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We know Anna J Walner (all reviews here) as a Romance, fictional romance, fantasy author – The Uluru Legacy Series – , (that writes pretty cool erotica as well btw), but, we, as her loyal readers would never, not even in our wildest dreams, imagine, fathom, that she would write an Historic Fiction book. BUT, just like in her plot-twists, she surprised us once again with Saltwater & Driftwood. Was it a good surprise or a bad surprise? Well let me tell you like this:
In the first paragraph, she invites us into the story with an introduction you cannot resist. In the second paragraph she blows us a way with THIS:
“Nothing remains but things written down, memories, thoughts and feelings all captured on paper that itself may eventually turn to dust.”.
In the third paragraph, Anna J Walner plants questions in our heads, questions that we barely can craft properly, because in the fourth paragraph, we are like: “WAIT, who, what, wait, are we already in the story? Already?!” THAT is the first impression that I got from this book, and in less than a minute, I could completely understand why Saltwater & Driftwood is already a bestseller in pre-order. This is a book no sane mind would refuse to read, or have the guts to stop reading. Tremendously well done by Anna. What an introduction!
THE DETAIL OF DESCRIPTION! Oh my god… every sense is invited into the story by this narrative that keeps pulling, and keeps demanding. Oh my god… You know what? Authors should consult with Anna to learn this trait. How can, in less than 20 words, the story invite you to see, smell, and touch something that isn’t physically there?! Oh my… Ok. You might think that I’m hyping this up, but, once you read it you will fully agree with me when you reach page 2 of the book. Yes! Everything said so far is just the content of TWO pages! Yes, it’s THAT impressive.
“The absence of him rings silently from every open door, and every piece of furniture.”
Oh this book is gorgeous. I was expecting a lot from this book, but not this level of beauty and delicacy in framing the words, and another sneeky thing that Anna did, was to build so much tension upon the reader about that book in the first 3 pages that if the reader doesn’t have a heart attack by the end of them, then the reader is completely encapsulated in it’s own curiosity to the point that one is determined to finish this book, no matter what. Anna J Walner is a master writer, and she knows what she is doing. Oh she does, ahahhahaha. Nice!
So, what is the story about? Well, from what we can read, the story is about a memoir of Andrea’s Grandmother, that she found days before they started to leave Colorado. Apparently, this mysterious book, which held important and precious memories that needed to be written down no matter what. And what were those memories about? A deadly storm.
As the story is told about that time, the 1900’s, the language, and social standard is quite well put indeed, sewn in the story flawlessly and taken pretty much as standard once you get cozy with it, which doesn’t take long. Terms such as “the interim”, “parlor” , “smitten”, ” beau” and “lovelorn” make quite the stark remark about how different the time was, and how Anna took exquisite care of bringing back the past eras to current readers through this book.
The pace of the book is good. Engaging. Not fast per se, but rhythmic and steady as the scenes are described, the views, the social standards, the life of the girls, and time passes in the blink of an eye as you read, and continues to gallop its way forward, but never in a sense, or style, that we as readers cannot keep up with, as we do enjoy the book itself and the reading experience. The contrasts of thought between our main character and her mother, the views that create the always present tension between them and if not, the main constrast of this book. The wants of a mother versus the choices of an independent daughter.
Now imagine this: It’s the 1900’s, literally, and a climatologist comes to a Texas town filled with highly religious, high prestige people that think that he is a weather sorcerer, when there is a a possibility of a huge storm coming their way. Let that simmer for a while. Yep, it will be an interesting development indeed, hahahaha. I mean:
“ “Seems to be no end to this heat.” Isaac comments idly, standing and walking to the barometer on the wall of the office. “Damned high-pressure system won’t budge from over top of us. The heat is driving people nearly mad. Only this morning, a woman in near hysterics begging me to bring some relief to the swelter.” “People think you can control the weather.” Joseph laughs, receiving a chuffed response of grumbles. “
I enjoyed the consistency of the characters in the story. Most times, one would find that the fluidity of the characters is enjoyable, and this may be true when it comes to normal fiction books and romances, but here, in a historical fiction, the stability of the characters, their thoughts and motives did indeed add to the believability of the story. They, the characters aren’t “cast in stone”, but there is little movement in terms of “character progress”, or in the shift in their own ways from the first impression we are given, and this is something that might pass unnoticed to most readers, but it is there. It IS there and it’s an important part of the narrative which adds a subtle texture and flavour to the book that readers will enjoy.
There will be well put shifts in time and technologies, the origins of cars in the buggy & horse world, and the in use of electricity! HA! It’s quite the food for the imagination. Love it.
There is another quite interesting conflict here to address, and this time is of Romeo and Juliet’s proportions, if one is so to say, but in a old-fashioned and contrasted way. Let me explain: We have our MC, in love with a person of “lower” status compared to the MC’s, and yet it’s a love that is so pure that we readers fall in love with. IT might seem, to some, something very, old-timey (and it IS old-timey) yet, incredibly romantic, to the point that one just wishes things were more… like that.
Another thing that makes readers come back to, and enjoy the works of Anna J Walner is the way that she puts poignant and deep cutting social criticism in all of her works seamlessly and without causing ire from the reader.
““Oh but it is. They puff and boast of Galveston’s economic splendor, the grand city that can never fall. Of their own good fortune and prosperity, while they speak little of the people who are the backbone of that good fortune.” I lament.
“You mean people like me?” He asks, and I nearly stop short. I hadn’t meant to include him in that category, but I suppose I unknowingly had. “I hadn’t meant you specifically, but the captains of the barges, and the men who load and unload tons of merchandise. The shop owners who help to provide necessities for the poor and the wealthy alike. They do not see them as real people, only part of the social lesser. And it infuriates me. “To pass over people who work their days away for a fraction of what they make, only to look down their nose at them. They do not realize that without the men who they see as unequal, Galveston would be nothing at all. Houston would have won, and this would be a fishing village, like Indianola or Corpus Christi. “It is only on the backs of men who work the docks or the railcars that this city prospers. Not because of their pointless Supper clubs, High Teas, and political agendas.”
How about the storm? Isn’t this book about a storm? Well… The storm is there. Pacing, slowly…. silently advancing its way, forgotten in the background, hinted here and there to the point that you completely forget about it. Just a reminder, just a tone, just a note, and the story carries on… and you fall into the narrative’s lullaby, until, it’s too late. And let me tell you something now, that will not be enough to prepare you, but still: When Anna J Walner decides to put tension, she will steal the breath from you. THAT is some thriller right there. OH my. Damn, damn, damn. We are not ready for all of this. Damn, damn damn. and as the icing upon the cake, we have a powerful reminder of our human condition, and the frivolities of life. Saltwatear & Driftwood is a book that, if you dare to read, will only let you go after the story ends. I guaranteed you. Incredible job by Anna J Walner.
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Pros:
- Excellent Narrative.
- Perfect pace in every section of the book. When things needed to be calm, Anna shows you the scenes, the town the people, but when things need to go down, she puts the pedal to the metal and tests the limits of the story to the point of breaking our hearts, haahahahh.
- Stable characters that surprise us time an time again.
- MASTERFUL control of the plot. It’s jsut unpredictable, even when we know that there is a storm coming. Anna got us there real good. Oh, she did.
- The lessons we learn are powerful and the book hits its target the deadly force, right in the bull’s-eye.
- It did validate the reason of being a bestseller in pre-order. This book is excellent, will not disappoint the hype behind it.
Cons:
None I can think of.
Scribble's Worth 
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