Wild Reverence: A Novel by Rebecca Ross

Book Except:

" Set in the world of the gods first introduced in Divine Rivals, #1 New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Ross delivers a sweeping, beautiful adult novel filled with tension, romance, and dark secrets.

True love is more divine than any ruthless god.

Born in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic. But in a land where gods often kill each other to steal power and alliances break as quickly as they are forged, Matilda must come of age sooner than most. She may be known to carry words and letters through the realms, but she holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest of allies to ensure her survival. And to complicate matters . . . there is a mortal boy who dreams of her, despite the fact they have never met in the waking world.

Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life—begging the goddess he had befriended in dreams to help him. When his request went unanswered, Vincent moved on, becoming the hardened, irreverent lord of the river who had long forgotten Matilda. That is, until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.

As Fate would have it, Matilda and Vincent were destined to find each other beyond dreams. There may be a chance for Matilda to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, but at immense sacrifice. She will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: to be vulnerable, and to allow herself to finally be loved."

Title:  Wild Reverence

Author:  Rebecca Ross

Publisher:  Saturday Books

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Five

Review:

'Wild Reverence' By Rebecca Ross

My Review:

'Wild Reverence' was an enjoyable read that may bring a few tears. The story offers poetic writing, yearning, and a magical system that keeps the reader turning pages until the end.

Matilda and Vincent were authentic in their romance. Pick up this read to see what it took for them to find their way back to each other. Be ready for a good love story.

Swanna in Love: A Novel Jennifer Belle

 Book Excerpt:

"It's the summer of 1982, and fourteen-year-old Swanna Swain is the only one left at camp. The place is a ghost town when her mother, Val, finally shows up six hours late—stoned and radiant—in a Ford pickup driven by Borislav, her new young Russian lover. Assuming she is headed home to her air-conditioned Upper West Side apartment, Swanna and her lovable younger brother Madding are dragged to Vermont—to an artist colony where kids are not welcome and are forced to sleep in the back of the truck. At the same time, Val is cozy inside the house with the Russian.

Then Swanna meets Dennis, a handsome married father of two, at a bowling alley, and, knowing a thing or two about seduction from Judy Blume, her best friend at camp, and her own parents' many affairs—she sets out to convince Dennis to help her. But love seldom obeys rules, and even a tough, intelligent city girl like Swanna might be unable to handle falling in love.

Novelist Jennifer Belle returns with a kind of inverse Lolita that explores adolescent desire from the girl's point of view. In turns hilarious and wildly shocking, Swanna in Love will keep your feathers ruffled and the pages gliding by."

Title: Swanna in Love
Author: Jennifer Belle
Publisher: Akashic Books, Ltd.
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Three
Review:
"Swanna in Love" by Jennifer Belle
My Thoughts:

'Swanna in Love' was quite a read that had me thinking, should I have chosen this particular reading?
I am not sure who I felt more sorrier for...Swanna and her little brother Madding? I had no feelings for Swanna's mother and her boyfriend, along with her father and his dominatrix, and that 30-some-year-old older man who had a family of his own who seemed not to care about being with this 14-year-old girl. He had to know she was young, which didn't stop him from bothering with Swanna. Now, for Swanna, who understood this was wrong, but living with someone like her mom and dad, what could one expect in this situation? I didn't find anything funny about the novel besides being sad and full of ickiness and wanting to kick some sense into all those so-called adults.

As I finished this read, I was left shaking my head and thinking what a coming of age-this story was for this poor girl, Swanna, from this dysfunctional family. Will she learn anything from it? Well, in the world we live in today, probably not. When one sees parents dating children and Swanna dating a parent, what else is there to think?

Learning To Twirl (The Twirler Quartet Book 3) Kindle Edition by Claudia Severin

 Book Excerpt:

"Two devout teenagers faced love amid tragedy circa 1969. An Army enlistment during the Vietnam Conflict promised career opportunities but tore their dreams apart.

As a Roman Catholic, Nancy knew better than to succumb to temptation. She was following the example of her two older sisters: one a nun and the other a wife who'd had three children in quick succession. But when a sweet-talking devilishly-handsome boy began charming her, it wasn't just her baton that was twirling. It was her heart.

Peter knew he shouldn't resent his older brother, the golden boy. Terry excelled in sports, academics, and winning friends while Peter was stuck at home milking cows. Their parents expected Peter to hold down the farm when Terry's world was upended by a horrible accident. But, once Peter fell for a beautiful red-haired angel, he knew his prayers had been answered.

Later, while Peter performed his patriotic duty in Vietnam, he discovered his brother was ambushing him on the home front, about to steal his cherished wife and daughter. Did his devotion to the Army's cause create an unbridgeable rift in his marriage?

