Cover Image: The Fall Line

The Fall Line

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Member Reviews

This book started out really slow and really didn't get much better for me.

The beginning felt drawn out and I honestly got bored and didn't want to finish reading it. Once we finally got some action, a lot of it felt forced and unrealistic (even more than just the ghost plotline) and the end felt like it spiraled out of control. Nothing really flowed and it was difficult to connect with the characters in this novel. I felt like it needed a lot more depth.

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A book to my heart; romance, small towns, crime and ghost stories.

Jordan is a nature illustrator who going to be an artist in residence for a month at Oberon College, working along with Professor Maddie, an English professor and director of the residency program. Jordan is there specifically to draw the endangered the Cahaba lilies.

While out in the wild drawing them she notices strange things that soon start getting out of hand.

A good book for a dark rainy day.

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I enjoyed this. It’s a well written read that starts as a slow burn romance between Jordan and Maddie, works through a supernatural plot where Jordan sees a ghost, sorry spirit, and then develops into an angst ridden chase to the death.

I’m not familiar with Ms Wacker’s work but I will be remedying that on the strength of this story. I felt the heat, I learned about art and illustration, I laughed more than once, and I wondered how Leda would be able to ‘save the day’. There were several well written ancillary characters and the ending was clever and satisfying.

A good read to pass a few hours in escapist storytelling which will keep you guessing.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley

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Well this was a spirited read.

Jordan Burroughs is invited to be artist in residence at a college in Alabama. She hopes to capture the beauty of the rare Cahaba lily along with learning about the local history and legends of the area. She is also interested in the professor overseeing her placement, Madeleine Grendel. Her guest cottage with its resident ghost begins Jordan’s journey of discovery. This peaceful setting hides a danger which threatens the fragile ecosystem and its inhabitants.

The pace of this story begins as slowly as a lazy river on a hot summer day. The author introduces us to her main characters and to the natural beauty that surrounds them. Jordan and Madeleine as romantic leads take a back seat to the drama that unfolds. I did enjoy the author's descriptive writing style. Events were easy to visualize and secondary characters, including a friendly spirit with a mission, added to my enjoyment. The mystery and suspense kept me turning pages. I enjoyed the humour mixed in with the gentle romance and will definitely look for other books written by this author.

A copy of this book was received with thanks from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for review.

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Wasn't what I expected, It started off slow, picked up slightly half way through.

This is probably a ‘me’ problem... One mention of a ghost in the plot and I'm caught and it's a must read. But this left me disappointed. I was expecting more ‘spooky’ going ons.

In all, the story is okay, but I agree with other reviewers, needs more depth.

2.5 out of 5

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This book tells the story of a nature illustrator named Jordan who is invited to a college town in Alabama to be their artist in residence for part of the summer. As Jordan becomes more accustomed to the town, strange things start happening and she must eventually rely on her newly formed friendships to get herself out of trouble.

I thought this was a pretty decent read. The story itself starts off pretty slow and it isn’t until the halfway mark that things start to pick up, but the content in the first half was interesting enough to hold my attention. With not much happening in the first half, the last half comes on quickly and feels a bit rushed; plus there are a lot of plots explored in the latter half of the novel so it feels very overwhelming. I think if a few plots were picked out and explored in depth throughout the novel, this would have been a 5-star for me. The characters were pretty interesting, but I wished some got a bit more attention than surface level.

Overall, I liked this book because of its characters and the focus on nature conservation.

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There are some interesting ideas in this book, but I think some of them should have been saved for another story. There’s just a bit too much going on - spiritualism, environmentalism, ethical farming and a romance. It feels like too much was thrown into the pot so ultimately the romance gets a bit lost. I didn’t get any sense of connection with either of the two leads. With a bit more discernment and a chosen genre there could have been a good thriller or a good ghost story.

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This story is about Jordan, who is a nature illustrator/artist. She is invited by Oberon College to be an artist-in-residence for a month. There she meets Maddie, an English professor and Director of the residency program. The two hits it off and the romance between them blooms slowly. Jordan is there to observe and paint the Cahaba lilies, which is endangered and blooms at certain seasons. She also got to know some of the local people in the small town. And may have stumbled upon some of their hidden secrets.

I found this book to be a rather educational read, focussing on ecological and nature issues such as the cahaba Lilies, storms and tornadoes. The author described everything in nature vividly that you can literally imagine the scenes. And amidst the nature, there is a mysterious subplot with a paranormal twist that keeps you engaged.

The romance between the 2 main characters is sweet but did not feel that it was the main focus of the book. The book starts off really really slow but picks up at the later half of the book and I started enjoying it more then. It was a pleasant read overall.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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I loved this story. All the characters were great (well except one but when you read it you'll be able to tell who). Jordan and Maddie were so cute and I found myself rooting for them the entire time. I liked the character of Leda and the descriptions of spirits vs ghosts and how she interacts with the environment and even the weather. I had never seen a similar take on it.
I wasn't expecting the villain of this and felt kinda smacked when he was revealed, but then again looking back it does make sense. You get side swiped along with the characters.
I highly recommend this and loved it.

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This is a story about Jordan who is an illustrator of plants, insects and flowers. She is invited to spend a few weeks in at a small Southern College drawing a rare lilly that only grows in this area. She meets an English professor Maddie who gets her settled into her temporary housing. The old house she’s staying at has a friendly ghost.

As the story progresses we meet a man who is out to profit at the expense of innocent animals and the surrounding environment.

Jordan finds herself in a very serious confrontation with this man and the ghost and Maddie come to her rescue.

I enjoyed the nature scenes and Jordan’s thoughts on being an artist. I thought the mystery and conflict were well written and kept my interest. There was not enough character development of Maddie, I didn’t feel like I got to know her at all. And the emotion between the MCs was not developed in much detail.

ARC received from Net Galley for an honest and voluntary review

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Loved this book. This is a paranormal romance with a healthy dash of mystery and suspense thrown in. The relationship between Jordan and Maddie was really sweet and romantic, I liked that it was a slow burn romance were each woman wanted to get to know the other before anything intimate happened between them. I was really hooked on this book when the author decided to add ghosts or spirits to the story this just made it that more interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what's next from this author.

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I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Jordan is nature artist who going to be artist in residence for a month at Oberon College she hoping to be able draw and paint the Cahaba Lilies that native to the area but are endangered. While there she gets to know Professor Madeleine who is her welcome wagon as they grow closer they wonder should they start something when Jordan is only there for a month. The author does a great job describing plants, animals, birds and water life through characters eyes as Jordan starts her working she meets spirit Leda who quick to say she not a ghost but a spirit who has her own agenda but she is a hoot I love the other characters that Jordan meets Jenna and Elana who just as passionate about their work as Jordan is, Overall a enjoyable read can’t wait for the next book from this author

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This started out very slow, and it took til 43% for the 'ghost' from the synopsis to fully show itself. I felt the beginning got a bit too drawn out and, honestly, I felt a bit bored.

Once we do get some excitement, it all happens at once - but I also struggled with a few plot points - that I wish had been alluded to in the synopsis. Such as animal welfare and environmental issues from farming and dodgy animal husbundary.

It's a well written story, but could have done with a lot more depth, and more of a connection to the plot points that came about in the end. It felt like two different stories that got merged. I enjoyed the details about the artistic elements, the paintings and sketches etc. The descriptions of the area, the flowers, the river and the animals & insects inhabiting it.

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Years ago I lived for six months in Alabama and this story took me back to its beauty and the feel of it’s humid heat and rainy afternoons. And as a temporary southerner I love a good barbecue and have a healthy respect for ghosts as well.

Jordan Burroughs arrives at Oberon College as an artist in residence for a month. She is a nature artist and makes a living doing illustrations and selling her watercolors and prints of plants and animals. Locally she is hoping to draw the Cahaba lilies that native to the area but are endangered. Professor Madeleine Grendel is over the artist program and welcomes Jordan to the college. She shares some of the local history including stories of the campus ghosts.

With Jordan working on her art at in a local river reserve there are beautiful descriptions of plants, animals, birds and water life. The title of the book is a term I’ve never heard before and refers to a natural line where types of species don’t cross. The environment and its care is an important theme in this book. Jordan is is befriended by a ghost/spirit who lives in her residence. She is helpful to Jordan’s work but has her own agenda. Jordan is also intrigued by Maddie and would like to see if something can develop between them.

I enjoyed this story with its twist and turns. I learned new things of the history of the setting and the fragile environment. The ghost is gentle as is the romance. I will look for more from the author. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC. (4.5 Stars)

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Jordan Burroughs is ecstatic to be spending one month as an in-resident artist at Oberon College. She will be illustrating and painting the distinctive flora and fauna of this region. The highlight of this residency is to pictorially capture the endangered Cahaba lilies in their natural habitat. Professor Madeleine (Maddie) Grendel is the welcome wagon from the college to help Jordan acclimatize to Oberon. Attractions rise quickly after their first meeting.

I was thoroughly entertained by this romantic, ecologically themed, paranormal novel. The author’s natural affinity for the preservation of the world around us is at the heart of the story. She subtly couches her views in the midst of Jordan discovering there is an active ghost where she is staying, her growing attraction to Maddie and other delightful things that I will leave unspoiled for readers.

Kelly Wacher is a new author to me and I am so glad our paths crossed. Her storytelling is interesting, unique, educational and fun all in the same breath. If the paranormal moniker scares you, be not afraid. Think of Casper, the friendly ghost as a reference to the degree of scare attached. The Fall Line is a must read for the simple pleasure of its entertainment factor. You will not be disappointed.

I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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This one was my first time reading Kelly Wacker and I liked it.
It picked my interest because it involved a professor and the South. I think I did not pay attention to the blurb when it mentioned ghosts. This is not something that I usually enjoy reading, but I think the author really built the environment for it to happen here.
Something that picked my attention was Wacker's descriptions. I could see the scenes, especially when talking about nature when she was describing it. The author's love for the arts and environment is on the pages and one can feel it, this is not something that happens in all books!
Maddie and Jordan are the main characters and they are great, but my favorite one is Leda. She definitely has a mind of her own!

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