Uvi Poznansky's Blog, page 48
May 5, 2020
Another Great Novel by Uvi Poznansky
A Great review by Vine Voice reviewer Piaras for my thriller, Overkill:
PiarasVINE VOICE5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Novel by Uvi Poznansky.Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
Overkill (Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance Book 2) by Uvi Poznansky is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted Suspense Thriller with a generous sprinkling of Romance. Intriguing twists and turns also ensures that this book will captivate the reader from the first page to the last. I’ve read this author several times before and it’s safe to say that her storylines leaves the reader spellbound. Uvi Poznansky leaves the reader again mesmerized with her latest novel. From beginning to end the author holds the reader’s interest.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class Suspenseful Thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of mystery, thriller and suspense will want it!
The book description gives only a sneak preview: ‘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?’
Now, if that’s not enough to grab your attention, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. I’ve read this author several times before and she delivers every time.
The story had every element an excellent story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.
This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and as always, the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly mesmerizing journey!
I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.
PiarasVINE VOICE5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Novel by Uvi Poznansky.Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
Overkill (Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance Book 2) by Uvi Poznansky is a wonderfully written and richly descriptive novel with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted Suspense Thriller with a generous sprinkling of Romance. Intriguing twists and turns also ensures that this book will captivate the reader from the first page to the last. I’ve read this author several times before and it’s safe to say that her storylines leaves the reader spellbound. Uvi Poznansky leaves the reader again mesmerized with her latest novel. From beginning to end the author holds the reader’s interest.I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique. When I stopped reading to work, I found myself wondering what happened in the book, and replaying parts of the novel in my head to see if I could figure more out. It has been a while since I enjoyed a book this much. It’s a first-class Suspenseful Thriller with perfect pacing. Not much is as it appears here, which is just the way fans of mystery, thriller and suspense will want it!
The book description gives only a sneak preview: ‘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?’
Now, if that’s not enough to grab your attention, I don’t know what will. But if you want to find out what happens, you’ll just have to turn the pages for yourself! However, I will say it was well worth the read. I’ve read this author several times before and she delivers every time.
The story had every element an excellent story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.
This was a fascinating and captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and as always, the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly mesmerizing journey!
I’ll be looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.
‘Who, if you don’t mind me asking, is buried in here?’
Author of War Songs, Dr. Grady Harp is an artist representative, gallery owner, writer of essays and articles on figurative and all Representational art for museum catalogues and for travelling exhibitions, and an Amazon Hall of Fame Reviewer. He describes himself as being ever on the alert for the new and promising geniuses of tomorrow. I am honored that he posted this review for my thriller,
Overkill
:
Grady HarpTop Contributor: Children's BooksHALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWER5.0 out of 5 stars ‘Who, if you don’t mind me asking, is buried in here?’Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
Uvi Poznansky wears a coat of many colors. Originally from Israel where she studied Architecture and Town Planning then moving to the US where she studied Computer Science and became an expert in Software Engineering, Poznansky managed to combine the design elements of two studies into unique formats. And she has accomplished the same with the other side of her brain - making visual her ideas (she is an accomplished painter, drawer, and sculptor who has enjoyed exhibitions both in Israel and in California, her present base) and making words in poetry and in short stories and children's books. APART FROM LOVE: Still Life with Memories is an adult romance in five parts, and now Uvi continues her series – the Ash Suspense Thrillers that combine the thriller genre with romance – with OVERKILL, Book 2.
Having well established her principal character, Ashley aka Ash, in Book 1 COMA CONFIDENTIAL, Uvi provides further adventures as she opens with the following: ‘It’s not immediately that I notice the smell. Perhaps it’s been covered – at least the first moment, when I’ve stepped over the threshold – by the salty spindrift blowing in from Tampa Bay. Or else, perhaps I’ve been too distracted, too stirred up by this fever of mine, this excitement, caused by my impulsive move to Clearwater, at least until the end of my winter break. If I like it here, I may even stay here, who cares about school. Far from UCI Campus, free from the pressure of exams, and away from everyone I know, I can experiment with who I want to become. Let me start making a new life for myself. Let me start healing.’
Uvi’s skill at both visual and written art is outstanding, but her history of diversity does not end there. Her brief synopsis gels the plot – ‘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? 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?’
