"Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book" by Jennifer Donnelly

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book (Jan. 31, 2017) by Jennifer Donnelly.

No matter how smart or bookish one is, being a captive in Beast’s castle is taking a toll on Belle. While she has befriended its inhabitants (Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Plumette, Froufrou, Cuisinier, Chapeau and Madame de Garderobe) and has accepted her captivity, she greatly misses her father and the rare villagers that she appreciated in Villeneuve such as Pere Robert, the village’s curé and librarian, and Agathe, a brave beggar woman who knows that “love is not for cowards.” Beast shows the rare unguarded, joyful moment, but ultimately remains wary, reclusive and downright difficult. When Belle discovers an enchanted book called Nevermore, she is enamored by the world’s glamour and the beautiful people who readily befriend her. There’s the lovely and generous Countess (or Comtesse des Terre des Morts, i.e. Countess of the Land of the Dead) and the handsome and charismatic Henri, Duc des Choses-Passées (i.e. Duke of Things Past). The countess appeals to all of Belle’s desires: the opportunity to see the world, attend university, escape the Beast’s castle and perhaps even reunite with her father. Nevermore is the best story come to life, but what is the cost? Is it really too good to be true? Belle doesn’t think so, but doubts sweep in when Nevermore’s inhabitants are quick to discredit friends like Chip and Mrs. Potts as nothing more than dangerous, living objects. It doesn’t help when a fearsome, talking stag beetle (named Lucanos) and a large brown spider (named Aranae; she doesn’t talk, she chitters) give dire warnings about things eaten and things lost. What is the truth? Belle had better find out before she becomes nothing more than words in a book.

            All of the beloved characters from the familiar Disney movies are in this book, as are many of the story’s recognizable bits (Belle taking her dad’s place, fleeing the castle and getting saved from wolves by the Beast, etc.), but then Donnelly sweeps in with this original story that greets us like a companion. I rejoiced in the familiarity, while appreciating this new plot. As a reader who loves the idea of visiting fantasy worlds and fantastical places, Belle’s adventurous spirit and opportunity to walk into a book appealed to me. Like Belle, sometimes we don’t have the best judgment, as she finds in repeatedly visiting Nevermore, creating an imperfect character to reflect our imperfect selves. This story may have readers thinking that real life is preferred, despite the trials and chaos it brings, but with current events being what they are, readers may wish themselves lost in a book. Where do you stand?

Rutabaga's Reads 2020: Part 2

The amount of inspirational fiction I read each year is a comparatively high percentage. I’ve never crunched actual numbers, so while it doesn’t surpass young-adult fiction, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s close. Here is the first inspirational fiction post of the year. You’ll likely notice that all of the titles were released last year; I simply did not get to reading them in 2019.

A Song of Joy (Aug. 6, 2019) by Lauraine Snelling.

*This is the final novel in a tetralogy.*

Life in Minnesota has taken a far different turn than Nilda Carlson could ever have imagined. Blessings abound on the farms that her family resides on, as do blessings in her city life in Blackduck with her wealthy employer, Mrs. Gertrude Schoenleber. Nilda misses spending time with her family and the satisfaction of a hard day’s physical labor. Yes, one’s busy from sunup to sundown, going to bed exhausted, but it’s rewarding to reap what one’s sown while working amongst family. Fortunately, working with Mrs. Schoenleber is rewarding, too. The experience she is gaining is tremendous, and she’s proactive with philanthropic opportunities, which are important to her, being a recent immigrant. Unfortunately, there is one Crawford Galt of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency who’s been sent to investigate a death. Galt’s presence doesn’t help Nilda’s nightmares, though an unplanned visit home appears to nix those. How can Nilda defend herself against one who’s come into this with a closed mind? Did the deceased’s mother send him?

            As if that were not enough on her mind, Nilda is realizing she has feelings for Fritz Larsson, the handsome schoolteacher and church organist who gives her piano lessons. But Nilda’s suddenly caught the attention of an affluent and rather pompous young man from the Twin Cities. What’s a gal to do? Will Nilda adopt the role of budding socialite and move to the Cities? Or will she remain humble and God-loving, one bare foot in the farm life and the other, elegantly-shoed one in the small city?

            I adore Snelling’s Under Northern Skies series. She writes so realistically that I catch myself thinking things such as, “I should go hitch up the buggy,” or “It’s time to churn butter again,” when, in reality, I know how to do neither of those things. The author has created a character in Nilda that has been given a wealth of opportunity while also keeping her humble and wanting to stay close to her roots, those roots being family, faith and hard work. I highly recommend this story and series to anyone who enjoys inspirational, historical fiction.

The Timepiece (Sept. 17, 2019) by Beverly Lewis.

*This is a sequel in an unnamed duology with recurring characters from other books.*

The arrival of Adeline Pelham has complicated things for the Miller family, already under scrutiny for Earnest’s lack of forthrightness 20 years previous. The oldest Miller, Sylvia (Sylvie), now no longer Earnest’s only daughter, is struggling. She sees her dad bestow interest in the things Adeline does that he never showed when Sylvie was learning them and notices how much more talkative he is around Adeline. Is Earnest trying to make up for lost time? Then there’s Sylvie’s beau, Titus Kauffman, who’s not only overly critical of this new development, but who tends to discount Sylvie’s trustworthiness by association of her dad’s Englischer past. Who doesn’t hold a judgmental attitude toward Sylvie or her family? Andy Zook. Will Adeline’s arrival be the last straw for Hickory Hollow’s Old Order Amish community? Or will God light a new path for the Miller family?

            Whereas I struggled with Sylvie in the first book, I tolerated her well in this installment. She has her own, very human, struggles in accepting Adeline, as do her siblings (all younger brothers), but as she grows, so her mind and heart do as well, opening up space for the love of a newfound half-sister. The fictional setting of Hickory Hollow in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, continues to sound idyllic. Lewis continues to be the gold medalist, in my opinion, of Amish fiction. She writes with faith, depth and heart without overlooking the tough stuff.

Vow of Justice (Aug. 6, 2019) by Lynette Eason.

*This is the final novel in a tetralogy.*

When FBI Special Agent Lincoln (Linc) St. John is told his partner, Allison (Allie) Radcliffe, is dead after an explosion, he is devastated. When he discovers that their boss, Henry Ogden, led everyone to believe she’s dead because Vladislav Nevsky won’t look for a dead person, and Allie has gone along with it, Linc is furious. It is only after talking to Allie that Linc calms and reluctantly agrees to go along with her “death,” keeping it even from his primarily law enforcement family. He makes sure to stick close to her as much as possible. Nevsky’s 17-year-old daughter, Darla, has evidence that could put her dad away for forever, and now she’s missing. Allie has made finding and protecting Darla her priority. She’s put Darla above taking down Nevsky and Gregori Radchenko, the latter of whom has very close ties to her past. Allie tries to do this while maintaining a low profile, but it’s hard to appear dead when one can’t stay ahead of the bad guys. They’ve checked vehicles and clothes for trackers, and there isn’t anything on or in Darla’s backpack. So how do Nevsky’s men know where they are? And when Allie finds herself confronting Gregori, will she choose justice or revenge?

            Concluding the Blue Justice series in a high-stakes, inspirational, romantic suspense novel, Eason shows us why she remains top of her game with the good guys dodging bad guys and bullets. The story leads readers on a swiftly-moving trajectory where to lag could get you killed and idle moments are few. As with the other books in the series (and a short story), I love that this series features siblings of a family, an entire family that I wish were my friends growing up. Although I enjoyed this story, I will express one disappointment. Eason normally keeps me guessing, but I knew who the unnamed bad guy was right away. I was reading along and thought to myself, “I bet this is a bad guy.” And I was correct.

            Book One: Oath of Honor

            Book Two: Called to Protect

            Book Three: Code of Valor

            Novella (in a multi-author short story collection): Code of Ethics

Rutabaga's Reads 2020: Part 1

Presenting my first young-adult (YA) compilation post of 2020!

Girls of Paper and Fire (Nov. 6, 2018) by Natasha Ngan.

