Alexi Paulina

Laced with synchronicities, clairvoyance, channeling, past-life impressions, clandestine romance, and online-dating adventures, this novel will appeal to readers interested in personal transformation, psychic development, and multidimensional realities. Most "spiritual fiction" is lightweight, with a fairytale sort of quality that glosses over real-life emotions such as desperation, rage, and the type of elation that can only be born of hopelessness. "From the Ashes" is authentic, even gritty at times. It is not a tale crafted to convey spiritual insights, but a story that reveals such insights as a product of the protagonist's tumultuous journey to self-awareness.

From the moment they meet, at a conference in southern California, Rissa and Carl sense an overpowering connection. Gifted with psychic abilities, they recall intense past-life relationships and feel compelled to forge a bond in their present lifetimes. Rissa, who lives in Denver, recently has ended a long-term relationship. Carl, an executive recruiter from the Midwest, feels trapped in his floundering marriage to a wealthy woman who has declared that their intimate life is over. Realizing he is not ready to give up intimacy and is in love with Rissa, Carl asks his wife for a divorce without disclosing the true reasons.

Feeling the need for a fresh start, Rissa and Carl take a trip to Portland, Oregon, and decide to move there. On the eve of their relocation, Carl snaps emotionally and stops communicating with Rissa. In their last phone conversation, he reveals that he is considering suicide. Devastated by the loss of her fiancé and their plans for a future together (and believing that her lover may have taken his own life), Rissa attempts suicide but is saved by a friend.

Physically recovered yet emotionally fragile, Rissa continues her adventures, delving into the arena of online dating. She lands a job in Portland and moves there alone, but is haunted by unanswered questions about Carl and their unresolved connection. When they meet again, Carl reveals his true nature – and Rissa is shocked to discover his intentions toward her.