"Wendy's Ever After" by Julie Wright

Wendy’s Ever After (July 1, 2025) by Julie Wright.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Now a stunning young woman, Wendy Moira Angela Darling’s mom has marriage on the brain for her eldest child and only daughter since her dad passed away a year ago. Her days are filled with social calls and decadent balls, but her memories take her back to Neverland, Peter Pan and the lost boys. Wearing her frilly, elegant gowns, she thinks of fencing with foil, épée and sabre. With pixie dust, she dreams of soaring again. Instead, she’s stuck at a masquerade ball to appease her mother, but her dance card fills with Mrs. Connolly’s late friend’s son, Liam Blackwell. He’s in His Majesty’s Navy. This stranger is tall, handsome and mysterious. He’s charming yet elusive, and sometimes when he talks, it reminds her of Neverland. She’s already falling for this man, but returning to Neverland complicates matters, for it is not exactly how she remembers. Sure, there’s Pirate Cove and Mermaid Lagoon, even Skull Rock, but something is terribly wrong. Parts of the land are dying, and Neverland doesn’t feel like the happy, bright place of her memories. Now, as she navigates this beloved place, she must figure out if her heart belongs to the boy who’s never grown up or the man who’s somehow unfathomably, infuriatingly, captured her heart.

In 1909 England, Wendy returns to Neverland in this YA fantasy romance. The dynamic between Wendy and Liam is rather like a dance at once carefully executed and off-the-cuff. There is grace, but there’s stepping on toes, too. Their new and very topsy-turvy relationship is dramatic, but the realism of navigating such strong feelings for someone is relatable. I wish there’d been backstory to explain the shadow conjuror’s arrival, because its placement in the story is otherwise filler. Wendy’s inner monologue could also be annoying and had me picturing her as a child instead of the young woman she is. It’s a twisted fairy tale with shadows and darkness set in a familiar place. It’s a casual read, not a deep-thinking one, but still worth reading. It’s Neverland reimagined through a different lens.

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 14

Welcome to 2025’s “Happy Hodgepodge” post! This is the first of what I hope will be two Hodgepodge posts this year, despite the fact that it’s already September. What are you currently reading?

Cat & Cat Adventures: The Staff of Knowledge (July 23, 2024) by Susie Yi.

Junior fiction graphic novel.

<This is the fourth graphic novel in a series.>

The cats of the Spirit Task Force, Squash and Ginny, are preparing for another mission when Magnus, Lotus and Fern arrive. Magnus informs them that the Staff of Knowledge, once hidden in the Starry Sea, is now in the Human World. When Squash tries to celebrate finding it, the three orbs scatter, and the Spirit World starts leaking into the Human World. “The surge of magic has ripped the fabric between them.” It’s a disaster. They trace the first orb to the dreaded vet clinic. They’re not the only ones trying to obtain the orb. There’s a troublesome kangaroo rat, and there are helpful crows called Kee and Caw. What is their connection to the Staff of Knowledge? Hijinks are sure to ensue, though a sea of buttery popcorn from the fabled Popcorn Island probably isn’t so bad.

            Fans of cats and lovers of cuteness will want to soak up this Cat & Cat adventure if they haven’t already. The lesson is understanding that it’s okay to ask for help, that even when you think it’s your fault something happened doesn’t mean you need to rectify it all on your own. The bright, colorful illustrations and adorably drawn characters delightfully complement the sparse writing. It’s an entertaining, hijinks-filled adventure for emerging readers and those readers who are young-at-heart looking for something quick and enjoyable to read.

            Book 1: The Quest for Snacks

            Book 2: The Goblet of Infinity

            Book 3: Journey into Unibear City

Earl & Worm: The Bad Idea and Other Stories (Apr. 1, 2025) by Greg Pizzoli.

Early-Reader fiction chapter book.

<This is the first book in a series.>

In this collection of three stories, Earl and Worm are best friends, but their start is rocky, as highlighted in Lemonade. Earl is a happy-go-lucky early-bird who enjoys music and talking. Meanwhile, Worm is cranky and doesn’t like new things. When The Bad Idea comes around, Earl and Worm are solid friends, but the unexpected happens when a “very, very sneaky” idea becomes a bad idea and a lesson is also learned. And in The Poem, Earl and Worm are longtime friends. Worm is trying to come up with the perfect finish to her poem, which she thinks should rhyme. When Earl’s suggestions aren’t as helpful as Worm wishes, she storms off. But what if perfection isn’t in the rhyming, but in telling the truth?

            Watching their friendship grow and unfold is like watching flowers bloom on a sunny day. The humor is dry but sweet and the stories for early readers simple but entertaining. The text is good for read-alouds, and the illustrations are colorful and friendly. These stories showcase the ups and downs of friendship while managing to be delightful and emphasize that seeming opposites can not only coexist but be strong friends and learn from one another. What a charming early reader debut from Pizzoli!

Mindy Kim and the Fun Family Vacation (Apr. 29, 2025) by Lyla Lee.

   Dung Ho, illustrator.

Junior fiction chapter book.

<This is the twelfth and final book in a series.>

Adventure is set to begin. Mindy and her family are in Korea, and it’s baby Charlie’s first international trip. Mindy’s most excited to visit Jeju Island, as it’s her first trip there, but the journey is off to a bumpy start. First, Charlie won’t stop crying on the plane, then it’s pouring rain. She wants to visit Hallasan (Mount Halla in English), Korea’s biggest mountain, and meet haenyeo, Jeju Island’s female free divers. (Some haenyeo can dive up to 60 feet deep without any equipment!) Jeju is so fascinating. Once its own country, locals speak the Jeju dialect, which is similar to Korean (e.g. harabeoji is grandfather in Korean and hareubang is grandfather in Jeju-mal). Jeju also has guardian statues made of volcanic rock, also referred to as hareubang. Mindy’s first visit to Jeju Island is set to be memorable, but will it be for the wrong reasons?

            The final chapter book in the Mindy Kim series ends how it should. The story looks like it’s swiveling toward in-the-eyes-of-a-child disaster before its tidy, positive wrap-up. This series has been a delight to read and meaningful to me, a Korean American (though I’m an adoptee with no connection to either birth parent). It’s realistic fiction for a youthful audience, engaging and absorbing, but easily accessible, and it may introduce some readers to another culture. It’s a valuable series highlighting family, culture, diversity and life lessons.

