Speak-up and be happy!

To be or not to be is the most popular existentially question, but there is one more question, that is not considered existential but should be...To speak-up or not to speak-up, to stand-up for yourself or to take everything lying down, to confront to not to confront? Yes it is 3 questions not one, but think hard about it and you will realize more often than not these 3 are synonymous. 

Sometimes, simply speaking/standing up for oneself can be construed as being confrontational. The word confrontation itself is enough to make people uncomfortable. A lot of people shy away from it simply because the act of confrontation has so much negativity associated with it. But there is a thin line between being confrontational and speaking up. Speaking-up can cause a confrontation but it is important to remember that you owe it to yourself to speak up for yourself, and if it leads to a confrontation- so be it.

Personally, I shy away from confrontation because I know that once I’m in it, I’m all in and I can be ruthless. I choose to be confrontational only about things that matter the most to me and the whole act of confrontation can cause a lot of heartburn, in the short term. So I try and avoid it, but I have realized with time that this approach of mine does me more harm in the long run. Allowing the emotions to fester and stay bottled up is not helpful at all. So does confrontation always have to mean hostility? Not necessarily, confrontation can be a calmly carried out act too. I understand there is a temporary unpleasantness that can be avoided by avoiding confrontation but when you avoid a confrontation with people that matter, in the long run all involved parties will suffer, that’s for sure. To be honest, you are doing yourself and the other person a disservice by playing the fool simply to avoid confrontation.

There are some situations where one should avoid confrontation and some where one should tackle it head on. For me the assessment is simply based on the following- will confronting this person, here and now, save me from dealing with a whole lot of hassle and non-sense later on? If the person involved or issue at hand is minor, non-repeatable, one time event I may choose to let it go based on what my priority at that given point in time is.

For example, while commuting some pushes me to move ahead quickly, mostly I’d let it go because it’s probably going to happen with me and this person just this once and I have better things to do with my time. But if this was a daily occurrence and the same person repeatedly did this, I’d be telling them exactly what I thought! Now if letting the person push me even once and not saying anything was going to make me feel upset all day long, then one time event or not, it warrants me acting on it there and then.

Sometimes there are situations when you find someone lying to you or trying to manipulate you and you choose to not confront because you have a long game planned and you intentionally pretend to be the fool. But there is a limit to how long you can play the fool, your personal limit or boundary is what you need to watch out for.

In today’s day, all it takes is 5 people who repeatedly call you a fool or spineless and you’ll end up believing it about yourself! We get too caught up trying to be labeled as good or nice. At such times it is important to remember that while people who avoid confrontation are usually considered nice sometimes they are even considered meek! Being perceived as nice is not important, because that is purely a perception you are creating. Being good and being happy matter more. Being good is based on your own moral compass. If your moral compass is aligned correctly then you will know that being good is more important than simply creating that perception. 

To be good to the world you need to be good to yourself. To be good to yourself, you must have self-respect and must not hesitate from taking a stand for what matters to you. When you let people get away with wrongdoings repeatedly by telling yourself that they are not worth your time, you need to pause and ask yourself if you are worth your own time. If you are, then why allow someone to misbehave with you repeatedly? Why give them the chance to manipulate you or lie to you constantly? You get nothing by allowing it. Will the other person magically change one day? No! How long do you want to play a martyr? If you call them out once and for all the worst that will happen? They will call you names, they will try and blame you, call you crazy and fight with you? Maybe, but the next time they want to try and play games with you they know you are not available, they can no longer waste your time by upsetting you or by making you play their game. You are simply not available for them to target you. Confronting someone about their lies is not about showing them you are superior and you know it all. It’s not about showing the world how smart you are that you figured out the other person’s deceit. It’s simply about valuing your own time and not allowing anyone to waste your time and energy in playing games that have nothing in them for you, in the long run. Human beings in general have a tendency to take silence as weakness and take advantage of others as much as possible. We owe it to ourselves to stop that cycle and not be a victim of our circumstances. Put your foot down and make yourself non available to people who add nothing to your life, both professionally and personally.

You can’t always be nice. That is how you get taken advantage of. You have to set boundaries. Eventually, the less you interact with negative people the more peaceful your life will become. Show them that you see through them, call them out on their behavior, express that you do not like what they are saying or doing. When you try and ignore wrongdoing by others, even when they impact you, you are the one that ends up suffering silently. You have to define what is acceptable for you and what isn’t. Not speaking up allows people to be unfair and unjust with you. 

If you think about it, you’ll realize that the whole global Me Too movement started with one person who decided to stand up for herself. To say enough, this mistreatment of me must stop, I need to speak up. In 2017, Alyssa Milano popularized the hashtag on twitter so women across the world could pause and get the courage to to stand up for themselves. The whole movement started to stop sexual assault and harassment at the workplace. But there is a key learning coming out of this movement for all of us, that is, to stop any kind of harassment, at workplace or elsewhere, of a man or woman; the guiding  principles remain the same, stand up to stop any kind of mistreatment of yourself by another person. 

In the end, you are responsible for your own wellbeing and happiness, you owe it to yourself to raise your voice and stop people from taking advantage of you and most importantly to be happy!

Book Review: A Version of the Truth by B A Walter

Description

There are three sides to every story...

2019: Julianne is preparing a family dinner when her son comes to her and says he’s found something on his iPad. Something so terrible, it will turn Julianne’s world into a nightmare and make her question everything about her marriage and what type of man her husband is or is pretending to be.

