Friday Book Share: A 2fer!

/ Mae Clair

Happy Fri-YAY, SEers! Mae here with a Friday Book Share. These posts are all about sharing books that reached out and gobsmacked us. At least, that’s how I think of it. And maybe, by sharing a few of these reads, you might be enticed to add a title or two to your (gargantuan) TBR.

I’ve read a LOT of good books—that can’t be emphasized enough—but for this, I wanted a recent read that left me with my jawing hanging open (okay, that’s not the best picture, but you get the idea). After some thought, I whittled my choice down to two books–one I read in January, and one I read in April. They’ve both been hanging around in my head since I finished them—the hallmark of a good book. Since I couldn’t decide between the two, I decided to cheat and share both.

Book cover for Desert Flowers by Paul PenDESERT FLOWERS by Paul Pen

BLURB:
Rose and Elmer have created an idyllic sanctuary for themselves and their five daughters in Mexico’s Baja California desert. Out there in the middle of nowhere, blissfully cut off from the burdens of modern society, they’re free to raise their beautiful family…and preserve its secret.

And they’re never giving it up.

Then a young hiker named Rick comes looking for a place to stay. It’s just for the night, he says—but long enough for Rose and Elmer to fear they’ve made a horrible mistake. As the stranger grows more intrusive and more suspicious, the couple know they must do what they can to protect themselves. What they don’t know is that Rick has a secret, too. Soon, home and family will prove to be as cold and dark as the desert nights. And even with so many places to run, there’s still no escape from the past that binds them.

My thoughts:
A haunting story. I read this in January and the characters and plot still swirl around in my head. The desert descriptions are vivid and beautiful, yet the book reads as a page-turner. The story is strange, creepy, idyllic, and wrong—all the complexities that leave me in awe of an author’s ability to weave a tale that is engrossing, lyrical, and repulsive. Yes, you read that correctly. One of my favorite reads of 2018, and probably for a long time to come.

And in a totally different genre:

Book cover for The Fleecing of Fort Griffin by Preston LewisTHE FLEECING OF FORT GRIFFIN by Preston Lewis 

BLURB:
When the young Englishman Baron Jerome Manchester Paget arrives in 1878 Fort Griffin with a satchel full of money to start a buffalo ranch and find a bride, a horde of colorful swindlers from throughout Texas arrive to help him. With a passel of oddball characters and more twists and turns than a stagecoach trail, “The Fleecing of Fort Griffin” pits the baron against crooked gamblers, a one-eyed gunfighter, a savvy marshal, conniving females and a worldly stump preacher. To stay rich, the baron must stay alive! Written by Spur Award-winning author Preston Lewis, a master of western plot twists and humor, “The Fleecing of Fort Griffin” takes readers on an unconventional and uproarious journey through the Old West.

My thoughts:
From the moment I saw this book cover and read the blurb I knew I was destined to fall in love. Give me an assortment of quirky characters and a fish out of water, and I’m pretty much a goner.

The plot is hilarious and multi-layered with so many clever twists and turns you could use a score card. I haven’t enjoyed a book this much in a long time, and I fully see this novel being one I will return to read again and again. It’s that good! A rip-roaring romp with a jaw-dropping ending not to be missed. Break out the popcorn. This one is sheer, applause-worthy fun!

I hope you enjoyed my book choices today. I know these reads might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I highly recommend both. Thanks for checking out my selections. I’d love to hear your comments about them, or what your “book share” selection would be!

Bio banner for author Mae Clair

 

34 thoughts on “Friday Book Share: A 2fer!”

  7. Both sound intriguing, but I’ve been avoiding really dark things lately, mostly because I’m overstressed right now, and need pure escapism or lots of laughter. I think I’ll grab the western, even though, like Staci, that’s not a genre I’m usually drawn to. Still, this doesn’t sound like a “typical” western, and if it makes me laugh, I’ll probably love it. Always good to see what you think of books, Mae. Sharing this! 🙂

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    • If you want to avoid dark things, definitely skip Desert Flowers and go for the western. Quirky and brilliant are two words that really fit that one. And it’s hysterical! If you’re looking for something to make you laugh, I highly recommend it. I enjoyed it so much, I bought the paperback copy in addition to the Kindle copy.

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    • Judi, I’m finally getting back to reading after being caught up in writing and edits for so long. Both still continue but at least now I have breathing room, LOL.

      And oooo—so cool that you bought them both. I think you’ll enjoy them when they surface on your TBR! 🙂

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    • LOL! I know westerns don’t rank in your favorites camp, but I think even you might enjoy Fort Griffin. For certain, Desert Flowers.
      And I hear you about the TBR! I’ve been buried in edits for the last few weeks and neglected reading. Now that I’m diving back into my regular nightly reading routine, I hope to whittle down the mountain of books to be read.

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    • I hear you!! There is no end in sight to the TBR. It’s all about shuffling things around, LOL.
      These two are awesome. I think you’d especially enjoy The Fleecing of Fort Griffin 🙂

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