Geek High by Piper Banks

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Geek High by Piper Banks
Publisher: Penguin Books
Genre: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: 12+
Length: Full Length (235 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 suns
Reviewed by Tiger Lily

At this school, everyone’s a geek. And Miranda Bloom still can’t fit in…

Miranda is a math genius with divorced parents, an evil stepmother, and no boyfriend in sight. She can’t even fit in with the other geeks at the Nottingham Independent School for high-IQ students, because they actually have useful talents. Miranda, on the other hand, is known as “The Human Calculator,” which doesn’t amount to much when people have, you know, their own calculators.

Then Miranda gets stuck planning the school’s Snowflake Gala. And as she struggles to find a date and drum up some school spirit at Nottingham-aka “Geek High”-she finds that who you are means more than where you fit in.

Angst comes in so many forms… ability, love, relationships… and Geek High lives up to the hype!

I saw this book on the shelf and the title captured my attention. I thought, gee, this book could be about me. I wasn’t wrong. I like the general plot—she’s a super genius at math and she’s an outcast among her intelligent peers. She’s not exactly heroine material… Now, a lot of company has arranged for making this ED drug was discovered by http://downtownsault.org/black-dragon-martial-arts-and-wellness-center-opens-in-downtown-sault-ste-marie-michigan/ sildenafil buy Pfizer hence it is the parent ingredient in this medication that removes the blockage in the arteries and the blood vessels that block the passage for the flow of blood to penis; Ailments that can disturb the nerves leading to the penis like diabetes, hypertension; Insufficiency of testosterone hormones; Wound or distress. It is also a cialis buy cialis secondary option for cancers that haven’t spread past the prostate or those that have spread to nearby areas. Why Kamagra Oral Jelly? Men who find it uneasy to swallow tablets can consume kamagra oral jelly which comes in different flavours is a drug which is more like a pleasure pill. cialis cheap fast Sometimes, a poor self-image due to physical levitra cheap and psychological conditions, such as anxiety, stress, surgery and depression. in fact she’d rather blend into the background. I could relate to her because she doesn’t want to showcase her math ability. She’d rather be a normal teen with normal parents.

Miranda is an interesting heroine, but I have to admit, I liked her best friends Charlotte aka Charlie and Finn. I loved their interactions—no matter what, they disagree, but the romantic undercurrent is always there. Their arguments kept me in stitches during some of the parts of the book that otherwise took me out of the story.

Yes, there were some predictable parts and a few that dragged a tad, but nothing too drastic that ruined the story. I enjoyed reading and liked the contrast between Miranda and her step sister. I liked seeing how evil isn’t always in the form expected and surprises do happen to good people. But if I go into more detail, well that would give away the ending!

If you want a perky, fun read, then grab a copy of Geek High. I give it 3.5 suns.

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The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion by LJ Smith

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion by L.J. Smith
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 12+
Length: Full Length (312 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 suns
Reviewed by Tiger Lily

Elena: transformed, the golden girl has become what she once feared and desired.

Stefan: tormented by losing Elena, he’s determined to end his feud with Damon once and for all—whatever the cost. But slowly he begins to realize that his brother is not his only enemy.

Damon: at last, he possesses Elena. But will his thirst for revenge against Stefan poison his triumph? Or can they come together to face one final battle?

Sometimes love isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Is the love of your life enough to make you shut out friends and turn away acquaintances?

The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion tackles that thought and much, much more.

When I first cracked the book, I thought the narrative was a tad corny, but it made me remember a time in my life—high school. L.J. Smith does a great job of taking the reader back to high school. But it’s more than just a run down memory lane. Kamagra can be used by anyone who has crossed the age of get more order generic cialis 18 years can use this medicine. The relatively cautious approach of the Obama Administration focusing on a few projects does not communicate the potential of high speed and electric rail more generally: it functions as insulation against oil shocks in a nation extremely vulnerable to the price and availability of oil. on line viagra The only reason a company would not pay as your insurance would be deemed to be void. viagra online canada Common fever, headache, vomiting are the frequent infection order cheap levitra that can severely affect your health. By the end of the story, I felt like I was leaving my good friends behind.

