"Second Time Around" by Melody Carlson

Second Time Around (Mar. 7, 2023) by Melody Carlson.*

*This is a standalone novel.*

With her youngest, Louisa, recently married, 40-something Mallory Farrell is truly an empty nester. She’s inherited her grandmother’s run-down tourist shop in Portside, Oregon, and the interior designer initially thinks she’ll sell to Grayson Matthews, former secret crush. As Mallory spends time in the shop, she makes the decision to sell her big, lonely Victorian and relocates full-time to Portside. She runs with her dream to open a décor shop called Romancing the Home, and while her shop is eye-catching and sophisticated, the Rainbow Brite apartment above is decrepit and smells like mildew. This isn’t a problem since she’s the only one who sees it until the host of a popular renovation TV show informs Mallory that her apartment will be featured, too. She’s ready to declare herself the village idiot, but Grayson tells her not to be so hasty. With 13 days to go until filming, can Grayson romance Mallory’s home and possibly move into her heart as well? Or will the demands and costs of renovating a major fixer-upper see her leaving in shame?

            Mallory is an admirable character. Readers learn she raised her three kids mostly on her own, but she’s not defeated. The independent woman with a good head on her shoulders shows faith, strength and entrepreneurial prowess. She’s clearly a hard worker. I’ve never initiated a construction project, but Mallory’s accumulating list of challenges had me cringing in sympathy all the same, such is Carlson’s skill with prose. This inspirational fiction novel is ideal for fans of clean romance and readers of contemporary fiction. The ups and downs of new relationships and the ups and downs of construction projects do not take away from the bright, uplifting tone of the story. The setting is a seaside escape, and the town is full of charm. I would delightedly grab ice cream at Brower’s Ice Cream Parlor, catch supper at Fisherman’s Wharf and wander through Romancing the Home.

* 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.”

"One Girl in All the World" by Kendare Blake

One Girl in All the World (Jan. 31, 2023) by Kendare Blake.

*This is the middle novel in a trilogy.*

New Sunnydale, the demon capital of the world, has been dormant since the Big Bad called the Countess. An unnamed Slayer has placed a “demon beacon” in the Hellmouth, meaning New Sunnydale’s going to again become a place of demons, dead people and darkness. Is the Darkness the next Big Bad? Soon enough, Frankie Rosenberg, the world’s first slayer-witch, the new Scoobies (werewolf Jake Osbourne, Sage demon Sigmund DeWitt, human/sister-of-a-Slayer Hailey Larsson) and the adults (werewolf Oz, vampire/Frankie’s Watcher Spike, witch/Frankie’s mom Willow), sometimes with Sarafina DeWitt the Great (Sigmund’s Sage demon mom) and Grimloch (the Hunter of Thrace or the “Hunter of Hotpants” per Spike), are inundated with demon battles. The demon beacon is calling to all demons, especially those familiar to that particular Hellmouth, including demons thought to be vanquished like the Turoc-Han. But who placed the beacon and why? Hailey’s sister, Vi, makes a reappearance, but she’s tight-lipped about her reasons for being there. Vi survived the explosion at the big slayer retreat. What does she know? The infamous Scythe returns; Frankie hasn’t seen it before and may have the urge to “run away with it into the mountains, where I would name it Scythey McScytheface and we would live together forever.” Not that she’d act upon that urge, but what might others do if they had possession of the Scythe?

            While I continue to have zero plans to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I have been thoroughly enjoying Blake’s Buffy: The Next Generation Series. The middle installment is a middle book, not because its writing is suffering, but due to further plot development versus plot resolution and character growth. It’s a propulsive story that contains gruesome action well-balanced with snark and humor, the highs and lows of romantic relationships and a whodunit? vibe. The story includes racial diversity and queerness. This center story in a trilogy expects readers to have knowledge of the previous one, but extensive knowledge of the Buffyverse is not required (which is good, because I doubt I know 1% of what there is to know about that world). The story is entertaining and the sort of teen dramatic that I would expect from a YA novel. Now, go off and train, Potentials. And if anyone notices the smell of herbs, ozone and scorched sugar in the air, know that you’ve encountered a distinctly magical smell. Also, beware of “stupid hot demons.” Happy slaying and keep your slaydar sharp.

            Two of many lines that made me laugh: “Whatever it is,” he growled, “I will kill it quickly. And I will kill it extra, for the interruption!” --Grimloch to Frankie re: a demon (p. 282)

            Book One: In Every Generation

The Positive Page-turner's Challenge: Take 16

It’s my first Positive Page-turner’s Challenge of 2023, but my 16th overall. As you can see from the accompanying photo for this post, there are 18 books ranging from children’s poetry to inspirational fiction novels for adults.

            With 18 books in the photo, I am going to donate $5/book. The total will amount to $90, and the money will be donated to my home church. I am as yet undecided if it’ll go into the Haiti Fund or if I’ll change it up and donate it to one of the other funds like Sunday School, Altar Guild or Building.

            While not buying packages of soap for every single book I read, I am back to buying bar soap for GoServ Global and their work in Haiti. After taking most of last year “off” from purchasing extra soap due to the unrest there and being unsure if shipments would (A) get shipped out and (B) make it to the sites GoServ serves, I’m back at it. I learned in the recent past that they did depend on the soap previously sent. It surprised me to learn that I sent almost all of the bar soap that was donated to Haiti. The soap that wasn’t bought by me was donated by one of my childhood friends. It was after my parents heard from a co-founder and small-craft pilot that he had to go buy bar soap in Florida and fly it to Haiti that I realized the soap IS helpful. It’s such a small thing and easy to take for granted, but it’s so useful. Their uses for bar soap go beyond bathing only. I will keep delivering hope through bars of soap!