Title: Adultery

Author: Paulo Coelho

Genre: Adult Fiction

Publisher: Vintage (August 19, 2014)

Publication Date: August 19, 2014

Print length: 274 pages

ASIN:  B00ILXBA70

Paulo Coelho, the best selling author of The Alchemist, The Winner Stands Alone, and Eleven Minutes presents the effects of the mundanity of marriage on a woman who got it all – a successful career, a loving, wealthy husband, a picture-perfect family, a beautiful house in a rich city. In hopes of feeling alive again, she got herself into an affair with her ex-boyfriend from high school. The difficult moment of her life revealed the things she’s capable of,  the state of her mind, and the things that matter most in her life.

Linda started with what she does in a day. She wakes up early in the morning, makes breakfast for her family, walks her children to school, goes to work, comes home after work, spends time with her husband and children, goes to bed, rinse and repeat.

One day, wanting to know if she’s depressed, she went out for lunch with her friend who had been on antidepressants, asking her questions about depression and its symptoms. She almost checked out all the boxes for being depressed.

The next day, she went on with her boring routine, doing the usual things she does every day. Everything was not interesting anymore even her job as a journalist. On that day, she was assigned to interview her ex-boyfriend who was a politician to talk about the same boring things: politics, taxes, crimes. The interview ended but Jacob König canceled his next appointment, closed the door, and kissed Linda who didn’t hesitate to give in. A sense of control, a sense of adventure, a sense of freedom awakened in her.  Breaking the rules made her so happy. At home, she tried to conceal that happiness by acting normal, doing the same things after work to avoid suspicions from her husband.  Even though on the outside she appeared the way she was yesterday, inside she acknowledged that she was having a crisis after long years of marriage. 

Linda met Jacob again in an expensive restaurant, talking about their lives.  She was surprised when Jacob asked her if she’s happy. She didn’t answer but her silence said it all. Jacob revealed that he was unhappy, too,  and tired from trying to please the people around him including her wife. Shocked by his honesty, she thought that people who are plagued with inner struggles find their way to each other, aggravating their plight.  Finally, someone understood her. She felt she was falling in love with him again.

Linda’s boss found out about her meeting with Jacob and asked her if she managed to get an exclusive interview with that politician. According to him, his source suggested that a foreign company was blackmailing Jacob to help them remove evidence of corruption in its own country. Photos and confirmation from the politician were what the newspaper needed to publicly condemn those who wanted to defile their political system. Her boss ordered her to get closer to him which was easy for he also knew that she’s going to meet Jacob again.

They met again but instead of having an in-depth talk about the real business, blackmail, corruption, and infidelity- Jacob also had an affair with another politician’s wife, Jacob changed the subject and asked her if she wanted to know why he wanted to see her again. He could see himself in her, unhappy and mentally exhausted. He asked whether she thought he was sexually attracted to her. They were not teenagers anymore. He just wanted to know why she’s not happy. Linda didn’t like his questions. Feeling attacked, she stood up and told him she was actually happy, he should go see a doctor to cure his depression without letting his wife know about it and try other things to make himself happy. But after saying all that, she kissed Jacob.  She crossed the threshold of becoming a mistress which she thought brought her soul back.

After having several rendezvous afterward, Linda was convinced that she was in love with Jacob and that she wanted to snatch him from his wife. However, at one point,  she came back to her senses, stopped seeing Jacob, and looked for help from psychiatrists and a shaman. The latter told her to go all the way to the end of the game for he saw in her soul has more light than darkness.

She took the shaman’s advice and continued to have secret meetings with Jacob. One thing that surprised her was her inclination to sadomasochistic sexual activities. Maybe she was not in love with him, he just awakened something in her.

After the election- Jacob won and became a member of the Council of State, Linda, together with her husband, attended an event hosted by a TV station. Jacob and her wife were at the party as well. Linda had been trying to hide or stay away from them but was unsuccessful when the host asked her to give a speech. In the middle of her speech, she saw Mr. and Mrs. König standing beside her husband. She ended her speech quickly and walked toward where her husband was standing. Madame König invited them to dinner to which Linda’s husband accepted.

Linda felt uneasy; Jacob was also wondering why her wife made this dinner happened. At the table, the four of them had a small talk but until Mme König talked about jealousy. She said she didn’t feel jealous of women who were having an affair with her husband but horniness. She would ask Jacob to do to her what he did to his mistresses who were unloved, insecure women. Jacob tried to convince the participants of this little show that his wife was just making that up, that it’s just her fantasies. Linda was shocked when she realized that Jacob enjoyed his wife’s treatment of him, the “unfaithful male”. She didn’t like where the conversation was heading so she got back at Mme. König, telling her that jealous people would never show in public how they feel. They would try to catch their partner’s infidelity by setting a trap and too naive to think they would be successful. If she had an affair with her husband, she would never fall for her trap. Linda’s husband was shocked. Mme König asked him if his wife really thought she was describing her. Linda was so angry with her.

Linda took a sleeping pill that night and slept for ten hours. The next day, she received a text from Jacob saying that she let the cat out of the bag. She cried and cried on that day. She realized it was time to be honest with her husband.

After work, she set the place by the fireplace with wine and assorted cheeses. Her husband came downstairs and saw what she did. They sat on the sofa. She said there’s something she wanted to tell him but it’s not about her fear of being depressed. Her husband interrupted her and talked about going after a dream that comes with a price, about why he’s controlling his jealousy, about how strong his love is more than anything else. He understood if she wanted to leave him. Linda cried and rest her head on his shoulder.

For the last time, Linda went to see Jacob at his office and made love with him. It was her way of ending their illicit relationship. She told Jacob that her husband loved her so much, he made her feel she’s worth a lot despite what she did. His wife must also want him to end this relationship so she could love him. They bid each other goodbye.

Linda spent the New Year with her husband in Interlaken where they visited before they got married. In order to add adventure to their marriage, they went paragliding. Linda was scared to try it but she went anyway. While she was flying in the sky, she realized a lot of things about love and truth. She’s finally free.

For me, the book is beyond its title and the lead character. The reader must keep in mind that this is in the point of view of Linda whose concept of love, marriage, and life should be taken with a grain of salt. She tried to justify her infidelity by distorting the true definition of love. Coelho showed the character of Linda through her fears, beliefs, and choices. Surprisingly, I became so engaged in the story that I felt sorry for her. I couldn’t put the book down for I was eager to know if she was able to overcome this challenge and would still have her husband, her family, and her career in the end.

