About the Book:
Sentaro has failed: he has a criminal record, drinks too much, and hasn’t managed to fulfil his dream of becoming a writer. Instead, he works in a tiny confectionery shop selling dorayaki, a type of pancake filled with sweet bean paste. With only the blossoming of the cherry trees to mark the passing of time, he spends his days listlessly filling the pastries. Until one day an elderly, handicapped woman enters the shop.
Tokue makes the best bean paste imaginable, and begins to teach Sentaro her art. But as their friendship flourishes, societal prejudices become impossible to escape, in this quietly devastating novel about the burden of the past and the redemptive power of friendship.
My Thoughts:
I have recently been reading books by Japanese authors as a part of the Echoes of Japan initiative by the bookclub I am a part of.
Sweet Bean Paste is really a sweet and soothing read with true messages of love, loss, learning, and the most unlikeliest of friendships that actually works. This is a story of growth and learning, accepting oneself and also learning to be better.
I was blown away by the simplicity of the story and the ease with which the author delivers these messages through the simple action of making sweet bean paste everyday. The method and recipes are described in a way that I am sure readers would love to try it out (though it might not be as easy as it seems). But what stays are the lessons learnt and the steady progress as Sentaro learns to accept himself, believe in himself and trust his instincts.
Tokue brings with her wisdom and a life of hardship and learning. She is wise beyond her years (though she is quite old) and her life is one to learn from. Having lived away from the world today and trying to fit in again, she is still treated differently as though ghosts of the pasts still remain. The prejudices of people and power of thought are also seen through this story and the author has brought this out in a very delicate manner.
I truly enjoyed reading this book and in the end, despite all the ups and downs, the sadness of Tokue’s past, the truth of the relationships formed and the genuine nature of it all brought a smile to my face! This is a wonderful book to read and I read it all in a day!
About the Book:
HASEA CHRONICLES BOOK IV
A world apart but united in their singular mission, the Guardians of Orion struggle for survival as they force their way across the brutal and unforgiving planet of Pandemonia.
Still tormented by the ever intensifying visions that plague his dreams, Alex is forced to endure his growing desperation and fear as his party continue their journey across the Dark Sea, led by the grizzled mercenary Zero and his band of misfits. At the same time, word of the Sorrowslayer spreads like wildfire across the world, shedding a final ray of light onto those who had already given up hope.
Meanwhile, Scarlett and her team of Guardians have found themselves caught in the clutches of the deranged Scorched Knight, Lilith. What she wants with them is unclear, but they know their only chance is escape…at whatever cost.
And hidden in the shadows something ancient stirs, waiting for everyone to play their part.
For the Rising is coming, and with it, the end of all things.
My Thoughts:
The Rising is Book 4 in the Chronicles of Hasea series and perhaps one of the darkest books in the series. The plot thickens in this book as Alex navigates the Dark Sea to find Gabriella and his father. The Guardians are forced to split up with Alex leading a few along with Zero and his band of misfits and Scarlet leading the rest.
The plot thickens in this book and pushes us towards a climax filled with sorrow and hope, betrayal and wonderment at the unexpected support received. Even though everything seems different in Pandemonia, so much is still relatable and the politics as well as woes of the residents are much the same as that on Earth.
I really like how the series started off quite simply in terms of the plot line but became darker and darker as the characters evolved and the plot thickened. It shows how much the author’s style of writing evolved in this journey with the characters. The reader follows the characters as they race against time, battling for survival. The story is fast-paced and intense with a few nail-biting moments that will keep the reader hooked and hoping for more.
The story ends on a high and of course paves the way for the final installment of the series. I truly loved this book, breezing through the series, through one book after the other and I am excited to read the last one. It is a bittersweet moment to realize that the series is almost at the end and I feel as though I have been through a lot with the characters, practically living a double life along-side them.
This series is a wonderful read in the fantasy fiction genre is definitely one of my favourite this year! Yes! I loved all the four books in the series and I cannot wait to know how the story concludes for everyone involved!
About the Book:
Renata is a determined woman: she’s left her abusive fiancé, Damien, moved back to her hometown, and is determined to be the writer she once was and that she’d promised her father she would be before he died. To accomplish this, she’s signed up for a writing conference out of town and gotten a new job at a local café with the friendly Fern, upbeat Caroline, and observant Chad, who welcome her into their friendship group.
Things become complicated, however, when Renata discovers that Chad returns her affection and they begin dating, even as she weaves in lies about her past. As their relationship develops, and she gets closer to finding the words that used to come so freely to her, Renata realizes she can’t continue to let Chad believe things that aren’t true, even if that means the end of their relationship. Despite her concerns, however, coming clean only creates a stronger bond between them.
But that bond will be tested when Damien returns unexpectedly, determined that Renata will leave Chad for him. Will Chad and Renata be able to weather the ways in which Damien’s appearance shakes the foundations of their life together? Or will echoes of Renata’s past irreparably damage their future?
My Thoughts:
I am grateful to NetGalley, Josha Publishing and author Katherine Turner for approving my request to read the eARC of this book.
Trigger warnings: physical and sexual violence in a domestic setting.
This is a story of survival, learning to love yourself and standing up for yourself. Renata has finally moved out of an abusive relationship and is determined to start over in the town where she grew up and has fond memories with her father. On her own, she is focused on trying to get back into the career she loved while finding a job to support herself. The people she meets along the way add to her journey of healing and provide an understanding and loving circle.
I fell in love with the characters, one by one, as they were introduced. This story is very character centric and the connections between the characters and their bonds drive this story forward. The story will take the reader on an emotional journey as we unravel everything Renata has dealt with, how the past is affecting her present, how she sees herself and how she works towards healing herself. Everything Renata has been through will resonate with the reader, but I believe that her journey after shows her strength and determination, proving that she is not a victim but a survivor.
This was indeed an emotional read for me, but I enjoyed every page and every moment spent with the characters. Caroline was a delight and I loved how she drew Renata out of her shell, supporting her but being quite candid in her opinions and advice. The best part of this story is the bond among the characters and the found family that Renata gains as a result. This is the best support she has and it helps to build her back up. Her second chance at love also adds to the story and is pivotal to helping her find herself. Chad is a wonderful character and indeed someone we would love to read about.
The style of writing ensures that the reader is hooked and invested in Renata’s journey. There is also a lot to learn from this journey and some messages for the reader that are delivered in a simple manner through the character interactions and journey. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and the way in which it was written and strongly recommend it to all who enjoy a good romance read!
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This weeks topic is Resolutions/Hopes for 2021 (bookish or not!)
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Considering that I do not make personal resolutions, I’ll talk about my plan for my blog, reading goals and challenges for 2021 (some of these have already been covered in various other posts on my blog, but please bear with me!)
- Blog more often (hopefully everyday, but that is very ambitious)
My blog and blogging in general is something I want to focus more on in 2021. I have had the privilege to connect with so many fantastic bloggers and I would like to keep the book posts and discussions going.
- Read 100 books this year (part of the Goodreads Reading challenge)
- Read more Historical Fiction
I have discovered a love for this genre and am participating in the Historical Fiction reading challenge hosted by The Adventures of an intrepid Reader).
- Reduce the number of pending books to be read on NetGalley
I am aiming to achieve this by also taking part in the 021 Netgalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge hosted by Socrates Book Reviews
- Make a dent in my ever growing TBR pile
I have actually started to make some progress towards this and I am taking part in the Mount TBR Challenge 2021 hosted by My Reader’s Block
- Discover and promote more new and upcoming authors this year!
- Participate in Blog Tours and learn to respect book deadlines
I have started making lists and notes to help with the tracking and to try to be more methodical! 😀
- Connect with other bloggers and participate in book discussions!
- Expand my reading lists across genres
I would like to focus more on genres that I have taken a break from like mysteries and thrillers, crime etc and read more Middle Grade and YA fiction
- Re-read books from my childhood – for the fun of it!
Books by Enid Blyton, the Nancy Drew series, Harry Potter etc
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I think I will stop this list here. I am sure that I can find more things to do or improve, but considering that I have started to make some progress, I am happy with this!
What are your resolutions/plans? Feel free to suggest things that I can do!
About the Book:
From the bestselling author of The Husband’s Secret comes a compelling story where nothing is as simple as it seems.
Seventy-three years have passed since sisters Rose and Connie Doughty found an abandoned baby in the only other house on their little island, Scribbly Gum. And since then the ‘Munro Baby Mystery’ has brought them fame and fortune.
But now, with Connie dead and newcomer Sophie Honeywell inheriting her home, and everyone around them tirelessly trying to solve the mystery, Rose begins to wonder if they made the right decision all those years ago. How much longer they can cover up the truth behind the mystery that has sustained their community for four generations? And what other secrets might be revealed?
My Thoughts:
The Last Anniversary is a compelling read! It follows Sophie as she comes to the little island of Scribbly Gum, having inherited a house. We meet Rose Doughty, alone after her sister, Connie dies and Enigma. We also meet many other wonderful ladies. The beauty of this book is that the author introduces us to a variety of people, each with their own quirks, worries and secrets. The author ensures that we will connect with some of them and if not, at least come to understand and appreciate them.
Most of the story revolves around the house and the ‘Munro Baby Mystery’. The truth behind this mystery is the secret that sisters Connie and Rose have kept together for more than seventy years! Having maintained the story and kept the secret for more than four generations, Rose starts to wonder whether it is time to reveal the truth, especially now that Connie has passed. Sophie, moving away from heartbreak and needing a fresh start, finds her place among these strong women, lending a shoulder, sharing a kind word and basically adding some color to the ensemble. I was quite intrigued by Grace and Veronika’s characters as well as Margie.
The author has paid strong attention to details while handling the mystery as well as the characters and this makes the story that much more enjoyable. I strongly recommend this book and I hope that everyone enjoys it as much as I did!
About the Book:
Set in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Packed with Southern charm and memorable characters
Her Sister’s Shoes is the story of three sisters—Samantha, Jackie, and Faith—who struggle to balance the demands of career and family while remaining true to themselves.
Samantha Sweeney has always been the glue that holds her family together, their go-to girl for love and support. When an ATV accident leaves her teenage son in a wheelchair, she loses her carefully constructed self-control.
In the after-gloom of her dreaded fiftieth birthday and the discovery of her husband’s infidelity, Jackie realizes she must reconnect with her former self to find the happiness she needs to move forward.
Faith lacks the courage to stand up to her abusive husband. She turns to her sisters for help, placing all their lives at risk.
In the midst of their individual challenges, the Sweeney sisters must cope with their mother’s mental decline. Is Lovie in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, or is her odd behavior?
My Thoughts:
My Sister’s Shoes focuses on the lives and relationships of three sisters and their mother. A story about love, family, secrets and trust, the three sisters are forced to be true to themselves and each other as they try to balance their careers and families. They learn to lean on each other and connect with each other like they never did before. As we encounter the problems each one of them face, we come to know a little more behind some of the carefully constructed masks. We learn to love and hate the characters, as we connect with them a little.
Added to the mix is their mother who seems to be a little odd. As they start noticing, each of the sisters refuse to take responsibility claiming that their life is more important. As time passes, they are all forced to accept that something is wrong, but none are willing to take proper decisions, and if someone does, the others do not agree. Amidst the bickering that is normal among siblings, the sisters learn to trust each other and lean on each other for support. Not everything is perfect and the whole idea that each one builds up in their mind about the other is re-constructed and a they learn to see things in a new light.
A story of togetherness and family, there are some strong messages in this story. Sometimes it feels as though it is all over the place, with the focus always shifting from one to the other, but as the story progresses, a lot of plot points come together. The story is decently written, and while i would not call it awesome, I do think that it is a compelling read and it touches upon some relevant topics.
This post is part of the Blog Tour for the series being conducted by b00k r3vi3w tours
There will be Guest Posts by the authors, interviews and reviews of the books posted on various participating bloggers on their respective blogs.
About the Books:
The Magician’s Workshop, Volume One
Authors: Christopher Hansen, J.R. Fehr
Published by: Wondertale, California
Publication Date: November 8, 2016
ISBN: 1-945353-11-2
ASIN: B01MQGHGBH
Genre: Coming of Age, Fantasy, Magic
Ages: 12 and up.
Length: 85,000 words / 290 pages
Book Links:
Amazon * Goodreads
Synopsis:
Everyone in the islands of O’Ceea has a magical ability: whatever they imagine can be brought into existence. Whoever becomes a master over these powers is granted the title of magician and is given fame, power, riches, and glory. This volume of books follows the journey of a group of kids as they strive to rise to the top and become members of the Magician’s Workshop.
Layauna desperately wants to create beautiful things with her magical powers, but all she can seem to do is make horrible, savage monsters. For years she has tried to hide her creations, but when her power is at last discovered by a great magician, she realizes that what she’s tried to hide might actually be of tremendous value.
Kai just wants to use his powers to have fun and play with his friends. Unfortunately, nearly everyone on his island sees him as a bad influence, so he’s forced to meet them in secret. When one of the creatures they create gets out of control and starts flinging fireballs at their town, Kai is tempted to believe that he is as nefarious as people say. However, his prospects change when two mysterious visitors arrive, praising his ability and making extraordinary promises about his future.
Follow the adventures of Kai, Layauna, and a boatload of other characters as they struggle to grow up well in this fantastical world.
The Magician’s Workshop, Volume Two
Authors: Christopher Hansen, J.R. Fehr
Print Length: 273 pages
Publisher: Wondertale
Publication Date: November 22, 2016
ASIN: B01N988TW7
Genre: Coming of Age, Fantasy, Magic
Ages: 12 and up.
Book Links:
Amazon * Goodreads
Synopsis:
Return to the world of The Magician’s Workshop: Where Dreams Become Reality.
In Volume Two, the Festival of Stars has finally arrived, and the Color Ceremony is about to commence. As children from all over the islands gather to stand before a puller, one question remains: who will have a Color, and who will be found void?
Rejoin your favorite characters as they step forward and receive a label that will have the power to dramatically alter the course of their lives forever.
About the Authors:
Christopher Hansen
The first glimmering Chris Hansen had that there was far more to reality than he had ever imagined occurred six days after his ninth birthday. “Christopher!” cried a wise, old sage. “Life is full of deep magic. Miraculous things happen all the time and all around us, if you know where to look for them.” Full of expectation and childlike optimism, Chris began searching for this magic, prepared to be surprised and amazed by it. And he was: he found Wonder! Now he’s chosen to write stories about it.
When J.R. Fehr popped out of the womb, he knew there was more to the world than the four boring hospital walls that he was seeing. “Zango!” his newborn mind exclaimed as he saw people appear and disappear through a mysterious portal in the wall. As a child he found life wowtazzling, but as he grew older the cold water of reality hit him, and the magic he once knew vanished. After spending some wet and shivering years lost in a joyless wasteland, he once again began to see magic in the world. He writes because the Wonder of true life is far grander than anything he ever thought possible.
Contact the Authors:
Website * Facebook
Mr. Lucky by Nora Flite and Jackson Kane
Genre: Billionaire Contemporary Romance
Series: A Billionaire Romance Novella
Publication Date: February 20, 2017
BUY NOW (FREE ON KU) + BONUS copy of Bigger and Badder AMAZON
Could you share a bed with a smoking-hot stranger?
I’m stuck in my hometown with a depressing job and no future. So when my best friend asks me to drive all the way to NYC so I can be her maid of honor, I jump on the chance to escape. Or I would have, if my car hadn’t broken down. I’ve never been lucky. Then HE shows up—a guy straight out of a fitness magazine, wearing a sharp suit—and he actually fixes my engine. I’d love it if he’d fix a few other things of mine, but I’m in a rush. I don’t think I’ll see him again. Except here he is, staying at the same hotel as me. Turns out they lost my reservation. My mystery man offers to save the day again; I can sleep in my car and probably get arrested for it, or I can share his bed. He says nothing will happen between us… unless I want it to. I should know better than to hook up with someone I met 24 hours ago. I might regret this in the morning, but for once in my life? I just want to get lucky. Too bad I don’t know who this man really is. And when I find out… My whole world is going to change.
Continue reading
A Way Back Into Love by Veronica Thatcher 
About the Book:
Nothing is perfect. Life is messy. Relationships are complex. Outcomes, uncertain. People, irrational. But love… Well, that makes complicates everything complicated. When you are caught in a tangled web of secrets, lies, and complex affairs, someone is bound to get burned.
Emily Stevens is a spunky, spirited college girl whose life is turned upside-down when she realizes she’s in love with her best friend of fifteen years, Derek Thorpe. As Emily prepares to confess her feelings to Derek, something happens one night which changes her life forever. Five years later, Emily finds herself in Boston, alone and heartbroken. Will she ever be able to forget the past? And what will she find when she returns home… to the man she left behind?
About the Author:
Veronica Thatcher is an exciting new contemporary romance author. Ever since she was very young, she’s dreamed of becoming a doctor when she grew up. While still forging ahead with that, majoring in pre-med in college, she unwittingly stumbled upon a new dream—becoming a published author. Some may call her an introvert or a wallflower, but she has always found she could express herself better in written, rather than spoken, words. However, never in her wildest dreams had she envisioned she would pursue writing as a prospective career, not just a hobby. Her love for writing goes hand-in-hand with her love for a good romance novel—whether it be a feel-good, sweet romance or a dark, suspenseful one. When she’s not studying, reading, or writing, she is usually found blasting her favourite songs, sometimes singing and dancing along to them. She dabbles in a number of activities, including painting, karate, singing and dancing. She is a huge chocoholic – probably the biggest – and she is an ice-cream junkie too. She considers herself technologically handicapped forever and has no shame in admitting that. She also deems chocolates her boyfriend, Patrick Dempsey the love of her life, and Friends her life!
Her first book, A Way Back Into Love, is slated for release in February 2017, and she hopes readers will enjoy it as much as she enjoyed writing it. You can reach Veronica through Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Wattpad and Gmail.
Contact the Author:
FB Page * FB Profile * Twitter * Wattpad
This is a poem I wrote way back at the end of 2011 while ushering in the new year! I think it is apt for this New Year’s Eve and each that follows!
I hope you all have a great New Year with lots of happiness and a tonne of books!
Welcoming the New Year!
As the year comes to a close,
There is a slight confusion,
Whether to be happy about it,
Or to be sad,
Look back at the year that’s past, Take a decision, Make a resolution, To move forward, Welcome the new year gracefully, Open your heart, And your mind, Ready yourselves to begin, A brand new chapter in your life, Put aside the past, Embrace the future, Here’s to wishing all,
A Happy New Year!!!!