“Never give up. If you love what you do, never give up.” – Author, India T. Norfleet
Becoming a published author isn’t easy. It takes time, effort, and having a passion so deeply rooted for your story to get told that you’re willing to sacrifice it all to see your dream come to fruition. You endure the self-doubt, the constant rejection, the moments of wanting to quit, all for the moment you’re able to hold your book in your hands. It’s at that moment you realize that everything you’ve endured was well worth it.
India T. Norfleet is an example of precisely this. Author of 53 books, 49 of them published, she was willing to do what she had to do and release that inner voice encouraging her to write. More importantly, write stories about, as she puts it, “people who reflected my skin color. I loved it so much; I wanted to try my hand at it.” She states further, “reading inspired me. I’ve always been a reader since childhood. I kept my nose in a book growing up.” She says reading became an escape for her, and though excited about the possibility of becoming an author, she wondered if she could do it and wondered if people would like what she had to say. She continues, “after years of fear, I decided to step out on faith, sit down and write my first book, which was titled, “Playing For Keeps.” She says it took her almost two years to write and publish the book, and that it was well worth it because it became a bestseller.
I first discovered Norfleet’s books on Amazon. I’d had my fair share of mystery and thrillers, so I decided to explore another genre, a different author. Her characters and narrative are why I gravitated to her books. They are two key components to every story, especially if you want your book to resonate with your audience. So, how does Norfleet determine the representation of her characters within her books? Simple. She listens.”It may seem weird, but I decide by listening to my heart and emotions. And sometimes by people close to me. The stories are always tucked away in between the two.”
“I just wanted to write about love with some very satisfying sex mixed in.”
Few authors know what they’re going to write about once they begin writing, not to mention the genre or specific audience they’re catering to once their book is complete. And Norfleet could relate. She grins but not before covering it with her hand. “It wasn’t until I kept getting feedback about my sex scenes that I began to pump up and give more details to my sex scenes and market myself as an erotica author. I absolutely love it.” Even though she markets herself as an erotica author, she says her books are a part of other genres like mystery, suspense, and thrillers.
When asked if she’s working on new material, she says she is but could not divulge what her new book would be about. However, she did mention that she would like to explore other genres like teen romance or self-help books. Moreover, she offered advice for aspiring authors stating, “never give up. It’s going to be one hell of a ride, but if you take the Lord with you every step of the way, you’re going to be amazed at the sheer beauty of your outcome.”
These days Norfleet can reap the rewards from her hard work. But she makes note that it wasn’t without struggles and heartache. “Just thinking about the pain I’ve endured as a result of being in this industry used to leave me heartbroken, but now, I can smile because I survived and overcame the hurdles. I did a lot of praying because it was just one mess after another. It was a lot, and I’m so grateful the Lord brought me out of the darkness.”
When she’s not writing her next novel, you can find Norfleet spending time with her husband and kids or drinking a glass of wine.
“I’m a vibe—a magical black woman with a 90’s R&B heart.”
If you would like to learn more about India T. Norfleet or purchase her books, visit: haveyouhadthepleasure.net, Amazon, or Google. “I want those reading to be excited about learning more about my work. Be hopeful of your aspirations and dreams. Maintain the strength to keep going after what you love. Stay prayerful and thankful through the good times and the bad. Always remember that God’s always got your back. And thank you to my readers. I love my readers. They’re so amazing. They keep me encouraged and motivated.”
Morgan Lee Reviews would like to thank India T. Norfleet for this interview.
**I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Welcome to The Splatter Club is thirteen fictional stories featuring everything from horror, peculiar office politics, to extraterrestrial space shenanigans, and more. I initially decided to read and review this novel because I had read and reviewed other works from Blood Bound Books and felt that it would echo the same sentiments as the others had. Unfortunately, it didn’t.
What it came down to was I was not too fond of the content. The stories didn’t intrigue me as they had in CrashCode, for example. I understand that there are various writing styles from different authors, but I wanted that gore, horror, sexual intrigue, which was missing for me.
