Synopsis

 

There are many ways to give back, from volunteering, serving on a board, raising funds, or donating time. Each role requires a specific skill set, but where does a person turn to get started? There has never been a formal guide for volunteers and activists to help them navigate the day-to-day activities associated with doing good through philanthropy; until now! So skip scrolling on the internet for hours to figure out how to advance the cause dear to your heart, and use this shortcut guide! “For A Good Cause” by philanthropy expert philanthropist Diane Lebson is for anyone who has ever said to themselves, “If I could make a difference in the world, how would I want to do it?”

Lebson’s book compiles everything you need to know about intentional volunteering and participation in philanthropic events. This accessible guide offers a wealth of information regarding best practices to follow, garnered through decades of experience in a nonprofit career and collaboration with 26 female philanthropists who also share their experience with step-by-step lessons.

Lebson’s priceless knowledge on how women can give joyfully and effectively to a cause is packed into this action-oriented guide, and will surely benefit anyone interested in making the most of their charitable endeavors. Let’s get started!

 

 

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Praise

 

“As a trailblazer in women’s philanthropy, Diane Lebson provides insightful advice on how to be intentional in your generosity. For A Good Cause illustrates what research at the Women’s Philanthropy Institute has demonstrated — that women are drawn to an expanded definition of philanthropy that includes time, expertise, advocacy, networks and money, applying all of their resources to work for good. Readers seeking greater confidence in how to do good will benefit from the real-world lessons and decades of experience shared through Lebson’s stories.” —Jeannie Infante Sager, Director of Indiana University Women’s Philanthropy Institute

“We know from research that women don’t resonate with the word “philanthropist” as it can be perceived as primarily the donation of money. Women know that they provide so much more than just treasure when they care about a good cause – they also give their time, talent, testimony and ties. Yet this broader definition of philanthropy is rarely celebrated, leaving women to believe that their full support is not valued. Lebson’s practical guide for women’s engagement with charities lifts up and honors what women bring to the table as talented and thoughtful volunteers, leaders, donors and amplifiers of the mission. In addition, her plethora of stories and practical advice is a welcome aide to women as they consider the best approaches to benefit any cause they hold dear.” —Kathleen E. Loehr, author of Gender Matters: A Guide to Growing Women’s Philanthropy

“In every encounter with Diane, I am always impressed (and motivated) by her energy and enthusiasm for supporting individuals to find joy in their philanthropic pursuits. Easier said than done! I am thrilled to see Diane articulate in word through her book, For A Good Cause: A Practical Guide to Giving Joyfully, the passion and practical steps anyone can take to embrace the sentiment of joyful giving. I believe truly that with her practical tips and relatable storytelling, you will feel confident and empowered to explore and expand your own philanthropic journey.”  —Katie Vlietstra Wonnenberg, President and Board Member, Phi Sigma Sigma, Inc. and Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation, and student in giving joyfully

“In my many decades as a nonprofit CEO I can’t remember reading a book that so comprehensively addresses all the facets of philanthropy from volunteers to donors to even starting your own nonprofit.  Diane’s contribution to the discourse reminds me that women have always worked hard to make the world a better place, now with For A Good Cause we have a guidebook to do it well and most important to do it joyfully.  Bravo Diane!” —Lidia Soto-Harmon, Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital

“The definition of philanthropy is a desire to promote the welfare of others, yet it has tended to be seen as limited to fundraising for a charitable cause. Diane Lebson’s new book For A Good Cause does a thorough and practical job of helping broaden that definition. She skillfully and with a very comfortably paced writing style introduces the reader to the many different ways you can “do good”…from serving on a board, to advocating for policy change, to making charitable contributions and so much more.    What I found especially useful is her understanding of the importance of finding the right “fit” when you choose to engage in philanthropy. I highly recommend For A Good Cause if you are just getting started or if you have been a long-time philanthropist who is thinking of pursuing a new direction.” —Anne Dalton, Community Volunteer, Portland, Maine

 

An Interview with Diane

 

 

What are a few signs that a person has found a charitable organization that is the right fit for them?

The most tangible sign that a person has found a charitable organization that is right for them is that they can actually feel it. They feel a sense of joy when they engage in their volunteer endeavor, even when the work is hard and challenging. They also are able to articulate how their charity work makes a difference and specifically how what they are doing is changing lives.

 

How do you think this guide would have impacted your life had it been available when you were first getting started?

If I had this guide when I was first jumping into philanthropy, I would have been able to focus my efforts more strategically. I would have wasted less time making mistakes and questioning whether I was doing the right thing in my charitable endeavors. I would also have been able to be more intentional in my efforts by selecting opportunities that were more closely aligned with my values — as opposed to responding to things that people put in front of me.

 

How did your relationships with other female philanthropists help you while writing this book?

Just like female philanthropists helped me chart my philanthropic path, they helped me on the journey of writing this book. The female philanthropists in my life are wonderful teachers and I am so grateful to the ones who mentored me along the way, connected me with opportunities, and encouraged me when I was challenged. In a similar way, the women I interviewed For A Good Cause were generous with their advice, networks, and cheerleading.

 

In what ways can a person with limited resources, money or time, still contribute to a charitable cause they care about?

There are so many ways that people with limited resources can make an impact in the philanthropic space. Post on social media about the causes that are important to you. Sign up for your favorite charity’s e-newsletter so that you can keep abreast of their activities. Identify a change agent you admire and become their pen pal by sending them notes of gratitude and encouragement. Live your values — try to buy from companies that engage in cause-related marketing campaigns.

 

What is your best piece of advice to someone just beginning to become interested in philanthropy, and how can they get started?

Don’t just respond to the volunteer or fundraising request that pops up in your inbox — think hard about what really matters to you and invest your entire effort to that cause. We diminish our power and our passion if we give or volunteer without intention. Just as you would with a financial investment, think about the long-term impact of going “all in” on an issue that matters to you — at the end of your life, you will find that you will have a positive impact on more lives if you concentrate your focus.