Mindy Kim Books 1-5: A compilation post

Mindy Kim Book 6: Mindy Kim and the Big Pizza Challenge

Mindy Kim Book 7: Mindy Kim and the Fairy-Tale Wedding

Mindy Kim Books 8-10: A compilation post

            Mindy Kim Book 11: Mindy Kim, Big Sister

One Drop (Mar. 11, 2025) by Kaitlin Sikes.

   Mel Cerri, illustrator.

Children’s picture book.

Zing! Zap! Plop! One drop of water waits to make its journey from cloud to aquifer, tributary to lake, eventually making it to the Atlantic Ocean. This one drop passes by an iceberg, rushes over an underwater waterfall and takes a turn into a mud castle moat. One day, the one drop “evaporates up, up, up into the clouds, where it waits…” What happens next?

            This adorable picture book is a visually dynamic story. Cerri’s illustrations are simple yet bold and vibrant. Despite the confines of a storybook, the art manages to feel expansive, the one drop’s enthusiasm evident as it traverses the world. I also really enjoy Cerri’s lettering art. Sikes’ prose is easy to follow along with, while encouraging young readers to understand terms like aquifer and estuary. There is educational backmatter to provide additional facts.

What Is the Story of Cinderella? (Feb. 4, 2025) by Dana Meachen Rau.

   David Malan, illustrator.

Early-Reader nonfiction chapter book.

<This is an official Who HQ book.>

Most know the story of Cinderella or Disney’s version of it, which is inspired by Charles Perrault’s famous version. The pumpkin carriage, the animals transformed into footmen, a fairy godmother and twinkling glass slippers. But do you know Rhodopis, Ye Xian or Zezolla? The variations of Cinderella stories over millennia is varied, but they all involve lost footwear. Multiple versions highlight kindness in spite of hardship and harsh treatment. Others are more “Grimm” and definitely involve bloody messes. The best-known versions are mentioned alongside lesser-known ones. There’s also a chapter dedicated to those actresses (and an actor) who have brought Cinderella to life from stage to screen.

            One of the many writers of Who HQ stories brings to the page one of the most well-known Disney princesses and her literary origins that began long before her animated film debut. The slim, early-reader nonfiction volume is informative yet dazzling and entertains across cultures and continents. Cinderella’s story – no matter the version or the original language – is there to charm and to inspire. It’s also for dreamers (singing A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes) and those who “keep building up impossible hopes.” I don’t need a prince, but I wouldn’t say no to attending a ball!

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 13

Here is my nonfiction compilation post for the year. I had hopes of completing a second one, but it’s already September and reading nonfiction is never my strong suit, so it’s moved onto being a 2026 goal.

Change the Recipe: Because You Can’t Build a Better World Without Breaking Some Eggs (Apr. 22, 2025) by José Andrés.

   With Richard Wolffe.

Food is powerful. Food can be an introduction to other cultures or regions. It can cement traditions, and it can be a love language. Food is sustenance and brings people together. José Andrés is best-known as a Michelin-starred chef, but he’s also a humanitarian, TV host, author, husband and father of three. The humanitarian leader founded World Central Kitchen (WCK) in 2010. It’s a nonprofit dedicated to feeding the hungry. They’re boots-on-the-ground asap after natural and man-made disasters. It’s going to be uncomfortable, but, “Don’t settle for the comfortable or the familiar. That will always be the safety net for a circus performer.” Andrés takes the lifetime of experience he’s gained so far and uses this book as a collection of life lessons. He reminds readers, “It’s up to us to change the recipe.” (The backmatter includes several recipes, as well as a moving eulogy to the seven WCK workers who were killed in Gaza.) Remember to build longer tables, not higher walls.

            From humble beginnings to smashing successes, kitchens to conflict zones, Andrés’ newest authorial bestseller is part memoir, part manifesto and all lively. His rise to celebrity chef is fascinating and his growth into food philanthropist is inspirational. His conviction that food brings us closer together and that each of us is capable of contributing to positive change in the world is palpable throughout this slim volume. “We’re all in this country together. We’re all on this planet together. Your success is my success. We the People.” His insights are heartwarming and funny. His wisdom is hard-won and ever-growing. His heart is big, his patriotism apparent and his dedication to feeding the hungry is unrivaled. Let’s all bring food to the table like we’re having the biggest, most joyous potluck. We all have the power to help!

Growing Up Urkel (Nov. 19, 2024) by Jaleel White.

“Did I do that?” – Steve Urkel, Family Matters. Jaleel White’s memoir takes readers on his journey, from booking a commercial when he was three to landing one of the most iconic and memorable character roles of the 1990s to beyond TGIF. Readers like me may not have known Steven Urkel was only supposed to be a one-episode arc. He shares with readers his naïveté in dealing with the “game” of show business. He talks of his parents’ goal of him going to university, their joy when he was accepted at UCLA and the tricky balance of being a college student while also being an actively working famous actor. He isn’t shy about the high highs and the low lows, his luxury rides and name-dropping. He says his story is “a testament to the power of perseverance, authenticity, and reinvention.”

            I checked this book out from my local library. I rooted for it and for White, having grown up loving Family Matters and the entire TGIF lineup. I pictured reading his memoir to be nostalgic. It wasn’t. I struggled like I might not make it across the finish line. Don’t misread me. White’s book is insightful, and his journey is memorable. He’s seen so much and therefore has a lot of industry knowledge and a plethora of experience. I don’t doubt that his parents raised him with core values, but it’s hard to believe in his multiple-times-mentioned humility when he’s seeking out the hot girls and the “it” people and overdoing the name-dropping. There’s who he played hoops with, whose places he went to and the nightclubs he once attended with a mega rapper. He also dropped names of those in important positions before ticking off their less desirable attributes and said that he doesn’t give into pettiness, except for that one time when he wanted the pro dancer to sit in coach. Then there’s one moment in Chapter 15 where he can’t even be bothered to list an actress’ name, just that the movie starred “an unknown young actress,” after all these previous chapters of name-dropping. His story didn’t feel authentic to me and overall has a veneer of pettiness. Jaleel White could be the nicest guy in the world, but that’s not the impression given from the book. Yes, he’s lived a life many of us will never live. He writes his memoir like it’s an ode to the big life he’s led, but he’s really continuing to live in his own shadow. He may have grown up Urkel, but it doesn’t truly seem like he’s grown up.

