Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 11

It’s true. I do read a healthy amount of inspirational fiction, though I still read more YA (young-adult) novels. I don’t just read inspirational fiction titles direct from publishers. I do purchase them as well (including every Amish fiction title that Beverly Lewis writes, as part evidenced in this post). This compilation is a second round of such that I have purchased.

Dead Drift (July 3, 2018) by Dani Pettrey.

*This is the final novel in a series.*

Years have passed since Luke Gallagher was with his closest friends in Baltimore. He has been working as a CIA black ops operator. He reminds himself that he’s been working to help save his country from a major terroristic threat, especially when his actions, under orders, involve morally gray areas. Following the threat takes him back to Baltimore where reside his family and friends. He essentially went off the grid, but he’s kept track of those he cares most about, including Kate Maxwell. He’s never stopped loving her, but the years have changed him, and he can’t be sure she’ll accept the man he’s become, for it’s not always been good.

            Though she won’t admit it right away, Kate hasn’t stopped loving Luke, and she never gave up on her search for him. He’s suddenly back and now the threat he’s trying to stop is a threat to her, too. They will have to work together to unravel the tangles of a terrorist and his twisted mind before a grand biological disaster is released and innocent lives are taken. Working with Luke stirs deep feelings and former hurts and reminds Kate why she closed her heart off after he left. Will she let him back in? Is he here to stay?

            It’s okay for others to disagree, but to me, Dani Pettrey is a powerhouse when it comes to inspirational romantic suspense. The last in her Chesapeake Valor series has showcased this with protagonists and antagonists that are both distinct and dynamic on a timeline like ours but with a plot that could shatter a city’s population if the threat is not stopped. There are no downtimes in this book, as the action is continuous and tension rises as the danger intensifies. This has been a satisfying literary thrill ride, and I look forward to her next series.

            Book One: Cold Shot (did not review)

            Book Two: Still Life

            Book Three: Blind Spot

The First Love (Sept. 4, 2018) by Beverly Lewis.

*This is a standalone novel.*

In 1951, Maggie Esh is going on 18 years old. While still technically in Rumschpringe, she is attending baptismal classes. She occasionally participates in Singings, but is tempted to quit despite her younger sister, Grace, encouraging her to attend. Everyday life is not as easy for Maggie as it once was. She has a cane handy when she needs it and is sometimes in such excruciating pain that it’s hard just to walk across a room due to what she’s been told is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Because she does not live as easily as other youth in her district and therefore sees herself as undesirable, she is convinced that no man would want her as his wife.

            Her cousin, Lila Witmer, asks her to attend a revival tent meeting, and her excitement is so genuine that her curiosity is piqued and she goes. Attending opens up in her a closer relationship to the Lord, and she also hears stories of healing. She cannot understand why He would heal some and not others (such as herself), but her faith is strengthened. She does worry some of her father’s quiet disapproval of the revival meetings, but she reassures him she will be baptized this year. Maggie has also noticed that handsome Jimmy Beiler has been seeking her out. Presupposing that he only feels sorry for her, she tries to keep him at arm’s length, but that’s hard to do when she’s liked him for awhile.

            The “First Love” referred to in this story is not, perhaps, the first love you might be expecting. Lewis has portrayed Maggie as a wonderful character of faith with conviction. She isn’t faithful only because she’s been brought up that way, but because she truly believes in it, and her faith is only strengthened after the revival meetings. It is in our nature to question, and Maggie does, but she also accepts that her life may be filled with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis where no treatment – prescription or homeopathic – will help long-term. Maggie shows us that we can persevere despite the struggles in our lives, large or small or somewhere in between, and create an even stronger bond with God through it. This inspirational, contemporary fiction novel is uplifting and full of promise and hope.

The Road Home (Apr. 3, 2018) by Beverly Lewis.

*This is a standalone novel.*

When a jarring tragedy befalls the Schwartz family, Lena Rose and all of her siblings find themselves displaced, Lena most of all, as she is the only sibling to move outside of Leacock Township, Michigan. And she’s not just in another county, but another state. She moves in with Harley and Mimi Stoltzfus; Harley is a cousin to her father. Lena, an able seamstress, assists Mimi with her seamstress work. Though homesick, Lena is moved by the care of Harley and Mimi and the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, community. She befriends Rebekah Petersheim, who’s got a history to talk about, though Lena Rose doesn’t push it, Lydia Smucker, sweetheart-gal to Eli, Harley’s and Mimi’s youngest, and Arden Mast, a handsome fella with a good soul. Lena has made it known that she has a beau back home. But talking with and spending time with Arden is far more effortless than spending time with her Hans. Unfortunately, it would not do to be involved with a fella in Pennsylvania when she plans to return to Michigan as soon as a family there can take her in.

            “The Road Home” is another sweet story of Amish fiction from Lewis. I continue to be impressed by the storylines she comes up with time and time again. Like her other inspirational fiction novels, Lewis’ books are heartfelt and inviting. They invite us to a warm hearth to get to know new characters and want to know them, though, like any hearth, it can get cold when the embers have burned too low and those characters you’re now rooting for are dealing with tough stuff and obstacles in their paths. Dedicated fans of the author have long since added this novel to their bookshelves, but for anyone looking for Amish fiction literature, this standalone novel may suit you.

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 10

You can’t tell from my posts in recent years, but I read more YA (young-adult) novels than any other book type, and this includes picture books*! Since I made it a personal goal to be more active on my blog in 2018, I decided I might as well put together my second YA compilation of the year.

            * I became an aunt last year, so this could easily change.

