Colossus - Stone and Steel by David Blixt

Colossus: Stone and Steel. David Blixt. Sordelet Ink Publisher. Sold by Amazon Digital Services, Inc. April 2012. 335 pages.  ASIN: B007XK66KI.

The year is 66 A.D. Rome rules over Israel but it isn't a peaceful coexistence between Romans and Jews.  There are Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, and other rebels who think that their brief skirmishes against their enemy will go unnoticed and naively be successful in ousting the Roman soldiers.  In the middle of this critical situation live Judah and Asher, two mason brothers, the former a physically muscular man and the latter an academic type who has actually studied in Rome and returned for a secret reason he at first will not reveal to anyone. He returns severely bruised and broken.

Right before Asher's return, Judah finds himself inadvertently involved with a violent fight with Roman soldiers.  It is his first brush with men outside his trade, some who are natural soldiers, others who are priests, former slaves, generals, and more.  Their success in severely decimating the Roman soldiers makes them momentarily drunk with victory until they realize that the act of taking a Roman Eagle standard guarantees that Rome must respond.  So they begin to prepare for what seems like the end of Israel.  Judah is hailed as a Jewish general, even though this hardly deems him more worthy for the hand of the woman he adores, Deborah.

The rest of the novel covers the planning for the great war and the first representative battle at Jotapata.  Here there are parallel scenes depicted of the leaders and the brilliance or devastation of these plans in each skirmish.  What is unique about the story is the refusal of Blixt to fall into stereotypical characterization.  Military campaign strategy is discussed and tried in between the quoting of poetry or the explanation of the complex Jewish faith and its beliefs and sects.  Academic excellence is as revered as battle skills.  The need for different levels of society to not only interact but cooperate is painstakingly described, with the private thoughts and feelings of every side adding to the tense and relaxed dialogue that is never repetitive or tedious, never stodgy but instead an adventuresome and informative read.

David Blixt is definitely a master of creating vibrant, credible, exciting, and accurate historical fiction.  His style is not only easy to read but also immensely engaging; the reader will be unable to stop reading once he or she begins any novel by this very talented writer.  Colossus is no exception and thankfully will be followed by another novel continuing the critical days that will perhaps be Israel's last stand against the Roman Eagle!  Stunning, David Blixt!

The Midwife of Hope River: a Novel of an American Midwife by Patricia Harman

The Midwife of Hope River: A Novel of an American Midwife. Patricia Harman. William Morrow Paperbacks: An Imprint of Harper Collins. August 2012. 400 pages. ISBN #: 9780062198891.

Patience Murphy lives an isolated but adrenaline-kicking lifestyle.  At any time of the day or night, a person might knock on her door or a car pull up into her yard, seeking her very new skills as a midwife to help deliver a baby.  Sometimes everything goes oh so smoothly and yet there's always tension even until that last second when a baby emerges from his or her mother and is found to be healthy and whole when there is equal joy! But frequently, for various reasons, the baby has turned in utero and Patience has a huge challenge to deliver the baby, saving both the baby and its mother's life.  Pay comes in very, very small bills but more likely in the form of food or wood for a fire.  

For the Depression is looming over the entire nation and even the mines in West Virginia have closed or are very close to closing. Patience has wound up in this little country town because she fears the cops are after her, a story that gradually emerges throughout the entire novel.  

A neighboring veterinarian is the first to help Patience albeit after quite a bit of gruffness. But he later turns out to be more than a rough character and becomes a caring friend.  So what's the drama herein?  Could it be the delivering of animal young 'uns as well as human babies?  Could it be when a fierce ice storm glazes the area through which Patience must travel for another birth? Perhaps it's the husband who violently abuses his wife or anyone close enough to his rage?

There are several stories within this obvious surface story.  But the reader finds Patience to be an honest, straight-forward, caring woman who has picked the perfect profession for her and luckily for her patients. Unions and racism are volatile subjects to discuss or be a part of.  Patience, however, is a rebel for the most sincere reasons one would be a viable rebel; she cares more for people, their families, their finances that help them survive, etc. more than greed for more material possessions and more than the hate that turns cowards (KKK) into would-be killers!

