Category: Bookish Babble

Book Reviews

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review: The Manor House

Posted on by Mama

Title: The Manor House


Author: Gilly Macmillan


Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery


Number of Pages: 327


My Rating: 💋💋💋💋


Book Summary:

Be careful what you wish for…

Childhood sweethearts Nicole and Tom are a normal, loving couple—until a massive lottery win changes their lives overnight.

Soon they’ve moved into a custom-built state-of-the-art Glass Barn on the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire. They have fancy cars, expensive hobbies, and an exclusive lifestyle they never could have imagined.

But this dream world quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool.

Nicole is devastated. Tom is her rock. And their beautiful barn —with all its smart features that never seem to work for her—is beginning to feel very lonely. But she’s not entirely by herself out there in the country. There’s a nice young couple who live in the Manor itself along with their middle-aged housekeeper who has the Coach House. And an old friend of Tom’s from school has turned up to help her get through her grief.

But big money can bring big problems and big threats. Was Tom’s death a tragic accident or was it something worse? And is her life in danger as well?

Nicole’s beginning to feel like a little fish in a big glass fishbowl.

Surrounded by piranhas.


My Thoughts:

I know this review is a touch over-do, but better late than never!

First, I enjoyed the premise of the novel and the twists and turns that it takes. It was almost a mystery inside a mystery which was pretty fun.

However, I found the start of the book to be a little bit slow, but then it picked up about halfway through. Which the second half of the novel I just couldn’t put down and my armchair detective skills were in full swing.

The characters were well developed, balanced and intriguing in their own ways. It is essentially two very different homes that play a role in the story line, which creates tension, manipulation and a bit of a spark among the two households.

The Manor is exactly what you would imagine: a majestic older home, shrouded in history and complete with secret passages ways. The patrons who live within these glorious halls are Olly, a novelist, and Sasha, a yoga instructor. The Manor comes complete with a Coach House, which is home to their housekeeper, Kitty.

Whereas it’s counterpart The Glass Barn is an super-modern home that was constructed from the ruins of an old barn building, the dream home of lottery winners Tom and Nicole. Which would eventually just become Nicole.

Tom’s oldest friend, Patrick, comes into play pretty rapidly in this tale, masquerading as a mournful friend and moral support for Nicole. Though his intentions are deceitful and manipulative to say the least. Not a fan of Patrick from the start to be honest and my assumption was confirmed as to why I wasn’t a fan. No spoilers though!

I do have to admit that I was a fan of Hal Steen and his partner Jen Walsh are two characters you kind of fall in love with almost immediately, at least I did. You have Hal; older and slightly rough around the edges cop who prides himself on being one-step ahead in the investigation and to play things extremely intelligently. He kind of plays his cards close to his chest, but he’s an absolutely gem of a character! His partner Jen is a younger cop who is bright, compassionate, sweet and full of gumption. She follows Hal’s lead, but it almost seems like they know what the other is thinking when it’s required, they play off of one another in a sense. And the slight romantic attraction between the two was adorable, kind of lightened things up a bit. But these two definitely have their hands full with this investigation; it becomes more twisted, tangled and complex as the days go by.

The conclusion is captivating to be sure and truly comes together beautifully. Let’s just say everyone got their just desserts.

I thoroughly enjoyed it none the less, and would recommend, but it’s not five Baci for me due to the fact that it was a fairly slow start at the beginning of the book. But I will definitely have to read more from Gilly Macmillan! Have to thank my cousin for lending me this read, so thank you!

Next review is a kind of a set of novels, a prequel and sequel which I’m excited to write. So please keep an eye out!

Hope you enjoyed and I’m currently reading The Countess by Rebecca Johns & The Graveyard Shift by Maria Lewis.

Hope you enjoyed the review!

Ciao!!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review – One Italian Summer

Posted on by Mama

****Spoiler Alert****

Title: One Italian Summer


Author: Rebecca Serle


Genre: Romance, Fiction


Number of Pages: 245


My Rating: 💋💋💋


Book Summary:

When Katy’s mother dies, she is left reeling. Carol wasn’t just Katy’s mom, but her best friend and first phone call. She had all the answers and now, when Katy needs her the most, she is gone. To make matters worse, their planned mother-daughter trip of a lifetime looms: two weeks in Positano, the magical town Carol spent the summer right before she met Katy’s father. Katy has been waiting years for Carol to take her, and now she is faced with embarking on the adventure alone.

But as soon as she steps foot on the Amalfi Coast, Katy begins to feel her mother’s spirit. Buoyed by the stunning waters, beautiful cliff-sides, delightful residents, and, of course, delectable food, Katy feels herself coming back to life.

