My Book Reviews

Category: Literary Fiction

Displacement by Anne Stormont

Displacement by Anne Stormont

Release: June 14, 2014
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Rowan Russell Books
Source: Love Books Tours
Find it at: Amazon

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From the Scottish Hebrides to the Middle-East, Displacement is a soul-searching journey from grief to reclamation of self, and a love-story where romance and realism meet head-on.
Divorce, the death of her soldier son and estrangement from her daughter, leave Hebridean crofter, Rachel Campbell, grief-stricken, lonely and lost. Forced retirement leaves former Edinburgh policeman Jack Baxter needing to find a new direction for his life.

When Rachel meets Jack in dramatic circumstances on a wild winter’s night on the island of Skye, a friendship develops, despite very different personalities. Gradually their feelings for each other go beyond friendship. Something neither of them feels able to admit. And it seems unlikely they’ll get the chance to because Rachel is due to leave for several months to visit family in Israel – where she aims to re-root and reroute her life.

Set against the contrasting and dramatic backdrops of the Scottish island of Skye and the contested country of Israel-Palestine, Displacement is a story of life-affirming courage and love – where romance and realism meet head on.
Displacement is the first of the three books in the Rachel & Jack Skye Series.

About the Author:

Anne Stormont writes contemporary romantic fiction where the main characters may sometimes be older – but not necessarily wiser. She hopes the stories she tells will entertain, but she also hopes they will move, challenge and inspire her readers.

She has written four novels so far – Change of Life, was her first. This was followed by the three novels set on the Scottish island of Skye – Displacement, Settlement and Fulfilment which tell the story of Rachel and Jack.

Anne is a Scot, living in the land of her birth. She’s a former teacher and when she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, country walks and gardening – and the occasional pillion ride on her husband’s motor bike. She also loves spending time with friends and family – especially her three grandchildren.

Anne has travelled all over the world and has visited every continent except Antarctica – somewhere she really should go considering her penchant for penguins.
She can be a bit of a subversive old bat, but she tries to maintain a kind heart.

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Displacement Review:

“When God closes a door, he opens a window”. Displacement is an emotional, poignant book about rediscovery, love and loss, and I loved it.

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What do you do when everyone close to you go away and life starts to lose meaning? The author beautifully answers this question through Rachel, who struggles with her life when her mother dies. Many of us have been in the situation where we feel like our life has no meaning anymore, and we start to lose our purpose. I loved this story of love, loss, friendship, and heartbreak and thought the author did a beautiful job in touching all the right emotions.

Moreover, I simple love the author’s style of writing. She paced the story so well that you slowly start to see Rachel peel her insecurities and bring down the walls. Moreover, what I really loved about the story is how it focused on self-discovery. Rachel has a beautiful chemistry with both Jack and Eitan. But the story is about Rachel finding herself. On a side note, I loved the beautiful landscape of Israel and the way the author describes it. I felt like I was with Rachel when she visits Masada and ponders on her Jewish heritage. Also, I loved how she responds to Jack’s granddaughter.

Overall, Displacement is not just a story; it is a beautiful emotional journey, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It is one of those stories that just speaks to your heart, and I am curious to see how the series continues in the next book.

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Displacement by Anne StormontBlog Tour hosted by Love Books Tours.

Book Tour Schedule

Book Loving Science Teacher – 31st Aug -Review
Portobello Book Blog – 31st Aug -Guest Post
Fany Reads English – 31st Aug-Review
Jane Hunt Writer – 1st Sept-Review
Vicky Book and Family – 1st Sept -Review
B for Book Review – 2nd Sept -Excerpt
The Book Reader – 2nd Sept -Review
Always Trust In Books – 3rd Sept -Excerpt
Rajiv’s Reviews – 3rd Sept-Review
The Magic Of Wor(l)ds – 4th Sept -Interview
Reading Through the Lookinglass – 4th Sept -Review
Being Anne – 5th Sept -Guest Post
The Book Reader – 5th Sept-Review
Book Reviews Today – 6th Sept -Excerpt
Jessica Belmont – 6th Sept -Review

September 3, 2020
The bench by Cromer beach

The bench by Cromer beach by R J Gould

Release: July 25, 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Lume Books
Source: Rachels Random Resources
Find it at: Amazon , B&N

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Five people in a sleepy English coastal town. However,in one year that changes everything.

