“READERS & REVIEWS of MEMOIRS ~ An Editorial 5-Star Awarded Book Review and More ‘High Praise’ on Amazon New Reviews” . . .
Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story
by Elizabeth Upton Non-Fiction – Memoir 241 Pages Reviewed on 09/06/2024 By K.C. Sanders
“Before I left high school, most of my teachers were nuns, not to mention a source of fascination. What did they wear to bed at night? Are they bald under those black veils? What do they confess if they don’t even sin?
As a young teacher, I worked with and learned a lot more about nuns, but only after I read Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story by Elizabeth Upton, could I conclusively say that nuns are, indeed, very human!
Upton’s journey from becoming a nun to leaving took 21 years, beginning when she was only 16. In an utterly honest voice that shares every emotion, and the more hidden, natural urges a young teen feels, Upton opens up to readers in her memoir. We feel every battle with herself and her superiors that resulted from her choice to dedicate her life to God.
Becoming a nun is far from easy. Personal interaction between nuns is discouraged. Nuns in superior positions take their religious fervor and powerful roles to extremes, and the degree of dedication required would try anyone’s strength and patience.
Then, of course, there’s the difficulty younger nuns experience denying their attraction to the opposite sex, as celibacy is not just demanded of Catholic priests! I loved the honesty with which Elizabeth Upton shares such emotional and physical details. That takes courage. Readers need to bring an open mind to Secrets of a Nun.
Those who see normal urges as sinful might be offended by Upton’s frankness. The rest of us will applaud Upton’s decision to write a tell-all about her life as a Catholic nun. It is a memoir I recommend to any young woman contemplating donning the veil.
“Read this memoir long before you take those final vows.“ ~K. C. Sanders Book Reviewer~
ABOUT THE BOOK
Great on Kindle~ Great Experience. ~ Great Value. Enjoy a great reading experience when you borrow the Kindle edition of this book with your Kindle Unlimited membership. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories. Print is available on sale, too!
Secrets of a Nun is a revealing, uncompromisingly honest, and deeply moving look into one woman’s soul.
At fifteen, Elizabeth, a talented athlete, gives up her dreams of competing in the Olympics to become a nun. Separating from her mother and twin sister, she leaves her friends and familiar world behind to pursue a saintly life. But she finds herself unprepared for what lies ahead. While her cloistered life commences as a profound spiritual and emotional journey, personal disenchantment takes root and slowly grows over the next twenty years.
Elizabeth recoils against the restrictive atmosphere of convent life. She struggles with conflicting emotions until a forbidden love affair forces her to come to grips with her needs as a woman. Over the course of striving to find her authentic self, she ultimately feels compelled to leave the Order.
A true story inspires this fascinating account of courage and passion. It will shock you and bring a smile to your face as you follow the course of a young woman’s obsession to become a spiritual seeker—an obsession that, over time, transforms into a deeply felt desire for personal liberation.
“A fascinating book into oppression and control and finding a way out without losing convictions and passion for Christ’s Love. I learned a lot.”
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5.0 out of 5 stars Best One Ever Verified Purchase Reviewed in the UK on 08/10/2024 “I’ve read 40 books about nuns. This is the best one ever. It was so enjoyable I hated for it to end.”
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More Non-Fiction Books She has Written Can By Found On Her Amazon Author Page! >> Elizabeth Upton <<(Author) The Holiday Gift Giving Season is Just Around The Corner & Books Make Great Gifts!
Have you met Candace Gish? She is this fabulous diva who wears many hats as an award-winning author, writer, compiler, podcast host, anthologist and so much more?
Here is what Candace shares about who she is & Cat will share more! 💞😺
“My name is Candace Gish, I’m a motivator and empowering change agent who understands the challenges women face while finding success in their everyday lives and businesses. I am an advocate for mentorship and strong, supportive networks.
My four daughters and wonderful husband have inspired me to create a better world, thus the Divas That Care Network was born. I enjoy connecting with goal-oriented women and a commitment to make a difference. I believe in the power of women converging to implement change and have ensured that the purpose of the Divas That Care movement quantifies just that.
I created the Divas That Care Network because I am the mother of four beautiful girls who look to me to model the hope and countless opportunities that lie in their futures. I recognize and salute the power that a true DIVA holds. A strong, informed, and empowered woman is a force to be reckoned with and admired”. . . ~Candace Gish
The twin visions behind this anthology are inspiration and engagement. Read it to be inspired by other entrepreneurial women who share experiences that taught valuable business lessons and a successful mindset.
Discover how you can “pay it forward” by using your own business success to make positive changes in the world around you. Let’s develop a community of committed women working together to make the world a better place for us and future generations.
JOURNEYS OF DISCOVERY is a compilation of short stories from women entrepreneurs, who have overcome obstacles to achieve their dreams. Read and be inspired by these amazing Divas as they share their personal stories of the good, bad, and the ugly, with a little helpful advice on the side.
