Bonus #ShareAReviewDay Post – Finding Hunter by Marcia Meara

/ Marcia

It’s Sunday again, and time for me to share one of my own favorite reviews, this time for the second book in my Riverbend series, Finding Hunter. Hope you enjoy it, and will consider sharing it all over the place. (Go ahead. Make my day! 😀 ) THANKS!

REVIEW:

4.0 out of 5 stars Emotional and moving
By CathyR on March 27, 2016

4.5*
Following on from Swamp Ghosts, this story brings to life the lives of Willow Greene, close friend of Maggie Devlin, now Maggie Wolfe, and Hunter Painter, best friend of Maggie’s husband, Gunn.

Ever since he could remember Hunter has felt different, separate from his peers. He’s quiet and introspective, enjoying reading and writing, not at all like his older brothers, Forrest and Jackson, who have always been outgoing, taking whatever life offers. Hunter’s sensitivity to people and his surroundings have impacted on his life and psyche steadily over the years.

Willow has been in love with Hunter ever since high school. When she has a surprise phone call from Hunter the day after Maggie and Gunn’s wedding party, she invites him over. Realising, after all these years, they feel the same for each other Willow and Hunter spend as much time together as possible. But Hunter believes happiness is not meant for him. His lot was to look out for his parents since his dad was turning a blind eye to a serious problem, which was obvious to Hunter. His overriding fear that he would take after his mother meant, to his mind, he could never have a lasting relationship.

The insecurities and secret dread Hunter has lived with all his life prove too much for him to cope with as events spiral, his worst fears culminating in a terrible tragedy which shatters him and shocks everyone close to him. Hunter is lost in a desolation and pain so deep it overtakes him totally.

This story has a completely different atmosphere to Swamp Ghosts, in that it’s not as suspenseful or tense in a thriller kind of way. Rather, this focuses quite a bit on mental health issues and how, if left unrecognised, ignored or untreated, can cause untold damage. It’s also about the struggle to find a way back from hopelessness and despair. Willow and Hunter both have a battle on their hands.

In addition, the emphasis is also on relationships and family. And the power of love. Marcia Meara represents all of this extremely well from the perspective of the well defined and sympathetic characters. There’s an impressive depth and interpretation in the vivid portrayals which will stay with me for a while, I think.

The short passages at the start of the chapters are intriguing and add a sense of anticipation, wanting to know who the travelling man is and his role in the story. It makes sense when all is revealed, and it was a surprise.

BLURB:

Before, I never thought about taking a life. Not once.
Now, the thought fills my mind day and night, and
I wonder how I’ll hide that terrible need,
As an old car swings to the shoulder,
And stops.

~ Traveling Man ~

Hunter Painter’s darkest fears have shaped his offbeat personality since he was a child, crippling him in ways invisible to those unable to see past his quiet exterior. In a sleepy Florida town known for its eccentric inhabitants, he’s always been a mystery to most.

Only one person sees beyond Hunter’s quirky facade. Willow Greene, the new age herbalist who owns the local candle and potpourri shop, has secretly loved him since they were in high school. When, sixteen years later, she discovers Hunter has loved her just as long, Willow hopes her dreams are finally coming true.

Soon, Willow learns that Hunter fears happiness at her side isn’t in the cards for him. With her natural optimism and courage, she almost convinces him he’s wrong—that they can really have that life together they both long for—but even Willow can’t stop what Hunter knows is coming.

One by one, his worst nightmares become reality, culminating in an unthinkable tragedy, which devastates everyone it touches. Willow’s battle begins in earnest as Hunter is plunged into a bleak, guilt-ridden despair, threatening to destroy not only their love, but Hunter, himself.

Finding Hunter is the story of a lost man’s desperate struggle to make his way home again, and one woman’s unshakeable faith in him and the power of their love.


Author Marcia Meara

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years, four big cats, and two small dachshunds. When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. At the age of five, Marcia declared she wanted to be an author, and is ecstatic that at age 69, she finally began pursuing that dream. Her belief in the redemptive power of love is a unifying factor in both of her popular series and her poetry. Today, she’s still going strong, and plans to keep on writing until she falls face down on the keyboard, which she figures would be a pretty good way to go!

