Book Review - Sacred Sins by Nora Roberts

From the book cover: In the lazy days of summer, a merciless heat wave is the biggest story in Washington, D.C. But the weather is knocked off the front pages when a young woman is found strangled to death. A note left behind reads Her sins are forgiven her.Two more victims soon follow, and suddenly every headline is devoted to the killer the press has dubbed “the Priest.” 

When the police ask top-notch psychiatrist Dr. Tess Court to help with their investigation, she comes up with a disturbing portrait of a twisted soul.

Detective Ben Paris doesn’t give a damn about the killer’s psyche. What he can’t easily dismiss is Tess. Tall, dark, and good-looking, Ben has a legendary reputation with women, but the coolly elegant Tess doesn’t react to him like other women he’s known — and he finds the challenge enticing.

Now, as the two are thrown together in a perilous quest to stop a serial killer, the flame of white-hot passion flares. But someone also has his eyes on the beautiful blond doctor ... and Ben can only pray that if the madman strikes, he'll be able to stop him before it’s too late....

My take: I had bought this book after reading the above blurb on the book cover. I love mysteries and this seemed like the ideal book to continue my obsession with crime stories. Unfortunately, I was disappointed once I was well into the book. 

The book starts off promisingly, which was the reason that I was hooked. But after a few dozen pages, the mystery factor of the book slowly dwindles down till it focuses on the romance quotient between the lead characters- Dr. Tess and Detective Ben. Ben is a character who is troubled by his past and holds a grudge against all psychiatrists blaming them for the death of his brother many years back. Tess, on the other hand, is a rich but classy character who tries to help all her clients and goes out of her way to help them. 

I do realize that it is supposed to be a tale of "suspense and sensual passion" as was mentioned on the book cover, but I felt what could've been a power packed thriller was lost somewhere in between. The characters are etched out well, but somehow, it didn't work for me. 

When I read a thriller, I expect to fall headlong into the crime. I'm intrigued by the murderer/ bad guy/ villain. These are beautiful characters in shades of grey that makes a book absolute page turners. What ticks them off, the elements of unpredictability, the way their mind works, how you can get thrown off by their behavior... The possibilities are endless. However, in Sacred Sins, the murderer seemed to fade into the background. Maybe this was the reason why I didn't warm to the book. 

I wanted to know more about "the Priest", why he believed in absolution, what made the victims of crime special - all blonde women in their twenties. The story had such a great potential that when the killer was finally revealed, I was left with a sour aftertaste upon completing the novel. It was surreal and seemed like a shortcut to get to the end of the mystery so that the author could finish off the story. Yes, Roberts offers an explanation to your questions, but it just wasn't satisfactory for my taste. 

Now, I'm not revealing what the big mystery is because it would take out the fun in reading this one (if you are going to read it, that is). I did wish on more instances than one that the doctor and detective would focus on the case in hand rather than tearing each other's clothes off and making earth shattering love. 

Of course, Roberts is an author who is known for her romantic novels, but when it comes to a subject such as this, I really did wish she had concentrated more on working out the mystery factor and making it a story that was jam packed with mystery and terror. 

This is one of Roberts' earlier works and I guess the changes are evident when you read her newer books. Well, I guess this is one book from which she has evolved as a writer. So, if you are looking for a good Nora Roberts book, I would suggest you pick some of her later works. And if you are looking for a good kick ass mystery (like me), give this one a pass. 

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Some Days

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There are days when hope whirs past me. I read. I think. I write. Most of the time, it hardly makes sense. And some days, when it all do. But strangely, those are days that I feel most content. Those are the days that I am me. 

Book Review - How to Fall in Love by Cecelia Ahern

From the book cover: She has just two weeks. Two weeks to teach him how to fall in love – with his own life.

Adam Basil and Christine Rose are thrown together late one night, when Christine is crossing the Ha'penny Bridge in Dublin. Adam is there, poised, threatening to jump.

Adam is desperate – but Christine makes a crazy deal with him. His 35th birthday is looming and she bets him that before then she can show him life is worth living.

Against the ticking of the clock, the two of them embark on wild escapades, grand romantic gestures and some unlikely late-night outings. Slowly, Christine thinks Adam is starting to fall back in love with his life. But is that all that's starting to happen?

My take: I'm a huge fan of Cecilia Ahern. But somehow, I found a bit annoyed with this one. Yes, the story line is much darker than the ones she usually writes- it deals with suicide and the human psyche. As with all of her previous books, the cover made me fall in love with this book even before I started it. 

The story is narrated in the first person by the protagonist- Christine whose job ideally is to help people with their jobs. She has a recruitment agency where she goes out of her way to help her clients. 

Her life starts spiraling out of control when she comes face to face with a man- Simon, who shoots himself in an abandoned building. This incident acts a trigger for a set of following events and she leaves her husband that very night. However, misfortune awaits her again when she is confronted with Adam in the same month under similar circumstances.

