Featured Post

I’d like to give a bit of explanation for my ratings in the reviews I write. I probably should have done this when I started rating reviews…but it seemed self-explanatory. Except my ratings are more nuanced than five stars=a spectacular book. I read a lot. Like, a lot. But just because I loved a book, doesn’t mean you will. And just because something bothered me in a book, doesn’t mean it will bother a single other person on the planet. A review is an opinion, and we all know what they say about opinions.

It’s highly unlikely you’ll ever see a one- or two-star rating on a review here. Because if I think the writing is that bad, or I dislike the content that much, I won’t finish reading the book. (It took me years—most of my life—to embrace the freedom of not finishing a book that was a bad choice for me.) Writing is hard work, and I refuse to give a bad review to a book just because I don’t like it a bit. That’s disrespectful to the author and the work that went into creating the book. And, just because I don’t care for the book, doesn’t mean you won’t, either.

So, as a general guideline:
-5 stars means I loved the book. It might have a few issues, but I loved it anyway.
-4 stars means I liked the book, possibly loved parts of it. A solid read.
-3 stars means I thought it was good enough to finish—but there was something I
didn’t really care for (could have been a writing issued, could have been a character
I found annoying). The writing might have been superb—which I’ll mention—but if
the MC is whiny and annoying, that detracts enough that it knocked the rating
down.
-anything with a decimal number means it leaned towards the next number up (So,
the character was annoying, but not that annoying.).

Again, my reviews are my opinions. We don’t all have the same tastes or pet peeves or preferences. That’s what makes us individuals. If you think my 3-star rating is wrong on a book, please tell me why. Maybe your insight into the character I disliked will change my mind. Anything is possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review: The Sun and the Starmaker, by Rachel Griffin     

Image belongs to SOURCEBOOKS Fire.

Title: The Sun and the Starmaker
Author: Rachel Griffin            
Genre: YA, fantasy
Rating: 4.2

Nestled deep in the snowy mountains of the Lost Range, the small village of Reverie endures on a miracle. Beyond the reach of the Sun, Reverie is dependent upon the magic of the mysterious Starmaker: every morning, he trudges across a vast glacier and pulls in sunlight over the peaks, providing the village with the light it needs to survive.

Aurora Finch grew up on tales of the Starmaker’s magic, never imagining she’d one day meet him. But on the morning of her wedding, a fateful encounter in the frostbitten woods changes everything. The Starmaker senses a powerful magic within her and demands she come study under his guidance. With her newfound abilities tied to the survival of the village, Aurora is swept away to his ice-covered castle at the mountain’s peak.

The Starmaker is as cold and distant as the dark woods, leaving Aurora to explore his enchanted castle with only an immortal rabbit for company. Yet the more she discovers about the sorcerer, the stronger their ruinous attraction grows, pulling her closer to the secrets he refuses to share. A deadly frost approaches, and Aurora must uncover what the Starmaker is hiding before she is left in an endless winter that even the Sun cannot touch.

I found this to be a unique and enjoyable read! I loved how the myth was just part of the story, and it felt very believable, not shoehorned in like I’ve seen before. Aurora…I was on the fence about her. Sometimes he really got on my nerves with her wishy-washy and childish behavior, sometimes I really felt for her. I really like the Starmaker, though—and the immortal rabbit. This was a solid fantasy read!

Rachel Griffin is a bestselling author. The Sun and the Starmaker is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of SOURCEBOOKS Fire in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review:  Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter, by Heather Fawcett   

Image belongs to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey.

Title: Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter
Author: Heather Fawcett     
Genre: Fantasy  
Rating: 4 out of 5

Agnes Aubert leads a meticulously organized life—and she likes it that way. As the proudly type-A manager of a much-needed cat rescue charity, she has devoted her life to finding forever homes for lost cats.

But after she is forced to move the cat shelter, Agnes learns that her new landlord is using her charity as a front—for an internationally renowned and thoroughly disreputable magic shop. Owned by the disorganized—not to mention self-absorbed, irritating, but also decidedly handsome—Havelock Renard, magician and failed Dark Lord, the shop draws magical clientele from around the world, partly due to the quality of Havelock’s illicit goods as well as their curiosity about his shadowy past and rumors of his incredible powers. Agnes’s charity offers the perfect cover for illegal magics.

Agnes couldn’t care less about the shop—magical intrigue or not, there are cats to be rescued. But when an enemy from Havelock’s past surfaces, the magic shop—and more importantly, the cat shelter—are suddenly in jeopardy. To save the shelter, will Agnes have to set aside her social conscience and protect the man who once tried to bring about the apocalypse—and is now trying to steal her heart?

This was a cute read! I really liked world/setting. The era, the city streets and little neighborhood communities—I found these absolutely charming. I liked Agnes herself quite a bit, and her sister was a nice contrast to her. But the cats are the real stars of the show, and I wanted to take them all home, magic or no magic.

Heather Fawcett is a bestselling author. Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore | Del Rey in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Halifax Hellions, by Alexandra Vasti    

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin.

Title: The Halifax Hellions
Author: Alexandra Vasti      
Genre: Romance    
Rating: 4 out of 5 

From the day of their debut, when Matilda smoked a cheroot and Margo tied a cherry stem in a knot with her tongue, the Halifax twins have flouted convention at every turn. But when Matilda runs off with the dangerous Marquess of Ashford – who has every reason to hate her – she may have gone a bit too far.

Determined to stop Matilda’s inexplicable elopement, her sister Margo turns to her oldest friend for help because if anyone can get her to Scotland in time, it’s starchy solicitor Henry Mortimer. But the road to Scotland is paved with secrets. Beneath his buttoned-up exterior, Henry is ardently, wildly, miserably in love with Margo. And Matilda and Ashford’s relationship too may not be quite what it seems.

Between salacious engravings, secret identities, and demanding feral cats, nothing about the journey goes as planned. With the Halifax Hellions at the reins, a week in a carriage is exactly enough time to turn the world upside down . . . and, perhaps, find the love stories they never expected.

I had read the first half of this—Margo’s story—before. It was a cute read. The second half, Matilda’s story, was new to me. It was a solid, entertaining read, as I expect Vasti’s reads to be. Matilda is at times shockingly (for that time period) forward and brazen, and at other times almost shy, which made for a fun contrast. This would be a perfect weekend read!

Alexandra Vasti is a bestselling author. The Halifax Hellions is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review.)

Sundays are for Writing #358

This week, I only wrote one book review, All in Her Hands, by Audrey Blake. I also DNFed two books, The Astral Library (if I was interested in the author’s politics, I’d read her blog, not her fiction) and Weavingshaw (I’m all for a slow burn, but not one THIS.ridiculously.SLOW).

I also outlined two scenes for the fiction project, and wrote a thousand words, so I’m happy with it.

Happy writing!

Book Review: Strange Animals, by Jarod K. Anderson

Image belongs to Ballantine | Ballantine Books.

Title: Strange Animals
Author: Jarod K. Anderson
Genre: Fantasy  
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Green trips on the curb, falls flat into the street, and sees the city bus speeding toward him. And then . . . blink. He’s back on the curb, miraculously still alive. A five-foot-tall crow watches him from atop a nearby sign, somehow unseen by the rushing crowd of morning commuters.

Desperate for answers and beset by more visions of impossible creatures, Green finds his way to a remote campsite in the Appalachian Mountains, where he meets a centuries-old teacher and begins an apprenticeship unlike anything he could imagine.

Under his new mentor’s grouchy tutelage, Green studies the time-bending rag moth, the glass fawn, and the menacing horned wolf. He begins to see past hidden nature’s terrors and glimpse its beauty, all while befriending fellow misfits—and finding connection and community.

Along the way come clues about the forces that set him on this path—and, most incredibly, a sense of purpose and fulfillment like nothing he’s felt before.

But Green’s new happiness promises to be short-lived, because alongside these marvels lurks a deadly threat to this place he’s already come to love.

This was a very odd and equally compelling read. I’m not sure I could tell you what it was about, except maybe “accidental cryptozoologist.” That cleared it up, didn’t it? Parts of this were very creepy (Okay, a lot of parts). Part felt magical. Half the time, I was just as confused as Green—and similarly as engrossed.

Jarod K. Anderson has an MA in early modern English literature. Strange Animals is his debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Ballantine | Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review.)

Sundays are for Writing #357

Man, writing has been a struggle lately. Well, to be even more accurate, reading has been a struggle lately. Work and life have been so chaotic that I just haven’t had time to read, and so I haven’t written any book reviews. This week, I wrote one review, The Sun and the Starmaker, by Rachel Griffin. I’ve been trying to start reading this for two weeks and it just hasn’t happened, but finally!

I also got in about 1,000 fiction words! Granted, they were mostly reused from an earlier draft, but still. That’s the first fiction I’ve written in over a year! And I outlined two more scenes today, so all in all, the week is a writing win!

Happy writing!

