#BookReview - The Last Treasure @erikamarksauthr

The Last Treasure

By: Erika Marks
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publication Date: August 2016
ISBN: 9781101990841
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: September 8, 2016

Erika Marks delves into the lost history of the Patriot, a vessel lost at sea in the early 1800’s and delivers page-turning adventure in her latest novel The Last Treasure.

It’s been nine years since Liv and Sam parted ways. There was a time when it seemed destiny would place Sam and Liv in happily ever after. The third member to their trio, Whit, was the ‘bad boy.’ He was the one who was unpredictable—borderline undependable. Yet, Liv ended up with Whit. They had a salvage business and her childhood obsession toward uncovering the real story behind the demise of Theodosia Burr was a mystery Liv was certain she would uncover someday.

Coming out of yet another treasure seeking mission gone wrong, Liv and Whit are reunited with Sam for one last mission. Old feelings surface and Liv is once again at her crossroads; questioning whether the one she let get away (Sam) was the one true love she never should have let go. When the crew learns they have the chance to perhaps uncover the mystery of the Patriot and Theodosia Burr, the temptation is too great to walk away. The team finds themselves deposited back on the coast of the Outer Banks to search for the long lost vessel. Tempers flare, romance ignites once more and for the first time in his life, Whit needs to demonstrate to Liv that she did make the right choice in leaving Sam behind so long ago. Time and challenges will be the indicator as to whether happily ever after will surface along with whether the mystery of Theodosia will be solved once and for all.

Erika Marks has a knack for setting the tone and pace instantaneously in this latest body of work. The nuance of ‘things aren’t quite perfect’ is established within the first handful of pages. Marks accomplishes mystery and intrigue at the onset and plays on the mystery of 'what if.' She consistently delivers rich prose and crisp dialogue for the reader to engage and participate in the story. Marks complements the dialogue with precise timing and placement of descriptive scenery that manages to enhance the thrill and suspense of diving into the deep to uncover the long-buried treasures of the past. There is a distinct voice throughout this novel that is easily detected and turning each page is far from being a chore. Well done Ms. Marks. I look forward to your next body of work.

Quill says: The Last Treasure is a well-thought-out and enjoyable read.

#BookReview - Elizabeth Daleiden on Trial @ronfritsch

Elizabeth Daleiden on Trial

By: Ron Fritsch
Publisher: Ron Fritsch
Publication Date: July 2016
ISBN: 978-0997882919
Reviewed by: Lynette Latzko
Review Date: September 4, 2016

In the late 1970’s, Jonah Neumeyer, a young lawyer in Chicago, decides to return to the small farm town he grew up in, Revere, Illinois, to get answers about a horrific event that occurred twenty years prior when he was a child. Jonah and his grandmother witnessed a fire that burnt a house down with the occupants, two elderly men, still inside. He believed the only person who could provide the best answers to what exactly happened was Elizabeth Daleiden, the nearest neighbor to the burning house and the woman who inherited the farm that the men owned. What Jonah Neumeyer didn’t know was that by paying a visit to Elizabeth, he would stir up a past long thought to be solved and put to rest, and attract the attention of several notable people, Olivia Daleiden, former mother-in-law to Elizabeth Daleiden, and Tanner Howland, a state’s attorney with political ambitions. Truths and lies swirl together as the past is dug up and resurrected turning into serious accusations, and Elizabeth finds herself directly in the center of this and is accused of, and indicted for, being a part in the deaths of the two men. She faces not only imprisonment, but loss of the farm that has been in her family for generations.

Feeling partly responsible for innocently inquiring about the past, Jonah, who firmly believes Elizabeth is innocent, offers to help Elizabeth and her son, Eli, with their farming duties while Elizabeth and her lawyer prepare for this difficult trial. Meanwhile as time goes on, tongues continue to wag and more information is uncovered relating to two other supposedly mysterious deaths in Elizabeth’s past, her father and husband, leading people to wonder if she was also involved in their deaths.

As the story continues to unfold during the court proceedings, secrets are uncovered and testimony is heard that strongly points to Elizabeth’s complete culpability in not one, but all the deaths, forcing Elizabeth to do the only thing left that may stop her from going to jail. She must take the stand and testify in hopes that the jury will believe her versions of exactly what happened in each of the four deaths.

