Bringing in the new year with some brand new books

 

The end of 2020 is almost here and never have I ever seen a year that so many people are eager to be rid of as soon as can be.

The reasons for that are good and rather plentiful, yet one of the things that sustained during this horrible time were books. Fortunately, we have more great reads ahead of us, starting with January/February of 2021.

We are,after all, still going to be spending some time indoors, due to the chilly weather and sadly still ongoing health crisis, so perhaps one or two of these upcoming titles will go nicely with a warm mug of tea this season:

A STORY OF MAGIC AND ICE:

Greta Kelly's debut novel, The Frozen Crown, is the first half of a story featuring a warrior princess dealing with royal politics and hidden powers and from what I've read of this book so far, a sequel is most desirable indeed.

Askia has been battling the invading forces of the Rovan Empire in order to claim her rightful throne but to no avail. With very limited options left, she crosses the sea to visit an emissary of the Emperor Amiaan of Vishir to ask for assistance.

However, the reception she gets is rather chilly, requiring Askia to play the polite game of court intrigue instead of the direct approach that she's more comfortable. What's truly treacherous is the need to conceal the magical gift that she was born with as such powers are rare in this reality.

Askia is willing to do what she must to save her people but when a possibility of romance is thrown into the mix, how much is she willing to sacrifice for the good of all?   Kelly really seems to have caught some story telling lightning in a literary jar and opening it up is part of the page turning fun(January):

 

JANE AUSTEN REVISITED:

I fondly recall the engaging portrait of Charlotte Lucas Collins that Molly Greeley gave us in  2019's The Clergyman's Wife and now the author takes another look at a well known yet seldom heard from character in Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice.

The Heiress focuses on Anne De Burgh, the sickly and mostly silent daughter of the intimidating Lady Catherine De Burgh. While her mother has made plans for her whole entire life, Anne begins to wonder if her health problems are part of that plan as well.

Deciding to make a change, Anne goes to London to stay with her cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam and discovers that she's not as helpless as she and others believed her to be. This sets the stage for many new avenues to explore, one of which may lead to a most unexpected happiness, if only her mother would not block her way.

Taking a new look at a character that has been easily dismissed before is not as easy as it sounds but knowing how wonderfully well Greeley did this in her first novel makes me most delighted to take this book up as soon as may be(January):

 
 

A modern day setting is part of the framework for debut author Lauren Edmondson's Ladies of the House, which places Austen's Sense and Sensibility heroines in Washington ,DC.

Daisy is dealing with the aftermath of her father, Senator Gregory Richardson, as best she can, not only for her mother and younger sister Wallis but her own political career goals as well.

However, her father left a bit of scandal behind and while Daisy struggles to keep his legacy as respectable as possible, matters are made worse when an old friend arrives in town to do a major feature on the late senator. In addition to that, Wallis gets romantically involved with Blake, a politician who is on the other side of the aisle in more ways than one.

Seeking peace with their father's past and hoping to make a better future for themselves, Daisy and Wallis do clash yet can each of them handle their present with a combination of head and heart? This sounds like a great way to examine Austen's themes while bringing  a pair of classic sisterly characters to modern life in the best way possible for readers old and new(February). 

TURNING PAGES BACK INTO THE PAST:

 

Kristin Hannah's upcoming novel, The Four Winds, has us revisit the Great Depression through the eyes of Elsa Martinelli, who is still determined to keep her husband's family farm going.

When abandoned by her spouse, Elsa finds that her best bet to keep her children thriving is to leave their Texas home and head to California, where work is said to be plentiful.

Once she and her kids settle down in the town of Welty, they are treated with scorn and given low wages for picking cotton. As her salary gets smaller and times being tougher, Elsa finds herself at a crossroads as to whether or not fighting for her rights will be worth the trouble.

Hannah does have a solid connection to people from the past and the best of her work showcases that beautifully. No doubt that this book will be another fine example of her heartfelt handiwork(February):

 

In Better Luck Next Time , Julia Claiborne Johnson introduces us to Wade, who has fond memories of his time working at a resident cowboy at the Flying Leap Dude Ranch, which wasn't involved in cattle drives.

The Flying Leap was a temporary residence for women seeking divorce in Reno during the 1920s(you had to live within the state for at least six weeks in order to get a quick divorce) and Wade was meant to be a guide on the local trails as well as a dance partner for the ladies.

Some of his best times back then were with Emily, a soft spoken woman whose daughter Portia shows up unannounced and Nina, a tough talking pilot who takes Portia under her wing. While Wade doesn't wind up with any of them in the long run, he has great tales to tell of their wild times to last him the rest of his life.

This story has the flair of an old school film with snappy dialogue and engaging characters full of lively wit, which should be a good time had by all here(January):

 

Well, here's to the promise of a much better new year and much wicked pleasure in sending this horrid old one packing! I do believe that 2021 will eventually brings us towards a brighter tomorrow, so we must be patient and cautious as the mess of 2020 is cleared away.

I wish you all a safe and Happy New Year's Eve celebration with a special song that I think sums up our collective feelings about this event devilishly well: