neighbors, letters her grandmother wrote apologizing for something, but this will prove to be quite complicated, after all Elsa is only seven! As she tries to go on with her task, Elsa discovers a lot about the neighbors and how they actually knew her grandmother...

After having a less than great experience with the last books by the author I had tried, I was a little reticent about starting this one, but the fact it was at the library and that it wasn't very big convinced me. I also had a tiny hope that it would be more alike A Man Called Ove (that I liked) than Anxious People (which wasn't great)...

The story is third person but always with Elsa's POV. Since she is a child, clearly many things are seen in a dubious way and the reader needs to read between the lines. Some situations are obvious, while others only become understandable as Elsa goes on with her mission, and in a way this is the best thing of the novel, how we can infer so much through the perspective of someone who might not see things as an adult... although, to be fair, Elsa is quite mature for her age.

The plot then follows a very linear sequence, with the reader following Elsa in her letter delivery, which isn't as simple as it sounds, for with each letter comes learning, context of why that person receives a letter and, as things move along, the obvious fact that everyone in the building had a special connection to Elsa's grandmother. I liked this method and some of the things we learn are quite thought provoking, even though disguised under the apparent simplicity of a child's observation.

Then, as we get closer to the end, certain details bring up the real secrets in this story and how a few details that seemed unimportant are actually the key to a few situations being cleared. I've felt invested enough in what was happening and wanted to see Elsa succeed in her mission, and some details were surprising enough to make this a worthy experience, but at the same time, if one thinks about the writing style this author is known for, I also had moments when it seemed everything was too vague and subtle and didn't have the gravitas it required. At least, until a certain emotional scene towards the end.

I liked Elsa as a main character, she is a special child, used to reading, used to have someone sharing fairy tales and stories with her, allowing her to dream and to reach for more, especially when we realize that this uniqueness makes a target for bullying at school. The secondary characters were all interesting in their own way and I did like the interactions beetween some of them, and more so how Elsa seems to become closer to her divorced parents while she goes on this adventure.

I would say this an emotional story about the meaning of our actions, the meaning of the relationships with have with others and how some people simply leave a mark that is everlasting. I liked this book, yes, but not as much as I've liked my favorite books by this author.

Grade: 7/10

Mini - Comments

The following two books are of different genres and styles but I don't feel like writing too much about wither of them, for different reasons. 

One of Us is Dead by Jeneva Rose is my first attempt at something by this author. It was a birthday gift, actually, and I was surprised by the choice but also eager to give it a try. 
Sadly, I think I'll have to join the group of readers who doesn't appreciate the author's style (something I can now see is quite divisive among those who tried the author's books) because this book did nothing to impress me. I disliked the characters and their characterization, I wasn't fond of the setting and the plot and I felt rather indifferent towards the end. I suppose it is fairer to say that I didn't like the author's style. 
This story is so annoying, I can't understand how many people liked it. Basically, we have a small group of socialite friends who spend almost all of their days in gatherings or at the salon. There is envy and back stacking and one of them will be dead by the end, although we don't know whom. 
The author kept the mystery until the end and that alone is what "saved" this book from being worse in my eyes, but no, I cannot find any real interest in these characters, most are incredible unlikable and vain, and in what they go through. I do like thrillers and domestic mysteries, whether cozy or fast paced, but this wasn't it.
Grade: 3/10

Sweep With Me by Ilona Andrews is a novella, part of the Innkeeper Chronicles series, which I have been reading lately. In this novella, which happens pretty much right after the events of book #3 - the fourth is also before this novella but mostly set in a different place - we have a glimpse of how life is being for Dina and Sean now that they are a couple working together at the Inn. They need to deal with another adventure that follows some new guests...

This was like a little sweet, not really incredible in terms of plot advancement, but it was a great way to let us know what has been going on and how the main characters have been dealing with changes due to the events of past books. The author's imagination is really incredible and it was nice to get to know a few more characters and beings that can be allies to Dina in the future. This was quick to read but very tasteful.

