Reading and Reviews (Culiner, Bennett, Kelly)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

Words for Patty Jo by Jill Arlene Culiner 

A passion for books creates a lasting bond between teenage Patty Jo and David, but small-town prejudice and social differences doom their romance.

After a summer of reading and falling in love, David heads for university, foreign adventure, and a dazzling career; Patty Jo marries slick, over-confident Don Ried.

Yet plans can go horribly wrong. The victim of her violent husband, Patty Jo abandons her home and children to live on the streets of Toronto. David, a high-ranking executive in Paris, is dismayed by the superficiality of corporate success.

Forty years later, Patty Jo and David meet again. Both have defied society; both have fulfilled their dreams. And what if first love was the right one after all, and destiny has the last word? 

My Review

Ms. Culiner has succeeded in writing another story that will draw you in and keep you reading. Only this time, she had me so involved, I could swear I was reading a memoir. That doesn’t even quite say it. The depth of the two characters’ points of view came through emotionally real. Patty Jo is a complicated young woman. David is a man we’d all love to know. How their lives intersect, diverge, and come back together is such a smooth transition of storytelling, the reader feels as if they are reading two books at the same time. Class differences, spousal abuse, dreams won and lost…are all woven with an expertise of wordsmithing. 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GCV4D86P/

 

 

Widowhood: The Next Chapter: I'm Still Here - Now What? by Bobbie Bennett 

The personal narrative begins in the dark world of organized crime, where the author’s first husband brings a sense of danger into their lives. Dinner guests are asked to check their firearms at the door. She then stepped into an unexpected relationship with a younger man whose charm proved timeless, even if his ID was still getting doublechecked.

Through three marriages, two funerals, and one divorce, she discovers that love comes in the most unexpected forms, including a methodical engineer who fell head-over-heels for a free-spirited former go-go dancer.

This raw, candid memoir transforms heartbreak into hope, offering both laughter and practical wisdom for anyone rebuilding after loss. But make no mistake, these aren’t your typical fresh starts. Bobbie has rebooted her life from places most people wouldn’t dare enter, making her perspective not just credible, but hard-earned. More than a love story, it’s a survival guide for life’s most unpredictable chapters. She believes if you can’t be a good example, you might as well be a colorful one. Her stories offer humor, heart, and the kind of wisdom you only earn the hard way. 

My Review

On one level, this is the extraordinary memoir of a woman who has led and is living an adventurous, full life. On another level, this is a “how to” book with advice on dealing with heartbreak, surprises you’d rather not face, and rebuilding a life. 

https://www.amazon.com/Widowhood-Next-Chapter-Still-Here/dp/B0FLVTB7FM 

 

 

JIMI: Journey of a Wounded Warrior as told to Kathleen Kelly 

Jimi’s story invites you to join him on a healing journey of hope and courage. The Cherokee tribe, as seen through his youthful eyes, celebrates the People's coexistence with creation in traditional ceremonies and vibrant rituals, sharing wisdom passed down from generation to generation. He brings to light the challenges of living with polio in the 1950s and takes you with him through the formative years after his mother died tragically. He is thrown into the white man’s world, where he spends the rest of his childhood in Ohio orphanages. From there, he will take you along the road of a musician, magician, Vietnam veteran, and one man’s inspirational search for meaning. 

My Review

What an extraordinary life Jimi has led. I found it particularly interesting because of his Cherokee upbringing early on. My grandmother was Choctaw. Racism, abandonment, war, and so many other challenges faced him. But there are triumphs and adventures to keep you turning the pages. Ms. Kelly has done an excellent job of bringing this man’s story to life. 

https://us.amazon.com/JIMI-Journey-Wounded-Warrior-Kathleen/dp/B0GNZ8X1L1

 

Life's Adventures: Remembering Me at Age 10

A conversation with a sweet neice who is in fifth grade sent me down memory lane. My fifth grade year is vivid in my mind. 

We'd moved after the start of the school year, and so when Mom took me to Sunland Elementary School, they put me in the only room that had an open slot. Sunland formed the classes by the prior year's academic standing. Mine was high, but the class I entered was a mixture of average and below average students. I should've been able to blend in, but the teacher chose to use my schoolwork as an example of what the other students could achieve. At first, the kids shunned me. Thanks, Teach! But within days, I became the kid to tease. One day at lunch recess, I'd had enough. I went home. I declared to my mom I was never going back. Nah...that didn't happen. She drove me there the next day with strict instructions to find a way. I honestly can't remember how I managed it, but I soon had friends.

That was also the year I decided I wanted to be daring and different. I adopted the motto, "I'll try anything once." It could've been that devil may care attitude that gained me the friends. I don't remember. I do know I didn't actually try anything so daring. I just liked saying it.

Being in a relatively easy academic situation, I came up with straight A's every report card except for
one B in history. I was devastated as only a ten-year-old drama queen can be. My dad told me to get over it. He also told me to tell the teacher I was too busy making history to study history. I wisely kept his advice to myself. But he did make me laugh.

Reading and Reviews (Gallant and Henderson)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. From time to time, I'll share my reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

On Thin Ice (Edge of Survival Book 1) by Jannine Gallant 

After a shattering loss, Fiona put the pieces of her life back together, but can she escape the psychopath hellbent on revenge? 

One horrifying night, Fiona Ward lost her parents and her home in a blazing inferno and barely escaped with her life. Devastated, she testifies against the animal who murdered her family, but his incarceration comes with a steep price—sworn retribution. Standing between her and certain death is the U.S. deputy marshal who relocates her to Alaska, where she’ll face an unknown future with a grandfather who’s a complete stranger. 

Years later, Fiona Jones has found her purpose as an Alaskan bush pilot in the tiny wilderness town she calls home. But her peaceful world is upended when her parents’ killer escapes from prison, seeking vengeance. Now a deputy marshal like his father, Caleb Moss will risk his life to apprehend the fugitive and protect the woman whose courage he’s never forgotten. Together, they must outwit her devious nemesis—and the hidden menace neither anticipated. But for Fiona, her greatest challenge may be surviving the threat to her heart… 

My Review

I’m so glad Jannine Gallant has started a new series. I don’t know if the entire series will be set in Alaska, but I’m pleased this one is. I love a setting that is so real, it’s a character of the book. We are treated to a breathtaking opening for young Fiona. When it all starts to unravel years later, the action is nonstop and romance seeps in. This is an entertaining read for sure. 

https://www.amazon.com/Thin-Ice-Edge-Survival-Book-ebook/dp/B0FRT273RC/

The Body in the Belfry: An Izzy Munro Cozy Mystery (Izzy Munro Mysteries Book 3) 

by Alison Henderson 

When insurance investigator-turned-photographer Izzy Munro finds a vintage brooch tucked behind the sofa cushions in the cottage she inherited from her great-aunt in picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea, she never suspects the little pin will precipitate a cascade of events that culminate in the discovery of the body of a prominent local jeweler, hanging from the bell tower of the historic Carmel Mission.

Suspects abound, from the victim’s widow and stepdaughter, to a trio of shady jewelers known informally as the Cartel. The police are stumped, so Izzy’s boyfriend, an investigator with the DA’s office, enlists her aid as a volunteer consultant. With the help of trusty friends and three cheerful garden gnomes, Izzy uncovers secrets no one could have imagined. But when confronted by the killer, she must rely on quick thinking and her indomitable Burmese cat, Bogart, to survive.

 My Review

Ms. Henderson plunks us down in Carmel-by-the-Sea and aren’t we glad. Izzy is loving the town, although not so much murder. But she’s up for following the clues with a great cast of characters. You’ll be entertained with this whodunit. 

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Belfry-Munro-Mystery-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0FPDLS6XR/ 

A New Year, A New Outlook

2026. Three weeks in, and I'm taking care of business the way I promised myself. I didn't make any New Year's resolutions. But as 2025 wound down, I knew it was time for some changes. My personal life as been a rollercoaster, so I decided my author life needed some adjusting. At least, this I can control...and I'm a bit of a control freak.

I've decided to stop doing the newsletter I've been putting out for ten years. The process has become increasingly more expensive and complicated. I'm looking for simplification. My efforts to keep in touch with readers will be through this blog and my Facebook pages. So, if you're reading this, I hope you will hop on over to Facebook and like and follow all of my pages there.

My author page was taken down by Facebook several months back. I lost the 1700+ followers I had. Facebook didn't like one of my posts. They misunderstood, and I fought it several ways. But since there are no real people to talk to, I had to give it up and create a new page. It is slow going. I hope to grow it and offer readers some fun news, giveaways, and conversation as the year progresses. Join in here:

CLICK HERE TO LIKE AND FOLLOW MY AUTHOR PAGE

I also have a page for my children's books written under the name of Brenda Sue along with my granddaughter, Sadi Belle. Not as much activity there, but you can keep up with Sadi Belle and me:

CLICK HERE TO LIKE AND FOLLOW BRENDA SUE AND SADI BELLE

Meanwhile, I plan to work on a prequel to The MacKenzie Chronicles, my award-winning series. Book one, Secrets of The Ravine is an Amazon best-seller. 