1990: Holly is a fresher student at Oxford University. Out of her depth and nervous about her surroundings, she falls into an uneasy friendship with a group of older students from the upper echelons of society and begins to develop feelings for one in particular. He’s confident, quiet, attractive and seems to like her too. But as the year progresses, her friends’ behaviour grows steadily more disconcerting and Holly begins to realise she might just be a disposable pawn in a very sinister game.

A devastating secret has simmered beneath the surface for over twenty-five years. Now it’s time to discover the truth. But what if you’re afraid of what you might find?

Review : 2.5 Stars

This books should come with a bunch of trigger warnings, gang rape, sexual violence, racism, homophobia to name some. 

The book starts off interestingly enough and intrigues the reader. The presentation of the story moving between the 90s and 2019 is interesting and you try to figure out how the past and the present are connected. It becomes evident at about 25% in. Holly’s character is well defines and her behavior and approach to everything in an elite university, coming from a middle class background herself, is understandable. Julianne’s story in the 90s on the other hand isn’t as well developed and she only seems like one of the side characters. Julianne’s mother is a completely unnecessary character in the plot. 

I was hooked enough throughout the book because the story was interesting. It was disturbing in many places but it still makes you want to read more. I would have rated this book a lot higher only if the ending was not so unsatisfying. Being based in 2019, I cannot believe how Ernest is unaffected and casual about everything being discussed. In light of the #MeToo movement it is impossible to believe that anyone would think they were untouchable by reality because of the money or position they held. This approach makes it seem like the whole #MeToo movement is being minimized or diminished. The author could have made the ending a lot more believable by using the #MeToo movement to the advantage of the women instead. I did not like how James was dealt with at all, just seemed more convenient than believable again. The epilogue too is wired. This was yet another missed opportunity to show that power MeToo movement. 

So while the book was an interesting read, the way it wrapped up left a lot to be desired and hence I would not rate it more than I have. If the ending was dealt with differently this book had the potential to easily be a 4-5 star book.  

Thank you Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth.

Description;

A twisty, compelling new novel about one woman's complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in death...From the moment Lucy met her husband's mother, Diana, she was kept at arm's length. Diana was exquisitely polite, and properly friendly, but Lucy knew that she was not what Diana envisioned. But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice who helped female refugees assimilate to their new country. Diana was happily married to Tom, and lived in wedded bliss for decades. Lucy wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law. That was five years ago. Now, Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer. But the autopsy finds no cancer. The autopsy does find traces of poison and suffocation. Who could possibly want Diana dead? Why was her will changed at the eleventh hour to disinherit both of her adult children and their spouses? With Lucy's secrets getting deeper and her relationship with her mother-in-law growing more complex as the pages turn, this new novel from Sally Hepworth is sure to add to her growing legion of fans. 

Review: 4 Stars

This book is a fast-paced and interesting read. While it is titled Mother In Law, it could just as easily be titled Family Ties or The Goodwins! To be fair, the story does start with Lucy and Diana but as you move along every single family member is actively involved in it. I wouldn’t call it a thriller, it is more like a domestic mystery but is an enjoyable as a thriller. 

Ms. Hepworth has presented the story from both the sides, she gives us a view in to what the Diana is doing and thinking and at the same time how it is being perceived by the others. This is not something that many authors have done while writing such books and this gives the reader a very unique perspective. It helps you get a balanced view of everything that is going on and makes it much harder to pick sides. It also makes it hard to figure out what happened to Diana and while you can keep guessing who did it and why, it is difficult to be certain till the author chooses to reveal it. Each person has strong motives and peeling away the layers in this case is an enjoyable experience as a reader. I liked how the reader knows why things are a certain way but the characters probably don’t. The characters are well developed, very real and relatable. 

But then this book was written by Ms Hepworth so right when you think you finally know everything, there is sudden shocking twist. Something completely unexpected near the end of the book that makes you jaw drop and say “What??!!” 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, the 10yrs later part was great and gave some good closure. Would I have liked to see Patrick’s fate taking a different turn, sure but then that’s fate, unpredictable as ever. 

The book is like a jigsaw puzzle, just as you pick each piece of a puzzle and examine it, here you pick each character and their story and examine it. What’s wonderful is how it all comes together and gets neatly tied up in the end. Finishing this book gives you the same satisfaction you would get when you complete a puzzle. 

I have only 2 complaints about this book:

One, which was a little annoying was the way the story moves from one incidence to another in the Past chapters. This slowed me down because I had to re-read to try and figure it out.  I understand the chapter is titled as past but there is no demarcation between say the wedding day to a dinner that’s happening at a time when Lucy is 8 weeks pregnant. Or when Diana is meeting Nettie and suddenly recalling a meeting with Lucy. The writing seems a little disjointed in places and that causes some confusion to the reader. I think a simple double spacing or dotted line or a few words to indicate a flashback could make it easier to read. 

And second, I do feel like the whole lack of communication angle is done to death (our not intended). I mean this book is set in recent times so really there is no reason why something can’t be texted! For instance, Diana forgetting to explain the significance of the grapes/chicken she gets for Lucy, Lucy forgetting to say thank you to Diana for taking her kids. I mean, seriously people, if you can’t discuss these things then at least pick up the phone and type a few words!

Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Forget Me Not by A.M. Taylor

Description

WHAT HAPPENED TO NORA?

When Maddie met Nora, their friendship felt as easy as breathing. And when Nora disappeared, all the air went with her. Without her best friend, Maddie’s life became impossible. Ten years later, Nora is still missing and Maddie is still searching. People have been questioned. People have even been accused. But no one has managed to find Nora.

Then, in the same spot where Nora went missing, the murdered body of Nora’s little sister is found. Convinced this is no coincidence, Maddie resolves to uncover the killer and find Nora – dead or alive. But will she be able to cope, when we learn what really happened to Nora…?

Review: 2.5  Stars

This book is a slow burn for sure. It is not a fast paced book. It’s a mystery but with a lot of emotional dwelling added to it. The story is about how deep the friendship between Nora and Maddie was and how Nora’s disappearance impacted Maddie. It was not just about what happened to Nora. I enjoyed the subtle psychological analysis that came up all through the book. The past vs. present format of storytelling is helpful to establish the emotions of the story. However I could not really connect with the book. To me there were too many gaping holes in the plot. The outcome was something I could figure out before i was even half way through with the book. 

There were way too many characters being introduced in to the story and a lot of them were entirely unnecessary. This lead to many smaller storylines potentially developing but going nowhere. It only contributed to creating confusion that was entirely avoidable. The story is told from Maddie’s perspective in some places and in others it’s being relayed when Maddie isn’t in the scene. This made it harder to follow and keep track since you can’t associate the plot with a narrator very easily. 

While the plot is in interesting the book doesn’t grip the reader the way it should. Partly to blame is the writing style. It is unnecessarily descriptive, gets boring and at times is even annoying. This book could easily be at least 25% shorter! I would expect better editing especially since it’s debut novel.

To sum it up- would I recommend this book? NO

Would I read this author again? Maybe if I was certain that the next one is edited much better than this. 

Thank you Killer Reads and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. O

Book Review: The Perfect Liar by Thomas Christopher Greene

Description:

A seemingly perfect marriage is threatened by the deadly secrets husband and wife keep from each other. Susannah, a young widow and single mother, has remarried well: to Max, a charismatic artist and popular speaker whose career took her and her fifteen-year-old son out of New York City and to a quiet Vermont university town. Strong-willed and attractive, Susannah expects that her life is perfectly in place again. Then one quiet morning she finds a note on her door: I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Max dismisses the note as a prank. But days after a neighborhood couple comes to dinner, the husband mysteriously dies in a tragic accident while on a run with Max. Soon thereafter, a second note appears on their door: DID YOU GET AWAY WITH IT? Both Susannah and Max are keeping secrets from the world and from each other —secrets that could destroy their family and everything they have built. Thomas Christopher Greene's The Perfect Liar is a thrilling novel told through the alternating perspectives of Susannah and Max with a shocking climax that no one will expect, from the bestselling author of The Headmaster’s Wife.

Review: 4 Stars

This book is a great read...it’s fast paced, mysterious and intriguing. It’s broken up in to 6 chapters only which really helps people like me ‘I’ll stop after this chapter’... sure, it’s only 40 more pages! This book is a true psychological thriller. In today’s day when every other book comes with a tag line of being ‘twisting gripping taut thrilling...’ this one actually is all that...without the tag line! The book speaks for itself. What makes it a really compelling read is how well the characters are developed. There are layers to each of them no matter how small a role they seem to play. Each character is vital to the story. The secrets Max and Susannah keep are dark. We know Max’s secret from the start but we don’t know much else. The plot keeps you on the edge yet when things are revealed it’s surprising. The anticipation of twist is beautifully crafted and every reader will succumb to it.
I enjoyed the introspection done by Max and Susannah a few times, it gives you great insight in to their devious minds. It makes you wonder who is playing whom and who the ultimate ‘perfect liar’ is. The book depicts the transformation of Susannah from a strong willed and rebellious young girl to a mellow routine-following homemaker. But you can catch glimpses of her real personality. Max on the other hand is a selfish ruthless man right from the start and there is no way you can like him. The fact that he is such a strong negative character draws the reader’s attention away from everyone else in the plot. Very little time is spent on giving us insights to Freddy and his relationship with Susannah- this is the only flaw of this book. I think a little more background or interaction between them would have helped the plot better.
The writing style is pretty easy to follow. At times the narrative shifts from Max to Susannah or vice versa pretty abruptly but their voices are distinct enough for the reader to follow.
Dolores plays a nice role as the investigator and I have to say that I was a little disappointed with the way she handled the situation in the end, highly questionable! It’s a bumpy ride but worth your while. The book actually releases in Jan 2019, but it is one that you should put a reminder for, you don’t want to miss it. I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Heads you win by Jeffrey Archer

Description

Leningrad, Russia,1968: When Alexander’s father is assassinated by the KGB, he and his mother must flee if they are to survive. The decision to board a container ship bound for America or Britain comes down to one coin toss. Heads You Win deftly explores the twists and turns of Alexander Karpenko’s life. Not since Kane & Abel have readers been treated to such a triumph of inventive and epic storytelling.

Review: 5 Stars

Jeffrey Archer is called a master story teller for a reason. His books are captivating and spellbinding. This one is no exception. I enjoy thrillers and I usually don’t like to read historical books or overly political books, but when it comes to Archer, the genre becomes irrelevant and the story is all that matters. I have devoured every novel and short story he’s ever published and never have I been disappointed. This book held my attention from the first word and it was a very easy and enjoyable read. 

