Ratings Explanation

Language: Hell is mentioned as a place and used as an expletive a few of times. The “A” word was used twice and the “S” word was used once. Other words used were crap (a couple of times), slut (once), and damned (once).

Violence: A dagger goes into Nikki’s shoulder. Cole and Jack fight. They are involved in a chase and Jack crashes his car and is injured.

Sexual Content: There are several kisses throughout the story between Jack and Nikki. Cole kisses Nikki. Nikki’s friend Jules asks her if, “tonights…the night?” Nikki does worry that Jack will expect more from her because he has “been with” other girls. Nikki and Jack have spent time together in each other’s rooms.

Adult Themes: Assumptions are made that Nikki did drugs and was in rehab. Nikki’s mother was killed by a drunk driver. Some of the characters drink, and one of them is an alcoholic. It is assumed that a couple of the characters smoke. Will was injured while serving in the war. Everneath is part of the underworld related to Hell.

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Nikki Beckett has just returned from the underworld, having spent the last six months in a place called Everneath. No one knows where she went while she was away, and she doesn’t offer an explanation. Nikki has been given only six months to spend with her family, friends, and her boyfriend Jack before she has to return to Everneath forever. Jack was the only person she could even remember during her time there. Her heart aches for Jack, and now that she is back, she longs to spend as much time with him as possible. However, Cole, the one responsible for taking her to Everneath, has other plans. He is certain she is the one who can help him take over the throne and has followed her back home. Using all of his power he tries to convince her to come back with him to Everneath and become his queen.

I was drawn to Everneath because the story line is based on the myth of Hades and Persephone, along with Orpheus and Eurydice, which I find fascinating. The story is told with flashbacks to the time before Nikki was taken to Everneath, which explains how she got there in the first place. The deeper I got into the book, the more my heart began to ache for her and for Jack. Mistakes and sad misunderstandings caused so much heartache and loss for Nikki’s family and friends. In the end, the willingness to sacrifice and to love someone so deeply and fully made me cry. My favorite part of the story is when Nikki dreams each night…so sweet! This story is the first of a trilogy, and I look forward to the next book. There are several subject matters such as drinking and its consequences that would be worth discussing with your teenager. I would recommend this book for ages fourteen and up.

Ratings Explanation

Language:  The language is not offensive, but it is mentioned that the word “chicken butt” is used in place of the “A” word.

Sexual Content:  There are a few kisses included in the story.

Adult Themes:  A boy’s mother died from breast cancer. A character in the story struggled with drugs, drinking, stealing, and taking advantage of a teenage girl; although no details of this behavior were described.

Synopsis

High School student Chloe Hart has no interest in the popular crowd, especially one boy by the name of Taylor Anderson! He is the guy every girl dreams of dating. Even though he pays attention to Chloe and seems to enjoy teasing her, she refuses to fall for him, no matter how charming and attractive he may be. For some reason at the beginning of senior year he decides to be everywhere she is…how annoying! Chloe is determined to avoid him at all costs, but it just might be too late to resist him any longer…

Author Jenni James has created a modern version of the timeless classic Pride and Prejudice and has placed it in a high school setting in Farmington, New Mexico. This story was funny and endearing as well as clean! In fact, Chloe hosts a Halloween party and informs Taylor that there will be no drinking. I loved the way names from the original novel were woven into the story. Chloe’s middle name is Elizabeth and Taylor’s middle name is Darcy. The story also deals with the subject of being careful whom we date. One of the characters preys on teenage girls with the intention of taking advantage of them. This would be a very good discussion to have with your daughter on personal safety! The story is part of a series entitled, The Jane Austen Diaries with Pride & Popularity being the first in the series. The rest will include modern day versions of five additional Jane Austen novels. I would recommend this book for ages twelve and up.

Ratings Explanation

Language:  A handful of common swear words and a few casual uses of the name of Deity.

Violence:  Mary and a fellow townsman are buried in a landslide.  Mary was rescued while the townsman was not so lucky and smothered to death in the mud next to her.

Sexual Content:  A young Mary innocently explains that a particular fossil is shaped similarly to her brothers male parts.  Mary and a female companion avoid looking at a man relieving himself in the sea.  They briefly discuss the male anatomy and ask whether or not the other had actually seen it.   The town of Lyme spread rumors about Mary as she helps two different gentlemen look for specimens, unchaperoned on the nearby beaches.

