**RELEASE BLITZ** ~ The Para-Portage of Emily (Book in the Shadow Seduction Series), by Muffy Wilson (includes excerpt)

 Erotic Paranormal Romance

The Para-Portage of Emily
The Shadow Seduction Series
By
Muffy Wilson
@SexyMuffyWilson
Emily Macque, a young, beautiful junior partner in her father’s law firm, is but a heartbeat away from love or destiny. Duty brings Emily to a frozen Island estate two hundred and fifty miles north of Chicago. Devotion requires she delve into the property history to settle an estate probate. Death lures her into the arms of the shadows seduction created by the flickering light and dark shadows.
What flames the timeless passions spanning the decades? Love, desire or obsession?
Colin Jorgenson, once a Great Lakes mariner, is a strong man haunted by love and loss. How long will he return each night, gripped by desire, hoping to find the woman he has loved for a century?

Beneath the pristine Island beauty, passions hungered, lingered in the ardent darkness. His passions, fueled by decades of loneliness and longing, could no longer be denied. Will they face eternity together or love in secret as dark things are to be loved between the shadows and the soul?

I just finished The Para-Portage of Emily. Quite the
page-turner!!
I was gifted a free copy by the author and found it to be a
cleverly woven plot with descriptive characters you won’t soon forget. I’m not
one to give out spoilers,
but if you like paranormal intrigue, hot romance, and
mystery, you will love it. Looking forward to more works by Muffy Wilson as I’m
sure they will be just as brilliant.
“Tell me what you know about Mariner’s Maiden please, Kirby.”
Kirby took a long draw on his beer before he began his narrative. “It was years ago, around 1800 Miss Emily, when the original land owner arrived on the Island with settlers from Norway. He’d claimed five hundred acres on this southern point of the Island for himself. He became wealthy in cattle, wheat, timber and cheese. As his family grew and were educated on the Mainland, they moved, one by one, off Island. They were a wealthy, hard-working lot, but needed less and less of the acreage they owned. Much of the original plot was donated to the Town throughout the years. Some sections were sold.
“It got down to the last hundred acres when Colin Jorgenson bought the property, around 1890 or 1900. I am not exactly sure. The main house was much smaller and less grand than it is now, for sure. Now, Colin was a Maritime Captain and often he’d be gone for months at a time. He sailed the Great Lakes several times a year with supplies, spices, fancy goods and ‘fortunes of bounty’. That’s what they called it then. It was for sale to rich settlers throughout the Great Lakes. He’d earned all his wealth in trading by the turn of the century. He came and went
for several years until, in his mid-thirties, he met and married a much younger woman, Amalya, and came back to the Island with her.”
Kirby sat back, drained his beer and continued. “The property was called Mariner’s Cove then. He spent two years with Island tradesmen rebuilding this house for his wife. To honor her, and before his return to the water, he commissioned a maritime woodcarver to create the figurehead of Amalya you saw yesterday on the tree marking the entrance. He had the figure of Amalya mounted on the bow of his ship and apparently felt she was always with him in his travels. She died one summer, pregnant with their first child, shortly after his returning from his last trip of the season. He shut himself away in this house—a broken man, left forlorn and alone, to die years later of a broken heart as a recluse. It’s said he returns night after night trying to find his Amalya, his beloved.”
“But that’s just old folklore, Miss Emily, there’s nothing to it but made up stories from the past by gossips and romantics. This place has never been haunted—no one has ever said it was, anyway. Even though he was long dead, this property was held in Old Colin’s estate until your uncle bought it around 1955, I think. I suppose there is more you can find out at the Archives office in the Island library at the town offices, if you want. That’s about all I know and it ain’t much.”
Refusing a second beer, Kirby was off to finish his chores. “Thank you, Miss Emily,” Kirby said as he stood to leave.
Emily walked him to the door with Barkley in tow.
“Oh, there is one more thing” he added. “There is supposed to be a crypt on the property somewhere. I heard tell that Old Colin buried his Amalya in there and when he was dying, he crawled into it to die on her casket. Creepy, but no one’s ever found it to my knowledge—and between me and my dad, we’ve covered this property as caretakers for over fifty years.”
Emily extended her hand in gratitude for the information and company. “Thank you, Kirby. All of that is so very interesting. He must have been deeply in love with Amalya.”
Kirby, a middle-aged man, stood and shook Emily’s hand.
He turned to leave, stopped and dropped his head as he hesitated at the bottom of the steps. A simple country man, this time was no different.
“Miss Emily…” He looked up at her rather sheepishly, and stuttered slightly, “Forgive me, Miss Emily, if I offend you. I have been a bachelor all my life and never had a way with women or much of a need for them. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I like ‘em well enough, but I never was able to pick the right words in their presence. If…if you don’t mind my saying…you look an awful lot like those paintings in the house of Miss Amalya.”
“Oh my word, Kirby, how you flatter me! It is purely a coincidence, I assure you.” Emily smiled, as she dismissed the compliment and waved good-bye at Kirby. As he left, she thought about the love shared between these two remarkable people, Colin and Amalya. Amalya and Colin.
She had forgotten to ask what became of the baby…
This is a story to savor. Ms. Wilson’s descriptions are
poetic and enthralling,
placing the reader in the midst of the story, and the
relaxed pace of the story does not lessen the power of suspense. Shrouded in
mystery, romance, and eroticism, “The Para-Portage of Emily” is a
treat for the senses,
a haunting indulgence. Despite hints throughout, the
ending still surprised me, and though satisfied,
I regretted the literary journey’s end. Highly recommended.
I look forward to more from this promising
series.
Muffy, author of erotic, romantic stories about love, sex, hope and passion, was born in San Antonio, Texas, to traditional parents. With two older brothers, she was the youngest, the family “princess,”  indulged and pampered. She adored her older brothers, following them everywhere and was surrounded by love, stimulation, and pets. Her father was a career Colonel and pilot in the U.S. Air Force which required the family to travel extensively. The family lived in most points between Alaska and France. Muffy spent her formative years in Europe and came of age in France.
Returning from France with her family, Muffy finished high school in Northern California and attended the University of California, Davis, and majored in Business Management.
Muffy entered the work force, independent with a fierce work ethic, and retired at 39 from IBM as a Mid-West Regional Director in the Real Estate and Construction Division. She and her husband moved to a small Island in northern Wisconsin where they owned a historic tavern, restaurant and resort business which they since have sold. They now live a charmed life by the water in SW Florida.
Muffy pretends to be a serious real estate business person but, in real life, indulges her private interest in writing sexy novels and sensual romantic literotica ~ Live, Laugh, Love with Passion.
I really enjoyed the Para-Portage of Emily… a skillfully
and imaginatively told tale of love, lost and found. Mysterious twists kept me
turning the pages until the end.
Love conquers all, AND it was hot!
Previously Published:
Secret Cravings, Oysters & Chocolate, Decadent Publishing, Ravenous Romance,
Yellow Silk Dreams
Coming Soon:
Moonbeams of Unintended Consequences ~ TBA Spring 2015
Cheerleaders in Heat ~ TBA Summer 2015
Other Novels and Contributions:
Should John Grisham and EL James have a secret love child,
she would no doubt pen legal thrillers with a luscious layer of the erotic.
They would name their child Muffy Wilson and send her to Stephen King for some
pointers in the paranormal.
Wilson, in the obliquely titled “The Para-Portage of Emily”,
interweaves these three diverse genres into a compelling, magic carpet of a
novel that takes Emily Macque from Chicago to a bitter island estate two
hundred miles north in the frozen sea. Emily is the striking junior partner in
her father’s law firm, her mission, to settle the probate on an estate, her
destiny to fall into the arms of Colin Jorgenson, a seaman haunted by a past
love that torments his life.
Intelligent, well-written, with fully fleshed out characters and a story with
more twists than a spiral staircase, “The Para-Portage of Emily” had
me gripped until the very last page.
~ By Chloe
Your Comments Encourage
Thank you
°*”˜˜”*°
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Share

Live ~ Laugh ~ Love
with Passion

*Release Day Promo* Flash (FLASH Dog Mystery Series #1) by Donna Ball

Don’t miss the first book in an exciting new dog mystery series!!

Flash Cover FinalTitle: Flash (Book One of the FLASH Dog Mystery Series)

Author: Donna Ball

Genre: Mystery/Suspense (dog mystery)

Release date: May 1st, 2015

Released by: Blue Merle Publishing

Length: 247 pages

Blurb: Almost two years ago the sleepy little community of Dogleg Island was the scene of one of the most brutal crimes in Florida history.  The only eye witnesses were a border collie  puppy and a police officer. Since that time Flash has grown from a puppy into a vital part of the Dogleg Island Police Department, and has  lived happily with the two people who rescued him on that horrible night: Deputy Sheriff Ryan Grady and Police Chief Aggie Malone.  

Now the trial of the century is about to begin.  The defendant, accused of slaughtering  his parents in their beach home, maintains his innocence.  Aggie and Ryan, the top witnesses for the prosecution, are convinced he is lying.  But only Flash knows the truth.

And with another murder to solve, a tangle of conflicting evidence to sort out, and a brutal storm on the way, the truth may come too late… for all of them.

Author Bio:

Flash Donna Ball Head shotDonna Ball is the author of over a hundred novels under several different pseudonyms in a variety of genres that include romance, mystery, suspense, paranormal, western adventure, historical and women’s fiction. Recent popular series include the Ladybug Farm series by Berkley Books and the Raine Stockton Dog Mystery series. Donna is an avid dog lover and her dogs have won numerous titles for agility, obedience and canine musical freestyle. She divides her time between the Blue Ridge mountains and the east coast of Florida, and lives with a variety of four-footed companions. You can contact her at http://www.donnaball.net, or follow her on Facebook at Donna Ball

Links:

Website: http://www.DonnaBall.net

Facebook: Donna Ball Author Page

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonnaABall

Amazon link for Flash: http://www.amazon.com/Flash-Donna-Ball/dp/0985774894

**Double Review** November Lake: Teenage Detective (The November Lake Mysteries, Books 1 & 2) by Jamie Drew

I LOVED reading books 1 & 2 of The November Lake Mysteries by Jamie Drew. This is a mesmerising mystery series for Young Adults and adults alike. Originally released as a prequel series for Tim O’Rourke‘s Keira Hudson paranormal series, it has been reworked and brought to life some brand new characters in November Lake and Kale Creed, two young police recruits. A step in a different direction for O’Rourke away from the paranormal and into the mystery and crime.

And what’s more, Book 1 (ebook) is currently FREE on Amazon!!!

November Lake: Teenage Detective (The November Lake Mysteries) Book 1Title: November Lake: Teenage Detective (The November Lake Mysteries #1)

Author: Jamie Drew

Genre: Mystery, YA, crime

Release date: November 23, 2014

Length: 150 pages

Blurb: When 18-year-old police recruit, November Lake, joins training college, her curiosity and desire to solve mysteries soon has her investigating a series of creepy and chilling crimes.

With the help of her friend and colleague, Kale Creed, November is soon caught up in a dark world of strange and inexplicable mysteries, each with a deadly twist.

Three novella length mysteries in one book:

The Dead Girl In The Room

The Kidnapping at Blackwater Farm

The Menacing Stranger

REVIEW *****

Originally a Young Adult mystery prequel series belonging to Tim O’Rourke‘s Keira Hudson paranormal series, November Lake: Teenage Detective was reworked and released under the pen name Jamie Drew. Taking a step away from the paranormal, and into the mystery and crime genre, November Lake: Teenage Detective follows a young police recruit, November, as she solves mysteries, seeing things much quicker than most – working out how a crime has been committed and being able to explain why it must have been a specific person who carried it out.

November is a very likeable character with a great deal of intelligence and wit. She is very quick off the mark, being able to take in her surroundings at the same time as holding a conversation and weighing up possibilities in her head. By piecing her puzzles together and seeing much further than most in such a short amount of time she manages to solve many mysteries. However, this does come at a price where she acts upon her findings immediately and places herself in danger in order to finish her work and prove her findings.

I love how each story is a separate mystery for November, however the book as a whole is continuous and follows November through Police Training School and preparing for her exams. In this first instalment we are treated to three fantastic stories from November finding a colleague’s dead body (The Dead Girl in the Room) to a kidnapping (The Kidnapping at Blackwater Farm), and then the mystery of a ‘disgusting creature of a man’ coming to search for his dog in The Menacing Stranger.

