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The Journey #2
A Desert View
Whatever happened to Alice?
She is back, working on her new life, trying to be like everyone else...normal. But normal for Alice is very different from most. Walking a fine line between the shadowy past and her years living outside of the law, friends, work, love...her life...are all tainted by her the hard years of her youth.
Strong and resilient, Alice is in Las Vegas now, hoping and working for that new life. But then circumstances take her down old familiar paths and the little voice inside reminds her of what she truly is...a survivor.
She is back, working on her new life, trying to be like everyone else...normal. But normal for Alice is very different from most. Walking a fine line between the shadowy past and her years living outside of the law, friends, work, love...her life...are all tainted by her the hard years of her youth.
Strong and resilient, Alice is in Las Vegas now, hoping and working for that new life. But then circumstances take her down old familiar paths and the little voice inside reminds her of what she truly is...a survivor.
- GenresThriller
358 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 2014
174 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Trust
57 books258 followersThe lightning waits for us. When it calls we will go.
Pick up your Free copy of Lightning in the Clouds. Just click or follow this URL https://dl.bookfunnel.com/7046vhk5f9
With that out of the way, let's begin.
This is the blah, blah, blah section. You know the author’s “glory page” where he gets to tell you grandiose things about himself and the deeper meaning of his work. Whatever.
I write books. Seriously, that's what I get to do every day. It's great.
I have been fortunate to author some that have achieved bestseller status, including The Hunters Series of mystery suspense thrillers. It took me a lot of years to get to that point, but I wouldn't trade any of them for a minute. I love writing books for you and the journey that brought me here.
I am a native of the south, Georgia specifically. I spent much of my life there, but I have lived in many other places as well. We moved a lot when I was young. Eventually, we ended up back in Georgia in my teens where I finished school and went to work.
I wanted to write from an early age. A really long time ago, when I was still a young police officer in Georgia, I was writing short stories in my spare time and sending them off to magazines. One day I received one back in the mail.
Life Happened
Attached to it was a nice handwritten letter from an editor (this was long before the days of email and texts). The story manuscript was folded and smudged, and there were coffee cup rings on the edges of a couple of pages, which told me they had actually read it, maybe discussed it around an editorial table, or just used it to sop up the coffee.
In her letter, the editor said a lot of things that I don't remember, but it was not the usual form letter that I was accustomed to receiving. It was original and personal.
She said they liked my story, had strongly considered it for publication, but that it wasn't quite believable. Disappointed as I was, I was struck by her last words to me..."Don't stop writing. You're good at this. We almost bought this one."
I remember staring at that a long time. Then I folded it up and tucked it in a file and...stopped writing.
I wish I could tell you a different story, but I can't. I stopped writing for many years.
There were lots of reasons. Yes, I was disappointed, but the letter that should have encouraged me not to give up was forgotten.
Life happened. Dreams of writing were pushed aside by other things...important things.
Mostly I needed money for my young family. In the 1970s, police officers in Georgia were not paid a lot even by the standards of the day. I worked part-time jobs whenever I wasn't working at the police department. Many weeks I had no days off at all.
I'm not unhappy that I did my best to take care of my family. It was the right thing to do and working for them was the joy of my life.
Children grew up; then grandchildren came along. More life happened.
Then...The Internet Appeared
Out of the blue, this thing called the internet appeared and guess what. I was at a point in life when I didn't need to work part-time jobs every spare minute of the day. I could write again.
It's different these days. I can publish a book whether I convince an agent or editor to read it or not. I am an independent writer/publisher, an “Indie.”
It’s a partnership between us, writer and reader, and it's a marvelous thing.
Don't be a Follower -- Make Your Dream Real
It took many years to get here. Life is like that, with lots of twists and turns and surprises. I like it that way.
Now, I write every day, so here's my parting advice.
Don’t follow your dreams. Followers get nowhere except up the backside of the person in front.
Work and make your dream a reality.
Pick up your Free copy of Lightning in the Clouds. Just click or follow this URL https://dl.bookfunnel.com/7046vhk5f9
With that out of the way, let's begin.
This is the blah, blah, blah section. You know the author’s “glory page” where he gets to tell you grandiose things about himself and the deeper meaning of his work. Whatever.
I write books. Seriously, that's what I get to do every day. It's great.
