Deluged With Books Cafe

It is seldom that I get hooked on young adult fantasy books. Into A Million Pieces made the cut though. It offered a different flavor in the element of supernatural, daring to tackle creatures that are less popular and hard to sell somewhat. I mean, good-looking witches and dashing vampires are most often on the win. But the author made things quite so interesting, in that there's a challenge to it, from which she obviously seemed happy to explore. One is left to wonder on a number of resolutions. Cook's writing is on point and engaging down to the flippant expressions. She knows how to build tension and I like that her characters float in gray areas. The love angst in the book reminded me a bit of Eleanor & Park. Till the end I am left in a pool of sweet melancholy and craving for more. Second book, please? Summary: Allison McKready is a succubus. So is her twin sister. But while Allison spends her summer break hiding in the library behind her Goth mak...

There was a time when I was quite fascinated by millinery shops with all its fancy hats. Pretty sure, from time to time now, when I see such vogue hats, I would remember Aunt Charlotte, the flapper girl, whose got a whole closet filled with them, and it'd make me smile. Maternal Threads  shows that one need not have a grand adventures or an extraordinary family legacy to make a memoir captivate a reader. I love these quiet journals that evokes bouts of nostalgia; poignant, lovely and lingering. In Maternal Threads, Brown traces her mother's family tree which brings her back into the 1920s and its rather empowering history on women and from which revelations slowly came to her over the years in a manner of musical crescendo. More than Aunt Charlotte and family secrets, the book has social relevance on women. It amazingly lays out the thread that connect the characters of each generation and the metaphorical hats that they wear for every phase of their lives, whether tr...

Another Alice Hoffman book off the list though it left me a little bit wanting. The American suburbs, where every house looks the same and standing out is much avoided. It was 1950s and one day in a Long Island suburbia, there arrives Nora Silk who appears to be the embodiment of the opposite. Nora is eager to be close to her neighbors but everyone is not so keen. Behind the neat gardens and nicely painted doors, there lies the secret troubles of its residents. It seems Nora's unwelcome presence stirs upheavals among the neighborhood and it was when things started to get interesting. Seventh Heaven was a much muted pleasure than Hoffman's other works. Perhaps it was merely a subjective matter, not having lived in the suburbs myself. The smaller dose of magic in it was almost drowned by the placed normality and the realities of its time. Nevertheless, this intimate portrayal allows me to venture into their world and those who could relate to it so much would surely enjoy...

Title:   A Bollywood Affair Author:   Sonali Dev Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Published : October 28, 2014 Publisher: Kensington Rating :♨♨♨♨♨  5 of 5 c ups Review : Excellently written with a detailed and nuance account of a cultural divide not just  between countries but within the same society, the western way of life compared to eastern, specifically Indian, urban versus rural traditions.  Readers will simply adore Mili and Samir, especially Mili's charming, innocent, independent personality.  She displays a strength most modern women have when it comes to balancing traditional values with modern ones.  Samir has that strong almost devil may care playboy attitude that hides a sensitive soul and a great talent for cooking.  Ms. Dev has managed to capture the essence of how modern sentiments clashes with long held tradition in Indian society regardless of location. A Bollywood Affair is the perfect blend of humor and ...

Doll-baby portrays New Orleans at a time of the Civil Rights Movement in the summer of 1964 through the eyes of a twelve-year-old, Liberty Bell.  After the death of her father, Liberty was unceremoniously left in the care of her grandmother she had not met who lives in an old Queen Anne Victorian house with black servants. Coming from the Northwest Coast, Liberty has not seen such eccentricities like the ways of the South or her grandmother, Fannie, who sometimes gets admitted to an asylum. Quennie, Fannie’s black cook, and her smart-mouthed daughter, Doll-baby, take to Liberty like family and introduce her to the traditions of the South along with old secrets that abound the old house in Prytania Street. In this debut novel, Liberty is confronted with her painful past, her difficult relationship with her mother, the strangeness of Fannie’s house where his father grew up and a new city on the brink of a revolution.

