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Grand Illusion: Lesson of a Balinese Lotus
The story follows Mara, a gifted Balinese fabric artist who rises from her humble beginnings in rice paddies to the glamorous world of Milan Fashion Week. Her journey is one of contrasts. She moves between the quiet values of her homeland and the dizzying pace of high fashion, and she becomes entangled in a complicated romance with Zayn, a wealthy heir from the Emirates. Along the way, the book explores friendship, loyalty, cultural identity, and the fragile balance between authenticity and the grand façades people build around themselves.
What struck me most was how personal Mara’s journey felt. The writing is vivid, almost cinematic, when describing fabrics and runways, yet it softens into something warm and nostalgic when she recalls Bali. I felt caught between those worlds with her, sometimes seduced by the opulence and sometimes yearning for the quiet of the rice fields. The emotional pull is strong. The dialogue sometimes feels a little too polished, but that polished tone also matches the glittering, high-society backdrop.
I also found myself invested in the themes of love and ambition. Zayn fascinated me as a character because he embodied both desire and duty, but I often grew frustrated with his indecision. Mara’s longing for something deeper tugged at me, and I caught myself rooting for her to choose herself over him. The friendships with Sarah and Annie gave the novel a heartbeat, reminding me that sometimes chosen family anchors us more than romance ever could. The way those bonds were written gave me moments of real joy and comfort while reading.
One character I kept thinking about was Wayan. His presence felt like a quiet anchor in the storm of Mara’s conflicting worlds. I admired his sincerity and the way he carried his past with such openness, sharing childhood memories of his father’s silverwork and his grandmother’s cooking as if they were gifts. He wasn’t flawless, but that made him feel real. His willingness to fit into Mara’s family life, to get his hands dirty in the rice fields, and to prove his intentions gave the story a sense of groundedness. Through him, I felt the pull of tradition, the comfort of roots, and the reminder that sometimes love shows itself most in the willingness to stay and to try.
Grand Illusion is a book for readers who love a blend of romance, cultural richness, and the spectacle of fashion. It is heartfelt and dramatic, with enough tension to keep you turning the pages. If you enjoy stories about women navigating identity in the face of dazzling but fragile worlds, this one will speak to you. For me, it was a reminder that no matter how grand the illusions of life may seem, the truth of who we are always waits to be chosen.
Pages: 288 | ASIN : B0FLVPHNND
Other Side of Paradise
Fred G. Baker’s The Other Side of Paradise kicks off with a classic mystery hook—a man wakes up on the side of a desolate road in France, bruised and bloody, with no memory, a gun, a suspicious amount of cash, and a copy of This Side of Paradise by Fitzgerald. From there, the novel unfolds into a tangled web of romance, danger, and slow-burning self-discovery, set against the backdrop of a dreamy yet oddly eerie French resort called Paradise. It’s part literary fiction, part espionage-lite, part sultry romance, and completely readable.
I got sucked in immediately. Baker doesn’t waste time. The first chapter is moody and vivid. Our nameless protagonist stumbles, bloodied and dazed, into what looks like a peaceful haven, only to be met with people who are a little too welcoming, a little too quirky. Maddy, the charming and complex woman he meets at the resort, becomes an anchor character. She’s playful, seductive, but also deeply wounded, especially in that scene where she confesses to losing her husband in a plane crash and then pivots straight into flirtation. It’s emotional whiplash and I was never quite sure who to trust, which felt exactly right given the main character’s amnesia. Even the setting is off-kilter in a fun way. Lush and idyllic on the outside, but kind of like a French Twilight Zone inside.
The prose is sometimes very detailed, particularly in descriptions of women or clothes, and there are moments where the dialogue feels a little too smooth for strangers dealing with a possible fugitive. But that also added a kind of surreal charm. Everyone speaks in this cool, slightly theatrical rhythm like you’re watching a Netflix noir. The party scene with the Swedish twins was wild, veering from comic to chaotic, and it somehow works. One minute, you’re laughing at Astrid and Birgitta skinny-dipping and collapsing in the grass, and the next, you’re piecing together whether our mystery man is a criminal, a spy, or just incredibly unlucky. There’s always a low hum of tension beneath the glossy surface.
I’d recommend The Other Side of Paradise to readers who like a good character-driven mystery with style and atmosphere to spare. If you’re into novels where memory loss isn’t just a gimmick but a way to explore identity, this one delivers. It’s perfect for fans of thrillers that flirt with romance, or romance that flirts with danger. Baker’s writing has that rare quality where even when you’re not sure where the story is headed, you definitely want to keep turning the pages.
Pages: 231 | ASIN : B0DZ3QNX8Q
Flipping the Script
Protective Instinct follows a self-absorbed, international bestselling author who refuses to write the biography of the infamous, mob-connected man and winds up in a deadly situation. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I have always been fascinated by the seemingly aloof persona of many bestselling authors. Some appear to be elevated to a higher plane than the rest of us. I wanted to create a self-absorbed writer who was insulated by his core entourage and shake up his perfectly managed and privileged existence, forcing him out of his comfy life in a jarring way. How would he react to a life-threatening situation without his team taking care of him? Would he step up or fold? What if he had to rely on the last person on earth he would expect? I have always disliked stereotypes of women characters. Females who are strong, independent, and self-reliant are often portrayed as abrasive, pushy, and overly competitive, while women who are kind and cheerful are portrayed as weak and reliant on men. I wanted to flip the script and the assumptions. My female protagonist would be perky, good-natured, and authentically herself. Someone who a judgmental author would easily underestimate, her mettle not overtly visible. Who would save who when the bullets start flying? The rural south and the Smokey Mountains added another challenge to the author’s discomfort.
There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
One of the most important aspects of an enjoyable story is character development. If the readers don’t care about the characters or understand who they are, how can they be invested in the outcome of the story? I want the reader to get to know the characters; their motivations, their fears, their strengths, flaws, pain, insecurities, and what brings them happiness. I want them to be authentic and relatable. This doesn’t happen all at once. As a writer, I can’t just tell the reader who the characters are. The reader needs to get to know them for themselves in an organic way and truly believe it, as it is slowly revealed in each scene through actions, emotional reactions, character interactions, and through crisp and natural dialogue. Even the minor characters are important and must contribute to the plot or the character development. For example, a brief conversation at a diner can reveal a lot about the protagonists by their interaction. Asking for a New York strip in a rural diner with a daily special of fried pork chops and turnip greens, tells you a lot about the out of touch rich guy. The smirk on the sassy server’s face as she does a little self-satisfied jig all the way back to the kitchen tells you a lot about her. I try not to waste any opportunity.
How do you balance story development with shocking plot twists? Or can they be the same thing?
As a reader, I love plot twists and surprises. If I can figure out what’s going to happen in the first few chapters, what’s the point. I want the unexpected, but I also want it to make sense. My story builds with a series of turning points, conflicts, emotional moments, or revelations. Some are dramatic, some subtle. It allows opportunities for my characters to grow and the readers to learn more about them. Twists can take the story in a new direction, cause roadblocks, or present a surprising reveal with emotive results. All these moments help to further develop the growth and complexity of my characters and the plot. It can add truth and understanding to the story.
What is the next book that you are working on and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I am currently halfway through a new thriller that I hope to have completed by early spring 2025. It is another fast-paced story with complex characters and a twisty plot. I will also be working on the third book to my YA series, The Jailer’s Daughter Mysteries, which I hope to be finished by fall of 2025.
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Sebastian (Bash) Bartoli is an international bestselling crime novelist. Maximillian (Max) Fontana, who is reputed to have ties to organized white-collar crime, has insisted Bash write his biography. Concerned for his safety, Bash’s friend/agent devises an elaborate plan for him to disappear to a secluded location on Guntersville Lake in Alabama. Being accustomed to having his comfortable life managed, Bash is irritated by the inconvenience of having to deal with his own affairs, not to mention the danger it might pose if he is discovered.
Morgan Skylar is a good-natured and unfiltered, southern kindergarten teacher. She is much more comfortable eating potato chips with Cheez Whiz and Louisiana Hot Sauce than champagne and caviar. After the death of her overly protective grandfather (Pops) who raised her in rural Georgia, she takes time off to grieve, ending up in a cottage next door to Bash. When mechanical issues arise, she seeks help from the renter in the main house. Bash is annoyed that his secluded hideout is apparently not so secret. Begrudgingly, he offers her assistance. This is where Morgan and Bash’s worlds collide. When suited, armed men show up at the lake house, Morgan’s trained survival skills take over, and she secures their escape by boat as bullets fly.
Morgan offers to provide a temporary sanctuary to Bash in her Pops’ remote Appalachian cabin. Upon arrival, she discovers a letter from Pops revealing his dangerous past that may now be coming for her. As the unwitting targets of dangerous men, Bash and Morgan fight to stay a step ahead of their pursuers, while seeking answers. Bonds are tested. Trusts are broken. Alliances formed. Agendas hidden.
Protective Instinct
Joy York’s Protective Instinct stands out with its sharp and captivating storytelling. The narrative pulls readers into a whirlwind of suspense and action, where each plot twist defies prediction, keeping them breathlessly turning pages. Every scene pulses with energy, expertly crafted to leave readers on edge, immersed in an atmosphere brimming with danger and intrigue.
