MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.....

 

Book Review: His Other Woman by Louise Voss

 

His Other Woman by Louise Voss

What would you do if the love of your life forgot you… and met someone else?

I waved my husband goodbye at the airport, and he vanished without a trace. I sat awake, night after night, looking at photos of our family. I knew he would never leave us.

And then I found him.

Now he lives with the younger, beautiful woman he thinks he loves. And he doesn’t even recognise me.

Who will he choose? Can I forgive him? And will I ever be able to look into his eyes without thinking of his other woman?

From the bestselling author Louise Voss comes a heartbreakingly emotional story about family and forgiveness, that will make you cry and hold on tight to the ones you love. Perfect for fans of Nicole Trope, Kerry Fisher and The Silent Daughter.

My thoughts 

When a book can keep me awake into the wee hours of the morning, tell yourself we have a winner. 

I loved everything about this book, especially the twist at the end. I really couldn't believe what happened. The main characters especially the husband Liam will have you feeling very sad at some points. My heart truly went out to him in the end. Katya (the other woman), well I had her back until... (I won't say much here cause I want persons to read this). 

   What I can say is that this story was a really touching and believable tale of marriage and how even the strongest of marriages can have turmoil.

Great story. 

This was a great find on Netgalley.

Book Review; Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid.

 

SUCH A FUN AGE BY KILEY REID 

A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, Such a Fun Age is a page-turning and big-hearted story about race and privilege, set around a young black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both.

Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living, with her confidence-driven brand, showing other women how to do the same. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains' toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store's security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make things right.

But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix's desire to help. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix's past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other.

With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone family, and the complicated reality of being a grown up. It is a searing debut for our times.

My Thoughts

This book is very popular, and I was motivated to read it. While the writing was good, the story really picked up in the second half of the book. This was a very different take on race relations in the United States. It was very different to previous books I read with the same theme.

While I read this book, I disliked each of the characters at some point. First, Emira Tucker, the babysitter I felt that she was presented as a bit naïve and I daresay weak. While I get that she did not want to make a big deal about the altercation in the store etc. In her interaction with Alix Chamberlain, I felt almost that she let Alix take advantage of her. 

Alix was a complex character, I believe that she was so obsessed by what happened in the past that she in trying to prove that she was not racist  used her privilege and wealth to buy her affection. I think what was most interesting was the relationship with her daughter Briar. 

 

Kelley Copeland, the blast from the past (you will understand this if you read the book) and Emira's boyfriend came off as genuine in the beginning but he was also, like Alix trying to prove in a different way that he was not racist as well. 

What made this book interesting to me is that their interaction and the outcome of this was odd yet believable. I could see that readers may either really love this book on one hand and on the other really dislike it. In all I think this was a good read. 

Book Review: Baby Factory by Suleiman Ocheni

 

Baby Factory by Suleiman Ocheni

Having lived a fairly sheltered life, Aleeza is oblivious to the emotional turmoil and volatility of normal human existence... However, this changes and does so all at once.

She is shunted out of her comfort zone when she innocuously discovers inconsistencies surrounding the birth of her daughter. This is the catalyst that forces her to embark on a journey filled with daring thrills fraught with danger.

Along the way, circumstances make it so that she has to accept help from a blast from her not so distant past. Feelings she thought she had laid to rest scratch their way to the surface, further complicating the dumpster fire that has become her life.

This story follows Aleeza as she confronts a host of conflicting sentiments and fights to save her daughter, all while navigating the intricate web of relationships in her life.

Will she allow herself to be overcome by her new reality, or will she summon the courage she needs to turn her life around and welcome happiness back in?

My thoughts 

This was a very good find on Netgalley.

The title of this novel drew me to request it a while back on Netgalley and it did not disappoint. Aleeza a young Nigerian woman living her life in Britain, just gave birth to a baby girl she named Remy. However, as Remy is immediately pronounced dead due to sepsis Aleeza demands to see her baby's dead body for confirmation. Her grief his halted as she realizes that the dead baby presented to her does not have a birthmark and therefore is not hers. Aleeza is convinced that someone in the hospital stole her baby. Of course this is difficult to prove.

