"The Relationship Riddle" by Susan Paulson Clark

REVIEW and EXCERPT

The Relationship Riddle
(Stairstepz Book 2)

by Susan Paulson Clark

The Relationship Riddle is the second book in Susan Paulson Clark's Stairstepz series. The author stops by to share an excerpt from the book. You can also read my review. Also available: The Relationship Shoppe.

Description

Not your typical love story ...

Vince, a football coach who foster-parents a five-year-old boy, dodges romantic commitment like a shifty running back. Belle, who runs her own business, has sworn off chasing men like Vince. A strong attraction comes into play - but with all their objections and temptations, will the spark ignite into a flame? When Vince and his foster son find themselves in harm’s way, Vince and Belle’s involvement takes a surprising new direction.

Excerpt

Chapter 1 ~ Belle

Belle loved Stairstepz, the store she and her best friend, Marian, had launched. So much so that, during her breaks, she’d often come around from their office in the back room to simply admire it—as she did now. Standing behind the small curtain, she gathered the muslin fabric in her hands and drew it aside, pausing and relishing the sight of personal-growth inspired books and breathing in the faint aroma of nerve-soothing scented candles. And so she stood, rather smugly, in that catchall area of unshelved books and a wall poster that read, “Smile!” Taking it all in.

Their young, part-time help, Hannah, chatted up a customer near the cash register. With surprise, Belle noticed something else, beyond the sales transaction, past the front window, out on the sidewalk. Through the distorted, rippling effect of the scorching Texas heat, she saw someone she knew. Could it be Vince Anderson?

Blond hair. Cheekbones. Muscular physique. Yes, Vince. As he approached the entrance and pulled open the glass door, Belle quickly snatched the fabric panels together, retreating behind them. As her curious eyes peeked through the narrow curtain opening, she felt her pulse and breathing quicken. Their boutique-sized store would afford her a good view.

Vince remained near the entrance, the customer left and Hannah came out from behind the counter, her eyes locking onto his body so intently, you would think he didn’t even have a head—and in so gawking, she nearly ran into a book carousel. 

Hannah gingerly straightened a book in the carousel, as if it had been her intention all along, and cleared her throat. “Well, hello! May I help you?”

“Sure,” he said with a warm smile. “I’m looking for a book.”

“What’s the title?”

“I just need to find your parenting section,” he said.

The store’s phone rang once, then twice, but Hannah didn’t rush over to get it. “You have kids?”

“No, well, not yet.”

“Oh, I see,” Hannah said. “You must be looking for a gift.”

The phone’s ringing seemed to grow louder. 

“Darn it,” Hannah said, “I mean, just a minute while I get that.”

Belle snickered to herself. Parenting, huh? Marian had said Vince never even had a girlfriend. She squinted; his right hand bore no wedding band.

Vince and Belle had met briefly before through Marian, who had loved him at one time. Hearing so much about him, Belle felt like she knew him quite well. He used to ask Marian for lunch or coffee, but never took her on a date. Marian had misinterpreted his attention as romantic interest.

So then, he didn’t need parenting books at all, just more ego strokes from Marian.

Belle shook her head. If Marian, her dearest friend and just about the strongest person she knew, fell for him, then how could she be immune to his charms? Better to remain behind the curtain and spy.

Praise for the Book

"To bill this book as a romance in the traditional sense, even though romance is a big part of the story line, would be to do it an injustice. It's really about life's unpredictability and its choices. The rest is up to the protagonists … and up to the reader to follow with bated breath." ~ Midwest Book Review

"What will you get from The Relationship Riddle? You will find a heartwarming story of love between not only a man and woman, but also between child and parent, and even between friends. You’ll get a well-written story with a strong plot and story structure. You’ll find loveable characters you’ll want to cheer for, and maybe one or two that you might throw your book at, if they were standing in the room with you. [...] I found myself glued to the story, waiting anxiously to find out what was going to happen, as I knew some kind of danger was coming to mess things up for poor Vince. And of course it did come. Great job, Susan. Keep on writing." ~ Victoria Schwimley

