The Dead Tree

by Lori L. Clark

The town of Steele Grove, Missouri sits high along the bluffs of the Mississippi River. Legends run rampant around town about crazy Blythe Fountain, the woman who discovered her beau hanging from the oak tree in the family's front yard. A short time later, two of her friends mysteriously vanished, never to be seen, or heard from again.

Eighty years later, Ariel Fountain has inherited the property, and after catching her boyfriend cheating on her, decides she needs a change of scenery and runs headlong to a place shrouded in superstition and family mysteries which may be better off left unsolved.

Ariel sets out with the help of a local man, Grady, to uncover the truth behind the hanging and the girls' disappearances. What Ariel discovers is a secret so horrific she wishes she would have left it buried.

Genres: Mystery, Contemporary Romance, Suspense

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2014

About the author

Lori L. Clark currently resides in Hazelwood, MO with her fur kids... a two-year-old Min Pin mix named Rubble, a 5-year-old Min Pin named Mini, and an owner surrender affectionately known as Lacey the Biting Min Pin.

When Lori isn't listening to the voices in her head, waiting for the next creative inspiration to hit, she also loves to read, run, paint pet portraits and rescue dogs.

Email Lori at LLClark.author@gmail.com

Reviews

[TeriLyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

**The Dead Tree generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**

5 Dead Tree Stars

The Dead Tree explores the intimacies and many facets of love with a mysterious journey and intriguing characters. To me, no grand love story takes place between two main characters. Rather, the reader experiences love through different relationships throughout the book: siblings, friends, family, young lovers. We experience both the triumphs and the costs through these relationships. It’s an interesting look into the many ways one person’s story can evolve through the actions and the love of others. Lori Clarke wove this concept concisely through her prose. With a flair for secrecy and interesting flashbacks, the prose engages from the very beginning of the book until we finally discover the truths at the end.

The main character here, Ariel Fountain, embarks on her own journey set in motion by the death of her reclusive Great Aunt Blythe. Scorned by her long-time lover and friends, she sets out determined to resolve the mystery of the inheritance left by Blythe including the dead tree in the yard in which the many legends surrounding it consume the townspeople.

Ariel’s character engages the reader fully with her wit and unique charm. She’s different in a “tom boy” kind of way, not shy but not overtly charismatic or out going. Her closest confidants become Bylthe’s housekeeper and Grady, the hot landscaper called upon to remove the mysterious dead tree. During her search, she is left the diaries of her Great Aunt Blythe. Each diary entry takes us back in time to explore the relationship that took place between Blythe and her true love. Each entry mixed with the interactions between Ariel and Grady providing more clues into the mystery. We hear from diverse point of views: both Ariel and Grady’s and also Blythe Fountains. I related hearing from Blythe through her journal entries to watching The Notebook. We get to experience an old love through the eyes of a teenager living in simpler times. This POV enhances our reading pleasure, making the mysterious events of the tree somewhat clearer. Grady’s POV provides us with some the traditional angst. His position towards Ariel has been complicated by the work he’s doing for her. But with day, she intrigues him more and he too becomes invested in the story surrounding the tree.

While I did have an idea of what the mystery of the tree is, the author took a couple of turns that I never saw coming. As I stated earlier, if you’re looking for a grand love story I don’t think this is the book for you. But for a good mystery with intriguing characters and a plot that wraps itself around the idea of the many forms of love stemming from the journey of one person, The Dead Tree will work for you. It’s a mysterious adventure story that leaves you guessing throughout but ultimately satisfying the reader in with its conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this story as it’s different than anything I’ve been reading recently, it held my attention throughout exciting me to discover the secrets Ariel uncovers.

