Jencey's Writer's Corner

Thank you to Ballantine Books  for a copy of this novel Nightingale Way by Emily March.  This novel was given to me in exchange for an honest review.  I received no financial compensation for this review. It is time to return to Eternity Springs.  In this novel we meet Jack and Cat.  Their story is not like some of the other couples you have met in Eternity springs.  The main difference is that they are divorced.   I enjoyed the last Eternity springs novel and could not wait to share this one. Synopsis: Cat lives in Washington D.C.  She also volunteers with some local charities.   Cat published a story recently about a dog fighting ring through a blog she publishes. One day a bomb goes off in her dining room.  She is then spirited away to Eternity Springs by her ex-husband Jack.  He was following orders of Cat’s mother Melinda.  She and Jack both work for the government.  Cat does not want to stay a...

We all know Dr. Temperance (Tempe) Brennan from the Fox television show Bones.   Did you know that the television was conceived from @KathyReichbook ’s novels?  The debut was Deja Dead . We meet Tempe a little later in life.   I have watched the Bones television show. So naturally I wanted to try one of Kathy Reich’s novels.  What better way than from the beginning? Synopsis: Tempe is ready to continue her mission to explore Quebec.  She loves walking the streets of Montreal.  There is just one problem.  A sack of bones is found at a monastery.  Tempe must check it out to clear so she can go on vacation.  She must decide if these bones are for archeology to study or criminal case.  These bones are a criminal case.  Tempe starts to study the bones of the first victim.  She notices that these bones have something in common with other cases.  Which then creates more questions such as could it be a serial killer...

Today I met with Ferns son Alan, he explained how a simple thing like waking his father from a nap would trigger almost a panic from Fern, who would jump up ready for a fight. But not until Fern was 80 years old did he start to open up about his war years. Fortunately, Fern Frechette did live beyond eighty and his family and us as readers, know the real difficulties and sacrifices made by veterans like Frechette. Excerpt from " My Father's War: Memories from Our Honored WWII Soldiers ." Feature Veteran story from Fernand Frechette Frechette, of course being the only French speaking soldier, had been told a secret by the little girl. “The barn behind them had German soldiers in it!” There were only the three of them at this time together—the Captain, Sergeant and Corporal Frechette—and they were pretty concerned about this situation unfolding. The Captain had a couple grenades and a sidearm pistol, the First Sergeant had a carbine rifle and Frechette had a sub m...

When I was diagnosed with cancer my hashtag was #ToFightStrong.  So how do you fight strong?  Last summer I was invited to take part in the Lifeway Women’s Ministry summer bible study on their website. This study was Priscilla Shirer’s Armor of God.   It focuses on the Ephesians 6:10-20 describe the armor of God. “10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[d] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes,...

Today we will visit The Fifth Avenue Artist Society by Joy Callaway.  It is her debut novel.  I had the honor of meeting Joy back in October.  Her novel reminded me of such novels like The Paris Wife by Paula McLain and Z by Therese Anne Fowler.   So I loved the premise for this novel.  Synopsis:  Virginia Loftin is anticipating a proposal from her friend Charlie.  e.  So what happens when he doesn’t propose to her?  She shuts herself in her room and starts to write.  Her family has concern for her well being. Her brother Franklin tells her to stop mopping and come to this meeting of artists at a friend’s house.  These artists also include writers, musicians, and others.  Virginia soon finds two other writers to work with.  Will her writing flourish under their tutelage?  Will this other John Hopper persue a relationship?  One night at the society a death occurs. What happens when it   implicat...

This time of year, most of us are thinking about family—whether we’re excited to be together for the holidays, dreading it…or maybe a little of both. I spend a lot of time thinking—and writing—about family. It’s such a rich emotional mix of the deepest, most primal kind of love and attachment and the sort of five-star frustration and nerve-plucking that only those who’ve known us all our lives can really excel at. Despite the title of my Breakup Doctor series, the stories are, at the heart, very much about family. Breakup Doctor Brook Ogden helps her brokenhearted clients through the end of their rocky, difficult relationships—but her own are far from perfect, as she’s struggled across four books in love, with friendships, and of course, with her mom. Brook and her mother have always had a complicated, often prickly relationship, the way we often do with those who are most like us. In Out of Practice , the fourth and final title of the series that released this fall, her...

Who Do YouLove is the most recent novel by @JenniferWeiner . She has more recently published her memoir and a children’s book.  Have you ever had friends that just stick with you through thick and thin?  Rachel and Andy’s story is just that.  A great read for over the holidays! Synopsis: Rachel was born with a congenital heart problem which keeps her in and out of the hospital.  One night in the hospital she makes her way to the emergency room and meets Andy.  He is there for a broken arm that occurred while on vacation.   They enjoy one another’s  company.   They both grow up in different places but are reunited on a mission’s trip to Atlanta.  Once there a passion grows but will it be enough to unit their differences?  Rachel becomes a social worker and Andy becomes a famous track star.  Will fate end up bringing them together again? My Thoughts: I liked the story.  It was not a favorite like ...