Review: More Than Good Enough by Crissa-Jean Chappell

More Than Good Enough

by Crissa-Jean Chappell

Published: January 1, 2014

Publisher: Flux

Available: Amazon

Synopsis

Trent Osceola's life is turned upside down when his mother announces that he will be moving to the Miccosukee reservation to live with his father, who was recently released from prison. Only half Miccosukee, Trent feels alienated from rez society and starts to question who he really is. When he changes schools, he reconnects with Pippa, a childhood friend who moved away, and together they tackle the class assignment to make a film of their lives. When he starts to see himself through Pippa's eyes, Trent’s not sure he likes what he sees. Will he ever be good enough for the rez, for school, and for her?

Review:
More Than Good Enough is a very interesting novel. It was hard for me to get into the story while reading the first chapter, but by the end of the second chapter I really wanted to know where Chappell was going with Trent.

While there is obviously a plot, More Than Good Enough was really a character driven story. Trent is constantly having to examine himself and question not only who he is, but who he wants to be. For years, he has been bombarded with the idea that he's worthless. He's been physically and emotionally abandoned by his parents, the school system is failing him, and the people on the rez are reluctant to embrace him into their society. Chappell, though, doesn't let this be a case of blame everyone else. Instead she brings out an awareness that Trent's attitudes and actions contribute to his circumstance as much as other of others.

I really liked the inclusion of Pippa's character. While Trent initially views her as having what he wants for himself, she comes with her own baggage that is completely different than what he has had to deal with. It is her attitude though that balances Trent's and makes their relationship believable.

The only issue I had was the ending, which felt rushed. There were threads left hanging that I had been wanting closure to, but I could see how doing that would have taken away the realistic feel to the story. That said, a few more pages would have fleshed things out a bit and felt more satisfying.

Guest Post by Corinne Foster, Author of Secret of the Phoon

 

 The Secret of the Phoon

by Corinne Foster

Faced with certain death, Avira has to protect herself by summoning the Phoon, a long-secret and deadly supernatural force. Can she keep the Phoon safe from the two opposing powers who now race to challenge her for it, and when will she realize that the bigger threat lies from within her own community of outcast girls?

Secret of the Phoon – The Inspiration

by Corinne Foster

For me it started with the woods. I love woods and find them inspiring places to walk and think.

I decided my woods needed to be black – black trunks, branches, leaves and roots. They have a presence all of their own and I liked the idea of the trees having a kind of consciousness where they are able to help or hinder. The Black Woods in the book are either a friend or foe, depending on who is within them.

And it’s the woods that hide the Phoon, the secret supernatural force that is the main focus of the story. The Phoon live in the woods, but in a kind of another parallel time, so you wouldn’t come across them while out for a walk. But you would sense they were there. 

At the beginning of the book, the Phoon have been kept a secret for many years – because if the power of them was known and fell into the wrong hands, uncontained, it could easily mean the end of the world. But Avira is forced into summoning them and the rest of the story is set in motion.

It is always the leader of the Unloved – Avira at the time of this book – who summons the Phoon to defend the woods or the house where the Unloved live. But who are the Unloved? This is the group of which Avira is leader, formed by girls and women who have been shunned by their families, or who choose to live away from them.  

They live in a house called Domina. The word ‘Domina’ comes from old English law, and it refers to a title formerly given to noble ladies who held a barony in their own right – so they don’t get the title (such as Queen or Baroness) from being married to a man with one. That seemed appropriate to a house that, because of its history, is very hostile to men.

Domina is very important to the story too and was inspired by many old houses in my youth. I love those really old buildings that you know have seen so much during their existence. I have always been in awe of the Tower of London, particularly the White Tower – what it has looked over since it was built (starting in the year 1070)! Domina stands on the edge of the woods and it’s been there as long as anyone can remember (not unlike the White Tower). In fact, the house is probably the strongest character in the book! It’s austere, strong, commanding. The Unloved have lived there for hundreds of years, and their existences are intertwined.

Although the house is full of women, this is not a nunnery. They are free to leave if they want, and to visit the local town to sing and dance with the local lads.  It’s here that Shastia, one of the Unloved, meets the man who will take her away from Domina, and where her experiences with other men outside of Domina will shape her future, with repercussions for everyone. 

‘Secret of the Phoon’ is available currently only as an e-book, and you can find it on Amazon/Kindle, Goodreads, iBooks and Smashwords. 

I love to hear from readers, and you can reach me at any of the below!

Corinne’s blog: http://corinnefosterblog.wordpress.com/

The Phoon on Facebook

The Phoon on Twitter

Cover Reveal and Giveaway: The Ghost Files, Volume 2 by Apryl Baker

The Ghost Files, Volume 2

by Apryl Baker

Coming January 2014!

At seventeen years old, Mattie Hathaway has survived her mother attempting to kill her, multiple foster homes, and a serial killer.  Oh, and she sees ghosts on a regular basis too. You’d think Fate would give her a break right?  Umm…nope, not Mattie.

Dan Richards is the only person in the entire world Mattie trusts, but then the boy goes and breaks her heart.  Mattie does what she does best, she runs and lands herself slap in the middle of a haunted house full of ghosts turned vengeful that want Mattie to join their ranks.

Only bright spot on all this?  Eli Malone – the gorgeous boy with the beautiful aqua eyes that makes her feel things she’s never even imagined before.  She’s not sure what to do with him, especially when Dan shows up glowering at him.

She’ll figure Eli out if she can survive the house.  The ghosts are bound and determined to kill her so she’ll be one of them.  Now if she can just figure out how to survive them and the demon stalking her, she might be able to decide what to do about her feelings for Dan and Eli.

That is if she can survive the night in the house.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


About the Author

So who am I? Well, I'm the crazy girl with an imagination that never shuts up. I LOVE scary movies. My friends laugh at me when I scare myself watching them and tell me to stop watching them, but who doesn't love to get scared? I grew up in a small town nestled in the southern mountains of West Virginia where I spent days roaming around in the woods, climbing trees, and causing general mayhem. Nights I would stay up reading Nancy Drew by flashlight under the covers until my parents yelled at me to go to sleep.

Growing up in a small town, I learned a lot of values and morals, I also learned parents have spies everywhere and there's always someone to tell your mama you were seen kissing a particular boy on a particular day just a little too long. So when you get grounded, what is there left to do? Read! My Aunt Jo gave me my first real romance novel. It was a romance titled "Lord Margrave's Deception." I remember it fondly. But I also learned I had a deep and abiding love of mysteries and anything paranormal. As I grew up, I started to write just that and would entertain my friends with stories featuring them as main characters.

Now, I live Huntersville, NC where I entertain my niece and nephew and watch the cats get teased by the birds and laugh myself silly when they swoop down and then dive back up just out of reach. The cats start yelling something fierce...lol.

I love books, I love writing books, and I love entertaining people with my silly stories.

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