Cardyn Brooks's Blog, page 18
April 11, 2021
Warm Weather, Hot Reads & Dyslexia Strategies
Fur Baby Matchmaker on a Mission
Joint Custody by Lauren Baratz-Logsted & Jackie Logsted -contemporary
Sex, Lies & Conspiracies
Earl’s Well That Ends Well (Way to a Lord's Heart #5) by Jane Ashford -historical
No Holding Back by Lori Foster -contemporary
Walking the Edge by Sue Ward Drake -contemporary
Who Wants to Marry a Duke (Duke Dynasty #3) by Sabrina Jefferies -historical
A Wolf After My Own Heart (BeWere My Heart #2) by MaryJanice Davidson -contemporary
Won't Go Home Without You (Richardson Sisters #2) by Cheris Hodges -contemporary
Seri(es)ous Reading
Any Rogue Will Do (Misfits of Mayfair #1) by Bethany Bennett -historical
Beauty Tempts the Beast (Sins for All Seasons #6) by Lorraine Heath -historical
• More an assortment of clever twists on “My Fair Lady" than a retelling of “Beauty and the Beast"
Careless Whispers (Jackson Falls #4) by Synithia Williams -contemporary
Falling Hard (Colorado High Country #3) by Pamela Clare -contemporary
Tempting Fate (Colorado High Country #4) by Pamela Clare -contemporary
Ravish Me with Rubies (London Jewels #3) by Jane Feather -historical
Growing Pains
The Somerset Girls by Lori Foster -contemporary
Top Secret by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy -contemporary
Tips on Focusing for People with Different Ways of Seeing & Being
Handy Health Guide to Dyslexia by Alvin & Virginia Silverstein & Laura Silverstein Nunn The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity dyslexia.yale.edu
March 27, 2021
2021 First Quarter (Mostly) Romance Reading Round-Up*
Contemporary Reads for Lovers of Lists (& Rules to Break) to Add to Their TBR Lists
How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams
Much Ado About You by Samantha Young
Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan
Revenge/Retribution
The Devil in Her Bed (Devil You Know #3) by Kerrigan Byrne (historical)
The Last True Gentleman (True Gentlemen #12) by Grace Burrowes (historical)
Triple M Murder by Carmen Cady (contemporary supernatural romantic suspense)
-involuntary compliance trigger warning
Contemporary Meta Paradise for Trope Lovers
Truth, Lies, and Second Dates (Danger, Sweetheart universe #3) by MaryJanice Davidson
Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur**
Faux-mance Gone Real
First Comes Like (Modern Love #3) by Alisha Rai (contemporary)
Someday My Duke Will Come (Isle of Synne #2) by Christina Britton (historical)
Nonconformists in Love
The Worst Duke in the World (Penhallow Dynasty #5) by Lisa Berne (historical)
40-Love (Marysburg #2) by Olivia Dade (contemporary)
Partners in Crime/Solving
An Unexpected Peril (Veronica Speedwell #6) by Deanna Raybourne (historical)
It's playful and buoyant despite the serious nature of the crimes committed.
Under the Alaskan Ice (Alaska Wild #2) by Karen Harper (contemporary)
Epic Supernatural Sagas
A Court of Silver Flames (Thorns and Roses #5) by Sarah J. Maas
Wild Sign (Alpha and Omega #6) by Patricia Briggs
no Moira and Tom cameos:-(
Food Fights as Foreplay
Act Your Age, Eve Brown (Brown Sisters #3) by Talia Hibbert
Kiss My Cupcake by Helena Hunting
Blaire and Ronan bring the slow burn heat. Blaire is unapologetically a boss. Ronan’s initial high jerk factor receives a clever, believable treatment.
Non-fiction
Resources and Strategies for People Who See the World from Different Angles
At Home with Dyslexia, A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Your Child by Sascha Roos
Overcoming Dyslexia by Drs. Sally and Jonathan Shaywitz
#CardynBrooksReviews #books
Act Your Age, Eve Brown (Brown SIsters #3) by Talia Hibbert
Contemporary romance
Avon, March 9, 2021
Feeling down?
Read AYA,EB to elevate your mood.
Feeling joyous?
Read this book to celebrate love and the value in being different.
In chapter ten Jacob thinks, “... why the world would be a much better place if they stopped congratulating themselves on being normal and started to accept that there were countless different normals, and Jacob’s was just as fine as everyone else’s.”
Eve and Jacob’s utterly charming love story is an absurdist romp that perfectly blends laugh-aloud humor with emotional complexity and profound social commentary.
A Court of Silver Flames (Thorns and Rose #5) by Sarah J. Maas
Supernatural fantasy
Bloomsbury Publishing, February 16, 2021
This installment moves the Thorns and Roses series from YA to Adult fiction in its development of its recurring themes. More complicated political intrigue and consequences, generational cycles of trauma and oppression, plus rival supernatural forces frame and deepen the interpersonal and romantic struggles of these beloved, and sometimes despised, characters. Nesta has been spoiled, petulant, and self-centered from her first introduction, which makes it difficult to cheer for her as her self-indulgent wallowing continues through most of the first section of A Court of Silver Flames. That’s a significant element of the brilliance of her characterization as a foil for Cassian’s patience, his insistence that she is lovable and worthy of being loved; she’s worth the significant effort required. For readers who feel exhausted by Nesta, hang in there until Part II because S.J.M. delivers an impressive and entertaining story arc of transformation and redemption. Fingers crossed that Morrigan’s journey is next.
* My personal down-time reading (mostly) not reviewed for #CardynBrooksReviews #books, Edelweiss, NetGalley or RomanceDailyNews.com
** There were two dozen or more folded corners on otherwise pristine pages of this borrowed library volume of Written in the Stars. For shame, unknown inconsiderate book vandal! That’s why bookmarks exist! (Fingers crossed that unfolding the corners, then stacking volumes of encyclopedia on top of the book reverses the damage.) #Bibliocrimes #BookBorrowerFelonyViolation #DIYbookrepair
March 7, 2021
Transformations
Big Bad Wolf by Suleikha Snyder
Supernatural romance thriller
Sourcebooks Casablanca, January 26, 2021
Is it possible to defend the indefensible?
Attorney and psychologist Neha Ahluwalia is tasked with finding the answer from Joe Peluso. At first glance he's a homicidal vigilante who's a lone wolf in more ways than one. When Neha probes deeper, assorted deadly secrets are revealed, putting her and Joe into multiple sets of dangerous crosshairs and sending them on the run where their smoldering chemistry ignites.
Warring criminal factions, covert operatives, political gamesmanship, bloody conflicts, and competing supernatural groups make Big Bad Wolf a rollicking good read. An organically inclusive cast of characters who move through an exaggerated sociopolitical magnification of present-day cultural strife adds nuanced emotional intimacy, philosophical complexity and resonance to this edgy alternate universe. Key elements are reminiscent of the World of the Lupi series by Eileen Wilks, with a more nihilistic attitude and a slightly higher, gorier body count. This first installment sets high expectations for Pretty Little Lion (clever), book two in this fresh Third Shift series.
Twice Exceptional, Supporting and Educating Bright and Creative Students with Learning Difficulties by Scott Barry Kaufman, ed.
Non-fiction
Oxford University Press, 2018
Does your child noticeably excel in fundamental areas of learning, comprehension and execution, and significantly under perform in others? They might be Twice Exceptional, 2e: embodying exceptional capabilities and exceptional learning challenges at the same time. Using a mix of personal revelations; anecdotal, clinical, and empirical data, and case studies, the editor and contributors offer readers accessible definitions, guidelines, and strategies for identifying and advocating for 2e students whose particular strengths and needs are easily overlooked, misinterpreted and/or misdiagnosed. The focus on comprehensive assessments that lead to customized individual strategies appropriate for each student is reinforced throughout the text as a healthy, effective approach for all students.
Twice Exceptional presents readers with an overview of the evolution of educational philosophies as it makes its case for a “complexity approach” that identifies and hones students' learning strengths and abilities while simultaneously recognizing and addressing their learning challenges with an emphasis on positive reinforcement. Each chapter ends with a conclusion as summary of highlights, and an extensive list of additional reference materials and resources. This text provides validation, hope, encouragement, and practical strategies for parents, educators, and students, especially new ways of thinking about those on the Autism Spectrum, ADHD, the multifaceted cultural implications for Black and Brown children, and environmental circumstances of all children.
https://scottbarrykaufman.com/resource-category/education/
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Contributors
Introduction
Part I: Identification
Part II: Supporting Twice Exceptional Students
Part III: Special Populations
Part IV: Models
Index
2enewsletter.com
February 12, 2021
Celebrate Love 24/7/365 (Not Just V-Day)
Unforgettable Valentine by Stella Williams
Contemporary erotic romance novella
Serpentine Creative, LLC, February 12, 2021
Sanai Carlisle sets out on a blustery winter night to surprise her boyfriend. On the way there she collides with Dominic Westmoore and alters the course of both their lives. Unforgettable Valentine is a super sexy romp that uses a clumsy, awkward meet-cute to launch into a mad-cap homage to popular romance tropes. Caught in flagrante delicto, stranded with a stranger, fake relationship, and more combined with surprising moments of profound self-reflection and emotional intimacy make Sanai and Dominic's story a fun, satisfying read. It's a sizzling, sweet bonbon of a tale.
[note: In the NetGalley ARC the spelling of the lead character's name flip flops between Sanai and Sinai.]
