Ari's Aria - Book 3 of Malt Shop Milestones Trilogy by Nadine C. Keels - Young Adults and Above Will Love the 40s Presented

Vicky had ordered her usual pink cow and took a sip as she responded to her new friend, Ari. They had been talking about a talent show that was coming up and Ari, who was very involved with music, was asking for details...

Of course, they were including comments about Hester, who had won the contest for the last two years... 

Hester? She was dating that cute, rich boy that Berta dreamed about before she met Howard. Let's just say Hester flung that connection around to all the girls in the school--"He's mine!" Even Ari, who was new to the school had already noticed, and after their discussion, she decided she would sign up!

And the jukebox played on...

If you all don't mind, I'd like to share one of my own past stories that I thought of as I was reading these books, the last one, by the way, is my favorite, maybe for that reason... But probably because of Ari's music interests... And her decision to compete...

Too many years ago for me to remember the year, I had just met a new member of my family, by marriage. The WVU fieldhouse was still on the main campus and she and I attended a basketball game... It was a small facility and I was seeing many people I knew. But one of the faculty members with whom I worked happened to be looking around at the same time and we recognized each other and waved hands, smiling... I got a strange look from this new female and she asked me if I knew him... Then, for whatever reason, she asked me if I would date a Black man... At that time, I had already been very conscious about prejudice against Black people, since I was already meeting many more non-white people than I had ever interacted with there... This is what I said: "Probably not, my main concern would be the children that could result from a relationship--everybody knew that other children still picked on children different from them. That was the end of that conversation. However, a week or so later, my aunt with whom I'd always been close, asked me, bluntly, "Are you interested in dating Black men?" I probably said, "ah, What?" She promptly went on and told me who has told her that. We looked at each other, immediately knowing what we were thinking... Then she told me, that she had talked so much about needing a coat, that my aunt finally gave her money. We would be on the alert from now on... And, I can't help but worry just a little, about what's happening, again, today... But I've learned to admire the Black Culture, especially those individuals I've met through their wonderful books, like this trilogy.

I bring this up because of the new family that came to the "Black Diamond district." You see, Ari's father had originally lived there many years ago... He had left and had joined the service, fighting in WWII but his greatest love and job was playing piano... And he knew he would always be able to find somebody who needed a piano player... Thing was, as he worked, he realized that nobody seemed to know he was a Black man. Even in the service... So, why would he make a point of it?

And what happened to make him come back home? He fell in love. With a beautiful Mexican woman... And Ari became a mixed-race child who knew as soon as she was old enough to understand that they were holding a secret. You see, at that time, Mexicans were classified, legally, as white. And it was illegal to be married to a Black man... It was time to go home to Black Diamond...

At first, the family was...watched... Many of the older residents knew he had passed for many years out in the white world... It seemed everybody adopted a wait-and-see about why he came back. But, that was the grownups... Berta, when she first say Ari sitting alone, she felt...empathy... And even though she was a little jealous of what Howard said about her being pretty, Berta went over and started talking... Soon, Ari had filled the place that had been vacated in the threesome which were Vicky, Berta, and now Ari...

You know that television that was new in town? Well, Ari was the first to be invited over, along with others from school, to watch TV... And if the young shall lead, Berta's family soon invited Ari's parents to watch a drama one evening...

So while that was happening the trio continued to ponder whether Ari should compete in the talent contest... So Vicki checked out the rules and discovered that it said nothing about whether a mixed-race individual could compete... BTW, Hester had told Ari that she should check the rules... That made the decision much more easy, of course. But Ari wondered about what should she do for her talent. Her Dad had been teaching her piano since she was very young. But, she was also had a beautiful voice. In any event, she was afraid her need for practicing would disrupt her home too much... So, that was quickly arranged by the pastor of their church being willing for her to practice--as long as the music didn't get to jazzy... LOL

When I heard Black Diamond, I knew this was the video to use... even if Ari would also be playing piano...

It was Ari's turn, she wore a beautiful gown she'd worn before to a special event. She sat down to play, but hesitated... At the last minute she knew the song that she really wanted to sing--and how to sing it...

Unfortunately, I've spent it seems hours trying to find a video, which I really wanted to hear and use... of exactly what Ari had chosen to do... She had sung the first time in English, and then she sang the last version in Spanish... Finding this song in Spanish? Even Latino stars chose to sing in English...Sigh

Of course when we read about Hester's talent, we knew who would win!

But, the more important part of the story was when Ari's mother came to her after she'd left the state... You see, Ari had missed her grandmother who they didn't see much since they'd moved... Little by little, the use of their Spanish had been eliminated from their daily lives... Ari, who was of two cultures, wanted to celebrate them both... And sharing the other part of her there in Black Diamond was something she felt she really needed to do...

Many have said lately that you cannot choose with whom you fall in love. In a single race community, or nation, it may never come up. But in a land where all people are welcomed, love comes, sometimes, from a different ethnic descent you meet--somebody who turns out to be their one and only soul mate... Does it matter? In the 40s, the government regulated marriage by color of your skin... Ari and her parents had to come to Black Diamond and felt safe for, maybe, the first time since they were married years ago... I so applaud Nadine for writing from a historical perspective that we are now once again facing... But, no matter who says what, know that we are all God's Children...

I recognize that I may have overplayed the historical part... But with this last book, I want to point out to our teen readers, that these books really are fun to read... watching teenagers back in the 40s, you may find, is not really different... Or is it? In any event, they are escapes from reality... Brining in the War was a small part of it all... The books rock with music, gossip by the local store boy who bags groceries repeating anything and everything that is most talked about as people check out...and then share to the next group of people... LOL Why wait for the newspaper, at least until Vicky is working there one day!

More importantly, it is a time when friends could be friends--both boys and girls--and find that they could be themselves. Only one girl seemed to have a problem with other students, but, really, there's probably more these days, right? Bottom line, I loved these books... I wish I had been able to find the final song, Nature Boy, sung by a beautiful teen who learned both English and Spanish from her parents. At least it was Nat's daughter, but his voice is so much smoother and dreamy...LOL Hint I was/am his fan!

GABixlerReviews

Spotlight on Trilogy, Continued - Berta's Bounceback by Nadine C. Keels - from the Malt Shop Milestones series

 It was Saturday afternoon in the community of West Hill, nicknamed "Black Diamond District," and teens were flooding to Bro Brown's Malt Shop to push coins, first into the Jukebox, and then head over to order their favorite drink, to get started... My choice? Orange Cream, but I doubt it was available in the 40s...LOL But no matter what era, I was there to enjoy the music and check out another kind of whodunit...

Hear that, the flavor of Autumn Leaves, which is one of my favorite Nat King Cole vocals, is right in there at the beginning... Now at my time, the word was groovy...in the 40s, I don't know what they called smooth jazz... but it's what most was happening at Bro's place... a central location of these books--where friends could gather and talk, hear the latest news, or meet up with others from school for a little out-of-school JOY...

In fact, the trilogy surrounds the lives of a threesome of teen girls at all times--with one change when a family had to move to another part of the country. And Ari came in to find herself in a safe place finally... More on that later... Vicky was in book one; however, you should also know that the lives of all three girls are continuously within the pages of the trilogy. Here, you'll find just a few main facts that I found of personal interest and wanted to share with all of you!

Berta considers herself just an average student, in most ways. In fact, she only began to find herself recognizing her value, when a certain young boy came stumbling into her life... You see, Howard sat in front of Berta in one of their classes... While Berta was dreaming of ever having a date with the most popular boy in school and deciding that wasn't going to happen. My thought immediately was that Howard was secretly interested in Berta... And shy around her...

So much so that when he was coming to class, one time he stumbled right before he got to his own chair and fell onto Berta's desk... How humiliating! All the class was laughing; but, it was only later that Berta, remembered, that, when Howard's head popped up and he leaned on her desk, he had asked if she was ok! You know, that's when my mystery solving mind decided, Yep, he's whodunit! He's the guy for Berta!

And I was right...

So, one day, Berta was meeting Vicky... And, there she sat wearing Willie's sports jacket! How Cool! Berta had her own secret to share; but, being Berta, she allowed her friend to share her joy of wearing Willie's jacket first... And, only then, did she reveal that her family had a new addition! No, you're wrong if you immediately thought what most people would think, LOL... Her father had bought a Television!!!!

Ahhh, that did bring back memories for me... We were too poor to have a television for many years after they came out... But a neighbor of ours had purchased one--he worked for the railroad where a train traveled right in front of our house and I guess he made lots more money than my widowed Mom... Anyway, my sister was a good friend of his daughter, plus we all went to the same church... Soooo, we got to go to their house to watch TV, just like you'll read about, when Berta invites her friends! Cool, right?! And by that time, Howard was definitely invited, especially when Berta found out he had been their paperboy and had routinely interacted with her Dad! But she had never known him then... True... 

But I have to tell you about their first date! Howard fumbled around and finally got it out that his sister was getting married and, like, would Berta be his date at the wedding? She almost swooned... Her first grownup event--what would she wear?! Thoughts flooded into her mind, until she finally remembered she had to say "yes" to Howard!

And the very first thing she noticed at the wedding? Howard  was not awkward or stumbling around... She realized that he was in a safe space, where everybody loved him and came to hug and talk to him... I believe it was then that Berta began to see Howard for who he really was... And that, somebody, was somebody she really began to like--a lot!

Until Berta began to have trouble understanding the material of a couple of her classes. She found she had to spend more time studying and less time with her friends and the malt shop... But what are friends for? Vicky one day just came out and asked her friend what was wrong. And Berta confessed she needed to study more but some of it she just couldn't understand... It was algebra for me... I had to take a class to be able to take a few management courses on campus when I started working right after I graduated... All I can remember now, and immediately after I passed the course, was that there was an 8 on its side and it meant infinity... LOL Anyway, Vicky forced her to make time to meet with her to study together... until she moved on to the other major concern that had developed...

Vicky had career goals even early in her teens... It wasn't until Berta began to have trouble with some of her classwork that, perhaps for the first time, she realized that she'd never thought about plans for the future--that she didn't even think about it enough to wonder if she wanted to work, what would she do? Her self-doubt became so great that she was no longer able to deal with the reality of her day-to-day life activities... She even began to worry about Howard when he said that a new girl was pretty...

Until she opened up, at Howard's insistence, to him...

This, then, is one of the reasons, I wanted to spotlight this trilogy. Keels has a personal connection to all that has happened within the Black Culture. Her books reveal that connection and her desire to create the books that she could never find when she was growing up and going through her teen years... She wanted to share those books and I believe she has done a fantastic job... Sure, these books all have Black characters... But, I have to say, I've never found anything that makes me think that color of the skin makes our teen years, or, in fact, any part of our lives, different because one is black and one is white. It's NOT true... Circumstances may be a problem, but never the people unless... well, you all know what I mean...

One of the first books I read by a Black woman, had a cover with a white woman. I asked her why. She told me there were no covers readily available with Black people! And that's been within the last twenty years! I am a fan of book covers. It's the first thing I do when I get a new book... Kudos to Keels for making sure this historical trilogy reflected exactly what she wanted to have found when she was a teen! And for again, providing a final narrative on, this time, the Black culture and capitalization/writing concerns... is covered...

I especially enjoyed the three characters that Nadine created... Each one entirely different in so many ways; yet, they had become friends... Reminded me of the trio I was part of in junior high and on through graduation. One Black girl, One Catholic girl, and one white girl, who thankfully believed that God had created all people! And, isn't that the way it's supposed to be?! But, just as we are experiencing once again, our Black neighbors being persecuted. We need to question, don't we?! We are all God's children, every one of us. And, surely, if in the 1940s, the Black songs were not even allowed to be played by many radio stations, then surely we should have progressed by 2026! And we have to some extent... but not under the president that I don't recognize...as...mine...

GABixlerReviews

Spotlight on Trilogy--Malt Shop Milestones - Book 1 - Vicky's Victory by Nadine C. Keels - Honoring Martin Luther King Day...

