Blog Archives
Ice Out
Francesca is a music teacher and professional flutist living the dream life in Vermont. She lives with her husband Ben, their four-year-old daughter Addie and their dog Cruz. Francesca starts from the present and goes back to the past, telling her story. Her narration takes place during a dramatic and challenging moment. Still, her flashbacks accentuate the happy and joyful moments she spent with her family, from childhood all the way to adulthood. The memories of meeting Ben, their marriage, and the birth of Addie all fade in and out in pieces. The lessons Francesca learned as a child from her parents about never breaking a promise radiating inside her. As she struggles in the ice-cold water, she finds the will to fight, believing Ben broke his promise to love and cherish her always. Her focus is finding Addie that she thinks she saw pulled from the ice by her ever-present companion Cruz.
Ice Out, by Susan Speranza, is a captivating metaphysical fiction novel. Life, death, and the question of what happens after death are insightful themes of this suspenseful and thrilling novel. Speranza writes in a detailed manner, giving the reader both moments of tension and action and moments of drama and detailed descriptions of the characters’ feelings.
This gripping novel starts with Francesca struggling to climb out of an icy lake with no information on how she ended up there. Then, the author takes readers on a winding path of flashbacks and present moments. Readers will find flashbacks build the anticipation as every one of them progresses the story and links the character’s thoughts in the present moment to critical moments in their past. A thought-provoking story of both hope and betrayal, readers will be left to consider is their life after death, what is the meaning of life, and differentiating dreams from reality.
Ice Out is an emotional rollercoaster with an intricate psychological plot. Readers who enjoy metaphysical fiction, thriller, or psychological fiction novels will be drawn into this riveting story.
I would like to end this review with an inspirational quote from the book itself: “From that moment of abandon, two souls merge. She understands then that he is her fate, her destiny. And their separate stories now become one”.
ASIN : B09CYC41C8
Survival
Survival, by Anthony Antonio, is a sweeping tale of secrets, friendships, and prohibited passions. It follows the life of Daniel Roberts as he overcomes the loss of his father, an abusive mother, and poverty. He finds love and happiness even as he continues to fight against the system, the codes of silence, and social degradation. A novel filled with themes of greed, jealousy, vengeance, poverty, violence, romance, and self-identity. Antonio shows what humans have been doing to the planet by focusing on the country through the eyes of one person.
Antonio tackles several tough subjects in this complex and deeply thoughtful novel. By focusing the viewpoint through the eyes of Daniel, the author is able to give readers an in-depth and personal look at the experiences and emotions that Daniel endured. From early life through abuse and tragedy to finding love and the challenges that came with that love, readers will see inside Daniels’s mind and see how the world treats him.
The writing style allows readers to follow along with Daniel’s thought process, drifting between past and present memories. Readers will wake up in the city with Daniel in the first chapter and be introduced to several characters before entering into Daniel’s own psyche. The process of getting to know Daniel through his memories and wondering thoughts gives readers an organic approach to discovering his story, rather than the author just laying out all the information in a linear fashion.
Anthony Antonio gives readers a sweeping story of love and treachery filled with looks into the human mind, their strengths and weakness, and leaves readers with a sense of trepidation. His poetic writing style adds to readers’ experience, helping them feel the emotions that Antonio puts on the page.
Survival is richly detailed and brimming with imagery. This memorable novel will enchant readers of historical and psychological fiction. The characters will remain with readers long after the last page has been read.
Pages: 664 | ASIN : B098DDF5R2
Inspired By the Little Things in Life
The Inquisition and Other Stories is the second book in your collection of short stories. Where do you find inspiration for your stories?
I sometimes think that when it comes to story telling I’m a bit like a magpie in that I’m attracted to things that catch my eye (or my ear). Most of the stories were inspired by little things like an overheard snippet of conversation or a fleeting image of an interpersonal interaction. In other cases some stories are inspired by the arts; after all, a painting is just another form of story telling.
I enjoyed the creativity in each story. Which story from this collection is your favorite?
