Floating on Secrets

by Tantra Bensko

When the tank sets her mind free, will it open her heart to love or set her down a dark, fiery path?

Flair's a neo-psych rock outcast in her small Indiana town. Spending her time in a sensory deprivation tank in an effort to enhance her mind seems like the right thing to do. But when the bartendress discovers the chamber is anything but isolated, she's left with a question: who is the man who caressed her hair and escaped into the night?

With the mystery going through her mind like a playlist, Flair sees something she can't explain in the corner of her vision.

Do the strangely narrow men she hears tales about have a darker purpose in mind for him? To answer one sensuous question, Flair may just have to solve an existential one. Before it's all over, music, telepathy, and love could be the least of her worries…

Floating on Secrets is a seductive psychological suspense novel that's meant to turn your bath steamy. If you like indie rock, chilling Gothic Romance, and just a hint of David Lynch, then you'll love award-winning author Tantra Bensko's New Adult novel that delves far below the surface. Buy Floating on Secrets to solve the mysteries of the heart and mind today!

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2019

About the author

Multi-gold medal winning novelist living in California.

My contemporary psychological suspense series is The Agents of the Nevermind. The intelligence agents manage cults, secret societies, propaganda, false flags, hypnosis, mind control, occult and paranormal movements, media theater, entertainment, blackmail, murder. Their social engineering forms public opinion and behaviors.

Can they be outwitted?

Even when the protagonists are under their influence?

I edit manuscripts with Book Butchers. I teach fiction writing through UCLA X Writing Program, Writers.com, and my Online Writing Academy. I have a couple hundred stories in magazines and anthologies, an MA from FSU and MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Since Goodreads says the Youtube videos are invalid for some reason, here are the trailers for the novels:

Glossolalia: Psychological Suspense

https://youtu.be/B1dlvUgiFL4

Remember to Recycle: Psychological Suspense

https://youtu.be/t5ZynXe1pys

Reviews

[Sherin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Floating on Secrets written by Tantra Bensko is one interesting, mysterious and psychological thriller that will leave you wanting for more. I am glad I found this author!

If you are looking for an out of the world experience combined with the right amount of drama, sexy times and romance, you have it with this book. I don't want to give away the story, because that takes the fun out of reading! But let me tell you this - Flair's Ride is one of a kind and keeps you glued to the pages and at the edge of your seat waiting to turn the page and know more.

I did not know how much time passed as I read this book but it was worth it! Grab your cookies, coffee and probably a bag of popcorn and start this journey. Are Flair's lucid dreams just that - dreams? Or is there more to it? Who's the person visiting her in her dreams? Do her dreams and reality clash in real life? To get answers to these questions more, grab the book now!

[Anony Mouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Floating on Secrets, Tantra Bensko follows protagonist, Flair, as she lives and works in small-town, Indiana. Her life seems to be split into three parts: work, floating in a sensory deprivation tank, and obsessing over love and the possibility of it. Lines do get blurred between some of those elements early on as Flair has almost out-of-body psychedelic trips induced by the tank. Has she imagined and fantasized about the short, unexpected romantic encounter with a mystery man in the tank or was it real? Bensko blends romance and psychology with mystery and suspense to weave together this mysterious novel.
I think the tank can symbolize both our greatest fears and our wildest fantasies at once. Sensory deprivation can be both freeing and terrifying in my opinion. Loss or lack of control pairs with the freedom of floating aimlessly without senses guiding the way. Flair uses the tank as both an escape and a psychological experiment. She enjoys both the relaxation and the wild beams of light and color she imagines and sees around her while floating. At once, she is doing nothing and creating brand new worlds around her. The concept is a collision of conscience and subconscience, of free will and victim of circumstance.
Flair’s encounter with the man in the tank was both terrifying and exhilarating. She desperately wants and welcomes love and affection, but at what cost does it come? Is she so desperate that any warm body will do? Brushing up against a strange person in dark water is what my nightmares are made of. Every bit of my 1980s inner child wanted to scream “Stranger Danger!” If the reader can get past the creepiness of the encounter, there is something to be said for two people needing love so badly that they will go to any lengths for it and accept it even in the most creepy of situations. It is truly fascinating.
That’s only where the story begins. Bensko follows Flair and the mystery man as they eventually meet beyond the dark shadows of Addie’s Float. Bensko follows their “accidental” meeting and resulting instant attraction and flirtation. Austin is a handsome and intriguing man, but a bit of a voyeur and stalker to be honest. Flair is figuratively and literally in the dark at times about who he is, his previous encounter with her, and his connection to her favorite floating getaway. All she knows at first is that there is a spark, a massive one, from the first time she lays her eyes on him.
I’m giving Tantra Bensko’s Floating on Secrets 4 out of 5 stars. The story is captivating and well-written. The plot flows well. The characters are well-developed. The story is cohesive and easy to follow, but definitely not boring. Not close. Mystery will keep interest piqued throughout. Bensko does an amazing job of blurring lines between real life and fantasy, victimization and consent, love and lust, fight or flight.