Adult Content:  Poverty and illness take the lives of many of the Anning babies as well as their father.  Mary and her brother Joseph are left to help pay their father’s debts and provide for themselves and their mother.  Women are not considered equals, which makes life more difficult for those without a man in their life.  The social class system prevents the lower class from obtaining the privileges of the upper class in the areas of jobs, recognition, marriageability, etc.

Synopsis

After the passing of Elizabeth Philpot’s parents,  she and her two sisters are sent to live in a cottage in Lyme.  As they learn to adjust to their new lifestyle, they each find a hobby to pass their days away.  Elizabeth discovers that the surrounding beaches are covered with the remains of fossilized creatures.  She is mesmerized by these animals buried in the earth and long forgotten, finding solace in hunting the beaches for them. As the sisters become more familiar with their new surroundings, Elizabeth meets a young girl named Mary Anning, the daughter of a local cabinet maker.  Mary helps her family earn money by hunting for “curries” or fossils to sell to visitors passing through. She has a knack for finding fossils of all kinds, including  some large “monsters” the world has never seen before, like the ichthyosaur and plesiosaur.  In spite of their age difference, Mary and Elizabeth form a unique friendship which will eventually influence the great scientific minds of their time and open the doors for women to contribute to the advancement of geological sciences.

I love the time period of the 1800′s in England and am admittedly a huge Jane Austen fan.  So, when I saw this book and read the synopsis I had to give it a try.  Although not written in the romantic Austen style with a happy ending, this story gave a unique perspective of an upper class spinster and a lower class working girl influencing the world of geological research.  In fact, the characters were based on their real life counter parts.  Much of the story is woven together with the author’s own interpretation of  actual historical events.   I found this to be an informative and relaxing read.  I had no idea that these women even existed or had such an influence on our understanding of ancient life.  And the Austen fan will be happy to know that Jane visited Lyme in 1804 where she saw Mary Anning’s father to get a quote on fixing a broken chest lid.  According to a letter she wrote her sister, he charged far too much and she took her business elsewhere.

Language: Several swear words and uses of Deity’s name

Violence: This takes place during World War II. Mention of friends and family members being killed in the war.

Sexual Content: Marie-Claire recalls being assaulted by a boy when she was younger. His idea of kissing included putting his hands up her skirt.
Marie-Claire and other patients find romance in the sanitorium.

Adult Themes: Many friends, neighbors and family die from tuberculosis. Infected family members are separated from one another to be hospitalized and confined in the sanitarium. Fear causes others to shun victims of the disease. Marie-Claire loses an uncle and a brother to tuberculosis. The family’s relationship is strained during the loss of one child and uncle and the long recovery period of the other two children. Marie-Claire’s discouragement leads her to question the existence of God and turn against religion.

Synopsis

Marie-Claire’s uncle comes to stay at her family’s home after being gone for several months living the life of a hobo. He is somewhat sickly with a constant cough, but Marie-Claire’s mother is determined to get him back on his feet. The uncle’s condition continues to worsen. A doctor is finally called and the uncle is diagnosed with tuberculosis. He is confined to the local sanitarium for treatment but ends up dying from the disease. Marie-Claire is heartbroken. The war also brings hardships to the community. The able bodied men are called to fight in the war leaving many of the elderly, young and women to take care of things in their absence. Marie-Clare too must help out more on the farm along with keeping up with her studies. When her brother, Luc, becomes sick, she takes over his chores too. In her weakened state, Marie-Claire becomes sick and so does her younger sister. After weeks of trying to carry on, her parents finally take the children to the doctor. The three of them are diagnosed with tuberculosis as well. Heartbroken, their parents take them to the sanitarium. The three of them are separated and moved in with others of their same sex and age. Marie-Claire worries most about her brother who has always been sickly. She begs to see him but is so sick herself that she is not allowed. Anger fills her heart. Even her kind roommate cannot seem to bring her around. Each day her anger deepens and her sickness worsens. She has no family, no privacy and no energy. When she hears that her brother is worse, she attempts to walk down the hall to see him but collapses. The doctor, seeing her determination, finally allows someone to wheel her to his room. Her parents are there along with a minister. She knows this will be the last time she will see her brother alive. After a few weeks, her kind room-mate Signy finally breaks through Marie-Claire’s angry barrier. They start to talk to one another and enjoy radio shows together. Signy has had the disease for years. Her parents are wealthy but rarely come to visit, yet her cheerful attitude and desire to get better warms Marie-Claire’s heart. With Signy’s help Marie-Claire slowly starts to recover. She finally gets to a point where the doctors release her to the cottages where she can regain more or her strength and work on being released. Upon learning this, Signy’s condition worsens. Marie-Clair is torn. She loves Signy and appreciates all that she has done for her, but a new world awaits her, far from sickness and filled with new friends and a new love. Marie-Claire must decide what matters most.

I really enjoyed this coming of age story. It is a part of history that we don’t hear much about. We are so fortunate to live in a world today with medical technology and advancements that prevent and cure so many of the horrible diseases of the past. I liked having the story told through Marie-Claire’s perspective. These were hard times and she felt every hardship. She wasn’t perfect. The battle for hope was real and a true struggle. After going through all that she did, Marie-Claire was given a greater challenge and that was to look outside of herself and help others through the same ordeal.

Ratings Explanation

Language: Some common swear words. There are numerous curses and oaths using the names of God and Jesus Christ, like “God’s bones” and “by Christ’s blood”. “Jesu” also used often as an exclamation.

Violence: A jousting tournament and sword fighting are described. Hugh slaps Katherine. A character is killed with poison. The serfs riot in London, killing and beating merchants and members of the court. Severed heads are displayed on pikes. They also burn and destroy buildings. One particularly graphic description of a man’s head being split open by means of a sword. Prisoners are held in shackles and the stocks. Some descriptions of war.

Sexual Content: There is some talk of Katherine and Hugh’s wedding night and women losing their “maidenhead”. This book details court life of the 14th century in which royals having paramours is expected and accepted. There are very few actual descriptions of sexual encounters, but many in the court are having affairs. Katherine and John, although they truly love each other, are not married and have four children together.  Drunken and scantily clad people dance and grope each other. “Bedsport” is mentioned fairly often. Phrases alluding to sex, such as, “They had lain together hot with passion” are frequent throughout the book.

Adult Themes: Lady Nichola suffers from mental illness and commits suicide. Adultery and its consequences, especially for the illegitimate children born from it.

Synopsis

Katherine de Roet is orphaned at a young age when her recently knighted father dies in the King’s service. The Queen takes an interest in Katherine and her sister and sends Katherine to be raised in a convent while taking on her sister, Phillipa, as a serving girl in the royal court. Katherine is eventually brought to court with the intention of finding her a husband who will accept a wife with no dowry. Katherine is enamored of the sparkling Plantagenet family and dreams of marrying a brave knight. So when Sir Hugh Swynford asks for her hand, everyone tells her what an honor it is, but Katherine has no love for this awkward and rough knight and tries to avoid the union. Eventually accepting her fate, Katherine and Hugh marry, but Katherine holds herself apart, harboring a secret love for John of Gaunt, the King’s son and Duke of Lancaster who is married to the kind and lovely Duchess Blanche.

After a turn of events, John and Katherine are free to realize their love for each other and enjoy many happy, though tumultuous years together, including the addition of four children to their union. Although John is wed to a Castillian princess, Katherine enjoys the luxuries of the royal family. When angry serfs mob London, the royals are threatened, but through lies and brute force the rebellion is quashed. These frightening events bring Katherine to a realization of her sinful situation and she decides it is time to make penance. She recognizes that her decisions over the years have gravely affected the children she has borne with John, and in her mother’s heart she knows she must do all she can to make things right. Her journey to spiritual peace leads Katherine to a much different life than the one she lived in the opulent royal court, but as Katherine works and prays she is able to forgive herself and find happiness with her children.

Katherine is the story of the well documented love affair between John and Katherine, which union eventually produced the royal line of England.

I thoroughly enjoyed Katherine. Anya Setons’s writing transported me into the physical, spiritual, and cultural world of 14th century England. A world where the royalty exercises complete dominion over the commoners, exploiting their labor to finance their extravagant lifestyle and their wars, but also a romantic world of jousting tournaments, honor and chivalry.

Religion is a particularly interesting aspect of the book and the role it played, or didn’t, in the lives of the characters. Katherine begins the story a devout believer, but as her lifestyle conflicts with her beliefs, she abandons her religion in order to rationalize her actions. It is gratifying in the end that she is able to find peace in both her physical and spiritual life.

