Review: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen

Set in a world full of magic and demigods, donuts and small-town drama, this enchantingly quirky, utterly unique fantasy is perfect for readers of The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Invisible Library.

THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY

 by MEGAN BANNEN

Series: n/a

Publication date: August 23, 2022

Published by: Orbit

Genre: fantasy romance

 

SYNOPSIS

Hart is a marshal, tasked with patrolling the strange and magical wilds of Tanria. It’s an unforgiving job, and Hart’s got nothing but time to ponder his loneliness. 

Mercy never has a moment to herself. She’s been single-handedly keeping Birdsall & Son Undertakers afloat in defiance of sullen jerks like Hart, who seems to have a gift for showing up right when her patience is thinnest. 

After yet another exasperating run-in with Mercy, Hart finds himself penning a letter addressed simply to “A Friend”. Much to his surprise, an anonymous letter comes back in return, and a tentative friendship is born. 

If only Hart knew he’s been baring his soul to the person who infuriates him most – Mercy. As the dangers from Tanria grow closer, so do the unlikely correspondents. But can their blossoming romance survive the fated discovery that their pen pals are their worst nightmares – each other?

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | iBooks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Megan Bannen is a former public librarian whose YA debut The Bird and the Blade was an Indies Introduce Summer/Fall 2018 pick, a Summer 2018 Kids’ Indie Next List pick, and a Kirkus Best YA Historical Fiction of 2018 pick. While most of her professional career has been spent behind the reference desk, she has also sold luggage, written grants, collected a few graduate degrees from various Kansas universities, and taught English at home and abroad. She lives in the Kansas City area with her husband and their two sons.

You can find her on:

 Website | Goodreads | IG | Twitter 

REVIEW

The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is one of the most original fantasies I've read in quite some time. The synopsis mainly focuses on the relationship between the two main characters, Hart and Mercy. Going in, I didn't have a clear picture of what the non-romance portion of the plot would be about, but I was pleasantly surprised by the concept of the drudges. Drudges were basically lost souls or spirits that would possess a human body through the appendix (this is where a soul is housed in this world). The only way to remove the spirit and free the re-animated corpse is to slice through the appendix. This is where Marshals like Hart come in. They have the dangerous job of hunting and these drudges and bringing the rescued bodies to the undertaker to be put to rest at last. Mercy is an undertaker working at her family business who comes into contact with the taciturn Hart on a regular basis.

These two couldn't be more different if they tried, and perhaps that plays a part in why they rub each other the wrong way from their first meeting four years ago. Mercy is cheerful, optimistic, and overtly nurturing towards her friends and family. She's the type who's always looking out for other people's happiness before her own, and leads every situation with her compassionate heart. Hart, on the other hand, is a loner who isn't liked or understood by many. He had two close female friends, but they had a falling out years ago and now their interactions are tense and uncomfortable. He lost his mother, his dog, and mentor/partner Bill all close together which left him pretty much all alone in the world. He isn't mean and nasty, he's more like a wounded animal that snaps out of self-preservation instincts if you get too close.

Hart is a demigod (meaning fathered by one of the Gods) who may or may not be immortal, and that causes him to fear making attachments with people. Eternal life is the stuff of nightmares in his mind, and the thought of endlessly aging into an unrecognizable shell of himself leaves him terrified. There is a bit of a mystery involving Hart's history with Bill and the events surrounding his death which brings him quite a bit of turmoil as well. You are given pieces here and there as the story progresses and it involves his demigod talent and a strange, dangerous place filled with lost souls. Hart is a character that is easy for the reader to like, despite his stand-offish demeanor. He never comes off as hateful, he is simply a lonely man silently yearning for human companionship. He, like Mercy, is a very giving person, as he puts his life on the line every day in order to keep everyone safe. It's a thankless job that leaves no room for error, and he has worked tirelessly in it for twenty years.

In the beginning of the story, I even thought that Mercy was being needlessly harsh in her interactions with him, until the flashback explaining their first meeting. There was awkward misunderstanding piled on top of awkward misunderstanding that quickly flared into animosity. Once I read that, I could understand why these two never got a chance to truly get to know one another.

   Why should she or anyone else 

for that matter be so sunny, 

especially at an undertaker’s? 

She had no right to be full of life 

when she was surrounded by death.

Mercy and Hart are both lonely people who want someone to share their innermost thoughts and worries with. While Hart is physically isolated from people, Mercy is emotionally isolated. When he pours his heart out in a letter that has no recipient, he never imagines that it will end up in his sworn enemy's hands and that they will forge a fragile friendship as they become anonymous pen pals. They share things about themselves that they can't share with anyone else in their lives. Their letters were sweet and filled with light-hearted banter. It's really quite sad that a bad first impression and the inability to be open denied them the opportunity to get close.

   She had always thought of those eyes 

as cold and reptilian, but here, 

in the gaslight of the lobby, 

everything about him softened and warmed.

   She wanted his breath. 

She wanted his heartbeat. 

She wanted to feel the warmth of his living body, 

to know that he was 

alive and well and hers. 

She kissed him and he kissed her 

in return with a tenderness 

that made her chest ache. 

The world building was a bit ambiguous for the first 50 pages or so which led me to read certain paragraphs with confusion. The fantasy terms were almost like reading another language when you have no context, but it didn't cause me to disconnect from the story. The characters were so well fleshed out and vivid that I was motivated to read on. There were unusual creatures like the purple, scaly, horse-like Equimaris, creatures that resembled frogs with fur called graps, and nimkilim which came in the form of different types of animals that talked and delivered mail. It was quite the fantastical, odd assortment of beings. There was a crazy, whimsical world created by the Old Gods where portals were needed in order to visit or leave. The system of how Tanria worked and its Old Gods vs. New Gods religious concept was the most baffling at first. However, the overall atmosphere was bizarrely fascinating with a bit of a dark feel. I mean, Hart is essentially a "zombie" killer and Mercy deals with putrid corpses and yet it doesn't read overly creepy. The characters great sense of humor really lightened the storyline that could have otherwise had a much more somber tone.

In summary, I think this was an exceptionally unique story that kept me on my toes. There was nothing predictable or stale about it. If you're a fan of the enemies to lovers trope or the sunshine/grumpy trope, this is probably a good fit for you.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More

Review: Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

From the author of My Oxford Year, Julia Whelan’s uplifting novel tells the story of a former actress turned successful audiobook narrator—who has lost sight of her dreams after a tragic accident—and her journey of self-discovery, love, and acceptance when she agrees to narrate one last romance novel.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING by JULIA WHELAN

Series: n/a

Publication date: August 2, 2022

Published by: Avon/Harper Collins

Genre: Contemporary romance

 

SYNOPSIS

For Sewanee Chester, being an audiobook narrator is a long way from her old dreams, but the days of being a star on film sets are long behind her. She’s found success and satisfaction from the inside of a sound booth and it allows her to care for her beloved, ailing grandmother. When she arrives in Las Vegas last-minute for a book convention, Sewanee unexpectedly spends a whirlwind night with a charming stranger. 

On her return home, Sewanee discovers one of the world’s most beloved romance novelists wanted her to perform her last book—with Brock McNight, the industry’s hottest, most secretive voice. Sewanee doesn’t buy what romance novels are selling—not after her own dreams were tragically cut short—and she stopped narrating them years ago. But her admiration of the late author, and the opportunity to get her grandmother more help, makes her decision for her. 

As Sewanee begins work on the book, resurrecting her old romance pseudonym, she and Brock forge a real connection, hidden behind the comfort of anonymity. Soon, she is dreaming again, but secrets are revealed, and the realities of life come crashing down around her once more.

If she can learn to risk everything for desires she has long buried, she will discover a world of intimacy and acceptance she never believed would be hers. 

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | iBooks

Praise for Thank You for Listening:

"A perfectly intoxicating delight! Thank You for Listening is a witty, clever, and open-hearted love story full of delicious twists on all your favorite romance tropes. Julia Whelan has already proven herself to be a singular, wry voice in fiction but with Thank You for Listening, she has something truly special: a story so remarkable and original that only she could write it. A must-read for anyone who loves a good love story." -- Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author

"Thank You for Listening is a fascinating behind-the-scenes peek at the voice actors who bring love stories to life for the rest of us. Mix Julia Whelan’s storytelling ability and smart banter with a cynical romance audiobook narrator who won’t trust a happily ever after and what do you get? Pure magic." -- Jodi Picoult, NYT bestselling author of Wish You Were Here 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julia Whelan is a screenwriter, lifelong actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator of over 500 titles. Her performance of her own debut novel, the internationally bestselling My Oxford Year, garnered a Society of Voice Arts award. She is also a Grammy-nominated audiobook director, a former writing tutor, a half-decent amateur baker, and a certified tea sommelier.

