Blog Archives
Inked Into Your Soul (Book 2 of the Whispers of Destiny series)
Inked Into Your Soul is book two in the Whispers of Destiny debut series by author Ava Rogue. Inked Into Your Soul is a bold and genre-blending dive into romance, trauma, identity, and mysticism. Set across vibrant backdrops like Cuba and London, the story follows Diedra, a spirited, passionate woman whose life is shattered by tragedy and slowly rebuilt through love, art, family, and hidden heritage. Told from multiple perspectives, primarily Diedra and Locran, the brooding Irish law student, the novel weaves erotica with ancestral spirituality, exploring Santería, grief, sexuality, and soul connections in a deeply intimate way. It’s part romance, part coming-of-age, part spiritual revelation, with plenty of fire.
Rouge doesn’t hold back in this second book in the Whispers of Destiny series. Whether it’s a sex scene, a panic attack, or a mystical vision, the emotions hit hard and fast. Some moments felt downright cinematic, vivid, and aching. I admired how the sensual scenes didn’t just feel like shock value; they were often layered with tenderness, vulnerability, or power. Some chapters soared while others took their time as it meandered through the weight of its own emotional intensity. The dialogue occasionally slipped into melodrama, and while the characters were distinct and layered. I found myself swept up in Diedra’s journey and rooting for her, flaws and all.
What I appreciated most, though, were the themes Rouge tackled head-on. This wasn’t just about love or lust. It was about healing intergenerational wounds, reclaiming spiritual heritage, and standing firm in one’s power. The Santería elements weren’t tokenized; they felt personal, reverent, and textured. I didn’t expect a story that started with beachside sex to also make me think about cultural erasure, ancestral responsibility, and the complexity of grief. There’s something gutsy about that. I also liked how Locran’s own trauma mirrored Diedra’s. They were two souls shaped by loss and pulled together by something they couldn’t quite explain.
Inked Into Your Soul is messy, passionate, and unfiltered. And that’s its strength. It’s not a story that tries to be neat. It just tries to be true. I’d recommend this book to readers who love steamy romance but also want depth, character-driven stories, and a touch of the mystical.
Pages: 335 | ASIN : B0CTYLC6CK
Serves You Right
Orion Gregory’s Serves You Right is a dark, twisty, and deeply satisfying crime thriller centered around Sydney Livingstone, a former tennis pro turned police detective, who finds herself pulled into the aftermath of a botched murder trial, a vigilante justice campaign, and a rapidly escalating series of brutal revenge killings. At the heart of the story is the acquitted-but-clearly-guilty Frank McBride, whose smug escape from justice sets off a chain of events that rattles an entire community and sends Syd on a collision course with both a killer and her own professional limits.
Right out of the gate, I have to say the writing is gripping. Gregory wastes no time dropping readers into the chaos with a gut-punch opening that doesn’t flinch from violence or moral ambiguity. He’s got a sharp instinct for pacing. Chapters fly by, and even when things quiet down, there’s always an undercurrent of tension pulling you forward. The prose isn’t flashy, but it’s effective. I liked that. There’s no pretension. Gregory writes like he’s trying to entertain, not impress. That said, the structure can get a bit dense at times, especially when the book shifts perspectives rapidly. Still, the characters, particularly Syd, are fully realized, flawed, and human. I rooted for her hard, even when she stumbled.
I was pleasantly surprised by the book’s moral weight. This isn’t your tidy detective story with good guys and bad guys in their corners. Gregory plays in the gray, and he plays dirty. The vigilante plotline, spearheaded by a mysterious online persona known only as “The Enforcer,” hit a nerve. There’s a kind of catharsis in seeing monsters get what’s coming to them, but Gregory doesn’t let us off that easily. He asks real questions about justice, about power, about how far is too far. And while he doesn’t hand us answers, he sure knows how to make us squirm while we look for them.
I’d recommend Serves You Right to fans of gritty police procedurals, psychological thrillers, and morally tangled crime fiction. If you like your stories messy, raw, and a little uncomfortable in the best possible way, then you’ll tear through this one like I did. Gregory doesn’t serve justice on a silver platter. He drops it on your doorstep, blood-spattered and blinking.
