Book Promo: To Save a Marriage: Game Night Seduction

To Save a Marriage:
Game Night Seduction

by Wendy Marcus

“Wendy Marcus has given her readers a delightful story, just in time for the holidays! How great is it, when you read a story and it’s so close to your own life that you find yourself saying, “That very thing has happened to me!” You might just ignore those “Do not try this at home” warnings by the time you reach the end!” ~Jan Meredith, Award-Winning author of Playing Doctor.

Gambling on seduction to save a marriage…

The holidays are approaching fast, and Annabella Cristy–a thirty-nine-year-old, plumper-than-she’d-like-to-be, mother of three–is determined not to let another year end without reigniting the spark in her marriage. So she enlists the help of three not-so-happily married, similarly sexless friends to stage a seduction of their husbands on game night.

…could be the riskiest bet of all.

When Jack Cristy finds a brand new negligee and a pair of sexy silver stilettoes hidden in the back of the closet he shares with his wife, he knows something’s up. It’s been years since she’s come to his bed wearing anything close to sexy. Why does she have them? And just who the hell is she planning to wear them for?

A short holiday story. Approximately 12,000 words.

Available in Amazon KINDLE

About the Author

Wendy S. Marcus is an award-winning author of contemporary romance who lives in the beautiful Hudson Valley region of New York…where she spends way too much time indoors on her computer. Writing. Really! Okay, more like…where she spends way too much time on Twitter and Facebook! To learn more about Wendy and the books she’s managed to write, in spite of her social media addiction, visit http://WendySMarcus.com.

Book Promo: Woof! A Love Story of Dogs, Music, and Life

The Enduring Love Between 2 People And The 17 Dogs
They Shared Life With Is Memorialized In Woof!

In Woof! A Love Story of Dogs, Music, and Life, Robert Freeman shares heartfelt stories of the 17 wonderful dogs that shared the 42 happy years he spent with his wife Carol.  Filled with beautiful photography, the book reflects on his marriage, his remarkable career in music, and the joy he and his wife received from the canine companions who accompanied them on their journey through life.

Freeman was a music school director when he fell in love with his assistant, Carol. Throughout their union they created a loving home for 17 dogs, all of which are featured through striking photography between the covers of Woof! This book is a celebration of true love — between people and between people and animals — and beautifully relates the eternal truth that the world would be a better place if everyone simply took good care of each other.

Author Robert Freeman is a musicologist, Steinway artist, and a professional musician. Over 42 years of marriage to his wife, Carol, he has been the proud master of 17 dogs — 11 of them golden retrievers, six of them American dogs. Having made tenure at MIT, he directed the Eastman School of Music for 24 years, presided over the New England Conservatory for three, and served as dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Texas in Austin for seven. He is also the author of the highly praised The Crisis of Classical Music in America. For the Eastman School’s website honoring Freeman, please visit https://www.esm.rochester.edu/freeman/.

WOOF!  A Love Story of Dogs, Music, and Life
Page Publishing
Released: April 30, 2019
ISBN-10: 164462673X
ISBN-13: 978-1644626733
Direct link to book on Amazon.com

Review of: Crossed Lines by Jessica Cross

I needed to turn the pages to know what was coming

Ms. Cross tells an intriguing tale of mistakes and losses and yet the heroine still rises from the ashes. Crossed Lines is a tale that kept me turning pages NEEDING to know what would happen next. I strongly recommend this book.
~ reviewed by Chelle Cordero, Author of Passion & Suspense

 

Crossed Lines: How Could She Have Known That What She Desired The Most Would Become Her Undoing

As she taps on the computer, using writing as part of her recovery from a debilitating stroke at age 35, Jessica Cross not only overcomes the worst thing that happened in her young life ― she finds her true calling! In her debut story, Crossed Lines: What Lies Buried Within the Heart, we meet Sandra, a woman who believes she’s living the “perfect life” until her dreams expose an unfulfilled longing. But it’s what happens after she satisfies that longing that propels her life into a downward spiral as secrets and passions collide for a cataclysmic undoing of not only Sandra’s world, but the lives of many others, in an intriguing tale of love, greed and karma.

