Most of you know that I love squirrrels! If you don’t, now you do. The last two weeks have beeninteresting working with AI and creating memes. This is one from this morning. All in fun.
SQURRELLS
“Enthralling and Exciting Series!”
First review now in for this book. Thanks to Daisy! BOOK LINK https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Evergreen-Heart-Mary-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B0CRGH8ZVY/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
* The Dream Collector *
Book Title: The Dream Collector “Sabrine & Sigmund Freud”
Series: Book 1 of 2
Author: R.w. Meek
Publication Date: December 19th, 2023
Publisher: Historium Books
Page Length: 723
Genre: Literary Historical Fiction
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Book Title and Author Name:
The Dream Collector
“Sabrine & Sigmund Freud”
Book 1
by R.w. Meek
Blurb:
The Dream Collector immerses the reader into the exciting milieu of late 19th Century Paris when art and medicine were in the throes of revolution, art turning to Impressionism, medicine turning to psychology. In 1885, Julie Forette, a self-educated woman from Marseilles, finds employment at the infamous Salpêtrière, hospital and asylum to over five thousand disabled, demented and abandoned women, a walled city ruled by the famed neurologist and arrogant director, Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot.
Julie Forette forms a friendship with the young, visiting intern Sigmund Freud who introduces her to the altering-conscious power of cocaine. Together they pursue the hidden potential of hypnotism and dream interpretation. After Freud receives the baffling case of the star hysteric, Sabrine Weiss, he is encouraged by Julie to experiment with different modes of treatment, including “talking sessions.” Their urgent quest is to find a cure for Sabrine, Princess of the Hysterics, before Dr. Charcot resorts to the radical removal of her ovaries.
In Paris, Julie finds a passion for the new art emerging, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, and forms friendships with the major artists of the period, including Pissarro, Monet, and Degas. Julie becomes intimately involved with the reclusive Cezanne only to be seduced by the “Peruvian Savage” Paul Gauguin. Julie is the eponymous ‘Dream Collector’ collecting the one unforgettable, soul-defining dream of the major historical figures of the period.
Praise for The Dream Collector:
“Meek never fails to stun and impress with his evocation of scenes and events, of sights and dialogue, and of peoples’ reactions to them.”
~ HFC Reviews
“Tribute must be paid to the obvious and clear literary skills of the author R.w. Meek and to his ability to invoke historic personages and the Belle Époque he so evidently adores.”
~ Julian de la Motte, award winning author of Senlac
EXCERPT 3
“Alone with Sabrine”
“Do you have a special fear?” Sigmund decided to ask her.
“I have no fears, so it’s my duty to take them away from others.”
She stepped out of his rim of light, skipping away. He could not shake the thought that she was behaving like a mischievous schoolgirl. As best he could, he followed her with the one trembling, tallow candle.
“I want to dance!” she announced loudly.
And so she did, making gentle turns and playful leaps, delighting in being the center of attention. Sigmund had never found the temerity to engage in dancing, but he easily guessed its pleasure as he followed her with the candlelight. Keeping her mask in place, she performed pirouettes and self-assured spins before concluding with a charming bow.
She dropped the mask—Sabrine and no other! The candle’s flame flickered in the green of her eyes. “On special occasions the young doctors allow us to have costumed balls,” she said. “The hypnotized are not supposed to remember them, but we do.”
Pounding at the library door prompted her to quickly whisper: “Shall we meet again to share more secrets?”
The commotion outside grew louder: “Someone has locked it from the inside! Find another key, another key!”
As the door flew open, Sigmund eagerly conceded to her, “We can meet again, Mademoiselle, if you like.”
Buy Link:
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/4jE52j
Author Bio:
R.w. Meek has a Master’s degree in Art History from the American University in Washington, D.C., his areas of expertise are Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, with a particular interest in Vincent van Gogh. He has interned and conducted tours at the National Museum of American and the National Gallery of Art. In 2022 and 2023 five of his chapter excerpts from his soon to be published novel “The Dream Collector” were either finalists or published in various literary journals. The author has also won the Palm Beach Book Festival Competition for “Best Writer in Palm Beach’ his manuscript judged by a panel of NYT Best Selling authors. “The Dream Collector” also received gold and silver medals in the Historical Fiction Company literary contest and earned runner-up for the “Best Historical Fiction Novel’ of 2022.
The author was born in Baltimore, adventured in Europe for many years, and recently moved from Delray Beach, Florida to Santa Clarita, California. His wife is a psychologist, sculptress, playwright and stand-up story teller. His daughter Nora is a story board artist in the animation world and resides in Hollywood, California. His favorite writers are Dostoevsky, John Fowles, and Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.ronmeekauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010220437381
Grief Is Love: A Memoir of Surviving Bereavement
From Amazon:
After losing her long-term partner, through poetry and essay, author Mary Deal shares the turmoil and oftentimes bewildering depths of her grief.
This memoir exposes the spectrum of emotions with which those suffering loss will become familiar or already experience. The author holds back nothing of her odyssey of despair. Her experiences and much she has learned to help herself provide other survivors a chance to see that they are not alone. Though everyone’s grief is different, all grief is surprisingly similar in its basis. Hope is found in familiarity with another’s grief and no one should endure the bereavement process alone.
Following the author’s progression through relentless sorrow, and finally redemption, lets others know there is validation for their emotional suffering. An easing of the pain occurs as the memory of loss takes its place among all other memories of the life shared with departed loved ones. This memoir offers helpful advice for survivors who endure their grief, until the puzzle of life meshes back together again in a new pattern.