 

Come on over to the Book Setting!

8 years ago-scoping out plan of action...

And remembering my very first Black girlfriend, Marian Davis, in the 7th grade when we both started going to junior high school... And the many Black friends I have found through their books, including Nadine C. Keels... We must fight for freedom...again!

God Be With Our Black Neighbors

I've been a fan of Nadine Keels for many years. I follow her on Amazon and had picked up books when they send a notice they've been published. So I had read one and discovered it was a trilogy. I then read another I already had, and finally went out and got this first book that I'd missed... After reading I knew I wanted to spotlight this trilogy, for so many reasons...

First, it is set soon after the end of WWII--I was born about that time, LOL... My mother had made it clear to me, when I asked, that I was an America. Even then she disassociated herself from Hitler and his war against the Jewish people. And, I wanted to learn more about that era just as Nadine had done to add a historical perspective to these books... 

And its music, of course.

Nadine provides a short historical perspective for each of these books, varying. In this case, she talked about what was called "race music." Yes, there has always been discrimination, hasn't there? (As far back as Jesus Himself...) The local radio stations at that time refused to play what, essentially, was the Blues. 

That was the decision by which the Malt Shop owner installed a jukebox... The Malt Shop became the central setting as the book progresses... And it was normally packed, especially by teenagers, who would come in, go immediately to the jukebox and put in some coins!

Nat King Cole was known as a trio at that time, and, of course, you all will find Cole on my blog from time to time with historical or seasonal books (Autumn Leaves is so beautiful). Nat surely was on the Jukebox... Some of the town's soldiers had never returned... The Black community was still mourning their loss...

Vicky was known as The Brain of her school, something which she didn't really enjoy, but the kids did tend to give nicknames, and Vicky was one of the smartest students in the school. She was also interested in writing, already planning for a career in Journalism, hopefully at her local newspaper so that she wouldn't have to leave town...

But Vicky was really a young girl who had not yet found her way... Even though she was 16, she had never dated anyone, even though one of her best friends already had a steady boyfriend (you'll meet her later). But then there was a day--a very special day... And there was a boy, a special little boy she had once played with when her parents had come together. They would go outside to play and leave the grownups to do what they did, and they'd run, run, run everywhere, having fun, as children do...

But, this day, she was alone at the Malt Shop and ready to place her order, when the son of the Shop's owner...well, let's just say, there was an incident. A very special incident for Vicky and, it seemed, for...him...

Now Vicky, when she dreamed, she thought of somebody she could be interested in, who'd consider maybe going to the library as a date... at least she thought that would be a wonderful way to spend time together. But when she was matched with a new student at school for a two-person project, she really learned what that "could" mean. Whew, she even had to spend time talking to her mother about that situation! LOL Let's just say he was a black sexist pig... And I have no idea whether that was known as a phrase in the '40s...

More and more Vicky remembered the incident. An incident that she had never shared with her best friends... It was too precious...

And with that she could keep it close to her heart secretly, at least she could keep the secret until he had made and given her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich... She had to share!

Willie, the teenaged son of the owner of Bro Brown's Malt Shop, had been talking with friends when he turned around--and the incident occurred... Yes, he was the little boy with whom she'd run through the house and yard as a child... Now he was the most important football player on the team and their lives, for the most part had gone separate ways until that day... She hadn't been looking for a beau, but, still...

Willie had held Vicky that day, to save her from falling. But they held in that position much longer than needed. And, their eyes had held, neither wanted to move... She wasn't sure what to do. He certainly didn't... Willie, we can plainly see, is really somewhat shy. There is no indication whether he'd had a crush on Vicky when they were much younger, but their time at that time, obviously had stayed with each one as time had gone by...

Perhaps a new song flipped up on the jukebox, but finally the incident moved on... Vicky went on to meet her friends. Willie might have gone back to his Dad and said something about Vicky needing a new drink... Perhaps his Dad had perked up with how his son was talking, maybe a little nervous, his eyes wandering around the kitchen... His Dad warmed inside... Since his wife had died, he had been the only parent and was often too busy working to spend time with his son...just...to...see how he was doing...

And when Willie's Dad suggested he have a small group of friends in, Willie agreed--he wanted only to have Vicky come! So he suggested she invite her friends too... And Vicky did come, but was quiet and sat watching others dancing. When Willie came and asked, worriedly about her, she finally admitted for the first time that she didn't know how to dance...

Willie took her hand and pulled her to her feet, guiding her into his arms... They danced to Nat Cole again...and when they didn't break at the end of that song, Willie's friend just played the song over again...

And the rest, as they say, is history... Willie began showing the town that Vicky was his girl, simply by pointing the football toward her after he's made a goal...and plans were made... And gossip spread throughout the school... the town... Willie and Vicky!

And the Jukebox continued on...

Watch for Book 2 Next... 

In the meantime, More History vs. Today

 

Note: I got lost in the 40s era... Some songs have been remade and/or in different eras on the same videos... So I decided to choose the songs that seemed best to match what was happening in the book... 

Also, When I planned on starting the spotlight today, I had not realized that it was a holiday (hopefully that will continue!), I'm sorry, Nadine, I had not planned on bringing in so much history versus today's madness... Folks, these books are both fun, as well as informative... Teenage love is just plain sweet to read about, in my opinion... Grab the trilogy for your own children!

GABixlerReviews

Love By The Breather: Short Romantic Reads by Nadine C. Keels - Perfect for a Relaxing Hour or Two...

