Katy Huth Jones's Blog, page 2

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Newest installment in my favorite dinosaur dystopian series

 

The Book Dragon has finished Corinna Turner's latest installment in her unSPARKed! series, Wild Life, and gives it five enthusiastic claws!

My review: Even though I would prefer this story had been written as one long novel, the "serial" format reminds me of some of my favorite old TV shows in the 1960's (yes, I am that old), where each weekly episode ended on a cliffhanger, or at least with something unresolved so you'd anticipate the next installment (notably Lost in Space and The Time Tunnel). The unSPARKed! series is exactly that. It's difficult to wait for the next episode, but it is DEFINITELY worth the wait! This story has become one of my all-time favorites, with memorable characters I've come to care about very much, set in a future United States with dinosaurs, which I've loved since I was a young child. Unlike Jurassic Park, this story focuses more on the spiritual life and day-to-day survival of the human characters and hardly mentions the science involved in bringing dinosaur species back from extinction.

In this installment, which is #5, 16 yo Darryl and her brother Harry are settling in with their new employer Josh, who is a hunter living in the unSPARKed wilds where dinosaurs roam and life expectancy is short, even within a specially designed HabVi (a reinforced and modified RV that sounds like it's been crossed with a tank). Not only do the teens have much to learn from the experienced Josh (who is only 18 himself), they face danger from more than predatory dinosaurs.

I would have loved this series as a teen, and love it now even though I'm far past that age. I recommend it for anyone who likes adventure and survival stories with a clean and religious bent, especially readers who like dinosaurs. I would suggest you begin with #1 and read them in order, though there are other stories in this world which can be read out of order.

This novella and the rest of the volumes set in this world can be found at Catholic Teen Books. You don't want to miss this talented author's stories!

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: An epic fairytale quest by one of my favorite fantasy authors!

 

The Book Dragon has read Heartless Hette by M. L. Farb and gives it a resounding 5 claws!

My review: Having fallen in love with the previous three books I've read from this author, I confess I was a little nervous when I started this newest story. The POV character, Hette, didn't seem like someone with whom I'd want to spend several hours while going on an adventure. And the situation seemed like the setup for a gothic horror story. BUT I am glad I kept reading, because Hette's journey was more than a fantastic physical quest; it was a JOY watching her learn life lessons from unexpected people (and fantasy creatures). While Farb drew from fairy tale lore and set the story in a fictional Germania (which I also love, having German heritage) this is an original story, NOT a retold fairy tale. The supporting characters are fully present and add so much depth to the story; the setting is so realistic, you can feel the grit and mud and cold and unbearable heat; and the tension becomes unbearable in places, it's so well-plotted. I LOVE the riddles, too! That part reminded me of Bilbo Baggins and Gollum, but only superficially, because Farb makes everything fresh and new. The ending is very satisfying, in unexpected ways! Highly recommended for all ages.

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Fun Book 2 in a Christian cozy mystery series

 

The Book Dragon has read Word Gets Around (Wordplay Mysteries Book 2) by Julie B. Cosgrove and gives it 5 claws!

My review:  I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Word Has It, and was excited to see the author had released another volume. From the first few pages, I felt as if I was revisiting old friends, for Ms. Cosgrove is excellent at creating believable, loveable, and very unique characters. Her group of senior citizen friends, led by Scrabble-loving Wanda, find themselves in the middle of another mystery in their small Texas town involving cryptic one word notes left on windshields, a missing reporter, a trashed newsroom, and gourmet coffee. This is such a fun story, and I feel even more attached to Wanda and her friends. Her nephew the policeman is adorable too, and now I'm wondering if "Aunt Wanda" is going to be playing matchmaker in a future book.... This author has made me a fan of cozy mystery. If you love squeaky clean cozies with thoughtful twisty plots and loveable characters, this series is for you! As a bonus there are recipes included in many chapters (Wanda and her friends love to cook).

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Suspenseful, moving prequel in a dinosaur dystopia series

 

The Book Dragon has read Corinna Turner's Breach! and gives it 5 roaring claws! My review: Having read all the other installments in this fantastic dinosaur dystopian series, I was eager to finally read the prequel to discover the origin of one of the important characters and was NOT at all disappointed! The POV character is sympathetic and realistically portrayed, and his plight added to the already tense and suspenseful situation regarding a fence breach by a T-rex in a crowded resort. It's genius how the author combines an action-packed story involving deadly dinosaurs with a strong pro-life message, but it works wonderfully well, drawing out every emotion on the spectrum within a relatively short span of pages. Anyone who loves dinos, like I have my entire life, needs to read all the installments in this series. Though this one can be read out of order, I encourage you to begin here and read everything in chronological order, if possible. Even if you jump around, like I have, everything will make sense (and make you want to re-read the whole lot again and again). Prepare to be immersed in an unforgettably believable dystopian North America!
Note: Find this and other books by the prolific Corinna Turner at Catholic Teen Books.

