Tag Archives: novels

The “Two Runs of Stone” Saga Continues

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A Harrowing Journey

If you have relatives who emigrated to America from Europe in the 19th Century you should read this book. The suffering and sacrifice most endured to come to the New World is tragic and heartbreaking. The story continues from the first volume, where Peter and Maren leave Denmark for America. Their experience onboard a windship as passengers in steerage, crammed together with hundreds of other emigrants, is the stuff of nightmares. As I read, I often thought how well it fit the horror genre, but this was real life in the 1800s. What these brave souls endured is unimaginable. No matter how badly you think you have it, believe me when I say you have no clue.

The motivation for their journey was to gather to Zion with other converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There’s a lot of bad press and misunderstandings about the Mormons. This incredibly well-researched book presents an accurate picture of faith and determination during that time and what these early Saints went through. However, that is but a part of an intriguing and gripping story with glimpses into Danish culture, 19th Century life, and what it was like when it took months to get from Western Europe to the USA.

While modern life is beset with scams, fraud, and dishonest people, circumstances back in the 19th Century were no better, especially along the frontier when the USA was still in the process of being settled.

Getting a glimpse of what it was like for our ancestors is a lesson in humility and appreciation for what we have. The author of this series is a master at integrating vivid descriptions that not only enhance the imagery but are integral to the story’s substance.

The Section Notes are interesting as well, especially for history buffs, as they back up the various details in the story with research.

When I finished the first book in this series I knew I’d never look at a windmill much less flour the same again. After reading this volume, I’ll never look at life onboard a windship the same again. The complexity and hazards are astounding. He puts you there, using all the senses and details, technical and otherwise, that bring settings as well as characters to life. You love some, you hate some and hope they get what they deserve. These are living, breathing characters that feel like family.

I was talking with one of my grandsons and his girlfriend today about how schools fail to teach history in an enticing manner. When I was in school a long, long time ago, all I remember from history classes is having to memorize events and dates, something I didn’t do well as a visual learner with poor rote memorization skills. There was attempt to provide an accurate taste of the times involved, much less their context other than the dry narratives in the textbook. If a class were to do nothing more than read these “Two Runs of Stone” books during a semester, they’d learn far more that would actually make an impression that will last throughout their lives.

You can get your copy on Amazon here.

“Duet” by Inger Margaret Foster

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Another wonderful story from the lovable characters in Beauville, NY. I love the ongoing characters like Meg and Mary, then folks cross their path and add another touching story to the series.

This book is actually two combined, “Mandy’s Dream,” and “The Rule of Thirds.” Warning, both are tearjerkers and so very touching! “Mandy’s Dream” is the story of Meg and a new character, Jessica, who’s a gifted young artist, helping a young girl named Mandy who has been mute since both her parents died in a horrible accident. Spending time with the girl and introducing her to expressing her feelings through art plus interacting with a special horse helped the girl to heal from her trauma. In the story they write a book for Mandy to express her feelings which is included with beautiful artwork and also sold separately for young children dealing with grief. Beautifully done on both literary and illustration levels.

“The Rule of Thirds” title relates to art design, yet in this story ties in how often a group of three has meaning in our lives. In this story, Jessica’s journey as an artist continues as well as a surprising and exciting development in her life. Saying anything else would be a spoiler so I’ll leave it at that.

I love this series and highly recommend it. While the main characters are high school age living back in the 70s, their situations are apropos regardless of the decade. The author has a gift for creating warm, relatable characters and touching situations most will encounter at some point in their life. I would have loved these books as a teen and do today as a great-grandmother. Highly recommended.

I’m extremely excited that “Elke’s Magic” in this series is a screenplay that is in pre-production! I can’t wait to see it on TV someday!

You can pick up your copy of “Duet” on Amazon here and available thru Kindle Unlimited.

Historical Fiction at its Best

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Cover of the book "The Wall Between"

Review of “The Wall Between” by Inger Margaret Foster

My binge marathon on Inger Margaret Foster’s books continues!

The point of historical fiction is to take you to some time in the past and live it. This story definitely does that and more! I’m old enough to remember much of what went on back in the 70s. I also remember when President Ronald Reagan told Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin wall. But never did it have the impact as it did in this amazing tale of a couple separated by it and the horrible policies that were in place when East and West Berlin were separated.

That was the situation at the end of WWII when Communist Russia got East Germany and the allies got West Germany. What it required to cross from one side to the other was solid identification, then being escorted by an armed guard who kept his eye on his watch to make sure the meeting didn’t go longer than it was supposed to.