They seem to have it all. Moreover, they’re in good health and are financially secure. Also, they live in a pleasant and comfortable town. But as their lives intertwine, cracks emerge and restlessness grows.

For Clive, is retirement the beginning of the end? Can fun-loving Saskia break free from her adulterous husband? Will Andy marry his childhood sweetheart? Is Jamie going to change his dishonest ways? Is temptation going to ruin Ellie’s happy marriage ?

Hence, Heart-warming and heart-breaking collide in this novel about aspirations, expectations and the realities of everyday life.

About the Author:

R J Gould is published by Lume Books and Headline Accent and is the author of five novels: A Street Café Named Desire, The Engagement Party, Jack and Jill Went Downhill, Mid-life follies and The bench by Cromer beach. Moreover, he is a (rare male) member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Having been selected for the organisation’s New Writers Programme, his first novel was short-listed for the Joan Hessayon Award. Ahead of writing full time, R J Gould led a national educational charity. He has published in a wide range of educational journals, national newspapers and magazines and is the co-author of a major work on educating able young people. He lives in Cambridge, England.

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The bench by Cromer beach Review:

The Bench by Cromer Beach was a beautiful contemporary read which deals with relationships and love, and I enjoyed this heartwarming tale.

The characters are the highlight of the story. The author detailed the characters in a dynamic way where you can feel for them. Moreover, I loved how each chapter toggled between various characters and plots and how many of the characters connect with each other in some form. Yet, the main theme of the story is relationships, and it was interesting to see the author’s take on the various relationship problems and goals that couples go through. Also, the author sets the story in a beautiful landscape of a quaint town with likable folks.

While I liked all the characters, Ellie was my favorite! I could relate to the loneliness and doubts that torment her about Sean. The author beautifully highlights how certain circumstances could drive people into doing something they would regret. I also liked Clive, Andy, Sharon and Saskia. My heart went out to Rosemany, and I just adored her.

However, there are few plots that remained open ended after the story concluded. I adored Neil and Pete as the supporting characters, and wished they were in more scenes. Moreover, I really did not like Jaime’s character. Although he tries to make amends, I kept picturing him as a calculative person who only thought about himself. But I did enjoy the various tactics her uses to succeed at work, and I liked his scenes with Sharon.

But, otherwise, this was a very nice book to read.

Tour Schedule:

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The bench by Cromer beach by R J Gould Blog Tour hosted by Rachels Random Resources.

September 1, 2020
Escaping the Whale by Ruth Rotkowitz

Escaping the Whale. The Holocaust is over. But is it ever over for the next generation? by Ruth Rotkowitz

Release: April 11th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Amsterdam Publishers
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, Book Depository

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To everyone who knows her, 28-year-old Marcia Gold leads the perfect life. A high school guidance counselor in 1980 Brooklyn, New York who specializes in helping pregnant teens, Marcia thrives in her work. She also has a handsome, successful boyfriend who has won the approval of her Jewish, Holocaust-survivor family – no easy feat.

However, beneath the shiny surface lurks another reality. She carries the stigma of her family’s wartime frightening and debilitating panic attacks .The Iranian hostage crisis in the news adds fuel to the fire. Marcia becomes convinced that “demons” are occupying her closet and her mind. Determined to keep her terrifying secret life a secret, Marcia is pushed closer and closer to a breaking point.

A series of crises finally forces the explosion Marcia can no longer contain. She concots a plan to rid herself of her “demons,” and become a new person. Unfortunately, she discovers that her plan creates its own problems. Can she find another path out of her psychic pain, one that will lead her to true normalcy?

About the Author:

Ruth Rotkowitz is a second-generation child – the daughter of Holocaust survivors from Austria. This has informed much of her research and writing. She has published fiction, non-fiction, and poetry in a variety of anthologies and literary journals. Ruth was a staff writer and member of the editorial board of the (now-defunct) Woman’s Newspaper of Princeton, winning awards for many of her feature articles. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in English .Also she taught English on both the college and high school levels. She currently leads book talks in the Phoenix, Arizona area, where she lives with her husband.

Website | Goodreads

Escaping the Whale Review:

Escaping the Whale is haunting and atmospheric, yet emotional and vulnerable story, that creeps on you and leaves a mark.

