Sakshi's Bookshelf

  Title: Scorched  Author: Theresa Gage  Rating: 5/5 Review:  After finishing the first book in the series, I eagerly anticipated the sequel, and it did not disappoint. We reunite with Aidan, whose character has grown significantly. With his brother being his only remaining family, Aidan is contemplating marriage. However, he's unsure how to propose to Yvonne. Yvonne stands out to him because she is different from other girls—simple and not fashion-obsessed. Aidan is unaware that his past actions will lead him into the dark mirror world. Previously, he and his twin brother Cosmo had imprisoned an evil sorcerer there. Now, Aidan finds himself trapped in the same realm, with the sorcerer on the loose. Aidan's powers are insufficient to free himself. Can he survive? This is a fantastic fantasy tale. Fans of fantasy fiction with rich world-building will love this book. Aidan is a charming character whose innocence and good heart immediately endear him to readers. Theresa...

  Book: Tangle with Fire  Author: Theresa Gage  Rating: 4.5/5 Review: "Tangle with Fire" marks my first encounter with Theresa Gage's writing. The character of Aidan instantly captivated me from the outset. A tragic turn of events occurs when Aidan, on a hunting trip with his father, witnesses his father being fatally stabbed just after he shoots a wildcat. Following his father's death, Aidan discovers he possesses extraordinary abilities. He is tormented by the realization that had he known about his powers sooner, he might have saved his father. The narrative of Aidan honing his abilities and striving to protect his loved ones held my attention throughout the book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and am eager to dive into the second installment. The title is fitting, and the cover art is appealing. The story maintains a steady pace, and Theresa Gage's storytelling has left a lasting impression on me.

  Title: The Shot Not Heard Around the World  Author: Charlie Damitz  Rating: 4.5/5 Review: Charlie Damitz's this book is captivating. It is a beautiful, heart-warming story that you won't forget after reading it. When Jeremy was protecting his home and people, he was supposed to kill the enemy the moment he saw him. However, Jeremy couldn't shoot at the enemy.  This realization made Jeremy serve people by providing medical care to them. Readers would be delighted to follow Jeremy's journey from a young soldier to a medical healer serving in the war. This is a novella that is well written. The historical backdrop setting is done nicely by the author. The pace of the story is fine. I loved the character of Doc Thorndike as a mentor. This story inspires us to be supportive to others with our mentorship. It also tells us to choose an alternative instead of choosing violence.  I am looking forward to reading more historical fiction novellas.

  Title: Things you know when you read 2,000 books Author: Ella Yoon  My thoughts: Ella Yoon's debut novel immerses readers into the enchanting realm of literature. The merits of reading are manifold. Ella has read more than 2000 books once she developed the taste of reading. A random visit to a bookstore was the turning point of her life.  Once Ella delved into the world of literature, there was no turning back. She embarked on a journey of endless exploration, discovering the boundless adventures that reading offers. Ella eschews the notion of fixed reading times, embracing the freedom to indulge in books at any moment, whether waiting or commuting. Setting a goal of devouring 100 books annually, Ella pursued her passion alongside her professional commitments, dedicating her leisure time to the pursuit of knowledge through literature. Her dedication serves as an inspiration, kindling a desire within others, including myself, to delve deeper into the world of books. I wh...

  Book: Damn Cat By: Ernest Mirich Review: Damn Cat is an absolutely hilarious read. In this book, the writing of the author feels so real. It seems that it's the true story of some couple whose cat ran away. Maggie and Carter Ferris have been married for years. Maggie has lots of friends about whom Carter doesn't care but Maggie is lucky to have a husband who listens to her. When Maggie was upset over her lost boy cat, Buttercup, she asked Carter to find him. Maggie got her wisdom teeth removed and can't go on the quest herself. When Carter was in the neighborhood looking for a boy cat, he met prostitutes, racist people, liars, etc. The crazy people he met made this story more real. With Carter in one trouble after the other, my interest in this book kept increasing.  The ending of the story reminded me of the quote "All's well that ends well". Ernest is great at writing novellas. I am curious to explore more of his books in the future. Anyone who would pick ...

  Book: Diving for El Corazón Written by: Charlie Damitz Rating: 4/5 Review: On his tenth birthday, a famous cliff diver named Paco in Mexico found a legendary ring. Thinking of the ring as a curse, he threw it in the sea and didn't find it again.  Finally, after searching for it, seven years after Paco got his hands on the ring again. He couldn't share his happiness with others as he fears getting robbed of the ring. Also, he wants to protect himself from evil.  Paco was able to slip the ring El Corazón on his finger once or twice weekly. He started asking his friends what they would do if they found the treasure. Paco was obsessed with finding out how he can help his village using the magic of the ring. Some people wanted to sail around the world, some wanted to move to America and build a mansion.  The twists and turns in the story kept me hooked till the last page. The character of Paco is written very well by the author. I am impressed with Charlie's work in thi...

  Title: The Boy who really hated Christmas Author: Charlie Damitz My Rating: 5/5 Review: I love reading Children's books that refresh my mind. This time, I read the book "The Boy who really hated Christmas". The story is set a few days before Christmas. Two friends Barney and Ned are having chit chat while having hot chocolate. Christmas is a special occasion on which kids expect a gift from Santa. The same was the expectation for Ned. When Ned stayed a good kid for three years and didn't receive any presents from Santa, he was highly disappointed. He told his friend Barney as he hasn't received any presents, he hates Christmas. Any kid would feel like Ned if they don't receive Christmas presents. Ned and Barney decided to be bad kids. They started bullying their teacher and Barney's sister Daisy. Find out will Ned finally receive a Christmas present by being bad? This story has a beautiful lesson in it for the kids.  The beautiful illustrations would add...