In her new novel, Jessica Cross explores the mythical “perfect life” and how a closer examination can expose an emptiness that demands to be filled, whatever the cost. The well-paced storyline and believable characters combine to create a raw and profoundly beautiful book that readers will find hard to put down.

Some of Crossed Lines might have come straight from Cross’s own experiences. After bearing a child at the age of 17, she doggedly pursued an education that led to her own dream life: a rewarding career, a loving husband and children. But at the age of 35, she was dealt a crippling blow: a stroke that left her hospitalized for months with a paralyzed right side and an inability to work.

Two years later, still in rehabilitation and out of work, Cross began punching at a computer keyboard to restore function to her arm and hand. Having little interest in typing mindlessly, she began writing what would become Crossed Lines.

In addition to writing, Cross is a motivational speaker, an activist in education and wellness, and an advocate for women’s empowerment.

For more information, please visit http://www.Jessicarcross.com.

Crossed Lines: What Lies Buried Within the Heart
The Luvv Syc Alliance
Available at Books-A-Million, Apple iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Baker & Taylor, http://www.jessicarcross.com, and all online outlets.
ISBN-9780999822807
ISBN-978-0-9998228-2-1

Book Promo: Men Chase, Women Choose by Dawn Maslar, MS

At The Intersection Of Science And Love:
Men Chase, Women Choose

“Men Chase, Women Choose is warm and witty with a perfect balance of science and insight. You’ll find yourself wondering why a book of this magnitude didn’t come out sooner. But like everything else in life, all in due time.” – Gabe Berman, author of Live Like a Fruit Fly

“Understanding the anthropological principles that underlie our responses to love does not lessen its beauty and enigmatic wonder, but allows us to clearly view love as a biological responsibility.”- Lisa McCourt, author of Juicy Joy: 7 Simple Steps to Your Glorious, Gutsy Self

A question that seems as old as time comes closer to a definitive answer than ever before ― What is love? In Men Chase, Women Choose, Dawn Maslar, MS, provides engaging insights into one of life’s most elusive and misunderstood topics by offering science-based research to help anyone discover and sustain love. Maslar’s relatable and easy-to-read book uses the most relevant neurological, physiological, and biochemical studies on the science of love, while incorporating stories and examples based on participants of her popular classes and seminars.

For the past decade, the “love biologist” has been using her cutting-edge research to describe how the brain works when two people first meet, start to date, fall in love, and then move on to a more passionate, lifelong love. Even simpler, she breaks down her love science into four precisely timed phases:

1.    Attraction
2.    Dating
3.    Falling in love
4.    Real love

During these phases, Maslar explains that “love” is actually neural activity as well as the presence or absence of certain neurotransmitters. Most people associate love with the euphoric feeling during which anxiety is low or nonexistent among these brain signals. However, Maslar demonstrates that levels of anxiety and other feelings can fluctuate throughout love’s path. “Love isn’t just one thing that you luckily fall into,” says Maslar. “Finding and maintaining lifelong love is a process … Because the stages are different, you can feel different emotions during each phase.”

Maslar reasons that once we understand how love works, we can make educated decisions. Men Chase, Women Choose helps readers in this boundless endeavor by addressing all those time-honored questions like:

•    Does love at first sight really exist?
•    Who should make the first move?
•    What happens to your brain when you fall in love?
•    Why won’t he commit?
•    Why does love make us crazy?
•    What can you do to have love that lasts a lifetime?

Readers can expect answers involving how love is a biological need, the “natural laws” of love, purposes of the brain’s anatomy, and how testosterone and other biochemical differences between men and women affect how we love. Maslar states, “When you understand the science of love, it will help you easily and effortlessly find nourishing and passionate, long-lasting love.”

