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redtemptation's review against another edition
3.0
Wasn't as taken with this one. I'll give the third book a chance, but I'm not running for it like I usually am with series.
athenany's review against another edition
5.0
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
This book was amazing... Hester Young is an incredible author. I loved her first book, The Gates of Evangeline, and while this book shares a common thread in that it centers around Charlie Cates's unique psychic sensitivity, the story and location could not be more different. Young makes the beauty and intensity of the southwestern desert come alive, and paints an eerie picture of border cities and the seediness found there, in the same way that she made the sleepy Louisiana bayou spring to life in the prior book. I love Charlie's character. I think I read somewhere that this is supposed to be a trilogy, but if this ended up as an ongoing series of Charlie's adventures in solving mysteries I would NOT complain.
This book was amazing... Hester Young is an incredible author. I loved her first book, The Gates of Evangeline, and while this book shares a common thread in that it centers around Charlie Cates's unique psychic sensitivity, the story and location could not be more different. Young makes the beauty and intensity of the southwestern desert come alive, and paints an eerie picture of border cities and the seediness found there, in the same way that she made the sleepy Louisiana bayou spring to life in the prior book. I love Charlie's character. I think I read somewhere that this is supposed to be a trilogy, but if this ended up as an ongoing series of Charlie's adventures in solving mysteries I would NOT complain.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
The second installment in Hester Young's Charlie Cates series, The Shimmering Road is another intriguing mystery with slight supernatural elements. Although this latest release can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend the first book in the series as well.
In this outing, Charlie is now living with her boyfriend, Noah Palmer, in his hometown of Sidalie, TX where they are joyfully preparing for the upcoming birth of their baby. While Charlie is happy with Noah, she is finding it difficult to make a new life where Noah has such a long history. Equally troubling are the horrible nightmares she is having about a tragic incident involving herself and her unborn baby. After her estranged mother, Donna DeRossi and her half-sister, Jasmine, are murdered, Charlie and Noah go to Tucson, AZ to make arrangements to adopt her six year old niece, Micky Ramos. The adoption process is long and arduous which leaves the couple plenty of time to locate Micky's absentee father, Ruben Ramos, who lives somewhere in Mexico. Much to Noah's dismay, Charlie cannot resist investigating Donna and Jasmine's murders once she discovers Donna's job with a non-profit entailed numerous trips to Mexico to help impoverished women turn around their lives. When she starts having nightmares about Lety, a teenager who is connected to Donna, Charlie cannot walk away from the case even after it becomes apparent that someone is willing to go to any lengths to try to stop her from uncovering the truth about her mother and sister's murders.
The last thing Charlie wants to deal with anything having to do with her estranged mother, but she has to try to do what is best for young Micky. She is surprised to learn Donna finally managed to turn her life around but she is quite bitter that Donna did not try to contact her after finally becoming sober. With so many unresolved issues about their relationship, Charlie has very mixed emotions about adopting her niece. Despite her uncertainty, she continues making plans to make to adopt Micky while she gets to know her mother's partner, retired police Lieutenant Pam Soto.
After Charlie begins having visions and nightmares about young Lety, she feels like she has to learn the truth about the young woman's death. Discovering Lety committed suicide not long before Donna's murder, Charlie cannot help believing there is a connection between their deaths. After a trip to the border town of Nogales, she knows she has stumbled into something but what that something is eludes her.
After she learns frightening information about where Lety died, Charlie is more certain than ever her death is somehow tied to Donna's work with the non-profit. Just as she is struggling to put the pieces of the puzzle together, she is stunned to learn what Pam has been up to in her absence. Is Pam just trying to find out who killed Donna or does she have a much more sinister reason for her actions? After new evidence surfaces, Charlie becomes even more suspicious of Pam but will she uncover the truth before it is too late?
The Shimmering Road by Hester Young is another brilliant mystery with supernatural elements. Old and new fans of the Charlie Cates series will find themselves absolutely bewitched by this latest addition to the captivating series.
The second installment in Hester Young's Charlie Cates series, The Shimmering Road is another intriguing mystery with slight supernatural elements. Although this latest release can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend the first book in the series as well.
In this outing, Charlie is now living with her boyfriend, Noah Palmer, in his hometown of Sidalie, TX where they are joyfully preparing for the upcoming birth of their baby. While Charlie is happy with Noah, she is finding it difficult to make a new life where Noah has such a long history. Equally troubling are the horrible nightmares she is having about a tragic incident involving herself and her unborn baby. After her estranged mother, Donna DeRossi and her half-sister, Jasmine, are murdered, Charlie and Noah go to Tucson, AZ to make arrangements to adopt her six year old niece, Micky Ramos. The adoption process is long and arduous which leaves the couple plenty of time to locate Micky's absentee father, Ruben Ramos, who lives somewhere in Mexico. Much to Noah's dismay, Charlie cannot resist investigating Donna and Jasmine's murders once she discovers Donna's job with a non-profit entailed numerous trips to Mexico to help impoverished women turn around their lives. When she starts having nightmares about Lety, a teenager who is connected to Donna, Charlie cannot walk away from the case even after it becomes apparent that someone is willing to go to any lengths to try to stop her from uncovering the truth about her mother and sister's murders.