Beauty of prose bound together with a sensitive thriller make this a very special new series from a very fine writer. With follow-up of this stature the continuation of this series is assured! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, May 20
Grady HarpTop Contributor: Children's BooksHALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWER5.0 out of 5 stars ‘Who, if you don’t mind me asking, is buried in here?’Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
Uvi Poznansky wears a coat of many colors. Originally from Israel where she studied Architecture and Town Planning then moving to the US where she studied Computer Science and became an expert in Software Engineering, Poznansky managed to combine the design elements of two studies into unique formats. And she has accomplished the same with the other side of her brain - making visual her ideas (she is an accomplished painter, drawer, and sculptor who has enjoyed exhibitions both in Israel and in California, her present base) and making words in poetry and in short stories and children's books. APART FROM LOVE: Still Life with Memories is an adult romance in five parts, and now Uvi continues her series – the Ash Suspense Thrillers that combine the thriller genre with romance – with OVERKILL, Book 2.Having well established her principal character, Ashley aka Ash, in Book 1 COMA CONFIDENTIAL, Uvi provides further adventures as she opens with the following: ‘It’s not immediately that I notice the smell. Perhaps it’s been covered – at least the first moment, when I’ve stepped over the threshold – by the salty spindrift blowing in from Tampa Bay. Or else, perhaps I’ve been too distracted, too stirred up by this fever of mine, this excitement, caused by my impulsive move to Clearwater, at least until the end of my winter break. If I like it here, I may even stay here, who cares about school. Far from UCI Campus, free from the pressure of exams, and away from everyone I know, I can experiment with who I want to become. Let me start making a new life for myself. Let me start healing.’
Uvi’s skill at both visual and written art is outstanding, but her history of diversity does not end there. Her brief synopsis gels the plot – ‘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? 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?’
Beauty of prose bound together with a sensitive thriller make this a very special new series from a very fine writer. With follow-up of this stature the continuation of this series is assured! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, May 20
April 29, 2020
An Engaging, Chilling Read
I'm delighted to find this great in-depth review for for my medical thriller, Overdose.
Lilly5.0 out of 5 stars An Engaging, Chilling ReadReviewed in the United States on April 27, 2020
Verified Purchase
“Overdose,” the third book in the Ash Suspense Thrillers, by Uvi Poznansky is a captivating medical thriller. After Ash suffered a life-threatening accident, she underwent brain surgery. Now she’s experiencing reoccurring severe headaches causing her question the impressive credentials of her surgeon, Dr. Neil Patel.
Ash discovers there is no record of Patel’s graduation from his claimed medical school. When Patel, whose bio says he’s married, asks her out on a date, she accepts, hoping to learn more about his past that might substantiate her suspicion that he’s a fraud. During dinner, he tells her his wife recently past. Their date is cut short when he receives an emergency call from the hospital. Ash stays to eat, but receives news that her father is in the ER.
As she prepares to leave the restaurant for the ER, a waitress gives her a pink cellphone, saying Patel’s wife wanted his girlfriend to have it, but won’t divulge any more information. Ash refuses to accept it. The waitress follows Ash and drops it in her lap as the waitress is shot.
Patel attends to her father in the ER. Her father’s condition is improving until he has his follow-up visit with Patel and then his severe headaches begin.
Michael, Ash’s computer whiz boyfriend, changes the pink cellphone’s GPS location so it can’t be tracked. Ash and Michael survey the phone’s contents, finding a recorded video made by Patel’s deceased wife. In it, she says she’ll be overdosed before anyone sees the video and warns whoever is watching to look out for Patel. The video closes with “Neil is my undoing. Make sure he isn’t yours.”
As Ash delves into Patel’s questionable past, another waitress who knew Patel’s wife tells her, “Someone is listening to every word you say, every word you hear.” Ash believes it’s Patel. It’s chilling where she finds the concealed listening device. After it’s removed, Ash redoubles her efforts to uncover Patel’s well-hidden past, exposing a dark secret. Can she find the evidence to prove Patel is a fraud or, like his dead wife, will Neil also be her undoing?
“Overdose” is an amazing medical thriller, full of mystery, suspense, and tightly woven plots with a nice touch of romance. The intriguing storyline kept me turning the pages from the start to the finish. I highly recommend this engaging read.
Lilly5.0 out of 5 stars An Engaging, Chilling ReadReviewed in the United States on April 27, 2020
Verified Purchase
“Overdose,” the third book in the Ash Suspense Thrillers, by Uvi Poznansky is a captivating medical thriller. After Ash suffered a life-threatening accident, she underwent brain surgery. Now she’s experiencing reoccurring severe headaches causing her question the impressive credentials of her surgeon, Dr. Neil Patel.Ash discovers there is no record of Patel’s graduation from his claimed medical school. When Patel, whose bio says he’s married, asks her out on a date, she accepts, hoping to learn more about his past that might substantiate her suspicion that he’s a fraud. During dinner, he tells her his wife recently past. Their date is cut short when he receives an emergency call from the hospital. Ash stays to eat, but receives news that her father is in the ER.