Return to the mythical Capital High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, for the third in the Twirler Quartet series that delivers more heartbreak and joy at a time when naïve teenage boys were being drafted, surprised college students were being attacked at protest marches. The president promised peace and love to the yTitle: Learning To Twirl

Author: Claudia Severin
Publisher: Pella Road Publishing
Series; The Twirler Quartet Book 3
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Learning To Twirl" by Claudia Severin

My Opinion:

'Learning To Twirl' was quite a read drawing out what happened to Nancy and Peter in what they were put through in 1969. Nancy and Peter had been friends, but things took a turn, and something blossomed between them. Do we find Nancy knew it was wrong as she succumbed to temptation not only with one but also his brother? I don't want to tell too much of the story, but we see that Peter's brother had been in a horrible accident, and a lot was thrown on Peter as he helped on his family's farm. During this time, Peter falls for the lovely red-haired angel. Both of them were in HS, and she was a 'Twirler' and a beautiful person; however, Peter's brother Terry noticed her. What will come of this and as Nancy and Peter become more involved? What would happen when he chose to serve in the Army in Vietnam doing his patriotic duty? Oh, did I mention that now Nancy and Peter are married after they just had turned eighteen?

Well, there was a reason for that quick marriage. Anyway, as the story continues will these cause problems in their marriage [new baby & him going into the service]? A few things caused me some concern, and this was as strong Roman Catholics needed more guidance from somebody. Nancy even had a nun as a sister, and a priest had been around...so what was the problem? Now my biggest concern was with Peter's brother Terry. What Terry was doing with his brother's wife Nancy ...I didn't care for at all. Now, I will not blame it all on Terry because Nancy was part of the problem too. It was hard to believe that she was that naive not to know just what she was doing and what trouble it would cause if it got out. I know things did come together by the end of the story, but this did cause me to have some problems with how it all came out in the end.

'Learning To Twirl' is one read to pick up and get a story with "heartbreak and joy at a time when naive teenage girls, boys were being drafted, college students being attacked at protest marches, and even the president comes into play as he promises peace and love to the youth of America."youth of America."

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Jumping Ship (Island Hopping Book 1) Kindle Edition by Janice Ross

 Book Excerpt:

"On the 3rd of June 1975 in New York, Edward and Pearl Riley receive the ultimate gift of love - a newborn baby, wrapped in a blanket and stuffed in a burlap bag. The child's name, Sakkara, is written out on a torn sheet of paper and immediately fills every void the married couple has ever had.

Pregnant seamstress Petrina Dugal becomes a runaway at the age of twenty-six. She flees the claws of a brutish husband, despite her adoration for a well-loved South American country known as Guyana. At the heart of the rebellion resides an enigmatic lover named Michael Chen. The journey to escape their choices lead the couple through the Caribbean's treasure trove of islands:
Trinidad & Tobago
Grenada
Barbados
St. Lucia
Martinique
Antigua
The young couple's journey from Guyana to New York is chronicled in definite clues, left with baby Sakkara. But as she comes of age and begins learning the truth of her abandonment, the Caribbean calls out to this love child. Sakkara is set to unravel the mystery of her true heritage, and hopefully, reunite with her long-lost parents.
Jumping Ship is the introductory novella to the Island Hopping series. This explosive collection boasts the rich culture of the West Indies, deep love, and a mystery unlike any other."

Title:  Jumping Ship

Author:  Janice Ross

Publisher:  Cultural Cocktails (November 26, 2020)

Series:  Island Hopping Book 1

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating:

Review:

"Jumping Ship" by Janice Ross

My Speculation:

Title  Jiming ship

Author: Janice Ross

Publisher: Createspace

Series: Island Hopping Series #1

Reviewed By: Arlena Dean

Rating: 5

Review:

 Jumping Ship by Janice Ross

JUMPING SHIP: AN INTRODUCTORY NOVELLA

The year was nineteen seventy-five. The infertile couple, Pearl and Edward Riley, stumbled upon a newborn baby girl. Her cries could only be heard by a true mother, which Pearl immediately became. Bundled up with their new child, they discovered a parcel of artifacts and a scribbled note that read: Sakkara. Pregnant seamstress, Petrina Dugal, became a runaway at the age of twenty-six. She ran away from a brutish husband, Roger, and a well-loved South American home in Georgetown, Guyana; at the heart of her rebellion – an enigmatic lover named Michael Chen. Pet and Mikey, as they became affectionately known, allowed love to blossom in front of her police officer husband and an intrusive community. Were they not aware of the dangers? Or did the pursuit of love trump obligations?

