Blog Archives
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
Buckaloo
Deborah J. Chavez’s Buckaloo is a warm and engaging novel that blends everyday joys and personal healing with a deep love for dogs and community. Set in the rolling foothills of Santa Barbara, the book follows Harley Fremont and her partner Bill as they open a dog training academy and prepare for their wedding. Alongside their dogs Gemma and Blackjack, they navigate past traumas, the complexities of relationships, and the chaos of planning two major life events. The story balances quiet domestic moments with emotional depth, creating a gentle but moving narrative about love, resilience, and second chances.
The story is unhurried, comforting, and full of small surprises. I loved the writing style. It was easygoing and heartfelt without being sentimental. Chavez has a gift for capturing the way dogs enrich our lives, and she writes with the kind of affection that makes you feel like you’re in the story. The dialogue is realistic and often funny, and I appreciated the strong sense of place. The natural beauty of California’s chaparral landscape is described with a soft reverence that made me want to lace up my hiking boots and head out with a dog of my own. Harley and Bill’s relationship, too, is a mature love story. It’s built not on drama, but on trust, compassion, and the shared work of building something together.
The pacing is slow, and there were chapters where the plot gave way to long descriptions of logistics, guest accommodations, shirt logos, and tent arrangements that could have been trimmed without losing the warmth of the story. But I didn’t mind too much. There’s a slice-of-life charm to it, like listening to a friend tell you about their big plans over coffee. The emotional core, Bill’s tragic past, Harley’s quiet strength, and the community that forms around them, kept me engaged. And the dogs are the beating heart of this book. Gemma especially is written with so much love and personality, she almost feels like a co-narrator.
Buckaloo is a cozy and heartfelt read that would appeal to dog lovers, fans of small-town fiction, and anyone who enjoys stories about real people trying to do good in the world. If you’re looking for something gentle, affirming, and full of canine charm, this one’s for you.
Pages: 287 | ASIN : B0FG3FGHJ2
A Mother’s Relentless Drive
Conditional Love follows a woman suffering guilt and regret from the trauma and poor choices she made raising her children, who tries to stop them from repeating her mistakes. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The spark for Conditional Love came from a chat with my husband about what we’d do if we won the lottery. When I half-jokingly said I’d put “conditions” on giving money to one of my siblings, it kicked off a deep, juicy conversation that became the heart of the story. I started thinking about a bold, flawed mom who’s desperate to fix her family’s messy lives. It’s all about that universal question: If you had the power to push someone you love toward a better path, would you have the guts to do it? And what kind of blow-back might happen if you did? That idea fueled Conditional Love’s mix of family drama, tough love, and sardonic humor.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
The human condition is a treasure trove for fiction because it’s so gloriously messy. I’m fascinated by how people often choose paths that hold them back instead of ones that could lead to a fuller, richer life—like sticking with damaging habits or relationships that no longer serve them. In Conditional Love, I explore how past experiences shape the choices we make, often without us realizing it, and how those decisions ripple through families. It’s compelling because it’s so relatable. Everyone has that one choice they wish they could go back and change. Great fiction comes from digging into those choices and struggles, showing how characters wrestle with their flaws, and finding humor and hope in the chaos.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
In Conditional Love, I wanted to explore how a family can face a traumatic event together yet process it in their own unique ways, often unaware of its lasting impact on their behaviors. Another key theme is the constant tug-of-war of motherhood, with its doubts, regrets, and love that linger long after kids grow up, and a mother’s relentless drive to ensure her children are ok, no matter how old they get. These themes of awareness, healing, family dynamics, and love make Conditional Love a heartfelt, relatable journey for readers who’ve navigated their own family ups and downs.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
I’m deep into writing Highly Leveraged, a women’s fiction romance that follows L.A. Wyatt, a fierce movie producer, as she navigates loss, empowerment, and an unexpected romance with Cole Grayson, a Clooney-esque Hollywood star. It’s a story of balancing love, motherhood, and ambition against the cutthroat world of Hollywood. It’s packed with high stakes, sharp wit, and plenty of swoon. I’m aiming to have it in your hands by late 2025. Fans can join my Inner Circle at LAarbuckle.com for exclusive sneak peeks, updates, and maybe a few behind-the-scenes tidbits about L.A. and Cole’s journey. Until then, grab Conditional Love for a wild, emotional ride!
