NOTE FROM CAROL: Goodbye 2021, Hello 2022 Behave Yourself!

 

Dear Gentle Readers,

I don't think I am the only one who want to see 2021 in the rearview mirror. We can only hope 2022 brings in the end of this pandemic, the return to normal healthy living, and a sense of unity for our nation and our families.

In September we bought a new couch. Because of Covid and Netflix, we wore our old, thirty-year old couch down into two giant clumps of uncomfortable batting and wood. We bought our new one from an American company, La-Z-boy, with a factory in Indiana. It was marked 'in progress' when we paid for it. It still has not been delivered. I could have pushed it to Ohio from Indiana by now if trucking it in was the problem.

I think they are using the trucks as an excuse. Have you tried to buy a special greeting card lately? Are they, too, stuck in a cargo ship in the ocean? Do we make nothing in this country anymore except congressional millionaires? 

We have watched the store shelves change. Sometimes brands we are used to buying are gone. Sometimes strange labels we never heard of take their place. And sometimes, shelves are sparse or empty. It used to be fun to go grocery shopping. 

Covid vaccines are readily available. We are practicing social distancing. We always have a mask in our pockets in case we run into... people. And yet, the Corona virus and all its Greek letter variations is still running rampant in the small Ohio community where we live and breathe. We are tired of Covid. But it seems Covid is not yet tired of us. 

We are tired of the red and the blue, the right and the left. Can't we just be Americans? Remember them? They lifted each other up. Not called each other names on TV. Can't we do what is best for our people? All our people? 

I know this is not the usual upbeat, happy message from me where I suggest you forgive the bastard and look for sunshine every day. It's been a rough year.

I hope to see you in 2022. I hope to be my old cheerful, peaceful, and loving self. Until then, stay safe. Love today, because we may not get a tomorrow. 

Great Big Virtual Hugs,

Carol

 

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BOOK: Lord of Blakeley by Carol Ann Kauffman

 

The series, TIME AFTER TIME, follows a pair of quintessential lovers, Richard and Nicole, through their many lifetimes together, in different places, in different times, with different names and faces and sometimes even on other planets. This follows the alternative theory that the relationships we forge in this lifetime, both the good and the bad, are continued into the future, and are rooted deeply in our past. Whatever we do, whomever we love, and the good and evil deeds we do today follow us into the future. Unsettled issues will present themselves again and again, until they are ultimately resolved. Those people who have had a profound effect on us in this lifetime will find us again in the future. And although everything changes, love remains.

Books in the TIME AFTER TIME series are: BLUE LAKE, BELTERRA, DARK RETURN, The BASLICATO, BENTLEY SQUARE, WAITING FOR RICHARD, LORD OF BLAKELEY,  MacKALVEY HOUSE, and WAIT FOR ME. After BLUE LAKE, the first book in the series that sets the stage and introduces the characters, they do not need to be read in order. 

Lord of Blakeley is the story of Andrew of Blakeley, a simple farm boy who lives on a primitive future planet. He is chosen by the lovely Lady Aleese to be her mate and rises to become the most powerful man on the planet. But a jealous man with access to mobile transport devices wreaks havoc on the young couple’s happiness, separating them, her on an alien rock planet and he, aboard a slave ship, and then dumping them in present-day Chicago. One day Aleese vanishes into thin air and Andrew is arrested for her murder and must stand trial. It is a story of devotion and jealousy, of loss and lunacy. And, in true Time After Time fashion, a story of love.

Amazon Buy Link:
 http://tinyurl.com/o2xqh6r

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ENTERTAINMENT: The Wheel of Time (Amazon Prime Video)

"The wheel weaves as the wheel wills."

Oh, book purists are screaming complaints that the Amazon Prime series Wheel of Time doesn't follow the book series by Robert Jordan.

They are SO negative, they may be discouraging viewers from watching, thus hurting or even cancelling the chances of more seasons.

And what a big shame that is. I read some of the books long, long ago and do not remember a copious amount of detail. My husband has read none. We are both enjoying the series immensely. It is soooo much better than all the mundane drivel on TV.

The beautiful and talented Rosamund Pike plays the lead in Season One as Aes Sedai Moiraine.  Each character is a thread and the Wheel 

weaves these threads together is all sorts of ways that we do not immediately understand.

Think of the story as a babe is born and the Wise Men are searching for him, except the babe was born long time ago and comes of age now and this babe, the Dragon, can either save the world or destroy it.

And instead of wise men, we have wise and magical women called 

the Ads Sedai.

That's the real dummied-down version.

Watch it if you have access and make your own decision.