Often in life we are faced with choices, we take our pick and live our life. Sometimes we do look back and wonder what if we picked differently. What would happen then, where would you be today? This book gives you a taste of that. The story of Alexander Karpenko starts in Russia, circumstances require him to escape from Russia and a coin toss is to decide his future for him. At this point the story splits in to two, Alexander becomes Sasha-headed to London and Alex- headed to New York. The chapters alternate and depict Alexander’s life story resulting from both outcomes of the coin toss. It’s almost like reading 2 books at once! I love that both the stories move towards one goal and almost converge so to say, it reinforces my belief that no matter what path you take in life you will eventually reach your destined destination. The 2 stories are intriguing and chalk out completely different paths for Alexander, yet whether  you are a  humble honest politician or a successful rich businessman all that matters in the end is your true calling. 

The twist at the end of the book is a master stroke. I’m not going to say much since I do not want to give the plot twist away but I will say that this may not be the last we hear of Alexander Karpenko. Heads or tail if you read this book you win for sure. 

Archer has merged real life incidents and politics so well with this fictional character that you begin to wonder if this is fiction at all or a true story! His knowledge and grasp on politics and his master story telling make an immensely satisfying read. The narration makes you want to keep reading and get lost in the plot. This one is another winner by Archer. Highly recommended!

Thank you St Martin’s Press and Jeffrey Archer for giving me an Advanced Reader edition of this book.

Book Review: The Dead Ex by Jane Corry

Description

HE CHEATED. HE LIED... HE DIED.

Vicki's husband David once promised to love her in sickness and in health. But after a brutal attack left her suffering with epilepsy, he ran away with his mistress. So when Vicki gets a call one day to say that he's missing, her first thought is 'good riddance'. But then the police find evidence suggesting that David is dead. And they think Vicki had something to do with it. What really happened on the night of David's disappearance? And how can Vicki prove her innocence, when she's not even sure of it herself?

Review: 4 Stars

The Dead Ex is a book that I categorize as a light thriller. It doesn't confuse you too much but it does give you a good buzz. The story is presented very well and in an engaging manner. Each character is well developed and interesting enough. The book does leave you with food for thought especially around how we form perceptions, place blame and hold grudges. 

The story switches between Scarlet and Vicki and both have equally interesting plot lines. Scarlet is a child and from a timeline perspective it works well to switch between narratives from her and Vicki. About half way in to the book we have another narrator Helen. She does get a mention much earlier in the book but is officially a narrator only half way through. I enjoyed how the connections between these characters were slowly revealed, as a reader you are trying to connect the dots and make some fairly accurate guesses but despite guessing it, the actual reveals are very satisfying. Scarlet's background and story is very interesting but not entirely essential to the main plot. It makes for good reading though so I'm not complaining. Vicki's life is very interesting to read too. The only thing I didn't understand was how the author repeatedly mentioned that epilepsy is taboo, misunderstood and in general mistrusted as a condition. If never heard or seen anything that made me think that this is a true depiction, not sure if it is really like this or was this a little bit or creative liberty that the author took. I appreciated how the author spent time to well establish the characters subtly. Small details about them all through the book made them all more relatable. David was the only character who didn't have much depth. Other than being a slimy and possibly corrupt womanizer his character is pretty unidimensional. 

The big reveal at the end makes you wonder for a minute how things would have ended differently for the characters had preconceived notions had been put aside. However given the characteristics of these women, I think one way or the other their lives would end up pretty much where they did. It's almost like the author is telling you that no matter what path each of them took, their final destination was pretty much sealed. Also it seems like justice is being served in some way when Vicki deal with being accused of murdering her ex! 

Overall these aspects of the story are very comforting to read especially when you read a thriller. All the loose ends are tied up very neatly and I LOVED the post script. 

Overall an entertaining thought provoking read that I would highly recommend.

Book Review: Jane Doe by Victoria Helen Stone

Description: 

A double life with a single purpose: revenge. Jane's days at a Midwest insurance company are perfectly ordinary. She blends in well, unremarkably pretty in her floral-print dresses and extra efficient at her low-level job. She's just the kind of woman middle manager Steven Hepsworth likes—meek, insecure, and willing to defer to a man. No one has any idea who Jane really is. Least of all Steven. But plain Jane is hiding something. And Steven's bringing out the worst in her. Nothing can distract Jane from going straight for his heart: allowing herself to be seduced into Steven's bed, to insinuate herself into his career and his family, and to expose all his dirty secrets. It's time for Jane to dig out everything that matters to Steven. So she can take it all away. Just as he did to her. 

Review: 4 stars

This is a very easy to read book. It dives right in and is interesting yet uncomplicated. The writing is smooth and there are some great 'one liners' sprinkled all through the book. It's a straight forward revenge tale and the author does justice to it. 

Steven is a predictable misogynistic idiot and that makes him easy to hate. But Jane..oh Jane, there aren't enough adjectives in the world to describe her. 

She is as self-aware as anyone can hope to be, knows her strengths and is willing to go great lengths for her near and dear ones. Her tone is sarcastic all through out and she is a highly believable character. She is smart, sexy, devious, wicked, and extremely reliable. Sociopath or not, she is the kind of friend everyone should have in their life! 

