I feel like forgiveness is easy. Once you get past the anger, you are able to forgive the person who hurt you. But forgetting is harder.

I have a memory like an elephant. I can tell you things about my childhood which still haunt me today. My ex used to tell me that I would bring up everything he did wrong during our fights because I remembered them all.

Christina Rhoads' latest release shows just how challenging forgiveness and forgetting is to get over. Elise has valid reasons for being angry at Corbin. She's moved on though and put him from her mind, hoping to never face him again. But fate has a way of messing up good plans. Elise must find a way to let the past go if she has any hopes of finding love.

This book is the second in the Bear Creek Ranch series and is filled with gripping emotion and heartbreak... in addition to hot cowboys!

Blurb:
“Elsie?” the dust settled, and she took a deep breath, gathering her anger around her. Carefully, trying not to let her limp show, she turned toward the now famous natural horsemanship trainer. The Lakota cowboy, Corbin Darkhorse, and the very first man she had ever loved, stood watching her. He was even more handsome than she remembered: dark hair, dark eyes, with long-fingered hands weathered by the sun and wind. She swallowed a mouthful of dirty words and wondered why he had to be here, on this day, as she picked up her mustang for the competition. 

Forgiveness had never been one of Elsie Rosewood’s strengths, and Corbin could see she hadn’t changed over the last ten years. In fact, she looked as wild, angry and stubborn as the mustang pacing in the corral behind her. His mind filled abruptly with the old image of Elsie’s face bloodied, as a previous wild horse threw her to the ground and trampled her limp body. Ten years was a long time to run, and Corbin knew if he ever wanted to have peace, and the trust of the only woman he’d ever loved, then he would have to prove how much he had changed.

The only thing standing in the way of a once- in-a-lifetime love is a Mustang Training Competition, $100,000, and a past neither forgotten nor forgiven.
 
EXCERPT: (A sneak peek at how they met)
“I’m Corbin Darkhorse.”

She had looked at him, her eyebrows drawn together before she took his hand. She said simply, “Elsie.”

“Can I buy you dinner?” He had exactly $22.11 in his pocket and he had hoped to make it last until tomorrow night where he planned to win the jackpot at the competition. At nineteen years old, he was living the dream of many young horse trainers on the show circuit, but he was also very broke.

“I have twenty horses to feed and groom tonight,” she said in way of an answer.

“I’ll help,” he replied, even though he too had training horses to care for and tack to clean for the show tomorrow. He knew at that moment he would stay up all night and do all her chores if she would just have one meal with him.

She seemed to be weighing his offer as they walked back toward the rows of stalls. The sounds of horses calling to each other and the chatter from clusters of clients heading off to dinner dropped away, Corbin watched her face as they made their way through the melee of the backgrounds of a horse show. She had serious eyes with a generous mouth that tipped up in the corners, lending her face a quiet softness.
She stopped and faced him; her dark, arching brows drew together once more. He noticed that she had a smudge of dust running from her cheekbone to her left ear. He resisted the urge to brush it away with his thumb.

“Okay. You can take me to dinner.” 

About the Author:
Christina Rhoads resides on an Arabian horse farm where she divides her time (when she isn’t fixing fence or stacking hay) between writing novels, painting and training equines. While studying creative writing, as she earned a BA in English from Indiana University, she fell madly in love with the act of creating characters and then sharing them with the world.

She often describes her ideal afternoon as one spent riding her horse, Major Temptation, and then curling up with a good book and cup of peppermint tea. 

For more on Christina’s books check out her website or connect with her on social media.
www.christinarhoads.com
https://www.facebook.com/Christina-Rhoads-212417315991236/
https://www.instagram.com/christina.rhoads.author/?hl=en
 
 

What if you found out that everything you thought about your job and boss was wrong? Would you be able to stand up for justice or would you walk away?

Audrey J. Snyder's debut novel is sure to have you on the edge of your seat as danger abounds for her heroine. She puts her life on the line as well as her relationship. 

This gripping tale will be your new favorite....

