History remembers Cleopatra VII as the legendary queen who captivated Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, but what if the greatest love of her life was someone history never recorded? The autumn winds of 48 BC swept across Alexandria's harbor as Queen Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator stood on her palace balcony, watching Roman ships approach in … Continue reading The Carpenter’s Heart: The Untold Story of Cleopatra’s Secret Lover
Romance
The Deception of Margaret Blackwood: A Tale of Revenge on the High Seas
The salt spray kissed Margaret Blackwood's weathered face as she adjusted the worn tricorn hat shadowing her features. To her crew aboard the Crimson Dawn, she was simply "Black Matt"—a cunning quartermaster whose sharp mind for tactics had earned them more successful raids than any other pirate vessel prowling the waters between the Carolinas and … Continue reading The Deception of Margaret Blackwood: A Tale of Revenge on the High Seas
The Voice in the Machine
Wayne Taylor stared at the blinking cursor on his monitor, the quarterly reports swimming before his tired eyes. The Manhattan skyline glittered beyond his corner office window, but he might as well have been looking at a wall. Six months since the divorce papers were signed, and the world still felt muted, like someone had … Continue reading The Voice in the Machine
The Worst 71 – Random Hearts
Random Hearts 1999 Directed by Sydney Pollack Welcome back to Movie Monday, friends! We're continuing our journey through my personal hall of shame - the 100 worst movies I've ever seen. Remember, these rankings are entirely subjective, so your mileage may vary. Today's feature comes in at #71: the 1999 romantic drama Random Hearts, starring … Continue reading The Worst 71 – Random Hearts
Blooming Truths
Lily Thornton stared at her reflection in the mirror, gently touching the delicate jasmine flower sprouting from her left cheek. Its white petals contrasted starkly against her olive skin, a constant reminder of the little white lie she'd told her mother yesterday about finishing her chores. At twenty-five, Lily was used to the occasional bloom, … Continue reading Blooming Truths
New Year’s Eve
Mia nervously smoothed her sparkly black dress as she stepped out of the Uber in front of the swanky downtown nightclub. The bass thumped from inside as partygoers lined up to ring in the New Year. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. Tonight was the night she would finally confess her feelings to Liam, … Continue reading New Year’s Eve
Blogmas the Twentieth
It's that time of year again—when the air is crisp, the eggnog is flowing, and every other song on the radio is about finding love under the mistletoe. From the classic crooning of Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" to the bittersweet tale of Wham!'s "Last Christmas," pop culture has a way … Continue reading Blogmas the Twentieth
A Kaleidoscope Christmas Romance
Kris twisted the antique brass kaleidoscope, peering into the eyepiece as a dazzling pattern of vibrant blue and silver snowflakes danced before her eyes. She smiled, enchanted by the timeless beauty of the Victorian-era toy. As the owner of Kaleido's Antiques, the kaleidoscope was one of hundreds of vintage treasures filling the shelves of her … Continue reading A Kaleidoscope Christmas Romance
Incandescent Love
Chicago, 1935 The marquee lights of the Tivoli Theatre glimmered in the rainy night as Evelyn hurried inside, her heels clicking on the wet pavement. She felt a thrill run through her as she entered the sumptuous lobby, all red velvet and gleaming brass. At 25, Evelyn still got a little starry-eyed at the cinema, … Continue reading Incandescent Love
The Soloist
Aria's bow danced across the violin strings, her slender fingers flying, auburn hair cascading over the polished wood instrument cradled against her shoulder. Each note rang out pure and crystalline, filling the vaulted concert hall. Row upon row of transfixed faces gazed up at the stage, held spellbound by the haunting melody the young soloist … Continue reading The Soloist
The Confusing Middle 