Winner Takes All by Sandra Kitt
Contemporary romance
Sourcebooks Casablanca, April 6, 2021
Juggling the daily responsibilities and last-minute duties for the mayor of New York City gets complicated for Jean Travis when a missed romantic connection from her past shows up in her life one night. For Patrick Bennett it's more money, more problems after he wins the lottery jackpot. Reviving his friendship with Jean is an unexpected benefit amid a series of escalating conflicts, hassles, and unwanted attention. Their friendly, flirty banter, emotional vulnerabilities, and palpable sexual chemistry anchor the story. Second chance love, secrets from the past and present, and romantic weariness themes swirl within the context of the present-day ravenous news and social media appetites for scandal. The layered elements of multifaceted characters who are feeling tugged between their personal and professional lives, private and public personae make Winner Takes All resonate as authentic to 21st-century quandaries about prioritizing one's obligations and desires. With the exception of one outdated, cringe-worthy (despite an obvious attempt at conveying respect) minor Asian character, Jean and Patrick's love story generates (as expressed by Jean in chapter 12) “… feeling a settled and calm kind of contentment.” As the novel that introduces a new series the storyline isn't a barn burner and doesn't need to be as masterfully crafted storytelling that focuses on the drama of messy emotional entanglements. Sandra Kitt was decades ahead of the representative inclusion #OwnVoices wave in mainstream contemporary romance in 1995's The Color of Love and subsequent novels and anthologies that addressed the lived experiences of privileged Black and Brown and Mixed people in non-stereotypical ways. Winner Takes All rewards the patience of S.K.’s long-time fans awaiting her return and introduces newcomers to a venerable O.G. of contemporary love stories.
[a comment about writing dialogue for characters who speak English as a second language or in informal ways: To avoid the cringe factor please consider these questions. If the character's ethnicity is specified, are they the only character from that ethnic group? What un/conscious monolithic assumptions are being projected by this character?]
And a bonus suggestion to satisfy cravings for more serious thoughts on love:
All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
William Morrow, 2018
A fake holiday celebrates real appreciation for our friends. Here are more stories that celebrate love and friendship, from the RomanceDailyNews.com blog.
January 17, 2021
Adulting & Saving the Universe Are Exhausting
Reality in Chaos by Monique Kelley
Contemporary women's fiction
Black Rose Writing, January 13, 2021
In 1999 best friends and newly minted Hampton University graduates Simone, Jackie, and Taylor move to Los Angeles, California to pursue their respective professional goals in advertising, acting, and art. Eighteen years later as their fortieth birthdays approach their lives have unfolded into disappointing circumstances beneath the surface of their self-confident public personae. Will their shared milestone year mark a reset or a death knell for turning their dreams into reality?
Monique Kelley uses a first-person confessional style that fosters a deep sense of emotional intimacy between characters and readers. Starting with HBCU culture in the prologue evolves into broader issues of skin-color hierarchies, biases related to social class and geographic region, and ageism. Those themes and more are layered upon the foundation of gilded cages of privilege and the often high costs of keeping up appearances. Simone’s marriage, Jackie's stalled acting career, and Taylor's family issues are examined in present day and through flashbacks with the entertaining dramatic flair of a telenovela with some profanity and raunch added. Hints of a little Terry McMillan, Candace Bushnell, “Real Housewives" and the “Beaches" remake contribute complexity and fun to this celebration of enduring friendships.
Psi-Lords, vols. 1 – 8
Fred Van Lente, writer; Renato Guedes, artist; Jonboy Meyers, cover artist; Dave Sharpe, letterer; Drew Baumgartner, asst. ed.; David Menchel, ed.; Robert Meyers, sr. editorial director, et al.
Valiant, January 6, 2021
These eight installments of Psi-Lords start with a mystery. Prisoners awake in cells without knowing how they got there or who they are. Finding those answers leads to more questions that launch them onto a treacherous journey through the galaxy. This team resembles an edgier Fantastic Four who battle cruel jailers, hostile strangers, vengeful adversaries, megalomaniacal zealots, and inner demons. Lots of humorous exchanges, a few existential crises, familiar tropes spun from fresh angles, and some romance plus action, action, and more action propel the sophisticated, fun narrative. Vibrant, dynamic illustrations, several with angular perspective and a smoky overlay, pop as if rendered in 3-D. Like most excellent comix Psi-Lords examines present-day themes of subjugation, allocation of environmental resources, social media, and government bureaucracy. It also includes a respectful nod to a real-life SciFi publishing legend. Fans of gritty gorgeous comix with philosophical underpinnings are sure to enjoy this bold organically inclusive series with more adventures to come.
1. Gods in Chaos
2. Sargasso
3. Memories of the Future
4. Embrace the Void
5. The God Virus
6. Balance of Power
7. Sum of Fears
8. Dark Victory
January 2, 2021
Celebrating You & Breaking Through in 2021, Plus Romance
Is last year's bumper crop of lemons the main ingredient for this year's success? Here's a book with plenty of reasons why yes is the answer.
