Watching This Author/Musician As He Grows Better and Better! Jonathan Anthony Burkett AKA John Blake! Join Me!

"After leaving Victoria’s home, Claude and Kelly arrived at Paul and Nikki’s. Claude and Kelly greeted everyone as they walked through the front door. The effect Kelly had on Donald each time he saw her made him say to himself, You’d be a fool to let this one go. 
"For the most part, the evening went smoothly. They ate and shared their funniest moments together as friends while a movie played in the background. Just when it seemed the night would end perfectly, however, Donald got up and told Claude there were some things he wanted to get off his chest. 
"Smiling, Claude replied, “I’m listening.” “It’s with Kelly,” Donald said. Still smiling, Claude looked at Kelly and replied, “All right, go ahead and tell her.” 
“I would like to talk to her in private,” Donald stated.
 “No, I don’t feel comfortable with that. You should be able to express what you have to say to Kelly in front of everyone,” Claude told him. “Okay then. Kelly,” 
~

“Okay then. Kelly,” Donald started, turning his attention to her, “no matter how long it takes, I’ll be right here waiting to show you how much you mean to me.” 
Hurt by Donald’s words, Brittany quickly grabbed her belongings and walked out the door.
 “Donald, that was so wrong of you,” Kelly said, then followed behind Brittany. 
“Well, before any further damage is done, I think it’s time for us to go,” Claude stated calmly. 
"Paul and Nikki sat in shock as they watched him leave...
~~~

Friends 2 Lovers:

Closed Doors Open

By Jonathan Anthony Burkett

I admit that I've gotten to personally like this writer more than I normally have a chance to...maybe it was his autobiography... My guess is, though, that when I first met him on line and said a few things about his first book, he was so interested and enthused to receive my thoughts that I kinda became a personal fan... Getting ready to put this review together showed me even more that this man is out there working to succeed and if you care about supporting new authors, I'm going to ask you to take a look at his work. 

His autobiography was pure enjoyment to read, although it was not an easy story to accept. I still remember what happened to the little boy as he was... I also watched and talked with him about sharing his faith within a fiction book... Do you include sex? for instance... Burkett rewrote that first novel and although I didn't read it word for word, I did skim the latest and found that he had greatly improved that book, including the addition of drama and violence... It's reality in today's world, I know, but the level of violence in books is getting extreme... Burkett's books are balanced, however, as he struggles to share his faith and his values about love and friendship...

This latest novel was good, but there is still a strain to his writing. Especially writing the world of females. I applaud him at the same time as I admit that I have no idea whether his work reflects the lives of this generation... What I do know, however, was that there was much that could be deleted from the book, particularly the number and "daily" interaction between those people: conversations, texts, inclusions of meals... Although they happen, there is no need to include them unless something happens during those events that "move the story forward..." A "cut" of those parts would keep the reader moving faster into the complexity of the family drama itself...

“It's better to have a few faithful friends then numerous shallow friendships.” (Jonathan Anthony Burkett) Using one of his own quotes seemed to apply in this story especially, as I saw several "shallow" friends start to talk to Kelly and Claud, the two friends who've now become lovers and are living together...

Do people really say these things to their supposed acquaintances about the man or woman you love? If so, why put these people in a position where they have to justify their relationships... It increased the drama, yes, but I found myself getting angry on behalf of both of them..."you don't need those types of friends..." LOL So, that means, of course, that Burkett drew me in with his followup to the first book...

“I’ve heard so much about Claude and Kelly.
How did they meet?” Mike asked curiously.
 “Well, from what Kelly told me,
their friendship began after she stood up
 for him against a couple of boys,” Latoya said.
 “After that situation, Claude thanked her,
 and they became good friends.
 One day, Claude decided to talk to me
 about how Kelly was feeling because
 of what I was going through with their father.
 He surprised me so much by what he said
 that I started caring for him as if he was my son
. His words really helped to restore our
mother-daughter relationship.”
 “Sounds like he really put in an effort to bring
 happiness back into her life,” Mike replied.
 “Yes, Kelly’s happiness seemed to always be
 what mattered to him. According to him,
he gave her space with other boys so she
 could learn from her mistakes,”
 Latoya said with a chuckle.
 “Well, I can’t wait to meet them,” Mike replied.
                                       ~~~

Back to the violence, the men in Claud's life have short tempers which resulted in the total loss of his family! I would have liked to see more time given to Claud's inner thoughts during this period, or even perhaps through discussions with his friend and her mother. In fact, the incidents within the novel are aimed to reflect love and faith... This is good, but I think the reality is that none of us immediately reach that level. To really reflect the results of horrific accidents, death, etc., when they come means that we need to feel and see the internal anger, even at God. Could Claud's short temper bursts be because he holds in so much that anybody crossing him, who have no part in his life, are used to let go of some of that internal struggle? I look forward to future books that, hopefully, dwell on the internal emotions.