You can find her on:

 Website | Goodreads | IG | Twitter 

REVIEW

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This story centers around Sewanee Chester who is an audiobook narrator. Fans of audiobooks will appreciate the insight the author gives into the industry. Julia Whelan is, of course, a narrator herself as well, so her experiences lend true authencity to the character's thoughts and actions. For me personally, this was more of a drawback going in because I have never been able to enjoy audios. (I know, I know! I've tried, trust me.) So I have to say that the thought of reading about this topic did not interest me at all. However, after reading My Oxford Year by this author and adoring it, reading her second book was a no-brainer. I would probably have read anything she wrote regardless of the synopsis.

Sewanee is a former actress who had to let go of her dream of stardom when she had a horrible, fluke accident seven years ago. After graduating Julliard with her best friend, Adaku, she put everything she had into making her dreams come true. Her passion grew from her childhood learning about Hollywood from her grandmother Barbara (AKA Blah Blah) who had been in quite a few films. Imagine being just on the cusp of reaching stardom. You spent years fantasizing and working your butt off to make those fantasies a reality and right when you land your breakthrough role, you have everything snatched away from you in a heartbeat. Sewanee lost everything she ever wanted unexpectedly while being faced with the physical implications of her accident. It was like she was split into two versions of herself: the before and after. Being at peace with your new reality is hard to do when you won't allow yourself to face it head on. So she grew a hard, protective outer shell filled with bitterness and cynicism. She no longer viewed the world through rose colored glasses, and she certainly has no delusions about the dreaded HEA in her love life either.

   HEA is too much of a setup. 

It makes you believe we just need to 

get back what we lost and life will be 

rainbows forevermore. But it doesn’t address 

what happens if you try to get it back 

and fail, does it? There’s also the possibility 

it’s not a problem with Romance, 

it’s a problem with us?

I must admit, it took me some time to feel invested in Sewanee. The book doesn't really delve into her internal struggle in detail until you're well into the story which left me feeling somewhat detached. She could be a bit abrasive at times as one is when you have a big chip on your shoulder from life disappointments/struggles. The author chose to pace the story so that her accident and surrounding emotions had a layer of mystery around them, and while it did create a bigger impact further on, it took me longer to reach her emotionally. There was a quote from Sewanee when she was discussing characters with "Brock" that really resonated with me:

Surface versus substance. That’s the difference between caricature and character.

Without exploring what makes that character who they are emotionally, all you have is a falsely manufactured empty shell. Even though the pay off took some time, Julia Whelan did not skimp on exploring what made Sewanee tick. She pulled this aspect off magnificently with her first book, which I see now is going to be a common denominator with her future releases as well.

The romance with Brock was both original and in the end, ironic. Sewanee and Brock spend a large portion of the book getting to know one another through emails and text. Although they are working on a romance audiobook together, they don't actually meet in person until the episodes are close to being completed. They are both very private people and use pseudonyms in the romance community to protect their identity. But they have an instant ease with one another when writing that quickly graduates to humor and flirting. Their sense of humor seems to fit one another seamlessly and the attraction that grows is based completely on personality rather than appearance. Of course that was very refreshing as the reader, but it also plays into their own separate insecurities about their looks. "Brock" feels that he could never live up to the false expectations that are created from his über sexy narration voice, and Sewanee's has insecurity about her attractiveness after her accident. Long-distance chatting becomes something of a security blanket for both of them, but what happens when their paths cross unexpectedly for the first time? It was quite an entertaining reveal, let's just say that. The irony in their relationship was that the two most cynical people to ever work in the romance audiobook industry have the most romance novel, fateful, meant-to-be relationship from beginning to end. The people who don't believe in fairy tales got the fairy tale romance.

It feels like we fell out of a Romance tree 

and hit every trope on the way down.” He laughed. 

“Snowed In.” 

“Just One Night.” 

“Epistolary.” 

“Mistaken Identity.”

