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Starting Over
Second Chances in Brittany follows a retired professional who expected a romantic adventure in France with her husband but finds herself in a quiet battle for her own autonomy and identity. Where did the idea for this book come from?
Shortly after moving from Brussels to Brittany, I joined a group of English ex-patriates who met regularly for lunch. Their different motives for moving to Brittany were fascinating, as were their original expectations of what it would be like to live here, and their different ways of adapting (or refusing to adapt) to what they found. When driving home, I found myself working through storylines about people moving to Brittany.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
The two characters I most enjoy are the backbone of the series – Charles Pullen and Gérard Lemestre – but in this book they are in the background.
The most difficult character to write was Sarah herself. I wanted someone capable of planning and organising the perfect move to Brittany, but that’s a dull story on its own. I needed to create a flaw in her character to ensure that things didn’t go as planned, and settled on her adoration for a disastrous husband. Sarah wasn’t initially a sympathetic character, too business-like, too efficient, and yet stupidly deferring to James. But the more I understood her, the more she rounded out into someone worth knowing.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing, or did it come out organically as you were writing?
The setting was planned and has never changed. But I initially wrote just to get all the stories I’d thought up interwoven into one coherent whole. That proved to need more than one book. Splitting my initial ideas into separate books entailed moving incidents to different dates and times of year. Something like arranging a large bunch of flowers between six vases!
What is the next book we can look forward to seeing from you?
The second book in the series is Pasts Present in Brittany, following a Canadian woman who moves to France and suffers too much bad luck before coming to Brittany and finding friends and Charles Pullen.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
A second honeymoon in France was supposed to save Sarah’s marriage. Instead, it changes her life forever.
Sarah Pullen arrives in the enchanting coastal town of Saint-Malo, ready to rebuild her relationship with her husband, James. With a dream penthouse, charming neighbors, and the romance of Brittany all around her, she dares to believe their love can be rekindled.
But then the cracks begin to show. Painful headaches. Lingering doubts. And finally, one devastating truth that shatters everything she thought she knew about her marriage.
Left alone in a foreign land, Sarah must summon the courage to start over. As she discovers friendship, resilience, and a hidden secret that reaches far beyond her own life, she realizes that endings can also be beginnings… and that hope has a way of finding you when you least expect it.
Second Chances in Brittany is the unforgettable first novel in Anne Morenn’s Romance in Brittany series, a poignant, uplifting story of love, betrayal, and the healing power of starting again.
Recipient of the Literary Titan’s Book Award
Resilience
Resilient follows a young woman hardened by growing up in the foster system who develops an attraction to not only her boss and VP of a motorcycle club, but his cousin as well, leading her on a journey of self-discovery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Resilient started as a small idea planted in my mind. My main goal was to create a strong female protagonist who embodied the admirable trait of resilience. My initial visions often took unexpected turns, but in the end, I hope I conveyed the message of resilience to the readers.
Your story features some unique and interesting characters who have their flaws but are still likable. How do you go about creating characters for your story?
Some of the characters are based on my own life and those of those close to me. While I incorporate elements of embellishment and fiction to heighten the excitement and intrigue for the audience, the essence of the characters remains grounded in genuine authenticity.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The title says it all: resilience is a topic that requires more discussion. Charly’s story emphasizes the importance of dealing with trauma and the ability to persevere despite the hardships she endured. Additionally, the support of friends and family played a significant role in how she navigated the obstacles placed in her path.
What will the next book in that series be about, and when will it be published?
The next book, Courageous, delves into the lives of three characters: Clark, Gun, and Vin. Their story explores the complexities of mental health, a topic familiar to many individuals. Through their experiences, I aim to shed light on the importance of understanding mental health and the various ways people cope with it. I’m genuinely excited to share their journey and the lessons they learn. Courageous was published in April 2025.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
After a harrowing attack one night, Charly and her friend Jess seek refuge within the MC’s protective walls. At the clubhouse, she encounters Dominic’s charismatic cousin, Jax, and the air crackles with an undeniable spark.
When the men reveal their interest in her, Charly’s insecurities emerge. Soon, jealousies erupt from her coworkers, including Jess, prompting Charly to set aside her fears. She begins a journey of pleasure and self-discovery with Dom and Jax.
Unfortunately, their relationship is fraught with resentment, betrayal, and sabotage. And when her life is threatened, Charly’s only option is to escape.
Almost Fourteen
When I first cracked open Almost Fourteen, I wasn’t sure what I was in for. What I found was a gritty and surprisingly tender story about young teens caught between the messy edges of childhood and the raw beginnings of adulthood. The book follows Calista Snipe and Skyler McCray, two friends-turned-something-more, as they try to make sense of junior high life while fending off dangers that are far darker than most kids their age should face. Alongside them are classmates like Mohini, who’s pulled into drug dealing, and Talia, who finds confidence through running. It’s a tale that mixes school dances and awkward crushes with kidnappings, gang threats, and brushes with predators.
