Jencey's Corner

Cassandra Harte shares a story filled with faith, patience and trust in Alretha Thomas new novel. Thank you to Ms. Thomas and Diverse Arts Collections Publications for a copy of this novel Baby in the Window in exchange for an honest for review.   College Graduate Cassandra Harte has everything a woman could want: A wonderful husband, successful career and a lovely home. However, there is one thing she cannot have and that’s a child of her own. Synopsis: She tries to go through ovulation calendars and when that doesn’t work, she relies on prayer. Somewhere in the midst of all of this, she juggles being a stepmother to two children the results are negative. She turns to countless family members and friends for advice.   Cassandra deals the realities of being a stepmother towards Nick’s children, Brian and Renee. While the former brings pride and joy in Cass’s life, the latter does not. Renee blames Cassandra for her mother Katrina’s death.   Nick’s parents bu...

My favorite Austen novel is Pride and Prejudice .   I have read the novel three times.   I am somewhat of a fan of Jane Austen’s work so it is only natural that I would be drawn to Karen Joy Fowler’s The Jane Austen Book Club .   I saw the movie before reading the novel. Synopsis:   Jocelyn and Sylvia have known each other since childhood.   They decide one day to form the Jane Austen book club.   This event starts when Sylvia’s husband has left her for another woman.   Then there is her daughter Allegra who brings her own point of view to the discussions.   Who to add next?   An older woman named Bernadette becomes the cherished older women of the group and enthusiastically discusses Austen. Prudie a French high school teacher; who has a love of Austen all her own.   Finally there is Grigg the lone male of the group.   Will this group become more than Austen fans? My Thoughts:   I wish I could tell you tha...

Thin, Rich, Pretty by Beth Harbison explores the idea do you have to be Thin, Rich, or Pretty to be happy?   This story she introduces three characters:   Holly, Nicola, and Lexie.   What could their experiences possibly have in common? Synopsis: Holly, Nicola, and Lexie met in the past at summer camp in Pennsylvania.   Holly and Nicola were never really liked by the other girls in their cabin.   You could also say the same for their counselor.   Lexie on the other hand was with the popular group but still not loved much by others.   She hid in the popular group in order to feel that she belonged.   One night Holly and Nicola attempt the unthinkable and took something that was very precious to Lexie.   Fast forward twenty years into the future each women has moved forward with their lives.   Holly runs an art gallery but is still trying to please others, but can she truly find happiness?   Nicola is a moderately succes...

Welcome to the Audiobook month on Writer's Corner.  Thank you to Audibles for providing this giveaway to celebrate.  Natalie S.  Harnett  is sharing her recent debut release On Hollow Ground.  This  novel covers the mine fires in Pennsylvania in the 1960s.  It is narrated by Luci Christian who provides a wonderful voice to this narrative.  Synopsis:  "We walk on fire or air, so Daddy liked to say. Basement floors too hot to touch. Steaming green lawns in the dead of winter. Sinkholes, quick and sudden, plunging open at your feet." The underground mine fires ravaging Pennsylvania coal country have forced 11-year-old Brigid Howley and her family to seek refuge with her estranged grandparents, the formidable Gram and the black lung-stricken Gramp. Tragedy is no stranger to the Howleys, a proud Irish-American clan who takes strange pleasure in the "curse" laid upon them generations earlier by a priest who ran afoul of the Molly Ma...