Nicky James - Symphony of Salvation

Music teacher Niles Edwidge gets the shock of his life when Maestro Augustus Castellanos, a world-renowned musician and composer, shows up at Timber Creek Academy. Not only has the maestro been asked to guest teach alongside Niles, but he’s brought his prodigy daughter and enrolled her as a student.
Niles has been waiting for the day the academy decided to replace him. His educational background falls short of the school’s usual demands, but a revered maestro? It doesn’t make sense. Why would such a prominent figure want to teach high school music?
Fearing for his job and envious of the other man’s career, Niles doesn’t give the maestro a warm welcome, but their feud doesn’t last when Niles learns the respectable musician is struggling with a mountain of problems and would prefer to be anywhere but Timber Creek.
As the truth about August’s troubled life surfaces, so too does a secret he has carried for decades. As a self-proclaimed repressed bisexual, August rarely allows himself the freedom to explore his sexuality, but an undeniable attraction to Timber Creek’s music teacher threatens to test his resolve. He can’t afford to fall for Niles. He has a life and responsibilities outside Timber Creek.
The minute his obligations are fulfilled, he’s out the door.
Unless he finds a reason to stay…

Comment: Last year I had read another book by this author, of which this one is the sequel. Well, it is a sequential story but with different protagonists. I was quite taken by a secondary character in that first book and that was mainly why I felt interest in reading the story where he would be the protagonist, thus why I've picked up this book now.

Niles Edwidge is a music teacher at a private school and he enjoys his work,as well as the quiet life he has but it is true he sometimes feels lonely, especially since his best friend happens to also be his ex and he is now happy with someone else. Although over this and still very much glad he still has a friend who understands him, he can't help but feel the snub of knowing he is the only teacher who doesn't have a PhD. He knows he is a good teacher but past regrets still affect him, which is why he feels even worse when a renowned maestro comes to the school with his prodigious daughter in two, so that she can enroll at a school for the first time after life changing surgeries following a cancer battle. Niles thinks Augusts is there to show everyone how Niles is lacking, and when they first meet that is the impression he gets, but... could it be that they have way more in common besides the love for music?

This book confirmed the overall impression I had of this author's style, meaning that it offers a lot of angst and inner reflections, which I tend to like, but the "outside" world around the characters kind of drags and the tension and the pining don't seem to be enough to sustain the less vibrant sections. Basically, I like many things but there are times where the story feels a little boring.

Perhaps the issue for me is the pace. I do like it that the author takes time to set up things, establish situations, emotions and such, but there does seem to exist a certain distance between what is going on and how the characters deal with things. I know this sounds contradictory, after all a slow burn or a stronger relationship development takes time to be seen as solid, but I kind of wish Niles and August had been more demonstrative of what they were thinking sooner. The sexual tension between them was too slow.

The plot is simple, the two man have to adjust to a new situation while dealing with personal feelings and notions of what they see as their weaknesses, and August also has the detail of having to help his daughter, with whom he has a complicated relationship. Regarding this, I think the evolution of things went as well as it could, and when the story is almost over, it was nice to see he and his daughter were getting along better and that she felt he would be there for her.

The romance was a little too slow like I said, but it did have interesting moments, especially since August wasn't immediately certain about pursuing something with Niles at first. It was sweet how he was more and more into it the longer they knew each other. The HEA is also cute and preceded of a romantic and public declaration and I've finished the novel believing that their relationship would be a solid one, considering the steps taken by them so that they could be together.

The falling in love process wasn't as impressive for me, though. I think the self doubts and the negative aspects of their personalities were given way more focus than the actual romance, or the sexual tension and it made for an angsty, yes, but also slightly annoying path. There were times where some things felt repetitive and I wanted a bit more passion from them. I mean, they are in their 40s, so obviously they are mature adults, but I wouldn't have minded some more obvious letting go of their emotions.

My favorite part was the music content. I don't play music, have no knowledge of it, but I loved the references to pieces, to the process of studying and improving the skills while playing an instrument and how to play classical music. I could understand Niles' feelings of inadequacy, of inferiority when it came to not play as he once dreamed he could, but I still loved how competent he was, especially when compared to so many people out there (like me) who has no ability in this field whatsoever.

All in all, this was a pleasant story to read, with the usual elements I tend to like but there was still something missing, stopping me from having appreciated it more. There were some dynamics and situations which felt poor choices, namely related to the relationships between August and his daughter, or between them and his daughter's mother... but in the end, I was happy enough with the way this went.

Grade: 7/10

Jaclyn Goldis - The Chateau

A dream girls trip to a luxurious French chateau devolves into a deadly nightmare of secrets and lies in this “twisty, well-paced murder mystery that never fully lets go” (Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author).
Welcome to picturesque Provence, where the Lady of the Chateau, Séraphine Demargelasse, has opened its elegant doors to her granddaughter Darcy and her three friends. Twenty years earlier, the four girlfriends studied abroad together in France and visited the old woman on the weekends, creating the group’s deep bond. But why this sudden invitation?
Amid winery tours, market visits, and fancy dinners overlooking olive groves and lavender fields, it becomes clear that each woman has a hidden reason for returning to the estate after all these years. Then, following a wild evening’s celebration, Séraphine is found brutally murdered.
In the midst of this shocking crime, a sinister Instagram account pops up, exposing snapshots from the friends’ intimate moments at the chateau, while threatening to reveal more.
As they race to uncover who murdered Séraphine—and is now stalking them—the friends begin to suspect each other. Because the chateau houses many secrets…several worth killing for in this “mesmerizing story of betrayal and revenge” (Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot ).

Comment: I was given this book this past Christmas. Before that, it had not been on my radar but the blurb seemed to promise an intriguing plot...