Blurb:
As a reporter for a local newspaper, Angela Hollingsworth has traveled all over the world collecting information, artifacts and samples, always bringing back a package for her boss from an associate in whatever country she visited. What she didn’t realize was that the packages contained drugs, stolen art or both.

Desperate to stay out of jail, Angela can only rely on one man, Glen Spencer, an agent for the FBI. Together, they devise a plan to take down one of the biggest drug cartels in New Jersey. Trusting her old college friend, Angela doesn’t anticipate the danger coming for her.
​
Now Angela is fighting for her life and her feelings for Glen…but time is running out. Will she be able to escape the Organization or will all her dreams end up in a body bag?

About the Author:
Audrey Jane Snyder is an enterprising professional who has spent 40+ years in the corporate sector in the fields of human resource management and customer and community service. She has been an independent consultant specializing in on-line web based training of interpersonal skills for first-line managers.

Audrey was an Adjunct Professor at DeVry University and Director of Customer and Community Relations for the Port Authority of Allegheny County. Audrey holds a BS in Business Communications and a Masters in Professional Leadership.
​
Now she spends her days authoring works and motivating other professionals. Audrey is a member of PennWriters, Inc., Sisters in Crime, and the Mindful Writers Group. Audrey resides in Pittsburgh, PA.
 

Hellboy was a popular movie back in the day. Originally done by Del Toro, the two Hellboy movies were fan favorites. Hellboy recently was rebooted with a darker tone and based more on the original comics, you can read my review on my Movie Page or you can listen to it on WHMI on Monday morning at 8:40.

When you have found an amazing couple and devoured their story, you hate to say goodbye! Lara and Finn have begun dating, gotten married, started a family... all with us along for the ride. Additionally, Finn has received awards and faced his own issues, while Lara has learned to juggle her own career under the bright lights of the paparazzi. 

Through the previous four books, we've fallen in love with Finn and Lara ourselves, joined them on the road and chosen sides in their conflicts. 

But now it's time to let us focus again on other romances...Such as a future story of one of the band members. (squee!) And celebrate a happy ending for Finn and Lara... as much as we can since they will continue the day to day events of their lives (and maybe we can entice them to show back up in another book! Keep your fingers crossed!).

So grab this amazing story which will have you on the edge of your seat....

Blurb:
West Virginia, New York, Tennessee…Lara and Finn Murphy have lived in all of these places. And thanks to Finn’s career as a country music singer, they have had the opportunity to explore many more. But what they have discovered along the many roads traveled, is that the only real place that matters is where each other is—that is the place they belong.

The pair will need to hold onto that truth as they face their greatest challenges yet. On top of dealing with Pop’s terminal illness, Lara and Finn’s young daughter is caught up in an emergency situation. The traumatic event not only scratches at old wounds but brings an unwanted public spotlight on the family.
​
Amongst the emotional upheaval, can they find sanctuary and comfort in each other? Will they learn to reconcile what has happened in the past to find peace in the present? Can they finally and completely let each other in?

And, will their road of life, full of detours and U-turns, finally have a happily ever after?
 
The final book in the Country Roads series, THE PLACE I BELONG, will take you on an emotional, heartfelt journey.
 
Excerpt:
Thankfully, the door shutting drowned out most of the noise from the mini-meeting just outside of it. It did not drown out the chaos in my brain, though.

“I love you,” Finn said while bracing his hands on either side of my thighs as I sat. He leaned in and held his lips on mine for a moment. He then tipped back slightly so he was looking directly into my eyes. “I love you so much…and Arinn and Chance. Always remember that. I will make this right.”

That sounded way too much like goodbye to me. And not the goodbye as in “I will see you in a little bit.” No, this was the forever, eternal goodbye. He knew the danger he was putting himself in. And now, I was even more scared and more determined for him to either take me or not go at all.

“Finn!” I screamed out as he started to back away.

“Keep her here!” Finn directed his demand to my brother and looked one more time at me before exiting.

Again, “Finn!”

