Fiction Review

Bare Bones
by Kate St. Amour
ISBN-10: 141374866X
Review by Heather Froeschl

Cass Mollusso and her young son Frankie are about to start a new life in Worthington, Virginia. After losing her husband in an accident, Cass has been living on auto-pilot for awhile, taking her boy along for the ride. This small town seems to be a good rest stop, when the bed and breakfast Cass chooses happens to be the location for a meeting of folks trying to start an Interfaith Council. Cass is a Dianic Witch and knows the value of groups that promote interfaith respect.

At the meeting she finds two kindred spirits and instantly bonds with them. This is a good sign. What happens next though proves that not only is Cass meant to be in Worthington, but that she is desperately needed there. A sniper begins his evil rampage and the plot begins to get deep into the murky waters of Small Town, America. As a nurse, Cass saves the life of the town's mayor, while stealing the heart of the local sheriff.

Cass is a healer and a psychic besides being schooled in the old religion and the spirit of a young woman contacts her, desperate for help. There is a killer lurking, biding his time. Will Cass be able to convince the local law enforcement that she can be of help? Will she be able to get through to them before it is too late? Becoming deeply involved, while inadvertently finding home, adds to her desperation to put things right.

Kate St. Amour is a gifted storyteller. "Bare Bones" will captivate readers from the very beginning and have them turning pages through the night. The plot flows smoothly through the build up of tension, over crescendos of resolutions, and back up again. Readers will feel Cass' emotions and desires and root for her to make herself happy. Through it all there is an earthy groundedness that permeates the tale, a soul touching (and often steamy) romance, and a satisfying sense of justice. Look for more from Kate St. Amour as she promises to be an intriguing author that will entertain and inspire.