Readers are advised to pay careful attention to the list of characters in the beginning of the book since they may need to reference this list often as there are a plethora of characters, some with equal importance and strong personalities vying for the reader’s attention, while others merely float in for a few scenes. There are also a few parts in this story where the author takes a bit of artistic license with a few aspects of the plot, but this does not have an overall negative impact preventing readers from enjoying this novel.

Author Ron Fritsch has succeeded in crafting a dramatic story that hooks readers right from the beginning when they first learn about the person in the title of the book, Elizabeth Daleiden, and how she’s connected to a house fire twenty years prior. As time moves on, key characters are introduced, setting the stage for what the reader may believe is a typical crime drama, but surprise twists reveal a more complex plot that is coupled with issues of homophobia and small-town mentality.

Quill says: Ron Fritsch provides his readers with a page-turning courtroom drama filled with unpredictable plot twists that will entertain fans of the genre.

For more information on Elizabeth Daleiden on Trial, please visit the book's website at: www.elizabethdaleiden.com

#BookReview - The Velvet Hours @alysonrichman

The Velvet Hours

By: Alyson Richman
Publication Date: September 2016
Publisher: Penguin Random House
ISBN: 978-0425266267
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: September 4, 2016

Alyson Richman’s takes the reader on a delicious journey back in time and delivers an intricate tale of the true account of an abandoned Parisian apartment that survived the German occupation in her newest book, The Velvet Hours.

Nineteen-year-old Solange Beaugiron and her alchemist father Henri are all each other have as they live their lives in the quiet and unsuspecting surroundings of Montmartre, France. Europe is on the brink of disaster with the escalation and prospect of German occupation. It is time for Henri to enlighten Solange of a person from his past. Marthe de Florian is his biological mother, but that is as far as the intimacies of mother and child go. She gave him up at birth and while Henri learned the truth when he was eighteen, the years had managed to dissuade any further sense of connection between the two. Perhaps with time, there is a measure of healing and Henri decides it is time for his only child to meet this mysterious woman (her grandmother) who abandoned him so many years before.

Marthe de Florian hadn’t begun life as de Florian. She was a seamstress and one day followed the next without much fanfare. Marthe believed she was destined for far more in life. She left her life as a seamstress behind and answered the call of the theatre for her reinvention. Lovely and captivating, she catches the eye of the mysterious and quite handsome Charles. He is clearly wealthy and as time unfolds, she learns he is married. No matter, Charles wasn’t the only wealthy men to have a woman to keep outside the confines of marital bliss. Charles lavishes Marthe with gifts and finery. By the time Solange enters Marthe’s life, Charles has passed. She and her faithful servant Giselle are reclusive companions in her grandiose apartment. Solange is curious about this mystery grandmother she never knew she had. With the German occupation rapidly becoming reality, Henri is called up to support the effort at the front. He closes up their home and arranges for Solange to move in with Marthe. As the war advances, Solange and Marthe discover the hidden treasures that can surface through the tragedies life has a way of delivering.

Alyson Richman deserves great praise for penning such an historically rich and splendid tale. Her precise flair toward capturing the essence and accuracy of the German invasion and occupancy of France is absolutely fascinating. At book’s end, she pens a fascinating account of what inspired her to write this story. While there is ample fact woven into the history of the characters portrayed, her embellishment to solidify the facts is seamless and lends beautiful authenticity to the overarching story. She is a master storyteller indeed. Her characters are quite credible and the dialogue will have the reader often experiencing a sense they too are in the scene as the conversation unfolds. This is the signature of a writer who is connected with the words she places. There is no real estate wasted across the pages of this novel. It is captivating, engaging and will certainly leave her audience with one desire at the proverbial end: may I have another, please? Well done Ms. Richman!

Quill says: The Velvet Hours is an epic journey of delicious story and fascinating history — a must read!

Interview with Kay Hall, wife of author Jerry Hall

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Amy Lignor is talking with Kay Hall, wife of Jerry Hall, author of Yes Sir, Yes Sir, 3 Bags Full! (Volume 2)

FQ: In 2008, Jerry dealt with his symptoms and flashbacks. Can you describe, from your point of view, PTSD and what it’s like to live with that? And how, at one time, Jerry felt like he’d rather go back to war instead of walk into a VA hospital?

HALL: PTSD is a very insidious condition. I did a lot of spouse therapy at the VA to learn about it and how to deal with it. Understanding triggers was huge for both of us. I learned that he needed the seat in the corner with a clear view of the exit wherever we went because he was hyper alert to any danger and needed an escape route. When we flew he made me count the rows to the exit. He couldn’t stand to be told what he could and couldn’t do from someone in authority so I learned to deal with any inspector, etc and shield him from those situations. I took on the role of protector unknowingly because I knew what caused him stress.

