Month: March 2023

Sweet Comfort @kimberlyfish @LoneStarLit #NewRelease #Giveaway

Published on by Jan Sikes17 Comments
SWEET COMFORT
Comfort and Joy Trilogy, #1
by
KIMBERLY FISH
 
Women’s Fiction / Later-In-Life Romance
Second-Chance Romance / Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Fish Tales
Page Count: 359 pages
Publication Date: January 21, 2023
 
Scroll down for a giveaway!
Welcome to the hometown everyone wants to call their own.
 
Gloria Bachman, a retired bank executive, has eight weeks to flip a location on Comfort’s High Street into a boutique chocolate shop. Defying expectations for “women of a certain age,” Gloria rediscovers talents and a sharpening of skills. If only she could read people as well as she does a spreadsheet. Even with the renovation in good hands, the subsequent struggle to name the shop brings Gloria and her business partner into conflict with a shady citizen. While Gloria is capable of remaining in her retirement rut while opening a business, two competing social groups try to lure her into their networks, causing Gloria to wonder if she ever knew Comfort at all. A murder rocks the community and revives investigative instincts honed by years in the banking industry.
 
Mason Lassiter, a disgraced CEO, has his own dramas to escape and the offbeat town seems the perfect place to recover his self-esteem. What was to be a quick reversal of fortunes becomes a quest to right a deeply felt injustice. Fascinated by the women driving the energy of Comfort, he extends his stay to find out why the small town is the backdrop to their best tales. Tangling with his neighbor Gloria becomes his favorite pastime and the key to unlocking the mystery of his past—if he can convince her to trust him.
 
Chocolate and joy become the glue bringing an unlikely cast together, which just might change Gloria’s and Mason’s course for the better. With characters familiar from previous Comfort novels and introducing fresh names, Sweet Comfort will entertain those who like their stories seasoned with coziness and sweet, second chances.

Kimberly Fish has been a professional writer in marketing and media for over thirty years, with regular contributions to area newspapers and magazines. As an accidental historian, she wrote two novels, The Big Inch and Harmon General, both based on factual events in Longview, Texas that changed world history. Kimberly also offers a set of contemporary women’s fiction novels and novellas, based in the Texas Hill Country, that reveal her fascination with characters discovering their grit and sweet, second chances; all four of the novels have won distinguished awards. Sweet Comfort is her latest novel, the first book in the Comfort and Joy Trilogy.

#MondayMotivation – #Meditation – #TarotReading – #AngelOracleCard

Published on by Jan Sikes39 Comments

Welcome to the last week in March! The first quarter of 2023 has already zipped past. I found this quote to be quite profound.

I love the positive affirmations in this guided meditation!

Interesting card pull today.

Photo by Jan Sikes

My first thought when looking at the Eight of Swords is feeling trapped or that you are a victim of circumstance. Or it could be you are feeling stuck in your past. This could be either an internal or external conflict. The message in this card is to quit naming excuses for not moving forward, Release the fear that is keeping you from making a change in your circumstances. Perhaps you are stuck in a job you hate, or your current money mindset is scarcity based. Whatever the situation, always remember you are not alone. You have the power to release the bindings and remove the blindfold, trusting in your intuition and Angelic team.

The Temperance card is all about balance, but I also see it as an indicator of patience. Timing is a factor in your financial life right now, so ask for messages and divine assistance to create abundance and opportunities. You are also advised to be flexible and take a moderate approach, trusting that the results you want will take time. Have patience as the universe goes to work to bring your desires into the physical realm.

The Wheel Of Fortune is a reminder that each moment is temporary and that life is cyclical, not linear. I always think of the Willie Nelson song “Phases and Stages” when I see this card. The card advises you to cultivate a strong spiritual practice as this can ease negative moments and help us enjoy the positive. The message is to focus on what you can control and let go of anything you cannot control.

MY TAKEAWAY:

The Eight of Swords fits my recent debacle with Facebook. My author page got hacked, and someone ran Facebook ads under my account, so I was feeling very much like a victim. However, as always, it is up to us to take control and fix whatever we can. I finally was able to talk to a person yesterday, and it looks like it will be resolved and the unauthorized charges reimbursed. I just had to step out of the victim role, drop the money scarcity mindset, and take action. In the meantime, once you step out of that role, patience and balance are a must while the wheels keep on turning. The one constant in life is change. Once we understand that, we can get through the difficult times with more ease.

This is such a beautiful Angel message.

Beloved One. Archangel Chamuel: "I am helping you with your spiritual soulmate relationship."

I hope you have a great week ahead. I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s message.

Identity – #NewRelease #NoraRoberts @StMartinsPress @NetGalley

Published on by Jan Sikes18 Comments

I received an early copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are expressly my own.

Pre-order Link

BLURB:

Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan’s job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party—attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who’d been chatting her up at the bar—her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor.

Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. “Luke” is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder.

What the FBI tells Morgan is beyond chilling. Nina wasn’t his type. Morgan is. Nina was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Morgan’s nightmare is just beginning. Soon she has no choice but to flee to her mother’s home in Vermont. While she struggles to build something new, she meets another man, Miles Jameson. He isn’t flashy or flirtatious, and his family business has deep roots in town. But Gavin is still out there hunting new victims, and he hasn’t forgotten the one who got away.

MY REVIEW:

This book is SO good! Once I got started with it, I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what happened next, then next, and so on. You get the idea.


Morgan Albright was an army brat. As an adult, all she wanted was roots somewhere, anywhere. So, she settled in Maryland, saved, worked two jobs, bought a small house, and put down those roots. Then Luke Hudson happened—handsome, charming, a great conversationalist, and charismatic until he wasn’t. What he leaves behind in his wake all but destroys Morgan.

When FBI agents pay her a visit, she finally understands who and what Luke Hudson is and how lucky she is to be alive. Her best friend and housemate, Nina, is dead, and Morgan’s identity is stolen along with her car, house, and everything else she values. With her confidence destroyed, she knows only one place to go—home to the only stable place she ever knew, her grandmother’s house in Vermont.


As this story unfolds and Morgan gathers the strength to try and move forward, I found myself being proud of each tiny step she takes. Rekindling a beautiful relationship with her mother and grandmother, then landing a job at a classy resort, finally letting go of Nina’s rattletrap car, and rebuilding a life from the rubble takes guts and determination. Then she goes a step further and even allows handsome Miles Jameson into her life.

She’s Hudson’s only surviving victim. His real name is Gavin Rozwell, and he is a psychopathic serial killer leaving a string of victims behind him. To deepen his depravity, his first kill was his mother. Now, Morgan’s survived and eluded him. He has to fix that.


This book is a fast-paced page-turner. Morgan is smart, she is beautiful, and she’s gifted, not only in mixology but in people skills. Her job at the resort leads to life-changing events. But Rozwell isn’t giving up. He blames her for his failures, and that must be fixed. From the beginning page to the climactic ending, I was hooked! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story with tons of suspense, tension, and a dash of romance. This might be Roberts’ best-to-date!

This book is set to release May 23rd.

Friday Free-For-All! #Music #Self-Care

Published on by Jan Sikes31 Comments

Happy Friday. Is it me, or has this been a long week?

Even though this was the first week of spring, the temperatures here were cold, and it didn’t feel much like spring. However, today is warm, so maybe we’re done with the cold weather. My mom always used to say there would be an Easter spell. Guess we’ll see. I remember in 2007, when I lived in Coleman, it snowed on April 7th. Everything had already started budding out.

Coleman, Texas April 7, 2007

I spent the first part of this week taking care of my granddaughters while my daughter and son-in-law were out of town. I came home Tuesday evening exhausted. Don’t get me wrong. I love being with the kiddos. But they sure do take a lot of energy.