I didn’t expect a coming-of-age story to dive into such dangerous territory. There were moments that left me uneasy, even angry, because of how vividly the author captures the vulnerabilities of kids. But then, in the middle of all that heaviness, you get these really sweet moments between Cali and Sky. Their awkward romance feels real, almost painfully so, and it’s a reminder that kids this age are pulled in opposite directions, wanting freedom but still being so young. I admired how the story didn’t shy away from showing both the light and dark sides of early teen years. It made me remember my own clumsy steps into adolescence, when one moment was pure fun and the next was laced with fear or uncertainty.
Some dialogue sparkles with humor and warmth, while other parts get weighed down by explanations or blunt descriptions. Sometimes I wanted the characters’ emotions to be shown more subtly. But I kept turning the pages. There’s an urgency in the way the plot moves, with danger always lurking around the corner, that made it hard to put down. And I got invested in these kids. I wanted them to win, to stay safe, to keep figuring out who they are in a world that can be cruel.
Almost Fourteen is not a light read, but it is a worthwhile one. It’s best suited for readers who appreciate stories that capture both the innocence and the peril of adolescence. If you like tales that mix young love, friendship, and school drama with real-world dangers and moral choices, this book will keep you hooked. I’d recommend it to parents, teachers, or even teens themselves who want something raw and honest.
Pages: 587 | ASIN : B07RHBR2VT
Second Chances in Brittany
Second Chances in Brittany follows Sarah Pullen, a retired professional whose life in France with her husband James is anything but the romantic adventure she once imagined. What begins as a medical mystery about Sarah’s relentless headaches slowly unfolds into a deeply personal struggle for autonomy, identity, and renewal. Through Sarah’s quiet courage and resourcefulness, the story shifts from despair and control toward resilience and rediscovery, set against the evocative backdrop of Brittany’s landscapes, communities, and rhythms of life.
The writing itself struck me as unpretentious, direct, and steady. At times, the prose felt plain, but that plainness carried its own weight. It mirrored Sarah’s methodical thinking and gave her voice a grounded, believable tone. What I enjoyed most were the moments where the local community came alive, like the social clubs, the Qi Gong classes, and the warmth of neighbors. Those glimpses of ordinary joy felt like bursts of fresh air in Sarah’s otherwise suffocating marriage. I did wish that the book lingered a little more in those brighter spaces, but perhaps the contrast is what makes them stand out so strongly. It reminded me that healing often starts in small, overlooked places.
I found James exasperating. His constant belittling of Sarah and his obsessive control were difficult to witness. Yet this very reaction shows how vividly the author sketched him. Sarah, on the other hand, grew on me page by page. Her quiet defiance, her small acts of rebellion, and her longing for connection outside of her marriage carried a raw honesty that made me root for her. I admired the way she strategized like a project manager even while navigating deeply personal pain. It felt relatable in a way that made me both ache for her and cheer her on.
By the end, I found the book both sobering and uplifting. It’s a quiet story of a woman reclaiming herself after decades of silence, which I found moving. Second Chances in Brittany reminded me of The Awakening by Kate Chopin, since both novels capture a woman’s quiet but determined journey toward reclaiming her independence and sense of self against the weight of a controlling relationship. I’d recommend Second Chances in Brittany to readers who enjoy character-driven stories about resilience, reinvention, and the complicated textures of later life. It’s especially powerful for anyone who has felt overshadowed in a relationship and is looking for a narrative that validates the strength in carving out a new path.
Pages: 394 | ASIN : B0DTBZTH65
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
Resilient: She Will Not Be Defeated
Resilient follows Charly, a young woman hardened by a brutal childhood, as she finds her footing in the gritty and dangerous world of the Iconic Sons Motorcycle Club. The book is about survival, longing, and the messy beauty of human connection. Charly’s path collides with Dominic, the imposing and magnetic leader of the club, and what unfolds is a mix of danger, desire, and a fragile hope for something better. The story swings between raw trauma and steamy intimacy, never shying away from either.
The writing pulled me in fast. The prologue set a heavy tone, and from there I couldn’t look away. The way the author builds Charly’s voice, tough yet achingly vulnerable, hit me harder than I expected. Some scenes had me clenching my jaw, especially when Charly’s past resurfaced. Others left me flushed, not just from the romance but from the sharp tension that hangs over everything. I appreciated the way the author blends grit and softness without ever letting one overpower the other. It gave the story bite, but it also gave it heart.
There were moments that made me stop and roll the words over in my mind. Sometimes it was the heat of a love scene, other times it was the sudden sting of a memory Charly couldn’t escape. I liked how the relationships, even the side ones, felt messy and real. At times, I found myself annoyed with Dominic, which I think was the point. He’s not the classic flawless hero. He’s complicated, rough-edged, and often infuriating, yet he’s magnetic all the same. That contradiction made the romance more believable for me, even when it was frustrating.
