Blog Archives
Judging Athena
Judging Athena is a slow-burning and intense romantic tale wrapped in layers of faith, wonder, and philosophical exploration. The novel follows Josh, a humble and kindhearted research assistant with a troubled past, as he meets the mesmerizing Athena, a seemingly otherworldly curator at an art gallery. What begins as a chance encounter over a necklace for a young girl’s birthday unfurls into a deep and poetic romance. But the book is far more than a love story. It is a meditation on grace, providence, redemption, and the mysterious forces that shape our connections with others. Lovett weaves Christian themes and classical imagery into a narrative that’s both gentle and spiritually charged.
Reading this book was like watching a candle flicker in a dark room—it’s quiet, but it draws you in with its warmth. Lovett’s prose is clean, sometimes florid, and undeniably heartfelt. He leans heavily into emotional introspection, and there’s a timelessness in how the characters speak and behave. I found Josh’s sincerity almost disarming. His faith isn’t just tacked on; it’s baked into the bones of who he is. Likewise, Athena, with her mythic presence and veiled depth, feels like a figure out of legend—yet she’s also relatable. Sometimes the writing feels deliberately old-fashioned, almost theatrical, but it works here. It feels earnest, not forced. There were scenes—particularly Josh’s interactions with the orphaned children—that made me tear up. This book is tender and idealistic, and that’s its charm.
Judging Athena won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. Some readers might find the pacing slow or the emotional tone a bit too syrupy. There’s also an idealization of the romantic female figure. Personally, I didn’t mind that. The mythic vibe—the goddess-like presence of Athena—is part of the book’s fabric. Still, it’s good to know what you’re walking into. I also appreciated how the novel wrestled with ideas of spiritual identity and belonging without sounding preachy. Lovett trusts the reader to wrestle alongside the characters. And for a book grounded in religious themes, that kind of subtlety is rare.
I’d recommend Judging Athena to readers who are believers in second chances, hopeless romantics, and anyone who finds beauty in the quiet corners of life. If you like books that wear their heart on their sleeve and aren’t afraid to slow down and feel deeply, this one’s worth your time. It is full of love for people, for faith, for redemption.
Pages: 330 | ASIN : B0F6KQ6C9S
The Last Appointment: II
The Last Appointment II chronicles Noah’s transition from a determined pre-med student to a talented doctor and his enduring connection with Jasmine, whose path as a journalist takes her across the globe. This second installment dives into themes of perseverance, faith, and the impact of relationships. Noah’s journey is marked by challenges in his medical career and unspoken emotions for Jasmine, while her fearless reporting sheds light on global issues. Their parallel but divergent lives provide a rich tapestry of ambition, love, and destiny.
The stakes feel even higher in this book. I loved how the story delved into Noah’s growth as a doctor, especially during his emotional struggles with patients like Kira and her mother. The moment when Noah discovers his deeper connection to his healing gift was powerful and inspiring.
Jasmine’s story was equally compelling. It offered glimpses into her life of courage and sacrifice. Her time with the Peace Corps and her commitment to storytelling were vivid and captivating. Her scenes in war-torn regions, especially when facing danger while filming a report, showcased her bravery and depth.
One thing I loved about this book was the exploration of faith and destiny woven throughout the story. Noah’s faith in God’s plan and his ability to reconcile science and spirituality felt sincere and relatable. His reflections, especially during moments of doubt, were deeply moving to me. The reunion with Jasmine during the Christmas holiday was heartwarming as well. Their night under the stars was a touching callback to their shared history, making me root for their eventual union.
The Last Appointment II is an inspiring sequel that beautifully balances personal struggles, professional triumphs, and heartfelt relationships. I think it’s perfect for readers who enjoyed the first book and are looking for a continuation filled with emotional depth and hope. Grace Omena has a knack for capturing the beauty in ordinary yet transformative moments, and this sequel does not disappoint.
