
BOOKS BY Author Wendy Byard
Devil in the Dunes & Teach and Reach for Classroom Miracles
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- Bri Hartwig
Wendy Byard is the author of the suspense/mystery/crime novel Devil in the Dunes set along Michigan's west coast.
She also penned Teach and Reach for Classroom Miracles
- an inspirational book for educators.
- Kacie Watt
- Paul H.
"OMG!
It’s amazing!
The book makes you feel “all the things”.
I just couldn’t put it in words. Captivating!
You are totally invested from the first chapter.
The characters pull you in.
Just when you think you have it figured out,
another twist, another turn.
Your heart will be racing until the very end!
More please!"
- Tracy Heenan-Christian
" What begins as a classic whodunit
about the disappearance of an 18-year-old woman
quickly evolves into a gripping battle for survival
and harrowing journey through the mind of a psychopath.
Set against the backdrop of northern Michigan,
where serene beauty collides with nature's fierce power,
this story masterfully balances suspense, emotion,
and the ever-present danger of evil
lurking beneath the surface. "
- Haley Korbel
"Devil in the Dunes is a gripping and deliciously twisted whodunit set in a sleepy Northern Michigan beach town. Tragedy strikes a family that’s already coping with a traumatic cold case, intensifying distress across the community. This story embodies the inner strife and monologues of several community members, ranging from good to evil, and invites readers to understand and empathize with each. Devil in the Dunes demonstrates the valiant effort of a small town, female empowerment and heroism, and the lengths a young man will go for love. You won’t be able to set this story down until you know who took Cadie and what happened to her parents. Clever, enthralling, and deliciously twisted!"
- Kacie Watt
"It is a very good book. The book hooked me in the first chapter and kept my interest throughout. I’ve read many author’s first books over the years, and this one is WAY better than most if not all. The excitement builds with each chapter as the victim fights for her life, and the list of suspects grows. The reveal is satisfying and believable! The locale sounds beautiful! I’ve read a lot of mystery/thrillers and this is one of the better ones. It’s tasteful, not gory, and doesn’t try to hook the reader with sex and foul language. There were plenty of suspects with backgrounds and motives, and clues were given along the way. The reveal was believable and not too over the top. I liked reading about a location I am familiar with. The history of the area and the geography was nicely woven into the plot. Bring on more please!"
- Cheryl Crandell
"I think you've got a hit here . . I absolutely love the book . . . A book takes some time or me to see if I'm interested in continuing to read it. However, when I started reading this book I was captivated. I found it with extremely interesting characters. I found it delightful in the way the author incorporated areas of Michigan into her story. In other books I have read by Michigan authors I have found that they just kind of plug in the cities and the towns and the areas and they don't quite fit smoothly. This is absolutely the opposite. The author made wonderful use of different locations in Michigan and it flowed beautifully in the book. I read a lot of mysteries and I find this one is one of the best ones I've read. I'm looking forward to new books by this author."
- Sharon Clark
" I had the pleasure of reading this creative, suspenseful story.
A great page turner trying
to figure out Cadie McLeod’s
fate in this compelling novel!
I loved the characters
and can’t wait to see what happens next !
A great story Wendy Byard!
I highly recommend!"
- Leigh Maas
"Omg! It’s amazing.
The book makes you feel “all the things”. I just couldn’t put it in words. Captivating! You are totally invested from the first chapter.
The characters pull you in. Just when you think you have it figured out, another twist, another turn.
Your heart will be racing until the very end!
More please!"
- Tracy Heenan-Christian
"What a fantastic novel!
Oh my goodness!"
Absolutely outstanding work.
Wow!
Your style is so raw and impactful. It picks up the pace so well. I truly enjoy how you've wrapped so much Michigan history and local treasures into the story!
I was indeed glued.
I can't wait to read more. "
-Bri Hartwig
"I really enjoyed it!
I'm impressed . . .
it was very, very good."
Devil in the Dunes is an intriguing mystery
about a kidnapped girl and the people who risk their lives to save her. An exciting page-turner with a creepy vibe and strong characters you care about. Lots of twists and turns! It was a gripping, fun read. Creepy, exciting, & intriguing."
- Shannon Byard
"I thought it was a great book.
I got very engrossed,
and then I couldn't
put it down.
Great job on writing that.
It's a great read.
I really loved the Northern Michigan references.
Lots of twists and turns.
Very captivating right up to the end!"
- Matt Stevens
"I absolutely loved it!
So talented!
Your book
was really good.
-Jill Pratt
"This book is a great -a captivating and intriguing mystery. All the descriptions and various locations in Western Michigan help to totally envision each situation! It’s hard to stop reading! Love it!"
- Susan Curtiss
" A compelling page turner. A great suspenseful novel with intriguing facts and history of beautiful northwest Michigan. The twists in this book will hold your interest up to the last page. A truly worthy read."
- Dave Webster
WELL DONE!!!
Very detailed and descriptive.
Fun to read about
all the places.
Good character
development!
-Kerry Flynn
" I thought Devil in the Dunes was a fast and easy read. I loved the references to Michigan. The book was intriguing and innovative. A great read. The plot was well thought out and the story was innovative and intriguing. The references to Michigan reminded me of home."
-Tami Stevens
"It was so good!
It has a very good surprise ending!
I loved the bits of Michigan history and facts!"
- Becky Ellis
"Devil in the Dunes had me drawn in
from the first few pages.
This book is a quick read
but descriptive in every way
regarding northern Michigan.
Characters nicely developed,
good storyline
and who doesn’t love a twist at the end!"
- Joan Zeller
"Completely captivating!
The story moves along quickly, and it keeps you wondering what is going to happen next. I had a hard time putting it down.
I was completely invested in the story from the very beginning. More than once I thought I knew where the story was going and who was responsible for Cadie's disappearance, but I was never right. I read the book fairly quickly because it was hard to put down."
- Theresa Lyons
"It's a best seller!"
- Gerry Byard
"I'm really enjoying the book! You are an excellent writer. Are you secretly funded by Pure Michigan? Because you're making me want to vacation up and down the West Coast of Michigan and Mackinac Island. You're very descriptive in your writing!"
- Mitch Gill
"Just finished a most fascinating book, it’s “DEVIL IN THE DUNES”! We took turns reading
and finished your masterpiece in two days.
It was excellent how you built mysterious intrigue
very early and were able to retain the reader’s interest until the dramatic
ending.
We feel that you have exceptional talent and we’re waiting for the sequel!"
- Fred Meier
I read this book in 2 days! I couldn't put it down. If you love murder and suspense reading, this is the book for you! Northwest Michigan is beautiful and the author captures the serene greatness of it all. The story is suspenseful and keeps you wanting to read more!
-Amanda Hamm
"This is a suspenseful crime story with endearing characters based in a resort town in Northern lower Michigan. Those native to Michigan will appreciate the local references and history of this well-researched book. The author masterfully builds the characters, giving insight into their motivations and personalities as the reader gets closer to the discovery of who took Cadie and what her fate will be."
– Shirley Harris
"This was a suspenseful, page-turner from start to finish! It had me guessing until the very end! As a Michigander, I loved the reference to places in Northern Michigan! This is a well-written, fast-paced, book that I would recommend to anyone who likes adventure, mystery, and suspense! Well done, Wendy Byard! I can’t wait to read your next book!"
– Jody Kerbyson
"I love any book that takes me back to favorite places I’ve grown up loving and visiting! Set in Northern Michigan, the author takes us on a journey of emotions, changing our minds of who was guilty up until the last pages. Suspenseful and gripping, the twists in this book will leave you wanting more!"
– Tracey Parker
"This is a really good read and a good mystery. The wonderful thing about it is if you are Michigander or if you are familiar with Michigan, it has many different locations at this takes place in Michigan. For people that don't know about these locations in Michigan, it is a good read because you can hear about these different locations. I give it five stars but I'd give it six stars if I could."
- Sharon Clark
"Once you pick up this novel, you will hardly want to set it down. Flitting between various perspectives all swirling around one mystery, Devil in the Dunes will leave your mind spinning with theories every time you have to pause your reading. Katie McCleod is an intelligent senior in high school who suddenly goes missing on beach of Lake Michigan, and it takes the gusto and brainpower or a father-son duo to try and find her before something disastrous occurs. This novel combines the picturesque vistas of western Michigan with suspense and terror of "The Weirdo," whose sick obsession may lead to our heroine's demise. It's the perfect thriller for anyone who enjoys small town drama, whodunnit mysteries, and the cunning of a strong female lead. I don't want to spoil too much, so pick it up for yourself and find out what happens!"
– Kellee Byard
"I found this book a real page turner and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it and even purchased a copy for a friend. I'll be keeping this book in my library to enjoy again and again."
-Paul H.
"I had the pleasure of reading this creative, suspenseful story. A great page turner trying to figure out Cadie McLeod's fate in this compelling novel! I loved the characters and can't wait to see what happens next! Thank you for this great story, Wendy Byard! I highly recommend!!!"
– Leigh Maas
"I was on the edge of my seat reading this book from beginning to end. Must read for the summer and for a book club! There is so much to talk about. "
– Steve Heath
'DYING WELL IS THE BEST REVENGE'
One evening at midnight on a dark Lake Michigan beach, a man peers through binoculars, intently observing a carefree young woman enjoying a bonfire with classmates. Knowing her patterns, minutes later as Cadie McLeod leaves the party and walks into the desolate dunes, ‘The Weirdo’ chokes, drugs, and drags the limp 18-year-old to his hidden truck. As a storm rolls in across the Great Lake, the man drives Cadie to a remote location where he imprisons the unconscious woman in an old root cellar built into a hillside.
The night selected for Cadie’s abduction is not random. Six years ago, on the very night that Cadie is abducted, her parents, Thomas and Aileen, were run down in grisly fashion as they walked hand in hand across a deserted coastal highway. Their killer was never captured, and everyone assumed it was a random drunk driver. However, the truth is far more evil and horrifying. The Weirdo is finalizing his revenge plan that began with the murder of Thomas and Aileen and will end with the murder of their only daughter.
If the highly-intelligent Cadie is going to live and solve the mystery of her parents’ murder, she must escape the unusual prison by her own cunning. Meanwhile, the investigation into her abduction leads police in many directions. At the tale’s end, a fight-to-the death takes place aboard the mini yacht Best Revenge in a raging Lake Michigan storm. The villain and his reasons for murder are revealed - hate-fueled reasons spanning decades that no one could have predicted.
The dark, mysterious, and suspenseful kidnap thriller Devil in the Dunes is an addictive, plot-driven novel. Readers will be fully immersed in this dark tale, quickly turning page after page to discover why Thomas and Aileen were murdered and what happens to their only child.
TEACH AND REACH FOR CLASSROOM MIRACLES
aims to convince teachers and leaders that love is the key to miracle-filled classrooms. When Wendy Byard first began teaching, like many instructors she thought all her students needed was a good lesson plan and an educated, well-intentioned teacher. However, on her "Journey to Love," Byard realized that what every student truly seeks from a teacher love as expressed in its many forms: kindness, humility, generosity, and compassion, among others.
What are the results of classroom love? Students who find acceptance, confidence, belief, passion, self-love, and love for others - truly miraculous results!
Teach and Reach for Classroom Miracles! chronicles Wendy's personal journey and shares classroom stories as well as the most compelling evidence of all for her view: excerpts from hundreds of student letters she's collected. The book's second section, "12 Love Lessons for Teachers," provides educators with concrete ways of expressing love and the means to create a more loving, miraculous classroom environment.
Byard's inspiring, challenging message can change lives. So start loving your students today! Reach for a miracle!
"This book will compel teachers to question how they teach and inspire them to approach their calling from a higher level."
- Shirley A. Harris, Psy.D., School Psychologist
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