Claud in particular has been affected by remarks by a couple of new friends. Even while he's trying to respond to them, you can tell that what they've said has gotten him thinking...and acting...  I enjoyed that, in fact, because, all that lovey-dovey between them--does that really happen? LOL 

Still, the author shares some great poetry in those situations... and nobody can deny this Dude is one romantic guy!

Though there are a few editorial issues, I was impressed by the issues that the author is addressing, including divorce, children of divorce, child abuse, career versus marriage, sex and so much more. Also, as of this point in the series, most of the characters and actions are within the families or extended families and friends which sets up the environment for dealing and discussing relationship issues that go bad within the family and how dealing with them affect so many different lives in different ways.

A lot of surprises from the past were finally revealed, including the discovery of a young boy, Claud's nephew, who they hadn't known about!

Like I said, earlier, I'm watching this young man as he works to find his role in writing, music, love and as a Christian.
His books are selling for less than a dollar right now. Do let the author know about your opinions if you read any of his work... He's has the talent...what will he choose to do with it for the future??? Highly recommended for family drama...


GABixlerReviews

See also Friends 2 Lover Volume 1 original version
              Neglected but Undefeated

About this author

Jonathan Anthony Burkett was born in 1987. He is a bright writer inspired by many, as he continues to struggle in life. Devoted to achievement in his lifetime, he is willing to take any test. He told himself, that he would never give up no matter the trials and tribulations. He decided to write to help him move towards a bright future for himself; and because he knows that is what his Grandparents want for him.

Learning now that life is a challenge for many, with trials, tribulations, brutality, hatred, along with grief and manipulation. Jonathan is writing now to release his thoughts about life, after being motivated, inspired to prosper, encouraged to tolerate, uplifted, and empowered from his past.

“Father God strengthen my willpower, for I have made it through battles, but I know that the war is nowhere close to being over, for me. However, I plan on standing strong throughout it all, never giving up, and believing that I will live to see brighter nights and days” Jonathan prays.

His latest novel is “Friends 2 Lovers”, I and II are now available, a beautiful portrayal of how the strong bond of friendship and truly knowing someone can blossom into a lifetime of love……

Can a close friendship grow into something deeper – a loving relationship perhaps? In this compelling and emotive story that evokes a gamut of emotions and thoughts, author Jonathan Anthony Burkett portrays how it is possible for best friends to be more than “just friends”. Find out how Claude and Kelly end up from being Friends 2 Lovers as you follow them through their disappointing, confusing, loving, shocking, encouraging, and romantic moments. But can their bond last and withstand all the challenges that cross their way? Experience an overwhelming ebb and flow of emotions when you join them in their journey.

Not Just Another Review - Nevada Barr's Short, Smoke and Mirrors, is Fun Spoof!

www.buyolympia.com

It wasn’t the first time Jacobs had murdered. I could tell that by the look on his face when he did it. Pure snarky glee. A first-timer would have some trepidation, some hesitation, maybe a second where the last bit of their soul flames out. Not him. Alley was almost to the sidewalk and he swerved –a big sharp swerve across the oncoming.

Alley was almost four when he killed her, and the sweetest, drollest little spirit who ever lived. She moved with such grace I sometimes think she was made partly of air, a breeze that flowed effortlessly through the grass. Each of her moods was another face of the way the gods might look when they laugh, when they aren’t massacring folks...
                                   ~~~

Smoke and Mirrors

By Nevada Barr

When I saw Nevada Barr's name, I immediately downloaded what turned out to be a short story. I've been a fan of Nevada from The Track of the Cat way back when, so it's a normal purchase to read her, although I wouldn't normally review a short story... This is in memory of Alley...

But there really wasn't an option! When I learned what happened to Alley, I was all for what she had planned... 

Wreaking Vengeance -- Thy name is Cat Lover....

You’re going to say I should have

 called the police.  Yeah, sure, 

maybe if I lived in California or

Boulder, Colorado or some other

 place where flunking the

 psychopath test isn’t a 

prerequisite to joining the police

 force.  In New Orleans people

 who kill people don’t go to jail.

  A person killing a cat would

 just get me laughed at. 

~~~

I loved this Spoof!

If readers take it, the

way Barr wrote it, they

will enjoy it as much as I did.

After all, cats are loved

just like family members

for many of us...

But if your cat is murdered, would you go to the police??? Even if you had been an eye witness? Well, Alley;s Mom knew she had not been the first that Hugh Jacobs had killed!

Thoughts of the death penalty began...

First, find out the name of that killer!

Check him out! He was on Facebook!

Surveillance!

Katie, my neighbor and I found out where he lived, and his big Hummer was parked there in front...An idea started to form...

He tried to run over another cat.  This one, a grey-and-black tiger, probably less than a year old, was faster than Alley.  It scooted under a fence and Jacobs hit the curb and busted a tire.  I took it as a triumph for cats the world over.  And a sign he would never stop...

