Gobbledy Review #rabtbooktours

 

Juvenile Fiction / Holiday

Date Published: 10/20/2020

Publisher: SparkPress

 

 

Ever since Dexter and Dougal’s mom passed away, life has been different—but things take a whole new turn when a shooting star turns out to be a creature from outer space!

Gobbledy is a fun-filled holiday story that adds up to two brothers, three friends, unlimited jars of peanut butter, a ketchup factory, and one little alien far, far from home.

2021 Independent Press Awards Winner in Holiday

2021 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards Silver Medal Winner

2021 Book Excellence Awards Finalist in Holiday

2020 New York City Big Book Awards Winner in Holiday

2020 Wishing Shelf Book Awards Gold Medal Winner

2021 15th Annual National Indie Excellence® Awards Finalist

 

“Hugely entertaining as well as emotionally moving.”

―Kirkus Reviews

 

“This charming alien-in-the-attic story boasts engaging characters, witty storytelling, and a furry little beast that will eat anything, all wrapped up in a warm holiday package.”

―Booklife

“A delightfully entertaining novel by an author with a genuine flair for originality and the kind of narrative storytelling style that will fully engage the imaginative attention of appreciative young readers ages 8-11, Gobbledy by Lis Anna-Langston . . . will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to elementary school, middle school, and community library collections.”

―Midwest Book Review

“In Gobbledy, Lis Anna-Langston offers her readers a sparkling novel of discovery, adventure, and the abiding consolation of friendship . . . Eleven-year-old protagonist Dexter’s progress from bumbling troublemaker to triumphant (but still bumbling) hero is sweet, utterly convincing, and thoroughly engaging. This novel’s generous heart won me over from the get-go.”

―John Gregory Brown, acclaimed author of A Thousand Miles from Nowhere

 

Excerpt

One

Tiny dots of stars and planets form constellations above my head. Orion. The bear. The great hunter. I’m only eleven, but I know a lot about the stars. It’s where my mom lives now. I come out on cool, clear evenings through the broken window in the attic to lie on the roof and listen for the sound of her voice.

“Dexter?” A voice whispers to the left of my head.

I look over. My little brother Dougal leans out of the window, looking first at me, then up into the sparkling sky. “Aren’t you cold?”

I shrug, feeling the scratchy shingles beneath my jacket. “I like it out here.”

Dougal swings a leg through the window. Where I’m lying is the flattest part of the roof. On either side it swoops up so steep that even I won’t climb it. Dougal stops in the windowsill, letting his legs dangle. His big personality makes it easy for me to forget that he’s only eight years old. Eight and a half, he’ll point out. Still, even for someone almost nine, he looks tiny in the window with the glow of light from the attic.

When Mom was here, she spent hours in the attic, building a small replica of the town where we live. She didn’t grow up here. She said she picked this small town in Pennsylvania because, to her, it was the most magical place on Earth. Mom had answers for everything.

Maybe that’s why I spend so much time on the roof, hoping to see a sign that she’s listening.

The Cricket Colony had been Mom’s idea. Since me and my best friend, Fiona, spend so much time in the forest near our house, she’d suggested I make adventure a part of my grade. Tomorrow I turn in the crickets for my end-of-the-semester science project. Then I have to turn them loose back in the forest, where they’ll make homes under thick beds of leaves to stay warm. But I’ll miss them a lot.

Dougal shivers. “Dad was weird tonight.”

I nod. “Dad’s been weird every night for a few months now.”

Stars sparkle in the dark sky. We all want her back, even if we don’t talk about it. Instead, we talk about far-off galaxies.

My little brother points to the sky. “There’s Andromeda.”

It was Mom’s favorite, because you can see it just by lying on a roof at the end of autumn. Mom said things like, “I believe that’s a globular cluster,” and “Stars are old.” She said that when stars die, they sometimes leave a black hole behind to remind everyone they were alive once. There is definitely a hole in our family. Not a bad hole, but a big hole. The kind of hole that sneaks up on me late at night when I remember. So, sometimes, I climb out here to forget.

My walkie-talkie crackles to life on the flat space next to me. “Gamma Ray to Cosmic. Come in, Cosmic.”

Dougal leans forward, trying to get a look at the Little Dipper.

I press the button. “Cosmic here.”

“Whew. I thought you’d slipped into another dimension.”

