Release Day! ~ Fog and Fury by Rachel Howzell Hall ~ My Thoughts #FogAndFury @RachelHowzell

Happy Release Day!

Congrats Rachel

on the release today of

Fog and Fury!

Fog and Fury by Rachel Howzell Hall

(Haven Thriller #1)

Mystery, Thriller, 395 pages

Published June 24, 2025 by July 1, 2025 by Thomas & Mercer

She’s a new PI in a beautiful seaside town. It’s dirtier than it looks—and more dangerous too—in a twisting novel of suspense by the Anthony Award–nominated author of These Toxic Things.

After ten years on the force, LAPD cop Sonny Rush relocates with her elderly mother to peaceful Haven, California, to join her godfather’s burgeoning PI business. What crimes could possibly happen in a town nicknamed “Mayberry by the Sea”? Sonny’s first case: find Figgy, a missing goldendoodle last seen sporting a Versace collar. At least scouting out a dognapper gives Sonny a chance to get to know her new neighbors.

Forty-eight hours in town and Figgy’s disappearance entangles Sonny in an unwelcome reunion with her ex, one of Haven’s wealthiest citizens. And when the body of a teenage boy is found along a popular hiking trail, Sonny is drawn into a web of strange beyond anything she ever saw in LA.

Then comes a local’s warning: question everything. Haven hides secrets that could destroy its idyllic façade. Or destroy Sonny first.

  

My thoughts about Fog and Fury ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"The forest smells like dead things. Like old shoes stuffed with dying roses or a locker room in the middle of a candle store."

Rachel Howzell Hall is a new-to-me author but put a thriller in front of my face and I'm all in. I thoroughly enjoyed my stop in the peaceful little community of Haven. Only one letter removed from Heaven, right? 

Well, Sonny found more than she bargained for when she is assigned the case of a missing dog. What secrets are being hidden? And who is hiding them? There is definitely a 'small-town' feel to the place—that is until a possible murder is on the table. Looks like there's no escape from the big crime that Sonny was trying to get away from with her move to Haven. The plot is a page-turning adventure with took me to places I was not expecting to go.

Fog and Fury has an interesting cast of characters and I'm excited to see what Rachel has in store for Sonny and the other people of Haven. I will be anxiously awaiting the sequel.

I received an ARC of  Fog and Fury and this is my honest opinion of the book.

Mist and Malice (Haven Thrillers Book 2) is expected to be published May 2026. I know I'll be watching for it!

About the author

Rachel Howzell Hall is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen novels, including the romantasy and Good Morning America Book Club selection, The Last One. She is also the author of bestselling thrillers, including What Fire Brings, What Never Happened and These Toxic Things. She is a two-time finalist of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for And Now She’s Gone and the Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestseller We Lie Here.

Rachel has been nominated for a number of mystery awards, including the Anthony, Strand and International Thriller Award, the Lefty, Barry and Shamus. She is also the author of the Audible Originals bestseller See How They Run, and the Thriller Award- and Audie Awards-nominated How It Ends, Rachel is a New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson. She’s also received acclaim for They All Fall Down and for her Detective Elouise Norton series. 

Her shorter works have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Shattering Glass and Unoccupied Earth. “Breakdown in the Right Lane,” was published in Alta Magazine and was selected as a Distinguished Story in Best American Mystery & Suspense for 2023. Her short story, “Clout Chaser,” was a nominee for the British Crime Writers Association’s Short Story Dagger Award.

Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and was a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor with Sisters in Crime, Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. ~ Author's website

Connect with Rachel

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Release Day! Standing Up by Mary L. Devine ~ My Thoughts #StandingUp @shewritespress @GoSparkPress

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Mary

on the release today of

Standing Up!

Standing Up: Making the Best Out of Surviving the Worst by Mary L. Devine

True Crime, Nonfiction, Memoir, 272 pages

Published May 6, 2025 by She Writes Press

For true-crime fans, a gripping memoir of a domestic violence survivor who becomes a police detective in the domestic violence unit and is forced to face her demons when her first major case mirrors her own violent assault.

Standing Up invites you on an exhilarating journey with a woman who refuses to be defined by her scars. A pulse-pounding chronicle of survival against all odds, this memoir takes readers along on a plunge into the chilling depths of abusive relationships.

At the tender age of twenty-three, Mary Sweeney-Devine unwittingly stumbled into the clutches of her abuser, igniting anguish and despair. With each heart-wrenching trial, including a hospital visit, she unearthed a reservoir of resilience she didn’t know she possessed. But just when she thought she had weathered the storm, a second marriage to a recovering alcoholic unleashed a tempest of secrets and unforeseen challenges.

Yet Devine emerged from the darkness, fueled by an unyielding determination and a fierce spirit. With the help of unexpected allies, determination, and a sprinkling of humor, she navigated the treacherous terrain of her past—and reclaimed her life with courage. Offering hope to those ensnared in the vicious cycle of abuse, Standing Up is a riveting testament to Devine’s indomitable spirit and a gripping saga that will leave you breathlessly rooting for the victory of the human heart over adversity.

My thoughts about Standing Up ~~ 

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"It was spring, a few months after out first wedding anniversary and another of many nights when Vince had gone to the bar after work instead of coming home."

This started out as a very hard book to read. Mary documents the domestic violence that she endured and when I was only about one-fifth of the way through the book, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to continue. I feared that the rest of the book would be more of her trauma and beatings that would end up with her going back to the monsters in her life.

I'm glad I stuck it out though, as Mary overcomes her past and makes a difference in her present—and the future. The journey she takes is long and hard but she is determined to persevere. Standing Up is a positive look at the possibilities to overcome high hurdles when surrounded by the right circumstances and the right people. You just never know when your kindness will change a person's life for the better. 

I received an ARC of Standing Up and this is my honest opinion of the book.

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About the author

Mary L. Devine graduated from Wilmington University with a bachelor’s degree before joining the police force, where she served in the detective unit, was promoted to sergeant, and eventually commanded the mounted patrol until her retirement in 2016. She now serves as an investigator for the State of Delaware while dreaming of her next book. Besides writing, she loves painting, swimming, hiking, and horses. 

Standing Up is Mary’s first book. She resides in Middletown, Delaware. ~ Publisher website

Connect with Mary

Publisher Website | Goodreads

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Release Day! Barely Visible by Kathleen Somers ~ My Thoughts #BarelyVisible @shewritespress

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Kathleen

on the release today of

Barely Visible!

Barely Visible: Mothering a Son Through His Misunderstood Autism by Kathleen Somers

Nonfiction, Parenting & Relationships, 312 pages

Published April 1, 2025 by She Writes Press

For any parent who has ever struggled with a child’s difficult or peculiar behavior, this candid and compelling memoir about raising a child on the spectrum offers reassurance that you are not alone—and a path forward is possible.

When your child is diagnosed with autism, a million questions come to the surface and fear sets in. The discovery that they are high functioning comes as a relief—it may enable them to disguise their shortcomings. Or it may create additional problems.

Barely Visible is not a heroic tale of a champion parent. It’s a candid memoir of one mother’s struggle with the gray space between her son appearing one way on the surface, yet being quite different beneath it. Walking that fine line between when to say something and when to bite your tongue, hoping your child can handle life on his own, requires tremendous foresight and energy. How do you convince others to “cut your child some slack” when the kid they see looks like every other kid they know? How do you explain away behavior that, at face value, looks like the result of bad parenting? And how do you prevent others from discriminating against your child once you do disclose their disability?

Chronicling a journey spanning twenty-three years, Barely Visible is a mother’s admission of guilt, for choosing to ignore her son’s diagnosis initially; acceptance of defeat, for rarely knowing the right thing to do; and an acknowledgment of love—not only for her son, but also for herself.

My thoughts about Barely Visible ~~ 

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"Today's game was unlike the rest, so it killed me to be late."

