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The Last Streamers of Confetti on New Year's Eve
Men with pencil thin mustaches and slicked back hair, wearing wide-lapelled suits—Flappers in their fringed, short dresses, doing the Charleston and striving for the “It Girl” personas, idolized on the silent movie screens—Model T cars bouncing down the cobblestone streets—Prohibition, speakeasies and law-breaking gang bosses—Jazz and razzmatazz. These are the images of the 1920’s in post-war America that Mandy and Lizzy Elegant had seen in their history books and in the grainy images of films from that era. It is not until they are on a writing assignment with the local newspaper, that these images become reality for them.
When Mandy and Lizzy arrive at the Manchester Castle Hotel to write their article on its one hundredth anniversary celebration, scheduled for New Year’s Day, they are aware of the hotel’s reputation for paranormal occurrences. It isn’t until their first night’s stay that they have “dreams” that lead them to believe that they are actually experiencing past lives in 1928 New Orleans. As they merge into their past-life incarnations, they find themselves crawling across rooftops by night, as gang-fighting vigilantes, and writing for the New Orleans Nitpicker newspaper by day. Along with their friends, they make a plan to rid the French Quarter of the gang that is bringing violence, death and destruction to the city. When the plans are set into action, danger and death become reality. It is only when the last streamers of confetti fall on New Year’s Eve, that present and past life relationships merge.
When Mandy and Lizzy arrive at the Manchester Castle Hotel to write their article on its one hundredth anniversary celebration, scheduled for New Year’s Day, they are aware of the hotel’s reputation for paranormal occurrences. It isn’t until their first night’s stay that they have “dreams” that lead them to believe that they are actually experiencing past lives in 1928 New Orleans. As they merge into their past-life incarnations, they find themselves crawling across rooftops by night, as gang-fighting vigilantes, and writing for the New Orleans Nitpicker newspaper by day. Along with their friends, they make a plan to rid the French Quarter of the gang that is bringing violence, death and destruction to the city. When the plans are set into action, danger and death become reality. It is only when the last streamers of confetti fall on New Year’s Eve, that present and past life relationships merge.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 13, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 11, 2025
Long anticipated, the latest young adult novel from authors Kenneth and Judy Nichols Fecteau does not disappoint. This second installment in the Following Forever Series reintroduces us to sisters and best friends Mandy and Lizzy Elegant as they navigate their vision quest under the guidance of Rosethorn, Shaman of the Mistook Tribe. Infusing elements of adventure, historical fiction, spirituality, past life regression and romance the authors weave an engaging story that entertains. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Our adventure begins in a dream. The sisters (teen-scene reporters for the Tabula Rasa Times) are transported from the Manchester Castle, a hotel with a reputation for intrigue, to a different era. Sharing the same dream Mandy and Lizzy find themselves in the French Quarter, New Orleans 1928. Prohibition does little to dampen drinking and partying. Wait…it’s not a dream? Readers discover soon enough that sisters Mandy and Lizzy are experiencing memories of their past lives, a past life regression.
As the novel unfolds we are reacquainted with familiar characters. Fans of There's No Such Thing as Never in Forever (Book One in the Following Forever Series) are reunited with old friends. We delight in Hugo, Yerma, Rosethorn, the Mols rock band, and happily our canine friend I’ll-Go-Mine. And there’s the romantic interest Zak, the Mols incendiary guitar virtuoso. Or is he Eric? New characters also make their appearance.
The sisters re-enter their past lives as Zoey and Desiree Daniels, hard partying “flapper girls”. In their job as investigative journalists for the New Orleans Nitpicker newspaper the sisters are drawn into a world of contraband, crime and violence fronted by the notorious Louis D’Quad. Deceptively parading as a respected man about town D’Quad, a blustering loudmouth bully, offers “protection” for French Quarter establishments for a monthly fee. His Streets Sweepers goon squad collects dues and “persuades” deadbeats to pay up. Handsomely rewarded, police and city officials look the other way.
D’Quad’s ally and confidant Madame Rovanjay makes her presence known. A sinner posing as a saint, it turns out it is she who is really the Big Boss. She’s a ruthless killer, even D’Quad eventually gets his comeuppance. A surprise awaits as Rovanjay reveals her identity in a previous life, a certain Queen.
One of D’Quad’s clients Victoria Guererro runs Vic’s Place, a popular speakeasy in the shadow of St Louis Cathedral and Café D’Monde. Victoria is not easily intimidated but she pays a price; her place is bombed, reduced to rubble and ashes. A vigilante gang, the Midnight Shadows aka The Two Musketeers (guess who?) extend a helping hand to the community. The ”Robin Hoods of New Orleans” prove capable allies, taking down the bad guys.
As their vision quest unfolds the sisters find themselves participants in high adventure. A hair-raising chase through Steeplechase Amusement Park, a French Quarter shootout, a high stakes poker game, a high speed car chase.
A treacherous white-knuckle ascent of ice-covered Manitou Mountain follows; up, up into the clouds guided by the mystical Watching Owl and Silent River. Stepping off the cloud into another world Zoey and Desiree are welcomed by a spirit animal in the form of a sparrow who reveals to the sisters a familiar canine friend from a previous life. A flute and drum beckon as I’ll Go Mine leads them safely down the mountain where the Shaman Rosethorn awaits.
The authors know their audience; Rosethorn shares timeless gems of wisdom rooted in Mistook culture and beliefs:
“to go forward you must walk backward”
“life is a tapestry we weave from multicolored threads”
As Christmas week gives way to New Year’s Eve revelry we anticipate the Mols appearance at Tabula Rasa. But it’s not the Mols without Zak, he’s momentarily delayed. His instinct to assist an accident victim nearly cost the Mols the gig. Not to worry, Zak makes his appearance just before the stroke of midnight. The Mols play with abandon; a full-tilt, high-energy wall of sound featuring Zak’s blistering guitar solo, you can almost feel it!
Outside a kaleidoscope of fireworks and confetti lights up Jackson Square, the final countdown to midnight as past and present lives merge into one.
The Last Streamers of Confetti on New Year’s Eve is an engaging Young Adult novel of nonstop action and self-discovery. Dare we look forward to future adventures in the Following Forever Series? We are left with a lingering vapor trail in the form of a question mark. Here’s hoping.
Our adventure begins in a dream. The sisters (teen-scene reporters for the Tabula Rasa Times) are transported from the Manchester Castle, a hotel with a reputation for intrigue, to a different era. Sharing the same dream Mandy and Lizzy find themselves in the French Quarter, New Orleans 1928. Prohibition does little to dampen drinking and partying. Wait…it’s not a dream? Readers discover soon enough that sisters Mandy and Lizzy are experiencing memories of their past lives, a past life regression.
As the novel unfolds we are reacquainted with familiar characters. Fans of There's No Such Thing as Never in Forever (Book One in the Following Forever Series) are reunited with old friends. We delight in Hugo, Yerma, Rosethorn, the Mols rock band, and happily our canine friend I’ll-Go-Mine. And there’s the romantic interest Zak, the Mols incendiary guitar virtuoso. Or is he Eric? New characters also make their appearance.
The sisters re-enter their past lives as Zoey and Desiree Daniels, hard partying “flapper girls”. In their job as investigative journalists for the New Orleans Nitpicker newspaper the sisters are drawn into a world of contraband, crime and violence fronted by the notorious Louis D’Quad. Deceptively parading as a respected man about town D’Quad, a blustering loudmouth bully, offers “protection” for French Quarter establishments for a monthly fee. His Streets Sweepers goon squad collects dues and “persuades” deadbeats to pay up. Handsomely rewarded, police and city officials look the other way.
D’Quad’s ally and confidant Madame Rovanjay makes her presence known. A sinner posing as a saint, it turns out it is she who is really the Big Boss. She’s a ruthless killer, even D’Quad eventually gets his comeuppance. A surprise awaits as Rovanjay reveals her identity in a previous life, a certain Queen.
One of D’Quad’s clients Victoria Guererro runs Vic’s Place, a popular speakeasy in the shadow of St Louis Cathedral and Café D’Monde. Victoria is not easily intimidated but she pays a price; her place is bombed, reduced to rubble and ashes. A vigilante gang, the Midnight Shadows aka The Two Musketeers (guess who?) extend a helping hand to the community. The ”Robin Hoods of New Orleans” prove capable allies, taking down the bad guys.
As their vision quest unfolds the sisters find themselves participants in high adventure. A hair-raising chase through Steeplechase Amusement Park, a French Quarter shootout, a high stakes poker game, a high speed car chase.
A treacherous white-knuckle ascent of ice-covered Manitou Mountain follows; up, up into the clouds guided by the mystical Watching Owl and Silent River. Stepping off the cloud into another world Zoey and Desiree are welcomed by a spirit animal in the form of a sparrow who reveals to the sisters a familiar canine friend from a previous life. A flute and drum beckon as I’ll Go Mine leads them safely down the mountain where the Shaman Rosethorn awaits.
The authors know their audience; Rosethorn shares timeless gems of wisdom rooted in Mistook culture and beliefs:
“to go forward you must walk backward”
“life is a tapestry we weave from multicolored threads”
As Christmas week gives way to New Year’s Eve revelry we anticipate the Mols appearance at Tabula Rasa. But it’s not the Mols without Zak, he’s momentarily delayed. His instinct to assist an accident victim nearly cost the Mols the gig. Not to worry, Zak makes his appearance just before the stroke of midnight. The Mols play with abandon; a full-tilt, high-energy wall of sound featuring Zak’s blistering guitar solo, you can almost feel it!
Outside a kaleidoscope of fireworks and confetti lights up Jackson Square, the final countdown to midnight as past and present lives merge into one.
The Last Streamers of Confetti on New Year’s Eve is an engaging Young Adult novel of nonstop action and self-discovery. Dare we look forward to future adventures in the Following Forever Series? We are left with a lingering vapor trail in the form of a question mark. Here’s hoping.
November 11, 2024
~About
Lizzy and Mandy Elegant have returned to their own time, only to find that their vision quest is far from over. When the pair visit a famous hotel with the intent of writing an article, they find themselves once more thrust into another age, this time 1928 New Orleans. There, they find themselves living the lives of Zoey and Desiree Daniels, two glamorous newspaper columnists.
As Lizzy and Mandy travel back and forth between the present and the past, their friends Hugo and Yerma find themselves in a similar predicament. Together, the four friends must help to take down a dastardly gang led by Louis D’Quad. Their friendship will be crucial in bringing order back to their little corner of the world.
~Characters
Lizzy Elegant (AKA: Desiree Daniels) has a terrific sense of humour and a creative mind. She is a mischievous risk-taker, spontaneous and brutally honest to a fault. Her character grew on me as time passed, providing a charming contrast to her sister’s character.
Meanwhile, Mandy Elegant (AKA: Zoey Daniels) is more logical, acting as the voice of reason on many occasions. I consider her the ‘planner’, complimenting her sister’s more carefree nature. Together, the two sisters make for an unstoppable duo that can achieve anything they set their minds to.
Their friend Hugo (AKA: Eric Strand) has a vital role to play in the story. As an undercover agent, he possesses the authority to take down the villain, if only he can gather enough evidence against them. Eric is friendly and intelligent, a determined and hardworking man that people quickly learn they can trust. He is also kind and courageous, protecting the two sisters throughout the story.
Finally, we come to Louis D’Quad, the antagonist presented to us from the start. He is a wealthy, powerful man, but also a dangerous liar with a talent for making threats against members of the local community. While he is a calculated and cruel individual in his own right, there is more than meets the eye with him.
~Likes
There was plenty to like about this sequel, details of which I have listed below:
·The main characters had wonderful senses of humour, helping to lighten the story's mood at crucial moments.
·I loved how the story split off between the present time and the past (1928), allowing us to see the sister's reactions to their actions as Zoey and Desiree Daniels.
·The story's stakes were gradually raised, building the tension and hooking you in.
·The story unravels at a steady pace, with plenty of intriguing events and surprising twists to keep you turning the pages.
·The Daniels sisters were my favourite characters. They were smart, mischievous and daring. I especially admired their courage to pursue their own version of justice.
·The story had a sweet New Years ending, perfect for the upcoming festive season.
~Memorable Quotes:
One quote stood out to me while reading this book:
‘Across time, we remember the threads in our tapestry.’
~Overview
This second instalment in the Following Forever series was a long-awaited, thrilling read that I could not put down. The lead characters returned in full force, with their brilliant senses of humour and memorable personalities. The plot unfolded gradually, weaving a spellbinding tale of past lives, deception, power, community and – above all – friendship.
My Rating: 5 stars.
Recommended to: lovers of unique young adult series with time-travel and past lives elements.
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