I’m glad that I read “Elke’s Magic” first, though it’s not required. Nonetheless, it gives you a glimpse of the situation and you get to know the main character. You can also understand why Elke missed her idyllic little cottage back in the States. When she was washing dishes in her humble apartment in West Berlin and remembering the dried herbs hanging above her sink in her little house I could so totally relate! When I lived in Texas I was able to grow a multitude of fresh herbs that I dried in the house, just like that. I hope to be able to do so again, maybe next year, though some won’t survive where I live now in New York State, where it’s so much colder.

I absolutely loved this story and it touched me deeply. I read it in a single sitting, unable to put it down. Highly recommended to understand what the people in Germany went through during those dark and trying years.

You can get your copy on Amazon here, for free if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited.

Touching and Inspiring

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Review of Inger Margaret Foster’s “June’s Song”

I absolutely loved this beautiful story. If you have (or are) a teenager, this is a book I recommend very highly. It’s important to note that it takes place in the 1970s, a time I remember well, yet is ancient history to kids today. Things have changed, a lot, and much of it for the good, especially in recognizing how people are traumatized and how they can be helped. Back then you were on your own. Even if you had the money for counseling, there was little known at that time about many of the problems people encounter today. Those that overcame were probably stronger, but no telling what scars they lived with. And what about those who didn’t?

June Adams is a 17 year old who is overwhelmed by numerous unfortunate events in her life which ultimately endow her with way too much responsibility. While she considers ending it all, fortunately this is averted and June steps up to what she must do. A good friend as well as a very special friend where she works help her hang in there. She finds time to pursue her talents and being a normal teen in spite of her many challenges.

This story is powerful on so many levels. Accepting things the way they are and just dealing with them while maintaining a positive attitude is so important, yet seldom easy. Dealing with loss is difficult, no matter what your age or experience.

One thing I love about this author’s books is the way they blur the boundaries between life and death. This book is part of her “Circles of the Soul” series, which I intend to explore in its entirety. Those on the “other side” are still there, caring about those they left behind. They are now in a better place and as much as they may be missed, the best way to honor them is to continue to embrace the life you have.

If I were a high school teacher I would make this story required reading, which would fit well for either English or Social Studies classes. Highly recommended for all ages.

Learn more about the author and her other books on her website here.

You can get your copy on Amazon here.

Review of “Always Just Beyond” by Inger Margaret Foster

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There’s no better time for a ghost story than October and this sweet paranormal cozy mystery/romance is perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet story with its unique plot and engaging characters. I read it in a single sitting because I couldn’t put it down.

Jo and Philip Briton fall in love with this old house on the waterfront in Connecticut because it just feels like home. They walk out to the water to check the wonderful view and both see an apparition, a beautiful young woman gazing out across the sea. Then she vanishes.

They buy the house anyway and a friendly but somewhat odd neighbor gives them clues relative to its history, including who the ghostly woman was. An old steamer truck in the attic contains more information about the house’s history as well as a small book written a century before that includes more of the story.

The twists and turns are great as the story unfolds, one of which gave me goosebumps. Surprises right up to the very end, which then makes so much sense. I loved the characters, all unique and well-developed. By the end of the story I had one question unanswered that would be a spoiler to include. Perhaps it could be covered by a possible sequel, which would be great.

I’m sure at some point I will reread this touching story, knowing all its little secrets. I loved it and highly recommend it as a wonderful break into another dimension that is closer than we think. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author. I connected with the story even more since some of my ancestors lived in that very part of the country. It was interesting to learn more of the history of the area as well as the mention of familiar places.

You can pick up a copy on Amazon here.

Texmexzona: Book 2 of The Last Dog story by Dawn Greenfield Ireland

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While this book works as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the award-winning first book, “The Last Dog,” to gain the full context of this wonderful story. It’s a lot more meaningful when you understand what the characters have been through as well as the details related to its 2087 setting. You can find my review of “The Last Dog” here. Consider that was written in 2018 and how much has transpired since.

Texmexzona is a geographical area that comprises, as the name implies, Texas, Mexico, New Mexico, and Arizona. This is supposedly a “no man’s land” as far as what’s left of the U.S. is concerned, but in reality where people fled from the compromised United States since it was taken over by the World Guild.

Sound eerily familiar?

There are so many elements of this story that parallel what the U.S. is experiencing today it’s actually kind of creepy. There’s a strong prophetic ring of possibility to it, though the story’s focus in on the characters, which include numerous humans as well as their “dog children.” Due to the fact that fertility has been seriously compromised, families cherish their pets at the same level as if they were biological children.

