Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 9

While I continue to maintain that I read more YA fiction than anything, it is true that I read a lot of inspirational/Christian fiction. Not only is this the second inspirational fiction compilation post of this year, it also purposely includes books that were all released this year. Interestingly enough, they also released on the same date (surprisingly enough, that was not on purpose).

Code of Valor (Jan. 1, 2019) by Lynette Eason.

*This is the third book in a series.*

As a financial crimes investigator for a bank, Emily Chastain is no stranger to tracking vast sums of money. She’s been tracking some accounts with strange movement that happen to involve someone from her past. Her best friend, Heather Gilstrap, a reporter, has been putting her investigative skills to use and tracked this particular someone. Unfortunately, Heather is now missing, and Emily is rescued by Detective Brady St. John, who’d been trying to vacation in a cabin normally closed for the winter season, but had sweet-talked the owner-friends into letting  it to him for two weeks. It’s clear that Emily had been abducted and was likely to be killed. More life-threatening events try to smother the both of them, so Brady sticks to Emily almost like glue. The killers clearly want information from her that she doesn’t have. Why do they think she has that info? What’s more, are there actually two different groups trying to get to her first?

            Mutual attraction is almost immediate. Brady is handsome, brave, strong and compassionate. He is unlike any other man Emily’s known, which is why she wants to keep her distance and keep safe her heart. Emily is no waif and states she’s not even close to a size 6. She’s always been self-conscious of her size, which is slimmer than it was, but it remains a struggle. She’s become accepting of herself over the years, but that doesn’t stop doubts from sneaking in. Can Brady truly see past her physical appearance to the person beneath? Signs seem to say that he can and with ease. Will Emily open her heart to him?

            This third story in the Blue Justice series further cements how awesome it’d be if the St. John siblings were real. I’d want to be their friend. Some may be unmoved by what they feel is a predictable tale, and I don’t fault anyone for that line of thinking. I appreciated that it was fast-paced and faith-based without being preachy. Fans will have already snapped up this story. For those who haven’t found Lynette Eason, give her books a try if you’re looking for energetic and intense thrillers with strong faith bases (by at least one main character and definitely both by the end). Also, thanks to this book, I think I’ll take up scuba diving and earn my PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certification. No, I won’t. But perhaps you will?

            Book One: Oath of Honor

            Book Two: Called to Protect

Flights of Fancy (Jan. 1, 2019) by Jen Turano.

*This is the first book in a series.*

When she gains unwanted attention from the lecherous and creepy Duke of Montrose, Miss Isadora “Izzie” Delafield is sent packing. Not by her family, as her father is abroad and her mother would love nothing more than for Izzie to marry into a title, but by her family’s butler and her best friend’s family’s butler. She responds to an ad for a housekeeper at Glory Manor, though she isn’t qualified in the least, and is shocked to find that it is a farm. She’s there under the assumed name of Mrs. Izzie Delmont. She can’t fake looking old, but she’s sporting hideous spectacles (with clear lenses). She also can’t fake to know all that she doesn’t, but she’s adept at organizing and becomes an efficient household manager, plus the four children that Aunt Birdie and Uncle Amos took in (permanently) come to love her rather quickly.

            33-year-old Ian MacKenzie is a businessman who expects much of those he does business with. This means Izzie should’ve been sent packing before her trunk made it in the house, but she gave him a business proposal he couldn’t refuse. Also, he needed to rush back to Pittsburgh, so he was desperate for a housekeeper. He’s shocked by Izzie’s not-old age and is almost offended that she won’t “set her cap” for him. Ian’s long declared that he’s looking for a woman of a certain social station, so a housekeeper wouldn’t allow him to marry up. Why, then, does he find himself thinking of her? And she of him with all of his manly muscles?

            Adventure in the American Heiresses series (the year is 1885) doesn’t stem from a high-seas escapade, a dramatic quest or even a cross-country journey. Instead, it stems from the busyness of country life and the antics of four children, all under the age of 10. Izzie learns the hard way how she’s taken the luxuries of life for granted and how demanding she can be, so it was refreshing to see the positive growth and change in her. It’s also encouraging to see Ian’s eyes open up as well. Although his early years were rough, he seemingly forgot what it was like to grow up that way, knowing that numerous others place themselves in that sort of danger every day to try to provide for their families, while he’s been striving to increase his impressive fortune even more. Both have been selfish, but both are open to growth and betterment within themselves. “Flights of Fancy” is a strong start to a new series, and I look forward to reading Turano’s next installment.

Under the Midnight Sun (Jan. 1, 2019) by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse.

