Blog Archives
A Sea Tail
Marvin Brauer’s A Sea Tail is a curious blend of mystery, folklore, and personal transformation, set against the backdrop of Venice. The novel follows Dr. Ulysses Manque, a quasi-retired dentist who drifts into the city almost by accident and finds himself tangled in a story that begins with a strange fishtail in a canal and stretches into whispers of mermaids, secret investigations, and an undercurrent of myth that refuses to stay submerged. What begins as a chance discovery soon grows into a meditation on belief, longing, and the strange ways the extraordinary can seep into ordinary lives.
I loved the setting. Venice felt alive, not just in its architecture and canals but in the way small habits, daily walks, and quiet encounters stitched together the fabric of the story. The pacing at times wandered, and that worked for this book. Sometimes I was completely drawn in by the odd charm of Dr. Manque, his pigeons, his suits, and his obsessive rituals. Other times, I found myself wishing the narrative would push harder, dig faster into the mystery instead of lingering so long on side details. Still, that slow build did give the novel a thick and intriguing atmosphere.
The ideas at play here really stuck with me. I didn’t expect to be caught up in questions about myth and belief, about what happens when someone lets the fantastic leak into their daily routines. The mermaid, whether real or imagined, becomes a mirror for the protagonist’s loneliness and yearning, and I found that strangely moving. There were moments when the writing leaned into symbolism. I sometimes wanted less explanation, but even so, I couldn’t help but admire the ambition of weaving folklore into a modern story of self-discovery.
I felt a kind of bittersweet satisfaction. The book is not for readers looking for a fast-paced thriller or a tightly plotted mystery. It is more for those who enjoy atmosphere, who like to sit with odd characters and let their inner lives unravel slowly. If you’re drawn to Venice, or if you’ve ever wanted to believe that a city can hide its own secret myths beneath its stones and waters, this novel is worth your time. I’d recommend it to readers who like literary mysteries with a touch of magic.
Pages: 252 | ASIN : B0CTD13985
The Christmas Miracle
The Christmas Miracle follows Peter Travis, a man marked by grief yet blessed with resilience, who navigates a life shaped by loss, love, and small miracles. He runs Briana’s Bistro, a place that holds both memories of a past love and the heartbeat of his present family. Through tender moments with his wife Laura and their children, strained encounters with troubling figures like Stephen Hobbs, and the unexpected bond with a boy named Terry, Peter’s world becomes a tapestry of sorrow, second chances, and quiet redemption. At its heart, the book reflects on love’s endurance in the face of tragedy, and how the spirit of Christmas can illuminate even the darkest corners of life.
I found myself moved by the writing. Barbara Avon’s style has a rhythm that feels both intimate and unpolished in the best way. She doesn’t shy away from heavy emotion, and the words carry raw honesty. Sometimes the prose wanders, slipping into almost dreamlike passages, and while that can slow the pace, it also makes the story feel authentic. I felt like I was sitting at Peter’s kitchen table listening to him unspool his life, full of regrets and blessings tangled together. There were moments I had to pause, the weight of grief so vividly drawn that it pressed on my chest. Yet the warmth of family and the small, ordinary joys gave the story its balance.
What lingered most for me was the way the book treats memory. Ghosts of the past aren’t just haunting, they’re guiding, shaping how Peter learns to love again. I liked how the bistro itself became a character, almost a shrine, where the past and present collided. At times, the melodrama was heavy, but I couldn’t deny how much I cared about these characters. Their flaws, their resilience, their hunger for meaning, all of it struck a chord. The dialogue, especially between Peter and Laura, felt tender and believable. And the introduction of Terry added a fresh spark, a reminder of hope in unlikely places.
This isn’t a story of neat resolutions. It’s a reminder that miracles don’t erase pain, they stand alongside it. I’d recommend The Christmas Miracle to readers who want a heartfelt, emotional ride, especially those drawn to family dramas and holiday tales with depth. It’s not a light read, but it’s one that leaves you holding tighter to the people you love, and maybe seeing the season with softer eyes.