He talked a lot about going into the VA hospital the first time in the late 1970’s. He said he really believed he was crazy, had no capacity to love and would never fit into the world here. In war he was respected and knew how to survive. Here, not so much. But he did go in, he was determined to do whatever he could to be a healthier person.

FQ: Emotionally, “Sky King” sometimes feels like Jerry’s alter ego in this book. Did he ever

mention this title of his at all? Is there one specific battle that Jerry spoke about often?

Author Jerry Hall with wife Kay

HALL: He grew up watching Sky King, who was the calm hero from the air that I think Jerry wanted to be. Sky King saved people, Jerry’s job was to coordinate the safety of his brothers in trouble on the ground. But Sky King always won and picked his own battles.

Jerry talked about his first solo strike mission a lot, he was supposed to be call in hits to a so-called enemy base camp (really just a swamp somewhere) when he got a T.I.C. (Troops in Contact) alert and went out on a limb as a newbie to deal with it. End result – the contact was broken and all ok. He goes into detail about it in the first volume of Yes Sir.

FQ: Did Jerry ever miss his sanctuary? Being able to fly?

HALL: In the beginning he said he did. He didn’t want to be an airline pilot because he said that was bus driving and he would be too tempted to try a barrel roll and give the passengers their money’s worth. He wanted to be an instructor pilot when he got out but had a bit of a run in with the civilian instructor pilot who claimed to know more than Jerry about flying when he had a hundredth of the experience Jerry did. Jerry didn’t appreciate being called ‘one of those military assholes’ either. He didn’t fly again.

Author Jerry Hall and Bill Healey, aka Father William in "Yes Sir..", at FAC reunion. 

FQ: Jerry delves into everything from his mental and physical decline to his thoughts in regards to war. Changes occurred, with later Hall generations marrying refugees. How are they all today?

HALL: They are all fine – Jerry was so proud of the full circle and welcomed the spouses and of course grandchildren with open arms.

FQ: Jerry’s story will help many who are still suffering from the trauma of war. Are there any book tours or talks scheduled where this book is concerned?

HALL: I am hoping to do a talk/event this winter in the south Florida area with some vet groups.

FQ: To end on a lighter note: I must ask, because I believe this is such an incredible story it should be seen by as many people as possible, who do you think would be best to play Jerry in the movie version?

HALL: We used to joke about this! In a perfect situation we thought a young Matt Damon to play Jerry, a young Richard Dreyfuss is Father William’s doppelganger. I like Ryan Gosling and I solicited advice from friends and added Zach Braff and Tom Hardy to list.

To learn more about Yes Sir, Yes Sir, 3 Bags Full! (Volume 2) please read the review at: Feathered Quill Book Reviews.

#BookReview - Karolina's Twins

Karolina's Twins

By: Ronald H. Balson
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 978-1-250-09837-5
Reviewed by: Janice Ladendorf
Review Date: September 1, 2016

World War II ran from 1939 to 1945 and was the major historical event in the 20th century. The Nazis used it as a cover to hide the genocide of six million people. There is extensive literature on the Holocaust, both fiction and non-fiction. Karolina's Twins is classified as fiction, but what makes it unusual is the way it runs on two levels. The fictional plot is on the top level and the bottom level is the story of a real Holocaust survivor.

The protagonist is Lena Woodward, an elderly Holocaust survivor who grew up in Poland before the War. She and her husband eventually emigrated to the United States where they became wealthy. After his death and before her own, she wants to find out what happened to twin girls who were lost during the War. She hires the Taggarts to find them. Catherine Lockhart-Taggart is a lawyer and her husband, Liam Taggart, is a private investigator.

To explain her quest for the twins, she tells her story to Catherine. This gripping tale breathes reality and was inspired by the life of Fay Scharf Waldman. Episode by episode, Lena describes what happened to her and how she survived. She begins by remembering her happy family life before the German invasion of Poland and her close friendship with Karolina. When the German army moved in, the hungry times began and most of the Jews were forced to cram themselves into a small ghetto on the edge of town. Unwanted children and old people were soon shipped out to unknown destinations. When Lena's family is arrested, she escapes by hiding in the attic of their home. When it is taken over by a German family, she leaves, sneaks into the ghetto where someone tells her the Germans have killed her father, mother, and disabled brother.

