Book Review – The Raven by Mike Nappa

 

 

"The Raven" by Mike Nappa centers on a street performer, The Raven, who steals from a local politician and tries to blackmail him. The Raven is a skilled street performer. He performs tricks while pickpocketing his audience. He thinks it’s harmless until he decides to steal a spare wallet from a local city councilman.

Raven believed he would make a few extra bucks from the wallet. However, he finds no money, only compromising photos of the politician with personal assistants. Realizing he might have hit the jackpot, Raven decides to blackmail him. Unfortunately, he quickly realizes he’s in over his head, and now the Ukrainian Mafia is after him. Raven then hires private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill to help him untangle the mess.

The book is the second in the series. It can be read as a standalone, but there were nuances and references to Trudi’s and Samuel’s relationship that didn’t make sense without the background. The book was a quick read with a few predictable twists. I enjoyed the characters and would be interested in reading more books by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion** 

 

Book Review – First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

 

First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston follows a woman known as Evie Porter, who is sent on a mysterious assignment by her boss, Mr. Smith, but nothing goes according to plan. On the surface, Evie appears to be living the perfect life: she has a loving boyfriend, a charming home with a white picket fence, and a close-knit group of friends. However, Evie Porter isn’t real.

Each time Evie receives a new assignment, she’s given a new identity. Along with an alias, she receives the name and location of her target. From there, it’s her job to learn everything she can about the person, the town, and the people around them. While she’s given basic details, she’s rarely told why the target has been chosen, leaving her to piece together her boss’s motives as she gathers information.

Evie knows very little about Mr. Smith. She doesn’t even know his real name or the full extent of his organization. The only thing she’s certain of is that this latest assignment feels different. Her new target, Ryan Sumner, makes her imagine a life beyond the job, a chance to settle down and start over. But Mr. Smith isn’t willing to let one of his most valuable assets walk away, especially after she made a costly mistake on her previous assignment. As Evie struggles to secure a future for herself, one wrong move could cost her everything.

I thought the book was an interesting read with several twists and surprises. It was easy to get into, and the writing style made it a quick, engaging read. The pacing was fast, with plenty of suspenseful moments that kept me turning the pages. At first, I found the shifts between past and present a bit frustrating, but by the end, everything came together in a satisfying way. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would be open to reading more from this author.

Book Review - All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim

 

 

All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim follows two childhood friends, Quito Cruz and Emmett Aoki, as they cross paths again as adults. Quito is a gifted pianist and composer who performs at a piano bar in New York City. He dreams of writing a Broadway show, but he’s stuck in a creative slump. He believes his lack of inspiration stems from a significant interaction he had with Emmett back in college.

Out of the blue, Quito receives a call from his father, who asks him to organize a charity performance in their hometown to benefit their old music program. His father also suggests inviting Emmett, now a movie star and Hollywood heartthrob, to help draw attention to the event.

Quito isn’t sure how to reach out, since he and Emmett have lost touch. However, when they unexpectedly run into each other, Quito takes the chance to ask and is surprised when Emmett agrees. As they begin preparing for the performance, Quito feels their old connection returning, but he’s unsure if Emmett feels the same way.

I thought the book was an okay read. It was fairly straightforward, without many twists or surprises. One aspect that really bothered me was how the female characters were portrayed. They felt poorly written and often came across as being judged harshly or portrayed in a catty, negative way. It gave the impression that the narrative didn’t treat female characters with much care or depth, especially in comparison to other characters.

I did enjoy the food descriptions, particularly the scenes where the characters were cooking, but that wasn’t enough to elevate the overall experience for me. In the end, I didn’t connect much with the story, and I probably wouldn’t pick up another book by this author.

 

Book Review - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

 

 

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is about two magicians who are bound to compete against each other in a mysterious, magical competition. At the center of it all is a circus that appears without warning and is open only at night. It arrives without announcement and vanishes just as suddenly. Unlike any other circus, it is filled with breathtaking and enchanting spectacles.

