MaryAnn Bernal's Blog, page 485
December 16, 2012
In the Midst: Author Mary Ann Bernal Spotlighted!
In the Midst: Author Mary Ann Bernal Spotlighted!: The Briton and The Dane: Collection The Briton and the Dane novels bring to life the tumultuous ninth century when the formidable Viking...
In the Midst: Author Ngaire Elder Spotlighted!
In the Midst: Author Ngaire Elder Spotlighted!: The Adventures of Cecilia Spark is an adventuresome story suitable for the age group between four and nine years. The Author is from Sp...
In the Midst: Author Wendy Steele Spotlighted!
In the Midst: Author Wendy Steele Spotlighted!: Five Books, One for each generation. Destiny of Angels - Traumatic events in her childhood, send Angel Parsons upon a different l...
In the Midst: Author Mark Barry Spotlighted!
In the Midst: Author Mark Barry Spotlighted!: Ultra Violence: Forty. Receding pate. Failing marriage. Delinquent, uncaring son. Psycho boss parachuted in to cut the big earne...
December 15, 2012
Carla by Mark Barry - Book review
5.0 out of 5 stars Unforgettable, December 15, 2012 By Chloe Fredericks (New York, NY)
Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is from: Carla (Kindle Edition) After several days and two books later, I'm still thinking about Carla. A compelling read that wuthers through the heights of your memory for a long time. Must read!
History Trivia
December 15,
37 Nero was born. He was the Roman emperor who is alleged to have fiddled while Rome burned.
533 Byzantine general Belisarius defeated the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Ticameron.
687 Sergius I (Saint Sergius) was elected Roman Catholic pope. He received Caedwalla, King of the West Saxons, and baptized him (689) but because the King died in Rome, he was buried in St. Peter's. Sergius also ordered St. Wilfrid to be restored to his see (Bishopric at York), greatly favored St. Aldhelm, Abbot of Malmesbury, and is credited with endeavoring to secure the Venerable Bede as his adviser. Finally he consecrated the Englishman St. Willibrord bishop, and sent him to preach Christianity to the Frisians.
Caedwalla, King of the West Saxons 
December 14, 2012
History Trivia
December 14 867 AD Adrian II was elected Roman Catholic pope. Adrian had difficulties with international politics. The eighth ecumenical council and the fourth Council of Constantinople took place during his reign. He died on this date in 872. 872 AD John VIII was elected Roman Catholic pope on the very day Pope Adrian II died. His pontificate was marked with political intrigue, and he is believed to have been murdered by conspirators involved in a plot of local politics. 1503Nostradamus was born. Author of a collection of predictions in quatrains published in the book Centuries, Nostradamus gained fame in his lifetime when some of his prophecies appeared to come true.
1542 Princess Mary Stuart became Queen Mary I of Scotland.[image error]
December 13, 2012
Carla by Mark Barry
Mary Ann Bernal review of Carla by Mark Barry
Carla is the story of a perceived mentally-ill person, John Dexter, who shares his story truthfully about his psychiatric illnesses, hospitalizations, and his obsessive love for a woman half his age. He speaks to the reader, as if writing a blog, sharing painful memories with acceptance, his writings cathartic, purging his fear. The story held my interest to the very last page and I look forward to reading more novels by this author.
Carla is the story of a perceived mentally-ill person, John Dexter, who shares his story truthfully about his psychiatric illnesses, hospitalizations, and his obsessive love for a woman half his age. He speaks to the reader, as if writing a blog, sharing painful memories with acceptance, his writings cathartic, purging his fear. The story held my interest to the very last page and I look forward to reading more novels by this author.
History Trivia
December 13
863 Boudouin with the Iron Arm, earl of Flanders, wed Charles II the Bald of France's daughter Judith. He was daring warrior who fell in love with the youthful widow of two English kings, married her and fled with his bride to Lorraine. Charles, though at first angry, was at last conciliated, and made his son-in-law margrave of Flanders, which he held as a hereditary fief. The Norsemen were continually devastating the coastlands at this time, and Baldwin was entrusted with this outlying borderland in order to defend it. He was the first of a line of strong rulers of Flanders, who early in the 10th century exchanged the title of margrave for that of count.
1294 Saint Celestine V resigned the papacy after only five months; Celestine, who founded the Celestine order, was the first pope to abdicate. He had accepted the position only because the papacy had been vacant for years and needed a leader. In his eighties when elected, the work proved too problematic, and he resigned.
1545 Council of Trent began. The council would pass legislation dealing with the doctrinal challenges of the Protestant Reformation.
December 12, 2012
Ultra Violence by Mark Barry
Mary Ann Bernal review of Ultra Violence by Mark Barry
Mr. Barry delves the reader into the bygone days of British football where team followers of Notts County clash with the myriad of opposing fans, resulting in violent clashes on game day.
The story revolves around a middle-aged man whose life is in turmoil - a failed marriage, a disinterested son and a career on the line. He suddenly finds himself reunited with friends from his youthful past, and while nostalgic memories are forefront, replicating events from an earlier era becomes a reality.
I enjoyed this story and recommend it to both men and women.
Mr. Barry delves the reader into the bygone days of British football where team followers of Notts County clash with the myriad of opposing fans, resulting in violent clashes on game day.
The story revolves around a middle-aged man whose life is in turmoil - a failed marriage, a disinterested son and a career on the line. He suddenly finds himself reunited with friends from his youthful past, and while nostalgic memories are forefront, replicating events from an earlier era becomes a reality.
I enjoyed this story and recommend it to both men and women.