Rejoice with me! I finished my "covid" book!!!!

 

After my husband and I returned from the Czech Republic the end of March 2020 (after being "stuck" for two extra weeks with four days' of clothing--although spending more time in my favorite place with friends who now feel like extended family was more paradise than any hardship at all) I had a difficult time concentrating on ANYTHING, much less writing! And when my husband was laid off, things became even more stressful. I feared after 35 years of writing my words had dried up forever.
But God was merciful, and my husband finally found a job (though much less pay and not in his field). Gradually my characters started speaking to me again, and I was able to finish this story. Ironically, I thought it would be the easiest in the series to write because it's mostly a tale of survival on the journey to manhood. My critique partner was amazed I was able to put together a coherent book, and she said the ending was her favorite in both series. So I am well content. 😊
The first two in the series, Dolan's Bride and Joy's Sorrow, are FREE today, and Valerian's Flight is available for preorder at 99 cents. Release day is July 1st, the 6th anniversary of the book that started this whole epic story, Mercy's Prince. I may make that one free, just to celebrate!!!

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Christmas + dinosaurs + dystopian world = great story year 'round!

 The Book Dragon has finished Corinna Turner's expanded A Very Jurassic Christmas novella and gives it five rip-roaring claws!

My review: I had read the original short story version in the Catholic Teen Book anthology Gifts: Visible and Invisible and wondered what happened next to the wonderful characters Ms. Turner has created in her dystopian, dinosaur-filled series. I'm glad she decided to expand the story into a longer novella. The additional adventures of hunter Joshua and his Uncle Z and the parallel adventures of brave farm kids Darryl and her brother Harry (and their Dad) are connected by a very brave traveling priest and a horrific winter storm reminiscent of our Texas polar vortex in February 2021. Just reading those sections made me shiver! If you haven't read any of this fantastic adventure series, I highly recommend it (especially if you're a lifelong dinophile like I am). You can also learn more about the author and her other books and series at Catholic Teen Books. 

Monday Book Review by the Book Dragon: Excellent Christian cozy mystery, first in a new series!

 

The Book Dragon has finished Word Has It by Julie B. Cosgrove and gives it 5 rip-roaring claws! My review: I've read several cozies by this author, and I have to say, Ms. Cosgrove has made me a cozy mystery fan! This first book in a new series is her best one yet!

The MC Wanda, a very active widow living in a small Texas town, is loveable and very human, but she always means well. She has a reputation for being nosy and jumping to conclusions, but after a burglary in a nearby city is convinced her sleepy little town needs a neighborhood watch program, especially when several suspicious goings-on point to the possibility that the burglars are hiding out right under their noses!

Complicating the situation is Wanda's beloved nephew Todd, who is a rookie cop in town. Their close relationship is threatened by Todd's concern that Wanda's meddling will either get him fired or get her in serious trouble. There are many fun and relatable characters, including Wanda's best friend and many other townspeople. Even with all the names, it was easy to keep them straight because the author has done such a great job of making each one memorable!

The title comes from the shared love of Scrabble that Wanda and Todd share, and the initial game in which they play several apparently unrelated words that turn out to be clues to the mystery of the burglars. I love the use of a Scrabble tile for the scene breaks! And most of all, I loved the slice of small town life which made me homesick (in a good way) for the one I had to leave behind.

If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, Scrabble, or just enjoy a good read with characters who will become new friends, check out Word Has It! Though it's a standalone novel, the author has left room for further adventures of Wanda and her friends in the new neighborhood watch program. As a bonus, there are recipes included from the tea party that had to be cancelled. I hope there will be another opportunity for the widowed friends to have their party!

Monday Book Review by the Book Dragon: Suspenseful short story for dinosaur lovers of all ages!

The Book Dragon has read Corinna Turner's A Dino Whisperer at the Zoo and gives it a roaring five claws! My review: Wow! I love this short story addition to Ms. Turner's fantastic Spark! universe. It was compelling and suspenseful, but touching in unexpected ways. This story officially made Joshua, the teen hunter living "unSparked" (outside protective fences) in a dystopian world, my favorite character in the series. If you haven't read any of this series yet, either this or A Very Jurassic Christmas (a novella which happens prior to this story and gives a little background on one of the dinos) would be a great place to start. No matter which installment you read first, if you liked Crichton's Jurassic Park (or have been a lifelong dino nerd like I have), you HAVE to read this wonderful series!!!
You can find more of Corinna Turner's must-read books at Catholic Teen Books.