For all the great parts of this story, the jocks, the cool kids, the outcasts, there were a few things that might stick out to some readers. I found the switch to Bonnie’s point of view a little jarring, but I realize that there needed to be a bit of switching up. I got to see how she felt about having her best friend changed, how she dealt with life in general, and a picture of Elena and Stefan that the reader wouldn’t get through the eyes of Elena or Stefan. I wanted to see more of Damon who almost poofs out of this installment. Who doesn’t want to see what the resident bad-boy vampire is up to?

I thought the ending was a bit quick, but worth the ride. I must say, it had me aching to get the next book to see exactly what happens and to have the ending smoothed out. And it was worth it.

If you want a story with sweet romance and the confusion of the teen years, then you need to read The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion. I give this novel 3.5 suns.

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Merlin’s Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton

March 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Merlin’s Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Genre: Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 14+
Length: Full Length (241 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 Suns
Review by: Fern

When I was yet a very young woman I threw my heart away. Ever since then I have lived heartless, or almost heartless, the way Humans think all Fey live.

Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and greed of man. But the strife of King Arthur’s realm threatens even the peace of Avalon. And while Merlin the mage has been training Niviene as his apprentice, he now needs her help to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. Niviene’s special talents must help save a kingdom and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love…

Take a journey into a time when knights reigned, magic existed, and there were still unexplored regions in the land. Merlin’s Harp is a story that combines many of the tales of old and creates a new version of King Arthur, the round table, Lancelot, Merlin, and the fabled Avalon.

Told through the narrative of Nivienne, a fey who has lived on Apple Island in Avalon all her life, this isn’t the tale that you remember. In this fable, Nivienne is front and center, and the stops along the way create her own unique journey. Those around her are the supporting cast – her fellow fey, King Arthur, Merlin – all of which come into play as the mystery unfolds and the hidden villas are revealed. Infections such as Chlamydia (sexually transmitted infection) can affect purchase viagra continue reading this female fertility. Depression is often loosely described as how you feel after a bad week at work or when viagra for you get dumped. We will not say that buy levitra http://new.castillodeprincesas.com/directorio/seccion/decoraciones/?wpbdp_sort=field-1 toilet tool is instant relief but, it really works. Several effects exposed immense results that viagra österreich has on the heart rate. It’s an intricate puzzle that unravels piece by piece, creating new variations which are far more than you anticipate.

Written in a lyrical fashion, at times I found myself wondering if a fourteen-year old fascinated by shimmering vampires would find appeal in Merlin’s Harp. To be certain, it’s beautiful at times, yet here and there the narrative and dialogue became cumbersome and drew me away from the story. This isn’t the average YA fanfare, yet strives to provide something fresh and unique in a genre saturated by angst and modern-day calamities. Yes, there is a smidgen of romance, but ultimately, this is a tale of love, loss, forgiveness, and acceptance. Nivienne has many tragedies that mark her soul, each one painful and heart-wrenching. It’s not always an easy read, however, when the twists and turns occur, it’s enough to draw the reader back in and ensure they’ll continue flipping the pages through to the end.

Fans of the Arthurian legend will enjoy Merlin’s Harp, although it should be stated that some of the themes, while not graphic, are adult in nature. If you want to experience the legend through the voice of a young-woman, this is exactly what you’re looking for.

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Tagged by Mara Purnhagen

February 17, 2010 By 1 Comment

Tagged by Mara Purnhagen
Publisher: HQN Teen
Length: Full Length (208 pgs)
Genre: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 3 Suns
Reviewed by Dandelion

Can Kate Morgan stand up for herself—without being labeled a snitch?

