Blog Archives
Ninas Whisper
Nina’s Whisper is a raw and emotionally charged novel that follows the life of Nina, a successful pediatrician who becomes entangled in a passionate and tumultuous relationship with a woman named Page. What begins as a whirlwind romance quickly descends into a harrowing exploration of emotional manipulation, psychological abuse, and intimate partner violence. Told from Nina’s point of view, the story is an intimate confession of how love, hope, and commitment can trap a person in an increasingly dangerous situation. The novel chronicles her emotional journey over the course of several years, culminating in an intense and heart-wrenching effort to reclaim her life and sanity.
The writing is clear and deeply personal, and Howard does an exceptional job of pulling you into Nina’s mind. I found myself often frustrated, angry, scared, and heartbroken alongside her. The emotional depth is gripping. The storytelling is tight, and the pace is steady even as the subject matter grows more intense. Howard doesn’t sensationalize abuse, she renders it quietly, carefully, which somehow makes it hit even harder. It felt so real that I caught myself questioning how easily love can blind us. Nina’s gradual loss of self, her inner justifications, her attempts to make sense of madness, they’re all too relatable.
What struck me most about this story was how deeply it made me feel. The emotional intensity is relentless, it doesn’t flinch, and it doesn’t let you look away. It pushed me to sit with discomfort and reflect on how easy it is to lose yourself in the name of love. I found myself yearning for more moments of calm or joy for Nina, but I also see the value in how unapologetically the story centers the reality of trauma. There’s a kind of beauty in its rawness.
Nina’s Whisper is a gut-wrenching read, but one that’s worth every page. It’s for readers who want honesty, who can sit with discomfort, and who are drawn to stories that show how strong the human spirit can be even in the face of relentless harm. I’d especially recommend it to survivors of abuse, therapists, and anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the quiet ways people get broken and the fierce ways they try to build themselves back up.
Pages: 218 | ASIN : B0848YGLTL
Kissing Toads
Danissa Wilson’s Kissing Toads is a nostalgic, heartfelt, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny journey through the highs and lows of finding love in the 80s and 90s. At its core, it’s a coming-of-age story wrapped in a romantic memoir, following Annie as she navigates the minefield of romance, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Raised with the belief that a woman’s worth is tied to the man she lands, Annie embarks on a decades-long quest to find her “Prince Charming” by kissing an array of metaphorical (and sometimes literal) toads. Through first loves, bad boyfriends, and the chaos of early online dating, her story unfolds with a mix of humor, nostalgia, and a healthy dose of reality. But just when you think you’ve figured out where it’s headed, Wilson throws in an unexpected twist that flips the script entirely.
Wilson’s writing shines in its ability to be both sharp and self-deprecating. The humor is biting but never forced, and Annie’s voice is refreshingly honest. The opening chapter, where Annie details the absurdity of being named after her mother’s beloved golden retriever, immediately sets the tone. Lines like, “Being the namesake of the family pooch? Does it get more humiliating than that?” make it clear that this book isn’t just about romance; it’s about identity, self-worth, and breaking free from expectations. The book doesn’t shy away from the awkwardness of young love either. Annie’s high school relationship with the Ozzy Osbourne-worshipping, eyeliner-wearing “Oz” is painfully relatable, showing how teenage romance can be both intoxicating and utterly misguided.
One of the most compelling aspects of Kissing Toads is its exploration of societal expectations placed on women, particularly in past decades. Annie’s mother, a woman who abandoned her own dreams for the role of perfect wife and mother, serves as both a loving figure and a cautionary tale. She constantly reinforces the idea that Annie’s happiness hinges on finding a man. This generational pressure is woven throughout the book, making Annie’s journey all the more meaningful. When she starts to question whether she’s searching for love or simply fulfilling a script handed down to her, the book reaches its most thought-provoking moments. Scenes like her internal struggle over a sexist “No Fat Chicks” sticker she bought as a teen highlight the subtle ways misogyny is ingrained in everyday life. Wilson brilliantly captures how these influences shape Annie’s choices, often without her even realizing it.
The book’s pacing is another strong point. Wilson moves seamlessly from high school heartbreaks to the cringe-worthy infancy of online dating, never lingering too long on any one phase of Annie’s journey. Each relationship teaches her something new, sometimes through devastation, other times through sheer absurdity. The dialogue is snappy, the 80s and 90s references are spot-on, and there’s an authenticity to Annie’s experiences that makes her deeply relatable. However, what sets Kissing Toads apart from a typical rom-com or coming-of-age novel is its refusal to tie everything up in a neat bow. Without giving too much away, Annie’s “happily ever after” isn’t what you’d expect but it’s so much more satisfying because of it.
This book is for anyone who has ever looked back on their past relationships and cringed, laughed, or wondered what the hell they were thinking. It’s for Gen Xers who lived through the rise of online dating, for women who’ve been told that their worth is measured by their romantic success, and for anyone who loves a story that balances humor with heartfelt moments. Wilson has crafted a novel that’s both wildly entertaining and deeply resonant, proving that sometimes, kissing toads isn’t about finding a prince, it’s about finding yourself. Highly recommended.
Pages: 180 | ASIN : B0DGVT1XVC
The Beauty and Destructive Power of Friendship
Beautiful and Terrible Things follows a twenty-nine-year-old woman who manages a bookstore who meets a quirky man, and takes a chance stepping out of her comfort zone and making new friends. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
First, I decided what age group I wanted to dig into. I was bothered by the stereotype of Millennials as self-indulgent, unmotivated and entitled. That does not describe my daughters or their friends at all. So I decided to feature a more realistic cast of Millennials in my novel.
I also liked this age for my characters because people on the cusp of 30 are grappling with major life decisions about marriage, children, careers, etc.
Once I had the age down, my goal was to depict both the beauty and the destructive power of friendship by building a cast of characters that reminds readers of New Girl, Friends or The Big Bang Theory. Making the lead character, Charley, an introvert with borderline depression gave me lots of room to explore that concept and show her personal growth. And quirky Xander was the perfect foil for her, one capable of pulling her out of her self-imposed social isolation.
What were some of the emotional and moral guidelines you followed when developing your characters?
Emotionally, my six main characters bring very different sensibilities to the table. My guideline was simply to make them as real as possible. Morally, my goal was to present differing views on difficult subjects. For example, the friends spar over the issue of undocumented immigrants. But most important for a story featuring six individuals of varied race, heritage, gender identity and sexual orientation was to be sensitive to how I depicted them.
I was fortunate to have the guidance of many sensitivity readers on the cultural, race, mental health and immigration aspects of the book. I even got feedback from a Filipino artist, who matches one of the characters!
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
First, that we don’t always do what’s best for us, sometimes because we don’t see it, sometimes because we don’t want to see it, and sometimes because we acknowledge it but for some foolish reason think it might, against all odds, work out differently.
Second, that in trying to do right by one person, we sometimes hurt another. Such is the case when Jessica, in Beautiful and Terrible Things, makes a major sacrifice to help pull Charley out of her depression, but her actions end up hurting another loved one in a very tragic way.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
My next novel, 101 Ways to Screw Up a Kid, is about the toll that secrets take on a family. It features a (hopefully) loveable curmudgeon similar to Elizabeth Zott in Lessons in Chemistry. And I’m co-writing a true crime memoir, which is a bit different for me. It’s a highly compelling story about how a rape victim and the investigating detective work together to catch the suspect, and then fall in love years later. I’m working on securing agents/publishers for both.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Instagram
Beautiful and Terrible Things
Beautiful and Terrible Things by S.M. Stevens is an engaging narrative that delves into human resilience amidst tragedy. This novel thoughtfully examines pressing issues such as love, race, gender, and activism, providing a multifaceted look at the challenges and growth experienced by individuals in contemporary society. The protagonist, Charley Byrne, is vividly drawn; a young woman initially engulfed by fear and isolation until the dynamic activist Xander Wallace enters her life, sparking a transformative friendship.
The book adeptly navigates themes of friendship, love, and social justice, effectively pulling readers into Charley’s evolving world. Her journey of personal growth and the quest to find her voice within a tightly-knit community underscores the narrative. Stevens introduces a diverse array of characters, each adding layers of complexity and enhancing the story with their perspectives, thus illustrating the strength derived from empathy and collective endeavor. Stevens’s prose is lyrical and rich, capable of drawing readers deeply into the emotional landscape of the story—from introspective quietude to the fervor of protests and activism, the authenticity and emotional resonance of each scene are palpable. While the plot occasionally takes familiar turns, and some narrative threads could be more concise, the book’s deep exploration of significant themes and rich character dynamics ensures a rewarding reading experience.
Beautiful and Terrible Things is not just a story about overcoming adversity but also a reflection on the intrinsic beauty that can be found in life’s most formidable moments. It challenges readers to consider the enduring impact of human connections and the personal strength that can emerge from hardship. This novel remains with you, a testament to the indomitable human spirit and the complexities of life it navigates.
Pages: 432 | ASIN : B0CX5SHPDT
Dynamics of Relationships
Roam Within: Macallah and the White World of Light follows a woman setting out on an adventure of self-discovery and personal growth. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the set up of this story was my own personal diary as well as our ever-changing daily reality that is an inexhaustible source. Through our existence we are all on this ever-lasting quest of self-discovery, so that’s a theme that’s always relevant and relatable. Also, I’m fascinated by dynamics of relationships and how others affect us. When you explore these dynamics from different angles, you come to understand that nothing is ever as it seems.
What was one scene in the novel that you felt captured the morals and message you were trying to deliver to readers?
Oh gosh, it’s so hard to pick one:) But if I must, it would take me somewhere by the end of the novel where Macallah acknowledges new layers to her being as she comforts Saku. Re-reading the novel, these scenes with Saku always feel most raw and very touching. It’s just about living this life & walking this planet while noticing other human beings without any prejudice. Like, really noticing.
Were you able to achieve everything you wanted with the characters in the novel?
I hope so because as you write the story and it starts to unravel before your eyes, you sort of magnetise the characters for the purpose of the story.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
Actually, I’m on an intersection now, as I’ve already written parts of, in my mind, several different books. They all have the same strong Magical Realism tone, but differ in the setting, the characters, and the sub genres. I give myself a few more months to marinate, and then I’ll decide on the final winner for the next novel to set out to the world. In any case, I plan to publish my next book by the end of next year.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | Website | Amazon
LITERARY TITAN 