As she prepares to leave the restaurant for the ER, a waitress gives her a pink cellphone, saying Patel’s wife wanted his girlfriend to have it, but won’t divulge any more information. Ash refuses to accept it. The waitress follows Ash and drops it in her lap as the waitress is shot.
Patel attends to her father in the ER. Her father’s condition is improving until he has his follow-up visit with Patel and then his severe headaches begin.
Michael, Ash’s computer whiz boyfriend, changes the pink cellphone’s GPS location so it can’t be tracked. Ash and Michael survey the phone’s contents, finding a recorded video made by Patel’s deceased wife. In it, she says she’ll be overdosed before anyone sees the video and warns whoever is watching to look out for Patel. The video closes with “Neil is my undoing. Make sure he isn’t yours.”
As Ash delves into Patel’s questionable past, another waitress who knew Patel’s wife tells her, “Someone is listening to every word you say, every word you hear.” Ash believes it’s Patel. It’s chilling where she finds the concealed listening device. After it’s removed, Ash redoubles her efforts to uncover Patel’s well-hidden past, exposing a dark secret. Can she find the evidence to prove Patel is a fraud or, like his dead wife, will Neil also be her undoing?
“Overdose” is an amazing medical thriller, full of mystery, suspense, and tightly woven plots with a nice touch of romance. The intriguing storyline kept me turning the pages from the start to the finish. I highly recommend this engaging read.
Don’t try to fool me. Something’s the matter with you
If you can not see this chirbit, listen to it here https://chirb.it/NgHc1E
When Heather and I arrive at the sidewalk outside the Clear Sky Beachside Café, I recall that according to Pa, this is where he met her for the first time. Upon his late afternoon arrival at Sandpearl Resort, he was glad to find this restaurant a stone’s throw away from his hotel room. He went in for Happy Hour and was smitten not only by the good looks of the waitress but also by the ease of talking to her, which was in stark contrast to his conversations with Ma.Heather picks up her pace, clearly eager to get to work on time. Leaving a thin plume of smoke behind her, she gives a casual nod to the regulars, already seated outside on the patio, and with the tip of her shoe, grinds the butt of her Marlboro into the sand-swept pavement. Then, with a sway of her hips, she knocks the door open. “Come in, Ash.” She casts a look at me over her shoulder, while tying the strings of her black waitress apron around her waist. “You don’t look so good. What’s the matter?”“Oh, nothing.” “Ash, dear? What is it?”Somewhat lightheaded, I wipe the cold sweat from my brow. “Have to get used to the climate, is all.”With that, I stumble over to the closest table and plop down on the chair. My dog, Browny, raises his paw to my lap and ever so gently, licks my limp hand. He must sense how faint I feel. Heather sets a glass of water in front of me and whisks the ice cubes around with a long spoon. The clinks are downright irritating. “There, there,” she says, now in a tender tone.I guzzle down the water. “Thank you,” I mutter, distracted by how light breaks, how it gets refracted at this angle and that through facets of ice mirroring each other. Staring into the glass, I think I see the bottom. Maybe it’s just an illusion of one. “I’m feeling better already.”She refills my glass. “Don’t try to fool me,” she says. “Something’s the matter with you, I can tell, and it’s not just the heat.”“You’re right.” I take another thirsty swallow. “Wish I knew what it is.”I’m lying, of course. I know exactly what the problem is. It’s not just one but three, coming at me all at once. First, there’s the mystery of the blood in the place I’m renting, which begs the question who used to live in the boarded-up room directly above my bed. Second, there’s the all-too-real prospect of being pregnant, which I’m trying not to think about because what would I do with a child born of violence? And third, of course, is my stalker.
Excerpt from Overkill
Preorder now, be the first to read
Overkill (Volume II of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)Kindle ★ Apple ★ Nook Kobo ★ Smashwords
Audiobook edition coming soon!
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?