Rethink, Smashing the Myths of Women in Business Andi Simon, Ph.D. Non-fiction business biography Fast Company Press (Greenleaf Book Group, distributor) January 5, 2021
At a time when the world is reeling from being forced to improvise almost everything on a daily basis, Rethink profiles eleven women, including the author, whose lives and professional careers are prime examples of adaptability that defy entrenched gendered expectations. Invisible barriers to achievement in science, management, finance, and other industries are examined through the lenses of these accomplished women's experiences. Their profiles make for compelling reading and comprise the majority of the text, which is its strength. Notable reading frustrations include points of view and blanket statements that reinforce a narrow focus on a hetero, privileged, Anglo gender binary as the presumptive frame of reference. The author's advice leans heavily toward putting the burden of change on women rather than on strategies for systemic changes to eliminate the institutionalized career blockages formed from rampant sexism, misogyny, LGBTQUIA-phobia, and racism that hinder women from reaching the highest levels of academic and professional achievement—at least until Delora Tyler's feature in the “Myth 9” chapter. There, toward the end of the book is where Rethink explicitly acknowledges specific layers of codified oppression and exclusion in the workplace. Unfortunately, the concluding remarks undercut that refreshing candor by swinging back toward burdening the individual for cultural failings with this statement:
“Like Delora, African American women entrepreneurs must be more self-confident and build their resilience.”
The underlying assumption that Black women in particular, and girls and women in general, are inherently lacking in self-confidence and resilience is the fundamental weakness in this otherwise exceptional collection of assorted blueprints for success and effective leadership with an emphasis on the importance of company culture.
Dr. Simon is a corporate anthropologist and those critical thinking and observational strengths provide narrative stability and anchor the rational layering of ideas. She refers to credible studies that quantitatively confirm the effective leadership of female CEOs for companies that consistently perform as well or better than those headed by men. It seems like a missed opportunity to connect, or at least acknowledge, these facts with the themes discussed in Reviving Ophelia and other works that track the ways in which society undercuts and warps girls' and women's self-actualization, which starts as being comparable to boys'.
A foreword; three parts that layout the intention, eleven common myths about women in the workplace, a conclusion that speculates about future myths; and resources, discussion questions, and a list of organizations, plus acknowledgments [sic], and an index offer readers inspiration, validation, motivation, practical strategies, and tools to initiate or reignite pursuit of their most ambitious professional goals. Rethink is a call to action for the New Year.
And speaking of bumper crops... Romance fiction yielded a bountiful selection of outstanding tales in 2020. Here are three reads that closed out the year with fireworks. (The Washington Post agrees.)
The Duke Who Didn't Courtney Milan Historical romance September 2020
In The Duke Who Didn't, Courtney Milan offers readers a thoroughly delightful historical rom-com with substantive cultural research and emotional family legacies seamlessly combined. Forthright entrepreneur Chloe Fong is a Type A planner. Undercover Duke Jeremy Wentworth is a Type B improviser who has loved Chloe since they were children. He wants to build a life with her, but there's one significant problem: She doesn't know who he really is, or does she? Questions of identity—its sources, its authenticity, its obligations, dominate this story without weighing it down with tragic angst, especially for Chloe and Jeremy, who each develop philosophically different, yet somewhat effective coping strategies for negotiating environments that label them as outsiders. Wedgeford and its residents supply vibrant local color and community context. Milan's signature style of distinctive multifaceted characterizations gets amplified by details in cultural heritage, generational inheritances, and personal agency. An examination of racism as a nuanced and insidious construct when expressed in words and actions by oblivious family members is organically included and magnified in striking contrast to the overall lighthearted tone. Chloe constantly says, “Be serious.” Jeremy and The Duke Who Didn't prove that being serious is not the same as dour, although occasionally, like Chloe, readers may feel some exasperation with Jeremy's constant teasing even as she enjoys it. This first installment of the Wedgeford Trials series builds upon the rock solid foundation of exploring hierarchies dictated by socioeconomics, gender, age, sexual orientation, and geography in her previous series, and expands on those themes while adding a more intense and broader spotlight on race and ethnicity presented as a historical rom-com frolic in Chloe and Jeremy’s tenderhearted love story.
