Kelly's Blog
News and Thoughts From Kelly K. LavenderDelene Vrey’s Review for Readers’ Favorite – 4*
"...Overall, Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying by Kelly K.Lavender offers a relatable portrayal of a woman striving to find her footing in a demanding life. The novel has a unique narrative style that is cleverly used as a literary device, emphasizing the...
Olga Markova’s 5* Review for Readers’ Favorite
"...Reading Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying, I appreciated how Kelly K. Lavender explored the challenges Paloma and her family were facing. The diversity of themes in this praiseworthy novel kept me engaged. I liked how the storyline interlaced life’s...
Divine Zape’s 5* Review for Readers’ Favorite
“How far would a woman go to keep her family together?” That is the question explored in Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying by Kelly K. Lavender… The story is about the relationship between Paloma and her husband, and the dynamics that shape their romance and family…Apart from the intriguing characters, the author shows readers what happens to love when it is not consciously nourished & when acts of support diminish.”
Ruffina Oserio’s 5 * Review for Readers’ Favorite
“How much can a woman take before she finally breaks?”
Jessica Daniels’ 5* Review of Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying
"Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying is an emotionally charged romantic suspense novel that explores the extraordinary strength of love when tested by uncertainty, danger, and life's relentless challenges. Kelly K. Lavender crafts a story that goes beyond...
5* Review by Chris Benetti of Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying
"Always Yearning, Always Fraying, Yet Staying immediately stands out with a title that captures the essence of enduring love and emotional resilience. It suggests a story that explores not only romance, but also the strength required to maintain deep connections when...
“On a deeper level, it’s the optimal antithesis to Fifty Shades…” Corey O
Plenty - an award-winning Fifty Shades antithesis earned another 5 star review! "This book intrigued me especially after seeing the Fifty Shades movie(s). Plenty was the perfect pick for a long flight. I don’t even remember taking off! This book was entertaining, kept...
Bestselling Suspense Thriller Beautiful Evil Winter – “A sad scary heartfelt story…highly recommended for all mystery/suspenseful fans!” 5 * Review
The Avid Reader’s 5* review of Beautiful Evil Winter:
“When I read the summary for Beautiful Evil Winter, I wasn’t sure what I was going to find between its covers, but what I found was not what I expected. It was way more intense than anything I could have imagined…
Beautiful Evil Winter – 5 * Review – Beautiful Story
Heart-racing agony in Russia? Yes.
Can a novel about an American couple’s quest to adopt a Russian baby be called a Multi-Award-Winning Suspense Thriller? Yes.
Armed only with a homespun plan, a desperate American couple travels to corrupt crime-infested Russia to adopt a baby boy. What can wrong? Honestly, what won’t go wrong?
Preventing Car Crashes by Driving Safely – A Perspective
Driving is the most dangerous thing that people do everyday. Safe driving can be the easiest smartest decision made on a daily basis. It can prevent tragedy. George Carlin said, “Have you ever noticed anyone driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a manic?” Egocentric driving puts lives at risk.
Extreme Weather Horse Care Successes
Winters can be brutal in Texas. The 2021 blizzard claimed 250 lives and left 4 million people without power for days in subfreezing temperatures. The 2023 ice storm downed power lines – leaving 350,000 people without power. Both the blizzard and the ice storm have acid-tested my extreme horse care methods for keeping my old horses healthy and as comfortable as possible.
What do I do? Focus on hydration, feed, blanketing and escape from the elements. Of course, always consult your vet. My methods may not work for everyone. I’m not a veterinarian, but excellent veterinarians, in three states over the course of 40 years, have educated me about how to properly manage my beloved horses.
Response to LRN’s Review of Beautiful Evil Winter
First, LRN refers to Beautiful Evil Winter as the Worst Book she has ever read. I suggest that LRN read more books. See Goodreads "Worst Books of All Time" - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2.The_Worst_Books_of_All_Time. Unfortunately, the original edition of...
Defying Long Shot Odds
Persevere along an uphill climb, on a slow downhill descent, through vast valleys, through dry, hot, windy deserts, the splashy ocean surf and grassy meadows. Defy long shot odds when dreaming! Dream big! This mantra has worked for me. It all began with horses. Horses first galloped into my life when I watched western movies with my Dad. Mom noticed my eyes sparkle when I talked about horses.
Why Plenty? Fifty Shades & A Mother’s Request
Two events led to the creation of Plenty, my second Suspense novel. First – the success of Fifty Shades of Grey. Feminist fury lit the fire. As Rich Lowry of the New York Post wrote: “…“Fifty Shades” is a version of the age-old Boy Meets Girl story, except the Boy is a dangerous creep…” https://nypost.com/2015/02/16/50-shades-an-anti-feminist-juggernaut/ I had to call out this trilogy for what it represents: sugarcoated sadism. A young virgin for a rich sadist love story with a Happily Ever Ending. Yuck! Really?
Beautiful Evil Winter – Responding to the Critics Part 4
Not a Page Turner
“I quit reading after the first few pages. Yes, the female main character is strong and feisty. But a skilled writer could find a way to show that, other than having her scoop vomit off the floor with her bare hand and smear it on a man.
Enchanting Valentine’s Day Quotes
Here's hoping your Valentine's Day proves to be extra memorable extra romantic extra dreamy. For those who procrastinate, the following link may be provide some Hallmark-worthy quotes:...
Responding to the Critics – Plenty Part 2
First, “…I really didn’t care for the characters, they are very stereotypical–either very very evil…” I disagree. Gordon, Grant’s powerful father, supports environmental causes and advocates for the town park. He has compassion for terminally-ill children…
Plenty – Responding to the Critics Part 1
DLT – Dark Interesting Book
“I had to think about this one for a few days before writing this review. The blurb references Fifty Shades but that just doesn’t resonate for me. This is dark, very dark and more of a thriller than an erotic novel for me. The characters are not as fully fleshed as I would have liked and seemed almost one dimensionally good or evil. I did like that Camille showed good personal growth becoming the woman she is meant to be and that she helps clean up the town. I do want to go back and read the first in the series. Due to dark events that are possible triggers I recommend this only for the mature reader of darker novels.