Mother of Red Mountains

Mother of Red Mountains  was published on December 16, 2024. It's a family saga that takes place in China after the Revolution. The story is a historical fiction novel that is based on true events and real people. It won many awards in 2025 and 2026.

The publisher's summary:

In the shadow of China’s tumultuous mid-20th century, an ambitious civil engineer is determined to protect her baby girls.

Despite a childhood marked by tragedies, Jun carves out a stable life for herself while shrewdly and skillfully navigating a male-dominated and politically charged society. As she rises through the ranks in her profession, she turns to her in-laws to help care for her daughters.

But when the Red Guards threaten her young family due to their connection with her in-laws’ capitalist class, Jun fears their very existence is in jeopardy.

Amid frequent threats to their safety, can Jun rise above the challenges and safeguard both her family’s future and their fragile stability?

Mother of Red Mountains is a historical tale that creatively weaves together history, personal stories, and the complex culture of revolutionary China, magnificently crafted by Apple An. Showcasing the power of sheer grit and determination, this book traces the journey of a formidable woman who dares to dream against all odds.

The book sweeps across multiple remarkable decades during which China was experiencing the throes of socio-political upheaval. Laying between its covers is the intriguing story of Jun, from an innocent girl who helps her Baba’s shop to an ambitious woman, who despite hardship and amid rampant gender inequality, aspires for more than her preordained life. With grit, wit, and hard work, Jun becomes a star civil engineer at the best institute in the country with a great promise for a bright future. Jun’s life takes an unexpected turn at the onset of China’s Cultural Revolution when constant raids of Red Guards frighten her toddler girls, being cared for by her capitalist in-laws.

Apple An encapsulates the authenticity of a dramatic era and the soul of a woman who navigates political and personal turmoil and eventually finds her motherhood surpasses all her ambitions and expectations in life. Each character is finely etched, while the vivid descriptions of China - its vast landscapes, unique customs, and people - strike a chord of familiarity yet curious fascination.

I enjoyed the book but must say that the summary above is a little deceptive. Jun does not have to deal with the Red Guards until the very end and her contact with them was only with their poor treatment of her in laws.

Xiaojun, or Jun, grew up in Chifeng, which means red mountain, with older brothers Xi-Chang and Xi-Dan and a younger sister named Xia. Jun helped her father with the bookkeeping for the family’s grocery market from a young age. She was very smart and learned fast. Jun was her father’s favorite child not only because she was smart but because of her beauty. Jun’s mother died when she was twelve. She became responsible for Xia as oldest brother Xi-Chang was in the army and Xi-Dan married quickly in order to get sons that could carry on the family business. Soon thereafter Jun’s father turned sixty and sold the family business. Money was left for Jun to continue her educational pursuits as well as Xia's. Jun was on her own with responsibility for Xia while she was still in middle school but she didn't have any concerns about any of it. Jun developed romantic feelings with Yanshao. She thought these feelings were reciprocated as the two of them spent every available time together.

Jun wanted to attend college but that required three years of high school. Being shrewd, Jun decided to attend vocational school with Yanshao. She would still be able to work as a civil engineer. The school was located in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia where both male and female students were accepted. She selected this career because it would help rebuild China under the communists. Jun thought that the country would benefit from the communist doctrine. She graduated and began working as a civil engineer. Jun always impressed her bosses with her work ethic and ability to solve problems. However, she was placed in a job near the school but Yanshao was sent to a rural area. Jun was courted by Bin-Kai and they soon married and had a daughter named Lianlian.

The story ended abruptly with the Red Guards harassing Jun's in-laws. You have to get another book to find the ending. This disappointed me. I can see Jun’s story continuing in another volume but feel there should have been more to this particular novel. 

All things considered, I loved this novel and am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

Girl in a Red Silk Sari

I love reading Indian fiction so I could not pass up this book when I found it on Amazon. The author, Sharon Maas, is new to me. I am surprised that I have never heard of her before as she writes historical fiction about women and their struggles. Her past settings include France, Germany and India. Girl in a Red Silk Sari was published in April 2025.

The publisher's summary:

Madras, India. Caroline steps off the plane into the searing heat, senseless with worry. So much has changed since her first visit. This time, a piece of her heart is missing. This time, she is here to find her daughter…

Caroline Mitchell has never truly made peace with her past—and the circumstances that led to her separation from her beloved child. And when thirteen-year-old Asha vanishes without a trace, she faces every parent’s worst nightmare.

Desperate to find her, Caroline returns to India determined to do whatever it takes. The search will mean reconnecting with her estranged husband Kamal, and burying the memories of everything that happened between them. It will lead to the darkest corners of Mumbai’s infamous red-light district—a world of shadows, secrets, and unspeakable horrors. There, she discovers her precious daughter has been caught in a trafficking ring that preys on vulnerable children.

As Caroline navigates the labyrinthine streets and corrupt systems of Mumbai, she must find the strength to become the mother she has always wanted to be. Her mission will test her in ways she could never have imagined—but can she reach Asha in time, and save her from a terrifying fate? And if so, will she finally be able to heal the wounds of the past.

This was a captivating story. The first half introduces us to the characters, their lives, loves, personality and family backgrounds. Later the story becomes a mystery as Asha's friends and family search for her. While the pace was always good it speeds up into a frantic pace as the search for Asha continues. 

All of the characters were fascinating. It was interesting that they all had different personalities but got along well. Caroline is the stereotypical New England Brahmin. In her youth she was more adventurous which is why she moved to India with new husband Kamal. Kamal was a quiet man who always followed his family’s honor system. When they arrived in India, Caroline's thesis research required that they split up their living arrangements. She could never have completed her research if she followed Kamal to his place of employment, two hours away from her. Caroline lived with the Pandian family who allowed her to have few responsibilities. After the birth of her daughter Asha she left the care of the baby to the family. It began with nursing struggles. I was surprised that Caroline continually made decisions that separated her from caring for the baby. It’s not something I expected a wealthy woman would do and if she was home in America her mother probably would have helped her bond with the baby. She was selfish to the n'th degree. 

