Review: a talented storyteller who spins a fascinating yarn of decades-long love and a spectral airplane.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 8, 2014
4 of 5 stars~ Review by ChristineFor original review see Prism Book AllianceEarl Knox and Hank Grisset have been secret lovers for years, meeting on weekends at their lake house in the Poconos. Now in their 50’s, they’ve become used to decades of keeping the status quo of, as Earl puts it, “living their own version of Brokeback Mountain.” Sometimes change is inevitable, however, and as Earl decides to take action and change their lives forever, the odd and unexplained appearances and disappearances of an old pontoon plane at their dock has them both scratching their heads. As the drama of coming out to family and friends unfolds, an unexpected tragedy occurs, with lives hanging in the balance. Will Earl and Hank have to deal with more loss? And what is their connection to the mysterious plane?This novella (approximately 67 pages) was engaging, suspenseful, and a bit eerie. I enjoyed the main characters and was pleased with a fairly well fleshed-out back-story for their relationship. Both Hank and Earl are simple, humble men, and, to my delight, much older than most characters in romance novels. I liked their authenticity and homespun appeal, and though the story begins after many years of them being lovers, their relationship rings true and sweet on the pages. I also enjoyed the touch of paranormal within the context of the story and how the author linked in the mysterious plane. Without giving anything away, the ending contained a delicious little twist, and I found myself quite satisfied with the unexpected morsel.Though written in third person, the narrative is in Earl’s voice with all its local colloquialisms. It took a bit of adjustment, but I soon found it endearing as I got to know the characters a bit more. I was also a bit taken aback by the vicious nature of Earl’s ex-wife, Gracie. Her bitterness and hatred was just a little over the top for me, as were her machinations both in her past relationship with Earl and in the current story. I understand the necessity of her threats to the plot; however, her character appeared not to have any redeeming qualities that could have softened her somewhat and made her more realistic.Overall, Their Plane from Nowhere is a charming little read with well-developed main characters and an interesting and suspenseful plot laced with the supernatural. It was a pleasure reading this little nugget, and I look forward to more releases from Princess so!