Still Life

By Sean Gleason

Things to do: muck stalls, repair heater, clean blankets, break up sister's marriage.

Louisa Patch has her hands full, with a horse farm to manage and a special needs daughter to raise, but when her sister falls for a con man, the single mother cannot sit by doing nothing. She's been down that road herself, and puts into motion a plan to extract her sister from a thief who will prove far more clever than Louisa could ever imagine.

Before long, her business starts to fail, the most influential horse owner in Bourbon County is treating her like a pariah, and the man she thought was about to propose doesn't seem to know she's alive.Her only ally is the horse trainer who has been chasing her for years. To bring in Cecil is to accept his conditions, joining a race horse syndicate in league with a mysterious silent partner. The financial burden could send her into bankruptcy, at a time when her business is already suffering, while Cecil's romantic pursuit could doom her relationship with the farm's owner. And that affair isn't exactly smoking hot either.

A woman who wants to have it all, Louisa may end up with nothing if she cannot figure out a way to keep Cecil at arm's length, rope her lover back in, and expose her brother-in-law's crimes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newcastlewest Books
• Release date: Oct 17, 2017
• ISBN: 9780996713153

Sean Gleason

Sean Gleason is an author of women's fiction that celebrates the joy, humor and heartache of everyday life, with an emphasis on the humor.

Book preview

Still Life

A NOVEL

Sean Gleason

CITY THAT WORKS

Newcastlewest Books

Copyright © 2017 by Sean Gleason

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Newcastlewest Books

First Edition: October 2017

ISBN: 978-0-9967131-5-3

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

www. newcastlewestbooks.com

This novel is dedicated to the equine therapy volunteers who bring joy to those with special needs. For more information on therapeutic riding, please visit PATH International at https://www.pathintl.org/.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

About The Author

ONE

Gravel crunched under car wheels, the sound of time running out. The cobweb would have to be left to dance in the late afternoon sun, and Louisa could only hope that the special someone coming to meet her would not notice.

Bourbon County was full of special someones, the sort of people who could make Bedford Farm a booming success. All she needed was one more influential client to make her name among the horse aristocracy. One more influential client and she would show her family how wrong they were when they mocked her dream and cast her out.

Well, we can’t control fate, she said to her daughter, brushing a few stray horse hairs from her jeans. She turned the knob of the kitchen door and paused to catch her breath. But we can show our best face. Can you do that for me, sweetie?

The candy apple pink Mercedes had only just come to a stop when Evelyn Cawthon jumped out, arms spread to embrace her tenant. Sporting her usual helmet of platinum blonde hair shellacked into submission, a mink coat buttoned up to her throat, the well-heeled matron radiated control. There was no avoiding the hug, no matter how awkward Louisa felt.

Say the word, sugar, and I'll have my girls delivered by morning, Evelyn said. Not a word about costs, as if it was a done deal. Before Louisa could respond, Evelyn kept right on going, describing the mares, already in foal, sired by champions and bound to generate all kinds of buzz at the auction next year. Oh, my, I have forgotten my manners. I haven’t introduced you to Norma.

One of horse country’s royals, Norma was the very sort of person that Louisa wanted to meet. The success of her stable depended on such people, owners with the means to pay someone to care for their expensive investments. It was clear that she knew a thing or two about the industry when she asked for a tour of the facilities. We don’t have to rush into things, now, Evelyn, she said. Let’s see where they’ll be living first.

This was the time to make a phenomenal impression, to concentrate on the sales pitch she had practiced all morning. Louisa indicated the small barn with a wave of her hand, the best place to start. Before she took two steps she heard the car door open. There was a third member of the party, a man who could have been thirty or sixty, with an unlined face and a full head of stark white hair. The corner of his mouth turned up in a charming grin and he winked at Chloe. When he did not make an effort to join the others, Louisa guessed that he was a very well-dressed chauffeur. She focused her attention on business and trotted after her potential clients.

