~Where Shadows Lie – A Review and Character Interview

by Rebekah // August 14, 2015 // No Comments

We’re going to do things a little differently for this review. Tialla Rising is releasing her new book this week, Where Shadows Lie, and she’s doing a blog tour. First off, we’re going to start off with an interview I had the opportunity of conducting, with her main character, Shawn Parrino. Then I’ll write my review.

-Okay. I’m here, but give me just a second to finish making my coffee, before I can be fully focused. J

Hi Rebekah, nice to meet you. My author said you wanted to interview me, so I figured it might be nice if I showed up. I definitely understand about the coffee, though…I just don’t know how some people can focus without it in the morning. I’m Shawn, by the way.

-Nice to meet you Shawn! I’ve heard a lot about you! I can function without coffee – usually. If I try hard enough. ;)

I just don’t prefer to.

Okay… I’ve got a few questions for you. Do you mind?

Don’t mind at all.

-Good! Okay, first question. How long have you known Virginia?

Gosh it’s been so long. I think since I was about fifteen. That would make fourteen years! I hadn’t realized that until now, actually.

-That’s a long time! How did you meet her?

Well, she was still just a little kid when I met her, so I didn’t really pay much attention at all. Arrowhead was a really small community back then, but her parents were pretty involved in volunteer work and all that. Since I lived on the streets, it would’ve been hard for me not to run into her.

-Got it. So, when did you start getting to know her better?

I’d say when I was around 23. She was 14 then and even though at that point I wouldn’t have dreamed we’d end up together, she was feisty and not afraid to confront me. I wasn’t used to that…most other people just left me alone, or they tended to regret it. But Virginia had this way about her that just kind of shocked me. Haha. It interested me.

-It’s interesting that you liked that she didn’t act afraid of you. You said you lived on the streets, right? What was that like?

Well, it surprised me, let’s just say that. And I eventually had to credit her for her boldness. It was a slow process, if I’m completely honest.

Anyway, yes, the streets were my home. My parents abandoned me when I was eight, so I had to fight my way to survive. It didn’t take me long to find the gangs, and they treated me like family. Well, the only kind of family I knew, that is. It was a hard transition from living in a home to living in shacks and hideouts, not gonna lie. I worked for my keep by stealing odds and ends, completing small jobs like smashing mailboxes of our rivals, marking their buildings with our spray paint, things like that. I got caught in my first knife fight when I was rather new to the whole gang life, and still bear the scar across my cheek.

-Sounds like you had a rough time in your growing up years. But you’ve left gang life behind you now, right? What made you decide to change?

My last trip to prison was on a false first-degree murder charge. It wasn’t the first time I’d been to prison, but I’m determined to make sure it is the last. That time, I hit rock-bottom.

Due to the charges, I didn’t think I’d ever get out. That’s when the realization of everything I’d been doing truly hit me.

As I sat in the grungy, slimy cell with no prospect of release, a new feeling crept its way into me: guilt. Not just because I’d been caught, but because of all I’d done. Because of the people I’d hurt. The people I’d lost. I realized the whole gang life was just a facade.

They aren’t family–they’re the farthest thing from family. When the rubber meets the road, they couldn’t care anymore about their “family” than a complete stranger. It was all just for the profit, the thrill, and attitude.

And then I remembered Virginia, who was in her late teen years by then. I knew at that moment that if I had the chance, I would change. In that cell is when it dawned on me that above everyone else, she’s the one I didn’t want to lose. And I felt like I already had lost her, but I wasn’t going to let that discourage me from changing if I had the chance to.

-Did you find the transition difficult?

Very. It’s incredibly difficult to change lifelong habits.

-But you persevered. Which is incredible. Why did you stay in Arrowhead? I would think that moving to another town would make things a bit easier.

My main reason for staying in Arrowhead was because Virginia and her family still lived there. They were skeptical when I was released from prison, yes, but they also took a huge risk and decided to give me a chance, which I’ll never forget. They became the first real family I ever had, and I didn’t want to leave that. Also, I don’t believe in running away from problems. Arrowhead is my home, it was the only place I’d ever really known. I wreaked havoc there when I was younger, so now was my chance to make things right.

-To try to make things right is certainly a noble reason to stay and I certainly understand wanting to remain close to anyone who would be willing to give you a second chance like that. How did your previous gangster buddies feel about you turning over a new leaf?

Ha, well let’s just say they believed I was a traitor and worthy of death. So yeah… not so great.

