​Sammy Sutton Author

5.0 out of 5 stars A raw peek inside an intimate dichotomy
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Through this collection Marta Moran Bishop gives the reader a raw peek inside the intimate dichotomy a victim of abuse must endure until they are able to process. Marta takes the entanglement of love and hate abuse manifests, and through the rhythm of her words she unwinds her confusion. In a completely unadulterated tone, she smooths the drama and unselfishly shares the gift with others, a priceless gift. Her gift is without restraint through her beautiful poetry. This book is a deep reflection of a victim, survivor and a beautifully empathetic human being that has risen above the perpetrators of the past and found beauty in people, nature, and animals. I so admire Marta's ability to share her deepest and most intimate feelings and experiences while at the same time recognizing obstacles others encounter that are not hers personally.

From a heart wrenching abusive experience, a salute to soldiers, an inclusive look at God and a tree sleeping...this is a wonderful labor of love any poetry reader will appreciate.

​Prepare to be spellbound. Barbara Frances' long-awaited third novel, “Shadow's Way,” takes you to the coastal, deep South, where the past and the present mingle in a gothic tale of insanity, murder, and sexual intrigue.

You'll meet the beautiful Elaine Chauvier, former actress and proprietor of Shadow's Way, her family's antebellum home; the esteemed Archbishop Andre Figurant and his fallen identical twin, Bastien; newly arrived Ophelia and Rudy, here to explore their Chauvier roots and their ties to Shadow's Way; and the mysterious Madame Claudine. Under a veneer of piety and graciousness, i.e., the questions: What is good? What is evil? What is reality?

A spell weaver, Shadow's Way, kept me in suspense, which, as a lover of good mysteries is not easy for an author to do. I often guess an ending before I hit the middle. As in her last book, Like I Used to Dance, Ms. Frances' characters are delicious portrayals, richly textured, gradually revealing their good and evil humanity, as her hauntingly realistic settings and surprising story unfolds.  To say more might give away the best of her new book. I have thoroughly enjoyed both of her novels and highly recommend them.
Sherry Haskin

​M. M. Bishop Award-winning author and poet

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVED THIS SOUTHERN GOTHIC HORROR MYSTERY.

I received this book as a gift from my niece, and cannot thank her enough.
Ms. Francis’ novel Shadow’s Way, had me enthralled from page one, it kept me reading until so late into the night that I used a flashlight in order not to wake my husband.
I’ve always enjoyed reading gothic tales, but this one went beyond most that I had read. The synopsis was correct, past and present mingled and left me on the edge of my seat. Was G – G – Daddy a real paranormal experience or a figment of Elaine Chauvier’s imagination, which got worse as she sunk deeper into insanity?
I loved the various characters that Ms. Francis brought into play as needed to heighten the story. They were well rounded and interconnected in ways that one has to keep reading to get the full picture.

A New Hero Is Born
Lottie is my kind of people. A real person. Caring, smart, savvy. She may be only a kid, but she's a great role model for anybody. And she has the most interesting, sometimes kind of scary, adventures. And she meets weird people, funny people, wacky people, serious people. Sometimes she gets herself in a pickle, but she always rises to the occasion and figures out how to get out of it. She doesn't reject the kindness of strangers either.
More than anything, Lottie is saturated with decency. She's doesn't have to be in control all the time. She can be vulnerable. She can be hurt. But she likes herself no matter what. And she likes people. All people.
If you liked A Wrinkle in Time, you'll like Lottie's Adventures as well.
DAW, Austin, Texas
It's an exciting thriller that makes you want to keep on reading.
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Wanda Hasley, Retired Teacher

M. M. Bishop Award-winning author and poet
5.0 out of 5 stars A WONDERFULLY TOLD CHAPTER BOOK FOR THE TWEEN
I bought this book at the local bookstore for my niece and just had to read it too.

While reading Barbara Frances’ chapter book Lottie’s Adventure: Facing the Monster, I was swept back to the books of my childhood. A place where tweens helped each other and became heroes without the use of make-believe or magic brooms. Just plain old smarts, ingenuity, and integrity.

I was engrossed in the story of Lottie, a Hispanic girl, as she helped Charles Ray a black boy, who had been kidnapped escape and confront the bad guy, outsmarting him, while facing their own fears. The friendship that grew between the two was a lesson in how people all want the same things out of life regardless of their upbringing, race, or nationality.
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It is a compelling and wonderful tale that I’d recommend to both adults and the tween alike.