*This is the first novel in a trilogy.*

The residents of Ikhara belong to a caste system wholly dependent on their appearance. The Paper caste comprises of those fully human, yet they are oppressed and often thought of as less than human. The Steel caste contains human-demon hybrids that may serve others but are not slaves. The Moon caste includes those who are fully anthropomorphic; they are known as demons. Every year, the Demon King (a bull form) invites eight Paper Girls into his Hidden Palace of Han. It is touted as a high honor, and their families receive extra benefits, but the girls are prisoners, concubines to a brutal and markedly unstable king. Lei would not have caught anyone’s attention, but with eyes the color of liquid gold, “a symbol of the heavens’ good fortune,” the 17-year-old is kidnapped from her dad’s herbal medicine shop in the small village of Xienzo and presented as the first-ever ninth Paper Girl. She wants to resist, but with the threat of her dad’s and Tien’s (a Steel caste worker who’s like family; she affectionately calls Lei a “little nuisance”) blood on her hands, she goes with the king’s general. She has hopes of discovering the whereabouts of her mother, abducted seven years before. She can hardly face the idea of being summoned to the Demon King’s bedroom even though it is the main reason any of the girls are there in the first place, but she discovers friendship with some of her fellow courtesans, including Aoki, the twins Zhen and Zhin, and Wren, the most latter of whom she acquires a very special bond but who also has secrets that she doesn’t want to share, lest she endanger Lei. How will she survive the treacherous court of the Demon King?

            A land of magic, a severe imbalance of power, a strong heroine, forbidden romance and a dangerous kingdom form the intricate layers of a darkly gorgeous story that is lush in its glittering extravagance, compelling in its terrifying portrayal of sexual violence and the threat of it and powerful with dangers looming from multiple sides. The imbalance of power makes me angry and reading of these characters with their pretty, made-up faces and fancy garments representing various Asian cultures to ready themselves for a terrible king’s desires makes me want to spit fire. A story for mature readers with its take on forced prostitution, this is a YA fantasy story that is extremely unsettling and maddening. I commend Ngan’s writing in managing to create a main character who is empowered despite everything. I cheered, I got mad, I was disturbed, and I still want to battle demons. Through the intensity of it all, I have managed to get caught up in this world … with fangs bared, claws out and teeth gnashing.

Scavenge the Stars (Jan. 7, 2020) by Tara Sim.

*This is the first novel in a purported duology.*

In this gender-swapped retelling of “The Count of Monte Cristo,” Amaya (a.k.a. Silverfish a.k.a. Countess Yamaa) Chandra has worked for years on a debtor ship, told she was sold off by her mother for the misdeeds of her deceased father. The Brackish is a debtor ship of children slaves who are starved, abused and worked almost to death. They’re under the greedy eyes of Captain Zharo. On what should be Silverfish’s last day, she rescues a man called Boon. He promises her unimaginable wealth and revenge against Kamon Mercado, a merchant in the neutral colony of Moray, part of the republic of Rehan under the figurehead Rehanese ruler, between the ever-feuding Rain and Sun Empires. So Amaya takes on the persona of Countess Yamaa and is trained in the ways of the elite to impress the vain and wealthy denizens of Moray. Her aim is to get close to Kamon’s son, Cayo, but she realizes he isn’t like his father at all. And she can’t get close to Kamon’s youngest, a daughter named Soria (she’s two years younger than Cayo), as she has fallen ill with the dreaded ash fever. That’s what took their mother years back, and there is no cure. They cannot figure out where it originated, but Cayo is determined to make his sister well. The only medicine on the market is terribly expensive, and his father is not the rich man he once was. To what ends will Cayo go to get the medicine Soria needs? Will he return to his ways in the Vice Sector? Can those ruled by avarice who also rule their sectors be overthrown by a young man braced with determination and light pockets or a young woman with a fake name and deep pockets of questionable origin?

