Stolen Laughter New Book by Tess Thompson

Stolen Laughter is now available. Teachers! When you take a break from correcting papers, planning lessons, getting ready for observations, and conferences, one way to relax is to read. Put your feet up and sit back. Charlene Tess has written posts on this blog, and she also writes her own blog. She is the “Tess” in Tess Thompson, her sister being the “Thompson.” The writing sisters are back with a brand new romance suspense book. I have read and enjoyed so many of her books, maybe all of them! Charlene taught English classes in high school, and wrote the Simple Steps to Sentence Sense grammar program. *Note: I purchased my own book and there are no affiliate links.

I love it when a blogger and curriculum writer just also happens to write excellent realistic suspense, romance, and mystery! This book has plots within plots and keeps the reader entertained cover to cover. If you haven’t read any of the Charlene Tess or Tess Thompson books, this would be a great one to start with as it is a stand alone novel. Here is a line from the book, and from this it isn’t difficult to figure out there is at least one demanding parent in the story.

“Hannah assumed he had gone to his study to Google her and find out what her credentials were. Once again, she felt a pang of sympathy for the brothers who had endured his behavior for decades.”

The characters seem like people you probably know, and speak like people you probably know, making the story understandable. There are dramatic, everyday, and humorous lines sprinkled throughout the story. When discussing a cruise for psychologists (who knew?), one of the characters states:

“Whose crazy idea was it anyway to have a cruise filled with shrinks? I don’t know why you couldn’t have given your presentation on dry land.”

Yes, indeed, but dry land would not have provided the setting for one of the mysteries. I wish I would be able to tell you parts of the story but of course I can’t ruin this post with spoilers. There are stalkers and one worse than another, although it isn’t a contest, just a big surprise. One is quite obvious while one is a master of deception. Then an unknown relative adds excitement towards the end so you can’t put book the book down.

Also, the relationships begin slowly. That is ever so nice in the noisy and busy world today. Of course, there are reasons why. In one place, the authors say one of the couples weren’t calling it dating, but were calling it walking around together. So sweet!

There are two brothers who are also friends and they banter back and forth. They made me think of The Property Brothers in a way. They have to act like detectives but are not trained as policemen. They do what they have to do to solve a crime and reunite family members.

I can’t say more but wish I could! I hope you have time to enjoy this book and return to the piles of papers and long hours refreshed.

From the Publisher:

Bryce Cameron is a struggling author who plans to isolate himself in the woods of Colorado to write his second novel. He isn’t looking for anything permanent when he encounters Hannah Brody, a bright optimistic professional just beginning her career. Their chance encounter on a plane ride to Denver turns their lives upside down, because Bryce doesn’t believe in happy endings and Hannah isn’t looking for romance.

Bryce is the good son who always did what was expected to please his overbearing, dominating father and his pretentious mother while his younger brother Quinn could do nothing right. Quinn, the rebel, falls for Dixie Lee King, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. He runs as far away as he can from his past only to come full circle for the love of his life.

Although the brothers have taken different paths in life, they reunite when a sudden tragedy strikes Bryce, and the two men begin a quest to find the truth about Hannah’s life that is shrouded in secrets.

At a restaurant, when Bryce hears laughter from across the room, he is sure that he has found Hannah, the girl of his dreams that he cannot live without. Through a series of unexpected twists and turns, Bryce and Quinn must confront true evil to find the happiness they both deserve.

Print Length:367 pages
Authors: Charlene Tess and Judi Thompson
Publication Date: October 31, 2017
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Stolen Laughter by Charlene Tess
My rating: 5 of 5 stars