Fiona Ingram's Blog, page 21
April 26, 2022
Book Spotlight: Triangle of Hope by Michael Meyer
If one person can make a difference, just think what three can do. A tender story of love. Three strangers, each harboring a dark secret, become united by chance in a small Irish village, and the wonderful power of the human spirit comes alive.
If you believe that love and romance can happen in unusual circumstances, then this book is for you.
"From page one, I found myself mesmerized at just how powerful the book was going to be."- A Girl and Her eBooks Blog
"Meyer did a great job in weaving the story lines of the three main characters into a conclusion which was exactly what the title suggests. Triangle of Hope is a compelling read from start to finish." - Jade Diamond Book Blog
"I absolutely adore this story." - Lauren Alumbaugh, Goodreads Librarian
"A book that will stay with you forever." - Wanda's Amazing Amazon Reviewers
Book Information
Release Date: December 1, 2014
Publisher: Pacific Books
Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-1611883251; 176 pages; $5.99; E-Book, $2.99; Kindle Unlimited FREE
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HPk95L
Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uXCv7wp3go
About the Author
Michael Meyer is the author of mysteries, thrillers, humorous fiction, and non-fiction: Love and romance, laughter and tears, thrills and fears.
He has resided in and has visited many places in the world, all of which have contributed in some way to his own published writing. He has literally traveled throughout the world, on numerous occasions. He has lived in Finland, Germany, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He gained the wanderlust to see the world, to experience other cultures, at an early age, and this desire has never left him. If anything, it has only gained in intensity as he has aged.
Among the many unique things that have happened to him in his world travels, he has walked the streets of Istanbul with a detective, searching for a pickpocket who got him good. He has ridden on the back of a motorcycle in Tehran while the driver, who spoke not one word of English, pointed out all the sights to him. He has wrestled an Iranian soldier who tried to break into his hotel room in Tehran. He has had the paint completely stripped from his car as he drove across Saudi Arabia in a sandstorm. He has stood on the stage of a busy nightclub in Tokyo, singing "She'll be Coming Round the Mountain When She Comes" to an audience feeling no pain from the Sake they were drinking. He has been chased by a family of mongooses (yes, that is the correct spelling) on the idyllic Caribbean island of St. Croix. And that is just the beginning of his long list of worldly adventures.
As a recent retiree from a forty-year career as a professor of writing, he now lives in Southern California wine country with his wife, Kitty, and their two adorable rescue cats.
His latest book is the contemporary fiction, Triangle of Hope.
Visit him on Facebook.
April 25, 2022
Book Spotlight: Lost Boys by Nancy McLaughlin
Lost Boys is the second book in the American Nomads series by Nancy McLaughlin. Life has returned to normal for the Nomads. Finn and Teague are closer than ever. The bond between River and Cash is evolving into something more, and Zac has his family of misfits. Even Beth has come into her own. No longer a greenie, she is now a full, contributing member of the group. Her internet fame has blossomed beyond anything she could have ever imagined.
Riding the rails from one adventure to another, life is perfect. Or so it seems...
Recently released from prison, Daniel is on a quest to locate Finn. Thanks to Beth’s videos, he has a trail that will lead him straight to his quarry.
As the miles scroll by, the distance between Daniel and Finn shortens, bringing them closer to an ultimate confrontation.
Who will survive when their paths collide?
Book Information
Release Date: March 29, 2021 (e-book)
Publisher: Twisted Sky, LLC.
Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-1736705940; 314 pages; $13.99; E-Book, $3.99
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JDKJ2k
Signed Copies - www.nancylmclaughlin.com
About the Author: N.L. McLaughlin was born and raised in Massachusetts. After serving in the USMC, she returned home and went to college. Not long after, she moved to California and married. Six kids and multiple moves around the US later, she and her family call Texas home. Her latest book is the YA novel, Lost Boys: Book Two of the American Nomads. You can visit her website at www.NancyLMclaughlin.com or connect with her on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .
April 19, 2022
10 Things You Might Not Know About Roger Stark
1. Roger was once named Mr Universe in a local Mr Universe contest.
2. Roger is one of 8 siblings, the 2nd son and 4th child of the family.
3. Roger and his wife Susan are the parents of 7 children.
4. Roger served a two-year mission for the LDS Church in the New York City area.
5. Roger has been married to his wife Susan for 50 years.
6. Roger has been a wannabe bicycle rider and has ridden the STP (Seattle to Portland) a 200-mile, two-day bike ride three times.
