A Note from an Old Acquaintance

 Bill Walker

SOMETIMES, LOVE GETS A SECOND CHANCE...

Brian Weller is a haunted man.  It's been two years since the tragic accident that left his three-year-old son dead and his wife in an irreversible coma.  A popular author of mega-selling thrillers, Brian's life has reached a crossroads: his new book is stalled, his wife's prognosis is dire, and he teeters on the brink of despair.

Everything changes the morning an e-mail arrives from Boston artist Joanna Richman.  Her heartfelt note brings back all the poignant memories: the night their eyes met, the fiery passion of their short-lived affair, and the agonizing moment he was forced to leave Joanna forever.  Now, fifteen years later, the guilt and anger threaten to overwhelm him.  Vowing to make things right, Brian arranges a book-signing tour that will take him back to Boston.  He is eager to see Joanna again, but remains unsure where their reunion will lead.  One thing is certain: the forces that tore their love asunder will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

Filled with tender romance and taut suspense, A Note from an Old Acquaintance is an unforgettable story about fate, honor, and the power of true love.

My Take:

A Note from an Old Acquaintance was a beautifully told story of lost love, heartache and second chances.  I found the characters to be, for the most part, extremely engaging.  I was drawn straight into the story, and found myself finishing the book in just over a day.  I felt that the pacing was well done, which can be difficult considering the style.  Sometimes, when a book jumps back and forth through memories and flash backs, it can seem a bit disjointed, but I didn't get that feeling at all with this book.  The flow was...well...flowey :)  Like I said before, I found that the characters were very well formed and pulled the story along quite nicely.  My one complaint about the characters, is a 100% personal taste issue.  I always tend to lose respect for a character, and love them a bit less when infidelity is introduced, no matter the circumstances.  Again, this is my personal preference.  I would highly recommend this book to any lover of romance, and therefore rate it a 2, Borders with a Coupon.  This was a very very well written love story.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie it would likely be rated Pg-13 for language and sexuality

A few words with the author, Bill Walker:

The Book Buff: Many authors have a very specific writing style, what is yours?

Bill Walker: My main goal in writing is to draw the reader into the story and keep him or her involved, so I tend to avoid being too high falutin' when it comes to word choice.  On the other hand, I refuse to "write down" to my readers.

TBB: Your bio states that you are a graphic designer, and have worked on projects of Ray Bradbury (a personal favorite of The Book Buff), Dean Koontz, and your hero, Stephen King, did you design your own cover?

BW: I have to plead guilty as charged.  The still life was my idea.  And because aspects of the story deal with art, I wanted an image that reflected the story and particular aspects from it.

TBB: Is there a message in A Note from an Old Acquaintance that you want readers to grasp?

BW: The theme of love lost and regained is a powerful one for me.  It was my feeling that nearly everyone has a Joanna or Brian in his or her past and readers would enjoy exploring that premise.

TBB: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

BW: I think Stephen King is a modern master and his work will someday be studied formally.  Like Dickens, he knows how to tell a story and keep the reader enthralled, which is all I ever want with anything I write.
       
TBB: If you could mirror the career of any other author, who would it be?

BW: I would like Ernest Hemingway's critical acclaim, Mark Twain's deft hand with humor and Stephen King's bank account ;-)

TBB: What is your favorite interview question?

BW: I would say the question is: "What do you love about writing?"  My answer is: "To be able to take the reader on a journey they never want to end and when it does it is one they never want to forget.  To me, that is a writer's greatest calling.

If you are interested in learning more about Bill Walker, A Note from an Old Acquaintance, or his upcoming projects, check out his Goodreads profile at http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/616174.Bill_Walker

**FTC Disclosure:  This book was provided in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was given, all opinions are my own** 

If you are interested in purchasing A Note from an Old Acquaintance, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!