Category: Book reviews

Title:  Take Me to Nirvana

Author:  J. Y Barris

Published:  January 10, 2023

Source:  Owned

Type:  e-copy

Blurb:

Nothing is as it seems when Tom hires a mysterious woman to work at his shop. After he loses contact with her, their brief bond eventually leads him to set out with his detective brother to find her…

Take Me To Nirvana is a beautifully crafted novel that celebrates hope and courage. It is a raw, powerful story that follows the sudden disappearance of Amber, a young woman struggling to reconcile a haunting past with her new chance at a normal life. The book delves deep into her troubled mind, and the strange, sometimes gruesome challenges she faces in finding closure.

A Psychological Novel Raising Awareness of Childhood Abuse

In 2020 in the USA, over *7 million children were subject to childhood abuse. In over 90 percent of cases, at least one parent was involved. Take Me To Nirvana aims to throw light on the high prevalence of parent-initiated abuse in the USA and help victims find a route forward to healing and happiness. 

Check it on Amazon & Goodreads 

Some years ago, I was approached by J. Y. Barris to read and review her first novel “Erase”. I was a beginner book blogger, focused mainly on vampires and fantasy books. “Erase” was so far out of my comfort zone! But I did it. I don’t know what pulled me to that book, but I read it and loved it so much! So she has become an auto-buy for me.

When I learned about her upcoming release, I preordered it without even reading the blurb. I knew I would love this book, but I didn’t know how much. I can openly say that January 10th was the best day so far this year, since it is the day this book arrived to my Kindle. I fell in love even from the opening lines.  The author begins “Take Me To Nirvana” with a dedication for the victims of child abuse:

This book is dedicated to every child abuse survivor. Sorry if life has been a massive lemon but thank you for trying your best every day to turn it into a colorful lemonade. If you are still haunted by your childhood trauma, let Nirvana carry your sorrow as I hope you find peace within yourself after reading this book in its entirety.

To describe it in few words, Tom Ager hires Amber Simmons to help him organize the activities for his plumbing business. The young woman seems desperate for some help and appears to be looking for a fresh start. Amber’s mysterious life intrigues Tom, so when one day she fails to show up for work, he starts investigating her disappearance. An entire bunch of characters becomes involved, each following their own interest. At the same time, our female main character looks for her own stability and purpose in life.

What is important to mention from the beginning is that there are no perfect characters. All are perfectly flawed, and their flaws actually become helpful at one point in the story. Each plays a role, each falls in like a fitted puzzle piece. So, while there are characters with mental health issues, there are also characters whose personalities may, apparently at least, hinder them to reach a certain goals or social status. We have Tom – a business owner, but unable to have a romantic relationship, Gabe – an apparently carefree guy, working a job just for the income while dreaming of becoming a rockstar, Tom’s brother – looking for professional recognition. Then there is a psychologist, whose sole purpose is to see her patients finally having a shot at life, or even Amber’s strange “sister”. In her own mind, she looks for happiness, in a twisted way.

Characters aside, what is made loud and clear is how much abuse can mess up one’s ability to cope with reality; how much a healthy support system can straighten the child, or teenager or adult. There is this immense power in all of us, but sometimes we need signs or guides to learn how to let it loose Therapy, a good therapist, is more than important in this journey and I like how the author presented the relationship between patient and doctor. This book is so perfectly built, I am at a loss of words!

Favorite Quote: There are quite a few quotes I’ve marked down. One of those is:

“No, I mean it in the most accepting way. Everyone’s a little weird, a little strange in this world, wouldn’t you agree? So don’t be so hard on yourself. I say live life to the fullest, enjoy it in whichever way to please…”

It is not the only place where the author points out that we should be more focused on building a life that satisfies our own expectations, not others. Learn to make yourself happy, learn to love yourself.

Cover Review: Even the cover sends a message. I can tell you what I understand from it, though, at some point I hope to ask the author. The artwork is simple, yet bold. The girl with her eyes covered makes me think about all the children that we don’t know about who fall victims to abuse (physical or emotional), with a future uncertain. Sometimes we don’t care, sometimes we even close our eyes to such cases. Sometimes we are ignorant, but kindness is free, emotional support is also free. The red in the title is like a strong cry to happiness, to finding a path. Nirvana is not just a character, it is our special place.

“Take Me to Nirvana” is not just about finding a lost woman. It is about finding that place of happiness, or at least a comfortable level of satisfaction. It is about navigating the tumultuous waters of this life and learning to make camp somewhere, setting up roots. There are so many reasons why this book should be read, and I would make this review incredibly long to speak about all. But, to summarize, J. Y. Barris tells a story with so much to learn from. Her message is loud, clear, important and helpful at the same time, as stated by her in the preface:

My mission with “Take Me to Nirvana” is to write something that gives hope to people affected by childhood trauma and to raise awareness of child abuse. I hope this book will provide them a sense of “you are not alone”, and that it will give them the courage to find their own peace and move beyond their past.

There are times I feel I am not able to do justice to books such as this one. I feel I don’t have the right vocabulary or knowledge in general. I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that this review at least sparked our interest. Until next time, Happy Reading!

About The Author

I’m a writer, relationship coach, graphic and app designer, an illustrator and artist based in Prior Lake, MN. I work with editors, bloggers, entrepreneurs and app developers to transform ideas into existence.

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Title:  Tangled (Tangled #1)

Author:  Emma Chase

Published:  August 2nd 2013 by Gallery Books

Source:  Scribd

Type:  e-book

Blurb:

Drew Evans is a winner. Handsome and arrogant, he makes multimillion dollar business deals and seduces New York’s most beautiful women with just a smile. He has loyal friends and an indulgent family. So why has he been shuttered in his apartment for seven days, miserable and depressed?

He’ll tell you he has the flu.

But we all know that’s not really true.

Katherine Brooks is brilliant, beautiful and ambitious. She refuses to let anything – or anyone – derail her path to success. When Kate is hired as the new associate at Drew’s father’s investment banking firm, every aspect of the dashing playboy’s life is thrown into a tailspin. The professional competition she brings is unnerving, his attraction to her is distracting, his failure to entice her into his bed is exasperating.

Then, just when Drew is on the cusp of having everything he wants, his overblown confidence threatens to ruin it all. Will he be able untangle his feelings of lust and tenderness, frustration and fulfillment? Will he rise to the most important challenge of his life?

Can Drew Evans win at love?

Tangled is not your mother’s romance novel. It is an outrageous, passionate, witty narrative about a man who knows a lot about women…just not as much as he thinks he knows. As he tells his story, Drew learns the one thing he never wanted in life, is the only thing he can’t live without.

Check it on Amazon & Goodreads 

Yet another book by Emma Chase that made me adore her as an author. I’ve read this as part of my weekly articles for Moody Melon and I can tell you right from the start that I loved it so much, despite all the issues that the reviewer in me cannot overlook.

Drew is the best at what he does. He has put so much of his time and talent in working for his father’s company, but, when competition comes along, his ego is hurt. Even more so when said competition is smokin’ hot. Since we don’t mix work with pleasure, he’ll have to “keep it in check”. Hmm… time for an exception to the rule, maybe. And so does our race start. Which one of them can close a major deal first? How fast will Kate give in to Drew’s charm?

“Tangled” made me laugh so much. I absolutely savored all the chapters and I got so tangled (pun intended) into the story that I completely forgot about the imperfections here and there. We have cute banter and a hate to love relationship. There is the feeling of betrayal and amending for mistakes. Drew is always looking for a challenge and Kate is that for him, until he falls victim of his own games. Kate is in a relationship already and not interested in infidelity. Everything seems to be so complicated, like most affairs of the heart are.

As a reviewer, I have to mention that this is not a perfect book. Starting with Drew’s decision to keep everything professional which is easily forgotten especially toward the end where there are several (I would say) embarrassing scenes at the office. His feelings for Kate seem to be clarified too fast and in general the conflict resolutions happen too fast.

Still, considering how much fun I had reading it, I cannot give less than 4 stars. I am well aware that I am judging this with emotions, not reason, but hey, reading’s supposed to be mostly emotional, at least my kind of reading.

If you want to read more of my thought on “Tangled” by Emma Chase, head over to the article on Moody Melon magazine, where I’ve originally posted the review. Until next time, happy reading!

About The Author

Emma Chase is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of romance filled with humor, heat and heart. Her books have been published in over 20 languages and the film adaptation of Tangled, Emma’s iconic enemies-to-lovers rom-com, was recently released by Passionflix.

Emma lives happily-ever-after in New Jersey with her husband, two children, and two adorable, misbehaving dogs.

