The Winter Oak

by James A. Hetley

$14.00, Ace Books, softcover, 295 pp

Mr. Hetley’s second outing is just as satisfying as his first. His characters seem to be in the same room as me – quite fascinating. I can actually hear their voices. He gives satisfaction and value in less than 300 pages that takes other authors 600 pages to accomplish. I long for more time with Jo and Maureen but I’m afraid that might ruin the charm of the story. James is a gifted storyteller and maybe some stories are best told succinctly.

Jo and Maureen are sisters with an inhuman heritage. In the last book they discovered this heritage and traveled to the land where others of their kind live, plot and kill. Maureen and Brian stayed behind in the Summer Country and freed slaves – human, plant and animal. Jo and David returned to Maine but found that their lives were still anything but simple. They’ve both been fired from their jobs and the police are very interested in the whereabouts of Maureen and Brian – especially in light of the blood found on Jo’s kitchen floor. But Maureen is still battling her own personal demons and Brian has apparently disappeared. Their biggest mistake was probably leaving Fiona, Brian’s sister, still alive. This witch puts a new definition on evil and she’ll make a pact with the last Dragon to kill her most powerful rival, Maureen. The Dragon, by the way, has the most fascinating character development in the story. Brian is a Pendragon which by definition means more than family; he has spied, fought and killed for the mysterious ruling circle without questioning. But, innocently, he has now stumbled upon a secret for which the Pendragons will kill him. Can Maureen survive without Brian’s love and will her fragile sanity be strong enough to save herself and the Summer Country? Will Jo be able to live with the consequences of her own actions and will David’s love be stronger than his very real fear that the woman he loves more than life could be his death? - Catherine Book