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When Dreams Float
When Dreams Float is a sensuous African American romance set against the lush backdrop of Tahiti and nearby islands. The story follows Melanie, a travel writer recovering from a painful divorce, and Winston, a charming and confident doctor she meets by chance at an airport jewelry counter. Their connection ignites quickly, deepening through a charged plane ride and growing even more complicated when they unexpectedly end up on the same cruise. The plot blends travel, emotional healing, flirtation, and slow-building intimacy, all framed within the warmth and escapism of the romance genre.
I found myself reacting to the writing the same way Melanie reacts to Winston’s presence. One moment I was caught up in the playfulness of their banter, and the next I was watching her pull back, unsure whether to trust what she felt. The author writes attraction through small gestures, glances, and touches that land with real weight. The scene on the plane where turbulence throws Melanie into Winston’s arms stands out. It isn’t just physical; it reveals her reluctance, her longing, and her fear all in one breath. The story knows how to stretch those moments without overdoing them, letting the tension rise naturally.
I also appreciated the author’s choices around character grounding. Melanie isn’t just a romantic lead; she’s a woman with a past, a career, and quiet internal battles she doesn’t always name out loud. Winston, for all his confidence, shows flashes of vulnerability that make him more interesting than the typical smooth-talking hero. Their dynamic feels honest. Sometimes messy. Sometimes sweet. There’s a little humor, a lot of heat, and just enough emotional complexity to make the story feel fuller than a simple getaway romance. And the travel writing details add texture. The descriptions of the islands, the cruise ship, and the small cultural observations make the setting feel like more than a backdrop.
This book would hit the spot for readers who love romance that’s sensual but also rooted in character healing and emotional discovery. If you enjoy stories where two people meet at the wrong time but can’t quite step away, you’ll connect with this one. And if you’re drawn to travel-inspired romance, tropical settings, or slow-burn chemistry that simmers before it boils over, When Dreams Float delivers exactly that.
Pages: 185 | ISBN : 1585711047
Satisfying Payoff
Wrecked By You follows a woman in charge of making sure a million-dollar pre-wedding celebration goes off without a hitch while also trying to keep things strictly professional with the company’s controlling security chief. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Wrecked By You kicks off a series about six sisters running an elite travel agency, and I knew from the start I wanted to flip the spotlight onto women who are both powerful and real. Rayann is whip-smart and competent, but she’s also messy, impulsive, and deeply human. Max, our broody former SEAL, is the same way—yes, he’s sexy and commanding, but he carries scars you don’t always see at first glance. Those layers are what make characters feel like people you’d actually want to meet for drinks, laugh with, and maybe confess your own chaos to.
The setting was a no-brainer for me. I’ve always had a touch of wanderlust, and after years of traveling, I wanted each Wilder Horizons book to sweep readers into a different international location—Scotland, Costa Rica, Patagonia, the Galápagos—places that feel magical but still grounded in real life.
And woven into all that banter and heat are quieter threads that matter deeply to me. There’s a subtle nod to Rayann’s ADHD and a clear through-line of Max’s PTSD as a veteran. My husband came home from Afghanistan with PTSD, and I retired from the Air Force myself, so those stories aren’t abstract to me. And my teenage son has ADHD, so I’ve seen both the struggle and the gift of it up close. Too many people carry those battles in silence—I wanted to honor them on the page in a way that still lets readers laugh, swoon, and escape.
I enjoyed the tension surrounding the relationship between Rayann and Max. How did their relationship develop while you were writing it? Did you have an idea of where you wanted to take it, or was it organic?
I always start with an outline—big picture arc, chapter beats, the whole nine yards—because romance readers deserve that satisfying payoff at the end. But once I actually start writing, the characters tend to laugh at my notes and take the wheel on their own. It’s very much like real relationships: you think you know who someone is when you first meet them, and then the more time you spend together, the more surprises come out. That’s the part of writing I find addictive—you plot, you plan, and then suddenly you’re pantsing your way through revelations you didn’t see coming.
