Sarai Henderson's Blog, page 12
July 15, 2025
Book Review: Maid for each other by Lynn Painter
Title: Maid for Each Other
By: Lynn Painter
Genre: Romance
Pages: 368
Release Date: July 15th, 2025
Rating: ★★★★★
Summary from Goodreads:A millionaire and a house cleaner are a match maid in heaven in this sparkling new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Happily Never After.
As a professional cleaner, Abi Mariano never thought her apartment would have any sort of infestation, but because of a building-wide outbreak, she now needs somewhere to stay for a week. As a part-time student with two jobs, she doesn’t have many options. Then the solution presents itself: the owner of the penthouse she cleans is out of town for the week. She normally wouldn’t consider it, but he’s literally never around (she hasn’t even met him). It goes great…until one morning she finds two strangers in the kitchen. They’re the parents of the penthouse owner and they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—not as their son’s maid, but as his girlfriend.
Declan Powell has always put his career first, working his way up to become an executive at his company, but he still has his sights set on the next level. When his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he all but chokes on his escargot. As wonderful as it sounds that she was just darling, he doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—he made her up to get everyone off his back. When Dex finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs during their little arrangement. What harm would it do? It’s purely business, no pleasure…right?
Lynn Painter serves up a sparkling, feel good adult rom‑com with Maid for Each Other. The perfect blend of sharp banter, swoony moments, and emotional warmth. This feels like a modern day Maid in Manhattan or Pretty Woman vibe, only with stronger humor and a heroine you root for from the very first page.
Abi Mariano, a hardworking grad student juggling two jobs, unexpectedly ends up sleeping in the penthouse of her millionaire client, Declan Powell, after a building infestation. When his parents arrive and assume she’s his girlfriend “Abby,” Declan scrambles and proposes a fake‑dating arrangement to keep his image intact. Complete with fully covered living expenses for Abi.
What truly shines is Painter’s dual POV and quick witted dialogue. Abi’s sass and sincerity balance perfectly against Declan’s stoic billionaire charm. Their chemistry is electric, even when their fake relationship is strictly business at first.
Despite the pacing being brisk and the premise somewhat contrived, this was a hit for summer reading. Fun, immersive, and impossible to put down.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
July 14, 2025
Weekly Menu #616 And The Book Of The Week
This week, we’re heading Down Under with an Australian inspired menu that’s bursting with bold flavors and plenty of protein to keep things satisfying. From savory meat pies to hearty veggie packed dishes, this lineup draws from Australia’s diverse culinary landscape. Whether you’re cooking for a busy weeknight or settling in for a cozy weekend meal, these recipes are simple, delicious, and full of Aussie charm.Alongside our culinary travels, I’ve cracked open The Never List by Jade Presley. A paranormal romance with witches, secrets, and sizzling chemistry. It’s the perfect escape read, blending magical mischief with a strong female lead and a fast-paced plot. I’m only a few chapters in, but the tension is already building in the best way. If you love stories where a witchy heroine doesn’t back down, this one might just cast a spell on you too.
Now, let's get to this week's menu. Enjoy!WEEKLY MENU
Monday
Aussie BBQ Chicken & Sweet Potato Wedges
Kids - Chicken and Fries
Tuesday
Kangaroo (or Lean Beef) Burger with Coleslaw
Kids - Cheese Burgers and Salad
Wednesday
Chicken Parmigiana with Broccolini
Kids - Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli
Thursday
Balsamic Marinated Steak with Roasted Pumpkin Salad
Kids - Nutella Toast and Fruit
Friday
Kids - Beef Ramen and Apple Sauce
Saturday
Lamb Koftas with Tzatziki and Flatbread
Kids - Flatbread Pizza
Sunday
Leftovers Night
July 13, 2025
Sunday Confessions #313
Welcome back to Sunday Confessions where I spill the bookish thoughts, reading habits, and random life updates that don’t quite fit anywhere else. Whether it’s a long-overdue series I finally finished, a spicy take on a popular book, or just a peek into the chaos of my week, this is the place I let it all out. So grab your coffee (or your comfort read), and let’s get into it.