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Title:  The Christmas Princess (The Wedding #5)

Author:  Patricia McLinn

Published:  October 15, 2014 by Craig Place Books

Source:  Amazon

Type:  ebook

Blurb:

A Princess for a few weeks …

The coming Christmas season isn’t looking great for April Gareaux. Her job is uninspiring, her engagement is off, and she has nowhere to live. Certainly her family would take her in, especially Leslie and Grady Roberts and their circle of friends who have become her extended family. But it’s time she stops relying on them.

Then comes an extraordinary offer – spend the holidays in Washington, D.C., with King Jozef of Bariavak as his possible long-lost granddaughter. Even more extraordinary is the man behind the offer and the one who will be beside her through the coming weeks, Hunter Pierce.

This is the last assignment Hunter would pick. Determination and grit have moved him beyond his past in Bariavak. Yet, here it is standing in front of him again, refusing to be ignored. … Just like his reactions to April. How can he fight what he’s feeling when they’re together all the time.

King Jozef has known tragedy in his life. Now, comes this lovely young woman bringing joy to his holidays. How can he resist dabbling in some royal matchmaking. Wouldn’t it be delightful if he could give April a Christmas gift she will never forget …

… Her Prince for a Lifetime

Check it on Amazon & Goodreads 

Yes, this is book 5 in the series, I haven’t given up the bad habit of picking up books in the wrong order but that’s ok (in this case). I was looking for some Christmas romance books, just to help me get into a more festive mood. “The Christmas Princess” was free as an e-book on Amazon and about a princess, so why not? Well, there is much more to it than that.

April finds herself in an unpleasant situation, so close to Christmas, when her fiancée’s mother informs her of her immediate termination of the engagement. Struggling to find a place to leave, she accepts a deal with the US Government (yup, you’ve read that right) to pose for a short while as the lost granddaughter of King Jozef of Bariavak. She is thrown in sessions of “princess lessons” and Bariavakian history, held by her detail, Hunter Pierce. The stiff bodyguard takes all his assignments seriously, but especially this one. April’s life appeals to him in a strange way and her kind heart starts to warm his as well.

While I am writing this review, I find myself in a conflicting situation. I enjoyed the story more than I was anticipating, but there were sections that made me cringe a little. I still don’t know what my rating will be…

April is a lovely person. She is kind, with love to offer to those who receive none. Lying to the king does not seem like such a good idea, especially when she realizes he is a nice person, but at least she will make sure his Christmas will be happier. The author created a character easy to like, who brings happiness wherever she goes. There were moments where I thought she lived in a bubble. Her world is full of love, no room for hatred or bad words. I like her bubble…

Hunter is like a wall. Nothing seems to affect him, nothing takes him away from his professional conduct. He serves the country that has given him a future and he does it so well. However, his past cannot be ignored. He will have to make peace with his demons and he will have to stop running.

I loved the Christmas atmosphere and how all the characters were at some point convinced to decorate, to prepare presents and to find time for family. April is the one that brings people together. Now, because I started with book 5, it was a little difficult to know all the side characters and to understand the role each family member had. This didn’t affect my liking the story, but having the full picture would have been better.

We’ve arrived at the things I did not enjoy as much. It took me a while to get into the story. In the beginning, the writing felt difficult and I pushed myself to get through the 30% limit. I whish I had more background on April’s education. She is stuck at a job she does not like, advocating for a vegetable she does not eat (are there such jobs? …having a moment of ignorance now…). Then, there is the romance. I am sorry, but I did not like it. Whenever Hunter acted like a jealous boyfriend, it felt off. The brief love making scenes were not great. It seamed to me the author was shy in writing them and kind of forced herself to spice up their intimacies. There was no need for that at all. I for one, don’t need hot scenes, especially if the book has a cozier and family kind of vibe.

 Cover Review: It definitely gives me the winter chills. I like how the snow globe is the focus point on the cover, given that it has a certain importance to our main characters. It doesn’t give me royal or Christmas vibes but I like it. Also, it keeps consistency with the other books in the series.

Favorite Quote:  

Humility does not suit you. But beware of arrogance

Words spoken by the wise King Jozef to Hunter, they stuck with me for some reason. To be honest, in that particular scene didn’t perceive him as being humble or arrogant. But it’s a nice quote.

I’m still not at peace with the rating, but it would not be ok to increase it either. “The Christmas Princess” was a lovely story, with a beautiful atmosphere and perfect to put you in that holiday spirit. It left me wanting to know the full story of Bravakia (past and future books). As my fist read for the Christmas season, I declare myself satisfied. But despite all the positives, the romance and some elements from our MCs’ past did not stand well with me.

Let me know in the comments if you’ve read any books from the series and what are your reading plans for the rest of the year. Until next time, happy reading!

About The Author

USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn’s novels—cited by reviewers for warmth, wit and vivid characterization – have won numerous regional and national awards and been on national bestseller lists.

In addition to her romance and women’s fiction books, Patricia is the author of the Caught Dead in Wyoming mystery series, which adds a touch of humor and romance to figuring out whodunit.

Patricia received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University. She was a sports writer (Rockford, Ill.), assistant sports editor (Charlotte, N.C.) and—for 20-plus years—an editor at the Washington Post.

She has spoken about writing from Melbourne, Australia to Washington, D.C., including being a guest-speaker at the Smithsonian Institution. She is now living in Northern Kentucky, and writing full-time. Patricia loves to hear from readers through her website, Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

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Title:  The Duke’s Shotgun Wedding (Scandalous House of Calydon #1)

Author:  Stacy Reid

Published:  May 1, 2017 by Entangled Scandalous

Source:  Scribd

Type:  Audiobook

Blurb:

Victorian Era England…

 As far as rash decisions go, it was formidable. But Lady Jocelyn Rathbourne’s will remains strong. If the only way to save her family’s estate and reputation is by aiming a small pistol at the Duke of Calydon, then so be it. For Lady Jocelyn demands satisfaction – and she will have it at any cost. Even if it means demanding the hand of the intense and foreboding Duke himself… But she’s made the first move against a very dangerous opponent… For Sebastian Thornton is no stripling to be trifled with. The lady has played her hand. Now it’s his turn. For Sebastian is in need of a wife. And to find a wife with spirit and fire – even if she means to only marry for his money – would be a great prize indeed. And he intends to thoroughly take his pleasure with her… and demands his own satisfaction in return.

Check it on Amazon & Goodreads 

This was an absolute delight! Since I was looking for a short story to keep me entertained for a few hours, Stacy Reid’s novella was the perfect choice.

Lady Jocelyn visits the Duke of Clayton with the intention to negotiate a compensation for her ruined reputation. She is willing to see justice delivered by any means necessary: a duel, or a peaceful approach. The duke listens carefully to the woman’s story and proposes a marriage to atone for his brother’s actions. Surprised by his demeanor, lady Jocelyn prepares for her new life.

There is quite a lot going on. Sebastian Thornton’s past left him with no trust in love. He is not looking for feelings in his marriage with Lady Jocelyn. He just wants an heir. However, our heroine does hope for a good relationship with her husband and she is willing to construct it. I liked a lot how she took initiatives and opened doors for an easier communication with Sebastian and he was wise enough to accept his wife’s proposals.

That’s the best message from this story: communication is the key to a great marriage. Yes, a classic line, but beautifully presented in this historical romance novella. If you want to read more of my thoughts, head over to Moody Melon, where I’ve originally posted the review and let’s chat in the comments.

Until next time, happy reading!

About The Author

I am an unapologetic romance lover. I read it. I write it. Enough said. Well..I also have a warrior way “Never give up on my dreams.” I spend a copious amount of time drooling over Rick Grimes from Walking Dead, watching Japanese anime and playing video games with my love, Dusean.

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Title:  Find Me: A Holiday Romantic Comedy (Milwaukee Men at Work #4)

Author:  Liz Lincoln

Published:  December 5, 2015

Source:  Scribd

Type:  Audiobook

Blurb:

LAURA

Brady and I have been friends for years. But I’m not going to get through my first Hanukkah since my mom’s death without us finally becoming more.

For the past few years, I’ve travelled all over the world, trying to find somewhere to belong. Now, spending a week in Brady’s arms, I’m starting to think I was looking in the wrong place.

But can I convince Brady that this time, I’m not going to walk away?

BRADY

I’ve been in love with Laura since we were fifteen. Spending a week as more than friends is like a Christmas miracle. Except I know she’s not going to hang around and run her mom’s shop.

Part of what I love about Laura is her free spirit. I’d be an ass to ask her to stay just for me.

But how do I let her go, again, now that I know everything I’m giving up?

Check it on Amazon & Goodreads 

Lately I seem to have come across OK-ish books. I miss a story that can warm my insights properly and I hoped that “Find Me” by Liz Lincoln would do that for me.