I attempted to get off the bed, but Lane was fast and seemingly as determined as my husband. He clamped his hands on my biceps and locked his knees against mine, restraining me to continue sitting on the hospital bed. He came to the show late and didn’t even know why Finn had given him that request. But it appeared my brother’s protective side was equivalent to my husband’s at that moment.

About the Author:
There really wasn’t any other path. Grea Warner knew from a young age that she wanted to write. She was born to write. First it was in diaries with little metal keys and in written tales that she slipped to friends in study hall. School newspapers, a college television drama, and internships in the soap opera world were next. After producing and writing a local show, she decided to delve into the world of the novelist. When her fingers aren’t tapping out her latest book filled with angst and romance, Grea can be found hiking the trails or jamming to her favorite country artists on the radio.
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grea.warner.7
Twitter:@grea_warner
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17230140.Grea_Warner
Website: greawarner.com
 
 

Shazam is a fun movie for the whole family. You can read my review on my Movie Review Page or listen to the review live on WHMI on Monday morning at 8:40 am.

Want to find a new writer, learn what novels some of your favorite authors are reading, or find new book recommendations? Visit https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal  to enter this new multi-author giveaway. All genres are included whether it’s novels from debuting authors to award-winning/bestselling authors with multiple books and/or series. The best part -- it's all free for readers to enter, as authors are generously donating copies of their books as well as other prizes each month in the hopes of finding new fans and to build up their reading communities. I’m excited to participate in this month’s giveaway and can’t wait to share with you all that will be offered this month and moving forward. You never know what surprising authors might just show up on the list this year! It might be your favorite.

​Spring Into Freebies Giveaway: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db775028
Literary Giveaway Portal:  https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal

Blurb
Being forced to leave one’s country and shipped to America is a terrible beginning for any marriage. In fact, Anne and Aaron are not legally married, since Anne refused to sign the marriage certificate.
Certain Anne will love her new life, Aaron pays off her servants, shuts down her home, and takes her to America against her wishes. He quickly discovers that an angry, defiant Anne is more than his heart can endure. If he could turn the ship around, he would have done so. Instead, he assigns Jacko to deal with the hell-cat.
When they finally arrive in Charlotte, North Carolina, Aaron no longer wishes to marry Anne. Still he cannot send her across the ocean in the icy winter waters. It is far too dangerous. So, the angry she-cat remains ‘his wife’ as they make the long journey home to his ranch in the Kentucky hills. Having no alternative, Anne agrees to remain six months on his ranch, until it is safe to cross the ocean again. Then, come summer, if she wishes, she can return to England.
Unfortunately, when they finally reach Aaron’s ranch, he discovers over half his horses have been sold on the cheap, his ranch is in disrepair, and the man he had put in charge is now declaring he is the owner of the property. His anger towards his ‘wife’ is no longer his main concern. He must reclaim his property, rehire his men, and rebuild his ranch. With winter arriving, if he doesn’t turn matters around quickly, they will all die.
 
