Uvi Poznansky's Blog, page 44
June 19, 2020
Plot twists abound!
Elaine C. Pereira is a Multi-Award Winning, Best Selling Memoir I Will Never Forget, in which she describes the compelling story of her once brilliant mother’s journey through the dark abyss of dementia. I'm honored that she posted this review for my thriller,
Overkill
:
Elaine C Pereira5.0 out of 5 stars Plot twists abound!Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
Another success for Uvi Poznansky with Overkill. Just when it looks like the plot is going in one direction, it creatively shifts into a different or parallel subplot. There's a lot happening in this romantic (slightly) thriller so pay attention. Good character descriptions; sometimes I could almost smell the unknown pungent odors just by reading the book. Enjoy!
Elaine C Pereira5.0 out of 5 stars Plot twists abound!Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2020
Verified Purchase
Another success for Uvi Poznansky with Overkill. Just when it looks like the plot is going in one direction, it creatively shifts into a different or parallel subplot. There's a lot happening in this romantic (slightly) thriller so pay attention. Good character descriptions; sometimes I could almost smell the unknown pungent odors just by reading the book. Enjoy!
June 18, 2020
Ash, Kooky & Light-Hearted Throughout, Tries To Piece Together What Happened To Her & Why!
An in-depth review for my thriller, Coma Confidential:
B. Roscoe5.0 out of 5 stars Ash, Kooky & Light-Hearted Throughout, Tries To Piece Together What Happened To Her & Why!Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2020
This is book one of the Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance series.
Ashley Winters loves her new apartment. It is near the University of California Irvine where she is working on her masters and she feels incredibly safe there. Although she needs a job to help pay down her mounting student loans, life is good. But something went horribly wrong.
Ash awakes in the hospital unable to remember who she is. She desperately tries to focus in on her surroundings for clues as she struggles to remain conscious. Doctors and nurses speak about her, but nothing about her personal life. She does learn that she is in a coma, though, and may not make it.
Ash listens intently as visitors come and go. Bored to death, she has just two goals. First, to figure out who she is and what happened. Second, to get out of the hospital, because she soon learns she has reason to believe her life is in jeopardy.
A handful of visitors sit at Ash’s bedside at various times - her mother (Ma), her father (Pa), Betty, and Michael. There is a police officer posted outside her room. She can’t rule anyone out.
Ma is a little strange. She hardly speaks and hates Michael.
Pa is remarried and lives in Florida. He once worked at Southern California Edison but was forced out of his job due to downsizing. The company had brought in cheap overseas labor to replace the more expensive American employees. He was bitter about it.
Betty is her former nemesis from Costa Mesa High School. There is an unpleasant history between the girls. Betty was the party girl that stole Ash’s boyfriends.
Michael, her boyfriend, is a college dropout but a brilliant software developer. Has been working on a startup in his garage. Ash occasionally works with him on developing a Virtual Reality model. He chose not to pursue hacking, despite his talent.
The headlines are filled with stories about Russian cyber attacks on the electrical grid causing havoc. A group known as Dragonfly has infiltrated U.S. power companies. The power in the hospital ominously comes and goes. The mystery deepens when Ash overhears someone talking to a man named Vlad about her condition. While the story wraps up in the end, an important loose end remains.
Ash, kooky and light-hearted throughout, tries through observation and recollection to piece together the mystery of what happened to her and why. She shows incredible courage and fortitude in spite of her grave condition and the horrible event that placed her in her present state. She is on heavy pain medication for much of the book, which might explain her attitude, but in the small bit she isn’t under the influence of drugs she comes across in a somewhat similar manner.
Ash’s story is an unorthodox and unique whodunit. For a story about the victim of a horrific crime, it is written in an incredibly light-hearted way that only the victim herself can accomplish from her point of view. The story is quick read and well-written. It is plot-driven. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
B. Roscoe5.0 out of 5 stars Ash, Kooky & Light-Hearted Throughout, Tries To Piece Together What Happened To Her & Why!Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2020
This is book one of the Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance series.Ashley Winters loves her new apartment. It is near the University of California Irvine where she is working on her masters and she feels incredibly safe there. Although she needs a job to help pay down her mounting student loans, life is good. But something went horribly wrong.
Ash awakes in the hospital unable to remember who she is. She desperately tries to focus in on her surroundings for clues as she struggles to remain conscious. Doctors and nurses speak about her, but nothing about her personal life. She does learn that she is in a coma, though, and may not make it.
Ash listens intently as visitors come and go. Bored to death, she has just two goals. First, to figure out who she is and what happened. Second, to get out of the hospital, because she soon learns she has reason to believe her life is in jeopardy.
A handful of visitors sit at Ash’s bedside at various times - her mother (Ma), her father (Pa), Betty, and Michael. There is a police officer posted outside her room. She can’t rule anyone out.
Ma is a little strange. She hardly speaks and hates Michael.
