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Welcome. Toss a blanket down, sit for a while under the willow, relax, and enjoy what's written below.

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Six Sentence Sunday

May was a crazy month for me. Mother’s Day, my birthday, and feeling under the weather put me behind. I thought I would make it up by having a triple Six Sentence Sunday with sentences from the next three chapters in my upcoming book, Abandoned Souls. I am hoping to release it this month -- June. J

From chapter four:   
“Kellie.” She heard a soft voice whisper her name. Looking up, she saw one of her college friends, Marilyn Price.
“Marilyn, what are you doing here?” Kellie stood, and they hugged. Taylor hugged Marilyn, too.

From chapter five:
“I’m not sure, but since you had an intruder I thought the person walking through the woods might be a problem.”
“What?” Marilyn jumped out of bed and ran to the window. She saw the light bouncing and moving back and forth as if someone was working their way through the woods toward the house. “It’s not important enough to call 911, but I’m going to watch it. If whoever that is comes on the property, I’ll call immediately.”

From chapter six:
Marilyn stood several feet from the mausoleum entrance. “I’m not sure I want to go in there. When I was lost in this cemetery, I swear someone entered and exited one of these. I don’t know which one since he blindfolded me.”

“That’s okay, I’ll go in.” Kellie entered the smallest mausoleum and saw there were four crypts marked with names and dates.


Friday, May 16, 2014

Review of New Release, Echoes, by Michael Bray


I had read Mr. Bray’s previous book, Whisper, and looked forward to the sequel. I was pleasantly surprised that the sequel, Echoes, was as good, if not better than the first. This is not to say I enjoyed the book only on the expectation that I would since I loved the first one.
Mr. Bray’s writing style drew me into the book from page one. He grabbed my attention by opening the story in an abandoned asylum for the criminally insane. From there he wove his story back to Oakwell and Hope House through the actions of richly crafted characters connected to each other by friendship and family.

One brother, the host of a paranormal investigative reality show, and another, a pillar of the community and councilman, come to an agreement to film a show at Hope House.
What follows is a wonderfully crafted story with several plot lines that weave and intersect at the perfect points throughout the story. A group of overly inquisitive teens, a recording crew, people drawn to the area out of morbid curiosity, and the return of Steve and Melody add to the richness of the story. Steve and Melody return against their own better judgment. Did they make the right decision? You will have to read Echoes to find out.  

The plot moves ahead seamlessly, but is never boring. This was a true page turner. I finished it in three days often picking up my Kindle when I had other things, including my own writing, to do. It is a bit darker than the first book, but it didn’t cause me nightmares.

I give Mr. Bray a solid 5 star review for Echoes not only for the quality of his writing, but the depth and realism he brought to his characters. Also, for an intriguing, fresh, and gripping story line.
I look forward to the final book in this wonderful trilogy.

**Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Echoes for review. This did not, in any way, affect my review of the book or Mr. Bray's writing.  

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