Review: Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin

Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin by Nancy Springer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While Enola is attending the funeral of her landlady, she discovers (and uncovers) a young lady who was buried alive.  The girl doesn’t remember what has happened to her, but Enola steps in as her protector.  She soon learns that the girl’s enemy is related to a mystery her older brother, Sherlock, is investigating.  Will Enola be able to protect Trevonia from her uncle? 

Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin is the tenth book in the Enola Holmes series.  This next chapter in Enola’s life brings in additional details from other Sherlock adventures and will be enjoyed by readers of the series or as a stand-alone story.  Springer has crafted a character that is fun to read about and brings this historical period to life.  I’m not sure if another book is in the works, but if it is, I will be looking for it. 

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Review: Red Star Rebels

Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The United Nations base has an emergency, and everyone evacuates.  Everyone except Hunter and Cleo.  Hunter is rich and entitled … Cleo is snarky and used to living under the radar.  Eventually, they learn that the evacuation was a cover-up for a group that plans to blow up the base.  Neither one wants to die, but they have 8 hours until an imminent explosion.  They don’t want to work together, but they must learn to trust each other if they want to survive. 

Red Star Rebels is a stand-alone science fiction novel with a splash of romance.  Although there is space travel and other sci-fi elements in this story, it is not science-dense and will appeal to a wide reader base.  Kaufman has created two characters that are easy to relate to and a situation that is easy to understand, even if we will not find ourselves on a Mars colony.  A fun sci-fi escape that is also a quick read.

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Review: Love Me Tomorrow

Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emma has decided that love is not for her, especially after seeing what her parents’ divorce did to them.  She then makes a wish at the festival of Tanabata … proof that love is real.  She doesn’t think her wish will come true, but then she receives a note from the future saying they are the love of her life.  As more notes arrive, Emma must accept that this is not a prank.  The writer tells her not to try to find them, but Emma begins to wonder about every person she meets.  Will Emma find the writer of these letters?  What will Emma discover about love?

Love Me Tomorrow is a stand-alone magical realism book.  The only part of the story that requires a suspension of disbelief is the letters from the future.  Emma learns a lot about herself as well as those closest to her.  Although there is no clear answer at the end, I believe most readers will be satisfied with how everything wraps up.  

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Review: Butterfly Games

Butterfly Games by Kelly Scarborough
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jacquette is trying her best to learn the rules of the Butterfly Game.  She is young, naive, and unprepared to juggle romance and politics in the Swedish court.  When she falls in love with the crown prince, and he lets a rumor end an arranged courtship, the consequences to Jacquette are a lot more severe than they are for Prince Oscar.  How will Jacquette deal with their unapproved romance?

Butterfly Games is a stand-alone historical fiction story that has a little bit of spice throughout.  Readers will enjoy this new view into European royalty.  I didn’t know anything about the Swedish monarchy and have now found a new court to find additional stories about.  The events of this story take place over just a few years, but readers will wonder how so much could go on in such a short time.

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Review: Gaslit

Gaslit by Megan Davidhizar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ella was planning a fun New Year’s Eve out with her friends when a migraine cancelled those plans.  After the migraine passes, she decides she is going to help her aunt by babysitting her cousin.  When she arrives at the house, the door is open, and she smells gas.  She calls 911 and tries to save as many as she can.  Ella is now recovering from this accident, but she notices holes in the investigation into the gas leak.  Her health also takes on a new form.  What really happened that night?

Gaslit is a stand-alone mystery with some personal drama thrown in.  Davidhizar did a good job leaving readers wondering who did what and why.  Some “mysteries” are resolved early on, while others leave readers looking forward to the end of the book.  Gaslit is a good escape read and could be completed in a weekend, too. 

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Review: The Other Sister

The Other Sister by Theo Baxter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Celeste may look like she has her life together, but she has survived many childhood traumas and now uses her own survival strategies to help others in her psychology practice.  Unfortunately, her life is turned upside down when a patient begins stalking her and then attempts to destroy her career.  Now Celeste is confronted with her past as she attempts to save her future.

The Other Sister is a stand-alone mystery with a few twists and turns to keep the reader interested.  Baxter has created a story that is close enough to be believable that I began to wonder if this could happen to me.  A good read for all mystery fans. 

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Review: Royal Liars

Royal Liars by Lindsey Duga
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sadie is now the heir apparent for Ashland, and life has not settled down as it is time to start a new school year.  She has been told to fake date one of the princes, yet the other prince wants her for himself.  The other “royal heirs” have their own drama they are dealing with, and it soon becomes apparent that they need to trust each other.  Can these teens put aside their differences and come together for the country they love? 

Royal Liars is the second book in the Royal Heirs Academy.    This enemies-to-lovers story is told in alternating voices, so readers have a full picture of what is going on, even if the individual characters do not.  The intrigue goes beyond the usual teen issues and moves onto the global platform.  This is a duology, so readers can finish this book with the assurance that they know where almost everything ends.  A great escape read for fans of romance or royal tropes.  

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