Each story has November teaming up with fellow officer, Kale Creed, and shows the early signs of a great partnership between them. There are also signs of a deep friendship brewing as they spend time away from work to study for their exams. They stick together really well at all times, and I love the way they bounce off each other with their thoughts and humour.

With some nice twists throughout you will find that during many scenes not all is as it seems. During the second story, the kidnapping, Lake and Creed feel they have no option but to intervene which winds them in a great deal of trouble and danger. After being driven off a country road and seeing the car that raced passed also lose control they begin to check the area and try to call for assistance.

“The trail soon petered out or became invisible amongst the wild thorny shrubs and bushes that covered the slate walls on either side of the country road. The fog was still dense and surrounded us like smoky cloud. It muffled any sound, drowning our world in silence. The whole effect was disorientating, and it wasn’t long before I had lost all sense of direction. I rummaged through my coat pocket for my phone… I plucked my phone from my pocket. There was no signal.

“I haven’t got a signal either,” Kale said, standing beside me, phone in hand.”

Whilst the third short story is probably the most eeriest of the three. Again, not all meets the eye but the whole book creates so much mystery and curiosity for the reader you simply can’t put the book down until you have all of the answers.

I can’t remember reading this much mystery packed into short stories. The author certainly has a way of telling them, making them believable and so full of life. After reading this first instalment I had no hesitation to read the second. I’ll definitely be reading more from this series!

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

November Lake: Teenage Detective (The November Lake Mysteries) Book 2Title: November Lake: Teenage Detective (The November Lake Mysteries #2)

Author: Jamie Drew

Genre: Mystery, YA, crime

Release date: November 23, 2014

Length: 231 pages

Blurb: When police recruits November Lake and Kale Creed are ordered to stay away from each other by Sergeant Black, they can’t help but be drawn back together again.

Working side by side, November and Kale solve four more grisly and chilling mysteries. The first deals with deceit, the second betrayal, the third revenge and the fourth the greatest mystery of all – love.

Four novella length mysteries in one book:

The Reappearing Knife

The Death at Hook Inn

Splitfoot & The Dead Girl

The Mystery of November Lake & Kale Creed

REVIEW *****

The tales of November Lake and Kale Creed continue in book two, separated into four fantastic mysteries. Police trainees, Lake and Creed, are running before they can walk in the eyes of their Sergeant, Sgt. Black. Although they have cracked three great mysteries together in The November Lake Mysteries #1, their Sergeant can see the danger they are drawing themselves into, as well as not always following police procedure and waiting for assistance.

Therefore, at his request Lake and Creed are to spend some time apart whilst away from work for a week. The only trouble is, they have slowly begun to develop some feelings for each other that may be a little too much for them to be apart. In truth, neither one has ever felt lonelier. But, their jobs are on the line if they disobey orders, and so they need to fill their time with something more constructive.

November needs to distance herself. She can’t risk annoying Sgt. Black and losing her job. She wants to be a properly trained copper in order for her to later find her father’s killer. She knows there’s no chance she will ever get a chance if she messes up. Therefore, she goes to visit her father’s grave 20 miles away. Although trouble is never too far away from her… Lucky for her Kale is so lost without her he tries to find her when she doesn’t respond to any of his messages. But will he reach her in the nick of time?

After noticing Lake at her father’s grave, Father Rochdale approaches and begins to converse with her. Finding out that she is alone, on a break from work and a police officer in the making, he invites her to stay and investigate the strange happenings of a butcher’s knife being left outside his bedroom door. But not all is as it appears as the twists will show, and The Reappearing Knife will leave you more than a little petrified!

Not ready to go home Lake then stays at the nearby inn, The Hook Inn, where not before too long a murder is found to have taken place. Not ready to call for assistance for fear of Sgt. Black finding her name involved Lake takes it upon herself to find out how it took place and by whom.

With the heat of the drama and need to get away, Lake and Creed drive up to his parents house to keep away from any possible action. However, what is meant to be a fun night at a séance for Kale to see how November could prove the psychic a cheat (just between themselves), it turns into yet another murder right before their eyes. But in the dark, barely candlelit room nothing can be seen for certain!

As well as the eeriness and mystery in Splitfoot & the Dead Girl, there was also a small amount of humour. Not only was Kale sceptical of the psychic and the whole meaning of the séance, but when they are all sat around the table in the darkened room, with nothing but the faint glow of the candlelight, he likens the face of the psychic to that of a pumpkin!

“I guessed the darkness added to the whole illusion and gave camouflage to the trickery that was about to take place. I looked at November, who was staring up the table at the psychic. The light from the solitary candle before Splitfoot lit up his face in a gold and orange glow. It was Halloween all right, and he was the pumpkin.”

I love how each separate short story follows on from the story of November and Kale, and also how it can be read in chronological order , following the early career life of November Lake. The November Lake Mysteries #2 is written from both points of view, November and Kale, making a very interesting read with how the characters’ feelings towards each other are changing and the reasons they think that the other has for behaving in a certain manner.

The style of the writing is fascinating and reader’s will be gripped, wanting to keep on reading. Both November and Kale are easily likeable characters, even moreso in this second book of the series as the reader knows them so much more and can easily see how these two have grown closer. They are both lonely, without or away from family, working together and living to solve mysteries. The author has shown a beautiful build-up of emotion between the two which I suspect will grow ever stronger in the subsequent books of the series.

Copies of November Lake: Teenage Detective (The November Lake Mysteries #1 & #2) were provided by the author in return for honest and fair reviews.

November Lake: Teenage Detective (The November Lake Mysteries #1) by Jamie Drew Kindle ebook is currently FREE at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

November Lake: Teenage Detective (The November Lake Mysteries #2) by Jamie Drew Kindle ebook is currently 99p/99c at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Please note that prices are subject to change.

