Bharat Ane Nenu - [Movie Review] #SuperBloggerChallenge2018

This will be my last post for #SuperBloggerChallenge2018. It has been a wonderful journey with a lot of learning by participating and reading many good blogs in these 10 weeks. Thanks to Dr. Amrita, Dr.Bushra, and Utpal for organizing this. 

In this post, I am going to share my opinion on the latest Telugu Movie #BharatAneNenu. I am not a movie critic and also not someone who watches all movies. I am not a fan of Mahesh Babu but I consider him one of the handsome actors in Tollywood.

Bharat Ane Nenu movie is a political drama. You, of course, remember Rana's "Leader" and Arjun's "Oke Okkadu" movies while watching this, but the way this is filmed and the issues it raised are different than those 2 movies. 

Pros:

1. Mahesh Babu
He is the hero of the movie and you see him in almost every frame. His charisma is visible throughout the movie and it is a treat for Mahesh Babu's fans. He is getting younger day by day and has good style quotient in him. If you are a Mahesh Babu fan, don't even read this review, go to the theater and enjoy. You will be satisfied 100%.

2. Concept and Issues raised
The hero becomes the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh unexpectedly but uses his common sense and intelligence to solve the basic problems of the state. The movie raises good points about the development of villages, traffic problems, and self Governance. 


Cons:

1. More heroism dominating the story
Sometimes, it doesn't seem natural for hero fighting numerous villains and taking decisions on his own without fear. Of course, when we see other Telugu films, it doesn't look odd though. But, less heroism might have been good to connect to the character. Even though they show hero as a Super Man, he is a human too with follies. So, it won't connect with me much when a movie is far from the real world.

2. Music
The Background music and the title song are very good and enjoyable. 'Vanchindayya Sami' is good too. But all other songs fall flat. We might forget the other songs immediately after stepping out of the theater. 

3. Love sequences
When the concept is good, we don't need a romance angle much. If it is there, it shouldn't be incomplete and incomprehensible and it should blend with the story. But, this is not the case here. The love scenes look more like infatuation and there are no scenes to show their understanding or closeness in their relationship. There is not much shown about the heroine and it feels like a gap.

In my opinion, if taken well without more focus on commercial elements, the concept of the movie and acting are great. The characterization of Prakash Raj is superb as always. 

My Rating: 3.5/5

Did you watch the movie? Do you like it?
Do let me know in comments.

Until next time,

This article is written as part of SuperBloggingChallenge2018 conducted by Healthwealthbridge.com,Fashionablefoodz.com, and Allaboutthewoman.com and should not be repurposed, republished or used otherwise. SuperBloggerChallenge2018 is not responsible for any kind of infringement caused.

Rising from the Ashes by Rubina Ramesh - [Book Review]

RISING FROM THE ASHES: 

A Short Story: Prequel to Knitted Tales 2 

by 

Rubina Ramesh

BLURB

She was one of the most beautiful woman Asura Sambara had laid his eyes on. 

Possessing a beauty of this magnitude became his passion. Sambara kidnapped her and whisked her off to his palace. 

Mayavati knows she has no option but to bow down to his wishes. But what about the young man who always haunts her dreams? She had no clue why she was in this palace but after speaking to the mischief making Sage Narada, it all started making sense to her. 

Who was Mayavati and what was she doing in Asura’s palace? 

Was Sambara her destiny? 

Disclaimer: This short story is a mythological fiction and should be treated as such. The author does not claim it to be a retelling of the Puranas. This piece is a product of her unbridled imagination. 

Grab your copy @

Amazon.com | Amazon.in | Amazon.co.uk

My Review

This is one of the shortest books that I read. First of all, I didn't know that it's a mythology by seeing the book cover. I love mythology and those numerous small stories that come in the middle of the epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. This book covers the story of Goddess Rati after she is cursed by Lord Shiva to become ash. Thus, the title of the book is apt.

The story is interesting as the characters are not very popular in our epics but known to some extent by their names. There are not many characters in the story and the focus is more on Mayawati. The story ends abruptly with Mayavati realizing her past life. I think, without reading the sequel 'Knitted Tales 2' , it cannot be said a complete story. So, have to wait for the sequel. 

The narration with twists is good. The book cover might have been different. Characterization of Mayawati is good and the author is successful in bringing Mayawati's thoughts, confusion, her pride, enchanting beauty and power clearly to the reader. 