*This is the third book in a series.*

Ever since her dad died, everything has been very different. Too different. Her mom’s grief has turned toward money and overseeing all of the family’s vast business holdings. Tayler Grace Hale has defied the expectations of society ladies in 1929 and gone to college. Her dad was her biggest supporter as she worked her way to becoming a highly skilled botanist, naturalist and interpreter. Her brother, whom she’d been so close to before their dad died, has seemingly closed himself off from them, returning to New York City after the funeral to oversee his own successful business holdings. Her mother has turned to trying to force Tayler into marrying Emerson Pruitt. Having known him since childhood, they were once engaged. Well, he still maintains that they’re engaged, but she repeatedly witnessed his womanizing ways a few years back and called off the engagement. She flees to her job in Colorado and, ultimately, runs away to Curry, Alaska, when an opening comes about. There, she finds a group of employees so close-knit as to be a family, blood ties or no. It’s here that she meets Thomas Smith, one of her coworkers. He judges her because he doesn’t want to get close to her and wrongly assumes that she doesn’t have the skills she supposedly totes because she’s a woman, so she deems him brooding and untrusting, which are both qualities very unlike him. It’s obvious to everyone before it’s clear as crystal to the two 23-year-olds that attraction – and perhaps love – have set in. When the part of life she ran away from shows up in Curry, will Tayler have the grace to forgive and fortitude to stand her ground? And when someone brings forth unbelievable accusations against Thomas, will his Curry family stand behind him? Will Tayler?

            Just as I have with the first two books in The Heart of Alaska series, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is a story of faith and [work-] family, camaraderie and teamwork, knowing to listen, being willing to learn, keeping a smart mind and recognizing whom to trust. There are many dynamics occurring, thus creating a multi-layered story with distinguishable characters, including familiar faces from the previous stories. Because of these books, I want to see where the actual Curry Hotel once stood. I want to visit Denali. Anyone up for a trip to Alaska?

            Book One: In the Shadow of Denali

            Book Two: Out of the Ashes

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 8

For this compilation, I’m pulling from multiple age categories and genres. While I don’t read every single sort of thing – for example, I avoid graphic novels, as I simply don’t care for them – I aim to be a well-rounded reader … most of the time. All these stories are works of fiction.

Analiese Rising (Jan. 8, 2019) by Brenda Drake.

YA mythological fantasy novel.

*This is a standalone novel.*

She sees gorgeous people. Analiese Jordan happens upon the paths of them, and they turn up elsewhere in a group like the most impressive Gorgeous Persons Clique ever. But here’s the catch: She doesn’t only sight them in her hometown of Philadelphia, but in Rome. Yes, Rome, Italy. Creepy! A man bequeaths his satchel to her as he lay dying and instructs her to find his grandson. Marek Comte wants to know what secrets his grandfather (Adam Conte) held, and it seems Adam has been training Marek for years to follow his trail of clues when the time comes. The time is now, and it’s why Marek convinces Analiese to go to Rome with him, Shona Jackson and Shona’s scary boyfriend Cain. Analiese and Marek are going to find out new facts that seem so outrageous at first that they might as well be make-believe … or mythology.

            My first impression of the lead female character was that she’s really annoying. I don’t mind sarcasm (most of us have at least a little bit in us), and I understand that Analiese is dealing with a fairly recent grief on top of her existing anxiety/panic attack issues, but no matter if this is considered a standard way to deal with either or both, it didn’t make for someone I rooted for. Her lack-of-filter outbursts and sarcastic remarks were grating, but I suppose that is not out-of-depth for a teenager. Teenage dramatics aside, this adventure was filled with secrets and puzzle-solving, new friends and new romance. While I thoroughly enjoyed Drake’s Library Jumpers trilogy, I cannot say the same for this standalone novel, though I did appreciate the representation of multiple lands’ mythologies.

Burning Magic (Apr. 10, 2018) by Joshua Khan.

Middle-grade fantasy novel.

*This is the final book in a trilogy.*

Away from Herne’s Forest and away from Castle Gloom, Thorn (a squire) and his best friend Lilith Shadow (a queen), are in the Sultanate of Fire where resides their other best friend K’leef. K’leef is the fourth son of the  recently deceased sultan. The mourning period has just ended and now the people revel in honor of the crowning of the next sultan. Sadly, the excitement of a new sultan is short-lived when he dies. It isn’t that his magic failed to protect him from the lava crown; he was murdered. But his death means the Sultanate still needs a sultan. It could go seamlessly to Jambiya, one of K’leef’s significantly older brothers, who happens to be blind and cruel, but K’leef challenges him. It’s a “trial by stupid,” according to Thorn, though it’s actually a trial by fire. This trial will take Thorn, K’leef and the narcissistic idiot Gabriel Solar across lands in search of a phoenix. Lily escapes those in the Sultanate who seek her power, only to become a prisoner to a traitorous relative of House Shadow who’s aligned himself with Jambiya. At least Thorn’s magnificent bat-steed Hades is along. Fighting monsters and defeating possibly murderous rivals have nothing on Hades, right?

