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Writing, Reading, and Rural Life With a Border Collie

Category Archives: Book Reviews – Fiction


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6 Literary Scene Stealers & Kimber’s New Best Bud

Dontcha just love scene stealers? That person or critter that outshines the rest of the cast, especially unexpectedly? You know. Like me?

 

All modesty aside, Mom and I have been keeping a running tally of literary scene stealers in recently read books.

Some of the books they appear in are great. Some are awful. Not a main character, a scene stealer outshines everyone else, including a bad script.

Here’s a brief list of our top 6 scene stealers from recently read historical non-fiction and fiction fiction (that’s not a typo). A brief synopsis of each book is included:

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Why ‘Shadow’ is Like a Warm Breath of Spring

Shadow

By Michael Morpurgo

U.S.: Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of Macmillan

Great Britain: HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2010

Genre: Historical Fiction

Via: Library

A silver star badge. A little red train.  A cave in Afghanistan. A “sniffer dog” named Shadow. An incredible story of escape, adversity, courage, and love. The kind that never gives in and never gives up.

“We want you back.”

Kimber here, saying “Happy Spring” – finally! I’m also ready to introduce you to my new BFF: Shadow the springer spaniel. Aka: “Polly.” She’s a special bomb-sniffing dog. (Okay, she’s not quite as special as I am. But let’s not get picky here, okay?)

Wait. Where was I? Oh yeah. Shadow. She gets lost in Afghanistan during the war and is finally reunited with her old unit from the U.K. But not before finding her way into the heart of young Aman.

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5 Reasons Why “The Edge of Nowhere” Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat

The Edge of Nowhere, 2nd edition

By C.H. Armstrong

Penner Publishing, 2015 (1st edition)

Via: Library

C.H. Armstrong’s The Edge of Nowhere is set in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl days of the “Dirty Thirties.” The protagonist is a no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners spitfire named Victoria Hastings Harrison Greene.

Victoria is a graduate of the School of Hard Knocks. Now elderly, she has a tumor on her pancreas. So the novel opens with a letter. It’s penned by Victoria and addressed to her grandchildren. Dated November 12, 1992, the epistle begins:

“I know you refer to me as ‘the meanest woman you’ve ever known.’”

The rest of the book – 261 pages – fills in the blanks. What emerges is the fictionalized story of a woman who refused to be a victim.

Here are 5 Reasons Why The Edge of Nowhere Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat:

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A Sweet One for the Little-uns

Ailie’s Island

By Antal Khripko

(Indie author, 2023)

Genre: Children’s/Fiction

Pages (Kindle): 56

Via: Author Request

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well Yabba-dabba-doo and Glory Hallelujah! spake I, Kimber the Magnificent. That’s what I said when the author contacted us for a review request for his book about a little girl who lives on a remote island off the coast of Scotland. Little’uns and a remote island off the coast of Scotland?! Does it get any better than that?! As in, these are a few of my favorite things..

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‘Vasilisa’ Mesmerizing, Melodic

Vasilisa

By M.L Farb

Genre: Fiction/Fantasy; YA Historical Romance; Clean Romance

Pages: 252 + Food For Thought and End Notes

Via: Author Request

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Mom: Kimmi, what are you doing?!

Kimber: No interruptions, Mom! I’m practicing the Ruskan hopak and scouting up my balalaika.

Mom (eyes rolling): Hate to break it to you, Kimster. But you’re a dog. Dogs don’t dance the hopak. Or play the balalaika.

Kimber: Wanna bet?

And that’s where we were after turning the final page of M.L. Farb’s mesmerizingly masterful fairy tale/fantasy novel, Vasilisa. One of the main themes that shimmers throughout this witty and uber engaging story is a question: Is the heroine Vasilisa the strong or Vasilisa the good? Can she be both? How?

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‘Magyk” a ‘Diamond in the Ruff’

Pssst! Yeah. You. Kimber the Magnificent here. Asking if you can keep a secret, bub? Cuz I’m gonna letcha in on one today. But first ya gotta promise not to tell She Who Must Obeyed, okay? Agreed? Pawsome. Here goes:

One of us – the one with opposable thumbs- started this here Magyk book under shall we say, less than optimal conditions?

Septimus Heap, Book One: Magyk - Kindle edition by Sage, Angie, Mark Zug. Children Kindle eBooks ...

 

Via: Library

Pages: 564

Genre: Fiction/Children’s Fantasy

Okay, okay. The conditions were downright lousy. I’m talking ruff here. (Not a typo.) Cuz the one with opposable thumbs started reading this book while waiting for news about a sweet furry face we all know and love undergoing emergency care at the vet. Fur (also not a typo) background, see: The Patient Is Home & Resting Comfortably.

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6 Titles to Curl Up With if You Love Whodunits

You’re kidding, right?

I say this to Mom a lot. Especially when she gets The Look. You know. That Look. It usually precedes a mile-long description of her new favorite book. Of course I listen. Because, ya know. That’s my job. Well, that and being beautiful and brilliant. (It’s a tough job. But I’m up for it!)

So when Mom came up with yet another harebrained idea for Fine Wine Fridays – where do these things come from? – I just smiled and listened.

Mom’s latest brainstorm? A list of really cool murder mysteries/whodunits.

Being the brains in this dynamic duo, I reminded Mom that she doesn’t typically gravitate toward either genre. But you know Mom!

So here, in no particular order, are Mom’s version of Fine Wine Friday murder mysteries/whodunits. (See more Fine Wine Friday picks here.)

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High-Octane Action Fuels Crime Thriller in ‘Master of Midnight’

The Master of Midnight

By William Michael Davidson (Indie author, 2024)

Genre: Murder Mystery/Crime Thriller/Whodunit

Pages: 406

Via: Author request

Note: We received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kimber the Magnificent here. Giving you a quick heads up: The hero of this story isn’t a hooman. It’s Pharaoh the Rottie. You’ll get that if you read the book. Cuz Pharoah’s like, Pawsome! And my new best friend! Oh yeah.

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Delicious! ‘Crystal Shadows’ Fills Fantasy Bill

Crystal Shadows: Gripping New Blood (Olympia Publishers, 2020)

By R.J.  Parker

Genre: Fiction/Fantasy

It was a dark and stormy night…

No. Really. It was. I, Kimber, was there. And the night wasn’t just “dark and stormy.” Rain was coming down in sheets. Sideways. The wind was howling like a banshee with a tooth ache. A flood watch and a wind advisory were in effect.

“It’s a perfect day to curl up by the fire with a good book,” spake Mom.

Well. Who am I to disagree?

 

Thankfully, R.J. Parker’s Crystal Shadows: Gripping New Blood filled the bill. Here’s why:

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We Didn’t Want THIS Book To End

Crown of Three: A Kingdom Rises

By J.D. Rinehart

Via; Library

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

Pages: 432

Rheeta flew on. She was old. She was tired. But, like Toronia, she was at peace.

She was nearly home.

Ever turn the last page of a book, close the cover, and sigh? Feel like you’re saying goodbye to a dear friend? Wish it could go on and on? And you just don’t want it to end?

That’s what finishing the third and final installment in J.D. Rinehart’s Crown of Three trilogy is like. The third book is called The Kingdom Rises. It’s a little Lord of the Rings-ish. The three triplets also reminded us a little of the Pevensie kiddos of Narnia renown. And that’s pretty rarefied company, indeed.

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