When Heather and I arrive at the sidewalk outside the Clear Sky Beachside Café, I recall that according to Pa, this is where he met her for the first time. Upon his late afternoon arrival at Sandpearl Resort, he was glad to find this restaurant a stone’s throw away from his hotel room. He went in for Happy Hour and was smitten not only by the good looks of the waitress but also by the ease of talking to her, which was in stark contrast to his conversations with Ma.Heather picks up her pace, clearly eager to get to work on time. Leaving a thin plume of smoke behind her, she gives a casual nod to the regulars, already seated outside on the patio, and with the tip of her shoe, grinds the butt of her Marlboro into the sand-swept pavement. Then, with a sway of her hips, she knocks the door open. “Come in, Ash.” She casts a look at me over her shoulder, while tying the strings of her black waitress apron around her waist. “You don’t look so good. What’s the matter?”“Oh, nothing.” “Ash, dear? What is it?”Somewhat lightheaded, I wipe the cold sweat from my brow. “Have to get used to the climate, is all.”With that, I stumble over to the closest table and plop down on the chair. My dog, Browny, raises his paw to my lap and ever so gently, licks my limp hand. He must sense how faint I feel. Heather sets a glass of water in front of me and whisks the ice cubes around with a long spoon. The clinks are downright irritating. “There, there,” she says, now in a tender tone.I guzzle down the water. “Thank you,” I mutter, distracted by how light breaks, how it gets refracted at this angle and that through facets of ice mirroring each other. Staring into the glass, I think I see the bottom. Maybe it’s just an illusion of one. “I’m feeling better already.”She refills my glass. “Don’t try to fool me,” she says. “Something’s the matter with you, I can tell, and it’s not just the heat.”“You’re right.” I take another thirsty swallow. “Wish I knew what it is.”I’m lying, of course. I know exactly what the problem is. It’s not just one but three, coming at me all at once. First, there’s the mystery of the blood in the place I’m renting, which begs the question who used to live in the boarded-up room directly above my bed. Second, there’s the all-too-real prospect of being pregnant, which I’m trying not to think about because what would I do with a child born of violence? And third, of course, is my stalker.
Excerpt from Overkill
Preorder now, be the first to read
Overkill (Volume II of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)Kindle ★ Apple ★ Nook Kobo ★ Smashwords
Audiobook edition coming soon!
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?
April 28, 2020
Liquid Prose
Love this short & sweet review for my WWII romance boxset,
Apart from War
:
Kindle Customer5.0 out of 5 stars Liquid ProseReviewed in the United States on April 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
Wartime tale of romance, intrigue, and covert assignations. Written as visual poetry with heavy seasoning. Love the smooth flow from one time to the other.
Kindle Customer5.0 out of 5 stars Liquid ProseReviewed in the United States on April 24, 2020
Verified Purchase
Wartime tale of romance, intrigue, and covert assignations. Written as visual poetry with heavy seasoning. Love the smooth flow from one time to the other.
April 18, 2020
A threat to her, and a warning to me
If you can not see this chirbit, listen to it here https://chirb.it/7AK1db
The next morning, Karishma texts me.
I was right about one thing
I ask,
What’s that?
She replies,
Someone is listening to every word you say, every word you hear.
I ask,
What?How d’you know that?
Karishma replies:
Because coming to work, this is what I’ve found at the doorstep just now.
The image she sends shows three chickens. Only one of them is still alive, picking at the slit necks of the other two. I’ve wanted to learn more about the unlikely friendship between these women—Karishma and her two friends, Martha and Susan—but at this point, I can’t bring myself to text any questions, nor do I want to talk to her. In the near future I must isolate myself. I must become a recluse, because somewhere out there, a stranger may be reading my words, recording them, examining every little thing I want to hold secret. Worse of all, I have no idea how he’s managed to get this close to me. The pink cellphone has been spoofed—of that I’m convinced—so it can’t transmit any sounds, any signals. Even so, there must be a backup method, one I haven’t yet managed to discover, by which my privacy is being violated.I try to recall if anyone stood next to us when Karishma relayed her story about the sacrifice, but all I draw is a blank.The image is even more disturbing on a second and third look. How else can it be interpreted but as a threat to her, and a warning to me?
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
"This book is exactly the kind of complex psycho-drama I've come to expect of Uvi Poznansky. The characters are full blown and full of contradictions and there are more plot twists than switchbacks on an Tibetan mountain side." - Aurora Dawn, VINE VOICE
The next morning, Karishma texts me.
I was right about one thing
I ask,
What’s that?
She replies,
Someone is listening to every word you say, every word you hear.
I ask,
What?How d’you know that?
Karishma replies:
Because coming to work, this is what I’ve found at the doorstep just now.