More praise for Men Chase, Women Choose…

“Whether in between relationships or currently in one, readers will find valuable insight on how men and women interact with each other and what dynamics long-term relationships need to work. Maslar mixes scientific concepts, often with humor, making it a light and enjoyable read. – Theresa Braun, author of Groom and Doom: A Greek Love Story and dating blogger.

“Finally, a book that doesn’t treat finding true love like a Nora Ephron movie! Biology, nature, evolution … they all play a role in helping us find that special someone. Or in keeping them from us forever. – Eric Rogell, author of The Art of War for Dating

About the Author:

Dawn Maslar, MS, (Davie, FL) award-winning author, adjunct biology professor and the go-to authority on the science of love. She was voted one of the Top 20 Most Followed Dating Experts on Twitter and Best 28 Dating, Marriage and Relationship Blogs in the UK to follow in 2015. She is a contributing author at scienceofrelationship.com, a collection of leading experts in the field of scientific relationship research. She is a TEDx speaker on How Your Brain Falls in Love and worked with the TED Education division to create their Science of Attraction video. Her work has been featured on South Florida Today, Pittsburgh Tribune and NPR. Her online videos have had over 2 million views. In addition to the book, she has created The Great Love Experiment; a show where audience members learn about the science of love by participating in research reenactments on stage. It’s a fun and often hilarious event that she does at colleges, comedy clubs and singles events. See excerpts of the show here: https://vimeo.com/168358958

Men Chase, Women Choose: The Neuroscience of Meeting, Dating, Losing Your Mind and Finding True Love
By Dawn Maslar, MS
Available directly from the publisher at www.hcibooks.com or 800-441-5569
and at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and other fine retailers.
ISBN: 9780757319259

###

Book Review: That’s Why I Married You: How to Dance with Personality Differences

That’s Why I Married You! is not your average marriage book, but a practical handbook for couples written by marriage expert Chana Levitan. Learn how to not only live with personality differences but to actually love those differences. The fact is that we’re naturally attracted to someone who possesses significant differences (amid various similarities). These differences hold a tremendous power of connection and vibrancy if we can use them correctly. Without the proper emotional tools and the right mindset, however, these very differences can trip a couple up and can even wreak havoc in a marriage.

Marriage help is often right in front of us. When a couple finally opens their eyes to the power hidden within their personality differences, they often find themselves saying, Oh…that’s why I married you! It is truly exciting to discover the many ways each spouse completes each other as a result of their personality differences.

That’s Why I Married You! is packed with essential marriage advice, information, practical exercises, tips and charts. Through the real-life narratives of successful couples who share how they make their personality differences work, the reader will find inspiration and guidance. Marriage is the ultimate journey; That’s Why I Married You! is the qualified manual for a successful journey.

Reviews

Chana Levitan crystallizes the treacherous steps that lead to a downward spiraling marriage. She then clarifies options for transitioning to upward spiraling, that is, for emerging from annoyance at differences to enjoying each other, differences and all. Essential reading for all couples who want a lasting and loving marriage, and for marriage therapists as well. This book earns a super-bravo! —Susan Heitler, PhD, Author of Prescriptions Without Pills: For Relief from Depression, Anger, Anxiety and More

This research-based book is a gem. It shines light on why its not the differences between people that cause marital problems its how those differences are understood, handled, accepted and embraced. Buy the book, read it, follow its wisdom and increase your chances for what we all dream of – – a happy, healthy, life-time love and marriage. —Dr. Howard Markman, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Co-Director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver

Chana Levitan has written a very practical and thorough book that provides a roadmap for achieving a paradigm shift. Practical, clearly explained recommendations provide couples with tools to transform their personality differences into a powerful engine for personal growth and deepened connection. I highly recommend this book for singles, couples, and marriage therapists. —David Pelcovitz, PhD, Straus Chair in Psychology and Education, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University

