This book is an astute observation by a lay person, not in the medical fi eld, as well as not in the professional clinical psychology fi eld. The author is a clergyman. He was raised in the atmosphere of a household where serious identifi cation problems existed. The author became acclimated to this household environment, and actually found it to be pleasant. He now remembers it as the wonderful days of childhood back on the family farm. As a result, there has developed, a tolerance of people who have acute I D problems, as well as a savvy, and a God given discernment capability. People who have I D as well as other psychological problems feel drawn to this author. The author makes no claim to holding any applicable credential as a professional, in some of the fi elds of interest presented by this book. He claims no medical knowledge more than common knowledge, nor professional psychology knowledge beyond common knowledge. He has done his research as a writer, and defers to professionals. Nothing is intended to suggest that this book is about the practice of medicine by the author, nor any credentialed psychological service by the author. This book is the author’s autobiography, and is intended to be a documentary of a lay persons observations. I do hope that some professional experts can fi nd these observations helpful to their cause.

This book is an astute observation by a lay person, not in the medical fi eld, as well as not in the professional clinical psychology fi eld. The author is a clergyman. He was raised in the atmosphere of a household where serious identifi cation problems existed. The author became acclimated to this household environment, and actually found it to be pleasant. He now remembers it as the wonderful days of childhood back on the family farm. As a result, there has developed, a tolerance of people who have acute I D problems, as well as a savvy, and a God given discernment capability. People who have I D as well as other psychological problems feel drawn to this author. The author makes no claim to holding any applicable credential as a professional, in some of the fi elds of interest presented by this book. He claims no medical knowledge more than common knowledge, nor professional psychology knowledge beyond common knowledge. He has done his research as a writer, and defers to professionals. Nothing is intended to suggest that this book is about the practice of medicine by the author, nor any credentialed psychological service by the author. This book is the author’s autobiography, and is intended to be a documentary of a lay persons observations. I do hope that some professional experts can fi nd these observations helpful to their cause.

The Right Side of Wrong By Donna Anderson Mary had been divorced for four years and was working several jobs to keep a roof over her head and the bills paid. Her fulltime job was working in a local bank. Her three children were grown so she lived in a small apartment alone. She had been elected to the city council four months earlier. Sam was the city’s chief of police and a retired naval officer. His wife had died a couple of months prior with cancer. He was left alone to raise eleven-year-old twins, Ann and Alan, the youngest of his seven children. Sam and Mary had noticed one another across the room during council meetings, but had never met or been introduced. Sam stopped in the middle of the road one day when he saw Mary and asked her to dinner. The couple had no idea that the dinner was gong to turn into one of many. Can a city council person date or marry a chief of police? In this city they could date, but not marry. In 1953 there was a small blurb in the city charter that stated no council member could be related to or married to a head of a department. Mary fell in love with Sam on the first date. After dating for ten weeks the two were married in 1997. They became a combined family of ten children and 24 grandchildren. Who will give up their position? Mary gave up her seat on the council. Sam was more important. Eleven years later their love had only grown stronger. Sam had retired from the police department and Mary stayed home fulltime with Sam. Both were very well known and loved throughout the community. In 2008 Sam was diagnosed with cancer. Their journey through the year was filled with pain, stress, love, determination to survive, and the will to go on. Mary learned just how strong a woman she really was. In 2009 Mary took a trip to Greece and reflected on the past twelve years. The trip was not without adventure. The one thing she learned from the trip; that with the love from Sam she could do anything and survive.

