Beyond and Begone

by Lois Cloarec Hart

Erin has retreated from the world after the loss of her wife, Gwen, in a hit-and-run accident. Her best friend, Mariel, who is also her late wife’s sister, is the only person she’s interacted with for years. Finally, Erin dips her toes back into the dating pool, only to find that very odd things begin to happen. Mariel’s medium, Zahra, insists that Gwen is trying to reach her with a warning. Erin has no use for psychics, but as the incidents mount, she reluctantly turns to Zahra for help and finds herself swept into a maelstrom of danger and intrigue. Can the love of her life save her? Or will she join Gwen, beyond and begone?

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Lesbian, Fantasy, Mystery, Novella, LGBT

ebook

First published May 20, 2014

About the author

From the publisher's website: Born and raised in British Columbia, Canada, Lois Cloarec Hart grew up as an avid reader but didn’t begin writing until much later in life. Several years after joining the Canadian Armed Forces, she received a degree in Honours History from Royal Military College and on graduation switched occupations from air traffic control to military intelligence. Having married a CAF fighter pilot while in college, Lois went on to spend another five years as an Intelligence Officer before leaving the military to care for her husband, who was ill with chronic progressive Multiple Sclerosis and passed away in 2001. She began writing while caring for her husband in his final years and had her first book, Coming Home, published in 2001. It was through that initial publishing process that Lois met the woman she would marry in April 2007. She now commutes annually between her northern home in Calgary and her wife’s southern home in Atlanta.

Lois is the author of four novels, Coming Home, Broken Faith, Kicker’s Journey, Walking the Labyrinth, and a collection of short stories, Assorted Flavours. Her novel Kicker’s Journey won the 2010 Independent Publisher Book Award bronze medal, 2010 Golden Crown Literary Awards, 2010 Rainbow Romance Writer’s Award for Excellence, and 2009 Lesbian Fiction Readers Choice Award for historical fiction. Broken Faith (revised second edition) will be published in print and e-formats in winter 2013 and Coming Home (revised third edition) in spring 2014.

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.50 Stars. This was a good little short. I can go through bouts of insomnia and with the Olympics on at crazy hours it is definitely not helping me. I didn’t want to start a full length book late last night since I tend to want to keep reading until I finish, so I figured a short or novella would be perfect. I’ve had this sitting on my kindle for years and thought why not. I’m glad I did because that was a fun short story.

This story is about a woman who is trying to find a way out of the grief of her wife passing. And within that story Hart is able to give us a little mystery, a little thriller, a little romance, and a little paranormal. I loved the combo and thought it was fun read. Yes, you have to suspend disbelief and the romance is a little forced –it’s a short story so I’m not going to be that picky- but the twist is great and is what made the short so entertaining.

I need to start fitting in more short stories and novellas, I think my sleep will thank me. You can get this short through YLVA’s shop for only a dollar. The entertainment factor alone was well worth it to me and I think others will have fun with this too.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, suspenseful and .. cheesy?

With just over 16K words, this is a really short but enjoyable read about Erin who tragically lost her wife Gwen several years ago. A friend of her sister in law insists that Gwen is trying to contact her but Erin is skeptical. She soon has to accept the help of this medium however when strange things start to happen that she can't possibly explain.

Suspend your disbelief kids but other than that dive right into this surprisingly sweet story with a dash of mystery and suspense thrown in. It's definitely a book worth reading in between the more darker paranormal books and thrillers out there. Rating is a 3,5*

[Pin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short (novelette of 16,000 words) but powerful read. I really like the author's writing style.

[Ardila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. For such a short story, it was able to fit in grief, family, love, loss, and a dash of mystery. This is a story about Erin, who lost Gwen, the love of her life a couple of years ago, and suddenly was met by the urgency to contact a medium. Something is wrong, and they need to find out what it is.

There is a plot twist that I did not see coming at all, but when I think back, it was perfectly lined up by the writer. I teared up around 3-4 times from this short novella. Do take that with a grain of salt though as I handle fictional losses T E R R I B L Y.

Looking forward to reading more books by Ms. Hart.

4.75 stars.

[Angie Engles · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard Lois Cloarec Hart had a new title coming out in May, I didn't realize it was going to be such a short read. It can be frustrating when one of your favorite authors writes something you can finish within an hour. But Beyond and Begone is a sweet and touching read, with surprises and supernatural elements that work well within the story.

Plus, of course, there's the terrific writing! There's a special warmth Hart creates, not just with the backstory of Erin and Gwen's once in a lifetime love, but in Erin's wonderful friendship with Gwen's sister Mariel: "Vignettes from their years growing up together flashed through her mind, and underlying each of them was love and laughter."

The pain of having lost the most important woman in her life is suddenly matched by Erin's realizing others have deeply suffered, too, and in that there is comfort to any reader who has experienced it herself. "I never once considered how it must feel to love and not only be unable to speak of that love, but have to deal with the pain of suppressing it day in and night out."

Beyond and Begone could have been a bit longer, but it is no less powerful in its message of love and friendship.

[Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This was very interesting and strange but also heartfelt. I loved the writing style and the plot kept me intrigued. Short read but it was well fleshed out and I really liked the main character, Erin. I have other books by this author on my kindle and this made me want to definitely get to them sooner rather than later.

[J H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short story

Paranormal mystery with a huge twist ending. It's not often that a short story is complete, without leaving readers wanting for more, but this one did just that. Excellent plot, great characters, well-paced, unexpected HEA.

[Taz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, but good story about grief, ghosts, danger and new love. It's been to the point.

[3DKing · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting little short-story which could easily be expanded into a full book.

[Sameena Jehanzeb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eine charmante Kurzgeschichte die zwar eine oft erzählte Geschichte ist, aber eben doch immer wieder schön. Beyond and Begone ist eine kurze Erzählung um die verlorene Liebe, neue Anfänge und einem Wink aus dem Jenseits. Mir hat sie viel Spaß gemacht und ein warmes Lächeln auf die Lippen gezaubert.