Remembering my tarot reading for the week, I embraced The Hermit card and took Wednesday as a self-care day. And it paid off. I’ve been productive and had energy since then. It’s so hard to take that kind of downtime. It makes me feel like a selfish person. Yet, sometimes it’s necessary.

Have you ever heard of a site called Storyworth? Around Christmas, my daughters purchased a year of access to Storyworth for me. They choose questions they want me to write about and share photos about. An example is a question they posed this week: “Which musician or band have you liked seeing live the most?”

That one was hard for me to answer, as live music is such an integral part of my life. But I recalled one concert in Shreveport, La, in 1982 that still to this day was hands-down the best concert ever. Charlie Daniels was doing his Window tour at that time. I still have the t-shirt. 🙂

As part of the tour, there was a jumbotron that ran raw footage from the VietNam war while Charlie performed the songs. It was so touching, plus an overall phenomenal production. I’ve never forgotten it. Of course, there is a list as long as my leg of musicians and bands that I have come to know and love, but that concert stands out above all the rest as far as the best show I ever saw.

Anyway, back to Storyworth – at the end of the year, all the questions, my answers, and photos I’ve scanned in will be compiled into a hardback book. It is a great way to preserve family memories, share secrets, and perhaps a bit of wisdom along the way. It’s a pretty awesome opportunity.

I am between reading books right now and concentrating on my current WIP. If I stay focused, I hope to have the first draft finished within the next 7 days. That’s my goal. So, I’m thrilled with the progress and the inspiration!

But I have some intriguing books lined up and waiting for me to indulge in. Sometimes I have a hard time choosing what to read next, but I have two NetGalley books that I am required to read and review, so those will be next. One is a Nora Roberts book. I haven’t read one of her books in years.

From the Story Empire group, Author John Howell was on a podcast Wednesday evening with the Fresh Ink Group, and it was a super entertaining interview! If you’d like to hear the replay, here is the LINK.

Also, if you missed my last Story Empire post, I wrote about ways to incorporate Tarot cards into fiction writing. Here’s the link to that post: https://storyempire.com/2023/03/17/metaphysical-elements-in-writing-tarot-cards-oracle-cards/

There will be no Friday Free-For-All next week as I will be working the first music festival of the season!

Outlaws and Legends takes place in Abilene, Texas, and is a festival I have been working for the past 8 years. While it’s exhausting, it’s also exhilarating, and I intend to keep doing it as long as my body holds out. The rewards? I work the VIP and Artist gate, so get to greet all the artists when they come into the festival grounds. It’s always wonderful to see old friends and get hugs. This picture was an epic moment for me when I got to meet Kris Kristofferson and issue him an armband.

Jan Sikes and Kris Kristofferson, March, 2019, Abilene, Texas

This year, Willie Nelson is headlining Saturday night. I know there will be a huge turnout. The festival started out small, but every year it grows by leaps and bounds. It’s a highlight of my year.

Maybe I’ll come back with more photos. Who knows? I’ll be there for whatever occurs. 🙂

I hope everyone has had a positive week. I ask that you keep my sister in your thoughts and prayers as she underwent surgery yesterday to remove a kidney.

Take good care, remember to smile, and take a deep breath now and then.

Murder’s Legacy (A Tori Winters Mystery Book 2) @anita_dickason @LoneStarLit

Published on by Jan Sikes53 Comments

I am thrilled to bring to you the second book in the Tori Winters Mystery Series! Take a look!

