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Showing posts with label U.S. Settings: Idaho. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. Settings: Idaho. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Christian Adoption Novel Clean, Uplifting and Moving
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Lauren Bailey is tired of waiting for The One to magically appear in her life before she can make her dream of becoming a mother a reality. Only her very closest friends know that the 31-year-old first grade teacher has applied to adopt a child from China; in fact, she's been waiting to be matched with one for over a year. Since the rules dictate that she can only adopt as a single woman or as a wife of more than two years, Lauren has stopped looking for Mr. Right altogether.
Enter Joshua Avery, a goofy tech developer who's stepped in as a short-term sub for the other first grade teacher at Lauren's school. He's cheerful, funny, compassionate, successful, and...interested. As much as Lauren tries to convince herself she doesn't feel the sparks between them, she can't deny that a certain dinosaur-obsessed creator of educational apps is constantly on her mind. When she finally receives an email matching her with a child, Lauren is torn. The timing couldn't be worse. If she proceeds with the adoption, will she lose Joshua? If she prioritizes her new relationship, will her dream—what she feels is a God-given calling—of being an adoptive mother ever come true? She's having a difficult enough time getting her family onboard with the idea, let alone the new man in her life. Will she have to sacrifice her dream of adopting for her dream of finding the perfect partner? Is there some way to have both, even when it's looking like she'll get neither?
Christy Award-winning author Nicole Deese and her husband adopted their daughter from China. That experience inspired her to write Before I Called You Mine, a novel that's not just about adoption, but also about the choices we make in life, the anxieties we feel, and the ability we have to conquer them through faith in God. (It's Christian fiction, natch.) Although my experience with adoption differed greatly from Lauren's fictional journey (my husband and I had been married for over a decade and had three biological children when we adopted our newborn daughter here in the U.S.), I could definitely empathize with a lot of her feelings and frustrations. Her decisions and thought patterns didn't always seem logical to me, but I still felt a connection with her character. She's sympathetic and likable, although—not gonna lie—she got irritating and self-centered at times. Joshua, on the other hand, is completely charming, likely because he has no actual flaws except for being a little too silly. He could have used some rounding out to make him more realistic. I especially dug Lauren's kind, supportive circle of friends; their presence adds a nice found-family aspect to the novel that gives it another layer of heartwarming appeal.
Deese has a warm, engaging writing style that makes Before I Called You Mine both compelling and enjoyable. The story is predictable, sure, but it's got enough conflict going on to keep it interesting. Lauren's romance with Joshua develops over time, her adoption journey is realistically bumpy, and her dealings with her parents and sister bring up some important issues about family, adoption, and decision making. This might be spoiler-y, but I would have liked more in the story about Lauren's actual experience as a single, working mother of an older child who has been plopped into a completely foreign living situation without being able to understand more than a few words of English. That whole experience—which could be incredibly rocky—feels glossed over in the novel.
I know a lot of readers shy away from Christian novels because they often get too preachy, cheesy, or just over-the-top Jesus-y. Before I Called You Mine does have a stronger religious vibe than other Christian books I've read, but it's handled in a way that feels mostly natural and balanced. To be fair, I'm a religious person and I often have discussions with family and friends about church, scriptures, spiritual promptings, how God works in my life, etc. I like the way Deese deals with the religious aspects of the story, and I am definitely one who puts down a book if it's too preachy! This one isn't (at least not for me).
Overall, I quite enjoyed Before I Called You Mine. It's clean, heartwarming, uplifting, and faith-promoting. I cared about the characters and felt invested in their plights. There was enough going on in the story to keep me reading. Its themes resonated with me as a mother, an adoptive parent, and a Christian woman. Deese's writing style appeals to me so I will definitely be reading more from her.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books about adoption, although no particular one is coming to mind. Help!)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for nothing offensive
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of Before I Called You Mine from the generous folks at Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Saturday, December 26, 2020
Debut MG Novel a Spuderrific Read
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Potatoes have never been good to 12-year-old Ben Hardy. Now that he's living in small-town Idaho in the heart of spud country, he feels positively cursed by his least favored vegetable. A for-instance: after accidentally causing the school mascot to fall and sprain his ankle, Ben is sentenced to finishing out the season as Steve the Spud. There are only two weeks left, but that's plenty of time for all of Ben's popularity plans to go straight down the toilet. If his classmates know he's the one inside the dorky potato man suit? That's it for Ben. He'll go down forever as the nerdiest of nerds. Since that absolutely cannot happen, he vows to keep his substitute Steve the Spud act top secret. What could possibly go wrong?
la Gordon Korman, Lincoln Peirce, and Jeff Kinney.
