Crossing Day by William A. Glass

September 24, 2024 By 9 Comments


Crossing Day by William A. Glass
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: Young Adult, Alternate History, Suspense
Rated: 3 stars
Review by Ginger

It’s been one hundred and sixty years since the Confederacy won its independence at the Battle of Altamaha Crossing. Slaves of African descent still perform most of the work in the South. This seems normal to Ryan Walters and his friends who attend high school in Huntsville, Alabama. Like teens everywhere, they enjoy sharing videos, playing sports, and hanging out with friends. Jaybird’s drive-in is their favorite gathering place. There, they befriend Mish, a slave girl who works as a car hop. When the drive-in’s owner sells Mish to a dirty old man, Ryan and his friends awaken to the injustice around them. Despite the danger, they decide to help Mish escape. Will they succeed?

I was drawn to Crossing Day for its unique perspective on American history. Set in a world where the Confederacy won the Battle of Altamaha Crossing, part of the American Civil War, the novel explores the lasting consequences of slavery and the continued oppression of marginalized groups.

The author skillfully weaves a complex narrative that parallels the horrors of the Nazi regime, highlighting the enduring themes of prejudice, injustice, and the power of human resilience. While the book’s heavy subject matter may not appeal to all readers, it offers a thought-provoking exploration of history and its impact on society. I could not help but make the connection between Isabel Wilkerson’s book titled Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, and how both books link the system of slavery in America with the Nazis’ use of racist theories to label groups of people as inferior.

Crossing Day is an enjoyable read that I would recommend to teenagers and young adults, and if they like soccer they will probably enjoy the context of the book even more. One of the novel’s strengths is that the author’s vivid imagination creates an engaging plot for younger readers through relatable characters. Though the theme can be seen as heavy and sensitive it resonates deeply and prompts moments of reflection on personal values and had me looking to see what bias I may have. The author offers a reminder of history, its impact on society and various cultures, and the importance of standing against cruel and oppressive laws and actions.

Melanie Montgomery, the mayor’s daughter, never gave much thought about having slaves and how wrong it was. Her friends, who only thought of their time in high school, soccer games, and hanging out at Jaybird’s now have a newfound sense of justice as they embark on their mission to help Mish flee her fate. The teenagers’ journey of selflessness, courage, and activism are inspiring and thought-provoking. However, the frequent shifts in perspective and the overwhelming number of characters can be disorienting at times. Some of the character’s stories end abruptly and feel a little disjointed. This did not give me much time to develop a connection with the characters, nonetheless, I felt empathy for them because of their circumstances.

Since the book is titled after the Battle of Altamaha Crossing, I would have appreciated a more in-depth exploration of its significance. There are a few paragraphs where Bryson Walters explains to his son Ryan why they commemorate Crossing Day, however, I was confused why Bryson would celebrate Crossing Day when he is part of The Resistance group that is against General Van Dorn.

Through the journey of standing up against injustice, some gained insight, adapted, and joined the fight. However, those who choose to control with power and prejudice will see that there is redemption in a just world. Ryan and his friends demonstrate resilience and offer inspiration and examples of selflessness where the world needs it. In summary, Crossing Day is a compelling and thought-provoking novel offering a unique perspective on American history. Its exploration of themes such as prejudice, injustice, and the power of human resilience makes it a valuable book for readers of all ages.

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Filed Under: Other, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Combustion by Elia Winters

October 2, 2015 By 6 Comments

BookCover_Combusion

Combustion by Elia Winters
Publisher: Samhain
Genre: Steampunk, Historical, Alternate Reality
Length: Full (218 pages)
Other: M/F, F/F, Multiple Partners, Masturbation, Anal Play, Toys
Rating: 4 stars
Review by: Xeranthemum

A war orphan, Astrid Bailey is content living her adult life alone, working as a contract machinist. Her real passion, though, is inventing felicitation devices that promote women’s sexual empowerment and help them find pleasure independent of a man.

The upcoming World’s Fair, with its substantial cash prize, is an opportunity to open the shop she’s always imagined and hopefully solve her financial woes. Except the committee has denied her entry unless she obtains a “sponsor”. Astrid suspects they mean “male”.

Eli Rutledge, noted watchmaker, knows entering the fair will solidify his reputation as an innovator —but he’s fresh out of ideas. Until Astrid approaches him with her outrageous product line. With no other options, though, he agrees to lend her his good name.
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As construction heats up, so does their chemistry—and the complications. Astrid is unaccustomed to asking for help, much less sharing credit. And Eli fights an attraction that could spell professional disaster. As the Fair date approaches, Astrid and Eli must decide how far they’ll go. For the business…and for each other.

Product Warnings Contains period-appropriate graphic language, highly inappropriate amounts of M/F and F/F sex, and copious amounts of *ahem* product testing. May *ahem again* “spark” an online shopping binge for *cough* toys. Of the adult variety.

It was known as ‘female hysteria’ until 1952 and what the medical establishment concocted to deal with the issue prompted the emergence of vibrators. I really enjoyed Ms. Winters’ take on ‘what if’. What if women were allowed to create the very items that in reality were male dominated for centuries? I liked Ms. Winters’ steampunk world of an alternate course in London’s history and thrilled to the heroine’s exploration of how it would work when creating an intimate aide with the assistance of a sexy male partner. I expected sparks and found fireworks.

For those readers who aren’t into F/F encounters, I’ll give kudos to the author for some tastefully done scenes. The short seduction of a secondary character was very sensual. Its power comes from the almost clinical way the heroine goes about it. It made the guilty pleasure that much more titillating. There’s one other encounter and it’s integral to the plot conflict and movement.

Eli and Astrid were two characters that worked well together in all aspects of their relationship. They were yin-yang; he’s proper yet she’s wild, he’s hiding but she’s confident, he’s stagnant and she’s progressive. Even though they come from different parts of the social spectrum, they are still man and woman, and they play off of one another beautifully. It’s while they are building the device for the fair that they work out their differences until they realize just how perfect they are for each other. It’s not as easy as I make it seem because the one big flaw they both have is stubbornness. A mule could take lessons from them. It takes a different secondary character to dangle the carrot to get the protagonists past themselves.

Since Astrid is the creator of many fascinating vibrating objects, a reader can expect the exploration of their use and resulting hot flashes. Readers will not be disappointed. Ms. Winters’ knows her way around a sexy scene, alone and with partners, and delivers quality spice with just the right amount of quantity to please most erotic romance readers.

The final scenes that lead to the happy ever after were classic romance and very satisfying. An erotic romance fan can’t go wrong in reading Combustion. It’s entertaining, fascinating, fun, and many times, quite stimulating. On sheer novelty alone, this is an easy book to recommend. I’ll never look at saddles the same way again.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,