The 2018 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD recognized “The Secret of Trail House Lodge” in the category of Young Adult Fiction as a winner and “Inescapable ~ The Beginning” as a Distinguished Favorite in the category of Romantic Suspense.

The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected award Winners and Distinguished Favorites are based on overall excellence.

“In 2018, we again had a most impressive worldwide participation: cities such as London to Moscow to San Francisco, and many countries such as Australia, Canada, India and Japan, and across the globe had books to submitted to the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD.

We are so delighted to announce the winners and distinguished favorites in our annual 2018 INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD.  Independent publishing is very much alive, and continues to flourish worldwide,” said awards sponsor Gabrielle Olczak.

Sophie Collins Mystery Series – Book 2 – The Secret of Trail House Lodge

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kWcKq2
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2psEG8M
Books2Read Universal Link: https://www.books2read.com/u/m0z6d7

   Book 1 – The Red Coat
Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/2hQETRj
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2i2VZfr
Books2Read Universal Link: https://www.books2read.com/u/mBDoAb

Inescapable Series – Book 1 – The Beginning
Black Opal Books: http://bit.ly/2qV2HJs
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2oUcTQ4
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ym4Z7E
Books2Read Universal Link: https://www.books2read.com/u/3J0aKe

Book 2 – Rembering
Black Opal Books: http://bit.ly/2xFHPt1
Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/2iaVKNb
Amazon:  http://amzn.to/2iIu8QK
Books2Read Universal Link: https://www.books2read.com/u/b5MdOG

Book 3 – Tomorrow
Black Opal Books: http://bit.ly/2HLFqS2
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2HoV7Ls
Amazon:  https://amzn.to/2vj1b6B
Books2Read Universal Link: https://www.books2read.com/u/bpWXGJ

I am proud to announce that book 3 — Inescapable ~ Tomorrow — has been released. It is available on Black Opal Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and many other retail book sites.

Here are a few reviews:

TAYLOR JONES SAYS: In Inescapable ~ Tomorrow by Madge H. Gressley, Darcey Callahan has regained her memory and survived the plot to kill her. Now she is about to be married to Brad Daniels, the love of her life and the man who rescued her from the human traffickers. But Darcey is still in danger. Revenge against Brad for a successful victory against the plot to take over the bio dome, and revenge against Darcey, simply because of who she is, threaten her now that she and Brad are going to Dubai for him to take over a top-secret project for ORCA. But unexpected allies, and even more unexpected enemies, will keep Darcey, and those trying to protect her, on their toes.

Exciting, intriguing, and timely, given the state of the world today, Gressley blends science fiction, science fact, romance, and mystery into a thrilling tale you won’t be able to put down.

REGAN MURPHY SAYS: Inescapable ~ Tomorrow by Madge Gressley is the story of Darcey Callahan, a graphic designer from Dallas, Texas, who has been kidnapped by human traffickers, lost her memory in a car crash, and now is about to marry the love of her life, Brad, who searched for her, rescued her from the human traffickers, and helped her regain her memory. After everything she has been through, you would think the poor girl could finally relax and enjoy her wedding and her honeymoon in Dubai. But alas, her troubles are not over. The danger is still there, fueled by revenge and obsession, and Darcey is unaware of it. Brad tries to protect her, but he is starting a new top-secret project and can’t spend every minute with her. But Darcey doesn’t want bodyguards, so she leaves herself wide open to the evil scheming in the background. It is a decision she may come to rue.

Equally as chilling, thrilling, and romantic as the first two books, I found both the science fiction and the mystery as exciting and fascinating as the romance. Inescapable ~ Tomorrow has a little something for everyone. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I am excited to announce that Inescapable ~ The Beginning has been nominated for the OnlineBookClub’s 2018 Book of the Year! Please take a coulpe of minutes to vote at https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/shelves/book.php?id=239485&boty=1

The following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of
Inescapable ~ The Beginning”
by Madge H Gressley.

4 out of 4 stars

Darcey Callahan can’t help but fall in love with Brad Daniels, but she has no idea what kind of terrifying consequences their relationship holds. Brad works for a mysterious agency with a top-secret mission. He is called to Peru to investigate the allegation that someone is tampering with his project. During his investigation, he loses contact with Darcey for an extensive amount of time, and her anxiety overwhelms her. She flies out to Peru to find Brad, but instead finds herself kidnapped and sold into a human trafficking ring by the very men that Brad had set out to apprehend. Suddenly, Brad is the one that has to save her. He’ll have to work fast if he wants to rescue her before the remnants of her past life slip completely out of her grasp.

Inescapable isn’t a typical romance story, and the plot is anything but predictable. I expected her to be pining for Brad in her cell, praying that he would show up and whisk her away from the clutches of her kidnappers, but an accident leaves her with only broken memories. Now, not only does Brad have to rescue her, but he has to steal her heart back from the man who cared for her when no one else did, and force her to remember the love they once shared together.

The first part of the novel is mostly focused on Brad’s secret project. I feel that this section of the story drags on a little, but it also provides valuable insight about his colleagues. Even those closest to Brad have ulterior motives, and he is completely unaware that he cannot trust anyone around him. At the resolution of the novel, it is still not made clear why certain characters purposely sabotage Brad’s project, and I would be interested to learn more about their motives in the sequel.

Many stories revolving around human trafficking are often packed with crude and sexual scenes, but this isn’t the case in Inescapable. There are only a few instances in the story that deem it suitable for a more mature audience. I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to enjoy the story without being overwhelmed by vulgar scenes.

I believe Inescapable deserves 4 out of 4 stars. It is well-edited and resolves in a way that leaves the reader wanting more. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an unpredictable romance packed with suspense and mystery.

******
Inescapable ~ The Beginning
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords | on Black Opal Books

I am excited and proud to share with you two great reviews for my children’s books — Dexter’s Wonderful Day and Totally Terrible Tommy.

Dexter’s Wonderful Day

Reviewed By Tiffany Davis for Readers’ Favorite

Dexter’s Wonderful Day by Madge H. Gressley is a children’s story about a dinosaur named Dexter who was determined to have a wonderful day, even though none of his friends were available to go to the pond to skip rocks with him. Dexter was bummed out that he didn’t have friends to play with, but he was determined to have a good day so he proceeded to the pond. Along the way, he encountered other friends who were all busy and couldn’t play.

The story is good because as Dexter walked through the woods, he wondered why none of his friends wanted to play, but he never got discouraged. To his amazement, all of his friends surprised him with a birthday party and served a feast. Dexter was grateful for all of his friends and especially for all the gifts he received. Not only was Dexter able to skip rocks, he had so much fun that all he could do was fall asleep and dream about the wonderful day he’d just had with his friends.

This story teaches children patience and the ability to be grateful, even when things don’t go as planned. It is a good book for kindergarten children because at that age they start to better understand the importance of patience and being able to adjust. Dexter’s Wonderful Day by Madge H. Gressley is very well written and is a nice story for young children. A great children’s story!

Totally Terrible Tommy

Reviewed By Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers’ Favorite

Totally Terrible Tommy is just as his name suggests: he’s totally terrible. He tramples his mother’s tulips, trashes his father’s workshop, breaks his sister’s toys, and talks back to his teachers at school. Nothing stops Tommy from being totally terrible. When his grandfather comes to visit, he challenges Tommy’s perspective by asking him why he wants to behave so terribly. Tommy seems to think everyone expects him to be terrible, so that’s what he is. He wants to be noticed and he doesn’t believe he will be noticed if he’s not terrible. His grandfather asks him to try a different approach for a week. Tommy agrees and starts be helpful and nice to everyone. Suddenly Totally Terrible Tommy has become Totally Terrific Tommy and he’s getting more attention than he thought possible. He’s even feeling good about himself. But it’s not enough. You see, Tommy just wants to be Tommy, not Totally Terrible or Totally Terrific, just Tommy. And that’s not such a bad thing either, because no one can or should be perfectly good or perfectly bad all of the time.

Author Madge H Gressley has written a beautiful story. Totally Terrible Tommy is both humorous and serious and teaches readers, young and old alike, the importance of accepting ourselves and others around us for what they are: neither totally terrible nor totally terrific. And it teaches us all the importance of helping out and trying to be considerate and hard working as much as possible. The author is both clever and charming in her story, using the catchy alliteration of T’s in the Totally Terrible Tommy and Totally Terrific Tommy.

Darcey had found the man of her dreams in Brad. He lit a fire in her like no one else could. But Lily’s appearance In their life had marked trouble. Darcey knew very little about his job, only that it was ‘classified’. When he tells her he once more has to return to sort out some trouble, she knew from his expression there was more to it than that, and she was worried. It seemed her instincts had been right on the mark, Brad goes missing, and she moves mountains in an attempt to track him down, unaware that she is playing directly into the enemies’ hands. After a horrific traffic accident, being kidnapped, and drugged, her mind shuts down, robbing her of all memories. The only thing she knows for sure, she’s being held against her will. Can she find the strength to escape, will she uncover her forgotten memories, can Brad find her before a fate worse than amnesia befalls her? Unravel the mystery in Madge H. Gressley’s Inescapable ~ The Beginning.

