JUDGING ATHENA
Christian romance novel, May 2025 from Green Altar Books
~300 pages, e-book, paperback, and hardcover
*****
WINNER Literary Titan Silver Book Award 2025
*****
(Cover by Green Altar Books / Boo Jackson.)
Who is Athena? How is she judged? Why? And by who? JUDGING ATHENA is a Christian romance novel unlike anything you’ve read before and utterly unlike anything you’ve read from me. It is my favorite of all my written works ever. You’ll meet the lovely lady soon, courtesy of Green Altar Books!
A little advance praise for ATHENA:
- “ATHENA is brilliant … a beautiful portrayal of the relation of man and woman at the highest level.” -Dr. Clyde Wilson, Dean of Southern history, author of Calhoun: A Statesman for the 21st Century and so many good books.
- “The ending blew me away! I’ve never read a romance that was also religious and profound, sweet, and also promoting holiness. And the “secret” was very original – I have never seen or thought of a concept quite like that.” -Anne Wilson Smith, author of Charlottesville Untold.
- “Fantastic … the best thing you’ve ever written.” -Paul C. Graham, author of Nonsense on Stilts.
The plot device, the “secret” Anne mentioned, is utterly unique. I think you’ll love it!
*****
(Incredible) REVIEW by WORDS AND PEACE:
If you are a common visitor of this book blog, you know by now that I review in a vast variety of genres, with a few exceptions. For instance, even though I am deeply involved in the Christian Orthodox Church, I have never read nor reviewed a Christian novel. And only very rarely do I read romance.
When Perrin Lovett asked me to review Judging Athena, “an inspiring tale of Christian romance”, my first reaction was, no Christian novel for me. But then, he specified that “It’s a rather innocent love story, steeled with Orthodox apologetics, and an unusual plot device/twist.”
So I had to take the plunge and try it! And I’m glad I did.
Reading Judging Athena has been one of the most unique reading experiences so far this year.
One day, Lovett went to buy some jewelry in an art gallery gift shop, and saw there a lovely woman. This was enough to spark his novelist juices.
And this is indeed how the book opens: when Josh goes to buy a necklace for a young girl, in a New England art gallery gift shop, he meets there a beautiful and intriguing woman, Athena “the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen….In fact, he instantly decided he was looking at the most beautiful woman in all the world, maybe of all time.”
Athena herself is stunned to discover in Josh such a very humble and pious young man (yes, they do exist, and not just in novels!).
She had, even when she first approached him, sensed he was sweet, kind, gentle, and pure. That boy. That man of what? He’s probably only in his early twenties. Yet he seemed so timeless. And sincere. Wonderful.
And so, it is love at first sight.
The book then shows the development of their relationship.
But it’s so much more than that, because Athena is very unique, like maybe no one else in this world. Of course, I can’t reveal how.
Just know that the core of the book relies on speculative theology (with a neat use of Genesis 6 and 1 Corinthians 6 – a Pauline statement mysterious enough to offer a lot of leeway to novelists!).
All the characters are extremely well presented, each in their own particularities, and how they interact, being whether young children, teenagers, or older people. Each one sounded so genuine and real to me.
And Orthodox priests are presented as real spiritual fathers – these also do exist, I meet them IRL every day!
I also liked passages with animals, a hint to the future reconciliation of all.
In fact, in my family, we had our own Charlotte, though we decided it was a he and named him Joshua! That was years before I read this book.
It was so refreshing to read in 2025 a novel in total defiance of postmodern trends, where the emphasis is on faith, prayer, thanksgiving, going to church, obedience to God, clean honest dating, and a genuine understanding of the real dimension of marriage, in real joy and happiness.
It’s also proof that you don’t need to use any swear word to write a fascinating and relevant novel!
But the above also implies that this novel may not be for every reader, certainly not for readers of most contemporary romances, if I judge them by their covers!
You also need to go into it with a very open mind and ready to meditate.
And the plot is a slow development, not the raging fire of passion, but a gentle warm fire, with references to theology and spirituality.
There are not too many novels with Christian Orthodox values out there. I can only remember another one, Icon, by Georgia Briggs. We definitely need more of these!
I take from the book the message that you can defy the world by remaining true to your own self, to God, and be totally other-oriented in love and sacrifice.
