Holding Back by Helen Pollard

September 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment

HOLDING
Holding Back by Helen Pollard
Publisher: Clean Reads
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (219 Pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Myrtle

The last thing they’re looking for is love …

Laura Matheson is a natural at avoiding romance, so when she is drawn to mystery guest Daniel Stone while helping out at her friends’ hotel in Portugal, she assumes all she needs is a little extra willpower.

Daniel is at the hotel on business. The demands of work and a manipulative ex-girlfriend mean he doesn’t have the time or energy for romance, but Laura is a distraction he finds hard to ignore.
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As they negotiate a minefield of misunderstandings and mutual attraction, will they both continue to hold back? Or will they finally allow love into their lives?

When Laura Matheson and Daniel Stone find themselves together in one of the most romantic places on earth, love should come easy. So why are they holding back?

An annual summer vacation is all business for Laura, who travels to Portugal to stand in for her friends who own Quinta Maria, a country hotel, while they go on a holiday of their own. But the same day Laura arrives, so does the handsome Daniel Stone, a travel agency owner incognito. Although he is constantly visiting idyllic places to send his travel clients, he is growing tired of not having any time to enjoy life … and having an unwanted ex-girlfriend following him halfway around the world makes things even more distressing.

Before Laura and Daniel ever arrive at the Quinta Maria, the two clash at the airport, “Excuse me. You’ve picked up the wrong bag.” Laura’s fiery temperament, coupled with Daniel’s no-nonsense personality, has them quarreling from the outset.

There are many moments when the two finally settle down to an absolutely huggable relationship. So enchanting! These romantic moments were well worth the wait. And for added enjoyment, the rich details and descriptions of Portugal are written so beautifully and in such an inviting way that the reader will surely want to add Portugal to their list of “must see” places.

Both Laura and Daniel are very “real” characters. So much so, in fact, that their personality flaws were strong enough to be more aggravating than I expected. Especially the main character Laura, whom I really wanted to like, seemed to have a few anger issues that might have been better dealt with outside the realm of this novel. She often came off as abrasive and prickly. Every time Daniel made a bit of headway in forming a friendship with Laura, she turned into a powder keg. It was as if she walked into every situation expecting to be offended, and it seemed she was determined to find fault.

In spite of these character flaws, this novel was well written and told a story that kept me turning pages. If you like light romance with a bite, this is one story you’ll be glad you read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Yellow Moon by Ginger Simpson

September 29, 2015 By Leave a Comment

YELLOW
Yellow Moon by Ginger Simpson
Publisher: BOOKS WE LOVE, LTD
Genre: Historical
Length: Short Story (92 Pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Myrtle

Yellow Moon, a Lakota maiden, accompanies her family to the Sun Dance and becomes promised to a Santee warrior who’ll soon be chief. While accompanying Thunder Eyes’ clan back to his tribe, she and the other women are stolen by the Crow, and while in Plenty Coup’s camp is told she’ll become his second wife rather than be a slave. She finds friendship and help at the hands of his first wife, a Cherokee captive called Pretty Shield.

When Thunder Eye’s comes to rescue his betrothed, she begs him to take her newfound friend along, and the two women eventually become sisters-in-law. When the Crow come to extract their revenge, fate changes their destiny in a big way.

Yellow Moon, a young Lakota Sioux woman, must accept the fact that a husband for her has already been chosen, and he’s from a tribe that will take her far from the only home and people she has ever known.
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The Sun Dance ceremony holds great importance to the Plains Indians, and this year Yellow Moon is of age to participate in the search for the sacred cottonwood. Her excitement is high and her mother is hopeful that she will be one of those chosen, but before the ceremony begins, a handsome young brave named Thunder Eyes follows Yellow Moon when she is sent for water. The two are drawn together from the very beginning into a relationship worthy of reading.

Thunder Eyes is the son of Chief Black Bear from the Santee tribe, and he is next in line for chiefdom. That makes him a pretty good catch for Yellow Moon! He offers blankets, a carved smoking pipe, and the promise of seven horses for the hand of their eldest daughter. A good trade, so the young woman’s parents choose Thunder Eyes as her future husband. As soon as the Sun Dance ceremony ends, Yellow Moon rides off with Thunder Eyes. Just the few days they have together on the trip back to his tribe, the two form a lovely bond, but before long the Crow attack and Yellow Moon is stolen.