Pages: 327 | ASIN : B0FD1ZZCCQ
The Ark Of The First Gods
Howard K. Pollack’s The Ark of the First Gods is a coming-of-age science fiction story that follows Adam, a gifted young man with mysterious origins and superhuman mental abilities. Adopted under strange circumstances, Adam grows from a curious boy into a genius-level MIT student and NASA recruit. Along the way, he discovers not only his unique powers, such as telekinesis and telepathy, but also a much deeper truth about his extraterrestrial origins. The novel weaves together government conspiracies, space exploration, cyber espionage, and alien intervention, culminating in Adam’s role as a key figure in a covert mission known as Project Eclipse.
The writing feels grounded and sincere, even when it’s exploring wild, cosmic ideas. The scenes at the Kennedy Space Center had a real sense of awe and wonder, which made me feel like a kid again. Pollack has a knack for blending technical detail with accessible storytelling, and it shows in how smoothly he explains things like propulsion systems and satellite arrays. The characters, especially Adam and Suzie, are likable and have believable chemistry. Their interactions felt natural, not forced. Suzie’s warmth balances out Adam’s intensity, and that dynamic gives the story a much-needed human touch.
While I enjoyed the buildup, a few of the later twists, like the lunar signals and Project Eclipse, could have used more emotional payoff. Still, there was something earnest about the whole thing that kept me rooting for Adam, even when things got a bit over-the-top. It has the heart of a good sci-fi movie from the ’90s, ambitious, a little campy at times, but packed with heart and imagination.
The Ark of the First Gods is a fast and heartfelt read that’s ideal for fans of character-driven sci-fi. If you enjoy stories like Stranger Things or Ender’s Game, where gifted young people uncover hidden truths about themselves and the universe, you’ll probably have a good time here. It’s full of wonder and just enough mystery to keep you flipping pages.
LIORA Lost In Heaven’s Touch ( Book 1 of the Whispers of Destiny series)
Liora: Lost In Heaven’s Touch is book one in the Whispers of Destiny debut series by author Ava Rogue. Liora: Lost In Heaven’s Touch is a futuristic fantasy-romance set in a reborn London of 2100, where technology and nature harmonize and healing is not just physical, but emotional and spiritual. The story follows Liora, a mysterious young woman who wakes up with no memory in a lush sanctuary called NexaGreen. As she navigates a world she doesn’t recognize and grapples with an identity she can’t recall, she forms powerful connections with three complex men: Yasim, a gentle scientist; Locran, a warm-hearted flirt; and Kairos, a closed-off surgeon with a painful past. Through this web of relationships, Liora embarks on a journey of rediscovery, love, trauma, and choice, all wrapped in a rich blend of futuristic wonder and deeply human emotion.
What struck me most was Ava Rouge’s writing style. It’s lush, sensual, and emotional, but never overwrought. She has a way of turning even a simple scene like drinking coffee or running through a city into something vivid and intimate. Her dialogue feels real, and her characters are wonderfully flawed. Liora is tender and vulnerable, yet quietly fierce. The alternating points of view, especially Kairos’s chapters, dig deep into the emotional walls people build to protect themselves. And when those walls start to crack, Rouge doesn’t hold back. The story’s pacing is slow in a deliberate way, inviting the reader to soak in every look, touch, and unsaid word. That said, there were moments where I felt the book lingered in introspection, especially from Kairos.
It’s not just a love story. It’s about trauma, memory, and the push-pull between safety and desire. I found myself rooting not just for Liora, but for all the characters to find peace in their own way. Kairos, in particular, frustrated me and broke my heart all at once. Rouge isn’t afraid to make her characters unlikable at times, and that makes them feel more real. The setting added a whole other layer; NexaGreen and London 2100 aren’t just backdrops, they’re reflections of the characters themselves. Rebuilt, beautiful, and haunted. There’s a rich world hinted at, glowing lynxes, projection symbols, AI enhancements, that begs to be explored further.
Liora is a love letter to the lost and the longing. If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong, or carried trauma like it was stitched to your skin, this book will probably speak to you. It’s a slow-burning romance about healing, identity, and the complicated ways we love. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven sci-fi romance with poetic prose, emotional depth, and a heavy focus on relationships. If you’re a fan of soft sci-fi, found families, and angsty, brooding love interests, this one’s for you.
