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Saturday, October 07, 2017
WWII Circus Novel An Atmospheric, Not-to-Be-Missed Masterpiece
6:16 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Kicked out of her home in Holland after becoming pregnant with the child of a Nazi soldier, 16-year-old Noa Weil is forced to seek shelter elsewhere. Aching from the loss of her baby, who was taken by the Nazis, she's bereft and adrift. She sleeps in the German train station where she cleans to make enough money to live. Noa's only goal is to to keep well under the radar, drawing no attention to herself whatsoever. So, when she comes upon an unsupervised boxcar full of Jewish infants headed for a concentration camp, she hesitates. But only for a moment. Determined to save at least one baby, she snatches a child and runs.
On the brink of death after trudging through the brutal winter countryside, Noa finds shelter with a German circus. To fool the Nazis, she will have to blend in with the family of performers. Although she has little experience, she's to undergo rigorous training as an aerialist.
Astrid Sorrell, a master aerialist who's hiding her own secrets, wants nothing to do with the ludicrous scheme to turn Noa into a circus performer. The only thing Astrid needs less than a bumbling student is a rival who's younger, prettier, and surprisingly successful at her new job.
When the circus attracts the most unwelcome attention of local Nazi soldiers, however, the women will have to band together to save themselves and those they love.
I'm a longtime fan of Pam Jenoff's WWII novels. The author—a lawyer who has worked for both the Pentagon and the State Department—is a Holocaust expert who infuses her stories with vivid historical detail; tense, engaging plot lines; and heroines who are sympathetic yet strong. Her newest, The Orphan's Tale, is a haunting, character-driven novel that drew me in from the first word, keeping me utterly spellbound until the last. It's sad, but memorable and undeniably compelling. If you're a fan of well-written WWII fiction, as I definitely am, you will not want to miss this absorbing story. Just be sure to clear your calendar because once you start, you won't be able to put this one down.
(Readalikes: It's billed as The Nightingale [by Kristin Hannah] meets Water For Elephants [by Sara Gruen] and I think that's pretty apt.)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence, mild sexual content, and scenes of peril
Friday, October 06, 2017
The Knowing a Surprising, Smashing Sequel
3:30 PM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers for The Knowing, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from its predecessor, The Forgetting. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
As one of the Knowing—evolutionary wonders who possess perfect memories—Samara Archiva enjoys a privileged life underground. Safe from the dangers of Outside, she's cloistered with others like her. Focused on preserving and strengthening their special community, the Knowing learn to cache their memories, mastering the constant onslaught of emotions that comes with such a "gift" as theirs. Cold, logical decisions rule underground. Anyone who can't—or won't—comply leaves. One way or another.
Sam has never been able to cache as well as the others. Tortured by her memories, the 18-year-old wants only one thing—to Forget. Barring that, she longs to be useful, to use what she Knows to Do something valuable. As a physician-in-training, she has skills that can help the vulnerable people Outside. Doing so, however, is strictly forbidden. If the Council catches her sneaking off on her mercy missions—just one of her rebellions—Sam is as good as dead. When she realizes exactly how much danger she's in, she knows she must flee, must find the Cursed City of Canaan and Forget everything. It's the only way to save herself and those she loves.
On a long-term anthropological mission to find the lost civilization of Canaan, Beckett Rodriguez gets a whole lot more than he bargains for when he comes upon Samara Archiva in a dark cavern. The 18-year-old Texan wants to help the desperate woman, but he has his own orders to obey. Does Beck dare to risk both his life and mission to save a strange, intriguing girl he's just met? Especially when his own worldview is being shattered with every second he spends in Sam's company? With enemies on every side, the two must unite to piece together the truths of their very different worlds ...
For me, 2017 started off on a lovely reading high thanks to a gem of a book called The Forgetting. The first in a YA trilogy by Sharon Cameron, it's a beautiful, compelling novel about the power of memory. Its follow-up, The Knowing, takes the story in an unexpected direction, expanding the world Cameron introduced in The Forgetting. With fresh characters, a unique setting, and a different (but complementary) plot, it rises above any second-book syndrome, taking the series in a compelling new direction. Packed with action, it provides an exciting, engrossing reading experience. Lest you think it's all adrenaline all the time, The Knowing also offers some fascinating explorations of pain, emotion, memory, all part of what makes us human. In short, it's a great, clean read that will appeal to a variety of readers. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
(Readalikes: The Forgetting by Sharon Cameron)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scenes of peril
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Knowing from the generous folks at Scholastic via those at Edelweiss. Thank you!
Thursday, October 05, 2017
Cash's Second a Tense, Gritty Page Turner
9:55 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Although they're not technically orphans, 12-year-old Easter Quillby and her little sister, Ruby, might as well be parent-less. Their mother is dead and they haven't seen their good-for-nothing father in years. When Wade Chesterfield shows up out of the blue with plans to break the girls out of their group foster home, Easter is shocked. She barely knows her dad and isn't sure it's a great idea to ride off into the sunset with him. Not that she really has a choice.
