In THE AWAKENING Josette Bettencourt is trying desperately
to turn her family mansion into a Bed and Breakfast, just
so she can keep it. But the bank and insurance company are
making
demands that she has to meet or she won't be able to open
on time. Part of the demands is a fence to be put in place
to protect her guests from the swamp. Unfortunately the
crew trying to put up the fence is being harassed by what
they believe is a swamp creature called the Tainted Keitre
by the natives of the area. Desparate because her
money is fast running out and she fears for her workers,
she contacts a detective agency.
Tanner LeDoux, former game warden for the Atchafalaya
Basin, now working with his two brothers investigating
cases the police have given up on or never took seriously.
He's the best tracker and right now the only one available,
though he wishes that he wasn't. Tanner has memories of
Honey Island Swamp and the little town of Miel. Not all of
them were good, and a number of them concern Josette.
It doesn't take long for him to realize there is much more
going on then a simple case of harassment. Josie's hiding
things, her manager keeps disappearing when he should be
working, the crewmen are scared and Tanner's not sure there
isn't a swamp monster.
THE AWAKENING is a well written exciting story of the
swamplands of Louisiana and the people that live there. It
also delves into how one's perceptions of a person you
thought you knew or something that was said years ago, can
color reality. That is the case with Josie and the
townspeople she grew up with and the many misunderstandings
that led to the less than warm welcome when she returns
home. The romance with Tanner and Josie has its problems
because of too many secrets, from both sides, that
eventually get worked out to everyone's satisfaction. The
conclusion of the story holds a completely unexpected final
twist that is actually very spooky leading you to wonder
what is really in those swamps.
Something is out there watching waiting
It could be a mythical creature wreaking havoc on a
Mystere hotel or a malicious vandal. It's detective Tanner
LeDoux's first case and—much to his chagrin—the hotel
belongs to Josie Bettencourt, once the most popular girl in
town and his unrequited love. A woman who now doesn't even
recognize him.
Josie's poor memory is Tanner's luck, however. He has a
chance to be the strong, sexy hero who protects her and her
hotel from mounting danger. Tanner's no believer in the old
ways, but one stormy night, he sees something horrific he
can't explain. And he knows, without a doubt, whatever lurks
in Honey Island Swamp means to keep Josie from him forever!