The third instalment of The November Lake Mysteries is set for release on June 26th, 2015, and is available for preorder.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

**REVIEW** Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals #4) by Tim O’Rourke

As we begin this fourth instalment of the short story, paranormal fantasy series, Werewolves of Shade, we notice early on that the terror is turned up a few notches, sending fear to an incredible level. There is certainly more mystery to come, but with this added level of horror you’ll certainly be wanting to lock your doors and hide down under those covers as much as possible…

Werewolves of Shade (Part Four) (Beautiful Immortals Series Book 4)Title: Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals #4)

Author: Tim O’Rourke

Genre: Paranormal fantasy

Release date: April 4th, 2015

Released by: Ravenwoodgreys

Length: 72 pages

Blurb: From Tim O’Rourke #1 bestselling author of ‘The Kiera Hudson Series’ comes ‘Werewolves of Shade’ a werewolf romance with a twist.

When the entire population of Shade go missing, investigative reporter Mila Watson knows this could be the big break she has been waiting for. Setting off into the mountains to the village of Shade, Mila soon learns that the village isn’t as deserted as she first believed it to be and that creatures lurk in the shades…

‘Werewolves of Shade’ (Part Four)

Note: This ends in a cliff-hanger. Part five will be published within the next few weeks.

For readers 16+

REVIEW

This is another winner for me, and yet more proof that Tim O’Rourke‘s writing is better than ever. To be able to pack a short story with so much emotion, mystery and horror, as well as to keep the reader informed of the plotline is amazing, and Werewolves of Shade has it all. In the latest instalment the horror is built up tremendously, the excitement is terrific, and the intensity is dark and profound.

One of the most surprising turn-ups is Clarabel, the twin sister of the recently deceased Annabel. Being the new teacher in the village, Mila is aware that Clarabel hasn’t attended school and she has never seen in her in the village before. After being given the reason that Clarabel has been absent due to illness, Mila’s suspicions still run high as it still doesn’t explain that there are ten seats in the class when surely there should be eleven?

Nobody had mentioned Clarabel before. Her intimate talk with Rush the previous evening doesn’t quite make sense now. He knew she was upset about Annabel’s death, they’d talked about it at length. Yet Clarabel was never mentioned! He’d also previously told her that the last school teacher had been some old woman, and yet now a younger Julia Miller has been mentioned. But why would Rush have lied to her?

Not only that but Mila is also left questioning her thoughts after a terrifying experience with the wolf who stands outside her cottage. She wakes the next morning unable to remember certain events, and so surely it must have been a dream? However, some evidence suggests that the ordeal was as real as it felt! Did she really see the wolf change shape? How did her nightie get torn to shreds? And, where did those scratches that make the full length of her back come from?

There are more twists to come as Mila tries to figure out if Rush has lied to her, and if so, why? Can she really trust gravedigger, Augustus Morten? And Calix – is he really as grotesque and annoying as he seems?

This whole instalment kept me gripped and on my toes, with some terrific scenes of horror, some scenes heightening in the heat level, and plenty of mystery as always with O’Rourke. That said, the biggest dread of all for Tim’s readers is the wait until the next instalment (due May 16th 2015)!

A copy of Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals #4) was provided by the author in return for a fair and honest review.

You can purchase Werewolves of Shade #4 at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

Links to my reviews of previous instalments :-

Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals #1) – short story

Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals #2) – short story

Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals #3) – short story

 

**REVIEW** Yesterday by Sheila Norton

A little later than I expected to read it, but I have been very excited to read Sheila Norton’s ‘Yesterday’. As soon as I read the synopsis with the 1960’s era ,and the Mods and Rockers mentioned, I had to add it to my reading list! Being born two decades later, I obviously cannot recall the times myself. But, I always loved family members’ stories of the times, watched documentaries, loved the music and, as a fan of the indie band Blur in the 1990’s, I used to hang on every word frontman Damon Albarn said. And so, as soon as I found out his favourite movie of the time was Quadrophenia, I simply had to watch it. Over the years I have watched it many times, even when it was re-released on cinema. I had the poster on my bedroom wall and listened to The Who’s soundtrack of the movie over and over. And so, Yesterday has opened up that side of me once more and I have to say that the read is fantastic! – Caroline

YesterdayTitle: Yesterday

Author: Sheila Norton

Genre: Period/historical drama (1960’s), mystery, romance, crime

Release date: April 17th, 2014

Length: 286 pages

Blurb: During the riots between the Mods and Rockers in the early Sixties, teenager Cathy finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and the events which follow will haunt her for the rest of her life. Forty years later she’s forced to revisit her past, deal with her unhappy memories and try to find out exactly what did happen back in 1964. 

REVIEW

It is almost 51 years ago since the mayhem and chaos at the seaside resorts of Clacton and Brighton involving the Mods and Rockers, and yet Yesterday keeps the whole era alive with the music, fashions, dialogue, and day-to-day life. Focusing on the life of fourteen year old Cathy, Yesterday delves into her involvement with the Mods and Rockers, her friends and bullies at school, pressure from her mum to get good grades, trouble with her mum’s new male friend, and a violent stabbing that involves someone she knew!

We begin the story in 2004 where Cathy, a journalist and now in her mid-fifties, is given the chance to write a story on the era she knows a great deal about – the Mods and Rockers of the 1960’s. Little does her editor know that she may be able to fill in the blanks of a crime story that would be full of interest in the public eye, as well as opening up some wounds of the past and releasing some ghosts of her own! Yes, this story is certainly personal, just as it is informative.

The reader is then taken back to March, 1963, where Cathy meets Janice Baker. Janice Baker is two years older than Cathy. She is both cool and pretty. Being sixteen and having parents that do not trouble her too much, Janice can almost do what she wants. She wears the fashions, including make-up, and has magazines featuring many bands including The Beatles, which Cathy absolutely loves to look at – especially if Paul McCartney is pictured with those beautiful puppy dog eyes of his! Cathy’s fascination is so exciting to read about, and after travelling home from school regularly on the bus at the same time as Janice they begin to chat about the culture of the day, embarking on a close friendship.

Each chapter is set in a different month from thereon, leading up to the beach fights and afterwards, as we follow the story of a terrible ordeal that Cathy has at Clacton, a stabbing later in Brighton, as well as some home troubles for poor Cathy. We watch her friendship grow with Janice, her romance blossom with her brother’s friend, Jimmy, and her relationship with her mum take a downward spiral when she finds out what her mum has been quiet about for some time.

