Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Halloween BlogFlash Voting, 10/31/12

Go to http://terriglong.com/blog/blogflash-halloween-2012-spooky-stories/ to see more flash blogs

Friday, October 26, 2012

Scribbling by Jonathan Gould


The author’s words:
“It’s like this. I think if one person tries to change the shape of the world too much by themselves, that’s when you get problems. But if we each try to change just a little bit of the world, then maybe together we can all make a big difference. Here, come with me.”

This paragraph above was the one that caught this reader’s eye, it sums up what this humorous and delightful author was trying to scribble in his story, that sometimes we as individuals become restless and act on impulse and do something, say something or create a severe action that causes consequences that could be disastrous.  In embarrassment, or fear, one hides the mistake and tries to fix it but it becomes more out of control. As the world is out of shape, so is the moral fabric of people’s lives and beliefs. They become disoriented and create a different reality to adjust to the change someone else decided to make to be happy; not taking the others existence around them into consideration and how they would be affected by the adjustments. 

Neville, the catalyst of all the trouble, travels around his newly created flat world and meets this entire group of delightfully strange odd people who were once ordinary, until he pulled the world out of shape and now everything is upside down.  And he has only an hour to get it back into its original shape. Yet by calculator lady an hour has different definitions and the shouting man is reflecting and blaming others for the problems.

The author wrote an insightful story with colourful characters, No Name Girl, the jumping kangaroos, the super heroes with their imaginary superpowers, the fisherman who is this reader’s favourite character and others such as the numbers lady and the main character Neville who created the mess in the first place.  Plotting insightful, mathematical quotations and lessons about respect and not to be afraid to declare when one creates a problem, they should ask for assistance and apply the principles of working together as a team. 

To accept diversity and uniqueness of everyone, even if it is frustrating at times, and correct the issues before any more consequences occur and they cannot be repaired.

The author’s books Scribbling, Doodling  and his other books have a very creative imaginative writing style and as a reader and mother I highly recommend his stories for all ages. One benefit is there are definitely many good chuckles in them. The addition benefit,  many valuable lessons for all to ponder upon while being delightfully entertained by his collection of stories.. After reading it, I believe it could be a good tool to open communication channels between parents and children to discuss the moral lessons etched into the pages of this short and hilarious story. This reader could not stop laughing, until the end, it is a remarkable story.



Celebration and Donations for BCRF. Org

 Update: All are invited to the Facebook Event on the 30th-31st of October, thank you ever so much from the wicked authors of Careful What You Wish For.https://www.facebook.com/events/240983812697694/


It was such an honour to promote so many authors on Message to My Children 2 Fantasy Escapism, this past year. The Friday Nights Promotions with India Was One, http://www.amazon.com/India-Was-One-ebook/dp/B004S3OWO0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1351262391&sr=1-1&keywords=India+Was+oneauthor Darkness and Light, Crescent Bound and Seducing a Mermaid, were my first three, and Then I did others, need to go check events, Michelle Ann Hollstein, for her Aggie Underhill sleuth series of books and her supernatural book, Awakenings. Did one for Jennifer Hirtler http://www.amazon.com/Past-Marked-Man-ebook/dp/B008CFH7GU, A Past of A Marked Man. Marie Seltenrych, http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=marie+of children's and other books  and Promoted two artists, Kevin Macleod, a great composer and musician and Cat Le Flynn, an artist and others. Bob Dixon of Mouch and Company; available at Amazon.com, and others. 

I would like to thank https://www.facebook.com/elisabeth.tilton?fref=ts, Elisabeth Tilton for creating the guest book for our last promotion and she is anticipating her arrival of her new book in the next twelve hours. Congratulations.

I truly enjoyed promoting them and developing a theme with them to showcase their books and services. I relished in gathering the knowledge and data, videos, music and information relating to each other’s book or service. It has lifted many spirits to know that other see their works in the lime light, on center stage and whipped around all the social media channels to be shared with many wonderful readers.

There are so many people I want to thank you for encouraging me to be zany and cooperate with me to present some very entertaining parties and celebrations. When I was in the darkness, these saviors came to the rescue. If I forgotten someone name please forgive me and I will honor all with their links again next month.

This month I am so proud of to be a chosen author, with my limited skills to write a short piece in an anthology with six wicked authors who are way above my league in writing. They have come together to write an anthology to help a worthy charity, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. org.
Authors Karli Rush, Mina J. Moore, Michelle Matkins, Laura Martinez, Jennifer Cowsert, this anthology is supernatural, horror and romance. I am honor to promote this even if I was not an author in it. Author has a ring to it.This promotion is for the Anthology and also it is for Breast Cancer Research, all profits of sold books will go to the charity and it is bringing the Indie Community, Authors, and readers together to help another.

