Painting Juliana

 

About the Book:  A young girl’s terrifying nightmare, five mysterious oil paintings, and a red, flaming firebird all have the same message: stop running, stand still, and let the funnel cloud suck you up inside.   Juliana Birdsong is your typical eight-year-old with an obsessive-compulsive mother who’s too paranoid to leave the house. Making double-lined, black-out drapes to protect their home from the outside world, her mother only looks up from her sewing machine when Perry Mason comes on TV—the type of successful lawyer Juliana should marry if she wants to get anywhere in life.  But Juliana has other things to worry about. Night after night, she’s awakened by a terrifying dream where she’s chased down a long, tapering highway on the back of her father’s motorcycle heading for an enormous, twisting funnel cloud that waits on the horizon. Even after locking it away inside her bedside drawer, little Juliana wonders if there are parts of the dream she hasn’t seen yet.
Years later, she finds dynamic trial lawyer, Oliver Morrissey and she marries him for love. Life is going reasonably well for the priviledged socialite—that is, until she’s faced with losing everything, including her children.  Stepping out of her Lexus, Juliana peels off her Chanel sunglasses and glares up at her childhood home that’s now smothered in ivy. Inside, there’s only her estranged father left, who she’s sure caused her mother’s death. Moving in, she discovers a nude portrait of her with a curious set of tiny red footprints on the ankle, and another surprise she wasn’t expecting: Her father has Alzheimer’s and he needs her. Plus, a shipment of mysterious oil paintings arrives, all with his signature. When Juliana puts a brush in his hand, it sets off a surreal time warp and the canvases begin to eerily transform, painting a different picture of the parents she thought she knew. As tragic secrets emerge that mirror her own, Juliana’s old demons come back to haunt her.  Consumed with his care and desperate for her old life back, the dream is still chasing her and it’s catching up fast. Just when she can’t run any faster, the funnel cloud is waiting on the horizon, twisting even faster than before.

About The Author:  Martha Louise Hunter has an English degree from the University of Texas. After writing magazine features, working in politics and owning homebuilding and interior design companies, she now has an estate jewelry collection,  www.marthasjewelrycase.com.  With four children between them, she and her husband, David live in Austin, Texas.  Painting Juliana was awarded finalist in the Writers League of Texas Mainstream Fiction Contest. This is her first novel.  For more information, please visit: www.marthalouisehunter.com

My Thoughts About The Book:  I was late getting started on this book because of some major life events that were happening when I finally sat down I was blown away.  WOW! is all I can say.  I cannot remember when a book has drawn me in with such power.  I could not put the book down. I literally ignored everything I had to do and everyone I knew just to finish this book.  As a child who had a mother with Alzheimers Disease I recognized the emotions a mental health issue can hand you.  This is a book that can relate  to everyone.  This book is a work of art.  Martha Louise Hunter knows how to portray a character in a life-like manner.  I cannot wait for the sequel because I want to know the rest of Juliana's story! This is a definitely must read!  Loved it!

Disclaimer:  I received this book free from TLC Blog Tours  and Goldminds Publishing Company in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  Thanks guys for allowing me this opportunity.