Grade: 8/10

Riku Onda - Honeybees and Distant Thunder

In a small coastal town just a stone's throw from Tokyo, a prestigious piano competition is underway. Over the course of two feverish weeks, three students will experience some of the most joyous—and painful—moments of their lives. Though they don't know it yet, each will profoundly and unpredictably change the others, for ever.
Aya was a child prodigy who abruptly gave up performing after the death of her mother, and is now trying for a comeback; Masaru, a childhood friend of Aya who came to the piano through her insistence that he learn to play, is now reunited with her after many years, and is equally invested in both his and her success; Akashi, who is older and married, works in a music store and is the “old man” of the competitors, hoping for a final chance at success; and Jin, a sixteen-year-old prodigy, the free spirited son of a beekeeper who travels constantly, and has no formal training (and doesn’t even own a piano) yet whose mesmerizing insight into music has brought him to the attention of one of the world’s most celebrated pianists, the late Maestro Von Hoffman.
Each of them will break the rules, awe their fans and push themselves to the brink. But at what cost?
Beloved in Japan, Riku Onda immerses us in the world of music—from piano masterpieces to the buzz of bees and the rumble of thunder—which crescendos to a surprising ending in this rich and vibrant novel.

Comment: I saw this book at the library and the title certainly caught my eye, for its originality. Since I had previously read books by Japanese authors, that I liked, I wondered if I'd like this too, so I brought it with me.

The international music competition for piano takes place in several cities, including in Japan, and the contestants need to prepare several pieces and there are two eliminations until the final. Akishi, Masuru, Aya and Jin are four of the contestants, each one with a specific reason to play and with a distinguishable style. However, others are going to compete too and the jury has a hard task ahead, for these people are all talented and all symbolize a certain way of looking at classical music. What unites and what separates all these people? Can music really bring people together?

I'm not really certain on how to classify and explain this book. The premise is very simple for such a long book (more than 450 pages in the edition I've read) but somehow one can turn the pages and still be absorbed by the thoughts of these characters and the motions they go through while they are playing.

I don't know much about classical music, much less specific pieces meant to be played on a piano. I know I like listening to some pieces, of course some of the most famous ones, but I cannot truly appreciate the art and precision of how the same piece can sound so different when played by different people - I mean, unless it's done on purpose to be so - or, as I've learned, if the piano isn't tuned or placed on the right spot on the stage. I did like this part of the book: the more technical details shared and how that can influence the music and the sound.

The book is divided into three main sections, what happens during the first elimination, then in the second, and then in the final. We follow the thoughts of several characters, not only the ones competing. I've found this to be a little confusing at times, because we jump from one characters' POV to the next in the following paragraph, often without a graphic break in the text. I guess this is the author's style but it created a certain distance between what was happening and the matching emotions. With this I mean I could easily separate myself  emotionally from what was being shared.

It's natural that some characters seem more approachable than others, and it seems to me that, in the simplicity of their personalities/Japanese culture, a lot is more inferred than shared. Often characters would exhibit feelings and thoughts precisely through the music and not as much through conversation. It is great that music is universal, but I did miss, sometimes, a less subtle information on certain things. For instance, when one of the four main characters is eliminated between the first and the second elimination, we get to see the impact, but it wasn't as heartfelt as it could, if the author had been another one, perhaps.

I would say this is a poetic story. It's more about words we can associate with music, with how certain pieces make one feel and look at the world. One of the characters, for instance, sees the playing of the piano as an extension of some kind of the nature around people and how we overlook or dismiss certain obvious things, like the flapping of wings of a bird, or the sounds of a storm coming... To me, this was all beautiful and rather philosophical, but I can see how it would frustrate some readers too.

This was a good discovery for me, actually. I have a hit and miss experience with Japanese authors, but have enjoyed the majority of what I've read so far, and it was good to see this one does seems appealing.

Grade: 8/10

Mary Balogh - Someone to Romance

Lady Jessica Archer lost her own interest in the glittering excitement of romance after her cousin and dearest friend, Abigail Westcott, was rejected by the ton when her father was revealed to be a bigamist. Ever practical, however, once she's twenty-five, she decides it's time to wed. Though she no longer believes she will find true love, she is still very eligible. She is, after all, the sister of Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby.
Jessica considers the many qualified gentlemen who court her. But when she meets the mysterious Gabriel Thorne, who has returned to England from the New World to claim an equally mysterious inheritance, Jessica considers him completely unsuitable, because he had the audacity, when he first met her, to announce his intention to wed her.
When Jessica guesses who Gabriel really is, however, and watches the lengths to which he will go in order to protect those who rely upon him, she is drawn to his cause—and to the man.

Comment: This is the 7th installment in the Westcott series by Mary Balogh, following the lives of several members of the Westcott family and their relatives and friends.

Jessica Archer loves her family and the fact most of those who are married are so blissfully happy makes her want to marry for love as well. She is 25 but never felt the urge to find a husband, even more so after the crisis that affected the family years ago which caused her cousin and best friend Abby to not have a come out as they were both so eager to share. Now Abby is happy too and Jessica feels this is the year to see if she can find someone...

