Stone's Ghost / Melissa Bowersock

Reviewed by: ?wazithinkin

Genre: Ghost Story / Contemporary Fiction

Approximate word count: 55-60,000 words

Availability    

Kindle  US: YES  UK: YES  Nook: NO  Smashwords: NO  Paper: YES

Click on a YES above to go to appropriate page in Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords store

Author:

“Melissa Bowersock is an eclectic, award-winning writer who turns her hand to any kind of story that moves her, be it contemporary, western, fantasy, romance, action/adventure, spiritual, satire or biography. She has written ten novels and one non-fiction and has been both traditionally published and self-published. She also writes under the name of Amber Flame.”

Ms. Bowersock is also a contributing author at IndiesUnlimited learn more about her at her website and follow her blog.

Description:

“Matthew Stone doesn't believe in ghosts … until he meets one. He owns a successful business in Lake Havasu, Arizona, home to the famed London Bridge that was brought over stone by stone and rebuilt over the Colorado River. He has a gorgeous girlfriend, a doting mother, and more money than he needs, but no time for stories about the ghosts who were transplanted from England with the famed bridge. When a chance encounter with a female ghost leads to unexpected friendship, Matt and the ghost are forced to rely on each other as they confront the pasts that haunt them.”

Appraisal:

This is an interesting character study that just happens to include a ghost. Matthew Stone is coasting through life almost in a sleep walk. He is so deep in denial that he doesn't even realize how far gone he is. When life circumstances and a ghost force him to look at his life more honestly, he loses his sense of balance.

I liked how Ms. Bowersock explored Matthew's selfish, self-centered tendencies and then allowed us to see enough of his childhood to understand why he was this way. He was a nice enough guy who didn't realize how anti-social he had become until he is faced with losing the woman that he loves. I had a hard time liking or sympathizing with his character.

Janie, our ghost, was an interesting character who has a spiritual aspect without bringing in religious views. Janie seems to be the only one who can get Matthew to consider breaking down the walls to allow introspection of his life. I felt more empathy for her than I did Matthew. The fact that I felt more empathy for all of the female characters than any of the male characters probably says more about me than the book itself.

Every character was well developed and the story is told through Matthew’s eyes so we get a male-centric perspective of all of his relationships; from his mother, to his absentee father, to his girlfriend, and his employees, which was interesting.  The dialogue was well written and believable. I found this to be a thought provoking read.

FYI:

There was a small amount of adult language. Any sex was behind closed doors.

Format/Typo Issues:

I noticed no editing issues at all.

Rating: **** Four stars