A Fierce Advocate of Endangered Animals Finds Love and Mystery - an Editorial Review of "Past Preserve Us"

Book Blurb:

In the late 1960s, Dr. Nick Randall, a fierce advocate of endangered animals and field biologist on Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park accepts a faculty position at the Great Lakes University Museum.

Single mother Jeannie Parks, Curator of the University’s Historic Costume and Textile Collection, endeavors to preserve cultural artifacts for historical research and education.

As the two scientists collaborate on museum and community events, they struggle with an unforeseen attraction to each other and the haunts of past traumas. Despite an heiress fiancée, mysterious artifacts, and a perilous, life-threatening event, can Nick and Jeannie materialize a happy ever after?

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/phWWyDg

Author Bio:

Carol Nickles is the sixth generation of a German textile aficionado family. In 1881, her great-great-great-grandfather founded the Yale Woolen Mill - the longest-lasting of Michigan's once twenty-nine woolen mills. Carol earned a Master's degree in HIstoric Clothing & Textiles at Michigan State University partially by writing a narrative thesis of the Yale Woolen Mill. She held faculty positions at both Utah and Michigan State universities. She lives in West Michigan and enjoys spinning a tale, weaving a story, and threading a luring hook. Thank you for your interest. Please follow me.

Editorial Review:

Title: Past Preserve Us

Author: Carol Nickles

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Some novels are tricky to pin down, and Carol Nickles’s "Past Preserve Us" falls into that category. On the surface, it’s a character-driven story about relationships, choices, and a bit of history woven in. But the style shifts constantly — from clipped inner turmoil to oddly formal lectures — and that can be both its strength and its weakness.

Take the opening scene I read, where Elizabeth invites Nick on a hunting trip:

“Nick, Dad wants to invite you to a private hunting party on Goose Island. You’ll stay in a luxurious lodge. A private chef and hunting guides will be at your disposal. This is a great opportunity to mingle with influential men. Dad includes Senator Moss, Brad Ensign, and a few other celebrity-big-game hunters.”

At the mention of hunting, he swallowed an acidic solution welling in his throat. Elizabeth, why don’t you understand how I feel about killing animals for trophies? Doesn’t your dad have enough carcasses decorating his halls and walls? Gah.

I liked the friction here. The dialogue is smooth, a little too polished maybe, but the internal reaction — that “acidic solution welling in his throat” and the abrupt “Gah” — gave it a human bite. It reminded me of times in my own life when polite conversation masks a storm of private frustration. It also told me right away what Nick stands for, or at least what he can’t stomach. That’s good character work.

But then, the book swerves. Suddenly we’re in the middle of what feels like a history lecture about men’s suits:

“And lastly, I want to bring your attention to yet another historical milestone in men’s clothing manufacturing. In 1953, Heart, Shakespeare, and Lark introduced the initial polyester-and-wool-blend suit, making care easier and costs lower by incorporating a synthetic. Thank you for being so attentive. Thank you for all the entertaining comments.”

Honestly, I had to blink a few times. Maybe it’s just me, but the shift felt jarring. The voice went from private angst to a museum docent’s script. On the one hand, it shows Nickles’s range — not many novels mix domestic conflict, historical lectures, and romance. On the other, it interrupts the emotional momentum. I couldn’t tell if this was meant as satire, realism, or just pure info-dump.

And then, just when I thought I had the book pegged, the tone shifted yet again. In one of the most intimate scenes, Nick tends to his kitten and wrestles with his desire for Jeannie:

“He removed his boots and slipped off the rest of his gear. ‘I’ll get Wolf settled.’ Nuzzling the kitten to his face, Nick entered the bathroom and placed the transporter on the floor. He opened the hatch, pushed Wolf inside, secured the closure, and set the container next to a floor vent. His hands trembled. How can I keep my hands off her? I don’t want to rush this. I don’t want to ruin this. I don’t want Elizabeth again. That’s over.”

This is probably my favorite excerpt, because it shows vulnerability. The detail with the kitten (“nuzzling Wolf to his face”) grounds the scene in something tactile and gentle. Then the inner monologue spins into longing and fear of repeating old mistakes. It’s simple, but it works.

Nick comes across as conflicted, principled, and emotionally scarred while Elizabeth feels more like a foil than a full character, though perhaps that’s intentional. Jeannie’s role hints at a different path for Nick, but in the excerpts, I saw she’s more idea than flesh. The narrative as a whole is fragmented. If you like a smooth arc, this may frustrate you. But if you enjoy abrupt shifts that mimic the way life actually feels — one moment political, the next personal, the next historical — then it’s intriguing. The grammar and mechanics are clean for the most part. The dialogue is a little too polished, but readable, while the internal monologues bring welcome rough edges.

It is deeply compelling though not always for the reasons Nickles might expect. Sometimes I was absorbed by Nick’s inner conflict. Sometimes I was thrown by the tonal whiplash. But the mix kept me turning pages, even if only to see what mode the story would switch into next. I would not recommend it to someone who craves consistency but to a reader who likes variety, who doesn’t mind a novel that tries on multiple voices — earnest, didactic, intimate — then yes, it’s worth the ride. At the very least, "Past Preserve Us" isn’t forgettable.

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