Gabriel Thorne left England and succeed in America with the help of an uncle, but he is back to take his place as the earl of Lyndale, especially when it seems the man who would be so if Gabriel didn't who up is not someone who respects those under his care. Gabriel feels Jessica would be the perfect wife to better support his cause in society, but will he discover she is more than her status?

I've been a fan of this author for some years now and have read many books in most of her series. There are situations/themes that are inevitably repetitive but it is always a good reading experience anyway.

This book can be read as a standalone, as all the author's books can in terms of structure and development. However, I would not advise it because a lot about Jessica and her thoughts and motivations in certain moments come from events that happened in past books. Her attitude and behavior in some moments only feels special or meaningful if one had read the first book at least, when her actions and ideas were different than in this book, regarding certain things. This way, how she behaves now feels a lot more impactful.

The plot, however, seemed to me to be a bit more focused on Gabriel and his reasons to return to England. He was successful in America and had all motives to stay there but by coming back we get to see how likable he is and how he can cherish his personality. He is someone who matured and learned from the past - he went away as a young man, urged by others who did not help him as they should - and now feels he has to be there for those who depend on him, namely the workers of the estate he will inherit and an aunt that he cares for.

I've found him to be a good character and was rooting for him, even though there were times where he seemed a little too aloof, although this can be explained too, considering the circumstances. He is, therefore, quite well matched with Jessica, whom we have seen as someone likable but slightly uppity sometimes. Of course they will learn together that friendship and family to support you are some of the best things in life and by becoming a couple they would find themselves with someone who would also understand them.

Their romance isn't very demonstrative, but to be fair this author's writing style isn't meant to be over the top nor fluffy, and a lot of things are inferred in a more subtle way. Actually, to my personal taste, perhaps I could say that a few things related to the romance were a bit too tame, a bit too subtle, and I wish the feelings between them had been a bit more easily demonstrated. Again, however, this is an historical romance and the author does try to keep things relatively realistic in terms of character interaction.

This was an engaging story to read. Gabriel has a lot of things to worry about and with Jessica's help, and of her family, he manages to deal with some. I thought this part of the plot was interesting and made the interactions between many characters to feel more dynamic, since many contributed somehow to enhance the romance between Gabriel and Jessica and then to help him with his personal affairs. 

I'm now looking for to the next story, which will feature Harry, at last.

Grade: 8/10

Rachel Reid - The Shots You Take

After moving back to his hometown ten years ago, Riley Tuck thought he had left his major league hockey career—and his broken heart—far behind. But when an unexpected tragedy strikes, it brings ex-teammate and former best friend with benefits Adam Sheppard back into his life.
Coming to the small town of Avery River, Nova Scotia, might have been a mistake. Adam’s not sure he’ll ever win back Riley’s trust after the way they left things—and the attention he’s getting as a huge hockey star isn’t exactly helping. Yet the chemistry that crackles between them is undeniable, even now.
As Adam helps Riley navigate his grief, long-buried feelings start to resurface. But they’ll have to square off with their complicated past if they’re going to have a real shot at a new beginning.

Comment: Like many other readers, I've been a fan of the Game Changers series by this author. Since last year, with the TV show based on those books, two of them in particular, becoming a viral phenomenon, it seems the eagerness and the obsession won't stop, especially with the upcoming second season, set to be ready in 2027, and the publishing of a new book in that series also next year.

Thus, my interest in Rachel Reid's writing continues and that is why I've picked this book, which is a standalone.

Riley and Adam were best friends and roommates during their rookie seasons as professional hockey players. They have also been incredibly attracted to one another and fooled around until Riley confessed his feelings. Adm, however, wasn't ready to be himself and they drifted apart, especially when Riley was traded to another team. Now, many years after, Riley's dad died and Adam felt he had to attend the funeral, at least to pay his respects to someone he admired. He also wants to try to med things with Riley, now that he finally accepted he his gay and that his life has not been as easy as everyone thinks, considering his fame in the hockey world. But Riley hasn't had it easy either and he still feels a lot of resentment. Is there any way for a second change between them to end up in happiness?

This story features a second chance romance which isn't my favorite trope, to be honest. If not by this author, I might skip it, but I also trusted the writing and hoped it would be as captivating as I have seen in the others books by mrs Reid I've tried. I knew it would not be the same as the Game Changers installments, but I still thought this might surprise me.