I love that we never find out Jane's real name and I enjoyed reading her self-diagnosis. She is flawed but still you will root for her. She reminded me a lot of Dr House from the TV show House...he too was flawed but you loved him for everything that he was! Victoria Helen Stone has created a character here who I don't want to let go of. If there is another book with Jane in it, I will devour it. It doesn't even have to be a sequel...just another plot with Jane as the central character.  

It was a delicious tale of revenge and I was very glad to see that this was not a complicated, twisty tale with unreliable narrators. It's just proves that a good author can spin a wonderfully captivating devious tale without creating confusion, without all the smoke and mirrors that most thrillers these days have. Reading this book is time well spent

Book Review: An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen

Description

Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed. When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she'll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she's thinking…and what she's hiding. As Jess's paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields' manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.

Review : 4.5 Stars

I enjoyed the previous book The Wife Between Us by these authors tremendously and was excited to read this one. The story draws you in instantly. It starts very simply but builds the suspense page my page. You can feel what Jessica feels because she has been shown to be as clueless as the reader, neither have any idea what is going to happen next. The writing is inviting and the 2 points of view are depicted very differently. Jess's story is told in a more personal manner while Dr Shields story is told more in a passive voice as if Dr Shields is talking about another person; a detached person talking about a 3rd party. 

Dr. Shields is playing a game, a twisted one where the 'study' is not really a study but more of a game that fuels Dr Shield's agenda.  There is a palpable tension that you can feel all through the book. Jess is vulnerable and impressionable and Dr. Shields is a master of the game. Dr.

Shields weaves a web that's impossible to get out of.  The lure of money and the desire to know more drags Jess into this sticky tangled web. Slowly you see obsession rearing it's ugly head and it is evident in both Dr. Shields and Jess. As the 'tests' progress you can see that Jess is weighing her options more carefully and is almost paranoid about how her actions will be judged. Rather than being herself she rethinks hers actions and does what she assumes would make Dr. Shields think highly of her. You begin to wonder if it is simply a crafty revenge story or is there more? Your patience is suitable rewarded as you continue to read. By the time part 3 begins you can no longer decide who is the prey and who is the predator. It is simply a matter of who can outsmart the others better. All the characters are flawed human beings but they are still relatable. The exchanges between them feel like a long volley in a tennis match. 

The book is gripping and you will read it compulsively to find out the truth. The rest of your life will probably go on hold once you start this book because putting it down is extremely hard. There are many twists in this plot and while you maybe able to guess some of them the ending will leave you shocked. Overall this is a  winner of a book for sure, worth every minute you spend on it. 

My favorite quote from this book:

"How do you know if you can really trust someone?" I finally ask...."If you need to ask that question, then you probably already know the answer," he says.

Thank you  NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. #AnAnonymousGirl #NetGalley

Book Review: An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

Description

A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting away.  It's winter in the Catskills and Mitchell's Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing–maybe even romantic–weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery. So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity–and all contact with the outside world–the guests settle in for the long haul. Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead–it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic. Within the snowed-in paradise, something–or someone–is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm.

Review : 5 Stars

I picked this book up after reading a very good but mentally exhausting book. Of all the books on my immediate to read list, this seemed to be the easiest choice. And man, was I wrong.  I started this book very late at night and promised myself that I would only read one chapter and stop. But with Shari Lapena's writing it was an impossible promise to keep. 

I'm a huge Agatha Christie fan time and again while reading this book I actually thought I was reading Christie. The book has striking similarities with Christie's 'And then there were none'; the set up is similar with the guests going to an isolated vacation spot, just the butler and the cook-housekeeper to attend to them. The plot too runs on similar lines with more than one person ending up dead. The key difference however is that in Christie's book the isolation was not unplanned whereas here it is unplanned due to the storms. So it's hard to imagine how a murder set it up since obviously they can't control the weather. However if you remember And Then There Were None, then you may focus on one of the guests with that colored perspective. I won't say if you will be right or wrong since that would give the mystery away. The story is well crafted and the twists are sudden. There is tension that builds up and you can feel it as you read along. The temptation to go to the end and find out the truth is prevalent but at the same time the fear of missing out on the story is much stronger and one can resist the temptation. The characters are all interesting and each one seems to have a mystery about them. As a reader you really want to find out more about each guest and host instead of just finding out who the murderer is. The complexities of human nature are well played here and the plot only thickens as you read more about each of them. Each character is very real and relatable. I like how the story flows and pulls you in. In a single word, the ending is brilliant! It is impossible to predict and leaves you stunned. 

The main reason I give the book 5 stars is because even though the writing and the plot premise was similar to Agatha Christie's book, the author in no way replicates the tale and instead misleads you to believe that you may know who the murder is because you've read And Then There Were None. This misleading of the reader is a game that Lapena plays with the reader and for that I tip my hat to her.  A thoroughly enjoyable read. Shari Lapena has lived beyond my expectations with this one!

Privacy in the age of digital assistants

I saw this very interesting video about smart home and how much information the devices share about you with a manufacturer and some vendors. There were many folks that posted shocked reactions to it and some were angry about it too. But it got me thinking about why we are shocked at this. I think somewhere we forget that when we use technology as “assistants” we are opening up our private lives for these “assistants” to see.