All the Crooked Saints (Oct. 10, 2017) by Maggie Stiefvater.

*This is a standalone novel.*

Everyone wants a miracle, but everyone fears what it takes to get one. For those pilgrims seeking miracles, go to Bicho Raro, Colorado, a place filled with mysterious saints, estranged relationships, transformations both amazing and terrifying, miracle-hungry owls, a watchful desert and three Soria cousins. Daniel Lupe Soria (19) is the current Saint of Bicho Raro, and he’s so good at it that even his eyes are soothing. He wants so badly to help someone he is not allowed to help and fears that this fierce desire could ruin his entire family. Beatriz Soria (18) is an eerie and serene woman known as the girl without feelings who prefers intellectual gratification over anything else. She wants to understand how a butterfly is similar to a galaxy and fears being asked to do anything else. Joaquin Soria (16) is suave and clean-shaven. He takes himself very seriously and would prefer everyone else did as well. He has a phobia of dehydration and so always carries enough water to last him for days. He wants to be famous (as his DJ name Diablo Diablo) and fears dying alone in the parched dust outside Bicho Raro.

            Arriving in Bicho Raro of a night in 1962 are Tony DiRisio (a.k.a. Tony Triumph) and Pete Wyatt. Tony is a household-fixture-of-a-DJ who wants to stop having dreams of a specific nature and fears people watching him eat. He’s looking for a miracle. Pete is not. He’s heading to Bicho Raro to talk to someone about a truck. He wants to start a business that, summed up, makes him feel awesome and fears that the empty feeling in his heart will eventually kill him. Miracles may be in store for all of them, but the thing about miracles in Bicho Raro is that they’re never quite what one expects, and they are never straightforward nor easy to obtain.

            While I preferred Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle series over this novel, this one is still a tour de force, a spectacle of imagination. Much of her writing is so lyrical, but not without light and logically-minded moments. It is clear that Stiefvater is a master storyteller. The story does not focus on science and religion, though elements of both shine through in the thoughts and memories of characters from time to time, as the story astutely notes, “Antonia’s kind of belief is not uncommon, but it has done both science and religion a disservice. By relegating the things we fear and don’t understand to religion, and the things we understand and control to science, we rob science of its artistry and religion of its mutability” (p. 185). This fabulism (magical realism) is eccentric but beautiful, dark yet radiant.

The Crown (May 3, 2016) by Kiera Cass.

*This is the final book in a series.*

In the past, princesses born into the family were married to princes in other countries to strengthen relations. This means that Crown Princess Eadlyn Schreave is the first princess of Illéa to hold her own Selection. What began as 35 potential suitors has been whittled down to the top six. After a family emergency, Eadlyn has dutifully taken on the role of regent and therefore makes all decisions of state until further notice. She’s been training for this her entire life, but it’s naturally more work than she imagined. She’s also trying to balance her Selection process and do damage control since the people of Illéa do not approve of her.

            Someone wanting to read a light romance reminiscent of a certain American TV show might have interest in this series. “The Crown” is the fifth and final book in the Selection series. (Eadlyn’s story is contained within the latter two novels.) Sadly, I never rooted for Princess Eadlyn, although I did want to root for a few of the guys. When I first met her in the previous book, she was very much the stereotypically uppity, pampered princess, and no matter how she tried to emulate her beloved parents, I never felt she’d truly turned over a new leaf.

            Despite my less-than-stellar review, I do not like to focus solely on the negative. Not wanting to give away specific top six names, there were definitely suitors that I rooted for. In spite of the number of characters, Cass did do some of them enough justice that I felt like they truly were supporting characters and not passing fancies. The ending is tied up in too pretty a bow thanks to the happy ending, both for love and the Illéan monarchy moving forward, though that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s simply something I noted.

Everything, Everything (Sept. 1, 2015) by Nicola Yoon.

*This is a standalone novel.*

What would you do if you lived your entire life in a house that you never got to leave? Madeline Furukawa Whittier reads books, and “It doesn’t matter how many you’ve read. I’ve read more. Believe me. I’ve had the time.” Madeline has Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), also known as “bubble baby disease.” Madeline has just turned 18 and a new family has moved in next door. When she starts interacting with the teenage son, Olly, she gains her first nickname of Maddy. And in knowing Olly, she’s definitely going to fall in love, and it will most likely be a disaster. She has her secrets, as she doesn’t want to share the reason she lives in a house that she never gets to leave, and he has his secrets. Chatting with him through emails and instant messages helps pass some of the time – when it’s after 8 p.m. and Maddy’s finally alone – but it is nothing compared to human contact. She so rarely interacts with humans in person that she craves it. Or at least craves Olly. And it appears that he is as curious about her as she is about him. So you see? Disaster.

            Because of how the prose is stylized (as an actual story, as a diary page, list, graph, etc.), I found this YA novel to be fast-paced. I like knowing how many chapters a book has, but this one does not number the chapters; however, each “chapter” does have a heading, so it at least has that going for it. This was Yoon’s debut novel, and the construction of it is so like a new snow under sunlight that it sparkles. It’s an easy story to get caught up in. Even if you’re not into “love” stories, this novel is stunning in its creative writing.

"The Light Before Day" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Light Before Day (Oct. 2, 2018) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

Their grandmother was wealthily unhappy in life, and she was also ridiculously wealthy. In her will, she listed twins Henry and Mehitabel “Hitty” Macy as her heirs. Knowing how critical Lillian Coffin was of them in life, they are befuddled as to why she’d name them heirs of her vast estate and significant holdings. But, oh wait, there are parameters that must be met, otherwise the inheritance all goes to their duplicitous relative, Tristram Macy. All Henry and Hitty have to do is keep the fortune on Nantucket Island (simple enough), move immediately into the Grand House (a cold manor with all the warmth of a glacier) and marry a Friend (Quaker) in which one “Sees the Look” within six years, by what would have been Lillian’s 80^th birthday. Six years seems like plenty of time until you consider that the persons you expect the brother and sister to end up with are neither of them part of the Society of Friends.

            Henry is a bookish, thoughtful thinker. He cannot be rushed into making decisions and will struggle if expected to come to a hasty conclusion. But he moves forward with the idea of starting his own newspaper. As editor, he wants to be an objective observer no matter his subjective thoughts. He also acknowledges the pressure of marrying a Friend in good standing.

            Hitty is actually quite astute, even though she doesn’t realize it, lacking the bookishness of her brother or the inventor mind of Isaac Barnard. While reading has always been a sore spot for her, her opinion on too much wealth is wise, and she has a caring heart, especially toward Isaac’s daughter, Bitsy.

            While I’m not much of a history buff, even I can tell that Woods Fisher exerted a tremendous amount of research for this historical romance. And, not having read stories with Quaker characters, I found the novel to be fascinating. Although I did not love the story, I appreciated the grandeur of it: the Nantucket of old to a Nantucket having to literally rise from the ashes, characters from history becoming fascinating historical characters that you want to root for and support, and the dark corners of self-doubt and pressure flooding with the light of determination and hope. I found this story to have strength of plot and a well-rounded array of characters, both main and supporting.

            Note: There is one character I don’t particularly care for. I won’t name names. All I’ll say is, if someone ever says to me, “Thee looks quite fetching sprinkled in sugar,” I will likely laugh so hard that boogers will fly out of my nose. And no one wants that.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. 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.”

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 9

I have dubbed this post as Picture Books 2018: Part Two, because it is. You can find Part One here. You will find two repeat authors, but I think it only helps cement that I am fond of those authors’ stories.

Elecopter (Sept. 3, 2013) by Michael Slack.

The savannah has the best elephant on the patrol. Elecopter is an all-in-one firefighter, with her fire-hose nose, and rescuer with the ability to fly. She doesn’t ask for much in return; she’ll literally work for peanuts. No matter the mission, she will succeed!

            Perhaps the most wondrous thing about fiction is that you can be as imaginative as you want to be. A happy little rhyme with pages full of action and color, this book will likely delight a multitude of young ones. In this story, we are introduced to a character full of compassion and care, one who puts others first. A helicopter elephant – an Elecopter – is realistically impossible … but I still wish to know one!

Emeraldalicious (Jan. 29, 2013) by Victoria Kann.

When Pinkalicious Pinkerton makes a new wand, she discovers that it has magical properties. With naught but a simple rhyme and use of the word love, Pinkalicious and her younger brother, Peter, transform a park, which looks like a garbage dump, into a “greenatastic” garden.

            There is a great message in this story to encourage recycling, even though we can’t wave a magic wand and transform a garbage dump into a garden in a few seconds. It also shows a nice bond between sister and brother. Pinkalicious still has her moments where she wants it to be her turn (even if it really isn’t) and she wants it right now, but the bond is strong enough where Peter cedes. The pictures are full of recycled wonder and imagination, but the story fell a little flat for me. Although this is a picture book aimed toward, approximately,  preschoolers to second graders, I was expecting the wishes to be more about the betterment of the surroundings than about what they mostly wanted because it looked pretty or cool.

Fancy Nancy: Bonjour Butterfly (Feb. 5, 2008) by Jane O’Connor.

   Robin Preiss Glasser, illustrator.

The fanciest girl around has planned out what to wear to her best friend’s butterfly birthday, but Nancy can’t go. Not only is Bree her best friend, but she’s fascinated by butterflies and is “practically an expert.” Will Nancy hold onto her furiousness? Or will she find a new setting where she can still be glamorous?

            Nancy is a far cooler kid than I ever was and with a marvelously colorful and creative wardrobe to boot! Her fascination with butterflies will hopefully inspire other youngsters to be fascinated by them as well. The writing will perhaps add a vocabulary challenge to some, but the style is meant to be fun. The fun of the writing is enhanced by the illustrator’s colorful illustrations. This is an adorable picture book.

Honey…Honey…Lion! (Aug. 25, 2005) by Jan Brett.

In Africa, it is said that the honeyguide leads the honey badger to honey. The honey badger obtains the honeycomb, and the two share it. But one day, the honey badger is greedy and eats it all, not saving even a morsel of sweetness for the honeyguide. She retaliates by leading him to a candle pod acacia tree to teach him a lesson. What waits for the honey badger at the acacia?

            This story is based on a legend told in Botswana about what happens if you don’t share honey with the honeyguide. Other animals in the story pass along this tale through sounds (shown on the outside margins of the pages), which is called a “bush telegraph.” I enjoyed this tale tremendously, not only because I enjoy Brett’s picture books, but because she didn’t make up the tale for the sake of making something up. She brought in a cultural aspect, a legend from another nation, and created a story with a lush landscape. Her pictures are, well, picturesque. And her main characters show that, even without talking animals, greed and the ideal of teaching a lesson can be written in a beautifully entertaining way.

Skippyjon Jones: Cirque de Olé (Oct. 16, 2012) by Judy Schachner.

