"Rising Darkness" by Nancy Mehl

Rising Darkness (Nov. 3, 2015) by Nancy Mehl.*

Armed with a potential lead from a man she knew from her old life, Sophie Wittenbauer a.k.a. Sophie Bauer a.k.a. Emily McClure heads to the small town of Sanctuary, Missouri. She’s trying to track down a suspect connected to a decades-old unsolved crime in which people were slain and a great sum of money was stolen. She envisions finding Terrance Chase and solving the crime, thus catapulting her to fame in the world of investigative reporting. She wants all of the families affected to have closure as well, but somehow that seems second to the fame. An afterthought, almost.

            Sanctuary is a town reminiscent of Kingdom (a primarily Mennonite town), where she grew up, and a place which she vowed never to return. Her past there is threaded with darkness and despair. It’s a place to be forgotten. There are kind memories of good people, but they are sporadic to surface. One such face, Jonathon Wiese, is the one person she loved, though she can’t picture him ever having seen her as more than a broken person to be fixed. On the contrary, Jonathon has prayed about Sophie and thought of her often over the years. Fortuitously, he is even in Sanctuary, in good standing as the pastor of the other church in town. And there is something about Emily that reminds him of Sophie …

            With the permission of Sanctuary’s Mennonite pastor, Pastor Troyer, Emily gains access to the town’s records of new arrivals, moves and deaths. She’s researching all of that under the guise of learning her family history, with her crafted story of having recently learned her mother was adopted. Her hostess, Esther Lapp, knew Emily’s supposed ancestors well. Will she see through Emily’s deceit? As her research continues, threatening notes begin to arrive. Who’s onto her? How far will someone go to make sure she doesn’t uncover the truth?

            As much as I enjoy historical Christian fiction, it was a nice change to read present-day Christian fiction. I’m a fan of suspense, and I was not disappointed with “Rising Darkness.” My first story from this author, I found it to be well-written and actually quite remarkable. Mehl has a lovely way with words. Many parts of her story jump out, but here’s my favorite: “Look at God as your sunscreen. When you’re healthy, you’ll go outside again. But this time, you’ll have a covering. The grace, love, and protection of God” (p. 268). The ending did not turn out totally as I would have expected, which I thought was terrific. The characters are distinct, and I appreciated that Sophie wasn’t all patience and pearls; she had a troubled past and spends most of the story not wholly trusting God. She’s still got to find herself and the light on the path, which is something most, if not all, of us must do at some point in our lives.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Love Everlasting" by Tracie Peterson

Love Everlasting (Oct. 6, 2015) by Tracie Peterson.*

If someone ever wondered what it was like to grow up in a bridal school, one could ask Abrianna Cunningham. She was raised by her aunts at the Madison Bridal School. As it were, though, she doesn’t come upon her twenty-first birthday feeling like she has the skills expected of a wife. She is full of spunk and independence. This isn’t lost on Wade Ackerman, who accepts it, nor on Priam Welby, who does not, and tends to think of her as a horse to be broken in rather than a human being to be respected and treated as an equal. Abrianna knows of Wade’s love for her, but Priam is persistent in his pursuit of her. Not only persistent, but potentially very dangerous. Priam has a silver tongue, while Wade is of honorable character. Can Abrianna tell the difference, and can she do anything about it?

            This story was written by someone who’s obviously adept at writing and has been writing books for a long while. This was the first book I’d read from Peterson, and while I liked the book, I didn’t love it. Priam, as the villain, was very easy to dislike from the get-go. There was no secret that he was the antagonist of the story. Meanwhile, Wade was very easy to like. He is easily someone most women would have no problem introducing their parents to. As with any book of historical fiction, I do like that it appeared to stay in time (1889) as far as fashions of the day, mannerisms and the like (though I am not even a novice when it comes to knowledge of this period). Unfortunately, I am typing this review weeks after I finished the novel, and my remembrance of the book is definitely lacking. It’s a good book, but not memorable enough to suit my interests, in this case. This does not mean; however, that I would decline reading a different series from this author.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Lost Heiress" by Roseanna M. White

The Lost Heiress (Sept. 8, 2015) by Roseanna M. White.*

What would it be like to learn that you are not the offspring of an opera singer and Prince Louis Grimaldi, heir to the throne of Monaco, but a baroness, “whose title is by right and not courtesy,” and the daughter of an earl? Just ask Elizabeth Brook Eden. She’s grown up basking in the sun and warmth of the Mediterranean and suddenly finds herself in North Yorkshire, England. She’s still got a sea to look out at, but the temperature is not something she’ll grow accustomed to overnight. Nor will the staff at Whitby Park become accustomed to Brook overnight. In fact, they are prone to cynicism before trust, even though Ambrose Eden, the Earl of Whitby, has declared her to be his daughter and heir.

            Brook’s arrival at Whitby Park is thanks to her childhood best friend, Justin Wildon, who also happens to be the Duke of Stafford. He has long since realized that Brook is stunning, but he expects she doesn’t feel for him what he does for her. And, as heir to a dukedom, he’s got a plateful of responsibilities – and several side dishes – occupying his time. This creates physical distance between them and will be a barrier in their relationship that cannot be easily hurdled.

            Brook doesn’t know much about her past, but that will not stop the greed of unknown others to obtain what they think she possesses. Who can be trusted? What does the person(s) want and why? One thing is for sure: the person has no qualms about taking the lives of others to fulfill her/his desires. It’ll be a race to find out the whodunit before the heiress is lost for good.