-Do you think they’ll ever decide to leave you alone?

Well, the most dangerous of them are now in prison. Their leader, Max, is also imprisoned, and without him, I doubt any remaining members would have the incentive to keep at me. So I have a feeling I’m safe now–unless somehow Max gets out of prison. Which would be a huge problem for me. Here’s to hoping that never happens.

-No, getting out would not be good. It’s probably in the favor of a lot of people that they stay off the streets! Did they manage to take you for a wild ride before the imprisonment? It sounds like you survived it, but I’m afraid to ask what they were willing to do to punish you for leaving gang life…

A wild ride is a nice way of putting it! I’m able to laugh about it now (or… at least somewhat laugh about it), but there were times I didn’t feel like they would ever leave us alone. I say “us” because they oftentimes went after Virginia and her family as well–as an angle to punish me. They attacked us numerous times, ransacked our homes, and put us in the hospital with dangerously severe injuries.

Somewhere in the middle of it all, I also discovered that Max not only wanted to punish me for leaving the gang life, but also had a personal vendetta against my father. Since my father is dead, he decided to exact his revenge on me. This explains why he wasn’t satisfied with leaving me alone even when I finally buckled under the pressure and did some of the things the gang wanted. We grew rather desperate to make it all stop, but Max wouldn’t stop for anything…not with blood lust powering him.

-Wow. That sounds terrifying, to say the least. I think I would have wanted to give up at times, in the midst of all that!

Oh there were many times when I was very close to giving up. Sometimes, looking back on it all, I’m not sure how I *didn’t* give in.

-What would you say was your greatest motivation to keep going? Was there anything beside Virginia and her family?

I think, deep down, I wanted to prove that I was better than the gang life. And that maybe, they would see it, and realize there was more to life than what they were living as well. Maybe they would see how empty the lifestyle truly is. There were numerous reasons motivating me. I wanted to stand up to them to prove my worth, prove my substance. I was (okay, I AM…) very stubborn. I also wanted to show them that they can’t just trample everyone. As Virginia pointed out to me once, if we didn’t stand up to them, what would stop them from doing the same to other people? And, as mentioned earlier, I wanted to be a better person–which meant not giving in or going back to the gang lifestyle. I wanted it for myself, for my reputation, and for Virginia. My motivation for not giving in was really a myriad of reasons.

-That makes sense.

Well, they helped me in the moment. I’m just thankful it’s all over now and I can truly move on with my life.

-I’m sure.

Thank you so much for being willing to answer my questions, Shawn! And thank you for your patience. I haven’t done very many interviews in the past and I’m certain that shows. It has been great meeting you!

You’re welcome! Thank you for taking the time to chat with me. Most people don’t want to talk with me about my life, so it’s been nice. Have a great day!

-I enjoyed it. You’ve been a pleasure to talk to. You have a great day as well!
-Where Shadows Lie – A Review

The Story:
Shawn Parrino left the gangster lifestyle four years ago. Following an imprisonment, he returned to his hometown of Arrowhead, and tries to start a new life. He didn’t have many friends; his best friend and girlfriend Virginia, her brother Bryan, and another ex-gangster, Jackson, are about it. Besides his next door neighbor, Mrs. Jenson, and Virgina’s cousin Joy, no one really cared anything about Shawn.

Except, the gang he left behind.

He had hoped they would just forget him, but their motto, “Blood in, blood out,” was more than just a saying. It was reality. A reality that got slammed into his face just when he least wanted it.

Thirsting for revenge, as well as to appease their boss’s personal vendetta, the gang known as The Shadows, chase after Shawn, trying to break him to their will. When he won’t yield, the boss decides to go after the few people that Shawn loves.

The Writing Style:
Miss Rising is very good at building her ‘world’ for the reader. Arrowhead and the surrounding area is very easy to picture. She also manages to describe it without long and detailed descriptions, instead allowing it to flow naturally into the narrative.

She also describes emotions and pain very well. The reader’s heart wrenches when one character finally breaks down sobbing or holds their breath as another slowly loses consciousness. Pain or sorrow feels very real.

On the other hand, certain aspects of the book felt like they could use some more research or realism. Things like recovery time after injury or how the police operate. Some areas of the book felt very unrealistic.