The Right Side of Wrong By Donna Anderson Mary had been divorced for four years and was working several jobs to keep a roof over her head and the bills paid. Her fulltime job was working in a local bank. Her three children were grown so she lived in a small apartment alone. She had been elected to the city council four months earlier. Sam was the city’s chief of police and a retired naval officer. His wife had died a couple of months prior with cancer. He was left alone to raise eleven-year-old twins, Ann and Alan, the youngest of his seven children. Sam and Mary had noticed one another across the room during council meetings, but had never met or been introduced. Sam stopped in the middle of the road one day when he saw Mary and asked her to dinner. The couple had no idea that the dinner was gong to turn into one of many. Can a city council person date or marry a chief of police? In this city they could date, but not marry. In 1953 there was a small blurb in the city charter that stated no council member could be related to or married to a head of a department. Mary fell in love with Sam on the first date. After dating for ten weeks the two were married in 1997. They became a combined family of ten children and 24 grandchildren. Who will give up their position? Mary gave up her seat on the council. Sam was more important. Eleven years later their love had only grown stronger. Sam had retired from the police department and Mary stayed home fulltime with Sam. Both were very well known and loved throughout the community. In 2008 Sam was diagnosed with cancer. Their journey through the year was filled with pain, stress, love, determination to survive, and the will to go on. Mary learned just how strong a woman she really was. In 2009 Mary took a trip to Greece and reflected on the past twelve years. The trip was not without adventure. The one thing she learned from the trip; that with the love from Sam she could do anything and survive.

The Right Side of Wrong By Donna Anderson Mary had been divorced for four years and was working several jobs to keep a roof over her head and the bills paid. Her fulltime job was working in a local bank. Her three children were grown so she lived in a small apartment alone. She had been elected to the city council four months earlier. Sam was the city’s chief of police and a retired naval officer. His wife had died a couple of months prior with cancer. He was left alone to raise eleven-year-old twins, Ann and Alan, the youngest of his seven children. Sam and Mary had noticed one another across the room during council meetings, but had never met or been introduced. Sam stopped in the middle of the road one day when he saw Mary and asked her to dinner. The couple had no idea that the dinner was gong to turn into one of many. Can a city council person date or marry a chief of police? In this city they could date, but not marry. In 1953 there was a small blurb in the city charter that stated no council member could be related to or married to a head of a department. Mary fell in love with Sam on the first date. After dating for ten weeks the two were married in 1997. They became a combined family of ten children and 24 grandchildren. Who will give up their position? Mary gave up her seat on the council. Sam was more important. Eleven years later their love had only grown stronger. Sam had retired from the police department and Mary stayed home fulltime with Sam. Both were very well known and loved throughout the community. In 2008 Sam was diagnosed with cancer. Their journey through the year was filled with pain, stress, love, determination to survive, and the will to go on. Mary learned just how strong a woman she really was. In 2009 Mary took a trip to Greece and reflected on the past twelve years. The trip was not without adventure. The one thing she learned from the trip; that with the love from Sam she could do anything and survive.

Wanda the Wandering Ladybug visits Sunneyvelle Primary School is a wonderful story about relationships. Wanda shows kindness, helpfulness, and friendship to the boys and girls at school who are having difficulties. Wanda also helps the students to understand what is needed in order to be successful, which is to "practice."

The story takes place in the beautiful city of Paris. Stalin, a writer and traveler, uses his stay to explore the city and make use of his visit by connecting with friends while working on his writing project. Stalin uses his 3 month stay in Paris to enjoy the festivities and nightlife with 2 great friends, Alex and Frederick, with whom he spends time with consistently during his stay. Alex, Frederick and Stalin all portray to have very similar qualities in one another. Each has their own professions as teachers, artist and writers. They are all young adults in their late 20’s and early 30’s. However, it is a special bond that they make as friends that help them enjoy and make the most out of life whenever they are in each others company. In spite of their professions, they all relate well to one another. They can all cook well; have great taste in art, nice homes and value friendships. Alex and Frederick show Stalin a great time in Paris. These individuals both have their own places in Paris and they find pleasure in spending time with Stalin who is an African American from the United States. These 3 people constantly go out to drink on a daily basis. All of them use their time to enjoy the lavish restaurants and festivities around the city. They also visit each others Pub in the city and gear themselves for a fun and adventurous trip. Conflict starts to arise in the story as Stalin figures out that the world and life he is living is too good to be true. Stalin finds out that Alex and Frederick may perhaps be gay and probes them for information regarding their lifestyle. Oddly enough, Alex and Frederick were gay but it did not interfere with Stalin enjoying their company. Stalin meets a beautiful woman named Isabelle who happens to be Alex’s good friend. Stalin finds her extremely attractive and feels she could be the person that he would want to marry. Alex aggressively told Stalin that it is okay for you and Isabelle to be friends but nothing should ever go beyond your friendship with her. Regardless of the comments hurled at Stalin, he still pursued her throughout his stay. When Stalin would go out with his two buddies, he would request to always see Isabelle. Alex and Isabelle have a great friendship. As a matter of fact, Alex cherishes the friendship he has with Isabelle to the point where no one else should interfere, including Stalin. Alex used different alternatives and excuses through his plans to not invite Isabelle around Stalin. Alex felt the need to protect the friendship he has with Stalin as well as Isabelle, even if it meant absolute separation between the both of them. There is always something to do for Stalin each day in the city but he ends up spending too much money throughout his stay and realizes that he may not afford to pay the rest of the rent for his Pub. Stalin asks Alex if he can stay with him until it is time for him to go home. Alex grants Stalin’s request. Stalin’s personality engages him into the drinking habits of Alex and Frederick. They go out everyday to drink, socialize and enjoy the city. Even though Stalin spends most of his time with Alex and Frederick, it did not deter him from working on his writing project. Stalin also finds time to break away from his friends to explore parts of the city. He uses parts of his journey to find places that would propel him further to completing his project. Stalin has high expectations that he will become a famous writer someday. The tireless efforts that are placed into his writing will one day make him become a huge success. Each time Stalin visits Paris, he is marveled by the people of this great city. He likes the fact that interracial couples can be together without any signs of hatred or jealousy by someone else. Stalin also sees how men can greet each other with a kiss on the cheek and it is regarded as acceptable to other people. Life in the city of Paris seems too good to be true. Stalin feels that many people’s culture and lifestyle may not blend in that easily in some parts of the United States. Stalin tells Alex that some of the people’s behavior in Paris may not be deemed acceptable in the city of New York. Alex has already been to New York and realizes that he may need to bend and live differently to adapt to New Yorkers. Throughout Stalin’s time in Paris he has learned the true value of what friends bring to the table. He has learned, honesty, loyalty, being non ignorant, connecting with people of different colors and acceptance to other people’s ideas and lifestyles make the friendship between Alex and Stalin as real as it gets. Stalin eventually returns home where he lives with his mother, father and sister. Jeanette, Stalin’s sister, tells him how she is searching for that special someone to spend the rest of her life with but she has a problem with gay people. Stalin defends the issue of race and people of a different lifestyle by stating that even if Jeanette finds someone there is no guarantee that the relationship will provide her with all the things she desires in the long run. Stalin states that sometimes you can’t look on the outside to what someone will give you but it is more on the inside to what they will provide to you in the long run. In other words people can appear as someone who is influential but their heart and clear intentions is really what will make the relationship and friendship stand the test of time

The story takes place in the beautiful city of Paris. Stalin, a writer and traveler, uses his stay to explore the city and make use of his visit by connecting with friends while working on his writing project. Stalin uses his 3 month stay in Paris to enjoy the festivities and nightlife with 2 great friends, Alex and Frederick, with whom he spends time with consistently during his stay. Alex, Frederick and Stalin all portray to have very similar qualities in one another. Each has their own professions as teachers, artist and writers. They are all young adults in their late 20’s and early 30’s. However, it is a special bond that they make as friends that help them enjoy and make the most out of life whenever they are in each others company. In spite of their professions, they all relate well to one another. They can all cook well; have great taste in art, nice homes and value friendships. Alex and Frederick show Stalin a great time in Paris. These individuals both have their own places in Paris and they find pleasure in spending time with Stalin who is an African American from the United States. These 3 people constantly go out to drink on a daily basis. All of them use their time to enjoy the lavish restaurants and festivities around the city. They also visit each others Pub in the city and gear themselves for a fun and adventurous trip. Conflict starts to arise in the story as Stalin figures out that the world and life he is living is too good to be true. Stalin finds out that Alex and Frederick may perhaps be gay and probes them for information regarding their lifestyle. Oddly enough, Alex and Frederick were gay but it did not interfere with Stalin enjoying their company. Stalin meets a beautiful woman named Isabelle who happens to be Alex’s good friend. Stalin finds her extremely attractive and feels she could be the person that he would want to marry. Alex aggressively told Stalin that it is okay for you and Isabelle to be friends but nothing should ever go beyond your friendship with her. Regardless of the comments hurled at Stalin, he still pursued her throughout his stay. When Stalin would go out with his two buddies, he would request to always see Isabelle. Alex and Isabelle have a great friendship. As a matter of fact, Alex cherishes the friendship he has with Isabelle to the point where no one else should interfere, including Stalin. Alex used different alternatives and excuses through his plans to not invite Isabelle around Stalin. Alex felt the need to protect the friendship he has with Stalin as well as Isabelle, even if it meant absolute separation between the both of them. There is always something to do for Stalin each day in the city but he ends up spending too much money throughout his stay and realizes that he may not afford to pay the rest of the rent for his Pub. Stalin asks Alex if he can stay with him until it is time for him to go home. Alex grants Stalin’s request. Stalin’s personality engages him into the drinking habits of Alex and Frederick. They go out everyday to drink, socialize and enjoy the city. Even though Stalin spends most of his time with Alex and Frederick, it did not deter him from working on his writing project. Stalin also finds time to break away from his friends to explore parts of the city. He uses parts of his journey to find places that would propel him further to completing his project. Stalin has high expectations that he will become a famous writer someday. The tireless efforts that are placed into his writing will one day make him become a huge success. Each time Stalin visits Paris, he is marveled by the people of this great city. He likes the fact that interracial couples can be together without any signs of hatred or jealousy by someone else. Stalin also sees how men can greet each other with a kiss on the cheek and it is regarded as acceptable to other people. Life in the city of Paris seems too good to be true. Stalin feels that many people’s culture and lifestyle may not blend in that easily in some parts of the United States. Stalin tells Alex that some of the people’s behavior in Paris may not be deemed acceptable in the city of New York. Alex has already been to New York and realizes that he may need to bend and live differently to adapt to New Yorkers. Throughout Stalin’s time in Paris he has learned the true value of what friends bring to the table. He has learned, honesty, loyalty, being non ignorant, connecting with people of different colors and acceptance to other people’s ideas and lifestyles make the friendship between Alex and Stalin as real as it gets. Stalin eventually returns home where he lives with his mother, father and sister. Jeanette, Stalin’s sister, tells him how she is searching for that special someone to spend the rest of her life with but she has a problem with gay people. Stalin defends the issue of race and people of a different lifestyle by stating that even if Jeanette finds someone there is no guarantee that the relationship will provide her with all the things she desires in the long run. Stalin states that sometimes you can’t look on the outside to what someone will give you but it is more on the inside to what they will provide to you in the long run. In other words people can appear as someone who is influential but their heart and clear intentions is really what will make the relationship and friendship stand the test of time

