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Catherine's Cross
When Jenks Ellington experiences a sudden, alarming sense of panic about her identical twin sister Gigi, she has to wait until nearly midnight before learning the reason for her unease: Gigi has drowned while diving for artifacts in a Low Country river near Beaufort, South Carolina. Although Beaufort County detective Seth Mason is suspicious of Gigi's diving partner, there is no evidence of foul play. But, when Gigi's Port Royal home is broken into and ransacked, Jenks discovers two clues -- one of which leads her to the home of a local Gullah medium.
In a painstaking search for answers, Jenks delves more deeply into her twin's life. Along the way, her bond with detective Mason reaches unexpected depths. And what secrets could medium Meta Jane be holding? Was Gigi's death really an accident?
About the Author
A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Millie West has a background in aviation. She was one of the first female pilots hired by United Parcel Service when they formed their flight department in the late 1980s. Millie has owned and been the broker of her own real estate company. An award winning screenwriter, Millie has spent countless hours exploring the rich historical vestiges of her home state. Her love of the fascinating, complex, and compelling history of the South is expressed in her writing. Millie resides with her family near Columbia, South Carolina. To learn more about Millie West and the Southern Redemption Trilogy, visit www.milliewestauthor.com.
Book Review:
"Author and aviatrix, Millie West, has done it again! With the publication of her novel - Catherine's Cross - she weaves together a Low Country mystery imbued with romantic tension and intriguing characters." -- Lowcountry Weekly
In a painstaking search for answers, Jenks delves more deeply into her twin's life. Along the way, her bond with detective Mason reaches unexpected depths. And what secrets could medium Meta Jane be holding? Was Gigi's death really an accident?
About the Author
A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Millie West has a background in aviation. She was one of the first female pilots hired by United Parcel Service when they formed their flight department in the late 1980s. Millie has owned and been the broker of her own real estate company. An award winning screenwriter, Millie has spent countless hours exploring the rich historical vestiges of her home state. Her love of the fascinating, complex, and compelling history of the South is expressed in her writing. Millie resides with her family near Columbia, South Carolina. To learn more about Millie West and the Southern Redemption Trilogy, visit www.milliewestauthor.com.
Book Review:
"Author and aviatrix, Millie West, has done it again! With the publication of her novel - Catherine's Cross - she weaves together a Low Country mystery imbued with romantic tension and intriguing characters." -- Lowcountry Weekly
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2013
About the author
Millie West
8 books24 followersA graduate of the University of South Carolina, Millie West has a background in aviation, as well as in real estate, and has owned and been the broker of her own company. A South Carolina history buff, Millie has spent countless hours exploring the rich historical vestiges of her home state. She has viewed many treasures of the past by taking less-traveled paths into the countryside. Her love of the fascinating, and complex, and compelling history of the south is expressed in her writing. Millie resides with her family near Columbia, South Carolina. To learn more about Millie and her two novels, Catherine's Cross and The Cast Net, visit her website www.milliewestauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 26, 2013
WOW...look for this to be a movie soon. It has everything: romance, adventure and Southern charm. I can't help but compare the scene and character development to Steinbeck and Hemingway.
The author's vibrant life shows through her characters' reality.
I am an avid reader and often give authors low marks for their lack of reality, especially when they leave their readers without closure. This book more than satisfied me by tying up all the story themes.
I really can't say enough about my enjoyment...this is one of the best books that I have ever read.
Grab it and see what I mean.
The author's vibrant life shows through her characters' reality.
I am an avid reader and often give authors low marks for their lack of reality, especially when they leave their readers without closure. This book more than satisfied me by tying up all the story themes.
I really can't say enough about my enjoyment...this is one of the best books that I have ever read.
Grab it and see what I mean.
July 24, 2013
This book was part of a blog tour I was given a copy for my honest review
3 1/2 stars
Jenks and her twin sister Gigi have always been to sense when each one of them is in trouble, one night Jenks feels this and knows something is really wrong. Hours later her mother and police officers show up to tell her that Gigi is dead, devastated Jenks goes to where her sister lived to find out what happened. With the help of Detective Seth Mason Jenks sifts through her sisters’ life and forms a relationship with Seth. Can Jenks find out what happened to her sister or will she end up another casualty? This book was slow and mellow like a quiet walk through the park. There was drama and suspense, but the way it is written it's not the oh my god yell at the characters kind, the only way to describe it would be calm and soothing. Jenks has just lost her sister and still she tries to help everyone around. Seth knows how Jenks feels since he was a twin and had lost his brother, the relationship between the two of them had a natural feel to it. My favorite part of this book was the history, the author added so much to the book by including journals and other stories from the area. If you like action packed books or ones filled with steamy sex scenes this is not the book to read. If you are looking for a book with a good story but more laid back this is a good one. I was in the mood for this type of book so I really enjoyed reading Catherine's Cross.
3 1/2 stars
Jenks and her twin sister Gigi have always been to sense when each one of them is in trouble, one night Jenks feels this and knows something is really wrong. Hours later her mother and police officers show up to tell her that Gigi is dead, devastated Jenks goes to where her sister lived to find out what happened. With the help of Detective Seth Mason Jenks sifts through her sisters’ life and forms a relationship with Seth. Can Jenks find out what happened to her sister or will she end up another casualty? This book was slow and mellow like a quiet walk through the park. There was drama and suspense, but the way it is written it's not the oh my god yell at the characters kind, the only way to describe it would be calm and soothing. Jenks has just lost her sister and still she tries to help everyone around. Seth knows how Jenks feels since he was a twin and had lost his brother, the relationship between the two of them had a natural feel to it. My favorite part of this book was the history, the author added so much to the book by including journals and other stories from the area. If you like action packed books or ones filled with steamy sex scenes this is not the book to read. If you are looking for a book with a good story but more laid back this is a good one. I was in the mood for this type of book so I really enjoyed reading Catherine's Cross.
July 7, 2013
This book had a slow start for me. Once the story picked up, it captured and held my attention. I woke up around 3am and could not go back to sleep until I had reached the end. I found that Catherine's Cross had a good balance of suspense and romance. Too much of either and the story would not have flowed like it did. There were a couple of tastefully done sex scenes and action sequences. This is the second book by author Millie West. I like the region that she picked for the setting of this story. Charleston, SC and the surrounding area is rich with culture and history. West incorporated a bit of this in Catherine's Cross. I would definitely read other books by this author and recommend them to my friends.
September 14, 2013
I like the reviewer who described the book as containing "drama and suspense" but in a "calm and soothing" manner, because I totally agree. And that's one of the reasons I enjoy reading Millie West's books. . .it's like curling up with a cup of tea (or glass of sweetened ice tea if you're from the South) and a good friend as she tells you a story that will keep you engaged, pull at your imagination, and leave you feeling totally content when the story is done.
November 27, 2014
I received this book from a Good Reads First Reads drawing at no charge, but this fact in no way influenced my review.
This is a who-dunnit that I found hard to put down because of the author's style of writing. The location is the Low Country of South Carolina and the Sea Islands. Ms. West has cleverly taken actual history and created a fictional historical history of the area that was so believable that I had to research it myself. Her characters are very likeable. The story does not just focus on finding the murderer and motive. The characters are developed through recounting of their individual histories, the growing relationship between them, and their relationship with others. Seth's friend Rory is a disabled veteran who is haunted by the death of a female member of nis former unit. We see the depth and committment of a strong friendship between Seth and Rory, compassion, concern, and deep ssuffering. Jenks volunteers in the local library and develops a relationship with a girl who is lacking self-confidence and is not a strong reader. In this relationship we see commitment, caring, compassion, and dedication. The growing relationship between Seth and Jenks mirrors all these traits and more. They are the real deal. They are consistent, and they are honest. The way they are with others is the way they are with each other.
I do not want to spoil the story, so I will only give a brief accounting.
Jenks Ellington, a teacher in North Carolina, goes to Beaufort, SC after learning of the drowning death of her identical twin, Gigi. Once there Detective Seth Mason tells her the circumstances of Gigi's death and that he is not convinced that it was an accident. Gigi does not believe it was an accident either and with help from Seth, she begins to learn that there was more to her sister's life than teaching and diving as a hobby. Jenks' journey of discovery takes her to a manuscript written and hidden during the civil war, to the discovery that Gigi may have recovered valuable relics and treasure from a ship sunk during the Civil War, and even to the Virgin Islands and Belize.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
This is a who-dunnit that I found hard to put down because of the author's style of writing. The location is the Low Country of South Carolina and the Sea Islands. Ms. West has cleverly taken actual history and created a fictional historical history of the area that was so believable that I had to research it myself. Her characters are very likeable. The story does not just focus on finding the murderer and motive. The characters are developed through recounting of their individual histories, the growing relationship between them, and their relationship with others. Seth's friend Rory is a disabled veteran who is haunted by the death of a female member of nis former unit. We see the depth and committment of a strong friendship between Seth and Rory, compassion, concern, and deep ssuffering. Jenks volunteers in the local library and develops a relationship with a girl who is lacking self-confidence and is not a strong reader. In this relationship we see commitment, caring, compassion, and dedication. The growing relationship between Seth and Jenks mirrors all these traits and more. They are the real deal. They are consistent, and they are honest. The way they are with others is the way they are with each other.
I do not want to spoil the story, so I will only give a brief accounting.
Jenks Ellington, a teacher in North Carolina, goes to Beaufort, SC after learning of the drowning death of her identical twin, Gigi. Once there Detective Seth Mason tells her the circumstances of Gigi's death and that he is not convinced that it was an accident. Gigi does not believe it was an accident either and with help from Seth, she begins to learn that there was more to her sister's life than teaching and diving as a hobby. Jenks' journey of discovery takes her to a manuscript written and hidden during the civil war, to the discovery that Gigi may have recovered valuable relics and treasure from a ship sunk during the Civil War, and even to the Virgin Islands and Belize.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
February 14, 2015
Intrigue; mystery; murder; romance and telepathy ... all in this book ...
I had a hard time stopping when I started this book. Right away, Jenks was a favorite character. Her strength and independence and loyalty to her sister was obvious and heart-warming. The relationship that grew between her and the detective, Seth, was beautiful and sweet. The author did an excellent job describing the cityscape and countryside - I found myself right "there", next to Jenks, with every step and breath along the way.
Catherine's Cross is an excellent book - you won't be disappointed.
I had a hard time stopping when I started this book. Right away, Jenks was a favorite character. Her strength and independence and loyalty to her sister was obvious and heart-warming. The relationship that grew between her and the detective, Seth, was beautiful and sweet. The author did an excellent job describing the cityscape and countryside - I found myself right "there", next to Jenks, with every step and breath along the way.
Catherine's Cross is an excellent book - you won't be disappointed.
April 17, 2021
I met the author, Millie West, in Beaufort, SC a few weeks ago and bought Catherine’s Cross. The author is very friendly and signed my copy. :) I enjoyed that this book was written in a way that allowed me to visualize the day-to-day comings and goings of the characters, which made them relatable. The end of the book was a little too busy for me, but it wasn’t unenjoyable. Lots of history sprinkled in, and I appreciated that! This book could definitely have a sequel at some point!
June 29, 2019
Just finished reading Catherine’s Cross and enjoyed it so much. I loved reading about places that I have been to and places in The LowCountry that I definitely will go to. The story kept my interest so much it was hard to put the book down and go to bed! I love reading a novel that includes historical facts. A Great murder mystery I look forward to reading her other books.
January 8, 2018
Reads almost like a grown-up Nancy Drew mystery with lots of Beaufort history thrown in. Fun quick read!
March 21, 2018
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Excellent writing with twists and turns. Unusual apprehension of murderer. Liked the twins throughout the story with true insight to their feelings. Enjoyable reading.
Excellent writing with twists and turns. Unusual apprehension of murderer. Liked the twins throughout the story with true insight to their feelings. Enjoyable reading.
August 27, 2019
What a wonderful story full of suspense and romance plus a lot of local history which is always entertaining to me. I would recommend this book to anyone especially to Folks from SC. Enjoy!!
January 12, 2020
The book took on too many subject matters. I also got lost in the telling of the history of Beaufort, South Carolina.
April 28, 2021
Written well and full of emotion. Great mystery and great romance. Very well done! I’ve been to beautiful Beaufort and she captures the heart of the city.
June 6, 2021
I enjoyed reading this in part because the setting (Beaufort) is familiar but found the dialogue to be a little stilted.
February 3, 2015
It’s a fictionalized story set in a southern state of South Carolina. And oh what a tale it is. I was grateful to this author for the way she presented characterization (players and scene). She truly has a talent for drawing the readers into a story. I found this one to be very intriguing, somewhat mystifying, and filled with a bit of romance. There is plenty of wanting to know . . . what’s coming next behind those pages. It is evidence from reading her work the author has captured another great story, under her cap. Millie, I must say, you did it again! Readers, you may want to pick up a copy . . . just to see what the talk is about.
April 11, 2015
This was a great read
July 10, 2015
A very easy summer read! I couldn't put it down. Short chapters and a suspenseful plot mixed with romance make for an enjoyable read. I can't wait to see what else Millie West comes up with next!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews