Friday, October 30, 2020

A SPELL WEAVER - A PARANORMAL MYSTERY - SUSPENSEFILLED - A PLACE WHERE THE PAST AND PRESENT MERGE - SHADOW'S WAY BY BARBARA FRANCES


 

Barbara Frances’ spellbinding, long awaited, third novel takes you to the coastal, deep South, where the past and present collide in a gothic tale of insanity, murder, and sexual intrigue.

You’ll meet the beautiful Elaine Chauvier, former actress and proprietor of Shadow’s Way, her family’s antebellum home where she nightly honors her long-departed confederate grandfather.

You’ll also meet many other characters whom Elaine controls and often abuses including the esteemed Archbishop Andre Figurant, who longs for her and his fallen identical twin, Bastien, who fears Elaine’s powers. Newly arrived and beautiful Ophelia, her half-sister, and Elaine’s nephew Rudy who have come to explore their Chauvier roots and ties to Shadow’s Way. They bring bad news regarding Elaine’s ownership of Shadow’s Way which she dreads to hear.

Under a veneer of piety and Southern graciousness you are faced with the questions: What is good? What is evil? What is reality? The answers draw you into a thickening and dangerous plot.


A spell weaver, Shadow's Way, kept me in suspense, which, as a lover of good mysteries is not an easy for an author to do. I often guess an ending before I hit the middle. As in her last book, Like I Used to Dance, Ms. Frances' characters are delicious portrayals, richly textured, gradually revealing their good and evil humanity, as her hauntingly realistic settings and surprising story unfolds.  To say more might give away the best of her new book. I have thoroughly enjoyed both of her novels and highly recommend them. 

 

Sherry Haskin


Ms. Francis’ novel Shadow’s Way, had me enthralled from page one, it kept me reading until so late into the night that I used a flashlight in order not to wake my husband.

I’ve always enjoyed reading gothic tales, but this one went beyond most that I had read. The synopsis was correct, past and present mingled and left me on the edge of my seat. Was G – G – Daddy a real paranormal experience or a figment of Elaine Chauvier’s imagination, which got worse as she sunk deeper into insanity?

I loved the various characters that Ms. Francis brought into play as needed to heighten the story. They were well rounded and interconnected in ways that one has to keep reading to get the full picture.






LIKE I USED TO DANCE BY BARBARA FRANCES IS DELIGHTFUL IN ITS HUMANITY, COMPASSION, AND IT WILL EVEN SQUEEZE A FEW TEARS OUT OF YOU. YOU WILL BE HOOKED FROM PAGE ONE.


 

“Our kids, my, my, Gracie” laughed Bud. “Where did we go wrong? One marries God, another a Jew and the last one, the devil!”

Texas, 1951. The Wolanskys—Grace, Bud and their three grown children—are a close-knit clan, deeply rooted in their rural community and traditional faith. On their orderly farm, life seems good and tomorrow always holds promise.

But under the surface, it’s a different story. Grace is beset by dark memories and unnamed fears, calmed only by practicing a secret obsession. Their son Andy has said no to becoming a farmer like his dad and, worse, has fallen in love with a big-city Jewish girl. Youngest child Regina is trapped in a loveless marriage to an abusive, alcoholic husband. Even “perfect” daughter Angela’s decision to become a nun unleashes consequences no one could foresee.

And then Ceil Dollard breezes into town.

Ceil—wealthy, sophisticated, irrepressible—is like a visitor from Mars. She’s a modern woman. She drives a car and wears pants. She blows away tradition and certainty, forcing Grace to face her fears and brave a changing world. Through Ceil, Grace learns about courage and pleasure—but at the risk of losing Bud.

Barbara Frances’ sparkling, richly human novel takes you back to a time when Ike was president and life was slower, but people were the same as now. You’ll encounter a cast of characters storm-tossed by change, held together by love. Written with compassion, humor and suspense, Like I Used to Dance will charm you, warm you and even squeeze a few tears, from its opening number to the last waltz. 


LOVE IT! - Family Saga Full of Drama and Heart
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2016
Verified Purchase
Don’t start this book before bedtime or you’ll be late to work! I love family sagas and this one swept me along. It’s about Grace, a warm, creative woman strong for her family but out of touch with her own needs. The place is rural Texas and the time is the fifties, when women were still trapped as homemakers. The family is Catholic and Grace’s daughters have their own struggles. Angela is unsure if she should become a nun and Regina has to decide if she’ll divorce her abusive husband. Grace herself is a talented artist who has never realized her potential. She develops a close bond with Ceil, a sophisticated transplant from LA who blows into the life of Grace and her family like a powerful wind. In the end, everything turn s out but nothing is the same. A great read!