Of course, I’m biased and like all the stories for what each one has to say. Perhaps I can say that I get a lot of satisfaction from writing stories that involve a lot of research. In the current anthology, the story Catherine Lescault required considerable research about Nicolas Poussin and Honoré de Balzac. The story Cinderella involved learning about aphasia, and The Inquisition required learning about playwriting and cancer treatments.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in short stories?
Certainly who we are influences the way we write. However, I’m not a great fan of auto-fiction and do not like to inject myself into my own stories. To me, the challenge is to try and develop characters that are very different from myself in both personality and background.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’ve started work on a historical novel set in the C12th. If things go very well it might be finished in 2023.
Silver Heels
Silver Heels is a sequel to the book Silver Lights by author Michelle Lynn. The protagonist Skylar Lynn is a realtor who also makes a living dancing at Silver Lights, which is often frequented by influential and powerful men. The relationship between the character and the silver heels is similar to the analogy of the silver lights. The silver heels represent the confidence Skylar needs to walk her path, as well, as the silver lights accompanied her with the same intent. However, the dancer’s ambitions go beyond this; she wants to succeed in the movie business. After catching the eye of a billionaire at the club where she dances, she finds herself getting closer and closer to fulfilling her dreams.
This contemporary novel has a slow-burn start drawing the reader into the lives of the eccentric characters. There are a lot of key players that need to be introduced in this compelling story. From real estate agent to exotic dancer, Skylar will do anything in the name of getting her screenplay in the right hands and will put herself into a position to be seen.
Readers will be given drama, sexual content, exotic dancing, and dangers to keep the action flowing. However, the things Skylar craves for herself, romance and fame, are not the only focus. Corruption and its agents, the mafia and powerful billionaires, make this well-crafted book a page-turning experience for the reader. The author gives readers passion and the tension one feels from the high-stakes aura that permeates Wall Street. The mafia’s intrigue and mystery will pull readers in to see how Skylar navigates this new arena.
Silver Heels feels like the start of a bigger story. The action, romance, and drama will appeal to readers that love a narrative driven by a strong female character. This is a captivating and sensual novel that is an excellent choice for those who want a quick and exciting read.
Pages: 166 | ASIN : B085S6MN35
The Knife Thrower’s Wife
Picture the setting of a peaceful suburban neighborhood with the perfect family, the perfect house with the perfect neighbors. A mirage for the American dream. Julia Green is in a marital rut. As she struggles to put the pieces of her happy life back together, she finds things are not as picture-perfect as they may seem. Oblivious to her husband’s true nature, she starts to unintendingly dig up the dirt on a life she thought was full of love and bliss. To cope with her failed marriage, Julia starts painting scenes from her daydreams that unexpectedly turn her into the prime suspect in her husband’s death.
Author Sheila McGraw takes us through an unconventional murder mystery in The Knife Thrower’s Wife. We follow an average American family whose life turns upside-down when plots of murderous intent and scandalous affairs come to light. This inventive story takes off when Julia is arrested, and her trial begins. This twist in the plot is a beautiful example of the nail-biting anticipation McGraw expertly executes all the way to the climax of this mystery. The author builds suspense for readers as the story races towards the finale. McGraw leaves readers second-guessing Julia’s innocence, and the much-anticipated climax reveals who the killer really is. The story’s rising action created an opportunity for the author to completely surprise her readers.
This psychological thriller is a character study in Julia’s personality. Who she is at the beginning of this complex novel is a complete 180 from where she ends up. Readers will cheer for her as she finds her voice and stops being overlooked and walked over.
The Knife Thrower’s Wife is a riveting murder mystery that will keep you on your toes and have you wondering just what will happen next. The action and suspense are thrilling and make for a page-turning experience readers can not put down till the end.
Pages: 346 | ASIN : B08FHBKPH9
Duskborn Radiance: A Mother’s Question
Duskborn Radiance: A Mother’s Question is the first volume in the epic fantasy trilogy by Pasquale di Falco. It follows the story of three young people, Dominic, Caterina, and Amadeus, who live in a village of people who once wielded magical powers that disappeared long ago. However, they can’t ignore the magical powers that grow within them. As they learn more about themselves and come to terms with this growing energy, they are being observed from afar by a stranger, the Sorceress, who is keeping tabs on every single move that these three make and definitely has much bigger plans in mind for them. This spellbinding story keeps the reader gripped, figuring out how far the Sorceress will go to achieve what she wants.
