Kia‘s review
Jan 12, 2025
it was amazing
“Then Comes the Heart” by Jodi Clark is a captivating novel that takes readers on an emotional journey. The story revolves around Jessica, a 26-year-old woman raised by her single mother, unaware of her father’s identity. Born from an affair, Jessica grew up believing her father was absent by choice, a truth her mother carefully concealed.
Jessica’s life takes a sudden turn when she collapses during a run and is rushed to the hospital by a stranger who happens to be a young doctor. Diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a serious heart valve disease, Jessica faces an uphill battle, including the need for a heart transplant. Despite her condition, Roman, the doctor who saved her life, becomes her steadfast companion, offering her unwavering support and love.
Amid her health struggles, Jessica uncovers the truth about her father, forging a deep and unexpected bond with him. As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into the sacrifices and challenges that define their relationship and Jessica’s fight for survival.
This novel is a testament to Jodi Clark’s storytelling prowess. The plot is heartfelt and engaging, with a smooth narrative that keeps readers hooked. Jessica and Roman’s characters are beautifully crafted and linger in your thoughts long after finishing the book. The title perfectly encapsulates the essence of the story, and the cover design is visually appealing.
If you’re looking for a story that explores themes of love, loss, etc, “Then Comes the Heart” is a must-read. It’s a book that will tug at your emotions and leave a lasting impression.
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_sassy_39‘s review
Jan 08, 2025
it was amazing
“When Annalise Spoke,” authored by Jodi Clark, is a captivating World War II-era historical fiction. The story centers on Tia, a wife, mother of three, and an interior designer. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she inherits Annalise, a grand Victorian house from the 1800s, after her mother, Gloria, passes away. The house had been abandoned for years, passed down from Tia’s grandparents to Gloria.
At her husband Tevin’s suggestion, the family sells their modern home and moves into Annalise. While settling in, Tia stumbles upon heartfelt love letters exchanged between her grandparents. These letters reveal the sorrowful tale of her grandfather being sent to war against his will at a young age and how lonely her grandparents felt away from each other. Despite the house requiring extensive restoration, Tevin supports Tia wholeheartedly as she takes on the project of reviving Annalise according to her grandmother’s vision.
As Tia works to restore the house, she uncovers hidden secrets that intertwine her family’s history with the house itself.
This novel is a page-turner, beautifully written with an engaging plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Jodi Clark skillfully weaves a story filled with emotion, nostalgia, and resilience. The relationship between Tia’s grandparents is portrayed with warmth and depth, making their bond unforgettable. With its steady pace and compelling narrative, “When Annalise Spoke” is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Love true stories!Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2022
Loved how Jodi was able to put into words/book about what happen to her and make it interesting to read.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Wow. What a story!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2021
Jodi really makes you feel like you are living this life with her. You can feel her excitement for her new life with Carey and the sorrow when it is taken away. What a story to have lived to tell.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended read – a page-turner that you won’t want to put down!
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2021 Verified Purchase
A major decision is made in a young woman’s life that will forever change her. We are given a deeply personal look at how she grapples to break free from her West Virginia working-class family roots to be with an older, more experienced man that can offer her an escape to a coastal dream life. Who wouldn’t want to live on a yacht at the young age of twenty-one? Sadly, sometimes a dream can become a living nightmare in a blink of an eye. The reader feels every thought, struggle, and achievement as this story unfolds before us of an ill-fated summer’s dream. The story flows seamlessly to tell an almost unbelievable account. You won’t want to put this book down as each page draws us closer to the inevitable. Highly recommended read. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2019
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Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2020
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Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2020
5 out of 5 Stars! Patti
Another great book from author Jodi Clark. A must read. Her books might not be big but they pull you in. Great story.
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5 out of 5 Stars! “Stunning, beyond impact!” -Realistic Poetry International
Can you imagine something so prestigious and honorable ultimately being your sole compass to irredeemable destruction?