Laura returns home to Milwaukee for the holidays, looking forward to reunite with her best friend Brady. Her mother recently passed away, so she plans on finding some comfort in his arms, at least for a short while. Parallel to the romance, we have all the family affairs that need to be set in order. A quick read, this story has plenty of elements, some good, some not that great.

Let’s start with our female character. Half Jewish, half Catholic, Laura’s childhood was mostly a struggle: to please both traditions for Hanukkah and Christmas and to deal with an alcoholic mother. What I loved about Laura was her free spirit, her passion for traveling in areas where help is needed and to support misfortunate communities. But, as involved as she was in her travels, as superficial she appeared in her relationship with her mom or even with Brady. She didn’t think how her actions would hurt him on the long run. She simply took what she needed.

Brady appears hot and cold in the beginning. The reasons are later clarified, but I was confused for a short while. I like how he tried to bring a little bit or Christmas to a Hanukkah celebration, to comply with both cultures that Laura’s grown into. I see him more as a victim than a hero. He’s a good guy, emotionally tortured by his best friend.

Then we have all the elements surrounding the romance: the religion and family affairs. When it comes to the first, I didn’t feel Laura was attached to one side or the other. I am not criticizing that, I appreciate that at least she tried. Definitely, she is not one to stick with the religious traditions. Her focus is more on the activities she has with her best friend. When it comes to family, clearly hers is a dysfunctional one. One of her aunts is constantly complaining that Laura’s mom was a burden and Laura having no clue about her mother’s dreams or desires.

From plot point of view, nothing much happens. Laura has a few days to spend with her best friend, in bed (a lot). Here and there we get a hint of his feelings, while she is planning her next departure. There is no background on how she is financing said trip (or if I missed that, I apologize) and, what’s more, she seems to be dependent on Brady not only on a personal level, but also professionally, with him helping her understand the shop’s financial position.

Cover Review: Abs…why? I mean, yeah, the sex is quite a lot in this book, but so the festive month of December. The abs are not the center of attention. Are we all women so “abs-obsessed”? Is that how we come off? All the romance reads are focused on abs. The blue in “Find” stands out too much. Definitely, in my opinion, the cover choice could have been better.

The audio version was great. Kate Mitchel had a much challenging role I think, but that’s because Laura’s chapters were more than Brady’s and also because there were more female lines. She was excellent interpreting the aunts and the “loud” family moments. Matthew Holland was great as well, especially when transmitting Brady’s emotions. Both narrators were believable and their voices clean and clear.

All in all, I did not dislike the story, but I cannot say I liked it either. The plot lacks action (or at least I was expecting more) and the main characters threw me off at times. It was a quick read though.

About The Author

Liz has been concocting stories as long as she can remember, and from the beginning they involved two people falling in love.

When she’s not writing, she spends her time rooting for the UW Badgers and the Green Bay Packers (or yearning for the return of football season), cross-stitching and embroidering sassy sayings or nerdy characters (Wonder Woman is her favorite), and drinking too much Diet Coke.

She lives in Milwaukee, WI, with her husband, two kids, three cats, and a turtle.

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I haven’t read any book by Colleen Hover since “Slammed” #1 (here’s my review, from 2016). “Slammed” was published in 2012. This is my one and only book that I’ve read so far by her. I absolutely adored this book. I think it was the first review I’ve ever written, probably not the first I’ve published. You may ask yourselves why I haven’t kept up with her writing (or you may not ask yourselves this, but I’m gonna tell ya still).  Well, her books are so emotional, so deep and so full of meaning. It takes certain state of mind to properly enjoy them or to even write a decent review.

So I’m starting to catch up on her stories. Not because I’m in my right state of mind (hey, you have to be crazy to keep a job like mine and a book blog and learn to sew a decent garment for a potential sewing business), but because I’m behind. I’m behind with my reading. I need to catch up.

Ok, enough chit-chat. Today’s quote is from “It Ends With Us” by none other than Colleen Hoover! For those of you outside of the romance reader’s community (Hello, welcome, I’m Lilly), she’s awesome! I’m only in the beginning; there are tons of amazing quotes still to come.

There is no such thing as bad people. We’re all just people who sometimes do bad things.

I agree… We are all just people. We do what we can. We take the best decisions we can. They don’t have to be great. But who knows what the outcome would be? I always say our brains are not wired to take bad decisions intentionally. At some point, something seemed all right, which is why we took said decision. If, on the short or long run, it proves to be a bad one, that’s a bummer. We fix it (or take the pain, shut up, move on).

One week till Christmas, enjoy 🙂