Pages: 97 | ASIN : B0CW19VSPM
The Last Appointment: I
Grace Omena’s The Last Appointment weaves a touching and evocative story of loss, resilience, and redemption. It centers around Noah, a boy who has known little but hardship, and Rosemary, a microbiologist with a mansion full of memories and a heart full of grief. Their fateful encounter sets the stage for a story that explores themes of love, purpose, and healing. The book alternates between their perspectives, providing a layered exploration of their backstories and the challenges they face as individuals before their lives intertwine.
The writing is beautifully descriptive, particularly in how it captures the emotional and physical landscapes. Rosemary’s haunted yet hopeful reflections are deeply moving. The descriptions of Noah’s struggles, especially his time in the foster care system, felt raw and authentic. For example, his interactions with the cold and often harsh social workers added a layer of realism to his journey. However, some parts, such as Noah’s repetitive run-ins with the authorities, felt slightly drawn out, making the middle sections a bit slower.
What stood out most to me was the dynamic between Noah and Rosemary. Noah’s awe at discovering Rosemary’s book-filled mansion and his timid exploration of her kindness were heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The author does an excellent job of portraying how unexpected connections can mend unseen wounds. Rosemary’s reluctance to sell her home, tied to the surreal guidance of an angelic visitor, added a compelling mystical element. However, at times, the spiritual visions felt overly symbolic, and I wished for a bit more subtlety in their execution.
One of the book’s strongest aspects was its exploration of identity and belonging. Noah’s resilience as he faced rejection after rejection resonated with me. His quiet hope was a poignant reminder of the human need for connection. Rosemary’s grief over her late husband was another emotional anchor. Her decision to take in Noah showcased a beautiful evolution of her character. Their eventual bond felt organic and earned.
The Last Appointment is an emotionally resonant tale perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with elements of hope and mysticism. The depth of its characters and the strength of its themes make it a rewarding read. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves heartwarming stories of second chances or who might be looking for inspiration in tales of resilience.
Pages: 132 | ASIN : B0DFK4F6WC
World Upside Down
World Upside Down: The Life of Paul, God’s Chosen Messenger by Louis McCall is a religious tome that provides a comprehensive account of the life of Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus. Despite his background of persecuting Christians, Paul became a paramount figure in Christianity, and his writings continue to inspire and resonate with the church to this day. McCall skillfully draws parallels between Paul’s life and its relevance to Christianity as a whole and the individual believer in modern times.
McCall delves deeply into the historical context of Paul’s life, providing specific details of his daily routines and missionary journeys as an ambassador of Christ. Through these insights, McCall illuminates how Paul’s work has shaped Christianity for centuries. Notably, much of the book is presented in a conversational layout between Paul and a guard named Marcus, while other prominent characters include Timothy, Mark, and Peter. Although some of these conversations are not canonical in the Bible, the points Paul makes through these dialogues, as written by McCall, are instrumental in conveying Paul’s mature theology and teachings. This book is ideal for those interested in learning about biblical characters, accounts of Paul, and spiritual scholars. While some of the writing is fictional, it is inspired by historical biblical accounts. At first glance, this book appears to be a biographical account, but upon further reading, it becomes clear that it is more of a fictionally-inspired conversation.
World Upside Down: The Life of Paul, God’s Chosen Messenger, is for those who profess a Christian belief and will undoubtedly find this book fascinating and thought-provoking. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in Biblical characters, accounts of Paul, and spiritual scholars.
Pages: 133 | ASIN : B0BW161G4Y
Sky Curse
In the year 2045, mankind has depleted the resources of Earth, and humans are looking to move off the planet in hopes of a fresh start. This is the setting for this thrilling young adult novel. The chosen five are Brian, Jamal, Alex, Kev, and Cecilia in Janet Kravetz’s titular series. Cecilia Miller is a teenage female protagonist in this dystopian future book. Titan is regarded as humanity’s last hope, but everyone can’t afford to travel there. Even more so, not everyone desires to. Duncan Macdougall, a Localist, wants Cecilia and the other four chosen candidates to stop the fulfillment of an old Mayan prophecy and save Earth and its inhabitants. Five Mayan crystals that contain the technology to save the planet are sought after by the chosen five who journey to Mexico in their search.