Lena is lucky enough to get a job in the Shop, where skilled women sewed uniform coats for the Germans. The manager, David Woodward, is Jewish and attracted to Lena. He recruits her as a courier for the Polish underground and rewards her with extra food. When Lena finds Karolina also working in the Shop, they decide to live together. To get clean water, they have to sneak outside the ghetto. Karolina's lover is a German soldier and he sometimes steals food and fuel for them. They are young, healthy, and strong enough to survive semi-starvation, living in the disease ridden ghetto, and working long hours under miserable conditions.

Before the Shop is closed, David is sent somewhere by the Germans and Karolina's soldier is transferred to the Russian front. Lena and Karolina are sent to another work camp where there will be no way to hide their babies. On the journey, they abandon the twins to save their lives and Karolina is shot. Lena is eventually sent to Auschwitz. Towards the end of the War, the Germans close Auschwitz down and Lena manages to escape from the death march of the few surviving workers. She returns to her hometown where she meets and marries David. Jews are no longer welcome there so they leave and eventually reach the United States.

While Lena is telling her story, her son begins legal action to gain control over his aging mother and her estate. He believes the twins only exist in her imagination and she has become mentally disabled. The progress of this lawsuit is cleverly fitted in between the episodes in Lena's tale. Since the author is a lawyer, the legal steps are well described. The plot tension revolves around one question. Can Liam Taggart find the girls in Poland before Lena is declared incompetent and turned over to the custody of her son? Before the ending, long hidden secrets must be revealed.

Quill says: A gripping story and well worth reading.

#BookReview - Perfect in Memory @RickNiece

Perfect in Memory: A Son's Tribute to His Mother (Fanfare for a Hometown)

By: Rick D. Niece
Publisher: Five Star Publications
Publication Date: September 2016
ISBN: 978-1589852389
Reviewed by: Anita Lock
Date: August 31, 2016

Author Rick Niece capitalizes on his Ohio childhood stories in the third and final book in the nostalgic Fanfare for a Hometown Series.

"The plan was to read them [the stories] to Mom as she rested in Queen Anne's comfort [her special chair] while receiving supplemental oxygen through a cannula in her nose. Through my stories, I secretly hoped she might breathe in streams of rejuvenating oxygen from the lungs of life's good memories relived." Yet Rick Niece's stated idea never unfolds quite as he hopes. The unexpected happens when he gets word that his mother (who has an incurable lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) is in the hospital and that her condition is worsening. The reality is that Mom is dying and the chance of her being his fact checker providing accuracy to the retelling of past stories is very slim.

Flying to Arizona from Arkansas has its hiccups. With delays in Chicago, Rick and his wife Sherée arrive in Tucson, getting to his mom's 4th floor hospital room moments before visiting hours are over. Relieving his dad and brother Kurt, Rick decides to keep watch over mom by spending the night in the waiting room. The following morning, Rick is surprised to see his dad at Mom's beside. While stories over the course of three days pore out from his parents including how they met and their intense love for one another, they also send up red flags of his father's denial and his mother's fear of death.

Niece, a retired university president turned author, identifies his three-book memoir series as automythography. Defined as "a work of nonfiction that looks reflectively at what we think we remember, and how we think we remember it," the term not only describes how Niece recalls his familial memories, but also offers a realistic picture of how most people recall stories from their past. Niece divides his narrative into five sections, constantly alternating between the present and the past. While capturing his mother's dying moments, Niece seamlessly weaves in memories from his childhood hometown of DeGraff, Ohio.

A mixture of comedy and poignancy, Niece covers a multitude of interesting themes in his tribute to his mother—from Avon soap pistols, the Easter Bunny, and Jesus bookmarkers to cement mixers, converted clubhouses, an unlikely Arthur Murray dance partner, African violets, and gin, just to name a few. In addition to his engaging storytelling, Niece aptly sprinkles in a variety of poetry that includes free form, metrical verse, acrostic, haiku, and shaped formats.

Quill says: A wistful yet uplifting read, Perfect in Memory will seriously get you crying and laughing simultaneously.

Hurry! Early Bird Reduced Nomination Expires August 31

Hurry! 'Early Bird' reduced nomination fee ends tomorrow night - don't wait! Having an award seal on your book is a great way to increase sales. Visit http://www.featheredquill.com/awardprogram.shtml

to learn more.