Book Review: The Grim Alliance by Angela R. Watts

WHEN THE NATION RIOTS, THE INFIDELS MUST BLEED.

The Second Civil War storms through the crippled US and winter brings nothing but disaster. West Johnston has earned his mafia father’s trust while searching for hidden answers: why are the UN leaders being assassinated, and why can’t the killers be found? If West can’t stop the Union from attacking D.C. in their last attempt to win the war, how can he stop his father?

Springtown remains one of the few townships left standing amid the tyrannical rule. Another group of gangsters prepare the town for winter. Rene’ Fisher is torn between fearing for her boyfriend Simon’s life and the upheaval taking place in Springtown. Can her father keep the town at peace? Will God have mercy on the allegiance the town must form with an unlikely candidate in order to survive, or will Rene’s home burn like the rest of the world?

Told in multiple bold, abrasive narratives, THE GRIM ALLIANCE steps into a war-ridden nation where bleeding for what you believe is the only option for those determined to win. But with faith, can even the bloodiest hands be made clean?

Series: The Infidel Books, #2 (Definitely read them in order to minimize confusion!)

My rating:

MY MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASE OF 2020 IS OUT IN THE WORLD!

After reading The Divided Nation last year when it released, I couldn't wait to read its sequel. 

Well. That was definitely a ride. Once again, I adored Miss Watts' writing style and the way she DRAGS her readers through the muck and dumps them out on the other side.

She's heartless, I'll give her that. (Also I can say this bc I know Angela and I know that she's not gonna get offended...or if she does, I'm halfway across the country from her so what can she do to me?? *smirks*)

So. The Grim Alliance. Where to start?

Maybe I'll start with the things I didn't care for and get those out of the way. *grins*

SO. Heh. The main thing I didn't appreciate was the foul language. I'm not going to argue with anyone about Christian authors putting cuss words in their books, but it's just one of those things that bugs me, so unless the rest of the book realllyyyyyy makes up for it, it tends to detract from the story for me.

Also, it was verrryyyy confusing. Like, seriously. After all my confusion with The Divided Nation, I expected this one to be less confusing. I was wrong, haha! The Grim Alliance answered very few questions and added even more to my stack, soooo. *shrugs* BUT I think I'm finally starting to get all the characters straight!

The other thing is something that maaaayyyyy not be valid for anyone else. I mean, this part surprised me...it had slow bits. Which doesn't make sense to me. It was like WHOA hERe We GoOOOoOoooO and then all of a sudden we had a break where the characters do nothing but plot each others' demise and then YIKES EVERYONE'S DYING AGAIN.

*cough*

Again, like I said, it may not be this way for everyone who reads it. Angela herself said that it's more intense than The Divided Nation...but for me, it's somehow not...? But, I mean, it's been awhile since I've read TDN, soooooo...

ANYWAY. Now the things I like. *grins*

Everyone was screaming about Gideon after TDN and I have to admit that I became part of it after awhile...but OH MY WORD Y'ALL I FORGOT ABOUT MY FAVORITE CHARACTER. *cries* Can you believe I ACTUALLY forgot about my favorite baby?! WESTWESTWESTWESTWEST

*cough*

(As I edit this I realize that I'm doing lots of coughing)

(This is what Ang does to me)

WEST. Goodness gracious y'all. I mean, there's not really a character I don't love (unless it's one I love to hate *cough*George&Brian*cough*), but West is my cinnamon roll. Such a broken baby, trying to do it all on his own...for some reason he's always been my favorite and I couldn't give you a reason if I tried. So.

But ALLLLL THE CHARACTERS. Gideon, in all his loving gruffness. Alex, the amazing Aussie (some how I didn't know he's an Aussie? Or, at least, I'd forgotten until about 3/4 of the way through the book??) that keeps Gid sane. Simon + Nate, protecting each other while protecting Springtown. Rene' and her fam, leading citizens and people whose faith inspires and challenges me. And we can't forget GRAHAM!!

Yeah. I just love allllll of them.

But the best part of this book? Its message. My. Goodness. Gracious. The scariest part of this book is that, though it's a dystopian, it feels like it could happen at any given moment. Without Christ, our world is falling apart. I won't get into politics here, but let's just say that Angela strikes the fear of God into people with this book with how close to home it is. But the message is still there, shining oh-so-brightly. It's hope. It's light. It's knowing that, for those who trust in the Savior, everything is going to be all right in the end. Life may become hell on earth, but in the end...we win. Because y'all, the devil's already been defeated.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for promotional purposes. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

About the Author

Angela R. Watts is a YA fiction author who strives to glorify the Lord in all she does. She’s a homeschool graduate  living at Step By Step Sanctuary, Tennessee, though with Gypsy and Norwegian in her blood, she tends to travel. She’s been writing stories since she was little, but also enjoys chores, painting, and watching sunsets.

