Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying Reviews

 So proud to display these reviews of my recently released Romantic Suspense novel:

"Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying is a raw and heartfelt look at a marriage unraveling under the pressure of emotional disconnection. Paloma carries the weight of family, work, and loneliness while Jim remains consumed by travel and ambition. Their bond is tested by frustration, longing, and years of unresolved hurt, yet the spark between them never fully fades. Kelly crafts a layered romance about rebuilding trust, rediscovering intimacy, and fighting for a love worth saving.” NewInBooks

"...Author Kelly K. Lavender created an intense, emotional, and very realistic story about love, disappointment, and the struggle to stay when everything feels broken. I really liked how Paloma was written because she felt honest and deeply human... I loved the narrative style and how it painted Paloma in a realistic light while leaving some room for creative liberties. Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying is a beautifully written romance/suspense novel that will keep readers entertained."

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite - 5*

"...Kelly K. Lavender creates relatable characters that feel like people I see every day, with their struggles. The family dynamics are finely drawn...The emotional conflict is cleverly written, and the author allows the friction between the characters and Paloma’s internal struggles to shape the direction of the story. I was invested in the characters. I was delighted by the exquisite prose, and the author’s deft exploration of family dysfunction made the story more than entertaining: it became food for thought. Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying cleverly examines the question: How much can a woman take before she

finally breaks?"

 

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite - 5*

"...Reading Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying, I

appreciated how Kelly K. Lavender explored the challenges Paloma and her family were facing. The diversity of themes in this praiseworthy novel kept me engaged. I liked how the storyline interlaced life’s good and bad moments, such as family dramas... and supportive friendship. I also liked the detailed account of Paloma’s ranch and the animals. As the story progressed, I appreciated Paloma’s journey to becoming a award-winning debut writer. The challenges of raising Liam the right way were thought-provoking. And the humor was well-timed, witty, and enjoyable. This lovely story will appeal to family drama and romantic suspense fans..."

 

Reviewed by Olga Markova for Readers' Favorite -5*

"...Kelly K. Lavender’s novel is character-driven, and the author excels

at examining emotions and gestures that translate the desperation,

the hunger, and the longing of the characters, especially Paloma...

What makes the story even more engaging is the fact that she doesn’t give up. I always want stories with clear motivation written into the characters, and Always Yearning, AlwaysFraying, Yet Staying delivers that beyond measure. The themes of genuine connection, family, and the erosion of love with the passage of time are well-developed in this novel. Apart from the intriguing characters, the author shows readers what happens to love when it is not consciously nourished and when acts of support diminish."

 

Reviewed by Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite - 5*

"...Overall, Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying by Kelly K.

Lavender offers a relatable portrayal of a woman striving to find her

footing in a demanding life. The novel has a unique narrative style

that is cleverly used as a literary device, emphasizing the creative

side of the main character. Because one is constantly exposed to

her train of thought, the reader gets to know her and her

motivations. Paloma's craving for creativity becomes a character in

its own right, driving the story. The characters are normal people

trying to make a living and be happy. The plot is interesting and

unconventional...There is more than one theme that

could stand out; it depends on the reader. For me, what stood out

was the lengths Paloma would go to protect her family, as well as

her unwavering faith in Jim. Friendship and loyalty are also

important themes that flow through the story. This is not your

typical romance. The writing style and narrative point of view bring

a different edge to the story. This book is worth reading; you will be

pleasantly surprised."

 

Reviewed by Delene Vrey for Readers' Favorite - 4*

Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying by Kelly K. Lavender follows Paloma Maggio, a former beauty queen turned ranch manager, her husband Jim, and their son Liam. They are struggling with emotional wounds, parenting challenges, and years of misunderstandings and hardship. As Liam becomes increasingly difficult, Paloma and Jim find themselves clashing over parenting decisions, communication, and the growing distance in their marriage. At the same time, Paloma is juggling the demands of running the ranch and dealing with feeling unsupported by her husband. The pressure on the family intensifies when dangerous events connected to the ranch put them all at risk, forcing Paloma and Jim to work together despite their frustrations and fears. Is their marriage strong enough to survive the strain and can they rebuild the trust between them.

Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying by Kelly K. Lavender is an engaging mix of heartfelt romance and fast-moving suspense. The writing style is easy to read, which makes readers become invested in the story. Paloma and Jim are well-developed characters with real flaws and emotions. I enjoyed watching their relationship evolve through both the good moments and the difficult ones. The ranch setting added a lot of atmosphere and gave the story a strong sense of location. While the novel is packed with drama and emotional tension, it also balances the heavier moments with warmth and genuine affection between the characters. Overall, it was an enjoyable read for me. I think readers who like relationship-driven stories along with plenty of suspense, family dynamics, and emotional depth will like it. 

 

 

Reviewed by Miche Arendse for Readers' Favorite - 4*

   

 

Beautiful Evil Winter - 5 * Review - Beautiful Story

Overjoyed! Thank you, MaryEllen Frabutt, for reading and reviewing my novel - Beautiful Evil Winter! 

MaryEllen wrote:

This is a beautiful story of how hard some people will work and what they will do to become parents. This was a great depiction of what is asked of some to just begin the journey of parenthood.
The characters were strong and fully developed. The adopting mother became a mama bear right out of the gate. She was quite resourceful in their times of need.
The story was interesting as well as entertaining.
Thank you

#Suspense #Thriller #RomanceSizzle #Horror #Multi-Award-Winning #Bestselling #Beautiful #Evil #Winter 

The Cat and the Canary Cage - Federal Laws Under Siege X 3

“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”  Mahatma Gandhi 

Wild horses. Why care? As a #parent, #grandparent #conservationist, #environmentalist, #naturalist, #backpacker, #hiker, animal lover or #climber, events taking place now affect your interests. What’s happening? Every day, national parks, public lands, dwindle driven by a political agenda to convert these areas to lands leased for private industry, namely, the oil, gas, mineral extraction, logging and  ranching industries. Consequently, The Antiquities Act, The Endangered Species Act plus The Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 have become targets for lobbyists and dirty bureaucrats. Perfect for oil, gas, mineral extraction, welfare ranching plus logging industries. Right? 

Based on what I've read and my business background, the largest revenues to be reaped by the oil, gas and mineral extraction businesses. A New York Times article spells it out: “According to a 2016 study from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, more than 93% of respondents said that historical sites, public lands and national parks should be protected for current and future generations.”  See the following link: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/climate/antiquities-act-federal-lands-donald-trump.html What about the vast majority of Americans who prize parks, wildlife, and wild horses? Well, in spite of federal protective laws, self-serving politicians plot and succeed in sidestepping the laws. Unfortunately, efforts to undermine federal laws has vividly taken shape. All of it about as subtle as a shark feeding frenzy. 

How? First, they attack The Antiquities Act. They shrink the size of public lands, most recently Bears Ears National Monument. See the following link:https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/national-monuments-house-bill-rob-bishop.  Bears Ears has just become1 million acres smaller, 85% smaller, slot canyons, arches and archaeological sites now gone. Not available for recreation for nature lovers and families any more. According to Josh Ewing, Executive Director of Friends of Cedar Mesa, “Almost all of the critical archeological areas are being slashed, as well as significant recreation, like paddling on the San Juan River, climbing in the Valley of The Gods and world-class canyoneering in White Canyon. The most dense archeology (Cedar Mesa top) and most famous archeology/backpacking (Grand Gulch) are also on the chopping block…I could keep going and going.” Another tool used—HR 3990, called The National Monument Creation and Protection Act. Critics call it The No More Parks Act. Any guess as to how restrictive that legislation is? No guessing required.

What about the Endangered Species Act? How is it being challenged? Bills have recently been introduced to water down the language and make it more difficult to add animals. Yes, it’s dirty politics driven by greed and powerful lobbies. 