 

 

About the Author

 

Diane Lebson: Diane grew up as a first-generation American in Milford, Connecticut, the daughter of working-class, Polish immigrants who instilled in her a strong work ethic and desire to “do good.” After studying international relations in college, Diane stayed in Washington and began her nonprofit career on the national staff of United Way, the largest charity in the United States. Over the course of seventeen years, she managed United Way’s national literacy program, directed the national board of trustees, and built a women’s giving program that has to date raised over $2 billion and mobilized over 70,000 philanthropists. After leaving United Way, she went on to lead US fundraising operations for an international nongovernmental organization that serves orphans and abandoned children, lead a public library foundation, serve as the Chief of Protocol at the US Embassy in Canberra, Australia, and oversee the women’s giving program for the American Red Cross. In 2018, she and her husband cofounded Evergreen Philanthropic Solutions, a national consultancy that helps nonprofit organizations, individuals, corporations, and foundations achieve their philanthropic goals.

 

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Synopsis

 

Death by Sample Size is a humorous cozy mystery that takes place in the Los Angeles garment center. The last thing Ditzy Swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik expected was to discover ruthless buying office big wig Bunny Frank’s corpse trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey with a bikini stuffed down her throat. When Holly’s colleague is arrested for Bunny’s murder, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to find the real murderer. Nothing turns out the way Holly thinks it will as she matches wits with a wily killer hellbent on revenge.

 

 

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Review

 

This is quite a fascinating new cozy series set in LA where it takes hours to get anywhere, even down the street, and is home to the swimsuit fashion industry portrayed in this book. The book is filled with wise-cracking characters who cracked me up at the craziest times and lost of humorous descriptions that will have you shaking your head in disbelief.

Holly discovers a dead body in the elevator and how does she react when confronted? She laughs. It is her defense mechanism and thankfully her friend, the coroner, can confirm that tidbit so they don’t think she is too crazy laughing at death. But from there it is a race for Holly to figure out who killed Bunny and why. It is a huge cast of characters because no one really likes Bunny, she is manipulative and devious, a good way to end up murdered.

The book does start off with Holly finding the body and then it goes back in time leading up to the murder so we can get a better picture of who Bunny is and why no one likes her. There are many suspicious characters and the author does a great job of throwing in red herrings to keep us guessing who the real killer is. I think I had narrowed it down to this character because none of the others seemed to fit in just right. I was quite surprised at the ending and the confrontation with the killer. Definitely not a traditional ending.

This is definitely a book worth picking up and I’ll be interested to see what shenanigans that Holly will be up to in the next book. We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

When the elevator doors opened, I had to stop myself short not to step on her. There was Bunny Frank-the buying office big shot-lying diagonally across the car. Her legs were splayed out and her back was propped against the corner. Her sightless eyes were wide open and her arms reached out in a come-to-me baby pose. She was trussed up with shipping tape like a dressed Thanksgiving turkey ready for the oven with a bikini stuffed in her mouth. A Gotham Swimwear hangtag drooped off her lower lip like a toe tag gone lost. Naturally, I burst out laughing.

Before you label me incredibly weird or stone-cold, let me say genetics aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. If you’re lucky you inherit your Aunt Bertha’s sexy long legs or your father’s ability to add a bazillion dollar order in his head and get the total correct to the last penny. Without even breaking into a sweat, it’s easy to spout at least a million fabulous traits inheritable by the luck of the draw. Did I get those sexy long legs or the ability to add more than two plus two without a calculator? Noooooooooo. Lucky me. I inherited my Nana’s fear of death we overcompensated for with the nervous habit of laughing. A hysterical reaction? Think Bozo the clown eulogizing your favorite aunt.

I craned my neck like a tortoise and checked around. Then I clamped a fist over my mouth. Cripes, how could I possibly explain my guffaws with Bunny lying there? The disappointment was simultaneously mixed with relief when there was no one else in the parking lot. Where was security when you needed them?

I toed the elevator door open and bent over Bunny. I’d seen enough CSI episodes to know not to touch her. She was stiff as a board and I attributed the bluish tinge of her skin to the bikini crammed down her throat. I was no doctor, but I didn’t need an MD after my name to make this diagnosis. Bunny Frank was dead as the proverbial doorknob.

It was no surprise Bunny Frank had finally pushed someone beyond their limits. The only surprise was it had taken so long. The question wasn’t who wanted Bunny Frank dead. The question was who didn’t?

 

 

About the Author

 

Born in the Big Apple, Susie Black now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

 

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Synopsis

 

The relative calm at Offutt Air Force Base is shattered when commercial Flight 209 crashes down onto its runway. From the flaming wreckage, Major Tamika Smith must try to rescue survivors and make sense of the tragedy. But this isn’t just an isolated incident. In a time of national unrest and division, a cunning shadowy mastermind is tearing down the United States from the inside out, playing law enforcement like puppets. Soon, thousands are dying and there are precious few leads. Can Tamika and an unlikely collection of committed Americans stop the destruction in time to rescue a nation descending into chaos?

With heart-pounding action, compelling plot twists, and a rich tapestry of characters, The Wilkes Insurrection is the perfect blend of callous villains, iconic heroes, and political intrigue to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

 

 

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Excerpt

 

AN EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 3: THE CRASH

 

Major Tamika Smith is a Combat Search and Rescue Specialist at Offutt Air Force Base. When a commercial airliner is diverted to attempt an emergency landing, she swings into action.

She grabbed the handheld mic attached to the wall by an accordion cable. “Attention all crews.” And then, “Hey . . . shut the hell up!”

Quiet, finally.

Now, more calmly, she began. “Listen carefully . . .” She tried to balance her sense of urgency with the need for people to take a deep breath and focus. “We’ve got an inbound civilian 757 with two hundred thirteen souls on board. Two hundred passengers and thirteen crew. They blew a door at 34,000 feet and have lost significant hydraulic control. They’re trying to dump fuel, but we should assume that fire and smoke are in our future. They’ll be coming in from the northwest on Runway 12. Tough to guess about touchdown. The pilot will make sure he gets over the airfield. So let’s set up on Ramp B. Five minutes out. Obviously, this is not a drill.”

Air Traffic Control could have diverted the plane to Omaha or Lincoln, but Offutt had some decided advantages. In particular, its remote location reduced the likelihood of casualties on the ground. Her instructions would put the bulk of her team partway down Offutt’s main runway. Given the likelihood of fire, getting stationed close to the scene would buy them critical seconds to douse any flames and pull out survivors. But too far down the runway might make them roadkill in the wreckage.