Resilient isn’t just a romance novel; it’s a story about scars and survival, and how people learn to keep going when the world keeps throwing punches. It’s raw and passionate, but it’s also about tenderness in unlikely places. I’d recommend this book to anyone who likes their romance intense, their characters flawed but resilient, and their stories with enough grit to leave a mark.
Pages: 336 | ASIN : B0D1MY68J8
Lover’s Lies & Family Secrets
Lips: Kiss the Lips that Lie follows an English au pair with hidden secrets who meets a reserved CPA, and they have an instant connection that quickly turns into a tangled web of deception. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Lover’s lies and Family Secrets. I started to think about all the harmless (and not so harmless) lies lovers tell each other, and the private mythologies which armor families down through the decades. Also about the ways people know others in their lives. In real life most people don’t have plausible backstories.
Technically, LIPS grew out a desire to capture in prose style a feeling of hush or quietude. A breath caught and held. Waiting and anticipation. The Prologue introduces the nighttime silence of the big lake, then Selene’s first visit to the cottage and the exploration of various objects which reveal a kind of cloistered family history. At it heart of the novel is a love story of the resolution of opposites—Selene’s exhibitionism paired with DB’s voyeuristic tendencies.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
With LIPS, there was so much writing and rewriting, and adding and deleting of characters, that I became very attached to all of them. Glory and Gillian were great fun to write, and Miss Addy was a constant surprise. Of course, Selene is the key to the kingdom, and she was tricky.
Looking back, I think DB was the most difficult to write. I believe he is the most internalized and enigmatic. He is a man trapped by conditions most of which are not of his own making. He is privileged but bound hand and foot by the expectations of others. I think he deals with it by withdrawing. He feels Selene is the only one who truly sees him. It is hard to write someone who doesn’t say much.
I felt that there were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically while writing?
Once a story gets rolling, it develops organically. All my planning occurs in my head. That approach requires a lot of backtracking and do-overs. Characters show up and then leave. Bits of backstory crop up in unexpected places. Many a day I ended up wishing I had patience for some serious planning.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’m currently working on a sequel to “SEREN” (working title AIX) which takes place in France, and also a fun project about 1970s Detroit called “The Vitruvian Murders” which has some witchery in it.
I hope AIX will be ready by next year. The Detroit book may or may not be ready by summer next.
Author Links: Goodreads | Instagram | Website
Selene Ormond, a striking English au pair, has finally met her match in Davis Beckwith—a reserved CPA and heir to his family’s prestigious firm. Their chemistry is irresistible, each sharing a taste for secrets. Yet, their romance is shadowed by Davis’s formidable mother, Miss Addy, and the messy past Selene thought she’d left behind in Britain.
As their lives intertwine, so does the web of deception holding them together. Against a backdrop of eccentric relatives, posh ex-pat friends, and vicarious liaisons, the pair must navigate betrayal, ambition, and their damaged pasts. LIPS unravels the tangled threads of family, desire, and deceit on a treacherous journey to keep love alive.
Breaking Barriers
Breaking Barriers follows Declan and Alex, two people carrying the weight of their pasts and trying to figure out what kind of future they deserve. Declan has sacrificed his dreams for family, building walls around himself while trying to find meaning in his work and his life. Alex is fiery, bold, and fiercely independent, but underneath that strength is a woman scarred by her own struggles and wary of letting anyone close. When their lives collide in what begins as a one-night encounter, they’re both unprepared for the connection that sparks. What starts as chemistry soon turns into something deeper, tangled with family ties, secrets, and the need to finally stop running from themselves and each other.
This book left me feeling a lot of things at once. I’ll be honest, at times I wanted to shake both Declan and Alex for being so stubborn, but I also couldn’t look away. The writing pulls you into their heads, showing not only the heat between them but also the doubts and scars they’ve carried for too long. Author Nikki Lamers has a knack for making the banter sharp and funny, then hitting you with a moment of raw vulnerability that catches you off guard. Some of the dialogue feels a little over the top, but in a way, it matches the heightened emotions of two people who’ve lived with walls up for years. I liked how messy and imperfect they were, because it made them feel real.
I liked the push and pull between independence and needing someone. Alex especially jumped off the page for me. Her mix of sass and fragility, the way she covered hurt with boldness, hit close to home. Declan, too, felt achingly human in the way he struggled between being the family protector and admitting he wanted more for himself. The book isn’t shy about showing both their flaws, and that’s what made their eventual growth satisfying. It’s not just a romance. It’s about forgiveness, breaking cycles, and finding the courage to build a life you actually want instead of one you think you’re stuck with.
Breaking Barriers is perfect for readers who want more than just a love story, who want to see characters wrestle with family, identity, and their own fears. If you like strong heroines, protective but flawed heroes, and romance novels that balance heat with heart, this one is worth picking up.
Pages: 352 | ASIN : B0F9Z4FQDS
LITERARY TITAN 