Tag: Romantic Suspense

ECONOGAL > Romantic Suspense

Out of Nowhere Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

Changed in an Instant

Sandra Brown’s Out of Nowhere starts with the premise that both tragedy and love can strike out of nowhere. Lives are changed in an instant when a mass shooting occurs at a county fair. Brown’s characters include guilt-ridden survivors, frustrated law officers and the unknown sub(ordinate) as they struggle with the aftermath.

Romantic Interest

Calder Hudson, surviving victim of the shooting, fights his attraction for Elle Portman. Ms. Portman lost a family member in the shooting. Both experience survivor’s guilt. Yet they take different approaches to healing.

Over time, their attraction grows, and romance arises from tragedy. However, the shooting is not as random as first thought and thus complications interfere with their relationship.

Readers should be aware that the romance is spicy not sweet.

Portrayal of Law Enforcement

Ms. Brown’s treatment of the characters portraying officers of the law is mixed. Ineptitude is first with the misidentification of the shooter. More mistakes are made in the investigation. Yet the lead officers do not come off as bumbling or uncaring. Instead, they are thwarted, and the reader can identify with their frustration.

Out of Nowhere Shooter

The author cleverly hides the identification of the shooter while still giving the character space with a point of view. However, Brown drops clues so that true sleuths may deduce the name. Others such as this one may have a “that makes sense” moment.

The shooter’s revealed identity and actions prove evil comes in many forms. Unfortunately, a case is made for the connection between severe mental health problems and mass shootings. Out of Nowhere highlights a problem existing in this world.

Recommendation for Out of Nowhere

Sandra Brown is a master storyteller. I have read a few of her books over the years and they contain much suspense, violence and hardcore love scenes. I enjoyed Out of Nowhere even though the premise is so heartbreaking. But Ms. Brown treats the topic with care. Survivors need to take time to heal. Then they need to go on living even with tremendous loss.

Furthermore, the author addresses the issue of instable individuals. Mental health needs attention. A major flaw is one of blaming others for anything going downhill in life. Perhaps it is as easy as going back to keeping score in children’s games. We all will have wins and losses in life. It is important to learn how to deal with the losses. Win-win situations are few and far between.

Out of Nowhere has depth. I highly recommend this novel.

Star Flight Book Review

Posted on by Econogal

A Little Bit of Romance and a Whole Lot of Suspense

Star Flight, an intriguing suspense novel from Phyllis A. Whitney was published thirty years ago. Somehow, I missed it then and in all the years since.  Because Whitney penned seventy novels in her lifetime, there may be others I have yet to discover. She is a master in the genre of romantic suspense.

Setting of Star Flight

Chimney Rock in North Carolina is the setting for the novel. The area is beautiful, yet the rugged outcropping adds a sense of danger, at least for those with a fear of heights. Whitney’s description of the land and waters around this popular Appalachian destination will stir memories of past visitors and ignite interest in those who have yet to visit.

The history of the area serves as fictional background. A sensational setting for modern day movies could easily have attracted long ago Hollywood magnates. Reality gives plausibility to all novels.

Protagonist

Lauren Castle travels to Lake Lure and the Chimney Rock area for closure. Deaths of both her husband and maternal grandmother occurred in the vicinity separated by generations. She discovers neither one was accidental. And her quest to find the truth places her in danger.

But another draw to the area is a long-ago love, Gordon Heath. Years ago, she chose the safe path and still regrets the decision. Lauren seeks a second chance.

A further complication is the aging grandfather who chose to remain with his wife instead of leaving with the mistress pregnant with his child. The complexities of the various relationships play a large part in complicating Lauren’s search for the truth.

Plot of Star Flight

Star Flight is the story of a long-ago Lover’s Triangle, two beautiful women vying for the attention of a Hollywood Star. Adulation, from secondary characters, complicates untangling the past as memories are compromised by loyalties. The author throws in otherworldly occurrences adding mystery and pushing the readers suspension of disbelief. Recent stirrings of alien life in the press gives the novel a timeliness often lost in modern fiction.

Recommendation

Star Flight is the title of several novels, so including Phyllis Whitney is imperative in an online search. The book is still available in ebook form as well as on sites such as Etsy and Amazon. Perhaps libraries still have copies as well. I found this copy as I was inventorying the personal library of my late parents. Still puzzled as to how I could have missed it for the last thirty years, I enjoyed a few hours of escape from reality with a favorite author not read in a long time.