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. *

Book Review: "The Winter Witch" by Paula Brackston

      Morgana is a pretty young woman from a Welsh village. Yet suitors keep their distance from the strange girl who, although she hasn't spoken in years, seems able to manipulate the elements around her. Cai, who raises cattle and horses in the hill country, needs a wife in order to keep his job as porthmon. He will take his neighbors' livestock to the city, and handle their business transactions for them. Yet the people will not trust a man who does not need to return home to a family, because the large purse he will carry back from the city might prove too tempting. The arranged marriage between the two is convenient for them both. But can they learn to love one another?

      A neighbor woman is determined to see their marriage fail. Isolda Bowen, a wealthy widow, has her jealous eye on Cai herself. But it is not the man she wants. No, Isolda senses Morgana's unique talents because she, too, is a witch. There is a well on Cai's property known in local legend as a source of curse or blessing, which can only be controlled by its owner. Isolda is hungry for that power. Will the dark witch prevail, or can Morgana summon the inner strength to fight for her husband, and her land?

      This book was well done! Morgana is a complex main character and easy to root for. Isolda is developed as a villain you love to hate. The pace moves along nicely and the descriptive prose places you right on the windy hillsides of Wales. I really enjoyed this one and hope I get the chance to read some of the author's other books in the future.

Book Review: "A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman

     All Ove asks for is a little peace and simplicity. He likes order. It's not his fault if his neighbors think he's grumpy. Why can't they all just follow the rules in their residents' association? Ove is misunderstood by his neighbors, who don't realize his sad back story. He's lonely, and so he fills his time with trying to fix things around him, since in the end he was unable to save the person most dear to him. When a boisterous young family moves in next door, Ove may just find himself opening up his heart again, in spite of himself. A stray cat added in the mix doesn't hurt, either.

      This is a wonderful book, from a Swedish author, Fredrik Backman. The writing is beautiful. The author shows us Ove, both through Ove's own memories and perceptions, and the observations of his new neighbors, including two energetic little girls. It is both heartbreakingly sad, and yet heartwarming as Ove finds healing -- and true peace. I loved the author's wry sense of humor. I found the book easy to relate to because I live near a large retirement community. Once in a while, one of the older locals will share a bit of their past with you, making a connection. This book accomplished that for readers. It is definitely one of my favorites.

Book Review: "Immortal" by Gillian Shields

       Sometimes you find a book you love, quite by accident. I was browsing through the aisles at the local branch library, and picked out a few novels that looked interesting. “Immortal” by Gillian Shields was one of my choices. It is one of the better paranormal romance stories I have read in a long time! In fact, I've already requested the second book in the four-part series from the library.

       Evie Johnson is sent to Wyldcliffe boarding school, as her father has to go overseas for his military duty, and her mother has died in a tragic drowning accident. On her way there, stuck on the road late at night in the rain, she meets an intriguing boy named Sebastian. At first, Evie is just trying to adjust to life in the strange, mysterious new school. Something just doesn't seem quite right. She isn't sure who she can trust, but it isn't long before she's spending her late evenings out on the moors with Sebastian, with whom she feels a special connection. But what does he mean when he says it's dangerous for her to keep seeing him, if he truly loves her?

        It's more than a paranormal romance. It's a mystery that needs solving, with parallels drawn between generations of strong women, in a conflict between good and evil. It was well written, and a fast paced book that I didn't want to put down! I'm excited to read the rest of the series.

Book Review: "The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle", by L. J. Smith

      Elena Gilbert's relationship with Stefan Salvatore, the boy she loves, continues. Yet she must keep his true nature a secret, and feels caught up in a web of lies. Damon, Stefan's jealous brother, persistently pursues Elena, eager to have her for himself. He comes to her at night, as if in a dream. Sure enough, though, she soon realizes those tiny pin pricks at her throat are all too real. Desperate to protect everyone she loves, sometimes from one another, Elena feels overwhelmed. One dark, stormy night, fleeing from danger, she drives her friend Matt's car off the Wickery Bridge into the cold water below . . . .

