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Every January, a new crop of weight loss books pops up.  Some promise do-it-quick diets, others fast, fat-blasting exercises—all assure would-be "losers" that they can be skinny, without spending too much time, money or energy.  Uh huh.  Finished Being Fat, a new inspirational memoir by Betsy Schow, isn't like that.  Yes, it's about a 30-year-old woman who loses 75 pounds in a year.  Yes, it chronicles her journey from couch potato to marathon runner.  But, no, it's not a how-to book.  It's not a diet book.  It's a book about changing your life through hard work, determination and a staunch refusal to give up on a goal—no matter what.

As a chubby child, Schow endured ridicule from her peers, pressure from her parents and loathing from herself.  She tried every diet in the book.  Nothing worked—at least not for long.  By the time she reached 30, Schow was still overweight, still depressed, still convinced that a worthless person like her shouldn't even bother trying because she would never succeed.  She simply was not a finisher.  She was someone who talked big, planned big and failed big.  Following through just wasn't in her DNA, apparently.  

Then, Schow had an epiphany:  what if she did finish something?  Like, say, a marathon?  Determined to prove she could do the impossible, the stay-at-home mom got off the couch and started training.  Replacing negative self-talk with positive affirmations, she kept running through inclement weather, injury, exhaustion, and every other kind of roadblock.  But as the marathon date approached, Schow balked—could she really, truly cross the finish line?  Run 26 miles?  Impossible.  Or was it?

While Schow's regimen seemed a little extreme to me, I still found her story inspirational and motivating.  She writes with warmth, humor, and a down-to-Earth sensibility that will speak to anyone who's ever dreamed of doing the impossible.  Her advice on finishing is spot-on.  While I enjoyed just about everything about Finished Being Fat, the poor copy editing drove me nuts.  Typos always jolt me out of a narrative, spoiling the experience for me.  Overall, though, I found the book both compelling and convincing.   

(Readalikes:  Hm, I can't really think of anything.  Can you?)

Grade:  B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated:  PG for nothing offensive, just themes more suitable for teens/adults

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of Finished Being Fat from the generous folks at Cedar Fort.  Thank you! 

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(Note:  Although this review will not contain spoilers for Through the Ever Night, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, Under the Never Sky.  As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)

Deadly Aether storms, a dwindling food supply, rebellion among his people—as the Tides' new Blood Lord, 19-year-old Peregrine's got plenty to worry about.  Not to mention the fact that his nephew's still being held hostage by the Dwellers.  And, speaking of Dwellers, Perry hasn't seen Aria for months.  He's tried to convince himself it's for the better, that she belongs with her own people, but that doesn't stop the ache he feels when she's not around.  He has enough problems.  He needs to forget about her.  If only he could ...

Then, one day, Perry catches the scent of her on the wind.  Aria's back.  He's overjoyed, but the rest of the tribe isn't as certain.  Trust a Dweller to walk among them?  It goes against everything the Tides believe.  It's bad enough that Perry's allowing Aria to live with them, but if they knew how he felt about her—that he wants to make her his bride—they'd turn on him for sure.  He can't let his people know, not until he's solved their other problems first.

Aria's got her own troubles.  If she doesn't find the Still Blue—a mythical, Aether-free land that may not even exist—Consul Hess will kill Perry's nephew.  And Talon's not the only one in danger; something's wrong in Reverie.  If Aria can't figure out how to save her Dweller friends in time, they could perish, too.  As much as she wants to cling to Perry and never let go, she's got her own duties.  

As the two of them work to fight their enemies, they'll find themselves in combat with each other as well.  Can their love survive the strain of it all?  Or, are they better off living apart, sticking with their own kind?  Will their worlds endure?  Will they?  

I'm always a little nervous to read the second book in a series.  Often, they act as fillers between more exciting volumes, stalling the action instead of furthering it.  Well, rest assured, such is not the case with Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi.  There's plenty of conflict here, as well as character development and intriguing new subplots.  It keeps up the intensity of the first book, while adding original elements to keep  the overall story interesting.  There's lots to love in this exciting series that really does just keep on getting better.  

(Readalikes:  Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi)

Grade:  B

If this were a movie, it would be rated:  PG for mild language (no F-bombs), violence and sexual innendo

To the FTC, with love:  I received an e-ARC of Through the Ever Night (via Edelweiss) from the generous folks at Harper Teen.  Thank you!  

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Everyone knows that girls born in the Year of the Fire Horse take on that animal's worst traits—stubbornness, willfulness, independence.  All are qualities guaranteed to bring shame upon her family.  With such a portentous zodiac sign, 16-year-old Jade Moon Chang doesn't stand a chance.  Every move she makes in her little Chinese village is watched, judged.  Finding a man willing to marry such an unlucky girl is the worry of her father and grandfather.  Jade Moon fears the same, but for different reasons.  The last thing she wants is to remain in her tiny town, leashed by a husband who controls her every step.

Then, a stranger arrives, changing everything.  Sterling Promise, Jade Moon's adopted cousin from Hong Kong, comes bearing an amazing opportunity: a chance to live in America.  It sounds too good to be true, especially coming from the smooth-talking Sterling Promise.  Still, Jade Moon can't contain her excitement.  Not only is she leaving Jinjui Village, she's going to America!  A Fire Horse is sure to be welcome in that modern, enterprising world.

But, it's 1923, and Chinese immigrants aren't exactly welcomed to the U.S. with open arms.  In fact, they're held at Angel Island, near San Francisco.  A survey of her fellow detainees confirms that Jade Moon could be held there for days, weeks, even years—as long as it takes to determine she qualifies to stay in America.  If she doesn't pass muster, she'll be deported.  Jade Moon can't let that happen, but as the weeks roll by, she knows she can't remain on Angel Island either.  What is a Fire Horse girl to do?  Take matters into her own hands, of course.  As Jade Moon takes command of her own destiny, she steps right into San Francisco's ugly underbelly.  It's an adventure, sure, but not one anyone—even a Fire Horse girl—is likely to survive.

The Fire Horse Girl, a debut novel by Kay Honeyman, brings the Chinese immigrant experience to vivid life in a story that's as exciting as it is heartfelt.  Jade Moon is a sympathetic heroine, likable because of both her bravery and vulnerability.  Her adventure doesn't gloss over the harsh realities faced by Chinese immigrants in the 1920s—it celebrates their courage.  The Fire Horse Girl kept me thoroughly engrossed, totally entertained and thoroughly charmed.  I loved it.     

(Readalikes:  Reminds me of other books about Asian immigrants coming to the U.S., especially those by Amy Tan and Lisa See)

Grade:  B+

If this were a movie, it would be rated:  PG for mild language (no F-bombs), violence and references (brief and not overly graphic) to prostitution

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of The Fire Horse Girl from the generous folks at Scholastic.  Thank you!

  

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Although Bakerton, Pennsylvania, may not look like much, it's the kind of small town people never want to leave.  Heaven knows, coal mining isn't the most glamorous work, but it sustains many of Bakerton's residents, offering steady—if dangerous—employment.  Neighborhoods like Swedetown, Little Italy and Polish Hill provide affordable housing, close-knit communities, and a sense of belonging.  Generations of families live there, die there.  

Rose Novak, a 43-year-old widow, hails from Italy, but lives on Polish Hill because of her late husband.  Her five children have all grown up in the neighborhood, under the watchful eyes of people they've known all their lives.  Unlike so many others, the oldest Novak kids can't wait to leave home, whether it's for war, work or education.  The younger are tasked with the care of their increasingly frail mother.  As the various Novaks struggle to find their places in a changing world (the novel begins in the 1940s), they will contemplate the meanings of home, family, and duty.

My plot summary of Baker Towers by Jennifer Haigh is abnormally skimpy because the novel actually has no real plot.  It's a family saga, one in which all of the characters, young and old, experience various amounts of trouble.  Many of the scrapes they get themselves into are entertaining.  But, because the scenes don't really fit into an overall story arc, the novel comes off as episodic and tangential.  For me, it just plain got dull.  Haigh writes with skill, there's no doubt about that.  So, maybe it's me—I can be an impatient reader.  Whatever the reason, I quickly grew bored with the novel's slow build and meandering storyline.  I appreciate Haigh's ability to bring a place, a time and a people to life, I just wanted it all to play out against an overreaching plot, a good mystery or scandal—you know, something I could really sink my teeth into—and that didn't happen.  Always a bummer.   

(Readalikes:  Haigh has written a new book of short stories about Bakerton [although I haven't read it] called News From Heaven) 

Grade:  C+

If this were a movie, it would be rated:  PG-13 for language (no F-bombs), sexual content and depictions of illegal drug use

To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of Baker Towers from the generous folks at Harper Collins.  Thank you!