I actually personally know young Orthodox couples who do try to live this faithfully in their 2025 American daily lives, so yes, there’s still hope, as Judging Athena reminds us so beautifully and tenderly.
For info, I reused in this review some expressions taken from this excellent interview with the author.
MY VERDICT:
A refreshingly sincere and theologically rich Christian romance, a unique, meditative love story that stands out for its innocence, depth, and authenticity.
*****
Review by Walt Garlington at Confiteri:
Southern novels for many years have been heavily marked by violence and cursing. This story is refreshingly different. One is able to enjoy mundane things like the taste of pancakes, or walk amongst the summits of Orthodox theology, showing how husbands and wives contribute to the salvation of one another, without unnecessary shocks to the soul.
Returning to Mr Poe, his combination of melancholy and beauty is one of his most powerful contributions to literature. Mr Lovett’s use of this device elevates it to new heights at the end of his story: The tragic beauty of those scenes sears the heart with descriptions that the reader will not soon forget.
Judging Athena is a truly redemptive and rewarding novel to read. We recommend it to all.
*****
Interview with Perrin Lovett 2025
Is there a message you hope readers will take away from this book?
Yes, in fact, there are several, all of them related to various facets of Christian salvation. The first is general salvation: Deference and surrender to God, and the redemption of the soul through the supreme sacrifice of Jesus. My extremely unusual plot device involves the speculative use of a second, very different kind of salvation, the understanding of which requires a high degree of trust, faith, and imagination. In her gracious review, Emma Cazabonne of Words & Peace called it, “…a neat use of Genesis 6 and 1 Corinthians 6—a Pauline statement mysterious enough to offer a lot of leeway to novelists!” Walt Garlington, reviewing Judging Athena at Confiteri, said, “Mr. Lovett’s use of this device elevates it to new heights at the end of his story: The tragic beauty of those scenes sears the heart with descriptions that the reader will not soon forget.”
Within the story, and in large part dependent on the Pauline mystery and a few assorted metaphors, the primary focus is on a third concept, that of joint marital salvation, the quest of a man and his wife to mirror the marriage of Christ and His Church and to thereby assist each other in reaching Heaven. In so many ways, the book is a celebration of marriage, love, and family. It is a portrayal of the glorified Christian replication of the original marriage in Eden. The coupling of Adam and Eve speaks to the supremely important nature of matrimony: man and woman are literal parts of Divine Creation, and they were literally made for each other by God. As we know too well, since those first days, things have gone awry due to continuing human temptation, error, hubris, and sin. The commitment of marriage, as exemplified by and through its three primary tenets, is one of mankind’s great, wholly unearned paths towards ameliorating original sin.
In the postmodern West, even under the guise of Christianity, we have faltered anew. I, unfortunately, know this from experience, as I suspect many who read this interview do as well. Here and there, marriage and families have sadly descended into the unserious throw-away status that afflicts our age. But we are not lost so long as we continue to maintain faith, discipleship, contrition, and humility. I hope all readers enjoy Judging Athena. Yet my primary hope is that young Christian men and women are inspired by my gentle little story and assured that they are, indeed, worthy. In defiance of the world, they can join together as one, be fruitful, be happy, and be righteous. I hope and pray that there will be many, many more Josh and Athena couples joined at so many altars.
Reflecting back, what do you see as most significant to your publication journey?
The neat, short answer is … [Cont. at the link above.]
*****
INTERVIEW with LITERARY TITAN:
Judging Athena follows a humble and kindhearted research assistant who meets a curator at an art gallery, and what begins as a chance encounter over a necklace for a young girl’s birthday unfurls into a deep and poetic romance. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The idea came to me while I was walking one evening last October. There is a real art gallery gift shop in a charming New England town. Many years ago, I purchased some custom nickel jewelry from the shop manager, a lovely woman with an accent (the nationality of which I cannot recall). On my walk, I suddenly suspected a story was lurking in the memory. As I strolled along, it all began to coalesce in my mind, blending with a few other ideas. I decided to go home, start typing, and see how far it went. Three and a half weeks later, I had a rough draft.
I enjoyed the romantic relationship between Josh and Athena. How did their relationship develop while you were writing it? Did you have an idea of where you wanted to take it or was it organic?