Love was not expected within the bonds of marriage as “marriage was a commercial transaction, a peacetime weapon for the acquisition of new lands and the extension of power.” This makes John and Katherine’s love even more sweet because “she had brought him no wealth, no power, no hope of foreign thrones.” She only brought him herself. And that was enough. Truly a love story for the ages.

This book provides an opportunity for conversations about the expectations of marriage then and now. How our actions, no matter what they are, affect other people and the position and role of women throughout history. During this time period, most people, both wealthy and poor, believed that God had ordained the order of things. That those of royal birth were chosen of God and those who served them were meant to do so, without question or rebellion. How do our beliefs about class or station differ today?

Ratings Explanation

Language:  There are frequent exclamations involving Deity, as well as common swearing (hell, damn, ass) in various forms.  There are also some instances of suck, screw and piss.  Amelia says, “An expletive, one I didn’t even know I knew, flew out of my mouth.”

Violence:  Amelia relives her death by drowning over and over again in nightmares.  Amelia sees a boy drowning and tries to save him.  He has driven his car off a bridge.  Amelia remembers wanting to jump off the bridge, but being pushed instead.  Joshua’s grandmother is a seer and can cause Amelia pain in her head.  Eli grabs Amelia and tries to force her to come with him.  Amelia lights up and causes things to happen when she experiences extreme emotions.  She breaks a bridge.  A girl is pushed off a bridge into the river below and almost dies but is rescued.  Amelia fights against the evil minions and Eli.

Sexual Content:  There are several kisses.  Amelia and Joshua stay in a bed together at night but nothing happens except sleep.

Adult Themes:  Joshua has beer in his car, on his way to a party when he crashes into the river.  Eli tells of his former life which involved drinking and “a few more chemicals.”   Amelia remembers her party where people are getting drunk.  There are seers and they perform exorcisms to try to get rid of the spirits in the area.  There is chanting and rituals.  People at the party are drinking alcohol and become possessed (controlled by dark spirits) and do crazy things like push people off the bridge to their death.  There is some question as to whether or not suicide was involved in some of the deaths at the bridge.  Amelia discovers her father has died but she doesn’t know where his spirit is.

Synopsis

Amelia has been drifting in a world that fluctuates between nightmares and nothingness until she sees a boy in the river, drowning.  Suddenly, all she wants is to save him.  Her attempts prove fruitless because she is dead herself.  But then, in a sudden moment, she connects and the boy is saved.  Amelia and Joshua have an unusual bond between them.  Joshua can see and talk to Amelia.  Their bond grows as they try to solve the mysteries surrounding Amelia’s death while keeping their relationship a secret from the world that would view Joshua as crazy and his grandmother who is an exorcist.  But an evil spirit, Eli, is determined to make Amelia his own and take her to his ghost world forever.

I really enjoyed this ghost-ish, paranormal young adult book.  Amelia’s journey of awareness and self discovery was intriguing.  I was in it right with her with my curiosity level high.  The end of the book still left me with many questions but hopefully there will be a sequel!

Ratings Explanation

Language:  There is mention of someone spewing out profanities.  A few crude or belittling words were used such as sucks, brat, stupid, idiot.  Someone insults Maggie by calling her “Maggot”.  She is also referred to as “Trailer Trash”.

Violence:  A man forcibly kisses a young woman.  She fights her attacker off by raking her fingers over his face, putting her thumbs in his eyes, and kicking him in the groin.  She also scratches, bites and punches to be free of him.  He drags her back to him as she reaches for a gun.  A man violently attacks and stabs other women.  Some of the women die.  He has also tortured animals.  Maggie’s mom is verbally abusive.  She was cruel to Maggie when she broke her arm as a child and dragged her by her broken arm.  A girl tries to punch Maggie and hits a mirror instead.  Maggie blocks a punch from the girl.  It is mentioned that some officers killed a drug dealer.  One of the officers died too.  It is also mentioned that someone’s family died as a result of a home invasion.  Some dangerous men chase after Maggie.  Seth hurts his hands while he chases some bad guys.  Seth punched Zack.  Seth slams Mr. Hoffman up against the wall.  Maggie’s mom slaps her.  Some criminals attack a man with a knife, and he dies.  A man holds Maggie hostage with a knife.  Her head is slammed into a doorway.  Maggie is pushed around by Zack.  He bruises her face and knees.  Zack drags Maggie to a closet and threatens her life and Seth’s life too.  A man holds a gun on Sam and Maggie.  A man runs a sword through another man’s chest.  A law enforcement agent is killed in his car.  A man threatens to dismember Maggie.  Her ribs are broken through the struggle.  A young man is stabbed.  Someone shoots another person with a gun.

