Sarai Henderson's Blog, page 172

Book Review: The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox

Title: The Widow of Pale HarborBy: Hester FoxGenre: Historic ThrillerPages: 384Release Date: September 17th, 2019Publisher: Graydon HouseRating: ★★★★★
Summary from Goodreads: A town gripped by fear. A woman accused of witchcraft. Who can save Pale Harbor from itself?
Maine, 1846. Gabriel Stone is desperate to escape the ghosts that haunt him in Massachusetts after his wife’s death, so he moves to Maine, taking a position as a minister in the remote village of Pale Harbor.

But not all is as it seems in the sleepy town. Strange, unsettling things have been happening, and the townspeople claim that only one person can be responsible: Sophronia Carver, a reclusive widow who lives with a spinster maid in the eerie Castle Carver. Sophronia must be a witch, and she almost certainly killed her husband.

As the incidents escalate, one thing becomes clear: they are the work of a twisted person inspired by the wildly popular stories of Mr. Edgar Allan Poe. And Gabriel must find answers, or Pale Harbor will suffer a fate worthy of Poe’s darkest tales.
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Review: This story had a really dark feel to it. I Imagined everyday being overcast and gloomy. It really helped to set the stage for a witch historical thriller. Strange things are happening and at first I thought I knew what was going on, but I quickly found out that nothing was as it seemed. The ending really caught me off guard. Didn't think it was going to be the person it was. You really need to read this book and find out who did it for yourself. 
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

This book will work for Massachusetts if you are reading around the country. 

Book Review: I Have No Secrets by Penny Joelson

Title: I have No SecretsBy: Penny JoelsonGenre: Thriller Pages: 288Release Date: November 5th, 2019Publisher: Sourcebooks FireRating: ★★★★☆
Summary from Goodreads: Jemma knows who the murderer is. She knows because he told her.
He thought his secret was safe because Jemma can't speak or move.But Jemma observes all kinds of things about everyone around her. His secret is just one of them.And when a new technology means she may be able to communicate and reveal all she knows, Jemma no longer feels powerless in the face of this deadly secret. It's a race against time before the killer acts again...or tries to stop her.

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Review: A book like this could go wrong so easily, good thing it didn't. The main character can't move or talk. She can't do anything by herself, but she can hear. No secret is safe. I read this book in one afternoon, unable to put it down. The suspense was perfect, the pacing was great and the ending was nicely done. I really enjoyed this read.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Book Review: Naked Mole Rat Saves the World by Karen Rivers

Title: Naked Mole Rat Saves the WorldBy: Karen RiversGenre: Urban FantasyPages: 304Release Date: October 15th, 2019Publisher: Algonquin Young ReadersRating: ★★★☆☆
Summary from Goodreads: Can Kit’s super-weird superpower save her world?
Kit-with-a-small-k is navigating middle school with a really big, really strange secret: When she’s stressed, she turns into a naked mole rat.

It first happened after kit watched her best friend, Clem, fall and get hurt during an acrobatic performance on TV. Since then, the transformations keep happening—whether kit wants them to or not. Kit can’t tell Clem about it, because after the fall, Clem just hasn’t been herself. She’s sad and mad and gloomy, and keeping a secret of her own: the real reason she fell.

A year after the accident, kit and Clem still haven’t figured out how to deal with all the ways they have transformed—both inside and out. When their secrets come between them, the best friends get into a big fight. Somehow, kit has to save the day, but she doesn’t believe she can be that kind of hero. Turning into a naked mole rat isn’t really a superpower. Or is it? 

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Review: I have to admit, I was lost for the first half of the book. The story was a little slow and lacking enthusiasm, but once I passed the half way mark, I really felt involved in the characters. I wish I would have felt that from the beginning. There was a lot going on with the story. Friendship, depression, mental illness. These thing are very relatable to kids these days and I think my 11 year old would love to dive into this book. 
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Book Review: The Perfect Son By Lauren North

Title: The Perfect SonBy: Lauren NorthGenre: ThrillerPages: 359Release Date: August 13th, 2019Publisher: Berkley BooksRating: ★★★★☆
Summary from Goodreads: A disturbing and shocking debut novel of psychological suspense about a recently widowed mother, her young son, and the lengths she'll go to in order to keep him safe.
When Tess Clarke wakes up in the hospital the day after her son Jamie's eighth birthday, she's sure of these things: She's been stabbed, her son is missing, her brother-in-law and her grief counselor are involved. But no one is listening to her.

