FAOM: Redux REVIEW of ‘Life’s Defeat’

As must be obvious to you all, I love reading. I love the adventure, the escape, the romance, the mystery, the thought-provoking, the sweet... Well I love everything about it. Growing up on a farm the way I did, a book gave me the ability to go anywhere, anytime, and do anything. Now, with kids of my own and a life firmly routed in my southern Alberta home, it does exactly the same thing. 

I also do a lot of re-reading. When you read as frequently and as much as I do, re-reading a story - and being able to find the same joy and adventure in it as if it were the first time - is a very important, very necessary ability. After all, while there are parts of the year that I only manage a few novels in a month, there are also periods of the year when I end up reading a novel a day. If I had to buy a brand new book every time I opened one to read, I’d be bankrupt in a flash. (And that doesn’t even take in to account the expansive bookshelves of e-books purchased and waiting for me to read, or the ever present piles of paper and hardcover books that linger and collect around the house begging for their turn in my hands...)

So as I pulled out my paperback of Life’s Defeat last weekend to begin re-reading I couldn’t help but wonder if the story would sink it’s claws in me as it has in the past. Would I’d be as equally captivated and horrified of Rochester acts this time as I was when in Fall 2015 when I read them the first time? Would the small but important romance story-line shine through the dark as brightly? Would I love the story, the developed world, the characters, and the thrills and chills of it the way I did before?

The answer is quite simply: yes. 

The Review

Life's Defeat

by Rebekah Raymond

The dark and twisty turns of the plot kept me on edge. Twists I had, within the time since my last re-read of the story, vaguely forgotten, once again shocked and teased me. More than once I had to put the book down and walk away because my emotions or thoughts were amped up. Fear, worry, wonder, sorrow, hope, anger and more... It’s during reading books like this one that I’m sure my kids must think I’m crazy because I’ll randomly shout out (at the book? at the characters? at the universe?) questions - why? what are you doing?!? what’s wrong with you!?! - or frustrations - no! don’t do that! what’s wrong with you!?! - and other such things. 

There was also one unfortunate incident when I threw the book down on the living room floor and stormed from the room, but I’ll simply leave it up to you to read the book and try to figure out when I may have done that. 

Here again, I found myself somehow fascinated with Rochester - even though I know all the atrocities he’s committed and will continue to commit. He’s sort of like a massive accident on the side of the highway and I’m the lookie-loo who stares at the carnage in horror. The depth of his depravity is such you can’t help but watch, can’t help but wonder, but always there is are questions burning: what will it take to stop him? What will it take to end his madness? How far will his evil go before he’s finished? 

As I got to the end of this book and read the last pages, last paragraphs and last words, I found myself closing the back cover and staring at nothing for some time. And it was then I remembered doing the exact same thing after finishing the story the first time around. I sat there contemplating the complexities of the future that these characters would be facing, some of which I’ve read already in the second book and some that has yet to reach me. I stared at the walls of my living room and pictures of the past that had shaped some of the characters danced in my head too, for I’ve had the chance to see some of that already as well. And in those long moments I faced the grim realizations that life for these people, these characters, it would never be an easy one - no matter the good they would be able to create, the opportunities and chances for something better that come their way, they would always be entrenched in a difficult life. Yet in that difficult life, as in their military factions, they would be forever banded in blood, brothers and sisters sharing a common cause and goal. And that -  those bonds are, I think, the one thing that keeps the fire of hope burning so brightly for them all. 

If you’d like to read my original review of Life’s Defeat which was published here on the blog in October 2015, you can see it here. 

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Want to read the story now? Get your own copy of Life’s Defeat here.

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And don’t forget to enter the February FAOM Giveaway - included in the prizes are a paperback copy of Life’s Defeat, as well as an e-copy of the book too! 

Enter here!

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Until next time... Happy Reading!!! 

FAOM: The Book That Started It All

When I first “met” Rebekah Raymond she was on the cusp of releasing her debut novel Life’s Defeat. We connected online during my August/September 2015 “Featured Author of the Day” promo run on Facebook and on her day, she sent me a message and asked whether I’d be interested and willing to read an advanced copy of her upcoming release. I read the blurb of the book that she sent along with the request and figured what the heck and said “sure.”

Since that fateful day, I’ve gone on to read the second book of The Life’s series and have even read an early version of the third one. Now this month, I’m happy to go back to where it all began, to that first book, and start the journey of discovery all over again. Will I be as captivated by the world, the characters and the drama and trauma of it all as I was when I first read the story? Knowing all I do now, even if slightly vague on some of the details because of the passing of time (and the 100’s of books I’ve since read), how will my reaction change or will it? I guess it’s time to find out...

So today I’m diving into the pages of Life’s Defeat for a re-reading, a re-discovery, a remembering, but before I do - here’s the blurb that started it all.

Life’s Defeat

by Rebekah Raymond

Tragedy places the soldier in St Patrick’s complex, determination to be someone of use keeps her within its walls. When she finally takes her first breaths of freedom, the soldier is sucked back into military servitude, her long, violent capture and imprisonment by Rochester setting her path of physical and psychological terror.

Under his rule she learns the depth of her own depravity, and how far she can go before she threatens to lose herself. But when Tomlin and his team rescues her, she discovers a new threat in the life she chooses to lead.

As the pages of her genetically-altered history are revealed, the solider finds the key to achieving her new goal: revenge.

It’s unfortunate it might just kill her in the end.

This Psychological thriller will lead you to the depths of despair with this young woman, then back as she finds peace, love, and resolution once more.

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You can find Life’s Defeat available on a couple platforms...

E-books can be purchased on:

Amazon

Kobo

Paperbacks can be ordered/found at:

Chapters

Owls Nest Books

Audrey’s Books

Directly from the Rebekah on her Website

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Don’t forget to take a minute or two and enter the February FAOM Giveaway - prizes include: a paperback copy of Life’s Defeat, e-books of all 3 The Life’s series books, and author-drawn book illustrations and other book swag.

Contest is open until 12:00am MST February 28th and winners will be announced on February 28th.

Don’t delay - ENTER TODAY.

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Now, I’m off to read.

What will you be doing today?

FAOM: An Excerpt and Some Thoughts

A little earlier today I shared my review of The Petticoat Letters with you all here on the blog. If you missed it you can find it here. In that, I talked a lot about the main character Nora Bishop, about my perception of her personality, her situation and the story. I only briefly mentioned her male counterpart Alexander Foster.

I adore both of these characters.

Nora is a woman worthy of admiration in any time period, during the late 1700’s in colonial America – she’s exceptional.

And Alex? Every time he’s on the page I find something more to like about him.

 “Battle, Nora. We are about to engage in battle. Hurry up!”

“What are you going to do?” I said, standing up. My heart raced as fast as some of the horses I spied.

“I’m going to head south with the rest of the Rangers and three other companies of the Virginia Continentals. We’re going to flank the British on the right.”

“I don’t give a damn about battle tactics! You mean you’re going to fight.” Hysteria rose in my voice, and I wrung my hands in front of me. Perspiration dotted my forehead. The only person I felt safe with in the camp was leaving me. What happened if he died? What would I do? How would I get home?

“It’s war, Nora. Of course I’m going to fight.”

-       The Petticoat Letters, excerpt from chapter 5

He’s courageous, strong, stubborn, intelligent, and has a sense of humour that comes out occasionally in bursts of dry wit and salacious quips. He’s honestly a good man doing what he thinks is right and I couldn’t help but truly like him.

 “Petticoat letters? I like it. You know, it isn’t everyday a woman has something she wants to give me that’s up her skirts,” Alex said, grinning wide again.

-       The Petticoat Letters, excerpt from chapter 17

Fairly often when I’m reading, especially if I know I’m going to do a write up about the story, I’ll jot down notes to myself while I read. Sometimes I find I have a lot to say about the “bad guy” in books. Not so for The Petticoat Letters. One line pretty much sums up my feelings on him this time.

Have I adequately illustrated how much I love this book? Yes? No? Here’s one last thing then, because it so rarely happens.

So please don't miss your chance to win an e-copy of the book in our January FAOM Giveaway - enter here.

Or you can purchase a copy of The Petticoat Letters here.