(Readalikes: books by the authors mentioned above)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of My Life As a Potato with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
MG Novel Tells Sincere, Heartwarming Tale About the Importance of Farming, Family, and Friendship
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There's nothing 12-year-old Paige McBride likes better than working the Idaho farm her family has owned for generations. Even with the recent death of her father, which has caused financial hardship, extra chores, and heavy sorrow, Paige is determined to keep the place running smoothly. When she learns about her mother's decision to sell her beloved land, she vows it will never happen. Not only does Paige have a foolproof plan to sabotage their realtor's schemes, but now she's got two unexpected secret weapons—a journalist who wants a hands-on farming experience and a wounded peacock of mysterious origins. Paige will use them, as well as every other trick she's got up her sleeve, to rescue the farm she loves. Will it be enough?
Wendy S. Swore's debut novel, A Monster Like Me, was one of the best books I read last year. I loved it so much that I couldn't wait to read her sophomore effort, The Wish and the Peacock. While her newest didn't move me as much as her first, I still enjoyed this poignant middle-grade novel. Paige is an admirable heroine—she's smart, loyal, hard-working, and focused. Her love for her home and family shines brightly. Young readers will enjoy the story for the funny antics Paige and her friends employ to foil the adults' actions, but what will really stand out is our heroine's dogged determination to save the things and people she loves. Paige's affinity for her land as well as the work she does on it ring with authenticity because Swore, herself, is a full-time farmer. It's not surprising, then, that The Wish and the Peacock exudes sincerity and heart. Overall, it's an empowering tale about the importance of friendship, family, legacy, and fighting for what you believe in. I enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of The Wish and the Peacock from the generous folks at Shadow Mountain in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Monday, October 14, 2019
Educated a Fascinating, Compelling Memoir
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Born to survivalist parents, Tara Westover became the seventh child in a very unconventional family. Although her parents were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they embraced their own extreme, fanatical version of the religion. Living in a remote corner of Idaho, she and her siblings ran wild, helping their father sort scrap metal and prepare the family for the imminent end of the world. Because the Westovers did not believe in modern medicine or the need for schooling, their brood received neither. Even life-threatening wounds were treated only with natural remedies and prayer. Mind-boggling ignorance about world history, current affairs, literature, science, and mathematics? Ignored altogether. Possessing a keen mind and a curiosity that wouldn't quit, Tara made the courageous decision to leave home in order to pursue an education. She entered her first classroom ever as a 17-year-old college freshman. Although at that point she knew little about even basic academic concepts, she went on to earn an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University as well as an MPhil and PhD from Cambridge.
How Westover evolved from a feral, resourceless child to an ambitious, devoted scholar at prestigious universities is the subject of her first book, a memoir entitled Educated. Her story is a testament to the power of education and the ability of an eager mind to triumph in even the grimmest situations. It's also a coming-of-age tale about stepping out of a sheltered childhood into the alarming world of adulthood and subsequently trying to determine who you really are, what you actually believe, and where you truly belong. The exploration of these intriguing themes make Educated a fascinating book and yet, it didn't blow me away like I expected it to due to all the accolades it has received. It's raw and powerful for sure, but for me, at least, it ended up being a good read, not a great one.
Why didn't Educated resonate with me as much as it has with so many other readers? I think because (1) I found it more depressing than empowering, (2) it made me feel defensive of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (even though Westover insists this is not a book about Mormonism, it kinda is), and (3) Westover seemed to suggest that a person could not be both religious and educated, a stance with which I vehemently disagree. Despite these hang-ups, though, I did find Educated interesting. It brings up a lot of thought-provoking questions that would make for a lively book club discussion.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I purchased a copy of Educated from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Appealing Setting and Punny Title Not Enough to Save This Cliché Cozy
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When Angie Turner inherits her grandmother's farm in little River Vista, Idaho, she sees it as the perfect opportunity to start over. An executive chef, she decides to open a farm-to-table restaurant with the help of her best friend, Felicia Williams. With the County Seat scheduled to open in a few weeks, the two women are scrambling to hire staff, convince local farmers to sell them produce and dairy, and make sure the restaurant's opening runs smoothly.
Angie manages to persuade crotchety "Old Man" Moss to sell her his famous goat cheese, a real triumph. The next thing she knows, however, the man's body is found at the bottom of a treacherous cliff. Not only does Angie end up tending one of the deceased's lively goats, but she also can't help channeling her inner Nancy Drew to figure out the truth behind the elderly man's suspicious death. As she comes closer and closer to solving the case, Angie's life becomes more and more dangerous. Can she find the killer before the killer finds her?