      This is the second book in the series, and clips along at a fast, easy to read pace, just as the first book, “The Awakening”. (I finished it in just two days.) I actually enjoyed this second book just a little better than I did the original novel. The story has been made into the popular television series of the same name, although fans of the show will find some differences in the details. Readers who have not yet seen the show will enjoy the books for the engaging paranormal romance story that they are, appropriate for young adult readers on up.

      I found my copy in the local branch library.

Book Review: "The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening", by L. J. Smith

      Elena Gilbert is a small town girl, pretty and popular. Strange things start happening around the town of Fell's Church, right about the time a mysterious young man shows up. Stefan Salvatore is handsome and charming, and Elena falls for him, hard. But she feels like she's being watched, and it isn't long before Stefan's dark and frightening brother, Damon, tries to lure Elena away from him. While most of the town blames Stefan for two recent murders, Elena knows he is innocent. Yet, she also knows he keeps a dark secret that no one would understand!

      Fans of the hit CW television series will be familiar with most of the story line and characters here. However, they should be prepared for several differences. Some names were changed for the television show. Instead of a vampire hunting brother, Elena (a blonde in the book series) has a 4 year old sister. Caroline is a catty redhead. Those who have not seen the TV series will still enjoy the books, as they are well told paranormal romance novels for a young adult (and older) audience. These books are fast paced and I read this first book in just a few days.

      I picked up my copy of this first book, “The Awakening”, in a thrift shop, but my local library branch has the entire series. Look for my review of the second book, “The Struggle”. I hope to continue reading the other books in the set after my next trip to the local library.

Book Review: "Grave Intent" by Alexander Hartung

      A local Berlin doctor calls the police from his wife's grave, horrified to see a grave with his own name dug out next to hers, with the date of death on it – marked for the next day! The dispatcher advises the man to head into the station, but he never makes it . . . . Other murders follow, and Detective Jan Tommen is assigned the case. But the serial killer always seems to be just one step ahead of him. It becomes personal when one of the grave markers predicts the murders of one of Jan's friends. Can he outwit the murderer, and find his friend, before it's too late?

       This novel was translated from the original German. The story is suspenseful and generally fast moving. There were a handful of slower spots, but overall the pace was a good one. It was an interesting twist having the murderer leave grave markers giving the planned date of each victim's demise. There is a previous title in this series, called “Until the Debt is Paid”. There were some references to the detective's traumatic experience during his previous case, but it might have been easier to understand the character if I had read that first book before this one. I felt he was underdeveloped. Detective Tommen had a network of clever friends to assist him in solving the case. I felt the team was well-rounded, even though not much was revealed about the individual characters. It would have been more engaging to learn more about their back stories.

       So in short, while I enjoyed this novel, I felt like something was lacking a little.

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

Book Review: "Knight Avenged" by Coreene Callahan

     Cosmina is a young oracle and warrior, reluctantly called into service by the goddess of all things. Yet, as she prepares to perform an ancient ritual, evil forces are already on the move. Henrik and his team of elite assassins are trying to track down Cosmina, not realizing their intruder is a young woman working for good. They soon find themselves defending her against their mutual enemies.

      I loved the well built world in this novel. It was easy to be drawn into it, and to feel a part of the surroundings. Cosmina and Henrik are complex characters, each trying to do the right thing yet feeling alienated from the beliefs they were raised on. They find common ground and a steamy love affair begins. (I wouldn't hand a copy of this to your teenage daughter!) However, it isn't long before they have to get back to reality and fight together for the survival of all they have ever known. Henrik's band of compatriots are especially fascinating, each with their own magical abilities and skills.

       This book is part of the Circle of Seven series by this author. I really enjoyed it and would like to read more from this author.

Book Review: "Miss Mayhem" by Rachel Hawkins

      In “Rebel Belle”, the first novel in this YA paranormal series, Harper Price became a Paladin, charged with protecting the Oracle, a classmate named David who has visions of the future. As their adventures continue in their small Southern town of Pine Grove, Harper and David find themselves trying to reconcile their magical responsibilities with their everyday lives. The Ephors are still hunting David, this time trying to use him rather than kill him. 

     As his powers increase, David feels overwhelmed and a little lost in them. Meanwhile, Harper sees more aspects of her former life slipping away in her focus to keep David safe. The Ephors have challenged Harper to a series of terrifying trials that will either strengthen her skills as a Paladin, or kill her. Oh yes, and there's the Miss Pine Grove pageant for Harper to worry about, too.

      The book is a fun, light read, with the exception of a couple of scary visions being described. The pace moves along smoothly and quickly, and the cliffhanger ending will have you eager to pick up the third book in the series, “Lady Renegades”. While I enjoyed the first book better than the second one, it was still a good sequel and I am interested to see what happens next for David, Harper, and their friends.

     Harper Price, president of her high school and all-around multitasker, is excited about homecoming. Instead of proudly accepting her homecoming queen tiara, however, she finds herself trapped in the ladies' room with the school janitor, who is bleeding to death before her eyes, and her history teacher, who is apparently intent on killing her. With one stiletto spike to her teacher's carotid artery, Harper realizes her life will never be the same!

      What ensues is a thrilling story of magic and supernatural powers, in which Harper finds herself in charge of protecting David, a boy she can't stand. It turns out that David is an Oracle, who can see visions of the future. Dark forces want to use his powers for their own gain. Young adult readers will be able to relate to Harper's dilemmas as she tries to navigate her relationships with her parents, extended family, her boyfriend, her best friend Bee, and especially, with David, who she just may be falling for . . . . Adult readers will recall the ups and downs of their own teenage years. Everyone will love the story concept!

      Look for my upcoming review of the second book in the series, “Miss Mayhem”. I'm also eager to start reading the third book, “Lady Renegades”.

Suspense, Adventure, and Destiny!

The land of Andara seeks its rightful king. Edmund, bearer of the Lion Ring, has gone into hiding to keep his Ring, and therefore his throne, from falling into evil hands. While political intrigues abound on the mainland, a young island boy named Seth daydreams of leaving his small town behind. Seth has always looked and felt different than the rest of the island people, and longs for adventure. Little does he know what destiny has in store for him! Could he be the key to Andara's future?

C.R. Richards is an excellent storyteller. The story carries you along at a good pace, while maximizing suspense and piquing your curiosity. You come to care about the characters in the book, and will find yourself rooting for good to win the day. What I liked best about the book is that the characters in it are realistic . . . the rangers who fight for good are heroes yes, but they are also mortal men who sometimes question their own behavior in order to become better people. I also loved how the farm boy, Riley, youngest of a gaggle of brothers, cannot seem to get the knack of caring for the livestock but eventually finds his true calling as he helps Seth in his journey.

I felt this novel would be appropriate for pre-teens on up. There is one very brief love scene between one ranger and his wife, but it is very discreet. There is a lot of sword fighting within the book, and while that necessitates mention of bloodshed and murder, the descriptions are not gory. There is no bad language to worry about. As an adult, I loved it and I think my teenagers would enjoy it, too. As a lot of the main characters are male, this may appeal more to boys, although again, as a woman I found it to be an excellent choice and I'm eager to see the rest of the series as it is published! The ending of this novel definitely left me curious as to what will happen next!

ISBN 978-0-9906694-3-2. I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. This is a book I enjoyed so much I would read it again while I wait for the sequels!

Book Review: "The Shamed: In the Mind of Revenge" by Liv Hadden

     How much can one person take before they break? In Liv Hadden's new novel, a young person is bullied and eventually beaten and violated beyond what can be withstood. After two years in a coma, and some experimental surgery that replaced crushed bones with metal, this young person awakens -- only to find out that Mom has married the father of one of the abusers! Well, I wouldn't stick around either.

