William L. Stuart

author of The Gemstone Chronicles Series

Book Reviews, Thoughts, and Random Interesting Ideas

Dragon Thunder by J. S. Burke – My Review!!

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I read the first two books of the Dragon Dreamer series (The Dragon Dreamer and Dragon Lightning) and enjoyed both! When J.S. Burke released Dragon Thunder, I added it to my TBR list. It’s up now for review and here are my thoughts!

Dragon Thunder by J. S. Burke Cover

Synopsis (from the author):

Drakor foresees the doom of dragons, but Mardor refuses to listen. No one thinks the youngster will challenge this huge, powerful ruler!
Now Drakor is the unexpected leader in a new world, where deadly problems grow faster than the unnatural storms. And as hard as it was to win that terrible fight, leading is harder. As Mardor incites a rebellious clan, Drakor questions everything. How can the clan survive if they can’t work together? And can he survive another brutal fight with that giant?

As the world plunges into winter, Arak and Scree offer their help. But Drakor’s seafaring friends face their own threats. Only one thing is clear: Everyone is in danger.

What I liked about Dragon Thunder:

I enjoyed the trip back to the worlds of dragons and octopuses! This one doesn’t involve Scree and Arak as much, but they play important roles. This book delves into the leadership growth of Drakor and the Ice Dragons. With lots of action in a new world, dangers that lurk around each corner, and challenges growing daily, Drakor’s trials make for good reading! If you enjoy a bit of dragon fantasy, read Dragon Thunder!

What I didn’t like about Dragon Thunder:

My only complaint was Mardor’s repeated insubordinate actions. One or two would have sufficed, but I thought more than that was unnecessary and distracted from the story.

Overall impression of Dragon Thunder:

As with the rest of the series, Dragon Thunder entertained me! I enjoyed getting to know Drakor more and liked the way he solved problems. If you like dragons, conflict, and a good story, read this one!

My rating:

5 Stars

Connect with J. S. Burke:

Find J. S. Burke on her website, her Amazon Author page, and her Goodreads page. While you’re there, consider leaving a review or a comment (and maybe buy a book of two)!

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Jacksonboro GA – A Cursed Town???

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While doing a bit of research recently, I ran across an article about the “cursed” town of Jacksonboro (or Jacksonborough), Georgia. Interest piqued, I delved deeper into the story. I found a fascinating tale of a traveling preacher, whiskey, and mysterious events that may continue to this day! Given that I like mysterious things, I had to write a post about it. Follow along to find out what I discovered.

First I have to give a little background and history on both the preacher and the town. Let’s start with the town.

Jacksonboro, Ga Seaborn Goodall House
Seaborn Goodall House Jud McCranie CC BY-SA 4.0

Jacksonboro:

Jacksonboro was originally the county seat of Screven County and lies on Hwy 301 roughly halfway between Augusta and Savannah in southeast Georgia. Wikipedia tells us Jacksonboro was the Screven County seat from 1795 – 1847 and home to Seaborn Goodall. Mr. Goodall was the Mason, Clerk of the Superior Court, pioneer in establishing the Methodist faith, and a prominent citizen. His house, built in 1815, is the only remaining building in Jacksonboro. The county seat moved from Jacksonboro to Sylvania in 1847. I mention Mr. Goodall because he plays an important role in the story, so bear with me.

The Preacher:

Lorenzo Dow is the preacher. If you aren’t familiar with Dow, he was quite the character. The Wikipedia description, quoted below, doesn’t paint a flattering picture:

Lorenzo Dow was personally unkempt. He did not practice personal hygiene and his long hair and beard were described as “never having met a comb.” He usually owned one set of clothes: those that were on his back.

Dow was also a fierce abolitionist, which made him unpopular in the Southern States. More on that later. He allegedly traveled over 200,000 miles preaching his fire and brimstone sermons. It’s said that crowds of 10,000 spectators attended his open-air sermons. His preaching style was different than most in those days. He screamed, shouted, insulted, begged, and challenged people’s beliefs. It’s believed he preached to more people than any other preacher of that time.

Another interesting fact about Mr. Dow is that his autobiography was second only to the Bible as the bestselling book in the country.

The Curse:

So, what is the intersection between, Lorenzo Dow, Seaborn Goodall, and Jacksonboro and how does whiskey play a role? How did this lead to a curse? As the legend goes, Lorenzo Dow arrived in Jacksonboro around 1820 and scheduled one of his signature fire and brimstone sermons at the Methodist Church. Jacksonboro, known for its rowdy nature, numerous saloons, and general lawlessness, didn’t take kindly to Dow comments.

During his sermon, they threw bricks and stones through the church windows. Incensed, the preacher went to a local saloon, grabbed and iron tool, and broke open a barrel of whisky, spilling its content on the floor. This, in turn, incensed the citizens, who then attacked Dow. Luckily for Dow, Seaborn Goodall pulled him out of the saloon and sheltered him in his house. The next morning, Dow departed Jacksonboro to a barrage of tomatoes and eggs, all the while calling for the citizens to repent.

