Dee Garretson

This is one of the most richly written historical novels for young adults that I've run across, one that truly brings the time frame to life.

Charlotte Mason is a young girl living in Russia in 1916. Since her mother passed away, it's her dream to continue the dream of helping others, and she's determined to go to medical school. But with the world around her revolting, chaos is found around every corner. She's told to leave and return to her relatives in America, but with her siblings, her show more mother's hospital and a man, who isn't what he seems, she's determined to do what she thinks is right.

This one surprised me. While many young adult historical novels tend to feel a bit 'light', this one dives in with a very rich and vivid world. Charlotte does have a lot to learn and makes usual mistakes for girls that age. It's easy to connect with her and makes her believable, but never is the atmosphere of the time frame scratched. The tension and the danger growing coming from the world falling apart around her hits from the very first page and holds through the entire read. And while a few handful of moments, especially in the romance end, weren't as smooth as they might have been, these didn't hurt the story by any means.

It's an exciting read which not only historical fiction fans are sure to enjoy. I received a complimentary copy and found the tale very engaging. So, I'm leaving my honest thoughts. show less

I'm a little torn on how to rate/review this story. On the one hand, if colonialism wasn't such a horrible thing here in real life, I would completely give this a full 5/5 rating. It's well written, with strong characters. But I can't look at this in a bubble. At times it feels like Garretson is trying to address colonialism and the way history is rewritten by the victors. But then it swings right back to how the natives are in the wrong for defending their planet and wanting the earth show more colonizers gone. Their methods might seem horrible to us, but given what they've been through, would we think it was so horrible if we were the ones trying to get rid of alien colonizers on Earth? You'll have to read to decide for yourself. show less

Libby's life was turned upside down, but now she is hoping for a fresh start as a wedding location at Pemberley. Trouble is, time is short, she's broke, and the wedding is just around the corner. So when a very British gentleman turns up, she assumes he's got bad news. But Davin may be just what she needs to make this wedding a fairy tale.

I love Jane Austen, so when I read this book description, I knew it was for me. Fortunately it did not disappoint. It was a quick read with a tight found show more family vibe. Lots of humor to balance out the stress. The engaged couple was a little too good to be true, but it was still fun.

Thanks to Library Thing and the author for providing this advance reader copy. My opinions are all my own. show less

Young Reader Reaction: My daughter read this in 5th grade and pulled it from the shelf to read again in 7th grade. She loved the suspense and pace of the story.

Adult Reader Reaction: A bit unrealistic, but a thrilling ride. Luke, Callie, and Theo are well-developed characters, though I have to admit I didn't like Callie much at first. The story left me curious to learn more about Camp David and the rules (are kittens really forbidden?). Wildfire Run is a book I'd recommend for readers who show more like action-packed stories. The author does an exceptional job helping the reader visualize events and scenes so that it plays out like a movie in your mind.

Pros: Nonstop action keeps readers on the edge of their seat waiting. The story has lots of visual detail that can help readers who need or prefer being able to "see" the story as they read.

Read our full review and add yours at The Reading Tub®. show less