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Aiko (The Heartstrings Series Book 1) by Brooke May – Review by Anantha Rusum

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AikoAiko by Brooke May
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was Just what I needed at present. I have been reading some heavy books and was looking forward for something light to read. As I was reading the book, I was picturing a movie being made , it is a perfect rom-com and people will love it.
Aiko is one of the love angels of cupid. But unfortunately, she has had disastrous experiences before and had been suspended from that role. She gets her first assignment in the form of Alejandro, who is a kind and a caring man.
Aiko is determined to get a perfect woman for him. But she makes matters complicated when she chooses two instead of one, one whom she thinks is ideal for him and the other, completely opposite, to point out the glaring differences. But Cupid’s arrows once shot, follow their own path.
Will Aiko succeed or goof everything up again?
Read to know more in this hilarious book, which kept me awake in the night laughing in splits.

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Cuckoo Clock – New York (Unbroken Bonds Book 3) by Elisabeth Marrion – Review by Anantha Alagappan

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Cuckoo Clock - New York (Unbroken Bonds Book 3)Cuckoo Clock – New York by Elisabeth Marrion
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am huge fan of War books. Each and every book I read or every movie I watch about the poignant state of Jews in the Nazi Germany deeply moves me. This is a story of Jewish doctor Esther Rosenthal who escapes from Berlin. When her husband is detained before the danger which befell on Jews in Nazi Germany. She escapes with her father and in the course of their flight to England, she meets a group of Jewish children, who were being moved from a Berlin Orphanage to England on a Kindertransport. She adopts three of them and she and her father try to support them with the best they have. They travel to New York, but Esther is forced to return to Europe because of her own personal reasons.
Together or separated, how these characters show solidarity and support to each other forms the crux of the story. Like and WW2 book, this book is also heart wrenching and deftly brings out the plight of the Jews and their extreme circumstances they were put through.
I loved the author’s narration style and I am going to pick up the first two books of the author as well.

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Yule Lads Legend: Iceland’s Jólasveinar by Heidi Herman – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Yule Lads Legend: Iceland's JólasveinarYule Lads Legend: Iceland’s Jólasveinar by Heidi Herman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a cute story. I am planning to read it to my children and also ask the kiddos in my book club to read it. It is a folklore based out of Iceland where 13 Yule lad kids always go to a village to kidnap naughty children. They take back the children to their mother who is a troll to make a stew.
This year, they decide to leave little gifts and presents to children instead of capturing the children. They understand the joy of giving and realize the euphoria when you see someone happy with your actions.
A fun and enjoyable read, I don’t mind giving it to my boys!!!

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Bake Believe by Cori Cooper – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Bake BelieveBake Believe by Cori Cooper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bake Believe is a pretty cool book which reminded me of this Netflix show “Just Add Magic”. This is a book on similar lines where the main character gets a family gift she never imagined. The gift is that whatever emotion she feels as she bakes is infused in her creation. This adds more fire to her already raging teenage problems and leads to comic consequences.
I loved this book, it has a dash of magic, humor and innocent school day romance. To top it all, the detailed recipes are a huge bonus. My son is into baking and the recipes in the book are quite elaborate for him to try out.
I absolutely adored this book!

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Starvation by Molly Fennig – Review by Anantha Rusum

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StarvationStarvation by Molly Fennig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very powerful emotional roller-coaster read about a very rare topic, eating disorder in men.
The story runs in two timelines, present, and past.
The past tells a story of a young Wes, who has always lived in the shadow of his older brother, a wrestling champion.
He meets a girl Caila, who wants to diet for her ballet dancing. He gets into this dieting habit with her and falls deeper and deeper to extreme diet. As his brother dies, he somehow lets this diet take control over his life.
And as time progresses, in the present timeline, he is very sick and refuses to get out of it.
It is a very intense book, and communicates a message that one is responsible for their own actions. If one gets into the trouble, it is one’s one responsibility to get out of it.
A very unique tale, told beautifully. It is heart wrenching.

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The North Wind Descends (The Lord Hani Mysteries Book 4) by N.L. Holmes – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The North Wind DescendsThe North Wind Descends by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I came back to this series after a gap, I had read the first one, The lightning horse but did not read books 2 and 3. So I was a little apprehensive when I picked this book. I had the background of the characters but over the span of four books, they have all changed, aged and characters have been introduced.
The book starts off with a murder mystery which the Egyptian diplomat Hani has to solve and this time around, a specific request from the queen has to be honored.
The plot is complex, and there are lots of twists and turns. There is a murderer on loose and Hani’s family is in jeopardy. His daughter also gets involved and Hani finds himself tangled in a complex puzzle which becomes increasingly difficult to solve.
This book blends historic fiction and mystery beautifully. It is a very fast read, and it keeps the readers on their toes on what is coming next. Overall, a very compelling and an enjoyable read.