Pa is remarried and lives in Florida. He once worked at Southern California Edison but was forced out of his job due to downsizing. The company had brought in cheap overseas labor to replace the more expensive American employees. He was bitter about it.
Betty is her former nemesis from Costa Mesa High School. There is an unpleasant history between the girls. Betty was the party girl that stole Ash’s boyfriends.
Michael, her boyfriend, is a college dropout but a brilliant software developer. Has been working on a startup in his garage. Ash occasionally works with him on developing a Virtual Reality model. He chose not to pursue hacking, despite his talent.
The headlines are filled with stories about Russian cyber attacks on the electrical grid causing havoc. A group known as Dragonfly has infiltrated U.S. power companies. The power in the hospital ominously comes and goes. The mystery deepens when Ash overhears someone talking to a man named Vlad about her condition. While the story wraps up in the end, an important loose end remains.
Ash, kooky and light-hearted throughout, tries through observation and recollection to piece together the mystery of what happened to her and why. She shows incredible courage and fortitude in spite of her grave condition and the horrible event that placed her in her present state. She is on heavy pain medication for much of the book, which might explain her attitude, but in the small bit she isn’t under the influence of drugs she comes across in a somewhat similar manner.
Ash’s story is an unorthodox and unique whodunit. For a story about the victim of a horrific crime, it is written in an incredibly light-hearted way that only the victim herself can accomplish from her point of view. The story is quick read and well-written. It is plot-driven. I rate this book 4.5 stars.
June 16, 2020
Fantastic
LISTENERmiss
Coma ConfidentialAsh Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance, Book 1By: Uvi PoznanskyNarrated by: Heather Jane Hogan fantastic Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 starsPerformance
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 starsStory
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed: 28-05-20wow what a fantastic audiobook from the pen of Uvi Poznansky and narrated by Heather Jane Hogan xxxxxx
June 15, 2020
An Unusual Story Told By An Imperfect Young Woman
LISTENERB. Roscoe 4 out of 5 stars
B. Roscoe06-15-20
An Unusual Story Told By An Imperfect Young Woman.
My Own VoiceStill Life with Memories, Book 1By: Uvi PoznanskyNarrated by: Heather Jane HoganAn Unusual Story Told By An Imperfect Young Woman. After Divorcing Natasha, Lenny Marries Youthful Anita.
This is book one of the five part Still Life with Memories series.
Anita, raised by a single mother in a Santa Monica rent-controlled apartment, learned about men at a very young age. She learned that her looks give her attention and power over men. But that attention has also brought problems, like the attention she gets from her mother’s boyfriends. Her mother resents her for that.
Lenny Kaminsky is in his forties when a sixteen year old Anita throws herself at him at the ice cream parlor in which she works, though his age is insignificant to her. Little does she fully comprehend what he means when he tells her she reminds him of someone he once knew. She loses her job as a result of her stunt, which guilts him into accompanying her home. When she makes a bold pass at him, Lenny is so lost to his memories that he doesn’t stop her. But Anita’s mother walks into the apartment only to throw her out for her behavior. Lenny, of course, feels responsible for his part in her predicament.
That day began a ten year period of ups and downs for Lenny and Anita. Whenever Lenny’s ex-wife, Natasha, returned to him, Lenny welcomed her back. Natasha had always been Anita’s competition. And after seeing the pictures of Natasha, there was no doubt about what Lenny saw in Anita. He saw Natasha. Anita could pass as a younger doppelganger.
But as the present story opens, Anita, twenty-six, has just become Lenny’s wife. She is about half his age and is pregnant. He married her despite the fact that everyone he knew advised him otherwise. She hardly compares to the beautiful and talented Natasha. Natasha had been a talented pianist, was cultured, and didn’t suffer from poor grammar, unlike Anita. Lenny looks at Anita, but she thinks he still sees his Natasha. Nevertheless, Anita is now married to Lenny and a member of his family, which includes his twenty-seven year old son Ben, who has just returned home and met her. Navigating her new situation, living in the home that Lenny and Natasha shared so many years, and living with two men is a challenge. Worse, Lenny still harbors secrets even after all these years.
This is an unusual story told by an imperfect young woman. Anita is far from innocent in her story. Her age cannot excuse everything, though her childhood sheds light on her actions. Lenny has his secrets and he lived a lifetime before Anita entered his life. Her eyes are open to this all along. She knew she would always come in second to Natasha, but she chose to stay, so it is difficult to have too much sympathy for her. As the story ends, there are gaps in time that remain explained and hints of what might come next. Stories remain untold and secrets remain hidden.
Newlywed Anita finds herself a stranger in her new home with her husband Lenny and his adult son Ben; between the tension in the home and Lenny’s devotion to his writing, married life is anything but simple. The story is well-written. The plot is complex but obscure and very slow to roll out. The characters are carefully crafted. The story is written in first person from Anita’s POV. I rate this book four stars.
As for the Audio: it is consistent with the book and is well-performed.
B. Roscoe06-15-20
An Unusual Story Told By An Imperfect Young Woman.
My Own VoiceStill Life with Memories, Book 1By: Uvi PoznanskyNarrated by: Heather Jane HoganAn Unusual Story Told By An Imperfect Young Woman. After Divorcing Natasha, Lenny Marries Youthful Anita.
This is book one of the five part Still Life with Memories series.
Anita, raised by a single mother in a Santa Monica rent-controlled apartment, learned about men at a very young age. She learned that her looks give her attention and power over men. But that attention has also brought problems, like the attention she gets from her mother’s boyfriends. Her mother resents her for that.
Lenny Kaminsky is in his forties when a sixteen year old Anita throws herself at him at the ice cream parlor in which she works, though his age is insignificant to her. Little does she fully comprehend what he means when he tells her she reminds him of someone he once knew. She loses her job as a result of her stunt, which guilts him into accompanying her home. When she makes a bold pass at him, Lenny is so lost to his memories that he doesn’t stop her. But Anita’s mother walks into the apartment only to throw her out for her behavior. Lenny, of course, feels responsible for his part in her predicament.
That day began a ten year period of ups and downs for Lenny and Anita. Whenever Lenny’s ex-wife, Natasha, returned to him, Lenny welcomed her back. Natasha had always been Anita’s competition. And after seeing the pictures of Natasha, there was no doubt about what Lenny saw in Anita. He saw Natasha. Anita could pass as a younger doppelganger.
But as the present story opens, Anita, twenty-six, has just become Lenny’s wife. She is about half his age and is pregnant. He married her despite the fact that everyone he knew advised him otherwise. She hardly compares to the beautiful and talented Natasha. Natasha had been a talented pianist, was cultured, and didn’t suffer from poor grammar, unlike Anita. Lenny looks at Anita, but she thinks he still sees his Natasha. Nevertheless, Anita is now married to Lenny and a member of his family, which includes his twenty-seven year old son Ben, who has just returned home and met her. Navigating her new situation, living in the home that Lenny and Natasha shared so many years, and living with two men is a challenge. Worse, Lenny still harbors secrets even after all these years.
This is an unusual story told by an imperfect young woman. Anita is far from innocent in her story. Her age cannot excuse everything, though her childhood sheds light on her actions. Lenny has his secrets and he lived a lifetime before Anita entered his life. Her eyes are open to this all along. She knew she would always come in second to Natasha, but she chose to stay, so it is difficult to have too much sympathy for her. As the story ends, there are gaps in time that remain explained and hints of what might come next. Stories remain untold and secrets remain hidden.
Newlywed Anita finds herself a stranger in her new home with her husband Lenny and his adult son Ben; between the tension in the home and Lenny’s devotion to his writing, married life is anything but simple. The story is well-written. The plot is complex but obscure and very slow to roll out. The characters are carefully crafted. The story is written in first person from Anita’s POV. I rate this book four stars.
As for the Audio: it is consistent with the book and is well-performed.
When I cry: by Heather Jane Hogan
Heather Jane Hogan is a wonderfully versatile voice artist and actress. She narrated several of my audiobooks, and two new audiobook --
Overkill
and Ash Suspense Thrillers: Trilogy -- will soon be published. I asked Heather to give me a glimpse into the challenges of her art, especially when it comes to this new thriller.
When I cryNarrating for Uvi is always a treat, and voicing Overkill was no exception. I was provided a script that challenged, delighted, and moved me.
When I cry in real life, I have a tough time talking; my voice reaches heights Minnie Mouse would approve of. My throat closes, and whatever I can eek out sounds a little funny, and does NOT make for a good audiobook… So, for example, one challenge was to give Tracy’s emotions a ‘normal’ sound, which meant I had to skirt a fine line of evoking high emotion while staying grounded enough to speak properly!
Another challenge in the book was the nature of the crime. Having to get into the skin of a murderer is something I’m not sure I can describe. When I voice a character, I take all the information the author has given; any clue from other character’s descriptions, the narrator’s description – even hints from the character themselves, and search within me to find what’s similar. When I find that thing, I amplify it and “be” that character when I record. Sometimes I have to leave the booth and shake it off when I’m done.
Looking forward to the next one!
Ash Suspense Thrillers: Trilogy Paperback: AmazonAudiobook: Coming soon
Heather voiced my characters in the audiobook editions of My Own Voice(included in Apart from Love), Twisted, Coma Confidential, Overkill, Overdose and Ash Suspense Thrillers
Follow Heather on these sites: Twitter Website
And take a listen to her voice in these 5-minutes voice samples
of the audiobook editions of my books:
When I cryNarrating for Uvi is always a treat, and voicing Overkill was no exception. I was provided a script that challenged, delighted, and moved me. When I cry in real life, I have a tough time talking; my voice reaches heights Minnie Mouse would approve of. My throat closes, and whatever I can eek out sounds a little funny, and does NOT make for a good audiobook… So, for example, one challenge was to give Tracy’s emotions a ‘normal’ sound, which meant I had to skirt a fine line of evoking high emotion while staying grounded enough to speak properly!
