Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
by
Jamie Ford
adult historical/romance fiction

Henry is Chinese American, born in Seattle, Washington twelve years ago. Keiko is Japanese American, also born in Seattle twelve years ago. They are the only Asian students in their public school in 1942. As such, they are both outsiders and ridiculed. Their friendship develops as the school year goes on and as World War II escalates Keiko's family is increasingly ostracized. Henry's father is one person who can not stand that his son, whom he sees as Chinese, not American, can possibly be friends with the enemy. Japan is not only at war with the U.S.A. but with China. Even before WWII Japan had been bombing China.
Henry and Keiko see themselves first as Americans. Why can't other people understand this? In addition to the hatred between the Chinese and the Japanese, the children enjoy Black music - specifically Seattle based jazz. Again, they don't see a problem with this.
This book is, as the title implies, a sweet and bitter story. These children who are on the verge of adulthood are innocent and naive, but the world is spinning out of their control. Keiko is taken away to an internment camp. Henry is expected to go to China to study after the war dies down. Can their fledgling friendship, or is it love, survive?
This is a very well written novel I would recommend for teenagers, adults, and senior citizens alike. It is more likely to appeal to females, but men like it for the jazz scene or other aspects of the book. I can safely recommend this to our gentle readers who do not want sex or violence in their reading.

Let Them Eat Cake

Let Them Eat Cake
by
Sandra Byrd
Adult Christian Fiction
Alexandra (Lexi) is out of college and still trying to find her way in life. She is a Christian, but doesn't know what to do with God. Is he still out there? Is he directing her life? A little direction would help, God!
She tries a few jobs, but none seem like the right thing for her. She dates some, but doesn't want to give her heart to the wrong man. She is looking for an apartment, but that isn't working out so well, either.
Like many people of her age (mid twenties) she is drifting. Things start to look up when she takes a low paying job in a French bakery. As a French culture studies major she has always wanted to go to France, but the closest she got was French Canada. Could this bakery job be the break for which she has been waiting? Her boss is a very cute French guy, too. Might he be the one?
I found that I could completely relate to Lexi's situation - been there, done that!
The note on the back of the book says that she is know for writing teen fiction. It looks like her characters have grown up with her readers.
This is a light, pleasant read and better than many others on the Christian Fiction shelf next to it. Even if the reader has left her twenties behind her, it is still good to be reminded that we don't all know where we are going - we just need to keep on relying on God. I won't tell you the ending, but I was proud of the author for not going for the standard, predictable ending.
This book can be read by men, but it is intended for a female audience.
Now that I look at the cover, I see that this is by WaterBrook Press - one of my three favorite publishers (Tor and Daw are the others).
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/