Literarily Illumined Connections

Steven Manchester has already proven his writing genius through his prolific bestsellers; His latest, The Ledger, is no exception. Bleak and entrancing, readers won’t be able to look away from this insight into prison life from both perspectives—questioning who has the darker soul, inmate or officer. The story’s message is so subtle and yet so profound, making it even more effective. Even in the…

Weightless  A Doctor’s Guide to GLP-1 Medications, Sustainable Weight Loss, and the Health You Deserve  by  Rocio Salas-Whalen MD  Three major caveats: First of all-No fat shaming as obesity is a chronic, multifactorial disease; Second of all- use the tools available to get healthy without shame; Third-avoid the fear-mongering media propaganda.  Dr Salas-Whalen starts out by defining obesity…

Balancing a serious topic such as chronic illness with respect while teaching empathy in a children’s story is a unique challenge, yet authors, Erik Estrada and Steven Manchester beautifully master this in Officer Erik and the Very Special Dad. Readers are sure to be moved by this heartwarming story which emphasizes service to others and overcoming adversity, especially when pity is unwarranted.…

Empowereds by Jannette Rallison Author Janette Rallison has penned an adult dystopian romance that is exciting and engaging. EMPOWEREDS follows the journey of 21-year-old Charity Huntington and her family as they evade a government that hunts down those with supernatural abilities, known as Empowereds. Charity’s father possesses psychic abilities that allow him to see the future, which…

YOU WILL BE PETER is pure inspiration! Lathan and Manchester expertly articulate this biblical history immersing the reader in the past. Walking alongside Jesus, chronicling the first years of his ministry through Peter’s (Simon’s) point-of-view captures an entirely different level to this humble yet majestic story. Truly a moving testament, it is a compelling narrative inspiring the reader to…

Author Emma Burstall wrote Beneath the Lemon Trees, which may be a reference to the main character’s sour life choices. However, a more fitting title might be Beneath the Olive Trees, given that the single love scene takes place there, reflecting the story’s ending. Burstall’s descriptions transport readers to an idyllic setting, with vivid imagery of the main character’s trip to the Greek…

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes Can best be described as vignettes in a family drama filled with love, loss, betrayal, and new beginnings. This women’s fiction is heavy on the family aspect and what a great marriage takes to make it just that. Set in North Carolina with jaunts to D.C.& London, the theme of family comes to the forefront. With three generations coming together to support the…

Author, Mason Ludlow writes BECOMING DIAMOND as a discussion to make readers think outside the limitations of what is in front of the everyday person. That by finding spiritual growth and finding meaning beyond the materialism and trappings of society expectations will bring purpose to the seekers’ life. By letting go of “Ego” a person can find strength in community in quality relationships and…

The Musical Mozinskis: a novel by Susan Petrone Mix magical realism with a tinge of real world synesthesia and you have a reading experience like no other. Imagine being able to see music as Vincent Mozinski and Grace Klinefelter do in The Musical Mozinskis: a novel by Susan Petrone. Upon meeting in the early 1960s, they realize they each have this unique ability to “see” music. They eventually…

The Wizard’s Mark by Janette Rallison Orphaned young, Marcella lives at the castle of the Wizards’ academy, working for her room and board. Considered lowborn & beneath the males born with a wizard’s mark, her first ambition is to learn to read. Ronan, one of the more proficient academy boys, out learns his peers, resulting in isolation from their jealousy. The head wizard then assigns Marcella…

A LONGTIME (AND NOW NFL PLAYER) NEMESIS SMALL TOWN, BIG SKY ROMANCE By Janette Rallison In this enemies-to-lovers sweet romance, author Janette Rallison creates lovable characters that carry the reader through a thoroughly enjoyable Rom-Com. Carson and Olivia have a nod to the Beauty and the Beast love story, which is laugh-out-loud at times and equally frustrating at times, but most of all,…

How to Write Romance 3-in-1 Collection: Fiction Writing Skills for Romance Authors by Julie Spencer Author Julie Spencer has written over thirty books and now adds How to Write Romance 3-in-1 Collection: Fiction Writing Skills for Romance Authors to that growing list. From her previous three titles in her How to Write Romance series, she has combined the essentials into this easy-to-digest…

How to Write a Romantic Subplot. Book 3 in the How-to-Write-Romance series Julie L. Spencer Best-selling author Julie L. Spencer shows writers step-by-step through the romantic subplots of multiple story structures. A comprehensive overview of the difference between a Romance and a Romantic Subplot. Spencer states, “You can almost think of a story with a romantic subplot as being a romance…

Book Review: The Star in the East by John Adcox

The Star in the East by John Adcox A Christmas treasure hunt adventure; best read in winter but definitely enjoyable year round. The thing I loved most about this story was the love between Beth and Gaspar and the myriad ways they showed their interminable love to each other. Beth’s displays of love continued even after her death, providing the clues for Gaspar to follow to solve his final…

Book Review: Soooo good! Not the twist you were expecting.

Book Review: Soooo good! Not the twist you were expecting.

Book Review: So engaging, you have to know how it ends.