P.L. Jonas's Blog, page 3
August 23, 2023
Win A FREE Audiobook of "Hall of Deception"
Now Available!!
Listen to Sample Narrated by Lisa Bozek on ,,Amazon OR Audible
Enter the drawing to Win a FREE Copy of the Audiobook by signing up for my Blog ,HERE Enter between ,August 23rd and Sept 1.
Drawing will be held on Sept 2.
You will be notified by email, so be sure to signup using your Email.
August 16, 2023
Book Review: Chasing Eleanor by Kerry Chaput
This is the second book I've enjoyed reading by Chaput. The first book was Daughter of the Shadows, which I reviewed in February and took place in the 17th Century.
This time, Chaput’s writing excellence plunges the reader into the deepest, darkest shadows of life during the Great Depression. It is a coming-of-age story about Magnolia, aged 17, and her over-powering sense of responsibility to find her two younger brothers which drives the plot. She joins with a 14-yr old girl and an older boy, Hop, on a journey around the country by rail, to find Eleanor Roosevelt.
Magnolia thinks Eleanor can fix everything. Magnolia follows Eleanor’s My Day stories in the newspaper, which gives her the hope she needs to keep going. Because of the graphic scenes and dark topics, I put this in the adult category.
I highly recommend this book.
Availble Now on ,Amazon
Genre: historical fiction, coming of age, adventure
July 31, 2023
VBlog #1: Hall of Deception Book Update
Don't forget to signup for my Blog to be notified when a post is made.
Links to where you can get the Print Version of Hall of Deception:
ChangingHands Bookstore
July 28, 2023
Book Review: True Grace by Karen E. Osborne
True Grace: A Black Woman's Journey to Save Her Family, is a shocking tale of betrayal, tragedy, and insurmountable challenges. The protagonist, Grace, faces the harshness of life with “grace” and intelligence. She struggles to care for her children and the challenge to protecting them from the dangers of the world she lives. The story moves at a consistent pace from one surprise and harrowing experience to another.
Osborne brings to life complex and flawed characters through her magnificent writing that embroiled me in the 1920s. Grace’s past is shown through vivid flashbacks of her beginnings in the Congo, to England, Jamaica, and finally New York. The story carries you into the grand homes of the elite, to the lurid dark speakeasies of the times.
True Grace will hold you captive by its tragic and uplifting journey . . . of true grace.
Highly recommended.
Genres: Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction
Releasing September 7, 2023
Pre-Order: Amazon
July 21, 2023
Book Review: Under the Dogwood Tree by Kari Wirth
Under the Dogwood Tree is a well-written romantic suspense with a complex plot and characters who jump off the page.
Set in the Pittsburgh area, the story surrounds two main characters who work in a police precinct: Beautiful and tough, Ronnie; and her sexy ex-husband Tony. Old wounds open when Ronnie shows up as Tony’s new boss. It’s obvious Tony still has feelings for his ex-wife, but she appears to have moved on.
When Ronnie gets involved with another man, sophisticated Aiden, I was fully invested in these characters and the tense love triangle. I didn’t care for Aiden and I was rooting for Tony to win back Ronnie. But, throughout the story, I just couldn’t tell who would end up with whom, which is good, because it held my interest and I kept turning the pages to find out how it would end.
The suspense storyline started out slowly with bits and pieces dropped in to keep you wondering who and what it was all about. The tension-filled plot keeps you going till the shocking climax.
I highly recommend.
Release Date: 8/31/23
Pre-Order Now: Black Rose Writing, Amazon
June 15, 2023
My Writing Journey on Hall of Deception: A Post-WWII Romantic Suspense
Publication Day July 13, 2023.
Hall of Deception is my fourth completed book and will be the third published book, so far. I began writing it in November 2021 during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). NaNoWriMo is a 501 c 3 non-profit providing structure, community, and encouragement to help people use their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds. The goal is to complete at least 50,000 words in a month, which I did. I use the writing program Scrivener to build my stories and characters. I consider myself a “planster,” a combination of a plotter and a panster.
Research is one of my favorite things to do during the writing process. My books are set in a historical period or have historical time periods as a part of the story. Check out Where Did You Go? and Our Eternal Souls.
Where did I get the idea for this book? One of my favorite books since I was a child is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, and inspired my story. My main character’s favorite book is also Jane Eyre, which she carries with her wherever she goes. She can’t help comparing her life with that of Jane’s.
