When the Tamarind Tree Blooms by Elaine Russell

The things I liked best about this book were the historical setting and the information itself. I had never read a book based on 1931 French Colonial Laos before, and it was a fascinating visit. In some ways, the world the book talks about is a mirror of several other naturally wealthy parts of the East that were…

To Woo and to Wed by Martha Waters

I have not read any of the books in this series before. This only meant I went in with no expectation or prior knowledge of the history between the primary couple. Sophie and West once had an understanding. We are given a glimpse into their past when we see them in the current timeline. Slowly,…

The Tumbling Girl by Bridget Walsh

Narrated by Jasmine Blackborow To be a fan of mystery in several forms is to welcome books like this, which have a whole other immersive world to explore. It may not be the happiest place to be, but the people bring colour to the narrative. The Tumbling Girl is based in 1876 London. Our lead protagonist is…

The Pieces of Us by Caroline Montague

This book begins with the death of a baby. I almost stopped reading on at this point because of the timing. I am glad I did not, however, since the story moves forward, and it is easier (at least for the reader) to put the incident behind them. The couple in the book took their…

The Last Carolina Girl by Meagan Church

This was a very sad tale. There is not much of a respite from the sadness, maybe a semblance of a happy ending, but there are things that happen in this book that cannot be taken away. It is not graphic or overtly violent, but it did make me sad enough to preface this review…

Secrets of a Scottish Isle by Erica Ruth Neubauer

I have read a scattered few of this series, missing one or two in between. This time around, the duo is in rural Scotland, and the author sets the scene well. The remote location and the cold and biting wind are well documented, and whatever else I thought of the mystery itself, I could imagine…

Louis Mie and the Trial of Hautefaye by L.M. Twist

This book is almost non-fiction. When I started it, it began with the tone of a history book. Soon, however, when the author talks about the emotional reactions and thoughts of the people involved I corrected my impression. This story is not for the faint of heart. It is a story of how mobs can…

Fear and Lovely by Anjana Appachana

There were two main reasons I chose to read this book. One is that read very few India based or Indian- origin author books in any given year. The other is because the author and I share a name, although that doesn't mean anything in particular, it's still a point to note. The book is…