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Daughters of Havah: Matriarchs of the Messiah Vol. 1
From the very first chapter, Daughters of Havah pulled me into the lives of women who have long stood in the shadows of biblical stories. Author Ellen Hooge gives voice to Sarah, Rivkah, Le’ah, and Tamar, letting them speak in their own tones, with their own desires, doubts, and fierce hopes. What might have been footnotes in scripture become flesh-and-blood portraits. These women are no longer silent; they are complicated, flawed, and yearning, moving through dusty tents, sacred groves, and perilous journeys. It is history, imagination, and scripture braided together, and it reads both like an epic novel and a meditation.
I found myself surprised by how personal the writing felt. The prose is vivid and full of sensory detail, and there’s a rhythm to it that sometimes feels almost like oral storytelling. At moments, I was swept up by the beauty, almond blossoms, desert winds, the hush of a Presence in the night. Other times, I bristled at the starkness of choices made by men, the bitterness of barrenness, the violence and betrayal. Yet that tension is exactly what made it powerful for me. It didn’t smooth over the rough edges; it sat with them. I appreciated how the book never tried to modernize these women but instead let them breathe within their own world.
What also struck me was the emotional honesty. The women rage. They question God. They long for love and for children. They despair, and they laugh again. I could feel my chest tighten when Sarai spoke of being bartered away in Egypt, and then I could feel warmth when she walked with Avram under the almond trees. These aren’t distant holy figures; they are painfully human, and in that humanity, I felt something deeply sacred. Hooge’s style makes you stop and think about your own life, about pride and faith, and how we tell our own stories. At times, the language is almost poetic, at times blunt, but it always rings with truth.
This isn’t light reading, but it is rewarding. I would recommend it especially to readers who love historical fiction that dares to wrestle with faith, culture, and the inner lives of characters too often left voiceless. If you enjoy novels that make you feel as much as they make you think, and if you like stories that root themselves in history yet speak into the present, then you’ll enjoy Daughters of Havah.
Pages: 302 | ASIN : B0DPVSQZBQ
My Personal Journey
Broken Rooms follows a gifted mathematician from Sheffield who stumbles into the world of design, beauty, and wealth, and winds up searching for authenticity in a life caught between duty, desire, and dreams. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
It is very much a memoir of my personal journey as an adult. While I am not a mathematician, I was a classically trained pianist with a Doctorate in music. Once I completed my degree and still performing, I had 58 students and I slaved away at an existence that not only drained me, but longing for something that was inside of me. I had always been interested in design and beauty, and it was as though I had yet to break through the ceiling of who I truly am. While I had the highest degree in piano, it was only the beginning of my creative journey. The thread of experiences throughout the novel are all based on what I actually experienced while naturally embellishing on some characters, places and circumstances for the sake of colourful storytelling. But even these I had witnessed and recorded as part of my experience and wove them into the story with delight.
Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your character’s life?
Yes, the story told from Sebastian’s point of view is very much me. I related to the character for he is sort of a doppelgänger albeit English. Throughout the pages it is really me telling the story of me.
I find that authors sometimes ask themselves questions and let their characters answer them. Do you think this is true for your characters?
Yes very much so. The questions I have had about clients, colleagues, lovers and myself I answered through all the characters. As though holding up a mirror and looking at it all as the director of the play as opposed to the actors.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Broken Rooms is a novel (yet only covering my life and career as an adult). My next book is an actual memoir and titled Remains of Silence : A Memoir of Breaking, Building, and Becoming. It is a raw and true telling of my childhood and upbringing in Apartheid South-Africa. I shed light on the horrors of our school system, the neglect and abuse at home, and my final departure out into the wide world where I became Sebastian, the main character of Broken Rooms. In Remains of Silence there are no fictitious characters or stories, only an honest telling of what was and how I finally changed the ingrained choreography in order to break free. The book will be released on September 15, 2025. Links will be sent to you.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Yet behind every elegant room lies fracture. From Paris salons to New York penthouses, from Marrakesh courtyards to English country estates, Sebastian’s designs reflect not only beauty but also the emptiness and longing that shape his own life.
At its center lies a restrained love story between two men—Sebastian and Duncan—that simmers in silence, distance, and restraint before finally blossoming into the promise of permanence.
Blending the sensual detail of a design memoir with the emotional pull of a love story, Broken Rooms is for readers of André Aciman’s Call Me by Your Name, Rebecca Makkai’s The Great Believers, Nicholas Sparks’s The Notebook, and Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue. It is a novel of reinvention, restraint, and the universal search for belonging, intimacy, and wholeness.