The image she sends shows three chickens. Only one of them is still alive, picking at the slit necks of the other two. I’ve wanted to learn more about the unlikely friendship between these women—Karishma and her two friends, Martha and Susan—but at this point, I can’t bring myself to text any questions, nor do I want to talk to her. In the near future I must isolate myself. I must become a recluse, because somewhere out there, a stranger may be reading my words, recording them, examining every little thing I want to hold secret. Worse of all, I have no idea how he’s managed to get this close to me. The pink cellphone has been spoofed—of that I’m convinced—so it can’t transmit any sounds, any signals. Even so, there must be a backup method, one I haven’t yet managed to discover, by which my privacy is being violated.I try to recall if anyone stood next to us when Karishma relayed her story about the sacrifice, but all I draw is a blank.The image is even more disturbing on a second and third look. How else can it be interpreted but as a threat to her, and a warning to me?
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
"This book is exactly the kind of complex psycho-drama I've come to expect of Uvi Poznansky. The characters are full blown and full of contradictions and there are more plot twists than switchbacks on an Tibetan mountain side." - Aurora Dawn, VINE VOICE
April 17, 2020
Audiocover reveal: Overkill
I'm so excited to announce that the wonderful voice actor, Heather Jane Hogan, will be narrating my thriller, Overkill. She simply steps into the skin of the character and brings the story to life. I can't wait to share some of the voice clips with you.
While this work goes on, I designed the cover for the audiobook edition. It is inspired by the moment Ash finds an access to a hidden room:
An hour later, the installer comes out again. “Miss?” And I say, “What now?” “I found a space.”“What? Excuse me?”“Well, while nailing a new tackless strip in the closet, I took a back swing with the hammer and—quite by accident—hit the wall behind me. I expected to feel brickwork. Instead, I felt plasterboard, which cracked against my blow. I was pissed at myself—oh, forgive me! I should be more careful with my language around you, Miss.”“No matter, just go on.”“Like I’ve said, I was angry with myself for the extra work I created. Then I noticed something behind the hole. So I knocked through and found a passageway to a spiral flight of stairs.”I follow him into the closet, which is now full of swirling dust, and lean in through the hole, thinking this hidden space should have been obvious to me right from the start. After all, I could see a little window up there from the outside, but thought nothing of it.There is a chalky taste in my throat, and the dust is clogging up my airways as I climb. The rises are high, and the industrial pole that holds the treads seems a bit unstable. Each one of them in turn clangs as I step up, higher and higher, but the sound soon dies away below me. The walls close in on me as it this is a trap. There is barely enough headroom and practically no light except at the top of the staircase. By the time I reach it, my trepidation grows. Here is a narrow, barely lit room, with a tiny window looking out across the backyard. It has a distant view of Clearwater High School. I recognize it by the slightly curved facade of that building, although the slogan etched on it is too far to read, even if I squint. But I do know it. Home of the Tornadoes. For a brief moment I consider turning this space into a new office. Finding it should feel great, should feel like adventure. Except for one thing.The dread.
★ Love Suspense? Prepare to be thrilled ★Preorder now, be the first to read Overkill (Volume II of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)Kindle ★ Apple ★ Nook Kobo ★ Smashwords
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?
While this work goes on, I designed the cover for the audiobook edition. It is inspired by the moment Ash finds an access to a hidden room:
An hour later, the installer comes out again. “Miss?” And I say, “What now?” “I found a space.”“What? Excuse me?”“Well, while nailing a new tackless strip in the closet, I took a back swing with the hammer and—quite by accident—hit the wall behind me. I expected to feel brickwork. Instead, I felt plasterboard, which cracked against my blow. I was pissed at myself—oh, forgive me! I should be more careful with my language around you, Miss.”“No matter, just go on.”“Like I’ve said, I was angry with myself for the extra work I created. Then I noticed something behind the hole. So I knocked through and found a passageway to a spiral flight of stairs.”I follow him into the closet, which is now full of swirling dust, and lean in through the hole, thinking this hidden space should have been obvious to me right from the start. After all, I could see a little window up there from the outside, but thought nothing of it.There is a chalky taste in my throat, and the dust is clogging up my airways as I climb. The rises are high, and the industrial pole that holds the treads seems a bit unstable. Each one of them in turn clangs as I step up, higher and higher, but the sound soon dies away below me. The walls close in on me as it this is a trap. There is barely enough headroom and practically no light except at the top of the staircase. By the time I reach it, my trepidation grows. Here is a narrow, barely lit room, with a tiny window looking out across the backyard. It has a distant view of Clearwater High School. I recognize it by the slightly curved facade of that building, although the slogan etched on it is too far to read, even if I squint. But I do know it. Home of the Tornadoes. For a brief moment I consider turning this space into a new office. Finding it should feel great, should feel like adventure. Except for one thing.The dread.
★ Love Suspense? Prepare to be thrilled ★Preorder now, be the first to read Overkill (Volume II of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)Kindle ★ Apple ★ Nook Kobo ★ Smashwords
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?
He comes up here, to check if I’m still breathing
Seeing how exhausted I am, Abishag takes the feather, ever so gently, from my fingers, careful not to touch the tip, and withdraws from me. Washing the ink off at the other end of the chamber, she bends over the windowsill, glancing at the lush trees swaying down there, in the royal gardens. Without words, she hums a little tune under her breath, and her voice is so sad, so melodious, that it tells me how desperately she misses her faraway village, from where she was taken to the palace. She must have been eager, at first, to meet the notoriously dashing young hero, the slayer of Goliath, the idol drawn so perfectly out of legends that belong to a dying generation. Only now does she realize that I belong nowhere else but in her aging mother’s dreams. I tell her, “Listen, daughter, and pay careful attention. Forget your people and your father’s house. Let the king be enthralled by your beauty. Honor him, for he is your lord.”And at once I wonder, why do I take this fatherly tone with her, all of a sudden? And why do I speak of myself as if I were not here?Abishag cannot help but yawn, which I happen to understand, because the lecture I have aimed at her bores me, too. “So many young men, out there,” she whispers.“So much noise,” I complain, over her excitement.“If it’s disturbing to you, your majesty, I can go down,” she offers. “I can ask them to keep things more quiet, for you.”“No,” say I. “Stay with me.”“Are you cold? Shall I close the curtains?” “No. Keep them open.”Then, with slight hesitation, “Your son,” she says. “What does he want? Why did he come?”“He loves me so,” I say, hoping she would not catch the irony in my voice. “Once in a long while he comes up here, to check if I’m still breathing.”Abishag says nothing in reply. After a long pause she asks, “Did he invite you to the festivities? I would love to escort you—”“Festivities?” say I. “No one tells me anything these days, which is why I am becoming so pitifully suspicious.”“I see him down there,” she says. “His guests are arriving now, gathering around to greet him. They’re laughing. He’s not.”At that I wave my hand. “Adoniah must be tired. He’s utterly weary of life here, in my palace. Luxury can be such a boring thing when you’re born into it.”She glances back at me, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Is it, really?”“It must be,” say I. “Unlike me, he’s never fought for what he has. To entertain him, his mother throws one party after another in his honor.”“He’s young,” says Abishag. “And so tense. She just wants to make him happy.”
Excerpt from The Edge of Revolt
★ Treat yourself to a true gift ★Historical Fiction with a Modern Twist... The Edge of Revolt Audible: US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DEAudiobook: Amazon US ★ Amazon UK ★ iTunesPaperback: Amazon ★ Barnes&Noble
"Her ability to capture character and emotion is nothing short of literary excellence, and the modern flair really only adds to that, allowing for a more engaging voice and style." -Book Crazy, Top 1000 Reviewer
April 13, 2020
We interrupt this special news bulletin...