It takes a lot to put yourself out there as an author for others like me to critique your work and provide honest opinions, so I commend these authors for doing that. Moreover, as a reader, I appreciated the cover and title of the book. The cover design is in your face and straight to the point of what the reader can expect. The title resonates with the same mood.
While these were things I appreciated and some that I didn’t, I feel that if you are a reader who is into “hyperintensive horror with no limits,” according to the synopsis, then Welcome to The Splatter Club is the book you’ll want to read. This book is due to be released at the beginning of next month.
A couple of days ago, I had the opportunity to read and review Best Selling author Jessica Lauryn’s novel, A Passionate Play. It’s a whodunit mystery filled with twists and turns and romance. What you have before you is a look into Jessica Lauryn’s work as an author, so without further ado, I give you Jessica Lauryn.
“I always loved books as a child, and when I was six, watching soap operas with my mother, I fell in love with romance. I kept the idea of one day writing for the soaps in the back of my mind for years. But along the way, I discovered romance novels and realized that writing a full-length novel was something I had to try for myself. When I graduated from college and was looking for my first job, I spent a lot of time asking myself what I’d do with my life if I could do anything at all. Writing kept coming into my mind, and I perused several non-fiction books regarding how to get started with a career in writing. I remember reading in one of the books that writers spend their entire lives in basements doing nothing but writing. I believe the comment was intended to discourage people, but I remember thinking that being left alone to use your imagination and write for hours on end sounded more fun than anything I could imagine!”
MLR: What advice would you have for someone interested in becoming an author?
JL:Write what you know and what you love! I would also take that statement a bit further and say that you need to fall in love with your hero with regard to writing romance. Write, write, and write some more! Be yourself, own your voice; let your imagination take you wherever it will!
And this is what Lauryn has continued to do writing both The Pinnacles of Power Series and her work in progress, The Rabourn Theater Series. “
“I am the #1 bestselling author of two Romantic Suspense Series, The Pinnacles of Power Series and The Rabourn Theater Series, a work in progress. In The Pinnacles of Power Series, amidst diamond heists and deadly secrets, five determined young men struggle against all the odds to get what—and who—they want. In The Rabourn Theater Series, as the Rabourn and Nathanson families battle for control of the world they love, five unlikely couples come together and discover a different sort of passion.
For years, Dangerous Proposal [The Pinnacles of Power Series # 2] was my favorite story for various reasons, not the least of which is that I fashioned the hero, Alec, to be like the sort of man I dreamed of meeting myself. Years later, having found my real-life hero, a man who reminds me of Alec in so many ways, I decided to expand my horizons. An Amorous Dance [The Rabourn Theater Series # 2] took me by surprise. In this second-chance romance, theater owner Hannah Rabourn battles for control of the world she loves against her greatest rival and former lover, Evan Masters. Evan wishes to have revenge for an injustice done to him long ago, and he plots to take control of Rabourn Theater by way of persuasion…and seduction. I worked with a slightly older heroine and hero than I typically have, and I was amazed by the way these two characters and their story took off as they battled in the boardroom and the bedroom! Their feistiness and determination blow my mind. As I was reading An Amorous Dance for the hundredth time during the final edit, I found myself still laughing out loud at the nervy things Evan says to Hannah throughout the story. I’m currently with my editor on book 4 in the series, An Intoxicating Interlude, and writing book 5, An Enchanting Song.”
Lauryn is determined more than ever and has worked tirelessly to see her dream come to fruition.“No matter what life throws my way, I always keep going. This year hasn’t been easy for any of us. But I try always to look at things positively and stay focused on my goals, of which I have many.” It hasn’t always been easy for her, however. She talked about some of her struggles and how she dealt with them.
“When my publisher cut their Mainstream line, it caused a major disruption for me as I was right in the middle of producing the Rabourn Theater Series. I attempted to find a new home, but few publishers are keen on publishing the final few books of a series that another publisher already has rights to. So I decided to self-publish the final three stories. There was a bit of a learning curve involved, but I found I liked having more control over the publication process, especially creative aspects like formatting and cover design. In the end, I became such a fan of what I was doing that I asked my publisher if they would reverse the rights to my previous titles. They agreed, and I’ve been working steadily to rerelease them all. Dangerous Magic [The Pinnacles of Power # 5] and An Amorous Dance [The Rabourn Theater Series #2] will release later this year!
