Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Danny is a teacher in small town Colorado, trying to live down his wild teenage years and living his life the only way he knows how; one day at a time. He's had a tough time of it, but Danny figures he's managed to become respectable, or at least less than notorious. The last person he expects to ever see back in town is Harlan Quinn, his old best friend and consummate bad boy. And when he finds out Quinn is the new Sheriff it's even more of a shock. 

Quinn knows there's more to his old hometown than meets the eye. There's trouble brewing, big enough trouble that he's willing to go undercover to figure out who's behind it. Quinn knows there's more to Danny than old memories and quiet living, too. There was a lot of passion in his old friend once upon a time, and he's willing to bet it's still there if he scratches the surface. He sets out to stir things up in more ways than one, pushing Danny to admit that there's more to life than he has, and that their old town just might manage to be new again.

First edition published by Torquere Press, March 2007.

Second edition published by Dreamspinner Press, April 2016.

Book Review

One of my favorite types of stories is reunions and/or second chances. And with Quinn returning to his hometown in Colorado as the new sheriff, only to find out that his best friend from high school from eighteen years ago, Danny, is a teacher and his new neighbor, the scene is set for an entertaining read. There was more to it than that though: even though ‘Old Town New’ takes place only about ten years ago – before high-speed Internet and smartphones – the lack of all the technology we take for granted now makes it feel like a historical. The realization how much the world has changed since then was both scary and funny. The other element that surprised me, in a good way, was the mystery around Quinn and why he has really returned. I won’t give any details about that in this review, so as not to spoil the surprise, but it added some great suspense and depth to the story.

Danny may be a respectable history teacher now, but he’s led a wild life. He was the only one of his friends who survived a serious car accident a few years after high school graduation, and it has changed his life. Not just because he still has a few physical twinges to deal with, but also because the guilt has shaped his outlook on life. The only reason he has returned to the small town is that his father became sick and needed his help. All Danny can do is take it one day at a time.

Quinn used to be a bad boy, but has turned into an exemplary cop and now sheriff. Honest, determined to catch the bad guys, and unwilling to “let things lie” just because everyone else has accepted the status quo. There are a few who don’t like him being back and representing the law, but Quinn is determined to make it work. He is like a breath of fresh air for the town, but especially for Danny. Quinn won’t let Danny hide or fade away, and he will do whatever it takes to make Danny happy.

If you like second chances, if stories set in small towns are your thing, and if you’re looking for a read full of charming little details, quirky characters, and lots of hot loving, then you will probably like this novella.

 

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 194 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	10-November-2019
Price	$3.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081B4MH97