The plot is further enhanced by the fact that the main character, Bill Maxwell, invented “the dot” that gives animals the cognizance of humans as well as the ability to speak. In addition, there are robotic dogs with similar intelligence traits as well as enhanced abilities bordering on superpowers.

However, the Dot, originally for people to manage their finances and keep track of things like medical records, has been hijacked by the government that uses it in nefarious ways. In other words, privacy, freedom of speech, and thought are gone and enforced by the Tranquility Force.

Hmmmm. Where have we heard that before?

Anyway, if you’re an animal lover, especially a dog person, you’ll love the dogs, who are fully integrated into the story with a multitude of diverse personalities.

This book is the perfect sequel to an amazing story that began in the first book. It answers various questions left unanswered and brings “the rest of the story” forward to a satisfying conclusion.

Dawn Greenfield Ireland is a gifted storyteller with an incredible imagination that she shares with her readers through strong writing skills. You truly feel as if you know the characters and miss them when you finish the story. Highly recommended along with her other books/series. You can find more about her and her multitude of books on her website. If you’re a writer looking for services like editing or formatting, she does that, too.

You can pick up a copy of Texmexzona on Amazon here.

Robert Kimbrell Blog Hop!

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Robert Kimbrell recently sat down for a brief interview and was asked four questions.

1. Tell me a bit about your childhood in Ohio.

If one knew me growing up, I was a boring only child. But I’d like to say it was very interesting to be inside my head.

My father was abusive to my mom and me, so as you can imagine the atmosphere was always tense. I had to learn to use my imagination so I had a place to escape to. I was nervous and anxious all the time, even into young adulthood. I mean, to grow up always afraid of making your father angry or seeing him become violent towards your mother really does something to your psyche. Those who have grown up in an abusive atmosphere know what I’m talking about. I’ve never used what happened then as an excuse, but looking back I recognize how far I’ve come, and how far I still have to go.

2. I’m sure what happened to you framed, so to speak, your writing and creative process. Your book is called Vigilante Annie Scarlotte, and it is about a woman who becomes a vampire. Tell me about Annie.

You’re right. Now, when I hear of kids being abused or neglected- I cringe. Or when I catch a news story about a woman whose cowardly husband abused her, I boil, as I’m sure others do. I want to take action. That spark is what is behind Vigilante Annie. She has been blessed by a unique ability, so she decides to use it to take action. For reasons that will be explained in the next book, Annie must have fresh human blood every so often, or she’ll become ill again and die. So the premise of the story is simple: to justify killing others for their blood, Annie chooses the truly evil among us as her victims. As you can imagine, Annie battles with the morality of doing what she has chosen to do.

She questions her fate, her purpose, and begins to be taken over by this vampire within her. She has a sexy Italian boyfriend who is hiding things, an old friend Elisa who has been silent for some time, and a father-figure named Larry whom she decides to tell her secret to. Like I said, the premise is simple, but the plot and chaotic start to Annie’s bloodsucking life isn’t simple at all.

3. Do you have anything new you’re currently in the midst of writing?

Actually, I have several in the works. The next Vigilante Annie book is the biggest, it will be available in ebook and print, just like the anthology. There is not yet a release date set. I actually have a couple erotica titles and a couple shorts that will actually give some backstory or sidestory in the world of Vigilante Annie.

4. So what is the next Vigilante Annie book going to be about?

The next Annie story is going full fantasy. In the middle of recovering from her injuries, Annie is being taken to the underworld. There she will meet others like herself and other diverse types of beings. The plot I cannot reveal just yet, but Annie is being brought there for a specific reason. For anyone who has read up to now, you’ll know Annie will meet her brother and have to face her mother for abandoning her as a child. Anyone wanting more info can visit the website www.VigilanteAnnie.com.

Thank you.

Thank you!

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Book Blurb:

Because Annie has no recollection of her birth parents, her life is full of unknowns. Still, she seems relatively content with her simple existence in Washington, DC. Marcus, her new Italian boyfriend, adds much desired spice to her life despite secrecy about his position at SecureVest. But when Annie becomes mysteriously ill, it is the catalyst for a life far from simple.

Seemingly by luck, Annie discovers that she is maturing into a dhampir (a vampire/human hybrid), and to survive she must feed on fresh human blood. With Marcus fully aware of Annie’s predicament, they concoct a scheme: find the evil living among us and act where justice does not.

Vigilante Annie is born.

Pick up your copy on Amazon here: http://amzn.to/2dGCki4

Author Bio:

An only child, (in the seventies, mind you), little Robert could be seen running in the backyard playing superhero, with a bed sheet serving as his cape. He also spent many hours drawing or writing in his mid-sized Ohio town. Having also battled depression earlier in life, Robert now sees how his low points have brought him to a more creative, stronger sense of being. Now he is where he wants to be, and is telling the stories he is meant to tell. His other interests include reading, motorcycle touring, fitness and classic movies.