The mystery of the story is surrounding the stabbing at Brighton. Janice’s Mod ex-boyfriend, Ian, is the victim but the culprit is yet to be determined. After the violence and Cathy’s ordeal from the first beach fight in Clacton, Cathy believed all of her friends and her brother had stayed away this time. However, Cathy has a bad feeling about this, especially since it was Ian that brought on her ordeal in Clacton! Could it simply be his stabbing was a result of yet another fight between many Mods and Rockers who just lost it with each other and things got out of hand? Or was it that somebody intentionally stabbed him? Could it have been someone she knew? And, could it have been anything to do with her ordeal?

After her ordeal in Clacton, she ran to meet with her Rocker brother, Derek. However, when he wasn’t at the café he said he would be at, Cathy stayed there waiting for him to show. She was trying to cope with the teasing and taunts from the Rockers (as she was dressed as a Mod!), when a lad with Paul McCartney’s soft, brown eyes defended her, and offered to walk her to the station so she could get home safely. This is Jimmy. Lovely, sweet Jimmy, and a Rocker friend of her brother’s. And this is the beginning of an attraction between them. She becomes closer to Jimmy as he turns up ‘looking for Derek’ a few times at her home, and they begin to see each other over time.

But, he is her secret. As Janice would say, there’s no way you can go out with a greasy Rocker. She can’t be seen in public with him, or even tell Janice about him. She would be outcast and taunted forever if her friends knew. Cathy begins to realise that Mods and Rockers do not mix – you are either one or the other (in the eyes of her friends). But, she finds this ridiculous, as does Jimmy and her brother. But, she soon learns the hard way, and risks losing everything – Janice and Jimmy! Will their friendship, and love, survive? What can Cathy do to keep it all running smoothly?

The characters of Yesterday are all brilliant and realistic. One of my favourite characters of the story is Cathy’s brother, Derek, a Rocker. He is a caring older brother, looking out for her when he can, buying her the occasional record (even if it is a Mod one!) that she’d never be able to afford with her little pocket money, and even letting her play it on his record player when he was out. This shows the sort of relationship they had – they were very close and didn’t really care deep down whether you were a Mod or a Rocker.

And then there is Cathy’s other school friend, Linda. Linda was always seen as ‘square’ and didn’t really fit in either category. She was happy doing her own thing, being an individual. And, besides, she was too busy looking after her ill mother. But when Cathy began her friendship with Janice, Cathy began to leave Linda behind, only to realise later that Linda was very mature and didn’t get wrapped up with whose side to be on, what group to belong to, etc.

Yesterday is well-researched and has a fantastic feel of the era with perfect, realistic characters to draw the reader in. It is written so well it is easy to visualise the story with many references to the times, with social and financial aspects in particular. There is great dialogue between the characters with a real British 1960’s charm. Pop culture and fashions are mentioned but are not overdone, allowing the reader to really enjoy the fantastic narrative running through the book!

A copy of Yesterday was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

Yesterday is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

**REVIEW** Fallen (Coyote Moon #1) by Ann Simko

Fallen (Coyote Moon Book 1)Title: Fallen (Coyote Moon #1)

Author: Ann Simko

Genre: Thriller, action, crime, mystery, sci-fi paranormal

Release date: June 12th, 2014

Released by: Uncial Press

Length: 224 pages

Blurb: Dr. Dakota Thomas isn’t prepared for the gunshot victim who rolls through his emergency room doors. Michael Ricco looks like a young Marine in a world of trouble, his dog tags, however tell a different story.
How could the military have no record of him? Why was he shot in the back in the middle of the desert, and why were thirteen people murdered to keep his secret? More than that, how could he have a birth date of 1898?
In a world where genetic experimentation pushes the boundaries of what someone would do to live a little longer, the question may be, how many will die in order to keep one person alive?

REVIEW

*Please note there are some slight spoilers for the first half of the book*

Fallen is an extremely gripping, fast-paced action thriller, written well and with passion – it is an exciting read that will keep your adrenalin flowing throughout. We first meet Ricco, shot and injured in the desert, where it is unclear exactly what has happened to him. This is a super beginning as the reader is drawn into this guy’s ordeal and immediately asks questions that we need to find the answers to. Who is shooting at him? What has he done to deserve this? Will he survive? And to add more mystery, we are then told about his dog tags reading 1898 as his birth year!

When in ER, as Ricco is attended to by Dr. Dakota Thomas, Dakota tries to work out the mystery surrounding him – just who is Michael Ricco? After bringing in the local Sheriff and him having contact the military, who have no record of him, and the local Deputy going missing in the same place Ricco was found, it is then that Dakota reaches out to his private investigator brother, Montana, to do some digging. Reluctant at first, it isn’t too long before Montana changes his mind.

As another is attempt is made on Ricco’s life whilst in hospital, Montana, a former Army Ranger, makes arrangements for Ricco to be escorted to a safehouse. And, with Ricco still needing medical care, and Dakota wanting answers on who he is, Dakota accompanies them. Matters soon turn even more serious as we learn that Ricco was kept in bunkers underground against his will and has been experimented on for years, used as a lab rat, and seen many others die for this cause. It is clear to Montana that the people Ricco has escaped from will want him dead for fear of him revealing their secrets.

The Governor is the villain of the piece. He is in charge of the lab testing and experiments, believing that the death of a few could save millions in the future. Seeing nothing wrong with what he is doing and being brutally violent, it has a little Nazi-esque feel to it.

“… I’m a  fucking hero to every cancer patient who prays that a cure will be found before they die, to every twenty-year-old victim of arthritis, to every human being who might die of Avian Influenza… I am God, Dakota Thomas, minus the moral fiber.”

With military working as his staff, he has the support and help he needs to carry out his testing, help defend his fort and prevent anyone from escaping. The only exception to the rule thus far has been Ricco’s escape. He will go to all lengths necessary to retrieve Ricco, as he has proven to be an interesting case, managing to survive so much more than others treated similarly.

The story takes an even more serious turn as Dakota finds himself being taken, and in the hands of The Governor. From the Governor’s point of view, surely Dakota, being a doctor, would welcome such experiments in the name of medical research? Having Dakota helps the Governor to redeem some power: he can now use Dakota to experiment with and possibly offer a trade with Montana – Dakota for Ricco! Will Dakota survive his ordeal? Will Ricco land right back from where he escaped? And just what is Montana’s next move going to be?

“Montana Lee Thomas was not a patient man, nor was he a tolerant one… He had taken lives in the past, but killing was not an easy thing for him… Never had he willfully, wantonly, taken a human life. There had never been the need or the desire.

