"From the moment I started this novel,
I felt absolutely transported back to the 1970s.
For those who lived through these years, there are countless fun little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the scenes that make you feel like you are really there."
-Lauren Sapala Author of
"For those who appreciate strong cultural references and characters that grow through life’s pain and joy, this five-star read is not to be missed."
-Reedsy
In the summer of 1976, Denny, a lover of fast cars and rock 'n roll, spends his days with a wrench in his hand and grease on his fingers. If only life were as simple as fixing an engine. But with an explosive girlfriend and skeletons in his closet, he protects someone he deeply cares about by pushing her away.
Ramie, inexperienced and naïve, yearns for a deeper connection with Denny, who captivates her attention and steals her heart. Being with him is the only time she feels safe, an unfamiliar and sometimes ill-fitting sensation. Still, circumstances conspire to keep her mired in the dreaded friend zone.
When violence shatters her life, Ramie desperately needs Denny—but he has completely disappeared. Left with nothing but the wreckage of her trauma and a sudden chance at healing, she faces a devastating choice.
To survive the aftermath of her broken world, will Ramie choose to bury her capacity for true love and settle for a safe, numb imitation of happiness?
A sweeping, emotional 1970s romance about first loves, tragic timing, and the heavy price of survival. Our Last Hello is a poignant, heart-wrenching read perfect for fans of deeply moving second-chance love stories and small-town emotional dramas.
OUR LAST HELLO
PIECES OF ME
POETRY
"A touching tribute to family, life and love."
Dawn Colclasure for Reader Views (07/2024)
“Pieces of Me” by Monique Rardin Richardson is not only a collection
of autobiographical poems but it is also a story of one woman’s journey towards self-love and self-acceptance.
Written with such beautiful and captivating prose, these poems speak
a truth that not many people get to share or have heard in a world that is too loud for testimonies of culture and healing.
The poems are enjoyable to read, offering a breath of fresh air
in receiving one person’s courageous and inspirational story."
"Some relationships transcend the boundaries of traditional romance, deepening in meaning and affection through life's challenges. These connections stand as testaments to the enduring nature of love and the unbreakable bonds built by shared experiences. Such is the relationship of John and Monique in this tender memoir, "When Then Became Now," by Monique Rardin Richardson."
WHEN THEN BECAME NOW
In the 1980s, teenagers John and Monique fell into a consuming high school love. Decades later, that bond ends on the streets of Southern California, where John’s life is cut short by homelessness and a brutal battle with addiction.
When his handwritten journal is lost to the pavement, it leaves his son and grandchildren with an empty space where his story should be. Driven by grief, Monique realizes she holds a vital piece of the man John was before the pain destroyed him, and steps forward to share that history with his son.
To resurrect the boy before the streets took him, Monique must make a devastating trade: relinquishing the safe, numb distance of time to stand face-to-face with a lifelong grief.
"Fans of mythology will love this novel, as will those who enjoy stories about found families and character-driven historical fantasy. I strongly recommend it for teens and adults who appreciate heartfelt, witty, and empowering spins on classic mythology. Despina the Anti-Cupid is ultimately a tale about forging your own destiny—even when it means questioning the gods."
DESPINA THE ANTI-CUPID
Despina, a young, strong-willed member of the Cupid family, has always been a skeptic. She harbors deep doubts about her father’s business, and of all things, the existence of true love. But on a routine trip to Earth in the mid-1940s, the impossible happens: she meets a mortal named Everett and completely gives her heart away. When Everett receives his WWII draft notice and vanishes to the front lines of Europe, a despondent Despina retreats to Olympus. In a fit of grief and forbidden rebellion, she steals two sacred arrows—items she was strictly forbidden to ever touch. Returning to Earth only to find Everett gone, her sorrow curdles into a blinding, jealous rage, and she fires the stolen weapons into two innocent humans.
As the catastrophic reality of her malice begins to ripple through the lives of the mortals she now calls friends, will the cynical goddess of love conquer her own bitterness to undo the damage, or will she allow her heartbreak to permanently turn her into the very monster she always believed love creates?
THE UNLIKELY DREAMCATCHER
The Unlikely Dream Catcher is such a gift it deserves be read twice!"
In the misty landscapes of Washington State, Annie lives a quiet life defined by what is missing. Everything changes the day she discovers a mysterious camera with an impossible capability: it can follow her into her sleep, capturing the vivid, breathtaking landscapes of her subconscious mind. At first, it seems like a beautiful novelty. But when Annie realizes the lens can do more than just observe—that it can actually cross the boundary of sleep and pull fabulous opportunities, magical worlds, and physical changes directly from her nighttime fantasies into her waking reality—the fabric of her daily life begins to shift.
Faced with unlimited power to rewrite her waking life from the safety of her sleep, will Annie lose her grip on reality entirely and fade into a phantom of her own design?