A Collection of Six Word Stories

“What happened to the remote batteries?”

The silent anticipation of another adventure!

Review of Protective Instinct, by Joy York

Here we are with February coming to a close in the next week, and the weather’s been bouncing up and down like our dog’s floppy ears during a run. Today we’ve returned to the deep freezer, and that comes as no surprise because this is usually the coldest time of the year.

Yesterday afternoon, my daughter and I volunteered for the, Coldest Night of the Year, fundraiser in support of the homeless. It always does well. We live in a very generous community. 

Right now, I just wanted to share a quick review of my most recent read. But first, let’s get a gist of what this one’s about.

When self-absorbed, international bestselling author Sebastian Bartoli refuses to write the biography of the infamous, mob-connected Maximillian Fontana, the consequences turn deadly.
Sebastian (Bash) Bartoli is an international bestselling crime novelist. Maximillian (Max) Fontana, who is reputed to have ties to organized white-collar crime, has insisted Bash write his biography. Concerned for his safety, Bash’s friend/agent devises an elaborate plan for him to disappear to a secluded location on Guntersville Lake in Alabama. Being accustomed to having his comfortable life managed, Bash is irritated by the inconvenience of having to deal with his own affairs, not to mention the danger it might pose if he is discovered.

Morgan Skylar is a good-natured and unfiltered, southern kindergarten teacher. She is much more comfortable eating potato chips with Cheez Whiz and Louisiana Hot Sauce than champagne and caviar. After the death of her overly protective grandfather (Pops) who raised her in rural Georgia, she takes time off to grieve, ending up in a cottage next door to Bash. When mechanical issues arise, she seeks help from the renter in the main house. Bash is annoyed that his secluded hideout is apparently not so secret. Begrudgingly, he offers her assistance. This is where Morgan and Bash’s worlds collide. When suited, armed men show up at the lake house, Morgan’s trained survival skills take over, and she secures their escape by boat as bullets fly.

Morgan offers to provide a temporary sanctuary to Bash in her Pops’ remote Appalachian cabin. Upon arrival, she discovers a letter from Pops revealing his dangerous past that may now be coming for her. As the unwitting targets of dangerous men, Bash and Morgan fight to stay a step ahead of their pursuers, while seeking answers. Bonds are tested. Trusts are broken. Alliances formed. Agendas hidden.

Just My Thoughts:

Morgan Skylar is the benchmark for unassuming characters. A mild mannered kindergarten teacher who uses the phrase, “Turkey feathers!”, to sum up her feelings for dire situations. But she’s got a secret life. A childhood that any doomsday prepper would be proud of. 

Mix in a pampered best selling author, Bash, who believes a crime boss is out to get him, add a visit from a pair of goons, and watch the wheels spin. Though the story borders on the fantastical at times, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The moments of cheeky banter between Morgan and Bash added spice and filled out their profiles.    

Amidst the action, two constant themes emerge: people are often not what they seem, and sometimes you just have to trust. The writing style is naturally tweaked for the action genre, with one or two-word sentences sprinkled throughout; but not overdone. The protagonists are highly dynamic, seasoned by trials and reliance on each other. 

I recommend this one to those who enjoy an American thriller with a spritz of James Bond.   

Meet Joy:

Joy York grew up in Alabama but has spent much of her adult life in the Midwest, currently living with her husband in Indiana with their two golden doodles, Jake and Bailey. Inspired by a family legacy of oral storytelling, she began creating stories and adventures for her son when he was growing up. With encouragement from family and friends, she began to write them down. Her first book, The Bloody Shoe Affair: A daring and thrilling adventure with the jailer’s daughter, a YA mystery, was published in 2015. Genuine Deceit, an adult suspense novel, is her second book. For more information, visit joyyork.com.

Photos With Captions To Make You Smile

So, Christmas is coming faster than my kids when they realize they’ve left their phones downstairs. We have nary a snowflake on the ground here, but that’ll come soon enough.

We finally have some decent, for us, internet after we switched from Bell to Starlink. Honestly, after we first made the switch we gathered round our devices like a 1950’s era family around their first color television. It was that revolutionary for us!

That being said, I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the season. Just a few pics today, but I hope they bring a smile.

The Grinch may be nasty, but he DOES make a mean pair of pajama pants!

Can anyone relate?

Finally! Proof that fish are really just submarines for crayfish! My research has been redeemed!

Last night one, or both, of our cats, Sage and Charlie, busted into the catnip stash. I’m gobsmacked that no matter how much I question them, neither will lift a paw to rat out the other. They don’t always get along. More solid than Canadian soil in February, those two. I managed to intervene before either one could eat too much. Though I swear I caught Sage grinning at me like the Cheshire Cat. 

