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Barry Brennessel -- Mystery, Romance, Suspense & Humo(u)r

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The Sulphur Cure

Posted by Barry B. on May 26, 2012
Posted in: Novels, Linked Story Collections, Novellas & Anthologies. Leave a Comment

 

Now available!

Amazon (Kindle)

OmniLit

L&L Dreamspell

Vincent Rhodes, an artist whose family fortune has been lost in the Great Depression, receives four rambling letters from his brother, Theo, who went missing during the Great War in Europe.

Though postmarked April 1933, from Claremont, New Hampshire, the letters are dated 1918, the year Theo disappeared. Vincent leaves his Brooklyn flat to find him. Based on clues from the letters, Vincent tracks Theo to his last-known location: a decaying New England health resort known to locals as the Sulphur Cure.

There he meets Helen Sage-Brown, the last descendant of the original owners. Though Vincent is convinced his brother was at this strange complex, Miss Sage-Brown insists that she has never seen him.

As Vincent digs deeper into the lives of the eccentric residents in search of answers, he finds there is more to this place than sagging floors and broken windows. He discovers that the people inhabiting the old grounds have as many secrets as he does, and that his life will change forever once those secrets come to light.

Finalist 2006, 2008, and 2009 Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest; Honorable Mention, WriteSafe Art & Writing Competition

L&L Dreamspell

The Sulphur Cure

Tinseltown

Posted by Barry B. on May 26, 2012
Posted in: Novels, Linked Story Collections, Novellas & Anthologies. Leave a Comment



Finalist, 24th Annual Lambda Literary Awards

 

Honorable Mention, 2011 Rainbow Awards 

3rd Place, 2010 PNWA Literary Contest


Micah Malone is just an average college student with an ordinary life and big dreams. And an intense passion for film and TV.  And a Greek Chorus in his head.

His friends create more drama than a soap opera.  His love life needs a laughtrack.

Can Micah ultimately find the direction he needs?

Let the cameras roll. Micah’s quirky story has begun filming.

Now available from:

MLR Press, Amazon, Amazon Kindle, All Romance/OmniLit, Barnes and Noble, Powell’s Books, Giovanni’s Room, and Fictionwise

“Barry Brennessel has written a wonderful novel. He creates a wonderful circle of friends that are imperfect but balance the group. I cried and laughed while reading this book and I look forward to many more novels from Barry.”

–Vonda for Top 2 Bottom Reviews

“Micah is actually rather a charming narrator who suffers a little from low self confidence when it comes to looks, and a general apathy about his studies and his life. In other words he’s a bit of a typical college student: rather self-absorbed, easily distracted and fond of socialising. That the author also manages to make him sympathetic and generally likeable is proof of the quality of the characterisation.  I thoroughly enjoyed being taken on the journey of Micah’s road to love. If you want to read something light-hearted and witty with a very likeable hero, then I’d recommend Tinseltown.”

–Jenre for Well Read Reviews 

Barry Brennssel’s debut novel, TINSELTOWN, has to be the most quirky, charming romance this reader has read in a long time. Never has a character felt more like a Woody Allen character in print in Mr Brennessel’s laugh out loud, sexy modern romance. The ever-adorable Micah Malone, complete with internal Greek Chorus, struggles to make his way in life and love.   It is well worth the read as the story and characters are just too loveable to not give a chance. Kick back, relax and enjoy the show, TINSELTOWN style!

–Jenn for The Romance Reviews

“This novel was a delightful experience, like a cup of chocolate with whipped cream above in a winter afternoon, and I will add also, in front of a fireplace.  The novel reads a lot like one of my every time favourite, Almost like Being in Love by Steve Kluger; the narrative voice breaks the plot in “scenes” and he introduces the characters as “roles”; sometime the same characters directly speak to the reader, giving their own account of the same scene. There is even a Greek Chorus, advising Micah for the best, and 2 different therapists who will sometime bring back Micah on track when he needs to tell the reader is own story; the state of art account of a 21 years old gay boy whose life has not yet routed on the right track. Micah had a more than advantage starting point, a supporting family, a circle of friends who are always there, ready to help and advice, and a set of assets (good looks, creativeness and positive attitude) that will give him the chance to a more than positive future… if he is able to understand what is really important in life and who is the right man for him.”

–Elisa Rolle

“The characters are real and very unique, their sense of humor bursting from each page, but even with all the teasing it was clear that they care. The sad parts of this book made me cry which is not an easy thing to do and I have to say it was done beautifully. This book is very special and I am certain it will find many fans among the readers.”

–Hearts on Fire Reviews

Reunion

Posted by Barry B. on May 26, 2012
Posted in: Novels, Linked Story Collections, Novellas & Anthologies. Leave a Comment

Now available from MLR Press

A small French city. A park near Tokyo. The Czech countryside. London at night. Lost loves and found loves. Fear and courage. Reflections. Rejections. Reconciliations. Romance.