Sakkara Riley grew up with two loving parents – adoptive parents, to be exact. She never knew the circumstances surrounding her discovery until the age of sixteen. She embarks on a journey.

Jumping Ship is an introductory novella to the Island Hopping Series. There are seven planned books - representing each of the islands that Sakkara will visit along the way.

What I liked About & Jumping Ship;...

I found &; Jumping Ship&; an excellent read that you will find hard to put down once you start it. I loved how this author could pull her readers into the story and connect them with the characters. You can also tell that this author loved this country because of all the detailed descriptions of it near the Caribbean area as she brings us a good read. This was a love story with lots of mystery as we follow a married woman and her lover, and since this is the beginning of a series, I am sure we will get lots more. This is quite a read of a woman's strength in how she had dealt 'with an abusive husband, self-awareness, and love.' I will say that that part of the read was not pretty.

But then Petrina meets Mikey. I don't want to give any of it away and spoil it for you.  Just pick up this fantastic read to see for yourself how this author brings it all so well to the readers. There seem to be three parts to this story where you will see it all told in such an intriguing captivating way as the story unfolds. If you are looking for a good romance novel, you have come to the right place for &; Jumping Ship; it will give you a well-written, heartwarming love story that starts this series.

Mornings on Main Kindle Edition by Jodi Thomas

Book Description....

"From the beloved and bestselling author of the Ransom Canyon and Harmony, Texas series comes a powerful, heartwarming story about generations of family and the ironclad bonds they forge

Jillian James has never had a place she could call home. So when she lands in the sleepy Texas town of Laurel Springs, she’s definitely not planning to stay—except to find a few clues about the father who abandoned her and destroyed her faith in family.

Connor Larady is desperate: he’s a single dad, and his grandmother, Eugenia, has Alzheimer’s. He’s the only one around to care for her, and he has no idea how. And now he has to close the quilt shop Eugenia has owned all her life. When Connor meets down-on-her-luck Jillian, he’s out of options. Can he trust the newcomer to do right by his grandmother’s legacy?

Jillian is done with attachments. But the closer she grows to Connor and Eugenia, the higher the stakes of her leaving get. She has to ask herself what love and family mean to her, and whether she can give up the only life she’s ever known for a future with those who need her."

Title:  Mornings on Main

Author:  Jodi Thomas

Publisher: J. T.

Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean

Rating: Four

Review:

"Mornings on Main" by Jodi Thomas

My Thoughts....

This was a rather interesting read that I found rather sad in some ways.  I felt rather sorry for the heroine Jillian James who had lost faith in family due to what had happened to her. I was so glad when she was able to finally meets  someone that seemed to care for her. As Jillian slowly comes into this town where she was looking her father and lucked upon a meeting with Connor Larady, his daughter, grandmother, a few interesting town people and getting a job [working for A Stitch In Time] will give the read some attention. Even though Jillian gave out 'no strings' attachment because I will be leaving in a few months I did feel that she really did start to like these town people and seemed to be a interest  in Connor.  But it seemed she kept in her mine that her primary goal was to be looking for her father who had dropped her off at college ten years ago and simply had disappeared completely out of her life.  So, will Jillian be able to find any of her family history here in [sleepy] Laurel Springs, Texas?  Will Jillian and Connor become a item?  With Connor grandmother who was dealing with her failing memory loss [Alzheimer] what will she say to Jillian during one of her episode that will give light to Jillian situation about her parents?  Will Jillian's search for her pass finally come to a end and not keep following in her fathers footsteps but maybe putting down some roots and able all be willing to take a chance at love with Connor?  To get all of these questions answered you will just have to pick up "Morning on Main" to see how this story will all come out.

Burnt Orange by Meiah Shaun

Book Description....

"A coming-of-age story of Erin and Erika, Texas twins in an abusive home in a town segregated by white and black color lines, who are wounded by the revealing of a shocking family secret and long to escape their circumstances and erase what they have been labeled. Follow their journey in this compelling novel filled with inspiration and triumph."

Title:  Burnt Orange
Author:  Meiah Shaun
Publisher:  Redemption Press   
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Burnt Orange" by Meiah Shaun

My Thoughts.....

I found "Burnt Orange" quite a interesting incredible read that focus on twin girls [fraternal]...Erika and Erin living in Orange, Texas in the 1990's.  This coming of age read takes the reader into a emotional read as these twins suffered a type of abuse like no other coming mainly coming from their father.  The author takes the story from early childhood, teenagers and on through young womanhood.

