Category: reading

Book Review: Fishbone Cinderella, by Elizabeth Lim

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

Title: Fishbone Cinderella
Author: Elizabeth Lim           
Genre: Fantasy, historical fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 

Guangdong, 1940. When Ha Yut Ying narrowly escapes Japanese soldiers by turning invisible, she knows her new-found magic must be kept a secret. But her mother, whose dreams foretell the future, suspects her daughter has changed, and warns her of a curse upon their family. For her protection, she gives her a gold bracelet whose links are shaped like fishbones.​

After the war, Ha Yut Ying is sent to live with her father and his second wife, who have become wealthy factory owners in Hong Kong. Her stepmother, jealous of her beauty, forces her to work in the family’s shoe factory.

But when Yut Ying collides with a boy on a bicycle on her way to work, she loses her bracelet. The boy is Tommy Yeung, scion of a local soymilk tycoon. And their encounter will change both of their destinies forever…

I did enjoy this read, although I found it a bit depressing. Sometimes a lot depressing. Helen’s stepmother is absolutely horrible. I liked reading about the culture of Hong Kong, and I liked the past timeline, but the present-day one was kind of…sad.

Elizabeth Lim is a bestselling author. Fishbone Cinderella is her newest novel.

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

The Best Books I Read in July (2026)

I continue to be woefully behind on my reading. I only read 12 books in July! And I only DNFed four others. 🙂

Of those 12, several were really good.

Where the Lost Wander, by Amy Harmon. I listened to the audio book, and was engrossed from the beginning—and westerns really aren’t my thing. But this was a great read, if sad at times.

Where the Sea Lavendar Grows, by Kitty Johnson. Yes, I do love a good WWII historical fiction—but I don’t love all of them. This one was great! I enjoyed the present-day timeline and characters just as much as I enjoyed the ones from the past. Except that one lady…

Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better, by Brant Hansen. Yep. This was a heck of a read, and one I wish more people would put into action.

What I Read in July (2026)

Books Read in July: 12
Books Read for the Year: 96/225

Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
Where the Lost Wander, by Amy Harmon (audio): I enjoyed this so much!
The Gilded Blade, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (TBR): I ended up finishing this on audio, and I really enjoyed it!
Where the Sea Lavender Grows, by Kitty Johnson (TBR): I really liked this dual-timeline historical fiction.
Unoffendable, by Brant Hansen (spiritual): Great read!
Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, by Lysa TerKeurst (spiritual): This is a hard book.
I Want to Trust You, But I Don’t, by Lysa TerKeurst (spiritual): Very…helpful.
The Girl in the Lake, by Lauren Oliver (TBR): Kinda meh, honestly. Especially the MC.
A Bitter Cut, by Anna Lee Huber (TBR): Love this series.

For Review:

The Moonsingers, by Robyn J. Pritzker. This was a nice read. I loved the historical fiction/fantasy combo (a “cozy” Fairy tale), it’s definitely a genre I’d like to read more of.

Destination Funeral, by Paige Harbison. I was on the fence at first, but I ended up enjoying this a lot.

The Story Keeper, by Kelly Rimmer. I loved the story-within-a-story trope, although one was not so much a story…

Hell to Pay, by Lora Beth Johnson. I almost DNFed this. I enjoyed the heist aspect, but I kinda felt like there was too much going on with the culture/mythology.

Left Unfinished:
The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance, by Chiara Bullen. I made it to 10% and nothing happened, except the MC complaining and being judgey. No, thank you.
The Broken Edge of the World, by Alena Bruzas. This was erratic and didn’t even make sense, jumping around from one cool thing the author thought of to another, without any of it going together.
To Drown a Witch, by Lindsey Olsson. I just wasn’t interested in reading the MC. Didn’t catch my attention at all.
Dominion, by Jean Kwok. Too much going on here made this a jumbled mess. And WHY spell it “tyger”? This got on my very last nerve.


Book Review: Hell to Pay, by Lora Beth Johnson

Image belongs to Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.

Title: Hell to Pay
Author: Lora Beth Johnson    
Genre: YA, fantasy
Rating: 3 out of 5 

Elle Fields comes from a long line of thieves who specialize in breaking into the Afterlife to steal secrets—and magic—from the dead. But after her parents’ disappearance and her brother’s death, Elle is left adrift, without even her crew to rely on.

Until a mysterious stranger offers her a job she can’t stealing a soul from the Afterlife. If Elle can get it done, it could be the key to restoring the life she lost.

The only problem is getting her crew back together. Oh, and the fact that the job’s impossible—but Elle is confident that she’ll be able to work it all out.

After all, how hard could it be to raise the dead?

I almost DNFed this. The heist aspect kept me reading. I feel like there was too much going on with the setting/world building:  the gods, life/death/afterdeath, magic, the different gangs (for lack of a better word)…just a lot. That got in the way of the story. Elle was…almost unlikable to me. I enjoyed her snark, but her personality sucked. I’m still on the fence about this one, and I wouldn’t want to read more in this world.

Lora Beth Johnson lives in North Carolina. Hell to Pay is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: The Story Keeper, by Kelly Rimmer

Image belongs to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA.

Title: The Story Keeper
Author: Kelly Rimmer      
Genre: Historical fiction   
Rating: 4 out of 5

In the aftermath of a tumultuous year, Fiona Winslow finds solace in the decaying grandeur of Wurimbirra, the rambling family estate she once called home. Intent on restoring it, she discovers the keys to more than just the dilapidated mansion—beneath the crumbling plaster and dust are secrets that have been buried for a generation.

When a curious book, The Midnight Estate, catches her attention in her late uncle’s library, Fiona is plunged into a tale that mirrors her own—a story of love, loss and betrayal. But as the lines between fiction and reality blur, Fiona must ask herself: Is the true mystery the one hidden within the walls of her ancestral home, or is it within the pages of a book that chose her as much as she chose it?

I really enjoyed the story-within-a-story going on here. I was deeply invested in the book the character was reading, as well as the novel itself. There’s no way I’d move out to a big, empty house in the middle of nowhere by myself—the first stray noise would have had me abandoning ship. I ended up enjoying this read quite a bit, and I loved how everything tied together.

Kelly Rimmer is a bestselling author. The Story Keeper is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

Sundays are for Writing #381

This has been a very chaotic week at work. My dad was in the hospital for over two weeks and I was about to head to new Orleans when I heard he was getting out. I’m…exhausted. I did write two book reviews, though. The Story Keeper, by Kelly Rimmer and Hell to Pay, by Lora Beth Johnson. I’m woefully behind on my reading, but…oh well. I’m trying. No fiction work this week, except for finishing my read-through of the draft.

Happy writing!

Sundays are for Writing #379

This was just an okay writing week. I wrote one book review, The Moonsingers, by Robyn J Pritzker. I DNFed a couple of books, and it was a terribly demanding and stressful week at work, so that’s it.

Happy writing!

Book Review: The Moonsingers, by Robyn J Pritzker

Image belongs to Poisoned Pen Press.

Title: The Moonsingers
Author: Robyn J Pritzker            
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5 

In a quiet glen beyond the reach of the railway lives a peculiar family who knows the best magic is the kind found in ordinary moments.

When Ismay Gebhardt is dismissed from yet another teaching post after an unfortunate accident (which everyone survived!), she accepts a last-chance job as a private tutor in sleepy Glenmaidens village. The town is brimming with natural beauty, uncanny traditions, and earnest locals, none more unusual than her three young pupils—the Underhill sisters—and their puzzling father.

Determined to make herself useful after several catastrophic lessons with the unbiddable girls, Ismay writes to the transport bureau suggesting an extension to the train line, hoping to bring Glenmaidens into modernity. As usual, Ismay’s good intentions lead to chaos with the arrival of the bureau’s frustratingly thorough officer, Hamish Breck, whose railway plans threaten not only the glen’s tranquility, but also the ancient oak tree at its heart. Amidst a mess of her own making, Ismay unearths Glenmaidens’ enchanted secret: the Underhills, like many villagers, are fairies who settled in the mortal world in search of a gentler life, and the oak is their only bridge back to the moonlit realm of the fantastic.