When it came, the plan came fully baked.  New Orleans is crime-ridden from the politicians, to the police, right down to the drug dealers in Central City.  I’d always looked at this as a bad thing.  It came to me that, given the right circumstances, crime is not a curse.  It is a resource.  Just like Google.


                                                                                                         ~~~                  

Taking walks with Katie soon helped us get in better shape--a plus! Our routine was to walk up to his house and back... While we did that, I was also learning how to hot-wire a Hummer...

The plan really was ingenuous but of course, I'm not going to say anymore...not even about the little one that came to visit after it was over...

A little bit of humor goes a long way toward  making us realize just how quickly some are prone to revenge, to violence...to do unto the other...

It's certainly not what this cat lover would do...

But I reallllllly enjoyed playing with the idea, thanks to Nevada Barr.
She rocks!


GABixlerReviews

My mother, pilot and mechanic, had this peculiarity; she wouldn't let a man who couldn't fly work on her airplanes. She believed if he couldn't fly, he couldn't understand the stresses and strains the machinery would be called upon to bear. When she became pregnant with me, she demanded a female OBGYN --a male doctor couldn't understand the stresses and strains the machinery would be called upon to bear. In 1952 such beings were rare. One was at last found in the tiny town of Yerington, Nevada. Mom flew to Yerington in a super cub every month to visit Dr. Mary. When the time was near, she stayed with the doctor and her husband on his sheep ranch. The consensus among all was that the baby, boy or girl, be named Nevada.
This left me two choices: Vegas and the pole, or a life in the creative arts. I chose the latter.

No President--No VP... Tom Abrahams Shows Us Difference Between Patriotism and Treason with Impressive Thriller!

SEDITION is based on The Cato Street Conspiracy.It is a modern retelling of an 1820 British plot to overthrow the government.Shortly after the death of King George III, a group of disaffected patriots attempted to murder the Prime Minister and his cabinet.  Their goal was to stage a coup and set up their own revolutionary regime. They called themselves the Spencean Philanthropists, after radical leader Thomas Spence who'd died six years earlier.The men devised their scheme during meetings at a small, rented building on Cato Street in London (the building is pictured above with its distinctive red door).  In SEDITION, the Cato Street Pub's exterior is meant to pay homage to the original meeting place.

Click on the links below to read more about the conspiracy.  You'll note many of the characters in SEDITION are named for the participants in the real 19th century plot.

                                                                                                  Visit Web Site!!!    

Sedition:
 A Political Thriller

By Tom Abrahams

About the Author

Tom is a Texas television reporter and anchor who has spent 20 years covering local, national, and international news. He's interviewed Presidents, cabinet members, and leaders in congress. He's reported live from the White House, Capitol Hill, and the United Nations. Tom's covered five national political conventions. He has flown with presidential candidates, gone backstage at their rallies, and broken stories about them on television and online. He was at the Pentagon while smoke still rose in the hours after 9/11 and was in the room when Secretary Colin Powell made his case to the U.N. Security Council for war against Iraq. Tom lives in the Houston suburbs with his wife, Courtney, and their two children. SEDITION is his first novel.

