When her father died, Lori came home temporarily to help her mother, Charlotte. But Charlotte is very used to having her opinionated way about all matters and the temporary soon became permanent. The years have passed and for Lori she still is struggling to accept the love she gave up and the career she had planned to come home. The strain and loneliness of her life is beginning to get to her no matter how hard she tries to stay positive.
She begins to think that she has found happiness in the form of Blake Johnson. They knew each other years ago in school and while the outcome of that relationship wasn't necessarily positive, he has always had a strange effect on her. That effect is more pronounced now, as he is an adult with bigger dreams and better skills at manipulating the people around him. Slowly, seductively he begins to wear down her defenses and begins to a plan to take everything he wants as well as to recreate a murder scene from fifteen years ago.
This novel is full of interesting characters and vivid descriptions of small town life in the foothills of Colorado. This literary style novel relies on character development to move the action forward and does a wonderful job of enticing the reader into this world. A world that may appear sunny and bright on the surface, a Norman Rockwell stylized version of small town life, but at the same time holds numerous dark secrets beneath the surface. At 241 pages, this is a very enjoyable novel and hopefully not the last from this author or her characters.
Set in a small town of simple character, the reader will not suspect the sophisticated developments, which unwind as a big city contriver returns to his native city. This cunning man of ploy seeks only to gain from the naïve simplicity of the woman he sets out to entrap in a snare of romance and love.
The talent of Mary Erickson in her ability to develop, hold at bay, and entwine the threads of plot are remarkable and impressive. This is one schematic of suspense that will keep you astonished to the very last page.
Reviewed by Stephanie S. Sawyer, author
...
Melora is the typical, conservative librarian. She is a spinster, taking care of her ailing, unappreciative mother. Life had been moving along for her uneventfully for years. The only exciting thing her town ever experienced was a murder fifteen years ago. But all of that changed when Blake Johnson came back to town with a plan and more charm than principles. He sets out to win the heart of a very inexperienced Melora. Readers will be challenged at every turn to figure out where the story will go. Does Blake have love or monetary gain in his heart? Does he have anything to do with the murder so long ago?
I highly recommend this book. It is well written with very strong characters that will either warm your heart or send a chill down your spine. This book contains all of the components of a blockbuster novel; romance, murder, greed, and suspense. What more could readers ask for? I found this story to be very entertaining due to the author's creativity and apparent ease in weaving an exceptional tale. Great job Ms Erickson!(Reviewed for Intriging Authors and Their Books website)
Have you ever read a suspense novel that starts with the ending? It both heightens and frustrates the intensity of the entire reading experience. Such it was for me with Ten Times Have the Liles Blown by Mary Erickson. Ms. Erickson has quite a knack for creating intriguing, believable characters and putting them in intricate and dangerous situations. The story made no apologies upfront for giving away the ending, but it then went on to lead me down a winding, no-obvious-end-in-sight path. I became so involved in the characters, especially the "bad guy," that I just couldn't believe he was the bad guy.
The strength of this book is in the well plotted storyline and, as mentioned, the very developed characters. You personally know each of these people - Lori, the small town teacher, a spinster by choice, to some degree, but mostly due to circumstance . . . the heavy responsibility of a sickly mother; Charlotte, the mother, a bitter old woman using her power over Lori as her only enjoyment in life; Larry, the local police official, sweet on Lori but too shy and proper to follow up; and Blake . . . well, you'll need to read the book to find out about Blake, Lori's Knight in Shining Armor, as well as her Hell On Earth. There are other characters, a town full, but these are the the stars of the show.
The story revolves around a small town in Colorado, viable family oil leases, and greed and wanting - traditional greed for wealth and societal standing, and wanting - for acceptance, hope, and, ultimately for love. Blake wanted it all.
Ms. Erickson has crafted a complex, introspective, and strongly researched tale, and she handled it in a unique way, very brave for a first novel. I look forward to many more stories from this talented author.