House of A Writer

Welcome to my blog where I share my special needs parenting journey with my heart, truth, and love, one story at a time. ❤️

Sep 6

Krystal Blue book review

by Jeanine Lebsack

I love to read as much as I love to write so I feel such joy when I’m wrapped up in a good book. That is where my heart lies so I became a beta reader for the author Destiny Hawkins. Now this talented woman can spin a great story, and quickly too. As soon as I finish up a book she’s loading up my Kindle app with another! Not that I’m complaining though I really get wrapped up in her characters as she writes so vividly of their lives, loves, and stories.

Amazon Link:

Synopsis:

Krystal Blue is a young college student with the good looks of a Californian blonde beauty. Her life is far from perfect growing up in the foster system and afraid to get close to anyone since her life was struck by tragedy. The story weaves the tale into Krystal navigating college, finding employment, and saving enough money to stop living in her car.
The author Destiny makes you feel sympathetic to Krystal’s plight as a young woman just trying to make her way in the world. Then she throws in a super natural twist and a love triangle as I was reading my head was spinning from the excitement. I I stayed up late late night after night reading this book as the twists and turns piqued my interest and left me wanting more!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review and like all of Destiny’s books I loved it! I received it in instalments so I eagerly read them wanting more information as the mystery slowly unravelled to who and what Krystal Blue really is. This book was the first that I had read in a LGBTQ genre but the sexual orientation was written in such a way that that the love interests never overshadowed the driving plot line. This book had me on the edge of my seat with how much the story line evolved from Krystal Blue being weak and powerless to discovering an inner strength she never knew she possessed! 
The storyline had me at the introduction of Krystal and her brothers relationship growing up in foster care and having no one but each other for comfort and support. Next I was taken on this wild ride that the author Destiny Hawkins is well known for. There were some many twists and turns on a personal and paranormal level I found myself feeling anxious like I was the main character! I’m very excited to continue the next book as this is book one of the Blue Moon series I look forward to more adventures with Krystal Blue.

Author Information


Destiny Hawkins is the author of Krystal Blue Book one of the Blue Moon Series. She’s also written Caged, Caged 2, Angels Blade, Aveena City of Gold, and a children’s book Hide and Seek-the Okavango Delta. When she’s not writing she’s thinking about new characters and plot lines to devise. You can follow her on social media here.
Facebook
Amazon Author page

Stay tuned to a work in progress coming soon from Destiny Hawkins creative mind! 

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Dec 30

Childhood revisited 

by Jeanine Lebsack

I look up at the tree to see how far I have to climb till I can’t see the ground or feel the emotions I want to get away from. Why a tree you may ask well it could be anything as long as I could be up high. I climbed trees, fence posts, and the  horse stock corral in our backyard. 

When I was inside I would climb on top of my Mom’s black upright piano. I’d sit up there to eat my lunch and watch my favourite tv show Sesame Street. I wanted to live there and go on a picnic with Big Bird and Snufflelufugus. I found Ernie to loud and Bert to anxious, Oscar was too grouchy and the Count slept most of the time. Cookie Monster and Grover were my best friends we could sit around eating cookies all day and sing songs about it. 

I had this stuffed animal of Grover he was blue, soft, and fuzzy. He had long arms and legs I would wrap around my neck and waist and he would go everywhere with me. I adored that pal of mine and everyone would see us together and smile. I wasn’t allowed to take him to school though because my Mom said there was only one Grover and everyone would want one. 

I don’t remember if he was a birthday gift or for Christmas all I remember was he appeared in my life one day and made it all the better. I could talk to Grover about anything fights I had with my siblings, mud pie recipes, and how I could see things that other people couldn’t see. He never judged me and always kept my secrets just like my dog Bo. He was a special dog a gift from my Dad when I was brought home from the hospital. 

He became another member of our family even after my parents separated Bo came to live with us. We lived a simple life in the village with our Mom and my sister. He would walk us to and from school everyday. I would race home with my backpack hanging off my shoulder with the weight of my library books. I would run in the house kiss my Mom, tell her quickly about my day, grab my snack and Grover and disappear into the woods behind our house. 

I would find my special place and sit down and read to my friends. I loved to use different characters voices and inflection in my tone to make the story exciting. This was the way my Mom taught me the magic of story telling and it helped my comprehension and confidence. It helped me escape into a world of adventure in my books when the world was too loud, bright, and confusing. I loved sailing the seven seas with Sinbad, sitting down for tea with Charles Dickens in a Tale of Two Cities and living in the beautiful fantasy world of a Midnight Summer’s Dream from Shakespeare. 

My childhood was a happy place when I was able to climb trees, drink tea with my Mom and her friends, and use my imagination. I would dream about living on Sesame Street reading to everyone on the block and visiting Bob and Maria at Mr.Hooper’s store. There’s still times when I like to take a detour from my stress and go back to my childhood where life was simpler, carefree, and fun. 

? Can you tell me how to get 

How to get to Sesame Street? ?

This has been my take on the Daily Prompt Childhood Revisited. 

life

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Nov 25

One Liner Wednesday’s 

by Jeanine Lebsack

It’s been awhile since I jumped aboard this train of thought. This is mine as part of One Liner Wednesday’s . Please checkout all the inspiration that comes together on Wednesday’s. 

Today I’m sharing that there’s no instruction manuals for raising children. Thankfully there’s plenty of places to learn, research, and gather more tools for your toolbox. 

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Jun 1

The Story of Lansing Lotte book review

by Jeanine Lebsack

  

This is a book review that almost never was written. I was having WordPress app issues and my posts were disappearing, not publishing, saving, or allowed to post pictures. I’m so relieved  that everything is now working properly after deleting and reloading the app and I can share my review with you today. 

Book Review

This is a continuation from the first book The Legend of Arturo King that leaves the reader with a cliffhanger at the end. The Story of Lansing Lotte introduces us more to Lansing, the sexy guitar player in the rock band the Nights. An event happens and his best friend and lead singer Arturo King has gone missing. Leaving behind his devastated fiancée Guenivere Degrance. It’s up to the authorities and the members of the band to piece together what happened. Lansing’s heart belongs to Guenivere and if he can’t have her he’ll find someone beautiful to warm his bed. Enter the characters Elaine Corbin and Layne Alcolat to spice things up and a some drama to Lansing’s life.  I enjoyed reading this sequel in the Legendary Rockstar series. L.B. Dunbar weaves an intriguing plot with these characters in a modern day King Arthur’s court. I loved the dialogue present in this book, told from Lansing’s point of view. His character became fascinating to me the more I read. As I was prepared to not like him as he’s the “bad boy” rock and roller. I suggest the reader first read The Legend of Arturo King to get an idea of the depth of the characters and how they will play out in the sequel. There is mature adult sexual content and language so I would give this book an 18 + rating. There’s so many twist and turns so buckle up and enjoy the ride! Here’s a teaser to introduce you to Lansing and one of his conquests. 

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1bMQMl7
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Jw2I8E

Barnes And Noble: http://bit.ly/1JMd2WY

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1bMRkYd

 

The Legend Of Arturo King

 Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Hyb39K

Barnes And Noble: http://bit.ly/1AYLPKd

 
 

Book Excerpt

“Because I know you love her and that must hurt.”

“I…I don’t know if I’m capable of love, Lila. All I seem to do is destroy women, and myself.” She reached a shaky hand for me and pushed my longish bangs back from my forehead. It was surprisingly comforting. 

“I don’t believe that she said.” “I just think you just have difficulty in choosing a safe one.”

Synopsis:(told from Lansing Lotte’s point of view) 

*WARNING:* Adult content ahead. 

 I get it. I’ve heard the jokes. My name sounds like some medieval character who was a hero. Hell, my best friend’s named Arturo King. Ring any medieval bells? But this is my story and I’m no hero. I also get the jokes. Lancelot is a play on the words lance and lot, and a lance refers to a sword, which is a euphemism for dick. What does a man do with his dick? He fucks. A lot. So if my name is Lansing Lotte, I must be “fucking lot.” Get it? Fucking a lot? Which I’m not saying I don’t, that’s not the point. Another reference to something sexual. Get my point? Huh, I made a punny. But again this is my story, and I haven’t done anything funny. In fact, I’ve killed three women, and only one of them I loved. Yeah, that’s right? Not laughing now. It’s not funny. And I’m definitely no fucking hero.

About The Author

 L.B. Dunbar loves to read to the point it might be classified as an addiction. The past few years especially she has relished the many fabulous YA authors, the new genre of New Adult, traditional romances, and historical romances. A romantic at heart, she’s been accused of having an overactive imagination, as if that was a bad thing. Author of the Sensations Collection, Sound Advice, Taste Test, Fragrance Free, Touch Screen, and the upcoming Sight Words, she is also author of the Legendary Rock Star series, beginning with The Legend of Arturo King. She grew up in Michigan, but has lived in Chicago for longer, calling it home with her husband and four children.

 Follow L.D.Dunbar here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lb.dunbar

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/lbdunbarauthor

Amazon Author: http://www.amazon.com/author/lbdunbar

Newsletter: http://lbdunbar.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=426c277f729a7a30eddae970f&id=194c76f08b

Tsu: https://tsu.co/lbdunbar

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lbdunbarwrites

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lbdunbar/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8195738.L_B_Dunbar

Booktropoloussocial: https://booktropoloussocial.com/index.php?do=/profile-2475/

Blogger: http://lbdunbarwrites.blogspot.com/

Website: http://www.lbdunbar.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lbdunbarwrites/

Bonus Playlist:

Alone – Heart

See You Again – Carrie Underwood
Still Into You – Paramore
(You Want To) Make A Memory – Bon Jovi 
Come To Me – The Goo Goo Dolls
Run – feat. Sugarland – Matt Nathanson
Beneath Your Beautiful – Labrinth
Lonely Tonight (featuring Ashley Monroe) – Blake Shelton
Colorblind – Counting Crows
Make You Feel My Love – Adele 
Stay – Rihanna 
Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye
Start of Something Good – Daughtry
I Touch Myself – Divinyls
Hanging By A Moment – Lifehouse
It Was Always You – Maroon 5
Superman Tonight – Bon Jovi
Endlessly – Green River Ordinance
Love Someone – Jason Mraz
Almost Is Never Enough – Ariana Grande
Say Something – A Great Big World, Christina Agullera
Without You – Max 
I Won’t Give Up – Jason Mraz
Sorry – Buckcherry
All I Wanted – Paramore
Thinking Out Loud – Ed Sheeran
All In – Lifehouse
By Your Side – Tenth Avenue North
Turning Page – Sleeping At Last
Marry Me – Jason Derulo
You & I (Nobody In The World) – John Legend
A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
Spotify link: 
http://open.spotify.com/user/12176731284/playlist/5kRMpLpA4VretzwytsqBtB



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Mar 30

Favourite

by Jeanine Lebsack

I was born into a big family there’s a large age difference between my oldest siblings and myself. I was born to parents in their forties and I was  soon to be known as the “favourite.” My middle sister was four when I was born and I think quite used to being the youngest of the family. I came along and she was excited as she was excited to be having a baby brother. When my parents arrived home with me she said I was nice, but take me back because she wanted Jimmy. I still smile about that story when I hear or think of it. Shortly after that my Dad got our dog Bo who I wrote about here  http://wp.me/s46h5g-pet 

I have two sons and I don’t have a favourite. I love certain qualities about them both. They’re both my precious boys and I love them so much my heart aches. I tell my oldest he’s my favourite Captain (I insert his birth name) and how he makes me laugh and ponder the most inquisitive things that he asks me about life. I love his fabulous talent, ability to deconstruct something and fix it again. How he understands technology and can explain it in terms others can understand. His love of entertainment and how he can break into a song and dance at any given moment. He doesn’t show this side to everyone which makes it even more special.  I say to my youngest you’re my favourite Mad dog (once again he has a birth name.) I love his marvelous wit, sense of humour, his beautiful, melodic voice while he spins everything into a song. The ability he has to turn anything he’s doing into a joyful and fun event. He makes others feel better just being around him. The most favourite thing I adore about my kids is how much they love each other. 

Their favourite place to hang out is together. ❤️

I believe it’s important not to choose favourites in regards to my family. My Mom told me even with having six children she would never choose a favourite. She had favourite things she loved about each of us. I reminded her of how she was as a child. I appeared shy at first then I would talk the ear off of anyone. My love of books and the written word I owe to her. She loved that I enjoyed losing myself in my books and adventures of my heroes and heroines. My Dad has favorite things he loves too about his children. He loves that I didn’t back down from a statement or thought. I entertained him with stories I wrote and songs I had sung. He always said I missed my calling in Nashville and being a lawyer, because of how much I love to sing and argue. 

