November 9th – Book Review

Title:- November 9

Author:- Colleen Hoover

Date published:- November 10th 2015

No. of pages:- 320 pages

Genre:- Women’s Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 3.5/5 stars

Writing:- 4/5 stars

Overall:- 3.5/5 stars

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day before her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in Los Angeles together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

Can Ben’s relationship with Fallon—and simultaneously his novel—be considered a love story if it ends in heartbreak?

So after reading It Ends With Us, by Colleen Hoover, I decided that I will read all her books to see why there’s so much hype on her books. November 9, is one of those hypes as well. Like It Ends With Us, there is a certain romance with a couple Ben and Fallon. But unlike It Ends With Us where there is a message, November 9 to me is more like a soap opera show.

I am not saying Colleen Hoover is not a great writer–she really is a great writer and is gifted as well. But November 9 is a very predictable and throughout the entire time I was reading this book, I felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie.

The story starts on November 9th when Fallon, who used to be a movie star but career halted when she became a fire victim was dining with her father, a famous film director. Ben, who was sitting a few booths from Fallon and an aspiring novelist pretends to be Fallon’s boyfriend. That night, Fallon was leaving to New York from LA and Ben and Fallon decided to meet each other on every November 9th for the next five years to see where their relationship with end up with.

The story is told from Fallon’s and Ben’s point of view. On each of November 9th, something would happen to either of them. I mean I did enjoy reading this book and Hoover gave tits and bits of what Ben’s novel was like with a twist at the end. I do like the chemistry between Fallon and Ben as well. But as I said earlier, it felt like I was watching a Hallmark romance movie with a predictable and unrealistic ending.

So as I have yet to read more of Colleen Hoover’s books, (I am currently reading Reminders of Him), November 9th is OK book for mer. It Ends With Us will remain one of my favorite books written by her.

Colleen Hoover is the #1 New York Times and International bestselling author of multiple novels and novellas. She lives in Texas with her husband and their three boys. She is the founder of The Bookworm Box, a non-profit book subscription service and bookstore in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

The Resort – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Resort

Author:- Sue Watson

Date published:- will be published on June 24th 2022

Publisher:- Bookouture

No. of pages:- 317 pages

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Plot:- 4.5/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall Rating:- 4.5/5

When a dream trip becomes your worst nightmare…

You’ve been excited about this getaway for months – at last, a chance to reconnect with your husband at a secluded island resort. But when he unexpectedly calls you from the beach, you hear the urgency in his voice. Something is very wrong.

The beautiful waitress from the restaurant last night has been found lying dead in the sand. And the police want to question your husband about it.

Sure, you saw him glance at her over dinner a few times, but you know he didn’t have anything to do with the poor girl’s death. So why is he asking you to lie to the police that he was with you all night? And where did he go in those missing hours?

When he returns to your beautiful sea-view suite, things get heated and he accuses you of being jealous, just like he always does. Yes, the waitress was overly flirtatious with your husband, but you didn’t actually wish her any harm. Not really.

Can you trust the man you married… or are you the one who can’t be trusted?

A perfect vacation getaway…or perfect place for a nightmare?

The Resort is a story of three couples–Sam and David, who are newly married couple, Daisy and Tom, and Becky and Josh. The waitress Stella seems to be flirting with one of the husbands and the next day, Stella was found…murdered. Now the police gets involved and one of them is the killer.

Though it started a little slow, soon, it got really interesting. It was fast paced, with twists and turns along the way. The story is told from the three wives’ point of view–Sam, who is questioning about David’s trust, Daisy and Becky, each having sort of problem in their married life. The author has done a good job of making the reader feel like they are at the edge of the seat and towards the middle of the book, it got interesting. The ending was completely unexpected–I really did not expect that type of ending–not going to give too much spoilers.

If you are into thrillers based on a summer resort with twists and turns that will take you on a roller coaster ride…then this book is one for you–worth five stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Sue Watson was a TV Producer at the BBC until she wrote her first book and was hooked.

Now a USA Today bestselling author, Sue has sold over a million books and explores the darker side of life, writing psychological thrillers with big twists. Originally from Manchester, she now lives with her family in leafy Worcestershire where much of her day is spent writing – and procrastinating. Her hobby is eating cake while watching diet and exercise programmes from the sofa, a skill she’s perfected after many years of practice.

more info visit Sue’s website; http://www.suewatsonbooks.com/

Sue would love to meet you on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/suewatsonbooks

Follow Sue on Twitter @suewatsonwriter

The Heart of the Deal – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Heart of the Deal

Author:- Lindsay MacMillan

Date published:- will be published on June 7th 2022

Publisher:- Alcove Press

No. of pages:- 342 pages

Genre:- Romance

Rating:-

Plot:-4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

Perfect for fans of Emily Giffin and Jojo Moyes,Lindsay MacMillan’s debut novel deftly captures the feeling of being adrift in your late twenties, with poignant commentary on female friendships, mental health, and what happiness really looks like.

Rae is in a romantic recession.
 
The Wall Street banker is single in New York City and overwhelmed by the pressure to scramble up the corporate and romantic ladders. Feeling her biological clock ticking, she analyzes her love life like a business deal and vows to lock in a husband before her 30th birthday. 
 
The Manhattan dating app scene has as many ups and downs as the stock market, and outsourcing dates to an algorithm isn’t exactly Rae’s idea of romance. She considers cutting her losses, but her friends help her stay invested, boosting her spirits with ice cream and cheap wine that they share in their sixth-floor walk-up while recapping cringe-worthy dates.
 
And then Rae meets Dustin, a poetic soul trapped in a business suit, just like her. She starts to hear wedding bells, but Dustin’s struggles with depression will test their relationship, and no amount of financial modeling can project what their future will look like.
 
Can Rae free herself from the idea she had of what thirty was supposed to look like and let love breathe on its own timeline? Or is she too conditioned to stay on the “right track” to follow her unpaved intuition?
 
Moving and timely, The Heart of the Deal is the story of one woman’s reckoning with what success really is in a city, an industry, and a relationship whose low lows continually challenge the enchantment of the high highs.

I actually cannot believe that this is the debut book of this author–this was actually an unusual romantic novel. Not just those typical cheesy romantic novels you feel like watching from Hallmark movies. This is a bit different type of romantic novel. Basically, it’s more realistic and will teach people like us how to live your life.

Raelynn known as Rae is an investment banker working in a Wall Street Bnak. She is going through a dating recession, and makes a plan of herself to go on a date and then maybe settle down when she becomes thirty. She gets into a dating app and while meeting weird guys, she eventually meets Dustin. Dustin might be a typical hero of the story but this actually deals with depression, Dustin is going through.

First of all, I actually enjoyed author’s writing. Despite the fact that it’s a work of fiction, the author has done a good job of drawing the reader into the story and making the reader feel like a part of the story. Rae’s character reminded a bit about myself, four years ago, when like Rae, I used to work in a bank, and then decided to quit to live a life. I do like her optimism, how she allows Dustin to deal with his depression by breaking off things with him and then her friendship with Ellen and all the others who like Rae is working grueling hours at the work. Reading about working in the bank, reminded me of my days as a banker when I literally didn’t really have a life.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. For anyone looking for a realistic romantic novel, this one is for you. Worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Lingering – ARC Book Review

Title:- Lingering

Author:- Chris Coppel

Date published:- will be published on June 28th 2022

No. of pages:- 224 pages

Genre:- Horror

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Writing:- 4/5

Overall rating:- 4/5

The woods looked dark and ominous. Between the trees, where the darkness was blacker than black, dozens of slanted yellow eyes flicked open and stared back towards the house. They weren’t the eyes of anything human. When Paul and Christy purchase Croft House, they are both looking forward to a new start. Christy’s abusive father is dying and she is ready to put the past well and truly behind her. But the house has other ideas. They soon realise there is something in the house, something that’s trying to communicate with them. In their fear, they ask a local psychic to remove this entity. And in so doing, release something far, far worse.

This book gave me creeps…even the front cover is giving me creeps!

The married couple, Christy and Paul move into their dream house, Croft House. Christy however had to return back to her childhood house to care for her abusive and ailing father while Paul dealt with the house. As they start a new life in the house, they realize that the house has many dark secrets inside that.

Reading this book gave me a feeling of as if I was watching a horror movie. Christy’s relationship with her father, his abusive nature was interesting to read, How Paul hires a psychic to see if there are “dark” ghosts in the house was also interesting. The vivid descriptions of the house gave a creeping sense that you could actually as a reader feel like you are also in the haunted house with the characters as well. Both Chrisy and Paul have many flaws as characters. There were some twists and turns. Overall, I actually enjoyed reading this book and since this is the first time I am reading from this author, I am looking forward to read more.

Worth four stars!

