Gwen M. Plano | From the Pen of Mae Clair

Today, I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Gwen M. Plano, who has just released a novel of psychological intrigue. I’ve read all of Gwen’s work, and immediately snatched this up the moment it became available for pre-order. Look for my five star review at the end of this post.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll join me in welcoming Gwen as she gives us a glimpse into this compelling and powerful read.

Promo banner ad of books by author Gwen M. Plano, book covers set against a wooden plank background

Thank you, Mae, for inviting me to your site today. It’s a pleasure to visit your readers and share a bit about my new release.

Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision takes place in the Southeast corner of New York state, in the towns of New Rochelle and Cortlandt. On occasion, the characters journey to Old Lyme, Connecticut, but for the most part, the drama is in New York. Having spent about twenty years in and around that area, it was exciting to visit as a writer.

The book tackles themes of forgiveness, redemption, and absolution through a psychological thriller. We accompany the son and daughter of the deceased as they try to uncover the reason for their father’s murder. What they discover prompts them to ask if they even knew him.

Sometimes complicated situations help us see our own challenges in a different light. That is my hope for this book. Most of us won’t experience threats like those of my characters, but pain is universal, as is joy. Seeing either in the extreme helps us recognize our own—and severe or elated, those emotions are impactful.

In the excerpt below, Lisa and Trace Holmes, meet with Father O’Brien, who is the confidant of their mother. The siblings’ youngest brother, Robbie, died when he was just a couple years old. They will soon understand why.

Promo ad with book cover for Redemption, A Father's Fatal Decision superimposed on a field of daises

Excerpt

“She reminded me several times that you’d visit someday, but I never imagined these circumstances.” He shakes his head in disbelief and touches the cross hanging from his neck. “Please, follow me.”

Slowly, he walks outside to a flower garden, where a vast spread of daisies covers the perimeter abutting the stone fence. “Several times a year, your mother visits. She weeds, trims, and sometimes cuts the daisies to take home with her. She keeps her tools in the shed to the left.”

While strolling through the flowers, Lisa notices a memorial sign and stops. It reads Robbie’s Garden, My Beloved Angel. She takes Trace’s hand and points to the sign.

The priest sees their interest. “Katherine likes to say that her baby Robbie is playing happily in Heaven. She buried a remembrance box next to the sign. That’s what she wants you to have now.” He turns to Trace, “There’s a trowel in the shed if you’d like to dig it up.”

Trace tilts his head to the side and considers the priest’s offer. For a moment he hesitates then fetches the garden tool. After a quick glance at Lisa, he digs. A few strong thrusts later, he hits something hard—a steel box inside a sealed plastic container. Trace pulls it out, brushes off the dirt, and gives it to his sister.

Lisa unseals the mystery container and peeks inside. Her face drops. “It’s filled with documents and other papers.”

The priest nods, “If you’d like to go through the box in our reading room, you’re welcome to do so. It’s private, and you can close the doors.”

“Thank you, Father. We’d appreciate that.”

Father O’Brien takes them through a side door of the Parish Center to the room. “Your mother likes to sit in here and read. The upholstered chair by the window is her favorite spot. She claims Robbie joins her. I don’t know about that, but she always leaves smiling.”

Book cover for Redemption, A FAther's Fatal Decision shows silhouettes of woman with three children at sunset on beach

BLURB
Family secrets can be deadly. When Lisa Holmes visits her parents one fateful Saturday morning, she hugs her father and walks to her childhood bedroom. The doorbell rings. Her father opens the door, and one minute later, he lies dead on the floor—three bullets to the chest.

The Holmes family lives on a quiet street, but no one really knows Eric Holmes. He travels for business and comes home a few days each month. Unbeknown to all, Eric has multiple lives.

In this fast-paced psychological thriller, Lisa and her brother, Trace, embark on a quest to solve the mystery involving the murder of their father. The journey takes them into a secret world where nothing is as it seems. As the puzzle pieces begin to coalesce, they discover the meaning of Redemption.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CONTACT INFORMATION:
BookBub | Goodreads | Story Empire | Twitter | Blog

What an excellent excerpt! I’m already wondering what mysteries all those documents contain. Please help me spread the word about Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision by using the sharing buttons below. Drop Gwen a comment to join in her launch celebration, then snatch up your own copy through one of the purchase links. I wish you happy reading!

PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon Author Page
Amazon Purchase Page | Barnes and Noble

MY REVIEW:

Part family drama, part thriller, Redemption moves at a swift pace with events occurring in rapid succession. Lisa has barely arrived at her parents’ home for a visit when an assailant murders her father, Eric, and sends her mother to the hospital with gunshot wounds. Never truly close with her father, Lisa soon realizes his past was filled with secrets—shadows of a dangerous life that threaten her safety and the lives of her family.

Along with her brother, Trace, and his friend, Ryan, they attempt to unearth her father’s secrets, but there are hurdles at every turn. Stalkers trail them, a hotel room that should be a safe haven is bugged, and even the police and FBI are suspect.

The author did a great job of keeping things moving at a fast clip. One scene spirals into the next as Eric’s life unravels. It’s almost as if he left puzzle pieces behind, laying out a trail for his children to follow. The three main characters—Lisa, Trace, and Ryan—make an excellent team. All are likeable individually but have great chemistry when together. And there is one supporting character I truly loved (I don’t want to say more for fear of spoiling a thread).

The message of redemption and the way things wrap at the end make this not only an exciting read, but a heartwarming one too. A polished book with a fast plot, wonderful characters, and a beautiful message!

Today, I’m delighted to welcome John Howell and Gwen Plano as my guests with their new release, The Contract. I’ve read all of John’s previous work, plus Gwen’s amazing memoir, so it was a no-brainier to snatch this one up the moment it became available. I finished the story in two days and found it to be a thoroughly engaging read that combines intrigue, action, and even some romance. Here’s John and Gwen to share the details:

The CONTRACT between heaven and earth

By John W. Howell & Gwen M. Plano

Thank you, Mae, for inviting us to join you today. We are so grateful to be featured on your blog. We feel right at home exploring urban legends through mystery and suspense. Thank you!

Available on Kindle and Paperback

Kindle priced at $0.99 for the introduction.

The CONTRACT is a different story for writers John W. Howell and Gwen M. Plano. For either of them, it is their first attempt at co-authorship. After a year of Hurricane Harvey and other challenges, they have created, what they have termed, an inspirational thriller that bridges heaven and earth.

Here is the blurb:

The earth is threatened with a catastrophic political event which could result in international warfare and destroy all life on the planet. In heaven, a divine council decides that extraordinary measures are essential. They call for an intervention that involves two souls returning to earth. The chosen two sign a contract that they will work to avert the disaster.

Brad Channing, a Navy SEAL, and Sarah O’Brien, a teacher, become heaven’s representatives on earth. The story follows them as they individually and then together face overwhelming obstacles and eventually end up on a strategic Air Force base in California. It is there that they discover a conspiracy to assassinate the President of the United States. The terrorists have a plan for global dominance, and they are determined to complete their mission. Although military leadership appears to have the President’s best interests at heart, it is not clear who can be trusted and who should be feared. The action is rough and tumble as Brad and Sarah try to figure out the culprits for the plot that will turn into a worldwide conflagration unless stopped.

If you enjoy thrillers, this is one with enough twists and adventure to keep you riveted and guessing. If you like your thriller along with a good romance, Brad and Sarah’s initial attraction and eventual love will sustain you as they live out their heavenly and earthly desires.

Here is an excerpt:

A child cried among the sea of moans in the burial ground that once was a school. An eight-point-five earthquake had hit San Diego and buckled the structure, trapping the children. Rescue teams lifted chunks of concrete, looking for any sign of hope, while sirens whined, and anguished parents screamed as rescuers lifted one lifeless body after another from the rubble.

In the darkened classrooms of twisted metal and collapsed ceilings, angelic beings held each child. They formed part of the divine regiment, sent to comfort and escort the children to their heavenly home.

“Mommy,” the voice said, faint and failing.

An angel responded, “Come, little one. You are safe with me.”

Without effort, the youngster floated above his body, and with the angel, he ascended into clouds of bright iridescent hues. The wisps of color surrounded him and obscured the destruction and terror below.

“Johnny,” he called out when he noticed his friend nearby in the clouds.

Johnny looked and waved in return. “Hey, Pauly.” He, too, traveled with an angel.

Then Pauly spotted other children on all sides of him, accompanied by celestial beings. He smiled and said to his guardian angel, “My friends are all with me.”

Authors Bio:

John began his writing as a full-time occupation after an extensive business career. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. His first book, My GRL, introduces the exciting adventures of the book’s central character, John J. Cannon. The second Cannon novel, His Revenge, continues the adventure, while the final book in the trilogy, Our Justice, launched in September 2016. The last, Circumstances of Childhood is a family life thriller story and launched October 2017. All books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

John lives in Port Aransas, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.

John’s other books.

Available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/author/johnwhowell

Gwen had a lengthy career in higher education, and it was there that she published her first book, Beyond Boundaries, for students interested in volunteer work in developing countries. After she retired, she wrote her award-winning memoir, Letting Go into Perfect Love.

Gwen lives in Branson, Missouri with her husband.

Gwen’s books.

Available on Amazon at https://amzn.to/2wdXsrn