Cozy mystery Deep Bitter Roots

Deep Bitter Roots, a Deep Lakes Mystery Series, book 2
Joy Ribar
374 pp print
April, 20200
Orange Hat Publishing

ebook $5.99
Print $16.95
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My Review

Deep Bitter Roots is a quirky cute cozy set in northern Wisconsin. Deviating somewhat from cozy formula in that the mystery, a death, doesn’t happen until chapter 7, nearly a quarter of the way into the book, nevertheless readers who adore small towns with fun people will enjoy the build up.

Entrepreneur and busybody Frankie Champagne, divorced and of a certain age with grown daughters, is in the perfect spot to hear and get involved in all the local gossip of Deep Lakes with her part-time journalist work and bakery/wine bar business. Having a boyfriend who’s also the local coroner is a bonus when Frankie’s latest project, helping an heiress put together a speech rededicating the town park, goes awry.

The granite industry made Deep Lakes a century ago, but until now, its secrets were literally buried under a long-time Ides of March curse. Using all her wiles and delectably filled bakery boxes, Frankie offers to lend an eye to her friends on the police force and those in other official capacities when they must deal with a suspicious death. Most of them gratefully trust her.

Heavily detailed with a large cast, readers can walk into this second Deep Lakes mystery without having read the first book of the series. Readers who love the aroma of baked goods in all their glory and are intrigued by wine-making will get their fill with this sweet mystery. The story is told generally from Frankie’s point of view with the help of two internal sidekick conscious minders and includes many wonderful epigraphs opening the chapters. And recipes!

About the Author

Joy Ann Ribar lives in central Wisconsin where she writes the Deep Lakes Mystery Series, starring baker/vintner Frankie Champagne. Joy’s writing is inspired by Wisconsin’s four distinct seasons and other Wisconsin whimsical quirks, which she hopes to promote for all the world to enjoy.  Joy is a member of Sisters in Crime and Wisconsin Writers Association. Joy and her husband, John, someday plan to sell their house, buy an RV and travel around the U.S. spreading good cheer and hygge! Joy is a little proud that her first mystery, Deep Dark Secrets, is the #1 bestselling fiction with Orange Hat Publishing for 2019.  joyribar.com

Debut historical fiction with Jane Yunker

Ebook $3.99

Print $12.99

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Mary Bishop, by Jane Yunker

Historic romance, 230 pages

February 2020, self-published

About the Book:

Mary knew from the moment they met, Earl Bishop would be the love of her life. Together they survived the Civil War and the loss of their children, only to face a much greater danger from the people of one small northern town.

When Earl dies, Mary is left alone to continue the fight against those who would harm her. Can she trust local shop owner, Oliver Polk, when he offers his help, and his heart?

Just when all appears lost, an old friend returns to help Mary overcome her grief and learn how to love again.

My Review:

I knew Jane Yunker as a most favored poet, so I was eager to read her first full length novel. This wonderfully poignant historical work set during a devastating period in American history admirably traverses northern and southern sympathies in the nineteenth century.

The first half of the story is set in Virginia where Mary, the daughter of a minister, is encouraged to read widely and learn about the world. She is a child of the South, but not a wilting Southern Belle. The love of her life, Earl Bishop, is raised in neglect and violence; a hard-working and sensitive young man, he finds his way to Mary’s family after attempting to show kindness to the slaves under his uncle, an overseer on a large plantation with many ill-treated slaves, and is beaten. Mary and Earl marry and set up their home nearby, making a good living from the land and Earl’s work at a lumber mill. Their firstborn, a son, is the darling of their eyes, and eventually Mary and Earl find special friends in Sara and Lucas when their sons join forces in mischief at school.

Earl’s sensitive reaction at the loss of an infant daughter push him off the wagon and he begins a lifelong battle with addiction. Only the perilous undertaking of giving aid to the most desperate gives him purpose in life. Mary lives in fear for Earl and their friends and family if Ear is caught. Her fears come true with the death of Sara’s husband. This tragedy is the tip of the iceberg of fear as war between the States looms. Mary and Earl’s son is the embodiment of State’s Rights convictions. Torn between pride in their child, Southern sentiment and tradition, and their own belief that the institution of slavery is wrong, Mary wonders if perhaps they shouldn’t have had more open dialog in their family as their son proudly goes to fight.

The ravaged South no longer feels like home at war’s end, and Mary and Earl relocate to northwest Wisconsin where Earl can work in the lumber mills. But the north is not so welcoming and the viciousness of those who also lost their sons to the rebellion make life intolerable for Earl. Twelve years of suffering pass and Mary is left a widow. But life is not over, and Mary learns that not everyone in her adopted community shares the sentiments of the most vile of town biddies. Meeting rumor, false accusations, and death threats with dignity and a well-aimed pistol, Mary shows her true character and reaps only good things.

One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Mary has nothing left and teaches her husband Earl a lesson in how his actions affect everyone around him. “Who taught you to swear?” he asks at one point. “Who do you think,” Mary responds.

Told through Mary’s point of view, this lovely, poignant story opens in the ultimate tragedy, reverses and builds slowly to meet itself in time and move forward. Mary’s insecurities, grace, longing, and anger offer readers who love strong characters at a fragile time in history much to enjoy in Mary Bishop.