Based on other reviews, I think most people loved her grandmother Blah Blah. I loved the special relationship that Sewanee had with her, and the acceleration of her mental illness brought a tear to my eye late in the book but I didn't love her character. After Sewanee recalled a discussion she had with her involving her career, she lost all of the shine gained from her spunky personality and wit.

Overall, I loved the originality of the story. Even though it took a bit to pull me in, I ended up with a smile on my face over how these two characters worked through their personal demons and started a new beginning together. You truly feel as if they are the male and female counterpoint of one whole because their personalities are so complimentary. I'm very much looking forward to seeing reading whatever Julia Whelan decides to write about next.

“What do you want, love?” 

“I don’t want to be in any book with you anymore. 

I want to be in real life with you.” 

“However it may end?” 

“Yes.” 

“Happily or not?” 

She was surprised to find the answer so easy to say. “Yes.” 

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More

Blog Tour: The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London comes a moving new novel inspired by the true history of America’s library spies of World War II.

THE LIBRARIAN SPY by MADELINE MARTIN

Series: none

Publication date: July 26, 2022

Published by: Hanover Square Press/HC 

Genre: historical fiction

 

SYNOPSIS

Ava thought her job as a librarian at the Library of Congress would mean a quiet, routine existence. But an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence.

Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them.

As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war.

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | Apple

Praise for The Librarian Spy:

“This story blew me away. Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they are transported to 1940s Portugal and France with Madeline Martin's vivid and inspiring characters. The Librarian Spy is a brilliant tale of resistance, courage and ultimately hope.”—Kelly Rimmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Warsaw Orphan

 

“Madeline Martin immerses us in the expertly rendered and fascinating worlds of Lisbon and Lyon during the war as we follow the stories of two brave women who are willing to risk everything for the cause of freedom. Uplifting, inspiring and suspenseful, this is one to savor!” –Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Riviera House

 

“Madeline Martin is a fantastic author, and this beautiful, heartbreaking tale of two young women who risk everything as they use the power of words to fight back against the Nazis will have you glued to your chair. The Librarian Spy is a stunning tour de force of historical fiction.”—Karen Robards, author of The Black Swan of Paris

 

“In Madeline Martin’s stirring new novel, readers will be whisked into her brilliantly depicted portrayal of 1940’s Lisbon, Portugal, and Lyon, France. Martin captures the essence of the French resistance in war-riddled France as we race with hearts in our throats through Elaine’s harrowing tale, juxtaposed with Ava’s thrilling and engrossing passages illustrated with sensory delights. Both heroines push the boundaries of their worlds, risking much in their shared missions for survival and hope. Not to be missed, The Librarian Spy is an inspiring novel that highlights the women who dared to resist in the face of adversity." —Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of The Mayfair Bookshop

 

"Martin shows great reverence for the power of the written word in her pacey new novel, The Librarian Spy, set during the tumultuous backdrop of WWII in Lisbon and Lyon, when Nazis attempted to silence the press of the Resistance. This engaging, lively read featured a cast of characters I loved to root for and I couldn’t put it down!"—Heather Webb, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Next Ship Home

 

The danger of Resistance Lyon and the uncertainty of refugee life in wartime Lisbon leap off the page in Madeline Martin's The Librarian Spy. She artfully weaves an incredible, tense tale that will set your heart pounding as her characters navigate life and death decisions in this incredible novel of sacrifice, struggle, and hope. This is historical fiction at its absolute best! —Julia Kelly, international bestselling author of The Last Dance of the Debutante

Excerpt

 April 1943

Washington, DC

There was nothing Ava Harper loved more than the smell of old books. The musty scent of aging paper and stale ink took one on a journey through candlelit rooms of manors set amid verdant hills or ancient castles with turrets that stretched up to the vast, unknown heavens. These were tomes once cradled in the spread palms of forefathers, pored over by scholars, devoured by students with a rapacious appetite for learning. In those fragrant, yellowed pages were stories of the past and eternal knowledge.

It was a fortunate thing indeed she was offered a job in the Rare Book Room at the Library of Congress where the archaic aroma of history was forever present.

She strode through the middle of three arches to where the neat rows of tables ran parallel to one another and carefully gathered a stack of rare books in her arms. They were different sizes and weights, their covers worn and pages uneven at the edges, and yet somehow the pile seemed to fit together like the perfect puzzle. Regardless of the patron who left them after having requested far more than was necessary for an afternoon’s perusal.

