Surviving the Darkness by Shiela Stewart
Publisher: Champagne Book Group
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Short story (126 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Dryas
Surviving an abduction, and running home to hide, might seem like a good idea. Except home is now run by vampires.Deborah Carmichael had it all. Fame, fortune, and an amazing gift bringing songs to life on her piano. Until a madman began stalking her. At first he seemed harmless, attending her concerts, asking for autographs. Then he turned creepy, sending photos of himself, wearing identical dresses she wore, including dressing up mannequins in her likeness. But one night she made a deadly mistake: sending her bodyguard away. It was the perfect opportunity for her abductor to strike.
Rich, debonair, and owner of the only vampire/demon establishment in Jacobs Cove, Zachary Adams has it all. Or so he thinks. When a beautiful, troubled young woman walks into his club, he is instantly taken by her. As he helps her overcome her fears, teaching her to stand up and fight, Zach discovers she is the one. His light.
When her abductor finds her, and takes her captive, Deborah fears this will be the end. Will Zach locate her in time, or will Deborah find the strength to fight?
April Book of the Month Poll Winner ~ Surviving the Darkness by Shiela Stewart
Siren Call by Graeme Pole
Siren Call by Graeme Pole
Publisher: Mountain Vision Press
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Length: Full length (402 pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Review by DryasWilliam Marshall, emergency medical technician with Mountain EMS, dedicates his life to providing patient care in Banff National Park. A seasoned medic, ‘Marsh’ responds to highway wrecks, medical calls, and backcountry disasters with compassion for the injured and a heart for the homeless. Struggling with his past and with a desperately understaffed service, Marsh coaches new-hire Miranda Walker through the learning curve of the job. While answering to an overbearing medical director, and with the local fire department vying to take over Mountain EMS, Marsh and Miranda confront public and private emergencies with professionalism, courage, and humour.
Against the odds, they turn their service and each other’s lives around.
We get to meet William Marshall, “Marsh”, an overworked but incredible medic who works for Canada’s Medical Emergency Service (EMS). One day he is called into his managers office, Pat Lemay, and where Marsh is expecting another lecture about something he did. Pat and Marsh have a volatile relationship as stated, “These sessions were always a menacing blend of sparring for the heck of it , discussion of what Lemay saw discipline issues, and bargaining sessions initiated by Marsh for everything from better uniforms to upgraded equipment to improve safety to better scheduling.”
This time, Lemay had a surprise for Marsh, he was getting a new partner. Miranda Walker, “Miri”. His first impression told him that she would be a good fit.
She is a strong woman, confident in her skills, willing to learn. Each call stretches her skills and she begin to understand that although she has experience, she learns from Marsh about patient care. As their relationship develops, she becomes worried that Marsh has buried himself in work, not actually living. She does her best to get him to start to live again with small hints here and there along with setting him up with a friend of hers.
Marsh has worked as an EMT for 12 years and as seen everything, twice over. He is extremely knowledgeable, observant, and can handle any situation handed to him with a calm demeanor even in the worst situations. For example, there had been a large crash on a busy highway with nine victims. Unfortunately, all of the patients were dead on arrival. He was there for Miri as she tried to come to terms with the horror. He tends to use humor and his addiction to coffee as a way to help himself and his partner. It’s rather funny about his coffee addiction as it runs through the whole novel. He has a great rapport with all the first responders since he has been working so long and knows how to work with them.
With each call, the reader gets to see how hard it can be for EMT’s and how underfunded they can be with simple comforts that they do not have. Most of their stuff in the bunkhouse came from the trash. Each call shows us a different part of Miri and Marsh, which also shows us how much we should appreciate them. They also must face horrible issues in their personal lives. For example, Miri has a sister that is dying from leukemia and when she got a call from her mother that her sister didn’t have much longer to live, she was lucky enough that a flight crew that was going to take a patient to Calgary died so they agreed to take her there.
For Marsh it was a homeless man that he had a rapport with as he often responded to calls for various ailments when Reggie gets placed in jail. He even gave Reggie a card that had some money for coffee or food. He seemed to understand Reggie better than most, always willing to listen to him and not get mad when those fake calls come in. The author shows us what is going on in Reggie’s mind and we can tell that he needed psychiatric help more than anything else.