"Matti Harrold sat across from her supervisor’s desk, stunned as much by what he was asking of her as she was by the President’s sudden death. “Do you understand what your assignment is?” He asked without a hint of expression.
“Yes sir,” she replied, refocusing. “Though, I am somewhat confused.” “By what?” He was looking down at his desk, tapping on a closed 8 ½ by 11 folder. It was stamped “Secret” at the top left. “Well, sir,” she continued. “We don’t deal in Human Intelligence. We protect American systems and information. We collect adversarial Signal Intelligence only. Executive Order 12333 prohibits gathering or sharing information about U.S. citizens. Isn’t this out of the realm of what we do?” She’d often impressed teachers and superiors with her ability to rattle off long streams of text or complicated sets of numbers. Technically, she was an Eidetiker, the name given to the estimated one in a thousand adults with eidetic memory. It was a gift that had faded slightly with age as it did with most eidetic children. But she still possessed a significant ability to mentally retain detailed images for long periods of time. Her memory was not truly photographic. But she could filter out the clutter and focus on particular images and structures. Hers was a rare ability that rivaled even some of the more well-known Eidetikers such as Kim Peek, the autistic upon whom the movie Rain Man was based. Doctors estimated that he could remember 98 percent of everything he read and had thousands of volumes of text available for instant recall. Matti knew there were always skeptics who thought photographic or eidetic memory was a farce. The legendary artificial intelligence expert, Dr. Marvin Minsky, wrote in his book Society of the Mind that eidetic memory was a myth. Others in the field thought it was little more than a mnemonic trick in which Eidetikers could associate images with words to enhance their recall. Even her own therapist, who’d helped her through the darkest days of her adolescence, doubted Matti’s ability until she’d recalled to him the verbatim details of police reports and eyewitness accounts from the night her mother died. They were pieces to a code she’d never been able to crack. But her memory wouldn’t let her let go of it. It was a gift and a curse.
"And at the moment, she knew her boss was cursing it. “No Harrold,” her supervisor lifted his gaze to her without lifting his head.
“There are,” he corrected. “Many things we do here at NSA which are outside the realm of ‘what we do’. And if you recall, Harrold, that same order 12333 directs all departments and agencies to share the responsibility of gathering intelligence.” “SIGINT,” he offered without averting his glare, “is what the Congress asks publicly of us. But there are cases in which it is better that we ask forgiveness than permission. This, Harrold, is one of those cases. Are you up to this? ”
~~~

More than likely unless you are a history buff, you will have never heard of The Cato Street Conspiracy. I decided to include it to illustrate part of what I think the author is saying in this novel--We are not angels, no...

but I like to think that there are many who still believe...hope...

Even if we don't trust...

First, I want to thank the author for the two main character females. I believe the hug between the two women and where it was placed in the book, tells much about your beliefs...I found also that much of your comments about what decisions are made in America and how they are viewed illustrates that you still...hope...and wrote this novel so that we all might make more conscientious and rational decisions regarding being a patriot... Well done!

Frankly, I was amazed at the manipulation used within the government office of the NSA. "Need to Know" is and always will be, probably, a phrase that most of us have mixed feelings about... But if you are an employee in that type of organization and have been chosen to do a job, but not brought into what might be called a project team environment, due to the "need to know..." well, personally, I know it can be a very dangerous and potential position where that individual is caught between the "rock and the hard place..." Abrahams does an excellent portrayal of such a person and I watched her carefully right from the beginning...

Her name is Matilda Harrold... She works for the National Security Agency...

The “People’s Business” had been good to

 Speaker Jackson. A school teacher, school

 board member, and county commissioner

 turned Member of Congress; she’d been

 on the fast track. She was witty and

 politically savvy. She had a handsome

 face and physique. Felicia Jackson was,

 as some cable pundit once put it, 

Mensa’s answer to Sarah Palin. She didn’t

 boast the folksy charm of the former

 Alaska Governor. But she did have the wink,

 the smile, and the concealed handgun permit.

 Jackson was a Stanford graduate with a

 Masters Degree in Education from the

 University of North Carolina. Her husband

 was a well known neurosurgeon, who’d given

 up active practice to support his wife’s

 rocketing political career. She won the seat

 in South Carolina’s first congressional

 district by a staggering 14 points over a six 

term incumbent. Leaders from both parties

 started courting the strong-willed moderate

 the moment her brown leather Cole Haan’s

 hit the baggage claim at Reagan National.

 Over the course of four terms, the black-

haired, blue-eyed shark had amassed a casino

-full of favors. When her party narrowly won

 the house in a mid-term coup, she’d cashed

 in her chips for a leadership position. She

 was named Majority Whip. And then

 Speaker. She wasn’t the first woman to slam

 the gavel, but she whacked it the loudest.

 Every favor she’d amassed, every handshake

 and smile from across the aisle she’d 

garnered, disintegrated with the squeeze

 of her iron fist. If Jackson were a man, 

she’d have been considered shrewd and

 opportunistic. As a woman, though… 

She became the personification of a

 variety of misogynistic terms used to

 diminish the perceived power of head

 strong women.

~~~

Another member was a former Attorney 

General. There was also one other member

but nobody knew about him except Sir

Spencer...

This small group was planning to take advan-

 tage of a very unusual situation in Washing

-ton. The President had just dropped dead.

After a long illness and recent death, there

also was no Vice President. A replacement
had been named but not sworn in. 

You guessed it! Chaos and competition as the

announced Vice-President filed a law suit

while the Speaker of the House was

the chosen successor according to law...

Sir Thomas knew this was the perfect

time! And he had stored up sufficient

Semtex to make it happen!

An exhibit for George Edwardss latest
sculptures had already been scheduled so
the group had agreed it

should continue... Matti met them all!

And almost didn't get out of the building!

I think Abrahams has created an excellent
Story that is well worth your time, especially
if you consider yourself a patriot...are you?
Highly recommended...


GABixlerReviews

She was told exactly what to do in her special assignment, given files on men who had been identified as possibly working toward an act of treason...

Then she was to wait until "an asset" contacted her who had contact within the group and had agreed to provide specific information when possible.

The first thing she learned when the first call came in was that her boss had lied to her... The individual was surprised that a woman answered the phone, yet her boss has said that the asset had asked to work with a woman...

(The beginning of distrust is often the beginning of watching your own back...quote me on that...LOL)

Still, Matti began to learn new information and with the data already stored in the files, she was able to present useful reports almost immediately...

As Matti works, readers are meeting the conspirators led by Sir Spencer Thomas. No, he was not a citizen; he claimed it was because he wanted to keep his status as a knight...

In fact, the group was rather strange. A bar owner who was used to shady dealings, a university professor, a digital sculptor. On his computer, he enhanced/altered designs of iconic portraits or designs.

