Eve Koguce's Blog

The Impoverished Orphan by Kelly Miller

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As did each of the Austenesque variations by Kelly Miller – and I have read them all – this one provided me with a delicious escape from reality to the elegance of the Regency era. Upon opening the first page, I was transported from the bleak November to the candlelit dining rooms and rose gardens of British gentry.

“The Impoverished Orphan” by Kelly Miller offers an interesting departure from the original story by removing Elizabeth’s family from the scene. In this variation, a disease takes the lives of the Bennets, Lizzy’s parents and her elder sister, and she is raised by her mother’s friend’s family. Does it mean that without the loud and spoilt younger sisters and an often uncivil mother, it is easier for Elizabeth to present herself to potential suitors in a more favourable light? As it happens, being penniless alone is a potent enough obstacle to doom a young woman’s prospects for marrying a noble gentleman with means.

Even though Lizzy enjoys a comfortable life and the Bartons treat her well, still, the moment arrives when she must learn that money does matter. And she learns it through a bitter experience of having to part with something – or I should probably say someone – that is very precious to her.

As someone who adores horses and for whom horse riding equals meditation, relaxation, the most profound educational process, and much more, I appreciated the way the author portrayed the relationship between people and horses. She has done justice to the special bond that forms between a horse and a human being. Those who experienced it know that it resembles magic.

One other thing that I truly enjoyed was a more nuanced relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. I think that every true fan of the legendary couple shares my yearning for more scenes with the two of them in the original.

Utterly captivating and exquisitely written, with long-kept family secrets and a cosy mystery thrown to spice up the narrative, “The Impoverished Orphan” by Kelly Miller is guaranteed to satisfy the most demanding Pride and Prejudice fans.



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The Impoverished Orphan

The Countdown: The last breath - a romantic crime suspense by Jupiter Rose

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Justice leads a quiet life, tending to horses on her family ranch. She cares about her father, bound to a wheelchair after a vicious attack, as a result of which, Justice lost her mother. It seems that a young woman has already had her share of grief. Alas, she cannot imagine that everything she thought she knew is about to turn into a horrible lie.

Justice feels confused when her father announces that he has offered to take on a released convict so that he can complete his community service on their ranch. She is a God-fearing woman, and she struggles with distrust towards someone who, she thinks, might be the same as the people who killed her mother and injured her father. Justice wants to show sympathy and tries to believe that redemption is possible for those who have made mistakes in their lives. Yet, it doesn’t come easily.
But, from the moment that Justice lays eyes on Raymond Storm when he climbs down his bike, all her preconceived prejudice turns upside down. The convict, whom she had imagined as a violent, rude, and indifferent criminal, might turn out to be a man of her dreams.

A second-chance romance? Love leading a sinner to redemption? Yes, it might seem familiar. But prepare for your jaw to hit the floor. Almost immediately after Storm arrives at the ranch, the events make a head-spinning turn. And keep speeding up, swirling along the way, until the very last page.

“The Countdown” by Jupiter Rose is fast-paced and suspenseful, offering a sinister outlook at the criminal circles that operate under perfect covers, often in plain sight of unsuspecting folk.



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The Countdown: The last breath - a romantic crime suspense

Paul Newman: A Life by Shawn Levy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Fame and limelight make people look big. They are everywhere. The stories about their every step published on popular websites and social media make them seem important. Sometimes, those whose faces we regularly see flashing through the news have personalities to match their popularity. And sometimes, behind glamorous images, there is nothing but the shallow void.

Paul Newman is a rare celebrity whose personality exceeded his staggering fame and unprecedented success as a movie star. I can imagine his fans, who’ve watched all his movies and followed his life through newspapers and TV news, thinking that they knew their idol. Yet, after reading his biography, I believe that a rare person outside his personal circle – which, to stay fair, was rather wide – truly realised the depth and breadth of his extraordinary persona.

The author has done Paul Newman justice by meticulously documenting every stage of his life. Because it indeed was the remarkable life of an extraordinary man. Not a fan and only vaguely familiar with his work in movies, after reading the book, I was left with a strong impression of who Paul Newman was, not only as a star but as a man, husband, and father. With his words, the author managed to convey the essence of a person behind the public image: his aspirations, motivations, ambitions, and much more.

