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Book Review: Since She Went Away by David Bell
Title: Since She Went Away Author: David Bell Genre: thriller Publisher: Penguin Date: June 21, 2016 Jenna Barton has had a rough time of it lately. A few months ago, her best friend, Celia, disappeared. If that wasn’t bad enough, Celia was on her way to meet Jenna when she went missing. This puts single mom Jenna and her son directly into the spotlight. Reporters, social media, activists, rumors, speculation – it’s all a part of her life now. It’s caused Jenna to spiral into a weird guilt situation where she spends her time constantly searching for Celia or any lead she can find. Messageboards have become an odd…
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Book Review: Ben Hur by Carol Wallace
Title: Ben Hur Author: Carol Wallace Genre: Historical Publisher: Tyndale Date: July 19, 2016 Ben Hur. The very title of this book evokes immediate response in generations of people. Most instantly have horses, chariots and roman gladiators in mind. Some picture Charlton Heston. Some might even have a bit of a stab of guilt because they haven’t read the book or watched the film. I fell into that latter category until recently. Judah Ben-Hur is a Jewish nobleman. He’s always only known comfort, luxury, and preferential treatment. Though he treats others well, his best friend, Messala, comes to resent him. Unaware of his friend’s anger, Judah still treats his friend…
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Review: Curio by Evangeline Denmark
Title: Curio Author: Evangeline Denmark Genre: Steampunk, fiction, fantasy Publisher: Blink Date: January 5, 2016 Grey Haward is nothing spectacular. She lives every day just like everyone else around her. She avoids the Chemists. She takes her potion. She does what she’s told. It’s all pretty boring. But there are just enough odd little flags here and there to let her know that her life is different. Her grandfather’s Curio shop has a cabinet that she never opens or cleans. It doesn’t seem out of sorts but the fact that it’s very specifically avoided and pointedly ignored gives her a hint there may be something different. One night, on the…
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How Poker Chips Saved My Sanity
A few years ago, I realized that I was outnumbered by children in my house. I know that is a logical conclusion when you have three kids and two parents, but the reality can sometimes catch you off guard. When the kids graduated out of toddlerville, I needed to come up with a way to manage and handle all of the expectations, chores and rewards in our house. I tried chore charts, stickers, and posters. I attempted morning motivational meetings where we set up the expectations for the day. I wrote out a daily schedule of events. I set up consequences and rules. None of it stuck. But then came poker…
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Review: Within the Veil by Brandy Vallance
Title: Within the Veil Author: Brandy Vallance Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Lyrical Vine Press Date: June 28, 2016 Feya Broon has a really difficult life. The oldest of a group of siblings, her mother died leaving her alone with her father. He, unfortunately, isn’t the best parenting role model. More often than not, Feya has to parent him. It’s when they are unable to pay a window tax that everything finally breaks. Watching the bricks stack up to make a covering over the only light in their little hovel of a home seems to be the straw that breaks the proverbial camel’s back. When the money she’s tucked away disappears, Feya…
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Facebook Isn’t My Friend
So I’m starting off this article with a bit of a warning. This is my blog and these are my thoughts. You don’t have to agree and it is not my assumption that if you disagree you hate me or you want me to die. Sounds like a really dire warning doesn’t it? But these days, it is, sadly, far more relevant than outlandish. A few years ago, I was a writer. Only a writer. Not a social media guru or marketing pro. Just made a living writing stories for the masses. At the time, I was working on a radio drama and some members of the cast (all of whom…