            The third and final in the Shadow Magic trilogy, “Burning Magic” is a middle-grade fantasy novel resplendent with magic and shadow, caring and banter, loss and gain. The world is macabre, but in a delightful way. Zombie servants to unload the ship and carry your luggage?  Why not? While there is pain and death, battles and bereavement, there are light moments to break through the shadows. I originally read the first story because Rick Riordan mentioned it, and I never hesitated to pre-order the successive volumes. If you enjoy Riordan’s stories and also enjoy magic, fantasy and new lands, give this trilogy a try. While this story ends a trilogy, the story’s ending gives hope to what I’m hoping will be a new series.

            Book One: Shadow Magic

            Book Two: Dream Magic

Called to Protect (July 31, 2018) by Lynette Eason.

Inspiration fiction, romantic suspense novel.

*This is the second book in a series.*

For most of the St. John siblings, law enforcement runs in their blood. This includes Chloe, who’s a K-9 officer with her Dutch Shepherd¹, Hank. They’re a great team; he’s a terrific partner, albeit a furry one. Hank responds to commands in Dutch only and is super sharp and well-trained, but has a playful side as well. They get called in to find drugs, but they’re not sure which vehicle, as there has been a multi-vehicle crash. Hank doesn’t just find drugs, but young women who have clearly been abducted. With human trafficking suspected, Chloe and her siblings wonder if there is any connection to their cousin, Penny St. John, who’s been missing for six months.

            One of the young women in the truck is “Beth.” She’s the daughter of Deputy US Marshal Blake MacCallum, and her name is actually Rachel. She was taken because her captors want Blake to kill the judge he shares detail in protecting after threats were made against him and his passionate stance on doubling down on human traffickers. With 20 or more cases where human trafficking was involved, and a time limit, how can they narrow down who the abductors are? And what’s their connection to the judge?

            Rachel has been rescued, but she has to find a way back. Not for herself or the judge, but for her best friend Lindsay. She doesn’t want to abandon her. Her dad says he will find her, and there is concern in his voice, but she knows he does not love her. After all, why would he?

            This inspirational fiction story is the second in Eason’s Blue Justice series. It is fast-paced, and the action does not halt until the last page acts as any stop sticks would. While all of the characters maintain their faith, I was most impressed with Rachel’s. Eason wrote her as such that she isn’t immune to wondering, “Why is this happening to me?” but embraces the doubt in an extreme situation, which I feel gave the character an increase in dimension and relatability. This story hits so many right targets with me, from dynamic characters to quick-footed action to plot-filled suspense and a budding romance that isn’t annoying, with plenty of faith, courage and heart.

            Book 1: Oath of Honor

¹The synopsis on the back cover states Hank’s a German Shepherd, but it says Dutch Shepherd in the book, so I went with the latter.

The Mermaid (Aug. 22, 2017) by Jan Brett.

Children’s picture book.

*This is a standalone book.*

A young mermaid named Kiniro is hungry and tired after hours of swimming with her puffer fish friend, Puffy. Curiosity gets the best of her when she swims upon a beautiful home comprised of seashells and coral. She tries an octopus family’s marine food, elaborate chairs and aquatic beds, each time favoring Baby’s items. Otōsan, Okāsan (Japanese for father and mother, respectively) and Baby are in for a surprise when they return to their saltwater dwelling, Baby sporting the floppy new hat she’s not happy about. “The hat was not happy either” (it is a live ray tied about Baby’s head with seaweed).

            In this dazzling and gorgeous rendering of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” readers swap land for sea, a young girl for a young mermaid and three bears for a trio of octopuses. “The Mermaid” features Brett’s trademark illustrations of beauty, activity and color. Her gloriously-detailed illustrations look as though they should leap from the page as we’re reading them, unbound by the confines of paper. The signature sidebar vignettes are there, primarily in the doings of the octopus family and then when the family returns and Kiniro is sleeping offstage, but they also include tropical fish. I will say that I also appreciated Brett’s twist in her main character: creating a character with East Asian features inspired by a trip to Okinawa, Japan, as opposed to the familiar girl with the golden tresses. A must-have for many (not just Jan Brett fans)!

Mind Game (Oct. 24, 2017) by Iris Johansen.

Adult suspense/thriller novel.

*This is part of a longstanding series*

Someone is reaching out to her, and it isn’t Cira. Jane MacGuire has already been spending time at Loch Gaelkar with Lord John MacDuff and Jock Gavin, where MacDuff continues his fanatical search for floodlights that will penetrate the unceasing mist. Is he finally close to finding Cira’s purported treasure? The woman trying to reach her is Lisa. Lisa Ridondo, and she is familiar to her, though she doesn’t know her. But Lisa is able to link with her, and it is obvious that the woman is in trouble. Lisa makes it clear that she does not want Jane to involve Seth Caleb, but as a force to be reckoned with, he often ignores what others want or manipulates them to get his way. After all, he has the blood gift and Persuasion happens to be a part of that gift. They will all need to work together and trust others as need be to track down the masterminds behind Lisa’s abduction.