Sunday Confessions #312~Weekly Menu #615 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult~Binge-Worthy Wednesday: The Rom-Commers by Catherine Center~Thriller Thursday: The Better Sister by Alafair Burke~Fantasy Friday: For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
~Saturday Sips: Series Review - The Mortal Instruments
Weekly Menu #616 And The Book Of The Week~
Book Review: Maid for each other by Lynn Painter~Binge-Worthy Wednesday: A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher~ARC Review: Sky on Fire by E.K. Johnston~Book Review: The Life Imposible by Matt Haig~
Sunday Confessions #314
216/100 2025 Reading Challenge~103/217 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~18/20 2024 Goodreads Fantasy Nominees Reading Challenge
That’s it for this week’s confessions. Books I loved, books I tolerated, and a few thoughts I probably should’ve kept to myself. Thanks for hanging out in my little corner of chaos. As always, I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading, loving, or side eyeing lately. Until next Sunday, may your TBR shrink just enough to justify adding three more books.
July 12, 2025
Saturday Sips: Series Review - The Mortal Instruments
It took me 17 years to finish this series. I started City of Bones when I had just given birth to my oldest child. Back then, it was something to read while I pumped at work, something to escape into, and for a while, it worked. The first few books were entertaining enough: dark urban fantasy, a snarky cast of characters, and a gritty, demon slaying New York. I was along for the ride.
But then the series took a turn. A very weird turn. As the plot progressed, it felt like the story became obsessed with sibling romance, and then, more disturbingly, there were themes that hinted at incestual rape. And that was the point where I mentally checked out. It stopped being about the adventure or the characters and started revolving around taboo drama that felt more exploitative than meaningful. I couldn’t understand the direction it was going or why these themes kept coming up, especially in a series marketed to teens.
It made me wonder: who exactly was this for? Because it stopped feeling like something a young adult audience would, or should, connect with.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.16 // Series Rating: 3.16 out of 5The only reason this series breaks 3 stars is because of the first few books. They had spark, humor, and a strong enough plot to keep me interested. But the deeper I got into the series, the more it felt like a chore to finish. It wasn't all bad. There are moments of decent worldbuilding and a few side characters that deserved better, but overall, it lost the magic it started with.
Would I recommend The Mortal Instruments? Maybe the first few books, to the right reader. But for me, this series ended up being more frustrating than fulfilling. At least I can finally say: it’s done. Seventeen years later.
July 11, 2025
Fantasy Friday: For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
Title: For She is Wrath
By: Emily Varga
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 389
Release Date: October 29th, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★
Summary from Goodreads:A sweeping, Pakistani romantic fantasy retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo, where one girl seeks revenge against those who betrayed her—including the boy she used to love.
Three hundred and sixty-four days.Framed for a crime she didn't commit, Dania counts down her days in prison until she can exact revenge on Mazin, the boy responsible for her downfall, the boy she once loved—and still can't forget. When she discovers a fellow prisoner may have the key to exacting that vengeance--a stolen djinn treasure--they execute a daring escape together and search for the hidden treasure.
Armed with dark magic and a new identity, Dania enacts a plan to bring down those who betrayed her and her family, even though Mazin stands in her way. But seeking revenge becomes a complicated game of cat and mouse, especially when an undeniable fire still burns between them, and the power to destroy her enemies has a price. As Dania falls deeper into her web of traps and lies, she risks losing her humanity to her fight for vengeance--and her heart to the only boy she's ever loved.
July 10, 2025
Thriller Thursday: The Better Sister by Alafair Burke
Title: The Better Sister
By: Alafair Burke
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 311
Release Date: April 16th, 2019
Rating: ★★★★★
Summary from Goodreads:From Alafair Burke—New York Times bestselling author of the runaway hit, The Wife—comes another twisty tale of domestic noir. When a prominent Manhattan lawyer is murdered, two estranged sisters—one the dead man’s widow, the other his ex—must set aside mistrust and old resentments . . . but can they escape their past?
Though Chloe was the younger of the two Taylor sisters, she always seemed to be in charge. She was the honor roll student with big dreams and an even bigger work ethic. Nicky was always restless . . . and more than a little reckless—the opposite of her ambitious little sister. She floated from job to job and man to man, and stayed close to home in Cleveland.
For a while, it seemed like both sisters had found happiness. Chloe earned a scholarship to an Ivy League school and moved to New York City, where she landed a coveted publishing job. Nicky married promising young attorney Adam Macintosh, and gave birth to a baby boy they named Ethan. The Taylor sisters became virtual strangers.
Now, more than fifteen years later, their lives are drastically different—and Chloe is married to Adam. When he’s murdered by an intruder at the couple’s East Hampton beach house, Chloe reluctantly allows her teenaged stepson’s biological mother—her estranged sister, Nicky—back into her life. But when the police begin to treat Ethan as a suspect in his father’s death, the two sisters are forced to unite . . . and to confront the truth behind family secrets they have tried to bury in the past
Review:
The Better Sister hooked me from the very first page. Alafair Burke crafts a gripping domestic thriller layered with secrets, sisterhood, and betrayal. The dynamic between Chloe and Nicky is brilliantly complex. Burke dives deep into the tensions of family, motherhood, and identity, while weaving a mystery that kept me guessing until the final reveal. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist blindsided me in the best way. If you love fast paced thrillers with emotionally charged relationships and razor sharp prose, The Better Sister is absolutely worth your time.
July 9, 2025
Binge-Worthy Wednesday: The Rom-Commers by Catherine Center
Title: The Rom-Commers
By: Katherine Center
Genre: Romance
Pages: 336
Release Date: June 11th, 2024
Rating: ★★★★★
Summary from Goodreads:She’s rewriting his love story. But can she rewrite her own?
Emma Wheeler desperately longs to be a screenwriter. She’s spent her life studying, obsessing over, and writing romantic comedies―good ones! That win contests! But she’s also been the sole caretaker for her kind-hearted dad, who needs full-time care. Now, when she gets a chance to re-write a script for famous screenwriter Charlie Yates―The Charlie Yates! Her personal writing god!―it’s a break too big to pass up.
Emma’s younger sister steps in for caretaking duties, and Emma moves to L.A. for six weeks for the writing gig of a lifetime. But what is it they say? Don’t meet your heroes? Charlie Yates doesn’t want to write with anyone―much less “a failed, nobody screenwriter.” Worse, the romantic comedy he’s written is so terrible it might actually bring on the apocalypse. Plus! He doesn’t even care about the script―it’s just a means to get a different one green-lit. Oh, and he thinks love is an emotional Ponzi scheme.
But Emma’s not going down without a fight. She will stand up for herself, and for rom-coms, and for love itself. She will convince him that love stories matter―even if she has to kiss him senseless to do it. But . . . what if that kiss is accidentally amazing? What if real life turns out to be so much . . . more real than fiction? What if the love story they’re writing breaks all Emma’s rules―and comes true?
July 8, 2025
Book Review: Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult
Title: Vanishing Acts
By: Jodi Picoult
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 426
Release Date: March 5th, 2005
Rating: ★★★★★
Summary from Goodreads:Delia Hopkins has led a charmed life. Raised in rural New Hampshire by her widowed father, Andrew, she now has a young daughter, a handsome fiance, and her own search-and-rescue bloodhound, which she uses to find missing persons. But as Delia plans her wedding, she is plagued by flashbacks of a life she can't recall. And then a policeman knocks on her door, revealing a secret that changes the world as she knows it." In shock and confusion, Delia must sift through the truth - even when it jeopardizes her life and the lives of those she loves. What happens when you learn you are not who you thought you were? When the people you've loved and trusted suddenly change before your eyes? When getting your deepest wish means giving up what you've always taken for granted? Vanishing Acts explores how life - as we know it - might not turn out the way we imagined; how doing the right thing could mean doing the wrong thing; how the memory we thought had vanished could return as a threat.
