Happiness Is a Collage: Stories from India by Gita V. Reddy


Happiness Is a Collage: Stories from India by Gita V. Reddy
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (124 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

This collection of fifteen stories leads the reader into a world that is at once Indian and universal. The stories explore love, life, loss, and relationships.

A painter derives inspiration from a long lost love. Every night after going to bed, a woman scours a vast desert for her missing husband. A young woman strides through two worlds. A son experiences the miracle of his father’s immense love. An actor’s wife struggles to keep her husband from slipping into his reel life. And a busy professional tries to factor in pregnancy and motherhood into her hectic life.
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Among those traversing this space are a henpecked billionaire, a homeless boy, a middle-aged wife dealing with infidelity, and a seeker finding solace with a lion and a deer.

Everyone has a secret if you dig deeply enough into their most private thoughts.

“Happiness is a Collage,” which shares the same title as this book, showed what happened when a young Indian woman travelled home again after getting divorced and being away from her community for a long time. I loved the protagonist’s descriptions of the conflicts between the culture she’d grown up in and the freedom she longed to have to make her own decisions. Every choice she made had unexpected benefits and consequences. Not knowing which path she was going to ultimately choose for her life made it hard for me to stop reading until l had my answers.

All of the stories in this collection were interesting. There were a handful of them that I thought could have benefitted from having more details included in them. For example, Usha, the main character in “A Dangerous Blend,” had just learned that her husband was cheating on her before the first scene began. She had to decide how to respond to his betrayal and what the rest of her life would look like. I had a great deal of sympathy for her from the beginning, and I looked forward to seeing how she’d put her life back together after her spouse shattered it. As much as I enjoyed it, I would have liked it even more if I could have more clearly understood why she responded to him the way that she did.

In “Time and Space,” a grandmother named Pramila had to adjust to living with her adult daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren when what she really wanted to do was to have a quiet house to herself once again. I had a lot of sympathy for this character. Living with other adult relatives can be difficult under the best circumstances, and this becomes even more true if everyone isn’t willing to follow the same rules about how a house should be run.

I’d recommend Happiness Is a Collage: Stories from India to anyone who is in the mood for some kind-hearted fiction.

Dixieland Dead by Penny Burwell Ewing


Dixieland Dead by Penny Burwell Ewing
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (361 pgs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop
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When the economy tanks in Whiskey Creek, Georgia, hairstylist, Jolene Claiborne expands her business to include skin care. A wise move until Scarlett Cantrell, a local celebrity, is murdered in the facial room. The police brush aside Jolene’s suspicions that the incident is tied to a recent break-in, and to complicate matters, the victim’s ghost threatens to make Dixieland Salon her permanent place of residence if Jolene fails to expose the killer. Scarlett’s last words provide the only clue: “Find the jade elephant. Explains everything.” That is until a book of poetry turns up with a dangerous secret inside. Dealing with a diva ghost ain’t easy in the Bible belt. Throw in a sexy police detective, a crooked mayor with connections to the mob, a family cover-up, a mother who hasn’t cut the apron strings, and you get one stressed out middle-aged hairstylist with murder and mayhem on the brain.

Well this was certainly fun. Who would ever think I’d have such a good time reading about a murder in a beauty salon? Let me tell you, I’ll never have a facial again. Well, maybe I haven’t had one yet, but I wanted to give you a few hints of what to watch out for. Can you imagine what havoc an unhappy ghost could do in a salon? Frizzy hair, yellow hair, purple hair, a mohawk, well you get the idea. I’m not even going to conjure up all the horrors of a facial or a mani/pedi, but the thoughts make me shudder. Oh, except, I forgot…I don’t believe in ghosts. But this one’s funny so I couldn’t help it. Jolene has a tough sell getting her sisters on board trying to find out who killed her ghost. Even though they are trying so hard to make a go of the salon, the murder victim, now a ghost, was about as mean and selfish a person as possible when she was a human. Even worse, their Mama, named Dixie naturally, put money into the business.

Even though this is a cute cozy, there’s nothing simple here. One of the reasons I enjoyed this book was that Penny Burwell Ewing made her characters fun and very much alive. She must have lived in the same small town I grew up in because her town and the people in the salon are a carbon copy of mine. There’s plenty of laughs and plenty of good reading.