To execute the grand plan, federally protected wild horses endure abuse by their supposed guardians, The Bureau of Land Management. BLM has the job of implementing the grand plan at the direction of current leadership. Mustang round-ups occur often using food or water traps or helicopters. The round-ups occur under false pretenses, lack of water, overpopulation, potential for starvation, etc. By nature, horses are very claustrophobic, very sensitive creatures. As prey animals, they fully comprehend danger/capture. The methods used now result in blood-curdling horror for them. Cruel? Absolutely. Life-threatening? Yes. The BLM harvest easily as terrifying and dangerous as a chase by cheetahs or wolf packs. Since equines are flight or fight animals, they try to escape entrapment pens by thrashing about, often resulting in injury to the herd, the old survivors and young foals especially at risk. They terrify and separate family units, mares and foals. Post entrapment, BLM tries to castrate old stallions resulting in their certain death. The older a horse the more risky the surgery becomes. Personally speaking, my horse veterinarian advised against surgery on either of my twenty-year old mares.Thirty-year old stallions don't survive castration. Mares lose babies and often don't survive spaying, when their ovaries are ripped from their bodies. Cattle ranchers build fences to cut-off water supplies on public lands, and shoot Mustangs if they breech fence lines to drink. Cattle ranchers get a pass with protected Mustangs? Full throttle dirty politics? Yes, Unmanaged and unnecessary collateral damage ensues. All of this illegal activity often just marks just the beginning for these horses. The next phase: a long journey for slaughter or a quick trip to local kill buyers. Does the cat watching the canary cage apply? An easy—yes. 

 In the recent Cold Creek Round-up in Vegas, one, of many angry residents, hired a naturalist to review BLM claims that local wild horse herds were in peril for potential starvation. The naturalist disagreed with the BLM assertions. Yet, BLM rounded-up the horses anyway. Local news stations have followed the story. The landscape, replete with wildlife and wild horses, continues to change because the cat watches the canary cage. 

Personally, I oppose welfare ranching whereby the government offers public lands to ranchers for lease at a very low price. Like most people, I oppose the Mustang harvest. I have zero sympathy for welfare ranchers. If my husband’s chosen career won’t support the family, like most Americans, he has to re-invent himself. Even America’s veterans have to make career changes to adjust to the civilian world. Who gives welfare ranchers, mineral, oil and gas industries a pass? Why should they get a pass? Most of us have mortgages and bills to pay. Creditors don’t provide a hefty pass if the income stream becomes unreliable. 

On another level that matters, Mustangs symbolize America’s can-do, in spite of all odds spirit.  They’re iconic and historic. The forefathers of these Mustangs likely have carried an ancestor into battle. Federally protected, much-loved wild horses represent a proud part of our collective heritage. 

What’s next on the chopping block? I can tell you—the Endangered Species Act. Bills have recently been introduced to water down the language and make it more difficult to add animals. Yes, it’s dirty politics driven by greed and powerful lobbies yet again. 

As a parent, grandparent, conservationist, environmentalist, naturalist, backpacker, hiker or climber, it’s important to know that horses are nature’s firefighters. In fact, wild horses are a firefighter’s best ally in preventing wildfires.Mustangs eat scrub brush that fuels forest fires.Cows do not. It’s much more costly to fight wildfires than to prevent them. Layer on the fatal threat to homeowners, families and firefighters that can’t be measured in dollars. Very disturbing...Yes, our natural public resources remain under siege, and the bureaucrats in charge hope they can ignore federal law, public scrutiny and outcry. The cat watching the canary cage applies even when homes and lives stand in the way. The grand plan overrides all other considerations, mainly the will of most Americans. 

Moreover, as a practical matter, Mustangs support industry—tourism, horse supplies, horse training, and nature photography. Guess these citizens need to find other sources of revenue to support/subsidize the oil, gas, mineral extraction and welfare ranchers' interests?  

What can you do? Call your legislator or contact the BLM to complain. The Bureau of Land Management continues to carryout illegal round-ups. They hope you aren't paying attention as they ignore the wishes of most Americans and federal law. I refer to the BLM as the Butchers of Land Management. They’ve earned the title. Having BLM manage the Mustangs makes about as much sense as turning lions loose on the herds. The best interests of the horses aren’t being served at all. 