"It is an unusual romance but one which is very realistic. It is told in alternating chapters by Belle and Vince. It made a welcome change to romance novels. I loved reading it." ~ P. Blevins

"The Relationship Riddle touches on many social topics current today. Single parenting, fostering children, males fostering children, elder care. and women entrepreneurs. [...] The writing is good, the characters are believable, and what is refreshing to me is, there isn't graphic sex in the book. I like to read good stories, and if you enjoy romance on the lighter side, then you'll enjoy The Relationship Riddle." ~ Nana58

"The Relationship Riddle was a very enjoyable read. It was well written and left me wanting more. I thought Clark did a tremendous job with character development. I was hooked and I could identify with the main characters in the story. I appreciated very much that it was clean and appropriate for anyone. Grammatically speaking it was excellent as well. I would love to read more of this author's work. I want to know how the relationship between Belle and Vince progresses. I also really appreciated the questions at the end, it's not just an entertaining read but it is also thought provoking." ~ imfchik

My Review

By Lynda Dickson

Belle and Marian are co-founders of the Stairstepz bookstore. One day Marian's old flame Vince Anderson walks through the front door looking for a parenting book. Turns out he wants to foster a child - on his own! When Belle doesn't tell Marian about Vince's visit, you just know they're in for trouble. Belle knows she should stay away from him, but something about him draws her in. With Vince reluctant to commit to a relationship because of his past experiences, will these two ever get together?

Although there are a few references to things I assume are in the previous book, the story is still easy to follow and stands on its own merits. Some pretty difficult issues are raised (alcoholism, child abuse, drug making, fostering, adoption, divorce, sexual harassment - both male and female, single parenting, domestic violence, surgery, physical therapy, aged care, death, prison), but they seem to be resolved a little too easily. Still, this is an entertaining read and a lot lighter than these issues might indicate.

While this story line is complete, the ending leaves it open for a sequel. I look forward to reading more about these characters.

About the Author

Susan Paulson Clark has been writing for fifteen years. She's an avid reader of women's fiction, mysteries, and non-fiction titles. Susan enjoys painting (acrylic and oil) and spending time with her husband. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with degrees in English and Education - and she's an avid believer in writers' critique groups!

The Relationship Shoppe and The Relationship Riddle are part of her Stairstepz series. A third book will be released in 2016!

Second Chance (2014) by Susan Paulson Clark

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"A House Without Windows" by Stevie Turner

EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY

A House Without Windows

by Stevie Turner

A House Without Windows is the latest release by Stevie Turner. You can read an excerpt and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a copy of this book.

  

Description

Newly-pregnant Dr Beth Nichols had no idea she was being stalked by ex-patient Edwin Evans as she made her way home one evening after a late shift. After being anaesthetised she woke up in Edwin’s basement, held against her will, and eventually giving birth there without medical help.

The story is written from different perspectives; from Beth’s 9 year old daughter Amy who is born in captivity, from Beth herself, now pregnant with Edwin’s baby, from her fiancée Liam, and 16 years later from her son Joss and his father Edwin.

When Beth escapes the Press get hold of the story and Beth and Amy have their photo in the newspaper. Liam (who has made another life for himself back in his homeland of Canada with his new partner Patty and their son Toby) is shocked to see the photo, thinking Beth had been murdered years before.

Liam must make the difficult choice of either meeting up with Beth again and getting to know his daughter, or staying where he is in Toronto.

The story then runs ahead to the point where Joss finds out who his real father is, now a patient in a secure mental hospital. Joss wants to get to know him, and makes a journey against his mother’s wishes to see his real father. However, the much-anticipated meeting does not go quite to plan; Edwin still seems obsessed with Beth, and Joss feels unloved and unwanted. He makes the mistake of telling Edwin where the family are living, and when Edwin is eventually released he comes looking to claim Beth back again, the only woman he has ever loved.

Excerpt

PROLOGUE

The unprepossessing exterior of the suburban 1930’s end-of-terrace house was giving nothing away.  Inspector John Hatton pushed past the usual group of ghouls and rubberneckers, dipped his slightly overweight body under the cordon, and opened the gate leading to the tidy pocket-handkerchief front garden.