Four friends are invited to spend time at the French chateau which belongs to the grandmother of one of them. While studying in the university, the friends were able to spend time there and now, already in their 40s, they are back to reconnect. The owner, Seraphine, also has a specific task she wants to achieve but wants to offer a good holiday tot he girls...the question is, why now? As for them, each one has a personal reason to have accepted the invitation but Seraphine's secrecy makes everyone a little nervous... is there something that no one should know? What will happen if certain secrets are told...?

I was pretty excited to read this novel, mostly because the blurb implied secrets and a suspense type of plot development. I was curious to know what each main character would be hiding and why the invitation to stay at the chateau had happened at this specific moment. Since I had no previous experience reading the author's work, I didn't have expectations either but to be honest, I wan't overly impressed by the story telling.

In the beginning, things seemed to be interesting, the chateau's setting incredible as well as the descriptions of the geographical details (I would not mind visiting Avignon) but I was quickly disappointed over the first person narrator choice. The story is told alternatively by the four friends, and even Seraphine in two or three chapters, which does help with the interpretation of their personalities and "voices", but while this should work to add suspense and disbelief if we feel we can sympathize with them individually, such method didn't work out for me because I felt all of them were rather bland.

Perhaps third person would have helped the reader to get similar reactions to the plot without the distraction of needing to "connect" with the characters, and the more reveals we had, the less interested in them I became. Darcy, Victoria, Arabelle and Jade all had something special to commend them and their character's evolution but as a group I was not that interested in their lives nor in their secrets.

There are a few other secondary characters which provide necessary interactions but those also felt forgettable to me. To make things worse, as each main character started sharing stuff about their lives, they became boring and I confess I've skipped a few paragraphs here and there. Then, rather quickly, Seraphine is killed and I imagined this would accelerate things and make the plot more vibrant if everyone had to deal with this and the police investigation which would certainly follow. Sadly, this element seemed to happen in very unassuming ways, so I lost interest in the police work.

At this point, a big secret comes to life and I was surprised, that is true, but at the same time I started wondering why would this matter if not for shock factor? It turns out it does cause a bigger consequence than what seemed, but it till didn't "save" the story altogether for me. While this happens, and most characters deal with the discovery, we get to know more details about the women's past and their reasons to have accepted the invitation and some things were, unfortunately to me, quite boring. I don't think the exposure of these things was done in a captivating way. Probably something to do, again, with the writing style.

Closer to the end, all big secrets are shared and we finally understand the real links between all characters and why they were kind of brought together in the chateau but since I didn't find any particular interest in their life stories, I was reading mostly for the need to know motivations. When we learn who Seraphine's killer was and why, it did feel as if the author wanted this big shock again, and some details about the whole thing were more intriguing than I imagined, I'll say that.

I think this story would have worked out better if it had focused more on one thing or the other, or the mystery or the drama of the characters' lives, but the combination of so many narrators with such similar voices made for a mostly boring read. I liked several details yes, but my final appreciation of the book was mainly satisfaction I had finished.

Grade: 5/10

Genki Kawamura - If Cats Disappeared From the World

Our narrator’s days are numbered. Estranged from his family, living alone with only his cat Cabbage for company, he was unprepared for the doctor’s diagnosis that he has only months to live. But before he can set about tackling his bucket list, the Devil appears with a special offer: in exchange for making one thing in the world disappear, he can have one extra day of life. And so begins a very bizarre week...
Because how do you decide what makes life worth living? How do you separate out what you can do without from what you hold dear? In dealing with the Devil our narrator will take himself – and his beloved cat – to the brink. Genki Kawamura's If Cats Disappeared from the World is a story of loss and reconciliation, of one man’s journey to discover what really matters in modern life.

Comment: This was one of the books I got at the library last time I went there. No reason why, only it was a small book and it would include cats.

The narrator of this book is told he only has a short amount of time to live. To make things even worse, he is also still dealing with the loss of his mother and their first cat, as well as with the estrangement with his father. However, the devil appears and offers him a deal, for one thing he decides the world can be rid of, he will have one extra day to live. At first he decides he won't do it but after some thinking he accepts the offer. But will he accept the choices presented by the devil and the price required?

This is a small book, in the Portuguese edition not even 200 pages, but if it is the kind of book one wants, it can be said to be full of emotion and food for thought. I liked reading this book, and before seeing it at the library's display I had not heard of it nor of the author. Still, I will say right away that it reminded me immediately of Hiro Arikawa's The Travelling Cat Chronicles, which I've read in 2021. The theme and part of the content are extremely similar, but Arikawa's book touched me more profoundly, I'll admit.

The plot of this one isn't complicated, and as one can probably imagine, the deal with the devil is just a metaphor for our existence, really. The narrator must determine if his morals and natural inclination for doing the right thing can interfere with his human and selfish desire to have more time. I think the metaphor was done well enough and the musings the narrator presents while debating what to do and how to deal with his options were provoking.

This is meant to be a quiet story about the meaning of relationships. The narrator lost his mother and in the process he and his father became distant. I could see the interest of developing the emotions associate with these events and how, when faced with a limited time, the narrator regrets some of the decisions made in the past. For most people regrets are constant but life goes on, thus it was quite an exercise to see how one might ponder the meaning of regretting something and how much that truly impacts decisions in life. I really think those people who say they regret nothing and they would do everything the same are not being honest...

The main character is facing a dilemma and, in the process he interacts with a few other characters, namely an ex girlfriend and his cat Cabbage. The cat, in particular (to my personal enjoyment), is very cute and is given a magical realism ability to speak to the narrator, which helps him move along in his realization of the meaning of life or any other type of message one might get from this book. I really can't imagine a world without cats and I think this part of the story was my favorite.

Portuguese cover

At the same time I liked the details, I can't help thinking the full picture isn't as strong as I've felt the other similar book I had read to be. It is almost as if this one is another version of that book (I saw they were both released in the same year, a few months apart) and comparing the two - there are many similarities - this one didn't impress me as strongly. Perhaps because I've read the other first? I can't really explain why.

I liked the author's writing style but, then again, it does follow the vibe of other similar books I've read by Japanese authors. The story is delivered with simplicity and provides interesting ideas about what is worth in life or not. I think this is a very easy story to read and a good introduction to Japanese authors, if someone is in doubt on whether it would be something they wanted to try. For me,it didn't affect me as much as Arikawa's book, but it does include a lot of emotional content.

Grade: 8/10

Yrsa Sigurdardottir - The Fallout

A murdered woman. A missing child. And a father intent on revenge.
On a cold day in Reykjavik, a baby goes missing from her pram. When the child's blanket washes up on the beach, and the mother is found dead, everyone's worst fears seem to have been realised.
Eleven years later, and detective Huldar and child psychologist Freyja are now working in the same police building, on the same team. Freyja believes that personal and professional relationships must remain separate, however hard that may be. But when a woman's dismembered body is found in a deserted car, her head missing, and Freyja and Huldar find themselves working on the same case, the secrecy around their affair threatens to crack. And when Freyja is accused of a serious breach of police protocol, will Huldar be able to help her? Meanwhile, their search to identify the body takes the case back into secrets of the past, and the unspoken crimes that bind three separate families.

Comment: This is the sixth (and apparently) final installment in the Children's House series by Yrsa Sigurdardottir. I've read the 4th book not knowing at the time it was the fourth, but since I liked, I've decided to keep the series from there, which is why I've read the 5th, and now this 6th story.

In this book the police, and children's psychologist Freya - who now has a small office at the police station -  are investigating the case of a body which was found in a car. At first, the clues point to a possible victim, but there are elements that don't match and they have to keep investigating. In due curse, they learn that there is one person, whose young daughter recently died, might be the kink between a series of events. However, a sudden new clue about an old case comes to life and it changes the focus of the investigation again. What happened eleven years ago when a baby was stolen from its crib and then presumed dead?What happened to the murdered person? What connection can it possibly have with the deceased child now?

Again, reading this story was very engaging. I really think the author has a special talent to bring the pieces together in a simple bus effective way while still maintaining some secrecy. In this case, there was one secret which I think was kind of easy to understand, but there were other factors involved which kept me glued to the development of the plot and the final explanation is, as it happened with the other installments, quite rewarding, if not really spectacular.

The plot seems to encompass a lot of detail and many seemingly different situations. Of course, as things move along, we get to learn there is a connection between everything, especially the link between certain children. I have to say that there were parts of the plot that felt a little too unlikely, but at the same time the process of linking the elements makes perfect sense and little things turn out to be parts of a much bigger picture.

I suppose the main issue in this novel is the debate on what is correct or not and that actions have consequences. What seems logical or simple at one moment for one person, can be seen in a different way by someone else and what counts as something necessary for some, can be seen as devastating for others. I did like the personal reflections I got from reading this novel, but of course some situations only make sense after we learn what happened to each family who has links with the children.

It's true that some situations seem to be exaggerated for plot reasons, mainly how quick some things become easy to connect after a while, but considering that at the same time we follow the police investigation and the process of seeing the clues by the main characters, everything does seem to be thrilling because something new is added as the story develops. I think some surprises were very well placed and made me think of what had been said previously in a different manner.

A very good element in these books has been the contrast to the main characters' personal lives. Nothing is shared in ways I've seen in other books or by other authors, but I like this look into these people, into their way of thinking and, by extension, to how Icelandic people might be too. It's funny because there's this general idea, stereotypes, of how people in this place or that should be like, and with these novels giving us glimpses of domestic lives, some things are just too universal I guess, while others are interesting cultural fodder.

It does seem this is is the last book in the series but if so, some situations related to the main (recurrent) characters were left kind of open-ended. If the idea was to not continue, perhaps a more definite resolution to some things would have been better. If another book comes long, I'll probably read it. In the meantime, I might try other things by the author...

Grade: 8/10

Jennifer McQuiston - Diary of an Accidental Wallflower

Pretty and popular, Miss Clare Westmore knows exactly what (or rather, who) she the next Duke of Harrington. But when she twists her ankle on the eve of the Season's most touted event, Clare is left standing in the wallflower line watching her best friend dance away with her duke. Dr. Daniel Merial is tempted to deliver more than a diagnosis to London's most unlikely wallflower, but he doesn't have time for distractions, even one so delectable. Besides, she's clearly got her sights on more promising prey. So why can't he stop thinking about her? All Clare wants to do is return to the dance floor. But as her former friends try to knock her permanently out of place, she realizes with horror she is falling for her doctor instead her duke. When her ankle finally heals and she faces her old life again, will she throw herself back into the game? Or will her time in the wallflower line have given her a glimpse of who she was really meant to be?

Comment: I had this book in the shelf for years. I can't remember anymore why, but it probably had something to do with the hint it would contain some sort of diary/exchange of letters element. Sadly, this proved to be a very weak element in this book.

In this historical romance, we meet Clare Westmore, the oldest daughter of a viscount, as she and her friends prepare for the season. Clare is determined to get a proposal from lord Alban, who is the heir to a dukedom, but things prove to be quite complicated when she twists her ankle right before another ball,where she knows she would dance with lord Alban. Now, even walking is agony and she probably won't manage to dance, which for young ladies like her can be a tragedy during the busy social season. Thankfully, dr Daniel Merial is attending the ball,concerned for the health of its hostess, his patient, and he is able to help Clare. Something seems to happen between them, which following meetings at her house, and a newfound friendship with her younger siblings helps along. However, they are from different classes, they aren't supposed to have things in common... but they do. Will they find happiness after all?

