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No One Is All Good or Evil
INFINITY: There be Pirates follows a knight tasked with hunting down a pirate who ends up falling in love with the woman he is supposed to apprehend. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My goal was to create a pirate romance that wasn’t the typical misogynistic nonsense that authors write in this genre. If you’ve never read a pirate romance… you’re not missing much. They’re all the same. I’ll give you a brief breakdown. A naïve, adolescent, virgin girl is kidnapped against her will by a philandering brute who attacked her ship and murdered her friends and family. She warms up to this lunatic for the sake of her survival. The leading man is a violent, unrepentant, criminal with no depth and no motivation other than to get rich and get laid. Then I, the reader, am expected to applaud at the end of this Stockholm Syndrome story when this dumb girl falls in love with her oppressor. My inspiration for writing my pirate romance was how terrible they normally are. I know what you guys are thinking. “Didn’t Sarah abduct Matthew? Isn’t that the same situation?” No, and this is why. Matthew wasn’t some defenseless teenage girl. He was a deadly military operative who was hunting Sarah and her crew. The only way she could survive was to trap him first. Also, Matthew and Sarah have a complicated past. They are not strangers. He didn’t fall in love with his abductor. He remained in love with a woman he was already in love with long before she was a pirate.
This story blends fantasy and historical fiction in an alluring and creative way. What books do you think most influenced your work and the creation of this series?
I love classic books and I get inspiration from them:
Treasure Island
Peter Pan
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Sinbad the Voyager
King Arthur and the Knights of Camelot
Robinhood
Pirate stories are filled with action and adventure on the high seas making for an entertaining and engaging novel. What was your favorite scene in this story to write?
My favorite scene in this adventure book was not adventurous at all. It was the scene where Matthew is taken back to the pirate stronghold on the Isle of Maroons and he enters this whole new world. Pirates are outlaws. As a British knight and a navy captain, it’s his duty to apprehend and execute them. Yet he empathizes with them to some extent. Matthew knows there are circumstances that would cause him to commit the same crimes. I enjoyed this scene because it’s the part of the story where he humanizes his rivals. He realizes that no one is all good, and no one is all evil. People are a complicated mixture of both.
What future plans do you have for Matthew and Sarah, and when can your fans expect the next book?
The next book will be INFINITY: Love & Treasure which is the swashbuckling conclusion to the buccaneer trilogy. Pirate books require a lot of time and research so it probably won’t be released until the fall of 2024. I know that’s a long time from now but I want to make sure I am writing a book that is worthy of my readers. I’m also in the process of making video editions of my books on YouTube. I appreciate all the Infinity fans. Thanks so much for your support. https://youtu.be/6XafzpfUonY
Author Links: Website | YouTube
Includes 30 illustrations.
INFINITY: There be Pirates
Pirate hunter Sir Matthew Galahad is about to embark on a mission to find and stop the reign of terror being perpetrated by the crew of The Wraith. The Wraith is rumored to be manned by ghosts and led by a female captain whose wickedness is head and shoulders above all others. Matthew sees everything he wants lying just out of reach–a marriage to the esteemed Amelia Gray and a position in the King’s court as a duke. Matthew must find it within himself to complete the task and win the battle ahead–and the war raging within.
There Be Pirates is part of Catalina DuBois’s INFINITY series, which follows a pair of ill-fated lovers across continents and through time. This particular installment features Matthew as a young man who sees his future wavering before him as he takes on a pirate ship under the direction of Sarah Nightingale. Theirs is a history like no other.
This is not the first of DuBois’s INFINITY books I have read. I admire the creativity it requires to place Matthew and Sarah into new and challenging circumstances and settings while keeping their relationship’s integrity and relatability. This particular book is my favorite so far. The glimpse into Matthew and Sarah’s life together before their encounter on The Wraith shows Sarah’s strength and resilience in no uncertain terms. She is a stellar character and is one that can span genres. While the fiery romance and tension between Sarah and Matthew is one definite draw of Dubois’s work, Sarah’s unmatched passion and drive are undeniably appealing.
DuBois is tops when it comes to dialogue. It can be challenging to find a book of the romance genre that doesn’t veer primarily toward the vulgar side. However, DuBois knows precisely how to appeal to her readers and keep them interested in the romance between Sarah and Matthew and the ever-present tension of their strained history. Their exchanges are charged with an energy that makes the reader anxious for their next interaction.
There Be Pirates is a masterful blend of romance, adventure, and drama with the perfect amount of humor thrown in. DuBois has done it again with this Matthew and Sarah saga installment. Romance fans looking for a new author providing a fresh take on historical romance will appreciate Catalina DuBois.
Pages: 368 | ASIN : B0CCQPB4QM
Peace, Love, and Spiritual Revolution
Trippy Hippy follows a young man in 1967, the Summer of Love, who moves to San Francisco and goes on a journey of self-discovery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The so-called “Summer of Love” was an especially vibrant period in San Francisco instigated by drugs and rock music. It brought young people from all over the country to descend upon San Francisco along with ideals of peace, love, and spiritual evolution. It was a particularly exciting period to use as a setting for my novel.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
The character Arnie/Gator was based on my own transition from bookkeeper to full-on participant in the lifestyle of the times, but once that transition is made the events that Gator participates in are wholly from my imagination.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The themes that I think were important are embodied by the slogan “Make Love; Not War.” The use of drugs to attain enlightenment plays a huge role in the book as well as the daily life and interactions of the characters. The idea of “free love” is introduced early in the story when Nola gives Gator a welcome to the Ashram blow job with no accompanying drama. Gator’s love and loss of Eddy brings out the pain that comes with living on the edge. Music, too, plays an important part in the lives of the characters as Gator and Wabash form a band to not only make money but to express their ideals.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it?
I’ve written the first draft of a historical novel about two boys growing up in pre-civil war West Virginia. I’m not sure when I’ll go back to it. Right now I’m working on a sort of wild boys story set in the early 1950s in Houston where I was raised. It’s called The Road to Hell, and it’s both humorous and potentially tragic as the young gang members pull off pranks that become increasingly serious in nature. I’m also considering writing a second draft of a story I wrote years ago about a drive through Mexico in an old car with a hole in the radiator called A Hundred Years of Cilantro.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Trippy Hippy peels back the facade of Adler’s Ashram to expose the daily lives of its occupants. Wabash Jones, musician and future rock star, Nola and Victor Granola, apartment managers and social magnets, Jeepster Joe, adventurer, and teen boy seducer, and Gracie Fontana, Wabash’s doll-like sweetheart. This acid-splashed tell-all by Gator lays bare the hippy lifestyle during that remarkable year known as The Summer of Love.
INFINITY: A Winter Romance
It can never be said that Sarah Nightingale is a typical lady. As a seventeen-year-old, she is approaching old-maid status and does not seem to care. She is independent, outspoken, and completely willing and more than able to run her father’s farm. Tobias, her father, realizes all of this but still wants to see her married. When he arranges a meeting between his daughter and Matthew, an eligible and promising prospective son-in-law, he has no way of knowing he has set into motion a sequence of events he will soon regret. Meanwhile, Sarah has designs on a marriage of her own–one no one would ever expect.
Infinity: A Winter Romance, by Catalina DuBois, is one in a series of books that follows two star-crossed lovers through time as they continue to encounter one another and fight for the chance to be together. As they fight to reunite and regain the love that was once stolen from them, they must overcome one incredible obstacle after another in order to defeat the forces that are determined to keep them apart for eternity.
Sarah and Matthew make the perfect pair. The dynamic DuBois has created between the two in this time period is intriguing, to say the least. Sarah is headstrong and cannot be told what to do; she is a fantastic main character. Her boldness shines through everything she says and does throughout the plot. It’s clear that Matthew has been written to shine a light on Sarah’s character. He is likable but takes nothing away from Sarah.
I so enjoy the way DuBois writes. This is the second book in her Infinity that I have read, and the element of mystery she adds to her books makes each a must-read. She leaves each chapter with a line or two that will hook readers every time, urging them on to the next chapter. This is the kind of writing I prefer–I want to be made to feel that I am missing out if I don’t just keep reading. DuBois, without a doubt, is a master at producing books you won’t be able to put down until you have reached the last page.
Infinity: A Winter Romance, by Catalina DuBois, DuBois’s romance is tastefully written with just enough sensuality to attract romance fans. DuBois’s characters are relatable no matter the time period in which the book is written, and the combination of drama and humor, along with elements of romance, pushes DuBois’s works into the top spot on my list of books I highly recommend.
Pages: 154 | ASIN : B0BKYSQNZ9
Minotaur’s Lair
Minotaur’s Lair – Servant of the Gods – Book Three by Luciana Cavallaro is the final installment in the trilogy, which follows Evan, who must face Queen Antioche and stop the Dark Master from becoming a deity. If the Dark Master successfully gains this power, Evan and his alliances face an uncertain future. There are many unexpected twists throughout his journey and fate, making this book an incredible read.
