Twice Upon a Time

by Michael Combs

It is 1993. Chloé Taylor, having just graduated college, finds her life changed forever after opening a letter from her great-grandmother, Camille Laver. A great-grandmother Chloé never knew existed. Leaving her peaceful life in Seattle, Chloé travels to New Orleans to discover the secrets of her family's historic past, full of love and tragedy from 1890s Paris. She discovers an ineffable love of a lifetime that sprang up during the La Belle Epoque between Camille's gypsy courtesan mother, Tessa Laver, and a successful aristocratic banker, René Nattier. While getting to know Camille and the stories she has to tell, Chloé meets Nick, a charming local lawyer. Over the next few weeks, Chloé discovers the undeniable reality of true love and loss through a magical connection that spans over a century between herself and Tessa. During an unforgettable New Orleans summer, serendipity brings two souls together once more, proving, just as with time, that love is never-ending.

260 pages, Hardcover

Published February 14, 2023

About the author

Michael Combs is an author and licensed massage therapist. He attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and is a proud member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. Raised in Arkansas, he began writing at sixteen and has received numerous awards for his poetry. Now he has turned his primary focus to fiction.

Whether it involves months of research or traveling to the locations he writes about, he embeds himself into his writing. Unlike many authors who require silence when writing, Combs writes to music and has a soundtrack for each book, giving his work a unique flow. When asked about his writing, Combs likes to describe himself as a storyteller, having lived a remarkable life that has given him abundant writing material.


Besides The Long Road Home, Michael’s writings include: Lost Boy, Arcturus, Lost Boy: Brace Yourself, and Twice Upon a Time.
Lost Boy tells the story of Mike, a massage therapist in Burbank, who, through his daily struggles, masks his sorrow with humor, women, and alcohol. While searching for love, he and his best friend Keith traverse many hilarious relationship faux pas. Then he meets Gabi and must decide if he can open his heart or stay lost forever.
Arcturus is a love story of two people who refuse to give up and the tale of a family on a cross-country journey learning to heal. Arcturus awakens the soul, gripping readers’ hearts and leaving them questioning what truly matters.
Lost Boy: Brace Yourself continues the Lost Boy Series as Mike faces more challenges finding his place in the world. Just like the title says, brace yourself. For along with his friend Keith the laughter is non-stop, and neither is his love for Gabi.
Twice Upon a Time is a love story taking place between 1890s Paris and 1990s New Orleans. It is not a once-upon-a-time story but rather a story of soul mates, about hope, life, dreams, and love – a belief love can return… twice upon a time.