American Ashes Series by Gordon J. MacKenzie

Washington State, May 18, 1980. The mountain’s north face lets go and a lateral blast turns morning to night. Elsa, a diner owner with a truck and a talent for calm, and Noah, a USGS field tech with exact words and a bad road, ferry families through ashfall, steer a convoy across a ford, and keep breath moving until the sky remembers light. Inspired by the real Mount St... moreWashington State, May 18, 1980. The mountain’s north face lets go and a lateral blast turns morning to night. Elsa, a diner owner with a truck and a talent for calm, and Noah, a USGS field tech with exact words and a bad road, ferry families through ashfall, steer a convoy across a ford, and keep breath moving until the sky remembers light. Inspired by the real Mount St. Helens eruption—lateral blast, ashfall, lightning in the plume—this one-sitting love story lands on earned hope, good coffee, and the habit of listening to rock.Includes a Historical Note and an Author’s Note. Reading time: ~25–30 minutes. Clean/slow-burn; rich period detail. less

Galveston, September 1900. The Gulf forgets its manners. Mae, a librarian who keeps lists and heads counted, and Joel, a power-house linesman who brings the lights back, rope strangers into safety at the Tremont and shepherd families upstairs as the waves take the streets. Inspired by the real Great Storm of 1900—rapid surge, downtown refuge, and a city rebuilt behind a seawall—this one-sitting love story lands on earned hope and the stubborn work of staying... moreGalveston, September 1900. The Gulf forgets its manners. Mae, a librarian who keeps lists and heads counted, and Joel, a power-house linesman who brings the lights back, rope strangers into safety at the Tremont and shepherd families upstairs as the waves take the streets. Inspired by the real Great Storm of 1900—rapid surge, downtown refuge, and a city rebuilt behind a seawall—this one-sitting love story lands on earned hope and the stubborn work of staying.Includes a Historical Note and an Author’s Note. Reading time: ~25–30 minutes. Clean/slow-burn; rich period detail. less

East Texas, March 18, 1937. A sweet, metallic smell. A spark. At 3:17 p.m. the school lifts, shatters, and the town changes forever. Lila, a young teacher who counts hands first, and Henry, a mechanic who hears trouble in pipes, crawl the wreckage, rig ropes, and pull survivors into daylight—then help push for the reform that will make gas smell like warning. Inspired by the real New London School disaster, this one-sitting love story lands on earned hope and the stubborn work of “what next... moreEast Texas, March 18, 1937. A sweet, metallic smell. A spark. At 3:17 p.m. the school lifts, shatters, and the town changes forever. Lila, a young teacher who counts hands first, and Henry, a mechanic who hears trouble in pipes, crawl the wreckage, rig ropes, and pull survivors into daylight—then help push for the reform that will make gas smell like warning. Inspired by the real New London School disaster, this one-sitting love story lands on earned hope and the stubborn work of “what next.”Includes a Historical Note and an Author’s Note. Reading time: ~25–30 minutes. Clean/slow-burn; rich period detail. less

Salt and Fire — A Short Historical Romance of the 1947 Texas City DisasterTexas City, April 16, 1947. Orange smoke curls above the French freighter Grandcamp—then a white flash unthreads the harbor. Alma, a school secretary who turns a gym into a field hospital, and Jesse, a longshoreman with rope and grit, ferry survivors, run ad-hoc ambulances, and keep breath moving as fires spread to the Highflyer... moreSalt and Fire — A Short Historical Romance of the 1947 Texas City DisasterTexas City, April 16, 1947. Orange smoke curls above the French freighter Grandcamp—then a white flash unthreads the harbor. Alma, a school secretary who turns a gym into a field hospital, and Jesse, a longshoreman with rope and grit, ferry survivors, run ad-hoc ambulances, and keep breath moving as fires spread to the Highflyer. Inspired by the real Texas City disaster—ammonium nitrate cargo, harbor chain-reaction, and a city rebuilt—this one-sitting love story lands on earned hope and the habit of counting who’s safe.Includes a Historical Note and an Author’s Note. Reading ~25–30 minutes. Clean / slow burn; rich period detail. less

Black Noon — A Short Historical Romance of the 1935 Dust Bowl “Black Sunday”Oklahoma Panhandle, April 14, 1935. Noon goes dark. Lydia, a postmistress who keeps heads counted, and Hank, a USDA field agent with maps and stubborn hope, rope neighbors through the black blizzard, wet towels for breath, and plan for tomorrow—contour plowing, stubble left, shelterbelts planted... moreBlack Noon — A Short Historical Romance of the 1935 Dust Bowl “Black Sunday”Oklahoma Panhandle, April 14, 1935. Noon goes dark. Lydia, a postmistress who keeps heads counted, and Hank, a USDA field agent with maps and stubborn hope, rope neighbors through the black blizzard, wet towels for breath, and plan for tomorrow—contour plowing, stubble left, shelterbelts planted. Inspired by the real Black Sunday storm and the Dust Bowl reforms, this one-sitting love story lands on earned hope and the long work of keeping soil—and people—home.Includes a Historical Note and an Author’s Note. Reading ~25–30 minutes. Clean/slow-burn; rich period detail. less

Port List — A Short Historical Romance of the 1915 Eastland DisasterChicago River, July 24, 1915. The excursion steamer Eastland heels at the pier and rolls onto her side in seconds. Nora, a switchboard operator who counts first and panics later, and Patrick, a tugman with rope and a bar, pry portholes, haul survivors into the brown light, and turn a warehouse into a rescue line... morePort List — A Short Historical Romance of the 1915 Eastland DisasterChicago River, July 24, 1915. The excursion steamer Eastland heels at the pier and rolls onto her side in seconds. Nora, a switchboard operator who counts first and panics later, and Patrick, a tugman with rope and a bar, pry portholes, haul survivors into the brown light, and turn a warehouse into a rescue line. Inspired by the real Eastland disaster, this one-sitting love story lands on earned hope and the quiet heroism that keeps pulling until the river gives back.Includes a Historical Note and an Author’s Note. Reading ~25–30 minutes. Clean/slow-burn; rich period detail. less

Sugar Tide — A Short Historical Romance of the 1919 Boston Molasses DisasterBoston’s North End, January 15, 1919. Rivets pop, a steel tank ruptures, and a twenty-foot wall of molasses tears through Commercial Street. Rosa, a baker who counts what’s next, and Tom, a dockside handyman with a shovel and steady hands, lever paths through syrup, pull neighbors from wreckage, and turn hot water and rags into rescue... moreSugar Tide — A Short Historical Romance of the 1919 Boston Molasses DisasterBoston’s North End, January 15, 1919. Rivets pop, a steel tank ruptures, and a twenty-foot wall of molasses tears through Commercial Street. Rosa, a baker who counts what’s next, and Tom, a dockside handyman with a shovel and steady hands, lever paths through syrup, pull neighbors from wreckage, and turn hot water and rags into rescue. Inspired by the real Great Molasses Flood—failed rivets, winter cold, Navy-yard aid—this one-sitting love story lands on earned hope and the vow to build with bolts, not paint.Includes a Historical Note and an Author’s Note. Reading ~25–30 minutes. Clean/slow-burn; rich period detail. less

The Fifth Day — A Short Historical Romance of the 1948 Donora SmogDonora, Pennsylvania, October 1948. A weather inversion traps mill and zinc works fumes; the river lies still and the town can’t breathe. Evelyn, a clinic nurse who counts breaths and keeps calm, and Frank, a steelworker with steady hands, ferry neighbors to higher ground, rig ad-hoc wards, and argue for “not again” when the wind finally returns... moreThe Fifth Day — A Short Historical Romance of the 1948 Donora SmogDonora, Pennsylvania, October 1948. A weather inversion traps mill and zinc works fumes; the river lies still and the town can’t breathe. Evelyn, a clinic nurse who counts breaths and keeps calm, and Frank, a steelworker with steady hands, ferry neighbors to higher ground, rig ad-hoc wards, and argue for “not again” when the wind finally returns. Inspired by the real Donora smog—trapped sulfur/fluoride fumes and the reforms that followed—this one-sitting love story lands on earned hope, clean air, and a storm door with a proper sweep.Includes a Historical Note and an Author’s Note. Reading ~25–30 minutes. Clean/slow-burn; rich period detail. less