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Life’s Like A Book…
Life’s Like A Book…, by Christina M. McKenzie, is a contemporary women’s fiction novel that blends romance, grief, friendship, family, and personal reinvention into the story of Kloey, a young woman whose carefully planned life has stopped feeling like her own. At the beginning, she’s ending a five-year relationship, finishing law school, dealing with the lingering effects of a serious medical condition, and questioning what she actually wants from adulthood. Then the sudden death of her best friend, Brandi, changes the direction of everything. What follows is less about finding one simple answer and more about Kloey learning how to participate in her own life again.
One of the strongest parts of this contemporary romance and women’s fiction story is the way grief remains present even when Kloey is doing ordinary, funny, messy, or impulsive things. Brandi’s death doesn’t disappear whenever romance enters the picture. Instead, Kloey carries her friend with her, quite literally for much of the novel, scattering Brandi’s ashes in meaningful places and eventually incorporating some into a memorial tattoo. That gives the book an unusual mixture of sadness, humor, sensuality, and everyday life. Kloey can be mourning one moment, flirting with Henry the next, worrying about work after that, and then thinking about food, her dog, or something completely mundane. It makes her feel like a person whose life keeps happening even when she isn’t emotionally prepared for it.
The romantic storyline with Henry fits naturally into Kloey’s larger journey because attraction forces her to confront insecurities that existed long before she met him. Her illness has changed her body, her former relationship damaged her confidence, and dating exposes both wounds pretty quickly. Henry’s response to her scars becomes an important early moment because he treats them as evidence of a life lived. Their connection develops alongside separations, career decisions, long-distance conversations, and Kloey’s fear of allowing another major change into her life. That makes the romance feel connected to the book’s broader questions about confidence, intimacy, independence, and whether feeling safe is always the same thing as feeling fulfilled.
By the end, Life’s Like A Book… has grown into a story about accepting that a life can contain several different versions of the same person. Kloey has lost Brandi and her grandmother, begun establishing herself as an attorney, reopened herself to Henry, and reached a point where career, home, and love may all require another leap. The final pages deliberately leave her at that crossroads, considering a different firm, the possibility of taking over her family’s Florida farm, and a future with Henry before finally deciding to listen to what she wants and beginning to type. For readers who enjoy contemporary women’s fiction, romantic fiction, stories about grief and healing, and character-driven novels about starting over, this is an intimate look at how one chapter of a life can close while the next one is still being written.
Pages: 150 | ASIN : B0DH7T452J
Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction
The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.
Award Recipients
The Voice of Cuba by Amarilys Rassler
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award
Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.
Award Recipients
ȚEPEȘ: VLAD III DRACULA by Sebastian Valerius
Out of the Water by K Browning
The Galaxy of Kon-Ki: Waking on Earth by Colin Nimer
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Moving Forward
Vacancy follows a widowed teacher, a mother trapped in an abusive relationship, and the people around them as tragedy, misunderstanding, and compassion collide in a struggling Texas Panhandle town. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
In 2005, two articles on the front page of a major newspaper’s Metro section jumped out. One story was joyful, the other horrific, and the characters in each were unrelated. But I was inspired to meld them together into one novel, to explore the complexities of each situation. I chose the Texas Panhandle setting for its small-town environment, where scenarios of second chances, and tragedies nobody saw coming, were believable.
Helen’s concern for Jillie is compassionate but also complicated by grief, regret, and longing. What interested you about exploring the line between helping someone and imposing your own needs on them?
It’s human nature to want to help people in trouble, and often that “help” comes in the form of advice and worse. I’ve seen well-intentioned people try to make up for what they lack, by forcing what they need on a more troubled person, in the guise of help. I like to explore what motivates people to do what they do, and that theme is an especially ripe one to untangle.
Hartless and the Jack of Diamonds motel feel almost like characters themselves. What did the Texas Panhandle setting allow you to express about isolation, hardship, and renewal?
The Texas Panhandle has a wide span of treeless land broken by cactus, mesquite, tumbleweeds, and an endless sky. That can make you feel very small. In-between towns, you’ll travel for miles on cracked two-lane roads and be lucky to see another pickup pass by. Again, that can make you feel very alone. That kind of terrain implies isolation and hardship just by its geographical features and distances. And then you’ll be rewarded with the most glorious, colorful sunsets, that go on forever, that can make you feel reborn.
The novel offers hope without suggesting that grief, abuse, or trauma can simply be erased. What did you most want readers to understand about forgiveness, accountability, and rebuilding a life?
People who suffer abuse and trauma don’t let go of it easily, and may be affected by it still, years later. Like the characters in Vacancy, in real life people learn there’s no way out, it’s just a long irregular journey where moving forward, despite the pain, is the only place to go.
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Helen is childless and widowed after a long marriage, and gets a second chance with a long lost love. But she’s grieving her hidden regrets. She bonds with her quiet kindergarten student, and doubts the girl’s struggling single mother, Charlene, is fit to parent.
Charlene’s hiding a secret of her own, and she resents Helen’s interference. She’s determined to make a better life for her young daughter, the teenage boy her ex left behind, and the baby on the way, when a scarred veteran offers to lend a hand.
A tragedy no one sees coming forces the two women to unite, as small-town bias threatens to destroy innocent lives. But first, Helen and Charlene must confront the vacancy in their hearts, to find newfound strength, acceptance, and a second chance at love.
Based on a true story.
That Is Juicy Story Material!
Passion’s Duty follows an Irish woodsman and a fiery officer’s daughter stranded in the wilderness of Mohawk Valley who, despite their carefully laid plans, find themselves drawn to each other. Why did you choose 1755 and the Mohawk Valley as the place to begin the Romance and the American Ranger series?
The French and Indian War/Seven Years War has always fascinated me because it shaped so much of what was to come in America. There were major shifts in people’s identities during this time—most importantly a sense of becoming American. And the Mohawk Valley of New York already had a richly diverse population with competing loyalties and a long, colorful history. Most importantly, nothing about the people—especially the valley’s most famous resident, William Johnson—was simple. That is juicy story material!
Faith understands finances, property, mills, medicine, and practical management, yet she lives in a society that continually undervalues those abilities. How did you approach balancing her historical circumstances with her independence?
It is really a case of how Faith balances her circumstances with her independence. She is smart and understands consequences, so she needs to balance her independence in the moment with how acting on it will impact her ability to meet her aims in the future. Reading history, it is easy to forget that women have always been capable and independent, even when social rules and laws didn’t give space for it. We tend to read about the rules from the perspective of those who made them, rather than those who were hemmed in by them. Today, we can hardly imagine being legally “covered” by a father, husband, or son, but that was reality for British women like Faith. A man like James, a former indentured servant with little education, had more legal freedom than Faith, despite her greater wealth, education, and status.
James and Faith begin admiring one another’s competence before either fully acknowledges the attraction between them. Why was mutual respect important to the foundation of their romance?
Competence is always attractive! And I love exploring relationships between equal partners and how they reach that place of true partnership. And, contrary to popular myth, America has always been very class conscious. It was nice not only to explore that but also to have Faith and James blow it up.
Because this is the first Romance and the American Ranger novel, which elements of Passion’s Duty are laying groundwork for the larger series?
I am so glad you asked! The series will follow the ranger company James raises throughout the course of the war. They are a found family, and in Passion’s Duty, you have met at least one main character for the next six books, and in some cases, you have already met both main characters. David’s book, Passion’s Claim, is the next in the series, and oh my goodness, it has been fun to write!
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New York Colony, 1755
Irishman James Carroll is hellbent on independence. In the wilderness of the Mohawk Valley, armed service to a powerful benefactor offers a rare opportunity for a once-indentured servant. But as hostility brews between the British and the French, a beautiful trespasser threatens to shatter James’s singular focus on his one path upward.
Faith Richmond was supposed to have been a son. A disappointment to her military father, despite her quick intellect and obvious talents, she chafes at being bartered to a wealthy officer to prop up her family’s fortunes. Stranded with a surly Irishman who risks his livelihood for her, she refuses to ignore the heat his gaze kindles.
War is coming. But the spark between them ignites into something neither can resist. And once they stop fighting it, there will be no protection from patron or family—even as it puts them directly in the path of French raiders bent on revenge.
Book One of the Romance and the American Ranger series, Passion’s Duty is a steamy, open-door historical romance of forbidden love and forced proximity, with a strong heroine and a hero who is worth the wait. Set at the outbreak of the French and Indian War.
Grab your copy to be swept up in their passionate journey today!
Layers Of My Persona
Alaskan Humble Pie follows a spoiled rock star whose career is spiraling downward and drowning in scandals, leading to him being sent into hiding, where he starts to reevaluate his life and future. What inspired the idea of sending a famous rock star into hiding on an Alaska farm?
During 2021-2022 when I was writing the initial draft of the book, I was going through my own “Dark Night of the Soul” where I spent two years peeling away the various layers of my persona: mother, wife, financial analyst, business owner, foundation board member, daughter, and politician… to get to the root of my true essence. This started when my father was diagnosed with a malignant glio blastoma brain tumor (there is a character in the book, Eddy Bernard, the drummer who dies of a glio. This is a tribute to my dad), and literally two days later, also in early 2021, my husband was diagnosed with malignant mucosal melanoma inside his sinus. In this situation, you figure out fast what really matters…but most everything else in your life gets upended.
After serving six years in the Alaska state legislature as a senator, I didn’t seek reelection so I could instead care for my father and husband. My father died within the year, and my husband spent two years in intensive immunotherapy and so far, he’s in remission. (Halleluiah!)
But that was only half the equation. With my father’s passing, the leadership role of our $750MM family foundation became vacant. My two cousins and I took over the shared chairmanship, and I quickly learned that fear, ego, and control, as well as power and money, can make people say and do awful things. My cousins had me questioning my own sense of self. To process my emotions, I walked for miles on the wooded trails around town, mulling over what they said about me, comparing that to what I thought about myself. For nearly three years, nature was my solace and helped me heal.
Alaskan Humble Pie was coalescing in my mind during that time, particularly using the theme of physical activity as a mechanism to rediscover oneself. However, hiking alone in the woods makes for a boring read, and I needed something more dynamic for my character to do. So, I reached out to Arthur Keys, former Deputy Commission of Agriculture for the State of Alaska, whom I met while serving in the legislature. His family owns and operates several commercial farms in Palmer, AK. I called Arthur and spent two weeks riding tractors, picking carrots, and learning the difference between delicata and kabocha squash.
For me, nature and connecting with the land helped me process my grief, as well as strip away the “noise” from my extended family and figure out what really matters: living authentically, good health, and public service. I used Ryder’s parallel journey of farming to work through my own emotions and create space for spiritual growth. I discovered that it’s not your career, or your titles, or your committees that define you. It’s the intangibles, such as loving yourself, your family, your community; always learning, anything and everything; and finally, connecting meaningfully with those around you. That is my real essence.
How did you want Ryder’s understanding of himself to change once he was separated from his career and public identity?
It’s a fish out of water scenario. Without the daily habits of place, routine, and normal interactions, everything feels foreign, and people are forced to reinvent themselves. In the book, Ryder was used to being self-indulged by his fans, the media, and his promoters, which coincidentally sometimes happens as a state senator because people want your vote, or a line item in the capital budget for their project (which I was in charge of for two years). When I left the senate, no one wanted anything from me, except my husband who was sick as a dog for nearly a year and a half.
My sense of importance deflated pretty quick. I matured alongside Ryder to rebuild my self-worth and discover meaningful impact beyond my professional role.
And through our family foundation, I learned to let some things go and not try to control the outcomes so much. I accused my cousins of leading with fear and control, but then I realized I was doing the same thing, just packaged differently. Ryder couldn’t control what the media said about him, but he could control the people he played with, what songs he wrote, where he chose to play, and how he toured.
