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Literary Titan Book Awards August 2022
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Silver Award Recipients
Calm Before the Storm by Steven Paul Germanè
The Sting
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
It Leaves The Reader Thinking
Deadly Attraction follows a woman who’s kidnapped by an emotionally hard man that slowly falls for her. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
This story actually came from a dream. The character development as far as Ace was my favorite part of the story. It leaves the reader thinking, nothing is ever as it seems and people can be so much more than what they were born into.
Reyna and Ace are intriguing and I enjoyed following their relationship. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
My mother would tell you, I put a lot of myself into Reyna’s character. I wanted that almost love at first sight aspect with their relationship, yet they approach with some caution. It does hit them hard and I personally have experienced a fast love like they experience in the book. It is all consuming and devastating when lost.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I really wanted them to have conflict in their emotions but not too much. Both never really believed in true love so it is nice to see them come together quick and realize this is what was missing in my life and I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep it. I wanted to show thought into why they were feeling the way they did but really not being able to explain it other than, it being kismet.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next novel will hopefully be the second book in the Legacy Series. But I do have others in the works as well. It will be a race to the finish to see which story speaks to me the most in the coming months. Information should be updated on my website soon.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Ace doesn’t do emotions. Brought up in a world of guns, violence, and bloodshed. He has seen every horror the world has to offer. Reyna is just another job to him…until she’s not.
Reyna says it’s kismet, but Ace doesn’t believe in fate. He must stop himself from falling for her, because he’s afraid that loving her will be the death of them both.
Deadly Attraction
Reyna and Lex head out on a romantic getaway to celebrate their anniversary when the unexpected happens. Their romantic getaway turns into a nightmare when Reyna is kidnapped. Luke tries everything to find his soon to-be wife. Held captive by a man named Ace, Reyna realizes that Ace, who doesn’t show any emotions or care for others, begins showing affection for her. Ace knows he cannot make a mistake and fall for Reyna or else that will be the death of them both.
Deadly Attraction, by Ashlee Lynn, is a thrilling romance novel that dramatically changes the fate of three people. This breathtaking shift is what kept me coming back to this story. The book sends these characters on an impassioned journey that weaves in and out of love and pain.
Reyna’s character first comes off as immature and oblivious, but I liked seeing her in different situations that challenged her, especially when it comes to Ace’s character. Ace is the tough guy who is soft on the inside and I liked watching his character grow as he began to have feelings for Reyna. His evolution as a character is an emotional aspect to the story that I really enjoyed. This attraction ups the stakes and puts both of their lives in danger, which adds tension and drama to the plot. The internal conflict that Reyna has about her relationship with Lex is intriguing and I wanted to know more. Especially since Lex is on a different page in their relationship and planning for their future together.
The plot alone makes this a romance novel that you cannot put down. The intimate scenes are an immersive experience that is filled with passion and excitement. The plot and characters take center stage in this story, so if you like character driven novels then this is a book you’ll devour. The writing reminded me of the Fear Street novels and the way in which those stories expertly use action and drama to keep readers engaged.
Deadly Attraction is a scintillating read that will appeal to readers who enjoy mystery and intrigue in their romance novels. Reading about the thrill of loving someone who you shouldn’t and fighting for it will make this book hard to put down.
Pages: 196 | ASIN: B0B33PTX8B
A Spirit Quest
Innocence Derailed follows a young woman from her mid-teens to adulthood on a journey of self-discovery in a time when everything was changing for women. Based on facets of your own life, why was this an important story for you to write?
I was a teenager in a rural town in Oregon during the Vietnam War and in the beginning of the marijuana and psychedelic drug scene. It was also in my generation that young girls suddenly had access to the pill –making them sexually liberated and equal to men. To capture that tumultuous time, I wrote this book based on a true story (my own) but in third-person so it would read like a novel. What resulted was a coming-of-age romance novel, a spirit quest, in a grand adventure story. I’ve had much praise from women of all ages and men too, for its raw and real authenticity and I wanted to get people thinking how their lives can change if they seek a spiritual connection of love and integrity.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The novel vividly descrives innocent first love and sex, unwanted pregnancy, miscarriage, and a breakup after being pressured to have an ‘open relationship.’ The protagonist seeks revenge for being cast aside and joins the hippie scene. She goes on an acid trip, survives gale force winds on a sailing ship, rescues a friend who overdoses, and gets lost deep in a jungle cave only to contract a dreadful lung disease. She has hitchhiking adventures from Mexico to Canada all while being called to grow in spiritual maturity.
