• Hunter's Pursuit •
Shared Winds • The Gift (this page)
• The Kookaburra Gambit • War Between the Hearts (page 13)
Arlene Germain is a former English teacher who currently lives in Massachusetts. She is a book reviewer for The Lambda Book Report [www.lambdalit.org], the Golden Crown Literary Society newsletter, The Crown, [www.goldencrown.org], the Midwest Book Review [www.midwestbookreview.com], and the Just About Write Newsletter [www.justaboutwrite.com].
Like any reviewer, I am sure that she would like to hear from you—either your thoughts on her review, or to submit a book to her for review in future issues of IGW. You can contact her, here.
• The Kookaburra Gambit • War Between the Hearts (page 13)
Arlene Germain is a former English teacher who currently lives in Massachusetts. She is a book reviewer for The Lambda Book Report [www.lambdalit.org], the Golden Crown Literary Society newsletter, The Crown, [www.goldencrown.org], the Midwest Book Review [www.midwestbookreview.com], and the Just About Write Newsletter [www.justaboutwrite.com].
Like any reviewer, I am sure that she would like to hear from you—either your thoughts on her review, or to submit a book to her for review in future issues of IGW. You can contact her, here.
  Hunter’s PursuitBy Kim Baldwin Bold Strokes Books ISBN: 1-933110-09-0; $15.95; 315 Pages Paperback $15.95 315 pages Kim Baldwin’s novel, Hunter’s Pursuit, Author’s Edition, is set during a raging blizzard in the northern Michigan wilderness just a few miles south of Lake Superior. Living in a secluded bunker is Kat Hunter, an introspective, solitary, and lethal woman who is contemplating retirement from her job as a paid assassin. Determined to bury the past, she has forsaken her violent world and former associates. However, her tranquil days of music and photography are interrupted when she rescues a mysterious woman from a serious car accident. Upon bringing the woman back to the bunker, Kat discovers that the woman has no recollection of who she is. To further complicate the situation, there are several nefarious and ruthless people who are doggedly pursuing Kat for the million-dollar dead-or-alive bounty which has been offered by the one individual who knows Kat all too well. As the storm rages outside her hideaway, Kat will be tested as never before, and along the way, she will awaken feelings she thought were long dead. Baldwin has created a gripping, fast-paced, and suspenseful wilderness adventure that reads easily and enjoyably. The two main characters, Kat and the injured amnesiac, Jake, are intelligent and appealing. The deft characterization displays the multi-faceted personality of the charismatic protagonist, Kat. As the reader begins to peel away each layer and proceeds to uncover the events that have molded Kat into the woman she has become, the reader is subtly made aware that nothing should be taken at face value. Jake is a character that immediately evokes one’s concern and sympathy, yet Baldwin always manages to keep the presence of mystery and inscrutability in the forefront. Is Jake who she appears to be? Could she be a ruse perpetrated by Kat’s enemies? Does she know Kat’s Achilles’ heel? Baldwin has indeed created memorably inventive and compelling characters. In the hands of an author with a less stylized technique, Kat could have come across as an extremely unsympathetic character who had committed despicable acts. However, through the use of fluid substantive dialogue and an impressive narrative depicting the inner conflicts of this main character, Baldwin has succeeded in creating a very realistic portrayal of a woman who displays, despite all odds, an intrinsic decency and compassion. It is for those very reasons that the reader genuinely cares for and about her. This novel has some of the best action sequences this reader has experienced. They are animated, vigorous, and exciting. The reader can virtually experience the sensory world of the somber winter and its uninhabited forest. Baldwin’s fast-paced sentence structure effortlessly sweeps the reader along at practically breakneck speed. The chapter endings make wonderful use of the familiar cliffhanger technique. Baldwin’s chapter conclusions are extremely precise and definitely suspenseful. The juxtaposition of various plotlines, the evolving focal points of reader interest, and the realistic dialogue hurtle the reader forward at an ever increasing rate. Hunter’s Pursuit is most definitely a page turner. Kim Baldwin’s novel, Hunter’s Pursuit, Author’s Edition, takes the reader on a dangerous, heart-pounding rollercoaster ride brimming with intrigue, betrayal, deliverance, passion, and ultimately, self-less love. From the stark setting to the character of the anti-heroine to the possibilities of redemption, Baldwin has managed to write a novel which is memorable not only for its energetic detail but also for its appealing and perceptive portrayal of a woman conditioned, but not held captive, by her past. |
 Shared WindsBy Kenna White Bella Books ISBN: 1-59493-006-0 Paperback $12.95 215 pages Shared Winds Kenna White’s novel, Shared Winds, begins soon after the devastation caused by an Oklahoma twister. Lan Harding’s lake marina of the title’s name has been completely destroyed, and her future and livelihood are becoming bleaker with each passing day. Unless Lan can find a contractor to rebuild her business in time for the new season, she will have to give up her dream of the perfect place to be. Unfortunately, many others have suffered structural and economic casualties as well, and Lan is not high on the priority list of the already over-extended contractors. Enter Emma Bishop, the daughter of a prominent local builder, who wants to perform the task Lan needs done in order to validate for her skeptical father that she is indisputably ready to take over the family business. As these two women begin the task of rebuilding the marina, they begin to experience feelings that go beyond the usual employer-employee relationship. Since White’s story begins with the aftermath of a tornado, the author must capture in the first few pages the extensive physical devastation to the marina and the emotional upheaval and turmoil with which Lan must