By Jennie Hansen

The books I read this month prove genealogy isn’t the dry, dull pastime the uninitiated accuse it of being.  All three of this month’s novels are closely linked to the bond between generations.  The first, The Ties That Bind by Kristen McKendry is fiction, but it came about because of a long, difficult search for the author’s ancestors.  Its greatest appeal will be to adults whether they’re involved in tracing their roots or not.  The second, Eyes Like Mine, by Julie Wright, is a time travel geared toward a younger audience but will appeal to many older readers as well.  The third, though not as genealogy oriented as the others, also involves searching for family and finding shocking answers to that search.  Code of Honor is far more than the mystery/suspense type of novel Betsy Brannon Green is known for and, as in McKendry’s novel, it proves that not all ancestors are as noble and desirable as those most of us hope to find on our family trees.

The Ties That Bind is the story of Daniel McDonald, a man with little knowledge of his family.  He only knows his mother died and his father abandoned him and an older brother and sister to be raised by an aunt who never spoke to him of his father.  Learning that he is about to become a father sets off feelings of inadequacy and a need to know about those people whose genes he is passing on to his child.  His search takes him to Montana, to Washington, to Wisconsin, and even to Ontario.  Much of what he learns includes painful accounts of alcoholism, abuse, and abandonment, but there’s also joy in discovering he has relatives, both living and dead who loved deeply and who made good, but difficult choices.

McKendry developed some of the minor characters better than her main character, but she did an excellent job of making the reader care about some of Daniel’s ancestors and want to give others a good swift kick.  In the story Daniel is an investigative reporter for a newspaper and is well aware of search techniques that enable a searcher to find someone when there are few clues.  His methods are excellent suggestions to try for those having difficulty tracing their own families.

The search for Daniel’s father and other ancestors is an interesting story and a realistic break from all those genealogy stories filled with miracles and the discovery of connections to heroic ancestors.  I found this book somewhat like working a puzzle and was intrigued by the search. Daniel’s search brings him many disappointments, a lot of unhappy endings, but some heart-warming ones too, and finally a better understanding of himself.  I enjoyed this book and think many others will too.

* * *

Eyes Like Mine begins with a split screen effect.  Constance is a young pioneer convert to the Church who is traveling by wagon train to Zion with her husband and infant daughter.  Her husband goes in search of a lost horse and doesn’t return.

More than a hundred and fifty years later Liz King is dealing with the emotional baggage dumped on her by her parents’ divorce, her father’s abandonment of her, the loss of friendships, and she is struggling to earn enough to support her horse, which she dearly loves, by competing in various riding shows. 

A strange trick of time throws the two girls together.  Constance is frantic to get back to her husband and infant daughter.  She doesn’t approve of the way Liz dresses, her behavior which is rude by Constance’s standards, or her lack of appreciation for all she has in spite of the loss of her philandering father and her mother’s odd behavior.  Liz finds Constance naïve, ridiculously polite, a little embarrassing, and a whole lot bossy.  Still the girls become close friends even though they work at cross purposes concerning sending Constance back to her own time.  Liz has read this fifth great grandmother’s history and knows a terrible fate awaits her if she returns and wants to keep her with her in the present.  Constance discovers an old journal Liz’s mother inherited and learns her husband is alive back in her own time and she takes drastic action to try to join him.

Through a large portion of this book, I wondered why I was reading it, other than just because I was enjoying it.  It seemed quite clearly directed toward teens and I review novels geared toward adults.  As I got further into the story, I realized that though the primary slant may be toward young readers, it also has a great deal of appeal for adult readers and anyone interested in genealogy or family relationships.  The ending carries a far stronger emotional impact than I expected which is all I’ll say about the way the book concludes. 

Wright is a storyteller and weaves a convincing tale.  She also has a blunt, realistic style and communicates strong empathy for young woman who are struggling with life, testimonies, and the confusing emotional and physical choices surrounding them.  Her characters are convincing and her plot has excellent timing.  Teen or adult, you’ll find this book will leave a lasting impression.

* * *

Code of Honoris the highly satisfying conclusion to Betsy Brannon Green’s military trilogy.  This series is a departure from Green’s earlier Haggarty cozy mysteries.  The suspense is ramped up; there’s little humor, and no recipes.  Instead of a nosy, busybody filled with Southern grace, the heroine is a competent young woman who becomes involved with a crack military extraction unit.

In this final volume Savannah McLaughlin escapes capture by jumping from a moving car.  As she is being wheeled into surgery, she finds the eyes staring at her from behind a surgical mask belong to her hated and feared enemy, Mario Ferrante.  She wakes up in a private sanitarium under tight surveillance and learns she is the decoy Ferrante is using to lure Major Dane into a deadly trap.

This story is filled with technical equipment, detailed planning, contingency plans, and an enemy who is clever, has political backing from powerful sources, and moles in supposedly secure places.  He places no value on life and has unlimited financial means as well.  The action is fast, cliff hanger scene endings leave the reader scrambling to read just a few more pages, then a few more, and . . .   Besides the fast paced enthralling plotline, this story has stronger character development than the previous two volumes and the reader gets to see gradual shifts in attitude, growing self-awareness, and more of the bonds that hold the team together.  We also get to see a man who has been severely traumatized and abandoned begin to trust and accept.  As he begins to recognize his feelings, a tender love story develops.  It’s not the kind of mush men abhor in books, yet will satisfy readers who find a bit of romance enhances, and often completes, a compelling story.

I’ve greatly enjoyed this series and feel satisfied with the concluding volume and won’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone.

* * *

THE TIES THAT BIND By Kristen McKendry, Published by Covenant Communications, softcover, 195 pages, $15.95

EYES LIKE MINE by Julie Wright, Published by Covenant Communications, softcover, 262 pages, $15.95

CODE OF HONOR by Betsy Brannon Green, Published by Covenant Communications, softcover, 216 pages, $15.95

© 1999-2009 Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

 

By Jennie Hansen

The weather isn’t what is typically expected for June in my part of the country.  Instead of sunshine, we’re being treated to a daily deluge of rain and thunder storms.  This month’s books which I’ve chosen to review aren’t what I expected either.  Each one presents a refreshing, unexpected approach.  Just as the rain is filling the valley with vibrant growth and color, these novels open new entertainment vistas.

I was excited to receive a copy of Marcia Mickelson’s new book Pickup Games.  Her first book, Reasonable Doubt made a strong positive impression on me, so I was anxious to read this one. 

Going into major college basketball playoffs, Mark Webber was charged with the murder of his fiancé and instead of dancing with the Big Four, he spent the tournament in a jail cell listening on a scratchy radio to his team crumble and blaming himself for their loss.

As time passes he discovers that being exonerated for the murder of his fiancé doesn’t restore his reputation or the promising future he once took for granted.  His basketball career is over and his dream of becoming an ESPN sportscaster is going nowhere.  After five years he is a second string sports reporter for a local television station and his social life consists of a series of “once only” dates with women who don’t really interest him.

Through the help of a friend who has stood behind him, he gets a big professional break, but instead of getting his own show as he had expected he finds himself half of a two person team.  The other half is Cara Jones, recent women’s college basketball star, who was jilted on her wedding day and who now has a chip on her shoulder where men are concerned.  Though they clash personally, the electric spark between them creates a dynamic show, that catches the eyes of big people in the sports broadcasting world far beyond Utah and sets in motion tough temptations and stiff competition.

The story is a romance, but with a stronger appeal than to women only.  It is a fascinating inside look at sports, sports broadcasting, and healing.  It should appeal to a wide range of readers.

Did the book live up to my expectations?  Yes---and no.  I expected more of the murder mystery type of story found in Reasonable Doubt, but I wasn’t disappointed in the quality of writing, nor in the fresh approach to a romance between two previously hurt people.  Sometimes the author provides more petty detail than needed, yet the detail lends itself to a sense of the characters being real people doing real things.  Mickelson has created strong, likeable characters, has paced her story well, and has a winner in Pickup Games.  My disappointment with the book has nothing to do with the story itself.  I don’t like the title or the cover.  The duo are covering college basketball, not street pickup games, and though Mick starts out as a flirt collecting phone numbers of good-looking women, they’re not exactly pickup dates.  The title implies something cheap or casual which this story is not.  The pale lavender cover isn’t going to attract many male readers and probably not too many female ones either.  This is a striking story that deserves a striking cover and title.

* * *

Once in awhile a book comes along that doesn’t quite fit into any preconceived mold.  Such is The Route by Gale Sears.  There is no convoluted plot, the characters are not young and beautiful, the concepts presented are not new and intricate, yet the book is a delight and hard to put down.  Beginning with a cover that is charming, appealing, and unusual, Sears tells a story loosely based on her own experiences delivering meals on wheels to elderly shut-ins.

Carol, who has just turned fifty and is pondering the meaning of life, makes a run to the store for chocolate.  There she discovers a poster asking for volunteers to deliver the meals and feels an urge to take up volunteer work and this seems to be something she could do.  She begins with ten ladies.  With some she forms a strong connection, some live in conditions she finds repugnant, and one is downright scary.  In time she finds each has a story and she is drawn into their lives.  At times she wants to pattern her own senior years after these ladies and other times she wants nothing more than to turn in her badge and run as far and fast as she can.  Her route gradually changes as some of the ladies go to care facilities, some die, new recipients of the meals are added.  Some of the new names on her list are men.

Like Carol, the reader will find humor, much to admire, situations that will cause anger, others that will touch the heart, and a new awareness of life’s waning years.  Sears has a gift for finding the extraordinary in ordinary lives.  If you’re thinking a book about old people can’t be much fun, you’re wrong.  This book is a fun read that will leave a warm, lasting impression.

* * *

Agent in Old Lace by Tristi Pinkston is another book that isn’t quite what I expected.  Pinkston has written several intense, well-researched historical novels which I enjoyed, so when I learned she’d written a mystery and heard the title, I assumed Agent in Old Lace would be an historical mystery. Not so, the novel is a change-of-pace contemporary, and “old lace” has nothing to do with the story except as an odd reference to an FBI agent who goes undercover dressed in female garb.

Shannon Tanner is a savvy business woman and a partner in a successful financial referral company.  By chance she discovers that the man she loves has stolen a fortune from her father who lies critically ill in the hospital.  From expecting a proposal to finding her life in danger leaves Shannon reeling and struggling to survive.  When the FBI enters the picture, Shannon’s life takes more odd twists as agent, Rick Holden takes drastic measures to save Shannon’s life and capture the man she once planned to marry.

Agent in Old Lace is a fast, fun read.  The mystery is not complicated, but has interesting twists and turns. The characters are likeable, but require some stretching of the boundaries of imagination.  Shannon is a little gullible, queasy, and slow for someone who is supposedly so intelligent, and Rick’s drag masquerade would be easy to see through in real life.  I would have liked for some of the minor characters to be more fully developed and the mystery clues a little less obvious, though a less critical reader who doesn’t read as many mysteries as I do might not pick up on them as easily as I did.  The father/daughter relationship is nicely done with just the right amount of warmth and respect and it is easy to see genuine love between the two.  Romance elements of the story are developed without overt intrusion into the story, but remain an important element. The plot is paced well, though some of the action scenes could have featured more action and less talk.  The short length of the story somewhat hampers greater development of both the mystery and the romance.  Though not as intense as her in-depth historical novels, Agent in Old Lace will have a strong appeal for many mystery/romance readers.

Pinkston has a comfortable writing style that draws the reader in and an excellent command of language that suits her characters well. Her quirky sense of humor shows through in both dialog and situations.  Readers will enjoy Pinkston’s first foray into contemporary mystery writing.  I’m looking forward to more books in this genre by her, but I hope she’ll continue to give us great Historicals as well.

* * *

Gregg Luke has written another high suspense novel, Altered State, which might be classified as medical horror.  This isn’t a book to start late at night because it’s a hard one to put down.

Two people, Morgan and Homer Winegar, have suffered serious hurt in their pasts, but now they have found each other and with her nine-year-old autistic son have settled in Logan, Utah, where she teaches psychology and does counseling at the University and he works for a research lab as a statistical analyst.   They’re happy and life looks good until a strange phenomenon takes place on campus and Morgan is drawn into trying to discover the cause of increasingly larger groups of students lapsing into strange trances.  As the bizarre behavior grows violent, their son provides them with a clue to an impending tragedy greater than the Virginia Tech massacre.  Just as the mystery and suspense build, old fears from previous betrayals tear at the Winegar’s relationship adding another dimension to the escalating terror.

