Book Review: Change of Life by Samantha Bryant

Change of Life (A Menopausal Superhero Novel #2) by Samantha Bryant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I was given a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review may contain minor spoilers.

Change of Life by Samantha Bryant is the sequel to Going Through the Change (you can read my review here). As such, this review of Change of Life will contain spoilers for Going Through the Change. Consider yourself warned.

Still here? Right, let’s do this.

Change of Life by Samantha Bryant continues the story of our favorite band of menopausal superheroes. In this novel, Jessica (the gravity-defying cancer survivor) and Leonel (the strong “man” formerly known as Linda) are working for the Department, a secret government organization that specializes in finding, training, and sometimes defeating individuals with superhuman abilities, as well as other spy-related missions. Patricia (the Hulk-like dino-woman) is on the hunt for her former friend and evil mastermind Cindy Liu, who has disappeared after the events of Going Through the Change. Helen (the fire-wielding villain) has also gone missing, and her daughter Mary (a non-super, albeit fiery, young woman) has gone looking for her.

As you can tell, there is a lot going on in Change of Life. And yet, Bryant weaves a complete and engaging narrative, giving each character her fair share of the spotlight and emotional depth. (This includes our newest hero, Sally Ann, who is Jessica’s trainer within the Department.) The plot moves quickly and smoothly, keeping the reader entertained and trying to unravel the mystery along the way. Part of the pacing comes from the narrative style — short chapters and alternating perspectives — which allows the reader to view the conflicts from all angles and ensures that there is a heroine to whom everyone can relate.

Perhaps my favorite part of Change of Life (and Going Through the Change) is how Bryant uses her different characters to challenge and celebrate the different forms of womanhood. From housewives to business women, and from child-free ladies to grandmothers, Bryant depicts womanhood from all angles, showcasing the similarities and differences in how “the change” effects each of them. Moreover, Bryant explores how traditionally “feminine” and “masculine” personality traits can both be positive for her female characters. For example, one of Leonel (aka Linda’s) greatest assets is her ability to listen and her caring nature, while Patricia finds strength in her independent spirit and take-no-bullshit attitude.

This being said, my only criticism about Change of Life was that sometimes the narrative stalled on characters’ emotions a bit too long. While the internal monologues did increase my understanding of the characters, sometimes they bordered on repetitive, and other times I would rather have “seen” the characters’ emotional states emerge through their physical reactions to the conflicts in the story.

Slow spots aside, the real jewel of Change of Life is the character development. As a reader, I couldn’t help but feel inspired as the characters embraced both their superpowers and the changes their powers caused in their personal lives. For instance, Jessica learning to master her “flying” and no longer fear it made me incredibly proud, and Leonel standing up for herself and finally focusing on herself after a lifetime of being a wife and mother first showed her strength and made me love her even more. All of the characters have similar growths and will endear themselves to the reader twofold in this novel.

Overall, Change of Life is a fitting sequel. Packed with action, drama, and a dash of romance, and led by a cast of strong, complex, and diverse women, it’s everything you’d want in a “menopausal” superhero novel. Highly recommended for superhero-lovers of all genders, ages, and levels of geeky-ness.

View all my reviews on Goodreads

You can find out more about Samantha Bryant on her website, and you can read an interview where she discusses her inspiration for Change of Life here.

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If you are interested in reading Change of Life and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it through my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale. Simply click the book’s title or the book’s image.

The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour: Archives

First and foremost, I’d like to give a big thank you to all of the talented authors who signed up to be a part of the blog tour and gave thoughtful, inspiring interviews. This whole show was for you, and I hope you found a few new readers and author friends along the way.

Second, on behalf of all the authors, I’d like to express our gratitude to the readers who followed this tour. I hope you all enjoyed learning a bit more about your favorite books.

And last, I’d like to say a special thanks to my co-host, the ever-inspiring Kate Evans. Thank you for yet another successful blog tour. It’s always a joy to collaborate with you!

The following list contains the original blog tour interviews for all our authors and books. For ease of access, you can always view it on my Events page, under the Past Events section.

The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour

Monday, February 8 – The Earl and the Artificer by Kara Jorgensen

Tuesday, February 9 – The Curious Tale of Gabrielle by Zachary Paul Chopchinski

Wednesday, February 10 – Rise of the Storm by Christina Ochs

Thursday, February 11 – Oak and Mist by Helen Jones

Friday, February 12 – A Case of Deceit by J.L. Phillips

Monday, February 15 – The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes

Tuesday, February 16 – The Cogsmith’s Daughter by Kate M. Colby

Wednesday, February 17 – Going Through the Change by Samantha Bryant

Thursday, February 18 – The Trouble with being a Movie Star’s Wife by Z.N. Willett

Friday, February 19 – The Dream World Collective by Ben Y. Faroe

Monday, February 22 – The Dagger and the Rose by Bill Hoard

Tuesday, February 23 – Wandering on the Treadmill by Wendy Ogilvie

Wednesday, February 24 – Lady, Thy Name is Trouble by Lori L. MacLaughlin

Thursday, February 25 – The Art of Survival by Kate Evans

The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour: Wendy Ogilvie

Up next on my and Kate Evans’s 206 2K Indie Book Tour is women’s fiction author Wendy Ogilvie.

Wendy Ogilvie lives in Essex with her boyfriend Carl and their two dogs; Chinook and Storm. She has been a Personal Trainer for twenty years and has been writing training books and short stories in her spare time. The office in her new house is her favourite place to write as she can see the fish swimming in the pond and her two huskies digging up the garden! She is currently working on the next novel in the Wanda series called Wandering Among the Stars.

Here’s the synopsis of her novel, Wandering on the Treadmill:

WANDA MIKOS lives in Briford, England but has a dream to live in Los Angeles and become a Personal Trainer to the stars. She finds a way to make her ambition a reality by entering The Main Event competition. Unfortunately, she has a suspicion that her bitchy boss KAREN LESTER has entered too.

At work, Wanda is introduced to the new Health & Fitness Manager, the sexy MIKE DIAMOND, and in the same day she meets GARY. Mike begins flirting with Wanda but she thinks he is hiding something. Wanda finds out that Karen is not only competing in the same competition, but is also competing for Mike’s affections.

Wanda’s mother (NINA MIKOS) calls to tell her she has terrible news; her father is getting re-married. Nina confesses to Wanda that he is the only man she has ever had a relationship with. This is when Wanda begins to understand a little of why her mum has been so reluctant to move on since the divorce.

During a training session, Wanda injures her ankle and is put on crutches for a week. Gary gets in contact and they have their first date. Karen informs Wanda she is going away so the television crew who will be following them for the competition will be filming her first. Wanda has to hide the fact she hasn’t read the competition contract and was unaware of any filming obligations.

After a couple of encounters with Mike and a weekend away with Gary, Wanda asks Meg’s opinion on who she should be dating. They compile a Pros & Cons list to decide.

Wanda’s dad’s wedding is one week before the competition and when the TV crew turns up in Cyprus to film the event, Wanda worries about Nina’s reaction.

Back home, Mike tells Wanda that Karen has been to a training camp to work with the famous Neil Whettenhall. She freaks out declaring that the competition and dieting are getting too much she will have to pull out.

She eventually decides to keep up with her training and diet. When the competition day arrives, Wanda uses her wit during the interview as she always does when she is under stress. Karen’s routine is flawless and Wanda’s only mistake is a small stumble at the end. And the winner is — Karen Lester.

During the post competition meal, Karen asks Wanda about the guy she is with — Gary. Wanda panics that she will tell Mike about Gary when they get back to work.

Back at the flat, one of the competition judges calls Wanda to inform her they loved her enthusiasm and people skills and, although unconventional, they would like her to join Karen in Los Angeles for one month.

