Triangulating Bliss

by Janelle Jalbert

Behind a single door lie many forms of Bliss…

TRIANGULATING BLISS is a heartwarming and entertaining novel of second chances, romance, mystery, and the supernatural about a veteran reclaiming his life from the ghosts of war. He doesn’t know that researching an unexplained mystery will change his life forever.

Readers of Julianne MacLean’s COLOR OF HEAVEN series, Vickie McKeehan’s PELICAN POINTE series, and Ava Miles’s CHOCOLATE GARDEN will love TRIANGULATING BLISS.

Greg Ellison learns about the suicide of a local sports hero. Reports claim that the suicide was linked to a disappearance from Bliss. The story hits home when Greg opens an email from the athlete, sent just prior to his death, causing Greg to investigate what really happened and uncovering family secrets along the way.

Greg meets Lois Atwater, the vivacious owner of Bliss Bar & Grill, and learns that the athlete’s disappearance was not the only one. Lois and four others have encountered the “Bliss Triangle” as well.

Lois reunites with the love of her life and learns that love never dies; a woman, broken by life, sees how her life might be; a musician's wife stumbles upon her own grave; a son, caring for his dying mother, learns that endings can be beginnings; and a financial advisor with a shady past finds out how close he is to losing everything.

All of their stories include one figure: a man with dark hair, blue eyes, and a strong jaw.

Then, it’s Greg’s turn.

Greg’s encounter with the mysterious forces at Bliss changes everything. He learns that what brought him to Bliss is not as it appears and that the lives touched by Bliss are powerfully interconnected across space and time. (Paranormal, Visionary, Inspirational, Metaphysical, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Love Story, Family, Military, Redemption, Contemporary Fiction, Time Travel, Alternate Reality, Debut Novel)

TRIANGULATING BLISS is a tale of living life to the fullest; but… to understand, you must first disappear.

Author Notes:

TRIANGULATING BLISS is Book 1 in the MYSTIQUE OF LIVING series. TRIANGULATING SELF ~ Coming 2016
TRIANGULATING WISDOM (THE UNRAVELING) ~ Coming 2016
TRIANGULATING WISDOM (INTERWOVEN) ~ TBA
TRIANGULATING LOVE ~ TBA
TRIANGULATING ABUNDANCE ~ TBA
All books can be read as stand-alone pieces. NO cliffhangers.


TRIANGULATING BLISS includes an abbreviated Reader’s Guide. The Companion Guide, THE BACKDOOR TO BLISS, is also available with an expanded author Q&A, more discussion questions, an expanded author Q&A, deleted scenes, the story behind the creation of TRIANGULATING BLISS and much more.

10% of all proceeds from the novel and 100% of proceeds from the Companion Guide will go to funding children’s wishes as part of the Bliss Challenge.

Advance Reviews:
“A well written and engaging novel, I was completely glued to the pages. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down…It's a fascinating story, full of twists and has elements of paranormal, mystery, romance. There are some really exciting and touching parts. Highly recommend!” LibriAmoriMiei

“The power behind the story leaves you wondering, leaves you turning the pages, and most definitely leaves you wanting more from this author.” Undercover Book Reviews

“I’ve read books about disappearances, even mysterious ones, but haven’t read anything like this.

299 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2015

About the author

Janelle Jalbert is an author of tales that promote the “Magic of Everyday Life”. Her latest release, TRIANGULATING BLISS, is a tale of living life to the fullest as part of THE MYSTIQUE OF LIVING SERIES. Janelle's next release is WINGDOG: SOUL PUP, a 'magical mutt memoir' which is a project close to her heart. She also has ghostwritten more than a dozen books, on a range of topics, for clients around the world and has worked as a copywriter for major international corporations. During her ten year tenure as a teacher, Janelle also worked as a motorsports reporter along with other pursuits. She currently resides in Southern California but is prone to wanderlust when her pack of pups allows it.

Reviews

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greg Ellison survived Afghanistan and was on the pathway to following in his father’s footsteps as a prominent lawyer, but his life course changed the day he made the decision to drop out of law school. To complicate his life further, a mysterious email arrived that centered on his father and Mikel Thomas, a local athlete who had committed suicide.

When he meets with his Father and tells him of the message he found his father stuns him with the revelation that he was Mikel’s father. This news is one of shock for he was clueless that he even had a brother. He makes the decision to pay his last respect to the brother he never knew. At the funeral, the emotional impact hit him hard. He knew that he had to escape from his surroundings.