            Although marketed as “An Eve Duncan Novel,” Eve is not the central character. Jane, Seth and even Lisa are. However, Eve has surprising news of her own …

            I wrote in a post last year that I thought maybe 2019 would be the year where I finally stopped pre-ordering Iris Johansen’s novels (I order them in mass market paperback form). *sigh* So far, this is not the case. As I’ve said before, these books are not bad; they’re simply very predictable. And I appreciate strong, independent female characters, but Johansen’s characters can often be strong-willed to the point of annoyance. Even so, as a fairly loyal reader, I continue to purchase her books. The story is action-packed, and the bad guys remain the cream-of-the-crop of baddies, as they consistently do in her novels. Predictably straightforward work from the author, but that’s fine, as the thriller element we all expect to be there is there.

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 7

If you read middle-grade, have you paused to consider how it can vary so drastically? Within YA, themes of violence or romance are common. But how about looking at a light middle-grade novel versus something more intense? Two of the books in this second middle-grade compilation post of 2019 are bookends representing this. Though both geared for the 8-12 age range, “Gabriela” is soft and light compared to “Quests for Glory.” The latter includes violence and terrible death. I don’t think reading one over the other makes you soft or brutal; I’m simply recognizing the light-years-apart difference in content.

Gabriela: Time for Change (Sept. 26, 2017) by Varian Johnson.

*This is the third book in an AG Girl of the Year series.*

Dreams aren’t limited to one Big Dream, which is good, because Gabriela McBride has more than one. She’s passionate about poetry and is looking forward to her first poetry slam. She’s a newly appointed co-ambassador for her 6^th grade class at Kelly Middle School and is determined to do well. She’s been dancing since forever, primarily tap, but she’s started training to go en pointe, which is such a milestone! With all of those Big Dreams comes more work, more responsibility and more time needed. Gabriela has to make two Halloween costumes, one of which is her themed costume idea with her best friend, Teagan (a “social” butterfly), but she also has two poems to fine-tune (a solo and a duet) and ballet homework on top of regular schoolwork. There isn’t enough time in the day! With getting pulled in many directions, certain things move to the bottom of the totem pole. When it negatively affects those around her, how can she hone her time management skills and bridge the hurts on both sides?

            Like other American Girl (AG) stories, this one shows growth and learning of the character, while also empowering her. It isn’t a fluffy story; Gabriela learns a hard lesson in time management, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly a cakewalk when you’re an adult, either. To add to the stress, Gabriela’s relationships with her closest friends suffer, and she doesn’t at first understand why her best friend is put out with her. It’s easy to say that the problem is with the other person, so it’s a huge accomplishment to be able to assess the incidents and conclude that you yourself have been a part of the problem, too. The woe-is-me mentality can be grating, but not unexpected for her age range. Overall, a sweet story of lessons learned, growth of responsibility and figuring out how to have more than one close friend.

Quests for Glory (Sept. 9, 2017) by Soman Chainani.

*This is the fourth book in a series / first in a related trilogy.*

Contrary to what Sophie believed, their quests are all failing. Every. Single. One. Someone claiming to be King Arthur’s son – who is not Tedros of Camelot – is causing mayhem, destruction and death in the surrounding realms. This unknown character has even gotten to the Lady of the Lake, which was believed to be impossible. Their current quests all changed when they realized other questers weren’t checking in with Professor Dovey, Dean of the School for Good and one of their classmates was killed. Murdered. Slain. Sophie, Dean of the School for Evil, does not want to participate in a quest when she cannot find how it revolves around her. But she changes her stance when she’s reunited with her best friend, Agatha, who’s also Tedros’ fiancée, even though she has ignored all of Sophie’s letters regarding wedding plans. There are others on the quest as well, including Hort, who has a ridiculous infatuation with Sophie, and Nicola, a first-year from Gavaldon who has a ridiculous infatuation with Hort. They locate the body of their classmate and eventually end up captured by pirates.

            The situation turns even more intense whence they congregate at the Four Point. They now know where all of their fellow questers are. It’s dire. They could all die, and not everyone makes it. While everyone is looking to Sophie and Agatha and Tedros and Camelot to save them, it’s not any of them who comes to the rescue. Instead, it’s a handsome newcomer named Rhian who saves the day with fearlessness, litheness and skill. He claims only to be a humble servant of Camelot. But who is Rhian? He’s in no records that Professor Dovey can find. What will Merlin discover?