And then Carol appears—in the flesh, healthy, sun-tanned, and thirty years old. Katy doesn’t understand what is happening, or how—all she can focus on is that she has somehow, impossibly, gotten her mother back. Over the course of one Italian summer, Katy gets to know Carol, not as her mother, but as the young woman before her. She is not exactly who Katy imagined she might be, however, and soon Katy must reconcile the mother who knew everything with the young woman who does not yet have a clue.


My Thoughts:

This was the first novel I’ve read by Rebecca Serle and I had to say it was interesting and enjoyable for the most part.

Katy goes through a great loss with her mother passing and she begins to question everything in her life. She ends up taking the trip to Italy, and SURPRISE her mother, Carol, appears in the flesh. But is it really her? Katy begins to enjoy life in Positano; eating, drinking, and living La Bella Vita!

The novel takes an a turn, but a mildly predictable one, when she encounters her mother in her younger years, live and in the flesh. And things begin to surface slowly but surely.

****SPOILER ALERT****

But the weird time travel or mental breakdown, that happened was never explained which was extremely annoying. The author left it up to you to decide what happened. Ultimately, this is the way that Katy finds out all these secrets about her mother’s life in Italy.

It was a strange twist and honestly one I could have done without. I would have much preferred if Katy and her mother had taken the trip together, Carol revealing her past and explaining herself and than informing her daughter of her illness. But that is neither here nor there. And I suppose that is probably a tale that has been told time and time again.

I will say, the descriptions of Italy’s coast were detailed and transported you to that moment, making your imagination run wild at just how breathtaking Italy really is. Ultimately, it was enjoyable for what it’s worth, but not something I’ll be keeping on my shelves to read again. So I will be passing this one along to one of my family members who enjoys reading.

Up next is The Perfect Neighbors by Sarah Pekkanen.

Hope you enjoyed the review!

Ciao!!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review – The Island

Posted on by Mama

Title: The Island

Author: Natasha Preston

Number of Pages: 303

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller, Horror

My Rating: 💋💋💋💋

Book Summary:

They said Goodbye to their friends and family for the weekend. They weren’t counting on Forever.

Jagged Island. A private amusement park for the very rich -or the very influential. Liam, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and Paisley, social media influencers with millions of followers, have been invited for an exclusive weekend before the park opens. They’ll create posts and videos for their channels and report every second of their VIP treatment.

When the teens arrive, they’re stunned: the resort is even better than they imagined. Their hotel rooms are unreal, the park’s themed rides are incredible, and the island is hauntingly beautiful. Their jam-packed schedule seems to cover every moment of their visit. But soon they realize that something’s missing: getting off the island alive.

My thoughts:

The island does sound hauntingly beautiful as per the books description, and it only becomes more daunting and eerie with the events that begin to take place.

Trapped on an isolated island in the middle of a storm with absolutely no internet or phone service only to discover that the influencers are the target…

It was intriguing to say the least.

Paisley, the True Crime pod-caster/influencer is the main character in this tale, who loves the feel and look of the island as soon as she steps onto it, and determined to utilize the spooky factor for incredible content for her platforms/audience. She soon comes to realize just how real her career will become. Paisley is a tenacious, intelligent, brave, independent and far too trusting. And extremely determined to using her sleuthing skills to solve this mystery. She is an extremely likeable heroine.

Each influencer has their niche; Harper the book blogger, Ava and Will both beauty influencers, Liam the gamer, James the movie/television reviewer and than Paisley. All have interesting and very different personalities and all glued to their phones to create content. Malcolm Wyatt is the billionaire owner of this fun little island and resort, who is closely accompanied by his assistant Camilla. Kenna is their chef for the weekend, along with handsome Reeve and Gibson – crew members.

The influencers are thrilled with their accommodations, mildly creeped out by the chosen aesthetic, but ultimately they begin their fun filled weekend immediately. The gruesome events suddenly begin once they notice one of them is missing; worrying, they start their missing person’s search only to discover something more sinister..

The pace of the book was good, I felt the twists and turns were somewhat predictable but still a fun read. Sometimes you need a quick read like that, but it also helps that I’m an arm chair detective and called it by a few chapters in.

The things I didn’t enjoy was the ending…. What the hell was that crap?! The last few chapters felt rushed and unrealistic. Like the story just needed to end and it ended in a stupid and abrupt way. It didn’t feel real; the emotions felt in such a traumatic instance, it all just seemed….meh at the end. The killer’s reasoning was…a little out there. The fact he chose to target the influencers didn’t tie in at all and it fell a little flat for me.

Ultimately, a readable young adult thriller, but sadly only worth four baci rating from me. Not a novel I would die to tell people about.