Season of the Wolf Maria Vale Contemporary supernatural romance Sourcebooks Casablanca, August 2020
Evie, the ultimate Alpha of the Great North Pack, wears the heavy mantle of leadership as a position of service to the present demands and future needs of her community. There's no space or time to address her personal needs as an individual—until dangerous shifter Constantine sees Evie and recognizes her strength and her silent struggles. Twice during his lifetime the fates of powerful women have altered the course of his destiny in ways beyond his control. Now Constantine asserts his proactive intentions toward the evolution of his future. Season of the Wolf uses Evie and Constantine’s accidental courtship to explore themes of self-less sacrifice for the greater benefit of the group, and the development of emotional maturity and an ethical conscience. The essence of the depth of their connection is reminiscent of Kelley Armstrong's Elena and Clay without mimicking that fictional relationship. Threads on identity, feminism, misogyny, and toxic masculinity combined with riffs on exploiting the land versus being stewards of it weave throughout this lyrically composed fourth entry in this captivating The Legend of All Wolves series. From ableism to xenophobia, each installment projects its own distinctive focus while incorporating multiple facets of irresistible storytelling in artistry and mechanics. Individually, they're beautifully rendered, provocative literary tapestries. Together, they document a sweeping saga.
A Touch of Stone and Snow (A Gathering of Dragons #2) Milla Vane Fantasy adventure romance Jove, July 2020
While the title conjures thoughts of hard and cold, Lizzan of Lightgale and Prince Aerax embody ranges of vulnerability and heat in their volatile relationship with each other and the people of Koth. Ten years earlier a simple military skirmish resulted in a slaughter that left Lizzan as the sole survivor, leaving her scarred, shunned, outcast, and forced into a lonely, dangerous nomadic existence from which Aerax's newly elevated status from unacknowledged, scorned royal bastard to necessary heir couldn't save her. Circumstances have honed these childhood sweethearts into fierce warriors and steadfast lovers even as fate conspires to taunt them with each other's proximity. Preventing a demon-possessed warlord from paving the way for The Destroyer to consume all of human existence becomes their first priority. If they accomplish that mission, then saving their personal romance should be easy, right?
Scapegoating, false narratives as political leverage, silence as violence against disenfranchised members of society, and many other themes of sociopolitical commentary organically enrich this fantastical tale of supernatural beasts, magic, and assorted mayhem. Emotional depth and range interspersed with gallows humor make these characters breathe with authenticity reinforced by gritty dialogue and vibrant descriptions of fanciful landscapes and creatures. There are also cinematic battle scenes. A Touch of Stone and Snow delivers a stellar read in every aspect of storytelling excellence.
December 20, 2020
Season's Readings
https://www.romancedailynews.com/sing...
(Forgot to mention the Festival of Epiphany/Three Kings' Day, too.)
November 22, 2020
Giving Thanks for a Cornucopia of Tasty 2020 Reads
Vitality by Crysta Levere
YA contemporary supernatural romance
August 25, 2020
Dangerous secrets churn beneath the veneer of small-town charm in Aberdeen, Massachusetts. Nineteen-year-old Ava has pulled herself up from abandonment and homelessness into being a student at Agatha College. A classified ad leads her to off-campus housing with Dahlila, a local, and friendship with her fellow designated Outcasts. Their small group ventures to an underground social club that pulses with sinister intentions. Soon, Ava's life becomes entangled with mysterious Layton's murky existence and hidden agenda. Their chemistry sizzles. Volatile confrontations, multiple mysteries, a sometimes unreliable narrator in Ava, and sliding timelines combine to make Vitality a whirlwind tale of obsession.
Loaded with young adult angst and declarations of existential philosophy, Ava and Layton's story also includes smooth integration of sexual orientation as a fluid trait, and references to mild kink. Moody atmospheric prose teeters close to purplish territory. Mixed metaphors, odd word substitutions, a few clunky scene transitions, and a pattern of discordant syntax in characters' dialogue distract from a strong premise and compelling intrigue that moves forward with accelerated momentum. More clarity in the initial setup would support a less jumbled sense of competing unknown key factors for readers to sort and understand. A thrilling, unpredictable conclusion establishes high expectations for Vitality 2 [sic]. Fans of Rachel Caine's Morganville series who enjoy more edgy menace and erotic intensity should devour this imaginative mix of supernatural lore.
Take a Hint, Dani Brown (Brown Sisters #2) by Talia Hibbert
contemporary romance
Avon, June 23, 2020
This irreverent, bawdy romantic farce blends slapstick and laugh aloud hijinks with poignant emotional depth and biting social commentary. It starts with an unconventional prayer. Doctoral candidate Danika Brown needs a new friend with benefits after her most recent “situationship" implodes. If only grumpy security guard Zafir Ansari were available for some no-strings action. Dani learns the Universe often has a sense of mischievous humor when it comes to answering prayers, especially when the supplicant isn't paying attention. Utterly charming romantic mayhem ensues.
As the second installment of the Brown sisters' trilogy, Take A Hint, Dani Brown manages to offer more laughs (and profanity) than Chloe's story as it continues addressing broader issues of racism, body-shaming, mental health, and the mixed bag consequences of social media exposure. Those concerns and more are smoothly integrated into a spritely narrative with provocative layers. Snappy dialogue, a celebration of sisterhood and womanhood, and men with nuanced emotional range inject additional complexity into themes of rejection and grief. Talia Hibbert's immense storytelling talents generate giddy satisfaction for readers and respectful envy from other authors. Dani and Zafir's story sets a high standard of expectation for youngest sister Evie's journey, which is scheduled for release in 2021.
Star Quest (#2): All That Remains by Patricia Lee Macomber
SciFi
Mystique Press July 31, 2020
A few concise opening paragraphs introduce readers to the second installment of intergalactic adventures with Commander Cara Bishop and company. It works as a stand-alone in which crisis management is the focus and romance is mostly implied as Cara and her superior officer, Captain Steve Hunter, lead the Endeavor on an exploratory mission that crosses paths with a mysterious ghost ship. What happened? Where's its home origin? Answering these and other key questions while juggling the professional, technical, and personal demands of moving through space expands the scope of the mystery, and magnifies the interpersonal dynamics between the crew members.
Star Trek, Westworld, The Twilight Zone and more, this author's engaging space opera offers nods to staple tropes and themes in the SciFi genre with quirky fun. The tight, brisk narrative pace at the beginning starts to slow around the midpoint. Noticeable procedural oddities by crew members, and conflict resolutions that seem a bit too tidy detract from the strengths of distinctive characterizations, balanced integration of science and technology with messy human drama, and insightful world building. Star Quest: All That Remains takes readers on an entertaining imaginary jaunt.
Perish (Jack Harper #2) by L.C. Barlow
Speculative
Rare Bird Books, October 13, 2020
Taken as a young child and indoctrinated into the life of an assassin for Cyrus, the power-mad leader of Infinitum, a young adult Jack Harper breaks free in a violent conflagration. Or does she? Killing Cyrus reveals Infinitum to be a Hydra of satellite groups of fanatics who are zealously committed to continuing the dead leader's heinous work. Jack's formerly closest cult sibling is now her most treacherous adversary at the top of a long list of deadly foes and circumstances.
Perish is fantastic in every sense of the definition of the word. Otherworldly beings, unexpected powers, consequences, alliances, and betrayals, all of these elements, visceral characterizations, and more are woven into a taut psychological thriller mystery fantasy that challenges readers to empathize with Jack's contradictory worldview of pragmatic amorality and cynicism with an unshakable nugget of case-specific ethics and naïveté.
Some readers may find the recurring threads of remorseless killings and the subjugation of children too disturbing. Neither subject is offered gratuitously, and both contribute to a substantive examination of nature versus nurture, and the insidiousness of corruption. This second entry in this compelling series entertains as a stand-alone that primes the pump of high expectations for book three.
November 15, 2020
Earlier Reads Worth Revisiting for Fall
Aura of Dawn (Zyanya Cycle prequel) by Morgan J. Muir Teen/YA historical romance April 2020
Eighteenth-century Maracaibo is a bustling port city in Venezuela, filled with everyday personal dramas and commerce. Wealthy merchants, hard-working laborers, slaves, and sailors along with the indigenous Wayuu people create a rich mix of humanity with its assortment of major conflicts and petty jealousies. Sixteen-year-old Mariah's mother died when she was born, leaving her heartbroken father, merchant Don Bosque to raise her. Naïve, somewhat spoiled Mariah knows almost nothing about her mother because her father refuses to discuss his dead wife. On the day Mariah mourns another emotional loss and feels a subtle calling from the sea, Michael/Miguel, a mysterious sailor, enters her life. Without a surname, and with only vague references to his early life with his father, Miguel’s curious omissions lure Mariah and her three friends closer to him once Don Bosque employs him and invites him to live in Mariah's family home.
Aura of Dawn is a clever origin story about itself and other types of origin stories—personal, cultural, mythic, and legendary. Knowing and being known are other recurring themes examined from different angles. Descriptions of busy Maracaibo geography and society create a dynamic backdrop for Mariah and Miguel's angsty, volatile interactions. There are information gaps regarding Don Bosque and a dangerous foe that suggest having read books one and two in the Zyanya Cycle series would provide greater clarity. This prequel hints at entertaining significant and shocking revelations to come for those who have yet to read books one and two. It also deepens current fans' appreciation for the featured characters' histories and motivations, which make it an alluring story for fans of historical romance with implications of supernatural elements.
The Match Disaster by Latesha Kellam Contemporary romance March 7, 2020
Sometimes people are in each other's lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. After experiencing the first two in a marriage and an engagement that didn't last with other people, Lacey and Thomas both try looking for lasting love again on a popular matchmaking site. Lacey is skeptical and cautious in getting to know Thomas despite their similarities. They're both successful thirty-something professionals with children. Beneath the surface, each of them struggles with a complicated mix of spiritual wounds and vulnerabilities, which Lacey internalizes and Thomas externalizes. Subtle warning flags in the first year show up with increasing frequency and duration each year until a final implosion decimates them. It's Lacey's contemplative narration as she examines their relationship in the clarity of hindsight that hooks readers into caring about what happens, even while knowing heartbreak is inevitable.
