Book Vue

Title: Death Unmasked Author: Rick Sulik Genre: Fiction, Crime, Murder Pages: 265 Publisher: Christopher  Matthews Publishing Rating: 3.8/5 Death Unmasked  by Rick Sulik is a story about reincarnation and revenge and personally, I love this combination! Add some murders and a few chases and you have my attention, alright! Sean Jamison is a Homicide detective in Houston and is about to get retired when there is an urgent serial killing case that requires his expertise. While on the case, Sean realizes that he was Emil in his previous birth and both his wife and he were killed in the most brutal way as a result of being war prisoners. As he is desperate to find his beloved in this reincarnation, there are women being murdered in Houston and a lock of hair seem to be missing from each of them. The murderer has a final strike to make before he leaves town but will Sean and his team be able to stop him? Will Sean finally be...

Title: Broken Rules Author: Hanleigh Bradley Genre: Fiction, Romance Pages: 128 Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform  Rating: 3.5/5 Broken Rules   by Hanleigh Bradley is the first book in a three book series. It is a contemporary romance set in London and is a treat for romance lovers for sure. Aurora Stone has led her life following a rigid set of rules dictated by her parents. Her sister chose to ignore them but Aurora, being the good girl as always, doesn't even think of it until a night at a bar where she is celebrating the return of her close friend. A glance at Landon and she somehow knows that she will be breaking a few rules with him. Landon, on the other hand, is a person who never sleeps with a woman twice but as it turns out, even he ends up breaking and twisting quite a few rules himself. Despite their personal indifference, they find themselves drawn towards each other without reservations until each one e...

Title: From Yesterday Author: Anupam Dasgupta Genre: Fiction, Romance Pages: 224 Publisher: Frog Books Rating: 3.5/5 From Yesterday  by Anupam Dasgupta is a tale about romance, heartbreak and sacrifice. Although I wouldn't say I am excited about the book, but it does have instances which capture the melancholy of love lives in a subtle manner. Adi falls in love with Anita almost immediately after they meet for the first time. What started off as a casual online chat, develops into a sweet, caring relationship. But Anita comes with a lot of baggage from her past. Having suffered with relationships and the fact that she is much older than Adi, doesn't make it easy for her to commit wholeheartedly to a fulfilling relationship. When she breaks up with Adi for the very same reason, he is torn apart. Years later, he is in Chicago and meets Christina who seems to have fallen in love with him. But when he sees a reflection of Anita on The Be...

Title: Kaash Kashmir: A Play on Love and Loss in the Valley of Fear Author: Rajesh Talwar Genre: Fiction, Historical Fiction Pages: 218 Rating: 3.2/5 KAASH KASHMIR   by Rajesh Talwar is basically a retelling of the purging of the Hindu Kashmiri Pundits in the year 1990. The book is set in Srinagar and is in the form of a play. It has been long since I read one but I love reading plays as, in my opinion, they get straight to the point and also work up one's imagination in a different, albeit interesting way. The play begins as Rohan, the son of a Hindu Pundit expresses his love for Ayesha, the daughter of a Muslim, on the sprawling lawn of Rohan's ancestral Kashmiri house. Rohan's and Ayesha's families are close friends and have been neighbors for many years. As the play progresses, the setting shifts from Srinagar to Pakistan where a plot is being hatched to remove all Kashmiri Pundits from the area so that Pakistan can claim Kashmir a...

Title: The Haunting of Barry's Lodge Author: Annie Walters Genre: Fiction, Horror, Thriller Pages: 218 Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform Rating: 3.5/5 The Haunting of Barry's Lodge   by Annie Walters is a quick, engaging horror/thriller with settings that are very typical and anticipated. A quintessential ghost story to curl up with would rather describe it perfectly. Alfred is an aspiring author who has been trying to write a book since years. But due to his familial responsibilities, he ends up doing odd jobs without making any real progress with his book. When his father in law suggests that Alfred spend a week at the isolated motel, Barry's Lodge, he jumps at the opportunity. A week without disturbances should be enough to come up with a draft. But little does Alfred know that Barry's Lodge has a disturbing past and he realizes it soon as it doesn't allow him a moment's peace...

Title: Retrograde Author: Peter Cawdron Genre: Fiction, Sci Fi Pages: 259 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Rating: 4/5 Retrograde   by Peter Cawdron is a science fiction based on the lives and events surrounding the scientists in Mars. It is unlike what I have ever read before (because I usually don't go for science fiction), but after the movie/book The Martian , I guess interest levels have piqued regarding the subject and that's exactly the reason why I agreed to review this book. So, here goes. The story is set in the future. A hundred and twenty experts, from various fields and countries, have been deployed on Mars by NASA. When there is an attack on Earth, discrepancies arise among them, not knowing whom to trust. Everyone thinks they are safe in their respective modules but when information is found tampered, all hell breaks loose. The summary seems very short than what I would normally give out but I am doing that on purpose. The...

Title: The Miseries of Mr. Sparrows Author: Matthew A.J. Timmins Genre: Fiction, Historical, Mystery Pages: 332 Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing  Platform  Rating: 3.8/5 The Miseries of Mr. Sparrows   by Matthew Timmins is a Victorian style, humorous tale of Mr. Robin Sparrows. Fans of old English style writing and that of Dickens would really enjoy this book. Mr. Robin Sparrows is a law clerk in old Victorian London and is haplessly going about his quiet life when he is handed an assignment to deliver a package to the notorious, Kermit J. Tarnish. As if his miseries weren't enough, Mr. Sparrows now embarks on journey filled with murder, lots of craziness and empathizing events but can our simple law clerk manage to deliver the parcel? Or will his new found misfortune overpower him? The book is a good read, especially for someone who loves Dickens's style of character description. The s...

