Echoes and Illusions (Harper Monogram)

Rating:
Summary: Not a great book, but a fun diversion
Review: The heroine of this novel, Lauren Ryder, sees a painting at an art exhibit and becomes convinced that she is seeing herself in the painting. The incident triggers memories of a life lived in the 16th century.

Needless to say, Lauren's dreams/memories disturb her husband and her friends. As they intensify, so does the tension between Lauren and her husband.

While this is a entertaining gothic mystery, it's not nearly as good as some of this author's other books. The characterizations are rather thin and too many major developments are thrown into the plot in rather a hapahzard and unconvincing manner. For instance, Lauren's friend Sandra simply accepts the notion of past lives and/or visions without questions and goes along helping Lauren find the truth of her dilemma. The fact that Lauren suddenly, after five years of marriage, decides to tell her husband she has amnesia and does not remember the first 18 years of her life wasn't handled too well either.

Still, despite some glaring flaws, the story is a fun afternoon read.