The part that was confusing is the style of the dialogue. For the most part,  I could follow what Linda tells until she got into a conversation with one of the characters. I would get confused because I had to think if she talking to me or to one of the characters.

All in all, this book is a good read. The story is not all about the journey of a woman finding change in her life but also a story of spiritual awakening. Every challenge in life brings a  lesson and it keeps on coming back until you learn it. It’s like losing yourself in order to find yourself.  It is just sad that in order to find herself, Linda hurt her husband along the way. Her husband’s true love kept the important things in her life.

15.3 milion…

That’s the number of people who are drug dependents worldwide according to the World Health Organization.

Just imagine the number of lives, relationships, families, and communities affected by drug abuse, which aggravate several problems such as mental health struggles, increasing crime rate, and community violence.

The stigma againts drug abusers is palpable because many people view them as burden in the society.

But Gabor Mate sees them differently… drug addiction is a distress call for help.

In his book, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, he invites the readers to see with compassion and understanding the other side of drug addiction, the human side of this problem, and the science behind this seemingly cyclical problem.

Gabor Mate, together with his family, survived the Holocaust when he was a baby. This experience gave him a unique perspective not only on drug addiction but also on trauma and childhood development, which he talks about in his books – When The Body Says No, The Myth of Normal, and Hold On To Your Kids.

OVERVIEW

In The Realm Of Hungry Ghosts, Gabor Mate hopes to help the public in understanding the challenges of people who are struggling with drug dependency. Factoring in the brain science of addiction, he also hopes to dispel unhelpful beliefs that fuel the War on Drugs.

Addiction is a multi-faceted problem as it involves not only the mental problems but also physical, emotional, and spiritual problems. Addiction is a symptom of distress; drug-dependent people are crying out for help.

As a physician who has worked closely with people suffering from drug addiction, Mate shared their personal stories, highlighting their struggles and hopes. He, too, faces struggles with a non-drug addiction, and in the book, he reveals how this has impacted both him and his family.

The science behind addiction is also explored, including the chemicals involved, why they malfunction, and the connection between childhood trauma and brain chemistry.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 

1. How does Gabor Mate defines addiction in the book? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
2. What is the most memorable personal story shared in the book? How did it change your perspective on addiction?
3. According to Mate, what role does childhood trauma play ni the development of addiction?
4. How does the brain chemistry discussed in the book contribute to addiction?
5. In what ways does the book challenge the common perception of addiction as a pervasive problem in the society?
6. What are the things that affects healing and recovery?
7. How does the book address the impact of addiction on families and relationships?
8. In what ways does the book challenge War on Drugs?
9. What insights does the book offer about the need for a more compassionate approach to addiction treatment?
10. Would you recommend this book? Why or why not?

QUOTES

KEY POINTS

• Mate told the real stories from real people who struggled with drug abuse in a way that is easy to read but still heart-wrenching. The raw pain of the real people who are suffering from addiction can be felt through the pages. They are also human beings with needs. They also  have families and friends. It’s just unfortunate that they were in a position that made them vulnerable to addiction.
• The writing is conversational and a little academic as it discusses the mechanisms of the brain that is directly affected by substances.
• The author was honest and authentic. He didn’t hesitate to share his own frustrations with his patients. Life with addiction has highs and lows.
• It challenges the way I look at addiction. I thought that when a person is drug-dependent, he’s a altogether a bad person. Looking at addiction as distress, it calls me to be compassionate and understanding. 

SUMMING-UP

Gabor Mate, a world-renowned expert in trauma, childhood development, and drug addiction, invites the readers to see the humane side of drug addiction in his book In The Realm Of Hungry Ghosts. As someone who survived the Holocaust when he was a baby, he developed a unique perspective on drug addiction. The book helps readers understand that addiction is not simply a matter of willpower or moral weakness, but a complex response to emotional pain, trauma, and unmet needs.

One of the main messages of the book is that addiction is a call for help. Mate highlights how childhood trauma plays a key role in the development of addictive behaviors. He also examined the brain chemistry that is involved in addiction, providing a scientific perspective on this issue.

Mate’s own battle on non-drug addiction brings a surprise. His authenticity in sharing his own struggles can be felt through the pages. He was honest about how it affects his relationships and his life. In general,  addiction can affect anyone may it be drug addiction, alcohol, or even shopping.

Mate also critiques the societal response to addiction, particularly the stigma and punitive approaches that only deepen the problem. He argues that healing requires more than just addressing the substance abuse itself—it requires understanding the emotional and psychological pain underlying the addiction. Compassion, support, and a focus on overall well-being are necessary for true recovery.

Overall, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts is a call for a more humane approach to addiction. Mate challenges readers to see addiction as a health issue that requires understanding, not judgment. The book offers a powerful blend of personal narratives, scientific insights, and a clear message: healing is possible, but only when we move beyond stigma and embrace empathy.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Author’s Website: https://drgabormate.com/ 

Book Information:

In The Realm Of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté

Published on January 5, 2010 by North Atlantic Books

563 pages (eBook)

No Mud, No Lotus by Thich Nhat Hanh

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Thich Nhat Hanh, a global spiritual leader, poet, and leader brings the purpose of suffering to light in No Mud, No Lotus. He stresses that suffering and happiness are tied up with each other. “Where there is suffering, there is happiness. “

Thich Nhat Hanh explains how suffering is an integral part of being human and how it can be transformed into happiness. Running away from it is counterintuitive. Through mindfulness, we can navigate through it without getting overwhelmed. First, we need to accept its existence by taking mindful breaths that bring our minds home to our bodies. In this way, our minds stop rambling.  Then, to make the transformation easier, we understand the root cause of our suffering by examining ourselves first. The pain of our ancestors is ours, too, so if we heal ourselves, we are also healing them. Breathing exercises are the main practices to transform suffering into happiness.  These breathing exercises are included in the last part of the book. Thic Nhat Hanh also offers how to handle life’s small and big sufferings and how to sustain happiness. 

I enjoyed reading this book. It is a short book but packed with thought-provoking nuggets on suffering, happiness, and life. The breathing practices are easy to understand and follow. I recommend it to those who are interested in the power of breathing and the art of transforming suffering into happiness. 

