Beneath the Stones by Susan Coryell (Book Review)

 

Ashby Overton has everything to look forward to, including a promising writing career and her wedding at summer’s end. But, Overhome, her beloved historic family estate in Southern Virginia, is in financial peril and it is up to Ashby to find a solution.

Interfering with Ashby’s plans is a dark paranormal force that thwarts her every effort to save Overhome. Supernatural attacks emanate from an old stone cottage on the property rumored to be a slave overseer’s abode, prior to the Civil War. As the violence escalates, Ashby begins to fear for her life. Who is this angry spirit and why is his fury focused on Ashby?

Mystery, suspense and romance flourish against a backdrop of Civil War turmoil and ancestral strife–where immortality infiltrates the ancient air breathed by all who inhabit Overhome Estate.

Beneath the Stones is now available at all online bookstores in both print and e-book formats: Amazon paper back or Kindle versionBarnes and Noble Nook version.

 
 
 
 
Small Teaser! 
 

I moved downward, one step at a time, leaning against the wall for support. I was half-way down when it happened—so suddenly that I had no time to react. Frigid air swooshed down on me from behind, freezing my face so that I screwed my eyes tight shut at the same time something strong and determined pushed against my back violently—so violently that I stumbled, then, tumbled forward, to be caught in Luke’s outstretched arms from several stairs below.

“Whoa!” Luke exhaled from the impact of my body on his. “My God, Ashby. What happened?”

I slumped against him, unable to utter a single word, my breathing shallow and rapid. At last I found my voice. “Something pushed me, Luke. I don’t know what—or who—but it was powerful and deliberate.”

Luke glanced up to the top of the stairs. “Nothing there. I’m going back to the loft to look.”

I stopped him. “I doubt you’ll find anything.” I sniffed the air, expecting a new infusion of foul odor. “And what would you do if you did find anything?”

Just then we both heard it. Hollow, chilling, trailing away from us with every syllable: “Go away. He’s dead. He’s dead. He’s dead….”

 

 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

Thank goodness I am only an “observer” to the spookiness surrounding Overhome because if this was actually happening to me…. underpants would’ve been changed more than once. Ominous voices, strange noises, angry spirits……. Nope, I think I will pass on the ghostbusting business, thank you very much. 
 
Through the Twilight Zone occurrences, what I most loved about BTS was the historical aspects of this novel.  I would like to mention the special note from Susan in the opening credits which I think adds value to her story.
 
“The Civil War letters included in Beneath the Stone are based on actual letters written from battle fronts by family ancestors, Joseph Franklin Stover and John William Stover. “
 
That bit of information brought the story MORE TO LIFE (for me) and I think it will for you too. 
 
One final thing, thank you for educating me (us) on the chemistry behind making wine. It was enlightening!! 

 

Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤1/2

 

GET YOUR COPY NOW AT AMAZON Paperback / Kindle

 

 
My Background

A career educator, I have a BA in English and an MAIS in writing, English, and education. I’ve taught English, speech, drama, reading, and English as a Second Language to students from 7th grade through college. I once taught a course to teachers. I married my high school sweetheart and we have 3 children and 6 grand children. I live at Smith Mountain Lake in my home state of Virginia.
I have done all kinds of writing. My free-lance articles have been published inSmith Mountain Laker.Com, Blue Ridge Traditions, Cooperative Living and other local publications. I’ve also been published in The Washington Post and The Roanoke Times, The Smith Mountain Eagle, The Bedford Bulletin, and The Franklin News Post. Here at the lake I’ve written press for four different groups, including The Smith Mountain Arts Council and The Smith Mountain Charity Home Tour. My writing repertoire includes articles for educational and professional magazines and even several recipes for Taste of Home magazines and cookbooks.
 

Teaching

When I taught at Thoreau Intermediate School in Vienna, Virginia, I started a literary magazine, A Cabin in the Woods. At Centreville High, where I later taught, I initiated an Authors Club and launched an annual Writers Conference for student writers.
I’ve toured dozens of elementary, middle, and high schools in Fairfax County, giving author talks and conducting writers’ workshops for students. Here at the lake I have worked with creative writing classes at the Gereau Center in Franklin County and participated in student writing contests sponsored by the Lake Writers.
 

Lets stay connected!! 

5 Comments

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5 Responses to Beneath the Stones by Susan Coryell (Book Review)

  1. James

    I like watching historical documentaries so I'm confident I'll like this book.

  2. Ghost and the after life , bring it on !!!!

  3. Thanks, Kam for a heartening review of Beneath the Stones. The third novel in the Overhome Trilogy, NOBODY KNOWS is now under contact with The Wild Rose Press–publication date TBA.
    James and Jennifer–I would love to hear your reactions if you read Beneath the Stones. The first book in the series is A Red, Red Rose.

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