So many things made me admire Paul Newman that the length of the review detailing all the reasons for my admiration would be a crime against the reading community. Let me only mention in passing a few things. His serious attitude towards his acting and a pragmatic one, with a touch of self-irony, towards his exceptionally good looks. His fifty-year-long marriage. His not falling into the trap of drugs. Here, it would be fair to mention that his appreciation of beer was legendary.

The thing that I’ll let myself expand a little on is Paul Newman’s charity for seriously ill children, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.

An adventurous person when it came to implementing the projects based on something that mattered to him, Paul Newman came up with an idea that the world – the USA at least - deserves more than to continue with a mediocre salad dressing. The rich and famous actor was known for dressing his salad with the dressing of his own making, even in restaurants. One day, it dawned on him that he and his friends and loved ones might not be the only ones who silently suffer from the inadequacy of salad dressing served everywhere, spoiling perfectly fresh and crispy ingredients. So, enlisting a sidekick – pardon, a business partner from the pool of his closest friends, Paul Newman created a successful business venture, starting with offering the craving market a salad dressing, which was up to his high standards for this product.

You might shrug and say, “A usual story. A celebrity plasters his face on a bottle of something and adds a few more millions to his bank account.” And you’d be wrong. All the profits from the ‘salad dressing’ venture went to charity. It was how the business partners had agreed it would be before the business had taken off. It didn’t change even after Newman’s death, the actor having included a respective clause in his testament.

The enormity of the endeavour and the acute realisation of what it meant for the sick kids and their parents already brought tears to my eyes. But a story about a little girl gifting Paul Newman a bracelet made me openly cry.

Four stars and not five for “Paul Newman: A Life” by Shawn Levy not because of the story, the lack of mastery displayed by the author, or the personality of Mr Newman. I took off one star solely because of my own knowledge deficiency that forced me to jump back and forth across the book, looking for the names, titles, and places mentioned, which my memory was unable to hold. Because of this, when my concentration wasn’t at its highest, reading this book sometimes turned into a bit of a slog.

Biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs are among the top three of my favourite genres, and I highly recommend this book to those who have a similar appreciation for biographical non-fiction.

P.S. My husband had been offering to watch one of the classical western movies for a while, and I remained reluctant to the idea. But reading Paul Newman’s biography did ignite my interest, and together we’ve watched “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Probably not the cup of tea for younger viewers, we enjoyed the movie immensely. Even though the filming took place in Utah, we couldn’t help noticing the similarities in the red canyon landscape with Arizona, which we visited last year.



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Paul Newman: A Life

In the Path of Jane Austen: Travels and Tales: A 250th Birthday Anthology by Carol S. Bowes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a huge fan of Kelly Miller and her elegantly written, page-turning Austenesque variations, I couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to read her short story included in the anthology.

“The Love Potion” begins with a curious encounter that leaves Miss Elizabeth Bennett in possession of a tincture that is supposed to have the power to secure the attachment of the heart of any gentleman of her choosing. Since it is just a little while after an unfortunate episode at the Meryton assembly, where a gentleman whose name is all too familiar to us, “Pride and Prejudice” devoted fans, making our hearts skip a beat no matter how often we read it, sensible and pragmatic Lizzy decides that this unbearably proud man deserves a little punishment. Alas, as it often happens with nefarious plans, even when decent people wield them, everything goes awry, and the consequences are impossible to predict.

I confess, I’ve bought “In the Path of Jane Austen Travels and Tales A 250th Birthday Anthology” curated and edited by Carol S. Bowes solely because while waiting for Kelly Miller to publish her next book, I wanted to enjoy her lovely writing style and also to meet the beloved characters on the pages, confident that they’ll be given proper respect and justice. I was also interested in reading about her impressions from her trip to England, especially since I have been to Bath as well. Yet, at the time I visited it, I had not thought much about its connection to Austen’s works. Next time I happen to be there, I’ll be sure to include seeing the places Kelly Miller mentioned in the essay describing her memorable journey.

It warms my heart that the profits from the sale of the book will go to a Jane Austen charity. At some point, I’ll read the rest of the stories included in the anthology. I am curious about other writers’ vision and interpretation of the books of one of my favourite authors.



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In the Path of Jane Austen: Travels and Tales: A 250th Birthday Anthology

Protective Instinct by Joy York

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


What an absolutely wild ride this story has turned out to be! With twists and turns I didn’t see coming, secrets about the characters’ past revealed, and action on every page, I had real difficulties putting this book down, even when it was way past my bedtime.

