The Beast Within
Normally I don’t read category romance because I like big, juicy historicals with hunky muscled heroes and feisty heroines. But I did pick up The Beast Within by Suzanne McMinn the other day, and if you’re looking for a fast-paced, suspenseful and emotional read, check this one out!
One of the things I love about Suzanne’s books is the evocative prose. The language captures the emotional tone of the story. She really engages your senses and you’re not only enjoying the characters, but you feel like you’re there. In one of the opening scenes of Beast, she describes the setting of Callula Island, the hiding place of the hero.
“It was a strange, almost post-apocalyptic atmosphere of slash pine growth born of the disruptive force of fire and hurricanes that occasionally recreated the barrier island habitat. Shade-tolerant hardwood reached up within the pines, slowly taking over the swampy wood with hauntingly romantic palmettos and live oaks strung with creeper vines and Spanish moss.
The maritime jungle was so thick, the canopy of leaves cloaked the sky, and it was preternaturally shadowed, a world of endless twilight and unknowable sounds. Paige carefully hiked a grid pattern through the woods, mindful of the approaching weather…and the eerie sensation of being watched”
When I read writing like this, it takes me out of the everyday world of mopping floors and children screaming, “Mommy, watch me!” I can slip into a world of a hunky hero with super abilities and his haunted dream of reuniting with his estranged wife. It’s not just a fun, suspenseful book–it’s quality writing, and I appreciate that. 
And yes, I had to grab my dictionary and look up preternaturally. I should have paid more attention in English class to those pesky vocabulary words. :loser: One of the things I love is the perfect descriptive word. It’s why I now have a thesaurus chained to my side whenever I write. 
Michelle posted in Writing @ 5:27 am | Viewed 1480 times
Suzanne McMinn | Blog » The Next Nora Says:
[...] Grand Finale Extravasuzannza contest tomorrow! (Don’t miss it!) Beast buzz: From Michelle at Michelle Willingham’s blo [...]
Bonnie Ferguson Says:
kacey Says:
Suzanne does settings better than anyone. Very subtle, with great word choice, instead of beating you over the head
but you’re always RIGHT THERE.
I SWEAR robbers have held up the truck with the BEAST book in the midwest…
Tori Says:
Kacey, I think you’re right. The midwest distributers are holding BEAST hostage or something. Though I’m hoping my copy will arrive today.
ruby55 Says:
Michelle, you’ve hit the nail on the head with your perceptive comment. Though there is not much really happening at that point, the description evokes an emotion of foreboding and, well…eeriness. There are no sounds described just the forest, though it must have been windy already outside the confines of the forest.
What is it with the Midwest? I never knew that shipments actually do go astray. Suzanne Brockmann wrote in one of her book “countdowns” I think it was, that the shipment with her first big seller “Prince Joe” was derailed or something and ended up in the water on the way west. That’s why that book was scarcer than the others. I sure hope nothing like that happened to THE BEAST.
ruby55 Says:
Oh, yeah. If anyone wants to test vocabulary, Reader’s Digest Canada has “Word Power” at its site and gives points for speed as well as accuracy. It just started again on July 1 for the next cycle. Anyone welcome.
http://www.readersdigest.ca/wordpower.html
Educational and lots of fun. You can score up to 50 points a day for 5 words. “Preternatural” happened to be on just a week or so ago.
Michelle Says:
Ruby–thanks for stopping by! I love Readers Digest Word Challenges. They’re really great, aren’t they?
And yes, Suzanne writes wonderful descriptions. Love that.
The Next Nora | Author Suzanne McMinn Says:
[...] buzz: From Michelle at Michelle Willingham’s blog– “When I read writing like this, it takes me out of [...]