Book Review: "The Railwayman's Wife" by Ashley Hay

      Shortly after World War II, Ani Lachlan's husband, Mac, is killed in a railway accident at work. His death leaves her with their young daughter to raise, and upends her life completely. She soon has to take a job at the local library to make ends meet. She gets to know Roy McKinnon, a local poet who has lost his voice, and Dr. Frank Draper, who saw so much death in the war that he feels helpless.

      This novel is a finely written piece on grief, and how we somehow go on living after a hard loss, even when it feels hollow sometimes. It is a sad and heavy story, yet there are glimmers of hope now and again. The pace and tone of the book match up well with what a grieving person would be going through. It also gives a beautiful and vivid description of the shoreline in southeastern Australia, in the coastal town where Ani lives.

      I enjoyed the book, and I think the serious subject matter was handled with masterful skill. If you have lost someone precious recently, this might be too close to home for you. My main criticism would be that the book relies heavily on the characters' personal thoughts. There is a lot of rumination going on, which is not necessarily emotionally healthy. I would have preferred a little more dialogue and interaction between the people in the story. But it is a worthy read, and if you're ready to step away from lighter fare for a time, this truly is excellent writing and storytelling.

      This book will be released in April, 2016. I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: "Beautiful Creatures" by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

      Ethan can't wait to finish high school and leave the small Southern town of Gatlin behind. His mom passed away, and his dad hides in his study all the time. He pores over the college brochures he keeps hidden under his bed, wistful for something more. But when mysterious, beautiful Lena Duchannes arrives in town, everything changes for Ethan. He can feel it. Even though the rest of the town rejects her because they fear what they don't understand, he knows that somehow, they are meant to be together. Now, if only he can convince Lena . . . and her protective uncle Macon Ravenwood.

      I was first introduced to this wonderful Southern Gothic story when my son showed me the film version. The movie was excellent, and made me want to start reading the book series. I have the second book on reserve at the local library. I can't wait to see what happens next with Ethan, Lena, and the small town of Gatlin. I love the frequent references to “To Kill a Mockingbird”, another amazing Southern novel, including Macon's watchful and loyal dog, Boo Radley! This is a powerful love story with a good mix of paranormal activity, with a dash of small town politics. One of my favorite books.

Book Review: "The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion" (Volume IV), by L. J. Smith

      In the final installment of the original series, with Katherine vanquished but Elena gone, Stefan must uphold his promise to Elena to protect her friends and family in Fell's Church. A dark, supernatural force is at work once again, leaving one girl dead and Vickie Bennett terrorized. Elena keeps trying to send messages from beyond the grave, but something evil is blocking her . . . . Can Stefan and his wild brother Damon maintain an uneasy peace to save Elena's friends?

      This fourth and final book in the original series was better than the third book, in my opinion. There was more suspense and action, and less predictability in the plot line. This novel introduces us to Tyler Smallwood as not just an obnoxious jock, but also a werewolf, and to Klaus as a developed character, an Original vampire, and evil force to be reckoned with. Fans of the television show will find many differences between that series and the novels. I felt this fourth novel ended well. Readers would be happy to leave it as it is, yet it was left open ended at the same time.

      Additional novels in several groupings have been written, although opinions vary on their quality. I would like to continue reading on and see for myself. I have just reserved “The Return: Night Fall” from the local library.

Book Review: "The Vampire Diaries: The Fury" (Volume 3), by L. J. Smith

      The story of the love triangle between Elena Gilbert and brothers Stefan and Damon Salvatore continues in this third volume in the four volume series. Elena, now a vampire, starts to come to grips with her new reality. Damon, ever the bad boy, is pleased to now have Elena's attention. Stefan, devastated that Elena has turned, reconsiders his relationship with his estranged brother. Meanwhile, some of Elena's friends realize all is not as they once thought in their small town, as a dark supernatural force is at work behind the scenes. To discover who or what is trying to harm the Mortals, Elena will have to get Damon and Stefan to work together somehow. Can she manage it? The safety of her family depends on it.

      Fans of the television series will notice a lot of differences between the original novels and what they've seen on the screen. Still, if you are reading the books to enjoy them for what they are, without worrying about making comparisons, you will not be disappointed. Suspense, romance, and the battle between good and evil – even waged within the individual – are all part of the story. This third novel in the series introduces Katherine as an actual character, not just as a memory held by Stefan and Damon. Of course, she is up to no good! This is a fun read, decently written and easy to breeze through.

Book Review: "Betrayal" by Gillian Shields

      In the second book in the Immortals series, Evie returns for the second term at Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies. She longs to help her love, Sebastian, who is fading away into darkness. She will need the help of her sisters in the Mystic Way if she is to have any hope of saving his soul before it is too late. Yet, dark forces are at work at the school. Can Evie and her friends Helen and Sarah protect themselves long enough to find a way to help Sebastian?

      While I felt this was not quite as good as the first book in the series, “Immortal”, it was a good follow up novel. It brought back favorite heroines from the first title, while introducing new characters and further developing others. I was quite pleased with how the romance between Sebastian and Evie played out. The classic theme of the battle between good and evil was handled nicely, with suspenseful developments all along the way.

      The series continues with two other books, which my local library does not carry. My understanding is that the girls' story of friendship continues, and that one book focuses more on Helen, and the other on Sarah. Gillian Shields is also the author of a wide variety of books for young readers.

Book Review: "Princess in the Spotlight" (Princess Diaries, Volume II) by Meg Cabot

      Princess Mia's freshman year of high school continues. Not only does she have to endure princess lessons from her Grandmere, Mia also has to juggle her social life at school, where she feels out of place. She's still crushing on her friend Lilly's brother, Michael, but does he even notice her? Could he be the person sending her flirty little messages on her computer? Meanwhile, her mom and her Algebra teacher are engaged, and her mom is having his baby! It's a lot for one overwhelmed young lady to handle.

      Mia's journal entries make me laugh. They take me back to my own teenage years, when little setbacks seemed like the end of the world at times. I can certainly relate to her endless battle with Algebra! Friendships, boys, trying to avoid social drama, and trying to figure out the adults in her life – most girls could relate to a lot of Mia's experiences and thoughts. The book is light, funny, and rings true. I enjoyed it and I'm going to pick up the third book in the series from the local library soon.

Book Review: "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys

      Near the end of World War II, in a little known tragedy, over 9,000 refugees perished on the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that was meant to take them closer to freedom. In this stunning work of historical fiction, author Ruta Sepetys presents what it might have been like to be a young adult trying to survive in a war zone. She does this by sharing with readers the perspectives of several main characters. One young man is fleeing Nazi Germany with a stolen artifact. A young pregnant girl, raped by soldiers, just wants to feel safe. A caring young Lithuanian nurse is trying so hard to help whoever she can along the way, trying to find redemption. On the darker side, a sociopathic young man expresses his frightening and fanatical views, swept away by the Fuhrer's hold over the German people.

      This is not an easy book to read, but I feel it is a very important one. Thankfully, I have never had to live in a war zone. My children have never had to know that terror. I have never been forcibly separated from the people I love. Many are not so fortunate. While it is a work of fiction, it is extensively researched. In her notes at the end of the book, the author notes how she tread the paths these refugees took all those years ago, trying to find passage on a ship that could take them further from the Russian invaders pressing in on them. Her efforts show; as you read you can easily visualize the scenes as the weary young travelers carry on bravely in the midst of a very real nightmare. This is one of the most powerful books I have read.

* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. *