As the Quillby sisters' ad litem guardian, ex-cop Brady Weller is naturally concerned about the girls' disappearance. It's even more worrisome that they're with Wade, who Brady discovers has recently been involved in a multi-million dollar robbery. Brady's not the only one on their tail. A bouncer with a score to settle, Robert Pruitt is also tracking Wade. With both men hunting him, it won't be long before his freedom ends—one way or another. Will two frightened little girls get caught in the crossfire? Or will Wade's dream of starting over actually come to fruition? What would be best for Easter and Ruby? Will they live long enough to find out?
This Dark Road to Mercy, Wiley Cash's second novel, tells a tense, gritty story that will keep you turning pages until you get to its surprisingly hopeful end. Although none of the adults in this tale are particularly likable, the Quillby girls are certainly sympathetic characters. Overall, their tale is a sad, depressing one. It has a satisfying, redeeming conclusion, however. In the end, I didn't love this one, but I liked it well enough.
(Readalikes: Reminded me a little bit of The Talented Ribkins by Ladee Hubbard)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and depictions/mention of illegal drug use
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, September 28, 2017
Satisfying Christian Romance Big on History, Light on Preaching
1:00 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Romance is the last thing on the mind of 25-year-old Alexandra Jamison. Still reeling from the train accident that killed her fiancé one year ago, she's searching for a way to honor her intended's dream of making a difference in the world. That certainly won't happen if she's wed to a stuffy Southern gentleman with old-fashioned notions about a woman's place. Which is the exact situation her father is trying to broker for her. Now that Alexandra's unsuitable intended is out of the way, he'll unite her with a mature aristocrat, the wealthier the better. Love has no place in his ambitious plans.
Alexandra refuses to accept a future so dismal, a decision that leads to her expulsion from the family home. Her new job as a teacher at Fisk University, a local school for freedmen, only infuriates her father more. Unless she kowtows to his wishes, she'll be cut off from everything she's ever known—money, privilege, comfort, and her elevated place in Nashville society. Is making a difference really worth the risk?
Sylas Rutledge is a man well acquainted with risk, but unaccustomed to the rules of Southern society. As the owner of the Northeast Rail Line, the 31-year-old has traveled to Nashville from his home in Colorado Territory to arrange a lucrative business deal. He's also determined to clear his father's name. The engineer who's been accused of causing the accident that killed Alexandra's fiancé and numerous others, Sy's dad's reputation has been unduly soiled. At least that's what Sy believes.
When Alexandra and Sy meet, sparks instantly start to fly. As they help each other work toward impossible goals, they become closer and closer. But what will happen when Sy finally tells Alexandra who he is and what he's really doing in Nashville? Will their budding romance end before it gets a chance to really begin?
To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander tells an engaging story set against a rich historical backdrop. I knew nothing about certain places and events—like Fisk University; Belle Meade Plantation; the Jubilee Singers; and the real train accident that occurred near Dutchman's Curve in 1918, killing more than 100 people—until I read this novel. These kinds of details made the setting of To Wager Her Heart come alive for me. Alexandra and Sy are both sympathetic characters, which makes it easy to root for their success. They're not the most complex or well-developed story people in the world, but they felt real enough to keep me interested. Although the novel is predictable, with not enough tension standing in the way of the couple's Happily Ever After (despite its lengthy 351 pages), To Wager Her Heart feels satisfying. It's not super original, but it is a clean, enjoyable, setting-rich Christian romance that never feels too preachy. Overall, I enjoyed it and am definitely planning to read the rest of the books in the Belle Meade Plantation series (which consists of interconnected stories, not sequels per se).
(Readalikes: other novels in the Belle Meade Plantation series by Tamera Alexander, including To Whisper Her Name and To Win Her Favor)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence
To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of To Wager Her Heart from the generous folks at Zondervan via those at TLC Book Tours. Thank you!
--
Want more opinions on To Wager Her Heart? Follow along on the book's blog tour:
Monday, August 28th: Reviews from the Heart
Wednesday, August 30th: Splashes of Joy
Friday, September 1st: Books a la Mode – excerpt
Monday, September 4th: A Chick Who Reads
Tuesday, September 5th: Empowermoms
Friday, September 8th: For Him and My Family
Monday, September 11th: Books and Spoons – excerpt
Tuesday, September 12th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Thursday, September 14th: Jathan & Heather
Friday, September 15th: Art @ Home
Monday, September 18th: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Tuesday, September 19th: A Holland Reads
Wednesday, September 20th: Reading is My SuperPower
Friday, September 22nd: Just One More Chapter – excerpt
Monday, September 25th: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books - a couple days late - oops!
Tuesday, September 26th: Write Read Life
Wednesday, September 27th: Laura’s Reviews
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