“Hardly. I’m up on the roof.”

Fi is quiet a second; then she says, “Any signs yet?”

“Nope. But sometimes these things take a while.”

“Speaking of taking a while, I gotta wake up super early to finish my project, so I gotta get some sleep.”

“Got a title yet?”

She laughs. “Nope.” A second passes. “Tell Dougal I said goodnight, and I’ll be out back in the morning.”

Dougal softly yells, “Goodnight,” over my shoulder and pushes off to go inside.

Someday I want to be able to sleep under the stars without having to worry about rolling off the roof. Mom said space is full of magic, but there isn’t much magic since she left. I guess that’s just how it is sometimes. I stand up, stretching.

I’m ready for adventure. Except it’s late, and Dad hates it when I wake him up, going up and down the stairs.

I climb back through the window and look at the attic. An old sofa with a stack of books on building miniatures; a work table with the village on top; Mom’s favorite blanket; a cart full of brushes, glue, and a few big jars like the one I used to make my Cricket Colony.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a flash and turn.

There, blazing its way across the dark, is the most incredible falling star I’ve ever seen. It’s so close, I swear I can hear the sizzle. I know it’s a sign. I squeeze my eyes shut and make a wish.

Free use image from Pixabay

Ornery Owl's Review

Rating: Four out of Five Stars

This story does a lot of things well. Dexter is a kid who can't seem to do anything right in the eyes of his father or his teachers. He misses his mother, who passed away. Fortunately, he has a good friend in his neighbor Fi, and his relationship with his younger brother Dougal isn't terrible. 

Dexter's life is turned upside down after he places what he believes to be a golden rock in a jar with his cricket colony. The next thing Dexter knows, there is a strange creature in the jar. It is now up to Dexter, Dougal, and Fi to assist the creature, whom they have named Gobbledy because it gobbles up anything they feed it.

Gobbledy is adorable and the kids are plucky outsiders doing their best to get by in less-than-ideal circumstances. All of them have suffered devastating losses and the adults in their lives are too busy and distracted to be as involved as they ought to be. The theme of helping someone in trouble is a positive one. I was thinking I would probably give the book a five-star rating...

Until I read the sort of passage that I dread seeing in a book, especially a book written for a young audience.

Turning the screen around so I can see it, she points at two of the biggest losers I’ve ever seen. They’re both overweight with long, stringy hair. I wrinkle my brow and say, “They look like they’ve been living in a basement eating junk food for pretty much their entire lives.”

“They have,” Fi says, matter-of-fact. Their plump, white faces fill the screen. They’re dressed in camo and holding cameras and other gear. Fi raises an eyebrow.

Appearance shaming is never acceptable, particularly in a book for kids. This passage is, in essence, saying "it's okay to judge others based on what they look like." The passage contains multiple harmful stereotypes.

First, we cannot know what or how much a person eats based on their physique. The only thing one can know about a fat person based on their physique is that they're fat. We have no way of knowing what this person eats, how much of a given food they eat, what medications they may be taking, what physical or psychological conditions they may be dealing with, or whether or not they have dealt with or are dealing with an eating disorder.

I often feel like many authors either think fat people are too stupid and/or uneducated to read so they can write what they want with impunity, that fat people don't really exist, they are plot devices to illustrate Bad Behaviors, or both. I, for instance, can always be used as a bad example, it isn't because I'm fat. 

Also, having Dexter describe these guys as "losers" because of their looks--Really? Teaching kids to call other people "losers" is not a positive thing by any stretch of the imagination. Socially awkward people aren't "losers." Fat people aren't "losers." Socially awkward fat people aren't "losers" either.

The two men turn out to be antagonists, but it isn't because they're fat. They're antagonists because they behave antagonistically.

The author could have easily described the men without using harmful stereotypes. Something along the lines of "they were a couple of pale, plump guys with long, stringy hair wearing camo and carrying cameras and other gear" would have given readers a mental picture of the men without pathologizing them.

There are physically attractive people who are "losers" because they treat others terribly. There are plain-looking, socially awkward fat people who are not losers but are simply trying to get by in a world that hasn't treated them kindly. I wish that writers, particularly those who are creating stories for a younger audience, would stop encouraging the idea that it's okay to be hateful towards another person or make assumptions about them based on their appearance.