            Honestly, I was okay with The School for Good and Evil  trilogy as a trilogy. But since I’d read the first three, I felt I should see what’s in store for The Camelot Years. Looking at the sheer size of the middle-grade novel (the hardcover version is 568 pages), there is a lot going on. The story did not need to be that long. Length aside, “Quests for Glory” is another wedge in this inventive fantasy pie. There is nothing whimsical about this tale. Any moment that might look like marshmallow fluff can turn to poison or a bloody death in an instant. As learned in the first trilogy of the series, appearances can be deceiving. The Lion could be the Snake. And the Snake might be the Lion.

Secrets and Scones (Nov. 6, 2018) by Laurel Remington.

*This is the first book in a series.*

Life has handed her lemons, and Scarlett is not making lemonade. Once outgoing, a member in clubs and activities and a willing participant in class, Scarlett has become as boring and solitary as a wall in order to give her mom as little ammunition as possible. Apparently, everything that is embarrassing or that can be twisted to embarrass Scarlett is fair game to her mom, a rising superstar in the blogger-verse whose shtick is parenting advice. But Claire’s advice is callous, bordering on cruel, even driving away Scarlett’s best friend in her post “Psst…Want to Know a Secret? My Daughter’s Best Friend Is Really Dull.” When her neighbor, Rosemary Simpson, is unexpectedly hospitalized, Scarlett steps in to take care of her cat, Treacle. She encounters a gorgeous kitchen fully stocked with fresh produce and an army of ingredients. Although she’s never baked before, she undertakes the challenge of making scones. Baking triggers a surge of confidence, is a highlight of her life (albeit a secret one) and introduces her to a new friend in new classmate Violet Sanders. Scarlett is almost manic about keeping the baking a secret, though. The last thing she wants is to give her mom more material to twist against her. But how long can a secret last when their neighbor’s politician nephew (Emory Kruffs) knows they’re there and their Secret Cooking Club is shared with others?

            The intergenerational rapport Scarlett and her friends build with Rosemary, folded into the discovery of a thrill for creating homemade food from a carefully handmade cookbook, easily makes this into an uplifting middle-grade story. I like the detail of all of the recipes, which, considering it’s the first book in the Secret Recipe Book Series, is to be expected, but I was disappointed by the lack of actual included recipes (there’s only one). The book could use any diversity (all of the main and supporting characters appear to be Caucasian; someone please comment below if you know that to not be the case), but its absence doesn’t take away from the story’s pleasant vibe. For younger readers overwhelmed by stories with action-heavy sequences or too much violence, this tale is a temptingly sweet and refreshing break. “Secrets and Scones” is as heartwarming as a homemade scone right out of the oven.

"Wooing Cadie McCaffrey" by Bethany Turner

Wooing Cadie McCaffrey (May 21, 2019) by Bethany Turner.*

What started out as an adorable meet-cute that would make any rom-com movie proud has fizzled in the four years that have passed, and Cadie McCaffrey thinks she’s the only one in the relationship that has realized this. To her, the relationship hasn’t been as easy in the past year since “that whole awkward sex talk.” Cadie wants so much to be engaged, but boyfriend Will Whitaker must be completely clueless since he hasn’t proposed by now. Cadie is determined to end the relationship before her belated birthday celebration, but one thing leads to another and things get intimate. Cadie, the daughter of two prominent Christian figures (one of whom is a pastor), is ashamed and ridden with guilt, which helps propel her into finally dumping Will. But Will is not as clueless as Cadie thinks he is, though he doesn’t share why he’s going the circuitous route that he is (hint: Cadie’s parents can be “infuriating uptight snobs”). Will knows Cadie is the one for him, so he looks to rom-com movies that she loves for cues as to how to recreate scenes from those movies. Can they keep the personal and professional separate with both working at ASN (American Sports Network)? Will Will’s attempts at wooing Cadie back be a touchdown/home run/slam dunk or a fumble/strike out/turnover?

            In this inspirational romance, the characters’ meet cute is charming. Beyond that, I struggled with the story. Both Cadie and Will have apparently forgotten that communication is a two-way street, and neither has been direct with each other. If Cadie had shared her expectation of a proposal, perhaps it’d have opened Will to explaining why he didn’t feel like he could propose sooner. Or maybe it’d have made Cadie mad for another reason, but at least they’d be communicating. I’m not diminishing the seriousness of their relationship issues, but I found aggravating Cadie acting like a dramatic teenager and Will acting desperately (they’re both in their mid-30s). Growth happens when the characters get to know each other beyond the surface and dig into personal and faith-based issues. Also, I liked the ending (Where is this quote from? “If you build it, they will come.”).       

* 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.”