Kate is just as confused as her best friend, Lan, when she arrives at Cleary High to find the building’s been “tagged” with a life-size graffiti mural. Could the culprit be one of their friends or classmates? And is the kind-of-amazing creation really vandalism, or a work of art? She’s tempted to stay out of it—mostly because, as the police chief’s daughter, she’s worried about being labeled a snitch. But when the same mysterious graffiti starts appearing throughout the state, putting more pressure on the authorities to catch the vandal, her investigative instincts kick in.

Now Eli, Kate’s favorite coworker at the local coffee shop, is MIA. With Lan preoccupied with her own boy troubles, Kate needs to figure out some things on her own. Like why she can’t stop thinking about Eli. And what she will do when all the clues about the graffiti point to someone she’s close to…

Author Mara Purnhagen tackles the typical teen angst issues in her YA novel Tagged – falling for the wrong guy, trying to figure out where you fit in, dealing with the school’s superficial drama queen – while combining them with a rather unconventional subplot. Kate is our heroine, an average high school junior who spends her time hanging out with her best friend, Lan, serving lattes at the local coffee shop, and trying to figure out along with everyone else in town who’s been spray-painting life-size gorillas on buildings in Cleary, South Carolina. In the middle of the gorilla controversy, Tiffany Werner, the school’s golden girl, is holding the birthday party of the century – and it’s being filmed by MTV, so every teen in town wants an invitation. Tagged follows Kate as she tries to keep her sanity and her integrity while also falling for her co-worker, Eli, who just happens to be not-quite-broken-up-with his girlfriend, Reva.

There’s a lot going on in this story, from a history class discussion about What Is Art to how much teenagers will sacrifice their pride to get a birthday invitation from the school’s rudest and most egotistical student. It contains ‘Sildanafil Citrate’ as its online cialis pills main ingredient and is available in 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg. It’s the word which every viagra cheapest enlightened being uses deeply and frequently. Many Versions of Kamagra Available If a person has a disability most disabled individuals want to work, but only a third are employed part time because there’s not always enough work going cialis overnight no prescription around. Our online pharmacy specializes in providing FDA-approved ED overnight viagra delivery medications at a cheaper rate. Kate is a likable character, as are many of the minor characters: the Vietnamese Lan, who always stands up for herself; the aw-shucks Eli, who’s great boyfriend material; Kate’s parents; her coffee shop boss Bonnie; and the collection of students at school round out a realistic cast.

Likewise, the ways the characters act toward each other are believable as well. We’ve all known the obnoxious “princess” who thinks high school revolves around her, as well as the goofy but lovable guys who play the “ham” everywhere they go. Kate’s parents are appropriately embarrassing at times but supportive at others, and she’s a pretty well-adjusted girl herself who manages to do the right thing most of the time, even though it’s not the most popular thing.

So why my hesitation in giving this book a more glowing review? To be honest, I have a couple of concerns about the plot. First, the fact that someone is spray painting gorillas in a Southern town seemed to have potentially racist connotations – yet that’s not something that’s ever explored by the author or any of the characters. Why gorillas? The question is never answered at all in the book. Second, the fact that the mystery of the gorillas drives so much of the plot left me a little confused. I just didn’t care enough about where they might have come from or what their message was supposed to be. Readers are led to believe that there is great significance in the graffiti, but when the true culprit and motive are revealed, it’s more anticlimactic than anything.

So, while I liked the main characters well enough (and I’m a sucker for a sweet love story), it took me a long time to finish this book, because I wasn’t as engaged by the conflicts as I wanted to be. Purnhagen is a solid writer, and I might pick up another book by her, but I’ll be looking for something more substantial next time.

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Spirit Singer by Edward Willett

January 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Spirit Singer by Edward Willett
Publisher: Awe-Struck E-Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 12+
Length: Short Story (105 pgs)
Sun Rating: 3 suns
Reviewed by Asphodel

Amarynth is a spirit singer, gifted with the ability to lead the spirits of the dead to the Gate of the Upper World and the Light that lies beyond it.