If you can not see this chirbit, listen to it here https://chirb.it/xwcfzJ
If, by some lucky, unforeseen twist of events, I were to find myself in her presence ever again, which I doubted, I would probably freeze, not knowing what to say. I was a nobody, and she—a star. Unreachable. Glamorous. There could be no connection between us, except through her music. It would illuminate my life and at the same time, deepen its shadows, giving full meaning to what I felt, in joy and in pain. Such is the power of a muse.I leaned over the radio, eager to hear, ready to find delight in what she was bringing my way. I was hoping to grasp every note before the battery would run out of power and go dead.It was then that my ear caught the first interruption. From a distant radio at one side of the building, a CBS anchorman broke in. At the beginning of the sentence his voice was still subtle, but by the end it became amplified into a blare. “We interrupt this special news bulletin...”Before I could cry, “Hey! You deaf? Lower the volume, down there,” a second interruption occurred at the other side and a third one right here, out of Aaron’s radio. In place of the music, which came to a strange halt after just a couple of notes, a deep, resonant voice said, “We interrupt,” which was echoed once over, “We interrupt...”Struggling not to become downright emotional, it trembled now on the airwaves from three different distances, to deliver the same grave message. “The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by air. Details are not available. They will be, in a few minutes.”I caught my breath. The cook came running through the corridor, and several other guys gathered around him, all in shock."What did they say?”“What do they mean?”“Where is Pearl Harbor?”“Should we do something?""Well, we're in it now,” said the cook, and to my surprise he added, “We cannot let Japan get away with this."“Let's whoop them,” said one. “Yes,” said another. “Let's whoop them."Meanwhile I was flipping stations on the radio, trying desperately to learn some details about what happened. The reports were vague, all except one. A reporter for KGU radio climbed to the roof of the Advertiser Building in downtown Honolulu, microphone in hand, and called the NBC Blue Network on the phone, with the first eyewitness account of the attack. “This battle has been going on for nearly three hours... It's no joke, it's a real war,” he said. Then his voice was cut off. My heart was racing—no, it was running the gauntlet of emotions, stricken by disbelief, confusion, fear, guilt, and most of all, profound sadness. I had never thought that anyone would dare attack the United States. Now I was wondering what was to come and how it would affect us, how this would affect America as we knew it.I thought about the dead, and asked myself how many lives would be lost before this was all over. Feeling lucky for staying behind, on safe ground, and at the same time blaming myself for it, I slapped my hands over my face and there, there was my friend, Aaron. He was, at this moment, on the other side of the world, but I felt his presence awakening in me, in the darkness of the palms of my hands. First he winked at me, as if to ask what’s a little joke between friends, and I shouldn’t ask him any questions for now, because he wasn’t prepared to answer, not yet.Then he turned away from me, and in a snap, a strange thing began to happen: as if I came to be in his skin I shivered in fright, and saw it all through his eyes. What I saw was a vision of the battleship where he was stationed, which was one of our eight battleships under attack. The USS Arizona, which used to be the symbol of our national might, of our naval dominance, was now engulfed in flames. Falling into it through the black clouds of smoke was a bomb. It was coming with a shriek, and when it hit, for a split second there was no air. Then sparks came raining down, all the way down through the hollowed floors. They hit the ammunition, then the gasoline, and soon the whole place caught on fire. The blaze roared with such maddening intensity in my head that I paid no attention to the silence, the sudden silence on Aaron’s radio. Its battery must have run out of power. It was dead.
Lenny in The Music of Us
★ Love reading? Treat yourself to a love story ★The complete series: Still Life with Memories
Volume III: The Music of Us Audible: US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DEAudiobook: Amazon US ★ Amazon UK ★ iTunesPaperback: Amazon ★ Barnes&Noble
"That generation has been called the Greatest Generation for the sacrifices they made and their amazing accomplishments in later years. If you enjoy historical fiction with a touch of romance. If you enjoy believable, complex characters, this is a book for you." - Richard L. Weatherly, Author
If, by some lucky, unforeseen twist of events, I were to find myself in her presence ever again, which I doubted, I would probably freeze, not knowing what to say. I was a nobody, and she—a star. Unreachable. Glamorous. There could be no connection between us, except through her music. It would illuminate my life and at the same time, deepen its shadows, giving full meaning to what I felt, in joy and in pain. Such is the power of a muse.I leaned over the radio, eager to hear, ready to find delight in what she was bringing my way. I was hoping to grasp every note before the battery would run out of power and go dead.It was then that my ear caught the first interruption. From a distant radio at one side of the building, a CBS anchorman broke in. At the beginning of the sentence his voice was still subtle, but by the end it became amplified into a blare. “We interrupt this special news bulletin...”Before I could cry, “Hey! You deaf? Lower the volume, down there,” a second interruption occurred at the other side and a third one right here, out of Aaron’s radio. In place of the music, which came to a strange halt after just a couple of notes, a deep, resonant voice said, “We interrupt,” which was echoed once over, “We interrupt...”Struggling not to become downright emotional, it trembled now on the airwaves from three different distances, to deliver the same grave message. “The Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by air. Details are not available. They will be, in a few minutes.”I caught my breath. The cook came running through the corridor, and several other guys gathered around him, all in shock."What did they say?”