Stuck on You - Portia MacIntosh (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 16/09/2020

Author: Portia MacIntosh

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Date: September 17, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4.5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources) 

About the book:

Could a post-it note really lead to love...?

Sadie doesn't have time for finding love. She's too busy as PA for famous artist Damian Banks. When she's not arranging exhibitions, she's organising his dry cleaning or dumping his never-ending stream of girlfriends.

But when she strikes up an unusual friendship with her desk share buddy, she finds a confidante and a new potential love interest. Problem is, they've never actually met...

With Christmas just around the corner, can Sadie put herself first for a change and find what she's been looking for all along? The brand new romantic comedy from top 10 bestseller Portia MacIntosh. Perfect for fans of Sophie Ranald, Mhairi McFarlane and Zara Stoneley.

Review:

        I figured out the plot from the blurb itself and it went exactly as predicted. No last-minute surprises or sabotages and I absolutely ADORED IT for that exact reason. It may not be Christmas yet, but Portia surely makes wonders in creating a festive spirit throughout. Playful banter, a creepy beginning with a serial killer and Christmas with the family . . . she does prepare a curious mix.

        Unlikely love stories have always held a special charm for me and this is no different. A hated boss and an unusual friendship through post-it notes contribute much to the mystery and then there is the meet the parents part. Don't we love it all the time? (Utterly nerve-racking though it may be in real life). Christmas with Sadie's parents on an island which takes the traditions quite seriously is one the best parts in the story. Competition to post Christmas postcards, Dickens Day, Winter Wonderland and movie night in pyjamas . . . I am tempted to pack my bags right away.

        And the dad jokes (on both sides) are absolutely  . . . hmm, ridiculous and hilarious. It is impossible to talk about the love story without some spoilers so I will let you be the judge of that. Suffice to say, this is, by far my favourite among all these author's works. Trust me, you cannot read this book without an evergrowing smile.

Meet the author:

Portia MacIntosh is a bestselling romantic comedy author of 12 novels, including It's Not You, It's Them and Honeymoon For One. Previously a music journalist, Portia writes hilarious stories, drawing on her real-life experiences.

Love at the Little Wedding Shop by the Sea - Jane Linfoot (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 10/09/2020

Author: Jane Linfoot

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: August 20, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

About the book:

St Aidan: a cosy Cornish village where friendships are made for life and it’s always cocktail hour somewhere…

Return to your favourite little wedding shop by the sea for love, laughter and a romance to sweep you off your feet!

It’s the most romantic day of the year but the girls aren’t just gearing up for Valentine’s Day and a busy wedding season ahead, it’s also the 10 year anniversary of their beloved shop!

Jess is planning the party of the decade and with the champagne and cocktails flowing, sparks are going to fly…and not just from the fireworks display!

Review:

        Even though I have read two of her other works (can't resist those cute covers), this is my first step into the 'Little Wedding Shop by the Sea' series. Surely, it lives up to its name. Though each book can be read as a standalone, we do get to meet a lot of characters from the previous books and the tightly knit group is enough of a temptation to pick the other books in the series. Well, I will have to follow the reverse order now.

        Milla is back in St. Aidan for a working holiday. That's the excuse, but the real reason is that she wants to be away from her ex-fiance and business partner who are now having a baby together. What is a better way to a speedy recovery other than working with her best friends? What she didn't foresee is that her first client will be the handsome stranger she kissed on Valentine's day. But Nic is here for arranging his marriage and so totally off-limits. Can Milla remain professional throughout the ordeal?

        Talk about a messy situation. I was worried in the beginning as snatching someone's fiance is not really a story I want to read. Well, I can't give you any spoilers, but rest assured, all will be well in due time. We could pretty much guess the way it's going but that didn't spoil anything for me. Even if you are not really into weddings, this will really pull you in. The wedding jitters, walking the aisle and the first dance . . . it is hard to keep back the happy tears once you come to know the work in the background.

        All in all, another delightful read from Jane Linfoot where Cornwall works its magic . . . again.

Meet the author:

I write fun, flirty fiction, with feisty heroines, and lots of heart. Writing is fab because I get to wear pretty shoes instead of wellies. I live in a cottage up a mountain road in Derbyshire, where my family and pets are kind enough to ignore the domestic chaos. Happily, we're in walking distance of a supermarket. I love hearts, flowers, happy endings, all things vintage, most things french. When I'm not on Facebook, and can't find an excuse for shopping, I'll be walking, or gardening. On days when I want to be really scared, I ride a tandem.