“Morning Ford.”

“Morning Sir.”

“You get all the best jobs don’t you? Anyone in or out?”

“Not as far as I know, Sir.”

“Have you had a word with the neighbours?”

“The ones I’ve spoken to say he was always a bit of a loner; kept himself to himself.  They don’t really know much about him.”

Stamping his feet as he sheltered from the January chill in the half–enclosed front porch, Ford looked to Hatton as though he was freezing his arse off.  Hatton let a faint smile play around his lips as he realised that yes, this morning there was actually somebody worse off than him.

He curbed the impulse to wipe his feet on the welcome mat just inside the front door.  Grimacing at the irony, he put on plastic overshoes and gloves and continued down the hallway into the kitchen. 

Everything was still in its place, modern and clean.  The door to the dishwasher was open as though it had been in the process of being emptied; there were still clean plates, bowls, and pots and pans stacked neatly.  Knives, forks and spoons filled the cutlery compartment, all with their handles facing the same way.  Hatton noticed the five large plastic containers still standing side by side above the dishwasher on the worktop, each full to the brim with a different breakfast cereal.

He could imagine guests (if there had ever been any) popping into the kitchen for a drink of water and wondering why somebody living on his own would have wanted to buy so many containers of cereal, and why they would have required such a huge American walk-in fridge.  He opened the fridge door that stood next to the dishwasher; there were seven pints of full-fat milk in the storage space in the door, three large portions of raw fillet steak on the bottom shelf, and numerous types of vegetables, salad stuff and fruits filling the middle two.  Various yoghurts sat on the top shelf in regimented lines, segregated into flavours, with the ones nearest their sell-by date at the front. Twelve raw eggs sat in holders slightly too small for them in the door above the milk.

Hatton took one last glance at the food that would soon begin to spoil; he could have just eaten that fillet steak with some chips, mushrooms and peas. 

Walking around the central table he noticed the dishcloth folded neatly on the draining board, not just thrown down as he would have done.  He opened the cupboards underneath the sink; bleach, Dettol, and washing-up liquid stood one behind the other on the left side, next to two large packets of sanitary towels on the right.

The guests would have really begun to wonder at the sight of those….

He sighed and closed the cupboard and looked around some more.  Adjacent to the sink stood a washing machine still full of damp women’s clothing, and on the far wall was a long clean-looking worktop with cupboards underneath containing sweets and crisps, and what looked like a pantry just outside the kitchen door.  Hatton checked inside and found shelves overflowing with rice, spaghetti, pasta, potatoes, more tinned food, and the door to what resembled yet another American type of walk-in-fridge, silver in colour, but built into a recess with a bolt on the outside.  The bolt was pulled back into the open position, and the door was slightly ajar.  He walked towards it, opened the door fully, and trod carefully down the narrow flight of steps.

He had to see it just once more, before the house was bulldozed and razed to the ground.

PART 1 - AMY

CHAPTER 1

Mummy wonders if it will be Christmas soon, but I don’t know what she means.  She says that when she was a little girl she would get lots of presents on Christmas Day, and there would be a big tree in her house with lots of twinkling fairy lights on the branches and shiny baubles that she could see her reflection in.  I’ve never seen a tree, so Mummy drew one for me in my colouring book and showed me.  I don’t understand why there was a tree in her house.

My name is Amy, and Mummy thinks I could be seven, eight or nine years old because my big front teeth are growing in.  I have long blonde hair like Mummy that I can sit on.  Mummy puts it in a plait and she showed me how to plait hers, and she taught me how to read.  She says I can read and write really well, and I like writing stories.  I write everything down in a secret diary and keep it under the mattress. Mummy writes things down too. The Man brings us paper, pencils, exercise books, and colouring books for me, but he doesn’t speak much.  Mummy tells me to keep out of his way, so I run to the toilet when he comes.  Sometimes he finds me and smiles, and says that I’m getting a big girl.  I don’t like him.  He’s nearly as tall as the ceiling and he has hair all over his face.  Mummy told me his name is Edwin, but I don’t like him so I call him The Man.

Our house is small and dark.  There’s a light bulb hanging from the ceiling that stays on all the time, even when we go to sleep.  It’s too dark without the light on, and I get frightened.  I get in bed with Mummy because there’s nowhere else to sleep.  When I lay in bed I can see all the rest of the house except the toilet and sink, which is around a little corner and out of the way.  All the walls are greenish-grey, and Mummy says they’re made out of concrete.  When I touch them they’re cold. 

Mummy sticks my pictures on the walls with something called Blu-tack, and she says they brighten things up a bit.  My best picture is the one of Prince, a ginger cat that sometimes follows behind The Man when he brings our food.  I’m allowed to stroke Prince until he goes back out, but then Mummy says I have to wash my hands before I eat anything. 

Last week The Man brought me a reading book. I’d never had a reading book before.  He said I had to look after it because he’d kept it safe for years since he was a little boy.  It’s got thick pages, large letters, and a sort of yellowy cardboard cover. I’ve started to read it.  A lady called Enid Blyton wrote it, and it’s called The Island of Adventure. It begins where a boy called Philip who loves animals is at some sort of summer school and is bored as he sits under a tree doing something called algebra (I asked Mummy what algebra is, and she said it’s a different kind of maths).  He hears a strange voice telling him to blow his nose and wipe his feet.  It turns out the voice comes from a parrot sitting in a tree nearby, and he follows it as it flies off down the hillside back towards his school. That’s the only bit I’ve read so far.

I asked Mummy what a parrot is, and why I can’t sit under a tree.  She told me a parrot is a colourful bird that flies around in hot countries, but that some people in this country keep them in cages as pets.  I think that’s cruel.  If I had a parrot I’d let it fly about.

I had to ask her again why I can’t sit under a tree.  Mummy sighed and told me that trees grew outside, and we weren’t allowed to go outside.  When I asked her why, she said that The Man doesn’t want us to. 

It’s boring in our house.  I do maths with Mummy like Philip had to do at school.  I know how to add up lots of numbers in my head and come up with the right answer, and Mummy says not many eight year olds can do that.  She always asks me to spell words and read even longer words.  She helps me with the ones I can’t do, because she’s a doctor and she’s cleverer than me.  When my felt tips run out I have to wait for The Man to bring more. There’s no parrots flying around to look at, and I want to sit under a tree.  One day I will get outside, but I’m not sure yet how I’ll go about doing it.

Featured Review

By Chris Harrison

Stevie Turner follows up The Porn Detective and The Pilates Class with a study of lives affected by abduction. When Dr Beth Nichols is released from a basement after ten years of captivity she and her children are not the only ones forced to reassess 'life on the outside' as they adjust to freedom.

The story is told from the point of view of a number of characters, but rather than create a tangled plot of interweaving stories Stevie Turner breaks the book up into a separate section for each character, allowing the various personal experiences to be told in a concise and direct way. Lives and characters cross and intermingle, with the climax of the story bringing together every strand and storyline.

Based on the events surrounding a real life case in Lambeth, London, in which three women were held captive for thirty years, A House Without Windows presents some harrowing details early on when Beth and her daughter Amy are still imprisoned. The novel allows time to explore the various emotional reactions, from Beth's former boyfriend Liam, to her son Joss, and even those of the original captor Edwin Evans.

The subject matter is a potential minefield if handled badly, but A House Without Windows avoids cliché and melodrama to deliver a story of devotion overcoming obsession.

About the Author

Stevie Turner was born and raised in London, England. She began writing while still at primary school, but now her children have flown the nest she is able to devote more time to writing women's fiction. Her first novel, The Porn Detective, is loosely based on actual events and tells of the effect on a marriage of a man's addiction to pornography.

Her second novel, The Pilates Class, is a humorous look at the lives and loves of several different characters attending a Pilates exercise class for the first time.

Stevie has also written Lily, a short story, and a third novel, A House Without Windows.

