Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Thriller, Uncategorized

Barn Tales: Book 6 of Whispering Willows series by Diana Dawn| Book review

53190741._SX318_Title: Barn Tale: Book 6 of Whispering Willows series
Author: Diana Dawn
Language: English
Pages: 109

Blurb

The evil witch and the Captain that Lily fears so have found their way into the Willows. Lily is torn between two men whom she loves. But can she sort out her feelings amidst the trouble that Margurite and the Captain could potentially cause for the village? Does the answer to their problems lie within the mirror…within a time hundreds of years ago back in the House of White kingdom? ‘Barn Tales’ is the sixth book in the Whispering Willows series.

My Review

Barn Tales by Diana Dawn is the sixth installment of the Whispering Willows series. In this part, the story is entirely focused on Snow’s identical sister Lily. The previous book ended in a cliffhanger, that made me eagerly pick this one and read as soon as possible. Just like all the other five books, the author Diana Dawn has not disappointed me a bit. She brilliantly crafted this book too.

With the presence of Captain Philippe and the evil witch Margurite in willows, the plot is exciting from the beginning. The author doesn’t follow the usual pattern of storytelling in this book. She is narrating two parallel stories throughout the book, one is the struggle of Lily to decide between Thomas and Nate, the other is the mysteries around Captain and witch. I must say, she had done a marvelous job through this storytelling. She has narrated two different aspects of a story without losing its emotions to the core.

Lily is not at all identical to Snow in appearance but also in character too. She is also confused in love, an emotion she never experienced before. The author has well presented her viewpoints on love and her tender character of not hurting anybody. I really liked Lily on these points.

I really missed Snow in most of the parts. The author has now shifted her focus to Lily’s story and didn’t allow her to appear not more than one percent of the story. But I’m really looking forward to the next part. Because there are many unanswered questions in this story. I badly want to unwind these mysteries.

Rating: 5/5

Amina Thajudeen Author Interview, Fantacy, Fiction, Thriller

An Interview with Rick Zazueta|Author of “Baja Air & Sea”

Today I’ll be hosting author Rick Zazueta on my blog. His debut book, “Baja Air & Sea” is available at Amazon.com.

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Me: What is your book about?

Rick: Baja Air & Sea is a novel about a stolen yacht and the adventures that happen aboard this vessel. The book, like everything in this world, is about the human condition.

Big Money. Big Yachts. Big Adventures.

Behind every great fortune there is a great crime. Julian Mayorca wasn’t always a billionaire. At one point he was an honorable port captain and legendary yachtsman, but a single temptation—a crime of opportunity—leads him down a path of betrayal, passion, power, and the sea.

Baja Air & Sea, a high end crime-thriller set in La Paz, Mexico, begins with the story of Julian Mayorca. As a port captain, he manages the harbor and oversees a fifty-million-dollar budget. His only mistake? Being incorruptible.

On a sunny day, his cousin, Alex Cuevas, who works for a notorious criminal, holds a gun to Julian’s head and forces him to sign resignation papers. A series of questionable decisions cause Julian to transition into the entrepreneur he never set out to be. What follows is six years of Julian’s life; his voyages, romances, mishaps, and how a need for revenge leads to immense fortune and adventure he never thought possible.

Me: It is quite an adventure. What inspired the plot?

Rick: I was a yacht steward aboard a luxury yacht on the Sea Cortez. I met so many characters and had so many adventures during my time at sea. But it wasn’t just the life at sea that inspired me, it was living in this “other Mexico” that made it all the more interesting. There are two Baja Californias, the expat community and the locals, and as a Mexican-American bilingual person, I was able to seamlessly navigate these two worlds that seem so different. After some time, I began to realize that other than the language barrier, the two Bajas are essentially the same. So I started thinking about blending the two cultures and writing a book in that tone.

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 Purchase here: Amazon

Me: Why did you choose to have the story take place in Baja California?

Rick: I love Baja California. I’ve always been completely passionate about it. It’s a land so unique and so full of tales that I wanted to be a part of its folklore. The story only makes sense in Baja California, because of many factors; its proximity to the US, and the influence it directly has on Mexican culture, the climate, the sea, the desert, the tourism, the corruption, the food and lifestyle, for me it was just a perfect pot to stir.

 Me: You have a lot of colorful and creative characters. Did you think them up from scratch or were they inspired by people you know?