Young Women Think big and follow your passion!! That’s exactly what the seventeen young women in Young Divas That Care have done.
Through personal struggles with family, bullying, depression, and life-threatening medical conditions and a desire to empower others, these young women combine their passions with volunteerism to make a difference in the world.
Today, they are impacting a variety of people across the globe—from young girls looking to enter the field of technology to the disabled people of Sri Lanka.
Just as these young women have overcome obstacles to help others, you will be inspired by their inspirational stories, poems, and essays to see the best in others and think big to become a changemaker.
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MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Author Candace Gish is a multi-award-winning anthologist with six published works and several #1 Amazon bestsellers.
Candace is an exceptional contributing writer and compiler of the series ‘Divas That Care Books,’ with three titles released in 2019 and 2020. She has also won awards for her two-book anthology series, ‘Divas That Care Collection,’ in 2022 and 2023.
Her latest book, ‘Podcast Journal,’ was released in 2024 and became a #1 bestseller on Amazon. All her books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Absolute Love Publishing Book Store.
Candace has hosted the podcast ‘Divas That Care’ on Blog Talk Radio for over 12 years. She is a motivator and an empowering change-maker who understands women’s challenges in their everyday lives and businesses.
She is an advocate for mentorship and networking, and she believes in the power of supportive and creative collaborations. Her four beautiful daughters and her wonderful husband continue to inspire her to create a better world, leading her to begin the Divas That Care Network.
She enjoys connecting with goal-oriented women and is committed to making a difference. She believes that women can implement change by converging and working together. The ‘Divas That Care’ movement aims to quantify just that. Candace and her family reside in Canada.
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MORE AMAZING BOOKS By CANDACE GISH That Make Great Summer Reads & Gifts!
Now introducing “The Arduous Quest Western Adventure” Novel Series by author B. S. Daniels. Book One, titled “Trail of Fate,” is a knee-slapping captivating tribute to the action-packed adventures of the wild, wild west, and a must-read for fans and buffs of the old classic Westerns!
The Fantastic Intro To “Trail of Fate” ~ B. S. Daniels
Reg is a man of honor, but his quest for justice may result in bloodshed. Will the fate he faces prove to be a turning point in his life? Justice or despair? ******
From The Author: “This book isdedicated to all thosewho have crossed my path.In one way or another, they helpedcreate who and what I am today.” ~B. S. Daniels
“If there is no will,There is no way. If there is the will,There is always a way.“
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PROLOGUE
THE TRAIL OF FATE ******
The sun rises. Is it fate?
The moon rises. Is it fate?
The people we meet and the placeswhere we travel.
Is it fate?
All the many roads, twists, and turns, the peoplewho come and go in our lives.
Fate … What does it have in store for you?
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First Sneak Peek Of Trail of Fate~And so it begins!
LATE 1800s – COLORADO FOOTHILLS
REG
The air was crisp and cool, carrying a hint of sage and the constant feel of prairie dust. I slept as all men on horseback do, using their well-worn saddle as a pillow and the stars as trail companions. The morning light began to show in a cloudless blue sky.
The small fire I built helped keep the morning chill at bay, and the smell of wood smoke and fresh coffee was a pleasant aroma.
I had a hundred memories of times gone by sitting around a fire with a pot of hot coffee, enjoying the fire by myself or with companions. New or old timers, ones from just over the hill or miles away in this vast country, we all had a story to share.
The one thing we had in common was the stories. We kept a few to ourselves, but there were others we gladly shared. Coffee and a campfire were the best ways to gather information, or maybe just by listening to a tall tale that would be passed on for many years. It was the cowboy way to keep a person’s memory and legacy alive.
All my senses snapped into full alert when I heard the report of a gunshot in the distance. Another shot rang out as I strained to look through the early morning’s dim light. Instantly, I determined it was shots from two separate guns.
Every gun carried a specific tune; some were short and snappy, while others played a smoother ring. The shots split the air only seconds apart and rang from what seemed south of my location. I figured the shots echoed up from the valley floor below me, and with the sound traveling uphill, I estimated it to be about two miles down the adjacent draw.
The air and the surrounding area were now as ghostly quiet as a graveyard. I thought about why the shots had occurred. I was in the middle of no man’s land. . .
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WHO IS Novelist B. S. Daniels?
B. S. Daniels is an American writer, novelist, and former professional bull rider from Gunnison, CO.
Daniels will soon release his first book in The Arduous Quest – Adventurous Western Novel Series and aims to revive the popularity of the classic “Spaghetti Westerns” for a new generation of readers with “Trail of Fate,” which will be book one of the series and will be available in late summer 2024 from Amazon and Barnes and Noble and featured in various online magazines and book sites in paperback and Kindle formats.
Raised in Colorado, Daniels has been a successful business owner and creative entrepreneur for 40+ years. Now, bitten by the writing bug, he plans to write and publish several novels in his Arduous Quest series after the release of Trail of Fate. When Daniels is not writing, he enjoys spending time with his cattle dog in the great outdoors while still working on entrepreneurial endeavors.
He has raised four wonderful children and now delights in spending time with his “little posse” of grandkids, teaching them to appreciate the simple things in life. The author and novelist currently resides in Wyoming, USA.
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(Western Photos Courtesy of Freepic)
~ Now Another Special Sneak Peek Excerpt Read Of Trial of Fate ~ Enjoy! 🌵🐎🌵📚🤠
Just as the bounty hunters left town, the stagecoach filled with passengers and luggage rolled to a stop directly in front of the ladies. The make-shift station inside the café was the regular drop-off point in Two Forks.
A clean-cut gentleman stepped out of the coach, waving away the road dust, and greeted the proprietor.
“Hello, I would like to introduce myself, my dear lady. My name is Mr. Asher Lionel,” he said as he leaned on a black walking stick topped by a cut glass knob.
“My charges and I are passing through, and I hope to find a suitable establishment to settle in and rest our weary bones for a few days. Would you be kind enough to direct me and point out a fine eatery, as well?”
“Uncle, have we finally arrived after being delayed an extra day? And for a baby, no less!” said a young lady inside the coach. “I am parched and disheveled from riding in this awful conveyance.”
“That would be my niece, Jaida,” he said. “Well, then, alight and enjoy nature’s bounty.”
Mr. Asher put his hand forward to help Jaida out of the carriage. The teenage lass wore finery that suggested she was on her way to the debutant’s ball in New York City. She flapped her arms and flounced her dress, fussing over the dust on her delicate slipper shoes.
Jetta covered her mouth so the girl wouldn’t see her giggle while Sara poked her in the ribs.
“Oh, my goodness,” Sara whispered.
“Uncle, may I get out of this cage, also?” said a boy looking out of the side window of the coach. “I don’t want to miss watching a cowboy in a gunfight while stuck inside this box.”
“And that voice belongs to her younger brother and my nephew, Chase,” said the impeccable Mr. Asher.
And out of the carriage shot a young boy in a beige linen traveling suit smeared with sweat-dried dust around the collar and handprints on the trousers.
“Nephew, a bath for you before we dine!”
“Welcome to Two Forks,” Maggie said. “My goodness, the dust is thick today,” she continued, blaming her choking voice on the ever-present street dust. “Please step up onto the boardwalk and out of the street.”
“Street? You call this a street?” said Jaida in the most sarcastic tone. “This looks more like a back alley in the slums.”
“Jaida, your manners!”
Maggie stepped off the boardwalk to glance inside the coach to unload the baby, but no one seemed willing to help. Baby, what baby? I thought I heard her say they were delayed because of a baby.
Wanting to assure herself that it was empty, she glanced again and stepped away from the coach, wide-eyed but saying nothing.
She recognized the famous Mr. Scott sitting inside and thought it best to keep quiet until he revealed his presence.
* * * * * *
“Watch yourselves! This here stuff ain’t gonna unload its own self. Dern! Whacha totin’ in them bags, rocks? Look out under me,” said Bailey, Zeke’s newly hired driver, as luggage pieces rained down off the coach.
“Missy, you best get ya some boots for stompin’ here abouts. Ya getting’ me, ya heah me? Rattlers and such bite mitey hard.”
“My carpetbags are ruined!” Jaida moaned as she saw one had landed in a horse’s road apple.
Interrupting the grumbling, Maggie welcomed the newcomers again and invited them inside the café for a meal.
Sara served Zeke and Bailey a glass of lemonade before they scrambled out the door to hit the trail.
“Ready to giddyap, Zeke?” Bailey asked.
“I believe I am ready to leave these city slickers in our dust, Bailey,” replied Zeke with a shake of his head.
“Well, don’t leave me here with this bunch,” grumbled the unknown man from inside the coach, who obviously preferred to remain unidentified. “I will take my chances to unload elsewhere if you don’t mind.”
“Hiya, you girls! Giddyap, there!” Bailey called to the team.
Sara stood in the corner, gaping at the three sitting in the dining room. She had never witnessed people act like this anywhere, especially in Two Forks.
Gazing through the oversized café windows, Jaida’smouth worked like a guppy gasping for air as she watched Bailey’s hat fly off her head, landing on her shoulders. Luckily, Bailey wore a rawhide tie on her hat, or she would have lost it in her rush to get the team away from the depot.
“Why, Uncle, that was a girl who drove our stagecoach. How utterly uncivilized,” remarked Jaida.
“What? A girl! Now this I gotta see,” echoed Chase, knowing if this were true, he would have the first of many stories to tell his friends when they returned home.
“Looks like the town could have some excitement coming our way in the near future,” Maggie said, nodding her head with a spring in her step.
No sooner were those words out of Maggie’s mouth than Jaida became even more astonished.
“Here comes some sort of wagon with another girl driving it. Surely you DO NOT expect me to learn the ways of the dust-eating, uneducated, backwoods mountain girls while we are staying here?” she yelped while Maggie’s customers stared in awe.
Maggie looked out the window and said, “Oh, look. It’s Nancy back with the girls, and she let Caty drive. I wonder if they have any news from the ranch?”
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CAT knows that for all my readers who enjoy reading Western action and adventures with splashes of Western humor, you will want to read B. S. Daniels’ new novel “Trail of Fate” and “The Arduous Quest” series! The Cat had heard a rumor that he was hard at work writing book two of the series.
I hope you enjoyed meeting B. S. and the sneak peek excerpts. Book one will be released sometime next month. So Y’all come back as I will be sharing a cover reveal and more! 📚🌵🤠🐎 🪢🌵
In her new book series “Beyond Cedar Cove,” Cynthia Ulmer brings readers back to the Jansan family as it continues the family saga as she tells a moving story about hope, resilience, and the bonds that unite a community in times of crisis.
The Broken Circle Beyond Cedar Cove Book 2 by Cynthia Ulmer Genre: Christian Drama Fiction
In “The Broken Circle, Beyond Cedar Cove,” Cynthia Ulmer tells a moving story about hope, resilience, and the bonds that unite a community in times of crisis.
In this second part of the series, we find the tranquil town of Cedar Cove on the brink of chaos; the local Baptist Church, a cornerstone of the community, is thrown into turmoil when its pastor, Joe Marley, crashes his car into the Jansans’ feed store. James Jansan, the respectable head deacon, must find a substitute preacher to take over while the community grapples with various issues that threaten to unravel its tight-knit fabric.
Meg Kerwood, known for her abusive and neglectful behavior toward her six-year-old daughter, wants to have a baby boy. She believes that unwavering faith and divine intervention will answer her prayers. But her journey toward motherhood takes an unexpected turn, leading her down a path of heartache and turmoil. Adding to the chaos, someone from Grandma Cal’s past resurfaces, bringing secrets and complications that test the town’s unity.
As the truth comes to light, Meg’s life takes a frightening turn, leaving her shattered and on the brink of disaster. Will Cedar Cove find the strength to overcome the challenges that threaten to tear them apart, or will they succumb to the weight of their secrets?
In this captivating novel, join us on a breathtaking journey filled with compassion, redemption, and the power of faith.
Award medal recipient and acclaimed writer Cynthia Ulmer was born in Newport News, Virginia, and raised in Leland, North Carolina. Her wholesome ‘Southern Family Fictional’ book series, The Cedar Cove Chronicles, is an award-winning series of books.
It is a Christian-themed realistic drama series that follows the Jansan family and their friends and neighbors in the fictional community of Cedar Cove, North Carolina, during the 1940s and 1950s. Books one and four of “The Cedar Cove Chronicles” have won medals from the ‘Wishing Shelf Indie Book Awards’ and several have received several 5-star book reviews from Readers Favorite.
Now ready to bring readers to the present, she has released a new book series called Beyond Cedar Cove. Book one, Underneath The Honeysuckle Vine, was released in 2021, and book two, Broken Circle, is set to release soon. Her titles are available on Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble, and many other online bookstores and literary publications.
Cynthia shares, “Some people grapple with their life’s purpose, while others are born knowing it. At an early age, I knew I would be a writer–as the narratives were always alive in my mind.” The author’s characters are so rich and relatable that readers will feel an intimate connection with them and eagerly anticipate the next chapter in their lives. The author hopes her books resonate with readers, stirring their hearts and inspiring them to foster deeper faith-filled connections with the Lord.
When Cynthia isn’t writing, she finds joy in cooking, crocheting, immersing herself in music, and delving into the works of her favorite authors, Catherine Hyde Ryan, Lucinda Berry, and Wiley Cash. Above all, she treasures the time spent with her extensive family, particularly her grandchildren. Cynthia and her husband continue to call North Carolina home…
It began underneath the honeysuckle vine. Meg Evans came from a privileged background. She thought she was better than most around her. She had beauty, money, and prestige. She lived in a fantasy world, ignoring the mistakes she made.
When it all crashed and crumbled, she blamed her illegitimate daughter Carin for her misfortune. What will happen as she lies, cheats, and steals to return to the life she believes she deserves? Will her daughter Carin survive the abuse? Will Meg change? Will a return visit to the honeysuckle vine help?
"CAT'S BOOK LIBRARY 4 READERS" 