"On a Summer Tide" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

On a Summer Tide (Apr. 30, 2019) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

Is their father showing early signs of dementia or finally having a mid-life crisis at 59? Neither, actually, but Paul Grayson’s three daughters have no other explanation as to why their father would buy 51% of a small island off Maine’s coast, near Mount Desert Island. It is called Niswi Nummissis, but not even the locals pronounce it the same. It translates from the Algonquian as Three Sisters, which is why Paul’s rechristening it Three Sisters Island. He wants all daughters to help him restore it, especially Camp Kicking Moose, a camp he’d attended and where he met their mother, Corinna, passed these last three years. They’ve drifted since their mom died. Camden (Cam), age 28, is a highly successful businesswoman. Her personality is very Type A; she’s a go-getter and a micromanager. She’s been a mother to her late best friend’s son, Cooper, now 7 ½. Between work and a son, she has no time for romance. Madison (Maddie), 24, has just completed graduate work for her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. She’s something of an over-educated, know-it-all hypochondriac who’s recently engaged to a mama’s boy. Blaine, 19, hasn’t declared a major and has been essentially kicked out of the college she was attending for her indecision. She feels underappreciated and ignored. So the island surprises her, when it (more like Peg Legg) brings out her joy and talent for baking. And “not-the-boyfriend” Artie Lotosky is a good friend, but she doesn’t think he’s serious when he says he wants to visit the island.

            Someone already on the island is Seth Walker, 28. He’s a master degree-holding schoolteacher who currently has nine students (10, if you include Cooper). He’s handsome with a rugged, outdoorsy appearance not unlike Paul Bunyan. Instead of a blue ox, he’s got a yellow Labrador named Dory and a rehabilitating goshawk named Lola. Cam is the one who catches his attention, and he seems to have captured her interest. But will something from his past and her hyperactive work ethic keep them apart?

            I did not expect to like this book, the first in the author’s Three Sisters Island series, as much as I did. Yes, each of the sisters grates on my nerves to some degree, but we all get on each other’s nerves from time to time, so I don’t hold that against the characters. The story is refreshing and revitalizing for the family and the fictitious island. It’s a major life change, so chaos ensues, but it’s a productive chaos; it also rouses the dwindling community. Throughout the story, the characters start bringing faith back into their present-day lives and pick up clarity toward their future. This quiet story features a cast of characters that I want to root for who are, despite their flaws, charming and determined.

* 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.”

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 6

See?  I read a lot of YA (young-adult) novels. I wasn’t kidding about that. These few extra books represent only a small number of my YA collection, but it’s something.

Heartless (Nov. 8, 2016) by Marissa Meyer.

*This is a standalone novel.*

Before she was all “Off with their heads!,” the Queen of Hearts was Lady Catherine Pinkerton, daughter of the Marquess and Marchioness of Rock Turtle Cove. What Cath wants the most is something her parents would never approve of for a lady of her station and that is to bake. She’d gladly spend her own marriage dowry to open a bakery selling banana-butterscotch cobblers and lemon tarts and whatever else she and Mary Ann, her servant, desired. Their delectable pastries would be the best in the land. But her mother, Lady Idonia Pinkerton, has her sights set on Cath becoming queen. Unfortunately for Cath, her talent at creating delectable pastries has brought her favoritism from the unmarried king. The stress of an impending marriage proposal is enough to send her into fits. The new Joker – named Jest – is there for her in such a moment. He is handsome and mysterious and magical. Impossible is his specialty. They begin a secret courtship that is often interrupted by the king and the presence of a Jabberwock, the latter of which hasn’t been seen in countless generations, and it cannot be slain without the mythical Vorpal Sword. Cath will make her own path – choose her own fate. But that’s the thing about fate; it’s fickle, and in a land of madness, magic and monsters, what you want is certainly not what you’ll get.

            For anyone looking to read a fractured fairy tale, “Heartless” is the book for you if you haven’t read it already. Although not the best story I’ve ever read, it was a spirited read nonetheless. Meyer has some impressive world-building in this story with characters we are familiar with (e.g. Mad Hatter, Cheshire) and provides parallels to Lewis Carroll’s stories, while creating a showpiece entirely her own. I’ll admit that I do enjoy stories like this when they’re written well: you know, taking an antagonist (who’s “misunderstood”) and giving us a story showcasing how or why that character ended up the way he/she did. There isn’t a high level of danger in this story, but it’s an adventure all the same.

Mortal Engines (Oct. 21, 2003 – 1^st Amer. Ed.) by Philip Reeve.

*This is the first book in a tetralogy.*

The great Traction City of London under Lord Mayor Magnus Crome is up to something. Tier Three Apprentice Historian Thomas Natsworthy knows nothing of it, but Hester Shaw does. Tom meets Hester when she tries to kill Head Historian Thaddeus Valentine. But Valentine has shown him nothing but respect, and he can think of no reason for anyone to think ill of him. Plus, it’s his daughter, Katherine, whose pretty face fills his dreams of heroism. She’s out of reach as a Tier One. Life as a Tier Three Apprentice isn’t anything to brag about, but it’s a sight better than landing in Out-Country, which is where he finds himself with Hester. It’s a messy, muddy, tiring trek. They encounter Anna Fang, an aviatrix, Shrike, a Stalker/Resurrected Man that wants to kill them, and Chrysler Peavey, a pirate-mayor, to name a few. They want to make it back to London for very different reasons: Tom, because it’s home, and Hester, because she still plans to kill Valentine. Unfortunately, if Tom believes Hester, Magnus Crome and London are planning something atrocious. Can Tom and Hester save London? Can they even save themselves?

