Fiction/Nonfiction Quick Reviews

Swift and Saddled by Lyla Sage (2024)

Ada is mortified to discover that her late-night bar hookup is actually her new boss on a huge design project, but Wes is so taken by her that he'll do whatever it takes to convince her that he wants more than just a professional relationship.  I thoroughly enjoyed my return to Rebel Blue Ranch; in this installment, we get the story of Wes, the younger brother on the ranch, and Ada, the designer he's hired for his dream project.  I liked Wes well enough - he's basically perfect (kind, handsome, funny).  Although he suffers from depression, this felt more like a surface-level treatment of it.  Ada was the true star of the story for me.  I related to her a lot, especially her difficulties in forming friendships and how she thinks she comes across as cold.  Despite this, she fit in so well with the other characters (maybe proof that she is too hard on herself?), and I loved seeing new bonds form, as well as revisiting characters from the first book.  Ada and Wes are so good together, once she lets her walls down, and I may be mistaken, but this book felt steamier than the first one.  Overall, another solid installment of this series!  4 stars

The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest by Mark Synnott (2022)

In 1924, British mountaineers George Mallory and Sandy Irvine set out to summit Everest - the two never made it down and it was unclear whether they made it to the top.  In 2019, Mark Synnott and a team of adventurers and filmmakers made their way to Everest - not necessarily to climb to the top, but to look for Irvine's body and, perhaps more importantly, the camera he carried with him, which could contain proof of their potential summit.  Readers follow Synnott's preparations for the climb and his research into the Mallory/Irvine mystery.  In addition to telling Mallory and Irvine's story, Synnott also introduces us to other Everest climbers and discusses the 2019 climbing season, a year when 11 people died on the mountain and a "traffic jam" on the way to the summit caused chaos.  Synnott blends history, science, mystery, and an intriguing look into the minds and motivations of those who choose to climb the world's tallest mountain.  I've been intrigued by Everest ever since reading Into Thin Air, and I think Synnott does a great job of explaining to readers what goes into such a climb, making you feel like you are right there with him - the highs, the lows, the fear, and the awe.  It's terrifying and fascinating all at the same time.  Narrative nonfiction is generally a hit for me, and this was no exception - I enjoyed the way Synnott weaved together the story, moving back and forth between past and present.  5 stars

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