Imagine being a socially awkward fat kid reading the passage above.

Now you may be able to understand why it bothers me so much.

I am also not keen on the "losers who dwell in their parent's basement" trope. My own son, who is neither thin nor fat but somewhere in between, is high-functioning autistic. Just talking to him, most people would not realize he was autistic. He presents as "normal," whatever normal is. However, he has never been able to hold a "normal" job thanks to anxiety, in part due to overstimulation of his senses. 

My son is cognizant of things that make no impression on me. He is hyper-aware of sounds such as those from the washing machine and dryer. He gave me his fiber optic Christmas tree because, for him, the light pattern changes too quickly and is overstimulating. I find the change in the light pattern soothing.

Now for the clincher. My son does not "dwell in my basement." After years of working physically demanding jobs, my health took a serious downturn, and then I suffered a physical injury. I moved into his small townhouse and slept on his couch because I couldn't work anymore. We now both live in a small rural town in an old house purchased by his father (my ex-husband.) He lives on the upper floor and I live in a room on the main floor. 

I hope that in the future the author will refrain from appearance shaming and describing people who do not fit Hollywood standards of attractiveness and success as "losers." Such tropes are hurtful and severely detracted from an otherwise wonderful and uplifting story about a group of unique characters triumphing over painful and devastating circumstances.

About the Author

Lis Anna-Langston was raised along the winding current of the Mississippi River on a steady diet of dog-eared books. She attended a Creative and Performing Arts School from middle school until graduation and went on to study Literature at Webster University. Her two novels, Gobbledy and Tupelo Honey have won the Parents’ Choice Gold, Moonbeam Book Award, Independent Press Award, Benjamin Franklin Book Award and NYC Big Book Awards. Twice nominated for the Pushcart award and Finalist in the Brighthorse Book Prize, William Faulkner Fiction Contest and Thomas Wolfe Fiction Award, her work has been published in The Literary Review, Emerson Review, The Merrimack Review, Emrys Journal, The MacGuffin, Sand Hill Review and dozens of other literary journals. She draws badly, sings loudly, loves ketchup, starry skies & stories with happy aliens.

Contact Links

Website

Instagram

BookBub

GoodReads

Amazon Author Page

IMDB

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Alibris

IndieBound

Books A Million

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Ghost Hunters Reviews and Giveaway

 

Bones In the Wall

Ghost Hunters Book 1

by Susan McCauley

Genre: Middle Grade Paranormal Mystery 

Twelve-year-old Alex may have lost his ability to play sports, but he gained the ability to see ghosts. Now he must figure out how to put a malevolent spirit to rest -- or die trying.

Once an athlete and popular kid, Alex is in a terrible car accident that severely injures his hip and leaves him with a rare power: he can hear and see ghosts. All Alex wants is to be normal. But when a vicious spirit begins haunting him, Alex must accept his unwanted psychic powers and work with his best friend and his paranormal investigator cousin to solve the mystery of bones in the wall and put the ghosts in the house to rest. If he fails, he’ll lose his family and friends to a gruesome fate.

Ghost Hunters: Bones in the Wall is the first novel in the heart-pounding Ghost Hunters middle-grade horror series.

PRAISE FOR GHOST HUNTERS: BONES IN THE WALL:

“Young readers should find themselves deeply engrossed. . . (an) absorbing supernatural tale of change and coping.” - Kirkus Reviews

“McCauley puts forth a fascinating premise that will captivate readers. . . a creative and highly original new work. . .”

– BookLife Prize

"Unique and imaginative, Ghost Hunters: Bones in the Wall blends middle grade angst with a big helping of the heebie jeebies. A sure hit for fans of R.L. Stine." - James R. Hannibal, award-winning author of The Lost Property Office

"An inventive, fast-paced tale brimming with chills, thrills, and heart. Perfect for fans of Lockwood & Co."-- Henry H. Neff, author of The Tapestry series

**On Sale for Only $1.99 Sep 13-Oct 19!!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Rating: Four out of Five Stars

This unique story is set in a world where the existence of spirits is a fact of life. The main character, Alex, plays Ghostball, a sport that involves a poltergeist trapped inside a ball. When Alex' mother suggests that he take up soccer instead, he says that he prefers Ghostball because you never know what the ball is going to do, whereas with soccer, the movement of the ball is determined by the actions of the human players.

Sadly, Alex' mother is killed in a devastating auto accident that leaves him with a badly injured leg. He can no longer play Ghostball, but he can now see and hear spirits.

The writing style is engaging, and the story is fascinating. However, despite the exemplary world-building skills and character development and the engaging plot line, I will not give this story five stars because I will not give five stars to any story that uses dehumanizing stereotypes. 

I am nearly sixty years old. I don't much care what anyone thinks of my physical appearance. I stopped caring about that a long time ago. However, imagine how you would feel if you were a heavy kid and you read this description:

"Not two feet away floated a translucent tub of a woman, moving away from me through a box of old ghostball trophies."

The rest of the story is kinder to Mrs. Wilson, describing her in a neutral fashion while still recognizing the fact that she is large. In fact, she becomes a beloved side character. However, if I had not agreed to read the book, I would have stopped the moment I saw that derisive description. It is not enjoyable to read a story while waiting for the next instance of appearance shaming to rear its ugly head. Kids should not be led to believe that it's okay to refer to larger people using insulting terms like "tub."

I'm all for having ghosts (and living people) with robust physiques appear in stories. It would have been fine if the author had simply described Mrs. Wilson as a large lady ghost. Adjectives like large, heavy, heavyset, chubby, hefty, portly, plump, stout, or just plain old fat are all neutral descriptions. "A tub of a woman" is contemptuous and stigmatizing. 

The normalization of size shaming has far-reaching consequences. I became bulimic at twelve years old because I was terrified of getting fat. At almost sixty years old, after decades of trying to hate myself thin and failing because diets don't work and neither does hating yourself, I have finally started making peace with myself. If I have to be the Titanic Tub of a Book Reviewer whose mission is to discourage my fellow authors from normalizing size shaming, so be it. Hopefully, one day we will live in a society where nobody else has to take up the mantle.

It's my understanding that "middle grade" stories have a protagonist around Alex' age and are written for readers in the eight to twelve-year-old range. This story seems a better fit for kids on the older end of that spectrum. It's solidly spooky and a bit sophisticated for the average eight-year-old. However, being the kind of kid who read horror comics under the covers with a flashlight when I was just a little tub, eight-year-old me probably would have loved it. 

Pirate's Curse

Ghost Hunters Book 2

In this ghostly and fast-paced adventure, twelve-year-old Alex must use his psychic gifts to speak with pirate ghosts to solve the curse of an old pirate hangout—if he fails, his best friends could be trapped there forever.

Ghosts are commonplace in this dark and exciting world, and the psychics who deal with “the Problem” are rare. Apprentice psychic investigator Alex and his two best friends embark on their first solo case to discover who’s haunting an old New Orleans pub. They battle ferocious winds, driving rain, and raging spirits to put a pirates’ curse to rest.

Ghost Hunters: Pirates’ Curse (Book 2 in the Ghost Hunters series) is filled with rich characters, spooky moments, and lots of action-packed fun. Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Jonathan Stroud, and Stranger Things.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Rating: Five out of Five Stars

Alex, the hero of the Ghost Hunters series, has left school and moved in with Frank, a retired psychic investigator, to engage in immersive training. The abilities of most psychics are apparent by ten years old. Alex's abilities did not awaken until the car crash that killed his mother. At twelve years old, he feels like he is well behind in his understanding.

Alex has a chance to prove his mettle when Frank assigns him to help clear up what he believes to be a residual haunting at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar. His cousin Hannah and best friend Jason volunteer to help. Jason has a special pair of glasses given to him by Madame Monique, the owner of the occult supply store below Frank's apartment. The haunting turns out to not be residual at all, and Alex finds himself confronting two pirate ghosts and a powerful curse. 

Although there are obviously ghosts present, this story is more action-adventure than horror. The young hero, Alex, learns to work with others and to believe in himself when the problem that confronts him turns out to be much bigger than he thought it would be. 

There are wonderful life lessons in the book for young readers, but this is not strictly a "children's book." Readers of all ages will enjoy the exciting plot and may be able to relate to the challenges that Alex faces as he learns how to navigate life as someone seen as different and possibly misunderstood by the average person.

The story focused on the personalities of its players rather than their physical appearances, and I appreciated that. Thus far, this book is my favorite in the series, easily earning five out of five stars. Like Alex, the story has found its footing.

