Stillwater Rising by Steena Holmes

Stillwater Rising

Steena Holmes

Rating and Recommendation

Rating: 4 teacups

Recommendation: Yes

Book Club Worthy: Yes

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Review

Enjoyable read! I was engaged from the first page. I love the premise of the book and where it could take the town and the main characters. Holmes covers the subject matter quite well, although it seems one meets everyone in town and quite a few characters take the voice of the story. The novel does carry quite a few story lines added as Holmes carries one away on the journey to the end.

What is the difference between a good book and a great book. In the case of Stillwater Rising there are two things that keep it from greatness. 

First, while I realize that it does have at least one more novel following, there were two many voices competing for our attention. Not so many that the novel was completely unreadable or not enjoyable.

Second, the characters need more depth, at least the true main ones for the concentration of this novel. Perhaps fewer voices may lead to fuller characters.

This could have made what is a good 4 star into a great 5 star novel.

Disclosures

* Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing a copy of Steena Holmes' novel Stillwater Rising via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

*If you buy this book through the above link money is generated, however, donated to the non-profit American Association of University Women (AAUW). 

http://www.aauw.org/ 

AAUW works empowering women, since 1881, standing up for causes in the areas of educational, social, economic and political issues especially important to women. Marie Currie was one of the first beneficiaries of the group that would become AAUW receiving monetary help to attend college. I am a proud member and believe that the profit from books seems a fitting donation.