CLICK HERE TO FIND ALL THE BOOKS IN THE SERIES

I am also updating the front and back matter in all of my books. That's tedious, but will be a better experience for readers.

That's it gang! I hope your 2026 is fruitful!

Fearless at 80 and Beyond by Anne Fowler

FEARLESS FRIDAY

Anne, it's great to have you back for Fearless Friday on Discover... I'm so excited to hear you've published another book. Readers, Anne is a fearless lady whose life has had many twists and turns. And now she's fearlessly published book two based on other seniors' experiences. Tell us about The Truths We've Carried, Anne.

At age 80, after publishing my memoir I've Worn Many Hats, I never planned to write another book. However, a project came about when I was inspired by conversations with other seniors who expressed a desire to “someday” write about THEIR personal life experiences.

Utilizing Facebook, I posted a challenge to fellow octogenarians inviting them to share their memories. It was a post seen not only by women with a story to tell, but by the younger relatives and friends of ladies who are “less computer/social media active.” This call for action resulted in “Grandma/Mom/Auntie, you MUST share your story!” I’ll admit I was totally surprised not only by the number of responses but by the level of interest their stories were sure to evoke. 

To be honest, I had been expecting a bunch of "old lady tales" no one would want to read. Wrong! The Truths We've Carried is a collection of true, mesmerizing stories recounted by the women who "lived" the events. Expect the unexpected; it won't read as you thought! The diversity of subject matter is really quite extraordinary. 

Entries came from several different countries: Canada, US, England, Germany, Honduras, Australia. How did I receive the stories? My first contact was usually with a younger family member “checking me out” to ensure I wasn’t some wacko trying to scam their mom or grandma! Once my credibility was established, I obtained the stories in two ways. 

One, the contributor emailed me along with a draft of her story. We would go back and forth from there. Another was via Face time/messenger where I’d have live conversations with the prospective writer. She would tell me her story verbally while I took notes. These meetings were set up and attended by a family member with a computer who would handle the "technical" aspects of the job as the ladies and I talked. Several written drafts were then exchanged via email until both of us were satisfied with the result. This was the way I received probably 75% of the stories…talking face to face. Quite interesting as it was a more personal experience for both of us. One of the things I discovered during all these conversations is that it seems most seniors are quite protective of their privacy and only when I assured them that they could use a pseudonym were they comfortable with the process. And I'm referring to the women who were not hiding anything! When you read the book, you will definitely be able to identify the ones who had good reason NOT to give their real name! 

The diversity of subject matter is really quite extraordinary. To give you a taste of the content, here are some examples: escape from Dachau, lunch with Elvis, I climbed Mt. Everest, a clandestine romance, our plane was hijacked, and the other 54 stories are just as varied in topic.

This has been quite the journey both for me and the women involved. Next to my work in Honduras, it has been the most rewarding thing I've ever accomplished. I am truly grateful to the ladies who trusted me and shared the surprising, sometimes shocking, events drawn from their years of life experience. 

Click HERE for The Truths We've Carried

BIO
I am a retired Canadian who grew up in Toronto and for more than 30 years my career was focused on Human Resources. In 2000, I closed my company and “retired” to pursue philanthropic projects in Honduras, a country where I now spend six months of each year. Please visit my website to view the community programs that I initiated. You will see that I am a VERY active senior! http://anne.honduranhope.net

Family Saga, Romance, and Small Town Novels by Judythe Morgan

MUSE MONDAY

Please welcome Judythe Morgan to Muse Monday on Discover... How fun to learn where ideas come from and how they make it to the page. Read on and enjoy.

“When Love Endures” is the third book in my six-book Fitzpatrick Family series—a small-town romance collection built around eight preacher’s kids, each one searching for a hard-won happily-ever-after. The idea for the series began years ago, in 2009, when White Rose Press held a contest that included a “Mad Libs”–style synopsis and a cover graphic with the prize being publication. The rules were charmingly specific. The story had to include seven siblings… including a set of twins. I couldn’t resist. I entered the contest, didn’t win, and tucked the idea away. 

But stories have a way of waiting for the right moment, and eventually every one of those Fitzpatrick siblings started chattering in my head, insisting I tell their version of love and grace. That’s when the Fitzpatrick Family series truly came alive. 

Book three features Sarah Fitzpatrick, one of the twins. She still lives in the small hometown where she and her sister grew up, and after her high-school sweetheart breaks her heart, Sarah pours herself into her music. She teaches elementary school music, runs a piano studio, and finds comfort—and courage—at the keyboard. 