“Washington—you need to call Commander Jessup. But he’s not going to be much help here until the press arrives.” At that point, his unique pain-in-the-ass skills might be useful. “If you really want to help, you can pair up with me.”

The look on the young captain’s face had equal elements of excitement and terror. Kind of like a teenage boy about to get to second base with his girlfriend for the first time. To his credit, he didn’t hesitate. “Major, I’ve done some training, but you’ll have to tell me what I need to do.”

Yelling above the sound of vehicles revving up, she kept her instructions short and to the point. “Grab some gear, Captain, and follow me. Keys are in the truck.”

They jumped into a vehicle and raced out on to the field, with Tamika directing him down the ramp toward the middle of the runway.

Putting on her equipment, she realized she better prepare him for what was coming. “Look, if this plane comes down hard, there’ll be shit everywhere. Plane parts, luggage, smoke, and probably body parts.”

That did not improve the look on Washington’s face.

“Just stay focused on our task and you’ll be fine. Part of the team will jump on any fires, but our assignment is getting people out and away to safety. As the plane goes past us, we’re going to go like a bat out of hell after it on the runway. Get as close to the fuselage as you can. Then stay with me. I’ve done this too many times before.”

Once in position, Tamika looked back down the runway, mentally tracing a line out toward the horizon. Dusk was settling across the prairie sky in hues of blue, red, and purple. Through the haze, she spotted the 757 with its wing and belly lights blazing. This was clearly not your typical approach. It looked like a boat bobbing across a rough ocean—first up, then down, now left, followed by steep right.

“Rev it up, Captain, it looks like he’ll be lucky to get it down somewhere on the field.”

On the radio: “Listen up—stay narrow for now. I don’t think they have much lateral control, and I don’t want any of us to get hit. Once he goes by, we can spread out based on how lucky he gets. Let’s make this count.”

The growl of the truck engines filled her ears.

In that instant, memories of enemy attacks crashed in. The smell of smoke, the feel of heat, and the cacophony of sounds associated with battle. Tamika’s ears rang with the crackle of her radio, the screams of wounded, and the continuing jackhammer sounds of machine gun fire.

Staring straight ahead, Tamika fought to stay in control. To push back the unwelcome memories that sometimes closed in around her.

“Major? Major Smith?”

“I’m here, Captain.” Adrenaline brought her back to the moment. “Just drive the damn truck when the plane goes by.”

With binoculars, Tamika could see the gaping hole in the right side of the fuselage as the plane shimmied back and forth across the approach vector. It crossed the outer boundary of the field, looming large as it sailed by.

“Go! Go! Go!” She screamed as the cavalcade of fire and rescue vehicles took off down the runway.

At the last moment before touchdown, the plane lurched down on its left side. It bounced once—and then broke apart. The mid-section flipped over and slid across the end of the runway. Both wings split off followed by a fireball. Sounds of destruction boomed across the field.

The initial strike had split the nose away from the main body of the plane. What looked like the first six or seven rows of the passenger compartment along with the cockpit slid all the way past the end of the runway but looked upright and relatively intact.

The main cabin, on the other hand, was in shambles. It went well off to the right side of the runway, settling upside down and facing backward. Smoke poured from gaps in the shell. The last ten rows of the plane had separated hard at landing and somersaulted into a ditch on the left side of the runway, surrounded by crushed debris from the tail.

“Let’s get some foam on that main cabin to the right,” Tamika yelled into her radio. “Crews one, two, and three, converge on the midsection of the fuselage. Four, you have the nose. Five, you’re on the tail section. Let’s move!”

She slammed down the radio and yelled at Washington, “Put us right next to that big hole at the front of the cabin. You’re gonna want your oxygen mask on.”

They screamed down the last stretch of runway then veered off into the sloped grass approaching what was left of Flight 209. As they swung around to the side of the plane, Tamika jumped out of the truck before it had rolled to a stop. She ran up to the opening with her heart pounding. She took a deep breath. Then leapt into the fire.

In that instant, she knew it would be for the last time.

 

The following excerpt is reprinted from ’The Wilkes Insurrection’ by Robbie Bach, released on October 12, 2021. Reprinted with permission of Greenleaf Book Group. Copyright © 2021 Robbie Bach. https://wilkesinsurrection.com

 

 

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About the Author

 

Robbie Bach is best known for founding and leading the team that created the Xbox. Today he is an entertaining storyteller and catalyzing voice who writes books and speaks to audiences on leadership, creativity, strategy, and civic issues.

During his twenty-two years at Microsoft, Robbie worked in various marketing and business management roles—including supporting the successful launch and expansion of Microsoft Office and leading the creation and development of the Xbox business.  Then as Microsoft’s President of the Entertainment and Devices Division, he was responsible for the company’s worldwide gaming, music, video, phone, and retail sales businesses until he retired in 2010.

He currently chairs the board of the Bipartisan Policy Center. He also

serves on the national board of governors for Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Magic Leap, an augmented reality company. He previously served as a board member of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Sonos Inc., Brooks Running Company, the Space Needle Inc., and Year Up Puget Sound. He is the co-owner of Manini’s, Inc., a gluten-free pasta and baking company.

In 2015, he published his first book, Xbox Revisited: A Game Plan for Corporate and Civic Renewal.  Published in 2021, The Wilkes Insurrection is his first novel.

 

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Synopsis

 

When Allison began to care for her mother with Alzheimer’s, she started to ask some difficult questions. At what point is a life no longer worth living? Would dementia be in her future too?

Worried that her mother’s fate may be her own, Allison comes up with an unusual approach to try and control her own demise: start smoking. After all, she would rather die of cancer or a lung infection than the way her mother did—unable to recognize her own family, to take care of herself, or even speak. The tough part will be getting her family and friends on board with her new perspective.

Full of compassion for both Alzheimer’s victims and those it affects—caregivers, family, and loved ones—Allison’s Gambit brings a taboo topic to the forefront and asks us all—what would we do?

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Chapter 2

 

Considering I had a front-row seat for my father’s last days, it might seem ironic that I took up smoking. The fact is, my habit has nothing to do with him and everything to do with my mom, Nancy MacPherson. Now they have both passed away, and I smile when I think of my father. The emotions I go through when I think of my mother are complicated. On a good day, I manage a slight smile, but on most days, I just feel relief that she finally died.