Pages: 377 | ASIN : B0CLLB9BGP
Environmental Destruction
The Last Ayer follows a spirited young numbat who discovers she is the last of a sacred line known as the Ayers, and must find the courage to fulfill her destiny and rid her homeland of evil. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration is all around us at the present time. Human encroachment and global warming are affecting humans and animals around the globe. I wanted to shine a spotlight on the issue while providing a very enthralling adventure story. Inspiring young minds is at the forefront of my work.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
As a child, I was fascinated by animals worldwide. I was especially interested in those found only in Australia. When I began writing, I researched children’s books and noticed a dearth regarding endangered animals and/or the animals of Australia. I was determined to write a story that took place in a fantastical world reminiscent of Australia. The Last Ayer is the third book created in the world called Sunderland.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The dominant theme of environmental destruction drives the story. However, I also wanted to express the need for accepting responsibility, facing up to those responsibilities, and having the courage to do so. The story emphasizes the importance of friendship despite the differences between friends.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
No, this is not the first. My first book, The Sword of Demelza, also takes place in Sunderland and tells of the wonderful and powerful journey of two siblings who face the world of Sunderland alone to save their dying mother. It is a multi-award- winning middle-grade novel.
My second book, The Gift of Sunderland, plays off of the first book. A major theme in this book revolves around a reluctant hero who has hidden himself away after a traumatic experience. He saves a young numbat from drowning, and she helps him to realize that he must face up to who he is, namely the Guardian of the forest. She helps him accept that responsibility and return to Sunderland’s creatures who need him.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Pinterest | X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | Kohana Wolf | Amazon
Elsewhere, in the city of Dungarah, an evil perentie named Jago is driven by revenge for the death of his father at the paws of the numbat colony, and has stripped Sunderland of its natural resources. Jago’s need for power over the inhabitants of Sunderland is never ending. His efforts have resulted in the servitude of many woodland creatures.
But now, their slavery has brought them to the precipice of revolt. They only await the return of one called The Guardian of the Forest who they believe will bring nature’s balance back to Sunderland along with their own freedom.
At first, unaware she is the key to saving Sunderland, Keera and Echo travel to Dungarah, a long and dangerous journey. On their way, she discovers her true identity . . . and her destiny. Discover how Keera, the last of her kind, learns to face and overcome the evil perentie overlord, Jago, as the Last Ayer of Sunderland.
Counterintuitive and Countercultural
New Star follows a Persian Magus as he risks everything to uncover the truth behind a mysterious celestial sign, blending biblical intrigue, spiritual longing, and historical peril in a richly imagined post-Nativity world. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Most of what we think we know about the Wise Men is tradition, not truth. Even when we read about them in the Gospel of Matthew, we skim over the verses because we think we already know their story. Those 2D, stained-glass figures deserve to be seen as 3D real people. Their story is compelling, and I wanted to convey it in a way that aligned with Scripture, culture, and world events of that time.
What inspired you to reimagine the story of the Magi, especially from such an emotionally intimate perspective?
The Parthian Empire tolerated many religions but had a national religion that the Magi society upheld and practiced. What would happen to the religious fabric of the empire if some Magi started to believe and practice something else? I feel that’s what happened to the Magi in real life. They went way out on a limb to believe something that was counterintuitive and countercultural. They risked their reputations, their careers, and more to pursue finding the prophesied Christ child. They had to weigh the risk and cost of their newfound belief.
How did you balance historical accuracy with creative storytelling when reconstructing the world of ancient Persia and Judea?
First and foremost, I remain true to the biblical narrative. That’s my north star for writing biblical fiction. Scriptures tell us what the Magi did, but not the reasons for their choices. To discern the “why” behind their story, I dug into historical records of that time to learn about the world they lived in. When Christ was born, the Roman and Parthian empires were the world’s biggest superpowers. They were often at odds with each other, and they ruled in dramatically different ways. Against that backdrop is the rich history of Magi society, an elite group of Persian priest-scholars that massively influenced the Parthian Empire’s religion, science, and government. The Magi served multiple religions while upholding their empire’s official religion. Understanding the world in which the Magi lived enabled me to write authentic scenes with believable reactions to the pressures they would have faced in pursuing a controversial study of a star linked to some foreign religious writings.
Akilah’s inner journey is so compelling—was his character influenced by any real historical figures or personal experiences?
Thank you for that high compliment. Akilah is not based on a specific person, but I think he universally reflects people’s experience when they question what they previously thought was true. New Star provides a safe space in which to do that.
New Star is the first book in the series The Magi’s Encounters. We know the Magi’s story didn’t end when they tried to circumvent Herod. Survival Secrets, which will release Sept. 24 of this year, is all about the Magi’s struggles to return home.
Author Links: GoodReads | New Star | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
When he and his colleagues uncover a few Jewish prophecies linking the star to an eternal king, Akilah becomes the target of Persia’s religious and governmental conflicts. Jailed for crimes he didn’t commit, Akilah must rely on questionable resources to free himself and reach Jerusalem.
Persia’s purists aren’t the only ones bent on keeping their country free of Jewish influences. As dangers at home and abroad plunge Akilah and his colleagues into three countries’ religious conflicts and circumstances beyond their imagining, Akilah realizes his knowledge of Jesus could potentially destroy Magi society and its power over Persia’s official religion and government. Untrusting of his Council, a thousand miles from aid, and bound in a potentially career-ending contract, Akilah must decide how far he will go to protect what he knows of Jesus—and whether the cost of his belief is worth the risk.
Loyalty, Desperation, and Fear
Gangsters and Demons follows a dockworker trying to survive in Chicago during the 1920s who is forced to join an organized crime syndicate to provide for his family and encounters literal demons, both personal and paranormal. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for Gangsters and Demons came from a fascination with the gritty, morally complex world of 1920s Chicago, a city pulsing with industrial hardship, organized crime, and social upheaval. I wanted to explore the human cost of survival in such a ruthless environment through the eyes of a working-class figure like Jimmy Maloney, a dockworker who’s not inherently a criminal but is forced into that world to protect his family. The idea of blending a classic noir gangster tale with supernatural horror stemmed from my interest in how external pressures—like poverty and crime—can mirror internal struggles, such as addiction or guilt, which I personified through literal demons. I was also inspired by the era’s cultural undercurrents, like Prohibition and labor struggles, which felt ripe for a story where the line between human corruption and paranormal malevolence could blur. The challenge was to take a familiar historical setting and twist it into something unsettling and unexpected, where the real horror might not just be the demons but the everyday grind that breaks people down.
What is one pivotal moment in the story that you think best defines Jimmy Maloney?
One pivotal moment that defines Jimmy Maloney occurs when he’s forced to make an impossible choice between killing a close friend for the crime syndicate or risking his family’s safety by defying the syndicate’s brutal leader. Without giving too much away, this moment—set against the backdrop of a tense, rain-soaked confrontation at the Chicago docks—strips Jimmy down to his core. He’s not a hero or a villain, just a man caught in a web of loyalty, desperation, and fear. His decision in this scene, driven by his love for his family but haunted by the moral cost, encapsulates his struggle to hold onto his humanity while navigating a world of crime and supernatural terror. It’s a moment where his personal demons and the paranormal ones he faces collide, showing his resilience but also his vulnerability.
What intrigues you about the horror and paranormal genres that led you to write this book?
I’ve always been drawn to the horror and paranormal genres because they allow you to explore the unknown in ways that reveal deeper truths about the human condition. What intrigues me most is how these genres can externalize internal struggles—fear, guilt, addiction, or loss—into tangible, terrifying forms. In Gangsters and Demons, I wanted to use the paranormal to amplify the noir atmosphere of 1920s Chicago, where the line between human evil and supernatural malevolence feels porous. The idea of demons, both literal and metaphorical, gave me a way to dig into themes like exploitation and faith, which are woven into the story’s fabric. Horror also has this raw, visceral power to grip readers, to make them feel the stakes of Jimmy’s world, where every choice could lead to damnation, whether spiritual or societal. Blending that with the historical noir thriller felt like a fresh way to tell a story that’s both pulpy and profound.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The next book I’m working on is another historical fiction. I won’t reveal too much here because it is still in its early stages. Release date: TBD.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Gangsters and Demons is a historical fiction with a dark twist. A noir thriller that blends gangster drama with supernatural horror, exploring how far a good man will go to protect his family, and what prices power truly demands in a city where ancient evil wears modern suits.
LITERARY TITAN 