Tag: psychological drama

Rising Up by Jackson Liva Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A couple happy and in love find their world torn apart as tense political divides amongst the nation brings out a second side to one of them, spiraling out of control in a tense psychological thriller in author Jackson Liva’s “Rising Up”.

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The Synopsis

Can a toxic relationship change your life for the better?

Serena and Greg are the perfect match: she’s a sexy, fun, charismatic yoga instructor, and he’s a laid-back regular joe with a heart of gold. And their whirlwind romance lifts them to dizzying new heights. But when the presidential election throws the country into a deep political and cultural maelstrom, one of the couple’s personalities suddenly splits in two.

Stuck in the midst of escalating psychological attacks, a steady stream of gaslighting and lies, as well as a mysterious disappearance on a tropical vacation, their tumultuous relationship slowly begins to reveal sinister secrets that bind the two together – secrets that expose lifelong wounds, as well as eerie parallels to America’s relationship with its president.

Only by rising up to their inner demons and following the guidance of their Higher Selves will both they – and their country – stand a chance of finding true peace and happiness.

Step into a deeply authentic and emotional novel that artfully weaves together astute political commentary, insightful reflections on psychological abuse, and a striking yet sympathetic picture of toxic codependent relationships.

The Review

This was a compelling and gripping read. The author does a wonderful job of capturing the thoughts, emotions, and heat of both the romance beforehand and the tension after the political strife enters the lives of these characters. The world-building was really top-notch in this book, as the author brought to life the real-world struggles of the political divide that still holds strong in many parts of the world, most strongly felt in the United States, of course.

The character development and the powerful themes of politics, relationships, and mental health were beautifully brought out throughout this narrative. The buildup of tension and toxicity throughout the main character’s evolution as individuals and as a couple drew the reader in carefully, like a bad car accident one can’t look away from. The venomous nature of politics in this day and age and how it impacts our relationships in families, friendships, and romantic entanglements has never been more pronounced than it is now, and the author weaves through these conflicts with honesty and a profound sense of reflection.

The Verdict

Memorable, honest, and engaging author Jackson Liva’s “Rising Up” is a must-read psychological literary fiction drama that readers won’t want to put down. The twists and turns in the story, as well as the shocking buildup of tension that highlights politics and mental health awareness, all into one package, made this book one people will turn to time and time again in this day and age. If you haven’t yet, preorder your copy or pick it up on July 4th, 2024!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

I’m an established novelist, and Jackson Liva is the pen name I created to protect the privacy of me and my family. If Rising Up helps others heal from a toxic relationship, or navigate through a current situation, I want to make sure it’s out there.

“You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.”

― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird

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Interview with Author Roberta Satow 

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn InterviewsLeave a comment

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

I’ve been writing since I was a young kid. I had a cousin in England and had a regular correspondence with him. Then as a Sociology professor I was writing academic articles for 40 years. 

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2) What inspired you to write your book?

I have been collecting notes about my own sessions as a patient and sessions I had with patients, for many years. The book has been in the works for more than 10 years.

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

I hope readers will empathize with Rose’s growth and also learn about what psychoanalysis is about. Many people think it means the analyst is predominantly silent and just makes interpretations.

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

I wrote academic articles until I published Doing the Right Thing: Taking Care of Your Elderly Parents Even if They Didn’t Take Care of You in 2005. That book was a combination of personal experience with my mother and interviews with 50 caretakers across the country. My next book was a novel Two Sisters of Coyoacan which was about the assassination Leon Trotsky. Our Time is Up is my second novel.

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5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

The main character is based on myself so I don’t have any questions to ask her.

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

I have not had great success in promoting the book. I am trying Facebook ads now.

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

Plan the publicity before the book is published. It takes a lot of time  and some things require doing before pub date.

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

I am focussed on trying to promote Our Time is Up, but I am also thinking about a second book with the same protagonist later in her life.

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About the Author

Roberta Satow, Ph.D. is a practicing psychoanalyst in Washington, CT. She is a senior member of the faculty and control analyst at the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis. Dr. Satow is Professor Emerita of Sociology at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. In addition to her non-fiction book Doing the Right Thing: Taking Care of Your Elderly Parents Even if They Didn’t Take Care of You (Tarcher/Penguin 2006), she is the editor of Gender and Social Life (Allyn

and Bacon, 2000) and she has written a novel Two Sisters of Coyoacan (2017). Dr. Satow writes a blog for Psychology Today: 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/life-after-50

https://www.robertasatow.com

A Break in the Fog by Molly Salans Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A young woman with a complicated family history finds herself swept up into a new religious group, and discovers things are not what they seem in author Molly Salans’s “A Break in the Fog”. 

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The Synopsis

A family in turmoil, a dangerous cult, and God at the center of it all, A Break in the Fog is a psychological novel that explores how faith can be used to heal, but also how abuse and how family is all that matters in the end.