Their eyes were bigger than their brains. It was what her brother, Daniel, had once proclaimed after Ava groused about the common phenomena—one she herself had been guilty of—when he was home on leave.

Ever since, the phrase ran through her thoughts on each encounter of an abandoned collection. Not that it was the fault of the patron. The philosophical greats of old wouldn’t be able to glean that much information in an afternoon. But she liked the expression regardless and how it always made her recall Daniel’s laughing gaze as he said it.

They’d both inherited their mother’s moss green eyes, though Ava’s never managed to achieve that same sparkle of mirth so characteristic of her older brother.

A glance at her watch confirmed it was almost noon. A knot tightened in her stomach as she recalled her brief chat with Mr. MacLeish earlier that day. A meeting with the Librarian of Congress was no regular occurrence, especially when it was followed by the scrawl of an address on a slip of paper and the promise of a new opportunity that would suit her.

Whatever it was, she doubted it would fit her better than her position in the Rare Book Room. She absorbed lessons from these ancient texts, which she squeezed out at whim to aid patrons unearth sought-after information. What could possibly appeal to her more?

Ava approached the last table at the right and gently closed La Maison Reglée, the worn leather cover smooth as butter beneath her fingertips. The seventeenth century book was one of the many gastronomic texts donated from the Katherine Golden Bitting collection. She had been a marvel of a woman who utilized her knowledge in her roles at the Department of Agriculture and the American Canners Association.

Every book had a story and Ava was their keeper. To leave her place there would be like abandoning children.

Robert floated in on his pretentious cloud and surveyed the room with a critical eye. She clicked off the light lest she be subjected to the sardonic flattening of her coworker’s lips.

He held out his hand for La Maison Reglée, a look of irritation flickering over his face.

“I’ll put it away.” Ava hugged it to her chest. After all, he didn’t even read French. He couldn’t appreciate it as she did.

She returned the tome to its collection, the family reunited once more, and left the opulence of the library. The crisp spring DC air embraced her as she caught the streetcar toward the address printed in the Librarian of Congress’s own hand.

Ava arrived at 2430 E Street, NW ten minutes before her appointment, which turned out to be beneficial considering the hoops she had to jump through to enter. A stern man, whose expression did not alter through their exchange, confronted her at a guardhouse upon entry. Apparently, he had no more understanding of the meeting than she.

Once finally allowed in, she followed a path toward a large white-columned building.

Ava snapped the lid on her overactive imagination lest it get the better of her—which it often did—and forced herself onward. After being led through an open entryway and down a hall, she was left to sit in an office possessing no more than a desk and two hardbacked wooden chairs. They made the seats in the Rare Book Room seem comfortable by comparison. Clearly it was a place made only for interviews.

But for what?

Ava glanced at her watch. Whoever she was supposed to meet was ten minutes late. A pang of regret resonated through her at having left her book sitting on her dresser at home.

She had only recently started Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca and was immediately drawn in to the thrill of a young woman swept into an unexpected romance. Ava’s bookmark rested temptingly upon the newly married couple’s entrance to Manderley, the estate in Cornwall.

The door to the office flew open and a man whisked in wearing a gray, efficient Victory suit—single breasted with narrow lapels and absent any cuffs or pocket flaps—fashioned with as little fabric as was possible. He settled behind the desk. “I’m Charles Edmunds, secretary to General William Donovan. You’re Ava Harper?”

The only name familiar of the three was her own. “I am.”

He opened a file, sifted through a few papers, and handed her a stack. “Sign these.”

“What are they?” She skimmed over them and was met with legal jargon.

“Confidentiality agreements.”

“I won’t sign anything I don’t read fully.” She lifted the pile.

The text was drier than the content of some of the more lackluster rare books at the Library of Congress. Regardless, she scoured every word while Mr. Edmunds glared irritably at her, as if he could will her to sign with his eyes. He couldn’t, of course. She waited ten minutes for his arrival; he could wait while she saw what she was getting herself into.

Everything indicated she would not share what was discussed in the room about her potential job opportunity. It was nothing all too damning and so she signed, much to the great, exhaling impatience of Mr. Edmunds.

“You speak German and French.” He peered at her over a pair of black-rimmed glasses, his brown eyes probing.