Fed up with his life, he is ready to jump the Ha'penny Bridge in Dublin when she sees him for the first time. Unable to bear the guilt of Simon's attempted suicide and due to her natural instinct to help people, she makes a deal with him. To make him fall in love back with his life before his 35th birthday, which is in two weeks.

The rest of the book shows the unlikely friendship and relationship between the two. And the reasons as to why Adam chose to do what he wanted to. Being a successful guy who was in his thirties, I found it difficult to believe that he would be ready to end his life with something as petty as a heart break. True, that was not the sole reason, but this was a little hard to digest. 

The first half of the book seemed dragging and Adam came across as needy most of the time. This may not have been the intention of the author, but this was the feel that I got from the book. Christine, on the other hand, seemed to be a bit clingy for someone who made it her mission to help people. She is going through a hard time herself and has her own inner demons to battle. 

Abandonment issues, family problems, cyber bullying are all subjects that are dealt with in a subtle way. Unlike her previous works, where she adds a touch of magic to her stories, this one had none of that. The book picks up towards the end making me feel that the story could have been made crispier. 

There are lot of other characters including that of Christine's friend- Amelia, Detective Maguire who investigates the suicide incidents, her own bizarre family and Barry- her husband. The book is sprinkled with humor in a lot of places and this made the story a little less bleak  and a bit more livelier. 

Needless to say, I was a tad disappointed with How to fall in love. I find it difficult to believe that this was the same writer who gave us P.S. I love you, If you could see me now, A place called Here, Love Rosie and so many more. If you read this book without any said level of expectation, it is likely that you may enjoy this one. Or if you are like me, a fan nonetheless, you will end up reading it anyway.

I was in a dilemma regarding the rating as it was an okay read for me. The story line was promising but I do wish the protagonists were more believable and easier to like. I guess, I shall give this one a two point five. The beautiful cover of this book definitely scores some marks there. I would say read it and then decide for yourself whether you like it or not. In case you do pick it up, let me know your thoughts.

 

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The Ideal Man

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The sound of the leaking faucet drifted in from the bathroom. Remind the watchman to get it fixed, I made a mental note for the umpteenth time. Yet I always forgot only to be reminded of it just before I went to bed. The sound of the dripping water, tonight was however, strangely comforting. 

Drip. Drip. Drip. 

On other nights it would have annoyed the hell out of me. Yet tonight, as I wallowed in self-pity over the state of my life that seemed to be spiraling out of control, the sound reminded me that some things never change. That it would never take you by surprise. And it would continue to be just that - a strangely monotonous routine that was here to stay. 

Such things grow on you, slowly creeping over you before you realize that you have actually started enjoying its company. Like a bad habit. Much like how you light that first cigarette, justifying yourself as you feel the smoke absorb in your lungs saying that it was just the one. A phase. But before you know it, the pack of cigarettes quickly turn out to be the high-point of your day. You look forward to those precious few minutes when you feel in control.

He was like that too, a habit that was difficult to break. What was it about him that I noticed first? Was it his warm smile that somehow reminded me of a bright yellow sun? The kind that my five year old niece drew with a smiley face and sunshine radiating from its face. Or was it the way his hands grew animated when he spoke about something he loved? Or maybe it was none of it. Maybe I took interest when he decided to shower his warmth on me. 

But this was not how things were supposed to end between us. We were supposed to get married, visit Maldives for honeymoon, have two kids- one boy and one girl. Things were supposed to be perfect. He was supposed to be the ideal man. One who would have my back at all times. But then, he had gone and screwed it up. 

It was supposed to be just another day at work; but my world fell apart on that wretched day. Working together in the same office meant that we got to spend a lot of time with each other. After all, that was really how I came to know more about him and then fell for him. 

It was in the pantry that I saw him laughing with her. Sonia. The bitch. Did he really expect me to believe that they were 'just friends'? Of course, I couldn't let my feelings betray me. So I smiled and brushed it aside. All the while seething inside. When he said that he wanted a break, to think things through before we took them any further, I did everything I could. I begged, pleaded and cajoled. I even threatened him. But nothing seemed to work.

Later that night, I saw them leaving the office together. His hands on her waist. I had seen that look on his face before. When he was with me. This was not how it was supposed to be. They thought they were so cute with their stupid fake smiles and behavior. He even held hands with her. He had never done that when he was with me. Of course, when he said that he was not into public displays of affection, I had believed him. How could I not when I was head over heels in love with him. 

But when he took her home that night, that did it. That was the last straw. I had had enough. I was hardly thinking straight as I broke into the apartment past midnight. There they were, lying so peacefully sleeping. Without a care in the world, not realizing that mine was falling apart. 

