Blog Archives
Stupid Gravity
Stupid Gravity follows Alexandra Farone, a sharp but battered software engineer who has slipped all the way down to the street level. She is broke, homeless, newly convicted, and trying to survive probation while living out of an aging Mustang and clinging to the last scraps of her old identity. When she spots a little girl who might be in danger, her life tilts again, pulling her into a messy world of shelters, addicts, low-wage jobs, and small-time criminals. The book blends tension, grit, and surprising humor as Alex reinvents herself as Liliane and stumbles into a mystery that keeps pulling her deeper. The story never sits still, and the tone mixes cynicism with heart in a way that sneaks up on you.
The writing has this blunt, unvarnished rhythm that feels like someone is talking to you while the city hums right outside the window. The scenes in the shelter, with stolen shoes and missing pages from library paperbacks, felt real. The author knows how to sketch misery with a weird sort of warmth, and it got to me. I found myself rooting for Alex even when she made choices that made me cringe. Her sarcasm worked as armor and sometimes as a cry for help, and I kept feeling that mix of frustration and sympathy that only an authentic character can pull out of me. I liked how the story showed small humiliations stacking up until they almost crush her. It made the idea of her chasing after a potentially kidnapped little girl feel brave and foolish at the same time.
I also loved the way the book let humor bubble up in the middle of all this roughness. The people Alex meets feel sharp and odd and alive. Cici, especially, stood out for me with her wild honesty and her ability to read people. Those scenes in her apartment, with candles and cheap beer and joints being passed around, had this messy intimacy that made me slow down and sit with the characters. The conversations were simple but loaded, and it reminded me how strangers can sometimes see us more clearly than the people we once loved. The writing made me feel the confusion and the longing and the strange comfort that comes when someone finally calls you out in a way you cannot dodge. It made the book feel less like a mystery and more like a story about being lost and trying to claw back a sense of purpose.
I think this book is for anyone who likes a gritty story with humor that slips in. It is good for readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries or stories where the setting feels like a character itself. If you like flawed leads who get knocked down hard and still keep stumbling forward, this one will hit the spot.
Pages: 336 | ASIN : B0FDBHB5ZM
Secrets from an Older Generation
All Fired Up follows two strangers who meet on the way to a small island in the Pacific Northwest and discover a shared history while trying to solve an old mystery shrouded in dangerous secrets. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Secrets that can’t stay hidden forever. Once they are discovered, they can trigger an avalanche of trouble, including rekindling long-held resentment. In my story, these are secrets from an older generation. My main characters, Jack and Marianne, discover that their grandfathers knew each other and did something long ago that now has repercussions, and another individual feels it’s time to get even.
I enjoyed the slow-burning romantic relationship between Marianne and Jack. 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?
It was very organic. Although I knew that in the end, I wanted them to be together, I didn’t want it to be easy or rushed, and I didn’t always know what would happen next. I understood each of my characters, but I didn’t always know how their personalities would respond to each other. I would write a scene and initiate some action, and see how each personality responded to it and to each other. They became real people to me. But I did have some control. 😊 I wanted them to be tempted, but I didn’t want them to play around with each other. They are two mature adults with responsibilities, and they led two very different lives. So, I tried to write about their relationship as it might be in real life, with two people circling each other cautiously, feeling that there is a connection, but also reeling a bit because this came at them out of the blue: this connection. I also wanted them to be aware that it might not work with the others’ lives being incompatible with theirs at present. Jack is used to life in special ops, never being home and he wants to return to the army because it’s a life he is familiar with and one he does best. Marianne is realizing she wants a home life and her own family. I used the comforts of a home, meals together, and a homeless teenager to further connect Jack and Marianne, giving them both another purpose in life other than what they each currently pursue. It’s what could happen in real life for two people, life showing them what really matters and what truly fuels the heart.
Was there a reason why you chose this location as the backdrop for your story?
Yes. I love the San Juan Islands, and Orcas Island is one of those in that chain of islands in the Pacific Northwest. When I was young, my family would go boat camping around these islands. We would go into the Deer Harbor marina on Orcas to use the laundromat and buy supplies. To this day, I still visit Orcas Island for hiking or a weekend getaway. The ferry ride from Anacortes takes just over an hour to get to Orcas, and during that time, the world just slows down, and you are transported to another pace of life. It’s magical. It’s also beautiful with the wildlife, the evergreen trees, and the rocky beaches. I also like the idea that a serene-looking island can have its secrets.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
The series will continue. There are currently four friends in The Barefoot by Moonlight writers’ group, and each gets their own story. The next book, All You Desire, is set in LaConner and is due out in 2026. In book 1, you met Marianne’s brother Ian Dunaway and her best friend Fiona Sanchez, who is also a member of The Barefoot by Moonlight writers’ group. Ian and Fiona had their eye on each other in book 1, and we’ll see what happens next when a mystery brings them together in the idyllic town of LaConner. Books 3 and 4 are in development, where you’ll meet the other 2 writers in the group, where they, too, will discover a romance and a mystery.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Website | Amazon
When Marianne and Jack meet on the ferry to Orcas Island, it couldn’t be more awkward—for Marianne, that is. Jack has no problem with a woman landing on top of him. It’s a case of opposites attract. But they each have their reasons not to get involved.
But on this small island, avoiding each other isn’t to be.
An old tale of stolen jewels has resurfaced, revealing a dangerous secret kept by both of their grandfathers. It will take Marianne and Jack together to uncover the truth before one of them gets hurt. But solving the mystery means working out an arrangement. Jack needs a place to stay. Marianne has rooms to spare.
In close quarters, it’s soon apparent that solving the mystery might be easier than trying not to fall for each other as they realize that they both long for the same thing.
Who says nothing ever happens in a small island town?
Romance and mystery readers alike will love this page-turning romance set in the ruggedly beautiful Pacific Northwest where an island slowly gives up its secrets.
All Fired Up
All Fired Up blends romance with a thread of mystery, following Marianne and Jack as they find themselves tangled in old secrets, new dangers, and a slow-burning connection that grows warmer with every chapter. The story moves between personal histories, hidden truths, and the quiet charm of Pacific Northwest islands, all while nudging the characters toward each other in ways they don’t expect.
As I read, I found myself enjoying the easy rhythm of the writing. The tone feels laid back one moment and tense the next, which kept me guessing and leaning in. The bits of humor scattered through the story softened the heavier moments in a way that felt natural. I also liked how the setting worked almost like another character. The ferries, the rain, the small communities. It all added a cozy mood that made the danger pop a little more.
There were times when I wanted the pacing to be steadier, but I still found myself pulled along by the characters. Jack and Marianne have a fun kind of spark. It’s sweet, sometimes messy, sometimes frustrating in the way real people are. I appreciated that their connection wasn’t rushed. Watching them circle each other, open up, and slip into something deeper made me smile more than once.
By the end, I felt satisfied. The emotional threads landed, the mystery wrapped up nicely, and the romance paid off in a warm, soft way. I’d recommend this book to readers who love cozy mysteries, small town settings, and slow-burn romances with heartfelt moments. If you want something that mixes danger with tenderness and a little island charm, this will be right up your alley.
Pages: 255 | ASIN : B0FSP71H66
Deep Freeze
Anne Louise O’Connell’s Deep Freeze is a suspenseful mystery set against the unlikely backdrop of Dubai’s indoor ski slopes, posh neighborhoods, and glossy hospitals. At the heart of the story is Susan Morris, an American ex-pat nurse whose curiosity and compassion pull her into the chaos following a tragic ski lift accident that nearly kills her friend’s husband, Dr. Barry Thornton. What begins as a personal favor to comfort a friend quickly spirals into a dangerous investigation involving hospital coverups, cryogenic experiments, and the exploitation of domestic workers. The book moves briskly, balancing cultural detail with medical intrigue, and it doesn’t take long before Susan realizes she’s in over her head.
I was hooked from the start. The writing has a straightforward flow that makes it easy to slip into Susan’s world. What really grabbed me was the way O’Connell built tension through ordinary settings. A shopping mall ski slope or a hospital hallway doesn’t sound like a thriller, but the unease creeps in, and before you know it, you’re bracing yourself for the next turn. I found myself both frustrated and impressed with Susan. She’s stubborn, she pushes too far, but she’s also brave in a way that feels relatable rather than superhero-like. At times, the dialogue felt a little stiff, but the energy of the plot kept me flipping pages late into the night.
Emotionally, the book hit me harder than I expected. The parts dealing with exploited domestic workers left a knot in my stomach. It’s not just about crime or corruption, it’s about people living in the shadows of luxury and power. That gave the story real weight. I also felt for Susan as her marriage slowly unraveled in the background. Those quieter moments balanced out the faster-paced mystery, and I found myself caring as much about her personal struggles as the central investigation. The suspense had my pulse up, but the human side of it tugged at me even more.
Deep Freeze is a gripping read that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries with both heart and grit. If you like thrillers that blend cultural insight with medical drama, you’ll find a lot to love here. It’s especially for readers who want a strong but imperfect female lead, someone who feels like a real person caught in extraordinary circumstances.
Pages: 244 | ASIN : B0DTLY26YZ
Death and His Brother
Death and His Brother opens with a striking mix of glamour, grit, and unease. A group of musicians, headed to Cape Breton for a new hotel opening, meet fellow travelers on a sleek new train. The stage is set with vivid detail, from the bustling station in Truro to the eccentricities of Connie Del Barba, the formidable hotelier behind The Gramercy’s revival. The plot quickly tightens when the train barrels out of control, its crew incapacitated, and a runaway crisis collides with the lives of the passengers. Parallel storylines weave between Musetta Burrell, a young singer returning home, and Inspector Jimmy Urquhart and Sandy, his sharp-witted reporter wife, who are drawn into the chaos. The novel fuses historical setting, mystery, and human drama into a fast-moving and layered tale.
I really enjoyed how alive the writing feels. The dialogue is quick, sharp, and often funny. The banter between musicians felt natural, like eavesdropping on old friends, while Connie Del Barba’s wit nearly jumps off the page. At the same time, the looming dread of the runaway train gave me goosebumps. Author D.E. Ring has a knack for balancing humor and terror in the same breath, and I found myself alternately grinning and gripping the edges of the book. I’ll admit, a few stretches of description slowed me down, but even then, the sense of place and period kept me invested. The atmosphere, postwar Nova Scotia buzzing with ambition, music, and social change, stayed with me.
I also felt a deep affection for the way the book handles community and identity. The portrayal of Black musicians navigating a predominantly white world, and Connie’s insistence on giving them dignity and top billing, resonated with me on an emotional level. The book doesn’t whitewash prejudice, yet it shows resilience and solidarity. Musetta’s mix of ambition and insecurity felt painfully real, and Jimmy and Sandy’s domestic moments gave the story a grounding warmth. At times, I felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of characters and moving parts, but once I relaxed into the rhythm, it became part of the book’s charm, like stepping into a crowded room where everyone has a story.
Death and His Brother is a ride worth taking. It’s a mystery, yes, but also a lively portrait of people chasing music, purpose, and survival. I’d recommend it to readers who love classic detective fiction with a heartbeat, to those who enjoy historical settings rich with detail, and to anyone who wants a story that makes you laugh even while it makes your pulse race. It’s a book for late nights when you don’t mind losing sleep, because the train is moving and you don’t want to get off.