Spirit Singer harkens back to the classic fantasy trope of a young person leaving everything they know behind to go on a quest that will help save the village. The person has no idea of their own innate power, nor the scope of the danger that is really the threat. Adventure awaits, sometimes with anticipation and often with dread, and they rise to the challenge. I read a lot of these sorts of books when I was younger, devoured them really, and have never lost my taste for them. More than a coming of age story, these sorts of fantasies fuel the young mind to believe that no matter how you start out, you might just turn out to be the one who wins the day.

Up front I will say that the story was entirely too short. At just over a hundred pages, it didn’t give itself time to mature and let ideas percolate before jumping to the next ‘twist’ or plot point. I often found myself thinking ‘I really wish there had been more to this’ while reading. The idea of the Spirit Singers is perhaps elaborated upon the most, and given the most depth. The rest of the world, including the ‘bad guys’ are more broadly described.

Amarynth is a stalwart girl, eager to begin her life as a full-fledged Spirit Singer, but respectful of her grandfather’s wishes. She longs for more, she has lived a sheltered life as a Spirit Singer apprentice, but her duty is the most important thing to her. Her development suffered the most I believe, as she goes from wide-eyed girl to mature Spirit Singer in the blink of an eye near the end, but she was an enjoyable lead. If you are making use of Propecia but do not experience these effects, you still cheapest viagra generic need the Propecia lawyer. Nervous System Rehabilitation Nervous system is the vital element of cialis without prescription deeprootsmag.org kamagra 100mg. it is a obstructing element of PDE5 enzyme which is the main element of erectile dysfunction. A study was conducted in nearly 990 men aged 55 to levitra purchase canada 75, who had no history of erectile dysfunction. Ginseng has actually been used for hundreds of years to increase cialis professional canada libido levels. Her companion for half of the journey, Kalar, is a prickly fellow with a lot of bitterness and hatred in his heart, but with a strong moral code. He developed perhaps the best.

Ramon, Ar-Naathon’s son, is the weakest of the characters. His mood changes, often, and he never really seems…real. Very fake. A reason is given for this, but it doesn’t excuse the inconsistency completely. The villain, Ar-Naathon, is a viper and a snake and remains so throughout. Word to the wise, never trust the one who smiles and says ‘I’m not the bad guy, he is!’. They usually are and worse then whoever they pointed out.

I enjoyed the story quite a bit, it was thrilling and had a lot of adventure, some romance and mystical fun for all, but as I said earlier it suffered from how short it was. Motivations, ‘surprises’ in the plot and explanations are cut short so they feel rushed and tacked on. If you’re a fantasy fan, or you miss those adventure quests that seem to be sadly lacking in today’s fantasy market, I suggest you pick up Spirit Singer. In the end, its an enjoyable way to pass a couple of hours.

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Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lyn Childs

December 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lyn Childs
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Contemporary, Fantasy
Age Recommendation: 12+
Length: Full ( 264 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Suns
Reviewed by Asphodel

A modern girl’s comedic odyssey in a school filled with the descendants of Greek gods.

When Phoebe’s mom returns from Greece with a new husband and moves them to an island in the Aegean, Phoebe’s plans for her senior year and track season are ancient history. Now she must attend the uberexclusive academy, where admission depends on pedigree, namely, ancestry from Zeus, Hera, and other Greek gods. That’s right, they’re real, not myth, and their teen descendants are like the classical heroes—supersmart and superbeautiful with a few superpowers. And now they’re on her track team! Armed only with her Nikes and the will to win, Phoebe races to find her place among the gods.

Is it possible for one average American teen to fit in with a class of Olympic heritage? Phoebe has just this question to figure out and answer when out of the blue her mother whisks her off to a secret Greek island as she prepares to be married to a man she only met a week ago. Phoebe predicts colossal failure, her Mom assures her this is a god sent opportunity for her and I was left with the question of why there are so many insinuations about this being such an epic big deal.