Facebook | Website | Amazon | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway

1st place: paperback copy of The Grim Alliance + bookmark

2nd place: ebook copy of The Grim Alliance

Find the giveaway anywhere in this sentence *grins*

If you're a fan of edgy, freaky books with fantastic messages, this one's for you!

Throwback Tuesday #2: Tucker's Revenge, Part 2

Aaaaaand welcome back to the second installment of Throwback Tuesday! (If you're completely confused and missed the first post + explanation, you can find that RIGHT HERE.)

So. Let's hop to it, shall we?

The original writing will be in this font, while my edits will be in this regular font.

“Wake up, sleepyhead!  We’re leaving for the train station in a few hours; are you packed and ready to go?”  

Jamie rolled over and groaned.  “Go away, Reuben.” Suddenly she sat up.  “Wait, we’re going to Cheyenne today!”  She jumped out of bed, then froze.  “But... Levi and I were going to have another race today!  Do we have to leave?”

Reuben raised an eyebrow.  “Beth and Lewis are expecting us, Jamie.  We’ve been planning this for a long time.”  

Jamie sighed.  “All right, I’ll get packed.  But...” she brightened.  “I know!  We can take Thunder and Buck with us on the train and-”

Reuben held up his hand.  “Jamie, we’re not going to take the horses.  We’ll be back in a week or so, and you can have your race then.”

Jamie sighed.  “All right, Reuben.”  She pointed to a trunk in the corner of the room.  “Would you please carry my suitcase downstairs?”

******

Okay...I think I'd just delete this entire thing and mix the info in later. Because this is basically a waste of space + doesn't flow very well, especially since it's an entire section in & of itself.

Jamie’s eyes stared out the train window with boredom at the countryside swiftly moving by.  “I wish Mother could have come with us,” she said with a sigh.

Rewrite: Jamie stared out the window with a dismal sigh. The forgotten trip to Cheyenne was now forcing her to sit in this stuffy rail car instead of out in the pasture having a rematch with Levi, and the more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became. She opened her mouth to voice her complaints, but one look at her oldest brother's face told her that he wasn't as compassionate as their mother. "I wish Mother could've come with us," she whispered.

  

Reuben smiled.  “Yes, I do too,” he replied, “but we couldn’t wait any longer for this trip, and Mother would rather be at home in bed than traveling on a train while she wasn’t feeling good.  And she wouldn’t want her absence to spoil our trip, either; she’ll come visit Beth and Lewis sometime soon.” 

Rewrite: Reuben smiled, having heard the remark. "I do too, but we couldn't wait any longer for this trip." He patted her knee and leaned his head back to rest on the top of the seat. "Besides, you and I both know she much prefers resting in bed than rocking on a train while she's not feeling well." He chuckled. "I wouldn't put it past her to stay home now just so that she can come visit Beth and Lewis when she can have them and the kids all to herself."

“I’d rather be at home with her anyway,” Jamie muttered to herself.  “Now I have to travel with my brothers to a big city and sit in a stuffy room drinking tea.”

Levi shrank back in mock horror.  “Well, I’m sorry we’re not good enough company for you, Miss Abbott.  But I assure you, you will find no other men as dashing, handsome, and gentlemanly as the Abbott Brothers!”

Jamie rolled her eyes and giggled.  Then, noticing that her second brother hadn’t said anything, said, “Simeon, what’s wrong?”

Rewrite: "I'd rather be home with her," Jamie muttered. "But do I get to? No, I have to travel with my brothers to a big city and sit in a stuffy room drinking tea and acting all prim and proper."

    "Well, excuse me, Miss Abbott." Levi shrank back in mock horror. "I'm sorry that we're not good enough company for you. But," he smirked, "At least we don't make you be as ladylike as Mother does. That's good for
something, right?"

    Jamie tilted her head. "Maybe."

Simeon looked up from where he was sitting with his chin in his hand, his brow furrowed with thought.

“I’m not sure.  It’s just that... well, I’ve got a feeling about this trip.  And it’s not a good one.  I don’t know; I just have a feeling that something bad is going to happen.”

A tingle went down Jamie’s spine.  It was certainly not like Simeon to be unsure of himself-- or anything, for that matter.  

DELETEDELETEDELETEDELETE (seriously. Premonitions are, in my opinion, rarely good things to put in your book unless you can pull them off right. I'd just add some more dialogue, and definitely some more description about the landscape)(and for sure add stuff with Simeon since without this bit you wouldn't know he's traveling with them)

Finally they arrived in Cheyenne.  Disembarking, Jamie saw a mercantile across the street, which gave her an idea.  She grasped Reuben’s arm.  “Reuben, may I go to the mercantile and buy Mother some peppermints?  You know how she loves them.”

