Soft as Water - by B Robert Conklin (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A sensitive loner on the run from his past.

A rebellious young heiress with a death wish.

A bridge brings them together ... a mystery can tear them apart.

Following a life-shattering accident, conscience-stricken Will Archer seeks refuge in a small Ohio River town, where he plans to live out his life as a virtual hermit. But a chance encounter with Essence Warner, orphaned daughter of a jazz saxophonist and an aristocratic socialite, entangles him in a quest to discover the truth behind the cold case of her parents' mysterious deaths.

As Will deciphers clues, he becomes romantically entwined with Essence, forming a relationship that draws him into a sordid underbelly of small-town existence that threatens his own life. At the same time, he uncovers a dark secret that could set Essence free from her own path of self-destruction-or does she have a plan of her own?

Soft as Water is a novel about bridges-between strangers across a river-and the dangers of mutual attraction when worlds divided by race, wealth, and culture collide. In the end, though, the novel offers a glimmer of hopefulness that survivors of trauma-physical, emotional, and sexual-can transcend their circumstances and find redemption through connection.

Review Quotes

FINALIST - SUSPENSE GENRE

18th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards

"Your book embodies the standards of excellence that this award was created to celebrate." - NIEA

"A riveting thriller! With evocative prose and palpable empathy for his wounded characters, Conklin hits all the right notes." - Publishers Weekly

"Soft as Water delivers a powerful message about second chances." - Amy Wilson, Novels Alive

"An original and compassionate look at guilt and remorse. This one will haunt you!" - Elaine Graham-Leigh, Reedsy Discovery

"There is a weirdness at the heart of this remarkable book but you don't mind. It's a rather beautiful and magical weirdness and I honestly wondered if I was dreaming for the first few chapters." - Fiona Forsyth, Author, Poetic Justice

"Beautifully written and almost impossible to put down. Truly an intense experience." - Katherine H. Burkman, Author, April Cruel

"The writing is a joy; the plot wouldn't be out of place in a fable or a fairy tale. Oh, and there are ghosts . It is not an experience you'll easily forget." - Olga Núñez Miret, #TuesdayBookBlog, Rosie's Book Team Review

"Pulled me in so quickly that I couldn't stop reading it. ... The roller-coaster of emotions in this story made it easy to get caught up in the pain, remorse, love, revenge, and suspense. ... This is definitely one of the books that have made it onto the list of novels that I read over and over again." - Amy Raines, Readers' Favorite

"Absolutely loved reading this book! Intriguing and a page turner!" - Peggy's Reviews, Sandra's Book Club

"A story that is not likely to be like one you've read before. A very entertaining read." - Big Al, "Books and Pals" Book Blog

"A deceivingly complex tale about repercussions for past actions of both self and family with a well thought-out ending that left me satisfied with the resolution." - Heather L. Barksdale, Heather's Bookshelf

"All the ingredients for an unusual off-beat story!" - Julie, Whispering Stories