She brought them to the first stall where her prize mare was snuffling oats. Eating money, Louisa wanted to say, to admit that she was as much a gambler as any of her clients. There were never any guarantees in the horse business, and the foal that would drop in late winter could make or break her operation, all on the vagaries of genetic expression. As she turned to close the stall door she almost collided with the gentleman who had decided to join the group after all. His lingering glance caught her by surprise, stealing her breath away. He reminded her of someone, but who? Before she could figure it out, he strode to the back of the barn where the door of the warming room hung open. What’s hiding in here? he asked.

She was turning the space into an art studio, and did not want to share any of her works in progress with strangers. Too late to stop him after he barged in like he owned the place. Louisa dropped Chloe’s hand and ran after him, but he had already removed the canvas drape from the oil painting on the easel. Come see this, Mama, he shouted. He was no driver. He was Evelyn’s son, the resemblance unquestionable.

The pencil lines on the canvas were growing faint with age, so little time did Louisa have to paint. She didn't have time to finish tricking out the studio, let alone complete the portrait that she had promised to give her best friend for Christmas. She sidled between two stacks of uncut two-by-fours and banged her knuckles against the edge of a sheet of drywall as her hand shot out to regain control of her artwork.

A self-portrait, Ms. Patch? he asked, a mischievous twinkle in his brown eye. The figure in the painting was nude and unquestionably female.

A friend, Louisa said.

Artists are more open-minded than most folks around here, he said, perusing the oil with a collector’s eye. Might I ask you a personal question? Your little girl, she suffered a traumatic brain injury at birth? Was the case settled?

Out of court, yes, Louisa said. It was true, what he had heard, the detritus of her past becoming local gossip in the small town. She could not imagine why he was the least bit interested in her private life. Settled too quickly, but I didn’t realize it until after the fact.

Legally, there’s nothing more to be done, he said. It happens all the time, though. How can anyone think straight when they’re in shock?

Really, Judge, you could have stayed in the car, Evelyn said. No need to catch your death.

I changed my mind is all, he said. With that, Evelyn’s face lit up, only to dim when Judge tacked on a disclaimer. He had only changed his mind about the horse-owning syndicate.

Her neighbors had told her about Evelyn Cawthon’s son, a few stray comments that had not registered until she saw the truth of those remarks. A man tied to his mother’s apron strings, held on a short leash. See one, see the other. It wasn’t easy to swallow down the laugh that bubbled up when she noticed Evelyn worming her way over to her son’s side.

This thoroughbred breeding business is looking interesting after all, he said. What do you think of our schools here in Colmar, Ms. Patch? We like to think we have the finest special education programs that our tax dollars can buy.

Chloe was nowhere to be seen in the small barn, sparking a flicker of fear in Louisa’s heart. She had to get these people out of her private space and back on task, or better yet, get them out of the barn so she could search for her daughter, who wasn't likely to have gone far. Chloe could walk, but not well, and the wheel ruts in the driveway were like navigational hazards that could send the child sprawling.

Back out in the bright sunshine, Evelyn inhaled deeply, as if the aroma of horse manure was a magic elixir. I think we’ve seen all we need to see, and we are ready to sign a contract, she said, without inspecting the main barn. Of course, she was familiar with the lay-out since it was her farm, but even so, anyone boarding expensive animals should have taken a look at every square inch of the facilities. To argue when someone was offering money was foolish. Two important people had faith in her, that was what mattered, and landing such clients was critical to the success of the boarding stable.

The party trooped back towards the house, discussing the protocol to be followed if they wanted to visit their mares or possibly be present at foaling. Louisa's head swiveled, searching for Chloe, who had taken refuge on the back stoop, unable to turn the door handle to get back inside the warm kitchen. One sight of her mother and the little girl lurched forward, tumbled off the step and landed on her face.

Without a thought to his expensive suit, Judge was on one knee, dabbing at Chloe's scraped chin with his monogrammed handkerchief. Not the first time someone fell off that porch, he said. He waited until Chloe calmed down before he expressed a legal opinion. I didn't pick you for stupid, so who's idea was it to settle the case?

She cradled Chloe's head, recalling the marks left by carelessly applied forceps. You were right before, about being in shock. I wasn't in any state to decide about anything at the time, she said. Traumatized, she never questioned a choice made by someone she thought was looking out for her best interests.

