“Day one post balloons.”  That is how Joan inscribed her book After Henry, which she gave me the day after the balloons dropped and the Democrats finished their 1992 convention. Those four words, for me, captured Joan and the moment itself: the superficial excitement of the convention, the silly balloons dropping, but also a beginning. The first […]

Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2022/09/22/on-the-down-beat/

I have several of Kate Quinn’s novels in my TBR pile, so when I got the chance to try Signal Moon, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld and Andrew Gibson, I jumped in blind. This short story delivered a fantastic story as past meets present in this brilliant and suspenseful tale.

Signal Moon
by Kate Quinn
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld, Andrew Gibson
Length: 1 hour and 22 minutes
Genres: Historical Fiction
Source: Prime, Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate

Rating:
Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.3x

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye comes a riveting short story about an impossible connection across two centuries that could make the difference between peace or war.

Yorkshire, 1943. Lily Baines, a bright young debutante increasingly ground down by an endless war, has traded in her white gloves for a set of headphones. It’s her job to intercept enemy naval communications and send them to Bletchley Park for decryption.

One night, she picks up a transmission that isn’t code at all—it’s a cry for help.

An American ship is taking heavy fire in the North Atlantic—but no one else has reported an attack, and the information relayed by the young US officer, Matt Jackson, seems all wrong. The contact that Lily has made on the other end of the radio channel says it’s…2023.

Across an eighty-year gap, Lily and Matt must find a way to help each other: Matt to convince her that the war she’s fighting can still be won, and Lily to help him stave off the war to come. As their connection grows stronger, they both know there’s no telling when time will run out on their inexplicable link.

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Imagine intercepting a message from an American ship from the future. That’s exactly what happens to Lily Baines, a young woman working to intercept enemy naval communications and send them to Bletchley Park for decryption in 1943 Yorkshire. US Officer Matt Jackson is relaying the attack on open air in the year 2023. He and his crew die.

The story that unfolds was captivating as Lily uses information provided to send a message to Matt. I loved the mystical aspect of the story and the phenomenon that allows these two to communicate. While the story is less than an hour and a half long, it felt complete and left me satisfied. So much so, I’ve bumped her other novels up on my reading list.

I adore Saskia Maarleveld and grab books narrated by her whenever I can. The story is third person/duel narration and she, along with Andrew Gibson, did a stellar job of narrating the tale. They captured the emotions, friendship, and tone of the story perfectly.

Fans of historical fiction and wartime stories will want to grab this one! It is the perfect listen on a rainy afternoon with a spot of tea.

Amazon* | Audible

*Read and listen for Free with Prime

Signal Moon by Kate Quinn, narrated by Saskia Maarleveld & Andrew Gibson delivered the perfect tale for a rainy afternoon with a spot of tea. #historicalfiction #audio #WWII #audiobookreview
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2022 Audiobook Challenge

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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/09/signal-moon-by-kate-quinn.html

Lacie’s Moon follows a little girl who embarks on a fantastic adventure where she learns about love and grief. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Amyia Staskiewicz?

Amyia is my daughter and that made working on this project extra special. She had been drawing since she was six years old, and I was happy she said yes when I approached her to do the project with me. It was during a difficult time and we had loss many loved ones. She created the character, and everything took off from there. I was amazed that without reading the full story and with little instructions she was still able to capture its essence.

What scene in the book did you have the most fun creating?

When Lacie rides through the stars having a heartfelt conversation with the moon. It was both fun and therapeutic because I was grieving alongside her.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

I am currently working on a couple of book projects. One of them is the next book in the “Little People Big Emotions” series which focus on children processing their feelings. It will feature Lacie adjusting to having a new sibling. It has just started the illustrating phase and I anticipate it will be available by early 2023. The second book is a story about kindness, and I am working to make it available by December 2022.

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/22/a-heartfelt-conversation-with-the-moon/

Life as a feral cat is not easy. When you are alone without a colony, surviving is even harder. Bushytail is determined to have a territory and family of his own. So he sets off to find a territory away from humans where he can meet other tom cats. He finds a home with a group of toms, and they have great adventures together. That is until one of the tom cats, Watcher, Bushytail’s friend, meets a tragic end. Bushytail is shocked and sad that his friend has died. He decides to set off for another territory, hoping to start over. On his way, he is joined by Bristle, a wise, secretive, and strong tom cat. This chance meeting is the beginning of a story of hope, love, sacrifice, and adventure.

Ruby Knight has written an incredible fantasy story for teens and young adult readers that will also entertain and captivate adult readers. The protagonist Bushytail is resilient, sweet, and has hidden leadership qualities that are revealed as the story unfolds. He does, however, have some fascinating weaknesses that provide additional depth to his character. Bristle, Bushytail’s mentor, is a medicine cat; he is mysterious and reveals his knowledge and teachings to Bushytail whether he wants these lessons or not. The other characters in the story are detailed and add an additional layer to the overall story as you get to know them. Readers will find themselves cheering for them and frantically turning the pages, wondering what they’ll get up to next.

The pace of the story never lets up; readers are kept on edge, waiting to see what happens next to this band of cats. The drama in the novel is well done and commendable; readers can easily visualize the dynamics between the characters. The story’s setting is well written and makes for a pleasant reading experience as the reader can visualize the environment and feel like they are there with this colony of cats. The world-building is expertly woven with extra attention paid to the small details making for a memorable and immersive experience.

High Clowder Cats by Ruby Knight is a captivating young adult fantasy novel. The storyline is original, interesting, and easy to get lost in. This is a fantastic start to this new series about a group of feral cats and the struggles they face in order to survive.

Pages: 235 | ASIN : B0B62NSBFB

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/22/high-clowder-cats/

Arya betta fish and her brother, Krishna, journey from the pet store where they were born to their new home at a lovely koi pond. While exploring their new home, Arya and Krishna meet new friends Blake and Sharktooth and explain their greatest mission: to reunite their family. However, when the world of the koi pond is turned upside-down, all the betta friends find themselves on an exciting adventure. Meeting new friends, discovering amazing new places, and helping each other survive, Arya and Krishna must use their wits and find a little luck on their quest to find their missing parents.

Bettas have a special place in my heart. My first pet was a betta, and I love this charming adventure tale of fish friends working hard to help each other. I also love the multi-cultural approach to this lively narrative, where both the fish and humans in the world are from many different ethnicities. Spunky Arya, courageous Krishna, wise Ash, and all the other friends the bettas encounter add their own personal magic to this thrilling journey. Numerous endearing illustrations add to the enchantment of the adventure. Whether fish, human, or animal, everyone works together to aid each other in this entertaining tale of friendship, family, and fun.

Author Gabriel Bietz uses lighthearted storytelling and adorable illustrations by Ananta Mohanta in this book that is perfect for children ages seven and up. The illustrations brought the story to life, making this a middle grade book that young readers will find engaging. The adventure wraps up nicely while leaving plenty of room for many more exciting stories to follow. The Adventures of Arya and Krishna Betta Fish is a cheerful romp through a world of never-ending challenges and fun, where friendship and determination may be the key to everything.

Pages: 129 | ASIN : B09QH8YW9W

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/22/the-adventures-of-arya-and-krishna-betta-fish/

Four men. Four desperate situations. How far would you go to keep a roof over your head? This is the question posed in Tyson Collin’s crime thriller, Homecoming Heist. Centered around our downtrodden protagonists, each man is pushed to his end when the economic situation of their dwindling, rural town threatens his livelihood.

Bo, a down-on-his-luck real estate developer can feel the hounds at the bank breathing down his neck just as another deal falls through the cracks. Doug, an unemployed ex-con, is simply trying to look after his brother’s son after several stints left him unable to raise the orphaned child, now a young man who grew up in the foster system. Steve, Doug’s nephew, has no job prospects to replace the anger constantly coursing through him from losing both his parents at a young age. Phil, a recovering alcoholic turned AA sponsor, has also seen better days and could use a windfall after years of battling addiction.

Desperation forces them to band together when a series of unfortunate events pushes them to cook up the biggest money heist their small Missouri town has ever seen. The play is sure to solve all their financial problems, but will they be able to pull it off without getting caught, or killed?

Readers will immediately be sucked into this spellbinding heist novel. I really enjoyed the intriguing depth that each character develops throughout the story. This adds much more suspense once the action picked up because I was so invested in the characters. The story reminded me of the American neo-western crime drama Hell or Highwater; compelling because you care about the characters.

Readers follow the band of thieves throughout their scheming, which is all planned out during the distraction of their local high school’s homecoming celebrations. This is a suspenseful novel with a variety of twists that I never saw coming but thoroughly enjoyed. Things quickly go sideways, leaving every man’s freedom in jeopardy. When tragedy strikes, will our antiheroes be able to overcome it or will they have to pay the ultimate price? After getting a little more than halfway through Homecoming Heist I found it hard to put down.

Pages: 261 | ASIN: B0BF2SS5B8

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/22/homecoming-heist/

Christie Cox’s life changed forever the day she fell asleep behind the wheel and rear-ended the car in front of her. This was the last of many times she found herself swerving due to unexplained drowsiness. After a lifetime of seeking answers as to why she seemed so accident-prone and being dismissed by one doctor after another, she finally had the answer to all her questions. The severe neck injury she sustained due to her car accident led to a battery of tests that gave a name to her condition. Cox now knew–she had hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS).

Holding it All Together When You’re Hypermobile, by Christie Cox, is the author’s own story of her battle to find a diagnosis that accurately explained the chronic symptoms she experienced throughout her life. In this open, caring, and motivating piece, Cox gives hope to others who suffer from chronic disorders and are fighting what seems to be a losing battle when it comes to finding a physician they can trust, finally receiving an accurate diagnosis, and managing their own healing habits.

Cox provides readers with an intimate look at her own experience and explains in great detail what makes EDS so incredibly debilitating. It’s this type of openness and willingness to share personal stories that helps others suffering with the same condition know they are not alone. In addition, patients and family members of those with EDS can find, not only solace, but information about EDS. Cox goes out of her way to provide hope and reassurance to readers, and this is a welcome tone in a book that contains facts that could easily become overwhelming.

The list of calming and healing techniques Cox offers is extensive. This is one of my favorite parts of her writing. She goes out of her way to offer readers dozens of strategies for coping on their most challenging days. Meditation is an important part of the advice Cox provides. She helps readers both recognize when they need to try meditation and instructs them on the most effective techniques for their situation. Everything about her writing exhibits care and concern for her readers and fellow patients.

It is difficult to share deeply personal stories, especially those that deal with debilitating diseases and the struggles with medical diagnoses. Cox manages to do so with grace while broadening readers’ knowledge and giving them the hope they so desperately seek. I recommend Cox’s book to anyone who has been diagnosed with EDS or POTS or believes they may suffer from them. I also believe Cox’s story can provide immense comfort to family members and caregivers of anyone with a chronic illness. 

Pages: 374 | ASIN: B0B7QGX5BD

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/22/holding-it-all-together-when-youre-hypermobile/