We tend to think of Christian nationalism, the political ideology based on the belief that the country’s authentic identity lies in its Christian roots and in the perpetuation of Christian privilege, as having burst upon the scene to accompany and facilitate the rise of Donald Trump. But as Philip Gorski and Samuel Perry explain in […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/02/09/victimhood-and-vengeance-the-flag-and-the-cross/
Virginia Woolf famously complained that there were too few novels about women’s “relationships” with other women. Her point, which has its own chapter in A Room of One’s Own (1929), is that plots involving women have, “almost without exception,” hung on their ties to men. She imagines taking a new novel off the shelf at […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/02/09/friends-a-love-story-fiona-and-jane-jean-chen-ho/
Upon entering “Sin Autorización” (Without Authorization), an exhibition at Columbia University’s Wallach Gallery, one encountered a large free-standing wall covered with screenshots of Facebook messages in Spanish railing against Cuban authorities, calling for more protests, and demanding freedom for political prisoners: “HAVANA IS IN THE STREET, EVERYONE HIT THE STREET”; “Today is a beautiful day […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/02/09/the-other-cuba-sin-autorizacion-contemporary-cuban-art/
Poor Big Guy. When we meet him at the start of A.M. Homes’s novel The Unfolding, his candidate for president has just lost, his alcoholic wife seems to hate him, and his sweet, doting daughter is starting to suspect he’s a jerk. It’s election night, 2008, and he’s at the bar of the Biltmore Hotel […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/02/09/white-fright-the-unfolding-a-m-homes/
The most stunning geopolitical surprise of the past year is how poorly the Russian military has been fighting in Ukraine. When Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion in February 2022, everyone—including the US intelligence analysts who had predicted it—assumed that Volodymyr Zelensky’s government in Kyiv would fall within a few weeks or even days and be […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/02/09/putins-wars-from-chechnya-to-ukraine-galeotti/
Today I am excited to share the fourth book in the Transplanted Tales series, EVER AFTER by Kate SeRine. It’s the 10-Year Anniversary of the Transplanted Tale series. Kensington and the author are celebrating with new covers, blog tours and giveaways. Today I will share my original review. Be sure to enter the giveaway before grabbing your copy!
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A beautiful Robin Hood reconnects with her love Little John after transporting to the real world in this “paranormal romance filled with suspense” (SmexyBooks).
For centuries, Gideon Montrose has mourned the loss of his true love. Throwing himself into his work, he has served the King of Fairies without question—and, often, without mercy. So when the King orders him to apprehend a notorious thief, Gideon obeys. But this time, Gideon is on for a shock when he finally gets his hands on the beautiful culprit.
Arabella Locksley is none other than the spirited, unpredictable woman he knew back in Make Believe. As Robin Hood, Arabella stole from the rich and gave to the poor with Gideon—then known as Little John—by her side.
Believing that she had fallen to her death five hundred years ago, Gideon naturally has some questions. But Arabella has secrets she must keep even from him. Now Gideon faces an impossible choice: he must either betray the woman he once loved, or the king he’s bound to serve.
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*originally posted August 12, 2014
Each time I open up a new Transplanted Tale from Kate SeRine, I know I am in for a treat and Ever After was delightful and suspenseful. From the King of Fairies to Merlin, it was enchanting. We met Gideon Montrose in Along Came a Spider, and I like many wished for his story. SeRine gave him an excellent story and introduced Arabella Locksley “Robin Hood” What? You thought Robin Hood was a man?
Coffee Dates with Ever After:
First Date: Gideon Montrose serves the King of Fairies, and he is ordered to hunt down a thief who is stealing fairy dust. SeRine shares his back history and the loss of the woman he loved. Once again, I feel myself slipping into another Transplanted Tale. Someone is stealing fairy dust & King Arthur’s artifacts in the Here and Now. My spidey senses tingled and sure enough; our thief is Arabella Locksley, the love of Gideon’s life and Robin Hood of Make Believe. I love second chance romances don’t you?