Barely Visible was a heartbreaking, while also being uplifting, glimpse into what a family deals with when there is a diagnosis of autism. There are so many ups and downs, as well as all of the stages that family members go through as life marches onward. The author does a fantastic job of being real, describing the good days as well as the horrible days. I felt every bit of the struggle that they went through.

The author holds nothing back with her honestly about the struggles she, her husband, and her son went through and are continuing to go through. It was a hard arduous road but they learned to adapt and find out what worked for them. I am grateful for the insight that I got from reading this book as it opened my eyes to what life is like for friends of mine who are going down the same path. 

I received an ARC of Barely Visible and this is my honest opinion of the book.

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A heartfelt and skillfully written memoir that stands out for its unvarnished honesty and authentic voice, Somers shows us how the ever-exhausting world of parenting is on overdrive when raising a neurodiverse child, achieving this with sharp observations and clear delivery to her readers.”—Readers’ Favorite Review

Kathleen's raw vulnerability and honest portrayal of her experience shines a light on the challenges faced by families touched by autism. A poignant must-read for its insight and authenticity."—Linda Burger, Immediate Past chair of Disability Belongs

About the author

Kathleen Somers, a debut author, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, and works as a freelance graphic designer and copywriter. She is a passionate observer of humanity who believes in the power of connection that comes from each of us sharing our individual stories, and the importance of authenticity when doing it. 

Having spent 24 years guiding her son through a disability most can’t see has not made her an authority on the topic. It’s having been the student to all that he has taught her that has brought her closer than anything ever will. 

When Kathleen isn’t busy with her career as a creative, she is out on her bike finding new roads to explore, or spending time with her son, opening his eyes to everything the world has to offer, both big and small. She lives with her family in the suburbs of Philadelphia. ~ Goodreads

Connect with Kathleen

Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook

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Release Day! The Good Bride by Jen Marie Wiggins ~ My Thoughts #TheGoodBride @JenMarieWiggin1 @crookedlanebks

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Jen

on the release today of

The Good Bride!

The Good Bride by Jen Marie Wiggins

Mystery Thriller, 288 pages

Published December 10, 2024 by Crooked Lane Books

The Wedding of the Year turns disastrous in this twisty family drama full of lies and betrayals, perfect for fans of Laura Dave, Lucy Foley, and Ruth Ware.

One year after a devastating hurricane, bride-to-be Ruth Bancroft is marrying her perfect groom in a quaint fishing village on the Gulf Coast. The weekend is carefully curated, with the displays of pomp and social media magic meant to promote an area still struggling to rebuild as well as bring Ruth’s estranged family back together.

Yet as good intentions often go, this road to wed is hell and paved in complications. With tensions rising between the family and the bridal party, long-buried secrets come to light, and accusations start flying. Things officially spiral out of control when the oceanfront rehearsal dinner is rocked by a series of gunshots, and a high-profile guest goes missing. As the investigation gets underway, it turns out that everyone has something to hide.

Big Little Lies meets The Guest List in this gripping page turner that asks the big questions about messy family liaisons, modern media, and the lies we tell the world.

My thoughts about The Good Bride ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"The world goes red when he appears. A lone silhouette at the foot of the mangled pier. Around him, the bay of Blue Compass churns."

The Good Bride had great potential to be an exciting thriller—a great cast of characters, a beautiful upcoming wedding at a fabulous location, family dynamics like you wouldn't believe, and twists that came at me when I wasn't expecting them. But I found myself not really connecting with any of the characters, they all seemed superficial and unreal to me. Maybe it was just me not being in the right frame of mind for this story at this time. That happens sometimes. I also found the storyline disjointed and confusing, jumping around a lot, maybe needing a little more depth to the scenes to get me fully invested in the story. 

This is the first thriller written by this author and I am looking forward to reading future books by her. I am confident that her next book will be great and I'm willing to give it a chance for a good read. 

I received an ARC of The Good Bride and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Jen Marie Wiggins's first book, the gifty nonfiction title Married AF: A Funny Guide for the Newlywed or Bride, was published with Sourcebooks in 2022. She has a background in advertising and public relations, and her writing has appeared in Southern Coastal Weddings, Savannah Magazine, Savannah Homes, and elsewhere. The Good Bridedraws much of its inspiration from the devastation and rebuilding struggles of Mexico Beach, Florida, a place near and dear to Jen's heart.

Connect with Jen

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

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Release Day! Out of Place: Coming of Age in Cold War West Germany by Mary E. McKnight @MaryEMcKnight @shewritespress

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Mary

on the release today of

Out of Place!

Out of Place: Coming of Age in Cold War West Germany by Mary E. McKnight

Military Families, 384 pages

Published December 3, 2024 by She Writes Press

For fans of coming-of-age narratives and feminist journeys, an empowering tale of one teen’s quest to establish her own voice as an Army Brat living in Cold War–era West Germany.

Relocated with her family to Cold War–era West Germany, Army Brat and middle sister of three Mary grapples with the torment exacted by her older sister, the high moral expectations of her military father, and societal pressure to conform to traditional gender roles during the rise of the feminism movement. Through the transformative power of place, travel, and the people she encounters, Mary embarks on a journey of self-discovery, learning about social justice and finding her voice in a world still shaped by male dominance.

Rich with historical context, Out of Place is a poignant and compelling exploration of identity, personal growth, and the enduring strength that comes from embracing one’s purpose.

My thoughts about Out of Place ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"Prologue: Can and will people ever be able to see Germany as "a good guy? I can only answer for myself. I do."

This coming-of-age story gives the reader an idea of what life was like in the 70s in post-war Germany. Mary, the middle daughter of three girls, their military-trained father, and their 'military wife' mother lived in Germany for the three years of their father's assignment. I was growing up at about the same time that this story took place so it was very interesting for me to see the joys and struggles that another girl was going through, even though our circumstances were completely different. 

Life as a young teen is not easy but then to be living in a whole other country would compound the struggles. Mary and her sisters made the best of it and were able to learn so much, about themselves and others, during their time there. The family dynamics were very interesting—the challenging relationship between Mary and her older sister, the rigid husband and the wife, who bends to her husband's wishes. And then, of course, there is the crush on the older neighbor boy. Who hasn't experienced that?

I loved when the family traveled and I was able to go along with them and experience it right along with them. The author does a wonderful job describing their outings, and frankly, I was a little jealous that they were able to go to the places that they did and see the things that they did. 

Out of Place is a lovely memoir that reads like an entertaining fiction work, while also sharing so much of what postwar Germany was like from the eyes of a teenage girl. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the different spin on a historical story was refreshing. 

I received an ARC of Out of Place and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Mary E. McKnight is an avid observer of people, a teacher of young children, a co-owner of an herb garden (Split Stone Farm LLC), a painter, and a lover of cats. She lives for kindness, creativity, and her amazing daughter. Her writing is the creative expression that feeds her soul, and she enjoys writing in a variety of genres. If she wasn’t her, she would probably be the Lorax. She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland, with her partner and their tortie, Abbey Rhodes.

Connect with Mary

Substack | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter | Instagram

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Release Day! Lookin' for Love by Susen Edwards ~ My Thoughts #LookingForLove

Happy Release Day!

Lookin' for Love by Susen Edwards

Fiction, 408 pages
Published October 22, 2024 by She Writes Press

Based on a compelling and sometimes tragic true story, this novel follows young mother Ava from the go-go bars of the 1970s to the heart of Florida’s drug trade to a Kenyan prison to, ultimately, a place of forgiveness, faith, and love through recovery.

