Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick

Set in 18th century Italy in a small town, this is the story of Anoria Lisi and her father Antonio. Antonio is a talented sculptor, he is noted all over Italy. Anoria lost her mother at an early age and all she has is her father, he never allows her to watch him turn his marbles into masterpieces. But she is so curious.

He sends her to a family friends for a while there the wife becomes a mother figure and a mentor to young Anoria. Being sheltered her whole life she is innocent and a bit naive, but yet she is strong willed for that era.

When Furio Novia, a priest with a grudge against her father arrives he has a plan including Anoria. He desires her and wants her for his own. But Anoria is repelled by him and will do what ever she can to stay out of his clutches.

Well written story with vivid detail, I felt transported back in time to that small village. I felt as if I was watching Anoria grow as a woman, and was eager to learn the secrets her father held for so long.… (meer)

Psychological/Suspense/Paranormal

Shelly Reiesman wants to renovate the family portrait studio, a seventy-five year old building. This building has been shut down since 1919. Reluctantly the family agrees to her request. She knows of her great grandfather 'Papa' Menashe Reisman and his madness leading up to his death. But what she does not know is what caused him to lose his sanity.

As she beings renovations she soon finds she is not alone in the old building, there are secrets hidden within these walls. Secrets so horrid that she becomes obsessed with the building and the ghosts that dwell within.

The ghosts of a young girl Caraliza and young man Yousep, two young innocents trying to flee from evil. Their love for each other is heart warming. Shelly soon finds that Caraliza was held captive by a brute of a man, beaten and left hungry with no food, and little shelter. As young Yousef desperately tries to save the live of the young girl he loves, Shelly is being pulled into their nightmare and must right the wrongs that have been committed so many years ago.

Well written page turner that kept me up way past my bedtime. Mr. Kirkpatrick writes with such detail that I felt as if I was there, I could feel the emotion of each character. As each shocking secret was revealed I longed to find out more. A very emotional story that had me hooked from the first page.

I look forward to more work by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick… (meer)

Shared by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick

Set in the early 1800's in England, a girl named Rachel Ellingswood has health problems. She has what the doctor calls "faints". These faints put her into a deep sleep and near death experiences. Her parents seek the help of Dr. Liam Gilbert.

Dr. Gilbert believes he is on to something, he has heard of one other case of these faints. As he sets off on a voyage across the ocean to get some answers, he finds what he is looking for, but it is not what anyone had expected.

A very original and interesting story line. Rachel is very likable. At times I found the story to be a bit repetitive and complex.

I have read books by Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick, Caraliza & Breathing into Stone, He is a fantastic writer and I do plan on reading more of his work.
added by Sheri A Wilkinson (Sep 13, 2013)… (meer)

"The brilliant glow of his soul in their mouths as Caraliza prevented its escape into the air."

Caraliza is a gripping but also lovely, potent novel that is about human endurance and capacity for love. What makes the book so incredible is the fact that it constantly surprises. Like any good book, there's a dynamic here that is difficult to recreate in summary if I want to do the story justice, but I'll try: Caraliza is about the endurance of genuine romance, the beauty of hope, the ability to imagine and remember love so vividly that it becomes immune to death. This book is part mystery, part fantastical, part dark realism, and yet it is the baffling and remarkable nature of love that drives each plot shift, injects each gritty scene with beauty and softness, and clearly defines each character's role. Caraliza is a beautifully written and utterly unique work that is sure to endure.… (meer)