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Love For The First Time
The Four Lives of Robinson Appleson follows a man living with a curse who must find a way to break it if he ever wants to experience love and happiness. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
First of all, my aim when I started to write this book was to create an unconventional hero. I wanted to make him being hated by the readers in the beginning and then slowly through the pages, I wanted to bring them to forgive him and like him at the end. Second, one of my favorite tales is “the Beast and the beauty.” So, I took inspiration from that to create this story. In both, the hero is cursed, and only true love can liberate them from the spell.
What do you think were some of the defining moments in Robinson’s development?
Actually, two things. First the encounter with Oscar, his cousin, who become his mentor. And second, the encounter with Gwendolyn, his sweetheart.
Robinson is a spoiled young man, until he met Oscar who teach him about self-discipline. Despite being surrounded by people, Robinson lacked of a guide. So far no one had the gut to tell him his wrong doings. When Oscar did, he recognize his faults. We all need a mentor to walk straight in life. That mentor could be parents, a teacher or God.
With Gwendolyn, my hero experience love for the first time. From a selfish human being, he becomes a caring man who is ready to sacrifice his life to save hers. This was only possible thanks to the unconditionally love he got from her. The more you receive, the more you give. That’s the law.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The themes that I wanted to explore are about romance, emotion and love. How far a human beinggoes on and on to forgiving someone? My heroine, out of love forgive his lover for murdering her. She knew that he is doomed to kill out of love. Instead of escaping her fate, she embraces that. Only out of love. Love is a powerful weapon thanks to what the impossible can become possible. Many parents have forgiven the blunders of their child. How they managed? It’s all out of Love. Thanks to that gesture, the criminals got a chance to express remorse, redeem themselves.
What is the next story that you’re writing and when will it be published?
The next book is about a paranormal romance. It tells the story of young woman who lives in Mackinac Island. When her grandma and cousin died. She has to come to her hometown to assist the funeral. Unfortunately, she has to stay a few more weeks to take charge of her parent’s hotels while their absence. A few days later, she is victim of aggression from an invisible entity during her sleep. She wakes up with scratches and bites on her body. Thanks to the friendship of a hitchhiker whom she met on her way home, she will find the courage to get rid of that entity.
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Robinson Appleson is one lucky bastard!
We get only one life. He has had four so far.
And it’s not like he deserved them, either.
In his first life, he was a Porcian prince who was known to devour humans. His obsession with eternal youth and beauty made him addicted to the
taste of human flesh, much to the dismay and terror of his kingdom’s subjects.
Reborn as a rich kid in Beverly Hills, California, he has no recollection of his past life and thinks of himself as a blessing to mankind. He holds no respect or feelings for women and treats them like objects. It leads to everyone avoiding him like the plague.
His third life is different, as he is born as a jaguar in the African savannah. Filled with new wisdom, he fights against his instinct to hunt while the smell of prey drives him mad with hunger.
His last life lands him in the body of a beautiful but poverty-stricken Black woman who was also unfaithful!
Each of his lives has been different from the last, except that it looked as if he was doomed to make the same blunders. The woman he loves dies in his arms in all of his lives, because of a curse placed on his family.
Having been selfish and cruel in his previous lives, he attempts to change this forever. Using a range of tricks learned from Oscar, his mentor, he hopes to suppress and destroy the evil lurking inside him.
Would he manage to escape from his fate?
The four lives of Robinson Appleson
Explore the ideas of reincarnation, family curses, redemption, and a roller coaster of emotions in The Four Lives of Robinson Appleson by Véronique Iswery Pasquet. From a dashing young prince, to a rich kid from Beverley Hills, to a jaguar living in the jungle, and finally a woman experiencing poverty, Robinson Appleson tries to redeem himself in each life he is given. But despite his efforts, he still has his shortcomings and must watch the love of his life, Gwendolyn, pass away due to his cannibalistic urges. Will he ever be able to break his wretched family curse?
The writing abilities of Pasquet are astonishing, and her ability to play upon the senses is nothing short of perfect. I loved the way she used scents and smells when writing the presence of a specific character. It added a tantalizing effect to the words on the page by further immersing one’s self into the story. I could often feel myself watching a scene play out as if it was happening in my own home, thanks to her illustrative sensory descriptions. Also, the motifs between the main character’s cannibalistic habits and his love, Gwendolyn, creatively shed light on a much deeper topic. The idea of how intense passion, toxicity, and what feels like curses (trauma) can lead us to “devour” those we love.
The Four Lives of Robinson Appleson by Véronique Iswery Pasquet is a captivating paranormal and urban fantasy novel that takes readers on a journey to find a way to break a family curse. All in all, I think this book is amazing, and I can’t wait to read more from the author. I highly recommend The Four Lives of Robinson Appleson as it is an immersive and wonderfully written story of reincarnation.
Pages: 312 | ASIN : B0BSFL1Q1Z
Death’s Pale Flag
Death’s Pale Flag by Gary Simonds is a thrilling book about the experiences of a neurosurgeon who loves his work. Ryan, the protagonist, becomes so involved with the patients that every death on his table takes a part of his heart and soul. He wants to save everyone, which leads to overworking every day and on weekends. His excessive busyness with work becomes a challenge because he starts forgetting his family.
Ryan’s work completely takes over all aspects of his life, and he begins to see ghosts or hallucinations of the people who died due to medical complications. They appear to be the patients he couldn’t save on the operating table. The doctor tries to understand the reasons within his capacity and struggles to decipher these apparitions. This further worsens his health, work, and family life. As his career becomes Ryan’s only respite and his family drifts away from him, one catastrophic event may bring him closer to taking life more seriously.
I found the writing style of this book captivating, and I enjoyed the intense details of brain surgeries in an easy-to-understand language that I could follow. It deepened my appreciation for neurosurgery and the delicate, life-saving procedure. In addition, the author did a brilliant job of expressing how remaining the life of a neurosurgeon can be and how challenging work-life balance can be to achieve, especially with a career in the medical field. Ryan’s emotional journey is captured perfectly, along with other characters in the book, and the plot development is exceptional.
The story’s progression blended well with the period, and I found the neurosurgeon’s personal and professional challenges exciting and, at times, amusing, which only made the book more enjoyable to read. This is a compelling book with a realistic plot woven into a fantasy story. Death’s Pale Flag by Gary Simonds is an excellent book, combining elements of a thriller, medical drama, comedy, and paranormal themes. It’s a worthwhile read, and I recommend it to fans of supernatural thrillers.
ASIN B003R3111E | Pages: 380
Birdwatcher
When twelve-year-old Abby Wincoff is murdered by a serial killer on the loose, Joey Marks, there is much more involved than a straightforward crime case. The entire town is on edge as the locals recall seeing the strange man arriving at the grand hotel in the area. They soon realize how easily this serial killer preyed on one of their own. Though ending the life of one of his victims, Abby, this did not end with her tragic death.
Abby haunts the grounds where her life ended as the local sheriff and his deputies search for her. As Marks realizes that he isn’t as inconspicuous as he thinks, the psychopath will soon pay for his crimes against young girls. The story unfolds in a bleak and dark, but unrelenting way that is rich with vivid imagery and intense emotions as the town unravels in response to this horrific crime.
Birdwatcher is a thoroughly entertaining and thrilling novel. This is a great crime fiction story that is infused with a unique paranormal element. The story is heavily plot-driven but is still captivating. The author’s narration is very descriptive, with lively and emotional dialogue and dynamic developments. Greyson writes a gripping, dark, and entertaining novel that blends horror and paranormal mystery elements. It’s a well-written story that will keep readers engaged and eager to learn about Abby’s fate in the afterlife and the fate of the serial killer.
While I thought some of the character portrayal and dialogue could use a bit more refinement, I still found the book to be highly enjoyable. I recommend Birdwatcher for its entertaining storyline and the thrilling developments throughout the book. It’s a fantastic story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and swiftly turning pages.
Pages: 338 | ASIN: B0B6HHKT1M
The Ghost Rider
Kate is a normal 26-year-old living in Australia when she unexpectedly moves back home with her parents. When she arrives home, she finds her old bedroom is full of her mother’s old things. Kate and her mother go through the ancient family treasures and find a diary that unveils an old family mystery. What happened to Kate’s missing great aunt? She went missing in the 19th century and while rumors are everywhere, no one knows what happened to great Aunt Catherine. Kate flies to England to solve the mystery of Catherine’s disappearance from Lacey Hall.
Author Ellen Read has done an exceptional job of turning this riveting romance novel into a nail-biting mystery. It has everything readers would want in a romantic paranormal thriller. I was engrossed with the setting of this novel, maybe because of the vivid descriptions of the scenes, or maybe because the locales are intrinsically fascinating. Who doesn’t like the English countryside?
The Ghost Rider is captivating right from the start of the book. I really enjoyed the methodical pace of the story. The mystery unravels slowly, ensuring the intrigue and suspense is consistently high. This is one reason I kept coming back to this book time and again; I so desperately wanted to know what was going to happen. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I was beyond pleased with the way the story came to an end. I feel like the author planned the ending well as it answered all my big questions. It’s always nice to have a tight mystery novel wrap up without needing to plan for a long series arc, but I still wanted more of the romance even after the mystery was solved.
The author’s ability to develop character arcs throughout the novel is phenomenal. I got so attached to Kate and Catherine, I just wanted them to turn out alright. The evolution of Charles is a great example of the skill Ellen Read has with developing characters and letting the story reveal their traits. As we see Charles transform from a gruff-looking man lacking manners to a well-established man of substance. This is an impressive feat to accomplish in so few pages. When I was introduced to Charles’s character I disliked him, but by the end I was in love with him. This ability to make me love and hate characters is what I look for in good supernatural romance novels.
