March Book Reviews Part 4! @gmplano @A_Varga_Author @stacitroilo@JoanHallWrites @Chelepie @PCZick #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter

Redemption: A Father’s Fatal Decision

“Redemption” is a fast-paced thriller that hooked me from the first page. Lisa came home to visit her parents. She had a bad feeling when the doorbell rang, but she couldn’t stop what happened next. With her father dead, her mother fighting for her life, and her brother, Trace, in another country, she struggles to figure out what happened. Lisa quickly realizes she needs to be careful whom she trusts because her world is turned upside down as the truth slowly unravels. Luckily, her brother and his friend, Ryan, come to her aid. I love how they are there for each other, while Lisa’s strength, love of family, and intelligence are inspiring. She bravely stands by her mother while trying to understand her father. I found this book hard to put down with all the twists weaved into a family’s story. The research put into this mystery made it even more chilling because of the possibility that it could happen. The themes of redemption and forgiveness tugged at my heart, and I highly recommend this suspenseful family drama.

Jump In Time #2

The Celtic Deception

By Andrew Varga

“The Celtic Deception” is a fun YA read that blends history and fantasy. I haven’t read the first book, but I found this story easy to follow. Seventeen-year-old time jumper, Dan, comes home to an unwelcomed visitor who was responsible for his father being in a coma. I was immediately drawn into the story. Although the visitor had taken something that seemed so important, Dan was carefully trained by his father and was prepared for that. Soon, Dan and his jumping partner, Samantha, need to make a jump to fix history. I loved the time they went into 60 CE when Romans dominated, and Celts were on the run or fighting back. The relationships they developed in the Celt tribe had me rooting for them, even against all odds and history. A read meant for teens, but adults can appreciate it too. I thoroughly enjoyed this mix of the reality of a historical moment and time-traveling teens trying to survive while not changing the past that would affect the future.

Bright Lights and Candle Glow

By Staci Troilo, Michele Jones, Pamela Foster, Jan Morrill, Dave Kwiecinski, Joan Hall, P.C. Zick, and Grace L. Reilly

“Bright Lights and Candle Glow” is a beautiful holiday collection of eight short stories. The tales transport the reader into many places, including the Civil War or a ranch in Montana. Each story was a satisfying read for the holidays or any time of the year, and I won’t be picking any favorites. There were not only some fantastic twists I didn’t expect but vivid settings that pulled me right in. I can easily recommend this group of well-told holiday stories for Christmas and Yule reading.

I only post my 4 & 5-star reviews here! If I don’t like the book, I won’t finish it. It wouldn’t be fair to leave a review for an unfinished story, and life is too short not to enjoy my reading journey!

NOTE:

I will be quiet on social media and blog visits this week. I’m going to take a bit of me-time before I get busy with my upcoming release and blog tour. Have a great week xo

Embrace your inner child by reading a good book! D. L. Finn

Under The Full Moon: A Vocal #ShortStory @vocal_creators #writingcommunity #readersofstwitter #werewolves

Hi 🙂

I wrote a short story for a Vocal Challenge, Under the Full Moon. It has to start with this sentence: The mirror showed a reflection that wasn’t my own. It is under horror, and I might have veered off from the intent of it being a magic mirror, but I go where the story takes me! I’d love for you to stop by and read it if you can. Comments and sharing are always welcomed.

LINK

Stop by and say hi! How to Support Your Fellow Author #StoryEmpire #writingcommunity #authors #authorsupport

Hi!

Today I have a post over on Story Empire called How to Support Your Fellow Author. I’d love for you to stop by and say hi!

https://storyempire.com/2023/03/22/how-to-support-your-fellow-writer/

2023 Spring Edition of “Books That Changed Me!” @AnnalisaCrawf @gmplano @supermegawoman #topreading #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #readersoffacebook

Welcome spring! I am ready to enjoy the return of the birds, flowers, and the landscape bursting with life. It’s my favorite time of year, along with fall. We had quite a winter here. Some epic and sometimes overwhelming storms finally ended our three-year drought—at least in our area.

Time to enjoy nice spring hikes along the river, take Harley rides, and read some great books! Stories and poetry can touch us in many different ways and change us. You have already seen these books reviewed here on my blog. Since I have read some fantastic books lately, more of those will be making their way here in other seasons. Today these are the book revisiting with their blurbs as some of my top reads.

Redemption: A Father’s Fatal Decision

By Gwendolyn M. Plano

Family secrets can be deadly. When Lisa visits her parents one fateful Saturday morning, she hugs her father and takes her suitcase to her childhood bedroom. The doorbell rings, and one minute later her father lies dead on the floor—three bullets to the chest. The death of Eric Holmes sends shockwaves throughout the quiet neighborhood. But for the Holmes family, it is devastating.
In this fast-paced psychological thriller, Lisa and her brother embark on a quest to solve the mystery of their father’s murder. The journey takes them into a secret world where nothing is as it seems. Once the puzzle pieces begin to coalesce, they realize that their father had multiple lives. As the facts unravel, the siblings discover the true meaning of Redemption.

