Moments for the Heart

Hey, Weekend Writing Warriors. My new novel The Five Barred Gate II is now live and available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other book seller sites. I also have three new children’s books out. All are activity books that I have concocted the last month or so. All are available on Amazon. If you have kids who love activities, check them out!!

The Five Barred Gate part One and Two are available on Amazon! Pick up your copies today!!

SYNOPSIS:

Michael Andrews thought he was far removed from the events his father experienced twenty years ago. He heard the bedtime stories so often, he had driven them out and was barely speaking to his dad. Religion was the last thing he wanted, until it became the only thing that mattered.

A new threat arises; his wife is arrested for talking about God to the wrong person. Now Jacob Andrews may be his only hope. He must lean on him, Rachel’s attorney, and those who understand what occurred twenty years ago and may be happening now when an old adversary returns to wreak havoc, using federal laws to exact revenge on the Andrews family.

Will he succeed, or will justice prevail to set Rachel free?

SNIPPET:

Summary:
This Five Barred Gate sequel, is a Dystopian Suspense about what would it be like if freedom of expression liberties were taken from us. In this installment laws have become more strict. One could be arrested for simply speaking their mind if another chose to press charges. This only multiplied within the Christian community. The laws were strict for Jacob in the first novel, now twenty four years later, his son Michael must face his own battles.

Here is a bit from last week.

“That’s what I figured. And that’s what scares me.”

“This whole plant idea?” Frank said.

“Yeah. I don’t want Dad to be right. But in a way, I do because I don’t want the alternative to be true either.”

“What that your old man is losing his marbles?” Frank said.

Michael chuckled. “I know he’s not. You guys have been through a lot. And I know he has our best interest at heart. I’m just scared for Rachel.”


I may have shared this piece before, but sharing now to give you a refresher of what Book 2 is about. We join everyone right after Rachels first hearing. Michael and Frank are at home discussing what happened at the court:

“So, what happened next?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Frank asked, rubbing his chin.

“The judge didn’t even ask for a plea. As soon as the final word of the charges left the bailiff’s lips, Dr. Houston’s attorney ranted about sufficient evidence to go to immediate trial based on her client’s ‘upstanding reputation’ and role in the community. She cited two cases where the merit of the offended was sufficient evidence to bypass any evidentiary hearing and go straight to trial.

“Then the judge glanced at Rachel for a couple of seconds, went back to the doctor, slapped her gavel, granting her request. She then called the lunch recess and quickly disappeared into her chambers.”

“She never asked for a plea?” Frank asked.

“Nope.”

“Isn’t that illegal?”


::There is your ten, but let’s continue on for a moment.::


“I guess not under the updated JSI laws; it isn’t,” Michael shrugged, emptying his cup.

“So now what? What did Jonathan say?”

“He was as flabbergasted as I was. Mind you, I had just dumped on him that this was a rouse before we went in, so he was only half prepared. But we weren’t expecting not to get any word in at all. We expected them to let us fight, squirm, and force us into a corner, then do something stupid.”

“But they didn’t,” Frank questioned.

“Not even a jab.”

“Interesting.”

“All for the best, I suppose,” Michael said. “Dad will be pleased. He had told me not to do anything that would jeopardize Rachel’s safety. Or my own.”

“So, what’s next?”

“I wish I knew,” Michael said, shaking his head. “That’s the problem. Rachel’s in there, and I have no way of communicating with her. Remember, you asked about talking to her? Well, after they dismissed us, I went around and asked if we could get a conference room to talk.”

“And they didn’t?”

“They couldn’t even find her file. And by the time they did, she had already been transported back to the prison.”

“And you can’t see her at the jail?”

“You know that I can’t. If she is being held for the reasons we believe she’s being held, we’d only make things worse for her.”

“But you need to see her, Michael. Or she’ll begin to think you’ve given up on her,” Frank said. “And I’ll be darned if I’ll have my granddaughter feeling that way. She’s missing her kids enough, don’t need her missin’ you as well.”

Michael knew Frank was right. He had fought to see her at the courthouse. He should fight to see her at the jail. He looked up at the clock. There was no way he’d get into the prison this late. Another night of making up excuses for Mommy. He sighed.

Frank must’ve read his mind; his hand was on his arm. “You need to tell the young’uns.”

“I know,” Michael said. “I just don’t know how to say it.”

Michael knows keeping the kids in the dark now is only hurting them… and himself for that matter. Have you ever had to keep news from your kids? or had parents keep news from you?

---

Featured Titles

---

Follow me on Social Media. There is always something happening!!

Monday is Memory Monday
We remember an important event that occurred on that Monday or sometime that week.

Tuesday is Two Twenty-Two Tuesday
A weekly vlog where I talk about writing or something that’s been on my heart, all in two minutes and twenty-two seconds. — I am way behind on this… sorry.
This is posted on my YouTube channel.

Wednesday is when I post my blog for the week.
I speak from my heart on various topics from writing to faith.

Thursday is This or That Thursday
A weekly two-option poll that raises the question, do you like this, or do you prefer that?
I host this on this on Twitter, IG, and Facebook.

Friday is Fun Fact Friday
I find and share interesting or obscure facts on my pages.

Saturday is for Weekend Writing Warriors
Saturday is for Snippets from a current piece or past work.

---

In His Exciting Service,

Jeff S. Bray

Check out amazing established and emerging writers at Weekend Writing Warriors. Each week we post n ew snippets from either published works or works in progress for each other to comment on. Gain insight into how the mind of a writer works and a behind-the-scenes look at works before they hit bookstands everywhere.

---