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Blood of the Dragon (Relic Hunters Book 4) by Martin Ferguson – Review By Anantha Rusum

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Blood of the Dragon (Relic Hunters, #4)Blood of the Dragon by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Relic hunters are back and this time it is Romania. A misplaced dairy from Romania brings a group of mercenaries to England where a professor and the head of the British museum are brutally assaulted. The leader of the museum goes missing and Adam and Emma step in to solve the mystery. When the contents of the dairy are revealed, they decide to go to Romania and the castle in question, the Poenari castle, the former home of Vlad, the Impaler. They find themselves up against evil and darkness once again.
Another adventure filled with suspense, thrill and danger, this book, like its predecessors has the readers on the edge of their seats. I have really come to like Martin Ferguson; his books offer a quick and breezy respite. Keep them coming!

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WAR OF THE DAMNED (Relic Hunters Book 3) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Anantha Rusum

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War of the Damned (Relic Hunters, #3)War of the Damned by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adam and the British Museum crew are back on a new mission to discover a German U-Boat near scotland. But as usual there are others after it too. The story tracks back to the World War II when Hitler and the British soldiers were engaged in the brutal war. This book covers the horrors of the second world war and the escapade of Dunkirk. It is a very good historic fiction book with lot of action and adventure.

I love this author, I have read all his three books and wish to read more. Whenever I read his books, I am reminded of Indiana Jones and his adventures. Keep them coming.

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The Opposite of Addie: A Novel (Friendship & Secrets) by Julie C. Gardner – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Opposite of AddieThe Opposite of Addie by Julie C. Gardner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a book about second chances and trust. All of us are heartbroken at one point of time or another and it takes years to rebuild the faith and trust in one’s life. Addie has a troubled childhood and she was forced from her childhood home by her mother. Later, when she is an adult, Addie is still confused and insecure. She leaves her boyfriend and decides to raise her daughter on her own.
When Jake runs into her 12 years later, Addie still does not trust him and runs away again. This time Jake follows her as he is determined to have his daughter back in his life.
This story is more about relationships than romance. There are many places where emotions run deep and the characters are confused and messed up. It is about embracing life with all it’s faults and give a second chance to yourself and to those who matter to you.

A deep read, but an enjoyable one!

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A Beach Wedding To Die For (Cozy Mysteries To Die For Book 2) by Judy Moore – Review by Anantha Rusum

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A Beach Wedding To Die ForA Beach Wedding To Die For by Judy Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A beach wedding to die for
I had loved A book signing to die for and had started reading this book with great expectations. The book took off very well, I loved the setting. Preparations are on for a beach wedding, where the bride Amelia is all set to tie a knot with a financial banker, Charlie. But Amelia has a notorious history where weddings are concerned, she had already jilted two grooms at the time of taking the ceremonial vows twice before.
For her third wedding, her two exes are stalking her. Her brother and sister loath her as their children’s funds were tapped in for the wedding expenses. To top it all, the current groom and his mother get a shock of their lives when a secret is revealed to them on the day of the wedding. Everyone has a reason to despise Amelia. And soon after the wedding, she is found dead, stabbed by a knife.
Beck O’Rourke is a childhood friend of Amelia and also happens to be the bridesmaid for all her weddings. She is forced into solving the murder mystery along with the handsome cop, Devon Mathis. So far, so good.
But as the plot progressed, I was a little disappointed as the storyline became more predictable. At one point of time, somewhere in the middle of the book, when Devon suggests that Beck look into something, it was very easy to guess how the mystery would unfold further. I did read the book till the end but the plot took an expected route.
Beck’s decision in the end did surprise me. I felt she was too amateur and naïve in the sleuth business to take such a huge step on her own. I was expecting something similar to the lines of “And then there were none” Or “Murder on the Oriental express”. But the plot left me a little disappointed. I love this author and hope to read a lot more from her. Here’s hoping that the storyline is tighter the next time around.