A NEW HERO IS BORN IN LOTTIE'S ADVENTURE: FACING THE MONSTER BY BARBARA FRANCES




Lottie's Adventure: Facing The Monster, is an action-packed children's book written especially for ages 8 through 14. Children will enjoy this exciting read while also improving their reading skills. Twenty-nine chapters filled with twists and turns keep kids reading to discover the outcome.

Lottie, a lively ten-year old Hispanic girl, longs for something new and different in her life. Her summers up to this point have all been, more or less, the same. Then the arrival of a magical letter and a TV newscast transforms her vacation time in a high adventure.

Her great adventure includes trying to relate to a cold, estranged, and rich grandmother, freeing a kidnapped ten-year-old African American boy from a locked room, hiding him in a safe place, and then fleeing with him from a kidnapper who is always just a step or two behind.

Lottie's Adventure is a vibrant chapter book mystery for preteens that emphasizes the importance of intergenerational communication and love as well as the immense value of thinking beyond cultural stereotypes. To develop a new moral code or vision, both these elements are crucial. Perhaps the most striking quality of "Lottie's Adventure: Facing The Monster" is its powerful positive energy. Featuring a spunky 10-year-old Hispanic heroine, "Lottie's Adventure" keeps interest high and pages turning with exciting plot twists and turns and believable cliffhangers that just keep evolving. The author allows her characters to develop very naturally, with total authenticity. There are many excellent ideas embedded in the story, not the least of which is that people, even wise adults, can learn to admit they are wrong. "Lottie's Adventure" goes a long way towards building a viable alternative to prejudice, and for that and many other reasons, it is highly recommended juvenile reading for kids age 10 and up.
(Review from The Midwest Book Review)


PUBLISHER

HARDCOVER

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ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BOOKS YOU CAN READ TO STRENGTHEN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS - RELATIONSHIP BY BILL BENITEZ


 

When I decided to write this book on relationship, my wife Barbara was surprised and cautioned me by saying that she would not dare write such a book because it was such a varied topic with so many nuances. That scared me because she is certainly more qualified to write about relationship than I am. I hesitated for a while.

Most of my writing had been on housing, business, woodworking, even publishing, but nothing on relationship. It's an expansive topic and I wasn't sure if my information would be of real value. I considered that all my books are based on firsthand experience and realized that even though I'm not an expert, I have a lifetime of experience in relationship. Based on that I felt able to contribute something helpful to some readers and I feel good about this book.



It is like eating rich chocolate and having the need to savor and roll it over the tongue; in this case, the mind, for the true essence of what is being communicated. I can't imagine one being in a relationship and not contemplating the effectiveness of one's actions, or non-action, in reading it.

I also listened to some of it in a female voice. It "reads" well in audio, if you haven't tried that.

Thank you, so much, for sharing this with me. I am truly becoming a better partner, for what you have gained and are willing to share.


PUBLISHER

TAKE ONE VINDICTIVE WOMAN- PART BIMBO- 2 PARTS GANGSTA AND YOU GET A HIT WITH BOOK 2 OF THE LAURA & GERRY MYSTERY SERIES - OVER HER DEAD BODY - BY KAREN VAUGHAN


 
Take one beautiful vindictive woman....she's 1 part bimbo and 2 parts lethal gangsta- gun moll.
Watch her try and hold onto her 84 year old husband by having his octogenarian paramour knocked off. Sometimes greed and jealousy lead to the last resort ……MURDER!
Laura, Gerry and Gibbons try to stop her from also killing her husband, without getting them selves knocked off in the process!

Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2018

I love the way Vaughan has her characters interact with each other. They are well developed and believable. Her scenes are described in such a way you can easily picture them.
Moreover, let’s not forget the humor she added! Murder and humor are her trademark, and the humor is woven into the story at the appropriate time and adds the perfect comedy relief.
I highly recommend “Over Her Dead Body” to anyone who loves a good murder mystery and some good laughs!

Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2019

FROM THE PAGES OF GRANDFATHER'S LIFE - BY AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR VIV DREWA IS GIFTING THE STORY OF HER GRANDFATHER'S ESCAPE FROM RUSSIAN OCCUPIED POLAND IN 1913 FOR ONE WEEK ONLY.


 
Story of a young man's escape from Russian ruled Poland in 1913.




Grandfather fought for his freedom not unlike the slaves who fought for their in the south around the time of the civil war. Grandfather escaped from a communist regime in Russia and Poland to make a better life for himself and his family. The things this man had to endure during his escape from what sounds like a living hell makes me realize the pursuit of happiness of the human race. A place to live in peace, freedom, liberty and justice. The author of this book is his granddaughter a lovely person who carries on her grandfathers legacy in a beautiful and endearing way. Read this short excerpt of Grandfather's life. It is humbling to say the least. A feel good read.