  

 

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BOOK REVIEW: Hill House, Harry Starke Book 3, by Blair Howard

Hill House, Harry Starke, Book 3 by Blair Howard 

was yet another well-written cop-turned-detective 

story with a terrific main character, Harry Starke. 

Harry is his own man. Wealthy. Snappy dresser. 

Cool. But he manages to get into some serious situations while solving crimes with his sometimes-girlfriend, Kate the cop  and Amanda, a beautiful journalist. This one was darker and scarier than the 

first two. 

Twists, turns, and dead bodies abound  with  just enough narrative. I am a Harry Starke fan and I’m 

off to read Book 4. I highly recommend this entertaining novel. Harry Starke needs to be on 

Netflix! 

VISION AND VERSE DISCLAIMER

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Vision and Verse does not store any personal information like email addresses, home addresses, etc. We do not give any information to third parties. And cookies? We eat cookies.

SCHEDULE: December 27 - 31, 2021

 Mon., Dec. 27 - ART: 

Spanish Spray Paint Artist

Luis Romero

Tues., Dec. 28 - BOOK REVIEW:

Hill House,

Harry Starke Book 3

by Blair Howard

Wed., Dec. 29 -  ENTERTAINMENT:

Wheel of Time

(Amazon Prime)

Thurs., Dec. 30 - BOOK:

Lord of Blakeley

by Carol Ann Kauffman

Fri., Dec. 31 - NOTE FROM CAROL:

Goodbye, 2021

Hello, 2022

Behave yourself!

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NOTE: Merry Christmas 2021!

Dear Gentle Readers,

We at Vision and Verse would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, or whatever Seasonal Greeting that makes you feel good. 

This has been another challenging year. I hope you can still manage to be surrounded by your family and friends and that you'll still feel the love and joy and warmth of the season.

I have found that most people are a little better around the holidays. They are kinder and think of others more. They are happier and smile more. This year we need that more than ever.

I for one appreciate all of you who stop by every day to see what's happening on this little art and author blog being run by some wacky old lady from Ohio. Without you, Vision and Verse would be no more than a digital journal. So I thank you. 

I wish you all the happiest of holidays.

Hugs,

Carol  

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BOOK: I Need Christmas b y Carol Ann Kauffman $.99 Christmas Sale

After a depressing year of sadness, loneliness, and self-doubt, successful civil engineer and former All-American basketball star Elizabeth (Betsy) Curry returns home to Oakville, Ohio, for the Christmas holidays a depressed and broken women.

Reeling from her bitter divorce from the handsome, charming, but morally decrepate Tommy DeMalio, her college sweetheart and first big love, who left her after two years of what she thought was a good marriage for a stripper he met at an office bachelor party for her co-worker, Betsy feels lost and empty. 

Not exactly anticipating the happy holiday with her family and their multitude of joyful Christmas customs and long-time storybook-like traditions, she knows she needs them in order to heal. 

Once comfortable at home and feeling somewhat better about herself, Tommy shows up and claims he wants a reconciliation, throwing her back into the self-destructive cycle of doubt, hostility, and suspicion she is trying so hard to escape.

She discovers her father has set her up with his protégé at work, the tall, handsome, athletic red-haired Patrick, who, try as hard as she can, she can’t find a single thing she doesn’t like about him.

So, what’s the problem? 

Betsy feels it’s too soon for her to love again. How can she love anyone again when she doesn’t like herself or what she’s become since the break-up. Also, she fears she will hurt the sweet, gentle Patrick.

Will the love, joy, and goodwill of the holiday season coupled with the many long-time holiday customs and Curry family traditions help Betsy to find herself again? 

Will she be strong enough to lift herself out of her self-induced prison so that she can take another chance on love ?

Take advantage of the special Christmas price of $.99 

offered by my publisher, Books To Go Now.

https://www.amazon.com/Need-Christmas-Oakville-Family-Book-ebook/dp/B0193G3RA6 

ENTERTAINMENT: Shang-Chi, Legend of the Ten Rings (Disney+)

I wasn't expecting much from this movie. Too much hype. Nobody I knew in the movie. Was it in English?

Boy, was I surprised! It was an excellent movie with great acting, gorgeous scenery, eye-popping visual effects, and an outstanding story line. 

 

BOOK REVIEW: Blue Midnight by Tess Thompson

Blue Midnight, Blue Mountain Book 1, by Tess Thompson was the story of Blythe Haywood, mother of two, dumped by her husband 

for a younger woman, who needs to figure out what comes next in her life. 

In a journey to find an old flame, she has some great adventures and finds much more than she bargained for. 