The Midwife of Hope River is about second chances and rising above the smallness of those locked in "old time" ways and means! It's about sticking together and needing each other in a truly whole, community style. Nicely done, Ms. Harman!

A Season for Sin by Nicky Dreiling

A Season of Sin. Nicky Dreiling. September 2012. Published by Forever Yours and sold by Hachette Book Group. 122 pages. Sold at all major e-book retailers.

Andrew Carrington has just had one of the shocks of his life – dumped by his latest mistress turned shrew!!!  Surprise!

Andrew is the Earl of Bellingham, a man who is scrupulously diligent about not altering his home habits and rituals.  Indeed his chef will quit because he is wasting his talents cooking only bacon and eggs for breakfast every single day! But that is the least of what haunts “Bell” as he is called.  For Bell has undergone a devastating loss about which no one speaks and he tries extremely hard to avoid thinking about.  When those thoughts threaten to vividly intrude, his answer is to seek out another mistress to support and dally with for a while!

So Andrew is nonplussed when a fire ensues followed by a party at which he will meet a widow, Laura Davenport, a stepmother who is trying to keep her unruly stepson out of the deep trouble he is aching to embrace.

Yes, Laura, though met late in the story, is a definite challenge for Bell, one which is unusual as in his ears all he hears are the stories of his friends who are finally “settling down.”  A challenge has been cast and will probably develop further in future novels.  An intriguing and pleasant read!

Last Chance Bride by Hope Ramsay

Last Chance Bride. Hope Ramsay. September 2012. Published by Forever Yours and sold by Hachette Book Group. 63 pages. Sold at all major e-book retailers.

Stone and Sharon are an “item” in town.  Everyone has their future predicted, it seems.  But all of a sudden, a head-on collision occurs! 

For Stone doesn’t want to do what his family desires, go to college. Instead he’s enlisted in the Marines and wants to tell his love, Sharon, before his family. What will happen to that perfect future they had both talked about – sharing a room and college life before they married, far off in the future of course?

Sharon is making lists, lists, and more lists.  She intent on getting everything she needs for a cause she’s sponsoring, raising money and blood donations for a young girl hurt in an accident that left her crippled with severe spinal injuries.  Sharon wants to be a social worker, a person who makes a difference in the lives of others.  She’s also excited about attending college and has no intentions of marrying soon.  But she’s about to be shocked down to her toes to find her dreams aren’t going to progress as planned.  How will she handle it?

How will the town chatterboxes handle this change of plans?  Should Sharon and Stone mind their predictions and prophecies for the future?

Last Chance Bride is a brief fun read with some predictability but also some mystery.  It moves fast and furious toward an unexpected read and leaves some room for another novel in the future! Good read!

A Barcelona Heiress - A Novel by Sergio Vila-Sanjuan

A Barcelona Heiress: A Novel. Sergio Vila-Sanjuan. Barcelona E-Books. July 2012. 210 pages. 1901 KB. Sold at all major E-Book Retailers.

Barcelona, Spain is on the verge of Civil War in the 1920s.  The story of this multi-layered conflict is narrated by lawyer and journalist, Pablo Vilar.  He's a man who in the name of both careers attempts neutrality in the conflicts but also a man who is constantly being swayed by partisan characters who want him to write articles favoring or defending one side against the other side.  While he is not influenced that much, what he sees and hears is worthy of our attention, for it is the "stuff" of which revolutions have been made for centuries.

The eternal conflict between rich and poor is factually proven when Vilar is taken to the "caves" where the poor live and subsist on almost nothing or the private hospitals financially supported by those with a heart where starving, disease-ridden children are treated with the meager supplies of medicine and vitamins, food, etc.  There are the union groups who are willing to incite and practice violence to obtain their demands.