The story maintains a consistent pace that conjures excitement from the start. Cavallaro creates an action-packed tale with elements of ancient mythology and mystical places, contrasting with time travel and modern technology. Evan must quickly adapt and learn how his quest shifts from one challenge to the next, whether Queen Antioch attempts to entice him with tempting gifts and promises or he becomes face-to-face with a new enemy. He must also follow his father’s legacy by locating a sacred artifact while defeating his captors.
Cavallaro’s fantastic writing style is sharp and descriptive without slowing the story’s pace. The author thoroughly researches the architecture, landscapes, and scenarios in mythology. It’s a fantastic adventure full of exciting developments and lively characters. As the story delves into the thrilling mythology of an ancient world, Evan becomes eager to find a way home to his time in the future.
I found this book, and the trilogy, an excellent story that’s engaging and enjoyable from start to finish. The author does a fantastic job of creating an intricate world with layers of fascinating developments and characters that keep the reader moving from one chapter to the next. Minotaur’s Lair – Servant of the Gods – Book Three by Luciana Cavallaro is an excellent read for science fiction and fantasy fans. I recommend the trilogy and look forward to more books from this author.
Pages: 396 | ASIN : B0BFGW1Z6S
INFINITY: Book of Matthew II
In INFINITY: Book of Matthew II by Catalina DuBois, readers follow Sara during the Civil War era. Sara is a black woman that was a former slave at the Colburn Plantation in the states. She falls in love with a white man named Matthew who sweeps her off her feet and takes her to France. Now Sarah has become one of the few women in the world to become a medical doctor and has built a successful practice. After a terrible incident occurs in Sarah’s home and her children are almost taken away and put into slavery, Matthew and Sarah make the hard decision to fight in the war to protect their family.
Catalina DuBois takes readers on a spellbinding journey through time that forces readers to face the harsh reality of slavery, the Civil War, and the impacts it had on people. Sarah is a strong and mesmerizing character, but she is also kind even after all of the abuse she went through. Matthew’s character is one that many readers will fall in love with, especially after seeing his love for Sarah and his family.
The author immerses readers in the couples lives and we feel the love that they have for one another. The romance scenes are written tastefully, making the reader want to read more as the couple express their love and lust for one another.
This is book two of the series, but I think this novel can be read without having read book one as the author quickly recaps the first story, catching the reader up to Sarah’s current situation. The scenes of war are just as impactful as the romance scenes, and readers will be rooting for Matthew’s safe return. The author gives readers an inside look into Matthew’s thoughts as he writes in his journal. I enjoyed how this allows the reader to get a sense of what Matthew is feeling. This is a compelling book that gives just as much emotional depth to the horrors of war as it does to the romance in the book and I was enthralled with the story because of it.
INFINITY: Book of Matthew II is an engrossing story of courage, hope, and love. This is a rousing historical romance novel that I highly recommend to readers who are looking for a thrilling read with romance throughout.
Pages: 192
Heart of a Warrior Angel: From Darkness to Light
Articulate and full of spiritualism, Heart of a Warrior Angel by Lali A. Love is a journey not only in the world but within oneself. Our protagonist, Lilac, reflects on her life’s path as she reaches her twilight years. She recalls her journey through life as she crosses literal and metaphorical oceans to become the person she is in the moment. We learn her life story, her heartache, and her triumphs. We celebrate and grieve with her as this book lays bare the raw emotions that entangle themselves with the journey of life.
Heart of a Warrior Angel drips with dramatic tension, and excellent descriptions of the living situation Lilac regales us with is moving and heart rendering. It is a metaphysical thriller, with a touch of supernatural fantasy, following one woman’s journey through the hell on earth she was forced to live as she comes to terms with her ascension onto a spiritual plane deserving of her essence.
Danloria: The Secret Forest of Germania
![Danloria: The Secret Forest of Germania by [Gonsalves, Gloria D.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61fTOoxalgL.jpg)
The magical forests of Germania beckon! When five-year-old Stan is invited to a party by a talking Fern, he eagerly enters a lush, verdant world of discovery. When Stan falls ill, his forest friends find a cure. When he gets lost, they guide him home. The forest’s generosity truly knows no bounds.
Danloria: The Secret Forest of Germania reveals the protective and healing powers of the forest and its vegetation. Author Gloria Gonsalves cleverly teaches children the names and characteristics of plants, and their ability to heal or harm. Her enchanting fable reveals the countless ways the Earth protects and provides. The true magic of this book is in the illustrations that were created by children. Each drawing is engaging and gives the story an added layer of meaning through the imaginations of young artists. It is a heart-warming story that speaks to the giving nature of the Earth.
Pages: 61 | ASIN: B07926X9S4
LITERARY TITAN 