The first few chapters left me reeling from an overload of chemical terminology; even so, I was intrigued by the introduction to characters that offered a wide spectrum of possibilities and personalities.  Before long I was thoroughly hooked on a story of greed, ego, and the lengths an unscrupulous drug company CEO and a research chemist devoid of ethics might take a brilliant discovery. The characters, including the autistic child, are well-developed with each having distinct personalities, motivations, and growth.  I like, and can identify with the main characters.  The plot moves quickly and Luke does a masterful job of revealing just enough clues to keep the reader expecting and dreading the next revelation of the plot line.

Luke is a pharmacist with a solid understanding of drugs and is familiar with the processes used to test and market pharmaceuticals. Still he drew on the expertise of other medical professionals in his research.  This background and a great deal of technical research is used to build a believable and even possible nightmare situation. 

Though the main characters are LDS and there are elements of trust that enter into the story, the main role religion plays is to provide hope and comfort to them.  The blue and yellow cover on the book featuring rows of test tubes sets an eerie tone before the reader even begins the story.  I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense, a touch of horror, and an all around exciting read.

* * *

Michele Paige Holmes was the winner of a Whitney for Romantic Fiction in 2007 with her debut novel, Counting Stars.  Her new novel All the Stars in Heaven picks up the story of a minor character from that book, Jay Kendrich.  I wouldn’t call her new book a sequel because there’s no reason to read the first one to enjoy this one.  References to the other book are few and explained enough that the reader will have no sense of having missed anything if she hasn’t read the first book.  From a personal point of view, I found Counting Stars an interesting read but a little too formulaic for my taste.  I can’t say that about All the Stars in Heaven. I’ve found two outstanding romances so far this year and have nominated both for Whitney awards; All the Stars in Heaven is one of those two remarkable love stories.

This book is almost as much suspense as it is romance with its tale of complicated family relationships, a game of cat and mouse between a methamphetamine drug lord and a police force that can’t be trusted, and characters whose faith in themselves have been shattered.

Jay, a third year law student at Harvard, chances on a ballet rehearsal and is drawn to the young woman who plays the piano for the dancers’ practices.  When he approaches the young woman to introduce himself, he is attacked and knocked out by a large man, whom he later learns is the woman’s unwelcome bodyguard.  Instead of steering clear of the young woman, he grows more intrigued by her and suspects something is terribly wrong in her life.  He begins planning strategies to get to know Sarah and walks into a world of violence and intrigue.

Sarah is totally dependent on her father, who treats her badly and controls her life.  She isn’t allowed to go anywhere alone which means her brutal cousin, her paid bodyguard, makes certain no one approaches her.  Even when her father arranges an undercover narcotics job for her, she is stuck with her cousin shadowing her.  When her cousin attempts to kill Jay, she complains to her father who is the police chief.  His indifference fuels her desire to escape her miserable life.

The characters in this story are interesting and the author does an excellent job of not only tracing their growth, painting them not only in black and white, but she is liberal with shades of gray. The Harvard College campus, Boston, and the surrounding small cities and towns have been researched with thoroughness and are used as convincing, but not overpowering, backdrops.  Other elements of police procedure, drug enforcement, collegiate lifestyle, etc. show signs of careful research as well.  The chapters are annoyingly short, but I’m aware many readers prefer short chapters and there are a few places where I would have liked to see more action on stage instead of being led to a precipice, the chapter ends, then the reader is told rather than shown what happened.  The plot is well paced, leading to one cliff-hanger moment after another, making the book difficult to put down and, at the same time, hard to read in one sitting due to its length.

For years there has been a snobbish amount of sneering directed toward LDS fiction, largely due to the preponderance of romance in these novels.  Little distinction has been made between the light, cutesy, fun romance novels which aren’t meant to be taken seriously, the sloppy boo hoo ones that provide an excuse for a good cry, the formula novels that follow the general makeup of general market romances minus the explicit sex, and those that approach the relationship between a man and a woman as one of friendship that grows to something more as mutual respect and knowledge of who the other is gradually develops.  I prefer this last type where realistic and deepening relationships grow out of common beliefs and values, respect, shared goals and experiences, and a willingness to sacrifice for each other, as well as the physical attraction component.  The love story in All the Stars in Heaven is the latter kind of love story.  An enjoyable romance coupled with a fast-paced mystery/suspense makes this a book that will appeal to a wide range of readers and it has my hearty recommendation.

* * *

PICKUP GAMES by Marcia Mickelson, published by Bonneville Books, soft cover, 214 pages, $15.99

THE ROUTE by Gale Sears, published by Walnut Springs Press, LLC, soft cover, 182 pages, $14.95

AGENT IN OLD LACE by Tristi Pinkston, published by Bonneville Books, soft cover, 182 pages, $14.95

ALTERED STATE by Gregg Luke, published by Covenant Communications, soft cover, 272 pages, $15.95

ALL THE STARS IN HEAVEN by Michele Paige Homes, published by Covenant Communications, soft cover, 373 pages, $17.95

© 1999-2009 Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

 

By Jennie Hansen

The number of LDS novels is down slightly this month, partly due I suspect to economic realities which saw fewer books landing on my doorstep, and partly due to the number of books I agreed to read in order to be a Whitney Awards judge. I ran out of time to read everything, therefore you'll only find three books reviewed here this month.

For the most part the Whitney finalists are authors of excellent books, most of which I've reviewed. Those I hadn't already read and reviewed are written by LDS authors, but the books themselves are not LDS and do not necessarily adhere to the same standards as LDS books or they are self-published.

It's been interesting to note that some of them have a far more serious copy-editing problem than most books published by LDS publishers and some few other problems as well. I found a few things unsettling about some categories such as the extreme violence and gore in the Speculative section, the absence of anything but fantasy in the Young Adult section, and the absence of some really remarkable books published in 2008 in categories where I had expected to find them.

This last situation is one only readers can remedy. In order to be considered for an award a book must be nominated by at least five people. Many, many nominations by readers increase the odds of a good book landing a finalist spot. Positive comments on web sites devoted to books bring a good book to other readers' attention. So if there is a book(s) published this year you think is award worthy, please nominate it/them for next year's awards. To nominate a book go here. You can nominate as many books as you like. Now for this month's reviews.

Missing Pieces by Jeni Grossman is an unusual novel that will not easily be forgotten by readers. Set in Turkey, the crossroad between East and West, we follow Dulcey Moore, a CNN reporter to a land of sharp contrasts and centuries old secrets. After a sharp disagreement and wounded feelings between Dulcey and her husband, Matt, she says good-bye to him and their two young children to fly first to Baghdad, where she discovers more trouble than expected and loses a man who was her close friend and one of her cameramen. Still, she forges on accompanied by two photographers and a native guide, Asena, until she reaches an ancient buried city in Turkey, Zeugma, in advance of the CNN trucks and crew. She and her small party are met by overly-zealous archeologist, Lee Nash, who heads up the dig that is to document the unearthing of a two thousand year old solid gold statue of massive proportions.

Turkish soldiers and undercover CIA operatives guard the dig and participants in the historic event, but even they are caught off-guard by Al Qaida terrorists and the varying Muslim factions and customs.

Dulcey is headstrong, opinionated, and doesn't take orders (or even practical suggestions) from anyone. Her bull-headed need to succeed at all costs and to always be right not only creates marital problems but puts her life in danger in the heavily Muslim part of the world where religion is paramount over all else, people have little but their perverted sense of honor, and secrets stay buried for centuries. Her priorities shift as she faces laws, customs, and values that cause her to examine her own life and that of the Turkish women who befriend her.

Grossman spent two years living in Turkey with her husband and understands both those things important to Muslims and Christians and those which they disagree on. She has studied both Shia and Sunni, has a deep appreciation for the customs that have survived since the days of Abraham, and is familiar with the religious texts of the major world religions that intersect in that place. Places mentioned in this book, the discovery of the buried city of Zeugma with its rich treasures, Turkish food and customs, quotes from the Koran, and all those minute details that make up the background of this story are authentic.

It's difficult to place Missing Pieces into a specific genre. There is no romance. It's not historical, though two thousand years of Turkish history is carefully woven into the background of the story. There's excitement and adventure, but it is not a true mystery/suspense novel. Though there are religious discussions and references; it's not a conversion story. Perhaps it stands alone in giving us a glimpse of the blending of cultures and a greater understanding of the roots of Islam and Christianity.

Though Dulcey is not always a likeable character; she is one with which most of us can identify. The story is paced well and the plot is multi-dimensional giving the reader a fascinating surface story and a subtle secondary story. There is no more conclusion to what is honor, women's relationship to God (or Allah), and the value of human life than is found in real life between cultures of opposite views, but this book brings the reader a step closer to understanding those differences. I felt impressed by the subtle way the author blended ancient beliefs and history to provide perspective to this contemporary novel. I recommend this book highly to both men and women.

MISSING PIECES by Jeni Grossman, Covenant Communications, softcover, 306 pages, $16.95

* * *

After reading several dark, depressing books in a row for the Whitney awards, I picked up Tower of Strength by Annette Lyon and the contrast was like a spring day in the middle of January. I liked her characters who are hard-working people hit by some of the most painful and difficult trials mortals face in this life. Tabitha, an eighteen year old bride of two months, is left a pregnant widow when her husband dies in a mining explosion. Samuel has sacrificed all he owned and work he loved in England to enable him and his wife to travel to Utah to join others of their faith. En route his wife dies and is buried at sea. He is left alone with the only job available to him, which involves mucking out stables, milking cows, and performing farm chores he is ill-prepared for and hates. Tabitha and Samuel are drawn to each other, but are uncertain whether they have a right to allow their relationship to extend beyond friendship.

After more than six years away from her childhood home in Manti, in which time she has gone to school in Logan, worked part time for a newspaper, and become a teacher, Tabitha receives an offer to take over the Sanpitch Sentinal back in Manti. Though reluctant to return to the same town where her resentful mother-in-law lives, she wants what is best for her son and she believes that is an association with her parents and his cousins. She finds comfort from the problems she faces in the huge structure rising on temple hill, the place where she played as a child and fell in love with her husband. She stumbles onto a news story that could cost her hard-earned strength and independence, further antagonize her mother-in-law, and brings her into the difficult position of defending the rights of a cruel man who beat a horse almost to death and is accused of stealing a large amount of cash. She has difficult choices to make concerning her and her son's financial security, another painful loss, her belief in justice, her own future happiness, and the application of values easier stated than adhered to.

Lyon presents a historical romance that goes well beyond the typical romance format though romance readers will love the carefully constructed elements of a satisfying love story. General fiction lovers will enjoy the interaction between characters as Tabitha relates to her son, her parents, her mother-in-law, Samuel, the previous newspaper owner, her brother, and the crusty old man who sells her a horse he severely abused. Tabitha's thought processes reveal a great deal about her personal growth as they entertain, amuse, and draw the reader into the dilemmas she faces. Dialog is generally apt for the era with only a couple of small exceptions and the research concerning the Manti temple, life in the small Mormon settlement during the 1880s, and animal husbandry have been researched with meticulous care. Though there's no way the problems Tabitha and Samuel face can leave everyone or every situation involved in the story with a happy ending, the overall there is a satisfying end. I recommend this story not only to romance readers, but to general fiction, historical readers, and anyone who enjoys an exciting story that is both thought-provoking and uplifting.

TOWER OF STRENGTH by Annette Lyon, Covenant Communications, softcover, 303 pages, $15.95

* * *

Winds of Hope by Anita Stansfield wraps up the story lines of her first two books in a four part series that began with The Sound of Rain , and continued in Distant Thunder. In this epilogue style volume she sees Jayson through rehab, his daughter returns, he marries Elizabeth, and takes up music again, all as expected. There's a blatant conversion story straight out of every church lesson manual as well. When Jayson returns to the music world, there is one new situation that arises incident to his relationship with his father.

The Sound of Rain represents some of Stansfield's best writing. In my opinion the sequels, especially this one, don't measure up to the standard set by the first volume in the series. The excessive tears over everything, good or bad, become annoying and the conversion story is so cliché it doesn't ring true. The brief section where a baby is given up for adoption ignores the issue of paternal rights, especially when the father supported the teen mother through most of her pregnancy. Winds of Hope is not a stand alone volume and will be of little interest to anyone who hasn't read the first two volumes. There is to be a fourth volume, but since the author tied up everything neatly in this book, I don't know what is left to cover unless she plans a spin-off using some minor character from the series. Die-hard Stansfield fans will be interested in the rapid fire wrap ups of previous storylines.

WINDS OF HOPE by Anita Stansfield, Covenant Communications, softcover, 308 pages, $16.95

* * *

© 1999-2009 Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

By Jennie Hansen

February has seen the introduction of wide-ranging new novels by new writers, as well as by some long-time favorites. The settings and sub-genres, the focus audience, and the quality of writing also vary a great deal among these new offerings.

Lockdown, as is Traci Hunter Abramson's style, grabs the reader right from the two-page prologue and never lets go until the story wraps up in the final chapter.

She glanced at her watch, already wishing the class was over even though they still had another thirty minutes to go. She turned her eyes back to the professor just in time to hear a hammering noise and see him drop limply to the ground. A moment later the noise repeated itself, and the boy in front of her slumped down onto his desk as screams echoed through the room. Riley looked up to see the slender, dark-haired man point his gun and shoot off another round.

Abramson takes another member of her elite group of LDS Navy SEALS as the central character of this high suspense story. Tristan Crowther is paired opposite Riley Palmetta, one of only three survivors of a campus massacre, as they join forces to set up a training program for police officers to prepare them for dealing with events such as Columbine and the Virginia Tech massacres. As the training takes place, painful memories surface, along with a deadly murder plot. Emotions run high as two people with heavy loads of emotional baggage attempt to make sense of their growing feelings for each other while confronting one of this time period's greatest fears.

Fast becoming the queen of high suspense, Abramson derived this plot from real life. Being a member of a Virginia high school faculty at the time of the Virginia Tech murders, she is one of those who was glued to her television set on April 16, 2007, waiting for news of friends and loved ones. Hers were not among the fallen, but with the pictures and fears fresh in her mind, she began this novel.

Mystery/suspense readers are not the only ones who will enjoy this novel. Fans of psychological drama will be enthralled by the mental and emotional twists and turns. The author paces the story well, provides likable characters, and with her CIA background presents a believable background and a realistic though non-intrusive setting. I thought the epilogue was unnecessary, but I'm aware that many readers enjoy a tidy wrap-up at the end of an intense thriller. It serves as a pressure valve and in this case is not a whole extra chapter, but is just slightly more than three pages. I highly recommend this book.

* * *

Lemon Tart

Take 5 families living on Peregrine Circle
1 flowered curtain tieback
1 missing child
1 body in the field
Mix with a long list of suspects and top with two very different detectives. Increase heat until only the truth remains. And you have a recipe for Murder!

Lemon Tart is the newest novel by Josi S. Kilpack. This one is a “cozy” culinary murder mystery, a departure from her usual fast-paced social issues books. It's the first in what she and her publisher hope will become a popular series of the type where each book stands alone as a separate mystery, though the main character, Sadie Hoffmiller, will star in each.

Sadie is a snoopy busybody who means well. She's also a terrific cook. While bottling applesauce she notices a couple of police cars hurrying past her house to the end of the cul-de-sac. Naturally, she hurries right over to Anne Lemmon's house to see why the police are there. With a little finagling, she learns Anne's body is lying in a nearby field, Anne's two-year-old son is missing, and there's a lemon tart baking in Anne's oven. She runs afoul of the police and becomes a suspect herself, and she discovers her fiancé was somehow involved with her beautiful deceased neighbor. Her brother Jack's marital problems prove a distraction, as does a visit from her college-age daughter and her niece. Then there are the other neighbors who might have seen something that a plate of brownies or noodles alfredo would help them remember.

The story is full of twists and turns and a lot of danger. It's also filled with tested recipes for those who want to try Sadie's culinary masterpieces. And of course, there's a major clue connected to that Lemon Tart.

Sadie, though only fifty-six, is portrayed as an elderly widow and amateur sleuth much like Betsy Green's Miss Eugenia, but without the Southern charm. She's feisty, determined, and smart. She's also a woman who cares deeply about people and takes great pleasure in domestic skills.

The plot is skillfully woven and only the most experienced mystery readers will pick up on the villain's identity early on. Even those who figure it out quickly will still want to stay aboard for the ride, which is filled with interesting and fun antics and maneuvers.

There are a couple of small points that bothered me, but didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. First, though Albertson's grocery stores do hire baggers, shelf stockers, and other employes with learning disabilities, their checkers do not fall into this category. I've always found Albertson's checkers to be friendly and smart.

Second, even at small libraries, librarians do not give anyone, not the police and certainly not a neighbor of one of their patrons, any information concerning another person's library account or personal effects without a court order. The National Library Association is very clear on this point.

Overall, Lemon Tart is an enjoyable read for young and old. And just because there's a culinary slant to the book, I hope that doesn't discourage male readers. If it does, they'll miss an excellent mystery and several hours of first-class reading pleasure.

* * *

Sometimes a book amuses me, but it isn't often that one makes me literally laugh out loud. Previously Engaged by Elodia Strain did just that. Strain's quirky style falls somewhere between satire and chick lit without the nasty male putdowns or sarcasm. Her main character Annabelle Pleasanton is part airhead, part compassionate do-gooder, a little bit klutz, and a whole lot fashionista. Annabelle has a passion for brand name clothing and toiletries, her job as a food writer for a fashionable magazine, and good food, especially chocolate. She also has the misfortune of being the oldest of four sisters with her younger sisters having already gotten married while she's still waiting for a proposal.

Annabelle has studied all the clues; she knows the proposal is coming. If only Isaac's attempts at popping the question weren't constantly being foiled by friends and circumstances. The plot thickens when her old high school boyfriend, Alex, returns to town as the head of the publishing company that employs her and he doesn't seem to believe their old romance is quite as over as she does. She's evicted from her apartment due to her landlord's gambling problems and finds herself house sitting for Alex, a house that just happens to be her dream house.

Apparently, when you tell your boyfriend of nine months — who is planning to propose — that you are going to be having any kind of contact with a guy who you dated, liked, or smiled at anytime after first grade, and he says he's fine with it. Well, chances are he's not all that fine with it.