Spirit Fire

Ghost Hunters Book 3

Who—or what—is causing the fires in the French Quarter? A little girl? A long-dead prisoner? An evil presence calling to those beyond the grave?

In this spooky, fast-paced adventure, twelve-year-old Alex must fight smoke, flames, and ghostly prisoners to stop whatever’s causing the blazes—before more lives are lost.

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Rating: Four out of Five Stars

There are a lot of things to like about this story in the Ghost Hunters series. Alex is living a life that I would have envied if I were reading these books as the bullied teenager I once was. Imagine being treated as an adult at twelve years old, trusted to carry out critical assignments to rid your city of malevolent ghosts. Imagine being not only allowed but encouraged to have tattoos. Imagine not having to be bothered by idiotic school bullies or keeping up with the latest trends. That would be the life!

However, not everything about Alex's situation is enviable. While investigating a fire in a cafe, he learns he is also a seer. He can feel what the ghosts he encounters are feeling and relives the moment of their death with them. Being a seer causes encounters with ghosts to not only be chilly but painful. Alex finds himself in more danger than ever before.

This book has a spookier atmosphere than Pirate's Curse, which is perfect for Halloween in New Orleans. The author does an exemplary job of describing the setting and setting the spooky tone. It feels like the reader is really along for the ride. The author also excels at creating characters that readers can really care about.

While the author doesn't use markedly odious descriptions for any of the characters (and by any of the characters, I mean the plump, portly, and stout Mrs. Wilson) I have little of a sense of humor for using people's bodies as jokes. For reasons unknown (and by reasons unknown, I mean not really seeing larger people as actual human beings) the author believes that Mrs. Wilson's robust physique is comedy gold. (Hint: it really isn't.)

Mrs. Wilson saves Alex's life by shutting the box providing a gateway for an especially dangerous ghost, injuring herself doing so. Instead of fondly saying "that's my Mrs. Wilson, always looking out for me," or something of that nature, Alex finds it hilarious when Alice, the ghost of a little girl who died in a fire in 1788, describes Mrs. Wilson as "fat."

Considering that I spent more than three decades trying to hate myself thin in a body determined to be fat after my thyroid destroyed itself when I was around Alex's age, plus polycystic ovarian syndrome, plus a lifetime of food insecurity both involuntary (no access to decently nutritious food) and voluntary (self-imposed dieting, see "trying to hate myself thin"), and only recently being able to start my day without my first conscious thought being "you fat, disgusting pig, it's no wonder nobody likes you. Just look at you! You're so ugly, nobody could ever love something that looks like you", I am unamused by Mrs. Wilson's physique being a joke yet again. 

I get it. You think fat people are nothing more than comic relief. Har de freaking har. Well, we big girls may be able to take it, but imagine being a fat kid seeing bodies like yours used as objects of ridicule. Imagine a chubby teenage girl, who is likely being bullied for her size, realizing that even adults who don't know her see her as a joke. Imagine reading about a character you could consider a friend, but knowing they would laugh at you too. It hurts, and people need to think before they write such scenes. 

In my first review, I said I would never give a five-star rating to a book that dehumanizes any subset of people, particularly a book whose target audience is kids. Teaching kids that fat people are subhuman clowns who deserve ridicule is not a good lesson. I stand by that rule. It doesn't matter how good the rest of the book is. There is no excuse for appearance shaming. 

Swamp Witch

Ghost Hunters Book 4

In this spooky-fun mystery, thirteen-year-old psychic Alex and his paranormal investigator friends face their biggest challenge yet: the hospital haunting. The friends are convinced that this surge of ghostly activity is far more devious than the “experts” suspect—and that only the ancient magic of an elusive swamp witch can put the ghosts to rest. Finding the witch means braving the Louisiana swamps full of gators and snakes, but if Alex and his team fail, New Orleans could become a realm of the dead.

Book 4 in the paranormal mystery Ghost Hunters series is perfect for fans of Lockwood & Co. and Stranger Things.

**Released Sep 13^th, 2022!!**

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads

Rating: Five out of Five Stars

Until I read this book, the second in the series was my favorite. Now it's my second favorite. Alex and the author have both grown, and it shows in this exemplary paranormal adventure.