The only thing that I would have liked to see is maybe getting rid of some of the scenes that feature Bryce, a mountaineer that is well known for taking beautiful pictures. There were times when I thought scenes with him slowed things down and some unnecessary details could be removed.
This is a story that everyone should read to understand just how hard EMT’s work and how ill treated they can be. They are under constant pressure from the people upstairs along with dealing with difficult patient’s and horrible situations. Remember that if you ever need to be in a situation where an EMT is needed, please make sure that you tell them how much you appreciate what they are doing.
The Outlaw’s Second Chance by Angie Dicken
The Outlaw’s Second Chance by Angie Dicken
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Historical, Inspirational
Length: Full length (288 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by MistflowerRenegade on the run
When Cort Stanton and Aubrey Huxley try to claim the same land in the Oklahoma Land Run, Cort offers a deal—one that could help him keep his freedom. After taking the blame for his brother’s crime, Cort needs to lie low, so he gives Aubrey the land for her horse ranch…if she’ll hire him. Now he just has to avoid growing too close to the gorgeous seamstress, who can never know his secret.
Aubrey refuses to depend on any man, even one as handsome and kind as Cort. Yet, as they work together to make her dream a reality, it’s impossible to imagine life on the prairie without him. And though Aubrey knows Cort has secrets that stand between them, she can’t help but wish she could stake a claim on his heart.
I’m going to mail this book to my mother. She was the one that got me hooked on romance books and this is more her type of book than mine. She enjoys historical romances of adventure and faith. The kind of love story that warms your heart while inspiring your love for God. Tales that leave you with more than just a happily ever after. It’s one of hope, justice and redemption in Jesus Christ.
I know my mom would enjoy the characters that displayed endurance through hardships through prayer while showing discipleship to others. Her favorite television show was Little House on the Prairie.
The Outlaw’s Second Chance would meet all her expectations and more. Not only was it well written, it was also entertaining. I just know she’d recommend this book to her Christian friends.
Speaking for myself, I prefer a book with a little bit more sensual chemistry between the hero and heroine. Perhaps that’s why my mom prays for my soul, LOL. The hero, Cort Stanton, has a past that he’s running from. Aubrey Huxley, the heroine, is also running from her past but they are both running for completely different reasons and looking for different outcomes. They are both stubborn and pigheaded so it was interesting to see how they could overcome their obstacles, to be able to give their hearts to each other. Praise God they saw the light.
I have to be transparent. I obtained this book out of desperation. I forgot to bring a book on our camping trip. I found a lending library box at the camp store. It was the only romance paperback there and the cover looked aesthetically pleasing. The synopsis on the back sounded interesting so I snagged it. I didn’t even realize it was a Christian romance. I’ve read a few in my lifetime so I gave it a try. What choice did I have? I needed something to pass the time. The best thing about taking that chance was the outcome; I was pleased because it ended up being a good read. Yes, there was scripture written in the story but it wasn’t holier than thou, in your face, making me feel like a sinner who needed to repent, kind of book.
In conclusion, if you love innocent, sweet, Christian books then this one is a winner. I’ve never read a book by Angie Dicken before but I’d consider reading another book by her. I can easily recommend The Outlaw’s Second Chance.
Treasure of the Blue Whale by Steven Mayfield
Treasure of the Blue Whale by Steven Mayfield
Publisher: Regal House Publishing
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (175 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by AstilbeIn this whimsical, often funny, Depression-era tale, young Connor O’Halloran decides to share a treasure he’s discovered on an isolated stretch of Northern California beach. Almost overnight, his sleepy seaside village is comically transformed into a bastion of consumerism, home to a commode with a jeweled seat cover, a pair of genuinely fake rare documents, a mail-order bride, and an organ-grinder’s monkey named Mr. Sprinkles. But when it turns out that the treasure is not real, Connor must conspire with Miss Lizzie Fryberg and a handful of town leaders he’s dubbed The Ambergrisians to save their friends and neighbors from financial ruin. Along the way, he discovers other treasures in the sometimes languid, sometimes exciting days of that long-ago season. He is rich and then he isn’t. He learns to sail a boat and about sex. He meets a real actor. He sneaks into villainous Cyrus Dinkle’s house and steals his letter opener. He almost goes to jail. He loves Fiona Littleleaf. He finds a father. And best of all, he and little brother, Alex, reclaim their mother from the darkness of mental illness.
What would you do if you suddenly became wealthy?
The characterization and character development were handled marvellously. This book had a large cast of characters, but I felt like I got to know everyone intimately because of how descriptive the author was when he talked about their appearances, habits, personalities, and personal histories. Everyone I met in this small town was a unique, three-dimensional human being, including the folks that sometimes acted like villains!
There were a few times when I thought have a ten-year-old narrate this story wasn’t necessarily the most realistic choice. Conner was raised by a single mom whose mental illness meant that she gave both of her kids far more responsibility and freedom than many children have at their ages. Even still, Conner was regularly privy to conversations and adult interpersonal conflicts that weren’t meant for people his age. This was particularly true when it came to the adult’s solution for how to deal with a notorious swindler. As amusing as it was to see his reaction to this, it was something that a child really shouldn’t have been included in. With that being said, I still enjoyed reading the now-adult Connor’s interpretation of what happened during that period in his life.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much humor was packed into the plot. While the main storyline and setting were serious, Conner found plenty of opportunities to share the lighter side of life in Tesoro during the Great Depression. Honestly, these scenes were instrumental in my decision to give this a four star review. Those small moments of unexpected humor endeared me to the characters and made me even more eager to find out if they’d find a way to avoid utter financial ruin for their small, close-knit community.
Treasure of the Blue Whale was a thoughtful book I’d recommend to anyone who loves small towns, nostalgia, or watching characters seek justice in unconventional ways.
Consciousness Detoured by Miladine Etienne
Consciousness Detoured by Miladine Etienne
Publisher: Molding Messengers
Genre: Inspirational, Contemporary, Poetry
Length: Short Story (42 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by AstilbeIn this collection of short poems, the author uses her words to take readers on a journey through their most personal thoughts. The emotions captured on these pages are things we all experience and feel, and that allows the context to be extremely relatable. Get lost in this book as love, family, pain, and self-care are discussed. Truly a comfort read.
Inspiration can come from anywhere.
This is the sort of poetry that thrives when it’s read out loud. I liked it when I read it silently, but I enjoyed it even more when I heard myself speak the words in it and noticed alliterations and rhyming schemes in some of them that weren’t as obvious the first time around. They were marvellous.
There were several different types of poetry represented in this collection. Most of it was free verse, but there were also some poems that stuck to fairly regular rhyming schemes. I liked the fact that they all covered such a wide range of topics, but I couldn’t help but to wonder if it would have been better to either stick to one type of poetry or bundle all of the poems on the same topic together into the same book. It was a little jarring for me as a reader to not only jump around in subject matter constantly but to also leapfrog from poems that followed predictable rhyming patterns to ones that did not.
One of the best parts of this collection was a poem called “Haitian.” It was so short and pithy that I dare not quote a single word of it or say which part of Haiti’s history it was referring to, but I thought it represented the author’s talent with drilling down to the heart of the matter nicely. If other readers are planning to read this collection out of order, I’d definitely recommend starting here.
Consciousness Detoured should be read by anyone who loves poetry or the inspirational genre.
But For Freedom by Elizabeth Rodger
But For Freedom by Elizabeth Rodger
Book 1: Across the Sea Beyond Skye
Publisher: Lillibett Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (346 pages)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by LavenderAt the Battle of Culloden, fought in 1746 near Inverness, Scotland, a superior force led by William, Duke of Cumberland, and younger son of George II, routed a Highland army supporting the pretender to the throne, Bonnie Prince Charlie. Ordered by London to ‘give no quarter’, the Duke showed little mercy in the destruction of the Highland culture as his troops scoured the glens burning homes, destroying crops, appropriating livestock, resulting in the ethnic cleansing of the region.
