The War Council

Written by Ann Shepphird

Narrated by Megan Mackie

Ever wonder what it would be like to be able to hire a team like the one from “Mission: Impossible” to solve your relationship woes? A young communications professor attempts to do just that in “The War Council."

After the love of her life leaves her for a job on the other side of the world, Professor Maggie McGrew is devastated. To Maggie, his leaving—and not taking her with him—was just not logical.

Instead of merely mourning the breakup, Maggie pours herself into the study of love. She comes up with the concept of a paramilitary-style relationship counseling service that she calls “The War Council” because, as they say, all is fair in love and war. Maggie then enlists her friends and colleagues—from fellow professors to a university psychologist and the rugby coach—to serve in a variety of roles on the council.

Maggie’s best friend Kathy (the psychologist) hates everything about the War Council but reluctantly agrees to be a member. Kathy also wants to help Maggie get over the boyfriend that left, so she uses some of Maggie’s own concepts to set her up with a new beau. When Maggie discovers the truth about the new man in her life and Kathy’s role in bringing them together and the ex-boyfriend suddenly returns, she learns that love is anything but logical.

In this humorous look at life and love, each of the main characters tells their version of the events that surround the creation of the War Council and the effect it had on their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: 4 Horsemen Publications
• Release date: Dec 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9781644502532

Ann Shepphird

In her 20+ years as a writer and editor, Ann Shepphird has covered everything from travel and sports to gardening and food to architecture and design for a variety of publications. She has also put her skills to work writing ad copy for California-based animal rescue groups. Now Ann is tackling her favorite genres-rom-coms and cozy mysteries-which is especially appropriate as her first love in life was spending Saturday afternoons reading Nancy Drew mysteries. The rom-coms are part of the University Chronicles series, which are based on Ann's days as a college-level communications instructor, while the Destination Murder mysteries combine her experiences as a travel journalist with her brief stint working for a private investigator (a job she got because of her love of Sue Grafton novels). Ann lives in Santa Monica, California, with her long-time partner, Jeff, and their furry companions Melody and Winnie. When she's not writing, Ann is most likely to be found on a tennis court or in her garden.