Today I am featuring an awesome author and her new book. Thanks to a blog tour I was introduced to Constance Phillips and her book Fairyproof. I immediately loved her writing. I was really excited when Connie asked me to review her newest book, Resurrecting Harry. If you have read Fairyproof it is quite a bit different but still stepping into the Paranormal Romance genre. This is a wonderfully written story and really takes the real people of Harry and Bess Houdini and gives them a chance at a different “ending”. Be sure to check out my review after the blurb about Resurrecting Harry.
Book Blurb: (courtesy of constancephillips.com)
Devastated by Harry Houdini’s unexpected death, his widow, Bess, clings to his promise to deliver a coded message from beyond the grave. She’s determined to provide the bridge for him to cross, just like she assisted him on the stage, even if that means befriending her husband’s sworn enemy.
In order to save the only woman he’s every loved from self-destruction, Harry puts his afterlife on the line by entering a wager with purgatory’s keeper. He gives Harry a younger face and body, and a new name: Erich Welch. Even with Harry’s soul and memories, Erich feel out-of-place and disconnected from everything once his.
Will Erich be able to help Bess over her loss and will any good come from resurrecting Harry?
Review:
I loved this book! There I said it. Constance Phillips does not disappoint. I was really curious when I read the blurb about this book. I have always had an interest in Houdini and was intrigued on how this book would play out. The story begins with Harry in a purgatory of sorts re-living all of his past failures. He is brought out of this endless spiral by Jaden. The keeper of this existence. Jaden informs Harry that he has been dead for 11 months. He soon offers Harry a proposition. If he can get Bess to stop her séance of trying to contact Harry’s spirit then he may get yet another chance at life not only for himself but with his beloved Bess. Harry would be brought back in a different body but retain all of his memories. If Harry doesn’t succeed he will forever live in a world of nothingness. Since Harry does not believe in an ever after he agrees and figures it will be very simple to get Bess to realize that deep within his new body and life is the Harry that she has loved. Harry, who is now Erich, soon realizes that 11 lonely months has changed Bess and she is not the same that she once was. Erich now faces a huge obstacle of befriending and hopefully earning Bess’s love all over again. Bess in turn becomes conflicted with her growing feelings for this newcomer. She is weary because in the time since her husband passed away she has been bombarded by charlatans and swindlers just trying to get a piece of Harry’s legacy. She feels it is her duty to protect the public’s memory and her own memories. Along with the strangers are those who Harry has harmed who wish to try to blackmail Bess into holding the séance for both monetary and notoriety that would help them recover what they feel Harry took away. Through Bess and Erich’s journey you get a sense of reawaken and epiphanies. Bess reawakens to a new life of possibilities that doesn’t have to surround her dead husband’s life. Erich has epiphanies about things that he never realized happened. Especially feelings that Bess had that he/Harry ignored or took for granted. In the end, will the new love bloom and start a new and different life or will the old ways creep back in and snatch away the bright possibilities?
Overall, an extremely well done book that drives you forward with each chapter. You can almost believe that this really did happen! This had to have been challenging to take historical characters and develop them in a way in which would propel and strengthen the story. Connie Phillips does a wonderful job navigating the waters of bother paranormal and historical romance. Her choice of Bess and Harry was a clever one. Though many stories have been told about they you will be hard pressed to find such a good paranormal romance with a focus about them. In general I would whole-heartedly recommend this book! If you like a bit of paranormal and a bit of the historical you will love Resurrecting Harry. Great job, Connie!
If you would like to know more about Resurrecting Harry you can go to Barnes and Noble, Amazon or any other book retailer.
Author Bio: (courtesy of constancephillips.com)
Constance Phillips lives in Ohio with her husband, two ready-to-leave-the-nest children, and four canine kids. Her perfect fantasy vacation would involve hunting Dracula across Europe with her daughter, who also digs that kind of stuff. When she’s not writing about fairies, shifters, vamps, and guardian angels, she’s working side-by-side with her husband in their hardwood flooring business.
She’s actively involved in her local Romance Writers of America chapter (MVRWA), and the Southeast Michigan chapter of the United States Pony Club (which her son is also very active in). When not writing or enjoying the outdoors, she loves reality television or can be found at a Rick Springfield concert (just look for the pink Converse high tops).
Her first paranormal romance, Fairyproof, was released from Crescent Moon Press in September of 2012. Resurrecting Harry, also from Crescent Moon Press will be available March 1, 2013. You can also follow her on Twitter or friend her on Facebook.
Thanks for featuring and reviewing Resurrecting Harry.