Lisa Henson
The Vine Eater picks up where The Frost Eater left off. We see Nora, Ovrun, Krey, and Zeisha working with the Trogs, trying to figure out how to stop the king and his army. This book focuses a good bit on Zeisha and how she was affected by her involuntary service in the king's militia of magic eaters. We see her struggle with doing what she thinks others want her to do versus what she wants to do with her magic. I just wanted to reach into the book and hug her sometimes! A secret that Krey has kept for a long time also comes to light, and Nora learns things about her homeland that she didn't know. We see more of Osmius and Taima in this book and learn some of their backstory, and I find that just fascinating!
I love the world Anderson has built for her characters. I never feel like there are pieces missing or things that I'd understand if only I'd just read this one other work. It all fits together well, and the characters are believable and interesting. Some you like, some you don't, and just like in real life, sometimes one will surprise you. I can't wait to read the third book in the series, and if I'm chomping at the bit to keep reading, that tells me it's a good book.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booksprout. All opinions here are mine, I am leaving this review voluntarily, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
I'm reviewing the first five chapters of this book that I received from the publisher.
As Christians, we're called to love people like Jesus. But sometimes we forget that. Bob Goff's latest book, Everybody, Always, is a wonderful reminder of where our focus should be - on loving and serving God by loving and serving others. The first five chapters have been a wonderful introduction to this book, and I can't wait to read the whole thing!
SPOILER IN THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH
We return to Sugar Creek Gap in this, the third in the Mail Carrier Cozy series. I think this is my favorite of Tonya Kappes' series after Killer Coffee. Bernadette Butler, also known as Bernie, is trying to learn to knit, looking forward to the birth of her first grandchild, and settling into her new house in town while her son Grady and daughter-in-law Julia settle in at the farmhouse. She's also got a new next-door neighbor, Courtney. Courtney is the niece of Florence Gaines, here to keep an eye on Florence, or so she says. But she sure seems to be causing some friction between Grady and Julia, and this has Bernie worried.
Things get even more tense when Florence announces that she and Zeke Grey, a much sought after bachelor, have gotten married. And when Florence ends up dead on Courtney's lawn and Julia is a suspect, Bernie knows she has to figure out what really happened for the sake of her family. With the help of the Front Porch Ladies and her best friend, Iris, Bernie gets to digging for clues.
After the Killer Coffee series, I think the Mail Carrier series is my favorite. I love Bernie. She's my age. I relate to her! Sugar Creek Gap sounds like a small town I'd love to visit, and the Front Porch Ladies are a kick. I should be so much fun when I'm their age! Tonya Kappes always does a great job of characterization and of creating places in her books that you'd actually want to go to if they were real. This book is no exception. In this instance, the sheriff actually asks Bernie to help - finally! I love it when law enforcement makes use of all of their available resources. This story had suspects aplenty, and I'd ruled out the actual killer because Ms. Kappes did such a good job in drawing my attention toward someone else.
**SPOILERI want to punch Lucy Drake in the nose and slap both Mac Tabor and Bernie upside the head. This had best not be the end of Bernie and Mac, or I will be terribly sad. I love them as a couple, even if Bernie isn't quite sure she's ready to commit to more than just companionship. END SPOILER**
This was a satisfying entry in a delightful series, and I can't wait to read more about Bernie, her grandbaby, Buster and Rowena, and the whole cast of characters in Sugar Creek Gap. Neither rain, nor sleet, nor dead of night, nor personal turmoil can stop Bernie, either from delivering the mail or getting to the bottom of the mystery, and I can't get enough!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
The Trunk of Stars is a fast-paced, engaging mystery/adventure geared toward middle-grade readers. Cairo doesn't know where she came from or who her parents were. All she has of her past is a trunk decorated with stars, with the word “Cairo” painted on the side. When she gets the opportunity to bolt from the group of thieves and con artists that are the only family she's ever known, she is thrust into intrigue and adventure that may lead to treasure - and may give her insight into her past.
I really liked Cairo. She's headstrong and determined, yet still worries about the “siblings” she left behind, and she tries to do what's right. Turns out, the mystery to be solved isn't so much her parents' identity as it is what happened to the treasure that was lost around the same time they were presumed to have died. Seven Egyptian scarabs, and it turns out everyone is looking for them. Can Cairo work with Felix and Higgs to solve the mystery? Who is Lungo, and what is his connection to her parents? And what exactly is Astrid up to?