A life and successful career of military dedication, loyalty, and allegiance to the red, white, and blue, Land of the Free, inevitably impact the lives of a loving and beautiful family forever, in Author Jodi Clark’s patriotic tale of love entitled, ‘Bleeding Panther’.
Allison, a proud and faithful military wife and loving mother couldn’t have ever predicted in a thousand centuries the crushing storm of disaster awaiting her marriage’s sunless future. After being physically separated from her husband for years at a time, they are finally reunited in the beginning of the story, fused with unbearable love, burning passion, and euphoric bliss.
Once they begin to spend more time with one another, Allison hastily discovers that her husband, Adam, has some severe bruises and scars, and more than just the ones covering his face and body. The profound and devastating trauma inflicted from a life at war, siege, and battle had also scarred him, internally. And these soul-deep injuries that relentlessly tortured him like demons day and night, had done way more damage than what Allison had prepared herself for, ultimately putting her loyal character and unwavering strength to the test. But the question remains; will their marriage, once bonded by the holiness of God and blessed by the purity of love, survive the wicked burden of infidelity? Or had their unfaithfulness already stolen the precious diadem of their once picture-perfect family?
At this point, you are forced to continue reading until you find concrete solid answers to all of the questions crossing throughout your mind, often times, torn between right, wrong, forgiveness, and resentment. Also, understanding the importance of family, we hoped deeply that the unconditional power of love would heal the infinite pain experienced by both Allison and her husband, Adam, and even their children. But instead, we were left speechless, dumbfounded in resounding disbelief! Astonished to read and find out the ultimate cost for defaming the everlasting sanctity of unification. I’m sure your wondering, well, what is the cost? But we will leave that part for you to read for yourself.
In all truth, this book will make your heart heavy and soul cry and put some extremely controversial topics into perspective, exposing dangerous and life-altering dark secrets between a military husband and wife, both with honorable and well-respected images and reputations. Admittedly, it can be difficult to imagine men and women like Adam, or even Allison, bowing to a demeaning level of infamy and indignity. But Author Jodi Clark’s story forced you to realize the disheartening and disturbing reality of what it could mean to ‘commit’, especially when it comes to basing most of your marriages decisions off of the terms of the military.
There wasn’t a moment in which we were not fully absorbed into its contents, and to be quite honest, the ending will leave you speechless, as the story of Allison and her family is real, impacting families all across the United States of America.
Lastly, we would like to say that although there were several pivotal points webbed into the dramatic intricate and detailed story-line, there was one simplified moral that in which we took away from the story that can apply to us all, and that is, to do the right thing—-especially when you feel weak, vulnerable; or like you can’t go on.
Some mistakes we make in life are worth nearly nothing, can be rectified, and eventually even forgiven, while others seem to be an everlasting plague of despair and agony, irredeemable, costing us our lives…or the life of the one we love most.
We would strongly encourage you to read this book, for it is worth more than 5 stars! Stunning work, Author Jodi Clark.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
‘Life is always a game of chance that only a lucky few can win.’ By Grady Harp HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE VOICE
West Virginia author Jodi Clark is both a poet (‘Cherished Poems of the Western World’), a novelist (‘The Disappearance of Benny’, ‘Aiding Revenge’, ‘Matriarca’ and ‘Bleeding Panther’) and a short story writer. She became the primary writer for Around the Panhandle Magazine while also writing ehow articles, online, for Demand Studios.
Many authors address the crises war inflicts on soldiers – loss of fellow comrades, inexplicable wounds, loss of limbs, and the agonizingly constant barrage of traumatic events that dent and damage the mind. Most of those stories are written by the men and women who fight during wars, but now with the better understanding of PTSD (the shell shock/battle rattle, etc of previous wars that now has a name, thanks to the Middle East conflicts) we have the opportunity to understand these traumas. Few have written about the aftermath on the home front – how the trauma in a soldier’s life affects family at home, both during the absence of being in combat, but even more – the aftermath of returning home a different person living in a world that seems strange and one that excludes loved ones unintentionally. Jodi Clark has written that novel and it feels so real that it is almost difficult to finish. But finish this story in the fluid manner in which Jodi writes and you’ll gain an understanding of one of the aspects and tragedies of that heinous beast we call War.
The summary that Jodi has placed on the back of her book is as terse and encompassing as anyone could compose. ‘Adam Koeley is a devoted special operations officer in the United States Marines. His numerous tours of war have earned him his esteemed position and the respect of all of his peers. Stationed in Kane’ohe Bay, Hawaii with his loving wife and two young children, Adam has the life that some can only dream of. His most recent tour carries him to Iraq, where part of his job is to protect a small village from the terrorist cells in the area. There, he becomes especially close with a young boy whose father was killed. Both he and the boy, along with some others, are captured by one of the terrorist cells and Adam endures their torture, unwilling to give in to their demands, until they strap a bomb to the young boy and detonate it in front of Adam. Though he is able to escape, he bears the responsibility of telling the boy’s mother of her son’s death and must cope with the guilt he feels. Back in the United States, Adam’s wife, Allison, discovers that her husband is no longer the man she knows. As they battle through flashbacks and nightmares, addiction and his infidelity to try and save their marriage, she finds herself in a brief affair of her own, which throws the devastated Adam over the edge and back to war. Suddenly, military officers stand at her door as she trembles with fear of the worst. “Adam is being detained in Iraq for killing a woman there”, they tell her. Allison has just received his letter to her with his confession that ridding himself of his mistress would reaffirm how much he loves his wife. The letter also tells her goodbye. Adam’s guilt has ended his life.’
If anyone can be unmoved by this fine book is unlikely. We all owe credit to Jodi Clark for bringing this insight to us.
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4 out of 5 Stars Reading Other People
An Important Read.
You know what really irritates me? What really makes me question the ethics of the big publishing houses that mass produce books that are so banal and immature in their subject matter and writing styles? It’s this: books like Bleeding Panther by Jodi Clark are not global bestsellers but tripe like Fifty Shades of Grey rakes in millions AND gets the film treatment. Ugh.
Jodi Clark’s brutally honest and gripping Bleeding Panther is not a book that you can just read intermittently. It’s urgency and power will instantly pull you in to the tale a U.S. Marine who suffers from PTSD from touring in Iraq. Until his deployment he lives the quasi-Hollywood happy life. He’s got a beautiful wife and beautiful children and lives in Hawaii. That all changes when visits Iraq and delves into the demons of drugs and alcohol. Upon his return home, Adam Koehley, said U.S. Marine, must confront his intense PTSD from his recent travels.
What follows is a gut-wrenching story that goes to the places that so many authors are afraid to go. Jodi Clark attacks the pretenses that often accompany depictions of U.S. Marines and their post-war experiences and tells the truth. She brilliantly tells how Adam’s wife and children are affected by his Iraq deployment, willing to honestly present how the family dynamic is so irrevocably damaged from unnecessary wars. Clark both at once provides a voice for these unsung heroes and a supportive stance on the ridiculousness of modern-day battles, both the physical and the emotional ones.
Dedicated to the US military service men and women who devote their entire beings to their country, and based on a true story, Clark’s tale of cause, effect, and tumult is fantastic. Her clear tone and effective use of words allows the reader to see through the eyes of those personally affected by war and its lingering aftershocks. This is what literature is about – the visceral human experience, in all of its guts and glory.
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4 out of 5 Stars Susan Landis
Bleeding Panther is a journey into the life of Allison, a military wife of 15 years, living the ideal life in a tropical Hawaiian paradise. Allison and her young children eagerly prepare for what should be a blissful post-tour of duty reunion with Adam, a doting husband, father, and dedicated U.S. Marine. Allison discovers shortly after Adam’s return that he is a changed man, a man living with PTSD.
