Review: Four Stars: A terrific paranormal novella set in the swamplands of Louisiana.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 5, 2014
Faith presses the accelerator and spins her tires in the mud. Night is coming and Faith's car is stuck in a mud puddle in the middle of nowhere. Undeterred, Faith abandons the mired car and trudges through the thick mud heading up the road in search of Chenoire and Luce Préjean. Faith is determined to rent a boat even if it means begging strangers. Faith is researching the effects of the BPA oil spill on the local bird life, but she only has a few short days. If she doesn't get a boat, her research is in big trouble. Little does she know that asking the Préjean family for help will change her life forever. In the swamps of Louisiana, there are creatures even more dangerous than the local gators. Will Faith survive her swampy encounter?What I Liked:*Novellas are always hard for me to review as I feel like I never get a complete and satisfying story. However, that is not the case with Chenoire by Susannah Sandlin. I was delighted to find that I got a full story and I was not disappointed, aside from the fact that I want more! If you are in the mood for a quick, one sitting read, definitely grab this one.I loved the swampy Louisiana setting. Ms. Sandlin (Johnson) always does a tremendous job with her settings. I love that she manages to transport me to her locations with her words. This time, I took a tour of the swampy regions of the St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana. This is an area teeming with creatures of the swamp, including fearsome alligators. I highly recommend any of Suzanne's books because I think her world building is top notch!*Once Faith arrives in the swamp amongst the Préjean family, it becomes apparent that there is something a bit strange going on. I loved the infusion of paranormal in this one. There are some interesting shapeshifters that stirred my imagination.*The romance is a fast burner, but it is believable. Two stubborn and determined people suffering the pains of heartache and loss are thrown together when they are placed in a dangerous and deadly situation. What starts out as lustful looks quickly blossoms into something more as the two come together, face a dangerous threat, share secrets and heal each other's hearts. There is plenty of heat and passion in this one even if it is fast and furious.I loved that the couple together learns to put their pasts behind them and look forward to the future as they let go of their baggage. Everything wraps up nicely and ends on a high note.And The Not So Much:*I feel like a broken record saying this, but with good novellas, I want more. I loved the characters, the shapeshifters and the swamp. I desperately want to know more about the shapeshifters, the Préjean family and the romance. I only hope that this is a prequel to another series!*I loved the romance, but it does move at a rapid pace. To some it might feel like instalove, but I felt it was believable considering the couple has a lot in common and that they come together over a life threatening event. I would love to see how things develop down the road as the romance is off to a solid start.*I was fascinated by the research presented regarding the effects of the oil spill on the local bird population. I was curious to know more.Chenoire is a quick yet satisfying little read. It has plenty of action, a tremendous setting, paranormal entities and a fast and furious romance. If you are a fan of Ms. Sandlin (Johnson) I highly recommend you pick up this novella. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I am crossing my fingers that there will be more down the road.Favorite Quotations:"He grinned at her, a sorry advertisement for the achievements of bayou dentistry."I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.Rainy Day Ramblings.