Official Review: In Desperate Search of Peace

[krismags]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "In Desperate Search of Peace" by Analiesa Adams.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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In Desperate Search of Peace by Analiesa Adams is a new suspenseful romance set in the Pacific Northwest. The protagonist is a young schoolteacher, forced into hiding by a man from her past. After years of running, she ends up in charming Lake Duchess, where a combination of the vibrant personalities of the town’s residents and her own exhaustion tempt her to face her fears and start a new life.

However, it is not always easy to escape history, especially when that history has been shaped by her possessive ex-fiancée and his addiction. The more time that passes, the more determined Lisa becomes to find a way to stay with the people she is beginning to love and return to her career as an elementary school art teacher. Supported by the local sheriff, her new boss, and a loyal dog, will she have the chance to find the peace she’s been searching for?

The vibrancy of Lake Duchess and the distinctive descriptions of the residents drew me in. Their quirks and relationships make for a picturesque backdrop to the books suspenseful premise. The townspeople began to feel familiar, adding depth to the story. The author’s verbal illustrations of the setting made it easy to picture the area and its inhabitants. However, at times that same descriptive language could get in the way of the character development. There were scenes where the effort to use more and interesting words became distracting from what could be very intense scenes. I would prefer to see a little more development of the main characters, using depth of emotions rather than complex language.

My main hesitation with this book was the protagonist’s willingness to fall for the sheriff, when she was in the process of running from the results of a failed relationship that had destroyed her life. Their interactions seem a bit too simple at times, without the mixed emotions I would expect in that sort of situation. On the other hand, Lisa’s feelings toward her ex-fiancée were very well developed, allowing for a few unexpected twists. In addition, I appreciated the author’s willingness to tackle a complex and unusual addiction. While the relationship between the two main characters could be improved upon, the characters in general were engaging and realistic.

I would give this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is a fun read, and it is reasonably well written. There are some grammatical errors that distract from the overall story, as well as moments of language that is a bit too flowery for my taste, as I feel it takes away from the emotional impact. However, the author addresses some important points regarding addiction, and the characters are quirky and enjoyable. This book would make a nice fall read for someone looking for a book that is an enjoyable but not overly complicated choice.

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In Desperate Search of Peace
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[bookowlie]

Nice review! The book seems like it has a common premise - a woman escaping from a bad relationship and starting over in a different location. Still, I like stories with a strong setting, plus any book with a loyal dog gets my attention.