MURDER’S LEGACY
A Tori Winters Mystery, Book 2
by
Anita Dickason
Mystery / Amateur Sleuth / Women Sleuths
Publisher: Mystic Circle Books
Date of Publication: February 17, 2023
Number of Pages: 378 pages 
Scroll down for Giveaway!
Secrets that defy time!
An inconceivable disaster brings Tori Winters’ plans for the historic house she inherited to a traumatic standstill. A section of the escape tunnel built by her great-grandfather, a notorious Dallas gangster, has collapsed. Within the rubble, there is a gruesome discovery. A skeleton with a bullet hole in the skull.
The shocking cave-in triggers an ominous scheme to condemn her property as accusations arise that the tunnel is dangerous.
Embattled, Tori soon discovers that more than the destruction of the house is on the line. It seems she can’t escape the past. It keeps clawing its way into her life with deadly consequences.
Who hides in the shadows with a motive for murder? And … is Tori the target?
Award-winning Author Anita Dickason is a twenty-two-year veteran of the Dallas Police Department. She served as a patrol officer, undercover narcotics detective, advanced accident investigator, tactical officer, and first female sniper on the Dallas SWAT team.
Anita writes about what she knows, cops and crime. Her police background provides an unending source of inspiration for her plots and characters. Many incidents and characters portrayed in her books are based on personal experience. For her, the characters are the fun part of writing as she never knows where they will take her. There is always something out of the ordinary in her stories.
In Anita’s debut novel, Sentinels of the Night, she created an elite FBI Unit, the Trackers. Since then, she has added three more Tracker crime thrillers, Going Gone!, A u 7 9, and Operation Navajo, which are not a series and can be read in any order, and Deadly Business, a crime thriller.
As a Texas author, many of Anita’s books are based in Texas, or there is a link to Texas. When she stepped outside of the Tracker novels and wrote Not Dead and the Tori Winters Mysteries series, she set them in the small Texas communities of Meridian and Granbury, respectively.
◆ WEBSITE ◆ FACEBOOK ◆ TWITTER ◆ AMAZON ◆
◆ PINTEREST ◆ LINKEDIN ◆ GOODREADS ◆
AUTHOR YOUTUBE CHANNELS:
————————————–
GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
THREE WINNERS:
eBook copy of Deadly Keepsakes, Tori Winters Mystery #1
+ tote bag & personalized coffee mug
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 3/24/23)

#MondayMotivation – #Meditation – #TarotReading #AngelOracleCard

Published on by Jan Sikes41 Comments

Welcome to another Monday post that I hope will leave you inspired and ready to face the week. I can SO relate to this quote from Einstein.

Courtesy Canva

This is a great meditation that left me feeling grounded and centered.

The tarot cards are a little more positive than what we got last week. I was glad to see them.

Photo by Jan Sikes

The Eight of Wands is in the “what you need to know” position. There is an element of spontaneity in this card that gets you excited for an event that’s on the verge of happening. It could involve travel or a new person coming into your life. Events move quickly, and everything falls into place without you needing to push for a particular outcome. Life is moving you very quickly toward your personal goals, so go with the flow, and you’ll have the energy you need to take on whatever life has to offer. Relax and ride the wave of excitement. (I don’t know about you, but for me, this is a welcome card!)

The first thing I think of when I see the Two of Pentacles is a balancing act. It sits in the “new perspective” position and I think that’s significant. Balancing your obligations and your schedule can be tricky. This card is inviting you to find a flow and not allow your emotions to knock you off balance. Anytime you strive to take your life to the next level, your routine and comfort zone will momentarily be disrupted. This is a normal part of expansion and growth. Take a moderate approach. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Only take on what you can handle and reach out for help when you feel overwhelmed.

To find The Hermit card sitting in the “action to take” position is an oxymoron. 🙂 This card encourages stillness and going within. It also encourages alone time. Listen to your inner wisdom by spending time in solitude. It is a necessary and healthy practice that will rejuvenate you. When it’s time to be with others again, you will your energy restored.

MY TAKEAWAY:

Something exciting is on the verge of happening. I can feel it. For me, it could be the upcoming first music festival of the year. I’ve been struggling a bit this past week, so love the prospect of excitement. I also love that it indicates plenty of energy to take on whatever is coming. Then in the process of everyday life, a juggling act seems to be a continuous necessity. I like the advice to only do what you can handle. I tend to take on more than I can possibly do. Then, the idea of spending some alone time seems warranted with the action cards preceding it. It’s always healthy to have a bit of downtime now and again.

As always, I really love the Angel Oracle card this week.

That’s it. I hope you have a good week ahead and find ways to take back your power!

Friday Free-For-All – Library visit – CactusTown, Tx – Family – Facebook

Published on by Jan Sikes41 Comments

Happy Friday! Wow, this has been one heck of a week.

As you know, I missed posting last Friday due to a scheduled appearance at the Bandera, Texas Library. It was a six-hour drive from where I live, so it made for a long day.

The turnout wasn’t great, but everyone who came left with a book or two, so at least it wasn’t a bust.

Then, after the event ended, I ate at the historic O.S.T. (Old Spanish Trail) restaurant and visited the 11th Street Cowboy Bar, which was recently purchased by a good friend. It made for a fun night. If you are ever in Bandera, I recommend stopping at both places!

My destination the next day was Lubbock to spend time with my sister, who is having some health issues. But on the way, I stopped at Cactus Town, Texas, to visit with another good friend, Cactus Mike. I know I’ve mentioned him and Cactus Town before on my blog. His place is just outside San Angelo, Texas, and is AMAZING! I hadn’t seen it in several years and was blown away by how he has expanded and grown. I came home with three new stones from Cactus Town.

The tall one in the back is a Selenite Tower, then to the right is a piece of Azurite. In front is a Stalactic Goethite. The picture does not do this piece justice. It literally looks like a fairy fantasy village on an island and is said to help writers with writer’s block and to help heal emotions and stay grounded. It now sits next to my computer. Seriously, if you are ever anywhere around San Angelo, Cactus Town is a must-see place!

From there, I went on to Lubbock. My sister had surgery on Monday, the 6th, and the findings were not good. She will undergo another surgery on March 23rd. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I am so glad I could be there for a few days. It’s a visit I’ll always treasure. We watched the Netflix series, “Women at War,” and it is a really good story. I highly recommend it.

I got home late on Thursday the 16th and have been playing catch-up since. I know I’ve missed a lot of your blogs.

On the reading front, I just finished Gwen Plano’s new book, “Redemption: A Father’s Fatal Decision” and highly recommend it. It’s a mystery and thriller but also incorporates family dynamics in a way that only Gwen can do. My review is coming soon.

There is absolutely nothing to report on the writing front. I haven’t opened my WIP in over a week. I’m hoping to get back to it soon. I’m chomping at the bits to finish it.

On Tuesday of this week, I woke up to the lovely message that I’d been locked out of Facebook. I was prompted to upload a photo ID, which I did, only to immediately receive a message that I’d submitted too many times. What? I guess once was too much. So, I waited a while before trying again. This time, I received a message that I was too young to be on Facebook. What???? By now, I was getting frustrated. I texted a good friend, and she decided to see what she could do. It took a good bit of time, but she was finally able to get me back in. Craziness!

Tomorrow, I will be at Patchouli Joe’s Book Store in Denton for a book fair. Don’t you just love the name of the store? I will have to wear Patchouli. 🙂 I am hoping for a good turnout.

That’s it from me for now. I hope you have a fantastic weekend! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Image by Nyoman Suartawan from Pixabay

The Art of Love and Murder #NewRelease @brendawhitsid2

Published on by Jan Sikes33 Comments

I am happy to host author Brenda Whiteside today so she can tell you about her new book, which is part of a four-book series. I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s on my TBR list. I love this cover!

PURCHASE LINK

Thank you, Jan, for inviting me to share my new book with your followers. I am deeply grateful.

