September 15, 2026joynealkidney

“Beautiful from beginning to end”

Gwen Plano gave it Five Stars on BookBub

Joy Neal Kidney has authored another beautiful collection of stories about her family through time and generations. I was spellbound as I read. Her reflections brought me into my own farm history and left me in awe of the circumstances that challenged me/us to become who we are now.

In a couple of weeks, my extended family is coming together for a reunion. Because we’ll be sharing stories about our youth and loved ones, I will recommend Kidney’s book. It will resonate deeply with our quest and journey.

This was an emotional, heart-filling read by a highly skilled writer. Beautiful from beginning to end. I highly recommend it.

Gwen M. Plano

Gwen M. Plano, aka Gwendolyn M. Plano, grew up in Southern California and spent most of her professional life in higher education. She taught and served as an administrator in colleges in Japan, New York, Connecticut, and California. Recently retired, she now lives in the high desert of Arizona, where she writes, gardens, and travels with her husband.

Gwen’s first book is an acclaimed memoir, Letting Go into Perfect Love. Her second book, The Contract between Heaven and Earth, is a thriller novel, co-authored by John W. Howell. It has received multiple awards and is an Amazon Best Seller. The Choice, the unexpected heroes, is the sequel to The Contract. It is also a thriller, involving the attempt of an unfriendly nation to take over the world. The third book in the series, The Culmination, a new beginning, is an action-packed military thriller that concludes that the only hope for humanity is love.

Gwen’s most recent novels focus on family and the spiritual dimension of life. Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision, is a suspense story about a broken family that finds healing in the unexpected. The next novel, The Soul Whisperer’s Decision, involves a mother and her experience of the supernatural. The novella, The Gift, brings together three families through the blessing of a baby. [I have enjoyed these newer novels.]

When Gwen is not writing, she’s often in the beautiful Red Rocks of Sedona, where she finds inspiration.

Here is her Amazon Author Page.  You might enjoy exploring Gwen’s website.

35 comments

      • Omg, I’m doing well aren’t I?!? 😅 The Bookbub reviews cancelled out the other information! Sorry, Joy. Well, at least I can go and find it now 😉.

        This brain fog is a big reason I’ve stayed offline for so long, as well as other symptoms …. But I prefer to be around again and not be embarrassed when I, inevitably, make mistakes. Thanks for letting me know, Joy. You’re being patient with me 💖

      • Oh, bless you too, Joy! I so appreciate you sharing this, and know what a warrior it makes you. Even on our worst days, we find ways to keep on going. And there’s true strength in retreating to advance.

        I found your lovely book at last (🤣), but my brain refused to take in the words. So I’ll go back when I’m out the other side of this migraine I can’t shake just yet and will be sure to buy it and review as soon as I’m able.

        I’m offline for now, and hope to be back next week. Right now, I had to risk the tablet screen on dim to respond to you, my friend xx 💖

      • Oh my, Harmony. I haven’t had to deal with painful migraine, just the weird ocular ones. I’ve got a colonoscopy coming up next week (to check on how the Crohh’s ulcers are doing on the biologic infusion I get every 8 weeks), so I’ll be more out of it as well! Hang in there, dear!

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