Outstanding characters, a great plot, and beautifully written, I highly recommend. 

SCHEDULE: December 20 - 24, 2021

Mon., Dec. 20 - ART:

Georgian Artist 

David Martiashvili

Tues., Dec. 21 - BOOK REVIEW:

Blue Midnight

by Tess Thompson

Wed., Dec. 22 - ENTERTAINMENT:

Shang Chi, Legend of the Ten Rings

(Disney+)

Thurs., Dec. 23 - CHRISTMAS BOOK:

I Need Christmas ($.99 Sale)

by Carol Ann Kauffman

Fri., Dec. 24 - NOTE FROM CAROL:

Merry Christmas!

BOOK: Charming Deception by Carol Ann Kauffman

  

Dear Gentle Readers,
Sometimes a single moment can suggest a storyline.  While on our second honeymoon at the Clearwater Beach Sand Key, I woke up in the middle of the night disoriented. Jet lag. Ate too late. Introduction to mint mojitos. Who knows?  But that single moment led to the book, Charming Deception. 

I wrote the first three chapters on my iPhone, because I promised my husband this wouldn't be a working vacation and left my laptop at home. The cover is the stairs behind the hotel that goes down to the beautiful beach at Clearwater Beach, Florida. If you're ever in the area, stop by. It is a beautiful resort and the staff is terrific!

Book Description:
Samantha wakes up to a perfect life, with a handsome, attentive husband she doesn't remember. She has it all: a luxury vehicle, designer clothes, beautiful jewelry, and a condo on the beach. But this isn't the life she remembers. As time go by, Samantha discovers she is the object of an elaborate deception, one large enough to include, other worlds, body doubles, time travel, world-hopping, and a galaxy guardian as cold as ice. Is her charming husband in on this deception?

Reviews:

"This story is completely different from all the other books I have read by Carol Ann Kauffman. You get to see another side of her creative mind and I love it. She had me guessing all throught the book. She filled it with mystery, suspence, romance and paranormal. Her style is the same as her other work, maybe even better.
Open door ways can be wonderful and yet confussing to some. But to go throught a door way and wake up not knowing who you are or where you are can be unusal. Sam doesent remember parts of her life. Her husband is telling her that she hit her head and has memory loss. But she doesn't know who he is either. Jaxs is madly in love with his wife and would do anything for her, even switch places with Jackson Blake.
As the two of them resume their life together in Florida, Sam finds herself falling in love with her husband all over again. But is he really her husband? Then one day trouble happens and she is pulled into a cloud with hands all over her. She has no idea what is going on. But she ends up at a castle and remembers her father and everybody there, but how? Jackson ends up there too and wants to taker her home. The king is mean and loves to torture people. He goes after a tracker who found Samantha thinking that he killed his real daughter. So how many Samantha's are there? And is there more then one Jackson Blake?
As the story goes on, you find yourself trying to figure out why there are clones and who made them. Why would someone want more than one person that looks the same? Well the guardian has his reasons. Can this all be worked out? Or is someone going to die? Will all be disappointed in the end? You will have to read it to find out."

                                                                                                                          -Val R.

"This is a wonderfully twisted soap opera for the brain.  Samantha has me worried and Jakson, sweet as he appears to be, creeps me out.  Love the imagery.  I feel like I'm right there with these characters.  Them OMG... out of the blue, kidnapped, encoding, decoding.  Uh, just who is this Samantha Blake?  This was like driving carefree down a one-way street and suddenly making an abrupt left turn - where there is no road!  AWESOME!!!"        

                                                                                                                                         - Preston K.

"Samantha wakes up naked in a strange bed. It's dark outside and there's a man snoring beside her she has no recollection of. Not only does she not remember how she got there. She can't even remember her name.

The author takes you on a journey involving all the elements necessary to keep you glued to the pages until the very end. You walk beside Samantha as she unravels the truth in this romantic and suspenseful story.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good mystery that you can lose yourself in."

                                                                                                                                                   -Tam T

Amazon Buy Link:
https://www.amazon.com/CHARMING-DECEPTION-Carol-Ann-Kauffman-ebook/dp/B01N2Q7HOT/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

CHRISTMAS BOOK: Christmas at Star Lake by Carol Ann Kauffman

 Madison Rand runs Rand Solutions, an unusual and very helpful agency in the beautiful town of Silver Maple, New York. The police inform her that her highly qualified, specialized employees are targeted by a professional killer and being picked off, one by one. 

To save their lives, she closes down her business, sends them all away, and retreats to a friend’s cabin at Star Lake to figure out who is after them and why. 