The Spy by Paulo Coelho

⭐⭐⭐☆☆

A world-renowned writer deciphers the innermost feelings and thoughts of the most famous exotic dancer in Paris in the mid-1910s a week before her execution. Paulo Coelho depicts the life of a Dutch woman, Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, also known as Mata Hari, in his biographical fiction, The Spy, in a form of letters written by her and her lawyer, Edouard Clunet, who was also her lover.  

Mata Hari recounts her life from the time her father went bankrupt and her mother died to the time she was imprisoned in France. Her life is a story of survival. She used her charm and courage to take risks, creating a dangerous fire she played with until she got burned. At 18, she married a captain who was living in Dutch East Indies now known as Indonesia, 21 years her senior. His alcoholism and physical abuse had taken a toll on her so she left him and went to Paris, penniless and all alone. She reinvented herself as an exotic dancer that made her famous overnight. From Margaretha Geertruida Zelle to Lady MacLeod to Mata Hari, she became “the fascination of men and the envy of women.”

Eventually, as she came to be a  courtesan to military men from different countries, she was approached to spy for Germany and then later on to be a double agent for France. Contrary to stories that constructed Mata Hari as a femme fatale, she was ineffective as a spy as she only provided unhelpful information. Despite this,  the head of the French military intelligence who recruited Mata Hari as an espionage agent, Captain Georges Ladoux, had her arrested for spying against France. On October 15, 1917, she was shot to death by a firing squad. Many years after, it was found that the  Mata Hari trial was a sham.

The Spy is a creative, reflective narrative infused with Coelho’s own interpretation of what Mata Hari may have felt and thought about God, life, love, and power. The prologue was exquisitely written. The detailed sequences of events– from the time she woke up in her cell at 5 in the morning to the moment she was declared dead– give a slow-motion effect that evoked a feeling of sympathy for the woman who was sentenced to die for an accusation founded on weak evidence.

On the other hand, The Spy is my least favorite Coelho book.  The use of figurative language fused sentimentality into the narrative but it didn’t fit my expectations. Perhaps, watching Mata Hari’s documentary and reading her history first ruined the experience for me.  I’ve learned my lesson.

Learning to Love Math by Judy Willis

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

I was a school teacher before and I taught Math to elementary school students. I know how frustrating it is for many students when they don’t get the lessons. It’s just hard to love Math.  In her book, Learning to Love Math, Judy Willis shows that, with the right mindset and teaching strategies,  it’s not hard to love this subject. 

Needless to say, the brain is the organ that we use in learning. Understanding how it works helps students open their eyes to their learning needs, strengths and weaknesses, and their ability to improve their performances.  In addition to the “Gray Matter” sections that talk about brain functions, Willis also offered the  Brain Owner’s Manual that teachers and parents can use as a reference in discussing the three main components of the brain responsible for absorbing and processing information. 

To support students through the learning process, Willis shared loads of strategies to help students change their attitudes towards Math,  accomplish challenges, reduce mistake anxiety, increase motivation, and apply Math in real-world situations. It must be noted, though, that the strategies are garnered from Judy Willis’ experience as an elementary and middle school teacher.  Nevertheless,  both elementary and high school students can still find the information in this book helpful.  

Our brain has the ability to change, adapt, and modify. It takes time, though, but with motivation and practice, we can develop positive attitudes towards things that we find difficult such as Math. I recommend Learning to Love Math to teachers and parents who want to help their kids love Math.

Smaller and Smaller Circles  by F.H. Batacan

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

One theory why there aren’t many serial killers in the Philippines is the prevalence of gossip culture in neighborhoods and workplaces. Anything suspicious will be on the radar of prying eyes and ears. But in FH Batacan’s Smaller and Smaller Circles, a serial killer was able to slaughter scrawny and feeble boys and dump their dead bodies in a landfill in Metro Manila without being caught for seven months. A Jesuit priest, Father Gus Saenz,  investigates this gruesome crime with the help of his colleague and protege,  Father Jerome Lucero.The investigation plays out against the backdrop of social injustice, the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal, and government corruption. 

It was exciting to follow the fast-paced story as the two main characters gather pieces of information and lead. Father Gus Saenz is likable and his expertise as a forensic anthropologist makes his character more believable. His character works well with Father Jerome Lucero, Saenz’s colleague and protege who is a clinical psychologist. As the story advances, the author throws morsels of the killer’s thoughts, revealing his state of mind that piqued my curiosity about the reasons why he murders young boys. 

The social issues touched in this novel add another dimension to the story. F H Batacan worked in the Philippine intelligence community for ten years witnessed the inept system of the Philippine government in providing security and justice to Filipino citizens especially the poor ones living in slum areas. This angers her that’s why she wrote the book. But then,  she didn’t show the reaction of the community where the victims live.  She factored out the gossip culture. In the prologue, the body of a victim was found in the landfill by a boy and he told the other priest who oversees the parish in the community.  A throng of people gathered around the site. For sure, the news about the murder would spread like fire, parents would be scared for their kids, schools would be alarmed, and the local politicians would know right away. I want to know how these factors affect the serial killer’s plan and the priests’ investigation. In spite of this, it’s still a good read.

The Book of Beautiful Questions by Warren Berger

⭐⭐⭐🌠☆ 

Warren Berger’s The Book of Beautiful Questions is a cornucopia of questions that help us become better versions of ourselves. It has more than two hundred questions about decision-making, connecting with others, leadership, and inquiring about life.  Berger’s further discussion of these topics is illustrative and illuminating but can be dragging. I love the Index of Questions. It’s easier to find the contents that are valuable to me. 

The Bookbinder’s Daughter by Jessica Thorne

⭐⭐⭐⭐🌠 

Why do we have libraries?

Some say that libraries serve as gateways to knowledge and culture that support learning,  innovation,  and creativity.  In Bookbinder’s Daughter, Jessica Thorne, the author, conceives a story about the role of libraries in our society with a magical twist. It’s my first time reading this kind of story and I couldn’t stop myself from reading on until I find out the connection of the enigmatic Ayredale Library to a possible apocalypse triggered by the selfishness and greed of some people working in this library.  

The main character is unforgettable and relatable. Sophia’s love for her mother and struggle with depression and trauma caused by the disappearance of her mother who was a bookbinder in Ayredale make me root for her.  Relief washed over me when her elusive childhood memories gradually returned to her as she worked at the library. Her courage and sacrifice, in the end, kindled my appreciation of maternal and familial love. 