So the six wicked authors are celebrating the 7 days countdown to publication date, October 31st, Halloween for the coming out date at local retailers. For $2.99, think how many people stricken by this terrifying culprit will be assisted with financial and possible experimental cures.

So all please come to this link and find out more: http://mtmc2.blogspot.com/2012/10/press-release-be-careful-for-what-you.html

Then to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Message-To-My-Children-2-Fantasy-Escapism/103661739691732?ref=stream, to enjoyed and dare to see who entered the Haunted House to fight the creatures of the night. They are wonderful Bloggers of Lee-Ann Graff Vinson’s page at Gypsy Shadow Publishing . . . www.gypsyshadow.com, Coral Russell, of Amador Lockdown http://www.amazon.com/Amador-Lockdown-ebook/dp/B005TDRKZ6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1351263259&sr=1-1&keywords=Coral+russell
Stephen Hise of Indies Unlimited http://www.indiesunlimited.com/

The guests of the Haunted House

(Special Edition with additional scenes from screen adaption)

Amazon.com: Penelope Crowe: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

Visit Amazon.com's Penelope Crowe Page and shop for all Penelope Crowe books and...See More

100 Unfortunate Days

Illustrated edition. If you stumbled upon the diary of a stranger you might b

Amazon.com: Profile for De Ann Townes Jr.
Internationally Acclaimed Author, Brian D. Anderson: INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, DOUG LUCAS
briandanderson.blogspot.com

Amazon.com: Jonathan Gould: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
Visit Amazon.com's Jonathan Gould Page and shop for all Jonathan Gould books and...See More

Scary Listens from ACX | Audiobooks | audible.com

Happy Halloween: Listen to scary audiobooks from Audible.com's ACX program.

Doug Lucas who is a phenomenal author, with his witty humor and has offer to bring his book to the light, in pdf, format, I will be highlighting him on the wall at MTMCFE2 this weekend.

There are so many, and the list will be increasing, there will entertainment, more donations, contests, make up Facebook creatures portraits and please visit the other wicked authors pages and all the gracious authors who contributed to a worthy cause and read an chilling anthology as a trick or treat.

We welcome bloggers, donations and readers of all forms.

Happy Halloween all, scream………………………….



Thank you to Ann Pearlman for the opportunity to bring this together by gifting me with a Kindle wildfire through your rafflecopter, as a fluke I won, so the money I was saving for one, went to a young editor and this is how the anthology was created, as the first step to last step. Thank you to Karli Rush and all the other authors of the anthology  It is warming to be Paying forward, heals the heart. Please think of the victims of Breast Cancer and purchase the anthology Care of What You Wish For, and/or donate to a worthy cause, I will add link http://www.bcrecovery.org/, thank you

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Lucky Charm by Valerie Douglas


This book Lucky Charm is oo, la, la, is it a romantic and suspenseful tale about two strangers who crossed paths under strange circumstances.

Ariel, the elfin lassie and the strong lad, Matthew who are in the midst of a mystery filled with corruption and dark secrets. They both suffer deep lost in their lives and like two ships passing in the night, coincidental or something more, unusual circumstances bought the computer technician and the private investigator together. He becomes her knight in shining amour, and she his safety line to enjoying, trusting loving life and believe in someone true. And he found someone to share dreams of a possible bright future with.

The plot was suspenseful as Ariel, the computer technician let's her guard down and saves the blond handsome stranger, Matthew from being beaten to a blood pulp by hired gangsters who are protecting the Big money fat cats behind the scenes of two financial institutions. The private investigator, Matthew is there because his long childhood friend, Bill called in the midst of the night, pleading for help, and then the next day he was found dead.

His death was declared a homicide, yet there was something hanky about it. So Matthew travels to his deceased friend's job and starts an uncover investigation. He wants to find out why Bill was murdered. The technician is there to installed computer software and she too has sneaking suspicions about the financial transactions of the company, and feels there is more to the eye then she can see.
The tension and romantic electricity between the computer technician who is grieving her own wounds and he, the private investigator, is oo, la, la. The reader needed a glass of ice water to cool down the temperature in the room.

The events of them being stalked, hunted and threatened by the gangsters kept the reader as the two are on edge, running and hiding to find sanctuary in each other's arms. Their relationship is hot/close and cold/distance bonding for fear of losing one another. Not willing to invested in another relationship to be hurt again and heart broken. The question, will these two acquaintances, strangers be able to jump the hurdles of their wounds. And heal their hearts and unite into a long term relationship while in the midst of being targets of the big fat cats, the executives and his henchmen.

The man and his associates dread the consequences of becoming laughing stocks of the financial industry, media and served prison time. The man at top of the chain is cruel and ruthless and he will use all of his intelligence, weapons of wits and the real ones to stop the two from attempting to crumble his empire.