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Sassy and unrelenting, she concocts a wild plan to coerce them into changes by issuing a deadline and dishing out the “mother” of all ultimatums.
Her children aren’t buying it. To them, her redemption scheme is a step too far, even for Neva. They push back, and a firestorm erupts that splinters their fragile truce: sparking tempers, opening wounds, and unraveling secrets long buried.
Conditional Love, L.A. Arbuckle’s debut, blends Midwest grit with witty, literary prose, earning “literary gold” praise (Women’s Insider). Likened to Big Little Lies and The Nest, this bittersweet drama explores family, trauma, and forgiveness with complex characters and a surprise ending. Conditional Love is a bold, bittersweet clash of family, love, and the conditions we place on them both. Grab your copy today!
Conditional Love
Conditional Love is a raw and unflinching novel that plunges readers into the life of Kris Stevenson-Walker, a woman scarred by childhood trauma, stifled by a manipulative marriage, and desperate for redemption and self-worth. The story kicks off with a gut-wrenching depiction of domestic violence that sets the emotional tone for the rest of the book. Through decades of dysfunction, the narrative follows Kris’s struggle to break free of her past, rebuild her identity, and protect her son, Trent, from the generational wreckage she’s been trying to outpace her whole life.
This book gripped me from the first page with its brutal honesty. The writing is vivid, sometimes painfully so. Arbuckle doesn’t ease you into the story. She throws you into the fire. It’s not just the violence or trauma that makes the writing so visceral, it’s how it’s paired with razor-sharp dialogue and quiet moments of inner struggle that feel devastatingly real. I could feel Kris’s heartbreak and desperation in my bones. She is a flawed and relatable character, and I couldn’t stop rooting for her even when she made choices that made me want to scream. Arbuckle nails the slow, aching pace of healing, the whiplash of old wounds reopening, and the way people cope, sometimes badly, with lives they never asked for.
What really stuck with me, though, was how the book handles generational trauma. The way Kris sacrifices her own dreams to keep her family from falling apart felt too real. And Carl? Arbuckle captures toxic manipulation without making it cartoonish. Carl’s subtle, insidious control tactics hit hard because they’re so believable. You want to shake Kris, but you also get it. And then there’s Neva, the firecracker of a mother who’s both hilarious and heartbreaking. I went from wanting to throttle her to crying over her. Every character is layered. Even the side characters had bite. And the emotional whiplash is exhausting, but in that “I stayed up all night reading and now I’m a mess” kind of way. The best kind of book hangover.
Conditional Love is a story about survival, grief, complicated love, and finding a voice after years of silence. If you’ve ever struggled with your past or felt stuck in a life that doesn’t feel like yours, this book will crawl under your skin. I’d recommend it for fans of gritty family dramas, stories of female resilience, and anyone who’s not afraid to sit with discomfort if it means finding something real.
Pages: 262 | ASIN : B0F31FT54K
UNSPOKEN
Jann Alexander’s Unspoken transports readers to the bleak and unrelenting dust storms of the 1930s Texas Panhandle, blending a vivid historical backdrop with heart-wrenching family drama. The novel opens with Ruby Lee, a young girl, grappling with the twin tragedies of her grandmother’s and baby sister’s deaths. Through her eyes, we witness the despair of her family as they fight for survival in a time and place where hope is as scarce as rain. The story spans Ruby’s journey from her dust-laden home to Waco and beyond, interweaving themes of resilience, sacrifice, and belonging.
Alexander’s prose is breathtakingly visceral. Her descriptions of the black blizzards felt suffocating. The moment in the opening chapter where Ruby witnesses birds panicking inside the church while a dust storm barrels toward them was especially haunting. The interplay of nature’s fury and human helplessness sets a tone of impending doom that lingers throughout the novel. This strong, sensory writing was a highlight.
The story shines brightest in its quieter, emotional moments. Ruby’s internal struggle after being sent to live with Cousin Bess in Waco adds depth to her character. I felt her rage and heartbreak as she battled feelings of abandonment and alienation. Her mute defiance, coupled with her obsession over colors and rain, was both poignant and relatable. However, some of the flashbacks, particularly those involving her mother’s mental deterioration, left me craving more development to fully understand their fractured bond.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Unspoken is its exploration of human resilience. Despite their desperate circumstances, Ruby’s family clings to slivers of hope. Her father’s quiet determination to rebuild their farm and Ruby’s eventual journey toward self-discovery remind us that even in the harshest conditions, life persists.