My next novel that I’ve already started is called One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle, another discovery from Bookoutlet.ca. We shall see what this novel entails! Review to follow as always.

Ciao!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review – Meet Me at the Lake

Posted on by Mama

Well finished this one early, pretty proud of myself to be honest. I guess my speed has increased a little, maybe mama is getting her reading groove back!

Title: Meet Me at the Lake

Author: Carley Fortune

Number of Pages: 306

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Adult

My Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋

Book Summary:

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive and idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in the city. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet again one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn’t.

At thirty-two, Fern’s life doesn’t look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern’s back home, running her mother’s lakeside resort, something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend is the manager, and Fern doesn’t know where to begin.

She needs a plan – a lifeline. To her surprise, it come in the form of Will, who arrives nine years late, suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern’s going through. But how can she possibly trust this expensive suit-wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago? Will is hiding something, and Fern’s not sure she wants to know what it is.

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him now?

My thoughts:

If you like heartfelt, cheesy romance this is the book for you! This is the first Carley Fortune novel I’ve read and I can say without a shadow of a doubt I enjoyed it immensely.

No spoilers, but I love how the author wrote it, using what I consider the beloved past and future writing. It makes the story have a bit more substance in my opinion, especially when the main characters already have history.

The main characters are lovable in their perspective ways, however Will is sometimes the typical frustrating male lead. Fern is a hard-working, determined and spirited female lead that you embrace almost instantly, I wanted to be her friend – if only she were real! She leaves her city life to come home to a place she really didn’t want to end up running. An unfortunate series of events leaves her with a life changing decision. You silently cheer for every move she makes as you turn the pages of this book. My only gripe with her, I don’t like the name Fern or Fernie as she is sometimes referred to. I don’t know why, it just doesn’t sit well with me. Otherwise a very lovable and relatable character.

Will on the other hand is a mystery at the start, but by the end he becomes this incredible complex work of art you just want to admire. See what I did there? He has his own trials and tribulations to contend with, but ultimately achieves exactly what he needs and wants in his life, especially with Fern.

I will say the intimacy portions in the book were tame and a bit boring at times, it could have used a little more spice for my liking. But it doesn’t take away from the over all story.

Ultimately the book is great and worth a read. It kept me engaged and wanting to keep the pages turning to find out the end result. It almost reminded me of Dirty Dancing, which is heavily referenced in the book. For good reason. This would be a great summer time read if you get the chance.

My next novel that I’ve already started is called The Island by Natasha Preston. She is a new author I discovered on my favourite site ever, Bookoutlet.ca, and it seems intriguing. Review to follow once I’ve finished!

Ciao!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review – The Death of Mrs. Westaway

Posted on by Mama

I was going to wait until the 29th, worried that I wasn’t going to finish this one by the end of the month, but huzzah! I did it and I’m excited to share this one with you!

Title: The Death of Mrs. Westaway

Author: Ruth Ware

Number of Pages: 368

Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

My Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋

Book Summary:

Harriet Westaway – better known as Hal – makes ends meet as a tarot reader, but she doesn’t believe in the power of her trade. If she did, what would the cards say about the choice that lies ahead of her?

When Hal receives a mysterious and unexpected letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance, she knows that it wasn’t meant for her because Mrs. Westaway is not her grandmother. Struggling with crippling debt, Hal is presented with a difficult choice: ignore the letter, or use her cold-reading skills to potentially claim the money and change her life.

After a loan shark pays Hal a threatening visit, she decides to attend Mrs. Westaway’s funeral. She meets the family at Trepassen House, the Westaways’ country estate. Once there, Hal discovers more secrets than she could have ever imagined. There is something very, very wrong with this family, and somehow Hal and the inheritance are at the center of it.

My thoughts:

Harriet Westaway or Hal as she is better known by throughout the novel, is a lovable, strong and crafty young woman, persevering through a hard time in her life. A tarot reader by trade who doesn’t quite believe what she practices, but often depends of the wisdom her mother taught her regarding tarot and reading people. Her skills at reading people is remarkable and is definitely an advantage to her as she walks this tricky path. You can’t help but feel for her as you go through the novel, wanting so desperately to figure out the mystery that surrounds her life, upbringing and her new relatives.

Upon first impressions, the relatives seem pompous and snobby, but you get to know their personalities slowly throughout the book. She ultimately doesn’t fit in, being the black sheep of her relatives and not born into money. Harding the eldest is all business and has an air of money about him always, Abel is a sweet, kind man and Ezra is the rough around the edges, rebel without a cause type, all ending up to be Hal’s new uncles. However, when one of Hal’s Uncles gives her an old photograph of her mother, this sparks a spiral down the rabbit hole that she must crawl out of.