Black Sun Rising
Black Sun Rising kicks off with a brutal explosion at a shelter in Washington, DC, and from there, the pace never lets up. Marko Zorn, the homicide detective at the center of it all, is thrown into a case that spirals far beyond what seems at first like an isolated act of terror. Political intrigue, extremist violence, and shadowy forces collide as Zorn and his partner, Latasha Powell, find themselves pulled deeper into a world of conspiracies and deadly power plays. The book blends police procedural grit with the breathless urgency of a thriller, building toward threats that could destabilize not just the city, but the entire nation.
I found myself struck by how alive Zorn’s voice feels on the page. He’s sardonic, weary, sharp as a blade, and relatable all at once. The author writes him as a man who wrestles with his own demons but never loses his edge. That mix of cynicism and determination hooked me right away. I also appreciated Latasha. Her optimism offsets Zorn’s brooding tone, and their partnership gives the story warmth amid the chaos. The writing itself moves with snap and bite. Scenes never linger too long, and there’s always this current of tension beneath the dialogue. It reminded me of noir in some ways, but updated with a contemporary urgency.
The flood of conspiracies, high-ranking officials, billionaires, and hidden organizations kept the story charged with energy. Each new twist raised the stakes and added to the sense that danger was everywhere. Rather than slowing things down for quiet reflection, the book leans into the chaos, and that frenzy becomes part of its thrill. This is a book about a city on edge and a detective who refuses to play by anyone’s rules. The excess, in a strange way, matched the paranoia and adrenaline running through the story.
Black Sun Rising is a sharp, breathless ride. It’s for readers who love thrillers that don’t flinch from big stakes and who enjoy characters that live in moral gray zones. If you like your crime stories tangled with politics, secrets, and the pulse of real danger, this one’s worth your time.
Pages: 280 | ASIN : B0DZXWKWSM
Shogologo Babies
The story follows Auntie Miisher, who wakes up each morning with a sign that she will have a baby by dusk. Each day of the week brings a new child, and each baby is tied to the cultural significance of being born on a particular day. Their names, traits, and destinies reflect the traditions of West African day naming. The rhythm builds as we meet Kwesi, Ajua, Kobina, Ekuba, Aba, Kofi, Amba, and more, until Auntie Miisher finally decides she has had enough babies. Alongside the story are playful rhymes, interactive activities, and bright illustrations that capture both humor and heritage.
Reading this felt whimsical and rhythmic. I liked the way the repetition pulled me along, almost like a song, with each new baby bringing a fresh description and name. There’s something very charming about how each baby is tied to nature and elements like breezes, sunsets, waves, and trees. It felt magical and grounding at the same time. The writing has a sing-song quality that would work well when read aloud, especially to young children.
What really stood out to me was how the book weaves in culture without being heavy-handed. The idea of day names and their meanings is not only explained but also celebrated through the babies’ personalities. It’s educational without feeling like a lesson. The trilingual presentation (English, French, and Ga) adds another layer, making it both inclusive and rich.
This is a joyful, vibrant children’s book best suited for young children and families who enjoy storytelling traditions. It would be especially meaningful for readers with connections to West African culture, but honestly, any child could find delight in the rhyme and repetition. I’d recommend it to parents who like to read aloud with energy and to classrooms that want to celebrate diversity and language in an engaging way.
Pages: 100 | ISBN : B0FRYJV96C
Vision Storm
Vision Storm is a globe-spanning thriller that blends personal tragedy, supernatural overtones, and international intrigue into one fast-paced narrative. The story follows young Dannilee, a girl haunted by dreams that seem to bleed into reality, her troubled mother Janelle whose clairvoyant abilities blur the line between madness and foresight, and Marshall Dennison, a diving coach reluctantly pulled into a conspiracy that reaches far beyond what any of them imagined. From the icy cliffs of New York to shadowy power struggles involving the mysterious “Dark Agent,” the book layers suspense, betrayal, and an almost mystical sense of inevitability.
I found myself caught off guard by how quickly the story establishes tension. The opening chapter with Maggie is devastating and sets a tone of dread that lingers. The writing has a cinematic quality, sharp and quick, with scenes snapping together like film cuts. At times, the story is very descriptive, and I found the pace slowed a little as a result. Still, when the action hit, it hit hard, and I could feel my pulse jump with the characters’ fear and desperation. I cared about Aubrey and Dannilee, and I found myself rooting for Marshall in spite of his flaws.
