Customer Reviews

Crystal Bay

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gage is an English teacher who has wanted to write a novel as far back as he can remember. He agrees with his wife Beth that as soon as classes are over, he will go away to his parents' summer home in Crystal Bay to pen his masterpiece. Beth reluctantly agrees, not wanting to stand in the way of her husband's dreams. On the way there, Gage stops for a bite to eat and meets a dazzling woman by the name of Amanda. A few words are exchanged, and he is on his way. Imagine his surprise when he finds out the next morning that Amanda's got a house right next to his. One thing leads to another and before he realizes what's happened, he's in bed with her. What has he done? He could be throwing away his marriage. Suddenly, the writing comes easier and words flow on the page. Then he sleeps with Amanda again as if he were spellbound by her. What is wrong with him? In the meantime, the words keep pouring out of him, but he is ridden with guilt. Amanda has her sights on him, but there is more to her than meets the eye. Will Gage be able to resist her charm and save his marriage--and finish his novel? Amanda's got plans for him and she won't--can't--take no for an answer.

Crystal Bay is Brandon Ford's debut novel and what an introduction it is! It is a far better book than the average first novel. He shows a lot of maturity and avoids many of the trappings of a first novel. There are echoes of Richard Laymon in his writing, but Brandon's voice is very much his own. His dialogue is sharp, the tension constant throughout, and the few characters we encounter are very credible. These are folks you know and you've met many times in the course of your life. Buddy the annoying neighbor who's got a crush on Beth and doesn't let a trivial detail like the fact that she's married bother him. Tina, Beth's best friend and business partner, who's still single and a party animal yet would do anything for her friend. Gage and Beth are extremely well developed and you feel and worry for them.

I kept turning the pages and telling myself "one more chapter" until my eyes were too tired to go on. The story unfolds at a very good pace, moving back and forth between Gage at the summer house and Beth back in the city. The more you see what Amanda is about, the more you want Gage to get the hell out of there. Only he can't--even when everything around him is threatening to fall apart. This mysterious muse isn't that easy to leave.

Crystal Bay is a strong debut, one which I highly recommend. If you're a fan of Laymon's twisted stories or if you've ever been tempted to get away for a few months to write a bestselling novel, then you should definitely pick up this book. It is the perfect summer read.

Alan Draven,
Author of Bitternest

I could not put this book down. The suspense that breathes through these pages kept me at the edge of my seat. I highly reccommend this book to any fan of a good suspense or horror novel.

I recently read Crystal Bay, by Brandon Ford. I follow Mr. Ford on Twitter, so I felt because of that, I should read what he's written. Normally, I am not a fan of this type of book. Personally, for my own tastes, I would classify this as more of a horror novel than anything else. I generally read Dean Koontz, James Patterson and the like. I was pleasantly surprised by Crystal Bay. The characters were compelling, and even though it was more graphic than what I am used to, I still really enjoyed the book. Mr. Ford's character Gage, I did not find redeemable at all. Nothing personal, I just felt he came across as a jerk from the get go. I was wholly unsurprised when he so easily fell in bed with someone other than his wife. Maybe I'm just jaded against men :) (not true!) It definitely kept me interested as a reader. I have to admit that I am the type of reader who will put down a book and never finish it if it doesn't catch my interest in the first few paragraphs/pages. Although I have immense love for Koontz, several of his books have never been finished by me because they weren't my cup of tea.

I found myself wishing that Mr. Ford had maybe expanded on the character of Amanda a little more. She is a character I wanted to know more background on. I am no expert when it comes to anything, but I highly recommend this book to everyone (and I have!!). It's definitely an enjoyable read!

*the reason for the title was because of the horror in Crystal Bay the town, you should definitely read the book!

Students aren't the only ones who look forward to summer vacation. Teachers are just as excited as the school year comes to a close, and Gage Healy, the main character of Brandon Ford's debut novel Crystal Bay, is no different. Gage has become disillusioned with life as a teacher, and he seeks to pursue his life-long ambiton -- becoming a published writer. The only thing standing in his way is life -- his job, his wife, all the distractions that coming with being married and owning a home. He seeks to leave it all behind so he can devote 110% of his energies on the novel he knows he has in him. And as the school year comes to a close, that is exactly what he plans to do, much to his wife's disappointment.

On his way to Crystal Bay, the vacation home of his youth, Gage makes a stop in a roadside dive for a bite to eat and stretch his legs after the long drive. His attention is drawn to an exquisite creature by the name of Amanda. Even after he leaves the bar, she preys on his mind. Is it more than coincidence that she turns out to be his neighbor when he arrives in Crystal Bay?

From the beginning, he knows he's in trouble because their relationship quickly escalates from neighborly to sexual in the blink if an eye. While being overwhelmed with guilt, it is not enough to say no to Amanda, who, as it turns out, seems to be his muse because after every sexual encounter, the creative juices flow copiously. But Amanda has a secret. A darker purpose. Will Gage wake up to the danger he is in and escape her clutches, or will he fall victim to the evil within?

For a first novel, I was surprised, and I really shouldn't have been, but recent experience with "first novels" had me fearing the worst. I am happy to say that I truly enjoyed Crystal Bay; I couldn't put the book down. Brandon Ford has created characters that you come to care about, and you can sympathize with Gage as he takes his trip on the wild side. You know he loves his wife, but the muse can be seductive, and his desire to succeed as a writer is his weakness. What you find yourself hoping as the story progresses is that his love for his wife is strong enough to overcome the lure of seduction.