Meanwhile Remy's father, Aleeza's ex, Richard is shocked to know that he was about to be a father. Aleeza told him nothing about the pregnancy. In trying to deal with the shock and his feelings about Aleeza the chain of events that follow is quite exciting.

I like the premise of the story. I knew nothing about Baby Factories prior to reading this topic was very interesting to me. I love Aleeza's determination throughout the story. I think the lengths she went to in quest to find her baby was really impacting. A mother's love is really something else indeed. The relationship between Aleeza and Richard was quite turbulent and romantic at the same time.

What was really good though was the ending. That was a shocker indeed.

Book Review: THE GUEST LIST by LUCY FOLEY

 

THE GUEST LIST by LUCY FOLEY

A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hunting Party.

The bride – The plus one – The best man – The wedding planner – The bridesmaid – The body

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding fit for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.

But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.

And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed reading this. I listened on audio and read along with the book. The audio book added to the experience and the mystery of the story. I was really surprised at the ending. So if you have not read this yet keep an open mind.

I did not know what to expect with this book at first because while reading I said to myself, ok here we go a wedding on an eerie island but apart from the mystery surrounding the wedding guests the book had so much more meaning than that. All I have to say is the groom has many issues stemming from his troubled past, the bride Jules as well. 

My favorite character was the plus one Hannah, somehow reading about Hannah made me want to learn more amount her story, like the author could do a whole book about her life. Like before she met her husband Charlie (who I think more could have been done with, I think he faded in the book). Olivia was also really good. Her actions when you read the book, and for those who would have read it before, you will realize was so justified.

This book was the type that makes you read on towards the end because you just want to know what happens. Loved it. 

BLOGGING UPDATES & BETWEEN THE PAGES BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS

 

Hi Readers,

December 2021 is finally here. This year was such a busy year for me. Trini Girl Reads  has been progressing nicely, my Bookstagram has over (700 ) followers which is really good since I only started last year. Somewhere around the middle of the year my momentum for the blog waned. This was due to a number of factors especially work obligations, studying etc. 

I received a number of review requests from authors who are probably saying to themselves that this blogger is not reading or reviewing my book. This is something that I try to do in a timely manner once I agreed to read. My plan for December is to read books sent by authors and clear my very long Netgalley shelf. 

As 2021 closes, these are my reading plans. So authors if you sent me a copy of your book look out once I enjoyed it, it will be featured here on Trini Girl Reads. I only review books that I liked. 

In other exciting news. I have started a book club called "Between the Pages" on Good Reads. I hope to get as many people as I can to join and participate in the discussions as this promises to be a new and exciting bookish experience. 

So readers, I am back (from my brief hiatus) and committed to sharing my passion for reading with the world.

What are your bookish plans for the end of the year??

CLICK THE LINK JOIN MY BOOK CLUB

Between the Pages Book Club
6 members
My name is Francica a.k.a. Trini Girl Reads. Welcome to my book club. This book club is designed for the diverse reader. I read everything from, psychological thrillers, YA, short stories, Romance, Historical Fiction. Activities to expect: ✔ BOTM picks ✔Book Recommendations ✔TBR Lists ✔Readathons ✔Buddy Reads ✔Challenges and so much more If these things interest you. Feel free to Join the Club

Books we've read

View this group on Goodreads »

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

 

Synopsis 

A comet the color of blood and flame cuts across the sky. Two great leaders—Lord Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon—who hold sway over an age of enforced peace are dead, victims of royal treachery. Now, from the ancient citadel of Dragonstone to the forbidding shores of Winterfell, chaos reigns. Six factions struggle for control of a divided land and the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, preparing to stake their claims through tempest, turmoil, and war.

It is a tale in which brother plots against brother and the dead rise to walk in the night. Here a princess masquerades as an orphan boy; a knight of the mind prepares a poison for a treacherous sorceress; and wild men descend from the Mountains of the Moon to ravage the countryside. Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory may go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel...and the coldest hearts. For when kings clash, the whole land trembles.

Here is the second volume in George R.R. Martin magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R.R. Martin stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

My thoughts 
5 ⭐

Finally!!!

So if you have been following me on Goodreads or if you have been reading my blog Trini Girl Reads you may have noticed that I have been literally reading this book for the entire year don't ask me why. Anyways this second installment of A Song of Fire and Ice was lit.... I absolutely loved it.

