Romance

The Village Inn Of Secret Dreams | Book Review

The Village Inn Of Secret Dreams | Book Review

An unsuspecting character landing in Cranbridge for a brief time but finding love, family, friends, occupation and a purpose in life that makes him it’s own forever. This has been the theme of the first two books of the Riverside Lane Series of books. And the third in sequence, The Village Inn Of Secret Dreams, follows this same pattern to the hilt.

This time on, it is Belle Clarke – the barmaid of The Black Swan Inn – and Pete – Josh’s brother – who are at the center of the story and end up accepting their love for each other. And after the rescue of the Cranbridge Store and the Cranbridge Times in the first two editions, they are up against the uphill task of saving the Black Swan Inn this time. The book continues to emphasize the same aspects – utilization of local resources, developing a community feeling, …

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Filed under Contemporary Reads, Riverside Lane

The Village Of Lost And Found | Book Review

The Village Of Lost And Found | Book Review

There are two ways to view this second book in the Riverside Lane Series by Alison Sherlock. First, as a stand alone book. And in that, The Village Of Lost And Found is everything that you expect from Alison Sherlock – heartwarming, uplifting and a happy read. A simple story based at a countryside hamlet, quiet and peaceful with lovable characters.

When you read this in conjunction to the first book in the series The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts , there are a few things that are easily noticeable. It is very evident that the author has followed a strict framework with the same steps in the ladder as before – infact strikingly similar. To start with, the protagonist of the two books (earlier Amber and now Lucy) are both low on confidence, Amber due to the bullying in her growing up years and Lucy due to lack of …

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Filed under Contemporary Reads, Riverside Lane

The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts (Alison Sherlock) πŸ”°

The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts | Book Review

A feel good, heartwarming tale of the unexpected surprises of life, The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts is an adorable read. It is full of hope, love, friendship and inspiration. But most of all, it is endearing with it’s simplicity.

The first in the Riverside Lane Series of books by Alison Sherlock, this is the story of Amber Green, a window dresser by profession, who in order to fulfil her mother’s wish agrees reluctantly to visit her mom’s old time friend Cathy Kennedy in a small country side village Cranbridge – a beautiful, serene & quite setting for this calming story.

As life would have it, this supposedly short stay of hers brings all that her life had been missing – confidence, friends, appreciation, a sense of belonging, love & a place she could call ‘home’. This heart warming story revolves around a small old shop of the Kennedy’s ‘Cranbridge …

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Filed under Contemporary Reads, Riverside Lane, πŸ”°All Time Best Books

The Island Of Missing Trees (Elif Shafak) | Book Review

The Island Of Missing Trees | Book Review

Ever read a book that makes you feel – I don’t wanna read it, but at the same time, you are unable to put it down either. A strange feeling of being pulled away and toward at the same time. The Island Of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak is the first book that made me feel that way.

So, is this book good? Sure yes! And is this book enjoyable? Well, no – not that every book needs to be. If there is one word that comes to mind having read the book, it probably is “beautiful”, and one feeling – it would be “overwhelming”.

The book is presented in the form of a Fig Tree narrating the story centered in Cyprus amidst the backdrop of a civil war. So basically, you have two tracks running through the book – one of the fig tree talking about itself, it’s own …

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Small Pleasures (Clare Chambers) | Book Review

Small Pleasures | Book Review

Why did I read this book? That is the question you sometimes ask yourself. And Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers makes me do just this. The answer actually is simple. One, it was longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021. And two, the rave reviews online touting this as one of the best you may find. Unfortunately, I was hugely disappointed.

The second question that comes to mind is – How did I read this book? Actually, when I do not find a book to my liking, I usually discard it midway, not willing to bother myself over something that is not for me. I had basically read past about 80% of the book when I really felt I just wish to stop with it. So, with just some bit of remaining, I rather finish reading it!

Maybe it is just a question of personal taste, since most people have held …

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A Town Called Solace (Mary Lawson) | Book Review

A Town Called Solace | Book Review

Silence is the best applause. And this book deserves the same – silence. Not any dissection, not any review. I however cannot abstain from a little praise for this amazing book – what I loved most about it.

This is a beautiful tale, endearing and heart warming – that hints at the second chances everyone deserves in their lives.

The setting and characterizations are the highlight of this book by Mary Lawson. A quite, sleepy town with nature in full bloom. I always have dreamt of living in a place like Solace – a small, self contained town, amidst nature with beautiful scenery and affable people who care for each other. A small little market & the bare essentials of life – keeping things simple and free from unnecessary complications.

Coming to the characterizations, a small little girl with disarming innocence and a resolve to rebound. The parts of the …

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Filed under Contemporary Reads