Pasquale di Falco is immensely talented and does a great job of getting the reader involved in the fantasy world that they have created. The unique blend of fantasy and science fiction will make readers think beyond the traditional assumptions that go with these genres. The book has a combination of larger plot events and smaller character developments and sub-plots that are all equally intriguing. This book is a beautiful amalgamation of coming-of-age and epic fantasy with plenty of action and adventure thrown in while maintaining an emotionally charged storyline.
The beginning of this complex novel is thought-provoking and detail-oriented. All the characters are introduced and described in-depth right in the beginning, allowing readers to get to know them and understand their personalities. As they come into their magical abilities they must learn things their people have long forgotten and rely on each other to get through things. The bond they form is strong and readers will find their story stimulating and stirring.
Duskborn Radiance: A Mother’s Question is a riveting novel that will appeal to sword and sorcery fans looking for an epic adventure story that focuses on character development and never forgets to entertain the reader.
Pages: 352 | ASIN : B09BLKF78W
The Inquisition and Other Stories
The Inquisition and Other Stories is the second volume of short stories written by Michael Tabor. This collection includes an eclectic mix of thirteen exceptional stories. Each of these fascinating stories has a separate setting and cast of characters so each one can be read on its own. The genres for each original story range from historical dramas to love stories and even mysteries. This varied collection will give readers plenty to look forward to.
Readers of this collection will find the gripping stories varied and well written making it hard to pick a favorite. Catherine Lescault is a historical drama that heavily features Nicolas Poussin. Bright Stars on the other hand is a clever little mystery story for any literature nerds out there. Without giving away spoilers it is a story in which Keats shadow looms large. It’s a clever story and really demonstrates Tabor’s love of literature as an academic. This love of literature is evident in Tabor’s writing. Tabor plays with literary devices constantly.
The collection could almost be used as a textbook for creative writing classes. However, Tabor never forgets that a story should be entertaining first. Each of these gripping stories is a fun and often challenging read. The pacing is excellent. Each story is given its own time to breathe without feeling rushed. Some of them could most definitely be turned into full novels, but they do not suffer from being in the short story format either.
The Inquisition and Other Stories is a riveting and thought-provoking collection of short stories. With Tabor’s imaginative and suspenseful writing style readers of all kinds will find something they enjoy in this collection. Anyone can pick it up and enjoy it but there’s even more for history and literature fans to enjoy here.
Pages: 264 | ISBN : 97809986778
Her Heart
Her Heart by Mary L. Schmidt is an inspiring and emotionally riveting story of a woman who, after years of abuse, can finally find love. Sarah is a warm-hearted nurse, a loving mother, and a women who experienced an unpleasant childhood. After years of abuse from a husband she doesn’t love she manages to leave with her son. Concerned for her son’s wellbeing, Sarah starts a new life on her own. Free of the abusive husband, and with a fresh start on life, Sarah has no intention of getting into a relationship or even thinking of marriage again. That is until an old friend from her past comes back into her life. Will Sarah believe she is worthy enough to be loved? Will she be able to trust again?
Mary L. Schmidt has written a powerful story that will inspire women who are going through the turmoil of abuse. Sarah’s story is a testament that a better life for themselves is possible, and that they are worthy of being happy. Mary’s writing is honest, and she doesn’t hold back when describing the horrifying and disturbing situations that abused women face. The author takes the reader on an emotional rollercoaster and readers really get to feel Sarah’s hopelessness. Mary’s character development is one to be admired as you see Sarah, who is an emotionally broken woman, come out of this shell of defeat and begin to rebuild her life. Through the guidance of her Cherokee grandmother’s spirit, Sarah finds her voice.
Her Heart is a powerful and emotionally stirring story that will have you rooting for Sarah. This fast and gripping read will appeal to those who can relate to Sarah’s experience but also to readers who want to understand the same trauma that Sarah lives through. It is a heartfelt story of drama, self-discovery, and perseverance.
Pages: 94 | ASIN : B09CP2C1LK
LITERARY TITAN 