The Catch - Taylor Stevens

The Catch is the fourth novel in the Vanessa Michael Munroe series, and this eBook was provided to me by bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for an honest review.

This series is promoted as a female Jack Reacher and it's certainly true as like Jack, Munroe also gets the job done no matter what. And the thing is that even though Vanessa is a female she goes around as Michael and people think of as a male.

This book was good as it introduced Kenya to me with all the small workings of a country and town in Africa. We have Somali hijackers and Russians to sift through this mystery as Kenya the playground.

This book is filled with action and I would certainly read first 3 books from the series to understand Munroe more as a character.

My rating for this book 4/5 i.e. ****/*****

Book Review - Love Kills by Ismita Tandon

Love Kills by Ismita Tandon is a murder mystery where there's a dead girl and a dead man but it's not your normal whodunit. Admittedly it's a little slower but slow burner of books are also good.

The story begins with Johnny Will who runs a de-addiction center called 'Thy Will' where he treats rich and famous of country.

The story begins when Johnny's girlfriend Mira is found dead with an overdose of Morphine and a drawing with the exact replica of crime scene near her dead body. Johnny is the prime suspect in the murder, who naturally claims innocence. Then who killed Mira and why?

The books is told from different perspectives where in each chapter is told through perspective of different characters and which instantly turns this book into a very interesting read because every voice has a different style and almost everyone appears  to have a motivation to be the killer. 

All the characters have their motivations to be vicious and we don't know the identity till the very end. My only concern with the book was slightly slow pace which wasn't up to my taste, so I have deducted one star for that otherwise it has been a wonderful book which every book lover should give a try.

My Ratings for the book 4/5 i.e. ****/*****

Book Review - Henni

I was loaned/provided this DRC e-Copy for an honest review by NetGalley 

This is kinda a YA graphic novel about a girl called Henni who lives in a world of Cat-people. Using cat-people the author has drawn a wonderful world which tells the story about two societies. One where Henni grows up is filled is religious zealots and when she grows up run away from her village she reaches another village which is filled with cat-people who are ruled by fear and forced in submission and agreeing with their wish. This graphic novel tells us about Henni's continuous journey to different villages. 

This time we cover two of them and promise of continuous story. Very nice and different presentation. Very good read for all. Will wait for next installments and like most I will post full review once the book is published.


My rating for e-ARC of this Graphic novel is 4/5 stars or ****/*****

Book Review - The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman is a story about childhood. It's fantasy, YA, Horror, Drama its everything our childhood was. I admit I wanted to read this or any of Neil's books for a very long time so I was very happy when it finally became possible.

The story starts with a middle aged man attending a funeral and then he goes to look at his old home which is no longer there and then he goes to the end of the lane to the place where he had whale of a time when he was 7 years old. This book starts as a simple memoir and jumps head first in the world of supernatural and all powerful beings and an ocean which is just a duck pond. But he was convinced by Lettie who was 11 that it was an Ocean.

This is truly a magical book which would take you back to your childhood which was filled with magic and the moments which you can no longer believe to be absolutely true or may be that would happen to me and you when we are little more older. Till then enjoy the ride again its a fairly small book but you would wish that it would've been longer. But as all things perfect it is the way it was supposed to be neither too short nor too long, it is just right. If you get a chance by all means do read this book you won't be disappointed.

My Ratings  - 5/5
In Stars        - ***** / *****


Since this my first book by Neil Gaiman it would go for First Reads Challenge 2014.

Book Review - Girl Alone by Rupa Gulab

'Girl Alone' is a book by Rupa Gulab. At 204 pages it's a fairly small book.

Our protagonist  Arti moved to Mumbai from Kolkata for a job and lives in a hostel with her best friends Monica and Jo. Together they go through life and relationships. But its all the way through Arti's story and thus her snobbery and cynicism rules over. 

Arti's solution for life's tests and troubles is simple Cough Syrup. You are alone - Cough Syrup, Break-up - Cough Syrup, Feel like crying - Cough Syrup, you get the idea. As a voice Arti accepts that much and she really is a snob who feels that she is so superior to all the other less read people. Though I must say that I really liked the numerous references and quotes from classic literature and rock songs.

In all I liked the book enough to finish it and didn't feel like throwing it across the room. It is an enjoyable read so if you feel like it go for this Chic Lit.

My Ratings - 3/5
In Stars      - *** / *****


My review for this book is part of IQRC 2014.

Book Review - The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

I bought this book because I heard a lot of good things about it. And word of mouth is very important factor with books. I hoped to learn something good through this book. Oh! how mistaken was I. 

First of all this is not a book as it is just a transcript of the video by the same name, with few quotes thrown in between for good measure. 

The Secret is 'The Law of Attraction' but the philosophy is quite simply dangerous. All's good and well when we are told that the Law of Attraction is most important and powerful law in the universe. But how do you benefit from the law oh do nothing just believe and it would be done.

Want to be a writer then do nothing just believe you are a writer and as per this book you would get your book deal. What a Joke.

My Biggest issue with this joke is that also claims that we attract all the bad things which happen to us with our thinking. 

Wonderful so the kid who got cancer got it because he or his parents thought about it. The Girl who got raped because she was thinking about it. Dangerous in the word. This book is dangerous and it doesn't deserve one bit of praise it got. 

Avoid this at all cost, avoid it like plague..

My Ratings - 1/5

In Stars     - * / *****

Book Review - The Treasure of Kafur by Aroon Raman

One thing which I don't like much about Indian authors is that they seem to focus only on one type of subject love stories. That is why I am always interested in the books which are different. Just like the one I have got today. 

'The Treasure of Kafur' is a tale centered around India of 16th century about 1580s. This is a historical fiction and its a lovely book. There I said it, I loved it absolutely loved it for the language, for the flow, for the characters, for the story, for the research for everything the author has done.

The story as the title suggests about a treasure of lore and legends actually the original treasure wasn't lost and it was huge (241 tonne Gold, 20000 Horses and 612 Elephants all laden with looted treasure of South India). But that's where fiction element come into the picture, its historical fiction and it works beautifully. 

Our Hero is Dattatreya a 21 years old man living with his Grandmother Ambu who are both Guardians and can communicate with animals. Datta is always with few animals Aditi - his Cow, Manas - his Tortoise, Kanka and Shukra - Ravens and Sheherazad - a parrot. Ambu comes to know of the location of the lost treasure of Kafur and the cruel ruler of country Khandesh wants that treasure to wage a war against Mughal empire. So Ambu is kidnapped by him and Datta races against time to reach Agra to Akbar to alert him of the treasure and get his Ambu free.

The story progresses like a fantasy novel and there are certainly few elements. In all I simply loved this wonderful effort by the author. Hoping to read more of his writing.

My Ratings - 5/5
In Stars     - ***** / *****



Note - I received an author signed copy by Aroon himself but that hasn't changed any of my words or review I genuinely loved the book. I even forgo sleep to write this review.



This review is part of First Reads challenge 2014 and IQRC 2014.