I was one of those who bought this book series after watching the HBO series, but you know what? I am glad that I read the books because now I understand a little more of the background of the story.

In the TV series for example, I didn't really care for Sansa's character but after reading this I think I get her a little more. Absolutely love Daenerys just like in the series. The mother of dragons just makes me excited lol.... I can't wait to read the third book. Hopefully I wont take that long to read it. I must say it takes a writer with a special imagination to pull off a story like A Song of Fire and Ice..

Book Review: How to Love a Jamaican by Alexia Arthurs

 HOW TO LOVE A JAMAICAN BY ALEXIA ARTHURS

From a magnetic new voice, a debut story collection set in Jamaica and America for readers of Zadie Smith, Helen Oyeyemi, and Imbolo Mbue.

“There is a way to be cruel that seems Jamaican to me.”

Tenderness and cruelty, loyalty and betrayal, ambition and regret—Alexia Arthurs navigates these tensions to extraordinary effect in her debut collection about Jamaican immigrants and their families back home. Sweeping from close-knit island communities to the streets of New York City and midwestern university towns, these eleven stories form a portrait of a nation, a people, and a way of life.

In “Light Skinned Girls and Kelly Rowlands,” an NYU student befriends a fellow Jamaican whose privileged West Coast upbringing has blinded her to the hard realities of race. In “Mash Up Love,” a twin’s chance sighting of his estranged brother—the prodigal son of the family—stirs up unresolved feelings of resentment. In “Bad Behavior,” a mother and father leave their wild teenage daughter with her grandmother in Jamaica, hoping the old ways will straighten her out. In “Mermaid River,” a Jamaican teenage boy is reunited with his mother in New York after eight years apart. In “The Ghost of Jia Yi,” a recently murdered international student haunts a despairing Jamaican athlete recruited to an Iowa college. And in “Shirley from a Small Place,” a world-famous pop star retreats to her mother’s big new house in Jamaica, which still holds the power to restore something vital.

The winner of The Paris Review’s Plimpton Prize for “Bad Behavior,” Alexia Arthurs emerges in this vibrant, lyrical, intimate collection as one of fiction’s most dynamic and essential young authors.

MY THOUGHTS

For a while I have been meaning to read this book so when I saw that my library had it and that it was a short story collection I took the opportunity to borrow it. Although the stories spoke to the Jamaican experience especially highlighting the struggles of those who would have migrated to the United States and their many life's challenges dealing with sexuality, identity and relationships, I was able as a Trinbagonian to connect with these stories.

While all the stories were good, my favourite stories were Slack, The Ghost of Jia Yi, We Eat our Daughters and Bad Behaviour. I am sure different stories would appeal to different audiences. I always find that the better Caribbean themed books are short story collections. 

If you are looking for something very impactful to read and understand what it means to be truly Jamaican, this is your book. I am so glad I read this.

BOOK REVIEW: WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING BY ALYSSA COLE

The gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning…

Sydney Green is Brooklyn born and raised, but her beloved neighborhood seems to change every time she blinks. Condos are sprouting like weeds, FOR SALE signs are popping up overnight, and the neighbors she’s known all her life are disappearing. To hold onto her community’s past and present, Sydney channels her frustration into a walking tour and finds an unlikely and unwanted assistant in one of the new arrivals to the block—her neighbor Theo.

But Sydney and Theo’s deep dive into history quickly becomes a dizzying descent into paranoia and fear. Their neighbors may not have moved to the suburbs after all, and the push to revitalize the community may be more deadly than advertised.

When does coincidence become conspiracy? Where do people go when gentrification pushes them out? Can Sydney and Theo trust each other—or themselves—long enough to find out before they too disappear?

MY THOUGHTS

This book was very interesting to me. I have always been interested in gentrification so when I saw what this book was about I immediately became interested. 

Sydney Green, a young divorcee, decided to pick up the pieces of her life by moving back to her old neighbourhood. Yet something is amiss. People are disappearing, new people are moving in and these disappearances are really strange.

Desperate not to loose the history of the neighbourhood, she plans an historical walking tour where Theo one of the new neighbours volunteer to assist with the event.