The 10 best books I read in 2020 (plus 2 honorable mentions)

 

A library in Prague we'd planned to see, but everything shut down the second day of our eight day trip  in March that turned into three weeks! (Image by izoca from Pixabay)

What a crazy year 2020 has been! I'm amazed I was able to read as many books as I did. I met my Goodreads goal of 60, only because GR lets you count "did not finish" books, of which there were several. I don't know if it was trouble concentrating or the stories just "hit" me the wrong way, but it still makes me sad when I can't finish a book, especially ones that seem to hold promise! Despite those few, I had a terrible time narrowing down my top 10 this year. As you will see, THREE authors (my new favorites) each had two books make the list! And, because I simply could not eliminate them, I have TWO honorable mentions, because stories that totally immerse me and make me fall in love with new fictional friends are very deserving of a mention!

So, I'll begin with the honorable mentions:

HM: Three Last Things: or The Hounding of Carl Jarrold, Soulless Assassin by Corinna Turner

Ms. Turner has become one of my top fav authors of all time. She is an incredible wordsmith who knows how to craft a story that grabs you by the throat and changes your heart simultaneously! This one was heart-stopping suspense, soul-changing, and completely unforgettable. Don't miss this novella, and don't let the fact that it takes place on death row put you off!

HM: Joy (Always Christmas Book Club 1) by Jessica L. Elliott

At the other end of the spectrum, this is a sweet, feel-good, heartwarming Christmas romance. I was skeptical of the "marriage of convenience" in the modern world trope, but the characters are so wonderfully real, I fell in love with them and completely immersed myself in their story. It's such a great Christmas read, I'm going to read it every year so I can revisit all the warm fuzzies.

#10: The Red Dragon Girl by Lea Doue

This is the third book of Doue's excellent Firethorn Chronicles fantasy series (my favorite so far) and is so well-written, it can stand alone. Princess Melantha is such a wonderful MC, and I loved the dragons!

#9: For Eden's Sake by T. M. Gaouette

I didn't think I would like this story, but it is powerfully pro-life, and the MC is hugely sympathetic. One reason it made this list is because I keep thinking about it, months after reading it. It's just that good!

#8: Leaf Me Alone (Relatively Seeking Book 3) by Julie B. Cosgrove

I've read several of Ms. Cosgrove's cozy mysteries, but this is my favorite so far! She combines genealogy with a mystery uncovering family secrets, and her married team of sleuths stole my heart!

#7: Vasilisa (Hearth and Bard Tales Book 1) by  M. L. Farb

I was familiar with the name from Russian folklore, but Ms. Farb has written an original historical fairy tale that is un-put-downable! I was totally immersed in this world and loved how Vasilisa is portrayed!

#6: What Truly Matters by Pamela Sharp

This is compelling historical family drama, sequel to a book higher on this list. While it's possible to read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading book 1 first. The characters alone are worth it, but it's also fascinating how the author wove the story around actual historical events, completely grounding the time and place.

#5: The Three Most Wanted by Corinna Turner

Here's Ms. Turner's second book on my list, which is the second in her powerful dystopian series (the first book, I Am Margaret, was on Book Dragon's top 10 last year). This installment is just as nail-biting and personal as the first book, with unexpected twists and turns that literally kept me on the edge my seat!

#4: The King's Shadow by M. L. Farb

This is the sequel to The King's Trial, which made Book Dragon's top ten last year and established M. L. Farb as one of my new favorite authors! This epic story continues in the realistic and gritty fantasy world Farb has created with her heroic characters rising to new heights and other characters causing appropriate mayhem.

#3: Blood Traitors by Stella Dorthwany

This is the sequel to Dorthwany's Sand and Storm, which made Book Dragon's top ten last year. Though we continue the journey with some of the realistic characters introduced there, this story has a completely different flavor, with intrigue, danger, a magical "game" even more wild and crazy than Quidditch, and secrets galore! What a fun romp!

#2: In the Double Agent's Service by Annie Douglass Lima

Lima has been one of my favorite authors since she began this Alasia fantasy series several years ago, and this new installment is one of my favorites! Just when I think Lima has covered all the bases in her realistic world, she mines new and exciting storylines. Eric and Anya have been encountered in previous books, but they are front and center in this story, with amazing results! It's the most unusual love story ever written, along with heart-pounding danger.

#1: Because That's What Families Do by Pamela Sharp

This generational family saga set post-World War 2 is a masterpiece of the human condition, specifically how families interact during times of crisis and upheaval. I'd put this book in the same masterpiece category as the works of John Jakes! The characters in this story have stolen my heart forever.

Monday Review by the Book Dragon: Wonderful sweet Christmas romance!

 

The Book Dragon has read Joy (Always Christmas Book Club 1) by Jessica L. Elliott and gives it 5 claws!

My review: This is a wonderful sweet Christmas romance! The MCs completely stole my heart! I did not expect to fall in love with this story, since "a marriage of convenience" in the modern world seems a stretch, but this story was so full of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, and family, immersing myself in it was every bit as satisfying as sipping on hot chocolate while sitting next to a beautiful Christmas tree, listening to my favorite Christmas songs. I will be reading this every Christmas as a new holiday tradition!