The Vow

The Vow: The True Events that Inspired the Movie by Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, 2012 B&H Publishing Group

     This is the true story of Kimmer Carpenter and his wife Krickitt, told from Kim's point of view. Two months after their wedding on a trip to Krickitt's parents' home, Kim and Krickitt find themselves in the hospital following a car crash. Krickitt was driving and, after a near-death experience, sustains major brain damage. The doctors don't think she'll make it through the night, but she does only for her family and friends to discover that Krickitt can't remember the last year and a half. She doesn't remember Kim at all. 

     Kim tells of the struggles of living with a wife that no longer knows him, that cannot remember how they met, dated, or their life together. Krickitt repeatedly tells everyone that she feels no connection to the young woman in all the photos and videos. Yet the two still feel a need to stay faithful to their marriage vows. Eventually, through their faith, they discover their new relationship and re-dedicate their lives to each other. 

     Follow along as Kim realizes that his Krickitt is a completely new person, and falls in love with the new woman who is already his wife. With this read you can see their commitment to each other and each's relationship with God and how it strengthens the bond between the two. It was a quick read and compelling, despite my knowledge of the ending. 

Waiting for Deborah

Waiting for Deborah by Betty Neels, 2012 Harlequin

     Originally published in 1994, Waiting for Deborah tells the story of a young British woman whose stepfather has recently died and her step-brother and -sister have pushed her out of her home. In her quest for independence, Deborah meets Dr. James Marlow at a job nursing an elderly woman recuperating from a stroke and is slowly taken in by his kindness and concern.  Things don't go well with her haughty employer and, when the patient is well enough, Deborah is dismissed to find another job.
     As she moves from job to job, Dr. Marlow is always there, somehow in the background and picking her up when things go wrong. But as Deborah falls for the brooding doctor, she begins to wonder whether what he feels for her is a romantic passion or the concern for a lost puppy.
     Like many of Betty Neels' books, Waiting for Deborah focuses on the romance of the relationship between Deborah and Dr. Marlow. Unlike more modern stories, the most mature content is "he kissed her hard" as Neels focuses on what connects the two. It is a suitable choice for younger readers looking for romance without the risque content of more recent romance novels.

Supernaturally

Supernaturally by Kiersten White, 2011 HarperTeen

     In this sequel to Paranormalcy, Evie has gained the normal life she's always dreamed of. But life isn't as she expected. Normal is too normal: no bag-and-tag missions interrupting the cycle of school, work, time with Lend; no paranormals trying regularly to kill her; and no illusions about normal high school life.
     But it looks like things are going back when Raquel reappears and some strange and paranormal things start showing up. From being kidnapped by a slyph to rescuing a community of trolls, Evie falls right back into her roll at IPCA (International Paranormal Containment Agency).
     This time, though, she brings her new worldview with her. Lend and his father have taught Evie that paranormals can live safely in the real world, that they are people just as humans are. It isn't until things start to go really wrong-even for Evie-that Raquel, Lend, and Evie's new friends notice that something is out to get her. They assume that Evie's ex-boyfriend, Reth, and the fairies are behind it, despite his denial.
     Evie's new friend Jack is a bright spot when her involvement with IPCA darkens her relationship with Lend. But Jack has some problems of his own. His past with the fairies and hatred of them draws Evie closer and closer to the dark side of her abilities, a side that terrifies her.
     Evie has finally discovered what she is, but must figure out what it means to her. She fights against Lend's immortality and the fear that she'll burn through her soul too quickly to enjoy anything, all the while trying to get into college and create a future. When the darkness nearly swallows her, Evie has to choose between revenge on the beings who created her and submitting to the darkness, or taking control and owning who she is.
     Evie has matured between the two books, adding a degree of language and mature content that wasn't there in the first novel, but it is still a good read for high schoolers. Evie notices more of the nuances of her fellow characters, as does the reader, showing the change she's undergoing. Again, Evie's adventures serve to showcase how she changes as she meets more paranormals and develops deeper relationships with the creatures she once locked up without compunction.

The Thief

The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner, 1996 Eos

     Gen is a thief. When he brags to all of Sounis that he can steal anything, he is arrested and forced to join the kingdom's magus on a quest to find Hamiathes's Gift.
     Hamiathes's Gift is a stone to guarantee the throne of Sounis's neighbor Eddis to her monarch. Sounis (the king of the country) hopes to use it to force Eddis (the queen) into marriage and to use her lands as a stepping-stone to Attolia.
     Attolia has been damaged by plague as had Eddis and Sounis, and Sounis sees her unpeopled lands as the perfect place to re-settle his overpopulation.
     Gen travels with the Magus, Sounis's heir, and two others to the location of Hamiathes's Gift where his part of the quest begins, and the mission begins to fall apart. Betrayal, escape from incarceration, and a miraculous rescue characterize the rest of Gen's path home.
     The story is told from Gen's point of view, showing his inner thoughts and plans. Throughout Gen challenges the views his companions accept and put forth unthinkingly. He stands against the bullying of one companion to win the friendship and respect of the others. While his occupation isn't completely wholesome, Gen fulfills his role of Tool of the Gods and makes the other characters (and reader) think about what they believe and why.
     This is the first of a series about Attolia, Eddis, and Sounis by Megan Whalen Turner. It was a fun read, drawing on military and political strategy as well as mythology and social patterns from the modern Grecian world.