Compelling story and characters
580245
I was pulled in by the title, but stayed because of the characters and the story, which was compelling enough for me to not guess how it was going to turn out; didn't want to put it down.
3126961
Cathy Slusser, in her historic fiction novel The Sea Beneath Us, has married fact and fiction on this compelling tale that grew from her own research into her family tree.  This novel follows a group of women, especially Etta, from childhood through adulthood, and even into the elderly portion of their lives.

We learn this story from the first-person perspective of several of the women.  Different chapters are labeled with the name of the character, and the years in her life that each chapter covers.  This novel has many components -- drama, emotion, regret, loss, failure, and hope. Much like real life, unforeseen traumas and triumphs fill the pages of his unique type of novel.

The only difficulty I encountered while reading this novel was that I would sometimes lose track of which character was telling the story during that chapter.  This was especially true when I would be interrupted in my reading, and had to wait a day or two to return to the novel.

We first meet Etta as the novel opens as she faces another loss, while still processing tragedy she has already endured.  Meeting her in this context inspires compassion in us when we see Etta as a woman, a wife, a mother, and a survivor.  Mistakes are real, and they often have long-lasting consequences.  We watch this unfold through the story of Etta's life.

My favorite character is Etta's sister, Lou.  She feels a call to missions from a young age, and she comes to realize that her family will be her primary mission field.  She brings the stability, strength, and love that supports and upholds this family.

The other component that makes this novel compelling is the historic context of immigration and women's rights issues that confronted America at the time.  Etta and others took a stand, and even lobbied Congress to influence decisions made in Washington, D.C. that directly impacted their lives.  This part of the story reminded me that an individual can impact nations even through ordinary situations they face.

These strong women inspire us to face life head-on, with dignity, faith, hope, and love!  I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
3320328
Engaging story that is much more than just a whodunit serial killer mystery. Readers enter a neighborhood in  post WWII Chicago and get to know a whole host of characters as their lives, likes, dislikes and pasts interweave to tell a compelling story. The list of characters is long and readers must pay attention as the writer sifts through the stories and shifts from person to person. Sometimes confusing, at least at first because sometimes characters are referred to by first name and sometimes by last name, depending on which character's perspective the reader is seeing the story from at the time. Similar to meeting a whole neighborhood of people; as one becomes familiar the confusion fades away and readers are left turning the pages to reveal the mystery.

Fans of mysteries and crime dramas will enjoy this story. Very minor editorial mistakes do not detract from the telling of the tale.
4397637
Good characters and a compelling mystery.  This one was hard to put down.  A few spots could have used a better proof reader, but the story more than compensated.
3479143
Secrets of Gwenla is a compelling story that carried me along for a quick and very enjoyable read. The plot and characters are interesting. The allegorical meaning is both profound and accessible. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
2816916
I was drawn immediately into this compelling story. The characters experience quite a few lurches through better and worse times over the course of about 6 years that the story covers.  I wondered how the narrator might have made better choices in several situations, which brought mistery to both her and her mother. Although flawed, the narrator does grow significantly during the course of events. My one crticism is that I wish the other characters hadn't been so one dimensional.

The backdrop of 15th century Persia was very interesting, since I knew nothing about it before.  An ecellent work of historical fiction, this book shows it has been extensively researched.
2029460
The story of uncle versus nephew, passionate political beliefs and the common man is a compelling read.  You care about the characters and their outcome that fate has decided.  I found it hard to put down.  It was an engrossing fast read.
2832645
Great story with compelling characters! The storyline draws you in quickly and completely, making it difficult to put down. Very thought provoking - an excellent read!
2647589
I got this book not expecting an overwhelmingly amazing story, but that's almost what I received. The story of the main character, Vaelin Al Sorna, is a compelling and interesting story that I had a hard time putting down. I felt drawn into the world and the struggles of Vaelin, and by the end of it and I was deeply satisfied with my purchase. I can't wait for the next one to be released.
4141553
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book - usually Kindle firsts are hit-or-miss. Each character's story was compelling, and I enjoyed hearing from every perspective. There could easily be a book chronicling the events before and after this summer for each character.

I absolutely plan to read this author's other books.
1766927
A compelling story from start to finish.  Interesting local and characters.  I look forward to more stories from this author!
2296929
The story is told in the first person. This makes it really to identify with and believe the main character. While the author would benefit from a Microsoft Word type of grammar checker, the story was so compelling, that I was happy to overlook any proof reading oversights. I sincerely hope that Mr. L'Abbate will write many more books such as this one. I',m now following him and will read all books he writes.
2093760
Compelling read, pretty original story concept
563593
A compelling story told from the viewpoint of several characters. The author narrates among this characters and the plot is both swiftly moving and the characters sympathetic and engaging. I really enjoyed this novel
2577821
Compelling. I enjoy the storytelling and the character development. Definitely a top pick for me.
2949534
Real characters with real-life issues. Compelling story. I'm in the process of reading the whole series.
1984242
This story is so compelling it is difficult to put down. The characters are so believable that you become caught up in their lives. There is not the usual weird creepiness till the end then oh I can't wait for the next book!