Reuben smiled and nodded.  “Yes, you may buy Mother some peppermints, but first I’d like to go visit a friend that lives a couple of houses down the street from here.”  

“I’ll take her,” Simeon spoke up.  He turned to Levi.  “You go wherever you want; we’ll meet you at Tucker’s Mercantile in an hour.”

******

Rewrite: Finally, after too many hours of being entertained by her brothers and watching them arm wrestle, Jamie stepped from the train to the Cheyenne depot platform. She stretched as much as was ladylike and tried to brush the wrinkles out of her dress as her brothers stepped down behind her. She straightened and spied a sign across the street that sparked an idea. She grasped Reuben's sleeve. "Reuben, may I go to the mercantile and buy some peppermints for Beth's children?" (no clue how a bunch of peppermints is going to last for an entire week around Jamie's fam) 

    Reuben hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, but I'd rather you didn't go alone, and I'd like to visit some friends down the street—"

    "I'll take her," Simeon cut in. He turned to Levi. "Go do what you want, and we'll meet you at the mercantile in an hour." 

(At this point I'd cut out the text break)

As Jamie stepped into the Tucker’s Mercantile later that afternoon, she smelled something unpleasant.

“Simeon, what’s that-” she was interrupted by a loud cry.

“No!  Please don’t hurt me! I-I’ll work hard to pay for it; honest, I will!”

“You’ll pay for it, alright!”  A gruff voice replied. “And after you pay for it, I guarantee you won’t even think of tipping over another sardine barrel!”

Rewrite: (no clue why it says 'later that afternoon')(also sardines were never stored in barrels right??)(so I'm gonna change the context a bit)

    As Jamie stepped inside Tucker's Mercantile, she was greeted with racks upon racks of everything that she loved about mercantiles—and the shattering of glass as something hit the floor further back in the room.

    A cry rang out. "No—please, don't hurt me! I'll work hard to pay for it; you know I will, Mr. Tucker!"

    "You'll pay for it, all right." A gruff voice grated on Jamie's ears like dragging fingernails across a chalkboard. "And after you pay for it, you won't even think of breaking another vase again. Do you have any idea how much those things cost?"

“Simeon, we’ve got to stop him!”  Jamie cried as the sound of slapping commenced. And, without waiting for a reply, she rushed off to find the source of the sound.

Near the back of the store, Jamie found the store’s clerk whipping a boy about her age with a belt.

Rewrite: Jamie winced as the all-too-familiar sound of leather upon flesh ensued. Her brothers had felt the wrath of the belt often enough that she knew the sound by heart. The image of Levi, face red and swollen with crying after a thrashing, flashed through her mind, and she winced. A twinge of compassion pushed her into action. "Simeon, we've got to stop him!"

    "Jamie, don't—"

    But she was already rushing to find the source of the sound. Near the back of the store, Jamie found whom she assumed to be the store's clerk whipping a boy who couldn't be any older than herself.

“No, stop! Stop!”  She cried, yanking on the man’s raised arm.

“Why, you little... it was none of your business!  I’m going to-” he turned in fury and raised his hand when he suddenly stopped, hand in mid-air, when Simeon stepped behind Jamie.

"Stop!" She shouted, grasping the man's raised arm and jerking It backward.

    He howled in pain as his shoulder popped, and he turned toward her, eyes flashing. "Why, you little—" he grabbed her upper arm in a meaty fist with a grip strong enough that she was certain that she'd have a bruise. "You're going to regret that, missy." He raised the hand holding the belt high, but stopped in mid-air. Jamie heard a heavy footstep behind her and didn't have to look to know that Simeon had come to her rescue.

I hope that was as entertaining for you as it was for me! *hides* just wait until you read next month's...

2020 Indie Releases

If there's anything that indie authors (really, all authors) appreciate (nearly) as much as a review of their book, it's someone that spreads the word about it.

So.

Today I'm sharing indie books that have released, or are releasing, in 2020. (If I miss one, you can put it in the comments and I'll consider doing a second post later this year!)

