About the Book:

The year is 1927 and professional boxer Emmett Roane is losing his grip on reality. His career is faltering, memories of a lost love haunt him and the horrors of the Great War muddle his mind. Emmett’s past is hobbling his future, and no amount of booze or knockout blows can ease his painful memories. Seeking solace in the place where he and his Anna had once been so happy, Emmett leaves Brooklyn for a few days alone in Newport at the gilded waterfront Hermann Hotel. During a fateful weekend as he tries to make peace with his ghosts, Emmett crosses paths with Maude Mable, a lively beauty with secrets of her own. But they soon learn the luxury hotel also hosts Luther Irvin, an opium-addicted mobster who is as violent as he is desperate. When Emmett and Maude discover Luther’s hideous plan to wage war on a rival gang, the pair is thrust into a deadly match of wits and force. His back against the ropes, Emmett finds his quest for self-restoration has become a mission of survival-for him, Maude and everyone at the Hermann. Can Emmett Roane, a fighter who desperately seeks an elusive peace, halt the embodiment of evil while finding a way to heal his own heart and mind?

My Thoughts:

E.S. Ready has given us a good novel set in the year 1927, when mobsters tended to make the rules. The protagonist Emmett Roane, a professional boxer is seen fighting not just people but also his own demons. Haunted by the death of his love, Anna, he is seen talking to her a lot. These situations feature direct conversations which make us believe that Emmett is actually talking to Anna and in a way I assume he is. As he struggles to move past her death, while trying to divert his mind with alcohol, he goes to Newport for a few days to take a break. As fate has it, we are introduced to Maude, a sassy, forward lady who singles Emmett out and spends time with him.

In a slightly cliche manner, a romance develops between the two. However, the author does throw in some twists when we find out that a mobster, out for revenge is also staying at the same hotel. Pulled into the same plot, Emmett and Maude are forced to face their fears and help save innocent lives. Emmett, having fought in the Great War, and partly haunted by the horrors of then, but well trained is seen wielding the various guns that the mobster and his goons have.

The story is fast paced and set over a weekend. The plot flows well in-spite of some of the cliches and it makes for a good read. There is a good amount of action thrown in and each persons desires and fears are brought out. The plot features characters filled with hatred, lusting for revenge and death while others that want to move forward from their pasts and have a better life. As one can conclude, our protagonist cannot go somewhere and expect a quiet time! Trouble does seem to follow him around even if he isn’t trying to seek it out.

The characters of the story are well developed and the story comes to life withe the author’s vivid descriptions of the scenes, especially the ones that involve fighting. Everything is described as though under scrutiny of a microscope and each part is broken down to the very last bit. A good read, the author seems to have depicted the time in which the story is set pretty well. He paints a strong and vivid picture.

Until Someday, the title of the book resonates in the pages towards the end when Emmett makes peace with Anna’s death and promises her, in his mind that they will meet again, someday! A worthy read!