Author: Margaret A. Westlie

ISBN: 0-7388-3751-2 (Hardcover)

           0-7388-3752-0 (Softcover)

The following review was contributed by:  Jennifer Brown : Click Here To View Jennifer Brown's Reviews

Life for Molly certainly hasn’t gotten any easier. Ever since the stroke, her words don’t always come out right; she can’t do the simplest things for herself, such as dress or feed herself; and she can’t even sit alone in her wheelchair without being secured by a strap. What’s worse, every night she’s faced by Gertrude, a nurse in the nursing home where Molly lives.

Gertrude is angry. Her life isn’t exactly easy right now, either. Her mother’s health is failing; she’s forced to work extra long hours in order to make ends meet; and night after night she’s got to care for Molly, who is not the nursing home’s easiest resident by a long shot. And as for a man in her life…well, who’s got time and patience for that, anyway?

Molly and Gertrude have something in common. But it’s not until Lucy, Molly’s deceased best friend, comes to call, bringing along Larry, a new friend from the “other realm.” Together Lucy and Larry teach Molly the ins and outs of out-of-body experiences and even give her a job. Molly’s charge: to help Gertrude.

Lots of mischief ensues and before long Molly and Gertrude are inextricably bound. Bring in an old high school classmate turned therapist, a sensitive, and a ghost hunter, and things really heat up.

What does Molly need to do for Gertrude? And will Gertrude ever follow Molly’s advice?

SHADES OF MOLLY by Margaret A. Westlie is a light-hearted and entertaining read. Easily digestible in one or two sittings, SHADES OF MOLLY takes readers on an engaging flight of fancy through the paranormal.

Westlie creates characters in Molly and Gertrude that the reader truly cares about. Shortly into the story you’re pulling for good old Molly one hundred percent. Westlie also uses detailed description to give the reader a very clear idea not only of who these main characters are, but exactly where they are. The reader can easily “see” not only the nursing home, but the parallel plane where Molly exists when out of body. This is not an easy task for a writer, I would assume, to clearly describe a place that can be found nowhere on a map.

Because of this ability to create memorable characters and place the reader right in the story with them, combined with the poetic beat of Westlie’s voice, I recommend SHADES OF MOLLY.

Call it parallel universe, call it alter reality, call it the next plane…however you name it, SHADES OF MOLLY a lot of fun.