Geri McKenna hasn’t seen her brother’s best friend, Sean Eastman, since he graduated high school. Sean left their little town of Pembroke just hours after she nailed him with a kiss behind the shed, never to be seen or heard from again. No calls, no texts, no social media to stalk online.
Eight years after the awkward incident behind the shed, Geri and Sean meet again. She’s now an ambitious journalist working in a dead end job, and he’s a successful structural engineer working on a classified government project. For different reasons, they’re both interested in a woman who has gone missing amidst allegations of a Sasquatch encounter in the vicinity of Shag Lake. Geri is determined to get the scoop on the hottest story to hit the Internet, while Sean is determined to stop her.
Dodging alien creatures and a corrupt shadow government, Geri and Sean struggle to find neutral ground in this debut new adult adventure by author Susan McEachern (who also writes young adult as award-winning author S.M. McEachern).
Assessment:
Plot: There’s a certain charm to this blend of romance, science fiction, and thriller, though some of the details get muddied along the way, leading to a confusing middle section where there are too many questions and not enough answers. Still, it's a thoroughly enjoyable story.
Prose: McEachern crafts a satisfying, entertaining tale with memorable characters who work well together. The prose has an easy-going style that draws in readers and keeps them engaged until the end.
Originality: Part star-crossed romance, part conspiracy thriller, this tale draws on familiar themes, creating something familiar yet just fresh enough to attract its audience.
Character Development: Both Geri and Sean are sympathetic, resourceful, intelligent protagonists, who manage to overcome natural differences to form a genuine bond in the heat of conflict. As such, this works well as both a science fiction thriller and a romantic adventure, with a dash of comedy along the way.
Date Submitted: August 03, 2017
This book was, without a doubt, one of the most innovative and incredible books I've read in a long while.
Full of action, suspense, and a dash of romance, Shag Lake managed to take multiple overused plot devices and create a fresh, new science fiction adventure. I loved both of the main characters, and found them to be incredibly well-rounded. Geri was clever, plucky, and full of spirit, while Sean was caring and level-headed. They complemented each other well, and their relationship was definitely one of the best parts of the book. The world-building was vivid and creative, with amazing new creatures and extraterrestrials.
Written as a standalone, the ending ties up loose ends giving you a satisfying ending, but leaves you desperately wanting more from the author. I would definitely recommend this to fans of X-Files or the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, as well as anyone who loves romance with a sci-fi twist.
- Nicki K., Reviewer NetGalley
I enjoyed the pace, tone, and humor of the book. I would recommend it for adult readers though due to the sexual innuendo and expressions. It was a fast paced, easy to read story and I enjoyed following the adventure of the main characters. I didn't read the preview, so I wasn't expecting the alien, human hybrid angle, but it fit nicely in the scheme of things and I could see a series being made with many future opportunities with the.main characters. I would enjoy reading another novel by this author. I think the fast pace, easy to read dialog, and unique story line will put her on a fast tract to success. - Cristie C., Educator, NetGalley
