Review: Things He Hadn't Told Her by Vicky Whedbee

Things He Hadn't Told Her

by Vicky Whedbee

Chad Edwards & Cole Rivers have been best friends since grade school. "Blood brothers forever" they declared, after Chad saved Cole's life. Years later in college at the University of Tennessee, Chad is a student of Sports Medicine, and Cole is the Vol's star quarterback. That's where they meet Maggie Thompson. Ask either one of them and they would tell you, "Maggie is perfect". So, it's no surprise they both fall in love with her. As fate would have it, Maggie falls in love too, but only one of them is the recipient of her affections. It's what happens next that will surprise you.
They made a pact as boys. Can they keep that pact as men?

My Take:

Chad Edwards saved Cole Rivers' life one day when he pulled him from a flood-swollen and dangerous river. Since that time, Chad has been looking out for Cole, making sure he doesn't flunk his classes and get tossed off the football team. Quietly making sure his reputation isn't ruined. Cole is destined for greatness, a star quarterback in High School who goes on to QB the Tennessee Vols in college. Chad, who wants to go into sports medicine, follows him there, and continues to keep Cole out of trouble. It seems that nothing could come between these two friends.

Except, perhaps, Maggie.

Beautiful, talented, compassionate, and full of life, Maggie is perfect. And Chad quickly falls for her. But Maggie falls for Cole. Devastated, Chad has to decide whether to keep his true feelings secret, hurt the two people he loves best, or quietly fade away.

Content:

Drug Content:

G - There is a little casual drinking in a few places.

Violence:

PG - Tragic accidents leave people somewhat mangled. There is no intentional harm done here. No graphic descriptions either.

Language:

PG - There are a few scattered mild expletives.

Adult Content:

G - There is romance and some kissing. 

Christian content:

The characters in this book struggle with where God is in their suffering, but remain steadfast in their faith. Church attendance is encouraged, and nightly prayers with the family are present occasionally. Prayer for healing and safety are not uncommon. Discussion is made about people being in heaven when they die. The raw conflict, self-sacrifice, and ensuing depth of character in the protagonist is stunning. 

Final analysis:

Things He Hadn't Told Her by Vicky Whedbee is a heartwarming tale of unrequited love. The characters have tragic real-life struggles and deal with them in a faith-filled and realistic way. The settings are immersive, and the dialogue engaging. The author has a talent for drawing on common emotional situations, and depicting them well enough to bring even an old granddad like me to tears.  This book covered multiple years of interaction in the main characters. During the first half of the novel, the level of detail in the interactions and experiences of the characters was a bit overwhelming, but it set a gorgeous backdrop for the back half of the story, when things really took off. I was well satisfied with the end, and thought Vicky Whedbee did an excellent job carrying the reader through. Good plot, excellent characters, raw emotions and a heartwarming conclusion. Five Stars!

About the Author:

Vicky Whedbee was born and raised in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she resided until her 40's when she relocated to San Mateo, Florida, where she currently resides with her husband. An avid reader, she wrote her first novel over a period of years as a labor of love and fulfillment of a life long dream that began with the encouragement of her Engish teacher in high school.
With a diagnosis of cancer for her dad, she decided to become an independent author and published her novel on her own in order to present a finished product to her father before his demise. She was in the process of reading said novel, "Things He Hadn't Told Her", to him at the time of his passing.
She wrote her second novel "Sarah's Song", which was a collaboration with her father set in the time of his childhood in the rural Appalachian mountains, with notes taken prior to his demise. Both books have been met with stellar 5-STAR reviews on Amazon & Goodreads, as well as awarded the 5-star review seal from Reader's Favorite.
After numerous requests, she wrote a sequel to Sarah's Song, titled Sarah's Home, which could also be read as a stand-alone. It, too, is being received with love and 5-STAR reviews.
She is currently working on her next novel.
Visit & contact her through her website https://crwvao.wixsite.com/vickywhedbee

Review: River Rising (Carson Chronicles#1) by John A Heldt

 River Rising (Carson Chronicles#1)

John A. Heldt

Weeks after his parents disappear on a hike, Arizona engineer Adam Carson, 27, searches for answers. Then he discovers a secret web site and learns that his mother and father are time travelers stuck in the past. Armed with the information he needs to find them, Adam convinces his younger siblings to join him on a rescue mission to the 1880s.

