Review

Cover image of a red house and tree houses in a forest. Subtitle says "A real boy and his heart. No strings attached.” Author tagline is “New York Times Bestselling author of The House in the Cerulean Sea.” Text says "In the Lives of Puppets TJ Klune."

In the Lives of Puppets

IN THE LIVES OF PUPPETS rating: 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. We’re awash in cynicism. We’re drowning in snark. You know what is missing? Goodness. Pure, unadulterated goodness. When I think of literary goodness, I think of Bishop Myriel, even though I never got all the way through LES MISERABLES, being defeated at Waterloo. And I think […]

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Image has cover of starlings, keys, yellow flowers, and keys in a circular flurry. Text says "New York Times Bestselling Author Alix E. Harrow STARLING HOUSE." Text of cover blurb says "'Alix E. Harrow is an exceptional, undeniable talent.'Olivie Blake, New York Times Bestselling Author of THE ATLAS SIX."

Starling House

STARLING HOUSE rating: 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. Like Alix E. Harrow‘s other heroines, orphan Opal is a savvy, strong-willed girl. She’s a Kentuckian, so she’s also willing to bend (or break) rules or face down any danger in order to fight for her kin. STARLING HOUSE (Tor/Macmillan, October 3, 2023) is a flipped fairy tale like

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Image has background of purple, yellow, and orange swirls like a prairie sunset and some flat hills. A woman in a red dress with long red hair and a cowboy hat walks in the foreground. Text says "Lucky Red A Novel Claudia Cravens"

Wild West Women

LUCKY RED rating: 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. If you ask about my favorite genre, Western will likely be the last thing on the list, but some westerns I revere. LONESOME DOVE (1985). THE SISTERS BROTHERS (2011). But, feminist westerns. Hello. As with the circus, the frontier is a place where fictional women can explore identities and

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Catching Up with Cosby

S.A. Cosby, I mean. ALL THE SINNERS BLEED rating: 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐. While I think RAZORBLADE TEARS is a superior novel, I enjoyed ALL THE SINNERS BLEED (Macmillan, June 2023) more. I could easily see it becoming adapted into an Oscar-contender film or popular TV miniseries. Phenomenal pacing is Cosby’s forte, and he settles into

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Image of a door surrounded with flowering plants. Text says "New York Times Bestselling author J. C. Cervantes The Enchanted Hacienda: A Novel"

The Enchanted Hacienda

THE ENCHANTED HACIENDA rating: 3 stars ⭐⭐⭐. THE ENCHANTED HACIENDA will be released May 16, 2023 by HarperCollins. It’s described as Hispanic and Latino fiction, but it’s also fantasy, and obviously women’s fiction. Recommended for fans of Hispanic and Latino fantasy and magical realism fiction and for those who like THE ENCHANTED APRIL by Elizabeth

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Image shows main character Georgie in a white hat and red suit in a suite in Paris. She is sitting at a mirror in front of a decorative scrolled balcony with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Text says "RHYS BOWEN New York Times Bestselling Author PERIL IN PARIS A Royal Spyness Mystery"

Rhys Bowen and Me

PERIL IN PARIS rating: 3 stars ⭐⭐⭐. I just finished my 21st book by Rhys Bowen (nom de plume of Janet Quin-Harkin), PERIL IN PARIS (USA release November 8, 2022), sixteenth in the Royal Spyness series. Disclaimer: Thanks to Penguin Random House for sending this book to me for review consideration. All opinions are my

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