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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