Overall, I would recommend this to a Mythology lover. 

My Rating: 4/5

PS: I have received a free e-review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion on the book.

About the author

Rubina Ramesh is an avid reader, writer, blogger, book reviewer and marketer. She is the founder of The Book Club, an online book publicity group. Her first literary work was published in her school magazine. It gave her immense pride to see her own name at the bottom of the article. She was about 8 years old at that time. She then went to complete her MBA and after her marriage to her childhood friend, her travel saga started. From The Netherlands to the British Isles she lived her life like an adventure. After a short stint in Malaysia, she finally settled down in the desert state of USA, Arizona. Living with her DH and two human kids and one doggie kid, Rubina has finally started living the life she had always dreamed about – that of a writer.

Click here to check out all the titles by the author...

You can stalk her @

      

        

This Tour is Hosted by 

Facebook | Website | Blog Tours | Twitter | Linkedin

We Promote So That You Can Write 

Until next time,

Ralphie Always Loved by Andrea Yerramilli - Book Spot Light and Author Interview

Book Details:



Book Title: Ralphie, Always Loved by Andrea Yerramilli

Illustrated by: Samantha Van Riet

Category: Children's Fiction, 32 pages

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Publisher: About Something Good, LLC

Release date: October 28, 2017

Tour dates: April 9 to May 4, 2018

Content Rating: G



Book Description:



This is the story of the life, love, and adventures of a beloved family dog, and how he delighted and touched his family and everyone he met.



Ralphie was born with a heart on his belly.

He loves food, his family, his friends, his neighbors.

He loves pretty much everything and everyone.

And they love him back.

And that's how it is all through his life.

Read the book and fall in love with him too.



Rambunctious and hyperactive, Ralphie had already been returned to the animal shelter three times, but when Andrea and her husband adopted him and gave him a loving home where he was understood, accepted, and taught, he learned fast. As Ralphie's human family grew, so did his capacity for love and the ways he could express it. He remained a loving and beloved family member who touched the hearts of the whole neighborhood until he was ready to say goodbye at the grand-old age of sixteen. Ralphie, Always Loved will remind you of all that is good, and reaffirm your belief in love's power to uplift and transform.

Follow the tour by visiting Andrea Yerramilli's page on iRead Book Tours.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Indiebound

Add to Goodreads

Author Interview:

Q: How did you come up with the character of Ralphie?

A: Ralphie is based on my real-life dog named Ralphie. He was a rescue dog, and we were his fourth and forever family. Ralphie was a character: full of life and love, and always up to something. He made us laugh and stressed us out by “exploring the neighborhood” on a regular basis. Thankfully we always found him and brought him home. He was always underfoot, demanding attention and treats and never giving up till he got some. Ralphie loved everyone he ever met. He was an amazing dog and was very, very loved.

Q: But he’s no longer with you?

A: Ralphie passed away in October 2016, from cancer. He was diagnosed at age sixteen and was unable to be treated in any of the traditional ways. He lived for three months after he was diagnosed, and those are some of my most treasured memories. I will always love my Ralphie.

Q: Why did you write a picture book?

A: Ralphie had a very animated face. It’s almost like you could tell what he was thinking by looking at him. When it came time to writing his story, it was easy for me to visualize it in picture form, and that is why a picture book made sense to me. Picture books also have a way of eliciting emotions from children and the parents who read the books to them. I think any parent who has loved and lost a dog would understand the story on a deeper level and be able to associate with the book.

Q: How did you come up with the idea for the story?

A: I always wrote little stories about Ralphie. When I had children, I told them those stories. As Ralphie got older, I felt the need to make his story official and enduring, so I decided to write an actual book. The beginning of the book was pure imagination, based on the real-life Ralphie’s actual markings. The rest of the book was based on what actually happened. The ending was shaped by the fact that Ralphie’s long life was coming to an end, and I wanted a chance for closure. Also, the way the book ends, the reader can assume that Ralphie is still with us or that he is back up with the angels, painting clouds.

Q: Would you consider yourself to be a dog person?

A: I am definitely a dog person. I have rarely if ever met a dog I didn’t like. Over the past twenty years I have been a dog mom, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Q: Rescue or buy?

A: There is no real right answer; to each his own. However, I am a proponent of rescuing. There are so many dogs abandoned in shelters around the world, not to mention strays who could enrich any home. When you rescue, you save a life; you give hope and love a chance. I would always rescue. I hope everyone who is considering getting a new puppy would consider it too.

Meet the Author:

Andrea has always been an avid reader and that jumpstarted her imagination at a very early age. In fact she escaped to the Land of Make Believe more often than her mother liked.



She is a former marketing professional who is a mom to kids both with and without fur. Andrea says that it helps to have one foot planted firmly in reality while the other is foot loose and fancy-free in Imagination Land. She enjoys the best of both worlds.



In 2013, Andrea and her husband started About Something Good (ASG) as a vehicle to curate, inspire and share goodness in the world. In a world where negative images flood the media, and words like “hate” get tossed around so easily, Andrea felt she needed a space that encouraged and focused on the words like “love” and the beauty that is life.

Andrea is committed to finding the good in everything and believes: that a sense of belonging to someone's heart is what makes us feel complete, that kindness goes a long way, and that keeping your mind and heart open can help when things happen that you don't understand.



Andrea lives in New Jersey with her husband and children.



Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Enter the Giveaway!

Ends May 12, 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until next time,

The Secret of the lost Pharaoh by Carolyn Arnold - [Book Review]

Can Matthew Connor Save the World?

 Praise for City of Gold, a Matthew Connor Adventure:

“A nonstop, pulse-pounding ride.”
–I Read What You Write!

“A must-read for those who love mystery, history, [and] thrilling story lines,
with a touch of Indiana Jones/Ben Gates feel!”
–Lynchburg Mama“Carolyn Arnold has restored my faith in the archaeology/mystery genre with
her Matthew Connor Adventure series.”
–Nicki’s Nook

International bestselling author Carolyn Arnold returns to the gripping adventures of archeologist Matthew Connor in The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh as he searches for a mysterious treasure from an ancient Egyptian pharaoh that could destroy the modern world.

Matthew Connor has made a career out of discovering forgotten legends, but one elusive myth has captivated his curiosity for years: the Emerald Tablets. It’s said that the Tablets contain the knowledge of the universe and can grant humans the power to traverse Heaven and Earth, bestowing whoever possesses them with great wealth and wisdom. But should the Tablets ever fall into evil hands, they could cause complete global destruction.

When a former colleague of Matthew’s unearths ancient hieroglyphics promising the route to the Emerald Tablets within a pharaoh’s tomb, he leaps at the opportunity to seek out the artifacts. With his two most trusted friends and associates by his side, Matthew heads to Egypt’s remote Western Desert to begin his quest.

But they soon learn that they are not the only ones looking for the Tablets, and when it comes to hunting legends, no one can be trusted.  Now, what started out as an exciting journey has become a dangerous race to protect the fate of the world.

In an electrifying new take on the adventures of an archaeologist, The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh is a thrill ride that digs into the depths of human nature when one is tempted by power.

The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh is now available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover!
Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Apple iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Amazon UniversalFor more retailer links visit: CarolynArnold.net/The-Secret-of-the-Lost-Pharaoh.

Book Discription:Mystery lovers will need to hold on to their hats for this follow-up to City of Gold, which reviewers described as “a fast-paced action adventure” that is “akin to an Indiana Jones story set in modern times.” Now, the second in the series promises to bring much of the same excitement! Join archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor and his friends as they go after the Emerald Tablets to save the world in The Secret of the Lost Pharaoh.

In Egypt’s Western Desert lies the tomb of an unnamed pharaoh that hides a secret so powerful, it could destroy the world as we know it. Archaeologist and adventurer Matthew Connor has made a career of finding legends the world has all but forgotten. Though there’s one in particular that has fascinated him for years—the Emerald Tablets. Myth says that they possess the knowledge of the universe, allowing humankind to traverse Heaven and Earth, and have the power to bestow wealth and wisdom upon whoever possesses them. But if they fall into evil hands, it could cause a global disaster.

So when a former colleague stumbles across an ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic map that promises to lead to a pharaoh’s tomb and the Emerald Tablets, there’s no way he’s turning down her invitation to join the dig. He only has one stipulation: his best friends Robyn Garcia and Cal Myers come with him.

