Blog Archives
Echoes of Fortune: Shadows Over Cozumel
Echoes of Fortune: Shadows Over Cozumel dives straight into a sunlit mystery wrapped in salt, sweat, and history. Author David R. Leng sets his story off the coast of Mexico, where old Confederate ghosts meet modern intrigue. Former Navy SEAL Jack Sullivan, Smithsonian curator Emma Wilson, and their friend Steve Johnson uncover the wreck of a ship believed lost to legend, and with it, a secret that powerful people would kill to keep buried. What starts as an archaeological dive quickly turns into a survival game against unseen watchers and old evils hiding beneath Caribbean calm. It’s a fast, cinematic tale that mixes history, conspiracy, and suspense with surprising tenderness between the chaos.
Leng’s writing is tight but vivid, the kind that keeps your pulse up and your coffee cold. His pacing is unrelenting. The story doesn’t just move, it races, then stops just long enough to let the tension breathe before diving back in. I loved how he balanced action with quiet moments of connection between Jack and Emma. Their relationship never slips into cliché. It feels lived-in, tested by the same salt and fear that hangs over the sea. The dialogue feels natural, especially between Jack and Steve, their banter carries the weight of shared trauma and unspoken loyalty.
But it’s the ideas beneath the adventure that stuck with me. Leng plays with the notion that history never dies, it just waits for someone foolish or brave enough to dig it up. The Confederate artifacts aren’t just relics; they’re symbols of how greed and ideology outlive their wars. I caught myself thinking about how the past haunts the present, how people chase fortunes or legacies without realizing what they awaken. At times, the prose leans cinematic, almost like a screenplay, which works for the story’s rhythm but occasionally sacrifices deeper introspection. Still, when it hits, it hits hard. The quiet dread before a dive, the stillness of the man in the white Panama hat, those moments land like punches.
I’d recommend Echoes of Fortune to anyone who loves a smart thriller with history’s fingerprints all over it. If you enjoy Clive Cussler’s maritime adventures or the artifact hunts of National Treasure, this book will grab you by the collar. It’s not just about what’s found under the sea, it’s about what’s waiting when you surface. A great weekend read.
Pages: 90 | ASIN : B0FSMTD53S
In The Shadows of The Blue Ridge ~ A Farmer’s Plight in Loudoun County
In The Shadows of The Blue Ridge tells the story of Red Smith, a Loudoun County farmer caught between the region’s deep agricultural past and its rapid transformation into a hub for data centers, subdivisions, and politics. Author Juliet Lauderdale braids together local history, genealogy, politics, and Red’s personal struggles with addiction, family dysfunction, and survival in a changing landscape. The book moves from colonial times and Native American displacement, through Loudoun’s rise as the richest county in the country, to the intimate details of Red’s life with his mother, his political dealings, and his inner battles. It is both a chronicle of a place and a portrait of a man who never fully fits in.
The details of Red’s gardening, his mother’s sharp tongue, and the smell of orchards or basements made the pages feel alive. At times, the story wandered, carrying the rhythm of a neighbor sharing memories in a way that felt unhurried and conversational. That gave it a kind of authenticity. The mix of personal narrative, politics, and theology could be dizzying, yet it reflected the chaos of a life lived on the margins of prosperity.
What stood out most to me was the emotional core. I found myself angry with Red, then pitying him, and then oddly proud when he pulled off his small political stunts. The mother-son relationship was heartbreaking, filled with bitterness, need, and the faintest hint of love buried under insults. I also admired how the book tied Red’s story to the land itself. The soil, the creeks, and the ghosts of farmers past seemed as much characters as Red and Jane. It made me think hard about what gets lost when land is swallowed by development.
I think this book is best for readers who want more than a polished narrative. Anyone interested in the human side of rural decline, the clash between tradition and modernity, or the way family history shapes identity will find it worth their time.
Pages: 264 | ASIN : B0FHBPSGDP
Human Nature
The Great Hunter follows a young hunter living in Mesolithic Britain about 10,000 years ago who is determined to wed the woman he loves, but to earn her hand, he must kill a rare and dangerous giant stag. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve always been a big fan of ancient myths and legends. The GREAT HUNTER is written in that style. It is a classic tale, a quest in which the hero must kill a dangerous beast in order to marry the woman he loves. A re-awakened family feud, subsequent betrayal, and long-awaited revenge are essential parts too.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I know a lot of authors would probably say this, but it’s the age-old theme of human nature. I don’t think it has changed very much since humans first appeared on this planet.
