Thursday, April 19, 2018

Dark Side of the Mountain by R.J. Rosatte

Like Episode 74, Episode 75 of the GSMC Book Review Podcast features an interview with one of the Tawnee Mountain Mysteries series authors. The Tawnee Mountain Mysteries is a set of 7 mysteries by 7 different authors, all taking place at the final destination of the Tawnee Mountain Resort. This time I spoke with R.J. Rosatte about his book, Dark Side of the Mountain.

Katie Douglas thinks doing a mechanical inspection job at the Tawnee Mountain Resort is going to be a working vacation. But that’s before three young mountain bikers go missing while riding the trails of the mountain and a ransom note is delivered.
Partnering with a charming guest of the resort, novelist Casey Malone, Katie soon discovers there is a twisting plot possibly involving the missing men’s girlfriends and perhaps even the FBI.
When their investigation is complicated by the discovery of bomb making material in a cave on the mountain and the threat of an approaching hurricane, Katie and Casey go into overdrive to find the missing men and prevent what could be a devastating attack on an unknown target.
As Hurricane Patrick pays a rare visit to inland New Jersey, the story reaches an explosive climax as they and the staff of Tawnee Mountain Resort deal with both of these threats. (Source)
As with Cassidy's Deadly Exit, Dark Side of the Mountain is a standalone novel, so can be read with  or without the others, and the series doesn't have to be read in any particular order. This book introduces the characters of Katie Douglas and Casey Malone (Katie and Malone), and R.J. has already written two more novellas with these characters, the first of which was released the same day as the Tawnee Mountain Mysteries (April 16, 2018).

Katie and Casey haven't met before their separate trips to the Tawnee Mountain Resort. They fall into an easy rapport and are soon amateur sleuthing their was through multiple adventures. As characters they compliment each other well, and while there is definite chemistry between them this is by no means a romance (maybe that's the next book!).

Genres:
  • Mystery
  • Thriller/Suspense
  • Anthology

What I enjoyed:
  • Katie and Casey's relationship. They are one of those couples, whether romantic or platonic, who fall very quickly into an easy and comfortable relationship and seem to have known each other forever.
  • In the interview R.J. spoke some about all of the traveling he has done and how this has helped him with locations for his books. You can also see that trait in the character of Casey, who seems to know a little bit about seemingly everything, but remains charming rather than condescending.
  • The fact that Katie is an engineer with Master's Degrees in both mechanical and electrical engineering. Go women in STEM!
  • Getting to know some of the secondary characters that appeared in Marla's book, but now from R.J.'s perspective. This was a little strange, actually. It was also quite fascinating to see how two different authors wrote the same characters.
    Quotes:
    • "'Would you like to go spelunking?' he asked.
      'What?' Katie raised her eyebrows. 'Go wandering around in dark caves when who knows what is lurking around up there?'
      'We could solve a mystery,' baited Casey.
      'Or get killed.'"
    • "When are you ever going to get a chance to write.'
      'Oh, I'm doing that now,' Casey answered. He glanced around at the resort and all the guests. 'Lots of material, all over the place.'"

    Where you can find R.J. online:
    Facebook: @rosattewriting
    Twitter: @PaxusKing
    Amazon Author Page: R.J. Rosatte
    GoodReads: R J Rosatte

    Author Bio:

    A native of Prince Edward County, Ontario, his careers have included being an infantry officer in the Canadian Army Reserves, economics teacher at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario, a long-haul truck driver and businessman.
    He has travelled all forty-eight lower US states, eight Canadian provinces, Italy, Mexico and most of the Caribbean. He currently resides in Bayside, Quinte West, Ontario with his wife, Wendy, and their Westie, Molly. (Source)
    If you're intrigued by the Tawnee Mountain Mysteries and Dark Side of the Mountain then today is your lucky today as I have 3 copies from R.J. to give away! All you have to do is go to either our Facebook or Twitter pages and share the episode with R.J.'s interview, or go to Instagram and comment on that post. Simple as that: just comment on, share, or retweet Episode 75 and you'll automatically be entered to win Dark Side of the Mountain! 

    To hear the interview with R.J., please click here.

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