Pages: 199 | ASIN : B08BN6LY9X
Sweet Secrets on Mackinac Island
Sweet Secrets on Mackinac Island follows Lucy Winters, a freshly unemployed marketing executive who suddenly inherits her great-aunt’s fudge shop on Mackinac Island. What begins as a reluctant trip to tie up family business quickly spirals into an unplanned adventure. Lucy finds herself thrust into a world of quirky locals, nosy shop owners, stubborn employees, and even a judgmental cat named Felix, all while trying to learn the alchemy of fudge-making. At its core, the book blends romance, comedy, and personal reinvention against the backdrop of a magical, car-free island brimming with old-world charm.
I found myself both charmed and amused. The writing is playful without being shallow, full of little asides and sharp observations that made me laugh. Lucy’s voice felt real, not polished to perfection, which made her stumbles all the more relatable. At times, I rolled my eyes at her self-deprecating inner monologues, but I couldn’t help rooting for her. The island setting was described vividly. And the supporting characters, from Elspeth the cardigan-clad dictator of the “Fudgeamentals” to Mia with her theatrical flair, were eccentric in the best way. They gave the story texture and heart.
A few scenes stretched on longer than I thought they needed to, and sometimes the humor leaned a bit heavy on quips. But even when the story felt predictable, I didn’t mind. It was like watching a cozy rom-com. The journey is the fun. What surprised me most was how the book balanced lighthearted romance with more personal themes. Losing a job, being betrayed by a friend, trying to reinvent yourself. Those resonated with me. I caught myself nodding in recognition when Lucy questioned whether she was capable of change, because who hasn’t had that exact doubt?
Sweet Secrets on Mackinac Island is the kind of book I’d hand to a friend looking for comfort. It’s funny, a little ridiculous at times, and brimming with warmth. If you enjoy Hallmark-style stories, small-town charm, and heroines who learn to let go of their rigid plans, you’ll love this. It’s perfect for a summer read, ideally with something sweet within reach.
Pages: 306 | ASIN : B0F5NCZXTQ
Love at the Evening Ball
Tony T. Williams’ Love at the Evening Ball is a heady mix of Southern gothic charm and unapologetic erotic fantasy. It begins with the grandeur of an old plantation house, bathed in moonlight and memory, before sweeping the reader into a whirlwind of romance and desire. What starts as an elegant evening gathering quickly turns into an intimate story of two strangers who find themselves caught in the heat of attraction, surrendering to passion with abandon. The setting is rich, the atmosphere lush, and the story wastes no time in plunging into the intensity of seduction.
The heart of the story rests on Terry and Hiyeon. Terry comes across as confident and deeply passionate, a man who knows what he wants and isn’t shy about showing it. Hiyeon, on the other hand, radiates playfulness and charm, mixing sweetness with a daring streak that makes her irresistible. When they come together, the chemistry is undeniable. Their relationship is a whirlwind of flirtation, teasing, and raw attraction, and it’s this dynamic that fuels the book’s energy and keeps the reader hooked.
The writing is bold in a way that instantly grabs attention. The dialogue between Terry and Hiyeon brims with playful energy, sometimes exaggerated, yet always filled with a reckless joy that lights up the page. The descriptive detail, especially in the more intimate scenes, is immersive and unrelenting, sweeping me into the moment so completely that I couldn’t look away. The intensity left little room to pause, yet that constant surge of energy kept me hooked, daring me to keep turning pages with anticipation.
There were also moments where I found myself smiling at the sheer audacity of it all. The way the author leaned into every sigh, every shiver, every whispered word made the story feel like it knew exactly what it wanted to be. No pretense, no hesitation, just raw desire painted across the page. I felt caught between being swept away and slightly overwhelmed, but that tension was its own kind of thrill. It reminded me that reading, like love, isn’t always neat or tidy. Sometimes it’s messy, wild, and unforgettable.