Jodi Clark breathes life into Allison’s story as she conveys her deepest thoughts and fears. Allison’s anguish resonates through us as we learn more about her war-torn husband. Adam is safe at home, yet his mind is trapped between two very different worlds. The author eloquently taps into a complex world of love and war; she truly writes from the heart and brings to life characters that will remain with you long after the book is finished.
This is a read that you won’t want to put down until you find out what happens next.
Mrs. Clark is destined for greatness.
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4 out of 5 Stars J.M. on Goodreads
This is the story of a dedicated United States Marine who returns from his deployment to Iraq a changed man because of the tragedies that he faced in the war. He is ridden with guilt and flashbacks of his experience, which hinders him from being able to cope back in Hawaii, where he lives with his wife and children.
This story was a roller coaster of emotions for me, especially since it is so relevant to many of our veterans. I went from laughing to sobbing to my heart pounding as I turned the pages, and I couldn’t put the book down. I read it in two days! The story is told from the perspective of the wife rather than the soldier, a refreshing change from other PTSD books that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The author must have reached deep within herself to produce the emotion in this book. Fantastic story!
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Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2020
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Lauri has just woken up to her worst nightmare: the kidnapping of her son. The story immediately takes flight as frenzy surrounds the search for the missing child. Suddenly it comes to a fleeting halt when Lauri becomes a prime suspect in the disappearance. And, in the midst, an alluring stranger infiltrates himself into her life. I’d be very surprised if this Sam guy wasn’t involved in some way, given how he just showed up out of the blue.
Mother Condemned was generally well-written and fast-paced. It might’ve jumped around a bit too quickly (one minute, Lauri is tearfully fighting off another breakdown, and then next, detectives are simultaneously probing into clues,) but the mystery is compelling enough to see the whole thing through. Where is Benny? Who is behind this whole thing? And how will Lauri prove her innocence?
Of course certain areas lagged a bit too much for me, especially in the quest to exonerate Lauri. The reader will surely empathize with her through the tears and tribulations as she struggles to break through the endless pain shadowed by the accusing eyes of the media and the police. Story might have been too heavy on the sadness and drama. I kind of thought this would be more of a thriller (think Ashley Judd in Double Jeopardy;) instead, the story concentrated more on procedural tactics and the emotional trauma. Still I’d say that this was a pretty average and quick read.
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4 out of 5 Stars Kathy Wolfe on Goodreads
I enjoyed reading this book, although the ending was predictable, I could not put it down and read it in one night.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2020
5 out of 5 Stars Kayci Webster for Readers’ Favorite
The book Aiding Revenge by Jodi Clark is about a woman named Shana Bradley and her love and devotion to Governor Tatum. She will do anything she can to make the man that she loves love her back. She is willing to steal, hurt, kidnap and even kill to get to the man of her dreams. Everything does not go according to plan for Shana though, and things go badly. At times I found it hard to stay with the story of Aiding Revenge, not because it was a bad story line, but it just skipped around a lot. I would have loved to know more about Shana and where she came from. Why did she have such a fascination with Governor Tatum? Does she have mental health problems?
Also in Aiding Revenge, author Jodi Clark would jump from scene to scene without even really getting to the point of the first scene. I really think that this would have been a better book if there was a little more information in between in some places. I would like to see what had happened with Governor Tatum and his family after the book ended and I would have liked to see how Shana ended up as well. All in all, I think that Aiding Revenge does have the potential of being a great book. I think that there are missing pieces in the book, but if they are filled in it can be a great book. I am going to give Aiding Revenge a 3 star rating.
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3 out of 5 Stars J.M. on Goodreads
This is the story of a female mob boss in Sicily who essentially inherits the position after her father’s death. She faces a struggle between the feminine morals that her upbringing has imposed on her and her desire to follow in her father’s footsteps.
The story is a new and refreshing “what if” concept that was intriguing in itself. Though the story didn’t follow what I was expecting, I enjoyed Francesca’s tough persona and her ability to live up to the expectations of her title. The author also provided a few surprises along the way which kept me turning pages.
Author Jodi Clark 