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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
Strong, Independent Women
Vashti’s Daughter follows a 29-year-old book publisher who discovers a mysterious manuscript; she must find a way to break an ancient curse put on her and fulfill a vow she made centuries ago, before her 30th birthday in the present. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
This will sound quite strange, but the inspiration for Vashti’s Daughter originated from a very unique relationship I was involved in with a former high school classmate several years ago.
It was so intense, I felt as if we had known each other in a previous life. When I ended it, he was quite upset and told me, “You will never find love again, now and for all eternity.” (Which was certainly not true as I’ve been married to my current and forever love for over 40 years!)
However, that one line also felt was like a “curse” made centuries ago, and most definitely was the spark that created the theme of Vashti’s Daughter, although the Jewish holiday of Purim and all that followed wasn’t originally the concept or the title of the novel.
(Unfortunately, the real person who was the inspiration for the book passed away several years ago and never knew how important he was to my creative process.)
The rest of the inspiration came to me during COVID, when I had plenty of time and plenty of unemployment, to concentrate on finishing Vashti’s Daughter. The history of basketball at Kutcher’s in the Catskills, the basketball scandals at Syracuse and Israel, the archeological dig and earthquake in Qutar, and even Alexander the Great, became part of the story. Where all these themes came from, I honestly have no idea!
Anna is a strong heroine who is determined and resilient in the face of challenging odds. Did you incorporate anything from your own life into the characters in your novel?
As with most authors, and certainly with my own novels, there are a number of personal experiences intertwined in every book. With Vashti’s Daughter, I drew from my more than twenty-five years of experience in the ever-changing book publishing industry, as well as having gone through a vicious divorce (over 40 years ago) with a very abusive self-centered jerk who became the character of Anna’s ex in the story.
My own mother Reginia Cohen was a very strong, fiercely independent woman who was way ahead of her time. She faced many challenges, as did many women of her generation after WWII ended, but I credit her intense determination as the key factor in the Anna character.
When we celebrated Purim at our ultra-conservative synagogue in Ellenville, New York, both of us dressed as Vashti while all the other women extolled the virtues of Esther. The congregation wasn’t that impressed. to say the least!
Other aspects of the novel I’ve incorporated into the story; I graduated from Syracuse and am a huge Orange basketball fan! I’ve also studied astrology, numerology, and Kabala and have been reading Tarot cards for over 60 years, and have, of course, attended many book events both here in Los Angeles and New York City over the years.
Unfortunately, many of these events as well as bookstores, author book signings, and conventions are no longer around, which makes selling novels even more challenging than ever before. Add to that, the disappearance of major publishing houses, mergers, and the new A.I. “fake” writing that’s become so popular, and it’s going to get a lot worse for creative human beings to make a living in the publishing business – BUT like Anna, I firmly believe we will prevail!
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
All of my novels have the similar theme of strong, independent women who overcome great odds. Jenny Reed is a strong, determined New Yorker who has to shake off the laid-back attitude of LA to overcome the challenges of an industry that threatens to turn her off and a man who only wants to turn her on in Red Wine for Breakfast.
Attorney-turned-writer Rachael Clark has to fight off her vengeful ex to bring justice to her new love interest in First Class Male.
Voice-over actress Melanie Tyler becomes involved with a secret spy agency to help bring down a former classmate’s evil organization in Undercover Reunion.
Two continuous themes in all my novels are first, my #1 rule of life; Always keep a bottle of champagne in the refrigerator because you never know when you’re going to have something to celebrate, and you do NOT want to be without champagne.
Second, the secret of the “socks test” which you’ll have to read the novels to discover that that is!
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it out?
Vashti’s Daughter is my fourth novel! My first book, Red Wine for Breakfast was published way back in 1999. (Read The History of a Novel)
That novel was followed by what started out as a 2,000 word short story for a romance magazine that grew to the 96,000 word novel First Class Male. Undercover Reunion was written just before my own 30th high school reunion and also the 50th anniversary of the television show The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
As far as the future of my next books – Bourbon for Brunch and Daiquiris for Dinner have been sitting in my computer hoping to become completed works someday when I’m a “rich and famous” (or just rich) author and can quit my “day job.”
Author Links: GoodReads | YouTube | Raven-West.com | Website | Amazon
The festive holiday of Purim is celebrated every year in the Jewish community with costume parties, parades and special fruit-filled tri-corner pastries called Hamentashen.
But before Esther, there was Vashti, the king’s first wife. Her defiance of his order to debase herself for the amusement of his cronies led to her being banished from the kingdom. This paved the way for Esther to take her place, and Vashti was never heard from again.
Until now.
Throughout the centuries, Vashti has been both vilified and praised. She’s portrayed as the bitch of the land, or hailed as the first Feminist. The argument has been raging for decades. Vashti’s Daughter definitively ends this debate.
Actual events and locations both from the past and the present, plus several actual religious, astrological and reincarnation authorities, lend credibility to a fictional story that could very well be real.
After a mysterious manuscript appears on her desk and at her home, Anna is haunted by dreams where she is living in 366 BCE. With the help of reincarnation experts, archeologists and a Kabbalist Rabbi, Anna discovers she is, in fact, Adara, the reincarnated daughter of Queen Vashti.
Risking her company and budding relationship with book’s author, Dr. Nathaniel Braverman, a Middle Eastern Studies professor at Brandeis University, she must find a way to break an ancient curse put on her and fulfill a vow she made centuries ago, before her 30th birthday in the present, that will finally bring her true happiness in love and change the world’s view on a biblical heroine.
“Almost There, but Not Quite”
Marginal Madge: Always on the Edge follows a spirited, young cook whose dreams are derailed by a health challenge as she strives to navigate family dynamics and rekindle old love while uncovering life-altering family secrets. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My story was vaguely based on the life of one of my friends. She has always intrigued me with her calm/funny participation in life, even in the face of many challenges; she is an inspiration. I took what was a foundation for the story and then enhanced it into a purely fictional story, steering it straight into the “happy” place.
What inspired the unique name and character of Marginal Madge, and how does it reflect her journey throughout the novel?
Always on the edge. Always just in reach of the dream. Always situated right on the margin – Marginal. Madge just seemed to flow off my tongue; thus, Marginal Madge. I knew my character was going to be “almost there, but not quite” in this first book of the series…but with a little God guidance in her life, she was going to have adventure after adventure, and joyfully obtain her innermost desires. (Books 2-5)
The book intertwines Marginal’s passion for cooking with her personal life challenges. How did you decide to incorporate the culinary arts as a significant element in her story?
In my own family, cooking was a part of what made the house a home. Everyone always joined in and felt like a part of it, involved with it…which made for much laughter and creativity. I felt like Marginal needed something that brought her much joy and was received well by others…cooking, of course.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
Marginal Madge Steps Over the Line. This second book in the series is tucked into the midst of several projects that I am currently involved with. Composing music swallows a large portion of my time; always surrounded with people and deadlines. Writing books is where I can be creative in a different, much quieter way. Love the alone time! She’ll be finished soon.
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Impossibly withered lives begin to come alive, when an old miserly woman makes the self-satisfied decision to hire an individual who has the uncanny ability to find dry humor in the most ridiculous of circumstances.As life seems to pass her by, Marginal Madge strengthens her gifts, rolls with the punches, moves herself into new territory, and finds out that her life is, in fact, being guided with impeccable direction.
Marginal Madge, Alice Turbantine, Augustus the Cat, Henry the accountant, Gabe, Theodore J McCallahan, and the rest of the cast are all in for a surprise. Their stories will intersect … and find healing, when the miserly old Alice Turbantine, makes that critical decision to hire our Marginal Madge. It will change everything … for many people … especially Marginal.
LITERARY TITAN 