Review: Spider by Azma Dar

Summary

When her missing husband is found dead in a car crash far from home, a charismatic actress must find out the truth in this utterly fresh take on the domestic suspense novel.

Sophie is an aspiring British Pakistani actress whose only claim to fame – despite her vast and unscrupulous ambitions – is the unplanned on-camera birth of her son, a clip which has become something of a cult favourite on the Indian B movie scene. Her husband, Tariq, is a pillar of Bradford’s Muslim community and her perfect match, until his sudden disappearance under mysterious circumstances. When a body is found, presumed to be his, but disfigured in a way that makes identification difficult, Sophie is distraught.

Tariq was her ‘third time lucky husband’. Her first, Amir, came out of a childhood sweetheart relationship that couldn’t last, and her rebound marriage to doting Faraz, a recent immigrant to the UK and obsessed with the Royal Family, was even shorter lived. Is Sophie just luckless or is there more to her than meets the eye? And maybe, just maybe, one of her exes has something to do with Tariq’s untimely death. Might one of them be responsible for the threatening letters? Sophie herself is guilty of something, but is murder part of her ambition?

In Sophie, Dar has created a flawed yet hypnotising female lead: a cunning, narcissistic character for fans of Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl and Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister the Serial Killer. It is just a matter of time before her intricate web of lies begins to draw tighter.

Review

If you read Gone Girl, then you will enjoy this domestic thriller. Well written, Spider, the perfect title featuring a narcissistic female protagonist, will weave you in and not let you go. I found this to have a simmering pace that keeps your curiosity piqued making this a page turner. Sophie, a well-crafted character, initially draws sympathy until the quick realization of her manipulative ways and that drive you to hate her but can’t pry yourself away. I think for most readers like myself, the conflict of her as a person might affect your feelings about the book. That is the best compliment I feel to an author if a character can draw so much ire out of you, then they did something very well.

Told through different perspectives from the past and present, it collectively brings the novel together very well. This was a different experience having the cultural influence of the characters part of their story which gave me an opportunity to experience a different perspective in fiction. I will say that ended was nothing I would’ve expected or was prepared for. Overall, this was a good read.

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Review: Coach by Devney Perry

A single dad, sports romance from Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, Devney Perry.

Football star. Single dad. And once, a long time ago, mine.

I’ve spent the better part of a decade forgetting Ford Ellis. If he had just stayed away from Montana, I might have erased the memory of his striking blue eyes and rugged smile forever. Avoiding him was easy when the only place I saw his face was on ESPN—and a remote control could fix that problem.

Except my boss just hired Ford as the new head coach for the Treasure State Wildcats. Not only will I be stuck watching him on the sidelines this season, but avoiding him will be impossible now that we’re working together.

Maybe I haven’t forgotten Ford. Maybe I still dream about what we might have been. Maybe he hasn’t forgotten me either.

Except those maybes won’t change the fact that we were never meant to be. Maybe he was mine once. But as of today, the only thing I’ll be calling Ford Ellis is Coach.

Review

Coach was decent. I’m noticing an annoying pattern with this author. For most of the books that I’ve had read by her, the male leads have an ex who is “terrible” and will 100% cause some issues within the story. I would have preferred if the reasoning for Ford becoming a single father had been different. Because although he and his daughter had an adorable and great relationship, the situation with her mother felt overdone by this author, and very much unoriginal. 

Millie and Ford were an okay couple. They had their moments.  However, I feel cheated with their romance. I would have loved to see more flashbacks of them within college, and them when they were sneaking around dating in the present. Instead, there’s a flash forward and then a major conflict that carries little weight since Millie does take him back afterwards.  The sneaking around is one of the best things to read about in a romance. The stolen kisses! The sneaky glares! The secret meetings! But nope. In this book it’s summed up in a paragraph.

Final Thoughts

Coach barely succeeds on all the tropes that it was marketed for--- sports romance, workplace romance, friends to lovers, and second chance romance. Although the material is present, the book hardly spends time developing and showcasing the romance and the characters. It feels very mediocre and falls to evoke any feelings. Also, it’s similar to other releases by the author just with a different setting. 

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Review: Her Unexpected Match by Lacey Baker

Get ready to get whisked away on this relaxing island in the first book of Lacey Baker’s Crescent Matchmaker series, Her Unexpected Match. Filled with a beautiful setting, family, friends and romance, this was a nice beginning to the series.

