The bodies of Dana’s ex-husband, Ethan, and his girlfriend are found in a cave after he ran off to join a cultish spiritual movement. With police thinking it was a murder-suicide, Dana – a disillusioned corporate lawyer - heads to New Mexico to learn more about where Ethan spent his final days. She signs up for the retreat run by the yoga guru, Lama Yoni, and starts to discover some unsettling truths – both about herself, her failed marriage and this New Age community.
Inspired by a real life incident in Arizona, Soulmates is an engrossing story as we join Dana on her somewhat sinister journey to find out what happened to Ethan. Told from different viewpoints – that perhaps weren’t distinct enough – this dark tale is a blend of relationship introspection, satire about cult indoctrination and mystery.
Sad desk salad refers to the working woman's lunch, eaten at her desk while catching up on the latest news and gossip via the internet. Alex Lyons is no different from any other working woman, except she is the one writing the gossip (and she sits on her couch, not at a desk). Alex writes for a popular blog which covers everything from politics to celebrities. When an anonymous video lands in her inbox, detailing the drug dalliances of a would-be Senator's daughter, Alex doesn't hesitate to post it, knowing how huge it will be for both the website and for her career. Once the video is posted, however, she begins to have second thoughts and worries herself into a frenzy about the girl in the video, her own credibility as a writer, and how to get to the bottom of the person writing a hate blog aimed at her for the content of her posts. When her situation eventually takes a toll on her relationship with her boyfriend, Alex decides it's time to slow down and put things back in perspective. Sad Desk Salad is a sharp, funny look at what happens when you put too much stock into what you read on the internet, let your imagination get away from you, and when you lose sight of what's important and real in your life. I'm looking forward to reading more from this debut author. (LEK)