I enjoyed the Jailer's Daughter Mysteries series by Joy York so much that I can’t help but check from time to time if there appeared the third book. Something tells me that Lily and Christi, two teenage girls who get entangled in crime solving, because how can it be otherwise if one of them is a jailer’s daughter and lives virtually in the prison building, have more troubles waiting for them. And I’m looking forward to finding myself immersed in a deliciously atmospheric setting of rural Mississippi.

I am not what you can call a thriller reader, so I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up “Protective Instinct.” Let me admit at once, I wasn’t disappointed. On the contrary, I found myself frantically turning the pages, contemplating what might happen in the next chapter.

Sebastian Bartoli might be rich and famous, but many people – myself included – would find him extremely annoying. He is one of those guys who believes that the planets, together with all their moons, revolve solely around him. That being said, it’s probably the right time to mention that it’s my favourite type of book character. Controversial, with substantial possibilities for development as the story progresses.

Morgan Skylar is a sweetheart. Young, friendly, pretty, and a kindergarten teacher on top of all that. Struggling with grief over losing the only close person she had in her life, she still wants everyone around her to feel happy. That is why, when her best friend delivers an unexpected blow, and that, when Morgan is already on her way to their meeting place and cannot immediately turn back, she puts on the bravest face and ensures that her friend has no idea how upset she is about the turn of events.

Neither Sebastian nor Morgan remains what readers were led to believe they are for long. Besides, the secrets they reveal about their pasts and family ties shock them just like they do us readers. The rollercoaster of events, set in motion by the appearance of two armed guys, pondering over whose intentions would come at a too-high cost, doesn’t stop until the very last pages.

Why does someone allegedly involved in shady business persist in persuading Sebastian to write his biography? How is it possible that someone you’ve known all your life managed to hide not only who they were but your identity as well?

Choosing to read “Protective Instinct” by Joy York, be prepared to gasp in surprise and for your fingers to itch with the desire to turn the pages. I recommend this book to everyone who appreciates fast-paced thrillers with plenty of action and a dash of simmering romance.



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Protective Instinct

Shapers of Worlds Volume V: Science fiction and fantasy by authors featured on The Worldshapers podcast by Edward Willett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I received the ebook copy of “Shapers of Worlds Volume V: Science fiction and fantasy by authors featured on The Worldshapers podcast” from P.L. Stuart, one of the contributing authors of this anthology. Since I am a devoted fan of his epic fantasy series, the Drowned Kingdom Saga, I couldn’t deny myself the pleasure of reading a short story set in the mesmerising universe he has created. Besides, it was a unique chance to read something written by my favourite author while I am waiting for book six of the Drowned Kingdom series to come out next year.

The short story by P.L. Stuart, “Forest Dark,” is bone-chilling, confidently leaning into the realm of horror, much more so than the original series. Even though there is enough bloodshed and atrocities in Othrun’s world – the protagonist of the Drowned Kingdom series – as can be expected considering the medieval setting, “Forest Dark” takes it to a different level.

I truly appreciated the courage that P.L. Stuart displays again in showing his characters, in a way, against readers’ expectations. Just like he doesn’t swerve from displaying the traits a king of medieval times cannot but possess in abundance (in the case with Othrun), he braves to give the main character of “Forest Dark” a kind, compassionate heart. Without giving away anything, I’ll only say that it paid off manifold for him.

In “Forest Dark,” P.L. Stuart touches upon important themes of prejudice, acceptance, the consequences of going against the flow, and the possibility of having to pay for all the wrongs you have done.



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Shapers of Worlds Volume V: Science fiction and fantasy by authors featured on The Worldshapers podcast

Being Zara: Not All Second Chances Are A Good Idea by Eva Lauder

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The story picks up from where we left the circle of friends in “Being Ines.” With their lives sorted into some kind of order after the mess they used to be, each of them continues to traverse the bumpy landscape of careers and relationships. In “Being Zara” by Eva Lauder, the focus, predictably, shifts from Ines to Zara. Still, the author pays enough attention to both, not forgetting the rest of the colourful set of characters the readers had been introduced to in the previous book.

