Book Review – Spooky Scouts by Kimberly Shrack

 

 

Spooky Scouts by Kimberly Shrack follows a young wolf pup named Luna as she attends her annual Spooky Scouts camping trip during a full moon.

Luna is excited for the Spooky Scouts' annual camping adventure. However, when a full moon is forecasted, she is devastated. She has been keeping a secret from her fellow scouts: during a full moon, Luna transforms into an icky beast that she fears will terrify her troop.

Determined to keep her transformation hidden, Luna does everything she can to avoid being seen as strange or different. She puts all of her scouting skills to the test in hopes of preventing the transformation. But will she be able to stop it before it's too late?

This is a fun, charming read, especially for young readers who enjoy Halloween-themed stories. Beyond the spooky fun, the book explores themes of self-discovery, identity, and acceptance. It delivers a gentle message about embracing who you are and finding people who accept you for who you truly are, making it both entertaining and heartfelt.

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. 

Book Review – Dead Girls by Beck Kubrick

  

Dead Girls by Beck Kubrick is a graphic novel about a teenager named Ash who is determined to uncover who is behind a series of murders targeting young girls.

Clossdale has a dark history of teenage girls turning up dead. Recently, a fifth missing girl has been found murdered. Although the police have no suspects in custody, the court of public opinion has already decided that Ash is to blame. Ash is the seventeen-year-old orphaned daughter of the infamous serial killer known as "Evil Evelyn."

Ash is tired of hearing about another young woman being murdered while no one seems to be doing anything to stop it. When she receives a note warning that she is next, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Along with her foster sister, Cassie, and her best friend, Jamie, Ash begins investigating the murders, believing that if they don't do something, no one will.

As the trio digs deeper into the case, they discover that the town is hiding a dark secret. Will they be able to stop the killer before it's too late?

The graphic novel is beautifully illustrated and easy to follow. It has a good balance of humor and campy moments, but it also contains gore and explores heavy themes that are better suited for older teens. While I found the story mostly predictable, it was still an entertaining read. Readers who enjoy slasher horror, murder mysteries, and serial killer stories will likely have fun with this one.

 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. 

Book Review – Golden Gate (City Spies #2) by James Ponti

 

Golden Gate by James Ponti follows the City Spies as they head to San Francisco, California, to investigate the mysterious death of a spy.

The City Spies are a group of children working for MI6 who use their unique skills and abilities to get into places adults can’t. After stopping a villain during an eco-summit in Paris, the team is excited for their next adventure.

Fourteen-year-old Sydney, an avid surfer from Bondi Beach, Australia, serves as the team’s bomb specialist. She and Brooklyn are tasked with going undercover aboard a marine research vessel, the Sylvia Earle. Although things don’t go exactly according to plan, Sydney and Brooklyn manage to save the day. However, Sydney’s actions end up putting her in the spotlight, and she begins to worry about the consequences.

At the same time, the team receives intel that there may be a mole within the organization. Their investigation leads them to San Francisco, California, where they begin looking into the death of a former spy. As they dig deeper into the case, they realize someone may be targeting them as well. Will the City Spies be able to uncover the mole before it’s too late?

This is the second book in the series. While it can technically be read as a standalone, I would definitely recommend reading the books in order. I thought the book was a very entertaining read overall. It felt more emotional than the first book, and I liked that we got to learn more about Mother and his family, along with more backstory for some of the spies. If you enjoyed the first book in the series, I would definitely recommend giving this one a try.

Book Review – The Halifax Hellions by Alexandra Vasti

 

The Halifax Hellions by Alexandra Vasti is about twin sisters finding their own paths to love.

Since their debut, Matilda and Margo Halifax have always made names for themselves by turning their noses up at convention. Known for their bold behavior, the sisters are constantly making headlines in the newspapers for their scandalous antics. However, when Matilda runs off with the dangerous Marquess of Ashford, Margo becomes worried for her sister’s safety since the Marquess has never seemed particularly fond of either Halifax twin.

Desperate to stop the elopement before it is too late, Margo turns to their oldest friend, solicitor Henry Mortimer. She trusts that Henry can get them to Scotland in time because he is dependable, trustworthy, and always follows the rules. However, during their journey, long-buried secrets begin to surface.

The book is a combination of two novellas, with each sister getting her own story. I thought it was an interesting, quick, and fun read overall. It was enjoyable seeing how each sister viewed certain situations, along with learning more about their thoughts and feelings. The book has plenty of fun and raunchy moments that will definitely appeal to fans of the author’s work. However, if you are looking for a book with deep plot development or strong character growth, I would probably suggest looking elsewhere, because this is very much a fluffy and spicy read from beginning to end.

