Tag: Books

Leaving a Gaslighter Where They Should Be . . . Alone.

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A Book Review

Pieces of Me by Maggie Watson. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I started reading this book directly after The Keeper of the Key by Nicole Willson, and I read about fifteen pages then. I wanted to start fresh the next day without remnants of gothic horror on my brain, and this is what I did. I like to give the books I read my full attention. This occurrence was no different.

I will never understand the mind of an abuser. I will never know how someone can knowingly attempt to damage another. Maggie shares a bit of her experience through poetry in Pieces of Me, and reading through some of the poems . . . I know it took courage to do so.

Here is the review I shared on Amazon and Goodreads for it:

“It Takes Courage To Free One’s Pain

And then share it with the world. That is exactly what Maggie Watson has done with her collection of poetry, Pieces of Me.

There are many poems within this collection I could highlight, and since I am old-school, I literally highlighted phrases and made comments/notes in the margins.

Reading one’s triumph over their abuser in the form of poetry is a testimonial experience. I felt as though I was watching the writer release her pain with every poem shared.

Starting off slow, a few of the poems in the first section didn’t hit me nearly as hard as the poems in the second and last section. But I most definitely felt something–it stirred up emotions within me I thought had been buried.

I commend the writer for being vulnerable enough to share with the world a traumatic life-event that didn’t ruin her outlook on how she lives, but instead gave her the strength to fully live.”

If it were up to me, the world would be rid of abusers in every form. A book of poems such as Pieces of Me should not have to be written. Still, I am glad the writer/author shared her experience as a form of testimony and also included other instances not directly linked to her that so many people have experienced.

The world in which we live is a horrible place under the surface. But there is always a spark, a glimmer, a modicum of love and care waiting to spring forth. I believe Maggie wants that for everyone–love springing forth. And I also believe her writing will help facilitate that.

Gothic Horror Fans: I Got You!

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A Book Review

The Keeper of the Key by Nicole Willson. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

This book review feels rather special to me. Why? The author is a writer I grew with as we both wrote fiction for a publication on Medium called Hinged.press, formerly, The Weekly Knob. I always envied her delivery and the way she weaved tales of horror and thriller stories. She is a beast with the pen and has this uncanny way of shoving years of hauntings and mysteriousness into compact vignettes that anyone can enjoy.

We were both featured in the publication’s “Author’s Gold” segment and you can find our features here and here. What I love about Nicole’s writing is she creates believable characters any of us can be or may have been in the past. She pulls you into their lives and then tragically scares the living shit out of you just as you’re learning to love who they are. Every time I read one of her books, it’s a wild ride, which is icing on the cake of writing.

Below is the review I did for her most recent novel, The Keeper of the Key:

“I Felt Connected To Rachel & Her Family

And I know it is because the author, Nicole Willson, made them so believable and relatable.

The Keeper of the Key is a page-turner with wrath, vengeance, horror, gore, love, and resilience blended into every page.

I found myself yelling with Rachel and siding with her regarding her insouciant stepfather, Geoff. I cheered Gram on when she set her daughter, Tara straight about marrying Geoff too soon.

Morgan House is a terror and Nick is the reason. I knew from the beginning he would be trouble, and Nicole doesn’t disappoint. That house needed to wither away in ash form, and I was happy it did.

Towards the end of the book, I wanted to rip Nick’s eyes out and throw them away. I was rooting for Rachel and the many ways she manipulated him and maneuvered herself away from him in the end.

She, her mother, and grandmother survived turmoil and their ultimate demise.

If you’re looking for a thriller with a touch of gothic horror mixed in, I highly recommend The Keeper of the Key.

You will be jolted and thrashed into a world of mysteriousness and of a haunting good time.

Be forewarned!“

Tidepool and The Shadow Dancers of Brixton Hill are two other books authored by Nicole. I’ve read and reviewed them both. I vouch for this writer. She is in a class all by herself. And when you read her work, you’ll definitely understand why.

Her Substack.

Childhood Trauma: You’re Beating It

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A Book Review

What Happened To You? Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Some medically charged books help and there are some that harm. I can attest that this one has helped me.

Authored by the incomparable Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce D. Perry, What Happened To You? Conversations On Trauma, Resilience, and Healing is a page-turner. I highlighted passages, made notes in the margins, and became one with illustrations, diagrams, and charts. There is a plethora of useful information as it pertains to childhood trauma and how we advance in life from it as we age.

Below is the review I shared on Amazon and Goodreads:

“I Now Know Why I’m Resilient

And if you are a survivor of childhood trauma, maybe this book can help you understand why you can “bounce back,” and “endure” things even when you begin to believe there’s no way you can.

Reading What Happened To You? by Dr. Bruce D. Perry and the phenomenal Oprah Winfrey opened up a few windows to my heart and tapped into some areas that needed care and tenderness. I survived a whole heap of mess that could have been so much worse than it was, and I am glad it wasn’t.

Learning who we are and why we act the way we do starts with assessing what happened to us. What caused us to grow up with hardened hearts, lack of trust, unwillingness to love, fear of the unfamiliar, etc.?

This book dives into the many functions of the brain post-traumatic experiences and various methods geared toward healing and growth.

I love how both Dr. Perry and Oprah tag-team each scenario and offer their view of them and a way to move past the incidents and become somewhat whole again by learning how to regulate ourselves and gravitate toward safe spaces and environments.

If ever you feel as though you want to know more about why you continually hold on when you want to let go, reading this book is a great way to glean additional information about how you’re wired and why.