As much as I love the title and setting of Who Moved My Goat Cheese?, the first installment in Lynn Cahoon's Farm-to-Fork mystery series, the story just didn't work very well for me. The characters are cliché and not well developed. Angie Turner, for example, is as generic as her name implies. Because neither she nor her love interest is round enough to feel real, their sparkless romance falls flat. The mystery at the book's center isn't very mysterious and the big finale just feels ... anticlimactic. While I appreciate this cozy for being light, fun, and clean, it didn't engage me enough to make me want to move on with the series. Oh well.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of the All-Day Breakfast Cafe series by Lena Gregory)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for mild violence and mild sexual innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Who Moved My Goat Cheese? from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Friday, April 13, 2018
Despite Appealing Vibe, LDS Rom-Com Fizzles
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Svetlana "Lana" Huish can't wait to spend the summer on Nantucket Island painting under the indulgent eyes of two of the most influential art patrons in the world. Being selected to participate in their exclusive mentoring program is a great honor and an unparalleled opportunity to make a name for herself as an artist. More than one successful career has been launched because of the program—the 22-year-old Yale grad wants hers to be one of them.
Upon arrival in Nantucket, Lana's shocked to discover she won't be studying on the East Coast at all. Instead, she finds herself in the tiny backwoods town of Bluegill, Idaho, where she'll spend six weeks being tutored by an elderly cowboy who specializes in Western art. Although Lana is immediately attracted to Walt, LeVan Hitchpost's handsome grandson, she's a little worried about the artist himself. It's clear LeVan is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. If her mentor can barely remember his own name, how is he supposed to teach her all he knows about art?
Despite her initial misgivings, Lana soon becomes charmed by LeVan, a mischievous old man whose mind is a lot sharper than he lets on. She's also completely smitten with Walt. Although the two appear to have little in common, Lana's drawn to the compassionate, hard-working farmer. He might not return her feelings, but she can't seem to control hers. As Lana tries to attract Walt's attention and works feverishly to help an ailing LeVan finish the masterpiece he's frantically trying to complete before Alzheimer's steals the rest of his mind, tension boils over in out-of-the-way Bluegill, Idaho. The tranquil summer Lana had envisioned has suddenly become anything but ...
Even though its premise is more than a little far-fetched, Brush With Love by Lisa McKendrick is a fun, captivating New Adult romance. Not only did I enjoy its rustic setting, but I liked the novel's upbeat voice and style. Yes, the story feels more YA than NA, but its bubbly, buoyant rom-com vibe definitely appeals. The characters are similarly likable, although LeVan's duplicitous actions seem cruel and inconsistent with his general nature. Plot is not this novel's strength as the story line meanders here, there, and everywhere, trying to cover too much territory, and getting more improbable as it chugs along. Chapter 23, in particular, threw me completely. It's so abrupt and unemotional and cheesy that I read it over a few times thinking it had to be a dream sequence! It isn't. Honestly, I couldn't feel any chemistry between Lana and Walt, so their romance seems insta-lovey and melodramatic. To top it all off, my copy of Brush With Love (which might possibly be an advanced reader version?) is chock-full of typos and other copy editing errors. In the end, then, I came away from this novel disappointed. The book has tons of potential; it just feels to me like this a draft of a novel, not the polished, complete story it should be.
(Readalikes: The style reminds me of LDS rom-com novels by Melanie Jacobson, Jenny Proctor, and Julie Wright)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for (non-graphic) references to sex and mild innuendo
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-copy of Brush With Love from the generous folks at Bonneville Books via those on The Whitney Awards Committee. Thank you!
Wednesday, September 02, 2015
Wayward Pines Series Comes to a Nerve-Shredding, Nail-Biter of a Conclusion
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(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for The Last Town, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Wayward Pines thrillers. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
Now that Ethan Burke—a former Secret Service agent turned small-town sheriff—has defied the creator of Wayward Pines, Idaho, he's facing the consequences of his (perhaps rash) decision to stand against the all-powerful David Pilcher. In retaliation for Ethan's rebellion, Pilcher has powered down the electrical fences that surround the town, leaving everyone inside vulnerable. Now its residents, who may very well be the last humans on the planet, are under attack by the ferocious aberrations ("abbies") that live in the wilderness outside Wayward Pines. The bloodthirsty monsters will extinguish the human race once and for all, unless Ethan can find a way to breach Pilcher's mountain stronghold. Even if he manages the impossible, what can possibly be next for the survivors? Is there anywhere in their ruined world where they can find safety? Or is it better to just surrender and let the abbies win? Ethan must make some terrifying, deadly choices. And fast. Before everything he knows and loves is gone forever.
Like the first two books in Blake Crouch's pulse-pounding Wayward Pines series, The Last Town sprints along at a dizzying pace. It's tense, it's exciting, it's suspenseful—it's impossible not to whip through pages as fast as you can to see what's going to happen next. Action takes the wheel in this series ender as it races toward its ambiguous, but perfect conclusion. I inhaled The Last Town in one nail-biting, nerve-shredding sitting. Wayward Pines may not be my very favorite dystopian series ever, but it definitely kept me enthralled. I enjoyed it and can't wait to see what's next from the always enigmatic Blake Crouch.
Grade:
If this were a movie (The books have, in fact, been made into a television series on Fox!), it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, and mild sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Don't Say I Didn't Warn You ...
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers for Wayward, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, Pines. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
Ethan Burke, a former Secret Service agent from Seattle, now knows the truth about Wayward Pines, Idaho. He knows what's hiding behind its quaint facade. He knows what lurks beyond the razor-topped electrified fence that circles the village. He knows the 461 people living in the town may be the only humans left on the planet and that those people, himself included, are being watched every second of every day. He's seen what happens to residents who rebel, or complain, or simply can't conform. David Pilcher, the megalomaniac in charge of Wayward Pines, will do anything—anything—to preserve the dream he's fulfilling with his post-apocalyptic version of Mayberry.
Few are brave enough to break the rules. Even Ethan, now the town sheriff, worries about the repercussions of standing up to Pilcher. Still, he can't stand the lie he's being forced to live. Torn between protecting the people he cares for and fighting for the freedom they all deserve, Ethan will have to make some life-or-death decisions. The fates of 461 people hanging in the balance.
Wayward, the second thriller in Blake Crouch's exciting Wayward Pines trilogy, is not quite as mind-blowing as the series opener. Still, the novel draws the reader in just as quickly as its predecessor and keeps the suspense going until the very last sentence of its very last page. The story moves quickly, with lots of thrills and chills, making it pretty much impossible to put Wayward down. Literally. Although I didn't find it as jaw-dropping as Pines, I still devoured it in one sitting. After which I promptly started The Last Town. Did I mention this series is *slightly* addicting? Don't say I didn't warn you ...
(Readalikes: Pines and The Last Town by Blake Crouch)
Grade:
If this were a movie (and the trilogy has been turned into a mini-series on Fox), it would be rated:
for strong language, violence, and sexual content
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Pines: Tense, Twisty Series Opener Impossible to Put Down
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
The less I say about the plot of Pines, the first novel in a chilling trilogy by Blake Crouch, the better. Giving you only the skimpiest of summaries will keep the book mysterious and suspenseful—two elements that make it a taut, compelling read. Brilliantly crafted, Pines is a creepy little tale that offers surprises around every corner. I don't want to say too much for fear of giving away any of its secrets, so let me just say that I loved this book. It's tense, it's twisty, it's a thriller so addicting you won't be able to stop reading until you've finished not just Pines, but also the entire series. Then, and only then, will you finally be able to breathe again. Maybe.
(Readalikes: Wayward and The Last Town by Blake Crouch; also reminded me a little of the t.v. show LOST)
Grade:
If this were a movie (the books have been made into a mini-series on Fox), it would be rated:
for strong language and violence/gore
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, September 09, 2013
Hey Bessica, You Want a Little Cheese With That Whine?
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Bessica Lefter just wanted a new look for the first day of sixth grade. That's all. The 11-year-old never thought she'd lose her best friend, Sylvie Potaski, over one unfortunate haircut. But Sylvie's mother has declared Bessica a bad influence and enrolled her daughter at a different school. Left to figure middle school out on her own, Bessica's not exactly adjusting well. She can't get her locker open, let alone deal with the psycho-bullies who torment her daily. It doesn't help that her grandmother, the one person she can always talk to, is off on some cockamamie, six-week long RV trip with her dorky boyfriend. Bessica's miserable—why aren't her parents and her beloved grandma getting this? No one seems to understand. If only she could convince Sylvie's mother to let the girls hang out again, or find some way to sabotage Grandma's trip, or find a way—any way—to fit in at her new school. Joining the cheerleading squad seems to be the way to go, but what if that ends up just as disastrously as everything else? Can Bessica find a way to survive middle school? Chances are not looking good ...
I picked up The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter by Kristen Tracy because it looked like a quick, cute read. And it was, just in kind of a generic, been-there-read-that kind of way. Bessica's a fun narrator and sympathetic—at least to a point. After a while, though, her constant misery starts to get old. As she continues to wallow in her own self-pity, never reaching outside herself for a solution to her unhappiness, she just gets more self-centered and whiny. In a character-driven novel, an annoying heroine is not a good thing. In the end, The Reinvention of Bessica Lefter teaches a valuable lesson about finding your own way, but the uplifting message wasn't quite enough to counteract the book's irritating main character.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
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