[Lashell Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dead Tree is the tale of a confident young woman named Ariel who gets sucker punched in the gut by love, and then learns she’s inherited a fortune from her Great Aunt Blythe. Well, since love dissed her (in a major way) she really has nothing tying her to California anymore, so she hops on a plane and heads for Missouri to meet with her Great Aunt’s lawyers to find out what’s what. Once there, she learns that not only did her Great Aunt leave her the money and the mansion, but she also left behind a totally engrossing mystery to be solved. Standing on the property in front of the mansion is a large dead tree, one that all the townspeople have a plethora of legends and superstitions about - What’s the real story behind the young man who was found hanging from that very tree? And what about the two girls who went missing just days after and were never heard from again? And most shockingly … did Ariel’s Great Aunt Blythe really murder all three of them?

I would LOVE to fill you in on the details, but I’m a firm believer in spoiler-free reviews, so I can’t. But suffice it to say that I was thoroughly entertained by The Dead Tree. I love the friendship that develops between Ariel and Grady, the sexy landscaper she hires to help her get rid of the dead tree, and the romance that starts to simmer for them. I love the fact that Ariel is not a damsel in distress. When love knocks her down she doesn’t lay there and take it, she gets up and takes charge. I also love that Grady feels like a real twenty five year old man who’s trying to build a career for himself while navigating the always tricky waters of dating and finding that special person to share your life with.

The Dead Tree is an engaging read, and once I started it I didn’t want to put it down until Ariel found all the answers she was seeking about the mystery and legend of the tree and it’s connection to her Great Aunt. My jaw dropped on the second page and it was full steam ahead from then on! This is the first book I’ve ever read by Lori L. Clark, but I can promise you it won’t be the last. If you like your romance served with a side of mystery and a pinch of suspense - whether you read YA/NA or not - you will enjoy The Dead Tree!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that initially, the title did not entice me to want to read this. I could not tell by the title that this would be an awesome contemporary romance with a twist of mystery, though I know better than to let myself be fooled by the cover or title of any book. Since I was fortunate to receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review, I can tell you I was honestly and pleasantly surprised:)

If I hadn't have been so busy lately, I would have read this page turning, 5 star must read book in 2 days or less! In fact I became highly irritated whenever I had to put it down to fulfill other obligations:o

Ms. Clark is a wizard with words and a genius at story telling! This book has an intriguing story plot and one that I've never read. This tale is highly entertaining, has a mystery & some humor woven throughout and plenty of surprises, twists & turns. So make sure you add this to your TBR list and mark your calendar for June 10 coz you don't want to miss out on this fantastic read!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I finished this book and that was my thought. I got to a point where I could not put it down. I needed to know how everything came together and I was not disappointed!

This is an intriguing story! We meet Ariel, a young woman who has just been kicked in the gut when she finds her boyfriend having sex with her two best friends. She later finds out she has inherited her great aunt's estate. She picks up and moves to the estate in Missouri, figuring there is nothing left for her after her boyfriend's betrayal. From that point on out, there are a lot of unanswered questions about the legends of the large dead tree on the property.

She also meets sexy landscaper Grady when she hires him to remove the dead tree on her property. An attraction between them begins to sizzle.

There isn't too much more I can say without giving out any spoilers. I loved that as Ariel reads her aunt's memoirs, we are taken back in time and it is told to us through her great aunt Blythe's eyes. At that point in time, I wasn't sure which story line I loved more.

I loved that Ariel is a self-sufficient woman and how she handles Grady at one point in the story for his sketchy behavior had me cheering!

The ending blew me away! All the questions are answered and it was quite a shocker. This is a wonderful romance with a heaping of mystery and suspense mixed in for good measure. Great story!! I highly recommend!!

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed my attention from the beginning and held onto it until the end. It is a mysterious story of love, betrayal, and family secrets. The book is written from the different character’s perspectives, I love a book that is written this way, it enables the reader to have a better understanding of the characters, their feelings, and what makes them tick.