I read Ms. Levitan’s book from the perspective of almost four decades in family court as advocate, mediator, and decisor. This book should be given away by every marriage license bureau in the country to every applicant. If they would just follow her approach, I might never meet them. —Dan Butler, Family court judge; nationally renowned speaker

About the Author

Chana Levitan, MSc, is an educator, speaker, therapist and author with twenty-five years of experience. Her best-selling book I Only Want to Get Married Once is a clear and practical guide to choosing the right marriage partner. Chana has lectured extensively across the globe on four different continents and has counseled thousands of men and women on dating and marriage. She is a frequent guest on television and radio talk shows, including WCBS 880 and WLS 890. A native New Yorker, Chana now lives in Jerusalem with her husband and children.

Communication in Relationships

Why Communication Is The Oxygen
That Keeps Relationships Alive
Daily ‘Check-Ins’ Can Get Couples Talking, Psychologist Says

Married couples should have plenty to say to each other, but research says communication is one of the issues they struggle with most.

Part of the problem may be that communication is a two-way street, requiring both partners to do it well. And some subjects are more ticklish than others to bring up.

“Healthy couple communication is not just about expressing your needs, but also about being an active listener and desiring to understand your partner’s perspective,” says Dr. Anne Brennan Malec, clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist, and author of the book “Marriage in Modern Life: Why It Works, When It Works.” (www.drannemalec.com)

For couples, she says, communication is like oxygen. The relationship needs it to stay alive.

“Couples never come into my office and say, ‘We are talking way too much,’ ” Dr. Malec says. “It is always, ‘We have a problem with communication.’ ”

That rarely means they shut each other out completely, Dr. Malec says. They talk, but often they sidestep what’s really troubling them.

“Couples sometimes avoid difficult conversations and conflict because they fear it will turn ugly,” Dr. Malec says.

She says when it comes to communicating, there are a few traps to watch out for and some effective strategies to employ.

•  Getting passive-aggressive. Some people act out their feelings instead of talking about them. That’s called being passive-aggressive and as a relationship strategy it ranks near the bottom, Dr. Malec says. “You say one thing and do another, or worse, you say nothing but roll your eyes or sigh dramatically,” she says. “This communicates judgment and contempt, which is disrespectful to your partner.”

People usually act passive-aggressively because discussing their thoughts, feelings and opinions makes them uncomfortable or seems too risky. “I see it all the time,” Dr. Malec says. “A partner agrees to do something they have no intention of doing just to get the spouse to stop nagging.” Passive-aggressive habits foster distance between partners so it’s absolutely necessary to replace them with healthier communication strategies to restore the connection.

•  Assuming your partner is psychic. Sometimes spouses don’t communicate their needs or desires because they expect their partner to somehow know. “Expecting your partner to know intuitively what you want without saying it sets your partner up to fail,” Dr. Malec says. “None of us are mind readers.”

It’s far more effective, and people stand a much greater chance of getting their needs met, when they learn to share their thoughts directly.

•  Checking in. Communication often devolves into a heated argument over the family’s latest crisis, or involves the resurrection of old grievances. But communicating should be a way to head off problems instead of causing them, and can be if the right steps are taken, Dr. Malec says. She encourages clients to have at least a 20-minute daily check-in. This is a time to catch up on the day’s events and talk about what’s coming up the next day. “Done right, it can lead to smoother mornings in getting yourselves and the kids out of the house,” Dr. Malec says.

•  Addressing the bigger picture. In addition to short daily check-ins, couples should schedule weekly sessions to discuss bigger-picture items. That might include financial goals, work issues or parenting concerns, Dr. Malec says. Some couples do better if the agenda is set ahead of time. “A spoken agenda works fine for a lot of people,” she says. “But conflict-ridden couples may need a written agenda to stay focused and keep the conversation running smoothly.”