Buy Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2 HERE

Marcia has published six novels, one novella, and one book of poetry to date, all of which are available on Amazon: 

Wake-Robin Ridge
A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2
Harbinger: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 3

Swamp Ghosts: A Riverbend Novel
Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2
That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3

 The Emissary: A Riverbend Spinoff Novella

Summer Magic: Poems of Life & Love

Marcia’s Amazon Author Page

You can reach Marcia via email at marciameara16@gmail.com or on the following social media sites:

The Write Stuff: https://marciamearawrites.com/
Twitter: @marciameara
Facebook: www.facebook.com/marcia.meara.writer
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marciameara/

16 thoughts on “Bonus #ShareAReviewDay Post – Finding Hunter by Marcia Meara”

  1. I’ve recently finished reading Finding Hunter and this is a reminder that, being busy with visitors I have not reviewed it yet. Yes indeed it is totally different from Swamp Ghosts, proof that good writers don’t need to stick to a formula. lookin gforward to no 3 and the novella.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hi, Janet! Thanks for reading this one. As much as I enjoy Rabbit’s tales, Hunter Painter has always been my favorite character, damage and all. And really, how many serial killers can a town the size of Riverbend have before everyone who lived there would move away? 🙂

      I decided that the type of drama would be predicated on the characters, and I was so drawn to Hunter when writing Swamp Ghosts, I knew his story had to be next. Then, of course, I left the other two brothers twisting in the wind, especially poor Jackson, so I had to tell THEIR stories, too. (Book 3 does have some danger in it, but still no serial killers. 😀 ) I’m planning to focus on some completely different folks for Book 4, though of course, it’s a small town, and familiar faces will be scattered about here and there, too.

      Now the Emissary novella is a whole different thing. Because Gabe Angelino was only passing through Riverbend, I figured I could go any direction with his story I wanted to, and I did. Hope you’ll enjoy them all if you get a chance to check them out. And since I lost 2 of Hunter’s reviews in the last couple of weeks, I’d be thrilled to get a new one, when and if you get a moment.

      Thanks for taking the time to comment today, Janet. It’s always good to hear from folks who’ve read one of my books. 🙂 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Thanks, Mae. Poor, damaged Hunter just spoke to me from his very first appearance in Swamp Ghosts. I do love that boy! 🙂 Glad you enjoyed your weekend. We got a lot done around here, but still more work weekends ahead. And probably a work 4th of July, too. We’ll watch fireworks on tv at night, I suspect. 😀 But we’ll be flying the flag and celebrating in our own way. Good to see you back! ❤

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      Reply

    • Fantastic review, Janet! Thanks so much. I’m very glad you enjoyed Finding Hunter, a different sort of story altogether from Swamp Ghosts. But then, every character in Riverbend has a tale to tell, and hopefully, they will each be unique. Hunter and Willow were a joy to write about, even through the tragic parts, and Hunter’s need for Willow–for something in his life to be right–really needed to be explored. The next book focuses on his brothers, since I left them both in a bit of a mess. But there are scenes that include familiar faces, Hunter & Willow’s among them. 🙂 Thanks so much for reviewing!! I can’t tell you how happy that makes me! 😀 ❤

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      Reply

  5. I knew Hunter was going to be special from the way you introduced him in the first Riverbend book. If he captures my heart even half as much as Rabbit it’ll be well worth the reading. I also loved Willow in the first book – she’s different to everyone else in the most beautiful ways imaginable. It’s frantically busy here at the moment but I grabbed ten minutes yesterday to read the opening pages. There’s not much more housework I can leave undone but I HAVE to carry on now. What a bad influence you are!
    Trish x

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    Reply

    • I’m evil, I know! *wicked laugh, here* But I’m pretty happy that you’re hooked on Hunter’s story already, and I hope the lack of a murder mystery won’t disappoint you. Every story in Riverbend will be unique, if I have my way, and I think Hunter’s is filled with all the drama one man (especially a sensitive, out of step with the rest of the world guy like Hunter) can take. And Willow is without a doubt the strongest female character I’ve written, in spite of her delicate appearance. She’s a force to be reckoned with. Thanks so much for giving it a try, Trish, and I hope you enjoy it. (BTW, Hunter & Rabbit are tied in my affections, though in completely different ways). Can’t wait to see what you think. 🙂 ❤

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      Reply

    • Probably, at some future point, but honestly, it turned into such an involved process, I just haven’t had time to pursue it, what with all that’s going on right now. Plus, sales of the audio version of Swamp Ghosts never took off. (Part of that is my fault for not doing more marketing, I’m sure, but again, it’s a matter of time). Perhaps after I finish The Emissary 2 and Wake-Robin Ridge 4, both of which are about halfway written, I’ll take a few weeks off and give it another go.

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