 
AMAZON
 WIDE

​Aaron bought a wagon, then went in search of a horse and driver. For the purchase of horses, he visited his friend and fellow horseman, Jeffrey Gavins.
Jeffrey laughed at his request. “Now this is a turnabout. Normally I buy horses from you.”
“Yes, well, I have just returned from England and hate to waste the trip for naught, so I’ve bought supplies and a wagon. Now, I need a horse strong enough to pull a wagon of goods home.
Jeffrey frowned. “I heard your father was ill. Is he better now?”
Aaron was in such hell that the mention of his father didn’t even register a prick of pain. “No, he died. But my speedy departure did give me time with him.”
Jeffrey patted Aaron on the back. “Your foreman brought some fine horses down for auction. A few too fine, if you ask me. I bought them on the cheap, and if you want them back, I’ll return them at cost.”
When Aaron entered Jeffrey’s private stables and his finest mare raised her head and snorted at him in recognition, he lost his temper. “God Almighty! He sold you Cleopatra?”
“He put her up for auction. I simply bought her. I know you’ve thought well of your foreman, but I’m glad to see you back before winter. He didn’t buy supplies when he left after the auction. To be honest, Aaron, I sent a man to Kentucky to ensure the fool hadn’t sold off all your horses and run away with the money.”
The possibility of losing his ranch did manage to register—even in his current hell. “And what did he find?”
“Your foreman was at your ranch. My man talked to some of the side hands, and they didn’t seem to think anything was amiss, so I figured he had just made a mistake in selecting horses for sale.”
Aaron walked down the row of stables and identified two more of his better mares and one very strong stallion. He was shocked when Jeffrey told him how little he had paid for the lot.
“It wasn’t entirely the foreman’s fault. The buyers were low bidding him because they knew he wouldn’t know better.” Jeffrey shrugged. “And he didn’t.”
Aaron shook his head. “He should have pulled the horses from bidding the moment he saw what they were about.”
Jeffrey shrugged. “I don’t think he came down with the resources to do that. They had him in a vice.”
“I want the names of the buyers.”
“Not from me.” Jeffrey’s face turned stubborn and hard. “You’ll have to see if your foreman remembers their names. I have to work with those men.”
“Jeffrey…”
Jeffrey reached out and petted Cleopatra’s nose. “Look, I saved your favorites. Consider your loss as the cost of training a foreman.”
 

 
About the AuthorLiza O’Connor
Liza loves to write books. In fact, she has over fifty novels now and she still continues to publish a book a month. She writes in a multitude of genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Paranormal, Suspense, Sci-Fi, & Western. She even has one Young Adult novel.
 
Thus, her books have a wide range of heat from mild to adult language and situations, that are determined by what seems realistic for each of her many stories.
​
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT 
LIZA O'CONNOR
 
Liza's Blog and Website   Facebook   Twitter
 
 
http://www.lizaoconnor.com/
http://www.facebook.com/liza.oconnor.90
https://twitter.com/Liza0Connor
 
 
Check out my growing basket of books—I have over 50 now.
 ​

Anne thought she had finally found someone who loved her for herself. Someone who saw past the horrors of her past, but with the move to America, she began to doubt the man she's learned to love.

Anne is a resilient woman who took a horrible event and made it better. She surrounded herself with people she trusted (and some she probably shouldn't have trusted) but when she's asked to make a life altering choice, she sets out to cause trouble not only for herself but for the people she loves.

Ms. O'Connor's books all have a wonderful message and give the reader hope for a positive outcome no matter what they are facing. Her characters are flawed but redeemable. Lady Anne's books feature a special treat. These books fit into her amazing series, Xavier and Vic, British Sleuths! I loved getting to spend some time with Jacko and can't wait to see what else Ms. O'Connor writes!

Could You Forgive?
I am a pretty laid back person. There  have been things which have hurt me deeply but I've gone on to forgive the person. But I did keep my anger for a while. It usually took a few years to get over it.

Elsie has very good reason to be angry at Corbin. He did walk away when she was down. I'd really want to get even first but since they shared a great love... any forgiveness is possible. 

Blurb:
“Elsie?” the dust settled, and she took a deep breath, gathering her anger around her. Carefully, trying not to let her limp show, she turned toward the now famous natural horsemanship trainer. The Lakota cowboy, Corbin Darkhorse, and the very first man she had ever loved, stood watching her. He was even more handsome than she remembered: dark hair, dark eyes, with long-fingered hands weathered by the sun and wind. She swallowed a mouthful of dirty words and wondered why he had to be here, on this day, as she picked up her mustang for the competition. 

Forgiveness had never been one of Elsie Rosewood’s strengths, and Corbin could see she hadn’t changed over the last ten years. In fact, she looked as wild, angry and stubborn as the mustang pacing in the corral behind her. His mind filled abruptly with the old image of Elsie’s face bloodied, as a previous wild horse threw her to the ground and trampled her limp body. Ten years was a long time to run, and Corbin knew if he ever wanted to have peace, and the trust of the only woman he’d ever loved, then he would have to prove how much he had changed.
​
The only thing standing in the way of a once- in-a-lifetime love is a Mustang Training Competition, $100,000, and a past neither forgotten nor forgiven. 