The blade of the knife that I kept in my purse glinted in the moonlight that was seeping in through the lace curtains. A gentle breeze drifted in. A quick slice and it was done. A muffled scream and she lay bleeding and writhing before coming to a complete stand still. Not so pretty now, are we? I smiled.

There he sat with a terrified look on his face. Oh. That sure got his attention now. I see a brief look of confusion on his face as I pulled open the syringe and pushed it up his hand. Maybe I caught him by surprise or he was in too much of a shock to retaliate. Either ways, he now lay heavily drugged. At my mercy.

Dragging him into my car and driving home didn't take much time. I was surprised at my strength. I was not as weak as everyone had thought, after all. Locking him in the bathroom and keeping him there seemed like the only solution at the time. And when he gained consciousness and tried to fight me, I had run the knife along his hand, a small gash but deep enough to draw a lot of blood. That sure shut him. 

It's been over a week and I enjoy the power that I yield over him. Of course, it's only a matter of time for him to realize that we are meant to be. He was my soul mate, the one person in my life who was supposed to stay forever. From the bathroom, there came a whimper. I smile.

Drip. Drip. Drip. 

The bathroom must be colder than before. It must be freezing. I turn off the light and go to bed. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

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Book Review - Idris: Keeper of the Light by Anita Nair

From the book cover: The year is 1659. Idris, a Somali trader, is in Malabar to attend the Zamorin’s Mamangam festivities. Everywhere he goes, his jewelled eye evokes a sense of wonder and incredulity. Then, by a strange twist of fate, Idris meets his nine-year-old son, Kandavar, born of a mysterious midnight tryst in this very land. Anxious to remain close to him for as long as possible, he joins the Nair household headed by Kandavar’s uncle, and is charged with a crucial task: of distracting the boy from his dream of becoming a Chaver, a warrior whose sole ambition is to assassinate the Zamorin, in a tradition whose beginnings have been lost in time.

In an attempt to stave off the inevitable, Idris embarks with his son on a voyage that takes them from Malabar to Ceylon, and from Thoothukudi to the diamond mines of Golkonda, where he meets the queenly Thilothamma, as solitary a being as he is. Will the mines reward him? Will he find the strength to leave his new-found love and journey back to his son’s land – and to an uncertain future?

Packed with adventure and passion, and full of fascinating insights into life in the seventeenth century, Idris: Keeper of the Light will keep you riveted and hungry for more.

My take: I bought this book seeing all the raving reviews that it has been getting. Besides it was by one of my favorite authors. So I might have bought it anyway. The book I bought was the hard bound version (I don't think they have a paperback version as yet). Of late, I have been having a thing for hard bound books. And I'm glad I got it because this one is definitely for keeps. 

Historical fiction is a genre that I'm not a huge fan of. Mainly because it reminds me of my school days where mugging up dates for my history exam gave me nightmares. For this very reason, I was skeptical when I picked it up. But I couldn't have been more wrong. A few pages into the book and I was hooked. Nair is an author who does her homework and the amount of research that has gone into into it is vast and it shows. 

Idris breaks the stereotype of the typical hero. He is black as the night and tall like a palm tree. With his one gold eye and his passion for adventure and star gazing, Idris grows on you. In his own words, he was Idris Maymoon Samataar Guleed. Previously of Dikhil. Now an eternal traveller seeking the measure of earth and man. 

The language that Nair has used is poetic. This has made reading Idris an absolute joy. The sprinkling of various words in Malayalam, Arabic or Telugu in any other context might have been putting off for the readers, but here, it somehow makes the novel more endearing. They are necessary for the story much like its protagonist who is a jack of all trades.

At 380 odd pages and the subject dealt with, the book is not an easy read, but I found myself racing through the book along with Idris and Kandavar. I finished the book in three days straight and I'm still stuck somewhere between the pages. There are a lot more that I would like to find out about Idris but unfortunately, looks like I will have to wait till the remaining two books of the trilogy comes out. Yes, you heard that right. It's a trilogy. Considering the nature of the subject, I think it's only fair. Besides, if this is the type of writing then I'm looking forward to some bulkier reads. 

Like all of Nair's previous works, the women characters in the novel are well etched out. Be it Kuttimalu- Kandavar's mother or Margarida, the child prostitute or Thilothamma, a strong and independent woman who finds solace in the company of her dogs, all of whom changes Idris's life in one way or the other. I only wish they had been given more space as these were characters who were anything but cliched. But then, I guess the story would have deviated from the title, which wouldn't have been fair to Idris. 

The other characters that Idris meets across the span of his journey all contribute to the story in their own ways. Idris is not just a novel about him but it surrounds the people that influence his life in one way or the other. Be it the faithful Sala Pokkar who joins him and Kandavar on their journey or Chandu Nair, Kandavar's uncle or Golla, an attendant who is introduced towards the latter part of the story. 