Now it is so clear that, despite knowing what my father went through, if I had to choose a death, I would choose his in an instant. He died; my mom suffered. Actually, that’s not exactly true—everybody else around her suffered.

It must come across as callous to those who don’t know what happened, but my mom’s dementia caused a suffering like no other. It made me realize that there are different ways to die. I won’t say I became fixated on death; I just became aware it was going to happen, which I know sounds stupid. We all know we are going to die. It’s just…we don’t think about it. We push it into the recesses of our minds. But somehow I know I’m destined to die like my mom. And I have consciously decided to try and alter that reality. Why die of Alzheimer’s when you can die of something else—anything else?

I have generally learned not to express my uncommon beliefs, so they won’t attract disdain. No one enjoys opening themselves up for criticism and feeling like an emotional punching bag. Reticence seems the wiser option. But I have decided to change that and tell my story despite realizing that many will look at me like I am a pariah. If this diary were a YouTube video, I would likely have far many more thumbs-down than thumbs-up. How do I know this? Because this is not my first foray into asking the world to pass judgment on my feelings.

Though you have probably already learned this lesson, don’t say anything political or controversial on social media. Random people you don’t even know will actually threaten you because you provided tips on how to save water. Water! I wish I were making this up, but I speak from experience.

I’m sure the same surprise hits people after they post their first video on a public site, maybe of their six-year-old daughter at a ballet recital. The social-media affirmation complex doesn’t make

up for the rather surprising number of thumbs-down they receive. It’s enough to make you question yourself. “Maybe she isn’t such a good dancer? Perhaps I should have made her practice more.”

Now that it has been a while since my mom passed away, emerging from my cocoon seems imperative somehow, and there doesn’t seem to be a minute more to lose. I need to reach out to all of those other caregivers who are like me. I realize now that I have not only been grieving; I have been avoiding the well-wishers who often leave me more depressed. But mostly I have been avoiding telling my family and friends about my philosophy.

It is time to tell my story and convince at least my friends that I have something to offer from my experience. I am stronger now emotionally. I’m ready to take on the world, even the strangers who will pleasantly yell at me, “Just shut up and die already.”

 

From Allison’s Gambit Copyright C.A. Price, 2021

 

 

Q&A with C.A. Price

 

If you knew that dementia was in your future, would it change how you lived now?

 

This question is not too dissimilar to “If you knew when you were going to die…?” The response, however, could be different if one considered being alive with dementia worse than death itself, which is the presumption made by Allison in the book.

It would be fair to say that until we get to a certain point, we aren’t sure how we would answer the question. But the goal of the novel is to challenge the reader into doing this thought experiment for themselves. And the true hope, we realize at the end, is that the author WANTS people to live their life differently. What this means for each person can be quite different. But a personal example I wish to share: I am a father of an amazing eighteen-year-old young man. I am also a dedicated physician. I can’t tell you how many meetings I have sat through that I found to be a waste of my time. In the past, I would politely sit them out. After writing this novel, I began to just get up and walk out, returning home to my son and enjoying his company.

 

As nursing homes seem not to be desired by anyone, can you imagine a better way to care for the elderly?

 

I think that nursing homes are a necessary part of our lives as we age. But there is a stigma about nursing homes that likely would be different if we changed our philosophy about dying. I know this will likely be controversial, but I do feel that if we were more comfortable with death, we would choose comfort care and hospice much more frequently. Nursing homes would still exist, but I don’t presume they would feel as depressing. I think they would feel more vibrant as we would move to celebrating the end of someone’s life, rather than prolonging it at all costs.

 

Why do families take so long to choose hospice when they overwhelmingly feel more at peace once they do?

 

I think if you asked ten hospice volunteers this question you would receive ten different answers. There would, however, likely be a few themes. There is a cultural fear of dying. Further, a sense of failure when it occurs.

I recall first coming to understand this as a resident. While working in the Intensive Care Unit, you might start with six patients when you took over that evening. If all six were alive in the morning, this was a success. Even if one or two died within hours of you being off shift! Death on your shift was a sign of failure. Similarly for families, not trying every single treatment, medicine, etc. is felt to be “giving up.” “How dare you suggest that we stop trying?”

What I hoped to leave the reader with was a sense of how we remember our loved ones. What I have found is that if we remember them as feeble, incapable, in pain, it can detract from who they were for the majority of their life. Further, when we start to imagine ourselves this way, patients universally seem to say, “I don’t want to live like that.” In other words, part of the goal in writing this book is to shine light on this paradox. When we think about what we want done for ourselves we seem to universally embrace the concept of hospice. However, for our loved ones, we seem burdened with a sense of guilt in not doing enough.

 

Why did you feel the need to write this book? For example, do you hope that it will help someone who is in this caregiver position feel like they’re not alone?

 

There are several reasons I began to write, but only one reason I decided to publish. The reasons I began to write came from my shock at the unusual choice of my patient—planning to continue to smoke so she wouldn’t live long enough to suffer from dementia. The shock evolved to interest as I explored this philosophy with writing. Writing helped me explore my own thoughts about dying. And oddly, this led to a recognition that I wanted to start living differently as a result. When I got to the end of the book I recognized that I had a great deal of sympathy and understanding for Allison. I realized that no matter what is going to happen to me in the end, I wanted to live my life differently NOW.

Why I decided to publish is that I began to realize the difficulty with caregiving. The physical and mental toll it can take on an entire family. I started to realize there are few services for this and even fewer conversations. It has become my belief that until we start having real conversations about our feelings, the guilt, the physical burden that often prompts moving to a nursing home, we aren’t going to get any better. I really want this book to begin a conversation that screams we must do better. This can’t simply remain part of life that will work itself out. And we can’t leave cost out of the conversation. I can’t tell you how often I have felt that if families had to pay five percent of the cost of treatment they would suddenly have a change of heart when it came to demanding that all must be done.

 

What have been your personal experiences with elder care, Alzheimer’s, and caregiving?

 

Perhaps the best decision I made was to start doing home visits. And yes, I seem to feel I’m the only physician who does them. This allows me to get three different perspectives:

–Seeing patients in my office

–Seeing patients in nursing homes (or assisted living)

–Seeing patients in their own home

 

Home visits are incredibly interesting and rewarding. The love people show is different than any other environment. For this reason alone, I can never imagine not doing home visits.