Breathtaking Reality

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2018

In nineteen-thirteen, when Lucjen finds out that he will be drafted into the Russian military, and forced to fight his friends and neighbors for the Russian Czar. He and his friend Franciszek, join twenty other people in an harrowing escape to the Americas.

Ms. Drewa's short story of her grandfather's escape holds all the fear, terror, and hardship one would expect if they themselves were living through it.

I hope that Ms. Drewa turns this suspense filled story into a novella. This brief glimpse into the times leaves one begging for more.

Kudos to Viv Drewa for taking on the telling of her grandfather's journey. A must read for both history buffs and those who love adventure, and suspense.

KINDLE

HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS IN THIS THRILLER - THE COST of CRUDE - A GWYNN REZNICK MYSTERY - BY USA TODAY, INTERNATIONAL & AMAZON BESTSELLING AUTHOR INGE-LISE GOSS


 

A Down And Dirty Look At Big Oil

Gwynn Reznick's life is shattered when her best friend and co-worker at Wilton Oil & Gas Company dies in a car crash. She doubts it was an accident. Her suspicion is confirmed when a private investigator, Ruben Dordi, shows up at her door. His team has discovered a trail of unusual deaths and disappearances among Wilton employees.

˃˃˃ Going To Work Becomes Very Dangerous

To make matters worse, Gwynn is under constant surveillance by those responsible for her friend's death. But that doesn't deter her from getting involved in the investigation. Danger lurks in every corner of the Wilton Tower. One false move could turn a risky situation into a death trap.

˃˃˃ A Hard To Put Down Thriller

As the investigation team digs deeper, they begin to unravel a sinister plot that threatens a catastrophic pipeline disaster. The story follows Gwynn as she delves deeper into the macabre machinations of people who are willing to kill for dollars, and in the process she learns things about herself that she’d never known.

Will they solve the crime before it is too late?

"Inge-Lise Goss' romantic thriller, The Cost of Crude, is exciting and fast-paced. The author's experience auditing oil and gas companies makes the story feel authentic and real. Gwynn and Ruben are great main characters, both headstrong, independent and determined to keep things professional, and it's fun watching them interact. The plot is well-developed and the reader is swiftly thrown into action from the very first page. I enjoyed seeing how Ruben and his security team worked together and functioned as a team, complete with undercover agents and even a doctor who has miracle healing salves that work overnight. The Cost of Crude is also filled with political intrigue and the main story line is especially relevant with current concerns over the environment and the effects the oil and gas industries are having on it. The Cost of Crude is recommended reading." --Jack Magnus, Readers FavoriteReviewer


Wednesday, October 28, 2020

A WONDERFULLY PENNED STORY OF HOW DIFFERENT LIFE WAS ON A FARM IN TEXAS BETWEEN 1927 AND 1945. LULU AND BETTY GROWING UP IN CHANGING TIMES BY PATRICIA SAWYERS FISKE


 

Our story about Betty and Lulu, who grew up in peaceful times, begins in 1933, during the depression, and ends in the early forties as prosperity returned, as our country began mobilizing for World War II.

I started this book because I thought it would be beneficial for young people, like my talented granddaughter, Maria, to contrast growing up during the past seventy-five years, with my formative years, a time of peace, from 1927-1941.

Our childhoods were so very different. I've watched my granddaughter entertain herself with technology from an early age. While she missed knowing about doodlebugs, she can always look them up on her I-Phone or laptop. From a very early age, she was aware of world events; whereas, I didn't realize that my back yard in Kerrville, Texas, was not the center of the Universe until I started to school.

All profits go to the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home in Deltona, FL.


I loved Patricia Sawyers novel Lulu and Betty Growing up in Changing Times. It took me on a journey back through time, to the days my mother spoke of, when life was simpler, and children’s games were taken from nature, and the imagination could do wonders with just a little.

Reading of the meeting between Betty and Lulu and following them from childhood to young women when the world changed for everyone, and WWII happened.

It is a wonderfully written story, and one I believe is more of a memoir than fiction.

Kudos to Ms., Sawyers Fiske, I would have loved to have known her and sat with her for hours just listening.


PUBLISHER

HARDCOVER

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JO ANN JONES HAS WRITTEN A BEAUTIFUL BOOK OF POETRY THAT TAKES US ON A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE'S CHALLENGES - ECHOES FROM MY HEART


Echoes From My Heart is a compilation of poems Jo Ann Jones wrote over many years. A beautiful collection inspired throughout her life’s challenges and joys with continuous inspiration and encouragement from family and friends.  