Sky Curse has a slow-burn beginning, but that gave me time to adjust to the world-building presented by Kravetz. It is futuristic hard science fiction, but it also contains aspects of fantasy and has a measure of reality mixed in. This teen novel is an exceptionally well-written, imaginative, and wholly original work. Along with Cecilia, I was transported to an unfortunate Earth. Cecilia is portrayed as a blonde with blue eyes, which is a little cliché. However, she still has her imperfections and is intelligent, and contributes well to the authenticity needed to make a protagonist come to life. And not to forget, Tony provides the humor and is Cecilia’s go-to companion.
The thought-provoking plot lines will get readers to consider climate change from beginning to end. Although it is hypothetical, nothing seems out of the ordinary or overly complicated. The reader starts to believe that what they are reading might very well be the kind of world we are leaving for future generations, which has a dramatic effect. The novel is written for older teens and younger adults, but Kravetz’s insightful developments and topics are broad enough to appeal to readers with more demanding tastes in literary nuances.
Sky Curse is the exciting start of a new young adult science fiction series, The Chosen Five. Filled with action, drama, paranormal, and fantasy elements there is something for all readers in this novel. Follow the chosen five as they try to save Earth and prevent the apocalyptic destruction of humanity. I can’t wait to see what the series has in store!
Pages: 395 | ASIN : B0B9638NC7
Solitude Of Light
In Solitude of Light’s not-too-distant future, Tomás Estéban Chen-Diaz engages in a heartfelt attempt to save his brother’s soul by joining him on a remote island. Believing himself to be following God’s will, Tomás spends years training at a facility for Christians hoping to travel to Mars before being ordained. He faces challenges to his faith along the way but none more difficult than his brother Francisco’s strict and aggressive adherence to atheism and his disdain for religious practices of any kind. Francisco’s attitude makes attempted reconciliations for past wrongs difficult, and if Tomás is to succeed, he must prove faithful to what he believes is right and just.
S. Kirk Pierzchala’s Solitude of Light takes place in a creative near-future setting with much to recognize from our own time and with the added fictional elements complimenting our own technology rather than appearing too far advanced to be realistic. Because of this, the fictional future seems plausible, perhaps distressingly so given some of its darker elements, as scientific advancements continue along the same trends they follow today.
With the narrative split into two parts, the first often seems slightly removed to the extent that it appears to be a lengthy prologue to the second part, which is where the real heart of the narrative resides. Despite this, part one is essential for the context, which gives part two much of its emotional weight.
With only two characters alone on an isolated island, there is potential for the story to become repetitive or drawn out. Still, Pierzchala manages it admirably with an excellent and often emotional portrayal of two diametrically opposed brothers engaging in a battle of wills. Interspersed between these moments are excellent scenic descriptions which lend their backdrop to this narrative of fraternal compassion, arrogance, and self-superiority.
Solitude of Light is a thought-provoking dystopian novel that takes readers deep into the emotional battle between two brothers. The suspense builds as the brothers battle for moral ground and examines their complicated relationship.
Pages: 474 | ASIN : B09WG4VY3N
Seven Steps to Heaven
Becoming Soul follows a soul that has journeyed to Earth to learn the seven lessons required in order to reach Heaven. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
My inspiration for the setup of the story came through my interactions with the lives of my clients over many years. As a counsellor I attempt to base the story on our essential need of survival. I believe the first five steps of silence, hope, suffering, loss, and survival that I refer to in the book are cyclical events that occur throughout all our lives.
The sixth step of ‘believe’ is dependent of our own point of reference and encompasses believing in a divine power or higher source that leads us to the seventh step of heaven and our eternal life as our soul. I was also inspired by my daughter when faced with her death. I questioned the purpose of life and queried death and what comes after death. I immersed myself in her life and in her passing to search for answers as to how to survive the suffering and loss and to uncover why we all must suffer.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Through the story, I explore the lessons the main character chooses to learn in this life as she meets each of the five steps. The story uncovers her self-condemning thoughts and actions and presents current self-help techniques, such as mindfulness, being in the presence of now, and silent and personal meditation.