In Gad We Trust (Jan. 14, 2025) by Josh Gad.

It’s easy to hear the name Josh Gad and think of his smashing success as the original Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon on Broadway or his ultra-popular voice role of Olaf in the worldwide popular Frozen film franchise or his turn as LeFou in the iconic, live-action Beauty and the Beast movie. As tends to be the case with people, Josh Gad is so much more than his famous roles. For the first (and possibly last) time, Josh Gad gives readers a “Tell-Some” on a variety of personal topics. He talks of his parents’ divorce and the lasting impact it’s had on his life. He shares his struggle with weight and being typecast, his take on fatherhood and growing up Jewish. He talks of his history as a speech and debate team member and, at the time he was writing his book, he was “somehow the most decorated speech competitor in the country, a stat that still humbles me to my core and boggles my mind.” (Note: The National Forensic League has since changed its name to the National Speech & Debate Association.) He talks of working with some who have passed like Robin Williams and Chadwick Boseman. No topic is off-limits. He encourages us to keep moving forward and take a chance at those riskier choices. Because that’s what he has done, and through the struggles and the lows, there have been incredible highs and a charismatic snowman who likes warm hugs.

            From what I’ve seen Gad in, he’s an entertaining performer. Now having made his adult debut with a memoir, he’s an entertaining author. His stories are reflective and transformative. The man admits loving to talk about himself, but any arrogance is offset by his vulnerability, especially when readers can see themselves in their own vulnerable moments, from body issues to losing loved ones (family and friends alike) to dealing with all forms of racism and discrimination. His characters may be known for garnering laughter, but Gad undoubtedly needed all the mental toughness he could muster to get where he is today. Gad’s story is conversational and cheeky, heartfelt and hilarious. I knew he had comedic talent, but he’s also a gifted storyteller, and this book has depth.

"Spectacular" by Stephanie Garber

Spectacular (Oct. 22, 2024) by Stephanie Garber.

   Rosie Fowinkle, illustrator.

<This is a standalone holiday novella.>

Welcome to Valenda, capital city of the Meridian Empire. It’s Great Holiday Eve Eve. Empress Scarlett Dragna loves this time of the year, and she’s planning a spectacular Holiday worthy of a city seeped in magic and enchantment. There are life-size gingerbread houses emitting cinnamon smoke and falling snow inside the castle that never lands on the floor nor musses one’s coiffure. Plus, Julian is looking ravishing. Green is absolutely his color. Scarlett’s younger sister, Donatella (Tella), is searching for the perfect gift for Legend and stressing about it. Legend is aloof which isn’t unlike him. Perhaps he’s envious of the magic of the Holiday when he’s himself magical, but he doesn’t care for the Great Holiday or any of its Eves. Tella’s search for the perfect gift takes her to Garland Street, one that only appears on Great Holiday Eve Eve. She’s snuck away, yet again, from her guards. Here be clockwork boys, beautifully poisoned candy, a mischievous snow globe and a shady avenue in the same city currently boasting magical decor. The Great Holiday is setting up to be full of merriment, magic and mayhem.

            I still find Tella to be like a spoiled child who always gets her way and doesn’t know how to solve the smallest crumb of a problem. She continually annoys me, but my opinion shouldn’t stop anyone from reading this holiday novella. It is steeped in holiday merriment and has me wanting to decorate for Christmas and bake Christmas cookies. It swirls and twirls with magically festive world-building. Fowinkle’s illustrations are lush and gorgeous. There’s sugar and spice and poison. There’s whimsy and wonder and magic. It’s a short tale meant for the Caraval fandom, holiday enthusiasts and fairytale dreamers everywhere.

            Book One: Caraval

            Book Two: Legendary

            Book Three: Finale

"Hangry Hearts" by Jennifer Chen

Hangry Hearts (Mar. 18, 2025) by Jennifer Chen.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Move over Capulets and Montagues, because the Taiwanese American Wus and Korean American Hurs are here (here being Los Angeles) with their five-year-old feud that the families treat as though happened last week. The matriarch grandmas (ahma = grandma in Chinese and halmeoni = grandma in Korean) don’t talk about The Incident, but when Julie Wu and Randall Hur realize they’re crushing hard on each other, the divide the feud fuels feels even more gargantuan. Their families’ constant bickering at the Pasadena Farmers Market on Saturdays – easily the most coveted day to sell – briefly finds the Wus and their Yum Yum Dim Sum stand moved to Sundays, much to the Wus’ anger, placing full blame on the Hurs and their Sebae stand. Julie and Randall are paired together on a community-service project for school with ultra-rich London Kim, whose family sells the most popular soju (a Korean alcoholic drink that is clear like water). London is clearly crushing on Julie, but with Julie’s interest in Randall, she knows she’s got to let him down kindly. The drama comes to a head when Julie’s almost criminally snoopy brother discovers her and Randall’s relationship. Can these hangry hearts be mended or has the rift boiled over for so long that anything salvageable has long since melted?

            Food feuds and family-friend fallout simmer through much of this YA contemporary romance featuring Asian Americans, second chances and so many foods that I want to consume (like tteokguk, twisted taro buns, hakka mochi, scallion pancakes and ALL of the dumplings). Julie and Randall have a history, but it is complex. Julie knew Randall before he was trans, and they don’t want to disappoint their grandmothers, whom they love so much. This tale of star-crossed lovers will appeal to romance fans looking for transgender and/or POC representation. Young romance, family and food combine to create a lush story that’s made with skill, drama, and, oh yeah, love.

            P.S. I need to experience fan tuan (sticky rice rolls that are classically savory, but can be made sweet).

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 12

I’ve done companion novel posts in the past, but not one specifically nicknamed Novellas (includes short stories). I don’t think this will be a regular post annually, but I wouldn’t be opposed.

The Housemaid’s Wedding (Nov. 4, 2024) by Freida McFadden.