Could Theo be trusted?. Theo himself has secrets.. Secrets that can destroy him. Would he find friendship with Sydney as they work on a project to host a walking tour? Or are they both in danger? 

In the first few chapters of this book I was a bit confused as to why this book was described as a thriller and then somewhere around the middle the story took on the thriller dimension that I didn't see coming. I found it was a very clever way to write about such an important social issue that affects I would imagine similar communities all over the world. 

I would recommend this book to readers not only because it is entertaining but for the amount of issues relating to  gentrification. 

There is also an element of romance, and also psychological thriller vibes making it a good read.

I am going to be reading more Alyssa Cole in the near future. 

BLOG TOUR: Red Roses by Katie Ward

 

Red Roses

Autumn is stuck in a rut and desperate to escape the fears that bind her to the life she’s grown to hate. Back home and living with her parents after university with a degree that seems to count for nothing, she knows something has to change. After a chance meeting with a stranger at the beach, she makes the spontaneous decision to move to Dublin and chase her dreams. However, what Autumn doesn’t realise is that she has just made the decision that will lead to her death. But does a short life have to mean an unsuccessful life? Will she be able to make it count? 

Red Roses is a compelling and uplifting story that shows the true beauty of life, love and friendship.

CHECK OUT THIS EXCITING TRAILER 

My Thoughts 

"Life is a roulette table and every one of us is a gambler. Our choices are the chips we place on the table."

This was a work of fiction but to me it was very meaningful. I say this because the main character Autumn a beautiful young woman in the prime of her young adult life made a decision to take charge of her life and career and move to Dublin. While reading this exciting tale of Autumn's journey with her acting and especially her new friendships it made me think that this is what life should be about.

I really liked this book from the very beginning. I actually did not know what to expect when I read the first section but this turned out really, really well. I like Autumn's realness and love for people and life itself. I must say though in the chapter with the play ; "Othello" was my favourite. This book renewed my love for Shakespeare and reminded me that I have to reread this play.

The ending will leave you feeling well......This is something you just have to read.

All in all this was a nice book. I would recommend to anyone.

Well done.

Purchase  Links:

UK: AMAZON UK  / US: AMAZON US

Author Bio

Katie Ward always knew she wanted to write for a living. However, she was told by her careers advisor that “it might be more appropriate for you to work in a shop”. When Katie didn’t get the grades she needed to get into college, she negotiated a three month trial. After successfully completing the course she secured a place at her first choice university to study Journalism.

After realising she wanted to be an author, Katie moved to Dublin where she worked her way up from receptionist to Executive Assistant at Merrill Lynch. Katie continued to write in her spare time, submitting her short story into the “Do the Write Thing” competition being run by Irish TV show ‘Seoige and O’Shea’. This story was originally written when Katie was 14 after she was inspired by an article in her favourite teen magazine. Katie was the only non-Irish author selected to have her story published in an anthology of the same name which reached 19 in the Irish Best sellers List. Katie was also shortlisted for a competition judged by MAN Booker Prize winning author Roddy Doyle which was run by Metro Eireann newspaper.

Katie currently lives in Devon with her cat (aka ‘Her Royal Fluffiness’) where she sings in a community choir and has recently taken up Archery. Katie’s favourite author has been Roald Dahl since she was a child as she loves the dark edge he brings to his books. On the flip side though, Katie loves Disney, magic, unicorns and a good rom com film at the cinema with her friends.

Twitter - https://twitter.com/KatieWWriter

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KatieWWriter

Website - https://katiewardwriter.com/

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Book Review: Where the Rhythm Takes You by Sarah Dass

 

Seventeen-year-old Reyna has spent most of her life at her family’s gorgeous seaside resort in Tobago, the Plumeria. But what once seemed like paradise is starting to feel more like purgatory. It’s been two years since Reyna’s mother passed away, two years since Aiden – her childhood best friend, first kiss, first love, first everything – left the island to pursue his music dreams. Reyna’s friends are all planning their futures and heading abroad. Even Daddy seems to want to move on, leaving her to try to keep the Plumeria running.

And that's when Aiden comes roaring back into her life – as a VIP guest at the resort.