TURNING BITS OF MY LIFE INTO FICTION

Wild Horse Peaks is a four-book romantic suspense series set in Arizona, my home state, with the sequel set in Austria, a country I loved visiting. The characters in each book are either related or friends. The stories follow twisty paths of danger and suspense: a search to learn about birth parents who died…or were murdered, a mystery writer stalked by someone acting out her murder scenes, a politically driven madman chasing the last member of a family, her rockstar boyfriend, and a good old western land grab turned nasty. The sequel is an Austrian fairytale turned nightmare. And in the midst of all the mayhem—love

Each book holds a piece of my life. I think authors often weave in facets of themselves into their stories. The Art of Love and Murder has a Native American thread (I’m proud of my Indian blood) and a tie to the art community (my first idea for a career and why I went to college). In the second book, Southwest of Love and Murder, the heroine is a lusty, free-spirited author (my alter-ego). The hero in The Power of Love and Murder is a rocker and just might resemble my son years back, while one of the hero’s exploits is taken from the pages of my brother’s life. In the fourth book of the series, The Deep Well of Love and Murder, the only tie to the real me is the dog, Perro. He looks like my beloved Rusty, who died a few years ago.

Although the books are all connected, you can read them as standalones.

The Art of Love and Murder, Wild Horse Peaks book 1

A woman searching for her past. A sheriff hiding in his present. Their future together threatened by murder.

Forty-three years after the airplane crash she survived killed her parents, Lacy Dahl is looking for answers. When her research uncovers secrets about the mother she never knew and disputes the identity of her father, someone is willing to murder to keep her discoveries hidden.

Sheriff Chance Meadowlark is still haunted by the death of his wife and the revenge he unleashed in the name of justice. When he meets Lacy, he is determined not to become involved, but their pasts make that impossible. Saving Lacy may be his only redemption.

Just as she begins to believe the present is more important than her past, Chance’s connection and a murder spin her deeper into danger and further from love. When the truth is revealed, will the revelations free Lacy and Chance…or destroy them?

Series Buy Link

The Art of Love and Murder Book Links:

Goodreads

BookBub

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brenda Whiteside is the award-winning author of romantic suspense, cozy mystery, and romance. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have settled in Central Arizona. They admit to being gypsies at heart so won’t discount the possibility of another move. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW fishes, Brenda writes.

Visit Brenda:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

She blogs and has guests: https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Page

BookBub

Instagram

Join her Newsletter Group here

Redemption: A Father’s Fatal Decision #NewRelease @gmplano

Published on by Jan Sikes69 Comments

It is an honor and privilege to feature the newest release from Gwen Plano. I have known Gwen for many years, and not only is she a talented writer, but she is also a kind and generous soul. Take a look at her new thriller!

PURCHASE LINK

Thank you, Jan, for inviting me to your site today. It’s a pleasure to visit your readers and share a bit about my new release. I look forward to doing the same for you.

Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision is a mystery thriller that takes place in the Southeast corner of New York state, in and around the city of New Rochelle. Having spent about twenty years in that general area, it was exciting to visit as a writer.

The book tackles themes of forgiveness and redemption through suspense. We accompany the son and daughter of the deceased as they try to uncover the reason for their father’s murder. What they discover prompts them to ask if they even knew him.

Sometimes complicated situations help us see our own challenges in a different light. That is my hope for this book. Most of us won’t experience threats like those of my characters, but pain is universal, as is joy. Seeing either in the extreme helps us recognize our own—and severe or elated, those emotions are impactful.  

In this excerpt, Lisa and Trace Holmes drive to the cemetery where their father and baby brother are interred. Trace has a letter he wants Lisa to read.

EXCERPT:

“There’s something I need to do. Will you come with me?”

She looks at her brother’s bloodshot eyes and nods. “Wherever it is, I’m with you. Here, you take the keys and lead the way.”

The siblings swap places. Trace starts the car and pulls out of the parking lot. He drives east and, fifteen minutes later, pulls onto the cemetery’s lane. “Where’s Robbie’s plot? Do you know?”

“Beside Dad’s. Take the next turn.” Lisa points. “You’ll see it. An angel sits on the headstone.”

Trace pulls over and, together, they walk to the grave, where they read the inscription on the stone:

Our beloved angel, Robbie, now plays happily in heaven.

Trace reaches into his pocket, takes out a crumpled envelope, and hands it to Lisa. “Mom and I have seen this already. It’s time you read it as well.”