This isn't an easy book, though, in the sense that the majority of the novel is about the protagonists being in opposed sides of their memories and things aren't simple for them. Their youth was rich in experiences, mainly regarding their hockey careers, but while they were intimate and close, Riley would have been ready to commit to Adam but Adam was not. The thing is, intellectually I can understand both their POVs and I cannot say Adam was a villain in this situation, even though his attitude was horrible. I think only someone going through such doubts would know how to describe it but I can understand Adam's lack of maturity to see what was happening.

This said, of course that for a romance novel, Adam's attitude seems nonredeemable. This is made even more apparent because we know Riley suffered a lot and dealt with depression and anxiety and many other emotions once he realized Adam would not be the person he wanted then. Again, i can certainly see his side too and I could more easily commiserate with his feelings, especially the impotence of changing Adam's mind when Riley wanted. Things between them were great until they weren't and I think the author really presented this quite well.

When the story begins, Riley has just lost his father, so that is another layer to add to his state of mind and the tone of the book was, until a certain point, rather bleak. Things seemed quite negative and the rehashing of their past and failed communication and so on really highlighted the main reason why I tend to avoid this trope. Still, slowly, chapter after chapter things change between them, they talk and obviously the roots of romance that have always existed between them come to life again. It was sometimes sweet but, honestly, that isn't the word I think of in regards to this novel.

Of course not all books have to be great epic romances (like Shane and Ilya's from Heated Rivalry end up being for me) but this was a much more serious story than what I imagined. Nothing wrong with it but it isn't as warm and cozy as the Game Changers books are to me, even allowing for serious issues dealt with there too. The tone in this book is simply that, a lot more contemplative. The end is as happy and sweet, though, and I liked it that Riley and Adam found a way to finally be as happy as they deserve, considering their heartfelt dedication to one another. But, honestly again, it's not a story I will feel eager to re-read.

Grade: 7/10

Grace Draven - Phoenix Unbound

Every year, each village is required to send a young woman to the Empire's capital - her fate: to be burned alive for the entertainment of the masses. For the last five years, one small village's tithe has been the same woman. Gilene's sacrifice protects all the other young women of her village, and her secret to staying alive lies with the magic only she possesses.
But this year is different.
Azarion, the Empire's most famous gladiator, has somehow seen through her illusion, and is set on blackmailing Gilene into using her abilities to help him escape his life of slavery. And unknown to Gilene, he also wants to reclaim the birthright of his clan.
To protect her family and village, she will risk everything to return to the Empire and burn once more.

Comment: I have read several books by this author now and, as always, when I saw the blurb for this one, it made me curious. I finally had the chance to try it.

Gilene is a sort of fire witch, in the sense that she isn't burned in contact with fire, which comes in handy in her village, since all villages in the empire have to "offer" a woman for the Rites of Spring, the end of a special event demanded by the emperors when the women are burned at a pire. Gilene has done this many times already and she does it because she knows she is immune, saving many other women who aren't. However, this time, something doesn't happens as always, because Azarion, the most successful gladiator, who is also a slave like everyone trapped by the empire, sees through her illusion and blackmails her into helping him escape. She reluctantly agrees, thinking this would be the end of it... the thing is, once she is outside, already ready to be taken away by her brothers, Azarion kind of kidnaps her. He claims he needs her help again, to regain his status in his hometown. But how can she trust him again?

This author has the best ideas for her books, even if based in other stories or situations. I'm always eager to see how the plots develop in her fantasy settings and this time, the beginning was as captivating as I imagined, with both Gilene and Azarion teaming up to escape. Of course, I knew they could not separate right away, because this is clearly a romance too, but I will say that after they escape, things aren't as thrilling as I wanted.

The empire is ruled by evil people, who enslave others and promote entertainment in humiliating ways. We are immediately taken by the characters' need to escape and to do something about this, but the road until the final battle (of course there would be one) wasn't as smooth as I hoped for. I mean, expectations are always hard to meet, but I've read other books by the author and some did accomplish this goal nicely, so I know the author could do it.

The details about the characters, the settings, the world building are all interesting and easy to visualize. I see that the author had obvious inspiration on Roman culture, as well as other subjects, but this all seemed to mesh well. I'd say that my issue with the novel was mainly the romance and the development of the plot around that. Azarion and Gilene as likable characters on their own (despite their actions in some moments) and I did root for them, and wanted to see them succeed, and for Gilene to escape and for Azarion to gain his freedom. Once they were running together, though, things weren't as interesting.

