You could read this book in one sitting. But after the first page, you probably won't be able to, since you'll be making sure the doors are locked and the curtains are drawn. FOGS IN AUGUST is at once a suspense-thriller in the "stalker" genre and a romance with fully realized and likeable characters, including the one who turns out to be stalking the main character, Sarah. Ms. Helms delivers up several delectable dishes, including beautiful and handsome characters, laugh-out-loud or heart-thumping descriptive phrases, and a twisting and turning plot. Her descriptions and similes are so fresh, it's like having a salad in the garden on a warm spring morning. But it's the story itself that gives the reader a lot to chew on, from the odd and touching goings on at the senior center where the main character, Sarah, is the director, to the remodeling she's doing at her family farm, to the delightful characters that populate this book. Gordon, Sarah's best friend, is a gay man who provides a sounding board for Sarah and a shoulder to sometimes cry on. Linda is the beautiful and enigmatic roommate, who propels Sarah into eye-opening introspection. A retired school teacher at the center, who was one of Sarah's teachers, provides unexpected and challenging guidance when Sarah is at her wits end. The very best thing is you don't know who the true villains are because, in this small Southern town, everything is dripping with that Southern charm and overt friendliness, so you don't know who to fear until it's too late!----Ronald L. Donaghe...

I didn't know what to expect from this book because it doesn't fit neatly into any genre. It's a romance, it's a thriller, it's the story of a woman's struggle for self-aceptance.

Helms is a master at putting ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. The plot is intense but plausible, and the climax kept me on the edge of my seat for several pages. You may read this book in one sitting, but you'll not soon forget it.

I loved this book: the way it's written, the story (not really a fairy tale and not the usual happy end),the characters and... the suspense! I couldn't put it down. Since I really had a good time reading this book, I hope this author will come soon with more...