Petals on the Pillow

What a wonderful book! I was so caught up in the story that I just had to keep reading and reading and reading all the way to the end. I look forward to more books from Eileen in the future.

Petals on the Pillow is a cut above your average romance novel. The characters are real people who are true to their nature and have both virtues and flaws, rather than the usual one dimensional heros and villains. The prose is replete with literary references adding another level of understanding not normally found in the genre. The plot is a tightly woven mystery that maintains the suspense from the first chapter to the dramatic climax. I couldn't wait to turn to the next page. Get busy, Ms. Rendahl, because I'm eager to read your next effort.

I found Petals on the Pillow to be a compelling story with an interesting variety of characters in a haunting setting. Kelly Donovan is a feisty, intriguing personality who lights up every chapter with her curiousity and charm. She moves through this book in a whirlwind, touching down like a tornedo again and again. This clever story contains just enough of the supernatural to be believable and fun. I enjoyed the way the story unfolded through the painting of a mural. The book delights its reader with a combination of suspense and romance. An added note: I had just read Girl With The Pearl Earring and found these two stories had stricking similarities. Set in two different eras, it demonstrates how little human nature has changed in the midst of similar circunstances.

It drew me in and kept me excited throughout the story. Mysterious, scintilating, and just plain fun to read. For a first book this is a great beginning. I hope this is the start of a long relationship with characters like Elizabeth, Harrison, and Kelly.I recommend this highly and heartedly hope that Ms. Rendahl keeps putting her ideas to paper.

Excellent first novel - hopefully this will not be her only book!