They aren't immediate allies, after all he didn't tell her he would need more of her help, but time on the road and then in his hometown work to being them closer. This plot move made sense within the story we were given but.... the pace sometimes was a bit too quick for the amount of issues they both went through in their lives. I get it that the point was not to offer a huge story but there are plot transitions that could have helped this and I think that didn't happen, so the progression of things between them felt rushed.

Perhaps the thing is, both Azarion and Gilene weren't given enough layers, to match the traumas and the situations they faced. In particular Azarion, who was a slave and how all this affected him. The author does offer some context for how they are still mentally sane (my interpretation) but I just didn't buy it completely, if one takes into consideration how they suffered. In a way, this element was kind of superficial and made the reading experience less impactful, emotionally.

The romance was also too bland, because we don't get to see how it happens. We don't have enough scenes with them thinking about one another, with them interacting in a gradual way for the final acceptance of their feelings to seem inevitable. It just was, and with the fact of their personalities being superficially presented too, it wasn't as romantic nor amazing as I wanted, and as had happened in other books by the author.

Therefore, this was a good reading experience but not great. I liked it but there were times I also noticed how many pages were left, so...

Grade: 6/10

Louise Penny - A Rule Against Murder

It is the height of summer, and Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache are celebrating their wedding anniversary at Manoir Bellechasse, an isolated, luxurious inn not far from the village of Three Pines. But they're not alone. The Finney family—rich, cultured, and respectable—has also arrived for a celebration of their own.
The beautiful Manoir Bellechasse might be surrounded by nature, but there is something unnatural looming. As the heat rises and the humidity closes in, some surprising guests turn up at the family reunion, and a terrible summer storm leaves behind a dead body. It is up to Chief Inspector Gamache to unearth secrets long buried and hatreds hidden behind polite smiles. The chase takes him to Three Pines, into the dark corners of his own life, and finally to a harrowing climax.

Comment: This is the 4th installment in the Armand Gamache series, which I foresee being something I will enjoy reading...

In this story, inspector Gamache and his wife are spending some time at an inn close to Three Pines, celebrating their anniversary. They are having a quiet time enjoying the summer, in spite of the fact some other guests, namely the Finney family, not being all congenial. Then, one of the siblings and his wife finally arrive and everything changes once more. The family dynamics are tense and it all goes to worse when one person is murdered. Who killed this person and how did they manage it since the tool used was impossible for one person to maneuver on their own?

The author has said plenty of times that these books are about a crime investigation, yes, which means they might be read solely for the closure of having a resolution to a mystery, but they are also character studies. I find that this is actually the most provoking part of the novels, because everyone, main character or not, has something about them that we want to see revealed, there are many layers to all characters.

In this book the inspector and his wife are spending some days at the Manoir Bellechasse, which has a solid reputation despite the origins of its construction. They are regulars but do not mind they are not given the best rooms, which immediately tells us about their personality and attitude. These characters are meant for us to like them and I really like the fact we can genuinely care for them and want for them to have good things happening in return.

In contrast, pretty much all of the secondary characters are not as likable. All of them, even the ones we would label"good people", have some kind of deep layer or some secret behavior that makes their personality less than what we see in Gamache and his wife. Although, to be fair, they are not perfect! They just seem so by contrast, and after 4 books I can see that Gamache's big flaw is that he does like to be right, not as in arrogance, but in knowing his deductions are often correct.

The plot is quite usual in how it develops. A good part of the book is on character observation,let's say, in which we see many situations where the characters do and say things that matter to their personality and as to why they could be the murderer or the victim, and a lot is shared through Gamache's skills in seeing between the lines. A lot doesn't make immediate sense, although the writing conveys that tension and anticipation quite well. We just know something is going to happen.

Obviously, only after the investigation is well under way do we understand some of the previous references or scenes. I don't tend to guess who the killer is in these types of books and this time it was no different. Only once the explanations were given did some of those seemingly unimportant references in chapters past make sense. Even then, I would say that there are always some things that don't scream logic or sometimes the way they are viable is through some conveniences and not real logic (to me at least).

The author also seems to have a predilection to unusual crime scenes and methods. I had never heard of the method in which the victim was killed in this book and even investigating on google didn't show an obvious result, although I accept the science behind it. Perhaps this, along with a few other small details, prevented me from seeing the big picture better. Still, it was a good entertainment, to read this story and to see the sequence of events developing at the same time the characters became more visible. Too bad, also, that most of them were not friendly people,even those who had reasons not to be.

I will definitely read the next book and see what new things I'll learn!

Grade: 8/10