7. Roger is a very modest guitar player and loves singing with his daughters.
8. Roger owned and backpacked with llamas for a number of years.
9. Roger and Sue love traveling and are anxious to continue exploring Europe when Covid allows. They were headed to Scotland when the Covid Pandemic began.
10. Roger was named for his grandmother’s family name, Texy Jane Rogers. Her married name was Weimer and that became his middle name.
About the Author:
I am, by my admission, a reluctant writer. But some stories demand to be told. When we hear them, we must pick up our pen, lest we forget, and the stories are lost. Six years ago, in a quiet conversation with my friend Marvin, I learned the tragic story his father, a WW2 B-29 Airplane Commander, shot down over Nagoya, Japan just months before the end of the war. The telling of the story that evening by this half orphan was so moving and full of emotion, it compelled me to ask if I could write the story. The result was
They Called Him Marvin
. My life has been profoundly touched in so many ways by being part of documenting this sacred story. I pray that we never forget, as a people, the depth of sacrifice that was made by ordinary people like Marvin and his father and mother on our behalf. My career as an addiction counselor (CDP) led me to write “The Waterfall Concept; A Blueprint for Addiction Recovery," and co-author "Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain." My next project is already underway, a memoir of growing in SW Washington called “Life on a Sorta Farm.” My wife of 49 years, Susan, and I still live in that area. We raised seven children and have eleven grandchildren. We love to travel and see the sites and cultures of the world. I still get on my bicycle whenever I can. You can visit Roger’s website at https://theycalledhimmarvin.com/ or connect with him on Facebook or Instagram.
April 18, 2022
Book Spotlight: Sand Dollar Lane by Sheila Roberts
Brody Green is finding it hard to recover after being dumped by his fiancée, Jenna Jones, then watching her walk down the aisle with someone else. Jenna is determined to make up for her love defection and find him the perfect woman, but Brody is done with love. First a divorce, then a broken engagement. From now on he’s keeping things light, no commitments. Luckily Brody’s business is booming. Beach Dreams Realty is the best real estate company in town. And the only one. Until…Lucy Holmes needs a new start. In business, in love, in…everything. If ever there was a cliché, it was her life back in Seattle. She was a real estate broker working with her husband until she caught him trying out the walk-in shower in a luxury condo—with another agent. She’s always been the more successful of the two, and with him gone, she’s determined to build a business even bigger than what she had. Moonlight Harbor is a charming town and it has only one real estate agency. Surely there’s room for a little competition.
Or not. Looks like it’s going to be a hot market in Moonlight Harbor. And maybe these two competitors will make some heat of their own.
“Lighthearted and full of colorful, quirky characters and surf-side warmth… Roberts's picturesque coastal world is sheer delight and will appeal to romance and women's fiction fans alike.” —Library Journal
Available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sfzSoa
About the Author: USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly best-selling author Sheila Roberts has seen her books translated into several different languages, included in Reader’s Digest compilations, and made into movies for both the Hallmark and Lifetime channels. She’s happily married and lives in the Pacific Northwest. Her latest book is the women’s fiction/romance Sand Dollar Lane (Harlequin/Mira, April ’22). Visit her website at http://www.sheilasplace.com. Connect with her at Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
April 8, 2022
Book Spotlight: Ticket to Ride by Winona Kent
In Lost Time, the third book in Winona’s Jason Davey Mystery series, professional musician / amateur sleuth Jason Davey was rehearsing for Figgis Green's 50th Anniversary Tour of England. Now they're on the road in Ms. Kent’s fourth book in the series, Ticket To Ride . But when a fortune-teller in Sheffield warns them of impending danger, the band is suddenly plagued by a series of seemingly-unrelated mishaps. After Jason is attacked and nearly killed in Cambridge, and a fire alarm results in a very personal theft from Mandy's hotel room, it becomes clear they're being targeted by someone with a serious grudge. And when Figgis Green plays a gig at a private estate in Tunbridge Wells, that person finally makes their deadly intentions known. Jason must rely on his instincts, his Instagram "guardian angel," and a wartime ghost who might possibly share his DNA, in order to survive.