All of this is exemplified in the mystery which is the center of the story.  It involves an anarchist who assassinates those who have committed crimes but been declared innocent by the courts. There's the heiress of the novel's title whom Vilar would wed but who continues to exert influence on both royalty, nobles, anarchists, union groups and the poor. She is a "woman for all people" and yet one wonders what principles center her real beliefs.  And what about the cabaret singer who is brutally attacked and whose connections are less than innocent or neutral.

One gets a fine sense of the culture of Barcelona and the governmental structure behind the story, involving royalty as well as city, military and provincial authorities.  What Vilar hears in true political style is not what necessarily is!  All is encountered during the most audacious and extravagant social parties and events.  It is hard at times to follow the story because of all the name-dropping that no one could possible remember unless a master of Spanish history.

All in all, A Barcelona Heiress is a fascinating, well-researched work of historical fiction that is packed full of action, mystery, humor, poignancy, and so much more.  Money rules the world - and it can also reform and transform the same!  Impressive novel!

The Second Empress by Michelle Moran

The Second Empress: A Novel of Napoleon's Court. Michelle Moran. Crown Publishing Group. August 2012. 320 pages. ISBN #: 9780307953032.

Michelle Moran has written a novel about the courtly life of Napoleon Bonaparte and his family.  The story is told from the point of view of Maria Lucia, Princess of Austria, who will become Napoleon's wife after he discards the cheating Josephine; Pauline, Napoleon's sister, who really believes she is like Cleopatra and in truth would like to marry Napoleon and be Empress; Paul Moreau, Napoleon's Haitian chamberlain, trusted by all and serving almost like a Greek chorus in this evolving tragedy; and other characters who have forgotten their origins and become ambitious and proud beyond the mere definition of those words.  This is a stunning story!

The reader will be hard-pressed not to have severe reactions toward these selfish and sad characters.  Pauline seems like a crazed, delusional woman who becomes the master manipulator and shows very little "care" except to Paul and the Empress.  Paul has achieved his freedom at the cost of a sacrifice beyond bearing; ironically he is respected and heard by Napoleon as the latter realizes the fawning lies he hears from all others in his court.

The tension increases as the desired peace, after so many years of war, eludes France and war looms large, forcing changes and decisions that will show the essence of truth of each character herein.

Michelle Moran has an exquisite gift of depicting characters.  Yes, some are stock characters who are just plain nasty people, but others show an educated, compassionate, and cultured side that is the beauty lying behind this tale of pride that goeth before a grand fall!

Masterfully told, Ms. Moran.  No, it's not full of historical events but it does portray the personalities shaping those same events that have already been told numerous times in other places.  Great historical fiction!

Leaves by Michael Baron

Leaves. Michael Baron. The Story Plant. September 2012. 352 pages. ISBN #: 9780984190546.

The "Sugar Maple Inn" is having its last Halloween party.  The original owners have died; but although the adult children are planning to sell the bed and breakfast inn in this lovely Connecticut town, they are determined to have one last party that has always been a family and town tradition. But troubles beset each family member and it seems like it will take divine intervention or something magical to make it all come together!

This is a unique story in that each child has his or her own story that could be a stand alone, with high and low moments, as in all families, novel.  There is Deborah who is a bona fide chef for the inn and whose recipes and meals will make the reader's mouth salivate as these descriptions are exquisite.  But where is she to go after the inn is sold?  Should she start her own business?

And what's the story with the visceral animosity between Corinna and Tyler?  Tyler has been taking skilled photographs of the famous leaves of the area, an education in itself for those not familiar with various types and colors of autumn leaves, but his works are not selling so well any more.  What is his future?

The tension mounts as there are only three weeks left to prepare for this huge party, a tension heightened by personal and familial conflicts.  Yet through it all each character shares a nostalgic point of view, honestly portrayed with victories, disappointments, fights, and resolutions.  Add to that a poignant ending that will pull a tear from the hardest of hearts!

Leaves is plainly a lovely, lovely story that will be enjoyed by all readers.  Sometimes, potency is conveyed without a stick of dynamite because it is just so - like most of our lives - very real!  Grand job, Michael Baron!  Keep writing and thanks for the diverse characters you depict so well in all of your books!