If, as the saying goes, people are only as sick as their secrets, then there's one significant, unexplained cliffhanger mentioned at the midpoint of this engrossing story, referred to as a “life changing secret" that one character reveals to the other in a text message, but never gets explained to readers, which weakens the overall strength of an otherwise satisfying conclusion. The Match Disaster is an emotionally intimate cathartic debriefing of a romance that wasn't meant to last forever. It resonates with relatable themes about the challenges of making and sustaining healthy relationships while juggling life's daily demands. Lacey and Thomas's bumpy journey offers heartfelt wisdom in its portrayal of the risks and rewards of pursuing intimate human connections.
Northern Lights Southern Stars by C.S. Johnson
Christian fairy tale romance
November 2019
With elegant language that’s poetic without being saccharine or self-conscious, this reimagined origin story of Snow White is a beautifully composed tale. Princess Ebony Night loses almost everything upon the death of her beloved father, King Maru of Marula, whose second marriage is a political union with Queen Varyes of Pommier is a disaster in many ways. Ebony’s friendship with the queen’s son from her first marriage, Prince Rion, becomes more than a consolation prize as they fall in love and work together to do what’s best for everyone in their kingdom. Dark-skinned Marulis and pale-skinned Pommierians embody present-day racial tensions. Magic practitioners with devious motives, mirror-slaves, and poisonous fruit are a few of the fanciful elements that enrich this clever update of a familiar fairy tale.
Various themes merge smoothly into perceptive social commentary about colorism, elitism, political wrangling, and the subtleties of coercion. Although Ebony and Rion are young, nineteen and twenty-something, the essence of their struggles to assert themselves as individuals and a couple offers universal observations about identity and agency. Ebony often behaves in the Pollyannaish ways of a lifetime member of the privileged elite despite her reduced circumstances, and Rion can seem a little dimwitted, but these traits highlight how much devious advantage the queen has over them. Northern Lights Southern Stars shines as a modern fairy tale with many facets of intellectual substance.
Starman’s Saga, The Long, Strange Journey of Leif the Lucky by Colin Alexander
Alton Kremer/Afictionado Fiction
November 12, 2019
Sci-fi adventure
In 2069 A.D., a few years after the Geneva Treaties settle “The Troubles” that plagued the international community, retired U.S. Army Sargent Leifur Grettison wins the lottery. He’s chosen to be the “volunteer everyman” on the first interstellar mission. The starshot seems to offer Leif the reboot he needs when his relationship with intellectual property attorney Sanchali Jain ends. What appears to be good luck may have murky origins. Flight crew members from major and minor powers board the No Name and soon realize that arriving at their destination is only the first of many dangerous challenges they’ll confront.
Starman’s Saga celebrates its characters’ insatiable curiosity and love for intellectual pursuits that motivate them to explore unchartered territories. References to Jules Verne and steampunk conventions conjure the romance of exploration while the absurdity of government bureaucracy and the sometimes ridiculous nature of military hierarchical protocols evoke parallels with the essence of Catch-22. Other threads offer fresh spins on themes found in Passengers and The Martian. Leif’s self-deprecating narrative style combined with steady pacing during the setup of the premise that quickens, then gains momentum with each new situation the travelers encounter makes this a compelling read. Nuanced characterizations for primary and secondary players resonate as authentic in their complexity, particularly the women. Nods to archaic sci-fi tropes simultaneously rework them into the modern familiarity of organic inclusive representation. Like most of the highest quality sci-fi, Starman’s Saga offers readers a thrilling adventure about trekking into unknown territory that’s also thoughtful sociopolitical commentary about humans as individuals, and as constantly shifting groups and civilizations.
October 18, 2020
#CardynBrooksReviews #books October 18, 2020: Family Is What We Make It
May We All (Culhane Family #3) by Gay G. Gunn
Recent 20th-c. historical literary fiction
Different Drummer, 2017
May We All resumes its compelling interpersonal and sociopolitical journeys with the Culhane Family in 1955 in the shadow of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Beloved eight-year-old daughter Jaz manages to infiltrate a fascinating all-male bastion when her father, Coach Hep Culhane, takes her to watch football practice with her older brother TC. Jaz is curious about unfamiliar people and places. Limitations imposed upon her explorations prod her to move beyond them to discover what's on the other side. Curiosity and a willingness to step forward into the unknown are signature personality traits that assert themselves throughout her life and the entire narrative for each featured character. Jaz's point of view yield's to her sister Mel's, then her aunt's and so forth, per character, providing radial perspectives shaped according to age, gender, geographical location, state of mind, and generational position.
