​Archbishop Figurant gazed down the extended maple table, luminous from layer upon layer of bee’s wax. Soon they would be arriving. It was going to be a hard hitting but necessary meeting, long overdue. Abandoning protocol, he would be going against the Church’s hierarchy to expose a long-lived charade of denial and hypocrisy. No longer was he going to ram his head up his self-righteous ass. He was going to act.
 
Lanita entered the room with a large tray of chicken sandwiches and fruit pastries. “Oh, ‘cuse me, your Excellency. I didn’t know you were already here. I’ll be out of your way in no time.” Her words hummed with the rhythmic cadence of a Caribbean island. Neat as a pin in a freshly starched uniform and hair tucked away in a plain white turban, she slipped from point to point, smooth and efficient.
 
“You’re fine, Lanita. I’m trying to get my thoughts in order. You’d best put out some ashtrays. I anticipate Monsignors Flannigan and Murphy will burn up a field of tobacco when they hear what I’ve got to say.” She laughed out loud. “Maybe I should put out the whiskey, too, yes?
 
“No, they’ll have to survive on coffee or water today.” He smiled at her. “Be good for them.”
 
He and Lanita had a comfortable relationship. She had been his housekeeper for six years. He knew some of her secrets and she knew some of his. Late afternoons he often watched her from the upstairs window as she rode her bicycle home, hair fanning out in an Afro halo and a colorful skirt billowing in the wind.

​Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Shadow’s Way is a work of gothic intrigue and Southern mystery penned by author Barbara Frances. In this sweeping narrative of interpersonal drama, intended for mature readers, we meet Elaine Chauvier at the novel’s titular home, where she runs a bed and breakfast. Elaine is keen to hang on to Shadow’s Way, so when her half-sister Ophelia and cousin Rudy show up to visit, trouble ensues. Combining this with a mysterious Archbishop, his housekeeper and obscure identical twin, the novel progresses swiftly into a creepy and intriguing mystery as a massive hurricane approaches the Gulf Coast. A superbly haunted time awaits its readers.

Fans of Agatha Christie and her enormous ensemble casts will find many enjoyable parallels in the work and structure of author Barbara Frances. I particularly enjoyed the setting for this tale, playing on the traditional tropes of the Southern gothic genre, but also adding many flairs and twists from ghost stories, fables and psychological horror works. Both the characters and plot are multi-faceted, giving readers a lot to follow, but also a lot to gain from paying close attention to each clue and motivation. The mystery itself sometimes takes a back seat when the (often literal) ghosts and shadows take over, playing with the characters’ sensibilities and forcing them to ask much deeper questions of themselves and others. What results is an emotive but also thoughtful, spooky mystery novel. I would highly recommend Shadow’s Way to mystery and gothic fiction fans looking for something new, unique and really well crafted.
 

​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.

The year rolled in with a big bang, fireworks, and celebrations. A fresh start to a brand-new year.
 
The mesmerizing sight of Madison standing in his doorway struck Taylor to the core. It was love at first sight.

Madison was caught unawares by the way she felt. She was love struck.

Taylor was smitten and gladly accepted her invitation to a party. The last day of the year was about to become the first day of a whole new experience for Madison and Taylor.

​One pregnant woman, one crazy, annoying, murdering neighbor, the mob, two men dead, one LEFT FOR DEAD, a bit of romance, make up this hair-raising, comedic, entertaining murder mystery.

​Things are really starting to heat up in the Fitz family. Even pregnant, Laura can't stay out of harms way after Gerry’s cousin and best buddy is left for dead after a beating. When the thugs responsible find out he didn’t die, the game is on to keep Pete safe until he has to testify. After finding a body on a mountain trail in cottage country Laura helps a local police officer solve the crime while waiting for the birth of her first baby.

​5.0 out of 5 stars DELIGHTFUL MURDER MYSTERY
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2016
Verified Purchase
Left for Dead by Karen Vaughan, is witty and intelligently told mystery story. It’s the 6th in the Laura and Gerry mysteries series and a delightfully penned book.

It seems even pregnancy will not stop Laura Fitz from being a corpse magnet, as she stumbles yet again onto another dead body. While Laura is talking to the police, she receives a phone call from hubby. Apparently, Laura’s gift or curse for discovering the dead and becoming embroiled in the nasty affairs of the murder has rubbed off on to Gerry, for he has found his cousin near death.

The Fitz’s have once again become entangled in murder, mayhem, the lives of others along with the danger it entails. But, through it, all Laura remains her witty self. Gerry doesn’t fair as well as his love for Laura and their coming baby, upset his judgement at times. After all, it is difficult to be objective when the life of one's wife is on the line.

Ms. Vaughan has another terrific read in Left for Dead. I enjoyed this book enormously and highly recommend it to everyone.

​When you meet your match, temporary has the knack of becoming permanent!
Rae set eyes on Phillip and knew she was in danger. But his secretary had warned her that he was off-limits. Rae wasn’t there for love and affection. She was there to do a job. A three-month temporary assignment. In the first week, they hardly spoke. She shadowed his secretary. A woman wearing a tight bun and glasses was not his cup of tea. And her frumpish dress code did not appeal.

Phillip had spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She was beauty personified. And he was smitten. The first week that Phillip worked with Rae he felt the chemistry. But he was drawn to the woman at the pub. He made sure to be at the pub so that he could get to talk to her. He was in for such a surprise.

Once Phillip realized who Rae was it was as if he had met his other half. From their first date, his life seemed to change. Rae did what she was good at. Making changes. And Phillip was in for a change

​

Tina’s wishes came true when she accepted the offer as an au pair for three weeks. She would be able to take her vacation and see all the sights. The only worry was their father who posed a threat.
Tina decided to take her vacation but needed a companion. Living in a coastal town the sightseeing options were endless.

Phillip needed an au pair to look after his two daughters for the duration of the holidays. Tina immediately responded but was rejected.

Tina changed her mind about her vacation until Phillip phoned her out of desperation. She accepted the assignment and the threesome had an action-packed holiday. But Tina had to be careful. Their father had her head and heart reeling.

​5.0 out of 5 stars Love Is In the Air
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2017
Verified Purchase
To See the Sights, by prolific author Bridgette Lesley, is a romance, but, as with all her stories, it is a perfectly credible one. To See the Sights is not in the Barbara Cartland style, but set among ordinary working people in an indeterminate country.

Tina Hammond is about to take four weeks off work, her first holiday in years and whilst pondering that almost intimidating thought and reading the local paper, she comes across an advert from a single Dad, looking for someone to take care of his girls, ten and fifteen, for three weeks. Not really relishing the thought of trying to enjoy herself on her own in the locality, which she has wanted to explore better for a long time, she rings the number.

However, Phillip Henderson, the Dad, is rather rushed off his feet, and so, having scheduled in several probable babysitters, he brushes her off.

However, when all the applicants turn out to be unsuitable, he calls Tina back and she gets the job. There follows a hectic three weeks, during which Tina and the girls, and later other members of both families, visit all the local attractions, and love is in the air.

To See the Sights is a heart-warming romance that will have aficionados of the genre gasping in delight. It is a very pleasurable read.

​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
Two of the historic forces that still shape American culture, ante-bellum southern ideology and the catholic church, are brought into fascinating and disturbing juxtaposition in this novel. Barbara Frances lays bare traditions that while often enough exposed as decadent in some measure, still retain strong elements of venerability through the usual telling of their stories. Not here. Nothing is embellished or disguised. At its core, like a Russell Lee camera lens, this work shows us marginalized people seeking growth and redemption without filters or touch-up. With all their blemishes, in their stumbling nakedness they emerge as utterly noble.
David Wiener

​ I LOVED THIS SOUTHERN GOTHIC HORROR MYSTERY.
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2020I 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.

​Sparkling rocks, family secrets, and seductive liesMia’s advertising career masks a side job in the family business―the business is thievery and the competition kills. Partnering with her brother, Andy, Mia is drawn into a short timeline to plan a diamond heist to make good on Andy’s double-cross of the crime boss who hired him for the prior job.
A Heist That Her Brother’s Life Depends OnOpenly teasing the mark, Mia plays with the jeweler’s attraction to her, insinuating herself into his life, gaining his confidence. When Andy’s past threatens them both, Mia abandons the heist and disappears. The mark, under Mia’s spell, hides and protects her from danger. They are both in peril as her brother’s stalker closes in on them. Alternating between ecstasy and fear, she has to make a fateful decision.
Is she placing her trust in the wrong man? Can a relationship built on lies become real?

​Story of a young man's escape from Russian ruled Poland in 1913.

​Breathtaking Reality
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2018In nineteen-thirteen, when Lucjen finds out that he will be drafted into the Russian military, and forced to fight his friends and neighbors for the Russian Czar. He and his friend Franciszek, join twenty other people in an harrowing escape to the Americas.

Ms. Drewa's short story of her grandfather's escape holds all the fear, terror, and hardship one would expect if they themself were living through it.

I hope that Ms. Drewa turns this suspense filled story into a novella. This brief glimpse into the times leaves one begging for more.

Kudos to Viv Drewa for taking on the telling of her grandfather's journey. A must read for both history buffs and those who love adventure, and suspense.

​Prepare to be spellbound. Barbara Frances' long-awaited third novel is available NOW! 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?