The foreword explains why the Battle occurred by following the line of succession through the House of Stuart, and the determination by the House of Hanover to retain the throne of Britain.
The story followed the tribulations of Donald and Morag MacKenzie and their children after the torching of their home. Enduring a winter of hardship in a remote area of the coastline, emigration to the New World seemed the only hope of survival. After a harrowing passage on a disease-ridden schooner, the loss of the youngest daughter to dysentery, they arrived at Yorktown where Donald was sold into slavery on a tobacco plantation, indentured for a portion of the fares. Since the location of the plantation was in the vicinity of Williamsburg, Morag and the children traveled there and were sheltered on a small farm owned by an old Scots woman, Missiemac. Morag and the eldest son, Robbie, assumed the heavy chores on the farm while pursuing employment in town, hoping to save enough from their meager incomes to purchase the release of Donald. A loving relationship grew between Robbie and the crusty old Scot who came to look upon him as a son. She encouraged him to learn hunting skills from an old Indian, Netab. This proficiency enabled him to secure a supply of meat for the survival of the family during the first winter. During one of his hunting trips, he met and befriended a boy of his age, Jonathon Drysdale, whose father in his capacity as a school master encouraged Robbie academically. Meanwhile, Donald dealt with the obsessive quest for wealth by the plantation owner, Colonel George Pennington, pressuring his foremen to gain top productivity, the security of their positions relative to the level of viciousness inflicted on the slaves.
The book starts out in the thick of the action, on the battlefield of Culloden, 1745; then we, the readers see the aftermath of the English doing a Highland Clearing. We follow a family through hardships, distress, and courage. Their struggles are brilliantly written, with all the sense details we need to almost feel what they’re feeling.
The family makes their way to the new world, specifically Virginia. There, readers are treated to excellent day-to-day survival details that immerse one in this world beautifully. The storyline itself is engaging, as are the characters. What will happen to this family and their friends?
When the father is indentured, things seem particularly difficult, but there is hope, as one exciting thing after another unfolds.
The dialogue is written to reflect a heavy accent, and at times this can be tedious; though, this gives readers a good sense of heritage.
It is fun to get a peek into Scottish then American life in this era, seen through the eyes of a family, their friends, and their enemies—foes who mean them real harm. Tender moments add a touch of appeal in between harsher realities. Readers of historical fiction are sure to love this story, which is continued in another book.
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Publisher: Random House
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (336 pgs)
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by NymphaeaAt times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town of Crosby, Maine, and in the world at large, but she doesn’t always recognize the changes in those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance; a former student who has lost the will to live; Olive’s own adult child, who feels tyrannized by her irrational sensitivities; and her husband, Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage both a blessing and a curse.
As the townspeople grapple with their problems, mild and dire, Olive is brought to a deeper understanding of herself and her life—sometimes painfully, but always with ruthless honesty. Olive Kitteridge offers profound insights into the human condition—its conflicts, its tragedies and joys, and the endurance it requires.
Olive isn’t an easy woman to love.
Do you know someone who is sort of tough on everything? I mean like, nothing really makes them happy and they’re about to sabotage the people around them? That’s Olive Kitteridge.
This is an award-winning book, so when I picked it up I had high hopes for it. I have to admit, this is a novel told in short stories. While this format might work for some books, this one was a tad jagged in places. The story involving Olive having to use the bathroom and ending up in the hospital comes to mind. I thought the stories would revolve around Olive more as a central character. Many times she’s a side player. Also, the writing didn’t flow as well as I might have liked and I did put this book down often.
But if you go in knowing this is a different sort of book, a novel in short stories, then it might resonate differently with you. There are characters I did worry about and some I wanted to see more of. Many of the stories were quite bittersweet in nature, too.
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, then this might be the book for you.