Mnay thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Half Sisters – ARC Book Review

Title:- Half Sisters

Author:- Virginia Franken

Date published:- will be June 21st 2022

Publisher :- Lake Union Publishing

No. of pages:- 269 pages

Genre:- Adult Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 3.5/5

Writing:- 3/5

Overall rating:- 3/5

A single lie becomes a defining moment in a family’s life in an unforgettable novel of psychological suspense.

After being gone for two decades, Maddy’s half sister, Emily, is back in town to settle their late father’s estate. Emily’s not the troubled girl Maddy remembers from their volatile childhood. Apparently, all is well. It can’t possibly matter anymore that Maddy married Emily’s first love, but the pictures Maddy finds on her husband’s phone tell a different story. Suspicions of an affair are hard to ignore.

Then again, Maddy hasn’t been herself lately. She’s increasingly confused. She’s losing items that are precious to her. She forgets where she’s going. The line between what’s real and unreal has become a blur. Even the damning photos have disappeared. Though her state of mind starts to become everyone’s cause for concern, Maddy refuses to believe she’s losing her grip on reality. But the one thing she can’t deny is the secret from the past that rewrote all their lives—a secret that’s ready to come out.

Maddy and Emma are half sisters–they share the same father but different mothers. They were separated and then reunited after their father’s death to settle down an estate. Maddy was in fact married to Emma’s high school sweetheart Josh. So when she discovers a picture of Emma and Josh together, she was suspecting if they were having an affair behind her back.

The book started out a little boring and slow. However, towards the middle of the book, it got interesting and then the ending was a mouth hanging openly good! The writing was great too and the characters were however not very likable in my opinion which lowered my rating of the book.

Overall, if you like a famiyl drama with a hint of mystery, then this book is one for you–worth three stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Virginia Franken was born and raised in the United Kingdom. After traveling the world as a professional dancer, she now lives in Los Angeles with her family. She works as a copy editor by day and gets most of her writing done when she should be sleeping.

The Angel of Vienna – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Angel of Vienna

Author:- Kate Hewitt

Date published:- will be published on 17th June 2022

No. of pages:- 389 pages

Genre-: Historical Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 4.5/5

Writing;- 4/5

Overall rating:- 5/5 stars

Nazi-occupied Vienna, 1940: A young nurse finds herself with the chance to save innocent children. An unmissable and heartbreaking story—based on devastating real events—about tragedy, hope and courage in the face of impossible odds.

“These children, who the Nazis don’t even see as human, these children are innocent. And, Hannah, if you have the chance to save even one of them, you know what you have to do. Even if it puts your own life at risk.”

As bombs fall over Europe, Hannah Stern is a twenty-seven-year-old nurse, who is just trying to survive. When she takes a position at Vienna’s esteemed psychiatric hospital, Am Steinhof, she thinks it will take her away from the danger.

Her estranged half-brother has arranged the job for her on the condition that she must take his son, Willi there too. He insists it’s a place where Willi will be safe. And Hannah soon forms a close bond with the sweet, fragile child in her care.

At first the hospital seems like a safe haven—a beautiful, airy, spacious place of healing and recovery. But the hospital is a place of secrets. And they are darker than Hannah could ever have imagined. Children, ones just like Willi, are disappearing—not to be healed as promised, but taken somewhere else. Somewhere terrible.

And when Willi’s own life comes under threat—in spite of her half-brother’s position of power in the Nazi military—Hannah must overcome her own fears and act. Then she discovers one of the other nurses is also trying to help patients escape, and Hannah becomes determined to help in any way she can.

But she is only one person up against the enemy. And to save even just one life from the grip of the Nazis, she must risk her own…

The most unmissable historical fiction of the year, guaranteed to leave readers in tears. Perfect for fans of My Name is Eva, All the Light We Cannot See and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

This is truly an emotional and heartbreaking story based on true events that happened during the Nazi rule.

The Nazis did not just persecute Jews–they persecuted Gypsies as well as disabled children and people. This story talks about how a brave woman sacrificed her own life to save disabled children from getting murdered.

Hannah became a nurse at a prestigious psychiatric hospital in Vienna, Austria, thanks to her half-brother’s connection. She agreed to become a nurse there on one condition–that she had to look after her nephew Willi who is disabled. At first, the hospital is just like a normal ordinary hospital. But soon, Hannah comes to realize that the hospital is not what it seems. Children starts going into a special treatment but never return back to their beds. This was a part of the plan to remove all the disabled children–a part of Nazi’s eradication plan.

As a person who had done German history, this book was truly emotional and heartbreaking. I may have said this same thing in Holocaust books but killing innocent disabled children was somewhat disturbing and emotional to me. Worst case is that these murders and experiments happened in real life, which made it more heartbreaking. The author has done a good job of captivating the reader into the story and must have done tremendous research to this story. The heroine, Hannah Stern has become a favorable character and is portrayed as a courageous woman who would do anything to save those innocent children. All in all, this is a page turner and emotional rollercoaster ride, that will not allow you to put the book down.

If you are someone who is interested in WWII history, I recommend you to read this book. Guaranteed, this book will keep you up all night and will make you cry till the end. Worth fill five stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Kate Hewitt is the bestselling author of many novels of both historical and contemporary fiction. She particularly enjoys writing contemporary issue-driven women’s fiction, and her novels have been called ‘unputdownable’ and ‘the most emotional book I have ever read’ by readers.

An American ex-pat, she lives in a small market town in Wales with her husband and five young(ish) children, along with their two Golden Retrievers. Join her newsletter for monthly updates and giveaways at http://www.kate-hewitt.com, or be part of her Facebook groups Kate’s Reads, to discuss all manner of books, movies, music and cooking.

Riverbend Reunion – ARC Book Review

Title:- Riverbend Reunion

Author:- Carolyn Brown

Date published:- will be published on June 14th 2022

No. of pages:- 299 pages

Genre:- Small Town Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 4/5

Wrting:- 4/5

Overall Rating:- 4/5

Back home is the best place to start over in a heart-stirring Texas romance about friendship, second chances, and small-town scandals by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown.

Riverbend, Texas, doesn’t look like the crossroads of anywhere. But for four high school besties reuniting after twenty years, it’s a place to unpack a lot of baggage.

Risa’s headed for divorce, Mary Nell’s been kicked to the curb by her leech of a boyfriend, and Haley was just blindsided by a shocking family secret. But restless army veteran Jessica Callaway, looking to plant roots, has an idea: corral her fellow former cheerleaders and renovate an abandoned church smack-dab in the middle of three dry counties into a bar. Throw in a grill and Wade Granger—a onetime nerd turned surprisingly crush-worthy investor—and their lives are on tap for a turnaround. Amen to that.

Except for one hitch: the white-clapboard dream is causing a ruckus. With a renewed bond, hard work, and the promise of romance, Jessica and her friends aren’t backing down. For Riverbend, this is going to be a homecoming—and a scandal—to remember.

This is the second book I have read of Carolyn Brown and is based in a small town called Riverbend in the heart of Texas.

Jessica is reuniting with her high school friends, Risa, Mary Nell, and Haley after twenty years. Jessica was an army veteran, Risa is heading for divorce, Haley is blinded by a shocking family secret and Mary Nell is thrown out by her boyfriend. When the friends decide to convert a church into a bar, many of the towns people were kind of against it. Jessica meets Wade and the two soon develop into a romantic relationship.

I thought the story was kind of quirky and cute. Though I felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie on TV, nevertheless, I do enjoy the book. The bond and friendship between the girls was really great, the southern accent was at times fascinating, making you feel like you are also the part of the southern community and I enjoyed the slow developing romance between Wade and Jessica.

If you like a good romance book based in a small town, then this book is one for you–worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

The Teacher of Warsaw – ARC Book Review

Title:- The Teacher of Warsaw

Author:- Mario Escobar

Date published:- will be published on June 7th 2022

No. of pages:- 356 pages

Genre:- Historical Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 5/5

Writing:- 4.5/5

Overall:- 5/5

September 1, 1939. Sixty-year-old Janusz Korczak and the students and teachers at his Dom Sierot Jewish orphanage are outside enjoying a beautiful day in Warsaw. Hours later, their lives are altered forever when the Nazis invade. Suddenly treated as an outcast in his own city, Janusz—a respected leader known for his heroism and teaching—is determined to do whatever it takes to protect the children from the horrors to come.

When over four hundred thousand Jewish people are rounded up and forced to live in the 1.3-square-mile walled compound of the Warsaw ghetto, Janusz and his friends take drastic measures to shield the children from disease and starvation. With dignity and courage, the teachers and students of Dom Sierot create their own tiny army of love and bravely prepare to march toward the future—whatever it may hold.

Unforgettable, devastating, and inspired by a real-life hero of the Holocaust, The Teacher of Warsaw reminds the world that one single person can incite meaning, hope, and love.