 

Inhaling Hope

You’re special. That’s all her first note from him had said. She’d found it taped to the knob of her apartment’s front door after she arrived back from her jog one morning. Given the difference in their schedules, he’d have time to leave the note and be gone for work before she’d be back from her pre-work cardio jaunt around the community, and he’d known it. She hadn’t recognized the handwriting, and no wonder. Who wrote anything down so much anymore in this increasingly paperless world? A note from an apartment-complex neighbor, jotted inside of a folded little sheet of repurposed tree and stuck to a doorknob, was a definite twenty-first-century anomaly. He hadn’t signed it, but she loved that. Not because he’d never been too wild about his name (he said the sound of it always made him feel like he ought to be tap dancing somewhere in a tux with tails, and he’d never tapped in his life) but because his leaving the unexpected, two-word message unsigned made it more intimate. Unrecognizable handwriting and absence of a signature aside, she knew right away that the note was from him. And he knew she’d know it. “Ah, Tracey,” she’d murmured over the paper as she delayed refolding it, the essence of a smile drifting over her lips. Her eyes embraced the message, or rather surrendered to the message’s embrace, as two of her fingers fiddled with the string from the hood of her hoodie, a garment often tasked with shielding her head from the early mist of the outdoors. The mist, among other things her various workout shields shielded her from. She didn’t usually address her favorite neighbor by the full first name with which he’d only come to resigned terms in adulthood...

I don't know about you, but I enjoy a little mystery with romance... And Nadine Keels who has become a friend plus a favorite author begins her lovely set of short stories with one that is intriguing... It starts with a short unsigned note left on the main character's door--two or three words just to let her know that somebody is thinking about her! Cool, right! As the story goes on, Clarion meets and begins talking to her new admirer, at least until she brings up a question she'd been wondering about: “Tray? Do you ever think you and I must look mismatched?” she’d come out and asked him one weekend afternoon... 

At this time when some are trying to divide America racially, I loved Nadine's approach to this sad issue being "used" in today's politics by one party... Young people don't have those biases unless they are taught by their parents or other influential people in their lives. It certainly does not come from the church as Jesus Christ proclaims that we must love our neighbor--all our neighbors... So,

As two people who were not really acquainted began to send messages to each other, they learn more and more about the other and learning to be friends. That is, until tragedy strikes the life of Clarion and she is lost to a world where she must begin to find her own way. Can her new friend help?

Show Me Silver

It was more than a dance. First of all, she wasn’t the kind of woman for just anybody to take dancing just anywhere. Yvonne’s very essence spoke of high class, and that was more than all right. Sterling wasn’t the kind of man to take just any woman out anyway, and classy entertainment was his dating specialty. Fine dining. Theater. Book readings. Art and history exhibits. Orchestral ensembles and symphonies. Ballroom dancing. Tonight, the music was live jazz, from an excellent band that knew how to create and work an atmosphere.

There wasn’t only one couple out on the dance floor. But as far as Sterling’s consciousness was concerned for this space in time, he and Yvonne could have been the only two people on the floor at this dinner concert. It wasn’t because the band’s number at the moment was a slow one with rich tones. It wasn’t because the refined yet alluring fragrance floating from Yvonne’s skin was such a complement to Sterling’s aromatic cologne. It wasn’t even because on what was now their fifth date, this was the longest the two of them had ever held each other. No, no. The other people around faded away and the dance became more than a dance once Sterling began to realize he hadn’t stopped…looking at Yvonne. Meeting her open stare, and saying nothing. By this point in his life, slow-dancing with a woman wasn’t anything new to him. Oftentimes, maintaining a stream of light banter with a dance partner could keep prolonged staring from becoming uncomfortable. Or if Sterling had sensed any possibility that this close and quiet interlude might become at all awkward, this would be the time when he’d lean in to rest his russet brown cheek against Yvonne’s darker, rounder one. Of course, in favorable scenarios, it’d be romantic of Sterling to make such a move. Conversely, it could serve as a convenient next step for a slow dance that would stagnate or become uneasy if the banter ran out, leaving him and his partner with nothing but music and eye contact. But tonight, two or three songs ago, Sterling had lost any sense of time. Neither he nor Yvonne had spoken a word for however long on this dance floor. Neither pair of their brown eyes, his behind wire-framed glasses, had strayed long or far from the other. And Yvonne’s gaze—as soft as her full, feminine form, gently swaying in Sterling’s arms to velvety jazz—had yet to make him feel in any way that it would be best for him to look elsewhere. This was different. A different level of seeing and being seen. He should’ve known. Should’ve known that dancing with Yvonne wouldn’t be only that. He should’ve known because not one thing between him and Yvonne, from the first day to now, had been “only” anything. Every exchange on the phone and in person, every outing with her had left him sated with light, pleasure, and verve. He should’ve been prepared. Yet, how did one prepare for this? For this level of seeing. Seeing that accordingly called for knowing. Not merely the kind of knowing that Sterling could boast about if he wanted. Here while he was amazingly lost but right at home in Yvonne’s gaze, any manner of boasting couldn’t be further from his mind. He wasn’t imagining himself turning back to face all the eyes that had overlooked or looked down on him in past years. He hadn’t a notion of announcing to all the owners of those eyes, as though it would prove anything, “I know Yvonne Royale now. The Yvonne Royale.” No. That wasn’t the nature of potential knowing, here. Besides, it had never been Sterling’s style to boast about anything that daunted him. The sigh he gave then wasn’t outward but inward. And bewildered. Was it strange that, in an atmosphere saturated with music so marvelous, with a woman whose presence he found both invigorating and soothing, and with her honest gaze for him to get so lost in and to feel he’d been found there, all at once—might it be strange that some part of Sterling’s psyche could even consider something about this experience…to be daunting? 

Moving Points of View between the two who are looking for love, makes this even more interesting because, at first, each would have their own opinions and background which are important to them, while at the same time, not knowing how the other might react! 

Sterling was a man who spent time and money to ensure that his dates were impressed by his interest in the arts of all kinds, choosing jazz for an evening meal or a book reading--anything that would allow him to carry on a conversation to keep his date interested in him... His early life had been unhappy, never being able to satisfy, or even know, what his father expected of him. Now he carried the words he'd said each night as he went to bed: "I'll Show Them!" And even though he was now successful and met many interesting women, he was never quite sure how to ensure a longer relationship--one that would lead to their being interest enough to go on to a deeper level of the relationship.