The Characters:
I liked Miss Rising’s characters. I liked their connection to each other. Even so, I didn’t like some of their behavior. Another area that felt very unrealistic is the danger these characters would put themselves into. Danger that could have been easily avoided, if, for instance, Virginia has listened to Shawn a little more often. Yes, they usually managed to survive the danger – sometimes just barely – but it felt so needless, all too often. More on that in a minute.

The dialog felt stilted at times, but I liked the way they communicated. Miss Rising did letting the character’s relationships shine through the dialog. Not something that everyone is good at. I did like the strength of Bryan and Virginia’s sibling relationship, as well.

A Few More Thoughts:
There are a couple of things that bothered me, but don’t read if you don’t want some spoilers. Nothing from the conclusion, just a few aspects of the book.

I know the author’s intent with showing the escape of the main characters from so much danger was likely to show how miraculous the protection of the LORD can be. I get that. However, the LORD is not an insurance policy to allow us to run our heads stupidly into danger. He doesn’t usually work like that. I appreciate what Miss Rising was trying to communicate, but I can’t help but think it needed to be shown in a different way. God does often show mercy and gives us protection, but it doesn’t usually look like a young woman going into Gang City Central, on foot, alone, and unprotected by human standards, with a pending death threat on her head from the main gang living there, justifying her actions by saying that the LORD will take care of her.

The way Virginia broke off her relationship with Shawn also bothered me. She knew better than to enter into a romantic relationship with an unbeliever. She knew better beforehand and those close to her made sure to warn her about it, but she justified and defended herself. While this was shown to be wrong – and I applaud the author for that – Virginia kicked Shawn out of her house the first time he openly questioned and showed his disapproval of the LORD’s doings. Do I think Shawn was in the right? No. But I don’t think Virginia was in the right either. Besides, she hurt Shawn deeply by agreeing to date him in the first place – and this was never really acknowledged.

Cautions:
There was some violence and several deaths in this book, besides some rather intense situations, but being as it is a Thriller, that is probably to be expected. I wouldn’t give it to young children, but the book never goes into anything truly gory or overly descriptive. Even the deaths are handled with care.

Conclusion:
I did enjoy seeing Miss Rising’s characters again, Where Shadows Lie, after having read her first book, Holding the Future Hostage, a few years back. I would probably recommend this book for ages fourteen and up.

To the KING be all the glory!

~The Man Behind Thorns – A Review

by Rebekah // August 5, 2015 // 2 Comments

My friend Erin Nichole, is releasing her new short story, The Man Behind Thorns today on Kindle and in paperback. I got to read the story awhile back, but I just re-read it yesterday.

The Author:
Erin Nichole is a young Christian author, living in the United States. Along with writing, she enjoys reading and photography. This is her third published work. Her other titles include Amber’s Quest and Karissa’s Unwavering Faith.

Technical Details:
The Man Behind Thorns is a short story, but consists of 7 chapters and is 21 pages long.

The Story:
Jenna of Elderidge, servant in the King’s stables, loves to ride in the forest. When she discovers an unexpected, and previously unnoticed, wall of thorns, she decides to investigate, only to learn that a man hides in the bramble. She can’t see his face, as he keeps himself well hidden, but over a series of visits, she gets to know him and they become friends. When the man begins to tell her about an enemy at work in the kingdom, Jenna doesn’t want to believe him, but as time goes on, she can’t deny the evidence of her own eyes. The king must be warned, but will he believe them, and, more importantly, will he do anything about it?

The Writing Style:
Miss Sweeney’s writing style is easy, but captivating. I actually really enjoyed reading the story aloud, because of the flow of words. There are a few POV inconsistencies, but most of them are easily overlooked.

The Characters:
While I enjoyed Jenna, I preferred the character of the man, who hid behind the thorns. His character development was slow, but in a mysterious way, not one to bore. Especially in the very beginning. The reader doesn’t even know his name for most of the story, yet, his name doesn’t seem to be lacking.

I would have liked to see Jenna developed a little more, but she was still a good character. Especially for short story.

Cautions:
None.

Conclusion:
Overall, I enjoyed The Man Behind Thorns quite a bit! Since today is the official release, the story is only 99c on Kindle for a limited time. Buy HERE before the price changes!

To the KING be all the glory!

~Kidnapped – A Review

by Rebekah // January 8, 2014 // No Comments

My sister really wanted me to read Robert Louis Steveson’s book, Kidnapped, so late last summer, I got it from the library. (Actually, I wrote this review months ago and just never got around to posting it!)