Is it a bird? Or a plane? No. It’s the Siamese-kitten-imagined-handsome-Chihuahua called Skippito Friskito. He’s a tightrope-walking, triple-spin-backflip-diving acrobat-ito that his sisters term a Chi-wu-lu. He needs to become los músculos for his muchachos so they do not crumble-ito. The pint-sized star is ready for his moment of glory. ¡Olé!

            For those who work with or have young ones who are most entertained by busy stories, not just in prose, but in illustration, then this is a picture book to add to your collection. The rowdy feline and his Chihuahua alter-ego feature in illustrations colorful and vibrant, which suggest they are as tireless and unruly as the star of the show. Schachner’s writing is high-octane to match Skippito Friskito, and the dual-lingo continues. “Circus berserkus” indeed! (clap-clap)

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 8

I will be the first to admit that I rarely read nonfiction novels. And when I do, they are on the humorous side. In this compilation, you will find featured nonfiction literature to tickle your funny bone. Granted, there are only two books, but didn’t I already mention that I rarely read nonfiction novels? If you’ve read any funny nonfiction lately, please share in the comments!

Scrappy Little Nobody (Nov. 15, 2016) by Anna Kendrick.

Hey! It’s that girl from the Twilight films! And the gal from all of the Pitch Perfect movies. So, even if you don’t know her (most of us don’t), you’ve probably heard of her or can remember that you did see her in that one movie and are just now realizing it. This is Anna Kendrick’s memoir. Despite being a “child actor” (her Broadway debut was at the age of 12 – did you know that?), she had a fairly normal upbringing: parents, a brother and the very real role of the unpopular girl at school (because, yes, she went to school and sat in classrooms like most of us). She talks of her big move to Hollywood and the struggle of seeming like she had it all ($1,000 shoes!), when what she really had were a couple pieces from IKEA and a small bank account, while sharing an apartment with two guys and a tar-stained floor. Quite the opposite of glamorous, but very real.

            The actress and singer’s wit do come through the pages. I found her writing to be self-deprecating and droll, but I also got the impression that being an “obstinate, determined little ball of anxiety” fits her to this day and not just her three-year-old self. Most of us are anxious human beings, but I expect that she over-thinks things more than she should, which just confirms that she isn’t wholly unlike the majority of us. I certainly laughed aloud at times and actually found her non-adoration toward fashion to be refreshing, as it seems that all famous people (or the ones we see photographed in magazines) are all up on fashion trends and designer labels. Not saying she isn’t now that she’s successful, but someone who doesn’t mind wearing sweatpants and lounging while watching Netflix and eating a bowl of mac ‘n cheese is all right in my [hypothetical] book. This scrappy little nobody is, these days, a snarky, still little*, somebody.

            * Take heart, Anna Kendrick, as, if Google is correct, you have an entire one inch over me**.

            ** Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. And, even then, I’m still short.

Unqualified (Oct. 24, 2017) by Anna Faris.

The book’s author has advice for us, but she is unqualified to give it. It will not stop her from sharing advice and stories, though. From her fairly ordinary upbringing surrounded by loving parents and an older brother to simultaneously love (because you have to) and annoy (because it comes naturally) to the travails of college relationships (or in general) to tackling Hollywood (in her own way), the author brings us candid and sympathetic stories, often from a humorous standpoint. In between all of that are her first relationships, failed relationships, Chris Pratt and their son, Jack. This book is part memoir, part relationships, part  “Unqualified Advice” and all Anna Faris.

            Overall, this book was reasonably entertaining. From the viewpoint of someone who’s not familiar with her podcast, I felt like this story was written with her podcast audience in mind. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but there seemed to be too much over-sharing (which I won’t go into for those with sensitive minds). I appreciated her candidness, in spite of (or, perhaps, because of) her inclusion in Hollywood, and there were definitely moments – plural – that I chuckled aloud. Her chapter on son, Jack, was sweet, funny and stressful (he was premature). In that chapter, you felt like you were looking at fragility of life with both parents and baby fighting to persevere and be strong. In the way she writes, she comes across as personable and engaging. It would definitely be cool to run into her on the street. And, Anna? If you still feel like the Short Girl, let’s talk. I once had someone use “Shorty” in his pick-up line to me. Did he really think that line was cool? Because no. Just no.

The Positive Page-turner's Challenge: Take 5

Months have passed since my previous Page-turner’s Challenge, so I figured I’d get another one underway before the frenzy of holiday fun and stress and busyness are upon us. Knowing there’s a good chance I won’t read as many books as I want to, I am making this a two-part personal challenge.

1.)    Donate $10 for each book you see in this photo. (There are 19.) Easy! Complete! Check written out for $190 for my home church’s Haiti Fund!

2.)   For the months of October and November, donate a package of bar soap (eight-count or greater) for every book read (chapter books on up). For example, if I read 12 books between the two months, I will buy 12 packages of bar soap. This soap gets boxed up and will eventually go on a cargo container when next GoServ Global sends one to Haiti. In addition to GoServ Global’s website, you can find their blog here.

If anyone reading this has put in volunteer efforts or is participating in one’s own personal challenge, please share it in the comments. I don’t want to make anyone feel guilty about what they are or are not doing. But if you’re doing, I definitely want to celebrate it and live vicariously through your passion projects. Plus, who knows what fun ideas I can gain from others? And we from each other?

P.S. I am VERY behind in my reading. Looking at this photo, I have only read three of these books as of this posting date!

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 7

Because it is my favorite category, I read a lot of YA (young-adult) novels. And because I have received them from publishers, I next read a healthy amount of inspirational fiction titles. Then I read a fair amount of middle-grade stories. I will read from any age category, though certain age categories hold more weight for me than others. This compilation features novels geared for adults. However, since I don’t read a lot of adult fiction, there are only two titles here.