Danger follows her to the cabin in the woods at Star Lake, where an old ghost from her past reappears on Christmas Eve, hellbent on revenge, and the madman tracks her through the underground caves at the lake. 

Shots are fired. A body drops to the ground. Is it Kyle Miller, the love of her life, who followed her to the cabin to propose on Christmas Eve? 

The air is thick with treachery and deceit. The body count is rising and old friendships are put to the test. But Madison Rand believes in miracles, especially at Christmas time.

Christmas at Star Lake is specially priced at $.99 by my publisher Books To Go Now.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Star-Lake-Madison-Rand-ebook/dp/B017WLY1JA

ENTERTAINMENT: A Castle for Christmas (Netflix)

Oh, I loved this little Netflix Christmas movie! An author takes a vacation from her best-selling author life and goes to Scotland. She tours a castle where her father worked and discovers it's for sale. 

Miles, the duke who owes the castle, like all good dukes worldwide, doesn't really want to sell the castle and leave his home, but he is being squeezed by the bank.

Gorgeous Scottish vistas and beautiful Scottish music make this film a perfect little Christmas gem.

And it has Carey Elwes in it! 

 

BOOK REVIEW: Guaranteed to Bleed by Julie Mulhern

Guaranteed to Bleed by the wonderfully talented Julie Mulhern is another captivating Country Club Murder Book. Wonderful characters, a gripping plot, and good, solid writing have kept me from sleep and laundry and social contacts once more. I love the female protagonist, Ellison. I think we would have been friends. I highly recommend this and all of Mulhern’s work.

 

SCHEDULE: December 13 - 17, 2021

 Mon., Dec. 13 - ART:

The Art of Stephen Morath

Tues., Dec. 14 - BOOK REVIEW:

Guaranteed to Bleed

by Julie Mulhern

Wed., Dec. 15 - ENTERTAINMENT: 

A Castle for Christmas ( Netflix) 

Thurs., Dec. 16 - CHRISTMAS:

Christmas at Star Lake

$.99 Book Sale

Fri., Dec. 17 - BOOK:

Charming Deception

by Carol Ann Kauffman

BOOK: Bentley Square, Time After Time by Carol Ann Kauffman

Strangers meet on the train. She, a beautiful, wealthy businesswoman. He, a down on his luck office manager. They have nothing in common. And yet, they are drawn to each other with an undeniable hypnotic magnetism. This is the story of Rebecca Robbins, daughter of one of the wealthiest men in the country and Mark Ramsay, a man shrouded in dark mystery and hiding in the shadows from death squads amid international intrigue.

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009Y9DPIC

Some Reviews:

"This was such a surprising read. I was expecting a suspenseful romance but it really was a thrill ride full of unexpected twists. The characters are unique and nothing is as it seems. Even the secondary characters grab your attention. As the story unfolded I truly loved that there were stakes that went so far beyond will they wont fall in love. That said the romance was perfect. There was a bond there that surpassed the natural and really Mark was just the perfect man. I look forward to reading more from this author soon. If you want a romance that is high in suspense yet still manages that sweet romantic feeling this is your book."

"I just finished reading Bentley Square, Time after Time Book four, by Carol Ann Kauffman. I couldn’t put it down. Carol Kauffman carries the reader along the intriguing and dangerous paths of her main characters, Mark and Becca, as they struggle to be together, only to be faced with insurmountable challenges that not only threaten their relationship, but their lives. Just when you think you have the plot figured out…Bam…something else pops up and you can’t let go until you find out what will happen next.
I recommend this captivating international mystery, and am eagerly awaiting her next book."

"A very intriguing book. I first got sucked in by the romance, then by the intrigue, and the mystery. Every time I felt, okay, that's it, I found myself wrong guessing. You'll love Becca, and Mark. I can't tell you too much as I don't want to spoil the story, but it's a good read. And the writing is solid. Enjoy."

CHRISTMAS: Christmas Tree Cupcakes

 

 

From Pinterest

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ENTERTAINMENT: Jungle Cruise (Disney+)

Jungle Cruise on Disney + this month is a fun adventure story based on the Jungle Cruise ride at the Disney theme parks. But it is so much more. First, it stars the wonderful Dwayne Johnson, will consistently delivered an outstanding performance in a variety of movies. 

As the captain of the riverboat boat hired by a scientist, played by Emily Blunt, Dwayne offers all the bravado, quick wit, and a few tricks up his sleeve on the way down the river to find a specific blossom on a plant. 

This was an enjoyable film. The supporting cast also did a terrific job. 

References:

IMbd

Wikipedia

Disney +

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