Sarai Henderson's Blog, page 2

Book Review: The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris

 

Title: The Girls of Good Fortune

By: Kristina McMorris

Genre: Historical

Pages: 416

Release Date: May 20th, 2025

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:From the New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday and The Ways We Hide 
 She came from a lineage known for good fortune…by those who don't know the whole story. 
 Portland, 1888. Amid the subterranean labyrinth of the notorious Shanghai Tunnels, a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realizes she's a "shanghaied" victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival—being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment—she fears that far more than her own fate lay at stake. 
 As she pieces together the twisting path that led to her abduction, from serving as a maid for the family of a dubious mayor to becoming entwined in the case of a goldminers' massacre, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Desperate, Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets can prove even more deadly than the dark recesses of Chinatown.
 A captivating tale of resilience and hope, The Girls of Good Fortune explores the complexity of family and identity, the importance of stories that echo through generations, and the power of strength found beneath the surface.

 

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Review:As someone who’s lived my whole life in the Portland, OR area, I really appreciated the rich local history woven throughout this story. Kristina McMorris did a wonderful job bringing the setting and era to life. My only minor gripe was that the audiobook narrator could have done a bit more research on how to pronounce some of our waterways, but that’s just the Portlander in me talking. Overall, this was a great read that I devoured in one sitting!

ARC Review: Made you look by Tanya Grant

 

Title: Mad You Look

By: Tanya Grant

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 368

Release Date: November 18th, 2025

Rating: ★★★☆☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:A Catskills retreat turns deadly for a group of influencers when a snowstorm cuts them off from their greatest resource—their followers—just as a killer strikes in this irresistible debut thriller.
Sydney Kent is the ultimate It Girl. You want her effortless style, her charisma, her hair. You want to be her; you want to be with her.
But the trouble with a star is that everyone else looks dull in comparison.
Despite Caitlyn’s social media cunning, it’s impossible for her to step out from Sydney’s shadow. Even Lucy, Sydney’s best friend since before her fame, can’t escape her role as full-time photographer to the influencer.
When the women are invited to post content for a secluded new retreat in the Catskills, alongside Sydney’s boyfriend Jeff, stylist Nash, and manager Brent, the weekend feels like it will be a fresh start. But an unexpected snowstorm traps the group together with no cell service, no Wi-Fi, and no way out.
Then a killer strikes, and the dream trip becomes a nightmare. Secrets, lies, and scandals are forced to the surface, and the friends can’t help but suspect the murderer might be among them. Worse, the killing has only just begun.
But where there’s danger, there’s ju

 

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Review:Made You Look by Tanya Grant started with promise but never quite delivered the momentum I was hoping for. The pacing felt sluggish from the beginning, and I kept waiting for the story to pick up, but it never really did. The tension that should’ve kept me turning pages just wasn’t there, and by the end, I felt little connection to the characters or their journey. While the premise was interesting, the execution left me wanting more depth and drive.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. 

Weekly Menu #634 And The Book Of The Week

 

Planning meals that are healthy, hearty, and affordable doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. This week’s menu is all about packing in plenty of protein and colorful veggies while keeping the grocery list simple and budget friendly. With a mix of global flavors, quick weeknight staples, and wholesome comfort dishes, these meals prove you can eat well without breaking the bank. Whether you're cooking for a family or just looking to simplify your week, this lineup has something delicious for every night.

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Chicken souvlaki bowls

Kids - Chicken and Rice

 

Tuesday

Ground Turkey and Black Bean Tacos

Kids - Cheese Quesadillas

 

Wednesday

Turkey Meatball Mashed Potato Bowls

Kids - Chicken and Mashed Potatoes

 

Thursday

Tofu Cabbage Stir Fry

Kids - Chicken and Carrot Stir Fry

 

Friday

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Kids - Parmesan Chicken Bites

 

Saturday

Grilled Chicken Pita

Kids - Pitta Cheese Pizza

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night

Sunday Confessions #331

 

It’s time for another round of Sunday Book Confessions, where I spill the tea on my latest reads, bookish highs and lows, and everything in between. Whether I’m gushing over five star favorites or admitting which stories I couldn’t quite finish, this is my weekly dose of honest reflection and readerly rambling. Grab a cozy drink, settle in, and let’s confess what the week in books really looked like.

Sunday Confessions #330~
Weekly Menu #633 And The Book Of The Week~ARC Review: Within the Space of a Second by Elise Helliwell~Book Review: A Promised Land by Barak Obama~ARC Review: Fallen City by Adrienne Young~Book Review: Never Flinch by Steven King~Saturday Sips: How Many Stars?

Weekly Menu #634 And The Book Of The Week~ARC Review: Made you look by Tanya Grant~Book Review: The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris~ARC Review: Ship of Spells by Leighton H. Dickson~4 Star Friday~Sunday Confessions #332

How to Kill Your FamilyBella Mackie
★★★★☆
I was so extraordinarily invested in this story from start to (almost) finish. Sharp, witty, and darkly clever, it had me completely hooked. But that last chapter left me a bit disappointed after such a strong buildup. Still, it’s a smart and entertaining read that I’d definitely recommend for fans of dark humor and morally gray characters.







366/100 2025 Reading Challenge~122/214 in my Star Wars Legends challenge~19/20 2024 Goodreads Fantasy Nominees Reading Challenge

And that wraps up this week’s Sunday Book Confessions. Some stories swept me away, others tested my patience, but that’s the beauty of being a reader. Every page teaches me something new about what I love (and what I don’t). Here’s to another week of discovering hidden gems, chasing five star reads, and maybe even forgiving the occasional bookish disappointment.

Saturday Sips: How Many Stars?

 

Welcome to Saturday Sips: How Many Stars? where I pour a cup of something warm and dish out my honest ratings on popular reads. Think of it as a cozy chat over coffee (or tea!) about the books everyone’s buzzing about. Whether they lived up to the hype or left me wanting more, you’ll find out here. One sip and one star at a time.

This, right here!

Never disappointed with 4 stars.

I could have done without these ones, but I'm not going to complain.

Super disappointed with this one. Not going to lie.

Book Review: Never Flinch by Steven King

 

Title: Never Flinch

By: Steven King

Genre: Horror

Pages: 448

Release Date: May 27th, 2025

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:From master storyteller Stephen King comes an extraordinary new novel with intertwining storylines—one about a killer on a diabolical revenge mission, and another about a vigilante targeting a feminist celebrity speaker—featuring the beloved Holly Gibney and a dynamic new cast of characters.
When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty” in “an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,” Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help.
Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors. Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events. At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard—a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness.
Featuring a riveting cast of characters both old and new, including world-famous gospel singer Sista Bessie and an unforgettable villain addicted to murder, these twinned narratives converge in a chilling and spectacular conclusion—a feat of storytelling only Stephen King could pull off.
Thrilling, wildly fun, and outrageously engrossing, Never Flinch is one of King’s richest and most propulsive novels.

 

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Review:I’m not always a fan of courtroom dramas, but this one completely pulled me in. Never Flinch is tense, emotional, and classic King, filled with layered characters, sharp dialogue, and that eerie sense of unease he does so well. Even without the supernatural, King’s storytelling keeps you glued to every page. Huge fan of this one.

ARC Review: Fallen City by Adrienne Young

 

Title: Fallen City

By: Adrienne Young

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 416

Release Date: November 4th, 2025

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:In the great walled city of Isara, political turmoil ignites a rebellion one hundred years in the making. But when a legionnaire falls in love with a Magistrate's daughter, their love will threaten the fate of the city and the will of the gods.
Luca Matius has one purpose—to carry on the family name, maintaining its presence in the Forum once his powerful and cruel uncle dies. But his noviceship with the city's Philosopher places him in the middle of a catastrophe that will alter the destiny of his people.
Maris Casoeria was raised amidst the strategic maneuvers of the Citadel's inner workings, and she knows what her future holds—a lifetime of service to a corrupt city. But her years of serving as a novice to the last Priestess who possesses the stolen magic of the Old War has made her envision a different kind of future for the city. When she meets Luca, a fated chain of events is set into motion that will divinely entangle their lives.
As a secret comes to light and throws the city into chaos, Luca and Maris hatch a plot to create a calculated alliance that could tip the scales of power. But when an execution forces Luca to become the symbol of rebellion, he and Maris are thrown onto opposite sides of a holy war. As their fates diverge, they learn they are at the center of a story the gods are writing. And even if they can find their way back to each other, there may be nothing left.

 

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Review:I’ve read stronger works from Adrienne Young, but Fallen City still had its moments of intrigue. The social hierarchy and power dynamics within the story were fascinating and added a sharp edge to the world building. While it didn’t quite reach the emotional depth or pacing I’ve loved in her other books, it was still an engaging read that kept me curious to see how everything would unfold.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. 

Book Review: A Promised Land by Barak Obama

 

Title: A Promised Land

By: Barack Obama

Genre: Non-Fiction

Pages: 751

Release Date: November 17th, 2020 

Rating: ★★★★☆

 
Summary from Goodreads:A riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making, from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy.
In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency—a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.
Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.
Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. partisan politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes Operation Neptune’s Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.
A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective—the story of one man’s bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of “hope and change,” and meeting the moral challenges of high-stakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.
This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.

 

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Review:This was a thick book, and it definitely took me some time to get through. Mostly because of the dense political content, but it was absolutely worth it. Barack Obama’s writing is thoughtful, eloquent, and deeply reflective. It’s a fascinating look behind the scenes of his presidency and the challenges of leadership, told with honesty and insight. Well written and very interesting.

ARC Review: Within the Space of a Second by Elise Helliwell

 

Title: Within the Space of a Second.

By: Elise Helliwell

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 352

Release Date: November 25th, 2025

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:Every morning, Mariella Adams wakes with a strange electrical energy buzzing beneath her skin. Terrified she has inherited her late mother’s mental illness, she tells no one. But when Mariella discovers her mother’s lost journals with an entry dated after her death, she’s desperate for answers. The mystery only deepens when Mariella is approached by two strangers, Rose and Parker, who claim to be time travelers from the future. They say that interfering with the past – and Mariella – is forbidden, but they need her help to restore Parker’s ability to time travel before they’re caught in Mariella's timeline. Shocked, Mariella agrees to help them. After all, they might hold the answers she’s looking for. And the more time she spends with them, the more she finds herself drawn to Parker. As she fights to uncover the mysteries of her past and the secrets of his future, will Mariella discover the truth before time runs out – and Parker disappears forever?

 

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Review:A twisting tale of time travel and raw emotion, Within the Space of a Second pulls you into a world where love and destiny collide across timelines. Helliwell crafts an intricate story that balances science fiction elements with deep human connection, exploring how one small moment can change everything. The pacing lags slightly in places, but the emotional weight and beautifully drawn characters make it well worth the journey. A heartfelt and thought provoking read that lingers long after the final page.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. 

Weekly Menu #633 And The Book Of The Week

 

This week’s menu takes us on a colorful journey across continents, where vegetables shine just as brightly as the proteins beside them. From the lemony freshness of Greek orzo salad to the comforting warmth of Ethiopian lentils and berbere spice, every dish celebrates balance and bold flavor. Think tender meats paired with vibrant produce, sauces that awaken your senses, and a table that feels like a passport stamped in flavor. It’s a little bit of garden, a little bit of grill, and a whole lot of delicious discovery.

WEEKLY MENU

Monday

Greek Chicken Orzo Salad with Roasted Vegetables

Kids - Chicken Nuggets and Pasta Salad

 

Tuesday

Chana Masala with Tandoori Chicken and Garlic Naan

Kids - Chicken and Rice

 

Wednesday

Kids - Beef Ramen

 

Thursday

Black Bean and Ground Turkey Tacos

Kids - Cheese Quesadilla

 

Friday

Ethiopian Lentil Stew with Spiced Ground Beef

Kids - Chicken Soup

 

Saturday

Ratatouille and Italian Sausage

Kids - Hotdog Mac and Cheese

 

Sunday

Leftovers Night