Zara isn’t the kind of character everyone is bound to love. I guess a lot of people, especially women, would purse their lips at her choice of clothes, the length of her nails, and the lack of aversion to lip fillers. Should she be someone’s neighbour or colleague, I can imagine plenty of disapproving stares. What I personally like about Zara is her artlessness. She is the way she is, even if someone might not like it. I think that it doesn’t even cross her mind that she must change to fit someone’s standards. At the same time, she isn’t uppity or self-absorbed. She is kind and supportive when her friends need her.

Alas, all Zara’s good qualities don’t save her from falling victim to the trap set by her woman’s heart, which always craves the butterflies to stir the delicious chaos of love and passion in her stomach. Even though she had gone through the disappointment of a bad relationship and, luckily, emerged a victor, having found a man who loves not only her but the child of another man, and loves sincerely and deeply, Zara steps right into the noose. Someone from her past appears unexpectedly in her life and turns it upside down. When there was love, the coals never stop burning. And where the fire wasn’t extinguished properly with all the tools stashed neatly away, there is always a risk of a new fire should the kindling catch a spark.

Maybe Zara would have been able to resist the temptation, but in addition to her confusion about the past love, her current relationship started displaying cracks. I enjoyed the controversy that Zara’s dilemma and the choices she made presented. I couldn’t support her decisions. At the same time, I couldn’t condemn her. A woman’s heart is an infinite universe of shining stars. Some blink, disappearing for a moment, while others shine relentlessly, blinding us. Zara got lost in the galaxy of feelings and emotions, and I commend the author for showing it with both directness and delicacy.

The book is full of feel-good moments. There are funny situations and banter between friends and lovers aplenty. The complicated relationships between Ines and her father add an edge to the narrative, I guess, making all of us think about our own family dynamics. I found the introduction of Luke’s French parents absolutely charming.

“Being Zara” by Eva Lauder is a treat for those who appreciate the reflection of everyday life in their reads. For me personally, office scenes and also the streets of London were a welcome addition to the plot, driven by the relationships between the characters.



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Being Zara: …there’s a difference between needing and wanting.

Taken by Kat Kinney

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


How do I start…well, for all that’s fanged and holy, what am I supposed to do now when the last book of the Caldwells’ saga is out and I just finished it? On the one hand, it feels extremely satisfying since the author gave every Caldwell brother and the world she created a well-deserved ending. While on the other, I feel sad that the waiting is over. The town of Blood Moon in Texas, with exactly six stoplights, which to the utter surprise of its inhabitants turned into a mecca for the fans of the supernatural after a vampire exposed the existence of his kind to the world during a traffic stop when he behaved nasty to a cop, has grown under my skin and I’m not ready to part with it.

Ok, with this schoolgirl’s whining out of my system, here is what I think about the book. “Taken” by Kat Kinney is the seventh instalment of the Blood Moon, Texas Shifters series. It follows the trials and tribulations of Cal Caldwell and Fallon Gray, not only on the way to their happy-ever-after, but in the wild chase after a madman, Matteo Rossi, who wants to make the Caldwells and the whole world suffer.

Matteo Rossi, the only double-gifted werewolf in history, set his mind on making the Caldwell family pay for his shattered dreams. It doesn’t matter to him that they did what they did not to piss him off but to protect millions of innocents from what he could do if he’d gotten the elite training of the werewolf military organisation, the Tracers, or, even worse, climbed the ladder to its command. In his blind rage, Matteo doesn’t take into account that using his powerful magic haphazardly will lead to him gradually losing control over it. The only thing he craves is revenge. And he is ready to do the most despicable things to bring it on the Caldwells.

Fallon Gray is a tough girl. But a Tracer and one of the most powerful neural manipulators on the team she might be, she is also a mother. And when Matteo Rossi abducts her son, it takes more than she probably has not to lose her sanity during the frantic search for him.

“Taken” is a thrilling race of a book, packed with twists and turns, most of which I didn’t see coming. It is also replete with the heart-warming moments of family bonding – copious amounts of Texan cuisine involved! – I’ve groTakenwn to love. And yes, shapeshifters are passionate creatures, led by their instincts, so be prepared for some hot scenes. This summer, while waiting for the last book to land on my Kindle, I reread all the previous books, and I’m so glad that I did. It made the experience of saying goodbye to the Caldwells so utterly satisfying.

I’m definitely looking forward to the next books by Kat Kinney.