Pretty Shields, a woman stolen long ago from her Cheyenne tribe, is the Crow leader’s current wife, but he decides he needs a second wife. Yellow Moon and Pretty Shields form a strong friendship and the two end up staying together for the duration of the book.

Although accurate, some of the vernacular used in the book, such as pale face, tom-toms, and Hau, gave an unwanted cliché and commercial feel to the novel, especially when, “’Taku eniciyapi he?’ He asked her name” has set the scene for the reader. Also a bit disappointing were events that deserved space in this story, for example, a much anticipated wedding ceremony passed with, “after they were officially declared husband and wife…” I felt cheated by not being able to see the ceremony, or know what the groom thought of the bride in her white doeskin decorated with turquoise, or even who attended the joining. The story would have fared better had it been further developed. Lastly, the story’s culmination seemed rushed and was unfulfilling.

The best of this story was its characters who were thoroughly alive for me. Some polishing and another one hundred pages expounding upon the story would have made this a real winner.

If you like Native American love stories, this quick read will take you to another time and place and allow you to meet people you’ll want to remember.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Courage Resurrected, A Ray Courage Mystery by R. Scott Mackey

August 10, 2015 By 3 Comments

COURAGE
Courage Resurrected by R. Scott Mackey
A Ray Courage Mystery
Publisher: Big Hound Publishing
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (197 Pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Myrtle

Ray Courage’s wife Pam died thirteen years before in a car accident. Or did she? Ray’s world is turned upside down when he receives a series of e-mails from someone claiming to be his dead wife, accusing him of attempting to kill her and vowing revenge. Ray sets out to find the identity of the e-mailer only to discover the circumstances of his wife’s apparent death appear to be all but accidental. Soon Police Detective Carla Thurber comes to suspect Ray of killing his wife, and of a subsequent murder of Pam’s confidant. Meanwhile, a murderous predator who does not want the facts of Pam’s death to surface aims to stop Ray. In the greatest challenge of his life, Ray must outrun the police and elude those who are out to kill him as he seeks the truth about his wife’s death.

These issues also involve some sexual health issues. viagra india The condition is not very critical if continues for a long time, it could hamper a man’s emotional and psychological state of mind. viagra on line http://djpaulkom.tv/trap-back-jumpin-official-video/ The cost is going in the lowest for maintaining competition. cheap cialis india The affect of these pills last for 5 hours so get ready to get dirtier on bed more purchase cialis with these pills. Pam Courage is dead. She died in a car accident thirteen years ago. So why is her husband, Ray, suddenly getting emails from her?

Ray Courage is a retired college professor turned private detective. Not much surprises him, until Pam1111 starts emailing him, reminding him of their fight on the morning of her death. Granted, her body had been burned beyond recognition in the fiery car accident, but surely it was Pam in that car, wasn’t it?

The mysterious Pam1111 claims to be Ray’s wife. And she’s accusing him of murder. A case closed long ago, the police receive a credible tip and reopen the file, and Ray Courage becomes the prime suspect. This sends Ray on the private detective mission of his life. He recreates Pam’s last day and searches out those who talked to her shortly before the accident. He suspects her employer, Crazy Zebra, may know more than they are letting on, but the wealthy owner of this successful company appears to be clean as a whistle, even if he’s not very likable. A few other interesting people come into the picture during the course of this detective mystery, and none of them can be easily discounted. They are well-drawn and detailed and each play an integral role.

Ray Courage is a strong character, right from the start. The author, R. Scott Mackey, has a Mickey Spillane flair to his writing that keeps you in your seat wondering what’s next. There were a few careless discrepancies, such as daughter Sara’s name being spelled both Sara and Sarah and a few minor typos, “the muscles in my test tightened” that were disappointing, but they were never strong enough to take me completely out of the story. There were a few times in the beginning when new characters popped up without me knowing their background or significance, but hanging in there was well worth it. The further I read, the more involved I became, and in the end I was satisfied that the story had been told. The writer was able to tie up the loose ends leaving the reader feeling vindicated for staying with the story until the end.