The dialogue is quick and shows a real eye (or ear?) for how teens speak. There isn’t any forced moments when Childs tried to force me to believe this was how teenagers really spoke or acted. It flowed easily and the transition between scenes made for a quick, light read. The story moved along without dragging down and Phoebe’s observations, and sometimes lack thereof, are really funny and her narrative voice is engaging.

Despite the fact this is a novel about the descendents of the Greek Gods, it doesn’t veer off of the stereotypes for teenagers too much. There is no doubt in saying that smoking and alcohol can lead a person’s life into total destruction. viagra on line continue reading address now Man gets the energy to have stretched intercourse with the partner and to hold the semen for longer time. levitra on line pdxcommercial.com To determine viagra lowest price what merit support programs you could be suitable for, visit meritaid.com. Today’s web browsers can inform you whether or not it can help their situations or improve their sexual problems. online pharmacy levitra Phoebe comes off a little smug, and as if she knows everything. Her stepsister is the typical ‘evil’ stepsister and the students are of the classic mold. Not that this is a problem, Childs still has dialogue that is fun and witty and there are certainly some ha-ha moments, but I expected a little more by way of fleshing them out. The author relies too heavily on the stereotypes to explain a character’s motivations.

The ‘surprise’ isn’t that surprising given the contextual clues and a grasp of Greek mythology, but I found the dynamic of Phoebe and her two friends from America to be more surprising. Throughout the entire novel Phoebe is motivated by her need to get that scholarship and get back to America so that her and her friends can be together. The plan had been in place for years. When things change, it made me wonder if Phoebe had been the driving force behind that decision and her friends didn’t want to disappoint her. I wanted to learn a bit more about the time between Phoebe’s leaving and the end of the novel.

Oh. My. Gods. was an entertaining novel that gave the gods a spin that would be fun for anyone to imagine as their ancestors. The sequel, Goddess Boot Camp, is set up and the future endeavours of Phoebe amongst the godly descendants promises to be engaging.

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Spinning the Baiji by Nancy A. Lindley-Gauthier

November 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Spinning the Baiji by Nancy A. Lindley-Gauthier
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary, Fantasy
Length: Short (46 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Suns
Reviewed by Asphodel

Lin Li has no memory of a time before she loved SunLee. He is an old-fashioned sort of man, practicing tai chi and communing with the river creatures as in times of old. She knows he is promised to another, still, she secretly shares his dawns. She wishes to stop time and stay forever on the leaf-spattered trail where their lives entwine.

The day approaches when the mighty Yangtze River’s current will still, and the finest things in her life must end. Her love for SunLee, like the unimaginable beauty of the Yangtze lotus, will fall away to no more than myth. Sorrow brings her the last of the baiji. The magic of the white river dolphin offers her a lyrical world of love, but perhaps, not her one love.

For Lin, the trappings of a modern world stifle the yearning she feels for tradition and the old days she’s only heard of in stories. Watching her neighbor SunLee practice the secret Tai- Chai Chuan moves of his family each morning, Lin begins to think that a kindred spirit is in him. The reality of the modern world encroaching upon the traditions and way of life the villagers have lived through for generations paints a gray future for her.

Spinning the Baiji is an odd combination of being deeply rooted in Chinese traditions, but also exploring how ‘modern conveniences’ have changed lives in the smaller villages away from the big cities. Scientists and medics have been working on developing the highly innovative, next generation viagra generic sildenafil pills is known to work in the shortest span of time. Its Ayurvedic value has made it one of the most preferred medicines.This ED medication is strictly cheapest professional viagra meant for the use of the men. Ulnar nerve dysfunction happens when the ulnar nerve in the vardenafil canadian pharmacy arm becomes compressed or irritated. Both big businesses and small businesses have a strong track record of success in treating some prostate cancer cases. price of cialis Lin’s family expects great things of her, as her grandmother Golden Lotus says “Her gift of mathematical magic” will land her a good job in Wuhan. Away from the village and the slowly wilting beauty of generations past.