May We All rides high on the momentum established in the first two books of the series. More offshoots of the Culhanes' sprawling family tree branch out farther across the U.S. and around the world while burrowing their roots deeper into Colt, Texas and their family legacy. Each member decides for themselves what sacrifices they're willing to make in honor of all they've been given and achieved, even if it exposes them to the vulnerability of risking more than they'd intended. Gay G. Gunn guides readers through the volatile Civil Rights Era with a mix of lyrical and gritty prose and poignant imagery that translate historical accuracy into compulsively readable storytelling with emotional resonance.
#SandyBottom (SanFrancisco Mystery #6) by Alexi Venice
Contemporary romance
eBookIt.com, November 2019
Recovering from the physical and emotional trauma of their most recent criminal investigation, District Attorney Amanda Hawthorne, Detective Tommy Vietti, and Doctor Jen Dawson are preparing to enjoy some R & R at Jen's family's lakefront property when images of Amanda's past indiscretions go public and implode her personal life and professional career. The fallout leads to unexpected crossroads for the characters and this SanFrancisco Mystery series. As a transitional novel #SandyBottom works as a stand-alone that offers enough selective backstory details to provide context for first-time readers without bogging down the narrative pace for knowledgeable fans. Three entangled adults, a toddler, extended family, friends, coworkers, frienemies, foes, and criminals interact in shocking, amusing, and sometimes predictable ways with unexpected outcomes. There's an underlying playfulness that makes #SandyBottom a buoyant read despite addressing heavy themes of addiction, recovery, relapse, and their radial impacts on the person who is managing recovery and everyone within their sphere of influence. Establishing stability and maintaining one's balance through life's chaotic shifts and turns are recurring themes in this layered 21st-century soap opera. Erotic scenes and some mild kink add heat to the emotional warmth and connection between Amanda, Jen, and Tommy, whose personal connections overlap at the conclusion of #SandyBottom, baiting the hook in anticipation for the next installment.
Use the Power You Have, A Brown Woman's Guide to Politics and Political Change by U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal
Non-fiction memoir
The New Press, June 30, 2020
Tuesday, September 11, 2001 changed the United States. Coordinated terrorists' attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon, and upon United Flight 93 altered the sociopolitical trajectory of the nation and eventually, the world. In its aftermath an immigrant from India who came to the U.S. alone as a teen to pursue her education, Pramila Jayapal, recognized the swelling waves of anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant, and heightened racist public speech, actions, and policies and decided to do something to stop them. Hate Free Zone evolved into OneAmerica. During the years of personal, professional, and political development Rep. Jayapal recognized and claimed her innate human power of agency for herself, her interconnected communities of affiliation, her constituents, and her adopted country. Her journey unfolds with the highs and lows of an adventure novel. Engaging turns of phrase, humorous candor about her own strengths and weaknesses in addition to insightful revelations regarding her observations and experiences in becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, and within community activism, political advocacy, local, state, and national legislative bodies make Use the Power You Have equal parts memoir, call to action, and instruction manual.
From page 288:
To rebuild our country properly, we must be willing to take on three deeply intertwined supremacies that are tearing us apart: white supremacy and anti-blackness, corporate supremacy, and individual supremacy… Each supremacy capitalizes on disconnection: the ultimate Big Lie, because at the root of everything, we are deeply interconnected. Any separation is, by design, an attempt to profit from the lie that we are separate.
This passage from page 311 accurately summarizes the fundamental ethos of Use the Power You Have:
This book is for the organizers and the activists; the knitters, sewers, and darners who are working to stitch our country back together and create an even better tapestry than what we had before, people who are authentically ready to use power for good.
Ritu Weds Chandni by Ameya Narvankar (author & illustrator)
Children's literature
Yali Books, December 2020
In India, young Ayesha is thrilled to celebrate the upcoming wedding of her favorite cousin Ritu to her girlfriend Chandni. Not everyone in town or in the Kapoor family share's Ayesha's excitement. At first Ritu Weds Chandni is a simple story about a child's untainted and joyous understanding of love. Deeper consideration examines homophobia as a cultural norm, entrenched, inflexible gendered expectations, and violent resistance to sociopolitical change in expanding representative inclusion for all under the law and in everyday life. Figures garbed in red and other saturated primary and secondary colors with turquoise accents pop in contrast to a tonal background of muted gold. This story celebrates love and invites readers to honor the ethical right of every human to be loved for who they are, as they are. A glossary of terms followed by an author's note provide clarification of family relationships, cultural traditions, garments, and South Asian LGBTQ+ recommendations for young readers. Ritu Weds Chandni uses a traditional wedding processional to examine society's slow progression toward equal marriage rights for all people everywhere.