Mystery lovers and detective fans will enjoy this novel, and most will likely want to pick up the next book in the Ray Courage Mystery Series.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

A Dose of Romance by Cheryl Norman

June 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment

DOSE

A Dose of Romance by Cheryl Norman
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (150 Pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Reviewed by Myrtle

Just weeks before his wedding, a young man finds his soul mate.

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Life as a single mom has enough challenges. Searching for love would only complicate things. So why does falling in love with the most complicated man of all, suddenly seem so easy?

Single mom Tiffany Blair is a waitress at Boyd’s Diner where the locals from the small town of Drake Springs gather. She knows their likes, dislikes, allergies, and coffee orders, as well as she knows her own. She is polite and helpful. She also knows the local happenings, but keeps most things to herself instead of adding to the rumor mill. And Woodrow “Woody” Fox notices it all.

Although engaged to his high school sweetheart, Woody can’t help but be drawn to the beautiful, kind, and caring waitress. Pharmacist by day, and charity deejay when needed, Woody prides himself on helping people. It’s the one thing he’s sure he loves. So when his fiancée refuses to join him in what she calls “Podunk” Springs, Woody finds himself keeping company with Tiffany, knowing neither of them is looking for love.

This book focuses on two people, Tiffany and Woody, and can easily accommodate a few secondary characters to help round out the story. But in the first twenty pages, 40+ named characters are introduced which made it difficult to know who the real players were in the story. I found myself trying to memorize names and occupations not knowing who was important to the storyline and who was not. I felt a bit defeated when, halfway through the book, I realized only six or seven people actually mattered to the story. I also thought it was a bit odd that folks who had lived in this small town their entire lives, like Tiffany and Woody, didn’t seem to know each other. In fact, Woody’s favorite car mechanic—who happens to be the only mechanic in town—is Tiffany’s father. There were also areas that I felt needed more structure and polish, which may have helped to eliminate “telling” portions of the story. For example, from page 49: “Let’s just talk.” She followed him back to his table, where she hopped up and sat on her cute little butt. Had Woody noticed her “cute little butt” rather than the narrator, the scene would have played better.

On the upside, this is an easy read for a peaceful summer day. Anxiety and tension are minimal. The characters are likeable, and the small town has a relaxing and enjoyable feel to it. Overall, the story had a charming quality, which kept me reading to the end.

If you like stress-free family stories, especially ones featuring hardworking, single mothers, A Dose of Romance may be the perfect read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

People of the Songtrail by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear

June 23, 2015 By 1 Comment

PEOPLE
People of the Songtrail by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Full Length (342 pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Myrtle

On the shores of the sparsely populated American wilderness, a small group of intrepid settlers have landed, seeking freedom to worship and prosper far from the religious strife and political upheaval that plague a war-ridden Europe . . .

500 years before Columbus set sail.

While it has long been known that Viking ships explored the American coast, recent archaeological evidence suggests a far more vast and permanent settlement. It is from this evidence that archaeologists and early American history experts Kathy and Michael Gear weave their extraordinary tale.

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Five Hundred years before Columbus, the Vikings set sail. When they landed and met Native Americans, both worlds changed forever, but none more so than young Thyra, an accomplished practitioner of Odin magic.

The year is A.D. 1002, and warfare has broken out in Europe after King Aethelred’s slaughter of the Danish part of England, the Danelaw. In the midst of the turmoil, a great Viking seeress is kidnapped and her young daughter, Thyra, enslaved.

Thirteen years later, Thyra finds herself aboard a Viking ship filled with colonists headed to Vinland. Though she is a thrall to the wicked Thorlak the Lawspeaker, Thyra has been learning the skills of the Darkness-Riders, powerful practitioners of Odin magic. Her goal is to find her mother. As the mystery of who abducted her mother and what happened to her unfolds, it becomes clear Thyra is not the only person trying to find the legendary Vethild. In England, King Aethelred’s son, Edmund, is massing forces to seize his father’s throne, and the Danish king is just waiting for the clash so he can attack and take England as his own. All sides want Vethild. Some want her alive. Some want her dead.