Another challenge in the book was the nature of the crime. Having to get into the skin of a murderer is something I’m not sure I can describe. When I voice a character, I take all the information the author has given; any clue from other character’s descriptions, the narrator’s description – even hints from the character themselves, and search within me to find what’s similar. When I find that thing, I amplify it and “be” that character when I record. Sometimes I have to leave the booth and shake it off when I’m done.
Looking forward to the next one!
Ash Suspense Thrillers: Trilogy Paperback: AmazonAudiobook: Coming soon
Heather voiced my characters in the audiobook editions of My Own Voice(included in Apart from Love), Twisted, Coma Confidential, Overkill, Overdose and Ash Suspense Thrillers
Follow Heather on these sites: Twitter Website
And take a listen to her voice in these 5-minutes voice samples
of the audiobook editions of my books:
June 14, 2020
What was the most challenging thing in writing your thriller?
My readers asked me great questions which I want to share here, about the writing of my new series, Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance:
Your writing style took a new turn, compared to your other two series Still Life with Memories and The David Chronicles . In what ways did you change it?
My writing style consists of paragraphs that end on a high note. A punch, if you will. When a paragraph reaches a point of remarkable emotion, that’s where I end it, so the impact will linger. Also in this series, I re-discovered the power of short sentences that pack a punch. They stand in contrast to the rest of the sentences and, in a word, give you the essence of the character’s emotions.
Along the same lines, I give special attention to the last paragraph in a chapter, and in the case of The Ash Chronicles I cut the chapter on a cliff hanger that propels you to the next chapter.
This is true of the end of the first chapter in Overkill:
Perhaps I’m on edge for no reason. Perhaps I’m too sensitive. But how can I quell this anxiety, how can I prevent my nerves from consuming me, when the assault I suffered in the past taught me that the only thing I can trust is my instinct? Sometimes, even that can fail me.Who can I call, who can pick me up in a hurry? Anyone would do—except for Ma. I don’t have the inclination to tell her what is starting to become clear.I have a stalker.
One more chapter end:
Ed steps outside, walks around the Ford, and—acting now like a perfect gentleman—holds the back door open for his son. Timmy slips out with a sigh of relief and then, instead of marching off to class, he starts chasing a monarch butterfly with vivid orange and black markings that comes flitting, ever so dreamily, just past his nose. I can’t blame Timmy. In his place I may well do the same. But my job is to make sure he is where he needs to be.“Which way to your class?” I ask, and—before the sound of gunshots drowns my voice, before screams start to rise, before people around us fall to the ground crawling for cover—a huge air wave from a supersonic round slaps me in the face. One bullet ricochets off the car, It scratches across the front window, making a glass fragment fly into my arm, stinging the flesh with a burning sensation.The other bullet hits Ed in the chest.
What was the most challenging thing in writing your thriller, Overkill?
The most challenging thing is to understand the mind of the killer, his motives, what pushes him to the point of no return. This is especially hard in this book, because of the age of the killer. He’s a teenager, which in general makes me think of ‘sweet sixteen’ — so it was especially tricky to step into his shoes. But this is exactly what drew me to this story: how does a boy come to become a mass murderer?
This story is dedicated to victims of mass shootings, and I felt obligated to treat their grief with respect but also to give a glimpse of the criminal mind.
So, what starts as a seeming innocent accidental meeting with a fragile boy, will later reveal his full potential for evil:
Again, he calls me, louder this time, which turns his voice into a sharp, rather unpleasant squeak. Startled, I turn around. This guy—no, not a guy exactly, rather a boy no older than seventeen—is running up to me, his t-shirt stained with perspiration, especially under those scrunchy arms. His upper lip glistens with sweat. “You left your library card on the counter,” he says, handing it to me with a misshapen smile that hangs, quivering, over his chin. He’s slightly shorter than me, which forces me to look down at him. “Thank you,” I say. As I turn to go, he grabs my elbow, clamping it with a clammy hand. “Hey, can I carry your books for you?”
Do you plan the plot or let it evolve?
I definitely do not plan the plot, I let it happen and discover the twists and turns together with my character, which is essential for keeping a fresh sense of surprise. I place the character in a new situation and let her stumble over its obstacles with all the urgency of having to fight for survival.
Meanwhile, the sirens outside rise to an alarming peak. Through the window, I see the tires of three firetrucks grind to a halt near the curb. Within seconds, my entrance door pops open—but to get out, I’ll have to push my way through the firefighters, who are pouring into the place in helmets fitted with heat resistant eye-shields and goggles, extrication gloves, and boots. They break open the entire wall, because the hole in it is too small for them. There, under the black puff of smoke, they discover Mrs. Gore’s body. By now, it is already charred. A couple of them load her remains on a stretcher, then carry it out. The rest start climbing up with thick hoses to douse the fire.I don’t stay to watch it being extinguished, nor do I wait for first aid. I must get to school, must find the child, must save him.Before it’s too late.
