I'm a hopeless romantic and I've read my share of romance
novels. They've actually become rather predictable for me, so when I picked up Abigail's
Revenge by Pat Ballard, expecting the same steamy lines every author throws
out there, I was pleasantly surprised.
When Abigail Avery is framed for her father's murder, at her sentencing she solemnly
looks each and every one of the jurors and the judge in the eye and silently promises them
that she'll be back to get her revenge.
Desh Elliot also made a promise the day Abigail was sentenced. He was going to spend
the next ten years preparing to clear Abigail and take down the crooks who put her behind
bars.
She's had ten years to plan how she's going to take down the jurors and judge on her
list and now, the skinny girl who was sent to prison is returning to Leaky Springs to
fulfill the promise she'd made. However, when Abigail returns, she didn't count on Desh to
recognize and help her.
Throughout her prison time, Abigail is sent letters requesting that she sell the house
and land that she's inherited from her deceased parents. When Abigail and Desh set out to
determine who framed her and why they want her house and land so desperately, what ensues
are two mysteries.
The first, regarding the men who put her behind bars; it seemed the more questions that
were answered, the more questions came up and the more dangerous the quest for the truth
became. The second mystery concerns the feelings that Desh stirs within her. It confuses
her because growing up in an abusive home, she's never been on the receiving end of love.
Ballard does an excellent job with describing the beginning scenes and doesn't
disappoint. She keeps up the incredible descriptions right through to the end, giving us a
chance also to feel what the characters are feeling and an understanding as to why they
feel that way. The reader really feels as though they're a part of what's happening in
Leaky Springs.
Ballard also touches the reader's emotions in another way. Like Simon Cowell, the judge
everyone loves to hate, Ballard has characters the reader will love to hate, though she
doesn't rush it. Ballard reveals character traits piece by piece until the reader knows
the character and how they feel about them.
Her character development is excellent too. When Abigail returns to Leaky Springs after
getting out of prison and is surveying her surroundings and observing the people she
hasn't seen in ten years, you can tell she's changed from the skinny waif that was wrongly
convicted into the mature, full-bodied, goal-oriented woman who returns.
If you're expecting to read steamy love scenes, don't pick up this book. Ballard's love
scenes are minimal and kept classy. Don't get me wrong; she's no prude, but she's got
enough spice in there to make even Scrooge's stomach do flips.
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Abigail's
Revenge is a page-turner and a must have on your bookshelf. Pat Ballard is
an author of various romance novels with women as big beautiful heroines. Read my article
about this author titled: Creating Love Where
Size Doesn't Matter.
Visit Pat Ballard's website Pat's
Place to read a prologue excerpt of Abigail's Revenge, or to
purchase it. |