I recently read an article about the post-traumatic stress that Holocaust survivors endure which fascinated me. Similarly, this book accurately depicts the psychological turmoil that Marcia faces that sends her life on a downward spiral.

There was one particular dialogue that Jason tells Marcia over their conversation, which is: “Sometimes you have to not let things get to you, Marcia. Otherwise, life just stops. You get nowhere.” There are many such passages in the story that beautifully summarizes my take on the story. Although WWII is over, humans as a species continue to fight and attack one another for the greater power. As a result, many become victims amidst all this and find it difficult to cope with reality. The story realistically depicts how a person like Marcia would suffers with mental health issues as the repercussion.

Speaking of Marcia, I thought she was wonderful as the main character. You know there is something different about her as soon as the author introduces her. At times, you just want to step into the pages and be by her side to help her. Moreover, even the supporting cast like Jason, Cheryl and Rochelle add well to the story.

However, the only minor criticism I have towards the novel is how it tends to get lengthy in certain places. For instance, the author provides counselling to various students like Lucy, Polly and Corrine, but they felt repetitive and redundant. Apart from that, this was a compelling read. Overall, I liked how the story dwells into the mind of next generation Holocaust Survivor.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Escaping the Whale by Ruth Rotkowitz hosted by Random Things Tours.

August 28, 2020
Miriam, Daniel and Me by Euron Griffith

Miriam, Daniel and Me by Euron Griffith

Release: 27 July 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Seren
Source: Love Books Tours
Find it at: Amazon UK,Serenbooks

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When he smiled, it really felt as if the chilly Caernarfonshire wind stopped for a few seconds and as if the place got warmer.

When Miriam fell in love with Padraig, life seemed simple. But soon she discovered how treacherous life is. Everything changed when she met Daniel. She took an unexpected path that would dictate and dominate the rest of her life.

Spanning three generations of a North Wales family in a Welsh-speaking community, Miriam, Daniel and Me is an absorbing and compelling story of family discord, political turmoil, poetry, jealousy…and football.

About the Author:

Born in Bangor, Euron Griffith has a Creative Writing MA from the University of Glamorgan. Between 2011 and 2016 he published three novels in Welsh – Dyn Pob Un (about a TV researcher who becomes an accidental serial killer), Leni Tiwdor (about a private eye who is also a record collector), Tri Deg Tri (about a hitman who can talk to animals), and a children’s novel Eilian a’r Eryr. His English language short story collection, The Beatles in Tonypandy appeared in 2017 from Dean Street Press. Griffith lives in Cardiff, where he works as a radio and tv producer and plays in a band. His first novel in English, Miriam, Daniel and Me, is forthcoming from Seren in July 2020.

Twitter |Goodreads

Miriam, Daniel and Me Review:

Miriam, Daniel and Me is a compelling family saga that takes you on an unforgettable journey across Wales.

Family sagas have always been one of my favorite type of novels to read. My very first book was Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon when I was a boy (which told the story of a family across three generations). Similarly, Miriam, Daniel and Me also showcases the ambitions, heartbreaks, and turmoil of the Meredith Family. What I really liked was how the author highlights how unpredictable life is, but no matter which way it takes you, there’s always hope for a better future. I loved the main characters, and my heart went out to Miriam. The story ends in a bittersweet manner that had me in tears.

The author covers a variety of topics like religion, mindsets and culture of the Welsh during the 60s, which I found interesting. I also enjoyed the subtle nuances and similarities between each generation, even if the circumstances varied.

However, there were two things that I had difficulty with. For one, the story shifts timelines randomly between chapters and threw me off. I would have preferred if the author listed a date or timeline to give the reader a heads up of which character the chapter focuses on. Secondly, there were some characters like Gerry, Hoppy and Moonglow who were interesting. I thought they were pivotal to the characters and the plot, but they appear only for a few scenes, make their mark, and leave. Hence, apart from the main characters, I felt like none of the supporting characters were memorable.

Apart from that, this was very well written for a debut novel and I enjoyed reading it.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Miriam, Daniel and Me by Euron Griffith Blog Tour hosted by Love Books Tours.

August 28, 2020
Jacob’s Advice by Jude Cook

Jacob’s Advice by Jude Cook

Release: August 20th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Unbound
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Amazon, Kindle

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Larry Frost, is a British pharmacologist living in Paris He is exuberant,charismatic but dogmatic. He firmly believes he’s Jewish . But his search for his true identity produces more questions than answers.