One thing that complicates dementia is that medical insurance doesn’t pay for caregiving when a person is not “homebound.”  If they don’t have a “medical need” such as wound care, requiring IV antibiotics, or they are so debilitated it would be great difficulty to leave the home…there is little nursing care that can be obtained. Patients with dementia often don’t need any of these things, and yet they require full time care, including during the night when they can be particularly active.

I find that by going to a patient’s home I can far better assess the difficulties shared by the caregivers. I think it has given me greater empathy and a recognition that there is a big gap in potential care for those with Alzheimer’s.

Another thing that happened early on in my career was understanding and appreciating the role of hospice care, which has evolved to now include supportive care. Briefly I’ll explain the difference: Hospice asks the physician to give a diagnosis and an expectation that a patient has less than six months to live. Supportive care also asks for a diagnosis—typically one of only a few such as heart failure, kidney failure or cancer—and that “it wouldn’t be surprising if your patient didn’t live for more than a year.”

What’s absolutely amazing about both is that their statistics completely surprise everyone. With hospice, those who join tend to live LONGER than their counterparts that don’t. With supportive care, the overall happiness is greater and the cost of care is lower.

What I would like to see is a greater move to accepting “supportive care” for other diagnoses such as dementia. This would allow nurses, caregivers, spiritual therapy, psychotherapy for patients that would get paid. Right now this is not the case. Why this tends to be cheaper is that families begin to accept the dying process differently. They recognize that this care, the socialization, the comfort is more desired than another trip to the emergency room or ICU.

 

 

About the Author

 

C.A. Price is a family practice physician in California. The philosophy of Allison’s Gambit was inspired by patients of his who have been caregivers to those with dementia and his continued observation that these family members often end up with tremendous guilt. His work with hospice has taught him that those who change their views about dying seem to live so much better. It is his first novel.

 

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Synopsis

 

All her life, Annie has played it nice and safe. After being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend, Annie seeks a fresh start. She accepts a teaching position that moves her from Manhattan to a small village upstate. She’s stunned by how perfect and picturesque the town is. The people are all friendly and warm. Her new apartment is dreamy too, minus the oddly persistent spider infestation.

Then Annie meets Sophie. Beautiful, charming, magnetic Sophie, who takes a special interest in Annie, who wants to be her friend. More importantly, she wants Annie to stop apologizing and start living for herself. That’s how Sophie lives. Annie can’t help but gravitate toward the self-possessed Sophie, wanting to spend more and more time with her, despite the fact that the rest of the townsfolk seem…a little afraid of her. And like, okay. There are some things. Sophie’s appearance is uncanny and ageless, her mansion in the middle of the woods feels a little unearthly, and she does seem to wield a certain power…but she couldn’t be…could she?

 

 

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Review

 

This was quite an interesting tale. It was promoted as dark and frightening, but I don’t think it was either of those. It is a little spooky so a great read for October!

Annie is a bit lost in her life after her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her. So she decides to start over in a small town in upstate NY. I don’t think she is very happy there, but then I think she doesn’t know what in her life will make her happy. She admits to focusing all of her energy on the relationship she is in versus having her own interests and hobbies. I think we might all be able to relate to that to some degree.

However, Annie does meet Sophie and from the beginning, I wondered about her. Something seems a little off. She doesn’t drive, doesn’t have a phone or any sort of technology, lives in a massive home. She is off the grid without being off the grid if that makes sense. Sophie does see something in Annie, a better woman and one that is not so obsessed with finding a relationship to lose herself in. She works hard to bring out the best in Annie and is met with some resistance because Annie can’t seem to let go of Sam (the ex).

The citizens of the town act strangely towards Sophie and once you discover why it makes sense. Should they treat her that way? Maybe. But perhaps they can look past their pain and to the future just like Annie? Only time will tell.

While I am not a big fan of spiders, the ones in this book are cute and the personalities are so much more than the spider. This doesn’t mean I won’t try to relocate spiders I find in my own home!

This book is about finding yourself and becoming the best version of yourself that you can be and exploring the paths set in front of you.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Rachel Harrison was born and raised in the weird state of New Jersey. She received her bachelor’s in writing for film and television from Emerson College. After graduating, she worked on TV game shows, in publishing, and for a big bank. She lives in western New York, with her husband and their cat/overlord.

 

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Deep Green Envy (Deep Lakes Cozy Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
Setting – Wisconsin
3rd in Series
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ten16 Press (September 21, 2021)

 

 

Synopsis

 

Summer in Deep Lakes sprouts a homegrown murder on the O’Connor farm. Frankie Champagne’s hunt for clues lands her deep in sheep doo-doo, especially after rare stones surface in unexpected places. Crime-solving is no picnic for the baker/vintner as she hops from farm to field to bakery, trying to keep up with the tourist season and track a killer, too.

 

 

 

 

Amazon – B&N

 

 

Guest Post

 

Finding the Recipe for my Wisconsin Mystery series

by Joy Ann Ribar

 

 

I’ve spent my life in Wisconsin, so when the Muse showed up under the cover of night, I wasn’t surprised to find her wrapped in fleece, dripping with lake water, toting a glass of fruity wine in one hand and a basket of pastries in the other. Hence, the town of Deep Lakes was born and the Bubble & Bake shop sprouted in its downtown. Once I visualized my feisty red-haired main character to run the bakery-by-day, wine-lounge-by-night, I knew she needed a name to live up to her business.  Francine “Frankie” Champagne popped like a cork from my sleepless dreams, and I began writing her story the next day.

It turns out that my Muse is a clever thief since she largely borrowed from my life experiences as the foundation of the Deep Lakes Cozy Mystery series.  For instance:

 

I have been surrounded by and influenced by water since I was born. I grew up on the Fox River with many lakes just outside my backyard. I lived in and on the river: it was my swimming hole where I conjured imaginary characters on houseboats and underwater mermaid kingdoms, and it was my frozen playground where I dreamt of being an Olympic figure skater. The river provided my education in fishing and paddling a boat, too.