After two years in India Caroline was homesick and went home for a visit. Of course, she left Asha in India. Caroline decided to remain in America, without Asha, and thought that Kamal would follow her back to America. However, Kamal kept getting good engineering jobs in India and stayed there. Both thought the marriage would last though. It didn't because Caroline had an affair.

Asha stayed with the Pandian family eight more years until Mr. and Mrs. Pandian died in an auto accident. Asha was sold by her Pandian brother to a brothel. When her parents realize that she is missing they both gather together in India to find her. There were many twists in the search. My heart felt sorrowful each time they hit a roadblock. I was invested in the lives of this family and felt that I was part of the family too. These were intense feelings.

Girl in a Red Silk Sari is an emotional journey. I absolutely loved it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Total Suplex of the Heart

Total Suplex of the Heart was published in 2024 by Humanoids. This 161 page graphic novel is about a young journalist, Georgie, who goes undercover in the local hardcore wrestling scene, exploring themes of identity, toxic relationships, and self-discovery in a male-dominated world. The story is inspired by author Joanne Starer's own experiences.

The publisher's summary:  

Glowing up isn’t the same as growing up.

Georgie’s always been nerdy: Teased by jocks, spending her lunchtime with a comic in hand, and falling in love with wrestling from Saturday nights on the couch with her dad. But that was then – This is now!

She’s out of school, freelancing as a journalist, and hot as heck. In an effort to prove to her mom that she has a “real job,” she goes undercover in the local hardcore wrestling scene to investigate a piece. She’s quickly swept up in the drama, both in and out of the ring. With new friendships developing and potential romance blossoming, she’s riding the wave of attention that temporarily silences her own insecurities. But as girl fights, casual hook-ups, and creepy older men begin to dominate her days, Georgie has to ask herself who really holds the power in her life, and whether she’s happy with where it’s headed.

This was an enjoyable story. It would be nice if it continued with another release. I cannot remember any past comic concerning the wrestling world so the story is unique. Poor Georgie had to endure alot of sexism but she let it all fall by the wayside. The wrestlers who became her friends were always trying to get her into bed and a few of them got lucky. At one point Georgie thought she was pregnant and didn't know who the father might be. It turned out her menses stopped because of her anorexia. She questioned her relationship with Steve. They were living together but Georgie was doing all of the work in the relationship as well as in their business teaching women how to wrestle. 

Georgie was a sympathetic character, the only one in the comic. Her mental health struggles and the trauma from being raised by an incompetent mother scared her. She accepted poor treatment from her friends because she felt that was all she deserved. You just want to hug her. 

Total Suplex of the Heart is an intriguing story. I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

I Could Pee on This

This is a book of poetry, seemingly written by cats. Published in 2012, it is a humorous book perfect for cat lovers. As the publisher states:  

Animal lovers will laugh out loud at the quirkiness of their feline friends with these insightful and curious poems from the singular minds of funny cats.

With poem titles like "Who Is That on Your Lap?," "This Is My Chair," "Kneel Before Me," "Nudge," and "Some of My Best Friends Are Dogs," the poems collected in I Could Pee on This perfectly capture the inner workings of the cat psyche.

With photos of the cat "authors" throughout, this whimsical poetry book reveals kitties at their wackiest and most exasperating (but always lovable).

The poems are placed in four categories:  family, work, play and exisyence. All of my favorite poems are in the family category and include the title poem I Could Pee on This:  

Her new sweater doesn’t smell of me 

I could pee on that 

She’s gone out for the day and left her laptop on the counter

I could pee on that

Her new boyfriend just pushed my head away 

I could pee on him

She’s ignoring me ignoring her 

I could pee everywhere 

She’s making up for it by putting me on her lap 

I could pee on this 

I could pee on this 

I also loved a cat proverb: They say there are twenty-four hours in a day but I’m only up for three of them and two I consider overtime.

The funny jokes within these poems will appeal to men and women of all ages but may not be appropriate for kids. Some of the poems, not many, contain salty language. I can see this book on my coffee table. While it's not large, just 112 pages, I think my guests will enjoy it. Of course, all my guests are cat lovers.

3 stars out of 5 stars.

The Lightbearer #1

Son of Light is the first book in the Lightbearer comic series. In just 21 pages the reader is introduced to Tomiwa. Tomiwa is  just a 13-year-old student trying to survive school, family expectations, and everyday life in the city of Lagos. However, he  sees things that no one else can see. Strange moments begin to happen. Shadows that move when they shouldn't, silence that falls when everything should be loud, and a feeling that he is being watched. Then one day, everything changes. A mysterious figure rescued him from a car accident. This figure is always calm and radiant. He has been watching Tomiwa for a long time.

I am not sure who or what the figure is. He is most likely an angel but I also wondered if he was Jesus. The story seems to show that there is a hidden battle happening around us every day. The battle is between light and darkness that most people cannot see. Tomiwa can see it though. I believe Tomiwa is a lightbearer. Lightbearers are people who embody and share goodness, virtue, and positive impact, regardless of religious affiliation. They are people who step in to help others, act with integrity, and stand up for what's right, even in small ways.

I am definitely interested in reading more of the series. We rarely see a comic that embodies goodness. Written by Samson Awobusuyi, the comic offers us a new kind of African superhero. According to the publisher the series has African storytelling, a superhero origin drama, a spiritual mystery and a faith-inspired themes of light overcoming darkness. It was published on March 7, 2026. I cannot wait to read the next release of this series. 