The story says Dow reached the bridge leading away from Jacksonboro and cursed the town – except for Seaborn Goodall. The townspeople laughed it off and returned to their ways.

Soon, though, winds came and blew roofs off houses. Mysterious fires claimed other dwellings, and the local creek, not known for flooding, became prone to flash flooding, and swept houses away. Over time, the town, with the exception of Seaborn Goodall’s house, disappeared.

Jacksonboro today:

Seaborn Goodall’s house (also known as the Dell Goodall House), still stands today. Despite being abandoned for years, it remained where the other buildings didn’t. A DAR chapter restored the house and tours are available on Saturdays.

In case you wondered, over the years, businesses have tried to establish themselves, but none have flourished – despite being on a well-traveled road. Cursed or not, it is odd!

What do you think? Was Jacksonboro cursed by Lorenzo Dow? Was the destruction of Jacksonboro’s buildings natural or supernatural? Leave me a comment and let me know!

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The Gemstone Chronicles: An Update!!

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I haven’t done an update on The Gemstone Chronicles in a while, but I have news!

The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian by William L Stuart

The Gemstone Chronicles Book One: The Carnelian:

My first book celebrated its eighth birthday in August. Hard to believe it has been that long since it was published. Along the way, it garnered an Indie BRAG medallion and a Readers’ Favorite Bronze Medal. Though it has yet to reach bestseller status, it has knocked on the door a number of times, so you never know!

The Carnelian is listed on www.YABooksCentral.com (along with the rest of the series) and has been viewed over 14,000 times! Not bad, in my opinion (though I may be a little biased about the book). Lastly, it has 92 ratings and reviews on Amazon with 4.4 Stars on average!

The Gemstone Chronicles Book Two: The Amethyst

The Gemstone Chronicles Book Two: The Amethyst:

The second book of the series also received an Indie BRAG medallion in 2020! Proud moment for me to have two books listed on www.bragmedallion.com!

I entered The Amethyst in the 2020 Readers’ Favorite contest and received Finalist recognition. No medal for this one, but still quite an honor!

The book has over 5,000 views on YA Books Central and 26 ratings and reviews on Amazon with 4.6 Stars on average

The Gemstone Chronicles Book 3: The Emerald:

I haven’t submitted The Emerald for any contests, but I think I will the next time Indie Brag opens for submissions and may submit to Readers’ Favorite in 2021. Stay tuned for the results!

As I mentioned above, the book is listed on YA Books Central and has over 4600 views. Amazon has 12 ratings and reviews with 4.8 stars on average.

The Gemstone Chronicles Book Four: The Ruby:

Like The Emerald, I have submitted the final book of the series for any contests. I plan to submit to both Indie Brag and Readers’ Favorite, so we’ll see what happens.

On YA Books Central, The Ruby needs a couple hundred more views to reach HOT status like the rest of the books, but it still has over 3,000 views. If you happen to be on the website, give it a look! Ratings and reviews wise, the book has 7, but all are 5 Star! If you’ve read it, reviews would be greatly appreciated!

There you have my update on the books. I’m working (slowly) on a new book, but that’s a topic for another post! Stay tuned for updates.

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The Cloisonné Brooch by Kat Drennan – My Review!!

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Every now and then I step outside my normal genres and read something new. This selection is no exception. The Cloisonné Brooch: A Serpent’s Coil Time Travel Romance was in my recommendations, so I decided to try it. Here are my thoughts!

Synopsis (from the author):

Tessa Madigan’s perfect world turns upside down when she finds a cache of old jewelry sealed in the wall of the Balboa Island home left to her by her Uncle Theo.


Most of the jewelry matches the description of artifacts stolen from a museum during WWII. The only piece missing is the Cloisonné Brooch. The smart thing would be to report the find to the authorities. However, metallurgist by trade, romantic at heart, Tessa can’t resist trying on a serpent bracelet from the cache. With a warm, almost imperceptible slither from her wrist to her biceps, the serpent tightens and a cloudy veil lifts from a window into the past. There is a slave girl being sold at auction, a sensual encounter with a powerful Praetorian guard, and her own hands drenched in blood. She rips the bracelet off her arm and vows never to put it on again.

Was it a kooky dream brought on by too much whisky during Friday Night fun with her boyfriend, Phillip? Or does the serpent’s coil have a dangerous, irresistible power? Wrapped in Phillip’s arms, she can believe in the dream. But the moment he leaves, she can’t shake the feeling she was involved in something terrible. Shaken to her core, she can’t help believing Uncle Theo hid the jewelry for a reason. What happened to the Cloisonne Brooch? Is she responsible for someone’s death in the ancient past? She can’t rest until she knows the truth.

