It's The Weekend

 

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Did You Know

 Did you know, 'Never put off tomorrow what you can do today', came from Thomas Jefferson?

 

Wednesday's Word: Aunt

 

My go-to word (for aunt): Blessing

 

Apologies for being off the grid last week. We got a call that my ninety-three year old aunt had been moved to hospice, so we made a lightning trip to Southern Illinois. I'd like to think she knew we were there. She clasped my hand when I held hers the evening we got there and passed the next day. Even though it was a blessing, death is never easy, for the recipient or the loved ones left behind. She had a rare form of MS but carried it with dignity and grace. You never heard her complain. Her body might have been wasting away, but until she got sick, her mind was much sharper than mine. My uncle passed several years ago and I'm sure has been impatiently waiting for her as she was for him. Married for over sixty years and having no children they were closer than many married couples. They traveled extensively as long as her health allowed. They took care of each other. She'd butter and cut his toast and fix his orange juice and coffee every morning and he tricked out the van making it handicapped accessible, built handicapped ramps and didn't blink when she bought an exorbitantly-priced face cream:) Little things but they watched out for the other. There's not a doubt in my mind that wherever they are, they're in the midst of a huge family reunion, reminiscing, telling off-color jokes, hugging, kissing and throwing out a lot of I love yous and I missed you.

RIP, Norma. Or better yet, kick up your heels and have a good time.

 

Norma Jean Horntrop

August 29, 1928 - October 16, 2021 

AND

 

 

Offline

 

As if you hadn't figured that out:) I'll be back Wednesday. Until then don't do anything I wouldn't. Which pretty much limits you to reading, writing and gardening:)

Weekend Wishes

 

 

 

Did You Know

 Did you know, October 30th is National Candy Corn Day?🍁

 

Writerly Wednesday

 For me: there's no ice cream in the freezer.

It's Tuesday

 Greetings Blogger Buds.

Hope your weekend and Monday were good ones.

Frank

Can be found in the strangest places. Usually, where he's not supposed to be.

In the garden

Got flowers? Cats in strange places?

Friday's Read: DEATH MAKES A HOUSECALL

 

 

Doctors used to make house calls. Now Death does.

 

Death Makes a House Call Excerpt

A push and the door swung open on silent hinges. I took my revolver from my ankle holster, and slipped it between my waistband and shirt.

The house appeared to be empty. But as we all know, appearances can be and often are deceiving. A quick search revealed no one on the main floor, and nothing appeared out of order. Up the stairs I went to the second level. And that’s when I heard a sound.

I stopped breathing and focused. Someone or something was in one of the rooms down the hall. The floor was carpeted, so unless a floor board was loose my approach would be soundless.

All was quiet in the rest of the house. I crept past a pair of rooms on either side of the hall. The doors were closed. There was another pair of doors at the end of the hall and the one on my right was partially open. A light was on and I heard what could have been someone softly crying.

With revolver in hand, I pushed open the door. Lying on the bed was Dr Merkman. Sitting on the bed next to him was a woman. In her hand, a gun.

“Put the gun down nice and slow,” I said.

She jumped up, and I dropped to the floor. There was an explosion, flash of fire, and bits of sheetrock in the air.

I pulled the trigger on my snub-nosed .38. The woman did a pirouette to her right, the gun dropping to the bed, and she to the floor.

Out of my pocket came my phone and I made the call to 911.

 

• Madeira, Tina’s favorite alcoholic libation, was once America’s preferred wine. We started drinking it in the colonial period to avoid British taxes. At that time, the Madeira islands were considered part of Africa and not subject to British taxes.
• Tina only eats fish and chips at Mac’s, which is a real restaurant in St Paul, Minnesota. And the fish and chips are to die for!
• Tina loves sauerkraut and there’s a short story, “Sauerkraut Days”, devoted to a sauerkraut eating contest, and, of course, murder.

 

CW Hawes Bio and Contact Info

 

 

CW Hawes is a multi-genre author because he is a multi-genre reader. He’s penned The Justinia Wright Private Investigator Mysteries, The Rocheport Saga: A Post-Apocalyptic Steam Powered Future, the Pierce Mostyn Paranormal Investigations series, and assorted alternative history and horror offerings.

 Born and raised in the Cleveland, Ohio area, CW spent 49 years in the Land of 10,000 Lakes (aka Minnesota), and now proudly hails from the Lone Star State (aka Texas).