      This book is not for the faint of heart. Shame, the name the young person chooses, takes out vengeance on those who are viewed as a threat. (Shame's gender is never identified; in my mind, and what I think the writer was trying to convey, is that it doesn't really matter because no one should be treated so badly.) It isn't long before the need to wipe out any evidence or trail continues Shame's violent spree. The ending surprised me, though . . . I sure didn't see THAT coming! The things that are done to Shame, as well as what Shame does in retribution, are graphically described. There is harsh language. Obviously, the author is delving into darker psychological issues here, and she isn't about to sugar coat it.

     While the book was hard to read at times, due to the nature of the story line and main character's issues, I thought it was very well done. It was interesting and while it's very clear Shame is not meant to be a hero, you do find yourself wishing some justice could have been found without Shame going off the deep end and in a sense, self-destructing and unleashing destruction on others along the way down.

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

Book Review: "Triumph" by Latisha Marie

I don't like to leave negative reviews, but I do insist on leaving honest reviews. (I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

Theresa is a young college student who finds herself whisked away by the charms of a young man named Jason, who she meets on campus. As their relationship grows and changes, Theresa discovers she is pregnant with twins. But in an alcoholic rage, Jason injures her and one of the babies is lost.

On a positive note, Theresa leaves her abuser. The story was fast paced but the grammar and tone just seemed a little off somehow; stilted rather than smooth.

On a very negative note, Theresa returns to her abuser and rebuilds a life with him to raise their surviving child, after he pleads for mercy. Statistics show us that in most cases, a woman who returns to her abuser does not have a happily ever after. The opposite is normally true. As someone who was married to an abuser -- and escaped with my children, grateful we were all alive -- I simply can't condone a book that takes this position and oversimplifies a highly misunderstood issue.

Book Review: "Some Fine Day" by Kat Ross

      In a refreshing spin on YA dystopian fiction, Kat Ross creates a world in which hypercanes (unprecedented hurricanes of extreme size and power) have forced survivors into underground cities. Jansin is a 16 year old who has been raised underground and trained at a special military school. Her parents take her on a trip to the surface, which only a select few get to experience. But their group is attacked by pirates, who take Jansin captive.

      If she can keep her wits about her, maybe she can learn to survive in this strange new world above ground. But she might also come to find that everything she ever thought was true was wrong! Jansin is a brave and intelligent heroine who must figure out where she stands and who and what she is willing to fight for.

       I found the novel's plot line fascinating, and thought it was well written. Suspense moved the story along quickly. The characters and the dilemmas they faced were well handled and easy to relate to. This is a book I would read again.

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

Book Review: "Watch Me" by Anejlica Huston

     On a recent jaunt to the local library, I headed for one of my favorite sections, the biography genre. I picked up a copy of "Watch Me" by Anjelica Huston. While I have enjoyed her work in "The Addams Family" movies,, "Daddy Day Care" and "Ever After", I thought it would be intriguing to learn more about the woman behind the character actor. I was not disappointed.

      After just reading a few pages, it was clear to me that this woman's life experiences would probably make it difficult for the average person to relate to her. She was born to a live of money and privilege, and yet, as I read on and discovered, faces many issues that we can, in fact, relate to, as outsiders to the glitz of Hollywood. She was a woman still seeking her father's love and approval, even as she faced his illness and passing away. She looked to other men, like Jack Nicholson, to love her, and was sometimes disappointed. Eventually, she found a soul mate in Bob Graham, who died of illness in 2008. She loves horses and yearned for a child of her own, but that was not to be. Instead, she learned to delight in being a good aunt and great-aunt to her nieces and nephews, in spite of her pain. In short, she is a strong woman, who has been through quite an amazing life, and I enjoyed the glimpse into it.