Until now.”

Fallen is written in such a way that it makes the story very easy to visualise. It would make a great movie with kidnapping, a perfect villain, explosive action, gunfights, brawls and also brotherly love. And, just when you think they’re out of the woods – there is more action to come. You’re never quite sure what will happen next, or who will be hurt. This makes for a fantastic book of surprises – and I LOVE that. Of course, I want the heroes, the Thomas brothers in particular to be safe and live through these events, but I also enjoy an unpredictable, gritty and possible more realistic story. I like the danger, the fear and the intensity, and Ann Simko surely has brought these to the story.

As well as the physical injuries to Dakota, there is also the way in which he is affected mentally by what he is going through. This creates some compassion in him for Ricco as they have been through a very similar experience. Albeit, Ricco’s lasted almost a century and any family he once knew have been long gone. But, as the story moved on I saw Ricco as another brother to Dakota and Montana. They build trust from the very beginning, with Dakota patching him up and Montana showing that he will put his life on the line for him.

I would strongly recommend this read to anyone who loves a fast-moving, easy flowing action adventure/thriller. It will definitely keep you on your toes and it has it’s share of explosive moments. However, there are also some beautiful emotive and touching scenes, especially towards the end. I would certainly like to read more of this series!

A copy of Fallen was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

Fallen (Coyote Moon #1) is available at Amazon US and Amazon UK.

The sequels, Through the Glass (Coyote Moon #2) and The Coyote’s Song (Coyote Moon #3), are available with Broken (Coyote Moon, book 4) being released on March 13th, 2015.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

AUTHOR INFO:

When not writing, Ann Simko works as a nurse. She lives in rural Pennsylvania with her husband who puts up with her over active imagination, two scary teenagers who try to ignore her, three very large dogs, six cats and five extraordinarily large lawn ornaments otherwise known as horses. She has six published novels and is currently contracted for one new book.

 

**REVIEW** Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals #3) by Tim O’Rourke

Werewolves of Shade (Part Three) (Beautiful Immortals Series Book 3)Released on 1st March 2015 by Tim O’Rourke, #1 bestselling author of ‘The Kiera Hudson Series’, came ‘Werewolves of Shade’ (Part Three), a werewolf romance with a twist.

When the entire population of Shade go missing, investigative reporter Mila Watson knows this could be the big break she has been waiting for. Setting off into the mountains to the village of Shade, Mila soon learns that the village isn’t as deserted as she first believed it to be and that creatures lurk in the shades…

For readers 16+

REVIEW

This short story series is getting darker! Despite there being so much adventure, there is always a great deal of mystery in Tim’s books, and part 3 of Werewolves of Shade is no exception! Thus far, Mila has left her uncle and best friend/boyfriend in the village of Maze, seeking her parents or what has become of them in the village of Shade. After hearing stories of the beautiful immortals, finding out about the war between the vamps and the wolves, and then hearing a possible myth that a witch ended it all, Mila has come to seek the truth. Believing Shade to be deserted she soon finds out otherwise and meets with Calix, Rea and Rush. This is a MUST-READ series for fans of paranormal, mystery, romance and even horror!

Assigned to replace the former village teacher, Mila has to meet the village children at the school. But she first needs to tackle the dark, mysterious alley where we left her at the end of Werewolves of Shade (Part 2). Not only does it feel claustrophobic and menacing, it seems to almost move and reach out to her – it actually put me in the mind-set of the never-ending alleyway in the film, The Labyrinth, albeit more menacing and terrifying! And just who is it who keeps calling her name? Surely it can’t be all in her head?!

Before she realises it, and not being able to explain how, she ends up on the other side where she meets with a most mysterious man in Augustus Morten. Although appearing to be friendly and kind towards Mila, the reader can’t help but be suspicious of him. As he walks Mila to the school it becomes apparent that he has spoken with Rea and knows a little about Mila. Is he talking to Mila to discover any holes in her story, or is he merely trying to be a friend? Finding out Augustus had been assigned as the village gravedigger made his character to be even more eerie.

The children of Shade seem fairly quiet as Mila begins to learn their names. Although speaking English she is surprised to realise their exercise books are all written in another language she has never seen before. And after, asking some questions, she realises that the children are not as open as she hoped. The story takes a turn when one child tries to answer Mila and is quietened by another. This begins to raise even more suspicion of the people of Shade with both Mila and the reader.

There is certainly more horror and gore in this instalment, following an unfortunate twist of events. But what will Mila make of it all? Is she partly to blame, and even if not, being the new stranger to the village raises suspicion and doubt of her. She is certainly going to have to gain the trust of people there.

Whilst Calix is still quite mean and sharp towards Mila, she can stand up to him. He gets under her skin and irritates her so much. Not forgetting the times when he seems a little full on and gets carried away with Mila, making for some very creepy and cringe-worthy moments! However, I can’t say that I completely dislike him, although a part of me tells me I should. There are times when I feel that his character may open up more and you could change your mind about him.

The one comfort in Shade that Mila has is Rush. He manages to subdue Calix a little and calm the situation, and make sure Mila is alright. They become increasingly close and open up to each other more. There are clearly feelings towards each other, but what of Flint, Mila’s boyfriend and best friend in Maze? Does she really love Flint or are they just friends? Is there really anything happening between Mila and Rush?

Part 3 is another fast-paced adventure with Mila getting deeper and deeper into her life in Shade. With a house, a job and a closeness to Rush, I do ask myself ‘will she ever be able to leave’? If so, how? And what will be her reason for leaving? But before we reach these answers, the biggest questions of all is ‘will she seek what she came to find?’ and ‘will she survive?’

The final twist and cliff hanger in this third instalment of Werewolves of Shade will leave you needing a change of underwear! It is petrifyingly brilliant, psychologically disturbing, just sheer horror that will leave you chilled to the bone!! And to extend the torture, we’ll have to wait until April 4th, 2015 for the next instalment!!!