 

I learned my way around the kitchen beginning as a toddler, underfoot of my busy mother who was trying to keep a family of eight fed. She endured me as best she could by keeping me busy. My dad had a whale-sized sweet tooth, so Mom baked nearly every day. My baking life was cultivated first by fetching the basics used in every pastry, then in learning to measure ingredients, and finally in mixing, rolling, and cutting out dough. Once I mastered simple cake and cookie recipes, I developed an appetite for baking that cannot be satisfied.  I love to experiment with recipes and conjure variations. There’s nothing like the smell of baking cookies and bread that fills the whole house with unconditional love.

 

 

 

I first learned about wine when my parents threw a German Wine Club party. Since I was 17 at the time, I was allowed to attend. The sommelier brought German vintages and taught us about grape varieties, the regions in Germany where grapes are cultivated, how to determine the nose of the wine, and how to artfully taste it.  I was intrigued, but much was forgotten while I attended college, then became a working mother of three.  But Wisconsin, known for its agricultural pursuits, began cultivating cold climate grapes in the 1980s, and a number of small Mom and Pop wineries sprouted.  In the past ten years, the state has grown in wine production to number 19 in the U.S. with over 100 wineries. Since a trip to Napa Valley or France wasn’t on my agenda, my husband and I, along with a group of friends, started wine touring and tasting across the region.  Soon, my love for wines returned, as did my love of learning about cultivation and vinification. I still embrace wine tasting and wine making in the name of research for Frankie Champagne!

 

 

Wisconsin is a humble state that celebrates its four distinct seasons without boastful fanfare. Instead, my Badger State spreads its arms wide and welcomes anyone to join in its homegrown events. Winter, with its deep freeze and mountains of snow, welcomes you to stay cozy at a snowmobile derby or poker run, ice fishing shack, or the very brave can jump in Lake Michigan for the annual Polar Plunge. Spring brings out some of the best in our citizens as the ground thaws and nature puts on her colorful finery. If you visit Wisconsin in spring, you’ll find friendly people everywhere willing to share the best fishing advice, trails for walking or biking, and supper clubs with delicious fish frys. Every summer weekend is jam-packed with festivals, fairs and farm markets as the full bounty of the Dairy State is on display for locals and visitors alike. Eat cream puffs, cheese curds, deep fried pickles, giant pretzels with cheese dip, and imbibe in numerous varieties of micro-brewed beers.In the fall, most sports fans partake in some form of tailgate party before a Badger or Packer football game, and it doesn’t matter if you root for the opposition, you can eat brats and drink beer with Wisconsinites as long as you don’t get too opinionated. I travel all over the country and people tell me Wisconsin is one of the friendliest states around.  I call us the Golden Retriever of the 50 states:  we just want to make everyone happy and hope to be shown a little love in return.

 

As for the mystery genre:  I thank the Trixie Belden and Bobbsey Twins series that introduced me to both mystery solving by amateur sleuths, as well as the pure pleasure of escaping to other parts of the world where my young self was hungry to go.  My love of mysteries continued throughout my adult life, and I couldn’t imagine offering another genre to readers, who devour the art of hunting clues, unraveling puzzles, observing characters, and inhabiting small towns with friendly people and enticing secrets.  Cheers to you readers who make room in your mystery devotion and bookshelves for an infinite number of authors!  I’m grateful to have a home in your reading life.

 

“Give me wine to wash me clean of the weather-stains of cares.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Joy Ann Ribar lives in central Wisconsin with her business partner-husband, John. She writes the Deep Lakes Mystery Series, starring baker/vinter and all-around spitfire, Frankie Champagne. Joy’s writing is inspired by Wisconsin’s four distinct seasons and local flavors, which she hopes to promote for all to enjoy.

Joy is a member of Sisters in Crime, Midwest Independent Booksellers, and Wisconsin Writers Association.  She enjoys researching viticulture at area wineries, birding, hiking, and chatting with readers.  Joy and her husband, John, someday plan to sell their house, buy an RV and travel around the U.S. spreading good cheer and hygge! Joy is a little proud to have two bestsellers with Orange Hat Publishing: Deep Dark Secrets(2019) and Deep Bitter Roots(2020), under the Ten16 Press imprint of Orange Hat.

 

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Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Synopsis

 

Emmie let out a huge sob – “It’s not a film set”, she cried. She held onto Jack for a moment, then took a step back, closed her eyes and shouted – “WHERE AM I?”

When Jack and Emmie suddenly find themselves transported back to London in 1940, they find a world both familiar, yet very different. As they dodge falling bombs and over-zealous policemen, they befriend Jan – a lonely Polish refugee. Together, they must work out if the shadowy figure they keep seeing is a spy and unlock the secret of getting home again…

 

 

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

 

Free to read via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

Sometimes I enjoy reading middle-grade books because if nothing else, it might teach me a thing or two. In this case, it was an almost teen’s perspective of what the blitz was like for the children of the 1940s. This book also combines a little bit of fantasy and sci-fi into the mix with the time travel aspect of the story.

It starts off with Jack being asked to write a page about what children might have thought or felt during WWII especially during the blitz. He is like any other 12 year old and has no idea what to think or write. Emmie is in another class and they are acting out the same type of scenario but neither really have any idea what those children went through 80 years ago. That is until the bus they are riding on zaps them back to the past and they are dumped into the reality of the 1940s.

This is truly a learning experience for Jack and Emmie. They have to figure out how to fend for themselves when it comes to food and shelter, avoid the police, and they also have to figure out how they were taken back to the past and how do they get back to their time? Luckily, they meet a couple of other young children that they befriend and it is an adventure for all of them. Jan (pronounced Yan) and Stan (short for Stanislaw) are from Poland and were part of the program that took young children from their countries and housed them in England where they would hopefully survive the war. These four form a fast friendship despite some misunderstandings at first.

This was a somewhat fast read for me, but one that was enjoyable because I too couldn’t wait to find out how they were going to get back to the present. Thankfully, there are people that took care of them at times with food, shelter, and friendship. I think this experience definitely taught these two a little something about history and what they shouldn’t take for granted in their own time.

I think this would be a great read for anyone and we give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Glen Blackwell lives in Suffolk, England. He has a career in finance and We’re Moving Where?! is his first book. Inspired by bedtime reading with his 3 daughters, Glen loves to bring stories to life for young readers.