“My father was something of a linguist. I couldn’t help but pick them up.” A visceral ache stabbed at her chest as a memory flitted through her mind from years ago—her father switching to German in his excitement for an upcoming trip with her mother for their twenty-year anniversary. That trip. The one from which her parents had never returned.

“And you’ve worked with photographing microfilm.” Mr. Edmunds lifted his brows.

A frown of uncertainty tugged at her lips. When she first started at the Library of Congress, her duties had been more in the area of archival than a typical librarian role as she microfilmed a series of old newspapers that time was slowly eroding. “I have, yes.”

“Your government needs you,” he stated in a matter-of-fact manner that broached no argument. “You are invited to join the Office of Strategic Services—the OSS—under the information gathering program called the Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications.”

Her mind spun around to make sense of what he’d just said, but her mouth flew open to offer its own knee-jerk opinion. “That’s quite the mouthful.”

“IDC for short,” he replied without hesitation or humor. “It’s a covert operation obtaining information from newspapers and texts in neutral territories to help us gather intel on the Nazis.”

“Would I require training?” she asked, unsure how knowing German equipped her to spy on them.

“You have all the training you need as I understand it.”

He began to reassemble the file in front of him. “You would go to Lisbon.”

“In Portugal?”

He paused. “It is the only Lisbon of which I am aware, yes.”

No doubt she would have to get there by plane. A shiver threatened to squeeze down her spine, but she repressed it. “Why am I being recommended for this?”

“Your ability to speak French and German.” Mr. Edmunds held up his forefinger. “You know how to use microfilm.” He ticked off another finger. “Fred Kilgour recommends your keen intellect.” There went another finger.

That was a name she recognized.

She aided Fred the prior year when he was microfilming foreign publications for the Harvard University Library. After the months she’d spent doing as much for the Library of Congress, the process had been easy to share, and he had been a quick learner.

“And you’re pretty.” Mr. Edmunds sat back in his chair, the final point made.

The compliment was as unwarranted in such a setting as it was unwelcome. “What does my appearance have to do with any of this?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Beauties like yourself can get what they want when they want it. Except when you scowl like that.” He nodded his chin up. “You should smile more, Dollface.”

That was about enough.

“I did not graduate top of my class from Pratt and obtain a much sought-after position at the Library of Congress to be called ‘Dollface.’” She pushed up to standing.

“And you’ve got steel in that spine, Miss Harper.” Mr. Edmunds ticked the last finger.

She opened her mouth to retort, but he continued. “We need this information so we best know how to fight the  Krauts. The sooner we have these details, the sooner this war can be over.”

She remained where she stood to listen a little longer. No doubt he knew she would.

“You have a brother,” he went on. “Daniel Harper, staff sergeant of C Company in Second Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division.”

The Airborne Division. Her brother had run toward the fear of airplanes despite her swearing off them.

“That’s correct,” she said tightly. Daniel would never have been in the Army were it not for her. He would be an engineer, the way he’d always wanted.

Mr. Edmunds took off his glasses and met her gaze with his small, naked eyes. “Don’t you want him to come home sooner?”

It was a dirty question meant to slice deep.

And it worked.

The longer the war continued, the greater Daniel’s risk of being killed or wounded. 

She’d done everything she could to offer aid. When the ration was only voluntary, she had complied long before it became law. She gave blood every few months, as soon as she was cleared to do so again. Rather than dance and drink at the Elk Club like her roommates, Ava spent all her spare time in the Production Corps with the Red Cross, repairing uniforms, rolling bandages, and doing whatever was asked of her to help their men abroad.

She even wore red lipstick on a regular basis, springing for the costly tube of Elizabeth Arden’s Victory Red, the civilian counterpart to the Montezuma Red servicewomen were issued. Ruby lips were a derisive biting of the thumb at Hitler’s war on made-up women. And she would do anything to bite her thumb at that tyrant. 

Likely Mr. Edmunds was aware of all this.

“You will be doing genuine work in Lisbon that can help bring your brother and all our boys home.” Mr. Edmunds got to his feet and held out his hand, a salesman with a silver tongue, ready to seal the deal. “Are you in?”

Ava looked at his hand. His fingers were stubby and thick, his nails short and well-manicured.

“I would have to go on an airplane, I’m assuming.”

“You wouldn’t have to jump out.” He winked.

Her greatest fear realized.