Inspired by a gripping true story, Lookin’ for Love begins in 1963, when Ava, nineteen and pregnant, marries a violent alcoholic and is disowned by her abusive mother. She bears two sons, leaves her husband, and turns to go-go dancing to provide for her children, using alcohol and drugs to numb herself to the degrading work. Then she meets Mike, a charismatic drug dealer who promises to give her “a beautiful life.” They move to Florida and begin working for The Crew, one of the largest drug smuggling organizations in the country. The Crew sends Ava and Mike to Kenya to find farmers to grow marijuana—but while they’re there, their home is raided, they’re charged with international drug smuggling, and Ava is sentenced to serve time in a Kenyan prison.

After her release, Ava struggles with sobriety but soon returns to dancing, alcohol, and drugs. Eventually, she hits bottom and surrenders her will to God. Once sober, she learns the power of forgiveness, faith, and love.

My thoughts about Lookin' for Love ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First line—"Kukaa, kukaa! Eighty-two women drop their work and sink to the ground. The Swahili word means 'sit' but in our world it means 'squat'."

I was sent this book by the publisher and I didn't know anything about it or the author. It sounded intriguing so I dove in. And then I was hooked. How on earth did this woman, Ava, find herself in this life that she was leading? 

There is so much sadness, intensity, and drama in her life and at times it was hard for me to read but if she could get through it, then so could I. What this woman went through was sometimes unbelievable. But Lookin' for Love is based on a true story so I had to keep remembering that someone's life really was like this. 

It truly is amazing that Ava was able to pull herself out of her tumultuous life and turn it around for the good. This was an amazing story of a woman's resilience through unspeakable odds. I was completely invested in the drama of her life. This was a very sobering and interesting read. Check it out!

I received an ARC of Lookin' for Love and this is my honest opinion of the book. 

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About the author

Susen Edwards is the founder and former director of Somerset School of Massage Therapy, New Jersey’s first state-approved and nationally accredited postsecondary school for massage therapy. During her tenure she was nominated by Merrill Lynch for Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. After the successful sale of the business, she became an administrator at her local community college. She is currently secretary for the board of trustees for her town library and a full-time writer. Her passions are yoga, cooking, reading, and, of course, writing. 

Susen is the author of Doctor Whisper and Nurse Willow, a children’s fantasy. What a Trip is her first adult novel. Susen lives in Middlesex, New Jersey with her husband, Bob, and her two fuzzy feline babies, Harold and Maude.

Connect with Susen

Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook

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Release Day! Echoes of Us by Joy Jordan-Lake ~ My Thoughts #EchoesOfUs @GoSparkPress

Happy Release Day!

Echoes of Us: A Novel by Joy Jordan-Lake

Historical Fiction, 463 pages
Published October 8, 2024 by Lake Union Publishing

From the bestselling author of Under a Gilded Moon comes the soaring story of an unlikely friendship of three men and one extraordinary woman and the legacy they built—if their own secrets don’t destroy it.

In the midst of World War II, a Tennessee farm boy, a Jewish Cambridge student, and a German POW forge a connection that endures—against all odds.

But now everything that Will Dobbins, Dov Silverberg, and Hans Hessler fought for is at risk as their descendants clash for control of the corporation they founded together. In an attempt to remake its tattered corporate image, the firm hires event planner Hadley Jacks and her sister Kitzie to organize a reunion for the families on St. Simons Island, Georgia, the place that changed all three men’s lives forever.

As Hadley and her sister delve into the friends’ past, they uncover the life of the courageous young woman who links them all together…and the old wounds that could tear everything apart.

Told in dual timelines spanning World War II and the present, Echoes of Us follows the ripple effects of war, the bonds that outlast it, and the hope that ultimately carries us forward.

My thoughts about Echoes of Us ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First line—"April 7, 1942 - Off the coast of St. Simons Island, Georgia / At twilight, the U-boat rises to just below the surface, its periscope spearing up through the waves."

I love historical fiction stories. I'm especially drawn to stories centered around World War II, I've read quite a few. I loved Echoes of Us for the fact that it gives a little bit of a different spin to the war story. 

This one is basically centered in the southern states of the US and revolves around four people, three men from different countries and backgrounds, and one woman who connects them all. She had such a huge effect on all three men and they remained friends for life. She was the one who bonded them together. 