 

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WHAT LIES BENEATH TEXAS:

 

PIONEER CEMETERIES AND GRAVEYARDS

 

by

 

Cynthia Leal Massey

 

 

 

Genre: Regional History/ 19th Century/ Landmarks & Monuments/ Travel Pictorial

 

Publisher: TwoDot

 

Date of Publication: August 1, 2021

 

Number of Pages: 400 pages w/77 B&W photos

 

 Scroll down for giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Texas, the second largest state, both in land mass and population, has more than 50,000 burial grounds. As the final resting places of those whose earthly journey has ended, they are also repositories of valuable cultural history. Pioneer cemeteries provide a wealth of information on the people who settled Texas during its years as a Republic (1836-1845), and after it became the 28th state in 1845. In What Lies Beneath: Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards, Cynthia Leal Massey exhumes the stories of these pioneers, revealing the fascinating truth behind the earliest graveyards in the Lone Star State, including some of its most ancient. This guide also provides descriptions of headstone features and symbols and demystifies the burial traditions of early Texas pioneers and settlers.

 

 

 

Rowman & Littlefield│ Amazon│ B&N

 

TwigBooks│Bookshop.org

 

 

 

 

Excerpt from Author’s Note of

 

What Lies Beneath, Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards

 

By Cynthia Leal Massey

 

 

The last few months of my work on What Lies Beneath, Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards were during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. As I was completing the book, I became very cognizant of how history repeats itself. A few hundred years before Christ was born, in the Book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon observed, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again, there is nothing new under the sun.” All the talk of “unprecedented times” solidified my belief in the importance of the knowledge of history.            Steeped in the 19^th century, writing about cemeteries, memorials, and the people interred—basically writing about death—I knew that the pandemic we were facing was not unprecedented. In fact, epidemics, pandemics, and plagues have occurred with deadly frequency over the centuries and so have various forms of “shutdowns,” and even resistance to such measures. In the 19^th century, long-standing diseases such as smallpox (see what instigated the Laredo Smallpox Riot mentioned in this book), typhus, and yellow fever turned into epidemics several times over the course of the century. Cholera spread worldwide in six pandemics in the 19^th century. There was even a bubonic plague pandemic that originated in China, spreading worldwide in the 1890s. Scientific advances in the medical field and the recognition of the importance of sanitation made such pandemics rarer and less lethal in subsequent centuries.

Many of the cemeteries included tell the stories of individuals, some known and many unknown, who succumbed to epidemics (diseases that affect a large number of people within a region) and pandemics (diseases that spread over multiple countries or continents). In fact, the mortality rate was so high during the 19^th century that there was an entire industry of funerary rites and customs developed to help the bereaved. The sentiments engraved on many tombstones give expression to the anguish suffered when a loved one died.

….. I was born and raised in Texas, and so was steeped in Texas history from an early age. Nonetheless, many of the individuals covered in this book were new to me. Even those I knew of were illuminated in ways that made them more real and impressive. How they were memorialized in death also tells a story. An example is General Sam Houston, the first president of the Republic of Texas, who today is iconic in Texas history. Years after he died, a magnificent memorial by renowned Italian-American sculptor Pompeo Coppini was commissioned for his gravesite, but at the time of his death, he was vilified because he refused to support the Confederacy. Few people, except close family members and friends, attended his funeral in Huntsville.

While the gravesites of children, many marked by intricately carved babies and toddlers reclining on small pillow beds, were poignant, the graves with markers for “Unknown” or “Known Only to God” were also moving. Several sections at the Fort Parker Memorial Park Cemetery have rows of such markers—small square concrete tombstones inscribed with the word, UNKNOWN—a sobering reminder of our fate in years to come.

…. Cemeteries are important repositories of our history and humanity. While the memorials, statues, and monuments to the luminaries of Texas history are breathtaking, the graves, both marked and unmarked, of ordinary individuals are also worthy of reverence and remembrance.

 

Cynthia Leal Massey

Helotes, Texas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Award-winning author Cynthia Leal Massey is a former corporate editor, college instructor, and magazine editor. She has published hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles and eight books. A full-time writer who publishes history columns for community publications, Cynthia was raised on the south side of San Antonio. She has resided in Helotes since 1994, and has served on the Helotes City Council since 2008, serving twice as Mayor Pro Tem. She is also president of the Historical Society of Helotes.

Cynthia, a former president of Women Writing the West, is a recipient of the Will Rogers Silver Medallion Award for her nonfiction book, Death of a Texas Ranger, A True Story of Murder and Vengeance on the Texas Frontier, which also won the San Antonio Conservation Society Publication Award. She is the recipient of several literary awards, including the WILLA Literary Finalist Award for Best Original Softcover Fiction for her novel, The Caballeros of Ruby, Texas, called by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Larry McMurtry, “a vivid picture of the Rio Grande Valley as it was fifty years ago and a very good read.”

 

Website   ◆  Amazon  ◆  Goodreads

 

 

—————————————

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

Three autographed copies of

 

What Lies Beneath, Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards.

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 10/15/21).

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily.

or visit the blogs directly:

 

10/5/21	Excerpt	StoreyBook Reviews
10/5/21	BONUS Sneak Peek	Hall Ways Blog
10/6/21	Guest Post	The Clueless Gent
10/6/21	BONUS Promo	LSBBT Blog
10/7/21	Review	Jennie Reads
10/8/21	Review	That’s What She’s Reading
10/9/21	Scrapbook Page	Chapter Break Book Blog
10/10/21	Author Interview	All the Ups and Downs
10/11/21	Review	The Plain-Spoken Pen
10/12/21	BONUS Review	Book Fidelity
10/12/21	Excerpt	Sybrina’s Book Blog
10/13/21	Review	Forgotten Winds
10/14/21	Review	The Book’s Delight

 

 

 

 

 

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Synopsis

 

A knitting group’s change of scenery changes lives in unexpected ways

Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing going: meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.

Uptight Margaret isn’t having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she’s ever heard of, and she’s heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they’re constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret—grumbling the whole way—to the mall with them. She can’t wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.

Without the familiar mold, the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community–or will the tangle be too much to unravel?

Sharon J. Mondragon’s debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ.

