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Story Behind The Book
My husband and I were at an old boutique hotel in Palm Springs for a wedding. It had recently been renovated and the air-conditioning was silent and wonderful in the 106 degree heat. I turned to my husband and said, "Wouldn't it be interesting if someone piped a 'feel good' drug into the air-conditioning and everyone left feeling wonderful? He said, "There's your book." That night at dinner a priest with a huge gold cross sat next to us. At the wedding dinner I sat next to a couple from Brazil who owned gold mines. And so it went.
Reviews
<div class="clearfix fullwidth"> <div> <div class="entry post clearfix"> <blockquote> <div> <div> <div style="float:left;">By</div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AUEATM6VYQAIH/ref=cm_cr_pr_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><font color="#0066cc">Diogenes</font></span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AUEATM6VYQAIH/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview"><font color="#0066cc">See all my reviews</font></a></div> <div style="clear:both;"> </div> <div class="tiny" style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><b><span class="h3color tiny">This review is from: </span>Blue Coyote Motel (Kindle Edition)</b></div> Instructions for mixing a `Blue Coyote Cocktail':<br /> Take one obsessive scientist who has just thrown away his career over a woman. Add a girl from the barrio who is obsessed with not growing old. Stir in a washed-up salesman, a defrocked paedophile priest, an angry doctor from an Indian reservation, an over-stressed gold mining executive and a depressed widow. Season with love affairs and sprinkle on some exotic locations. Serve chilled.<br /><br /> This is a difficult book to pigeonhole into a traditional genre (and I say this as a plus point). Although the machinations of Jeffrey the scientist provide an unifying theme, the characters' various love interests are what are really at the heart of the novel.<br /><br /> Structurally, the book parallels a number of disparate relationships and situations. The first half contains some time-jumps which serve to keep us concentrating. As the various individuals converge on the Blue Coyote Motel, then scatter before re-converging, the storyline opens and closes like a lotus flower - indeed there are some Buddhist motifs peppered throughout the pages.<br /><br /> This novel is well-suited to the patient and reflective reader; one who enjoys description and wishes to engage fully in the lives of multiple characters with personal demons.<br /><br /> If the book has a `hero' it is Sean, the troubled ex-priest and former child abuser. This is an uncommon angle, and one for which I take off my hat to Dianne Harman.<br /><br /> `Blue Coyote Motel' is an unusual book, written by someone with a feeling for far-off places and for the existential fears that haunt us. This is Ms Harman's first novel. I look forward to reading more of her work.</div> <div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A365A1ZG7I4E2E/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp">Ulla Herman</a></div> <div>This book is magic! My husband got hold of the book as soon a I brought it home and I still have not been able to rip it out of his hands. He has been obsessed with it. He has not been this interested in reading since he got hooked on Stieg Larsson’s first book, (the Girl with the Dragon Tatoo), followed by the second and third book in that series. Then as now, he read morning, day and night. It is truly amazing to see him THAT deeply engrossed in Blue Coyote Motel. Dianne Harman has written a absolut keeper here and I hope I will soon get my turn to read it.<br /> We all now hope that Dianne, after showing her very strong penmanship and imagination, continues to pump out books for all of us to enjoy!<br /> Thank you Dianne!</div> </div> <div>By <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A45UD1B7UL9H3/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp">Abrach</a></div> <div>Format:Kindle Edition</div> <p>I found the premise of Blue Coyote Motel both original and intriguing. Imagine a drug that would instantly alleviate depression, anger, grief. A mental panacea that would utterly transform the human condition.<br /> It all seems a little too good to be true; and of course it is. Nothing comes without a cost.<br /> Dianne Harman has taken an intriguing idea, and woven it into a fascinating and absorbing story. She has created a collection of strong and believable characters, drawn from a wide spectrum of contemporary American society.<br /> Doug, the embittered, divorced, ex-college football star, is as well drawn and as believable a character as Maria, the beautiful Latin American who dreads returning to the terrible poverty of her childhood, or Sam, the Native American doctor, who is torn between the old ways of his people, and those of 21st century America.<br /> Dianne Harman’s writing is sharp, economical, and thoroughly engrossing. She never allows her reader to catch their breath, or her story to flag even for a moment.<br /> I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is safely in the fingertip library of my Kindle, and I expect will be enjoyed again in the not too distant future.I am really being “pulled in” to your creative plot and mysterious, unique, and complex characters. The various settings are great too and remind me of your many personal experiences.</p> <div>By <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2P0BSU5KA6QPQ/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp">JR</a></div> <div>Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase</div> <div>Dianne Harman manages to tap the underbelly of the human existence and let us see into ourselves while still maintaining there is hope for all. I love the rich descriptions and honest characters with all their shortcomings. Great job, looking for more from this author</div> <p>I was going to a meeting early tomorrow morning, but have decided that I “just can’t put it down” so am going to continue to read instead! What fun it is to be first to have read what you have done! Awesome! Congratulations!</p> <p>~Susan</p> <p>A good read!</p> <p>-Rhys</p> <p>As you know, I have been known to speak my mind whatever the consequences. You asked for feedback and I will accommodate you. I finished your tome in record time considering my present workload and quite frankly I didn’t have any clue as to how you would wrap it it. What a finish! The last part took me to midnite but I just could not stop. I read a lot of mysteries and totally enjoyed your book. The characters were great and so super how you made Huntington Beach a part of it. All the things we know and love. Your use of the desert and the Indians brings back memories of your many adventures. Really neat.<br /> Congratulations on this effort, it is superb! Looking forward to your next writing.</p> <div>Tom Ganz</div> </blockquote> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="clearfix"> <div class="clearfix"> </div> </div> </div>