This book keeps you on your toes and really keeps you guessing. If you are an arm chair detective, then this is the novel for you. You have to really read carefully and put the pieces together, chapter by chapter. But the reveal will shock you in the end, it definitely did for me.

I was a little skeptical if I’d enjoy this one, the title really is deceiving, but it was a great read and I highly recommend to anyone who likes a thriller. You definitely root for Hal, but be warned you will go through a bit of an emotional roller coaster with her, only to end in satisfying delight.

Must read and looking forward to reading more from Ruth Ware. I just ordered The Woman in Cabin 10, so keep your eyes out for a future review on that. She will be added to my list of favourite writers.

Enjoy the novel, I know I did!

My next novel I’m about to start is Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune, review to come in March!

Ciao!

Posted in Bookish Babble

Book Review – Krampus The Yule Lord

Posted on by Mama

I won’t spoil anything, but I have decided to make it a goal to read at least one book per month. If I so happen to read two, I’ll be very lucky and I have a few I want to get off my shelf. I prefer physical books myself; the smell and feel of a book in my hands reminds me of being a kid and getting books from the library. But I divulge.

Any who!

Krampus is one that I really couldn’t put down once I got into it. I needed to read more!

Krampus The Yule Lord by Brom

Genre: Horror, Dark Fantasy, Fiction, Mythology

Number of Pages: 357

My Rating: 💋💋💋💋💋

Favourite Excerpt: “Mankind has lost its connection to the land, to the earth, to the beasts and spirits. They gather their food not from the forest and fields, but from plastic bins and ice boxes. Their lives are no longer tied to the cycles of the seasons and the harvest, no longer do they need the Yule Lord to chase away the winter darkness and usher in the light of spring. Man has only himself to fear now…he has become his own worst devil.”

Book Summary:

One Christmas Eve in a small hollow in Boone County, West Virginia, struggling songwriter Jesse Walker witnesses a strange spectacle: seven devilish figures chasing a man in a red suit toward a sleigh and eight reindeer. When the reindeer leap skyward, taking the sleigh, devil men, and Santa into the clouds, screams follow. Moments later, a large sack plummets back to earth, a magical sack that thrusts the down-on-his-luck singer into the clutches of the terrifying Yule Lord, Krampus. But the lines between good and evil become blurred as Jesse’s new master reveals many dark secrets about the cherry-cheeked Santa Claus, including how half a millennium ago the jolly old saint imprisoned Krampus and usurped his magic.

Now Santa’s time is running short, for the Yule Lord is determined to have his retribution and reclaim Yuletide. If Jesse can survive this ancient feud, he might have the chance to redeem himself in his family’s eyes, to save his own broken dreams, . . . and to help bring the magic of Yule to the impoverished folk of Boone County.

My Thoughts:

The cover is what captivated me at first when I saw this posted a long time ago on a “book club” group on Facebook. Ever since I learned about Krampus years ago from a friend online, I was hooked, mesmerized if you will. How could a beautiful holiday like Christmas have a darker side? A dark Santa if you will, at least that’s how I kind of see him.

The book is a bit slow to start before you really get into character development and you truly get to meet Krampus and his Belsnickels. But I have to say; I fell in love with the diverse cast of misfits and the charismatic and vengeful Krampus. You begin to feel connected to the characters in some form or another and there are those you definitely hate, like Chief Dillard. I find you either love or hate Santa in this portrayal and to be quite honest, I was not a big fan. For myself, I connected most with Krampus and his realization of the ever changing world.

Jesse, the oddly lovable main character is a bit of a lost soul until he meets Krampus. Flipping his world upside down and then some. As I was reading, I thought I wouldn’t end up liking him, that he was the typical troubled main character you’ve read in books before. But the 180 degree he makes is remarkable and you begin to see a softer side to the bad boy musician Jesse. Even though he gets himself into heaps of trouble first!

I also loved the fact that it tied in Pagan traditions and Norse Mythology, which was an unexpected surprise that I quite enjoyed. I personally find both of those topics fascinating on their own, but to have them throw into one book was a bonus.

I don’t really want to give any spoilers, but this book is definitely not short of twists and turns that will keep you wanting more, I sure did! I think the author did a fabulous job on character development and story, making you cheer and feel sympathy for the poor Yule Lord all at the same time. I can honestly say near the end of the book, I shed a tear or two.

If you love dark fantasy, a lot of profanity and a bit of gore, this book is undoubtedly worth the read. But be fair warned, this one is not for the faint of heart.

Happy Yuletide!

Ciao!