Overall, I had a good time reading this book. It wasn't spectacular but it provided interesting situations and food for thought. I suppose the main reason it wasn't better for me was due to some plot choices and the fact the main characters didn't seem to evolve on the page as their conversations hinted at. I think the author could have developed their connection better.

The plot seems simple, Clare and Daniel meet by chance at a very specific moment and they keep seeing each other for convenience, for he checks how her ankle is improving. The fact they talk to one another, that they sort of challenge one another is fun and makes it believable that they would think of one another as someone special, and not only because of who they are socially. As this happens, some secondary issues start to become more serious, and while nothing is shocking, I still think the surprises were played out well enough.

In a way, the juxtaposition of the main romance and the secondary situations was well achieved, because there is always this notion something will happen, or that something will be important later on. I think the method to do this was good and if the main goal was to be centered in the story line, then this element was done well, but there's the romance and I feel this could have be done more, well, romantically. The differences between them are established, the developing affection too but the bridge between why they should work and why not wasn't as smooth as it could. I think we didn't have enough scenes on the pages with them being affectionate or showing caring. I'm not talking about public displays, of course this would not be proper, but ways to convince me they really were "destined".

As things move along, Clare discovers interesting things about her family, and I wonder if it was intentional by the author, so that she could be more in sync with Daniel, for their relationship to feel more balanced somehow. I liked to think this was done on purpose, but if it wasn't, it still provided good themes for them to talk about what they mean for each other. Still, this could have been made a bit more obvious, perhaps with more longing, more yearning... I don't think these were conveyed as they should.

As expected, there's a HEA fot these two and of course I was happy for them, but the path leading there wasn't as "magical" as it could. There are emotions they go through which I feel weren't developed as well as they could, or they didn't give me the perspective of thinking about the angst and the drama of the negative things. These things are mentioned, only not as vital for that moment in the story as is suggested.

Daniel is a fascinating character, and I liked his interest in the medical field, his studies and decisions, even at the cost of a better life (which he had before living in London, where medical schools and such are physically at), the fact he is part Roma bus not ashamed of it, and several other details. I liked it that Clare, towards the end, is defensive of this side of him, but for me that was already a bit too late. By then, they were a couple but I was not feeling the vibe completely. I really think the author could have done way better with the romance.

Grade: 6/10

Julia Spencer-Fleming - At Midnight Comes the Cry

It’s Christmas time in Millers Kill, and Reverend Clare Fergusson and her husband Russ van Alstyne - newly resigned from his position as chief of police – plan to enjoy it with their baby boy. On their visiting Santa, decorating the tree, and attending the church Christmas pageant. But when a beloved holiday parade is crashed by white supremacists, Clare and Russ find themselves sucked into a parallel world of militias, machinations and murder.
Meanwhile, single mom and officer Hadley Knox has her hands full juggling her kids and her police work. She doesn’t want to worry about her former partner – and sometimes lover – Kevin Flynn, but when he takes leave from the Syracuse PD and disappears, she can’t help her growing panic that something has gone very wrong.
Novice lawyer Joy Zhào is keeping secrets from her superiors at the state Attorney General’s Office. She knows they wouldn’t condone her off-the-books investigation, but she’s convinced a threatening alt-right conspiracy is brewing – and catching the perpetrators could jump start her career.
NYS Forest Ranger Paul Terrance is looking for his uncle, a veteran of the park service gone inexplicably missing. He doesn’t think much of an ex-cop and out-of-town officer showing up in his patch of the woods, but he’s heard the disturbing rumors of dangerous men in the mountains.
In New York Times Julia Spencer-Fleming's latest novel, as Christmas approaches, these five people will discover their suspicions hang on a single twisting thread, leading to the forbidding High Peaks of the Adirondacks. As the
December days shorten and the nights grow long, a disparate group of would-be heroes need to unwind a murderous plot before time runs out.

Comment: This is installment #10 in the series featuring reverend Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne. The series focus on a mystery investigation per book but there is an ongoing plot related to the characters personal lives, which means this is best read in order, and there will certainly be inevitable some spoilers if one has not read the previous books.

In this book, following the events of the previous one, Russ and Clare are getting ready for Christmas with their baby Ethan, and they decide to attend a parade. Things don't go as they imagined, however, since a group of white supremacist try to cause havoc and, in the middle of everything, Clare finds herself interacting with Megan, the wife of one of the rioters. One thing leads to the next and this woman invites Clare and Russ for a barbecue, which Clare accepts trying to see how far these supremacists have gone in their attempt to organize something bigger.

At the same time, Hadley and Russ decide to look for Kevin, their fellow police officer who seems to have been missing for a while. When they realize what Kevin is doing and where, it feels as if the world is indeed quite small, but can they all find a way to prevent a terrible crime?

Well, I was not expecting the plot of this book to focus on this particular theme, considering what the real world is going through, but it was certainly quite a provocative idea and, as always, the author provides food for thought in making us realize that there is an explanation for everything, even obviously wrong opinions/attitudes.

To me, the beauty of these books has been the development of the characters' personal lives and their interactions with one another. Clare and Russ seem to be quite in sync here and I'm glad to say they seem happy and stable and just glad to be having time with their child. It is a comforting idea to see them at ease and doing things that millions of people do everyday too. I also liked seeing them interacting with their friends and even with this new weird couple they met. Of course, Clare doesn't have it easy trying to change their minds...

I also liked the sub plot of Russ and Hadley looking for Kevin. I have always loved Kevin, he is a sweetheart and I felt very invested in learning what had happened to him and if he was alright. It was also rewarding to see how deeply Hadley felt she needed to do something, which only validates that she and Kevin have something stronger than they imagined. I liked how this book ended for them, and the promise of what could be in their future.

The author also introduced two new characters, whom I liked quite a lot. Lawyer Joy Zhao and forest ranger Paul Terrence added an interesting layer to this story, mainly because they are not white, and this obviously played a role to contrast to the supremacist content. I liked these two, they were quite competent - well, Joy is a young lawyer, just starting - and they did plenty to help the others advance their search and investigations. I can't tell if the author plans on writing more and, if so, these two will be in future books due to the geographic proximity to Millers Kill, kind of, but I would love to see them again, especially considering the hint left at the end of their last scene on the page.

As for the white supremacists plot, it went into a very recognizable path, but thankfully nothing tragic happened. To be honest, there were some moments, especially when the good guys were trying to get an idea of what the supremacists were doing, that felt like it dragged, all those references to hide and seek tactics in the snow, then this person goes this direction, than there's that path, well several passages kind of got mixed up in my awareness of what everyone was doing and I did space out for a while.

Of course, the ones intending to cause harm were caught and those in need of help were helped. Surely, the author could have gone further, but I think the way things happened fell into the usual mood of the books and provided interesting but not shocking content. 

If the author decides to not write more, I think the story ended in a hopeful way. I would not mind it. But something about the overall feel of this series seems to be lacking, thus I think one more book could accomplish the sense of closure, if that is what the author has in mind. Who knows, perhaps she already has plans for a couple more books...

Grade: 7/10

Lane Hayes - Better Than Safe

Paul Fallon is a fashion advertising guru. He’s a genius at dealing with difficult editors, art directors, and designers alike. He thrives on the chaotic atmosphere and constant challenges. But in his personal life, he’s hoping for peace and stability. Settling down with a nice doctor or lawyer sounds perfect. Anyone but an artist. He’s been there, done that, and he doesn’t want to relive the heartache.
Seth Landau is a model, occasional guitarist, and aspiring painter. He’s quirky, flighty, and wise beyond his years. Life has taught him some tough lessons, then given him opportunities he never dreamed of. He’s learned to appreciate the fragility of life and to express it in his work. Seth’s flare for the absurd combined with a supple mind and a beautiful body are too alluring for Paul to ignore. Against his best intentions, Paul is drawn to the younger man whose particular brand of crazy challenges Paul to accept that things aren’t always as they seem. Sometimes taking a chance is better than being safe.

Comment: This is the 4th and final installment in the Better Than series by Lane Hayes, which I have been reading for some months. There are novellas following this book, but not other full length books.

In this novel Paul Fallon, a successful fashion advertiser, is at a good place in his life, but it is also true he feels lonely sometimes. Being friends with the man he considered dating months ago has opened up his connections and that is why he accepts to go on a blind date with Seth Landau, a model he saw at a photo shoot, even though he had told himself he would not date artists again. Things don't go well and he feels more relief than sadness over it, which is why he is surprised when Seth contacts him gain, so that they could give it another go. Although he didn't plan on doing such a thing, he finds himself drawn to Seth and his antics and after a while it's quite obvious they are into each other. But Paul has had some bad experiences and one of them suddenly shows up and makes him rethink his fears... 

Paul had been a secondary character in the previous book but he seemed to be a great person, very put together and confident. Well, confident in his professional abilities and in who he is, not as much in how he trusts others to see him. I liked his personality and attitude and I could easily understand some of his thought process and why he made certain decisions.

Obviously, all this had to contrast with Seth, who seems way more independent and carefree in what he chooses to do. I liked Seth as well, but since we only have Paul's POV, it is easy to say that Seth didn't seem as characterized as Paul although the author did a good enough job to show us how these two could work and why they seem to complement one another.

The plot is quite linear and focused on how they go from a terrible first date to be in each other's sphere, even if at first the contacts were meant to be simple friendship. Things change because there is sexual attraction between them from the start and Paul is a little wary of this, because we are aware he had a relationship with another artist and it didn't end well. It's no surprise to learn this person will be part of the story from a certain point on, and that his presence will cause Paul to stress out and to reveal some things about why they broke up.

I will say that it was still a little shocking to see how terrible that other person had been to Paul, and seeing him trust Seth and tell him about it - obviously after some tense scenes - was a good way to let us see how in sync they could be and how different Seth was from that other guy, being art the only thing they had in common. I did like seeing how this revealed Paul's mind-frame in regards to some things and why he is mostly a wary and thoughtful person, even in his personal life. I was quite happy he had Seth, someone who would not treat him that way the other guy had.

Seth and Paul didn't seem to have much in common at first, but something that always endears me in these "opposites attract" couples is how they find ways to respect the other person and even admire them for their skills or whatever. Although Paul's work isn't the kind one sees right away how brilliant it is, the way the plot played out made it easy to see how competent he was, but not in an obvious way. Seth does many things, like modeling and playing guitar, but his art is what makes him who he is, and since he can do exhibitions, this side of him feels more prominent than Paul's, but one could say it's the same world, kind of, and they see the other's value in this aspect too.

When the story ends, the HEA is sweet and seems solid, but not in a sugary way. I could see how they would work out as a couple but nothing was done to exaggerate this and it even feels as if their  relationship is a work in progress, always evolving as their lives keep combining. I did like this feeling, that they are happy but not static in what they feel for one another.

An interesting note, which I had not thought of before starting this book, but Seth is friends with Rand, from this author's book A Kind of Truth, which I read back in 2017 and that I loved. It kind of makes me want to re-read my favorite parts... at the time I really didn't realize these series were part of the same world, more or less.