[Moná · Rating 5 out of 5]

To experience something that is as intensely satisfying as being intimate with another human being by tapping into the world of neo-psychedelic, can take you to a whole new level. From the music you listen to and your everyday activities, you can truly get aquatinted to your subconscious state of mind. No one can understand the next person’s visions better than themselves, yet there’s an entire community who shares this special kind of knowledge. In knowing that we are responsible for bringing ourselves peace and tranquility, it is only fair to minimize stress for health reasons. It truly makes you wonder, is there life beyond what you see when you open your eyes?

In “Floating on Secrets,” author Tantra Bensko shares the world of neo-psychedelics through the practice of floating in a tank with a high content of Epsom salt. Our protagonist, Flair Montgomery is a float enthusiast who truly prefers her experiences of visions from her subconscious than actual reality. It allows her to escape from her everyday life and be embraced by vibes that takes her on an organic ride of ecstasy. She shared an encounter in the tank’s darkness with a stranger, leaving her with a feeling of possibly finding her ideal soulmate. What once felt like bliss turned into a crime under investigation involving Flair, her unknown guy, and whoever was a theft to the float establishment’s owner, Addie Thompson. Officer Lane Bradley the case’s investigator has reason to believe that whatever happened, Flair is a possible suspect or an accomplice and will ensure that whoever involved gets reprimanded at the hands of justice. On the other side of things, Austin, Addie’s only child, feels a soulful connection to Flair and tries his best to learn more about her because they share so much in common, in particular, neo-psychedelic rock music. While reading, you’ll begin to wonder if Flair and Austin will grow closer and become truly soulmates or some sort of wrench steers them away from each other.

The way the author has written this book, I was able to completely immerse myself into the world of the characters, as if I’m an additional character witnessing everything occurring. I enjoyed how both main characters played this dance around each other as if they didn’t have any interest, but their energies were denying them to hide how they felt. When you find someone who is just like you, your connection is much stronger in comparison to anyone else and it’s something I hope to experience once in my life. I highly recommend this book to individuals who loves love and isn’t afraid to be different from others in the world and any other book written by this author.

[Pablo · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Tantra Bensko's maybe-6th novel - as finely written and wicked a ride as Collapsible Horizon, as Remember to Recycle - the author brings a wild neo.Expressionist sensibility to the most unlikely - and routinely derided - of genres: the ROMANCE. But, as Willie once sang, "Miracles appear in the strangest of places" and, alas, her take on Romance deserves the header that graced the covers of Alan Moore's run of Swamp Thing: "Sophisticated Suspense." Her title, FLOATING ON SECRETS, is sufficiently apt that the reader would be hard-pressed to hit on one more perfect. But, yeah, the story's scaffolding is an intricately plotted romance: would-be lovers who would be *so good together* - a true "cosmic couple" - driven apart by circumstance, by family, by misunderstanding, and so on and so forth. It's rollercoastery AF on that level alone !

One of the novel's sly successes is its varying tones and continual surprise all manifesting within a tangible, thoroughly believable world. EXPERIENCE flavors of the suburbs, of semirural "roadhouses," of - gosh - the once rather *exotic* world of the floatation tank (well, exotic for kids like me who know them largely through old John Lilly books .. or 1980's Altered States). And another task that Floating On Secrets performs beautifully is - simultaneously - work the mechanics of an entirely OTHER genre: "Crime" or Detective Fiction. And it works better than you'd expect. Though many of us are conditioned to a largely male point of view in "hard-boiled" writing, both the narration and the character of Flair Montgomery and the mother of the other lead character brought to *this* reader's mind Vickie Hendricks' Miami Purity (1995) as well as the cracking-wise dialogue in Big Sleep the movie (co-scripted by Ms. Leigh Brackett). Is that all? Hell no: the novel takes its own seamless detours to Horror (of the 'It Follows' variety: heat-lamping binges by mutated kin? oh my!).

But what is Floating On Secrets "about," really, at its deepest level? *Possibly* it's about the union of Heart and Mind. It's a love story, but one that explores the spectrum of what love can be (snares are set up all around for the unwary or the uncaring on the path to love .. or one of its substitutes). And a KEY point of engagement, one that permeates the story, is music, specifically of the Neo-Psych sort : bands that run the gamut from Wooden Shjips to the "cow-goth" of Mazzy Star. And, yes, among several other things Tantra Bensko's book functions as an informal primer, an introduction. I was reminded of Phil McMullen's old Terrastock festivals. There was a Terrastock 7 in Louisville in 2008: will there be another? Probably not, so pick this up, pull the ladder-rope in behind you, and BLISS OUT. So many lovely echoes: Floating on Secrets hits you in the small town where you maybe grew up / it hints and sometimes *names explicitly* the dark things, the SECRETS, bubbling up (shout out to David Lynch fans). The Carl Jung club that meets at the local Pizza Hut, the dog that ate the birthday cake : a sometimes-sad, but beautiful world awaits !

[Emerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Floating on Secrets, by author Tantra Bensko, is a unique and enticing story about love and mystery. Flair is an outcast in her small town, so she turns to sensory deprivation tanks to get away from her life and just think. But the chamber is far from what she anticipated, she can feel someone in there with her. Flair finds herself trying desperately to solve the mysteries stacking up around her; who are the narrow men? What do they want? Who is the man that caresses her hair in the tank? Is She finding love? And more.
The story starts out with the classic tale of a girl who lives in a small conservative town but does not fit in and is struggling to find love. Flair is a 24-year-old bartender who studies psychology and listens to neo-psych music. What really sets both Flair and the story apart and makes them unique is the floating chamber element. Flair enjoys the sensory deprivation tanks because she sees things there. She sees music, hallucinates waking dreams, and is able to immerse herself into the surreal world of her mind. This creates some really interesting descriptions in the book and is a really astounding way to get into the head of a lead character. By being so in her head during these scenes, we get a clear image of her hopes, dreams, and fears. It also added to the mystery and suspense of the entire story.
I enjoyed the love story in this book. There were elements of a classic romance story, but the layers and mysteries throughout the book gave it a unique edge. I liked getting to see Flair fall in love. The mixture of the hallucination dream man and the real-life conversations that felt natural were a fun combination. The hallucinations also really brought Flair's emotions to the surface, and I felt they were both intense but written in a really natural way.
While I would call this a romance story, it is also a mystery thriller tale and has sections that get very creepy. Any time a stalker is involved in a story, you know your skin is going to crawl at some point in the book. I found the mysteries throughout the book to be interesting, and there were several great twists that I did not see coming. This is a really fun read, and I would definitely recommend it. Four stars.

[Sarah Nantais · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that delves into the deepest reaches of your mind while engaging you in a delicious story is something of a fable these days. From the very first page Floating on Secrets by Tantra Bensko is a veritable mind-bending tale that creeps into the corners of your psyche while regaling you with the intriguing life and times of Flair. Our protagonist is interesting and cryptic in how she deals with the world. She knows there is so much out there for her; she can feel it in the roots of her neo-psychedelic soul. She is more than small Indiana. She is more than average.
Aside from creating a colourful tapestry in the beige nothingness of Indiana, Bensko litters her book, quite literally, with a vocabulary most English majors only dream of. But it doesn’t seem out of place or too high-brow. No, the stream of consciousness and the words used to describe it fit the image of Flair and her take on the world. While this is not told from the first person, it is clear we are viewing what happens through her lenses. Bensko never tries to make the book something it’s not which helps ground the content and make it easily relatable.
It’s easy for a writer to get carried away. Immersing yourself in the world of your story can cause many a good author to lose sight of what they’re trying to share with the world. Bensko is better than that. For all the colourful language and intricacies in this book she never loses her grasp on her firm story-telling. She easily commands attention of the reader and gives them something worth spending their time on. It is not easy to put this book down, so it is best to devote some quality reading time to it. If only to be able to collect yourself once you’re done.
Thrilling and compelling, Floating on Secrets by Tantra Bensko is a steamy adventure into the deepest reaches of the human psyche while containing a substantial tale. The descriptive text lends a wonderful backdrop to the journey of Flair as she attempts to rise above the mediocrity of small-town Indiana. Bensko is known for spinning a heart-pounding yarn that can make you blush while supporting it with excellent story-telling. This book is no different and an excellent addition to any bookshelf, physically or virtually. You won’t regret picking this one up.

[Liz Melton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book Floating on Secrets is about two main characters a young girl named Flair and a young man named Austin. Flair is a bartenderess and like her name she is beautiful but different. Flair loves “neo-phychodelic rock”, goth, and other non mainstream forms of music and entertainment. Flairs favorite “ new thing” is to go to a local isolation tank in the Indiana suburbs ran. BY an ex stripper named Addie and enjoy the lucid vivid dreams she has or the hallucinations that come from being in this isolated state.

WARNING from this point on there may be some spoilers and be aware this is a seductive adult book and does go into detail about sexual provocative things.

One night while at her midnight “float” Flair discovers she is not alone in the tank and At first is not sure if the “ naked man” she is in the tank with is a hallucination or not but once she realizes he is not, she becomes enamored by his gentleness with her and then he runs out of -her life naked and she had no idea who he was or what he wanted.

Austin is Addie the owner of the float establishments son and had recently discovered that someone was stealing from his mother and he intended to find out who it was.Austin and Flair become entangled by the thief and mysterious notes being left on Austin’s Truck.

The plot of Floating on secrets is rather weird and dark but in a good way. The two main characters love the weird and the dark. The story can get confusing so the read can not expect to skim this book the story has lots of little plot twists that you have to pay attention to while reading. I really enjoyed this book because of how different it is, I didn’t care for the “triplets”part in the plot it felt out of Place and unnecessary but I was very pleased With the outCome the two main characters had With the “triplets “ and the mystery therein.

This book is a sensual romantic but different mystery. If you are looking for an unpredictable mystery this is the book for you!

[Cair-Paravel De Loulay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fate is Always on Hand

Flair Montgomery is a down to earth bartender. She is in school to get her degree in psychology, just because she can. She also loves the supernatural side of life and seeks her own connection to that dimension in a midnight float in a sensory tank. Things are going pretty well for her until one night when she meets her mystery man in the dark. After that, life is turned on its head for her.

Austin's life is a little more challenging at times. He plays guitar, writing songs for a band and the one true love of his life, Flair. He is trying to catch the creep who keeps on robbing his mother blind, though with little success. He is also dealing with the emotional fence that comes with the stress of a mother's new man and his own father.

Addie is getting older, but she does not let life get in her way. She has a new man, a grown son, and a thriving sensory tank business. But is life ever really that simple? She also is in the midst of a divorce, a thief who won't leave her alone and a shark who won't take "no" for an answer.

Pretty soon, these three people's lives are entangled so elegantly that you would have to read it to believe it. The twists and turns come from out of the darkest corners to surprise you every step of the way.

While the cover may convey a steamy romp of a story, the steam is second to the plot and is tastefully done. The plot charges forward to the beat of it's own drum and finishes in the end with a resounding finale, tying up all the little loose ends along the way.

The story is well crafted and is a good read. I enjoyed it and am curious to see what else this author has sculpted so far.

I am volunteering an honest review for the benefit of others.

[Irene Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced suspense-romance like no other that I ever read. The story transports the reader to places that are not commonly explored and experienced. It is a treat to read and become immersed in. And once you start reading this story, you will definitely want to know how it turns out.

Flair is a beautiful bartender who loves neo-phychodelic rock music. She lives in a world that is quite removed from the ordinary. She studies psychology and finds her peace and solace in float tanks because she sees things there. This experience gives her a hallucinatory experience with the use of drugs. Instead, she uses a high content of Epsom salt to put herself into another state of consciousness.

While in the tank floating one day, she becomes aware of her ideal man. He was in the tank with her. At first, she doesn’t know if he is real or a figment of her imagination. He is wonderful in every way and feels like her soulmate. They seem to share a lot in common. Can this idyllic romantic relationship continue to thrive and develop into something breathtakingly beautiful or will something put a real wrench into it?

Who would expect that Flair would be part of a crime investigation with the float establishment owner, Addie Thompson? This bizarre event turns everything on its head and suddenly there is an underlying mystery that must be solved about who is stealing the float money from Addie. This part of the book is handled with complicated plot twists and much brilliance. Can Flair and Austin continue their wonderful relationship despite all of this upheaval?

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Floating on Secrets is provocative, sensual, and intoxicating. Flipping through the pages alone thrilled me to the center of my being. Tantra wraps her words around your soul through images of music, temptation, and wonder.

Buy this book! You won't be disappointed!

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first-class psychological suspense with perfect pacing...

Author Tantra Bensko weaves a gripping psychological suspense with intriguing twists and turns that will easily captivate the reader’s attention from the beginning. The author paints a dramatic and riveting tale of intrigue and suspense in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction. It’s a fast-paced novel that will keep you engaged from the first page to the last.

The book description gives a sneak preview: ‘Flair's a neo-psych rock outcast in her small Indiana town. Spending her time in a sensory deprivation tank in an effort to enhance her mind seems like the right thing to do. But when the bartendress discovers the chamber is anything but isolated, she's left with a question: who is the man who caressed her hair and escaped into the night?

With the mystery going through her mind like a playlist, Flair sees something she can't explain in the corner of her vision. Do the strangely narrow men she hears tales about have a darker purpose in mind for him? To answer one sensuous question, Flair may just have to solve an existential one. Before it's all over, music, telepathy, and love could be the least of her worries…’

Now, if that’s not enough to get your curiosity juices flowing, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. It’s my first time reading this author and I must say I was very impressed.

I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class psychological suspense with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of mystery, thriller and suspense will want it!

Floating on Secrets had every element a good story should have. An intriguing plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I really look for in a good book.

It’s one of those stories that come along once in a while that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end. I’m giving nothing further away here. And this, I hope, will only add to the mystery and enjoyment for the reader!

I’ll be looking forward to reading more from Tantra Bensko in the future. I would recommend this book to all fans of the mystery, thriller and suspense genre. Five stars from me.