​“Our kids, my, my, Gracie” laughed Bud. “Where did we go wrong? One marries God, another a Jew and the last one, the devil!”
Texas, 1951. The Wolanskys—Grace, Bud and their three grown children—are a close-knit clan, deeply rooted in their rural community and traditional faith. On their orderly farm, life seems good and tomorrow always holds promise.
But under the surface, it’s a different story. Grace is beset by dark memories and unnamed fears, calmed only by practicing a secret obsession. Their son Andy has said no to becoming a farmer like his dad and, worse, has fallen in love with a big-city Jewish girl. Youngest child Regina is trapped in a loveless marriage to an abusive, alcoholic husband. Even “perfect” daughter Angela’s decision to become a nun unleashes consequences no one could foresee.
And then Ceil Dollard breezes into town.
Ceil—wealthy, sophisticated, irrepressible—is like a visitor from Mars. She’s a modern woman. She drives a car and wears pants. She blows away tradition and certainty, forcing Grace to face her fears and brave a changing world. Through Ceil, Grace learns about courage and pleasure—but at the risk of losing Bud.
Barbara Frances’ sparkling, richly human novel takes you back to a time when Ike was president and life was slower, but people were the same as now. You’ll encounter a cast of characters storm-tossed by change, held together by love. Written with compassion, humor and suspense, Like I Used to Dance will charm you, warm you and even squeeze a few tears, from its opening number to the last waltz. 

You'll Be Hooked on This Book
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After only a few pages I was hooked by Like I Used to Dance and Barbara Frances' gifts as a storyteller. She creates multidimensional characters who are so real that I found myself thinking about them in between sessions with the book, and she weaves a plot that is by turns suspenseful, funny, touching and gripping. Set in a rural Texas community more than sixty years ago, the book explores social, racial and family themes -- many of which continue to resonate today. But above all, it's a great read! It will take you places where you've never been, from a KKK meeting that is both sinister and pathetic, to a heartbroken man's encounter with a mystical fox. Barbara Frances writes with insight, compassion, full knowledge of the human heart, and lots of twists, turns and surprises. Highly recommended.

M. M. Bishop Award-winning author and poet
 
5.0 out of 5 stars WILL SURELY BECOME ONE OF THE CLASSICS IN LITERATURE

It is easy to see how Like I Used To Dance by Barbara Frances won awards. It is a novel that should easily find its way into classic literature. It is not just the story of the Wolanskys, who live in a small farming town in the nineteen-fifty’s, but the story of life, and how even generations of family issues can affect each new generation unless something happens to break the cycle.
Ms. Frances paints a picture of each character, their weaknesses, as well as the strength in their character. From Grace, and Bud, their three grown children, to neighbors, and friends, each is drawn with a fine pencil, fully formed, and genuine, some are people you wish you knew, and others you would like to string up. Yet, each is so well crafted as to be able to see them in your life, or town.
Whether she is painting the generous nature of Bud, to the horror of Billy Ray, Ms. Frances brings us a full picture of life as it was, and life as it still is. Many things may have changed in our world, underneath there is still an underbelly of both the beauty and ugliness of human nature.
Like I Used To Dance was not a book that I could easily put down, but sat up till the wee hours of the morning reading.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

A Down And Dirty Look At Big OilGwynn Reznick's life is shattered when her best friend and co-worker at Wilton Oil & Gas Company dies in a car crash. She doubts it was an accident. Her suspicion is confirmed when a private investigator, Ruben Dordi, shows up at her door. His team has discovered a trail of unusual deaths and disappearances among Wilton employees.
˃˃˃ Going To Work Becomes Very DangerousTo make matters worse, Gwynn is under constant surveillance by those responsible for her friend's death. But that doesn't deter her from getting involved in the investigation. Danger lurks in every corner of the Wilton Tower. One false move could turn a risky situation into a death trap.
˃˃˃ A Hard To Put Down ThrillerAs the investigation team digs deeper, they begin to unravel a sinister plot that threatens a catastrophic pipeline disaster. The story follows Gwynn as she delves deeper into the macabre machinations of people who are willing to kill for dollars, and in the process she learns things about herself that she’d never known.
Will they solve the crime before it is too late?

​Uvi Poznansky

5.0 out of 5 stars Even when I was scared, I didn’t want it to end
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Gwynn Reznick is shocked by the auto accident that took the life of her best friend and co-worker at Wilton Oil and Gas. Ruben Dordi, a PI, is hired by the girl’s grandmother to investigate her death. The suspicious circumstances lead Gwen and Ruben to examine other deaths as well as disappearances of Wilton employees. The closer Gwen comes to reveal the truth, the more she feels her own life is threatened, in a corporate world where the chase for money overrides human considerations and people have no qualms to kill for dollars.

In addition to the high-tech contemporary feel and the twists and turns of this gripping thriller, it also reveals an undeniable attraction forming between Ruben and Gwen, and their struggle not to yield to it, so as to keep a cool head. “He pretended to be engrossed in the document, waiting for Gwenn to fall asleep. Tonight, he’d sleep on the sofa since he felt vulnerable and didn’t want to take a chance on being tempted by her again.”

When all is said and done, Gwen says, “Being involved in this investigation has spurred something in me that I didn’t know existed. Even when I was scared, I didn’t want it to end.” Reading the book, that was how I felt, too.

M. M. Bishop Award-winning author and poet
5.0 out of 5 stars COULDN'T PUT THIS ONE DOWN - AND CAN'T WAIT TO DELVE INTO BOOK 2

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THE COST OF CRUDE – A GWENN RESNICK MYSTERY – BOOK 1 BY INGE-LISE GOSS, did something most books don’t do, it kept me reading till my eyes could not keep open, till my mind begged for sleep, but oh how I wanted to read on.
Right from the first pages, you are caught! As I read on, I became more and more enthralled with the characters and story. Mind you, I am not usually interested in the Oil and Gas industry, but even the descriptions included of pipelines, etc., managed to hold my interest, as they were important in the discovery of who were the bad guys.
I fell completely in love with the beautifully written, and well-defined characters as they entered stage left or just fell into your lap as the saying goes.
It is no wonder that Ms. Goss has been on both the USA Today and Amazon bestselling author list, she deserves every award and accolade if all her books are as great.
I can hardly wait to open book 2, The Cisco Bandits.

 One of a set of letters between Edgar and Emily, in print in the A Poet's Journey series.
MY DEAREST EDGAR

I’ve read your post of yesterday,
More times than I can count or say
I cannot seem to speak or hear,
Except your words within my ear
What do you mean by nevermore?
My heart, my soul that I adore

Where is my love of latter-day?
Who spoke of dreams that made me stay?
We will be one through thick and thin,
Nary a word from kith or kin,
Could part our hearts and souls once more
I pray to all that does remain,
 
That mean you not in your refrain.
Nevermore is not meant for me,
But some form of insanity.
That your temperance has not detained,
Your love for me your Emily.

Lindlae Parish
5.0 out of 5 stars A Poet's Journey: Emotions - A Voyage of Love and HopeVerified Purchase
A Poet's Journey: Emotions by Marta Moran Bishop is a wonderful, emotional journey through the poet's life. Each poem beautifully portrays a series of emotions, bringing the words alive. More than one poem will appeal and speak to each reader, resonating deep in the soul. Lovingly crafted by Moran Bishop, the poems reveal bits and pieces of her life.

Below, I have listed & discussed a few of my favorites:

My Dearest Edgar and Dear Edgar - haunting poems full of deep longing for a kindred spirit. It's obvious that the poet's author can't have the one person she wants above all others.
Betrayal - full of sorrow and emotional pain. At one time or another, each of us has felt this sort of emotional burden.
Enough - Builds on 'Betrayal', showing the poet's resignation to a situation and deciding she's had enough.
Tribute to My Mother - This is a beautiful, loving tribute to a wonderful lady. Though it was written specifically for the poet's mother, the love and warmth expressed could be for every mother.
Death, I Am Not Afraid - is a unique look at death and dying. There is no apprehension on the part of the poet, only a defiance. In this poem, she speaks to Death, accepting the inevitable, but vowing to live her life to the fullest.
Walk on the Rainbow - Weaves lovely imagery, leaving the reader uplifted.
Puddles - a fun, joyful look at what most consider a nuisance. It takes the reader back to the days when we were children and purposely jumped in every puddle.
Craigworth Dimpleton - is a tribute to a beloved family pet. It brings a smile to the reader's face.
Hitchhiker - Although it's about a mouse, it reminds me of a trip I took with a tree frog plastered to my windshield. It's a charming, uplifting poem.
Bit of a Bookworm - I really identified with this poem. It is so me!

A Poet's Journey will delight the reader making them alternately happy, nostalgic or sad. It is an amazing and intricate voyage through life and love in all its aspects.

I highly recommend A Poet's Journey for anyone who loves poetry and even those who claim not to understand it. The language is clear, the emotions easy to comprehend. It's a wonderful book to read and share with a friend.

Five Golden Acorns

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In a world where the Gods walk and their spirits commune with mankind, there must be those trained while in a trance to intercede with them, for the good of the tribe.

Mondoani, a young woman, is chosen by the Gods to take the place of the Old Mother upon her passing. Is this frail young woman strong enough to hold the spirits of the Gods when they descend?
For it will be her responsibility to hold the memories of all those who have lived before. These memories of the past are the keys to the survival of her people and she will need to find the strength of spirit and body to help protect and lead her people. For they must travel across the dead lands and snowy plains to a place they can safely spend the winter or die from starvation in a land devoid of rain.
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But before she can accomplish that she must choose an apprentice from among the young girls and women, someone who can take her place should she fall.
Will Mondoani’s youth and inexperience condemn the tribe to death or will she rise above it and with the help of the magical world choose correctly?

Mystical tones...a touch of the allegorical

The Choosing is a story with interesting mystical tones and a touch of the allegorical. It speaks to the harmony that must exist between people and the gods for the bounty on earth to be renewable. The passages that portray rituals used to honor the earth and its gifts were memorable to me.

Strength and vitality are prominent traits in the main character. Mondoani is no ordinary girl; she has been chosen by the gods to be the tribe's new Memory Keeper when their Old Mother dies. The Memory Keeper plays a most significant role in the tribe. She is the conduit who is entrusted to intercede with the gods for a tribe's survival: to ensure safe passage to the place where food, water and safety are assured. This task is daunting for Mondoani, fraught with fears that there will not be enough time for her to gain enough knowledge necessary to keep the tribe safe from famine and death. Mondoani, however, never wavers from tackling the immense responsibilities given her at such a young age. The author wove her words carefully, finding some balance in tone between Mondoani's worry and confidence, her fears and courage.

The last few chapters offer an unusual twist to the story. The ceremony to choose an apprentice for Mondoani was dramatic, with surprising revelations involving various gods intermingling with the tribe. If you enjoy allegorical stories, this one will appeal.

Can humans survive the android uprising?Paislee Hobson is born into a world struggling after a war that killed most of the world’s population. Rebuilding has been accomplished through androids developed by and under the control of The Institute. The human population has been divided into strata.
>>>An Artifical CompanionPaislee, a legal clerk, is a member of the upper stratum. Her recent boyfriend dumped her. To avoid another heartache, she purchases a human-looking android companion, Pellegrin. No one suspects Pellegrin is not human. He arouses and satisfies all her desires and is a polished companion and conversationalist in public.
>>>Murder and Missing PersonsWhen strange things begin to happen around the courthouse, people start acting mysteriously. Some disappear and others are murdered. Pellegrin’s true identity surfaces as he slowly and methodically takes over all aspects of Paislee’s life. She is in turmoil trying to find a way out. The love of her youth appears and she longs for a life that is denied to her.
>>>Can Paislee regain her freedom or is she doomed to a life under Pellegrin’s control?

Silver Medal Winner: Readers' Favorite 2019 International Book Awards --Fiction ~ Dystopia
"No Freedom by Inge-Lise Goss is a suspense novel with a splash of something for everyone. It's fantasy, sci-fi-, dystopian, romance, and mystery all wrapped up into one imaginative, futuristic tale...grabs you from the first paragraph! I can honestly say that out of the dozens of books I've read this year, No Freedom is one of the top two. I loved it. The author did a great job of making it feel realistic despite it being a fantasy/sci-fi read...The engaging plot, excellent writing style, grammar, and punctuation makes this a five-star read (and higher if I could). This is a future movie!"--Kristy Vee, Readers' Favorite Reviewer ★★★★★

THE NURSE MARE’S TALE Is the story of Dinky’s mother Sadie, to her friends. During the time before his birth, she recalls the loss of her first baby taken from her by vicious wolves. At the barn, humans refer to her as Ghost for she is all white and very quiet. After Sadie gives birth to Dinky, she must endure another loss, when he is ripped away from her, so she can nurse a more prominent foal destined for greatness. After enduring years of breeding and loss, the older nurse mares must face the auction with the promise of being slaughtered, as they have become too old for breeding and nursing.
Do they accept their fate, or will there be another ending for the nurse mares that have given everything, and received little in return?
The ending may surprise you. It is a poignant story that will make you cry and rejoice.

THE NURSE MARE'S TALE Is the story of Dinky's mother Sadie, to her friends. During the time before his birth, she recalls the loss of her first baby taken from her by vicious wolves. At the barn, humans refer to her as Ghost for she is all white and very quiet. After Sadie gives birth to Dinky, she must endure another loss, when he is ripped away from her, so she can nurse a more prominent foal destined for greatness. After enduring years of breeding and loss, the older nurse mares must face the auction with the promise of being slaughtered, as they have become too old for breeding and nursing.
Do they accept their fate, or will there be another ending for the nurse mares that have given everything, and received little in return?
The ending may surprise you. It is a poignant story that will make you cry and rejoice. Karen Vaughan - Author The Laura and Gerry Mystery Series