With Rayann and Max, I knew from the start that there would be sparks and friction, but I didn’t anticipate just how much Max’s backstory would shape the way he could (or couldn’t) open up to her. His struggle to forgive himself became the emotional hinge of their love story, and that realization didn’t hit me until I was deep into drafting. Honestly, I didn’t even have Murdo, his wise, whiskey-pouring confidant, in the original outline. But the moment Murdo showed up on the page, everything clicked, and suddenly Max’s journey felt more profound than I ever expected.
So yes, I had a destination in mind. But the road there? Totally organic, full of detours, and absolutely worth the ride.
What was your favorite scene in this story?
Oh, that’s like asking me to pick a favorite child—but if we’re talking pure comic relief? “The Highland Games” chapter wins, hands down. I was snort-laughing my way through writing it. It’s the first time Rayann really taunts Max out in the open, and Max—who normally lives and dies by a spreadsheet—literally rolls up his sleeves and gets messy right alongside her. Watching him let go for once was delicious.
But I also have a soft spot for the post-closet scene where Murdo unveils his signature cocktail on the chalkboard. The innuendo was flying, Max was being utterly filthy, and Rayann was desperately trying to pretend she wasn’t affected—which, of course, made it even better.
As much fun as the spice is to write (and trust me, it is fun), it’s the comedy that gets me. Those moments where I’m laughing so hard at my own manuscript that my husband and son give me the stink-eye, like I’m sitting there with some secret joke they’ll never be in on. Honestly? That’s my favorite kind of writing day.
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! Wrecked By You is the first in the Wilder Horizons series, and it sets the stage for five more sister stories. Book two, Challenged By You, follows Rayann’s twin sister, Brynn, down to the wilds of Costa Rica. Brynn is a practical joker with a sharp tongue, and she’s forced to team up with her biggest rival, Jerrick Thorne, a maddeningly sexy competitor who knows exactly how to push her buttons.
Readers can expect all the banter, angst, and slow-burn tension of book one, but with a fresh backdrop: rainforest adventures, high-stakes agency competition, and a romance that simmers until it absolutely explodes. Think: zip lines, jaguar encounters, power suits by the pool, and two people who would rather do anything than admit they’re falling for each other.
Release-wise, it’s coming Oct 28th. And from there, the Wilder sisters will keep globe-trotting their way into love, disaster, and plenty of laughter.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Rayann Wilder has charm, connections, and one job: make sure a million-dollar pre-wedding celebration in the Scottish Highlands goes off without a hitch. But when her boss assigns the company’s broody security chief to join her? Everything unravels fast.
Max Harrington is ex-military, exasperating, and entirely too attractive for Rayann’s sanity. He follows rules. She makes her own. He’s planning for worst-case scenarios. She’s trying not to jump him in a castle hallway. And the worst part? The more they argue, the harder it is to remember why this was supposed to be a strictly professional trip.
Tensions are high. The stakes are higher. And between ancient feuds, competitive games, and one very inconvenient suite-sharing situation… the line between enemies and lovers is about to disappear completely.
Wrecked by You is a sexy, enemies-to-lovers romantic comedy with snappy banter, forced proximity, and enough slow-burn tension to melt your passport. Perfect for readers who crave serious heat, sharp wit, and emotionally intelligent characters who know exactly how high the stakes are—especially when it comes to falling in love.
💋 Contains: Adult language, adult situations, and adults doing very adult things. On several occasions.
Also: swearing, swooning, and one hilariously inappropriate closet scene. Recommended 18+.
1st Place Winner of the Firebird Book Award in Chick Lit
Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Seal for Excellence in Romance Fiction
Hollywood Book Festival First Place Winner in Genre-Based Fiction (Romance)
Wrecked By You (Wilder Horizons): A Spicy Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Contemporary Romantic Comedy
Wrecked By You kicks off the Wilder Horizons series with a story that’s equal parts sharp banter, romantic tension, and emotional vulnerability. The book follows Rayann Wilder, one of six sisters tasked with keeping their father’s luxury travel company alive, and Max Harrington, a former Navy SEAL turned security chief whose life philosophy is control, order, and more control. What begins as a forced partnership on an overseas assignment quickly unravels into a storm of missteps, misunderstandings, and undeniable attraction. It’s a romantic comedy wrapped in chaos, with moments of heartfelt grief and healing woven between laugh-out-loud disasters.
The writing has a kind of quicksilver snap, shifting from comedy to tenderness in a single beat. Sometimes I caught myself grinning at Rayann’s snark, other times wincing at how nakedly she exposed her grief for her father. Max, meanwhile, made me want to throw something and hug him in equal measure. He’s infuriatingly rigid, yet the glimpses of softness under all that armor kept me hooked. I loved how their chemistry wasn’t neat or polished, but messy, clashing, and very real. The author’s humor often landed perfectly, though I’ll admit a few jokes leaned a little too staged, almost sitcom-like. Still, the rhythm of their back-and-forth was addictive.
What surprised me most was how much heart sat under the comedy. This isn’t just a story about attraction, it’s about the weight of family expectation, the ways grief lingers in quiet corners, and how vulnerability can feel more dangerous than desire. I found myself unexpectedly moved by Rayann’s private moments with her father’s journal, and by the way Max’s stoic facade started to crack. The writing never overindulged in sentimentality, and that restraint made the emotional punches land harder.
Wrecked By You is a romance that thrives on contrast. It’s chaotic and funny, yet tender and raw. I’d recommend it to readers who like their romantic comedies with a strong bite of real emotion. If you love sparring banter, reluctant partners who can’t seem to quit each other, and a backdrop of family drama that adds depth without drowning the romance, this one will hit the sweet spot. For me, it was a ride worth taking, mess and all.
Pages: 295 | ASIN : B0F2GRPBMX
Second Chances
Just Not My Type follows a high-powered fashion editor and single mom, who moves back to her hometown and finds life takes an unexpected twist when her childhood nemesis reenters her life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of going back to where you came from—not just physically, but emotionally. What happens when someone who has built this glossy, “big city” life suddenly finds themselves back in the small town where everyone knows their teenage nickname? That tension between who you were and who you’ve become is such a rich space to explore. Add in a certain childhood nemesis who refuses to stay in the past, and it became the perfect storm for drama, humor, and a little swoony chaos.
I found all your characters entertaining and engaging. What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I really enjoyed writing about Keith. He’s one of those characters who seems simple on the surface—a little smug, always quick with a smirk, but underneath that is a deep well of kindness and loyalty. Capturing that balance, his “smirkiness” alongside his quiet softness, was surprisingly challenging. Finding the right words to show both sides of him without making him feel contradictory took some work, but that complexity made him one of my favourites to bring to life.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Second chances—whether in love, career, or self-discovery—were a big one for me. I wanted to explore what it truly means to start over, not as a wide-eyed twenty-something but as someone who has already weathered life’s messes and learned from them. There’s also a strong thread of identity: Who are you when you strip away the titles, the job, and the carefully curated image? And, of course, family. No matter where life takes you or what stage you’re in, there’s something grounding and often healing about returning to your roots.
I find a problem in well-written stories, in that I always want there to be another book to continue the story. Is there a second book planned?
Not with this story. When I finished writing Just Not My Type, I felt a sense of closure—like Amber’s journey had come full circle. By the end, she was exactly where she needed to be, ready to live her life on her own terms. For me, that felt like the right place to leave her—happy, grounded, and complete.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram | Amazon
Just Not My Type
Neha Singla’s Just Not My Type follows Amber Carter, a high-powered fashion editor navigating the chaos of single motherhood, career transitions, and an emotional return to her small hometown, Nelson Bay. The story begins in the hustle of New York City, where Amber juggles her glamorous job with raising her young daughter, Charlotte. When life pushes her toward change, she makes the bold move back home, prompting a heartwarming and hilarious rediscovery of family, friendship, and love, with a hefty dose of small-town drama, awkward first dates, and designer birds.
Reading this book felt like catching up with an old friend who has a knack for storytelling. Singla’s writing is breezy and full of life. She’s got a real talent for capturing the everyday absurdities of parenting, dating, and work life without ever making it feel heavy. I laughed more than once, especially during Charlotte’s wild bird-feeding episode and the painfully relatable dinner date with Ray the stitch-counting doctor. Singla’s sense of humor is one of the book’s biggest strengths. Even when things get emotional, the tone stays grounded. There’s warmth in every chapter, and even the side characters (shoutout to Nana and the artistically dramatic Sam) feel like people I’ve met somewhere before.