While Greg, the adventurous middle brother, follows leads in the Wild West, Adam, journalist Natalie, and high school seniors Cody and Caitlin do the same in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Like the residents of the bustling steel community, all are unaware of a flood that will destroy the city on May 31, 1889.

In RIVER RISING, the first novel in the five-book Carson Chronicles series, five young adults find love, danger, and adventure as they experience America in the age of bustle dresses, gunslingers, and robber barons.

My Take:

Professors Tim and Caroline Carson mysteriously disappeared during an anniversary hike near Flagstaff Arizona. Their grieving five children search for answers until the family lawyer turns over a sealed envelope informing them their parents are time travelers stuck in the past. A secret website gives the oldest, Adam the information needed to rescue them from 1888. The five adult children go back to the gilded age to find them. 

Greg, the middle brother, runs afoul of the law in the Wild West and ends up on the run with a bounty on his head, while Natalie settles into a journalist position at a local paper, where she interviews Mark Twain, writes a transformative column on the prognosticating Puxatawney groundhog on Groundhog Day, and falls for her handsome editor, Sam Prentiss. Twins Cody and Caitlin, high school seniors, try not to let the truth out that they are from another century while trying to fit in at school. And Adam tries to research and find his parents while falling for the beautiful hotel manager. The family adjusts to the slower pace of life there in Johnstown PA, all blissfully unaware of the catastrophe about to strike, when the dam will break and destroy the town.

Content:

Drug Content:

G - There is a little casual drinking in a few places. 

Violence:

PG-13 - Some people are shot and killed. There is no graphic violence due to man, but the descriptions of the horrors of the flood and the corpses afterward earned this a PG-13

Language:

G - I think I may have found one mild expletive in the entire work.

Adult Content:

PG - There is romance and some kissing. A married couple have a mild scene with a bubble bath, with no on-screen action.

Christian content:

The people in the 1800s were quite religious and people are encouraged to go to church, find a church home, and pray. Faith plays a significant part in their lives, especially when tragedy strikes. There are multiple instances where characters sacrifice for one another.

Final analysis:

River Rising by John A Heldt is the first in a five-book time travel series. The pace is quick, the plot gripping, the stakes high. The author obviously did a lot of research into the life and times of the day, the character and life of Mark Twain, as well as significant details about the tragic flood. The characters were well-fleshed out, from coping with differences in the times to dealing with tragedy and loss. 

About the Author:

John A. Heldt is the author of more than twenty bestselling time travel novels. The former reference librarian and award-winning sportswriter has loved getting subjects and verbs to agree since writing book reports in grade school. A graduate of the University of Oregon and the University of Iowa, Heldt is an avid fisherman, sports fan, coin collector, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction. When not sending contemporary characters to the not-so-distant past, he weighs in on literature and life at johnheldt.blogspot.com.

Interview: Dan Morrow, author of A Heartbeat in Danger

 

Today it is my privilege to interview Dan Morrow, author of A Heartbeat in Danger, a novel about a cheerleader named Stacy with an unexpected pregnancy and an uncertain future.

Dan is a multi-published author, husband, and father, and took time out of his busy schedule to visit and answer a few questions pertaining to his craft and this novel as well.

Dan, welcome. Let's talk for a bit about the beginnings of this journey you are on. 

At what point did you decide to be an author? What was your path to publication?

From an early age, I gained an appreciation for the written word. There was something about how authors would string words and phrases together and come up with a beautiful picture you could see in your mind.

For publishing, I searched online and found a publisher who I hoped would work with me to create something wonderful. While I was satisfied with the result, it wasn’t what I expected. Turns out, a ‘Vanity Press’ isn’t the best approach.

Appreciate your candor and advice. That's been the determination of a lot of people in the industry. There is even a website dedicated to warning writers called WriterBeware. Thankfully I ran across that site before publishing my own works, and published via Amazon KDP, which has worked well for me.

What do you do when a new idea jumps out at you while you’re still working on a book?

Any idea that springs to mind, I immediately have to write it down. If I don’t, chances are good I’ll forget what it was.

I've heard that from a lot of writers. Most carry a notepad or leave one by the bed for ideas that hit at night.

In your book, A Heartbeat in Danger, Stacy Kent, a cheerleader, faces some difficult decisions concerning an unwanted pregnancy. What prompted you to write about this subject?

I had a conversation with our daughter’s best friend. We’ve known her since they were in third grade, and she’s become family. One night when I was taking her to a friend’s house, she was overcome with emotion about being pregnant. All the cliches we’ve heard from frightened young women in this situation came out that night.

As I pondered what she was dealing with, I multiplied her situation by thousands and realized maybe this was a common theme among all girls facing unexpected pregnancies. From that thought, the overview of the book took shape.

Wow. Real life does tend to prompt the best stories, and personal experience, even just in your immediate circle of connections, tends to motivate and give the work compelling force.

Describe your writing process. Do you outline, plot and plan, or is your writing more organic?

Kind of a combination of all of these, really. When an idea comes about, I’ll write down a brief description of the main plot/idea for the book. From there, I’ll begin the framework of what will happen, then who the characters are and what they do. As I’m writing, it’s more a fly by the seat of my pants approach. I like to be as surprised as the reader at what will happen.

What are some books or authors that you would recommend to our readers?

If you’re into Renaissance/Romance genre, investigate Cheyenne Van Langevelde. If you like a somewhat gritty romantic story, check out co-authors Dana Bowen and Chloe Brogan.

If you had a chance to leave one piece of advice to someone who was interested in writing, what would that be?

Somewhere along the way, I heard someone say it best – you need to write.

Direct, and to the point. If you are a writer, write. With all the distractions to be had here online, that's good advice.

Describe your book, A Heartbeat in Danger, in 30 words or less for people who are just learning about it.

It will challenge any preconceived ideas you may have of the issue of unexpected pregnancy. Read with an open mind.

 Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?

Understand, this issue is more nuanced than we paint it to be. There is more gray area to this matter than we like to admit. It’s easy to shout ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when it’s not you facing uncertainty. But when you or someone you love is caught in the darkness of fear, it becomes complicated. Don’t be so quick to judge someone based on what they do.

What has been the toughest criticism you have received as an author? What has been the best compliment?

Someone who promised to review my book messaged me asking if this was an anti-abortion book. After convincing him to continue reading, he finally gave up, claiming he couldn’t support something that had a message counter to what he believed.

The greatest compliment I’ve received is one word – ‘Wow’. 

What is your favorite line from your book?

“And what is life without persuasion?”

To date, what is your favorite (or most difficult) chapter you have ever written?

The latter part of Chapter 6 in Heartbeat. It speaks to a delicate subject surrounding unexpected pregnancies yet manages to dance in the middle of this confusion. It doesn’t tell you what’s right or wrong.

So, what's next? Are you working on a new novel, and if so, give an elevator pitch or back cover blurb for it. When do you think this will release?

As far as the next release, honestly, I’m not sure I can predict when the next book will come out. I’m not even sure which one of the many ideas I’m working on should be next. I haven’t sorted out the details and this has caused a rather lengthy delay in what’s next.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

 Spend time with my family. Being with my wife and two adult children is pure solitude. I find rest in their presence. 

It was really good to connect with you, Dan. For those of you who want to follow Dan, here is his Facebook page and  Linked In. Below I've included a link to his book, A Heartbeat in Danger.

A Heartbeat in Danger

High school cheerleader Stacy Kent dreams of an ideal future with her boyfriend, star halfback Tucker Hamilton. After unexpected tragedy befalls the couple, she is left with a life-altering decision. Surprised to discover she is pregnant and feeling isolated from her divorced parents, Stacy is confronted by a future she never expected. In a misguided attempt at avoiding this responsibility, she is met in her dreams by a stranger, who carefully guides her through an unknown future for her child. Exposed to both beautiful and unsettling glimpses into her child's life, Stacy must reexamine her belief that to remain free of this responsibility is the right one. Forced to watch her child endure hardship and success, Stacy comes to a surprising realization about her own tenuous relationship with her mother. Will she seek to repair the damage done from years of defiance, or will she continue to embrace the unsettled anger between them? Will she allow her child the freedom to discover life on her own or chase her now-hollow, unfulfilled dreams? Whatever the outcome, it will require a level of commitment she is uncertain she can attain.

Review: The First Unicorn by Kathleen J. Shields

  

The First Unicorn

by Kathleen J. Shields

Almost everyone knows what a unicorn is, but do you know where they came from? Who was the first unicorn? How did he get his golden horn? And why did others follow in his footsteps?

Aden is a young horse, who believes that giving of his time and gifts is the best way to share hope in the world. One evening, he is visited by an angel who bestows a gift of gold upon his forehead, “You cannot see or spend it. It’s for others to behold.” Yet, when he returns home that evening, the herd sees the horn as a weapon and chases him away.
Sad but not discouraged, Aden continues to help and care for others. However, when his mother gets injured, he discovers his horn can perform miracles. It was that first miracle that softened the hearts of the others and inspired them to lead a God-filled life as well.

This story is about love, acceptance, kindness and giving. It is the story of the First Unicorn and how God’s creation would succeed at greatness.

“Anything is possible if love is what you choose. Miracles can happen if you share the good news.”

My Take:
The First Unicorn by Kathleen J. Shields is a delightful faith-filled tale of how the first unicorn came to be. Long ago, in a far away land, a herd of horses lived out their lives day to day in a mundane cycle of eating and sleeping. While most of the horses in the herd go about their dreary lives just eating, a young colt named Aden fills his time giving to others, having fun, and doing good deeds. He rescues the weak and comforts the lonely. His actions and care for others eventually result in a gift from God – a beautiful golden horn! But that’s when Aden’s troubles really start. Will Aden find a way to help others when his new appearance frightens even those who knew him well?

Content:

Drug Content:
G – none
 
Violence:
G – A wolf attacks one of the characters
 
Language:
G – Squeaky clean
 
Adult Content:
G – Squeaky clean.
 
Christian content:
This is a Christian book. Unicorns are found in the Bible, depending on the translation/version you prefer. (Job and Proverbs) Aden loves life and God and helps all the woodland creatures. Even when tragedy strikes he doesn’t lose hope. And even when shunned because he is different, he does not lose trust. This story is about love, goodness, kindness, acceptance, giving, and sharing the Good News.
 
Final Analysis:
The First Unicorn by Kathleen J. Shields is a heartwarming story of the first unicorn. Each page is beautifully illustrated by Aashay Utkarsh, and complements the poignant poem contained within this early reader treasure. Short footnotes define difficult or unfamiliar words, and the reading level of this book ensures Elementary-age children will enjoy reading it to themselves. It’s liberally laced with faith and encouragement to children to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. The pacing is perfect, and the plot engaging. Aden is a delightful character, and who doesn’t like stories about horses and unicorns? At 50 pages, it is a very quick read with an engaging storyline and an eternal message. Perfect for young Christian readers and fans of fantasy, unicorns, and faith! Five Stars!

About the Author:

Kathleen J. Shields is a very creative, highly imaginative and extremely dedicated, hard working individual. She runs her own website and graphics design company, a publishing company and has published over 21 books; from fully-illustrated rhyming stories for ages 4 and up, children's chapter books for ages 8 and up, and young adult stories with plans for a few romantic adult stories as well.

Kathleen has been writing poetry and stories for years both for fun and for hire in custom greeting cards and for local speaking outlets. She enjoys sharing her stories and talking with children and adults about how they too can write if they put their mind to it.

Kathleen also writes a blog with inspirational and educational posts both regarding her endeavors as an author as well as a business woman.