Wonderfully written and engaging, and I look forward to reading the second book in the series!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book through BookSirens. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
The busy tourist season is just about to start in Normal, and Mae West is getting the campground ready. But when a body is found on one of the trails nearby, and the campground is closed for the police investigation, Mae and the Laundry Club ladies know they've got to get this thing figured out, quick. Otherwise, the whole tourist season may be a washout. But is Mae's investigation going to spell big trouble for her relationship with Hank?
The latest in the Camper & Criminals series from Tonya Kappes is chock-full of Southern charm, as usual. Have I said I really want to go visit Normal, Kentucky? Well, I do. Growing up in a small Southern town, I can relate to the characters - the colloquialisms they use, the way they gossip, the way there's always at least one finger in every pie, and the way that they really care about each other. (Well, maybe except the ones doing the killin'.) The pace was fast, and there was no shortage of suspects to look at.
I love Kappes' books because they're enjoyable and quick to read, and because they remind me of home. They always make me smile!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary advance reader copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
An excellent finish to the Sun-Blessed Trilogy! Here, Tavi, Tullen, and the Golds are at a distinct disadvantage. The Grays have won. Konner Burrell has installed his puppet king and queen, and believes he's on his way to a country run the way he envisions it. But the Golds haven't given up. They are determined to stop him.
I really enjoy Anderson's writing. She builds wonderful worlds and fills them with interesting characters, and while this story took a bit longer to pull me in than the other two in the trilogy, it wasn't long before I was hooked and could hardly put it down.
The Golds work so hard to overthrow the status quo, it's easy to forget sometimes that, for the most part, they're teenagers, barely young adults. Tavi in particular acts her age at times, and her actions toward Tullen and how she feels about him are sometimes terribly frustrating. But they're accurate. I can see teenagers acting just that way.
This wound up the trilogy in a satisfying fashion, and I look forward to more of Anderson's writing.
Time for another trip to Normal! Mae and the Laundry Club ladies are up to their eyeballs in another murder to be solved. Trudy Bull is found dead on the floor of the Normal Diner. The bank accounts of Mae and several other Normal residents have been hacked. Are the two related? If so, how? And who would want to kill Trudy?
You know Mae can't keep her nose out of things, no matter how much Hank would love for her to do so. This entry in the Camper & Criminals series has Mae going back to her hometown of Perrysburg as part of her investigation. I loved that we got more of Mae's backstory.
This was, as always, a lovely read! Ms. Kappes' writing is pure delight. I'm from a small Southern town, and I can just about hear her characters' voices in my head as I read, accents and all. I did have my suspicions pretty early on of who the killer was, and whether or not the hacking was connected, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story.
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
My ten-year-old is a voracious reader, and I'm always looking for good books that keep his interest but that are age-appropriate. We read On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness together, and it is a hit! It's the story of Janner, Tink, and Leeli Igiby, their mother Nia, and their grandfather Podo. They live in Skree, a country that has been under the oppressive rule of Gnag the Nameless for as long as the children can remember. Gnag is searching for the jewels of Anniera. But what could three children have to do with jewels?
This is a story of adventure, love for family, doing the right thing even when it's hard, and faith. Podo is gruff and blustery at times, but his deep devotion for his grandchildren shines through even when he's giving them a good chewing out. Janner may chafe at the repeated admonishments to look out for his younger siblings, but he loves them and worries about them.
Andrew Peterson has a quirky, engaging writing style, and the humor in this book has made us laugh out loud at times. (I mean, the fact that the nameless evil's name is Gnag the Nameless? That's hilarious!) It's also a story of mysteries, of secrets not yet revealed. What do Nia and Podo know that they aren't telling the children? Janner in particular is old enough to catch the glances that pass between the adults and to wonder what overheard snippets of conversation really mean.
This book is great for middle grade readers. It has some pretty intense descriptions of battles and physical characteristics of monstrous beings, so do keep that in mind if your child is sensitive to those things. (Mine is not. He listens to the story and the draws what he sees in his mind.) I've really enjoyed it as an adult, too. I can't wait to read the rest of the Wingfeather Saga!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Emma Lovett and Leslie Parker, teachers extraordinaire, are back on the job at Thomas Jefferson High. They're hoping for a nice, uneventful year, but that hope is dashed when the new gym is vandalized with a cryptic message and several students (as well as Emma and Leslie) receive anonymous threatening notes.
Since they don't trust the town's top law enforcement officer to do anything useful, Emma and Leslie are obliged to help solve the mystery. But they also find themselves working to solve a murder when Emma finds the dead body of cheerleader Kisten Hollis in the locker room. Kisten received a note. It sounded religious in nature. Does it have anything to do with her church? But who would have wanted her dead? And now who's trying to kill Leslie and Emma?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The author has changed her style to where she no longer writes out Emma's southern accent, so without that distraction, this one read much better than her first. The friendship between Emma and Leslie is so well-done, so realistic, that it just makes me smile. And I love Emma and Hunter. We saw a potential new love interest here, but I'm hoping that in future books, Hunter is Emma's one and only. They're just so darn cute! And of course, as both an English major and a teacher's wife, I got a kick out of all the literary references.
Looking forward to more in this series!
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy from BookSirens. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
The final entry in S. Usher Evans' Princess Vigilante series is a humdinger. If you've read the rest of the series, you'll love the wrap-up here. If you haven't, what are you waiting for?! Go get started on it! I would give it ten stars if I could.
As always, Evans' world-building is second to none. The characters are vividly drawn and believable, and the story sucks you right in. (I read it in two days, and it only took me that long because my day job actually expected me to work.) I'm not going to give anything away here - this is the author's story to tell, and she does a bang-up job of it. If you like a well-told story with intrigue and emotion and tension, with characters and situations that will make you laugh and cry and pull your hair out, you will love Queen of Veils.
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
The Killer Coffee Mysteries are my favorite series by Tonya Kappes, and Dead to the Last Drop doesn't disappoint! We're back in Honey Springs, and this time it's the kind of weather there that makes me glad I don't live in Kentucky. They are snowed in, y'all. Roxy's Aunt Maxi thinks she's been cast as the lead in the play that Loretta Bebe wrote for their community theater production - until Loretta calls in favors. When some theater big shots (or maybe used-to-be big shots) show up, it all goes to Hades in the proverbial handbasket. The play is rewritten and recast, there are a lot of ruffled feathers and people unhappy with the director for making the changes, and then wouldn't you know, the director ends up dead. Roxy can't help but investigate (and this time, Spencer actually asks - asks! - her to help), especially when Loretta could be suspect number one.
There are twists and turns, humor, Southern charm and Southern sass aplenty in this book. (And recipes! Score!) I love reading Tonya Kappes' books because they always make me feel like I'm right there in Honey Springs. I want to sit down at the Bean Hive and have a cup of coffee and give skritches to the rescue animals there. This was another thoroughly enjoyable visit to Honey Springs, and I sure hope there will be a next one.
Disclaimer: I received an advance reader copy from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire is Jen Hatmaker's encouragement to any woman who's been told she is too much. Too little. To tone it down. To ramp it up. Any woman who's beat herself up for being too fat. Too skinny. Any woman who's ever believed her dream is unattainable or that she has to mold herself to fit the expectations of society.
This book is Jen Hatmaker telling us as women that it's not only acceptable, but necessary, that we live free - free to walk in our God-given callings, free to accept our bodies whatever shape and size they may be, free to use the skills and talents we each have as only we can. She clearly makes the point that the world needs each of us, as we are, with our varying personalities and different gifts, and that we don't need to be like our neighbors.
Women, read this and let it liberate you. Men, read this and gain some valuable insight into the women in your life and how you can best encourage and support them.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions here are mine and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Wanda Wiley is an author, and she's stuck. Stuck in a dead-end relationship with narcissistic Dirk, stuck in her writing, stuck in a pot-induced fog.
Hannah Sharpe is a runaway character. She's never really fit in any of Wanda's books, so she's been stuck in an abandoned farmhouse for years. Nothing ever changes in the farmhouse, until the day Trevor Dunwoody appears. Trevor is the one-dimensional, bang all the girls, shoot first and ask questions later action hero from a political thriller that Wanda has been tasked with ghostwriting. He's ended up in the farmhouse because Wanda is just as stuck on his novel as she is on her own writing. He has no idea he's a book character, so Hannah has to help him see how things are in their world. She enlists Trevor's help to break Wanda out of the fog, so that they can move on as characters and Wanda can - hopefully - move on in her life.
This is a pretty creative plot idea, or at least it's one I've never seen before. It was a quick read - I devoured it in one sitting, about an hour or so. The writing is clever, and there are moments of humor and moments where I just felt sad for Wanda's inability to break free of the jerkface Dirk. (Does she break free? I'm not telling. Read the book.) I wouldn't really call it a romantic comedy, because I'm pretty sure a comedy wouldn't feature a narcissistic abusive boyfriend, and that's what Dirk is. Is it great, lofty literature? No. Is it an enjoyable book that I'm glad I picked up? Absolutely. I'd like to read more of Mr. Diamond's work now.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookish First. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books that I don't like.
I will preface my review by saying that my only exposure to Chip and Joanna Gaines, other than mentions all over social media, is seeing snippets of Fixer Upper in waiting rooms and Joanna's cookbook. I haven't read Joanna's book, I'm not a big fan of the show, and although I went to Baylor, I haven't been back to Waco since Magnolia Market opened.
To me, this book is like sitting down and having lunch with Chip Gaines. He talks in plain language about where he's come from and what he's done, and what he hopes yet to do. I see from reviews that some people were put off by the writing style, but I rather liked it. It's kind of refreshing to read a self-help/inspirational book that reads like someone would talk if you were sitting next to them.
I like that he talks openly about his love for his wife, how they play to each other's strengths, and how he brings his faith in God into the book. It was also interesting to see that he didn't downplay the times when he fell on his face. We all make mistakes, and it's okay to talk about them. People can, indeed, learn from them. It does sound like it's a good thing that Joanna balances out his jumping-into-things-headfirst tendencies, though. And I went to Baylor and lived there during some of the black-eye moments Gaines mentions. I do love Waco, and it's good to see them helping to build the city up.
I'm not a full-throttle-all-day-long go-getter, myself, so I can't ever see doing some of the things Gaines talks about in his book. It is a good reminder, though, to believe in myself and to keep my priorities in line even while pursuing my dreams (in my own, considerably quieter fashion).
Is it the best book I've ever read? No. Am I glad I took the time to read it? Yes.
Connie Albers gives parents of teens some practical advice on how to navigate the teenage years. Our kids aren't little kids anymore, but they aren't yet ready to fly the nest, and this book offers tips and advice that can really be USED in helping your teens grow to adulthood. I know I'll be reading it again and wearing it out with the highlighter! Recommended for anyone trying to raise a teenager and sometimes feeling like you just can't get it right.
Disclaimer: I received an advance copy from the publisher. All opinions included here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
When I start highlighting in the first chapter, you know it's gonna be good. Women today struggle with feeling like we aren't enough – our houses aren't clean enough, our bodies aren't thin enough, our cars aren't fancy enough, our kids aren't well-behaved enough or socially adjusted enough or outside in the fresh air enough. If we work outside the home, we feel like we aren't committed enough at work because we have families, but yet we're torn in feeling like we aren't enough for our families because we're working. Everywhere we turn, we're bombarded with social media showing us what we should be and do and look like to be enough.
Kristin Funston writes More for Mom to gently remind us that we don't have to strive to make the various pieces of our life “enough”. Why? Because in Jesus, we are already whole and holy, and there is more FOR us if we will just rely on and rest in Him.
This book was a breath of fresh air for me. I'm a control freak of the first order. I want it all right, all the time, right when I want it. Clearly, life doesn't play that way, and I sometimes find myself striving after “more”. Gotta get up early to get in that quiet time – check. (Never mind the seventeen times I hit snooze on the alarm.) Gotta make healthy meals that my kids will love – check. (Okay, not really. At least one of my kids finds some reason to express displeasure with what's on the table almost every single night.) Gotta have the house spotless – check. (BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA NO.) More for Mom was written for me. The author spoke to my weary soul, reminding me that I'm not the bits and pieces of my life slapped together in a jumbled whole. I'm already whole and holy – yes, holy – me, with the sarcasm and the crazy hair and the car that usually looks like a trashcan on wheels – because of what Jesus did for me on the cross. She uses Scriptural truths and personal stories to convey her message, and it was like sitting down for coffee with a friend – a friend who will hug you when you need it and kick you in the pants when the occasion calls for that.