That is, until he met Yvonne... By the fifth date, he found that they had spent time dancing, dancing, without no concern whether they were talking about this or that. It was enough just to be in each other's arms, gazing at each other... There was talk on earlier dates, about books or music, but when Yvonne would ask personal questions about his family, he tended to evade the question by moving on to another topic quickly. And then, one evening he had brought a folder, containing part of a novel he was writing and presented it to her. But her response was not what he had expected. She thought he had wined and dined her, hoping to have her review his book and help to get it published. He stumbled into an apology that it was in response to her always asking about his personal plans and that it was his way of sharing something important to him with her...

So she did read it and talked to him via video to give him her best feedback... She had to be truthful, yet helpful, complimentary yet point out problems she saw... But, in Sterling's mind, he was already whispering, "I'll Show Her..." 

I'm sure every writer will totally get involved in this short story that goes to the heart of every writer's wishes for their future... For me? It was whether or not Sterling's writing was to be an obstacle for their own relationship... Can a newly developing relationship be destroyed by one misstep by one or the other?

Debbie Duo

Dream Debbie

It’s a bird! A majestic eagle, soaring high and gracefully through the skies. It’s a plane! A jet aircraft, piercing through the clouds so swiftly that not even sound can keep up with it as its onlookers from the earth below hold fast to their hats and scarves, standing in an afterglow of awe. No! It’s Dream Woman! Taking flight through the stratosphere yet again, undoubtedly on another momentous, noble mission that only she can achieve—since she, quite frankly, is the only one perfect enough to do that sort of thing. A stellar career woman, a domestic genius, a renowned icon with the striking form of a goddess beneath her magnificent cape… Groan. “Delete.” Debbie hits the backspace key to eliminate her unrelated ramblings of the past few minutes from her computer screen, and she frowns at the aging remnants of her lunch on the desk, a pasta recipe that needs an upgrade. Having told her editor that she would have her story to him a week ago, she knows that the book’s illustrator cannot resume his work on the project during such a standstill. But here Debbie sits, wasting time with word-doodles that don’t have anything to do with anything. Her tale about a bunch of neighborhood pals on summer vacation has the possibility of becoming Debbie’s best children’s tale yet. She’d seen it so clearly the month before, as the proverbial bulb had burst into light over her head one morning, yanking her out of sleep with its promising incandescence. She’d floated through the next few days, refining her new characters in her head, piecing together a lively plot that would teach developing minds an important lesson on friendship while simultaneously entertaining their young, eager imaginations. Debbie isn’t sure what became of that bulb, but currently, she can’t seem to get the end of the story to pan out in a choice amount of words. She’s been mulling over this issue for days, reworking the plot, and now (taking a look at her cell phone) she hasn’t left herself sufficient time to close up shop, so to speak, and to get ready for her date with Stuart. “Enough. I quit.” In exasperation, Debbie puts her computer down for a nap and shoots up from her desk, but she pauses to tell her unfinished story, in case it happens to be listening, “I mean, until tomorrow.” Once again, Saturday won’t be a day off. An involuntary smile of apology flashes toward her computer before Debbie rushes out of her home office, taking the scraps of her lunch along for disposal. Stuart will be on his way to pick her up soon, and she absolutely must be ready on time. Ahh. Stuart. The brilliant magazine columnist Debbie met some weeks ago in the coffee shop she frequents early on weekday mornings, sometimes just to get out of the house. She hadn’t known at first that Stuart is at the shop almost as much as she is. She’d failed to truly notice him until he’d approached her table by the windows one day, saying, “Pardon me, but I’ve been observing for some time that you never order coffee here.” Debbie had peeked up from her newspaper to see the tall stranger there. He probably wasn’t the handsomest man on the planet, but he did have a pair of kind, soothing eyes. Debbie’s friends might’ve judged that Stuart had natural “bedroom eyes,” but Debbie had immediately informed herself that she had no business thinking of bedrooms. She’d jumped into her favorite old pair of unsexy flannel pajamas that night to remind herself of the fact. Debbie had briefly glanced away from the stranger, down to her apple, bagel, and orange juice breakfast. She’d smiled, somewhat embarrassed. “I don’t drink coffee. But I’ve always revered the aroma of it.” The stranger had laughed. On the mornings since then, he’d been making regular visits to Debbie’s table to chat with her, even sitting down for breakfast with her on occasion, until he’d declared earlier this week, “To be honest, Debbie, I’d really like to see you outside of this shop. I’ve got tickets for a play downtown, this Friday night…” Debbie had nearly choked on her blueberry muffin. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been asked on a date by somebody she actually liked. “And I don’t want him to regret having asked me,” Debbie now says as she rifles through her closet, looking for her knee-length, emerald green dress. She takes the dress out and goes to stand before her long mirror, holding the garment against her delicate frame, knowing that she wants to look as nice as possible. Even as alluring as possible—without looking, well, as alluring as she possibly could. “If that makes sense.” Time is of the essence, but Debbie can’t resist sacrificing a moment for a jubilant, girlish spin in front of the mirror. She remembers the first time she’d ever consciously done that, when her mother had brought home a new, flouncy dress for her to wear to her fifth birthday party. Yes, even now she can see that imaginative little girl who’d wanted her parents to get her a space helmet when she turned five, since she was going to be an astronaut when she grew up. How she was going to fit that in with being a dentist, a Hollywood actress, and the Queen of America, she hadn’t known at the time, but that didn’t matter. Her becoming Dream Woman one day would take care of it, and she’d fit everything in seamlessly as the ultimate life planner. And Dream Woman could fly like a jet, of course, so soaring from one task to another in a timely fashion, or even swooping from one career to another if necessary, wouldn’t be a problem for her. Debbie slips into her green dress after a quick shower, a dashing of makeup, and a whirl with a curling iron through her dark hair. She looks herself over front and back, not without a tiny sigh. This isn’t quite the curvaceous figure she’d once been sure she had a chance of developing, but she’ll strut what she has to work with. She releases a chortle, recalling the first time she’d ever scrutinized herself so closely, having donned an outfit for a high school dance. She’d initially hoped that it would be her first date, but no guy had asked her to go. In the end, it hadn’t made too great a difference because she went with two of her closest friends, people who consistently stuck by her, much like her family; friends she is fortunate enough to still have. They were all there for her while, perhaps prematurely, Debbie’s vast and glittery ideas of the future began to settle around her like fairy dust, leaving her standing there, not on top of the world but atop a living pile of hardbacks, paperbacks, and notebooks. Thoughts about dentistry and Hollywood faded. Writing was what this bibliophile had grown to love, and she couldn’t help being good at it. As a teenager, Debbie started making crude little picture books for the neighbors’ kids next door. Her pictures were horrid, but the stories were delicious, and Debbie’s soul would lift in response to the light in the children’s faces as she read to them aloud. Memories of those faces carried her through college, and she gets that same feeling to this day, when she reads her books to her engrossed listeners during story hours at local libraries. Never an astronaut. Never the queen of her country. Dream Woman yet soars, nonetheless, disappearing far off into the horizon. She must still be out there, somewhere… “Hello. You look lovely,” Stuart says when Debbie opens her front door to greet him at the appointed time. She lets out a relieved breath and warms at the sight of her date standing there in a dark blue overcoat, handing her a bouquet of blossoms that could have been made of silk. Debbie thoroughly enjoys her evening out. Conversation over dinner is great, as is the play downtown. However, while their outing draws toward a close, Stuart appears to have a question in his kind eyes as he walks Debbie back to her front door. “Is there something you’re waiting to say to me?” Debbie ventures to ask Stuart. His eyebrows go up. “On the contrary. I could be wrong, but it’s seemed all evening that there might be something you’re waiting to say to me.” Debbie doesn’t bother to ask him how he knows it. It’s one of the things she likes so much about him. She shakes her head. “I’m rather out of practice with all this. I don’t want you to regret having asked me out.” “Regret asking you?” Stuart’s forehead wrinkles. “Why would I—?” “I’m just me, you know.” Debbie gives a slight shrug. “I’m not exactly what I dreamed I would be. And I haven’t won a medal in literature to make up for it. I think I burn my cuisine a bit more often than a grown woman should, and sometimes I’ll lose a battle with a stubborn stain in my laundry. But, despite all of it, when the dust settles, I’ve got my family, and my friends are still here. I am what I am, I do what I love, and my love helps people, especially little ones.” Is it silly that Debbie’s eyes are growing damp? She blinks, smiling. “I can’t fly, Stuart. But I’m happy. I’m happy, and I’m grateful to be one in probably too small a number of people who can genuinely say that.” Stuart hesitates, his look both warm and quizzical. “You are the woman I met in a coffee shop who doesn’t drink coffee, aren’t you?” Debbie wonders at his question, but before she can answer, Stuart leans in to brush a soft kiss over her lips. He lingers close for a moment, murmuring, “You’re amazing, Deborah.” Debbie blinks a few more times, her eyes now wide. She’s at a loss for any more words.