He hasn’t met a pizza he doesn’t like (okay, he detests pineapple), is something of a tea snob, and rocks out to Handel and Vaughan Williams.

 

Buy Links: 

 

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082VVZ9PF

 

Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/Death-Makes-House-Call-Investigator-ebook/dp/B082VVZ9PF/

 

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B082VVZ9PF/

 

Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/Death-Makes-House-Call-Investigator-ebook/dp/B082VVZ9PF/

 

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Did You Know

 Did you know, the Baltimore Ravens were named after the poem The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe?

 

IWSG Wednesday

 

The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

The awesome co-hosts for the October 6 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pitt, J Lenni Dorner, Cathrina Constantine, Ronel Janse Van Vuuren, and Mary Aalgaard.

 

October 6 question-In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language? I’m going to have to mull this one over. Short answer, I'm a middle of the road writer when it comes to language and topics. 

I’ll be interested in seeing how others answer this.

 

September/October in no particular order.

* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factor them into my review.

 

LIFE IS LIKE A MOSAIC by Sally Cronin

Lovely imagery.

This is such a wonderful collection of verse.  There’re poems of nature and her creatures. Poems of childhood. Of aging. And even of food. There’re poems of warning and poems of fun. The one thing they all have in common is the mastery of the verse itself. The collection of words that are strung together and used to spark a reaction, usually a smile and a feeling of warmth, and slide us into the worlds that the author created.

Available at Amazon

 

 

 

 

SECRETS, LIES AND ALIBIS by Jacqui Biggar

Romantic Suspense with a Healthy Dollop of Humor 

 

Amanda and Adam, two headstrong government agents, have a hot affair. Amanda has second thoughts and they part ways. After the split, Amanda discovers she’s pregnant. Tension builds as they try to find their way back to each other all the while in the midst of danger.

This is the first book of the series I’ve read and while it stands alone, it would be helpful to start at the beginning to get more deeply immersed in the other characters.

Biggar has a smooth writing style and does a wonderful job of drawing readers in with her characters and world-building. This is a well-told tale that will leave fans wanting more.

Available at Amazon

 THINGS HE HADN’T TOLD HER by Vicky Whedbee

A heartwarming, sweet romance about two best friends who fall in love with the same woman.

Cole and Chad have been friends since the first grade. Chad has looked out for Cole all his life. Now that they're in college, the friendship is put to the test when they fall in love with the same woman and Chad must decide whether to put Cole's needs first as he's always done or for once, put himself first.

Available at Amazon

 

THE SORCERER’S GARDEN by D. Wallace Peach

Told in Peach’s sirenic style, this story takes on a life of its own when an unfinished story begins to write itself.

Madlyn is hired as a reader for Cody, a young man in a vegetative state. Deciding he wouldn’t be interested in romance stories, she begins reading the unfinished manuscript that Cody was writing before his accident. Entertainment turns to intrigue and intrigue to terror when she discovers herself in the story and the pages in the book take on an energy of their own. Her life begins to twist and turn between the present and past, and in both lives she finds herself in danger.  

Rich in imagery, this story is a must read for Peach and/or fantasy fans. 

Available at Amazon

 

WILLOW’S RETREAT by S. L. Hollister

Another well-done drama about small town life in the coastal South. The story is centered around a couple that love each other but who have misunderstood what the other wants for thirty years to the detriment of their marriage. All the characters are nicely fleshed-out and believable, including a mother-in-law from hell that readers will love to hate. Hate may be too strong a word but she definitely gets on nerves as she frets about what her church friends will think instead of worrying about what her family needs. She has also poisoned the youngest child against his mother which adds another layer to a complex story. A well-told tale that has just the right amount of danger and emotional tension to hold the reader’s interest. It certainly did mine.

Available at Amazon

 

PARANORMAL MYSTERIES by Judy and Keith

This book contains three standalone stories about a mysterious piano, a teddy bear, and a good witch who takes on a dark fairy.

All three novellas were fun but my favorite was the story of the mysterious piano and the affect it has on its new owner (a young girl) and how her abilities go from that of a beginner to a concert pianist.

The teddy bear is not your typical stuffed animal and the dark fairy does what dark fairies do:)

This book is geared for teens but I would also add the young at heart. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories and recommend them for anyone looking to sink into escapism. The well-written novellas are fun, easy reads.

Available at Amazon

 

Read a good book lately?