<This short story fills the gap between Books 2 and 3.>

It’s her special day, the day she’s marrying the man of her dreams, and it starts with a death threat. Wilhelmina “Millie” Calloway has helped multiple women get away from abusive men, so threats aren’t uncommon in her line of work. But, come on, it’s supposed to be the happiest day of her life! Between the threat and a very important dress not fitting perfectly as it did a week ago, problems are being had. Millie tells herself she will tell her fiancé, Enzo Accardi. Tomorrow. All she has to do is fit into her dress, get married and contend with an unplanned obstacle, one that wants her dead.

            While not my usual way, my first book by McFadden is her short story. The hard part about short stories is that they can feel rushed and contrived, and that’s how this one felt. I know that her novels are hugely popular (I work in a library and see this firsthand), so I’m disappointed by this short story. Sure, there’s a thriller element, but the danger never feels intensive, and the wedding takes up nothing more than a piece of a short chapter. I would not spend money on this unless you’re a diehard McFadden fan. Consider checking it out from the library, as I did.

Book 1: The Housemaid

Book 2: The Housemaid’s Secret

Book 2.5: The Housemaid’s Wedding

Book 3: The Housemaid is Watching

The Shifting Current (May 2, 2023) by Dani Pettrey.

<This is a companion novella ending a series.>

When the call comes from Tom Mahoney, his high-school-buddy-turned-hometown-sheriff, Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) Special Agent Logan Perry is on the next flight to Silver City, New Mexico, with his teammate, CGIS Special Agent Emmy Thorton, the woman he also secretly loves. His grandfather’s been murdered in his own home in [fictional] Cauldron Creek. It looks like a robbery gone wrong. Their prime suspect is a female drifter who’d been staying in one of the guest bunkhouses. She always seems to be one step ahead. They suspect there’s at least one other person involved who’s male. Emmy’s grateful to be along to assist the investigation however she can without overstepping their bounds (since it’s not their jurisdiction). Logan thinks she’s there to be his teammate as she would on any assignment, but she secretly loves Logan and considers him to be husband material despite his playboy past. If they want a chance to grow their relationship, they’ve got to catch the killer before they become the next victims.

            Although I miss that this isn’t a full-length novel, this is a compact, romantic suspense tale of the Coastal Guardians series. It’s got grit to balance the pain, love and friendship to outweigh hatred and vileness with faith to cover everything. A little rushed, I felt, because of the short page count, but Pettrey still manages to include a solid plot, clean romance and danger that you know will be turned into a happy ending. After all, how can it not when the book includes the occasional Stetson hats, Wrangler jeans, cowboy boots and horses?

            Book One: The Killing Tide

            Book Two: The Crushing Depths

            Book Three: The Deadly Shallows

What Does It Feel Like? (Oct. 8, 2024) by Sophie Kinsella.

<This is a standalone novella.>

She’s a bestselling novelist whose books have been movies and garnered her walks on red carpets, photos with celebrities and time on movie sets. She buys a Jenny Packham dress, because “an occasion will present itself.” That’s Before. Then After arrives, and Eve Monroe awakes in a hospital bed with a brain that’s forgetful. She’s made her success with her words, and now she looks at a picture of a shirt and calls it a bag. She relearns how to walk and reminds herself that she has five children, her husband’s name is Nick, and what are the lyrics to ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ again? With her lacking short-term memory, many days are the first time she learns that she has glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer that does not have a good prognosis. All she wants is to keep going. That is her happy ending.

            Author Jodi Picoult states that, “This is the bravest book you’ll read all year,” and she may be right. While Eve Monroe is a fictional character, this story is the author’s. Sophie Kinsella has been battling glioblastoma and has survived longer than the average. This contemporary, adult fiction novella is funny in parts, sad in others, but is full of optimism and love throughout. Kinsella’s work of autobiographical fiction is a story of triumph, courage and strength, but vulnerability, too. It stirs the soul and encourages us all to live our best lives. This book is a gem, and I’m so glad that my coworker, Maggie, recommended it to me. Let it embolden us to be glowing beacons in heavy darkness, in our lives and the lives of others!

"Wish Upon a K-Star" by Kat Cho

Wish Upon a K-Star (Apr. 29, 2025) by Kat Cho.

<This is both a standalone and spin-off novel.>

The world’s biggest K-pop group, WDB, is dealing with dating scandals, and Moon Minseok – otherwise known as Moonster to his fanbase – has to step up and take charge of the group’s image, even though he’s not the leader. Shin Hyeri is a veteran to scandals. Once part of the now-disbanded K-pop girl group Helloglow, she was pitted early on against fellow member Kim Ana. Netizens have labeled her a bully and a nepo baby, claiming her inclusion in the group was only due to her idol brother, Hyejun, of the K-pop group AX1S. When a scandal arises involving Minseok and Hyeri as co-hosts at a K-pop midsummer festival, it’s decided that going on Korea’s popular variety show, Our Celebrity Marriage, is the key to saving both of their reputations. On this show, celebrities get fake married and participate in newlywed challenges. The plan is simple enough: pretend to get along, create swoony moments for the fans, win back those fans and move on with their lives, Minseok actively back with WDB and Hyeri gaining momentum as an up-and-coming K-drama actress. Will their fake marriage lead to true love? Or will the weight of scandal lead them to shame-faced ruin?

            A K-popping K-drama this contemporary romance YA definitely is. I didn’t feel the swoony tone or romcom vibes that are likely the author’s aim, but my opinion shouldn’t stop any readers of any K-pop or K-drama fandoms from enjoying this story. It’s overall written well, the author highlighting the less glittery and glamorous side of the K-pop world. She takes on sasaengs (obsessive fans) and anti-fans, gender double standards and the overwhelming pressure on idols to be perfect. The chemistry between Hyeri and Minseok is obvious, and there is some kissing, but Hyeri’s anxiety is so next-level that the “romance” feels weak. The main characters are both charming, their journey rocky but not without hope. When it comes to Hyeri, I simultaneously want to shield her from brutal anti-fans, shake her for always cowering in front of her selfish, overbearing mother, and talk until I’m blue in the face if it’d help her see her self-worth. It’s fiction, but it’s not only literary clickbait for real-life idols, and that’s alarming. No one should have to put up with that “just because” they’re famous.