The Clock in My Mother’s House and other stories

By Annalisa Crawford

Life can change in an instant, but that’s not always a bad thing.

A hotel explodes leaving staff and guests in peril; a woman retrieves an old clock from the attic with disturbing consequences; one man leaves heart break behind him, and another arrives to bring adventure.

In this haunting collection, Annalisa Crawford creates characters who will charm, captivate, and intrigue you.

Annalisa’s stories have featured in Fairlight Shorts, Fictive Dream, and Reflex Fiction; and have been short- and longlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, the Bath Short Story Award, Globe Soup, and more.

The Bubble Reputation

By Alex Craigie

If you want to destroy someone’s reputation, social media provides the perfect tool.

Emmie Hobson, children’s author and TV presenter, is riding high on a wave of popularity when an unscrupulous newspaper editor, desperate for a scoop, brings Emmie’s world crashing down.

Social media picks up the baton and a terrifying backlash of hate and abuse is unleashed. Threats are made and there are those, inflamed by the rhetoric, prepared to take the law into their own hands.

For the young at heart and middle grade readers:

Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral (An Amanda Travels Adventure Book 9)

by Darlene Foster

Amanda explores the exciting streets of Paris, the fabulous Palace of Versailles and the gardens of the painter Claude Monet, while being drawn into the mystery surrounding the destructive fire of Notre Dame cathedral.

Amanda is in love! With Paris – the city of love. She’s in awe of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and Notre Dame Cathedral. While there, she gets to work as a volunteer and stay in a famous book store, along with her bestie, Leah, and Leah’s eccentric Aunt Jenny. A dream come true for a book lover like Amanda.

Except, while she’s at the Paris Opera House there is a bomb threat. Then the lights go out during their visit to the Louvre. Worst of all, a devastating fire blazes in Notre Dame. Why does a mysterious man, who claims to be a busker, writer and artist, show up every time something bad happens?

Join Amanda as she explores the exciting streets of Paris, the fabulous Palace of Versailles and the gardens of the painter Claude Monet, all the time looking for clues as to who would want to destroy such a beautiful, historic cathedral.

Embrace your inner child by reading a great book—D. L. Finn

March Book Reviews Part 3! @JMastrangeloArt @JacqBiggar #writingcommunity #whattoread #readersoftwitter

Sunset Beach

By Jacquie Biggar

After reading “Sweetheart Cove,” I wondered about a single dad, Trace, and a single mom, Mona. Both were minor characters in the other book, but their attraction shone through, even if it was from dating in high school, so I was glad to see they were the main characters in “Sunset Beach.” Although there seems to be an attraction, Mona holds back the information of who is the father of her daughter while Trace focuses on his job as the mayor and raising a teen. Their daughters, Samantha and Beth, are best friends, forcing the two to interact more than they are comfortable with. I enjoyed revisiting this island, seeing how Jacob and Josie were doing, and discovering if Trace and Mona could work through their confused past. This is a quick, fun read for romance fans.

Sweetheart Cove

By Jacquie Biggar

Josie took a job to escape after her best friend and fiancé got together. Jacob needed someone to help care for his six-year-old daughter, who uses a wheelchair. When Josie arrives to start her new job, Jacob is unhappy that she isn’t more grandmotherly. They immediately clash, but she stays to offer physical therapy for the daughter. I love the sweet relationship between Jane and Josie and the addition of Mischief. The setting is a charming little island where residents and guests arrive by water plane. I could easily see myself living on this island and quickly fell in love with the seaside community. Sparks, misunderstandings, and a bit of patience mix in to make this a page-turning quick read that I can easily recommend.

THE MAGIC BLANKET

By Judy Mastrangelo

“The Magic Blanket” is a fun read for beginning readers and their parents. Amy is given the gift of a blanket, and the characters on it come alive when she goes to sleep. Then, Amy is taken on an incredible adventure. The illustrations are beautiful, adding that extra layer to the story, and after, there are activities for the reader to enjoy. This is a book I bought in paperback to give to my granddaughters, and I can easily recommend this charming tale.

NOTE: Tomorrow is the Books That Changed Me—Spring Edition!

Embrace your inner child, and read a good book! D. L. Finn

Stop by and say hi! Poetry Challenge #Poetrycommunity @Vocal_Creators #limericks #writingcommunity #vocalcreators

Hi,

I decided to give writing Limericks a try over on a Vocal Challenge. They have a pattern of a8-9/a8-9/b5-6/b5-6/a8-9. It gives you some play, not having to have the exact count. I’m not all the humorous, and you can tell the storms are still in my thoughts.