The Author:
Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Scotland in 1850. First studying law, by 1880 Mr. Stevenson had forsaken law school and was entrenched in his writing career. Beginning with essays and pieces of non-fiction published in magazines, he didn’t publish his first novel until 1883. In 1880 Robert Louis Stevenson married an American named Fanny Osborne. He wrote a small handful of novels in his lifetime, including Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the well-known Treasure Island. He died in 1894, at the very young age of 44.

Technical Details:
Kidnapped was originally published in 1886. The book I read was published by Harvill. They published the book in 1994. 314 pages long, Kidnapped is divided into 30 chapters. (Note: I didn’t read this on my Kindle, I just forgot to take a picture before the book went back to the library!)

The Story:
Both of David Balfour’s parents have recently died and his father left instructions for his son, telling him to make his way to the House of Shaws. So, Davie sets out, only to arrive at the house and find the owner dead-set against him – and for reasons that he doesn’t understand.

When David starts to unravel the mystery of Shaws and further, decides to stand up to the man of the house, the unexpected happens; he gets shanghaied. And that’s only the beginning. The following months bring sickness, exile, and fear for his life. He runs, he goes hungry, he endures the cold – he suffers as a slave, fights in battles, witnesses murder, nearly sinks to his death… David begins to wonder if he’ll ever return from the land of misery again.

The Writing Style:
I really enjoy Mr. Stevenson’s writing style. He certainly has a brilliant way with words!

I did find his character descriptions lacking feature-wise every now and then, but not enough to really hurt the story.

AS for being in first person; Mr. Stevenson carried it off very well. So well, in fact that I often forgot to even think about the form. David’s personality was portrayed in the narration to be sure, but the book was still beautifully written.

The Characters:
David Balfour was a well rounded character. Heroic, yet capable of wrong doing, he came off very realistic.

Then, there was Alan of Breck, whose actual character I will address more later. As a major secondary character, he didn’t have as much depth as David, but he was colorful and well developed.

Of all the characters, besides David, it’s one of the more minor antagonists that stand out to me the most. Mr. Stevenson described his personality and actions so well, that I can picture the man with great clarity.

Unlike Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Kidnapped had a plethora of characters, some only introduced for very small sections, never to be heard from again. This added an almost whimsical touch, especially since these characters were written as brilliantly and colorfully as the main characters.

A Few More Thoughts:
Alan of Breck. He bothered me. The man was so very set on revenge! Granted, the governor who he wanted dead did commit some cruel acts. Still; “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the LORD.” (Romans 12:19)

And again: “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9)

David did tell Alan that his actions were unchristian, but as much as I liked that David stood up for righteous behavior, I wish that he had used Scripture and really confronted his friend.

Cautions:
Minor language is about all I can think of…

Conclusion:
I really enjoyed Kidnapped. The writing, the scenery (did I mention the setting is Scotland?!), the characters… Definitely a book I would recommend!

To the KING be all the glory!

~Writing Ultimatum

by Rebekah // April 26, 2013 // No Comments

– – –

I don’t strive to write for others, or even for me,
My goal is to write, for my KING’s glory.

If ever you see me writing, just for myself,
Shallowly scribbling for a place on the shelf,

Or trying for money or some place of great fame,
Lowering my standards for a taste of the same,

Or forgetting my duties, those that lie in the home,
Or neglecting my family, while in fiction I roam,

Or if my Bible is gathering a dark layer of dust,
Or my prayer life is hurried – worse, behind me is thrust,

Or if I cease doing ministry in word or in deed,
For any brother or sister, who might be in need,

Hiding out quietly, behind paper and pen,
Absorbed in “my world”, let me ask you then,

Call me out faithfully, my friend, and I pray
That I will truly listen, to what you might say.

I pray that I write and bless my sisters and brothers
But it can’t come before the LORD, my family, or others.

So, if ever I seem to write, simply for me,
Speak and please pray, that I’ll re-seek His glory.

To the KING be all the glory!

~Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories – A Review

by Rebekah // March 27, 2013 // No Comments

So, I haven’t had a chance to read much this year. I know that it’s only March, but it feels like forever since I’ve read much. I’ve now managed four whole books this year – and they weren’t that long or that difficult. Anyway, I spent a day in bed sick recently and I used part of that time to read Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie.