            Also by Kat Cho: Once Upon a K-Prom

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 11

I aim to make this a regular compilation post annually, but its nickname all these months has been Christmas in July. None of these books were published in July, but as you can see from the titles, they all have a Christmas theme. Happy Christmas in July! (^-^)

Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor (Sept. 3, 2024) by Roseanna M. White.

<This is a standalone novella.>

In Edwardian-era England, 19-year-old Lady Mariah Lyons is the beloved stepdaughter of Lord Geoffrey Lightbourne, the Earl of Castleton. Her mother married the earl when Mariah was only two years old. Lady Mariah has grown up in the idyllic Plumford Manor, a home and village she cherishes, and it’s rechristened Sugar Plum Manor every Christmas holiday. Her childhood friend, whom she hasn’t seen in 12 years, 22-year-old Cyril Lightbourne, is set to return to Plumford as its heir. Lady Mariah once dreamed her friendship with Cyril would spark into something more, but she’s learned that he’s courting the cruel Lady Pearl Kingeland. She vows to accept him as a friend and prays he’ll be the heir her stepfather and Plumford need.

            A youthful misunderstanding kept Cyril away from Plumford Manor, and he no longer has an attachment to Lady Pearl. He hopes Mariah is still a friend, but winning her heart may pose tricky, as a Danish lord, Søren Gyldenkrone, is determined to win her hand and whisk her back to Denmark. Will the magic of the holiday season usher in true love like sugar plums, cinnamon and gingerbread usher holiday merriment into a festive home?

            This short tale is layered with friendship, love, sugar plums, gingerbread and an E.T.A. Hoffman-inspired Nutcracker play. The main characters are easy to root for, and it’s even easy to root for Lord Gyldenkrone and hope for a happy outcome for Lady Louise, Lady Mariah’s 26-year-old widowed sister. There are Scrooge-y hearts that need thawing. The whimsical backdrop of this novella, with its holiday descriptions and Christmassy foods, makes for a charming historical romance. While outside the realm of her usual novels, White remains a powerhouse in Christian, historical fiction. What a treat that it’s Christmas-themed this time!

The Christmas Tree Farm (Sept. 3, 2024) by Melody Carlson.

<This is a standalone novella.>

After several years of teaching in Mongolia, Madison McDowell has returned to her family’s Christmas tree farm in Oregon. There’s damage after a recent wildfire, and it’s also been neglected due to her younger sister’s unwillingness to invest her time and money into the farm. Addie wants to sell, claiming there wasn’t much to inherit after their other grandparent passed away, but Madison is prepared to invest in the farm, and she does. Her time, her money, her sweat. She isn’t thrilled that their property-adjoining neighbors want to create a dusty, noisy, dirt bike track, but maybe dirt bikes aren’t so bad? The neighbor is a widower and her first love, Gavin Thompson, whose younger daughter, Lily, wants the track. The older daughter, Lucy, is away at college. Now all she wants is for them to be good neighbors and friends. Just friends. (Maybe.) Her focus is the Christmas tree farm and restoring the one place that ever felt like home to Madison. It’ll take grit, hard work and great effort to restore the farm, but that may prove easier than reconciling with her sister. Will unexpected help spell a second chance at love or will it just dredge up painful memories right before Christmas?

            This Hallmark moviesque novella is a Christian, contemporary romance with drops of faith that will have readers wanting a custom wreath, the fresh scent of a real Christmas tree and plenty of hot cocoa. Readers know the story will be tied up with a neat bow by the story’s end, but that’s not a bad thing when you know going in that you’re in for a swift, sweet, charming story that encourages holiday spirit.

Santa’s Secret (Sept. 24, 2024) by Fern Michaels.

<This is the third book in a series.>

With Christmas fast-approaching, ‘tis the season for high school friends Frankie (Francesca) Cappella, Amy Blanchard, Rachael Newmark and Nina Hunter to go on a Girls’ Trip. Their trip finds three-quarters of them traveling with partners, and Frankie’s parents are going, too. They’re traveling to Salerno, Italy, where Giovanni Lombardi’s family lives. Giovanni is Frankie’s boyfriend. Giovanni and his older brother, Marco, run an Italian restaurant in Manhattan, and the traditional family recipes delight tourists and locals alike. But one recipe eludes them, and it’s their mother’s coveted panettone. She claims it’s “Santas’ secret.” Amy, Rachael and Nina have their own side quests planned before converging on the Lombardi family. From lost luggage to the wrong tour group to jet lag and Vespas, there’s never a dull getaway with this crew of high school friends and company.

            The third in the Santa’s Crew series (I’ve not read the previous two) likely finds strong readership with viewers who enjoy their Hallmark holiday movies era. There’s amazing food, mischief-making, holiday merriment and wholesome romance in this contemporary romance, Christmas story. It’s a story of beloved traditions and making new memories. My one struggle is how she writes her interactions with her friends. The friends are in my generational age group, but none of my various friends with their varied backgrounds and current stations interact like that, not even those friends who are huggers. Those interactions are cringey to me. Still, for readers looking for a little merry mayhem during the holiday season and copious amounts of delectable Italian food, this may be the Christmas story for them.

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 10

Here I am with a second adult fiction compilation for 2025. I didn’t purposely aim for variety, but in this post, you’ll find magical realism, a cozy, contemporary mystery and domestic (or women’s) fiction.

The Cat Who Saved the Library (Apr. 8, 2025) by Sosuke Natsukawa.

   Louise Heal Kawai, translator.

<This is a sequel book.>

The local library is 13-year-old Nanami Kosaki’s home away from home. Her books are her best friends, though she does have one human friend, a straightforward classmate named Itsuka Imamura who’s often seen carrying her archery bow. Nanami, with her “wild horse” asthma, can’t do physically exerting things, and she’s had limited exposure to the outside world. But her world is in the books she reads, so it’s troubling when she notices that some of her favorite books are disappearing from the library’s shelves. There is a mysterious man taking them, but maybe more mysterious is Tiger the Tabby. He’s a talking cat. There’s a passageway that glows blue, and the General tries to convince her that books are extremely dangerous, the Prime Minister tells her that imagination is the worst evil of all, and the King only seems to understand power. There’s also Rintaro Natsuki, a.k.a. Mr. Proprietor, who helps Nanami and Tabby out of a tight spot. Rintaro owns Natsuki Books, and he understands what Nanami and Tabby are trying to do. Save books.

            Whether someone reads one genre or multiple, all readers understand the transporting power of good literature. In a time where book bans are at an all-time high (or it certainly seems so), this contemporary fantasy, magical realism story is needed. It’s a story where faceless gray soldiers led by a changeling menace (who happens to take the form of men in authority roles) are stealing books to try to erase them from humans’ minds. They are taking away the freedom to choose, but Natsukawa writes the story in a way that’s warm and wise. The fleeing scenes don’t have the intensity of an action-adventure or suspense novel, but it doesn’t diminish the seriousness of the situation. We are reminded to think for ourselves and be intelligent about it. “We need to see things with our heart as well as our mind, but that view can easily become clouded” (Rintaro, p. 67).

            Book One: The Cat Who Saved Books (haven’t read as of this posting)

The Kamogawa Food Detectives (Feb. 13, 2024/US edition) by Hisashi Kashiwai.

   Jesse Kirkwood, translator.

<This is the first novel in a series.>

The Kamogawa Diner exists past the Higashi Honganji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, down a quiet backstreet. The restaurant has no sign and no listed menu and those customers looking for the Kamogawa Detective Agency typically have naught to go on but one line from an ad in Gourmet Monthly magazine: “We Find Your Food.” Koishi Kamogawa and her father, Nagare, run the unique restaurant, serving delicious food on high-quality dishes with top-brand chopsticks. But the reason for their ad proclaims them to be “food detectives.” Koishi takes the initial information, but it’s Nagare who does the bulk of the research and creates the lost recipe, treasured by the customer. One customer wants tonkatsu that her ex-husband used to make for her. Another wants Napolitan spaghetti that she once ate with her grandfather when she was five years old, but she has no recollection of where they ate it or the name of the restaurant. The unassuming restaurant is one of lost recipes waiting to be found – and eaten – again.

            Reading “The Kamogawa Food Detectives” (TKFD) is like being enveloped by your favorite comfort food and warmed up by a steaming bowl of soup. Each of the six chapters follows the same recipe (a.k.a. setup), and each meal is worthy of a Michelin star. TKFD is completely charming. Koishi and Nagare are so warm and welcoming, that I wish this was a local restaurant that I could frequent. It’s beautifully crafted and completely off-beat compared to other mystery stories. You’ll find no dead bodies or major scandals, but good company, great cuisine and culinary history for each of the found-again foods. It’s an ode to nostalgic food; it’s umami for the soul. Remember to savor each bite (a.k.a. page)!

The Memory Library (Dec. 3, 2024) by Kate Storey.

<This is a standalone novel.>

Every year, on July 11 at midnight, Sally Harrison adds a new book to a special bookshelf with a personal note to the daughter who hasn’t been home in 21 years. Ella, Sally’s only child, fled from the U.K. to Australia after angry words were exchanged, and she’s had nothing but cursory contact via phone with her mother. Ella and Charlie’s daughter, Willow, doesn’t properly know her own grandma, who’d love to dote on her. When an accident prompts Ella to grudgingly return to the home she grew up in, she learns critical lessons about herself that are hard to learn, like how judgmental she’s been -- to her mother and to Nathan, one of her mother’s next-door neighbors. Something precious of Sally’s has been ruined because of the accident, and Ella may find it within herself to do something positive about it.

            While I wasn’t specifically looking for a domestic fiction story, this one’s large print edition cover and “Library” in the title caught my attention. As gathered from the title, this lovely novel celebrates books and libraries (and notes that libraries these days do so much more than simply house physical books), but also emphasizes the importance of family, compassion and love. There’s the rekindling of love between spouses who’ve let life drift them apart, the understanding of the unconditional love of a parent while accepting the misunderstanding of youth that led to a false accusation toward said parent whose love never wavered, and the love of friendship that’s grown dusty with time. Ella’s not an easy character to like in the beginning, but as her awareness grows and understanding seeps in, the complexity of her and Sally’s characters really stand out. A touching story, full of heart and hope.

            P.S. No, I don’t need large print books. My local library only has the large print edition, so I checked that one out vs. requesting the regular print from a different library.

A Poem: "To Lefse ... But Mostly Grandma Shirley!"

To Lefse ... But Mostly Grandma Shirley!

Today we celebrate Shirley’s Granite Jubilee

And the revered matriarch she is, I’m sure you’ll agree.

She’s great, she’s grand, she’s a tour de force.

She’s grandma to me, one I’ll always endorse.

With all of us here, our memories of Shirley are vast.

They might make us laugh or cry or leave us aghast.

What stories will Shirley tell? What do you ask?

In the memories she shares, we all will bask.

I recall those hunting weekends where we all gathered here

And the line between those trees where they’d display the deer.

Those hunting weekends were like an extra holiday,

Filled with food and family and grandchildren at play.

I think back to visiting my grandparents in Pinellas Park.

Enjoying Leverock’s was always a trip hallmark,

As was an orange-vanilla twist from Orange Blossom Groves,

And eating strawberries, one of Grandpa’s favorites, in droves.

We both like to eat at the local Chinese buffet.

Count on Grandma when you want a foodie day.

I can’t mention food and leave lefse out.

Shirley’s made lefse snobs of us all; it’s such a standout. 

Shirley’s gliding into her nonagenarian years,

Entering a most auspicious stratosphere.

Grandma, I hope you enjoy your birthday jamboree,

A day to be merry, fun and carefree!

-LK

July 5, 2025

(Written July 2, 2025)

"Children of Anguish and Anarchy" by Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Anguish and Anarchy (June 25, 2024) by Tomi Adeyemi.

<This is the final novel in a trilogy.>

<Alert: Potential spoilers ahead.>

Torturous pain and puddles of blood punctuate Zélie Adebola’s existence since she and so many were captured. The monarchy was felled, the magi had overcome the tîtáns, and it felt like Orïsha could rebuild with magi safely at the helm. Instead, they are far from Orïsha’s shores, trapped in cages, starving, tortured and dying at the hands of warriors with iron skulls, led by King Baldyr. He’s a man obsessed with harnessing Zélie’s magic and has ravaged the lands trying to find her. Allies are necessary for everyone if Orïsha is to become home again. Inan Olúborí goes with a group of magi. As a tîtán, he is not tolerated well, but he must find a way to unite the groups lest the remaining people be destroyed. Meanwhile, Zélie, Tzain (her brother) and Amari (Inan’s sister) go another direction to find the other person Baldyr seeks, hoping to reach her before he does. What now resides over Zélie’s heart has returned her powers – they’re different but they’re there – and enables her to return the gifts of others, but none of them are yet free. The Blood Moon nears, as does the king who hunts her.

            Pushing beyond the battles and bloodshed rises a varied people – magi, tîtáns and soldiers (the most latter without any magic) – ready to give their lives so that the survivors can make their homeland home again. The fantasy landscape is earthshaking and captivating, the emotion is deep and raw, the bravery of Zélie and her allies is mighty and inspiring. The story’s brutality is devastating and traumatic, but it cannot overwhelm the strength of one’s roots nor the beauty of their courage. This expansive journey is epic.

            Legacy of Orïsha Book One: Children of Blood and Bone

            Legacy of Orïsha Book Two: Children of Virtue and Vengeance

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 9

Having just published my second YA compilation post, if you know my blog and me at all, you already expect that a second Christian/inspirational fiction post is not far behind. Here is the second Christian/inspirational fiction post of 2025.

Meeting Her Match (July 16, 2024) by Jen Turano.

<This is the third and final novel in a series.>

Renowned matchmaker, influential member of the New York Four Hundred and an Incomparable during her Season, Miss Camilla Pierpont has vowed to never marry after a devastating heartbreak years ago. After she’s nearly abducted along the Hudson River as she’s with Lottie McBriar, her recently hired paid companion, she’s rescued by a broad, outspoken man who annoys her when he calls her a “little lady,” and she assumes he’s working with the would-be abductors. When it turns out he isn’t, looking the worse for wear after a tussle with an angry mama raccoon (a very exciting morning), Camilla learns that he knows Mr. Walter Townsend and has a note to prove it. This gentleman is Mr. Owen Chesterfield, and he’s there to convince Camilla to sponsor his sister, Miss Luella, and take her in hand. Owen, a businessman, owns Chesterfield Nail Manufacturing, which supplies almost the entire country with nails, but Camilla doubts she’ll be able to help his sister. When she receives a telegram that someone from her past is heading toward New York, and considering the unknown abductors, Camilla decides to travel in Owen’s Pullman car to Wheeling, West Virginia. She goes with stereotypical expectations, but acclimates well to the informal attitude of Owen’s hometown. She even whitewashes a fence and almost gets trampled by Esmerelda, Meemaw’s pig. As it were, danger follows her to West Virginia, and it could disrupt the most spectacular match of all: her own.

            Every time I read a Jen Turano story, I am filled with bubbly delight. The women in her stories are independent, the lead males sometimes bumbling but well-meaning (like Owen), and the antagonists are dastardly but always get their comeuppance. Camilla’s avoidance of a specific recipe is entertaining, as is Meemaw, and the humor throughout accentuates the propulsive narrative, its twists, the budding romance and the local vernacular of this area of the Ohio Valley. Like its predecessors in the series, this Gilded-Age period, Christian historical romance is wholesome, witty, spunky and fun.

            The Matchmakers Book One: A Match in the Making

            The Matchmakers Book Two: To Spark a Match

A Noble Scheme (Mar. 19, 2024) by Roseanna M. White.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

The Imposters have taken on a pro bono case. A young boy has been kidnapped, mistaken for his aristocratic cousin. Sidney Hart’s parents appealed to Mrs. Hart’s late sister’s husband, Lord Philmore Wilfred, but as it wasn’t his son who was kidnapped, he refused to help. Lord Wilfred is a coldhearted, cutthroat, querulous man who tends to see only dollar signs. As it stands, Horace Wilfred is determined to find a way to save his cousin, with or without his father’s help. This case brings Gemma Parks (known to London’s elite as renowned columnist G.M. Parker) and Graham Wharton in close working quarters. The first awful anniversary of a tragedy is approaching, and Gemma has spent that year avoiding Graham and casting vitriolic blame. He admits to his arrogance and his part in the tragedy. It’s pushed him away from God, from believing, but Graham is determined to win Gemma back. He’s only ever loved her. Together with the rest of the Imposters team, they’ll have to devise a noble scheme to rescue the boy, and hopefully, in the process, find the healing they both need.

            Despite the personal turmoil between Gemma and Graham, they have good hearts, just as all of the Imposters do. Money is tight, yet Yates doesn’t hesitate to take the case for free. Glamour resides alongside those in the aristocracy, but glamour is also used as a clever distraction. The second in The Imposters series is a Christian historical romance where not one, but both main characters need faith healing alongside forgiveness. Their emotions are still raw, making the story all the more realistic despite its Edwardian England setting. White’s stories are always quick to draw me in with their shrewd-but-imperfect characters, independent women and forward-moving plots. Immersive and compelling!

            Favorite lines: “Words were wily things – but they were miraculous too. They created, they shaped, they breathed life. God used them to form the universe, and Christ had come as a living Word to write Himself onto the hearts of humankind.” (p. 78)

            Book 1: A Beautiful Disguise

Target Acquired (Aug. 20, 2024) by Lynette Eason.

<This is the second novel in a series.>

Growing up the youngest with three brothers, Kenzie King had to be tough in a household where their mom died when she was a young teen, and their father made everything a competition. Now in her 30s, she’s worked harder than any of the men to prove she belongs on the SWAT team as a tactical medic and the only woman. SWAT team leader Cole Garrison has known Kenzie since she was a kid, as he’s good friends with her brother, Logan. He knows she’s the better qualified candidate; she even carries M.D. behind her name, but not everyone agrees that she’s the best choice. In fact, someone is trying to kill her, going so far as to demand that she quit the team. And if one of her teammates is injured in the crossfire, so be it. Does someone on the team want her off of it so badly that he’ll keep trying to kill her and ambush the team? As if the stress of that isn’t enough, her dad has laid a bombshell on her, and the truth of that past and a further past may have a surprising connection to the here and now.