Both Ryder and Alison reach points where they have to reconsider the futures they imagined for themselves. What interested you about that shared experience?
I always thought I would run the Rasmuson Foundation someday (our family foundation). But I don’t think that opportunity will be available to me. In 2022, I also wasn’t sure if politics was in my future either, because while I am good at it, I also find it incredibly frustrating and oftentimes futile. After I left the senate, and my father passed away, I needed to reinvent myself. It took four years to figure out that:
- I am a writer. I process the stickiness of life through character interactions.
- I am a darn good board member for our family foundation
- I am a knowledge seeker
- I love nature
- I love policy and I have a knack for it. So, I threw my hat to run for Anchorage Mayor. The election is April 2027.
At its heart, what do you hope Ryder and Alison’s relationship says about love, growth, and finding someone who encourages you to become more fully yourself?
The absolute most important decision anybody will make in life is who they marry. It is so important to genuinely like your spouse, have fun with that person, and to be able to be your authentic self with them. This means having both humorous and heartfelt conversations, having open and honest communication about both the good and bad stuff, no matter how much it hurts. Your spouse should be the one person who knows you best.
Rudi (my husband) and I just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. It hasn’t always been a picnic. But the good times outweigh the bad by a long shot, and that is largely due to our commitment, hard work, and honesty with each other.
I wanted Alison and Ryder to have the same kind of relationship that Rudi and I have.
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Ryder trades guitar solos for seed bags, stadiums for open fields, and headlines for hard work. He initially resents this forced hiatus, but Alaska has a way of cutting people back to what matters. Guided by a wise farmer, challenged by a sharp-witted medical student with a fiddle and a guarded heart, and soothed by music under the midnight sun, Ryder begins to heal.
Alaskan Humble Pie is a sweeping romance about redemption, community, and the courage it takes to grow into who you were meant to be—when the noise finally fades and the true north reveals itself.
The Answer is Both Personal and Exciting!
When Eagles Roost follows newlyweds Miranda and Cornelius on an Alaskan honeymoon where breathtaking landscapes, wildlife, and the lives of other couples deepen their understanding of marriage, home, and love. What inspired the setup of your story?
The answer is both personal and exciting! First, I’d long been fascinated by Alaska and I’d assembled a thick file of articles, which I’d read for research. Second, I was thrilled when one day I received a call inviting me to teach at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Summer Fine Arts Camp, which was a fantastic experience. Meanwhile, my husband planned an extensive driving trip for us that began the day after my work concluded. We felt it was both an adventure and a second honeymoon, and I always knew I wanted to write about it.
Alaska feels almost like a character in the book. What research or personal experiences helped you capture its landscapes, wildlife, communities, and history?
As we traveled, I learned so much! Though I’d done a lot of research before our travels, there’s nothing like experiencing a place in person. I worked alongside and also interviewed many long-time Alaskans. It’s a unique place that requires residents to be resourceful and resilient. The weather as well as the length of summer days and shortness of winter ones is a challenge. Having native Yupik students was a joy and allowed me to connect with a local tribe when many members came to see the performance of a play I wrote with my students.
How did you decide how much factual material about subjects such as glaciers, whales, Indigenous traditions, and environmental history to weave into the romantic storyline?
Pace in a story is important, so my rule was not to slow down the action with too much description or research. So, for example, I do describe Kachemak Bay in some detail, but then we see my character Miranda get in trouble trapped under her kayak, so the reader is caught up in action. The narrative switches from passive to active.
Why was it important to show several different stages of love at once, from Miranda and Cornelius’s new marriage to Francine and Will’s commitment and Cedric and Ezme’s fifty years together?
Stories have arcs. In each novel there will be character arcs, that is, beginnings, middles, a climax and an ending for each main character. But there is also the overall arc of the story itself. In this novella, I wanted to present a tapestry that includes three different couples, each at a different stage of life. Collectively, they provide windows into both nascent and mature relationships.
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