Posts Tagged With ‘ Fiction ’

Hi folks, here is Chapter 1 of my novel, Enchanting Treve. This novel represents so much as it is told from the perspective of three strong women who are doing their best to live their lives to the fullest in the face of life’s challenges. It is also a journey down memory lane for those of us who grew up in the country or who visited family who lived in the country when we were kids. With this novel I held nothing back – it brought the tears as well as the joys of those days into sharp relief. The intense struggles we face as we progress through the phases of our lives, with their pleasant,... Continue Reading

I’m a member of Goodreads and always participate in its Reading Challenge every year. This year’s personal challenge was to read 30 books; so far I’ve exceeded that at 32 and still have a couple more on my bookshelf. As a writer, I’m a voracious reader. I believe reading makes me a better writer. I think all writers feel that sentiment about their writing. While I love books, I also read newspapers, magazines, blogs, and various Internet sites. Even cereal boxes.  Here are the books that claimed some of my precious time this year. I spent an inordinate amount of time... Continue Reading

My latest manuscript is back in the hands of my able and trusting editor. She’ll make the edits, send it on to a proofreader, and format the work into a galley proof.  I probably added another 800 words to the manuscript, bringing the total to about 60k. There were some transitions needed between scenes, dialogue fixes, and additional descriptive passages in the “show, don’t tell” category. The galley will return to me for a final read and minor edits for any typos as well as grammatical errors, and misspellings that may have slipped through on the first edits. If you’re... Continue Reading

Title: Academic Affairs: A Poisoned Apple Available in both paperback and Kindle formats Author: Peter Likins Reviewed for the NABBW by: Anne L. Holmes I am a huge fan of the cozy mystery genre. When I’m not reading and reviewing books on behalf of the NABBW, I’m always deep into a cozy of my choice. So I was delighted to be invited to dig into Academic Affairs: A Poisoned Apple, by Peter Likins, which is described as a “whimsical murder mystery novel.” (In other words, a “cozy.”) If you’re not familiar with the genre, think Jessica Fletcher. The... Continue Reading

Title: Curse of the Coloring Book: A Novel Inspired by a True Story  Available in paperback Author: Howard L. Hibbard Reviewed for the NABBW by: Anne L. Holmes Anyone who came of age during the era of the Vietnam War will resonate with this book. Curse of the Coloring Book tells the story of Herald Lloyd who, in the Fall of 1967 recklessly quits college to join the Army.  Once signed up, he mocks the war and his decision to sign up, with the purchase of a GI Joe Coloring Book and half-gallon of whiskey. Then, with his induction papers in his pocket, and along with a set... Continue Reading

Title: Mink Eyes Available in both paperback and Kindle formats Author: Max McBride Reviewed for the NABBW by: Anne L. Holmes The time is the mid-80’s. October 1986, to be precise. As the book opens, we meet Peter O’Keefe – described to the reader as being taller than 6 feet, and a physically scarred and emotionally battered, divorced, Vietnam vet – and his daughter Kelly. It’s just after 5 A.M., as O’Keefe, who lives in the lower level apartment of a Victorian house, in a regentrifying neighborhood, wakes up, climbs out of bed, dresses and begins his usual,... Continue Reading

Title: Games of Make-Believe Author: Julie Ann Wambach Reviewed by: Anne Holmes For the NABBW Given the book’s title, it makes sense that it opens with a “once upon a time” fairy-tale format. Chapter One, “A Past So Grimm,” begins: “Once upon a time, in an old house, way out in the Utah desert there lived many children. The mother was nice to her own two daughters. They were her favorites and she treated them like princesses. The mother was nasty to the other youngsters because they were stepchildren. She made them do all the work, and they hated Horrible Hannah.” Stepmother... Continue Reading

The Cowgirl Jumped Over the Moon Author: Linda Ballou http://LindaBallouAuthor.com Reviewed by: Anne Holmes for the NABBW As this book opens, life seems pretty good for Gemcie McCauley, a talented and dedicated Grand Prix jumper. She and her beautiful horse, an Irish Hunter named Marshal, whom she’s raised from a colt, are about to capture the World Cup. Gemcie and her handsome husband Jorge, live on a horse ranch owned by his parents. Billy, her longtime trainer, is a father figure for her. She’s never known her father Tom, a cowboy, who left when she was just a month old. We learn... Continue Reading

One Chance, One Moment: Book One – the Mandy Story Author: Judith Kohnen Reviewed for the NABBW by Anne Holmes Renowned singer/musician Garry Danzlo has decided to live a life of seclusion after a debilitating car accident destroys his musical career. Guilt-ridden and stubborn, he wants no part of the holistic nurse his sister has hired to rehabilitate him. He’s determined to get rid of her, just as efficiently as he has done when sending all the prior nurses packing… But he hasn’t counted on the determination of spunky, fun-loving nurse Amanda Fields. She is determined... Continue Reading

Too Young to Be This Old: Mature Anthology Amazon Barnes & Noble Nook Author:  Sheryl Letzgus McGinnis Reviewed by:  Anne Holmes for the NABBW This is a great read anytime, but especially wonderful for summer beach reading, or if you’re a person who likes to have a book with you at all times – something to pick up when you’ve only got at few minutes to read.  Such as during a commute to work, on a boat or plane, in the doctor’s waiting room, etc. The stories are fun and easy to read, but light enough that you won’t lose track of all that’s... Continue Reading