The road ahead isn’t going to be an easy one, and their shared dream of recovering the Emerald Tablets is being crushed at every turn. And just when they think it’s all over, they learn there are a few clues they have overlooked. But they’re no longer the only ones searching for the Tablets. Now, the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and soon they’ll find out that when it comes to hunting legends, they can’t trust anyone.

My Review:
This thrilling adventurous novel takes us to Egypt to explore about the tomb of last pharoph and myths behind it. A team of experienced archeologists and passionate individuals come together to search for emerald tablets which are known to possess the knowledge of the universe.

With Mathew and his friends helping Alex and his team of experts, they start their expedition by going down a tunnel to find out the tomb of khufu by following through many clues and deciphering a map. The tomb is supposed to lead them to emerald tablets.  But, whom can they trust in their team? Can they pull off the adventure with flying colours and find the emerald tablets? You have to read the book to know the answer.

The writing style is interesting with twists, turns, clues and mazes of problems in the story. I loved the extra information given in the middle of the story about the Egyptian traditions and the terms related to their culture. I liked the turns in the story and enjoyed the mystery element throughout. I couldn't put down the book without finishing it.

Even though the plot is interesting and unpredictable, I felt the first few chapters boring as these are dedicated only to introduce the characters and there is not much story happening. It gets interesting later ofcourse. The book cover and title are very apt and all the characters are unique and believable. 

Overall, I would recommend this to readers who love historical fiction and adventurous thrillers.

My Rating: 4.5 /5

PS: I have received a free e-review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion on the book.


About the Matthew Connor Adventure series:Action-adventure books for the mystery lover. Does treasure hunting excite you? What about the thought of traveling the globe and exploring remote regions to uncover legends that the world has all but forgotten? If so, strap yourself in for an adventure with modern-day archaeologist Matthew Connor and his two closest friends. Indiana Jones meets the twenty-first century.

This is the perfect book series for fans of Indiana Jones, Lara Croft, National Treasure, and The Relic Hunter.

Other Books in the Series:City of GoldAbout the Author:Carolyn Arnold is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series and has written nearly thirty books. Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark, POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Connect with CAROLYN ARNOLD Online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook

 And don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter for up-to-date information on release and special offers at CarolynArnold.net/Newsletters.

Until next time,

5 tips to rock a dance performance on stage #SuperBloggerChallenge2018

I am participating in #SuperBloggerChallenge2018 and have been posting every week from 8 weeks. This is my 9th post and I want to write about something general and which is also my forte.

Some of you might have known that I am a classical Kuchipudi dancer. I have been giving a lot of stage performances from childhood and this experience taught me some important things about how to avoid stage fear and perform well on the stage. So, here is a post on the tips that I learned on how to rock a stage performance.

1. Never stop smiling

A smile is a natural way to boost our confidence. It is vice versa as well. If we have confidence, we smile and perform. The main purpose of every performance is to please the audience. So, smile even if you are low in confidence and have hundreds of doubts in your mind about your performance. It eases your body and enhances the beauty of the show.

2. Strive for perfection but aim for excellence

We have to work hard and practice well before the performance but the main focus should be to improve and perform better than earlier. We can strive for perfection but our main goal should be our limit of excellence. Instead of comparing with others or imitating others, it is better to understand our weakness and improve on those. We should compete with ourselves and challenge ourselves to be better.

3. Focus only on dance while you perform

Many people have stage fear as they think of hundred things while performing. 
For ex: What my friends/ family are thinking? Did I meet their expectation? Why isn't anyone clapping? etc., If we focus on dance and keep everything else aside on the stage, there will not be any fear. Usually, every stage is set at a height and when the performance is going on lights on the audience is off and focus in on the stage and performers. All these are for good reason. While it focuses on the performer, it is good for the performer as he/ she cannot see the faces of the audience. 

4. Show uniqueness and Originality

Every dancer is unique in his/ her style of doing movements, agility, smile, the capability to attract the attention of audience etc. So, if you are not good with one thing, that doesn't make you any less. We have to follow the natural flow and use our positives. So, don't shy away and show your originality and uniqueness. 