What draws another person to start paying attention to another? Is it looks, body type--are they taller than you or shorter, are they the right race or religion (if you meet them in church)... Or is it, that the other individual started to pay attention to you first?!? That's what happened to Deborah when Stuart approached her while they were both in a coffee shop... She realized that Stuart seemed to want to get to know her better, but when that happened, she worried whether or not she could manage to keep him interested... Then the question might be, will Stuart continue to be interested after knowing each other for a week or so?

Stuart had already begun to think about how his parents seemingly never were happy with even his breathing! And his defenses would arise, but without anybody to whom he could turn to get positive feedback, he had carried this fear into his adult life. Can this shy couple get past their own fears and begin to share openly and truthfully?

Tea and Cream Debbie

She never would have thought of herself as one of the most popular girls in senior high. She was too busy enjoying this time in her life with all of her upbeat, teenage friends to stop and worry about how popular she might be. She and several of her girlfriends would engage in lively chatter between classes at school, their cute and curly hairstyles bouncing, their modest but trendy and feminine skirts lightly swishing as they’d walk down the hallways in their saddle shoes and bobby socks. They’d hold their mathematics and English textbooks up close to their chests, but books weren’t the biggest thing about their high school careers. Of course, learning and getting good grades was important. She and her friends weren’t dense or daffy, and most of them would be going on to further education after they graduated. But books and homework assignments and such were more in the background somewhere, since high school was, above everything else, an exhilarating social experience.

Well, you'll have to wait and see how this story turns out! LOL

Celebrating Solo?

Wake Up Sheridan!