March Book of the Month Poll Winner ~ Bells for Eli by Susan Beckham Zurenda
Bells for Eli by Susan Beckham Zurenda
Publisher: Mercer University Press
Genre: Historical (recent)
Length: Full Length (282 pgs)
Rated: 5 stars
Review by Snapdragon
First cousins Ellison (Eli) Winfield and Adeline (Delia) Green are meant to grow up happily and innocently across the street from one another amid the supposed wholesome values of small-town Green Branch, South Carolina, in the 1960s and 70s. But Eli’s tragic accident changes the trajectory of their lives and of those connected to them. Shunned and even tortured by his peers for his disfigurement and frailty, Eli struggles for acceptance in childhood as Delia passionately devotes herself to defending him. Delia’s vivid and compassionate narrative voice presents Eli as a confident young man in adolescence–the visible damage to his body gone–but underneath hides indelible wounds harboring pain and insecurity, scars that rule his impulses. And while Eli cherishes Delia more than anyone and attempts to protect her from her own troubles, he cares not for protecting himself. It is Delia who has that responsibility, growing more challenging each year. BELLS FOR ELI is a lyrical and tender exploration of the relationship between cousins drawn together through tragedy in a love forbidden by social constraints and a family whose secrets must stay hidden. Susan Beckham Zurenda masterfully transports readers into a small Southern town where quiet, ordinary life becomes extraordinary. In this compelling coming of age story, culture, family, friends, bullies, and lovers propel two young people to unite to guard each other in a world where love, hope, and connectedness ultimately triumph.
February 2020 Book of the Month Poll Winner ~ Garden of the Lost by D.J. Donaldson
Garden of the Lost by D.J. Donaldson
Publisher: Dingbat Publishing
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (241 pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe
Is Conrad Green alive? The answer seems obvious. He moves, he breathes, he occasionally takes food. But inside, he’s dead, unable to write a word on his next novel, barely able to take care of himself, ruled by despair over the sudden death of his beautiful wife, Claire, six months ago. Since that dreadful day, he’s done only one significant thing. Feeling strangely drawn into a salvage yard, he discovers and buys an antique wrought iron fence that he installs around Claire’s beloved iris garden.
That night, at precisely 1:00 a.m., a little boy shows up in the garden. He’s holding onto the fence, looking inside at the flowers, and sobbing with such intensity, it pierces the gloom around Conrad’s heart. Conrad goes outside to help, but by the time he reaches the garden, the boy is gone. The same thing happens the next night. On the third night, when the boy reappears, a shocking event sends Conrad on a crazy quest that ultimately rocks his small town, uncovers its deepest secrets, and shows him there’s a lot about life — and death — he hasn’t understood.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty
Publisher: WW Norton & Co
Genre: Contemporary, Memoir, Non-Fiction
Length: Full Length (281 pgs)
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by NymphaeaArmed with a degree in medieval history and a flair for the macabre, Caitlin Doughty took a job at a crematory and turned morbid curiosity into her life’s work. She cared for bodies of every color, shape, and affliction, and became an intrepid explorer in the world of the dead. In this best-selling memoir, brimming with gallows humor and vivid characters, she marvels at the gruesome history of undertaking and relates her unique coming-of-age story with bold curiosity and mordant wit. By turns hilarious, dark, and uplifting, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes reveals how the fear of dying warps our society and “will make you reconsider how our culture treats the dead” (San Francisco Chronicle).
Want to get real about death? Read this book.
I’ve read other books by Caitlin Doughty and enjoyed them quite a bit. I realize that sounds strange since this book, like her others, is about death. Most people think it’s morbid or yucky to consider death. It’s even yuckier to think about what happens to us when we die. This book treats the subject head-on and it’s rather refreshing.
This book isn’t all death, doom and gloom. There is a bit of introspection, a lot of details about her life and work at the crematorium, plus people and death. The author discusses how some people simply accept the death of loved ones, others write the loved ones off and still more can’t quite let go. The stories of the bodies coming in are somewhat gross. There are moments that made me cry, too, like with the babies. But this isn’t the story of the babies or the bodies. It’s how the author grows and changes through her work at the crematorium. From her insistent desire not to be cremated and how she’ll handle the death of her loved ones, to acceptance of the course of life.
It’s an eye-opening book, filled with anecdotes, love, trials and facts about death. If you’re interested, scared, or think this sounds like a good book, give it a try. It’s well worth the read.
