Customer Reviews

Walking Wounded

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I received a copy of "Walking Wounded" as a gift this Christmas 2005 (actually I think I'd put it on my Amazon Wish List) and the more I read the more convinced I became that it was more than "familiar" - I'd actually read it before. Problem was, I'd never read any books by Casavant. It took some digging through my considerable collection of books, but I finally found the answer in Nora Roberts' 1995 novel "Hidden Riches". Please don't take my word for it - pick up both books and have a look yourself. But here are just a couple examples which I'm sure you will find as shocking as I did:

From Casavant's "Walking Wounded":
Megan Cartwright moved through the storeroom to unlock the backdoor that led to the inside stairway. She had to juggle her purse and her overnight bag, as well as the coat she'd stripped off on entering the store. Muttering to herself, she managed to hit the light switch in the stairway with her shoulder. She was halfway down the hall when she saw the light spilling out of the neighboring apartment. The new tenant. She had forgotten that she had asked Willy to take care of that while she was out of town. Shifting her grip, she walked to the door--still braced open with a box--and peered in.

From Roberts' "Hidden Riches":
She moved through the storeroom to unlock the door that led to the inside stairway. She had to juggle the box, her purse and her overnight bag, as well as the coat she'd stripped off on entering the shop. Muttering to herself, she managed to hit the light switch in the stairway with her shoulder. She was halfway down the hall when she saw the light spilling out of the neighboring apartment. The new tenant. Shifting her grip, she walked to the door that was braced pen with a box and peered in.

From "Walking Wounded":
She smiled at her grandmother's note. Skimming a finger down the lease until she came to Alex's signature, Megan dashed her own name on the line next to it on both copies. Grabbing one, she strode to her door and across the hall and knocked. After a pause, the door opened. Megan thrust the lease out. "You'll need this for your records."
Alex took it. His gaze lowered, scanned, then lifted again. "Why'd the old woman leave this with you?"
Megan's chin lifted, her eyes suddenly cool "The old man," she said in a deceptively mild tone, "is my grandmother. I own the building, which makes me your landlord." She turned around and was across the hall in two strides. She could feel Alex's eyes on her back. With her hand on the knob, Megan paused. Her thick blonde hair swung out, curved, settled. "The rent's due on the first of each month. You can slip the check under my door and save yourself a stamp, as well as any contact with other humans." She slipped inside and closed the door with a satisfied snap.

From "Hidden Riches":
Setting the note aside, she skimmed a finger down the lease until she came to Jed's signature. It was a bold scrawl, and she dashed her own name on the line next to it on both copies. Lifting one, she strode to her door and across the hall and knocked.
When the door opened, Dora thrust the lease out, crushing the corner against Jed's chest. "You'll need this for your records."
He took it. His gaze lowered, scanned, then lifted again. "Why'd the old man leave this with you?"
Her chin tilted up. "The old man," she said in mild tones, "is my father. I own the building, which makes me, Mr. Skimmerhorn, your landlord." She turned on her heel and was across the hall in two strides. With her hand on the knob, she paused, turned. Her hair swung out, curved, settled. "The rent's due on the twenty-first of each month. You can slip the check under my door and save yourself a stamp, as well as any contact with other humans." She slipped inside and closed the door with a satisfied snick of the lock.

I could provide more (much, much more!!) but I think this gives you an adequate idea of why I was so blown away. Bottom line, if you like Casavant's books, you ought to try reading some of Nora Roberts' novels and fall in love with an Original!

I really enjoyed this book having devoured it in a matter of hours. I found the lead characters captivating even more so when i realised it followed on from twist of fate. my only problem with this book is having to wait for the next installment, thumbs up get out there and buy it!

A mixture between a mystery and a romance. This book is about a woman who has to come to terms with grief and change in her life after the murder of her lover. Alex meets Megan and gradually begins to emerge from the shell she has placed herself in. Eventually she begins to investigate her lover's murder only to pay a high emotional price. I thought this novel was kind of short for its subject matter, but it's a good page turner and makes you look forward to the next one, which is the plan I guess!

What makes someone run from everything and everyone they know? One woman, a police officer, quits her job, sells her house, cuts herself off from friends and moves into an apartment owned by a woman who runs a bookstore. Off to an unfriendly start they nevertheless, over time, begin to form a sort of civility to each other. Can they become friends? And if so, will a tentative friendship allow them to get past the hurdles they each face? In trying to help her reenter life as she knew it, will one woman's well-meaning friends push her too far? Can a newfound friendship give each woman back the ability to love?

The second in a series of books about a group of friends, the first being "Twist of Fate", the writer continues to display considerable talent in weaving together an incredible story of friendship, courage, and the nearly overwhelming ability to love.

i really enjoyed reading the book, the way all the characters interacted which each other made a good story. i hope ms.casavant continues to write about alex,megan, jamie and friends. continue the good work

I picked up this book at breakfast and finished it just after lunch. I couldn't put it down. Alex Ryan turns in her badge after her lover, also a cop, is killed right in front of her eyes. Alex turns away from everything in her life -- her home, her friends, her family -- and essentially becomes a recluse. Her self-imposed exile is thwarted when she meets her neighbor and landlord, Megan. Megan doesn't know how to handle her growing attraction toward Alex, but exhibits a maturity everyone should strive for.

The supporting characters in this book give it depth and dimensionality. Megan's grandmother is a comical woman who knows when to intervene. Alex's friends are invaluable in helping her heal. Even Kate, the woman who accidentally gets mixed up in a murder investigation and has awakening feelings of lust toward the female cops, is a gem.

It is hard not to experience the emotional highs and lows of all the characters. Casavant brilliantly describes each scene and pulls the reader in so much that smells almost seem real.

One note -- 'Walking Wounded' is second book in the Boston Friends Series. However, these books (there are 3 so far) seem to stand alone as well. There are minor mentions of characters from the other books ('Twist of Fate' and 'Imperfect Past'), but they don't seem to be sequels or prequels of each other. This isn't bad if you only have one or two of them on your shelf. The only negative thing I can say about this book is that it's only 156 pages long.

I have the third book, 'Imperfect Past,' on my shelf and can't wait to start reading. This is a tremendous series by a priceless author. Keep 'em coming...

Such a shame that this book is only around 200 pages long, but with that comes a fast paced page turner that I enjoyed immensely. The storyline was great and I especially loved the interplay between the two main characters and between Alex and her friends very amusing.