I have been fortunate to author some that have achieved bestseller status, including The Hunters Series of mystery suspense thrillers. It took me a lot of years to get to that point, but I wouldn't trade any of them for a minute. I love writing books for you and the journey that brought me here.
I am a native of the south, Georgia specifically. I spent much of my life there, but I have lived in many other places as well. We moved a lot when I was young. Eventually, we ended up back in Georgia in my teens where I finished school and went to work.
I wanted to write from an early age. A really long time ago, when I was still a young police officer in Georgia, I was writing short stories in my spare time and sending them off to magazines. One day I received one back in the mail.
Life Happened
Attached to it was a nice handwritten letter from an editor (this was long before the days of email and texts). The story manuscript was folded and smudged, and there were coffee cup rings on the edges of a couple of pages, which told me they had actually read it, maybe discussed it around an editorial table, or just used it to sop up the coffee.
In her letter, the editor said a lot of things that I don't remember, but it was not the usual form letter that I was accustomed to receiving. It was original and personal.
She said they liked my story, had strongly considered it for publication, but that it wasn't quite believable. Disappointed as I was, I was struck by her last words to me..."Don't stop writing. You're good at this. We almost bought this one."
I remember staring at that a long time. Then I folded it up and tucked it in a file and...stopped writing.
I wish I could tell you a different story, but I can't. I stopped writing for many years.
There were lots of reasons. Yes, I was disappointed, but the letter that should have encouraged me not to give up was forgotten.
Life happened. Dreams of writing were pushed aside by other things...important things.
Mostly I needed money for my young family. In the 1970s, police officers in Georgia were not paid a lot even by the standards of the day. I worked part-time jobs whenever I wasn't working at the police department. Many weeks I had no days off at all.
I'm not unhappy that I did my best to take care of my family. It was the right thing to do and working for them was the joy of my life.
Children grew up; then grandchildren came along. More life happened.
Then...The Internet Appeared
Out of the blue, this thing called the internet appeared and guess what. I was at a point in life when I didn't need to work part-time jobs every spare minute of the day. I could write again.
It's different these days. I can publish a book whether I convince an agent or editor to read it or not. I am an independent writer/publisher, an “Indie.”
It’s a partnership between us, writer and reader, and it's a marvelous thing.
Don't be a Follower -- Make Your Dream Real
It took many years to get here. Life is like that, with lots of twists and turns and surprises. I like it that way.
Now, I write every day, so here's my parting advice.
Don’t follow your dreams. Followers get nowhere except up the backside of the person in front.
Work and make your dream a reality.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 10, 2019
Book #2, in the Blue Eyes Series
You definitely need to read book #1 first, “An Empty Tree/an Eye for Death”, the story is so intriguing I simply had to continue with book #2 right after, here I am telling you my thoughts on this one. An elusive, strong female leads the story and our protagonist is back in full force with a new identity and challenges.
Alice Trent is a wanderer who conducts her life on the fringe of the law and unable to settle and have a true relationship. After her episode in the last novel Alice ends up in Las Vegas hoping for a new life. But life is not that smooth for our Alice, the business she works for is under a hostile takeover, her colleagues are not all keen to have her there and a cop gets too close to her. What is she getting herself into when she meets and makes a deal with a strong hand man to save Sol’s business…..eventually she needed to escape once more…. she is on the move again…..book #3 will tell us where.
Another great story filled with twists and turns and suspense. Alice is not your typical female character and her sort stay in Nevada was captivating, a story hard to put down. Lots goes on, not a dull moment from the opening page to the last I was kept on the edge all along trying to be a step ahead of Alice and guessing what she was up to even wondering if her cop friend will discover her true identity.
“A Desert View”, is a wonderful relaxing adventure and perfect entertainment that flows smoothly and grabs you from the get-go.…. boy I will be reading book #3 next…..
Loved it….
You definitely need to read book #1 first, “An Empty Tree/an Eye for Death”, the story is so intriguing I simply had to continue with book #2 right after, here I am telling you my thoughts on this one. An elusive, strong female leads the story and our protagonist is back in full force with a new identity and challenges.
Alice Trent is a wanderer who conducts her life on the fringe of the law and unable to settle and have a true relationship. After her episode in the last novel Alice ends up in Las Vegas hoping for a new life. But life is not that smooth for our Alice, the business she works for is under a hostile takeover, her colleagues are not all keen to have her there and a cop gets too close to her. What is she getting herself into when she meets and makes a deal with a strong hand man to save Sol’s business…..eventually she needed to escape once more…. she is on the move again…..book #3 will tell us where.
