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Between the Lines
Breaking News! Reporter Wendell McCandless Jr is returning home to Dumbarton, Texas to cover the annual Alameda Family Thanksgiving Picnic and Baseball Tournament. But rumor has it that's not all he's after. Letters belonging to the late Joseph Alameda were found at Wendell McCandless Senior's junk shop, and they may hold clues to solving a century-old mystery--the disappearance of Joseph Alameda and Martin Bright! Two men vanished without a trace. Both families involved believing the other was to blame. Gossip in town is that Wendell won't be delving into the matter alone. Davis Alameda is determined to clear his family name by helping to unravel the mystery. Readers, you may remember that sparks flew between the two young men before they both left town a few years back. Can they put their resentments from the past aside and find the answers they seek? Or are we about to see a fireworks display that will put a Dumbarton July fourth celebration to shame?
248 pages, Paperback
Published April 17, 2022
3 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 12, 2022
Enjoyable and Engaging…
This is interesting book where two stories are entwined as one. Davis and Wendell were childhood best friends and lovers who followed different paths after high school. Martin and Joseph were relatives, and a couple that lived in the same small Texas town over a century before that simply disappeared. The stories collide when Davis and Wendell return to their home town and slowly rekindle their relationship. The disappearance is revealed when inspiring investigative reporter Wendell starts writing a newspaper story about Davis’s great-great-uncle and the disappearance over a century before. The attitudes of a small Texas town both now and a century before are revealed as the mystery of what really happened to Martin and Joseph comes together. The plot is straight forward with a few minor revelations. Many of the small town characters bring a smile to the face and provide a moment of levity. The book is well written though at times a bit confusing in the early chapters about the characters in disappearance, though come together nicely as the story processes. Overall a very enjoyable, engaging read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is interesting book where two stories are entwined as one. Davis and Wendell were childhood best friends and lovers who followed different paths after high school. Martin and Joseph were relatives, and a couple that lived in the same small Texas town over a century before that simply disappeared. The stories collide when Davis and Wendell return to their home town and slowly rekindle their relationship. The disappearance is revealed when inspiring investigative reporter Wendell starts writing a newspaper story about Davis’s great-great-uncle and the disappearance over a century before. The attitudes of a small Texas town both now and a century before are revealed as the mystery of what really happened to Martin and Joseph comes together. The plot is straight forward with a few minor revelations. Many of the small town characters bring a smile to the face and provide a moment of levity. The book is well written though at times a bit confusing in the early chapters about the characters in disappearance, though come together nicely as the story processes. Overall a very enjoyable, engaging read.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 3, 2022
Love a good mystery! Two stories in one, combining the past with the present can get complicated. But, this author manages to keep the stories in line, but draws us in to the side of these four men. Joseph and Martin, suddenly unexpectedly disappeared over 100 years ago. The town blatantly threw around blame and their families suffered reputation damage since. The questions of why, how, where and when were never answered. Letters were found that could provide clues in an ancestor's store. Journalist, Wen was returning home to cover the family annual tournament, will he explore a little more? Davis, who was formerly a bestie of Wen's hopes to get in on the letters' analysis. Will they renew their friendship? How does the town handle reveals? Does everyone get closure for Martin and Joseph? Will Wwn and Davis happily return to their seperate lives? Good, fun story. Mysteries are the best. Well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 9, 2024
Setting the record straight is at the crux of this story. Wendell and Davis were teenage lovers until Davis left suddenly for a job in New York with the hopes that Wendell would pursue him. Hurt, Wendell completes studies in journalism. Now, over a decade later, they're both back in Dunbarton. They stumble on an old family mystery. Joseph and Martin left town and disappeared. Their friend James was accused of chasing them away and even their murder. An odd collection of clues still remain, about the two men, and it inspires Wendell and Davis to find the truth about their ancestors and clear James all the while rediscovering each other. A very interesting story of the extremes same-sex couples were driven to in the past.
May 8, 2022
This was one of those books I had to get back to, even if I just had a few minutes to read. In my opinion the author delivered a book I would like to come back to for a reread and recommend.
The contemporary and historical storylines are beautifully intertwined. The contemprary mc's Davis and Wendell find their way (back) to eachother and have to make choices what to do next. For the historical storyline; My heart ached and rejoiced for Martin and Joseph their story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The contemporary and historical storylines are beautifully intertwined. The contemprary mc's Davis and Wendell find their way (back) to eachother and have to make choices what to do next. For the historical storyline; My heart ached and rejoiced for Martin and Joseph their story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 15, 2025
A thoroughly enjoyable book with two love stories - one of whom is mystery. A romance rekindled after a break of 12years and the cooperation of the two MC in seeking information regarding long lost relatives: both of whom had disappeared from town amongst gossip of murder which had led to animosity between families of the MC's. Both MC returned to their home town and an elderly relative sets the ball rolling into the historical and unexplained disappearance of her uncle. I recommend this book.
November 12, 2023
Great mystery story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews