|
 Tomorrow
Came Early
Castle
of Sorrows
Wrong
Side of Love
Waltz
in Time
Too
Late for Tomorrow
Hello,
I'm Carolyn Nobody
Just
Deserts
Unraveled
5 Stars
TOMORROW CAME EARLY
Diana Lee Johnson
Wings Press
ISBN: 1-59088-852-9
Historical Romance
Set during the end of the
Civil War, TOMORROW CAME
EARLY is the captivating
story of Andrew Hamilton and
the loves of his life. When
a stray bullet tragically
kills Andrew's new wife, he
abandons his life-and his
family-to live as Hamilton
Anderson. During the
reconstruction of the South,
his family searches for
their long lost Andrew, only
to return home empty handed.
Full of love and betrayal,
TOMORROW CAME EARLY is
masterfully written. Diana
Lee Johnson has captured the
emotions of her characters
beautifully, and readers
will come to love them all.
A unique blend of Southern
and
French dialogue makes the
book fun, but not at all
difficult to read. The many
interwoven plots keep the
reader on her toes, and the
ending will leave even the
most perceptive reader
surprised. The sequel to
Johnson's TOO
LATE FOR TOMORROW; this book
will have you looking for
her other novels at your
local bookstore.
Reviewed by: Melissa Brown
Scribes World Reviews
http://www.scribesworld.com/reviews/
|
TOMORROW CAME
EARLY
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by Diana Lee
Johnson |
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Rating:
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The tale begins with
young Andrew
Hamilton in Richmond
Virginia. As the
Union Army takes
Richmond, Andrew
seeks a way out of
the city for his
future wife, Tracy
Saunders, her
father, Payton, and
himself. Not wishing
to be a burden to
his daughter and
Andrew, Payton takes
his own life. Though
devastated by their
tragedy, Andrew and
Tracy marry quickly
and leave the city
for Alabama. On the
way, Tracy is the
victim of a stray
bullet and dies.
Andrew is devastated
not only by her
death but also by
the loss of life
surrounding him.
Disillusioned, he
sells everything,
except for a few
possessions, which
remind him of Tracy
and moves to New
Orleans and starts a
new life with a new
name.
Meanwhile, Andrew’s
siblings are
attempting to
reconstruct their
lives. Their
greatest hope is
that Andrew is still
alive. While
rebuilding their
estates and
relationships, they
search for him.
Andrew does not want
to be found though.
He is not ready to
deal with the past.
When he meets
Samantha Wagner and
falls in love, he
begins to think
about his family and
finally lets them
know he is alive and
well through a
mysterious letter.
While traveling by
boat, Andrew meets
mysterious Count
Henri DuLac and his
sister, Soiree. He
is immediately drawn
to them, but he is
unsure why. The
truth about them may
kill him.
...a cast
of fascinating
characters and a
suspenseful,
cleverly written
plot.
Well-crafted and
vividly sketched
with historical
accuracy,
Tommorrow Came Early
is an entertaining
novel even if you
didn’t read its
predecessor Too
Late For Tomorrow.
The ending of the
novel is a
heart-warming
surprise.
|
Reviewed in
February 2003 by
Natasha.
|
Tomorrow Came Early
By Diana Lee Johnson
Historical
Wings-ePress
ISBN: 1-59088-093-5 & ISBN:
1-59088-852-9
January 2003
Tomorrow Came Early, the
much-anticipated sequel to
Too Late for Tomorrow, is a
fabulous read! The saga of
the spirited Hamiltons
continues in this moving and
powerfully written
historical novel set at the
end of the Civil War. The
love, devotion, and courage
of this dynamic family,
especially young Andrew
Hamilton, will touch your
heart and soul as you read
this compelling story;
family secrets and intrigue
will keep you on the edge of
your seat. Prepare to be
carried away on the wings of
this highly recommended
book!
Tina Dean, Associate Editor
Virginia Writing
TOMORROW CAME EARLY
Diana Lee Johnson
Wings-ePress, Inc.
January 2003
1-59088-093-5
1-59088-852-9
In the sequel to TOO LATE
FOR TOMORROW, Diana Lee
Johnson continues the story
of the Hamilton family of
Albemarle Plantation.
TOMORROW CAME EARLY picks up
in Richmond, Virginia at the
end of the Civil War, with
Andrew Hamilton.
Andrew Hamilton loved Tracy
Saunders, daughter of the
senator from Alabama. As the
Union Army threatens to
overrun Richmond, Tracy's
father takes his own life,
and Andrew marries Tracy and
whisks her away to her home.
A few miles from Payton
Hall, Tracy is shot in a
skirmish between Confederate
and Union troops. After her
death Andrew, in despair,
sells her jewelry,
determined to make a fresh
start. He changes his name
to Hamilton Anderson and
moves to New Orleans,
becoming a successful
businessman and gambler.
Meanwhile, at Albemarle,
Jeremy and Gabby are
greeting a new life, and
mourning the loss of their
missing brother, Andrew.
When their father's watch is
found in a jewelry store,
the family searches for
Andrew to no avail and prays
that he is not dead.
Hamilton Anderson has found
a new life on the
Mississippi River as part
owner of a riverboat. On a
trip to St. Louis he meets
Samantha Wagner, when she
blackens his eye with her
parasol. Hamilton falls in
love with Sam, but knows
they can't have a life
together until he can tell
her the truth about his
past.
While traveling to New
Orleans, Hamilton meets
fellow gambler Count Henri
DuLac and his sister Soirée.
Startled by Soirée's
resemblance to his sister,
Gabby, Hamilton determines
to discover more about this
strange family. He has no
idea the tragedy this will
bring to his family.
A marvelous storyteller,
Diana Lee Johnson continues
the tale of the Hamilton
family. Although it will
help with understanding the
characters, readers do not
need to have read TOO LATE
FOR TOMORROW. The story in
TOMORROW CAME EARLY stands
completely on its own
merits. I've been told there
will be a third book in the
series, I can't wait to read
it.
