Blog Archives
The Tilted Palace: Weeds of Misfortune
The Tilted Palace: Weeds of Misfortune is a haunting and human story about broken souls trying to stitch themselves back together. It opens with Jimmy Ray Crandall, a retired Green Beret haunted by Vietnam and marooned in the quiet of small-town Massachusetts. His loneliness seeps through every line until a wounded stray dog, and later a disheveled pastor named Trinity Hathaway, stumble into his life. What follows is a gritty, sometimes funny, often painful dance between despair and redemption. Through late-night bourbon, raw honesty, and shared pain, two strangers become mirrors of each other’s brokenness. It’s not a simple war story or a tale of faith. It’s about survival when everything that gave life meaning has already burned to ash.
The writing pulls no punches. It’s blunt, messy, and real. The author writes like someone who’s seen too much and refuses to pretty it up. The dialogue, sharp and layered, swings between biting sarcasm and quiet revelation. There’s a strange rhythm to it, like life itself, uneven but true. Some scenes hit me hard, especially when the pastor and the soldier lay their wounds bare. Both want to die, yet somehow keep each other alive. The dog, Jezz, might be the most human of them all. She’s the glue, the silent witness to two lost people trying not to drown.
This is an emotional book. It made me angry at how war chews up men like Jimmy Ray and spits them out forgotten. It made me ache for people like Trinity, trying to preach hope while secretly running on fumes. There’s no sermon here, just raw humanity. The story doesn’t tie things up neatly, which I liked. Life rarely does. The prose has its rough edges, sure, but they fit the characters. They live in those jagged lines. At times, the story drifts into monologues that feel like confessionals, and that works because I feel like the whole book is one long confession.
I’d recommend The Invisibles to readers who crave something honest and bruised. I think it’s for those who understand that redemption doesn’t always look holy and that healing can start with a bottle, a stranger, or a dog scratching at the door. For me, this book wasn’t just a story; it was an experience.
Pages: 253 | ASIN : B0FF4B3CF5
The Admiral’s Gamble
The Admiral’s Gamble unfolds like a cinematic naval epic mixed with the intrigue of a sci-fi thriller. It follows Admiral James Harrington, a decorated officer at the end of his long career, who stumbles upon a mysterious device capable of altering time. The story begins at his retirement party and spirals into a tense, emotional journey through duty, destiny, and moral conflict. What starts as a quiet reflection on legacy turns into a race against fate, as Harrington must decide whether to sacrifice everything he knows to prevent a future catastrophe.
Reading this book felt like stepping into an old-school war movie that suddenly turns futuristic. The writing is vivid and grounded in military realism, yet it slides seamlessly into moments of eerie wonder. Author Nick Malara writes with a strong sense of rhythm; his scenes move with a cinematic flow that keeps the tension alive even in the quiet moments. A few pages linger long on scenery when the story’s emotional punch could have carried itself. But the heart of the book, the internal struggle of a man torn between heroism and self-preservation, shines bright and feels honest.
I found myself really drawn to Harrington as a character. He’s gruff, tired, and haunted by the weight of command. The dialogue feels old-school and clipped, full of restraint, like the man himself. Yet beneath that hardened shell is a depth of conscience that makes him compelling. The time-travel element, though wild, serves more as a mirror for his soul than a trick of plot. It forces him, and the reader, to ask: what’s the cost of doing the right thing when it erases the life you’ve built? There were moments that hit hard, moments that made me pause and think about sacrifice, legacy, and the strange way duty can both define and destroy a person.
I’d recommend The Admiral’s Gamble to readers who like military fiction with a twist of science fiction, or stories about aging heroes facing their past. It’s ideal for people who enjoy introspection mixed with high-stakes action. The story’s emotional weight and moral questions make it worth the ride. If you like tales that mix grit, heart, and a touch of the unknown, this one’s a good bet.
Pages: 178 | ASIN : B0FH77C97Z
Ultra-Criminal Types
Once Upon a Safehouse follows a woman who receives a large inheritance from her uncle, thinking that it’s a life-altering fortune and a mysterious mansion, but it turns into a legacy she never expected or wanted. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
During the pandemic, I watched a whole lot of streaming shows, and one of them was all about the Nazi ratlines to South America. Those shows were astonishing because a lot of the “hideouts” that were located had secret rooms, or escape tunnels, built right into their architecture. Talk about bizarre! Who would do that – unless they had something to hide that was major. And that was enough to get me thinking about it and wanting to turn it into a story!
Were you able to relate to your characters while writing them?
I was able to relate to most of them, yes – the decent characters, especially. It’s always a challenge to try to get into the heads of the more nefarious ones, and this book had some ultra-criminal types in it. Still, I tried putting myself into the place of hunted people who had convinced themselves they’d done “nothing wrong” and took it from there.
What intrigues you about this time period enough to write such a thrilling period piece?
Thank you for calling it thrilling! I look at it this way. The whole World War II era was bizarre in so many ways, and the wrong people had taken over dozens of countries in the world. Everything was upside-down. Decency towards marginalized groups was outlawed, murders of persecuted groups were legalized, and bombs were being dropped all over the place. It was insane. Germany was ruling half of Europe in an atrocious manner, and Japan was just as bad, if not worse, in the countries they took over in Asia. So there are a lot of possibilities for material! And I always try to tell a story where there’s plenty of hope in spite of it all, too.
What is the next book you are working on, and when can fans expect it to be released?
I’m working on one mystery involving suffragettes, and another about a school that closes down under very odd circumstances. I’m having fun with them both!
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Former American paratrooper Glenn Halliday and his British-born wife Ivy think they’ve struck gold when they inherit a sprawling mansion in Argentina in 1963. But the house has other plans.
A poorly concealed door hidden off the parlor. A Nazi-era coin found in their daughter’s room. Strangers watching the house with unnerving intent.
As Glenn and Ivy dig deeper, they uncover a chilling legacy—one that links wartime crimes, hidden identities, and a past that refuses to die. What was this house really used for? And why does it seem to be calling them into its shadows?
Some inheritances come with strings. This one comes with living ghosts.
Once Upon a Safehouse
The story begins in Dobbs Ferry, New York, in the early 1960s, when Ivy Halliday receives a letter out of the blue from Argentina. Her uncle, a wealthy banker, has passed away and left her a sprawling fortune, a mysterious house called Casa Florencia, and a legacy she never expected. What starts as a thrilling surprise inheritance quickly spirals into something far more complex. As Ivy, her husband Glenn, and their two children travel to Buenos Aires to claim the estate, they’re drawn into a web of secrets connected to the aftermath of World War II, old family mysteries, and unsettling ties to the shadowy presence of Nazis who fled Europe after the war. The book unfolds with a mix of domestic charm, suspense, and lurking danger that creeps in through hidden doors, whispered rumors, and strangers who may not be what they seem.
I found myself pulled into this one almost immediately. The writing has a warmth to it, especially in the early chapters with Ivy’s family, that made me want to sit at their breakfast table and listen in. The descriptions of Buenos Aires were lush and inviting, and yet every time the narrative turned toward the darker threads, like the Nazi fugitives, the shadowy history of Casa Florencia, I felt my stomach tighten. That balance between light and heavy is tricky to pull off, but Quinn manages it well. At times, the prose leans a little old-fashioned, but that suits the period setting. I liked that it didn’t try to be flashy. It let the story carry the weight. The mystery around the wallpapered door in the mansion had me grinning like a kid, and the way tension built slowly but surely kept me hooked.
What really got me, though, was the emotional undertone of Glenn’s memories from the war. Those scenes were haunting, and they gave the book a gravity I wasn’t expecting. I could feel his reluctance to face Argentina, knowing the place had become a hiding spot for men he once fought against. As someone who loves mysteries, I appreciated that the danger didn’t just come from some masked villain lurking in the night but from history itself pressing down on the present. The family scenes sometimes lingered, and I caught myself itching to get back to the secrets. But when those secrets came forward, they delivered. The mix of personal drama, historical shadows, and good old-fashioned hidden-room intrigue made for a rewarding read.
Once Upon a Safehouse is the kind of book I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries laced with history, family drama, and just a touch of gothic atmosphere. If you like stories about ordinary people stumbling into extraordinary secrets, this will hit the spot. Fans of historical mysteries or readers curious about how World War II echoes could ripple into later decades will find plenty here to sink into.
Pages: 174 | ASIN : B0FPHQG2CQ
Ramparts of Winter Iron: When Frost Hammers the Gate
Ramparts of Winter Iron is a gritty and tightly woven historical fantasy set on the snowy fringes of a fading Roman frontier. The story follows Flavius Marcellinus, a seasoned Roman officer tasked with holding the fortress city of Caesarea against a rising tide of nomadic Alan invaders. With only raw recruits, improvised weapons, and the bitter cold at his back, Marcellinus must forge discipline out of desperation. The novel tracks his struggle through military drills, political tension, and a climactic night raid meant to cripple the enemy’s supply line. It’s both a tale of war and a meditation on duty, leadership, and the endurance of civilization under siege.
What I loved most was the sheer sense of place. The cold felt like a character all on its own. It was biting, unforgiving, and always present. Peters’ writing style is direct and powerful. There’s no fluff here, no purple prose. Every sentence pulls its weight. I appreciated how the author balanced action with introspection. Marcellinus isn’t a superhero. He’s tired. He doubts himself. But he pushes on. That kind of worn determination struck a chord with me. The battles are gripping, the tactics believable, and the stakes always feel real.
The book asks a lot from the reader. You’re dropped right into a cold and crumbling world with little time to catch your breath. At times, I found the sheer amount of logistical detail overwhelming, especially regarding the tactics. It’s clear the author did his homework, and I admire that. This book is a great pick for readers who love diving into the gritty, boots-on-the-ground details of Roman combat, from shield formations to siege engines and everything in between. But the details slow the story in moments when I wanted the story to move. Still, those slow patches are outweighed by the raw emotional honesty of the characters. Antonus, the reluctant farmer-turned-soldier, especially stood out. He gave the story a human core beyond all the spears and orders.
Ramparts of Winter Iron surprised me with its depth. It’s about building something worth protecting when the world seems bent on tearing it down. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy Roman-era fiction, military history buffs, and anyone who’s drawn to stories of quiet bravery and stubborn hope.
Pages: 259 | ASIN : B0F71QK934
Ultimum Judicium The Last Judgment
David Navarria’s novel, Ultimum Judicium: The Last Judgment, is a gripping narrative that reimagines the end times as a brutal reality. The book stands apart from typical sci-fi or doomsday stories by grounding it in a world spiraling toward Armageddon. The author meticulously builds this world over a span of more than two centuries, detailing how society collapsed due to humanity’s moral transgressions fueled by media, corruption, and the worship of evil.
The story begins over two hundred years after civilization has fallen, with no remnants left behind. In this lawless and chaotic world, a prophet chosen by God, Mochè, rises as the leader or “Manhig”. His mission is to guide God’s remaining followers on an odyssey to a place of redemption. The journey is a constant struggle against a world now dominated by savage, nonhuman beings and evil humans.
Mochè is the heart of the story. He’s portrayed as a formidable warrior and a priest who leads his people with a deep sense of love and devotion. The book delves into his inner turmoil, particularly the temptation he faces in his love for Zipporah, an intelligent and captivating woman he rescues from a life of slavery. Zipporah is depicted as a strong and influential partner to Mochè, helping to build their new society.
The novel is rich with a diverse cast of well-developed characters. The story shines in its depiction of the subtle and not-so-subtle romances that develop, with the love stories of Zipporah and Mochè, Eliza and Matthew, and Gabriela and Benjamin forming a strong emotional core. These relationships provide moments of tenderness and hope amid the pervasive brutality of their world. The book also introduces other key figures, such as Goliath, a kind-hearted giant who serves God, and Nikanyiso, a formidable Zulu warrior.
The author excels at creating a constantly changing and suspenseful storyline. The narrative features intense and exciting battles that showcase Mochè’s strategic brilliance. The writing style is both clear and eloquent, effectively conveying the horrors of this fallen world while also capturing moments of profound beauty and spiritual reflection. The subtle yet powerful ways in which characters are introduced, alongside the detailed and vivid battle descriptions, contribute to a truly immersive reading experience.
Ultimum Judicium is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that subverts typical genre expectations. It is a story of love, faith, and resilience that navigates the complex and often brutal realities of a world on the brink of its final judgment.
Pages: 348 | ASIN : B0FL4K6K6M
Moral Compromise
Rhino follows a research scientist who discovers her father has terminal cancer and is entangled with poachers and smugglers, leaving her in a race against time to find a way out for him and a cure. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup came from wanting to explore the collision of two very different worlds: the clinical, evidence-based world of modern medicine and the desperate, high-stakes world of the international wildlife trade. I was fascinated by the question of what could push a fundamentally good, logical person to cross a line they never thought they would.
I made Linh a research scientist for a specific reason. Her entire life is governed by data, ethics, and reason. By putting her in a situation where science and medicine seem to be failing the person she loves most—her father, an oncologist, which adds a layer of tragic irony—her foundation is shattered. This is what opens the door for a desperate, irrational choice.
The rhino horn itself is a powerful symbol. It represents this clash between ancient belief and modern conservation, between a daughter’s desperate hope and a global ecological crisis. It’s not just a simple illegal act; it’s a moral labyrinth. For Linh to even consider it, she has to betray her own scientific principles and become entangled with the very darkness that characters like Inspector Le and Nguyen Vu are fighting.
So, the setup—the scientist, the dying oncologist father, and the criminal underworld—was designed to create the ultimate moral pressure cooker. It’s a story born from the question: How far does love compel us to go, and can we find our way back once we’ve
crossed into the dark?
Linh is a woman with strength and determination. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?
Thank you, I’m glad her strength and determination come through. For me, what makes Linh a valuable and worthy heroine isn’t that she’s perfect or always makes the right choice, but precisely because she doesn’t.
Her heroism is rooted in something incredibly human and relatable: the fierce, unconditional love for a parent. She isn’t a trained operative or a hardened detective; she’s a scientist thrown into a world she doesn’t understand, armed only with her intelligence and a desperate need to save her father. Her initial strength isn’t about physical power, but about her refusal to accept defeat, even when all logical paths are closed to her. But what truly makes her worthy, in my eyes, is her fallibility. She makes terrible, morally compromising decisions. She lies, she steals, and she gets involved with a ruthless criminal. This is where her real journey begins. A perfect heroine doesn’t have to grow. Linh is forced to confront the darkest parts of herself and the devastating consequences of her choices.
Her true strength isn’t just the determination to save her father at any cost, but the courage to face what she has done and actively work toward redemption. By the end of the novel, when she joins Nguyen Vu’s conservation efforts, she isn’t just running from her past; she’s trying to build a better future, both for herself and for the cause she once harmed.
So, Linh is a heroine for our complex times. She’s not an idealized figure on a pedestal. She’s a real person who gets lost in the dark and has to fight her way back to the light. Her worthiness comes from that struggle—from her capacity for both terrible mistakes
and profound redemption.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
That’s a great question, as the themes were really the foundation of the story. There were a few that were very important for me to explore.
First and foremost is the theme of moral compromise born from desperation. I wanted to put a good person, Linh, in an impossible situation. She’s a scientist, someone who believes in logic and ethics, but she’s faced with the absolute, emotional terror of losing her father. The central question I wanted to explore was: How far will love push you past your own moral boundaries? It’s about that slippery slope—how one desperate decision can lead you into a world of darkness you never imagined.
Building on that, another crucial theme is systemic corruption. The antagonist isn’t just the ruthless gangster, Khanh Pham. He’s a symptom of a much larger disease. The corruption infects the hospital through Dr. Duc, it threatens law enforcement, and as we eventually learn with Wong Min, it reaches the highest levels of international power. It was important for me to show that this kind of evil isn’t just the work of a few bad men; it’s a network that thrives in the shadows of our institutions, making it incredibly difficult for individuals like Inspector Le and Nguyen Vu to fight.
Finally, despite all the darkness, a key theme is the possibility of redemption. Linh’s journey doesn’t end when the main conflict is resolved. She has to live with her choices. Her decision to join the conservation efforts is her way of atoning, of trying to heal some of the damage she contributed to. It suggests that even when we make terrible mistakes, the path forward isn’t about erasing the past, but about using our experiences to build a better future. It’s a difficult and painful hope, but it’s hope nonetheless.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’m so glad you asked! It’s an incredibly exciting time, and I have a lot of new stories I can’t wait to share with readers across different age groups.
For my younger readers, I’m thrilled to announce that my publisher, Fabled and Bound, is releasing my new Zoo Collection. The first book, Bat Rocket Boogie, which is for ages 6-8, will be out in the very near future. And that’s just the beginning! We’re expanding that universe with two spin-off series starring more anthropomorphic animals. The first is Forest Friends Mysteries for ages 6-9, which we hope to release around September or October of this year. Following that will be Myths & Legends, a historical fiction
series for kids 8 and up.
And for my adult readers, I’m so excited to be working on a historical fiction novel, tentatively titled The Women of Ravensbrück. It’s set to be published in the UK by Legend Press in the spring of 2026, so there is definitely a lot coming down the pipe!
People sometimes ask how I’m able to work on so many different projects. As many of my readers know, I’m a retired ICU RN, and I live with PTSD from my time on the front lines. For me, writing every day isn’t just a job; it’s a form of therapy. It’s been profoundly healing and has become a vital part of my life. It allows me to build new worlds and channel my experiences into stories, and I’m so grateful to be able to share them.
So, all these stories are brought to you by a very busy, very proud, and very left-handed Canadian!”
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Her search ensnares her in a bloody web of poachers, smugglers, and killers who traffic in extinction. As bodies pile up and evidence vanishes, a relentless inspector and a passionate conservationist close in from opposite sides.
Stalked by shadowy figures and haunted by impossible choices, Linh discovers a terrifying truth: saving her father may cost her soul—or both their lives.
In this high-stakes game where everyone is both hunter and hunted, survival demands crossing lines that can never be uncrossed.
Rhino
This gripping novel blends raw emotion with a high-stakes narrative centered around the illegal wildlife trade and the desperate search for a cure. At the heart of the story is Dr. Minh Tran, a respected Vietnamese oncologist secretly battling terminal cancer, and his daughter Linh, a determined research scientist who uncovers both her father’s illness and his entanglement with dangerous players in the illicit rhino horn trade. As the story unfolds across the chaotic streets of Hanoi and the sterile corridors of hospitals, it morphs into a race against time, where hope, love, ethics, and desperation collide.
I was surprised by the book’s emotional intensity. Smith writes with a quiet force, capturing the nuance of human vulnerability without overplaying the drama. I felt Linh’s panic, Dr. Tran’s despair, and the moral ambiguity pressing down on them like a physical weight. Their relationship was equal parts strained and tender. It felt authentic. The prose was direct and often lyrical, but never flowery. Scenes moved at a brisk pace, though Smith allowed just enough time for introspection. I appreciated that restraint. Nothing felt indulgent. Still, there were moments I wished for more exploration, more of Linh’s internal unraveling as she drifted from scientist to would-be conspirator.
That said, the ideas themselves were bold and uncomfortable in the best way. The book dares to ask: what would you sacrifice to save someone you love? Your career? Your values? Your freedom? It doesn’t preach. Instead, it presents complex choices and lets the reader wrestle with them. The rhino horn trade, with all its grotesque implications, is not only central to the plot but a metaphor for desperation itself. Smith clearly did his homework on conservation and corruption, and I came away both enlightened and unsettled. Still, I felt some shadowy characters lacked the same depth afforded to the protagonists, which slightly dulled the narrative’s realism.
RHINO is a powerful and emotionally charged story that will appeal to readers who crave moral tension, human drama, and international intrigue. It’s especially moving for those interested in medicine, environmentalism, and family dynamics. I’d recommend it to fans of medical thrillers and character-driven suspense alike. For me, it was a heartfelt and unforgettable ride.
Pages: 385 | ASIN : B0FCP11VB4
LITERARY TITAN 