'This poignant, charming novella warmed my heart more than anything has in a LONG time. It had a distinctly fairytale-ish feeling to it and made me smile all the way through.' - Amazon reviewer
Although they had always dreamed of having a family, tall, horse-faced Frances and stubby, one-eyed Jack had reconciled themselves to a lifetime of abject loneliness. Then one day, out of nowhere, an infant is dropped into their midst.
A fairy tale for adults!
For years, the old men had been hanging around the country grocery store whiling away their days playing checkers and dominoes and talking about politics, women, drinking and life experiences. All that time, the store owner readily approved their presence in the store and went on about his business as if they were not there. Then, one fateful morning in 1956, a new owner bought the business who was not quite as tolerant. The narrator of this story, an unnamed thirteen-year-old, was the son of the new owner and explains how his father dealt with the old men.
"I could hear Elvis singing as tears fell on the last page of the book. One of the best short stories I've ever read." -- Amazon reviewerArchie Johnson thought he was prepared to meet his death in the electric chair. The sentence had been read; he had had his last meal and the prison chaplain had asked God to have mercy on his immortal soul. Then, just as they were strapping him in, he suddenly realized there were a few things he wanted to do before he left this earth. This story has been called a "dead man's dream."
It's 1968 and big game hunter Walter Cravens is pursuing a mysterious bull elephant across the Serengeti plains. Accompanied by his Masai native guide, Cravens will stop at nothing in his pursuit of the elephant's ivory tusks. Even a dire warning from an old woman won't stop him from seeking the elephant's destination, Tembo Makaburi, the elephant graveyard.Jones captured me again with this story about a man's greed and arrogance. In just a few paragraphs he sketched out the setting and placed me there, baking under the African sun. It's very well written, and as always, has the perfect twist of an ending. If you're hesitating about picking up the book because you're an animal lover or don't like to read about hunting, you'll be ok with this read. It had me googling elephants and their habits, and I love stories that make me want to read more about the subject.The narration was perfect, the narrator has an English accent for the main story but also performs accents for the African porters and guide. He manages to ooze Craven's arrogance through every word, it was really well done. I requested a copy of the audio book, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. - Audible reviewer
"Follow love and it will flee; flee love and it will follow thee." - Anonymous When Alma Dawson, a middle-aged, hard-working single mother, sets out to get the tuition money for her daughter's last year of college, she never dreamed her entire world would be turned upside down. A poignant, inspiring story, this novella is a testimony to a devoted mother's love!
Devoted mother Cassie Carter is hard working and dedicated to running her small farm in Georgia. She tends to her home and sickly son daily while her truck driver husband is away on long hauls across the country. Her life and values take a sharp turn when a handsome and intelligent construction worker disrupts her daily routine. Her priorities shift and everything she keeps in her comfort zone is threatened.Damaged romantic Paul Hamilton has a void in his life that leaves him wandering from affair to affair, empty and unfulfilled. He identifies with the haunting poetry of Edgar Allan Poe, yearning to capture an elusive love. One day, in an unexpected place, he discovers the love he is seeking, but she is out of his reach and he runs the risk of irreparably damaging the delicate balance he tries to maintain in his life.In the Duck Springs Affair, Paul and Cassie' s worlds collide and explode. Will what they offer each other sustain and give them what they need out of life and love? Or, are they doomed to suffer the tragic consequences of their decisions as each searches for the perfect love? You will never forget the story of Paul and Cassie!
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for some have entertained angels unaware." Hebrews 13:2 After his father died, Billy Johnson felt he would never lose the vicious, gnawing grief that had formed in the innermost recesses of his soul. His father had been his mentor, his adviser, his fishing buddy, his protector and, most of all, his dearest and closest friend. It was a grief he felt he could never be totally free of. Then, out of nowhere, a miracle occurred!
Cousins Billy and Roy were just two mischievous boys--probably meaner than most--but still just bored, country kids looking for some adventure and excitement. During the nights they spent with their grandmother, their favorite pastime was spying on the tenants of their grandmother's rental houses. Over the years, the two had spied on all of their grandmother's renters at one time or another, but the one who provided the most fun and entertainment was a lonely, desperate woman named Annie Atkinson. Not for the squeamish!
Jen and Shirley Ann had been best friends in Palm Springs, CA for more than 31 years. Even after Shirley Ann married and divorced Jen's older brother, they remained friends. Although both owned homes in Palm Springs, Jen later purchased a home in Colorado so she could be near her ailing mother Pauline. Once Jen moved, Shirley Ann made frequent weekend trips to the new home to visit and go hiking. During one of those weekends, Pauline suddenly died and, because she was so cheap, her insurance policy didn't cover the transportation for returning her body to Palm Springs for cremation. So, guess who was charged with that grisly chore? The spooky journey would not only test their friendship, but it would be an adventure they would always remember!
Thanks, PG!: Memoirs of a Tabloid Reporter recounts the life and adventures of reporter Billy Don Johnson during his 20 years (1975-1995) working for the fictional tabloid The National Insider. After his dreams of becoming a crusading journalist with daily newspapers are dashed, Billy throws himself into the wild world of diets, household tips, ghosts, UFOs, weird history, and celebrity scandal, all of which is designed to please Padrone Gallione (PG), the wonderful madman who was editor of the magazine. Like the tabloid industry itself, this book is a combination of fact and fiction. Within, you will find untold stories from the lives of many famous people, get an inside look at how tabloid stories are created and examine the origins of celebrity scandal in American journalism. Ultimately, this book is a tribute to the genius of Generoso Pope Jr., founder and publisher of the National Enquirer.
"The ending nailed it for me!" - Audiobook reviewer
In the deep South, farming families tell stories about people who, as they are drawing their final breath, see the ghosts of dead loved ones appear to escort them into the next world. This is one of those stories. Told through the eyes of an eight-year-old.
