fiction – One Chapter

Hansel and Gretel by Stephen King

5 stars Children’s Fairy Tale

I liked this new interpretation by Stephen King of the old classic. Make sure you read the introduction at the beginning of the book as it sets the stage for this children’s picture book, and I felt it helped me appreciate the story more. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak, King took the illustrations and wrote this book based on the whimsical drawings contained inside the book. King used some of the original sentences from this classic fairy tale within the story, but King also added his own touch creating a story that is more elaborate than the original.

Hansel and Gretel lived with their father and their stepmother at the edge of the great dark forest. Their father is a poor broom maker, and the stepmother is a spoiled wicked woman. The family is running out of food so the wife convinces the husband that in order to survive, they must take the children out deep into the forest and leave them. She convinces him that God will care for them and they will be safe in the forest. Now, father was not convinced that leaving his children out in the wild forest but she kept at him, convincing him nonetheless.

Hansel had overheard the plans and started making a plan. Gretal was upset after learning what her parents were planning to do but Hansel convinced her that it would be okay. As they slept, they both had dreams. You can imagine how different their dreams were from one another. The next morning, father and mother walked off with their children into the forest. It was just like the parents had planned, only they didn’t know that Hansel had a plan of his own in the works. The personalities of both the parents were felt and seen as this scenario played out.

The parents returned home alone as the children found refuge with each other inside the dark forest. Imagine the stepmother’s surprise when the children knocked on their door the next day! Ha – surprise! Time passed and food was still scarce. The woman again convinced her husband that the children had to go. They had to leave them deeper into the dark forest this time! Oh, she was wicked!! Just like before, father needed to be convinced, Hansel heard the plan, he thought of a different plan, Gretal was scared, and the dreams came back. They journeyed into the dark forest. When the parents returned home, they were alone and the children had fallen asleep in the dark forest. Hansel had put his plan to work. When the children awoke, they were surprised to find that Hansel’s plan had failed. Stuck in the dark forest, would the children ever make their way home again?

I liked how King wrote the story to match the illustrations. These were definitely Maurice Sendek’s signature illustrations. From the candy cottage in the forest, to the twisted trees swallowing up the pages, and the children’s dreams materializing on the page, Sendek and King worked their magic on this classic. There’s harmony with the text and illustrations, each of them sharing the spotlight. What a great combination. 5 stars

Mystery Guest (Molly the Maid #2) by Nita Prose

4.5 stars Mystery

Listened to this on audio. Molly has worked her way up to head maid at the Regency Grand Hotel and she is so proud of her accomplishment. If anyone could write a book on how to properly clean a room, it would be Molly. Molly is training a new hire and I loved how proud she is of her job and how thorough she was with instructing her.

There’s to be a crucial press conference at the hotel, by an award-winning author, when that author dies suddenly at the hotel. Fans and guests were buzzing around the hotel anxious and excited about this important event and now, the author is dead.

The police are on the scene, and the hotel staff are brought in for questioning. The staff knows more than they realize and Molly, with her attention to detail, becomes central to the investigation. We learn more about Molly in this book. Her grandmother played a key role in Molly’s life, and she was dear to her. Molly is able to carry on her responsibilities as a head maid as she helps the police in this investigation. She makes a fantastic detective (and I guess she could go into this line of work should she want to retire her maid attire) as she helps them solve this case.

A fun and entertaining story. 4.5 stars

When I Kill You by B.A. Paris

4.5 Stars Suspense

Someone is following Nell, she’s sure of it. She feels it yet she has no proof. She’s old enough to understand what’s going on, she’s 36 for heaven’s sake, she can’t be imagining these feelings. Alex, her older friend, can’t be the culprit, she’s pretty sure about that one.

Flashing back in the book, we find a younger Nell, a Nell who goes by the name Elle. Elle was looking out her window when she saw an interaction between a young woman and a gentleman taking place. It was one of those incidents that you watch unfold before your eyes. As it happens, you can’t believe that you are actually witnessing it, taking place. Elle tried to help the woman once she realized what was happening, she really did, but it was too late. Once the police were brought in, Elle did her best to help with the investigation but it’s not over. There’s more, will it ever be over?