A quick inspection, performed often in the past seven years, showed that no teeth were dislodged or bones broken. Louisa shepherded the group into the house for coffee and formalities, to obtain signatures on contracts that contained enough gibberish to distract the readers from the haphazard state of the kitchen. She set the table and put out a plate of cookies, startled by an unexpected recollection of afternoon tea with her grandmother. It had been a long time since she had thought about her family, a long time since she ran off with a cowboy to chase her love of horses. Had they ever given her a thought in all those years?

Did you paint this? Norma asked. She ran her manicured hand over the top of the table where the meadow just beyond the kitchen door was reproduced. Her finger stroked the nose of the mare that grazed in the corner.

I picked it up at a yard sale, and it needed refinishing, Louisa said. Plain old varnish just wouldn't do.

Evelyn, I am so glad that you asked me to come along today, Norma said. I am genuinely happy to have met you, Louisa. We’re going to see a lot of each other, I’m sure. This town has needed a breath of fresh air like you for a long, long time.

While Louisa made a paste of cookie and milk for Chloe, Judge set the tone for the business meeting by shooting his cuffs and clearing his throat until he had the ladies laughing at his foolishness. He kept at it, hemming and hawing over onerous clauses, drawing rebukes from his mother for making her worried and not taking the matter seriously.

Judge flashed a conspiratorial wink at Louisa, drawing a smile. All in order, he said, pushing the papers towards his mother for her signature. You should find yourself a good attorney here in town, Ms. Patch. We are living in a very litigious society and you want to protect your assets.

I’m sure you can recommend someone, Norma said.

You really should, Evelyn said to her son. None of us are getting any younger, you know.

A car flew up the driveway, sending gravel pinging against the house. Louisa jumped up, not expecting company, and saw a well-dressed young lady climb out of a BMW. The woman scanned the yard, her eyes fixed on the barn, and Louisa was out of the door before the stranger get any further. A structure that held several million dollars of horse flesh was not going to be invaded by anyone, not without Louisa at their side.

Judge is here. I know he is, the woman said.

Yes, he is, Louis replied.

He’s not alone. Tears rolled down her cheeks, trailing mascara.

Of course he’s not alone, Louisa said.

The visitor turned towards the kitchen and Louisa countered, not sure what the woman intended to do once she found Judge. Her path blocked, the lady screeched and stormed over to Evelyn’s car. She threw herself into the driver’s seat and slammed the door with the violence of a child in the throes of temper tantrum. One flick of her finger and all four doors were electronically locked.

Alerted by the commotion, Evelyn marched across the driveway and proceeded to pound on the window, demanding to be let in, while the intruder shouted right back, her voice muffled by thick glass. From time to time, she used the car horn to punctuate her tirade, which in turn drew Judge into the fray. He strolled up to the side of the car, an oasis of calm in a sea of insanity, and pointed an electronic fob at the car. The locks sprang open. With a look that could have killed, the woman pushed the button inside the car and the locks snapped shut once again.

The farm’s manager leaned against the barn wall, a safe distance from the commotion but well within hearing range, entranced by the soap opera playing out in full volume. If three adults wanted to act like fools in front of the hired help, it was their problem. Louisa had no desire to sit through the next act of the farce. She retreated to the kitchen, where she found Chloe smeared head to toe in cookie mush. Norma sat by, cheering on the child’s uncoordinated attempt to feed herself, encouraging Chloe to try again.

Looks like I said the wrong thing. Louisa went at her daughter with a wet rag, upset that someone was pushing the girl to do something she could not do. She needed to remain in Norma’s good graces, however, and did not dare complain about the interference.

Boy needs to grow up and straighten out his life, Norma said. Turning to Chloe, she added, Didn’t your mamma buy the sweetest little cookies for the sweetest little girl?

She can't smile, Louisa said, afraid that Norma might think Chloe was not responding on purpose. No smiles, no words, no laughter. Louisa had learned to read her child's eyes.

The way she was gobbling up this cookie, I'd say she was happy as could be. She dusted a few crumbs from the table and brushed them into a saucer. It's so nice to see this place decorated for Christmas. Last tenant didn't bother and that's such a shame.