“What do they mean?”“Where is Pearl Harbor?”“Should we do something?""Well, we're in it now,” said the cook, and to my surprise he added, “We cannot let Japan get away with this."“Let's whoop them,” said one. “Yes,” said another. “Let's whoop them."Meanwhile I was flipping stations on the radio, trying desperately to learn some details about what happened. The reports were vague, all except one. A reporter for KGU radio climbed to the roof of the Advertiser Building in downtown Honolulu, microphone in hand, and called the NBC Blue Network on the phone, with the first eyewitness account of the attack. “This battle has been going on for nearly three hours... It's no joke, it's a real war,” he said. Then his voice was cut off. My heart was racing—no, it was running the gauntlet of emotions, stricken by disbelief, confusion, fear, guilt, and most of all, profound sadness. I had never thought that anyone would dare attack the United States. Now I was wondering what was to come and how it would affect us, how this would affect America as we knew it.I thought about the dead, and asked myself how many lives would be lost before this was all over. Feeling lucky for staying behind, on safe ground, and at the same time blaming myself for it, I slapped my hands over my face and there, there was my friend, Aaron. He was, at this moment, on the other side of the world, but I felt his presence awakening in me, in the darkness of the palms of my hands. First he winked at me, as if to ask what’s a little joke between friends, and I shouldn’t ask him any questions for now, because he wasn’t prepared to answer, not yet.Then he turned away from me, and in a snap, a strange thing began to happen: as if I came to be in his skin I shivered in fright, and saw it all through his eyes. What I saw was a vision of the battleship where he was stationed, which was one of our eight battleships under attack. The USS Arizona, which used to be the symbol of our national might, of our naval dominance, was now engulfed in flames. Falling into it through the black clouds of smoke was a bomb. It was coming with a shriek, and when it hit, for a split second there was no air. Then sparks came raining down, all the way down through the hollowed floors. They hit the ammunition, then the gasoline, and soon the whole place caught on fire. The blaze roared with such maddening intensity in my head that I paid no attention to the silence, the sudden silence on Aaron’s radio. Its battery must have run out of power. It was dead.
Lenny in The Music of Us
★ Love reading? Treat yourself to a love story ★The complete series: Still Life with Memories
Volume III: The Music of Us Audible: US ★ UK ★ FR ★ DEAudiobook: Amazon US ★ Amazon UK ★ iTunesPaperback: Amazon ★ Barnes&Noble
"That generation has been called the Greatest Generation for the sacrifices they made and their amazing accomplishments in later years. If you enjoy historical fiction with a touch of romance. If you enjoy believable, complex characters, this is a book for you." - Richard L. Weatherly, Author
April 8, 2020
It’s not immediately that I notice the smell
It’s not immediately that I notice the smell. Perhaps it’s been covered—at least at the first moment, when I’ve stepped over the threshold—by the salty spindrift blowing in from Tampa Bay. Or else, perhaps I’ve been too distracted, too stirred up by this fever of mine, this excitement, which has been caused by my impulsive move to Clearwater, at least until the end of winter break. If I like it here, I may stay even longer, and who cares about school. Far from UCI Campus, free from the pressure of exams, and away from everyone I know, I can experiment with who I want to become. Let me start making a life for myself. Let me start healing.The muggy Floridian heat seems to come to a boil around me, even though the calendar says it’s still winter. My heart is pounding, my body—drenched with sweat. Having arrived here with my dog, Browny, who’s as agitated as I am during long car rides, I need to catch my breath. Over and over again, I feel like throwing up, which is a new thing for me. Down to my sports bra and short pants, I’ve already vacuumed the sand that has caked into the damp old carpet, opened all the windows, some of which resist me at first, and tried to swat down a few flies. I’ve adjusted a few of the window screens as they are too warped to fit properly, taken down the heavy curtains to bring in more air, removed the cobwebs from the corners, oiled the hinges so the entrance door wouldn’t squeak, and attempted to fix the doorbell so it would produce some ring. No, not a ring exactly, it sounds more like a rasp, but at least it’s audible now. Up to this point, I’ve considered myself lucky for renting this dilapidated beach house for next to nothing. Because of its quaint charm, I’ve overlooked some of its flaws. Now, too late. Undeniably, there it is. The smell. It hits me at the worst possible moment, when Ma rings the doorbell—it croaks—and I open the door—it creaks—feeling reluctant to lean on her, knowing that her love may push me back over the edge, it may turn me into a child.
Excerpt from Overkill
To be released just in time for Mother's Day! Preorder now: Overkill (Volume II of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)Kindle ★ Apple ★ Nook Kobo ★ Smashwords
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?
Excerpt from Overkill
To be released just in time for Mother's Day! Preorder now: Overkill (Volume II of Ash Suspense Thrillers with a Dash of Romance)Kindle ★ Apple ★ Nook Kobo ★ Smashwords
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?