A copy of Werewolves of Shade #3 was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

Werewolves of Shade (Beautiful Immortals #3) by Tim O’Rourke is available at Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

*Promo: FREE story* A Shilling Life by Phil Lecomber

MaskOfTheVerdoy Cover - low resYou may remember our promo (with Q&A and excerpt) of Phil Lecomber‘s period crime mystery thriller, The Mask of the Verdoy (A George Harley Mystery #1). This series has started off with some fantastic reviews, and I am looking forward to the read myself at a later date. With Book 2 due to be released later in the year, the author has decided to share a FREE short story, A SHILLLING LIFE, with you to whet your appetites!

A Shilling LifeBlurb:  A Shilling Life opens with Soho veterans Benny Levine and Sammy Shapiro reminiscing in their 1960s cabaret bar about the dark days of the 1930s, when the East End was living under the threat of Sir Pelham Saint Clair’s fascist BBF movement (as featured in MASK OF THE VERDOY).

The conversation prompts Benny to begin to pen a firsthand account of the time (THE CHRONICLES OF GREEK STREET) and the first subsequent ‘story within a story’ is a stark record of the effects that extremist movements such as the Blackshirts can have on the lives of everyday folk.

Here’s a sample of the first few paragraphs:

Soho, London – 1963

For the third time that morning Benny returned to contemplate the photograph on the front page of the newspaper. Through the air vent above his head there wafted in a heady mix of piquant aromas and the industrious clamour of a Soho readying itself for another weekend’s revelry—a task that, to the casual passerby, might seem daunting in the stark light of day, without the feverish neon to flatter its glamorous squalor.

Outside in the bright autumnal morning brooms were pushed, steps hosed and canopies raised; liveried Austin vans squeezed down the narrow backstreets to deliver the raw materials for the coming night’s entertainment: livid cuts of meat and iced shoals of silver for the restaurants; crates of knocked-off spirits and wines of dubious provenance for the clip-joints; and stacks of Scandinavian delicacies (baled in brown paper wrapping) for the pornmongers.

In steamy coffee bars, slumped over sticky Formica, the victims of card sharks stared into the milky froth of their cups, numbed for the moment from the size of their losses by cheap whisky hangovers. And from anonymous-looking doorways furtive working girls slipped out into the streets to play at normal life for a few hours. All this to a soundtrack played out by the jangle of the Wurlitzer and the sigh of the Gaggia … 1960s Soho in all its truculent glory.

But cosseted in the subterranean gloom of Sammy’s Cabaret Bar, Benny Levine was lost in a different decade; transported back thirty years by a piercing stare which, although diminished somewhat by age, still held its aristocratic threat of superiority and entitlement …

And here’s the link to the download (it’s available in 3 formats – MOBI, EPUB & PDF):

http://www.georgeharley.com/books/short-stories/a-shilling-lifeI will be reviewing The Mask of the Verdoy, book 1, later in the year, but if you would like to check it out now, here is the blurb:

MaskOfTheVerdoy Cover - low resLONDON, 1932 … a city held tight in the grip of the Great Depression. George Harley’s London. The West End rotten with petty crime and prostitution; anarchists blowing up trams; fascists marching on the East End.And then, one smoggy night …The cruel stripe of a cutthroat razor … three boys dead in their beds … and a masked killer mysteriously vanishing across the smoky rooftops of Fitzrovia.

Before long the cockney detective is drawn into a dark world of murder and intrigue, as he uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the very security of the British nation.

God save the King! eh, George?

For our promo on The Mask of the Verdoy, with Q&A with Phil Lecomber and an excerpt, please follow the link below:-

*Promo w/Q&A and Excerpt* The Mask of the Verdoy (A George Harley Mystery #1) by Phil Lecomber

Purchase links for the Mask of the Verdoy:-

Amazon UK Link

Amazon US Link

**REVIEW** Three Rules by Marie Drake

I have been wanting to reading Marie Drake’s ‘Three Rules’ for quite some time. It is a remarkable read that will reach out to most readers either because of the mystery, the emotional and physical effects of abuse and the beautiful romance/love story. During this past year, Three Rules made it as a semi-finalist for The Kindle Book Review’s Best Kindle Book Awards 2014! Definitely not one to be missed!!

Extremely powerful narrative, beautifully written – will have you reduced to tears!

Three Rules Marie DrakeTitle: Three Rules

Author: Marie Drake

Genre: Dark fiction, mystery, romance

Release date: September 24, 2013

Released by: Marie Drake

Length: 296 pages

Blurb: Hope Wellman has a childhood full of horrific memories, a bone chilling recurring nightmare, and a persistent paranoid sense of being followed that she would rather keep repressed. Is evil reaching from beyond the grave to capture the tattered remnants of her soul once and for all, is it only a machination of her disturbed mind, or is there something happening more sinister than even she can imagine?

Attending the funeral of her abuser is the first step in putting her life back together. She struggles with the fact she never told anyone what happened to her, and that the grave they are mourning over is empty. She’d find it a lot easier to move on and believe in the future if he were in the box, ready to be covered with dirt. She fears the last thread of her sanity has snapped when she sees Lucas everywhere she turns, and can’t escape a recurring nightmare. Is her tormentor alive, or is she imagining it? Is her dream triggered by past fears or is it a prediction of the future?

Quoted from Three Rules:

“I have learned three rules in my life: 1.) The most dangerous people in the world are not always strangers. 2.) The scariest things imaginable are not those that can kill you, but those you can live through. And probably the most prominent: 3.) The most horrible possibility is not what could happen to you, but what you could become – I became a killer.”
~Hope Wellman

REVIEW

Three Rules is an extremely powerful narrative and beautifully written, with a great deal of emotion running through it, that will reduce you to tears. Despite the dark subject matter of abuse, and the mystery of the storyline, it also holds one of the most romantic stories I have ever read!

Hope Wellman (20) having lived through sexual abuse as a young girl, by her step-uncle, Lucas, has never said a word about her ordeal to anyone. And now at Lucas’ funeral she feels an inner-relief that he cannot harm her again. The only doubt that she does have is that his body is not in the coffin as it was never recovered from his boat accident. Without his body, there is a fraction of her that wonders if he is still alive, and when she has moments of feeling that somebody is watching her, she instantly thinks it could be him.

There are a string of events that come to light early in the story that keep reminding Hope of her past and begin to create the mystery for the remainder of the story. One of the main questions you’ll be asking is whether or not Lucas is still alive?

Hope is having terrible nightmares about being chased by someone, and then when she is out she feels like someone is following her, watching her at times. This makes her question her own sanity – she may be paranoid, unless she does have a stalker, or maybe it really is Lucas?  There are some brilliant twists in the story to keep the reader wondering and guessing.

The reader is aware of how Hope feels about Lucas’ death as it opens her mind up to those moments of abuse again. She puts on a brave face for her parents, to offer support and to keep her ordeals to herself. However, remaining strong and trying to forget is becoming increasingly difficult when she finds out that one of her childhood friends, Karen Bishop, is pregnant with Lucas’ child. Not only does it hurt to know that he had his hands on her, but it also creates some guilt within Hope that maybe if she had spoken about what had happened to her, then Karen wouldn’t have gotten herself into this situation.

As if dealing with all of this wasn’t enough, there is also the very lovely Joey Bishop to face. Joey is Karen’s brother who was always Hope’s best friend growing up. They did everything together during their childhood and he always had time for her. He was the only boy she ever felt close to. But, after what should have been Hope’s magical and memorable first kiss, her parents encouraged her and Joey to keep their distance after Lucas had seen their innocent moment and reported it back.

A few years on and the attraction is still clearly there. And yet, Hope struggles with her feelings. Anything physical is out of the question, leaving Joey believing that they are just friends.  After certain events take place, Hope spends more time with Joey and this really brings them closer together on many levels. But every time she feels she can tell him, something prevents her from doing so. And, will he change his opinion of her if he knew her secret?

The further into the story we go the more Hope’s feelings and past are brought to the fore. Hope’s character is very strong, despite all that she has been through. She still feels like she can’t tell anyone and when her family notice something isn’t right they assume she is depressed (just as she tended to be when she was younger). She begins to feel trapped – she wants to tell Joey on many occasions (and sometimes her mum) but she just can’t face it. At this point the reader feels trapped with her – wanting to encourage her to speak and finally let it out, but at the same time realising it is a delicate subject for her. The fact that she is thinking about telling someone is a step in the right direction.

Three Rules is a work of fiction and yet based on the abuse suffered by the author, making it a very real read but written without lengthy graphic details – it is more focused on the state of mind, the emotions, as it is written with the intent to help others in similar situations. Marie Drake has written the story with so much care that it is a sensitive read but with some powerful heart-warming moments – two of which had me in tears.

This is a story of inner-strength, of coming through abuse and it’s effects, and then reaching the other side. It is a story of courage, will-power and love that carries it’s own message to all those in need – don’t push those feelings down, don’t ignore them. The power to speak to someone, anyone, can be all that you need to begin your journey to the light, where you can find security, love and be at peace with yourself and your loved ones.

A copy of Three Rules was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.

Three Rules by Marie Drake is available at Amazon UK and Amazon US.

To read the prologue and first chapter, along with info on the author, Marie Drake, please check out our spotlight.

Reviewed by Caroline Barker

*Book Blitz w/excerpt* Valentine’s Day is Murder by Carolyn Arnold

bookblitz banner

Valentine's Day is Murder Final FrontTitle: Valentine’s Day is Murder

Author: Carolyn Arnold

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Book Synopsis

Jimmy finally takes a vacation–and a chance on love–only to be abducted. His female companion originally thinks he had cold feet about their relationship, but Sean and Sara know there’s more to it. Jimmy isn’t the type to just up and disappear, let alone leave a lady stranded.

Setting out on their private jet, Sean and Sara reach the tropical paradise of Ocho Rios, Jamaica with sightseeing as the last thing on their minds.

With a gold coin being their initial tie to Jimmy’s kidnapper, Sean and Sara even speculate about the involvement of pirates. Yet as the hours pass, and there’s no word from Jimmy’s captors, Sean and Sara will need to figure out the real motive before it’s too late.

With help from their friend, Adam, back in Albany, the pieces come together and not a moment too soon.

Strap in for an adventure that will take you to the beautiful island of Jamaica and have you wanting a piña colada.

About the Author

Carolyn Author PhotoCAROLYN ARNOLD is the bestselling author of the Madison Knight series, the Brandon Fisher series, and the McKinley Mysteries. Her love for writing dates back to her teen years, but her passion was reignited in 2006 when a fellow employee said “tell me a story.” Since then Carolyn has never looked back.

Her writing has since been compared to New York Times Bestsellers such as JD Robb, Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, Tess Gerritsen, and more.

Carolyn was born in 1976 in a rural town of Ontario, Canada, and she currently lives with her husband and two beagles in a city near Toronto.

For more information on the author visit https://carolynarnold.net/

Amazon – http://ow.ly/G4Yl6
Amazon UK – http://ow.ly/G4Ynv
Barnes & Noble – http://ow.ly/G4Ype
iTunes – http://ow.ly/G4Yqv
Kobo – http://ow.ly/G4YrU

Excerpt:

Chapter 4

Pineapples & Alibis

“There was no answer in her room. She may be out by the pool.” The front desk clerk lowered the phone’s receiver and gestured toward a wall of windows that faced a pool, and, beyond that, the sea.
“Thank you,” Sean said.
“No worries.” The clerk smiled and flipped some papers over that she had been working on when they had approached her to call up to Meredith’s room.
Tourists, clad in bathing suits in a spectrum of colors, dotted both the poolside and the beach. It had Sara wishing all she and Sean had to do was enjoy the scenery.
The sun was beating down, the warmth all-encompassing, but thankfully, the humidity wasn’t extreme. Sara still wished to slip out of her dress to reveal the bikini she wore underneath. The thought of the rays kissing her skin was almost too much to dismiss from her mind.
She scanned the horde of vacationers and spotted Meredith lying out on a lounge chair. She sat up as if she sensed Sara watching.
“There she is, Sean.” Sara nudged her head toward Meredith.
“She doesn’t look too upset, does she?”
Sara put a hand on Sean’s shoulder. “We’re not going to assume she’s behind this.”
He stayed put. “She’s not behind this and yet she’s new to his life and he’s never gone missing before.”
“We promised on the flight we would give her the benefit of the doubt, unless something came up to convince us of her involvement.”
“I’m starting to rethink that decision.”
“If Jimmy trusted her—”
“Yes, then we should too.”
“That’s right.” Sara pressed her lips, hoping she conveyed more conviction than she felt at times—this being one of those times.