Have you heard about Karen?

Have you heard about Karen? by Karin Aharon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A spellbinding, entertaining and humorous read...

Have you heard about Karen? by Israeli author Karin Aharon is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with wonderfully drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a spellbinding, entertaining and humorous novel with plenty of twists and turns that kept me engaged from the first page to the last.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Karen, Tara, and Rylie are friendly neighbors in a suburban town, who think they know each other well. Karen seems to have it all - an amazing job as a programmer, a handsome husband, and three beautiful daughters. But behind the scenes, things are not quite as they seem… Recently her neighbors have noticed that she has been keeping something from them. As time goes by, her secrets are pushing all her friends away… When Tara and Rylie notice a mysterious man entering Karen’s home, they are astounded as to why their friend would be having a secret affair behind the back of her perfect husband… Is Karen’s life heading towards a crisis? Or does everything look different from up close?’

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the story in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well written story of intertwined friendship with perfect pacing.

When we assume that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, we tend to look at things beyond ourselves, beyond where we are, beyond what we have, beyond who we are and beyond the time we are at now. This very enjoyable read is a reflection of that.

Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Woman in the Reflection by Avi Friede

The Woman in the Reflection by Avi Friede
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very interesting and enjoyable read...

Salted with mystery and peppered with intrigue, The Woman in the Reflection by Avi Friede is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this rather peculiar romance that had me turning the pages from beginning to end.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the story in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much.

In many ways The Woman in the Reflection, a first novel written by Avi Friede, is a classic, albeit unusual romance. The author pays as much attention to his sentences as he does to his plots, shifting or consolidating meaning with the use of a single word. His writing is impeccably honed, full of juxtapositions and qualifications that help to create an almost prurient atmosphere.

Different from the writing style that I’d normally be used to, nevertheless, made this a very interesting and enjoyable read. I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

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Moraturi Lost: Paradisi Chronicles (Lost Mission Series Book 2)

Moraturi Lost: Paradisi Chronicles by Marti Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-written sci-fi adventure with perfect pacing...

Forty-some years ago my uncle gave me a science fiction anthology. It was a thick red hardback that I read from cover to cover. It inspired a lifelong love of the genre. The stories in that book made me think outside the box. They filled me with awe for the imagination it took to write them. That book still remains in my collection today. The title is OMNIBUS OF SCIENCE FICTION, edited by Groff Conklin, a well-known and prolific editor of the genre. It was published in 1952, the Golden Age of Science Fiction. It’s a substantial volume, 562 pages, with 43 stories divided into sections relating to a common theme. Some stories are fun, some are thought-provoking, and some are adventurous. I love them all.

Moraturi Lost: Paradisi Chronicles (Lost Mission Series Book 2) by Marti Ward is a superb follow up to the first book in this series: Casindra Lost: Paradisi Chronicles (Lost Mission Series Book 1). It’s another wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn settings and characters. The threads of storytelling are expertly woven in this sci-fi adventure that will guarantee the attention of the reader.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a well-written sci-fi adventure with perfect pacing. Highly recommended and looking forward to the next instalment MORATURI RING, Book 3.

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The Pirate Princess and the Sirens' Song

The Pirate Princess and the Sirens' Song by Suzanne Lowe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A delightful book...

More often than not children relate themselves with the characters of a good story. In such circumstances, reading fiction can help them to get inspiration from the characters. These stories often portray real life implications through anecdotes, and as such makes it easier for them to understand the complex aspects of life. Moreover, reading these stories at regular intervals can actually help them to develop a positive outlook towards life, which eventually proves beneficial for good character development.

The Pirate Princess and the Sirens' Song by Suzanne Lowe is a delightful and charming book for the younger reader. This award-winning and best-selling author writes in a wonderful, simple and imaginative style that will guarantee the attention of young minds. If you ever wanted to bond even more with your children or grandchildren, this would be a lovely story to share with them. Highly recommended.

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Paradise Rising: A Teen Superhero Fantasy

Paradise Rising: A Teen Superhero Fantasy by P.G. Shriver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A well-crafted teen superhero fantasy...

Depending on who you ask, or what you read, YA literature falls somewhere between middle grade and adult literature and is typically known for its teen protagonist(s) going through a coming-of-age type journey. Paradise Rising: A Teen Superhero Fantasy (The Gifted Ones Book 1) by P.G. Shriver is a well-crafted teen and young adult sci-fi mystery.

It was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly spellbinding journey.

There is something very magical about reading fantasy fiction. It speaks to the very thread of my imagination, jolting it to life and transporting it on an exhilarating journey. This story did exactly that. Fans of the sci-fi fantasy genre will not be disappointed. I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Run and Hide (The Brotherhood Chronicle Book 2)

The Run and Hide by Tejas Desai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A must-read that will keep you guessing...

The Run and Hide (The Brotherhood Chronicle Book 2) by Tejas Desai is a brilliant follow up to the first book in this series: The Brotherhood (The Brotherhood Chronicle Book 1). This is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted and compelling mystery that gives the reader a glimpse into the Asian criminal underworld. The story had every element a good story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel you are right there in the story. Highly recommended.

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My Eccentric Family by Norman L. Cantor

My Eccentric Family by Norman L. Cantor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very enjoyable read that was hard to put down...

My Eccentric Family by Norman L. Cantor is an all-encompassing human dramatization of an extraordinary life. An eyewitness, and at other times a participant in some of the most noteworthy social and political movements of the twentieth century, makes this biography a book well worth reading. Looking at historical facts, the book brings a wealth of knowledge to the reader making this a brilliant and insightful read.

Writing memoirs is a unique way to cherish your past and present, with the future in mind. However, the author states that he always thought that writing memoirs was pretentious and self-indulgent. Then at age of 76 a strange phenomenon occurred. He finally overcame a psychological block and read his Communist father’s 900-page FBI file. That reading triggered numerous recollections of his ‘red diaper’ childhood. And when he casually recounted a few vignettes to friends and family, the universal reaction was wonderment and a strong curiosity to hear more about his upbringing.

This is ‘a rare journey with universal lessons that is simultaneously a deeply personal memoir and an incisive work of history. It was a very enjoyable and interesting book to read. Highly recommended.

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