Thursday, April 29, 2021

The Stranger by Pam Funke


    "Hello. My name is Eudora.  Yes, I am a turkey vulture.  Boy, do I have a story to tell you."
    Once upon a time in the kingdom of Malari, there was a beautiful princess named Keniah. She loved to perch at the castle's walls and look out over the kingdom. One brisk morning as she sat looking over her nightly kingdom, she noticed something different. There was a new bird in town. This bird was nothing like any of the others. His plumage was colorful. He had feathers of purple, gold, turquoise, and white. How did he get like that? Did he fall into one of the human's chemical pools on the westside? I pray not.
    She opened her magnificent wings and glided down to where the stranger sat. She walked around him checking him out.
    "Who are you?"  she asked.
    "My name is Tremont.  Who might you be?" he replied with a smile.
    "How did your feathers get like that? You are a turkey vulture like us, are you not?"
    He clicked his beak together a couple of times then walked into her personal space.
    "Though I am like you, I am also unique. You see my father was a turkey vulture,  my mother was a peacock. You would think this wouldn't normally happen but it did. I'm living proof. Does it matter what I am?" 
    His head bobbed back and forth as he spoke. A shadow flew over them and they both looked up. A flock of storks flew overhead heading to only God knew where.  He looked over to her but she was gone. Where did she go? He looked all around but did not see her anywhere. Guess I blew it. Sadly, he turned to walk away.
    Keniah walked inside of the palace thinking.  He was certainly a mighty fine looking bird. The sound of ruffled wings grabbed her attention and she hurried to the throne room.
    "Why do you do these things, sire? I  can't stand your whining!" Loki the paige stated.
    "Do not speak to your King in that manner!" King Rion bellowed. 
    "My apologies, sire."
    "Be off with ye, Loki."
    Though he was hopping mad, Loki did as he was told and turned to leave. He nearly bumped into Princess Keniah.
    "Father, is everything alright?" she asked bowing before him.
    "What do you want daughter? I am busy."
    She looked up at him sadly. Feeling a little guilty for taking his anger out on her, he softened the look on his face.
    '"I'm sorry daughter."
    She sighed, "I saw a stranger in the kingdom this morning."
    "And what of the stranger interests you?"
    "I don't think he is a vulture at all."
    "Why do you say that?"
     "Well, his feathers are not like ours. They are very colorful while ours are shades of black. He says his mother is not one of us."
    "I see."
    He brought his wing up to his face and rubbed his beak.
    "What do you wish for me to do?"
    "Nothing Father. I can handle it alone."
    "Yes, now go."
    She turned to leave the room.
    "Father, you didn't tell me what's going on between you and Loki."
    "Don't you worry your little head about it."
    She shook her head as she left the room. She wondered why her father refused to let her help him. She went to her room and laid down. Yawning, she decided to take a nap.
    A strange bird climbed through the open window of the princess's room. He looked around carefully. He then covered her beak and flew them both out of the window. She didn't even resisted as she was in a deep sleep. This was too easy. He looked back at the palace but no one was persuing him. 

Watch for the next part of the story next week!

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Pirates, Oh My!

Death Island: The Discovery by Kelsey Ketch

 After arriving at Death Island, Meriden Cummings became haunted by dreams of a young Mayan woman’s death. A death, Meriden fears, foreshadows her own. And she soon discovers that in this tropical paradise, there are many ways to die. On top of that, the pirates after her great-grandfather’s treasure are not far behind. Can she and her crew stay one step ahead of them and the Mayan god that inhabits the island?


Meriden is not the only one haunted by the young Mayan woman’s death. Gregory Wilson has had similar dreams the moment he stepped foot on the island. In addition, he has seen the Mayan god of death, Ah Puch. Will he be able to protect Meriden from the earthly dangers as well as the supernatural forces seeking her demise?

This is a new author to me and I must say I'm impressed! This pirate story was amazing. I loved how the author drew me into the story and then never let me go. This is definitely NOT a Pirates of the Caribbean type of story though I did picture the pirates off Jack Sparrow's ship during the pirate attack. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I must warn you though for there is a little profanity in the book but it was to add to the character of the pirates. So, if you're like me just skip over the word(s) and keep reading, it's a pretty good story. I'm off to read the next book in the series. I definitely recommend this for anyone wanting a good pirate story.

Twilight What?

 

Eternal Curse by Kara Leigh Miller

  • ASIN : B08CY5Q9WG

Purchase book here: Kindle | Paperback

After pulling the plug on her mother’s life support, seventeen-year-old Chloe Madison moves to live with relatives she hardly knows. Her new hometown in the Adirondack Mountains is barely more than a pinpoint on the map, but it’s shrouded in deadly secrets and strange family legends. Chloe is determined to keep her head down, finish high school, and get the heck out of there. Until she meets the enigmatic Trent Halstead. Something intriguing hides beneath his quiet self-assurance and hero hair. Maybe there’s something—or someone—worth sticking around for after all.

This is my very first book by this author and all I can say is wow! She pulled you right into the middle of the main characters lives. The love and passion between them is beautifully written. It makes the reader wish that a love like that actually existed in the real world. There are times when I am reminded of Romeo and Juliet while reading that makes me pause for a moment or two before I'm devouring the rest of the book to find out what happens next. I don't want to give away any spoilers so I will say this, you MUST read this story as it is quite good. Okay, I am off to read Book 2. Well done, ma'am.

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

The Stranger


    "Hello. My name is Eudora.  Yes, I am a turkey vulture.  Boy, do I have a story to tell you."
    Once upon a time in the kingdom of Malari, there was a beautiful princess named Keniah. She loved to perch at the castle's walls and look out over the kingdom. One brisk morning as she sat looking over her nightly kingdom, she noticed something different. There was a new bird in town. This bird was nothing like any of the others. His plumage was colorful. He had feathers of purple, gold, turquoise, and white. How did he get like that? Did he fall into one of the human's chemical pools on the westside? I pray not.
    She opened her magnificent wings and glided down to where the stranger sat. She walked around him checking him out.
    "Who are you?"  she asked.
    "My name is Tremont.  Who might you be?" he replied with a smile.
    "How did your feathers get like that? You are a turkey vulture like us, are you not?"
    He clicked his beak together a couple of times then walked into her personal space.
    "Though I am like you, I am also unique. You see my father was a turkey vulture,  my mother was a peacock. You would think this wouldn't normally happen but it did. I'm living proof. Does it matter what I am?" 
    His head bobbed back and forth as he spoke. A shadow flew over them and they both looked up. A flock of storks flew overhead heading to only God knew where.  He looked over to her but she was gone. Where did she go? He looked all around but did not see her anywhere. Guess I blew it. Sadly, he turned to walk away.
    Keniah walked inside of the palace thinking.  He was certainly a mighty fine looking bird. The sound of ruffled wings grabbed her attention and she hurried to the throne room.
    "Why do you do these things, sire? I  can't stand your whining!" Loki the paige stated.
    "Do not speak to your King in that manner!" King Rion bellowed. 
    "My apologies, sire."
    "Be off with ye, Loki."
    Though he was hopping mad, Loki did as he was told and turned to leave. He nearly bumped into Princess Keniah.
    "Father, is everything alright?" she asked bowing before him.
    "What do you want daughter? I am busy."
    She looked up at him sadly. Feeling a little guilty for taking his anger out on her, he softened the look on his face.
    '"I'm sorry daughter."
    She sighed, "I saw a stranger in the kingdom this morning."
    "And what of the stranger interests you?"
    "I don't think he is a vulture at all."
    "Why do you say that?"
     "Well, his feathers are not like ours. They are very colorful while ours are shades of black. He says his mother is not one of us."
    "I see."
    He brought his wing up to his face and rubbed his beak.
    "What do you wish for me to do?"
    "Nothing Father. I can handle it alone."
    "Yes, now go."
    She turned to leave the room.
    "Father, you didn't tell me what's going on between you and Loki."
    "Don't you worry your little head about it."
    She shook her head as she left the room. She wondered why her father refused to let her help him. She went to her room and laid down. Yawning, she decided to take a nap.
    A strange bird climbed through the open window of the princess's room. He looked around carefully. He then covered her beak and flew them both out of the window. She didn't even resisted as she was in a deep sleep. This was too easy. He looked back at the palace but no one was persuing him. 

Watch for the next part of the story next week!

Live Life Abundantly


How can one be happy in a world full of chaos? That's easy, fill your life with the things that make you the happiest. For me, those things are God, my family, my dogs, and writing. I choose not to surround myself with negativity or stressful things. Know what causes you to be filled with stress then eliminate that from your life. Now obviously you cannot eliminate your children or family members but you can find ways to change what it is that is causing you to become stressed by them. Perhaps, you need to take some time for yourself once a week. Do something you enjoy.

Life is too short to not live it abundantly.  Choose to live it happy and stress free. That's how I intend on living mine.