Hello friends, I’m finally making the time to reread and post my reviews on the platforms where other prospective searchers of good books will find them because I still believe this is the best way to support the authors of books I want to recommend. For today there are two.

The Soul Whisperer’s Decision
by Gwen Plano
Published January 15, 2024

Overview:

Sarah Jameson, a nurse at County Central Hospital, survives an accident that kills her two young children. While comatose, she travels into the heavenly realm where she visits with her precious little ones. She is given a choice – return to her husband, Jack, or remain with her children in their celestial home.

Jack was not in the fated automobile. Though he heard the crash and ran to help, there was nothing he could do. He suffers the loss of his children, fears the potential demise of his wife, and wonders about his own sanity. His struggle with PTSD from his military years has returned and at times, he cannot distinguish between the present and the past.

An accident tragically changed the lives of this young family, but out of sorrow emerges unexpected blessings.

My Review:

heartrending and heart-mending, tragic and triumphant

The Soul Whisperer’s Decision by Gwen Plano is realistic fiction aligned with something I’ve never experienced but believe in. Near-death experience—a topic close to my heart that this capable author executed with deft and sensitivity—and post-traumatic stress.

I was so pleased with how the author presented the two main characters and how much she revealed about each.

I also liked how there isn’t much exposition about each character; instead, we get exposed to the lives of all the characters as the story unfolds, and we’re never lost. I loved how all the other supporting characters contributed so much to understanding the main characters and contributed to the beautiful story.

This is a heart story—it’s a story for the soul: heartrending and heart-mending, tragic and triumphant in equal measures—like life and living.

This novel heartened my belief that the soul supports the limitation of the eyes. It aligns with my spiritual faith and made me feel less isolated in this faith. It asks me to be empathetic, less criticizing, and to see with my soul if I can recognize myself in any of the characters.

I’m so happy to have read yet another novel by this author and look forward to reading more of her works. A resounding 5-star rating for cadence, tempo, and hue of each chapter.

The story is heartrending and heart-mending at the same time, and
tragic but ends in a triumphant tone.
Heartily, I recommend this book.

A few days ago I told you about a new book days away from being published: Séduire by
Tremaine L. Loadholt. This much-anticipated book will be published on Lulu and in
preparation for my purchase there, I created an account with Lulu.

Tremaine is the author of several books–good books. And though they’re distributed and sold on Amazon too, the print versions sold at Amazon are a tad bit too expensive for me. To my
delight, Lulu offers the books in PDF form at a price that doesn’t break my wallet. I’m so happy
about this. So that’s how I was able to purchase and download the book I’m about to review for
you.

Here’s the book as seen on Amazon:

A New Kind of Down: The Breath & Bones of a Writer (Paperback)
by Tremaine Loadholt
Published March 26, 2017

Overview:

A New Kind of Down: The Breath & Bones of a Writer is a work produced over four years that
includes free verse poetry, prose poems, haiku, and flash fiction.

My Review: Find it on Goodreads and Amazon.

a kind of softness that awakens reality and makes you see with all your senses

A New Kind of Down: The Breath & Bones of a Writer by Tremaine L. Loadholt is a beautiful
collection of poems, haiku, and flash fiction—a kind of softness that awakens reality and makes
you see with all your senses. 

Each poem reverberates powerfully, and though the author’s experiences differ from mine, they
draw me into our shared humanity and make me feel less alone in my aloneness. I quote:

“I have written it out more than enough times/ to know that writing it out is not enough. The life raft I have been/ searching for did not come. There are no Coast Guards. I am out/  here/

ALONE/ Swimming in water too hot to carry me home in the hold of your/ high tide. Pierced in
both sides are your words. They sting but/ soothe. How can this be possible?/

This dance, this casual dance we do around what needs to be said/ is taxing. My bones are
withering, fragile in their state, leaning on/ a chance that/

WILL/ 
NEVER/ 
COME. …” ~ Realizing Reality 

***

“life is precious–/
the one thing/
that we receive once,/
yet we are careless/
with it. it is a toy,/
a super soaker full/
of red heat, burning/
deep in wait./
but, we complain/
about not having more–/
wanting what we cannot/
handle./
fragile, feeble, frivolous fools.”// ~ Sweet Life

***

“We are in/
Amazement. Standing/
Among greats in/
A tiny space,/

Searching for gems./
I rely on the/
Sanity of love’s/ Grasp in the middle/
Of time and space…/
And here, I always/
Seem to find it.”// ~ 3-2-1

***

And “perfect” for this season:

“A chilly night with/
cool breezes blowing shifts me/
into Autumn mode.//

In love with peaceful/
moments, savoring new life–/
October’s in bloom.”// ~ Autumn Nights (2 Parts)

I’m happy to have this book and recommend it to people who love to feel the works of good
writers who make you reflect. This is one such writer and I cannot wait to read more of
Loadholt’s books—a resounding 5-star rating.

Thanks so much for reading my reviews.
I wish you miracles.

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Selma Martin

I’m a simple woman who dares to see the beauty in ordinary. I’d love to connect with you and like pen pals, I want something beautiful to blossom between us. Will you join me? Selma is my middle name. Its meaning—peaceful, complete, are euphoric affirmations I like to think of myself as having. They compliment the joy I feel when I write. I sincerely hope you decide to join me on my writing journey. I Wish You Miracles.

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