            It’s a town eat town world out there (literally) in landscapes where static cities are not the norm, and traction cities are. I really liked the premise of the first of four books in the Mortal Engines series. An entire city on wheels? What a concept! Like the Traction City of London going full-steam ahead, this YA dystopian steampunk novel never ceases its forward motion. The story is an adventure from start to finish, but no part of the adventure is fun or relaxing. The tone of the story feels very bleak. The air’s as thick with tension as the Deep Gut is with roiling heat. If the author’s intent was to express the seriousness of towns lacking resources (like lumber and metal) and the animalistic way in which traction cities pursue towns they want to devour, Reeve succeeded. If he wanted to express the bleakness through the harshness of the Out-Country and the life-hardened characters they encounter or the hard truth that Katherine turns up or the savagery, avarice and unethical treatment of people (including corpses), Reeve succeeded. I realize it’s a tough environment all around, except for, perhaps, the Top Tier, but I would’ve liked a supporting character with even the smallest of roles to provide occasional bursts of comic relief to break up all the despair. As interesting a tale as this is, I don’t currently plan to read the rest of the series.

Two Dark Reigns (Sept. 4, 2018) by Kendare Blake.

*This is the third book in a tetralogy.*

The island is calling. But this island is no sunshiny getaway in a beachfront hotel with one’s own personal lanai and umbrella drinks. This is Fennbirn Island. Arsinoe has been having vivid dreams. She is living scenes from the past, all the way back to the Blue Queen (a.k.a. Queen Illiann), but the dreams are from the perspective of Daphne, a mainlander of Centra. Arsinoe and her sister, Mirabella, have made it to the mainland with William “Billy” Chatworth Jr. and are staying with his family. Arsinoe and Mirabella do not belong, and so far from Fennbirn, their gifts are weak at best.

            The Queen Crowned is also whispered to be the Undead Queen. The people do not like Katharine. She’s just another poisoner queen in a long line of arrogant, selfish poisoner queens, who don’t care for the people, brought up by the Arron family. Her king-consort is no longer with her, but Arron relative Pietyr Renard still is. There is rumor of one who would attempt to steal her throne, one with the Legion Curse, born with two gifts. It is said that she has gifts as strong as the triplet queens, but is even stronger as she’s twice-gifted. On top of that, the mist is taking people from the island. Katharine cannot discern why the mist leaves some and lets them pass through while taking others and ripping them apart (yes, messy).

            Jules Milone is a naturalist; her familiar is Camden, a mountain cat. She’s also war-gifted, though it has been bound. She is Legion Cursed, and it is called as such because those touched by two gifts have historically gone mad. It was said she should be drowned at birth, but her mother, Madrigal, would not allow that, so she bound her war gift, which suppressed it for a long time. Madrigal bound it with low magic, which is not acknowledged as an acceptable practice by the temple. But it works, for Jules hasn’t gone mad (yet).

            “Two Dark Reigns” is Book 3 (of 4) in Blake’s Three Dark Crowns series. Blake has created characters so distinct that, even with the multiple perspectives, you never mistake one character’s POV for another. Her brilliant writing is a fast-paced delirium that is as exquisite as it is disturbing. From wind in one’s hair (guided by an elemental, of course) to blood soaking into the snow (blame the mist), this story has a little bit of everything. Just don’t expect any happy, gooey feelings. The ties that bind to kill remain, even if Katharine wants to convince herself that Arsinoe and Mirabella met their demise when they left the island. But it isn’t always Katharine as herself that wants to kill … With a Queen Crowned, a potential usurper and a malevolent mist, no ties are binding. Death has already come and destruction might be happening. Good luck reigning over that!

            Book One: Three Dark Crowns

            Book Two: One Dark Throne

            Companion Novel: Queens of Fennbirn

Rutabaga's Reads 2019: Part 5

Although I love reading YA novels, I’ve gotten behind in reading the books I pre-ordered and therefore received awhile back. By the time I read this one, I realized its sequel had already released months before. This duology has long been awaiting its turn to be featured on my blog.

Carve the Mark (Jan. 17, 2017) by Veronica Roth.

