Looking Through Windows by Caren J. Werlinger

Publisher:       Windstorm Creative (paper); L-Book (e-Book)

Emily Warner moves to Vermont to try and recover from the traumatic events surrounding the death of her partner.  Her partner always insisted that they keep their relationship quiet and unofficial, so there were no legal documents connecting them.  When the partner is injured, her family refuses to acknowledge the relationship and Emily is not allowed to spend any time with her before she dies.  Emily feels that by moving to Vermont to become a college professor, she has a chance to start her life over.  When she meets graduate student Ann Hight, there is an instant attraction, but Emily is scared to trust their feelings because Ann is straight.  Emily is also unsettled because Ann is hesitant to tell her family about their relationship and Emily fears a repeat of what happened with her former partner.  When Ann’s brother conspires against them, Emily flees to Europe to give them some space and time for her to recover from what she believes is another dose of misery.  Just as they are about to reconcile an accident and then a health crisis interfere.  Emily’s future depends on her learning to trust Ann enough to lean on her, but that is a hard thing to do for someone who has had her trust betrayed so badly in the past.  Ann is frustrated because she loves Emily and doesn’t feel she should have to pay for or be judged by Emily’s previous experience.  Whether or not they can break down each other’s walls will determine if they have a future.

Werlinger has produced a better than usual first novel.  The writing is tight, the editing is good and the characters are written to be three dimensional.  The plot flows well, is engaging and holds the reader’s interest.  A couple of scenes are a little contrived, but not enough to detract from the story.  Romance fans will like this book, but it has more development than the typical novel in this genre.  The story goes into depth about the issue of trust and the emotional baggage that can come with it, especially in a situation such as Emily faces.  One way to know that a character is written in a convincing manner is when the reader would like to take that character and slap her for some of the things she does.  When a character elicits that type of response it’s usually a sign of “reality.”

Looking Through Windows is one of those books that gives a reader a very satisfied feeling when it’s finished.

Cast A Wide Circle by Lesley Davis

Publisher:                Windstorm Creative

Cast a Wide Circle is by Lesley Davis who is also the author of the Adepts of Calluna series. In each of her books, Davis creates a world of magic that flirts just on the edges of being possible. Her characters are women dealing with the ordinary world with unordinary powers. 

Taryn Parker runs a successful cyber café that is connected to a friend's restaurant. What makes Taryn interesting though is that her constant companion is her best friend David. Who is dead. David was murdered and hasn't been able to "cross over," so he lingers behind to help Taryn with her other interesting activity. She receives emails from dead people who need help with finding their ways to the "other" side. It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "You have mail." Taryn receives the messages on an unplugged computer; then David enters the computer to help these people find their ways. 

It's this particular ability that brings them in contact with Kerrigan Archer. Kerrigan is a witch, the leader of a coven that has a problem. There is a magical chant that this coven says to keep the universe in balance and the keeper of the chant has been murdered by a radical group of monks working for "dark forces." To protect the chant, the keeper took the chant with him and now the coven needs to recover it before the universe spins out of control. The effects are already being felt as wars, murder and mayhem break out around the world. As Taryn and Kerrigan try to recover the chant, they have to deal with the monks who are trying to stop them both here and on the "other" side. The only hope they have to be successful eventually is the growing bond between the two women, but that bond may not be strong enough to overcome death.

What makes Cast a Wide Circle appealing is that Davis makes it so probable. Her witches don't run around twitching their noses to make things happen and, except for her unusual computer, Taryn doesn't appear to have anything special about her. They don't zap themselves from one place to another, but drive cars. They live, for the most part, completely normal lives. It's the realistic settings, along with the characters, that sell the story. Taryn is an improbable hero who can't seem to keep herself from getting hurt and that makes her appealing. This is not a book for those who like their stories heavy in the paranormal; however, it has just enough to make it an interesting story for most readers.