In Plain View

Title: In Plain View
Author: J. Wachowski
Publisher: Carina Press
Publisher URL: http://ebooks.carinapress.com/
ISBN: 9781426890093
Genre: {M/F} Amish, Mystery
Rating: Golden Blush
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Magdalena O'Hara vividly remembers the phone call that changed her life. Her ability to roam the world as a freelance reporter has tapered down to local coverage, thanks to her new role as guardian to her eight-year-old niece. However, the role of guardian seems simple, compared to her latest assignment. The images Maggie captures sets off a series of events, with people trying desperately to elude detection.

Desperate people create dangerous situations so Maggie will have to identify the culprits hiding In Plain View.

J. Wachowski’s latest novel is a brilliantly written mystery about the death of an Amish man and the chain of events leading up to the incident. For those who are looking for a steamy romance with plenty of erotic action, this book is not for you. However, if you are hoping to find a suspenseful novel filled with drama and characters that are written to keep you enthralled, your search is over.

Maggie’s character took over my senses from the first page. Strong, determined, fearless at times and honed in her craft, Maggie is the freelance reporter others strive to be like but fail miserably at duplicating. Even with a romance blooming, she doesn’t allow her focus to be swayed away from the bigger picture of figuring out how the pieces fit together for her story.

Maggie’s understanding of human nature is evenly matched by the sheriff. There was one point where he proved he would be the perfect man for this willful woman. He understood what makes Maggie tick, because they share a parallel life when it comes to seeing human suffering and getting a firsthand glimpse of the evil lurking in this world.

The way the story ended gives J. Wachowski some leeway to revisit Maggie and the sheriff in a sequel. From the setting to the supporting characters and the well developed plot, I loved this book from beginning to end. In Plain View is sure to capture a new fan base for this fantastic author.

The Shunned

Title: The Shunned
Author: Jay Hughes
Publisher: Ravenous Romance
Publisher URL: http://www.ravenousromance.com/
ISBN: 9781607773252

Genre: {M/M} Contemporary, Amish
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Chocolate Minx

James Semerad is working the checkout at Whole Foods, an organic grocery store, when a customer, Fred Billingsley invites James out on a date. James is still adjusting to living outside the Amish community and is surprised by the offer but accepts anyway, not willing to miss his chance to explore a liaison with the openly gay man. Before they can finish their dinner, a barrage of bullets strikes the rooms in Fred’s house, forcing the two to crawl to a bulletproof room. Fred is a lawyer for the Philadelphia mob and apparently, his last client’s family is not pleased with the verdict. With a mob hit order on them, the only safe refuge is to go into witness protection in the isolated Amish community of Lofstad, the same place where James grew up.

The Shunned has a well written, well paced thought-provoking plot with multiple layers of predicaments. There is the criminal element of the mob, the budding romance between James and Fred along with the austere Amish culture set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The interactions between the characters are believable and heart-warming. Fred is old-money who lives in a mansion. He is a lawyer, as well as an executive chef, openly gay and loves being the center of attention. His luxurious lifestyle necessitates Fred to represent only affluent clients without remorse; nevertheless he is a considerate man who does not intentionally try to hurt anyone. James is a shy Amish gay man who ran away from Lofstad three years prior and is endeavouring to start a new life in the modern world. He refused to prolong the brutal punishments he endured as a child or repent his sexuality, as his father demanded. He detested everything regarding the Amish life. His return only reinforces his opinion when he is again shunned by his father. The secondary characters support the storyline by adding a level of action and intrigue. There is some intimacy in the story; however the crucial point of the plot is the Amish culture’s harsh religious rituals, which contradict biblical teachings and the so called devout individuals refuse to practice all of the spiritual directives. The Shunned points out the menace posed by Christians who choose to follow only a very small selected proportion of religious principles. Jay Hughes has created a superb, as well as enlightening, saga that I enjoyed immensely.