            The setting is 1910 Edwardian England, and it is opulent, tragic and dangerous. The writing is top-notch, and you can tell that the author has done her research. Despite the length of the novel, it was a fairly quick read. The story is enchanting with its captivating characters – from the handsomely good if romantically bumbling (Justin) to the dashingly suave flirt (Brice, heir to the Duke of Nottingham) to the superciliously wicked (Pratt) – and its richness of royal locale. The romance is there, but isn’t steadily moving forward; therefore, it is intense in its stationary state. The only confusing part comes from my lack of familiarity with peerage terminology. It may also take some thought to remember who is who. All the nicknames and first name, last name, royal title – yikes! But all in all, a very delicious read. I look forward to continuing reading the Ladies of the Manor series.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Trondhjem's Pie & Ice Cream Social 2015

If you know me well, you know that I concoct an annual poem leading up to my home church’s Pie & Ice Cream Social. This year marks the 10^th anniversary of my Social poems! I wrote my first Social poem in 2006 on a whim. It was something new for me to try to do. And here we are, in 2015, and I’m still writing them!

Trondhjem’s Pie & Ice Cream Social 2015

The Pie & Ice Cream Social’s around the bend.

All of Trondhjem invites you to attend.

September the twentieth is the date.

It begins at 5; we don’t have long to wait!

From the kitchen we’ll be serving sloppy joes,

And as for dessert, most anything goes.

It’s a potluck of pies, a spectacle of taste.

Should you want first choice of pie, then to the food make haste!

Will pumpkin, raspberry or cherry appear?

Would eggnog pie promote pre-holiday cheer?

There might be chocolate or banana cream.

So many pies, which for you reigns supreme?

Do not forget that there is more upstairs.

There’s a silent auction and baked goods to spare.

Those treats may be salty, spicy, sweet or tart.

Know that all has been made/created with heart.

Donated by WELCA is a quilt that’s great,

And the talents who made it are first rate!

A ticket won’t set you back much, just a buck,

So buy a lot or a few and try your luck!

We hope you can come for an evening of fun

On 9/20 at 5. Please walk. Don’t run.

Visiting with you will make our day a success.

We’ll see you real soon. Until then, God bless!

"Not by Sight" by Kate Breslin

Not by Sight (Aug. 4, 2015) by Kate Breslin.*

The color white stands for many things: purity, innocence, light, mourning. Grace Elizabeth Mabry, the daughter of Patrick Mabry, one of London’s wealthiest tradesmen thanks to his tea business (Swan’s Tea Room), hands a white feather of cowardice to Jack Benningham, Earl of Stonebrooke. Grace, a suffragette, is full of patriotism, especially since her brother, Colin, is fighting in the war (it’s 1917, so WWI), so by handing a white feather to Jack, she’s telling him that he’s a coward for not representing Britain in the war, as he is an able-bodied man.

            Things turn for them both when Grace and her lady’s maid/friend, Agnes Pierpont, volunteer for the Women’s Forage Corps. It’s more work than Grace has ever done in her life, but it’s better than the house arrest she’s been under. They’re assigned to Roxwood, where dwells a monster.

            Naturally, that “monster” is Jack Benningham. He knows the name Grace Mabry, but he doesn’t know her face, because he can’t see it. Great tests are in front of the both of them. Grace will need her faith more than ever, and Jack needs to regain his. There will be hurt, the likes of which happens only when you fall too hard for someone and care too deeply. Unfortunately, matters of the heart are only part of the problem, because in those times of war, the threat of enemy spies is constant. And if the truth isn’t discovered, the innocent will take the blame, and relationships will be forever ruined.

            Mystery. Espionage. Intrigue. Romance. Doubt. Faith. If you enjoy stories containing any of those things, this is a book which I would recommend to you. This Christian historical fiction novel is intelligently written with a focused plot, descriptive characters and a fast pace. The author has clearly done her research. I think it is clever that Jack’s stance as a conscientious objector is a ruse, for it still propels his character to help his country. I was captivated by this novel and know I’ve found another author whose books I’d like to keep reading. It has a good message for us as well: Walk by faith and not by sight. In the spiritual sense, yes, but also in the literal, seeing-with-your-eyes sense. We take for granted that which we have, not realizing what we’re missing until it’s too late. Keep the faith, give thanks for what you have, and try not to take anything for granted.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"In Good Company" by Jen Turano

In Good Company (July 7, 2015) by Jen Turano.*

Life cannot be avoided, and apparently those you would rather avoid cannot be avoided, either. This is the case for Miss Millie Longfellow and Mr. Everett Mulberry. She has been ousted from yet another nanny position, and he has lost yet another nanny due to the antics of his young charges: Elizabeth, Rose and Thaddeus Burkhart. The matron of the employment agency is at her wit’s end with the both of them and pairs them together as a last resort, much to their initial resentment. Millie loves children, and the reason she often (always) ends up fired is that her teaching tactics are somewhat, erm, progressive and unique. Surprisingly or not, the children end up loving her, but the parents or guardians, not so much.

            Everett is a successful businessman with high societal aspirations. He wants to be part of the cream-of-the-crop amongst the upper echelons of NYC – and his summer home in Newport, Rhode Island – in 1882. His lovely, though imperious, spoiled, dramatic, soon-to-be fiancée, Caroline Dixon, fits to perfection his idea of the perfect woman for his standing in society. The children he was willed guardianship over? Not even close. He’d rather they’d been willed to someone else or that their parents hadn’t died in a freak accident. But when Elizabeth is certain she sees her late father’s yacht, something niggles at Millie. Something potentially very dangerous. And that danger isn’t just the attraction that Everett and Millie discover growing for one another. Life is funny that way.