About the Author: Winona Kent is an award-winning author who was born in London, England and grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, where she completed her BA in English at the University of Regina. After moving to Vancouver, she graduated from UBC with an MFA in Creative Writing. More recently, she received her diploma in Writing for Screen and TV from Vancouver Film School. Winona's writing breakthrough came many years ago when she won First Prize in the Flare Magazine Fiction Contest with her short story about an all-night radio newsman, Tower of Power.
April 5, 2022
Book Spotlight: Breathe In by Michelle King
Breathe in. Breathe out. This mantra gets Tessa Benson through the day. The man she loves walks all over her, and she just wants to get by without her heart shattering to pieces. If she could find her voice, she’d scream. Everything changes in one night, when she’s snatched from the streets and tied to a bed, a camera set up to capture her dying moment. And the person who paid to watch her die...is still out there somewhere. Tessa prowls dark neighborhoods in a quest for justice, but she doesn’t find the killer. Not until they strike again…in the place Tessa is least expecting, and where it hurts most.
“Dark. Disturbing. Absolutely out of character for Michelle Bellon (compared to her other books). You absolutely feel for Tessa. Your heart & soul breaks with her. You will get angry & you will cry with her. Simply amazing.” – Amazon Reader
“This story is a very, very dark thriller. It has some things in it that might upset some people. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Tessa is trying to just get through each day with the man she loves. He is not a nice man. He walks all over her, belittles her, he is a scum bag! Then she gets kidnapped one night and tied to a bed. There is a camera on her to show someone or some people just how she is going to die! Can she get away? Who would do such a thing? You will need to read the book to find the answers.” – Amazon Reader
About the Author: Michelle King lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband Chayne and her children. She loves coffee, Superman, rollercoasters, and has an addiction to chapstick. She works in healthcare management and in her spare time writes novels. As a multi-genre author, she has written in the categories of romance suspense, young adult, women’s fiction, and literary fiction. She has won four literary awards. She is the author of the thriller, Breathe In . Visit her website at https://www.authormichelleking.com/ or connect with her on Twitter and Facebook .
March 31, 2022
TV Series review: (Just Call Me) Reacher
Jack Reacher, a character created by author Lee Child, needs no introduction. He is a former US Army military policeman, and he has no fixed abode. Wandering from town to town, he somehow always manages to get involved in problems and naturally must see justice done. Actor Tom Cruise played him in the two version that made it to the big screen. I’m not particularly a Cruise fan, nor even of Child’s writing, but I enjoyed the movies albeit Cruise is a lot shorter than the fictional character. Alan Ritchson (6’3”) was cast as Jack Reacher in the TV series, and I think he did a fine job. His character doesn’t say much because actions speak louder than words. I won’t spoil it for readers who have not yet seen the series but suffice to say Reacher is passing through Margrave, the picture-perfect town hiding a deeply imperfect, sordid secret.
A murder has taken place and by virtue of wrong place, wrong time, Reacher is arrested. From there the dominoes begin to fall and Reacher ends up being involved in solving the mystery and the many murders that follow. It’s a good, solid cast with Bruce McGill playing a crooked mayor, Malcolm Goodwin (OCD and loves his tweed suits) playing a police captain, and the elfin Willa Fitzgerald playing a police officer. The plot is convoluted and for me a few threads did not quite tie up, but I enjoyed the story and how things played out. The action finale is stunning and will please action-adventure fans.
Alan Ritchson is ideal as Jack Reacher. He is not prone to talking, has the ultimate poker face, and truly the body of a Greek god, something the producers flaunt ever so slightly as he does take his clothes off quite a lot. All very legit, of course, because he has to change his clothes a few times, and oh, yes, a romance scene or two but done very tastefully. His interactions with Malcom Goodwin are hilarious and offer quite a few comic moments. Readers will be totally enraptured by Reacher when he leaps over a fence to save a neglected dog, played with charm and doggy panache by canine actor Blaze.
If I have to name a negative in a series that will delight existing fans and newcomers to the Reacher novels, it is the annoying overuse of flashbacks to set up Jack’s relationship with his brother and his propensity for getting into trouble. But that’s a small drawback in an otherwise excellent series. Who knows where Reacher’s travels will take him next?
March 8, 2022
Meet Tracy Shawn, Author of Floating Underwater
Part psychological fiction and part mystical fiction with a dash of magical realism, Floating Underwater follows a woman’s astonishing journey through the extraordinary and, ultimately, to her self-actualization and power. Fearful that her lifelong premonitions not only predict the future but can also change its very course, Paloma Leary is devastated when her latest vision foretelling a third miscarriage comes true. Falling into a mystifying world of increasingly bizarre phenomena, including a psychic connection with her mysterious neighbor, out-of-body experiences, and visits from her long-dead mother, Paloma grows desperate for answers. She is also desperate to start a family. But when a life-changing vision reveals a tragic secret from the past, Paloma learns to accept her gifts and embraces a far different future than she ever could have imagined.
Ten Things You Might Not Know About Author Tracy Shawn
1. Tracy Shawn’s best friend is her beautiful Pit Bull (whom she’s nicknamed Ms. Girly). Ms. Girly is often lounging at Tracy’s feet while she writes.
2. Tracy met her husband while driving down the highway. Before she caught a glimpse of his face, she wondered if she was going to marry the guy driving the chocolate-colored truck because it reminded her of a See’s candy!
3. She loves popcorn and often munches on it while working on her novels.
4. Of course, Tracy also loves coffee…and chocolate!
5. She describes herself as a friendly introvert, as she enjoys chatting with people yet also needs a lot of quiet time to herself.
6. Tracy also feels as if she’s an empath, as she often takes on other’s emotions and can get exhausted if she’s around people for too long.
7. A self-described anxiety warrior, Tracy Shawn has suffered most of her adult life with both acute and generalized anxiety disorder. She has written numerous articles and given speeches about ways to decrease anxiety and stress.
8. One of Tracy’s biggest dreams is that her next novel will be picked up by a literary agent and sold to an established publisher—and then it gets made into a major motion picture!
9. And, yes, Tracy is a big daydreamer!
10. If Tracy wasn’t a writer, she’d love to own a bar with a huge dance floor where people could dance their troubles away.
About the Author: Award-Winning Author Tracy Shawn lives and writes on the Central Coast of California. Her debut novel, The Grace of Crows, won several indie book awards. Floating Underwater is her second novel. Tracy Shawn’s short stories have appeared in Literary Brushstrokes, Psychology Tomorrow Magazine, and Steel House Review Literary Journal. She’s written numerous articles for print and online publications and is currently working on her third novel. You can visit her website at https://www.tracyshawn.com/ or connect with her on Twitter , Facebook , and Goodreads .
March 4, 2022
DIME by Luis Figueredo: The Dream Cast
IF DIME was ever adapted into a movie this would be my dream cast.
Pierce Evangelista is a sharp-witted, Harvard-educated lawyer drawn into the brutal and violent power struggle between the Venezuelan drug cartel and the DEA. Juan Carlos, who holds crippling information about the cartel, sits in the Curacao Prison awaiting extradition. Pierce realizes that his client’s life only holds value to the DEA if he agrees to cooperate. The cartel won’t allow Juan Carlos to tell the DEA what he knows and plans to kill him before he can be extradited.
DIME has a large cast of important characters. I thought it would be fun to think about which actors would be perfect if someone were to cast the movie or series. When I was writing Dime my son Erik and I would frequently talk about which actors should play each of the characters. Since this is a dream cast, I shot for the stars.
DIME’s two main protagonists are Pierce Evangelista and Juan Carlos La Porte.
Pierce Evangelista.
For Pierce a handsome and brilliant lawyer, I would cast Henry Cavill or Tyler Hoechlin.
Juan Carlos LaPorte
Javier Bardem would be perfect. Enough said. Perfect!
Shane Hamilton
Shane was two years ahead of Pierce at Harvard. He’s street smart and shrewd. He takes a scorched earth approach to solving problems. He’s tough and sports the shaved head look so my choice would be Domenick Lombardozzi.
Alexis LaPorte
Alexis La Porte is Juan Carlos’s wife and the main reason Pierce agrees to help. She is innocent and naïve. At least Pierce thinks so when he agrees to help. This one is a tough call, but I’d go with Ana de Armas.
Hugo Jackson
Hugo is my mom’s favorite character. He grew up with Shane. As far back as they could remember, Hugo has been Shane’s muscle. When Shane left for Harvard, Hugo enlisted in the Army and served two tours in Afghanistan. He is a highly decorated member of a Special Forces detachment. My pick for the role of Hugo is Laz Alonso.
Mia Dawson
Mia Dawson is Hugo’s partner in the executive protection company. She is tall, halfway between lithe and muscular with a classically pretty face and the cheekbones of a Nordic goddess. I could see Katheryn Winnick as Mia.
Dario Carraboca
Dario is the leader of the cartel. Dario’s keen intellect is only equaled by his ruthlessness. He is a man that expects nothing less than absolute loyalty. Betrayal is dealt with harshly and swiftly. For the role of Dario, I’d pick Demian Bicher.
Rene
Rene is Juan Carlos’s best friend and the cartel’s most savage killer. He is the man Dario leans on to snuff out his problems. Oscar Isaac would be scary in that role.
Lloyd Hogan – Special Agent, United States Drug Enforcement Administration
Agent Hogan heads up the U.S. taskforce investigating the Carraboca drug cartel. I could see Joe Manganiello playing that role.
About the Author: Luis Figueredo was born and raised in the Bronx, New York. He completed his undergraduate degree in History from Brandeis University in Massachusetts and earned his law degree from Harvard Law School. He is currently the City Attorney for the City of Doral. During his legal profession, Luis developed a nationwide practice representing a diverse group of clients that include municipalities, national trade associations, corporations, real estate developers, and Indian Tribes. His latest book is the legal thriller, DIME . Connect with him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/luisfig35336308 .
March 2, 2022
Why I Wrote Defiance And Redemption, A Lifetime Of Unbroken Bonds by Maria Andrade
About the Book: Based on a true story, Defiance and Redemption, A Lifetime of Unbroken Bonds, brings to life the joys, dramas, and triumphs of two sisters, Eva and Victoria Alisio and their loyal friend Marta. The sisters are raised by their atheist Grandfather Marcus and religious Grandmother Maria Luisa. Eva, a proud and strong-willed young woman defies her family, society, and culture, faces scandal and disgrace, for her forbidden love affair. Victoria finds herself in the center of a multi-generational conflict as her benefactor bestows a great inheritance on her excluding the rightful heirs. Marta, loyal to the childhood bond with the Alisio sisters, brings humor and support to their twists and turns of fortune. The young women’s bond of love, and perseverance, carries them through ordinary and extraordinary losses, triumphs, and ultimately to their destiny in the United States.
An important novel about 20th-century women, Defiance and Redemption, is an absorbing epic that moves through decades and destinies. It blends personal and historical events into a collective tale of self-determination, love, and sisterhood.
In addition, throughout my life, I was fortunate to hear about my cultural roots from three matriarchs in our family, my mother, aunt, and godmother. I also witnessed their bond of sisterhood that lasted over eighty years. They lived into their nineties, and they died a few years apart. Those matriarchs taught me to honor family, and to forgive others and oneself for what happened or didn’t happen in your story. My love to you, Maria, Josephine, and Rosa!
Defiance and Redemptionis a story that is as current today in parts of the world as I imagine it was in early 20th century Ecuador when women’s lives were more restricted. Women need each other for support and to envision a more expansive future. But this story is not an autobiography or a memoir. It is fiction and it arises out of certain truths. Yet, I like to think the story has closed a personal circle for me in which the past is like a garden. It is enjoyed, celebrated, and at death, the earth turned, for new seeds to grow.
About the Author: Maria J. Andrade was born in Ecuador, South America, and raised in New York and California. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. As a licensed therapist and writer, Maria has been diving into other people’s minds and her own, through dreams, poetry, and books for over three decades. She traveled with the Four Winds Society where she studied and was initiated into Andean shamanism in 1990. Before Maria retired as a therapist, she specialized in women’s issues and founded the Wise Women’s Circle a ritualistic and transpersonal study group that continues today. The women support each other through life’s challenges and in the growth of mind, body, and spirit. Maria Andrade’s books for children and adults is found in a variety of genres. This is an unforgettable first novel that reflects her imagination and creative storytelling. Defiance and Redemption is her latest release.