If necessary, use a clock to ensure equal talking time. Partners also can use an object such as a spoon or book that is passed back and forth to indicate whose turn it is to speak. Dr. Malec says that will help keep the couple centered and reduce the likelihood of either partner becoming overheated. Partners are more willing to engage in a conversation if they know they will have a chance to be heard.

“For many of us, our natural instinct is to avoid situations that feel complicated and confrontational,” Dr. Malec says. “But keeping and maintaining a successful marriage depends on learning how to fight the ‘avoidance’ instinct and discuss difficult issues.”

About Dr. Anne Brennan Malec

Dr. Anne Brennan Malec (www.drannemalec.com) is the founder and managing partner of Symmetry Counseling (www.symmetrycounseling.com), a group counseling, coaching and psychotherapy practice in Chicago. She also is author of the book ”Marriage in the Modern Life: Why It Works, When It Works.” Dr. Malec earned her Bachelor’s degree from Villanova University in Accountancy and holds two Master’s degrees: one in Liberal Studies from DePaul University, and one in Marital and Family Therapy from Northwestern University. Dr. Malec earned her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Purchase on Amazon

Book Promo: The LGBT & Modern Family Money Manual by Holly Hanson

The LGBT & Modern Family Money Manual:
Financial Strategies For You
and Your Loved Ones

by Holly Hanson
Buy Link

We’re living in swiftly changing times, and this is very good news for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals, same-sex couples and modern families. This means that there’s a groundswell of support for marriage equality, should you choose to get married. But it also means that now, more than ever, it’s important to stay educated and up-to-date about what rights and privileges are available to you so that you can be your own best advocate-in life and in finance. The LGBT and Modern Family Money Manual is the go-to resource for LGBT individuals and couples as they look to forge ahead into a brighter future, as well as for modern families of all shapes and sizes-even long-term partners of the opposite sex who have opted not to enter into traditional marriage.

Although financial planning is a concern to every individual, no matter his or her sexual orientation or family dynamic, the issues surrounding family planning, marriage equality, and estate planning-just to name a few areas of many-that LGBT and modern families face require a unique perspective. Harmony Financial Strategies Principal and Founder Holly Hanson and team of professionals are the perfect authorities to help LGBT individuals, same-sex couples and modern families navigate the wealth of ever-changing information out there on the subject within the comfort of a safe, grounded and empathetic environment. From developing a plan for protection of assets to understanding the benefits you should be applying for that could positively change your financial picture, this book aims to give LGBT individuals, same-sex couples, and modern families the foundation they need to plan and provide for themselves and their loved ones through financial strategies crafted with them in mind.

7 Ways LGBT Couples & Modern Families
Benefit from Same-Sex Marriage
Wealth Manager Reviews the Many Financial and Legal Advantages

Advocates for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender couples and modern families are adding another victory to their list, with 36 states, along with Washington D.C., to allow marriage among same-sex couples.

A critical turning point came in October last year, when the Supreme Court chose not to hear appeals against lower court rulings that had overturned same-sex marriage bans in five states. Despite actions such as Indiana’s recent Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which would allow businesses in the state to refuse service to the LGBT community, the tide has been swift and overwhelmingly in favor of gay rights.

“I’ll always remember June 26, 2013 — the day that the Defense of Marriage Act was ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court, effectively breaking down the major door standing between LGBT couples and marriage equality,” says financial professional Holly Hanson, founder and principal of Harmony Financial Strategies, www.harmony-financial.com, a firm that, in part, focuses on the needs of the LGBT community. “As a member of the LGBT community, the day is etched forever in my mind.”

“Naturally, a lingering suspicion remains in the back of our minds, ‘Is it too good to be true?’ And, despite the positive direction the country is taking toward same-sex couples, there remain many practical concerns regarding laws and finances.” 

Hanson, author of “The LGBT and Modern Family Money Manual,” touches on benefits that have become available recently to millions of Americans.

•  Social Security and Medicare: In states where same-sex marriage is legal, LGBT couples have access now to federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

“Not only is it plainly fair—we’ve been paying into these systems as taxpayers regardless of your ability to take advantage of marriage—it will no doubt improve some of the issues that elderly people in the LGBT community face as they age and need assistance via partner benefits,” she says.

•  Military Benefits: Not only can same-sex couples now serve without fear of being dishonorably discharged or otherwise forced out, we can live openly together with military assistance as other military families have for years.

•  Federal and State Tax Benefits: Just by changing your tax status to “married filing jointly,” you can save thousands of dollars. We now have more choices in tax planning, and this is obviously something that ties into long-term financial planning as well.

•  Legal Titling to Assets: In the past, LGBT partners were unable to access retirement funds and pensions as heterosexual spouses could have. There are considerable taxation consequences for inheriting an investment vehicle from someone other than a spouse. Now, legally married LGBT spouses can have the proper access to these funds, both while their spouse is living or deceased.

•  Ability to Gift Money: Spouses can make monetary gifts to one another free of taxation. However, in the past, an LGBT couple would have had to pay gift tax on anything more than $14,000 (the current limit as of 2014). If I wanted to buy my wife a car, for example, that asset would have been subject to the gift tax. Not so anymore.

•  U.S. Visas for Same-Sex Couples: In the past, many LGBT couples would be ripped apart by forced deportation once visas ran out.

“My wife is a Swedish national, and now that we are legally married, I can sponsor her permanent residency in the United States,” Hanson says.

•  Parenting Rights / Family Planning: Second-parent adoptions have undoubtedly been smoothed over by the fact that it’s now easier to get a legal same-sex marriage in many states. Not all states in the U.S. have the same laws, so it’s recommended you attain the appropriate paperwork.

“Of course, there are millions of other Americans who, currently, do not have access to these and other benefits,” Hanson says. “Fortunately, those states are becoming an ever-receding minority. I think most of us can reasonably expect the possibility of marriage benefits within our lifetimes.”

About Holly Hanson, CFP®, CIMA®, ADPA®

Holly Hanson is founder and principal of Harmony Financial Strategies, www.harmony-financial.com, a recent vision which came to her after 16 years of experience in the financial advisory business and having attained the designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Certified Investment Management Analyst and Accredited Domestic Partner Advisor. She oversees the entire Harmony operation, mentoring and guiding the advisors to provide a unique combination of knowledge, dedication and service to LGBT individuals, same-sex couples and modern families. 

With the fall of DOMA and the repeal of Proposition 8 in California, Holly and her partner Sophie were married in 2013, and hope to eventually add children to their family of four dogs. Holly and Sophie are active supporters of the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the Human Rights Campaign.

(from Ginny Grimsley, National Print Campaign Manager, News and Experts)

June is LGBT Pride Month

Book Promo: Help Wanted by Charmaine Gordon

River’s Edge Series
by Charmaine Gordon

River’s Edge

River’s Edge, where the town motto is Kindness to Strangers, is a small town with big heart, and stories to tell that will warm your heart, make you smile, and turn a dreary day into a day of hope for the Kindness of Strangers…

Book 2

Help Wanted
by Charmaine Gordon

Steve and Sally Atwood have some big adjustments to make when they move to River’s Edge. Steve has lost his career in the corporate world and finds work painting houses. Sally flings off her apron and pursues her lifelong dream to be a reporter in the small town with a big heart, where the motto is ‘Kindness to Strangers’.

Afraid he is losing Sally to a more exciting world, Steve panics, but despite Sally’s lecherous new boss, together they rediscover all the love of their thirty-five years together and the excitement that brings.