The most exciting part for me is the revelation of the power that the library possesses through one of the characters whom I didn’t expect to be the conduit of apocalyptic magic.  The descriptions of the images and the sound carried me to that scene, invoking the emotions of awe and fear. The effects they have on me are still the same even on the second or third reading. Experiencing as if what I am reading is real is the reason why I love sci-fi and fantasy stories and The Bookbinder’s Daughter is one of the best I’ve read so far. 

Thank you, Jessica Thorne, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the ARC (ebook and audiobook) in exchange for an honest review. 

Feeling & Knowing by Antonio Damasio

⭐⭐⭐🌠☆

Feeling and Knowing by Antonio Damasio, a Portuguese-American neuroscientist,  is the most difficult book I’ve read this year.  Curious about how and why we have feelings, I got down to it but with a little apprehension that I might not fully understand what I am reading. True enough, it was challenging to comprehend the science behind feelings and thinking but I did get some golden nugget of information. In this short book, Damasio talks about being, mind, feelings, and consciousness from the point of view of a neuroscientist.  For Damasio, “feelings are not purely mental; that they are hybrids of the mind and body; that they move with ease from mind to body and back again; and they disturb mental peace.” Feeling and Knowing is a kind of book that I must reread to grasp its contents. 

Thank you, Antonio Damasio,  Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Pantheon, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Partner Pursuit by Kathy Strobos

⭐⭐⭐🌠☆

Kathy Strobos’ Partner Pursuit is a light, heartwarming chick lit about Audrey Willems, a lawyer working in New York who fights tooth and nail to become a law firm partner but also pulls out all the stops to find a romantic partner. It isn’t an easy journey for Audrey. Along the way, the internal and external conflicts jeopardize the realization of her goals and they bring out her likable traits– resilience, loyalty, and determination. 

I also love how the author showcases New York City’s famous places and interesting restaurants. I kept checking these places on Google Map and imagined the characters walking on the side streets, buying groceries, waiting and dining at restaurants, or bicycling around the park. I also checked Kathy Strobos’ favorite place to buy cookies, the Levain Bakery. This is why I love reading. It’s like traveling to different places without leaving home.  

Partner Pursuit is a fun read that is reminiscent of a typical rom-com but does not fall short of sending its message about finding a balance between career and love.

Thank you, Kathy Sobros, Strawbundle Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Jordan Lee Dooley’s second book, Embrace Your Almost, illumines the path women can take after failing to achieve a life goal or a dream. As a Christian, writer, podcaster, and entrepreneur, Dooley helps women materialize their dreams without compromising overall well-being. She is an achiever and her journey in building her career and creating her business has its peaks and valleys, corroborating the fact that life indeed has wins and losses, highs and lows, successes and failures. 

OVERVIEW

    Jordan Lee Dooley is familiar with what happens after a dream falls flat. She had great dreams for her career and marriage but hope, excitement, and contentment were replaced by doubts, frustrations, and dejection after her endeavors failed. She becomes personal in sharing her own struggles that pushed her to a bumpy place between starting a dream and achieving it. 

    The feeling of being swallowed by darkness could make it easier to surrender and believe there’s nothing to expect in the future anymore but Dooley didn’t give up. Instead, she used failure as a beacon of light that reveals what’s more important in her life, veering away from what the world tells her what she should be.

    Dooley demonstrated that it’s possible to create a life that you really like even if you are stuck in the middle.

Key Takeaways

• When you see that other people’s dreams are coming true and yours don’t, it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road. 
• Being stuck in the middle is temporary. You can move forward when plans change. 
• There are two kinds of dreams: one that is right for you, the other that you have to let go of. Dooley shows when to surrender a dream and what to do after letting it go. 
• Gems of wisdom and clarity can be found even in life’s darkest period.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 

1. What was your first reaction when you read the title of the book?
2. What are the most crucial moments in Dooley’s life? How did she handle them?
3. What are the most helpful tips you learned from this book? Why are they helpful?
4. What decisions did you make after reading the book?
5. What questions would you ask the author?

QUOTES

“It can seem nearly impossible to love our life when we’re focused on what hasn’t gone right.”

“Even if on the surface we seem to have failed, if we allow the experience to grow us into the women we were made to be, then we will have succeeded far beyond any superficial achievements.”

“When it comes to our hopes, plans, ambitions, and dreams, the reality is that we have control over only a few key things: what we choose to focus on next, why we choose the things that we do, and how we respond when plans work out and when they don’t.”

“Choosing to flourish is more than merely deciding to feel differently. It’s taking action. It’s changing our focus and allowing our feelings to follow suit.”

“When the road gets long or when things almost but then don’t quite work out, it can make us bitter or it can make us better.”

WHAT I LOVED THE MOST

• The title “Embrace Your Almost” is only three words but its impact on me was so powerful that I didn’t have second thoughts to read it right away the moment I got my copy. I have several dreams and goals that I have almost achieved in my life. Seeing this title changed the way I felt about my almost. It invites me to embrace it and use it as a guide to becoming a better person.

• The author’s bravery in telling her personal stories with all honesty and rawness is laudable. She has to recount hurtful events of her life in order to share the things she learned with her readers. She paves the way to a better process in dealing with failures, which is surprisingly a springboard to a future with a clearly defined purpose.

• The book is not a collection of stories from hundreds of different people but an account of Dooley’s personal struggles which make her relatable. Her tone in the book is sincere, encouraging, and hopeful.

• The steps to take to move forward are concrete and practical.

WHAT I LOVED THE LEAST

    I’ve been trying to find the parts that I didn’t love but I couldn’t find any. This book hits me hard because I am currently in the middle– between the time I was full of dreams and the time of creating a life that I want. This book is what I needed to read at this point in my life. I appreciate every story, every wisdom, and every piece of advice Dooley wrote in this book that enlightens the truth that I could still create a life that is meaningful. Where God plants me, there I flourish.

    Perhaps, the one thing that must be noted is Dooley also shares her faith in the book. She’s a Christian and she’s been helping church communities as a volunteer. Nevertheless, with all the things she struggled with and overcame, I learned a lot from her.