Rick: Stephen King said that all characters are a combination of three people; Somebody you know, yourself, and somebody you imagine. So, yes all characters are a play on that. I have always been a curious person and I’ve always been more interested in people than in anything else, so I like to observe human beings, how they are, how they react, their sense of humor, their sense of style, I can be a big extrovert, so I meet a lot of people and pay attention to their lives.

Me: What are some of the more powerful themes that your characters struggle within the book?

Rick: Lust, revenge, selling out, greed, faith, love, and destiny. The characters I write are real people to me. I treat them with respect and I try to get to know them. I am aware that they have complex lives and I am grateful that they let me in to see what’s going on in their world.

Me: What type of reader would enjoy this book?

Rick: I wrote this book to inspire people with a tale of adventure, passion, desire, and the sea. If life has gotten too predictable, if you need an escape into a tangible world of excitement and want to get completely lost in the waves of the ocean and in the luxury of big yachts and Eurocopters, then this book might be for you.

Me: What did you learn about yourself while writing this book?

Rick: Writing a novel is a long journey, and I learned not to judge myself more harshly than I would others. I learned that if I treat these characters with respect, I have to treat myself and those around me with that same respect. So if I commit a mistake, I just erase it and continue.

 Me: Who is your favorite character and why?

Rick: Papa Fabio is the money man; he doesn’t get as much attention as he deserves, but for me, this guy is a huge success story. Born to a family of miners in the small town of El Triunfo, developed into a mathematical genius from a young age, got a scholarship to La Paz Technical Institute, and then a masters degree from MIT. Now an adviser to the UN on international tax code, a great financial analyst, rogue investment banker, and CPA.

About the Author

Rick Zazueta resides in Baja California alongside his wife, Geraldine, and their two kids; Maximo and Larissa. When away from his duties, he plays professional croquet as a member of the Mexico national team. Baja Air & Sea is his first novel.

Connect with him: Instagram

 

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction

Thin Ice: Book 5 of Whispering Willows series by Diana Dawn|Book review

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Title: Thin Ice

Author: Diana Dawn

Language: English

Thin Ice by Diana Dawn is the fifth installment of the Whispering Willow series. The story of Princess Snow White is now progressed into a family drama in this installment. Book 4 of the series ended in a cliffhanger. Just like all the other books, the author solved that mystery at the beginning. But she didn’t follow the same pattern in this book.

I have read 4 books in this series previously. So, in all those books, a particular pattern is followed. The mystery was solved in the beginning and then a calm and happy moments of Snow and Mitch. Then, towards the end, the plot starts to get more and more twists to end it on a suspense. But in this book, the author doesn’t adopt that fashion. Of course, she solved the mystery in the beginning and managed to end the story is a great suspense. But overall the story is not calm and pleasant anymore. Particularly because the situation in Willows is not much happier. Snow’s twin sister Lily has an important role in this story. The author gave much preference to her character in this one. Her thoughts, her dark past, her evils, and her feelings are the main part of the story.

I grew a great extend of fond towards Snow through these books. Although the author has given her a good level of importance in this book, I’m not at all satisfied with that. But the story is in a new turn. This turn demands Lily’s presence and it is inevitable in most of the scenes.

I would like to add a few words about the end before winding this up. This climax is not like the others. The fear is enormous. The suspense is paramount, this time. How the dark past can possibly ruin one’s present is portrayed much accurately in this story. A must-read!

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Science Fiction, Young-Adult

Gypsy Flower by Diana Dawn|Book review

Title: Gypsy Flower: Book 4 of Whispering Willows series

Author: Diana Dawn

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Blurb

Snow is willing to risk everything to find the sister she never knew she had, even her new happy life in the Willows. Leaving her true love behind in search of her family, her plans are to bring her sister back to the Willows with her. But will her journey into the mirror bring her the outcome she desires…will she find her sister, or will she again face the witch, her stepmother Margurite? ‘Gypsy Flower’ is the fourth book in the Whispering Willows series.

Review

Gypsy Flower by Diana Dawn is the fourth installment of the Whispering Willows series. I have been following the story from the very beginning and was eager to know what happens next, when I took this one to read. Princess snow embarks a journey to find her long-lost sister at any cost. The path was unknown. She had absolutely no clues about her sister’s whereabouts at first. But slowly everything clears. She finds clues on the way. But this quest is just the beginning. The entire world of Princess Snow took a turn through this journey. As the author is revealing more and more at times, the story is becoming more mysterious. Just like other installments, she ends the story at a cliff hanger. But I must say this ending has a hint of unpredictability more than other books. Making readers dying to know what happens next!

The relationship between Snow and Mitch also getting interesting here. The author has given much depth to Snow’s character through all these books. A gradual evolution of her character is evident from beginning to now. A maturity in character and relationship is expected from her as a protagonist and she is a perfect blend of all emotions. The author has taken much time to unravel the sacred bond between sisters in the middle. But she was careful to not lose the pace. She is not giving away many details. I think this adds up mystery here and there. Many of the characters in Willows are suspicious from the beginning. Here in this part too, their mysteries are growing chapter by chapter.

Apart from the third book, the author has given more importance to the life and people of Willows in this book. It was a heart-warming part to read. With the introduction of new characters, once again the lives of Willows were picking up their lost rhythm.

I read in a single stretch because just like other installments, the narration is impeccable. I’m eagerly waiting to read the next one!

Rating:5/5
Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Thriller, Young-Adult

Mirror, Mirror by Diana Dawn|Book review

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Title: Mirror, Mirror: Book 3 of Whispering Willows series

Author: Diana Dawn

Pages: 98

Blurb

Snow has settled into her new life in the magical Whispering Willows. But now that Snow and her “Prince Charming” have found each other, they must still face obstacles to their happiness together. With the help of a new dwarf friend…who may have secrets of his own, Snow must battle the witch and uncover the mysteries of the magic mirror in the mine. ‘Mirror, Mirror’ is the third book in the Whispering Willows series.

Review

Mirror, Mirror by Diana Dawn is the third installment of Whispering Willows series. In this book, the journey of Princess Snow from unknown to known continues. I have read the first two books in this series. So I had a fair idea about the story and the storytelling capabilities of the author. After reading this installment, I must say I admire more her, for bringing this book series to this world.
Diana picks up the story from where she ended the second book. It was ended in a cliffhanger, so the first chapter was the explanation of that suspense. After unveiling some secrets and suspense, she again reunited Snow and Mitch. I really liked the part where Mitch was devastated in the loss of Snow and his determination to find her at any cost. Besides the protagonists, I felt that the author gave much space to other characters in this book. Ben, Max, Eddy…all are supporting the story well. Also, the much-awaited Royal wedding was one of my favorite parts too.

After calming the storm, the author again ended this book at a cliffhanger. But in this time the twist was unpredictable. I was expecting a re-entry of the evil stepmother, but she gave me another surprise at the end.

The narration was flawless. The author connected all the characters well and drove a fast-paced story beautifully. The scenes were depicted vividly allowing the readers to get connected with the emotions of characters and the plot. The climax was enough for me to pick up the next book of this series.

Rating:5/5

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fantacy, Fiction, Young-Adult

Forget Me Not by Diana Dawn|Review

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Title: Forget me not: Book-2 of Whispering Willow series

Author: Diana Dawn

Pages:119

Forget me not by Diana Dawn is the second installment of her 7-book Whispering Willow series. From the first book of this series, “Fallen snow” she has created an enchanted world of magic and fantasy for the retelling of an age-old fairytale. The first book ended in a perfect cliffhanger and I was eagerly waiting to read the next one. This one picks up the story from exactly where she ended in the last book without any glitch.

The story of Princess Snow is getting many more twists and turns in this part. The major change I felt when reading was the transformation of Snow’s character. She was portrayed as naive, innocent, and someone who is living in fantasies. But here the author gave a new dimension to her character. Although she is as much as innocent as in the first book, but now she has gained much confidence and added some maturity to her decisions. The author is trying to create depth for her characters here.

I personally liked the love sequences of Mitch and Snow. Their love deepens and they’re becoming soul-mates here. Sit back and enjoy their journey which is progressing to mutual trust and understanding. Dawn opens this book with a fast-paced narration to bring a thriller mood to the story. Then everything calms down and a slow ride of romance starts. In the end, again the fast-paced action sequences came into play. Thus she ends the story on a high note.

From my perspective, to drive readers through a large book series, this kind of fabulous writing skill is necessary. I felt that all main characters are multilayered and she scratched only the surface. This alone adds some unpredictable sense to the  story. I have absolutely no idea where she is heading with this story. Diana is mounting suspense through her flawless narration. I’m hopelessly thinking that she may reveal something. But again she draws curtain at a cliffhanger. Read and enjoy!

Rating:5/5