If Isaac and Alex aren't enough distraction, along comes winning a $50,000 wedding when she isn't even officially engaged and there's some question concerning which man should be the groom. Then there's Isaac's family, who have already picked out a bride for him.

“Chloe's here,” Ginny cooed as if the queen of England had just appeared. I looked up and saw the beautiful blonde approaching, dressed in a great black dress and a pair of designer heels that something told me she hadn't found hidden behind a bottle of bubble bath in Nordstrom Rack.

Previously Engaged is cleverly written, and though it appears light and fun, a great deal of research has gone into getting the cultural background right. Writing in first person, Strain uses a casual chatty style similar to that of a young woman talking to her best friend. It works. The dialog, both between characters and between Annabelle and the reader, is perfectly paced for maximum impact. I loved it from beginning to end, though it could stand a little more thorough copy editing. Women of all ages and those men who are brave enough to give a pink book a try will enjoy this one, then enjoy it again when it is shared with a good friend and two people share the great punch lines together.

* * *

I found Buckshot Higgins, His Life and Treasures thoroughly engrossing though it is filled with all the errors I generally complain about in self-published books by first-time authors. This is the story of a ten-year-old white boy saved by a Navajo woman following the deaths of his parents after the family drinks contaminated water.

Hanabah was a Navajo woman who was probably in her sixties or seventies when she came across the terrible scene of what was left of my family. She was traveling south along the old Navajo Trail near Shiprock, New Mexico, when she saw our family wagon. My father and mother were both dead over in the shade of a juniper tree. Two families traveling the trail had stopped to supposedly assist us, but in reality, they were pilfering all they could get their hands on.

This book doesn't really have a plot, but is a sequential series of incidents in the life of Percy Higgins, who is raised by the Navajo woman who changes his name to Buckshot. He observes the Navajo rituals meant to make him a man, but retains the Mormon faith taught to him by his parents and reinforced by his friendship with the wife of the man who runs the trading post. Two significant events bring both challenges and joy to his life — meeting a young Navajo woman with whom he falls in love and the sharing by old Hanabah of a secret treasure cache. A long journey to the St. George Temple undertaken in a surrey drawn by four mules plays a significant role in the adventure as well.

The author shares a deep love for the American Southwest and is at his best when he tells of ancient treasures hidden by long ago American natives and as he describes the land and customs of the Navajo and Hopi people. There are strong similarities in style and voice to an old classic, The White Indian Boy by Wilson Driggs. I found the history, cultural aspects, and background of the story fascinating and well worth the time to read the book, but several other aspects of the book may discourage readers. The grammar, spelling, typos, dialog, and editing are disappointing. The book will appeal primarily to those interested in westerns and the Southwest and is written in a first-person narrative style. Unfortunately, another group who may be a strong audience for this group, the elderly, will have difficulty reading the small type.

* * *

Lockdown by Traci Hunter Abramson, published by Covenant Communications, softcover, 246 pages, $15.95

Lemon Tart by Josi S. Kilpack, published by Deseret Book, softcover, 348 pages, $16.95

Previously Engaged by Elodia Strain, published by Cedar Fort, softcover, 292 pages, $18.99

Buckshot Higgins, His Life and Treasures by Charles Moore Hackley III, published by Xlibris Corporation, both soft and hardcover, 207 pages, $19.99 and $29.99

© 1999-2009 Meridian Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

 

By Jennie Hansen

The new year is off to a good start with new books by Suzanne Reese, Sandra Grey, Becca Wilhite and yours truly, Jennie Hansen.

Suzanne V. Reese's Where Hearts Prosper is the story of a single mother, Carmen Anderson, who is very good at her intense position as a team leader with a Chicago advertising company. Office politics, a domineering boss, and a strong love interest keep her on her toes, but don't slow her down. It's the discovery that her almost fifteen-year-old daughter is headed for trouble that pushes Carmen to make a hasty decision and an abrupt move to her grandparent's empty house in Prosper, Arizona. She feels confident she can continue her team leader position as a telecommuter, but there are more problems than she expects.

Carmen, who ran away from the isolated town of Prosper, Arizona, when she was little older than her daughter Paige, is now with no explanations and little contact with her parents, sister, or grandparents since that time. She returned only for her mother's and grandmother's funerals.

Paige meets her grandfather and aunt for the first time when they show up to help her mother move into the old house. The meeting doesn't go well and neither does Paige's enrollment in the Mesquite, Nevada, high school where she dresses, acts, and seems to think differently than her classmates. She particularly lacks enthusiasm for the two classmates her age who also live in Prosper. One is a rah rah cheerleader type and the other is Mr. clean-cut, high school, athletic star.

After less than a week in Prospect, Carmen has to fly back to Chicago, and while she's gone the Virgin River rises above its usual spring flood stage, wiping out the small community's only bridge linking them to the rest of the world, knocking out power, and imperiling the residents of the small town. Paige faces a life and death struggle with her neighbors and grandfather to survive and protect each other. While Carmen is frantic to reach her daughter, her boss and her boyfriend manipulate the situation to further their own objectives.

Even though this is a compelling, well-written story with a great cover, excellent pacing, and characters the reader can care about, it is not copy edited well and publicity for the novel seems to center around the reason Carmen left home abruptly as though it were a great mystery. Actually the reason is spelled out in a teaser prologue and Carmen's concern for keeping her daughter's age a secret doesn't compute since the girl is enrolled in a public high school and doesn't know her age is supposed to be a secret. The book's strong points center around the flood of the Virgin River and the efforts a resourceful group of people pursue to save themselves and as much of their community as possible. A tree planted by Carmen's mother, that appears to be dead, becomes a kind of symbol of hope and better things; it adds a nice touch. Some of the relationship issues are a little shaky, but others such as Carmen's father's love for his daughter and granddaughter, are touching and real.

Where Hearts Prosper is being marketed nationally and doesn't have any explicit references to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the town of Prosper will be recognizable to residents of the Utah/Nevada/Arizona border area and to small western towns and LDS wards everywhere. I like this book very much and I think many readers, teenagers and adults alike, will enjoy its strengths as I did.

