Book Review: The Rose Ring by Anne M. Faye

The Rose Ring was a delightful, easy read--just what I was looking for during a particularly stressful time in my life. I read it in one evening.  The characters are likeable and believable, and you probably know someone like just like them. The two divergent story lines came together at the end to teach a powerful lesson--that sometimes you may not learn from YOUR past, but from SOMEONE ELSE'S past.

If you are in the mood for a heartwarming, charming love story, you can't go wrong with The Rose Ring.    

Six Sentence Sunday

Hi Readers:

It's been busy around here.  Last Saturday, I attended St. Teresa's craft show.  St. T's is my home parish, and it was great to meet so many people who stopped by to learn about my novel St.Anne's Day and my soon-to-be released Christmas romance, A Shepherd's Song, which will be released on November 23--in time to get you into the holiday spirit.   Keep monitoring this site for more information and be sure you are signed up for my newsletter so I can notify you of the events (think fun and prizes!) associated with the novel's release.  

St. Anne's Day is selling well and gathering great reviews.  To my delight, I just discovered some great reviews of it on Goodreads.  Here is a snippet to satisfy your St. Anne's Day Sunday craving.  It is the scene after Peg's birthday when she is giving Anne one of the gifts she received that she doesn't like.  In addition to not liking the present, Peg does not like the idea of Anne considering marriage to her old friend Dr. Craig Love because she thinks Anne is the girl for her son.  Here is a scene of passive-aggressiveness if I've ever one seen one.     Rather than stating her true feelings, Peg makes her point wrapped in concern for Anne.  Enjoy!

Peg tossed it to her.  “Put it in your hope chest.  Save it for your honeymoon with Craig, dear.  That is if you get to take one.  You know those doctors are never home, and I understand they have a very high divorce rate.  That’s something you should consider before you marry him.”

Six Sunday

Hi Readers:

It's Six Sunday so here's a little excerpt from St. Anne's Day to savor while you sip your coffee.  Careful now, laughing could make cappuccino squirt out your nose!

In this snippet, Gerry tells his elderly mother Peg, who is recovering from heart surgery, that the person who usually keeps her company while he runs his business Mac's Place, a bar, can't come on Friday night.  Peg offers another suggestion, Anne, her nurse--the girl she is trying to match Gerry with.

“Oh, no! Not Ruth,” Peg said, slamming down her fork and eyeing Gerry. She’ll spend the whole night telling me about her diverticulitis, how the gas just rolls through her bowels. She came to the hospital and went on and on so long, I almost reached back and pulled the plug on myself to put me out of my misery. Get someone else.” 

“And who do you suggest, Mother?” 

“Anne. She never has any dates.”

Six Sunday

Here is another brief selection from St. Anne's Day. 

Anne looked at the silver disc in her palm, the bas relief of a man holding a crucifix, a halo radiating about his head.  She noticed something small depicted near the bottom of the medal but couldn’t make it out. 

“They say in addition to his being the patron saint of expectant mothers that St. Gerard could also read the consciences of sinners,” Peg said. 

Anne moved toward the window where the light was brighter and squinted at the medal.  Then her breath caught as she made out the article on the medal--it was a small skull.  She felt her blood drain from her face as her peripheral vision narrowed and darkened to a tunnel of sight.

Six Line Sunday

This is a scene from St. Anne's Day, my soon-to-be published novel, when Anne, the main character, and Gerry, her love interest, take to the dance floor during a wedding they attend. 

Little by little, Anne melted into Gerry’s body until there was no longer any distance between them. The stiletto heels made her taller, elevating her head so that it came to his chest. She rested it next to his heart, closed her eyes, and inhaled his intoxicating cologne. She could feel the strength of his muscles beneath the gabardine suit as he held her tightly. The heat from his body penetrated her and fused them together. She would be content to spend eternity like this.