Review: Ace in the Hole (Couldn't Help the Pun!)
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 30, 2014
This is my first time reading a standalone novel by Ms. Laveen but she's roped me in again with her storytelling. Ace Blackstone, private investigator, is hired by Earlwood Henderson to find his missing daughter Lynne Henderson, who disappeared ten years earlier. Mr. Henderson has hired a great deal of PI's but all of them have come up empty handed. Ace is renowned in his field and is the last resort for a desperate father. Ace eventually locates Lynne who is now living under an assumed name in Chicago. He's immediately attracted to her once he lays eyes on her and this poses a problem. This is the portion of the story that becomes complicated. Ace pursues Lynne now named Brooklyn Greene (LOVED THE HOMAGE TO BROOKLYN AND FORT GREENE Ms. Laveen! You made this Native New Yorker's heart sing) once confirming she is his client's daughter and they grow closer. As their relationship progresses, Ace harbors guilty feelings for pursuing Brooklyn under false pretenses. Ace's guilt over Brooklyn adds to the rage and frustration he's been experiencing from unresolved issues he has in regards to his childhood and unanswered questions regarding his adoption. Ms. Laveen weaves a wonderful tale with multiple complexities. The biggest complaint I have with The Unearthing of Blackstone are the occasional editing issues. There are grammatical errors that were overlooked and fuzzy details regarding the fluidity of the storyline (Brooklyn calls Ace to set up their first date and he asks her to text him her home address so that he can pick her up and she agrees but then when their date takes place, he's eagerly awaiting her arrival at the restaurant.) Ms. Laveen mentions that he confirmed the date via text an hour before but that detail just nagged at me. Why didn't he pick her up? The other oversight that was bothersome took place during their second date. Ace takes Brooklyn to a dance club and they get fairly hot and heavy on the dance floor. Ace stated that while dancing someone bumped into him, which caused his hand to brush against Brooklyn's thigh and "he felt a slight coolness... she was wet."  On the next page she looks down at Ace's hands sliding against her fitted jeans. How would Ace have felt she was wet through jeans? I had to laugh out loud at that part. I thought to myself, "Damn, if he can feel her wetness through her jeans, I need a man like that in my life!" What in the hell is he bringing to the table?! I WANT SOME! LOL! Overall, this was a great story and I would most certainly recommend it to others. Great job Ms. Laveen, looking forward to your next release!