What really struck me was the mix of realism and the uncanny. The idea of inherited clairvoyance could have slipped into cliché, but here it felt eerie and believable, almost natural in its strangeness. While a few bits of dialogue came across a little formal, the heart of the story, this battle between ordinary people and a larger, darker force, rang true. I could sense the author wanted me to feel the unease of not knowing who to trust, and it worked. I also appreciated that the villain, Pierre Dubois, was not just a cardboard cutout but a figure both terrifying and charismatic. That complexity made the threat land harder.
The book took risks with its plot, and while not every gamble paid off, I never felt bored. I’d recommend Vision Storm to readers who enjoy thrillers that flirt with the supernatural but keep a foot planted in real human struggles. If you like stories where family bonds and hidden powers collide with forces far bigger than any one person, this one will keep you turning pages late into the night.
Pages: 411 | ASIN : B0F8P5W9BB
The Golden Age of Bull$hit
The book takes a swing at one of the most slippery forces in modern life: Bull$hit. It blends personal stories, cultural commentary, and sharp analysis to explore how nonsense, exaggeration, and spin shape everything from Wall Street memes to social media trends. The author pulls from history, psychology, and economics, showing that bull$hit isn’t just a nuisance but a defining feature of our world. It can destroy wealth, mislead millions, or, oddly enough, fuel innovation and creativity. The chapters flow from absurd examples of hype to serious warnings about herd mentality, and it all builds toward the paradox that bull$hit can be both poison and medicine, depending on how it’s used.
I loved the voice of the book. It’s bold, funny, and unafraid of calling things by their true name. The mix of stories, like the pantsless CEO during a livestream or the mother investing her savings into meme stocks, hit hard. They’re emotional, and they cut through statistics and theory. The point about FOMO and herd behavior comes up again and again. Still, the honesty of the tone made me forgive the loops. It feels less like a lecture and more like a late-night conversation with a friend who has lived through the same madness.
What struck me most was how the book balances cynicism with hope. The author doesn’t just rant about scams, media spin, and shallow marketing. He also shows how confidence, exaggeration, and even a little schmäh, as Arnold would call it, can drive people to reach higher. That tension between bull$hit as danger and bull$hit as spark makes the book stand out. I caught myself nodding, then laughing, then getting a little angry, all within a few pages.
I’d recommend The Golden Age of Bull$hit to anyone who feels overwhelmed by the noise of modern life. If you’ve ever looked at the news, social feeds, or markets and thought “this can’t be real,” this book will give you both a laugh and a guide to making sense of it. It’s not for someone who wants a dry academic study. It’s for people who like sharp stories, plain talk, and a little fire in the writing. I closed it feeling entertained, a bit more aware, and oddly comforted knowing that yes, we’re all swimming in the same ocean of nonsense.
Pages: 306 | ASIN : B0FJ6G3599
Bugs That Bug You
Fred is stuck in one of those days, the kind where nothing goes right and everything seems to crawl, buzz, or flutter in his way. From the first fly that zips past his head in the morning, the mischief snowballs. Breakfast is sabotaged by sneaky weasels, a moth takes a bite out of his jacket, and an ant boldly marches up his pants. With each new annoyance, Fred’s frustration grows, yet the chaos unfolds with such playful absurdity that young readers can’t help but laugh.
The rhyming text keeps the pace snappy and musical, making it a delight to read aloud. Rhythm transforms Fred’s exasperation into comic relief, so giggles replace groans. Children will revel in the silliness of every buggy encounter, while parents will appreciate the subtle reminder tucked into the fun: sometimes, the small irritations of life aren’t worth letting ruin the entire day.
The heart of the story beats through Fred’s mum, who gently nudges him to lighten up and find joy despite the pests. Her presence grounds the tale, offering both comfort and a lesson that lingers, resilience matters, whether you’re fending off flies or bigger frustrations.
Illustrations amplify the humor, packed with detail and plenty of creepy-crawlies to spot and discuss. They invite conversation, laughter, and the chance to share in Fred’s exasperation while enjoying the spectacle.
Bugs That Bug You balances humor with heart. It’s a picture book that entertains while quietly teaching the importance of perspective. With rhyme, rhythm, and a parade of pesky intruders, it earns its place as a storytime favorite, one children will request again and again, and parents won’t mind rereading.
Pages: 29 | ASIN : B0FMKPNXKM
LITERARY TITAN 