Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts by Janet DeLee

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

So, I'm writing this today on about three hours sleep and as I wait in the Outpatient Surgery Waiting Room for my Mom.  No worries, it's nothing drastic, but just enough to cause some worry.  Cie la vie.  Fingers crossed and any good thoughts you have to spare are appreciated.  Anywho...

Sleepness nights and early mornings aren't anything new for my world but for some, they come about for very different reasons.  Some are due to unexpected circumstances, others extreme stress, and still others thanks to unexpected "visitors"...of the noncorpereal kind.  Ladies and gents get ready to delve into a story that will encourage you to follow your dreams while making you question that bump in the night.  Today's book of choice is...

Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts

by

Janet DeLee

9781511656221

Creatspace Independent Publishing

About the book...

Dreams aren’t just for the young, and Ginny Lawther is happy to prove that even at the age of fifty-eight she can still brave a leap of faith…she just needs a little prodding from like-minded individuals. Step one: place an ad in the local newspaper inviting other dreamers to form an Ideal Life Club. Step two: see if anyone shows up.

When Ginny meets four hopeful strangers at the first club meeting, she thinks they’re off to a great start.

Now it's only a matter of time before the sixty-something widow Hilda turns her crafting into a full-time career; the twenty-something Jerry becomes a professional musician; and the thirty-something housewife Lydia publishes her cookbook. That is, until the rugged divorcé, Lee, sets a goal to solve his ghost problem—and upends all their lives!

Suddenly the support group isn’t just trying to navigate the ups and downs of pursuing their dreams; they’re also wrestling with a strange cast of spirits who keep interrupting their endeavors. What do these apparitions want? And why have they latched on to the Ideal Lifers?

Haunting, humorous, and hopeful, Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts sparks the imagination and breathes unexpected life into everyday reality.

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At its heart, it's a novel that reminds us that anything is possible, even our wildest dreams, if we're willing to put the work in and stay positive...with a little spiritual work on the side.  

The Ideal Life Club is Ginny's "baby".  While it's personal benefits are obvious, she's a giving soul and thus sees it as a way for others to reach their dreams too.  After all, sometimes all we need is a little push in the right direction, someone to help us mount the obstacles in our way and catch us if we should fall.  Those that have that built in support at home, count your blessings, but not everyone does and thus the kindness of strangers that eventually become friends concept is most welcome.  You may even divine some ideas for your own dream seeking adventures after reading their story, but first, let's take a quick look at who "they" in fact are...

Ginny:   Group organizer, author, and self-proclaimed late bloomer with a heart of gold and dreams most anyone could share....owning her own home, in her case more specifically a cottage.  As she crosses off her goal list, unusual obstacles pop up but despite the creepiness of the situation, she approaches it with the same level head as always.  Sure, she has nerves, but she leans on friendships old and new to make it through.  Really enjoyed getting to know this positive soul.

Hilda:  Dreams of leaving her day job behind not because she's bad at it or less-than-inamored by it, but simply to spend more time in her happy place...crafting.  She's got quite a gift too and goes about reaching her goals in a proactive and attainable manner.  By the way, the doggy idea...I'd totally buy one too!  ^-^  She's supportive and kind, always ready to share a kind word wherever needed.  It was good to see her really find her niche.

Lydia:  Though she could be viewed as the "coldest" of the bunch, I think it was more a front to keep her world orderly.  Once she got into the fundraiser cookbook project she was tackling, you could see the curtains burst open and let the light of her passion to do good shine through.  Also, I would definitely be interested in being a taste tester, in case she's still looking!

Jerry:  Suffering from a severe case of stage fright while wanting to become a full-time musician is not an easy combination...trust me, I sympathize with part of his plight at the very least.  He has the talent, it's all about getting the chops to back it up.  By himself, I'm afraid to say it's a lost cause, but with friends by his side, the world could be his oyster if he only grabs it.  He's a character you love for his flaws because of how human they make him.  

Lee:  A hard nut to crack but hey, he took the first step in trying to solve the problems he was having...spook filled construction sites.  Seriously, haunted jobsites are the norm for him recently and he just wants peace to practice his trade successfully.  Is the group the right fit?  Perhaps not, but they make it work and in doing so help him reach a bigger goal than he envisioned for himself though we don't truly get to see it come to fruitation.  

All in all, a great cast and a promising story.  Though it does drag at times as the author attempts to keep us up to date on everyone's goings on aside from the monthly meetings, it's never so much as to lose you along the way.  Recommended read for Fiction and Paranormal fans alike.

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About the author...

Prolific writer and author, Janet DeLee is now a second time author of two wonderful books. Her new release titled, 'Taking Leaps and Finding Ghosts, A Novel' is her best work to date.

Janet DeLee is a self-appointed, self-actualization guinea pig who firmly believes in leaps of faith and is committed to creating an ideal life for herself. 

The Texas author, who lives in the Dallas area, was inspired to write ghost stories after experiencing unsettling events during stays at several bed-and-breakfasts, as well as an old New Orleans hotel. 

In addition to having a hint of mystery, DeLee's novels also tend to follow characters struggling to pursue their dreams. Her unique writing style, storylines, and characters in her novels are born from this sassy little Texan's delightful imagination and personal experiences.

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Special thanks to the author for the SIGNED copy for review as well as the tea bag to join in Ginny and Lenore's fun!  (THANKS!)  For more information about this title, the author, or her other works, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Createspace Independent Publishing, so be on the lookout for it at a virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!