This book is part of a series called “The Haunted Salon Series”. The books aren’t numbered but there are three in the series and judging from publication dates this would be Book 1.

Monsterland Reanimated by Michael Okon


Monsterland Reanimated by Michael Okon
Publisher: WordFire Press
Genre: Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (252 pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Review by Honeysuckle

After Monsterland has imploded, the entire world is thrown into chaos. World leadership is gone, economies have collapsed, and communications are non-existent. Wyatt must go beyond the boundaries of his small town to reestablish contact with the outside world, and alert the government about a traitor-in-chief.

During his journey he discovers a new threat released from the bowels of the defunct theme park.
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When an army of relentless mummies, a life-sucking ooze called The Glob, and a hybrid reanimated Behemoth rise from the depths of Monsterland, who will survive?

This ain’t no fun filled summer at Six Flaggs. The monsters are back and they mean business.

In the exciting followup to the hair raising Monsterland, Wyatt and his friends will face a new crop of creepies from down below. I could only imagine the new adventure author Michael Okon had come up with to keep this reader on the edge of my seat and turning pages furiously. I wasn’t ready and it was very exciting! Mummies and slimy blood sucking ooze?? Mr. Okon knows his key audience.

Wyatt won me over in Monsterland with his grit and typical teen self. Mr. Okon did an excellent job on character development. For anyone who lives with teen boys, this character is what you imagine. He’s smart but also sarcastic. Determined but also easily distracted. Speaking of distractions, there’s some sweet romance in this book.

Monsterland Reanimated is told from two POVs and has the feel of a very late 80’s B movie type, gritty dirt road town. I kept expecting giant worms to come burrowing out of the ground but, in truth, it was something a little more sinister. I liked how the author brings in the classic horror and makes it relevant to this modern story. Something, or I should say someone, makes a return that no one expected. But that wasn’t nearly as surprising as how the gang figures out how or with what to fight the mummies. This was a fun read.

Reader’s don’t have to have read Monsterland to understand book two but it helps. There are references that will make much more sense, plus the background of how it began. The author leaves the end of the book open to another adventure so, now is the perfect time to visit or maybe revisit Monsterland and it’s gallery of ghouls.

Dark Sentinel by Christine Feehan


Dark Sentinel by Christine Feehan
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Action/Adventure
Length: Full length (340 pages)
Heat Level: Hot
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

After the devastating loss of her entire family, Lorraine Peters heads to the woods searching for peace of mind and anything to quell the anger in her soul. Instead, she stumbles upon a scene of horrific violence, as one man lies helpless in the face of three attackers.

Andor Katona’s existence has been a harsh one, living for centuries as a monk in the Carpathian Mountains. Unable to find his lifemate, he almost welcomes his release from a colorless and unfeeling world at the hands of the vampire hunters who have mistaken him for their prey. That is, until a whirling ball of fury bursts onto the scene, determined to save him.

In one glimpse, in one breath, Andor recognizes Lorraine as his lifemate, but it will take more than their telepathic connection to convince her of their immortal bond. Lorraine is a lethal combination of cunning and courage. So much so that she captures the attention of a master vampire, one who has already lost what was once irreplaceable to him. One who will strike with deadly precision at Andor and his ancient Carpathian comrades in a war to end all wars. . .

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Lorraine is a strong, capable leading lady who enchanted me from the get-go with her deadly saucepan attack. Andor is a strong leading man who’d given up the fight, until he had something, someone, to fight for, then he was all in and it was exciting. The hero and heroine complimented each other and brought out their good and fun sides. I enjoyed watching Lorraine teach Andor about a lot of different things. Of course, he taught her as well, and she kicked serious tuchus because of it.

The bad guys were delightfully depraved, twisted, evil and corrupt – perfect villains which showcased the difference between vampires and Carpathians.

Gary has become 100% different from the Gary readers once knew when he was human. He’s a force to be reckoned with now and the story benefitted from his presence.

