‘Karma bides its time’
– a delightful feelgood novel
with a touch of karma –
There’s no dodging fate…
Part 1 of the ‘Karma’ Series
‘Karma bides its time,’ his mother always said. She was right. First Sergeant Andrew is burdened with guilt after a colossal mistake with fatal outcome, followed by a cover-up. Tenacious journalist Lindsay, however, is on his trail. After Andrew deserts the army, she offers him one chance to come clean.
Andrew’s buddy Ben returns to New Orleans and tries to redeem his bad karma as well. He helps his niece Chloe through a nerve-wracking music audition before hopping headlong on a plane to visit an old flame in Paris.
André lost two fingers in an industrial accident and lost his job as a result, developing a hefty drinking problem. This costs him his family and he is doing everything he can to make amends with his wife Monique. Can he still turn the tide?
Grandma Nina likes to throw parties in her grand mansion, where Chloe’s mother Christine unexpectedly runs into an old flame from twenty-seven years ago, turning her life upside down.
In the meantime, “the girls” are working in Nina’s garage on their float boat Hurricane Gaytrina for the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, with which they hope to win a prize this year. It’s during this parade that Andrew’s forgotten secret finally comes out in all its glory!
Looking through the eyes of all the characters, you can see and feel how they do, each coming from their own background and being at different stages in their lives. It makes for an up close and personal story of how our lives intertwine with others, where even the littlest of things can have far-reaching impact.
Or, as we might also call it: a touch of karma.
Reader reviews for ‘Karma bides its time’
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Fran Genis takes us on a journey full of guilt, redemption and unexpected twists in her first volume of the Karma Series. The story of soldier Andrew, haunted by a past that won’t let him go, grabs you by the throat. The theme of karma, woven throughout the book, gives the reader food for thought about the consequences of our choices.
The author manages to interweave the different storylines of Andrew, the persistent journalist Lindsay and Andrew’s mate Ben in a smooth manner. This keeps the story exciting and keeps the reader enthralled until the last page. The setting of New Orleans, with its lively atmosphere and annual Mardi Gras festival, provides a colourful backdrop for the unfolding of the plot.
The characters are complex. Andrew is a man scarred by his past, while Lindsay is a strong and independent woman who puts truth above all else. Ben, with his own share of karma, provides a lighthearted counterpoint to the more serious storylines.
The ending is both touching and satisfying.
‘Karma bides its time’ is a story that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. Genis manages to touch the reader with her descriptions of guilt, loss and the power of friendship.
MIEKE SCHEPENS, graaggelezenblogspot.nl
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I really enjoyed reading this book, I finished it in two afternoons. The writing style is very nice and the tension builds up well. You read the story from the perspective of different characters, this is very well done, so you can empathise with everyone. The different storylines eventually coming together is also very well done. I am very curious about the sequel!
Highly recommended reading!
MYLENE MALAGRIDE MASCINI, book critic Book Tour
* * * * *
Fran’s writing style is smooth and reads wonderfully. She also knows how to build up the suspense. You read the story from different perspectives , which I always enjoy reading. I say well done. You empathise with everyone. What is also pleasant and nice is that the different storylines come together very nicely in an unexpected manner, so that it just flows and fits together.
SUUSleestBoeken – Bookstagrammer
* * * * *
It is a thin book. It reads very smoothly. I did have to get used to the fact that it was written from different perspectives, but once further into the storyline, it read smoothly and the ending is also a very nice and unexpected find! Highly recommended!
ELS JONCKERS, book critic Book Tour
* * * * *
Super fun story, reads effortlessly and is engaging from start to finish.
Great book, highly recommended, especially for the holidays!
* * * * *
Smoothly written adventure with a roaring ending in New Orleans.
Fun characters and surprising ending. I couldn’t stop reading!
‘Instant Karma’
– a delightful feelgood novel
with a touch of karma –
There’s no dodging fate…
Part 2 of the ‘Karma’ Series
It’s five years later and Ben and Sophie’s daughter Lily is kidnapped a day before her fifth birthday by a registered pedophile and child trafficker. They are going crazy trying to find her.
Will the ethical police officer Mulroon, tenacious journalist Lindsay, hacker goth ISIS, anonymous Mr. J, singing teacher Tamika and courageous street kid Jerry succeed in rescuing Lily in time?
Ben’s cousin, Chloe, struggles with the image manager Peter imposes on her for a music video for her band Liquid Blue. Fortunately, stylist Jacintha comes to the rescue, but it does cost her her job.
Chloe’s stepbrother, Billy, needs money for his Space studies and signs up for the Weekend Millionaires TV show, which he tackles in his unique manner, receiving a little help from fortune teller Serena on the way.
Chloe’s stressed-out mother-in-law, Marcy, undergoes a true transformation thanks to an accidentally eaten cupcake meant for her mother in pain.
Looking through the eyes of all the characters, each coming from their own background and at different stages in their lives, you can see and feel everything how they do. It makes for an up close and personal story of how our lives intertwine with other’s, where even the littlest of things can have far-reaching impact.
Or, as we might also call it: a touch of karma.
Reader reviews for ‘Karma bides its time’
* * * * *
Fran also kept me glued in her story with this volume. What a super exciting story she has made of it again. She has also written out the characters very carefully and beautifully. Handsome job how she manages to keep it so exciting. Yes, Karma is doing its job!
Fran, you have won me over with your writing skills.
Thanks for letting me read this series too. On to part 3!
SUUSleestBoeken – Bookstagrammer
* * * * *
After reading part 1 ‘Karma bides its time’, I was immediately curious about part 2 ‘Instant Karma’.
I started this and… I couldn’t stop until I finished it!
Smoothly written, reads well and the story takes you on a fun trip.
Delightful piece of work!
Anneke Roedolf
‘Karma doesn´t expire’
– a delightful feelgood novel
with a touch of karma –
There’s no dodging fate…
Part 3 of the ‘Karma’ Series
It’s two years later and Ben is working as a counselor in the small-scale home “Children First” under the guidance of ex-journalist Lindsay. One day, the prickly but lonely hacker Isis shows up at her door with bad news and good-hearted Lindsay offers her a job.
Gatelsey, the registered pedophile and convicted child trafficker, has escaped his sentence, and Ben, Lindsay, Isis and police officer Mulroon are doing everything they can to keep the children of the home safe from him. In the process, Isis must come to terms with a painful family secret.
Ben’s cousin Chloe and her band mates are trying to get a foothold in L.A. with their band Liquid Blue but manager Peter has gambled away their money and their record company drops them like a brick after a “me too” incident. To get out of their dire situation, Chloe’s boyfriend Josh comes up with an unusual plan, followed by an unexpected proposal.
Stylist Jacintha is trying to breathe new life into her career, but inadvertently finds herself in all sorts of dangerous situations, even witnessesing a murder! Will she be able to overcome her pride?
Ben’s wife, Sophie, an orphan, receives a phone call from the French TV show “Rétabli”, famous for reuniting long lost families. It turns out she does have family and she is completely overwhelmed by who appears in front of her.
Cheryl receives an ominous reading from fortune-teller Serena and must recompose herself when spooky things keep happening around her after her best friend Sandy dies.
Looking through the eyes of all the characters, each coming from their own background and at different stages in their lives, you can see and feel everything how they do. It makes for an up close and personal story of how our lives intertwine with other’s, where even the littlest of things can have far-reaching impact.
Or, as we might also call it: a touch of karma.
Reader reviews for ‘Karma doesn´t expire´
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What a rollercoaster of a book this third volume! I was on the edge of my seat. This trilogy is so well put together and the stories flow together smoothly in each part. A lot of depth is given to the characters and they keep coming back very nicely. And the writing style is just WOW, so great!
But does everyone make it through, or are some characters punished severely by karma?
All in all, I would say: read this ‘Karma’ Series, it is well worth it!
SUUSleestBoeken – Bookstagrammer
