AliceAJackson.com
Reviews
Broken Chord
Review by Lisa Gilbert-Brown
Alice A. Jackson's Broken Chord offers a compelling collaboration of love betrayal, passion, intrigue, and murder set in Nashville's famous Music Row.
Captivating from the outset, we meet relatable protagonist, the beautiful but middle aged-beleaguered, Sarah Ann Boswell. She finds herself beset by the throes of a middle of her life crisis, when not only does she turn fifty years old, loses her husband to unfaithfulness and divorce, and feels largely ignored by her children, as well as finds herself unceremoniously fired from her job. At a loss for direction or self-esteem, Sarah Ann does the unthinkable and tries to take her own life; nevertheless she survives with the staunch love and support of her long time friends, her prayer group.
While hospitalized Sarah Ann meets the savvy, smart and talented, Jill Edgerton, who offers her the promise of a renewed life with an offer to join Edgerton Group, her Nashville based talent management firm. Accepting the offer, Sarah Ann embarks on a new and happier journey through life and into the alluringly lucrative world of the country music business. They strike gold with the advent of newly discovered artist Jared Parson. Although he's handsome, talented, and virile, he also seems to harbor a secretive side. Besides turning out to be a cash cow for Edgerton group, Jared also starts to cause a divide between partners Sarah Ann and Jill, as an illicit relationship forms between him and Jill. Moreover, events take a turn for the twisted and mysterious when Jill Edgerton is found murdered, leading to an investigation focusing on multiple, possible suspects including Sarah Ann.
Wholly entertaining, Broken Chord turned out to be an enjoyable read that moved as a crescendo does, steadily paced with slow building intensity that culminates into a well orchestrated conclusion. The story itself was well written.
Author Alice A. Jackson writes in a literate, polished, easygoing style, while the overall story keeps you engaged with its setting, plot twists and cast of resonate, fleshed out and likable, characters. I especially liked Sarah Ann, whose honorable personality, struggles and triumphs were easy to commiserate with. Additionally, the character of Jared Parson was also done well; he was a character whose formidable personality made him an engaging personality, albeit it was a “love to hate” connection. This book makes a terrific read for adult fans of mystery books.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Retired journalist and radio broadcaster Jackson offers a debut mystery set in the music business, starring a middle-aged woman who rises to fame as a manager in Nashville’s Music Row.
Life isn’t treating Sarah Ann Boswell well lately. After her 26-year marriage to a high-powered attorney ends, she loses
her job as vice president of community outreach for a charitable foundation, and things look bleak for her. In a fateful
moment, she tries to end it all by taking an overdose of sleeping pills. Lucky for Sarah Ann, she’s rushed to the hospital
before reaching the point of no return. With her ever faithful prayer group and her two adult children supporting her,
Sarah Ann manages to face her situation, and she begins to recover.
Jill Edgerton, the founder of a Nashville music-management firm, happens to be recuperating in the next bed. She offers Sarah Ann her friendship and a job—two things that Sarah Ann can’t pass up. Shortly after hitching her wagon to Jill’s, she meets musician Jared Parson, who “has the looks of a young Vince Gill, hips like Elvis, and a voice to challenge Blake Shelton.” The women immediately sign him as a client and later produce his CD, which hits the top of the charts. But something isn’t quite right about the new country star. And when someone turns up dead, Sarah Ann knows something is very, very wrong. Jackson’s writing wraps the reader in Southern charm, channeling Southern Living and offering recipes reminiscent of those in Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible. Although Jackson's story is engaging throughout, its main plot line is delayed; a minor mystery is alluded to in Chapter 8, the real one doesn’t get going until Chapter 26. Characters spend the remaining 11 chapters figuring out whodunit. While the mystery isn’t challenging, it remains entertaining to the end.
An often engaging and inspirational tale.
Review by Lisa Gilbert-Brown
Alice A. Jackson's Broken Chord offers a compelling collaboration of love betrayal, passion, intrigue, and murder set in Nashville's famous Music Row.
Captivating from the outset, we meet relatable protagonist, the beautiful but middle aged-beleaguered, Sarah Ann Boswell. She finds herself beset by the throes of a middle of her life crisis, when not only does she turn fifty years old, loses her husband to unfaithfulness and divorce, and feels largely ignored by her children, as well as finds herself unceremoniously fired from her job. At a loss for direction or self-esteem, Sarah Ann does the unthinkable and tries to take her own life; nevertheless she survives with the staunch love and support of her long time friends, her prayer group.
While hospitalized Sarah Ann meets the savvy, smart and talented, Jill Edgerton, who offers her the promise of a renewed life with an offer to join Edgerton Group, her Nashville based talent management firm. Accepting the offer, Sarah Ann embarks on a new and happier journey through life and into the alluringly lucrative world of the country music business. They strike gold with the advent of newly discovered artist Jared Parson. Although he's handsome, talented, and virile, he also seems to harbor a secretive side. Besides turning out to be a cash cow for Edgerton group, Jared also starts to cause a divide between partners Sarah Ann and Jill, as an illicit relationship forms between him and Jill. Moreover, events take a turn for the twisted and mysterious when Jill Edgerton is found murdered, leading to an investigation focusing on multiple, possible suspects including Sarah Ann.
Wholly entertaining, Broken Chord turned out to be an enjoyable read that moved as a crescendo does, steadily paced with slow building intensity that culminates into a well orchestrated conclusion. The story itself was well written.
Author Alice A. Jackson writes in a literate, polished, easygoing style, while the overall story keeps you engaged with its setting, plot twists and cast of resonate, fleshed out and likable, characters. I especially liked Sarah Ann, whose honorable personality, struggles and triumphs were easy to commiserate with. Additionally, the character of Jared Parson was also done well; he was a character whose formidable personality made him an engaging personality, albeit it was a “love to hate” connection. This book makes a terrific read for adult fans of mystery books.
KIRKUS REVIEWS
Retired journalist and radio broadcaster Jackson offers a debut mystery set in the music business, starring a middle-aged woman who rises to fame as a manager in Nashville’s Music Row.
Life isn’t treating Sarah Ann Boswell well lately. After her 26-year marriage to a high-powered attorney ends, she loses
her job as vice president of community outreach for a charitable foundation, and things look bleak for her. In a fateful
moment, she tries to end it all by taking an overdose of sleeping pills. Lucky for Sarah Ann, she’s rushed to the hospital
before reaching the point of no return. With her ever faithful prayer group and her two adult children supporting her,
Sarah Ann manages to face her situation, and she begins to recover.
Jill Edgerton, the founder of a Nashville music-management firm, happens to be recuperating in the next bed. She offers Sarah Ann her friendship and a job—two things that Sarah Ann can’t pass up. Shortly after hitching her wagon to Jill’s, she meets musician Jared Parson, who “has the looks of a young Vince Gill, hips like Elvis, and a voice to challenge Blake Shelton.” The women immediately sign him as a client and later produce his CD, which hits the top of the charts. But something isn’t quite right about the new country star. And when someone turns up dead, Sarah Ann knows something is very, very wrong. Jackson’s writing wraps the reader in Southern charm, channeling Southern Living and offering recipes reminiscent of those in Paula Deen’s Southern Cooking Bible. Although Jackson's story is engaging throughout, its main plot line is delayed; a minor mystery is alluded to in Chapter 8, the real one doesn’t get going until Chapter 26. Characters spend the remaining 11 chapters figuring out whodunit. While the mystery isn’t challenging, it remains entertaining to the end.
An often engaging and inspirational tale.
Good-bye, Gadsden/Print Review
Category: Fiction
Publisher: iUniverse
Set in the 1940s with World War II pressing men into service and young women taking over the responsibilities and work at home, this novel presents the wartime romance of John Winstead. While recovering from severe war wounds, Winstead recalls growing up in Gadsden, Alabama, and his first and only true love: "Sylvia Ross Barnes was easily the most beautiful woman in Gadsden. Long, curly blond hair framed an oval face. Light freckles were peppered across her nose and upper cheeks... ."
The war, true love, and the end of an idyllic era come together to form an absorbing read. Yet this novel lacks immediacy and tension. It reads like an autobiography with the emphasis on relaying incidents rather than painting scenes, infusing emotion into description, or bringing the events and character to life: "It was the first Ann knew of my relationship with Sylvia. She listened in silence. When I finished, she pulled me to her, laying my head in her lap and stroked my hair."
The author compensates with a sprinkling of somewhat superficial but none-the-less effective details that lend a sense of realism. "Japanese pilots were notorious for attacking life rafts on the open ocean," the narrator explains. "We were sitting ducks - and we knew it... . I slid over the back of the raft... . My flyer's boots began filling with water... ."
Bullets hit their mark and the next thing we know Winstead calls out for Sylvia from a coma while aboard a hospital ship. We follow his coma dreams and memories back to his home town and his first meeting with Sylvia. She, six years Winstead's senior, married a drunken, useless man. Sylvia runs the family's dry cleaning business after her step-father committed suicide. Winstead, a naive and virginal high school student, rides his bicycle around town collecting loads of dirty laundry that he drops off to her business in exchange for spending money. Sylvia eventually seduces him and they begin an affair that ends after Winstead rescues her from her abusive husband. Sylvia leaves town. Devastated by her departure, Winstead puts his sports scholarship and college dreams on hold to join the war effort.
The author, an award-winning television and radio anchor/news director, knows how to report a story. Writing fiction, thought, requires storytelling skills that differ from those used in journalistic reporting. Jackson creates a believable setting, drawing readers in to the 1940's war and struggle for survival, but she misses opportunities to bring this novel to life. With a thorough edit, an eye for more energized and colorful scene painting, and richer detail, this novel could rival some of the better war romance novels. As it is, it reads more like a biographical narrative. Readers who enjoy romance in war times, a male narrator's perspective, and gentle descriptions of war would find this a satisfying read.
Review by: Dawn Goldsmith
Category: Fiction
Publisher: iUniverse
Set in the 1940s with World War II pressing men into service and young women taking over the responsibilities and work at home, this novel presents the wartime romance of John Winstead. While recovering from severe war wounds, Winstead recalls growing up in Gadsden, Alabama, and his first and only true love: "Sylvia Ross Barnes was easily the most beautiful woman in Gadsden. Long, curly blond hair framed an oval face. Light freckles were peppered across her nose and upper cheeks... ."
The war, true love, and the end of an idyllic era come together to form an absorbing read. Yet this novel lacks immediacy and tension. It reads like an autobiography with the emphasis on relaying incidents rather than painting scenes, infusing emotion into description, or bringing the events and character to life: "It was the first Ann knew of my relationship with Sylvia. She listened in silence. When I finished, she pulled me to her, laying my head in her lap and stroked my hair."
The author compensates with a sprinkling of somewhat superficial but none-the-less effective details that lend a sense of realism. "Japanese pilots were notorious for attacking life rafts on the open ocean," the narrator explains. "We were sitting ducks - and we knew it... . I slid over the back of the raft... . My flyer's boots began filling with water... ."
Bullets hit their mark and the next thing we know Winstead calls out for Sylvia from a coma while aboard a hospital ship. We follow his coma dreams and memories back to his home town and his first meeting with Sylvia. She, six years Winstead's senior, married a drunken, useless man. Sylvia runs the family's dry cleaning business after her step-father committed suicide. Winstead, a naive and virginal high school student, rides his bicycle around town collecting loads of dirty laundry that he drops off to her business in exchange for spending money. Sylvia eventually seduces him and they begin an affair that ends after Winstead rescues her from her abusive husband. Sylvia leaves town. Devastated by her departure, Winstead puts his sports scholarship and college dreams on hold to join the war effort.
The author, an award-winning television and radio anchor/news director, knows how to report a story. Writing fiction, thought, requires storytelling skills that differ from those used in journalistic reporting. Jackson creates a believable setting, drawing readers in to the 1940's war and struggle for survival, but she misses opportunities to bring this novel to life. With a thorough edit, an eye for more energized and colorful scene painting, and richer detail, this novel could rival some of the better war romance novels. As it is, it reads more like a biographical narrative. Readers who enjoy romance in war times, a male narrator's perspective, and gentle descriptions of war would find this a satisfying read.
Review by: Dawn Goldsmith
What readers are saying about Good-bye, Gadsden
"I've finished reading Good-bye, Gadsden. Great book. Loved it!
In fact, I read it on a flight to California...and chose to re-read it on the return trip...You are a gifted writer."
R. Simmons, Franklin, TN
(Amazon)
"Good-bye, Gadsden is one man's/family's account of events during World War II. It is action packed as well as historically accurate. Once you pick it up you will be hard pressed to put it down again for wanting to know what happens next. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did."
A. Haskell, Margate, Fl
(Amazon)
"Great mix of life and history. This book was read after I watched the PBS series on World War II and it was an appropriate match. The fictional parts blend in perfectly with the historical."
JBR78
(Amazon)
Email: aliceajackson@live.com
"I've finished reading Good-bye, Gadsden. Great book. Loved it!
In fact, I read it on a flight to California...and chose to re-read it on the return trip...You are a gifted writer."
R. Simmons, Franklin, TN
(Amazon)
"Good-bye, Gadsden is one man's/family's account of events during World War II. It is action packed as well as historically accurate. Once you pick it up you will be hard pressed to put it down again for wanting to know what happens next. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did."
A. Haskell, Margate, Fl
(Amazon)
"Great mix of life and history. This book was read after I watched the PBS series on World War II and it was an appropriate match. The fictional parts blend in perfectly with the historical."
JBR78
(Amazon)
Email: aliceajackson@live.com