It’s been a while since I had a Two Review Tuesday Post. I should really just get in the habit of reviewing books as soon as I’ve read two. Oh well, reading has been slow this summer, and finding time to write this post has been hard. That said, I have read two delightful books that include a relationship that is hard to place in a clear slot.
Redline by Carol J. Parsons
If you’re not familiar with Carol Parsons, please check out the post when she visited David, Cheryl and me at the bar. I was attracted to Redline first from the title. The Red Line in Washington, D.C.’s Metro system is a train I frequently took from my hotel in Silver Spring, MD into the city. The second attraction will come as no surprise to my followers – the story includes trains.
Redline is part of the Red Sands Chronicles. The story is a western, but the setting is on Mars, and the settlers are expat Earthlings who have paid lot to establish a viable colony. Some have paid with hard work and some with their lives. Jefferson Brodie is the rail commissioner in the colony on Mars, and he is none too happy to have to Olivia Ellsworth arrive from Earth to “document” the story of the settlement and the rail line.
Olivia is forced into the assignment with no time to prepare. She arrives on Mars ill-equipped to handle the weather and unable to make the exchange transactions necessary for her visit. Brodie, through his office, picks up the tab for her lodging and sets out to accompany her on her journey. He is not thrilled, and she is not grateful. The tension between them ebbs and flows throughout the book, but for varied reasons.
Operating under the guise of producing a documentary, Olivia is supposed to gather enough information to help the Regional Planetary Environment Control shut down the effort to extend the maglev rail line to the Martian polar region. Jeff Brodie knows that the expansion is necessary for the settlement to grow, and perhaps for it to survive. Adding to the drama and suspense, there are elements on Mars that are also working against the Rail Commission and its plans.
Redline is characterized by intrigue, violence, technology, affection, powerful emotions, family drama and bare-knuckle brawls. The story held my interest from the first sentence and kept me turning pages late at night until I reached the end. I was thrilled to finish this book while riding an AMTRAK train into the new Moynahan Train Hall in New York City—it seemed appropriate. I am currently working my way through the other books in this series and all I can say is, I wish I had more time to read.
Love Set in Stone by Staci Troilo
According to the Amazon category, Love Set in Stone is a paranormal romance. That fits, but like many books, I’d have to check off several other boxes in the group of categories—thriller, crime drama, and I might include whatever category includes novels with displaced time periods. The book is complex, but Staci handles the complexity like the pro she is.
I didn’t choose the book for its setting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but of course, I found that a wonderful surprise. It would be easy enough to imagine Staci’s characters and descriptions of action occurring anywhere, but it was a treat for this Pittsburgh native to find places I have actually been.
The book stars Rina, a hard-working waitress in a sleazy bar, trying to work her way through college and hopefully into a better life. One night, she interrupts a violent assault on her best friend and has the attacker turn on her as her friend gets away. Damien, an ancient grotesque/gargoyle who becomes animated only at night, saves her.
That would seem to be the foundation for a love story, but there’s way more to this book than that story. Rina’s life is complicated by the fact that her attacker is protected by the police., He knows where to find her, and he wants her dead. Her situation is also complicated by her own poor judgement. She makes mistakes, for the reasons any of us might make mistakes, and I found it easy to relate to her story.
Damien’s life has been complicated since the thirteenth century when he died in battle and chose to serve as a guardian until he could earn the chance to resume his life. He has a pure heart and is guided by an angel. The angel tends to stray from the prescribed course of action, further adding to the complexity of the story. Trust me when I say that none of this is confusing. The mistakes, the attempts, the frustrations are part of the appeal of these characters. They are flawed, but they want what’s right and just, and you will be rooting for them throughout the book.
Staci’s writing kept me engaged, even when part of me wanted to look the other way for fear of what might happen next. The story is tight and it moves at a rapid pace, driven by the difficult-to-accept fact that sometimes, the bad guys truly have the upper hand.
Carol and Staci have established themselves on my “Favorite Authors” list. I highly recommend both of these books. If the descriptions don’t match what you normally read, check out both authors on Amazon, because they have lots more to offer.
| Carol J. Parsons | Staci Troilo |
|---|---|
| Redline (Red Sands Chronicles) | Love Set in Stone |
| Amazon Author Page | Amazon Author Page |
| Blog – Through Alien Eyes | Staci’s Website |
All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.
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