The Ghost Rider is an enchanting ghost fiction story with a compelling female protagonist and a spellbinding storyline.
Pages: 295 | ASIN: B0B581Q3CX
Pray Lied Eve 3
The short story is the most unique of all the genres as it can pack a punch like no other narrative. Whether it delivers humor, mystery, or drama, the short story holds something for every reader. When it comes to horror, however, the short story takes on an entirely different look and has the power to captivate readers, lead them down a rapidly spiraling rabbit hole, and leave them breathless by the story’s end. Nowhere is there a better example of this than in Pray Lied Eve: Short Tales of the Untoward, by Lydia Peever.
Author, Lydia Peever, has handed readers a collection of short stories steeped in horror and the macabre. Each of Peever’s shorts features a unique take on the horror genre. The author leads readers down a path filled with shocking discoveries, long-hidden mysteries, and abrupt and unexpected endings.
For the most part, Peever’s stories have endings that hit hard and seem to come out of a dark and foreboding left field. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. Short stories are meant to be savored, and many of Peever’s beg for immediate rereads. This is one collection readers will find themselves coming back to time and time again.
My favorite among Peever’s stories has to be “Grave Marginalia.” I love the fact that it is set in a library and the very books themselves seem to play a sinister role in the strange and unsettling events taking place before the characters’ very eyes. This was one of those stories I stopped and poured over once more before reading the rest of the book.
In addition, Peever breaks down the origins of each of the stories for readers. I enjoy hearing about the thought process behind an author’s work and find it interesting to see how their stories originated. I appreciated this little addition to the conclusion of the book.
Pray Lied Eve: Short Tales of the Untoward is a spellbinding collection for horror fans that enjoy gruesome scenes and vividly frightening imagery. Anyone looking for quick reads that feel like spine-chilling rides on the most horrifying of rollercoaster rides will find the thrill they are seeking in Peever’s work.
Pages: 57 | ASIN : B00BPAFBHG
Stories That Are So Crazy
Taylor Mill Horror follows the terrifying true story of a family that buys a real haunted house. Why was this an important book for you to write?
We all hear wild ghost stories and claims. Stories that are so crazy we believe they could never be true. Prior to staying in this home I laughed at claims such as paranormal earthquakes and extreme poltergeist activity. The two weeks we spent in this home forever changed my life and outlook. I now realize that there are things that go on in the world that we will never be able to understand and explain. Things so frightening, we refuse to believe in them. I felt like I owed it to all those who I once thought were making up all these claims to write this book. I wanted to let others know that they are not the only ones who may be going through these things and ultimately that they are not crazy.
As you stayed in the house while researching this book, what were the scariest and the funniest thing that happened?
The scariest thing that had happened was easily the paranormal earthquake. Despite seeing things fly across the room or figures pass by, nothing will even come close to that night. While lying in the bed a loud almost mechanical sound resonated from the house, as if an engine were reving up. Shortly after the house began shaking violently causing things to fly off of the walls and shelves. At this moment, I was fully convinced that I was going to die that night in that home.
After about a week in the home we were so sleep deprived that we tried to find the humor in anything just to stay sane. Whenever we would hear odd noises or things would happen, we would explain them away in the most ridiculous ways possible. For example; the trashcan in the kitchen that had flown across the room a few times was obviously possessed by the spirit of a raccoon who was looking for a late night snack. We did anything we could to share some laughs and make light of what was a stressful situation.
How did you get interested in paranormal activity and haunted houses?
The biggest question in life is What happens after we die? I am a very critical and analytical thinker who needs to see proof before I can form an opinion. From movies to television and books we are told so many different stories about what lurks in the beyond. I simply wanted to set out and see if I could answer this ultimate life question.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on a completely fiction based horror novel. This novel is based off of a recurring nightmare that I have had ever since I was a child. Unlike Taylor Mill Horror, not only is it fiction it is also meant to scare the reader. This is a much more fast paced, horrifying and gruesome novel. I am hoping to release it in October of 2022.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
With the help of a priest and two paranormal investigators, Sam and his family began a battle with the unseen forces attempting to drive them from their home. They discovered the house was infested with a demonic presence. The events and dark energies were altering the emotions of the residents to the point they questioned their own sanity. When the team uncovers strange connections, Sam must ask what brought him to this home in the first place. Could a force beyond comprehension have been at work in drawing the family to that specific property? Discover the true events revealed through interviews and eyewitness accounts for the first time in the pages of Taylor Mill Horror. Written by the team who spent two weeks amidst the horrors and the man who lived it all firsthand, this is an account like no other. Taylor Mill Horror will immerse readers in a story they will never forget, made even more chilling for its status as non-fiction.
LITERARY TITAN 