Review of, The Lilac Notebook, by Carol Balawyder

It’s not often that I review books by the same author consecutively. But here I find myself unable to resist. You can check out my review of Carol’s, Warning Signs, in my previous post.

So what’s it all about?

Three university friends. One in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, another out for revenge and a third murdered.
Holly Baranov is in the beginning stages of fast advancing Alzheimer’s at 40. Unwilling to care for her, Holly’s husband leaves her. While frightened to be on her own, Holly is relieved to be freed from the clutches of a controlling husband.
She moves out of her large home in the middle-class west end section of Montreal and into a small apartment near McGill University where she enrols in a poetry course in the hopes of stimulating her brain.
There she meets Kim Harris, a thirty-something beautiful but damaged law student and Amelia Rose, a twenty-year-old pole dancer in a seedy nightclub who wants nothing more than to graduate, teach high school, marry and raise a family. Both Kim and Amelia were victims of incest, though each see her perpetrator differently. Kim chose law so as to right the justice she was denied while Amelia is angry at the justice system for separating her from a flawed father who was nonetheless her whole world.
When Amelia is found strangled in her apartment, Holly becomes involved in the investigation, both as prime suspect and as a means to defend herself.
Detective Alice Vireovich and her rookie partner, Detective Dan Cardoni, currently investigating the murders of two middle aged men, are also tasked with investigating Amelia’s murder: They come to believe all three murders may be linked because of a Van Gogh Starry Night postcard found at the scene of all three crimes.
Holly’s health worsens quickly. She is transferred to a support facility. Along with her fading memory, Holly is also losing her ability to speak and write. She is uncertain whether she killed Amelia as her friend Kim, ex-husband Roy and the police suspect.
A niece (whom Holly doesn’t recognize and whose motives she distrusts for suddenly wanting to help her) visits Holly regularly and reads Holly’s notes about Amelia’s investigation. This eventually leads the investigation away from her as they seem to implicate Kim.
Kim’s law teacher at McGill agrees to take on the case pro bono, motivated by her interest in litigating whether damaging effects of childhood abuse pose the question whether murder can ever be justified in such cases.
The expanding investigation leads to more findings relating to the postcard found next to Amelia’s body, bringing into view a surprising new suspect.

My Takeaway:

The substance of any great story is relatable characters that inspire genuine emotional connections or reactions. At least for the main antagonists/protagonists.

Here we have three women from different backgrounds and stages of life, yet all have been abused in some form or degree by those who should have been their biggest supporters. The abuse by a loved and trusted one is vile beyond words.

Carol adroitly portrays the varying coping mechanisms utilized by each of these victims.

Though I felt tremendous sorrow for all of these unfortunate women, I found my heart going out to Holly the most. Yes, she had the advantage of growing up in a loving home, but she won me over with her kindness and courageous resilience.

Holly continued her investigation of Amelia’s death even as dusk descended on her memory; even while fighting valiantly to retain a shred of independence. She always found something to be thankful for, whether it was freedom from her controlling husband or the preservation of her sense of smell.

Again, I’d like to offer Carol a nod for creating a suspenseful read without resorting to gory details.  

Meet Carol:

I hold an undergraduate degree with a major on English Literature and a graduate degree in Criminology. I taught Criminology in Police Technology and Corrections programs in Montreal. My area of expertise was in drug addiction and I worked in a methadone clinic with heroin addicts. I helped set up a writing workshop for women in prison and worked in halfway homes and drug rehab centers.

My short stories have appeared in Room Magazine, The Canadian Anthology of Fiction, Mindful.or, Between the Lines and Carte Blanche. I was awarded an honorary mention for a play submitted to The Canadian Playwright Competition.

I manage a blog where I write about: Women Nobel Prize Winners for Literature, Famous Writers’ Desks, Femmes Fatales, India, Book Reviews and my dog, Bau. http://www.carolbalawyder.com/blog

Photos With Captions To Make You Smile.

Well, Fall has firmly plunked itself here at 44.2148 Degrees North, and night now draws the curtains at 6:21 pm and they don’t open until 7:25am. I’m not sure why I’m being so specific today, guess I’m just in the mood for trivial facts. Hey, who knows if they might appear on some game show? Could help you win a car or a boat! 🙂 Or an espresso machine or even work socks.

My next post is going to be a book review, but the reading part is not finished. Meanwhile, here’s round of what the title says. Some of them are repeats, but I hope they still work to brighten your day.

Me, after I’ve been verbally outwitted by my teenager, and she’s waiting for my reply.

“Hi! I’m, uh, Jannabelle! I like you! Can I go home with you and be your friend? What time do you go to sleep?”

“Anyone know what happened to the batteries for the remote?”

I’m seriously considering installing a GPS tracker on my eye glasses that syncs to my phone; as soon as I find THAT.