BUY LINKS

APPLE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/help-wanted/id933546940

ALLROMANCE

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-helpwanted-1658298-149.html

KINDLE

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OWHOGYS

SMASHWORDS for All EReader Devices

including PC and Mac

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/487447

NOOK

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Charmaine-Gordon

Help Wanted Sneak Peek Video

or

http://youtu.be/4fz0NVk3Vf0

4CHPforNTCVR

http://books.noisetrade.com/charmainegordon/free-4-chapter-preview-help-wanted

Help Wanted

Read a sample or download Help Wanted by Charmaine Gordon with iBooks.

ITUNES.APPLE.COM

Book Promo: Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever

 Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever: A Novel

by Judith Marshall

Award-winning author Judith Marshall has written an ambitious novel in which one of the most entrenched problems of modern-day womanhood is explored – our rigid clinging to control over our personal and professional lives and our reluctance to reach out for help when we most need it. Hilarious moments vie with heartbreaking ones in Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever, which is a celebration of fresh hopes, second chances, and the anything-but-simple art of relationships.

The book has received more than 60 5-star reviews on Amazon and has been optioned for the big screen.

The story takes place in Northern California, in the spring of 2000, when the dot-com boom was at its peak. Elizabeth Reilly-Hayden is a successful executive in her late fifties and a divorced mother of two. Emotionally armored and living alone, she wants only to maintain the status quo: her long-term significant other, her job, and her trusted friends-five feisty women whose high school friendship has carried them through multiple marriages, dramatic divorces, and maddening menopause. Yet in a matter of days, the three anchors that have kept her moored are ripped away. The group of lifelong pals gathers at Lake Tahoe to attend to the funeral arrangements of their beloved friend and tries to unravel the mystery of her death. Through their shared tragedy, Elizabeth learns how disappointment and grief can bloom into healing and hope.

Judith Marshall is a third generation native Californian, born in St. Helena, California. Her lifelong dream of writing fiction was realized with the completion of “Husbands May Come and Go but Friends are Forever,” winner of the Jack London Prize for fiction awarded by the California Writers Club. The book has been optioned for the big screen. Ms. Marshall is an active member of the California Writers Club, The Women’s National Book Association, and a regular participant in writing classes and workshops. She continues to hone her craft and is currently working on her second novel, “Staying Afloat,” the story of a devoted stay-at-home wife and mother who morphs into a sex-starved adulteress.

Buy Link on Amazon (paperback or Kindle)

Book Review: Housebroken by Charmaine Gordon

Housebroken: A River’s Edge Romantic Suspense

[Kindle Edition]

by Charmaine Gordon (Author)

An Amusing Look at an Empty Nest

Charmaine Gordon gives us a wonderful novella about couple who have just achieved empty nest status. Steve and Sally Atwood decide it’s their time to live, they’re still young enough to begin a perpetual honeymoon in a new, smaller home in a community suited for them and not for a young family. Everything is going well, they find the home of their dreams, their passion is as good as it’s ever been (better even without the interruptions), and their new neighbors are definitely their kind of people.

But there are unexpected hurdles – Steve and Sally face them head on and together.

The story is a quick and refreshing read. Ms. Gordon’s writing allows the reader to share in the joy of planning, the trepidation from set-backs, and cheer as they move forward from their old life. As half of a long-time married couple about to embark on our perpetual honeymoon, I truly enjoyed this story; it gave me lots of hope, laughter and a sense of adventure. I recommend it for all.

reviewed by Chelle Cordero, author of Passion & Suspense

Amazon  (Kindle)

Smashwords

Book Description

Introducing Charmaine Gordon’s Newest Series – River’s Edge Series

River’s Edge, where the town motto is Kindness to Strangers, is a small town with big heart, and stories to tell that will warm your heart, make you smile, and turn a dreary day into a day of hope for the Kindness of Strangers…

Book 1
Housebroken
by Charmaine Gordon

Sally and Steve Atwood must make a big adjustment – a fair number of them, actually – when after thirty-five years, three grown children, and a lifetime of memories, they are alone, together, at last… And, then they found River’s Edge.