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| Book Dragon has a new home (and so do we) |
What an unexpected year this has been! After having to remodel our kitchen in January because of mold issues under the sink and my heart nearly stopping because of the combination of chemicals (powerful mold killer, paint, and epoxies) the finished project looked so great it spurred me to declutter the rest of the house, especially since one bedroom was still FULL of unsold merch from my antique mall booth after I'd had to close up shop due to heart issues. Then in April I asked the holistic nurse I've been working with if it was possible to detox the herpes keratitis virus, since I'd read an article at NIH.gov about the discovery that dormant viruses aren't just sleeping; they continue to replicate viral particles. Since I'd lived with that virus since age 3, I must have a LOT of viral particles in my lymphatic system. Could that be the real cause of my lymphedema? Though she'd never tried to detox it, she had a vial in her NAET collection, and I told her I was willing to be a guinea pig. It's been an intense journey, detoxing 64 years' worth of viruses (not just the eye herpes), heavy metals, microplastics, parasites, and even emotions! I never thought I'd say I was glad I'd had chemo twice, but the elimination of all the toxins is sometimes as intense as processing chemo poisons and dead tumor cells!!!! So far I feel 10 years younger, and I was able to give away my lymphedema pump because I don't need it any more!!!
One GOOD thing about the detox was unblocking my words, and I was finally able to finish and publish Tristam's Heart, the last book in my Mercy's Children series. Just in time, because I was decluttering the house in earnest so we could put it on the market and move to a 2 bedroom apartment 3 hours away. Before the house went on the market, my husband decided he didn't want to retire yet, so we didn't move 3 hours away, only 25 minutes away. Instead of an apartment we found a smaller house with a much smaller and more usable yard than we had before. It was a scramble to find one; our realtor warned us that houses in our area were averaging 100 days on the market. We had 3 offers in TWO days and all I could think was how grateful I was for the detox or I never would have been able to move so quickly! Less than 5 weeks!
Needless to say, I didn't get much reading done this year. Book Dragon reviews began as a way to help out indie authors, since I had discovered so many good ones through the Clean Indie Reads and Catholic Teen Books groups. Again, several of my books were nonfiction (more on alternative health) so I only have 4 indie novels to share--all good and worth reading! I read two trad novels too, which I will mention because they were both excellent. Unlike in years past, I'm not doing a "countdown" to #1. So here's my #1 read for 2025:
#1: A Mom With Blue Feathers by Corinna Turner
This is a stand-alone novel related to Corinna Turner's fantastic unSPARKed series, a dystopian fantasy set in a future USA where dinosaurs have been recreated and have taken over. Cities are protected with electric fences, and only farmers and hunters are brave enough to live "unSPARKed." The three main characters in this episodic series are the young hunter Joshua, and farmkids Darryl and her brother Harry, all teens when the main story begins. This novel tells an earlier story about Joshua which is often referenced throughout the series--just enough to make one wonder, "What really happened?" And what happened is one amazingly powerful story!! In fact, it's my favorite of them all! It made me cry!!! One doesn't have to read any of the other stories to understand what's going on, but if you begin with this one, you will NOT want to miss the rest of the saga... Just my two cents from a lifelong dinosaur nerd.
#2: Summer at West Castle by Theresa Linden
This is a clean romance so compelling, I had trouble putting it down. I had read one other book and a couple of short stories from this story world, so it was like revisiting a familiar place in one sense, but in other ways a completely unique experience. I don't want to give spoilers, but this is deeper than the usual formulaic romance with a strong theme of forgiveness and redemption. It's not necessary to read others in this story world first, but the characters will make you wnat to look for more!
#3: A Nest of Piranha'saurs (unSPARKed Book 12) by Corinna Turner
Unlike the first two books ranked here, this one would be best read after reading books 1-11. They are fairly short, meant to be episodic, and if you like adventure, dinosaurs, great characters, and interesting and imaginative settings, I highly recommend this series! It really is one of the best series I've ever read, and as soon as the last one is out, I plan to sit down and reread the entire story, beginning to end.
#4: You've Got to Kiss the Girl by Laura Hile
If you like Jane Austen, you must check out this short novel by Laura Hile! I've read several of her "reimagined" stories, and they are great fun! The premise of this one is Lady Catherine botching a kidnapping in her desperation to get Darcy to marry her daughter Anne. Not as "deep" as the other 3 stories, but sometimes you just want to read a fun romp.
Honorable Mentions: Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