He finds himself in a local barbeque place known as Bliss Bar & Grill. There he meets the attractive owner Lois Atwater. It is rumored that Mikel’s death had something to do with the bar. He is determined to get to the bottom of his brother’s last days.

Will Greg’s investigation endanger his own life? Will he find a love that he never expected to occur? Will he be able to accept the dark past that is revealed to him that surrounds his brother’s death?

TRIANGULATING BLISS is an exceptional romance. It is one that impressed me from the first few pages. It offers so many different elements that include a suspenseful mystery, a heartwarming romance, and an unexpected paranormal segment. To think all of these types of literary genes are going on in one book is simply an amazing experience!

Janelle Jalbert is an author who has truly impressed me with her writing talent. I feel this first book in what hints of a growing series that is assured to be an award winning collection. With this being the first offering I have encountered by this author she has quickly proven to me that as an author she is a literary genius.

[Frank Scozzari · Rating 5 out of 5]

First entry in the MYSTIQUE OF LIVING series, TRIANGULATING BLISS is a captivating story packed with suspense, paranormal occurrences, romance, and plenty of twists. Janelle Jalbert writing style lured me in perfectly, and left me yearning to read more.

Ghosts of war and the suicide of a brother he never knew, drive Greg Ellison to investigate leading him to the Bliss Bar & Grill and its attractive owner, Lois Atwater. He finds that this is a place where people mysteriously disappear. It seems, within the Bliss Bar & Grill, there is some kind of paranormal vestibule that leads to another dimension in time and space. The stories within the story, and the plot itself, take you places you don't expect to go; both in fiction and within your own heart & mind, leaving you soul-searching. A heartwarming tale—elements of which reminded me of the movie “GHOST.”

This book is hugely entertaining. It's a definite page-turner. Be sure to have adequate time set aside because once you get started you won't want to stop.

[Libby Atwater · Rating 3 out of 5]

Triangulating Bliss, a debut novel from award-winning author Janelle Jalbert, portrays the enthusiasm and skepticism of youth with the wisdom of age as the main characters attempt to discover the reasons behind an alleged suicide linked to a series of mysterious disappearances.

In their quest to solve these mysteries, some characters journey into the supernatural, while others remain grounded in the real world. All are linked by their varied real-world experiences, and together they offer a page-turning story that contains valuable life lessons.

I found Triangulating Bliss to be an absorbing read and recommend it to others seeking a story with a touch of romance, mystery, and the supernatural.

[Natalie Ducey · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Triangulating Bliss’ is a beautifully written story that will stay with you long after you finish. It is a heartwarming and engaging novel with twists, suspense, paranormal, and romance that will indeed cause self-reflection. Jalbert’s style of writing is captivating, allowing the reader to easily connect with the characters. So much so, I can actually imagine sitting in the Bliss Bar and Grill sharing a conversation and a drink with many of the characters, especially Greg, Lois, Jen, and Phil.

This is my first read by Jalbert and certainly won’t be my last. I highly recommend this book; it will inspire you. Enjoy!

[TarHeelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Triangulating Bliss is a heartwarming story deserving its own unique genre because it encompasses so many - suspense, romance, paranormal. When I was not reading it, I was thinking about it. I loved the theme throughout of following your bliss and your own road to happiness. I had several quotes I highlighted to reflect on later. I am excited for the next installments to learn more about the Bliss Triangle.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting into the book, you're thinking to yourself.... Okay where is this author going with this.. But the story is great. It's like it's plastered on pages, a movie in the making. The power behind the story leaves you wandering.. Leavers you turning the pages as you're reading... And most diffidently leaves you wanting more from this author. The way it starts off... well, guess you'll have to read for yourself to really appreciate what's left unsaid..


*Received for an honest review*

[latybug · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free download of this book from Story Cartel, thank you!
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the idea of Lois and Phil being able to help people turn their lives around. It was interesting to see how all the characters' lives were intertwined.
The story leads the reader to imagine what it would be like if they themselves were to "disappear."
I would recommend this story to others and I would read more by this author.

[Tim Habert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book from a goodreads giveaway.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received my copy of Triangulating Bliss by Janelle Jalbert through the Lover of Paranormal R2R group on Goodreads, in exchange for an honest review. Review does contain spoilers.

Initially it seems that this book is focused on Greg Ellison, a soldier returned from the war plagued by many ghosts. Greg lost his college girlfriend tragically, then enlisted, served in Afghanistan and was involved in an explosion that took the life of teammates. Clearly suffering PTSD nightmares, Greg finds himself disenchanted with the idea of law school and following the family practice. He drops out of law school without a plan for the future. A newspaper article catches his eye announcing the apparent suicide of a basketball player. Oddly, that same basketball player reached out to Greg via email just before his death seeking Greg’s help. After a tense conversation with his father, Greg learns that the basketball player was in fact his half-brother. Agitated by the knowledge, Greg does a little more research on Mikel Thomas and learns that the athlete had once “disappeared” from a bar in Pasadena. Unsure how someone in the spotlight could “disappear” without that making headlines, Greg decides to go the bar to see if he can learn more.

I presumed that the story would be about Greg’s journey of self-discovery while coming to terms with the loss of his girlfriend, his war experience, PTSD, his future career plans, his relationship with his parents and mystery surrounding his half-brother. This was more loosely glossed over, with the greater picture dealing with the “disappearances” of various people from a specific bar in Pasadena. Bliss, once called Our Place, is a bar/eatery(??) owned by a dynamo of a senior lady named Lois. Lois tells Greg about the history of the location, her deceased husband Phil, the “disappearances”. She feels that her own disappearances and those of the others are all somehow connected. Greg decides that Mikel’s story and these disappearances are going to be his focus rather than dealing with all his other issues. Suddenly he is frequenting Bliss everyday, “interviewing” people about Mikel and their own disappearances, doing “research”. In the process of these interviews Greg learns that there is a spiritual force at work. The people who disappear are at a crisis point in their lives. They come into the bar for some relaxation and end up going out the backdoor into an alternate location where they experience a life altering lesson, a chat with Phil and a push to change their lives for the better. Very positive stuff. Very new age. Many of these characters have intertwining lives, some not aware of the others for a period of time. The suggestion is made that all the disappearances have to do with Mikel’s death.

If this description/synopsis sounds confusing and unfocused, it is because the book is also confusing and unfocused. While being written with much heart, sincerity and great spiritually enlightening intentions, there is simply too much going on to maintain focus or clarity.

I firmly believe in the power of the Universe, in guiding spirits, in goodness, light and the fact that we are connected somehow. It was with great enthusiasm that I embraced a book that so blatantly proclaimed these concepts. In many ways the majority of the book is like a lecture at a spiritual retreat with Lois and Phil as professors explaining the workings of the Universe, life after death, not quite near-death experiences and yet not quite out-of-body experiences. We learn about the phases of the moon, the Equinoxes and how these things affect our experiences. Guest speakers are the other characters like Henri, Richard, Sara, Jen who testify about their experiences in the Bliss Triangle, then go on to tell how they have decided to make a change in their lives, in their community, founding wellness centers, non-profit groups, etc. At the center of all these experiences is Phil, Lois’ deceased husband who seems to act as a guiding angel. He surfs with a wayward Henri, is the fireman and Inn owner in Greg’s experience. Coincidentally, Greg discovers that Phil is actually his father – strange twist there for sure! – so that means that Greg and Mikel aren’t actually related at all despite Greg ruminating over a photograph and discovering likenesses.

While I appreciated the intent of the story and found the premise fascinating, there was an abundance of errors that editing could have corrected.

[Yvette Calleiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book! It's a book about how seven people from different walks of life have their lives permanently changed because of the love and acceptance of two people who believe in love and second chances. What makes it even more interesting is that one of those people is no longer living. Phil passed away, and yet when these characters reach a crossing roads in their lives, they are transported to another realm where Phil helps them reflect on his/her life journey in hopes of helping them make the right choices when they return back to their lives.

This is not a book filled with action. This is a book of journeys toward self-improvement and self-acceptance. The Phil-isms (advice on life) are beautiful and so perfect because they fit into each and every one of our lives. I found myself pausing after a Phil-ism and thinking, "Hmmm, that's interesting." And then I'd reflect upon my own life and how to apply that Phil-ism to my own journey.

The characters are so distinct and very well-written. Even the minor characters are unique and important. The characters are realistic, and they all have flaws, which is something that I really loved. We are all perfectly imperfect, and that is what makes us beautiful.

I loved the ending of the story because it was very realistic and stayed true to the journey of life. I look forward to reading the future books of this series (now that I know that it will become a series of sorts). :-)

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story about a series of unusual happenings where several unhappy people find their way to a bar called Bliss, and coincidently walk out the back door only to disappear for days, sometimes longer. The door leads them to an alternate universe, where they travel back in time, complete with a guide, and are offered a look at the roads they choose that led them to where they are now — and the opportunity to change direction. The story carries a positive lesson that we ultimately are the ones holding ‘the remote’ in our lives.