Unspoken is an evocative story best suited for readers who appreciate historical fiction steeped in grit and emotional intensity. Fans of novels like The Grapes of Wrath or The Nightingale will likely feel at home here. I recommend it for anyone ready to weather an emotional storm in exchange for a beautifully written tale of survival and hope.
Pages: 426 | ASIN : B0F2GMQF75
Tapestry
Tapestry is a sprawling, deeply intimate chronicle that threads together the ancestral stories of women from the 1700s through the 1900s. Framed as a personal and spiritual uncovering of the author’s lineage, the book blends historical fiction with memoir, wrapping readers in vivid, often haunting vignettes of women’s lives shaped by hardship, resilience, and a relentless fight for identity and survival. From Aida’s brutal beginnings in the 1700s, to Petra’s ascent through the societal maze of nobility, to Rosalie’s journey from convict to colonial mother, Tapestry is less a straightforward narrative and more an emotional excavation of generational trauma, strength, and sacred womanhood.
What struck me first was the brutal honesty in the storytelling. Aida’s story, which opens the book, isn’t just gritty, it’s gut-wrenching. The scene where she urinates over the corpse of the man who abused her as a child was both shocking and cathartic. That moment wasn’t about revenge; it was raw defiance, a twisted reclaiming of dignity. I couldn’t stop thinking about how Kez pulls no punches when it comes to pain. She doesn’t just tell you about suffering; she drags you through it, lets you smell it, feel it. It’s not always easy to read, but it feels important and necessary.
The writing style possesses a poetic and lyrical quality, though it relies heavily on descriptive imagery. Depending on one’s disposition, this can either envelop the reader like a comforting shawl or resemble the experience of navigating through a dense, obscuring fog. Petra’s transition from convent-raised orphan to royal companion was especially layered with vivid detail. I felt for her, caught between privilege and powerlessness, her identity crafted by others’ needs. Her dismissal from nobility due to a misinformed explanation of childbirth was such a tragically human moment, equal parts ridiculous and heartbreaking. And yet, these characters are never just victims. There’s a fire in them, something fierce and enduring.
What I found most touching, though, were the undercurrents of inherited strength. By the time Rosalie is shackled on a convict ship, clutching a wooden bead passed down from Aida, the emotional weight of legacy is undeniable. The bead becomes this quiet symbol of survival, of story, of womanhood passed from mother to daughter. There’s something beautifully circular in how each story is stitched to the next, even if the women themselves never meet. The tragedy is generational, but so is the hope.
Tapestry is more than a book; it is an act of reclamation. It is crafted for readers who appreciate history rendered with both grit and grace, and who are willing to endure profound emotional depth in pursuit of a narrative that is unflinchingly honest and deeply human. It speaks to women seeking to understand the inherited wounds of their foremothers, and to anyone intrigued by the lingering presence of ancestral memory. For readers drawn to a raw, emotionally resonant journey through time, Tapestry is likely to leave a lasting impression well beyond its final page.
Pages: 353 | ASIN : B0DJKB717D
More Than Luck Required: A Journey of Healing, Hope, and Love
More Than Luck Required is a heartfelt journey through grief, redemption, and rediscovery, wrapped up in a slow-burning romance that sneaks up on you just like real love sometimes does. The story follows Lora Hamilton, a woman burdened by the traumatic loss of her daughter and the emotional wreckage left behind by an abusive marriage. When her father dies, she reluctantly returns to Orca Park in Washington—a place filled with both painful and peaceful memories—to fulfill a final promise to him: start living again. What begins as a soul-searching trip with her mother soon unravels into something far more transformative when she gets lost and is rescued by Cooper Martin and his spirited teenage daughter, Emma.
I wasn’t prepared for how deeply this book would hit. Right out of the gate, Morgan doesn’t ease us in—she drops us into Lora’s storm of guilt, pain, and emotional paralysis. The writing is raw in a way that doesn’t try too hard. It just lands. That moment when Lora finds a single daisy in a flower bed and smiles for the first time in what feels like years? That hit me. It was so subtle and beautiful—a soft nudge from life, saying, Hey, I’m still here if you want me. That tiny moment carried so much weight, and I found myself hoping she’d hang onto it.
Morgan’s dialogue is refreshingly authentic. The conversations between Lora and her mom felt like eavesdropping on something private. Their exchanges are laced with grief, unsaid things, love, and all the awkward clumsiness that comes with trying to help someone heal when you’re broken too. And the way Morgan peels back Lora’s layers through little things—hesitations, tiny smiles, anxious inner monologues—she doesn’t rush her. The healing feels earned, not handed over with a bow.
The love story between Lora and Cooper doesn’t try to be slick. And thank God for that. It’s hesitant. Awkward. Kind. Full of missteps and warmth. Cooper’s gruff charm and Emma’s playful sass ground the story in a way that makes their household feel like a soft place to land. When Lora wears Emma’s too-small sweatshirt, covered in a faded boy band, and feels ridiculous but cared for? I loved that scene. It was such a gentle, honest glimpse at a woman remembering how to let people in. And while some romantic tropes are here—single dad, handsome rescuer, cozy dinners—they never feel cheap. They feel earned, like everything in Lora’s journey.
The book sometimes leans into its symbolism. The sea glass, the daisy, the storm—at times, I felt like I was being nudged too obviously. But even then, I couldn’t help but appreciate how consistent Morgan is in weaving these elements throughout Lora’s evolution. It’s clear they mean something to her as a writer, and by the end, they meant something to me, too.
More Than Luck Required is for anyone who’s had their heart broken and wondered if it was possible to piece it back together. It’s for people stuck in their grief, who’ve forgotten what warmth feels like. It’s not flashy or overly clever, and that’s exactly why it works. If you’re into books that make you cry a little, smile a lot, and maybe call your mom afterward, then you’ll enjoy this book.
Pages: 349 | ASIN : B0F5QKMHLQ
The Art Collector’s Wife
Susan Knecht’s The Art Collector’s Wife is an emotionally rich, time-skipping novel that weaves together post-war trauma, intergenerational secrets, art-world intrigue, and the sharp edges of teenage rebellion. It starts in the horror of Auschwitz, then unfolds decades later in sun-drenched Venice, following the fractured legacy of one family—particularly the women who survived and the granddaughter determined to uncover the past. It’s part historical drama, part coming-of-age, with a steady undercurrent of longing.
The prologue, set on the day Auschwitz was liberated, is devastating and lyrical—just brutal and beautiful all at once. Lila, the mother, trying to keep her friend and a pregnant girl alive, while praying for a glimpse of her son Leo, had me breathless. Knecht doesn’t hold back, and the imagery stuck with me long after I closed the book.
Then we shift to 1960s Venice, and things change gears in a really compelling way. Now we’re with Isabel, Lila’s teenage granddaughter, who’s navigating Catholic school, first love, and the weight of secrets no one will talk about. Isabel is such a great character—sharp, moody, defiant. I loved her scenes with Antonia, her chain-smoking bestie who has all the bad ideas and a heart of gold. When Isabel steals the ruby rosary and starts skipping school to flirt with Niccolo (who is equal parts charming and sketchy), the tension crackles. You can feel her aching for answers about her father and mother, and the way Knecht slowly drops hints about their story is fantastic.
But what really got me was the emotional layering. Knecht has a way of showing how grief and silence pass through generations like DNA. Lila is wrapped so tightly in control and shame, you feel her unraveling even when she says almost nothing. There’s a haunting scene at the cemetery where Isabel confronts her grandmother about her parents—Isabel demands answers, and Lila can’t speak. That silence? It screams. And Miriam, the family friend who carries so much of the emotional glue, is a favorite. She’s got this old-Hollywood flair, but also such deep loyalty and sadness. I kind of wanted a whole book just about her.
I loved this book. It’s heavy but worth it. The prose is poetic without being precious, the story moves through decades without losing momentum, and the characters feel real, flawed, and alive. If you’re into multi-generational family sagas, WWII fiction with a heart, or just crave a book that will grab you by the collar, The Art Collector’s Wife is for you.
Pages: 257 | ASIN : B0F38R8KBV
LITERARY TITAN 