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Full Circle by daisy wood by Daisy Wood

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love historical fiction. The full volume collections of Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, and Jack London are only a few of those nestling on my bookshelves. And they aren’t simply gathering dust; I do reread some of them from time to time.

The times long gone always fascinated me. Historical settings described in detail are a feast for my imagination. The interactions between the characters, led by the motives dictated by the norms of the society of the bygone era, are no less bewitching. What strikes me the most is the realisation that, irrespective of the time period, some things remain unchanged.

“Full Circle” by Daisy Wood is set in England during the Georgian era. This time period, viewed controversially by those striving for social equality and justice, holds irresistible appeal for me as a reader.

I was immediately drawn into the story by the family history recounted briefly in the prologue. By the time the main characters were introduced, I already felt invested and wished to learn how their lives would play out. The next thing that hooked my interest was that I didn’t feel sympathetic toward Stewart Hamilton and his struggles. He seemed to me the kind of man who inflicted trouble on himself by having a hot temper and poor judgment. Here, I probably must add that I like such characters about whom you cannot make up your mind at once whether you love or hate them.

As I read on, my curiosity about Stewart and other characters grew, making it difficult to put the book down. I could not guess where the plotlines were heading. I praise the author for making the secondary characters no less interesting than those from the main ‘cast.’ It isn’t often that we get a glimpse into the lives of the servants from the Georgian, Victorian, and Regency eras. It is probably because the writers born in those times simply did not pay much attention to the thoughts and aspirations of those from the lower classes. Nowadays, despite the obvious limitations, we have the opportunity to see a bigger picture. Moreover, since our society has changed dramatically over the past two centuries, we are naturally more sympathetic to all people, irrespective of their social standing.

The story moves forward at a lingering pace, letting the reader learn about the characters through dialogue and domestic scenes. By the time Stewart Hamilton finds himself entangled in the net of intrigue threatening to ruin the peace and happiness of his family, it wasn’t the characters I was worrying about. It was real people’s tribulations that made my heart beat faster and wish that they would find a way out of seemingly desperate situations.

Irrespective of the era, some people seem to have something dark in them that makes them pursue vengeance, often caused by misplaced offense, against logic and common sense. It is only one of the things reading “Full Circle” by Daisy Wood made me contemplate. Along with other thought-provoking themes and heart-stopping plot twists, this is a story about the importance of having those who genuinely care about you. When you have such people in your life, you can overcome the harshest hardships. Sometimes, we make choices forced by circumstances or led by emotions. Still, it doesn’t mean the choices made in this manner are wrong. Life is an intricate tapestry, and it’s not always possible to see the interweaving of its threads.




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Full Circle by daisy wood

(mostly) good thoughts by Elena Carter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I loved the previous poetry collection by this author and could not miss the opportunity to read what she has written next. “(mostly) good thoughts” by Elena Carter did not disappoint. The hurricane of emotions swept me off my feet, and there I was, swirling amidst myriads of thoughts, memories, flickers of my inner light, catching glimpses of the darkness, ever-present in the background.

When you grow older, it becomes clear that life is not a one-coloured canvas. It is a mosaic, and its pieces are not uniform. A shining white patch can take half of it, abruptly melting into obsidian black. Or the tapestry can be so miscellaneous that it’s impossible to follow when one bright hue changes into another. “(mostly) good thoughts” reflects this unpredictable diversity perfectly, with each next poem striking a different chord in readers’ hearts.

“one of the hardest things in this life is letting go…” Reading this, one might think that it’s about the bad things. To move forward, we must let go of what’s holding us back. When we think about it, most often we imagine something painful, something that felt like a burden or really was such. I’ve come to appreciate the ability to let go of the happy memories too. Sometimes the brightest, most joyful moments of your life can poison you for decades, oozing bitterness about the impossibility of reliving them.

“…sadness wrapped in twinkling lights…” This is another line that threw me into contemplating my own experiences. I am that person around whom most people who know me feel uncomfortable during the festive season. I understand and do not hold it against them. Yet, it doesn’t help with making it hurt less.

“Whether to build bridges or to burn them” is everyone’s personal choice. As it is up to each reader individually whether they read certain genres or not. But to everyone who appreciates poetry, I heartily recommend reading “(mostly) good thoughts” by Elena Carter. The author’s piercing sincerity is captivating, as is her ability to put into words the important things about which most of us think only fleetingly, trapped in the perpetual motion of everyday life.



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(mostly) good thoughts