Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Her Dying Kiss by Jennifer Chase

 Book Description:

She wakes to the dawn light streaming through the window and rolls over to whisper good morning to her fiancé. But panic floods her veins. His side of the bed is empty and cold. Blood trails towards the open door. All trace of him is gone…


It’s been one month since Detective Katie Scott ’s fiancé, Chad , went missing without a trace. Devastated Katie is still working tirelessly day and night to track down the love of her life, barely sleeping and chasing every new lead. But now the case has gone cold.


My Thoughts:

This is one of those books that when you start reading it, you aren't going to want to put it down at all.  It is part of a series that I'm now going to look for because this one was awesome!  The author just pulls you into the story and you have to know what happens.  

Katie needs to know what happened to her fiancé, but just wishing and searching hasn't given her any answers.  Getting back into work may just be the best thing for her.  This book has the suspense that I've been craving and wonderful characters that are so awesome.

It was absolutely a 4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via PUYB.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Where No One Will See by Felicia Watson

Where No One Will See by Felicia WatsonWhere No One Will See by Felicia Watson Publisher: DX Varos Publishing (April 11, 2023) Category: Mystery, Detective Mystery Tour Dates April 17-May 19, 2023 ISBN: 978-1955065788 Available in Print and ebook, 271 pages Where No One Will See

Description Where No One Will See by Felicia Watson

Lucia Scafetti, a Philly private eye, has tried to move out of the shadow of her infamous crime family. She has her own business, her beloved dog Rocco, and she’s starting to date the cute lawyer down the hall. Her life is upended when her notorious hitman father disappears while in search of the diamond and gold coins he stole from his last victim. Lucia races to unravel the mystery of her father’s disappearance before a crooked and powerful cop beats her to it. Though Lucia’s allies are scanty and her enemies numerous, she tries to resist the questionable help on offer from her Mafiosi family. It looks like Lucia must finally decide on which side of the law she truly belongs, knowing the wrong choice could send her to prison – or an early grave.

My Thoughts:
This was a really good book.  I loved Lucia.  She's lived in the 'world' and I like her outlook on everything.  Her job is awesome.  I liked how she handled situations with thought (for the most part) instead of emotions.
The author did a wonderful job with pacing and keeping me intrigued from start to finish on this book.  I loved the writing style and will look for more from her.  Overall it was truly just a wonderful read.
4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via VABT.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
 

Praise for Felicia Watson

‘It easily checked all my boxes required for a successful science-fiction novel and kept me flipping the pages time and time again. What I liked the best about this story, however, is the feeling of discovery as the Lovelace travels farther and farther into the unknown. I have a soft spot for stories that take the reader where no one has ever been before and We Have Met the Enemy delivers this feeling in droves."-Publisher’s Weekly, for We Have Met the Enemy “The prose is supple and accurate. It begins with action. While the reader is given time to breathe, the action thereafter never really lets up...McGuffins are skillfully crafted, aliens are both imaginative and credible, and the tech is believable and serviceable without getting in the way.”- Judy Moore, Author of 'Is Death Really Necessary?', for Spooky Action at a Distance “A richly imagined and immersive starship tale. Watson's prose is filled with vivid worldbuilding details while still managing to feel urgent and punchy.... Though the book is preceded by two others, the story is self-contained enough for those new to the series to hit the ground running. The tale is thoroughly in the tradition of Star Trek...and fans of that franchise will enjoy Watson's Roddenberrian world. The result is pure space opera, nothing more or less.”- Kirkus Reviews, for The Risks of Dead Reckoning "`The author delivers an enthralling mystery.. There are whiplash-inducing plot turns throughout and a wholly gratifying final act. Hopefully Watson will give this unforgettable private eye her own well-deserved series. A clever, supercool gumshoe effortlessly steals the show in this delightful caper."-Kirkus Reviews, for Where No One Will See

Awards for Felicia Watson

EVVY Award for Science Fiction, 2020 -We Have Met the Enemy 2022 Independent Press Book Awards, Distinguished Favorite Science Fiction Series 1st Place for the entire Lovelace Series

About Felicia WatsonWhere No One Will See by Felicia Watson

Felicia Watson, author of the ground-breaking romance, Where the Allegheny Meets the Monongahela, and the award-winning scifi novels, The Lovelace Series, started writing stories as soon as they handed her a pencil in first grade. When not writing, Felicia spends her time chasing after her not-so-brilliant, but darling and beloved dogs, being chased by her truly brilliant, darling, and beloved husband. She is known to friends and family as an amateur pastry chef and still finds time for swimming and her day job as a scientist. Website: https://www.feliciawatsonwrites.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FeliciaTes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FeliciaWatsontheAuthor/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feliciatheauthor/

Pre-order Where No One Will See by Felicia Watson

Amazon BarnesandNoble DX Varos Publishing IndieBound Bookshop.org

Giveaway Where No One Will See by Felicia Watson

This giveaway is for 3 print or ebook copies. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is open worldwide. a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thursday, March 9, 2023

Saving the Selkie’s Heart


Book Description:

Ceannas, a selkie warrior, must protect his clan during the Migration, a rite of passage that occurs every 50 years. When he discovers a runaway selkie, the daughter of his Prince, he must figure out a way to divide his duties, especially when keeping her alive demands all his attention.

Lyall wants desperately to find out where she belongs. When the opportunity comes to visit the Great Elder and save her father’s damaged sealskin, she sneaks away to join the clan in their migration. The only problem? Being born a human, she hasn’t the first clue how to survive on her own as a selkie!

The last thing Ceannas needs is babysitting duties, and Lyall only has eyes on her mission. But as Ceannas teaches Lyall how to exist in her new element, the attraction growing between them grows stronger. Can their love withstand their honor-bound duties? And what will it cost each of them to do so?

Saving the Selkie’s Heart is a sexy guardian/ward paranormal romance and the second book in The Selkie Seas series by Ella Rose. Get lost in love today!


My Thoughts:

This was a really great book. I think you do need to read the first book in the series first, but this one is an absolute must.  The writing is amazing.  I love the authors style.

The characters were great and I truly enjoyed getting to know them.  Ceannas, I wasn’t sure how that was going to go.  I wasn't sure that I was going to love him as a character but I did.  Lyall was a wonderful character as well.  I loved the way things happened and how it all unfolded.  I truly enjoyed the whole story.  

4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Friday, March 3, 2023

Hunterland by Dana Claire

Book Description:

Liam Hunter has warded off hungry vampires


, slayed monstrous beasts, and put agonized spirits to rest since he was old enough to hold a stake. When trouble comes through the Hunterland message board, the Hunter family hits the road. Nurses are dying at high schools across Wisconsin in a string of fishy so-called suicides, and the trail leads to Falkville Falls High, where Liam clashes with Olivia Davis, whose maddening family seems inexplicably embroiled in this haunting mess. Liam deals with monsters, not people. Things just got more complicated. Can Liam find out who or what is responsible before the next murder, or will this vicious death cycle have no end?

With only their father to care for them, Olivia Davis has always mothered her little sister, Pepper. But when the Hunter family opens her eyes to the hidden underworld of real monsters lurking in the dark, she realizes she can’t protect Pepper from this newest threat alone. She’ll have to join forces with the wayward boy who irritates her the most to take down a monster that’s too close to home. That’s if her own family doesn’t stand in her way.

My Thoughts:

This was a great book!  I loved the action and adventure through it.  The monsters and characters were great.  I truly loved the author’s writing style and flow of the story.

It was a wonderful mix of all the elements that keep me engrossed and I was pulled in from the start.  I cannot wait for the next book!!  I want more of these characters and this world.

5/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via 

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem by Kurt Brouwer

 

About the Book

Book: The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem

Author: Kurt Brouwer

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: November 18, 2022

He was the Beloved Disciple…

…and he would be the last.

The mantle to tell the whole story has fallen on him.

From the cross, Jesus entrusted John, the youngest disciple, with the welfare of Mary, Jesus’s mother. Over thirty years later, as Jerusalem becomes a cauldron of explosive tempers, he receives a calling he doesn’t want.

Will he listen and follow?

And if he does, will it be too late?

In 62 AD, the Jewish high priest executes James, the brother of Jesus, triggering a bitter fight for power in Jerusalem that shatters the quiet life of John. The Jewish people he loves are making dangerous choices that will change the land of Israel forever.