Book Summary: Never a doubt. Never a mistake. Always for justice. Never for revenge. She’s the person you hire when you need something fixed—permanently. With a strict set of criteria, she evaluates every request and chooses only a few. No more than one job per country, per year. She will only step in if it’s clear that justice will not be served any other way. Her jobs are completed with skill and precision, and never result in inquiry or police investigation. The Fixer is invisible—and quite deadly. . . . In the office of a clinical psychologist in Olympia, Washington, a beautiful young woman is in terrible emotional pain. She puts up walls, tells lies, and seems to speak in riddles, but the doctor is determined to help her heal, despite the fact that she claims to have hurt many people. As their sessions escalate, the psychologist feels compelled to reach out to the police . . . but it might be too late. In Seattle, a detective gets a call from his son. A dedicate...

In this New Adult debut by Robin York, a college student is attacked online and must restore her name—and stay clear of a guy who’s wrong for her, but feels so right.   When Caroline Piasecki’s ex-boyfriend posts their sex pictures on the Internet, it destroys her reputation as a nice college girl. Suddenly her once-promising future doesn’t look so bright. Caroline tries to make the pictures disappear, hoping time will bury her shame. Then a guy she barely knows rises to her defense and punches her ex to the ground.   West Leavitt is the last person Caroline needs in her life. Everyone knows he’s shady. Still, Caroline is drawn to his confidence and swagger—even after promising her dad she’ll keep her distance. On late, sleepless nights, Caroline starts wandering into the bakery where West works.   They hang out, they talk, they listen. Though Caroline and West tell each other they’re “just friends,” their feelings intensify until it becomes impossible t...

Love the One You're With , the second book in the Love, Sex & Stilettos series , was a funny, entertaining and engaging tale about two magazine writers and their "He said, She said" approach to dating. I loved the interactions between Grace and Jake, their dialogue was witty, flirty, filled with double meanings and often downright sexy. It reminds me of those old Hollywood screen couples with all that sexual chemistry often manifesting themselves in their bantering and downplayed lusty looks. The plot and pacing simply flowed, the writing smooth. This is a story that reads like a movie, easy to visualize but the characters still had depth and were fully fleshed out. It was sweet, romantic and yes the couples antics trying to top one another was simply hilarious. Fans of romantic comedies would definitely love this one. *The ARC for this novel was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review*

Sneaking Candy , the title can be misleading, it would probably make you think of a naughty erotica story. Well there was some naughty bits delving on the erotica but Sneaking Candy is more about a confused young woman trying to get her mojo back and finding out if she's really cut out to be a serious literary author. Never mind that she's actually an up and coming self published erotica writer with lots of fans and some great 5 star reviews (the one star ones don't really count). It also doesn't help that she feels some sort of attraction to her professor but what about her favorite barista who can't make a decent Chai latte but can just about melt her panties off with just a look? Her life is just about to get more interesting.  Told in the first person point of view,   Lisa Burstein's Sneaking Candy was a fun, extremely sexy and engaging new adult contemporary romance.   I love, love, love the character of Candace aka Candy. I love how self-aware she ...

The Seduction of Miriam Cross is one mystery thriller that is guaranteed to keep you at the edge of your seat. An excellently written, fast paced murder mystery that has a lot of twist and turns in the plot enough to keep you guessing in the end. Delilah Percy Powers, private investigator has been asked to help solve the murder of the famous novelist Miriam Cross. It turns out its never as simple as that.  As Delilah and her team investigates further, revelations lead them to a path more dangerous than they could have imagined.  This was a great storyline with more than solving the crime, it also delves into the dark social issues of human trafficking and slavery. Delilah was a fantastic female lead, strong, vulnerable with a take-no prisoner attitude. Despite her own emotional and psychological issues, this did not overtake the story, adding only a certain depth to it. Other secondary characters are gradually introduced as well.   Credit to the author since th...