I found the book very uplifting, and I'd recommend it to any mom who feels like she's pulled in too many different directions and just can't get it all together. Jesus is what keeps us all together, sisters. Read this book and be encouraged.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the BlogAbout Blogger Network. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
Leading Loyalty describes how the principles of empathy, responsibility, and generosity can help businesses inspire true loyalty from customers, not just loyalty based out of convenience. It's an excellent book for anyone in a leadership role, but I liked how the book made the point that it's not just leaders that can work to inspire loyalty. Anyone in a customer-facing role can utilize these principles to build strong customer relations and provide outstanding service. It's a worthwhile read, and one I'll refer back to.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
All of the books in Amy Matayo's Love in Chaos series are interrelated. In The Last Shot, the third book in the series, Teddy Hayes takes center stage, if you will. We get to see him as a person, not just as a pretty-boy famous country singer.
The book opens with a shooter at Teddy's concert, and he finds himself taking cover under the stage walkway with Jane, a security guard working the event. The setting is one relevant to current events and the world we live in, and as the story unfolds, it's clear that when you really don't know whether you'll survive the night, you can get pretty close to someone pretty fast. Teddy and Jane both carry their own past hurts that have long been too tender to share. Now, they find themselves trying to survive a horrific event. And what comes after that? Can they learn to live with those newly inflicted wounds and go on living?
Ms. Matayo has, once again, crafted a story that grabs the reader with its tension and raw emotion. Here, she's written a scenario that is absolutely believable given the world in which we live. We see that there's more to Teddy than just being a celebrity, and that Jane isn't just a tough, take-charge security guard. I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop.
If you're looking for a good, clean read with lots of suspense, pick up The Last Shot. It's well worth the read.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
In the prequel to this book, Burning, we met Magnus and Amity, Mercy and Callix. Rising introduces us to the next generation of Askala. Nova, kind and gentle to everyone. Kian, bold and brave. Dex, second-guessing himself, always feeling like he has more to prove because of his missing arm. And Wren, the girl no one anticipated.
We learned in Burning that, if Remnants can reach the shore of Askala, they will be allowed to stay. Wren is a Remnant who does just that, and she is of an age to take part in the Proving with Nova, Kian, Dex, and the others. Wren thinks the whole idea is stupid, and seems determined to try as hard as she can NOT to pass. Her disdain for Askala and anything to do with working for its good is clear, and I wondered what her motive was in risking her life to get there if she hated all it stood for. (I'll tell you this - at the end of the book, you still may not be sure of what her motive is.) The Proving isn't easy, nor is it intended to be - Callix has developed very, very challenging tests that leave the teens sometimes second-guessing what the right thing is to do, and sometimes requiring them to figure out if the thing that seems like it would pass the test is the right thing to do. Their loyalties and consciences are put to the test and their hearts are run through the wringer. Who will stand and who will fall?
Sloan and Catherine weave an engrossing story here. I love the post-apocalyptic world they've created in this series. It's a fascinating idea - those chosen as most responsible and most caring will be in charge of managing resources and making decisions for the good of all; those not chosen will live a life free of responsibility and have all their needs cared for, but will give up their ability/right to bear children. The leaders must believe in the good of Askala over their own individual good, indeed, over any one person's individual good. What happens when someone shows up who doesn't share that vision? How will that one very different opinion change things? Or will it?
I like the character development, too. Nova is so sweet and gentle, sometimes I want to hug her and sometimes I want to say, oh, honey, you need to take those rose-colored glasses right off and see how things really are. Felicia isn't one of the major characters, but she is quite the pot-stirrer at times. And Wren. Wren is the surprise of the story for me. I think she and I would get along well. I'm interested to see what her backstory is. We get bits and pieces of it here, but not all of it.
I'm anxious to read the rest of the series to find out! I'm not going to give any spoilers here. Want to find out who passes the Proving and who doesn't? Grab a copy of Rising and get to reading.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the authors. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.