"Edwards was a digital sculptor. On his

 computer, he enhanced/altered designs

 of iconic portraits or designs. They were

 in high demand. His manipulated

 “sculpture” of the painting 

Declaration of Independence by John

 Trumbull sold for $105,000. 

Edwards called his version of the painting

 What Really Happened. 

"He played off of the fact that the scene

 depicted in the iconic representation of

 a nation’s birth never actually happened

 the way Trumbull painted it. Instead of 

Charles Thomson standing directly across

 from Thomas Jefferson on the right side

 of the canvas, Edwards inserted a free-

floating dartboard with the face of King

 George III. On the left side of the piece,

 Edwards altered a standing, cross-armed

 William Paca, putting a dart in the right

 hand of the Maryland lawyer. Thomas

 Jefferson held a pint of ale instead of a

 page of the declaration. The entire

 painting was colorized with shades that

 slightly differed from Trumbull’s

 original, making the work appear almost

 lifelike. 

"They were sophomoric enough changes

 that most would dismiss the work as a joke.

 But it was that which wasn‘t so obvious to

 the casual viewer that made Edward‘s

 offerings so prized. Much as caricaturist

 Al Hirshfeld was recognized for hiding his

 daughter Nina’s names in his drawings,

 Edwards was revered for his ability to hide

 messages in some of his digitally 

re-mastered works. 

"Hidden amongst the signers of the

 Declaration in Edwards’ parody was the

 phrase, “The modern bourgeois society

 that has sprouted from the ruins of 

feudal society has not done away with

 class antagonisms.” The words were a 

direct translation from Karl Marx’s

 Communist Manifesto.

~~~

Plans for the President's death activities were 

discussed and finalized. His wife, interestingl,

had decided to not have the body in state in the

White House, so everything would be held in 

Capitol with burial at Arlington...

Would Sedition Succeed? I think, for myself, that

what happened is a major flaw in America. Somehow

there has to be a balance between "need to know" and

keeping people informed. I don't profess to know how

that can be achieved. The method used by the author

in this novel was a satisfactory  compromise for a novel

but would it have achieved the same results in reality?

Lauren Carr's A Small Case of Murder Brilliant Mystery

www.inspiredbythis.com

"J.J. tapped Murphy on the arm. “I guess we better start cleaning out that attic if we want to put our room up there.” 
"Before his sons could ascend the stairs to go up to the top floor, Joshua asked, “By the way, while we were gone this morning, did you find any skeletons up in that attic that I should know about?” 
"He knew the monumental task before them when he had consented to the twins rooming in the attic. From where she sat in the living room’s window seat looking out onto the rolling front lawn, 
"Tracy answered his question by handing him a stack of letters tied with the pink ribbon. “They seem to be letters your parents sent to each other while your dad was in the Navy.” 
"Joshua studied the writing on the envelopes. When it came to his parents, he had vague memories of a young couple very much in love. Tracy handed him the unopened envelope. “There’s one letter that  wasn’t opened. It’s from Virginia Avenue right here in Chester...”  
"He noticed the post date: May 8, 1970. Struck by the date, he dropped back into the recliner. He studied the handwriting on the envelope. J.J. noticed the color drain from his father’s face. 
“What’s wrong, Dad?” “This was mailed the same day my parents died.” Tracy caught her breath. “The same day they died? I’m sorry, Dad. I didn’t realize.” “That must be why the letter was never opened,” J.J. said... 
"Dear Claire, Tomorrow I’m leaving for Philadelphia. Would you believe I got a singing gig at a real club? Things are really looking up. Anyway, I tried to call you but Frieda told me that you and Johnny are on a second honeymoon in the Grand Canyon. You two must be serious about giving Josh a little sister. 
"Remember that dead body we found in the Bosley barn? How could you ever forget? His face is seared into my mind. Well, I saw him today in Reverend Rawlings’s office. I went there to talk to the reverend and Marge and Al about the music for their wedding, and there was his picture on the wall. It was a picture of Reverend Rawlings and Sheriff Delaney and some other guys in army uniforms. Reverend Rawlings said it was a picture of him and some of his buddies from the Korean War. That’s why Sheriff Delaney said we lied. Our body and them were all war buddies. It was him. I’m positive. Tell Johnny and see what he thinks. I tried to call Ricky Pendleton about it, but since he moved to Youngstown I don’t have his phone number. Maybe Johnny has it. I’m sure Johnny will be able to make sense out of all this. 
"Call you when I get back. Peace & Love, Lulu P.S. Good luck on that baby sister for Josh."

~~~

A Small Case of Murder

By Lauren Carr

I have previously shared info on Carr's Mac Farraday Mysteries which I loved, so I was surprised somewhat to go backwards to her Debut novel and find that her other series with Joshua Thornton is even better! Or, should I say different... Mac Farraday is funner...yeah, I know that's not a word, but it's what I want to say...

Perry Mason (TV series) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“We?” Joshua objected, There’s no ‘we’ here. 

