Joy Lynn Goddard's Blog

New Release Coming Soon!
As the sun rises, eight-year-old Grace is gone! Her tent is cut, while strange footsteps lead from deep in the forest to her family’s campsite and back.
Days turn into weeks with no sign of Grace, although her mother, Jackie, refuses to give up hope.
Detective Duncan Jewell stumbles upon Grace’s kidnapping investigation while searching for a missing teen. The two cases seem connected, but how? As he focuses on finding answers, he tries to ignore his growing feelings for Jackie, which have been just under the surface since they were kids. She is married—he has lost his chance.
When his investigation reaches a dead end, he seeks help from his beloved Aunt Anna. She can see things that nobody else can see.
Yet even he, an experienced police officer, is dumbfounded by what his aunt discovers!

Excited to announce Moonshadow has won a Book Excellence Award (Family category). From thousands of entries around the world, it "was selected for its high-quality writing, design and market appeal." Appreciate the kudos. #Familysaga, #Mystery, #Romance, #KindleUnlimited.
https://www.amazon.ca/Moonshadow-Joy-...

Stay tuned for The Keepers, coming out in June.

Despite struggling to raise a troubled teenage son on her own, Beth Marshall has no intention of selling her beloved vineyard and moving to the city where her ex-boyfriend awaits with open arms. She has strong ties to the land, where she is happy living with her granddad and aunt in the old farmhouse, so when she gets an offer to sell her property, she turns it down. Meanwhile, a writer recovering from a shattering past moves into the guest house, tugging at her heart. She’s not going anywhere.
But after her granddad discovers a dead body in the shed, Beth fights jail time. She can’t imagine a worse nightmare until she gets a call in the middle of the night with shocking news about her son!

I welcome reviews of Moonshadow, free with KindleUnlimited.

"Moonshadow is classed as a romantic mystery, but it is much more than that. The heart of the story is the mistreatment of Native American children in Canada in the 1960's and 1970's--Amazon Reviewer.

"What I really appreciated about Moonshadow is that it's not only a riveting thriller/mystery, but it's a literary work that deals with subjects that many people are, unfortunately, ignorant of, whether willingly or not, and that aspect adds even more value to an already riveting story."--Amazon Reviewer.

"I ached for Rose Hill and the other children taken from their families. I rooted for Lauren as she tries to uncover the truth about her grandfather's part in Rose Hill's life. --Amazon Reviewer.

Ask me a question about Moonshadow. I'd love to hear from you.

Today I’m reminded of the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral as I will be attending both a wedding and a funeral on this hot, sunny summer day. With COVID still lurking here and there and everywhere, however, I will be going to my son Jeff’s wedding and my former mother-in-law’s funeral in spirit only. Virtually.As a writer, I can snub the social norms and wear pajamas to work every day, and I have done so when both feet are in my imaginary world. Other than brushing my teeth, splashing cold water on my face, and combing my curly hair with a fork (not the one I used for breakfast at my desk), I can get by without wearing particular clothing.But today is special, with no pajamas allowed.During her ninety-five years on this earth, my former mother-in-law Loretta Lavigne was cherished by all. Her family will commemorate her life in the church that she embraced. I can’t show up there in anything but my best.And will I ever forgive myself if I haven’t donned the mother-of-the-groom apparel for his special day?My baby’s getting married to the love-of-his life, Melanie! When Jeff was born, his father Jim and I agonized over whether he would even survive. For months, which crept into years, we got caught up in masks and gowns, blood-oxygen levels, suctioning, meds and more. Although I won’t be present while Jeff stands by his bride at the “altar” today, I will rejoice that he’s thriving and has grown into a remarkable man. That's why I’m wearing a lacy dress, spiky shoes, and lots of bling today. No pajamas are allowed!

As a booklover, one who reads a multitude of fiction from all genres every month, I have a checklist in my head of what I treasure in a book. Blackwater Bluff by writer Shelagh Mathers (aka S. M. Hurley) meets all aspects of it. It has mystery—check. It is fast-moving—check. It has compelling characters—check. It has an emotional punch—check. Set in Prince Edward County, a picturesque island on the north shore of Lake Ontario, it tempts the reader to explore every nook and cranny—check. I always felt somewhat on edge when reading this novel, which can be attributed to the suspense and tension that is skillfully created and built up through the story—check, check.The story follows Crown Attorney Augie de Graaf who investigates the death of her beloved mentor, Ruth Neill, found at the bottom of the bay in her car. Despite being sidelined by a vicious assault in the courtroom, Augie thumps around on crutches to seek justice for her friend. When Detective Geoff Cunningham points an accusatory finger at Ruth’s partner, Joseph O’Rorke, Augie stops at nothing to clear his name, even though in doing so she enrages her superior and other colleagues while putting her life in danger.In publishing circles, they’d categorize Blackwater Bluff as upmarket fiction, which is a book that appeals to audiences of both commercial and literary fiction. Commercial fiction—for example, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown—is plot driven, with lots of action scenes, involving the protagonist pursuing a goal or overcoming a challenge. Literary fiction—for instance, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry—puts emphasis on character development and creative form and language. Commonly denoted as a “book-club novel,” a book that is upmarket fiction tackles universal, elevated themes while remaining accessible to the general public, a book such as About a Boy by Nick Hornby. The books by Brown, Mistry and Hornby are well-known, whereas S. M. Hurley’s book is not. But it should be!It is a pearl hidden in a shell. It’s time for it to be extracted and added to a string of best-sellers.

Although Moonshadow is fiction, a "heartwarming, compelling story of buried secrets and regrets"--Amazon Reviewer, it is based on shocking realities about Canada's dark past. The truth brought me to tears, changing me, and with change there is hope.
https://www.amazon.com/Moonshadow-Joy...

I'm thankful and humbled by the review of Moonshadow posted on Amazon's UK site: "I was curious about this book as I remembered my visit to the First Nation reservation when I went to Canada. Not since watching the film ‘Rabbit-Proof Fences’ have I been so moved. Only now the truth is spreading across the globe of the indignities fostered on young children by groups that decided how they should live and how they should behave. This book, tells in fiction, the horrors of the residential schools where First Nation children were sent to ‘civilize’ them. It should be prescribed reading in every school, and not just in Canada. I should also mention that the characters leap off the page, the settings are beautifully described, the story kept me on the edge of my seat and the words flowed seamlessly from beginning to end. A book I can highly recommend. Quite brilliant."-Author Lucinda E. Clarke.

Racism in Canada is historical and ongoing, which is why I, a white woman who can't reconcile my privilege with those not experiencing the same, wrote Moonshadow. The shocking things I discovered while researching this book will bring you to tears, but there is much hope in the pages, too. Check out reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.