In early 2015, following the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo, his sceptical older cousin, Nick Newman joins him. As a Divorcee and separated from his son, Nick is desperately trying to understand his own place in the world, Naturally, he draws himself towards Larry as they walk the fractured, uneasy, magical streets of Paris.

Then, in November, terrorism strikes the city again. With Paris and the cousins still reeling from the trauma, Larry receives the information he’s urgently been seeking. A long-held family secret that will change both their lives forever.

Jacob’s Advice is set against a backdrop of extremism, nationalism and the resurgence of antisemitism. It is also a timely exploration of identity, race, family and the inescapable nature of the past.

About the Author:

Jude Cook lives in London and studied English literature at UCL. William Heinemann of Random House published his first novel, BYRON EASY in 2013. He has written for the Guardian, the Spectator, Literary Review, New Statesman.

His essays and short fiction have appeared in The Stockholm Review, The Moth, The Tangerine, The Honest Ulsterman. This includes The Mechanics’ Institute Review, Structo, Storgy, Litro, Long Story Short and Staple magazine.

In 2017,Pin Drop RA longlisted him for the short story award. In 2018 , Leicester Writes shortlisted him for Short Story Prize . Also, he is an editor for The Literary Consultancy, and currently teaches creative writing at the University of Westminster. His second novel, JACOB’S ADVICE, will be published by Unbound in August 2020.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | IMDb | Goodreads

Jacob’s Advice Review:

One word to describe this book: “profound”.

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Personally, the highlight of this book was on the various topics that the characters converse on. The author beautifully brings forth his opinions on a plethora of topics. The main theme of the story is identifying yourself in society, and we get a taste of the various perspectives from each character. Nick is a complex fellow as he tries to figure out where he stands in his world and how he feels disconnected. Moreover, I enjoyed Larry’s views on being Jewish and Nadir’s on being a Sikh. It was interesting to how passionate people get when they talk about community and playing their part. Also, the author talks about the controversial world of Drug/Pharmaceutical companies. I have read quite a topics on the same, and I agree with the characters, on how commercial and convoluted the industry has become.

Moreover, the entire backdrop of the story takes places amidst the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris. It’s never easy reading about such experiences, but it fit really well into the overall theme of the story. From a character standpoint, I loved Nicholas, Larry and Jacob. I thought each of them stood out in their own terms, and brought something new to the story. The author also paints the story against the beautiful backdrop of Paris. Hence, there were so many aspects that I just loved about this book. On a side note, I also learned quite a few interesting medical terms like ‘tendinosis’ and ‘immunohistochemistry’.

Even though the story is not plot driven, there is never a dull moment. As a reader, “Jacob’s Advice” was a wonderful experience that made me ponder about life and my role in society. I admire the amount of research and knowledge put into the novel.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Jacob’s Advice by Jude Cook Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours.

August 25, 2020
The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai

Release: March 17th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: OneWorld Publications
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N,Kobo, GooglePlay , IndieBound

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The Mountains Sing is an epic account of Viet Nam’s painful 20th century history. It is both vast in scope and intimate in its telling . . . Moving and riveting. —VIET THANH NGUYEN, author of The Sympathizer, winner of the Pulitzer Prize

The Mountains Sing has the epic sweep of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko and the lyrical beauty of Vaddey Ratner’s In the Shadow of the Banyan. It tells an enveloping, multigenerational tale of the Tran family, set against the backdrop of the Viet Nam War. Born in 1920, Tran Dieu Lan had to forcefully flee her family farm with her six children during the Land Reform due rise of Communist government in the North. Later in Hà Noi, her young granddaughter, Hương, comes of age. Meanwhile her parents and uncles head off down the Ho Chí Minh Trail to fight in a conflict. This Conflict will tear not just her beloved country but her family apart.

The Mountains Sing is Vivid, gripping, and steeped in the language and traditions of Viet Nam. It brings to life the human costs of this conflict from the point of view of the Vietnamese people themselves. Moreover, it shows us the true power of kindness and hope. This is celebrated Vietnamese poet Nguyen Phan Que Mai’s first novel in English.