Told in dual timelines, the past where the main characters meet and form their friendships, and the present, when the whole truth comes out during a party to celebrate them and their accomplishments. I loved getting to know all of the characters and marvel at their strength and determination in the hard times. 

I savored every bit of Echoes of Us and am excited to read more of this author's stories. I highly recommend this one to all lovers of historical fiction!

I received an ARC of Echoes of Us and this is my honest opinion of the book. 

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About the author

Joy Jordan-Lake is the #1 Amazon bestselling author of thirteen books, including A Bend of Light; Under a Gilded Moon, a 2023 North Carolina Reads selection; A Tangled Mercy, an Editors’ Choice recipient from the Historical Novel Society; Blue Hole Back Home, winner of the Christy Award for Best First Novel; and three children’s books.

Raised in the foothills of the southern Appalachians, Joy spent many the summer vacation on St. Simons Island, Georgia, a place of heartbreaking and surprising history. She holds two master’s degrees and a PhD in English and has taught literature and writing at several universities. Now living outside Nashville, she is startled to find only the ten-pound rescue pup still living at home full time, the kids launching to college, getting married, and building careers of their own. She and her husband console themselves with hiking to waterfalls and traveling to story-worthy settings.

Joy loves to connect with readers. You can visit her at www.joyjordanlake.com.

Connect with Joy

Website | Goodreads | Instagram | Facebook | 

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Release Day! Love Is for the Birds by Diane Owens Prettyman ~ My Thoughts #LoveIsForTheBirds @shewritespress @GoSparkPress

Happy Release Day!

Love Is for the Birds by Diane Owens Prettyman

Southern Fiction, 304 pages
Published October 8, 2024 by She Writes Press

For fans of Mary Alice Monroe’s The Beach House comes a heartwarming story from women’s fiction author Diane Owens Prettyman about second chances as two people find a pathway out of their grief—directly in the aftermath of a hurricane.

The Texas beautiful yet unpredictable.

A beach town destroyed. Her mother’s candy store swept away. This is what Teddy Wainsworth faces when she returns to Bird Isle. Meanwhile, Jack Shaughness, owner of a popular barbecue restaurant chain and widower still grieving the death of his wife, receives permission to cross over to the island with a smoker full of brisket to feed hurricane survivors. Soon after arriving, he meets Teddy and immediately finds himself drawn to her—which makes him feel he is betraying his wife. When the two find a lost dog, Jack convinces Teddy to take the dog home while they attempt to find the owner, creating a bond that brings them closer.

In the wake of the hurricane, Bird Isle residents fear the Aransas Wildlife Refuge will not be ready for the whooping cranes’ annual migration south. Seeing that Jack has important connections and a love for the island, they enlist him to help restore the habitat of the endangered cranes before they fly to Padre Island for the winter. With their rescued dog always nearby, Teddy and Jack work side by side to rebuild Bird Isle for the return of the whooping cranes. But Jack is harboring a secret that may ruin everything he and Teddy are creating—and he won’t be able to keep that secret forever.

My thoughts about Love Is for the Birds ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First line—""Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.' So said Anonymous, who was obviously not convinced enough of this truth to claim it."

Love is for the Birds took me to the ravaged little beach town of Bird Isle. Buildings and home were destroyed, as well as its people being broken. As these broken people come together to save and rebuild the town, they find ways to heal themselves. 

I loved the characters of Teddy and Jack, both of them being caring and compassionate people who are just treading water, trying to get through the day-to-day lives they are in. They both have issues that make opening their hearts challenging. It was gratifying to watch the two of them try to heal each other. 

I truly enjoyed Love is for the Birds and will definitely be watching for more books by this author. This is a fabulous story by Diane Owens Prettyman. 

I received a copy of Love Is for the Birds for review and this is my honest opinion of the book. 

