By K.A. Davis

Blurb

Windward Secrets is a fast paced mystery laced with humor, suspense, and a touch of the supernatural that will make the reader gasp at times and soften their hearts at other times.  Readers will recognize someone they know in every character and heighten their awareness of a heinous international crime.

When Claire McPherson booked Windward Cottage for the annual reunion with three college friends, her biggest concern was whether they would like the weather-beaten, old Victorian on Cape Cod.  Little did she know that would be the least of her worries.

Claire, Jill, Caroline, and Diane are in for more than a little R and R.   Windward Cottage has its own special powers of seduction.  After 35 years of friendship, they thought they knew everything about each other, but the old house draws confessions out of each of them revealing secrets they never knew, and guides them unwillingly into a 50-year-old mystery.

What was planned to be a vacation filled with fun, food, and lots of reminiscing turns into one that will change their lives forever.  Lost memories return and unanswered questions draw them unwillingly into a 50-year-old mystery. Who or what is trying to frighten them?  What is it about this house that won’t let them go?   The four women reluctantly take on a mission that leads them beyond their wildest expectations.  Only one woman’s stubborn determination keeps them at Windward Cottage when common sense tells them to leave.   Fear, danger, and unexplained events connect the four women to each other and to Windward Cottage.  Where do they go from here?  Can their friendships survive this vacation?  Three of them find their futures, and one finds her past.

My Review

The author introduced the four main characters early in the book. With four distinct personalities and totally different circumstances, they had remained friends since college.  The four had an annual reunion and took turns choosing where they would stay.  Claire chose Windward Cottage on Cape Cod, a place she had often come to as a child, without knowing they would discover a mystery that would put the four of them in danger.

When all arrived at the cottage, their nightly ritual was to go up on the widow’s walk, wine in hand, and share secrets about themselves. Soon after arriving, events occurred that led them to fear for their safety. When they came down from the widow’s walk, the fire was already lit, they found footsteps outside, and other mysterious things were happening. The author wove a lot of suspense throughout the story, enough to cause the reader to fear for the safety of the four women.

This book has it all – some mystery, a great deal of suspense, a touch of the paranormal, a scattering of humor, and threads of romance entwined all the way through.

When the book arrived, I picked it up intending to read a chapter or two, but the story and the characters pulled me in, and without putting it down, I read the whole book in one sitting.  When a book holds that kind of power over you, you have to award it five stars.

About the Author

I live in the mountains of Central Pennsylvania with my husband and a horde of white tail deer who insist on annihilating all my attempts at gardening.  We are empty-nesters with two grown daughters and two beautiful grandchildren.

​During my long and varied working life, I did business writing including everything from press releases to policy and procedure manuals.  I served as managing editor of an in-house newspaper where I enjoyed every aspect of production including writing, photography, and even layout.  From there, I wandered into marketing pieces and business plans.

My favorite adventure, however, was fourteen years in the Bed & Breakfast industry.  This was my passion.  When we left our lovely, old Victorian, it left a hole in my heart and I found myself with an indistinguishable yearning.  I needed more.  I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I just knew I wasn’t done yet!

Having done business writing and enjoying it, the light bulb finally came on and illuminated the fact that, if I liked commercial writing, surely I would like creative writing.  Right?  Well, some of us are simply slow learners.  Once that thought penetrated, ideas for stories started popping into my head.

Coming from a family of artists and authors, and being considered a creative person in my own right, it should have been clear long before this that writing was a pond into which I should dip a toe and test the water.

Website:  www.kathleenandrewsdavis.com

Blog:  http://www.dollhousesmemoriesandmore.com

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: Solstice Publishing (November 25, 2015)

Available in print and e-book through Amazon.com and in print from Barnes and Noble

A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.