The story takes place in the beautiful city of Paris. Stalin, a writer and traveler, uses his stay to explore the city and make use of his visit by connecting with friends while working on his writing project. Stalin uses his 3 month stay in Paris to enjoy the festivities and nightlife with 2 great friends, Alex and Frederick, with whom he spends time with consistently during his stay. Alex, Frederick and Stalin all portray to have very similar qualities in one another. Each has their own professions as teachers, artist and writers. They are all young adults in their late 20’s and early 30’s. However, it is a special bond that they make as friends that help them enjoy and make the most out of life whenever they are in each others company. In spite of their professions, they all relate well to one another. They can all cook well; have great taste in art, nice homes and value friendships. Alex and Frederick show Stalin a great time in Paris. These individuals both have their own places in Paris and they find pleasure in spending time with Stalin who is an African American from the United States. These 3 people constantly go out to drink on a daily basis. All of them use their time to enjoy the lavish restaurants and festivities around the city. They also visit each others Pub in the city and gear themselves for a fun and adventurous trip. Conflict starts to arise in the story as Stalin figures out that the world and life he is living is too good to be true. Stalin finds out that Alex and Frederick may perhaps be gay and probes them for information regarding their lifestyle. Oddly enough, Alex and Frederick were gay but it did not interfere with Stalin enjoying their company. Stalin meets a beautiful woman named Isabelle who happens to be Alex’s good friend. Stalin finds her extremely attractive and feels she could be the person that he would want to marry. Alex aggressively told Stalin that it is okay for you and Isabelle to be friends but nothing should ever go beyond your friendship with her. Regardless of the comments hurled at Stalin, he still pursued her throughout his stay. When Stalin would go out with his two buddies, he would request to always see Isabelle. Alex and Isabelle have a great friendship. As a matter of fact, Alex cherishes the friendship he has with Isabelle to the point where no one else should interfere, including Stalin. Alex used different alternatives and excuses through his plans to not invite Isabelle around Stalin. Alex felt the need to protect the friendship he has with Stalin as well as Isabelle, even if it meant absolute separation between the both of them. There is always something to do for Stalin each day in the city but he ends up spending too much money throughout his stay and realizes that he may not afford to pay the rest of the rent for his Pub. Stalin asks Alex if he can stay with him until it is time for him to go home. Alex grants Stalin’s request. Stalin’s personality engages him into the drinking habits of Alex and Frederick. They go out everyday to drink, socialize and enjoy the city. Even though Stalin spends most of his time with Alex and Frederick, it did not deter him from working on his writing project. Stalin also finds time to break away from his friends to explore parts of the city. He uses parts of his journey to find places that would propel him further to completing his project. Stalin has high expectations that he will become a famous writer someday. The tireless efforts that are placed into his writing will one day make him become a huge success. Each time Stalin visits Paris, he is marveled by the people of this great city. He likes the fact that interracial couples can be together without any signs of hatred or jealousy by someone else. Stalin also sees how men can greet each other with a kiss on the cheek and it is regarded as acceptable to other people. Life in the city of Paris seems too good to be true. Stalin feels that many people’s culture and lifestyle may not blend in that easily in some parts of the United States. Stalin tells Alex that some of the people’s behavior in Paris may not be deemed acceptable in the city of New York. Alex has already been to New York and realizes that he may need to bend and live differently to adapt to New Yorkers. Throughout Stalin’s time in Paris he has learned the true value of what friends bring to the table. He has learned, honesty, loyalty, being non ignorant, connecting with people of different colors and acceptance to other people’s ideas and lifestyles make the friendship between Alex and Stalin as real as it gets. Stalin eventually returns home where he lives with his mother, father and sister. Jeanette, Stalin’s sister, tells him how she is searching for that special someone to spend the rest of her life with but she has a problem with gay people. Stalin defends the issue of race and people of a different lifestyle by stating that even if Jeanette finds someone there is no guarantee that the relationship will provide her with all the things she desires in the long run. Stalin states that sometimes you can’t look on the outside to what someone will give you but it is more on the inside to what they will provide to you in the long run. In other words people can appear as someone who is influential but their heart and clear intentions is really what will make the relationship and friendship stand the test of time

Charlie Masters is a man who ends up torn between his two best friends: his sister Deirdre and her husband John Camper. Influenced by otherworldly forces, Deirdre ends up leaving her husband, but taking their children. This causes Charlie to be torn between the two. Which side to take seems to be decided for him when he discovers his sister is avoiding him in every, possible way. As a result, both he and John are left to speculate over what has caused this sudden change in her and why she chooses not to trust her own brother, who she'd always turned to before.

A Brother's Love is a story that shows how unseen forces from different dimensions may be the driving force behind so much of what happens in our lives when we let our guard down and open ourselves up to the wrong kind of energy.

The death of a really good friend of many years brings back many memories during the surviving friend’s three days of journeys across New York City, to attend his wake and funeral.