* * *

Bright Blue Miracle by Becca Wilhite has an interesting cover. Featured are bare toes with bright blue nail polish and a few decorative flowers. It also has an abundance of clever dialog and both asks and answers the question, “Is it possible for two very nice, adequately good-looking, and fairly intelligent people to embark on a doomed marriage? Consider it likely when they each have a teenage daughter.”

Leigh's best friend is Jeremy and they're both a bit nerdy, out of the loop with other seventeen-year-olds, on the brainy side, and stubbornly set in their ways. But they're happy that way, that is until Leigh acquires a popular, pretty stepsister, Betsy, and Jeremy develops a crush on the girl Leigh most wants to despise.

The problems of blended families are a common theme in today's teenage books, but this one takes a slightly fresh view with its focus on two girls who find they are suddenly sisters. Not only do they face sharing a room, being in the same classes at school, different outlooks on life, but how does one deal with your best friend becoming your sister's boyfriend? And does a guy turn to his girlfriend or his best friend when serious problems arise?

There is a jarringly swift jump in the first chapter from Jeremy and Leigh visiting her father's office to her mother announcing she is getting remarried. There hasn't been adequate warning that the father has died and the mother has been a widow for some time. Leigh's reluctance to drive should have been built up better too. Beyond that, the timing works well, the adjustment problems are interesting (though at times the reader may feel like shaking Leigh) and the characters feel real. This story is more YA than adult though parents of teens may enjoy it too.

* * *

High Country by Jennie Hansen isn't a western in the usual sense though it takes place mostly on a ranch and there are horses, but it's a contemporary story that begins in California when Laura and her cousin Bruce inherit their elderly great aunt's house and all the boxes and clutter she's collected over nearly a century of living. One of those boxes contains a few shocking documents; Laura's late father's will leaving her a half share in an Idaho ranch, a baptism certificate, and a marriage certificate with Laura's name on it.

Sheltered, home schooled, and indoctrinated by her Mormon-hating aunt, Laura embarks on a course of discovery. In the process she runs straight into a stubborn, impulsive, Idaho cowboy who claims to be her husband. She suspects he's a thief who has stolen her inheritance and made chaos of her life.

Since I'm the author, I'll leave it to others to decide its merits.

* * *

Tribunal by Sandra Grey is a sequel to Traitor and is heart-stopping, compelling, and well worth the wait fans have endured since the first book's release a year ago. The book begins in 1945 in a German concentration camp where SS Major Rolf Schulmann has been incarcerated since his arrest for treason earlier in the war. With the approach of the allied army, the prisoners begin a forced march tosward the Baltic Sea and certain death. Eventually the German prisoners are released. Cold, destitute, ill, and frightened Schulmann walks, then crawls toward home. His friend, Hans Brenner finds him unconscious beside the road.

Schulmann awakes in an American military hospital in Berlin . His recovery is slow and uncertain, but watching over him are Hans and an American nurse, Natalie Allred. Hans and Natalie become the objects of a Russian intelligence officer's pursuit of Stalin's nuclear objectives. Both her freedom and Hans's are on the line as they become pawns in a ruthless race for power. The tension mounts as both are threatened and Schulmann's fiancé, Marie Jacobson, arrives to find Schulmann facing an allied military tribunal.

There are several strong themes presented in this novel. They raise questions concerning the bounds of loyalty, friendship, patriotism, family, honor, and faith in God. That we must all one day stand before God and face His tribunal is a theme that lies beneath the surface. The brutality of war is depicted vividly, but no more so than the lingering resentments, confusion, and deprivations faced by both the survivors and the conquerors along with the ruthless rush to power by the superpowers. The seeds of enmity and the beginnings of the cold war arise over the differing political philosophies of the nations who so recently were allies.

Though far from being a romance novel, there are two powerful love stories that take place in Tribunal. These stories will touch the hearts of readers. There is also enough action to satisfy the most avid action-oriented reader. Those who like to delve into deep philosophical questions will not be disappointed either. The historical background is thoroughly researched and fascinating in its presentation. Not only does this book tell a remarkable story, provide in depth historical insights, provide characters the reader can care deeply about, but it is rewarding to read a novel with such a rich vocabulary and almost no copy errors. There is also a satisfying level of understanding by the author of doctrinal principles.

I personally found this novel at the top of my list of mature and satisfying LDS novels.

* * *

WHERE HEARTS PROSPER by Suzanne V. Reese, published by Bonneville Books, paperback, 255 pages, $15.99

BRIGHT BLUE MIRACLE by Becca Wilhite, published by Shadow Mountain, paperback, 172 pages, $12.95

HIGH COUNTRY by Jennie Hansen, published by Covenant Communications, paperback, 231 pages, $15.95 (also available unabridged on CD)

TRIBUNAL by Sandra Grey, published by Covenant Communications, paperback, 375 pages, $17.95 (also available on CD)

 

By Jennie Hansen 

December isn’t a month that sees many new fiction releases since most publishers aim for earlier release dates in order to market their books throughout the Christmas season.  However, three novels that didn’t reach me in time for an earlier review all merit attention as excellent examples of this year’s noteworthy LDS fiction.

 

Speaking of note worthy fiction, the year is drawing to an end and the deadline for Whitney nominations is almost here.  The Whitneys are prestigious awards given to LDS writers in various categories.  Nominations do not come from a panel, but from the reading public.  I urge all readers to think back over the books by LDS authors you have enjoyed this year and nominate those you think are deserving of an award.  You can find a list of 2008 LDS novels here.   To be eligible for consideration a novel must be nominated by at least five different people.  Unfortunately some very fine novels did not receive enough nominations to be in the running last year.  You can make certain that doesn’t happen this year.  You can nominate more than one novel in any category, but you can only nominate a particular title once.  For more information and to make your nominations, go here.

 

I read the three novels I’m reviewing today in the order received and was charmed by the first of the three.  Easterfield by Anna Jones Buttimore is like taking a step back in time to nineteenth century England.  The story is set in the same time period as the Bronte sisters’ books, though the style is lighter and more reminiscent of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.  Buttimore was born in England, educated in Wales where she lived for twenty years, and she now lives in the village in England where she lived as a young child, which gives her writing an authentic rural English touch.

 

Catherine with her sister and cousin live in an out-of-the-way village with the sisters’ mother and widower uncle.  Life is slow and predictable until the day the three young women happen on an American preaching a new religion in the village square.  Catherine pauses to listen and a friendship forms between her and the preacher.  Shortly thereafter the family receives an invitation to dinner at the Easterfield estate which sets the stage for all three young women to become embroiled in relationships fraught with difficulties and the disapproval of the uncle.  After the preacher is suddenly called back to Utah, Catherine meets handsome Dr. Davenport who pursues her with the promise of love and security, but only if she gives up her interest in religious matters.  In a world where women have few rights, all four women’s lives are turned upside down by the conniving, unscrupulous uncle and startling changes in their circumstances.

 

This is a tight, well-written story with charming, versatile characters and a plot that flows smoothly. Readers of Buttimore’s earlier books found them thought-provoking, but the pacing a little slow.  This book is also thought-provoking, but is paced just right for a highly satisfying read.  It also has moments of delightful humor.  Careful attention is given to the customs, prejudices, and manners of the time period.  The main love story is proper and has a quaint, endearing quality reminiscent of Austen’s classic love stories.  The one area I found less than satisfying was in the copy editing.  The British spelling and phrasing enhance the story, but the careless omission of small connecting words, substituting that for than, and other typos detract from an otherwise exceptional book that will, I suspect, become a classic favorite of women of all ages.

 

* * *

Promises to Keep, Diane’s Story is the keeping of a promise by Dean Hughes to his readers who constantly asked “What happened to Diane?” who left her abusive husband in Hearts of the Children to protect herself and her young daughter, Jenny.  Hughes answers this question by picking up the story years down the road as Diane faces conflict with her daughter, now a teenager.

 

Both Diane and Jenny are impulsive and headstrong.  Diane would prefer that Jenny have nothing to do with her father, but Greg woos the teenager with expensive gifts and subtle manipulation.  Her desire to be loved by her father blinds her to the fact that Greg lives in a fancy house, takes expensive vacations, yet claims he can’t afford to make child support payments.  Diane struggles to finish an advanced degree program so that she can become an administrator and earn more than she has all these years as a teacher.  Jenny is sometimes as manipulative as her father and Diane still barges ahead without thinking situations through well.  Their conflict eventually leads to Jenny leaving her mother to live with her father.  Complicating matters farther is Diane’s relationship with Spencer, a man she cares about, but who is manipulated by his children to whom he doesn’t seem to be able to stand up.  Diane has to come to terms with some serious questions concerning her future and the question of whether happiness lies within herself or does she need someone else to make her happy.

 

Hughes can be counted on to write interesting, thought-provoking stories.  Even on the rare occasion when I don’t particularly care for one of his leading characters or can’t identify with him or her, I still find myself absorbed in the story.  Such was the case with this book.  For a supposedly smart woman, Diane was too argumentative, short-sighted, and self-absorbed for my taste.  Still I could sympathize with her as Greg played on her weaknesses and made her a sucker over and over.  The plot is handled well and the conflicting political views are consistent with today’s political environment.

 

This book has a great deal of appeal for both men and women, parents of teenagers, those who have faced divorce or troubled marriages, and Hughes’s legion of fans.

* * *

Abinadi by H. B. Moore took me by surprise.  I’m not sure what I was expecting, but something surely of a lighter nature.  Yes, there’s a love story, but it isn’t remotely what is considered a romance.  Moore’s first few books seemed intended for a young audience, though her last book in her Out of Jerusalem series showed greater depth and took a great leap forward in technical form and maturity level, so I guess I was expecting something lighter and more romantic than this book proves to be.  This one holds drama and excitement, reveals serious research, an understanding of a mature commitment to God, and the ability to speak directly of the sins and excesses of King Noah’s court and is, by far, Moore’s most outstanding work to date.  Even those with a superficial knowledge of the events portrayed in the Book of Mormon are aware of the results of Abinadi’s preaching to King Noah and his priests.  We know how the stories of Abinadi and Alma overlap so it’s no surprise to see Moore weave the story of Alma’s role as a priest and his conversion into Abinadi’s story.  What will surprise many is to see Abinadi portrayed as a young man.  We’re so accustomed to the Arnold Friborg painting that depicts him as an elderly prophet at the end of his life that to visualize him as a young man in his twenties with so much to live for, including a wife whom he loves and a child, is a bit of a shock.  Yet there is nothing in the scriptural account that even hints at Abinadi’s age and in making Abinadi a young man, the tragedy and poignancy of the story reaches a more intense level.

 

The book begins with a prolog or preface of the death sentence given Abinadi and his thoughts leading up to the carrying out of this sentence.  This is my only criticism of the story.  I have a strong dislike of this literary device where an intense scene from the back of a book is picked to stick at the front as a give away teaser.  Though, in this case, most readers already know what will happen, I just don’t like spoilers or teasers.  That said, the story is beautifully told from that point on of a young man who chooses to serve God, care for his elderly mother, and who is intrigued by the daughter of a high priest. 

 

Raquel is Amulon’s daughter, a young woman who catches the king’s eye and must flee for her life when she rejects both his proposal and his amorous advances.  She befriends a young shepherd boy who is instrumental in her conversion to the gospel.  She is a strong woman, facing realistic conflicts, yet is tender and sensitive to the feelings of others.  Moore handles this tender relationship well without getting bogged down in maudlin sentimentality.

 

The author paints a vivid picture of the dangers found not only in the wicked city of King Noah and his court, but gives a feel for a city that is isolated in the midst of Lamanite lands, much of which is rugged forests and jungles inhabited by wild beasts. The reader is given a strong sense of the geographic conditions, but the setting never overwhelms the story.

 

I only spotted one typo in the book.  If there are more I was too absorbed in the story to notice.  This high rate of accuracy is something to be commended.  This book will appeal to both men and women, scholars, and those who read for entertainment.  I highly recommend it.

 

 

* * *

 

EASTERFIELD by Anna Jones Buttimore, published by Leatherwood Press, soft cover, 295 pages, $16.95

 

PROMISES TO KEEP, DIANE’S STORY by Dean Hughes, published by Deseret Book, soft cover, 255 pages, $17.95

 

ABINADI by H. B.  Moore, published by Covenant Communications, soft cover, 261 pages, $16.95