5 out of 5 stars.

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana is a memoir about journalist Gayle Lemmon's trips to Kabul, Afghanistan looking for stories about women living in war torn countries. Lemmon writes articles for the Financial Times. In this book she centers on Kamila Sidiqi who ran her own business during the reign of the Taliban in the mid 1990s. 

After graduating from a two year teaching program at Sayed Jamaluddin Teacher Training Institute, Kamila heard whispers concerning the Taliban being close to Kabul and would most likely overun Kabul by the next day. Kamila hurried to catch a bus for long bus ride that would take her to her family’s home in the neighborhood of Khair Khana, a northern suburb of Kabul. The Taliban did reach Kabul the next day and Kamila's graduation certificate was no longer useful as the Taliban forbid women from leaving their homes. Kamila's father and brother fled the city before they arrived so she was responsible for taking care of her family. Unable to teach and desperate to support her family, Kamila masters the art of dressmaking and passes on the skills to her younger sisters. In order to find work for the budding business, Kamila frequently makes the dangerous trek to the market and meets with the owners of local dress shops. Soon the business is growing, and Kamila sees an opportunity to help other women in her community. With the help of her sisters, she opens a tailoring school in their home to teach women how to sew and to give them work once they completed their training. At a time of almost insurmountable poverty, she is able to employ nearly one hundred of her friends and neighbors, all the while escaping the scrutiny of the Taliban.

Kamila is an inspiring lady. She makes me look lazy. The author hopes that her book will change the tradition of portraying women as victims of war and pitied. Instead Lemmon believes that they are survivors of war whose bravery and determination held their families and communities together. This is a true story and yet it reads like a novel. I had to check twice to see if this book was historical fiction or a memoir. It’s a memoir. Lemmon made many trips to Kabul over a three-year period to interview women. 

I loved this book. It is an uplifting story of the brave women of Afghanistan who eked out a life under the most horrific circumstances. It gives me hope that I can handle anything that life throws my way. 5 out of 5 stars.

Shiokari Pass

Shiokari Pass is a moving tale of love eclipsed by sacrifice an tragedy. It is based on a true story. I selected the book for the Japanese Reading Challenge 19 and am so glad that I read it. The main character is Nobuo Nagano. After becoming a Christian he finds himself in a bind. He wants to marry his childhood sweetheart, Fujiko, but the marriage conflicts with his newfound faith. Nobuo knows that he should not be unequally yoked with a nonbeliever. Set in Hokkaido at the turn of the nineteenth century, when for the first time Western culture and ideas were beginning to challenge Japan's long-held traditions, Shiokari Pass takes an intriguing look at Japanese life and thought of a hundred years ago. The book was a bestseller in Japan and a successful motion picture as well. Based on the life of a high-ranking railway employee who was revered for his humanitarian deeds, Shiokari Pass offers a revealing glimpse of the long, hard road traveled by Japanese Christians. It was published in 1968 in Japan.

The story opened when Nobuo Nagano was ten years old and his grandmother Tose was complaining about his mother. Nobuo had been told that she died but that was not true. Tose had thrown her out of the family home for becoming Yaso, a Christian. The Nagano family were ardent Buddhists. Nobuo’s best friend was Yoshikawa and we watched them grow up together and remain friends throughout life. This was unusual because the Nagano family were of the samurai class and Yoshikawa was from a lower social class. When Tose passed away Nobuo’s mother Kiku and her daughter Michiko moved to the Nagano house. Both Kiku and Michiko were Yaso. While his father was not a believer he attended church with them every Sunday. Nobuo, however, refused to go. Nobuo had planned to attend college but because his father died, Nobuo decided to forego higher education and obtained a job with the railroad in order to support Kiku and Michiko. At one rail station Nobuo wandered in to a Sunday School class and the rest, as they say, is history.

I enjoyed reading about Nobuo and Yoshikawa's conversations both as youngsters and as adults. They were philosophical even at a young age and thought through what it meant to be human. It was quite interesting to see two young lads discuss such deep topics and heartwarming to see them remain close friends throughout life. I also enjoyed reading about Nobuo’s conversations with his family concerning Yaso. Nobuo’s objections to Yaso were explained in detail. He compared Yaso against the power of Buddha and how Buddha helped him live life. This was his stumbling block. 

Life in Japan one hundred years ago was fascinating to read about. The country was beginning to change due to the influence of Western culture. The manner in which Nobuo and Yoshikawa sailed through life, bending some Japanese rules, was shown. It was an intriguing time to be alive. Yoshikawa remained a Buddhist. However, almost every person Nobuo encountered worshipped Yaso and it caused him to think deeply about whether Buddha matched Yaso's power to transform people. There is also some romance in the story as Nobuo becomes attracted to a few girls but sets his sights on marrying Yoshikawa's disabled sister Fujiko.

The title of the book comes from the place where Nobuo died. I would like to refrain from any additional spoilers in case one of my blog readers wants to read the book. The ending was certainly dramatic. I think the best word to describe this novel is heartwarming. I loved it and believe you will too. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Space Ghost Volume 1, #1

The Space Ghost series began being released in 2024. Volume 1, #1 is a 32 page beginning for the series. The story is about a cosmic vigilante who metes outs justice throughout the galaxy bringing vengeance to those who prey upon the defenseless. He is the Space Ghost. Written for teens, the comic is definitely kid friendly.

The publisher's summary:

Greed and corruption flourish in the darkness between stars. With the territories of the Galactic Federation spread far and wide across the vastness of space, pirates and hijackers ransack the distant colonies with cruel disregard for the innocent scientists living within them. Yet there is a cosmic vigilante who metes out justice throughout the galaxy, bringing vengeance to those prey upon the defenseless. Some say he is a policeman who has abandoned the strictures of the law. Others say he is a phantom, the sole survivor of a war-torn planet. And those who have survived his wrath claim he is more a force of nature, able to bend the very elements of Creation to decimate his enemies. They call him the SPACE GHOST -- and his adventures begin here.

I expected more background information for the first release of a series. The story opened with Jan, Jace and their father Dr. Jerrod Keplar on Space Colony Omicron. Dr. Keplar is frantically trying to get help from the Galactic Patrol because the space station is being overun by pirates. Dr. Keplar rushes to delete everything from his lab's mainframe computer but we never see him again after page 3. I didn't see any drawings that could explain what happened to him either. He was working on a program called BLIP but there was no explanation about the program. It was odd that the rest of release 1 was about Jan and Jace, young kids, trying to get away from the pirates. Obviously all of this is going to be explained in subsequent releases. However, without knowing what the story is about I am not interested in reading any additional releases. 

The story didn't grab my interest. 2.5 out of 5 stars. 

The Twin Sister

I selected The Twin Sister for the Key Word Reading Challenge. This psychological thriller is author Yvette Davies debut novel. Let me tell you right off the bat that this psychological thriller is a must read. The book was published in October 2025 and her second book will be published in 2026.

The story opens with a car crash. The police assume that Cate, Beth's identical twin sister, was inside the car involved in the accident. Cate died along with Cate's husband Giles and two of her three children. However, Beth was in a separate car with Cate's son Ted and Cate's purse was in that car too because Cate was going to be driving in this car. A last minute decision to travel in the car with Giles and her kids put her in the accident. Since Cate was wearing Beth's sweater and had Beth's phone in the sweater pocket, the police thought that Beth had died. Without even thinking, Beth assumed Cate's life. Cate was married to a wealthy man, wore designer clothes and owned a multi-million dollar house. The lifestyle was too good to pass up and after ten years of trying for a baby with husband David, Beth now has the chance to be a mother to her nephew Ted. The mistaken identity creates an opportunity for Beth to have a better life.

Beth's marriage had been in a shambles. She and David had been unhappy and David dealt with it by getting a girlfriend. Interspersed with funeral planning were snippets of Cate and Beth as children as well as David’s life with Adriana. Beth found out that she really didn't know her sister well. Cate too was having an affair with the gardener and had other household help. Beth's biggest issue was assuming Cate's personality. They were very different people but some of Cate's acquaintances figured it all out. 

There's was a lot of action and many twists in the plot. All of them were shocking which, of course, kept me reading. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

5 out of 5 stars.

Cold Zero

Cold Zero is Brad Thor's newest novel. It is not part of Thor's popular Scot Harvath spy series though. Cold Zero is a spy thriller but with new characters. It is also the first collaboration Thor has had with Ward Larsen. 

The publisher's summary:

A vanished plane. An earth-shattering secret. A countdown to World War III. Hemisphere Airlines Flight 777—the most advanced jetliner ever built—disappears without a trace over the North Pole. Crippled by sabotage, it crash-lands on the ice, stranding the surviving passengers in a wasteland of frigid cold and chaos.

The real storm, however, is still coming. Hidden inside the wreckage is the prototype for a revolutionary piece of technology that could upend the balance of world power. Now Washington, Moscow, and Beijing are racing to be the first on scene to retrieve it—at any cost.

Trapped in the middle of the world’s most dangerous flash point are CIA operative Kasey Sheridan and former fighter pilot turned first officer, Brett Sharpe. Hunted by enemy forces, they must spirit both the device and its creator across the ice to safety—before rival superpowers turn the Arctic into a war zone.

With the clock ticking and the temperature dropping, the fate of the free world is about to be decided at the top of the globe.

This exciting novel opened with an autonomous taxi causing mayhem in Hong Kong streets. Chinese scientist Chen Li and CIA officer Kasey Sheridan are escaping from China along with Chen's briefcase and the Sky Fire technology. Chen is not in this taxi though. The Chinese, however, believe he is and are chasing it. During the chase Chen and Sheridan board a private plane in Macau heading towards New York City where Chen plans to defect. It is soon determined that the two boarded a plane set for the U.S. A plan is quickly devised to force the plane to crash, which it did.

The novel has a swift pace. Once I began reading I knew I would have to finish it in one sitting, regardless of earlier plans for the day. I rarely find a thriller as exhilarating as Cold Zero. The authors delivered as promised. The collaboration between them works, which isn't always true of other famous authors and their cohorts. I hope that this novel is the start of a new series. Sheridan, Chen and Sharpe make a great team. While Sharpe was the plane's pilot, his military experience helped in the development of a plan to deal with the crash. I can see Sheridan as the main character in a new series.

The action between the U.S, China and Russia operatives continued to build tension throughout the story. Several times in the plot each of these nations seemed to be winning. The ending, though, was a firefight between China and the U S. For a major part of the story, the chapters alternated between the three nations' activities.  Another factor regarding the tension was the description of the Arctic setting. The cold weather always gave each side problems to solve. 

Cold Zero is one of Brad Thor's best books. I highly recommend it to  thriller fans. 5 out of 5 stars.

Don't Forget Your Briefcase

I received an advanced review copy of Eliot Rahal's Don't Forget Your Briefcase from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This 125 page edition of the political satire collects releases 1 through 5 and will be published on March 17, 2026. It's hilarious.

Elmo, a ten-year-old kid, carries his dead father's briefcase with him to his elementary school every day. After hurting a bully, he is suspended and his mother, a Russian spy working in the White House, takes him to work with her. It is Inauguration Day and as the new president walks toward the Oval Office, he is assassinated. In the commotion Elmo picks up the wrong briefcase. It's the nuclear football with the codes to launch a nuclear strike. The Marines end up with his father's briefcase. Oops. A plan is set in action for the military to get the nuclear football returned back to them. Elmo unwittingly thwarts them over and over. His mother calls her contact at the Kremlin requesting guidance but from here things get worse. . . for both countries.

The comic is a fast read because of both the seriousness of the issue and the incompetence of those who work for both countries. It's told in traditional comic book panels. The drawings are gorgeous and the color palette contains every color in the rainbow. The pictoral depiction of every US president since the 1970s was cute. The story began with Jimmy Carter in the Oval Office instructing a Marine on his duties as the handler of the football. Initially, I thought this would be about Carter but nine other presidents are shown and I guess it's to show readers that someone always carries the football for whoever is president. It's our tradition.

This story is just plain funny. There is some foul language but no sexy drawings. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars and predict it will be in my top ten books for 2026.

The Fourth Princess

Author Janie Chang writes historical fiction. Many of her novels incorporate stories drawn from her family history and often include elements of fantasy. The Fourth Princess is her sixth book and it is set in 1911 China. The story is Chang's first gothic historical fiction novel and it's about two young women living in a crumbling, once-grand Shanghai mansion. Both face danger as secrets from their pasts come to light, even as the mansion’s own secret threatens the present. It was published on February 10, 2026.

The publisher's summary:

Shanghai, 1911. Lisan Liu is elated when she is hired as secretary to wealthy American Caroline Stanton, the new mistress of Lennox Manor on the outskirts of Shanghai’s International Settlement. However, the Manor has a dark past due to a previous owner’s suicide, and soon Lisan’s childhood nightmares resurface with more intensity and meld with haunted visions of a woman in red. Adding to her unease is the young gardener, Yao, who both entices and disturbs her.

Newly married Caroline looks forward to life in China with her husband, Thomas, away from the shadows of another earlier tragedy. But an unwelcome guest, Andrew Grey, attends her party and claims to know secrets she can’t afford to have exposed. At the same party, the notorious princess Masako Kyo approaches Lisan with questions about the young woman’s family that the orphaned Lisan can’t answer.

As Caroline struggles with Grey’s extortion and Thomas’s mysterious illness, Lisan’s future is upended when she learns the truth about her past, and why her identity has been hidden all these years. All the while, strange incidents accelerate, driving Lisan to doubt her sanity as Lennox Manor seems unwilling to release her until she fulfills demands from beyond the grave. 

This was a riveting novel. The story opens with Lisan traveling to her job interview with Caroline Stanton. She is immediately hired and leaves the home of her benefactor Master Liu to live with the Stantons. She will be working as Caroline Stanton's secretary. Lisan and Caroline hit it off right away and Lisan soon becomes indispensable to the running of the household. 

I'm not gonna lie. I had to Google gothic historical fiction for a definition. Gothic historical fiction blends suspense, atmosphere, and often supernatural elements with rich settings, commonly featuring crumbling old houses, isolated estates, secrets, strong female characters and intense emotional journeys. Lennox Manor fits the bill. It's falling apart after decades of neglect and it is located several miles from the nearest buildings in Shanghai. There is some mental illness in the Stanton family with two prior suicides. The Chinese house staff supplies the story with tales of superstition and fantasy. They frequently post words and pictures near doorways in order to keep ghosts away and there are definitely strong women characters. 

Lisan Liu is the main character and the story is told from her viewpoint. She is liked by everyone who has ever met her. I won't go into detail regarding her family background because it would be a spoiler. Caroline Stanton is also a strong female character, which surprises her husband Thomas and his uncle Mason who is always trying to get his hands on Caroline's fortune to facilitate their entry into a railroad scheme. Mason has told Thomas and Caroline that he is leaving them the house in his will. However, he doesn't actually own the house, a fact Caroline learns from reviewing land records. Master Liu owns it and leases it to Mason. Mason is the cause of all the treachery in the novel. He moves from one scheme to another to force Thomas to take away Caroline's money. Caroline also is guilty of some treachery but to describe it would be a spoiler.

The Fourth Princess is a dynamite novel. Historical fiction fans simply must read it. It's too good to pass up. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Devil's Bible

This twentieth Cotton Malone spy thriller was just published last month. It takes place in the modern era and concerns a codex called the Devil's Bible. The Devil’s Bible contains the complete Bible as well all the knowledge in the world. A formula for immortality might be found in its pages. In this installment of the series we see retired spy Cotton Malone coming out of retirement to help his former employer with a job. The Devil's Bible is a tale of mystery and intrigue stretching back over four centuries.

Steve Berry's plots are so complex that it is impossible for me to summarize them. Here is the summary from the publisher:

Former Justice Department operative, Cotton Malone, is called to Sweden when the younger sister of King Wilhelm I is kidnapped. The ransom demand? Hand over an 800-year-old book, the Codex Gigas—the largest illuminated medieval manuscript in the world. Claimed as war loot from Bohemia in 1648, it’s been kept in Stockholm for nearly 400 years. Along the way it also acquired another more mysterious moniker ... The Devil’s Bible.

Now the Czech Republic wants the codex back, and Sweden has agreed to return it, but forces are at work to stop that deal from happening. The likely instigator? Russia. Who is also top of the list for possible kidnappers. It’s up to Cotton and Cassiopeia Vitt to locate the king’s sister, secure the codex, and thwart the Russians. Yet nothing is as it seems.

Trusted allies become hostile enemies. Long-standing enemies suddenly shift into partners. Making matters worse, an array of conflicting personalities re-emerge from Cotton’s past, transforming an already chaotic international situation into something far more personal and deadly.

From the cobbled streets of Stockholm with its placid waterways and picturesque islands, to the hostile skies over the Baltic Sea, and finally onto a fabled 16th century Swedish warship, Cotton and Cassiopeia come face-to-face with the unthinkable—changing both of their lives forever.

As is usual with a Steve Berry thriller it is part history, part mystery and part political. There are only two settings in the book. Normally there are more but here we see action in Stockholm and Prague. I was expecting to read more about the codex in the story. All we read about it is that Sweden took possession of it from the Czech Republic as war bounty hundreds of years ago. I was hoping to get more background info about it but the story was only about Sweden trying to regain the codex after a loan to the Czech Republic.

The characters were divided into two groups. One group worked on locating Swedish Princess Lysa. The other group worked to remove the codex as well as find the treasure hinted at in the manuscript. The chapters alternated between the actions of each group. Another feature of Berry's writing is the use of current events in the story to further his plot. It made the story that much more compelling and exciting to read.

So why is the codex called the Devil's Bible? The book contains the complete Christian Bible as well as other manuscripts that contain all of the knowledge about the world. On one of it's pages there is a drawing of the devil. From this drawing the codex gets its name. The book was a fast read and enjoyable. Mystery fans will want to read it.

4 out of 5 stars.

Trust No One

James Rollins' Trust No One is a standalone novel separate from his Sigma Force series. In this novel, a group of English university students who have been falsely accused of murder are forced into a treacherous run across Europe in order to get away from the authorities chasing them.

The publisher's summary:  

Knowledge can be magic—until it falls into the wrong hands.

The ritualistic murder of a British professor at the University of Exeter points to a startling cast of suspects: his own students. All are enrolled in a postgraduate program covering the history of witchcraft, folklore, and spiritualism.

All evidence points to Sharyn Karr—an American student. Prior to the professor’s death, he had thrust a centuries-old book upon her. It appears to be the handwritten and encrypted diary of an eighteenth-century mystic and occultist, the Comte de Saint-Germain. The professor begged her to keep the text safe, ending with a warning: Trust no one.

Such a responsibility forces her into cooperation with Duncan Maxwell, a fellow postgrad and the sixteenth in line to the British Crown. Already, Duncan has proven himself a savant with encryptions. Unfortunately, the pair clash at every level, but they both need one another. Especially when they discover the book’s opening words: Herein lies the secret to my immortality. Come find me, if you dare.

As dark forces close upon the pair, she and her friends are forced to flee, pursued by law enforcement and hunted by a powerful cabal. In an explosive chase across Europe—from the Tower of London to Parisian chateaus to a fortress in the Italian Alps—Sharyn must learn the true secret hidden in Saint-Germain’s text. It will send her and the others across history and deep into the heart of one of the world’s greatest mysteries, a secret buried at the roots of Western Civilization, a discovery that could topple empires and change humanity forever.

For what lies at the end of Saint-Germain’s diary is as shocking as its opening words.

The story opened with Sharyn being given a mysterious book at the University of Exeter library. Sharyn was in the library on Halloween researching a paper on medieval illuminated manuscripts. As she was about to leave she saw Professor Wright, the head of a new department at the university that examines occultic practices of the Middle Ages. Professor Wright asked her to hide a book for him. He told Sharyn to show no one the book nor open it. Opening it will start a fire. The book was the personal journal of the Comte de St. Germain. Within it's pages might be a formula to become immortal. 

Sharyn leaves the library, dresses for a party with her roommates and runs across Duncan, a fellow student in the same program under Professor Wright. Along with Duncan's friend Alex they head toward The Forum, a bar that most students visited. Upon arrival they could hear the sirens of the fire department. The library is on fire. Feeling guilty for the fire, Sharyn leads her friends on an escapade through Exeter trying to avoid police officers who seem to be following them. Once safe, Sharyn tells her friends all about the book. So much for secrecy, especially since she just met Duncan and Alex that evening. The group continued to run from the authorities as they travel to London and parts elsewhere and in-between.

All the above was exciting but after awhile it didn't seem plausible that five college students would be responsible for hiding this priceless book. Professor Wright died in the fire but not from the fire. He had been the victim of a ritualistic murder. It would have been interesting to have the details of his murder since occult rituals were described in the journal. With Sharyn being the last person to see Wright alive, law enforcement believed Sharyn murdered Wright and were pursuing her.

Each of Sharon's friends had expertise in a different area of paleography, the study of ancient manuscripts. All of them had been taught by Professor Wright. As the story progressed they were able to assist in unlocking the mysteries of the journal. While these reveals were exciting I had a gnawing feeling that it was unbelievable. These were college students after all. However, I, myself, have an interest in paleography so all this was intellectually stimulating.

I loved the book despite my misgivings mentioned above. It has all of the treasure hunt complexities that are found in Rollins' earlier novels and I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

Aunty Lee's Delights

Aunty Lee's Delights has been on my TBR list for several years. I finally got around to reading this wonderful cozy mystery.  This first installment of the series was published in 2013. The series takes place in Singapore.

The publisher's summary:

"The culture and culinary delights of Singapore come alive in Yu’s novel. Rosie “Aunty” Lee, something of a busybody, has shrugged off widowhood to open her own restaurant. But when she gets drawn into a local murder investigation, it soon becomes clear she has a real talent for sleuthing... Guaranteed to make you hungry!--Sarah Weinman, New York Times Book Review

This delectable and witty mystery introduces Rosie “Aunty” Lee, feisty widow, amateur sleuth and proprietor of Singapore’s best-loved home cooking restaurant.

