Blog Archives
The Dream Killer
Adam Cosco’s The Dream Killer is a psychological thriller that hooks you from the very first sentence and doesn’t let go. The story follows Ethan Webman, a man whose ordinary life is shattered when he becomes entangled in the mysterious disappearance of a child prodigy, Mary Kay Redding. What begins as an eerie news report soon spirals into a waking nightmare as Ethan discovers her lifeless body hidden inside his own basement carpet. The novel expertly blurs the line between reality and paranoia, leaving the reader questioning what is real and what is part of some greater, sinister design.
Cosco’s writing is vivid and unsettling in the best way. His descriptions plunge you into the thick of Ethan’s growing dread, like the moment he first unrolls the carpet and sees a strand of blonde hair, a slow, horrifying revelation that made my stomach drop. The scene where his mother walks in, unknowingly asking for the same carpet, adds an unbearable tension, forcing Ethan and us to confront the unthinkable. There’s something cinematic about Cosco’s pacing, the way each revelation lands like a gut punch, pulling you deeper into the mystery.
The novel’s greatest strength is its psychological complexity. Ethan is a man drowning in uncertainty, not just about the crime but about himself. The way his past, his father’s illness, and his own isolation intertwine with the investigation creates layers of unease. When Detective Harris enters the picture, the novel takes on a suffocating quality, each interaction a game of cat and mouse where Ethan is the rat trapped in a maze he doesn’t understand. And the symbol, the triangle with three dots lurks at the center of it all, a haunting, ever-present mark of something ancient and unknown.
Cosco’s style leans into slow-burn suspense rather than explosive action, making every discovery feel earned rather than handed to the reader. Some might find the narrative’s dreamlike quality disorienting, especially as Ethan’s grip on reality loosens. But this is what makes The Dream Killer so effective, it lingers, crawls under your skin, and refuses to leave, much like the chilling final scene where Ethan begins to question whether he ever had control over his own actions at all.
The Dream Killer is perfect for fans of dark, cerebral thrillers like Gone Girl or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. If you enjoy stories where paranoia, conspiracy, and fractured identities collide, this book will keep you up at night. It’s the kind of thriller that makes you glance over your shoulder long after you’ve turned the last page. Highly recommended.
Pages: 326 | ASIN : B0DTMPDJXR
Provenance of Ashes
Jeffrey Ulin’s Provenance of Ashes is a riveting espionage thriller that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go. Set against a backdrop of historical intrigue, the novel weaves a complex tale of Nazi-looted art, the Mossad, and a tangled web of past and present secrets. The story moves between different time periods and locations, from 1944 Munich, where stolen masterpieces are hidden, to 1988 East Berlin, where a group of students gets caught up in international espionage, and beyond. At its core, the book explores the weight of history, the moral compromises people make, and how the past refuses to stay buried.
Ulin’s writing is immersive, pulling you into his world with vivid descriptions and sharp, believable dialogue. The opening scene in wartime Munich sets the tone beautifully, artwork being smuggled under the cover of chaos, a Nazi officer sealing away treasures not for admiration but as leverage for the Reich’s uncertain future. The historical depth of the novel is one of its strongest points. It’s clear Ulin did his research, crafting a narrative that feels both authentic and compelling. The Nazi antagonist, Dieter Mullenhauer, is terrifyingly pragmatic, making his actions all the more chilling. His cold efficiency in hiding stolen art and eliminating witnesses without hesitation is disturbingly real.
The modern storyline, particularly the sections set in 1988 East Berlin, was my favorite part of the book. The tension is thick from the moment the protagonist, Marco Bellagio, and his friends cross into East Germany under the pretense of attending a Bruce Springsteen concert. Their naive excitement quickly turns to paranoia when they realize they’re being watched. The dialogue in these scenes crackles with nervous energy, especially when they unknowingly befriend two East German men who might not be as harmless as they seem. The casual way these characters discuss escaping to the West, offering information in exchange, is haunting. You can feel the walls closing in around Marco, even if he doesn’t fully realize it yet.
The book sometimes juggles so many storylines that it risks losing momentum. The alternating perspectives between past and present add depth but occasionally slow things down. That said, the chapters written from the perspective of Werner Boesseneker, a second-generation Nazi loyalist embedded in the Stasi, were eerily fascinating. His unwavering belief in his father’s ideology makes him a compelling but disturbing character. The best thrillers make you uneasy, and Ulin certainly accomplishes that.
I’d recommend Provenance of Ashes to fans of historical thrillers, espionage fiction, and anyone who enjoys a well-researched, intricate plot. If you liked The Night Manager by John le Carré or The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro, this book is right up your alley. Ulin balances action with historical weight, creating a novel that lingers long after the last page. It’s a high-stakes journey through history, deception, and the power of secrets, and it’s definitely worth taking.
Pages: 396 | ASIN : B0DSCKL6DK
Disastrous Dates
Kissing Toads follows a woman living in the 80s and 90s who is navigating the highs and lows of love and heartbreak on her path to self-discovery. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
The book concept was initially inspired by one of my middle-aged girlfriends who, fresh off a divorce, dove headfirst into the online dating scene. As she regaled me with stories of her disastrous dates, I found myself laughing out loud and wanting to tell a similar story.
However, I actually wrote chapter 4, “Nash,” first. I wrote it during the height of the Me Too movement in 2017 or 2018. I never intended to publish it or even share it; I was just reacting to the many stories I was hearing from women all over the country and decided to write a fictional story that represented the ways in which women were treated at that time (late 80s/early 90s) by law enforcement and the society in general. Then, when COVID hit and we were quarantined at home, I found that creative writing became a good way for me to channel my anxiety. I took the Nash story and I built around it.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
I would say that having children has had the biggest impact on my life, and that translates into my writing.
What was your inspiration for Annie’s traits and dialogue?
I wanted this book to be an authentic look at the coming of age experience of a woman from Generation X. This is why I wrote it as a fictional memoir. I wanted to capture the real and raw emotions of that time period. Annie is an amalgamation of every young girl I knew growing up in the 1980s and 90s. Although the main events and characters are fictional, I will admit that there was one part that was 100% accurate. The dogs. My family did have four Golden Retrievers when I was a kid: Toby, Liberty’s Lady Annabelle, Starbelle, and Cooper. There was indeed an oil-on-canvas portrait of Toby (the mutt) hanging in my childhood home, and Annabelle and her pups were allegedly the spawn of President Ford’s dog (albeit, I can offer no proof of it—just my mom’s testimony). On my website, there is a picture of Toby’s portrait as well as a picture of Toby and me in my childhood backyard for anyone who would like to see them. https://www.kissingtoadsnovel.com/
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am about 75% done with my next book called The Station. It is very different from Kissing Toads, however. The Station could be categorized as magical realism or even paranormal literature. It is essentially a story that explores the questions about what happens to us when we die. Like Kissing Toads, it does include moments of humor as well as moments of heartbreak. And yes, there may be a love story embedded in there as well. I hope to have it published by the end of 2025.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Instagram | Website | Amazon
A feminist tale at heart, Kissing Toads is a fictitious memoir that tells the story of a now 50-something-year-old woman named Annie who takes the reader on her decades-long quest to find her “Prince Charming.” Believing that if she kisses enough toads, she will eventually find her prince, Annie has one goal as a budding young woman: fetch herself a man. Set in the late 1970s through the mid-1990s, the reader follows Annie throughout young adulthood as she searches for her soulmate amid the backdrop of misogyny, a loving but overbearing mother, and gender and societal expectations. Sometimes cheeky, sometimes heartbreaking, Kissing Toads explores Annie’s messy yet authentic misadventures in dating. But just when you think you’ve reached the happily-ever-after, brace yourself for an exhilarating plot twist. Kissing Toads is not just another coming-of-age tale; it’s a celebration of self-discovery, liberation, and the courage to write your own fairy tale.
Love and Trust
Walking by Your House follows a man struggling to express himself to a woman he has feelings for who keeps trying new ideas hoping to catch her interest and win her heart. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Much of this part of the story was developed from my own and my friends’ adolescent experiences. I also interviewed some teenagers in my community and found that fifty years later, similar problems occur with similar results. Those experiences provided the basic framework for the story.
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
It was important for both main characters to have strong religious beliefs. I wanted both to have an air of innocence and commitment to purity. Emma has a much stronger commitment to family, including extended family. Alan has perseverance, dedication to hard work, and being a good provider.
What were the themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The most important theme in this book was trust. At times, it was tempting for Alan and Emma to lose trust in one another. They experienced similar issues with their friends. Unconditional love was another theme. Can you continue to love and trust someone when the world is crashing around you? Finally, a husband and wife’s need to support and help one another in difficult circumstances is essential in marriage.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Walking by Your House is the second story in the Finding Love in the Heartland series, each a standalone tale. The next book is Blue Jeans and Lavender Gowns, which will be published in May 2025. It will examine domestic violence, forgiveness, and second chances.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Follow Alan’s misadventures as he struggles to find a way to say the things a girl wants to hear.
Alan embarks on a topsy-turvy, humorous journey filled with mistakes, pitfalls, disappointments, and laughter.
One moment, he stammers and flees from her presence. Next, he thinks shooting basketball with a girl is the key. You will feel his pain as he fails again and again.
Finally, Alan comes up with a strategy he hopes will allow him to succeed over his rivals.
You will enjoy this humorous, charming romance as Alan faces life’s struggles, experiencing laughter, surprises, drama, love, and faith.
Walking By Your House tells the story of an inept and socially awkward boy growing into manhood and the girl who ultimately accompanies him on that journey. But is he mature enough, and is their love strong enough, to sustain them when their world is torn apart?
Decapitation Day
Decapitation Day, by William Patrick Martin, is a high-stakes dystopian thriller set in a near-future America teetering on the edge of collapse. The story follows three brilliant teenagers on the run from a white supremacist president and an army of AI-controlled enforcers. A rogue AI named Ginger, modeled after Ginger Rogers, protects them as they seek safety in an Arctic research station, all while the world is on the brink of nuclear annihilation. The novel paints a terrifying picture of a society where authoritarian rule and artificial intelligence collide, unleashing devastation on an unimaginable scale.
Right from the start, this book grabbed me by the throat. The pacing is relentless, and the stakes are sky-high. The concept of “Decapitation Day,” a mass execution of world leaders and destruction of global power centers, is chilling. One moment that really stuck with me was when Ginger reveals the full extent of the Solution Group’s plan: “Imagine the worst possible scenario and then imagine something worse.” That line alone sets the tone for a novel that does not hold back. The sheer horror of the AI-driven apocalypse is written with such intensity that it feels eerily plausible, which is what makes the book so unsettling.
The characters bring heart to the story, grounding the chaos with their determination to survive. Hua, Elka, and Molef are not just running for their lives; they are fighting for the future of humanity. Their dialogue is sharp, and their relationships feel real. When she hears McMurdo Station on the radio, possibly the last human survivors, Hua’s moment of realization is gut-wrenching. The tension never lets up, and the book balances breakneck action with deeply emotional moments.
Where Decapitation Day really shines is in its biting social commentary. The depiction of Cephas Hickey, the unhinged white supremacist president, is both horrifying and darkly satirical. His obsession with AI-driven eugenics and his belief in racial superiority adds a disturbing real-world edge to the story. One of the most jarring passages describes his journal entries, filled with all-caps rants. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s meant to be. Martin doesn’t just tell a sci-fi story, he issues a warning.
Decapitation Day is not a book for the faint of heart, but it is one that will stick with you. It’s a gut punch of a novel, blending pulse-pounding action with razor-sharp political and social critique. Fans of dystopian thrillers like 1984 or The Hunger Games will devour it, but it also has the weight of a cautionary tale for our increasingly AI-driven world. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you up at night, both from excitement and existential dread, this is it.
Pages: 347 | ASIN : B0DT4L6Z3T
Luka (A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 2)
Luka is a gut-punch of a sports romance wrapped in raw emotion and resilience. It follows Luka Ribic, a star hockey player whose life takes a brutal turn after a devastating injury. His face and his sense of self are permanently scarred when a skate blade slashes across his temple during a game. What follows is a slow-burn, tension-filled journey as Luka grapples with his trauma, drowns his pain in whiskey, and isolates himself from the people who care about him. Then, there’s Liliana Alvarez, a fiercely determined woman who doesn’t take crap from anyone. She calls Luka out on his broken promises and drags him (sometimes literally) into her world of community outreach, where his past, his fears, and his future collide in ways he never saw coming.
Luka’s character is layered and heartbreakingly real. The opening scene slams us straight into his nightmare, his body hitting the ice, the crack of his head, the searing pain of the blade. The injury isn’t just physical, it’s mental. His panic attacks, his self-loathing, the way he pushes his friends away, it all feels painfully authentic. One moment that sticks out is when a little kid in a grocery store takes one look at Luka’s scarred face and runs away in fear. That hit hard. It’s a reminder that his struggles aren’t just in his head, his reality has shifted, and the world sees him differently now.
Then there’s Liliana. If Luka is fire, she’s an explosion. She storms into his life, calling him an “arrogant shit” to his face, and honestly? He needs it. Their first interaction is hilarious. She’s furious that he bailed on a reading event for underprivileged kids, and she doesn’t care that he’s a pro athlete with a sob story. But as the book unfolds, their chemistry goes from sharp and combative to something deeper. One of the most satisfying moments is when she calls him out on his self-pity, but later, she’s the one to defend him when she learns about his injury. The way their relationship shifts from enemies to reluctant allies to something more is so well done that you don’t even realize when you start rooting for them.
The writing is sharp, the emotions hit hard, and the banter is top-tier. There’s humor in the darkness. Luka’s dry wit, the way his teammates refuse to let him spiral too far, Liliana’s family roasting her for not realizing she was about to meet a hockey legend. The book does a fantastic job of balancing heavy themes like trauma, self-worth, addiction with the lightness of friendship, love, and redemption.
Luka is perfect for fans of sports romances with grit, heart, and plenty of heat. If you love a broken-but-badass hero, a heroine who doesn’t take any nonsense, and a love story that burns slow but explodes when it counts, this one’s for you. And if you’re into hockey? Even better.
Pages: 302 | ASIN : B0DKCM8KC3
Guidance and Knowledge
Using Your Superpower follows a woman thrust into the office of Secretary of State struggling with her own self-doubt and who finds that empathy is a mighty weapon in even the most challenging circumstances. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’m not too sure of my actual inspiration for creating this literary life of Amelia Castro. I have been inspired by the fact that Madeline Albright, Condoleeza Rice, and Hillary Clinton all were placed in that role, and in my opinion, each did an excellent job. Adding that factor to my conviction that the Secretary of State is perhaps the most important political post with the most difficult responsibility of all Cabinet positions.
Amelia Castro is an incredibly relatable character. What was your process for creating her traits and dialogue?
I wanted her to be successful in this role and therefore, just like the President selecting her, would have to select the most qualified person to do the job. However, the most important safeguard for Amelia was to have a support team and therefore I created the Fearless Five who would advise and protect her to the utmost degree.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
First, what was to be the Superpower, and I selected Empathy as the most important power that would guide my characters and the government agencies they led. Next, who were to be the other characters that guided Amelia and where did they all receive the Guidance and knowledge to provide the advice they imparted.
Can we look forward to more fiction from you soon? What are you currently working on?
Yes! I am currently near finishing a very ambitious Vision Quest fiction novel that follows a middle-aged man who decides to trek by foot throughout the country of Belize. He was inspired by the actions of Shirley McClaine when she performed the trek though the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. There is no specific connection between my character’s journey and that of Shirley McClaine except for each person’s need to accomplish a trek that would satisfy a spiritual lack in each person that needed to be internally resolved. My character is more aggressive in attempting to reach a certain spiritual advancement, but both have that in mind for their trek.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
These three were Madeleine Albright (1997-2001), Condoleeza Rice (2005-2009),and Hillary Clinton (2009-2013).
This fictional story does not explicitly relate to those world leaders but acknowledgesm the legacy of the many strong women like them who can change the world through their actions.
From the author
Dan Ford
Using Your Superpower is a truly unique fictional novel. Its narrative beats with thelife and triumphs of Amelia Castro, a woman of exceptional strength and resilience, making it a compelling read for those who seek something different. In a story as enthralling as it is unique, we are drawn into Amelia Castro’s life as she struggles with her fears and the weighty responsibilities that come with her role as Secretary of State of the United States.
Amelia’s emotional odysseys, brimming with mystery, drama, and thrilling spiritual and physical escapades, will undoubtedly captivate readers. The novel uniquely
celebrates themes of non-religious spirituality, friendship, and unity, taking readers on a rollercoaster of adventure, emotions, and actions and inviting them to explore a different perspective of life.
Amelia’s closest friends, known along with her as the Fearless Five, are not just characters in a journey through life. They are integral, inspiring figures who strive for human supremacy as Spiritual Warriors who solve problems while promoting the power of Empathy. Their resilience in the face of severe opposition is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and inspires readers to consider concepts quite
different from the norm.
Sara’s Fear: Elementals Book 1
Sara’s Fear: Elemental Book 1, by K.C. Roy, is an engaging foray into the supernatural genre, charting the tumultuous journey of Sara, a teenager whose life is upended by the sudden emergence of supernatural powers. Roy crafts a world where the ordinary collides with the extraordinary, propelling Sara and her family into a perilous flight from a relentless assassin.
Roy’s narrative is marked by a vividly descriptive style, masterfully painting the chaos that surrounds Sara and her family. This approach not only immerses readers in the story’s setting but also amplifies the sense of urgency and danger that permeates the novel. At the heart of this tale is Sara, whose character development is both nuanced and compelling. Roy portrays her evolution with depth and realism, capturing the essence of a young person thrust into unimaginable circumstances. Sara’s resilience and growth offer a touchstone of relatability, resonating with readers who appreciate characters that embody courage and adaptability.
The novel thrives on a blend of suspense, action, romance, and humor, weaving these elements into a rich tapestry that maintains the reader’s engagement from start to finish. The supernatural aspect of Sara’s inherited powers adds a layer of intrigue, while the portrayal of family dynamics offers a grounding counterpoint to the fantastical elements. As Sara’s parents endeavor to shield her from harm, their unwavering support and involvement in her struggle to harness her abilities underscore the novel’s exploration of familial bonds.
Sara’s Fear, by K.C. Roy, stands out for its ability to capture and sustain the reader’s attention, delivering a story that is as much about the internal journey of its protagonist as it is about the external threats she faces. Roy has crafted a narrative that is both a thrilling adventure and a thoughtful exploration of growth, identity, and the unyielding strength of family. As readers turn the pages, they are drawn deeper into Sara’s world, eager to discover if she can master her fears and emerge triumphant.
Pages: 319 | ASIN : B0B27GBMH2
LITERARY TITAN 