I enjoy having my favourite things around me like my family, friends, books, bottle of wine and drinking it without whining. If I can sit, read, and write these are my favourite things to do. I appreciate that my family give me the time and space so I can pursue these interests. Spending time outdoors walking, hiking, geocaching, and cloud watching while laying in my backyard. It’s these little things in life that my favourite people help me enjoy. Watching my favourite movies brings me joy. I couldn’t contain my delight when I found Casablanca and Singing in the rain on sale for $5 each! The closer we get to spring I’m looking forward to getting back to enjoying my favourite past time of gardening. Getting my hands and feet in the soil fills my heart with the healing green energy my soul so desperately needs. Planting flowers around my new home and making it really my own with my favourite roses, lilies, tulips, and sweet peas. 

   

In my happy place. ?❤️?

  

Those beautiful summer days spent basking in the sunshine running, playing, sandcastle building fill my love bucket right up. Sitting by the fire on a warm evening sipping a beverage, and roasting marshmallows and hot dogs. Watching my kids laughing, playing, and enjoying the freedom that summer brings. We will have a magical summer season this year. Last year we were so busy with packing, waiting, unpacking, and making our brand new house a home. It’s those favourite things that make me sing that Sound of Music song but my own version.  

? Reading and writing and wine drinking evenings. 

Time with my children and cupcake leavings. 

Fresh books are like heaven and hugs with my love. 

These are a few of my favourite blessings above. ?

What are a few of your favourite things? 

This is my submission to Sunday Confessions with the lovely www.morethancheeseandbeer.com. Please check out her anonymous confession on her Facebook page. And the other talented writers who link up. Thank you for singing along with me today. ?

life

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Jan 7

Reading, writing and being authentically me

by Jeanine Lebsack

It’s late at night which is my favourite time to write, as I listen to the sounds of snoring filtering through my home. I’ve always been a night owl, even my beloved Mama would say I was the best companion. We would stay up late at night and watch old black and white movies, and I’d dream of being a movie star. Well that never happened I do act, write, sing, and dance but I have yet to see my name up in lights on a marquee. I’m taking part in this new challenge of Blogging 101. Even though I’ve had my blog for over a year I still love a challenge and crave learning experiences. Tonight the assignment was to find five topics and follow five blogs. Easy enough to do as I love to read, as much as I love to write. I couldn’t stop reading though in order to start this blog. I find it very fascinating to see how people live. I’ve always been that curious little girl that wanted to be invited inside strangers homes on Halloween, while trick-or-treating. So I love to read about how people live, what makes them tick, what is their passion. I found a stunning photographer, and a parent who had the most eloquent and deep conversation with her children about the question of what’s a soul. I found someone who writes so poignantly about our pursuit of happiness I’m excited to read more of his journey. I was pleased to find a fellow Twilight Lover whether it’s the book series or the time of day, and a fabulous Mom who writes so beautifully about parenting and transgender bias that I was moved to tears. I couldn’t stop at five, sorry not sorry, the stories were too enthralling. So on that note I look forward to reading more blogs, making new friends, and stretching myself out of my comfort zone daily. Now I really must get some rest, even though I’d rather be reading. Goodnight sweet readers, until the morning sun awakens me, I bid you farewell.