About the Author:
Christina Rhoads resides on an Arabian horse farm where she divides her time (when she isn’t fixing fence or stacking hay) between writing novels, painting and training equines. While studying creative writing, as she earned a BA in English from Indiana University, she fell madly in love with the act of creating characters and then sharing them with the world.

She often describes her ideal afternoon as one spent riding her horse, Major Temptation, and then curling up with a good book and cup of peppermint tea. 

For more on Christina’s books check out her website or connect with her on social media.
www.christinarhoads.com
https://www.facebook.com/Christina-Rhoads-212417315991236/
https://www.instagram.com/christina.rhoads.author/?hl=en
 

Captive State is a science-fiction world domination movie similar to the movies like Independence Day or Cloverfield. You can check out my review on my review page or by listening to the broadcast on Monday morning at 8:40 am on WHMI radio station. 

I'm looking at another move, this time out of state and to a place I've never lived before. This is the second time this has happened in my life. When I married in the early 80's, I left behind Ohio for Michigan. While I only knew one person, I quickly learned to love my new hometown. I believe this gives me a unique perspective on what a person is willing to do for love. 

Have you ever moved away from home with your husband and only him? Left behind your family and friends?

In Amanda Marin's new release, North to Nara, she explores what one young couple is willing to give up for love. It's more than just moving, though. Her story is about the quest for a society where everyone is allowed to live freely. This is such an important piece in light of our own world these days.

I hope you will pick up your own copy and share with me what you think of this Dystopian romance which felt a lot like Hunger Games mixed with The Handmaid's Tale.

Blurb:
Behind the beauty is heartache... unless their love can save them.
 
Neve Hall has always admired the good works of the civil servants who brought prosperity back to the Nation. She especially respects the Sufferers—empaths who, with the help of technology, anonymously bear others’ troubles for them. But when her assigned empath is abruptly retired, she uncovers certain secrets. Like the identity of her new Sufferer, Micah Ward... and the fact that behind his kind smile is a life filled with loneliness and pain.
 
The closer Neve grows to Micah, the more desperate she becomes to protect him from a cruel and gruesome fate. But in a world where only a few are allowed the luxury of love, saving Micah comes with a price: Neve must choose between her loyalty to the Nation or her heart—a decision that will take them both on a race for their freedom, and their lives.
 
EXCERPT:
I have no way of knowing if my attempt to keep pain from Micah has worked—I don’t, at least, until a couple days later, when he visits me again in the butterfly exhibit. We walk around the museum corridors once more, this time in a different direction, on a different floor—through an exhibit on horses. And we talk.
​
“Did you suppress things this week at the Center?” He asks this almost immediately, after he tells me the director still hasn’t made a decision about his punishment.

I bite my lip and glance away, trying to distract myself by examining a prehistoric drawing of a pony. If I admit the truth, Micah might ask me more questions. He might ask why I did it. And even though I know the answer—because I think it’s cruel what the Nation has done to him, because I like being near him, and because I almost certainly care more about him than I should—the idea of telling him all this scares me.

“Yes,” I say, my voice small and timid. “How did you know?”

“It felt different this time,” he explains softly. “It was easier. Less painful.”

I look up at him again. “Then I’m glad,” I tell him. “That was what I hoped for.”

He pauses, and I see the confusion in his face, the way it knits his eyebrows closer together. He’s never had a Sieve suppress feelings to protect him before, I’m sure. He’s only ever had them take from him. He doesn’t quite seem to know what to make of it.

“You know you don’t have to do that, right…?” he asks.

“I know.”

Micah’s quiet a moment as we continue walking, probably guessing correctly the reasons for my suppression, whether I say them out loud or not. I’ve been paper-thin to him since our first Suffering session, after all: he’s always seen through me. Then, as we round a corner, his hand brushes against mine. His fingertips gently graze against my knuckles, testing to see if I pull away.

I don’t.

Instead, I slip my hand into his.

And he smiles.

About the Author:
When Amanda was a child, her father traveled frequently for business, always bringing her back a book as a present. Whether she was getting lost in the pages of a tale about far-away knights, girls with supernatural powers, or kindly giants, she was quickly hooked on stories.
 
Over the years, Amanda has followed her own yellow brick road of reading and writing, and although her adventures haven't involved sword fights or saving the planet from certain annihilation, they have involved jobs in scholarly publishing and marketing, a modest amount of travel, and a lifelong love of novels.
 
Amanda holds degrees in English from Salve Regina University and Boston College. She lives in southern New Hampshire with her family and a precocious pet poodle named Snickers.
 
 
Links:
 
Website: www.amandamarinwrites.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/amandamarin 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandamarinwrites
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amarinwrites/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Amanda_Marin
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amanda-marin
 

​Luke Perry’s passing did one thing right in my book. More than sharing how important it is for healthy living, Luke’s death put the focus on how a blended family should work. Even at the lowest times in our lives, we need our family around us. When Luke passed, his ex-wife and the mother of his children were at his bedside along with his fianceé and children. In the days that followed, both women were seen having lunches together with the children as they grieved as a family. 

​As a divorced mom who remarried, I understand the anger and despair in dealing with your ex-spouse. Obviously there was a reason why you aren’t together anymore. It wasn’t a decision made lightly by anyone, especially if there are children involved. Please know that if you left a bad situation due to violence or abuse, then this doesn’t fit you and I’m not saying that my beliefs work for everyone. However, Luke’s death showed how it is possible to put the past behind you for important events.

​When my daughter and son graduated high school or when my daughter married, my ex and I put aside any anger or resentment and hosted the events as a team, working to make sure the happiest days for my children were ones they could look back on with fondness. Why can’t it be that way for the end of life? I had a life with my ex-husband. We’d been married for twenty years and though we had issues, he was at one point, the most important person in my life. Why wouldn’t I want him there when I leave my mortal body and ascend to Heaven? It doesn’t mean that my current husband is less in my heart, but it sets a wonderful precedent for my own children. Love triumphs over everything else.

​Thank you to Luke’s family who understood what was really important in his final moments. They set a precedent which I feel we should all live up to. 

We've been with Country Music Superstar, Finn Murphy and his wife, Lara for many adventures. We've seen how loss and love have shaped their marriage. We've seen happy times and bumpy roads. Now it's time to let these two amazing characters lead a quieter life. But this isn't really goodbye, more like until we see you again.

Blurb:
West Virginia, New York, Tennessee…Lara and Finn Murphy have lived in all of these places. And thanks to Finn’s career as a country music singer, they have had the opportunity to explore many more. But what they have discovered along the many roads traveled, is that the only real place that matters is where each other is—that is the place they belong.
​
The pair will need to hold onto that truth as they face their greatest challenges yet. On top of dealing with Pop’s terminal illness, Lara and Finn’s young daughter is caught up in an emergency situation. The traumatic event not only scratches at old wounds but brings an unwanted public spotlight on the family.

Amongst the emotional upheaval, can they find sanctuary and comfort in each other? Will they learn to reconcile what has happened in the past to find peace in the present? Can they finally and completely let each other in?
And, will their road of life, full of detours and U-turns, finally have a happily ever after?
 
The final book in the Country Roads series, THE PLACE I BELONG, will take you on an emotional, heartfelt journey.
 

Captain Marvel finally arrived in theaters to a large round of applause on International Women's Day. With a nod toward strong women and the friendships they cultivate. You can check out my review on my Movie Review page or listen to my review on Monday on the radio station, WHMI.

Becoming a published author isn't an easy task. First you have to have an idea, then comes the hard part... you have to actually finish the book. Many people have wonderful ideas but they never put their behinds in the chair and complete their writing. A new idea comes around or they let their negative tape get in the way. But you MUST finish a book in order to become an author.

Edits, querying and more edits. All of those are things that occur before you become an author. Cover art is selected and you establish your brand. Whew, are you tired yet? Becoming a published author isn't for the faint of heart...but today we have another new member to the club! Laurel Houck...