What do I know? I'm a life-long horse owner. I've seen many Mustangs over the course of several years. Mustang trainers have worked at my horse property. Mustangs can be amazing performance horses with training. I've owned a Mustang. I've bid on trained Champion Mustangs at Extreme Mustang Makeover Events. Every starry-eyed Mustang trainer that I've met has wanted to keep their prized horses, not sell them. Mustangs add wonder and gratification to a day, even a professional's day. Yes, they're very awe-inspring creatures. In videos and pictures of wild horses on the range, do any look like they’re starving? No. They’re prospering on public lands. My stepfather was a horse breeder and cattle rancher who happily lived off the income from both businesses until he died. He leased from private landowners to expand his operation. No government handouts required. 

In conclusion, America’s public lands, wildlife and wild horses shouldn’t be a feeding trough for special interest hogs and piranha politicians. Mustangs should be respected and protected as mandated by federal law. Public lands should remain the domain of the families, wildlife and wild horses. Private industry has no place in this sector. The “accepted practice” of buying a carte blanche pass for illegal entitlements makes a mockery of federal law. It also defies the wishes of most Americans. The Bureau of Land Management should stop round-ups and stop lying to American citizens. They should serve as Mustang guardians not wild horse assassins. Respect, protect and revere our heritage, public lands, wildlife and wild horses – an important mantra for this generation and the next. 

Not by the will of the majority, we’re sinking to a new low. Please take action. 

I also encourage you to read and follow William E. Simpson II posts about wild horses. William is a naturalist, rancher and wild horse advocate.  See his latest post:http://www.myoutdoorbuddy.com/articles/136658/the-carnage-has-begun---*blm*---dirty-deeds-done-dirt-cheap-with-tax-dollars.php

Beautiful Evil Winter: Historical References and Editing Answers

On a recent book tour, two reviewers mentioned historical discrepancies and editing issues. To one reviewer in a particular, I have to say thanks for providing specific examples. Too often, authors only hear general complaints with little opportunity for improvement. I care about quality, I respect quality, and I’ve spent a great deal of money to provide a quality experience.

Here’s the once-muted backstory on editing:

Looking back, in addition to my own tedious backward and forward reads to search for errors, I paid two professionals, one focused on proof reading and the other on story development, to polish my freshman novel. Why did I pick proofreading? According to the Expert Editor, "Proofreading is the process of correcting surface errors in writing, such as grammatical, spelling, punctuation and other language mistakes." Based on my educational background, I felt comfortable that my writing skills would be a stronger link than the editing. Editing required the most money the most attention; so, I hired two editors. Like most people, I had limited funds and made the best strategic choices with the exception of the proofreader selected.

Much to my continuing regret, I chose to work with a publisher, First Edition Design Publishing, FEDP. I paid for proofreading services as well as a book cover plus. After I severed ties with the publisher for several other reasons, I discovered that the FEDP employee read the story, but didn't dig into the details. He made only two changes in a 243-page book! During the time with FEDP, I thought we did such a stellar job because it didn’t require many changes. Little did I know then. Finally, I navigated my way to a top-notch editor for my second novel, Plenty.

 I funded the entire first book effort with a small inheritance I received after the untimely tragic death of my biological father. Awful already just became a living nightmare. Since I needed money for my second novel, I pushed ahead without re-editing.

Fast forward to today, hopefully, at some point, I'll have the resources, at least a $1,000, and fortitude to right the editing wrongs. Of course, I'll have to fight the tsunami of anger, hate, withering disappointment and ALL of the associated agony and horrifyng memories of his death and funeral as my new editor sifts through the book with me page by page. Even though I wrote Beautiful Evil Winter years ago, I still feel my heart sink as I think of re-editing it. Bottom line: Beautiful Evil Winter represents a snapshot of one of the very best and very worst times of my life. My plan: to keep running my race, to write more quality books and to rely on my tested trusted support team. No looking back and dwelling in the past. Not buying into the Monday morning quarterback syndrome. A valuable lesson learned about editorial choices! 

Having said that, I can correct errors and re-publish quickly as an indie author. Recently, I have taken the liberty of making changes and re-publishing to enhance the experience for the reader. 

Re: historical references, I made an error with the mention of an iPad. That word has been changed to computer. DVDs appeared on the scene in the US in March of 1997. Specifically, Toshiba introduced DVD ROM in early 1997 as per Wikipedia. See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_player.  I also checked with my website manager to confirm my understanding of technology at the time.

Also, re: historical references, our epic adoption took place in 1997. The USSR fell on December 25, 1991. Re: landline and cell phone technology, a 2017 U.S. government study shows that 45.9% of the U.S. population still have landlines. See the following link for more details:  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/milestone-for-cellphones-vs-landline-phones/. Since I lived in that apartment with the phone and since I dealt with Natasha, I can assure you that both existed in 1997.

In 1997, a landline would sit on a coffee table in an expensive Moscow apartment.  And it did. A doctor would recommend putting onions in a baby’s socks and a Mustard poultice on his chest to cure congestion as mentioned in the book. When my husband’s pediatrician, a retiree, heard about the prescribed treatment, he gasped. His American-born grandmother used that same treatment for the same ailment.  

In closing, for those who’ve never traveled to ruthless Russia, The Russian Mafia controls the country. Daily life easily mimics the unforgiving gun slinging days of the frontier west even today. My dad, the one who raised me, still travels to Russia a couple of times a year. After he returns, we always chat about this trip as we’ve done since my twenties. 

 

Why Plenty, the Award-Winning Fifty Shades contrast?

Twenty-one year old has a heart attack? I recall the first time I heard about sadism—a news story on the radio. I froze in my tracks. What!! Why? Heart condition? The young woman suffered a heart attack and ended up in the emergency room after a sex party. How can this happen? The electric shocks administered proved to be much for her body. Victimized or consensual—beyond horrifying! This story has haunted me for years. In the big picture, Fifty, the student-for-a-sadist romance series, angered and disappointed me. I couldn't help but envision the added level of agony, raging rivers of tears, soul-shredding heartache and searing physical pain that prostitutes, battered women, trafficked teens, and naive young women attempt to survive and will endure because of the popularity of these trendy novels. Someone succinctly said, “ It’s a perfect complimentary plot for an episode of “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”.  Agreed.  

And while in bookstores for hours at a time, I witnessed grinning high school and college age girls lead their boyfriends, hand-in-hand, to the Fifty display to grab a copy of the novel and leave. As a mother of a son and an adoring aunt to my nieces, two words: totally revolting!  Yes, I’ve read all three novels, only to analyze the reason for their success. I also read the Twilight trilogy, irresistible due to the author's prose, her uncanny ability to put me in the scene as if I lived it, and the unusual storyline. I also read The Hunger Games trilogy, awestruck by the gripping plot and fascinating characters. And I’ve read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, completely exotic and spellbinding.

 At a minimum, the Fifty series camouflages and glamorizes a dehumanizing, cruel, immoral view—greed for green preempts all else. At a maximum, generations of the very vulnerable, the already victimized and innocent kicked over a cliff. The lives of marginalized, downtrodden, crime victims—already scarred by kidnapping, forced drug use, rape, sexual assault, physical violence to include cigarette burns, razor blades and attempted murder—darkened and damaged once again by three books, which made both BDSM and corrosive relationships more mainstream acceptable practices. More horror heaped upon those whose clients, new and established, never thought of that opportunity until now. Can you imagine waking up stripped of the most basic of freedoms, choosing how to shape your life your day? From the choice to call a friend or your parents or your siblings to the choice of what to wear that day to cuddling with the family dog—all gone. How about the taken for granted shopping trip to the mall or the local Dairy Queen for a Blizzard with a best friend? Gone. How being forced to sell sex hour after hour of every day? Sick, pregnant or sad. How about the choice of when to sleep, when to eat and what to eat? And most trafficked teens won’t escape their captors. According to author and lecturer Jerome Elom, the life span of a trafficked teen—only 7 years.  

Without question, Fifty has certainly added jagged daggers of withering sorrow to the abysmal lives of many emotionally-bankrupt human beings who struggle day-to-day to survive in the hopes that tomorrow may offer a chance to leave a nightmare, a chance to re-claim their bodies, families and souls.

5 Star Review of Plenty- Love Corruption and a Powerful Woman!

"...Plenty is a novel about love and corruption, friendships and salvation, the descent into hell and the effort to survive: as such, it's not for those seeking either a romance story or an easy leisure read. Indeed, readers who expect a novel filled with positives (an innuendo perhaps provided in both title and the fact that the small town is ironically named 'Prosperity') will find it abundant, instead, with conflict, sexual and psychological angst, and the efforts of two women to change the course of their lives... At times readers feel they are in an emotional meat grinder; at other times, protagonist strengths come to rescue. No easy or light read, Plenty is a vivid, revealing story recommended for any who would absorb two women's methods for regaining power in their worlds, and uses compelling, thought-provoking devices to bring this atmosphere to the forefront of attention. Female readers seeking an antithesis to Fifty Shades of Gray with more dynamic, powerful female characters will find Plenty more than fits the bill." D. Donovan, Senior Book Reviewer, Midwest Book Review 

Saving Toto

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

― Maya Angelou

Saving Toto

Toto would be hard pressed to survive on a walk with Dorothy in 2017. And the leashless walks–forget it! The main threat to Toto and small dogs like him—the adoring owners who let their cute canines walk them. You’ve seen that owner the one who walks behind Toto as Toto leads him or her around the streets. And should a bigger dog walk by? Toto’s owner lets his irresistible dog lunge, bark or snap at the passing dog. Sometimes, the daydreaming owner will allow Toto to lunge into the big dog’s lane or even lunge at the big dog’s owner. Yep, Toto wouldn’t survive a minute given the bad judgment I’ve witnessed by Toto owners. Ultimately, the blame for Toto’s demise or injuries attaches to the owner who never bothered to train Toto with basic commands like “Heel, leave it or stay."  

When I walk my German Shepherds on a heel, I can hardly believe how a Toto owner will allow their pint-sized dogs, oftentimes with Napoleon complexes, lash out at my big dogs that are protective of me.  Like cats, it takes just a second to for a big dog to grab a much smaller dog by the neck, shake once and the beloved Toto dies. For that reason, I carry leverage, pepper spray, to protect Toto from the thoughtless owner. I don’t want to see Toto die, and a blast of pepper certainly trumps a dogfight or a lightening quick death.  For other big dog owners, I’ve had to use my leverage more times than, I want to admit, to deal with loose dogs and aggressive dogs who want to fight the biggest guy in the bar.  These days, walking a dog comparable to driving a car—being mindful, smart and safe—crucial to enjoying a day with man’s best friend or a day driving the Mustang fastback.

And by the way, I’m not a dog park person because one never knows what’s racing through the gate. Has it been vaccinated? Has it been caged or ignored for days, making it hyper and aggressive? Does the owner exercise good or bad judgment?  Does the dog respond to recall? Is this dog trained? Will the owner closely watch the dog or chat? When I had to go to dog parks, one person told me if someone’s dog hurt his dog, he would go postal with the knife he always carried. Scary, huh? Another dog park patron pulled apart two dogs, one his own, and tossed the other dog like a football in the dog park. Also, some owners don’t recognize ready to war behavior. And it only takes a split second for a vicious battle to begin. To get a policeman's opinion, I talked to a K-9 officer who told me," Dog parka are awful. Stay away!" After talking to professional dog trainers about dog parks and irresponsible owners, I've learned that we're all disappointed with what we see. Playing ball in the backyard and dog class—sometimes the best options for a happy day with my best friends.