If we had a personal assistant/secretary who truly helps us to manage our daily tasks, would they not know a lot about us? Think about it for a minute, what makes some a good personal assistant? They know your routine, they understand your moods, they can predict your requirements, they know when to send flowers/gifts to your partner/friends, they know how much you like to spend on whom, they know what you like to read, what music you like, what food you like etc. They even know how you take your coffee and have it waiting at your desk every morning! Basically, the more they know you the better they serve you and that makes you think of them as ‘great assets’ to your life. In fulfilling all your requirements these assistants choose vendors that they have worked with and know that you prefer. For example, they send a bouquet of Orchids to your mom on Mother’s Day on your behalf using a flower shop that you have used for years. When they call this shop and say you would like to order flowers, chances are the shop owner knows you, knows what you always order and they simply confirm that it’s the usual bouquet.

In all these cases you do not know if your assistant ‘gossips’ about your choices with others. Do they share your private information tidbits with others? Chances are high that they do! Some of them may even be ‘selling’ your information to others, for cash or kind! Let me give you an example, imagine there is someone who wants to meet you to discuss a proposal to their latest idea. You have been avoiding them because you don’t really like them. This person goes to your assistant and offers them tickets to some event that is hard to get into, all they want to know in exchange is where you are going for lunch and if you are alone. It’s highly likely in this case that the assistant share this information because they think it’s no big deal. The interloper shows up and pretends that it’s a chance meeting. Basically, you get ambushed at lunch and can’t wait to get out of there but don’t know how the chance meeting came to be.

So then, how is a digital assistant any different? And why do we expect it to be? It can only function intelligently if it collects information about you, analyzes it and helps predict what you need before you ask for it. To do so it needs to interact with other systems and send the data to somebody to analyze. Just like a personal assistant would share your information with their ‘friend’ the digital assistant shared this information with its manufacturer and preferred vendors maybe. Just like your assistant would have your coffee ready, if you drive a Ford car, then Alexa can have your coffee ready at Starbucks for pick up. Digital assistants do this to serve you better, sure someone is making a profit out of it but that’s business.

If you are involved in activities that you classify as private you would avoid sharing them with your personal assistants and then the same principle should apply to digital assistants. The bottom line remains the same, if it’s private keep it to yourself and don’t delegate to personal or digital assistants.

It’s unfair to develop machines that mimic intelligent human behavior and then be shocked when they behave the same way.

Today, machines do not have emotions and they don’t have a conscious and hence you can’t expect loyalty from them. They won’t protect your information because you paid for them. They don’t form a personal bond with you. Someday they may, but for now they don’t and till then their loyalty lies with their creator.

Book Review: Over My Shoulder by Patricia Dixon

Description

Girl meets boy. They fall in love. Sounds simple? It isn’t. When Freya falls for the manipulative Kane, her life changes beyond her wildest imagination. When the luxurious life she craves gradually becomes intolerable she realises escape is out of reach. Her life has changed and so has she. She knows that when she least expects it, he will return and make good his promise to exact revenge and ensure she pays the price he felt he is owed. Can Freya ever be free? Whoever knew love could be so dangerous. Following Freya from her carefree twenties up to the present day, Over My Shoulder is an intricate tale of blinkered love and obsession.

Review:  5 Stars

Trigger Warnings: abuse, violence, rape, drugs

This is a very disturbing book, it will scare you, shake you and it will stay with you for a while after you finish reading it. It is an emotionally exhausting book. This is not a pleasure read, that much I assure you of. 

The book starts off with a prologue that is almost like a Ted Talk! It’s relevant for almost every reader who picks the book. It addresses you and speaks to you.

The book is a page turner. Not only do you want to find out what is going on but you are literally on the edge waiting to finish the page and turn to the next one. The tag line is apt ‘a psychological drama about power and control’ is the briefest and most accurate description of this book.

The way the book goes will make you feel like you are talking to Freya, like she is confiding in you. You are her only shoulder to cry on and all you can do is listen. You almost want to interrupt and give her advice but you stop, not because you realize it’s a book but because you realize that it’s all done and over with and anything you say now will not help her. You become invested in her. 

The book draws you in and entangles you as if you are a fly and the book is a spider’s web. It doesn’t let you go, it puts you smack in the middle and makes you want to keep reading because honestly it’s difficult to figure out what Freya’s exit strategy should be and when, if ever, will the nightmare end for her. 