This is a true story of Dr. Janusz Korzak who with his friend is running a Jewish orphanage. The story is set in the year 1949, when Nazis invade Warsaw Poland, with the break out of World War II. The story follows the brutal treatment against the Jews by both the Nazis and by Poles who seemed to be supporting the Nazi’s ideologies. Despite having a Jewish background, Dr. Korzak is a respected man among the people in Warsaw.

When I read the book Zookeeper’s Wife and also watched the movie, I came across the name Dr. Korzack who was respected by Dr. Jan, who along with his wife saved more than five hundred Jews. Mario Escobar has done so much tremendous research about his life in general as well as the timeline that happened–the Nazi’s takeover of Warsaw, the formation of Warsaw Ghetto, the moving of the children to the ghetto and the transportation to the concentration camp, Treblinka. Honestly, this book was really heartbreaking and emotional, particularly the ending. Dr. Korzack would do anything to save the innocent Jewish children even though he knew what will happen to all of them once they reach Treblinka concentration camp.

Though the story is based in true facts, some parts of the story as well as certain characters were fictionalized. Despite that, the author has done a tremendous good job of bringing the reader into the story, making the reader feel like they are part of the worst moments in the history. The hunger, these children are facing, the worst conditions of ghetto, the brutal treaments of the Jews by the Nazis in general were too unbearable and emotional to read. The ending of the story is too heartbreaking to read, knowing that this is a true story and that you know what will happen to those innocent children once they reach the concentration camp.

Of all the Holocaust books that I have read, personally, this book was too emotional to read, as it involved children. Worth five stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Mario Escobar has a master’s degree in modern history and has written numerous books and articles that delve into the depths of church history, the struggle of sectarian groups, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas. Escobar, who makes his home in Madrid, Spain, is passionate about history and its mysteries.

Books with pink covers

So I am taking a break from reviewing the books and decide to do a post–books with pink covers.

Some of these books that I have listed are TBR and some I have read but I thought it might be fun to do a post like that

Books With Pink Front Covers

  1. It Ends With Us – Colleen Hoover

2. Red, White and Royal Blue – Casey McQuistion

3. You Had Me At Hola – Alexis Daria

4. One Last Stop – Casey McQuiston

5. Dating Dr. Dil – Nisha Sharma

6. The Ex Talk – Rachel Lynn Solomon

8. Lock Every Door – Riley Sager

9. The Spanish Love Deception – Elena Armas

10. Finlay Donovan is Killing It- Elle Cosimano

Anxious People – Book Review

Title:- Anxious People

Author:- Fredrik Backman

Date published:- August 20th 2020

No. of pages:- 400 pages

Genre:- Literary Fiction

Rating:-

Plot:- 4.5/5

Writing 4.5/5

Overall Rating:- 4.5/5 stars

It’s New Year’s Eve and House Tricks estate agents are hosting an open viewing in an up-market apartment when an incompetent bank robber rushes in and politely takes everyone hostage.

For Anna-Lena and Roger, busy buying-up apartments to fill the hole in their marriage, it’s something else to talk about.

For Julia and Ro, panicky parents-to-be, it’s yet another worry.

Lonely bank manager Zara only came here for the view.

While 87-year-old grandmother Estelle seems rather pleased by the company . . .

As the police gather outside, the anxious strangers huddled within try to make the best of a very sticky situation – but could it be that they have a whole lot more in common than meets the eye?

Anyone who has not read Fredrick Backman’s A Man Called Ove yet??? Read that book (and also Beartown and it’s sequel Us Against You) before reading this one!

The story involved nine strangers–Anna Lena, Roger, Zara, Julia, Ro, Estelle were doing apartment viewing when they were being held hostage by an incompetent bank robber. The policemen Jack and Jim, who are actually father and son tries to find out what really happened to the bank robber and the story follows after that.

In nearly all of Fredrick Backman’s books, there is some sort of life lessons being taught in the book itself.

We don’t have a plan, we just do our best to get through the day, because there’ll be another one coming along tomorrow.

Addicts are addicted to their drugs, and their families are addicted to hope.

His writing is very good and the translator also has done a good job of converting the text from Swedish to English. Although the book was very long, nonetheless, I actually enjoyed reading this book. There were some funny parts in the book, particularly the police interview with the hostages that I actually laughed out loud. Overall, I actually enjoyed this book–worth 4.5 stars!

Fredrik Backman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Beartown, Us Against You, and two novellas, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer and The Deal of a Lifetime, as well as one work of nonfiction, Things My Son Needs to Know About the World. His books are published in more than forty countries. His next novel, Anxious People, will be published in September 2020. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter @BackmanLand or on Instagram @Backmansk.