Mystery fans, and those who enjoy a good tale of intrigue will certainly find Madge H. Gressley’s, Inescapable ~ The Beginning, ticks a lot of their boxes. There is some great character development, complex relationships, betrayal, hope, devastation, suspicion, a hint of honour among ‘thieves’, and romance, all creating a starting a foundation for the next book in the series. Inescapable ~ The Beginning is a good first book with plenty to  keep a reader entertained, you’ll be drawn into the plot,  and find yourself rooting for the characters and watching their relationships change and grow shaped by their experiences. There are parts of this book, and the interactions between the characters that feel very real, and thus create a good atmosphere an enjoyable read that will make many readers want  to pick up the second book.

kjsimmill

e-Books available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, KOBO, Google Books, iBooks

Paperback available on Amazon, Black Opal Books, Barnes & Noble

Check it out!! My Sophie Collins Mystery Series books “The Red Coat” and “The Secret of Trail House Lodge” have both received the Gold Bookworm Award from Reader’s Review Room.

SPECIAL: Starting February 1 through February 8, 2018, on Amazon only both books will be 99¢ each. Here’s your chance to get both books at a super-low price for a limited time.

“The Red Coat”
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Short reads – 90 minutes or less, Teen Turf, Young Adult Novels

“The Secret of Trail House Lodge”  ”
Genres: Medium-length reads – 90 minutes to 4 hours, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Teen Turf, Young Adult Novels

What caught my eye first about this book is the spooky house on the cover. It made me shiver with anticipation of a good mystery, reminiscent of days gone by of reading late into the night under the covers with a flashlight. Second, I loved Sophie. She’s a hard-headed, spunky, full of mischief teenager, a girl who is curious and loves figuring things out. She’s even in a club with three of her friends, the Junior Detective Group. She often relies on her ‘mystery gauge’ for clues and according to Sophie, her mystery gauge is never wrong.

During a romp in an old deserted lodge, Sophie and her friends find a mummified body, footprints in the dust, and other items intensifying the mystery of what happened. There are subplots to follow throughout the book: What is the role of the old lodge’s caretaker and what was he searching for? Why did creepy Uncle Titus, her deceased grandfather’s brother, suddenly show up at Morsey Manor, asking questions and insisting that he become her guardian? What is the significance of the items in the safety deposit box? These questions and more led to a good read.

There are different points of view within a few paragraphs of each other and that was a bit jarring, but the author made it clear who was thinking what and it didn’t deter from the storyline. I wish Sophie’s three friends had more personality, because for being teenagers, they seemed flat. However, I liked the characters of Grayson the butler and Millie the cook, and the role of Grayson to Sophie. Grayson is trying his best to teach Sophie manners so she can live up to the reputation of being Hustus Morsey’s granddaughter, but she is a relunctant student, with a mind of her own.

Don’t let the category of children’s books scare you off from reading this mystery. I would say it’s more of a Teens & Young Adult category. I can see Author Gressley collecting a fan base that will follow Sophie and her Junior Detective Group, and look forward to seeing more books in this series.

Inescapable ~ Remembering has just received another 5 Star review from Reader’s Favorite.

If there is anything I love better than the movie Taken, starring Liam Neeson, it is the second book in this thrilling series: Inescapable — Remembering by Madge H Gressley. A beautiful woman, Darcey Callahan, sets out to locate her missing boyfriend, driving from Texas to Peru. But she has an accident on the way, which leaves her devoid of memory, but in the hands of a drug trafficking ring. She is in a bio dome, located five miles beneath the ocean. Brad, her boyfriend, rescues her. But can she trust Brad? How does she know that everything Brad tells her is true? And can Brad keep her safe from a more dangerous enemy?

This is a story laced with intrigue and deeply moving scenes. Madge H Gressley has a wonderful gift for character and plot, and she begins her story with a powerful premise: a woman having an accident and waking up sold, but what makes it even more complicated is that she has lost her memory, so how can she reconnect with her past and identity? The idea of a dome in the depths of the sea is appealing as well. The suspense begins from the moment readers encounter the protagonist and they begin to feel for her, wanting to find out if she can recall who she is and still accept Brad as her boyfriend. There are many plot twists that will entice readers. The narrative is awesome, done in a voice that is strong and steady. The writing is captivating and readers will fall for the characters as they relate with others and work through dramatic conflicts. Inescapable — Remembering is a gorgeous read, as suspenseful as it is entertaining.

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers’ Favorite