The last thing Charlie wants to deal with anything having to do with her estranged mother, but she has to try to do what is best for young Micky. She is surprised to learn Donna finally managed to turn her life around but she is quite bitter that Donna did not try to contact her after finally becoming sober. With so many unresolved issues about their relationship, Charlie has very mixed emotions about adopting her niece. Despite her uncertainty, she continues making plans to make to adopt Micky while she gets to know her mother's partner, retired police Lieutenant Pam Soto.
After Charlie begins having visions and nightmares about young Lety, she feels like she has to learn the truth about the young woman's death. Discovering Lety committed suicide not long before Donna's murder, Charlie cannot help believing there is a connection between their deaths. After a trip to the border town of Nogales, she knows she has stumbled into something but what that something is eludes her.
After she learns frightening information about where Lety died, Charlie is more certain than ever her death is somehow tied to Donna's work with the non-profit. Just as she is struggling to put the pieces of the puzzle together, she is stunned to learn what Pam has been up to in her absence. Is Pam just trying to find out who killed Donna or does she have a much more sinister reason for her actions? After new evidence surfaces, Charlie becomes even more suspicious of Pam but will she uncover the truth before it is too late?
The Shimmering Road by Hester Young is another brilliant mystery with supernatural elements. Old and new fans of the Charlie Cates series will find themselves absolutely bewitched by this latest addition to the captivating series.
jerseygrrrl's review against another edition
4.0
Great read. I picked this up at the library in a week and was immediately, completely engaged.
lisaeirene's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feelings. I liked the first book. The second book had a very different vibe. It wasn't the alluring, romantic darkness of the first one that took place in Louisiana. This one takes place in Arizona, which is fine, just lends a different vibe. The first book had some decent romance in it. The second book was lacking that a lot--in fact, it felt like Noah and Charlie were not doing well as a couple at all. It was kind of a bummer. Also, there was a very subtle thread of some homophobia and racism/elitism. It was really subtle, maybe I was reading too much into it, but yeah...it bugged me.
scknitter's review against another edition
4.0
This time, Charlie Cates’ visions take us to Arizona and Mexico as Charlie attempts to interpret her dreams and find those responsible for the deaths of her mother and half-sister. A great second addition to a thrilling new series.
cj_mo_2222's review against another edition
4.0
Charlotte “Charlie” Cates is still grieving the loss of her son. In spite of her grief, she is eager, but anxious, for a new start with boyfriend, Noah, and their soon-to-be born baby. This should be a joyous time for Charlie, but children in danger are able to telepathically reach out to Charlie for help through her dreams. The latest nightmares she is having seem to indicate she and her unborn baby are in danger, so she is afraid of getting too excited about the upcoming birth of her baby. In addition, she also feels compelled to help a young niece she never knew existed and this situation could be putting her in even more danger.
I have been eagerly waiting to read “The Shimmering Road” which is the follow-up to Hester Young’s outstanding “The Gates of Evangeline”. Most of this book is set in southern Arizona, which is a setting I like, and the plot is just as suspenseful as the prior book, but it somehow doesn’t measure up to Young’s debut. Although I like the desert setting, I miss the gothic New Orleans atmosphere of “The Gates of Evangeline”. Also, the way Charlie and Noah deal with their relationship is frustrating and takes away from the suspense of the story. For as strong as each character is individually, the interactions between the pair is often immature. Relationship conflicts have their place in a novel, but Charlie and Noah sometimes seem like high schoolers instead of grown adults who have each been married before.
On the positive side, the plot is interesting and both Charlie and Noah find themselves in unbelievably dangerous situations that will leave you in fear over what will happen next. When not dealing with Noah, Charlie is a brave, likeable character to root for. In addition, with all she has experienced in her young life, Charlie’s six-year-old niece Micky is an old soul and a delightful character who really adds to the story. There is just enough of the paranormal with Charlie’s ability to tune into messages from children in peril to make this a unique, but relatable series. Although “The Shimmering Road” is the second book in the series, it’s not necessary to have read the prior book first, but readers who enjoy this book will want to check out the first one, too. I am hopeful there will be a third book and another adventure for Charlie.
I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Penguin Group/Putnam. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
I have been eagerly waiting to read “The Shimmering Road” which is the follow-up to Hester Young’s outstanding “The Gates of Evangeline”. Most of this book is set in southern Arizona, which is a setting I like, and the plot is just as suspenseful as the prior book, but it somehow doesn’t measure up to Young’s debut. Although I like the desert setting, I miss the gothic New Orleans atmosphere of “The Gates of Evangeline”. Also, the way Charlie and Noah deal with their relationship is frustrating and takes away from the suspense of the story. For as strong as each character is individually, the interactions between the pair is often immature. Relationship conflicts have their place in a novel, but Charlie and Noah sometimes seem like high schoolers instead of grown adults who have each been married before.
On the positive side, the plot is interesting and both Charlie and Noah find themselves in unbelievably dangerous situations that will leave you in fear over what will happen next. When not dealing with Noah, Charlie is a brave, likeable character to root for. In addition, with all she has experienced in her young life, Charlie’s six-year-old niece Micky is an old soul and a delightful character who really adds to the story. There is just enough of the paranormal with Charlie’s ability to tune into messages from children in peril to make this a unique, but relatable series. Although “The Shimmering Road” is the second book in the series, it’s not necessary to have read the prior book first, but readers who enjoy this book will want to check out the first one, too. I am hopeful there will be a third book and another adventure for Charlie.
I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Penguin Group/Putnam. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
calliegraces2's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0