These interconnected stories follow the adventures of Brian, Ondrej, Yuji, Jason, and others as they navigate the tumultuous path of life and love.

Featuring:

Shin-Kiba Park (Pushcart Prize nominee; from Gival Press’s ArLiJo)

Nagasaki (Dana Award finalist; from Polari Journal)

Unfinished (from SNReview)

Ficelle (from SNReview)

The Price of Silence

Posted by Barry B. on May 26, 2012
Posted in: Novels, Linked Story Collections, Novellas & Anthologies. Leave a Comment

 

A suspicious party invitation is stuffed in Nathan’s mailbox. Should he fear for his safety, sanity, and Swiss bank accounts?

Nathan Tanyon’s encounters with a ditzy social climber are hardly by chance. Helena Arntree claims to know far more details than the police about the death of Nathan’s wealthy aunt.

Nathan insists she has it all wrong, but she manipulates him into some compromising positions that might harm his credibility. He pays her a healthy sum to keep her mouth shut and go away. So she vanishes—at least for awhile.

Two years later she invites him to a costume party in honor of her recent marriage to a man she doesn’t bother to name. Nathan soon finds out the real reason for the invite. When he contemplates skipping the party, he fears doing so might place him in even greater danger.

Can he ever escape this woman? Just how much is Nathan willing to sacrifice to keep Miss Arntree from spinning her fanciful tales?

Just what is the ultimate price of silence?

Available from L&L Dreamspell, Amazon (Paperback and Kindle), Barnes and Noble (Paperback & Nook), Fictionwise, Omnilit, Giovanni’s Room & Powell’s Books

Finalist, 2009 Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest

Crossroads

Posted by Barry B. on May 26, 2012
Posted in: Novels, Linked Story Collections, Novellas & Anthologies. Leave a Comment

    Sete     Firenze

Now available from MLR Press and Amazon

Brandon Meier’s academic year in Europe takes him far beyond
museums, castles, and classrooms. When he embarks on a month-long rail journey,
his sightseeing includes an edgy French boy, a Carravagio-esque Italian, a rich
Swiss lad, a Croatian heartbreaker, and an Indonesian beauty in Amsterdam, to
name but a few. These are lessons no textbook can ever teach.

It’s not long before Brandon realizes that the best
sightseeing is almost always off the beaten path. From sultry nights in saunas,
to midnight strolls in seemingly endless parks, chance encounters in sleepy
seaside towns and nights of wining, dining, BMW convertibles and penthouse
apartments, Brian’s year in Europe is anything but “by the textbook.”

Reflections

Posted by Barry B. on May 26, 2012
Posted in: Novels, Linked Story Collections, Novellas & Anthologies. Leave a Comment

 

Available from MLR Press, Amazon, and OmniLit!

Brian Caleb made a lot of mistakes chasing his first love. A fleeting, confusing love that disappeared forever. He wishes it were a lifetime ago, but the pain is fresh and raw. Now he’s running away from love. And everything else in his life.

Then a chance encounter takes an unexpected turn: Brian finds himself falling for someone after something falls on someone!

They say true love comes when you’re not looking for it. That’s precisely what scares Brian. Can he find the courage to follow his heart again?

“The character of Brian, despite his many problems, stayed with me long after I finished the story which doesn’t happen all that often. This means that I’d happily recommend this story for those who are not necessarily looking for an easy read but would like something a little different with an anti-hero character.”

–Jenre for Brief Encounters Reviews

L&L Dreamspell Anthologies

Posted by Barry B. on May 26, 2012
Posted in: Novels, Linked Story Collections, Novellas & Anthologies. Leave a Comment

Anthology series from L&L Dreamspell, featuring the short stories:

Food & Sprits

Forgiveness is not on the menu when a young thug shatters the life of restaurateur Edith von Vlick. Though her recipe for revenge proves to be her most complicated dish yet, she’s determined to serve it ice cold, with a side of spite.

Kill Them With Kindness

How many times can Holly Pointer smile and turn the other cheek after a belligerent customer wreaks havoc on her life? Her grandmother always told her that kindness was the quickest way to disarm an enemy. But Holly soon discovers it’s also the surest way to arm herself.

A Special Kind of Folk

When a cub reporter’s first assignment takes him deep into the countryside, his nose for news smells something foul. And “deadline” takes on a whole new meaning.

Visions

The last leg of Myrna’s evening strolls always included the solitude of Cobble Hill Cemetery. How things quickly change the night she meets the keeper. When her constitutional becomes a frenzied fight for survival, it seems her worst nightmares have come true. Then again, that would be the simpler explanation. And perhaps the preferable one.

L&L Dreamspell

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