#Authorinterview with Karin Ciholas

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Alma Boucher is talking with Karin Ciholas, author of the Temple at Sunset (The Cyrenian Trilogy Book 3).

FQ: Why did you explore faith and family conflict at The Temple at Sunset?

CIHOLAS: Simon is deeply serious about God and proud of his Jewish heritage. He fights for justice for his fellow Jews, sets up demanding goals for himself, and expects his children and wife to follow. When their actions collide with his realities and faith, he suffers because he is deeply committed to his Jewish faith. He also fears for his family's safety and has good reasons to fear. As a physician, he is a compassionate man who wants above all to heal.

FQ: How was Simon’s emotional journey developed?

CIHOLAS: Simon lives in a world he cannot control. Rome controls. Religious demands control. The rich and powerful control. Our world is not that different today. Simon strives to be the best physician in the empire, but he must face the reality that the art of medicine is difficult and often fails him. As he is brought to his knees, he is humbled and cries out to the universe. His emotional journey leads to deeper revelation.

FQ: Aurelia’s Christianity is central to the story. What drew you to write about early Christianity?

CIHOLAS: Christianity almost didn’t happen. John the Baptist, the main prophet, was beheaded. Jesus was crucified. Almost all the disciples were martyred. Leaders and followers were put to death. It took almost a generation for the new faith to be called Christianity. It took even longer for the first gospels to be written. The period between the crucifixion and the fall of Jerusalem changed the world.  It is one of the most fascinating and exciting periods of history.

FQ: Why was Liora’s feeling of invisibility important to include?

CIHOLAS: It was typical of the times that women didn’t play major roles. Even as a child Liora senses how wrong this is and asserts herself in the only way she can. But it takes Simon years to realize how closely he came to losing her. Finally contrite, he admits he has a lot to learn from her. I also believe Aurelia set the example. She is stronger than Simon in so many ways.

FQ: How did you balance historical context with intimate family dynamics?

CIHOLAS: The history and the personalities of the major characters came together naturally. Intimate family dynamics don’t change much over time. The historical settings do.

FQ: Were there scenes in the novel that were difficult to write emotionally?

CIHOLAS: The scenes that were the hardest to write: the trial of Paul, the martyrdom of early Christians, the war, and the loss of the temple. These are counterbalanced by fun stories to tell about magic potions, Vespasian’s down-to-earth peasant personality, and Liora’s clever manipulation of her father.

FQ: How do you hope readers will interpret Simon’s losses and his internal struggle?

CIHOLAS: I hope readers will believe in the characters as real human beings who lived and suffered and made mistakes. I hope readers are encouraged by Simon's endurance and tenacity. He never loses sight of his mission of healing.

FQ: Did your view of belief evolve while writing this novel?

CIHOLAS: I already had a profound interest in Judaism. I gained more respect for Judaism as the grounding for my Christian beliefs after studying ancient accounts. In that way, my beliefs evolved. I also gained more insights into the incredible advances in science and technology and the role the Museion played in Alexandria for research in medicine and the sciences. I read a lot of books on ancient Egyptian medicine and immersed myself in the writings of Hippocrates and of other ancient physicians. All the research—over many years—was a lot of fun. Alexandria was the fascinating intellectual hub of the Roman empire. Its heart was the greatest library of antiquity.

FQ: How much historical research informed the spiritual elements of the book?

CIHOLAS: I grew up around theologians discussing everything from textual criticism to the history of the sacraments. But intellectual interest is not necessarily a spiritual journey. The spiritual aspect of religion for me comes from the experience of awe I feel when I look at the night sky. It's when I ask the bigger questions of who we are. I see Simon in the light of his spiritual quest. In my research, I reread the scriptures, seeking to see things from Simon's point of view. I tried to read the old stories as though I had never heard of them before. I gained a whole new respect for Judaism and for the Jewish religion and realize how much I, as a Christian, am indebted to Judaism. I seek to honor the deep heritage that was also the heritage of Jesus.

FQ: What conversations do you hope this novel will spark among readers?

CIHOLAS: How is healing connected to what we believe? Which character did you want to meet in person if any? Did you get upset with Simon? What did you think about Tiberius Alexander? He is the most powerful Jew in the book and became Prefect of Egypt, a position second only to the emperor. I didn’t make him up. He is historical. Those who have read the first two books in the trilogy met him when he was an obnoxious upstart and a bully. Simon dismissed him as “more Roman than a Roman.

We talk about the rich Judeo-Christian tradition that western society is built on. Is that still true? Has the meaning of that changed? Are we still greatly influenced by that tradition?