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Eternal Wanderings: The Continuing Journey of Kara O’Keefe by Danielle Ackley-McPhail – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Eternal WanderingsEternal Wanderings by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the fourth in the series, so it did seem like I started something from the middle. I should go back and read the first three books to understand Kara O’Keefe and her life better. The book itself is written beautifully and you can empathize with Kara, and you would want to know more about her. And the only way to know more is go backwards s in this series and read the first three books. The story of a young woman, who tries her best to be a part of the clan, honor the vow, facing an ancient enemy, Kara comes across as a dynamic, inspiring, endearing character. I liked this book and her heroine. Would come back more wiser reading the first three books.

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Curse of the Sands (Relic Hunters Book 2) by Martin Ferguson – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Curse of the Sands (Relic Hunters, #2)Curse of the Sands by Martin Ferguson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Indiana Jones (Adam Hunter) is back. This time in Egypt. After the first book, the Eagle of the Empire, the team at the British museum enter a quest in an unknown pyramid in Egypt which is surrounded by an unknown force. There are other teams from other countries as well, which are in the pyramid plagued with ancient curses. There is love between Gods and rivalry, there are booby traps, evil spells and thrills to keep the readers on the edge of their seats. I love mythology and this genre coupled with mystery, suspense, thrill is always a pleasure to read. I loved reading the first book and the impression continues.
I look forward to reading more from this author.

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Grosse Pointe by Natalie Barnes – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Grosse PointeGrosse Pointe by Natalie Barnes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Every book offers us something new to read. This book offers an insight into the Prohibition era, an era where there was nationwide constitution ban on production, importation and transportation of the alcoholic beverages across US. This is a story about Brek, who decides to travel to America when he was 15. He meets a friend on the ship, and together they embark on new experiences. The book revolves around mafia, drugs and a lot of trouble. It was difficult to read through the language, the slang went over my head many a times. Set in 1926, it is about the gangster life and the troubles they got into because of their life style. A coming of age story, little emotional at times, a good fictional novel which gives an insight into the history of America during the 1920s.

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Reign (The Larussio Legacy Book 3) by Via Mari – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Reign The Larussio LegacyReign The Larussio Legacy by Via Mari
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a love story between two strong characters. Giovanni Larussio, a mafia don is in love with Serena, a heavy headed independent girl, who does not like him being very bossy and protective about her. Her family is against Gio. But because of her relationship with Gio, Serena is in danger and it becomes Gio’s responsibility to protect her. Filled with suspense, danger and romance, it is a very fast paced read. Albeit I felt a lot of background and character development is missed because of not reading the previous books, this book can be read standalone.

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Everyday Enchantments: Musings on Ordinary Magic & Daily Conjurings by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Everyday Enchantments: Musings on Ordinary Magic & Daily ConjuringsEveryday Enchantments: Musings on Ordinary Magic & Daily Conjurings by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a book I could connect to a lot personally. I run a blog and my own FB page is filled with quotes which urge the readers to enjoy the little things in life. This book, unlike mine, is a lot more personal. The author deliberates on the little things that matter to her in her own life, the observations we can all connect to at some point of another.
I did feel that the style of writing is a little inconsistent, perhaps because it is a compilation of blog published together in a book. But this book gave me a whole set of new ideas and perspectives , right as an individual and a blogger.

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Rock Star on the Verge (Rogue Series Book 9) by Lara Ward Cosio – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Rock Star on the Verge (Rogue Series #9)Rock Star on the Verge by Lara Ward Cosio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rock Star on the Verge is the ninth book in the Rogue Series. I have not read the previous books, but picked up based on the reviews that it could be a standalone read. I absolutely loved this book. The story is about two people of different ages who are facing challenges of their own. They decide to go on a road trip together across Europe and it so happens that this journey was more about finding themselves. I had a disadvantage of not knowing about the background of the characters, but I had a fabulous time reading this book. It has the right elements of emotions and entertainment mixed in it. A good read.

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Rose of Anzio – Moonlight (Volume 1): a WWII Epic Love Story by Alexa Kang – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Moonlight (Rose of Anzio, #1)Moonlight by Alexa Kang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A twist to the world war II story, this is a story of a young girl who is sent away from her home far away to Chicago for her own safety. As she struggles with the new society and a completely different culture, she meets a young man, who first detests her opinions and later they begin liking each other.
As the war progresses, things around them change, and with US on the brink of war, the normal people’s lives get affected. Children are pressurized to serve and after the attach of Pearl Harbor, things get drastically changed.
How this turn of events affects the young couple’s life forms the crux of the story. It is a good story, albeit I found it a little slow at times. But overall, it is a good story for historic fiction. I liked it.