The other thing that I loved about the book was that Nair has weaved in many intricate stories into the main one. Like the story of Venkata Reddy, Thilothamma's great-grandfather with a secret that he took to his grave. The flashes of memory which takes back to Idris's past are as enchanting as well. 

On the whole, Idris is a well written, well researched novel which offers insights into the seventeenth century. But more importantly, it is the story of a man who loves to travel and not belong. Who refuses to be tied down. It is the story of a star gazer who is on the path of discovering himself; of a journey that takes us across the seas and then some more. 

It is the sort of book that upon completion you need to pause and really reflect on what just happened. I finished this book last night and needed some time to just think about it before penning this review. This one deserves a five star rating and no less! 

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A Fresh Start

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When do you realize the moment has come to move on; to carry on with your life? For her, it came like a stroke of lightening, threatening to destroy all that she held near, if she didn't move something quickly. 

She decided that what she needed was a fresh start, away from the mess that her life now resembled. 

Her scars were a chink in her armor, but they made her who she was today. As she stepped onto a new year; towards a new beginning, she carried with her only those memories that were worth cherishing in the future. 

This post is written for Five sentence fiction for Fresh at Lillie McFerrin Writes.

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Book Review - The MacGregor Brides by Nora Roberts

Happy New Year, you all! 2015 has started off on a promising note. Hope you all are having a good start already :) To start off a wonderful year, I'm going to review this gorgeous book that I finished today. 

From the book cover: It's the time of year for families and friends, romance and laughter... Daniel MacGregor will make sure that his beautiful granddaughters share it with someone special!

Laura is up to all her meddling grandfather's tricks. So when Royce Cameron arrives on her doorstep, Laura, means to resist his charms...

Gwen is convinced that she'll escape the MacGregor's trap. Until one kiss from Branson Maguire rocks her world...

Julia thinks she's safe- she's busy with her career and has no time for love. But Callum Murdoch is hard at work changing her mind. 

As Christmas approaches, will Daniel's granddaughters escape his schemes? Or will the magic of the festive season soften their stubborn hearts?

My take: I started this book few days back. I was feeling so low and desperately needed some cheering up. And when in doubt, I pick a Nora Roberts. And cheer me it did. One of the reasons that I bought the book was because of its gorgeous cover. I mean, how can you not fall in love with something that has the picture of a christmas tree on it? Besides, the cover had sparkles too! I love anything and everything with glitter on them so it was a win-win situation. I know that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but I always do. And this one just lives up to it. 

The book starts off from the private memoirs of Daniel MacGregor and is divided into three stories which are interconnected. When the old man himself decides that his family need a nudge in the right direction and starts meddling into the love lives of his three granddaughters- Laura, Gwen and Julia, it sure makes for a very interesting read. 

Laura is a lawyer wherereas Gwen is a doctor and Julia is a businesswoman. Like all of Roberts' heroines, they are all beautiful and fiercely independent. And of course, the heroes are tall and dashing too! Like Roberts said in an interview, it's her story and she wants everyone to be beautiful there. I so agree. When you pick up a Roberts novel, you expect to get lost in the lives of stunning strangers. 

Though all three cousins mean to resist the charm of the men that their grandfather has handpicked for them, they end up inevitable in love and then some more. Predictable? Yes. But even then, you find yourself turning the pages and getting swept off your feet along with the heroines of the novel. 

Now what pissed me off a bit was Daniel MacGregor who kept on harping about getting his granddaughters married off so that they would give him and his wife 'beautiful babies'. Of course, I get it that would be the wish of all grandparents, but when you become obsessed about the point, it starts getting a bit creepy. Well, maybe it's just me. Take it with a pinch of salt and everything is rosy once more!

I'm giving it a shiny three stars for this one. Though it is titled Christmas Fairytales, I felt that a bit more of the festive factor could've been brought in. Though Christmas plays a role, it is the romance and the chemistry that Roberts has focused on. I do wish I had seen more of snow and warm logs crackling indoors. Well, I guess you can't have it all. 

This is the first book towards my reading challenge for 2015. 2015! Wow, it sure feels good writing  typing it. I have taken up the goodreads challenge for 2015 and intend to read at least 50 books for this year. I hope I complete it. So, tell me, are you taking the challenge? If so, how many books are you planning to read this year. Come on, challenge yourself, it's going to be fun! 

On another note, I'm also planning to start a 'Happiness jar' inspired by the concept that was introduced by Elizabeth Gilbert. That woman is an inspiration, I tell you. I learn so much everyday through her Facebook page. The Happiness jar is a concept where you write one thing that has made you happy on a piece of paper and put in a jar/ container/ box. Like she says, create your own rules. Do what works for you. And this has to be done everyday. Yes, even on those days when you feel low or down. I think it's going to work. Well, I shall never know till I do it. Will I? And, once more, wishing you all a fabulous 2015! 

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