This author was an expert at describing details that kept the reader entertained, it was a murder mystery with an investigator working on a case, and the romantic scenes were sensual and intense. I gave it four stars as a reader because the repetitive memories about Bill threw me off just a little. In all it was a compact action, romantic and suspenseful tale. Highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy mystery, corruption, and rescue damsel in distress, but it was a two way rescue, plus the addition of hot steaming action, written with eloquent style, all together a delightful read.

http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Charm-ebook/dp/B007LC6WIO/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_i

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Romantic Maidens book Tours October 30th, 2012



Romantic Maidens book Tours October 30th, 2012

Kristine Cayne - "Twisted secrets, extreme passions, and deadly desires" 
Deadly Obsession (Deadly Vices, Book 1) is available at the following retailers: Amazon,Amazon (print)B&NSmashwordsAReKobo
Deadly Addiction (Deadly Vices, Book 2) is available at the following retailers: Amazon,Amazon (print), B&NSmashwordsARe







Book Description

 January 1, 2012
*** On sale for 99 cents for a limited time only. Regular price $3.99 ***

RT Book Reviews Top Pick - "Stock up on ice cubes because this is definitely one sizzling debut. Readers will be hooked from the first sentence- on the book and on Nic! As rich as a white chocolate cheesecake, Cayne's entrance into the suspense genre is invigorating, explosive and simply intoxicating."


Winner - Best Romance - 2012 eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards
Finalist - Best Romance - Kindle Book Review's Best Indie Books of 2012

When an Oscar-winning movie star meets a department-store photographer...

Movie star Nic Lamoureux appears to have a playboy's perfect life. But it's a part he plays, an act designed to conceal a dark secret he carries on his shoulders. His empty days and nights are a meaningless blur until he meets the woman who fulfills all his dreams. She and her son are the family he's always wanted--if she can forgive a horrible mistake from his past.

A Hollywood dream...

Lauren James, a widowed single mother, earns barely enough money to support herself and her son. When she wins a photography contest and meets Nic, the man who stars in all her fantasies, her dreams, both professional and personal, are on the verge of becoming real. The attraction between Lauren and Nic is instant--and mutual. Their chemistry burns out of control during a photo shoot that could put Lauren on the fast track to a lucrative career.

Becomes a Hollywood nightmare

But an ill-advised kiss makes front-page news, and the lurid headlines threaten everything Nic and Lauren have hoped for. Before they know what's happening, their relationship is further rocked by an obsessed and cunning stalker who'll stop at nothing--not even murder--to have Nic to herself. When Nic falls for Lauren, the stalker zeroes in on her as the competition.

And the competition must be eliminated.

Excerpt:

Lauren rolled her eyes. "Fine. Do it."

Nic bent down and brushed his lips against hers. For the first few seconds, she didn't kiss him back, but she didn't push him away, either. Then, on a sigh, she leaned into him and her arms locked around his neck. His tongue darted out to taste her bottom lip. Mmm... cherry--his new favorite flavor. When her mouth opened, he didn't hesitate.

He dove in. And drowned.

He'd meant this to be a quick kiss, only now he just couldn't stop. His lips traced a path to her throat. Cupping her bottom with his hands, he lifted her up, grinding against her. She moaned. It was a beautiful sound, one he definitely wanted to hear again.

A loud noise pierced the fog of his lust. He raised his head from where he'd been nuzzling Lauren's apple-scented neck to tell whoever it was to fuck off, but as the sexual haze cleared, he swallowed the words. The paparazzi had gathered around, applauding and calling out crude encouragements. Some snapped photos while others rolled film. Shit. He'd pay for this fuck-up and so would she.




















http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007WNTXR4/ref=cm_sw_su_dp



Book Description

 April 22, 2012
A proud people. A nation divided.
Rémi Whitedeer, police officer turned substance-abuse counselor, dreams of restoring order to his tribe. Violence and crime are rampant throughout the unpoliced Iroquois reserve, and a civil war is brewing between the Guardians, a militant traditionalist group, and other tribal factions. As the mixed-race cousin of the Guardians' leader, Rémi is caught in a no-man's land--several groups lay claim to him, but all want him to deny his white blood.

A maverick cop on an anti-drug crusade.
When she infiltrated the Vipers to take down the leader of the outlaw biker gang responsible for her brother's death, police sergeant Alyssa Morgan got her man. But her superiors think she went too far. Her disregard for protocol and her ends-justify-the-means ethics have branded her an unreliable maverick. To salvage her career, she accepts an assignment to set up a squad of native provincial officers on a reserve.