Dumped. Whose jolly idea was it to ever apply such a thwunk of a word to an experience that has such potential to be, well, delicate? “Dumping” rightly identifies the deeds of, say, county waste management crews at junkyards. And individuals who’ve determined that a nearby ravine or a sloping stretch of grass alongside the Interstate onramp would be the best place to desert the raggedy sofa or the busted TV they no longer have room or use for. Stuff like that. Oh…granted, it was all so romantic, really, when I thought about it. Picture tallish, chocolate-dipped specimen of charisma and a looker-to-end-all-lookers, David Franklin. David once had a high school sweetheart: a gregarious, gorgeous girl he lost to her moving family’s move to the opposite side of the country, on account of the prestigious job promotion the girl’s father had landed. David saw the apple of his teenaged eye off at the airport, vowing to remain true to her and her alone from across the miles. But after the passing of a few months, David’s sobbing sweetheart called to break the news to him. Her mother held firm that her daughter was too young to be going steady with a boy who wasn’t even around. There were plenty of other nice, young gentlemen in the girl’s neck of the woods for her to socialize with, and she had better get to proper socializing, lest her growing fluidity in social graces be stunted before she would come of age, her mother said. That phone call devastated David. He mourned the loss of his love until after high school, when, as a freshman in college, he met the first girl he’d thought to date since his sweetheart had been taken away. This new young woman was a bibliophilic sort, not unladylike but without the deepest concern for cosmetics or fashion. She was a fellow student David was thrown together with for a two-person presentation for their Introduction to World Literature course. After a couple of study sessions with her outside of class, followed by a resounding 105% score on their presentation, David decided that he liked the bibliophile enough to ask her out. Thus began a casual courtship that happened to endure for the rest of David’s four-year college career. However, before he could resign himself to plans of making the courtship something more than casual after graduation, up popped his high school sweetheart. She was local again, free from parental clutches, gorgeous and gregarious as ever, ready to reclaim what she knew to be destiny. David knew it too. Destiny won out, and off Mr. Franklin went to pursue the sun, the moon, and the very Milky Way with the girl he’d once lost but had never been able to forget. Ahh. The romance. [Insert long, breathy sigh, full of dreams.] The incandescence of it all could scarcely be dimmed by a leftover factor: the bibliophile who hadn’t known the college courtship had been but a casual one, despite the fact that it hadn’t included any affairs of a distinctly serious or fancy nature. The bibliophile had even taken the plunge into stylish jeans and trendy tops and appealing perfumes and elegant eye shadows and luscious lip colors after she’d become the (initially stunned) recipient of David Franklin’s attentions. How she’d paid through the nose for some of those lipsticks but hadn’t had the faintest objection whenever David would step in to disrupt their dazzling displays of color, asking for one of the cottony wipes from her purse. He’d take it upon himself to ease her lipstick from her lips as he’d declare, in that mesmeric murmur of his, “There, nice and bare. 

~~~

Hi-ho, the Derry-o

🙀 There's a number of things that I'd say to all of those involved in this threesome... But, if you don't see where this is going, you need to read it for your own oohs and LOLs!  And,  here's a "real" clue...

Joy to the World, Even!

I loved reading these stories, but it's always hard to do a review and give enough to allow potential readers to decide whether they want to read the book. So I've tried to be as fair as possible, but several were too short to not give the storyline away...So I added music instead! And, especially on the last story, bet you'd never guess how The Farmer in the Dell was brought into the storyline... You'll enjoy this one for sure! I can highly recommend this for ages beginning mid-teens... And check out other books by this author by entering her name in the search column on the right!

GABixlerReviews 

Take Time for God... Talking About We Were Real, by Nadine C. Keels - An Important God Incident!

 

"It didn’t change what had happened in that chapel.” One of her arms folded over the other as she embodied an embrace of another kind. “Love got a hold of me that day, and He’s held me ever since. I don’t know what or where I’d be if He hadn’t.”

In the midst of today's chaos, concerns, and fears, God will find you exactly where you are...and send you words of love... This time, it was through a truly remarkable book I just finished this morning when I woke at 5:30... "It didn’t change what had happened in that chapel.” One of her arms folded over the other as she embodied an embrace of another kind. “Love got a hold of me that day, and He’s held me ever since. I don’t know what or where I’d be if He hadn’t.”

And as soon as I had read those words, the words of the song, "God is an Awesome God" poured into my mind to sing, to stop, and, yes, to remember, that once God's love gets a hold on us--He's going to hold on from then on! Wow! Once again, as many of us may require, I was gently reminded to Take Time for God...

The leaves of my life are falling--perhaps that is why I feel a need to hurry, to tell, to try to persuade... I am concerned about what is happening in America... yet, in my heart, I DO know He is in control... if we would just allow Him to act...at...His...own...time... 😔

I met Nadine on Facebook where we discussd a book both of us had read... At one time or another, I will meet many writers and get to know a little about them...Many times, I will want to read their words...for surely a writer--a great one--will speak their truth and share words that they want us to hear... Those are the writers that I want to read, to learn of their lives, and to hear, often, how God is working in his or her life... When I saw Nadine's latest posted, I immediately went out and downloaded it.

Keels writes contemporary romance. We Were Real starts when the main character, Nikkita Creighton was coming back to her home town after many years away, but, still remembering clearly how her life was changed, in several ways. One she had once been invited to go to church as part of an "invite your friend contest" to bring new, young teens into the church. She didn't even know the girl at school who came to invite her, but that was the type of girl she was--bubbly, talkative, energetic...Nikkita decided to accept the invitation--after all, it was only to go to church with her...

Her family had not routinely gone to church, so it was to be a new experience for Nikkita--in more ways than one. First, she was Black and was being invited to a predominantly White church... Nikki was quick to realize that when she found she was the only brown face in the congregation. Still she was drawn to stay and even quickly found a place--a place where people were visiting, staying to pray, or sit peacefully prior to the actual service. 

It was there in that room, as she listened to the song softly playing, that she realized something was happening to her...and quietly felt His presence, His Love...so warm and close that she cried in the joy of knowing, yes...knowing Him in her life... She was amazed that He came so quickly and easily, offering her what He realized she had always needed...

Soon she was trying out for and singing solos within the choir... At home, her parents quietly watched as she started reading the Bible... Still, in the evenings, she would also always have time for music--music that meant so much to her and, often, when words would come to her... She would write them quickly down and then work out an arrangement of the musical notes that would be used, to create...a new... song...

Her voice spoke to all that heard it--for after all, her entire life had been surrounded by her music--what she wrote or heard, she made it a part of her life, even naming her guitar when she was in college, to keep her life surrounded with sounds of, and words, that she needed to share with the world...

As a result of that first visit, she had also noticed a single boy among the teens gathering--their eyes had met just briefly before they each turned to talk to those who were new to the fellowship. But, one night, when Nikkita was sitting alone in the hospital, while worrying about her father who was there, she was trying to do some of her homework. She looked up and saw the boy from church she had "met" on her first night there. She remembered his name and called, "Ian?"

Have you ever just "clicked" when you met somebody new? Well, Nikkita and Ian had done that. Ian had cared enough to come to check on her at the hospital, knowing how he had felt when his own father had died recently. He knew Nikkita might just need somebody to be there with her. And he was right...