 #Bookreview of May Flowers at the Three Coins Inn

By: Kimberly Sullivan

Publication Date: May 8, 2026

ISBN: 979-8986884493

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: March 3, 2026

May Flowers at The Three Coins Inn by Kimberly Sullivan follows four different guests as they converge on a charming inn in the medieval hilltop of Todi, Umbria, each seeking an escape from the complexities of their lives.

Through the guests, the novel explores universal themes of heartbreak, regret and the weight of family expectations, as well as the courageous pursuit of second chances. Set against the backdrop of a lush Italian spring, it weaves together the stories of Lisa, fleeing a humiliating betrayal; Antonio, an aging artist returning to a place haunted by lost love; Sharon, a wealthy but emotionally distant mother on a forced bonding trip with her younger son; and Margherita, a successful but cripplingly shy author suffering from writer's block.

Lisa arrives in Todi nursing the wounds of a public rejection by her ex-fiancé whom she had loved since she was a teenager. She hopes the Italian countryside will be the first of the many things she has been putting off, and will soon soothe her already battered soul. Meanwhile, Antonio has checked himself into a specific room at the inn for reasons he keeps to himself. He harbors insecurities about his origins, his age and creative decline. He fears his best days are behind him and as you read his story, you are forced to wonder whether the journey for him is an escape or the first step towards courage. The inn also welcomes the aloof Sharon and her perceptive nine year old son Josh, who is far more interested in the inn's resident artist and local shepherd than his mother's spa appointments. Sharon forces you to question whether she is living the life she wanted or the one she was expected to. You also find yourself wondering why her son seems to connect more easily with strangers than with her. Finally, Margherita, a Roman author whose agent has forced her out of her apartment, arrives terrified of the human interaction that awaits her. You see her struggle internally and externally, and you are left curious about why someone so successful is so afraid of being seen and why her success seems to amplify her insecurity rather than erase it. Initially the guests remain isolated in their own worlds, but as the May flowers begin to bloom, so too do unexpected connections, forcing each of them to confront the past they came to escape.

Sullivan excels at crafting deeply human characters whose internal struggles feel authentic and relatable. Her strength also lies in the slow-burn revelations, particularly in the story of Antonio, whose connection to the inn's history emerges as breathtaking. She has painted Todi and its surroundings countryside with such vivid, sensory detail that it becomes like a living character in its own right. The novel's pacing is a masterclass, allowing the characters' lives to genuinely intertwine, leading to moments of genuine emotional resonance and triumph. Notable is the growing bond between the lonely young Josh and the elderly artist, which as tenderly as it emerges, accurately showcases how healing can come from the most unexpected friendships.

Quill says: May Flowers at The Three Coins Inn by Kimberly Sullivan is warm, and perfectly captures the feeling of arriving somewhere new and discovering exactly what you didn't know you were looking for. With its cast of beautifully flawed characters and its idyllic Italian setting, it's a story about the courage it takes to heal old wounds and the messy but tasking process of blooming anew. Among its peers in the women fiction and travel-lit genres, what makes it so special is its refusal to settle for a single protagonist's journey, instead, weaving together four distinct characters across generations, and allowing each one of their healing journeys to illuminate and deepen the other's. For anyone who believes in the magic of a change of scenery and the power of human connection, this book will be an absolute treat and the perfect escape that will leave you longing to book your own stay at a Three Coins Inn of your own.

For more information about May Flowers at the Three Coins Inn, please visit the author's website at: kimberlysullivanauthor.com/

 #Bookreview of Furtive Retribution

By: Gary D. McGugan

Publication Date: December 23, 2025

ISBN: 978-1069280817

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: February 27, 2026

Furtive Retribution by Gary D. McGugan opens in Stonehurst Place Bed and Breakfast where without warning, Suzanne Simpson, the CEO of Multima Corporation and Serge Boisvert, her security chief and partner, are thrown into a rapidly expanding crisis involving murder, crime and corporate conspiracy.

While Suzanne and Serge try to settle into the refined calm of their surroundings, they begin receiving a series of anonymous calls in the night where no one is speaking on the other end. Here, as a reader you begin to feel a tightening in your chest as well as a quiet instinct that something is terribly wrong even before the characters fully accept it. The unease the two feel quickly escalates into a targeted bombing and a desperate flight to safety that shatters any illusion of control they thought they still possessed. In those early pages, as a reader, you don't simply witness danger unfold, rather, you feel the sudden vulnerability of two powerful individuals stripped of certainty in a chilling moment from which the novel begs for an urgent hunt for answers, as well as a careful check of the fragile architecture of the power that holds a global corporation together.

It is with the final mysterious call that the tone of the novel darkens. Both Suzanne and Serge are warned to leave immediately or be finished, in a threat that materializes with shocking speed. They narrowly escape a bomb blast, before heading directly to Montreal for a high-stakes directors' meeting where Suzanne outlines a chain of troubling events including the brutal murder of Gordon Goodfellow, president of her Supermarkets division at Multima Corporation. As she pieces together connections between organized crime and internal vulnerabilities, we see her move from explanation to action by announcing her intention to seek authorization of fifty million dollars to create a special fund for a private investigation into what happened to Gordon. That bold request shifts the narrative beyond reactive survival into what feels like calculated counterattack, to root out what she believes are genuine threats to Multima Corporation’s very survival. Yet from that bold resolve emerges an unsettling truth that she does not fully see. As the investigation widens and loyalties get tested, the question of whether the most dangerous threat advances from the shadows outside or patiently positions itself from inside, gradually arises.

This novel stands out in the way the author weaves high-level corporate maneuvering into moments of genuine danger. He lets every decision ripple outward into the physical world, in a fusion that becomes especially vivid in the characters’ dialogue, which he writes with the same urgency and intensity as the novel’s most explosive scene. The characters emerge as real professionals who have largely been shaped by expertise and experience rather than convenience, especially Suzanne, a compelling female lead whose intellect and resolve anchors the corporation, even when events threaten to spiral beyond control. She does not command attention through force, but rather through clarity and restraint. Serge’s steadiness, largely shaped by his law enforcement past, reinforces the fragile equilibrium between them. But as you interact with him you feel that that balance is not entirely secure, in that it sometimes shifts subtly into tension, particularly in moments when his personal affection for Suzanne begins to blur the sharp lines of professional duty.

Throughout the novel, the author blurs the lines between external predators and internal actors, and as a result, makes the reader constantly re-think who can be trusted and who might be working with hidden motives. This uncertainty reflects the reality of large corporations where authority is sometimes only visible on the surface, yet true control often rests elsewhere. Through that growing sense of suspicion, McGugan invites us to consider whether any institution, no matter how fortified it appears, can truly protect itself from enemies who might already have learned the art of blending in.

Quill says: Furtive Retribution by Gary McGugan is a must-read thriller that keeps the language precise instead of ornamental. It is that restraint that strengthens the credibility of the financial and technological intricacies that are deeply webbed in the narrative. That credibility in turn deepens the impact of every escalation, allowing the danger to feel not only dramatic but convincingly real as though the corporate towers and covert networks that it portrays could exist just within the reader's reach. By carefully binding strategic complexity to emotional consequence, McGugan has crafted a layered narrative in which ambition demands a deeply personal cost. It is precisely this layering that naturally positions the novel as a must-read for those who appreciate intelligent thrillers where international intrigue and corporate drama unfold with equal force.

For more information about Furtive Retribution, please visit the author's website at: garydmcguganbooks.com/

 #Bookreview of The Temple at Sunset

By: Karin Ciholas

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: October 28, 2025

ISBN: 979-8891328853

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: February 25, 2026

The Temple at Sunset by Karin Ciholas is a thoughtful and emotionally historical novel. It explores faith, family, and the quiet fractures that can shape a lifetime. Set in a world of conflicting beliefs, personal loyalties are tested in this emotionally thrilling novel that explores historical and spiritual dimensions. To make this emotionally inspiring, Ciholas focuses on intimate human struggles, instead of wrapping the historical and spiritual contexts around the characters' journeys.

Among the novel's primary focuses is Simon, and as his family starts to fall apart, this is particularly painful. As a result of her Christianity, Aurelia, Simon's wife, has inspired her sons, Alexander and Rufus, through her actions to convert. While Aurelia's mother is dying, her sons do not return, leaving Simon with grief, loss, and disbelief. Especially in the growing tensions within her family concerning her brothers and their chosen cause, Liora, the couple's daughter, feels disregarded. Liora decides to run away from her home after witnessing a fierce debate between her parents about their family. Liora's departure provokes an individual awakening for each of them. Simon felt he had 'lost his sons to a cause they deem greater than themselves', which Ciholas presents as the emotional climax of the novel.

Thematically, The Temple at Sunset explores the conflict between faith and tradition, the price of commitment, and the unforeseen effects of spiritual awakening within a family torn apart by differing beliefs. Ciholas approaches these themes with care, illustrating how conviction can bring hope to some while leading others to feelings of abandonment and silence. Liora’s narrative, in particular, emphasizes the harm that results when voices are silenced, whereas Simon’s journey delves into grief, identity, and the difficulty of balancing love with loss. Ciholas conveys that faith, much like family, has the potential to both bring people together and create divides. It all depends on the nature of compassion shown.

