Blog Archives
Love’s Journey Home
Love’s Journey Home by C. A. Simonson tells the story of a young boy named Frankie who grows up in deep poverty, family loss, and emotional neglect. The novel begins with children left sitting on a fence while their father disappears, and it follows Frankie as he is forced to separate from his siblings and survive on his own. The book traces his path through hardship, farm labor, fleeting kindness, cruelty, and moments of grace. At its core, it is a coming-of-age story rooted in abandonment, faith, and the human need to belong.
What stayed with me most was the emotional weight of the writing. The voice feels raw and personal, like someone sitting across from you telling their life story without polish or pretense. I felt anger toward the adults who failed these children, and a deep ache during scenes of separation and loss. Some moments hit hard and fast, especially when innocence collides with cruelty. Other scenes linger quietly, almost painfully so. The author does not rush the pain, and I respected that.
The ideas in the book revolve around resilience, faith, and the search for love when family falls apart. I appreciated how love is not portrayed as neat or easy. It shows up in small gestures, imperfect people, and unexpected places. The spiritual thread is strong, sometimes heavy, but it feels sincere rather than forced. I did feel that some characters leaned toward clear good or bad roles, and I wanted a bit more nuance in places. Still, the honesty of the message carried me through. This story felt authentic.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy heartfelt stories about survival, family, and faith. It would resonate most with those who like historical fiction rooted in real hardship and moral struggle. It is not a light read, but it is a meaningful one. If you appreciate stories that sit with pain and still believe in hope, this book is worth your time.
Pages: 260 | ASIN : B0BPF65W63
The Seven
Igor Stefanovic’s The Seven begins as a vivid family drama wrapped in mystery and tension, and it quickly evolves into something much larger. The story follows the Meyer siblings —seven of them —each scattered across continents after their father, Abraham, sets them on a strange quest to find sculptures that represent the purity of love. The setup feels biblical, almost mythic, but the execution is modern and cinematic. From luxury yachts and family mansions to deserts and laboratories, Stefanovic paints a sweeping world filled with ego, guilt, ambition, and buried love. The tone shifts from thriller to introspection and back again, and by the end, it feels like the first act of a much grander saga.
The writing is rich and immersive, the kind that drops you right into a scene with the scent of bourbon, the thrum of a yacht party, the quiet wheeze of an oxygen tank. It’s hard not to feel something for Abraham, the dying patriarch, trying to shake his spoiled children awake. Stefanovic writes him with compassion and grit. The dialogue, though occasionally heavy, feels raw and lived-in. Some parts hit hard, like watching someone confess a lifetime of regret.
The ideas in The Seven stuck in my head. It’s about privilege and purpose, about how easy it is to lose your soul when you’ve never had to fight for it. I found myself angry at the characters but also weirdly protective of them. Stefanovic’s sense of irony is sharp, and he never lets anyone off easy. The emotional punches are subtle at first and then land all at once, like waves catching you when you’re not ready. Sometimes the prose feels indulgent, but then it snaps back with a line so clear it cuts. I liked that unpredictability.
I’d recommend The Seven to readers who enjoy family epics with emotional weight and moral complexity. If you like stories that mix glamour with existential dread, this one’s for you. The writing has heart and ambition, and it always reaches for something real.
Pages: 511 | ASIN : B0FQJNYQHF
The New Normal
Baby Brother-Itis follows a four-year-old girl who is convinced she’s come down with something called Baby Brother-Itis and spirals into a flurry of imagination, questioning what it is, whether it’s contagious, and how her world will change. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Our children were my inspiration for Baby Brother-Itis. Our son was born early during my husband’s deployment with the U.S. Army. He was born with medical complications and required a lot of extra care. Our daughter never had to “compete” for our attention it was always hers alone. With a new baby in the house and only one parent caring for both children sadly, she was feeling the strain of our “new normal”.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wrote this story 25 years ago; and put it in a filing cabinet. Periodically throughout the years I would pull it out and read it to our children. We moved 21 times in 23 years with the Army and a lot changed within our family dynamics during that time. Initially we only had 2 biological children when I wrote this; and adopted 3 more children years later. I wanted to incorporate all 5 of the children in the book. Each page is actually one of our children, with their unique characteristics.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
The scene I had the most fun writing was where sister says all the baby does is “eat and sleep all day”. Our son the “baby” is now 28 and when he came home from a deployment with the U.S. Army, he reverted back to the baby and once again “eat and sleep” all day. I also love the illustrations on that page; Tullip Studio did an amazing job with the illustrations.
I find a problem with well-written stories in that I always want there to be another book to keep the story going. Is there a second book planned?
The question keeps coming up about another book for this story. It definitely has given me something to think about. I’m excited to say, I have been working on another book not associated with Baby Brother-Itis and hopefully it will be available later this year.
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As her overactive imagination runs wild, she starts feeling left out, confused, and even jealous. She overhears a conversation about her “mysterious” illness, sparking a journey of self-discovery. But despite the changes, she slowly warms up to her little brother, realizing that love isn’t divided—it grows.