            The smell of corruption practically wafts from the pages in this novel at times darkly shimmering and overpoweringly rancid. Even corruption has politics, and coupled with a knife-wielding, 17-year-old girl with revenge on her mind, the adventures are perilous and full of attitude. "Scavenge the Stars" is diverse on multiple levels without drawing attention to the diversity, be it by race or orientation or what have you, and those are always points in an author's favor. The characters aren’t outward heroes; they have flaws and make bad judgment calls, too. The setting is lush in its danger and the world-building detailed, though the ending felt a bit rushed, and I wish the book contained a map (I do appreciate good maps of fantasy worlds). I look toward the sequel, but am keeping my guard up. One never knows what malice awaits!

Someday (Oct. 2, 2018) by David Levithan.

*This is the final novel in a trilogy.*

It turns out A isn’t the only one who moves from body to body every day. One such person, known as X, is desperate to meet A, and he decides that Nathan will get him to A. Nathan, a person that A lived as for a day, realized he was missing a day of his life. Normally, A is meticulous in covering evidence of his visits, but enough of something stuck with Nathan that he felt affected. He keeps thinking “Rhiannon,” which brings him to her door. Rhiannon is now dating Alexander, and he’s a good guy, but she isn’t over A. A disappeared, assuming they could never have a real relationship, but Rhiannon is adamant that he shouldn’t have made that decision for the both of them. They eventually decide to meet up, and Nathan finally reveals that X (formerly Reverend Poole) has been stalking him. In X’s desperation to meet with A, he goes so far as to assault Nathan. X is clearly not a good (or stable) person in any form he’s in, nor does he want to be. A knows this and yet he also looks forward to the conversations, having never met anyone who body jumps as he does. Will X’s words be so convincing as to fool A into thinking he’s trustworthy? Or will A work with Rhiannon and Nathan to force X out? Is that even possible?

            The concept of someone living out one’s life in a different body every day intrigued me, which is why I read “Every Day” back in 2016. I got through this entire book before realizing I was not, in fact, reading the second installment, but the final one, and, honestly, I didn’t think I was missing anything by not reading “Another Day.” Levithan tells the story through the primary characters of A, Rhiannon, Nathan and X and also includes insight from other body jumpers of a multitude of ages, giving more credence to the fact that A and X are not alone. The concept is unique, and the author provides a diverse cast of characters for A to inhabit. It isn’t only that he might be male or female for the day, tall or short, Caucasian or not, but that he may inhabit someone who’s battling mental health issues (and not winning), bullying or poverty. “Someday” isn’t primarily a relationship story, but more one of morality. If you jumped bodies every day, would you strive to better the person or would you be destructive, knowing the consequences would be placed on an unwitting individual as you moved on without a worry? What does your soul say?

"Out of the Embers" by Amanda Cabot

Out of the Embers (Mar. 3, 2020) by Amanda Cabot.*

Now a 23-year-old woman in 1856, Evelyn Radcliffe is homeless once again. The orphanage that became her refuge 10 years before and later on her workplace has been burned. Arson is apparent. Only she and a young orphan girl named Polly have escaped (she won’t share her last name). Evelyn’s certain that the fire is related to her parents’ murder a decade earlier, so she flees with Polly to Texas Hill Country and, specifically, Mesquite Springs. She finds shelter in the home Wyatt Clark lives in with his mom, Isolde, and younger sister, Dorothy. Wyatt is a horse rancher who became one out of obligation when his dad was killed, but his greatest desire is to make the ranch successful so he can get out of Texas. Evelyn just wants to feel safe and keep herself and Polly (whom she’s referring to as her sister) safe. A skilled cook, she opens up the one restaurant in town and quickly becomes known for her oatmeal pecan pie. She’s captured the attention of two men who seem to be in competition with each other: Sam Plaut, the town’s handsome lawyer, and Caleb Smith, considered the town’s handsomest bachelor who’s the son of the town’s blacksmith and who also works at Circle C Stables for Wyatt. But it’s Wyatt that makes Evelyn feel safe and who Polly has declared she wants for a daddy. It’s Wyatt that she finds easy to talk to. And now when Wyatt thinks of leaving, he realizes how much he’d miss Evelyn. With someone likely looking for Evelyn (or Polly), can she and Wyatt build a relationship amidst fear, stress and turmoil?

