Review of The Heidelberg Effect by Susan Kiernan-Lewis

.The Heidelberg Effect (Tempus fugitives trilogy, #1)

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Ella was sitting in the coffee shop, studying the German language on her Ipod, when Rowan approached her. Even though she was immediately attracted to him, she thought, I’m moving to Heidelberg, Germany soon and I don’t need any complications.

Heidelberg Castle Pictures, Images and Photos

Rowan was hard to ignore. He wore a cowboy hat and was tall, dark and handsome. He worked as a US Marshall, but was on medical leave and staying with his parents until he recovered from an injury. Then he would go back to Dothan, Alabama.

The next time she saw him, he was rescuing her from two robbers, who were going to kidnap her from the coffee shop . He asked her to dinner. How could she say no? He had just saved her. After dinner, they went back to her, packed up and almost empty, apartment and she told him about her move. She was really glad when he said, “Maybe we’d better not waste any more time.”

http://danielsfunny.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/wafflehouseoutside.jpg?resize=584%2C356

They went to  Waffle House for breakfast. As they ate, they both thought about  the other. Rowan felt he had found the perfect woman, but she was leaving. Ella felt the same way about him, but she was very independent and was going anyway. She said they could Skype, write and visit, but right now she wanted to be back in bed with him. They spent two wonderful days together and now they were at Atlanta airport and she was leaving him.

Heidelberg was everything Ella thought it would be. She missed Rowan, but as the days passed, she was busy with everything new and tired after work, so sometimes she didn’t even call him.

Ella called her dad and he mentioned there could be some of her mom’s family still  in Germany. Why would he mention it now, after all this time? Should she look them up? Was her dad hinting that something wasn’t right about her mom’s death?

Ella did some research and found a couple leads to people who might be able to help her. She decided to let Hugo, her co-worker, drive her to check them out. She would end up regretting that decision.

At the first place, the woman slammed the door in her face. She hit the jackpot at the second. She met her aunt who was also named Ella. She had been separated from the family at an early age. She told Ella what she knew about the past and her grandfather, Rudolph Vogel. Ella didn’t know he was known as the butcher of Auschwitz. He had been hung by the allies at the Nuremberg Trials in 1945.

Hugo had seemed very interested, was he too interested? Ella began to wonder, what was Hugo’s job? How could she have worked with him this long, even went out with him once, and didn’t even know what he did?

heidelberg castle Pictures, Images and Photos

Tuesday started out as a typical day, until she arrived at work. Why was Heidi acting so strange? Why was everyone looking at her?

It had been a month since Ella had spoken to Rowan. She felt desperate to talk with him. She decided it was time to go home, but  her route was one she could never have foreseen.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos    4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

Susan always tells a good story and they are well written, easy to read and flow smoothly.

Atlanta is familiar to me and I always like when places I know and love are mentioned in a book. It draws me further into the story. Waffle House – what can I say about Waffle House? If you’ve ever been in the south, you know it’s an icon. The best breakfast you will ever eat, especially after a night on the town.

The cover caught my attention immediately. I love a rough and tough female heroine. And she was. Ella was very independent and not one to avoid doing what she felt was necessary, even at the risk of her own life. Rowan fell hard for Ella. It was the strength of his feelings that would reunite them. When they re-met, my eyes watered and I smiled, even though I knew it had to happen.

I was reading along, about her caught in the storm, but what came next brought my reading to a screeching halt. I was puzzled. What? What’s happening? I was so caught up in the story, I forgot where it was going. I was waiting for someone to jump out and get her, instead she walks into………

I suspected Hugo of being a bad guy. He was, but not quite the way I thought he would be. He was vindictive and didn’t like being snubbed by Ella.

When Ella went back in time, the  story really picked up. I was already into it, now I didn’t want to put it down. I was trying to write it in my mind and make it go where I wanted it to go. I kept thinking, you can guess where it ends, Sherry, don’t worry. It was a great ride getting there, with a loop and a twist here and there.

My Favorite Quotes

“fucking poster child for love-sick puppies”

“What a wild ride life is with you Rowan.”

“You do know we can’t solve all of history’s problems, right? God I’m going to miss this shit back in Dothan.”

That put a big smile on my face, as I thought, where will they travel to next.

The Cairo Effect, 2nd book in the Tempest Fugitives Time Travel Series, is scheduled for release in the spring 2013.

I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

For my review of Finding Infinity by Susan Kiernan Lewis,  go HERE.

To purchase, simply click on the cover.

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For my review of Murder in Provence, go HERE.

To purchase, simply click on the cover.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan Kiernan-Lewis   Best-selling author Susan Kiernan-Lewis is an Air Force Brat who has traveled the world and racked up over 40 addresses in her life (and she’s not finished yet.) Her fascination with world travel explains why nearly all her books are set outside of the US. Her apocalyptic women’s suspense, FREE FALLING, is based in Ireland and was a semi-finalist for Best Indie Book of 2012. Her Maggie Newberry Mysteries (which take place in France) have won multiple awards. Presently living in Atlanta, Susan writes in several genres including mystery, romantic suspense and women’s fiction. Professionally, Susan is an advertising copywriter and video editor. Contact her at sanmarcopress@icloud.com and follow her at her website: susankiernanlewis.com.

To find Susan, go to the links below:

Website

Goodreads

Susan has more than twenty books published, so I will only show you a few, but you can click on any of the covers to go to Amazon.

 

“Sweetness” of Small Town Living – Review of Finding Infinity

Finding Infinity By Susan Kiernan-Lewis

Finding Infinity

Liddy was ready to leave for Paris when she received a call from the hospital in Infinity, Georgia. Her mother had taken a bad fall and now Liddy was on her way to her. She knew her mother wouldn’t leave Infinity and she wouldn’t leave her mother. Only one thing was left, she would be moving to Infinity.

Her husband had died after 20 years and her son went off to school. She had to sell the house because she could not afford it. She had no reason to stay in Atlanta.

Her first stop, when she stopped reached Infinity, was  the gas station. That was when she met Tucker Jones. At the time, she had no idea how big a part he would come to play in her life.

As she drove down the road, she saw a vacant shop. She didn’t know why, but she stopped the car and went to look through the dirty window. What was she thinking? She wasn’t. Was it fate?

A month later, Liddy had her cupcake shop and an apartment above it. It made her think of Paris. Maybe living in a small town like Infinity wouldn’t be so bad. On an impulse, she also bought a horse. It might be foolish, but she wanted one.

cupcakes Pictures, Images and Photos

Meryl was her first friend in Inifinity. She was a real estate agent and was helping Liddy deal with her mother’s house. As they talked over coffee, they named the cupcake shop – Le Cupcake Shop.

She was busy cleaning the shop when Tucker came in with coffee. She wasn’t one to turn down coffee.  He knew she bought Old Sugar and proceeded to tell her she had paid too much. Then he went  on to question her choice of ovens she was looking at on Ebay. He hated seeing people being cheated. When she said he probably knew her rent, he saw she was angry. Did she forget or not know how small towns are?

When she decided to check on her horse, she found Tucker had waited for her so they could ride together. Once she was on Sugar’s back, she knew she had made the right choice in getting the horse. All her troubles seemed to melt away.

She arrived home, but entered her shop with trepidation. The lights were off even though she had not left it that way. Someone had broken a window and her new mixer. She managed to opened the store anyway. Six hours and not one person had come in. She was proud of all her hard work even though she didn’t know how long she would be able to keep the shop open before she ran out of money.

When Meryl came in, she was surprised no one had been in. She took a  box of cupcakes with her to her church meeting and said she would have someone pick up some for a donation. Liddy had no idea of what she was really up to.

cupcakes Pictures, Images and Photos

Liddy’s mom had a knack for pissing her off and then making her laugh. They were having a picnic of coffee and cupcakes, when she told her about someone opening the front door and throwing a rock with a note telling her to take her cupcakes and go back to Hotlanta. Her mom suggested going to the Infinity Business Bureau, maybe they could help. When she hugged her mother and thanked her, she felt needed.

The girl at the  business bureau told her don’t bother to fill out any paperwork and to take her cupcakes and leave. She was so stunned, she picked up the cupcakes and walked out.

Liddy didn’t know Tucker was once a cop but he really did seem out-of-place in Infinity. She really had no idea of what was going on, but she was caught up in it all the same.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos   3 STARS – WOULD RECOMMEND TO OTHERS

It was pretty easy to know where this was going, but it was a fun ride getting there. The book is well written and flowed smoothly making it a good and easy read.

The plot had some twists and turns that kept me interested and on my toes looking for the bad guy (?), guys (?).  Most of us know of the peccadilloes of small town life. No one has any secrets, at least not for long.

The pettiness and meanness of some of the characters, down right ticked me off. The saying, “What goes around, comes around”, definitely applies. I liked the fact that the characters evolved throughout the book, just as in real life.

The interaction between Liddy and her mother seemed realistic and  believable. It was nice to see how the relationship grew and changed between them. I think, as children of our parents, we sometimes forget that they are people too.

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan Kiernan-Lewis   Susan Kiernan-Lewis is an Air Force Brat who has traveled the world and racked up over 40 addresses in her life (and she’s not finished yet.) Presently living in Atlanta, Georgia she writes in several genres including mystery, romance and women’s lit. Professionally, Susan is a freelance advertising copywriter and video editor. Connect with her at suekier27@me.com and follow her at her website: susankiernanlewis.wordpress.com.

Goodreads

Susan Kiernan-Lewis has more than twenty books to her name. To order one of those below or see what else is available, simply click on a cover and you will be taken to Amazon.

My Review of Murder in Provence by Susan Kiernan-Lewis  – HERE.

TO GET YOUR COPY OF FINDING INFINITY FOR .99, SIMPLY CLICK ON THE COVER, FOR TWO DAYS ONLY starting Wednesday, Nov. 28

Murder in Provence by Susan Kiernan-Lewis – Review

Murder in Provence (Maggie Newberry Mysteries, #3)

Maggie has decided to write a cookbook because she is bored and her husband, Laurent, is a chef. She doesn’t know anything about cooking, but she figures she can get all she needs from him. It is driving him crazy. He seems to spend more time in the vineyard and with his friends at the bar than her.

Everyone had heard of the murder of the nurse who worked at the same hospital as Yves. It had been two weeks and there was no arrest or suspect in sight.

Maggie was losing her best friend, Grace, who was returning to the United States, but she had met Brigitte and they seemed to hit it off right away. Maggie’s life took an immediate turn for the worse when Brigitte, Marie’s daughter was murdered. Grace came for Maggie so they could go to Marie and help in any way possible.

Maggie hadn’t been told that Brigitte had been raped and beaten as she was killed. Rene, Marie’s husband hated Yves, Brigitte’s husband and told the police he knew it was him.

Maggie looked at Marie and she could feel her anguish. How do you handle losing your child? We’re supposed to go first.  Maggie went to the kitchen thinking of coffee, just something she could do to help Marie. Detective Inspector Roger Bedard intercepted her, suggesting she come back at another time. That so wasn’t happening. She was not leaving her friend.

Maggie was surprised by her sudden feelings of attraction to the detective. She couldn’t help thinking, what’s this. She loved her husband, Laurent. Did the detective feel it too?

Maggie and Laurent were having dinner, when Maggie blurted out that she wanted to help find the killer. She had helped solve a murder a year earlier and cleared her friend of suspicion at the same time.

La Canard was the meeting place of the village. Maggie made an appointment to meet Detective Bedard at the cafe. He wouldn’t give her any information, but that wouldn’t stop Maggie.

When she returned home, Pijou, Brigitte’s, sister was there, drunk and flirting with Laurent. She told Maggie, not only was Brigitte’s best friend sleeping with Yves, so was she.

Maggie realized she was on her own, and she was surprised to find that it wasn’t so bad in Provence. It had finally started to feel like home.

She was sitting in a cafe when she noticed Madeline entering a house across the street. She decided to visit her to see what she could find out and was glad she did. They hit it off right away and Madeline proceeded to tell her who killed Brigitte. And made a point of telling her that the police hadn’t even questioned him yet.

I was offered this book in return for a fair, honest and unbiased review.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos   3 STARS –  Would Recommend to Others

A nice cover with eye-catching colors. Title tells the story.

A light murder mystery for great summer reading on the beach or around the pool.

The descriptions of the area were so detailed that you could visualize the countryside.

Characters were  real. It was interesting to watch Maggie as she grew and changed through the story. Friendship. Amazing how someone can influence you without you realizing it until long after.

There were some editing errors, but I find this a common occurrence in almost every book I read, even from the best sellers of the large publishing houses.

About the Author

Susan Kiernan-Lewis is an Air Force Brat who has traveled the world and racked up over 40 addresses in her life (and she’s not finished yet.) Presently living in Atlanta, Georgia she writes in several genres including mystery, romance and women’s lit. Professionally, Susan is a freelance advertising copywriter and video editor. Connect with her at suekier27@me.com and follow her at her website: susankiernanlewis.wordpress.com.

Susan Kiernan-Lewis has many other books available, these are just a few of them. If you wish to order one, simply click on the cover to take you to Amazon.com.

http://www.goodreads.com/SusanK-L

http://susankiernanlewis.wordpress.com