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I had a notion about both characters and their interaction. While they eventually presented themselves well in the first draft, initially, both were somewhat difficult for me to conceptualize. Josh was a challenge because of his humility and piety, and because I wasn’t sure how he would relate to Athena. She was very challenging due to her rarified nature and utterly unique circumstances. And her essence changed quickly in my mind, from a mere legend into something higher and in keeping with her arc of redemption. Fortunately, all my quandaries were resolved as I wrote. Once I was used to the sincerity and kindness in both characters, writing them became a nearly effortless pleasure.
Because of my marital deliverance theme, and partly in defiance of postmodern trends, I knew I wanted the relationship to progress from meeting to matrimony as quickly as possible. Yet in getting there, I decided to dwell on the details of dates, thoughts, emotions, and so forth. And many, many roses! That is why the betrothal period, less than two months long, essentially occupies half the book. I felt the emphasis on clean and honest dating and development, along with genuine understanding behind the marriage, was that important. As an aside, part of me almost wishes I could have dedicated the same level of attention to the rest of the story. However, that would have resulted in a book of 95,000 pages, not words, and I was pleased with the second half anyway.
I did have an idea of where I wanted Athena and Josh to go, though the idea evolved a bit. Most unusual for me, the ideas pretty much landed in the word processor in an organic fashion. Ordinarily, I erratically plot, fill in via scattershot, overthink, and stall manuscript development for months or even years. I practically wrote Judging Athena straight through from page one to “The End.”
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Perhaps the most important element is the Christian concept of joint salvation, manifested through the three primary reasons for marriage, as explained by Father Josias in Chapter Four. This is a core tenant of the Church, however, too much of its veracity has been lost or diluted in our era. The tale I tell is, sadly, not my own. Rather, it is an idealistic expression of the ideal romance. My plot device or hook regarding Athena’s true nature is an admittedly extreme use of speculative theology. However, given the extreme state of the real world around us, I thought it was important to provide a strong counterbalance.
Another important concept, for me and, hopefully, for readers, is the complete deference to God offered by two imperfect people who, by dispensing with solipsism, offer anathema to the postmodern concept of the individual über alles. Fiction provides a forum for letting be what should be, even if the imagined vehicle approaches the fantastical.
Many of the themes and subthemes in Judging Athena stem from First Corinthians. I really enjoyed working various metaphors into the characters’ perceptions, their relationship, and their interaction with God, others, and the world. In addition to all else, the titular matter of judgment requires a real apophatic leap of faith. While hinting all around, I do not expressly explain how it happens. I don’t know technically how these matters unfold. No one does. Hence, a degree of trust is warranted. Had I delivered a detailed verdict, I doubt anyone would have liked it—least of all the author.
Also, I really like writing “innocent” fiction. All too often, my work veers into the polemical and the expositive. I may have finally discovered it is better to suggest than to force certain matters. Beyond telling what I hope is a sweet and entertaining story, I ultimately hope to encourage young men and women to defy the world, unite, be fruitful, and help each other redeem themselves through and into the glory of the Almighty.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it out?
Next up, Tom Ironsides returns in AURELIUS, a hard-charging action novella wherein the CIA’s former best blasts through the ranks of assorted international criminals. It’s another book that’s been simmering for a while, since around 2020. With any luck, it should be out late this year or in the winter of 2026. As with Judging Athena and The Substitute, it will come to market via Green Altar Books, the growing and outstanding literary imprint of Shotwell Publishing.
I generally have four or five manuscripts in development at any given time, and now is no exception. My “save the world” inclinations are slowly giving way to something more genteel and with more genuine literary quality. I have a few more romances in the works, including an outline for something of the levels of apologetics in Judging Athena. And there’s always more coming along—in due time.
*****
REVIEW by LITERARY TITAN:
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
*****
PRAISE from an industry insider, “E,” who, out of professional habit, does not make formal reviews: “…JUDGING ATHENA. Although set in [the] present-day, the writing style is charmingly Victorian. It’s perfect for rainy- weather-at-the-cottage reading.”
*****
SNEAK PEEK from the e-proof:
Dust Jacket:
Paperback proof in Editor Paul’s hand. Gonna be available soon! (Dog not included):
ATHENA in the news:
My site.
Me at Reckonin‘.
Me at Geopolitika.
In Brazil, Nova Resistencia.
From Literary Titan.
At Fiction Finder.
New Releases at ACFW.
Nod at Julie Arduini’s Blog.
More directly.
Perrin Lovett Books 