It is worth one’s time and attention, and you will certainly learn more about living through childhood trauma and how to maintain a positive outlook and a sustainable adulthood.”

Sometimes, we need a bit of guidance and a path we have not yet taken to show us who we are and why. This was “my yellow brick road.” Maybe you can benefit from it, too.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Séduire Fans Photo Collage #3

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The Lovely Ones who purchased their copy of Séduire, Part III. Photo Collage Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt. Individual photos provided by the beautiful ones holding up their copy.

I won’t bore you with what I have to say about Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction. I’ll let these few reviews detail exactly what you can expect from this creative work of art of mine . . .

E-Book Reviews screengrab:

E-Book Reviews screengrab. Click on the image to make it bigger.

Paperback Reviews screengrab:

Paperback Reviews screengrab. Click on the image to make it bigger.

Again, I am overjoyed by the success of this book so far. I am appreciative and grateful for those of you who have decided to plunge into my restless mind. I do not take it for granted. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, truly . . . thank you!

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Séduire: Reviewed By a Phenomenal Storyteller, Nigel Byng

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Clover & that girl Phara: A review of Séduire by Tremaine Loadholt

Séduire: E-Book Version Cover

To say that I fill up with joy upon reading what writers and readers alike have said/are saying about Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction is a surefire understatement.

I have to sit back with myself, take in the peace surrounding me, and nod my head at what appears to be, a job well done. I selected the stories in this collection because I knew readers would connect with at least one or two and fall in love with a few of the characters.

They were designed to be liked/loved/understood/empathized/hated/revered. And so far, they have done exactly that and more.

Nigel Byng, of Helping You To Succeed, is a passionately talented storyteller who recently reviewed Séduire. Below is some of what he had to say about this collection:

I had intended to race through this book by Tremaine Loadholt, as the early stories in this collection are fast-paced, short, and easy on the heart.

Of course, like all great storytellers, Tremaine lifts the veil on the community, the neighborhoods, and the villages we call home. Her characters are the people we encounter daily and may even know personally. And within the pages of Séduire, I found two characters who immediately set my world ablaze.

When I met Phara for the first time, which was the morning after I got the book, her story impacted the next few days of my world. Without going into details, there is enough in the opening lines of her story to fill the reader with rage, hate, and pain. Phara’s is a story that hobbles the heart. Within the first few paragraphs, Tremaine Loadholt, in her masterful style of weaving a narrative, brings home the sad, horrendous reality of what happens behind closed doors in many homes. It is a five-star read, cushioned just at the end of the first section of the book.

I love what Nigel offers to this community and how he goes about sharing his talent. To have my work reviewed by him is truly an honor.

If you want to read the complete review, please head to his blog by clicking here.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Lit eZine, Vol 7: Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction

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A book review by Khaya Ronkainen

Séduire E-Book version

Sometimes, people have a way of making you believe in your work more than you did before reading their thoughts on it. Khaya Ronkainen is one such person. Her recent review of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction in Lit eZine, Vol 7 sets a gimmer of pride deep within my heart for the work I created. It is a blessing to read the following lines:

The book title Séduire—meaning “to seduce” in French—has an alluring ambiguity that could play out in several intriguing ways. When mulling over the title, three interpretations came to mind. First, the art of seduction where characters use charm and persuasion, sometimes edging into manipulation to achieve their goals. Another aspect is the case of the “forbidden,” enticing readers to explore risky or morally ambiguous choices made by characters. Then the intrigue of the mind examining how people, beliefs, or environments steer characters towards obsession, inspiration, or change.

These above interpretations are not far-fetched. Because the experience of reading Tremaine Loadholt’s collection of Serial Tales and Flash Fiction, Séduire, felt akin to delving into a jar of assorted cookies where one isn’t sure what to expect, owing to unique flavours and decorations that the author could have added in the batter, so to speak. However, this book should not be mistaken for the sweetness of cookies. It is an incredibly moving collection that explores dark themes such as loss of love, death of a loved one, racial prejudice, sexual abuse, among others.

Stories such as “We Don’t Talk About Daniela,” “Phara,” “Reflections of a Lost Love that Will Never Be Found,” and “Mr. Bradford and His Ox Collection” are deeply affecting, leaving a lasting impact on the reader. The serial story “Clover,” narrated by a child, captures a family’s aspirations as they climb the social ladder, despite racial prejudice they have to contend with. Yet, the collection balances darkness with warmth, including tales of lovers’ reconciliation, a rebellious teen transformed under the guidance of a caring aunt, first-time parents, and more, inviting readers to witness characters navigating life’s trials.

To read the review in its entirety, please direct yourself to the site for the eZine. I am honored and thankful to have a writer and reader of Khaya’s caliber review my book in a way that leaves me magnified by every word–pleased that I took a chance on myself. As writers–creatives, sometimes, we need this, and well . . . I needed this.

Séduire is a collection of serial fiction tales and flash fiction standalone stories written over a period of three years. Dive into the world of a little girl whose family uproots and moves to “The Deep South” because of a new opportunity presented to her father. Transport yourself to the life of a little girl who becomes a mother and a sister to her child at the hands of her sadistic and evil father. Walk with a grieving sister and her mother as they remember a woman who was brutally murdered by her partner. Her young boys live out her legacy as they mourn her.

Experience parenthood as you enter the world of soon-to-be young parents and their ups and downs in life change them significantly while they journey along their new path. Make a brief cameo into the hearts of a dedicated aunt and a rebellious teenage niece whose father has lost his grip on his child.

There are so many more characters with which to connect. As you thumb through each page, the author wants you to feel something; with these stories, you will.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?