Book Review - A Desolate Hour by Mae Clair

Sins of the past could destroy all of their futures . . .
For generations, Quentin Marsh’s family has seen its share of tragedy, though he remains skeptical that their misfortunes are tied to a centuries-old curse. But to placate his pregnant sister, Quentin makes the pilgrimage to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, hoping to learn more about the brutal murder of a Shawnee chief in the 1700s. Did one of the Marsh ancestors have a hand in killing the chief —the man who cursed the town with his dying breath?

While historian Sarah Sherman doesn’t believe in curses either, she’s compelled to use her knowledge of Point Pleasant to uncover the long-buried truth. The river town has had its own share of catastrophes, many tied to the legendary Mothman, the winged creature said to haunt the woods. But Quentin’s arrival soon reveals that she may have more of a stake than she realized. It seems that she and Quentin possess eerily similar family heirlooms. And the deeper the two of them dig into the past, the more their search enrages the ancient mystical forces surrounding Point Pleasant. As chaos and destruction start to befall residents, can they beat the clock to break the curse before the Mothman takes his ultimate revenge? . . .

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My Review

“Run from the thunder,

Run from the rain,

Lightning can’t hurt you,

The wind is in vain, ”    Sarah keeps saying in A Desolate Hour.
    .
Mae Clair is one of the best writers I've read. I've read a lot, indie and traditional.  She's one of the best overall. Her writing style and also the characters she creates are amazing, yet, characters any of us can easily  relate to. Once I started reading I couldn’t put the book down until I had read every word. I loved the characters, especially  Caden and Eve. But more characters are added to the story here in A Desolate Hour, like Sarah and the mysterious QM from book 2. Each with her or his secret and karmic burden.I want to make a special mention of Shawn, a perfect portrayal of an evil character, no matter his justification.

By the way, the title is a perfect fit for the story. The author couldn’t have found a better one.

For someone who is reading Book 3 it would be helpful to read the previous stories to fully tie all the threads together. But the book can be read as a standalone and there are reminders along the first chapters smoothly weaved in the plot that help the reader understand who’s who.

I knew I had to prepare myself to say goodbye to this incredible cast of characters at the end of this book, especially to Drayandor. Sadly this  did nothing to lighten the blow. With every passing page I marveled over the genius of the words before me and fretted over the dwindling number of pages left ahead of me. Now a few words about the story. 
Amazing. Entertaining. Beautiful, [of course.] I don't know if I'd want to know a person who couldn't absolutely adore this entire series. As I  mourn my goodbyes to these characters I have come to know and love (and sometimes hate, see Obadiah's descendant) and attempt to pull myself together to face life again, I offer a most sincere plea to Ms.  Clair to be so kind as to spin another tale for us (and quickly). The world is truly a better place with her books in it for everyone to enjoy.

The suspense builds constantly making readers curious to see what comes next. And the expectations aren’t in vain. Almost each chapter, and even scenes, end in cliffhangers that urge you to postpone other chores and go on reading.

For example:

“Everything that happens around here gets blamed on Cornstalk’s curse.”or

“The tip of the scars he carried from the Mothman poked from beneath his sleeve. . . . the welts had never changed in appearance or texture. Until today. Normally vibrant red, they were now jet black." or
"It was time to leave, to get out before someone spied his Charger in the
driveway. He cleaned up the sink, wiped up his bloody prints, and looked
around for a piece of paper.
There was one more thing he had to do to make the scene complete."

Based on a real tragic event the three books combine, in a skillful way, folklore, paranormal and romantic suspense. If you love mysteries linked to the Men in Black, UFOs, the Mothman, Ouja boards, curses spanning the centuries and marking the main characters’ lives or   reincarnation this is a series you SHOULDN''T miss!

         To sum up - another superb story, packed full of action and emotion,  by the talented Mae Clair that will keep lovers of the paranormal/romantic suspense  genre well entertained!

Book Review (L) A Thousand Yesteryears by Mae Clair

    Point Pleasant


Behind a legend lies the truth…

As a child, Eve Parrish lost her father and her best friend, Maggie Flynn, in a tragic bridge collapse. Fifteen years later, she returns to Point Pleasant to settle her deceased aunt’s estate. Though much has changed about the once thriving river community, the ghost of tragedy still weighs heavily on the town, as do rumors and sightings of the Mothman, a local legend. When Eve uncovers startling information about her aunt’s death, that legend is in danger of becoming all too real . . .

Caden Flynn is one of the few lucky survivors of the bridge collapse but blames himself for coercing his younger sister out that night. He’s carried that guilt for fifteen years, unaware of darker currents haunting the town. It isn’t long before Eve’s arrival unravels an old secret—one that places her and Caden in the crosshairs of a deadly killer .
 
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 My Review

A Thousand Yesteryears is a gripping dark mystery that kept me sitting on the edge of my seat, guessing what would happen next as Eve and Caden are drawn into the investigation of the disappearance/death of girls in Point Pleasant, while dealing with their personal relationship.

I have just finished this book and, to be honest, I wish there was more and I can't wait to tell you why.  Where should I start... let's start with the characters.  The author had me hooked from the very beginning. With her character development, with the descriptions of places and situations - these add so many dimensions to the story - I felt as if I were one of her characters watching from the sideline.  Mae Clair must not believe in wimps, because her books are littered with strong female characters. Like  Eve in A Thousand Yesteryears. Eve Perrish has strength, intelligence, and determination. What does Eve discover about her beloved Aunt Rosy? Will the discovery reveal a horrible thing that could estrange her from the newly rediscovered love? Will the secrets "ruin" them in the "ton"?

In the style of S King and A Christie, the author spins a story of deceit, revenge, romance and tragic history whose ending took me totally by surprise. I left my role as character on the sideline, to become the main character Eve, saying to myself, "Now why didn't I see that?!" 

Expect the unexpected and never let your guard down when you're around Mae Clair’s books!

I will warn you of one thing: if you start reading this book you'll binge read it!

I think this statement confirms how awesome this book is!

 If you appreciate mystery, suspense, myth, legends and paranormal tales you certainly should read A Thousand Yesteryears!

All in all, I am superbly impressed, and anxiously looking forward to book 2!