We Are Not Free - Traci Chee (Blog Tour & Review)

Date of Reading: 02/09/2020

Author: Traci Chee

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Date of Publication: September 1, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Colored Pages Bookish Tours)

About the book:

“All around me, my friends are talking, joking, laughing. Outside is the camp, the barbed wire, the guard towers, the city, the country that hates us.

 

We are not free.

 

But we are not alone.” 

From New York Times best-selling and acclaimed author Traci Chee comes We Are Not Free, the collective account of a tight-knit group of young Nisei, second-generation Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II.

 

Fourteen teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco.

 

Fourteen teens who form a community and a family, as interconnected as they are conflicted.

 

Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps.

 

In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart.

Review:

        I am not affected by this book. I am not an American and it's not my country which committed these atrocities. Why should I be bothered? Then the nightmares began. And I knew. There is no way to run. I cannot forget this story, even if I try to. That's the power of the written word. Who was I kidding again?

        Fourteen youths. Incarcerated with their families in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbour attack. This is their story. Written in multiple POVs, reading this book felt like looking through a window to peek at the family living inside the room. All the stories are connected yet different. They have their personal woes and also pleasures, like a softball match. Inspired by the author's own family history, these fourteen voices make it known that they cannot be forgotten. 

        Other than the brief understanding, I didn't know much about the US incarceration camps before reading this remarkable work. Stamped as enemies, this San Franciscan Japanese community is forcibly deported from their homes to live in inhuman conditions and this happens in a country which advertises freedom more than anything else. The betrayal, the anger and the confusion that they experience are vividly portrayed by Traci Chee, making it so heartbreaking and real.

        Not many books can't be claimed to have the power to haunt my dreams at night. 'We are not Free' is one of the exceptions and though bittersweet, I am happy to be splashed with some hard realities. 

Favourite Quotes:

"It doesn't matter how good we are, because they see only what they want to see, and when they look at us, all they see are Japs"

"And I get it finally. Gaman. The ability to hold your pain and bitterness inside you and not let them destroy you. To make something beautiful through your anger, or with your anger, and neither erase it nor let it define you. To suffer. And to rage. And to persevere."

"I learned a long time ago that the secret to academic success isn't smarts. It's knowing what they want from you and giving it to them with a smile."

"Sometimes I think it'd be easier to be stupid, because then at least I wouldn't be miserable all the time."

"They say they're here for our safety, but no one feels safe when they've got a gun pointed at them."

Meet the author:

Traci Chee is the New York Times best-selling author of The Reader trilogy. She studied literature and creative writing at UC Santa Cruz and earned a master of arts degree from San Francisco State University. She is Japanese American and was inspired to write We Are Not Free by her family’s experience during World War II. Some of the events she includes in the book are loosely inspired by their stories. She loves books, poetry and papercrafts, as well as bonsai gardening and games. She lives in California.

Author Links: 

Website: http://www.tracichee.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6567825.Traci_Chee 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracicheeauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tracichee

Tumblr: https://tracichee.tumblr.com/ 

Starcross Manor - Christie Barlow (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 24/08/2020

Author: Christie Barlow

Publisher: One More Chapter

Publication Date: August 14, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 3.5/4

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

About the book:

Dying to know more about the brooding and mysterious Flynn Carter and the secrets behind his plans for Starcross Manor?

You won’t want to miss the next spellbinding chapter in the Love Heart Lane series – where friends are there for you no matter what.

When Julia Coleman meets Flynn Carter again in the cosy village of Heartcross it can only mean trouble. Flynn might be rich, brooding and sexy, but Julia knows first-hand he’s ruthless and she plans to watch his every move.

When Julia discovers Flynn’s plans for beautiful Starcross Manor her greatest fears come true. Because Flynn’s dreams of turning Starcross into a luxury hotel could ruin Julia’s dreams…and finish off the community of Heartcross for good.

Flynn makes it clear he doesn’t want trouble, and he’s not the man Julia thinks he is. As he sets about convincing the community he’s changed, he hopes he can convince Julia to give him another chance too…

Review:

        Once again, Christie Barlow takes us to the beautiful village of Heartcross and this time it is Julia, the owner of the B&B who finds her happily ever after. Surely, this is not only her story, but also of an entire village where the community stands together no matter what.

        Gorgeous, wealthy Flynn Carter is not a past that Julia wanted to face again. But here he is in Heartcross, encroaching on her safe haven with plans of converting the Starcross manor to a world-class hotel facility. Flynn's plans threaten the welfare of the entire community with their small businesses and Julia is determined to stop him. But is Flynn Carter really the guy she thinks to be? Her past experiences advise her to be wary of him, but her heart is not planning to listen. 

        From beginning to end, this cute little story was the perfect getaway from the real world. As always, Christie Barlow never fails to amaze us.