Book Review: Carnival Fantástico, by Angela Montoya    

Image belongs to Random House Children’s Books | Joy Revolution.

Title: Carnival Fantástico
Author: Angela Montoya         
Genre: YA, fantasy   
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 

Welcome to the Carnival Fantástico, a spectacle of magic and mischief, and the perfect haven for a runaway. Using her tricks and razor-sharp wit, Esmeralda becomes the carnival’s resident fortune-teller, aiming for the lead role in the Big Top Show. Success would mean freedom from her former employer, the commander of the King’s army.

Ignacio has defected from the army and is on the hunt for evidence of his father’s corruption. But the last thing he expects to find on his father’s trail of lies is the only girl he’s ever loved, spinning false fortunes at a traveling carnival.

Perhaps fortune has thrown them together for a reason. They strike a deal: she’ll help him expose his father if he helps her secure the main act. But old feelings don’t die easily, and the commander’s secret isn’t the only thing they’ll need to confront.  

This was an okay read. The dark carnival setting was fascinating and a lot of fun and was really the highlight of the book. Esmerelda and Ignacio felt pretty one-dimensional and their “conflict” could have been solved in one five-minute conversation instead of them continuously running away from each other. I liked the secondary characters quite a bit and would enjoy reading more about them.

Angela Montoya lives in California. Carnival Fantástico is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House Children’s Books | Joy Revolution in exchange for an honest review.)

The Best Books I Read in January (2026)

My reading goal for the year is 225 books. I did not do very well in January, only finishing eleven books and DNFing seven. Of those eleven, here are the three I enjoyed the most:

Back Lash, by Devon Monk. Because I love Shane and this world, and I recently discovered this short spinoff series existed. Only one more to read!

Strange Animals, by Jarod K. Anderson. Not going to lie, this was a weird book. Very…strange. It was also enthralling from the first page, and I loved the entire adventure and would happily read more.

Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer. This is not the first time I’ve read this, but I needed a refresher, because life in general has been rough lately.

What I Read in January (2026)

Books Read in January: 11
Books Read for the Year:  11/225
Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
The Gate of the Feral Gods, by Matt Dinniman (audio): It’s absolutely ridiculous that I’m enjoying these audio books as much as I am.
Chasing Stardust, by Erica Lucke Dean (TBR): This was a solid read.
Commune, by Joshua Gayou (TBR): Not bad, but I won’t continue with the series.
Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer (spiritual re-read): Always a good choice.
Back Lash, by Devon Monk (TBR): Of course I loved this.
Not Quite By the Book, by Julie Hatcher (TBR): This was pretty cliched, but it was cute.
This Impossible Brightness, by Jessica Bryant Klagmann (TBR): This book seemed absolutely pointless.

For Review:

Strange Animals, by Jarod K. Anderson. This was a…strange…read. And absolutely fascinating. Quite odd, yet compelling. I would happily read more of these characters/this setting.

The Halifax Hellions, by Alexandra Vasti. This was entertaining. I’d read the first half of it as a novella, but I did like the second half/the story of the other twin.

Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter, by Heather Fawcett. This was such a cute read! I liked the feel of the entire novel, and the cats were wonderful characters.   

Just Because:

Sweet Tea and Sympathy, by Molly Harper (audio). This was a decent read.

Left Unfinished:

Love and Other Brain Experiments, by Hannah Brohm. The MC was really unlikable to me, and I didn’t want to read about her.

The Jills, by Karen Parkman. I tried, but this just seemed depressing and the characters annoyed one.

Maybe This Once, by Sophie Sullivan. These characters felt like cardboard cutouts to me.

Keeper of Lost Children, by Sadeqa Johnson. I love historical fiction, but this just couldn’t keep my attention. Great subject and solid writing, I just wasn’t interested in the characters.

Murder Will Out, by Jennifer K. Breedlove. I tried, but Will;ow bored me to tears. Geralt was at least a bit entertaining, but he was a colossal jerk, and I can’t read about unlikable people very long.

Dating After the End of the World, by Jeneva Rose (TBR): The MC was a complete jerk. Why be bitchy and aggressive 24/7?

If Only You Knew, by Ellie. K. Wilde. This felt both unnecessarily dramatic and predictable, and I just couldn’t get interested.

Sundays are for Writing #356

This week, I didn’t do much writing. Texas doesn’t do well with any winter storms, and the amount of ice we got last weekend made this week absolutely nuts. And when the ice was gone, the usual craziness came back with a vengeance. I only wrote one book review this week, Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter, by Heather Fawcett, but I did outline six scenes in the fiction project, so it’s a win.

Happy writing!