The five stories featured in THE OTHER SIDE flow into each
other with deft precision. They are all romantic tales
incorporating elements of ghosts, hauntings or possession.
J.D. Robb's Possession in Death helps Lieutenant Eve
Dallas discover the answer to her question of whether or
not what she does is ever enough; there are always more
dead to avenge, always more bad guys to put away; does it
really make a difference? When a speaker for the dead
determinedly finds Eve as her personally-chosen warrior,
she gives Eve a different perspective on her profession.
Mary Blayney's King for a Day tweaks the funny bone
of anyone who has ever wished his or her spouse could see
things from his or her point of view, just for a little
while. An elegant little story, it gives equal treatment to
the woes and misunderstandings that come from gendered or
societal expectations.
Patricia Gaffney's The Dancing Ghost reveals how one
woman tries to use a con man to create the ultimate con,
with or without his knowledge, to allow her to save her
family house. Instead, the uncommon young woman discovers
how much more than a house she has to lose.
Almost Heaven by Ruth Ryan Langan demonstrates that
even after death, parents want what's best for their
children; a sentimental ode to love and happy endings, the
story delivers its promise of a heartwarming tale.
Finally, Mary Kay McComas' Never Too Late To Love is
another delightfully sentimental story about a woman who
has kept herself isolated for so long that she never
realized the gifts her family could give her. She has to
help the other unusually-named women of her family discover
what they have lost in order to help them cross over. They
all faced disappointment and unhappiness in their lives and
none understands what they need to find, but they can't let
M.J. tear down their home until they figure it out.
This entire book is a wonderful collection of stories
focused on the bonds of love, ranging from the rib-tickler
to the tear-jerker. These stories demand a cozy reading
while cuddled in a warm comforter with a hot cup of cocoa
close at hand.
Sometimes when I read these collections containing an Eve Dallas story, the other stories, although fairly good, seem to just be along for the ride. Not this time. In particular, Patricia Gaffney's tale had me guffawing from almost the first page. Every thing I've read by her strengthens my desire to read anything she comes up with. (Diana Troldahl 10:19pm April 5, 2011)
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy