Kellyn Roth's Blog: Kellyn Roth, Author, page 60
July 11, 2016
The Old River Road by Ivy Rose
Long Lake Legacy, #1
When seventeen-year-old Clara Boutwell married her dashing coworker, William McDonald, she was convinced her life was near perfect. The journey before them as newlyweds in the great city of Chicago was promising and exciting. But a frightening disease soon takes William in its grip, forcing them to the clean air of the western frontier in a desperate attempt to save his life. But pioneering doesn’t prove to be easy, with miles between neighbors instead of fences. On the eastern Washington prairies, the McDonalds face hardships and trials in a new world where everything is tested, from physical endurance to emotional strength—down to their relationship and faith in the Lord.
This novel tells the incredible true story of Clara and William, the great-great grandparents of the author, in a sweet narrative full of laughter, tears, and the struggles of an early pioneering family. Prepare yourself to share in their experience as you read this account of a pioneer family in Washington state, and see their lasting legacy that has endured into the fifth generation.
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I started this book Saturday morning and had finished it before the sun set. I was pleased, although I admit it wasn’t what I expected. I’d heard people compare it to the books of Laura Ingalls Wilder, but I didn’t know they meant it so literally! Like the “Little House” books, this novel – or rather novella – is the story of the life of two characters who existed in real life. I found it absolutely fascinating, occasionally tear-jerking, more often light and happy.
The Old River Road is perfect for lovers of historical fiction, adventure, drama, sweet romance, pioneers, faith, and family. I recommend it to readers of Laura Ingalls Wilder, Maud Hart Lovelace, or Gene Stratton Porter, who are, by the way, some of my favorite authors. Besides, you know, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens, Jules Verne, Arthur Conon Doyle, etc. Yep … my list of favorite authors is long and ever-increasing.[image error]
One of the most endearing things about The Old River Road was that it was perfectly appropriate for readers of all ages. I’d hand it to my nine-year-old brother without a second thought. Not that he’d like it (he’s not a fan of books with romance in them, even if it is sweet and straightforward with no mushy scenes!), but it’d be perfectly all right for him to read it. I have no concerns on that point.
You’re praising it so highly! You must have given it five stars! you say.
Well, I didn’t. Although this is an amazing book – original writing style, easy to get into, very sweet, very inspiring – there are a few problems I’d like to bring up in way of constructive criticism (because positive reviews are amazing, but they don’t really help anything but the author’s self-esteem).
First, the writing could have used a wee, wee bit of polishing here and there. Not much, but just a little. I felt, occasionally, like the plot and characters needed more drive. In a classic, this doesn’t bother me, but in a modern book, even if it’s meant to have a classic feel, there should be more of a plot structure (see).
Also, I didn’t really get the title. There was very little about the ‘old river road.’ Like, a couple paragraphs, really. There wasn’t much about it at all. I think perhaps it was meant to be like Clara (love that name, by the way) wanted to live along the river all along … but it wasn’t mentioned before [SPOILER] they started living there. [END OF SPOILER]
At first, I thought Clara’s main goal was to get out west … but that didn’t seem to be incredibly important to her. More focus on this would have been nice. Once she got out west, it was hard to see what was driving her at all. William was even more of a puzzle to me.
However, William and Clara were adorable. I really enjoyed their relationship.[image error]
Well, that’s about all I have to say about this novel for now. Go pick up a copy! It’s definitely worth it.[image error]
Content
0.5/5, almost-no-details descriptions of childbirth. Not a big deal. Wouldn’t bug me to give it to a small child.
Rating
4/5 stars. A good story that could use a little work … but not much!
~Kellyn Roth
About the Author
Ivy Rose is an (almost) 18 year old history lover and literary enthusiast. Aside from writing, she enjoys being outdoors, chocolate, travelling, reading, and ATVing (preferably if there is mud involved). She resides with her family of 9 on the banks of the Long Lake in eastern Washington.
Her Blog and Website: http://lakesidepublications.com/
July 9, 2016
Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden
Hi, I’m back from camp, guys! Good to see you all again! *gives everyone hugs* What? After all that “truth or dare,” I’m basically fearless! I hug random people and sing for them and dance and lick trees! I AM AMAZING!!!
Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden
Anna O’Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across a baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. She is thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, but her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.
Luke Callahan was one of the nation’s most powerful congressmen until his promising career became shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship.
Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglement with a member of Congress.
From the gilded halls of the Capitol, where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation’s finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they’ve ever dreamed for themselves?
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I read this novel while at camp, and it was pretty awesome! It was able to keep my attention while I was laying on my stomach in the scorching hot sun on a tarp in the middle of a field with teenage girls screaming, “AAAAAAAAAAH, it’s another bug! Getitoffgetitoffgetitoff!!!” all around me. So, yeah. That entertaining.
I even managed to like it with my [hifi-hating] friends heckling it all the time! (“She thinks being a LIBRARIAN is the most important job in the world? IS SHE INSANE???” Well, just ’cause it’s not important to you doesn’t mean it’s not important to this [may I add fictional] character. And I don’t think there’s such a thing as the most important job in the world anyway.)
The plot was very interesting and original in its own way. Although Luke and Anna’s romance was a big part of it, a lot of time was focused on the politics of Washington D.C. and the mysterious disappearance of Anna’s father and his crewmates. This was very interesting, and it also gave me some much-needed inspiration for a story idea I’ve been developing. Indirectly, that is.
The romance between Luke and Anna was interesting. Let me just tell you right now that I don’t believe in love at first sight. Attraction, perhaps. Love, no. Not a good kind, anyway.
However, there wasn’t anything unbelievable about Luke being attracted to Anna because of her spunky attitude towards him when they first meant. It was actually kind of nice that the first thing he noticed wasn’t her gorgeous eyes or whatever. Although I admit I prefer pretty heroines. I never want to stick with the ugly ones. Fairest, for instance, drove me insane. WHY ARE WE STILL ON HER SHE SOUNDS SO AWFUL!!! SHE’S FICTIONAL; SHE CAN BE BEAUTIFUL!!! MAKE HER BEAUTIFUL!!! NOT LIKE SUPER STAR BEAUTIFUL, BUT AT LEAST PRETTY!!! COME ON, GUYS!!! WHAT’S ON THE OUTSIDE MATTERS, TOO!!!
And … moving on.
The characters were well-developed. They didn’t really jump off the pages at me, but I enjoyed them anyway. Although I admit I’m somewhat confused about Anna’s personality. She’s sensible, but has a crazy runaway imagination? Whaaaaaat? And Luke. Goodness knows I love a character with a temper (it makes me feel better about myself
July 2, 2016
FNWC, Challenge 1
Hi guys! Well, once again, I’ve entered a contest. However, this time it isn’t a photography contest; it’s a writing contest. It’s hosted by Rutvi (https://sosugarsweet.wordpress.com/).
Now, my writing is a little better than my photography … but I don’t expect to win because I can suck under pressure.
Exile by Rachel Starr Thomson
The Oneness Cycle, #1
When Tyler fishes the girl out of the bay, he thinks she’s dead. She wishes she was.
For Reese, life ended when the supernatural entity called the Oneness threw her out.
For Tyler, dredging Reese out of the water means life is nothing he thought.
In a world where the Oneness exists, nothing looks the same. Dead men walk. Demons prowl the air. Old friends peel back their mundane masks and prove as supernatural as angels. The Oneness changes everything.
And getting Reese home, making her One again, will change Tyler–and his roommate, Chris, whose connections with the Oneness have been buried most of his life–forever.
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It was … interesting. It kind of creeped me out, but not too badly. The whole concept of demon-possession is scary. I know it’s a thing, but … I don’t really want to think about it. The Oneness is a cool idea, though. I need a magic sword that appears whenever I’m in danger! I NEED ONE!!!
Despite that, it was a relatively good book. The plot and characters unfolded and flowed naturally. Good balance of events vs. dialogue vs. description. Overall, the message was good.
The setting could definitely have been fleshed-out more. I wasn’t really sure where we were. In the modern-day world? In the past? In the future? In a world completely different from ours? What’s that world like? It seems modern, but not completely modern. No mention of iPhones, etc., for one thing.
June 30, 2016
Updates: The Lady of the Vineyard and Ivy Introspective
Hello friends (and … random people I don’t know … and … I just made your presence awkward … well, I guess you can stay anyway *sigh*)!
Today I’m going to ramble on about my novels considerably, so … you’ve been warned.
Let’s start with Ivy Introspective, because … well, I just want to. I have no reason for this, but I’m just going to and … and … stop asking me questions I can’t answer.
Most of my writing as-of-late (on IvIn, anyway) has been in a notebook, wonder of wonders. I haven’t written in a notebook since … a long time ago. And I haven’t written a ton now that I’m writing in a notebook for the first since a long time ago since writing in a notebook is slower than my thoughts for me. Let me explain.
My thoughts are going really fast and I’m thinking a couple paragraphs ahead of what I’m writing, and eventually I have to stop thinking so that I can start writing again … and then everything’s all mixed up. So I have to read over what I write and correct it because I wrote a lot of stupid typos, et cetera, et cetera, and … it’s a vicious cycle.
So … much as I love writing on paper, it just isn’t working for me.
June 28, 2016
June Character Studies ~ Comfort
Well, another Character Studies has come around! As some (most, that is) of you probably know, Character Studies is hosted by Morgan Dusky (https://morgandusky.wordpress.com/) She has the coolest blog you ever saw! Her characters have (supposedly) possessed it, and they write the posts. Very entertaining (and informative).
Today, as usual, I’ll be doing Parts 1 & 2.[image error]
This month’s theme is “comfort.” Well, Ereinne (one of Morgan’s characters) calls it “affection,” but whatever. Same thing.
June 27, 2016
The Mistress of Tall Acre by Laura Frantz
A short review for a busy, writing-filled day (or so I hope). And I know some of you find these reviews tedious … but …
I ain’t making you read them!
The Life of a Writer
I just finished reading this post on Blue Eyes, Gray Eyes, one of the blogs I follow. It is amazing. I am finally understood. These GIFs understand me.
Pictures that most writers can relate to — I know I can. (There’s lots of images, but they’re funny.)
Staying up until two in the morning just thinking is a real thing for us writers. That’s why I always keep a notebook in my bed — so I can write down plot ideas in the middle of the night. It can be pretty terrible, because sometimes you JUST WANT TO SLEEP.
2. Sooooo many unfinished story. Dozens of them, gathering dust in notebooks or forgotten computer files.
3. But so, so worth it.
via
4. I would suggest that they make the light blue section a tad bit bigger.
5. I look up the weirdest stuff for my writing.
6. I actually printed this out at taped it to my door.
June 25, 2016
Interview with Laurel Garver
Hello everyone! Today (or rather tonight) I’ll be interviewing Laurel Garver, author of Almost There . Her favorite color is plum, partially (or completely?) due to her love of our dear Professor (points for getting the reference!). You know, at some point you’re all going to have to call these points … Anyway, on with the interview!
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What’s your favorite thing about being a writer?
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You get to have lots and lots of imaginary friends and get paid for it.
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My feelings exactly.
Almost There by Laurel Garver
Dani Deane, #2
Paris, the City of Lights. To seventeen-year-old Dani Deane, it’s the Promised Land. There, her widowed mother’s depression will vanish and she will no longer fear losing her only parent, her arty New York life, or her devoted boyfriend.
But shortly before their Paris getaway, Dani’s tyrannical grandfather falls ill, pulling them to rural Pennsylvania to deal with his hoarder horror of a house. Among the piles, Dani finds disturbing truths that could make Mum completely unravel. Desperate to protect her from pain and escape to Paris, Dani hatches a plan with the flirtatious neighbor boy that only threatens the relationships she most wants to save.
Why would God block all paths to Paris? Could real hope for healing be as close as a box tucked in the rafters?
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Almost There is a descent contemporary Christian fiction novel about a teenage girl who wants nothing more than to get her mother away from the hustle and bustle and pain and terror of their life and take a trip to Paris which, she is sure, will heal all her mother’s old wounds.
I’ll start with the plot. It was original and well-paced; it kept together and ended perfectly. I found the subplot with Laughlin to be a little distracting … and it made Dani sound a little … I don’t know, shallow. Perhaps that’s not the right word, though. I’ll talk about it more in the character section.
However, for the most part, the subplots were nice and didn’t interrupt the main story too much.
I especially liked learning about Dani’s grandfather Daniel Tilman’s backstory. It was creative and dramatic and perfect. It touched my love for sadness just right. I know that sounds ridiculous – a love for sadness. Maybe I should say I was empathetic, but it’s not completely true. I do love sadness in novels … you know, as long as there’s a happy ending. Happy-ending dramas are the only ones I can bear.
Kellyn Roth, Author
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