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The Tuba of the Somme
The Tuba of the Somme is a wonderfully peculiar, darkly funny, and surprisingly moving novel about war, love, grief, and the human appetite for making a terrible mess of things. Set primarily in Yorkshire during and after the First World War, the story brings together a collection of memorable characters whose lives are connected by family, heartbreak, buried desires, and a brass instrument with a distinctly unpleasant personality. That instrument, a tuba capable of walking, talking, and behaving outrageously, is one of the book’s most inventive creations. Its presence brings an element of the fantastical to a world otherwise grounded in the harsh realities of early twentieth-century Britain. From the opening scenes, when a funeral takes an extraordinary turn, it’s clear that this is a story with a wicked sense of humour and a keen understanding of human nature. What follows is an unpredictable journey through the lives of people trying to find happiness in a world that seems determined to make it difficult.
I really loved the characters, particularly the women who carry so much of its emotional weight. Mary, Rose, and Edith are wonderfully drawn, each possessing her own particular combination of stubbornness, vulnerability, courage, and contradiction. Rose is especially fascinating. Beautiful, manipulative, frequently outrageous, and capable of considerable cruelty, she’s also capable of a fierce and enduring love. Mary, with her insistence on propriety and her unmistakable Yorkshire voice, provides a compelling counterpoint. Edith brings her own practical intelligence and determination to the story, frequently demonstrating more common sense than the men who consider themselves her superiors. Their relationships give the novel much of its warmth and complexity, while the shifting perspectives allow readers to see how differently people remember and interpret the same events. There’s genuine affection in the way these characters are written, even when their behaviour is appalling. The dialogue is particularly enjoyable, full of personality, regional character, and the sort of blunt observations that can make you laugh out loud.
The First World War provides the novel with its darkest material, and the scenes involving the soldiers are among its most affecting. The author captures the camaraderie, nervous optimism, confusion, and appalling vulnerability of ordinary men caught up in events beyond their control. There’s a sharp awareness of the distance between patriotic speeches and the actual experience of warfare, along with a biting distrust of authority and the comfortable people who send others off to fight. The humour here can be savage, sometimes arriving at moments when laughter feels almost inappropriate, but it serves a purpose. It exposes the ridiculousness of human vanity and the terrible consequences of unquestioning obedience. The book also explores the lasting psychological damage of war, particularly through characters struggling to live with experiences that refuse to stay in the past. Running alongside these concerns are questions about class, women’s independence, sexual identity, religion, and the enormous difference between public respectability and private happiness.
It’s a historical novel, a love story, a fierce antiwar satire, and a piece of gloriously unruly magical realism, all delivered with a distinctive voice and a mischievous disregard for polite convention. The living tuba is both a source of outrageous comedy and a wonderfully unsettling embodiment of the violence, pride, and aggression that continue to haunt the characters long after the guns have fallen silent. Yet there’s considerable tenderness beneath the profanity and mayhem. The novel understands how deeply people need companionship, how long regret can endure, and how difficult it can be to escape the expectations of others. It’s a story with genuine emotional depth, memorable characters, and plenty to say about the world we create for ourselves. The Tuba of the Somme turns the absurdity of war into unforgettable fiction, proving that sometimes the loudest voice in a story about humanity belongs to an instrument with none.
Pages: 159 | ASIN : B0GZVSGPBC
Fairness and Sensitivity
Thorn of Plimouth follows a young woman and healer accused of witchcraft who finds an unexpected ally in an Indigenous warrior, but their forbidden love could cost them everything. What do you hope distinguishes Thorn of Plimouth from other historical novels exploring early colonial America?
First, I hope that my novel paints a slightly different picture than the one promoted for the last four centuries. No doubt, the settlers of New England were a stalwart group–resilient, brave, and driven by faith. There is much to be admired in their ability to overcome insurmountable odds. At the same time, they were certainly hindered by suspicion and doubt. In his book entitled Mayflower, Nathaniel Philbrick explains how the colonists’ “intensely spiritual lives did not prevent them from believing in witches and warlocks and living with the constant fear that Satan and his minions were out there, conspiring against them. It was a fear that must have been difficult to contain as they stared into the deepening gloom of the American night” (p. 81). It is my hope that Thorn of Plimouth illustrates how, when fear grabs hold of a person or a society, logical thinking is cast aside, and extremism takes its place. People once thought of as intelligent and respectable transform into something unrecognizable, dogmatic in their beliefs and intolerant of anyone or anything that threatens those beliefs.
Second, I hope that my narrative examines the experiences of the indigenous people in a more nuanced fashion. As David Silverman points out in his book This Land is Their Land, the Wampanoag were thriving for thousands of years before the arrival of the Mayflower settlers. This was not an untouched wilderness upon which the settlers arrived; rather, it was part of an ancient, sophisticated network of sovereign nations. I hope that I present Keme’s point of view with fairness and sensitivity.
How did you develop Rachel Haverford’s personality, particularly her compassion, independence, and determination to help others despite the risks?
Rachel is a young woman who continually finds herself on the outside looking in. On the voyage, most passengers avoid her because she is not part of their congregation. Add to that her physical beauty and healing skills, and the seeds of jealousy and suspicion begin to grow. I wanted to create a character who could deflect that animosity without abandoning her optimism. Her Welsh background, embodied by her devotion to her mother’s memory, helps her to maintain an independent spirit as well as a tender heart.
What parallels do you hope readers recognize between the prejudice and fear portrayed in Thorn of Plimouth and the ways communities treat outsiders today?
It’s funny you should ask this question because it was something that I was considering before I began writing the book. Having recently lived through the COVID-19 pandemic, we all witnessed how easily an environment can transform into one of intense fear, isolation, and division. Neighbors turned against one another, families were split apart, and the general population struggled with making sense of the mandated rules. So I knew I wanted to explore the crippling power of fear, and I could think of no better setting than one besieged by questions of survival and sin, as noted in the early settlement at Plimouth.
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When the Fortune lays anchor off the coast of Cape Cod in 1621, Rachel Haverford believes she, like her fellow passengers, will be starting life anew.
But the bleak and desolate landscape bears no resemblance to what they had been promised, and the supposed thriving community at Plimoth turns out to be nothing more than a handful of crooked houses inhabited by a people twisted by hunger, grief, and fear. The harsh winter has left its mark on the settlement, and beneath the settlers’ prayers and pious words lies a growing desperation that threatens to consume them all.
Marked as a “stranger” by the devout settlers, Rachel struggles under the weight of their suspicious eyes, which follow her every move. She has brought with her little more than a few possessions and the knowledge of healing passed down to her through generations of women. But in a community where illness is viewed as divine punishment and death is blamed on hidden sin, her gift soon becomes a curse. When people around her begin to die under mysterious circumstances, whispers of witchcraft spread through Plimoth, and Rachel finds herself caught in a web of suspicion she cannot easily escape.
Yet it is not only the settlers she must fear.
Beyond the crude palisades of Plimoth lies a world the colonists barely understand-a land inhabited by peoples whose history stretches back generations before the Europeans arrived. When Rachel encounters a Pokanoket warrior, she expects hostility. Instead, she finds an unexpected ally, and eventually a man who awakens feelings she has been taught to distrust. Drawn into his world, Rachel begins to see the land and its people through eyes very different from those of the settlers. But their growing bond places them both in grave danger, for neither the colonists nor the indigenous tribes can afford to forget the wounds and betrayals that divide them.
As tensions rise between the European settlers and the indigenous peoples of New England, old alliances fracture and new ones are forged in secret. Rachel discovers that those she believed were righteous can be cruel, while those she was taught to fear may offer the greatest kindness she has ever known. With winter approaching once again and suspicion closing in around her, she must decide how much she is willing to sacrifice to protect the man she loves-and whether there is still a place for her among the people who once promised her a new beginning.
Thorn of Plimouth is a gripping tale of love, survival, faith, and betrayal set against the unforgiving landscape of early colonial New England. Rich with historical atmosphere and simmering tension, it follows one woman’s fight to survive a world where belonging comes at a price and where the line between friend and enemy is blurred beyond recognition.
For Rachel, finding home may mean abandoning everything she once believed about where she belongs.
Lady Ghost
In Lady Ghost, Kara Jacobson blends historical romance, supernatural mystery, and family drama into an emotionally engaging story about love, loss, and the connections that endure beyond death. Set primarily in Red Wing, Minnesota, the novel begins in 2019, when Mike Johnston, a maintenance worker at the abandoned St. John’s Hospital, encounters a mysterious red-haired apparition. Mike has inherited an unusual ability to perceive spirits, a family trait his grandmother once described with the words, “You’ve got the gift, child.” His unexpected encounter leads him to Alan Cross, an elderly former teacher whose beloved wife, Mae, died decades earlier. When Mike approaches Alan with a message from the ghost, an extraordinary story begins to unfold. Through Alan’s recollections, Jacobson transports readers to the late 1960s, where a young man’s encounter with a captivating woman sets the course for a romance shaped by devotion, ambition, and circumstances beyond their control. The novel’s movement between past and present gives its supernatural premise a deeply personal foundation.
I think the novel’s appeal comes from Jacobson’s affectionate portrayal of Alan and Mae’s relationship. Alan is introduced as a hardworking, intellectually curious teenager who dreams of attending college and building a future beyond his family’s dairy farm. Mae, also known as Mabel Swan, is a spirited young woman from a wealthy family whose artistic ambitions and independent personality make her an intriguing counterpart to Alan. Their different backgrounds introduce questions of social expectations, family obligations, and personal fulfillment. Jacobson develops their relationship through memorable everyday experiences, from youthful outings and family gatherings to shared conversations about their hopes for the future. Mae’s enthusiasm for theater and painting adds dimension to her character, while Alan’s loyalty, determination, and occasional awkwardness make him an endearing romantic lead. Their story captures the exhilaration of young love while gradually exploring the responsibilities and difficult choices that accompany a lasting commitment.
Jacobson brings considerable attention to the novel’s Midwestern setting, grounding its romance and supernatural elements in a recognizable social and historical environment. The descriptions of dairy farming, factory work, small-town celebrations, and changing cultural expectations create a vivid portrait of American life during the late 1960s. Period details, including clothing, automobiles, music, and entertainment, contribute to the atmosphere without overwhelming the characters’ experiences. The narrative also incorporates humor, particularly through Mike’s uneasy relationship with his newfound spiritual abilities and the lively exchanges among Alan’s family and friends. These lighter moments complement the story’s more emotional developments. As the narrative progresses, the paranormal elements introduce an increasingly intriguing mystery involving memory, spiritual communication, and unresolved questions from the past. Jacobson’s storytelling is descriptive and accessible, with a cinematic quality that makes intimate romantic scenes and ghostly encounters equally easy to envision.
Lady Ghost is a novel about the enduring influence of love and the ways relationships continue to shape people across generations. Jacobson explores grief, forgiveness, faith, and the search for meaning through characters whose lives are connected by both ordinary human experiences and extraordinary spiritual events. The recurring importance of personal keepsakes, family bonds, and artistic expression gives the story emotional continuity across its shifting timelines. Mike’s involvement adds another perspective, allowing readers to witness the significance of Alan and Mae’s history through someone encountering it many years later. The ghost’s simple request, “Bring me my beloved, my Alan,” captures the longing that drives the narrative and gives its supernatural mystery an unmistakably romantic purpose. With its combination of heartfelt relationships, evocative historical detail, humor, and spiritual intrigue, Lady Ghost offers a moving reading experience for audiences drawn to love stories that explore memory, mortality, and the possibility of connections extending beyond a single lifetime.
Pages: 275 | ASIN : B0HJJLGQDL
Thorn of Plimouth
In Thorn of Plimouth, Catherine Hughes transports readers to 1621, when the promise of a new beginning in America came wrapped in hardship, uncertainty, and deeply rooted prejudice. Aboard the Fortune, young Rachel Haverford journeys toward the fledgling English settlement of Plimouth, carrying the grief of losing her mother and the healing knowledge that mother passed down to her. Rachel’s skill with herbs and traditional remedies should be a blessing in a community struggling with sickness and death. Instead, it draws suspicion from those who see the Devil’s influence in anything they don’t understand. As whispers of witchcraft begin to follow her, Rachel discovers that surviving the wilderness may be easier than surviving the judgments of her fellow settlers. Hughes builds a compelling story around a young woman whose greatest strength, her determination to care for others, threatens to make her an outcast.
Hughes makes the seventeenth century feel remarkably tangible, from the cramped, foul-smelling quarters of a ship crossing the Atlantic to the bitter cold and fragile living conditions of the early colony. The daily struggles of these settlers are rendered with an impressive attention to detail, and the author’s extensive research gives the narrative a convincing sense of time and place. Yet the most fascinating element may be the religious atmosphere that governs nearly every aspect of colonial life. Faith provides comfort and purpose, but it also becomes a weapon in the hands of people eager to condemn what frightens them. Hughes captures how quickly gossip can become accepted truth and how easily fear can masquerade as righteousness. The growing accusations against Rachel create an undercurrent of tension that makes even seemingly ordinary encounters feel dangerous.
The novel gains additional depth through Keme, a young Indigenous warrior whose experiences with English colonizers have given him every reason to distrust them. His perspective opens the story beyond the settlement, introducing readers to the traditions, spiritual beliefs, and relationship with the natural world of the Pauquunaukit people. His encounters with Rachel bring two vastly different worlds into contact, creating some of the book’s most affecting moments. Their developing connection is shaped by curiosity, compassion, and the difficult history standing between them. Hughes handles these encounters with tenderness while allowing the larger tensions between their communities to remain ever present. Rachel herself is an engaging protagonist, both compassionate and stubborn, vulnerable yet unwilling to surrender her convictions. The supporting characters, particularly the devoted young Thomas Cushman and the formidable Goodwife Balcome, add emotional texture to a story filled with competing loyalties, private fears, and complicated motivations.
Thorn of Plimouth is a story about belonging, the courage to question accepted beliefs, and the extraordinary consequences of seeing humanity in someone others have been taught to fear. Hughes combines historical drama, romantic tension, and an increasingly unsettling atmosphere of persecution to create a novel that engages both the heart and the conscience. There’s something especially moving about Rachel’s refusal to let cruelty determine the kind of person she becomes. Her compassion persists even when it places her in danger, giving the story an emotional force that extends well beyond its historical setting. The novel also invites readers to consider how communities define outsiders and what happens when protecting a shared identity becomes more important than protecting an individual life. With its vividly imagined world and memorable central characters, Thorn of Plimouth is a thoughtful, absorbing work of historical fiction. In a world where fear decides who belongs, Thorn of Plimouth reminds us that the bravest heart is the one that dares to see a stranger as human.
Pages: 287 | ASIN : B0HK2JNN2X
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
Vanished Twin by Lawrence Hoffman
POINT FIRST by Nannette Potter
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
Walking Away by Richard Michael O’Meara
Pulsar: The Time Traveler by Alexander Heed
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
The Voice of Cuba by Amarilys Rassler
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
ȚEPEȘ: VLAD III DRACULA by Sebastian Valerius
Out of the Water by K Browning
The Galaxy of Kon-Ki: Waking on Earth by Colin Nimer
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