Ariel Fountain thinks that everything in her life is stable, comfortable, and good. She has graduated from university, she has a job, and she is going to be moving in with her high school sweetheart…life is perfect. Wrong. Unfortunately for Ariel, the rug has been ripped out from under her in the harshest of ways and life as she knows it is about to change.

Ariel finds out that her great aunt has passed away and that she is the sole heir of her estate. Her great aunt, Blythe Fountain, was an eccentric woman, the cause of most of the gossip running rampant in Steele Grove, Missouri. Blythe Fountain liked to keep to herself and do the things that she enjoyed doing – writing. There were many stories that had been floating around throughout the years of Blythe and her family’s part in the death of Grayson Tucker and the two missing girls. Like any small town, people like to speculate and spread rumours. The question is, did Blythe Fountain or her family have anything to do with these “crimes”?

Ariel decides to make Steele Grove her new home. She has no reason to go back to California. She needs a fresh start, a way to erase the painful memories of her betrayal. I liked the fact that Ariel wasn’t your typical whiny female character. She is strong and stubborn and doesn’t allow the people who have hurt her to infiltrate back into her life. They hurt her, she’s done with them…I can respect that!

Her great aunt’s property is a daunting project, but Ariel is more than willing to tackle it. The property consists of a huge mansion, a plethora of land, and a dead tree. This tree has been on the property since Blythe’s father planted it for her. It has a lot of history and superstitions surrounding it. It has been a gathering place for many of the citizens of the small town for generations. Ariel wants it gone, it is dead after all. She enlists the help of Grady Tucker and his landscaping company to do a lot of the heavy labor in her massive yard. Well, lo and behold, Grady is quite easy on the eyes. Despite the fact that Ariel is not ready for any kind of relationship yet, she can’t help the fact that she is attracted to this man.
Ariel and Grady have great chemistry together. They don’t want to want each other, but they are having a hard time fighting it. Ariel goes about trying to discover as much about her great aunt as she can. The more she finds out, the more she wants to know. There are family secrets that have been hidden for decades. What happened all those years ago? Was Blythe responsible for murder?

I won’t go into the specifics of the book, you will have to read it for yourself and find out. It will definitely keep you turning the pages. The Dead Tree is a perfect example that family secrets and skeletons usually do have a way of coming out of the closet.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ariel Fountain is twenty-three years old. She just graduated college and is getting ready to move in with her high school sweetheart. Ariel hasn’t had an easy life. She was raised by her grandparents after her mother, father and baby brother were killed in a fire when she was three. Life has a way of shifting directions in an instant. Ariel’s journey is about to get interesting.

OH MY . . . . WOW. This book is something else. I can’t say too much because I refuse to spoil the experience for anyone. I will say that the book is written from a number of characters points of view and I love when authors do that. It gives me a better understanding of the circumstances surrounding the plot. This story also goes back and forth between past and present which is wonderful and heart breaking. Also, Lori L. Clark really shows her writing skills in this book, just incredible. The story flowed; it picked me up and took me on a ride I never wanted to end. I have mixed feeling about the ending but I think that’s just because I didn’t really want the story to end. I would have liked more, but at the same time, I understand the reasons for it ending the way it did. I HIGHLY recommend this book and give it 5 stars!!

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has a great way about her of telling a story. This is my second book by Lori and with both books I was gripped.

This story is told by three points of view. It is mainly Ariels story. She has inherited her aunts house. She moves back to her aunts home and starts to uncover secrets about her aunts family. As we read about her aunt Blythes point of view we get an insight into what happened years ago.

This is a really great story told in such a way you just gotta keep reading until you've finished. I thought the end was a bit rushed.. However I still enjoyed it and will certainly be re reading it again.

[Bella Boo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like a book with romance and mystery all wrapped together? Then to top it off do like a touch of creepy and want to stay up late reading, then this is it!!! This is a great book, has romance and mystery that will keep you going because i no i had to find out what happened i won't spoil anything so let's just say the town has legends around this dead tree that she inharrits with a house from her aunt and stuff is gonna have you waiting to see what happens it was a 5 star read for me and i really liked it.

