Tag: fiction

Book Review: Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore, by Emily Krempholtz

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Title: Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore
Author: Emily Krempholtz             
Genre: Fantasy  
Rating: 4 out of 5 

She traded curses for carnations. But old magic dies hard…

Guy Shadowfade is dead, and Violet Thistlethwaite is out of a job. After a lifetime as the dark sorcerer’s right-hand witch, she’s ready to turn over a new leaf. And this time, she wants to sprout peonies instead of poison.

The quiet town of Dragon’s Rest seems like the perfect place to start over. Violet opens a flower shop, swears off dark magic, and does her best to be…good. Even if her reputation – and her mildly homicidal, sentient houseplant – make that tricky.

Her vibrant bouquets soon charm the locals, but nothing she does seems to impress the grumpy (and infuriatingly gorgeous) Nathaniel Marsh, the alchemist she’s forced to share a greenhouse with.

But when a strange blight begins to rot the roots of Dragon’s Rest, Violet and Nathaniel must work together – through their fears, pasts, and growing feelings – to save the town.

And as old secrets start to surface, Violet can’t help but does a former villain like her truly deserve a happily-ever-after?

This was a nice cozy fantasy read. Was it high stakes? No. Did I ever feel like the characters were truly in danger? No. And you know what…that was actually kind of nice. There’s enough high-stakes imagery in the real world. I don’t always need it in my fiction. I enjoyed all the fantasy creatures, the myths, the magic…and the flowers. Violet was a great character, and I loved watching her grow and thrive. Definitely a sweet, fun read.

Emily Krempholtz is a bestselling author. Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Berkley Publishing Group | Ace in exchange for an honest review.)

   

Book Review: The Mortal Enemy Murder Club, by Gloria Chao

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Title: The Mortal Enemy Murder Club
Author: Gloria Chao             
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4 out of 5

Kathryn Hu is not getting into the business of solving murders. Yes, she and her friends Olivia and Elle figured out who killed their cheating ex-boyfriend. But now Kat can get back to her usual, murder-free existence.

Then she gets an unexpected plea for help. Mandy Thorne has ruined countless lives through her revenge podcast. She also did her best to frame the girls. Now, she claims, someone is trying to kill her. And the girls are the only ones who can save her.

But can the trio and Mandy put aside their mutual contempt long enough to prevent a murder and solve this case? Can they become…the Mortal Enemy Murder Club?

I don’t think I enjoyed this one quite as much as the first one, but I did like it. Kat is so funny to me—and I don’t know how she puts up with her mother. Her open-mouth-insert-foot antics also made me cringe with sympathy. I never figured out the killer, I honestly couldn’t keep all the suspects straight, but that was more of a me problem than a problem with the book. I kept getting interrupted and distracted.

Gloria Chao is a bestselling author. The Mortal Enemy Murder Club is her newest novel.

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

Book Review: Hell to Pay, by Lora Beth Johnson

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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.)

Book Review: Destination Funeral, by Paige Harbison  

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Title: Destination Funeral
Author: Paige Harbison             
Genre: Fiction  
Rating:  4.5 out of 5

When Babe—the complicated, magnetic matriarch of their teenage summers—dies, four estranged friends return to sleepy Mercy Island, a storm-swept stretch of coastal Georgia, summoned by the reading of her will.

Didion arrives at the timeworn pink house to find the friends she never thought she’d see again—along with the tensions, attractions, and unfinished business that once bound them together and broke them apart.

What should be a brief weekend of small talk quickly unravels when they wake up and discover…it’s Saturday. Again. And again. And again.

Trapped in a time loop with no end and no instructions, they’re forced to confront the betrayals, breakups, and buried truths that shattered them all those years ago. Because maybe, just maybe, an endless weekend is exactly what they all need to save their own lives.