Lisa straightens the hand-written message and studies her father’s confession. Her face contorts when she focuses on one line in particular, and the next until, finally, she bends over and gasps in anguish. Trace holds her close, and they weep.

“We knew it, didn’t we?” Lisa wipes her eyes and cheeks. “We knew it. But knowing it for certain … well … that’s devastating.”

Lisa scrubs at her chin. “I’ve never felt so exhausted. Every cell in my body begs for reprieve. Layers of sadness weigh down my soul, Trace, and I wonder if I’ll ever laugh again.”

“You will. Ryan will fill that emptiness, and with time, these memories will fade.”

BLURB

Family secrets can be deadly. When Lisa Holmes visits her parents one fateful Saturday morning, she hugs her father and walks to her childhood bedroom. The doorbell rings. Her father opens the door, and one minute later, he lies dead on the floor—three bullets to the chest.

The Holmes family lives on a quiet street, but no one really knows Eric Holmes. He travels for business and comes home a few days each month. Unbeknown to all, Eric has multiple lives.

In this fast-paced psychological thriller, Lisa and her brother, Trace, embark on a quest to solve the mystery involving the murder of their father. The journey takes them into a secret world where nothing is as it seems. As the puzzle pieces begin to coalesce, they discover the meaning of Redemption. 

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3RebK0W

Amazon Purchase Page: https://amzn.to/3XKiLJn

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/3FkQD8z

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gwen Plano

CONTACT INFORMATION:

BookBub: http://bit.ly/3Y26EI5

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3XIe6Yu

Story Empire: https://storyempire.com/gwen-m-plano

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gmplano

Blog: www.gwenplano.com/blog-reflections

I will be sharing my review of this new book later in the month. But I can tell you it is a really good read, and I highly recommend it! In the meantime, here are the rest of Gwen’s books.

#MondayMotivation – #Meditation #TarotReading #AngelOracleCard

Published on by Jan Sikes38 Comments

I’m happy to be back with a Monday post. I hope you enjoy.

Isn’t that so true? I found this meditation to be uplifting and empowering!

I drew some interesting cards today. We’ll see what story they tell.

Photo by Jan Sikes

I have often said the only card in the entire tarot deck I fear is The Tower. And here we have it. So, I’m going to try to take a positive spin on it.

It sits in the “what you need to know” position. The Tower signals sudden changes that are beyond your control. It sweeps you out of your comfort zone, and while it can be scary and upsetting, it is in that moment you experience growth and expansion. The message the card offers is that you must persevere since the aspects of your life that are being torn down are no longer serving you. There is a new way of thinking and being that wants to break through. But breaking down old structures makes space for a new way of being in the world. Change is possible.

In the “new perspective” position, we have the Five of Swords. It basically indicates some conflict, whether it be external or internal. This card cautions against hurting others. It is heavy with emotion from both the triumphant and the defeated. The warning here is to understand what your triggers are that can escalate conflict and choose to react differently. After all, it’s always a choice. It’s best to know when to run and when to walk away, or on the other hand, when to stay and fight for what you believe.

In the “action to take” position, the Ten of Wands is pretty straightforward. It is all about taking on too much responsibility or a load that is too heavy. It signals being completely overwhelmed by taking on too many tasks. The warning here is to be aware of this and take action to change it. Living at this level of heavy stress takes its toll on the mind, body, and spirit. Learning to ask for help or delegating is the solution to look for when you find yourself in this situation.

MY TAKEAWAY:

There are times when the old must crumble and while it can be unpleasant, it is also a time of great growth and expansion as we make way for the new. If you find yourself in a conflict over new ideas or ways of living your life, take a minute to really examine if it’s worth fighting over. Then be prepared to take on new responsibilities and heavier workload as you move forward into the new and better you!

I LOVE this Angel Oracle Card. It makes me think of spring cleaning, and it is nudging me to get my taxes done. 🙂

That’s it. I hope you have a great week ahead!