The fragile flowers arrived for Nell, at work. Void of a card and with the flowers brightening up the room, Nell wondered who could have sent this huge bouquet for no reason. They discovered that the sender paid cash for the flowers. With Nell being sure that her boyfriend would never send her flowers at work, the identity of who purchased these flowers added another layer to her mystery.

Throughout the story, we do read excerpts from “Extract From Notebook #” which is the person who is actually following Nell. This person gets physically close to Nell and tells their point of view of the who, what and why. Why they chose Nell, what they’re doing, her reactions, and they always close their entry with the same sinister comment. I thought it got creepy sometimes reading Nell’s narrative and then, reading these “Extract From Notebook #” narratives as you read/see their different points of view. I can’t believe how close this individual got to Nell and she didn’t recognize their repeated appearance and figure out who this creepy individual was. Or was it someone that Nell knew who was following her, and giving her the creeps?

Such a suspenseful story that had me wondering who the menace was and why. There were a few individuals that I had suspected but narrowing them down was the tricky part. I’ve always enjoyed B.A. Paris’ books, and this one was no exception. I did wish there would have been story about the younger Nell. Elle’s innocence and drive created the perceptive and over-attentive Nell. 4.5 stars

A big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this fantastic thriller in exchange for my honest review.

Duck Duck Taco Truck by Laura Lavoie

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

Duck and Duck want to make some money to buy themselves a boat for the water. They set themselves up on the beach trying to sell tacos and they’re ready to make some money. They’ve worked hard and now they’re ready. But wait, who is that in that other food truck? It’s Goose and he’s selling food too! No way!! Duck and Duck are mad but they try harder to make their food/business look better. When its time to sell…..the line outside Goose’s truck is long! Duck and Duck have no one in their line. Goose is going crazy with all the orders, he can’t keep up and his customers are not happy.

Duck and Duck feel defeated and start to walk away but Goose realizes that he needs help. Goose suggests that maybe they can work together! They then come up with a plan to combine their foods and sell taco items. Taco pizza, taco burgers, taco hot dogs, etc. What a plan!! They start whipping out orders and everyone is happy! The ending is cute. Bright colorful illustrations. Fun rhyming text. 5 stars.

Oh Dear, Look What I Got! by Michael Rosen

5 stars Children’s Picture Book

A great read along or would make a great book for a classroom. It begins with a small boy going to the shop to get a carrot. The shop owner does not give the boy a carrot, but he brings him a bundle wrapped and tied in brown paper with a tail sticking out of the end. Have your little one guess something that rhymes with carrot….yes, a parrot! The look on the boy’s face is shock, and the poor bird looks sad as the boy says “Oh dear, look what I got! Do I want that? No, I do NOT!” The boy then travels to another shop with the parrot flying behind him. This time the boy asks for a hat. Guess what?

The shop owner comes out with a brown bundle tied with string and sticking out at the end is a black tail with white on the end. Do you think that is the hat the boy wants?

I loved how this book continues on in this fashion. The boy asks each different shop owner for something different as each shop owner giving the boy something besides what the boy wanted yet the item they give him rhymes with what he originally wanted. The rhyming and the repetitive phrasing are fun and will have your child helping you read this book.

As the book concludes, it’s a cute ending and everyone is happy. I also enjoyed the colorful illustrations that did not take away from the story. The facial expressions are wonderful and the animals are cute. This is a must read for little ones. 5++ stars

The Intruder by Freida McFadden

4 stars Thriller

Casey just wanted a place to relax. An isolated cabin in the woods was ideal, but Casey wasn’t able to relax much when a storm was headed her way. The cabin needed repairs to survive the storm which would be upon her soon, but her landlord wasn’t much help in getting them done for her. A nearby neighbor offers up some hospitality so she’ll survive the storm, but Casey hesitates when hearing his offer and believes that she can manage on her own. Lee seemed nice but she’s just not sure. As the storm starts to blow in, Casey notices a light in the shed outback. Yup, Casey has to investigate that light and it’s there that she discovers the emaciated girl.

As I read, I’m visually seeing Casey discovering this girl in her shed while the scenes outside her shed are deteriorating. The storm is building in strength as Casey takes in the girl before her, covered in blood. Some decisions must be made, and they must be made quickly!

We flip back in time and we meet Ella. Ella lives with her mom and Ella’s situation was heartbreaking when I was first introduced to her. Ella’s mom is a hoarder so it may seem like she has everything but in reality, she has nothing. Ella’s mom Desiree is so cruel to Ella. Desiree’s comments and treatment of Ella left me angry and frustrated, why does she need to be so hard? Ella is also the target for some school bullies, who take aim at her for everything. When Ella saves one of her school tormentors, a deep relationship builds between the two of them. Ella finally has some positiveness and a bright side in her day but unfortunately, it doesn’t last. As the bricks came crumbling down, I had to wonder what Ella would do next.

A slower than normal start for this McFadden book. It had the dark gloomy feeling about it but in those beginning chapters, there wasn’t the typical energy that I normally feel with her books. Keep up with the names in this story, as I felt it was challenging at times to keep everyone straight, as the names kept moving about or changing right before my eyes. I even brought out my paper/pen to keep everyone separate. I did enjoy the story but it wasn’t one of my favorites of hers. 4 stars

Keeper of Lost Children by Jadeqa Johnson

5 stars Historical Fiction

I could not read this book fast enough! With multiple timelines, I was thrown between the lives of Sophia, Ozzie, and Ethel. The situations of the characters were different enough to keep the character’s stories separate as I read but when I had to put the book down to actually go to sleep, I did write down some notes as I didn’t want to lose track of any of the important information in the lives of these captivating individuals.

It is the 1940’s, his world is at war and Ozzie wants to make a life for himself. Enlisting with the Army, Ozzie is sent to Germany, where desegregation of the military has just begun. Ozzie thinks he’s keeping his life together amidst all the activities surrounding him. Being alone for the first time in his life, he has made a few friends, and accountability rests all on his shoulders. Although he left his mother back home, her voice is constantly replaying in the back of his mind. The temptation is just too great and Ozzie can’t resist. Out with the guys at a club, he meets a local, Jelka. She fills the void that Ozzie left behind at home. It’s all fun and games for a while until he hears the words that snap him to attention, she’s pregnant.

It’s the mid 1960’s, Sophia is living on a farm with her brothers and parents. Sophia bears a lot of responsibility. Sophia has always felt more like a farmhand than a daughter to her parents, but she never questioned it because life on a farm is hard. A smart student, she earns the opportunity for a free ride to a prestigious school, West Oak Academy. I loved the way Sophia navigates her way to the academy, as she knows the reality of the circumstances that she lives in. Once there, the reality of the situation hits. This is a good academic fit for Sophia, but when she arrives with her meager belongings, she realizes there are going to be many more hurdles that she’ll have to jump over besides the ones she just cleared. It’s hurdle after hurdle as Sophia tries to make a better life for herself. These obstacles left me cheering for Sophia throughout the book. She’d have to be successful, right? She had the determination and the makings to be successful individual. She couldn’t let outside issues and a couple bullies bring her down, could she? She’s going to have to face her parents someday and when that happens, it should be interesting. Sophia can’t keep dodging the facts.

And we have Ethel. Ethel was trying to make the best of her life, but she was missing something. She wanted to have children. It’s the mid 1950’s and Ethel and her husband were unable to have children of their own. Ethel notices a group of nuns with children in the distance, so Ethel approaches them which creates life changing events for her. I saw Ethel as an innocent, sweet women with a huge heart. Ethel wanted to help the nuns and the children, whose lives they oversaw easier. Ethel started out doing what she knew she could do and she later enlisted the help of others. I don’t think Ethel knew the intensity or the impact that she would make in the lives of these individuals.

I enjoyed all the individuals inside this story and as their stories merged, I loved the story even more. The effect that each one of them had with one another created a deep and long-lasting impression. This book was more than I expected when I first read about it. Definitely a must read. 5 stars

Thank you to Simon & Schuster, NetGalley, and Sadeqa Johnson for providing me with a free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel

5 stars Sci Fi

This was unique! Unique as in, I loved it! It reminded me a lot of The Dome to some extent. I was so intrigued with the situation that was playing out, I didn’t know how this book was going to end. I see now that some individuals didn’t care for this book, and that I understand, but me, I was trapped inside the dome too.

Meet Xavier, a thirteen-year-old teen who is on vacation, at their lake house, with his dad and stepmom. Xavier would rather be home with his mom and brother, hanging out with his girlfriend. In the morning, the family awakens and what happened? Where are they? They are no longer located by the lake, and they realize that they are living on a farm. Ha, I don’t know about you, but I would be thinking I’m inside the Twilight Zone.

Upon further investigation, the family finds there’s no way out. They are trapped inside a dome. No communication with the outside world as the family lives off their new surroundings, everything they need to survive is provided. Time passes and although they miss their previous life, they have accepted what their life has become. One day, a new family arrives, bringing with them their own new farm.

This could be good, as the family will now have neighbors or this could cause issues inside the dome. The good news is that for Xavier, there is young female amongst the new residents. The bad news is that this new family brings with them opinions and roots that differ and cause conflict.

I liked how this book played out and how the isolation changed this family. When the new family arrived, the dramatics inside the dome changed. Were the families supposed to change? Was this about diversity, acceptance or power? I enjoyed the characters; they were very realistic and honest. A great book to make me think yet I know this book will not be for everyone. 5 stars

Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong

4.5 stars Mystery

I jumped into this series which worked out for me. I’ve read some of Kelley Armstrong’s books before and when this popped up on NetGalley, I knew it would be good, but I was curious if jumping into a series was a wise choice. Kelley provided enough background information so I wasn’t lost but I think to understand the chemistry between the characters, it would be wise to start at the beginning of this series.

The bleakness of the weather situation drew me in. Located in the Yukon Wilderness in Canada, this area is rugged, a true frontier, where nature rules. As the locals gathered, it seemed like a typical night. She doesn’t remember how she ended up on the edge of town. Right now, she’s glad that she’s alive. She hadn’t had that much to drink, which was good otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to put up much of a fight. But what happened? Who was behind this? And why?

The sheriff and area detective are called in. Eric and Casey begin investigating the assault when the weather takes a turn for the worse. Temperatures plummet and a blizzard hits the area. Looking at the area where the assault occurred, the team discover a frozen female body. The body is disturbing in nature which alerts the women. Who would be out in these conditions? What are they dealing with?

This is a very small community which they felt was a close-knit group but now, they are second guessing this community they are living in. The residents start to feel unsure of their neighbors and start to question each other. If that wasn’t enough to fill your mind with, Casey is pregnant and very close to her due date. Casey wants to do her job, to continue to be a detective who is committed to justice but she’s also about to be a mother, can she do both successfully? With mysteries and interesting characters, I enjoyed this fast-paced book. It’s a small town where everyone has their own story, their own secrets and who can you trust. 4.5 stars

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Holding On For Dear Life by Dusti Bowling

5 stars Middle School

Fantastic read! Was he living his own dreams or his father’s? Since the age of 6, Canyon has been holding onto the ropes of a bull, bringing excitement to the crowd around him. Center stage, enjoying the thrill, holding on for dear life. The bull, growing angrier by the minute, trying to knock him off. He was a Cress; he was following in his father’s footprints.

It has only been 3 years since his father’s dream of a championship slipped away from him. His father hasn’t set foot in an arena since an accident. Now, Canyon watches as his sister and grandma cheer him on from their seats. Canyon wants to win a championship; the title his father didn’t win. What hurt was the incentive that drove Canyon towards that goal. Canyon hoped that by winning a championship, his father would “remember we’re still a family, even if Mom’s gone.” Too bad his father couldn’t see what was happening.

Canyon suffers a fall in the arena, but he toughens it out. To the outside world, he’s fine but Canyon is hurting. Since his accident, dad is not himself and he places himself anywhere BUT inside the arena. With his wife gone, he likes to spend time drinking and forgetting how to be a father. When an emergency arises inside the arena, dad rushes to the arena where he’s flooded with emotions, past and present and he must confront them all. It was a big dose of reality for everyone involved. No more hiding, no more denying life, or just trying to put blinders on, this is living…..living in the moment whether good or bad.

A book that is about family, about doing what you love, and about commitment. It’s about taking chances and having to live with what you are given. A fabulous read!