The story includes majestic descriptions of crossing the ocean during the Medieval Warm Period, a dramatic period of global warming, and murderous confrontations between North America’s native peoples and Vikings. The violence is softened by touches of mysticism and magic that enhance the plot.

The thread that binds the story together is the growing romance between the young Anchorite slave, Kiran, and Thyra. But two of the most complex and interesting characters are the rough-hewn former criminal, Godi Gunnar, and a tenderhearted Native American shaman, old Asson. Asson’s people, the People of the Songtrail, know they must defeat the Viking invaders or they will never be safe.

This marvelous story also features a Glossary of Terms, which is helpful with the Norse terminology used throughout the book.

If you enjoy historical fiction featuring ancient cultures in the American wilderness or sailing the sea with Norsemen, then this story of first contact between Native Americans and Vikings is an absolute must-read!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Hardest Ride by Gordon Rottman

June 17, 2015 By 1 Comment

RIDE
The Hardest Ride by Gordon Rottman
Publisher: Taliesin Publishing, LLC
Genre: Historical
Length: Full Length (202 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Myrtle

The Texas-Mexico border, the winter of 1886—The Great Die Up. A raw rift separates Mexicans and Anglos. A loner cowpoke and a mute Mexican girl fight man and nature to reunite.

Out of work cowpoke Bud Eugen comes across Marta, a mute sixteen-year old Mexican girl whose family has been killed by Indians. Bud reluctantly takes her along, even though he’s never had to accommodate another person in his simple life. He’s unable to find anyone willing to take her. In spite of his prejudices, Bud grows to like the spunky girl (and her excellent cooking).

Actually, it is said to be levitra online canada most dexterous and result arranged treatment for the issues of a sexual issue in his life. The frequent nightfall problem is mainly india viagra for sale experienced by the teenagers, but the aged persons also suffer from this health issue. Medicines for hair care cheapest viagra in australia and natural skin care can also be the source of later pain and dysfunction. The remedies to manage viagra großbritannien diabetes are many. Eventually, they both find work on a border ranch. Here, the relationship between the girl and the young cowboy hesitantly grows. But banditos raid the ranch, kidnapping the rancher’s daughters and Marta. Bud, with twelve other men, pursue the banditos into the most desolate reaches of Mexico. Ambushes and battles with banditos, Rurales, and traitors are constant, and the brutal weather is as much a threat as the man-made perils. Life and death choices are made at every turn as one side gains the advantage, then the other.

The rancher’s daughters are rescued, and the exhausted party turns back. But Bud presses on alone, against insurmountable odds – determined to fulfill an unspoken promise to Marta.

A real Texas cowpoke rarely needs more than a good horse and a reliable gun while he’s on the job, but a good hot cup of coffee and a pot of frijoles sure has a way of making things more pleasant. So when Bug Eugen finds a mute Mexican girl out alone on the trail, he’s grateful for the grub she can cook, even if she can’t carry on a conversation.

It’s 1886 and Bud has just lost his job and his vaqueros friend and mentor. He’s not to blame. Times are hard and sometimes even the best cowpokes have to move on to the next job. Bud sets off with a “letter of introduction” and the promise of a job at the San Isidro working for Mathew M. Picket. But on his way there, Bud comes across a brutally murdered family who he deems had a bad run in with the “damn injuns.” Soon, he realizes that one member of that poor family managed to escape. He finds Marta, a mute girl of maybe sixteen, who has enough spunk, smarts, and fight left in her to keep any man on his toes. Especially Bud.

An unexpected bond forms between Bud and Marta. He feels responsible for her and she feels indebted to him. No matter how hard Bud tries to find a good home for Marta, it always turns out that she returns to him, usually mad as a hornet that he tried to give her away.

This story was written in first-person and is heavy on narrative, which works well considering Marta can’t speak. However, it was not written in the usual commercial-style of most novels. This story has a flair and a voice all its own. It includes many phonetic spellings, which does give the reader a sense of dialect, but sometimes has too much of it making it a difficult read. And true to the Old West, the story has its gruesome aspects with scenes of scalped and butchered families. In fact, it reads like an old handwritten, historical account. It’s blunt, factual, and realistic. It is not for the faint-of-heart.

If a historically accurate and well-portrayed tale of a cowpoke’s life in 1880s is on your wish list, this novel should definitely be in your hands. But be prepared for prejudicial phrasing – this is as authentic as it comes.

Filed Under: Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Ladies in Waiting by Linda Rettstatt

June 2, 2015 By Leave a Comment

WAITING
Ladies in Waiting by Linda Rettstatt
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Contemporary, Inspirational
Length: Full Length (251 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Myrtle

Five very different women, each carrying her own secret, meet on the Jersey shore for a retreat: Embracing the New You: Reinventing Yourself After Fifty. A story about change, self-acceptance, and sisterhood.

****

The flyer reads: Embracing the New You: Reinventing Yourself After Fifty. Liv, Andi, Julia, Markie, and Cee Cee each arrive at the women’s retreat with her own agenda and her own secret. Retreat director, Bree, is called away for a family emergency and the five women are left on their own to deal with their differences, reveal their secrets and find what each is seeking.

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Five women, each strangers with their life out of alignment, come together on the Jersey shore expecting eight days of respite, which might put their lives back on track. What each woman did not expect was to find new friends.

It’s one thing to be young and vibrant and know your dreams are ahead, but it’s quite another when you’re 50+ and realize you’ve been so busy holding life together for others, your own dreams have slipped away.

When Julia, Markie, Andi, Liv, and Cee Cee first meet, they find themselves stranded together on the front porch steps of Siochain – the women’s retreat whose name means peace. It’s easy to see these women are vastly different, and their personalities clash or cradle each other almost immediately.

Upon their arrival, Bree, the director of the retreat, is nowhere to be found. With the day’s heat bearing down, and menopausal Andi already complaining of heat flashes, Markie decides to search for a hidden key. “It’s not breaking in if you have a key,” she assures them. Once inside, they find out that Bree has been called away on a family emergency, and with each women desperate to get something from the “Reinventing Yourself After 50!” retreat, they decide to stay. During the week, the strengths and weaknesses of each woman come into play. We learn about their life struggle, as well as the secret each woman carries with her.

Romance is not a key element in this story, although love makes its own powerful point. So much so, in fact, that the reader may find themselves redefining their own understanding of it.

I found myself totally immersed in the lives of these five women. Their journey felt personal, as if they had shared their secrets with only me.

The character development in this book was superb! Only a masterful writer could create the individual backstory behind each of these characters. Readers, especially those who are 50+, may feel as though they’ve been on a women’s retreat themselves after finishing this wonderful novel.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Savagery and Saviors by Ken Hollern

May 27, 2015 By Leave a Comment

SAVIORS
Savagery and Saviors by Ken Hollern
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (256 Pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Myrtle

So tiny is the peak and how sheer the slope when atop the world. The gravity of fate weighs heavier and heavier until all one hears is the incessant echo of a final question: How far will I fall and where shall I land? Belief in self-determination of fate is the most enticing mirage. At one time or another we are all deceived into believing destiny is within control. Live right, do unto to others well, and prosper-the mantra of fools. Fortune is altered a thousand times per second. We face countless choices every day. How much thought do we really give each choice? Cole Newman had a choice to work late or make a date with his wife. Not a big deal? Think again. If he’d chosen wisely she would not be dead. If he hadn’t again succumbed to ambition, he would be with his toddler son. Strewn into the middle of an international child trafficking ring, Cole’s path would lead to Rochelle, an undercover reporter more fearless and capable than any person he’d ever met. Their quest to rescue stolen children would take them from Oakland to Singapore and into the heart of genocidal Sudan. Powerful men, professional killers, could not let them succeed. Their fate and those they vowed to save would eventually rest in the hands of an African boy, a young prodigy leading his village from savagery and slaughter.