After her husband, Mark, died suddenly in a terrible accident a few months earlier, the only thing keeping Tess together is Jamie. As they struggle to make sense of their new life without Mark, they find joy in brief moments of normalcy like walking to school and watching television together. Life is hard without Mark, but Tess has Jamie, and that's what matters.

But there in the hospital, confused and surrounded by people who won't listen, Tess’s world falls apart. To save her son, she must piece together what happened between Mark's death and Jamie's birthday, but the truth might just be too much for her to bear.
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Review: This story started off a with a bang. We meet our main character, Tess in the hospital after she has been stabbed and her 8 year old son is missing. Immediately, I got the feels for the mom. There was instant panic for the well being of her child. The story flashes back to where it all began with the death of her husband. This is where the story really slowed down for me. I don't know if it was the heaviness of the topic or the pacing of the actual events, but it was rough to get through. Toward the end, when things started getting real, I couldn't put the book down. The ending is insane and threw me for a loop. You will love it!!!!
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Weekly Menu #320 And The Book Of The Week

Hello Monday, welcome back. It has been a slow week, dragging on and on and on. How can a week feel so much longer than it really is? Maybe this coming week will be faster.

We had a wonderful book club meeting. The topic was The Tuscan Child by Rhys Bowen. It was a wonderful historical fiction based in Italy during world war two. It follows two generations of family. The daughter who is trying to figure out her father's secret and her father who is trying to survive the war. A wonderful book club read.

This weeks book is Vengeful by V.E. Schwab. It's one of the books in my best of 2018 challenge and I loved the first book in the series, so this is going to be great. What are you reading this week?

This weeks menu looks delicious. I'm super excited about the Rockin' Guac'in Pork Burgers... Yum!!! Enjoy.



Monday- Rockin’ Guac’in Pork Burgers


Tuesday- Italian Noodle Soup
Wednesday- Veggie Burrito Bowls
Thursday- Chicken Teriyaki Bowls
Friday- Pineapple Poblano Beef Tacos
Saturday- Parmesan-Crusted Chicken
Sunday- Leftovers Night

Sunday Confessions #12

Welcome back to Sunday Confessions. I'm your host, Sara! This was a fantastic reading week and there were so many great reviews I was excited to share with you. Make sure you check out the recap.


Sunday Confessions #11~Weekly Menu #319 And The Book Of The Week~September 2019 Wrap Up~Book Review: How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by E. Eason~TV Review: Prodigal Son~Book Review: Dune by Frank Herbert

Weekly Menu #320 And The Book Of The Week~Book Review: The Perfect Son By Lauren North~Book Review: Naked Mole Rat Saves the World by Karen Rivers~Book Review: I Have No Secrets by Penny Joelson~Book Review: The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox~Sunday Confessions # 13


Now Entering Addamsville is an Edelwiess review that sounds epic. Almost like a thriller/ghost story. I can't wait to dive in and find out what its all about.
The Horseman is a WW2 story that I really want to read. I love this era and the strength that came out of it.
Picked up Grey from the Goodwill today and thought I should read it. I don't know why, but I just want to. 
Epic Read's has a list of 12 banned books that you need to check out. I was surprised at some of the books on the list. This could become my next reading challenge.
Find out your love trope here at Epic Read's

It's been a great week in the book world. What have you all been up to?