5. Practice, Practice, and Practice

This is the foundation of a good performance. Practicing more makes you memorize sequences. Even when you are good at remembering the dance steps, the nervousness before getting on to the stage might mess up with your memory. But, more practice allows your subconscious mind to remember the steps which allow you to remember even in the middle of a sleep. One more advantage is it helps to you to improve day by day if you analyze and know the things that go wrong. With more practice comes a lot of confidence that nothing can go wrong on the stage.

So, that was about some tips to perform well on stage from my experience. Do you have stage fear? Have you ever performed on stage and stumbled for anything?What tips help you? DO let me know in comments.

Until next time,

This article is written as part of SuperBloggingChallenge2018 conducted by Healthwealthbridge.com,Fashionablefoodz.com, and Allaboutthewoman.com and should not be repurposed, republished or used otherwise. SuperBloggerChallenge2018 is not responsible for any kind of infringement caused. 

Why Colorado springs is ranked #2 in "Best places to live" list?

I knew Colorado springs as a good tourist destination for a long time, but I didn't know that it is one of the best places to live. If you are following the news recently, you know that Colorado Springs is ranked #2 by U.S News & World Report as the best place to live. 

Being a resident of this place for around 2 years, I can think of many reasons behind this.  Colorado Springs Real estate, Good job market, High quality of life, Low cost of living etc.,

1. Less traffic

Since the population is increasing everywhere and more cars on the road, having the ability to reach office early without much traffic is bliss. Don't you agree? I would definitely vote this as the best reason for the people to prefer living here. When compared to metro cities like Denver, having less traffic means more time at home, peaceful time at the office, less frustration while driving and overall satisfaction.

2. Quality of Life

Colorado Springs is a good place to live in when it comes to Environmental quality and outdoor satisfaction. It attracts more students and military people as it has more colleges and a military base. As it is already a scenic place with tourist attractions, it is satisfying to live here.

3. Low cost of Living

Daily living costs like the monthly gym membership, food, movie tickets, public transport etc. are 23% less here when compare to a city like San Francisco. Colorado Springs ranks 11th for salaries among 265 cities. Average house rent is between $1300 to $1700 for a large apartment. **

4. Good Job Market

As per the survey by Manpower group, Colorado Springs job market was ranked 3rd in the nation in 2017. The unemployment rate in Colorado Springs is quite low at 3.3% in Elpaso County when compared to 4.1% nationwide. Some of the industries in need of employees in Pikes peak region are healthcare, manufacturing, Information technology and cybersecurity. 

5. Real Estate
With competitive affordability and many people moving in here, the real estate is also booming. There is also industry and business development fuelling the increase in jobs. The average price per sqft (square foot) in Colorado Springs is $176 which is an increase of 8% when compared to the last year. **

With beautiful scenery and all these above-mentioned benefits, who wouldn't love to stay in Colorado Springs? What do you say?

Until next time,

** Sources:
https://teleport.org/cities/colorado-springs/
https://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Colorado_Springs-Colorado/

I Owed You One by Madhu Vajpayee - Book Spot Light

About the Book:

Publisher:
LiFi Publications Pvt. Ltd.

ISBN:
978-9386191281

Format:
Paperback

Pages:
258 pages

Price: 275/-




Dev Khanna has a perfect life with his loving wife Radhika and son Neel in Melbourne, Australia. But there is something from his past that keeps gnawing him, an open wound that is a reminder of a debt. His present is very flourishing and future promising but what happens when the past comes knocking? As the skeletons begin to tumble one after other from the cupboard it is now threating his present.

Join Dev on a journey that spans across the tall skylines of Melbourne, the royal Dilwalo ki Dilli to the dingy streets of Moradabad as he battles love, religion, politics and fear questioning his own beliefs at every step. Will he be able to make peace with his past and save his future? Will humanity lose this battle against everything else?


Book Links:

Goodreads * Amazon


Feedback for the Book:

5 Stars “With an intriguing
and powerful theme, the author has chosen a realistic and suspenseful plot with
all its subplots tied very well. The characters are realistic and believable.
Descriptive writing style along with the confident tone of narration with the extremely
good use of vocabulary made it easier for understanding. The suspense that
starts building up in the midway is being handled with utmost care and is taken
care that it does not loses its grip and holds the capacity to keep the readers
engrossed till the last page.” ~ Nikita onAmazon

5 Stars – “Entwined in the
backdrop of a courageous young man who let go his turmoiled past and commits
himself to love and fulfill his duty without self-interest to be an ultimate
winner, the author constantly reminds and beautifully conveys that secularism
means humanism and peaceful coexistence. The book has all the makings of a
Bollywood blockbuster. A must read for everyone...” ~ Namita Dimrion Amazon

4 Stars “The
story line is no less than a thriller. It has all the elements for a perfect
entertaining read. Romance, action, drama, mystery, socio-political angle and
lots of thriller. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this unpredictable tale of Dev and
travelling across continents with him to witness what is the extent one can go
for a loved one. There are some scenes that left me goose bumps, because of how
real it all felt.” ~ PrivyTrifles

About the Author:

Dr. Madhu Vajpayee- the writer is born somewhere in those hospital corridors where she has spent the last two decades of her life. Witnessing life at such close quarters pushed her to capture the enigma of life in her words and slowly it became her passion. After writing several medical papers and chapters in books, she started her journey in the literary world. Seeking Redemption was her first fiction book which is now followed by I Owed You One.

Having done her graduation, MBBS from King Georges Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow she went ahead to pursue her post-graduation, MD from AIIMS, New Delhi. She was a faculty at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi having been associated with management of patients living with HIV/AIDS. She is now settled in Melbourne, Australia with her family, where she is devoting most of her time to writing, the passion that she couldn’t pursue earlier because of the demands of medical profession and commitment it requires.

When not creating stories, Madhu enjoys reading and traveling.

Contact the Author:

Goodreads * Twitter

Until next time,

Preordained by David L Wallace - Book Spot Light

New Release

~ Preordained by David L. Wallace ~

About the Book:

In the vein of Seven & The Devil’s Advocate, Art Somers is a detective
tracking a serial killer in Murrells Inlet, S.C., a small-town, coastal
community with deeply held spiritual and supernatural belief systems. He
discovers while chasing down clues to ID the culprit that the killer has always
had his family on his target list.

Things begin to unravel and materialize around and within
him, calling into question his long held religious and paranormal beliefs. On
the verge of apprehending the killer, he learns an irrefutable truth: Abraham,
the father of faith, had to choose to either sacrifice his son or disobey a
direct order from God; he must now make a choice - sacrifice his soul to save
his son.

Book Links:

Goodreads * Amazon * Kobo * Barnes & Noble * iTunes

Early Reviews:

“An expertly
plotted and executed mystery, shot through with the supernatural...builds
suspense effortlessly, hurtling towards a riveting conclusion.”

- Clarion
Review

“Original and
engaging…full of plot twists, surprises, and a substantial dash of the
supernatural.”

– Publisher’s
Weekly BookLife Prize in Fiction

“A gripping
detective story with biblical undertones…aptly blends the horror and crime
genres.”

– Kirkus
Reviews

Chapter 2

In the quaint, historic city of Murrell’s Inlet, South Carolina, at the onset of a torrential downpour, thirty-five-year-old detective Art Somers rolled up the driver’s side window of his blue, classic Camaro and turned on his wipers. He took inventory of himself in his rearview mirror: his black mane of shoulder-length hair that offset his olive skin, the shadow of a beard that now graced his face, and more troubling, his bloodshot eyes. He hadn’t slept much lately and it showed. How much longer was it going to take the FBI boys to capture the serial nutcase operating in their midst?

Within a span of twenty-one days, someone had kidnapped and slaughtered multiple twelve-year-old boys in his county and eluded all capture efforts. He gripped his steering wheel tighter. The only good news, if you could call it that, was that the bastard hadn’t struck in Murrell’s Inlet.

He stared at his former neighbor’s sons, who were playing a game of pickup football on the dirt field to his left. One of those boys—or even his own son, Ben—could be the killer’s next target if Murrell’s Inlet became one of his cities of choice. He breathed deep. Not even the fishy fragrance of the nearby Atlantic waters he loved so much, did anything to improve his frame of mind.

A cluster of lightning bolts illuminated the darkened, cloud-filled morning sky, followed immediately by booming thunder that echoed in the distance. Overhead, seagulls darted away as the winds picked up.

Every locale within his county was on edge because the killer only struck within the confines of Georgetown County and always in a different city. For all he knew, his town could be next. He reached over to his front passenger seat and rested his palm on the printout of the FBI serial profiling article. Under captain’s orders, every detective in the station house had spent the past two weeks boning up on the behavior patterns of serial killers.