The syndicate partner wandered off to the living room, drawn by the Christmas tree, while Chloe arched her back in an attempt to escape from the booster chair. Once set free, she followed the person who fed her sugary treats. Louisa had no other choice than to trail behind and find some way to distract her guest from the dust bunnies multiplying along the baseboards.

Shelves were decorated with handmade Christmas cards from her art school friends, intermingled with the usual array of framed photographs, books and souvenirs of childhood vacations. Norma fussed over the skimpy tree that was dressed with a few of Chloe's kindergarten art projects, the result of gross motor skills not fully mastered.

We share a common interest, she said. The therapeutic riding association? Mind if I put your name forward? The board could use some new blood, and it wouldn't hurt to have someone who uses the program.

Thank you, I'd very much like to be more involved, Louisa lied. She could sit on their board if she gave up sleeping, since that was about all the spare time she had. Yet no matter how crowded her schedule was, she had to take the offer. There was no better way to insert herself into the upper echelon than through a charitable organization that she just happened to believe in, and if being tired was the cost to be paid, she'd learn how to live with exhaustion.

The horse world is so important to us down here, and that young man has never before shown the slightest interest, Norma said. You only just met him and already you’re a positive influence. Don’t let one silly incident give you the wrong impression.

There are drama queens in every corner of the world, Louisa said.

Poor Evelyn's probably humiliated.

I hope not, not for my sake. If her son is such a player, what's she supposed to do about it? He's a grown man. A grown man who must be packing something powerful in his tailored trousers, Louisa wanted to say, but that was a topic best giggled over with a girlfriend. And not a subject to be lusted over by a woman who hadn't so much as been touched by a man for years.

I suppose you have a pretty poor opinion of our Judge.

Chloe still had his handkerchief clutched in her hand. She dabbed at the faces of her dolls, coming close a couple of times, and Louisa's opinion of ‘our Judge' climbed a little higher. Few people paid any attention to Chloe, beyond the usual stares of pity, and it was rare for a man to have such an effect on the child. Actually, I'm favorably impressed, she said.

That's good to hear. Now, let's see if the circus has pulled out of town.

By the time Louisa arrived in the side yard, the distraught woman was tucked safely in her car, nodding in agreement with whatever Judge was whispering in her ear. He stood aside and watched her back out, waiting for her to turn onto the road before helping Norma into the Mercedes. With everyone in place, he came over to Louisa with head bowed, the picture of contrition.

We had a misunderstanding, he said. I'm sorry if you or Chloe are upset.

Not at all. Already forgotten, Louisa said. She was stunned for a second, shocked by his concern for a little girl who was largely oblivious to the world around her.

His head lifted, his electric smile sending a charge through Louisa, a ripple that settled south of her navel. I'll make it up to you, he said. But what can I give you that you won't want to return?

Her mouth opened and shut on a sexually-tinged retort, the words that expressed her true thoughts. That's not necessary. You were so kind to Chloe, and really, that's the greatest gift I could ever receive.

Here's what I can give you. Free publicity. We're on our way to a cocktail party, and I am going to talk up your stable until everyone I know is boarding their brood mares here.

With a grateful wave, Louisa bid her guests goodbye. She was going to be a success. She was going to prove her parents wrong. They would have to start speaking to her again, wouldn't they?

TWO

With so many horses to care for, it was impossible for Louisa to get away from the farm, not that she had any other place to go. Let her parents gloat over their foresight, that her relationship with a cowboy was as big a disaster as predicted. Let her brother and sister mock her lifestyle choices from the warm comfort of the family home in Durham. She would spend a remorse-free week with her closest friend, who was coming off a bad break-up with a hedge fund manager. For the next seven days they would commiserate, drink, and have a few laughs, and whatever the rest of the Patch clan did was their affair.

When she heard a car stop in the drive, Louisa hurried to the door to welcome Amy on her first visit to Colmar. To her surprise, it was Judge who stepped out of a mud-splattered Suburban, looking every inch a ranch hand in jeans and a barn coat. Sorry to drop by without calling, he said. I do have better manners than that, most of the time.