Another great story filled with twists and turns and suspense. Alice is not your typical female character and her sort stay in Nevada was captivating, a story hard to put down. Lots goes on, not a dull moment from the opening page to the last I was kept on the edge all along trying to be a step ahead of Alice and guessing what she was up to even wondering if her cop friend will discover her true identity.
“A Desert View”, is a wonderful relaxing adventure and perfect entertainment that flows smoothly and grabs you from the get-go.…. boy I will be reading book #3 next…..
Loved it….
November 24, 2023
Excellent
An excellent story carrying on from the first book in the series, An Empty Tree.
In the last book Alice was a victim, or at least on the face of it, in reality she is a grifter with a life lived as an alias wherever she went.
In this book she wants to start life all over with a proper job and a normal life. Things start reasonably well and she even gets a normal personal life with her new relationship with John.
All is going fairly well, although living life on a shoestring and living in a dingy motel mostly used by prostitutes isn’t really the sort of life she aspired to. But her desire for a normal life forces her to do her best to settle down.
One downer on her new start was the majority partner, Alex, at her place of employment is a sleazeball and egocentric arrogant and obnoxious character who has made it abundantly clear that he wants to sleep with her.
The other partner, the older and founder of the business is Sol who is quite a decent man trying to get by and look after his terminally ill wife.
Alex though is never satisfied with having rescued the business from the brink of bankruptcy and has plans to strike a deal with a local big time businessman that will leave Sol destitute and without a business and the employees without a job.
Sol is quite an astute man and he recognises that Alice, now living under the name Charmaine Delacroix, is not all she seems and has some kind of hidden and mysterious history behind her. Sol finds out that Alex is trying to sell up and run off with the money and he asks Charmaine if she could possibly help as he tells her he recognises she has a hidden past. Charmaine says she will think about it but is torn between her new start with her new boyfriend John, who happens to be a cop, and her inner voice that reminds her being normal is not her and she can’t possibly live a life with John as he is certain to find out about her past,
The inner voice wins and she decides to help Sol but only on the basis that he does as she says and she doesn’t keep him in the loop on what she plans to do to save the business. Losing her new start is still pulling at her desire for normalcy but the lure of a big reward offered by Sol seems to have a greater pull even though the thought of leaving her new start, new work colleagues and new friends as well as the end of her relationship with John is really killing her. The inner voice seems to hold more sway though as she sets her plans in motion.
Matters are further complicated by the fact that the people Alex is proposing to sell to are gangsters.
The story sets off on a clever well written path that had me on the edge of my seat but I won’t spoil things by telling you how she goes about things or whether she is successful. A really good read.
An excellent story carrying on from the first book in the series, An Empty Tree.
In the last book Alice was a victim, or at least on the face of it, in reality she is a grifter with a life lived as an alias wherever she went.
In this book she wants to start life all over with a proper job and a normal life. Things start reasonably well and she even gets a normal personal life with her new relationship with John.
All is going fairly well, although living life on a shoestring and living in a dingy motel mostly used by prostitutes isn’t really the sort of life she aspired to. But her desire for a normal life forces her to do her best to settle down.
One downer on her new start was the majority partner, Alex, at her place of employment is a sleazeball and egocentric arrogant and obnoxious character who has made it abundantly clear that he wants to sleep with her.
The other partner, the older and founder of the business is Sol who is quite a decent man trying to get by and look after his terminally ill wife.
Alex though is never satisfied with having rescued the business from the brink of bankruptcy and has plans to strike a deal with a local big time businessman that will leave Sol destitute and without a business and the employees without a job.
Sol is quite an astute man and he recognises that Alice, now living under the name Charmaine Delacroix, is not all she seems and has some kind of hidden and mysterious history behind her. Sol finds out that Alex is trying to sell up and run off with the money and he asks Charmaine if she could possibly help as he tells her he recognises she has a hidden past. Charmaine says she will think about it but is torn between her new start with her new boyfriend John, who happens to be a cop, and her inner voice that reminds her being normal is not her and she can’t possibly live a life with John as he is certain to find out about her past,
The inner voice wins and she decides to help Sol but only on the basis that he does as she says and she doesn’t keep him in the loop on what she plans to do to save the business. Losing her new start is still pulling at her desire for normalcy but the lure of a big reward offered by Sol seems to have a greater pull even though the thought of leaving her new start, new work colleagues and new friends as well as the end of her relationship with John is really killing her. The inner voice seems to hold more sway though as she sets her plans in motion.
