ArcaMax

I have come to the realization that I do not have the time nor patience for all the high-tech innovations designed to make my life more marvelous. I have all the marvelous I can handle right now.

This morning, I replaced a burned-out kitchen light bulb. It was 9:16 when I started the process. Replacing the old bulb took less than a minute, ...Read more

Joanne Henning’s "Deceptive Images" is a beautifully crafted novel that blends romance, self-discovery and artistic passion into a compelling narrative. Set against the backdrop of the dance world, the story follows Rosa, a determined and talented woman navigating the complexities of her career, relationships and personal growth.

Henning’s ...Read more

With "Another Fine Mess" upon us, now is the perfect time to revisit Lindy Ryan’s chilling Southern horror series. If you haven’t yet stepped into the eerie world of the Evans family, you’re in for a fun, unputdownable experience. These novels are more than ghost stories — they’re a reckoning with history, grief and the ties that ...Read more

Nearly nine months pregnant, Nefertari Nelson-Williams sunk into her sofa after a long Sunday caring for her four kids. She clicked on the TV and flipped to her favorite show of late, TLC's "A Baby Story."

Although she was an experienced mom, watching episodes of pregnancy complications was a good reminder that every birth and baby are ...Read more

'FIGHT OR FLIGHT'

Rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout and some drug material.

What it’s about: A washed up Secret Service agent has to protect a hacker from a plane full of assassins.

The kid attractor factor: This is a hyperviolent action film for adults only. Not any appeal for kids.

Good lessons/bad lessons: Trust ...Read more

A real estate broker, an auctioneer and a columnist walk into a bar. Not really, but the setup is similar. I was standing with two friends, a man who sells real estate and a woman who appraises art and manages auctions. The three of us have known one another and one another’s families for years.

The man immigrated to the U.S. from Central ...Read more

Q. My best friend’s husband passed away. She has been devastated and decided to join a grief group where she met a man who was also struggling with the loss of his wife. They hit it off, and although they each still maintain a separate residence, they stay together every night. They are both in their late 70s and were both married for over 50 ...Read more

Who killed the duke? Long the most popular hottie in the ballrooms of English historical romance, there’s a rumor running through Romancelandia that his demise is imminent.

For decades, historical romance has been the backbone of the romance genre. Whether you mark historical romance as beginning with the social comedies of Jane Austen (...Read more

Sheron Lee insisted she couldn't fit any sort of exercise into her busy day.

A systems accountant for the federal government, she often put work above everything, sometimes even skipping family vacations. Even getting to work took commitment; she commuted an hour each way between her home in Hammond, Louisiana, and her office in New Orleans.

...Read more

D. Allen Henry has a passion for genius, the kind that stands the test of time. He also has a passion for inventing fiction that not only brings geniuses to life but also their legacies to bear in the modern-day era. Adding to his existing set of mysteries surrounding luminaries such as Galileo, Da Vinci and Dante comes his new novel, "And the ...Read more

'THUNDERBOLTS*'

Rated PG-13 for strong violence, language, thematic elements, and some suggestive and drug references.

What it’s about: A group of Marvel Cinematic Universe misfits band together to form a team — one could even say they assemble.

The kid attractor factor: Teens will be drawn to the superhero story/genre and Marvel brand.

...Read more

When the kids were growing up, we had a giant weeping willow tree in the backyard. It was a magnificent specimen with long, graceful branches that swayed in the breeze.

It was also a magnificent mess. Not only did it dance in the wind, it seemed the tree shed constantly-every day, every week, every month of the year. To add insult to injury, ...Read more

Q. My mom and I are very close, but I also have a close relationship with my bonus mom. She has been married to my father for 8 years. I was 12 when I met her. I’m 20 now. My mother accepts her, and if asked, she would deny any jealousy. But this one day, Mother’s Day, I notice a difference. If I mention anything about wanting to spend any ...Read more

With the final season of "The Handmaid’s Tale" upon us, Gilead’s chilling grip on our imagination feels more relevant than ever. As real-world threats to bodily rights, privacy, and personal freedoms intensify, these novels delve into the struggle for self-determination against oppressive forces — whether political, technological, or ...Read more

Brooke Jones went through two years of infertility before finally becoming pregnant at 34.

Always an anxious person, her worries rose "to another level" as she went through her pregnancy, delivery and early parenthood during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If someone so much as coughed near Jones, it could send her into an emotional tailspin. And that ...Read more