Why did I choose 1953 and Plymouth, MA? I had researched early to mid-20th century time period for an earlier book and found myself drawn to it. Having traveled all over the East Coast many years ago, I fell in love with the small town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. I enjoyed mixing in the town's rich history with my story to create an immersive experience. I hope you will too.
If you haven’t already pre-ordered Hall of Deception, I hope you will consider it once it is available for shipping in paperback or immediate download as an ebook. You can find the book at these locations:
For locals to Phoenix Metro Area – Changing Hands Bookstores website
On my publisher’s website – Black Rose Writing
Amazon – ebook and print
Genre: historical romance, romantic suspense
May 17, 2023
Book Recommendation: Miranda Nights by Gail Olmsted
The story starts off with a bang in the opening pages with Miranda’s best friend’s son charged with alleged child pornography and the tension is thick. But that is not the key
I found myself chuckling along with Miranda’s humor, especially her knack for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, and her easy banter with the sexy husband, Eric. Escalating events caused by the stalker keep you turning the pages to find out what it is all about.
I enjoyed Olmsted’s mystery right up to the end. This is the sequel to the first book, Miranda Writes, which I had not read, but I surely will read it now and hope there is a third book in the making.
If you like legal suspense stories set in a cozy East coast beach town, you’ll like Miranda Nights.
Genre: contemporary fiction, legal suspense
Pre-order from Amazon https://a.co/d/dWwbii3
May 8, 2023
New Book Trailers for All 3 of My Published Books!
Our Eternal Souls: A forever Love Story - on Amazon
https://video.wixstatic.com/video/b8df54_3da0d73bede54efab7da8d595dfe7950/720p/mp4/file.mp4Where Did You Go: A Psychological Suspense - on Amazon
https://video.wixstatic.com/video/b8df54_fa8f43d7660f495c9079028d9ff67339/720p/mp4/file.mp4Hall of Deception is available for Pre-Orders on www.BlackRoseWriting.Com
https://video.wixstatic.com/video/b8df54_18e75b4365b2430d8ec82fb099fa80f7/720p/mp4/file.mp4April 14, 2023
Book Recommendation: "Rich Blood" by Robert Bailey
Wow! What a great ride!
My current work-in-process is a crime thriller, a new genre for me to write. Reading books by other authors in this genre is very helpful to get my head into the specific space. This was my first book by this award-winning, best-selling author of legal thrillers. I thoroughly enjoyed it, turning the (kindle) pages as fast as I could to find out who “done” it. What a great and shocking ending, too!
Robert Bailey created an interesting fictional town with well-described visuals so that I could enjoy this haven of Buck Island along with the characters, who are deeply flawed and richly colored in complexity. The deftly contrived plot twist leads you down a riveting murder mystery making you think you know what direction the story is going . . . until it darts down another path.
I particularly liked how the main character, Jason Rich, struggled with his addiction demons while switching his legal career from a successful ambulance-chaser to defending his sister in his very first criminal case.
Enjoy the ride and hold on tight!
Genres: courtroom drama, legal thriller,
Support local bookstores by purchasing this book from my Bookshop .org online ,Here
Also available on Amazon as eBook
April 11, 2023
Book Recommendation: "Caraval" by Stephanie Garber
After falling in love with "Once Upon a Broken Heart” by Garber (jump to review), I had to read her first book from her earlier trilogy, “Caraval.”
In a nutshell, the plot involves Scarlett (who is desperate for adventure before her pre-arranged marriage) and her sister Donatello who travel to an island to participate in an elaborate fantasy game by the elusive master Legend. Although Scarlett was told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance, she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find her kidnapped sister before the five nights of the game are over or her beloved sister will disappear forever.
This is a fast-moving story with lots of mystery and magical elements, and the twists and turns in the story held my attention to the very end for a very surprising conclusion. The strong sister connection between Scarlett and Donatella carries you through from beginning to end.
Stephanie Garber’s writing really draws me into her unique world. I particularly enjoy the way she writes about colors and smells.
I loved this story so much that I bought the rest of the trilogy. “Legend” and “Finale” are impatiently waiting for me to read (and review! so stay tuned). Although I am decades old, I truly enjoy these young adult tales.
I highly recommend the “Caraval” adventure.
To receive future Book Recommendations, be sure to sign up by clicking the link above.
Genres: YA, fantasy, romance