SUMMING-UP

    Embrace You Almost is a must-read by women who want to navigate the possibilities in life after an unrealized dream. It bares the struggles of women and the consequences they face for not measuring up to the standards of society. With the advent of technology and social media, failure can affect women’s self-esteem, making it appear that there’s no more hope, only despair. But Dooley thinks otherwise. She was able to show through her personal stories of loss and disappointments that there is still hope; an open mind and a receptive heart are needed to see this. A newfound clarity will also be achieved that makes life even more purposeful.

    Although the book also talks about Dooley’s faith, women can still find helpful tips that are easy to put into practice. It is evident that Dooley acknowledges the difficulty of moving forward as illustrated in her suggestion to just take a small step and do one small thing at a time. This is just one of the different, important lessons that can be learned from the book.

    I am grateful to Jordan Lee Dooley, WaterBrook, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and to share my honest review. 

FURTHER INFORMATION

• Book Trailer 
• Jordan Lee Dooley’s Website 
• Instagram
• Podcast
• Soulscripts 

Book Information:

Embrace Your Almost by Jordan Lee Dooley

Published on April 5, 2022, by WaterBrook

210 pages (eBook)

Find it here:

Goodreads 

Contents

Imagine you were 28 years old, alone, and broke…

Left by the man you loved for 10 years – the man you thought would be your husband in the end. 

You were confused and lost…

How would you reclaim your life? How would you build your life from scratch? 

Just Want You Here explores love, rejection, friendship, passion, second chances, identity, and growth through the story of Aria Bishop, who was on the cusp of a stable future with Morgan, her fiancee, when everything fell apart. Left at the crossroads, she braved herself to move forward but unknowingly took an uncertain path that brought her to places she never thought she would be. She found a new love, a new friend, and new opportunities, but each was laden with deception, betrayal, and pain. Did she push herself deeply into the quagmire? Would she be able to save herself before it was too late? One thing is certain – her journey will leave you questioning the true cost of love and redemption. 

Just Want You Here is a debut novel by Meredith Turits, a writer and editor from Connecticut with expertise in business, economics, sports, literature, and more. She leads the features team at Front Office Sports as an editorial director and a former editor of business features at BBC.com. Turits graduated magna cum laude at Tufts University and attended the Yale Writers’ Workshop for Fiction. 

An intimate and deeply moving coming-of-age novel about second chances and the inextricable bonds between lovers and friends.

The only love Ari has known is Morgan. Engaged and planning a life with him in New York, Ari is shocked when Morgan sits her down one rainy afternoon and tells her their decade-long relationship is over. They’ve been over for a long time now, he says—and Ari knows he’s right.

Twenty-eight years old and suddenly alone, Ari throws herself into a new job in Boston, as assistant to a tech CEO. Wells is British, twelve years her senior, a devoted husband and father. He’s also captivated by Ari, in a way neither of them can explain. Ignoring every warning signal from friends and their own instincts, they dive into a fiery affair, which becomes more dangerous as Ari finds herself intricately tangled with his wife, Leah.

Nothing can prepare Ari for the choices she must make as she tries to uncover what’s right for herself, and for the people she can’t let go. As a new path opens—a journey of lies and the twisted calculus of protecting them—Ari’s second chance at happiness forces her to consider who she really is. Can you love someone without dragging them under? What does it take to start over again?

Source: Goodreads

1. How had Ari and Morgan’s relationship become ordinary over time, and what did that say about where they stood?
2. Why had he asked if she hated him? How had she responded?
3. What had made Ari feel ready to leave for Boston?
4. How had Ari turned into someone she never thought she would be?
5. Why had Ari felt guilty every day?
6. What did Ari realize about her father’s choices?
7. Describe Wells and his impact on Ari’s life. 
8. What had helped Ari believe she could move forward?
9. How had Ari defined herself in the past?
10. What had Ari learned about herself over the last two years?

• The book made me care about the main character, Ari, and it felt like I knew her very well and that she was somebody close to me. Because of what happened to her at the beginning of the story, she wasn’t able to think things through that’s why she got into a convoluted situation. Her actions bothered me. I understand her pain and struggles but she was hurting people. And it was just a matter of time. I couldn’t stop turning the page because I was deeply invested in seeing how the people involved would react after the truth was revealed. My heart went out to Ari. I wanted her to be happy, but she needed to wake up and face the truth. I was so glad that one of the most important people in her life finally made her snap out of it. This book devastated me. I had to give myself a day or two to recover from all the emotional turmoil it put me through. 
• Meredith Turits is a great writer. The wording is never boring—just the right mix of easy language and a few drops of new, difficult words. As a reader, I love well-written sentences and unfamiliar words that give me a dopamine rush. So many quotes stuck with me, and a few are shared above. They capture that tender feeling of being human—we can be fragile and lost, yet with a strong determination to do what is right, we can also be strong and fulfilled.
• The pacing of the story is dynamic. It goes with the mood of the scene. For instance, when Ari got into a situation that happened so fast, the pacing of that part was quick. The parts that included a lot of retrospection were slow enough to understand the scene or the character more and to let the emotions sink in. 

• The multiple POVs weren’t confusing, but there were blank chapters that left me wondering if they were intentional or just an unedited part of the ARC. While the story still felt complete, I wished there had been more insight into Morgan’s character—I wanted to understand him better.
• There was just one line with an awkward word choice that I couldn’t forget. I think choosing the word “lungs” to describe Wells in a scene where he and Ari are intimate was deliberate to foreshadow a major event later on in the story but it felt a bit unnatural. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Feeling lost can sometimes make us vulnerable, cloud our minds, and impair our willpower to do the right thing. When we are in a wrong situation, we don’t see it as such because of the fleeting happiness we feel. But when we realize that it is destroying us, we begin to fight our way to save ourselves. The question is are we going to get out without losing ourselves?

Meredith Turit’s debut novel, Just Want You Here,  is a story about second chances and growth but it’s more of a cautionary tale about playing with forbidden, passionate love. Ari, a 28-year-old woman who was pretty and talented became alone and lost after her boyfriend of 10 years broke up with her. Keeping her head above water, she moved to another city and got hired as an executive assistant to Wells, the CEO of a tech company. But things soon began to turn dark as Ari got involved with Wells, a married man with a son. The happiness and passion they felt were spiked with the pain they caused themselves, their family, and their friends. 

This book left me devastated for two days after reading it. It felt like the main character was my sister or a best friend whom I cared for and rooted for, only to watch her make mistakes that destroyed her in the end. In life, it hurts when you see someone you love fall apart. The same pain that this story made me feel. I know Ari is a fictional character but the book developed this parasocial connection with her that triggered a heavy emotional response. This just showed how immersive Turit’s storytelling is. 