The poems are divided into nine topics, so you can choose to read the poems in any order. Each topic page has a scripture to share God’s word for the upcoming poems. Read these poems at your leisure or when you need a reminder of God’s blessings and grace.

In addition to acquiring beautiful poetry, you will be contributing to a good cause as all the profits from the sale of Echoes From my Heart will go to the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home in Deltona, FL.


A PROFOUNDLY SPIRITUAL JOURNEY THROUGH POETRY

Echoes From My Heart by Jo Ann Jones is a beautifully written poetry book that takes us on a journey through life’s challenges.

It is also a look into the spiritual journey toward Christ’s teachings and helps us to forget our failings and learn to do better.
I loved this book and shall keep it near me, as I journey through life.
Thank you, Ms. Jones for your beautiful words.




I HONESTLY FELT THAT I WAS A CONSTANT & CLOSE ONLOOKER IN THIS STORY! I COULD FEEL THE SAND SWIRLING AROUND ME, IT'S GRIT IN MY MOUTH. THE LAST MAGI BY E.A. SHARPE


 

A Christmas Classic Your Children

Will Read to Their Own







Destined to be a Christmas classic, The Last Magi is the story of Artaban, the fourth Wise Man, who leaves his betrothed, the beautiful Rasha, to follow his fellow Magi to Bethlehem. Arriving too late, he sets out to find the child born under the star. Years pass as Artaban chases wisps and rumors across two continents. Weary and impoverished, the last Magi refuses to quit his quest, even as time is running out.


Lifted me up!
I honestly felt that I was a constant & very close onlooker in this story! I could feel the sand swirling around me, it's grit in my mouth. Each story told by
another traveler kept me alert, anxious, and excited! With each experience the Magi had.... the author made me feel that I was one with the characters. I
was a character! Whether it be a suffering animal eager to please my master. Or a man drinking and playing games with other men. And believe me these are not activities that I would be an eager participant! Ugh and the raw odor of men was thick and real! This story was REAL and I will miss watching and playing my part !!!
Bytallon


E.A. Sharpe wrote an absolutely wonderful story that will give you a lift and show what commitment to a goal will bring to you.

It is the story of a Magi who missed his fellow Magi on their quest to find the child whom the star and prophecy spoke of. Yet he sets out on his own, and through hardship, and delays he gives all he has to help those in need along the way.

Years later he feels he is too late, but is he?

I loved this short book of Artaban’s quest to find Christ and believe it is a story that is a great read at any time of the year, especially at Easter.

PUBLISHER

BRIDGITTE LESLEY HAS A HIT ON HER HANDS WITH HER ROMANTIC NOVEL 'A NEW YEARS TREAT' IT WILL SWEEP YOU AWAY.


 

The year rolled in with a big bang, fireworks, and celebrations. A fresh start to a brand-new year.

The mesmerizing sight of Madison standing in his doorway struck Taylor to the core. It was love at first sight.

Madison was caught unawares by the way she felt. She was love struck.

Taylor was smitten and gladly accepted her invitation to a party. The last day of the year was about to become the first day of a whole new experience for Madison and Taylor.

A budding romance that flourished, but not without ups and downs thrown in the mix.


AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR VIV DREWA IS OFFERING THE TRUE STORY OF HER GRANDFATHER'S ESCAPE FROM RUSSIAN OCCUPIED POLAND IN 1913 FOR ONE WEEK ONLY FREE.


 
Story of a young man's escape from Russian ruled Poland in 1913.

Loving Legacy!
Grandfather fought for his freedom not unlike the slaves who fought for their in the south around the time of the civil war. Grandfather escaped from a communist regime in Russia and Poland to make a better life for himself and his family. The things this man had to endure during his escape from what sounds like a living hell makes me realize the pursuit of happiness of the human race. A place to live in peace, freedom, liberty and justice. The author of this book is his granddaughter a lovely person who carries on her grandfathers legacy in a beautiful and endearing way. Read this short excerpt of Grandfather's life. It is humbling to say the least. A feel good read.



In nineteen-thirteen, when Lucjen finds out that he will be drafted into the Russian military, and forced to fight his friends and neighbors for the Russian Czar. He and his friend Franciszek, join twenty other people in an harrowing escape to the Americas.


Ms. Drewa's short story of her grandfather's escape holds all the fear, terror, and hardship one would expect if they themself were living through it.

I hope that Ms. Drewa turns this suspense filled story into a novella. This brief glimpse into the times leaves one begging for more.

Kudos to Viv Drewa for taking on the telling of her grandfather's journey. A must read for both history buffs and those who love adventure, and suspense.
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