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Shadow Journey
Love ... Loss ... Secrets
A Haunting Psychological Read
She starts alone.
"I SIT IN THE GAZEBO, alone. No cup of tea. No neighborly conversation to help fill the silence. Haunted by 85 years worth of musings, I watch the sun set and feel my age."
She ends alone.
And exposes a closely-guarded secret of 35 years in between.
˃˃˃ Meet Mrs. Vera BlackstoneFirst introduced in the thriller Deadly Memories, she quickly became a well-loved character -- even though she isn't the main one. But you don't have to read Deadly Memories before you enjoy this novella.
˃˃˃ WarningThis story will make you think and stays with you long after the last word is read.
˃˃˃Scroll up and grab a copy today.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
1 person is currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
S.D. O'Donnell
3 books7 followersS.D. O'Donnell was born in Louisiana, raised in New Mexico, and currently resides in the Denver, Colorado area, where the book Deadly Memories takes place. After years of working with words in the non-fiction arena as a freelance writer, technical writer, and multimedia producer(among other positions), S.D. decided to write a novel. The end result is Deadly Memories, the first of a four book series about Saul Becker and Jayne Doe. She is hard at work on the second novel, Deadly Bayou.
She knows she's done something unusual in writing from a male point of view but believes herself to be well-qualified. Her house is the gathering grounds for her former-Special Forces husband and his contingent of buddies (many of them former military, too). She gives them food and drink, all the while observing what she considers her private laboratory of male behavior.
She knows she's done something unusual in writing from a male point of view but believes herself to be well-qualified. Her house is the gathering grounds for her former-Special Forces husband and his contingent of buddies (many of them former military, too). She gives them food and drink, all the while observing what she considers her private laboratory of male behavior.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 12, 2014
Having loved Mrs Blackstone in S.D O’Donnell’s mystery/thriller Deadly Memories, I jumped at the chance to read a novella written from her point of view. While it is more of a journal entry recounting a closely guarded secret than a thriller, it was a heartfelt piece that allows you into her past. I hope this will be picked up on in the future adventures of Saul, Jayne and Mrs Blackstone. The novella’s story focuses on the time when her husband was dying of cancer. Only recently I had to watch my father-in-law suffer a similar fate so I could easily relate to the well-described suffering also felt by close family members. However, this is not a depressing tale of loss – it is a well written and thought-provoking insight into a journey no one wants to make. And poor Mrs Blackstone with a daughter like Alice!
March 15, 2017
Book Readers Review
This is a novella featuring Vera Blackstone from S.D. O'Donnell's novel Deadly Memories. The story is written as a letter you might leave behind for your loved ones when you die. The letter reads as a confession of the heavy burden Vera has carried for more than 35 years. The author Sarah O'Donnell approaches the relationship between Alice and her parents in an interesting way. Vera, the Mother and Alice, daughter has a relationship full of friction. Alice has been estranged from her mother for some time, she critical of all that Vera does. The resentment Alice has toward her mother is counter to the love she shows toward her father. Vera is a strong woman, who loves her husband very much, which is why she chooses to listen to his wishes and not those of her own or her daughters.
The secret that Vera carries for so many years makes her a stronger person but would be the undoing of others. The ability to maintain the secret helps to define her as a person and understand the choice she was compelled to make at the time. Not more can be said without giving away the whole story. I found this short piece to be emotional and prolific. The perfect place to read is the beach and I started and finished this story there. The sound and sight of the ocean flowing gave the perfect backdrop for a story of love. What one wouldn't do in the name of love! I really enjoyed the novella and look forward to reading more by Sarah.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author in return for an unbiased opinion. My rating is five stars.
https://bookread-mumswritings.blogspo...
This is a novella featuring Vera Blackstone from S.D. O'Donnell's novel Deadly Memories. The story is written as a letter you might leave behind for your loved ones when you die. The letter reads as a confession of the heavy burden Vera has carried for more than 35 years. The author Sarah O'Donnell approaches the relationship between Alice and her parents in an interesting way. Vera, the Mother and Alice, daughter has a relationship full of friction. Alice has been estranged from her mother for some time, she critical of all that Vera does. The resentment Alice has toward her mother is counter to the love she shows toward her father. Vera is a strong woman, who loves her husband very much, which is why she chooses to listen to his wishes and not those of her own or her daughters.
The secret that Vera carries for so many years makes her a stronger person but would be the undoing of others. The ability to maintain the secret helps to define her as a person and understand the choice she was compelled to make at the time. Not more can be said without giving away the whole story. I found this short piece to be emotional and prolific. The perfect place to read is the beach and I started and finished this story there. The sound and sight of the ocean flowing gave the perfect backdrop for a story of love. What one wouldn't do in the name of love! I really enjoyed the novella and look forward to reading more by Sarah.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author in return for an unbiased opinion. My rating is five stars.
https://bookread-mumswritings.blogspo...
June 3, 2018
Beautifully written. Just the correct words ~ stark, brief and concise and yet still managed to make a thorough impact laced with a deep sense of pragmatism. A quiet ending that resonates even after finishing the last page. Truly brilliant. Truly Evocative.
P.S. ~ Free from NoiseTrade. Strange, but while reading this, I did not feel any pathos or gut~wrenching pain. just relative calmness and an it~is~what~it~is Acceptance, probably because I am also approaching the sunset of my Life's journey. This story's impact on readers will vary from one individual to another. Recommended for All readers because we All eventually get to our final Destination in Time.
P.S. ~ Free from NoiseTrade. Strange, but while reading this, I did not feel any pathos or gut~wrenching pain. just relative calmness and an it~is~what~it~is Acceptance, probably because I am also approaching the sunset of my Life's journey. This story's impact on readers will vary from one individual to another. Recommended for All readers because we All eventually get to our final Destination in Time.
May 18, 2020
An emotional heart felt read. This is well written and an intense look at the impact of loosing someone and the decisions. Loved it
September 9, 2014
This is a novella featuring Vera Blackstone from S.D. O'Donnell's novel Deadly Memories.
It is written as the type of letter you would leave behind for your loved ones when you die.A confession, a lightening of the heavy burden she has carried for over 35 years. A secret just between her and her late husband.
A chance to finally take a breath with a clear conscience and at the same time helping those around her to understand what really happened. In the hopes it will give them an insight into her heart and soul.
To understand Vera, her actions, her choices and her personality become a lot clearer.
I enjoyed the frankness and realistic approach to the topic. There are no platitudes or fluffy marshmallow scenes. Instead it is the hard reality of life.
Why must the terminally ill suffer till the very last hour? Would you be able to make a choice of that magnitude? Should we have to help loved ones in secret because it is a crime in most countries? Or take them to die on foreign soil because the rules say they have to suffer till their body gives in?
The way O'Donnell approached the relationship between Alice and her parents is also very interesting. Mother and daughter have a fractured relationship full of friction. Alice is a Daddy's girl, which is fine but she resents her mother and is critical of the care her father is getting. She even goes as far as to threaten prosecution if she finds out her mother has killed her father. A clear case of putting her needs and wishes over that of her parents.
Vera is a strong woman, who loves her husband very much, which is why she chooses to listen to his wishes and not those of her own. Sitting on that type of secret for so many years would probably be the undoing of most people. It not only makes Vera stronger, it defines her as a person and also helps her to understand her own choice at the time.
For such a short piece it was quite emotional and prolific. I have to say I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more by O'Donnell.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.
It is written as the type of letter you would leave behind for your loved ones when you die.A confession, a lightening of the heavy burden she has carried for over 35 years. A secret just between her and her late husband.
A chance to finally take a breath with a clear conscience and at the same time helping those around her to understand what really happened. In the hopes it will give them an insight into her heart and soul.
To understand Vera, her actions, her choices and her personality become a lot clearer.
I enjoyed the frankness and realistic approach to the topic. There are no platitudes or fluffy marshmallow scenes. Instead it is the hard reality of life.
Why must the terminally ill suffer till the very last hour? Would you be able to make a choice of that magnitude? Should we have to help loved ones in secret because it is a crime in most countries? Or take them to die on foreign soil because the rules say they have to suffer till their body gives in?
The way O'Donnell approached the relationship between Alice and her parents is also very interesting. Mother and daughter have a fractured relationship full of friction. Alice is a Daddy's girl, which is fine but she resents her mother and is critical of the care her father is getting. She even goes as far as to threaten prosecution if she finds out her mother has killed her father. A clear case of putting her needs and wishes over that of her parents.
Vera is a strong woman, who loves her husband very much, which is why she chooses to listen to his wishes and not those of her own. Sitting on that type of secret for so many years would probably be the undoing of most people. It not only makes Vera stronger, it defines her as a person and also helps her to understand her own choice at the time.
For such a short piece it was quite emotional and prolific. I have to say I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more by O'Donnell.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author.
December 16, 2014
received a free copy of this story from Reading Deals Review Club in exchange for an honest review. Just to clarify the type of reading material....this is NOT a novel or even a novella. It is a short story at about 32 pages. if you get it on your Kindle it is going to appear as if it has 399 pages but it doesn't. I didn't realize this was a short story or I might have skipped it for a complete book.The story is about a woman looking back on her life during the time her husband was diagnosed with cancer and the events that led to his eventual death. It is a heartbreaking tale but somehow I felt it lacking as if the story was not long enough to really get into the depth of each character. The author left me wanting more. The characters seemed like actors playing a part and not real people although the situation is real enough for many in today's society. I couldn't stand the daughter Alice and wish she had been painted a little more sympathetically. or at least given the chance to grow from her stereotypical character. . It was OK but I have read many like it and in the end not very satisfied with my choice of book to review. I would have preferred the author take more time and really develop it into a full length novel. .The story could also use some editing, not so much in the area of spelling mistakes but a number of missing words and poor sentence structure so that some of sentences would make more sense.
October 10, 2016
If you've read "Deadly Memories"--another fine book from S.D. O'Donnell--you'll find this to be a well-written and touching short story that adds a significant & unexpected level of dimension to Mrs. Blackstone. The character development and dialogue are easy to follow thanks to the clear writing so it won't take the average reader long to read. But don't mistake it for light reading as the reader is immediately informed of the imminent passing of one of the characters. The rest of the story deals with the dying, living, and "once-removed" perspectives throughout this journey. In spite of the different forms of grief in the story, it's not horribly dark or depressing considering the inescapable eventuality that is being faced.
Personally, it was easy for me while reading the story to be drawn into comparisons of those I've known who have passed as well as reflecting on how I might handle the same challenges going forward. There's no doubt the characters of the story had to grapple with this difficult issue but the story telling was handled in such a way that I finished the book with a sense of peaceful closure. Really not the same sort of "action suspense" story that "Deadly Memories" is but definitely another well written story.
I am anxious for more books from this author.
Personally, it was easy for me while reading the story to be drawn into comparisons of those I've known who have passed as well as reflecting on how I might handle the same challenges going forward. There's no doubt the characters of the story had to grapple with this difficult issue but the story telling was handled in such a way that I finished the book with a sense of peaceful closure. Really not the same sort of "action suspense" story that "Deadly Memories" is but definitely another well written story.
I am anxious for more books from this author.
December 6, 2014
I couldn't loosen the grip on this book. When I first saw it at the Reading Deals Review Club, I just had this feeling I must read it. I, like others, was unaware that there was another book. COOKIE and her husband are in love so much; then he goes to the doctor. It is told in first person by Cookie. She talks mainly about her estranged daughter and how Alice only shows love for her father. We never find out why that is, nor why she has so much contempt for her mother. Anyway, she writes a letter to her friends, who treated her far better than her daughter. I would have liked to hear Cookie and Ted's backstroke. What one wouldn't do in the name of love. It has 9 chapters and 166 pages; yet you get so engrossed in the story, you are like in a trance until you find out what secret she held for 35 years. It will make you mull it over after it is done, and maybe ask yourself if it is right or wrong: the final choice. I just wish we knew more. Not that THIS BOOK needed it, but a prequel would be nice. [I was given a free copy of this story to read and give my honest review]. The author is very good at her craft. I would buy more of her books instantly.
August 7, 2015
This was a beautiful short story about a couple who has to face illness, their initial decisions, and how those decisions change throughout the story. Very good!
June 14, 2015
For only 32 pages, this was quite riveting and suspenseful and unexpectedly good.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews