Lanessa
Ryan W. Keyser
Some novelists suffer from a "sophomore bounce" with their second book, where the writing is not as crisp and the parts don't all work as well as with the author's debut effort. Thankfully, Ryan W. Keyser's Lanessa not only avoids the "sophomore bounce", but it also shows that the novelist has grown and improved on his already considerable talent. Lanessa again is set in the great state of Texas, and it is quite clear after reading two novels by Keyser that he is well aware of the nuances of the state and able to translate the speech and character of the state into the pages of his novels. Although still full of detail of the lives of his mostly female characters, in his second book Keyser has come to realize that not every thought or action needs complete explanation for the reader to follow. This subtle switch makes the readers experience more fulfilling and enjoyable.
Once again, Keyser handles the world of his woman characters with aplomb. As much as setting is important to the understanding of a Keyser novel, so too is character. In Lanessa, Keyser takes us into the world of the wealthy and what happens when their world collides with those of a different ilk, female biker gangs! As high profile realtor to the rich, Lanessa Whitman, battles those who would seek to utilize the fear created by the biker gangs to profit via their own protection racket schemes. The action can be intense at times with high stakes. As a reader, one never knows what to expect from an author's second work. However, Keyser's adept handling of character, detail and place, have this reader hoping that his next book will be released soon!