Readers can feel the pathos
the characters suffer in the
months and years following
the Civil War, living in
genteel poverty and
starvation. Readers will
see, in Ms Johnson's vivid
descriptions, the burned
plantations, the starving
citizens, and the desolation
left by the fighting in the
South.
Andrew/Hamilton is a man
whose life has been filled
with tragedy and pain.
Through Samantha's love, and
the acceptance of the people
of Vicksburg, he is able to
find some peace...until he
meets ugliness and tragedy
in the guise of Count DuLac.
There is a wonderful
conclusion to this story,
but readers will wait on
pins and needles until the
very end.
More a mainstream historical
rather than a historical
romance, TOMORROW CAME EARLY
nevertheless contains a
tightly woven plot, vivid
descriptions, and some
rather colorful characters,
which makes TOMORROW CAME
EARLY a must read for Civil
War and Reconstruction fans.
I can highly recommend it.
January 2003, 387 pages.
Judith Rippelmeyer
Editor-in-Chief
The Word on Romance
|
CASTLE OF
SORROWS
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by Diana Lee
Johnson
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Rating: |
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Dierdre Bryant
worked for a company
that helped other
companies become
computerized and
bring them up to
speed. Well, Dierdre
was told she would
be working for a Mr.
Donald MacBaine and
would be going to
the United Kingdom
to bring Mr.
MacBaine’s business
into the 21st
century. The only
problem was Dierdre
didn’t know this
until Mr. MacBaine
showed up in her
office along with
her boss Mr.
Jennings.
The more she got to
know Donald, the
more she wanted to
see his home, which
is a castle. A real
castle with the
dungeon, moat - the
whole nine yards.
But she was still
not sure she would
pick up and leave
her home, family,
friends and her job
for six months. The
more she was around
Donald, however, the
more she wanted to
go. The castle was
the icing on the
cake, so to speak.
Deirdre was getting
to know her new home
in London and
getting acquainted
with her
neighborhood,
neighbors and her
co-workers - a short
vacation before her
real work began.
Donald took her to
many places and to
Dierdre it was déjà
vu. While
sightseeing, Dierdre
led the way around
instead of Donald;
this included many
places, estates, and
castles where Donald
was a frequent
visitor and where
the properties had
been in his family
for generations.
Dierdre had no idea
why she knew so much
about these estates
and castles. She had
never been outside
of the United States
before. She was able
to feel the
inhabitants of these
places, the
inhabitants that
were hundreds of
years old.
Dierdre finally made
it to Donald’s
castle, a place that
his twin brother
Douglas was
restoring. There
were many factors to
the castle that drew
Dierdre. She felt
like she was coming
home but she didn’t
know why. Grandee,
who is Donald's and
Douglas'
grandmother, was
tracing the history
of the castle and
its inhabitants. The
stories that Grandee
told were just
fabulous. All the
stories came
directly from
diaries and letters
that were found in
the castle.
Ms. Johnson was able
to make the
characters come
alive. I felt like I
was right there
beside Dierdre
throughout the whole
story, feeling what
she was going
through and seeing
for the first time
in her life. The
secondary character
of Grandee was an
absolute joy, but
Douglas was not, and
Lorna, who is
Donald's and
Douglas' mother, was
a bit off and seemed
to be in her own
little world most of
the story. As a
character, she seems
to be just an
ornament that was
there with no
substance at all -
but she did have a
place in the story.
You will just have
to read it to find
out why and what.
Each character
played an important
role in the story
and without them the
story would not have
been half as good.
The only
disappointment that
I had with Castle
Of Sorrows is
the ending. It just
sort of stopped and
left me hanging. The
ending did leave me
laughing though,
even with my
disappointment in
it. Even though I am
unhappy about the
way the story ended,
I will continue to
read stories by Ms.
Johnson.
|
Reviewed in
February 2003 by
Pam. |
Read more reviews of
Diana Lee Johnson
books.Click
Here |
Castle of Sorrows
by Diana Lee Johnson
Wings-Press
October 2002
Contemporary Romance
How
skillfully Diana Johnson has
revealed yet another
dimension of her craft with
this exciting and enchanting
novel. The colorful
narrative in which Castle of
Sorrows is clothed, and the
skeleton of events on which
it hangs, all show the marks
of a storyteller who writes
with sensitivity and is
gifted with exceptional
human understanding. This
suspenseful novel is a
thrill from beginning to
end.
Tina
Dean
Associate Editor, Virginia
Writing
CASTLE OF SORROWS…Diana Lee
Johnson
Wings E-press
www.wings-press.com
A promotion, her own parking
space, a nice
raise…everything was working
according to Dierdre
Bryant’s plan. Then her boss
"sold" her services to Lord
Donald MacBaine. Six months
away from her new position,
Dierdre worried the time
away would prove she wasn’t
necessary at all. But
Dierdre is enchanted by the
idea of going to England,
and visiting the MacBaine
family castle in Scotland;
and Lord Donald MacBaine is
a fascinating man!
Lord Donald MacBaine is
entranced by Dierdre at
first sight. The resemblance
to the newly found portrait
of a remote ancestor is
startling as well. He can’t
wait to get Dierdre to
Scotland, hoping that she
will fall in love with the
land, and want to stay.
Family secrets, a missing
page from a diary, and the
ghost of a distant
grandfather Douglas, as well
as Donald’s twin brother,
Douglas, may end the romance
before Donald can tell
Dierdre of his true
feelings.
Diana Lee Johnson enters the
world of straight
contemporary romance with a
bang. Readers will delight
in Dierdre, Donald, and the
whole MacBaine clan.
Although the fourth
published book by this
author, CASTLE OF SORROWS is
Diana Lee Johnson’s first
writing effort. I especially
loved Grandee, Donald and
Douglas’ grandmother. She is
a character to keep you
chuckling. Donald’s brother,
Douglas, has a dark side,
which keeps the tale very
interesting and readers on
the edge of their seats.
Very different from Diana
Lee Johnson’s previous
books, CASTLE OF SORROWS is
nevertheless an excellent
read. Let Donald, Douglas,
Dierdre, Grandee, and the
ghosts of the past enchant
you. Drift away to the
beautiful Scottish
countryside, filled with
castles and tradition and
enjoy CASTLE OF SORROWS.
"Oct. 2002., 300 pp.,
$15.95, ISBN 1-59088-859-6"
Judith Rippelmeyer
Editor-in-Chief
The Word on Romance
|
Wrong Side
of Love ~
Reviews |
|
Book
Title: |
WRONG
SIDE OF
LOVE |
|
|
Reviewed
by: |
Martha
von
Redlich |
![[The wrong side of love]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/fea358_914c40b7a98a44679b9830b2809c2cf2~mv2.jpg)
|
|
Written
By: |
Diana
Lee
Johnson |
|
Genre: |
Historical
Romance |
|
Publisher: |
Books by Wings
ePress |
|
Publisher's
Website: |
www.books-by-wings-epress.com |
|
ISBN: |
1-59088-072-2 |
|
Date: |
2002 |
|
|
Brenna McKeon had
always wanted to be
a doctor, just like
her father. She
never pined for a
husband or children,
she was solely
focused on being a
doctor. Only her
father and her twin
Evan encouraged her
ambition, her other
brothers thought she
was foolish and
should be thinking
of a husband. Her
life was moving
along carrying her
towards her goal
when the Civil War
erupted snatching
away her acceptance
at the Female
Medical College in
New England. She
struggled to hold
together her farm
and her
brother-in-law’s
adjoining place
there in Northern
Virginia while
treating anyone who
needed her Union,
Confederate, she
didn’t care. She
employed the skills
learned by years of
apprenticeship to
her father so it was
a bitter blow when
her father was
killed by a Union
officer who demanded
a miracle.
Brenna staggered
under the weight of
losing her
brother-in-law and
her sister and their
baby and then her
brothers were either
killed or captured,
leaving her only her
youngest brother
Torrey to hold their
farms against the
opportunists trying
to grab their land.
When Matthew Keene
slid off his horse
at her feet,
grievously wounded,
she took him in,
caring not which
side he represented.
As Matthew finally
began to draw back
from the black edge,
Brenna found herself
having feelings for
him that went
counter to her
determination to
remain a spinster
and concentrate only
on being a doctor.
Their growing
awareness of each
other pushed aside
the secrets each
held and Matthew
began to be more
important to Brenna
than she had ever
imagined a man could
be. You’ll be
delighted with their
mutual appreciation
and blossoming love
and suffer with them
as events conspire
to drag them apart.
The wealth of
background detail
and accurate
portrayal of the
terrors and
destruction of the
Civil War color the
personal reactions
of these two lovers
as they wrestle with
their demons.
You’ll shed tears of
anguish with Brenna
as she struggles
through the
minefields of her
emotions, and the
ending will leave
you breathless and
limp with relief.
This is a marvelous
book with well-drawn
characters with whom
you will feel
compassion.
Martha von
Redlich
THE WRONG
SIDE OF LOVE
Diana Lee
Johnson
Wings e-Press
ISBN:
1-59088-072-2
June 2002
Historical
Romance
Brenna McKeon
does her best to
fill her
father's shoes,
acting as a
doctor to both
Union and
Confederate
troops from her
home in Loudoun
County,
Virginia. When a
stranger
literally falls
from his horse
at her feet,
Brenna first
thinks she is
treating a
civilian, then
as he recovers,
a member of
Mosby's Rangers,
but Brenna
doesn't know
Matthew Keene's
real purpose for
being in
Virginia. The
fires heat up
between the pair
as does a real
threat to
Brenna. Will the
evil threatening
Brenna and her
family keep her
dreams from
coming true?
Colonel Matthew
Keene comes to
Virginia
searching for
his brother who
has been
captured. Caught
in crossfire
between Mosby's
Rangers and the
Loudoun Rangers,
the wounded
Matthew finds
himself in the
gentle care of
the beautiful
Brenna. As he
discovers more
of Brenna's
secrets Matthew
knows that his
own secrets may
destroy the
budding love
growing between
them.
Marvelous
characters,
impeccable
research, and
wonderful
writing combine
to provide
readers with
another fabulous
read from the
pen of Diana Lee
Johnson. THE
WRONG SIDE OF
LOVE sends
readers into the
last days of the
Civil War, into
the heart of
Virginia, as
well as into the
lives of Matthew
and Brenna, two
people touched
by the horrors
of war and
wanting
desperately for
it to end.
Brenna dreams of
being a doctor,
only the war
keeps her from
attending the
women's medical
school in the
North. Matthew's
family is torn
asunder by the
war, one brother
fighting with
the North the
other with the
South. He honors
a promise to his
dying mother,
only to the
point where he
must abandon it
in order to find
his captured
brother.
Dramatically
written, this
poignant tale
will touch your
heart. Diana Lee
Johnson has
penned another
winner. I can't
wait to read her
next book.
Judith
Rippelmeyer
Editor-in-Chief
The Word On
Romance
www.thewordonromance.com
|
Wrong Side of Love is a
remarkable story with a
clever twist that will
surprise and amaze the
reader. It is a meticulously
compiled and authentic
historical novel that takes
place during the Civil War
era and has an enduring
theme of family love and
devotion. Wrong Side of Love
has the strength to keep the
reader anchored and
reluctant to put it down
until the very last word has
been read.
Tina Dean
Associate Editor, Virginia
Writing
WRONG SIDE OF LOVE -
Diana Lee Johnson
Books by Wings ePress, Inc.
www.books-by-wings-epress.com
ISBN: 1-59088-072-2
Available Now
Historical Romance
Loudoun County, Virginia
1865
Brenna McKeon's lifelong
dream is to be a doctor,
just like her father.
But when a Union soldier
murders her father, who
had saved his life,
Brenna must give up her
dream and instead try to
keep her family's farms
afloat and, at the same
time, hide a secret that
could mean the end of
everything. With
the medical knowledge
she learned from her
father, Brenna has saved
the life of more than
one soldier, be they in
blue or gray, and in so
doing has garnered a
reputation that reaches
far outside her small
town. Still determined
to be a doctor, Brenna
has her future planned
out for herself, and it
definitely does NOT
include marriage or
babies.
Matthew Keene comes face
to face with what he
thinks is an angel after
being seriously wounded
in an ambush. But as he
slowly heals he finds
that his angel is in
reality Brenna McKeon,
and as he finds himself
drawn to her more and
more, he also knows that
something is not quite
right. Hiding his own
little secret, Matthew
chooses to turn a blind
eye to the subtle hints
that all is not as it
seems in the McKeon
household.
As they spend more and
more time together,
Matthew and Brenna find
the constant attraction
to each other more than
they can bear, and they
find themselves falling
in love. But will
Matthew ever be able to
explain his true reason
for being in this part
of the country, or will
Brenna be able to trust
Matthew with the lie she
has kept alive for so
long? And when they do
find the truth will it
tear them apart forever?
Ms. Johnson has written
a tale with bright and
well-rounded characters,
and has included the
very stirrings of the
liberation of women
without straying from
the timeline of the
story. Her portrayals
of Brenna McKeon as a
strong willed,
intelligent female and
not a simpering southern
beauty, and of Matthew
Keene as a man willing
to help the woman he
loves fulfill her dreams
are refreshing
especially in a time
period when women are
stereotypically
portrayed as weak and
the men demanding and
unyielding. Secondary
characters played
essential roles in this
tale from Torrey,
Brenna's younger
brother, to President
Abraham Lincoln
himself. Dialogue is
fast paced and
captivating, as are Ms.
Johnson's descriptions
of the desires of all
parties for the war to
end.
WRONG SIDE OF LOVE is an
engaging novel from the
very first word to the
last. It is evident
with every stroke of her
pen that Ms. Johnson has
a love of all things
Southern and a deep
belief in family ties.
WRONG SIDE OF LOVE is a
must read for those who
enjoy reading about the
Civil War era and the
romanticism of blue and
gray.
Catherine Loney
WALTZ
IN TIME
BY DIANE LEE JOHNSON
GENRE: TimeTravel Romance
Publisher: Wings ePress
ISBN: 1-59088-070-6 POD
1-59088-946-0
DATE: Feb 1, 2002
Virginia Berkley is a Civil
War buff, so much so that
she visits Fredericksburg,
VA to attend a Civil War
reenactment. While out
shopping on the eve of the
reenactment she meets
Jonathon Blackburn, Sergeant
in the Confederate army
camped just outside town.
Seems his something
great-grandfather was a
Colonel in Robert E Lee’s
army. Through him, Virginia
gets involved with the
soldiers and has a wonderful
time playing the Southern
Belle. She also becomes
quite fond of Jonathon.
Throughout the weekend
Virginia notices a shabbily
dressed man in a confederate
uniform hanging around. At
first she thinks he’s a
stalker. Finally she
confronts him and discovers
that he thinks he is really
a soldier in the Confederate
Army, named Robert Carter.
and that the year is 1862. A
first Virginia doesn’t
believe him, but as she
looks closely at him, she
realizes that he badly needs
help. Against her better
judgment she takes him to
her room, cleans him up,
feeds him, and nurses him
back to health. In the
process they fall in love.
She does some research and
discovers that his story is
indeed true, but that he
disappeared and was charged
with desertion.
Reluctantly Virginia helps
him figure out how to return
to his time so he can clear
his name. He goes back to
his time, but promises that
he will never forget her.
And apparently he doesn’t.
Colonel Carter finds a way
to send her messages through
time.
This is a very wonderful
story, at times sensual, at
times humorous, with a
surprise ending that will
delight anyone who loves a
good story.
WALTZ IN TIME by Diana
Lee Johnson
Publisher - Wings ePress
(Ebook & Paperback)
ISBN 1-59088-070-6
February 2002 Timetravel
***** (five roses)
Reviewed by Mary of A
Romance Review
Ginny is a forty-year-old
woman, twice married and
divorced, feels her life is
passing her by. She decides
to visit a town where a
re-enactment of the Civil
War takes place. Being a
Southerner she meets
Jonathan, a young man in a
Sergeant uniform, and
strikes up a friendship. She
feels a bit guilty about how
strong her attraction is to
him, seeing that he is
younger than she. Then a
strange man her own age
confronts her - he is dirty
and unkempt and very
frightened. He says his name
is Robert and claims he is a
colonel in the Southern army
fighting in the Civil War as
if it were just taking
place!! Ginny has to decide
if he is telling the truth
or deranged! But she is
attracted to him, sees his
innate handsomeness despite
his unkempt appearance, and
decides to help him.
The time travel element here
is excellent! The portrayal
of Robert's fear is very
real as he goes about his
new world bewildered and
frightened - and dependent
upon Ginny. Ginny is an
appealing heroine - she is a
woman searching for a role
for herself and while she
feels ready for a new
relationship, she is unsure
with whom it will be.
Robert really appealed to
me; he was kind and handsome
and it was so easy to want
to be the person that
comforted him! I could
understand Ginny's
attraction to him; yet also
comprehend her disbelief in
the story he told.
Diana Lee Johnson is a new
author to me, but she had me
immersed in the story right
from the first chapter. She
captured the spirit of the
men and women who enjoyed
reliving their heritage.
When they gathered round the
campfire singing the old
songs, I could feel the
atmosphere and felt
transported there.
Ms Johnson brought out the
characters of Robert and
Virginia so much as the
story progressed and I felt
I knew them both. The
passion and romance between
them is awesome!
This book offers so much; a
historical journey, a deep
love - overall, an amazing
tale. But I think you should
get a copy and read it - you
won't be disappointed!
www.aromancereview.com
In the April 2002 issue of
ROMANCE REVIEWS TODAY
www.romrevtoday.com
~
romrevtoday@aol.com
WALTZ IN TIME - Diana Lee
Johnson
Wings ePress, Inc
www.books-by-wings-epress.com
ISBN: 1-59088-070-6
April 2002
Paranormal - Time Travel
Romance
Fredericksburg, VA -
February 1993
Virginia Berkeley loves all
things historical, but her
favorite period is the Civil
War era. Forced by her
doctor to take a vacation,
Virginia travels to
Fredericksburg to
participate in a Civil War
reenactment. Once there, she
is swept up in the aura of a
time when men were gentlemen
and ladies were the belles
of the balls. But as Ginny
enjoys immersing herself in
the other-worldliness of the
reenactment, she catches
glimpses of a dirty
disheveled man dressed as a
Confederate colonel staring
at her as she walks around
the town.
Union Encampment Near
Fredericksburg, VA -
December 1862
Confederate Colonel Robert
Carter, tricked into
believing his son, a Union
officer, is wounded, leaves
the safety of his camp to go
to the enemy. Once there he
is tortured for information
he may have on Confederate
movements. Beaten and barely
alive, he is dragged into a
smokehouse and left there.
Waking, he finds himself
amidst sights he has never
seen before, mechanical
wagons with no horses, women
dressed scantily, and large
metallic objects in the air
that never seem to land, and
a southern woman he just
knows is a traitor to the
Confederacy.
Trapped in a world he
doesn't understand, Robert
finds Ginny to confront her,
but his injuries get the
best of him, and although
Ginny is disgusted by his
dirty looks and his
god-awful smell, she is
determined to nurse Robert
back to health and send him
on his way. But fate has
something different planned,
and Robert and Ginny become
lovers. They try to uncover
the true story of what
happened to Robert, and why
he has been transported 130
years into the future.
WALTZ IN TIME is a
wonderfully written story
with an atypical "young"
heroine, and a hero who is
also mature. The main
characters are given
realistic personalities, and
reactions to modern day
inventions by Robert are
ingenious and believable.
Ginny is portrayed as a
middle-aged, not so very
thin woman, who has had her
share of downs in the
romance department.
It was extremely refreshing
to read of love between two
mature adults, with their
own individual hang-ups and
insecurities of middle age
and non-youth-like
appearances. Ms. Johnson has
created a romance that
captures what this reader
feels is the reality of love
after thirty-five and
children.
Catherine Loney
Romance Reviews Today
“Diana Lee Johnson has
outdone herself with this
masterful novel. Waltz in
Time is the story of an
exquisite love that becomes
a bridge between two
distinctly different periods
in time. In this exciting
time-travel romance, we come
to realize the past is not
necessarily something over
and done with. It is the
magic of Waltz in Time to
transform the “there and
then” into the “here and
now.””
Tina Dean, Associate Editor,
Virginia Writing
ROSE AWARD NOMINEE
WALTZ IN TIME
Diana Lee Johnson
Wings ePress, Inc.
February 2002
1-59088-070-6
Time Travel Romance
Ordered by her doctor to
take some time from work,
Virginia Berkeley decides to
take her vacation during the
Civil War reenactment in
Fredericksburg, Virginia. A
Civil War buff, Virginia
plans on a relaxing as well
as educational time. What
she doesn't plan on is
meeting a real live
Confederate colonel, somehow
transported from the Battle
of Fredericksburg, over 100
years earlier.
Badly beaten, bleeding, and
filthy, Colonel Robert
Carter CSA literally drops
at Virginia's feet.
Confused, and disbelieving,
Robert slowly adjusts to the
amazements of the 20th
Century. In spite of his
growing love for Virginia he
knows he must return to his
own time, to his command. To
be labeled a deserter for
eternity does not sit well
with the proud Confederate.
Can Robert return once again
to the woman he loves, or
will he be forever lost in
the past?
Like the heroine of Ms
Johnson's book, I too am a
huge Civil War buff. It's
one reason I was very
anxious to read and review
this book. I was not
disappointed! Ms. Johnson's
research is impeccable, as
her characters come to life
before your very eyes. I
thought my heart was going
to break as Robert touches
Virginia's hand once more as
he returns to his own time
and my mind began quickly
searching for a path to
happily ever after for this
charming pair. Needless to
say, this is a romance and
Diana Lee Johnson provides
readers with a satisfyingly
happily ever after.
I also give Ms Johnson tons
of extra points for giving
readers a heroine that isn't
a twenty year old fluff
ball. Virginia is in her
forties, carries a bit of
extra weight, and has two
grown daughters. It was a
delight to read a book where
I could put myself
completely into the
heroine's shoes. That's
tough to do when the heroine
is a 20 year old virgin!
Robert is a mature woman's
dream. Gentle, caring,
attentive to Virginia's
needs....add to that the
fact that he's a southern
gentleman and he becomes a
true Sir Galahad.
WALTZ IN TIME has it all.
Outstanding storytelling,
realistic characters, humor,
and a poignant love that
will last through the
ages....Diana Lee Johnson
has penned a winner. WALTZ
IN TIME is available through
the publisher Wings ePress,
Inc at
http://www.wings-press.com
This is one book you won't
want to miss.
Judith Rippelmeyer
An
exciting and heartwarming
story of family love! This
is a must-read book for
anyone who loves historical
romances, particularly those
of the Civil War era. The
characters are rich and
full, with family ties and
love being the strings that
bind them all in one way or
another. This is a novel of
a family
forced to deal with strong
beliefs and opinions,
frequently at odds with each
other, but always with love
enough to fill even the
reader's heart. You will
want to read every word on
every page of this Civil War
saga. I have just three more
words to say: sequel,
sequel, sequel!
Tina Dean, Assoc. Editor,
Virginia Writing
TOO LATE FOR
TOMORROW...Diana Lee Johnson
Picasso Publications
www.picassopublications.com
Jeremy Hamilton dreams of
nothing more than purchasing
his deceased mother's family
plantation, Albermarle, and
restoring it to the showcase
it once was. In the midst of
slave state South Carolina,
Jeremy's free black labor
ideas cause controversy, and
problems. Jeremy marries to
provide Albermarle with a
mistress, but when an
accident causes her to lose
their child, Jeremy pushes
his wife into obtaining a
divorce, then war takes
Jeremy away from his beloved
Abermarle and leaves the
plantation in the hands of
his ex-slave partner.
Gabby Hamilton loves her
brother, obsessively.
Gabby's main obsession is to
prove that Jeremy isn't
truly her half-brother and
make him admit his love for
her. Nothing will stand in
Gabby's way, not Jeremy's
wife, scandal, or even
war..even if it means
begging Abraham Lincoln
himself to return Jeremy
from a Yankee prison.
Although TOO LATE FOR
TOMORROW is my third read by
talented author Diana Lee
Johnson, it is her first
published novel. Steeped in
the rich history of the
turbulent pre-Civil War and
Civil War years, TOO LATE
FOR TOMORROW sets readers
deep into the heart of the
issue of slavery and its
consequences on this nation.
Deftly intertwined with the
issue of slavery, Ms Johnson
adds Jeremy and Gabby's
personal tale of love,
deception, and obsession.
I wouldn't consider this a
light read, or mere
entertainment, but an
attention involving novel.
TOO LATE FOR TOMORROW is
nevertheless a marvelously
written story from the pen
of a wonderfully erudite
author. Readers who love
Civil War period romances
will adore TOO LATE FOR
TOMORROW. I highly recommend
it. "Now Available., 503pp.,
$9.95., ISBN:
1-552-79000-7."
Judith Rippelmeyer
Editor in Chief
The Word On Romance
www.thewordonromance.com
TOO LATE FOR TOMORROW
Diana Lee Johnson
ISBN:
1-59088-625-9 (paper)
ISBN: 1-59088-419-1 (ebook)
March 2004
Wings ePress
E-Book, Paper
Historical Romance
Too
Late For Tomorrow
is a heart wrenching tale of
the fight for forbidden
love. The characters in this
tale are the best and the
worst of man kind. While not
graphic in it's violence,
this book eludes to the
terrible treatment that the
plantation owners inflicted
on their slaves. The
Hamiltons are out to prove
that there is no need for
slaves in order for
plantations to turn a
profit. And that treating
their free employees as
human beings and not as
possessions can actually be
more productive. This view
does not make them popular
with their neighbors. Rich
in historic detail
Too Late For Tomorrow.
takes the reader back to the
Civil war. Back to those
brave men that fought and
the hardships of those left
behind. Although wonderfully
accurate in detail, this
reviewer found the length of
the authors account of the
war years to drag a bit more
than necessary
The author has penned strong
willed and passionate
characters that hold the
reader spell bound. Along
with the historic background
to this tale is the love of
a young girl's heart.
Ms.
Johnson
tells a
superb love story. Gabby
falls in love with Jeremy
even before she knows what
love between a man and a
woman is. And she fights and
risks everything to prove
what she knows to be true;
that they are not brother
and sister. The author has
the reader rooting for Gabby
even when she is a little
hellion tyrant. The only
fault with the love story
that this reviewer found is
that the heroine is younger
than most. Almost
disturbingly young. But
because Gabby shows such
remarkable maturity for her
age, the reader forgets how
young she really is. Jeremy
is almost to good to be true
with the exception of his
short marriage of
convenience and heartless
rejection of the wife who
adores him. But he lets her
go when she finds another
love and restores the
readers faith and love in
him.
All in all, Too
Late For Tomorrow
was a pleasure to read.
Not hardly a dull moment
with the exception of part
of the war years. This book
shows family and friendship
devotion. Highly recommended
for historical romance
readers.
Reviewed by
Penny
March 2004
© Love
Romances, 2001-2004. All
Rights Reserved
Too Late for Tomorrow
Author: Diana Lee Johnson
Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc
Available At:
www.wings-press.com
Publishing Date: March 2004
Genre: Romance: Historical
ISBN: 1-59088-625-9
paperback, 1-59088-419-1
ebook
Reviewer:
Joyce
Handzo
The Civil War divided not only a nation but families as well.
Author Diana Lee Johnson
takes readers back to this
period in history, as her
characters deal with the
varied and volatile issues
that made up this time. To
further highlight the
anguish felt within
families, the author
provides an unusual plot
twist.
Jeremy Hamilton loves his sister, Gabriella. In fact, he loves her
too much. In an effort to do
what is right, he marries
and moves to his own
plantation in
South Carolina.
However, his sister uncovers
a dark family secret that
may prove that they are not
blood relatives at all.
Could they possibly have a
future together, or must
they remain divided forever?
Against the backdrop of a nation wondering if it will ever be
united again, Jeremy and
Gabriella have similar
feelings on a personal
level. The author skillfully
shows the big issue of
secession, while also giving
the reader a taste of this
problem on a smaller and
more individual scale.
Therefore, this story set in
the Civil War era becomes a
tale where the heart of
history touches the readers'
hearts.
Carefully and accurately researched, the story provides many
interesting insights. The
characters dramatically
showed the line drawn
between white plantation
owners and their slaves.
Prejudice, poverty, and
persecution assaulted the
slaves and placed an ugly
mark of shame on this great
nation When the war began,
there was hope for a quick
ending, but as the months
turned to years, hope turned
to ashes. The
Hamilton family was shown
reacting realistically to
the war situation as they
tried to survive on their
plantation in harsh
circumstances Food shortages
and raiders were real
problems. As the characters
confront each of these
issues, the reader will
better understand the
passion and pride that made
up the people of this unique
time.
The role and value of nurses in this war was beautifully shown in
the life of Denise Hamilton.
The soldiers may have
dreamed of glory on the
battlefield, but woke up to
the bitter realities. Nurses
were lights of hope and
healing to many. The author
paid a stunning tribute to
these wonderful women.
Too Late For Tomorrow looks at a time in yesterday that succeeded in
bringing our nation to a
better tomorrow.
Too Late for Tomorrow
Diana Lee Johnson
Historical romance
Available from
Wings ePress
ISBN: 1-59088-419-1
March 2004
|
Upon his uncle’s
death, Jeremy
inherited his
mother’s
childhood home
in SC the
plantation
Albemarle.
Jeremy spent
countless hours
with his mother
listening to
stories of the
beauty of the
plantation. He
knew he would
bring it back to
its former glory
when he finally
was able to take
over. Jeremy’s
mother was ill
for as long as
he could
remember. On his
12th birthday
his mother
passed away. His
father Nathanial
was devastated
and started
drinking heavily
letting their
home, New
Kensington
nearly fall into
ruin. Nathanial
sold Jeremy’s
beloved
Albemarle
leaving his son
to take over New
Kensington while
he traveled
Europe
overcoming his
grief. Jeremy
vowed to one day
buy Albemarle
back
Nathanial was
heartbroken at
the loss of his
beloved wife,
Leonora. Taking
his friend and
lawyer’s advice
he sold his
son’s
inheritance and
traveled the
countryside in
Europe to get
over the loss of
Leonora.
Nathanial
thought he could
never love again
until he met the
young and
beautiful
Yvette.
Nathanial
married Yvette
knowing his
cousin Edmond
had raped the
poor child.
Yvette was so
traumatized she
did not remember
it. When
Nathanial
learned of
Yvette’s
pregnancy he
told Yvette he
was the father
and married her.
Would Jeremy be
able to accept
Yvette and their
unborn child
into his life?
From the time
Gabby was a
small child she
knew she and
Jeremy were
destined to be
together. She
had to find the
truth of her
parentage or
this could never
be. Gabby had no
doubts that
Jeremy was not
her brother. Her
younger brothers
and sisters all
had dark hair
and eyes like
her parents but
she had fair
hair and blue
eyes. She knew
her father was
hiding something
after that
stranger came to
see him. The
stranger asked
about his
daughter Gabby.
Nathanial did
not know she was
hiding on the
steps and
overheard. She
was determined
to prove to
Jeremy that he
could follow his
heart.
This is not only
a heart
wrenching love
story between
Gabby and Jeremy
it is the story
of three
generations of
the Hamilton
family. You are
taken through a
political
journey for the
abolition of
slavery and the
horrors of the
civil war. You
get a good view
of life on an
old southern
plantation. I
laughed and
cried for the
Hamiltons as
their family was
brought through
Joy and Anguish.
Too Late for
Tomorrow is a
serious book you
can really sink
your teeth into.
Overall rating:
Sensuality
rating:
Mildly sensual
Reviewer:
Angie
March 1, 2004
|
5 Stars
Hello, I'm Carolyn Nobody
Diana Lee Johnson
Publisher:
Wings ePress
ISBN: E-ISBN:
1590883829; POD-ISBN:
1590886542
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Romance
Release date: Feb 2005
Carolyn
Sue Tarlton is getting a new
start in life. With her only
daughter away at college,
Carolyn, widowed for two
years, finds she can once
again live life and find
love. Working at the
hospital in admitting both
days and one evening in ER
opens her to Dr. Jackson, a
doctor with a secret from
his days in Vietnam. While
taking a course at the local
university, she also finds
Michael, a professor with an
equally mysterious secret.
Suddenly she goes from being
totally alone to having two
men vie for her. Will she
find love? With which of
these two men will her
destiny lie?
Hello, I'm Carolyn Nobody
is for anyone who loves a
good romance, anyone with
the "empty nest syndrome",
or anyone who is stepping
back into the dating scene
after being divorced or
widowed. Ms. Johnson's
characters are strong and
true to life; the story line
is totally believable and
quick paced. If you are shy
or have low self-esteem,
read how Carolyn overcame
what she felt were her
inadequacies to find true
independence.
Above all, read how Carolyn
Nobody became Somebody.
Reviewed by Alice Klein
www.simegen.com reviews
Hello, Im Carolyn Nobody
Diana Lee Johnson
Contemporary romance
Available from Wings ePress
ISBN: 1-59088-382-9
January 2005
|
Carolyn is going
through a crisis.
Her entire life has
been as someone
else; where has she,
Carolyn, been?
Hidden deep within
her psyche she knows
there is more to her
than what she felt
as mother and wife
but she has no idea
just what needs to
be done about this
situation. Taking a
big leap, she
enrolls as a student
in college; just one
course and it useful
for her job. The
insecurity that hits
her at this point is
enormous; she is too
old, the other
students will think
the situation funny,
the I just don't
belong feeling that
she has a hard time
getting rid of, all
are present.
The death of her
husband two years
before had left her
in limbo, but she
had her daughter
still living at
home, and her job.
Now her daughter has
decided to continue
her studies at a
college away from
home, and Carolyn is
finding it scary;
the feeling of being
alone, having to
make decisions
alone, for the first
time in years,
having to speak up
for herself. The
emotional support is
no longer there and
she has to rise
above this human
need. She is going
to make this work.
This is an
amazing story. There
are some sad
situations, some
joyful, and some
heartbreaking. All
the feelings that
arise when a woman
or man is thrown
into this situation;
the feelings of
despair, loneliness,
the singleness that
is so apparent when
half of a couple
just isnt there
anymore. The sudden
realization that a
couples friends
arent necessarily
your friends once
the spouse is not in
the picture. The
author has captured
beautifully the
feelings that
Carolyn experiences
beginning with the
first day of her new
life, as she slowly
loses her fears and
realizes just how
much her courage and
self esteem are
growing. Her
amazement when she
finds herself
getting passes from
men, shocked into
awareness that men
are out there
thinking of her with
something other than
friendship in mind.