Ciholas’s prose prioritizes emotional richness and vivid inner experiences over action. The pacing is measured, allowing readers to experience the characters’ suffering and spiritual exploration. Some may find the measured tempo slow, but it suits the novel’s introspective nature and enhances its emotional authenticity.

Quill says: This is a meditation on faith, family, and the silent costs of belief. I recommend The Temple at Sunset for readers who appreciate historical fiction with spiritual and emotional complexity. It is a moving work that lingers long after the final page.

For more information about The Temple at Sunset (The Cyrenian Trilogy Book 3), please visit the author's website at: thecyreniantrilogy.com/

 #Bookreview of Arboreal Destiny

By: Gregg Coodley

Publisher: Bendrogo Publishing

Publication Date: February 13, 2026

ISBN: 978-0999077047

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: February 24, 2026

Arboreal Destiny: The Trees that Shaped the History and Culture of People by Gregg Coodley is a complex and interesting book that explores humanity’s long and intertwined relationship with trees by investigating history and long-known facts.

Readers are guided through history, geography, and culture to reveal how trees have been central to the development of human society. Every detail is described in full. Twenty specific trees are described, each representing a nation, region, or civilization, and were examined to illustrate how these species shaped buildings, boats, economies, religions, and artistic expression. For much of humanity, a single tree species often became the most prized living thing, inspiring stories, poems, folklore, and even national identity. The result is an absorbing historical journey that feels both educational and deeply human.

This is non-fiction, and the “main characters” are the trees themselves, brought to life through vivid historical context and extensive research. Each tree is treated as a protagonist, having its own arc of influence, decline, or survival. Readers learn how people across continents developed a deep identification with these trees, and what the trees gave in return. They received shelter and sustenance, as well as spiritual meaning and economic stability. The well-documented footnotes strengthen the educational credibility of the work. The photographs were of good quality and drew attention to the trees. They also enhanced understanding and engagement, grounding the narrative in visual reality.

The history and lessons we learn in this book are important. We see how crucial trees are to the future of humanity, emphasizing that when trees prosper, humans are far more likely to prosper as well. When forests are neglected or destroyed, the cost to humanity has historically been severe. The costs are even likely to be greater if modern societies fail to change their habits and plans accordingly. The book also demonstrates that trees remain vital even in an age dominated by computers, steel, and glass, arguing convincingly that their importance will only increase in the future. The quote “Demons of Ignorance shall not triumph” underscores the book’s ethical and environmental commitment. The writing style balances history and well-researched facts with steady pacing that allows readers to absorb each tree’s story. The information about every tree does not feel rushed or overwhelmed.

Quill says: Arboreal Destiny is an interesting and thought-provoking work about how deeply trees have shaped human history. With all this information, readers will gain a new perspective about trees.

For more information about Arboreal Destiny: The Trees that Shaped the History and Culture of People, please visit the author's website at: booksgreggcoodley.com/

 #Bookreview of Dawn Before Darkness

By: Liz Lazarus

Publication Date: May 26, 2026

Publisher: Mitchell Cove Publishing

ISBN: 978-0990937487

Reviewed by: Alma Boucher

Review Date: February 24, 2026

Dawn Before Darkness by Liz Lazarus is an emotionally charged narrative that explores trust, deception, and the frightening realities of intimate partner harassment.

The story begins when Dawn, a veterinary technician at the Village Veterinary Clinic, witnesses an accident. She quickly photographs the license plate of the vehicle involved, and Nick, an employee at Wells Fargo, is the only other witness. Dawn feels safe with Nick, and their connection quickly develops into a romantic relationship. Dawn is amazed when Nick offers to cover the costs for a dog's critical surgery when the owner cannot afford it. As their relationship evolves, Dawn catches Nick lying more and more frequently. She realizes that their relationship is grounded in deception and decides to end it, but Nick is unwilling to let go of the relationship. His response intensifies into harassment. It includes vulgar messages, stalking, and threatening behavior. Dawn ultimately seeks a protection order against Nick. Just when Dawn believes the situation cannot worsen, her world is turned upside down. She finds herself in a courtroom battle with Nick, and from there, the stakes rise dramatically. The major plot twist is nothing short of stunning, powerful, and unexpected, pulling the rug out from under the reader in the best possible way.

Dawn is an easy character to identify with. She works as a veterinary technician, and the nature of her job requires both compassion and a steady temperament. This makes her emotional vulnerability regarding love all the more poignant. Lazarus is adept at demonstrating Dawn's emotional evolution. Her love journey traverses attraction and trust, to doubt and fear, and culminates with a fierce determination. Compared to the other characters, Nick is complex and frightening. He appears to be attentive and generous at first. But, as the story continues, he becomes manipulative and controlling. He cannot take "no" for an answer and will do everything possible to maintain a grip on Dawn. The evolution of the characters is exemplary, highlighting the emergence of peril from a series of understated warnings.

Dawn Before Darkness explores the theme of how safety and fear are illusions. This also applies to abusive situations. The novel also familiarizes the reader with the legal system regarding stalking and how to navigate it. The emotional tug-of-war that traverses the justice system is also part of the novel's concerns. The handle with care theme gives the story a rich emotional depth while still leaving room to explore the narrative potential to the full. With all the heavy themes contained in the story, there is enough narrative tension to challenge the reader. There is also an emotional recognition of the manipulated, the truth of documenting threatening acts, and the simplicity of legally wrapping harassment.

The writing style is clear, engaging, and sharply paced. The prose is accessible and layered with psychological insight. This allows readers to connect with Dawn’s escalating fear and determination. The pacing is particularly noteworthy. It is steady at first as romance blooms, and then accelerates as the tension builds and legal proceedings unfold. The plot is excellent, and it is safe to say that the major twist is executed with precision and major impact.

Quill says: Dawn Before Darkness is a thought-provoking suspense novel that balances emotional depth with high-stakes drama. This psychological thriller is compelling and will linger long after the final page has been read.

For more information about Dawn Before Darkness, please visit the author's website at: www.lizlazarus.com/

 #Bookreview of The Power of Woo

By: Karen Leigh Gruber

Publisher: Silk Dragon Press

Publication Date: February 13, 2026

ISBN: 978-1734976014

Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki

Review Date: February 26, 2026

"Your successful spiritual business journey begins now, and I have a feeling it’s going to be nothing short of magical." These words appear in the prologue of The Power of Woo: For Spiritual Entrepreneurs Ready to Trust Their Inner Knowing and Get Real Results by Karen Leigh Gruber, an international business coach for soul-led women, and they bring to life a resource that extends its hand to those tired of hiding their intuition behind the mask of corporate professionalism. Through these words, she invites women to step boldly and fully into what she calls the Active Feminine, a woman who creates, acts, and collaborates with the universe rather than working passively for success to arrive.

The book unfolds like a curated journey through the landscape of building a soul-led business, beginning with the foundational art of communication and how to craft a message that truly connects with the people you are meant to serve. From there it moves into finding the right clients and creating offers they will love. Gruber then teaches how to market with a genuine heart, while having sales conversations that feel as natural as chatting with a friend over coffee. She also covers money mindset and some of the beliefs that keep women stuck. Her later chapters focus on the essential practices of building community and the often-overlooked importance of celebrating your wins. Each part of the book builds thoughtfully on the one before it, and by the end, ensures that readers have a complete toolkit for building a business that feels as good as it looks, and generates income without burning them out.

One of the things that give this book its power is the author's refusal to separate the spiritual from the strategic. She treats both as essential threads woven into the same fabric, rather than opposing forces that must be balanced. You get the sense that she understands that the real struggle for soul-led women is not choosing between intuition and invoices but learning to let each one inform the other. Through this book, she makes you see clear messaging as a form of devotion, pricing yourself well as an act of self-respect, and sales conversations as sacred spaces where two people discover whether they are meant to work together. What stands out is how she takes words that often make most spiritual entrepreneurs cringe. She simply pulls them apart until only the truth remains and by doing so, reveals that underneath all the garbage, what we are really talking about is simply connection, service and the courage to ask someone if they want your help.

Quill says: The heart of the book beats strongest in its insistence that who you believe you are matters more than any strategy you could ever learn. It is among the few books written with love, often referring to readers as "darling," "sweetheart," "love," while giving them practical tools to help close the gap between self-doubt and self-trust. The author has been exactly where many of the readers may be right now and made the same mistakes, which is why her advice lands heavily. The book feels like a mirror and a map all at once, showing readers who they could become while also charting the clearest course to get there. For any woman wondering how to choose between their spiritual and business side, The Power of Woo: For Spiritual Entrepreneurs Ready to Trust Their Inner Knowing and Get Real Results by Karen Leigh Gruber will convince her that she can comfortably have both.

For more information about The Power of Woo: For Spiritual Entrepreneurs Ready to Trust Their Inner Knowing and Get Real Results, please visit the author's website at: www.karengrubercoaching.com.