Blog Archives
An Unsuitable Job
An Unsuitable Job drops readers straight into Josie MacFarland’s world and wastes no time showing the grit behind the glamour. The story follows Josie as she returns to the Harvey Company to serve as their first woman detective. A dead salesman, a scandal brewing in the Castañeda Hotel, and a tangle of secrets push her into danger and discovery. The pages move fast. The scenes glow with the heat of New Mexico. The world of Harvey Girls, rail travelers, cowboys, and local families feels alive and loud. The book reads like a window into 1930. The mystery unfolds piece by piece as Josie digs through gossip, grudges, and old wounds.
The style hit a sweet spot. Simple. Direct. No fluff. I liked how the dialogue carried the weight of the story. It felt crisp and quick. The emotions ran close to the surface. Josie’s tall presence, sharp eyes, and constant tug between courage and doubt made her easy to root for. I found myself grinning when she pushed back against people who underestimated her. I felt a pinch of sympathy when old mistakes nipped at her heels. The author paints these moments with an ease that makes the scenes sink in deep. The setting did a lot of lifting, too. The dusty roads. The clatter of the dining room. The smell of rain on sage.
Some moments caught me off guard. The tension between Josie and the sheriff had this spark that made me sit up straighter. The small flickers of jealousy or nerves or pride made the characters feel relatable. I also liked the way the story let the gossip swirl. Secrets traveled in whispers. People watched over their shoulders. The book didn’t shout its themes. It let them simmer. Women are boxed in by rules. Power running quietly through a small town. What people hide to keep the peace. The mystery itself moved with a steady beat. No rush. No drag. Just enough clues to keep me leaning forward.
This was a satisfying read. The story wrapped up in a way that felt clean but still left room for more. I could picture Josie walking off in her trench coat, not done with danger yet. I would recommend An Unsuitable Job to readers who like cozy mysteries with a little grit. Anyone who enjoys historical settings. Anyone who likes strong women who push back when they are told to stay quiet. It is a book for people who want quick pacing paired with warm character work. I enjoyed it, and I think many others will too.
Pages: 280 | ASIN : B0FQYRCBNH
The Circle of Life Continues
The Adventures of Troy Home Again follows a bald eagle who discovers companionship and sets out on new adventures with his partner by his side. What is your process for capturing the thoughts and feelings of animal characters?
We have two dogs and two cats. After a while, you really get to non-verbally communicate with them. As the fourth book of the Troy series, it’s been wonderful developing these characters over the years. Although they are animals, they certainly have their own distinct personalities.
Do you have a favorite scene in this story? One that was especially fun to write?
This book was so much fun to write and illustrate. I especially love the last page. Troy and Aliana in their nest, with their two little baby eagles about to hatch. The circle of life continues.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently writing?
I’m writing a psychological thriller that should be completed soon.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
The book includes a glossary of “The 20 Words” at the back of each book that offers simple definitions of words highlighted throughout the story to help increase a young child’s vocabulary. Parents will enjoy reading these books to their toddlers. Elementary school children will love reading these heartwarming tales of friendship and adventure on their own.
Author and Illustrator, Hope Kelley, is Owner of ECBYbooks, a fully integrated online bookstore. She is also Producer, Director, and Writer for Hope Kelley Productions & South 16 Films. Ms.Kelley hosted and directed the tv program, SA Style, in San Antonio, Texas. She was awarded the honor of directing and producing a documentary, Project Hope, in Washington, D.C. Ms. Kelley is also a talented journalist, anchor, actor, and spokeswoman who has appeared in films, tv programs, and commercials. Ms. Kelley was awarded the UIL Scholarship in Music to the University of Texas at Austin. As a classical clarinetist, she has performed in symphony orchestras. Ms. Kelley graduated from the University of Texas at Austin earning a Degree in Broadcast Journalism. She began her broadcasting career as an Intern and Journalist for ABC Austin, and at the Dallas ABC News Bureau at the Capitol of Texas. As an artist and illustrator, you can find her work on her gallery at ECBYart.com.
As a published Author and Illustrator, her books, The Adventures of Troy A New Home, The Adventures of Troy Rescuing Lily the Lamb, The Adventures of Troy the Bald Eagle, The Adventures of Troy Home Again, The G Sin, and her novel, Fire in Forgotten (Winner of the International Impact Book Award in Historical Fiction), are available in thousands of bookstores worldwide. Ms. Kelley also enjoys helping other writers achieve their goals as published authors. Learn more at HopeKelley.com
Hypocrisy
The novel Hypocrisy drops you right into a wild mix of government secrets, alien power plays, and strange visions that blur the line between what is real and what is imagined. The story opens with Ché Anaconda, a UAP hunter who lives knee deep in lies and threats. From there, the book cuts across galaxies, following Alen Innocent, Honor, Charisma, and a cast of beings who shift forms, twist timelines, and chase after knowledge that could change everything. The plot swings fast, with violence, politics, and cosmic mysteries all happening at once, and it creates this feeling that the universe is breaking open in every direction.
The writing has this bold energy that keeps the scenes jumping. The author clearly loves big ideas. I could feel that passion on almost every page. Scenes would explode out of nowhere. But then I would get pulled back in by some strange image, like blood on a bedsheet turning into a vision. The book has a way of surprising you right when you start to doubt it, and that made the experience weirdly addictive. It felt like watching someone open doors faster than you can peek inside them.
This whole concept of powerful beings feeling lost, insecure, or tired struck me more than I expected. I liked how the book kept poking at the idea that knowledge can be both a gift and a curse. There is something human in the middle of all the chaos. Some moments made me feel a real ache, especially scenes that touch on memory and trauma. Other times, I felt thrown off by the heavy social commentary. Even so, those rough edges gave it a raw emotion that stuck with me.
I think Hypocrisy is perfect for readers who enjoy fast, unpredictable sci-fi with big stakes and messy characters who feel alive. It will hit the sweet spot for people who like their stories loud, strange, and full of cosmic drama, and who don’t mind a little narrative chaos in the mix. If you like to dive into a universe that punches first and explains later, you’ll have a good time.
Pages: 378 | ASIN : B0FV55K9F8
Polar Deception
Polar Deception is a tense eco-thriller set in a future shaped by environmental collapse, geopolitical fractures, and the discovery of powerful red crystals hidden beneath the Antarctic ice. The story weaves together the ruthless ambitions of Dr. Carlos Perez, the quiet moral struggle of Dr. Omar Hasson, the grief-stricken journey of Diana Harris, and the covert operations of CIA agents racing to keep the crystals from falling into the wrong hands. What begins as a scientific mystery quickly turns into a globe-spanning battle over technology, survival, and the fragile state of a warming world.
This book never quite let me catch my breath. The writing hit me with sharp images and simple but striking language, and I found myself leaning in, eager for the next twist. I liked how the tension inside the Antarctic station simmered from the first pages. Perez’s obsession unsettled me, and the cold brutality of his choices made my stomach tighten. Then the narrative shifted to Diana, and the tone softened. Her grief carried real weight. I felt that heaviness in her cramped apartment, in the unopened boxes, in the way she talked to her dog like he was holding her together. That contrast between danger and vulnerability gave the whole story a pulse that grabbed me.
There were moments when the ideas themselves hit harder than the plot. The book dives into rare earth scarcity, global power struggles, broken technology, and the desperation that follows. I found myself thinking about how easily science can become a bargaining chip when the world gets shaky. Some scenes made me angry as characters manipulated research for profit or control. Other scenes made me hopeful when people showed loyalty and courage despite everything falling apart around them. I liked how the author slipped in social commentary without making it feel preachy. It felt real. Messy. Relatable.
The story delivered high stakes, a fast pace, and characters who stayed in my head. I’d recommend Polar Deception to readers who enjoy eco-thrillers, survival stories, and science-driven mysteries. It felt like a blend of the high-stakes environmental urgency of The Day After Tomorrow and the globe-spanning intrigue of The Da Vinci Code while carrying the character-driven emotional weight you’d find in The Martian.