Book Review – Dog Man: Big Jim Begins by Dav Pilkey

  

 

 Dog Man: Big Jim Begins by Dav Pilkey is a graphic novel that explores the origins of some of the series’ main characters. In this installment, Dog Man and his friends must join forces to stop the Space Cuties as they attempt to destroy the city. Will they be able to save the day before it’s too late?

This is the thirteenth book in the graphic novel series, and I was still able to follow along with the story without too much trouble. There were probably some character nuances and references that I missed, but they didn’t impact my overall enjoyment of the book. I thought it was an okay comic with some fun and entertaining moments. The illustrations were cute, and the story was easy to follow, although I did feel like everything wrapped up a little too quickly and left a few questions unanswered by the end.

Book Review – Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan

 

 

Blood Betrayal by Ausma Zehanat Khan follows Detective Inaya Rahman as she investigates the deaths of two men of color involving police officers.

In Blackwater Falls, Colorado, Harry Cooper is a well-loved veteran police officer. During his normal rounds, he comes across local vandals graffiti a nearby area. Harry follows them until he confronts Duante Reed, a young Black man. Believing Duante has a gun and is refusing to comply with police orders, Harry opens fire. However, no gun is found in Duante’s possession, only a bottle of spray paint. Meanwhile, nearby in Denver, a police drug raid at a club turns deadly when a young Latino teen, Mateo Ruiz, is shot in the back.

Detective Inaya Rahman and her team are brought in to assist with both cases and help ease tensions within the community following the deaths of the two young men. Inaya is especially unsettled because one of the detectives accused in Mateo’s shooting is Kelly Broda, the son of former police officer John Broda, the man who once orchestrated a violent attack against Inaya during her time on the Denver police force. Inaya is shocked when John appears at her door begging for her help in proving his son’s innocence. Will Inaya be able to uncover the truth behind the shootings?

This is the second book in the series. I was able to follow the story without reading the first book, though I definitely felt I was missing some character nuances and relationships. The book did have an interesting twist that I didn’t see coming. However, I just couldn’t fully get into it. The story felt dull and boring for most of the book, and it seemed like nothing really happened until the very end. I think this would work better as an episode of a cop drama series, but as a novel, it ended up feeling pretty lackluster.

 

August 2026 Empties!

 

In a few more days, summer will officially be over, and Fall will reign again! I am looking forward to the cooler weather to finally being able to wear mascara again without having to look like a raccoon. 

I finished a few things but not nearly as many things as I bought -.-

I recently have been trying a lot more Native products. I tried one of their deodorants a while ago and liked the scent. I recently saw the cashmere & rain body wash. It had an interesting scent. It was more unisex, and it reminded me of sage. I thought it was a solid body wash. It was hydrating and cleansing enough, plus they constantly release a lot of fun new scents.  

I used to love Perricone MD, but the last few things I have tried have been meh. It is super disappointing because they tend to be pretty expensive. Their acne relief gentle and soothing facial cleanser was a gloopy mess. I loved the huge container, but even with a gentle squeeze, a huge blob would come out. It would also just sit on the skin and plop like jelly in the tub. It seemed like a waste.  

After a recent Ulta order, I got a small sample of Wyn Beauty lip gloss. Unfortunately, didn't have the color or product name. However, it went on like butter, and it felt so nice against the skin. It had a sheer wash of color, and it was not tacky at all. The brand isn't sold in stores and could only be bought on their website for a limited time. I might need to go and stock up on a few colors.  

Instead of eating for a few days, I splurged and got the Lancôme Absolue Longevity MD Intercept The Cream. A small fortune that made my skin feel like butter and silk. A small dab is enough for full coverage, and it leaves skin feeling moisturized with a satin finish. It is on the heavier side but doesn't clog pores. The container looks big, but it is on the smaller side. However, refills are cheaper, but not by much. 

The sleek and sexy Le Rouge Francais Achille lip balm, ah, what an expensive waste. Most of the container was just pretty with a tiny sliver actually dedicated to the product. The product can be used all over, but I preferred to use it as a nighttime lip mask. It leaves lips feeling soft and delectable, but in a blink you are out of  $37 for the sparse lip tin. 

Book Review – The Dying Game by Åsa Avdic

 

  

The Dying Game by Åsa Avdic is about seven people who are brought to a remote island during a storm to compete for a top-secret government position over the course of 48 hours.

In 2037, on the tiny, remote island of Isola, seven people are hand-selected to participate in a 48-hour competition. The winner will be awarded a top-secret intelligence position within the totalitarian Union of Friendship.