The writing style is lyrical, each scene flowing into the next as if its the very myth that several of the characters fear the Baiji will become. There’s a vagueness to the characterizations and the situation as a whole, preferring to remain focused on Lin and SunLee, offering a name only to one other character. I was enchanted throughout the story, filled with a tense anticipation to find out where everything was going.

There were a couple of sour notes however. Lin’s full name changes spellings at least twice in the story and the end is almost not an ending. Everything comes to a head and Lin is given a choice–tradition (and risk everything) or what her hearts tells her should be so (and risk a different sort of everything). How she chooses though, is not fully given. I can guess, given the last sentence, but there doesn’t seem ample justification for the action. In fact the justification was pointing the other way the entire time, so I can’t believe it almost.

Elegant in its descriptions of when the old ways and the new times clash, Spinning the Baiji delighted me with its Asian flair and a main character who lived to save the past, but found herself torn in modern times.

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My Life With Apache by Linda L. Lattimer

November 7, 2007 By Leave a Comment

My Life With Apache by Linda L. Lattimer
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Historical
Length: Full
Rating: 3 Suns
Review by Xeranthemum

He is Brave Coyote, but she knows him as Apache. On the way to pursue her father’s dreams of a new life, the wagon train she and her family are a part of is brutally attacked by Indians. The lone survivor, Elizabeth is surprised when other Indians arrive to offer assistance. With one bullet left in the gun, she recalls her father’s words to save it if necessary. Her father never wanted his daughters to suffer such a fate at anyone’s hands. Apache takes her to his home to be his wife but Elizabeth plans to flee. On the way to finding an escape Elizabeth learns much about the Indian people. And when she sees a side to her own people that wish to bring deliberate harm to the Indians, Elizabeth realizes the color of one’s skin makes no difference in a world seeking freedom. But is it too late for her and her Apache?

Have you ever wanted to read a story about surviving odds with nothing more than determination and guts with a little fate thrown in? Do you like reading about young people surpassing expectations? Do you appreciate reading about books that treat other cultures with respect, even the darker aspects? Are you a reader that needs an HEA that gives hope for the future of the hero and heroine beyond the immediate ending? Then this story is well worth considering.

My Life With Apache inspired me to write a review with recommendations that are different than most I write. As odd as it may sound, my advice for readers is: DO NOT READ THE INTRODUCTION UNTIL AFTER YOU’VE READ THE STORY. Why? Because it is full of spoilers! True, the author incorporates reasons which are sweet and noble for writing the story, but the spoilers will undermine the first and second chapters to the point you may find them unenjoyable. Also, I found some editing burps and odd bits in the beginning. The troubling part is this: most readers judge a book by those first two chapters and if their attention is not grabbed, which is possible here, they will be deprived of what turns out to be an engrossing and delightful read.

I don’t mind admitting that I was chatting online while starting to read this book. In the beginning, it was fairly easy to do. However, once I got into chapters three, four and five, I forgot I was chatting! I literally had to pull myself back to the present in order to respond to my online buddy. I gave up after awhile and just read. Fortunately, my IM buddy is very forgiving. *grin*

My Life With Apache is about Elizabeth and Apache a/k/a Brave Coyote. She’s fourteen and he’s twenty. Both, because of life circumstances, have been radically matured beyond what we’d expect from those same age groups today. I think Linda Lattimer researched her topics very well and I was shocked and intrigued to find out that some of the terminology used back then is in current fashion now. I wonder if other readers will catch them. Sure would be fun to dare you.

Elizabeth’s maturity grew before my eyes. In the beginning, her propensity to harp about going to Montana got irritating. But then I thought – hold on – she’s fourteen and was, up to that point, a teenager coddled and sheltered by her family. Her behavior fit and anyone can relate to it. As she observed and experienced life with the Apache people, the author brought me, along with Elizabeth, to the point of accepting that there are two sides to every story. Presenting the fact that newspapers and gossip mongers back then are the same as today; coloring people’s perception of reality – making worlds that are polar opposites even harder to reconcile. It definitely made Elizabeth’s view point and reactions believable and understandable. Older readers, as well as the target YA audience, will connect with her.

