Waitress Freja O’Connell is remodeling a century-old house in a seedy part of Denver known as Five Points. Dead broke and needing money to restore the old Victorian charmer, she elects to take a job slinging cocktails at a local men’s club, marking the beginning of her other-worldly adventures.
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Praise from onlinebookclub.org
"The Broken Shade by Michele Poague is a skillfully crafted romance that provides an easy and enjoyable read. This author manages to develop the different facets of Freja's life so that they flow seamlessly, with the narrative never losing pace. She provides us with a well-rounded heroine in Freja who is interesting and likable despite her sometimes questionable life choices. In addition, I found most of the supporting characters were well-developed, which rounded out the story nicely.
The aspect I most enjoyed was the historical background to the events in the book. I checked for accuracy regarding the history of Las Vegas, Glenn Miller's early musical career, and the rich jazz culture in Denver and found it all to be historically correct. The strip club, Shotgun Willie's, actually exists. Interestingly, the story is set in the 1980s, in a world before the Internet. All Freja's research had to be done in a library using old newspaper chronicles on microfiche, and music was played on vinyl records as opposed to iPods. Even the fashions and hairstyles described are very true to the Eighties mode - broad belts, big hair and all."
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The aspect I most enjoyed was the historical background to the events in the book. I checked for accuracy regarding the history of Las Vegas, Glenn Miller's early musical career, and the rich jazz culture in Denver and found it all to be historically correct. The strip club, Shotgun Willie's, actually exists. Interestingly, the story is set in the 1980s, in a world before the Internet. All Freja's research had to be done in a library using old newspaper chronicles on microfiche, and music was played on vinyl records as opposed to iPods. Even the fashions and hairstyles described are very true to the Eighties mode - broad belts, big hair and all."
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Praise from Midwest Book Review
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"Readers who like their romances tempered by engrossing life dilemmas with a dash of the supernatural added for good measure will find The Broken Shade a powerful and fine story of bittersweet endings and new beginnings." |
When she became a cocktail waitress at a men's club in order to earn a few extra dollars to help in her home renovation, Freja O'Connell didn't suspect this innocuous job would open the door to new realms. But strange encounters can evolve under the oddest of conditions, and The Broken Shade reflects this experience as Freja explores a strange new world and considers her revised place in it. The first strength to note here is Michele Poague's employment of atmospheric descriptions: "September heat radiated through the window glass where I was holed up at my sister’s house, discussing last summer’s discovery of the Titanic after seventy-five years at the bottom of the ocean. There is an eeriness to raising the dead, be it an old ship or my love life." These contribute to an approach that takes time to describe not just action, but Freja's observations of and feelings about her course in life and the usual turn it takes. There's also a salty sense of humor in the background of many moments as Freja adjusts to her new role working in a strip club and the special challenges it brings to her sensibilities and objectives: "Dealing with drunken men wasn’t new to me, but the added testosterone of a man surrounded by naked women was more of a challenge. The occasional shot of whiskey helped, but I noticed my tips went down when I imbibed. Not because I made less money; more that I tended to drop it on the floor. I only know this because Ginger retrieved it for me on several occasions." From the mechanics of her DIY remodel job and the complexities of facing home invaders and possible ghosts to struggles with a libido that responds to an unusually sexy man, Freja's Colorado sojourn brings with it promises and otherworldly encounters that continue to hold a sense of fun as a spirit entity observes her rebuild struggles: "Julianne stood in the loft, watching me. It would have been extremely convenient for her to have been more than fog at that moment. “You appear to be in trouble.” “You don’t say.” “Is there some direction you can give me?” I thought about it long and hard but couldn’t come up with a damn thing. I tested the balance and weight of the bathtub. Nope. If I let go, it would slide the rest of the way down the stairs." Between the lessons learned from her new waitressing position (which holds elements of old, familiar routines while introducing new challenges), those learned from her acceptance of Julienne Parker in her house, and others which stem from her evolving house renovations and romance, The Broken Shade excels in creating an evolutionary story that is thoroughly engrossing. A jazzy note plays throughout the story, which is set in 1986 and incorporates the flavor of music, intrigue, and love. Readers who like their romances tempered by engrossing life dilemmas with a dash of the supernatural added for good measure will find The Broken Shade a powerful and fine story of bittersweet endings and new beginnings. Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review |
Praise from LitPick Reviewers
"Historical fiction isn’t something I’d necessarily gravitate towards, but in this case, I am glad I did. I received this advanced review copy of The Broken Shade written by Michele Poague. Instantly, I was enthralled with this book from beginning till the end. I appreciated the plot, the dialogue, the characters, and the imagery. Each one of these components accentuated the other to create a fantastic read. The bits of historical information and the idea of the situations within this story being real, according to the author, made me appreciate this novel and the author for writing this engaging and well-written content."
MorganLee, LitPick Reviewer |
"The author gracefully balances a number of seemingly disconnected storylines and side plots in The Broken Shade. Between Freja’s family life, personal life, professional scene, and unique hobbies, she’s a well-rounded character who, despite some shallowness and tendencies to make wrong decisions when it comes to men, is admirable in her drive and thoughtfulness. Such a packed plot leaves little room for the narrative to drag, making this story a real page turner. Homeowners will appreciate the detailed process of Freja’s remodeling project, which comes with its many frustrating and sometimes comical setbacks. The ghost story will appeal to mystery lovers and history buffs. Between all of that is the voice of reason the reader gets to play as Freja encounters one man after another, knowing full well who she should end up with but enjoying the ride as men come and go over the years. Overall, The Broken Shade is a high-energy, tightly packed story with a likable protagonist who has a unique and compelling story to tell. I hope to see this novel adapted for the big screen one day."
Laura335, LitPick Reviewer |