It was interesting see their girls grow and mature to womanhood as you continue to read.  I love the fact that they had a grandmother around them when they really need her due to that father.  I wondered a lot about the father and why he was the way he was in this story and at the end I was able to maybe understand why he had been the way he was toward his children due to what the twins had done. However, it still was no reason for the way he had treated them...especially Erin.  Now, I don't want to spoil it for you the reader so you will have to pick up this story that is  'well written novel, detailed, and engaging and see for yourself.  It was quite interesting seeing Erin and Erika growing up and even overcoming some of their many difficult s they had endured during their childhood. One thing that was for sure their mother had instilled some wonderful 'Christian' values that had grounded them in their adulthood. Truly forgiveness is a powerful thing!   This was a really emotional, powerful  journey that Erika and Erin had endured and in the end...well again you will have to pick up this read to see how this author bring  it all comes out so well to the reader.  Would I recommend?  YES!

Thank you to the author for letting me read your novel and  giving my honest opinion of this interesting story.  

House of Cars By Shelia E.Lipsey

Book Description...

"Fourteen year old high school freshman Nyl Person is the boy every freshman girl at Fairley High would like to call boyfriend. He is popular, cute and one of the leading players on the high school varsity basketball team. Sierra James with her thick locks of natural hair and the captain of the Fairley High cheerleading squad, is pretty, smart and the most popular girl in ninth grade, and she has a mission to make Nyl her boyfriend. Nyl likes her too and would jump at the chance to have Sierra as his girlfriend. But it isn't so easy for Nyl because he has a secret that no one at Fairley knows about which is Nyl, his little sister and his father have practically been living in the family Yukon since the death of his mom. What will happen if his secret comes out? What will he do? What about the girl he wants to make his girlfriend, Sierra James. Can she fall for a homeless boy when she practically lives in the lap of luxury?"

Title:  House of Cars
Author:  Shelia E .Lipsey
Publisher: Bonita  and Hodge Publishing Group
Reviewed By:  Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"House of Cards" by Shelia Lipsey

My Thoughts...

What a interesting read about fourteen year old Nyl's and his family.  This author brings in some very good points showing how children can be so mean and cruel to each other.  Being homeless can be such a stressful situation as it was for the Person family after the death of a mom and wife.  This had been a well kept secret but after Nyl who was a HS freshman and star point guard on a basketball team  is spotted in a local soup kitchen...it all starts to come out about what all is going on in his life.  How will this be dealt with?  I liked how this author was able to bring this all out to the readers as she 'incorporates lessons about tolerance, sensitivity and hardship' in her read.    I found the characters mostly well developed, portrayed and believable giving the reader a well written story with enough twist to keep your attention till the end giving the reader a very thought provoking read.  Truly how we treat people is very important in our everyday life's.

The Changing Season By Steven H. Manchester

 Book Description...

"This was supposed to be a simple summer for Billy; one more lazy expanse of time before college began. He'd fill the hours playing with Jimmy – his canine best buddy – going camping and doing all the things he promised Jimmy they'd do before Billy left.

But that was before the accident that shook the entire town.

It was before the summer job that turned into something so much more than a way to get a paycheck.

And it was before Vicki.

This summer was destined to be many things to Billy, things he didn't truly understand until now. But it was definitely not going to be simple.

An enormously touching, richly textured, deeply moving novel of new adulthood, THE CHANGING SEASON is an experience to savor."

Title: The Changing Season
Author: Steven H. Manchester
Publisher: The Story Plant
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Changing Season" by Steven H. Manchester

My Thoughts....

What a amazing story that this author gives the reader! A boy and his dog. Billy Baker who has graduated from HS, getting ready to go off to college was having a a heck of summer fun. With his dog [Jimmy], along with his friends[Charlie and Mark], getting a summer job and even getting a new girlfriend [Vickie] what a summer it will be for Billy. However, what will happen when a dark secret comes out about a friend and what was up with Billy's sister [Sophie]? How will this secret affect Billy's love life? I will say what a beautiful bond that this boy {Billy]had with his dog[Jimmy]. If you are a dog lover...this read is for you! All in all with all that goes on in this story the author gives the reader a well written story that will keep your attention all the way to the end. One thing for sure if you want to learn about dogs that have been in a shelter/pound....this is one excellent read that will explain it all to the reader. There was a part of the story that I did find it somewhat predictable, however I will say it did not take away from the fact the story was still a good read. In the end be ready for a good read that deals with 'age tales, dogs, test of friendship, loyalty, great job and first love.' That ending was quite a tearful one for me! Would I recommend this read to a teenager and up. Yes! This was truly one amazing story! Oh, I also wanted to mention that beautifully done book cover!

Thank you to the author for this read in exchange of my honest opinion of the novel.