Anna Francis is chosen to participate in the competition. She is a workaholic bureaucrat known for her mission work. Although she is the mother of a nine-year-old daughter, she rarely sees her because of her demanding career. Anna is also harboring a secret that seems to haunt her every move.

Anna is surprised to be selected since she doesn’t see herself as the ideal candidate for the position. Still, when her handlers explain the true nature of the test, she agrees to take part. Her assignment is to fake her own death and secretly observe the remaining candidates from hidden spaces within the walls of the house. She must take detailed notes on who takes control, who cracks under pressure, and how the others react to the possibility that a murderer may be among them. However, once a storm knocks out the power, the real game begins as everything quickly spirals out of control.

This novel felt like a complete waste of time to me. It had the potential to be great, but instead it was a drudgery to get through. The book was very difficult to get into, largely because the author provided almost no real-world building. What little worldbuilding there was felt so sparse that it added almost nothing to the story. I also didn’t understand why the novel needed to be set in the future or why it took place in a fictional country. I wish the author had explained more about the social structure, political groups, and the war that kept being referenced.

I also didn’t like how the author constantly hinted at things without ever properly explaining them. I’m not sure how readers were supposed to fully understand what was happening when so little context was provided. I also never really understood what the position actually involved or what the overall point of the game was supposed to be.

The story is told through alternating points of view between Anna and another participant in the game who also happens to be her crush. It was somewhat interesting to see how they viewed each other, but it still wasn’t enough to save the book from feeling lackluster. By the end, I felt like the book wasn’t worth the effort because I was left with far more questions than answers.

 

Book Review – Majestic Hills by Dawn Turner

 

Majestic Hills by Dawn Turner is about a professional Black couple who decide to leave their city life behind for the suburbs.

Dr. Langdon Blaque is an ER doctor who wants to escape city life. He feels burned out and exhausted by the constant drama, death, and despair that come with his job. He dreams of finding a place where he can leave all of that behind and spend quiet time with his wife in peace.

Langdon loves his work but believes a move to the suburbs could help revitalize his spirit. His wife, Josephine, a lawyer, is much more hesitant about leaving the city. She grew up hearing her father’s horror stories about sundown towns and the Jim Crow South, which makes her wary of suburban life. Even so, she eventually agrees to Langdon’s plan with one condition: they will stay for one year, and if they do not love it, they will move back to the city.

The couple relocates to Majestic Hills, a predominantly white neighborhood where the neighbors initially seem welcoming and friendly. However, when a crime occurs close to home and the illusion of safety is shattered, Josephine and Langdon find themselves caught in the middle of the fallout. Neighbors are pitted against one another, exposing deep-rooted prejudices in the community. Will Langdon and Josephine be able to truly make Majestic Hills their home?

I thought the book was an okay read overall, but it felt kind of bland to me. I kept waiting for unexpected twists or turns that never really came. The storyline felt very predictable, and not much happened that kept me fully engaged. The book was marketed as both a mystery and a thriller, but I personally didn’t feel like it had many elements of either genre. I did like Langdon and Josephine as characters and thought they were written well.

Book Review – Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA by Christina Hillsberg

 

Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA by Christina Hillsberg is an exploration of the pioneering women who changed the male-dominated world of espionage, as told by a former intelligence operative.

I was looking forward to reading this book because I enjoy reading about strong women. However, I was a bit disappointed because the author teased many of the missions that she and other women participated in but couldn't provide many details since much of the information is still classified. I felt like we only got surface-level descriptions, and that wasn't enough to hold my interest.

I also didn't really care for reading about all of the sexism because, unfortunately, much of it still exists today.

While the author included a glossary of intelligence terms, I found it difficult to remember them all. The pacing also felt uneven, and the writing was somewhat choppy. It was hard for me to stay engaged because so many people were introduced throughout the book, and I struggled to remember who they were and how they related to each chapter. I also felt that because the author couldn't go into detail about many of the missions, the stories became repetitive and began to blur together.

Overall, I thought it was an okay book. It was fairly forgettable, and I barely remember much of it after finishing. However, I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 2 because I liked the subject matter and the effort to highlight the contributions of these pioneering women.

Book Review – Milton Makes a Move by Jonathan Graziano

 

 

Milton Makes a Move by Jonathan Graziano is about a newly adopted pug who finds his forever home.

The children's book is a short and easy read. It features fun, colorful illustrations that bring Milton's journey to his forever home to life. The story teaches young readers about being brave, embracing new adventures, and the importance of friendship. It is a heartwarming read that is perfect for fans of Noodle and animal lovers alike.

 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.