Should he stay in Jerusalem and help hold off the Roman onslaught? Or is it time to reach out to those beyond Israel’s borders?

If he chooses to leave, what will be his message to these foreign believers? What new words of comfort could he possibly share?

Set against a backdrop of actual events, The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem is the first novel in a new series based on the Bible and Christian history.

Follow along while John faces multiple crises and comes to understand what it is to stand alone and lean on only the Lord.

Your heart will embrace The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem because John’s story is the story of our hope and promise.

 My Thoughts:

This book is historical/Biblical fiction wish isn't my favorite to read, but I did enjoy this author and how he obviously had done his research.  There were very descriptive settings and I enjoyed how the story unfolded.  There wasn't a lot of wasted time on unrelated extra which I liked.

This is about John years after the crucifixion and his actions.  It is fiction so that's what you have to remember.  I enjoyed the entire story and I really do recommend it.  

4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Kurt is a Christian writer, living in Hawaii. A few years ago he did a study at his church on the Apostle John. That little project got him hooked on the man who started out life as a fisherman and then became a disciple of Christ.

The more he learned, the more he wanted to know. What did John do after the Crucifixion? Why did he wait so long to write the Gospel of John? Where did he live for the last 60 years of his life? This historical novel came out of the research he did to answer those questions.

He started a blog (KurtBrouwer.com) a few years ago. On it he has written over 100 blog posts and a few Christian booklets.

Now he’s working on Book Two in this series. The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch takes up where Book One ends. The Last Disciple is a Christian historical novel that introduces you to John, the last disciple of Christ.

 

More from Kurt

About 85 AD, more than fifty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of John struck the Christian world like a lightning bolt out of a clear blue sky. At that time, few Christians even knew that one of the disciples yet lived. After all the years, decades even, a new book of the Bible came out, written by the last disciple of Christ.

WHO WAS THE LAST DISCIPLE?

John the son of Zebedee walked with Jesus during his ministry on earth. He witnessed the Crucifixion and later entered the empty tomb after Jesus rose from the grave.

John, the youngest of the disciples, outlived all the others. In fact, John, the last disciple of Christ, lived for more than 60 years after Jesus died on the Cross. But who was he? And what did he do all those years? Where did he live? With whom? What do we know of him and his life?

THE YOUNGEST DISCIPLE…

John walked with Jesus when he was young, probably a teenager or very early 20s. He and Andrew were the first discples of Christ. John lived so long that he became the last disciple too.

A FEW DETAILS ABOUT JOHN

He was:

  • The son of Zebedee, his father, and Salome, his mother
  • Brother to the disciple James
  • Possibly a cousin to Jesus through his mother
  • A fisherman on the Sea of Galilee
  • He and his brother James were friends and even fishing buddies with Peter and his brother Andrew
  • Almost certainly the youngest of the 12 disciples

I GOT HOOKED (PUN INTENDED) ON JOHN EARLY ONE MORNING

One morning I read a short piece from BibleGateway.com by Jonathan Petersen, When Was Each Book of the Bible Written? In it, Petersen gave the approximate dates when all the New Testament books came out. The first, written by James the brother of Jesus, came out around 44 AD or as late as 49 AD. The most widely accepted year for the Crucifixion is 33 AD, so the first book did not come out for at least 11 years after Christ died.

The next New Testament book to come out was Paul’s letter to the Galatians, around 49 AD. After that came the gospels of Mark and Matthew. Other books such as Luke, Acts, and all of Paul’s letters came along in fairly short order. Peter’s two letters came out and then the book of Jude, about 68-70 AD. Then, for at least 10-20 years, no new Bible books came out.

The silence was broken

Finally, the silence was broken. After all the years, decades even, the words of one who walked with Jesus came forth. The Gospel of John came out written by a man who saw the empty tomb after Jesus rose. A man who would write five books of the Bible:

  • The Gospel of John 80-90 AD
  • The Letters or Epistles of John 90-95 AD
  • The Book of Revelation 95-98 AD

A UNIQUE VOICE CAME FORTH

As John’s gospel spread from church to church, a unique voice came forth. What a miracle that must have been to first century Christians when the Gospel of John appeared!

