April showers bring May flowers, or so they say. If that’s the case where you live, and if you are housebound due to inclement weather, what better way to occupy your time than to read a good book? We offer some suggestions for your consideration, in addition to those you will find on our website. We appreciate your loyalty.
POPE JOAN
In this historical fiction set in the Dark Ages, Joan was born a Jew when authorities ordered Jews to convert or die. The family converts to Catholicism. When Joan’s father insists she marry a fat, ugly oaf, she appeals to Friar Andrew, tutor in the family’s new faith, who sparks Joan’s interest in reading, otherwise forbidden. To avoid the marriage pledged by her father, Joan and Friar Andrew flee. As Friar John, she disguises herself in drab monk’s attire and binds her chest to disguise her budding breasts. She and Friar Andrew travel the backroads to various monasteries.
While Andrew pursues the world of numbers and accounting, Joan becomes an avid student, learning to love reading and language and advancing in her scholarly pursuits. Eventually – through a string of circumstances that propelling her to higher and higher offices within the church, she finally ascends to the throne of St. Peter, the first and only female pope. How long can Pope John (Joan) keep his gender a secret?
COMING SOON FROM PABLO
Sunrise Over Casablanca dovetails Pablo’s first sequel to the film classic, Brazzaville, and takes our beloved characters, as well as a few new ones, through the dangerous drive for independence in North Africa – Morocco and Algeria. This historical novel weaves facts about the true state of that part of the world with the fictional stories of these characters driven to help the cause of the oppressed. Love and marriage, new life, death of their beloved, and emotional separations become juxtaposed with the hard facts of war, guerrilla warfare, death, and destruction.
COMING SOON FROM SUSAN AND HEATHER
Across Africa Alone is the true story of the first woman to drive across Africa alone in 1960 – in a VW Beetle! Louise D’Oliveira was a student of Dr. Frank Laubach who originated Each One Teach One, an easy method of teaching illiterates. Louise, 40, decides to answer her own calling to help by working her way across Africa in a time of tension, turmoil, and unrest. She faces danger from wildlife and humans alike. Along the way, she helps set up literacy programs in countries beset with massive poverty and illiteracy.
LITERARY TITAN – ANOTHER 5-STAR REVIEW
Brazzaville – A Sequel to Casablanca
Brazzaville – A Sequel to Casablanca offers a compelling expansion of the narrative universe established by the iconic film “Casablanca.” Set against the backdrop of World War II, this novel delves into the continued adventures of familiar characters like Rick, Ilsa, and Sam. Engaging in espionage and resistance against the Nazis, the book captures the essence of underground struggle, threading a narrative rich in historical authenticity and personal drama.
The story adeptly intertwines scenes of sabotage, from blowing up tunnels and railroads to disseminating misinformation, against the dire circumstances of Nazi occupation. The characters’ efforts contribute significantly to the liberation of Paris, culminating in a vividly described march down the Champs-Élysées, symbolizing a hard-fought victory. What elevates this novel is its exploration of deeper themes such as loyalty, sacrifice, and freedom. These themes are personified through the complex personal and moral dilemmas faced by the characters, adding layers to the conventional wartime narrative. The author doesn’t shy away from showcasing the personal toll of war, focusing on emotional and relational aspects amidst chaos and uncertainty. The book’s concluding segment, set in the post-war era of 1953, offers thoughtful reflection on the long-term impacts of conflict and the quest for normalcy in the aftermath of turmoil. It touches upon the broader historical context, including the struggle for independence in North Africa.
Brazzaville—A Sequel to Casablanca skillfully blends fact with fiction, providing a nuanced portrayal of resistance during one of history’s most challenging periods. Its narrative not only pays homage to the original film but also noteworthy explores wartime resilience and the human spirit.
GUEST AUTHOR – STEVE LIPSCOMB
RETOLD – The Story of Jesus
The life of history’s most famous and influential person is retold here, loosely following the canonical and gnostic gospels and artfully woven by this retired Episcopalian priest who traveled the dusty backroads of the Holy Land himself.
When God does not reveal to Jesus the special plan and purpose for his life, Jesus sets out on a quest to discover it for himself. The new tales and details, based on the total life and death of Jesus, might satisfy the curiosity of followers who wonder where Jesus was for many years and what he did. With new characters and the more traditional ones, Lipscomb uses humor, betrayal, murder, sex, and intrigue in this unique telling of an ancient and familiar story.
