What are you hiding? MOORE THAN MEETS THE EYE is the second installment in the COFFEE BREAK SERIES by CF Winn. It tells the story of one day in the life of two strangers who are thrown together at a photo shoot.
On a sunny beach in California, Joanna Moore, model of the moment, poses for the camera as if her life is every bit as beautiful as she is, but she struggles to be seen as a regular human being beneath her gorgeous exterior. For Joanna, making good decisions is a challenge, and as time goes on, she discovers that consequences come in many shapes and sizes.
Benny, her photographer, has reached a bump in his career and in his relationship. He has everyone believing that he is an open book. That he wears his fat, balding, gay man persona as comfortably as granny panties on laundry day. But hidden under a high-strung personality and a huge appetite is someone who loves and wants to be loved.
As the camera clicks away, they have no idea that they’ve already crossed bloody paths. Via different perspectives and telling flashbacks, little by little, the entire story is revealed. The reader learns that our actions and reactions connect us. That unless we know someone's story, until we have walked a mile in their shoes, in every situation, there is always MOORE THAN MEETS THE EYE.
Assessment:
Plot: Winn's fiercely plotted novel makes for a suspenseful read as Benny and Joanna come closer and closer to learning the truth about each other. Every plot point feels as if it is revealed at precisely the right moment, but even if readers do manage to predict the plot, the journey is never disappointing.
Prose/Style: Winn's word choice instantly attracts readers’ attention. Lyrical without being flowery, it makes for a joyful ride through unexpectedly dark terrain.
Originality: This novel is a unique and original storyline that readers will likely find much enjoyment in.
Character Development: Joanna's anxiety and frustration over her inability to remember her experiences is clearly defined and established. As she and Benny's working relationship grows simultaneously closer and more disparate, their ability to find comfort in uncertainty is refreshing.
Date Submitted: August 25, 2020
Like That First Drop On a Rollercoaster...
Once again, after the hilarity in KAFE CASTRO, CF Winn forces you to buckle up and hold on for dear life as the multi-faceted sequences unroll before you. There's no slow climb to the top to even estimate how far and how fast you'll drop. It's just full on downhill, hold on to your knickers and I dare you, that's right, I dare you to slow yourself down as Moore and Benny hurl you from one side of the story to the other until you don't know what's up or down. In typical CF Winn fashion, there's that dark element reminiscent of movies like Sin City that sends chills down your spine. Coffee break reads like these leave you wide awake to face the rest of your shift, and in this reader's case, with a new perspective on things.
Live Colliding...
You might think that MOORE THAN MEETS THE EYE is a look at how extremely attractive people are viewed as objects instead of human beings, and you might think that it's a look at how stereotypes distance us from the fact that those we view as "different" have problems that weigh on their lives like anyone. The delicious thing about the story, though, is how it shows that glancing events in our lives with uncertain outcomes can burden us more than any smack-you-in-the-face crisis.
Do Not Judge A Book By Its Cover
Another great addition to the Coffee Break Series! This story is about a day in the life of Joanna and Benny as they both struggle to get through a photo shoot, distracted and haunted by thoughts of theIr past. Both very likable characters with very different struggles and paths that unknowingly cross. This book will have you looking at others, thinking long and hard about what secrets they may have and what life events have shaped them into who they are today. Pay close attention to every word or you may miss important details that enable you to connect all the dots.
If you have not read the other books in the Coffee Break Series, you are missing out. After reading the last sentence in every book, I immediately wanted to go back to chapter one and reread every one of them! Kudos to CF Winn for another well written Novella! Keep them coming...
