A bad divorce, a broken heart, a need to begin again.
These three things propel reporter Sara Woods to leave her comfortable position working for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and take the first news job that comes along, working as the new reporter for small-town Ohio’s Ralston Courier. Ralston is a sleepy little town that doesn’t seem to have much to offer this big-city girl, but her very first assignment is to investigate a dead body, a young woman found half-frozen on the side of a country road.
Soon the story on this body ties in with others, and she finds herself scrambling to come up with a common link among the dead other than the fact that they’re all young women Sara’s age.
Still recovering from a previous auto accident and struggling with chronic pain, she becomes a patient at the Goldstone Clinic, a local mecca of healing.
But all is not as it seems at the Goldstone, its doctors and nurses are all the picture of perfect beauty and health. Patients at the clinic first seem to get better, then they deteriorate. Sara enlists the help of Dr. Rick Paulsen, a doctor at the city hospital who shares her concern about the deaths of the young women, one of whom was his own patient. He teaches her through Eastern techniques how to access her internal power, skills she never knew she had, revealing secrets from her past.
Police officer Brendon Zale also takes an interest in Sara, but he acts like a stalker, watching her every move, and he won’t leave her alone. He always turns up at the most suspicious times, especially where the dead bodies are found. What’s his interest in Sara?
As she digs deeper into the story and more young women die without explanation, she tries to choose allies wisely. Not until the last confrontation does she discover the identity of her true enemy.
By then, it may be too late.
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N. N. Light 2023 Book Awards Winner for Best Fiction Novel
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Paperback at Amazon • Paperback at Barnes & Noble • Hardback at Barnes & Noble • eBook at Amazon Kindle • eBook at Apple Books • eBook at Barnes & Noble • eBook at Kobo Books • eBook at Smashwords
Amazon Paperback [EAN 978-1-949187-56-4 | ISBN 1-949187-56-X] 6×9 trim (192 pages) | Average Price: $11.99
Barnes & Noble Paperback [EAN 978-1-949187-57-1 | ISBN 1-949187-57-8] 6×9 trim (192 pages) | Average Price: $9.99
Barnes & Noble Hardback [EAN 978-1-949187-58-8 | ISBN 1-949187-58-6] 6×9 trim (192 pages) | Average Price: $19.99
eBook [EAN 978-1-949187-59-5 | ISBN 1-949187-59-4] EPUB and Kindle (73,000 words) | Average Price: $3.99
BOOK REVIEWS:
“I couldn’t put this book down. REMNANTS OF FIRE isn’t your typical paranormal novel. And that’s a good thing. It starts out unassuming enough. Sara Woods, recently divorced, takes a reporting position at a newspaper in a small town in western Ohio. She immediately begins to investigate a string of dead women — all too young to die. They only have one thing in common. They were all clients of a New Age health institute, Goldstone Clinic. Sara initially visits the clinic for her back pain. Her intuition tells her something’s not right there. With the help of an all-too-handsome doctor at the local hospital, she’s determined to discover what role the clinic plays in the mysterious deaths. Then the story takes a veer in a direction I didn’t see coming. It’s a fascinating twist that literally had me on the edge of my seat as I read it. I was pulled into the story from the first chapter, thanks to the author’s impeccable sense of storytelling. Told in the first person, we tag along with Sara in the opening scene where she views a dead body and its inexplicable location and situation. The first-person point of view works well, as we know only what Sara does — and it’s typically too little, too late. That naturally amps up the drama. Alana Lorens tells a compelling, spellbinding story. She slowly and patiently gives us clues to what’s next and builds suspense expertly. The ultimate reveal of the truth is nothing less than stunning as she eventually shows us what really is happening at the Goldstone Clinic. But not without having us biting our nails about the safety of our intrepid heroine. REMNANTS OF FIRE is a paranormal novel in a category all its own. And it’s left me wanting more.” ~ reviewed by Terry for NN Lights Book Heaven [5-STARS]
“I just finished reading a review copy of REMNANTS OF FIRE by Alana Lorens, and I LOVED it. The protagonist is Sara Woods, a newspaper journalist investigating suspicious deaths in her small town. The only apparent connection between the dead women is that they were all clients at a local new age energy healing clinic. Not only is Sara a sensible heroine I could get behind, other female characters are strong, too. I particularly loved Sara’s boss, a no-nonsense editor-in-chief with a heartbreaking connection to the mystery who’s always chain smoking out a cracked window in her office. In fact, all the characters in this novel are distinct and realistic. Three men made intriguing romantic possibilities, and I loved not knowing which one I could trust. The story’s pace never slacks. Emerging clues kept me reaching for the next chapter. Plot twists hooked me all the way to a satisfying conclusion.” ~ reviewed by Naima Haviland at Bookbub [5-STARS]
“Sara Woods is a news reporter in a small town. She usually reports on the society pages and other light pieces, but when the hard news reporter is out of town, she fills in, and thus begins her investigation into a string of deaths of young women. As she digs deeper into the deaths, she becomes involved with a local doctor who teaches her about energy. At first, she doesn’t believe in him, or the clinic where she gets help for her chronic back pain. But she can’t deny that what they did to her helped. She also can’t deny that something strange is happening and it’s all connected to the clinic. She’s also a bit freaked out by the intense consideration she gets from the local police officer, Brendon. And the clinic’s administrator, Chal. With three men after her, she’s not sure who to trust. — Definitely recommended.” ~ reviewed by Vicky Burkholder for Sparkling Book Reviews [5-STARS]
“Lorens takes you on a journey of good vs evil when reporter Sara Woods discovers dead women — with no apparent reason for their deaths. How are they linked to the Goldstone Clinic? Who can she trust? Sara discovers an internal source of power inside her that a gorgeous doctor helps her to understand and nurture. He explains about psychic vampires, but can she really believe this mumbo-jumbo that he spouts? Then there’s the nosy, full-of-himself young cop. He seems to follow Sara everywhere. More deaths occur, as Sara is drawn deeper into a web of deceit. Will she escape before it catches her? REMNANTS OF FIRE is hard to put down, and the end leaves you cheering and wanting more! Highly recommended!” ~ reviewed by Janyce Brawn at Amazon Reviews [5-STARS]
“Investigating strange deaths, newspaper reporter Sara Woods fights for her own life. In REMNANTS OF FIRE, Alana Lorens crafts a page turning thriller with Sara unable to trust anyone, not even herself. Paranormal fiction readers won’t want to miss the creative climax. Romantics will be satisfied, too.” ~ reviewed by Janet Wells at Amazon Reviews [5-STARS]
“When newspaper reporter, Sara Woods, tries to start a new life in a small town, her first investigation is the mysterious deaths of several young and presumed healthy women. The deeper she digs, the more entangled she becomes in a mysterious local wellness clinic with rumors of vampires. Convinced that the deaths are not due to paranormal causes, she gets close to the people involved. Too close. Should she trust the handsome Doctor Rick? Should she distrust the ever-present Officer Brendon? What is really going on? Why are people associated with the clinic hyper-focused on her? As a supernatural thriller, REMNANTS OF FIRE delivers in every way possible. It is superbly written with interesting characters, small-town ambience, wry humor, and a climax for the ages. It’s definitely a 5-STAR read.” ~ reviewed by Amber Sparks for Neon Book Reviews [5-STARS]
“Sara Woods takes a new job as a newspaper reporter, and gets dragged into a huge mess almost immediately by her editor. REMNANTS OF FIRE is so many things! It starts off as a perfectly normal investigative work by a reporter, but then it talks about all different sorts of healing techniques, and how they are used for good and maybe evil. It’s scary enough that there’s a trail of dead women in this small Ohio town, but as Sara starts discovering who might be behind it, at the same time she’s scrambling to protect herself. It’s just — wow. And what’s up with this junior cop creeping on her all the time? I loved the story, could really see it as a movie, the author is so good with her scenes. Recommend!” ~ reviewed by Suzi Taylor [5-STARS]
“Looking for a fresh start in life, reporter Sara Woods takes a job with a small town newspaper. Her first assignment is the mysterious deaths of several young women. Tenacious and unafraid to dig for the truth, she soon focuses on a local healing center, the Goldstone. Being the new girl in town, she catches the eye of several men, including a charming local doctor and a persistent police officer. As she begins to figure out that something supernatural is happening at the Goldstone, she isn’t sure who to trust. Can anyone in town be trusted? REMNANTS OF FIRE is a well-written and engaging novel.” ~ reviewed by Neon Guru for Neon Book Reviews [5-STARS]
“Wow! I couldn’t put this book down. I started reading at ten in the morning and finished at around midnight that evening. It has been a long time since a book compelled me to take a day off and read straight through. Although I am not typically a sci-fi or fantasy fan, I found this well-crafted story gripping. The author threw in some unexpected twists, too. I guess the aspect I liked best was how the details brought me into the story. I could picture everything so clearly. If you like well-developed and intriguing characters, an unusual storyline, and murder mysteries, be sure to check out REMNANTS OF FIRE.” ~ reviewed by Amy Bovaird [5-STARS]
“Alana Loren’s REMNANTS OF FIRE defies the typical stereotype of horror, mystery and fantasy to provide a story that has twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat, reading and wanting more. A suspense novel with a plot equal to anything Dame Agatha Christie could imagine. A must read for the young and young at heart.” ~ reviewed by Janet Pierce [5-STARS]
“Seeking a better life, Sara takes a job as a smal-ltown newspaper reporter. When several beautiful women her age are murdered by strange means, her investigation leads to a mysterious local healing center called the Goldstone. As she tries to figure out what’s going on, she has to deal with a crusty chain-smoking newspaper editor, a handsome doctor who says he needs her help, a good-looking police officer who seems to be stalking her, and the peculiar behavior of various townspeople. Something odd and possibly paranormal is afoot at the Goldstone Clinic. REMNANTS OF FIRE is a thrilling and steamy paranormal whodunnit with an ending not to be missed.” ~ reviewed by Allen Dale [FIVE STARS]
“I was hooked from beginning to end. REMNANTS OF FIRE is a well-written riveting story that is fantastical but at the same time realistic. The author did a fantastic job of bringing the story to live. I felt like I was actually experiencing what the characters experienced. The main characters were likable and relatable, but not without flaws, which is difficult to pull off. And the other characters in the story were great. I felt like I knew them all in real life. Highly recommend!” ~ reviewed by T. P. Warren [5-STARS]
Please be aware that a form of this book was previously issued as LOVE ME, KISS ME, KILL ME, but it has since been rewritten and additional material added. REMNANTS OF FIRE is a supernatural mystery thriller, and also a 2009 NaNoWriMo novel.
Alana Lorens, author 