August Reads

I am a huge Outlander fan—and not just because the Starz series is crazy great, I have read all of the immense books by Diana Gabaldon, too. So, I was feeling a wee bit dowie (that’s sad for you non-Scots out there) when the most recent season ended. I found myself aimlessly scrolling through my Facebook feed when BAM! an advertisement popped up. It said Finding Fraser — my pulse quickened and I thought, What’s this? Dare I hope it was for a day with the actor who plays Jamie Fraser?? Nope, that wasn’t it. (big sigh) Instead, with a click (or two) I was the proud owner of a funny and engaging book entitled Finding Fraser by K.C. Dyer.

If you are in this same melancholy state and needing your Outlander fix, I highly recommend this story and its ability to entertain you with a lovely tale that centers around a fan of Outlander—and in particular, Jamie Fraser—or really the main character’s search to find her very own Jamie Fraser. The book's website (and yes the book has its own website), inclues the fabulous blog posts that the main character creates on her journey through Scotland. (Don't mind that the whole thing is ficticious--just enjoy!)

The back cover copy had me hooked. 

Sometimes searching for true love can be a little...Outlandish. 

I met Jamie Fraser when I was nineteen years old. He was tall, red-headed, and at our first meeting at least, a virgin. I fell in love hard, fast and completely. He knew how to ride a horse, wield a sword and stitch a wound. He was, in fact, the perfect man. 

That he was fictional hardly entered into it. 

At 29, Emma Sheridan's life is a disaster and she's tired of waiting for the perfect boyfriend to step from the pages of her favorite book. There's only one place to look, and it means selling everything and leaving her world behind. With an unexpected collection of allies along the way, can Emma face down a naked fishmonger, a randy gnome, a perfidious thief, and even her own abdominal muscles on the journey to find her Fraser?

And for those of you who don't get the why so many of us love this series. Watch this! 

The other two books I read in August were vastly different from this one.

The Last Resort by Maureen Holtz takes on a much more serious subject, but certainly has its moments of humor. This intriguing story is set in the not-so-distant future when healthcare rationing for the elderly or terminally ill makes physician assisted suicide a more sought after alternative. It was skillfully written as the author did not shy away from the controversy and indeed, many of the characters struggle with the realities of end-of-life decisions just as people do in the real world. I enjoyed the authentic discussions and dialog as well as the inherent sadness that comes with a story of this type. The author lightens the mood with a wry sense of humor, particularly the scenes which involve the establishment of a small African nation as a destination for euthanasia tourism. The way business investment becomes necessarily intertwined with death is quite believable--given the greed of human nature. The multi-faceted plot line made this a very a satisfying read.

I rounded out the month by reading Freya and the Dragon Egg by K.W. Penndorf. This is the first book in what will eventually be a nine-book series for middle grade readers. It was delightfully written, introducing us to modern-day Freya who is transported back in time to when Vikings rule. Norse mythology is the basis for this rich story as we follow the challenges and escapades as Freya fulfills her mission to those in the present and the past. I can’t wait for more. . . and I will be sure to tell you when book two is available.

I think the cover art is spectacular on all three of these books—although in their own genre-specific kind of way.