July 7, 2025
Weekly Menu #615 And The Book Of The Week
This week we're exploring the rich and flavorful cuisine of Georgia, the country nestled between Europe and Asia, not the American South. Georgian food is the perfect blend of comfort and nutrition, packed with protein, fresh vegetables, and bold herbs and spices. From garlicky chicken in clay pots to walnut-stuffed eggplant rolls, every dish is designed to be hearty, satisfying, and full of history. Get ready for a week of meals that feel like a warm hug from a distant land.While the kitchen fills with the scent of Georgian spices, I’m curling up with What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez. This historical fantasy sweeps readers away to 19th-century Egypt, where a strong-willed heroine unearths family secrets and ancient magic. With lush world building and just the right touch of romance and mystery, it's the perfect literary escape to pair with a steaming bowl of kharcho or a slice of cheesy khachapuri.
Without any more delay, let's get to this week's menu. Enjoy!WEEKLY MENU
Monday
Lobio and Rice
Georgian Bean Stew
Kids - Red Beans and Rice
Tuesday
Shkmeruli and Salad
Georgian Chicken in Garlic Sauce
Kids - Chicken Tenders and Cucumbers
Wednesday
Mtsvadi and Salad
Georgian Pork Skewers
Kids - Chicken Nugget Skewers
Thursday
Georgian Beef Stew
Kids - Cheese and Rice
Friday
Chicken Kafta with Rice and Tzatziki
Kids - Chicken Meatballs with Rice and Yogurt
Saturday
Shakshuka and Sourdough
Kids - Eggs and Toast
Sunday
Leftovers Night
July 6, 2025
Sunday Confessions #312
It’s Sunday and you know what that means time for some honest confessions. No filters no judgment just real talk about the books the reading struggles and those little quirks only fellow book lovers understand. Whether it’s a guilty pleasure read a disappointing finish or a secret TBR shame this is the place to get it off your chest. Ready to hear what I’m confessing this week?
Sunday Confessions #311~Weekly Menu #614 And The Book Of The Week~June 2024 Wrap Up~Book Review: The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore~Thriller Thursday: The Tenant by Freida McFadden~ARC Review: Forever Gone by R.S. Hampton~Saturday Sips: 3 Star Disappointments
Weekly Menu #615 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult~Binge-Worthy Wednesday: The Rom-Commers by Catherine Center~Thriller Thursday: The Better Sister by Alafair Burke~Fantasy Friday: For She is Wrath by Emily Varga~Saturday Sips: Series Review - The Mortal Instruments~Sunday Confessions #313
The Gray ManMark Greaney★★★★☆The Gray Man is a fast paced action packed thriller that delivers exactly what it promises a relentless deadly operative taking on impossible odds. Mark Greaney crafts a sharp cinematic story full of chase scenes clever tactics and international intrigue. Court Gentry is a compelling lead a ghostlike assassin with just enough heart to make you root for him. While the plot leans heavily into action over character development the pacing never lets up making it a gripping ride from start to finish. A solid pick for fans of espionage and high stakes thrillers.
208/100 2025 Reading Challenge~103/217 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~16/20 2024 Goodreads Fantasy Nominees Reading Challenge
That’s it for this week’s confessions. Some books surprised me, others let me down, and a few just left me scratching my head. But that’s the beauty of reading, it’s never the same journey twice. Whether you’re breezing through your TBR or stuck in a slump, I hope you found something here to relate to. Until next Sunday, keep reading, keep feeling, and don’t be afraid to confess a little along the way.