Second date: Anger, lust, love, and fear are the emotions we encounter as they two entwine. I felt their connection and loved that Gideon heard her side of the story, despite feeling betrayed. This is second chance romance, and I am not sure everyone will connect, but I swallowed the pill and believed! They travel to see Merlin and learn more about who is stealing the artifacts and fairy dust. Robin is not innocent, but there is a lot she is holding back. Wait!- If she is the thief, will he turn her over to his king? We get a couple of hot, almost moments, but these two keep getting interrupted. Gideon has one week to turn over the thief and right now Arabella is his only suspect. Eeep!
Third date: Secrets, deception, lost artifacts and betrayal notch up the suspense. Our couple final reignites the old flame and ooh-la-la SeRine brings the heat. Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor, and nothing has changed; someone else is involved, but who? With the aid of his friends, the Queens’ mirror, and Merlin himself, they need to solve the crime before the king demands justice. I loved seeing Trish, Nick, Nate, Lavender, Red and Seth again. Ooo, this last date was intense with battles, action, and one of our characters is in great peril. Will they get their happily ever after or will fate turn ugly? What? You thought I would tell you how my date ended? Nope, not even for chocolate truffles.
Ever After was a fun edition to the Transplant series, and I enjoyed the ride. While each of the books will work as standalone, you will miss out on some serious snark, romance, intense cases and Tale mischief. I highly recommend reading them in order!
Red
Grimm Consequences
The Better to See You
Along Came A Spider
Ever After
Better Watch Out (coming 2023)
Excerpt from Ever After (Transplanted Tales #4)
“This was a mistake.”
“Well, I guess that’s the theme of our relationship,” I mumbled. “And I made the biggest mistake of all, believin’ y’ever cared for me.”
The sting of her open palm connecting with my cheek caught me off guard.
“Say what you want about the mistakes I’ve made,” she raged, her cheeks growing red with indignation. “There’s certainly no shortage of them. But don’t you ever question how much I loved you! By doing so you insult us both.”
I stared at her, literally struck mute.
When I didn’t speak, she swallowed a sob and turned away. “I have to go,” she called over her shoulder. “I’ve already stayed too long.” Her hurried steps carried her a few yards before I blew out a harsh sigh and let fly a stream of juicy curses, knowing I was a glutton for punishment even as I went after her.
“Arabella! Wait!” I grabbed her arm, bringing her to a stop but releasing her when the wounded look in her eyes cut me to the core. I put my hands on my hips, staring at my feet as I debated what to say, not willing to look her in the face, afraid that if I met the eyes I adored, I’d lose myself in them.
I’d never stopped loving her, had never stopped thinking about her. As ridiculous as it seemed, some part of me had always held out hope that she’d somehow miraculously return. And here she was, right before me. She said she didn’t know what had happened to her, what had kept her away . . . And I wanted to believe it. My long-broken heart whispered bitter words, telling me to walk away and never look back, that that part of my life was over.
But it was a lie. That part of my life would never be over. She’d filled my heart in a way no woman ever had or would again. And I wasn’t about to piss on that by turning her away when she clearly needed me.
“What trouble are y’in?” I asked, forcing my voice to be gentle.
“It’s my concern,” she said with a sniff, making me feel like an irredeemable jackass for bringing her to tears. “I didn’t come here to beg you to help me or to drag you into my mess. I just . . . I just wanted to see you again. I dream of you, of us, every night, Gideon. When I close my eyes, your face is all I see. I know you don’t believe me, but I did love you—I still do. I always will.”
I felt my chest tighten at her words, wanting so desperately to believe her. I risked raising my gaze to hers, gauging her sincerity. To my surprise, she actually seemed to be telling the truth.