I like that the pacing of the story is dynamic and matches the tone of the scene. For example, the relationship between Ari and Wells happened so fast that it felt like a match catching fire – instant and intense. But when it came to the characters’ thoughts and retrospection, the pacing slowed down, just enough to understand their revelations and let the emotions sink in. This rhythm makes the Just Want You Here raw and real pulling you into Ari’s highs and lows, making you live through every moment alongside her. 

If you love emotional love stories that break your heart and piece it back together, this book is for you. Thank you, Meredith Turits, Little A, and NetGalley for the ARC. 

Just Want You Here by Meredith Turits

Will be published on March 11, 2025, by Little A

298 pages (eBook)

Experience Ari’s story. You can get your book here. 

I grew up in a Christian church with cousins who were worship singers, Sunday school teachers, or youth leaders, and uncles who were pastors. I thought that their line of work was more favorable to God than my secular job as a teacher.  

In his latest book The Sacredness of Secular Work, Jordan Raynor shows that it’s not the case. My job is as important as their work in the church before the eyes of God. For many years, Raynor has helped millions of Christians to see the importance of their creativity and work in God’s plans through his books, The Creator in You, Called to Create, Master of One, and Redeeming Your Time and podcast, Mere Christians.

Book Description 

From a leading voice in the faith and work movement and author of Redeeming Your Time comes the revolutionary message that God sees our daily work “in whatever form it takes” with far more value than we ever imagined.

The Bible tells us our labor is not in vain. But it is exceedingly hard to see how that is true when we’ve grown disillusioned by the fleeting nature of our work and the assumption that evangelism is the only sacred work we do. A bestselling author Jordan Raynor offers an empowering declaration that the time, craft, and care of the business owner, the bank teller, or stay-at-home parent carries an eternal impact far bigger than we think.

Combining research and storytelling, Jordan proves that our work is one of the primary activities that brings God delight, and quality work has potential to physically last into heaven. Through an exponentially bigger view of the gospel and fascinating scriptural insight, Raynor reveals twelve propositions for why work has intrinsic and eternal value, and 

With this biblically redemptive perspective, readers will feel free to pursue their passions and skills and “perhaps for the first time” experience our Creator’s delight in the work of their hands.

Discussion Questions

1. What did you learn from this book?
2. Has this book changed the way you see your work? 
3. Discuss some of the traditional views on work the book raises. 
4. What information surprised you? 
5. Which parts of the book were the most compelling? Why?
6. How is work important to God?
7. What is the eternal impact of your work?
8. The book said doing your work is rehearsing for eternity. What is the implication of this in your life? 
9. What questions would you ask the author?
10. Would you recommend this book? Why or why not?

Review

Does our work matter to God even though it’s not directly connected to our faith? Is waiting tables any less than planting a church? Jordan Raynor strongly believes that they are equally important as every secular work has value in God’s eyes, given that it is aligned with His words. In his latest book, The Sacredness of Secular Work, Jordan Raynor laid out the sources of misconceptions about sacred and secular activities, listed down ways how our work contributes to God’s plans, and shared stories, commentaries, and insights that 

The belief that secular work doesn’t matter to God stems from misconceptions that have been widespread among Christians. To clarify this, Raynor explained the abridged and unabridged versions of biblical verses that were misunderstood mostly by Christians, affecting how secular jobs are viewed. He also presented shocking half-truths and whole-truths that elucidate ideas of heaven, earth, Eden, worship, and Christ’s return. It means to say that there’s a hidden truth behind the general idea of work in terms of God’s plans. We have to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Moreover, the book helps me see how my work matters in the eyes of God. Raynor listed 4 ways how. First, it is the vehicle to bring pleasure to God, to gain rewards, to see what is under the veil between heaven and earth, and to share God’s love with others. Every work, whether secular or non-secular, as long as it doesn’t harm other people and aligns to God’s will, it brings glory to God. That is something that we have to see in order to give our best in doing our job. 

The book is also relatable with its stories and references to widely recognized pop culture elements such as Disney movies, Taylor Swift, and Hamilton, which the author connected to biblical ideas. The transition from creation to the fall of Adam and Eve has a similar significant change of tone as Taylor Swift’s progression from 1988 to Reputation. The two different contexts have parallels that make the ideas of the book more understandable.

If you are fascinated by how your secular work brings glory to God, this book is for you. You can see for yourself that you matter to God and your work is according to his plans. 

Thank you Jordan Raynor and Waterbrooke for the ARC and the opportunity to share my thoughts.  

FURTHER INFORMATION

Jordan Raynor’s Website https://www.jordanraynor.com/   

Twitter: https://x.com/jordanraynor?s=21 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordanraynor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanraynor

Book Information:

The Sacredness of the Secular Work by Jordan Raynor

Published on January 30, 2024, by WaterBrook 

224 pages (eBook)

Hello, fellow bookworm!

I finally finished the book and…

Reading the last chapters of North Queen was like a roller coaster ride. 

My expressions while reading were …

Oh no!

What!

It’s getting boring!

Ah, now it makes sense.

What?!?!

No!!!!!

After I read the last sentence of the book…

I wanted to read the second book right away but after a few moments… 

I was not sure anymore because I got mixed feelings about the turn of events. 

Enemies become lovers…

For the sake of survival…

For the sake of peace…

For the sake of love…

I was rooting for Alexander, Norah’s first love…

But the memory of his betrayal and abandonment completely destroyed her trust. 

Also, Norah’ was stubborn.

Her stubbornness turned the wheels of complicated events that even make readers perplexed. 

Was her decision the best one?

Would it really change her fate?

How would another king whom Norah initially planned to marry react?

What would happen next?

I think the questions will be answered by the second and third book of the Crowns. 

If you like fantasy and enemies to lovers trope, you’ll enjoy North Queen.

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

“How understanding the way your brain works can help you control anger and aggression.”

These words stuck in my mind.  I found this line as a book subtitle of Ronald Potter-Efron’s Healing the Angry Brain that gave me an idea that if I understood how my brain works, then I could handle negative emotions. 

