Welcome to the first of the author updates this week.. More talented writers with recent reviews.
The first author today is non-fiction author D.G. Kaye with a recent review for her memoir P.S. I Forgive You: A Broken Legacy. Debby is here in both capacities today as an author and a reviewer
About the book
“I hurt for her. She wasn’t much of a mother, but she was still my mother.”
Confronted with resurfacing feelings of guilt, D.G. Kaye is tormented by her decision to remain estranged from her dying emotionally abusive mother after resolving to banish her years ago, an event she has shared in her book Conflicted Hearts. In P.S. I Forgive You, Kaye takes us on a compelling heartfelt journey as she seeks to understand the roots of her mother’s narcissism, let go of past hurts, and find forgiveness for both her mother and herself.
After struggling for decades to break free, Kaye has severed the unhealthy ties that bound her to her dominating mother—but now Kaye battles new confliction, as the guilt she harbors over her decision only increases as the end of her mother’s life draws near. Kaye once again struggles with her conscience and her feelings of being obligated to return to a painful past she thought she left behind.
One of the recent reviews for P.S. I Forgive You on Goodreads
My month of memoirs continues with an autobiography by D. G. Kaye — ‘P.S. I Forgive You: A Broken Legacy.’ Although not quite a series, this is the second book by the author as she explores the impact of a narcissistic mother on her daily life. I read this before bed last night, and all I can say is that some people are dealt a very unfair hand in life. That said, it’s amazing to see how wonderful Kaye is handling all that she went through in the last ~50 years. What a great (but painful) read!
Imagine growing up with a mother who seems to intentionally cause pain for her children. The oldest of four, Kaye spent years letting the woman treat her horribly. In this introspective and emotional autobiography, we learn how and why she tolerated it. The memoir kicks off by letting readers know that the author’s mother has passed away, and this is the story of how she handled the decision whether to be there when the woman crossed over. Sick for many years, touch and go at times, it seems like every possible painful opportunity was taken to cause trouble for this family. It was heartbreaking not just because of what they went through but because you really want this to turn out to be a positive story.
In some ways, it does turn out that way… in death, you are often released from the troubles of the past. Not quickly. Not immediately. Not entirely. Kaye suffers to this day because of the trauma she went through. Emotional pain can be far worse and impacting that physical pain. Seeing how the author connects with her siblings and her aunt helps provide a sense of love and hope for her future. Kaye has a phenomenal way of sharing her past with readers… we feel as if we are there, but one thing is for sure — we were not. That… is fantastic writing.
There is a cathartic honesty in her writing style as well as how she processes the events of her life. On the outskirts, it might seem simple: (A) She’s your mother, you should stay and respect her, or (B) She’s been evil and nasty, you need to run away and forget her. Nope… Kaye fully provides the wide spectrum of all the scenarios that ran through her head, some positive and some not-so-positive. How do you make such a decision? Only a strong person can thoroughly see through the minutia to determine what’s best for both the victim and the victimizer (I might’ve made that word up).
If I could reach through a book to hug someone, this would be the prime one for it to happen. I’ve felt these emotions tons of times before when an author creates a character who suffers… but when a real-life woman shares the truth and the pain she’s gone through, it’s a whole different ball game. If you have a high threshold for reading about someone’s emotional suffering, I suggest you take this book on… it might give you the perspective you need to help others.
Read the reviews and buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LWOYPRP
and on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/P-S-Forgive-You-Broken-Legacy-ebook/dp/B01LWOYPRP
Books by D.G. Kaye
Read all the reviews and buy the books: http://www.amazon.com/author/dgkaye7
and Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/D.G.-Kaye/e/B00HE028FO
More reviews and follow Debby on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/dgkaye
Connect to Debby via her blog: http://www.dgkayewriter.com
Now for a recent review for the recently released thriller from Toni Pike…..Desolation Bluff
About the book
Blind romance author Oliver Cameron uses the pen name of Fidel Amore and thinks he has the perfect life at his country estate near Desolation Bluff. After a honeymoon in Paris, his wife Vanessa continues her work as his assistant. His friend Ray is the business manager who lives in the gatehouse and also acts as the public face of Fidel Amore, doing all those book-signing trips that Oliver never wanted to attend. Helen Dunkley is the housekeeper devoted to him since childhood – but she detests the two newcomers.
Complications set in when Ray, working on his old car, accidentally backs into Oliver. His injuries appear minor but the next day he suddenly regains his sight. Oliver wants Ray and Rachel to be the first to hear his good news, but when he finds them he uncovers a shocking betrayal.
A game of cat and mouse begins – and with the arrival of a mysterious stranger, it turns deadly. A short suspense novel that will keep you guessing right to the very end.
One of the recent reviews for the book
Desolation Bluff was a pleasure to read. Blind writer, Oliver, who writes under the pen name of Fidel Amore, is a workaholic who has his newlywed wife, Vanessa looking after Oliver’s administrative and public relations side of his novels. Oliver’s best friend – Ray, impersonates Oliver by doing all the physical PR work, showing up to book signings, etc, pretending to be Oliver, allowing Oliver his freedom to write without having to go anywhere to promote his work. What could possibly go wrong?