Lazmet Noavek mostly ignored Cyra until her currentgift manifested at an early age, but his focus on her big brother, Ryzek, tainted him. Whereas Cyra won’t be broken, Ryzek’s brokenness prompts him to cause suffering to others. As he cannot tolerate pain, he has others do what he cannot. Cyra isn’t known as “Ryzek’s Scourge” for nothing. She and Ryzek are children of the brutal tyrant of the Shotet people on Thuvhe.

            Akos Kereseth is the youngest of three. With his sister, Cisi, and brother, Eijeh, they are all three fated children of the Thuvhesit people on Thuvhe. They’re the children of a farmer (Aoseh) and an oracle (Sifa). Not everyone is fated: “Everyone had a future, but not everyone had a fate.” “Only parts of certain ‘favored’ families got fates, witnessed at the moment of their births by every oracle on the planet. In unison.” However, everyone has a currentgift; these are abilities unique to each person that normally develop during puberty. Akos and Eijeh are captured by enemy Shotet. Although the younger brother, Akos is the stronger one, and he’s determined to get Eijeh out alive.

            Thuvhe is valued for its iceflower production, the most significant iceflower being the hushflower. It is bright red and can be poisonous when not diluted. Thanks to his mother, Akos is skilled with working with iceflowers. His gift is also unique, as he interrupts the current no matter the currentgift. Considering how her own currentgift can incapacitate her, having Akos nearby – however unwillingly and hatefully – is useful to Cyra. With all the time they spend in each other’s company, will they help or destroy each other?

            The first in a YA duology, “Carve the Mark” is cringe-worthy in an exemplary way. The plot is intricately-layered, the characters are any mixture of brutal, strong, powerful, secretive or even cowardly, and the world-building is a web of dangerous beauty all rolled into a galactic adventure. It is a sweeping fantasy, and it does not want to be ignored.

The Fates Divide (Apr. 10, 2018) by Veronica Roth.

One is dead, and any mourning for the person is conflicted at best, and another thought to be dead is alive, which is tremendously unfortunate, for the not-dead person is a sadistic, unconscionable tyrant whose mind is so twisted that bloody violence isn’t simply for the act of violence, but for learning. Multiple characters find themselves on separate paths. Cyra is bent on killing the tyrant, and she’s on a very short timeframe, especially since it’ll take three days alone to travel through space from Ogra to Thuvhe and the Shotet. But war has already come. With fleeing innocents felled at the sojourn ship (Shotet) and healing innocents fallen at the hospital (Thuvhe), the heart of anywhere is not safe.

            Growing up the youngest in the family of the sitting (current) oracle, Akos accepts that he will “suffer the fate.” And he, of a fated family, knows that the fates are inescapable once determined. But what if his fate isn’t defined as he originally thought? Akos would die for Cyra, and he expects he could just die – he is fated, after all – but he also wants answers. So he goes for them without first telling Cyra. He is prepared to kill a barbaric tyrant, even if it ends him, too.

            Cisi, oldest of the Kereseth siblings, leaves her family. It’s not as a betrayal to them, but for the Thuvhesit chancellor, Isae Benesit (of the third fated family), and to, hopefully and with stealth, soften Isae’s decisions. Isae mourns someone close to her, but in an explosive way, sometimes without care for other innocents, as grief can be blinding, and violent grief can be debilitating. With Cisi nearby, the effects of Isae’s decisions may still be catastrophic, but it could be far worse without her. Then there’s a new person in the picture: Ast. He doesn’t bother with a surname, as he doesn’t “need any kind of honorific.” He’s ultra-aware of Cisi’s gift, which is discomfiting to them both, and his aims may not be toward peace. How far will he go to steer Isae toward his own wishes?

            The world set before us as readers is sprawling in its world-building, plot and characters. This duo from Roth doesn’t just take us across the feathergrass, but across planets. The plot isn’t limited to one problem from one antagonist; it isn’t only one tyrant bent on serving one’s wants to oneself through the decimation of others. Granted, it is that, and the tyrant is one’s own brand of evil, but there are also interplanetary politics at play. No one is likely to go gently through the currentstream with the ruthless circumstances the protagonists are up against. “The Fates Divide” and the duology together are finely-detailed and richly-imagined.

National Poetry Month 2019

Happy National Poetry Month! (For anyone who doesn’t like poems and thinks this post is a cruel April Fool’s joke, you are wrong. April is National Poetry Month. The entire month. It’s a real thing.)

In honor of National Poetry Month, I wanted to open April with a poem. I found two. These gems were written for a friend of mine. We met in the workplace (not the same one I’m currently at). We’re both a little goofy and a little (a lot?) crazy.

A Limerick to a Pal

There’s a woman who may charge like a moose,

Who in her anger censures the obtuse.

Her fury is huge;

It’ll cascade in a deluge.

But that’s okay; she’s agile as a mongoose.

AN ANGRY HAIKU

Fury multiplied.

Bursting forth in drowning waves.

Thunderous anger.

--LK 8/16/2017