Authorlink with Heather Clark & Jennifer A. Nielsen

My library is renown for their author events, and the pandemic ruined my chances of meeting many authors. BUT! Author events are back!! My friends and I had the pleasure of attending a launch party for Lemon Drop Falls. It is Heather's debut book, and it sounds lovely. Jen was there to help introduce Heather and talk about the book. They also talked a little bit about Jen's upcoming book.  

What I took from the event:

-  Books are important. They are powerful. They change lives. 

-  There are books that are windows that let us look into other people's lives, and there are books that are mirrors that reflect who we are and our lives. We need both! Window books and mirror books are equally important. 

-  When bad things happen, it gives us the ability to change. We can pick up the pieces and become something amazing. Others need to hear our stories. We can help each other.

-  It is never too late to accomplish your dreams and goals. No more excuses, just do it.

Heather's book is about a personal experience. She went through some health problems and almost died. It was very hard on her family. They couldn't afford therapy, so one of her daughters talked to a school counselor. At first her daughter wouldn't talk about her feelings, but the counselor gave her a lemon drop and said that talking about your feelings is like a lemon drop. You must "brave the sour to taste the sweet." Talking about our feelings is hard, but once we start, it is a sweet and relieving experience. Heather's daughter was able to open up and she had a wonderful experience with her school counselor. 

Lemon Drop Falls is about a girl who loses her mom, and the struggles she has to go through because of it. Heather said that the mom in the book is very different from her, but her story is based on her own. 

The book sounds amazing and healing. Jen said the book is beautiful and does an amazing job at giving children permission to talk about their feelings.

We got to meet both authors and get books signed. These authors are remarkable people, and they are so giving. I told Heather that I'm trying to work on communication with my 12 year old daughter. I said that I thought her book would help. Heather took the lemon necklace from around her neck and gave it me. She said to give it to my daughter. She also made sure I got some lemon drops from the swag table to give to Gnome. 

Gnome was so excited about the necklace. She loves it, and I hope it is something she remembers forever. 

It was an amazing night! #BooksChangeLives

Resistance

Gooodreads Synopsis:    Chaya Lindner is a teenager living in Nazi-occupied Poland. Simply being Jewish places her in danger of being killed or sent to the camps. After her little sister is taken away, her younger brother disappears, and her parents all but give up hope, Chaya is determined to make a difference. Using forged papers and her fair features, Chaya becomes a courier and travels between the Jewish ghettos of Poland, smuggling food, papers, and even people. 

Soon Chaya joins a resistance cell that runs raids on the Nazis' supplies. But after a mission goes terribly wrong, Chaya's network shatters. She is alone and unsure of where to go, until Esther, a member of her cell, finds her and delivers a message that chills Chaya to her core, and sends her on a journey toward an even larger uprising in the works -- in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Though the Jewish resistance never had much of a chance against the Nazis, they were determined to save as many lives as possible, and to live -- or die -- with honor.

My Thoughts:

-    I am a big Jennifer Nielsen fan! Her books never fail to deliver memorable and incredible stories. Resistance definitely delivered!

-    Chaya's journey was incredible. I love that she and others chose to stand up and fight against unimaginable horrors. I can't fathom the kind of courage she would have had to do what she did.

-    What really blows me away is that this is based on true events, and I love how respectful and honest Nielsen is in her story telling. 

-    I had the privilege of attending the launch party, and Nielsen gave a compelling presentation. I knew I had to read this book, and it was everything she said it was going to be. 

-    One thing I love about Nielsen's books is the writing. I don't feel like I'm reading. The story just flows, and I get really immersed.

A Night Divided

Goodreads Synopsis:    From New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen comes a stunning thriller about a girl who must escape to freedom after the Berlin Wall divides her family between east and west.

With the rise of the Berlin Wall, twelve-year-old Gerta finds her family divided overnight. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, to think forbidden thoughts of freedom, yet she can't help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city.

But one day, while on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform on the western side, pantomiming a peculiar dance. Then, when she receives a mysterious drawing, Gerta puts two and two together and concludes that her father wants Gerta and Fritz to tunnel beneath the wall, out of East Berlin. However, if they are caught, the consequences will be deadly. No one can be trusted. Will Gerta and her family find their way to freedom?

My Thoughts:

-    Jennifer is one of my favorite Utah Authors. Her books are so clever and amazing, and she is just an all around nice lady. I've only read her False Prince books, but I've been wanting to read more, and I finally did! 