Pages: 242 | ASIN : B0FDX58QMG
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Secrets is a high-stakes political thriller that drops readers straight into a near-future America fractured by extremism and secession. Centered around Annie Price, an investigative journalist still healing from a past ambush, the story unpacks the creation of a new state called Westcarolina—a theocratic breakaway backed by religious fanatics, corrupt politicians, and shadowy powerbrokers. As Annie chases leads through bombings, government secrets, and personal betrayals, the book balances political commentary with the pulse of a fast-paced mystery.
Let me just say it up front: I devoured this book. The writing has that brisk, no-nonsense cadence you want in a thriller—nothing bloated or overly poetic. Every sentence moves the story forward. Nancy Stancill doesn’t waste time. Her protagonist Annie is sharp without being snarky, tough without being cartoonish. And while the plot careens through explosions, shady politicians, and mounting paranoia, it never forgets the emotional toll all this takes. Annie’s moments of doubt and trauma hit hard. You don’t just watch her chase a story—you feel the cost.
Some characters lean toward caricature, especially the villains. Reverend Kingston Avery, the zealot who builds a “Christian state,” reads at times like a mashup of every televangelist villain trope. That said, his hypocrisy and ambition feel eerily relevant. What really surprised me, though, was how layered the story becomes—especially in the way it weaves Annie’s personal entanglements with broader questions about truth, faith, and power. The romantic subplot adds tension without slowing things down, and there’s this subtle ache in Annie’s longing for normalcy that sneaks up on you.
Deadly Secrets feels like a warning disguised as entertainment. It’s a propulsive, emotionally grounded novel that juggles political fiction, crime drama, and character study without dropping the ball. I’d recommend it to fans of investigative thrillers, political dramas, and anyone who likes their mysteries with a bite of real-world grit. If you’ve ever wondered how close fiction can creep to reality, this one might leave you a little uneasy, in all the right ways.
Pages: 240 | ASIN : B0DHWFSXF4
Making My Characters Real
Buried Bones follows a 75-year-old retired prosecutor who stumbles into a murder case in a small Utah town, forcing her to face the ghosts of her past. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As I started putting the story together, I had two strong desires. I wanted a woman investigator, and I wanted to emphasize the importance of due process and the rule of law.
I wanted a woman investigator who could reflected on the reality of working on a very difficult and emotionally draining investigation. She would naturally gravitate toward those nuances and tiny details that women seem to find. I also wanted to write about people who are wrongly accused, because it does happen and due process is incredibly important.
I retired to Utah a couple of years before I started writing in order to be near family. It’s a great place with a wholesome and practical approach to most issues, and great scenery, including pioneer cabins. I invented a small town in the mountains with a very traditional and typical approach that would challenge Maggie’s more eclectic lifestyle and create the conflict that is always found in a criminal investigation.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I enjoyed creating Maggie Anderson the most! She became a lot like many of the strong career women I knew and admired who came of age during the wave of feminism in the 1970s -1990s. I also knew that many of “us” had secret pains and self- doubts, and I wanted her to be as real as possible. It was gratifying to watch her move from her self-doubt to a deep understanding of the motives behind the crime and control over the investigation. I’m planning a series where Maggie’s life will continue to unfold in what may be surprising ways.
Logan Harris, the DA, didn’t know what to do with a case that implicated the most prominent family in a small town and his uncertainty made him challenging. He didn’t want to arrest the wrong person, meaning a member of this very extensive family. He was near retirement and ready to hang up his gloves and call it a cold case, but Maggie kept digging up “the wrong” evidence. Logan stayed on the right side of the law, but barely.
Do you think there’s a single moment in everyone’s life, maybe not as traumatic, that is life-changing?
I’ve lived long enough to be able to count multiple life-changing moments in the same way that Maggie’s life unfolded in unexpected ways. I didn’t know it at the time, of course, but some of these major events, and major decisions, changed the course of my life. Sometimes I’ve wished I could call it a first draft, and do some editing, but life doesn’t work the same as a manuscript. As Maggie’s creator, I think I’ll give her more of these events as the series unfolds.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Buried Bones is the first in a series I’m planning which will take Maggie Anderson and her friends into many situations. She will run into legal quagmires that overwhelm ordinary people. In the first book, we had someone who was wrongly accused. In the second book, an adolescent boy kills someone who is about to rape a child. Maggie maneuvers through an archaic legal system that has a hard time addressing children who have legitimate and sensitive issues. It’s a challenge which I hope to have ready for a publisher within a year.
Author Links: Facebook
While vacationing in the mountains east of Ogden, Utah, retired prosecutor Maggie Anderson learns about the discovery of Audrey Stillman’s body buried near the home she once shared with her former husband, Ben. Maggie witnesses Ben threatened by a gang of local cowboys and the town quickly blames him.
Haunted by her past failure to save another innocent man, Maggie offers Ben help and begins investigating.
As she delves into the case, Maggie uncovers ties between Audrey’s murder and the influential Stevenson family, who control much of the town’s political and economic life. It’s discovered Audrey was pregnant when she died, and Maggie suspects the father may be the killer. But the deeper Maggie digs, the more secrets she uncovers-secrets that certain powerful people will go to great lengths to protect.
With help from the district attorney and her growing connection to her friend Robert, Maggie secretly collects DNA samples and interviews witnesses. As the investigation leads closer to the truth, Maggie believes the key to the murder lies within the Stevenson family itself.
Was the responsible person much closer to the victim than she realizes? If so, what lengths will be taken to keep the truth buried? Will anyone else die?
Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and older women, Buried Bones promises a 75-year-old protagonist with compassion, a tender heart, and a thirst for justice, even when she believes she has lost her competence.
The Case of the Amorous Assailant (Beachtown Detective Agency Book 1)
Terry Ambrose launches his Beachtown Detective Agency series with The Case of the Amorous Assailant, a sharp and spirited mystery that introduces readers to Jade Cavendish, a rookie private investigator stepping into her father’s shoes. Determined to prove herself, Jade accepts her very first case, one that directly defies her father’s explicit warnings. But desperate to keep the fledgling agency afloat, she takes the risk.
Her client, Gina Rose, suspects her husband of draining their finances and possibly worse. Despite Jade’s personal relationship complications and her father’s advice still echoing in her mind, she follows the money and her instincts. What begins as a straightforward case of infidelity morphs into a far more tangled mystery, one that leads Jade toward the elusive figure known only as the Amorous Assailant. Or at least, that’s what she believes.
Jade Cavendish stands out as a compelling protagonist, smart, composed, and willing to face down challenges that would rattle a more seasoned detective. Her independence is admirable, though her reluctance to lean on her father for guidance occasionally frustrates. In moments of real trouble, that pride edges close to recklessness. Still, her strength as a lead character is undeniable.
Gina Rose remains a mystery in her own right. Her motivations often seem murky, making it difficult to trust her entirely. That constant uncertainty kept me guessing. Then there’s Zoey, the fiery blogger and chaotic ally. She’s unpredictable, occasionally reckless, and often difficult to work with. While her impulsiveness grated on my nerves, her presence raised the stakes in several scenes. At times, I genuinely feared for her safety. I only wish we had seen more from the other women in Jade’s self-defense class; they were introduced with promise but faded too quickly.
Ambrose’s writing is smooth and accessible, perfect for audiobook listeners and cozy mystery fans alike. The plot moves at a satisfying pace, with just enough misdirection to keep the reader guessing. I found myself constantly questioning: Can Gina be trusted? Is her husband hiding something darker than an affair? By the final pages, all those questions find their answers, but getting there is half the fun.
The Case of the Amorous Assailant delivers a clever blend of mystery, character-driven drama, and small-town intrigue. With Jade Cavendish at the helm, Terry Ambrose sets the stage for a promising series full of grit, heart, and just enough danger to keep readers hooked. It’s an entertaining start that balances suspense with humor and emotional depth.
Pages: 305 | ASIN : B0B8TQVFZ5
LITERARY TITAN 