Contemporary Reads

Reviews & recommendations of contemporary books.
Literary Fiction, Thrillers, Feel Good Books, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction & more…

1 July 2022 | Friday · 12:15 PM

Nine Lives (Peter Swanson)

There are many books that attempt to be thrillers. But somehow, they end up being a half hearted hogwash, often marred by a clumsy end after an otherwise decent plot. Nine Lives by Peter Swanson (yes, I need to specify this since I saw at least three books on Amazon with the same title!) is a most authentic thriller I have read in a long time! It certainly is the best of this year, so far. It comes packed with a chilling plot, some tantalizing situations, hard to guess suspense and a fast-paced, gripping narration with not a smidgen of drag at any point of the book.

Imagine receiving a list of 9 names – including yours, with no explanation. It most certainly brings an eerie feeling sensing something wrong. This chilling idea forms the basic plot of this book. It turns out to be a list of people who …

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24 June 2022 | Friday · 4:07 PM

Flying Solo: Linda Holmes | An uplifting read full of hope

Flying Solo by Linda Holmes is a wholly original and unique story leading you to the realization that it is not necessary to always conform to the way the world functions. It tells you, it is okay to be different, as long as you are happy in the world you create for yourself. And, it does so through a lovely story centered around Laurie, her great-aunt Dot and some charming supportive characters that include – her friend June, boyfriend Nick, her brothers (in particular Ryan) and a few others.

I found the concept of Flying Solo quite alluring. Laurie’s great-aunt Dot has just passed. Dot having been unmarried, has no children of her own. And Laurie takes it upon herself to sort through Dot’s belongings and give them a dignified send off. As she & June go through Dot’s stuff, I was drawn into this amazing feeling of how your …

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18 June 2022 | Saturday · 9:13 AM

We Are The Brennans: Solid Debut by Tracey Lange

We Are The Brennans | Review

We Are The Brennans marks another solid debut for 2022 with Tracey Lange bringing forth an intense, high tension family drama that keeps you engulfed start to finish. I went into the book with some expectations as with stories based around a strong family backdrop. Yet, I wasn’t quite sure of what to expect! I just knew it showed great promise.

So, this is a story about the Brennan family (of course!), more specifically revolving around Sunday Brennan, the only sister to three brothers Denny, Jackie and Shane. Add to them Kane, who isn’t related by birth but is as much a (unofficial) Brennan having lived most of his life in this house, as one of them. I won’t go much into the detail, but just say – there is a dark secret that Sunday has been guarding since the past 5 years, and that forms the basic theme of …

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11 June 2022 | Saturday · 5:06 PM

The Village Of Happy Ever Afters: Small Town Romance At It’s Best

The Village Of Happy Ever Afters | Review

Rustic countryside charm. A dream world where life is still simple & laid back. Where people still love & care for each other. And, all of this amidst the quaint & picturesque hamlet which we know as Cranbridge from the Riverside Lane Series. Alison Sherlock’s latest book in the series, The Village Of Happy Ever Afters continues the calming & joyful journey into the enviable life of the people of Cranbridge with an easy to read and heart warming vibe.

The Village Of Happy Ever Afters follows the same tried and tested trope of a small town romance whilst saving a local business. With Alison Sherlock, you go in knowing what to expect. Yet, there was no way I was not going to read this book. It is like listening to a song over and over, but not ever getting bored as it soothes your heart. The Riverside …

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4 June 2022 | Saturday · 2:19 PM

The Magicians Of Mazda: Bharat Series Continues To Intrigue

The Magicians Of Mazda | Ashwin Sanghi

In his widely acknowledged book How To Stop Worrying And Start Living, Dale Carnegie urges you to read something that requires effort, thought and concentration, everyday – making you learn something useful. As with all Ashwin Sanghi books, The Magicians Of Mazda fits the bill perfectly yet again. While asking for your concentration, the book leaves you wholly enriched with something to gain in the form of the abundance of knowledge the book exudes. This latest offering in the Bharat Series has all that you can expect from an Ashwin Sanghi book. It has history, science, mythology, theology, some ancient relics open to various interpretations and puzzles to be solved.

The Magicians Of Mazda is heavily focused on the Zoroastrian history and has a Parsi community backdrop. The book starts with a fascinating setting with a theft in the British Museum where the Cyrus Cylinder gets stolen. …

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24 May 2022 | Tuesday · 4:27 PM

A Tidy Ending (Joanna Cannon)🥈🔰

A Tidy Ending | Book Review

Winner:
2nd Ranked Book 2022;
Best Negative Character 2022 (Linda Hammett)

As the cliché goes, Never judge a book by it’s cover. The cover was precisely what drew me into A Tidy Ending to start with. A bright yellow, perfectly upholding the summer feel and ushering in a brightness, positivity and warmth. A little birdie perching on the daffodil frame, inviting you to come and read this one. If there ever was an award for the best designed cover, this book makes a vehement claim.

At times, some long accepted adages stand to be challenged. For, A Tidy Ending with it’s beautiful cover is even more beautiful with what lies inside it. Joanna Cannon has a winner at hand without question, one of the best books of 2022.

The story is centered around Linda, who works at a charity shop and has just moved in to a new …

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