Title: Wants and Desires - A Psychological Thriller Author: Chitrangada Mukherjee Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Murder Pages: 134 Publisher: Chitrangada Mukherjee Rating: 4/5 A classic who-dun-it with a subtle but admirably mysterious background,  Wants and Desires by Chitrangada Mukherjee is a good psychological thriller, perfect for a rainy weekend. Sukanto Bhattacharjee dies suddenly soon after his 35th birthday in his house. He is found in his study, with his head on the desk and arms wrapped around it, as if sleeping peacefully. He leaves behind his mother, his wife and friends and they are all suspects, according to the police. A letter is found hidden under a crystal jug in the study, which doesn't seem quite like a suicide note but definitely hints towards it. The suspects, each with their own vice, talk kindly of the deceased but one of them is the murderer. If it was a murder after all. I was so proud reading this book. Ou...

Title: Unchained Melody (Love Song Standards Book 1) Author: Cynthia Roberts Genre: Fiction, Romance Pages: 278 Publisher: Cynthia Roberts Rating: 3.8/5 Unchained Melody   by Cynthia Roberts   is the first book in the Love Song Standards series. The book is a cozy, warm romance so beautifully woven that it is sure to melt hearts. Pamela Landers is a highly successful partner in a law firm. But what she possesses materialistically, she lacks emotionally. She is more than ready to find someone and settle down. Pamela is on her way to a well deserved weekend getaway at the Sugar Run when she runs into Gavin Templeton, the owner of the resort. Both are instantly drawn to each other and feel a connection going on and that multiplies many folds when Pamela is the one who saves Gavin's life after an accident. They get involved and Pamela discovers that Gavin has got it all, the loving family that she always craved for. Everything...

Title: Sleep Savannah Sleep Author: Alistair Cross Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Horror, Occult Pages: 288 Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform Rating: 4/5 Sleep Savannah Sleep   by Alistair Cross is a book in the horror/occult genre which I don't usually prefer. But since reading the blurb, I have been curious and let's just say I overlooked my preference and was I glad! Jason Crandall, a recent widower, moves into an old Victorian house in Shadow Springs with his teenage son, Brent and younger daughter, Amber. While Amber begins adapting to this new environment, Brent, a recluse, finds it difficult to do so. Jason starts his massage therapy business and finds a client or two immediately. But when he meets the sensual Savannah Sturgess, he realizes it isn't going to be easy to avoid her. Among friendly neighbors, new friends and temper tantrums by Brent, Jason begins to settle down when one day, Savannah is rep...

Title: Jane Of Manchester Author: J G Dow Genre: Fiction, Romance, Comedy Pages: 206 Publisher: Dow Books Rating: 3/5 Jane of Manchester   by J G Dow   is a light-hearted chick lit with some, supposedly humor and romance, which somehow I didn't seem to find. Jane lives in Manchester, working at a florist's. She has her petty issues with her employer Will, who drops in that taunt every now and then. Jane has a group of friends, some like her, some mothers and one just about to be married. Her elder sister, Kate, is a doctor and she certainly doesn't fail to establish her success in front of Jane. Jane has the big question lurking behind her mind, when will she meet the right guy? But when she does, she can't seem to find the courage to even talk to him. Will Jane take this forward? Or will she remain in the background watching as her friends and sister get on with their lives? Straight off the bat, I was ...

Title:  Sweet Reality - Reality Star Book 2 Author: Laura Heffernan Genre: Fiction, Romance Pages: 236 Publisher: Lyrical Shine Rating: 3.8/5 Sweet Reality   by Laura Heffernan is the second book in the Reality Star series. If you haven't read the first one, no worries, this book can be read as a standalone. A fun, romantic comedy, the newly released  Sweet Reality   is sure to make your day if you are a lover of the said genre. Jen and Justin are back together on another reality show. They met in their last show and have been a loved couple since they quit together. This time, they have been invited, along with other stars of various reality shows, to a free cruise to the Caribbean. Jen and Sarah, Justin's sister, are all set to open a cake shop called Sweet Reality when they realize that they have unexpected competition. While Sarah is back home figuring out new recipes to make Sweet Reality unique, Jen and Justin are off to the paid vacation they ha...

Title:  The Leftover Author: Brooke Williams Genre: Fiction, Romance, Literature Pages: 268 Publisher: Boutique Of Quality  Books Rating: 4/5 I'm all in for a nice, romantic read but  The Leftover   by Brooke Williams , is one such book with different exciting experiences for us readers. Releasing today, the book is a winner (in my eyes) already! Megan Malone joins a reality show called The Leftover as a replacement for her sister, Molly, who just found out she is pregnant and hence cannot continue with the show. An overly shy Megan, who prefers spending time alone and talking to herself suddenly find herself in front of the camera among a group of contestants. She barely registers all of this when she realizes she has a crush on Cane Trevino, the medic on the show. The show begins and as the competition gets tighter, Megan finds she is much more than just an under confident girl and also that she is falling harder for Cane. Cane does seem to reciprocate bu...