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PERFECT ALWAYS by Tricia Copeland – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Perfect AlwaysPerfect Always by Tricia Copeland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Perfect always is a Young Adult romance where the vivacious bubbly heroine Chloe has to make a choice between her old flame, who lives in the country side or the basketball player, with whom she starts a budding relationship. Parts of this book reminded me of Sweet home Alabama. If you are looking for a light-hearted romance and a quick breezy read, this book is for you.

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Build-A-Book Workshop (The Literary Handyman Book 2) by Danielle Ackley-McPhail – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Build-A-Book Workshop (The Literary Handyman 2)Build-A-Book Workshop by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a good guide for the first-time authors who decide to go to a self-publishing route. This was something I wanted to know and hence I picked this book. I will use it as a reference book in the future. It has a lot of details right from selecting the right image of the cover to what goes in the blurb to how to acquire the ISBN for the book.
As I have never published a book before, there were some terminologies which are confusing but I am pretty sure that when I get to the process, this book will be of great help. Thank you so much for giving this book to us.

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Solstice Shadows: A VanOps Thriller by Avanti Centrae – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Solstice Shadows (VanOps, #2)Solstice Shadows by Avanti Centrae
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is one action packed read, I had a feeling that I was actually seated in a rollercoaster. It starts with a bang and then the action continues non stop till the very end.
I had not read book 1, so there are some elements which I could not appreciate much for lack of prior background knowledge but nevertheless the book is still a standalone enjoyable read.
Maggie, an Aikido black belt teacher is forced to join hands with VanOps, a US Government agency involved in saving the world, because an ancient important artifact is stolen from her. There is an attack planned on the United States and the source of this attack is a super power which is charged by a meteorite to cause mayhem in the world. Now it is up to VanOps to save the world.
The action moves across multiple places in the world and it appears as if we are hopping from one place to another at a very fast pace. If you like movies like Indiana Jones, The Bourne series and Mission Impossible with lot of action, mystery and a thriller element to it, this book is for you.
I had a great time. I am thinking of grabbing book 1 and reading it too!

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House of Illusions by Pippa J. Frost – Review by Anantha Rusum

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House of Illusions: A Dark Fantasy RomanceHouse of Illusions: A Dark Fantasy Romance by Pippa J. Frost
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A well written story, which has elements of dark fantasy and romance. Valentina is a fighter, who works hard for her living. After the disappearance of her parents, her brother’s drinking habits gets her family into trouble. The man she has given her heart to, leaves her behind to travel the world.
One night, unable to bear her brother’s tantrums, she escapes the house and seeks asylum in a wealthy man’s house. Everything seems to be going well for her there, little does she know that there is magic around the house.
And when a darker force rises in the town, she ventures to stop it.
Nisse, the other protagonist has a soft corner on Valentina and when he finds her missing in the mansion, he sets off in a quest to find her.
In the backdrop, there is a war raging between dwarves and the humans. Will Valentina and Nisse be able to bring back peace between them? This forms the crux of the story.
It is a breezy read with elements of fantasy, magic, suspense and romance. The narration happens in the point of view from multiple characters, which makes the book more interesting.
I really enjoyed this book!

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Old and New: The Enchanted Wedding Dress (The MacLellan Sisters Trilogy Book 1) by Lucinda Race – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Old and New: The Enchanted Wedding Dress Book 1 (The MacLellan Sisters Trilogy)Old and New: The Enchanted Wedding Dress Book 1 by Lucinda Race
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

“Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all”, except this time, the magic is not in the mirror, but is on the onlooker of the mirror, who is to don a specific attire. The seeker is supposed to try on a “wedding dress” and look into the mirror to foresee her prince charming.
The series is a trilogy about three sisters, which makes me think that each book belongs to one sister. The plot of the first book revolves around the oldest sister Jamie. Jamie along with the two sisters Grace and Kenzie visits her grandparent’s homestead in Scotland, after their grandmother passes away. Their father inherits the farm.
Their grandmother leaves them a wedding dress, their family heirloom as an inheritance to the sisters along with a letter and a brooch. The sisters first laugh it off, but out of curiosity, the oldest, Jamie tries the wedding dress just to know if the mirror will show her current date as her prince charming.
But the fate, the wedding dress and the mirror have a surprise planned for her when she is caught unaware between two twins, one who fits her requirements perfectly and the other who stirs her heart. Whom will Jamie choose?
A very sweet romance story, perfect to be made as a rom-com movie. Loved it. And a story which also explores the relationship between the three sisters.

