contemporary fiction

Honeyflower And Pansy, by Esmé James

/ Quilly

honeyflowerHoneyflower And Pansy is the debut novel of Esmé James.  The story is billed as a teenage romance, but it is really so very much more. Despite the fact that the story’s author is only 18 years old, Honeyflower And Pansy is an emotional and satisfying read.  Perhaps some of the story problems come to a much more satisfying and tidy end then similar problems would in real life, but that is the nature of young adult fiction.

Amanda Daryl is an engaging and proactive character.  She is concerned with the welfare of her family, her friends, and her autistic little sister Sage. As such, Amanda takes steps to help each of them with their various predicaments.  She helps her friends plan a dance; she helps a drunk reclaim his life and his business; she helps her father raise her little sister Sage; she helps the community get a new school; and she helps the mysterious Tristan with a difficult good-bye.

Sage Daryl is presented very realistically in the story, the triumphs and challenges of being autistic shine with authenticity because Esmé James has an autistic sibling.  Clearly writing from her heart, James details the complex communication, fixation, and aversion/avoidance issues that face autistic children and their families, but she does so with a very deft touch, enlightening the reader without detracting from the main story.

Honeyflower And Pansy is a love story, but the primary focus of the story isn’t on Amanda and Tristan’s budding relationship, or on Amanda’s drive to secure a school for autistic children like Sage.  This is a love story about love, and how it can change a life, save a soul, and rebuild a community.

I rate this book a 4 on my 1 to 5 scale.  It looses one point only because from time to time Ms. James gets so caught up in “writing” that she forgets she is also storytelling.  Some of her lovely, lovely prose is actually too artistic, and interferes with comprehension.  I suspect several of her words were swept from a Thesaurus and used based on their formal definition rather than their colloquial meaning — or perhaps the occasional stiltedness is merely differing shades of connotation between Australian and American word usages.

Honeyflower And Pansy, by Esmé James is well worth the $2.99 Amazon purchase price.  I look forward to more offerings from this talented, young storyteller.

I was given a free copy of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review.

Beulah the Bull, by C.C. Troy

/ Quilly

BeulahI loved Beulah the Bull, by C.C. Troy.  I read it in one sitting with a great big, silly grin plastered on my face.  I even laughed out loud from time to time.

Susan Ann Jones considers her name unremarkable and applies that description to herself as well.  When she loses the only job she’s ever known, she does some truly remarkable things, although the first one was accidental. On a whim Susan bid on and purchased a 5 acre tract of land sight unseen.  Then, in a fit of rebellion over her too neat, too tidy, too structured, too ordinary life, Susan packs herself and her seven pound purse dog off to Northern Arizona for a bit of camping.  Their first night in their tent — sort of — was hysterical, and their first morning was even better because that’s when they met their new best-friend, a two thousand pound British White Bull named Beulah.  Beulah is an unlikely angel, but he befriends Brady the dog and opens Susan’s, mind to hope and new possibilities.

C.C. Troy’s story telling is smooth and her prose is flawless.  Her storytelling voice is so authentic that somewhere around chapter three I began doubting I was reading fiction and had to double check the credits.   Fiction it is, and her first book at that.  I certainly hope she has more in the wings.  This was a great read — fast, light-hearted, and “laugh-out-loud” funny, but with a message of hope in the midst of failure, and finding joy in unlikely circumstances

I highly recommend this book.

Twerp, by Mark Goldblatt

/ Quilly

twerpTwerp is a Random House Book for Young Readers — or the young at heart. This was a rollicking read. Julian Twerski is a wonderfully fun character and I loved the time I spent in his neighborhood. While Julian was busy figuring out what it means to be a friend, and what it takes to have friends — and enemies — I relived my own childhood.

The story begins when Julian, who was suspended from school for bullying, is instructed to write about the incident. Julian thinks he’s been given a great way to get out of reading Shakespeare, but the assignment, which turns into the diary of his sixth grade year, leads him to look at his friends in ways he had never before considered. Suddenly he’s looking at his best-friend, Lonnie, and seeing someone he isn’t certain he likes. Then a beautiful girl comes along and complicates things even more.

I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages, especially adults who have fond memories of their own childhood. If you enjoy reliving the angst and elation of your formative years, Twerp is definitely the book for you.

Forever Hilltop by Judy Baer

/ Quilly / 1 Comment

Two Books in One!

Want a heart-happy, chuckle-aloud read that leaves you feeling uplifted, refreshed, and like all is right with the world?   Then be sure to read Judy Baer’s, Forever Hilltop featuring An Unlikely Blessing and Surprising Grace.  These charming slice of life stories follow new Pastor Alex Armstrong on a spiritual journey he wasn’t expecting.

In An Unlikely Blessing, city pastor Alex Armstrong, accepts a two-pulpit (dual churches) post in rural North Dakota  fearing his biggest challenge will be boredom; however his perspective changes before he even reaches town.  At the edge of the city limits he encounters an ancient farmer, a tipped pick-up truck, a runaway sow with piglets and several members of his future congregation.  It isn’t long before he realizes life is going to be very different than he’d anticipated.  Then he discovers that sometimes rural life can be too interesting — especially for a well-respected, eligible bachelor in a town with an abundance of marriage-minded women.

In Surprising Grace, Natalie, Alex’s former fiance, the woman who broke his heart and was a large part of the reason he accepted a parish in Hilltop Parish, North Dakota, has had a change of heart and wants him back — but she doesn’t want Hilltop Parish.  Alex has to choose between everything he’s always wanted, and the new life he’s forged in Hilltop Township.   To complicate matters, there’s a burglar on the loose, the township’s only doctor is leaving the area, and one of the town’s spinsters, without any encouragement, has pegged Alex as her future husband.

And, as if getting two fantastic books in one wasn’t enough excitement:
@JudyKBaer is giving away a Kindle for YOU … and one for a Friend in her Forever Hilltop Giveaway!

Celebrate with Judy by entering to win a Kindle for you and a friend!

One lucky winner will receive:

  • Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi
  • Brand New KINDLE with Wi-Fi to Giveaway to a Friend!
  • Forever Hilltop by Judy K Baer for you and a one for a friend

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 22nd.  Winner will be announced 5/24/12 on Judy’s Blog.

Enter via E-mail Enter via Facebook Enter via TwitterDon’t miss a moment of the fun. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 21st!

About Judy Baer:
Judy Baer is the author of over seventy-five books for adults and teens. She has won the Romance Writer of America Bronze Medallion and has been a RITA finalist twice. She lives in Elk River, Minnesota with her husband. Follow the Hilltop characters on Judy’s blog and find out more about Judy and her books at http://www.judykbaer.com

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from LitFuse Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  For more information please visit the Litfuse website.

The Keeper

/ Quilly / 6 Comments

I have yet to read a Suzanne Woods Fisher novel that I didn’t like. They arrive in the mail and I open the box telling myself that I haven’t got time to start reading yet. I mentally list all my chores but can’t resist opening the front cover and taking a peek. The next thing I know, Charley is home wondering why I am sitting in a pile of unfolded laundry and he doesn’t smell dinner cooking.

The Keeper was no exception.  The blurb on the back of this book does not do the story justice.  Julia has a lot more to worry about than whether or not Paul is ready to marry.  Her father is dying.  There is a procedure that can save his life, but is it of God? And even if it is, can the family afford to pay for it?

Don’t let the fact that this book is labeled “Amish” fiction lead you to believe you’re about to enjoy a fluffy, light romance.  Suzanne’s characters are real people with real world-problems.  In her stories the Amish interact with their neighbors and one another in realistic scenarios and there are no clear cultural lines drawn to distinguish the Amish as all-good and the Englischers as all-bad. Reading a Suzanne Woods Fisher novel will give you reason to think and reason to rejoice.  You’ll get a satisfying romance and a great drama as well.

~*~

About the book:
Julia Lapp has planned on marrying Paul Fisher since she was a girl. Now twenty-one, she looks forward to their wedding with giddy anticipation. When Paul tells her he wants to postpone the wedding–again–she knows who is to blame. Perpetual bachelor and spreader of cold feet, Roman Troyer, the Bee Man.

Roamin’ Roman travels through the Amish communities of Ohio and Pennsylvania with his hives full of bees, renting them out to farmers in need of pollinators. He relishes his nomadic life, which keeps him from thinking about all he has lost. He especially enjoys bringing his bees to Stoney Ridge each year. But with Julia on a mission to punish him for inspiring Paul’s cold feet, the Lapp farm is looking decidedly less pleasant.

Can Julia secure the future she’s always dreamed of? Or does God have something else in mind?

About Suzanne:
Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. She has many, many Plain relatives living in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and travels back to Pennsylvania, as well as to Ohio, a couple of times each year for research.

Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. In both her fiction and non-fiction books, she has an underlying theme: You don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate many of their principles–simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily– into your life.

When Suzanne isn’t writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne’s way of thinking, you just can’t take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone’s underwear in its mouth.

Suzanne can be found on-line at: suzannewoodsfisher.com.

It’s a “Honey of a Giveaway” from Suzanne Woods Fisher!

Suzanne is hosting a “honey of a giveaway”during the blog tour for The Keeper! During 1/3-1/17 you can enter to win an iPad2 from Suzanne and connect with her on January 17th at The Keeper Facebook Party!

During the giveaway one Grand Prize winner will receive a Prize Pack valued at $600:

  • A brand new 16 KB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
  • A $25 gift certificate to iTunes
  • A copy of The Keeper

But wait there’s more! Just click one of the icons below to enter, then on 1/17 join Suzanne for The Keeper Facebook Party! During the party Suzanne will announce the winner of the “Honey” of an iPad Giveaway and host a fun book chat and give away some fun “honey” inspired prizes – It’ll be ‘sweet”!

RSVP early and tell your friends!

Enter via E-mail Enter via FacebookEnter via Twitter

Don’t miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 17th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from LitFuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”