The Mansion at Peacock Gully Review

 

Writer: Thaddeus Arjuna

Kindle ebook: Free on Kindle Unlimited

Release Date: July 2, 2017

 

When Dave arrives at an old mansion by the Sacramento River, he steels himself for disappointment. As an experienced chef, he has seen more disappointments than failures. Still, he braved a storm to attend this interview and see what the owner of the Northern California startup had to say. What will Dave discover when he opens the door of his girlfriend's Bronco with bald tires and ventures into the rain? Let's grab our hats and aprons, leap into The Mansion at Peacock Gully, and find out!

 

Story

Dave has worked in successful restaurants. But he has also cooked his heart out, only to see restaurants go bankrupt, and the failures destroy owners and their families. When Dave meets Henry, he likes the former teacher. Dave perceives the man's essential kindness and honesty. All the work Henry has done to restore the aging property impresses Dave. Still, Dave knows that Henry has a long way to go before he can open the restaurant. There's the kitchen to furnish for a start. And all the building and health inspections will eat away at Henry's startup capital.

 

After so many years in the food industry, Dave is starting to tire of its demands. Food isn't just something you eat. For Dave, it's a sacred calling. He sees food as the glue that holds society together. It's the difference between existence and living life to the fullest. Dave yearns for an opportunity to test his creativity, create a menu that will attract people near and far, and help Henry's dream come alive. In The Mansion at Peacock Gully, running a great restaurant is Dave's dream too.

 

Thaddeus Arjuna employs an omniscient narrator to peer into each character's past. As the protagonists race against the clock to realize Henry's vision, Thaddeus shows what makes them tick. His flowing prose enamors you to heroes, paints haunting portrayals of villains, and explores the conflicts in the characters' lives.

 

While the subject of this novella is Henry, Dave rises to become the person we most care about. We see the love he lavishes upon the food he creates. He may be struggling to hold his family together. The dynamics of city life versus the suburbs he favors have forced him to compromise. But in The Mansion At Peacock Gully, Dave shines with the glow of a creator at the height of his powers, sharing his creations with everyone who walks through the restaurant’s doors.

 

Final Thoughts

Thaddeus Arjuna's story is a joy to read. But it also offers a sobering reflection on life. While The Mansion At Peacock Gully encourages us to live our dreams, this true crime saga, told through the lens of fiction, reminds us to be careful of the company we keep. The people closest to us can help us succeed. But no matter how lofty their intentions, their poor associations can also plant the seeds of our destruction.

 

Rating: Five stars

 

Read more about Thaddeus Arjuna's story, and see what other reviewers have to say about The Mansion At Peacock Gully at Amazon.com.

The Siren’s Red Tide Diary Review

 

Writer: Thaddeus Arjuna

Price: $3.99 (free with Kindle Unlimited)

Release Date: January 25, 2024

 

Darrell Taylor thought he had everything. He had a home. Darrell had a wife. He taught at the University of Florida. But Darrell didn’t share his wife’s interest in religion, and she didn’t share his love of fishing. One day, Darrell returned home and found his wife in bed with her pastor.

 

Darrell wasn't a saint. He'd had a short affair with Karen, his wife's niece. But his wife’s act—and her choice of companion—made Darrell realize the gulf between him. And when he was hurting, his friends at the university didn’t stand by him. So, Darrell filed for divorce, resigned his professorship, and started anew as a commercial fisherman.

 

Amid Darrell’s heartache, his wife’s nephew asked for a job. Nick wasn’t the most reliable worker, but he’d had a difficult childhood, so Darrell felt sorry for him. And an extra pair of hands came in handy on the boat. Hiring Nick as a deckhand also lets Karen remain in his life. Even though he’d kept his distance from the younger woman, Darrell liked her. Then he met Kyna, and everything changed.

 

Once, she had tormented seamen with her ruthless clan of sirens. But dealing out misery left Kyna empty inside. So, she abandoned her sisters and retired to the gulf near the Dry Tortugas. While beginning a new chapter in her life, Kyna noticed Darrell. She began to speak with him when he was alone on the boat. Darrell’s psychologist, Dr. Hammond, wonders if the trauma of his divorce created these hallucinations. But Darrell’s friendship with Kyna will prove a boon when Darrell discovers Nick’s plans for his boat. And Karen will defy her brother and rally to Darrell's side.

 

Abandoned in an inflatable raft with insufficient fuel, food, and water to reach shore, Darrell and Karen drift through red tides and barracuda-infested waters. They struggle to capture fish while fending off shark attacks. As Darrell and Karen lean on each other, Kyna speaks with them and helps them through their ordeal.

 

Author Thaddeus Arjuna invites readers to share Darrell and Karen's adventures through diary entries and dialogue-driven scenes. Atmospheric, transcendent, joyful, and enthralling, The Siren’s Red Tide Diary will find a home in your heart and remind you that the world contains more wonders than we can ever discover.

 

Warning: contains sex and mature themes.

 

The Siren’s Red Tide Diary is available on Amazon.com

The Beautiful Sadness Review

 

Writer: Thaddeus Arjuna

 

Everyone has a story to tell. In Thaddeus Arjuna’s case, it’s many. His book is a collection of observations, reminiscences, and imaginings.

 

In The Beautiful Sadness, Arjuna praises the beauty of flowers, insects, and the people he's known. He takes us to the places he's visited or lived, whether it's Maui, Mexico, or Casey Key in Florida. While he regards his homeland fondly, developments in the United States concern him. But he finds rest and comfort in Bali, where he lives now.

 

Living in a tropical paradise hasn’t lessened Arjuna’s love of everyday things, such as the food he makes or paper dragons that flutter in the breeze. At times, he waxes eloquent. He likens Avocados to Alligator Skin and calls the Grand Canyon The Crack In The World.

 

Despite our world's beauty, Arjuna gazes at the night sky in wonder. He imagines living on Mars. How wondrous might it be to sail around Jupiter?

 

Sadness touches his soul when Arjuna gazes back at loved ones who have died. He knows all things fade away. Yet sadness and anger never subsume joy. How can it be when there is so much wonder in the world?

 

Thanks to Thaddeus Arjuna for providing a copy for review.

 

The Beautiful Sadness is available on Amazon.