Switched by Cassie Mae was a funny and often frustrating read but highly entertaining. Kayla, Wesley, Reagan and Talon were all friends. Reagan and Talon were a couple while Kayla and Wesley, well they've been pining for these two since high school. Told from Kayla's point of view, she, dragging Wesley along hatches a plan to break the happy couple apart. Because as everyone can see Talon is her soulmate while Wesley is Reagan's. Thus starts the funs and the laughs and the musical chairs between the four. Kayla as a character was frustrating initially for me, I have no idea whether its because she was being an evil bestfriend to Reagan or she really was in love with Talon. I could not really hate nor empathize with her at the start. As the story progressed and the romance part began, her sudden self awareness becomes believable. The pace, the tone and style of writing was excellent. I can see that Cassie Mae has developed her own unique voice in the ...

Hard As It Gets , the first in the Hard Ink series, was one spectacular ride. Laura Kaye pens a story that is not only a romance between Becca and Nick but is also about the brotherhood between Nick and his comrades. This was an unexpected story line from one of my favorite authors. Laura Kaye delivers great paranormal and contemporary romances but its the first time I'm actually reading a full on romantic mystery/action/adventure from her. Becca Merritt's brother is missing and the only thing she has was a note saying find Rixey at Hard Ink. There she meets Nick Rixey, a veteran from her father's old unit who seems outright cold to her pleas for help. Nick is feeling confused, he feels that Becca needs to be protected but her father's betrayal, his old mentor, is still forefront in his mind. This books is fast paced, tension filled, outright sexy and erotic but most of all it keeps you at the edge, guessing where the story is going, what mystery is there to...

There's something undefinable about Laura Florand's writing that guaranties your undivided attention once you start reading her works.   The Chocolate Heart is no exception. Treated with the same lush and vivid imagery and artistic touch as her previous works, there is something a little bit different, a little bit more that is added to this one. The characters of Summer and Luc, from the very beginning was not lovable at all. They were the quintessential couple of spitefulness and misunderstanding. The witty dialogue isn't sweet and endearing but simply barbs of hurt flying out from their mouths. As a reader you start thinking, are these two really meant for each other; because its not looking very good at all. But trust Ms. Florand, as she starts to unravel the tale of two soulmates destined to be together, of two people starving for affection only to be thwarted at every turn. Until, as self preservation, they deflect every sign of emotion directed at the...

Yours To Keep isn't your typical romance. Serena Bell has written something with a common trope, main characters coming from two different classes, and fleshed it out, giving it more dimension and depth. Ana is an illegal immigrant by fate and not by choice. She has been living in the US for twenty years and knows no other life but the one she has. The fear of deportation has always been at the forefront of her existence. The need to hide, to keep low and not form any attachments is her form of survival. But she wants more, she works nearly everyday morning till night to save up for that undefinable future she wants so badly. Ethan is a widowed pediatrician with a teenage son, just gliding thru life since his wife's passing. Raising a child alone is a daunting task that he tries so hard to overcome. When Ana and Ethan meet everything changes for the both of them. They both learn that to truly get what you want, you have to break thru the barriers of your own m...

River Rock, Vermont, 2011. This is the story of Claire Ryan and Evan Lang. 35-year-old Claire joins a local book club for romance readers in order to get over the breakdown of her 10-year relationship, there she meets book shop owner Evan, a dominant man who has never recovered from the sudden death of his submissive wife. As their relationship develops and they embark on the path of Claire's submission, it becomes harder and harder for Evan to keep his emotional distance. Claire is open and responsive and he wants her badly, but refuses to let himself go. As Claire falls deeper in love with Evan, she realizes that he is holding back and decides to end their relationship, forcing Evan to confront his own past and his feelings in order to save his new love (Goodreads) Review: I haven't been engrossed in a book of this genre for a long time. Awakening was simply great. There were so many things going for it but in the end it all comes down to how everything just clicke...

Heating Up the Holidays was a great read. This anthology was thoughtfully put together to center around three holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Each story reflects the theme of each holiday in totally remarkable ways befitting these three very talented writers. In Play With Me by Lisa Renee Jones, Kali Miller wants to start fresh. Having Damion Ward as her boss was not what she expected. Confronted with a typical alpha male, Kali's character was definitely a unique one, she knows how to hold her own and doesn't pull any punches. A Thanksgiving celebration shows her that life has a way of giving you what you need without you knowing it. This was a well written novella despite the fact there was a lot of stuff going on and sometimes felt a bit rushed especially near the end but still a good story.   Mary Ann Rivers' Snowfall , was a poignant, introspective tale centered around Christmas time. Ms. Rivers is one of the few authors I...

What Not To Bare was an all out delightful read that will have you smiling insanely page after page. There has never been a female lead quite like Charlotte with her sense of style (or lack of), utterly charming curiosity and wonderful sense of self. While David is the epitome of all gorgeous male leads who had the audacity to question the usefulness of said looks when you have nothing else to offer. This was one love story you wouldn't have imagined between two people who thought that the other wasn't entirely for them. This book will have you on your toes, expecting what's next and getting something else entirely. Engaging and entertaining, with its witty dialogue, relatable and very likable characters and a romance that will sweep you off your feet. I love Charlotte, I love how defiant she was in her own way, of trying to assert her sense of self in a time where women were expected to behave in a certain manner. Her self esteem might be low due in part to soci...

There was something so engaging about this novel that you simply could not put it down. Window , is straight up erotica with voyeurism and exhibitionism done with class and soul. Primarily told in the first POV, mostly as monologue, we find our female lead living the good life in Paris. She isn't looking for love, she is looking for a sexual adventure. One day, right across from her apartment, through her window, she spies her very sexy neighbor. Here begins their trysts, an affair conducted just by sight. The story was funny, so sexy and erotic, lighthearted at first you are simply captivated by the main characters. They remain nameless to each other, she doesn't know his voice, his touch, all she has is the nights they spend in front of their respective windows. It doesn't stop there however, as their relationship progresses, the longing to actually go further develops. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger but done really well. I really liked this one and hop...

At twenty-three, Kayli Stollak, like most starry-eyed twentysomethings, assumed that she and her boyfriend, Charlie, would be together forever. Besides a rockin’ sex life, they shared a passion for motorcycle adventures, hedonistic European music festivals, and wearing matching glittery spandex to the disco. What more could a gal ask for? She envisioned their love burning well into their sixties. And then he dumped her. Heartbroken, Kayli turned to her seventy-five-year-old granny for support. And this ain’t no ordinary granny. Granny Gail is a ball-busting, sh*t-talking, gossipy yenta with an anecdote or piece of unsolicited advice for every situation. Granny didn’t sugarcoat the truth or let Kayli dwell on her failed relationship. No, Granny told her to cut the crap and snap out of it. Why didn’t Kayli give “one of those dating websites” a shot? With her ego on the line, Kayli threw the dare right back at her—if it was so wonderful, why didn’t single Granny join her in the world...

Come As You Are was unexpectedly good. I had no expectations when I started reading this book. In fact, it was a relatively simple story with a very common trope used in most new adult novels. A young woman, with a secret in her past that is so overwhelming it has affected who she is and how she relates to others. So what was so engaging about it then? First and foremost is the writing; flawless, engaging, simple prose with emotions practically dripping from the page without being too angsty or overly dramatic. Molly's character simply resonates day to day survivor, trying to keep her head above water. She makes no apologies nor excuses for how she is but the minute she meets Ian everything changes but not enough to reclaim herself. I like how Molly's situation was tackled, the honesty, the confusion, the mistakes and the conflicted emotions. I love the way Ian was shown as levelheaded good guy, who was also confused emotionally but when push comes to shove, he respe...