Allie Sparks is currently facing a dilemma. With the backlash from her last viewed articles creating a negative buzz with subscribers, she is challenged with the task of finding the heart of a new destination to bring to her column. With her job on the line, Allie is determined to find that “it” story that will save her career. While she’s visiting her best friend, Sophia, Crescent Island with its beautiful beach and growing interest in the promise that love will find a way for those who visit the island, what better place to find the heart of her story than a place where there is everything to love. Tell that to cynical Allie.

You never know when love will find you. After his heart was broken by his ex, Ryan Parker never gave up on the idea of love. One day when a beautiful gal caught his eye, the possibility was desired but it just wasn't the right time. In a time crunch, trying to secure an opportunity to expand on their family business, Ryan is trying to do everything he can to prove to his father that he can turn his idea into fruition. That’s all good but the stars aligned have another plan.

While it’s hard to resist the absolute charm of this beautiful island, the growing attraction to Ryan seems hard to escape. While her focus is supposed to be on writing the article and catching up with her best friend, there’s something brewing behind the scenes that these two can’t escape. With love being a promise of anyone that comes to this island, Allie finds herself capturing more than her story. Will this unexpected match be the answer to finding her heart?

I didn’t dive in right away. The book had a gradual pace considering the plot which was nice. The vibe was relaxing and fun. I had a really nice time with Allie and Ryan. These two destined characters just worked so well and gave us something to look forward to as well as the other characters that made this overall a nice read. Crescent Island had an endearing charm that makes you want to go again. I'm looking forward to what’s next.

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Review: A Curse of Blood and Stone K. A. Tucker

Summary

Romeria has fled Cirilea as a traitor. Zander has sacrificed his crown to save her life but dreads what her existence means for the future of his realm. They both know that no immortal will ever welcome her as Islor's queen. Side-by-side as outcasts - yet with a growing distance between them - they watch as a new threat to the kingdom unfurls, one larger than they could have imagined.

Guided by an uncertain prophecy and with their allies rapidly losing faith, their company journeys to the Venhorn Mountains in search of answers. Yet with Romeria struggling to wield her newfound abilities and the mortal rebellion growing in strength, it may already be too late.

Review

I waited to read A Curse of Blood and Stone months after I finished the first book in the series, because I assumed that I was the last book. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I had overlooked the fact that there was at least one more book coming out. Unfortunately, I realized it too late. And once I had started reading this one, I was sucked in and finished it in one sitting. So now, I’m laying on the floor rocking back and forth, unsure how I’m going to be able to survive until September. It’s going to be absolutely madness.

I really did enjoy A Curse of Blood and Stone. At first, I was a little bit afraid that because I had waited to read it that I wouldn’t remember anything from the first book. I was wrong. It was easy to get sucked back into this world, and like with the first book I was entertained and on the edge of my seat.

The last time we saw these characters, Romy and Zander (plus others) were escaping Cirilea. In summary, this book is a long journey of the characters getting to one place. And that might sound boring, but I promise it’s not. There is so much goodness in here with the world building, the addition of new characters, the battle, the sworn worthy romance. Romy is still very much trying to piece together everything that has occurred and who she is, and then Zander is still confused with his feelings towards her. Both of them are in a difficult situation, but they do make big strides with themselves and their relationship in this book.

Final Thoughts

I can’t stop thinking about A Curse of Blood and Stone. It may be a book about a long journey, but it's a good book about a long journey and a perfect setup for what’s to come. 

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Review: The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe

It’s been a while since a book grabbed my attention that I couldn’t breath until it was over. It’s so easy for someone to say what another should do in their shoes but until you wear them, you’ll never understand no matter how bad their situation is. The Middle Daughter by Chika Unigwe chronicles the painful experiences of a family’s loss, sisterhood and the courageous journey to get their lives back together.

The book, told in three parts, alternating between the past and present, introduces us to a loving family that was progressive and elite among their culture. They were a loving family that was full of life and cared about each other. When the eldest daughter died, this was the catalyst in the shift of the foundation of their unbreakable bond. Among three sisters who love each other, the shift began. Followed by the patriarch that left a devastating effect on the family but more harshly affected Nani.The toll of their loss, triggered a series of events that affected them collectively and individually.

Nani, the middle daughter, who loved her father and sister deeply, has retreated inward and has found life hard to cope with. Seeing her mother and sister eventually move on, this greatly affects her perception of them leaving her feeling alone and misunderstood. In her quest to be loved and feel belonged, one day when an itinerant preacher befriends her and through his daily affirmations, she becomes drawn to his words and starts to feel a connection. Little did she know of his sinister intentions and finds herself trapped by an abusive husband that not only takes her away from her family but breaks her soul and darkens the light she once shined.

When Nani gets an unexpected visit from her estranged sister, hope inspires her to find the courage to fight for herself despite the consequences.

It’s been a while since a book affected me like it did. This book hit my emotions hard. I didn’t and couldn’t stop reading because I couldn’t find peace until I finished. The characters, especially Nani, who the book centers around, there are just no words. The incredible strength she had through the abuse and the sacrifices of herself and for her children, in a state of becoming completely broken was heart wrenching. The best part for me was that powerful moment when she faces her abuser and no longer is a victim. What an inspiring moment that will never be forgotten. 

The book was beautifully written and the cultural perspective that it shined from was bright.The storylines involving their family and bonds among the sisters pulls at the heart. I don’t know if this was intentional or if there is cultural reference to the afterlife but I loved the interjection of the eldest sister in the book. The comfort of your deceased relative watching over you and being there, seeing her thoughts were comforting and experiencing her forewarns of what to come and wishing she could do something was so gripping. The poetic vibe of her words just hit differently. 

Overall, from its beautiful cover and the novel in between, I found this to be one of the books this year that I will never forget. Nani, can be anyone. She is a character whose voice deserves to be heard. If you get a chance to read, please consider checking this one out. I’m glad I took a chance to read and look forward to seeing what’s to come from this author.

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Review: Sinners Condemned: An Enemies to Lovers Mafia Romance by Somme Sketcher

About the Book

No good ever comes from a red-head in a stolen dress with her worldly possessions at her feet.

I should have known she was trouble when smoke and sin followed her into my bar and she challenged me to a game.

She may have won my watch, but she started a war.

As she slipped my Breitling off my wrist and onto her own, she gleefully announced she was the luckiest girl in the world.

Yeah, lucky to everyone but me.

Because the moment her muddy boots stomped down the stairs and up my spine, my empire started to crumble.

My cashmere charm is wrinkling.

My gentlemanly facade is cracking.

My enemies are closing in.

Maybe the fortune teller was right:

The Queen of Hearts will drag me down to hell.

At least it’s wonderfully warm among the flames.

DARK MAFIA ROMANCE - ENEMIES TO LOVERS - AGE GAP - SLOW BURN

***
SOMME’S NOTES:

Sinners Condemned is part one of a duet, and because of this, it ends on a cliffhanger. Rafe & Penny’s story continues in Sinners Consumed.

For a better reading experience, please read Sinners Anonymous before reading Sinners Condemned.

You should know that I write dark romance, and my stories–including this one–aren’t for the faint of heart. They contain several triggers, so aren’t suitable for everyone.

Revoew

I realized very on that I’m very much someone who is too soft to read dark romances, even mafia romances in general. That genre is something that I don’t gravitate towards. However, I will admit that seeing one quote on the internet can make me buy a book within seconds. And that’s exactly that happened to me with Sinners Consumed. I originally started reading this series in November and although I enjoyed the first book --- Sinners Anonymous, I was extremely excited for Sinners Condemned, since that was the couple that everyone enjoyed the most. The hype for Sinners Consumed was well deserved. And since last year I have read this book three times.

I wouldn’t classify the Sinners Anonymous series as dark romance. There are definitely books darker, and this series although sometimes heavy on the mafia part, would be a good introduction to anyone wanting something a little lighter in terms of dark romance stories.

In summary, this story is about a mafia billionaire and a swindler who try not to fall in love. Penny believes that she is lucky; however, since meeting her, Rafe has had a string of bad luck. She’s also bad luck to his gentlemen persona that he’s been holding on to for years.

It’s an interesting and entertaining duo who have some of the best chemistry that I’ve had the pleasure of reading about. The banter is off the charts considering Penny and Rafe didn’t necessarily like each other at first. And there is so much tension between them. But somehow, that despite their distain they couldn’t not bother each other. Both of them enjoyed rallying each other up, and creating these wagers against each other. And no matter how many times, I read their relationship developing, I always have a good time, and spend most of the book with a smile on my face. I don’t mind that this book might be considered slow burn and that they don’t officially get together or even kiss in this book. None of that matters to me. Rafe and Penny are just that good, and have created this long lasting hold on me.

Final Thoughts

Sinners Condemned is a standout within this series, and only is bested by the next book in the series—Sinners Consumed. However, both books revolve around the incredibly magically romance between Rafe and Penny. Penelope Price is a great female main character and, in my opinion, deserves to be listed amongst the greats.