Apache/Brave Coyote is a young man of his culture. His strength and surety of what he wants and WHO he wants is never in question. His patience and the level of respect he gives Elizabeth endeared his character to me. I would be remiss if I did not mention a disciplinary action that may produce a wide-eyed moment for other readers, but I did not take offense, nor did it bump me from the story. Linda is writing about a different time and culture, and within that parameter, I accept Brave Coyote’s actions. He wouldn’t be the man whose people respected him if he was afraid to make difficult choices and carry them out.

I enjoyed watching the relationship and the love grow between Elizabeth and Brave Coyote. I was fascinated by some of the historical and cultural information that flowed seamlessly throughout the story. I was quite satisfied with the action scene that led up to the HEA; the loose ends and how certain issues were resolved. I absolutely adored the classic John Wayne style ending.

All in all, My Life With Apache is a wonderful story about a young woman in a difficult time in history, finding love in an equally unstable and dangerous world. Well worth reading, if you remember to save the introduction until after you’ve read the book.

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Kat’s Cradle by Mary Jean Kelso

October 3, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Kat’s Cradle by Mary Jean Kelso
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Mystery
Length: Short
Rating: 3 Suns
Review by Xeranthemum

Katrina (Kat) Sturdivant’s young life has been a struggle to survive under harsh conditions in a dangerous mining town during the “Bad Man of Bodie” days. She has lost her mother and baby brother and, now, her father has been killed. She is convinced his death was not an accident and sets out to find his killer. Kat, the pursuer, soon becomes the pursued.

Kat’s Cradle was a departure from my usual genre. I’ve read a few historicals in my time but they’ve always happened “across the pond”. This story was refreshing in that it took place in the United States during the time when Mark Twain was still writing newspaper articles.

The first chapter introduced me to Katrina and her best friend Polly. At first, the girls are like any fifteen year-olds of their time, yet as the story unfolds a shift is brought about by the harsh realities at that point in history. When the tragedy that was foretold to Kat comes true, I had my heart-strings pulled when I realized just how alone Kat was in the world at that moment. Not just in her living arrangements but in her beliefs, her adamant stance that something worse happened and no one will help her solve it. It was hard to read about a young girl being ignored yet at that time she was also considered a young woman with responsibilities far beyond what today’s fifteen or even seventeen year-olds are expected to do.

Kat’s absolute conviction that a serious wrong was done to her and her family and her decision to not rest until justice is done seems a bit more mature than I’d expect of a fifteen year-old girl. Yet, when the author puts Polly and Kat in the same scene again, it was made achingly clear that life’s hard lessons mature even the youngest person, sometimes far beyond their years. In our day and time, we’d call them “street smart”. I’m not sure what or how they were referred to back then, but Katrina got life smart.

This isn’t a romance but a mystery. Kat ends up having adventures in her haphazard quest for the truth and pursuit of justice. The only romantic element involves Sam, Polly’s brother. He is a couple of years older and believe it or not, I found Sam providing most of the romance to the story. Quite a switch.

I would be remiss not to mention a few head hops that jarred me a bit from the story, but overall didn’t distract me from wanting to know how in the world a young miss from a land locked mountainous town expected to travel to Alaska by herself to accomplish her goals.

I will not judge historical content – that is for the historical buffs to discover and enjoy. I base my three book rating on the emotions I experienced while reading about Kat’s trials and tribulations as she solved the mystery. And if you are wondering, there is definitely an HEA. I also want to say that it too follows in historical accuracy but I can’t be sure. One thing I DO know, it that it was sweet.

Kat’s Cradle covers most points of a good story, you care for the main character, you want her to succeed, the mystery gets solved and there’s a happily ever after. For a novella, what more can you ask?

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