Reviewed by LuAnn Morgan for RebeccaReads (1/08) Thomas Pope is an award-winning journalist. He's also an alcoholic, who hasn't had a drink in 10 years. Now, he's ready to slow down. He buys a small-town paper and moves to Haver, Michigan, where it's supposedly quiet. Right away, he finds himself embroiled in the middle of a murder. And because he is also a witness, he has to separate his job as a reporter from his role as a private citizen. In the meantime, other factors fall into play. Thomas begins falling in love with the beautiful widow of the former publisher of his paper ... the same woman he purchased the paper from. Yet, he's still dealing with the same issues that led him to the bottle to begin with and tries to pull away from starting a relationship. Agnes Somes finds herself falling for Thomas, as well, but she has her own issues concerning her husband's death to deal with. The guilt of his dying and the total love she felt for him means she isn't sure if beginning a new relationship is either smart or possible. Thus begins the story found in "Rapunzel's Window" by new author Cheryl Lanning. Cheryl is a retired journalist, which gives her the experience to write about what reporter's face on a daily basis. It means she is able to add intelligence and personality to her main character and make him believable to the reader. And as a journalist myself, I appreciate reading a fiction novel where the reporter in the story is pictured with a sprinkling of what that life is truly like. This story is full of intrigue and pulls the reader in quickly. The intense drama is well written and has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing what will happen next. There are so many "main" characters in this story that you will feel as if you truly know Haver by the time you've finished reading the book. Then, you'll wish it would continue so you can find out what happens to your favorite person next. Cheryl is one of the best new novelists I've encountered and I'm anxious to read more books by her. I, for one, hope she continues to grace the shelves at my favorite bookstores with her stories. If you're looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, "Rapunzel's Window" is an excellent choice.
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