What I liked:

The Cloisonné Brooch was a different take on time travel and I enjoyed it. Tessa’s dreams (or were they simply dreams?) made for a great transition between the past and present. Add to it the heat between Phillip and Tessa and Marcus and Kindra, throw in a splash of murder, a little ancient palace intrigue, and all the elements are there for a great story! No spoilers from me, so read the book and find out for yourself!

What I didn’t like:

I never really understood how one character (again, no spoilers from me) got to the present time and Kindra and Marcus’ fates were unsatisfying.

Overall impression:

The Cloisonné Brooch took a different approach to time travel. I enjoyed the interwoven story from today to the ancient past. If time travel romance is your go to genre, or if you are looking for something different to read, this is a book for you!

My rating:

4 Stars

Connect with Kat Drennan:

Find Kat on her Amazon Author Page, her website, or her Goodreads page! Check out The Cloisonné Brooch and her other books (maybe buy a few). While there, consider leaving a review or a comment. I know she’ll appreciate it!

Connect with me:

I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Say hi and let’s connect!

Trouble at Fatting House – My Review!!

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I’ve read a couple of Diana J. Febry’s books, including Trouble at Clencher’s Mill, the first of Kate and Simon’s adventures. I enjoyed it and added Trouble at Fatting House to my TBR list. Here are my thoughts!

Trouble at Fatting House by Diana J. Febry Cover

Synopsis (from the author):

Simon and Kate land the perfect house-sitting job in a quirky, old farmhouse.
But, when the neighbours are murdered, they discover the house has a sinister past connected to an identical killing.
Following another attack, Simon disappears, and the police uncover disturbing secrets about his past.
Compelling evidence against Simon mounts, leaving Kate alone, unsure what to believe or who to trust. Is Simon the killer? Or a pawn in somebody else’s game?
As Kate closes in on the truth, she realises too late that the stakes are far higher than she ever imagined. 

What I liked about Trouble at Fatting House:

As with the first book, I liked Simon’s and Kate’s characters. Add in the new information regarding Kate’s deceased husband, the intrigue of the murders of the neighbors, and Simon’s disappearance, and you have all the ingredients for an entertaining cozy mystery. How does it all play out? You’ll have to read Trouble at Fatting House to find out!

What I didn’t like about Trouble at Fatting House:

The police actions were too stereotypical for my liking. Didn’t distract from the story much, but it was a small point. Other than that, no complaints from me.

Overall impression of Trouble at Fatting House:

I liked Trouble at Fatting House! While cozy mysteries are not my favorite genre, a little diversion from time to time is refreshing and this book provided it! If you enjoy cozy mysteries, read this one!

My rating:

4.5 Stars (rounded to 5 Stars)

Connect with Diana J. Febry:

Find Diana J. Febry on her Goodreads page or her Amazon Author page. Discover her many books (maybe buy a few) and consider leaving a review or a comment.

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Bump Time Meridian by Doug J. Cooper – My Review!!

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I read the entire Crystal Series and the first book of Bump Time Series, Bump Time Origin, and enjoyed all of them! When Bump Time Meridian (Bump Time Series Book 2) released, I added it to my TBR list. Finally got to it and here are my thoughts!

Bump Time Meridian by Doug J. Cooper Cover

Synopsis (from the author):

David “Diesel” Lagerford rides his T-box across timelines, where each stop is a parallel world with its own Diesel, wife Lilah, and daughter Rose. Its origin uncertain, the T-box is safe for any of the Diesels to use, and they do so to gather and bond in a tight brotherhood. But instant death awaits all other would-be travelers, a limitation unacceptable to the Lilahs and Roses. Determined to travel the timelines themselves, the “sisters” work to reverse engineer the T-box. But in their rush to succeed, they inadvertently expose the technology to an outsider—Sparky Fontaine—who exploits the information to build his own device. Intent on gaining immense wealth and power, Sparky uses his T-box to kidnap Diesel, and then makes alarming demands for his safe return. Cornered, the Lagerfords devise a high-stakes rescue gambit. But how do they locate a hostage adrift in time? And can they execute their plan without revealing their secret to the world?

What I liked about Bump Time Meridian:

Doug J. Cooper did a great job with the time travel concept. I liked the introduction of a new antagonist (not that the AI has disappeared) and how the Lilahs and Roses took on a more active role in the story. Sparky was a good adversary and his efforts to exploit the T-box and ultimate resolution made for a good read. Overall, Bump Time Meridian entertained me!

What I didn’t like about Bump Time Meridian:

My only complaint is that it is still a bit difficult to keep up with the various timelines and which Diesel is doing what. Other than that, no issues!

Overall impression of Bump Time Meridian:

A good second book in the series. If you like sci-fi with a cool twist on time travel thrown in, read Bump Time Meridian (after you read Bump Time Origin, of course)!

My rating:

4.5 stars (rounded to 5 stars)

Connect with Doug J. Cooper:

Find Doug J. Cooper on his website, his Amazon Author Page, or his Goodreads page. While visiting, check out all his books (maybe buy a couple) and consider leaving a comment or a review!

Connect with me:

Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest! Say hi and let’s connect!