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The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight Book 1) by N.L. Holmes – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Lightning Horse (Empire at Twilight, #1)The Lightning Horse by N.L. Holmes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh, how I loved this book. I love historic fiction. I loved Troy by David Gemmell, and all Rick Riordan books. Any historic fiction entices me because more than the plot and the characters itself, it gives an insight into a culture which existed and flourished centuries before our times. We understand their way of living, their beliefs, their traditions, customs, rituals and their practices. There are many who attempt to write historic fiction, but despite having the setting, their plot gets lost in the complex shades of the characters. This book does not fail in that aspect. Though the characters are in plenty and each character has multiple layers, the background runs concurrently to paint the Hittite empire, present day-Turkey vividly to the eyes of the reader.
It was a little difficult to remember the characters (there are many), the king, his many wives, his offspring and other descendants of the royal family. The story revolves around a charioteer who seeks to solve the mystery behind the accident of his father. What is visible to the eye is not always the truth. The truth is hidden deep under layers and layers of treachery and deceit. The mystery runs through out the book, it is hard to suspect the culprit till the very end.
Overall, for historic fiction fans like me, it is a great read !

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The Abduction of Sarah Tarbell: As Her Soul Remembers by Stuart Ledwith – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Abduction of Sarah Tarbell: As Her Soul RemembersThe Abduction of Sarah Tarbell: As Her Soul Remembers by Stuart Ledwith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a completely different book than anything I have ever read. It is intense, heart breaking and at times difficult to grasp. It is written in the form of a person’s soul communicating her story to the author. The story takes place in 1700s where Sarah, along with her brothers, were kidnapped by the Mohawk Indians when they were children. Sarah, is adopted by a Mohawkan family, and later sold to a French family. She ironically falls in love with her own captor. Later, she converts into a nun and becomes a healer to the same Mohawkan families. This entire book was foreign to me, it took me a while to understand it. Perhaps people who knew this history before can do more justice to the book. It had a complex emotional story and the narration was also quite different. Overall, it was a good read.

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The Slaughter of Leith Hall by Lexie Conyngham – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Slaughter of Leith HallThe Slaughter of Leith Hall by Lexie Conyngham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Slaughter of Leith Hall is a very interesting historic novel filled with mystery and suspense. I am a huge fan of outlander, and this book grabbed my interest as it is set in Scotland shortly after the Jacobites fight with the British.
John Leith is trying to gain social status by fighting for the British army shortly after the war between the Jacobites and the British. He is back in Scotland, and takes a fiercely determined and intuitive young man Charlie Rob under his wing. Charlie learns a lot shadowing Leith wherever he goes, and is content with his job, until one day, he is thrown in the middle of a murder mystery.
Charlie’s strong sense of justice urges him to get to the roots of the mystery and he finds himself obsessed with the murder.
It is a very gripping read and transports you into a different world. As I was turning one page after another, I could visualize Scotland and outlander before my eyes. It is a very interesting read which mixes fiction with historic facts together. The reader learns a lot about the Scottish history in this book.
A very good read, do not miss it.

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The Walls Between Us: A Borderland Love Story by Kate McGahan – Review by Anantha Rusum

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The Walls Between Us: A Borderland Love StoryThe Walls Between Us: A Borderland Love Story by Kate McGahan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is an emotional roller coaster ride of a love story across the border of US and Mexico, between two people with two completely different personalities and outlooks. It is a very intense read and keeps the reader hooked to the book till the very end.
Two different perspectives, one can see the beauty of the border and marvel at the sight, or weep bitterly when we understand the complexities of the lives of people who are affected by it. The impact runs deep, sometimes a little dark, but truth is always hard hitting.
I am a huge fan of historic fiction. This was the first time I am reading this piece of history and it was a huge revelation for me. The book is highly educational and poignant at many places when it deals with issues of human trafficking of the victims along the border.
I sincerely believe that a good book, transforms a reader to a better human. These types of books have to be promoted, and I sincerely wish the book and the author all the success.

