Anne Hart

What would you do for your sibling?  In Keeper of the Night by Kylie Lee Baker, the love a brother has for his half-sister is out of this world, literally.  The dark fantasy/horror/thriller is set in 1890s Britain and Japan.  But the story gives insight into worldwide folklore surrounding death and the idea of Death personified.  Death is one thing every single person in this world has in common.  Half British Reaper, half Japanese Shinigami, Ren Scarborough is a tormented girl.  She’s unloved by her father and stepmother.  She’s bullied for being biracial.  And she’s harboring her secret magical powers.  She does know the amazing true love of her stepbrother Neven.  For all the torment and darkness in the story, Neven is hopeful, loving, and empathetic.  Ren flees Britain to go to Japan to find her mother.  Neven goes with her just because he loves her.  The venture to Yokohama.  They meet the Goddess of Death...

What is the creepiest neighbor you’ve had?  In Karen McQuestion’s The Moonlight Child the Fleming family definitely deserves the creepy neighbor award.  The story starts out by introducing us to a different family.  Wendy is a Mom dealing with Morgan who is a troubled teen dealing with drugs.  Morgan has disappeared.  Then we meet Amy, an attorney who helps children in foster care.  Amy calls her Mom, Sharon, and asks her to take in Niki, a former foster child.  Sharon agrees and that is how we meet the creepy Fleming family.  Mia is a little girl at their house which no one knows about.  The Fleming Mom, Suzette is a psychopath.  Jacob, her son, is likable but also lacks a spine.  He has the ability to help Mia escape which makes his character so frustrating.  I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to handle the book but the “abuse” is primarily mental.  The neighbors, Sharon and Niki, know something is wrong.  ...