He flexed the muscles in his arms and looked at his Navy SEAL tattoos. He had no clue what to do if that sick bastard showed up in Murrell’s Inlet. He was too new at being a detective and some were questioning why the captain had promoted him in the first place. Following up on an obscure lead, he’d taken the initiative and pursued and captured a couple of long-sought backwater drug dealers, a feat that catapulted him from the rank and file into the role he now held.

Another contributing factor for his promotion could’ve been that his captain was also a former Navy SEAL. Reading the FBI profiling article hadn’t made him feel any better. He hoped he’d never cross paths with the sick freak.

He wheeled his Camaro into the driveway of his former home, a light green, two-story, southern vernacular. It had a pool in the backyard that he’d put in himself. He sat behind the wheel for a moment under the overhanging branches of the angel hair oak tree his ex-wife had planted long ago in honor of their son Ben’s birth.

He ran his hands through his long, wavy hair and climbed out, wearing worn, faded jeans and a burgundy T-shirt that worked well with his muscular, tanned frame. The rain soaked him as he jogged through the piles of wet leaves that covered the lawn. He stepped onto the covered porch and was about to knock when Judith, his ex-wife, swung the door open.

His son, Ben, with dark hair and piercing, dark eyes just like his, dressed in his white baseball uniform with burgundy letters that read Gamecocks, dashed by him toward the car carrying his cell phone. “Hey, Dad.”

“Whoa. Hey, Sport. If this rain doesn’t break, they may cancel the game.”

“Let’s go,” Ben said and climbed into the front passenger seat.

Judith stood in the doorway in a revealing pink nightie. She was breathing heavily, as though she’d just finished a vigorous workout. She was thirty-four, with shoulder-length blond hair and enough sexual energy to raise the dead. “It’s about time you showed up. Benjamin is being disrespectful to my guest.”

“A killer who’s randomly taking boys our son’s age is kind of a priority, don’t you think?”

“You don’t even know if he’ll come this way,” Judith said.

“A good scout is always prepared.”

“Maybe you should prepare by going to church sometimes and praying about it.”

“I’ll pretend that church means something to you, just as soon as you stop placing hairs of your enemies in those jars of yours.”

A young black man with a shaved head and chiseled body—and more than likely the source of Judith’s workout—joined her at the door. He expanded his chest and stood straight at the sight of Art.

Art shook his head. Yet another boy-toy around his son. “You think Ben’s disrespect has something to do with your choice of guests?” He frowned. “Let him come live with me.”

She stared at him. “I told you, I need the child support—and I’d miss him.”

“Two years of monthly child support checks—even if he’s with me.”

There was a moment of silence as Judith seemed to consider his offer. She glanced at her boy-toy, whose arm now rested across her shoulder. “We’ll be back from vacation soon.”

“Think about my offer.”

She kissed her boy-toy deeply, pursed her lips at Art, and then slammed the door in his face.

“Bitch,” he said under his breath to the closed door. What in hell had he been thinking having unprotected sex with her? He strode back to his car, climbed in, and screeched his tires as he backed out of the driveway. He turned on his windshield wipers and tore off down the wet street. He glanced at his son, who was watching him. He slowed to the posted speed limit.

Ben tossed the FBI serial profiling article in his lap onto the backseat. He pulled his cell phone out of his front pocket and pressed buttons. He rocked his head back and forth to his music selection. “What were you and Mom talking about?”

Art glanced at Ben. “Life, son—things you deal with in life.”

“Mom said call him ‘Dad.’”

Art pressed the brake pedal, coming to a complete stopped in the middle of the street. He stared at his son. “Who?”

“Her new boyfriend, Clarence.”

Art tensed. He pressed the gas and proceeded down the road. “I’m your father.”

“I know, Dad.”

They rode on in silence. His son’s words had cut deep.

About the Author:

Before publishing his debut novel in 2016, he served over 27 years as an
information technology professional working initially for the US Navy, and then
the Department of the Navy and various fortune companies. He’s a UCLA writing
program alumnus who writes mystery thrillers and children stories. He has three
wonderful kids who he enjoys immensely. Writing is his passion and his goal
with each story is to capture the imagination in the opening pages and keep it
engaged to the story’s riveting conclusion.

Contact the Author:

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Until next time,