A radical sovereigntist bent on freeing a nation.
Decades of government oppression threaten the existence of the Iroquois Nation. But one man, Chaz Whitedeer, is determined to save his people no matter what the price, even if it means delving into the shadowy world of organized crime.

When Rémi and Alyssa uncover the Guardians' drug-fueled scheme to fund their fight for true autonomy--a scheme involving the Vipers--Rémi must choose between loyalty to family and tribe or his growing love for Alyssa.

Can Rémi and Alyssa leave everything behind--even their very identities--for a future together?


"Kristine Cayne will dazzle readers yet again with Deadly Addiction, a compelling, beautifully crafted, powerhouse of a romantic suspense novel. Truly a 5-star read! Bravo, Author!" --Laura Taylor, best-selling author of Intimate Strangers, six-time RT Award Winner, two-time Maggie Award Winner, & RWA RITA finalist.








Aftershocks by Kristine Cayne—When Seattle is struck by a devastating earthquake, technical rescue firefighter Jamie Caldwell must save his estranged wife and daughter from the wreckage of a collapsed building. He's defied the odds hundreds of times, but will his luck finally run out for good?(24, 000 words)







Kristine Cayne found the group in 2009 because she won Marianne's raffle basket at the Emerald City Writer's Conference that year. The basket included an offer to critique the winner's manuscript—an evaluation that resulted in an invitation to join. Kristine writes Romantic Suspense.






















Title: Romance in the Rain (A Seattle Anthology)

Publisher: Kristine Cayne
Release Date: 10/12/2012 (tentative)
Pages: ~400pages (123K words)
Buy Link: TBD

From a Far Land (Jaben's Rift) G. David Walker Review and Free Books Today

Was a delightful surprise written by an Indie Author. It is of sci-fiction genre, but this reader wonders if the author was also thinking of supernatural elements to add to the plot. Jason Bennett is a teenager on vacation with his family and relatives in Scotland and he is bored of the adult talking goes off on a hike. Like all teenagers curiosity got him and he was attracted to an antique building and a shining light. He dares to follow the light and opens the door which is not another room rather it is a strange and mysterious world. He walks through in another dimension and realizes too late he may be trapped unless he finds another portal to go back home again. Meanwhile he has no choose but to adjust to his new and wondrous adventure.

He receives help from a mysterious Reyga, a Loremaster who takes him under his wing. Reyga is willing to train the lad the magic secrets of their world if he is willing to learn. Thus the adventure begins Jason is introduced to many new experiences and other worldly aliens. He is in the midst of a conspiracy and does not know which side to choose.

There is intrigue, suspense as the Loremasters and the outsiders' battle against each other by manipulative magic abilities and warring devices. The Loremasters are not reassured of Jason's loyalty and if he may or not be the future prophet coming to save or destroyed their world. The traitors behind the strategic attacks are watching and waiting for the right moment to conquer the world and it's capital, Telerian where the high ones are enclosed in safety for their have the key to all knowledge and command only certain individuals can have authority to utilized the knowledge which causes a chaotic rift in more ways than one; dividing the races of creatures in us against them, thus if something is not agreed upon in time the end may be on the horizon.

Question; will Jason and his allies are able to defeat the dark shadows and regain their authority or lose all. This reader was compelled to find out the conclusion and enjoyed the hours of reading this inspiration story and was so impressed with the quality of details like the writer was trying to create a world where one can walk through a portal and be part of it. The plot was easy to follow and there is more here than a sci-fiction story. You will have to see for yourself and check out this author's Amazon's page to find out more about this creative author who is able to grasp all elements of existence and combine them in a spun tale of pure magic.

In the author's words; It was a prophecy given over eight hundred years before. From a far land, Jaben shall come. The last to arrive, he will already be here. Powerful and powerless, Our hope and our doom are in his hands.

The unique and colorful characters, Jason Reyga, and other Loremasters and of course the female healers and secondary character the brave chameleon creature of the Shanthi race; her name is Lenai, she Jason's guardian and committed to her assignment to protect the far lander with her life. They are leery of each other until in desperation they have to join forces against the dark foes and then so much magic occurs it brought joy to this reader's mind. The story continues and the relationships between Jason and the aliens go through many personal storms until at the conclusion the truth is unveil and then they will or will not come together to save the capital city, Telerian and the rest of the world.

Jason experiences a range of human emotions from fear to joy and in-between as he witnesses many events and feels hopeless. The rebels are winning and will take authority of Telerian and possibly destroy Jason's world, Earth to have complete dominance of the universe. There is a mysterious watcher waiting to choice sides; will he/she assist or kill the young visitor, Jason and will he seek his capabilities before this world and earth are annihilated.

This reader was introduced to this phenomenal writer through a Goodreads monthly book contest and was attracted to the cover and seeing the word Scotland in the first paragraph and my mind was hook and I am so pleased to find a gem among sci-fiction since it is not usually not my genre to read. Highly recommend this author and surprise he has more stories to enjoy.
http://www.amazon.com/From-Land-Jabens-Rift-ebook/dp/B0048WPC9U/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/26048  free

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/241308 free with coupon RB57Y. 

The first two books of Jaben's Rift (From a Far Land // Altered Intentions) are now out and available. 
From a Far Land is free via Smashwords (still waiting for the price match on Amazon) at:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
If anyone wants to let Amazon know about it being free on Smashwords, I'd appreciate it. 
:-)

And, for the rest of this month, you can get Altered Intentions free on Smashwords also by using coupon code RB57Y at:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...

I hope you like them if you pick them up. :-) 

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

A Gift for my Sister by Ann Pearlman UK Review


This is an intense emotionally descriptive story of two half-sisters and their journey of human existence and the trials they face. How they deal with their raging inner conflicts. They explored their emotions of broken trust to betrayal; jealousy to acceptance of their roles in their relationship from the past to present. They put down their barriers and became vulnerable to express their pain and explored their issues and let their self-defences down to discuss the intolerance and misery they had for each other. How they were able to come to terms of tolerance of acceptance and of what they perceive to be or not be true of their dysfunctional life experiences.  To explore, discussed and forgive each other to move on to be part of each other’s lives.

The author’s writing style was poetic as she described how each sister experienced their insecurities and came about their own compromises as they acknowledged their hidden secrets and unresolved anger at each other. 

The author touched this reader's core with her insight and expression of various emotions from anger to the sweet intimacy of loving one so deep it jars the soul to the core  For life is too short to be angry at someone you once loved. Be it family or friends, and not judge them by their race, gender, or beliefs; accept them as they are.

This story has many intense events and the main characters experienced many personal trials, when one sister is about to give up, the other steps in with support and encouragement. Together in the journey of life they survive and learned that no matter how many lightning bolts decide to strike in their lives, they were sisters and sisterly love is forever. 

This reader desires to include some writing of this insightful life tapestry of the two half-sisters and how their struggles of acceptance from anger, forgiveness and love came about.

"I consider the luck of simply being born, of being plucked out of the cosmos and bestowed with eyes to see, and nerves to feel, and ears to hear.  Our senses.  Our speech.  Our breath. How crucial and insistent our ceaseless moving lungs from our first cry to our last."

This book is about life's hardships and two half-sisters, Sky, a lawyer and Tara, a rap star who were estrange until the lighting of tragedy strikes one and they both come together in grief to rebuild their broken relationship. And to remember all they lost to come to know each other deeply. How they repair their broken bond and worked through their issues, to come a new understanding of each other’s beliefs.

During the roller coaster ride they call life there were lost and found and learn lessons and gain a deep bond of insight and understanding about each other. Their past and what they have in common. Decided to release the pent up unresolved emotions enjoy their future as close sisters should. The pinnacle was an event that crushes Sky’s world has Tara deciding to put the bitterness aside to come to a compromise and step up to be a caretaker to her sister Sky. Yet their jealousy, resentment and anger lie under the surface like a volcano and was about to explode.

The two step sisters are walking a fragile line of caring or distancing from each other due to conflicts of their past they can't not get pass.  The author described the tension and emotional pain between the two with a deep intense insight of human psychology and was able to grasp this reader's attention. As the sisters experienced the highs and lows of their conflicts, it took this reader back into past memories of past relationships with family members, and how the secrets in the closet came to light and needed to be express and forgiven to move on. 

This author wrote a realistic and modern tale of two sisters as they shared their past and future and their personal trials in a warm and compassionate tale and let the readers in to share their lives with.
The sisters memories were etched out of colorful description to shown their journey of emotional tug of war as they experienced their emotions and flashbacks to come to an understanding about their roles in their past and present relationships. There were heart wrenching events as well as joyous events as they express their emotional baggage through life events to be released using the seven stages of grief to acceptance levels of healing. 

To add to the mix, Tara is travelling with her homies her band, and they are like family to her and now her sister and Rachael are accepted and are shower with unconditional love as the clouds of suffering were threatening everything she believes in.

The author adds expressive details and speaks of the characters as they were her actual family and friends, he chapters about the younger sister Tara and her husband Aaron and their baby Levy is written with intensity and depth of poetic language of the deepest emotions of what ones hides but does not voiced out loud about fear, jealousy and other sensitive topics. Tara and her family gave the reader a glimpse in the highs and lows about the rise to fame as rap singers, the divorce of her mother and husband and the abandonment she felt when her dad walked out on the family and the resentment she held for Sky, she was the apple of mom’s eye.

The author is able to switch between characters, from the two sisters, the men in their lives, and others with an easy reading flow.  This story touches and expands on many topics from love, fear, jealousy, discrimination, racism, acceptance and forgiveness and all that is between.  It is an intense human experience and this reader was glad to open the cover and join this creative writer on her journey to explore what one defines as existing in a crazy mixed up world and jump the hurdles with other’s support and unconditional love. For them to come to a victory, to awakened the next morning and see their blessings in the midst of the pain one experiences and continue forth bravely  to live another day.

Conclusion: the story is about wounded individuals lost in the darkness and in their journey, they were divided then they came together to heal as sisters and re-join as sisters who travelled through personal tragedies and grief and were able to forgive one another .To join their extended families together and look toward to a brighter tomorrow in their journey of grief, self-discovery and forgiveness.

This book was given in exchange for a honest review. 



50 Hours by E. Marie Seltenrych


This book was brilliant with insight of human psychology, entertaining and pack with many twists. It is a non stop thrilling drama, suspenseful story of interesting characters. Three women on a holiday tour caught into a tricky situation and have to use their life long experiences and wits to survive a horrid ordeal. It has humour, insights and a spiritual tone that touches the inner core of the reader. This author wrote how they thought of inspiring ideals to live during each day.

This story surrounds three hopeless souls, women who struggle through their personal trials and survive. And live to be able to breathe again and look forward to a new day. It is a deep insightful look into the human struggle and what one would do to escape a harsh reality. Many details of three strangers was chilling. And what they did to live through their imprisonment and how they cooperate together to survive being jailed in a foreign country was interesting. And the ordeal was taxing to them but with faith, inner strength and belief they achieved their objective to survive and believe justice will prevail.

This is the synopsis: "3 Aussie middle-aged women caught red handed with drugs at Denpasar Airport, end up in a cell where they contemplate the death penalty. As they share together they reveal secrets from their respective pasts; criminal elements emerge. Merging their skills they plot an escape, which is foiled. Facing the death penalty they cling onto their belief that justice will prevail."

This reader enjoyed it, it gave a glimpse of inside a foreign prison and the human strength it took for the ladies to survive.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009IEXGSC/ref=cm_cr_mts_prod_img

Friday, October 5, 2012

Prime Minister Change Family Laws in Family Court Petition, Please


Today I am writing about a sensitive topic that hits close to home in my heart, violent child custody battles.
http://www.change.org/petitions/prime-minister-julia-gillard-australia-change-laws-in-family-court-to-add-compassion?utm_campaign=share_button_action_box&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=30493455

This cause opened an old wound and was an indication it was time to take a stand. I am was a victim  of Domestic Violence and had to struggled, escape and survived through much physical as well as verbal abuse, and it the midst of this had to be concerned for the safety of my three children. Like so many we ran to a shelter and with therapy and services was able to find the light at the end of the tunnel.  The  tension of the going back and forth to family court for custody of the children affected them very deeply. My older son forgave me. My middle son held a grudge for a long time and my daughter was insecure about connecting with males.  20 years later, and many trials, they are all grown and successful adults and forgave me for the paths I choose for them in the darkness to keep them safe. I can admitted proudly I am a survivor and if I had to do it again I would. No one knows what happens behind closed doors in homes everywhere.

Woman were raised to believe that Marriage was to be a life time commitment until death do us apart, it was my raising as well as many women around the world, so when the loving spouse does something that puts fear in one's spirit and they feel threatened, they decide to run and hide. Something happened in this relationship that made a mother packed up her children travelled from Italy to Australia, and separated from her spouse, the question is what?  A dear friend outage by the actions of the family court decided to create a petition and I have added the badge to the site for others to review and decide to sign the petition and help bring compassion to the courts.  Update I have to apologized to all parties, it was not family courts, thinking USA frame of mind, thank you to my twitter friend from Australia, they set me straight with the facts,  it wasn't family law that sent the girls back, it was international law set by the Hague Convention to which Australia has signed...and yes it was horrible what happened to those innocent girls. 
http://www.change.org/petitions/prime-minister-julia-gillard-australia-change-laws-in-family-court-to-add-compassion?utm_campaign=share_button_action_box&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=30493455

When I saw this heart wrenching story, I could relate with the mother, as she had her children torn from her by heartless workers of the court.  when I married a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and he shown his true colours, and became abusive,  I kept silent, until one night I could not tolerate the abuse any more.  I torn off my rose coloured glasses after being slapped and punched once too many time and called names and in desperation planned an escape. It was not the first escape and it took many attempts to leave. Fears and poor self esteem and broken promises I stay and thought with out the proper education or job training, I thought I was trapped. But I awoken one morning, and I knew this was not the environment I wanted to raised my children in. I swallow my dignity and let the secret out of the closet and asked for assistance. And was able to find the resources with strangers and professional blessings and we walked the path to a new happier life.

I could sympathizes with spouses who decide to take the children and leave an unsafe situation, as this woman and her four children did. And now the courts have decided to separate the daughters from their mother and send them back to their father in Italy. There was a video on the Internet of their emotional heart breaking departure, and the emotional agony of this family as they all experienced the trauma as the daugther were to be taken away  in a hostile manner .The video was taped to raise awareness that courts of the world need to have more compassion methods installed in their procedures when the children are the victims of a custody battle.

The catalyst of this petition creation came about because a woman with 4 daughters  aged 9-15 years old lived in Italy, told her husband she wanted to take her four daughters to Australia for a holiday getaway and did not return home and went into hiding for two years, changed her one of her daugther's names and broke all links to their father, there has to be a serious concern here for her to do all this and break the law. And questions to ask, was he abusive, and she was she terrified and decided to escape his abuse? Is she unbalance and does not know what she wants? Does she want her freedom from him, change her life and keep her daughters with her? It does not matter, the courts were harsh with dealing with the victims, the children and they need to make changes to their procedures.

There is a petition widget on this blog today as well as the others I utilized for writing about subjects that interested others.  When a dear friend sent this cause to my email and I research the facts, it hit me and many of my close friends deeply, so I decided to dedicated a weekend, October 10/5/12-10/7/12  to help the petitioner to collect signatures for this worthy cause. Abuse victims after resettling in their new lives are all survivors of DV, and knew the tumult and agony one experiences when there in the midst of this hectic  storm.  And if an angel needs just 99 signatures to have to courts evaluate cases with more compassion, then I am willing to assist.

As of the writing of this blog, the petitioner needed 98 signatures to have the courts evaluate child custody battles with more compassion.  Yes the mother could go back to Italy and be with her daughters  but she does not want to and the details are hidden from the public's eye as to the why, but if she is stalling there has to be  dark secrets that no one is willing to bring to the light. She created a safe life for her four daughters  the last two year while hiding from the authorities. Some questions to ponder about this case, when they torn the girls away from the mother's arms, and left her shattered with a broken heart, why did no one stopped it?. Why did the two older girls make such an emotional outburst display on the plane  and became rebellious enough to be escorted off the plane?. While the two younger stayed on and travelled to Italy?.

Another question was the father a champion by not pressing charges against the mother for kidnapping his children,  out of consideration or because he did not want to be the centre of attention of the media circus?.

Another question, if  he had the money to hired the expensive lawyers, who were the guardians for the children and what about their voices, do they have rights too?

This case is wrapped in bureaucracy  tape and secrets, but I as a survivor of DV and child custody battles  as well as my others friends and the petitioner of this cause knew the truth about DV and wanted to help these children as well as the many silent ones who can not advocate for themselves. By supporting this petition that only needs 98+ signatures to be activate by bringing attention to this personal cause, you could save lives. Many concerned citizens from around the globe desired to hear the whole truth about this and to have their story exposed and for the ones who were protecting them to tell their side of the story, when the storm settles hopefully the truth will come to light. And finally to let the girls expressed themselves as to why they do not want to be separated from their mother and/or why the father will not cooperate for the benefit of the daughters and agree to share custody unless mother goes back to Italy.

This petition could be the first  pioneer effort to attempt to create new or update standing family court amendments regarding the laws of child custody cases and how the families, spouses and children should be treated, with respect, dignity, not humiliated in public or torn apart savagely from their parent, and be permitted to have their voices be heard, not silenced.

If I was older adult or wiser when I decided to be impulsive and snatched my children for their safety, I would of taken their feelings into consideration and let them voiced their desires and regrets. If they wanted to go to him, then I would of been hurt but being the mature adult, accepted their decision if I and the guardians of the court thought this would have been the best resolution for my three children. Now these four precious daughters are in the same dilemma, who is their voice? We the petition signers that's who. .

I am not a psychologist or have enough education to predict their future,  but my experience as a veteran in the war of  dysfunctional marriages, abuse or chemical instability, the children are the innocent pawns in the midst of immaturity between two adults with different opinions . And they should not suffer for someone eles mistakes, they should be able to declare their rights to be heard and they should have the last word to do what they want with their lives and futures.  And the family courts should be more compassion in their final decisions.

I owe readers an apology, it was not the family courts who sent the girls back to Italy, thank you to

Aussie Labor
@MTMC2 it wasn't family law that sent the girls back, it was international law set by the Hague Convention to which Australia has signed..
@AusPolitico  (thank you for setting me and other straight with the facts)

Yes it was horrible what happen to those innocent four girls. This is not just an international plea, it is a worldwide call for changes to show compassion to the victims in the midst of custody battles.  