The Author:
Agatha Christie was born in September of 1890 in Devon, England. Her first book The Mysterious Affair at Styles was published in 1920. Interestingly, it was published first in the United States and several months later, made its debut in England. Mrs. Christie was married twice; first to the unfaithful Archibald Christie, then to Max Mallowan. She had one daughter with her first husband. Mrs. Christie wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short stories. The author is best known for those featuring Miss Jane Marple and Private Detective Monsieur Hercule Poirot. Agatha Christie died in January of 1986 at the age of 95.

Technical Details:
The Miss Marple short stories were published in batches and in different forms. The first edition containing all the short stories together, was originally published in 1985. My copy was published by HarperCollins in 2011. The entire volume is 368 pages, divided into 20 chapters or more specifically, short stories.

The Stories:
The Miss Marple short stories are really divided into four sections. In the first, Miss Marple, along with five others, including her nephew Raymond, form the Tuesday Night Club. Every Tuesday evening, the group would get together and one member would tell a mystery that they were involved in, allowing the others a chance to solve it before they explain the end. The stories vary, but most surround a murder or theft. From the so-called superstitious death of Richard Haydon, to the theft of Otranto’s bullion (gold), to the disappearance of Simon Clode’s will, each take turns telling their tale. To the amazement of all, Miss Marple solves each mystery, even when everyone else is stumped.

In the second section, Miss Marple tells her nephew Raymond and his fiancé, a story about the mysterious murder of Mrs. Rhodes. Alone in a room, with the doors in plain sight of witnesses, no one comes in or out, yet a woman is murdered… by whom?

The third section is basically a random selection of stories, sometimes featuring random characters from the earlier sections. Theft, impersonations, and a hidden inheritance all take part, with Miss Marple working to solve each mystery in her slightly odd way.

The last section is comprised of two “longer” short stories. The first centers around Raymond again, his wife, and her cousin, a unique house, a mysterious spinster, a surly boy, and a theatrical murder. The last is about Miss Marple’s niece Bunch (yes… Bunch… an odd name I think.), the wife of a vicar. When a man is found dying in the sanctuary of the church, the minister and his wife take him home. After he dies, the police begin investigations, but when a shady couple make Bunch suspicious and no one will listen to her, she takes off to find her aunt…

The Writing Style:
The writing style varied with each story. A few of the stories were poorly written, both in leaving loose ends and disappointing narration. The rest were written with Agatha Christie’s usual easy to read, yet pleasant style. The storylines were good, though I tend to think her strengths rested more with full length books. Still, it was a pleasant read and you get a good mental picture of Miss Marple.

The Characters:
I really enjoyed the characters in this story. I didn’t care for the personalities and characteristics of a few of them, but I liked the way most of them were developed.

Sir Henry Clithering was among my favorites – a former chief inspector of Scotland Yard and member of the Tuesday Night Club. He was generally serious, with a quiet sense of humor.

Raymond West was another of my favorites, partly perhaps, because of his status as an author. (Even if his stories are “dark”, “depressing”, and about “rather unpleasant” people.) His chosen genre, however, seems a little paradoxical with his personality – cheerful, sometimes far too gullible, with a great affection for his Aunt Jane.

I’m still working on my absolute opinion of Jane Marple. She’s sweet, but almost too… distrustful, to the point that you want to doubt her affection of others. But then, she turns around and does something that proves how much she cares about them.

A small problem with the stories: A young woman named Joyce; by the end of the series her name had randomly turned to Joan. I found that a little confusing.

A Few Thoughts:
One story, the last about Bunch Harmon, while an interesting mystery, I found disappointing. Bunch is married to a clergyman. When she decides to start investigating the mysterious death at the church, she purposely keeps it a secret from her husband, because she knows he won’t want her to do it. She even goes to the length of inventing another reason to go to London – just so he thinks he knows what she’s doing. Her husband, Julian, is a good man, who loves her – there was no reason that I could see, that she should be keeping such a thing from him. I found it even more disappointing that Miss Marple encouraged the secrecy because “We women – well, it’s different.” Which I can’t claim to quite understand, but certainly doesn’t seem like a good reason to keep secrets from and deceive your husband.

Cautions:
There was some minor language scattered throughout this book, like most of Agatha Christie’s works.

Again, I might also caution about the discussions regarding infidelity. The conversations, again, are tactfully written, with nothing explicit, yet I can’t help wishing it hadn’t played such a prominent part in more than one story.

Conclusion:
Overall, I enjoyed this collection of short stories. They were mostly good mysteries and a fun read.

To the KING be all the glory!