Novel Nerd Blog - Book Reviews by Smitha

 MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW Kate moved from the bustling city of Manhattan to the tranquil town of Crest Lake six years ago, seeking a quieter life and a fresh start. She had her share of worries—finding a job, adjusting to a slower pace, and navigating her relationship with Ryan Breslow, a charming photographer. Yet, she never anticipated the ground beneath her would become a literal and figurative threat. A year ago, Ryan's tragic death in a car accident left Kate reeling. Still grappling with her grief and the desire to escape the painful memories, Kate aims to sell her house and leave Crest Lake behind. However, her plans are thwarted as the house edges dangerously close to a crumbling bluff that has affected the entire lakefront community. Tensions escalate as the town debates how to address the erosion problem. The situation takes a darker turn when a contentious vote on the issue is marred by the murder of Kate's adversary on the shoreline committee. With her property n

MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW This novel by Gosia Nealon digs deep into some great true historical events during the World War 2 which is a page turner every historical fiction readers must consider about pondering.  The story follows an Orphan girl Beata, a brilliant and determined young woman who defies the odds as the first female graduate of her university. Her ambition to join the Cipher Bureau and crack the Enigma code represents not just a personal triumph but a crucial effort to protect her country from impending doom. As the Nazis decided to attack her country Poland and when her orphanage is bombed, Beata’s mission becomes ever more perilous, and her resolve is tested in ways she could never have imagined.  It was unexpected to learn from this book that despite their best efforts, the Americans, British, and French were unable to crack the Enigma code. But one nation, desperate to keep an eye on German confidential communication, succeeded in significant ways. It was Poland dur

 MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW  An unputdownable cozy clean romance novel with a warm ending, It's a new beginning for Laurie Ellis as she is moving with her cute loving dog Max to a promising location in Starr's Fall which is a wonderful something happening to her this fall - As t he leaves are falling, with a crispness to the air, along with the scents of coffee and pumpkin spice, past a half-empty street of shuttered storefronts and a bandstand that has seen better days…loved the author description of the place and atmosphere this way.  Laurie thought moving to Starr's Fall was actually having her own home ultimately that was magical and a miracle, leaving her depressing apartment she had been living with her foster Mom Nadine was something she was looking forward to. She was a foster kid to who had adoptive parents. Her plan to move as to open a pet store and bakery in Starr's Fall which the community friends found a bit strange. Why did she choose Starr's Fall as

AUTHOR INTERVIEW 1. Diann, your novels are known for their action-packed, suspense-filled plots that thrill readers. What initially drew you to writing in the thriller and suspense genres? Ans.  Suspense and thriller stories are my favorite genre to read. I believe we live in a dangerous and unpredictable world. I want to entertain, inspire, and encourage readers through a story that shows courageous men and women who are trained and passionate about keeping the innocent safe. It’s also important to me to show at least one character who solves problems and lives their life from a Christian worldview. 😊 Who do you want behind a Glock? 2. Your books have achieved remarkable success, including appearances on bestseller lists and winning prestigious awards such as the Christy Awards. How has this recognition shaped your writing career, and what does it mean to you personally? Ans. Honestly, I read outstanding books and not sure how mine have won awards. The recognition is an honor and a p

MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW I finally finished reading Agatha Christie's most famous novel: Murder on the Orient Express. Yes!!! In the entire book - the murder happened in a extravagant train with dining and sleeping carriers leaving to its destination from Istanbul to Calais, with plenty of Interrogation and deductive reasoning and investigation by a London detective Hercule Poirot partnered with Monsieur Bouc unfolds the mystery altogether. The train runs into a snowdrift at the hour after midnight when an American named Samuel Edward Ratchett- popularly known as Cassetti lay dead in his berth stabbed  12 times that's when the jovial attitude of the passengers in the Simplon Orient Express changes to beating around the bush and collecting evidences.  The train was packed with 13 people of all class and nationalities. The murderer is in the train, none of them gave a chance for Poirot to suspect any of them that one or two of them must have committed the murder. Meanwhile Poi

Review of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Markus Zusak's The Book Thief is a poignant and beautifully crafted novel that stands out in the landscape of contemporary literature. Set against the backdrop of Nazi Germany, the story is both harrowing and heartwarming, a testament to the power of words and the resilience of the human spirit. The novel is narrated by Death, an unconventional yet compelling choice that adds a unique layer of introspection and melancholy. Death's perspective offers readers a detached yet empathetic view of the characters' lives, weaving a narrative that is as profound as it is unsettling. At the heart of the story is Liesel Meminger, a young girl living with a foster family in the small town of Molching. After being separated from her biological family, Liesel finds solace in books, stealing them to feed her hunger for stories and to cope with the harsh realities of her world. Her love for literature becomes a form of resistance against the oppres