"CARROTS," by Colleen Helme, $10.95, 207 pages (f)
Because she stopped for carrots on her way home, Shelby Nichols’ world changed.
She was caught in the crossfire as a bad guy tried to rob the bank inside the grocery store, and she was injured. She woke up with the ability to read minds, something she soon discovered comes with rewards and problems.
Her husband isn't very happy with her new "insight."
In her novel "Carrots," Colleen Helme writes that Shelby's mind becomes crowded with many unbidden thoughts; she quickly has to learn to put up mental shields to survive. She also has to use her abilities to help a mobster who will have her killed as soon as she is no longer of use to him.
The story becomes one of tension and narrow escapes as Shelby tries to walk the fine line between doing what she must and keeping her former life as a soccer mom intact.
Helme does a credible job keeping the action going while making her main character likable and real. She also bangs up Shelby on numerous occasions: it's hard at times to believe she is going to live through the story.
Helme pulls off the herculean task of thinking for Shelby and incorporating the thoughts of the characters around her without the story becoming muddled and confusing.
The dialogue is well written and the story flows along nicely with a good number of twists and surprises.
It makes for a different sort of tale, almost a cross between the TV show "Medium" and LDS author Josi Kilpack's culinary series.
Shelby is no shrinking violet, but she isn't foolhardy either. She probably should enlist help a little sooner, but her husband is working a little too closely with one of the characters involved in shady business, so she's a little distracted by the possibilities.
Without giving too much away, let's just say the beautiful lady lawyer in the picture isn't very nice.
There are a couple of minor typos and setting errors that detract slightly in this self-published novel that should be taken to a recognized publishing house so it gets the respect it deserves.
Otherwise, it's a good story, a readable novel and the start of something fine.
Sharon Haddock is a professional writer with 30 years experience, 17 at the Deseret News. Her personal blog is at sharonhaddock.blogspot.com. Email: haddoc@desnews.com