            While we met Millie in “After a Fashion,” we as readers really got to know and understand her in this story. It was a riveting tale. Millie is a woman of good spirit, and even when life hands her lemons (which it has, a lot), she makes lemonade. She isn’t immune to disappointment and frustration, but her faith and amazing ability to love others when she didn’t receive much herself growing up drives her to be the spunky, kind-hearted, sometimes misunderstood woman she is. “In Good Company” encourages us to improve our strength of character no matter what we do – whether we are CEOs of corporations or we’re working retail or we’re homemakers or we’re balancing a full-time job and three kids or we’re looking for work. This is a novel of faith, finding understanding and bridging that gap between high society and pretty much everyone else. Throw in a whodunit plot and a spark of romance, and you’ve got another shining novel from Turano. Highly recommend!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The Midwife's Tale" by Delia Parr

The Midwife’s Tale (June 2, 2015) by Delia Parr.*

There is something mesmerizing about greeting a newborn, a tiny miracle. That is how midwife Martha Cade (a.k.a. Widow Cade) feels every time she helps deliver a newborn safely and healthily into Western Pennsylvania in 1830. Martha lives in the town of Trinity and has two grown children. She was hopeful her daughter would follow in her footsteps, but that all came to a halt when her daughter ran away with a theater troupe. Three months of searching doesn’t bring Victoria home. Martha is hurting deeply. She “can only feel and react, completely defenseless as anger, resentment, and fear fought bitterly against hope, trust, and faith on the battleground of her soul.” And being away from Trinity for three months has brought some major changes.

            Without Victoria in tow, Martha must deal with the scandal of her daughter’s running off. It is of the utmost embarrassment – “The shame was nearly unbearable” – to Martha that her daughter would do such a thing. But scandal isn’t Martha’s alone. There is also Rosalind Andrews, who, instead of confiding in others, has instead pushed away those she once called friends, even those who would lend a listening ear and not accusing words. On top of scandal, a new doctor has arrived in the town of Trinity. He’s not just any doctor, but a university doctor, and one who seems to think everything about midwifery is primitive and dated. And let’s not forget Mayor Thomas Dillon. She’s carried affection for him in the past (and vice versa), but her calling to midwifery led her down a different path and marriage to a different man. Likewise, Thomas married another. Martha’s been a widow for a decade, and Thomas has been a widower for a year. Could there be …? But no, that wouldn’t … Would it?

            I always enjoy reading a book from an author previously unknown to me and discovering how much I enjoy her/his writing. Once I started reading this story, I flew right through it. I appreciate that Parr writes Martha as a faithful but flawed individual, as we all are, whether or not we want to admit our flaws. Martha is a very vivid character, and when she’s feeling something – whether joy at a new birth, shame at her daughter’s absconding or flutter-feelings at the sight of the mayor – we the readers feel her emotions, too. I especially like that she writes scenes where Martha is struggling. Like us, she also has foolish moments. And, as Aunt Hilda states, “That makes you human. Faith and conviction can’t cure that. They only help you to recognize your failings so you can try to overcome them.” This story is excellently written and appears to be well-researched. I look forward to continuing to hang out in Trinity!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Amish Promises" by Leslie Gould

Amish Promises (May 5, 2015) by Leslie Gould.*

When one thinks of Lancaster County, it seems natural to attribute it to a place of serenity. That is what Shani Beck is hoping for. Give it a year. She’ll begin a job as a nurse at Lancaster General, and she’ll live in her late grandfather’s house with her recuperating military husband, Joel, and their son, Zane. Shani’s got her work cut out for her, mostly due to Joel’s physical and emotional issues. His tibia was shattered in an attack while he was on active duty. Because of his injuries, he’s out of the Army for good, but he carries with him survivor’s guilt, self-pity for currently being wheelchair-bound and, most likely, PTSD.

            “I will never leave a fallen comrade,” is Charlie McCall’s mantra. Joel, struggling as he is, is still a fallen comrade in Charlie’s eyes, and the Becks need him in their lives probably more than they realize, especially Joel. He helps with everything from unloading the moving van to building a ramp to taking Zane under his wing. And his eyes are captured by the single, 20-something Amishwoman who takes care of her brother’s home and his five children.

            Likewise, Charlie has caught Eve Lehman’s eyes. But she treads lightly. Caring for her strict brother’s (Tim’s) household and her nieces and nephews is her atonement for, in her church’s eyes, the sins of her running-around years. And she doesn’t want to do anything which Tim disapproves of, for she loves her nephews and nieces – twins Daniel & Lila, Simon, Rose and baby Trudy – more than anything, plus she promised Abra on her deathbed. But naturally, as with any good story, complications arise that keep them all intertwined for better or for worse, for risk of shunning or not.

            This contemporary Amish Christian fiction story is the first in the Neighbors of Lancaster County series, and it’s off to a strong start. I thoroughly enjoy Amish fiction, and this story did not disappoint. Just as I appreciate stories that involve a variety of ethnicities, so do I also enjoy reading Amish fiction that blends cultures – in this case, Englischers. There has been tragedy and hardship on all sides – whether emotional or physical or both – and all individuals must find a way to come to terms with it. Here is a story about faith, family and unexpected friendship, but also a story about mistrust born on stereotypes, the past, and the close-mindedness that can come from sheer stubbornness. It is a wonderfully written story that blends Amish and English, heartache and healing, willingness and inflexibility, mistrust and trust. From heartache and sorrow to love and happiness, friendship and healing will thread their way through, as they so often do.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"Finding Me" by Kathryn Cushman

Finding Me (Apr. 7, 2015) by Kathryn Cushman.*

What would you do if you discovered that your past wasn’t what you’d been brought up to believe? If you’re Kelli Huddleston, you drive across the country to find answers. She’d always been told that her mother and two older siblings died in a house fire when she was an infant and that they’d come to central California (just outside of Santa Barbara) from Louisiana. But names aren’t matching up, and there are news clippings about a boat accident in South Carolina killing a young father and his infant daughter …

