Avalon

by Lee Souleles

It’s 1984, and Alex Wakefield is in Mexico, on a mission to avenge the death of his partner, DEA Special Agent Nicholas Locklear. Beautiful Sofíe Davis is an alluring complication he never anticipated. Sofíe is on a mission too. Recovering from a failed relationship, Sofíe has returned to Mexico, looking for direction as she plans her future. She’s hoping to reconnect with her family—especially her mother’s memory—before she returns to California in the fall. After four years of focusing most of her attention on a college education, Sofíe enjoys spending her days in a tropical Avalon. One sultry summer night, she meets Alex, her cousin’s new business associate. Taking a risk, she asks the gorgeous guy to dance. In the violent and corrupt world of Mexico’s emerging drug cartels, Sofíe and Alex forge an unrealistic pact. They soon find love and heartache, and discover the true meaning of family loyalty and forgiveness.

344 pages, Paperback

First published April 28, 2013

About the author

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a voracious reader. I read the backs of cereal boxes at the breakfast table when I was a child. I knew the ingredient list on a box of toothpaste. Most nights I could be caught in bed immersed in the Little House books or Nancy Drew mysteries, only by the light of the hallway coming into my room. My mother said that’s probably why I needed glasses at sixteen. In junior high I wrote a lot of really bad, adolescent poetry--some of which I still have--and began to sprout the essence of a few story ideas that float, like tiny embryos yet to be gestated, around in my head to this day. In high school I read The Godfather--that became a lost three days. I was required to read Mutiny on the Bounty, and gobbled the book up at warp speed. Then I discovered romance novels, especially Sweet Savage Love by Rosemary Rogers. I was hooked.

Story ideas in my head materialized and swam around for decades, waiting for their turn to gestate. In the meantime I became an adult, dealt with life, married and birthed two amazing, real live children of my own. Having a family took up all of the space in my world. But still I continually read. Though my literary diet consisted of romance novels and little else.

In my forties I discovered other genres. The classics, contemporary novels (some destined to become classics in their own right), memoirs, mysteries, humor. I joined a friend’s book club, helped to create another that has been together for over a decade, and never could shake my desire to birth a story of my own.

My son and daughter have grown up and are forging their own lives, and now, finally, I have the time to explore my imagination. Through hard work and the support of other talented writers, I’m discovering the ability to gestate these babies floating in my head. My goal is to release them into the world, birthing real, live, coherent words that resonate. Hopefully my stories will speak to you.

The specifics: I was born in Bakersfield, California. Grew up in Southern California, graduated from Sylmar High School, and attended Tennessee Technological University, in Cookeville, Tennessee. For a California girl, my Southern roots are deep. I’ve been married to my husband, Jeff, for over thirty years. We currently divide our time between Santa Clarita, and Ventura, California.

Reviews

[Ginny Gallagher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Avalon tells the story of Sofíe Davis, a heartbroken young woman looking to reconnect with her mother’s family in Mexico and Alex Wakefield, a DEA agent with his heart set on revenge. It takes place in 1984 and paints a realistic picture of how two people with opposing objectives can discover common ground, closure, and love.

It took me a long time to finish reading Avalon. I have tried for days to figure out the reason why and I think I’ve finally realized that it is the love scenes where I would feel a disconnection, put the book down for a while, become curious as to what happens next with Alex and Sofie and start reading again. It isn’t that the love scenes are bad it’s just that the wording felt forced and drawn out to me. I’ve noticed that sometimes authors may not be comfortable with writing detailed love scenes and I always think that it shows. I know that several authors feel the pressure to make things “steamy” but I think that the story, the readers, and the author benefit the most when a writer writes within their comfort level in this area. As readers we shouldn’t have to have every little thing spelled out for us. Part of my love for reading comes from the ability to use my imagination and fill in the blanks.

Even though I felt a disconnection with those areas of the book I loved the action, suspense, and romance of the story and those are the parts that kept me coming back. The character development is amazing and I have to say that it is probably one of the most detailed and well-researched books I’ve read in a while. The culture, social issues, fashion, and the general feel of 1984 is written so that you feel you are back in that time. Again, the attention to details is pretty amazing.

I liked this book just the way it is written but I think I would have loved it as a mystery/suspense with a touch of romance. Lee Souleles, is an amazing writer and I find it hard to believe that this is her first book. I have a feeling that she will find her comfort level and niche soon and we will be seeing a lot more from her.

I read all of her blog posts when she did the ghost tour stops and I am selfishly hoping that those tours were research for a paranormal mystery with a touch of romance. (hint, hint)


**Originally posted on Gin's Book Notes (http://ginsbooknotes.com)**

[Jules cressall · Rating 4 out of 5]

AVALON by Lee Souleles was a surprise read for me. I remember the 1980’s in Southern California very well. Too well! I could have been in college classes with our heroine Sofie! I was not really interested in revisiting some personal memories, but this novel opened me up to a world that I didn’t fully understand at the time. AVALON touched my heart in a profound way. It is a wonderful novel about family loyalty, forgiveness and love.
Sofie meets Alex Wakefield, an undercover DEA agent in Acapulco Mexico. She has returned to Mexico to heal from a broken heart. She is reconnecting with her large, wealthy Mexican family before she returns to California. Alex and Sofie are drawn to each other, but Alex has some big secrets. He is undercover to investigate her family. Alex needs to find out if Sofie knows about her family’s drug cartel. Their relationship is as hot as a sultry night in Mexico! Mixing business with pleasure is risky and someone is bound to get hurt.
The parts of the story that I loved the most were the descriptions of Mexico and its rich culture! The readers are shown both its beauty and its harsh poverty. All of the characters are so dynamic and they came alive for me. There are even some great life quotes sprinkled throughout the novel that I had to highlight! One that I loved was this life advice from her favorite Tia: “We’re each the captain of our own ship, not the master of the seas..……Life will bring the hurricanes, don’t go searching for rough weather”. The writing is poetic and the story is so rich and meaningful. I never thought that I could enjoy reading about America’s war on drugs, but I was wrong. AVALON was a very fulfilling read. I highly recommend it.

[Laura Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this engaging book. The characters are intriguing, yet flawed and human. The sex between the main characters was detailed while still tasteful. What drew me in the most was beautifully described scenery of Mexico, and the bond between the unlikely couple in this tale of love, sex, violence and deceit.

[Christine Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, action-packed romance with true-to-life characters and well-researched settings - the California and Mexico backdrops are exquisite. A strong, solid piece from this first-time, independent novelist.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I judged this book in a contest.