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.

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.

"The Longest Ride" by Nicholas Sparks

The Longest Ride (Sept. 17, 2013) by Nicholas Sparks.

French Slovakian Sophia Danko is a senior from New Jersey at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She’s a dedicated student belonging to the Chi Omega sorority, and her roommate/best friend, Marcia Peak, is the reason she finds herself watching a bull riding competition. She has her doubts about attending, especially after her skuzzy ex-boyfriend shows up. Then in swoops young, ultra-attractive cowboy Luke Collins (“eye candy” according to Marcia). Neither is looking for a relationship; Sophia continues to deal with her failed relationship with cheating Brian, and Luke is competing in a sport he had walked away from, but has returned to in order to help make payments on his mom’s ranch. He feels responsible for her being in the financial situation she’s in. Still, despite their separate issues, Sophia and Luke find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. Making their very different lives work, though – an art history major wanting to work in a museum and a lifelong rancher – will make for a difficult relationship, not to mention Luke’s omission to Sophia.

            Ira Levinson, an elderly man in his nineties, is in trouble. He’s gone off the road on the way to Black Mountain. His collarbone and arm are broken, and something is wrong with his shoulder. He’s got a bleeding head wound, and although there is a full thermos of coffee, two sandwiches, prunes and a bottle of water somewhere in the car, there’s no way he can reach it. Even the littlest movement has lightning bolts of pain shooting through him. Perhaps it’s the pain that causes him to hallucinate about his beloved wife, Ruth, gone for nine years. But no matter, for her company focuses him and helps him remain alert, as he also hopes someone will find him on the steep embankment, because there’s one more thing … Through Ruth, he’s trying to remain alert, but he feels himself “… shrinking, like a sand castle slowly being washed away with every wave.”

            Classic Sparks again. If you know Sparks’ books, then you know the template: an intertwining storyline with a sweet romance sometimes bordering on over-sappiness. Some of these most recent books have also visited the dark sides of characters, but the main characters remain kind-hearted and good. They also show us that love is stronger than just about anything. As it is classic Sparks, it is a good book if you’re in the mood for romantic fiction. There are points that make you laugh and perhaps even shed a tear; other moments may have you rolling your eyes or wishing that your life held that spark – that spark being someone who is truly special. The story is poignant, as it can be following someone’s likely end-of-days, but it’s much more than that. It’s a story of an extraordinary journey. Not fantastical in a superstar sense, but that it’s just a life well-lived. It’s the longest ride, full of happiness and pain, expectation and disappointment, ups and down, but always full of love, even in the darkest of times.