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“Love, grief, secrets, and finding one’s place in the world are combined in this debut novel. This sweet book is brimming with small-town Texas charm!”—Catherine Drake, author of The Treehouse on Dog River Road

“A charming story as sweet as fudge and as tangy as barbeque about two people struggling to move past loss to find happiness.”—Risa Leigh, author of Surrender at the Border

“The author's effortless prose, gift for characterization, and genuine affection for the Texian littoral will satisfy her faithful fans and win new readers.”—Bill Cotter, author of The Splendid Ticket

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About the author

Diane Owens Prettyman is the author of the romantic adventure story Thin Places and the twentieth-century historical novel Redesigning Emma. She is also a frequent contributor to the Austin American-Statesman. She stays true to her belief that every story has a happy ending, though perhaps sometimes, maybe even often, one has to wait for the perfect finale. 

Diane lives just a few hours’ drive from the Texas Gulf. She is an avid boogie boarder and spends her summers in the water. Her husband and two black standard poodles provide her room and board in Austin, Texas.

Connect with Diane

Website | Goodreads | Amazon

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Release Day! Immersion: A Linguist's Memoir by Linda Murphy Marshall ~ My Thoughts #Immersion @shewritespress

Happy Release Day!

Congratulation Linda

on the release today of

Immersion!

 

Immersion: A Linguist's Memoir by Linda Murphy Marshall

Memoir, Nonfiction, 264 pages

Published September 24, 2024 by She Writes Press

Fans of the self-discovering journeys in Cheryl Strayed’s Wild and Andrew McCarthy’s The Longest Way Home will love diving into linguist Linda Murphy Marshall’s adventure-filled international journey as she overcomes her past to find her place in the world—all over the world.

Immersion is a memoir that takes the reader on a captivating emotional and physical journey through Linda Murphy Marshall’s from the longstanding, crippling impact of family members’ low expectations and abuse, to her discovery as a young adult that she possesses special skills in foreign languages.

Linda is taught from an early age that she has little of value to offer the world. But her love of and affinity for languages enables her to create a new life—to separate herself from her toxic environment and to build a successful, decades-long career as a professional multilinguist. It’s a rewarding vocation, but a challenging her assignments with the US federal government take her on some hair-raisingly dangerous journeys, some to countries with unstable governments and even active war zones. But these sometimes-harrowing experiences teach her how to open the “windows” around her, unearth her true self, and develop a healthy sense of self-worth—and ultimately, paradoxically, her work and travel so far from home allow her to come home to herself.

  

My thoughts about Immersion: A Linguist's Memoir ~~

This was a very interesting memoir to read. The author's love for language led her to have a full life, learning about world languages and traveling around the world to put that knowledge to good use, interpreting when she was able. 

It wasn't always easy and fun. She endured some hard, tough, and sometimes dangerous situations, lest of all, uprooting her family to live her dream. We, the readers, live through those moments and milestones with her in this very well written account of her life and struggles. 

Immersion pulled me into the world of language and linguistics that were unfamiliar to me but felt very comfortable. The author did a wonderful job of making her life and experiences relatable and interesting. I totally enjoyed this memoir. 

I received an ARC of Immersion: A Linguist's Memoir and this is my honest opinion.

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2024 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winner in Travel/Travel Guides

“[Immersion’s] pages convey the tenacity and understanding that it takes to learn a language and understand its cultural context. . . .  the book ably imparts a sense of the universality of the human condition, capturing feelings like grief and gratitude in time with Marshall’s poignant, ongoing search for her sense of self.”

—Foreword Clarion Reviews

“Marshall’s latest book is a deeply personal and marvelously authentic narrative told with humor, suspense, humility, and authority. Linda depicts how language is woven into real life, how it instills insights and affections, and what it reveals about others—and oneself. I have spent over seven decades learning, using, describing, and advocating for language abilities, and I only wish I had written a book like this.”

—Dr. Richard D. Brecht, University of Maryland Professor Emeritus, codirector of the American Councils Research Center, cofounder of Jeenie.com, and founding executive director of the University of Maryland Center for Advanced Study of Language (CASL)

“With an artist’s eye for detail and a skilled writer’s talent for capturing drama, Marshall created an enthralling narrative of her path to becoming a top national language expert and her own journey to finding her true self in the process. Unique and engrossing.”

—Laura Murray, PhD, President, National Museum of Language

“Author Linda Murphy Marshall plunges readers into the mission of a government multilinguist who battles her own self-doubts and fears in the midst of often tumultuous and frightening environments. Immersion is a fascinating exploration of not only the key role of language, but also the personal journey toward self-realization.”

—Donna Koros Stramella, author of Among the Bones

“How does a woman transform herself from a bored, midwestern housewife to an international linguist warding off thugs in Tanzania, wading through bomb debris in Kenya, and deciphering code for the FBI in small African nations? Linda Murphy Marshall does it by giving herself over to her one true love: languages around the world, including Portuguese, Swahili, Amharic, and Xhosa. This stunning exploration of the sometimes painful, sometimes exhilarating process of learning to translate both words and her own changing identity is a remarkable tribute to Marshall’s talent and the transformative power of languages.”

—Barbara Hurd, author of The Epilogues

“Few people are familiar with the position of ‘linguist’ in intelligence work, but it is one of the most specialized and difficult jobs there is. Immersion draws back the veil on what it takes to fill this essential role: the deep love of language and culture, the determination to constantly challenge yourself, and the need for unfailing attention to detail. If you love languages or know someone who does (particularly a young person considering a career in language), this memoir is a must-read.”

—Alma Katsu, former CIA officer, former government director of the Center for the Advanced Study of Language, and author of Red London

“Immersion is scattered with diamonds, attracting every reader to different, brilliant parts. Elegantly and eloquently, Marshall illuminates a linguist’s experience. For non-interpreters, Immersion is a glimpse into the challenges and gratification of a life spent with foreign languages and policy-makers. For interpreters, this is an affectionate and invigorating dialogue with an exceptionally gifted and gracious colleague.”

—Allison Hong Merrill, author of Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops

“A talented linguist delves into the ambitious project of translating her past. From small-town America to far-flung corners of the globe, Immersion illuminates one woman’s journey away from the well-trodden expectations of womanhood in favor of forging another path. With every place she travels, every language she learns, and every experience she studies and interprets along the way, the narrator becomes more fully her truest self.”

—Rachel Rueckert, author of East Winds: A Global Quest to Reckon with Marriage 

About the author

Linda Murphy Marshall is a multi-linguist and writer with a Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literature from St. Louis University, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Her writing has been published in The Los Angeles Review, The Catamaran Literary Reader, The Ocotillo Review, Maryland Literary Review, Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog, Dorothy Parker’s Ashes, and elsewhere. She has also been asked to speak at Maryland Writers’ Association, American University, and Rice University In addition, she is a docent at the Library of Congress, served as Translation Editor at The Los Angeles Review, and is an Associate at the National Museum of Language.

In her work as an African language specialist, she co-authored a book on Xhosa, a South African “click” language, and acted as a consultant on another book on another South African “click” language, Sotho. In addition, she made over a dozen work trips to the continent of Africa and has been to every continent but Antarctica.

She is currently a Reader for Fourth Genre, and her memoir, Ivy Lodge: A Memoir of Translation and Discovery was published in 2022. A second memoir, Immersion: A Linguist’s Memoir comes out in 2024.

An artist, her paintings have been featured in shows at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the Loudoun Academy of the Arts Foundation (Virginia), and the Columbia Art Center (Maryland). Her painting “Mirror Mirror” was featured on the cover of Adanna Literary Journal, her painting “All That Jazz” was featured in the literary journal Jerry Jazz Musician, and her painting “Raw Oysters” was featured in Persimmon Tree.

In addition, Dr. Marshall is a lifelong award-winning classical pianist and, as an adolescent, played on the local public radio station in her hometown, St. Louis. ~ Author's website

Connect with Linda

Website | Goodreads

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