Coming to the finer details of the story, the characters are all believable. Freya and Kane’s love story is pretty standard but boy does the man have a dark side! His nastiness builds up slowly getting more and more depraved, little by little until there is so much of it that there is no escape. He is a debased individual who will do whatever it takes to be in control and get what he wants. Kane evolves from a domestic abuser to a full blow sociopath. Freya on the other hand is a nice friendly girl living a carefree life. She has a very ‘girl next door’ vibe. She falls for Kane hard even though she has a boyfriend. She’s not meek and mousy at all. The story touches on many topics around domestic abuse and even violence and is not easy but the author has done a good job with communicating the pain and yet not making you want to stop reading. I love that every time you as a reader recognize the red flag, so does Freya and the author has made sure to explain why Freya chooses to let it pass or not think of it as a flag. I was happy to see that Freya is portrayed as a strong sensible person. Often suck books show the victims of abuse as weak, as needing strength to leave. But this book shows that its not only weak people who get abused. It shows that being strong also makes you susceptible to abuse because most strong people believe that ‘I can handle it, I’m not a quitter, I need to be smart, I need to bide my time’ and worse of all ‘maybe I can help him’. That’s the pitfall of being strong. That is what makes the story and the characters so believable. Other books around domestic abuse leave these thing a as questions in your mind and you need to suspend disbelief in order to read the book. In this book each situation is picked apart and the pros and cons are explained. Patricia Dixon has written a book where you do not need to suspend anything in order to understand and follow the plot. She has actually written a book that is based on a story to accurately convey to the world the facts that surround abuse. The conversations that Freya has with the reader are very explanatory and insightful. At times I felt that a good chunk of the content in this book could serve as a dissertation on understanding domestic abuse, and I’m not complaining one bit because it is a brilliant idea to use fiction and impart real knowledge to the readers. At around 55% mark it almost feels like Ms. Dixon is sharing her research with you instead of Freya narrating her story and while some readers may not like this, I think it was a great way to bring forth many great insights on this subject. As an author she has tackled the subject very well and the effort she took in her research shows. The last 20% of the book has things in there that will make you shudder and will make your stomach churn. It takes a very dark turn. You can feel Freya’s fear and this part of the book can bring on a serious panic attack for anyone who has been in or around an abusive relationship. 

This book is no doubt written to help abuse victims see their options and understand that leaving an abuser is a process and not an event as Freya rightly says. It shows that leaving may not be enough and a victim needs a very strong support system to help them see things through. It also helps friends and family of a victim understand the whole situation better.

The book is probably one of the top 5 books I’ve read this year. I highly recommend this book despite the trigger warnings because reading it will ensure that you’ll be better prepared to either deal with abuse (God forbid you find yourself in that situation) or to identify, understand and help someone in your circle who maybe dealing with it.

Take a bow Patricia Dixon, this book is a masterpiece!

**Thank you to Netgalley and Bloodhound books for providing me with a advance reader copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.**

Book Review: Silencing Anna by Sadie Mitchell

Review: 5 Stars, Grab this one now!

**Thank you to Net Galley and 3P Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.**  Trigger Warning: domestic violence, anger issue, loss of a partner, coma patients.

The book draws you in from page 1! It's written simply and makes you want to read it more and more. Sadie Mitchell's penmanship hooks you instantly. The books oscillates between the past and the present and the writing is precise and engaging. When the story moves from Dylan to James to Anna's current situation initially, not once do you feel like the preceding part should go on, or that the upcoming part is something you are not looking forward too. One is not more interesting than the other and that to me is purely due to how brilliantly the author has made each part intriguing and interesting. The characters are well developed and you can almost imagine them in your head. As the story progresses there is enough mystery to keep you engaged. What happened to Dylan? How did James get abusive? What did Anna do? How did she end up here? What is Pam up to, what is her role? These questions haunt you and you want to keep reading more. This is a hard to put down book. The book starts with this sentence "It's important to take stock of your life." This book will like make readers do just that especially if they are in a situation like Anna's. There are many pointers in this book that would help a lot women identify abusive partners, or at least make them stop and wonder. That in itself is a big accomplishment for a book that's written as a fictional one. The one aspect of abuse this book captures really well and makes you think hard about it is what happens when the abused becomes violent in response to the abuser, is the abused also be called an abuser in that situation or is it more like self defense. Does allowing it to happen make you responsible for it? Sadly I felt like Anna didn't always make the smart choice and find her way out of the situation before it escalated to a violent one. It is very disturbing to see a pattern, in all books with such subjects, of how abused women will keep going back to the abuser hoping they have changed, hoping that the 'good' guy they see glimpses of is real and the monster is now gone. At times I did feel like Anna probably needed help too, whether her behavior was purely a reaction to her abusive relation or something hidden deep within her is food for thought. I felt myself trying to understand and decide if she added fuel to the fire and does it make her somewhat responsible too? Not that it can be an excuse for the abuser. Her only responsibility is for not walking away, not breaking the cycle. What is even better is that the book makes you realize that none of what she did or said warranted James' behavior. It makes you see her as not only a victim but someone who could stand up for herself and react instead of silently taking the abuse. The book makes you think hard and makes you assess and almost create a plan in your head of what you would do if you were ever in such a relationship, what your exit strategy would be. This is the biggest reason that I highly recommend reading this book. The twist in the final 3 chapters of the book was completely unexpected and was handled beautifully. The point of view of a person being fully aware of everything around then but being trapped in their own body while in a coma is well presented and thought provoking. I am conflicted about the fates of James and Pam, but I don't know if any ending would be satisfying given the nature of the story. All in all, the book is well researched and believable.  This is probably the longest review I've ever written which is not surprising since I completely loved this book.  Take a bow Sadie Mitchell, this book is a winner.

Book Review: In Her Shadow by Mark Edwards

  

Description

Isabel's life seemed perfect. Successful business, beautiful house, adoring husband. And then she was dead. For four years Jessica has never doubted that her sister Isabel's death was an accident. But when Jessica's young daughter seems to know long-forgotten details about her aunt's past, Jessica can't shake the feeling that there's a more sinister truth behind the tragedy.

