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Look Closer
Just a Little Witch, Mostly a Mom is not only a memoir sharing your story of grief, motherhood, and the quiet magic hiding in plain sight, but a reminder to notice the small spells that you cast each day. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I wrote Just a Little Witch, Mostly a Mom because I didn’t want my mother’s story — or the strange, magical details of our life together — to disappear quietly. Grief can feel isolating, but when I wrote it down, it became connective instead. The book let me braid memory, motherhood, and a little magic into something that could outlast me. And honestly, I didn’t want to wait around for someone else to write the book I needed — so I did it myself.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
That motherhood and grief can coexist with humor, wonder, and even irreverence. That it’s possible to feel devastated and enchanted in the same breath. I wanted to show how ordinary objects, pop culture, and family rituals — everything from a backyard Jaws screening to rosemary growing by the gate — carry their own magic. I wasn’t trying to hand out lessons; I wanted to say, look closer, this is what ordinary life really looks like when you let yourself see it.
What was the most challenging part of writing your memoir, and what was the most rewarding?
The hardest part was writing about my mother’s decline with honesty while still protecting the tenderness of who she was. Grief doesn’t have a clean arc, and there were days I wanted to slam the laptop shut and pretend I’d rather be doing literally anything else. The most rewarding part was realizing, as the pages stacked up, that I wasn’t just writing loss — I was writing a legacy. And when early readers told me they felt both seen and entertained? That was the moment I thought, okay, maybe this actually works.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Permission. Permission to find the sacred in the silly, to laugh even when it hurts, and to notice the everyday magic hiding in plain sight. If nothing else, I want readers to remember that love and loss aren’t opposites — they’re the same spell, just cast differently. And if they finish the book and immediately text their sibling some inside joke from childhood, then I’ve done my job.
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The Secret Rise, book 3
The Secret Rise is a sweeping tale set in medieval Normandy and England, where Nichol, once a girl betrayed by her family, becomes the guiding light of a hidden hamlet called Harmonie. Now a wife and mother, she carries the weight of leadership, navigating danger from enemies old and new, forging bonds with Queen Emma of England, and testing the limits of her own strength and foresight. The book follows Nichol, her family, and allies as they face betrayal, curses, prophecy, and the unrelenting pressure of survival, all while a mysterious guiding presence known as the Lady shadows her path. It is both a story of individual courage and of how a community holds together when secrecy is no longer an option.
I found myself swept up by the writing. It has a rhythm that shifts between tenderness and suspense, sometimes almost too swiftly, but that kept me hooked. The dialogue feels earnest, and the authors have a knack for describing how ordinary moments, like a meal, a walk with children, or the hush before a dangerous meeting, carry enormous weight when survival is always at risk. The prose leaned on repetition of themes like destiny and trust, yet I also caught myself underlining sentences because they had that raw, heartfelt punch that lingers. What struck me most was how alive Nichol feels. She is fierce, protective, flawed, and burdened, and that combination made me root for her every step of the way.
What surprised me was the warmth threaded through the peril. This isn’t just about battles and politics; it is about mothers feeding babies, children inventing secret languages, and villagers laughing together after fear has passed. Those touches gave me chills in the best way. I will admit, at nearly five hundred pages, the book sometimes meanders. Still, I never truly wanted to put it down. The presence of the Lady, that mysterious spiritual force, added a quiet shimmer to the narrative, and I liked how it blurred the line between faith, fate, and imagination. It made me question whether strength comes from within or from something greater that whispers in the dark.
I closed the book feeling both satisfied and a little restless, already curious about the next installment. I would recommend The Secret Rise to readers who enjoy historical fiction with a hint of the mystical, especially those who like stories centered on strong women navigating impossible choices. It’s a book for anyone who wants to be pulled into another time and place, not just through action, but through the intimacy of family and the resilience of community.
Pages: 540 | ASIN : B0FDV29WWF
Courageous: She Will Not Let Fear Stop Her
Courageous tells the story of Clark, a woman whose life is shaped by loss, trauma, and the search for healing. From the pain of abandonment as a child to the heartbreak of losing Archer, the love who could not stay, she battles self-doubt, grief, and the lure of self-destruction. Her journey leads her into the orbit of Gun and Vin, two powerful, enigmatic bikers whose tattoo shop becomes not just her workplace but a crossroads for transformation. The book blends raw depictions of mental health struggles with moments of romance, danger, and resilience, painting a portrait of a woman trying to rebuild when it feels like the world has already broken her.
What I liked most about the writing is how unflinchingly it stares at darkness. Steele does not flinch from describing Clark’s scars, both physical and emotional, and I felt that weight. At times, it made me uneasy; other times, it made me ache for her. The prose is straightforward but carries an emotional punch, with certain passages almost too sharp to keep reading. I liked how the author layered the MC world with tenderness, showing that even rough men in leather can surprise you with kindness or depth.
The chemistry is palpable, and the tension between Clark, Vin, and Gun had me flipping pages with a mix of dread and thrill. Some of the power dynamics made me squirm. Commands, threats, and possessiveness are part of the MC romance formula. I couldn’t deny the intensity. It made me feel like I was on the back of a bike, hanging on tight, unsure if I’d fall but unable to let go. And I admire that Steele didn’t tie everything up neatly. Healing in this book isn’t quick or clean. It’s jagged, like the lines of a tattoo.
Reading Courageous reminded me of the emotional rawness of Tarryn Fisher’s novels mixed with the gritty, high-stakes intensity of Kristen Ashley’s MC romances, only Steele leans harder into the pain and healing side of the journey. Courageous is raw, gritty, and at times heartbreaking, but it’s also laced with hope and sparks of joy. I would recommend it to readers seeking more than surface-level romance, particularly those who can handle tough themes like grief, trauma, and self-harm, while still craving the heat and loyalty of MC love stories.
Pages: 266 | ASIN : B0F3ZKCKK7
The Influence Mindset for Sales Acceleration: The 7 EQ Brain Hacks That Get People to Choose You
Christian Hansen’s The Influence Mindset for Sales Acceleration is a lively guide to bridging the gap between what we think we’re communicating and how others actually perceive us. He builds his case around the idea that success in sales, and really in most high-stakes interactions, is less about raw value and more about how that value lands in someone else’s mind. The book moves through personal stories, neuroscience tidbits, and a framework of seven “EQ brain hacks,” all designed to help the reader stand out as the obvious choice in a crowded field. It’s practical, but it never feels dry. Hansen writes in a way that makes brain science feel like kitchen-table advice.
I enjoyed how much personality was packed into these pages. The tortilla fiasco with his Danish in-laws had me laughing, but it also drove the point home better than a pile of charts ever could. I felt pulled into the message because the stories felt so human. Hansen often leans on tidy acronyms and clear formulas. Far from being overbearing, this structure actually made the concepts easy to follow and apply. The clarity gave me a sense of order in what could otherwise feel like a messy subject. And paired with Hansen’s warmth and confidence, it felt like he was handing me a ready-made toolkit I could start using right away, something I could test on Monday morning and expect to see working by Friday.
What I liked most was how he reframed things I’ve been guilty of myself. I’ve leaned too hard on proving my value, or I’ve tried to charm my way through, and both times I’ve missed the mark. Reading his breakdown of “competence without connection” being just noise hit uncomfortably close to home. I liked how he didn’t just call out the problem but showed how to balance both sides of the bridge. The mix of storytelling and science kept me hooked, even if I sometimes wished he’d dig deeper instead of keeping it all so polished.
This is a book for people who live in the push and pull of convincing others, like salespeople, but also entrepreneurs, job seekers, and even anyone pitching ideas inside a company. If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning your wheels and not getting chosen, Hansen’s approach will feel like a reset button. I’d recommend it most to folks who are comfortable trying new ways of communicating and want something practical that doesn’t read like a textbook. It’s not a magic trick, but it gives you tools that make influence feel a little less mysterious and a lot more doable.
Pages: 290 | ASIN : B0FDH4LQ7Z
Cooking with Judith: Comfort Foods Create WOW Eating
This book is pretty much a love letter to food and the joy of sharing it. Judith Briles lays out recipes that run from appetizers like bruschetta and chicken salad boats to soups like corn chowder and French onion, plus sides, salads, pasta, quiche, desserts, and more. She isn’t trying to be some fussy gourmet. Instead, she invites you into her kitchen with a kind of “let’s play with food” attitude. She talks about keeping baguette slices in the freezer, making up recipes on the fly, and calling her friends over to be taste-testers. It’s casual, approachable, and definitely centered on comfort food with a little flair.
Reading it, I felt like I was flipping through a neighbor’s well-loved recipe notebook. It’s not intimidating. The directions are clear, and the ingredients are normal, which I love because I hate chasing down some obscure spice I’ll use once and never again. Judith’s little stories tucked in with the recipes gave me a smile, like the time her guest asked to buy chicken salad boats straight from her fridge. Those personal touches made the book feel warm and lived-in. Honestly, it made me hungry just sitting there with it. Her enthusiasm for food is contagious, and I appreciated that she didn’t try to pretend everything was perfect. She admits some dishes needed tweaks, and that honesty was refreshing.
One of the things I really enjoyed flipping through was the photos. Each dish had this polished, professional look, yet it still felt like real food you could actually make at home. The pictures gave me a clear idea of what the finished plate should look like, which made me even more excited to try the recipes myself. It’s the kind of visual nudge that makes you want to head straight to the kitchen.
Cooking with Judith is perfect for people who love to cook for friends, host casual get-togethers, or just want some easy, flavorful recipes that feel homemade and real. If you’re the type who enjoys chatting in the kitchen with a glass of wine while the oven does its thing, this one’s for you.
Pages: 106 | ASIN : B0DVNHFPG9
“Finding Your Roots” One Man’s Journey to Discover His Ukrainian, Greek, And Bulgarian Roots
When I picked up Finding Your Roots: One Man’s Journey to Discover His Ukrainian, Greek, and Bulgarian Roots by Kiril Kristoff, I didn’t expect the ride I was about to take. The story follows Alexander Kakhovskiy, an American born into privilege, raised on excess and status, with little sense of who he really is. In one devastating night, he loses it all. After a near-fatal car accident, Alex wakes not in modern Chicago but in 19th-century Imperial Russia, stripped of his wealth and freedom, forced into the life of a serf. What begins as punishment unfolds into a profound journey of survival, faith, and love, where saints and ancestors shape his path and the brutal world of serfdom teaches him humility, responsibility, and sacrifice.
This book surprised me with its depth and scope. At first, I bristled at Alex’s arrogance, but as he stumbled through hardship, I found myself rooting for him, even protective of him. His encounters with Elizabeth, his soulmate in another lifetime, added tenderness that balanced the weight of war, betrayal, and spiritual reckoning. The way Kristoff shifts between past and present, dream and reality, sometimes left me dizzy, yet it mirrored Alex’s inner chaos. The novel also stretches beyond Alex, weaving in the stories of forefathers like Georgiy and Vasiliy, who stood on opposite sides of faith and revolution, and reminding us how much of who we are is inherited through blood and history.
Some passages hit me hard. The spiritual visions, the crushing trials, the echoes of immigrant struggles across borders and generations all resonated. At times, the prose felt heavy, yet it often swung back with vivid, aching beauty that lingered. What stayed with me most was its insistence that freedom, identity, and redemption are never free, that every generation pays its price. It is a bold, multifaceted story that dares to mix history, myth, and spiritual allegory in a way that feels rare.
Finding Your Roots isn’t a light read, but it digs deep and stays with you. I’d recommend it to anyone drawn to stories about faith, heritage, and the resilience of families across generations. If you like novels that wrestle with identity and legacy, or if you’ve ever wondered how the past continues to shape us, then this book is worth your time.
Recipient of the Literary Titan Book Award.
The Copper Scroll: Masa Chronicles
The Copper Scroll by Nicholas Teeguarden follows Joshua “Masa” Bennett, a young archaeology student with a deep faith and a restless curiosity, as he embarks on a journey from Arkansas to Jordan to study the Copper Scroll, the most mysterious of the Dead Sea Scrolls. What begins as an academic interest quickly pulls him into a world of danger, conspiracy, and discovery. Alongside Noa, a sharp and guarded fellow researcher, Joshua navigates ancient clues, personal doubts, and very real threats that blur the line between history and myth. The novel blends scholarship with thriller pacing, offering treasure-hunt suspense set against the rich backdrop of Middle Eastern history and modern tension.
I found the writing to be immersive and full of sensory detail that made me feel the dust of the caves and the press of crowded streets. The style is lively and cinematic. The vividness held me, and I often felt like I was traveling beside Joshua, seeing what he saw, feeling his awe and his unease. The dialogue is sharp, and the interplay between Joshua and Noa kept me engaged. Their banter carried the spark of rivalry mixed with mutual respect, and I looked forward to every scene they shared.
What I liked most was the balance between faith and doubt. The book treats belief not as a simple comfort but as a constant wrestle, something that can drive discovery as much as devotion. Joshua’s hunger for truth, his stubborn streak, and his flashes of insecurity made him a character I could root for. At the same time, the story didn’t shy away from showing how obsession can tip into danger. I liked that complexity. It gave the book more weight than just a straightforward adventure.
I’d recommend The Copper Scroll to readers who enjoy thrillers with a strong sense of place and a dose of history. It will appeal to fans of Dan Brown-style puzzles but also to those who like characters wrestling with faith and identity. It’s heartfelt and ambitious. If you want a story that mixes archaeology, intrigue, and personal struggle, this book is a good fit.
Pages: 254 | ASIN : B0FF2CT6CF
Winston The Titan Terrier : Adventures In Ancient Egypt (Book 2)
Winston the Titan Terrier returns for another thrilling quest, this time alongside his loyal friends Diesel and Teddy. Their mission in Adventures in Ancient Egypt by award-winning authors Colin Peter Van Dongen and Mia Van Dongen leads them through a labyrinth of twisting tunnels, riddled with ingenious traps and mind-bending puzzles. Each solution propels them deeper into danger, and each wrong move threatens disaster. Along the way, formidable foes emerge, determined to halt their progress. At the heart of their journey lies a daunting challenge: stop Sad Face, a mischievous yet oddly endearing octopus, from rewriting Egyptian history, or risk arriving too late.
From the very first page, the story bursts with energy. The fast-paced narrative kept me eagerly turning pages, invested in whether Winston, Teddy, and Diesel could outwit the countless challenges placed before them. For children, the sheer variety of puzzles, traps, and encounters ensures that every reread reveals a new detail or hidden layer of fun.
The characters shine with personality. Winston, Diesel, and Teddy are more than companions; each stands out as a hero in their own right. Readers will find it difficult to choose a favorite among them. Meanwhile, the villains, Sad Face the alien octopus and Smokestrike the sly ninja cat, add both tension and comic mischief, often stealing scenes despite their role as obstacles.
Equally impressive are the illustrations by Colin Peter Van Dongen. Detailed, crisp, and vividly colored, the images elevate the storytelling. Their clarity, reminiscent of AI-rendered sharpness, invites readers to pause, explore, and savor every page.
Winston the Titan Terrier: Adventures in Ancient Egypt is a delightful read for all ages. It blends clever storytelling, dynamic characters, and striking illustrations into one unforgettable package. Highly recommended for children, and equally enjoyable for adults who love fast-paced adventures filled with heart and humor.
Pages: 48 | ISBN : 1738448746
LITERARY TITAN 