Uvi Poznansky's Blog, page 22
January 10, 2022
Will Ash come out of the coma?
A review for Coma Confidential from a reader who experienced this suspense in her own family:
Janice Hamman5.0 out of 5 stars Will Ash come out of the coma?Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2022
Verified PurchaseThis book is quite different but interesting. I can relate to Ash being in a coma and hearing others as our son was in a deep coma for six weeks following a car accident. We talked to him and played music. After he cam out of the coma, we wheeled him outside so he could see our dog. Ash was concerned about her dog. Her 'so called' friend was taking care of him and visiting Ash. Ash felt like this friend had something to do with her beating and being in a coma from things she heard. It is an interesting book and very well written.
January 8, 2022
What he smells is fear
Tied to the back of the chair by a rope that cuts into one shoulder, Timmy draws his knees to his chest and wraps his free arm around them. His face is awash with tears. Being shackled to the closet rod, I itch to put up fight, but if I do, Paul will retaliate—as he’s threatened to do—not only against me but against the child, too. So instead of resisting I pray, as fervently as I never did before, for someone out there to pay attention, to listen to the distress call I sent earlier. It should have gone not only to my boyfriend, Michael, who is on the airplane now, but also to the sheriff’s officer, Joe Miller, who is on the case. Did he get my call? Why isn’t he here already?Paul tugs at my chain, making sure I’m tightly restrained. I breathe through the pain, through the sharp stings caused by having my elbow twisted behind me in an unnatural way. Clearly basking in the demented pleasure of seeing me suffer, “I can smell you,” he says. “What have you done, Ash darling, what have you put on to turn me on like that? Some kind of deodorant?”There is nothing I can say to that. What he smells is fear.“It goes right to my crotch,” he adds, now in a hoarse voice. “What a zinger!”I ignore him, but not the suffering. How can I take my mind off it? I tell myself, you’re not here. Go elsewhere. Drift off. Focus on something else. No, that doesn’t work.Help. Yes, focus on that.Right now, my boyfriend is on his way. Airplane mode blocks the connection to cellular networks. With no internet access, he won’t be able to even notice my call till he lands. The flight time LAX to Clearwater, Florida is about four and a half hours. Add to that a cab ride from the airport to my place. So, in the best-case scenario, Michael may arrive about five hours from now. In the meantime, if no one else comes to rescue us, the child and I must survive, somehow, for at least that long.
(Volume II of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)
Audiobook US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DE ★ iTunes
"I had to keep reading because the action was continuous and the conflicts kept popping up - hurdle after hurdle." ~ Mimi Barbour, USA Today bestselling author
January 7, 2022
As if springing to life out of some Babylonian plaque, there she stands, surrounded by owls
Watching the cracks in the rock I listen how water gurgles underneath them, how it comes, siphoned out with a big, sudden splatter—only to be swallowed back once again.
Such is the ebb and flow of life.
Climbing up I imagined the view I would have up there, at the top of the world. And now, having achieved victory, I am beginning to come down, seeking reflection.
From outside the cave comes the hoot of an owl. Outlined against a dreamy moonlight, it strikes an upright stance, and turns its large, broad head to face me. Its gaze meets mine. At the moment I feel a strange affinity to this bird of prey. Like me, it must cherish its solitude.
And as it spreads its feathers I think I see out there, behind the flutter, a curvaceous outline of a nude. I ache to touch her flesh. It is glowing with warm, reddish hues of terra-cotta. Her breasts are tipped with gold.
As if springing to life out of some Babylonian plaque, there she stands, surrounded by owls.
There she is, my Queen of the Night.
“Bathsheba,” I whisper. My voice gets lost in the vacuous space.
A moment later, the owl takes off. It rises away in its silent flight, and the illusive light of the moon starts dimming out.
Audiobook US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DE ★ iTunes
Paperback ★ Hardcover ★ Barnes&Noble
Told in Poznansky's distinctive style, the story is a lyrical delight, granting David a frank honesty the Old Testament never would have dared and interweaving brief passages of the original text with the author's eloquent, entrancing style. This is a David you won't find in the Bible and a kingdom that sometimes feels almost modern. ~Aurora Dawn, Audible reviewer
January 6, 2022
Be Mine Tonight: a multi-author event for #Audiobook lovers
A select group of authors has joined forces with me
To bring you amazing stories, beautifully narrated.
Looking for a favorite story to enjoy with your loved one?
Come listen to our audiobooks
And join us as a GOING guest for a chance to win it:
With a story to tell
(Just ahead of Valentine’s Day)
Fireworks, Forensics and Felonies
Cisco Bandits
January 5, 2022
Her hand clasps mine. It feels like a slab of ice.
Startled by the unexpected knock, my instinct is to jump out of my skin. But then, I take firm hold of myself. I freeze. And so does Karishma, except that she falls to her knees under the table and pulls me down by her side.
Her hand clasps mine. It feels like a slab of ice. Somehow I sense a shiver going through her spine, as if she’s been caught in the middle of some secret plot, as if she expects to pay the price, and pay it dearly.
The restaurant is already locked up for the night. The lights—those hanging over the dining tables and those fixed over the kitchen counters—have been off for quite a while. The wax candle, up on the tablecloth, has relinquished its last whiff of smoke hours ago. If anyone tries to peek in through the glass window, nothing can be spotted but a reflection of the empty parking lot, layered over a forest of wood legs, as the chairs have been turned upside down over all the other tables in preparation for sweeping the floor.
Who can it be, out there? Can he guess, somehow, that we’re cowering here, in the darkest corner?
“Let me in,” someone repeats, on the other side.
This time, despite the way sound is transformed when traveling through wood, I recognize his voice. I run to the door and—just to be on the safe side—put my ear against it. “Michael?”
“Yes, sweetheart,” he says. “It’s me.”
With a sigh of relief, I crack the door open for him.
“Where’s Browny?” I ask, not only because I need to know that my golden retriever is in a safe place but also because with him comes trouble. If my dog is here—with that surveillance device on his tail—then we’ll need to mind what we say. We’ll have to talk in code.
“I left him at your place.” Michael gives me a quick peck on my forehead. “Not to worry.”
Glancing at Karishma, whose face is still pale, he adds, “Sorry to pop in at such a late hour. Hope my knocking didn’t scare you.”
She shakes her head, no.
“I was getting worried about Ash.” He locks the restaurant door from the inside. “It’s just, I had to make sure both of you are OK.”
She gives him a faint smile, but her fingers continue to tremble. I wrap them in mine.
A minute later, her warmth is back.
“Just ignore me.” Michael picks up her cup and mine. “I’ll be over there, washing dishes. You go back to your conversation.”
“No.”
“No?”
Karishma gathers herself, with some effort, to her feet. “Why don’t you sit down? I’ll make some more Chai for all three of us.”
Ash Suspense Thrillers: Trilogy Audiobook US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DE ★ iTunes
By popular demand, all three thrillers in one box!
The surprises in the plot kept me eagerly listening. In book three, Overdose, just when listeners think that the doctor who treated Ash during her coma was clueless and mediocre, his character comes to life. His disturbing personality is revealed.
The narrator, Heather Jane Hogan, does an excellent job. Her voice has the perfect amount of excitement. I liked her portrayal of the various characters' voices.~BookLover5000, Audible listener
December 31, 2021
Twist after twist!
In-depth review for my suspense thriller, Overkill:
Colleen Mooney5.0 out of 5 stars Twist after twist!Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2021
Verified PurchaseOverkill (Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance Book 2) grabs you with the first sentence and doesn’t let go. Ashley Winter is on a retreat to try to make a new start after a horrific experiencefrom her recent past that happens in the first book. Moving to a Florida coastal town seems to be just what she needs to relax and get her life in order. Things don’t go smoothly or peacefully for Ashley and once the trouble starts it does not stop.
Ashley falls into one catastrophic and mysterious situation after another. Upon arrival she finds herself a teenage stalker even her landlady seems to keep lying about and a hidden room upstairs behind a wall. She can’t seem to get rid of the stalker or the smell in her new apartment. This is a timely story in today’s high school environments.
Ashley finds one ordeal after another that she doesn’t count on. The author throws twist after twist. You won’t be disappointed, maybe surprised because the reader will not see them coming. I couldn’t put this book down and am looking forward to Book Three. I didn’t find it necessary to read the books in order since Uvi Poznansky adds backstory right when it’s needed to keep the story moving at an amazing pace. If you like thrillers, OVERKILL raises the bar!
December 30, 2021
A beautiful love story written by a master's hand
Lovely in-depth review for The Music of Us:
Sugar5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful love story written by a master's hand.Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2021
As a contemporary romance reader, I generally avoid romances written about the wars but the cover of The Music of Us intrigued me, so I took a chance on this World War II romance and I'm so glad I did!You think The Music of Us is a story about a soldier meeting his sweetheart for the first time, but it's so much more than that. It's a story about a man who decades after that war is living through the shifting sands of an illness trying to steal his sweetheart.
The reader is treated to the story of young kids living through an uncertain time. Their sweet love story begins with Lenny as a young man, now a soldier off fighting the war. He is injured and is recovering when his friend convinces him to go to a concert being given that night by a pianist. Natasha, the young pianist coming to entertain the troops is grieving the loss of her Pa. She doesn't want to be there, until a young soldier's antics captures her attention. So smitten by him, she changes her chosen music right there, much to the dismay of her mother.
Natasha's mother has no time for Lenny, the boy she blames for Natasha's new attitude. Regardless, she knows her daughter will never see him again since Lenny is stationed across the world.
Until he's given leave to return to see his father. Lenny isn't done with Natasha and he wants to know why she never wrote him back.
The book is told in the flowing hand of a wordsmith who makes you feel the music in every word.
The ending is touchingly poignant and leaves you feeling all the emotions of love found and love lost, even when you're holding someone in your arms. If you love stories about the war with a beautiful backdrop of music, family, and finding true love against all odds, then you'll love The Music of Us.
December 28, 2021
The Night of all Hallows
A wonderful poem by Matthew Walton read by the most talented actor, Don Warrick.
Don narrated a number of my own works, for example The Music of Us and Marriage before Death. The collaboration was a delight and so are the audiobooks.
December 16, 2021
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come
Coming off the plane I noticed a group of three silent figures and by their deathly pale faces I recognized them: his mother, father, and pregnant wife. They stood together, strangely separated from the hustle bustle of the airport, waiting for me.They watched in solemn silence as I wheeled the casket toward them. It was a tense moment. No questions were asked, no tears shed. The mother, still reeling from the shock of losing her son, did not cry. Instead she bit her lips, hard. The father wrapped his arm around her for support, but he was the one that seemed closest to the verge of collapse. Then he steadied himself, somehow, and with a gentle motion, stroked the flag that wrapped the coffin. “So sorry for your loss,” I said, feeling awkward for using a phrase that was too weak and all too common to convey what I was feeling.He nodded his head to signal that he heard me, but neither he nor the mother could utter a single word. In their place, the soldier’s young wife came to me, holding something in her hand. Softly she said, "When Charlie came home on his last leave, he gave me the Marine Corps emblem off his hat. At first I refused it, knowing that without the emblem, he risked not being readmitted to the base.”I said, “Perhaps he had a premonition of what would come his way and wanted you to keep it.”“Yes,” she whispered, clutching it to her heart. “I still have it. It's a cherished memento.”Meanwhile, from out of nowhere, a lone bagpiper came by. In the midst of a busy airport he looked like an apparition from a different place and time, marching slowly towards us. As he strolled past the flag-draped casket I caught the music he was playing: it was an old song, written by an Englishman who in the early part of his life had been an outspoken atheist, libertine, and slave trader, only to find his faith after riding out a storm at sea.Amazing Grace.The sound of it was magical. It quelled the noise of people fussing, people walking all about, rushing to and fro with suitcases and stuff. At the same time it calmed the silence, the angry silence in my heart, opening it anew to sadness and to joy.It was then that the soldier’s wife took a step forward to the casket and placed the emblem on it, which for her meant the beginning of farewell, and for the fallen, the end of a long journey, the journey home. Her voice trembled as she started singing for him,
Amazing grace... How sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like meI once was lost, but now am foundWas blind, but now I see.
Her voice was so soft, so heartbreakingly delicate, and yet it made the hair rise on my head and the flesh quiver on my bones. I felt—oh, I can’t explain what I felt! It was not only grief for this man, who was a brother of mine even though I had never come to know him, but also pity for his family and for all us, civilians and soldiers, the fallen, the wounded, the loved ones back home, all the lives forever changed by this horrific war.In my childhood, my mother used to sing Amazing Grace to me in place of a lullaby, because it had always calmed me down before she tucked me in, before she said good night.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,I have already come’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,And grace will lead me home.
The music made me think of Natasha. In a complete reversal of emotion I found myself overcoming my rage, my sense of betrayal. Suddenly I realized that whatever had caused the break between us should be set aside. It was time to accept and be accepted in return. I, too, was coming home. And I could not wait to see my father.
Audiobook US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DE ★ iTunes
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"It is a reflection to their best days, and it is those memories that carry Lenny forward through the difficult challenges he faces nearly thirty years later. The war story is filled with details that take the reader back in time. It is nicely written. The plot is complex. The characters are unique and authentic."~B Roscoe, Audible Reviewer
December 13, 2021
Before I could utter another word, she kissed me long and full on my lips
Scores of men lined up. Each one in turn presented his printed Programme to her, asking for an autograph.One said, “Natasha Horowitz, I just love your music.”“I’ll never forget your name, as long as I live,” said another.And another one said, “You remind me of my girl, back home.”Joining the line I had no idea, at first, if she caught sight of me. Natasha gave a nod here, a word there to her fans, asked each one of them for his name, scribbled a short greeting, and signed it for him. Then, as I drew nearer, she took a step back and exchanged a quick look with Mrs. Babcock. With a flash in her eyes Natasha asked, under her breath, “Did you tell him where to find me?”“Who, me?” said the woman.Turning away from her she said, this time out loud, “I suppose the whereabouts of a performer are no secret, so what took you so long?” Astonished at her remark I looked at those who stood ahead of me and those who stood behind. Then I asked, “Who, me?” “No, not you,” said one. “Me! Me! How about me?”And another one asked, “Who, him?”And a third one chimed in, “That guy, you mean?”To which Natasha said, “I do.”And to me she said, “It’s too late for us, Lenny, don’t you agree?”And I asked, as if I had no idea why she would resist me, “Late for what?”“For love to start all over again.”“You’re wrong, Natashinka.”“Am I?”“I’m here just in time, to ask you one thing.”“Which is what?” I handed her the Programme, which I had just snatched from the next person in line, and said, “Will you sign your name for me?”She asked, “What name shall I sign?”“Natasha,” I said, “Kaminsky.”“You know that’s not my name.”“Not yet. But soon, it will be.”I knelt before her, opening my arms, my heart. “Please, do it, Natasha,” I said. “It’ll be a great honor for me.”Then I dug the gold locket out of my pocket, and offered it to her. She opened it, uttering a cry of amazement.“Oh! It’s you, it’s me,” she breathed. “And look, there’s no tear.”“Well,” said Mrs. Babcock. “D’you like him?”And Natasha said, in a soft tone, “I do.” And I said, in a tone that was even softer, “I love you, sweetheart, and I always will.”In a heartbeat she bent over, heat surging between us, and before I could utter another word, kissed me long and full on my lips.
Audiobook US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DE ★ iTunes
This trilogy includes three novels, where one begins where the previous one ends, so you keep yourself immersed in the times and in the saga that begins when Lenny and Natasha first meet. Follow them from the US to England to France during WWII.
"The D-Day story with a backdrop of romance is a fascinating look back at World War II. It is well-written. The story takes the reader back in time; the details feel authentic and immerse the reader in a tumultuous time in France, where allegiances were in doubt and different forces could be happened upon around any corner."B. Roscoe, Audible reviewer
