Review: Rowe does an amazing job weaving two stories together...poetic prose.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 16, 2013
K. R. Rowe does an amazing job weaving two stories together in this romantic mystery.  Amber and Blue begins with some back story, setting the stage for the mystery portion of the novel.  Afterward, we are knee deep in an enthralling romance.The second story is what throws the reader for a loop, but it's a good loop.  Without any spoilers, I'll simply tell you that the main character, Grace, finds herself falling in love with another, Lucien....having `forgotten' her first love, Alex.When Alex and Lucien began competing for Grace's love, I found myself rooting for Alex, and desperately wondered if other readers felt the same.  K. R. Rowe pulled the storylines together very well and left the ending without a subtle cliff hanger, which I really felt was clever.  I personally think there is much more impact when a series draws the reader to the next novel with a strong story alone, and the author does this very successfully in Amber and Blue.The author has very poetic prose, which added a certain flair to the novel.  I found myself re-reading certain passages, thinking they would make beautiful poems.Here are some excerpts from Amber and Blue that I particularly enjoyed:The reluctant bartender frowned as she splashed him another shot of tequila.  He threw back his head, tossed it down in one gulp, and wiped his mouth with his sleeve."That's a nice shirt," he said with a crude gesture.  "Can I talk you out of it?"The clouds angrily gathered in the west, turning the sky from clear blue to gloomy swirling shades of gray.  The wild spring wind picked up, and twisted the leaves over and around their heads signalling that a rainstorm was on its way.  The gruelling walk took them over a rise and dropped away to a flat area at the bottom of a hill."This risk wasn't in my employment contract," he said as he put his lips to the hollow of her throat."What risk is that?""Being seduced by the boss's daughter.""Check the benefits section," she said.He wanted to keep her forever, but if her memory returned, he would be no better than a common kidnapper.The sanitarium sat isolated and silent.  Its sleek modern design stood in sharp contrast to the surrounding lush green farmlands.  Like a gleaming Rolex on the arm of an Amish, it defied one's normal perception.At the end of the path, they came to a halt and stared up at the majestic falls above them.  Like a lion, it roared while it warned of its power, and spilled like a tattered wall of curtains, into the clear plunge-pool below.  The mist hung thick and heavy in a cloud of droplets, saturating all that it touched.  Like a multi-colored gift from the falls, the sun danced gently in tune with the water.  Coming together as one, a perfect rainbow was born."A rose cannot bloom without the sunshine and a man cannot exist without love.""You have nothing to be sorry for, little one," he said softly in her ear.  "This has always been beyond your power.  You can contain the passion of your heart no more than I can control the breath that I take,"Just beautiful K. R. Rowe.  Simply beautiful writing.  Well done!  I'm looking forward to the sequel!