Damn me to hell, but I was gonna fall for her all over again. Even though I was furious and hurting and knew with certainty that I was bound for heartache again, I was powerless to stop it. But she didn’t have to know that. And I’d make sure she didn’t. I’d managed to keep my emotions in check all these years, had learned to maintain the stoic silence that was required of my servitude to the king. I never imagined I’d need those skills to guard my heart. And when she left again—as she’d already admitted she would—I’d at least be able to maintain my dignity.
In the meantime, I couldn’t abandon her now any more than I could the day we’d met. What nobility remained a part of me forbade it. I’d be a friend to her. Just a friend. I owed it to what we’d once shared to at least try to accept that whatever had happened to her, whatever mysterious force had kept her from coming to me, she was here now. And she needed my help.
I smoothed my hand down her arm, drawing her closer, shoving aside all my feelings of anger and betrayal to focus on quieting the fear I saw in her eyes, on being the friend she needed me to be at this moment. “Tell me what’s happened to you, lass. Let me help you. I’ll talk to my king. I’ll do whatever I can. You know I will. Just tell me what you’ve done.”
The look she gave me was agonized, torn. Finally, she nodded and slipped her hand into mine, little sparks of desire firing off in my blood at the touch of her skin. “Let me show you.”
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/01/blog-tour-ever-after-by-kate-serine.html
Head… Boulevard… Six… Park… Right… Flower… Worn… Ciao…
Thomas eagerly wants to help the world. Presented with an opportunity to do just that, he joins a government experiment led by Dr. Larson. This brilliant scientist believes Thomas can bring peace and order to a chaotic world. However, the method he chooses to achieve this aim is nothing Thomas was prepared to face. After enduring carefully crafted experiments, Thomas emerges as a powerful weapon. Yet, even after crushing conditioning, Thomas is left with questions about meaning, free will, and destiny. In the darkest moment, Thomas must decide his identity and step into his ability to choose.
Create Destruction, by Ryan A. Kovacs, is a brilliant and chilling philosophical exploration of humanity. The reader witnesses Thomas’ thoughts and experiences as he endures mental conditioning. Yet, even while being taught rhetoric and actions by Dr. Larson, Thomas remains contemplative of life, time, and humanity. Thomas’ father is the one voice that sheds light on this swirling darkness. He presents a competing philosophy to Dr. Larson’s worldview that connects Thomas to his humanity.
Free will and choice, as they relate to destiny, are the driving themes of this story. Can one truly have a choice in events if destiny has already chosen it for you? The writing style is utterly unique and intriguing. Poetic, vibrant, and succinct – the author conveys both the temporary and the eternal in a few lines. The immaterial ideas are infused into concrete events – reverberating increased meaning with every layer. Additionally, how the book is sectioned into poetic movements supports these themes.
It is important for readers to note that this book gives the most relevant details from Thomas’ perspective and allows readers to fill in the gaps. This is a powerful writing technique as the reader considers the philosophical implications of the events. Ultimately, the most personal theme was the idea that choice is still available even in the most crippling circumstances.
Pages: 159 | ASIN : B0BRNW1JY7
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/19/create-destruction/
Murder at Manzanar is an incredibly detailed and exciting story written by Steve Zimcosky. The gripping story follows a retired police officer who is also a talented private detective. Tom Sipowicz is contacted after a Buddhist statue is broken, revealing an old envelope addressed to Hideki Sakura, who no one knows who this is. Tom is employed to trace the owner of this mysterious envelope. Along the way, Tom interacts with several elders, who openly discuss their personal experiences of Japanese Internment camps. The eye-opening stories bring the reader’s attention to the atrocities many individuals faced during World war 2 at the hands of the US. This is an essential piece of history cleverly placed within this comprehensive book. The author describes in detail the process of finding the missing Hideki Sakura, speaking to many people with whom the protagonist may never have interacted otherwise.
I think this book is a fabulous read. It keeps the reader focused, and the author has an eye for details. I believe each character, from Tom to the elders he talks to throughout, is described in a way the reader can picture, which creates a good image of the story in the reader’s head.