Grade: 8/10

TBR Challenge: JR Ward - Claimed

Lydia Susi is passionate about protecting wolves in their natural habitat. When a hotel chain develops a tract of land next to the preserve, Lydia is one of the most vocal opponents of the project - and becomes a target.
One night, a shadowy figure threatens Lydia’s life in the forest, and a new hire at the Wolf Study Project comes from out of nowhere to save her. Daniel Joseph is both mysterious and someone she intrinsically wants to trust. But is he hiding something?
As the stakes get higher and one of Lydia’s colleagues is murdered, she must decide how far she will go to protect the wolves. Then a shocking revelation about Daniel challenges Lydia’s reality in ways she could never have predicted. Some fates demand courage, while others require even more, with no guarantees. Is she destined to have true love...or will a soul-shattering loss ruin her forever?

Comment: One more year of the TBR Challenge begins!

For the month of January the theme is "still here", which didn't make me think of anything specific at first, but then I remembered I could pick something that still lingers in the pile but that I haven't been in the mood for. With the challenge's prompt, I went for this book by JR Ward, the first of a spin off series which would feature werewolves, thus quite a transition from her usual vampires.

Lydia Susi is a behavior biologist who feels deeply for the safekeeping of wolves and she tries to do her best at the preserve she works for, even though things have been weird lately. To make it worse, there's a hotel chain wanting to do something near the preserve, which Lydia is very vocally against, and this makes her a target. Then, Daniel Joseph arrives, looking for a job and she instinctively trusts him, but everything starts to go wrong, especially when it concerns her boss and the veterinarian, who both seem to be involved in something shady. With Daniel's help,c an Lydia discover what has been happening and what big secrets the others were hiding?

Back in 2005, I've discovered the BDB series by this author and I admit, I was obsessed with the books, the characters, the world, for a few years. I have several books in hardcover when I usually wait for paperbacks. I was a goner for that world and there was a time I felt this author could do no wrong. Well, time goes by and nowadays, while I still appreciate her work, I no longer feel the obsession (obviously others came along).

This said, I was hoping this book would be an interesting take on werewolves or, at least, in something different from the BDB series - whose latest books I haven't read and, honestly, I don't feel I want to -  because if there is one big criticism I ignored but now frustrates me immensely is that the author doesn't let the deserved HEAs rest. Always some issue now needs to be addressed and I don't feel her method works, not anymore. I'm saying this because Xhex and John Matthew from the BDB series have some cameo appearances here, well and a few others, but mainly these, and while thankfully their relationship is as strong, there's some news for Xhex that seem troublesome. I wonder... why? Why having to add this to this new story... it's all so... avoidable.

Anyway, back to the Claimed plot, I had some expectations, and I was particularly eager to see the author develop a werewolf story, but the beginning was quite unassuming and was clearly the author's style, but... where were the werewolves references and characters? There was nothing in the book until the end in which one could say, oh this is definitely a werewolf story. I have learned in the meantime that this is actually the first of a continuous trilogy featuring the same main characters, and not three stories in the same world with different couples, as the author has done in the past.

Well, disappointment. I'm not certain of what to say about this but even putting aside the lack of werewolf content, the story didn't grab me completely, and I admit I've skimmed a few pages here and there to keep going. I kept thinking to myself, a few years ago I would have not done such a thing while reading a book by this author...but the truth is that the plot was slow, somewhat dense and when I got to the end I actually thought this story was, well, unnecessary. Also, there is a certain reveal which seemed to come out of nowhere, I mean, why, how, and no explanation, only apparent fact. I feel this tactic of spring up such a thing at the end without any hint/context/ allusion to anything about it before was incredibly irritating.

I never really saw the reason for why this story had to happen, why it had to make sense... not even the "romance" between Lydia and Daniel convinced me. I was especially annoyed at this when we get to the end, because two things happen, or better, two things are revealed and it's so... urghh, that I truly lost interest and patience in thinking I'd read more with these characters. Adding to this, the preserve vs hotel sub plot was also not very captivating, and I've finished the novel frustrated with several things.

Therefore, why not a lower grade... well, I still feel some pull towards this author's style and way of story telling and I did like some passages and sequences. I also liked the BDB characters showing up even though it felt they didn't have to, and I think the author is still quite skilled in taking things to a seemingly impossible situation and then twisting it around to make things appealing. But did this book work out perfectly for me? No, not really.

I might return to the author one day, who knows, I still have a couple of books by her in the pile but while they are still here, I don't think they are as enthralling as others by her used to be. This book just didn't seem to have enough charisma, and while it was still competently organized and structured, it failed to truly convince me of what the main characters were going through and of what they meant for one another. It is what it is... everyone changes.

Grade: 5/10

Penny Watson - A Taste of Heaven

Good little widow Sophia Brown always follows the rules. When the producer of a cooking competition requests an amuse-bouche, the chefs stick with proteins. Sauces. A savory concoction. She has only one shot to impress the judges on A Taste of Heaven. But in a moment of defiance, she creates an extraordinary dessert, one that combines both the bitter and the sweet, just like her own life.
That one bite changes everything.
After a year grieving for her dead husband, forty-seven-year-old Sophia is finally ready to break out of her shell. Unfortunately, there is a large, angry obstacle standing in her way. Scottish chef Elliott Adamson has a chip on his shoulder the size of Loch Ness, and he’s blocking her path to victory.
Spurred by her daughters, she embarks on a poignant adventure that takes her from the wildflower fields of Vermont to the wind-swept vista of North Berwick, Scotland. Fear, courage, and inspiration from unlikely places will mark this journey, and Sophia is determined to persevere until the very end.