[Ivory Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Ariel, a young woman who is at a turning point in her life. Her boyfriend has cheated on her and she’s about to be made homeless. Then her great aunt Blythe dies, leaving her a fortune and a mansion where a large, dead oak tree stands in the grounds.

The book captures the essence of small town life really well. There’s only one landscaper in town, one bank and one store. Gossip travels faster than wildfire. In looking for help with taking the grounds into hand, Ariel comes across Grady Tucker, a handsome landscaper to whom she is incredibly attracted.

As the story unfolds, you learn that their families have a difficult past and that history sometimes really does repeat itself.

I have to admit that when I first started reading this, and the reason that I’ve given it 4 stars instead of 5, was because the writing style is a little odd. It’s very choppy with short sentences and very little description. There was also one chapter about halfway through that suddenly descended into swear words and crude language, I think when Grady wakes up with a hangover. It’s just so jarring compared to the rest of the book, where the language is mostly gentle. For the first 25% of the story, it’s all from Ariel’s POV and then suddenly it starts leaping around all over history. However, the more I read, the more I got into it. It reads almost like an old-fashioned fairytale. As the name would suggest, the story revolves around the tree. It was believed to be tied to the life of the great aunt and it’s around the tree that so many of the important events occur in the story. The idea of cursed trees and superstition is what makes it read like a fairytale. I did read the whole thing in a couple of sittings, which should tell you how engrossing the story is.

It was a brave decision to tell the story as she did. It might almost have worked as a detective novel set in the 1930s, so to write it in the present with snapshots of the past takes a lot of skill. It’s not an easy thing to do. I think Ms Clark has done a good job of setting the scenes – the sections from the 1930s have time-specific language etc. In my personal opinion, they got better towards the end of the story. At first the changes were very abrupt.

I wasn’t really sure about the end of the book, the way the story unravelled. It’s probably because I’m used to reading crime novels where you get the shocking reveals and the little clues here and there that build up to it. With The Dead Tree, I’d figured out what had happened about halfway through and there wasn’t really any big climactic moment. It all felt very disconnected. That said, it’s as much a romance as it is a mystery and I thought that part was well done. Ariel is an unusual woman compared to most romance heroines – very much into gardening and not much worried about her clothing or appearance. Grady is also interesting – he’s just an ordinary guy who makes mistakes and sometimes drinks too much and makes stupid (but entirely believable) decisions that land him in hot water. It was refreshing to read. I liked that they argued and she took her time deciding what to do about it.

The characters in themselves are all very likeable, even the ones from history. I think Ms Clark has done an admirable job of bringing them to life. There were touches of humour throughout the story that made me smile. Ariel is one sassy chick and I liked that.

I know this is going to sound weird, but what I most liked about this story is that it’s so ordinary. It’s about ordinary people – no damaged billionaires, no shy and virginal twenty-somethings. The fact that Ariel is rich doesn’t feature anywhere in the story and Grady is just an honest guy trying to do an honest job. Even the sections that are set in the past are just about the ordinary lives and loves of young people on the cusp of becoming adults. It’s about young love and jealousy and the easiest of betrayals. There are no whizz-bang revelations that instantly move the characters out of relatable territory. Even the fact that Ariel’s parents and brother died in a house fire is handled sensitively and with great subtlety. Had it been used as a method of providing angst, it would have been the greatest of fiction tropes. As it is, it hardly featured. It’s not an excuse and it’s not used to provide pages of pointless internal emotional wrangling. It’s simply the part of the story that explains how Ariel came to be living in California. It’s great. I was really tired of reading about people who are scarred from their past – it’s nice to read about someone that hasn’t used it to justify being an idiot.

I really liked the premise of it too – I liked that the thread of the story was about unravelling the superstitions surrounding the tree. At the end, it still leaves a mystery. You never really do find out whether the oak was tied to Blythe’s life or whether it was just coincidence. It leaves you with a little touch of magic that remains unresolved. It’s also really good that it genuinely is about Blythe and her tree. The mystery of the missing girls and the hanged man is kind of a side story of Ariel trying to get closer to the memory of the woman that left her everything. Because the tree and Blythe were interconnected, the mystery surrounding it is almost a by-product of Ariel’s curiosity. It’s understated but good.

There were a couple of editing issues, but the ARC I got specifically stated it was pre-edit, so I would assume that any errors have now been picked up in the version that’s for sale. On the whole, there weren’t enough to be really noticeable anyway and I’m not taking them into account in my rating of the story.

I didn’t actually see the cover until the time of writing this review, but I have to say that I think it’s amazingly well done and really draws the eye.

So overall – very much recommended. This book is different. It’s a great diversion from most of the romantic fiction out there right now. For the price tag of 77p, it’s definitely worth it!

In closing, I’d like to say that I think this would make a really good film! I’d certainly pay to go and see it at the cinema!

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dead Tree
4.5 stars

This story is about Ariel Fountain a new graduate with a degree in organic horticulture. Ariel has just broke up with her boyfriend whom she caught cheating with her best friend and her roommate at the same time. Perfect timing to find out the jerk he was, she was to move in and start a life with her boyfriend… but not after this happened!

On the first day of her new job she gets a certified letter from an attorney in Missouri. The next day she calls this attorney and finds out that she is the beneficiary of her great aunt Blythe Fountain’s estate and that she needs to come to Missouri to sign all the paper work involved.
Once she gets to Missouri and talks to the attorney, she finds out that she is now very wealthy. She checks out the house that was left to her and decides what the hell, I have nothing to go back to California for might as well stay here and start my own organic garden. She hires a local to help move some rocks and to build a greenhouse for her. She also finds a number of a woman that was once the housekeeper to her aunt. She calls her and asks her to come and work for her.

Ariel had not seen her Aunt since she was a little girl and did not know much about her. But with the help of the maid she finds out that not only had her aunt published many books, she also had diaries from her life there in the house. She began reading the diaries and uncovered some mysterious things that had happened over 80 years ago. Ariel is now on a mission to uncover these mysteries and the possibility of finding love again.

This was a very well written story and an enjoyable read. I hope that there will be more to the story. I really came to like the characters and can see more books to continue on with. There was no cliffhanger so do not worry about that 

[Anny hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provide a copy of the book by the Author for an honest review.

Wow I just finish reading this book, and I have to say that I did not think I was gone like, but no I love it, love the characters and love how the book turn out to be. I am gone keep this short since I don't want to give anything away, and let me just say that their is a lot to give away, but that's just something that you gone have to do, read the book to find out what it is.

The story begging with Ariel, she at a bar celebrating with her friends, but the person missing their is her boyfriend, and best friends after calling and texting him, she decided to drive to his house, but she was not expecting to see what she saw when she walk in, their it was her former roommate, her best friend and her boyfriend, having a threesome she couldn't believe what she was seen, after she left and when home she ignore all his text, and call, letting him know that she was over him, when she when back to work her now only friend Marlena, and her where having lunch when Marlena decide to read her the cards. Ariel was like ok why not that's when Marlena told her that she was about to take a long trip, and their where a tree and a man involved, that same day after she got home she notice that she had a note from the post office, when she got a letter about her aunt lawyer, she call what she was not expecting was that call was gone change her life.

And once she found out how wealthy she was, and the house she own, everything just started to turn up side down. I really love and enjoy reading this book, I did not wanted to finish reading it, I wanted more, Author Lori L Clark THANK YOU for introducing me to this awesome characters and this great book love it.

[Kirsty Bicknell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of Lori L Clark's book is admittedly not very inspiring, but the tree really has a central role to play throughout the story, as influential events take place around, on and underneath it.
The tree is on Blythe Fountain's land and when Ariel inherits her great-aunt's estate she considers cutting it down, but as she settles into her new life in the small town of Steele Grove she hears stories about the history of the house she now names Fountianwood, its land and her ancestors, which delay her decision.
After reading the synopsis of The Dead Tree I resumed this would be a ghost story, but instead it is a clever and intricate novel about Ariel's search for truth. With the help of her great-aunt's memoirs and information gleaned from the town's citizens the story of the tree takes a frightening and sinister twist. At the moment of the 'big reveal' Lori L Clark takes the perfect opportunity to both shock and sadden her reader and as the pieces of the mystery fit together we are left stunned.
Ariel is an independent character, who is determined and tough. Had the protagonist had opposite traits I think I would have reacted differently to the plot because I relied on Ariel's reaction to guide my own.
I enjoyed the romantic aspect of The Dead Tree and the fact that with Grady's connection to the tree's past, the cycle of the story ends with hope.
Although I liked the originality of Lori L Clark's writing I would like to have seen if the promise of happiness at Fountainwood revived the magic of the tree.
Ignore the fact that this sounds like a gardening manual and give The Dead Tree a try, you won't be disappointed!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the first book that I’ve read by Lori Clark, and I really enjoyed it. The story moves at a good pace. There is a good mix of romance and mystery. The story is told from the viewpoints of the main characters, Ariel Fountain and Grady Tucker, but also from the viewpoint of Ariel’s dead Aunt Blythe through diary entries. It was very interesting and well done. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop.

In the beginning of the story, Ariel is hurt badly by people she loves and trusts. I enjoyed watching her learn to love and trust others again. I really liked that she put herself out there again instead of deciding people just aren’t worth it. I loved that she wasn’t real girly and just seemed like the kind of person I would be friends with.

This is a stand alone novel, which I loved. Everything is wrapped up, with no cliffhanger and no long wait to know how the story ends. Although I figured out the mystery a good bit before the end of the book, it was intriguing and held my interest the entire time. There weren’t any parts that I found dragging or lacking in any way. The only reason I gave a 4 instead of a 5 rating is because there was one question that I really wanted answered that wasn’t. However, I read some of the other reviews and no one else seemed to need the question answered. I just seem to need some things spelled out, I guess, and it definitely didn’t keep me from completely enjoying the book. This is a really good read, and I would definitely read other books by this author.

[Sherry Hoernig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book!! Everything about it. In fact I liked it so much that the night I started reading it, I was soooo......tired I could barely keep my eyes open. When I sat down to start reading it, ( I was only going to read a chapter or two) it drew me in on the first page, & kept such a tight hold on me, that even though I kept drifting off to sleep, I would wake up, & start reading again. I didn't want to put it down for something as mundane as sleep. When my husband came out @ 4:45am to go to work, he found me struggling to stay awake, & read, because I didn't want to put the book down!! I did get it read though, & actually plan to read it again right away. Everything about this book was great, the characters, their interaction w/each other, the plot line..... each emotion that the characters feel, were so realistic that I cried, I laughed, I got angry right along with them. I could go on, & on about the book's attributes, but to sum it all up: are you looking for a fantastic read that will pull you right into the story, & keep your attention until the end, & leave you wanting to read more of the author's books? Then look no further!! Buy it!! Read it!!! I guarantee you won't be sorry!!! Well done, Lori!! Well done!!! I can't wait to read your other books!!!!

[Lisa Zeigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to beta read this book and it is truly a gem! Many people have given a synopsis of the book so I will just address the writing.

Ms. Clark deftly wove characters and stories from two different time periods into an intriguing book. Once Ariel Fountain moves to Missouri due to an inheritance from her great aunt, a mystery is discovered. There is a large dead tree on the property and the history and superstitious details about it are interspersed throughout the story. Ariel’s great aunt Blythe leaves her memoirs for Ariel and she reads some each day and learns about her aunt as a young girl, her family, falling in love, betrayal, and heartbreak.