Tucked under his arm was a small wooden crate that had seen better days. Louisa invited him in for coffee just to be polite, hoping that he would decline and save her a little embarrassment. The cupboards were more bare than anything Mother Hubbard ever envisioned. To her chagrin, he accepted with an abundance of charm that made Louisa’s knees go weak. Is Miss Chloe receiving callers at this early hour? he asked.

Normally shy around strangers, Chloe used her iPad communicator app to wish Judge a Merry Christmas, a study in concentration as she pressed her pudgy finger on the icon. She did not hesitate to demonstrate some of the other things she had learned to express with a touch that took a great deal of effort to control, each electronic word eliciting gasps of awe from Judge. What a remarkable world we live in, he said. Well now, you seem to have just about everything a girl could ask for, Miss Chloe, but what might you like for Christmas?

She studied the iPad screen, as if the answer could be found there. What did she want for Christmas, Louisa wondered. Chloe was only just learning how to use the communicator to express her most basic needs. Would she ever learn to share her deepest thoughts and desires? Were there any, or was the working part of her brain limited to the most primal animal instincts of eating and drinking?

I know Santa can't bring everything in his pack, Judge went on. Some things are just too delicate and they'd get all crushed up in that big sack.

In the middle of the kitchen floor, he positioned the crate and then shifted Chloe around to the side. He kept his hands at her waist until he was sure that she had found her footing, and then he lifted the lid. Something small and white was inside, something alive.

What is it, Chloe? Louisa asked.

Only Louisa’s quick reaction kept the iPad from crashing as Chloe dove to the floor. The little girl grunted in a way that sounded like a yip, as if she wanted to say ‘dog’ despite being unable to speak. Louisa caught herself looking for the slightest a hint of a smile, hoping and praying that muscles had awoken from a paralyzed sleep, but there was no joy on the blank canvas of Chloe’s face. If she could have been granted one Christmas miracle, Louisa would have asked for that, a single smile. You didn't have to get her anything, she said to Judge.

The ladies sure like these little dust mops. He held a squirming bichon under Chloe's hand so that she could pet it. I'd take a good hunting dog any day of the week, but a coon hound wouldn't do you a lick of good, baby girl. Besides, a lady can never have too many accessories.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you for adding to an already over-filled schedule with a new puppy that had to be house-broken and thank you for adding a new vet bill. Louisa watched her daughter express joy, with a light in her blue eyes that only Louisa could see. Without question, the child was beyond happy with the dog that was, in fact, the perfect breed for her. Chloe is very grateful. You are too kind.

With a wave of his hand, he brushed aside the accolades. Before he could say another word, his cell phone rang and he paused to take the call. It was his mother, reminding him of some appointment or other. Louisa couldn't make out everything that was said, nor did she want to eavesdrop on a private conversation that was none of her business. Too much more information and she'd be rolling on the floor laughing at a man who was, by and large, his mother's accessory.

The already crowded kitchen became even more populated as Amy breezed in without knocking. Dropping her suitcase at the door, she cracked a high-voltage smile with eyes at half-mast. Hello there, sorry, didn't mean to barge in, she said. I'm Weezie's best friend forever and you must be?

Amy, this is Judge Cawthon. His mother owns this place, Louisa said.

Actually, I own it. My mother minds it for me. Keeps her busy so she's not gambling away my inheritance at the track, he said.

A high voltage smile went nuclear. A sly wink was thrown at Louisa, a lewd accusation that had no truth in it. Louisa would have corrected the error at once, if she hadn't been thrown off-base by his remark. His mother sure acted like a property owner in all their dealings, and Judge didn't even get the rent checks. Could he possibly be

Reviews for Still Life

[candyh_64 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This is a very slow story of a woman who owns a horse stable. She has a special needs daughter. There are several family complications. All in all it was a struggle to finish the book. I received this book from LibraryThing.

[marciablnc · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It took me a while to read this. I don't know much about horse racing. I got lost with so many characters. However, I liked the main character who had the strength to get through many difficult circumstances. At least, she finally figured out who cared about her.