            Although this inspirational prairie romance was at times sickly sweet, a modicum of suspense and a clearly wicked antagonist kept the first in the Mesquite Springs series pretty lively. The romance did get to me, though. I’m not an eye-roller, but more than once did I want to roll my eyes. If I read one more line along the lines of, “He couldn’t stop thinking about kissing her lips,” I was going to go with a resounding no to any interest in the remainder of the series. And that would’ve been unfair, as this is the first I’ve read from Cabot. Sappy sweet aside, I did root for the main characters and supporting characters like Isolde, Dorothy and Caleb. I appreciate the strength of the women and how the tension and suspense of the plot kept the story moving forward.

            Thought: With such an emphasis on Evelyn’s oatmeal pecan pie, I was expecting there to be a recipe at the end of the story and felt let down when there wasn’t.

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"The End and Other Beginnings" by Veronica Roth

The End and Other Beginnings (Oct. 1, 2019) by Veronica Roth.

Despite containing a collection of six novella-length stories, this YA novel from Divergent and Carve the Mark author Veronica Roth is relatively short. Each story is a story “from the future” and includes two stories which take place in the universe that the Carve the Mark duology is set in. Below, I will give an overview of each of the stories and conclude with my overall thoughts.

   1. Inertia: Claire Lowell is woken in the middle of the night to attend the last visitation of her best friend, Matthew Hernandez. At least, they were best friends until about three months ago. A last visitation happens when hospital analytics determine that a person’s life will end “regardless of surgical intervention,” and Matt was in a devastating car accident, which severely damaged his spine. In different rooms, technology allows Claire and Matt to share a consciousness. She only gets 30 minutes with him. Will it be time enough to say the things she never said and previously couldn’t admit as he’s approaching death’s doorstep?

   2. The Spinners: Atleigh Kent isn’t your typical bounty hunter. She hunts “leeches.” These leeches (a.k.a. symbios) are ETs (yes, extraterrestrials). Their centipede-like bodies attach themselves to a person’s spinal cord, taking over the host’s brain and body. The host’s memories become their own, eventually suffocating the person’s mind to whom it belonged. If a leech/symbios detaches after a long attachment (either by force or of its own will), the body will go on living if cared for, but the person will be a vegetable. Atleigh and her sister, Lacey, are taking a road trip to the coast with an urn, but Atleigh wants to make a detour first to Nashville (it’s related to the urn’s contents). Vengeance and all that, but it’s in Nashville that she runs into Eon. He’s a trusted ET, but flickers with the telltale signs of wearing digital skin. What true form does he cover up?

   3. Hearken: Darya Singh has perfect pitch. This makes her a candidate to be a Hearkener, as perfect pitch is one of the prerequisites. Once through years of training, including choosing three instruments, Hearkeners receive an implant into the temporal lobe after choosing to hear people’s “life songs” or “death songs.” The type of songs Hearkeners hear determines the color of the web-like tattoo dye that is seen under the scalp of every Hearkener: red for life, black for death. Darya attends the Minnesota School for Hearkeners in Minneapolis. Hearing death songs, especially, has grown in demand with the ever-constant threat of bio-bombs. Bio-bombers prefer heavily populated areas (mass casualties = faster apocalypse), so the poorer families live downtown as opposed to the suburbs or outward. If someone inhales the gas contained in those bombs, depending on the potency, the victim may be infected within a few weeks or a few minutes, but death is always imminent. There is no antidote. The bio-bombers want to destroy the world, but do not believe in ending their own lives, which is why one always looks closely at those wearing gas masks (which hopefully you yourself are wearing, but they are expensive).

   4. Vim and Vigor: Edie Robbins doesn’t know what to do. She’s been asked to the prom by two boys: Evan is good-looking, smart and good at conversation, but he’s pretentious; Chris is hot, funny and allegedly a good kisser, but he’s also her ex-boyfriend. Since the death of a friend, anxiety is always close to the surface, making the choosing of a prom date a significant issue for her. So she sketches the superheroines of the Protectors – Vim, Vigor, Transforma and Haze – based on friend Kate’s fan fiction. She attends the Vim and Vigor movie with Kate and Lynn, but their relationship has changed since Amy left. After the movie, she doubts her decision to go to Kate’s, but going there gives her the opportunity to use Kate’s father’s prototype: the Elucidation Protocol (EP). It doesn’t tell the future, but helps you see what you think would happen between two scenarios. It is very expensive, but Edie assures Kate she needs to use it for a very important reason. Does the EP help Edie decide which boy to take to prom? What will happen if Kate figures out the reason she’s using the EP?

   5. Armored Ones: This novella is split into two parts. The first, from Teka Surukta’s point-of-view, tells of the first time she’s ever in the same room as Cyra Noavek. Teka’s mission is to kill Cyra. But her anger is a hindrance; it makes her foolish, as she cannot focus on her work and observe Cyra simultaneously. If she isn’t careful, that could get her interrogated, tortured and eventually executed. What Teka doesn’t understand is why Otega, a Dormant (a renegade usually on a sensitive, long-term mission who therefore doesn’t regularly attend meetings), seems to want Teka to see Cyra as a person, not a monster.

            In the second, Akos Kereseth is appealing yet again to his commander, Vakrez Noavek of the Shotet Army, to be granted his request for the Shotet Rite of Armor, “in which a candidate went head to head with an Armored One – the most dangerous creature on their planet – and either killed it or died in the attempt.” Armored Ones do not like the current, so what will an Armored One make of Akos’ lack of current? Despite the danger they pose, they are innocent creatures. Can Akos do it? Can Akos kill something innocent, not to save his own life or his brother’s life, but to get something he wants?

   6. The Transformationist: Otho Judacre has spent the past year (a.k.a. season) at the ACYR (the Assembly Center for Youth Rehabilitation) for a death that wasn’t intentional. With over one-and-a-half seasons left to go, Otho is surprised when his attorney (Tyzo) shows up and states he’ll be released to his uncle for a week. He gets to return to his home planet of Zold (one of nine nation-planets) for his fluency exam. He could be on Zold much longer if he himself testifies. His kind uncle (Auly) is the one who asked his attorney to appeal his sentence, and, for the first time, someone else came forward to speak on his behalf. That person is Jove Doret. Jove grew up along the same street as him and still lives there with his mom (Kiiva) and younger sister (Dasha). Jove’s family are not Ts (short for Transformationists). Ts are oft-seen as a cult. They believe in self-annihilation and call it “unmaking.” What Otho’s mother put him through could’ve killed him, not that his brother, Catho, sees that. With Jove’s help, can Otho find it in himself to speak on his own behalf?

   Overall Thoughts: While I didn’t prefer all of the short stories (I found “Vim and Vigor” to be the least interesting), I liked this YA collection overall. Roth reaches out with her imagination and paints with words tales of advanced technology, aliens and the types of monsters that don’t look monstrous because they’re human (currentgift or not). These stories of the future can be strange (I want to know more about the Minnesota School for Hearkeners), but they have familiar themes such as friendship, revenge, love and self-doubt. That there may be ETs with centipede-like bodies involved? Those are just details, my friend.

"Two Steps Forward" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Two Steps Forward (Feb. 4, 2020) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

While sounding like a place that shines, Rising Star Farm (in fictional Stoney Ridge, Pennsylvania) is a junkyard, and widow Sylvie Schrock King desperately needs help on the farm, as it’s too much for her and four-year-old son, Joey, to handle. Providence returns Jimmy Fisher to Stoney Ridge after four years away in Colorado. Homeless and penniless, Sylvie’s stunning Arabian horse, Prince, grabs his attention outside the Bent ‘n Dent, and he’s eager to accept her job offer to help on the farm (both with chores and cleaning the place up). Unfortunately for Sylvie, Jimmy is the second son of her across-the-creek neighbor-nemesis Edith Fisher Lapp. Edith is, by her seeming nature, judgmental and condescending, and she’s hardest on Sylvie, for reasons unknown to Sylvie. Fortunately, Jimmy is everything Edith is not, showing her kindness and humor (and perhaps love?), challenging her to read the Bible, winning Joey over and all the while being a hard worker. Could Sylvie love a man with a mom like that? Will she be able to make her dreams for Rising Star Farm a reality? Or will Edith get in the way?

            Threaded into this tale is the current state of Isabella “Izzy” Schrock (married to Luke, the deacon). Luke asks her, “Aren’t we enough for you, Izzy? … Will happiness always be around the corner?” She’s got a loving, though sometimes clueless, husband, and an adopted daughter to love as her own, but the thought that she grew up “fatherless” pops up often in her mind. This eventually inspires her to help orphaned babies in the area, those who are also fatherless, and there may just be a surprise or two in store for her.

            I enjoyed the previous story and was pleased to receive this final story in The Deacon’s Family trilogy from Revell. With topics at the forefront such as abandonment or commitment issues, the importance of forgiveness, showing compassion for the fatherless, consideration for differences amongst all people regardless of background and “putting feet to a prayer,” this story doesn’t stray from weighty issues. But it is all supported with wit and warmth. “Two Steps Forward” is a heartening tale that fills readers with feels that are sugar-sweet and the occasional bitter-tasting moments borne of unwarranted judgment. I highly recommend this story for fans of Amish fiction. For newcomers, I’d start at the beginning of the trilogy … or even the first series featuring the Stoney Ridge Amish.

            Book One: Mending Fences (have not read)

            Book Two: Stitches in Time

* 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.”

"Collateral Damage" by Lynette Eason

Collateral Damage (Jan. 7, 2020) by Lynette Eason.*

Honorably discharged from the Army, former military psychiatrist Brooke Adams’ battles are not over. Stemming from emotional photos that surfaced of her in the paper, in which she’s seen at the side of a dying soldier, multiple attempts have been made on her life. It’s clear the killers want something that she has or suspect she has, but what is it? And what is the significance? Adding this to her plate is the last thing she thinks she can handle. Brooke may be a psychiatrist, but that doesn’t stop her from having her own nightmares and struggles with PTSD.

            Retired Sergeant First Class Asher James has his own nightmares to deal with from Afghanistan (Brooke was serving in the same area he was at the same time). Unexpected loud noises have him ducking for cover, and he doesn’t want to sleep, as sleep only brings haunted memories. He’s decided he needs help, which is why he reaches out to Brooke, expecting that she’ll empathize (which she does); however, Brooke does not see military veterans in her civilian career. His appearance in her life is timely, though, as he’s the client who arrives at the practice before she does and finds the practice’s receptionist killed. And Asher is prepared to stick by her side until the end, since attempts on Brooke’s life have involved attempts on his. Add in that Brooke’s investigative reporter friend, Sarah Denning, who remains in Afghanistan, is uncovering a horrible trafficking ring that has ties to the area that Asher, Brooke and Sarah’s brother (Caden) are, and it’s “all messed up like a hot soup sandwich” (p. 119).

            The first in Eason’s Danger Never Sleeps series is strong out of the gate. Full of action from the first chapter and not often pausing for quiet moments makes it clear that danger isn’t resting. Of all of the books I have read thanks to Revell Books, Lynette Eason’s have consistently been my favorites. I found this to be a fast-paced and well-written inspirational fiction novel with strong yet vulnerable characters. It’s never quite believable when a flawless character seems too strong or too independent, but when there are characters with flaws and internal struggles of their own, we as readers can relate, and I appreciate when I’m able to make those connections and build that rapport, fictional though it is. I highly recommend this story to anyone interested in intensive action where the bad guys are truly bad and the main characters use faith as their pillars of support (though not in a preachy way).

* 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.”

"Five Dark Fates" by Kendare Blake

Five Dark Fates (Sept. 3, 2019) by Kendare Blake.

(Spoilers included, but nothing beyond what the jacket cover says.)

