Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Secrets, Fact or Fiction?, July 14, 2007
Secrets: Fact or Fiction? Is a collection of short stories about life and love. These short stories feature writers such as Diane J. Newton, Larry Pontius, C.T. Adams, Hill Kemp, Kathleen Strelow, C.W. Gortner, Cathy Clamp, A.P. Fuchs, and Carlene Reed. These pieces range from the romantic destiny described in A Life Interrupted through the bitter irony in A Creature of Habit to the sweet surprise of A Baby Secret. Stories are set in both modern day like A Matter of Taste and in the distant past like The Queen's Sin. All of these tales have an air of mystery with strong ironic foundations.
Each story in Secrets: Fact or Fiction? Is entertaining while also making the reader reflect upon the message of the particular story. Moreover, the reader is also asked to determine if he or she thinks the story is real and send in his or her opinion. Readers who guess correctly could win signed copies of nine other books by these writer plus a second volume of Secrets due out in 2006. As each story is quite realistic, it will be quite a challenge for the reader to determine which stories are fact and which are fiction. Good Luck!
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Are they real stories or are they made up?, September 4, 2005
Secrets Fact or Fiction, edited by Diane J. Newton, is a fascinating collection of nine short stories. Each story is written in the unique style and voice of a different author.
I so enjoyed "A Life Interrupted" by Diane J. Newton but wanted it to have a more fully developed ending. We were given the luxury of getting to know the characters and then there seemed to be an abrupt and neat ending. Newton carefully developed the characters. They were full, rich and dimensional. I disliked the father and really disliked the sister Jenny. I rooted for Laura and Mike and felt intense pity for mom Samantha. It was an interesting story that drew me in and held me in its darkness.
"Josie" by Kathleen Strelow will tug at your heart and most people will, at the least, have tears threatening to spill. It's really the most different of the stories included in the collection and fits because there is the requisite secret.
"A Matter of Taste" by Cathy Clamp is the story I latched onto and didn't want to let go, not unlike Dan Magraw who really wanted a vacation but the death of Ricky Redding and the arrest of his girlfriend Mandy tugged at him, demanding answers. Mandy proclaimed her responsibility for Ricky's death, but did that mean she murdered him?
"Not There" by A.P. Fuchs will have you on the edge of your seat and you'll find yourself returning to it long after you finish reading it. And you'll ask yourself repeatedly, was Terrance insanely jealous or crazy or perhaps both?
The other five stories will all grab your attention and take you for a grand and unique ride.
An interesting aspect of this collection is the contest attached to it. The question is: Are the stories based on fact or are they nothing more than a bit of fiction. If the reader guesses correctly they can win a signed copy of another book by each of the authors (nine books) plus a free copy of Secrets II. Send your entry (information is included in the book) and see if you win. At the least you'll enjoy the fascinating stories.
Armchair Interviews says that all the authors in this collection are skilled writers who will entertain you.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting blend of imaginations from talented writers, July 25, 2005
Editor Diane J. Newton, has put together an odd little collection of nine unique stories called Secrets, Fact or Fiction? fitting somewhere between taut suspense and heartrending. It's difficult to tell by the title and cover, where exactly these stories will take you, but that is of course, part of the enjoyment of reading.
"A Life Interrupted" has a slow, detailed start, with impeccable attention to the characters, so much so that I cared about what happened to each and every one of them. My only complaint is that after such a build up of emotion and tension, the ending was rushed and it left me a bit put off.
In "A Creature of Habit", author Larry Pontius, weaves a fast-paced drama, complete with an abrupt, but slick twist at the end. His main character was fueled with excellent inner dialogue, and by doing so, brought realism toward the events taking place around him.
The collection gains momentum with "The Apple Doesn't Fall Far..." deliciously written by C.T. Adams. This was one of my favorites for its flow, conversation, characters, and how the plot unraveled. It truly made for excellence in storytelling.
Unfortunately, "Crawfish Braud" by Hill Kemp, didn't work for me. Too much information was provided early on, leaving the plot convoluted and somewhat flat. I didn't find the dialogue realistic, as everyone spoke overtly polite and well mannered. The story did have an interesting concept, and perhaps done differently, would truly shine.
Things quickly slow down - almost too quickly, with "Josie," a must-have hankie story. While a predictable plot, it was moving and sentimental. Kathleen Strelow, knows how to work the heartstrings, which means, yes, I got teary-eyed when it came time for the bittersweet ending. While I can understand the concept of its inclusion in this collection because of the secret factor, I'm not entirely sure it worked for me here.
After such a poignant story, we are thrust back into the hard and heavy with "The Queen's Sin," which was thoroughly entertaining literature complete with dynamic storytelling and adventure. If anything can possibly be found unlikable within this story, it's the placement after such an emotional one. This was another favorite and I'll be certain to keep my eye out for more creative works by author C.W. Gortner.
"A Matter of Taste" was charmingly written by Cathy Clamp, and between the sensible character bantering, and a few hidden goodies, this is a delight to savor. For more reasons than one.
Probably the creepiest story of the lot is "Not There" with its superb tension and ambience. Author A.P. Fuchs has it down pat with bringing a reader in, using all of the senses, and letting the imagination run wild. Just when I knew where it was going, I was taken for a loop and left biting my nails. Equally as important, it stayed with me for days after reading. I would have placed this story first or last in this collection to give the readers something to chew on.
"The Baby Secret" by talented author Carlene Reed, exudes a nice writing style, with careful attention to details, but didn't leave me with a lot of emotion. I felt somewhat cheated with its neatly wrapped up ending, and the complete lack of realism with her main characters, given the nature of the situation. It also suffers by being toted as the final story, after following several high adrenaline stories.
Secrets Fact or Fiction? has a lot going for it with imaginative stories and fully developed characters. The authors involved are talented and skilled in their craft, with a few exceptional stories that stood out from the rest. As I mentioned, the order of the stories really threw me off. Just as I had my blood pumping, I was thrust into a somber mood, only to be thrust back into a hard driving story and left to ponder the whole collection after a final solemn story. Because of that, I'd suggest reading one story at a time, to enjoy them on their own merit, rather than reading the book all the way through. While I was certain the stories would be of a science fiction nature, I was happily proven wrong.
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