That’s it for now. We will continue with more in future posts on the saga of the last disciple of Christ. If you can’t wait, watch the video above.

Yours in Christ, Kurt

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 4

Lots of Helpers, January 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 6

Lily’s Book Reviews, January 7

Cover Lover Book Review, January 8

deb’s Book Review, January 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 9

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 10

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, January 11

Texas Book-aholic, January 12

Connie’s History Classroom, January 13

Bizwings Blog, January 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 15

Mary Hake, January 15

Lights in a Dark World, January 16

Blogging With Carol, January 17

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Kurt is giving away the grad prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2363e/the-last-disciple-crisis-in-jerusalem-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Falling Apart, Falling for You by Chris Posti

 

About the Book

Book: Falling Apart, Falling for You

Author: Chris Posti

Genre: Christian Women’s Fiction with Elements of Romance

Release date: April 29, 2022

With their lives in a free fall, three women gather for their 40th high school reunion. At 57, is it too late to make a fresh start?

Suzanne – After spending most of her adult life working as a traveling trainer for an airline, untethered and mildly content, Suzanne feels a stirring in her heart for a seemingly perfect guy. But when she abruptly loses her job, she lands in surprising new territory.

Rachel – Seeking distraction in the wake of her husband’s sudden passing, Rachel helps organize her class’s first reunion in 40 years. Stunned by an old friend’s shocking secrets, she struggles to learn forgiveness as she tiptoes into her new-found freedom.

Marla – After selling her thriving business, Marla revisits high school friendships and her mysterious past. Seeking family and a renewed purpose, she adds her marketing expertise to the group’s strategy for revitalizing the blue-collar town that brought them back together.

 My Thoughts:

This was a really, really good read.  I liked that the characters weren't really young but were closer to my age.  Life changes as you get older and I liked seeing characters similarly situated to my stuff.

The author does a great job with her writing.  The descriptive way she writes was just great for me and I loved it.

4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via Celebrate Lit.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Chris Posti’s writing experience comes in a variety pack: novelist, nonfiction author, newspaper columnist, blogger, freelancer, and business writer. She was self-employed for 30 years as a career and executive coach. She once lived in a tiny town similar to the Western Pennsylvania setting of “Falling Apart, Falling for You.” Her latest book, “Before You Write your Novel: What to Know from the Get-Go” was launched on July 25, 2022.

 

More from Chris

If you’re over the age of 50, you’ve probably noticed the female protagonists in most novels are younger than you. Yet the lives of older women are filled with challenges, changes, growth, fun, and even romance. They want to read about characters they can relate to. That’s precisely why I wrote “Falling Apart, Falling for You.”

 

All women, but particularly women 50+, will identify with three women whose lives are in a free fall when they reunite for the first time since high school graduation. The story is fun, clean, and wholesome, with plenty of reality and just a little bit of wine and a few beers.

 

Suzanne, who is divorced and dating the seemingly perfect guy, abruptly loses her job as a traveling trainer for an airline. She’s convinced it’s due to age discrimination, and even her normally disagreeable daughter concurs.

 

Rachel loves her rosary, cooking, and daily routines, but when she suddenly becomes widowed she must learn to support herself by running the family gas station. Her son Pete is eager to help, and so is her widowed neighbor Frank.

 

Marla has been known to have a fling, but in fact, it’s her business she’s in love with. After an offer to sell makes her an instant multi-millionaire, she celebrates too hard and lands in a hospital. Now, she needs to find a new purpose in life.

 

This is the first book in a series of three.

Blog Stops

Guild Master, December 6 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 7

Texas Book-aholic, December 8

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, December 9 (Author Interview)

An Author’s Take, December 10

Inklings and notions, December 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 12

Artistic Nobody, December 13 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, December 13

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 14

For the Love of Literature, December 15 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, December 15

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 16

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 17

Vicky Sluiter, December 18 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 19

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chris is givign away the grand prize package of $50 Amazon gift card, a signed copy of the book, and a matching bookmark!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/22eca/falling-apart-falling-for-you-celebration-tour-giveaway

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Meeting Faith by Kimberley Payne



 Book Description:


Do you want to draw closer to God? Discover these devotions that can bring you into a deeper relationship with the Lord.

