Pure Reading Pleasure…

It starts with a bang and never lets up.

The Almach will leave you breathless, heart pounding, imagination soaring…in fact, you just may lose an entire afternoon because you won’t be able to put it down. The Almach grabs you by the throat and will push you to the very edges of your mind, to the recesses where reality and dreams collide.

Set in the steamy Middle East, this timely novel explores cultural clashes, tradition, and true love.

Imagine this:

You’re visiting a Middle East Country.  The hot sand’s grazing your cheeks as you plot your path to a small kitten tangled in some vines underneath an olive tree. Everyone says, “Ignore the cat… it’s not safe to step beyond the fence.” You know in your heart that you should just leave the cat to suffer in the heat, after all… you’re visiting the “powder keg of the world” but if you don’t go help, it’ll die within a few hours.

You listen to its mournful cries as you step towards it, sun pounding your head, causing rivulets of sweat to roll down your temple. You ignore it, keeping your eyes focused on that cat.

Three steps… two steps… now the kitten’s only one step away.

Just as you bend over to pull the vines away, a hand burst up from under the sand, grabs your wrist, and pulls you to the ground with a thud. Before you can react, another hand rises from the dune and clasps over your mouth.

Before You Know It, You’re Bound, Gagged, And Draped Over A Horse… Speeding Towards God-Knows-Where

What would you do?

In the novel The Almach, Penny Andrews faces that same dilemma.  She never dreamed that when she traveled to Horab that she’d be embarking on a trip of a lifetime.  Abducted by a group of rebels, she uses every feminine wile she possess to stay alive for just another day.

Her life really gets complicated when she meets Jonathan Zadok.  In the golden light of the desert, they discover a chemistry between them they didn’t expect.  Could this “chemistry” be love? They may never find out because somebody is trying to kill them.  To make matters worse, circumstances beyond their control force them to take part in a regional ceremony -- The Almach.

The Almach is a love story that crosses two continents and two cultures, beginning in the hot sands of Horab and ending in the icy snowdrifts of Minnesota.  It’s a fast read that will keep you guessing -- all the way to the last chapter.

It’s not often that you find a novel that will haunt your dreams for nights on end, but the Almach’s already had that effect on readers all over the nation. Some say it should come with a warning label saying, “Beware… once you start, you may as well kiss the rest of your afternoon goodbye.”

Truth be told… The Almach will grab your imagination and won’t let go well after you’re done reading. Guaranteed.

“I really had reservations about writing The Almach,” says author, Beth Ann Erickson. “But the story nagged in my mind for so long, I didn’t have much choice… I had to write it.”

Erickson Says That Growing Up In A Primarily Scandinavian Community Definitely Had A Hand In Shaping The Storyline

“At the risk of sounding politically correct (I hate that term), I’d never met anyone from another culture until well into High School,” says Erickson. “I know it sounds odd, but cultural diversity wasn’t something that existed back then in Central Minnesota.”

But during the mid ‘80s, an influx of people from another country began to enter the community. “The city didn’t handle it well… not for a long time. Prejudice reigned supreme… on both sides of the fence… and life became exceedingly interesting. I think watching the community’s reaction to change probably triggered the interracial story line in The Almach more than anything else,” says Erickson.

“I think that if a small town isn’t careful, it can easily become an inbred, sad, place to live. I’ve always thought the demographic changes in Kandiyohi County were the best thing that could have happened. I love watching (aren’t most writers observers, huh?) how we relate to one another. It’s almost like a dance as each person tentatively tries to relate to the other. It’s also amazing to realize our similarities far outweigh our differences. I tried to capture that essence when I contrasted how Penny (the Almach’s heroine) reacts to Horab… then how the delegation from the Middle East reacts to a cold Minnesota winter. It’s hilarious.”

And The Almach’s pace is breathtaking.

Erickson comments, “I’m easily bored. Pile on that the fact I’m a working copywriter and you’ve got one heck of a fast book. I like to make every word carry its weight… if it slows down the action, I delete it. After reading too many books that move at the speed of a glacier, I like to keep the pace clicking, tension tight, and pages turning. It’s true, the number one complaint I’ve heard about The Almach is that most people can’t put it down. I love that.”

Reviewers agree. The Almach’s receiving fab reviews. Here are a few: 

Darlene Kendall at Simegen.com:

THE ALMACH is a hauntingly beautiful love story….

FIVE Star Review at Amazon.com:

GREAT Read, VIVID imagery
Reviewer: Penny from Nebraska
This book is wonderful, filled with imagery so vivid one starts to wonder "Where is Loran & are there any men like Jonathan still living there?" I recommend it very highly!!

FIVE Star Review at Amazon.com:

The Almach
Reviewer: Rosanna Mouser from Lubbock,TX USA
I was intrigued by the ceremony from the first mention of it. While the developing romance will have your heart pounding, the timely setting will send chills up and down your spine.

 

“Beth Ann Erickson has done an outstanding job…  

Against odds that this couple would ever meet, the love they share is beautiful.  THE ALMACH is an entertaining read with an interesting premise and well-drawn secondary characters.”  Betty Cox  Member Reviewers International Organization (RIO)

“The Almach provides ample reading pleasure and more than enough adventure for any lazy afternoon.” Denise Clark for the Road to Romance

For the price of a small take-out dinner, you can read an incredible story that will tickle your memory for a very long time.

Or you can order a paperback copy of The Almach for only $9.95 directly from Filbert Publishing by clicking this secure link: 

*EXTRA!* Order today and Beth'll throw in her second novel, Heart Songs. Now you can enjoy two books for the price of one.

Expanded Reviews:

“The tale grabs my interest from the beginning, and keeps me reading.  This is an entertaining story, just real enough to make me think, “Well, I guess it could happen,” and just improbable enough to set my own imagination to spinning daydreams.  If you like romance novels, you’re in for a treat.  If you like a heroine that isn’t quite predictable, this is the book for you.”  --Andrea Chester, AbsoluteWrite.com

“This is a wonderfully written story about two people from diverse cultures who learn that love can be the common ground for a lot of things when given a chance to grow. The author describes the Almach ceremony in such detail I felt as though I was there.”  --Jaycee at Romance Reviews Today

Beth Ann Erickson has done an outstanding job with her narrative and protagonists. Against odds that this couple would ever meet, the love they share is beautiful. THE ALMACH is an entertaining read with an interesting premise and well-drawn secondary characters. --Betty Cox, Member Reviewers International Organization (RIO)

“I've finished the book it was great!!! I liked how your story line brought the reader into the book. Its almost like I could feel the sand. I'm looking forward to reading your next book!!! --Junebug – A Reader.

"The Almach provides ample reading pleasure and more than enough adventure for any lazy afternoon." --Denise Clark for the Road to Romance