No Easy Target (Apr. 25, 2017) by Iris Johansen.

*This is a standalone novel with occasional recurring characters.*

Some people say they like animals more than humans. Margaret Douglas would be one such person, but it’s for a far more unique reason: she has the ability to communicate with them and understand them in a way that the animal understands. She changes her name as needed and never stays in one place overlong. The violence in her past has a name, and it’s Stan Nicos. He knows her ability, and he wants to use it for nefarious purposes. She escaped from him once and vowed never to return to Vadaz Island. But John Lassiter found her. It took him far longer than he’d have liked, but found her he has. Someone close to him is a captive of Nicos’, and he’s prepared to use Margaret as bait. Naturally, she fights that, and the two try to outwit the other until something of a tentative understanding comes to light. They have a common enemy, so they need to match wits to outwit him.

            I’ve been reading Johansen’s novels now for so long, that I automatically preorder them when a mass market edition is available, but I do ask myself why I keep buying her books. They are action-filled thrillers with macho men and steely women. A splash of the supernatural (like with Margaret’s ability) is not uncommon. The bad guys are always the great evils of the books. The baddies never have a moral compass, and the word “ethics” is probably not in their vocabularies. It’s a lot of the same, but with different characters and different locales.

            Perhaps 2019 will be the year that I quit preordering her books. I do not read those she writes with her son, Roy Johansen, so I’ve got that going for me. Her books are not bad; they’re simply very predictable.

Two by Two (Oct. 4, 2016) by Nicholas Sparks.

*This is a standalone novel.*

Idyllic life for the Green family is about to fall apart. Russell has missed all the telltale signs. After he leaves his job (before being fired), entrepreneur Russ starts the advertising company he’s dreamed of: Phoenix Agency. But building a client base is slow-going, which prompts his wife, Vivian, to get a job. She quickly secures a well-paying job. Suddenly, Russ finds himself bussing London to her numerous activities (even though she’s only five/six), while trying to gain his first client. Vivian’s new job is demanding, and she’s often on overnight trips. When they’re together, she’s very hot and cold. Vivian’s also masterful at making Russ feel like the guilty party. Every. Single. Time. While it’s so obvious from a reader’s perspective, it comes as a shock when the 32-year-old Russ sees the fault lines of his life are cracks that cannot be repaired.

            Mr. Mom-type character. Good idea. Banter between Russell and his older sister, Marge. Great. Emily’s a strong character, though it takes awhile for her to be involved in the story. Overall, unfortunately, I struggled to read this novel. I was bored. I started this book months ago, and I’ve read almost 20 books in between. Perhaps I missed the lack of suspense as in his more recent novels. Or, and I can’t believe I’m saying this about a Nicholas Sparks novel, it could be that he created an over-watered storyline with lackluster characters. Russ is a needy, over-thinking, naïve, hopeless romantic. Vivian, while a good mother, comes across as vain, spoiled and only beautiful on the outside. Both have woe-is-me mentalities, which, if this were real-life and not fiction, I expect would be damaging in the long-term to London. You know what the outcome of the couple will be, so you can only watch them spiral out-of-sync. The story ended conclusively; it was even a bit emotional, but don’t expect surprises. The disappointment of this novel won’t stop me from reading the next one, but unless you’re a loyal Nicholas Sparks fan (*raises hand*), I’d pass on adding this one to your bookshelf.

"Everything She Didn't Say" by Jane Kirkpatrick

Everything She Didn’t Say (Sept. 4, 2018) by Jane Kirkpatrick.*

In 1877, Carrie Adell “Dell” Strahorn is a newlywed. With a doctor father, she was born into an affluent family. At 25 years old, it would be expected that she’d be a hostess within her own home, accepting calling cards and putting down roots in that new home. Instead, she’ll spend the next 25 years essentially helping to shape the American West with her writer/railroad-promoter/investor husband Robert Strahorn (27 years old). Unbeknownst to her, she’ll become the “Mother of the West” and “Queen of the Pioneers.” But Dell would’ve been thrilled just to be called mother to her own children (she never had children of her own, though she so wanted them). In this fictional tale, the author reads between the lines of the real life character’s memoir “Fifteen Thousand Miles by Stage” to interpret what Dell might’ve been thinking in many situations.

            “Everything She Didn’t Say” is a historical documentary in written form. It is enlightening and intriguing, as the author represents Dell as a woman who shares the rough and tumble times and not as the “happy-lane,” optimistic, pleasant and subordinate wife she often comes across as throughout the story and likely from her husband’s perspective. Dell is quite the actress, plastering on positivity for all outward appearances, but being constantly an adventurer and, initially, quieting her creativity is sapping her inner happiness. At least, that is the impression I got less than 150 pages in. I am struggling with this story. Clearly, I know 1877 was a way different time for women than 2018. Still, I can’t help but be bothered by the almost constant deference to Robert. I will eventually finish this book, but not by this posting. I have skimmed some ahead and came across lines of Robert’s when he states, “We can’t have everything we want. Desires aren’t a right. And when they conflict, well … [o]ne has to give in.” Expect Dell is always the one having to give in. Again, I know it’s a different time than now, even with the women’s suffrage movement gaining speed, but it still bothers me. It’s always Robert’s way, what Robert wants, what Robert says. And THAT is why I am struggling with this story; Robert frustrates me so, which means the author has done a very good job of characterizing him.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. 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 2018 continued ...