My Review:
This is a great resource book dealing with grief. Although the author writes from the perspective of losing her partner of 31 years due to cancer and its effects, this book can help others deal with grief. As a registered nurse and as a bereaved mother of one baby boy and one son who passed at age five due to cancer related issues, I get the grief process. Kubler-Ross explained it best in the stages of grief, and each stage is valid. Not only valid, but we move back and forth in the stages of loss, and we are normal in doing so. The author spills her heart out in her grief. I’ve done the same with the loss of my boys. Partner and spouse loss is different than losing a child, sibling, or parent. Yet grief is the same on different levels. This book will tell you that your grief is normal and will help you deal with grief. The author had a highly trained counselor to help her mediate the grief she felt. Not everyone can afford that, but if you have the means, please see a counselor in this area to help you out. It’s hard when a partner or a five-year-old little boy tells you they want to go to heaven and we are not ready to let them go. You can read how the author dealt with that situation as well.
Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers’ Favorite
5 Stars – Congratulations on your 5-star review! Get your free 5-star seal!
Reviewed by Doreen Chombu for Readers’ Favorite
Kim Daily believed that her marriage to Steve was perfect. They had a beautiful, welcoming
home and a great group of friends. Unfortunately, everything was a lie. While attempting
to shut down Steve’s laptop, Kim discovers a hit list with her name at the top. Realizing
that her life is in danger, she decides to flee. The incident leads to a series of events,
including involvement with the CIA, a fatal accident, and Kim and her best friend Nancy
relocating to the town of Evergreen. There, they start a new life, healing from old wounds,
making new friends, and finding love. Pick up Christmas in Evergreen by Mary L. Schmidt
to enjoy this captivating story.
Christmas in Evergreen is the first book in the Heart of Evergreen series, and Mary L. Schmidt
does an excellent job laying the foundation for future installments. Kim is an admirable
character and I could not help but fall in love with her. I felt her turmoil when she discovered
the true nature of her husband of five years. It was heartwarming to see that she found people
who helped her get through a difficult time and helped her learn to trust and love again. The
story takes place during the festive season, and themes of family, friendship, and love perfectly
describe it. The author’s detailed descriptions paint a vivid picture of Evergreen and its intriguing
residents, whom I am excited to read more about in the upcoming books. I enjoyed Christmas in
Evergreen because it is entertaining and has an exciting plot.
I Found Elvis!
Most of you know that I love squirrrels! If you don’t, now you do. The last two weeks have beeninteresting working with AI and creating memes. This is one from this morning. All in fun.
Cyanide and Sensibility
Cyanide and Sensibility (A Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery Book 3) Book Link
From Amazon:
Murder is on the menu and Phaedra Brighton is called on to serve up justice in the latest Jane Austen Tea Society Mystery.
While Phaedra Brighton might not have a Mr. Darcy (yet), she’s quite content with her loving family and loyal cat. Phaedra’s sister Hannah is the Jane to her Elizabeth, and Phaedra is ecstatic that Hannah has decided to move home for her next adventure—opening a business.
All of Laurel Springs is out in full force to celebrate the grand unveiling of Hannah’s new patisserie, Tout de Sweet, including local celebrity Rachel Brandon. Hannah is a master of her craft, with confections so divine, one bite will make you think you’ve died and gone to heaven.
Of course, you never want that to happen literally.
When one of Hannah’s famous dark chocolate cupcakes sends Rachel’s assistant to the hospital with poisoning, Hannah begs for Phaedra’s help to save her reputation and budding business. But Phaedra has more questions than answers: Who was the cupcake actually meant for? And how far is the culprit willing to go to take their target off the menu—permanently?
My Review:
This is a modern-day novel akin to Pride and Prejudice, yet with a totally different spin on the characters. Phaedra dresses in period clothing and lectures at the local university about that time frame of Austin’s novel. Modern teas with French pastries and delicacies about in many settings. Unfortunately, a person dies after consuming a cupcake laced with cyanide at her sister’s newly opened patisserie. Cyanide isn’t the only poison used in this novel, but I thought I had the suspect figured out, but I was wrong. I did not see the ending coming. Five shiny gold stars.
Scarlett and Rhett McSquirrel
Most of you know that I love squirrrels! If you don’t, now you do. The last two weeks have beeninteresting working with AI and creating memes. This is one from this morning. All in fun.
Worf, and I Have a New Thing!
Most of you know that I love squirrrels! If you don’t, now you do. The last two weeks have beeninteresting working with AI and creating memes. This is one from this morning. All in fun.
Abracadabra
From Amazon:
This magical book of charms has an otherworldly vibe that entwines itself with the ethereal realm of the soul and the natural world. Each poem explores the authenticity of the soul’s search for meaning and connection to existing in and of itself.
Emotion is an action and reaction influenced by the supernatural and the natural world around us.
As you read each poem that flows so effortlessly from beginning to end, you become aware of every element interacting with our mind, body, and soul. It becomes evident that we are part of everything, and everything is part of us.
This book will be the magic you need to find renewal and refresh your essence of life.
My Review:
Those words ring true. I truly love the poetry books by Julie Kusma and Derek King. This one is filled with verbiage about the seasons on Earth and seasons of life, in my mind. The evocative words of love and letting be, sighs amid bluebells, perfection upon waking each day, the promise of perfect eternity, fresh and sweet resonate within these pages, and soothe my soul.
When Angels Fly 