Gregg Norman is a retired lawyer living with his wife, Jenine, in a lakeside cottage near Dauphin, Manitoba in western Canada. He is the author of four previous novels. Lovely Way To Burn was inspired by an incident while on vacation many years ago. It was a cathartic experience in terms of the author's attitude towards others in relationships unlike his own.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Lovely Way To Burn is a work of fiction in the interpersonal drama, relationships, and suspense subgenres. Penned by author Gregg Norman, it is best suited to the adult reading audience due to its themes around personal romantic relationships and adult lifestyles. In this intriguing and suspenseful novella, we explore the new early retirement prospects of a teacher, Frank Hudson, as he takes a vacation to Cuba in the winter with his wife, Sylvia. But when Frank encounters Marshall and Billie in the suite next door, new possibilities about alternative ways to be a couple spark ideas that Frank can’t shake. As he questions his life with Sylvia, his perspective on people, life, and relationships begins to shift out of his control.
Author Gregg Norman always delivers thrilling characters with intriguing psychological storylines, and this new novella is no exception as we see mild-mannered, ordinary teacher Frank enter a world he’d never even knocked on the door of before, with some fascinating and surprising results. I really enjoy tales that are deep in their commitment to character study, and the length of this concise but detailed novella gives a perfect pace to the tale as we explore Frank and Sylvia’s past as well as the new experiences in their immediate future. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere of the Cuban setting, which paints a hazy, hedonistic backdrop of tropical indulgence that perfectly suited the mood of the plot. Overall, I would certainly recommend Lovely Way To Burn for fans of compelling character drama and gripping shorter reads alike.