A boy avenging the murder of his Sudanese father, a journalist with a heroin addict’s confession, and a man hell-bent on saving people – all three come together in this international child trafficking story.

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But unbeknownst to everyone including himself, the shipyard has another hero. Cole Newman, a former NFL player and all around nice guy, is going about his duties inspecting millions of dollars’ worth of quarantined adhesive when he hears a scream. Cole takes on a gang of thugs and ends up battered, beaten, and locked inside a shipping container headed to Singapore.

On the other side of the world is Abou. A seventeen-year-old boy from the Western Dafur village of Balla in the African country of Sudan. And his world is about to change.

This story moves back and forth between land and sea, each with its own horrible reality. Savagery and Saviors is multiple stories eventually coming together as one. Rochelle, Cole, and Abou are the main characters. Still, knowing the identity of these three protagonists doesn’t always keep the story centered. Add the ship’s captain, who plays a vital role; Dave Martin, the captain’s assistant, with an equally integral part; plus Ismail, a Janjaweed mercenary who is a major driving force … then add thirteen kidnapped kids. Every character has a purpose—there are no wasted parts, but switching from one to another sporadically throughout the story becomes tedious. And although the story was definitely good enough to keep reading, I found myself bothered by the unexpected, and sometimes silly, amorous feelings between Rochelle and Cole. Their unqualified romantic moods did not advance the story, especially in the midst of treacherous, brutal battles and life-threatening circumstances.

The child trafficking portion of the story was fascinating. I don’t know how the horrible deed actually plays out in real life, but Savagery and Saviors likely paints a realistic picture.

If you enjoy stories about mercenaries, terrorism, and human trafficking, this story has a lot to offer. It is several stories all rolled into one and is sure to keep you hooked to the very end.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Her Wild Oats by Kathi Kamen Goldmark

May 18, 2015 By Leave a Comment

oats
Her Wild Oats by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (169 Pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Myrtle

A smart young woman, Arizona Rosenblatt, leaves home and her role as assistant to a high-powered Hollywood executive when she discovers her husband is having an affair with a woman from Jews for Jesus; and thirteen-year-old Otis Ray “Wild Oats” Pixlie, boy genius harmonica player. In the end, Otis Ray learns what it means to be an adult, Arizona discovers the life she wants, and they both figure out the true meaning of love and family.

What could a thirteen-year-old boy harmonica player and a beautiful twenty-eight-year-old executive movie assistant have in common? You wouldn’t think much, until their paths cross.
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Arizona Rosenblatt is the lady running the show in this non-stop story of love, loss, betrayal, and everything in-between. Convinced her husband is a dangerous, unfaithful, lying, and cheating man, Arizona packs up and hits the road. With nowhere to go, or no place she really wants to be, Ari ends up in a most unlikely place … Murphy’s Corned Beef ‘n’ Cabbage Emporium in the middle of nowhere off California’s Highway 5. And she just can’t seem to leave. She spends her days at Murphy’s and her nights across the street at the Sleepy Time Motel. Hours turn into days, and days turn into weeks, but there is never a dull moment.

The downside to this tale is that it often has a confusing storyline. There were so many lives playing out simultaneously, it was difficult to stay focused. In the beginning, the reader is led to believe this is a story about Arizona and her husband Jerry, but the attention they deserve must soon be divided amongst a whole cast of characters. One person after another enters the story and they each have their own dynamic tale to tell. It seemed five or six unrelated novel-worthy stories were rolled into one. I think this book would have hit its mark had most of its secondary characters played a more minor role, or no role at all, which would have allowed Arizona and Oats to shine.

The entourage of people who come and go through the doors of Murphy’s Corned Beef ‘n’ Cabbage is far too many to keep track of, but the one who stole my reader’s heart was Otis Ray (Wild Oats) Pixlie, a thirteen-year-old harmonica player. He could easily have won the starring role in this story, but instead he shares it with Arizona. His country personality was realistic and well crafted. He is the solid character who gave this story its staying power.

Country music fans will especially love this fast-moving story filled with Hollywood-style drama!

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