Book Review: China Dolls by Lisa See

Lisa See once again immerses her readers in Asian culture in China Dolls.

Three women, with very different family backgrounds, meet in San Francisco in 1938. Grace has run away from her Iowa home and only wants to be a star. But although she is Chinese, her family is very Americanized and she doesn't even know what a chopstick is!

Helen has grown up in her family's home in Chinatown, and her parents are very traditional.

Ruby is ambitious but doesn't talk much about her family. She's willing to take risks to get what she wants.

These women become fast friends as they navigate the world of Chinese-American nightclubs. They become dancers and at times rivals. They support each other and pump each other up, but the business is as times cut-throat and brutal.

There are secrets and betrayals; they drift apart and together as they navigate the climate during WWII and beyond. Romance is present, but the main focus of China Dolls is the bond between these women.

China Dolls is narrated by these three women in alternating chapters. It took me a while to become comfortable with each voice so I could tell them apart.

China Dolls is historically accurate and includes several well-know popular figures of the time. The story is well paced, and See does a good job of revealing secrets and providing drama to keep you hooked. None of her books could ever top my love for Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, but China Dolls was a very satisfying reading experience and I recommend it to fans of Chinese culture and historical fiction. China Dolls is appropriate for teen or adult readers.

Published by Random House, 2014
Ebook obtained from the library
400 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: No Parking at the End Times by Bryan Bliss

I enjoyed the unique premise of No Parking at the End Times, but wished for a more developed story.

Abigail, her twin brother Aaron, and her parents are in San Francisco living out of their van. Their parents believed the end of the world was coming and sold everything, climbed in their van, and went to California to be near Brother John, who predicted this end. Well, it didn't happen and now they have nothing. But the parents are still devout followers of Brother John. So when he says "This is a test from God" or "Put your faith in God and he will provide" they believe it wholeheartedly. So they do nothing to bring themselves out of this mess. They continue to give what little they have to Brother John and survive on what little charity they can get from others. This most Godly man, Brother John, gives them nothing except sermons.

It was so hard to read what these teens were going through. They sneaked away from their parents and got to know some other street kids. Aaron is angry and wants to get enough money to return home. Abigail is more sympathetic and still trusts her parents. I empathized with their situation but also found it very frustrating.

I find it hard to believe any parent would watch their kids go through this and do nothing. All in the name of God. Unfortunately, I'm sure it happens. The kids kept talking about an uncle that would help them. I don't understand why they didn't call him and come clean. Yes, Abi does call him eventually but doesn't tell him the truth.

No Parking at the End Times was a very quick read. Almost too quick. While I felt for the kids, I didn't feel the story had enough depth and details to really make me connect. I would have liked more background, especially what happened to the parents to get to this point. I know the father lost his job, but that wasn't enough. Abi struggles with her faith, but I would have liked to see more of that. I just didn't feel there was enough detail to grab onto. The end was very quick and almost too convenient.

However, because of the fast pace, interesting story, and short length, I think No Parking at the End Times would be a great pick for reluctant teen readers--who would appreciate the lack of depth! So, while I have personal reservations about the story, for the intended audience I think No Parking at the End Times may be worthwhile.

Published by Greenwillow, February 24, 2015
Copy obtained from Edelweiss
272 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

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Book Review: A Barricade in Hell, by Jaime Lee Moyer @jaimeleemoyer

The beloved characters in Delia's Shadow appear again in A Barricade in Hell and they just keep getting better.

This review is going to spoil Delia's Shadow so if you haven't read that one, proceed with caution. Or just go get it and read it.

Delia is now married to Gabe. She continues to see ghosts, and Gabe is a Captain on the police force. We are still in San Francisco in 1917, about to go to war in Europe. Jack is still Gabe's partner.

The setting and time of A Barricade in Hell add much to the story. I don't know how many times I thought, "If only they had cell phones!" It's interesting to see how people coped with the war looming over them.

Delia begins to see a ghost of a small child that won't leave her alone. She is different than most ghosts because she can get through all the wards that Delia puts up to keep her away. This little girl is also haunting Gabe's dreams.

There is a string of murders, some appearing to be ritualistic, which causes Delia and Gabe to once again work together. Isadora is helping Delia to learn to control her powers and is also pulled into the investigation.

All of these things weave together in such an interesting way, and that's the strength of Moyer's stories. She makes the paranormal seem normal. This is just a natural part of these peoples' lives, and they use it to their advantage, even when it threatens them. This isn't horror. The ghosts aren't even that scary -- although there are some other paranormal entities that are a bit more aggressive in this one.

I have to mention one small negative. There are a lot of details that are unnecessary, especially when repeated over an over. For example, we are told every time Gabe leaves his office that he puts his papers in the lower drawer and locks it. Then checks to make sure it is locked. I didn't understand why she had to say this over and over. I was convinced that eventually things were going to turn up missing from his desk. But no. There were several of these tidbits that just seemed random. Not a big deal, but just caused me to pause at times.

I won't get into too much detail about the murder investigation. We know who the bad guy is fairly early in the book, but the potential danger keeps you in the story no matter what.

The romance is tender -- it's nice to see a couple so happy to be with each other. And there's a new character that provides some potential future romance.

I hope Moyer plans to write some more stories about Delia, because I'm looking forward to them! It's historical/mystery/paranormal. So anyone who is interested in that combination should try A Barricade in Hell. You don't have to read Delia's Shadow, but it does provide some background and it's a good book too, so I'd read it first.