            A Christian romantic suspense novel, the next in the Lake City Heroes series teems with grit, secrets, past hurts and present-day turmoil. The necessity for the characters to think on their feet aids in the quick pacing of the story. It’s suspenseful and zippy, sometimes biting and emotional, but it’s steered by steadfast faith, lighthearted moments and the support of strong friendships. Eason effortlessly manages to write a contemporary novel with flashback snippets to 1947, weaving a past that has implications in the present.

            Book One: Double Take

Rutabaga's Reads 2025: Part 8

Welcome to this year’s second batch of young adult (YA) fiction! I’ve got a nice variety in this compilation. There’s a sci-fi/fantasy space opera, a fantasy/mythology origin story and a historical, murder mystery noir.

Bemused (Jan. 7, 2025) by Farrah Rochon.

<This is a standalone novel.>

They are the Muses, Goddesses of Arts and Proclaimers of Heroes. Except they aren’t. Not yet. Right now, Calliope (Calli), Clio, Melpomene (Mel), Terpsichore (Ree) and Thalia know themselves to be five mortal sisters and daughters of Mnemosyne. Their mom forbids them from performing in public without explanation. The teenagers are all gifted performers with no audience. This changes when Ree choreographs an amazing public performance that’s also disastrous. Mnemosyne declares that they must leave Krymmenos, but before they can, she is abducted. They now know she’s a goddess, but do not know that she’s the goddess of memory. Under Calli’s leadership, the sisters travel to Thebes to petition the gods, and Apollo and Hermes answer the call. Trouble is, they don’t recall their mother. Unbeknownst to all of them – the sisters and the two Greek gods – they are being thwarted by Hades and his imps, Pain and Panic. As they journey to try to save their mother, through mythical trials and tribulations and the Underworld itself, they realize their own unique gifts crafted in them by their mother and lean on the strength of their sisterhood, present even when tempers flare. These sisters five have never been zeroes, but they’re definitely on their way to being heroines. “And that’s the gospel truth!”

            A fresh-faced YA fantasy take on Greek mythology, this untold origin story of the five Muses from Disney’s Hercules is a terrific exploration of the Muses, female goddesses that are not as well-known as other Greek gods and goddesses. Told from the viewpoints of Calli, Ree, Mnemosyne and Hades, it is an adventure that’s harrowing and heartfelt, devoted and dramatic (that Hades and his temperamental, color-changing moods). Rochon is clearly skilled in creating characters with distinct personalities – I had no trouble distinguishing each of the sisters – and taking on fairy tale adaptations. Like the sisters’ quest, Rochon’s writing is thrilling. She balances well sisterhood and risky adventure like the bestselling author that she is.

The Muses (oldest to youngest):

Muse of Epic Poetry: Calliope

Muse of History: Clio

Muse of Tragedy: Melpomene

Muse of Dance: Terpsichore

Muse of Comedy: Thalia

Kill Her Twice (Apr. 23, 2024) by Stacey Lee.

<This is a standalone novel.>

The pride of Chinatown, the one who was able to leave and become a star of the silver screen, has returned ... in death. Lulu Wong is discovered by the two eldest Chow sisters in an abandoned stable where they prep their flowers before selling: May, the responsible eldest who was Lulu’s friend and classmate, and Gemma, the fiery middle sister with a knack for ideas that may or may not land her in hot water. Peony, the youngest, often feels left out when Gemma and, grudgingly, May, complete their own investigation into Lulu’s death. It’s 1932, and the LA police don’t appear committed to putting in any serious investigation. Chinatown already has a bad rap, because powerful, rich, white people want to demolish the neighborhood, citing that the Chinese are “by nature, drunken and slovenly,” and fill a neighborhood that’s full of crime and “many hideous perversions,” to make way for a railway depot (Union Station). When the LAPD arrests one of Chinatown’s own for the murder of Lulu, someone they know couldn’t hurt a fly, even May truly doubles down on investigating, going so far as to become (accidentally, on her part) a part of the film production Lulu had been cast in. Unfortunately, the actual killer remains on the loose. Will May and Gemma wind up in the killer’s crosshairs?

            Firstly, while this YA murder mystery noir is a work of fiction, Los Angeles’ Union Station truly does stand where Old Chinatown once stood. Told from the alternating viewpoints of May and Gemma, this twisty, historical novel is witty, intricate, immersive and captivating, exploring prejudice, corruption, grief and familial duty within a swiftly-moving story featuring star characters and a little Old Hollywood flair. There are no love triangles or angst-y teens to deal with in this riveting, historical page-turner. Amid the glitz and grime, there is sisterhood and unity despite discord. It’s another smartly written novel from Lee.

Moonstorm (June 4, 2024) by Yoon Ha Lee.

<This is the first novel in a trilogy.>

Hwajin. Hwa Young. Two names, same person. When Hwajin was 10 years old, Imperials of the Empire of New Joseon destroyed her home, a clanner moon in the Moonstorm called Carnelian, where starblooms flourish. She’s orphaned and is rescued by a lancer, a giant martial robot piloted by a lancer pilot. From that day forward, she yearns to be the best and the strongest in order to achieve lancer pilot status. When an attack at her boarding school finds Hwa Young (a ward of the state, she has no last name due to no family affiliation) and her classmates in need of rescue, her dream looks to become reality. Eleventh Fleet is in dire need of pilot candidates, but the tricky part is, the lancer chooses the pilot. Only one lancer in the fleet has singularity lance capabilities, giving it extraordinary combat potential, and it’s also the one that’s killed multiple pilot candidates in the past. Will Winter’s Axiom finally choose another pilot? Hwa Young has worked so hard to hide her clanner past. Uncovering a conspiracy may jeopardize that past and the Imperial empire she’s been so loyal to for the last six years.

            Trust the Empress. Unity is survival. Imperial vs. clanner words. This explosive YA trilogy starter is a sci-fi, space opera force to be reckoned with. A teen with a past pushes herself to excel in a society where conformity is valued above all else and loyalty to the Empress generates gravity (and can weaponize it). This story is high-concept and mecha with an all-Korean cast. It’s a good choice for readers who are too young to read Xiran Jay Zhao’s “Iron Widow.” Nonbinary characters use zie/zir pronouns. This adventure has a definite theme of colonialism in an unexpected setting (outer space) and revolution with intriguing characters, powerful world-building and action-packed battles. It is intricate and high-octane.