The reason I rated this novel just shy of 5 stars is because I felt the replenishment of their strength, based upon the battles and injuries they sustained, didn’t match. Yes, there was a lot of action and suspense and I loved every moment. I simply could not believe they could last as long as they did and do as well as they did with only the few present to meet the demand. My brain got stuck in trying to make sense of it. It was a distraction I didn’t need. Also, I didn’t understand the book cover. I must have missed something in the story because I can in no way find the correlation. Not that it affected my rating at all; I don’t factor in book covers in my reviews. I just don’t remember a big city being part of the backdrop of the adventure. Maybe another reader can clue me in on what I missed or forgot.

Overall, Dark Sentinel was a great story and I did read it in one sitting. I enjoyed visiting the Carpathian world and how these emotion/color/feeling-blind heroes come to life with the right woman. I enjoyed watching their passions take hold. I liked Andor and Lorraine for the people they are. I found many surprises that delighted me.

I have already put Andor’s story on my keeper shelf with his other Carpathian brethren. One thing I guarantee, it’s a very heavy shelf.

When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath


When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (388 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

Gillie Trewlove knows what a stranger’s kindness can mean, having been abandoned on a doorstep as a baby and raised by the woman who found her there. So, when suddenly faced with a soul in need at her door—or the alleyway by her tavern—Gillie doesn’t hesitate. But he’s no infant. He’s a grievously injured, distractingly handsome gentleman who doesn’t belong in Whitechapel, much less recuperating in Gillie’s bed . . .

Being left at the altar is humiliating; being rescued from thugs by a woman—albeit a brave and beautiful one—is the pièce de résistance to the Duke of Thornley’s extraordinarily bad day. After nursing him back from the brink, Gillie agrees to help him comb London’s darker corners for his wayward bride. But every moment together is edged with desire and has Thorne rethinking his choice of wife. Yet Gillie knows the aristocracy would never accept a duchess born in sin. Thorne, however, is determined to prove to her that no obstacle is insurmountable when a duke loves a woman.

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There’s a blog post out there validating the theory that tall women were not considered ‘the thing’ during the Regency period. Tiny, petite and demur was the goal. Gillie is not any of those. She knows how to punch like a man and indeed, is given an opportunity in When a Duke Loves a Woman. In fact, as a fan of the 1963 movie, Donovan’s Reef, I see a bit of John Wayne and Lee Marvin in her character. I see a bit of Elizabeth Allen’s role in Gillie as well. How could I not love this book? How could I not adore Gillie? How can I not put this novel on my keeper shelf?

Unlike the movie, Thorne isn’t rough and tumble like Wayne or Marvin. However, he is his own man even within the confines of his role as a duke. He’s battling the legacy of his father – Thorne does not want to be that kind of man. His mother is convinced he is so there’s a lot of conflict and emotional angst in that area. Can a prune (his mother) become a sweet plum again? One can hope but it’s a good thing I never held my breath as the story unfolded. I would have passed out.

I adored Gillie’s brothers. I would never have guessed that Thorne’s goal would culminate in the hook for the next book. I became instantly intrigued once Gillie discovered the connection. Small world. Quite delish.

Romance is the seduction of the heart and When a Duke Loves a Woman accomplishes that in spades. Gillie’s ‘never’ turned to contemplation, admiration, naughty thoughts and heartfelt yearning. Thorne’s quest to satisfy duty became diluted the more he realized what he’d be giving up in adhering to tradition. Tradition is a cold thing when it sacrifices a future of happiness and light in order to live in the dark of the past. Thorne’s choice is equal to the measure of the man. Between the two opposites is a passion and flame that burns them both. And what a sweet fire it is. I really liked the progression of their romance in all ways, mental and physical.

I cheered, I sighed, I laughed and I blushed – When a Duke Loves a Woman appealed to me on so many levels, I enthusiastically hope other readers snatch up their own copy. I expect many will find the same level of enjoyment as I did, if not for the same reasons. Ms. Heath has written a novel worthy of a full afternoon’s dedication. I hope other readers enjoy every moment like I did.

The City Born Great by N.K. Jemisin


The City Born Great by N.K. Jemisin
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (26 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In this standalone short story by N. K. Jemisin, author of The Fifth Season, the winner of this year’s Hugo Award for Best Novel, New York City is about to go through a few changes. Like all great metropolises before it, when a city gets big enough, old enough, it must be born; but there are ancient enemies who cannot tolerate new life. Thus New York will live or die by the efforts of a reluctant midwife…and how well he can learn to sing the city’s mighty song.