Baby Brother-Itis
Baby Brother-Itis by Mary Arnold delivers a delightful blend of humor and heart, capturing the emotional whirlwind a young girl experiences as she becomes a new big sister. Convinced she’s come down with something called “Baby Brother-Itis,” she spirals into a flurry of imagination, questioning what it is, whether it’s contagious, and how her world will change. With her parents now preoccupied with feeding, diaper-changing, or simply exhausted, she can’t help but feel a little forgotten.
As her story unfolds, the big sister’s perspective shifts. Slowly, and somewhat unexpectedly, she discovers that her baby brother isn’t a nuisance; he’s actually kind of sweet. And, to her surprise, she finds herself falling in love with him.
Arnold crafts a narrative that feels both fresh and familiar, echoing the inner thoughts of many children grappling with sibling transitions. The rhyming text adds a playful rhythm that makes reading aloud a joy while helping young readers develop phonemic awareness.
One standout moment comes when the big sister attempts to Google her “condition” on a tablet. Unable to spell it, the search becomes hilariously phonetic, “Bae-bee-bruh-thur-eye-tis.” It’s a clever, modern detail that will resonate with today’s tech-savvy kids and undoubtedly earn a chuckle from adults, too.
The illustrations burst with color and energy, perfectly complementing Arnold’s witty prose. Every page invites young readers to linger and explore, making the book as visually engaging as it is emotionally resonant.
Ideal for children anticipating or adjusting to a new sibling, Baby Brother-Itis validates their worries while gently guiding them toward empathy and acceptance. It’s not just a story, it’s a warm, reassuring embrace for big brothers and sisters in the making.
Pages: 36 | ASIN : B0DQ73K3X3
Sisters
The Pact follows two sisters and double tennis partners and champion athletes who have their relationship tested when one sister gets engaged. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
All of my novels are essentially about women and their relationships with others: family, friends, lovers, colleagues etc.
With The Pact, I specifically wanted to write about sisters. I’ve been fascinated by siblings, and my place in my own family since I was old enough to realize I had an older sister and a younger brother. I asked my parents a lot of questions. Why am I blonde? Why is my sister taller? Lots of questions my parents didn’t have answers for.
At school in biology, we studied genes, familial traits, and nature versus nurture. I was fascinated, and still am today. Why does my sister behave the way she does? Why do I? Is it because of our upbringing, or was she just born with an aversion to cheese?
I wanted to know the answers.
I chose tennis as the sisters’ job – professional double partners and champions. As partners, Annie and Samantha work together as a united team, but when their personal relationship falls apart and they embark on singles careers, the dynamic changes and they become competitive rivals.
Your characters are wonderfully emotive and relatable. Were you able to use anything from your own life to inform their character development?
Yes, definitely. Because I have a sister, I’ve always been keen to explore the sibling dynamic, especially looking at oldest and youngest personality characteristics, differences, and why they behave the way they do.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
As I mentioned, tennis is the vehicle used to amplify the usual sibling issues and also explore the sisters’ professional partnership and personal relationship –similarities, differences, motivation, competition, abandonment, and grief.
For example, how do the sisters respond to the stress of constantly being under the media spotlight? What happens when, at the pinnacle of fame, their relationship falls apart? With dreams shattered and egos destroyed, how do they cope?
It also deals with poignant themes, including the disappearance of the sisters’ mother when Samantha was 13 years old, and Annie was 11; and how they each handled her absence differently.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
My next book, Christmas Actually, will be released worldwide October 2, 2024.
Every picture tells a story, but it’s not always the one we expect, or remember, in this festive drama about family and forgiveness. Christmas Actually is a snapshot of modern family life; addressing Instagram to motherhood, and everything in between.
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Samantha and Annie Callahan are successful doubles champions–the toast of the Olympics, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow. But their partnership spirals out of control when Annie’s new boyfriend announces their engagement at the Australian Open.
Amidst rising anger and betrayal, Samantha does the unthinkable after a devastating Wimbledon loss.
The sisters must confront the past to take control of the present. But can Samantha and Annie both win?
The Pact
In The Pact, Lisa Darcy masterfully explores the intricate bonds that tie family members together, set against the high-stakes world of competitive tennis. Sisters Annie and Samantha Calahan share more than just blood; they are doubles tennis champions, a force to be reckoned with on the court. Their success stems from a deep mutual respect and a seemingly unbreakable bond. However, when Annie’s boyfriend proposes, their once seamless partnership begins to unravel. Suddenly, the sisters find themselves at odds, and the rift between them threatens not only their personal relationship but also their dominance in the sport they love. As life pulls them in different directions, they must confront whether they can mend their fractured bond and return to their winning ways.
The Pact is a compelling blend of family drama and sports narrative, reminiscent of the tensions explored in the recent film Challengers. At its core, this novel delves into the forces that both unite and divide family members. Darcy paints a vivid portrait of the love and loyalty that define Annie and Samantha’s relationship while also shedding light on the unhealthy codependency that simmers beneath the surface. The introduction of Annie’s fiancé disrupts their perfect equilibrium, leaving Samantha feeling threatened and triggering actions that, while extreme, feel utterly justified from her perspective. As a family drama, Darcy’s novel excels, offering a nuanced depiction of the complex relationship between the two sisters. The more we learn about their dynamic, the more we see the layers of their symbiosis, making their eventual clash all the more poignant and emotionally charged. The sisters’ drive for success as elite athletes is as central to their identities as their bond, deeply affecting their conflicts on and off the court. Darcy’s skillful writing ensures that the story remains grounded in reality, never veering into melodrama. Instead, this book strikes a perfect balance, succeeding as both a gripping sports story and a richly textured family saga, evoking the intensity and depth of the Brontë sisters at their best.
The Pact stands out as a powerful exploration of family dynamics and the pressures of high-level competition. With its engaging narrative and well-drawn characters, it is a novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate stories of sibling relationships, personal growth, and the challenges of balancing love and ambition.
Pages: 354 | ASIN : B0CY97YHCH
Wounding to Life-Giving
The Road to Courage is the fascinating account of your upbringing and your family’s adaptation to rural life in the Alaskan wilderness. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I began writing stories of life in the Alaskan wilderness as part of a healing journey. My brother, James, with whom I had been very close, was lost in a commercial fishing accident at age 23. Forty busy years later, I recognized that my unresolved grief was affecting my closest relationships. Following a class on writing memoirs, I wrote over sixty chapter-length stories of our lives together, about twenty of which are included in The Road to Courage. At some point in the process, my memories transformed from wounding to life-giving. This book is an incidental but satisfying outcome of figuring out what to do with all the stories.
During the writing process, I also came to value the legacy of Old Valdez, destroyed in the 1964 earthquake, and the importance of preserving its story.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about life in Alaska?
Many people I’ve talked to imagine Alaska as a land of endless snow, igloos and Innuits, or misfits struggling to survive in isolation.
The truth is that Alaska is vast, and Alaskans are uniquely diverse, with a wide range of skills and personalities. Forged by the rugged landscape, the unforgiving climate, and social isolation, they tend to be independent, self-reliant, and charitable but with a well-tuned “BS meter”.
What were some of the challenges faced by your family you felt were important to share with readers?
Poverty was a defining challenge. Arriving in Valdez with $5 and everything we owned in the back of a truck forced us to be quick learners. Mom and Dad, having grown up during the Great Depression on self-sustaining farms, brought numerous skills for living off the land. As the book relates, the significance of seasoned Alaskans generously sharing their knowledge cannot be overstated.
The climate challenge required crucial lifestyle adjustments when twenty hours of light in the summer and twenty hours of darkness accompanied by forty feet of snow in the winter became our new reality.
What story are you currently in the middle of writing?
I am revising the sequel, which includes tales of finding a homestead and Dad teaching us boys to hunt. The underlying theme is in the question: If you turn two young boys loose in a frontier town without supervision, what could possibly go wrong? The title, The Trouble with Courage, hints at the answer.
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The family’s faith remains a central thread as the preschool brothers work beside their minister father to construct a log church in Valdez without power tools. Along the way, the reader is given a rare glimpse into life in Old Valdez, a town destroyed by the 1964 earthquake.
The Road to Courage
The Road to Courage is a compelling autobiographical journey through Roy Taylor’s formative years in the remote wilderness of rural Alaska. Taylor’s vivid narrative captures the essence of his adventurous childhood, filled with encounters with Alaskan wildlife and the rugged beauty of his surroundings. His accounts of learning to fish and hunt moose in the Alaskan backwoods offer a fascinating glimpse into a life far removed from modern conveniences.
Taylor’s recollections go beyond mere adventure. He beautifully describes his family’s adaptation to the rhythms of rural Alaskan life. One particularly joyous memory he shares is the experience of being snowed in during winter—a moment that captures the stark yet enchanting reality of living in such isolation. A significant aspect of the book is the portrayal of his father’s experiences as a new church-planting pastor. The narrative reveals the challenges and pressures his father faced, underscoring the demanding nature of ministry in a remote setting. This aspect of Taylor’s story is both heartfelt and relatable, especially for readers familiar with the personal sacrifices associated with pastoral work.
The book resonated deeply with me. Taylor’s storytelling triggered my own childhood memories of exploring the backwoods of my neighborhood, evoking a sense of nostalgia and connection. His vivid imagery and relatable writing style engaged me from start to finish, making me wonder if he ever experienced moments of fear akin to my own childhood adventures.
The Road to Courage is a richly engaging memoir. Taylor’s ability to weave a compelling narrative with vivid imagery makes it a captivating read. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a relatable and immersive personal memoir that promises to hold your attention throughout.
Pages: 296 | ASIN : B0D42WR751
LITERARY TITAN 