We are one week away from one of my favorite days of the year: Trondhjem’s Pie & Ice Cream Social Day! If you’re up on my blog, you’ll see that I posted my poem for this annual event last week. This post features a handful of photos featuring items that you can see if you, too, attend this year’s Social. The two quilts are the quilts starring in this year’s quilt raffle. The remaining photos spotlight items that will be up for bidding at our Silent Auction upstairs. If you’re able to come, please check out those items and so much more!

This is the larger of the two quilts donated by Trondhjem’s WELCA. It features primarily brown tones. Very neutral.

This is the smaller of the two quilts donated by Trondhjem’s WELCA. It features primarily gray tones. Also very neutral.

These Kate Spade sunglasses were donated by Family Eye Care Center of Austin, MN. The frame’s front is two-toned. The temples (a.k.a. bows) are darker like the top portion of the frame front. Card not included. :-) (The card prop is courtesy of my sister-in-law, Katie.)

The LuLaRoe leggings and gift card were donated by LuLaRoe - Megan Flatness. The leggings are one size. They will be separate auction items. So, if you’re not into leggings or one size isn’t your size, you’ll still have a chance at a LuLaRoe-related item if you so choose.

These books are from me. As in, I bought them and will be placing them on the Silent Auction. They will all be separate bid items. Not one, but four items. As you can see, they represent a variety of genres and aren’t specific to one age group. I have not read any of them, so be warned. Although I’ve bought them once, I’ll gladly buy them back!

Trondhjem's Pie & Ice Cream Social 2018

Trondhjem’s Pie & Ice Cream Social 2018

Knock, knock. Who’s there? We’ve got news to share

Of TLC’s annual social with flair.

It’s our Pie & Ice Cream Social day

On 9/16 at 5. Please come without delay!

Sloppy joes are a must, but what about pie?

Which flavor will make your palate sigh?

Do you have pumpkin, peach or pecan on your list?

Is it chocolate chip or cherry you can’t resist?

Go on upstairs and with the Silent Auction engage

In bidding fun no matter the age.

Might there be books, games or a basket of wine?

Let’s look for handicrafts of the creators’ designs!

Also upstairs are our baked goods tables replete

With buy-and-take goodies for you to yourself treat.

Come early for doughnuts, kolaches, lefse and more,

Then return later for a baked goods encore.

Our quilt raffle this year features not one, but two

WELCA-donated quilts to comfort and renew.

With two quilts to raffle, go on, take a chance.

Purchase $1 tickets for your odds, enhance.

Join us on September 16^th for a merry-go-round of flavor.

Place your bids and find edibles to enjoy and savor.

Our event is a tapestry of tastefulness too fun to diagnose.

Meet us at 5 for your annual Social dose!

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 6

If you’ve perused my blog at all, you’ll notice – especially in the most recent years – that I read a lot of Christian/inspirational fiction. Most of them I have the opportunity to read thanks to the publishers. Those in this compilation are NOT books that I was expected to review.  They are novels which I purchased. All opinions continue to be my own.

Blind Spot (Oct. 3, 2017) by Dani Pettrey.

*This is the third in a series.*

There is a threat coming to American soil. The when is unclear, but FBI agent Declan Grey is working overtime to get ahead of the threat. He is certain something is going to go down in Baltimore, but tracking leads will also take him to Houston. While one major kingpin is behind bars, it appears that he worked closely with another whom they are trying desperately to track down. Declan is getting closer, but it isn’t without the help of a mysterious someone thought lost years ago and a woman he’s inexplicably fallen in love with.

            New to the FBI team is Tanner Shaw. Thanks to her tireless work with sex-trafficking victims at one organization and fighting “for the rights of the marginalized and oppressed” at another, she has landed with the Baltimore-based team as a crisis counselor. This means she works closely with Declan, giving them ample opportunity to follow through on leads, be put in harm’s way more than once and butt heads. She’ll realize she, too, loves him.

            Their other friends – Griffin, Finley, Parker, Avery and Kate – have come into an investigation that became alarmingly critical when someone they knew was murdered. They will undoubtedly solve the staged-suicide-homicide and then, surely, they’ll join the fray racing to stop the “wrath” that is purportedly coming.

            Pettrey writes so well, which makes my reader self very happy. Her story is to embark on a harrowing and gripping ride with strong, charismatic characters whose personal faith bases guide and strengthen them. All of Pettrey’s characters have distinct qualities, though they have their similarities, too (independent, resilient). I feel I’ve got to say, though, that I wish Pettrey would include a lead character one of these days – or in the next series – that features a diverse character, preferably Asian (only because I am). The intensity and action start in the Prologue and do not slow down until the book ends. Looking at the protagonists, it’s easy to see them as good and the antagonists as bad; they are love and the bad are hate. Love will conquer, for “Love defied logic, defied hatred, defied division.”

            Book One: Cold Shot (did not review)

            Book Two: Still Life

Out of the Ashes (Jan. 2, 2018) by Tracie Peterson & Kimberley Woodhouse.

*This is the second in a series.*

Sometimes, all one can do is rise like a phoenix out of the ashes, even though it won’t be easy. Jean-Michel (29 years) and Collette (19 years) Langelier are mourning the death of their father. Jean-Michel was driven to serve in the French army, and now he cannot escape the nightmare-inducing horrors of the Druze Revolt. He can’t escape in his sleep, nor his waking hours, as his leg is a constant physical reminder of what happened to him and of those he couldn’t save. Meanwhile, Collette yearns for adventure, and with Jean-Michel now looking after her, they take up an invitation to go to Alaska’s Curry Hotel at the foot of Denali. Collette is learning the hard way how selfish she has been, only thinking of herself and not of the pain of anyone else, especially her brother’s.

            There is a main reason Jean-Michel accepted the invitation, and it involves Katherine Harrison Demarchis (25 years). A young widow, she does not mourn her late senator husband. Instead, she is relieved, but she has much healing ahead of her as well. To trust any man now seems impossible. Unbeknownst to her, the Curry Hotel has a certain Frenchman in attendance for the summer, the very one from her past whom she still loves. Both have been broken by different faces of violence. Can they heal together, and, in so doing, rediscover the bond once shared?

            With Jean-Michel, Katherine and even Collette in their own wounded places, it’s intriguing and encouraging to watch them grow in faith in this story of hope and healing. The authors include a character battling through PTSD and another trying to heal from past domestic abuse. Seeking the Lord helped their characters immensely, which is not the route everyone in those situations would go to, but considering that this is an inspirational, historical fiction novel, this route worked wonders for their characters. I think it’s commendable that the authors went those routes with, not one, but two, characters, to tell us that any stigma that anyone may harbor toward either PTSD or domestic abuse is unfounded. Sometimes I thought the multiple-character perspectives were too many, but I still enjoyed this story. It’s heartfelt, but not without trial and tribulation. A bit busy, but I rooted for the new characters, even “that Scotsman” in Chef Daniel Ferguson. It was pleasant having familiar characters from the first book in this second in The Heart of Alaska series. I look forward to greeting them all again in the next book!

            Favorite quote: “But you mustn’t let worries over what might be steal the joy of what is. Life is full of both beauty and danger, and we must give attention to both, but we should never let worry steal our focus. Otherwise, we see neither the beauty nor the danger and suffer because of it.” – John Ivanoff to Collette Langelier (p. 107)

            Book One: In the Shadow of Denali

The Proving (Sept. 5, 2017) by Beverly Lewis.

*This is a standalone novel.*

Five years ago, Amanda “Mandy” Dienner was prompted by her mother to leave her home. She did and has been an Englischer ever since. But her mother has unexpectedly passed away, and so the now 23-year-old returns to her childhood home. In returning to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, she returns to the family she left behind, including her twin sister, Arie Mae. Once so close, Mandy turned away from her upon her sister’s betrayal. She needs to successfully run the Amish B&B for one year. There is handsome widower Karl Lantz and his adorable son, Yonnie, but why establish a relationship when she’ll be an Englischer again in a year’s time?

            25-year-old Catrina “Trina” Sutton finally needs a break. Although it’s been a year, she continues to heal after her fiancé was killed by a drunk driver. Possessing a point-blank personality, Trina has difficultly doing anything on a whim, but she signs up for a mystery trip. Instead of a sunny beach, she finds herself at The Butterfly Meadows Amish Bed-and-Breakfast during a snowstorm, where she meets regular guest Gavin O’Connor. He’s annoying and argumentative, yet she hasn’t scared him off. Could he be interested … in her?

            While I enjoyed this novel, I felt there was a different dynamic at play. The main characters, Mandy and Trina, are both refreshingly different than other main characters. Despite both characters having a strong faith base, Mandy struggles greatly with grudge-holding, and Trina has a demanding personality and she’s blunt to boot (the term “control freak” has been whispered behind her back). Although Mandy was never baptized into the Amish church, I noticed that the Amish neighborhood, including many of her own relatives, still seemed to shun her. While I know this is not an uncommon practice, I found it bothersome. They value church and family relationships, but only within the confines of what has been deemed okay? So, for those who do not conform, it is okay to be judgmental? Healing of all kinds is present in this story, as is the openness to love, and not just in the romantic sense.

"A Defense of Honor" by Kristi Ann Hunter

A Defense of Honor (June 5, 2018) by Kristi Ann Hunter.*

After willingly turning away from London society over a decade ago, Katherine “Kit” FitzGilbert finds herself in the type of place she swore never to return to. A ballroom. In so doing, she has promised a dance to a potted shrubbery and encountered Graham, the Viscount Wharton, heir to the earldom of Grableton. She has not heard of him, which is to his credit, as she has spent these years avoiding ballrooms by dedicating herself to helping women escape the same wrath and disdain that fell upon her and her best friend, and they raise the innocent children that resulted. Kit has her ways of obtaining funds to raise the children at Haven Manor, and she isn’t alone in charge of the children. Daphne is the nurturing one, while Jess is the tough one. When Lord Wharton is stranded at Haven Manor because of flooding, he becomes the father figure all of those children are missing, and Kit sees he is not the despicable, wanton type of gentry she is accustomed to dealing with. Is it worth it to tell him everything, even as she knows he suspects the origins of the youth?

            After meeting Kit in a random ballroom, he cannot seem to get her out of his mind. But where does one begin to look for one who does not want to be found? It turns out, do not try at all. One of his best friends, Oliver, Lord Farnsworth, is desperately trying to locate his missing sister, Priscilla. It’s apparent that their father knows why Prissy is missing, but he has set a stubborn line and will reveal nothing. The only piece of information Oliver has is a strange, albeit legitimate, contract. Graham embarks on a search with Oliver and eventually finds himself at Haven Manor. The more Graham learns about Kit and the children, the more his eyes are opened. He wants to help, though he’s unsure exactly what he should do. But he doesn’t know Kit’s entire story. If he did, would he be repulsed by her past? Or the person she is now?