I ended up loving this! I loved the past/present timelines and getting to see the story in real time, not just memories or being talked about. The friendship between these four characters was awesome, and they are people I’d genuinely like to hang out with. The setting is magical in itself, but the touch of magic the time loop adds just makes it so uch more. This would be a perfect weekend read!

Paige Harbison is from the Washington D.C. area. Destination Funeral is her newest novel.

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

 

Book Review: The Moonsingers, by Robyn J Pritzker

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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.)

   

The Best Books I Read in June (2026)

In June, I read 17 books, bringing my total for the year to 84 books read. I also DNFed a handful, but we won’t talk about those. Of the 17 I finished, several were really good.

The Secret Thread, by Eve Chase. I really enjoyed this dual timeline/historical fiction/mystery mashup. The MC was very vivid in both timelines, and I loved seeing how she became who she was.

When Dealing with Dragons, by Dana Swift. This was a unique read for me. I loved the world and the culture, and I thought the characters were well done, too. I’d love to read more in this world!

Don’t Forget to Write, by Sara Goodman Confino. I absolutely loved this! The MC’s parents, particularly her dad, were horrible, but her aunt Ava was so inspiring! The voice was phenomenal and I just loved every page. Great ending, too.

What I Read in June (2026)

Books Read in June: 17
Books Read for the Year:  84/225

Topical Books/Monthly Goal Books:
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, by Joshilyn Jackson (audio): This did not turn out like I expected! I love Joshilyn Jackson’s Southern fiction.
Strange New World, by Rachel Vincent (TBR): This was a decent YA duology.
Don’t Forget to Write, by Sara Goodman Confino (TBR): I LOVED this!
The Road Towards Home, by Corinne Demas (TBR): I enjoyed this read, although I found the ending a little too quick and tidy.
Out of the Ashes, by Kara Thomas (TBR): I’m surprised I finished this. The MC was awful.
For Whom the Spell Tolls, by Devon Monk (TBR): This is a cute series.
Desiring God, by John Piper (spiritual): Very deep read.

For Review:

Scandal of the Summer, by Alexandra Vasti. This was a decent romance read.

The Secret Thread, by Eve Chase. I enjoyed this a lot–both timelines. Some mystery, family drama, cool fashion/historical stuff. A very solid read.

Cursed Ever After, by Andy C. Naranjo. This felt a bit like The Princess Bride. It was funny in places, a bit over-the-top, and just generally solid. A storybook type of fantasy.

When Dealing with Dragons, by Dana Swift. I thought the world/culture in this read was very unique. I enjoyed that very much, and I like all the characters. The hidden secret was also very cool.

Witch Season, by Julia Bianco. I finished this, but it felt pretty meh to me.

The River She Became, by Emily Varga. I really enjoyed this read. It felt unique and fresh and I liked the world a lot.

Pretty Dead Things, by Kelsey Cox. Man, pageant culture is real in Texas. And this was a pretty ugly look at the inside of it–with an unexpected (to me, anyway) twist at the end.

Rewrite the Stars, by Lindsay Hameroff. I really enjoyed this! I think the banter between the MC and her best friend was my favorite part, but this was a sweet, lovely read.

Just Because:
Anxious for Nothing, by Max Lucado (Audio): Anything by Max Lucado is good.
I’ll Start Again Monday, by Lysa TerKeurst. I really enjoyed this. Made me think.

Left Unfinished:
Leave and Come Back, by Lavanya Lakshmi. I had to put this down because I was busy, and never felt the urge to pick it back up.
La Vie, According to Rose, by Lauren Parvizi. I absolutely refuse to read about stupid people, and Rose is stupid. How many times can you lose your phone or keys or something else important while in a foreign country? How do you blatantly refuse to see the con man in front of you, when everyone else on the planet can see it? Ugh.
Most Ardently Yours, by Freya Sampson. I can’t believe I DNFed this, but the MC got on every single nerve I have and I couldn’t stand to read more.
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt, by Ben Reeves. This started off slow and did not catch my attention. At all.