This historical fiction captures the power behind two middle-aged retired single male’s friendship in a Condo Complex on Manasota Key located in Englewood, Florida. The story finds their friendship constantly in transition. An FBI special Agent named Drifter and a Wall Street junk bond baron’s past, comes back to haunt their loves and losses. Both men thought they had walked away from what they had survived professionally and thought there was nothing left to prove. 

Be prepared to fall in love with a young girl from Ireland named Macy. Ray Hazel gently weaves Macy’s journey as she leaves her home in Ireland.


Macy travels to a new world in the steerage of an old ship landing at the foot of the Statue of Liberty in America. From there, the journey takes her from the slums of Hell’s Kitchen in New York City to passageway on an Orphan Train heading west to a small town in the Midwest called Washington, Iowa. 


Macy’s diary and writings capture history which remains with us today. It will remind you of the sacrifices, hopes and dreams held within a promise held by Lady Liberty. It honors the memory of the voices of all of our ancestors; the relevance of which should be treasured and preserved. The story will remain with you forever...

Sparky the Legend, 2018

This novel visits the history of what it was like living on Lemon Bay during the 50s into the late 60s. The characters are fictional; however, the history speaks for itself. You will hold the characters and their journeys close to your heart. The editor-in-chief of the local paper and an old rumrunner/ commercial fisherman's family relive the sins of the past and deal with the turbulence of Civil Rights, the woman’s and hippie movements, and the Vietnam War compounded by the assassinations of President Kennedy, Doctor Martin Luther King, and Senator Bobby Kennedy. These were ordinary people who wandered into each other’s lives that were well lived.
This book is Historical Fiction. 

A Word About The Books

A third novel in the Lemon Bay series by author Ray Hazel: ​​

Moonshine Over Lemon Bay, 2022

​The Diary of Macy Allen, 2021

Excerpts from The Trilogy:

This novel paints a portrait in courage and love between a dog and a young girl. A true story based on the events I've witnessed and lived personally. 


The story reveals the unique power of unconditional love between a special gifted runt of the litter named Sparky, and a young, overly creative, sensitive preteen girl named Autumn. 


Their unconditional love is facing a life and death crises physically, emotionally and spiritually. 

The Trilogy: The Dusty Trail, The Lost Legacies, and Redemption on Skunk Ridge, 2015-2017


A Neighborhood in the Middle of Nowhere, 2021

Lemon Bay's Hidden Secrets, 2023

Book Author

Moonshine Over Lemon Bay blends The Roaring Twenties drowning in the tales of rum running taking place on Lemon Bay. Skipper hides behind a commercial business to become a heavy hitter on the fringes of the underworld up and down the Gulf Coast. The story visits The Royal Casino on Lemon Bay, the Gangplank in St. Pete’s and The Bucket of Blood in Miami. 


During the land boom of the Roaring Twenties in Florida, fortunes were made from people who loved to drink, dance and party. So, let’s go dancing with Skipper who’s heading to Key West or maybe Havana where the action comes prepaid. 

Lemon Bay Ticket to Paradise, 2023

This story captures a young boy's childhood during the post war years of the 1950's.

The inspiration to pen the loves and losses in that experience evolved from phone calls with my grandchildren. The illustrations came alive with the help of my fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Sophie Reynolds.


It is written "tongue-in-cheek", capturing the friendships woven into a unique neighborhood filled with innocence. The foundation of special friendships, young and old, flourished naturally. It paints a portrait that reveals the strength of the neighborhood's diversity that was built on the solid foundation of love and laughter which asked for understanding. The art of forgiveness always came with compassion and ended with a hug and a warm smile.

​​The Dusty Trail, The Lost Legacies, and Redemption on Skunk Ridge

(released in that order) are based on one man's search and struggle for purpose, identity and an unwavering quest to achieve inner peace. Loves, losses, and internal battles that challenged him during his life are shared as he desperately strives to remain true to himself at all costs. A simple man's character is molded by nature. His belief in the mystery of creation influences his family, friends and everyone he touched along the way in his journey down the path least traveled. His constant quest for answers in life is captured in all three novels, and readers can relate because we've all experienced similar struggles in our own lives.