Matters are further complicated by the fact that the people Alex is proposing to sell to are gangsters.
The story sets off on a clever well written path that had me on the edge of my seat but I won’t spoil things by telling you how she goes about things or whether she is successful. A really good read.
June 25, 2024
Antiheroes and antiheroines have become prominent figures in modern literature and cinema due to their complexity and depth. These characters defy traditional hero archetypes by embodying a more morally ambiguous nature, often straddling the line between morality and self-interest. Antiheroes like Alice Trent offer a refreshing take on storytelling, challenging audiences to delve into the gray areas of morality and human behavior. With roots dating back to the 18th century, antiheroes have evolved over time to reflect societal shifts and values, resonating with audiences who appreciate characters that are flawed, conflicted, and ultimately more relatable than traditional heroes. This evolution has enriched storytelling, offering a more nuanced exploration of the human experience and the complexities of right and wrong.
A Desert View enthralls readers with its pulse-pounding action and suspense, promising an unforgettable literary journey that grips you from start to finish. This gripping narrative propels you through a whirlwind of excitement, captivating your attention until the very last page. The relentless pace and compelling storyline ensure that you will be unable to put the book down, eagerly consuming chapter after chapter in anticipation of what comes next. As fans eagerly immerse themselves in the world of Alice Trent, the release of "Blue Water Horizon," the third installment in the series, offers readers yet another opportunity to delve deeper into the intricate web of secrets and intrigue woven by the masterful pen of Glenn Trust. Prepare to binge with me!!!!
A Desert View enthralls readers with its pulse-pounding action and suspense, promising an unforgettable literary journey that grips you from start to finish. This gripping narrative propels you through a whirlwind of excitement, captivating your attention until the very last page. The relentless pace and compelling storyline ensure that you will be unable to put the book down, eagerly consuming chapter after chapter in anticipation of what comes next. As fans eagerly immerse themselves in the world of Alice Trent, the release of "Blue Water Horizon," the third installment in the series, offers readers yet another opportunity to delve deeper into the intricate web of secrets and intrigue woven by the masterful pen of Glenn Trust. Prepare to binge with me!!!!
December 16, 2022
Not having read the first part of the story, I came to this series fresh and with no preconceptions. I obtained the book through a free promotion on Book Bub. I think the plot is a bit thin overall; perhaps slightly manufactured unless the protagonist is adept at finding trouble? The love scene in the desert was too long and I found myself flicking forward to its end so that I could get on with the story. Alice’s character is complex and could be really interesting but the story gets bogged down with other stuff. I managed to finish the book but I’m not sure I would invest in any others by this author.
November 26, 2020
I found the story a little weaker than the first in plot, but still a very enjoyable journey. Once again, Trust knows how to build characters, and Alice is the ultimate character. Even though you might consider this a stand alone story, I highly recommend you read the first in the series and by the time you finish both of these, you will want to follow Alice down the road.
December 30, 2022
Life. In the desert
Play ting on the urban legends of Las Vegas ' history a romance and con game meld together in story that is enhanced by human life conditions. Real characters with real-life problems become centered around the life of an individual woman who executes a scam that saves the good people and ends the lives of the criminals. Light evenings reading.
Play ting on the urban legends of Las Vegas ' history a romance and con game meld together in story that is enhanced by human life conditions. Real characters with real-life problems become centered around the life of an individual woman who executes a scam that saves the good people and ends the lives of the criminals. Light evenings reading.
October 26, 2023
a thrill ride
Seems I’m binging Mr. Trusts books. They are all different which is very appealing to me. A Desert View, is a great read and the characters very believable. Set in Vegas, a small loan business is the scene of all the action. Very well written and really believable, especially the ending. Highly recommend it.
Seems I’m binging Mr. Trusts books. They are all different which is very appealing to me. A Desert View, is a great read and the characters very believable. Set in Vegas, a small loan business is the scene of all the action. Very well written and really believable, especially the ending. Highly recommend it.
