"Against the Wind" by Amanda Cabot

Against the Wind (Oct. 3, 2023) by Amanda Cabot.*

<This is the second novel in a series.>

Time away from Sweetwater Crossing has done wonders for Louisa Vaughn. She’s a doctor-in-training with midwifery instruction. Louisa plans to be back for a few days to help a friend, but when she finds an injured man along the roadside, she won’t abandon him. She isn’t yet a fully qualified doctor, but she’s got the skills and the passion. Josh Porter plans to win his grandfather’s challenge to win control of the family business, Porter & Sons (P&S). He’s laid up for several weeks with his broken leg in a cast without his horse, Zeus, and his saddlebags containing recipes that he believes will clinch his win. It’s a roadblock, but having to pause in Sweetwater Crossing prompts new ideas. When he puts his plan into action, with Louisa’s perceptive ideas, this reality lights a spark that he didn’t know he’d been missing. Now, if only the town would accept Louisa as a doctor (this is Texas Hill country in 1883). The disparaging comments are bad enough, but someone in the town wants her to abandon her passion for healing others. Can Louisa and Josh find the person behind the threats? Is there a future for them as a couple when neither plan to stay?

            I’d been looking forward to the second installment in the “Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing” series, hoping for reconciliation between Emily and youngest sister, Louisa. This story did not disappoint. From Louisa’s fervent determination to become a doctor to big-city Josh finding comfort and new direction in a small town, this story is sweet on forgiveness, ambition, family, friendship, faith and belonging. The challenge that Louisa faces as a woman in a “man’s field” is inspiring, as well as frustrating to me, a woman in the 21st Century, but it makes rooting for Louisa and Josh all the easier. Cabot’s characters are authentic, her writing even-keeled, including during moments of turmoil for her characters. This Christian, historical fiction romance is a delight.

            Book One: After the Shadows

* 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.”

"The Sinister Booksellers of Bath" by Garth Nix

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath (Mar. 21, 2023) by Garth Nix.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

Mythical trouble isn’t exclusive to London. The focus now is Bath. The booksellers of the Small Bookshop (which isn’t actually small) who police the Old World there keep close watch on the entity that inhabits the Roman Baths, Sulis Minerva, though it’s not that entity that’s the source of the trouble. Right-handed bookseller Vivien finds a sorcerous map amongst the extensive book collection of a deceased bibliophile. When her brother, Merlin, touches a bee from the map, he’s transported into a pocket dimension that’s been taken out of time and must be rescued by his sister and Susan Arkshaw. Susan wants to live a “normal” life, meaning she’d rather not be involved in the Old World, the mythical. But saving Merlin is only the start of the spiral. They need to discover the entity belonging to the map, not for general knowledge, but because the entity has murdered 26 people. The last one, Travis Zelley, was different, for he was also tortured. The Ancient Sovereign of the Alphabet House and her monstrous living statues of Purbeck marble must be stopped before the murderous cycle begins again. Because it’s no secret that A starts the alphabet, and there’s a certain demi-mortal whose surname begins with A...

            While I don’t want to have to battle living statues of Purbeck marble (or any stone, honestly), it’s great to dive back into Nix’s immersive fantasy world in a slightly altered 1983 in Bath, England. This is a remarkable romp that’s intricately crafted with fast pacing, an impressive cast, a complex but wickedly wacky plot and an array of vintage clothes, weapons and vehicles that’s overlaid with suspense as well as snark and humor. This magical madcap adventure has an old-school feel (no cell phones here, folks) and is a clever, thoroughly engaging, pseudo-historical YA novel.

            Book One: The Left-Handed Booksellers of London

"Lost and Found" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Lost and Found (Sept. 26, 2023) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

<This is a standalone novel, but also takes place in Stoney Ridge.>

When she sees a poem mentioning her, Trudy Yoder sees it as a sign that her friendship with Micah Weaver is ready to turn romantic. They’re both passionate about birding, and they converse with ease. Then Micah turns aloof and is short with her. He’s so distracted that it’s like the problem at Wonder Lake is no big deal! What’s worse is that he wants to leave Stoney Ridge. Bishop David Stoltzfus is considering relocating the Old Order Amish community somewhere else. Things are tense with the Beachy Amish community that has settled amongst them. Micah researches and presents to David that McNairy County, Tennessee, might be an ideal place to re-settle. He volunteers to go on the trip to gather information, but his interest lies in distraught phone messages he’s gotten from Shelley, Trudy’s older sister, who fled to the outside world to become a singer. Trudy is devastated at the possible loss of Micah, who won’t stay if the Beachy Amish build at Wonder Lake, and of the Old Order community, as her father will never uproot without Shelley. Micah is a twitcher, one skilled at finding rare birds, so if anyone can find Shelley somewhere in Tennessee, it’s Micah. Micah’s been smitten with Shelley for years, so when he drops everything to find her, he leaves Trudy with nothing but the chores on Lost Creek Farm. Micah hasn’t been straight with Trudy, leaving Stoney Ridge for her sister, whose shadow she’s always been in. There’s a good chance Trudy will no longer have time for him. And Micah will learn that what you’re looking for may not match the picture in your mind.