Comment: Years ago, I have read another book by this author and while it wasn't memorable (I remember nothing about it, to be honest), it seems that it was at least enjoyable, according to what I wrote about in in comment for this blog. After reading that book that I had seen the author had this one, which some readers whose taste was similar to mine were recommending. Well, it was also enjoyable but, just like it happened with the first one I tried, this one ended up not being as amazing as I wanted.

In this story we meet widow Sophia, still mourning the death of husband but trying to keep up with her garden, her interests in food and herbs while being there for her teenage daughters. To cheer her up, they decide to sign her up for a cooking competition, which will be filmed nearby, and on a whim she actually accepts because she knows she needs to set the example. She wasn't counting on chef Elliot, a big bearded Scottish man who acts superior to everyone else, and in a mad scheme by the producers to pair up amateur cooks with professional chefs, she somehow finds herself teaming up with Elliot. But they are very different people, can they find common ground to win the competition?

This is a short story, in the sense that my eBook edition didn't quite reach 200 pages. In a way, I think that perhaps this might have been my biggest issue with the execution, because with a short amount of pages, it didn't feel they were enough to explore some of the situations depicted.

Sophia is a very likable character, she is mourning someone she was in love with and she has daughters who want her to feel excited about something again, and cooking can be it. The cooking show has merit and I've been a fan of those shows, well some of them, thus the idea of seeing it part of the plot and of the main characters' evolution seemed to be great. I was rooting for her and for things to go well on both fronts, for her a woman and as a participant in the show.

Of course, some antagonism was necessary and chef Elliot was quite the choice. He, and the other chefs, signed up thinking this was a competition for professionals, which can in part explain his behavior, but we learn he needs the money to save his restaurant back in Scotland, which hasn't been doing well and is in danger of having to close down. I also understood his attitude of defending Scottish cuisine and traditional flavors, especially when the show was being filmed in the US and part of the competition process was aimed at seeing them use local products.

Sophia and Elliott pair up almost reluctantly but it's the rules, and we can see how they would see things differently in the way each one cooks and thinks about it. Still, considering this is a romance story, they quickly talk and learn about trusting one another for this competition, since they have to do things as a team. This conveniently leads them to be closer and to find a way to respect one another, at several levels. It also helps them to see the other differently and, in particular, as a possible romantic interest, but for me this is where things didn't go as smoothly.

The romance is just too quick, even accepting the fact they are mature people, with no need for games or indecisions. But they both need to deal with how their relationships were before accepting the idea this new person might be better (in his case) or just as great (for her). The proximity due to the show helped but they do have a larger period of time during the plot being at opposed ends of what the whole thing means for them, and I don't think the evolution of their feelings, even if based on sexual attraction too, was done well enough to make me change my mind.

Then, close to the end of the cooking show, they have a frank conversation and things progress between them, and the end comes. To include a little spoiler, I can say one of them is definitely the winner because while they work as a team, the money prize will only be given to one person. This causes some major changes in how they see one another and leads to them deal with this individually. Then, the winner does something that surprises the other and I assume the idea was to highlight what love does and so on. I think the end was a bit exaggerated, even for a romance - which I was convinced was that solid anyway.

I did like the food descriptions and all the cooking references... often some scenes would remind of the cooking reality shows I've watched and liked, and the whole thing was very appealing. However, the romance and the choices for the end were a little far fetched and not truly balancing when I think about the elements I liked the best. It does seem this author is consistent for me, but not spectacular.

Grade: 6/10

Kristin Hannah - The Great Alone

Alaska, 1974. Untamed. Unpredictable. A story of a family in crisis struggling to survive at the edge of the world, it is also a story of young and enduring love.
Cora Allbright and her husband Ernt, a recently-returned Vietnam veteran scarred by the war, uproot their thirteen year old daughter Leni to start a new life in Alaska. Utterly unprepared for the weather and the isolation, but welcomed by the close-knit community, they fight to build a home in this harsh, beautiful wilderness.
At once an epic story of human survival and love, and an intimate portrait of a family tested beyond endurance, The Great Alone offers a glimpse into a vanishing way of life in America. With her trademark combination of elegant prose and deeply drawn characters, Kristin Hannah has delivered an enormously powerful story that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the remarkable and enduring strength of women.
About the highest stakes a family can face and the bonds that can tear a community apart, this is a novel as spectacular and powerful as Alaska itself. It is the finest example of Kristin Hannah’s ability to weave together the deeply personal with the universal.

Comment: I had this book in the pile for years and I've finally decided to start it because it would suit one of the topics for a challenge I'm doing with one of my GR groups. I have read other things by the author before (only one other book since I've started this blog, though) so I knew I was going into an emotional read.

Leni and her parents are moving to Alaska following a letter her father received letting him know a friend had left him his house there. The Vietnam war did leave a mark on him and, like so many others, he returned a changed man, always anxious, always on the move. At first, things go on well enough and the small community there helps them prepare things for winter. However, not even a new way of life is enough to give her father a new look on life and the same habits, the same patterns start to emerge again and Leni and her mother now need to be aware of how to behave around him. When things start to change around their small town, their routines are once more turned upside down but this times they have established lives and leaving would not be as easy. Is there any hope for them to reach the happiness they sought by moving to Alaska?

I knew this would be emotional and challenging, in the sense that things would not always go as one would expect, especially considering the fact some places in Alaska still are quite inhospitable (I have also seen some hints on it while zapping National Geographic shows) and living there would not fit everyone.

I do think the author did a wonderful job in portraying Alaska as a place of immense beauty at the same time it show cased its danger and complicated lifestyle of those who wanted to live there. While reading, I will confess I was both enthralled by the idea of living there - but no, I would not be that brave - and kind of in a trance while reading the descriptions of all the dangers and struggles. Sometimes I did have some difficulty picturing it as real thing, that people do choose to live that way. I think I'd opt to be a silly tourist only and visit during the summer.

I liked Leni as the main character. The book is divided into three main parts, 1974 when the family arrives in Alaska, 1978 when Leni is a teenager and the major events happen, and then 1986 when we get the see the aftermath of a huge plot point. Throughout all of this, Leni grows up to love Alaska, to feel at home there and to trust the skills she learns, and the people she connects with, while feeling protective of her parents, in particular her mother. I think Leni is very likable because she isn't perfect, she isn't the best, but she is humble to learn, to be a good person who only wants to see her family well.

Of course, things aren't easy and the main reason is that her father, clearly with what we now know is PTSD from the war, is becoming more and more unstable and the Alaskan community, with its features and isolation are perfect for him to start creating this other reality around him, one in which it's them against the world. I can understand this and how one's surroundings might affect perception even more, and the author set up things quite well, for her father ins't crazy, isn't evil, but experiences and trauma did reset his way of thinking. I also liked it that he wasn't always mean or bad, that it was something so gradual that, for Leni and her mother, it felt like something they had to control.

The element I feel was the most developed was the bond between mother and daughter. Leni and her mother Cora have adjusted to things that could help Leni's father and by trying to support/guide him somehow, this made the two of them a team, two people who need to know how to read the vibe, how to understand his moods, so that they could be in control of what he might do. How tiring this must have been, and how much wright for their bond as well. I think the psychological elements of all the relationships were great food for thought content.

There's also a little bit of romance, and a certain coming of age experience for Leni. I also liked the neighborly feel the community had, which made this extra special, for I imagined animosity for newcomers might be an issue. What I wasn't as fond of was how so much "tragedy" seeped in to these characters' lives, and how seemingly avoidable certain situations were. I understand the point is to highlight resourcefulness and adaptation to harsh conditions, but some things felt a bit too much shock factor.

I still felt gripped for the most part, even when things were dragging a little, or being a bit repetitive. When the 1986 section comes along, of course other issues were also highlighted by how unfair they looked. It did feel sometimes that the point was to show case the drama of everything... I would, personally, prefer to not have this but some things ended up contributing for the greater good, I suppose.

All in all, it was a good read, even with some scenes I feel weren't as appealing in the big scheme of things. I will read more by this author one day.

Grade: 8/10

Eva García Saénz de Urturi - The Water Rituals

A pregnant woman has been murdered in a brutal, ritualistic way: burned, hung, and then placed upside down in a Bronze Age cauldron. When Unai “Kraken” Lopez de Ayala discovers the victim is his first love, Ana Belén Liaño, memories of their time together come flooding back, and with them reminders of a dark secret long buried. Then the killer strikes again, enacting the same ritual against a second expectant parent. Kraken knows he must confront his past in order to unmask this fiend. And there’s no time to waste, because Deputy Superintendent Díaz de Salvatierra has just found out she's carrying a child. And the father could very well be Kraken himself...

Comment: In 2024 I've read the first book in the White City trilogy by this Spanish author, and I liked it enough that I felt compelled to read the sequel. Finally, that became a possibility and this is it.

Months after the events of the first book, detective Unai is still recovering from a bullet to the brain but a new case makes him want to speed up his healing process. A pregnant woman was murdered but the shocking fact is that she was Unai's first girlfriend back when they were teenagers, someone he met while he and his three best friends were also participating in an archaeological campaign during the summer. As the pieces are put together, Unai and those close to him realize there's more to this story than rituals and an insane mind. What is the killer doing and for what purpose? Can this be related to what the friends saw happening all those years ago?

I confess I didn't remember many details anymore when I started this book. I still had a general idea about the events from that book, but some things had already been forgotten. Despite this, it was quite easy to go back to this world and the characters. I think this sequel wasn't as thrilling for me as the first one was, however, simply because of plot's structure.

This isn't a simple story where the police investigates a case. There is a lot which is related to detective Unai "Kraken" and his past, which is great, it's always good to peel off the layers of complex characters, but it also meant a few time jumps into the past, and while I understand these segments for clarification and setting, it made me loose focus sometimes, and made many things seem more confusing - to me - than what was, perhaps, necessary.

The case is closely linked to the events of Unai's summer while he was a teenager and the interactions between the present victim and all the people who were part of archaeological campaign, including an alluring but mysterious professor. This means that the author was able to use a lot of historical information about the Basque region, about myths and legends, and this was all used to give mood to the story and a motif for why the crimes being committed now might have a link to those summer days.

I won't share much about the crimes because explaining some things requires context and, to be fair, I think some revelations weren't as amazing because some things just have to be shared for understanding. This is necessary for the plot to make sense, of course, but it also made me see some patterns much sooner than, I imagine, was the author's intention. I was half way through when it clicked who the killer was, even though the reasons why weren't that obvious.

For many readers, certainly the most interesting part is the development of Kraken and his close relationships. I like him as a character, he has enough complexity that mixes his vulnerable and his competent sides. I like how close he is with his brother and his grandfather, but I'm not really seeing the appeal of his love interest. I can't explain it, but the whole thing feels it provides more shock factor for who she is professionally than because the vibe between them is actually that strong.

I also think some sequences of events, namely when the investigation leads them to Unai's friends, was a bit confusing in how things played out. I mean, in most crime books where the police investigates, there are some things which are the same no matter where the crime takes place but here I kept having this feeling that some things just weren't as established. Things were described a certain way, but if it was a different one, no real impact would be given.... some things did sound a little out of sync.

In the end, the killer is caught, but not before some sad situations happen and some unfair/devastating situations from the past are described and explained. The protagonists certainly have to work for their success and I can't help wondering what will come next for them...

Grade: 7/10