Tattered Wings by Kassie Angle

Released February 28

Haven't read this one yet, but it looks super good! (Genre: Contemporary)

Resting Life by Erika Mathews

Released March 20

Soooo many books to add to my TBR! Isn't that cover so cool?? (Genre: Nonfiction)

A Tasteful Christmas by Victoria Penning

Released March 27

I have yet to read this baby...but I know Victoria from Instagram and her very personality makes me want to read it! (Genre: Contemporary)

Rose's Wrath by Oceane McAllister

Released April 4

I haven't read Rose's Wrath yet...but it looks so good! And that cover! *all the heart eyes* (Genre: Fantasy)

The Whispers God Gives by Ellen Senechal

Released April 21

The Whispers God Gives is a sweet, 30-day devotional for tween-teenage girls. Definitely recommended! You can find my review here. (Genre: Nonfiction)

Never Say Goodbye by Sarah Grace Grzy

Released May 2

This book was so, so good! The characters were definitely my favorite part of the book. ;) You can read my review here. (Genre: Contemporary)

How We Rise by Brooke Riley

Released May 19

I haven't read this debut yet, but I've heard so many good things about it! (Genre: Dystopian)

Window Fellow by Faith Potts

Released June 20

An adorable lil' short story that's perfect for a quick, light read! Read my review here. (Genre: Contemporary)

The Woodbreak Series by Rebekah Morris

Released July 20

A brand-spankin'-new western series from Rebekah Morris?? Yes please! Book three is coming soon! (Genre: Historical)

The Grim Alliance by Angela R. Watts

Coming July 24

This book, y'all!! I love it! You can find my review here. (Genre: Dystopian)

A Strand of Hope by Amanda Tero

Coming August 4

This book is so good! Aaaaand as I'm on the launch team, it is therefore my duty to promote this thing like crazy! *grins* You can find my review here. (Genre: Historical)

Finding Faith by Katlyn Grace

Coming August 7

I'm currently reading the prequel to this book, and it's intriguing! Review to come on that one. ;) (Genre: Contemporary)

I Love to Tell the Story by Faith Blum

Coming August 17

I've read one other book by Faith Blum, and it's been several years, but I want to read this one tooooo! (Genre: Historical)

Hearts on Lonely Mountain by A.M. Heath

Coming September 1

The third installment of the Librarians of Willow Hollow series...so how can I not share it?? (Genre: Historical)

The Secret Place of Thunder by Alicia G. Ruggieri

Coming September 15

Am I going to share all the Willow Hollow books? Yes, yes, I am. Does the word librarian clue you in?? ;) (Genre: Historical)

Have you read any of these yet? How many are still on your TBR?? ;)

Book Review: A Strand of Hope by Amanda Tero

Lena Davis is the daughter her mom never wanted.

But she survived. Through stories. Because books didn’t judge. Books weren’t angry she was alive. Books never expected her to be anything but who she was.

As she grows up, her beloved library becomes her true home.

So when the library is designated part of President Roosevelt’s Packhorse Library Project, Lena is determined to get the job of bringing books to highlanders, believing she’ll finally be free of her mom forever.

But earning the trust of highlanders is harder than she imagined, and her passion for books might not be enough to free her from her chains.

My rating:

Confession: Previous to A Strand of Hope, I'd never actually read any books by Amanda Tero. *hides* I've got one or two of her books on Kindle, buuuut I haven't actually read them yet.

So, when I signed up to be on her launch team, I knew I'd enjoy this story, I just wasn't sure how much, haha! And the good news? I did enjoy it, very much! Lena's story was gripping and compelling.

A Strand of Hope is a super easy read with endearing characters. Lena's mom made me so mad (surprise, surprise), Pastor Stuart and his wife were the SWEETEST things, and Homer & Nora? Oh my heart! I adore those two - especially Homer. His kindness and encouragement toward Lena was soooo refreshing and is just one of those characters that just makes you smile whenever you reach a scene with him. And Aidan! *grins* I just...really loved all the characters. Except for Lena's mom. ;)

My favorite part of the book, of course, was the BOOKS. Because how can you not like BOOKS?! So, I knew that I was going to like this story if only because of all the talk about books, but I didn't expect to love that part this much. I just...I could practically feel Lena's excitement as she pulled books out of her bags and set them out on the table. I could feel the worn covers between my fingers as Homer ran his calloused fingers over them. I could hear the muffled thumps as the books bumped each other. It just seriously made me sooooo happy.

Annnnnd the theme of forgiveness. This was brought out so well. Often when I read a story like this, I'll be rolling my eyes at the main character because I think they're being ridiculous. But this time? *coughs* I was kiiiiinda bitter towards her mom. So, I mean, *coughs* I didn't exactly blame Lena for harboring hard feelings against her mother.

It reads a bit like it's meant for younger readers, so aside from the fact that it's all about BOOKS, it was kinda hard for me to connect to the story. But. Overall, this is a super good story, and though it's labeled as YA fiction, I'd personally recommend it for most ages - a great readaloud for the whole family!

What are you waiting for?? Go read it!