As summer heat rises, Ismay schemes with her magical neighbors to prevent the extension, each day finding herself more entangled with the charming, persistent bureaucrat. With her newfound family, the way between worlds, and her heart all at risk, Ismay must decide how much she would bargain to finally embrace the wonder and belonging she’s always wished for.

I enjoyed this read! I love the historical fiction setting, and the Underhills were such fun characters. This was just a calm, lovely read and I liked the characters as well. It’s definitely a cozy fairy tale, and I could get used to reading this genre—no reading stress, a believable setting, and a magical twist.

Robyn J Pritzker has a doctorate of literature. The Moonsingers is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review.)

Book Review: Rewrite the Stars, by Lindsay Hameroff

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

Title: Rewrite the Stars
Author: Lindsay Hameroff
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5

A sparkling romance between an ex-actress and her contractor, reminding us that it’s never too late to rewrite our destiny.

Semi-retired actress Marissa Morgan has played many parts in her life. But these days, her primary role is mother of two. Since hitting pause on her career, she’s worked hard to give her kids a normal childhood and shield them from the spotlight. So when her ex-husband announces his high-profile engagement and a media storm ensues, Marissa and her kids flee Los Angeles for a summer at her recently inherited Poconos lake house.

The long-vacant house needs major TLC, so Marissa hires a home renovation company to do repairs. But when the project hits a snag and Marissa finds herself sharing space with the crew, including Jesse, the handsome (and vaguely familiar) foreman, her plans for a drama-free summer hit choppy water.

Jesse doesn’t expect Marissa to remember him; they were just kids when they last played together at the lake. But he’s never forgotten her; he’s spent the last two decades quietly following her career, even as his own dreams fell apart. And now that she’s stumbled back into his sleepy hometown, Jesse’s predictable life has gotten a lot more complicated.

As the summer days pass, Marissa finds herself centering her own needs for the first time in years—and that includes giving into her mounting attraction to Jesse. Soon, she finds herself wondering if their fling could become something more.

After an unexpected career opportunity falls into Marissa’s lap, it feels like the stars have finally aligned. But when new complications arise, the pair wonder how they’ll fit into each other’s future. Can Marissa and Jesse chart a new course together, or is it too late to rewrite the script for a happily ever after?

This was a sweet romantic read. Not quite a second-chance romance, but I really enjoyed it. The Hollywood/social media drama Marissa has to live with is horrifying to me, but she deals with it with aplomb and serenity—on the surface anyway. I enjoyed seeing her step into becoming a person willing to stand up for herself and her own needs, not just caving to the demands of Hollywood, her ex-husband, and even her kids. This would be a perfect summer weekend read.

Lindsay Hameroff is from Baltimore. Rewrite the Stars is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: Pretty Dead Things, by Kelsey Cox  

Image belongs to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books.

Title: Pretty Dead Things
Author: Kelsey Cox             
Genre: Mystery/thriller  
Rating: 4 out 5

2000: Isabelle Whitmore vanishes at Sherman Ranch in Anhalt, Texas, without a trace.

2025: The annual Lone Star Princess Pageant looms, bringing long-standing grudges to the surface. Ingrid fled Anhalt in the wake of her sister Isabelle’s disappearance and has now returned, just in time for a construction crew to start digging up Sherman Ranch; the pageant brings up past traumas that Melanie can’t forget; Cat, newly sober, starts to feel threatened in ways that bring back old demons; and Sarah Lynn, who comes from a long line of pageant winners, knows that losing is not an option.

When old resentments and new confrontations reach their boiling point, temperatures drop to deadly degrees as a record-setting storm brings down the state’s power grid. With everyone trapped under one roof, scores will be settled, and more than one person will end up dead.

Not going to lie: the portrayal of pageant culture (especially pageant moms) felt pretty spot-on. This was an engrossing read, and I enjoyed both the present-day scenes and the past scenes. The characters were all quite vivid and there were enough twists and turns that I kept changing my mind about who the killer was—and I never actually did figure it out.

Kelsey Cox lives in the Hill Country. Pretty Dead Things is her newest novel.

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