Sometimes, a person is born who, for the well-being of others, will sacrifice what we generally consider our sacred right: putting one’s own pleasures and wishes first. Sadly, it happens so seldom that such people’s input doesn’t bring fundamental change to the world. It is, after all, only one life. Reading the book about Susan... Continue Reading →
“The Secret Lives of the Doyenne of Didsbrook” by Tessa Barrie
First of all, I must confess that I have a soft spot for the English countryside as a book setting. Two decades ago, I used to live in a beautiful rural location on the Jurassic coast, and every time I read about an English village, it brings a warm wave of nostalgia. Walking along the... Continue Reading →
“G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century” by Beverly Gage
He had served under eight presidents and eighteen Attorneys General. His tenure as a director of the FBI (formerly the Bureau of Investigation) lasted for forty-eight years. He had friends and supporters among both republicans and democrats. At times when his popularity among influential circles dwindled, he retained it among the American people. He was... Continue Reading →
Dystopian, epic fantasy, time travel & paranormal romance series to start this winter
Looking back on this year in terms of reading, I must say that it has been versatile. As always, I’ve been reading across different genres, including biographical & autobiographical non-fiction. Reading a book series is a special experience. When the author puts a part of themselves into the story that spans across several books, readers... Continue Reading →
“Paul Newman: A Life” by Shawn Levy
Fame and limelight make people look big. They are everywhere. The stories about their every step published on popular websites and social media make them seem important. Sometimes, those whose faces we regularly see flashing through the news have personalities to match their popularity. And sometimes, behind glamorous images, there is nothing but the shallow... Continue Reading →
“Protective Instinct” by Joy York
What an absolutely wild ride this story has turned out to be! With twists and turns I didn’t see coming, secrets about the characters’ past revealed, and action on every page, I had real difficulties putting this book down, even when it was way past my bedtime. I enjoyed the Jailer's Daughter Mysteries series by... Continue Reading →
“Being Zara” by Eva Lauder
The story picks up from where we left the circle of friends in “Being Ines.” With their lives sorted into some kind of order after the mess they used to be, each of them continues to traverse the bumpy landscape of careers and relationships. In “Being Zara” by Eva Lauder, the focus, predictably, shifts from... Continue Reading →
“Taken” by Kat Kinney
How do I start…well, for all that’s fanged and holy, what am I supposed to do now when the last book of the Caldwells’ saga is out and I just finished it? On the one hand, it feels extremely satisfying since the author gave every Caldwell brother and the world she created a well-deserved ending.... Continue Reading →
“Full Circle” by Daisy Wood
I love historical fiction. The full volume collections of Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, and Jack London are only a few of those nestling on my bookshelves. And they aren’t simply gathering dust; I do reread some of them from time to time. The times long gone always fascinated me. Historical settings described in detail are... Continue Reading →
“Brave the Wild River” by Melissa L. Sevigny
“The spell of the canyon is awfully strong and it holds something of me I know it will never give up.” These words belong to Haldane ‘Buzz’ Holmstrom, the man who had made the first successful solo expedition down the Colorado River. It was considered a reckless endeavour a century and more ago, and that’s... Continue Reading →