What is one thing that you hope the reader takes away from Innocence Derailed?
I hope readers consider listening to that small voice in their conscience because it may be God who is quietly offering guidance and love!
What is the next book in the Spirit Quest series that you are working on and when will it be available?
The next book is the series is titled Purity Found and will be available in the fall of this year!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Fifteen-year-old Kate gives her virginity away in glorious romantic innocence. She maps out a perfect life for herself – untilthe rose-colored glasses have to come off and grown-up trials engulf her. After questioning everything she’s learned about God and love, Kate contemplates suicide on a foggy cliff one night but then chooses to ride the 1970 hippie currents of free love and rebellion instead.
While the guys in her class are drafted into the violence of the Vietnam War, she too flees her country for grand adventures from Mexico to Canada. On this turbulent path of self-discovery, she’s pursued by mystical words that drop into her conscience. When Kate faces her destiny, she must choose to settle down in her hometown orfind the courage to follow Spirit where it leads.
This emotional page-turner explores the hurt and wonder of first love and the raw and real experiences of becoming a woman. Innocence Derailedis a stand-alone novel, the first in the Spirit Quest Series, and gives the early background to the author’s narrative non-fiction awarding-winning book, The Celestial Proposal.
The Refusal
The Refusal by Eve M. Riley is the first book of The Techboys series and follows the story of tech billionaire Janus Phillips who has a glamorous life that only one can only dream of. Jo Williams, a young entrepreneur operating her own security firm, has a run-in with Janus and is offered a ton of cash to help him save his company. Unfortunately, Janus has a reputation as a “playboy,” so Jo is determined to keep things professional between them.
Author Eve Riley has added tech and romance into one steamy novel making this one book that you cannot put down. As the tension between both characters builds, so does your curiosity. Riley does a fantastic job of capturing and keeping the reader’s attention.
Both characters are likable and are not at all what you expect. On the outside, Janus looks like a playboy with a fast life, but that is not the case. He is sensitive and caring and is the perfect example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Jo is one of my favorite characters as she is strong, intelligent, and breaks the stereotype by working in the tech world. She can be seen as an inspiration to young girls that they can fit into that world.
The thrill of the chase was intoxicating, and I didn’t want it to end. The intimate scenes are portrayed tastefully, and I was able to sense their passion for one another. Getting to see the perspective of both characters was the cherry on top, as it provided a sense of satisfaction knowing what both characters were thinking and feeling about one another. Several interesting side characters are also introduced throughout the book, and they had me laughing hard.
The Refusal by Eve Riley is an exhilarating read, and I recommend it to those who love a good steamy romance.
Pages: 314 | ASIN : B093G53X6P
Innocence Derailed
Innocence Derailed, by Jane Catherine Rozek, is an inspirational book that turns the mundane events Kate experiences into a deep encounter each and every time. In today’s world, where everybody prefers the comfort and safety of one’s home, her story goes to show that there are people who opt to surround themselves with the outside world, specifically nature and all its beauty, and find out that there is a higher being within the smallest things one sees daily.
The author has written the book in a way that makes it feel personal even to its readers. The first pages makes the story seem like a romantic novel, but when the relationship ends, readers will see that there is more to this story than meets the eye. It motivates its audience to think about philosophical queries and reflect on their own answers. It also raises questions about rights, politics, and religion that are often silenced, not just during the 1970’s, but still today. Lastly and surprisingly, it also promotes the importance of taking breaks, may it be through the means of traveling, surrounding oneself with new people, or having a single day to yourself. You never know where your decisions will take you, and that is the fun of it all. In Kate’s case, her entire journey only brought her to a new one, only this time, she is now an enlightened woman; more prepared to take on what her next story holds.
Innocence Derailed is an emotionally-resonant coming of age novel that provides readers with a compelling exploration of a relatable and fascinating character. I would recommend this to young adults, because I personally share the struggle of not knowing where I am supposed to be in this age. The fact that the story is also based on true events will serve as a great inspiration for its readers, for it is a positive reminder that one’s path can progress with the will of God.
Pages: 315 | ASIN: B0B2D6KW88
Dead Cereus
Holly Jackson, a scholarship student at Shellesby College, has been entrusted with organizing the Night Lights Ball, which will include a number of renowned botanists as well as donors to the college’s greenhouses. Amidst the father-daughter Berkeley duo, inclined to throw out Holly any chance, at this night ball event Holly must not only save the last thread of her scholarship from snagging but also secure an internship at Boston Botanical College. But will she succeed in evading her tendency to attract trouble this time? Or is she to witness a murder right in front of her eyes, but also to act to prevent another one from occurring?
The author Kira Seamon, who grew up in a greenery infused home in Hawaii, colored the setting of her novel Dead Cereus with diverse greenhouses, an idea she got while visiting Wellesley College in Boston. The enchanting description she gives of botany in her novel seems as natural and explicit as if written while seated in the same place.
Throughout the mystery thriller, the characters reflect human feelings in different ways and emerge as unpredictable at times. There are many delightful botany puns within the witty conversations between William, the admired and brilliant young botanist, and Holly, the impulsive and powerful woman which greatly contributes to the romance thriller. The story turns out to show a significant social transformation in Ivy Berkeley, who transitions from being a stuck cocoon set up by his father and societal norms into a freed butterfly with full wings for flight.
The action-packed story and descriptions of college greenhouse residents, as well as the fresh foods straight from the greenery surrounding the campus do not let the limited setting of the book, in and around the college campus, get in the way. Throughout this enchanting story, readers will enjoy the puns used by the botanists, especially in naming their pets and loved ones.
In a disturbing scene, the author describes a murder which takes place in a greenhouse. The murder, exposed amid the beauty of botany around, gives an upsetting picture, which is both surprising and unusual. By describing the various plants and flowers species in the novel, the author reveals and emphasizes the danger and magnificence of botany while setting the plot in the middle of it. Besides the beautiful illustration of the Cereus flower blooming, there is also a warning of possible fatal damage of plant species.
If you are seeking a humorous romance thriller, or cozy mystery novel, Dead Cereus will herb your enthusiasm with its ardent characters and thrilling plot.
Pages: 243 | ASIN : B09LPJPWSL
Chastity is Me
Life in the Chastity Zone follows a woman’s dashed fairytale life once her fiancé dumps her, and she’s thrown into the wild world of dating. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My inspiration came from real-life events. My fiancé unexpectedly dumped me. Instead of being devastated, I turned lemons into lemonade and wrote about it. Few of the characters are mergers of two or more men that I’ve met in my past. I must say that I’ve met unique men who left an unforgettable impression on me. I was a senior in high school when I encountered my first adventure with a man I secretly labeled Montana Man. He was tall, dark, and handsome, and I was terrified of flying. It didn’t help that I left on a Delta flight from one of the most dangerous airports because of its topography and weather conditions. I was scared to death. I can still picture him coming up to me in the airport, his smell, his aura, everything, and then those few little words that took me off guard, “I want to sit next to you on the plane.” He was, I’d say, “what dreams are made of,” except that he was a facade—the cover was beautiful, but the inside was a seedy, tainted nightmare. And so began my adventures, which later I put on paper.
Chase is an interesting and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Chastity is me. I learned a long time ago that it’s worth waiting and fighting for all good things. I wanted readers to see a character who has everything thrown at her but then decides to stick to her guns and fights. In the process, she may come out bruised, but she’s stronger—a survivor.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The one lesson and theme I hope everyone will see is that you can overcome any obstacle thrown your way if you fight hard enough. And never, ever let anyone tell you that your ideas and beliefs are crazy and ridiculous because that’s what makes us all so unique and special. Marriage is extraordinary, and waiting for the right man is worth it, even if you’re a thirty-year-old virgin.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
The next book I am working on is Nothing’s As It Seems, the sequel to Life in the Chastity Zone. Readers can expect to find out what happened to Grant, Vincent, and Jacques-Pierre. They can also expect to see Chastity dive into the working force and the struggles that come with being a woman in a man’s world. There are a lot of unexpected twists and turns in the next book. Can a decision from years ago hinder Chastity’s destiny, or will her blind trust in love lead to a day of reckoning? Find out the answers and more in Nothing’s As It Seems, coming very soon.
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