I’m not saying I disagree with you. This 

evidence means that we’re dealing with a very

dangerous man here. I don’t want you kids

asking questions or stirring up trouble.”

He made his point by dropping the folder onto

the top of his desk and slapping the laptop

shut.

 “Ah, come on, Dad,” J.J. said. 

“You’ve investigated conspiracies and 

brought down serial killers. This is nothing

compared to that.” He held up his forefinger

and thumb to symbolize a miniscule

quantity. “For you, 

this is a small case of murder.”

~~~

Note: Actually, the title "could" be

considered a clue for readers...

This novel is one of the best mystery novels I've ever read--and that's a lot of 'em! The concept is brilliant, because you don't really know what is happening until you're well into the book. Joshua Thornton comes across like both your favorite private investigator as well as the superb lawyer that he actually is--Perry Mason and Paul Drake merged into one??? Get the picture? Because I want you to realize that if you are a reader that tries to solve the case as the evidence is presented, I can guarantee you that you will NOT have a chance! Yes, that's a challenge to all of you who believe you are good at solving mysteries..
.


Even when Carr gave us the most obvious clue--well I didn't even realize it... I kept popping around from one to another until, I sat, like the others in the room, as Joshua Thornton placed each piece of evidence together for his audience and all the pieces were tied together. Wow, ingenious story! Now, we don't get to know the characters as well in a mystery like this... This is NOT a cozy. It is pure puzzle presentation and solution and the characters exist to present facts. On the other hand, each of the characters had a specific reason for their lives in the book and I thought they were played well. Even as I got to some fairly close guesses, I never got close...so, what that means is that it is hard to provide too much information about this book less I give away relevant clues!

I might mention that this particular series has greatly evolved from this first book, perhaps responding to comments from readers. My guess is that the characters will be further developed, which will cause readers to become more involved... Still, for an intricately woven mystery, it would be hard to beat this one.

"When he turned around in his seat to hand the plate to the family in the pew behind him, he noticed a girl dressed in a skimpy shirt with baggy pants slung so low on her bony hips that it was a mystery as to how they kept from falling down to her ankles. Her poker-straight hair, bluntly cut at her jaw, was the color of a new copper penny. The girl dressed in black had come in at the back of the church and made her way down the aisle at the far side of the sanctuary. 
"The father of teenagers, Joshua thought he was incapable of being shocked by anything done in the name of fashion. He realized that his assumption was wrong when he laid his eyes on the girl making her way to the altar. Joshua saw under her midriff top the scales of a black snake tattoo draped across her stomach. The snake wrapped itself around her body, up her back, over her right shoulder, and across the front of her throat. The serpent’s head, his mouth open in mid-strike, rested on her left shoulder. 
"His concentration directed at the song he was playing on the keyboard, Tad didn’t notice her glassy gaze fixed on him. The girl with the snake caused a stir amongst the congregation. All eyes were fixed on the visitor. Was she going up to the pulpit to plead for the reverend to save her from the serpent that had taken control of her body? 
"Joshua saw beyond the body art to notice her hand in her shoulder bag as she moved in the direction of his cousin. A family consisting of three generations took up the pew between him and the girl with the snake. He didn’t have time to go around them. 
“Excuse me,” he said repeatedly while squeezing his way in front of the seven people blocking his path. The grandmother with a purple hat perched on top of her gray head sputtered when she lost her balance and landed on her rump in the pew. 
“Joshua Thornton, didn’t they teach you manners at that academy? I never.” He recalled when the elderly woman had once complained to his grandmother about him being “mouthy”. 
"The girl pulled her hand out of the bag to reveal a hand-gun. She aimed it at Tad. “She has a gun!” Tad took the pastor down onto the floor in a full body slam. 
"Joshua heard the roar of the congregation in his ears when he dove like a player racing for home plate. In midair, he caught her arm and thrust the gun towards the ceiling. When they hit the floor, the bullet discharged from the barrel and struck one of the hanging lamps to send a shower of glass down onto the congregation. The bullet flew upward until it planted itself into one of the oak panels high above them. "
                                                                                                                    ~~~

Joshua has just brought his family--five kids and a huge dog-- back to his home town. He's a recent widower and is still having trouble adjusting to being alone and a single parent, especially when they get into their new home and realize there's much to be done to adequately meet their needs...like at least two more bathrooms!

Quick to give his cousin, the town doctor, a mild reprimand about not telling him how bad a condition the house was in, Tad MacMillan chuckled as he told him that he didn't say anything because he wanted all that was left of the former doctor's records and the way to get them was to buy "as is..."

Tad is an interesting character diversion since he has a bad background of drinking and drugs and...women...He is now clean and has been accepted by the town as a responsible member of the community as well as doctor, but this novel actually begins with a body that was found, then lost, about 35 years ago, soon after Joshua's parents had been killed in an accident. Because of that, an old letter was discovered about the missing body...