With that said, I must also admit to a bit of disappointment because I found myself wanting more, and it wasn't delivered. There's a scene early on between Gage and his parents. I was getting the feeling as the scene unfolded that there was something unspoken going on, like maybe Gage's mother knew more than she was letting on. She was so dead set against Gage's trip to Crystal Bay, and it seemed to go beyond that "think about your wife and what you are doing to her." Was there more to it? Was she aware of the darkness of Crystal Bay? I also wanted to know more about Amanda. I can't say too much without giving anything away, but there was too much mystery surrounding her. I wanted more about her past and when it wasn't delivered, I couldn't help but feel disappointed and cheated.

I think Brandon Ford holds promise as a horror author and I look forward with anticipation to his future works, which I will be picking up, and I urge you to do the same.

Crystal Bay by Brandon Ford.

Brandon Ford has jump into best-seller mode with his first book. This book is fast paced and entertaining. Once you start the first chapter it carries you straight through to the last. Mr Ford's characters Gage and Amanda are entwined in a life and death game. Who will win? You will not be left unsatisfied with this one.

AngelLesa
Publisher of The Odd Mind Magazine
Host of The Odd Mind radio show.

Brandon Ford has pieced together a pretty good tale of evil, lust, and undying love. His married couple Gage and Beth were well thought out and planned. They love each other completely, and it definitely shows throughout the story. Even when Gage goes away for the summer seeking inspiration for his novel, Beth supports him even though it kills her to be away from him. Gage finds inspiration fairly quickly in Amanda when they have a run in at a local dive bar. She's beautiful, outgoing, and wicked as hell. She takes Gage on a ride that leaves him bursting with inspiration for his book, but also leaves him forgetting everything about his real life back home.

Amanda needs Gage in order to get what she wants, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her immortality.

This story had a nice flow and went from scene to scene smoothly, and the points of view were believable. I was only left wishing that I knew more about Amanda, and where she got her witch craft. I understood her motives for wanting immortality, don't we all, but I felt I needed more background on her in particular. This is the only area I felt was lacking.

Crystal Lake is full of suspense, and I look forward to seeing what Brandon Ford will create next.

I read in Brandon's Blog (on MySpace) where his goal is to have a bestseller by the time he is 35 years old. (he is 26 now) Based upon this book, I think that Brandon's goal is definitely attainable!! I have no doubt that, in the future, Brandon's name will be right along side of those already Masters of the Genre.

This book was absolutely Fantastic!! (Well worth the $13.95 Price Tag!)
This is one of those books where you will want to set aside a day with no interruptions. Brandon has created characters that you instantly like (one has to wonder how much of Brandon's story is in the character of Gage) and he then sets a rapid-fire pace where the suspense does not let up. As you get further and further along in the book, you are gripping the book tighter and tighter and turning the pages faster and faster, until you arrive at the superb ending, which leaves you wanting more!!
(I certainly cannot wait to read Brandon's next novel and I really hope that one day he will again decide to visit Crystal Bay. . .)
I also hope one day to see this book made into a movie! :-)

CRYSTAL Bay is a solid first novel, one with which an author can build his or her career on. The influence of horror writers like Jack Ketchum and Richard Laymon, to name a few, can clearly been seen in this tale mixed with melodrama, suspense, and just plain razor-sharp terror. You're sure to get a kick out of Brandon Ford's craftily structured plot of a man seeking his long-time dream, and of a woman whose only wish is to devour that dream, at any cost. We watch Amanda mirror an animal on the hunt, like a lion preying on a gazelle on The National Geographic Channel...growing ever closer to her prey until she finally pounces...

It's a treat of novel, and you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

Gage Healy is a high school English teacher who badly wishes to be a novelist. Fortune and glory seem to be only a single book away. All he needs is peace and solitude to produce his opus. His wife, Beth, fully encourages his need to write but is increasingly irritated by his insistence to spend two months locked away in a cabin far out in the woods. Her ire won't stop this man-on-a-mission, however, so off he goes to the far shores of Crystal Bay.

Crystal Bay, by newcomer Brandon Ford, tells the story of Gage's quest to write his way to stardom and the misfortune that befalls him when he encounters beautiful Amanda at a seedy diner ten miles from his destination. He barely manages to escape with his honor intact only to discover that she's living in the cabin next door. This coincidental neighbor turns out to be a wet dream come true and a nightmare all bundled into one amazing blonde package. He cheats. He writes. He can only write when he cheats. He feels guilty when he cheats. It's possible I forgot to mention that Amanda is using dark magic to keep herself young and Gage is her most recent victim. Yeah, I forgot to tell you that but now I've rectified that mistake. Are you still interested? You should be!

Brandon Ford paints a vivid picture of a man with a goal who is blocked by an obstacle that borders on supernatural. He's economical with his words yet very effective at making the reader feel the tension, the fear, the sexual arousal, that he wants them to feel. Though it could do with a little bit of spit and polish, this book is superb. I'm proud to own a copy and I can't wait to see what this man writes next!

Jim Dodge Jr.

I am very impressed. Even though this is Brandon Ford's first novel, it shows writing experience and talent that wouldn't normally be expected from a first novel. The plot is pleasantly fresh rather than being some of the same old stuff or minute variations thereof, that seems to be coming from some presses these days. I absolutely recommend Crystal Bay to anyone who enjoys the horror/suspense genre. Congrats to Brandon Ford and Arctic Wolf Press! I'm looking forward to future releases!