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Breaking Traditions: The Shifter And The Mage by Madilynn Dale – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Breaking Traditions: The Shifter And The MageBreaking Traditions: The Shifter And The Mage by Madilynn Dale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In short, this book is a traditional love story of young love which blossoms and meets the scorn of the elders which is told in a different way in a different world. Natalie is a shape shifter who can transform into a wolf. She belongs to a traditional family who want her to follow the traditions. She is engaged to another shapeshifter, Theo, who is now her ex.
Everything is in order according to Natalie’s parents. Their obedient daughter is bright, helps them in the bakery and is about to be engaged. They want nothing but a happy predictable future for her.
But Natalie’s fate is entwined with a Mage, Alex whom she meets in college. They both meet at a party and sparks fly between them. They are drawn towards each other much to the disdain of Natalie’s parents.
Will Natalie and Alex be able to break traditions for their love? Would they be able to mend the broken relationship with her parents?
This forms the crux of the story. In Eastern culture, we come across this saga a lot more. Breaking the barriers of the society demands a heavy sacrifice. I could relate to the struggle of Natalie and Alex quite easily.
It is a very easy read and keeps the reader engaged till the end. Hope to see more from this author.

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Blessed: The Academy of Seraph by Brandi Elledge – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Blessed: Academy of the SeraphBlessed: Academy of the Seraph by Brandi Elledge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fantasy story woven around angels, demons, demis, immortals and magic, this book hooks the reader right from the first page. Many years ago, when a plague was causing human population to die, 15 archangels, who were not supposed to interfere, broke the law and saved few humans. These humans were considered blessed and possess special powers. Over centuries, as the bloodline progressed from one generation to another, the descendants still possessed certain special powers.
Hence, in the current world, it was mandatory that each human is tested whether they are blessed or not, at the age of 16.
One such blessed girl, Gabriella, despite being blessed, detests her super powers.
She is sent to one of the academies where the officials soon find out that she is blessed. Despising her situation, against her wishes, she agrees to get trained. she becomes an object of interest to her commanding officer. She makes few friends and many enemies in and outside the academy. As fate would have it, she finds herself in a pivotal position in an upcoming war as she tries to trace her own lineage.
It is a very fast paced book, with funny and interesting characters. I enjoyed it. I felt that the ending should have been more conclusive. But overall, a very enjoyable read.

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Calamity under the Chandelier (A Sleuthing Starlet Mystery Book 1) by Camilla Blythe – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Calamity under the Chandelier (Sleuthing Starlet Mystery #1)Calamity under the Chandelier by Bianca Blythe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very interesting and an amusing read, Calamity under the Chandelier is about two American actresses who find themselves caught in a tricky situation in England in 1940s amongst the British elite.
Veronica is a Hollywood actress who has eloped with an Earl, a would-be-duke and that does not go very well with his family. Her good friend Cora, who is also an actress, is having a bad time in Hollywood losing all her contracts. So, she decides to take a break with Veronica and travels to England. But things are not as rosy as it seemed to be. The two starlets dream of a countryside England where everything is green and they can get the coveted freedom of their own lives incognito, unbound by the chains of the showbiz.
But when they reach England, they enter the civilization of the British elite, who look down scornfully on foreigners. The two American girls cannot blend in with the characters they meet in the manor and seem to draw attention in whatever they do.
Things go worse when a chandelier drops from the ceiling and none other than the Duke is killed. All suspicions are pointed towards Veronica. But there is something which the family is withholding back. Cora dons into her film character of a lady detective and conducts her own little investigations.
There are numerous characters who could be suspects. Can Cora crack this mystery? That forms the crux of the story.
It is a very light and fast paced read. There were some loose ends in the end, but overall, the plot is captivating. I loved reading this book!!

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FALL: The Ragnarök Prophesies: #2 by A.K. Morgen – Review by Anantha Rusum

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Fall (The Ragnarök Prophesies, #2)Fall by A.K. Morgen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A book filled with emotions, this book is about two lovers Arionna and Dace, who are willing to sacrifice everything for each other and for the greater good, to stop Hati and Skoll from freeing Fenrir, which means the end of the world. The story has all the elements in it, it brings back some of the famous characters from Norse Mythology. I love Norse Mythology and I picked up this book as it hinted about Ragnarök. I was a little disappointed as I had hoped to see more mythological characters showing up. But this book, make no mistake, is about the lead characters and their emotional ups and downs in their relationship. Dace doesn’t stop at anything trying to save his lady love. Arionna decides to leave him, so that he can focus on the job in hand for the greater good. Will they survive apart, forms the crux of the story. It fast paced and full of action, though it did make me a little sad at places, especially when their relationship gets strained. It is a good book, I enjoyed it, but as I said earlier would have been great to have more mythological characters in it to make it a lot more interesting.

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