now cope. The reader needs to be drawn in as quickly as possible, and White has achieved this with ease. “Eight years of work and reinvesting every penny into the business now seemed perilously close to vanishing” (p. 5). The dilemma in which Emma finds herself is written succinctly and clearly. The reader is shown the problematic situations these two women are experiencing in a forthright and direct fashion. Much of the narrative maintains that crisp expression which makes the novel especially readable. The main conflicts both implicit and explicit have been clearly determined, and the remainder of the story leads the protagonists toward logical resolutions. The setting plays an important role in the book. One must be able to visualize the lake, the surrounding forest, and the spectacular views as Lan does in order to relate to this woman’s commitment at any cost to re-build and start anew. Although the forces of nature and the heart can be capricious and indiscriminate, both Lan and Emma display the tenacity and self-reliance to deal with whatever fate has in store for them. Telling the story through the use of the third person enables the reader to see beyond the superficial aspects of the personalities of Lan and Emma and into the psyches of these characters. Each woman has some vestige of past heartache, and White is able to show that through the use of subtly and deftly crafted dialogue and realistic interactions. The utilization of humor throughout much of the novel adds to the overall enjoyment level. Lan’s attempt to share her Cherokee heritage with Emma is done in a lighthearted not heavy-handed manner. This proves to be equally enlightening for the reader. Kenna White’s debut novel, Shared Winds, is a charming and lively story of two determined women who must overcome adversity and self-doubt. Both Lan and Emma are attractive and appealing characters who succeed in capturing the reader’s attention and empathy. It is not difficult to understand each woman as she endeavors to assert her independence and to establish a productive livelihood. An agreeable blend of Native American, in this instance Cherokee, philosophy and appreciation of nature adds veracity to Lan’s characterization. It establishes her focal point from which all her actions radiate, thus making Lan a rather unconventional character archetype. The narrative is not too complex; the storyline has a leisurely ebb and flow throughout the book. If one is looking for tension-filled complicated scenes of character interaction, the reader will not find them here. However, what the reader will experience and appreciate is a satisfying and restorative novel that spins an unpretentious and emotive tale of recovery, renewal, and romance. |
 The GiftBy Verda Foster Intaglio Publications ISBN: 1-933113-03-0 Paperback $17.50 211 pages The Gift Verda Foster’s The Gift is a romantic mystery novel with an intriguing premise. Lindsay Ryan has the gift of precognition, seeing events that will come to pass before they actually occur. This clairvoyant ability has been more of a curse for Lindsay than a blessing, and she has made every effort to keep it a secret. After an unfortunate incident with her father, Lindsay relocates to start a new life. However, not long after arriving, Lindsay has a strong premonition of danger which involves a child. Lindsay reluctantly comes forth with her startling revelation only to be perceived as the child’s stalker by Rachel Todd, a no-nonsense and emotionally wounded police detective. These two women take an instant dislike to one another which makes the investigation into a possible kidnapping and murder even more difficult to conduct. Both Lindsay and Rachel have painful pasts they wish were different, but now they must find a way to overcome their legacy of loss and find a way to trust each other…and Lindsay’s gift. Foster has an uncomplicated and forthright writing style which enables the reader to visualize both the main characters and the evolving events with little difficulty. The two women are sharply and concisely drawn, and in a thoroughly concrete manner, each is developed into an appealing personality. The initial reaction to meeting each other shows Rachel with her preconceived assessment and Lindsay with her frustrated reaction. Rachel has indeed had to deal with far too many crackpots, while Lindsay fully recognizes that familiar skepticism to which she is so often subjected. As the storyline develops, the reader can see the subtle changes occurring in both Lindsay and Rachel. The narrative is nicely balanced with the dialogue, and the dialogue rings true. When Rachel’s mother refers to Lindsay’s gift of sight, Lindsay responds, “More like the curse of sight. It’s not a gift if you don’t understand what you’re seeing” (p. 62). Those two sentences could also serve as the thematic focal point for the story. Sometimes it is just as difficult to understand what is standing before you. There are instances when you have to relinquish any pre-determined conceptions and explore the possibilities of there being alternate paths to achieving the same goal. Foster presents a series of problematic situations that fully involve the reader. As the various discoveries are made about the characters, the mystery elements, and the eventual conclusions, one has the clear sense that all events logically build toward the climax. There are no last minute surprises here that very often can ruin the reality level of a novel. The suspense follows a natural progression that effortlessly carries the reader along from chapter to chapter. The Gift is a novel that will satisfy those readers who are searching for a refreshingly different mystery premise, those who prefer their romantic elements to progress gradually and convincingly, and those who enjoy a touch of the paranormal. This reader found The Gift to be an overall pleasurable reading experience, but it would have been even more engrossing for this reader had it been a moderately longer novel, one that had further developed and expanded Lindsay’s gift. Perhaps, Foster has in mind a sequel wherein Lindsay and her special talent can assist Rachel in solving another case? That would indeed be a book worth waiting for. |