When asked what advice she’s received either professionally or personally that’s been beneficial to her life, Lauryn stated, “Let me say that the single piece of advice that made me a strong writer was, show vs. tell. A fan of older publications, I have a natural tendency to narrate everything, and I fight this every time I write a new story. This is “telling,” essentially, whereas “showing” engages the five senses through dialogue, description, and action taking place in the here and now. It makes our stories move faster, and it brings them to life in a rich, colorful way. One of the most effective ways I’ve found for getting this accomplished is to write the story as I would instinctively (for me, this means just getting my thoughts out, and doing so by “telling”) and then adding the “showing” later on, as I edit. I do the best I can with a rough draft, but I work a lot faster by just getting my ideas down on paper. I do what works for me. But my stories definitely came to life (and I was published for the first time!) when I mastered the art of “showing.”
MLR: What or who inspires your writing style and the type of books you publish?
JL: One of my favorite things to do when I’m writing is to reform a former villain, a man or woman who’s lost their way for a time, having committed any wrong from white-collar crime to murder. I’m greatly inspired by characters and people who fit that bill, because, let’s face it, we all make mistakes, and it is incredibly uplifting to see another person bring themselves back from their lowest point—it reminds us that we all possess the same ability. It demonstrates just how powerful the phenomenon of love is, as love is always at play somehow when a villain turns his life around. And let’s face it guys when you take a former villain and place him in the role of hero you get to satisfy your dream of kissing him and even meeting them between the sheets!
Suspense inspires me (nothing too graphic or violent for my taste, I’m not one of those romantic suspense authors!), but I definitely want to see my characters in danger, perhaps several times leading up to the climax, or beyond it. Characters are often highly motivated to act on their desires when they fear their lives are in danger, and passion is what my readers and I want to see the most! That said, I’m also inspired by the amazing stories some of my closest author friends tell, and real-life scenarios and quite often, whatever crazy ideas find some other way inside the well of my imagination.
When she’s not creating best-selling books, you can find Lauryn with her husband in their newly purchased home or painting a room, or in her garden, which she joyfully admits that she loves flowers. As for what people can take away from this interview, Lauryn states, “I hope, no matter what your favorite genre is, you’ll always take the time to read for pleasure because we all deserve that no matter how busy we think we are!Books are such a wonderful part of life.”
Morgan Lee Reviews would like to thank Jessica Lauryn for this opportunity and wish her much success with her endeavors. Links to Lauryn’s social media will be available below, and as promised, here is a sneak peek of Lauryn’s newly released novel, Dangerous Ally! Enjoy!
Dangerous Ally Excerpt:
Feeling the warmth of tears in her eyes, Lilah rose from the table. She never became so emotional over nothing. What in God’s name was wrong with her?
Lucas’s strong hand came against her shoulder. She didn’t pull away. In fact, she had the strangest urge to just lean into him, like somehow, he would take away all her doubts.
“Lena’s happy in her life with her children, and with Alec Westwood. I’d never begrudge her that. All I ever wanted was her happiness.”
The way he said the words, she almost believed them. He seemed to care, or at least, maybe was trying to be a better person.
“You’re trembling.” He reached in before she could stop him. His finger brushed her quivering lip. Her instinct was to smack his hand. But the tingling sensation racing from mouth to spine kept her in place. Lucas’s touch was so soft. It made her crazy. She was consumed by the strongest desire for his lips to be where his finger was now.
He took her wine glass and held it out to her. “Here,” he said. “This’ll calm your nerves.”
Senses returning with a bang, Lilah held up two hands in protest. “Are you trying to get me drunk?” she snapped, not entirely sure whether it was him she was angrier at or herself.
“Am I that obvious?” Lucas laughed as if the whole thing was funny and set the glass back down.
She enjoyed being in the company of a monster—there was nothing lighthearted about it!
“I’m guessing you’ve probably been down this road too many times, hmm?” Lucas replaced his hand on her shoulder.
“What road would that be, exactly?”
His eyes looked into hers. “I’m sure I’m not the first man who’s tried to get you into a relaxed state, Lilah.”
“Actually—” Lilah hesitated, not wanting to get so personal yet feeling she could probably tell him anything and he’d somehow understand. “It’s been a long time, longer than you’d imagine. After I finished college, I had every intention of becoming a journalist, meaning I’d be out most of the time chasing a story despite whatever danger came with it. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, for as long as I can remember.”
Lucas nodded, coming closer. “You must have been very persistent. It takes a good deal of perseverance and sacrifice to become a success at such a young age.”
Lilah sure knew that. While her friends had been enjoying their last semester of college, she’d been frantically gathering writing samples, sending them out to every newspaper who would give her the time of day. But had her father noticed? Even when she became one of the youngest reporters at the New York Times, he’d barely raised a brow.
Deep down, she knew this was why she’d accepted Raphael’s offer, even in spite of the danger that came with it. A story about Raphael Ramone’s family laundry wasn’t going to impress Blake Benson. But exposing Lucas’s diamond smuggling operation would be a print-worthy unearthing that would win her father’s admiration as well as her first Pulitzer.
She lowered her gaze. “I haven’t given up anything so wonderful.”
Lucas lifted her chin. “But if it came to that, do you think you’d be willing to make that sacrifice, give up something you want—maybe something you want more than anything—to attain some ultimate level of self-victory?”
A chill came over her at his words. Lilah stepped back, unsure of what had just happened but wanting desperately to pretend it hadn’t.
Lucas cleared his throat. “Let’s get some air, shall we?”
Something she needed desperately. She followed him to the balcony, welcoming the cool night breeze as it caressed her hot skin.
“It’s beautiful here,” she said, hoping very much to steer the conversation in a new direction.
“It is.” Lucas came beside her, bracing the rail with one hand. He slipped an arm around her back.
His body was warm, like a furnace, and he felt strong, as if he spent his days loading lumber instead of dabbling away at a computer.
Lilah shivered, goose bumps forming along her arms. It felt so nice being close to Lucas, too nice. Maybe she’d just stay there with him a few minutes longer. They weren’t exactly hurting anyone by being in each other’s company.
Lucas leaned into her, speaking in a tone she could only describe as husky. “Those men you never met,” he said, “that was their loss.”
Lilah blinked, keeping her eyes on the night sky. “Please. A man’s the last thing I need in my life.”
“Are you sure about that?” Lucas asked, his warm breath coming against her ear. “Or is it possible you’ve been hiding behind your work for so long, you don’t even know how things could be?” His palm brushed her bare shoulder as he turned her to face him. “No one knows what it’s like to be hidden from the world more than I do, Lilah. You can trust me on this. I think we’re more alike than you realize. And it’s possible we’re both missing out on something incredible.”
She didn’t push his hand away as it cupped her cheek, or his arm as it encompassed her waist. No, she let him do what he wanted. She wanted him to touch her.
“We’re not remembered for the things we say or think we will do, we’re remembered for our actions, and the impact we make in the world.” – Marques J. Clark
Reinvention: Simple Actions for Achieving Success explores ways to achieve success in every facet of your life. Written by Marques J. Clark, Reinvention is a vivid lookbook that includes memorable quotes from CEOs and educators, as well as helpful tips and mini exercises to stimulate and engage readers. Morgan Lee Reviews went one on one with Clark discussing his reason for writing this book, what he wants African American males to obtain, and the importance of God’s presence not just with this book, but with the individuals he had the opportunity of interviewing.
Morgan Lee Reviews: Why don’t you share a little bit about yourself?
Marques J. Clark: I am an educator, writer, researcher, photographer (by hobby), husband, and father of two toddlers (Micah and Noah). I’ve been in higher education for over ten years, holding various positions within colleges and universities, and I’ve always had a passion for writing, but I wasn’t always sure I would be an author. It has now become a part of my everyday life. What else? Oh, I also love anything pesto-related. Not an addiction but close to it, haha.
MLR: What inspired Reinvention, and what has the response been since its release?
MJC: Reinventionstarted as a passion project. It was never intended to be a book, more so a list of “hacks” that I could use in life and pass to my sons as they got older. As I began making progress on my list, I wanted to share it with other people who may be interested in learning what simple actions they could incorporate in their daily life to achieve their version of success. The response to Reinvention was beyond anything that I could have expected. I released the book without any major marketing or advertising campaigns, so I wasn’t sure how it would be received and who would read it. Within two days, it was #1 on Amazon in multiple categories. I was shocked but extremely grateful.
MLR: How do you feel your book has or will impact African American males?
MJC: In the book, I discuss the concept of our inner critic – the voice in our head that causes us to doubt ourselves constantly. This is something that holds every person back in life. We all have big dreams and huge aspirations, but they get shot down by the voice in our head that tells us that we’re not good enough, or that we aren’t smart enough to achieve our goals. I wrote Reinvention to encourage people (and myself) that success can be achieved by first learning how to silence your inner critic.
In the African American community, we don’t spend a lot of time discussing topics about success, how to achieve goals, and building generational wealth. The media often shows negative images of African American men, and I saw a lot of that growing up. I wanted to write a book that changes the narrative of African American men. To do that, I called on friends, mentors, and mentees to serve as professionally dressed models in Reinvention to show the reader a different side of what is normally shown in the media.
MLR: What was the experience like for you interviewing these gentlemen for your book?
MJC: In Reinvention, I mentioned surveying and interviewing over 100 successful entrepreneurs, attorneys, real estate investors, and millionaires. The nerdy side of me approached it as a research study to find out what strategies successful people used to achieve their success.I reached out to each person via email or LinkedIn, and I asked them to share their personal strategies for success. It was very intrusive, not to mention risky because I had no prior relationship with them before reaching out. Once I decided to turn Reinvention into a book, I promised to conceal each person’s identity for publishing reasons. Otherwise, it would have taken me a lot longer to gain permission to use each person’s name, and Reinvention might not have come out.
MLR: What advice do you have for African American males dealing with unfortunate circumstances and might be looking for an uplifting message?
MJC: Don’t let your mind trick you into believing that you can’t accomplish a certain goal you have.The key to overcoming those difficult situations is to expect that they will happen, and when they do, know that you are always in control of your actions. Respond to situations instead of reacting to them, and look for the lesson in every obstacle you experience. By doing this, you will become a stronger person, and you will learn to overcome difficult situations with ease.
MLR: What is some advice that’s been instrumental in your career?
MJC: Some of the best advice I’ve received is to be open to making mistakes and expect failure to happen. We often set expectations of how we think our life should be and what we want to accomplish. When those things don’t happen in the time we want it to, we get upset and get discouraged. Sometimes it causes us to give up on our dreams. One thing that has always stuck with me is that failure comes before success. I’ve made so many mistakes and am still making mistakes, but I embrace them, and I look forward to the opportunity to try again. That is something we all must remember to stay encouraged daily.
When asked what he has coming up, Clark says that he’s working on more books, and that a sequel to Reinvention is due out next year. He’s also launched a blog called ThinkAmazing, which he says, continues the conversations about your inner critic, achieving personal success, and overcoming various personal struggles and obstacles. “I strive to solve the problems of the people around me. We’re all here on earth for a reason, and that is to make the world a better place by helping each other. I consider it an honor to be able to serve other people and provide assistance in any way I can.”
He continued, “I want to encourage people to step outside of their comfort zone. Take a chance on yourself. We’re not remembered for the things we say or think we will do, we’re remembered for our actions, and the impact we make in the world.”
Clark says as he was wrapping up Reinvention and looking at each person’s advice that they provided, he was mind – blown. “I noticed that there were similarities in every answer. It was like the successful people I had interviewed were reading from the same book. At the time of working on Reinvention, I happened to be getting deeper into my faith and realized that all of the simple actions in the book had similarities referenced in the Bible. I was mind-blown. Many of us spend years trying to figure out what we can do to become successful when the answers are in the most popular book of all time. That completely changed my perspective on life.”
Morgan Lee Reviews would like to thank Marques J. Clark for this interview. Reinvention: Simple Actions forAchieving Success is available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold and be sure to check out his blog, ThinkAmazing!
“If you have a website, you are a publisher. If you are on social media, you are a marketer. And that means that we are all relying on our words to carry our marketing messages. We are all writers,” says Ann Handley. Handley is the author of Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content. Everybody Writes, a six-part guide loaded with insights on grammar and usage, publishing rules, to tidbits on how to write for Facebook and LinkedIn, provides the average person with the tools needed to navigate the ins and outs of writing whether you are a beginner or an expert.
A lot of the information presented in this book brought back memories during the days from when I was a bright-eyed journalism student in college. I’ve utilized a good deal of these gems in one form or another, especially now, because I am a full-time blogger and freelance writer. Handley did a great job gathering, resourcing/structuring, and presenting this novel to those of us who pour our hearts out writing every day.
I purchased this book to progress in my writing journey, and the takeaway that I’ve received has been rewarding. I highlighted almost every chapter in this book, and I am sure I will be revisiting it for social media and writing insights later down the line.
If you are a creative, marketer, publisher, or writer, then you need to have this book in your collection. Handley shows you how to get ahead of the curve with the content she presents to her audience, and you’d be foolish not to take advantage of it by reading this book.
Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley is available everywhere books are sold.
Is a picture worth a thousand words? I pondered this question while reading James Garcia Jr.’s Photographs. Readers are introduced to Joanna Johnson, a real estate agent and film actress, Allison Belle. Johnson is responsible for trying to sell Belle’s house located in Huntington Boulevard as part of Fresno’s “anti-gated community.” Belle’s house has a dark history, one that Johnson wasn’t expecting when she stumbles upon several photographs, featuring Belle. Something is drawing Johnson to this house and, more importantly, to the pictures.
She decides to find out more about the house, and what she learns shocks her to her core. The year is 1956, and Belle left the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for Fresno, California. In 1959, she disappeared. Sixty years later, Johnson is trying to sell her house all the while becoming wrapped up in the mysteriousness that surrounds this two-story Mediterranean residence. As the story unfolds, Joanna learns more about Allison and uncovers the mystery behind her disappearance by way of the photographs.
What I liked about Garcia’s Photographs were the twists and turns, the resiliency that each character displayed, as well as how he told Allison’s story through the use of photographs. I appreciated the detailed storytelling, vividness, and background that Garcia gave each scene and the characters. This book reminded me of The Broken Shadeby Michele Poague, and I think readers will enjoy this captivating read.
James Garcia Jr.’s Photographs is available wherever books are sold.
19-year-old Annabelle Worthington’s life was beautiful. She lived in Newport, Rhode Island with her family. She was surrounded by a life of glamour, love, and privilege. Then it happened. Her world shattered. She lost her brother and father when the Titanic sank. Years later, her mother died.
Amid her misfortune, she meets Josiah Millbank. They date and shortly after they marry, but something isn’t right. After months of speculation, Annabelle’s suspicions are confirmed when Josiah unveils to her that he has syphilis and is in love with his friend Hunter. Hunter has syphilis too, and he and Josiah have decided to spend their last days in Mexico together.
Devastated and heartbroken over the news, Annabelle decides to move to France and start over. Her life takes a positive turn while in France, she’s working toward becoming a doctor. But suddenly, tragedy strikes again when she is raped in a dark alleyway. Nine months later, she welcomes her daughter.
Annabelle faces a lot of ups and downs as life continues for her and her daughter. A Good Woman has twists and turns, love, heartbreak, self-acceptance, and the realization of what family means for Annabelle.
I appreciated the depths of the characters and how Annabelle finds peace with herself and her life. Danielle Steel is the author of several books, all of which are available on Amazon and everywhere books are sold.
After reading Feasible Living: Dealing With Ecological Anxiety While Adapting to Our Changing World, my head is spinning. There was so much information to process; at times, it felt like I was reading a class paper rather than a book. The premise of Ken Kroes’ book is to highlight the significance of ecological anxiety, and how it impacts us regarding the world we live in, and what can we do as individuals and collectively to live a more sustainable, safe, and healthy life.
Kroes begins the book by detailing the meaning behind ecological anxiety and why it exists. Each chapter coincides with the other and discusses several elements of the world and why each is important or harmful to our existence. At the end of this book, there are other books and websites, as well as references that the author provides to support his content and also supply the reader with further insights should they be interested in learning more information aside from what was stated.
While this book was long, I do feel as if Kroes presented a lot of insightful information and solid points. It does make you think about how you can put forth an effort to positively impact the world, and I believe that that was Kroes’ goal. He gives the reader this eye-opening, thought-provoking information, and now that you have it, what are you going to do with it? How are you going to act now, and as he puts it, “reduce the impact on your loved ones?”
Feasible Living: Dealing With Ecological Anxiety While Adapting to Our Changing World, is a book catered to those who are intrigued by the world and the ample amount of things surrounding us. It makes you think, brings awareness to several issues plaguing our society, and addresses the question of what now? This, along with Kroes, other novels are available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
“I’ve known real love and true beauty, two things not given to every person.” – Mags
The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton tells the story of Sara Jenkins, owner of Bits&Pieces, an antique shop in New Orleans. Jenkins has gotten into the swing of things since moving to New Orleans from Sweet Bay, Alabama. However, after receiving the devastating news that her grandmother Mags has passed away, she is forced to hurry back home to take care of things.
She learns that her grandmother has left behind The Hideaway, a Bed, and Breakfast for Jenkins to have. Mags hopes that her granddaughter will give the B&B the care and attention it needs restoring it to its old glory. As Jenkins begins to peel back the layers of the house, she discovers things about her grandmother she never knew, one being why The Hideaway was so important to her. In doing this, she rediscovers who her grandmother is, she discovers things about herself, and she opens her heart to new and exciting love.
Now she must decide if returning to her roots and staying in Sweet Bay is the right decision or if returning to work back in New Orleans is best. The Hideaway is filled with multiple layers from the characters to the plot. Each character intertwines with the next creating something magical and real. You feel the character’s pain, love, confusion, and joy, all wrapped up into one heartfelt story.
The imagery, tone, plot, all of it works together to form this story. Readers can see the importance of The Hideaway in Mags’s life back then, and how and why it’s important to Jenkins’s life today. Denton did an excellent job in showcasing the two. The Hideaway is vibrant, real, and displays a sense of vulnerability.
Lauren K. Denton
The Hideaway was Lauren K. Denton’s first book. Since then, she’s released two more titled Hurricane Season and Glory Road. All of her stories are available wherever books are sold.
Poetry and prose enthusiasts this book is for you! Ivory Gleam written by Dr. Priya Dolma Tamang explores love, loss, death, birth, and self and society. There are three chapters: “Colloquial Delicacy of Learning,” “Soliloquy of Longing,” and “Chivalry of Loving.” Each chapter delves into the themes mentioned above. One of the pieces I found interesting was Rock Bottom. Dr. Tamang references faith and the importance of God’s plan over a person’s life in this piece, and I related to that because of my faith in God. “If Only” and “Victim” were others that interested me as well.
I also liked Dr. Tamang’s dedication in the book. She states,“An exclusive mention of heartfelt gratitude to my permanent pillars of strength and stability, my grandmother, my mother, and my father. I exist because you do, I survive because you trained, and I live because you love.”
As a poetry writer, I appreciated Dr. Tamang’s use of imagery and rhyme schemes. Ivory Gleam takes the reader on a journey, and in that journey I found myself wondering how she developed her titles as well as the inspiration behind this book. On the other hand, her word choice for some of the poetry and prose confused me a bit. Needless to say, this didn’t deter me from being able to finish reading the book.
Ivory Gleam isn’t meant to be read in one sitting. Readers should take their time to get the full meaning behind each piece because it is my belief that Dr. Tamang wrote this book for an audience who not only loves poetry, prose, or both, but she wrote it to challenge you, engage you, and ultimately make you feel something.
Dr. Tamang
Ivory Gleam is available wherever books are sold, and is Dr. Tamang’s first book. I was provided a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review.
Morgan Lee Reviews 