 

 

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Praise

 

“The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady is a delight! With scenes as vivid and lively as a cozy PBS drama and characters so real they feel more like neighbors than anything else, this book was a joy every moment I spent with it. More than once, I found myself so absorbed in the story that I completely forgot I was reading. Laced with mercy, encouragement, and hope, this novel is a brilliant and lovingly written debut.”  ~ Susie Finkbeiner, author of The Nature of Small Birds and the Pearl Spence novels

 

“I love this book. Extraordinary things happen when ordinary knitters reluctantly move a congregation’s prayer shawl ministry from a quiet chapel to a busy mall. Their encounters with people they would not normally meet made me chuckle, occasionally weep, and finish the story feeling a gentle nudge from the author to ‘go and do likewise.’”  ~ Patricia Sprinkle, author of Hold Up the Sky

 

 

Review

 

I loved this book and devoured it pretty quickly. Sometimes a book just hits you at the right time and that was this book for me.

Four women make up the prayer shawl ministry at a local church and their pastor has set them out into the community to knit their shawls while the chapel is being repainted. Needless to say, Margaret is not pleased with this change. Margaret is something of a control freak and this upsets her strict routine and feels that knitting in public will not allow them to pray over these shawls for those that will eventually receive them. I think we all know a Margaret in our lives and sometimes change is good. The other ladies are more flexible and they don’t let Margaret try and run roughshod over them and change the date or make it a more private location.

While Margaret is the driving force, the other ladies, Fran, Rose, and Jane, are a solid contribution to the group and the story. All four of these women have their own demons to battle and those play into the story and how it brings people to them and how they can all make a difference one person at a time.

I loved how these ladies end up at the mall doing their knitting and that while they may think that they do not bring attention to themselves, they really do and others are curious about what they are doing and why. What these ladies don’t realize is that they did bring their ministry to the people and they were receptive to prayers and even being brought into the prayer shawl ministry circle.  I was encouraged at how they were accepted by the number of prayer requests they received from employees at the mall and it reminds us that even a small change can bring bigger changes to our lives.

The story flows and while there are some “tense” moments between characters, it also shows us grace and mercy, that forgiveness is powerful, and that we all need someone in our lives to be in our corner and root for us whether we know it or not. There are some sparks of love, protectiveness of parents, and getting through to one Dragon Lady that life is too short to hold onto anger and fear and that feelings need to be shared now and not later when it is too late.

This is a feel-good book that will be enjoyed by many. And if you are a knitter, there is even a pattern at the end if you want to give it a whirl. I have to say, this book made me want to try my hand at knitting!

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Sharon J. Mondragón writes about the place where kindness and courage meet. Her debut novel, The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady (originally titled The Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry) was the 2017 winner of the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis award in the Short Novel Category, and she has also been recognized by The Saturday Evening Post where her short story, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” was an Honorable Mention Awardee in the 2014 their Great American Fiction Contest.

Mondragón has been active in prayer shawl ministry since 2008 and currently serves as facilitator for the prayer shawl ministry at her church, St. Paul Episcopal in Waxahachie, TX. She also knits with the Circle of Healing at Red Oak United Methodist Church. She is a Level 2 Certified Knitting Instructor through the Craft Yarn Council and teaches beginning knitting at a local yarn store.

Mondragón is the mother of five grown children and has four grandchildren. After 26 years as an Army wife, she has settled in Midlothian, TX with her hero/husband, her laptop, and her yarn stash.

 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Synopsis

 

How much will she risk to save her sister?

Mae Ashton has every reason to stay in Georgia and marry the man she loves, save one—the disappearance of her sister. Although all evidence points to Hazel’s death, Mae’s discovery of a single picture changes everything. If Hazel is alive, Mae will find her. And she’s left everything to do so.

Davis Everleigh isn’t about to let Mae, his fiancée, go just because of a note that hardly explains her departure to New York City. Instead, he follows her to the city and gains employment with the man Mae believes is somehow connected to Hazel.

As Davis and Mae become further entrenched in their effort to locate Hazel, they find themselves facing a corrupt businessman and his ruthless henchman, Alberto Moretti. In a world of lies, will the truth prevail—both about Hazel and in their own lives?

 

 

Amazon

 

Review

 

They don’t call it the Roaring 20s for nothing! This is a time of speakeasies, mobsters, flappers, and the Charleston.

Mae is absolutely positive that her sister is not the one they found dead in the river and only a photo gives her a clue where to start looking. However, Mae does not know who she is dealing with because this is a fast-talking town compared to her home in Georgia. However, her love for her sister, Hazel, allows her to persevere and continue her search. What she doesn’t expect is for her ex-fiance, Davis, to follow her and want to help her find Hazel. Is that love or what?!

I appreciated Mae’s determination but I didn’t understand why she was insistent on taking her sister home to the family. Her sister was happy and knew what she had gotten herself into, but Mae did not accept that decision. Yes, her husband was a gangster and involved in shady business, but did that warrant Mae trying to take her sister away from a situation that she wanted to belong? But Mae is plucky especially when she finds herself in situations that could have not ended well.

Davis is a gem. His love for Mae throws him into the middle of the whole situation and he ends up with a price on his head. However, the one thing that Davis and Mae have going for them is their faith and they are not afraid to share their beliefs with anyone they run across, even a reluctant gangster.

There is a character that might surprise you, Alberto. He is rough and tough, but I think deep down there is a part of him that does not enjoy this life and wonders if there is more out there for him. It doesn’t help that he is secretly in love with Mae’s sister, who is married to his boss.

I can’t forget to mention Scranton, the preacher that totes a gun (seems like all of the characters toted guns) and isn’t shy in helping Mae and Davis in their cause, even if it might mean death for him. And that is highly possible considering the characters they are dealing with in this book.

The book is full of scripture which fits the situations that Mae and Davis find themselves mixed up. I appreciated their strong faith beliefs and that they didn’t back down no matter what anyone said about their faith and beliefs.

The book has a nice even fast pace to it and there was little downtime to wonder what might pop up and surprise us next. There are many nuances to this book that made it an entertaining read but too much would be given away by sharing those here.

We give this book 4 paws up and look forward to the next book in this trilogy that will feature Alberto and Lillian (Hazel).

 

 

 

About the Author

 

A little bit about me—I’m a sinner saved by grace who seeks to glorify God with my words. I’m also a homeschool graduate who holds a degree in accounting. Promises Unbroken is my fifth published novel.

 

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