Self Discovery Fiction

"A poignant debut with beautiful writing." - Kirkus Review A broken man. A lost boy. A chance for redemption in the wilds of Northern Michigan. School custodian Buddy Robertson hides from the scars of abuse and loss, finding comfort only in the rhythms of the Northern Michigan wilderness—the hush of falling snow, the sweetness of maple sap, and the return of each spring's birdsong. He and his partner Mags live a quiet, humble existence. When Buddy meets Ben, a boy struggling with his own demons, their fragile bond forces Buddy to confront the painful past he has long buried. As seasons ...

Five years later, the lights still twinkle on Christmas Key—but a lot has changed. The island’s baby boom has officially landed: there’s a brand-new kindergarten class and a whole lot of chaos in the sandboxes. Social media influencers have discovered paradise, and now they’re everywhere—vlogging by the water, podcasting from cafés, and trying to make “#IslandVibes” a thing. But the real story this season isn’t in the hashtags or holiday lights. It’s Ruby Hudson. The beloved former First Lady and part-time Christmas Key resident has returned to the island with her husband...

Recently and abruptly divorced Veronica Barrington is anxious for a new direction when she answers a listing for a travel companion. It’s from Mariah Ellsworth, a young woman adjusting to an injury that ended her Olympic career. She’s also grieving her mother, Rachel, a lauded food writer, and Mariah aims to trace the steps of her mother’s final, unfinished project so she can heal and also honor the woman she misses.

If he loves her, he loves her – career woman or addict – despite what they say about her value. They can’t speak for black women. They can’t speak for the man who has found his one. No man ever fell in love with a table; he doesn’t much look at that table if his heart is full. This black love, romantic thriller is a testing ground for the statements above, as its plot applies pressure from all sides. Lulu, a depressed, kept-wife disappears. When she returns to her husband, Russ, back to the confines of their mansion and their cold-war marriage, the scare of her disappearance leads...

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and on Christmas Key, love is blooming like bougainvillea. Things are heating up between Mayor Holly Baxter and the island’s newest (and handsomest) resident, Miguel. The annual seafood festival is on the horizon. And Holly’s just received her DNA results—along with a surprise revelation that might change everything she thought she knew about her family. There’s a man out there who might be the father Holly never thought she’d meet. But after a lifetime of believing he didn’t exist, is she ready to let someone new into her life... or her ...

"An Ocean Life" is a gripping odyssey brimming with twists in cinematic prose into a harrowing fight for life and self-discovery. "An epic ocean voyage unlike any other" Following years of grappling with financial challenges, Mark at last secures the vital funding required to sustain his ailing company. Filled with a profound sense of relief and newfound optimism, Mark decides to celebrate by treating his family to a long-awaited vacation—a chance to temporarily escape the pressures that have weighed heavily on them for so long. He also yearns to reignite the spark in his marriage. ...

Mafatu's name means "Stout Heart," but his people call him a coward. Ever since the sea took his mother's life and spared his own, he has lived with deep fear. By the time he is twelve years old, Mafatu can bear it no longer. He must conquer his fear alone...even if it means certain death. This classic tale of a young boy's hidden strength has been a favorite of readers of all ages since 1940.

The island’s getting smaller homes, bigger families, and one very overdue baby. It’s the holiday season on Christmas Key, and the whole island is wrapped in lights, tinsel, and anticipation. Holly Baxter—mayor, mom-to-be, and reality TV wrangler—is nine months pregnant and busier than ever. With HGTV crews arriving to film the launch of a beachfront tiny home community, the pressure is on…and so is the swelling, heartburn, and back pain. As stargazers descend for a once-in-a-lifetime meteor shower, Holly’s juggling a lot of things: a surprise visit from Coco that brings ...

Before Christmas Key became a year-round holiday haven, Bonnie Lane was just looking for a reason to start over. When Bonnie’s husband dies suddenly, she’s left grieving, restless, and unsure of what comes next. Her grown sons have lives of their own. Atlanta no longer feels like home. And all Bonnie knows for sure is that she needs a change. One trip to a tiny island off the Florida coast changes everything. At the time, Christmas Key isn’t the bustling, beachy paradise it is today. Jack Frosty’s doesn’t exist. Holly Baxter has just graduated high school. And the island is still ...

This story is a thrilling, modern-day romance about a pop star named Jenna and a famous actress named Alyssa. Our narratives intertwine when I, Jenna, lay eyes on Alyssa across a bustling club during the finale of my world tour. Captivated by her charisma, I approach her, and we instantly bond, igniting a powerful and emotionally tumultuous connection. But Alyssa, who has never explored same-sex relationships, is torn between her feelings for me and her own self-perception. Together, we embark on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance as we navigate the complexities of high-profile ...

Romance is in the air - Tay and Toby are a couple now… but Third is feeling like the odd one out. What happens next? Summer after junior year should be full of carefree moments and fun—but for Tay and Toby, everything is changing. With their relationship officially on, the two spend their days together working at the local movie theater, navigating the highs and lows of being a couple. But as they grow closer, their once inseparable friend, Third, begins to feel like the odd one out. Struggling with his own identity, Third faces a long summer of soul-searching. As Tay and Toby’s bond ...

Before he was the island’s only cop, Jake Zavaroni was just a guy running from heartbreak—and one very bad day. After a traumatic event on the job shakes him to his core, Officer Jake Zavaroni leaves his Miami beat behind. Big city crime. Big emotions. A messy breakup. He’s done with all of it. Christmas Key seems like the perfect escape: quiet beaches, sleepy streets, and a population made up mostly of sunburned retirees. No drama. No danger. Just peace. Until he meets Holly Baxter. She’s the island’s thirty-year-old mayor, full of spark, sass, and opinions—and she’s nothing ...

Spring has arrived on Christmas Key—bringing sunshine, pranks, and more surprises than the island’s ready for. April Fool’s Day is in full swing, and Mayor Holly Baxter is busy wrangling yet another group of colorful visitors: a family of redheads best known for their stint on reality TV. Between planning events, keeping the peace, and dodging pranks, Holly barely has time to think… which is probably a good thing, because change is coming fast. She and Miguel are still going strong—spending more time together than apart—and the promise of an island wedding has everyone talking ...

Yuki Hirano is just out of high school when his parents enroll him, against his will, in a forestry training program in the remote mountain village of Kamusari. No phone, no internet, no shopping. Just a small, inviting community where the most common expression is “take it easy.” At first, Yuki is exhausted, fumbles with the tools, asks silly questions, and feels like an outcast. Kamusari is the last place a city boy from Yokohama wants to spend a year of his life. But as resistant as he might be, the scent of the cedars and the staggering beauty of the region have a pull.

Mayor Holly Baxter is juggling pirates, potholes, and the possibility of a second chance at love. Just another week on Christmas Key. The island’s newest guests? A rowdy crew of weekend pirates who’ve traded rum for espresso and are leaving a trail of mayhem (and mysterious holes) in their wake. Add to that: Her ex’s new girlfriend who’s suddenly sticking around A fresh-faced family with twin boys who’ve turned the island into their personal playground And River O’Leary—Holly’s not-quite-ex, not-quite-boyfriend—who’s texting just enough to keep her heart off-balance ...

It’s the hottest day of the 1976 heatwave and there’s not a breath of fresh air in the labour ward at Lincoln County Hospital. Michelle is having her fourth child, a girl, while beloved husband Dean is sipping a cold pint in the pub. Their little house is already bursting at the seams, but Michelle is sure they’ll find a way to stretch their budget and continue life as a blissfully chaotic happy family. They name their new baby Donna.

When Eve returns to her family home Fox House, the tension with her mother, Agatha, is palpable. But when Eve’s daughter, Lyra, and her granddaughter, Skye, arrive unexpectedly, four generations of women under one roof set the stage for explosive revelations. Lyra seems troubled, but refuses to explain why. And when she lays claim to the crumbling cottage on the estate, Agatha drops a bombshell – she’s already promised it to a mysterious man named Dylan.

Cassie Carl believes she has it all. On the cusp of achieving her professional goals and soon to marry the man of her dreams - the handsome, kind, and loving Stefan Van Allen - it seems she's found the life every woman dreams of. When Cassie's wealthy fiancé brings Peyton in to do a renovation on their home before the big engagement party, sparks fly, leaving both Cassie and Peyton to question everything they thought they already had. What happens when the thin veil of perfection becomes riddled with holes?

Lights, camera… chaos. Reality TV has arrived on Christmas Key, and Holly Baxter is feeling the heat. Mayor Holly thought she’d seen it all—snowmen made of sand, glitter-covered golf cart parades, and enough retiree drama to last a lifetime. But when the hit reality show Wild Tropics rolls onto the island just in time for a Halloween heatwave, things go from festive to frenzied in a flash. Now she’s juggling: An election challenge that’s heating up faster than a Florida fall A town full of residents who aren’t thrilled about being on camera A surprise visit from River O’Leary...

Isabel is a young woman who has been trying to figure out her life ever since she can remember. Her family culture and dynamic were a struggle for her growing up. Her parents’ example of marriage mixed with abuse, and devotion to church, affected her perspective. Isabel develops a boldness despite her insecurities. Her whirlwind of emotions drives her to make decisions about friends, sex, love, and life. She goes to college, tries different career options, falls in love, and she still feels like her life is failing. What do you do when all the people around you seem like they are moving ...