★ Love Suspense? Prepare to be thrilled ★ Coma Confidential Overkill Overdose
Get all three at once: Ash Suspense Thrillers: Trilogy Paperback: Amazon Audiobook: Coming soon
Your writing style took a new turn, compared to your other two series Still Life with Memories and The David Chronicles . In what ways did you change it?
My writing style consists of paragraphs that end on a high note. A punch, if you will. When a paragraph reaches a point of remarkable emotion, that’s where I end it, so the impact will linger. Also in this series, I re-discovered the power of short sentences that pack a punch. They stand in contrast to the rest of the sentences and, in a word, give you the essence of the character’s emotions.
Along the same lines, I give special attention to the last paragraph in a chapter, and in the case of The Ash Chronicles I cut the chapter on a cliff hanger that propels you to the next chapter.
This is true of the end of the first chapter in Overkill:
Perhaps I’m on edge for no reason. Perhaps I’m too sensitive. But how can I quell this anxiety, how can I prevent my nerves from consuming me, when the assault I suffered in the past taught me that the only thing I can trust is my instinct? Sometimes, even that can fail me.Who can I call, who can pick me up in a hurry? Anyone would do—except for Ma. I don’t have the inclination to tell her what is starting to become clear.I have a stalker.
One more chapter end:
Ed steps outside, walks around the Ford, and—acting now like a perfect gentleman—holds the back door open for his son. Timmy slips out with a sigh of relief and then, instead of marching off to class, he starts chasing a monarch butterfly with vivid orange and black markings that comes flitting, ever so dreamily, just past his nose. I can’t blame Timmy. In his place I may well do the same. But my job is to make sure he is where he needs to be.“Which way to your class?” I ask, and—before the sound of gunshots drowns my voice, before screams start to rise, before people around us fall to the ground crawling for cover—a huge air wave from a supersonic round slaps me in the face. One bullet ricochets off the car, It scratches across the front window, making a glass fragment fly into my arm, stinging the flesh with a burning sensation.The other bullet hits Ed in the chest.
What was the most challenging thing in writing your thriller, Overkill?
The most challenging thing is to understand the mind of the killer, his motives, what pushes him to the point of no return. This is especially hard in this book, because of the age of the killer. He’s a teenager, which in general makes me think of ‘sweet sixteen’ — so it was especially tricky to step into his shoes. But this is exactly what drew me to this story: how does a boy come to become a mass murderer?
This story is dedicated to victims of mass shootings, and I felt obligated to treat their grief with respect but also to give a glimpse of the criminal mind.
So, what starts as a seeming innocent accidental meeting with a fragile boy, will later reveal his full potential for evil:
Again, he calls me, louder this time, which turns his voice into a sharp, rather unpleasant squeak. Startled, I turn around. This guy—no, not a guy exactly, rather a boy no older than seventeen—is running up to me, his t-shirt stained with perspiration, especially under those scrunchy arms. His upper lip glistens with sweat. “You left your library card on the counter,” he says, handing it to me with a misshapen smile that hangs, quivering, over his chin. He’s slightly shorter than me, which forces me to look down at him. “Thank you,” I say. As I turn to go, he grabs my elbow, clamping it with a clammy hand. “Hey, can I carry your books for you?”
Do you plan the plot or let it evolve?
I definitely do not plan the plot, I let it happen and discover the twists and turns together with my character, which is essential for keeping a fresh sense of surprise. I place the character in a new situation and let her stumble over its obstacles with all the urgency of having to fight for survival.
Meanwhile, the sirens outside rise to an alarming peak. Through the window, I see the tires of three firetrucks grind to a halt near the curb. Within seconds, my entrance door pops open—but to get out, I’ll have to push my way through the firefighters, who are pouring into the place in helmets fitted with heat resistant eye-shields and goggles, extrication gloves, and boots. They break open the entire wall, because the hole in it is too small for them. There, under the black puff of smoke, they discover Mrs. Gore’s body. By now, it is already charred. A couple of them load her remains on a stretcher, then carry it out. The rest start climbing up with thick hoses to douse the fire.I don’t stay to watch it being extinguished, nor do I wait for first aid. I must get to school, must find the child, must save him.Before it’s too late.
★ Love Suspense? Prepare to be thrilled ★ Coma Confidential Overkill Overdose
Get all three at once: Ash Suspense Thrillers: Trilogy Paperback: Amazon Audiobook: Coming soon
June 12, 2020
You might even say my plan is totally crazy
If you can not see this chirbit, listen to it here https://chirb.it/nI7hqa
Back in my place, I stand in front of the bathroom mirror, an Exacto knife in my trembling hand.
Why didn’t I obey Pa years ago, when he insisted that to be set in life with a promising career, I should study medicine?Well, too late now.With its easy-to-maneuver aluminum handle and a fine point blade, this knife is my weapon of choice for applying a precision cut. I use it quite often for my projects in school. Designed to slice through heavy-weight materials, it should go rather smoothly through my flesh. Preparing for my little surgical feat, I sterilize the tool as best I can, by using a stiff nylon brush and a detergent with neutral PH. There is a little blemish at the edge of the blade. Rust. Try as I may, rubbing does little to remove it. Oh well.Somewhere in the back of my mind I know that my plan, well-intentioned as it is, is ill-conceived. You might even say it’s totally crazy. Even so, I’m determined to follow it through.What would I give to be a fly on the wall! I’m dying to watch Dr. Patel in his office, in that big house of his in Turtle Rock, while he’s listening to everything I hear! This gadget must have cost him a fortune. So I try to be generous, try to give him his money’s worth by playing a CD, over and over again. This way, the music will cover any cry that may, by accident, escape my throat. Somehow, I doubt Dr. Patel likes Beyoncé. She is my favorite singer. I love the defiance in the first line. I imagine it’s mine:
You can taste the dishonestyIt’s all over your breath as you pass it off so cavalier
Then, here comes that sinister note. I imagine it’s his:
My lonely earPressed against the walls of your world
My headache has kicked up a notch, so I guess he’s listening right now, as we speak. Already, I feel a bit dizzy. I totter across the bathroom, drag the stool over, and plop down on it so as not to lose my balance. Meanwhile, the gadget gives off a slight vibration. How I haven’t noticed it before is beyond me. But now that I do, the rattling consumes all my attention. I must, must, must cut this thing out. It prevents me from thinking straight.Problem is, I can’t see the exact spot where it resides, because it’s hidden from view under my earlobe. To find it, I have to set aside the knife, finger the little bump in the middle of that scar, commit its position to memory—mainly by touch—and pick up the knife again.This, I’m afraid, is going to be messy.But I’m ready. Well, as ready as I’ll ever be.
Excerpt from Overdose
Overdose (Volume III of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)Audible: US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DEAudiobook: Amazon US ★ Amazon UK ★ iTunesPaperback: Amazon
Months after recovering from coma, Ash discovers that the man who performed her brain surgery has a questionable medical experience and a dark past. Should she expose him, at the risk of becoming vulnerable to his revenge?
"Beauty of prose bound together with a sensitive thriller make this very special new series from a very fine writer." - Grady Harp, Hall of Fame, Top 100 Reviewer
Back in my place, I stand in front of the bathroom mirror, an Exacto knife in my trembling hand.
Why didn’t I obey Pa years ago, when he insisted that to be set in life with a promising career, I should study medicine?Well, too late now.With its easy-to-maneuver aluminum handle and a fine point blade, this knife is my weapon of choice for applying a precision cut. I use it quite often for my projects in school. Designed to slice through heavy-weight materials, it should go rather smoothly through my flesh. Preparing for my little surgical feat, I sterilize the tool as best I can, by using a stiff nylon brush and a detergent with neutral PH. There is a little blemish at the edge of the blade. Rust. Try as I may, rubbing does little to remove it. Oh well.Somewhere in the back of my mind I know that my plan, well-intentioned as it is, is ill-conceived. You might even say it’s totally crazy. Even so, I’m determined to follow it through.What would I give to be a fly on the wall! I’m dying to watch Dr. Patel in his office, in that big house of his in Turtle Rock, while he’s listening to everything I hear! This gadget must have cost him a fortune. So I try to be generous, try to give him his money’s worth by playing a CD, over and over again. This way, the music will cover any cry that may, by accident, escape my throat. Somehow, I doubt Dr. Patel likes Beyoncé. She is my favorite singer. I love the defiance in the first line. I imagine it’s mine:
You can taste the dishonestyIt’s all over your breath as you pass it off so cavalier
Then, here comes that sinister note. I imagine it’s his:
My lonely earPressed against the walls of your world
My headache has kicked up a notch, so I guess he’s listening right now, as we speak. Already, I feel a bit dizzy. I totter across the bathroom, drag the stool over, and plop down on it so as not to lose my balance. Meanwhile, the gadget gives off a slight vibration. How I haven’t noticed it before is beyond me. But now that I do, the rattling consumes all my attention. I must, must, must cut this thing out. It prevents me from thinking straight.Problem is, I can’t see the exact spot where it resides, because it’s hidden from view under my earlobe. To find it, I have to set aside the knife, finger the little bump in the middle of that scar, commit its position to memory—mainly by touch—and pick up the knife again.This, I’m afraid, is going to be messy.But I’m ready. Well, as ready as I’ll ever be.
Excerpt from Overdose
Overdose (Volume III of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)Audible: US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DEAudiobook: Amazon US ★ Amazon UK ★ iTunesPaperback: Amazon
Months after recovering from coma, Ash discovers that the man who performed her brain surgery has a questionable medical experience and a dark past. Should she expose him, at the risk of becoming vulnerable to his revenge?
"Beauty of prose bound together with a sensitive thriller make this very special new series from a very fine writer." - Grady Harp, Hall of Fame, Top 100 Reviewer
June 11, 2020
This book will be with me for awhile. Unforgettable
Heartfelt review of my thriller, Coma Confidential:
Becky5.0 out of 5 stars Horror and frustration.Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2020
What a wonderful read! I could feel the frustration of Ash in a coma, hearing and feeling everything, unable to react at all. She didn't even know who she was. Yet she was so logical and brave and even funny at times! She knew she had only herself to save her. This book will be with me for awhile. Unforgettable.
My Audible version was read to me with flair and feeling. Great job.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from Story Origin.
Becky5.0 out of 5 stars Horror and frustration.Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2020
What a wonderful read! I could feel the frustration of Ash in a coma, hearing and feeling everything, unable to react at all. She didn't even know who she was. Yet she was so logical and brave and even funny at times! She knew she had only herself to save her. This book will be with me for awhile. Unforgettable.My Audible version was read to me with flair and feeling. Great job.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from Story Origin.
Fictional story of David
A lovely review for my Historical Fiction book (with a modern touch)
A Peek at Bathsheba
:
Gmafaye5.0 out of 5 stars Fictional story of DavidReviewed in the United States on June 6, 2020
Verified Purchase
I am still in the process of reading but enjoying the story of David and his life as King. It is fictional of course and not strictly biblical but fleshes our the character of David as a man with thoughts and feelings that we can only imagine. It has been worth my time reading this book-so far.
Gmafaye5.0 out of 5 stars Fictional story of DavidReviewed in the United States on June 6, 2020
Verified Purchase
I am still in the process of reading but enjoying the story of David and his life as King. It is fictional of course and not strictly biblical but fleshes our the character of David as a man with thoughts and feelings that we can only imagine. It has been worth my time reading this book-so far.
June 10, 2020
All I can see is the muzzle of his gun
If you can not see this chirbit, listen to it here https://chirb.it/yP1tvA
Ed lies still on the sidewalk, his eyelids open but unflinching. The only thing about him that moves are the lapels of his corduroy coat, flapping slightly this way and that across his neck as the wind floats chilly feelers over his body.Timmy gasps—but his eyes are not tearful, not yet. In that second, when time slows, the driver side door is swaying with an annoying noise. With each squeak, the child takes a gulp of air as if about to ask, “Dad, will you get up? Will you grab the door handle?”No blood is visible, at first. So, I too allow myself to wonder: Will Ed climb back into his seat, dust off his shoulders, and wave goodbye to his son, before driving away?I expect him to do so. Almost.Until another round of gunshots blasts the air. Without even thinking, I push Timmy down to the asphalt, which is quite easy because he’s such a skinny child and utterly in shock. Then I land hard on my elbows beside him and push a hand against his chest until he crawls backwards, until he butts against his father’s car. It casts a shadow over him. At the moment, there is no better place to hide.Up on the pavement, a short distance from us, blood starts puddling around Ed’s shoulder. I try to block Timmy from seeing it. He shakes his head, still in disbelief. Please, God, no. This can’t be true.Everything around us is in a state of utter confusion. The sidewalk is strewn with abandoned backpacks, as some pupils are running for their lives. Others cower behind a bush or a car. One uses his flimsy umbrella as a shield. A teacher cries out to him, “Duck!” And another teacher, by the gate of the school, yells, “Run! Get inside! Get down, crawl under your desks! And for Heaven’s sake, stay away from the windows!”A couple of parents attempt getting out of their cars to pull their children to safety, but at the sound of shooting they drop to their knees with empty arms.Next to me, Timmy turns onto his stomach, mashes his nose against the tire, and wedges himself, somehow, between the curb and the Ford. Then he crawls under it toward the rear bumper, making room for me, too. I try to cock my head up from the damp surface. Looking at the scene from under the belly of a car is a whole different experience. Someone stands at the other side of the car, and all I can see is his sneakers, socks, and the hem of his coat, flaring at its bottom. Also, the muzzle of his gun. For a heartbeat, before dark clouds close in, it glints in the sunlight. I reach over and clamp a hand over Timmy’s mouth to prevent him from screaming, from drawing the killer’s attention. A hail of bullets rains down, sparking off the front bumper. Timmy tenses up. His breath trembles as it escapes my touch. I must protect him. I must bring him back safely to his mother. The edge of the curb gouges into my back. I adjust, I turn over. Now it presses against my belly. I must not lose this child, either.Now, the killer kicks the grill of the car, then jams his weapon, hard, into the front window. I know it by seeing only one of his feet on the ground and by the sound of cracking. It reverberates all over as the car shakes. Shards of glass come pinging against the asphalt and stab at my fingers. Why is he wasting his time—at the risk of being identified, or even caught—on an empty car, when all around us, juicier targets come into his view?The first police patrol car tears around the intersection, lights and sirens screaming. It screeches to a halt. A second car follows suit, then a third. Officers file out of both of them, weapons drawn. Would he shoot at them?
★ Love Suspense? Prepare to be thrilled ★ Overkill (Volume II of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)Audible: soonAudiobook: SoonPaperback: Amazon
The last thing Ash expects when she lands in Clearwater, Florida is to be stalked by a troubled teenager. If that's not bad enough, she is caught in a shooting spree next to the nearby elementary school. The cops think it’s an attempt at mass killing, but Ash wonders if the only victim was specifically targeted by the killer. Will she manage to identify him and have him arrested before he comes after her?
"Suspenseful as well as downright scary and will draw the readers into a web of mystery. The author's descriptive passages throughout continue to trap and at the same time, shed a sufficient amount of doubt into our minds. Who is this shooter and what is his connection to the main story?"
~Serenity, Hall of Fame, Top 10 Reviewer
Ed lies still on the sidewalk, his eyelids open but unflinching. The only thing about him that moves are the lapels of his corduroy coat, flapping slightly this way and that across his neck as the wind floats chilly feelers over his body.Timmy gasps—but his eyes are not tearful, not yet. In that second, when time slows, the driver side door is swaying with an annoying noise. With each squeak, the child takes a gulp of air as if about to ask, “Dad, will you get up? Will you grab the door handle?”No blood is visible, at first. So, I too allow myself to wonder: Will Ed climb back into his seat, dust off his shoulders, and wave goodbye to his son, before driving away?I expect him to do so. Almost.Until another round of gunshots blasts the air. Without even thinking, I push Timmy down to the asphalt, which is quite easy because he’s such a skinny child and utterly in shock. Then I land hard on my elbows beside him and push a hand against his chest until he crawls backwards, until he butts against his father’s car. It casts a shadow over him. At the moment, there is no better place to hide.Up on the pavement, a short distance from us, blood starts puddling around Ed’s shoulder. I try to block Timmy from seeing it. He shakes his head, still in disbelief. Please, God, no. This can’t be true.Everything around us is in a state of utter confusion. The sidewalk is strewn with abandoned backpacks, as some pupils are running for their lives. Others cower behind a bush or a car. One uses his flimsy umbrella as a shield. A teacher cries out to him, “Duck!” And another teacher, by the gate of the school, yells, “Run! Get inside! Get down, crawl under your desks! And for Heaven’s sake, stay away from the windows!”A couple of parents attempt getting out of their cars to pull their children to safety, but at the sound of shooting they drop to their knees with empty arms.Next to me, Timmy turns onto his stomach, mashes his nose against the tire, and wedges himself, somehow, between the curb and the Ford. Then he crawls under it toward the rear bumper, making room for me, too. I try to cock my head up from the damp surface. Looking at the scene from under the belly of a car is a whole different experience. Someone stands at the other side of the car, and all I can see is his sneakers, socks, and the hem of his coat, flaring at its bottom. Also, the muzzle of his gun. For a heartbeat, before dark clouds close in, it glints in the sunlight. I reach over and clamp a hand over Timmy’s mouth to prevent him from screaming, from drawing the killer’s attention. A hail of bullets rains down, sparking off the front bumper. Timmy tenses up. His breath trembles as it escapes my touch. I must protect him. I must bring him back safely to his mother. The edge of the curb gouges into my back. I adjust, I turn over. Now it presses against my belly. I must not lose this child, either.Now, the killer kicks the grill of the car, then jams his weapon, hard, into the front window. I know it by seeing only one of his feet on the ground and by the sound of cracking. It reverberates all over as the car shakes. Shards of glass come pinging against the asphalt and stab at my fingers. Why is he wasting his time—at the risk of being identified, or even caught—on an empty car, when all around us, juicier targets come into his view?The first police patrol car tears around the intersection, lights and sirens screaming. It screeches to a halt. A second car follows suit, then a third. Officers file out of both of them, weapons drawn. Would he shoot at them?
★ Love Suspense? Prepare to be thrilled ★ Overkill (Volume II of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)Audible: soonAudiobook: SoonPaperback: Amazon
The last thing Ash expects when she lands in Clearwater, Florida is to be stalked by a troubled teenager. If that's not bad enough, she is caught in a shooting spree next to the nearby elementary school. The cops think it’s an attempt at mass killing, but Ash wonders if the only victim was specifically targeted by the killer. Will she manage to identify him and have him arrested before he comes after her?
"Suspenseful as well as downright scary and will draw the readers into a web of mystery. The author's descriptive passages throughout continue to trap and at the same time, shed a sufficient amount of doubt into our minds. Who is this shooter and what is his connection to the main story?"
~Serenity, Hall of Fame, Top 10 Reviewer