Published by Tor, June 3, 2014
Copy obtained from the library
331 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Audio Book Review: Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende

Daughter of Fortune is an engaging story that follows one woman's life including her journey from Chile to San Francisco during the gold rush.

I don't usually do this but I'm just going to include the description from amazon.com:

An orphan raised in Valparaiso, Chile, by a Victorian spinster and her rigid brother, vivacious young Eliza Sommers follows her lover to California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Entering a rough-and-tumble world of new arrivals driven mad by gold fever, Eliza moves in a society of single men and prostitutes with the help of her good friend and savior, the Chinese doctor Tao Chi'en. California opens the door to a new life of freedom and independence to the young Chilean, and her search for her elusive lover gradually turns into another kind of journey. By the time she finally hears news of him, Eliza must decide who her true love really is.

Daughter of Fortune is beautifully written. The descriptions of people and place are vivid and complete. Eliza is a character that you can't help but care about and root for. Although, I did wish she would realize what she had sooner (but that would have ruined the story, I guess). She become so obsessed with finding the man she thought she loved that she was blind to anything else.

You will learn a lot about Chile and all the foreign people who chose to come there to make their fortune. You will learn a lot about the gold rush and what life was like, especially for women and foreigners during that time. But just because you are learning, doesn't mean Daughter of Fortune is boring. There's adventure, romance, near death experiences, and lots of drama to keep you reading (or in my case, listening.)

Blair Brown, the narrator, does an excellent job. She has a Spanish (or Chilean?) accent that adds authenticity but is still very easy to understand.

Daughter of Fortune is highly recommended to fans of historical fiction. This is my first Allende book, and it kind of reminded me of books by Barbara Kingsolver, who is one of my favorite authors.

Published by Harper Collins, 1999, HarperAudio, 2008
Copy obtained from the library
416 pages

Rating: 5/5

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Book Review: World After by Susan Ee @Susan_Ee

World After was just as good as the first book, Angelfall. Again, it was unputdownable!

The bad angels are at it again. Penryn has found both her sister and her mother, but their togetherness is short-lived. She once again must hunt for them, and in the process puts herself in a lot of danger and also finds out the motivations for the angels' evil actions. And they are even more evil in World After.

She also hopes to find Raffe and show him that she's not dead. Aw, come on. You know you hope so too! And, they do find each other and help each other to "save the day!" There's a little luck involved too, but this story is so much fun we can overlook that.

I don't want to go into much detail, but if you enjoyed Angelfall this is just more of that same great world and great story. You will never think of angels the same way! If you haven't read Angelfall you should start there. This series is exciting, fast-paced, heartbreaking and scary. You're gonna love it.

Published by Skyscape, 2013
Purchased eBook
320 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: Delia's Shadow, by Jaime Lee Moyer

Delia's Shadow is a delightful mix of history, romance, supernatural intrigue, and mystery that I really found enjoyable.

The setting of Delia's Shadow is San Francisco in 1915. Delia had left San Francisco after the horrible earthquake and fire killed her parents in 1906. She has returned because she is being haunted. That's right. Delia has always been able to see ghosts, but now there's a particular female ghost that has been following her around. She feels like it's time to return to her home.

After Delia's parents died, her best friend Sadie's mother took Delia in, and treated her like her own daughter. Since Delia has been gone, Sadie has fallen in love and become engaged to Jack. Delia is hoping her ghost will go away, and she can concentrate on helping Delia plan her wedding. Delia's mother, Esther, is on her death bed, so Delia also wants to be able to say goodbye. But the ghost wants something. She won't leave until Delia figures out what it is.

Jack is a police officer and his partner and boss is Gabe. So, of course being the matchmaker she is, Sadie makes sure that Delia and Gabe get to spend time together. Gabe also lost his pregnant wife in the earthquake.

Gabe and Jack are working on a serial killer case that no one knows about. You see, the city is hosting the Pan-Pacific Exposition, and there are people visiting from all over the world. Gabe believes this is the same serial killer that his policeman father tried to catch 30 years ago.

The ghost haunting Delia has something to do with these old murders. Delia sees what happened to her in dreams. The four main characters consult a spiritualist, Dora, who assists the investigation.  In the meantime, the girls are being threatened, there's a big twist, Gabe and Delia are slowly falling in love, and people are still dying.

Delia's Shadow truly kept me entertained the whole way through. I loved the historical setting and the reality of the effects of that horrible earthquake. The romance was slow and sweet. And the danger, while not really that palpable, was still there and the mystery intriguing.

The secondary characters added a lot of flavor to fill out Delia's Shadow. Annie, the housekeeper; Marshall, the police officer guarding the women; and Esther, who adds to the story even though she's dying, were all interesting characters that I enjoyed getting to know.

Delia's Shadow, even though there are ghosts and murders, didn't seem dark and heavy. There's just the right balance of romance and friendship to make the book a fairly light, quick read, if at times predictable.

There's much to enjoy here for both teens and adults. I would recommend Delia's Shadow to those who like their mysteries light, their ghosts fairly benign, and their romance sweet.

P.S. I don't often comment on covers, but can I just say this is a beautiful cover and perfect for the book!

Published by Tor Books, September 17, 2013
eBook obtained from NetGalley
336 pages

Rating: 4/5

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