The death of a really good friend of many years brings back many memories during the surviving friend’s three days of journeys across New York City, to attend his wake and funeral.

No Description Available.

With a bundle of roses in one hand and a walking cane in the other, an elderly gentleman, Lawrence Gray braves the Northeastern winter as he makes his way to Saint James Cemetery. There, he offers the flowers to his fallen wife, who passed away forty years ago. Lawrence’s devotion to his long-dead wife elicits curiosity from Meg Bailey, an intrigued neighbor who spies on him from her kitchen window every morning. Meg’s curiosity hits a peak when town historian, Fanny Brund, invites her for afternoon tea, and tells her about the mystery surrounding the Grays. Looking for more answers, Fanny warps back to the year 1895 in a bid to uncover the truth behind Lawrence Gray’s guilt over his wife’s untimely death — only to unravel a secret that will change Meg’s life forever. . .



For more information on "Afternoon Tea" visit www.jrlagreca.com.


BOOK REVIEWS


Jody Riva La Greca´s inspiration for writing Afternoon Tea is her passion for the Victorian Age. She says, "human nature is timeless, and reveals the same dimension of emotion and intrigue in any era".

Her novel is about love, struggle, and differences of the haves and have-nots in society taking place in the year 1895. The setting is beautifully detailed in and around New England´s picturesque towns. The plights of the characters were difficult at the turn of the century and you are enthralled by the descriptive prose laying them bare.

Lawrence Gray, 83, visits the grave of his beloved wife Emily, where he places red roses every Sunday even though she had died 40 years before. A neighbor, Meg Bailey, continuously watches him from her kitchen window and is intrigued by his devotion. Fanny Brund, the town historian, invites Meg to her home for tea and goes back to 1895 where she seeks the truth about Emily Gray´s untimely death. She looks to uncover a secret that may change Meg´s life.

Descriptions of a debutante ball, a devious ´red lady´, and an old-fashioned wedding are all beautifully depicted. This was an interesting historical time when medicine was quite primitive and "tinctures" were mysterious potions which magically healed.

La Greca brilliantly develops her characters to be graceful and elegant when manners were boundless, dress was significantly important, and the adventures of all classes were intriguing. The struggles of the poor are tremendous and the lives of the rich are full of imagery.

This could be a modern day portrayal relating to challenges of success and the rewards of unwavering devotional love. Even though this is a by-gone era, the book enchants you from beginning to end. The author laces a romantic triangle that will tug at your heart with a surprise ending. J. R. LaGreca has captured the Victorian Era exquisitely, like a fine painting or a glass of aged wine.

J. R. La Greca also is an award-winning poet and ends her book with A Grain of Sand, a poem dedicated to her sister.

A must read for the amorous romantic.

---Clark´s Eye on Books, by Clark Isaacs. News Blaze, Kingman Daily Miner, Affaire De Coeur Magazine, Desert Independent, and Midwest Book Review in its April edition


AFTERNOON TEA by J. R. LaGreca is set in New England in the late 1800s. The details for the setting add much to the flavor of the story as it winds around the quaint villages of that area, many of which can still be visited today. AFTERNOON TEA is a romantic tale of class struggle in that era between the upper and lower class citizens.

As the story opens, 83-year-old Lawrence Gray is spied on by Meg Bailey from her kitchen window as he visits his wife’s grave every day. His wife who had died about 40 years earlier is buried within Meg’s view and she becomes quite fascinated by the love and attention Gray still has for his wife after all these years. Would someone love Meg enough to bring her roses every day?

Meg becomes quite inquisitive about why Gray does this and so she pays a visit to Fanny Brund. Fanny is the keeper of the town’s secrets, the town historian one might call her. When Meg inquires, Brund invites her over for a cup of tea and so that afternoon, Meg learns of the wonderful love that Lawrence Gray and Emily Reed had for each other. Fanny takes Meg back to the time of Emily’s death and hints at what might have been a somewhat suspicious death.