Zimcosky creates a heartfelt story that discusses history in a remarkably well-written subtle way, which the reader can take away with them once the book is complete. The book’s pace is perfect for teen readers, keeping them engaged in the plotline. The addition of historical information is an added bonus that educators will appreciate. I think the writing style sets an excellent image for the reader and keeps them intrigued, allowing for an easy, relaxing read.
Murder at Manzanar is a captivating cozy mystery that draws on history and exceptional character development to keep readers interested. This short and fast-paced novel is perfect for picking up and reading on a lazy afternoon or when you need a clean intriguing mystery to solve.
Pages: 160 | ASIN : B0B3S7ZFHQ
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/19/murder-at-manzanar/
Author Paul Dunion’s inspirational book deals with mindful aging and teaches readers to accept gracefully that life happens to all of us, not the other way around. Although our ego loves to believe we are in control, we forget how much of life is actually not in our control. Death is the only constant, and life is but a journey toward this final destination. The only way to stop being afraid of the mysterious and unpredictable nature of life is to relinquish this assumption of being the one doing the aging and instead realize how it is our lives that age us. With a candid yet philosophical style, the narrator discusses the ordeals one has to face in becoming an elder.
My Days With Emma certainly puts the spotlight on Emma as a tribute and a genuine expression of the author’s gratitude for her contribution in enabling and encouraging him on a path of soulful aging, and understandably so, since Emma plays a significant role in Dunion’s life as both his spiritual mentor and life coach. But, although the book is centered on the theme of aging, it is not necessarily a book for the older generations. This is what makes it so fascinating. The narrator talks about his own fears and insecurities, but as a reader, irrespective of our age, we can relate to his experiences because aging can be relative.
It is not uncommon among us to compare ourselves with the younger members of a circle, be it in our professional life or social life. We often compare and then feel bitter about their success or victories when we associate their gains with their youth because, unlike other factors, we have no control over our age. This simple truth often leaves us feeling profoundly disillusioned and defeated. Yet, the fact that the knowledge and wisdom we gather over the years can be an invaluable resource that we can use to help others, in turn, doesn’t easily cross our minds. This is where Dunion steps in with his book to remind us. It gives the kind of validation and reassurance that we all deserve from time to time about our own worth in other people’s lives.
Pages: 214 | ISBN : 1639885714
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/19/my-days-with-emma/
Seventh-grader Mel and her sister Sage begin an average walk home from school. Taking a detour through Old Town and out into the rice paddy fields, Mel and Sage discover an old vending machine that is much more than it seems. Suddenly thrust into an alternate world, the sisters find a strange world where everything seems utopian…or is it? With high technology, free food, and smiling faces, the world Mel and Sage have entered looks a little too perfect. Encountering new friends and enemies and discovering their own unique connection to this strange parallel world, Mel and Sage must use their wits to survive. And as the cracks in utopia widen to reveal the ugly secrets beneath the surface, the sisters fight for the world’s fate as they struggle to find a way back home.
The Vending Portal by Judy Liu is the chilling tale of two sisters entering a terrifying dystopian universe. I loved the culture in the story and the beautiful descriptions of the rice fields. Clear-headed Mel and spontaneous Sage are as different as night and day, and I love the interplay between the sisters as the plot progresses.
Enigmatic Romilda and savvy Lewis add depth to the increasingly complex story, which has as many intricate layers as a chef’s prized recipe. The setting is so well-thought-out and immersive that it is easy to lose time in the parallel world alongside Mel and Sage. With twists and turns, and a deadly threat more perilous than anyone could have imagined, this intense story of heroism in spite of tyranny is one of the best I have had the pleasure of reading.
The Vending Portal is a through-provoking coming-of-age science fiction novel that young adults and teens will be whisked away into. The gripping story will have readers questioning what the perfect society is and what the cost of such a society means to those that live in it. This fascinating story is ideal for opening up the discussion with teenagers about how they want to impact their own society and community.
Pages: 234 | ASIN : B0BCH7FL9S
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/19/the-vending-portal/