When Wanda tells Karen her news, Karen tells Mike about Gary. Wanda and Mike part ways and Wanda leaves with Karen to Los Angeles.

Sequel: Wandering Among the Stars – Due out later this year

And now here’s our interview with Wendy:

What was the inspiration behind your book?      

I wanted to put all my years of gym anecdotes into a story based around a Personal Trainer.

Who is your favorite character?    

Wanda, because I think there is a little of her in all of us.

What is one thing you want readers to know or “get” about your book?

The main character is a woman who also has to deal with ‘real world’ issues in her journey to becoming the person she wants to be.  I am hoping readers will relate to Wanda and laugh as they share in her misfortunes. And maybe be inspired by her determination.

Who is your ideal reader? Or, who will enjoy your book?

Female, but I don’t specify an age range.  One of my best reviews was from a woman who is 93. She said it lifted her out of a depression she had fallen into. I also think that anyone who has ever tried any sort of fitness routine will enjoy the book.

What three writing tips do you have for aspiring authors?

• Write like nobody is going to read it then edit as though someone else wrote it.
• Improve your grammar if it’s rusty.
• Get into the mindset of being able to write anywhere at any time.

Where can readers buy your book?

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NQOuBG

Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/5448532

Where can readers learn more about you?

About.Me: about.me/wendyogilvie

WordPress: https://wendyogilvie.wordpress.com

Website: http://fit2write.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Wendy_Ogilvie49

The 2016 2K Indie Book Tour: Samantha Bryant

Hello, everyone! Thanks for following the 2016 2K Indie Book Tour so far. For the second half, I’ll be your host. If you missed the first set of interviews, make sure to check them out on Kate Evans’s website, www.writingourselveswell.co.uk.

First up on my half of the blog tour is Samantha Bryant. Samantha is a middle school Spanish teacher by day and a mom and novelist by night. That makes her a superhero all the time. Her secret superpower is finding the things her family members have misplaced—and the ability to operate on very little sleep. When she’s not writing or working, Samantha watches old movies, reads, listens to audiobooks, bakes, walks in the woods, and wishes she was writing.

Here, she introduces her superhero/women’s fiction novel Going Through the Change: A Menopausal Superhero Novel:

In this lighthearted, nontraditional superhero novel, four menopausal women in the same town start to exhibit strange abilities: incredible strength, the ability to wield fire, to fly (sort of), and armor-plated skin. Each woman struggles to deal with her changes in her own way, until life throws them together. When the women start to talk, they find out that they have more in common than they knew–one person has touched all their lives. The hunt for answers is on.

Sequels: Book 2: Change of Life will be released April 20, 2016; a novella bridging between Book 1 and Book 2 will be included in The Indomitable Ten anthology, which will be released on March 5, 2016.

Now, here’s our interview with Samantha:

What was the inspiration behind your book?

The origin story behind Going Through the Change is a conversation with my husband. One evening, we were out walking the dog, one of the few ways folks like us (with two kids) can get to finish some sentences. We were talking about a recent superhero movie we had seen together and lamenting how all the heroes seem to be angst-ridden teenagers these days (even the adult ones). My husband said something like, “It’s like puberty causes superpowers.” I laughed and said, “With great hormones, come great power. Wait! If that’s true, menopausal women should have the corner on that market!” He laughed and told me to write it down. I did, and a series of novels was born.

Who is your favorite character?

I love them all, but Patricia is my favorite one to write. She’s all hard edges protecting her secret marshmallow insides. She’s driven and a force to be reckoned with. Since I’m a marshmallow inside and out, I enjoy writing a woman so different from myself.

What is one thing you want readers to know or “get” about your book?

That women heroes come in many shapes. As I sign my books: we are, all of us, heroes.

Who is your ideal reader? Or, who will enjoy your book?

Toni Morrison said, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” That’s what I did. I imagined my readers being other women like me. Geeky grown-ups, with lives (children, careers, partners, responsibilities), who still enjoy a bit of “what if?” imagining. I’ve found that younger readers and male readers have also enjoyed the book, too.

What three writing tips do you have for aspiring authors?

1. Finish things. The worst book you ever finished writing is better than the best one that only exists in your imagination. The revision process is where you’ll smooth out the rough places.

2. Don’t worry about selling it while you’re writing it. There’s plenty of time to figure that out once you have something to sell.

3. Writing is a very individual process. You have to learn what works for you. For me, that’s a daily writing habit and tracking word count on spreadsheets, and keeping myself accountable through writing groups. What’s important is respecting your own process. Don’t worry about how anyone else does it. They’re not you.

Where can readers buy your book?

Amazon: http://bitly.com/face-the-change

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23504114-going-through-the-change

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/going-through-the-change-samantha-bryant/1121690928?ean=9781620078419

 

 

Where can readers learn more about you? 

Blog: http://samanthabryant.com

Amazon author: http://amazon.com/author/samanthabryant

Publisher page: https://curiosityquills.com/authors/samantha-bryant

Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/samanthadunawaybryant

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mirymom1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/mirymom

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+SamanthaDunawayBryant/posts

Book Review: Ariel by Fia Essen

Ariel by Fia Essen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel without the expectation of a review. However, I have chosen to review the novel, because of how much I enjoyed it.

In Ariel by Fia Essen, the reader meets the title character well and truly at rock bottom. Three years after an abrupt break up, employment termination, and building up a pile of credit card debt, Ariel still finds herself trapped in a web of lies (not to mention apathy). However, as the novel progresses, Ariel is able to begin rebuilding her life, with the help of her friends and the mysterious Muse Agency, who are known in the expat community for helping down-and-out individuals turn their lives around and even become wildly successful in their fields.

The best way to describe Ariel is a “feel good” novel. Despite the rut that Ariel is in, she remains an engaging and funny narrator, and the reader is easily charmed by her. While at times I found her monologues a bit repetitive, they were still entertaining, and I actually began to accept them as a quirk of the character rather than just narration. Likewise, Essen has given Ariel realistic flaws – she often is blind to the truth around her, judges herself and others too harshly, and has a habit for lying. Watching Ariel recognize these traits in herself and grow out of them is an incredibly satisfying experience.

Moreover, the other characters in the novel are very well-written and have plenty of complexity. Their relationships with Ariel are believable and elicit emotional reactions within the reader. It is easy to envision these characters existing in their own worlds, and several of them would make for interesting protagonists in their own right. Perhaps the only character that I would have liked to have learned more about is “her Colin” (the love interest). Yes, he is handsome and charming and clearly a wonderful human being. However, I did feel like he lacked depth in comparison with the other characters.

Setting sets Ariel apart from other “chick lit” novels. The novel is set in Singapore, and perhaps it is my American background, but I have not read many novels set in Asia, so the new surrounding was a welcome change. Similarly, the fact that Ariel and her family are expatriates ads another interesting (and educational) component for the reader. Seeing how her experience as an expat and world traveler affected Ariel’s perspective was one of my favorite aspects of the novel.

Overall, Ariel has everything you want in a “chick lit” novel. There’s a spunky female protagonist with a great growth arc, funny and lovable sidekicks, a bit of adventure (in the recollections of Ariel’s travels and her unique lifestyle), and of course, a satisfying (and tasteful) romance.

On a personal note, as I finished Ariel, I couldn’t help but think that this is the most fun I’ve had with a novel in a long time. Perhaps it’s that I, too, feel a bit stuck in a rut right now (though, luckily nothing so dramatic!), or perhaps it’s that Ariel exhibits a similar theme to my own novel (rock bottom female protagonist coming into her own and finding potential for love along the way), just in an entirely different genre. Either way, I’m very pleased that I read Ariel when I did, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, fun and charming read.

View all my reviews

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If you are interested in reading Ariel and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it through my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale. Simply click the book’s title or the book’s image.