I’m only human. I was very angry at one point in my life. Let’s just say that there were things in life that I couldn’t accept.  In hopes of understanding myself and changing my mindset, I searched for an explanation for why humans get angry.  My curiosity led me to find the book mentioned earlier. Then,  I got more curious. I bought two more books about brain science: Brain Rules and The Brain that Changes Itself. Basically, I just wanted to understand my mind so  I could change my life. Reading these books didn’t make me an expert who knows the right ways in dealing with emotions, however,  their impact on my life couldn’t be denied. Gradually, I got to understand myself, and this understanding steered me to exercise self-compassion and acceptance that lessened my reactivity to any triggering situations. The journey to self-healing is not linear, though; there are good days and bad days, but I am getting better at handling my emotions than before. 

When I saw The Tailored Brain Book on NetGalley, I downloaded it right away.  The difference between this book and the other books I read is the emphasis on social connection as a factor in improving one’s brain health. Improving our brain involves being around other humans. 

There are so many things to learn, the technical side and the practical side. One of the things that I found helpful in understanding the three networks of our brain. The first one is the default mode network or DMN that works when we are not present when we are daydreaming, or going down memory lane. The second network is the Central Executive Network or CEN that holds the information in front of us at the present time and deals with it to solve the problem at hand.  The third is the salience network that works like a switch or a lever; when we are daydreaming or remembering the past and imagining the future, the salience network turns on the DMN, when our attention is on what we see, smell, hear, feel or taste in the now, the salience network turns on the CEN. 

The DMN and CEN are said to be anticorrelated; when the DMN is operating, the CEN is muted, and vice-versa.  This is why when we go to sleep, we think of hundreds of things because we don’t use our CEN anymore. Knowing this, I practice being more compassionate with myself because I know when my mind thinks of a thousand thoughts, it’s my DMN working. I let the thoughts swirl in my head, trying not to react, just letting them be, or I recall other things that don’t trigger me such as the events of the novel I have read until I fall asleep. 

The things I shared above are only the basics. The author explains further how these systems work when we use our attention and memory, when we do creative and non-creative things, when we are stressed and anxious,  and when we collaborate with other people. 

The author also explores the different interventions that addressed attention, memory, and mental health conditions. She is not imposing her own conclusions on the readers, but rather she encourages them to do more researches and to be wary in reading neuroscience studies. She also recommends seeking professional help for mental health conditions.

Some Golden Nuggets

– The Intelligent Quotient (IQ) is not the sole measurement of a person’s capability, even though it predicts the person’s success in adulthood. 

– Reading fiction books can increase social cognition. Hurray for bookworms! 

– Physical activity  promotes better “working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control.” I finally decided to go for a walk every day for 30 minutes.  

The Tailored Brain is the best book I’ve read on brain health so far as it offers practical tips and meaningful insights. Even though it’s challenging for me to read the technical part, I still enjoyed reading it. Actually, I’m going to read it again to fully understand the important and helpful sections. 

The author said that reading this book is “encountering the things she had in her brain.” She hopes that the readers’ interaction with her through her book will be useful in the end. Yes, Emily Willingham, it’s useful and it changed my life. It changed the way I look at interacting with others even though I’m an introvert, it changed the way I look at exercising,  and it changed the way I look at my own capability as a human being. 

Thank you Emily Willingham, Perseus Books, Basic Books, Basic Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Discussion Questions

1. What do you think about the title of the book?

2. What are the main points the author presented in this book?

3. What part or parts of the book left an impression on you? In what way?

4. Was the language used by the author appropriate? Why or why not?

5. Were the terms and concepts easy to understand?

6. What practical lessons did you learn from this book?

7. Would you apply these lessons in your life? Why or why not?

8. Did this book live up to your expectations?

9. What questions would you ask the author?

10. To whom would you recommend this book?

Further Information

Title: The Tailored Brain: From Ketamine, to Keto, to Companionship, A User’s Guide to Feeling Better and Thinking Smarter

Author: Emily Willingham

Genre: Self-help

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books (December 14, 2021)

Publication Date: December 14, 2021

Pages: 304

ASIN: B091T5F8H6

Quotes

Gail Aldwin, a British novelist, poet and scriptwriter, introduces the witty, seven-year-old Huxley who shares his thoughts about Brexit, friendship, and family in the contemporary novel,  This Much Huxley Knows. 

Set in the London suburbs, Huxley met an old man with a disability  who had just arrived at their community and the people didn’t know much about him. Huxley made friends with him but was later forbidden by his parents. He couldn’t understand why Leonard, who gave him chocolates, was a  “not-allowed-to-have friend”. He felt sadder when he witnessed Leonard being attacked by a gang of boys by a store. What was happening in their community? He longed to talk with him again but his parents would get mad. Were they right that Leonard could hurt him? 

This Much Huxley Knows is the second novel of Gail Aldwin. Her other books are, The String Games, her first coming-of-age novel that was a finalist in The People ’ s Book Prize and the DLF Writing Prize 2020; and a children’s picture book entitled Pandemonium. She is now based in Dorset after volunteering at a refugee settlement in Uganda. 

My Thoughts 

A story that touches on prejudice, friendship, and adult issues through the eyes of a seven-year-old boy is a fascinating concept but I was not sure if it’s going to work.  Despite my hesitancy, I dived into it and  was pleasantly surprised that it did work! 

Huxley’s curiosity, linguistic-verbal intelligence,  openness, and a sense of playfulness shape the uniqueness of his voice as he narrates his story. He wonders about a lot of things around him and articulates his observations and assumptions with spontaneity, purity, and cheerfulness. I found myself emotionally invested in the character of Huxley that I didn’t want his story to end!

I love the eggcorns! Huxley has this way with words that are clever and amusing. He loves to make eggcorns that are, as defined by Merriam-Webster, “words or phrases that are mistakenly used for another word or phrase because they sound similar and seem logical or plausible”. For example,  Brexit is “Breaks-it”, and disapproves,  “dizzy-proves”. As I read along, it was fun guessing the proper word of  each eggcorn he constructed. 

The novel is also filled with details that made me feel involved in Huxley’s life. The family conversations, playtime, school events,  and community events told in the story reminded me of my own experiences as a young kid that covered me with nostalgia. 

The flawed secondary characters,  including the protagonist,  added more dimension to the story that made it more relatable. Sometimes adults have conversations about serious matters such as fidelity,  sexuality, and prejudice without considering the fact that there are children around them who might be listening. This weakness gives Huxley an opportunity to create his own understanding of the situation which he thought might be true. 