But what I liked more than the laughs was the heart of it all. Amber’s inner struggles, feeling torn between ambition and motherhood, being pulled by roots and wings, felt real and raw. There were moments I had to pause because the emotions hit home. The way Singla explores the messiness of modern womanhood without sugarcoating it was refreshing. I didn’t always agree with Amber’s decisions, and there were times the plot felt a bit too neat or whimsical. But I cared. I was rooting for her. I felt like I’d lived in her shoes, even just for a little while.
Just Not My Type isn’t just a rom-com or a cozy family drama. It’s a story about choosing joy, about finding clarity in chaos, and learning to laugh at life’s ridiculous timing. If you’re someone who enjoys heartfelt stories with quirky humor, smart women, and the occasional seagull mishap, this one’s for you. It’s a perfect beach read or a pick-me-up on a rainy day.
Pages: 191 | ASIN : B0DVPNS1GL
The Ghost Who Wouldn’t Leave
The Ghost Who Wouldn’t Leave is a witty, immersive novel about a burnt-out writer, Lesley Tierney, who buys a crumbling country cottage hoping for solitude and a creative reset, only to find herself face-to-face with Nathaniel Ashcroft, the smug, brooding ghost of a long-dead Victorian actor. What follows is not a typical haunting. It’s a simmering standoff between two stubborn souls, one alive, one not. It’s filled with sarcastic banter, strange happenings, and slow, unexpected companionship. As Lesley unravels the mysteries of Nathaniel’s past, she also wrestles with her own creative doubts and emotional baggage, all within the creaky walls of a house that seems to watch her just as much as she watches it.
I didn’t expect this book to be so funny. The narration is sharp and self-aware, filled with dry British humor and a kind of biting internal monologue that had me laughing more than once. The pacing is tight, with eerie moments slipping into emotional ones, and then, just when things threaten to get too heavy, it throws in a perfectly timed quip or a floating teacup. Lesley is relatable in the most chaotic and relatable way. She doubts herself constantly but still finds the grit to stand her ground, even when the house (or the ghost) quite literally fights back. And Nathaniel? He’s annoying in the best possible way: smug, theatrical, and gradually, devastatingly real.
What I loved most, though, was how this ghost story wasn’t about fear. It was about being stuck. Stuck in houses, in stories, in past lives and unfinished business. The supernatural elements were clever and creepy, sure, but they always served something deeper. The slow emotional thaw between Lesley and Nathaniel is tender, strange, and oddly moving. There were moments that gave me chills, and others that hit far closer to the heart than I expected from a story that begins with a sarcastic property viewing and a possibly haunted Aga. The writing is rich but never stuffy, full of texture and mood.
I’d recommend The Ghost Who Wouldn’t Leave to anyone who likes their ghost stories with more heart than horror. It’s perfect for readers who appreciate layered characters, slow-burn relationships, and stories that blend the emotional with the uncanny. It’s especially for those who’ve ever felt a little lost or needed a reminder that sometimes, even haunted houses can be homes. I closed the book feeling like I’d been part of something strange and lovely.
Pages: 331 | ASIN : B0FH7LGB4Z
Flawed but Loveable
Seen follows a morally grey antihero in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, who obsesses over clearing his name and getting revenge, till he spots a young woman and she becomes his obsession. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was walking to work one morning and a prison van drove passed me on its way to the courthouse in the centre of Belfast City. I noticed that it had blacked out windows and I wondered if the prisoners inside could see out. My brain immediately made the jump to ‘what would happen if someone inside saw a person on the outside and that obsession became everything’. That small notion continued to grow in my mind until I had the makings of a whole organised crime family, perhaps a sign that I had ventured too far down the dark romance/mafia rabbit hole.
While doing research for the book I visited some of the main locations and even managed to get a tour of the inside of a prison van as well as the cells within the courthouse. I wanted to show an authentic story when it came to the characters, locations, and storylines. Therefore, each book in the series contains certain societal issues prevalent within Northern Ireland e.g. Drugs and criminality in book 1, human trafficking in book 2, and book 3 will be slightly different in that it will be a sports romance, specifically boxing, and features 2 men as the main characters. Northern Ireland is still far behind other countries in relation to the acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community so I am aiming to highlight the internal struggles of this for one of the characters in particular.
Aodhán and Nora are interesting characters who have their character flaws but are still likable. How do you go about creating characters for your story?
I always knew I wanted Aodhán to be a flawed but loveable character, someone who could be morally grey but would be a cuddly teddy bear for the right person. Nora is the epitome of every dark romance reader who loves a bad boy on paper. A woman who is both terrified and intrigued by a man with such clear red flags. When developing them and the surrounding characters I built individual profiles of their personalities, likes, and dislikes, and some of them are even loosely based on people within my life.
Are you a fan of the dark romantic comedy genre? What books do you think most influenced your work?
I was first introduced to the dark romance genre in October 2023 and became a firm fan, reading as many stories-mostly by indie authors as I could. Books to me are an escape from reality and the indie author community offered a much-needed space for raw and unadulterated stories. The romance comedy element came naturally when writing Seen as I wanted it to be authentically Belfast and we Irish are known for our dark humorous nature.
I would say I am probably most influenced by Brynne Weaver’s Ruinous Love Trilogy, CJ Riggs’ No, For An Answer, Luna Mason’s Beneath the Mask series, and Nikki J Summers’ Soldiers of Anarchy series. These stories all contained elements that resonated with me while I was building my characters and storylines.
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 of a 3-book series. Each book focuses on one of the O’Neill brothers. I don’t have a publication date for either of the follow-up books and I am currently writing book 2. It focuses on the eldest brother Cormac and the female character is Eireann Collins. Book 2 centres around the aftermath of Eireann, who was captured and tortured at the hands of a human trafficking ring. It focuses on her healing journey and ultimately her revenge on those who hurt her. Cormac is also working to take down the same perpetrators. Their journeys will intersect but it is made more complicated by their shared history. Book 2 is already shaping up to be darker than Seen, however, it does still retain some of the Belfast humour.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Amazon
Nora Kavanagh was just a girl who loved nothing more than chilling with her friends and fantasising about the men she read about in her books. That was until she unwittingly became snared in the sights of a man who both terrified and intrigued her.
Try as she may, to fight what the future holds, now he has seen her, nothing will stop him from capturing his shining light in the darkness and making her his.
Seen
Shauna Adams’ Seen is a wild, gritty plunge into a dark romance that’s anything but gentle. Set against a backdrop of Belfast’s criminal underworld, the story pivots around Aodhán, a morally grey antihero, and Nora, a woman whose accidental encounters with him ignite a dangerous obsession. Told through dual perspectives, the book peels back layers of trauma, lust, revenge, and vulnerability as their lives entwine. It’s a bold mix of intense attraction and criminal intrigue, stitched together with raw, explicit prose and themes that are not for the faint-hearted.
The writing is sharp and unapologetically in-your-face, and it works. Adams doesn’t mince words. Her dialogue has bite, the pacing sprints, and the steam is downright volcanic. Aodhán’s voice drips with menace and charm, while Nora feels real, grounded, and complicated. Still, parts of the book made me uncomfortable. Aodhán’s obsessive, stalker-like behavior is painted with romantic undertones that had me questioning whether I was supposed to swoon or scream. The emotional push-pull is gripping.
And yet, I couldn’t put it down. The plot twists hit like punches, and the chemistry between the leads was electric in a way that felt almost reckless. Adams pulls no punches on violence or sex, so you need a thick skin (and a strong stomach). The story has that addictive “just one more chapter” pull, even when you’re shaking your head at the sheer audacity of what’s happening. There’s a certain poetic tragedy in how flawed and raw everything is—it’s messy and unapologetically human.
In the end, Seen is not for everyone. But if you’re someone who loves dark romance, doesn’t shy away from taboo topics, and craves stories that don’t play it safe, this is your book. It’s intense, provocative, and a little unhinged—in the best way. Personally, I walked away a bit stunned, a bit disturbed, and a whole lot impressed. Adams knows what she’s doing, and she’s not afraid to break the rules to do it.
Pages: 253 | ASIN : B0DWFXCF54
LITERARY TITAN 