The alternating POVs between Ariel and Grady Tucker, the landscaper she hires, helped to better understand the characters and I always enjoy learning what a man thinks! The plot twisted, turned and twisted some more. I read a lot and was unable to figure out the truth about the past, so the ending was a surprise.

The cover is amazing! The story is a combination of mystery and romance and one I enjoyed. Ms. Clark is a talented writer and I look forward to reading more of her work.

[Suni Allfie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give The Dead Tree three stars, while I wanted to love the story line, I simply couldn't.

Ariel is first to catch he boyfriend of many years in the arms of not just one woman but two.. who just happen to be her best friends. Within days of this she on a plane moving to st. Louis where her great aunts untimely death has left her with everything. Ariel was now very wealthy yet living with the rumours and secrets of her family's name.

It was said her great Aunt Blythe's first love Grayson, was found dead, suicide, and two girls gone missing. The way the story line played out with this was hit or miss. I wasn't sure if reading Blythe's memoir or the town's rumour mill would lead us to what happened to these three.

The ending is just how you believe it's going to be, with the exception of what's under the tree. It less a few different ways of what Ariel May do them simply ends starting "karma has an uncanny way of landing a helping hand..... "

I was gifted this book by the author, please make your own mind up about The Dead Tree, it's only one click away!

[LINDA · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOT YOUR TYPICAL MYSTERY?

THIS SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT MYSTERY NOVEL AND SWEET AND PENNILESS ARIEL WAS GOING TO HAVE HER CARD READING COME TRUE... BUT AS YOU READ THE MYSTERY THICKENS WHICH I LOVED BUT YOU ALSO FIND OUT ARIEL HAS MOUTH FOR CURSING WHICH IN NO MEANS FITS HER CHARACTER AND HER NEW FOUND FRIEND GRADY ARE SEX MINDED... WHICH DON'T GET ME WRONG...ALSO DIDN'T FIT WITH THE STORYLINE OR PLOT. IF I WANTED A ROMANCE NOVEL I WOULD READ ONE..BUT WHEN IT COMES TO A TRUE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT MYSTERY, LEAVE ALL THE SEXUAL INNUENDOS OUT..

THE AUTHOR HAD A GREAT MYSTERY AND PLOT GOING ON WITH THIS NOVEL, BUT TO ME SHE SEEMED TO PLACE IT IN LEFT FIELD BY ARIEL'S TOUGH CURSING AND ALL THE SEX SHE INCLUDED...

I WILL READ HER NEXT NOVEL TO DECIDE IF SHE WILL BE ONE OF MY NEW AUTHORS.... I TRULY BELIEVE SHE IS EXTREMELY TALENTED..

[Shauna Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I wasn't quite sure what I was going to get when asked to read this book. From the betrayal of cheating to feel like going back in time through her Aunt's letter the emotions are there and palpable! You become invested in these characters! The dynamic flows as Ms. Clark weaves you into the story! You become so immersed in this book ~ you look up and hours have gone by. That is how good this book was! Pick this book up ASAP and don't miss out on this awesome book. Job Well Done Ms. Clark

~Shauna~

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely blown away by this book! This is my first experience with Lori's writing and I must say that this book kept me interested from start to finish and keeps you fascinated by the story line. Great book!!

[Cyndi Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good read, there is mystery that will keep you up late at night and have you flipping those pages as fast as you can to find out about this tree, and what the heck is going on, and there is romance and betrayel, this book has it all.

[Samantha Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was an awesome read and I think what I loved most about it was there wasn't sex every five pages. It focused on the story line. Totally recommend it!

[chelepissbcglobal.net · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book.

I loved this book and was very surprised at how wonderful it turned out to be. Once I started reading it I absolutely couldn't put it down.

[Hannah brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!