What intrigues you about this time period enough to write such a thrilling period piece?
I have always been into history – and prehistoric times in particular. I like the mystery of it.
But there was another reason too. Many years ago I started to experience these images – recurring images in my head. They were of ancient people who wore clothes made from animal-skins, lived in what looked like wig-wams, travelled on foot or by canoe and used tools of stone, wood, bone and antler. These images kept coming to me over several years. They really were vivid and after a while I could tell certain individuals apart. Many of the places I saw, too, looked somehow familiar.
Research led me to believe these people were part of a hunter-gatherer tribe who lived in what is now England about 10,000 years ago. I knew I had to give them a voice.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
If The Great Hunter does well, there will be a sequel: THIRTEEN MOONS – which follows on from where the first book ends.
If that does OK too there could be a series: TALES FROM THE DREAMTIME. Another two or three books about Garetto and the Nahan tribe. But also other people, other hunters and gatherers in different times and places.
I have a long-term medical condition which, though not deadly, does slow me down a bit. I have to work at my day job too. So it would probably take me about 2 1/2 years or so to write another book.
Author Links: Facebook | Website
Powerful spirits and other supernatural beings influence everything in the minds of these people, from the weather to illness, to childbirth and success in hunting or courtship.
Life is not without its challenges, but the real hardships of the Ice Age that ended over sixty generations before are becoming a distant memory. There is an abundance of game animals, fish and plant foods too, in season. Rich pickings for the numerous bands of hunter-gatherers. Yet the country is as hazardous as it is bountiful. Bears, wolves, aurochs and other wild animals that could kill a man roam the landscape. Floods, blizzards, wildfires and tree-felling storms may strike with little or no warning. Still more danger comes from the tribal wars that might suddenly flare up, with their brutal raids and counter-raids. Destruction may also come from enemies within.
A young hunter, Garetto, is determined to wed Harenshi – a woman of another camp, who he loves. True, there was trouble between their families many winters before, but all they want is to stay together, and stay with their own people.
Challenged to go away from the gathering to kill a very rare – and very dangerous – giant stag, Garetto travels far from the camps, with only his dog for company. It is the middle of a freezing, snowy winter, and the hunting-ground is a hostile one.
It seems an impossible quest, but only when Garetto returns with the sacred antlers will the ox-chief Haranga – Harenshi’s father – allow him to wed his daughter.
But the past is far from forgotten, or forgiven. Haranga breaks his promise, resolved Garetto must never return to his people. This act of betrayal – and the sudden appearance of a mysterious and powerful shaman – will have fateful consequences for the whole tribe…
Stepping Beyond the Rules
Timeless follows a field agent for an agency that manipulates history who is sent to save a boy, and winds up caught between loyalty, survival, and personal desire. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The novel grew out of my passion for both history and fiction, as well as my fascination with the 1930s—an era that proved decisive for the continent’s future. And of course, there must always be a touch of romance. No matter how practical or calculating the world becomes, love will remain central to our way of thinking and one of our strongest motivations for as long as humanity exists.
Anne is hard-edged, sharp-tongued, cynical, yet deeply human. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?
Anne thrives in a male-dominated world, and she does so without ever having to become one of the men. She remains true to her womanhood and embraces her emotions. She takes risks and raises the stakes, but never blindly or naively—rather with intention and confidence in her abilities. That balance is what makes her such a compelling heroine.
What themes were particularly important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to emphasize that women are fully capable of purposeful, professional self-realization without being held back by so-called feminine weaknesses. They can unite, organize, and accomplish missions far more complex than putting together a Christmas fair. To highlight this progress felt important—to show that women are not bound solely to roles defined over millennia. The novel also touches on sacrifice and solidarity, and how stepping beyond the rules can sometimes achieve more than hiding beneath them.
Will this novel be the start of a series or are you working on a different story?
The idea of turning this into a series has certainly crossed my mind, but that depends on whether the story resonates strongly enough with readers.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
A secret organization sends its agents into history’s turning points to serve hidden interests.
On the brink of World War II and German occupation, Anne—a disillusioned operative—embarks on her final mission: to save a boy marked for death in a small country soon to be overrun. The assignment seems simple—until she discovers that more than one life may be worth saving.
A gripping story about time, choice, and the weight of decisions that shape our past, present, and future.
Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes: Return to Southampton County
Return to Southampton County continues the remarkable saga of Parson Sykes, a man born into bondage who fights for his freedom and dignity during and after the Civil War. The book traces Parson’s journey from enslavement in Southampton County, Virginia, through his enlistment in the Union Army, and his eventual return home during the Reconstruction era. Mason blends vivid storytelling with meticulous historical detail, showing how Parson’s personal struggle mirrors the nation’s own messy path toward justice. Through letters, government records, and oral histories, Mason reconstructs not just one man’s fight for self-liberation, but an entire people’s uneasy awakening into a world that promised freedom yet delivered resistance.
The writing feels patient, like it breathes history rather than rushes through it. Mason’s prose is steady and careful, but it also burns with quiet passion. He doesn’t lecture. He lets the scenes do the talking. When Parson stands among the ruins of Richmond, or when he dreams of his mother’s cherry syrup, I could almost taste the air, heavy with both hope and grief. The author’s military background adds authority, yet he writes not as a soldier but as a witness—someone humbled by the courage of those who came before. At times, the detail gets dense, the kind that makes you reread a paragraph just to take it in. But that density feels earned. It’s the sound of someone who did the work and wants to honor every name, every truth.
What moved me most were the moments of quiet reflection, when Parson isn’t marching or fighting, but remembering. Mason writes these scenes with tenderness. He captures the loneliness of a man freed by law but still bound by memory. The book also hit me with anger, the good kind, the kind that comes when history is told without sugarcoating. Mason doesn’t shy away from the cruelty of the era, nor from the failures of Reconstruction. His writing doesn’t preach, it just tells the truth and lets the weight of it land.
I’d recommend Return to Southampton County to anyone who loves history told through human eyes. It’s not just for scholars or Civil War buffs. It’s for readers who care about what freedom really means when it costs everything. The book rewards patience and empathy. It’s heartfelt, grounded, and full of reverence for those who refused to give up on liberty. Mason’s work reminds me why stories like this matter, not because they’re comfortable, but because they make us remember who we are and how far we still have to go.
Pages: 243 | ASIN : B0FGQMT95R
O’SHAUGHNESSY INVESTIGATIONS, INC. Leave Murder to the Professionals
A.G. Russo’s O’Shaughnessy Investigations, Inc. swept me into wartime Brooklyn in 1944, where the O’Shaughnessy Detective Agency tries to stay afloat as war, love, and corruption tighten their grip. The story follows Maeve O’Shaughnessy, a resilient woman running her family’s detective agency while her brothers fight overseas. She juggles heartbreak, danger, and loyalty as she faces mobsters, federal agents, and the heavy shadow of the Second World War. The book blends mystery, romance, and historical detail with an intimate look at ordinary people caught in extraordinary times. Author A.G. Russo paints the era vividly. The rationing, the fear, the faith that life might one day feel normal again.
Reading it felt like slipping into another time. Russo writes with a steady hand and a clear affection for her characters. Maeve is strong without being hardened, and I admired how she never loses her compassion even when the world around her turns brutal. The dialogue feels sharp and real; it’s the kind of talk you’d hear in a smoky Brooklyn diner. Some scenes hit hard, especially when Maeve faces choices that test her morals. The emotional weight sneaks up on you. One moment you’re caught in a clever bit of detective work, and the next you’re hit with the loneliness of a woman holding everything together while the world falls apart.
The number of side plots, mobsters, federal intrigue, family drama, sometimes pulls focus from Maeve’s heart, which is the story’s strongest pulse. Yet even when the plot meanders, the writing carries it. Russo’s world feels lived-in, and her affection for her cast gives the novel warmth that lingers. The prose isn’t flashy, and that’s part of its charm. It feels honest, unpretentious, like it’s being told over a cup of coffee on a gray Brooklyn morning.
When I finished, I sat for a while thinking about courage. The quiet kind that never makes headlines. Russo’s story isn’t just about solving crimes; it’s about surviving them, about staying decent when decency feels naïve. I’d recommend O’Shaughnessy Investigations, Inc. to readers who love classic mysteries, strong-willed heroines, and wartime stories grounded in everyday heroism. It’s a slow burn, but by the last page, it left me both moved and grateful for Maeve’s grit.
Pages: 342 | ASIN : B0FRHCZRG9
The Great Hunter
Kel Paisley’s The Great Hunter follows the life of Garetto, a young man living in Mesolithic Britain about 10,000 years ago, when hunter-gatherer tribes struggled to survive in harsh landscapes shaped by ice, wind, and rising seas. At its heart, the story is about love and loyalty. Garetto longs to wed Harenshi, a woman whose father not only disapproves of him but actively threatens their bond. What unfolds is a tapestry of tribal politics, sacred rituals, dangerous hunts, and the daily fight for food and honor. The novel blends historical imagination with intimate storytelling, letting the reader step into a time when survival and tradition dictated nearly everything.
The writing is vivid, almost cinematic, and the world feels tactile. But at times, the descriptions ran long. The dialogue, though, had a sharp edge. It carried both warmth and menace, and I often felt the tension of being in a camp where every look and every word could spell danger. I liked that it didn’t sugarcoat the violence of the time or the rawness of relationships. It made the book feel honest, though also heavy.
What struck me most was how much of the book pulsed with longing. Garetto’s love for Harenshi is desperate, almost reckless, and it pulled me in. I felt for him, even when he acted out of pride or anger, because his emotions rang true. The book made me think about how love, fear, and family ties have always shaped human lives, no matter the era. Still, I’ll admit there were moments when I wanted less ritual detail and more forward momentum, but the ideas always kept me hooked. The mix of survival and spirit, blood and devotion, felt raw and human.
This is not a light read. It’s immersive, dense, and full of grit. I would recommend The Great Hunter to readers who enjoy historical fiction that leans into the primal side of human nature. If you want an adventure that is full of danger and love, and you’re seeking a story showing a clash between tradition and desire, this book is for you.
Pages: 453 | ASIN : B0FM58B2TW
Americans and Ex-Nazis Working Together
A Cry for Vengeance follows a professor and writer investigating war criminals who learns of ex-Nazis living in hiding who were recruited as Cold War spies, and now he faces a moral dilemma with deadly consequences. What was the inspiration for your story?
I was inspired to write my novel after reading a non-fiction book titled, The Spy Next door. The author provided detailed accounts of ex-Nazis living in this country under the protection of the U.S. Government. For years I had believed that most ex-Nazis had fled to South America, and so I was shocked to learn that many had come to the United States under a secret government program that allowed them to live and work as free men. The unbelievable story of Americans and ex-Nazis working together intrigued me, and so I decided to write a fictional account based on facts and revelations that have come to light since the end of the Cold War.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
Over a period of months I read numerous accounts, not only about the recruitment of ex-Nazis, but also about their victims, living and deceased. Much of what I wrote, especially about the Holocaust survivors is based on true stories published in various books and journals.
I find that authors sometimes ask themselves questions and let their characters answer them. Do you think this is true for your characters?
This is true. The protagonist in my novel is faced with a moral dilemma that blurs the line between good and evil, causing him to ask if he should seek justice or revenge. The question will nag him throughout the entire story, leaving me to wonder what I would do if I were in his shoes.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’ve just completed another thriller titled A Rush to Judgment. The plot centers around two women: an exotic dancer who had been unjustly charged with a crime and sent to prison where she died from Covid. The other, a Native American woman, serving in the Army in Afghanistan, where she was brutally raped by her fellow soldiers. Shortly after her return to the U.S., she committed suicide. The two women did not know each other but they had something in common that is revealed halfway into the story. The novel will be published sometime next year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Moments before his death, Karl Muller, a terminally ill patient, makes a chilling confession to nurse Helen Darby: he’s a former Nazi guard responsible for thousands of deaths at Treblinka concentration camp. Shocked but determind, Helen enlists the help of Bryan De Luca, a professor experienced in investigating war criminals.
Their search leads to disturbing revelations–Muller, along with numerous ex-Nazis, was secretly recruited by American intelligence as Cold War spies. Soon, De Luca finds himself trapped between ruthless contractors protecting Nazis and the militant group Jews for Justice, seeking vengeance. When violence erupts, and De Luca is thrust into mortal danger, he faces an impossible choice: protect killers or unleash vengeance.
A powerful tale of secrets, betrayal, and moral reckoning. Buy now to uncover the hidden truths of a chilling conspiracy and its deadly consequences.
LITERARY TITAN 