Crystal Bay
Brandon Ford

Gage Healy is an English teacher who aspires to be a novelist. It is summer break and he is leaving town, his wife and friends to go into seclusion to write a best seller. Crystal Bay is the perfect place. The lake is quiet, peaceful and isolated. He is sure his creative juices will flow.

He meets Amanda at Crystal Bay. She is mysterious, sensuous, beautiful in a way Gage can't quite describe. Just looking at her motivates Gage to write and write turning out pages upon pages.

Amanda has a dark secret and needs something from Gage. Her very existence depends on conquering Gage. Gage tries to resist Amanda's charm but she is like a drug that he needs. His writing is prolific after each encounter with her.

Beth, Gage's wife, was not thrilled with his plan for the summer but she always supported his writing efforts so didn't voice her concerns. Gage promised to call regularly so she accepted that it was going to be a lonely summer without him. At first they spoke on the phone regularly - then calls became infrequent - then Gage didn't answer the phone at all.

Gage was in a fight with an unknown force that he didn't understand. He craved being around Amanda in the worst way. After being with Amanda he despised himself with all his being. When he tried to stay away he couldn't write.

What was happening to him????

Brandon Ford did a very good job of building suspense in Crystal Bay. He builds the aura around Amanda slowly, mysteriously. Gage's confusion about her allure is palpable. The darkness grows as the suspense builds to a very dramatic confrontation. Crystal Bay is a page turner that reels you in and keeps you reading to the end. The fight between good and evil is not a boring one in Crystal Bay.