-    The writing is so good! When I read this, it felt effortless. The story just unfolded in my mind, and it didn't even feel like reading. I just absorbed the story. 

-    I love stories about the Berlin Wall. It intrigues me, especially stories about the Candy Bomber. 

-    Most of the story is about dirt, and digging the dirt, but I wasn't bored. I was thoroughly entertained the whole time.

-    I think this book is perfect for the target audience. It covers the sad and scary parts of history in a very real but safe way. I also love that anyone could pick up this book and enjoy it. Great storytelling!

The Shadow Throne

From Goodreads:    One war.
Too many deadly battles.
Can a king save his kingdom, when his own survival seems unlikely?

War has come to Carthya. It knocks at every door and window in the land. And when Jaron learns that King Vargan of Avenia has kidnapped Imogen in a plot to bring Carthya to its knees, Jaron knows it is up to him to embark on a daring rescue mission. But everything that can go wrong does.

His friends are flung far and wide across Carthya and its neighbouring lands. In a last-ditch effort to stave off what looks to be a devastating loss for the kingdom, Jaron undertakes what may be his last journey to save everything and everyone he loves. But even with his lightning-quick wit, Jaron cannot forestall the terrible danger that descends on him and his country. Along the way, will he lose what matters most? And in the end, who will sit on Carthya's throne?

Rousing and affecting, Jaron's adventures have thrilled and moved readers in The False Prince and The Runaway King. Journey once again with the Ascendant King of Carthya, as New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen brings his story to a stunning conclusion withThe Shadow Throne.

My Thoughts:

-    I've been waiting for this book for a long time!!! It didn't disappoint.

-    I didn't feel like smacking Jaron for once. It was kinda nice, but I missed some of the stubborn foolishness.

-    The ending was awesome! I loved all the reveals! I loved the conclusion!

-    There were a few slow bits in the middle. This one didn't keep me turning pages like the previous two, except for the end.

-    Roden proved to be a great asset to Jaron. I thought Jaron was a fool for giving Roden such a high rank, but of course, Jaron's plan worked. I really admire Roden now. His character development was really fun to read.

-    I love gray characters. The ones where you don't know if they are good or bad, and this series has so many! You just never know who to trust, and the people you don't trust do surprising things.

-    I loved the part the women had to play in the war. GO GIRLS!

-    War isn't fun for anyone, and I'm glad the author portrayed that. 

-    I can't gush enough about this series! READ IT! 

Previous books in the Ascendance Trilogy

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

 

The Runaway King

Goodreads Synopsis:    A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

My Thoughts:

-    Wholly cow! This story was brilliant from beginning to end! I'm never going to get over this book!

-    The story starts just a few weeks after The False Prince ends, and it is a thrilling beginning. It sets the mood for the whole book, and never slows down! 

-    I loved seeing old friends and characters from the first book, but I adored the new people I got to meet. Harlowe was especially a wonderful addition. He is such a tender person, and I just love him. My heart ached for him and rejoiced for him.

-    Erick and Fink were also fabulous new characters, and I hope we see lots more of them in the third book. Fink was a bit of a pest at the beginning, but he quickly grew on me. I liked Erick from the moment we met him. He reminds of the Erak from The Ranger's Apprentice series.

-    Sage is back and he is as stubborn as ever! How can he do some of the things he does!? His character is so fun and frustrating all at the same time. I don't know whether to admire him or smack him upside the head! He probably deserves both.

-    I love that Imogen and Amarinda are friends. I was so scared about there being a love triangle in this book, and there kind of is, but it is handled so well and so nobly. I love both these women! I wish there had been more of Amarinda, but she was doing her part.

-    I really love the dynamic between Roden and Sage. There is so much going on in their relationship, but I am SO happy with the way things ended.

-    The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, but I think I might be able to live with it. What I can't live with is not being able to read more about the characters! I want to know what Jaron is scheming in his head next! 

The First book in the Ascendance Trilogy

(click on the cover to see my thoughts)

The False Prince

From Goodreads:    The False Prince is the thrilling first audiobook in a brand-new trilogy with danger, deceit, and hidden identities that will keep listeners hanging on to the edge of their seats.

NARRATOR: Charlie McWade
FORMAT: 7 CDs, Unabridged

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king’s long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Three orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner’s motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword’s point—he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage’s rivals have their own agendas as well.

My Thoughts:

-    I loved listening to this book!  It was just as fun as reading it.

-    The narrator has a nice voice.  I think it is the same guy that does The Percy Jackson series.

-    I learned and noticed new things the 2nd time through the story.  I was looking for clues and viewed Sage a little different, so it was really fun.  

-    Even thought I knew what was going to happen, I was still surprised.  I still felt like I didn't know which characters to trust and like or dislike.  

-    I loved the extra stuff at the end.  There is a deleted scene at the end about how Jaron challenged a king, and there is a interview with the author.  

-    I decided I really like the twist at the end.  In my first review, I didn't like the twist and I wanted treason and fraud and stuff, but I decided I really liked it, and it is better the way it is.

-    I'm really excited about the 2nd book.  Nielson talked a little bit about the next book, and I'm excited.  I don't like the prospect of the love triangle though.  

My Original Review

Elliot and the Last Underworld War

From Goodreads:   Being King of the Brownies is no easy job! Elliot outsmarted the Goblins and foiled the Pixie Plot, but now he's being threatened by a giant Yeti. Oh, and there's a mermaid hiding in his bathtub. Elliot might be able to survive some unusual self-defense lessons and a kingnapping plot, but can he withstand the friendship of the neighbor girl--his archnemesis--Cami Wortson?

My Thoughts:  

-    Poor Diffle

-    All the great elements were there again.

-    The princess of the pixies' way of speaking got annoying

-    This was a great end to the trilogy.  

-    I highly recommend these books to young boys.  They'll get a kick out of them. 

Elliot and the Pixie Plot

Goodreads Bit:   Between trying to steal a hair for the Pixie Princess and a sock for the Fairies from a demon, Elliot discovers being King of the Brownies is no easy job, in this follow-up to "Elliot and the Goblin Wars."

My Thoughts:

-    The chapter names are fun.

-    The story happens a few weeks after the first one ends.

-    The "no pixies were hurt in the making of this book" bit at the front made me laugh.

-    The wit and banter is really funny.

-    All the stuff I liked in the first book are in this one.  (Examples:  Author talking to the reader, Illustrations, and Humor)

-    I like that Elliot missed his family while he was away.  His family is far from perfect, but it is his, and he missed them.  

-    Fun characters and fun story.

-    This is another great read for younger audiences!

Elliot and the Goblin War

Back of the Book:    As of today, there are only 7 children who have ever read this book and lived to tell about it.  95 children successfully read the first chapter, but upon beginning chapter 2, they started blabbering in some language known only as "Flibberish."  38 children made it halfway through this wretched book before they began sucking their thumbs through their noses.

If you're very brave, perhaps you are willing to take your chances.  Be sure that you have told your family who gets your favorite toys if you do not survive this book.  Read it now, if you dare.  But don't say you haven't been warned, for this is a story that unfolds the mysteries of the Underworld.

My Thoughts:

-    The story was humorous and fun from the get go.

-    The Illustrations were great!  I loved how they appeared before the part of the story that was illustrated. 

-    I like the passages where the author speaks directly to the reader.  It adds back story, explanation, and it made me laugh.

-    I want chocolate cake now, with a big glass of milk!

-    This book was pretty cute, and I think a lot young readers would enjoy it, especially boys. 

-    Since I finished the book, I'm a little disappointed that I don't speak flibberish, but I'm glad I have all my limbs ;)

The False Prince

Goodreads Description:  THE FALSE PRINCE is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

My Thoughts:

-    It was a nice change to read from a male perspective.  Most of the books I read are from a female point of view.  I think it is because I read more female author's books.  Sometimes a female author just can't pull off a believable guy.  I thought Nielson did a great job at capturing a believable rebellious boy.  

-    I like Sage's rebellious attitude.  At times, he can be a bit too stubborn though.  I have a bit of a rebel in me, and I always enjoy a good rebelliousness at times. 

-    The book was never dull.  I was captivated the whole time.  

-    The twist at the end was a bit of a surprise.  I kind of suspected it, but didn't really believe or linger on my suspicions.  I have to say, I wasn't too thrilled with the twist.  I kinda wanted it to play out a little differently.  

-    I enjoyed all the characters!  Each one kept me guessing at what they would do next.  Some of them were really hard to pinpoint their loyalties. 

-    Overall it was a really great book, I'm excited to read the rest of the series!!