What a ride! Audrey Grey takes Haven and Bell out of the frying pan and into the fire. They're in Solaria, and there's a magical trial. Bell is included in the trial. How's that going to work, since he has no magic? Haven gets herself into the trial, too.
There are plenty of gasp-inducing moments, and we find out why Archeron doesn't have a great relationship with his mother. It makes me sad that he seems to go completely awful, even though I've been team Stolas pretty much from the get-go.
I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting Light Singer! I can't wait to see what happens next!
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are my own, and I don't say nice things about books I don't actually like.
I love a good forensic mystery, and this one pulled me right in. In First Cut, Dr. Jessie Teska has just started her new job at the San Francisco medical examiner's office. She's got to jump right in, because the caseload is slammed and the office is, to put it kindly, decrepit. Her first case is described as a slam dunk, a probable overdose. Shortly after, she picks up a homicide. What she doesn't yet know is how these two cases will overlap and intertwine, and what her investigation will reveal.
I was interested in this book because Melinek was an assistant medical examiner and Mitchell is a writer with an English degree. I majored in English and went to law school. Had life turned out differently, I would have stuck with a science degree and gone into forensics. So I expected First Cut would be right up my alley. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
This book has twists and turns and action aplenty. In the course of her investigating, Jessie gets on the radar of some pretty nasty dudes, and one comes after her with the intent to kill. That doesn't happen. Jessie is tough and persistent, and she does what she feels is right without much concern that the consequences to her may be unpleasant. I like her! I also love the little detail that her house is a converted cable car. Jessie sounds like someone I could really get along with.
The book ends in rather open-ended fashion. Don't worry, you won't find major plot line cliffhangers – it just reads like there could be more story yet to come. I would love to see more books set in Jessie Teska's universe. Thanks to Harlequin Hanover Square for the review copy of the book.
In this, the second installment of the Sun-Blessed Trilogy, Tavi, Tullen, and their friends are working to fight Konner Burrell and the Grays, who are seeking to overthrow Cormina and install one of their own as king. Carol Beth Anderson does an amazing job of creating relatable characters and writing them realistically, and here we see them dealing with some tough emotional struggles. We also see that not all of the Grays are completely under Konner's thrall, and some may be having second thoughts. The book ends in climactic fashion, and I've got to get right on to the third book in the trilogy to see what happens! Well done, Ms. Anderson. You keep on writing, I'll keep on reading!
Dressed in Dreams was a fascinating read for me. Tanisha Ford's description of her growing up in a Midwest factory town, her experiences as she went through school and college, was eye-opening. I've heard the phrase “clothes make the man” (or woman, as the case may be), but I never realized how much fashion can be a part of cultural identity. This book has made me consider things I hadn't considered before, and isn't that what good writing does?
Victoria Kimble has another winner with The Main Dish. In a world where a “me first” attitude prevails, the main character of The Main Dish learns a valuable lesson about putting others first.
Scarlet has just finished her sophomore year of high school, and she desperately wants to be the youngest violinist ever chosen for the Summerset Festival orchestra. She makes it, and thinks her future will now be golden. She'll be one of the “cool” orchestra kids. But her dream is derailed when her sister Sadie is chosen for a young chefs cooking show - and the show will be filming during rehearsals for the festival. Scarlet's parents make the choice to put Sadie's competition first and to take the whole family as a vacation, seeing it as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity, telling Scarlet she can try out again next year. Scarlet doesn't take it well. And when they come back home, everyone is talking about Sadie, Sadie, Sadie. What will Scarlet do to change the topic of conversation?
I liked Scarlet. She was a real teenager. Sometimes kind, sometimes goofy, and sometimes self-centered spoiled brat. Her relationships were realistically written, and she was sometimes a delight to read about, sometimes cringeworthy (because we can all remember when we acted poorly as teenagers, and it's kind of embarrassing in retrospect!).
I love Kimble's books because they're entertaining and engaging without stooping to being trashy, and there's a good lesson in each story without it becoming preachy. If I had tween/teen daughters, I would be thrilled for them to read Kimble's books. And even though I'm not the target demographic, I enjoyed the book myself. Hope to see more from this author in the future!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author. All opinions here are mine, and I don't say nice things about books I don't like.