J.D.R. Hawkins

One bullet can make a man a hero… or a casualty.

Archive for the tag “family”

New Release! Angel’s Halo Collection V. 2

Angel’s Halo Collection

Vol 2

by 

Terri Anne Browning

Contemporary New Adult Romance is filled with MC members, Rock Stars, and Mobsters

ANGEL’S HALO COLLECTION VOL. 2 by Terri Anne Browning

Being part of Angel’s Halo MC was exactly like being part of a family. A scary, powerful, crazy family. There are rules, just as there are in every family and every society. But only breaking one specific rule will leave you in a broken, bloody pile on the floor…

From WSJ & USA Today Bestselling Author Terri Anne Browning comes the final segment of the Angel’s Halo Collection.

The Angel’s Halo MC have joined forces with the Vitucci Mafiosos to overcome a world determined to set itself on fire.

Suspense, intrigue, warring families, loss, and redemption, fill the pages barreling toward a finale that will leave you breathless.

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Family is everything…

From WSJ & USA Today Bestselling Author Terri Anne Browning comes the final segment of the Angel’s Halo Collection. The Angel’s Halo MC have joined forces with the Vitucci Mafiosos to overcome a world determined to set itself on fire. Suspense, intrigue, warring families, loss, and redemption, fill the pages barreling toward a finale that will leave you breathless.

Terri Anne Browning is a Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes contemporary romance featuring rockers, bikers, and mafiosos–but mostly about the strong female characters who rule what has become known as the Rocker Universe.

Terri Anne lives in Virginia with her husband, their three demons–err, children– a Frenchie named Ciri and a chatty as-sin bird named Raven.

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They Need Your Help

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I don’t typically do this, but something serious happened last weekend and I need your help. My son’s best friend, Ben, was in a terrible car accident as he was leaving Florida to escape Hurricane Irma. His two little boys, Jack, age 8, and Owen, age 3, were in the back seat. They left Tampa and got as far as Pensacola when they were rear-ended by a pickup. Both boys received skull fractures. Owen also fractured a vertebra and has been in a coma since the accident happened last Saturday.

This family needs any help you can give. Please pray for the kids’ recovery. Their only car was totaled, so if you or someone you know has a car they could donate or sell for cheap, that would be awesome. Send me a message or email if you do. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to assist with the purchase of a new vehicle. Here is the link:

https://www.gofundme.com/lovethemeteviers

Please do anything you can to help this wonderful family. My son has been heartbroken since he heard the news Saturday afternoon. Anything you can do would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

https://www.youcaring.com/jessicametevier-944626

Post-Civil War Files Will Enhance Family Searches

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Recently, FamilySearch, a large genealogy organization, announced that it is in collaboration with several other organizations to digitally release records they collected through the Freedmen’s Bureau. They plan to have the records searchable by 2016. This is a fascinating and important step, allowing millions of Americans to discover their true ancestry. It will also give people the opportunity to connect with relatives they never knew existed.

The Freedmen’s Bureau obtained information about an estimated 4 million newly freed slaves, including their previous owners, marriage and family history, military service, banking practices, and hospital and property records. These records serve as a treasure trove for African Americans who have been unable to learn more about their ancestry for years. They will also allow all Americans to learn how the United States transformed once Reconstruction began.

“The records serve as a bridge to slavery and freedom,” said Hollis Gentry, of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, which will showcase the records when it opens next year. “You can look at some of the original documents that were created at the time when these people were living… We get a sense of their voice. We get a sense of their desires, their goals, their dreams, their hopes.”

Fireworks and the Fourth

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I’d like to wish everyone a very happy Fourth of July. This holiday brings many fun-filled memories of family, friends, and special summers. Although everyone has fond memories of July 4, let’s not forget what the holiday truly represents: FREEDOM. We have been a free country for so long that it’s easy to take that for granted, but remember our ancestors, who gave their lives so that we could be free. The Fourth of July  is historically significant, not only for our War of Independence, but also for the War Between the States.

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In 1863, two important events played out: Gettysburg and Vicksburg. The battle of Gettysburg, after three days of heavy fighting, ended on July 4, with both sides thinking they were victorious. It was realized later that the Confederate army had actually suffered a defeat; the first major loss of the war. At Vicksburg, Mississippi, Union General Grant succeeded in taking the town after a month-long siege, thus securing the Mississippi River for Federal use.

Our founding fathers sacrificed home and health to secure our freedom. This 4th of July, let us honor those who so loved, cherished, and believed in our country that they laid down their lives unselfishly. God bless America!

The Mystery Remains

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I have recently developed a profound interest in genealogy. Not just in general, but MY genealogy, to be specific. I guess this started while I was researching my Young Adult historical fiction about my hometown, Sioux City, and my great aunt. She and her husband ran a hotel downtown during Prohibition, and there are many colorful stories surrounding the place. Unfortunately, the hotel was razed in the 1960’s, but that doesn’t deter me from searching out interesting tidbits about my ancestors. It’s amazing what deep, dark secrets I’ve uncovered about my family!

My latest quandary is my great-great grandfather. He divorced Great-Great Grandma, a rare occurrence at the time, and after that, basically fell off the planet. The entire family lost contact and track of him. Some say he went to Texas, but most don’t have a clue. He is the key to my Irish ancestry, since his parents came over, but his story remains elusive for now.

After I wrote my first book about the Civil War titled A Beckoning Hellfire, my husband grew curious about his ancestors. He discovered that his great-great grandfather was a Confederate soldier who served as a Cherokee interpreter for Nathan Bedford Forrest. (Thanks to fellow Sons of Confederate Veterans member Lynn Herron for researching this!) A United Daughters of the Confederacy sister of mine recently posted that she discovered a Civil War ancestor who fought for the Union. She seemed appalled, but I think it is admirable, since men on both sides basically fought with the same valor and enthusiasm. In my opinion, there were no wrong sides in the War Between the States – just wrong governing that lead the country to such a disastrous result.

As I sit here watching a TV show about historic Scotland (my husband is a descendant), I long to find out more about my Irish clan. Maybe, someday, I’ll discover the truth.

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