Blind at birth, Oliver is unaware of the shenanigans going on between his wife and his best friend until the plot thickens and Ray accidentally backs into Oliver on the driveway and knocks him down. One of the side effects from this was Oliver’s vision was miraculously restored – and this is when the story really heats up.
Oliver makes a decision to keep his newly restored sight a secret when he realizes that his wife and Ray have become much ‘closer’ than he was aware of. And so the games begin! – Somebody is murdered, and then another somebody is murdered, and Oliver realizes that he may be next in line!
This book was a thoroughly enjoyable read with interesting characters and great plot twist to keep me hooked all the way through to a most satisfying ending! #Recommended.
Read the reviews and buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RCDRF86
And on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Desolation-Bluff-Toni-Pike-ebook/dp/B07RCDRF86
Also by Toni Pike
Read the reviews and buy the books: https://www.amazon.com/Toni-Pike/e/B009I70E8Y
And Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toni-Pike/e/B009I70E8Y
Read more reviews on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14736589.Toni_Pike
Connect to Toni Pike via her website: www.tonipike.com
The next author with a recent review is Sarah Brentyn for her Flash Fiction collection On the Edge of a Raindrop
About the collection
When You’re on the Edge, It’s Easy to Fall These are stories of lives on the edge.
A girl tortured by the world within her. A boy powerless to escape his home. A mother doomed to live with her greatest mistake. A man lost in a maze of grief.
Each raindrop provides a microscopic mirror of ourselves and those around us. But we can’t always trust what we see. The distorted images disorient the mind, altering our view of reality.
This second collection of flash and micro fiction explores the depths of the human condition and the fragile surface of our perceptions.
Dive into these tales of darkness and discover what life is like On the Edge of a Raindrop
Each selection is approximately 100 words, with a bonus section of Microbursts in which each story is told in 50 words or less.
One of the recent reviews for the collection.
Flash fiction is a curious beast to tame but Sarah Brentyn feels beyond comfortable making 6 lines leave you thinking, “What the hell happened?” Much like “Hinting at Shadows”, this collection would be something I would recommend to anyone who is facing writer’s block. Try to imagine micro stories so intense that they would make an amazing prompt for a long story or even a novel, that’s what she does so well and so consistently.
I will admit that some pieces hover near the waters of poetry, but Brentyn often pulls the reign to bring it back into the realm of prose. Page after page of inspiration await anyone who picks either of her collections and she proves once again that impact and word count are not correlated.
Read the reviews and buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Raindrop-Sarah-Brentyn-ebook/dp/B077QM32S7
and on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edge-Raindrop-Sarah-Brentyn-ebook/dp/B077QM32S7
Also by Sarah Brentyn
Read the reviews and buy the Collections: https://www.amazon.com/Sarah-Brentyn/e/B01N410987
And on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sarah-Brentyn/e/B01N410987
Read other reviews and follow Sarah on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32998449-hinting-at-shadows
Connect to Sarah via her blog: https://sarahbrentyn.wordpress.com/
And last but not least a recent review for the anthology Understanding that was compiled by Stevie Turner and featured stories of real life events by 19 writers.
About the anthology
The following authors and bloggers answered questions posed by Stevie Turner regarding significant life experiences they had undergone. These events include sexual abuse, a near death experience, alcoholism, being diagnosed with cancer, depression, losing weight, getting married, being a mother to many children, being the daughter of a narcissistic mother, and many more!
The contributors to the anthology.
Alienora Browning – Sally Cronin – Dorinda Duclos – Scarlett Flame
Bernard Foong – Darlene Foster – Janet Gogerty – Debbie Harris
Lucy V. Hay – Miriam Hurdle – Phil Huston – Pamela Jessen
Joe – D.G Kaye – Lynda McKinney Lambert – Jaye Marie
Clive Pilcher – Abbie Johnson Taylor – Beem Weeks
One of the recent reviews for the anthology
I’ve delved into this book as if reading/listening to the lives of good friends who have gone through traumatic times, and come out of them with insight and wonder to write about them. Each ‘chapter’ of questions and answers is a story itself. And each discusses a part of life that gives pain and strength, fear and ultimately, even joy. Some stories grabbed me more than others; for me, the ones about struggling with weight issues, cancer, parental abuse, care giving, and depression lifted me with the courage that these writers show in writing honestly about their struggles, and their path to joy.
All proceeds will be donated to Cancer Research:
Read the reviews and buy the anthology for only 99c: https://www.amazon.com/UNDERSTANDING-Anthology-True-Significant-Events-ebook/dp/B07Q5NLHRZ
And on Amazon UK for 99p: https://www.amazon.co.uk/UNDERSTANDING-Anthology-True-Significant-Events-ebook/dp/B07Q5NLHRZ
Editor and publisher of the anthology Stevie Turner who also contributed an article on Thyroid Cancer.
Connect to Stevie via her blog: https://steviet3.wordpress.com/
Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books under your arm… thanks Sally.
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