A steamy book by a new Author crossed my desk during the recently past holidays. “Brave New Woman (Brave New World)” by Lena Rose [Independent, October 31, 2018; 197 pages] is the kind of book I have never read, afraid it might plant sexy seeds in my mind, which I might not be able to grow when I put it down.

I am admiringly amused by the stalk of Indian corn on the cover as a phallic symbol – a hint of what’s to come (pun intended). Here, Rose combines historical facts with the theme of forbidden love, into an erotic thriller which hooked itself to my bedside table by the third chapter; I read a chapter nightly before I turned the light out to sleep during the past couple of weeks. I don’t want to hint at the story-line, lest I spoil the drama for you, but the twists and turns had me rooting for one of the main characters, who reminded me of the 1973 hit song by Cher, “Half-Breed”.

Its not easy to pen a good novel – or “novella” as she describes it. Lena employs all the right ingredients: the inciting incident, complications, crisis, climax and resolution in the graphically described erotic narrative. Her vividly accurate descriptions show the research she must have done into that period of American history.

The line spacing throughout the pages makes it an easier on the eyes read. Yet, missing is a publisher company name (she can make one up which suits her) on the lower back cover (with logo), and a title page preceding the Table of Contents. Also, maybe a dedication page would be cool there too!

Upon conclusion, she unabashedly asks for reviews on the same last page – before the reader can fully digest the final scenes. That gave me pause, seemed slightly dilettante (I guess because of eagerness for her first self-published book to do well) and therefore, I compliment this story with four-out-of-five fountain pens and recommend you add it to your library bookshelf.

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If you’ve been here before,

*Pickkhitt: which bringz to mind…another classic record from my pre-radio DJ days, listening to “Musicradio77WABC, New York City” You know I always end a post with a song