Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Blind Faith
SERIES: Sweetshade #1
AUTHOR: Delphia Baisden
PUBLISHER: Self Published
RELEASE DATE: Jan 1, 2020
LENGTH: 300 pages
BLURB:
Sonny Lakes is as lost as a person can be. After being discharged from the US Army following a traumatic event, he’s sent home, where unbearable nightmares and deep despair lead him to attempt to take his own life, a choice that puts him on the path to a new home in a new town where no one knows him. But as Sonny tries to settle in, mysterious vandalism and harassment begin to take over his life, destroying the anonymity he craves.
Abe Ellis has lived his whole life in Sweetshade, Texas, and that kind of loyalty lends itself well to being a small-town cop. His quiet life changes when a handsome newcomer moves into town and unlikely events begin to unfold. As Abe and his partner Nate begin looking into the crimes, Nate grows increasingly suspicious of the stranger with no history, no enemies, and few friends, to whom Abe is so drawn.
Can Sonny’s faith in himself be restored in time to find the love and stability he seeks? Can Abe count on his instincts and trust the young man with his safety and his heart?
Sweetshade is a small town, as calm and inviting as the name suggests. But even places like that can hide sinister secrets and dangerous threats.
Warning: PTSD, suicide attempt
REVIEW:
Sonny isn’t in a good place. Suffering from PTSD, and living with his family, he feels that every movement and word is under the microscope. After an accident, he attempts suicide further increasing his family’s vigil. Needing a new start, Sonny moves to the town of Sweetshade. A hate crime gets him involved with the local constabulary where he meets Abe. Romantic sparks fly. What follows is an investigation where Sonny is also a suspect – especially since the crimes continue and he is the new boy in town.
The story is told in the third person, from multiple viewpoints. Technically, it is pretty good, though there is the odd independent body part – which is a no no. E.g. In one sentence there is the line, ‘his hands tightened around the steering wheel.’ Most wouldn’t think twice about it. But, but for the hands not to be classed as an independent body part it should be written along the lines of, ‘Sonny tightened his hands around the steering wheel.’ There is also the odd tense issue. Much of the manuscript is written in the simple past tense with the use of ed at the end of words. Perfect past tense uses more of the terms had and had been. Unfortunately, the story slips into the present tense with the use of, today, outside of speech.
With the technicalities out of the way, I’ll now concentrate on the story. Sonny and Abe are super main characters. They are likeable and flawed. I always enjoy reading a character who isn’t perfect. The story was told in a way that was informative as well as entertaining. The journey Sonny and Abe take, personally and during the investigation, tests their relationship and faith. The heat rating is also fitting for the story, sexy, spicy and not overdone.
The police inquiry was believable, although it wasn’t difficult to figure out who the goodies and baddies were. Some readers will like that, and some won’t. The drama and angst are written with excellent timing and a decent amount of delay between the event, and the conclusion. Far too often writers eek the angst out for every drop it is worth, making the reader lose sympathy for the characters. It is not the case in this novel – this one works well.
Blind Faith is billed as being the first of a series. I found it to be a fitting start to the Sweatshade sequence and one that I enjoyed. Thankfully, the elements in this story are brought to a close because I am not a fan of cliff-hangers. Sonny and Abe will appear again in the next instalment.
RATING: 
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