Love at the Evening Ball isn’t a book for the faint of heart. It’s for readers who crave romance with a heavy dose of heat, for those who want their stories draped in silk and sweat rather than subtlety. If you enjoy tales that are unabashedly sensual, where every touch and glance is amplified to a fever pitch, this book will deliver. It’s daring, it’s steamy, and it knows exactly who it’s written for.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0F4Z98L47
The Orbit Stone Saga 1: Emergence
Emergence is the first entry in The Orbit Stone Saga, a sweeping fantasy tale set in the fractured world of Orbis. The story follows a host of characters, mercenaries, paladins, merchants, warriors, prophets, and rulers, who are all caught up in the struggle for powerful Orbit Stones, magical fragments that shape the balance of nations. The novel moves from shadowy deals in taverns to bloody tournaments in coliseums, from visions of looming wars to quiet moments of doubt and reflection. The backdrop is one of political tension, cultural clashes, and moral compromise, where every choice carries consequences that ripple far beyond the characters themselves.
Reading this book, I found myself pulled in two directions. On one hand, the worldbuilding is rich and textured, with a sense of history and myth that feels lived in. The Orbit Stones themselves are a fascinating magical device, both a source of wonder and a catalyst for corruption. Daughtrey has a knack for making small details matter: the way a Marinite’s speech rolls like seawater, the tension of a paladin hiding his true identity, the quiet fear of a warrior before stepping into the arena. On the other hand, the writing can be heavy at times. The pacing sometimes lingers, and I occasionally wished for less explanation. Still, the story kept me turning the pages, eager to see how the tangled threads of power, betrayal, and prophecy would tighten.
Emotionally, the book left me intrigued. There are moments of wit and charm, yet the undercurrent is one of looming dread. I admired how flawed the characters are, heroes with secrets, leaders with frailty, villains with conviction. The paladin Razi in particular made me feel a mix of admiration and frustration. He is noble, yet deceptive, and I couldn’t decide if I liked him or pitied him. Ottix’s trials in the coliseum gave me goosebumps; his battles were brutal, yet they carried a strange beauty. The prophetic visions of Aeryka, layered with fear and urgency, reminded me of the weight of foresight in a world stumbling toward war. I often found myself pausing, caught between excitement and a quiet sadness, because the book carries the sense that things will only get darker from here.
By the time I closed the final pages, I felt that Emergence is less about victory and more about survival in a world that is both wondrous and cruel. It is not a light read. Daughtrey aims for depth, and the ambition shines through. I’d recommend this book to readers who crave sprawling fantasy worlds, those who like the grit of moral ambiguity, and anyone who enjoys seeing political maneuvering and mystical forces collide. If you’re ready to lose yourself in a world that feels both harsh and alive, Emergence is worth your time.
Pages: 443 | ASIN : B0FDQKW65M
Mercy: Tears of the Fallen (The First Volume)
Mercy: Tears of the Fallen is a sprawling, bloody, and relentless dive into a world where power, betrayal, and sacrifice tangle together until you can’t tell where hope ends and despair begins. The book drops you headfirst into Maetlynd, a land haunted by the wreckage of old wars and cursed legacies. We follow a cast of broken warriors, seers, rebels, and rulers as they claw through violence, political upheaval, and their own personal demons. It’s about the weight of history and the terrible cost of survival. It’s epic, it’s brutal, and it doesn’t let you catch your breath.
Dillon’s writing is sharp, often lyrical, and he doesn’t shy away from pain. I admired how he painted scenes of intimacy in the same breath as carnage, letting moments of quiet family life burn brighter because of the looming tragedy. Some passages gutted me, especially when characters faced choices that had no good outcome. I’ll admit, there were points where the sheer density of names, Orders, and histories slowed me down, but when the story caught its rhythm, it roared forward with the force of a storm. I found myself lingering on certain sentences, then racing through the next few pages, heart in my throat.
What really struck me were the themes of legacy and loss. Every character seemed to carry ghosts, and the weight of their choices bled into every line of dialogue. At times, it was overwhelming, but in a way that felt intentional, like Dillon wanted me to feel the exhaustion and heartbreak of living in a world that never truly heals. There were nights I had to close the book just to sit with the heaviness, and mornings when I couldn’t wait to dive back in. That kind of emotional push and pull is rare, and it’s what made the story feel alive.