September 1, 2025
A very interesting book.
I didn’t know what to expect when I received this book. I read it because I’ve read several books by this author and enjoyed them. This turned out to be a very good book, great character development and a story line that kept you guessing and wanting more. This is a worthwhile book to read by a very author. Read and enjoy.
I didn’t know what to expect when I received this book. I read it because I’ve read several books by this author and enjoyed them. This turned out to be a very good book, great character development and a story line that kept you guessing and wanting more. This is a worthwhile book to read by a very author. Read and enjoy.
December 17, 2025
Excellent storyline
Very realistic and can be read without reading the prior book. Alice comes to Las Vegas and gets a job at a loan shark shop. At a time of financial crisis the owner takes on a partner. Now years later the partner is selling the collateral properties without informing the original owner. Alice gets wind and helps him out? Fast moving and interesting
Very realistic and can be read without reading the prior book. Alice comes to Las Vegas and gets a job at a loan shark shop. At a time of financial crisis the owner takes on a partner. Now years later the partner is selling the collateral properties without informing the original owner. Alice gets wind and helps him out? Fast moving and interesting
February 3, 2019
A new start
So Alice is off on the straight and narrow .... or is she? Will she go down that rabbit hole again to save her new friend's business. I love hanging out with her. I can't wait to see what happens next.
So Alice is off on the straight and narrow .... or is she? Will she go down that rabbit hole again to save her new friend's business. I love hanging out with her. I can't wait to see what happens next.
February 5, 2019
I enjoyed the book a great deal. Alice's background was not identified so that probably means that you need to read the 1st story. The story flowed well even without knowing Alice's earlier escapade. I enjoyed the way that the book ended, but was sorry to see that she was still alone.
June 10, 2019
Glenn is able to keep me interested in his stories. These are some of the few novels I read that don't put me to sleep right away. I don't want to put them down!
May 22, 2020
Good
At first I thought the second story wasn’t as good as the first, but it end up being really good. Will read the next one in the series.
At first I thought the second story wasn’t as good as the first, but it end up being really good. Will read the next one in the series.
November 28, 2022
Desert View
Another person who has no respect for that which many hold sacred and also liberally tosses in f-bombs. Better writing elsewhere.
Another person who has no respect for that which many hold sacred and also liberally tosses in f-bombs. Better writing elsewhere.
November 29, 2022
Dessert View
Nope. I tried but this is just a crass and vulgar book. I made it to the 22% point but am now throwing in the towel.
Nope. I tried but this is just a crass and vulgar book. I made it to the 22% point but am now throwing in the towel.
December 30, 2022
a desert view
Interesting book, twists and turns, excellent plot, felt like I was there, felt the hit desert heat. Hard to put down, read in a few days. Great writer
Interesting book, twists and turns, excellent plot, felt like I was there, felt the hit desert heat. Hard to put down, read in a few days. Great writer
June 30, 2022
Alice doesn't live here any more
Like the other characters in his books I don't want to let Alice go. she may not be a person I would want for a friend. But she definitely is not one I want for an
enemy!
Like the other characters in his books I don't want to let Alice go. she may not be a person I would want for a friend. But she definitely is not one I want for an
enemy!
Read
October 14, 2023I know this novel was published ages ago but I've just got around to finding the writer and have finished enjoying another of his works(Mojave Sun). This one is a well written, engaging mystery novel examining modern America through different characters eyes. If you want to discover the seedy side of US society through characters who haven't found the 'American Dream' then this is a novel to read. Coming from a country with a free(though flawed) health service I'm always astonished by the American approach to health care and life in general. Through its cast this book reveals the flaws of the system and its effects on the 'average Joe'. Its a gritty novel that might make your skin crawl at times but allows you to appreciate the devious side of human nature.
January 7, 2016
I wanted to like it, but the amount of grammatical errors eclipsed any enjoyment I may have gotten from reading it and that's all I remember. Indie writers, please! I know it's not easy but find and use proofreaders!
September 25, 2015
This is a case of the second book in the series being better than the first.
February 17, 2024
Locations/Settings: [Souix Falls, South Dakota; Las Vegas, Nevada; Frenchman Mountain, Nevada]
November 10, 2025
good read
August 14, 2016
Interesting book. Believable characters and good plot line.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews