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No One Is All Good or Evil
INFINITY: There be Pirates follows a knight tasked with hunting down a pirate who ends up falling in love with the woman he is supposed to apprehend. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My goal was to create a pirate romance that wasn’t the typical misogynistic nonsense that authors write in this genre. If you’ve never read a pirate romance… you’re not missing much. They’re all the same. I’ll give you a brief breakdown. A naïve, adolescent, virgin girl is kidnapped against her will by a philandering brute who attacked her ship and murdered her friends and family. She warms up to this lunatic for the sake of her survival. The leading man is a violent, unrepentant, criminal with no depth and no motivation other than to get rich and get laid. Then I, the reader, am expected to applaud at the end of this Stockholm Syndrome story when this dumb girl falls in love with her oppressor. My inspiration for writing my pirate romance was how terrible they normally are. I know what you guys are thinking. “Didn’t Sarah abduct Matthew? Isn’t that the same situation?” No, and this is why. Matthew wasn’t some defenseless teenage girl. He was a deadly military operative who was hunting Sarah and her crew. The only way she could survive was to trap him first. Also, Matthew and Sarah have a complicated past. They are not strangers. He didn’t fall in love with his abductor. He remained in love with a woman he was already in love with long before she was a pirate.
This story blends fantasy and historical fiction in an alluring and creative way. What books do you think most influenced your work and the creation of this series?
I love classic books and I get inspiration from them:
Treasure Island
Peter Pan
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Sinbad the Voyager
King Arthur and the Knights of Camelot
Robinhood
Pirate stories are filled with action and adventure on the high seas making for an entertaining and engaging novel. What was your favorite scene in this story to write?
My favorite scene in this adventure book was not adventurous at all. It was the scene where Matthew is taken back to the pirate stronghold on the Isle of Maroons and he enters this whole new world. Pirates are outlaws. As a British knight and a navy captain, it’s his duty to apprehend and execute them. Yet he empathizes with them to some extent. Matthew knows there are circumstances that would cause him to commit the same crimes. I enjoyed this scene because it’s the part of the story where he humanizes his rivals. He realizes that no one is all good, and no one is all evil. People are a complicated mixture of both.
What future plans do you have for Matthew and Sarah, and when can your fans expect the next book?
The next book will be INFINITY: Love & Treasure which is the swashbuckling conclusion to the buccaneer trilogy. Pirate books require a lot of time and research so it probably won’t be released until the fall of 2024. I know that’s a long time from now but I want to make sure I am writing a book that is worthy of my readers. I’m also in the process of making video editions of my books on YouTube. I appreciate all the Infinity fans. Thanks so much for your support. https://youtu.be/6XafzpfUonY
Author Links: Website | YouTube
Includes 30 illustrations.
INFINITY: There be Pirates
Pirate hunter Sir Matthew Galahad is about to embark on a mission to find and stop the reign of terror being perpetrated by the crew of The Wraith. The Wraith is rumored to be manned by ghosts and led by a female captain whose wickedness is head and shoulders above all others. Matthew sees everything he wants lying just out of reach–a marriage to the esteemed Amelia Gray and a position in the King’s court as a duke. Matthew must find it within himself to complete the task and win the battle ahead–and the war raging within.
There Be Pirates is part of Catalina DuBois’s INFINITY series, which follows a pair of ill-fated lovers across continents and through time. This particular installment features Matthew as a young man who sees his future wavering before him as he takes on a pirate ship under the direction of Sarah Nightingale. Theirs is a history like no other.
This is not the first of DuBois’s INFINITY books I have read. I admire the creativity it requires to place Matthew and Sarah into new and challenging circumstances and settings while keeping their relationship’s integrity and relatability. This particular book is my favorite so far. The glimpse into Matthew and Sarah’s life together before their encounter on The Wraith shows Sarah’s strength and resilience in no uncertain terms. She is a stellar character and is one that can span genres. While the fiery romance and tension between Sarah and Matthew is one definite draw of Dubois’s work, Sarah’s unmatched passion and drive are undeniably appealing.
DuBois is tops when it comes to dialogue. It can be challenging to find a book of the romance genre that doesn’t veer primarily toward the vulgar side. However, DuBois knows precisely how to appeal to her readers and keep them interested in the romance between Sarah and Matthew and the ever-present tension of their strained history. Their exchanges are charged with an energy that makes the reader anxious for their next interaction.
There Be Pirates is a masterful blend of romance, adventure, and drama with the perfect amount of humor thrown in. DuBois has done it again with this Matthew and Sarah saga installment. Romance fans looking for a new author providing a fresh take on historical romance will appreciate Catalina DuBois.
Pages: 368 | ASIN : B0CCQPB4QM
INFINITY: A Winter Romance
It can never be said that Sarah Nightingale is a typical lady. As a seventeen-year-old, she is approaching old-maid status and does not seem to care. She is independent, outspoken, and completely willing and more than able to run her father’s farm. Tobias, her father, realizes all of this but still wants to see her married. When he arranges a meeting between his daughter and Matthew, an eligible and promising prospective son-in-law, he has no way of knowing he has set into motion a sequence of events he will soon regret. Meanwhile, Sarah has designs on a marriage of her own–one no one would ever expect.
Infinity: A Winter Romance, by Catalina DuBois, is one in a series of books that follows two star-crossed lovers through time as they continue to encounter one another and fight for the chance to be together. As they fight to reunite and regain the love that was once stolen from them, they must overcome one incredible obstacle after another in order to defeat the forces that are determined to keep them apart for eternity.
Sarah and Matthew make the perfect pair. The dynamic DuBois has created between the two in this time period is intriguing, to say the least. Sarah is headstrong and cannot be told what to do; she is a fantastic main character. Her boldness shines through everything she says and does throughout the plot. It’s clear that Matthew has been written to shine a light on Sarah’s character. He is likable but takes nothing away from Sarah.
I so enjoy the way DuBois writes. This is the second book in her Infinity that I have read, and the element of mystery she adds to her books makes each a must-read. She leaves each chapter with a line or two that will hook readers every time, urging them on to the next chapter. This is the kind of writing I prefer–I want to be made to feel that I am missing out if I don’t just keep reading. DuBois, without a doubt, is a master at producing books you won’t be able to put down until you have reached the last page.
Infinity: A Winter Romance, by Catalina DuBois, DuBois’s romance is tastefully written with just enough sensuality to attract romance fans. DuBois’s characters are relatable no matter the time period in which the book is written, and the combination of drama and humor, along with elements of romance, pushes DuBois’s works into the top spot on my list of books I highly recommend.
Pages: 154 | ASIN : B0BKYSQNZ9
INFINITY: Book of Matthew II
In INFINITY: Book of Matthew II by Catalina DuBois, readers follow Sara during the Civil War era. Sara is a black woman that was a former slave at the Colburn Plantation in the states. She falls in love with a white man named Matthew who sweeps her off her feet and takes her to France. Now Sarah has become one of the few women in the world to become a medical doctor and has built a successful practice. After a terrible incident occurs in Sarah’s home and her children are almost taken away and put into slavery, Matthew and Sarah make the hard decision to fight in the war to protect their family.
Catalina DuBois takes readers on a spellbinding journey through time that forces readers to face the harsh reality of slavery, the Civil War, and the impacts it had on people. Sarah is a strong and mesmerizing character, but she is also kind even after all of the abuse she went through. Matthew’s character is one that many readers will fall in love with, especially after seeing his love for Sarah and his family.
The author immerses readers in the couples lives and we feel the love that they have for one another. The romance scenes are written tastefully, making the reader want to read more as the couple express their love and lust for one another.
This is book two of the series, but I think this novel can be read without having read book one as the author quickly recaps the first story, catching the reader up to Sarah’s current situation. The scenes of war are just as impactful as the romance scenes, and readers will be rooting for Matthew’s safe return. The author gives readers an inside look into Matthew’s thoughts as he writes in his journal. I enjoyed how this allows the reader to get a sense of what Matthew is feeling. This is a compelling book that gives just as much emotional depth to the horrors of war as it does to the romance in the book and I was enthralled with the story because of it.
INFINITY: Book of Matthew II is an engrossing story of courage, hope, and love. This is a rousing historical romance novel that I highly recommend to readers who are looking for a thrilling read with romance throughout.
Pages: 192
Viglets – Time, Infinity, Eternity
Viglets III: Time, Infinity & Eternity is the final installment in Viggo P. Hansen’s series dedicated to what he has dubbed, humankind’s only hope for salvation in our deeply troubled world that is rapidly succumbing to computers and apps. Following on from Viglets Two which explored the happiness and joy of being dumb, we are transported to an analysis of the concept of time and essentially the human race against it.
This has the blueprint of brilliant poetry: Imaginative. Creative. Descriptive. The first pages greet you with an illustration named ‘Time in a Bottle?’. It was the vivid, descriptive imagery that lacked in the first and second Viglets books. The image immediately pulls the attention of the reader by eliciting an almost psychedelic thought provocation. Its position was tactful, working recall memories of related experiences in the reader.
Included in Viglets III are yet again, interactive exercises. Hansen has done well to improve these activities; they are clearer and more encouraging. They are complemented by laying the foreground for the reader to consider their own beliefs, values, and morals.
An obvious difference in Viglets III is the mischievous tone and upbeat rhythm in comparison to Hansen’s previously cynical outlook on the development of the human race. The metaphoric symbolism was drastically better used. The notion of the relationship between the purpose of life and time was philosophical and exquisitely flowed powerfully into Hansen’s signature free verse poetry and varying stanzas. The sincerity is felt through the lines.
With a sub-theme of faith – particularly mythical gods, fallen angels, and self-trust – the seeds are planted inconspicuously enough that the reader cannot help but think deeper about what each of the ten sections means to them. Highly recommend it for those who enjoy a thought-provoking read on the elements that make up the daily life of humans.
Pages: 90 | ASIN : B079587BR8
A Crown of Golden Leaves – Trailer
Sara becomes torn between love and duty when she is chosen by the gods to assassinate the father of her beloved. Emperor Titus is the most powerful and ruthless villain in the world. Terminating him seems to be her only option, but Sara soon finds that there is so much more to the tyrant than meets the eye. Titus takes Sara on a journey through his dark and twisted path and shows her the true burden of his crown of golden leaves. Will she be able to follow through with his murder?
Infinity: Quest for the Holy Grail
![Infinity: Quest for the Holy Grail by [DuBois, Catalina]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/517COSoJp7L.jpg)
Sarah is married to a man she hardly knows and is not sure she knows how to love. Matthew, her husband of many years, has not seen Sarah since their union when she was a girl of only eight years. Raised in a convent and reunited with her husband, the knight, Sarah is in complete awe of the horrors of battle and the danger in which he must place himself to protect her. When Sarah steps in to save the kingdom from Matthew’s nemesis, she makes a sacrifice far greater than Matthew could ever have expected.
Infinity: Quest for the Holy Grail by Catalina DuBois is the third book focusing on the characters Sarah and Matthew. In varied settings and with slight name changes, DuBois manages to create stunning visuals with mind-blowing action sequences centering around a love affair for the ages. Sarah and Matthew are standouts in all three books, and Infinity: Quest for the Holy Grail features Sarah in her most unique position yet. Sarah is simply captivating in the role of the lover willing to sacrifice everything to save others. DuBois takes readers through Sarah’s thought processes in a way that is personal and moving and does so without the advantage of using first-person point of view. She has successfully created a female lead she is able to mold and shape into a woman of strength and enviable courage across time periods and ever-changing settings.
As with DuBois’s first two Infinity books, I am amazed at the manner in which the author is able to incorporate elements of fantasy into the historical romance genre. Two genres that sound worlds apart are brought together seamlessly in Infinity: Quest for the Holy Grail. With the introduction of the cyclops, I have to say I was at first a bit surprised. DuBois has a phenomenal knack for easing the reader into a realm fraught with surreal creatures and making the reader immediately comfortable with the blend of genres.
Imagery is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, DuBois’s forte. DuBois creates extraordinary images to draw readers into the reading in her masterfully crafted prologues. Infinity: Quest for the Holy Grail is no exception. As Matthew’s parents observe him from the balcony, the tension in the air is almost tangible. The image of a young Matthew riding away and being watched by parents holding a most devastating and crushing secret is poignant. DuBois manages to structure that scene to first touch the reader’s heart and then, out of nowhere, break it in two.
When reading a mix of fantasy and historical fiction, I appreciate an added level of mystery, and DuBois provides that perfect blend of genres. Readers looking for another angle on the quest for the holy grail and storylines featuring Sir Arthur, Medusa, and Lancelot will find DuBois’s writing to be a fresh look at these classic tales.
Pages: 205 | ASIN: B0791BBNZ3
Infinity: A Crown of Golden Leaves
![Infinity: A Crown of Golden Leaves by [DuBois, Catalina]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/5115M4X6N0L.jpg)
Matthaios is a prince and Sara is a slave girl. In ancient Rome, their love is forbidden. In fact, true love like theirs is not what royal marriages are made of. Matthaios is not cut from the same cloth as his father, Titus. Titus, being Caesar, is prone to all the atrocities and savagery of his title. Matthaios, kind and loving, is forced to marry a woman he does not and cannot possibly love. When Sara’s untimely death is foreseen by her trusted friend, the course of both their lives and any life they may ever have together takes a sudden and tragic turn.
Yet again, I am drawn to the characters in Catalina DuBois’s series. Infinity: A Crown of Golden Leaves is filled with a myriad of characters from all walks of life. From Medusa to Daniel, a merman and best friend of Sara, to Titus and Arrecina, his bride, DuBois pens some amazing and rich portraits of her cast of characters.
I didn’t want to be drawn to Titus. I fought hard against it for several chapters. Everything in me told me that Titus was not supposed to be my pick, but that’s exactly how outstanding DuBois’s writing is. She spins a backstory like no one else in this genre. Titus, in all his loathsome and vile glory, is truly the standout in this book. Without giving away too much, I will say the backstory the author has chosen to give him is heart-wrenching and sheds new light on his choices and his treatment of Sara. He absolutely stands as my favorite in the long list of DuBois’s characters.
I enjoy the mix of settings DuBois provides within the Infinity series. I didn’t expect to come across the element of fantasy so deeply intertwined with historical fiction. If an author isn’t careful, that cross can become an awkward and difficult pill for readers to swallow. DuBois however combines the two seamlessly. The reader quickly accepts the change of setting from above sea level to below as all part of the charm of the story.
As with DuBois’s other Infinity installments, romance is plentiful. However, DuBois constructs tasteful scenes that never border on vulgar or obscene. Her writing is touching and truly conveys a sense of deep and lasting love between her main characters.
Just as DuBois writes vividly of true love, she creates excruciatingly realistic scenes of her characters’ pain and heartache. I had a similar experience with Infinity: The Fifth Bride of Pharaoh. DuBois includes some of the most engaging prologues I have ever read. She pulls you in from the first paragraphs and keeps your interest piqued throughout the reading, moving along a roller coaster track of emotions and back again.
Readers seeking a quick but gripping historical fiction book with a tasteful amount of fantasy won’t be disappointed with the love story of Prince Matthaios and the love of his life, Sara.
Pages: 185 | ASIN: B076JLW85G
LITERARY TITAN 