But Daniel had done far more for her.

It was a single plane ride to get to Lisbon. One measly takeoff and landing with a lot of airtime in between. The bottoms of her feet tingled, and a nauseous swirl dipped in her belly.

This was by far the least she could do to help him as well as every other US service member. Not just the men, but also the women whose roles were often equally as dangerous.

She lifted her chin, leveling her own stare right back. “Don’t ever call me ‘Dollface’ again.”

“You got it, Miss Harper,” he replied.

She extended her hand toward him and clasped his with a firm grip, the way her father had taught  her. “I’m in.”

He grinned. “Welcome aboard.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Madeline Martin is a New York Times and international bestselling author of historical fiction novels and historical romance. She lives in sunny Florida with her two daughters, two incredibly spoiled cats and a husband so wonderful he's been dubbed Mr. Awesome. She is a die-hard history lover who will happily lose herself in research any day. When she's not writing, researching or 'moming', you can find her spending time with her family at Disney or sneaking a couple spoonfuls of Nutella while laughing over cat videos. She also loves travel, attributing her fascination with history to having spent most of her childhood as an Army brat in Germany.

You can find her on:

 Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Read More

Review: Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor

In Serena Kaylor's sparkling debut, a homeschooled math genius finds herself out of her element at a theater summer camp and learns that life—and love—can’t be lived by the (text)book.

LONG STORY SHORT by SERENA KAYLOR

Series: n/a

Publication date: July 26, 2022

Published by: Wednesday Books

Genre: YA 

 

SYNOPSIS

Growing up homeschooled in Berkeley, California, Beatrice Quinn is a statistical genius who has dreamed her whole life of discovering new mathematical challenges at a school like Oxford University. She always thought the hardest part would be getting in, not convincing her parents to let her go. But while math has always made sense to Beatrice, making friends is a problem she hasn’t been able to solve, so her parents are worried about sending her halfway across the world. The compromise: the Connecticut Shakespearean Summer Academy and a detailed list of teenage milestones to check off. She has six weeks to show her parents she can pull off the role of "normal" teenager and won't spend the rest of her life hiding in a library.

Unfortunately, hearts and hormones don't follow any rules, and there is no equation for teenage interactions. When she's adopted by a group of eclectic theater kids, and immediately makes an enemy of the popular—and, annoyingly gorgeous—British son of the camp founders, she realizes that relationships are trickier than calculus. With her future on the line, this girl genius stumbles through illicit parties, double dog dares, and more than your fair share of Shakespeare. But before the final curtain falls, will Beatrice realize that there’s more to life than she can find in the pages of a book?

In this sparkling debut from Serena Kaylor, Long Story Short is a YA rom-com about a homeschooled math genius who finds herself out of her element at a theater summer camp and learns that life—and love—can’t be lived by the (text)book.

Purchase your copy now!

Amazon |  B&N | iBooks

Praise for Long Story Short:

"Charming repartee and plenty of heart make for a delightful debut." --Kirkus Reviews

"With characters you can't help but fall in love with, a vibrant, fun atmosphere and a stunning, tender romance at its center, Long Story Short is the perfect romantic comedy for connoisseurs of hate-to-love, fans of Pride and Prejudice, and readers who love found families. An unmissable debut from a voice to watch in the YA romantic comedy sphere!" ―Sophie Gonzales, author of Perfect on Paper

“I loved this book to pieces. Delightful and charming with the familiar biting wit of a Shakespearean production, Long Story Short was the perfect read. At times I wanted to scream at Beatrice and others, I wanted to give her a big hug (or three) for being so darn relatable. Thankfully, she had a supporting cast to die for in Mia, Nolan, Shelby and *sigh* Nik who lead our heroine gently from behind the curtains to center stage in her own life.” -Erin Hahn, author of You’d Be Mine and Never Saw You Coming

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thirty-something-year-old with a love of all things sparkly, over-dramatic, and pizza-related. Serena writes books about awkward teens, the chaotic world of theater, found families, Shakespeare himself, and a sprinkle of kisses.