As Jessica unearths disturbing revelations about her sister, and about the people she loved and trusted most, it becomes clear Isabel's life was less than perfect and that Jessica's might also be at risk. Did someone murder Isabel? Are they now after Jessica and her family? The key seems to lie in the hands of a child. Can Isabel reveal the truth from beyond the grave, or is the answer closer to home? In Her Shadow is a gripping tale of family secrets, lies and obsession from the two million copy bestselling author Mark Edwards.

 

Review: 5 Stars

**Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review**

 

This is my first Mark Edwards book and I'm impressed. I started reading this once before but stopped because of the 'paranormal' story line. That's not a genre I usually read. But then I took this up as a challenge and decided to expand my horizons. And boy am I glad that I did!! The book is outstanding. Brilliantly written and very engaging. The paranormal part initially is written so well that I had goosebumps. It felt so real and even scary, chilling to the bone. I'm glad the book isn't a 'ghost' story. It has a complete whodunit aspect to it and has many twists that lead you down a path to the truth. As the story moves on I was genuinely equally interested in the how and the who. The story has a nice logical conclusion and it was convincing. The slight mystery remains in the end but I'm happy to live with that thought hanging. Enjoyed reading this book!

 

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Book Review: The Thinnest Air by Minka Kent

Description

A woman's disappearance exposes a life of secrets in a twisting novel of psychological suspense from the author of The Memory Watcher. Meredith Price is the luckiest woman alive. Her husband, Andrew, is a charming and successful financial broker. She has two lovely stepchildren and is living in affluence in a mountain resort town. After three years of marriage, Meredith's life has become predictable. Until the day she disappears. Her car has been discovered in a grocery store parking lot—purse and phone undisturbed on the passenger seat, keys in the ignition, no sign of struggle, and no evidence of foul play. It's as if she vanished into thin air. It's not like Meredith to simply abandon her loved ones. And no one in this town would have reason to harm her. When her desperate sister, Greer, arrives, she must face a disturbing question: What if no one really knows Meredith at all? For Greer, finding her sister isn't going to be easy…because where she's looking is going to get very, very dark.

Review: 4 Stars

A brilliant and surprisingly easy read. The book is fast paced and slow at the same time! Fast paced because it moves the past to present on alternating chapters and is extremely succinct. And slow because the 'perfect' world that is presented to us initially is being chipped away with small statements sneaked in frequently. It's like you see one crack and then another and then one more and suddenly your begin to realize that there a whole lot of cracks are appearing in Meredith's perfect life. No red flags just cracks. The story is moving from the past to present and the present is slowly creeping along and all you can do as a reader is wait for the two narratives to catch up and explode in to a brilliant twist. I love how the author is able to present to us the story in a crisp manner. No unnecessary words or irrelevant details and yet it pulls you in deep quickly. The characters are distinct and you form opinions and bonds with them quickly. This makes it a hard to put down kind of a book. You can't wait to find out what happened to Meredith. You form all sorts of theories in your head but you don't know which one is the correct one till Minka Kent decides to tell you. The reveal is a nice twist but after that the ending seems a little rushed. I'm happy I got my hands on it. I like this book more than The Perfect Roommate which Minka Kent authored before this one. I loved Minka Kent's writing style and am definitely going to read all her other work and keep my eyes peeled for her next.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.**

Book Review: Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison

Tear Me Apart by J.T. Ellison

Description

The follow-up to her critically acclaimed Lie to Me, J.T. Ellison’s Tear Me Apart is the powerful story of a mother willing to do anything to protect her daughter even as their carefully constructed world unravels around them.

One moment will change their lives forever…

Competitive skier Mindy Wright is a superstar in the making until a spectacular downhill crash threatens not just her racing career but her life. During surgery, doctors discover she’s suffering from a severe form of leukemia, and a stem cell transplant is her only hope. But when her parents are tested, a frightening truth emerges. Mindy is not their daughter.

Who knows the answers?

The race to save Mindy’s life means unraveling years of lies. Was she accidentally switched at birth or is there something more sinister at play? The search for the truth will tear a family apart…and someone is going to deadly extremes to protect the family’s deepest secrets.

With vivid movement through time, Tear Me Apart examines the impact layer after layer of lies and betrayal has on two families, the secrets they guard, and the desperate fight to hide the darkness within.

My Review

**Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-MIRA for providing me with a advance reader copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.**

Phew. What A Book! This was truly un-put-down-able. I started it at 9.30pm and kept at it till 4am. Had to stop because I had work to get to in the morning and I couldn’t wait to finish it. If you are a thriller reader then you will probably figure out some of the plot early on. But it doesn’t matter. Not one bit. This book is not a whodunit. It’s not about who, it’s about why and how. The emotions in this book are phenomenal. Everything is seemingly perfect in the world of Mindy, Jasper, Lauren and Juliet when you start reading the book. But things are rarely as they seem. There are subtle hints sprinkled all over and that is what makes you want to keep reading. Even if you figure it all out you will still want to read this book. It’s the kind of a book that makes a speed reader want to slow down, to soak the book, to marinate oneself in it! The subject matter of depression and suicide is a complex and difficult one and the author has done a brilliant job of covering it in a meaningful manner. The characters are complex and you can feel strong emotions for them when you read this book. It’s a poignant read. You want to like or dislike the characters but if you read carefully enough you can’t put these characters in a box of good or bad. These complex personalities are made up of so many shades of varying colors that’s you end up not knowing who you want to root for. You will crave a clean satisfying end and Ellison delivers just that. I would highly recommend this book.