Title: Evening in Atlantis: Tales of Romance
Author: Rod Barkley
Publisher: Atlantic Publishing
ISBN: 0780984966202
Pages: 273 KB, Kindle
Genre: Romance/Fiction
Reviewed by: Rebecca Ross, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
“For those who still believe that love conquers all, that the journeys of the spirit are the most important we make, it is the land of dreams.”
Author Rod Barkley is speaking of France as the land of dreams, the land of romance, and the setting of his collection of love stories,Evening in Atlantis. From the crowded cities to the quiet countrysides, men and women are looking for love, whether it is new love, lost love, or simply the chance at finding happiness and a warm hand to hold.
Amnesiac Jacques falls in love with innkeeper Lisette who protects him from the secrets of his past. Young Sophia finds both love and the chance to live out her dreams when she meets Stephane. Alain rescues suicidal Zoe and they both rediscover a love of life.
In each tale the characters must overcome difficult challenges as they search for love, hope, and the answers to life’s biggest questions. Will I find someone who can love me as I am? Is there more to life than what I’m living? Can I find that one thing that will make my existence matter?
To this end, Barkley has created an eclectic mix of characters, each with a unique back-story and a unique set of circumstances. Male, female, rich, poor, good and bad – The characters and stories could be found in any era, lending them a timeless quality and one that makes them easy to relate to in matters of the heart. What better place to read of loves lost and found than in France, where quaint villages house poets and rooftops hide virtuoso musicians?
The most unusual aspect of Evening in Atlantis is Barkley’s surprising use of an almost science fiction-like employment of suspension of disbelief. Although each individual story is romantic in nature, he sends characters through time, has them playing a game of cards with Chance and Fate, and experiencing other magical occurrences. While readers may be caught off guard at first, this merely adds a touch of mystery to the romance and takes nothing away.
Variety is certainly the spice of life in Evening in Atlantis. Stories of romance, mystery, and magic featuring dozens of characters spanning nine stories means there is something for every reader in this thoroughly enjoyable collection.
