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Bake Happy (Bake Believe Series Book 3) by Cori Cooper – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Bake HappyBake Happy by Cori Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have read this author’s Bake Believe and had really liked the concept of introducing baking along with some YA drama. It was nice reading Cat and her baking adventures again. Teenager with magical baking abilities , Cat is happy and confident. She wants to make the world a better place with baking, at class parties and family meal times. But well, when we think we have got everything under control, things turn upside down. A wish is made, which turns her life upside down and changes her life forever. Can she ever bake happy again? It is a fun and lighthearted read, I really enjoy these books, I get a lot of recipes to bake as well.

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Euphoric Wonderland by Ryan M. Becker – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Euphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the MindEuphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the Mind by Ryan M. Becker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good collection of poems. It is an amalgamation of dreams, emotions and the past we have all more or less dealt with. There are few which I could easily relate to, few which I could not, which is understandable as every one’s experiences are different. The poems primarily deal with mental health issues,social isolation and self doubt. The best part is the rhyming was one of the key aspects of this poetry. I really liked that the poems rhymed, it was kind of very soothing to hear my own voice, so I read it aloud. Overall a profound experience.

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Murder Most Pemberley (Eliza Darcy Mysteries Book 1) by Jessica Berg – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Murder Most Pemberley (Eliza Darcy Mysteries Book 1)Murder Most Pemberley by Jessica Berg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, Pemberley, Eliza and Darcy – obviously my first pick of the month. I am a hardcore Jane Austen fan and this book did pique my interest. Eliza Darcy, a descendant to “THE DARCY” visits Pemberley for a family reunion to patch up differences between her father and uncle. Things go haywire when the social etiquettes are replaced by murder and mayhem. Eliza along with the swoon-worthy Heath. Eliza is an amateur detective and half the time errs, but she gets some solid clues which become the game changer.
Being an ardent Jane Austen fan, I did find references to the original P&P characters not really necessary, this book could have carried on as a contemporary murder mystery book “as-is”. But I did not mind revisiting the good old P&P characters at all, this book was fun But the book was overall fun and easy to read. A good mystery, eagerly waiting for what the author has in store for the rest of the books in the series.

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The Letter Carrier by L.C. Lewis – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Letter CarrierThe Letter Carrier by Laurie L.C. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have deep respect for books which are centered around World War II. They bring out the pain and trauma faced by the people during one of the most horrific times on this planet.
This book is a coming of age story of a young girl Michelle, except this does not involve any dates, fashion dresses or admiring eyes. This is a story of a young girl whose family had to endure Nazi soldiers in their home for 4 years. The Letter Carrier is based on the true life of Michelle Naget whose family lived in France, when the Nazis invaded their country and took over their homeland for 4 years.
They prayed everyday that the Allies will come rescue them, there is still hope and light at the end of the tunnel. Their unwavering faith in God and the family motto “We do what must be done” helped Michelle sail through those difficult times.
The author has done extensive research about Michelle’s life , she spent three years with the lady herself to understand the facts and her life better and pen it down on paper.
Huge respects to the author, Michelle and everyone who survived those terrible times during WW II.

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Murder in the Lightning Room by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Murder in the Lightning Room: A Historical MysteryMurder in the Lightning Room: A Historical Mystery by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set in year 1899 in Colorado Springs, this book follows the young protagonist Cora work with famous Nikola Tesla in his secret lab . She assists Tesla in his detective work to unravel the mystery behind the murder of his assistant. She faces opposition from her own mother but she hangs on with her friends. It is a well narrated plot and the mystery lingers till the end. It is one of those stories which has a very strong female lead, in the times, when women were struggling to establish their footage. I enjoyed this book quite a bit and look forward to more from this author.

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Mermaid and the Water Magnifying Glass (Mermaid Science Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Anantha Alagappan

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The Mermaid and the Water Magnifying Glass (Mermaid Science, #3)The Mermaid and the Water Magnifying Glass by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my third book from this author. I like her concepts, introduce science to little children her books. The illustrations are bright and neat, and it helps both children and adults realize that science exists in the nature and you can do experiments with very simple tools and you do not need a laboratory.
Trezzie, the mermaid, collects trash which people leave on the shore. When she meets Maia and Fig this time, she is interested to know more about the rocks which has some unusual markings on them. Maia and Fig ,use a plastic fruit box and help make a magnifying glass for Trezzie. Trezzie uses the glass and together they find out that the rocks are actually fossils. The discussion then leads to what Fossils are.

It is a very interesting book to read for both children and adults. I am enjoying reading the books with my boys. I would recommend it to everyone.

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The Vilification of Aqua Marine by Megan Mackie – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Vilification of Aqua Marine (Working Mask, #1)The Vilification of Aqua Marine by Megan Mackie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked this book because of the cover, and I love comics. I was’nt disappointed. Aqua Marine aka Rhainnon is the daughter of a super hero and an evil villain. As she grows up, it is ambiguous if she is going to pick up the positive or the negative traits of her parents.
But Aqua wants to be a super hero like her dad and hence begins her attempts to do something positive desperately to emulate him. As those efforts go wrong, what starts as an attempt to use her super powers leads to hilarious consequences.
It’s really a fun comic book suitable to read for young adults and adults alike. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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The Happily Ever After Bookstore by Bernadette Marie – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Happily Ever After BookstoreThe Happily Ever After Bookstore by Bernadette Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a story of three interwoven romances, all three leading to a book store. There is a sweet bookshop owned by a match maker Leona, who tries to bring couples together. Leona first brings two lovers together by deliberately making a Christmas eve package mix up. That entails in the pair spending the Christmas holiday together and finding love. The second time, she succeeds in rekindling the love in a divorced couple. In the journey, she finds love herself with a handyman who comes to repair her book shop. The book can easily pass off as a hallmark romance movie, and gives happy vibes. With clean romance and small town feel, it is a very pleasant read. I enjoyed the book.

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Oliver, A Story of Adoption by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Oliver: A Story about AdoptionOliver: A Story about Adoption by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book primarily focuses on issues faced when a child is adopted. The child always tends to think that if he/she were with their real parents things “could” have been better.
Oliver lives with his adoptive parents, and one day, after getting scolded by his dad on a silly mistake, he goes into his room and sulks if things would have been better if he was with his real parents. Would they have scolded him? Or would they have loved him better.
But then he comes downstairs with his parents baking cookies and being very loving to him. They are very understanding and tell him that the emotions he is going through are normal and they have to work out a solution with love.
This is a book which will sensitize children on the topic of adoption. It is tackled in a subtle and gentle way. I quite liked the book.

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The Mermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace (Mermaid Science) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Mermaid and the Ice Cube NecklaceMermaid and the Ice Cube Necklace by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really like this author’s ideas and her effort to teach science to children through a series of enchanting magical stories. Two cute girls, Maia and Fig go on a picnic together and encounter a mermaid, Trezzie. Maia can interact with Trezzie but Fig cannot.Maia decides to make a necklace for Trezzie, which is where the science part comes in. The two girls blow holes into the ice cubes they brought for lemonade through a straw and make a necklace. When Fig sees a necklace hanging in the air, she begins to chase it and almost gets drowned. Trezzie and the necklace save her and then Fig begins to believe.

It’s a real cute story with lot of wonderful illustrations. I have started liking this author’s books a lot.

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The Mind-Reading Hat (Invisible Magic Wand Series Book 6) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Mind-Reading HatThe Mind-Reading Hat by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a very easy to read book with colorful illustrations. Caspian, on his “un birthday” gets two gifts from his grand dad, a hat, through which he can hear other’s thoughts and a unique stone, which helps him solve problems. But is it really rewarding to hear what other’s think? Caspian has an adventurous journey with his two gifts and the kids and we as parents can relate to the journey. Loved the book, recommended for kids, especially early readers.

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The Day the Librarian Saved the Galaxy by Stephanie Wilson Peterson – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Day the Librarian Saved the GalaxyThe Day the Librarian Saved the Galaxy by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very imaginative book in which a third grader and her brother help a librarian save the library from Aliens. I absolutely loved the concept. Third Grader Sophia loves to go to the library once a week and she is a good friend of the librarian. She has her routine chalked out every week until one fine day the library turns stinky with aliens. Now it’s up to Sophia to roll her sleeves up and help the librarian Mrs.Booker get rid of the aliens.

It was a fun book, very gripping and has all elements of magic in it. It was a wonderful read.

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Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephanie Wilson Peterson – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Toby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad DogToby: The (Mostly) True Story of a Former Bad Dog by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We got a dog four months back and I picked up this book because of its story . I could do relate to it . The author has captured the dog behavior and the human canine binding really well . It is a nice little book and very easy to read . Paul Ford rescues a stray dog and finds about how he got separated from his family . So he agrees to transport Toby back to the owners . The story is the travelogue of their adventures together as they travel to Illinois.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and could so relate to it . And surprise, our dog is a pitbull mix too !!

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The True Purpose of Vines (The Winemakers Book 1) by Giovanna Siniscalchi – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The True Purpose of VinesThe True Purpose of Vines by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The True purpose of Vines is a historic romance book set in Portugal between a winemaker and a widow Julia and an English gentleman who has come all the way only to spy on her. This book reminded me of the television series “The Vineyard”, though there is a lot of difference in the plot. Griffin buys a property next door to Julia to keep an eye on her, but little does he realize that he will lose his heart to her. Julia is steadier and more grounded, but his persuasion lures her into a relationship. Will their love blossom or will the cruel reality and business blow their love apart?
It is a very nice historic romance, and I could visualize each and every scene as I had seen the Amazon Prime series only of late. Setting is a key element in the story and the whole story is beautifully picturized. Loved it!!

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The-Know-It-All-Pencil (Invisible Magic Wand Series) by Lois Wickstrom – Review By Anantha Rusum

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The Know-It-All Pencil (Invisible Magic Wand)The Know-It-All Pencil by Lois Wickstrom

A very cute book for children, the story revolves around an unusual gift a boy called Caspian receives for his birthday from his grand father. The gift is a pencil which writes by itself. But does the pencil just write or is there some reason behind what the pencil is writing? Initially it writes one word, then when Caspian gets what it is asking for , it connects the thing to a person, and that person might be in need of help ! A very cute story about being kind and helpful to others written in a very unique way. I absolutely loved this book

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The Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Scent of GardeniasThe Scent of Gardenias by Lorraine Haas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am a fan of historic fiction books, especially revolving around WW II or offshoots of WW II. This story is set in the 1940s in the Americas, where a young girl falls for an older gentleman during the war times, and tragedy strikes. Pregnant, bereft, she struggles to find her footage in the world only to find herself married to a wrong man. How she forges through these worse times and comes out of it, strong, determined and strong willed forms the crux of this beautifully told poignant tale. The book is heart wrenching filled with pain, grief, sorrow and poverty.
We all should be inspired and pay tribute to women like Margaret, who were trying to establish their social standing in the twentieth century especially during the war times. The story became more realistic after learning that it is the author’s mother’s real life story. A story well told !

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An Alien Storm (Soldiers of Saedo Book 4) by Calla Zae – Review by Anantha Rusum

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An Alien Storm (Soldiers of Saedo, #4)An Alien Storm by Calla Zae
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a new author to me and I have not read the previous books, but figured out each book is dedicated to a sister! In this book, the story is around Vanessa and an alien she meets Arkon. Vanessa has a divorce after a traumatic marriage on Earth. When the soldiers rescue her and her sisters in Saedo, she decides to go to Saedo as there is nothing left on Earth. She meets Arkon, and sparks fly. But Can Vanessa get over her traumatic past and go closer to Arkon? That is the crux of the story. It is a sweet romance and sci-fi fiction. I would like to go back and read the other books.

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Shamrock & Clover: Field’s Apart by C.A. King – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Shamrock & Clover: Fields ApartShamrock & Clover: Fields Apart by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It is a short romance, very gripping and has all the elements of a good read in it. Clover is a waitress who has had her fair shares of hardship . She is someone who is waiting for her dream-partner. Shamrock on the other hand is a flirt who has a reputation. News has it that he intends to remain that way When both meet, the sparks fly. And this time Shamrock does get interested. But can Clover forgive his past and move on? This is a very cute romance story I have read in a while. Loved it !!