            Undoubtedly, this Amish fiction tale from Woods Fisher is winsome with its close-knit community theme, faith base and family connectedness. Shelley’s potential return to the fold throws a wrench into Trudy and Micah’s friendship, while the liberal Beachy Amish threaten the Old Order community’s permanence in Stoney Ridge. There is much to untangle in this story. From characters who love birding and want to protect the land to encourage bird life to tensions between communities and peoples to the cleanest love triangle tale, this story  makes one think about family, community, nature, the traditions that have always been and looking ahead to forward progress. The story’s interspersed with Trudy’s Bird-Watching Log, which is very informative, and there’s no way to forget the endearing characters, including Hank Lapp (you can’t miss him, he’s SO LOUD!).

            Favorite line: “We don’t grieve as those who have no hope…but we do grieve.” --Amos Lapp

* 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.”

"Last Canto of the Dead" by Daniel José Older

Last Canto of the Dead (May 16, 2023) by Daniel José Older.

<This is the sequel novel in a duology.>

One’s a brilliant pianist who sees a world made of music (Mateo Matisse Medina), the other a fierce force of nature who’s a terrific dancer but a terrible singer (Chela Hidalgo). Both are just kids, chaotic teenagers. But both are also ancient spirits in human form. Galanika the Healer (Mateo). Okanla the Destroyer and San Madrigal the Creator (Chela). They have raised the once-sunken native island of San Madrigal from the Caribbean Sea, but the problems aren’t over. Two creature armies battle for control and survival on San Madrigal (bambarúto are bad enough, but now there are zambarúto?! why?) and in Brooklyn, New York, a tight-knit community is riddled with division. People are being arrested by their own people for made-up reasons and usually for no reason at all. Cops never patrolled the streets of Little Madrigal, but they’re there now. Chela lets her tether to the risen island keep her there. She’s got Odé Kan, an antlered hunter spirit who’s fearless and ferocious. (She’s the hunter of hearts or the first hunter: “Depends on who you ask, or how I’m feeling, really.”) Meanwhile, Mateo returns to Brooklyn, dodging cops while trying to find answers for Chela. His science-minded doctor-parents have returned, too, and that relationship is tense. He avoids his dad, especially, until he can’t. Until his dad calls him, frantic, because his mom’s been arrested. Mateo and Chela may house immortal spirits, but they’re still teens. They’re trying to figure things out even as others around them look to them for leadership and a plan. Will the prophecy keep them apart for good? What will happen to their people, their newly-raised island?

            Musician. Healer. Creator. Destroyer. Older has magic of his own, for he’s able to make writing this complex story look effortless. There’s musicality, racial and ethnic diversity, community division, standout main and supporting characters, a plot continually on the move and great world-building. Older writes Mateo and Chela with authentic teen voices, making it easy for readers to become invested in the characters’ reality and want them to find the solution to save their island and their people and just be a real couple. The sequel book in the thrilling Outlaw Saints duology is a magical bildungsroman with a satisfying conclusion and is a book as strong as its predecessor.

            Book One: Ballad & Dagger

Ellie

R.I.P. Ellie (4/24/2016 – 10/02/2023)

Lisa & Ellie, Early June 2016

Ellie in July 2021

Today has been a heartbreaking day. My family and I said goodbye to Ellie. She’s my parents’ golden retriever, but in reality, she’s a family dog. She loved all of us, and we all loved her. Her love for us was truly unconditional. For all intents and purposes, she was my sister, my golden-furred, four-legged sister. And yes, my mom sometimes called me Ellie! J

She’d been feeling unwell for weeks, but none of us knew the extent of how unwell she was. We learned on Wednesday of last week that she was in complete renal failure. She’d likely been sick for awhile, but hid it from us until she just couldn’t anymore. I have a sweet photo of my nephew, Liam, hugging Ellie only a few nights ago. By last night, she couldn’t hold up her own weight. My dad had to carry her into the house. I got to say goodbye this morning, but those goodbyes are always hard.

Ellie was always sassy and full of spunk. You couldn’t brush her without her thinking it was a game, barking at the brush like it was a squirrel she’d spotted. She loved playing fetch using the Chuckit!, but she really loved tennis balls in general. She loved vanilla ice cream. She loved all of us humans, but she especially loved my dad and my nephew. The rest of us were chop suey when either of them was in the room. She didn’t give hugs on the regular, so when she did, you knew she’d missed you a great deal and noticed your absence (as my childhood friend, Kristi, can confirm). We’ll miss her excited whine and her energy and her love. Surely, Lexi has already greeted her in Heaven, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Grandpa Dick has already taken a walk with both of them. We’ll all reunite again someday.

Thank you to the veterinarian who eased Ellie peacefully out of this world with my parents by her side. She lived for all of us!