About the Author:

Jane is a blogger, poet, and fiction writer living in NW Wisconsin along the beautiful St Croix River. Most recent publications include Creative Wisconsin, Oshkosh Independent, Living and Playing Magazine, Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets’ calendar (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018), Red Cedar 2015 and 2016 (UW Barron County), and the Hometown Gazette. She won the Saturday Evening Post’s 2014 Easter limerick contest. Her first novel, Mary Bishop, was a finalist in WisRWA’s 2016 FabFive competition in their historical romance category. Her current work-in-progress is the first of a trilogy, The Pine Lake Girls: Alice. www.janeyunkerauthor.com

Nancer the Dancer beats crippling disease

Nancer the Dancer: myosititis and me
Memoir
Judith Gwinn Adrian

HENSCHELhaus publisher
March 2020

$9.98 eBook
$16.95 paperback
Buy on Amazon

About the Book:

The inspired 1960’s phantasmagoria called Nancy’s name. She smiled and joined. Why not? She was part of the summers of love, and the winters; dancing the light fantastic.

Unique to Nancy’s story, however, is that she took this youthful swashbuckler chutzpah and used it to confront her dermatomyositis; the rare crippling autoimmune disease that attacked her skeletal muscles, her being AND her physical beauty. Evil trio.

Nancy believed that there are many ways to be crippled and some of them are physical. She focused her energy on “attitude.”

It took her twenty years to squelch Reuben (the name she gave the disease to separate it from who she was). In final measure the only way to slay Reuben was for Nancy to die. By dying, she beat him – turned him to ash.

Toward the end, she wrote: “Let’s get one thing straight – if I never go anywhere or do anything else again in my life, I suspect I’ve had one of the best times of anyone I know.  It’s been mostly fun and I’ve had entertaining company. I got to cherish the fat arms of the babies, the silly laughter between friends, spontaneity, respect, comfy laps and the touch of his hand.”

About the Author:

After retiring from twenty-five years of college teaching, I am currently mid-stride, co-writing biographies with two Milwaukee men. The processes are captivating as I learn about their Puerto Rican cultures, life experiences, and success stories. I am proud to have three published books: Because I Am Jackie Millar (2007 & 2010), In Warm Blood: Prison & Privilege, Hurt & Heart (2014), and Tera’s Tale: Rebel on the River (2019). Book #4, Nancer the Dancer: Myositis and Me, will be published in early 2020.

Web: Judithadrian.com

**Adrian, Judith Gwinn (March 2020) Nancer the Dancer: Myositis and Me. Milwaukee: HenschelHAUS. (Chronic illness)

**Adrian, Judith Gwinn (February 1, 2019) Tera’s Tale Milwaukee: HenschelHAUS (March 2019 Finalist, Eric Hoffer/Montaigne Metal)  (Hoarding and mental health)

**Adrian, Judith Gwinn & DarRen Morris (2014). In Warm Blood: Prison & Privilege, Hurt & Heart. Milwaukee: HenschelHAUS. (USA BOOK AWARDS: 2015 finalist in non-fiction Multi-cultural and True Crime categories) (Incarceration and abuse)

**Millar, Jackie & Judith Gwinn Adrian (2007 & 2010). Because I Am Jackie Millar. Los Angeles: Golden: The Press. (Forgiveness and restorative justice)

**Colon, Hector & Judith Gwinn Adrian, “From the Boxing Ring to the Boardroom” (working title) (Summer, 2020) Milwaukee: HenschelHAUS. (Personal courage and success)

Reviewed by:  Jan Jenson (Janet Kay) www.novelsbyjanetkay.com

It’s all about attitude – equal amounts of optimism and realistic expectations.

That was Nancy Gwinn Dell Nee’s mantra and her secret to successfully coping, later in life, with chronic illness, disability, and eventually a premature death. 

A free spirit with an adventurous streak, her journey in life began as a rebellious wild child of the 1960s. Nancer the Dancer, as she was affectionately called by all who knew and loved her, knew how to dance, how to have fun, how to play pranks and break all the rules. Her love of life and sense of humor were infectious.  

Throughout her life, she maintained a close, loving relationship with her sister, Judith Gwinn Adrian, the author of this personal biography. The sisters shared everything – the highs, the lows, the everyday moments of their lives. Together, they struggled and supported each other through Nancy’s ordeal with the ravaging disease of myositis. Much of this is documented through their letters, emails, and Nancy’s spontaneous journal entries which are shared in this book.

Nancer The Dancer is a heart-warming, yet heart-wrenching story that draws the reader into another world, opening our hearts to those who struggle with chronic illness. Written through Nancy’s eyes by her beloved sister, this is a must read – especially for those suffering with chronic illness, and for their loved ones.

One of Nancy’s favorite quotes, a Chinese proverb, sums it up: “You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair.”

You can’t help but love Nancy the Dancer. May her spirit live on through the pages of this loving tribute written by her beloved sister.

Author Jan Jenson writes from northern Wisconsin. Her books include Waters of the Dancing Sky; Amelia, 1868; and Sisters.