Pages: 506 | ASIN : B0FRB6XPYV
Heritage Mountain
Heritage Mountain is a heartwarming blend of cozy fantasy and wilderness adventure, following botanist Anita and survivalist Marco as they reunite for an archaeological expedition in the Adirondacks. Alongside their close-knit friends, Maria and Chase, and a delightful cast of supernatural beings like pixies, elves, and a telepathic cat, the group embarks on a journey that’s as much about discovery as it is about connection, both with nature and each other. The story gently weaves folklore, love, mystery, and magic into the everyday, creating a world where firepits reveal ancient tools, and a simple forest walk may bring you face-to-face with stargazers or nymphs.
I genuinely enjoyed reading this. There’s a quiet, comforting kind of magic in the way author Karen Black writes. She gives the characters space to breathe, laugh, stumble, and grow close. I loved the humor between Chase and Maria. It felt like watching old friends tease and support each other without missing a beat. Marco’s protective, grounded energy made him instantly likable. And Anita. I loved Anita. Her blend of practicality and wonder, her quiet strength and openness to magic, made her feel real and relatable. And the worldbuilding? It’s so gentle and subtle, the supernatural just slips in like a whisper. Nothing is overexplained or flashy. And that makes it feel real.
Everything feels safe, and sometimes I find myself wishing for a little more tension or stakes. But then again, that’s probably the point. Heritage Mountain tells a different kind of story. One about trust, connection, and ancient magic hidden in plain sight. It’s quiet but rich, like the kind of story you’d tell around a fire under the stars. It made me want to go hiking. Or at least take a walk and keep an eye out for little footprints in the moss.
I’d recommend Heritage Mountain to anyone who loves stories about found family, soft magic, and wilderness tales that feel like a warm blanket on a chilly morning. If you liked Practical Magic or The Bear and the Nightingale, or just need a break from the world, this book will meet you gently and invite you in. Fans of cozy fantasy, magical realism, and wilderness adventure will find Heritage Mountain a gentle, enchanting read full of heart, hidden magic, and unforgettable charm.
Pages: 264 | ASIN : B0FGVT464K
Respecting Water
The Tralls of Mundi follows a group of tralls headed to the Coming Together celebration who, along the way, discover a dark and dangerous adventure that threatens the tralls’ future. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Illegal damming of water sources is becoming an issue in Australia, especially in areas that have a lot of agriculture and limited water resources.
There are many reasons for this, some quite understandable, and in a vast country like Australia the situation is hard to monitor.
Unfortunately, however, Illegal dams can have a negatively impact on the environment and ecosystems.
They can lead to habitat destruction, degrade water quality, negatively impact aquatic life and cause health risks for humans through contaminated water.
I wanted to make my young readers aware of these issues and hopefully encourage them to be respectful water users in the future.
Were there any characters that you especially enjoyed writing for?
Each book in The Tall Series is dedicated to two of my grandchildren. The two represented in “The Tralls of Mundi” are often complimented on their leadership, persistence, courage and resourcefulness so I was keen to highlight these traits in the main characters, Jete and Jak.
What was the inspiration for the culture of your characters? Is it modeled after any particular society?
There are two memories that are very special to me. The first was when I lived with my grandparents in Tasmania. We spent a lot of time traipsing through the bush and marvelling at the beautiful flora and fauna during the daytime and then at night, we’d read and re-enact the classics. Those memories are very dear to me and I tried to share them with my family and my readers through this series.
The second very precious memory is of the time we spent living on Badu Island in the Torres Strait.
The laid-back, happy, communal life-style of the islanders and the friendly way they included us in their lives had a strong impact on us and Badu and the friends we made there still mean the world to us.
My hope is that by threading that happy, peaceful ambience through my stories , I could impart the same feeling to others.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Tralls of Mundi?
I hope “The Tralls of Mundi” engenders a deep respect in my readers for the environment and a desire to protect it. I also hope they learn the importance of all water resources and treat them with consideration and care.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
When the terrified tralls discover that the village of Mundi and all its inhabitants have disappeared they are convinced the Chameleons have returned, and when they find that the mighty River Maire is now only a dried-up mudflat, those fears are strengthened.
Jete and Jak are determined to save their friends but what they find when they enter the Sacred Caves of Mundi leaves them so confused and horrified, they are no longer sure they can save the tralls of Mundi or even their own kinships.
The Tralls of Mundi is the second book in The Trall Series; a collection of environmentally based portal fantasies set in the Australian bush. It is recommended for readers 9 years to 13 years.
The Grubby Feather Gang
The Grubby Feather Gang follows George, a boy caught in the middle of a village torn up by war and judgment. He deals with bullying, fear, and the shame that others try to pin on his family because his father refuses to fight. As he meets Emma and Stan, the three of them slip into this oddly sweet little friendship that grows out of chaos. They stumble into adventures, trouble, and eventually form the Grubby Feather Gang, a tiny group held together by loyalty and a grubby feather that somehow becomes a symbol of hope instead of cowardice.
Reading it felt like sitting beside these kids as their lives spun between fear and laughter. I found myself rooting for George right away. His thoughts felt real in this quiet, aching way. Sometimes I wanted to shake him, other times I just wanted to hug the kid. The writing surprised me. It has this softness running through all the messy bits. Even the sad scenes didn’t feel heavy for long because there was always some little spark of warmth or humor waiting around the corner. And Emma cracked me up constantly. She felt like the friend who shows up loud and strange and instantly makes everything better.
What I liked most were the ideas behind the story. It’s a book about courage that doesn’t sound preachy. It tackles judgment and fear and the pressure to fit in. But it does it through the eyes of children who are trying to make sense of a world that doesn’t make sense at all. Some moments hit harder than I expected. Other scenes felt gentle and simple in a way that made me smile without thinking about it. I liked that the book didn’t pretend everything gets fixed, only that sticking together makes the hard stuff feel less impossible.
I’d recommend The Grubby Feather Gang to kids who enjoy stories with heart and a bit of grit, and to adults who like children’s books that don’t talk down to anyone. It’s great for readers who want friendship, trouble, and a little hope woven into history.
Pages: 113 | ASIN : B01FARFVUG
The Derge
The Derge is a sweeping sci-fi adventure set thousands of years in the future, where humanity has mastered interstellar travel and tamed emotion itself. The story follows Commander Titus and his deputies, Caeli and Rogat, on a high-stakes pursuit through space and time to capture a fugitive named Corso. Their chase leads them to a planet that mirrors ancient Earth, filled with strange societies and barbaric rituals like “The Derge.” Beneath its thrilling plot and futuristic technology, the novel wrestles with timeless questions about morality, control, and the meaning of progress.
Reading The Derge pulled me into a world that felt both distant and familiar. The writing style is vivid and cinematic, with crisp dialogue and detailed settings that make each scene easy to visualize. I loved how the story mixed classic space opera adventure with deep philosophical undertones. There were a few places where the pacing slowed a little as the story delved into background detail. Some of the futuristic terms and technical descriptions occasionally pulled me away from the emotional flow, but they also added depth to the world. The human elements, the tension between duty and empathy, the clash between freedom and control, kept me hooked. I found myself rooting for Titus even when I wasn’t sure if I trusted him completely.
Seeing a society that eradicated violence by regulating emotion made me question what we lose when we trade chaos for peace. The scenes on the alien planet, especially “The Derge” event, were chilling. It was brutal and absurd, yet disturbingly believable. Cezar’s depiction of humanity’s reflection in alien form hit hard. The contrast between the sterile perfection of Earth’s future and the raw savagery of Spaith stayed with me long after I closed the book.
I’d recommend The Derge to readers who love thoughtful science fiction with moral weight. Fans of Asimov, Bradbury, or Clarke would find its ideas fascinating, though Cezar’s storytelling leans more visceral and emotional. It’s perfect for anyone who wants more than a space chase, someone who wants to be made a little uncomfortable, to think, and to feel.
Pages: 191 | ASIN : B0F1M1FCZD
LITERARY TITAN 