So please this weekend, research the case and do what your heart tells you to do and help this cause and sign the petition. It will save lives. What is better then that?

http://www.christianet.com/christiandivorce/howtowinchildcustodyformothers.htmhttp://www.christianet.com/christiandivorce/howtowinchildcustodyformothers.htm

http://www.drjamesbow.com/publications/assessing-allegations.pdfhttp://www.drjamesbow.com/publications/assessing-allegations.pdf
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/cc/pg/news/view/860http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/cc/pg/news/view/860
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/spca/pg/news/view/1001/index.php&keep_session=1703566452http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/spca/pg/news/view/1001/index.php&keep_session=1703566452
http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/spca/pg/news/misc//index.php&keep_session=1703566452http://www.familylawwebguide.com.au/spca/pg/news/misc//index.php&keep_session=1703566452



The drawing was created by the petitioner. Kudos to her generous heart to be the advocate for the silent ones in the world, the CHILDREN. Let's help her raise awareness and sign the petition today.


The Children Are Our Future. Let's help them be individuals not afraid to express their fears and choose what is right for their own lives with guidance from sensitive professionals.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Wilderness Heart by Jacqueline Hopkins


This story was a soft romance with waves of dark secrets, lies, betrayal and forgiveness between an assertive female and what she thought was an arrogant hunter, Nic Randall. Lyn knew what she desires for her life and that was to stay independent and not become a puppet to another. Not to lose her identify and dreams of being an operator and guide for her family outfitting service.

Lyn Taylor is fierce and loyal to herself, father who was grieving for his lost wife and decides that she is responsible to keep the family business alive while her dad went through his period of grief. She is engaged to a man 12 years older than her age. He is becoming restless and showing his true colours and desires she quit her career and become his wife. She is torn in two does she settle down with a demanding man or break free and be her own person.

In the midst of the fork in the road, she has to prove herself to the males' species she was an experienced hunter and guide and some of the paying male customers are not pleased to have a woman guiding them into the rugged setting.

She may have met her match, with Nic Randall at first appearance who came off as a rude woman hater with his complaints about women were not able to be good company in the wilderness. His arguments, they could not be quiet and chase the prey away, wore too much make-up and even bought an electric hair dryer with them in the wilderness where there was no electricity, which did not make sense to him. He was turned off with inviting woman on hunts with him.

She was different and has to prove herself to this hard headed man that she was the opposite of what he perceived women to be in the wilderness. The story plots along smoothly and then the author increased the tension like a flame and heightening the fire between the two with suspenseful events, dark secrets, mysteries and electricity between the two main characters.

The author wrote the story with the style of a believable tone of expression to let the reader feel the tension and conflict between the two and it was sizzling hot and cold. There were hints of attraction between the two. Yet conflicts too, that Lyn was foolish to think any man would let her be herself. To worked as a guide and go out in the Idaho wilderness with males, without being jealous and controlling of her actions. Plus he convinced himself there was the arguments of too many opportunities of something bad occurring to her if she did not have her father's best friend Carl along as the second guide.

His, I told you so predictions came true, especially when there was booze available and time on their hands. As if his predictions came true, one after another event proves what he thought was true about women being a hindrance in the wild, and she was placed in sticky situations and was suborn and puts herself into danger and he has to rescue her. He should be mad at her but she grows on him with witty and sarcastic attitude and her moments of vulnerability peeking through, but she was professional all the way through the trip.

Nic with a soft interior inside and rough exterior outside became protective of Lyn as she proved herself to him to be an expert as a guide and kept herself under control in tricky situations. He ponders did he came to Idaho under a ruse of a hunting trip for his father's sake to scout out the beautiful wilderness for it enriching timber for their family business and may of found his life mate. Lyn who became aware of his fake ruse he booked for a hunting trip when he was undercover working for his dad and when she confronted him with the truth, the fireworks really go off between the two.

This book was a delightful forge into soft romantic conflict that became a sizzling fire, it was refreshing read, a reader's dream of fantasy come true, I wish. My heart rate increased with the close encounters and the passion between the two. It was like when after a heavy rainfall and the sun peeks out and the lilies and lilacs' give off that perfume fragrance and a fun escape into the Wilderness Hearts of two opposite's fiery characters that come to a rocky but united bond during the journey of discovering themselves and the Idaho wilderness.

I highly recommend this light read for all the romantics in us, gentlemen welcome too preview too and enjoy the male companionship of the men on a hunt with a sizzling romance in-between and your woman would enjoy sharing this plot with you of how two stubborn individuals in the worst of circumstances could forgive each other and look towards the future and you will have a common interest to maybe ignite the spark in your own relationship.

http://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Heart-ebook/dp/B004MYGV3U/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_i