With her mother dead, her sister Wendy addicted to drugs, and her father condemning her every decision, Clara Greenwood shoulders the weight of all her dysfunctional family’s problems. Desperate for a way out, she is reluctantly goaded into attending a meeting for a secret school, The Ancient Side of Ideas. She is quickly swept up in the cult, however, when she meets the charismatic Damien – one of its teachers. His charm and good looks melt her skepticisms away, convincing her to give up everything in her old life. But when Clara finds herself in too deep, can she find her way out before it’s too late?

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The Review

This was such an emotional and chilling read. The author’s personal experiences with cults and psychology added a depth of authenticity to the narrative, giving readers an insight into the mindset surrounding those who are drawn to religious movements and the impact that psychological abuse and trauma can have on a person overall. The tension and atmosphere the author builds throughout this narrative made this a truly compelling read.

The character development and layered storytelling of the narrative really kept me as a reader invested in the book. The detailed background of the protagonist and the multiple perspectives as Clara falls deeper and deeper into this cult and her family is left desperate to find her made this an adrenaline-fueled ride. The setting and timing of the narrative around other infamous cult movements allowed this particular story to hold more gravitas and keep the reader immersed in the chaotic world that Clara is drawn into slowly.

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The Verdict

Memorable, engaging, and thoughtful, author Molly Salans’s “A Break in the Fog” is an honest and captivating look into the tragic world of cults and the psychological impact that past trauma and cult mentality can have on a person. The background of Clara’s family and the shocking revelations that abound in the final pages of this story will keep readers invested until the very end. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Her love of literature and deep spirituality brought Molly to earn her M.Ed from Cambridge College in 1989. She then went on to obtain her license in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Family Kantor Institute in 1991 and a license in Social Work from Boston University School of Social Work in 1995. Her first book, Storytelling with Children in Crisis, is based on her social work experience in home-based crisis intervention.

Prior to pursuing her education in counseling and social work, Molly was a member of a prominent cult for seven years. Though she left in 1982, her experiences of the group haunted her, leading her to write her newest book, a psychological novel titled, A Break in the Fog.

Though not autobiographical, her inside understanding of the way cults operate informed this integral part of the dysfunctional family narrative. Feeling this was a story she had to tell, her wish is for her readers to find hope in the family’s quest for redemption.

https://mollysalans.com/

Crazy Love by Rachael Tamayo Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Find out how the mind of a disturbed and vastly rich stalker works as they pursue the person they believe loves them in author Rachael Tamayo’s “Crazy Love”.

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The Synopsis

I love Emily. I know she loves me too, she just needs me to show her. One day, we will be together forever, I’ll make sure of that. She’s only with this guy she’s been hanging around with to test me, see if I’ll stand true. Emily wants me to fight for her, to see if I can win her. Of course, I will. Once she sees how I’ve been caring for her, all the plans I’ve made, the lengths I’ve gone to in order to be with her, she will be so proud of me. If only she would stop pretending so I could stop hiding in her attic.

Reach deep into the mind of mentally ill millionaire, Noah Burell, as he turns Emily’s world upside down.

The Review

This was such a chilling and haunting read. The author perfectly captures the fear and horror that so many people have had to endure over the years. The combination of mental illness left untreated and unhealthy obsessions have led to some truly terrifying cases over the years, and the author’s story really drew the reader in with the theme of obsession. The haunting atmosphere and tone the author’s narrative captures is the perfect way to capture the suspense thriller genre. 

The characters really just jumped off the page. The way the author was able to capture the POV of each character’s journey made the story feel that much more alive. The striking contrast between Emily’s whirlwind relationship with the protective and loving Isaiah with the disturbing and haunting obsession that Noah takes with her makes this story the heart of the novel overall.

The Verdict

Chilling, harrowing, and entertaining, author Rachael Tamayo’s “Crazy Love” is a must-read novel. The brilliant way the author captures the fear these cases can bring while also highlighting the need for better mental health awareness and help was a breath of fresh air, and the way the author did this without sacrificing the heart-pounding thriller aspect of this suspense novel was amazing to read. If you haven’t yet be sure to grab your copy today!


Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Rachael Tamayo is the bestselling author of the award-winning Deadly Sins Series, and award-winning thriller, Crazy Love, among several other titles.  Before she started her writing career, she was a highly awarded 911 emergency services dispatcher with twelve years of experience and many commendations under her belt.   Upon exiting law enforcement, she’s focused her writing career on the dark, suspenseful, and psychological after beginning as a romance author.  Now Rachael uses her dark thriller as a sort of self-therapy after all those years answering 911 calls, and works all that she knows and was exposed to into the frighteningly realistic and layered characters her readers know and love her for.  Rachael lives on the Texas Gulf Coast in Houston, Texas with her husband of eighteen years this May,  their two children. 

https://rachaeltamayowrites.com/

The Mirror by Neerav Harsh Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

An unnamed man goes through a psychological journey as he comes into contact with a man in a mirror, and sees two realities come shattering together in author Neerav Harsh’s “The Mirror”.

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The Synopsis

This is the story of an unnamed man. One morning, he looks into the mirror and finds someone else looking back at him. His first reaction was not to jump into an adventure to unravel this mystery. He chooses to keep it under wraps. He is worried that it may affect his prospects of an upcoming promotion at work and tries to function normally in his dysfunctional marriage of 5 years to Lina. But the secret comes out and brings with it its own complications. It is learned that this, not the first time. The last time this happened, he was young. He was in school then.

For the safety of everyone, the man is locked inside a room. It is there that he first interacts with the man in the mirror (also unnamed) which opens a pandora’s box. His reality shifts constantly between the present and his childhood. He had always found the inside of a pea a little special. His mental journey to get rid of the outer layer is the center of this story. Slowly he starts losing touch with reality and the relationships he has outside of the room. What he doesn’t know is what changes as he loses this outer cover.

The Review

This is a short yet powerful and thoughtful thriller. The obscurity of the main character does a fantastic job of adding to the mystery and suspense of this narrative, while the author’s thought-provoking layering of the themes allows readers to go back and re-read chapters to see the things that may have been missed previously.

The themes themselves are so powerful and lend well to the emotional core of this narrative. Themes of identity, reality, and looking back and dealing with regret and what may have been all come crashing down around the protagonist as his life and the reality he knew begin to deteriorate the further and further he goes on this journey to understand the man in the mirror. 

The Verdict

An emotional, chilling, and psychologically deep narrative, author Neerav Harsh’s “The Mirror” is a must-read short story/novella. The reader will be enthralled with the author’s natural world-building and pacing in such a short yet powerful read and will want to read more of the author’s work to be sure. If you haven’t yet be sure to grab your copy of this amazing story today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Neerav is a trained salesman selling innovations by the day. He wrote his first poem at the age of 10.

He lives and works out of his home in Mumbai (India) and spends the holidays traveling and exploring the world with his beautiful wife, Rini.

A serious daydreamer, he can spend lazy afternoons dreaming of anything under the sun and beyond. He loves history, physics, philosophy. His favorite questions are 1. What is going on? Has this happened before? So, where is it all heading?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08T21QDN4/ref=x_gr_w_glide_sin?caller=Goodreads&callerLink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goodreads.com%2Fbook%2Fshow%2F56794385-the-mirror&tag=x_gr_w_glide_sin-20

Out of the Basement by James Rourke Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews2 Comments

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A writer with a haunting past must face his history and forge a new path forward in author James Rourke’s novel “Out of the Basement”. 

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The Synopsis

Michael Tanner is a citizen of two worlds. His outer world as a respected college professor affords him the opportunity to quietly pursue his joy of learning. His inner world, shaped by childhood abuse, is a prison of shame and pain where he battles mythological monsters that draw power from his nightmarish memories.

Though Michael has mastered the art of hiding his pain while in full view, the unexpected success of his new book, Bruce and Buddha: How Rock and Roll and Ancient Wisdom Can Guide your Life, pushes him well beyond his comfortable existence.

Bolstered by the possibility of romance, the encouragement of old friends, and a new ally, he decides he must face his past. Only by challenging humiliation can he earn the inner victory necessary to bring authentic peace to his life.

The Review

A truly powerful read, the author does an amazing job of creating a personal story of inner-turmoil that the protagonist has to fight from bleeding into his everyday life. Interspersed with the protagonist’s personal struggles is a fantastic and intellectual study of philosophy and mythology that really fascinated me. 

While exploring the study of great philosophers and how modern-day equivalents exist even unwittingly in music, television, and film from some of pop culture’s greatest artists was a fantastic concept to explore. One of the early discussions that the protagonist had with a reporter that immediately stood out to me was the concept of synchronicity, as this is something that has played into my daily life for the last year or so and the study of it has been a truly remarkable journey to undertake, so getting to see the protagonist’s perspective was incredible. 

The Verdict

Thought-provoking, emotional, and grounding, this was a quick yet engaging psychological drama that readers will instantly love. Memorable and relatable characters showcase the inner demons so many people must face and yet hide behind a carefully orchestrated mask to hide the pain, creating a truly one of a kind narrative that cannot be ignored. Be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

James Rourke has been a high school of teacher of history, psychology, and philosophy for twenty-five years. His commitment to the idea that these three disciplines can assist his students to connect not only with his material, but to the unifying aspects of humanity, also guides his writing. “The Comic Book Curriculum” is praised for revealing”how major superheroes and their stories raise some of the deepest and most important ethical and psychological questions we all need to ask and answer.” This aspect of storytelling, the quest to tell stories that entertain, challenge, and uplift the reader, inspires James in his fiction as well.