They became friends--good friends and readers will enjoy the joking tease between the two as they got to know each other... Ian loved old movies and his favorite show was "Leave It To Beaver." You guessed it, the two would spend hours talking about the show and what was happening in the world about that time.

So, of course, food and where they would eat then came up! When she never heard of some of his favorite drinks of that time period--mine was rootbeer floats--he looked around the area until he found an old fashioned shop with a counter and even oldies playing...

Ian was soon spending time with Nikki during her precious music time at her home...and they would talk and learn more about each other, always kidding and teasing--it was part of their relationship, of course!

And then she was gone... Nikkita stopped going to church, wasn't there when Ian tried to reach her and soon it was time for both of them to enter college and distance pulled the relationship to a close... At least it seemed that way... But no matter what had happened, there was no further communication between the two friends... What had happened?

When it came out, there was disillusionment and shock. The youth pastor had been involved with that vivacious young teen who had invited Nikkita to her church. In fact, when Nikki began to be concerned about her own interaction with the minister, she had called that girl and, before, she realized it, was being told the whole story...or at least part of it...

Keels' story includes that there were sermons or discussions that occurred in that church about teen sexuality. For me, that was a surprise, because I had never attended any church where the issue was even brought up! Which course should actually occur in the church? 

One of the books I had contemplated researching and writing years ago, and may still do through my open-memoir process, was to be titled The Single Woman Within the Church. In my opinion, the church should be involved in, at least, responding to the issue, in some way. Obviously, after reading this book, I would say that, if it does occur, it should be through a sensitive, highly evaluated and tested program, rather than the personal opinion method which is based purely on what words might "relate" and can be found in the Bible.

Ian undoubtedly realized that, somehow, Nikkita had learned something and decided to just leave the church. But, that never explained to his satisfaction what happened to "Us." He would sometimes send a message, "I Miss US..." only to never hear back...

Time moved forward. Nikkita had pulled together a great group of musicians and was touring most of the time. While Ian met and married a woman... Social media was what brought the two back together, as friends who were once close are able to do... And, so, as the story begins in the present, Nikki has agreed to meet Ian as she traveled to her last concert, and would pass the town where she and Ian had met...

The story itself reminded me of an old, old story/movie, Love Story... Death, a part of life, was present and discussed. But would Nikki be able to share, to reveal to Ian why she had broken away so quickly and permanently, at least at that time...? Decades had gone by. Ian was a widower and both  realized there had always been a connection, a budding of, perhaps, adult love... Could Ian forgive Nikki's actions so long ago? Probably. But could she deal with providing the answers he was asuredly going to ask? She only knew that if it didn't happen now, it never would... And she, too, had missed US.

Keels has done an outstanding job in writing a both believable story, yet one that goes deep enough into the issue without revealing too many details. I told my niece that I would have liked to have known her as a friend and not just as an aunt when she was 17, so that I could share this book and talk to her, perhaps sharing my own thoughts and opening myself up to lovingly discuss in a safe environment. 

That's the type of work this book is...Don't be afraid to buy it for both boys and girls... Both can be just as much in the dark about the reality of relationships as you once were... It's important to open your heart and mind to children to listen to their concerns and allow them to freely come to you when they need to talk about one of the most important part of their lives. It's not an easy discussion--or is it? With the right parental relationships already established, it shouldn't be, especially when you spend time sharing about the different types of love that people share with each other... like God's love for each of us (see above video... as an example).

You know, Folks, I've picked out several videos of music that I didn't know, yet, they seemed to be the type of words that young Nikkita could have written and sang as she grew older... Simply because I've met with the author through her beautiful, sensitive words that she has given to all who will read her story. Nobody but Jesus hears so many of the stifled cries and hidden stories of unwanted touches, from those that we have respected, or even loved with Philia love--friendship, respect and, even honor...

Only to have it betrayed and turned into something that is not expected nor welcomed... those feelings that we wish to save, to hold dear, for someone who we one day will love and care for...and allow Eros love to blossom and grow... Today's world emphasizes sex more than we could have ever imagined... 

One of the songs I found today, "Son of David," reminded me of the story that I shall never forget, especially in these days, when so much turmoil and confusion are being incited and acted upon without regard to God's Truth. You see, the son of the Biblical King David once killed his brother... The brother who was killed was also the son of David who raped his sister... When David did nothing, his son acted out of love for his sister and killed the man who had attacked her... Undoubtedly, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God...

You see, in my mind from all of the stories I have read by women who need to share through their words what happens to girls--of any age--this has never been about abortion on the part of men... After all, many of those who are running for office, including in my own state, are saying that "nothing" should prevent a woman from carrying a child, even from rape, incest, or from...pastors, bosses, or any man who wants to have power over a woman, for any reason. But, just as Nikkita could not share about her own thoughts, so I and so many others, have not been able to do or consider anything, unless there is an option of choice... 

No woman wants to "murder" a baby as the Dr. Oz candidate in Pennsylvania believes...and nobody wants to hear words from Mastriano who considers it "ridiculous" that a woman wants to feel that she has control over decisions affecting her own body... Just two of the individuals running for office this November! Think through what their words actually say and what it means to you...

Neither Nikkita, nor I had been actually raped. But does that make a difference in the mind of the victim of unwanted sexual advances... For Nikkita, she had to go into counseling, trying to understand what she was taught in church, as opposed to what actually took place there... I have my own story(ies) about those with whom I attended church... 

Do not speak of Pro-Life to me when it is men, men who should never touch a woman unless welcomed, nevertheless go ahead and do it! Just in the few months that Roe has been overturned, a 10 and 14-year old have been forced to go to another state...or be forced to have a child, one when she was too young, physically, and the other, because she never should have been touched in the first place!

It really is NOT about life, you know... It is about men wanting to control all parts of women's lives... Just ask any woman who has been touched, raped via incest or stranger, or her date... Nikkita was doubly burdened, as I was, because it happened in church, by supposed men of God... 

All women want, in my opinion, is to have a little privacy to deal with these issues that confront all women...and men... Is that asking too much? I don't think so! And though the "me-too" movement is essentially over, there are new cries of fear and anger... Hopefully, women who are concerned will speak... Writers who know about the trauma will share their words... Lawyers, doctors, and others who want to help women's health issues, including any reproduction concerns...will, as I heard this morning...continue to file legal suits against the laws that have been broken, even as far back as when King David's son first raped his sister... Don't allow us to go backward in being able to make decisions about our own bodies... Certainly, it is God that speaks of love. where a woman should be treated as Christ treated the church--He died for her... Anything else? It is criminals who speak of hate, violence, and loss of equality not only under God's laws, but the laws of our government's constitution.

Do your research and vote for TRUTH!

God Bless

Gabbie