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The world building was fantastic. I could almost hear the thump of the city’s heartbeat as the narrator learned more about what makes a city literally come alive and why only a few people are aware of why this happens. This felt like the opening chapter of a full-length book in a very positive way. As satisfied as I was by how much I learned about this universe, I also wished I could keep reading for a few hundred more pages.

It would have been nice to know the main character’s name. His character development was handled nicely in general, so it felt odd to me to never learn something as simple as what his birth family, past teachers, or current fellow homeless friends called him. He was such a private person that I would have understood if he only wanted to share a nickname with the audience, but it still would have been helpful to know what name to use for him regardless of whether it was his legal one.

The ending was perfect, though. I’d grown attached to the main character, so I was happy to see how his life turned out after the conclusion of his original mission. I also liked seeing how his attempt to help New York be born was connected to the fates of many other cities as well. It was interesting to get a deeper understanding of the world the characters lived in, and it made me hope for a sequel.

I’d heartily recommend The City Born Great to anyone who loves modern science fiction.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo


Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Six of Crows 2
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full length (546 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

Kaz is not a man to be crossed.

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Kaz and his band of thieves have pulled off a nearly impossible heist only to be double-crossed by the man paying them, Jan Van Eck. Not only did he refuse to pay them the money they deserve from completing their mission, but he has the audacity to kidnap Inej. Van Eck couldn’t have made a graver mistake. Inej is the heart and soul of the team. Though the crew’s ties were fragile in the beginning,  they all rally without hesitation to come to her rescue. I absolutely loved seeing Kaz’s crew bond in this tale. They worked together well in the first book, but a few of them never completely clicked with the others for various reasons. However, they are truly united now. Not only do they have common goals, but they genuinely care for each other and will stop at nothing to rescue Inej.

Kaz continues to be an extremely compelling character. He manages to seem simultaneously unbreakable and incredibly fragile. The more I read, the more I could see the tiny cracks in his tough exterior. Despite his larger than life reputation, Kaz is an incredibly damaged young man who never got over the trauma of his brother’s death.

Kaz and Inej continue to inch toward a relationship, but they are both so wounded that the gap between them seems impassible at times. As I predicted after reading Six of Crows, their relationship is about to change. Kaz finally makes a powerful and moving declaration that puts to rest any doubts Inej might have about his feelings for her.

Ms. Bardugo has again outdone herself with the elaborate plot and quick pacing of this novel. Kaz’s gift for planning and scheming never ceases to amaze me! Even when I thought I knew what the plan was, Kaz was never completely reveals everything. At times his crew own is never entirely sure what his ultimate plan is. Even when things go horribly wrong for his team, Kaz is somehow able to spin it toward their advantage. I feel sorry for anyone who gets in Kaz’s way.

I must warn readers that one member of the crew does not survive. My heart was absolutely crushed, especially when this character’s death seemed so pointless and avoidable. I keep asking myself why this character died. Was it simply to prove that the team wasn’t invulnerable? Kaz and his crew have suffered so much, it broke my heart to see them lose one of their own.

Crooked Kingdom is an excellent sequel to Six of Crows. I highly recommend both books to anyone looking for a fast-paced tale with an intriguing cast of characters.

The High Lonesome Frontier by Rebecca Campbell


The High Lonesome Frontier by Rebecca Campbell
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (21 pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A meditation about the evolution and influence of a song written in 1902 over the next 150 plus years.

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This was the first time I’ve ever seen a song being treated like a character, much less the protagonist. I was impressed with Ms. Campbell’s creative approach this topic. Even though it wasn’t a sentient being, the song’s evolution over time were fascinating to watch. The identity of the person who originally sang it was forgotten by many fans which only made it more appealing and mysterious to future generations.

The only thing I wish had been done differently had to do with the non-chronological order of the scenes. As much as I adored seeing how the song was rediscovered by each new generation, in a few spots it was slightly confusing to jump around so much in the timeline. While I did soon figure out how to piece everything together, this is something I would have liked to see tweaked. It was the only thing holding this story back from a perfect rating from me.