Behind the scenes of Le Cirque des Rêves lies a fierce competition that has been decades in the making. It is a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been training for this challenge since childhood. However, the rules and even the true purpose of the game are  known only to their instructors.

Celia and Marco are unaware that the competition can only end when one of them is left standing. The circus itself serves as both the stage and the prison for their contest. As the challenge unfolds across time, it becomes a battle of will, skill, and imagination.

As Celia and Marco spend more time together, they begin to fall for one another. But even if their feelings are genuine, it may not matter as they are bound to the competition, and it must reach its conclusion.

I was really excited to start this book. The premise sounded intriguing, and I had heard many positive reviews. The writing is highly imaginative, with vivid descriptions that bring the circus to life. At times, it felt so magical that I was completely transported into its world.

However, I ultimately found the book to be quite boring. While there is a strong focus on the detailed atmosphere of the circus, the story itself felt underdeveloped. There was little clarity about the purpose or structure of the competition, and it seemed like most of the actual plot didn’t fully come together until the end. The book had a lot of potential to be something more, but much of it felt like filler.

I do think the author is a talented storyteller, and I might still be open to reading more of her work in the future or seeing this as a movie.

 

Book Review - The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh

 

The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh follows Emma, a woman who hides a dark secret from her husband, Leo, that is threatening to destroy their marriage. Emma loves her life with Leo and their young daughter, Ruby. She would do anything for her family, yet everything she has told Leo is a lie. She might have gotten away with it if not for her husband’s job.

Leo is an obituary writer, while Emma is a well-known marine biologist. When Emma receives a cancer diagnosis, Leo begins to spiral and struggles to cope with the news. He decides to research and write about Emma in case she passes away. However, as he digs into her past, he discovers discrepancies between what she’s told him and the truth. Leo is devastated to learn her name isn’t real and that other details she shared are false. As Emma’s past comes to light, will she be able to prove to Leo that she is the woman he believed her to be?

I was eager to read this book, expecting a suspenseful thriller. However, I found it boring, and it dragged on for quite a while. I disliked how the author prolonged the secret. The story is very predictable for the most part.

The book is divided into parts, and each part feels very different. I’m not sure why it was structured that way. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I also didn’t understand why most of the characters actively supported and protected Emma when she was blatantly lying to a man she claimed to have loved for years. I might consider reading more books by the author, but I wouldn’t rush to get her next one.

May 2026 Empties!

 

 

I can't believe we are one month away from hitting the 6-month mark. The year has definitely flown by. While I am enjoying the warmer weather, not looking forward to the hot weather that is going to descend on us.

I have used a few products from the Farmacy brand. I tried their honey bubbly body wash, and honestly, it isn't worth the bottle. It is very expensive. I tried looking up the price, but apparently, it is not being made anymore. I definitely know it was more than $20. It had a barely there honey scent and a decent lather. However, it is not hydrating as it claims, and the scent is non-existent in the shower. I had drugstore body washes perform better than this.

The OdiD Forest and Herb body lotion was a nice treat. The bottle was generously sized. It had a thick cream consistency and was very moisturizing. The scent was pleasant, and it lasts. I had used it and forgot to put on perfume, and someone said I smelled amazing and asked what I was wearing. I would be interested in trying more of their stuff.

I have a few of Midha, but I finally used one of their products. Their rice milk lotion is very soothing and nourishing. It has a mild scent, but it isn't strong or noticeable. It had a milky consistency and absorbed quickly. It is a nice, lightweight moisturizer. 

Did you finish anything you liked this month? 

Book Review - Kaplan’s Plot by Jason Diamond

 

Kaplan’s Plot by Jason Diamond follows Elijah Mendes, who returns home to Chicago to care for his dying mother and uncovers a dark secret about his family’s past. Elijah had hoped that if he ever returned home, it would be under better circumstances. His mother, Eve, is dying of cancer, his business collapsed after a damaging scandal, and he has nowhere else to go.

Elijah comes home feeling restless and uncertain about his future. While he wants to help his mother, he struggles with how to do so because their relationship has long been distant and strained. While assisting her in organizing the house, Elijah discovers a letter addressed to his mother that references a Jewish cemetery owned by their family. The letter also mentions a man Elijah has never heard of, his great-uncle, Solomon Kaplan, who is buried there.

Using the letter as a starting point, Elijah confronts his mother and begins to learn more about their family history. He discovers that Eve’s father, Yitz, was a powerful and notorious gangster in the 1920s. Ashamed of her father’s criminal past, Eve had buried the truth and never spoken of it. As Elijah digs deeper into his family’s history, he realizes that uncovering these long-hidden secrets may offer him and his mother a chance to finally connect.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book based on the synopsis. I felt conflicted while reading it. I enjoyed the chapters set in the past, but found the present-day storyline dull and unengaging. The sections focused on Yitz and his past were by far the most interesting, while Elijah’s storyline felt unnecessary, as very little actually happened.

I struggled to understand the point of the novel, as it often felt unfocused and disjointed. At times, I was confused about what was happening or why certain scenes were included at all. I also didn’t enjoy the author’s writing style, which felt padded with too much fluff. While the book was okay, I wouldn’t reread it or seek out other works by this author.

Book Review - The Goldens by Lauren Wilson

 

The Goldens by Lauren Wilson is about a woman, Chloe, who is drawn to an enigmatic influencer, Clara Holland. Chloe always dreamed of becoming a bestselling writer but was never sure what she wanted to write about. Then, when Chloe met the famous influencer, Clara, the pair became fast friends, and Chloe joined Clara’s inner circle.

Chloe moved into Clara’s mansion as Clara’s fame started to skyrocket. Clara began to act erratically, hosting wild, cult-like parties with crystals and a bonfire. Clara decided to open her home to other girls who wanted to live like her, but the only catch was that they had to follow rules Clara made up and couldn’t talk to the media.

Everyone claimed it was a cult, and Chloe started to feel unsettled when she learned dark rumors from Clara’s past. When a girl went missing from one of Clara’s parties, Chloe began to wonder about the rumors surrounding Clara. Chloe feared that if she didn’t escape, she might be next.

I was expecting so much from this novel, but it fell flat. I thought there would be some exciting twists or turns, but the novel was very predictable and felt cookie-cutter. Toward the middle of the book, it moved very slowly. I also felt like Chloe saw and knew what type of person Clara was (or becoming) but continued being friends with her, which made it annoyed at her. I would be open to reading more books by the author, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to read it.

Book Review – The Spider Strikes by Michael P. Spradlin

 

The Spider Strikes by Michael P. Spradlin is about three best friends spending one last summer together before one of them leaves for America.

In the summer of 1931, Joshua and his family once again travel to their cabin in Salzburg, Austria, just as they have done for many summers before. Joshua is especially looking forward to getting away from his home in Heroldsberg because the Nazi presence there is growing stronger, and Jewish families like his are facing increasing harassment and cruelty.

Before his friend Rolf leaves for America with his father, Joshua invites him and their other best friend, Ansel, to spend time together at the family cabin. However, what begins as a relaxing getaway quickly turns dangerous when the boys discover that the Nazis also have a growing presence in Austria. A group of older Nazi boys begins following them after the trio hikes up the mountain to the cabin. As the situation becomes more threatening, the boys must figure out how to escape before things spiral even further out of control.

This is the third book in the series. While it can technically be read as a standalone, I wouldn’t really recommend it. I had only read the first book and didn’t realize this was the third installment until I started reading. Even so, I was still able to enjoy the story, although there were definitely some character nuances and backstories that I missed.

Like the first book, I thought this one was very well written. The characters are likable and easy to root for. I also loved how the author handled such a difficult subject in a realistic but accessible way that allows younger readers to both enjoy the story and empathize with the characters. Even though the book is short, it is action-packed and very easy to get engrossed in. I ended up reading it in one sitting. The ending leaves room for more adventures, but unfortunately, the author recently passed away. That genuinely made me sad because I had grown very attached to the characters and wanted to continue following their journey.

Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.