            Armed with Miscellaneous and Odds and Ends, she takes off for Shoal Creek, Tennessee. Kelli intends to stay for a week, but that week turns into a temporary summer job at Moore’s More Store and a rental unit to reside in. She has a boss (Ken Moore a.k.a. Kenmore) who values honesty, the boss’ son (Shane) who’s more than a little suspicious of her intentions in tiny Shoal Creek, new friends in Beth & Rand and Miss Birdyshaw, and a very mom-like figure in Alison Waters. Her life is going to do a 180, and Kelli’s not sure she can handle it, especially when the spark of romance lights within her and she becomes closer to a few of Shoal Creek’s residents. Should Kelli throw the doors open wide and discover what she may? Or are some doors better left shut?

            On top of the tragedy of losing loved ones, Kelli also deals with the horrific realization that her life could’ve been completely different with a birthmother and siblings and that her father was a lout for what he did. It’s a story of contemporary Christian fiction, yet it’s written so realistically. Sadness, despair, anger, denial, acceptance – it’s all there, and I felt it as a reader, but I also felt Kelli’s joys and doubts in connecting with those she never knew. I rooted for her the entire time. Cushman’s story is one of rising above grief and adversity. But perseverance, too, to find the missing pieces Kelli never knew she was missing. It is a winsome, well-written tale.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"After a Fashion" by Jen Turano

After a Fashion (Mar. 3, 2015) by Jen Turano.*

In an era (it’s NYC in 1882) when it’s difficult to be an independent woman of self-supporting means, Miss Harriet Peabody works hard. Having no father and a deceased mother, a year has passed since she left the clutches of her confidence-scheming aunt (she’s a con artist) and secured employment from a local milliner. It’s a respectable job, and she adores the fashion industry, plus she’s adept at sewing garments and hats. She’s innovative as well, trying to perfect a collapsible bustle, and kind-hearted, wanting to someday open a shop selling refashioned gowns to other working women like herself who can’t afford gowns from the likes of Arnold Constable & Co. in the elite Ladies’ Mile district.

            Harriet’s employment comes to an abrupt halt when she has the great misfortune of delivering hats to Mr. Oliver Addleshaw’s not-fiancée. Knowing that she is now unemployed and assuming (wrongly) that she’s desperate for any new employment, Oliver eventually enlists her help by presenting her as his fiancée for appearance’s sake when meeting with a business partner, the Duke of Westmoore. It is a business partnership only. Which is fine by Harriet, as she’ll never really fit into Oliver’s world of wealth, prestige, fancy dinners and elegant balls. She’s a fraud wearing expensive garments, but that’s a trifle compared to the fake relationship the two are in. After all, the relationship is just for business purposes, right?

            As a reader who’s enjoyed all four books in Turano’s ‘Ladies of Distinction’ series, and a fan of the author’s because of them, I looked tremendously toward this new novel. I was not disappointed. I liked the “business partnership” that Turano incorporated into the story to keep Harriet and Oliver involved in each other’s lives. I always love that her female characters aren’t damsels-in-distress, but ladies who seem to value independence and independent thinking. Of course, we expect a romance to develop, but this story isn’t just about two people falling in love. It’s also a tale wrapped in business, mayhem, charm, wit’s end and trickery. It’s posh lifestyle versus life just scraping by. It’s trusting in God and finding that trust again. And at the center of it all are two imperfect people from two very different walks of life and a strong cast of supporting characters, also diverse in their current predicaments and upbringings. Highly recommend!

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Unblogged: A Letter

Dear Rutabaga Readers,

For those of you who are regulars to my blog, you’ll notice that I don’t post very often. This is going to change, and I will be posting even less often than I already do. I have some projects that need to take priority, and since there never seems to be enough time in a day, a week or a year, my reviews are going on the backburner. That isn’t to say that I will stop completely. I won’t. I’ll still try to post once or twice a month, but I can’t promise that it’ll be a regular thing.

            So for those of you who have checked into my blog on a regular basis, THANK YOU so much. And thank you to everyone who’s paused at my site and taken the time to read just one post. And/or post a comment or two.

            In closing, I want to list some books which I have read over the course of these past months, but which I never got write-ups completed for (and won’t rule out going back to them). They are all books which I enjoyed immensely, and most from authors whom I’m already a fan of, so you can find posts related to them elsewhere in this blog. (I’ll denote authors whose works I’ve never reviewed on my blog to this date with an asterisk: *.)

Blue Lily, Lily Blue (Oct. 21, 2014) by Maggie Stiefvater.

Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends (Oct. 8, 2013) by Shannon Hale.¹

Ever After High: The Unfairest of Them All (Mar. 25, 2014) by Shannon Hale.

Ever After High: A Wonderlandiful World (Aug. 26, 2014) by Shannon Hale.

Illusions of Fate (Sept. 9, 2014) by Kiersten White.

Mortal Gods (Oct. 14, 2014) by Kendare Blake.

The 5^th Wave (May 7, 2013) by Rick Yancey.*

The Bone Season (Aug. 20, 2013) by Samantha Shannon.*

The Screaming Staircase (Sept. 17, 2013) by Jonathan Stroud.*

The Young Elites (Oct. 7, 2014) by Marie Lu.

Happy reading, you wonderful people!

--Lisa Rutabaga

¹ I did get my write-up complete for this one, but I still have hopes of doing that three-book post someday. If that “someday” doesn’t happen, then you may see the lone-book post on a further, future someday date.

"Never Have I Ever: My Life (So Far) Without a Date" by Katie Heaney

I was going to lump this title in the “hodgepodge” compilation post I’ve been piecing together for months. But I took it out once I began reading it because it is JUST THAT FUNNY. To me, anyway, because so many pieces of her story resonated with me. In fact, the similarities are alarming, because it seems that we’re fairly close in age.

            And surely not because of the whole not-[long-term-]dating thing. But anyway …

Never Have I Ever (Jan. 14, 2014) by Katie Heaney.

Single for a quarter-of-a-century. That is the way of Katie Heaney’s [non-] love life for her first 25 years on this planet. She has had numerous crushes and infatuations on local guys (and celebrities – who hasn’t?). Her memoir – a word which may seem at odds with her age – is sectioned into four distinct parts, complete with an introduction and an epilogue. It is very organized, and from reading her book, she strikes me as an organized person. The witty author writes using humor, but also contemplates throughout the book. Her reflections remind me of how we might say something aloud to work out our thoughts on something. So there is confusion and self-doubt and reassurance (the latter from members of her “cabinet”). Katie is equipped with a graduate degree, best friends and a good family, but there is that matter of the elusive actual-boyfriend. Why the absence of a love life? Maybe it’s related to her idea of herself as the “Bermuda Triangle” and her best friend – who tends to have no problem attaining a relationship status – as a “lighthouse.”

            I am not a lighthouse. Katie said that. But it pertains to me, too. So it’s almost like it’s my line. Except it’s hers. But I could’ve said it even though  I didn’t because I didn’t think of it in the first place … Yep. Exactly.

            I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good laugh. To be fair, it is perhaps not as amusing to those who are married or in a serious relationship or actively dating on a regular basis. The humor may also be less understood in those not familiar with such things as Home Improvement’s middle-child or Dream Phone. But I think a lot of us – especially women – can relate to her frustrations over childhood crushes and teenaged ones. We can relate to the over-analysis of anything from cute guys to the perfect outfit to [insert something here that’s personal to you]. You’ll feel like you’re hanging out with Katie.

            So, I REALLY enjoyed this book. Not, perhaps, for the obvious reason based on the title. Though there is that. But for all the parts in the book that could’ve been me. Crushing on JTT. Being a goody-two-shoes in school. General sarcastic attitude. Harry Potter. The Sims (The Sims 2, in my case). And, fine, the lack of long-term dating. Of course, there are some major differences. I am petite, and she is apparently not. I have never been drunk, and I have never smoked a cigarette. I quite enjoy the game “Apples to Apples.” And, still to this day, I have NOT attempted online dating.

            Nor have I ever made matching, themed T-shirts. But for Bermuda Triangles, I totally would!

"Linh and the Red Envelope" by Diane Tran [+ Interview]

I am thrilled to share this post with you about Linh and the Red Envelope. The author, Diane Tran, is someone whom I’ve been able to call friend for over a decade. She’s a world traveler, leader, project manager, German Marshall Fund of the United Sates American Fellow, and overall inspiring friend, role model and individual. I’m so proud of her newest title: author!

Linh and the Red Envelope (September 2013) by Diane Tran.

   Alex Patrick Shimkus, illustrator.

Young Linh is excited for the Vietnamese New Year. She puts on her áo dài (“ow yai”), a traditional Vietnamese dress, and even puts a Vietnamese hat on Pinky, her stuffed animal pig. Linh wants everything to go just right so that she and everyone in the household will have good luck in the coming year. She also wants to earn her red envelope with lucky money. But things don’t exactly go as expected. What will Linh learn from her experiences?

            One of the things I really appreciate about this story is that the title character is Asian. As someone of Asian descent, I’ve taken notice of the lack of Asian characters, not just as main characters, but even as major supporting characters. I also really appreciate the message of the story, because the message isn’t solely for kids or exclusively for Asian Pacific Islanders. Life isn’t about only getting things right, but about wanting to do them and being willing to learn them. Tran has shown that she is a very capable writer. She writes a story based on tradition that can be understood by young elementary-aged children with an important message. And Shimkus creates accompanying illustrations that are simple yet delightful and convey Tran’s words as pictures. Congratulations to you both!

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Diane, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions! You have an impressive resumé. What is it like to add “author” to your list?

Thanks for the invitation to join you on the Reading Rutabaga, Lisa! I've really enjoyed your insights here on different pieces of writing and literature, and consider it an honor to be featured on your blog.

As an experiential learner, one of my favorite things to do is to try things for the first time. While I have blogged for several years, it has been a long-held dream of mine to write a children's book, so it was an incredibly gratifying endeavor. I'm especially excited because it's the kind of story—a young female Asian protagonist relating to challenges that are at once universal and distinct to her culture—that I never knew existed when I was young. I often wonder whether and how things might have been different or easier for me if I'd had access to these kinds of narratives when I was younger. And so I'm hopeful that this book being out in the world now can make a positive difference for young children today.

You wrote your story for the Reading Together Project for a specific purpose: “to address the lack of children’s books that speak to the experience of being an Asian Pacific Islander (API) child or youth in the United States.” Especially for APIs, what kind of impact do you think reading of API title characters will have on them? Do you think it might have a creative or proud cultural impact?

I'm hopeful that through getting to know Linh, her mom, and her grandmother, API children will be able to see their own realities and experiences reflected back to them as normal and significant. For API and other marginalized communities, the result of not seeing others like you—your race, class, ability, immigration status, faith, etc.—in literature, the media, or popular culture has the effect of making you feel invisible. Unnoticed, unimportant. (Paradoxically, it can also create the feeling of being overly exposed and in the spotlight in an undesired way: When as the only different person in the room, you're looked at as the "other" or presumed to be speaking for your entire ethnicity, gender, etc.) And if there are characters that look like you, they often times serve to portray stereotypes that are limiting and/or harmful. This effectively reduces diverse populations to a single characteristic or function, devoid of any further humanity. This under-representation and mis-representation mirrors the way in which the dominant culture relates to or experiences minority groups. And so, by creating our own narratives and sharing our lived experiences, we can begin to see our realities as valid and meaningful and in the process, and humanize ourselves and each other.

Can you tell us about the Reading Together Project?

Funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and created as a partnership between the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM), the Reading Together Project focuses on amplifying missing narratives from the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, supports the development of English literacy skills while recognizing cultural heritage, and creates opportunities for children and families to learn about API cultural heritage together. Seeking to address the lack of children’s books that speak to the experience of being an Asian Pacific Islander (API) child or youth in the United States, the project has published six children's books in recent years. In 2012, the project produced two chapter books written for a third grade reading level, and in 2013, four picture books written for a 1st - 3rd grade reading level were published. My book was published in the most recent round, which selected four writers and four illustrators through a competitive process and allowed us to pair up and work collaboratively to develop the books. A copy-editor helped provide clarity to and tighten up my original writing submission, my book's illustrator, Alex Shimkus, brought the story to life with vivid imagery and visual detail, and the project's layout editor and publisher fashioned it into a 32-page paperback book. The whole process took nine months from submission and selection to the book launch event in October, and was exciting, challenging, and a lot of fun!

Can you tell us more about the tradition of giving red envelopes?
In Chinese and some other Asian cultures, red envelopes are given during holidays, such as the Lunar New Year, or to celebrate special occasions, including weddings, graduations, and the birth of a baby. Red envelopes usually contain money, though you may occasionally find candy or a proverb enclosed. Traditionally, red envelopes are given by married couples to the unmarried, who are typically younger and/or children. The red color signifies good luck and so my mom always tells me, the money you find inside is lucky!

Red envelopes

Where did you draw the inspiration for your story?

In many ways, this story is autobiographical. As a young girl growing up as the first generation born in the United States to refugee parents, I struggled to know how to be a "good daughter." In terms of my family and Asian culture, I understood this to mean that I should respect my elders, help to clean the house, and care for my siblings. As I navigated my school and community surroundings, though, I found that there were other measures of success, including academic ambition, student leadership, and civic engagement. While it was clear to me that these were all important values and roles, in some ways it felt like they were in conflict with one another. Pursuing too much of one or the other might diminish my chances for public or professional success or alternatively, move me further away from the heritage and traditions that felt core to my identity.

I attempted (with varying results) to balance the two, and over the years, I began to see opportunities to apply my love for organizing and community building to advocating for my family members and building a stronger sense of cohesion within my family of origin as well as extended family. I supported my dad on his journey to earning his citizenship and I leveraged my perspective as a member of several marginalized communities to deepen policy discussions that impacted those communities. What I came to see over time was that there was not one "right" or "good"' way to care for those in my life, but that my search to discover where my duties, strengths, and passions aligned was part of my path to being fully myself - as a loving daughter and sister as well as an engaged community leader. 

Your main character, Linh, struggles to know that goodness doesn’t come from doing things perfectly, but having a willing spirit and wanting to do the right thing. How important is it to you to get that message across to all children? That it isn’t about being perfect at new things, but of wanting to do each thing and be willing to work at it?

My book's dedication reads: "For every kid trying to do the right thing. Know that you already are the right thing." While I think it is critical for children to know and believe this, part of me wonders if it's really the kids that we need to tell this to, or instead the adults. Children are full of boundless energy and observations and curiosity. As adults, we have the responsibility of rearing our children, nieces and nephews, and students so that they respect themselves and each other, and can contribute positively to this world. But in so doing, we may inadvertently relay to children that we are the ones who know best for them and that they need to behave or be a certain way in order to be acceptable. This poses a challenge to children just as they are beginning to learn the important life skills of trusting themselves and accepting themselves for who they are. So, I think I'd offer messages to both children and their parents: Children, you don't have to earn your role as someone's child, you already are. Parents, guide your children lovingly, knowing that viewing your child as the gift that they are allows them to fully trust and believe it.

Where can readers purchase your book?

The book is available for purchase on Lulu.com. A free PDF copy of the book is available online, along with an Educator Guide, in the Minnesota Humanities Center Absent Narratives Resource Collection.

"Of Neptune" by Anna Banks

Of Neptune (May 13, 2014) by Anna Banks.

Young love in itself can be trying, but that’s putting it mildly for half Syrena/half human Emma McIntosh and her full-blooded Syrena boyfriend Galen Forza. The two need to get away, especially after the events in “Of Triton,” but a road trip seems out of the question. At least until Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon King Antonis, encourages them to visit the small town of Neptune, which is far from the ocean somewhere in Tennessee. It turns out that Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds like Emma. Here Emma thought she was the only one of “her kind” and now she has proof of the existence of others, including a handsome Half-Breed named Reed Conway. And Reed, much to Galen’s chagrin, has no problem showing visible interest in Emma. Reed’s dad, Reder, is a full-blooded Syrena and is like the mayor of Neptune. But there are those who want to unseat Reder for more than just being the head of a community. Power struggles. And then Galen goes missing after an argument. So even when they finally get away, they still can’t leave behind the drama. And drama such as this is dangerous.

            Meeting the residents of Neptune is akin to meeting freshwater fish that are also land-dwellers. Sure, the whole love triangle thing has been vastly overdone, but that Banks included that with her introduction of more Half-Breeds added intrigue to this final story in a trilogy. As with the first two books, this one is told from the alternating viewpoints of Emma and Galen. I missed the presence of Rayna’s hotheadedness and Toraf’s brotherliness, as they were mostly absent in this story. But the feisty humor is still present. Also, I’m a sucker for happy endings, and this story did not disappoint.

            Book One: Of Poseidon

            Book Two: Of Triton

Rutabaga's Reads 2015: Part 2

While a slim portion of my blog has seen middle-grade novels in posts, this is my first compilation of middle-grade books since the first month I began this blog (see: August 2012). These books are good choices for anyone teaching those around 8-12 years of age or want to personally read stories that are lighter fare than, say, young adult, new adult or adult novels.

            I’d like to thank my brother and sister-in-law for “The Wells Bequest.” It was one of several I received from them this past Christmas.

A Tangle of Knots (Feb. 5, 2013) by Lisa Graff.

Most everyone has a Talent. Yes, Talent with a capital T. The Fair are generally middle children – the Middlings – without any Talent. Talents range from something as ordinary as whistling to the phenomenal ability to bake the perfect cake for anyone. Cady (short for Cadence) has that ability. She’s Talented enough to create it all: the perfect pie, muffin, bread or even the perfect pizza if she wanted to. But above all else, she loves to bake cakes. She’s also an orphan, and her caretaker, Miss Jennifer Mallory, has been on the alert for her perfect family. She’s highly skilled at it (after all, her Talent is matching). Only when Cady finds her perfect family will she allow herself to bake her own perfect cake for her Adoption Day party.

            Cady has a weeklong trial period with Toby Darlington, and it might be right, but it might not be. Still, by staying with Toby, Cady meets new people: The Owner, a grumpy man obsessed with powder blue St. Anthony’s suitcases, V, a 60-year-old woman who’s lost her speech after a stroke, and the Asher family of five. Mr. Asher is a businessman with a soft spot for orange nougat, Mrs. Asher is a knitting Talent with an interesting hair pin, eldest Zane is a thieving troublemaker with a spitting Talent (“worthless”), Will has a Talent for getting lost (though he feels he’s never once been lost in six years), and Marigold is a Fair middle child, though she’s hopeful she’ll discover her Talent with the help of a red Talent bracelet. Somehow these people are all connected, and they will discover their connection with some discreet nudging by a giant-of-a-man in a gray suit.

            Graff’s literary world, including the very real town of Poughkeepsie, New York, is like our own, but with a drop of magic. There is a simplicity to the story that makes it easy to read, yet still includes rich layers. There are tasty-looking cake recipes at different points in the book, and her story is much like its own cake recipe. It is full of charm, warmth, regrets, Talent, fun and youthful adventure with a dash of whimsy and a sprinkling of magic all mixed together to create a well-written story that is quietly magical and totally pleasant for a light palette. Rich, but not heavy, and light, but not too fluffy. It’s a good mix, and it’s a mix that, if it could smile, might smile that type of grin that suggests it knows more than it’s letting on.

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin (Apr. 9, 2013) by Liesl Shurtliff.

We all know the name, but for many years, Rumpelstiltskin only knows himself as Rump. Rump is the butt of many a joke (pun intended) and only has one friend, Red, who’s interestingly touchy on the subject of her “strange” granny. Things turn interesting for Rump when he finds an old spinning wheel. With nothing to spin but straw, imagine his surprise when he spins that straw into gold. But as anyone knows, especially if you watch ABC’s Once Upon a Time, magic always comes with a price. For Rump in his little village, The Mountain, gold equals food. Not a fair share, mind you, for the miller (Oswald) is a fat, greedy man with a beautiful daughter named Opal and rotten sons named Frederick and Bruno. When gold-obsessed King Barf – that is, King Bartholomew Archibald Reginald Fife – comes to town and discovers skeins of spun gold, Oswald declares that Opal has the gold-spinning magic, and King Barf immediately whisks her away. Rump feels obligated to help her through terrible trades (especially her firstborn), but even more regrettable is that the magic dictates that he must accept the trade. He sets out to find his stiltskin, which The Witch of the Woods said is the one thing that can free him from his bindings. He’s also in search of his real name.

            In this tale, pixies aren’t sweet as pixy stix or as adorable as Disney fairies. They’re gold-craving and can be downright mean, biting you left and right (note: dirt deters pixies). This tale; however, is beguiling, light-hearted and inventive. It actually has you rooting for Rump. This story would also be good for classroom discussions. While the story contains humor and uncharacteristically hospitable trolls and messenger gnomes, it also contains tough stuff like the death of a loved one, despair and famine. Then there’s the avarice of both the miller and the king. “Rump” not only has a good back story for the character, but a good backbone as far as plot goes, and a good deal of spunk in Red. This fantasy contains familiar fairytale elements infused with innovative world-building and emotional depth. Summed up, it’s a quaint, little novel that’s as good as gold (pun intended).

The Wells Bequest (June 13, 2013) by Polly Shulman.

There is a new group of pages working at the New-York Circulating Material Repository, a [mostly] magical place which lends out objects instead of books, and Leo Novikov isn’t one of them. Yet. His science teacher, Ms. Kang, recommends the repository when he inquires about an idea for his science fair project. Science fairs are a big deal, considering he comes from a family of scientists. Unfortunately, he feels like the dumb one. He attends Manhattan Polytechnic Academy, which his older sister, Sofia, commonly referred to as “Tech for Dummies.” Now that Leo attends the school, Sofia tells others that the students there “are really very creative.” But is Leo creative or losing it? After all, he sees a tiny version of himself and a girl named Jaya Rao – she’s real! – on a small time machine. And they talk to him!

            Once Leo’s a page, he learns the ropes at the Repository, including its more impressive magical qualities. And in the basement is the Wells Bequest, a secret collection of objects from science fiction novels. It’s the perfect place for a time machine! When a very serious threat arises, Leo and Jaya decide the time machine is their only hope. They have to whisk themselves to Nikola Tesla’s lab in 1895. What adventures will they find there?

            I enjoyed this middle-grade novel just as much as Shulman’s “The Grimm Legacy.” In fact, this story is a companion to that one. The story starts off running – Leo meets the tiny versions of himself and Jaya in the first chapter – and doesn’t take a breather. Whereas the Grimm Collection focuses on magical fairytale objects, this one focuses on science fiction and Leo’s character is perfect as an inventor, one who makes plenty of mistakes and whose inventions don’t always do as anticipated. There’s excitement, adventure, peril, humor and nerd-fare (this is a great thing). This clever story read very quickly. All of the science and the science fiction makes for an engaging read but without overdoing the scientific stuff. Shulman keeps it fun. For example, Leo uses, “Schist!” as a curse, but it’s not an actual curse word. Schist is “a kind of rock. It’s what happens to hot sandstone when it gets squished really hard for a few million years.” Jaya mentions, “It sounds really bad – in a good way.” And the best part, as Leo points out, is, “Even strict teachers can’t object to a word from a vocabulary list, right?” Ha.

            I don’t know if she’s going to continue with stories involving the New-York Circulating Material Repository, but I hope she is. There are two additional Special Collections mentioned in this story that she hasn’t yet made novels out of. They are: the Lovecraft Corpus (objects from gothic stories and horror) and the Gibson Chrestomathy (a collection of cyber stuff such as A.I. and computer viruses). In the meantime, this great little tale puts readers in a landscape of science fiction made reality. So fun!

The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop (Mar. 12, 2013) by Kate Saunders.

A stout but beautiful cat with golden-brown fur and green, square-shaped eyes recruits twins Lily and Oscar (a.k.a. Oz) Spoffard to work for the Secret Ministry of the Unexplained (SMU) as, naturally, secret government agents. That is, after she defends Lily from the derisive wallpaper of her new bedroom. Demerara, the cat, is a secret agent herself. She is invisible to most, knows of magic, is immortal and can talk. She’s self-important and completely vain over her appearance. In other words, she’s often very cat-like. She recruits the twins and fellow Skittle Street resident Caydon Campbell to join the SMU because they are magic, even though they didn’t know it. The three eleven-year-olds have learned that an evil gang wants a secret chocolate recipe, one infused with magic. But they also have to ward off their great-great-uncle (Isadore), long-thought dead, who was the murderer of his two brothers in 1938. It turns out he’s immortal! They have the help of, not only Demerara, but Spike, an immortal, talking rat, and the SMU team, which may or may not include an invisible ghost elephant named Edwin.

            What a cute story! The title is what initially drew me to this middle-grade novel of family dynamics (the good, the bad and the annoying), secrets (to protect their parents, of course), fantasy and magic. Saunders has put obvious thought into her characters and given them enough depth to make them feel real – even within the magical quality of the book – without overwhelming the story with too many character traits to remember. The chocolate shop on Skittle Street hasn’t been filled with chocolate confections for decades, but with the Spoffards, it is filled with youthful suspense, cheekiness, humor and a sense for righting past wrongs and preventing future devastation. Isadore’s dependence on alcohol is definitely off-putting, but it is not a focus of the story, and should therefore not take away from it. “Whizz Pop” takes places in London amongst British folks, so I would recommend adopting a British accent while reading this fun romp-of-a-tale. :-)

"Sabotaged" by Dani Pettrey

Sabotaged (Feb. 3, 2015) by Dani Pettrey.*

Talk about opposites. Former troublemaking playboy Reef McKenna and goody-two-shoes veterinarian Kirra Jacobs were always at odds as youngsters. Different locales for life (Reef) and school (Kirra) separated them, but they’ve both returned to their hometown of Yancey and have even more recently been paired together as search-and-rescue (SAR) volunteers for the world-famous Iditarod race. Reef wants Kirra to see him as he is now: an upstanding guy close to his family and his relationship with God, and her opinion of him matters, not that he’d have expected that in a million years. The true can be said of Kirra, but first, her Uncle Frank, a highly experienced musher, has her very worried. Frank’s taken himself out of the race with nothing more than a cryptic explanation right before their lives are threatened. She is to find her cousin before he reaches the finish line in Nome so Meg lives and lots of people remain uninjured. And so begins a frantic search by Reef, Kirra and the entire McKenna family to stop a villain who’s willing to risk, not just one life, but the lives of so many others to get the result wanted. Reef and Kirra will do a lot of traveling around the state of Alaska … and they’ll be followed almost every step of the way.

            “Sabotaged” rounds out the five books in Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series, and I have enjoyed it every step of the way. The novel is deemed romantic suspense, but it’s also Christian inspirational fiction, so one can expect suspense, yet also the satisfaction of a happy ending. And I love happy endings! Throughout this story and her others, it is nice to see the burgeoning faith of her main characters (especially Kirra, who’s holding onto much anger, guilt and pain from the past) and the steadfast faith of the previous main characters. She pairs the suspense and faith with strong characters who have distinct personalities, plenty of adventures and clean romance. The story moves as fast as those top-running sled dogs of the Iditarod! I highly recommend this story, but like with any race, I’d start at the beginning of the series.

            Alaskan Courage 1: Submerged

            Alaskan Courage 2: Shattered

            Alaskan Courage 3: Stranded

            Alaskan Courage 4: Silenced

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”