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Mermaid and the Rainbow: Mermaid Science by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Anantha Rusum

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the mermaid and the rainbowthe mermaid and the rainbow by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Me and my boys loved this book. . Trezzie is a mermaid who wants to show her friends, Maya and Fig, how to make rainbows and do an experiment with paper, a glass, and the lake water. This is such a fun way to introduce science experiments to the children, the pictures are bright and children get attracted to it.

The book was really cool and an easy read, it is recommended especially for young kids or mothers with young kids.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Changes and Challenges (Notebook Mysteries Book 3) by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Changes and ChallengesNotebook Mysteries ~ Changes and Challenges by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the last of the Notebook mysteries series. I had enjoyed the previous two books . This book picks up from where the last mystery ended. Emma is the vivacious heroine, who stands up for herself in a man driven world. She sets up a business, helps other women and family connections, In this book, she also sets up a charity fund. Her friend Tony asks her to solve a case in Paris. But Emma’s life is in peril. Will she and her friends solve this mystery and get out of danger? This was a very interesting read as the other two books. I thoroughly enjoyed the series.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Decisions and Possibilities (Notebook Mysteries #2)Decisions and Possibilities by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a historic mystery set in 1883, Chicago. The dynamic heroine Emma is only 18 but much ahead of her age. She develops a keen interest towards solving crime mysteries . In the men driven world of those times, she establishes a successful business of her own, and also helps other women who are in distress. Along comes a mystery where she is threatened and assaulted, but she has to help a family connection. Can Emma solve the mystery? This book takes us on a adventure filled ride along with Emma. I like women centric novels which are set in historic times, the courage and the resolve women had in those days to succeed was far more than what we have now, considering the opposition they had to face from the society. A very nice YA novel, I enjoyed it !

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Kiss of the Swan by Natalina Reis – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Kiss of the SwanKiss of the Swan by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A twisty romantic fantasy Fairytale which combines three fairy tales together, the sleeping beaty, the twelve swans and The whipping boy. A witch curses the king and his heir because she did not get what she wanted. The boy is sent to live with an old woman and her boy, who believes the prince was his brother. He is the whipping boy who takes the beating for the prince, the one who secretly tends to a magic swan whom his brother wounded, and finally ends up rescuing a sleeping beauty whom he falls in love with and eventually lives happily ever after.

This book is like a recap of many fairy tales. There are twists and turns, but overall you can relate back to the original fairy tales. I enjoyed the book.

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Divine Vintage by Sandra L. Young – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Divine VintageDivine Vintage by Sandra L. Young
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book surely brought the vintage clothing into limelight. There is a present and the past, but the book is primarily about the vintage fashion.
Tess, the lead heroine, risks everything to open a clothing boutique in Michigan city. When she models a vintage gown for a charity fashion show, she experiences visions of the past which involve murder. Trey, who is modelling the groom’s tuxedo, is initially skeptical but later joins Tess in solving the mystery. Together, as they experience, visions of the past, they develop romantic feelings towards each other.
The book is romantic, the paranormal and the mystery elements add a lot of fun. It was a very good read.

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Seven Strengths: A Tale from Turaset (The Industrial Age) by P.L. Tavormina – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Seven Strengths: A Tale from TurasetSeven Strengths: A Tale from Turaset by P.L. Tavormina
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a tale of a young girl , celesta who dreams big and wants to make a difference in this world . Tired of her rural mundane life , when she gets a chance to do something different, she grabs the opportunity, but what it appears to be is not what it is .The plot is gripping and is full of action and adventure . There were few loop holes in the plot but overall a gripping read .

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Daire’s Devils (Daire’s Devils Series Book 1) by Danielle Ackley-McPhail – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Daire's DevilsDaire’s Devils by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fast paced adventure about a special ops group called Daire’s devils, who have to protect their colony from invaders. But trouble brews when someone tries to play with the prototype aircraft, and it becomes difficult to trust if the enemy is actually from outside or inside. This is a sci-fi/ military thriller which keeps you guessing till the end. The plot is quite engrossing and the characters are likeable. It was an enjoyable fast read.

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A Bride for Noah (Brides of Broken Arrow) by Cheryl Wright – Review by Anantha Rusum

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A Bride for Noah (Brides of Broken Arrow #1)A Bride for Noah by Cheryl Wright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are books where the story line is something you have already read about, but how it is presented makes a lot of difference. This is a historic romance, about the marriage of convenience, something which is often witnessed in historic dramas, but what makes this book interesting are the characters and the way the book is presented.

Noah is given a vast promise of land, but with one condition, he has to marry with in few weeks, otherwise he has to forfeit all his fortune. Mary is in neck deep trouble with her father who cares only about his pigs and is willing to give away his daughter to the first man knocking on the door. So, when a church suggests their alliance, both Mary and Noah readily agree to a marriage of convenience. Atleast Mary is with a mindset that she will annul the marriage once the contract period is over.
But when it comes to the heart, it is a completely different matter altogether. Will these two end their marriage and go their own ways , or their hearts have something to say? That is the plot of the story.

If you are looking for a nice smooth romance read in the season of love, this is a book to read. A refreshing romance with an endearing lead pair. I enjoyed it.

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Rebecca Steele Living the Dream (Rebecca Steele series Book 3) by Joanne Patterson – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Rebecca Steele Living The Dream (The Rebecca Steele series Book 3)Rebecca Steele Living The Dream by Joanne Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the 3rd book in the series and I really loved it.
In this book Rebecca is happily married , her career is at an all time high and she leads a good life with her husband and step daughter.
However, nothing remains perfect. People from the past turn up and it makes the relationship between Rebecca and her husband difficult.
Her step daughter is stepping into her shoes with a penchant for singing and blooms into a confident little girl. Rebecca has to really fight with all her strength to hold on to the things and people who are dear to her life. It is a bitter sweet ending, but I did enjoy every bit of this fast paced love story.

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REBECCA STEELE FINDING A DREAM (REBECCA STEELE SERIES BOOK 2) by JOANNE PATTERSON – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Rebecca Steele Finding the Dream (Rebecca Steele Series #2)Rebecca Steele Finding the Dream by Joanne Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rebecca Steele Finding the Dream is the second book in the Rebecca Steele series by Joanne Patterson. Finding the Dream is a very sweet romance with some touching moments. Rebecca finds herself in new circumstances and things around her are changing rapidly, except her best friend. She seems to be doing well in her career, but then life turns upside down . Major decisions have to be made, and well, the path isn’t straight. The characters are intense and well rounded. The plot is interesting. I overall enjoyed this sweet romance.

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ConQuest: The Art of Selling at Cons by Megan Mackie – Review by Anantha Rusum

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ConQuest: The Art of Selling At ConsConQuest: The Art of Selling At Cons by Megan Mackie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“ConQuest: The Art of Selling at Cons,” by Megan Mackie is a very useful book which gives a lot of detailed information on how to successfully market and promote self-published works. I picked this book as I do intend to self publish my books and I was looking for guidance. I know of many first time authors who struggle to promote their books and end up paying tons of money to the retailers to place them in the stores. The checklist is very useful for the promotional events. Though she does center the book around a particular genre, I think the strategies could be applied across genres to market your book. Very useful book. Definitely recommended.

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Apocalypse Thoughts (The Pox Series Book 5) by Kendra Griffin – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Apocalypse ThoughtsApocalypse Thoughts by Kendra Griffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A book which strikes the chord in this pandemic times, Apocalypse Thoughts is centered around a girl Kella and how she encounters the pandemic which has taken over the world and save her dear ones.
A pandemic has made humans mutate into cannibals, and no one knows what caused this or how fast the mutation spreads.
Kella wants to save herself and her brother Huck from the pandemic. Both of them along with her cousin Jumper start hiking on the Appalachian trials armed with a very important information that can change everything. They must hike as fast as they can and stay ahead of the infected people, called the Hyenas. There are tons of things which could go wrong including shortage of food and water.
Kella keeps a running log of all the challenges she faces as they escape the Hyenas and try to stay ahead of the race and just live. This is a story of courage and bravery and we all can relate to this in our current Pandemic. The narrative is gripping and can be easily read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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