Misunderstandings supported the forward movement of the main storyline along with other subplots that are completely told in the end.

I think this book is for those who are looking for a thought-provoking read that also stirs heartwarming feelings and evokes laughter. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Discussion Questions

1. What was your first impression on the book based on its title and blurb? 

2. What words best describe Huxley?

3. Huxley’s parents and their friends talked about sensitive topics while with kids. What are the consequences and dangers children might face after listening to an adult conversation inadvertently?

4. Why did Huxley’s parents forbid him to be friends with Leonard?

5. Compare and contrast the friendship Huxley has with other kids and with Leonard.

6. Is the story character-driven or plot-driven? Explain.

7. What is the implication of Huxley’s story to our lives?

8. Who needs this book in their life? Why?

9. Which quote resonates with you? Why?

10. What questions do you have for the author?

Thank you, Gail Aldwin and Black Rose Writing for the Advanced Reader Copy for the chance to review this book. I understand that I would give it an honest review.

Further Information

Title: This Much Huxley Knows: A Story of Innocence, Misunderstandings, and Acceptance

Author: Gail Aldwin

Genre: Contemporary Literature

Publisher: Black Rose Writing (July 8, 2021)

Publication Date: July 8, 2021

Print length: 217 pages

ASIN: B0944Q8SGV

Quotes

First Line:

“The playground at St Michael ’ s School is a car park tonight.”

L.P. Halliday is living a life full of magic. Later diagnosed as an adult with autism, she’s obsessed with books and fell in love with telling stories that are unique and witchy.

Together with her husband, she enjoys life with her beloved animals – 2 senior dogs, a flock of runner ducks, 250,000 bees, and a pet cow named Carl.

The Dryburgh Chronicles Part 1: The Existence of Shadows is her debut novel that speaks of love, courage, and magic.

Book Overview

As an Oxford professor specializing in witch history, Lilian Darling worked to clear the reputation of the people who were falsely accused as witches in the old times. She didn’t believe that they engaged in this “evil” practice. 

She and her research partner, Edgar Falkirk, traveled to Scotland to gather more evidence. But Lilian told him she had to meet alone a person who found a torn part of an ancient book spell. Edgar didn’t find it a problem. It allowed him to tour around the magnificent ruins of Dryburgh Abbey. Then, he accidentally discovered the ancient spell book that turned their lives upside down. 

Transported to Scotland in the 1500s, Lilian and Edgar’s lives were in grave danger as they possessed the knowledge that people in that period believed as blasphemous. Would they be able to save themselves?

Discussion Questions

1. What is your first impression of Lilian? How about Edgar?
2. Describe the atmosphere of the story. What do you like about it?
3. What do you think about the setting? Explain.
4. The story is fast-paced. Does this affect the story? How?
5. What are Lilian’s strengths?
6. What are the weaknesses of Lilian that led her and Edgar to bigger problems?
7. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Edgar? How important is he in the story? Explain.
8. What is the most exciting part of the story?
9. Are there parts in the story that you’d like to improve? Why?
10. Would you recommend this book? Why or why not?

• The main character, Lilian Darling, is relatable. As I was reading the descriptions about her, I was surprised to know that we have similarities. I am an introvert who loves to read a lot and think a lot like her. I could see my reflection in her.

• L.P. Halliday’s vivid imagery transported me to Scotland. When Edgar was going around the abbey, I could feel the atmosphere, see the beautiful trees, and imagine the magnificence of the ruins with warm pink sandstone walls.

• The unexpected twist in the plot highlights Halliday’s skill in keeping the readers engaged.

• I like that the story is dynamic. The fast-paced plot is balanced with the descriptions of the settings, characters, and character backgrounds. However, some details about important characters were dumped in a conversation. Too much information was easily disclosed in one scene. I would love to have some suspense in finding out the past of some characters.

In the book The Dryburgh Chronicles Part 1: The Existence of Shadows by L.P. Halliday, the fear of rejection could throw you back to the late 1500s. During this period, many people, mostly women, were accused of witchcraft. A significant rise in witch trials was seen, and religious people had a heightened sense of faith and desire to eliminate heresy and superstition. Possessing deep knowledge about witches and witch trials, Lilian, together with her research partner Edgar, who was accidentally transported to Scotland in the 16th century, were in grave danger. If the village folks found out who Lilian and Edgar truly were, the latter would find themselves in the middle of a burning large pile of wood. Would they be able to escape their impending doom?

This book is a breath of fresh air for me. After reading several technical nonfiction and long-winding fantasy books, The Dryburg Chronicles electrified my reading life. I love reading fiction and non-fiction books but sometimes they are challenging to read, leaving me drained. But this book? It piqued my curiosity, kept me engaged at every turn of the page, and left me hungry for more. I couldn’t wait for the sequel.

L.P. Halliday, the author of the book, is later diagnosed as a person with autism. She’s obsessed with books and passionate about storytelling. The Dryburgh Chronicles Part I: The Existence of Shadows is her first book and this is the part that amazed me because even though it was her first book, she did a great job in creating relatable characters and at the same time intriguing. I enjoyed reading about Lilian and Edgar, getting to know them, and getting excited about their love story. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out to know where their relationship is heading.

I appreciate Halliday’s skill in creating vivid places and events that made me forget the things around me. I was transported to the magnificent abbey with pink walls, the thick forest where they were chased by villagers, the cold cave where Lilian and Edgar hid, and the Great Hall where the townspeople gathered for the witch trial. My reading experience with her book is memorable because I enjoyed the major aspects of the story — the characters, the plot, and the setting.

Another thing that I liked about the story is its fast-paced plot. Halliday was able to balance the pace of the story with character and setting descriptions. However, there’s just one part where the background of some characters is dumped in one scene. Unfolding the shocking revelation of these characters in a more suspenseful way would have intensified the excitement of reading the next pages. But then, the story was still engaging until the last page.

If you like time travel, witch stories, and slow-burn romance, I highly recommend this book. Thank you. L.P. Halliday and Book Siren for the opportunity to read the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book and share my honest thoughts.

Further Information

Book Information:

The Dryburgh Chronicles: The Existence of Shadows by L.P. Halliday

Published on September 30, 2024, Independently Published

281 pages (Kindle)

Reference:

http://booklife.com/profile/l-p-halliday-108882