One of the most magical things about music is how effortlessly it can evoke the same emotion in everyone who listens to it no matter who they are or how many years later they discover it. This was a theme that was explored in depth in this tale. Every single person who sang, heard, played, or was otherwise exposed to this song responded to it with the same mixture of feelings. I can’t say what those feelings were, exactly, without giving away spoilers, but I was amazed by how often this kept happening no matter how many generations had passed since it was originally written and recorded.

The High Lonesome Frontier was a beautiful piece of science fiction that I’d strongly recommend to anyone who has ever absent-mindedly hummed a tune that they could only half remember.

The Tangled Woods by Emily Raboteau


The Tangled Woods by Emily Raboteau
Dark Corners collection
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Genre: Contemporary, Horror
Length: Short Story (37 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Ginger

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Poison-tongued film critic Reginald Wright is known for his creative insults and intolerance for the garbage culture, insufferable rudeness, and thoughtless racism of predictably common people. Now, against his better judgment, and with a marriage in crisis, he’s attempting a getaway in the Poconos that quickly fulfills his every low expectation. In fact, it’s becoming a nightmare. And that’s just what Reginald needs to wake up.

What dad wouldn’t be excited to be headed on a five night family vacation to Big Bear Lodge in the Poconos? Not widely know film critic Reginald Wright. In fact he seems to bring the grouchiness of a bear with his sour mood and bitter attitude. I feel sorry for Reggie’s wife, Ladette and their son, Thurgood, that they have to deal with such a sullen temperament. Reggie seems to not be aware of how his words can hurt but that will soon change.

This is a well written short tale that delivers a gloomy story of an unhappy man. I wouldn’t categorize the story as scary… more along the lines of disturbing. Starting with Reggie’s depressing and mean behavior, to his odd dream to the encounter with the man upstairs. For such a short story, the author’s words held my attention and drew me in. I felt sympathy for the characters. Sad that a father can’t see what good he has in his wife and son. A son that looks up to his father, but also seems to recognize that his father needs healing.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style and how she put so much into just a few pages. I also like the author’s use of uncommon words that gave the story a certain flare.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo


Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Six of Crows #1
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (462 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

Enter the Grishaverse with the #1 New York Times–bestselling Six of Crows.

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone. . . .

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.
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A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

The fate of the world rests in the hands of one of Ketterdam’s most notorious criminals.

Kaz and his band of thieves are a motley crew, but they grew on me rather quickly. I couldn’t help but like them in spite of, or in some cases because of, their faults. Kaz is particularly interesting. He is dark, ruthless, and seemingly untouchable. He has an uncanny ability to predict people’s actions. It is extremely impressive. However, Kaz is very harsh, even to those closest to him. Despite his prickly attitude, Kaz does care about his odd crew. Unfortunately, Kaz views caring for others as a weakness. The more I learned about his devastating past, the more I understood why he thinks and behaves the way he does, including the tragic reason he never takes off his gloves.

Inej is definitely the character that binds the crew. She has a way of putting everyone at ease. Some members of the crew can barely stand each other, but everyone likes Inej. I especially enjoyed watching her friendship with Nina grow. Kaz and Inej have a strange chemistry. It is clear they both care for each other deeply, but have never been able to express it. There are so many emotionally charged moments between them. I held my breath wondering if this moment would be the one that changes everything. Unfortunately, Kaz lets these moments slip away. I couldn’t help but be a bit frustrated. However, I do believe their relationship is on the cusp of a change.

Nina and Matthias are also a very odd couple. Their personalities clash quite a bit. He is so serious and she is so vibrant and full of life. Despite the stark contrast in their natures, I actually think they could be very good for each other. They have a lot of good and bad history. Yet, underneath it all they have simmering chemistry. It is going to take a lot of work to overcome their differences, but I think it will be worth it in the end.

Aside from having wonderfully rounded characters, Six of Crows has excellent pacing. Once the crew is assembled and begins planning the heist, I couldn’t put the book down. Kaz’s plan is crazy and yet plausible given the talents of each member of the team. Of course, nothing goes quite how it was planned. I raced through the pages wondering what would happen next and was consistently amazed at how they improvised and adapted to each changing situation. Even when things looked bleak, they still managed to find a way. Sadly, there will be serious repercussions for a particular member of the crew.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Six of Crows. The ending is satisfying, but the story is definitely not over. Kaz and his crew have a new mission of a much more personal nature, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!