About the Author:

Born into the Việt Nam War in 1973, Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai grew up witnessing the war’s devastation and its aftermath. She worked as a street seller and rice farmer before winning a scholarship to attend university in Australia. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai is the author of eight books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction published in Vietnamese, and translated and published in more than 10 countries, including Norton’s Inheriting the War anthology. She is a recepient of many awards, including the Poetry of the Year 2010 Award from the Hà Nội Writers Association, as well as many grants and fellowships. Quế Mai has a PhD in Creative Writing from Lancaster University, United Kingdom. She currently divides her time between Indonesia and Việt Nam.

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The Mountains Sing Review:

I don’t think I have read a story which was so gut-wrenching, raw, and so beautiful.

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Firstly, I loved how the author split the story into two parallels, one focusing on the Grandmother Trấn Diệu Lan, and the other on the granddaughter Hủỏng. While the two stories take place in different eras, it was interesting to see the similarities and challenges both characters face. I also liked how the characters interloped between the two stories, connecting them to each other.

This book was heart-wrenching to read at times, mainly due to the brutal hardship the characters endure. They go through some of the worst things that a person can go through, and it was so difficult to read without getting emotional. Moreover, the author mentions about how the invasion of the Japanese, Americans and the French disrupted Vietnam as a country.

Also, the author tells the story in a beautiful manner, nearly covering around 80 years of the family saga. Her style of writing is very simple and easy to follow. However, while I liked the various Vietnamese phrases incorporated, I wish the author provided a glossary to understand the dialogues. Also, I felt like, at times, the characters were too modern for their time. Not that there is anything wrong with this, but sometimes the Grandmother felt modernized with her views of society and people for that era, and it felt disconnected with the timeline.

However, I really loved everything about this story from its family saga and how they survive and persevere, to the historical details put in. Moreover, the author has a beautiful poetic style of writing and I really love the way she visualized the tale. Overall, this is a wonderful novel worth reading.

Book Tour Schedule

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Mountains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours.

August 24, 2020
The Bitch by Pilar Quintana

The Bitch by Pilar Quintana

Release: August 4th 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: World Editions
Source: Random Things Tours
Find it at: Amazon, Kindle

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The Bitch is a novel of true violence. As an artist,Pilar Quintana uncovers wounds we were unaware.Though she shows us their beauty, she also throws a handful of salt into them.

In Colombia’s brutal jungle, childless Damaris develops an intense and ultimately doomed relationship with an orphaned puppy.

Colombia’s Pacific coast,everyday life involves a struggle with the brutal forces of nature. So, Damaris lives with her fisherman husband in a shack on a bluff overlooking the sea. Childless and past child bearing age, she is eager to adopt an orphaned puppy. But this act may bring more than just affection into her home. Hence, The Bitch is a prose as terse as the problems lurking around each corner. Beauty and dread live side by side in this poignant exploration of the many meanings of motherhood and love.

About the Author:

Pilar Quintana is a Colombian writer. Her birthplace was in Cali .She studied at the Javeriana University in Bogota. She is best known for her novels La Perra, which won the IV Award Biblioteca de Narrativa Colombiana, and Coleccionistas de polvos raros, which won the La Mar de Letras Award.

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The Bitch Review:

This is a beautiful novella that immediately grabs your heart and takes you on an emotional journey.

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The story is very short and you can easily finish it in one sitting. Yet, within this short span, I went through so many emotions while reading of Damaris. Damaris is a complex character who immediately caught my interest from the first page. She feels ostracized, misunderstood, and wants to fill that void. Hence, I liked her at times, I hated her at times, but mostly, I just felt sorry for her. Most of us yearn for love and family, and Damaris is no exception. The story beautifully highlights how our expectations with loved ones rises, only to sometimes end in disappointment, if things don’t go our way. Similarly, Chirli was another highlight of the story. I don’t think I have ever cried for an animal when reading a story. Also, the supporting characters like Luzmila, Ximena and Rogelio also add well to the story.

Additionally, the author mentions beautiful passages in between that makes the story so meaningful. One of my favorite lines in the story is:

“The rain was always so cool and clean it seemed to purify the world, but it was actually the reason that moss and mold covered everything”

However, while I loved the story, main only concern was with the translation. Some of the sentences felt too long, and difficult to read. Also, there were terms like “Jaibana” without any meaning provided. I found it difficult to visualize some of the scenes due to the same.

Overall, this book is powerful, emotional, and definitely a memorable read this year.

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Bitch by Pilar Quintana Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours.

August 23, 2020