The line of queens is ending. Katharine’s reign as Queen Crowned continues, but it isn’t without threat, including the threat within herself. The dead queens roil within and can make their diseased presence known in very grotesque fashion. They want control, and they want Mirabella and her exceptional elemental gift (she’d be a powerful vessel), who’s arrived because Katharine asked her to. Katharine wants to be simultaneously suspicious of her and have the sisterly bond that Mirabella and Arsinoe share. Mirabella does not seem to have nefarious plans where Katharine is concerned; she isn’t trying to usurp the throne, so why is she there? Is it really because she’s just being a good older sister? (Mirabella is the oldest of the triplets. Katharine is the youngest.)

            Arsinoe can’t believe that Mirabella would leave the rebellion to side with Katharine, although everyone else tends to believe the worst of Mirabella. But Arsinoe’s got her work cut out for her. Jules’s legion curse is unbound, and Arsinoe must find a cure. The rebellion doesn’t know what’s all going on with Jules, but they are losing focus and people are leaving without the presence of their Legion Queen. Will Arsinoe find a cure? Can the Legion Queen be bound? Or will the rebellion unravel and the Undead Queen Crowned reign without contest, remaining unable to defeat the Mist that swallows who it wants and litters the ground with body parts?

            “Five Dark Fates” is a YA fantasy novel that’s a little bit horror and a lot of bit darkness and civil war in this series-ending novel of the Three Dark Crowns series. While not a massively thick tome, it is a massively epic story. The line of queens is going to end somehow, and it is going to be graphically violent, bloody and dark. Torture, madness, power-hungry dead and killing mist are never far behind. This story and the entire series isn’t about power and violence without depth; it is a complex quartet featuring complicated characters, at least a couple of which I’ve both hated and sympathized with at varying points. Despite their often violent actions, these are characters that do love, twisted and broken as they usually are in Fennbirn’s matriarchal society. There is great depth, and a blockbuster-worthy battle is inevitable. What there isn’t is a happy ending, though the series ended where it needed to.

            Book One: Three Dark Crowns (no post)

            Book Two: One Dark Throne

            Book Three: Two Dark Reigns

            Companion Novel: Queens of Fennbirn

The Positive Page-turner's Challenge: Take 9

Last year, I introduced to myself a yearlong Challenge in which I would purchase a full package of bar soap (8-10 bars per package) for every book I read that’s a chapter book on up. I liked that Challenge so well that I’m going to continue it this year. All of the bar soap I collect will continue to go to Haiti through GoServ Global.

            What are your plans for positivity this year? How are you hoping to impact your local community, your state, your country or, if you’re really ambitious, the world? The impacts we make that may seem minor can still have substantial ripple effects, positive or negative. Let’s keep aiming for the positive, and please share your personal goals and aims for positive influence in the comments!

Happy 2020!

Happy New Year! Happy New Decade!

To family and friends and anyone wandering onto my blog by accident, Happy New Year! 2019 closed out another decade. Hopefully multiple milestones were reached like the loftiest of goals, and I hope you’re set with new goals and big dreams for 2020. I wish for everyone reading this message a happy, healthy, blessed, safe and successful new year, but I also realize these words may come across as redundant and over-used, well-meaning though they are. We all know that real life tends to set us alight with issues great and small. If you’ve lost loved ones (pets included) this past year, I pray that you have multiple pillars of support to lift you up so that you do not fall into a miasma of grief. If you or someone close to you is dealing with health issues, I pray for a favorable outcome and encourage everyone involved to stay strong and be spunky. If you feel like 2019 was an unending barrage of nitpicky negativity and you could never catch a break, I pray that 2020 is your year to shine. No matter what you go through this year, no matter how turbulent or low-key any issues are, continue to rise up. Be an overcomer. Be a champion to yourself and others.

            For those adding to their families this year: CONGRATULATIONS! For anyone headed down the wedding aisle: CONGRATULATIONS! For anyone traveling, I want to go, too! If you need a travel buddy, let’s plot!!

            Whatever winding paths you traverse this year, I wish you bravery, strength and courage when navigating life’s potholes and always support and love along what I hope is a well-lit route with a temperate breeze at your back. Godspeed through it all! And, as always, happy reading!

            Love, Lisa.