Meg decides that she must discover what the secret is that has lain dormant all these years and so searches for answers to her questions. Little does Meg know that what she finds out may change her own life forever.

As Meg “goes back in time” she finds that it was still a time when medicine and medical care were very archaic and strange potions were thought to cure things almost by magic. LaGreca shows a great deal of research in this part of the story including how things looked such as every young woman’s special time when she would come out at a debutante ball. The description of the traditional and conservative wedding of that time is written with such wonderful detail that readers will feel like they are at the affair.

The clothing, customs, and manners of that time period come to life with LaGreca’s words and whether the rich or the poor are being described, one still can tell what it was like and thus gets a very real pictorial comparison of class struggle during that era.

What the reader finds out is that this was not just the simple time it might appear to be. A passionate 3 way love affair takes place that will surprise you as we would not think something like that would take place back in those days. Meg discovers that Lawrence’s precious Emily is set up by her father, Philip Reed, in a not unusual for the time arranged marriage…but not to Lawrence but rather to a promising young man by the name of Sir Dexter Lund. Lund is a lawyer with a good career ahead of him unlike poor Lawrence who has no education and therefore, no way to care for Reed’s daughter, Emily. At least in his eyes, not the way she would be cared for.

Unexpectedly, Lawrence is able to follow Emily to the home where she is now staying with her betrothed’s family. And so, to be near her, Lawrence is forced to become the beau of Lund’s sister, Mallory. In your imagination, you can think of many possibilities of where this would all lead, but which one is correct? How, if at all, does Meg fit into any of this? How did Lawrence finally wind up married to his beloved Emily whose grave he visits daily? What part did the medical care of that time have to play in all this? How this story ends and why it is such a satisfying read are what keep you turning the pages until the very last one. Is the ending what you think it will be or is there a twist and surprise you never see coming? This is what you will find out when you read and enjoy as I did, AFTERNOON TEA by J. R. LaGreca.

---Bingo, teacher, writer & reviewer


The story begins at a cemetery outside a church in Clinton Connecticut. A young woman named Meg Bailey observes Lawrence Gray, an older gentleman with a cane, struggles to reach a gravesite. The grave bears testament to the fact that he visits every day- it is covered in roses.

As Meg asks around to determine the source of Lawrence's devotion, a fellow church goers tells her that essentially Lawrence is doing penance because he feels responsible for his wife's death. The church goer tells Lawrence's story over a cup of afternoon tea...

The story begins in 1895. William and Lawrence Gray )father and son) were traveling through New England looking for employment after William sold his farm. William decides to look up his old (affluent) school chum, Philip Reed. Philip readily agrees to hire the pair and welcomes the duo into his house like family. Philip has a daughter, Emily. Right away we see that Emily and Lawrence take to each other. Emily feels Lawrence is the only person with whom she can talk. Ah, yes. Enter the conflict.

The pair are clearly from opposite sides of the track. Back in the Victorian times, young ladies weren't necessarily allowed to marry the man they loved, not unless they fell in love with a man of great fortune. Generally, that's whom their parents would have wished them to marry. Anyway, the pair begin to fall in love, but they are discovered as we suspected that they would be.

The pair find themselves victims of forces that they cannot control. Lawrence and his father find their station at the Reed's reduced to servants. Emily is forced into a relationship with a man that she does not like. She's sent to meet the man's family. Surprisingly, Lawrence is invited to go along as an artist to paint Emily's intended family.

I won't tell you more of the story, but I will say that the pair go through a lot before they end up together. Even when they end up together, their lives are not smooth. Ah! Where are the men like Lawrence today? What an upright, courteous, and honorable man. I tell you, they don't make them like that any more!!

