The details…
- Title: Two is a Pattern
- Author: Emily Waters
- Publisher: Ylva Publishing
- Publication date: January 22, 2024
- Available formats: ebook, paperback
- File size: 2188 KB
- Print length: 244 pages
- Genre: contemporary romance suspense
- Themes: grad school, California, family, divorce, children, surrogacy, motherhood, women loving women, friendship, falling in love, bisexuality, sapphic romance, suspense, crime, investigations, CIA, misogyny, the 90’s
- Tropes: age-gap
The blurb from the publisher…
A charged lesbian romantic suspense set in the early nineties, with gripping twists, turns, and surprising secrets.
A mission gone wrong leads to rising-star CIA operative Annie Weaver quitting her job and reinventing herself as a college student. But the CIA, desperate for her skills, refuses to let her go without a price.
Annie finds herself juggling classes in Criminology and falling for her beautiful landlord, Professor Helen Everton, while dealing with off-the-books secret missions for an increasingly controlling ex-boss.
As the perceptive Helen circles ever closer to the truth, Annie has to figure out how to keep her freedom without putting Helen in danger—and without revealing her own past.
My thoughts…
Great stories appeal to readers’ deepest emotions. They surprise them and leave an impression. Furthermore, they contain characters that readers not only care about, but understand. That’s something Emily Waters grasps when crafting her stories. It’s why her debut novel received notice (and a Golden Crown Literary Society Award) and why her sophomore novel, Two is a Pattern, stands out.
Waters gets right to it and doesn’t waste any time hooking readers. It’s something she does in Honey in the Marrow and again in Two is a Pattern. She’s a stage setter, and it works, especially for Two is a Pattern. Readers are quickly drawn into the narrative and their curiosity is stirred. With mentions of former CIA bosses and paranoid feelings of being watched, they immediately want to know more about Annie Weaver.
Readers readily connect with the character of Annie, and the reason is this: Waters lets readers witness her defining moment as a CIA agent early on in the storyline. She does not drag this out and let readers hang in the wind with wild guesses as to what motivates Annie. These scenes are powerful, shedding a light onto Annie’s vulnerabilities. Through this, readers begin to understand her deepest and darkest fears. In turn, her choices make sense to them, and this enacts an empathy that’s needed for the story to matter.
Helen, Annie’s landlord and lover, is marvelous in this story. Her tender affection for Annie brings out a sweetness that’s as alluring as it is captivating. Their relationship, though a bit unique, provides the storytelling with layers and depth. It exposes vulnerabilities that are heart tugging, making Two is a Pattern an emotional read at times. Readers appreciate Helen for not only who she is to Annie, but what she means to the narrative.
Final remarks…
Waters’ Annie is a character like no other; she’s a bit of an unexpected hero, and readers will be hard pressed to resist her. She battles the odds with her back pressed up against a wall, facing adversity with admirable bravery. Her love for Helen is so noble and unselfish, it’s almost heartbreaking. It stirs readers, leaving them wanting more. And if my guess is correct, readers will get more. The final chapter reads like a cliffhanger, so one can assume there will be a sequel. (If there isn’t: 😕)
Strengths…
- Well-written
- Gripping narrative
- Likable, captivating characters
- Leaves readers wanting more
For a peek inside…
This book is available from…
A bit about the author…
Emily Waters is a Children’s Librarian who loves reading picture books and middle grade fiction and doing storytime for little ones. A citizen of the internet, Emily is a fan of all things fandom and pop culture. Her other interests include reading, binge watching old television shows, drinking coffee, and saying “Gasp! A dog!” anytime she sees a dog.
Emily currently resides in Northern California with her family. To learn more about her, click on the following links:
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