New Release: Dune: Deluxe Edition by Frank Herbert

Title: Dune: Deluxe EditionBy: Frank HerbertGenre: Scifi Pages: 688Release Date: October 1st, 2019Publisher: Ace Books
Summary from Goodreads: A deluxe hardcover edition of Frank Herbert's epic masterpiece--a triumph of the imagination and one of the bestselling science fiction novels of all time.
This deluxe hardcover edition of Dune includes:
- An iconic new cover
- Stained edges and fully illustrated endpapers
- A beautifully designed poster on the interior of the jacket
- A redesigned world map of Dune
- An updated Introduction by Brian Herbert

Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, heir to a noble family tasked with ruling an inhospitable world where the only thing of value is the "spice" melange, a drug capable of extending life and enhancing consciousness. Coveted across the known universe, melange is a prize worth killing for...

When House Atreides is betrayed, the destruction of Paul's family will set the boy on a journey toward a destiny greater than he could ever have imagined. And as he evolves into the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib, he will bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.

A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what is undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction.
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Thoughts: How beautiful is this new cover. Dune is an epic story that I've read several times and love it every time. I can't wait to get my hands on this edition of the book and drool over all the extra goodies. 

TV Review: Prodigal Son

Title: Prodigal SonGenre: ThrillerRelease Date: September 23rd, 2019My Rating: ★★★★★IMDB Rating: 7.5/10Cast: Summary from IMDB: Malcolm Bright, one of the best criminal psychologist around, uses his twisted genius to help the NYPD solve crimes.
IMDB Trailer
Review: This show looked so interesting, I couldn't wait to watch it. I wasn't disappointed. There was humor, and thrills. The reality of what happens to the people that were closest to a serial killer. Mental and emotional issues. The abuse of medication and reluctance to face the issues. 
I loved the characters and how they interacted, especially between Malcolm and his father. Those two are so messed up in the head, but that's what makes it an awesome, watch. I would recommend this show to anyone that enjoys a good psychological thriller or cop show.   

September 2019 Wrap Up

It's October! I can't believe it. I know I say that every month, but its true. This year is flying by and I can't stop it.

There were a lot of good books this month and a lot of challenge books that I read. I can't wait to recap them for you.



The Widow of Pale Harbor~Serpent & Dove~The Unhoneymooners


 After You~The Princess Beard~The Testaments~The Picture of Dorian Gray ~Maid

The Fires of Heaven~Batman~Educated~Still Me~The Only Woman in the Room

Cilka's Journey~The Perfect Son~Dune~I Have No Secrets

American Magic~How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse~Circe

Dutch Girl~The Goldfinch

2019 Reading Challenge - I'm up to 111%. 166/150. Finished this goal up a few weeks ago.  
2018 Best of Goodreads Challenge - 15/21 I'm currently reading two books in this challenge. I'm so close to finishing this one up and I hope to have it done before October's wrap up. 
Gilmore Girl Reading Challenge - I'm up to 30/341. Hahah, this is going to take a while. I plan on diving back into this list after I'm done with my Best of 2018 challenge. 

It's been a fantastic month, lots of great reads. Usually I have one or two low star ratings a month, but nothing to report. There were two DNF's, but I couldn't give them a rating since I didn't actually finish them. I have a lot of reading to do in October, and I'm excited to dive in. 
I think my favorite read of September was The Unhoneymooners. It was hilarious and wonderful. 
What was your favorite read in September?

Weekly Menu #319 And The Book Of The Week

Monday! Its been a long week. We've had sickness plaguing the house. It's been nasty. Because of my compromised immune system I seemed to come down with it the worst. Mom's aren't supposed to get sick. They can't get sick. There isn't time in the day for that, but yet here I am, curled up on the couch with pain all down my spine, aching knees and a head full of snot. Such is my life now. Its either this or cancer and at least I'll survive this, even though I don't feel like it right now.

I've had a lot of time to read though with all this down time. This weeks book is Novice Dragoneer by E.E. Knight. I have a lot of the author's other series about vampires and I'm excited to read this one.

What are you reading this week?

Lets get on with the menu this week, its delicious. Enjoy!


Monday- Pulled Rice Chicken Bowls
Tuesday- Figgy Balsamic Pork
Wednesday- Pork Carnitas Tacos 
Thursday- Truffle Unami Blast Burger 
Friday- Cheesy Prosciutto Chicken
Saturday- Trattoria Veggie Panini  
Sunday- Leftovers Night