At the sixth step the story develops the concepts of believing in freedom of choice, believing that our body decays and dies, that we are souls and we are eternal. At the seventh step of reaching heaven and becoming our souls, the main character chooses whether to live on earth as her soul or pass on to eternal life, with the choice of returning for another life.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading this book?
After reading the book, my hope is that readers will come to their own questions of whether our lives continue or not? Whether our consciousnesses continue? Whether we are our souls? Whether we are eternal consciousness? And most of all, whether there are constant interactions between the souls in the afterlife and our souls here in their earthly life?
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book is called Gentling Soul – A Legacy of Love.
I have used the main concepts I have uncovered in Becoming Soul, that of eternal life, and the eternal contact between souls on earth with souls in the afterlife to develop another fictional story taken from my own life with those who have neurogenetic disorders, who I describe as gentling souls. I am in the writing process of Gentling Soul – A Legacy of Love and the book should be ready for publishing at the end of 2022.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website
There are seven stages that we pass through to arrive back to this eternal sacredness of ourselves. In each of us lies a quest to find our own soul’s purpose, and to find our way home by becoming soul again through Silence, Hope, Suffering, Loss, Survival, Believe, Heaven.
The story begins as a new Soul arrives on Earth to learn the lessons she has chosen for this lifetime.
As a child she experiences her steps by her Silence; in her Hope; through her Suffering; in her Loss; and throughout her Survival of abandonment, abuse, loss and her withdrawal into her Soul.
As a mother she experiences her steps of Silence, Hope, Suffering, Loss, and Survival as she comes to Believe her Soul, but she buries its profundity deep inside herself as she grieves the painful losses of her beloved ones.
Throughout the story of Becoming Soul she Believes she not only heals her own grief but travels through time and heals generations of grieving in those she Believes walks her journey with her.
She continues her own unique Seven Steps to Heaven by choosing to remain on Earth to guide others in their own journey through their Seven Steps to Heaven to Becoming Soul.
Becoming Soul
Becoming Soul by El Alma is an intriguing book that reminds us of the simplicity of life. Before the modern age and having technology at our fingertips, we as humans were connected to our god. Our soul is the one being reborn with a purpose that is chosen before we enter this earthly life. After we are born, we forget this purpose to learn from our experiences in an unbiased view; thus, we settle into our life here on Earth, unaware at the beginning of how we arrived at this point or why we are even here. The book starts with a striking opening, ‘We start our journeys long before we arrive on Earth, for we are eternal consciousnesses.’ This take on life makes readers think back on their past experiences and contemplate their beliefs on life and the afterlife.
The author describes seven steps to reach Heaven and be together with the mother of all. These seven steps are Silence, Hope, Suffering, Loss, Survival, Believe, and finally, Heaven. This process, however, is not as easy as it sounds. Comparing and contrasting with Jesus’ journey, the author tells the tale of Asina. She embarks on her journey, where she almost gives up her quest for reaching the mother. There are times she thinks of ending her life and pursuit, but with the guidance of her guardian angels, she climbs one step after another in her journey to Heaven. This complex novel gives readers hope that even in your darkest moments, you can pull through and find the light that will lead you to answers and enlightenment.
Throughout the book, we also follow the story of women connected to Asina. Ezara, her grandmother, and Nettie, her own daughter. Both of these women, too, live through their seven steps, and sometimes it’s heartbreaking to see them suffer, but it is unrealistic to imagine a life without ups and downs. Yet, these moments strengthen the soul and your courage and determination to fight and survive till the end. The realistic approach to life without sugar-coating one’s existence will allow readers to take with them seeds of hope that the darkest moments of your life are part of the lessons your soul came to Earth to learn.
Becoming Soul is a beautiful story, and El Alma’s style is relatively easy to grasp. The characters show substantial development throughout the story, and at the end, the reader is left wondering and reflecting on their own journey and existence on Earth. Readers of inspirational fiction, new age fiction, or religious spirituality will find this an inspiring and thought-provoking novel.
Pages: 103 | ASIN : B085DHJC62
LITERARY TITAN 