I really enjoyed this book. I know this will surprise those of you who have been around my blog for a while, especially those who saw my Valentine's Day post. I'm not the most romantic person in the world. But this was an excellent read. In fact, I sat down and read it in an evening. What I really liked about this book was the authenticity. The author mentions on the back cover of her book that she has an affinity with the Victorian Age. It came through loud and clear in the book. For example, the author mentions the book The Mystery of Love Courtship and Marriage Explained. This book does exist. It was written by Henry J. Wehman and published in 1890 by the Wehman brothers. The book offered advise and lessons to help men and women succeed in love. I ran an internet search and found out that little tidbit. I’m going to have to hit up some used bookstores to see if I can't get my hands on a copy of this book. I'm familiar with a similar book called The Language of Flowers, which taught men and women to communicate by flower arrangements. No I'm not kidding. The sexes were restricted in talking with each other, so they thought up some pretty ingenious ways of communicating.

Bluestocking

Rated L for Love it!


J.R. LaGreca is an award-winning poet and internationally published writer in magazines and anthologies. Her book, "Afternoon Tea” (Xlibris $19.99 paperback, $29.99 hardcover), was inspired by her emotional affinity with literary masterpieces of the Victorian Age. The novel is set in Newport, Rhode Island and Salem, Mass. In 1895, Lawrence Gray and his father, William, are traveling the New England countryside in search of work when they come upon the Reed Estate. Philip Reed and William Gray were boyhood buddies, and the Grays are hired to work on the estate. Lawrence soon becomes friends with the daughter, Emily Reed. The Grays are invited to Emily’s debutante ball, and it becomes apparent Emily is set to marry a local bachelor of good standing, Sir Dexter Lund. As Lawrence continues his poetry reading and painting with Emily, he develops his aspirations to become a pharmacist and a doctor. After the wedding of Sir Dexter to Emily is announced, Sir Dexter convinces Lawrence he must marry his sister, Mallory, in a double ceremony. Lawrence agrees to the wedding only to remain on the estate and be near Emily.

The author brings the extended family relations of deep emotions to an exciting end after a moving story covering 40 years of turmoil. The descriptive writing is well-suited to Victorian Age customs and accoutrements.

---NEWSWOK:THE OKLAHOMAN by Russ Long


"Afternoon Tea" is like walking onto a painting, a wondrous escape to a magnificently alive "other time" with exquisite, meticulously researched details interlaced throughout the complex and extreme fates of the main characters. Scattered throughout the ethereal romantic story is fascinating imagery of the clothes, literature, etiquette, and surprising inventions of the Victorian Era, which enhanced the sensation of really being there. My favorite revelations were the ultra-detailed precious "keepsakes" created by "the girls" (admirers and friends) ... totally inspiring! Especially today when crafts are taking center stage and the steampunk movement is still emerging. "Afternoon Tea" allowed me to peak at love, life, fate, and paradox through another window ...

---Suzanne S.


I found Afternoon Tea to be a wonderful book to read! If you are a true romantic this book is for you! Old fashioned story telling from 1895, New England; this book offers romantic, and mystery. A love story with a surprise ending you would not want to miss. You will feel like you are part of this era, learning about historical times. Very romantic with a triangle love story that ends in more modern times. Romance and devotion are not lost! I hope you will enjoy the poetic writing and story telling of Jody La Greca as I did.

---Sandra Grannis


Afternoon Tea is a light romance set in the Victorian New England countryside of the late 1800´s. The story opens when Meg Bailey witnesses an ongoing ritual from her kitchen window of an old man bringing roses to his wife´s graveside. Meg´s curiosity gets the better of her and she seeks out the help of the town historian, Fanny Brund for answers. Who is this man? Why does he visit the cemetery everyday? Fanny invites Meg over for a cup of tea that very afternoon and reveals to her the love story of Lawrence Gray and Miss Emily Reed. Theirs is a love that cannot be fulfilled as Emily´s father, Philip Reed believes that an arranged marriage with a promising young lawyer, Sir Dexter Lund is a more suitable match than with Lawrence, a young man with little education and no means of supporting his daughter. There is a turn of events and Lawrence is able to follow Emily, his only true love to her soon to be home with the Lund family. Once there though he unfortunately finds himself obligated to become a suitor to Miss Mallory Lund, sister of his true love´s fiancé....

---Merry Weather "Beve"