Review: THE STAGE by Catherine Russell

Catherine Russell grew up ‘off the beaten path’ in Puyallup, Washington just south of Tacoma. Growing up, she had the beautiful northwestern forests as the fantasy world in which to develop her imagination and stories.

Russell’s debut novel, The Stage overwhelmed me, to say the least! Stage is the first in a series of four novels. She has only just completed the fourth and I’m anxious to get my mitts on it!

From the back cover: “Since a young age, Megan O’Day has always tried to limit her attachments to people. With no memories of her father and a mother taken away by cancer, Megan has always lived her life on the edges of society—far away from relationships. But Megan is about to stumble into a new world full of dangerous complications.

When her friend Ashleigh opens a new bar, the unsociable Megan is suddenly forced out of her proverbial shell to attend the grand opening. As the band takes center stage, Megan is mesmerized by the lead singer who not only croons the crowd, but also stirs something deep inside her that has been long dormant. But she is about to discover that Geoffrey Drake is not just any ordinary underground musician—he is a vampire. As memories suddenly come back to her, the missing pieces of her life become complete when she realizes Geoffrey has always been her unseen protector.

Now Megan must determine whether Geoffrey has been unchanged by time—all while taking baby steps into feeling the emotion she has always denied herself. As his past and present collide, Megan soon discovers that life is as unpredictable as love.”

Russell has a lovely style of story-telling. The word flow is so conversational and easy to read I almost feel she’s sitting right here in my lounge telling the story to me herself, rather than reading it on my screen. The characters are strong and bold and her story has just enough foreshadowing to grip the reader. The pace of the story and character development is not rushed and the story progresses in a lovely way.

Meghan is a clumsy, self-effacing wallflower. When she starts a new job in a nightclub, she meets Geoffrey and begins to fall for him. The tall, handsome Geoffrey, who looks to be chiseled from pure marble, has deadly secrets, but she isn’t frightened of him. She grew up in a hard way. Russell’s modern twist on an ancient tale left me breathless with anticipation. If you love vampires, The Stage is your book. It’s fantastic, intriguing, and has just enough spice thrown in to keep the bosoms heaving. The is just the very thing for every reader of vampires and romance. I promise you’ll finish this book begging for more; I know I sure did!

The single fly in an otherwise delightful ointment was the rough editing. That being said, it does not detract from the enjoyment of the story. I am happy to hear, from Russell herself, that this issue has been addressed in the sequels.

This wonderful yarn gets five golden stars from me, despite the rough editing!

Be sure to visit Catherine at her homepage or her Facebook page. You can find and read this jewel from her publisher, iUniverse and Barnes & Noble.

About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.

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