There are five of them. I’m sending you to my page instead of giving you links for each one.

LINK

#TankaTuesday Weekly #Syllabic #Poetry Challenge No. 311 #synonym #haiku #poetrycommunity #writingcommunity

Here is Colleen Chesebro’s Tanka Tuesday Weekly Syllabic Poetry Challenge No. 311. We had two words to work from this week, but using a synonym of them. The words were spring and green.

winter fountain‘s flow
camouflaged the forest floor
until magic blooms

New Release! “Return to Silverhills” by Sandra Cox @Sandra_Cox #newrelease #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #westernromance

I’m thrilled to have friend and fellow author, Sandra Cox, here today to talk about her latest, “Return to Silverhills.”

I had the pleasure of reading this as a beta reader. I can highly recommend “Return to Silverhills,” but I decided to enjoy the story one more time before writing the review 🙂

I found all the words in the puzzle below. Fun!

A trail boss with a fast gun. A damaged woman. A cattle drive fraught with danger. And a combustible attraction.

Short Excerpt:

Boom.

The unexpected sound made her heart crash against her ribs, her hands grow clammy and her breath push in and out in sharp gasps. Her horse sidled in response to her nerves.

Boom.Boom.

More gunfire and whoops sounded in the distance.

She flinched. The bang and flash of gunfire. The sight and scent of sulphur. Always a reminder of the night the Comancheros had captured her and slaughtered her family.

Fighting back the painful memories, Lisa Reiner stared into the valley at the ranch below, the mountains behind it throwing off a blinding glitter wherever the sun touched. Alex talked incessantly about those flashes of silver in the hills. Alex. Who’d cared enough to take her out of the mission and bring her to her own home to start fresh, to live with her like a sister.

Slowly. Tentatively. Fear and nerves crawled into excitement. Silverhills.

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Return-Silverhills-Sandra-Cox-ebook/dp/B0BS77JXFV

Foodie Facts:

She spent a number of years in the Midwest chasing down good Southern BBQ. By the time she moved to North Carolina where Southern BBQ is practically a staple, she’d become a vegetarian.

Pineapple is a must-have on pizza, along with black olives and onions.

She loves pumpkin waffles. Pumpkin cream cheese, not so much.

Old West Puzzle

Can you find: remuda, longhorn, lasso, rope, saddle, bridle, saddlebags, coffee, gun, canteen, saloon, tobacco?

Bio:

Sandra, who also writes as S. Cox, is a vegetarian, animal lover and avid gardener. She lives with her husband, their dog and cats in sunny North Carolina.

An award-winning author, her stories consist of all things Western and more.

You can find her at:

http://www.sandracoxwriter.com

http://www.cowboytrivia.blogspot.com

https://sandracoxblogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/Sandra_Cox.

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/Return-Silverhills-Sandra-Cox-ebook/dp/B0BS77JXFV

March Book Reviews Part 2! @merril_mds @RowennaM #writingcommunity #whattoread #readersoftwitter #bookreviews

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill

By Rowenna Miller

A family receives land after a bargain with a fairy, which is then passed down to the next generation. Two sisters in this family have been warned to deal carefully with the fairies and bargains. Alaina uses the bargains for better crops, but everything changes when her sister marries into a wealthy family. Delphine later admits to her sister that her husband is cruel and abusive, but is trapped in her life. Alaina, who runs the family orchard, tries to help her sibling. Alaina was a strong woman with a supportive husband and daughter when women had few rights, including voting. Her devotion to her land and family led her down a path where she had been cautioned not to travel, and it made me very nervous that she was doing so. The book’s first half focuses mainly on the sisters and their relationships. It was a slower and more thoughtful pace as Alaina found ways to help her sister. The book’s second half deals more with the consequences as it picks up the pace and veers into another realm. This story has many layers, including family relationships, magic, folklore, woman’s rights, trust, and love. A good read that held my attention, especially at the end.

Secrets in the Blood

By Unity Hayes

“Secrets in the Blood” opens with a young boy witnessing his mother’s death and his older brother finding him. Then the story moves on to the current POVs set in a charming old western town park. West, the handyperson, is looking for a job, and Cassidy is drawn to him. There is a mystery to his past, and things aren’t what they seem. Plus, there is a killer on the loose with the arrival of West. I loved the developing feelings between Cassidy and West. It was obvious that West was hiding something from his first interaction with Cassidy. Although he tried to conceal his physical scars, most found it hard to trust him, including his brother. The setting was vivid, making me wish this was a place I could visit with the staged train robberies and other interactive activities. A few surprising twists, mysteries, love, and family dynamics made this fast-paced story hard to put down.

River Ghosts

By Merril Smith

“River Ghosts” poetry evokes a depth of emotion through beautiful imagery. I enjoyed all the poems I read, and here are a few that touched me. “Too late,/watch the last butterfly/in a shimmering glow/of gold and tangerine”—Observe, And Again. “Once stars shimmered brighter in/the night,/and you left your handprint, a/symbol on the wall,”—Handprint. “and we reach up, swallow them-/then filled with honeyed light/we whisper in glimmering tones,/leap-and fly.”—Dreams and Stars. “Angel-breath flowers in the morning/and soft blush-clouds sail/in dancing rhythm/waking all the ifs—/and so—/let ghosts fly.”—The Secret of Poetry Stars. These are just some of the ones I highlighted. A wonderful collection meant to be read over and over, and I can easily recommend it to poetry lovers.

Embrace your inner child, and read a good book! D. L. Finn

March Book Reviews Part One and update! @PriscillaBettis @AnnalisaCrawf #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #whattoread

Vampire of the Midnight Sun

By Priscilla Bettis

“Vampire of the Midnight Sun” has two stories in this horror collection that I couldn’t put down. In “Vampire of the Midnight Sun,” Billy and Frasier are on a river rafting trip in Alaska when they end up in the icy waters. Now they need to hike back without food, matches, and in wet clothes. Billy handles this much better than Frasier. I could feel how cold Frasier was as he clung to a rock for warmth. The scenery descriptions made me feel like I was there with them. It’s not only a story of survival but a friendship and exploring inner strength. There is a surprising twist, as the unexpected might become a reality. “Fire Witch and the Cowboy” is set in the old west. There is a fire coming, and the town panics and goes to the one person they know they shouldn’t, the old widow. As it unfolds, her backstory and the towns come to life. There is a sideways justice in the past and still to be. I love when the train arrives as the brave go to fight the fire before it consumes the town. But there is a twist and a price to be paid. Both were quick reads with in-depth characters and a fast pace that kept me reading. I can easily recommend this to horror fans.

The Clock in My Mother’s House and other stories

By Annalisa Crawford

“The Clock in My Mother’s House” is a great assortment of short stories. Each piece pulled me in, and the characters were engaging. It was hard to pick, but here are a few of my favorites. “A Woman in the Van” was about an older woman living in her van, and it was clear she wasn’t wanted in the small town where she was parked. A teen had recently lost his mother and wasn’t getting along with his father. The two connect, even with his poor attitude. She has a gift and the need to help others. The problem is that no one listens to her. This was a page-turner to see what would happen next. “The Fear of Ghosts” had me on the edge of my seat, wondering what about those ghosts. With a mother dying and the blind son coming home to see her, he runs into what haunted him as a child. It was one of those stories where I kept hoping he’d leave but wanted to know what he was up against, too. The thought of trying to get away from something you can’t see in a place you are no longer familiar with was chilling. “Adventures in My Own Backyard” touched me on many levels. A young man ends up paralyzed and unable to speak after an accident. His mother takes over his care, and we see the world through his eyes in his minimal world. It was very touching that a neighbor became a part of his life—this one left me thinking when I was done. A fantastic collection that I can easily recommend.

Asunder, baby: A collection

By Steven Baird

“Asunder, Baby” is a unique assortment of short stories and poetry. The entire book has a poetic flare and presentation with a mixture of beautiful and dark images. I enjoyed many stories and poems and how some characters and storylines appeared more than once. Here are a few that caught my eye: “Where we go dancing,” “A gopherwood box,” “Appomattox,” “The middle of a very rainy afternoon,” “Louisiana baptism,” and “Pentimento.” This is for those who enjoy short stories and poetry that take them into a moment with vivid and insightful descriptions. It differs from other collections, and I appreciate that difference.

UPDATE:

I mentioned I’d be busy but that changed. I will still be around 🙂

But, we are in the middle of some epic snow storms. We were without power, landline, and internet for many days until late Saturday night. That meant no cell signal except for text messages. That’s why I’ve been silent.

Then I played catch up on Sunday finally getting our taxes done. Whew! Still snowing as of Sunday afternoon. I’m not sure what this storm is going to do. They predicted between 1-3 feet more of snow through this Wednesday. Since we already have around five feet of it, I’m hoping they are wrong this time.

A tree fell in driveway but thankfully didn’t hit anything. I’m declaring this the biggest set of storms in our 33 years at our house.

Here’s the tree. Glad it missed everything. Our cars are usually there but were in storm postion up top near the street. My husband counted the rings, it was only 57 years old. Very tall though.

Hopefully we won’t end up in the dark again, but if I’m quiet you’ll know why. On a bright note our area in Northern California is not in a drought anymore 🙂

The road we navigated to get food on Thursday. It was only plowed for a single lane.

Embrace your inner child, and read a good book! D. L. Finn