Giveaway

Enter the giveaway for a chance to win an ebook copy of A House Without Windows by Stevie Turner.

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"India Was One" by An Indian

India Was One

by An Indian

Description

Excerpt

Jai remembered the first time he saw her like it was yesterday. He was sitting in the college canteen (cafeteria) with his friends Bunty, Subra and Punk, drinking (chai – tea). From where they were sitting, they could see the main road across from the canteen where people were passing by. It was drizzling. A few students were walking hurriedly towards the college under an umbrella, while some were wearing hooded jackets with their bellies looking big from the books they had tucked inside their jackets. Others were holding newspapers to cover their heads and had folded the legs of their trousers to keep them from getting wet as they tip-toed around the puddles that had formed.

Some hawkers were selling hot (bhaji – fritters) in a top-covered cart open from all sides. Steam emanated from their woks as the wet battered (bhaji) hit the hot oil, making a sizzling sound. As soon as they came out of the frying pan, the hawker sprinkled them with a generous portion of dry spices. A few customers were savoring them while the others were just taking the shelter of their covered carts to stay dry.

Suddenly, an auto-rickshaw stopped on the road. Its tire splashed into a small puddle that the driver had tried unsuccessfully to avoid. A hand jutted out, holding a small red umbrella. The fingers pressed a button on the umbrella extending and unfolding it, and a woman stepped out quickly, attempting to avoid the rain. She was wearing faded blue denim jeans and a crisp white shirt, with her hair tied in a pony-tail, and she carried a tan colored leather bag. Jai choked on his tea when he saw her. He had not seen a more stunning girl before. She looked lost since it was her very first day. It was Jai’s first day too but he was confident as he had the company of his three friends. She, on the other hand, was all alone. His eyes followed her as she disappeared in the college doorway.

India Was One Artwork

Review

By Karen Doering

India Was One is not an easy read. It is not a love story, a mystery/thriller an adventure, a travel book or anything that fits into a structured genre. But India Was One is all of those things and so much more.

Looking deeply into the culture and mores of a country that most Westerners don't understand, it takes the reader on a journey that is at once heartbreaking and life affirming. This novel will take you to the heart and soul of both the geographic land that is India and the richly diverse culture that is its people.

While none of us can fully understand a people or a culture unless we are part of it, it does open the doors to more comprehensive knowledge of why India is at a crossroad politically and economically.

But this isn't a history book or a travelogue, it is a story of people who love. Living their lives as all of us do. Working, laughing, joking and taking care of themselves and their families. As they celebrate festivals and buy homes you will see people who are living their lives much as we do. Falling in love as we do.

But there is an undercurrent in this rich and warmly penned story. What if India were divided physically? How would that change the lives of the people of India who live there and the lives of those who now live, work and contribute to so many other countries? Are the cultural divisions that are happening so radically in India akin to a physical division. What if there was a wall or a fence dividing India?

For those readers who want a love story and an understanding of a rich diverse culture India Was One will deliver that with warmth and skill. For those that want to understand why India is at such a cross-roads, why so many people are leaving India and emigrating to other countries you will find many of the answers here.

I am glad I read this novel. It increased my understanding and I enjoyed the story. I was disconcerted all the way through the novel by the italic words explaining every native East Indian term used. It took away from the flow of the novel and if the author really felt it was needed a list could have been added to the end of the novel. Most of the words used are not so difficult to figure out in context and for most readers they are not unfamiliar. Other than that and a few editing errors, it was well written. It does use British English so those readers not familiar with usage and spelling will find some differences but they are minor.

It is high on my recommend list.

About the Author

The author was born and raised in Mumbai, India. He came to the US in 1989 to New York. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.

The author's conscious decision to remain anonymous makes a political statement and intends to communicate the insignificance of a particular sect, religion, region or gender over a common identity, i.e. an Indian. Asked about the same, the writer responds, "It's more important to me that this book was written by an Indian. For readers who are non-Indians, sectarian differences are secondary. Although the book is based on India, people around the world identify with the message".

For further insights, read a short interview with the author.

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