            Having enjoyed the previous book I read from this author, I was curious to see where this new series would go, and I was not disappointed. I felt this first story in the Haven Manor series read at a steady clip. I enjoyed how well Hunter introduced her main and supporting characters; they are well fleshed-out to be believable individuals and not carbon copies of other characters. I appreciate that flaws are visible even while characters are faithful. For example, Kit’s heart is in the right place, but the way she goes about obtaining and maintaining funds is misguided. No one likes a bully, after all. But flaws give her room to grow, just as our flaws give us endless room to grow.

* 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.”

Rutabaga's Reads 2018: Part 5

While it seems like such a small goal, one of my personal goals for 2018 is to be more active with my blog again. So, I’m presenting to you the fifth compilation of the year. It features YA novels, so if you don’t read and/or don’t like YA novels, stop reading right now! But if YA novels interest you, please read on and leave comments below regarding what you’re reading, if you’ve read any of the featured books in this compilation or if you have any recommendations or un-recommendations (you know, those books you read or tried to but don’t think anyone else should suffer through).

Caraval (Jan. 31, 2017) by Stephanie Garber.

*This is the first in a series.*

The governor of the Conquered Isle of Trisda is a cruel man who uses the punishment of others as a way to keep people in line, lest the other person – usually a loved one – be punished again and again. This includes his own daughters, Scarlett and Donatella “Tella” Dragna. Scarlett, the older of the two by just a year, lives in constant fear of his consequences. But she will soon be wed and plans to take Tella with her away from their father. With her impending wedding, she thinks this is her final chance to experience Caraval. It’s a legendary competition that is by invitation-only, and, miraculously, she receives three tickets: one for herself, one for Tella and one for her fiancé. Things go awry early on when it seems that Tella is taken as part of the game, and instead of her fiancé, she is stuck with a handsome sailor named Julian Marrero. Scarlett has oft heard that the game is nothing more than an elaborate performance, but she cannot help but get swept up in it. Those who are swept in too far go mad. But Scarlett must play the game now. She must find Tella before the fifth night of the game is up, lest she lose her sister forever. Or is it forever? After all, it’s just a game, right?

            Magical and spellbinding, “Caraval” is a performance I want to experience. I don’t want to be a player or a spectator; I want to be one of the performers. The mystique which surrounds the setting of Caraval and the enchantment that goes along with it reminds me of “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern, a novel which I also greatly enjoyed. Like that novel, “Caraval” is masterfully written. It isn’t just magic that happens to be in the air all around us. It is magic that tests. It tests one’s mind to differentiate between what is real and what is not. It tests what information you take from others and what you grant that they believe; it tests trust. It even tests the power of one’s love. The design of this story has been glittered in magic, like a fresh and unblemished coating of snow on the ground. But whereas snow may be the color of innocence and purity, what lies underneath could easily be vile and villainous. Are you ready to play?

These Vengeful Souls (Feb. 20, 2018) by Tarun Shanker & Kelly Zekas.

*This is the final book in a trilogy.*

It is London, England, in 1883. Too many continue reeling after the violent and tragic events of the ball days earlier. Evelyn Wyndham and Sebastian Braddock are both wrapped up in terrible guilt, but whereas Sebastian wants to hold it in and avoid others, Evelyn wants to wreak vengeance by murdering the evil mastermind “in thirty-six ways.” Unfortunately, Evelyn’s revenge-seeking often makes things worse by fueling the lies already being spread about Sebastian and their friends. Determined to undermine the one truly responsible for all of the lives lost, many plans are made, but they tend to backfire. Any ounce of good done seems to incite tons of bad from their adversary. What is the use of having powers in which they intend to do good when those that are bad twist and lie and manipulate to continually gain leverage over Evelyn, Sebastian, their friends and all of London?

            This book and the whole trilogy have given me many things I love in books: action, brisk pacing, droll dialogue, strong main and supporting characters – in which there’s a minimum of one strong female lead – at least one antagonist I love to hate, and intrigue. Useless bonus points are given for potential love triangles only when plenty of humor is present, as has been the case with this trilogy. While Evelyn’s rashness grated my nerves on occasion, the magic and the characters in this Victorian romance more than made up for it.

Wintersong (Feb. 7, 2017) by S. Jae-Jones.

*This is the first in a duology.*

What is it like to be a shadow twice-over? Maria Elisabeth Ingeborg “Liesl” Vogler may be the eldest of the Vogler children, but she’s ever in the shadow of beautiful Käthe and musically gifted Josef (a.k.a. Sepperl). She’s got the gift of music as well, though as a composer. Josef sees it, but Papa denies it. In Josef, he has nothing but praise: “… you have the potential to change music as we know it!” until he learns Liesl wrote it, then it becomes, “A decent effort. But you must be less lofty in your ideals, Liesl.” She is resigned to her fate as an “unlovely little girl” who dutifully helps at her parents’ inn and watches out for her siblings until Käthe is taken by Der Erlkönig (the Goblin King). He is exquisitely handsome, but tricky and dangerous. The rules are different outside the world above, and Liesl will have to fight her own mind, the old laws and time itself. Otherwise, the world may be shut to her.

            “Wintersong” abounds with magic, enchantment, trickery and darkness enriched with music that I imagined was haunting and ethereal. Jae-Jones has introduced readers to a main character who has been selfless for so long and sacrifices much in the name of love. Understandably, it makes Liesl very emotional, and that is the only area in which I struggled. I often found Liesl to be very annoying. Yes, she is young, but until that point, she’s appeared to have been dutiful and responsible. If the author wanted to contrast the girl seemingly put together before events swung into motion with one that came across as an immature basket case, then the effect was a success. I wouldn’t mind someday reading the next story in this duology, but for now, I am in no hurry to.