You can find her on:

 Website | Goodreads | IG | Twitter 

REVIEW

Long Story Short: A Novel by Serena Kaylor
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars



Beatrice Quinn is a handful for her parents to deal with at the age of sixteen. Not because she's going through the normal rebellious stage that other teens her age do. No, it's because she's a mathematical genius who got her high school degree at fourteen and was accepted to Oxford University two years later. Most parents would be ecstatic for their child to get accepted to such a prestigious school at such a young age, but moving out and becoming independent in a foreign country with very little social skills is a bit of a problem. As a homeschooled student, Beatrice focused more on books and intellect. Her personality is very analytical and straightforward, leaving very little room for building close connections with others. She's been completely happy with that-up until now. Now her inability to pick up social cues and form connections with others may prevent her from her dreams in England.

    [...]the entire city of Oxford, 

a place built by this paragon of learning, 

was likely filled with people who were similar to me. 

People who loved books more than people, 

and nobody thought that was weird.

I have a particular weakness for nerdy/socially awkward heroines and Beatrice certainly fit that bill. I think her awkwardness was more than just the lack of social skills. That plays into it, sure, but this is a girl that has probably never felt as if she never fit in anywhere her entire life. Not only was she far ahead of her peers intellectually and academically, she couldn't be more different from both of her parents. As marriage therapists working in Berkley, their world revolves around messy emotions and how to manage them. Beatrice tends to shy away from uncomfortable feelings.

I rolled my eyes for what was 

probably the millionth time 

and once again reminded myself why I’d 

never really fit in here. 

Berkeley, California, 

where even the academia had 

an emotional component to it.

Sometimes I wondered if

I had any emotional components at all.

Now that she's free from her high school obligations she just wants to leave the stifling environment of her parents house and find somewhere that she finally fits in. I would imagine it's incredibly lonely and isolating to not have one single person in the world you can relate to. You really feel for Beatrice's intense desire to move on to the next stage in her life where she can grow intellectually and hopefully truly feel at peace. One thing that bothered me a little was that the emphasis was put on her homeschooling being the major cause of her socializing deficiency. This is a stereotype, not a developmental handicap. You are perfectly able to make friends and have normal teen experiences while doing in-home learning.

Getting approval to attend Oxford comes with conditions. She must attend an acting summer camp where she will be forced to engage with other people her age and practice at a variety of skills including making friends. As an introvert, the thought of being forced to act on stage is absolutely terrifying to her, but she's willing to do anything it takes. Once there, Beatrice bumbles nervously through meeting new people and trying to fit in. It's both endearing and awkward to watch her open herself up to new acquaintences and occasionally embarrass herself. She just brushes herself off and keeps trying. The more she persists, the more empowering the challenges become. Because she can see that even if she fails, it's a learning experience. She's learning how to find her own personal fashion sense as she understands who she is a little bit better. It was very sweet how her new friends helped her navigate through her new experiences with so much patience.

Beatrice clashes with the golden boy of camp immediately. She meets Nik at the welcome party and they immediately make a bad impression on each other. She snipes at him and blames nepotism as the reason he gets all of the leading roles. He makes an unflattering comment on her looks. Enemy status achieved. They spend the majority of the book circling around each other with distrust. There isn't a huge amount of noticeable development in their relationship, though it's not for a lack of trying on his part. He does try to understand her a little better but he's always firmly rebuffed by her. She's pretty much completely clueless recognizing his interest in her which did make me a bit impatient. Even when told by her friends, she brushes it off as nonsense and continues to hang on to her misjudgment of him. I do wish that there could have been a bit more tangible romance between the two of them earlier on, but the Shakespeare quote challenge they did was super cute and original.

Beatrice is pushed out of her comfort zone and beyond during the summer. Although she'll probably never be a social butterfly (and that's perfectly okay) she learned that she is capable of much more than she was giving herself credit for. She was no longer trapped by her routines, she adapted to change better, and she realized that people can't be put in neat and tidy boxes. Although she never could have conceived having anything in common with impulsive, creative theater kids, they still bonded. You can celebrate each other's differences rather than allowing them to separate you. They were just as impressed with her intelligence as she was with their creative sides. By the end of the book you see her mature quite a bit, but more importantly, she didn't have a complete personality
transplant. She was still that quirky girl inside, just with more confidence and strength.

Overall, I really enjoyed this debut author's first book and would definitely read more from her in the future. Her writing style is in the same vein as Emma Lord, so if you enjoyed Tweet Cute or You Have a Match, this could be the perfect book for you.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON: 

View all my reviews

Read More