After losing her husband, Rosie Lee could easily have become one of Singapore’s “tai tai,” an idle rich lady devoted to an aimless life of mah-jongg and luxury shopping. Instead she threw herself into building a culinary empire from her restaurant, Aunty Lee’s Delights, where spicy Singaporean home cooking is graciously served by Rosie Lee herself to locals and tourists alike. But when a body is found in one of Singapore’s beautiful tourist havens, and when one of her wealthy guests fails to show at a dinner party, Aunty Lee knows that the two are likely connected.

The murder and disappearance throws together Aunty Lee’s henpecked stepson Mark, his social-climbing wife Selina, a gay couple whose love is still illegal in Singapore, and an elderly Australian tourist couple whose visit—billed at first as a pleasure cruise—may mask a deeper purpose. Investigating the murder is rookie Police Commissioner Raja, who quickly discovers that the savvy and well-connected Aunty Lee can track down clues even better than local law enforcement.

Wise, witty and unusually charming, Aunty Lee’s Delights is a spicy mystery about love, friendship and home cooking in Singapore, where money flows freely and people of many religions and ethnicities co-exist peacefully, but where tensions lurk just below the surface, sometimes with deadly results.

I was hooked from the first chapter. The setting was prominent here and I loved all the references to the food and slang terminology. I must admit, though, that I had to look them up on Google. Aunty Lee is as charming as I have been told. She is a vibrant, loveable character who loves experimenting with flavors as well as cooking the usual Singapore fare. Aunty Lee is a caterer and an intriguing investigator. She can determine the true character of people from the way they eat her cooking.

The murder occurred in the second chapter. I love it when an author gives the reader an upfront kill so that the rest of the book can be about the investigation of the death. Aunty Lee becomes interested in a news story about an unidentified body found on a beach near a luxury resort. She and her maid, Nina, then scour the news sites for more information.

I adored this novel and definitely will be reading the series. 5 out of 5 stars.

Bamboo Island: The Planter's Wife

Ann Bennett's Bamboo Island was published on October 4, 2019. It is a WWII story that takes place in Thailand. The book was previously published with the title The Homecoming and Bamboo Road. All of the titles have different book covers so I had some confusion over which book I was actually reading.

The publisher's summary:

1938: Juliet and her sister Rose arrive in Penang to stay with an aunt, after the death of their father. Juliet quickly falls under the spell of Gavin Crosby, a plantation owner, who despite his wealth, charm and good looks is shunned by the local community. Rushed into marriage, Juliet is unprepared for the devastating secrets she uncovers on Gavin’s plantation, and the bad blood between Gavin and his brother… But in 1941 the Japanese occupy Malaya and Singapore sweeping away that world and changing Juliet’s life forever.

For decades after the war which robbed her of everyone she loved, Juliet lives as a recluse back on the plantation. But in 1962 the sudden appearance of Mary, a young woman from an orphanage in Indonesia, forces Juliet to embark on a journey into the past, and to face up to the heart-breaking truths she’s buried for so long.

The story is told in a dual timeline, from the late 1930s to the 1960s. It was difficult for me to follow along in the beginning. Juliet endured many flashbacks, some to times in England with her family and others to life in Malaya with her abusive husband. Eventually I figured it all out. However, the story was not promising until the halfway point. WWII was raging then.

The story began, though, with a young woman arriving on her doorstep in 1962 who claimed to be Juliet's niece. Juliet's sister Rose and Rose's daughter Claire were lost at sea twenty years beforehand. Juliet quickly rebuffs the girl, Mary, but because she is lonely Juliet continues to maintain contact with her. Mary asks alot of questions that cause Juliet pain. She eventually gets answers but Juliet is forced to replay in her mind the Japanese occupation of Malaysia and her time in a Japanese prison.

Far Asian settings usually entice me but this setting was during a war. There were food shortages, impromptu home searches by Japanese soldiers and the constant threat of arrest and execution. Three years of Juliet's story occurs in Changi Prison in Singapore. Afterwards she and other women were marched to a prisoner of war labor camp. This is not the usual exotic Asian setting I am used to reading about.

The author wrote a compelling story which I believe maintains historical accuracy. It was an enjoyable read and I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

The House of Lies

As soon as I heard about this book I immediately pre-ordered a copy. The author's Alardyce House series was incredibly good. The prospect of reading another story about this family was too good to be true. The book was published on February 6, 2026.

The publisher's summary:  

For generations, the Alardyce family have lived under the shadow of a curse. Some say it died with Robert Alardyce - the ruthless patriarch whose name was whispered in fear - but others know darkness like his never truly fades.

Decades later, Alardyce House stands empty, its secrets lost behind its walls. Until Kate Alardyce - Robert’s sharp and ambitious great-granddaughter - decides it’s time to reclaim her family’s legacy. And Kate always gets what she wants...

As the family gathers, old secrets resurface, loyalties fracture and the air thickens with menace. When Kate's cousin, Cameron Alardyce walks through the door, his resemblance to Robert sends a chill through them all…and it isn’t long before history begins to repeat itself.

But is the infamous curse really to blame… or is someone alive, watching, and ready to make the Alardyces pay in blood?

I enjoyed the first half of the story but it lacked the suspense and tension of the previous Alardyce novels. Kate wants to make a movie about the family, which is why she invited her cousins to the house. Lucy, Cameron, Simon, Harry and Jenna became reacquainted with each other and with Kate during this weekend. There were special family dinners, tours of the house as well as tours of the local village. The first third of the book was devoted to introducing the idea of the film to the cousins and convincing them to not only agree to the film but also to be a part of it. Kate wanted Cameron to play the role of the evil Robert Alardyce. Cameron looks exactly like a painting of Robert which hangs in the dining room. Robert’s eyes are dark, like evil lurking within them. With some prompting by Kate, Cameron easily becomes angry and impulsive like his doppelganger. Kate obviously inherited a dark side too. She knows how to manipulate people and events in order to get her way. 

At the halfway point I realized there wouldn't be any action. The book is solely about the reunion of the cousins. Most of the book is dialogue between them on mundane topics. There is alot of discussion concerning the Alardyce curse. It really is the Alardyce mental illness that seems to always skip a generation. 

I am not sure whether attempting to replay family events is sufficient to make a good psychological thriller. Kate's idea that the Robert painting can come to real life is loony. It's not plausible. It might work in a cozy mystery but not a psychological thriller. Another thing, Alardyce House seems to be haunted. Sightings of serial killer Edward Alardyce have been seen in the house. It would have been interesting if the ghost was also a serial killer as Edward was. I am not sure whether this fifth installment of the Alardyce House series was meant to merely bridge the gap from Victorian England to the present for future installments or to present a new mystery for us to resolve. Either way, The House of Lies falls short.

2.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Want to Know a Secret

I was lucky to receive an advanced review copy of Freida McFadden's newest novel from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. The book was self-published in 2021 but will be re-released by Poison Pen Press in March 2026. It's unclear if any changes were made to the manuscript but the copyright page indicates it is the final manuscript approved for pre-publication by Poison Pen Press. I requested the book because I knew it would be riveting. Freida McFadden has never written a book that wasn't engrossing. Want to Know a Secret fit the bill. 

The story opened spectacularly.  YouTuber April Masterson received a threatening text message from an anonymous person, someone close enough to see what's happening in her backyard and that her son Bobby was not where she thought he was at. April was distracted while filming an episode of her baking channel and wasn't watching him. A frantic search by April and husband Elliott only ended when April knocked on a new neighbor's door. She was about to ask neighbor Maria if she had seen her son when April eyes him playing with Maria's son Owen in their living room. April continued to receive anonymous texts but then began receiving negative comments on her You Tube videos. Some intimated knowledge of April's personal affairs and stated she was a fraud. April's private musings admitted that they were factual. She continued receiving texts about her flirting and about something buried in her backyard.

April appears to the outside world as the perfect woman. I fell for it in the beginning of the story but after awhile it seemed that something was off. No one is that perfect. April's new neighbor Maria definitely gives off bad vibes and we are led to believe that Maria might be the villain who is sending the text messages. I fell for that too. Initially it appeared that Maria had more secrets than April but then came Part 2. And Part 3.

This story is a perfect psychological thriller. It was hard to tell who all the psychopaths were. The plot twists began early but the ending was so surprising I read the last chapters twice. All this leaves me to wonder how the author comes up with her story ideas. 

5 out of 5 stars.

The Beginner's Quilt

I received an advanced review copy of The Beginner's Quilt from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. The book will be released next month. I love Wanda Brunstetter's novels. She writes Amish fiction and has 147 books under her belt. The Beginner's Quilt is a prequel to Brunstetter's Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club series. This installment of the series focuses on Emma Bontrager's lack of interest in  performing household tasks such as cooking, sewing, and cleaning. Her mother hasn't been able to teach her daughter these skills because Emma is always busy with the outdoors. The story shows her transition to domesticity. Emma's mother hopes that she will learn how to be an Amish wife.

Emma is a tomboy who loves fishing, baseball and any outdoors activity. Her mother sends her to her grandmother’s house in Arthur, IL for the summer in order to learn to cook and sew. Emma's grandmother is a great cook and seamstress. She soon meets grandma's friend Ida Mae Yoder who is an accomplished quilter. After admiring one of Ida Mae's Quilts she is offered lessons. Emma accepts immediately and begins making a quilt from the tree of life quilt block. Her new interest blossoms into a passion and after a few successes in the kitchen, Emma concentrates more and more on learning new recipes.

Emma is shy and has many inhibitions. When she meets Ida Mae's son Ivan, Emma feels an attraction but isn't cognizant of it. She only knows that she is tongue tied around him. Ivan, on the other hand, is bold in speaking and asserting his desires. They are complete opposites. After finding their footing as a couple something awful occurs that ends up separating them. Both are learning how to practice forgiveness while they journey through their time together.

This story is strictly romance. There are no modern problems involved in the plot which we have seen from earlier Brunstetter novels. It is a relaxing story to read. 4 out of 5 stars.

We'll Prescribe You a Cat

When I saw this book in my Amazon feed I immediately knew I was going to buy it. The title is not only cute but I believe if doctor's prescribed cats instead of meds, we all would recover from whatever ails us. I knew the story would be good. It was! I loved this novel written in the 1970s in Japan and translated into English in 2024. It has now been translated into seventeen languages.

The publisher's summary:

A cat a day keeps the doctor away…

Discover the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation in this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats.

Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.

Throughout the pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

The book contains five short stories about a Kyoto psychiatrist who prescribes a cat to every patient as a unique form of therapy for people with life problems. The prescription is always for ten days after which the cat must be returned to the doctor. The stories showcase the healing power of animals with a touch of fantasy thrown in for good measure. As the summary above states, only people in deep emotional pain can open the door to the clinic and this is where the fantasy comes in. Not everyone can see the alleyway where the business practice is located.

Some of the characters are in more than one story but each features a new patient. Every story begins the same with a frazzled employee receiving a referral to a mental health clinic from a friend of a friend of a friend.The clinic is run by Doctor Nikke and Nurse Chitose. And SPOILER, they're cats that have taken human form. Chitose and Nikke were born in a breeding house in terrible conditions and were saved by Dr. Suda of the Suda Animal Hospital. The hospital is located down the same street as the Clinic. Both are in every story. The plot premise for each story are mentioned above and do not need to be repeated.

We'll Prescribe You a Cat is a must read! I cannot recommend it more highly. 5 out of 5 stars.