Sexual Content:  Maggie’s ex-boyfriend wanted to sleep with her, but she said no.  There are several kisses between Seth and Maggie.  Maggie wishes her breasts weren’t so small.  A reference is made to “doing the nasty”.  A girl has the reputation of being a “make-out whore”.  A girl tells others that she and another boy “did it”.   Maggie stays in Seth’s house, but they sleep in separate bedrooms.

Adult Content:  Seth is an undercover agent in a high school for the Mobile Enforcement Team (MET) with the Drug Enforcement Agency.  They are dealing with drug trafficking which includes heroin and marijuana.  Three heroin overdose deaths have occurred, and nine elementary age school children have died from candy laced with drugs.  A drug dealer dies in a shoot-out with officers.  An officer is killed.  Alcoholism and drug use is prevalent.  Maggie is starving and looks “Heroin Chic”.  The officers look for “track marks” on Maggie and her mother.  Maggie and her mother are very poor.  Her mother got pregnant while drunk at a party when she was sixteen.  Maggie doesn’t know who her father is.  Maggie keeps her feelings inside.  Social Services got involved when Maggie was younger.  Maggie is emotionally, verbally, and at times physically abused by her mother.  She tells her that she is “unlovable”.  Maggie is hungry.  Her mother uses what money they have on alcohol instead of food.  She drinks daily, usually vodka.  Maggie was raised by her grandparents until she was four and a half when they were killed by a drunk driver.  Maggie is referred to as “Jailbait”, meaning she is too young to be seriously involved with Seth.  He’s twenty-one.  She will turn eighteen in a few months.  An older man who served in WWII mentions the atrocities of the “Concentration Camp in Gusen”.  An elderly woman asks Seth if he is one of those “gay fellers”.  Maggie is accused of being anorexic.  She feels worthless at times.  Maggie’s mother’s health is failing due to alcoholism.  She is hospitalized.  A reference is made to abortion.  Maggie is thrown out of her house by her mother.  Maggie’s mother is in need of a liver transplant.  There is mention of someone dying from cancer.  It is mentioned that someone’s parents die in a plane crash.  Maggie is taken to a shooting range and taught how to shoot a gun.  A man suffers from a heart attack.  There are some funerals.  Drugs are found.  Maggie has a breakdown and ends up needing medical attention.  She is considered co-dependent as a result of living with an alcoholic mother.  She learns about Al-anon and seeks counseling.

Synopsis:

Life isn’t easy for seventeen-year-old Maggie Brown.  Her home life is nothing but turmoil and heartache due to her alcoholic mother.  However, she has taken notice of a new boy at school, Seth Prescott.  Unbeknownst to her, Seth is an undercover agent attending Port Fare High in upstate New York.  He has been assigned to help fight the increase of drug trafficking in the community.  A romance begins between Maggie and Seth that puts them both to the test.  All the while the stakes grow higher in the battle against drugs with some losing their lives as a result.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I read this story, but it got my attention right away.  I really liked it.  Drug abuse and alcoholism aren’t very pretty subjects, but I couldn’t help but care very deeply for the main characters of the story.  My heart just went out to Maggie.  It was a struggle for her to keep it all together on a daily basis.  I liked that she tried to make the best with what she had.  She had a 4.0 and was mature and responsible way beyond her years.  I hated that she was so hungry and cold all the time.  It brought tears to my eyes when her mother would tell her that she was unlovable.  Seth was pretty much too good to be true, but I liked him anyway.  He was a good guy through and through.  I liked that Maggie and Seth had set boundaries for their physical expressions of love.  The idea in the story of the Lunch Swap concept was awesome!  People who benefit from the lunches can offer services or sell handmade items with the proceeds going into the Lunch Swap fund.  Drug abuse, alcoholism, personal safety, abuse of any kind, and helping others in need are some of the things that would make for a good discussion between parent and child.  I would recommend this book to 8th grade and up.

Ratings Explanation

Violence:  The two “Bapi’s” (grandfathers) scuffle when Lena says, “Kostos is not a nice boy.”  Carman throws a rock through the window of Lydia’s home.

Sexual  Content:  Breast sizes are briefly discussed.  Bridget expertly flirts with Eric, her soccer coach.  She dances with him, touches him, etc.  Bridget thinks about having sex with Eric.  She comes to his room one night and he follows her outside.  Implied sex occurs.  Bridget struggles to deal with the emotions of having sex with Eric.  Kostos sees Lena skinny dipping.  On another occasion, the chance encounter is reversed and Lena sees Kostos naked at the same pond.   Rock art of huge penises mentioned.

Language: The Lord’s name is taken in vain on several occasions.  “Ass/asshole” and “s***” are each used a couple of times.

Adult Content: The story addresses death (Bridget’s mom and Bailey), divorce (Carmen’s parents), and sex (between Bridget and Eric).  The girls break into Gilda’s (the gym where their moms met) by picking the lock.  Drinking wine mentioned.  Bridget flirts with Eric, leads him on and then struggles to cope with the emotional confusion and let-down of having had sex with Eric.

Synopsis

This is the first summer when four best friends will separate and be apart for the first time.  The girls, age 15, all friends from birth, acquire and then share a unique pair of jeans that fit them all perfectly, even though they are different shapes and sizes.  They agree to each take a turn with the pants throughout the summer.   The pants represent their bond of friendship, love, support and courage while they are apart.  The book follows each girl through the summer as they  grow and develop as individuals, while still maintaining the friendship that makes them whole.

Lena spends the summer visiting her grandparents in Greece.  She conquers her fears and self- doubts in time to respond to a kind Greek boy, Kostos.  Bridget, a great athlete, attends a soccer camp in Baja, Mexico.   Recklessly, she toys with sex and love with one of her coaches, Eric.  Carmen plans on being alone in South Carolina with her father, but is surprised to find he has a new step-family to introduce her to.  Tibby stays home and works a dull job at a drug store.  While there, she meets a new friend—a 12-year-old girl who is dying of leukemia.

This is the first book in a popular young adult series following four girls through high school, college and beyond.   While not my favorite book, it was entertaining.  I can relate to, and remember fondly, my wonderful and long-lasting friendships from childhood.
The language of the book is written easy enough for early teens, but the content and characters are more appropriate for mid or older teens. I guess I am unsure of the author’s target audience. I wouldn’t recommend it for young teens.

Ratings Explanation

Language:  There are frequent exclamations involving Deity (God, Lord), frequent uses of mild swearing (hell, damn, ass) and one instance of the “B” word.  Terms such as slut and hag are also used.

Violence:  A young girl is drunk and attacks another girl.  There is pushing and hitting and someone says, “Kick the crap out of her.”  Ethan is in a surfing accident and has to have stitches in his head.  Marina cuts up her feet when sleepwalking outside and also needs medical care and stitches.  Sea lions attack Marina, hurting her.   Mermaids force Marina under water and strip her naked.

Sexual Content:  Marina observes a guy take his shirt off saying he is equal to any underwear model she has ever seen.  There is a mermaid who is naked on the top, revealing her breasts.  There are several instances of kissing.  Marina’s aunt slept with a married man and got pregnant.  Aunt Abby sleeps with Ethan’s dad.  Mermaids tear away Marina’s clothing until she is stripped naked.  Ethan sleeps in the bed with Marina although nothing happens.

Adult Themes:  Cruz deals with never knowing who his father is.  There is a scene in the books with a psychic.  There is also underage drinking and aggression.

Synopsis

Marina has spent most of her life traveling the world with her scientist dad.  Life has been good and Marina has no complaints until her father tells her she is going to stay with her aunt and attend a public school for the first time in her life while he leaves for a year to work on his own.  Aptos, California is a beach town full of surfers and sunshine.  Marina has no idea how this move will change her whole life.  After nearly drowning, not once, but twice, Marina takes swimming and surfing lessons from Ethan, the hottest guy in town.  Marina feels herself drawn to the ocean and to Ethan.  One grounds her and makes her feel safe, the other torments her, even in her dreams.

If you love paranormal romance with a bit of action thrown in, this could just be the book for you.  If you love mermaid tales, you will enjoy this.  I wouldn’t say I’m a paranormal romance junkie or a mermaid lover either, but who doesn’t love a book that can pull you in and entertain you?  That’s what this book was for me.  It took me a bit to get into this book, but when I did, it was sure hard to pull me out.  This is an ebook available on Amazon and Smashwords.  This is a YA book, which I would keep to the upper end of that range.  My thanks to Derrolyn for sending me her book to read and review.

Ratings Explanation

Language:  Only four or five swear words and one profanity.

Violence:  Deadly fights between Indian tribes and white settlers abound in this book. Indians attack with bows and arrows and knives. White settlers fight back with guns. Some explicit details (arrows to the throat, innards falling out, blood and gore). Sarah loses friends and family members to these attacks. White soldiers attack and kill a small group of peaceful Indians (including women and children) out of vengeance. Two men attack teenage girls while they are bathing in a pond; one girl is raped; Sarah shoots and kills both men.  Train robbers kill passengers on a train.  Indians burn down a white homestead.  A man attempts to rape Sarah while her little girl watches; he puts a knife to her breast and cuts her. He tries to drown her baby in the washtub. An insane woman smothers and kills her newborn baby; her grief-stricken husband kills her. Numerous other incidents of fatalities and gunfights; all are not graphically detailed. Sarah laments that she has seen more hard living and shot and killed more Indians (and attackers) in her young life than she would have ever imagined.

Sexual Content:  Sarah falls asleep in Captain Elliot’s arms one evening in her covered wagon and fears she is a “ruined” and “wanton” woman. Sarah and Savannah discuss tepidly what happens in the marriage bed; Savannah tells her that the “marriage bed is undefiled”. Sarah’s first husband used to frequent a house of ill repute while they were married. Captain Elliot sees Sarah naked when he rescues her from being raped. He gently cleans the wound on her breast. Jack kisses Sarah in a way she’s never been kissed before, holding her tightly and making her go weak in the knees. Sarah confesses that she enjoys when Jack kisses her “in a most indecent way.” Some brief mention of Jack and Sarah’s wedding night. Jack recites sensual verses from the Song of Solomon to Sarah while she bathes. Sarah explains to her sister-in-law Savannah the primitive forms of birth control in the late 1800s (called a “Ladies’ Preventative”) and how not to get pregnant when you’re married.

Adult Themes:  Some typical wild west scenarios of brawling, drinking, cigar smoking, train robberies, cattle stealing, etc. Children die of snake bites and scarlet fever, and women either die or are close to death during childbirth on more than one occasion. Sarah and Jack toast their wedding day with whiskey.

Synopsis

This is the diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901, a real woman (the author’s own great-grandmother) who lived and homesteaded in the Arizona Territories of frontier times. Though somewhat fictionalized in its account of Sarah’s life, her story is compelling and vivid as she records the harsh life required of her in the wild, wild west. She begins recording her words at the tender age of 17; by the book’s end twenty years later, she has seen more than her fair share of Indian raids, gritty frontier life, and heartache and loss. By her 21st birthday, Sarah has recorded a loveless marriage to a childhood friend, the birth of her first child, the death of her first husband, and the establishment of a profitable cattle ranch. Then along comes Captain Jack Elliot, a tall, handsome and brave cavalry officer to romance Sarah and show her what it’s like to be truly loved. It’s this love story between Sarah and Jack which prevails and entrances throughout the rest of the novel. Through her diary entries, the reader witnesses Sarah’s transformation from young, rough, and uneducated (the initial grammar and writing is unpolished) to mature, tender, and articulate; an adored wife, a loving mother, a strong and courageous woman of purpose.

At times harrowing and heartbreaking, this is a beautifully written novel that is difficult to put down. Because it is written as a diary, it is like peering through a window into 1800s frontier Arizona, and the character of Sarah is so realistic and honest that by book’s end I felt I was saying goodbye to a cherished friend. The violence between white man and Indian is intense, and the rape scenes disturbing, for which I cannot recommend this to readers younger than upper high school age. But on every other account, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. And the love story between Jack and Sarah is as deliciously romantic as any I’ve read. So many wonderful quotations in this book, but here are two:

It seems there is always a road with bends and forks to choose, and taking one path means you can never take another one. There’s no starting over nor undoing the steps I’ve taken. . .

And one I can relate to completely: My life feels like a book left out on the porch, and the wind blows the pages faster and faster, turning always toward a new chapter faster than I can stop and read it.