There’s a Christmas duet scene in "When Love Endures" that’s especially close to my heart. Sarah plays a duet with Nick’s young daughter, and that moment was inspired by a real duet my own daughter and I performed at one of her Christmas recitals. It was tender and nerve-wracking and unforgettable—exactly the kind of memory that slips quietly into a story and makes it feel true. 

I hope you’ll watch for that scene when you read “When Love Endures.” It carries a bit of my heart right alongside Sarah’s. 

If you'd like to meet the whole family, you can find the series here: https://www.amazon.com/The-Fitzpatrick-Family/dp/B08W8CTXY7    

 

Sarah Fitzpatrick, pianist extraordinaire, stopped believing in true love the day her high school boyfriend, Nick Stephens, ran off with his pregnant ex.

Eleven years later, Nick’s daughter walks into Sarah’s music class—and one look at Nick brings every old dream and feeling rushing back. Sarah is determined to protect her heart this time. She can’t risk that kind of heartbreak again.

Nick has never stopped loving Sarah, and returning to Burton, Texas is his chance to prove it. But he has secrets—ones he can’t share with Sarah or even his daughter. And those secrets may cost him the future he longs for. 

Will their second chance survive the truth? 

If you’re new to the Fitzpatrick Family series, don’t worry—each story can be enjoyed as a standalone.

 

EXCERPT from WHEN LOVE ENDURES 

As much as Sarah enjoyed teaching music, she disliked Meet the Teacher night every school year almost as much as she dreaded the yearly holiday program, which was fast approaching.

All the parents seemed to want to meet her and promote their child as lead for said production. She’d had a steady stream of suggestions all night. One more session then she could go home and put her feet up.

“Miss Fitzpatrick, Miss Fitzpatrick, he’s here.” She recognized her new student, Rachel Stephens’ voice. The child’s cocoa colored, teddy-bear eyes pulled at her heartstrings from the second she’d waltzed into her classroom. The fifth grader had been so worried her father wouldn’t be able to attend tonight.

Rachel ran in. “He came like he promised. This is my Dad.”

“I’m so happy for you.” Sarah smiled at the child then lifted her head to meet the same blue eyes she had once imagined staring into as she said, “I do.”

Nick Stephens.

Square jaw, perfect posture, massive shoulders, and piercing eyes. Her Nick had matured into as intriguing a man as he’d been as a teen. Smile wrinkles like deep crow’s feet framed the corners of his eyes. He’d always been a great smiler. He flashed one her way now. A warm, friendly, country-boy grin.

The past roared to life and memories squeaked in her head like an orchestra tuning up. Her ears rang until her knees swayed. She sank into the nearest chair.

Ms. Lorene, the streams of gray in her auburn hair flying, huffed through the door. “Sorry. I stopped by Becca’s class to give her a hug. We do miss seeing you two at Bible study.”

Her familiar face crinkled in concern. The former summer camp nurse, who also happened to be Nick’s mom, aimed her hand for Sarah’s forehead as if on medic alert. “My dear, you look a little pale. Are you okay?”

Sarah blocked Ms. Lorene’s hand and waved her foot in the air. “New shoes. Just resting my feet a little. I’m fine.”

Or would be if she could only get her heartbeat under control. Summoning her best Homecoming Queen smile, she gripped the sides of the chair seat and pushed up. Knees don’t fail me now. “Glad you could make it.”

She’d assumed Nick Stephens still lived in Louisiana and Rachel Marie was just another of the Stephens’ kin. Over the years, she’d had several grace her classes. She should have remembered the thing about assumptions.

“Glad to be here.” His smile grew. “I wasn’t sure I’d make it. I travel a lot for business and flight schedules can be iffy. That’s why we moved in with Mom.”

A beat of awkward silence hung between them until Sarah fully processed his words. He lives here!

“Well, welcome back. I know Rachel’s glad you’re home.” Her voice sounded like an alto trying to sing first soprano.

His mom beamed. “I’m so glad he and Rachel have come home.”

What about his wife? Why wasn’t she with them? Sarah clamped her lips. Not the time or place to ask. It didn’t matter, anyway.

A bell sounded and an announcement that the meet-and-greet had ended blared from the classroom speaker. Sarah led Rachel toward the door. “Thank you for bringing your father and grandmother. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She looked from Nick to his mother. “Nice to see you both again.” Liar, liar pants on fire.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon US Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08W9MP12F 

Amazon UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08W9MP12F 

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08W9MP12F 

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08W9MP12F 

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57020058-when-love-endures 

BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/books/when-love-endures-fitzpatrick-family-sarah-the-fitzpatrick-family-by-judythe-morgan 

Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/When-Love-Endures-Fitzpatrick-Family/dp/B093CKNGK3 

AUTHOR BIO:

Judythe Morgan is an award-winning, multi-published author who believes stories should offer escape from real life, with strong characters and engaging plots, and satisfying endings, without explicit content. 

A lifelong wanderer as an Air Force daughter then an Army wife, Judythe now lives in a small Texas town north of Houston with her husband and their Old English Sheepdog, Finnegan MacCool. They enjoy a busy life with three grown children, eleven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and nine granddogs who keep their lives filled with fun and laughter. 

When she isn’t writing, you’ll likely find her on the porch swing with a glass of sweet tea, reading a book. 

Stay connected by subscribing to her free newsletter with subscriber-only sneak peeks at https://judythemorgan.com/contact/ or her blog at https://judythewriter.com 

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A Hopeful Escape: Simplicity by the Sea by Jennifer Vido

MUSE MONDAY

Please welcome Jennifer Vido to Muse Monday on Discover... She's got me hooked on wine and romance, city girl and small-town guy. See what you think!

I love that this book takes the familiar idea of a city girl meeting a small-town guy and gives it a new twist. By bringing together the Virginia wine scene with the coastal charm of Gull Island, I’ve created a backdrop that feels both romantic and fresh. For me, Delaney’s story is about those big life questions we all ask at some point—what does success really look like, and is the life I’ve built truly the one I want? I think that makes her journey very relatable, especially for women who’ve worked so hard but still feel like something’s missing. I had so much fun weaving in wine and seaside details. This story isn’t just about romance—it’s also about experiencing a sense of place, which I think makes it appealing to readers who love travel, food, and lifestyle angles.

Luke’s story brings another layer of heart to the book. He’s a single dad who’s built a steady life for himself and his daughter, and I think readers will connect with his devotion to family while also rooting for him to take a chance on love. Since this book is part of my Gull Island series, it carries forward the world I’ve already created while also welcoming new readers. It shows that Gull Island is a place worth returning to, filled with stories about love, second chances, and community. At the end of the day, I want this book to feel like a hopeful escape. With everything going on in the world, I think readers are craving uplifting stories that remind us love and new beginnings are always possible.

Book Blurb:

What if the perfect pairing isn't found in a bottle, but in each other?

High-powered marketing executive Delaney Huger thrives in Virginia's wine scene until a quick trip home to Gull Island for a wedding forces her to slow down. Suddenly, she's questioning the life she's built and what comes next. Can she uncork a new beginning or keep pouring into a dream that no longer fits?

Charter captain Luke Sullivan has built a quiet, predictable life on Gull Island, perfect for raising his daughter and growing his business. But when a captivating wedding guest stirs something he thought he'd buried, he wonders if it's time to change. Will he chart a new course toward love or stay safely ashore?

Excerpt:

A distant murmur of cheerful voices and melodic peals of laughter pierced the night air, drawing Delaney Huger closer to the illuminated lighthouse nestled on the South Carolina coastline. She sank onto a rock, twisting her dress in frustration. She’d let them down. Her partners-in-crime, notably her sister and best friend, were tucked inside the adjoining wedding tent, glasses clinking in joyful toasts celebrating the nuptials of childhood friends. The imaginary scene played out in her mind—her friends in summer cocktail dresses, heels clicking on the parquet dance floor, while she stumbled through apologies. “The traffic was terrible, and you’ll never believe what happened.” She could almost hear her voice faltering as she grasped for excuses for failing to arrive on Gull Island as scheduled.

The charming, small-town affair wasn’t just an ordinary island celebration with some random tourist couple exchanging vows in the lush Lowcountry amid crickets chirping and frogs trilling in the late May heat. The social event of the season—the wedding of the beloved Cate Ainsworth and Knox Price—witnessed by her childhood friends, extended family, and island neighbors, had unfolded nearly an hour ago at a picturesque sunset ceremony on the beach, painted in a vibrant palette of pastel hues. The town buzzed with excitement over their second-chance romance. 

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Jennifer Vido is the author of The Gull Island Series, sweet Lowcountry romances inspired by her love of coastal living and small-town charm. Serendipity by the Sea won Best First Book from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest, and Baltimore Magazine readers named her Best Local Author in 2024 and 2025. A Vanderbilt graduate, Jennifer traded in teaching French to follow her dream of becoming an author. She loves discovering and sharing literary gems through her Jen's Jewels column, celebrating the books that make her heart happy. Jennifer lives in Maryland with her husband and is mom to two grown sons. Her rescue dog, Fripp, is her constant companion, though he's better at napping than editing. When she's not writing, you'll find her at the beach with her toes in the sand, dreaming about her next romance.

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