Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
Edwin Masters isn’t a big gearhead, but he has spent his entire life lusting after one particular car ~ a 1962 Alfa Romeo Spider 2600. It’s not the flashiest car, it’s not the fastest car, and it’s not the most collectible car, but he loves it. Edwin knows he’ll pay any price for it. When he buys it, it changes the entire shape and meaning of his world, but not in the ways he might have predicted.

Cooper James, the young man who died behind the wheel forty-seven years earlier, haunts the Spider and he wants a life. He wants Edwin. So he reaches out, sucking Edwin into a deepening abyss by exploiting demons from a past Edwin can’t break from.

Edwin resists, struggling against the phantom in favor of an attractive, exciting young man who wants to be with him, Carson Heston. Carson holds the key to Edwin's salvation, but every time he gets close, Cooper terrorizes him. Edwin knows he’ll be lost forever if he submits to Cooper’s dark promise of release and relief, but that might be the only way to save Carson’s life.

BOOK REVIEW:
This paranormal offering is subtle, complex, intricate, and completely engrossing. Although the book does have some flaws, the narrative is so engaging that the flaws didn’t seem to materialize until after I put the book down. The story of a man’s redemption and coming to terms with a painful past, uncertain future, and hope for happiness in unusual places is chilling, evocative, and still romantic. Fans of paranormal romance will definitely want to pick up this slick thriller. It may not keep you guessing, but the journey is enthralling.

Edwin finally bought the car of his dreams but he had no idea that it came with an unhappy ghost. Cooper has been dead for almost fifty years but Edwin’s love and care of the Alfa Romeo sparks a connection with the lonely ghost that Cooper is not willing to give up. As if Edwin’s new life wasn’t complicated enough, an innocent blind date starts to show promise when an attractive younger man is interested in Edwin. However Cooper is determined to keep Edwin for himself while Carson wants the same. Edwin is caught in the emotional tug of war with potentially dangerous consequences.

The story is fast paced and character driven. Although the narrative alternates the third person point of view, the majority of the story is told through Edwin’s perspective. He is the center of the story and the object of affection for both men. Both Cooper and Carson represent a kind of happiness for Edwin, one based on redeeming past regrets and the other based on a vibrant future. Edwin struggles not only with the choice between his past and his future, but with the different needs and personalities presented by each man. He cares for both Cooper and Carson for different reasons and as they pull him in increasingly opposite directions, his feelings become more complex and convoluted. Edwin’s connection to both men and ultimate decision are not easy but filled with a wealth of emotion, sympathy, empathy, regret, longing, need, love and fear.

The characters themselves are wonderfully drawn and rich in context and complexity. Carson is perhaps slightly too perfect, making only one misstep in the story but his counterpoint to Cooper is important and well balanced. Both Cooper and Edwin are more interesting and complicated characters. Cooper is an old ghost who is still very much a spoiled eighteen year old teenager aching for his father’s love. Cooper’s deep loneliness and fear of the unknown make for several emotional and poignant scenes such as the scene between Cooper and Edwin when they discuss Cooper’s father. Edwin’s need to help and save others from experiencing his own mistakes plays into his mistakes with both men. The story is Edwin’s choice between replacing his mistakes and accepting his past. Neither is an easy choice and Edwin needs the impetus of both men to force him out of complacency.

The writing is mostly clean with only a few obvious editing and grammar errors. The prose is engaging, often emotional, and keeps the story moving quickly. Thankfully the writing stands up to the great characters and solid story, delivering an engrossing and fascinating story. The touches of chilly horror never overwhelm but create a wonderful setting that immerses the reader into the new reality with ease. This is perhaps the best writing I’ve read of this author and no doubt will please fans and newcomers alike.

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