I’d recommend Mercy: Tears of the Fallen to readers who want their fantasy raw, unflinching, and emotionally devastating. If you’re ready to be immersed in a world where every victory feels earned in blood and every loss cuts deep, then you’ll heartily enjoy this book. For fans of grimdark fantasy and epic sagas alike, this is a debut worth paying attention to.
Pages: 629 | ASIN : B0DRWCBRZD
Chronicles Of A Timebound Warrior
From the very first duel between Anwen and her uncle, this story had me locked in. The book is a sweeping fantasy that mixes Elven honor, dragon lore, portal magic, and tangled relationships across kingdoms. At its heart, it’s the tale of a strong and stubborn warrior who refuses to be controlled by tradition, politics, or even fate. Anwen’s path winds through battles, betrayals, romance, and strange new worlds, and the book never really slows down. It’s packed with sword fights, forbidden magic, and emotional struggles that all feel larger than life.
I enjoyed the writing style. It’s vivid and unashamedly dramatic. There are moments where the descriptions sing, like when the forest feels alive with secrets or when Anwen’s rage burns brighter than her flaming sword. There are moments when the book blends grit and romance in a unique way. The contrast adds to its distinctive energy. I enjoyed that mix.
The ideas in the book are bold. There’s a constant clash between freedom and control, love and duty, magic and mortality. Anwen isn’t always easy to root for. She’s proud, headstrong, and at times reckless, but that’s what made her real to me. I loved the sense that she was always one step away from falling apart, yet still refused to give in. The world-building is layered with elves, dragons, secret councils, and rival houses, and while not every piece is fully explained, I never stopped wanting to turn the page.
I’d recommend Chronicles of a Timebound Warrior to readers who like their fantasy loud, passionate, and unpredictable. If you enjoy a story that leaps headfirst into danger, desire, and destiny, this epic sword and sorcery novel will keep you hooked. It’s for fans who want to feel every battle in their bones and every stolen kiss in their chest.
Pages: 225 | ASIN : B0DXS2SF4Q
My Secret Hideaway
A Goblin’s Mind the bizarre, the enchanted, and the profoundly unwell—with tea, therapy, and an ironclad refusal to get emotionally involved. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Long short story short, I entered a 3 day novel writing contest, and being a psychology major and fantasy lover, I began to string together some ideas. It was truly my love for the “didn’t see it coming” books and movies that seeded the arc for this one.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
I have a world where all my fantasy stories exist: The Corwyn Chronicles. It’s been my secret hideaway since I was a teenager. With many short stories, novelettes, and the upcoming first book of a four book series coming out this year, the world (and my writing) has grown exponentially.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
Everything about the human condition makes for great fiction. Ideas can come from anything. The well I tapped for this book runs deep: human flaws and our need to label them. Dr. Harlow can, at times, represent the judge, forgetting that even therapists have their flaws. No one is “better” than the next person; we all just have floating opinions we treat as fact.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it out?
A Prologue of Deception is book 1 of 4 in the Talisman Series, set in the same universe as A Goblin’s Mind. It’s scheduled for release by Golden Storyline Books before the end of 2025.
Two stand-alone books are in submissions: a YA paranormal story set in the real world and a hybrid poetry/fantasy collection containing many of my award-winning and published works. Another full-length Corwyn Chronicles novel is being written, expanding the world even further.
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Doctor Harlow is methodical. Composed. A trusted mind in a kingdom full of unstable ones. On a remote island far from the crown, Harlow treats the bizarre, the enchanted, and the profoundly unwell—with tea, therapy, and an ironclad refusal to get emotionally involved.
But when a quiet goblin arrives—haunted by invisible friends and stories that don’t quite add up—something begins to crack.
At first, the sessions seem harmless. Eccentric, even amusing. Then people begin to vanish. Details shift. Memories blur. And the threads that hold reality together begin to fray like cheap spell work.
As the island slips further out of sync, Harlow must confront a terrifying possibility: the patients aren’t the ones unravelling.
LITERARY TITAN 