Are you facing challenges in your family life as a mother? Do you have the desire to be healthy and care for your body? Are you looking for encouragement and a boost in your faith? Kimberley Payne is a down-to-earth writer who shares real-life stories as a mother, health advocate, and woman of faith to help you live a fuller life and strengthen your relationship as a believer.

Meeting Faith is a book of 100 devotionals that take common, everyday occurrences from Kimberley’s life and pass on spiritual insights which make faith relevant.

Kimberley shares everyday “stuff” and mixes it in with her personal faith journey. She writes about her experiences and how her faith helped her not only get through difficulties, or just the day, and even grow.

By reading these reflections you’ll be feeling encouraged as a mother, inspired in your health, and strengthened in your faith.

In 
Meeting Faith you’ll discover:

  • Personal anecdotes that resonate with your life
  • Faith lessons from everyday family occurrences
  • Reminders of teachings from the Bible without being preachy
  • Thoughts on God’s Word and how it impacts your health and fitness
  • Insights into scripture and the working of the Holy Spirit in your life

Meeting Faith is an authentic devotional that offers simple truths as experienced by one of God’s children.

If you like stories that encourage, motivate, and inspire then you’ll love this book of everyday life experiences that draw you closer to family, friends, and God. Buy 
Meeting Faith to enrich your spiritual life today!


My Thoughts:

This was a really good devotional.  I love the way the author takes personal stories and relates them.  Literally all of what she shared, I could relate to in my life.  This is one of those books that you can go through once and then again and get something different from it each time.  I love the way the author lays it all out and it is easy to read and hopefully implement.  I didn't feel as if I were being talked down to but more related to and shown.  Truly a book I would share with my friends and family.

5/5

Thank you to the author for the review copy of this book.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.

Saturday, November 19, 2022

Adelfi Banking

 


Do you know where your bank gives and invests its money? Does it align with your values? By placing your financial resources with AdelFi, you’re uniting your finances with other believers to advance Christian values with empathy and compassion. AdelFi supports thousands of Christian organizations worldwide that spread the Gospel with AdelFi’s commitment to giving back 10% of its profits every year to support Christian. Whether you’re starting a family, running a business, or serving a non-profit or ministry, AdelFi has products and services that align with your financial goals and Christian values. Partner with like-minded people and still access the technology and services that makes day-to-day finance transactions easy. 

Recycling Christian Dollars – In a recent study by AdelFi, it found that young Christian consumers gave nearly 3x more than non-Christians. However, when supporting business that aligned with what they aligned with their beliefs/causes, they were no different than ynon-Christians.  And in some instances, non-Christians cared more than Christians about doing business with organizations that aligned with their non-Christian beliefs.  This was mainly due to the fact that there aren’t many Christian businesses marketing its values.  At AdelFi, we believe that as stewards of God’s money, we support fellow Christian businesses and understand the need to promote the intersection of faith and finances.  Daily purchase interactions should have a form of tithing daily.  Where you bank has a ripple effect on how resources get used or recycled within the Christian community.  Banking with AdelFi means more support to fellow Christian consumers, businesses, churches, non-profits, and causes. In fact, AdelFi is a not-for-profit credit union, where the money doesn’t go to wall street, but to God’s streets – where the Gospel is spread domestically and internationally. 

Holy Pals PJs

 

Check out these super cute Christian Christmas PJs!  They are available in sizes for the whole family!!  https: //holypals.com/discount/ALYCIA10


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Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Half Moon Lake by Steve Brock

 

Crease Williams, after devastating occurrences in his life, is seeking quiet and solitude, but instead finds himself accused of kidnapping and murder…



By Steve Brock





Crease Williams lived a charmed life with a bright future. Only in his junior year at Texas Christian University, his skills as a wide receiver had already captured the attention of NFL scouts.

Then a tragedy cost him his family and his desire to play football. Personally devastated, he left his old life behind and got as far from Ft. Worth, TX, and football as he could get.

Keeping mostly to himself, he became a float-plane pilot in the far north of Minnesota. Flying fisherman and hunters into remote locations was how he spent his time. When a group he had flown to Roudy’s Cabin goes missing, he faces accusations and more turmoil than he could have ever imagined. To make matters worse, his quiet existence is upturned by an element from his past bent on vengeance.