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Dec 8

Read

by Jeanine Lebsack

One of my favourite things to do is read. I love to see and feel the words coming to life in my mind. Reading has always been an escape for me when I felt the world didn’t understand me. I was never judged in my books, I could always cheer for the under dog instead of being one. What a powerful experience that was! It made me feel invincible reading about the character Anne in Anne of Green Gables. All she experienced being an orphan and adopted by the first family who truly loved her for her extraordinary self. I related to Joe in the Little Women series with her spunk and go get them attitude. My life became better and more beautiful in the pages of my books. The adventures I took with Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys brought me great delight. I lived vicariously through their adventures, meeting their characters, and feeling fear and exhilaration as they battered their villains. The first time my beloved Mama read to me I felt such joy as her voice filled my mind, with her descriptive words and inflection in her tone. She had such a gift with words, she made books come to life for me. I remember when I was in Grade one and Mrs. Bossio gave me my first Dick and Jane book. It was like a part of my heart opened up and I fell in love with the written word. I read voraciously after that anything I could get my hands on. Books lead to series and series led to volumes of the encyclopedia. I was enthralled and I couldn’t get enough of anything in print. I started a collection of Archie comic books and I became one of the Riverdale gang. As well as I have always been able to read people as a gift, learning to read was a greater one. I knew I could do anything inside my books no anger, fear, worry, or loss could hold me back. My Mom saw my love grow more and more, so my book collection grew. She had said I was like her, and my Gram fed her habit with reading chapter books, poetry, and the classics like Dickens, Twain, and Shakespeare. I remember reading The Diary of Anne Frank. I saw the beauty and love of family as well as evil personified. I was so heartbroken when Anne didn’t survive the concentration camp. I also knew that was the outcome of war, and what a gift it has been that her words live on through her. With her belief in the power of love, strength, and forgiveness. Like my Gram did for my Mom, and my Mom did for her children, I’ve passed on the gift of reading to my children. My Captain will read chapter books like they’re going out of style. He loves the Diary of a Wimpy kid series and has recently started reading Captain Underpants. My Mad dog will bring me a basket of books each day, and will sit beside me and say Once upon a time and he’ll weave a story together of his own creation. I’ve started our Christmas gifts early this year as I’ve done the 25 days of reading. Each night my sons take turns and open one book to share. We cuddle up on the bed and my Captain and I take turns reading to his brother. And then I read something to them. We’ve taken adventures in fairy tales, climbed mountains in Tibet with Rin Tin Tin, and sailed on the ill fated Titanic. The gift of reading is one I’m so happy to share with my children. And I look for ways to help my Captain be a more confident reader in school. He loves getting lost in books like me, but hesitates with reading out loud. My favourite part of my day is story time when I see my Captain reading to his brother. It fills my heart with such love and pride, knowing they will pass along this gift to their children one day. With each passing moment in my own life when I read and write I feel my Mom living through my thoughts, words, and feelings. And when I have that power of print it’s like she’s never really gone and her heart lives on through me and my children.

This has been my submission to the amazing Ash of www.morethancheeseandbeer.com and the prompt was the word read. Please check out what Ash had to say and all the other talent who link up. Thank you my dear readers for sharing your love of reading my blog. ?

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Sep 2

Guilty Pleasures

by Jeanine Lebsack

My guilty pleasures are things I like to indulge in and feel comforting to me. Of these many things I love to stay up late eating chocolate covered almonds, chips and dip, and drink copious amounts of tea. Sometimes I’ll be blogging, reading blogs, or watching Netflix. I think we all need to have vices in life and I love to binge read books or watch Netflix TV series. I have to admit the Orange is the New Black, the Walking Dead, and the Twilight saga had me seeing a lot of sunrises. My bookshelves are more like a library with selections like fiction, non fiction, supernatural, fantasy, self help, parenting, and mystery. I love to dive into a book and escape to a world that only exists in my dreams. As much as I love to read, I love to write. When pen and paper meet, an idea is formed, and magic happens. My Mom and I used to write together. I would start the topic and we’d both contribute. I remember a story we wrote in high school, and the topic was who would you have dinner with. Alive or dead, out of anyone in the world I chose Jim Morrison. My Mom thought that was an interesting choice but I believed he was a fascinating person. I seen past the addict and into his brilliant mind. Back then I had recently saw the Doors starring Val Kilmer, who in my opinion was channeling the real Jim! I became fascinated and searched for every article, tv appearance, and video clip I could find about him. Recently I was unpacking a box when I moved into my new house. I found all these papers of my writing and my Mom’s collaborations. There were songs, poems, and binders full of writing. Going through that box took me back in time. To a place where reading and writing nourished my soul, and music was my therapy. It’s amazing what the affects of my guilty pleasures have on my mind, body, and spirit. I still rock out to my guilty pleasure 80’s heavy metal hair bands of my era. And I appreciate the journey I’m taking back to that carefree, creative, happy, poetic, self I used to be. ❤️

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