Having learned to control his abilities as a seer, Alex feels confident in helping his mentor Frank on an overwhelming case at the hospital. However, the manifestations they must confront are astoundingly powerful. Could this be the last case for Alex and the team?

Not only does the author give readers a wonderfully spooky story, but she also provides a bit of education about the Chitimacha tribe. I knew nothing about them previously and found myself interested in learning more. I really enjoyed Alex' growth in the way he treats his companions. Even though he refers to Mrs. Wilson's "tub of a body" at one point, it's done in such an affectionate way that I can't find fault. If this book is the final chapter, then the series is ending on a high note.

Although these books are categorized as "middle grade," I feel that readers of any age can enjoy them. Overall, I found them wonderfully entertaining.

Susan McCauley is a screenwriter and award-winning author of books for adults, young adults, middle grade, and young readers. Susan fell in love with writing, theater, and film when she was eight-years-old. That passion inspired her to receive a B.A. in Radio-Television with a minor in Theater from the University of Houston, an M.F.A. in Professional Writing from the University of Southern California (USC), and a M.A. in Text & Performance from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and King’s College in London. Susan also studied acting at Playhouse West with Robert Carnegie and Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Independence Day) in Los Angeles.

Susan has several short stories published, one of which, "The Cask", was made into an award winning short film. "The Cask" was published in the Camden Park Press anthology Quoth the Raven, which won Best Anthology of 2018 in multiple reader polls. In addition to her short stories, Susan has one novella and four novels in print, as well as a feature length film in development. Many of her books have appeared on the Horror Writers Association Recommended Reading List.

Susan loves travel, animals, movies, theatre, taekwondo, her family, and books (of course!) 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon giftcard, 

Swag Pack 

– 1 winner each! 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

IWSG Book Club: Questions for Chill Factor

Disclosure: If readers purchase a copy of the book through the above link, I receive a small commission from Amazon. I really wasn't a fan of this book, and I don't recommend it. I gave it two out of five stars. But you're welcome to check it out if you like.

The questions come from the Insecure Writers Support Group Book Club discussion of this book.

1. In the opening of Chill Factor, I love the way Sandra Brown begins with setting, weaving in character activity and then details to create this uncertainty when we meet Ben Tierney. He is out in the open air of snowy mountains with a shovel where there are four unmarked graves. Then, as it continues, his thoughts detail the event and mystery of the graves, as he finds his way back to his vehicle. The introduction of the character, setting, and mystery are powerful. It makes you quickly flip the page to find out what happens next.

QUESTION: The first chapter ends in uncertainty. At that point, did you think Ben Tierney was a hero or a killer?

I thought there was a fair likelihood that Ben was a killer (or one of a group of killers) at that point.

2. In the second chapter, Brown is in the female POV and she reveals the thoughts of the ex-husband in such a subtle way through the female's thought summary that you almost feel like you are hearing his thoughts, not hers. It’s so seamless it feels like you are in the room with them.

QUESTION: How do you handle deep point of view between characters?

I don't think I really give it much thought. If it works well, then it's a good technique.

3. A. Which characters did you like the most in Chill Factor? Why?

I liked Scott the best. He seemed like he was trying to do the best he could with a horrible situation.

B. Which characters did you like the least in Chill Factor? Why?

I thought every male character except for Scott was awful. Dutch and Wes were both abusive. Ben was passive-aggressive. William was a nasty little weasel.

4. Throughout Chill Factor, we’re not positive if Ben is a good guy or a bad guy. Have you ever put your readers on this roller coaster ride, tricking them into thinking a good character might be bad, or vice versa? And what techniques did you use?

I've written characters who were somewhat ambiguous. I never start out with any particular technique in mind. My characters are pushy jerks who write themselves.

5. As a fellow asthma sufferer, it was nice to see that as part of the heroine's character development and nicer to see that it didn't stop her from being depicted as strong. Too often asthma and allergy sufferers are portrayed as weak.

QUESTIONS: What other characteristics often make a character seem weak? What other characters have overcome weaknesses to be portrayed as strong?

I really don't feel that Lilly was a strong character. The line about her "not wanting to play the feminist card" made me say "oh boy, here we go" early on in the book. I have asthma, and I found it rather insulting that the author used Lilly's condition as a plot point to make her "need" Ben.

I was not a fan of this one. My review is here.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3240905259?book_show_action=false#_=_