There is an
especially moving
moment when Carolyn
feels that she is
ready to take off
her wedding ring and
is looking forward
to the future. This
is a wonderfully
moving story and
definitely
recommended reading.
Overall rating:
Sensuality rating:
Very sensual
|
“Pretty as she is,
Carolyn isn't looking
for love when she
enrolls in a college
course. However, in the
weeks that follow she
finds herself being
courted by two men who
are determined to win
her affections while
having much more in mind
than just their amorous
feelings.
“Diana Lee Johnson
shines once again with
this gripping romance.
The story is both
mysterious and
intriguing, but the
reader is guaranteed to
have some fun along the
way while becoming
enthralled with the
captivating, glamorous
and adventurous Carolyn.
Hello, I’m Carolyn
Nobody
is first-rate and
unforgettable.”
—Tina Dean, Assoc.
Editor,
Virginia Writing
Hello, I'm Carolyn
Nobody
Author: Diana Lee
Johnson
Publisher: Wings ePress,
Inc
Available At:
www.wings-press.com
Genre: Romance:
Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback
and Ebook download in
PDF/HTML/LIT
ISBN: 1-59088-654-2
paperback, 1-59088-382-9
ebook
Reviewer: Safiya
Tremayne
Rating: 8.6
August 20, 2005
Two
years after her
husband's death, Carolyn
Tarlton decided o attend
college, taking a class
to help her in her job
in hospital admissions.
Before she steps out of
her car for her first
class, she has to give
herself a pep talk and
even then tries to
remain invisible in
class. This college
course was just the
beginning of new
experiences and new
friends. As part of her
taking the course, she
switched her hours and
ended up working as an
administrator in the ER.
The interns, nurses and
other staff all love
her; the only rough spot
is the Chief of Staff,
Dr. Jackson, an arrogant
jerk but talented
physician.
Weeks pass and Carolyn
has adapted nicely, even
started dating again.
She's dating her college
professor Michael and
Jackson. Two very
different men who elicit
very different emotions.
With Michael, she feels
safe, comfortable and
loved. Jack brings out
hidden passions and
desires, and promises
nothing permanent.
Will she be able to
choose between them? Or
will a tragic shooting
at the college campus
make the decision for
her?
At
its heart Hello, I'm
Carolyn Nobody is really
a story of one woman
trying to discover who
she is. For years, she
knew who she was and was
happy with her life.
However, after her
husband died and her
daughter went off to
college, Carolyn knew
she had to make a start
at living again.
Watching her date two
men, decide which she
really loved, and all
the other decisions that
crop up with being
single and starting over
was heart-warming. A
gentle reminder that we
can't stay in one place
forever, we have to keep
moving and changing.
One
of the best things about
Hello, I'm Carolyn
Nobody is the way
Carolyn doesn't go
through a man-hating
stage or hating her
previous life; something
most women's fiction
contains. In that, I
completely applaud Ms.
Johnson. Thank you for
showing us marriage and
child rearing may have
its difficulties but
that is no reason to put
it down when you start a
new life.
For
a beautiful, inspiring
story pick up Hello, I'm
Carolyn Nobody, it's a
great way to spend a few
hours.
HELLO, I’M CAROLYN NOBODY
DIANA LEE JOHNSON
ISBN#: 1-59088-382-9
February 2005
Wings ePress
www.wings-press.com
Contemporary Romance
Rating:
Carolyn Tarlton, a forty-two
year old widow, feels lost
in the world of couples.
With her
daughter gone to an
out-of-state college, life
is even more bleak. Trying
to break from
her rut, she enrolls for a
course at the local college.
With considerable
misgivings, she
goes to her first class,
sure that everyone is
staring and laughing at her.
She is already suffering the
results of friends who feel
a need to “fix her up” with
every
single man around and
rebuffing passes from men
who are sure she is dying
for their
attention. After a few
disastrous encounters, she
finds herself drawn to two
men, a
doctor at the hospital where
she works as an admissions
clerk and a professor at the
college. The reader is kept
guessing as Carolyn develops
relationships with both men,
torn between their very
different personalities and
ways of interacting with
her. Although
events finally lead her to
pick the best one, the
reader is kept guessing
about her choice
until the end.
This heartwarming story drew
me right in. Carolyn’s life
and thoughts became so
realistic, I felt like I
lived next door. I shared
her bouts of insecurity, her
elation at finding
new life and loves, and her
struggles to decide which
man will be best for her.
Any
woman who has been widowed
or divorced will surely
identify with this wonderful
romance, proof that happily
ever after can even come to
a forty-something lady, a
bit
more voluptuous than she
wishes, and very unsure of
her place in her new world.
Alegria
Reviewer for Karen Find Out
About New Books
Reviewer for Coffee Time
Reviews
Hello, I'm Carolyn Nobody
by Diana Lee Johnson
Reviewed by Alice Klein
Publisher: Wings ePress
http://www.books-by-wings-epress.com/
ISBN: E-ISBN:
1590883829; POD-ISBN:
1590886542
Genre: Fiction
Subgenre: Romance
Release date: Feb
2005
Carolyn Sue Tarlton is
getting a new start in life.
With her only daughter away
at college, Carolyn, widowed
for two years, finds she can
once again live life and
find love. Working at the
hospital in admitting both
days and one evening in ER
opens her to Dr. Jackson, a
doctor with a secret from
his days in Vietnam. While
taking a course at the local
university, she also finds
Michael, a professor with an
equally mysterious secret.
Suddenly she goes from being
totally alone to having two
men vie for her. Will she
find love? With which of
these two men will her
destiny lie?
Hello, I'm Carolyn Nobody
is for anyone who loves a
good romance, anyone with
the "empty nest syndrome",
or anyone who is stepping
back into the dating scene
after being divorced or
widowed. Ms. Johnson's
characters are strong and
true to life; the story line
is totally believable and
quick paced. If you are shy
or have low self-esteem,
read how Carolyn overcame
what she felt were her
inadequacies to find true
independence.
Above all, read how Carolyn
Nobody became Somebody.
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