What happens to us when we die? It is the universal question. Every civilization and culture has asked this question and sought to answer it through religion and philosophy. Stafford Betty’s The Afterlife Unveiled seeks to answer these questions. Betty's compilation of sources spans decades and includes mediums, or communicators, who have no way of knowing each other or what previous communications have been made. Together they weave a common narrative that enlightens as much as it astounds. Betty acknowledges that mediums may taint the information transmitted through them, but maintains his confidence that what he has presented is truly from the Other Side. Those who pass speak of a world of vivid colors where sound has a melody and cathedrals and schools exist. Souls continue to learn and grow. The departed don’t just speak about what the next life is like, but speak explicitly about what the “purpose of life is here and now” for the living. 

The concept that an individual continues to grow and learn in the "Other Realm" is encouraging and comforting in a strange sort of way. There are those who care for children and minister to the yet struggling souls. The communicators all speak of troubled souls who remain in a sort of a self-constructed "hell" they carried over built by their earthly addictions and unfinished struggles. This certainly gave me pause. The idea that the “demons” haunting us in this life can continue to plague us in the next life if we are unwilling to grow in enlightened purpose is disturbing, if not spiritually motivating. It makes you realize the importance of striving forward with your individual spiritual growth. The afterlife isn’t about whose religion was right or wrong, or what color your skin is, or even if you believed an afterlife existed at all. It is another part of the journey our soul experiences. I found myself thinking about the movie What Dreams May Come. The colors, the joy, the growth of the soul...and the agony of being stuck in a hell of your own making were so clearly evident in the film. I highly recommend this book. It will change the way you think about the afterlife. Maybe, challenge your thinking and beliefs is a better way to phrase that. (Thank you Nathan for bringing this book into my world).

What can I say about a sexy story about a sexy couple who get sexy on the hood of a fast car? Quite a bit. Anna Snow's leading man, Luke Matthews, is tall, strapping, seemingly aloof, arrogant, and did I say strapping? Why I'm interested in this type of character is easy to appreciate...I want to know what makes him tick. What's at the core of his mystery? The leading lady is a strong, Celeste, is fiercely independent and has a little chip on her shoulder. The recent past has slammed a wedge between these two life long friends, threatening to severe their friendship forever. It drives Celeste crazy that Luke clams up around her, gazes over her head, and generally ignores her presence except when they're fighting, of course. But then there's the dark and stormy night...Luke is sent to check in on Celeste during the snow storm. And let's just say these two don't need a blanket, or a fireplace. Holy cow if the hood of that car could talk. It was fun reading how these two steered a course around their issues. Anna gives us a great, fast paced smokin' read. I do appreciate the short story/novella sized reads with my busy schedule. This was perfect. Thanks Anna for yet another tantalizing story.