The characters shine in their complexity. Morgan Skylar, a tough and resourceful kindergarten teacher with survival instincts hidden beneath her seemingly innocent demeanor, brings a dynamic and relatable strength to the story. Sebastian “Bash” Bartoli, the self-absorbed crime fiction writer, must grapple with his own shortcomings as he’s thrust into peril far removed from his life of privilege and literary fame. Their evolving relationship adds an emotional layer to the tension, especially as they’re forced to rely on each other when the bullets start flying. York’s deft characterization extends even to the secondary players like the powerful Fontana family, whose tangled web of secrets keeps the stakes high and the reader guessing. The chemistry between Morgan and Bash is palpable, growing convincingly amidst the chaos. Their journey from mistrust to mutual reliance, underscored by hints of romance, is seamlessly woven into the thrilling plot.
Protective Instinct moves far beyond the average suspense thriller; it’s a masterful blend of high-stakes drama, unexpected revelations, and deeply engaging characters. York delivers a story that hits every mark for fans of thrillers infused with emotional depth and relentless action. If you crave suspense laced with intensity and character-driven surprises, Joy York’s novel is a must-read.
Pages: 287 | ASIN : B0CPDQ8MCL
Grit and Perseverance
Switching Tracks: Out of the Trash follows a starving young woman who discovers maps to secret seed bunkers that, if found, would take power away from the corporatocracy and give people a fighting chance at survival. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration of the story came from thinking about all the trash today. Many things aren’t made to last and few things are repaired. Things are thrown out and replaced. The second piece of inspiration was about the train itself. My grandfather rode the rails during the Great Depression. His family lost their farm in Kansas and loaded up their car, Grapes of Wrath style, and moved to Utah to live with cousins. He was a young man and couldn’t stand living on charity and being reminded of it constantly. He and one of his brothers hopped a train to California, looking for work so they could send money home. He made the trip several times, back and forth, including one harrowing ride over the Sierra Nevadas trip in freezing weather with one jacket and two young men. His stories stuck with me.
Elsa just wants to survive, until she discovers the maps to the seed bunkers; now, she sees a chance to change things not just for herself but all of humanity. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Her character development is meant to be like most of us. Most people are just ordinary and trying to get by until they are thrust into a position to do more.
The seed bunkers exist. I didn’t make them up. They are there to hedge our bets against a disaster and crop failure, especially if we lose genetic diversity for our seeds and crops as is the trend. If we ever need these seeds, I hope they would be available to everyone, not just the richest corporations.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It’s a story of grit and perseverance, as well as loyalty, altruism, love, and found family.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Yes, this is the first book of three (they are all written and in various stages with my publisher). The series is called Train Hoppers. The second book, The Long Haul: Pursuit of Hope will be published June 6th, 2024 and the final book, Rebels and Saints: Catching Freedom is scheduled for publication April 24th, 2025.
In The Long Haul: Pursuit of Hope, the main characters have been recuperating on a farm in Utah but are found by GreenCorps and have to leave. One step ahead of their pursuers, they head for Canada to make contact with someone with resources to help distribute the bunker seeds. They are joined by two new characters, a pampered daughter of the GreenCorps elite and a long-time rebel.
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Elsa scavenges twenty-first-century trash, living on the edge of starvation in this ruthless world through her grit and instincts.
When she unearths a metal tube containing maps to six Doomsday seed bunkers and a silver key, she dreams of renewable sources of food and a life based on more than subsistence, but GreenCorps will stop at nothing to acquire her find. Accused of theft and beaten half to death, she escapes with a handsome train hopper. They seek the long-lost bunkers, hoping to break GreenCorps’ monopoly on food.
Along the way, they receive help from a teenage pickpocket, a solitary widow, and a rebel leader. If this rag-tag group of lonely misfits cannot reclaim the tube and find a way to distribute the seeds, GreenCorps will continue to choke out any chance of a better life.
Hop aboard this thrilling dystopian train-hopping adventure with Switching Tracks.
Switching Tracks: Out of the Trash
In Switching Tracks: Out of the Trash, the first installment of Lena Gibson’s Train Hoppers series, readers are transported to a dystopian 2195 America. Here, young Elsa navigates a post-apocalyptic landscape where the remnants of a bygone era have become the currency for the impoverished. Amidst the desolation, Elsa’s routine scavenging in Southern California takes an unexpected turn when she uncovers a mysterious tube, setting off a chain of events that intertwine hope and peril.
Gibson’s narrative is set against a backdrop where GreenCorps, a domineering corporation, controls essential resources, creating a stark divide between the powerful and the powerless. This tube discovery presents a glimmer of hope for breaking the corporation’s stranglehold, yet it also makes Elsa the target of a relentless GreenCorps soldier with a personal vendetta.
The novel deftly explores themes of corporate tyranny, environmental degradation, and the human spirit’s resilience. Gibson’s skillful world-building paints a vivid picture of a society in decay, yet her characters’ experiences inject a palpable sense of humanity into the story. Her descriptive prowess is evident, rendering the squalor and emotional intensity of the narrative with remarkable clarity. The characters are meticulously crafted, with Gibson highlighting their defining traits, making them not only relatable but deeply engaging. The novel also excels in developing its supporting cast, each embarking on distinct journeys that add layers to the story and build anticipation for their roles in the unfolding drama. An element of romance weaves through the narrative, adding depth and complexity to the story. The novel also includes include explicit scenes, presented with the same rich detail and narrative care that defines Gibson’s style, adding another layer of depth to the story.
Switching Tracks: Out of the Trash is a compelling read that captures the essence of a dystopian reality while highlighting the enduring qualities of heroism and resilience. Gibson’s narrative is a poignant reminder of the human capacity to seek change in the face of overwhelming odds.
Pages: 364 | ASIN : B0CM4ZMDZC
Spiral: Book One Of The Crane Trilogy
Spiral by James M. Fisher is a captivating coming-of-age novel that follows the story of Michael Price, a young man deeply affected by his mother’s loss. His happy life crumbles when his father remarries a Trophy Wife, and Michael is forced to attend a Catholic private school, where he struggles to fit in. He befriends a football jock named Dave, who helps him make school feel less lonely. Michael is once again uprooted from his California life and is moved to Utah. He befriends Tony, who introduces him to the world of punk, self-destruction, and Danielle.
The author takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster as we follow Michael through his struggles and triumphs. The story opens on a dramatic note, and I was immediately intrigued. Fisher adeptly highlights the stark contrast between life in California and life in Utah, adding depth to the story and characters. The dialogue feels real, and I began to feel sorry for Michael because of what he dealt with his stepmother and real father. I was sad to see Michael and his father’s relationship deteriorated after the passing of his mother.
Through vivid descriptions and Michael’s nightmares, the author allows readers to understand Michael better and relate to his angsty teenage character. I found it amusing that Michael referred to his parents as “real mom,” “jock dad,” and “trophy wife,” as this shows his true feelings towards the people in his life. This short read moves at a smooth pace, but the tension picks up in the middle of the book, immersing readers into Michael’s world.
This unpredictable and unexpected twist had me guessing until the very end. Overall, Spiral is an enthralling read that many readers will empathize with, as we have all experienced life-changing events that shape us into who we are today. I eagerly anticipate the next book in this series.
Pages: 268 | ASIN : B07NFBVBZ9
Squeeze: A Romantic Adventure
Squeeze: A Romantic Adventure by Hiram Davis isn’t your usual romance novel. Following the misadventures of veteran Cooper Landry, it is filled with action, suspense, and a lot of violence.
After leaving the service, he continues to struggle with his past. He seeks change by leaving his hometown and quickly falls in love with Quinn Daltry. What follows is a classic romantic misunderstanding, but with a violent twist. Cooper ends up leaving again, convinced Quinn isn’t interested, not knowing she is in a hospital in a coma. Cooper decides to move on and takes a job in Central America, to which his lifelong friend accompanies him for the trip down. Before they know what’s hit them, the two men have been abducted by a drug cartel and are fighting for their lives. Upon discovering her love is missing, Quinn sets out to find him.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this action-adventure novel had emotional depth as well as thrilling drama. The book takes certain clichés: a damaged hero, a loyal best friend, and a silly misunderstanding, and twists them to offer something unique in this packed genre. Cooper is an immensely likable character whose troubling past is handled well. While it is dark, it never overshadows the lighter moments of the book. All three main characters are a joy to root for because they are well-developed and compelling.
This is a story that is constantly moving, focusing more on the action and suspense rather than the romance. I enjoyed the quick pace because I always felt like we were moving forward, all the while left guessing what would happen next because the path forward is circuitous but so much fun to follow. A true page-turner. The ending, in particular, is very intense as Davis has done a great job of making you care about the characters, and readers will be invested in them by the end.
The author puts a lot of emphasis on domestic abuse early on, both Cooper and Quinn are survivors, which may upset some readers, but it’s not superfluous. The story also deals with addiction, and the violence can be quite grizzly. I can’t recommend Squeeze enough. It takes important and troubling themes and wraps them up in an exciting adventure full of violence and suspense.
Pages: 332 | ASIN : B0BHTQFVNY
LITERARY TITAN 