Blog Archives
Desperate Souls
Desperate Souls follows several lives caught in moments of fear, loss, and fragile hope. The story opens with young Joseph watching his world collapse in a violent attack on his family’s mission, then shifts to Grace, a talented ballet instructor whose body begins to betray her just as her future seems set, and to Nathan, a new father fighting to keep his wife alive. Each thread builds toward a picture of people pushed to the edge of what they can endure and reaching for faith, purpose, or simple survival. The writing leans heavily into emotion, and the pacing keeps the reader on alert as tragedies unfold without warning.
This book pulled me in fast. The emotional punches land hard, and I found myself bracing during several scenes. The details of Joseph’s escape, Grace’s slow unraveling, and Nathan’s desperation created a steady tension that made me keep turning pages. The writing is clear and direct, and it leaves room for the reader to feel the weight of each character’s fear. At times, I wanted a moment to breathe, yet the speed of the story felt true to what these characters were living through. Their worlds were breaking apart.
I also enjoyed how the story handles faith and suffering. It does not drift into heavy explanations, and it avoids preaching. Instead, it shows characters trying to cling to what they believe while everything they trust falls away. Some moments really resonated with me. Grace trying to keep her life together while hiding her symptoms felt painfully real. Nathan stumbling through fear with a baby in his arms made me tense in my seat. I felt frustrated with these characters sometimes, and I felt protective of them too. That mix made the story stick with me.
Desperate Souls will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven drama with high emotional stakes. It is well-suited for people who like stories about ordinary lives facing sudden upheaval and who appreciate a blend of suspense, faith, and personal struggle. If you want a book that makes you feel something deep and keeps you thinking after you close it, this one will do exactly that.
Pages: 414 | ASIN : B0FHQKDM88
Faith, Family, Friendship
Being Afternoon Rebecca follows Rebecca as she balances faith, friendships, and online dating, capturing the beauty of everyday moments and the struggles of self-discovery in a small-town setting. How much of Rebecca’s character is drawn from personal experience?
Not a whole lot, if I’m honest. I served as Children’s Ministry Director at a couple of churches, but her experiences differed widely from mine. She is a fictional character, and most of her experiences in this book are fictional accounts. This goes for book one, Afternoon Rebecca, and the many sequels to follow, two more available now.
The dialogue feels so natural. How do you approach writing conversations that feel real and engaging?
I created these characters and their personalities, so I pretend I’m standing close to them, listening to what they’re saying to each other and what they’re doing as they talk. A lot of voices go through my head as I’m writing these tales.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The importance of faith, family, friendship, and fair play.
What’s one message or feeling you hope readers take away from Being Afternoon Rebecca?
That one can be a devout Christian and still live a full life. Rebecca lives life according to her beliefs, never wavering (or trying not to). She is still a coach for a minor league softball team, trying their best and playing their hardest to win every game and eventually the Corn League Championship. They, the St. Sister Sister Saints, play hard and always according to the rules, having fun as they do so.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Amazon
Set in a fictional county in Central Indiana, Being Afternoon Rebecca is part romance, part friendship, part adventure, part sports, and all entertaining.
A Hundred Magical Reasons
Laura DeNooyer’s A Hundred Magical Reasons is a dazzling blend of history, whimsy, and heart. It tells the intertwining stories of two women from different eras, Janie in the early 1900s and Carrie in the 1970s both of whom find solace, inspiration, and purpose through their connection to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its creator, L. Frank Baum. At its core, this novel is about the magic of storytelling, the search for belonging, and the power of imagination to shape lives across generations.
One of the most striking aspects of this book is its rich, immersive world. DeNooyer paints the past with remarkable detail, making 1900s Macatawa, Michigan feel alive. The way she brings L. Frank Baum into the story, mentoring young Janie, inspiring her creativity, and offering wisdom wrapped in playful charm is nothing short of enchanting. A standout moment is when Baum encourages Janie to write her own fairy tales, telling her, “Imagination’s a fine place for characters to reside, but it’s just the beginning.” That sentiment lingers throughout the book, echoing in both timelines as Carrie, decades later, grapples with her own dreams and struggles.
But it’s not just the history and literary references that shine; it’s the emotional weight carried by both Janie and Carrie’s journeys. Janie’s quiet rebellion against her strict mother, her secret visits with Baum, and the heartbreak of losing her writing mentor create a deeply moving arc. The scene where Janie’s typewriter, a gift from Baum, is sold by her father is gut-wrenching. Similarly, Carrie’s strained relationship with her own mother and her search for personal freedom in the 1970s add layers of depth and relatability. The contrast between the two eras, one where imagination is nurtured in secret and another where it fights to break free from societal expectations, gives the novel an emotional richness that lingers long after the last page.
Beyond the heartfelt storytelling, DeNooyer’s writing is brimming with warmth, wit, and a touch of nostalgia. She masterfully blends real-life historical figures with fictional characters, making it all feel seamless and organic. Some moments, like Carrie’s realization that “a dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight,” hit hard, reminding us of the importance of chasing dreams despite the odds. There’s a deep love for literature woven into every chapter, and it’s hard not to get swept up in the joy of it all.
A Hundred Magical Reasons is the perfect read for dreamers, storytellers, and anyone who’s ever felt out of place in their own world. Fans of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz will find even more to love, but even if you’ve never read a single Oz book, this novel stands beautifully on its own. If you love historical fiction with heart, compelling characters, and a touch of literary magic, this one’s for you.
Pages: 534 | ASIN : B0D4Q1VK1C
The Power of Women’s Friendships
Canvas of Healing follows a woman with a seemingly perfect life who has it all fall apart when her husband dies and leaves behind a web of lies. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Much of Megan’s story was auto-biographical. Creating this story was a way for me to deal with many painful experiences of my past.
Megan deals with the loss of her husband and her identity all at once. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I like to write stories that can provide inspiration to women—to show that, regardless of what you go through, with faith and the special connections of friendship, you can overcome anything.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Overcoming adversity, the power of women’s friendships, how we can become someone we may not be proud of if we try to force ourselves to accept a situation that turns out to not be a good fit for us (square peg, round hole).
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story?
If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover? There is. Tides of Change will be out in about a month. It follows the next stages of Megan’s story and also further develops the characters of some women we met during Canvas of Healing.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Megan Hart has it all . . . a lakefront house, standing midday tennis dates with a crew of see-and-be-seen ladies of status in Lakeland, and an enviable husband. But in the depths of Megan’s seemingly perfect life, tragedy strikes with the sudden death of her beloved Blake, unveiling a hidden world of secrets—a web of lies that unravels everything Megan thought she knew. Seeking solace amid the ruins of her shattered world, Megan finds herself drawn back to Destin, the place where their love once bloomed.
There, in the tender embrace of grief, Megan encounters Sam, an enigmatic figure harboring secrets of his own. As their connection deepens, Megan senses there is more to Sam than meets the eye, a magnetic pull that ignites her curiosity. Yet just as their friendship begins to blossom, Megan stumbles directly upon her former husband’s secret in the flesh: Tabitha. Determined to uncover every detail of the truth and protect her assets, Megan’s focus becomes infiltrating Tabitha’s world.
While embarking on a journey of self-discovery and the chaos of her newfound reality, Megan must grapple with confronting her darkest demons and incorporating tools into her life to paint a brighter future—under the guidance of unexpected friendships and the power of vulnerability. Will Megan crumble as she uncovers the truths that lie hidden in the shadows of her past? Or will she find her path back to the light, to healing, with the strength to paint a brighter future one brushstroke at a time?
LITERARY TITAN 