Connect with Robert Kimbrell:

Twitter:  @VAAuthor

Website:  www.VigilanteAnnie.com

Review of Elle Klass’ “Baby Girl 6: Return to the Bay”

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Cleo’s saga continues in another suspense-filled episode. If you’re a Cleo fan like I am, you won’t be disappointed in this latest segment of her ongoing story. This one picks up where Baby Girl 5: Caribbean Heat drops you off with a nail-biting cliffhanger. Cleo, her best friend, Kacy, and La Tige have been ambushed and left in dire straits in a warehouse. Upon surviving this ordeal, the set out to figure out who the culprit is and his possible motive. More of Cleo’s family secrets are revealed in the fast-moving sequel. As always, the characters are convincing and endearing and by the time you make it this far in this enjoyable series, they’re like your own family. Cleo’s story just gets better and better.

Pick up your copy on Amazon here.

Review of “The Carrot” by Virginia Gray

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Quite frankly, I never dreamed that I would eventually give this book a five-star rating. I started reading it almost two years ago, 21 months, to be exact. It took me that long for a couple reasons, mainly because at first I couldn’t stand the protagonist, Susan Wade, whom I found horrifically irritating. I thought she was a dysfunctional, self-centered, obsessive, hot mess. Her warped views of the world made me want to slap her upside the head. She hated her roots, the small town where she’d grown up, and was willing to do anything to get ahead in the world. Her priorities were horrible. The plot moved very slowly at first, also, which tried my patience as well. I would set it aside, read something else (or two or three), yet inevitably pick it up again between other reads.

Why?

Because it was so exceptionally well written. The fact the author had developed a character so completely that she got on my last nerve made me feel I owed it to her to keep reading, to see where it was going. Her prose was fantastic, at times poetic, the imagery beautifully drawn. It was a pleasure to read, pure ambrosia, even if Susan was messed up and the plot crawling at glacial speed.

At this point I need to mention that, unlike other reviewers, I try to maintain a sense of objectivity. Not liking a story or its characters is not enough for me to give a book a bad rating if the story is well-crafted. I also care about grammar, typos, and formatting, which I find distracting. Editing, in all its varieties, is important to me. If a story is clever and otherwise interesting, I might forgive some of those things, but in general, I expect a professional product when I buy a book. If a book is loaded with such annoyances I’m likely to never finish it because it’s such a chore to read. There were very few such flaws in this story, certainly not enough to put me off. Rather, I was a bit surprised that they slipped past, based on the quality otherwise. One that really had me scratching my head was how one beautiful sunset painted the eastern sky. Huh? Possible, but not likely. Actually, I wrote a blog about that kind of stuff you can find here.

As I plodded through, page by page, gradually things started to make sense. I began to appreciate the fact that the slow pace was allowing me to get drawn deeply into the story and its characters. The sense of place was amazing. I love it when a book takes you someplace new; by the time I finished, I felt as if I’d spent several months in coastal North Carolina.

When it started to come out why the protagonist was the way she was, I began to be more sympathetic. Maybe Susan put me off at first because there were things about her that reminded me of myself. As her motives and life experiences became more clear, it was easier to care about her, then eventually start cheering her on. Some people are slow to come around such that it takes numerous hard knocks before they learn.

As a professional astrologer I’m a student of human nature and tend to try and place a particular sun sign on characters as I watch them unfold. Fixed signs (Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, Aquarius) rarely change, or it takes great pain and suffering from life’s lessons to do so. The implications of when her birthday was in the book made me think she was a Scorpio. When it said near the end that Pete’s birthday was March 15, making him a Pisces, that made sense, too. It made me laugh, since on my website I have a compatibility section where I say this love match concerns me a lot since I have often seen Piscean men injured horribly by Scorpio women, though there is often a strong attraction between them, both being emotionally driven water signs. Ditto, for this couple.  BTW, astrology works amazingly well for fiction. Just ask Elle Klass.

But I digress.

From about halfway in, the story started to move, and by the time I was 75% through, it was hard to put down. It was touching and I really connected with the characters. The corporate gymnastics and dog-eat-dog environment were well-characterized as well. Having spent over 20 years in the world of NASA contracting, I could definitely relate to some of the games people play.

Probably the underlying theme of this story is “Be careful what you wish for.” Another candidate would be “What you’re trying to escape is exactly where you belong.”

This was an outstanding story that was beautifully written. It has numerous life lessons within that astute readers can learn vicariously. It takes a while to get moving, but all that background is essential and what draws you in until you’re hopelessly hooked. I have two rather minor criticisms. One is the title. Those who aren’t familiar with the tale of the donkey and the carrot may not get it, which could turn away potential readers who would love the story. The new cover helped tremendously; I’ve had the book long enough it has the old cover, which featured–a carrot.

The other criticism is that it wrapped up rather quickly and was a bit confusing at the end. I don’t want to get into spoiler territory, so won’t say more, but I’ll just say I had to go back and reread a few parts to figure out who was doing what. Considering how slowly and patiently the story unfolded, it could have wound down at a less frantic pace so as not to lose track of what was going on.

That said, it was still a great read. If you love well-developed characters, outstanding imagery, and a rather common situation regarding the balance of career with relationships, I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Pick up your copy on Amazon here.

P.S. As I got ready to post this review I discovered that there is now a prequel to “The Carrot” called “The Interview.” So you might want to start with that. You can find it here.

Review of “His Revenge” by John W. Howell

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This fast-moving, well-written and nicely edited thriller keeps you turning the pages as you wonder how hero, John Cannon, is going to get out of his current dilemma. In the first book in this trilogy (My GRL), Cannon foiled a sophisticated group of terrorist’s insidious plan. Needless to say, they’re out for revenge and manage to capture him after which they force him to be part of another devious plot aimed at destroying the economic viability of the west. The suspense is well-sustained, dialog gripping, and characters convincing. The action level was breathtaking. Having not read “My GRL” it was nonetheless relatively easy to follow what had transpired previously. Descriptions of Cannon’s recovery from injuries sustained in the previous book were extremely well done.

However, there were various gaps typical of a serial where the author doesn’t remind a previous reader (or enlighten a new one) with regard to details such as what the characters look like. For example, while it was implied in this volume that the terrorists were of the Middle Eastern variety, their names were not indicative of that heritage. Rather, they had names that suggested European or even American origin. There was also no physical description with regard to their appearance, so they were a faceless enigma. This left me scratching my head throughout the story, wondering “Who exactly are these people?”

I can definitely understand this tendency myself since I’ve written a serial. In the author’s mind it’s one, continuous story and easy to forget to include details that seem redundant, yet they’re essential. I’ve covered some of the things I’ve learned in previous blogs for serial writers such as this one and its follow-up. I’m sure my readers can find similar oversights in my books, so I mention this in all humility.

The motivation for their heinous acts was touched on, but not demonstrated in their personal behavior. While I would expect lethal passion resulting from intense anger, hatred, and a visceral need for revenge, the antagonists behaved more like corporate executives out to annihilate a competitor to keep their stockholders satisfied. They were definitely cold-hearted, but the expected fury at Cannon’s previous actions didn’t come through.

Maybe this was covered in the first book, but evoking the emotional drive behind their acts could have added considerable intensity and additional suspense. If the bad guys were true terrorists, you’d expect that pissing them off further would result in chopping Cannon’s (or a loved one’s) head off on YouTube, but that type of potential didn’t come through. Emotional connection is what really grabs a reader. They need to love the hero and hate the antagonist, or at least fear him/her. This is what makes a story real and comprises a gripping tale.

I hate to get on the soapbox again, but I find it helpful to to assess a book during the content editing process using the acronym IDEAS where I stands for Imagery; D stands for Dialog; E stands for Emotion; A stands for Action and S stands for Suspense. Depending on the genre, a certain balance is required of these elements. Action and dialog often come easily for thriller writers, so going back to include the others is often required. Of course you don’t want to slow the story down, so it needs to be done with finesse, not long, drawn-out descriptions that cause the reader’s eyes to glaze over.

While in this story the terrorists used the fate of loved ones to drive their captives’ cooperation, it seemed that the good guys may have gotten around it a bit too easily, if these terrorists were as smart or well-connected as implied. Especially if the antagonists had as much clout and the ability to infiltrate so many organizations to effect Cannon’s capture, which was not explained, either. Including such things increases a story’s credibility.

Perhaps this was covered in the first book, which would make it required reading to fully appreciate this one. The author has an excellent writing style with a talent for developing a fast moving story with convincing dialog and viable characters. By filling in some of these gaps, kicking up the emotional drive a notch, and a bit more imagery, Howell could easily approach the level of Tom Clancy or John Grisham. I see tremendous potential in his writing that could go from great to outstanding with a bit more attention to detail, though many readers may not care and simply enjoy the fast action. I, personally, like to know the how and wherefore, which is what can drive a great story up a notch to the best seller list.