Of course, the kids were gung-ho to try to solve this "cold case!" Actually, Joshua was too... He had retired from JAG to be able to spend more time with his family, but he was already finding it hard not to be involved with his routine work...

But the first incident that piqued Joshua's instincts was when a young woman walked into church, took aim at Tad and then tried to kill Joshua when he jumped her. The fact that Tad was being stalked and getting emails from Vicki, who turned out to be the granddaughter of a minister of another church, was icing on the cake! The minister in question was suspected of being a drug lord in the area--along with a number of other questionable actions. But nothing was ever proven. This had been going on since Joshua had once lived in town and he still remembered going to school with the man's son, who was now the town's prosecuting attorney.

But then Vicki was killed... And in the same room, they also found a woman with whom Joshua had once been involved... No matter what, Joshua was going to be involved! Finally, he was appointed as a special prosecutor for these murders...

Everybody was suspected! And Josh's kids had made new friends and they talked about the old body that had never been found...Yep! those kids went on their own...and yes, they did find it--but were almost put in jail! LOL

What they found on that body really set the investigation into gear...

Lots more happens in the book and I was following every word as I finished the novel, happy to have every answer I needed provided by the author. In fact, I loved how it was ended--that is, for that "small" case that only a puzzle lover could solve. Joshua Thornton is a formidable opponent of any criminal. After this one, I'm not sure future cases will even come near--but I hope I get the chance to find out...Some great books from Lauren Carr since this one! Soooo many books; sooooo little time, folks! Mystery Lovers Alert for this one!


GABixlerReviews

Lauren Carr fell in love with mysteries when her mother read Perry Mason to her at bedtime. The first installment in the Joshua Thornton mysteries, A Small Case of Murder was a finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Award. A Reunion to Die For was released in hardback in June 2007. Both of these books are in re-release.

Lauren is also the author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, which takes place in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. The first two books in her series, It’s Murder, My Son and Old Loves Die Hard have been getting rave reviews from readers and reviewers. The next book in this series, Shades of Murder, was released May 2012.

Lauren’s sixth book, Dead on Ice, will be released in Fall 2012. Dead on Ice will introduce a new series entitled Lovers in Crime, in which Joshua Thornton will join forces with homicide detective Cameron Gates.

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, editor, cover and layout designer, and marketing agent for independent authors. This spring, two books written by independent authors was released through the management of Acorn Book Services.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She also passes on what she has learned in her years of writing and publishing by conducting workshops and teaching in community education classes. If you would like Lauren to speak to your group or at your conference, please feel free to contact her.

She lives with her husband, son, and two dogs on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.
Visit Lauren’s websites and blog at:
Acorn Book Services Website:http://acornbookservices.com/

Related articles

• July 2013 Guest Blog from Lauren Carr
• Guest Post from Lauren Carr - June 2013
• Guest Blogger: Author Lauren Carr

Elise Stokes Debut Novel for the Cassidy Jones Adventures is Exciting, Fun--A Winner for YAs and Up!

hdw.eweb4.com 

"One thing I had predicted about the interview proved to be spot-on. Listening to the professor explain her gene therapy was like watching grass grow. Bored by her lengthy responses and foreign words, my mind picked up where it had left off in the daydream Miriam had interrupted.
"Jared and I are walking along a sandy beach, cool waves lapping at our feet. Suddenly, the sand trembles beneath them. Earthquake?
"Snapping out of the daydream, I realized the stool was giving way beneath me. Before any reflex could kick in, I fell towards the coffeemaker and dirty mugs. Before I could smash into them face-first, my hands came to life. Frantically waving while I plunged, I knocked the beakers off the burners. Catching the edge of the counter, I had a close-up view of the strange occurrence on top. It’s difficult to describe what happened in that fraction of a second as the hot liquids ran together. The best description I can come up with is “Poof!” The liquids instantaneously vaporized, forming a white cloud. At the same instance, I took a fateful breath, sucking in the cloud puff. In the cloud, my eyes felt like acid had been thrown into them, and my lungs seemed to collapse. As I gasped for air, my heart burned as if on fire, pumping the inferno into my body. The blood flowing through my veins became flaming rivers, carrying the fire throughout. When the fire circulated through every part of me, a jolt shook my brain like I’d been struck by lightning.
"The inferno turned cold, and blackness engulfed me. Impenetrable black surrounded me. My ears detected no sound. Because I felt nothing beneath me, I thought I could be floating, though I didn’t seem to be in motion. Cognitively, I was aware of my limbs, though they were unresponsive when instructed to move. My skin felt thick and numb.
~~~

Cassidy Jones 
and the Secret Formula

By Elise Stokes

Elise Stokes has the perfect main character for her new series--one that teens, young adults and the rest of the us will totally enjoy. Me? I'm always happy to find books that I can happily recommend to my great-niece, Rachel, who is now reading for extra credit at school! This first book is a fun adventure and explains how Cassidy got to be the perfect character...

It was an accident...