Half Moon Lake is Steve Brock’s first novel. A suspenseful mystery written with likable characters and a lighthearted flavor.

Book Information

Release Date: March 30, 2022

Publisher:  Steve Brock

Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-0578391977; 187 pages; $9.99; Kindle Unlimited FREE

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3knaPfd


My Thoughts:

This was a good read.  The author did a good job of spinning a story that keeps your attention from the start.  I was intrigued and just had to keep reading.  The story unfolds well and the characters are really well written and relatable.

If you enjoy a mystery with suspense and engaging characters, this book is for you.  

4/5

Thank you to the author/publisher for the review copy of this book via PUYB.  I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.





The Bobcat Bar and Grill was rockin’. In the center of a raised stage that faced a collection of round wooden tables and ladder-back chairs, a middle-aged R and B diva gyrated her hips to the music. With a double-fisted death grip on a stand-up microphone, she belted out lyrics: “R-E-S-P-E-C-T…Find out what it means to me…” The stage lights created spheres of pink and blue fog in the smoke-filled atmosphere. A saxophone player swung his horn back and forth in rhythm with the music, while the keyboard player stood and pounded the keys of a baby grand piano like they insulted his sister. The diva ended the song with a flourish and the already dancing crowd erupted with applause.

          The singer announced a quick break while the more intoxicated in the crowd continued to clap in appreciation. When the noise subsided, a uniformed deputy sitting at the bar looked at the keyboard player and said, “I hate to be a killjoy, but don’t you think we ought to get our prisoner to the station, Sheriff?” He nodded his head toward a scruffy-looking character in handcuffs next to him.

          Still smiling from the moments on stage, Sheriff Maurice Broussard replied, “Yeah, you’re right, Joe. Let’s pack him up and go.”

          As he spoke, he felt a hand on his shoulder. The sax player said, “Come back and sit in with us again, Mo.”

          “Count on it. I’ll be back,” the sheriff said with a big smile. The 10-15 call was the reason they came to the Bobcat, but Sheriff Mo couldn’t resist the chance to relive his jazz band days back on Bourbon Street in a previous life.

          He was a native of New Orleans, but like so many others, Katrina had forced him to flee north on a temporary relocation. At least, that was the original plan. Once here, he found some stability that he lacked before. The weather took some getting used to, but it was otherwise a nice place to live, so he decided to stay. Being county sheriff wasn’t something he’d ever considered before he came here, but he found it agreed with him.

          He and his deputy each grasped an arm of the scruffy-looking man and led him out the door and to the car. Obviously inebriated, the prisoner asked, “What am I being arrested for?"

          Joe shook his head and said, “I’ve told you twice already."

          “For being a drunken asshole,” Mo said. “You can be an asshole, and you can get drunk, but you can’t do both, not around here.”


 














I’ve been an author in search of a novel for just about forty years now. Writing was the first thing I ever wanted to do seriously. Over the years I’ve done quite a variety of things. My first real job, the kind where you have a schedule and get paid hourly, was as a cook at the local Sonic Drive-In. I’ve been a machinist, a forklift driver, a production worker, a computer programmer, an IT guy, an installation manager, a software trainer, and an education department manager. Those are just the employment highlights. Through it all, I was a husband and father, and I attended college at night to get my bachelor’s degree in technology management.

Before all that started, I wanted to be a writer. It just didn’t work out that way. Maybe that’s ok, I’ve had a good life and I have a wonderful family that I am proud to have. I don’t regret any of what I’ve done to support my family over the years. The desire to write has persisted, however, and I took a look at my odometer one day and it read 61 years old. None of us know how high our personal odometer will go, but I knew if I was ever going to be a writer, now was the time.

I’m bringing my lifetime of experience to my novel writing. Many of my characters are loosely based upon people I’ve known in real life. Some of my plot elements are also influenced by real-life experiences as well. As of this writing, my first novel, Half Moon Lake, will be published on Amazon in a few weeks. I have begun work on my second book as well. I hope you will take time to register your email address so I may keep you apprised of announcements and special offers. I’d be thrilled to count you as one of my first dedicated readers.

Steve Brock’s latest novel is Half Moon Lake.

You can visit his website at www.BrockNovels.com or connect with him at Twitter.








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