Deep Time - Susan Sizer Bogue

Deep Time is Susan Sizer Bogue's debut novel. And isn't that a beautiful cover? 

What you'll find inside is a story "for adventurous fiction lovers. This debut novel tells the story of a young geologist working with ancient rocks who finds herself in present mortal danger when Mount St. Helens erupts with catastrophic power.

After an inspiring trip to the Grand Canyon, Lauren Brown falls in love with geology—so much so that she convinces her husband, Kenny, to follow her from Philadelphia to East Texas, where she enters a male-dominated graduate program at Texas Polytechnic. Lauren thrives on the adventure geology affords her—studying undersea volcanoes, shepherding clueless undergraduates in a remote national park, and climbing canyons in Oregon to collect rock samples—but at home, things are deteriorating. After separating from her straying husband, she becomes best friends with Chris, an honorable male colleague who helps her fend off a predatory professor.

When Mount St. Helens awakens, geologists from all over the world flock to Washington. Lauren is determined to be part of the action and witness an erupting volcano. The dream event of a lifetime is at hand. On a Saturday in May, she and Kenny, with whom she has reconciled, convene with Chris to stake out Mount St. Helens.

The first day, the mountain remains annoyingly quiet. The next day, it erupts with catastrophic power—and irreversibly upends Lauren’s life."

"SUSAN SIZER BOGUE is a lawyer-turned-writer who has published many humorous essays and written the script for the musical “The Christmas of the Phonograph Records.” This is her first novel. She lives in the Denver, Colorado, area. Find her online at susansizerbogue.com, Instagram, and Facebook"

Photo credit - Palo Alto Headshots 

Tell Me You're Mine - Elisabeth Norebäck

Tell Me You're Mine is the debut novel of Swedish writer Elisabeth Norebäck.

Stella is a psychotherapist. Isabelle is a new patient - and Stella is sure she is her daughter Alice. But, Alice went missing over twenty years ago, presumed drowned. Stella has always believed she is still alive. But she has been wrong before. Kerstin is Isabelle's mother and she is quite worried about Stella's interactions with her child.

Norebäck gives each woman a voice in Tell Me You're Mine. The lead is Stella. Stella is a decidedly unreliable narrator. She has been hospitalized in the past for mental issues. She is determined, obsessed really, with the idea that she has found her long lost child. But has she? Norebäck keeps the reader guessing - could Isabelle really be Alice? Isabelle's chapters give us background into her childhood, giving the reader more food for thought. And Kerstin. Kerstin is an interesting character - is she simply worried about her child - or something more?

I became quite caught up in the story - yes or no? My opinion solidified as I got closer to the end of the book. I was correct, but enjoyed the fast paced action of those last chapters. I did find the first part of the book a bit slow and somewhat repetitive for me. Norebäck does explore the emotions of  parenthood - love, loss  and obsession - with a sharp eye.

Tell Me You're Mine was a solid debut for this reader.  Here's an excerpt of Tell Me You're Mine.

I'm Still Here - Clélie Avit - Review AND Giveaway

I'm Still Here is Clélie Avit's debut novel.

After a horrifying mountain climbing accident, Elsa is lucky to be alive. But she's in a coma. Unknown to her doctors, friends and family, Elsa can hear what is going on around her, but cannot communicate.

A young man named Thibault is in the same hospital to visit his brother, who has also been in an accident. But, the circumstances are quite different and Thibault cannot bring himself to enter his brother's room. Instead he ducks into Elsa's room. Discovering she is in a coma from her chart, he happily sits down in the visitor's chair......and begins to talk. This is the first time, but it won't be the last. He finds himself drawn to Elsa, despite her being in a coma. And Elsa? She is just as drawn to Thibault - and determined to let Thibault know.

This isn't a new premise for a novel (or a story either - I thought of Sleeping Beauty as I started reading), but I enjoyed Avit's take on it. The reader is privy to the details of  both Elsa's and Thibault's lives.

Who knows if those in comas can hear what is happening around them? (And I think they can) Imagine the frustration and fear they must feel. Avit does a good job portraying what such a patient might feel with Elsa's thoughts, hopes and memories. And fears as well - she can hear what her doctors and family are discussing.

I quite liked Thibault. His open, unhindered, unscripted monologues revealed much about his life, his thoughts and his character. But, I thought the parallel storyline about his brother should have affected me more. (And I felt bad about that as it too has some serious overtones.) I'm not sure if it was 'lost in translation', but I didn't feel the emotion the situation warranted.

The pragmatic in me had to ignore Thibault's crossing of lines with a stranger (some of his behaviour in the hospital going ignored by staff is a bit of stretch) and just go with the fairy tale, hoping that Elsa can wake up and let Thibault know she has heard every word he's spoken.

I'm Still Here is a quick little romantic read, with a fairy tale feel.  Read an excerpt of I'm Still Here.

"Clélie Avit was born and raised in the Auvergne region of France. She works as a physics and chemistry teacher, while also teaching dance. Avit received the Prix Nouveau Talent for I'm Still Here (Je Suis La), her first novel."

And if you think you'd enjoy I'm Still Here, enter to win one of two copies I have to giveaway using the Rafflecopter form below. Open to US and Canada.  Ends September 17/16. 

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