Suspense/Intrigue
Nothing But Ash
By Pamela Denise
May 18, 2009 - 12:12:58 AM

Two years ago Cindy Sinclair disappeared without a trace, leaving everyone in Midnight Ridge stunned. Devoted wife and mother, Cindy loved her family and life in the small town. She would not have left willingly.

Owen Sinclair would have never imagined that his life would have changed so drastically in one night. His wife Cindy had left him in his shop to go pick up their daughter Sienna and had never returned. The search party had discovered her car and his petrified daughter, but no traces of his wife were ever found.

Sienna doesn’t recall what happened the night of her mother’s disappearance. Her behavior has been increasingly disturbing as of late causing the town sheriff and childhood friend of her parents Erin Walker to voice her concerns to Sienna’s father.

Sienna claims that she sees and speaks with her mother’s ghost, but it is hard for Owen and Erin to believe such an unlikely story. However Sienna is adamant it is her mother who has come to help her remember what happened the night she disappeared.

Erin Walker is still in love with Owen Sinclair after all the years that have passed.  Cindy, Owen, and Erin had been childhood friends and as they neared adulthood Erin and Owen became high-school sweethearts. However Erin left for the police academy leaving Cindy to comfort Owen. It was only natural that the relationship between the two progressed. When Erin returned they all remained close friends and she was even named their daughter’s God-mother.  Not forgetting her dear friend and her role, she vowed to watch over Owen and Sienna.

An undeniable chemistry is still simmering between Owen and Erin, but neither feels a confrontation is right with everything that has been going on. Owen decides he will explore these feelings with Erin once things are taken care of with his daughter. Then the worst happens and Sienna disappears just as his wife had.

He and Erin frantically set out on a search for his daughter following the clues she’d left behind in her journal. As the search unfolds it leads to somewhere far closer to home than they could have imagined.

Erin may just have a second chance with Owen if they can find his daughter and stay alive.

NOTHING BUT ASH had me drawn in within the first five pages. I immediately found myself searching for clues as to what happened to Cindy and wondering what was going to become of Owen, Sienna, and Erin.  L. Shannon weaves an excellent tale full of suspense laced with romance and the paranormal that had me on edge until the end.