Meet the author:

Christie Barlow is the number 1 International bestselling author of ten bestsellers including A Home at Honeysuckle Farm, Love Heart Lane and Clover Cottage. Her writing career came as somewhat a surprise when she decided to write a book to teach her children a valuable life lesson and show them that they are capable of achieving their dreams. The book she wrote to prove a point is now a #1 bestseller in the UK, USA, Canada & Australia.

Emmie and the Tudor Queen - Natalie Murray (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 10/08/2020

Author: Natalie Murray

Publisher: English Editor

Publication date: August 25, 2020

Rating: 5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Favourite Pages Book Club)

About the book:

True love has never been more deadly in this lush sequel to the best-selling Emmie and the Tudor King.

For an extraordinary love, Emmie Grace has given up her life in the modern world to move to the sixteenth century and marry the Tudor king she bravely saved from a dreadful fate. However, not everyone is pleased to see the glorious King Nick betrothed to the unknown and uncultured Emmie—especially the noblemen commanded to protect her.

As Emmie is drawn deeper into Nick’s sumptuous and savage world—where beheadings are way more popular than time travellers—the Tudor court heads on progress across the country, and a growing rebellion against the promised queen looms.

With life and love at stake, Emmie must face the cost of changing the path of history and realize that her greatest sacrifice is yet to come.

Review:

        I have loved 'Emmie and the Tudor King' and this beautiful sequel is a fine addition to a wonderful series. Starting directly from where the first book ended here we see Emmie embarking through new challenges as the betrothed of King Nicholas. But as all the time travel tales establish, life as a royal is not a fairytale. It's always exciting to travel to the past when you know what the future brings, but if you don't have some magic tricks up your sleeve this is going to be a perilous journey indeed.

        Just like the last book, this story too is filled with twists and turns, the anticipation increasing with each page. I was practically glued to my kindle the entire time even though I had a pretty good guess about the ending (I was right, by the way). I was glad to see Emmie keeping her high spiritedness in the Tudor court with the help of her three best friends. At a time, when kindness may lead to your doom, will her modern ideals save the day? Will their budding love withstand the perils balancing the two time periods? Grab a copy and find out! Trust me, you won't be disappointed.

Meet the author:

Natalie Murray is the author of EMMIE AND THE TUDOR KING (June 11, 2019) and EMMIE AND THE TUDOR QUEEN (August 25, 2020). A fast-paced YA time-slip romance, the Emmie and the Tudor King trilogy follows an American high school girl to a reimagined Tudor England, where she meets a doomed, but utterly dreamy, Tudor king. Emmie and the Tudor King has already received acclaim from Foreword Reviews, YA Books Central, and popular YA authors Brigid Kemmerer (A Curse So Dark and Lonely) and CJ Flood (Infinite Sky), among others. You can visit Natalie at nataliemurrayauthor.com.

        

        

The Mountains Sing - Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 19/08/2020

Author:  Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai 

Publisher: Oneworld 

Publication Date: August 20, 2020

Rating: 4.5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

With the epic sweep of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing and the lyrical beauty of Vaddey Ratner’s In the Shadow of the Banyan, The Mountains Sing tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Tran family, set against the backdrop of the Viet Nam War. Tran Dieu Lan, who was born in 1920, was forced to flee her family farm with her six children during the Land Reform as the Communist government rose in the North. Years later in Hà Noi, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age as her parents and uncles head off down the Ho Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict that will tear not just her beloved country but her family apart.

Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Viet Nam, The Mountains Sing brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves, while showing us the true power of kindness and hope. This is celebrated Vietnamese poet Nguyen Phan Que Mai’s first novel in English. 

Review:

        Covering four generations of the Tran family, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's epic family saga represents Vietnam at its best and also at its worst. Told through the words of Huong and her grandmother Dieu Lan, what we find is a mother's fortitude and desire for peace undiminished even at the darkest hours. Fast-paced it maybe, but that doesn't make it an easy read; the heartbreaking narrative leaves you often in turmoil, exposed to a part of history that we prefer to forget.

        I loved Dieu Lan from the beginning; it is hard not to admire and bow down before her resilient heart that lived through the Japanese atrocities, the Communist party's brutal Land Reforms, the partition and the Vietnam war. Her loved ones being killed in front of her eyes, she is left with the task of protecting her six children and keeping them together as a family. Most perilous is the battle with her inner demons, especially when the once chubby-cheeked darlings turn out to be the victims of government's propagandist messages.

        Huong represents the author's own voice, a generation that managed to live through the war but not unscathed; the hope of a nation that is slowly being rebuilt from the ashes. They are forced to accept, forgive and move on. And that is what this novel exhorts, not to seek retribution but to move forward with forgiveness in your hearts.

        Interspersed with Vietnamese proverbs and descriptions of the land that regrows each time, this beautiful story is all about a nation's will to survive, refusing to fall back. Thank you, Anne Carter, for this blog tour invite, I feel honoured to have the opportunity to read and review this gem of a book.

Meet the author:

Born into the Việt Nam War in 1973, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai grew up witnessing the war’s devastation and its aftermath. She worked as a street seller and rice farmer before winning a scholarship to attend university in Australia. She is the author of eight books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction published in Vietnamese, and her writing has been translated and published in more than 10 countries, most recently in Norton’s Inheriting the War anthology. She has been honoured with many awards, including the Poetry of the Year 2010 Award from the Hà Nội Writers Association, as well as many grants and fellowships. Quế Mai has a PhD in Creative Writing from Lancaster University, United Kingdom. She currently divides her time between Indonesia and Việt Nam.

As Luck Would Have It - Zoe May (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 04/08/2020

Author: Zoe May

Publisher: HQ Digital

Publication Date: June 1, 2019

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources)

About the book:

Natalie Jackson might keep up appearances on Instagram, but in reality her fiancé has just jilted her after the birth of their baby and she’s moved back in with her mum. Life isn’t exactly going to plan!

So when she enters the village raffle for the holiday of a lifetime, she thinks she has no chance of winning. But her name is pulled out – and, as luck would have it, so is a ticket bought by her childhood nemesis: Will Brimble.

Surely a romantic holiday for two is the worst idea ever…right?

Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella, Sophie Ranald and Lindsey Kelk.

Review:

        When you are cooped up at home hardly venturing outside, the best thing to do is enter into the fictional universe and if the said fiction offers you some travel experience . . . well, its time for a foreign holiday. We are off to Morocco to have some fabulous time in a luxury hotel with Natalie and Will.

        Life has offered Nat and Will a second chance to rekindle their first love; both are back at their hometown with enough baggage to last a lifetime. Nat is a single mother and Will a divorcee. So when both their names are picked accidentally in the village raffle, they really need to cooperate for this to work. Things go awry when they are mistaken for a honeymoon couple and the charade starts right from the airport when they are offered an upgrade. The room in the hotel turns out to be a honeymoon suite and trouble starts there for our protagonists offering hilarious moments to us readers.

        Marrakesh provides one of the great settings for a romantic getaway with its genuine hospitality and warmth. I would have preferred the story to be slightly longer though. That being said, this was a breezy, funny romance and a perfect cure for the lockdown blues.   

Meet the author:

Zoe May writes romantic comedies published by Harper Collins and is also an indie author. Zoe has dreamt of being a novelist since she was a teenager. She spent her twenties living in London, where she worked in journalism and copywriting before writing her debut novel, Perfect Match. Having experienced the London dating scene first hand, Zoe could not resist writing a novel about dating, since it seems to supply endless amounts of weird and wonderful material!

As well as writing, Zoe enjoys walking her dog, painting and, of course, reading.

Zoe loves to hear from readers, you can contact her on Twitter and Instagram, where her handle is @zoe_writes. Or check out her blogs and the latest news on her website, www.zoemayauthor.co.uk.

The Garden of Forgotten Wishes - Trisha Ashley (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 03/08/2020

Author: Trisha Ashley

Publisher: Bantam Press

Publication Date: July 23, 2020

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

The brilliant new novel from Top Five Sunday Times bestselling author Trisha Ashley

All Marnie wants is somewhere to call home. Mourning lost years spent in a marriage that has finally come to an end, she needs a fresh start and time to heal. Things she hopes to find in the rural west Lancashire village her mother always told her about.

With nothing but her two green thumbs, Marnie takes a job as a gardener, which comes with a little cottage to make her own. The garden is beautiful – filled with roses, lavender and honeysuckle – and only a little rough around the edges. Which is more than can be said for her next-door-neighbour, Ned Mars.

Marnie remembers Ned from her school days but he’s far from the untroubled man she once knew. A recent relationship has left him with a heart as bruised as her own.

Can a summer spent gardening help them heal and recapture the forgotten dreams they’ve let to get away?

Review:

        Be warned! This is a novel on workaholics and if you are not one, prepare to face the onslaught of guilt to follow. I know it is fortunate to have your hobby as your job, but the way Marnie involves herself in gardening will make anyone jealous. And the journalistic sort of writing style with the picturesque setting creates the perfect ambience. I am new to Trisha Ashley's books and she has totally hooked me.

        Marnie barely managed to escape from an emotionally abusive marriage and spent some years hiding with her adoptive family in France. Hearing the news of her ex-husband's remarriage, she is now back in England accepting a gardening job in Jericho's End. Apart from the supposed presence of fairies in the area, the place also holds an emotional appeal as it is her mother's native village. Vane family is hated in the neighbourhood and her mother's warnings of not to go there propel her not to reveal this old connection. But will the secret cost her the trust of handsome Ned Mars?

        The love story is just the tip of the iceberg. Trisha Ashley's detailed narrative covers every nook and corner of Jericho's End and its companionable community which has a healing effect on both Marnie and Ned. The efforts in opening the Grace garden and the excitement surrounding it are quite immersive and easy to relate. The four hundred page book doesn't give you much of a story, but we will be transported to Jericho's End along with Marnie, living and breathing the country air.

Meet the author:

Trisha Ashley’s Sunday Times bestselling novels have twice been shortlisted for the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance, and Every Woman for Herself was nominated by readers as one of the top three romantic novels of the last fifty years.

Trisha lives in North Wales. 

For more information about her please visit www.trishaashley.com, her Facebook page www.facebook.com/TrishaAshleyBooks or follow her on Twitter @trishaashley.

More Than Just a Pretty Face - Syed M. Masood (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 23/07/2020

Author: Syed M. Masood

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: August 4, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 5/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Hear Our Voices Book Tours)

About the book:

For fans of Becky Albertalli and Jenny Han, a sweetly funny YA rom-com debut about falling in love, familial expectations, and being a Renaissance Man.

Danyal Jilani doesn't lack confidence. He may not be the smartest guy in the room, but he's funny, gorgeous, and going to make a great chef one day. His father doesn't approve of his career choice, but that hardly matters. What does matter is the opinion of Danyal's longtime crush, the perfect-in-all-ways Kaval, and her family, who consider him a less than ideal arranged marriage prospect.

When Danyal gets selected for Renaissance Man--a school-wide academic championship--it's the perfect opportunity to show everyone he's smarter than they think. He recruits the brilliant, totally-uninterested-in-him Bisma to help with the competition, but the more time Danyal spends with her...the more he learns from her...the more he cooks for her...the more he realizes that happiness may be staring him right in his pretty face.

Review:

        The first thing that caught my eye is the accolades heaped on the book by the senior editor. I must confess that I read it with a smirk (ever the pessimist!) that is immediately wiped off and replaced by a smile once the story began. By the time it was nearing the end, I was full on laughing mode. Well, looks like some people can actually make lemonade out of all the lemons life throws at them.

        This story is one of the instances which shows us that there is more than one way of looking at a situation. Danyal's life had all the ingredients for a disaster -- a dominant father who has no faith in him, foolish first love, bullying classmates -- ah, the list goes on. Added to this is the fact that he is not exactly bright, academically that is. Does that hinder him? Nope, that brilliant smile is forever plastered on his face, however hard everything turns out to be.

        In a way, he reminds me of many manga characters; especially Naruto, and also Asta in 'Black Clover'. His optimism and the witty take on things is highly infectious and that brings him the help he needed every single time. The way he brings together his two extremist friends takes us into the nuances of modern Muslim lifestyle which makes it more than just a love story. This is the story of a laid back Muslim boy who strives hard to balance the desi traditions with modern ideas and above all, to give voice to the truths that we conveniently forget.

        If you, like me, love an easy to read, fast-paced story that makes you laugh and think, then this is for you. With a bunch of unforgettable characters and hugely enjoyable dialogues, this wouldn't fail to make an impression. Highly recommended!

Favourite quotes:

I'd wanted to talk to her about . . . well, not a date, exactly, because neither one of us was allowed to date. I guess I'd wanted us to have a conversation about having a conversation. You know, the Muslim version of first base

Good friends, after all, care enough to pretend to listen.

So now my parents were house rich. Their home was all they really had in the world, which was fine. It wasn't like we were living in the earthquake capital of the world or anything.

I'm pretty sure Ahmed Jilani came into this world with a frown, and the odds are good he'll be frowning when he leaves it. My father's autobiography would probably be called something like A Series of Continuous Disappointments. I'd have a feature role.

I'm really good at letting things go. People screw up. I get it. I screw up all the time and I forgive myself pretty much right away.

If we stay our course, history may not remember us kindly, and even if it does, I'm not sure it matters. History is not morality.

Meet the author:

I grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, and currently live in Sacramento, California. There have been plenty of stops in between though. I’m a first-generation immigrant, twice over. I’ve been a citizen of three different countries and lived in nine cities.

I am, as Goethe, said, “nothing but a wanderer […] on this earth.”

Living among different people, in different countries at fascinating times in their histories, has shaped both my view of the world and my writing. Ultimately, human beings are the same everywhere (despite the fact that they tell themselves, everywhere, that they are different from each other), and the theme of this fundamental human unity informs everything I write.

As to my life outside of writing, I went to the William and Mary School of Law, and before that attended the University of Toronto, where I studied English Literature. I am currently practising as an attorney and must “measure out my life in coffee spoons” on a daily basis.

Some members of my family will tell you that I’m also a poet. This isn’t true. I wrote a few poems in Urdu when I was a teenager, and I’ve never heard the end of it…which I wouldn’t mind, honestly, if they were any good. As it is, I’m very happy living in prose, thank you very much.

Other interests include good food, video games, sitcoms, and books of all kinds. Most of my time that doesn’t go to writing or billable hours is consumed by my two children, four and two years of age.

Rodham - Curtis Sittenfeld (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 08/07/2020

Author: Curtis Sittenfeld

Publisher: Penguin Random House

Publication Date: May 19, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

‘Awfully opinionated for a girl’ is what they call Hillary as she grows up in her Chicago suburb. Smart, diligent, and a bit plain, that’s the general consensus. Then Hillary goes to college, and her star rises. At Yale Law School, she continues to be a leader— and catches the eye of driven, handsome and charismatic Bill. But when he asks her to marry him, Hillary gives him a firm ‘No’.

The rest, as they say, isn’t history. How might things have turned out for them, for America, for the world itself, if Hillary Rodham had really turned down Bill Clinton?

With her sharp but always compassionate eye, Sittenfeld explores the loneliness, moral ambivalence and iron determination that characterise the quest for high office, as well as the painful compromises demanded of female ambition in a world ruled by men. Uncannily astute and witty in the telling, RODHAM is a brilliant

reimagining – an unmissable literary landmark and truly a novel of our times.

Review:

        I am not sure whether I am fully equipped to review this novel. As per geographical position, I live nowhere near America and hence not an ardent follower of the political condition there. But I did want Hillary to be elected as the President, so a fictionalised version of events where she gets to fulfil her dreams along with that of many is a small consolation. 

      Reading a fictionalised account of a living person is kind of eerie, especially when she is a household name. No one wants to think about the road not taken, that's a sure way to madness. Did her marriage to Bill Clinton change the course of Hillary Rodham's life? Perhaps. But I would like to believe that the glory of being the first female President of the United States is destined for someone else. 

       Now let's have a look at this as a work of fiction. This is my first time reading Curtis Sittenfeld and her writing is nothing short of incredible. We get to see a young and ambitious Hillary making her mark in the law school and the story keeps fidelity to her life story until she rejects the proposal of Clinton. There starts a long and sometimes tedious journey of a law professor who finally finds her way after many years.

        What I loved most about this book is the inside information and the excitement and terror of campaigning. As expected, it is not enough to have the best intentions at heart, you need to advertise it to convince the media and the voters. It does present some hilarious and crazy situations which make this fictional account truly enjoyable. I was not expecting that 'Trump' card . . . Ha! the best moments of the story, without a doubt.

Meet the author:

In addition to Rodham, Curtis Sittenfeld is the author of the Sunday Times bestseller American Wife, in which she painted a picture of an ordinary American girl a thinly disguised Laura Bush who found herself married to a President. It was longlisted for the Orange Prize, as was her debut novel Prep.

Her other books are Man of My Dreams, Sisterland (a Richard & Judy Book Club pick), Eligible, and the acclaimed short story collection You Think It, I’ll Say It. Her books are translated into 30 languages. She lives with her family in the American Mid West.

To Kill a Kingdom - Alexandra Christo (Review & Summary)

Date of Reading: 29/06/2020

Author: Alexandra Christo

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publication Date: March 6, 2018

Rating: 4/5

About the book:

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavoury hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

Review:

      I didn't know that this was a retelling of the little mermaid story when I began. Once the realisation dawned, panic set in. Well, to tell you the truth, 'The Little Mermaid' was my first heartbreak in a world of happily ever afters. Many of you may argue that it does have a happy ending, but I tend to disagree. Anyway, that is not the happy ending my childhood self wanted. And the adult me did not want a repeat performance either. At least, this time I was prepared.

      So when did I suspect this to be different? When I found Lira retaining her speaking abilities as a human. Rest was a smooth ride since I no longer have to worry about the tragedy awaiting at the end. Looking back, there are quite a lot of differences between the two storylines; Lira is no saintly figure for one and the enemies to lovers trope makes her stronger and bolder than the original version. She is no submissive woman to dance at the prince's whims but a killer just like him, matching all his tunes.

       Alexandra Christo's expert narrative reminds us of the beauty of retellings. The story of deep-seated hatred, the wit and banter of the lovers, the camaraderie among a ship's crew and vivid fighting scenes transform a cherished fairytale into something more. What are you waiting for then? Pick up a copy and prepare to be surprised.

Summary:

       Due to the constant enmity between sirens and humans, sirens are required to kill a human and take his heart every year on their birthdays. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, Princess Lira is the most lethal of them all and is called The Prince’s Bane. The one who possesses the most hearts becomes the next Sea Queen and even Lira’s mother, the present Queen is feeling threatened by her daughter. When she takes the heart of a prince before her birthday, the Queen is angered. Lira decides to bring her the heart of Prince Elian, the most hated siren killer of them all.

      Even though he is the crown prince of Midas, the most prosperous of the human kingdoms, Prince Elian finds true joy within his ship, Saad. Every time the ship docks at Midas and when he is forced to play the part of a dutiful prince, he feels exhausted and away from his aim to kill the Prince’s Bane. He has killed many sirens but still hasn’t got an opportunity to meet this red-haired demon.

       Lira finds the prince on his ship but a mermaid prevents her from attacking. In the struggle that ensued, Elian slips to the water and Lira kills the mermaid to catch him for herself. But the timely intervention of Midasian soldiers saves Elian. As a punishment Lira is turned into human form without any magical abilities by her mother; to get back the powers she needs to bring back Elian’s heart before the winter solstice.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

      A stranger informs Prince Elian that he can defeat all the sirens with the crystal of Keto, the eye of the Sea Goddess. Her other eye provides power to the Sea Queen and so releasing this is the only way to kill her. The crystal is rumoured to be on the Cloud Mountain of Pagos, the highest point in the world. Only the Pagos royalty is known to have the ability to climb the mountain. Elian approaches Sakura, the princess of Pagos hiding in Midas as a barkeeper and offers to make her his queen in exchange of a way to reach the mountain. With the map in hand Elian and his trusted crew start their journey to Pagos.

     They find Lira in the middle of the ocean and saves her from drowning. She quickly adapts to this new lifestyle in the ship and gradually makes friends with others. She pretends to hate the sirens and offers to do the ritual to release the crystal of Keto. Her plan is to stick with the crew and get the crystal for herself so that her cruel mother can be defeated. But their journey together opens in her the long lost emotions that she has buried deep inside to survive and kinship is formed with the prince and the crew. 

       On reaching Pagos, they are guided by Sakura (Princess Yukiko) to the mountain. Her presence makes both Elian and Lira realise their love towards each other. Still, she decides to go with her plan to acquire the crystal. At the summit, Lira makes everyone believe that they need siren’s blood to release the eye of Keto. Elian tries to use his magical knife which has absorbed the blood of the sirens he killed, but it has long been converted into its powers. 

       While everyone lies sleeping, Lira releases the crystal using her blood. Sakura catches her in the act followed by Elian. She is no match to him in her human form and so after putting up a fight, she relinquishes the crystal to Elian, fully aware that it will consider only Lira as its master. She summons her mother for battle and the Sea Queen comes in all her glory thinking that it is Elian who released the crystal. Perceiving Lira’s affection towards the human prince she turns her back to siren form thinking that it will erase her humanity. Elian decides to believe in their love and entrusts Lira with the magic eye. In the battle that followed, the Sea Queen is killed and Lira takes her throne. 

      Prince Elian decides to follow his life in the sea with Lira, leaving Midas in the care of his capable sister. He gets out of his promise with Sakura by arranging another strong alliance for her. A new era is born with Lira as the Sea Queen who brings peace between sirens and humans.

Meet the author:

Alexandra Christo decided to write books when she was four and her teacher told her she couldn’t be a fairy. When she’s not busy making up stories, she can be found organising food crawls over London and binge-watching Korean dramas.

Alexandra has a BA in Creative Writing and currently lives in England with an abundance of cacti (because they’re the only plants she can keep alive).

Date Me, Bryson Keller - Kevin van Whye

Date of Reading: 30/06/2020

Author: Kevin van Whye

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: May 19, 2020

Rating: 4.5/5

About the book:

What If It's Us meets To All the Boys I've Loved Before in this upbeat and heartfelt boy-meets-boy romance that feels like a modern twist on a '90s rom-com!

Everyone knows about the dare: Each week, Bryson Keller must date someone new--the first person to ask him out on Monday morning. Few think Bryson can do it. He may be the king of Fairvale Academy, but he's never really dated before.

Until a boy asks him out, and everything changes.

Kai Sheridan didn't expect Bryson to say yes. So when Bryson agrees to secretly go out with him, Kai is thrown for a loop. But as the days go by, he discovers there's more to Bryson beneath the surface, and dating him begins to feel less like an act and more like the real thing. Kai knows how the story of a gay boy liking someone straight ends. With his heart on the line, he's awkwardly trying to navigate senior year at school, at home, and in the closet, all while grappling with the fact that this "relationship" will last only five days. After all, Bryson Keller is popular, good-looking, and straight . . . right?

Kevin van Whye delivers an uplifting and poignant coming-out love story that will have readers rooting for these two teens to share their hearts with the world--and with each other.

Review:

       There was a lot of hype around this book and I am not in the habit of skipping a high school romance (as a teacher this is one my ways to get the student side of things). Sure, the situation is different in my place, but students are students and one could really identify the predicament Kai is under. If your aim is to finish your school years being invisible, then the safest course is to remain in the closet. But should you?

       Kai Sheridan doesn't have a lot of talents. He barely squeezes through maths and his performance in drama class is equally terrible, unless you count the scriptwriting. That, by the way, is his speciality: writing (ooh! that is my ideal pupil). Nothing exciting happens until in a fit of anger he asks Bryson Keller out for that week. He gets to date him for five days. 

       The book barely covers two weeks and who knew so much could happen at such a short span of time. I loved the way the author broke the chapters into different days effortlessly merging Kai's family background and the story of his friends along with his growing bond with Bryson. In a world of bullying and homophobia, Bryson Keller surely stands out. He is far more mature than his years and the same goes for Kai's sister, Yaz. I have never seen a thirteen-year-old showing such intelligence and, without a doubt, she is one of my favourite characters.

       The final showdown was also really worth the wait. And I totally agree with you Yaz; the trope where the main character decides to give up on the person he loves in the name of protecting him is definitely the worst. So huge thank you for the sisterly intervention. You are the best!

       On the whole, 'Date Me, Bryson Keller' is a story that contains multitudes. The angst of a closeted gay teen, bullying, estranged families and above all hope and humour . . . yes, it's all there. Recommended to all teenagers and to those who are still a teenager at heart!

Meet the author:

Kevin van Whye is a writer born and raised in South Africa, where his love for storytelling started at a young age. At four years old, he quit preschool because his teacher couldn’t tell a story. Kevin’s love affair with stories led him to film school to study scriptwriting. Kevin currently lives in Johannesburg. Find him at www.kevinvanwhye.com

Summer Island - Natalie Normann (Blog Tour)

Date of Reading: 25/06/2020

Author: Natalie Normann

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: June 24, 2020

Source: NetGalley

Rating: 4/5

(This review is part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours)

About the book:

He never meant to stay.

He certainly never meant to fall in love…

Summer Island off the coast of Norway was the place London chef Jack Greene should have been from. He’s an outsider in the community that should have been his family, and now he’s setting foot on the strange land he has inherited for the first time.

The welcome is a mix of distrust and strange gifts of food, especially from enigmatic Ninni Toft, his nearest neighbour, who has arrived for the season to get over a broken heart. Her wild spirit and irrepressible enthusiasm for the quirky locals are a heady brew for city-boy Jack, who is discovering the simple pleasures of island life – and what it means to belong. To a place. To a people. To one person in particular…

Home is where the heart is but is Jack’s heart with the career he left behind in London, or on the wind-swept shores of Summer Island, with Ninni?

Review:

        It's not every day we come by a book set on a Norwegian island. And that was more than enough reason for me to pick this book. Telling that it lived up to my expectations will be an understatement. Suffice to say this is one of the most relaxing reads I had this year.

      If Norway is half as beautiful as the books shows, it will be a shame not to visit it once. The place-names might be hard to pronounce, but the fun, laughter and the friendly faces Norway offers is going to mesmerise you from the beginning of the story. This could be the story of Jack and Ninni, but little summer island, you are the real hero. Anyone will need an ice-cold heart to leave that place.

       A summer fling turning into something more, an English man finding his roots. . . 'Summer Island' is this and much more. Jack and Ninni are there on the island for different reasons, but both find a new purpose there. I loved the way the story progressed expertly linked with the life of the island community. Nosy neighbours and a dog with human intelligence just adds to the mirth.

        What are you waiting for then? Stock up your fridge (warning: prepare to witness the slow and painful demise of your diet plans) before grabbing a copy. You will love it for sure!

Meet the author:

Natalie Normann grew up in a shipping town on the west coast of Norway and always wanted to be a writer. Actually, she wanted to smoke cigars and drink whiskey like Hemingway but settled for chocolate and the occasional glass of Baileys.

Her writing journey started with short stories in women’s magazines until her first book was published in 1995.

Summer Island is her first romance written in English.