Some say you never forget your first kiss... but really, you never forget your first book!

The Girl with Chameleon Eyes
It’s an abrupt, uncomfortable incarnation for Summer, the ghostly girl with chameleon eyes. Exotic hues roil in her gaze as she seeks to recall what awful sin in her past has doomed her to roam the earth. And to discover what—or who—will bring her to eternal rest.

Kota, brunt of bad jokes because he’s different, feels an instant connection to Summer. She recoils at the mere sight of him. Yet they are drawn together in a dance of mutual need, choreographed by the ages.

As Summer grows more attached to both her young foster brother and to Kota’s friend, Preston, she struggles against complacency. Until discovering that if she doesn’t expiate the guilt on her soul by her seventeenth birthday, she will roam forever.

For her, it’s hate at first sight. For him, it’s instant attraction. When the pieces of their lives begin to unravel and intertwine, will love be enough to save them both? Or will evil decide their future?
 

Excerpt
My vapor solidifies with no warning whatsoever. Abrupt. Compact. Unexpected.

I’m near a dumpster that squats behind a floodlit Sheetz gas station, the stench of hot dog grease and burnt coffee strong in my nostrils. My feet are last to materialize, so that for a moment when I look down, I’m floating about five inches above the pavement, white mist above black asphalt.

With the physical transformation comes the rest of it. Light and cool converts to heavy and hot. Yearning and searching morphs to fear and uncertainty. Naked and misty transforms to flesh-bound and clothed. I’m grateful for the garments that cover my skin, even if how that happens is a mystery to me.

The nausea and dizziness are stronger than the last time I can recall. I lean against the dumpster and slide to the ground, knees up, head in my hands. It will pass soon. I hope.

“Miss, are you okay?” A deep voice rumbles above the traffic noise. The tall, ruddy-faced cop is standing over me, wearing a black uniform and a hat with a band of navy and gold squares. “I’m Officer Sullivan. Did someone hurt you?”

“I’m fine.” I scramble to my feet, glad it’s dim in the shadow of the dumpster. I’m still shaky and have no clue what color has risen in my eyes. Between the lights and my startling arrival, anything is possible.

I keep my head down. What can I tell him? I know that I used to be alive, that now I’m a ghost, and that I’m searching for something to expiate my guilt over...what? Beyond that, fuzzy at best. 

About the Author:
Laurel has been writing since the age of six, when Crawls the Caterpillar inched across her lined notebook paper propelled by a fat yellow pencil. She has published magazine and newspaper articles as well as blog posts with All The Way YA, SEAPC.org, and on her website. Her portfolio includes multiple children’s stories in a variety of genres. She has two Young Adult novels—both paranormal romances—with Inkspell Publishing.

In addition to writing, her passion is for travel to exotic locations around the globe. The people she meets, the places she visits, and the quirky way she looks at life all inspire her work. She loves complex characters and intricate plots that mesh into multifaceted books, melding romance, mystery, adventure, and history.

Laurel was a chosen participant at Better Books, a craft-based workshop near San Francisco. She is active in the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and has been a presenter at their Fall SCBWI Conference In Pittsburgh.

When she’s not deep into a writing project, Laurel is a medical missions’ nurse, traveling for Southeast Asia Prayer Center, Hope in Haiti, Caring Hearts, and Convoy of Hope. She lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, with her husband and their fur baby, Mabel. All of that, plus she’s the world’s biggest fan of chocolate milkshakes and hugs.
​
Website:      www.laurelhouckpages.com
Facebook:    Laurel Houck
Twitter:       @LaurelHouck
Instagram:   laurelscottage
 
 

Over the past decade, Tyler Perry has wowed audiences with his Madea character who said exactly what was on her mind. With A Madea Family Funeral, Tyler is ready to move on and put Madea to rest.

You can catch my review on Monday morning at 8:40 am on WHMI or you can read my review on my Movie Review Page.

Does anyone think Tyler is copying Eddie Murphy??