Cassidy's father, Drake Jones, worked for Channel 5 News and was scheduled to meet with a professor of Genetics. He had already quizzed her about DNA, etc., so that she might learn something new during the interview; but Cassidy knew already that she wasn't going to be able to get into the conversation, thinking about her own things... What she wasn't planning on was meeting the female version of "The Absent-minded professor" with a clothesline hanging across the room, the professor looking disheveled, and the whole room in a mess...

What they didn't know, though, was that the professor had just had a visitor who scared her! And she had been trying to get it all out of her mind...

And then when the stool that Cassidy had been sitting on broke, they were all involved in getting Cassidy to the hospital... It was soon after that interview that Professor Serena Phillips disappeared, and her office had been burned, including the major part of her genetics work!

It started with her nose..

"Mmm… Someone is making pancakes… The delicious aroma 

of pancakes coaxed me out of sleep. Coming to, I groaned. 

 I had never been a morning person, but my head

 didn’t usually feel like a bowling ball. Since dropping off to sleep the night before, I felt like I’d been trapped in a loud, fast-moving, brightly colored anime cartoon. My dreams had been insane, to say the least. 

"Dr. Randolph misdiagnosed me, I thought, pressing my hands to my temples. Having a heavy head and chaotic dreams definitely indicates brain trauma. I don’t need a medical degree to figure that out. This thought satisfied me. Not that I wanted a swelling brain, but it sure would have been nice to see the ER doctor’s puffed-up head deflate. Let’s just say, his bedside manner wouldn’t win any awards. I had first taken offense to this Dr. Randolph when he lifted the towel from my forehead and gave my dad an exasperated look. “Mr. Jones, this is only a surface wound,” he said in a scolding tone. 

"While Dad and Ben stared at my forehead, the doctor wore a smug expression. I so wanted to wipe it off his face. “I don’t understand,” Dad said, looking confused. “I tended the wound myself, and it was deep.” “I saw the split, too, Doctor,” Ben interjected. “And it most definitely required stitches.” 

"Dr. Randolph shrugged. “I can see from the towel that the wound bled heavily. Sometimes even minor head wounds will do this. The bleeding must have made it appear more serious to you both than it obviously is.” Translated: You’re both idiots."

~~~

Cassidy had made a stupid mistake at school with  a friend who she later realized that she did like, so she was hoping to figure out how to get back into his life... Instead, a new boy was entering not only her life, but her home! When it was discovered that the professor's son had nobody to stay with, Cassidy's Dad had invited him to their home rather than to have him go into "the system..." At first, Cassidy was upset--she already had enough to deal with! But as she was discovering each strange change that was happening to her, she also discovered that Emery Phillips was 15, had already graduated from high school, clearly a genius, and was going to college and had worked with his mother related to her genetics research. 

Sitting on the hall floor next
 to my bedroom door,
I tuned in to Nate’s room across the hall.
 The boys were reading and discussing
 comic books. Apparently,
Emery knew less
 about superheroes than I did,
and my brothers had taken it upon
 themselves to get him up to speed.
~~~

Emery was the only person with whom she could share what was happening and perhaps get decent suggestions. At a minimum, she wouldn't be in this alone!

But then her Dad also got involved with the investigation, hoping to help find Emery's mother or even his father who was out of the country--somewhere! There was something very strange about this family and Drake was going to be in there to discover it! 

In the meantime, Cassidy of course had to return to school and readers will enjoy her experiences as she learned more and more about the changes to her body--let's just say that she didn't yet know her own strength and a couple of bullies...

got "pay back..." Emery was helping her, but they both knew that she had 

to keep everything a secret or somebody might kidnap her too! And...

she really did feel bad about breaking her rival's nose...

http://www.comicvine.com/joker/4005-1702/images/

And then Cassidy's father is kidnapped also! Cassidy and Emery must act to save them! Now that's where I'll end it, but give you one clue...Well actually two, if you consider the quote about Emery knowing little about comics--actually he knew little about the real world... Anyway, although it's not the character, this was the pic of the one who I thought of related to the villain and his gang...So be prepared for...crazy!

Confession: I loved this YA novel! So much fun to read, so much opportunity to discuss the book with my great-niece and feel that it is appropriate for her age... I had already ordered the next two, but something is going on with Amazon's billing, but I'd have to wait to read anyway until I had more time. But I do indeed recommend this...easily an "8" for this Debut of Series! Enjoy!

GABixlerReviews

Elise Stokes lives in Bellevue, Washington, with her husband and four children. She was an elementary school teacher before becoming a full-time mom. With a daughter in middle school and two in high school, Elise’s understanding of the challenges facing girls in that age range inspired her to create a series that will motivate girls to value individualism, courage, integrity, and intelligence. The stories in the Cassidy Jones Adventures series are fun and relatable, and a bit edgy without taking the reader uncomfortably out of bounds. Cassidy Jones and the Secret Formula and Cassidy Jones and Vulcan’s Gift are the first two books in the series.

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