Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 17

I do not read much adult fiction. This would be why it’s taken me much of this year to create this compilation post featuring this age category. Surprisingly, it’s not the only adult fiction compilation on my blog this year thanks to the “Crazy Rich Asians” trilogy by Kevin Kwan.

Every Breath (Oct. 16, 2018) by Nicholas Sparks.

*This is a standalone novel.*

While a weeklong retreat to her family’s cottage in Sunset Beach, North Carolina, preparing to attend a good friend’s wedding should be a joyous celebration, Hope Anderson is flailing. She’s thrilled for her friend, but her own life is nowhere she expected it to be. At 36, she’s been dating her orthopedic surgeon boyfriend for six years, and there is still no proposal in sight, plus Josh isn’t coming to the wedding since an explosive argument prompted him to put their relationship in “off” mode and go to Las Vegas, her parents have actually recently sold the family cottage at which she’s staying, and her dad has been diagnosed with ALS. It is 1990. Enter next door Tru Walls, a 42-year-old safari guide from Zimbabwe who’s staying at the monstrosity-of-a-beach-house awaiting his first meeting with his birthfather, who’s recently reached out to him. Hope and Tru’s first meet-cute is thanks to Hope’s dog, a sly Scottish terrier named Scottie with gobs of energy and selective listening skills. That meet-cute turns into an epic, whirlwind romance with a visit to Kindred Spirit, a lone mailbox on Bird Island. Their love is real; it’s not a fleeting moment to be chased away by the wind.

            Fast forward 24 years to 2014. Hope made a choice that did not involve Tru and put her life on a trajectory that succeeded in certain ways and failed in others. She tried to find Tru eight years ago, but could never locate him. Desperate to reach him, she went back to the only place she could think of to leave a message: Kindred Spirit. What sort of fates will have to be at work for Tru to be reached? Where has he been all these years?

            Whereas I struggled with the previous story I’d read by Sparks, I am relieved to say that I liked this novel. I enjoyed how the bookends of the story were written as though the author was explaining how he came across this story as though it’s reality, even though it is a work of fiction. I felt more invested with the characters where I did not in the other story, even knowing that Hope’s decision wouldn’t fully turn out in the long run. The depiction of Hope’s father’s ALS diagnosis and subsequent battle was very moving. The expected North Carolina setting is stronger for the real places involved, in particular the Kindred Spirit mailbox. (Road trip, anyone?) Sparks’ novels are about as much romance as I can handle. You know Tru and Hope will somehow return to each other, but it isn’t without a winding path of heart-wrenching decisions, tricky fate and desperate hope that an epic, sweeping love can transcend time and time zones.

Shattered Mirror (Apr. 24, 2018) by Iris Johansen.

*This is a standalone novel with recurring characters.*

In the disturbed and twisted mind of Rory Norwalk, instead of an eye for an eye, it’s a twin for a twin. He personally delivers a mystery skull to highly-sought-after forensic sculptor Eve Duncan. The skull looks alarming; there’s a bullet hole, and it has been blackened by fire. The face, which she calls Sylvie, courtesy of Michael, who’s now six, is stunning, and she wonders what monster would do something so dreadful to her. It becomes clear that Norwalk is targeting her, but also threatens those she loves, particularly Michael (her son) and Cara Delaney (her ward). While Cara thinks it’s her new roommate, Darcy Nichols, who may be the target, Jock Gavin has his doubts. He’s been keeping tabs on Cara, expecting a threat to her to arise with the knowledge of who her grandfather is. He will be very upset if Sergai Kaskov gets involved, but if Kaskov is one of the targets, he’ll get involved and not care if he steps on anyone’s toes. Why is Rory targeting Eve and Kaskov and those closest to them? What is the connection? Does there even need to be a connection with someone as clearly unbalanced as Rory Norwalk?

            I am torn. With Eve and Joe having a son, it on one hand adds a potential layer to the plot when Michael is involved, but it’s also a convenient filler. I’m not saying this is the case, but it can seem like Johansen brought a child into the picture to distract from a lack of new ideas. As a mostly loyal reader of Johansen’s novels over many years, I don’t apologize for thinking this. It is my opinion, after all. Additionally, I think it’s too convenient that Michael, like Bonnie, is wise beyond his years and isn’t usually so much a six-year-old than a conscientious adult with childlike conviction. I wouldn’t be able to write a current six-year-old and perhaps the author struggles in that arena, thus her reasoning behind making Michael so much broader and shrewder in his thinking. Also, what is the age difference between Jock and Cara? Because no, just no.

            If you’re thinking I should halt reading Johansen’s books, you’re right. I probably should quit reading her books. Or at least choose not to write about them after reading them. I see a new recurring character in Darcy. For anyone wanting to read what you’d expect from Johansen, you’ll be satisfied with this novel. For others, you may want to skip this one.

Vendetta (Oct. 23, 2018) by Iris Johansen.

*This is a standalone novel with recurring characters.*

I really thought I wouldn’t write about this book, but I changed my mind since Catherine Ling is in it. Catherine is an Asian woman in a stack of Johansen books usually featuring a white default.

            What CIA Operative Carl Venable says with his dying breaths both puts his daughter in the crosshairs of terrorist Max Huber and tries to protect her in convincing Jude Brandon to find Rachel Venable and keep her safe. Rachel is a spectacular physician who’s also highly proficient at crafting poisons. Huber has connections to Rachel’s past that she is unaware of, though she is aware that she’s responsible for the death of his father, though it was without her consent or initial knowledge. Huber is the leader of Red Star, and he’s orchestrating a catastrophic event in California that he wants to be vastly and impressively worse than 9/11. While Rachel is safe with Brandon, she wants Huber dealt with, no matter how scared dealing with him makes her. When he takes someone she cares about, she’s willing to set herself up as a sacrifice if there’s any chance the other person can be safely extracted from Huber’s evil and horrific clutches. She may come out alive as well. Familiar characters in Catherine Ling, Richard Cameron, and, to a lesser extent, Hu Chang come to fight the fight. Dealings with high-echelon CIA Operative Claire Warren are tense at best, and who is Nemesis?

            Action and drama from the get-go are constants for Johansen, which is a plus. Unfortunately, I was not fully engaged in the story. I had to make myself sit down to read one chapter a day. This, of course, is simply my opinion, but it seems that all of her characters – no matter which story you’re reading – are the same. Sure, they have different names and different physical features and different backstories, but they remain like fraternal multiples. An exception is given to Catherine, who is at least of partial Asian descent and not Caucasian. All the lead females are strong (which is good) and stubborn and holding it together but still savvy and strong with the same emotions and attitudes in each book no matter the character. All the lead males are masculine and tough and struggle to let the females be strong and want to hold them when they’re having a vulnerable moment, and it hurts them to see the women like that, and they want to wreak extra havoc on the bad guys. Same, same, same. I’ve read so many of Johansen’s books over the years that I can’t stop cold turkey, but I will be tapering off. I can’t say I’ll stop reading her stories for good, but I’m heading that direction, which does make the dedicated bibliophile in me a little sad.