[yukon92 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I received a free copy of this book through the LTER give-away....This is a story about a woman who runs a horse stable and also has a daughter dealing with birth defects. I couldn't really get into the story writing at all. I guess this is more for the Harlequin crowd (didn't have a "hunk" on the cover, though), especially for those who also like stories about horse racing.

[chgstrom · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

For a fairly short book, it seemed like there was way too many plot lines. The story would change from one to another with no reason, so was hard to follow at times. The ending was pretty predictable.

[gatorhater · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An enlightening story of love of family and that of running a horse stable, which was Louisa's deep passion her entire life growing up. It all begins when Louisa has problems during the delivery of her daughter Chleo, that leaves her with special needs. Her husband Josh, couldn't deal with these issues and moves out of the marriage.Then shortly after Louisa gets the opportunity of a lifetime to run a horse stable down south and she jumps at this chance to fulfill her childhood passion. Now she has too balance her personal life with that of running a successful horse farm, this keeps the reader thinking about the next situation that will arise.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Received free from Library Thing Early Reviewers.I had to push to get through this book. Early on I had to Google Horse Syndicates, There wasn't enough information in the book for me to understand what it was talking about with the syndicate. The lack of transition made it hard to read, all of a sudden I would be confused and it took a bit to figure out what was now going on.There were often references of things that had happened off page. I felt like I was missing information. that would have made things clearer.

[kathy_h_8 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Kinda of a slow mover for me; in fact, I did not finish. The first few chapters reminded me of a Hallmark movie, which, while not a negative, isn't my cup of tea when I'm reading.

[cianoh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sean Gleason demonstrates a rare ability to write fiction that reflects our ordinary, very real, lives. Reading STILL LIFE is like sitting in Louisa Patch's farmhouse, experiencing the highs and lows with her as she struggles to find success in the thoroughbred industry...and show her family that they wrong about her career choice.Between caring for her special needs daughter and running a horse farm, the last thing she needs is another problem, but here comes her older sister with a new husband in tow. Louisa sees through him at once, and sets out to split the pair before her sister gets burned.At the same time, she's working hard at building a relationship with the farm's owner, while an old flame is working twice as hard to build a relationship with her. She can't keep Cecil out of her life when she needs an ally to help her prove that she's right about the brother-in-law, who has managed to turn her family against her. The next thing she knows, she's in a racehorse syndicate with a mysterious backer who's hiding in plain sight.The novel is deliciously complex, the narrative so compelling that you can't stop reading. Perfect for a weekend read when you need a few laughs and a few tears.

[koalamom_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Louisa seems to have a hard life trying to raise a disabled daughter on her own and getting her new life of raising racing horses going. She seems to have several men interested in helping her succeed in some way - some even with romantic notions. Meanwhile she is having a hard time with her brother and sister over their lives and that of her dad who is going through dementia. Will it all work out?I had a hard time reading this book. I'd read a paragraph and one a ways down would say something I had no knowledge of -I had to go back and find things that sometimes weren't there - at least in my mind. I just was getting up much interest and couldn't sympathize with Louisa much at all.

[sherripo · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked the book but I did lose focus as I was reading it at times. I kept getting lost with the characters and I had trouble following the story line during parts of the book. The book had a lot of different plots going on at once which is fine but I did lose track of what was going on sometimes,

[fastforward-46127 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Louisa Patch is a single mother to a special needs daughter and runs a horse farm in Kentucky. Even though her relationships with her family members are strained, Louisa is determined to prove to her sister that she married a con artist. As if she didn't have enough things going on in her life, Louisa just might add dating to the mix and it looks like she has a few potential suitors.On paper, the plot lines sound promising and Louisa should be a character that you are really rooting for to get that happy ending. Unfortunately, there seemed to be too much going on the story and I never really felt emotionally invested in the main character. I felt confused numerous times throughout the book because it seemed like certain key things were glossed over without a clear explanation. So basically I liked the idea behind this book much more than the actual execution.I won a free copy of this book from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

[tellen81 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked the book for the most part. However, there were way too many characters in the book. I'm still not sure I had them all figured out till the end of the book. The story line was interesting though and would have been better with less names to try to remember.