Aiden is now one-third of DJ Bacchanal – the latest, hottest music group on the scene. While Reyna has stayed exactly where he left her, Aiden has returned to Tobago with his Grammy-nominated band and two gorgeous LA socialites. And he may (or may not be) dating one of them…

Inspired by Jane Austen's Persuasion, Where the Rhythm Takes You is a romantic, mesmerizing novel of first love and second chances.

My Thoughts 

This was a very nice YA Contemporary debut novel from a Tobagonian author Sarah Dass.

In this story we meet Reyna, a young woman who is at that point of her life where she longs for more but feels guilty about leaving her father and her commitment to "Plumeria" a hotel she inherited from her mother.

Meanwhile, childhood friend and ex boyfriend turned music superstar Aiden, having left Tobago some years before, returns with new friends, members of the music group DJ Bacchanal to spend his birthday. As they reunite old feelings surface and Reyna's life turns complicated.

I think this was a very enjoyable story, but for younger readers and lovers of YA. I always like with books from Trinidad and Tobago to see places and the culture represented in the pages. In my opinion the author did a great job capturing that.

BOOK REVIEW: HIS LITTLE STAR BY MICHELLE KARISE

 

BLURB

Traveling to Italy for business sounded like a dream. Three glorious weeks of sightseeing and sampling the local nightlife.

Matteo Russo caught my attention from the start.

We met at a crowded nightclub. The gorgeous older man sauntered over, plied me with liquor, and whispered illicit invitations in my ear. It’s no surprise we ended up naked and horizontal in his bed.

The next morning, I made my graceful exit with a kiss, convinced it would be the last time we saw each other.

Imagine my shock when he popped up at the office. Turns out he’s the guy that’s trying to ruin my family’s business.

My job was to use whatever tools in my arsenal to force him to capitulate.

A Roman conquered my heart.

But secrets threatened to destroy us forever.

My Thoughts 

I love that word Matteo called Naomi "Mi Stellina." What an effect this had on me every time.

This book was short and very romantic. It is the type of book that you can pick up on a rainy Sunday afternoon when you want to relax. It was a steamy read too. The sex scenes were very passionate. In spite of that however the book was very well written.

On a business trip to Rome to deal with her father's new acquisition "a hotel" in Rome which, upon its grand opening seems to have a lot of controversy surrounding it. Naomi sent to Rome to fix all that wanted to prove to her father that she was capable of handling this big opportunity. Little did he know that a trip to a nightclub and an encounter with a handsome stranger "Matteo" would change her life forever. Matteo looking for a one night stand, was captivated by Naomi's striking good looks and confidence.

Little did Naomi know, Matteo was her father's rival. This revelation set off a chain of events so captivating that it will have you on edge till the very end.

These characters were very well written and their chemistry was off the chain.

I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend to romance lovers.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

BOOK BLITZ: PERFECT ALWAYS BY TRICIA COPELAND

 

  

Title: Perfect Always

Author: Tricia Copeland

Genre: Contemporary Romance/College Romance/Multi-cultural romance

Cover Designer: Daryl McCool, dam Cool Graphics

Publisher: true bird publishing llc

Editor: Jo Michaels, Indie Books Gone Wild

Publication Date: September 22, 2020

Hosted by: Lady Amber's Reviews & PR

Blurb:

A girl aiming for a successful big city career. But what if her heart belongs to a small-town rancher?

Chloe dreams of leaving her tiny hometown behind and landing a job in an exhilarating metropolitan city. Toughing out her sophomore-level college business classes, she’s frustrated with the challenges of long-distance-dating her high school sweetheart, Adam. A chance encounter with Isaac, a hunky big-city-bred basketball player, leaves her confused and when Adam lays out a plan to move into his family’s ranch estate she worries her goals may be trampled underfoot.

Realizing following her passion means leaving Adam, she makes a clean break. Isaac waits in the wings and with Chloe’s growing affection for him, he wins her heart. But a school abroad program, San Francisco internship, and his drive for a professional basketball career complicate their relationship.

Can she find happiness in a big city with an on-the-rise basketball star or does her heart lie somewhere else?

Perfect Always is a standalone contemporary romance. If you like spark-filled moments and a dreamy love story, then you’ll be enchanted by Tricia Copeland’s addition to the Perfect romance series.

99 CENTS FOR A LIMITED TIME!

An avid runner and Georgia native, Tricia now lives with her family and four-legged friends in Colorado. She believes that magic infuses every aspect of our lives, whether it is the magic of falling in love, discovering a new passion, a beautiful sunset, or a book that transports us to another world. You can find all her titles from contemporary romance and fantasy, to dystopian fiction at www.triciacopeland.com.

Author Links:

Newsletter | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Youtube

BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads | Smashwords | SoundCloud | Spotify

99 CENTS FOR A LIMITED TIME!

GUEST POST: THE MANY REINCARNATIONS OF CINDERELLA by BRUCE CALHOUN

 

The Many Reincarnations of Cinderella

Perhaps the most famous fairy tale in Western literature, Cinderella has been retold and reimagined in a staggering number of books and movies.   The books and movies fall within two categories:  modern day Cinderella stories featuring an underdog heroine and historical Cinderella stories with a twist – such as telling the story from the point of view of a mouse that gets turned into a horse. Cinderella has also become part of a catchphrase for any sports team that attains great success against all odds or any individual who goes from rags to riches.   I will confine myself to commenting on a few historical Cinderella books, including my own:  Ardennia:  The Unlikely Story of Cinderella’s Prince.

Let’s start with Cinderella and the Prince by Bridget Cantwell.  In a sentence this version of Cinderella is about childhood friends James and Gabriella reuniting to save the kingdom of Essenia from an evil prince (we authors love to have titles like Narnia, Ardennia and Essenia).  The plot comes down to Gabriella  – the  Cinderella in this story – preventing her stepmother from stealing her inheritance. The magic that overcomes all obstacles in this story comes from Gabriella’s courage, loyalty, and love for her friends.

The Prince’s Diary by Renee Ting simply takes a peek at Cinderella’s prince’s personal diary to tell the tale from his point of view.  This novella of 32 pages is geared towards juveniles.  Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, however, was written for older readers and was made into a popular movie.   In this take on Cinderella the magic flows from the gift of obedience that is given to her by a fairy.  As you can imagine this gift complicates life for Cinderella and is something she must overcome.  To spice things up various mythical creatures such as elves, ogres, gnomes and giants were incorporated into the tale.

 

Recent Cinderella spin offs are:  Cinderella is evil (2020) by Jamie Campell (tells story from viewpoint of Cinderella's sister), Creating Cinderella (2020) by  K.A. Mitimore (Twelve retold stories by twelve different authors), Cinderella is Dead by  (2020) Kalynn Bayron (Two hundred years after Cinderella found her prince a new generation of teen girls attend an annual ball) and, of course, Ardennia (release date October 5, 2021).

 

Ardennia, in a nutshell, captures the magic, brutality and earthiness of the age of chivalry as it chronicles the many adventures and tribulations of Cinderella’s prince.  It uses the same point of view as The Prince’s Diary, but adds original tales about pixies, trolls, dwarves, fairies and nymphs.  It also has secondary and tertiary love stories that feature a buffoon and a hunchback.  In addition Ardennia brings to life an amazing number of memorable medieval characters that include a bean counter who wagers his gold tooth in a dice game, a merchant who can never be too prosperous, a band of female brigands, pilgrims that argue over who is the most pious, a cobbler who has come into the possession of a goose that lays golden eggs, a hermit who is mistaken for a hobgoblin and a beggar who has been cursed with leprosy for committing all the cardinal sins.

 

What makes Ardennia unique is that it adheres to the following tenent:  There is much that is magical in this world, but hardly any real magic to be had.  This nuance allows for a great deal of realism in my novel and keeps the magic – most of the time – at the periphery of the action.

My Bio:  I am a literature-major drop out who received a Bachelor’s degree in biology and science education from the University of Wisconsin.  I taught marine biology in Puerto Rico, worked as a diver for the Australian Institute of Marine Science, wrote and award winning play and founded Save the Rainforest in 1988 www.savetherainforestnow.org.  In my spare time I read, bicycle, cross country ski and write plays and novels. 

 

To get the book, follow me or see reviews of Ardennia  go to:

www.literaryworksbrucecalhoun.com/novels.html