Dariel Raye's Blog, page 21

Sable, from “Dark Sentinels,” is Visiting With Mia Darien Tomorrow!

Okay, before you ask, no, I won’t be there. That way the two of them can talk in peace. Mia Darien is interviewing him. Sable is nearly always polite, but I have to say he’s none to pleased with me right now for making him do this. Stop by and get to know a little bit about him. He probably doesn’t feel the same way about me at the moment, but I think he’s quite delightful! Also, if you get a chance, stop by and “like” and “tag” my new release and Amazon author page

Review of a Romance You Won’t Want To Miss! Rachelle Ayala’s “Michal’s Window”

“Michal’s Window” by Rachelle Ayala

Review by Dariel Raye

It’s seldom that I read something that moves me the way this book did. Based on the romance of the biblical King David and his first wife, Michal, daughter of King Saul, I classify “Michal’s Window” as a romantic tragedy. Author Rachelle Ayala has taken a classic, beloved story, starring the first wife of “a man after God’s own heart,” and penned fictional details realistic enough to make the reader cry, yell, and scream.

David arrives, a young musician in King Saul’s court. The only one capable of lulling the nearly insane King Saul to sleep with his beautiful music, David quickly gains his adoration, but incurs his wrath and bitter hatred just as easily when he starts to win the hearts of Saul’s people. Assured that he is to be the next King, he slays the Nephilim giant, Goliath, and gains the hand of Michal, Saul’s youngest daughter. Their love begins with the innocence of young lovers, but is soon overshadowed and tainted by the hatred and jealousy of Michal’s father because the people seem to love David more, and by societal beliefs that made love between a man and woman nearly impossible, as women were given and sold like property.

Impeccably written, “Michal’s Window” takes us on an epic journey – an adventure, even, through war-ravaged times and their effects on the people of those times. Women, of course, had no rights. They were viewed and treated as property, and respect for their wishes was nearly unheard of. Despite his good intentions, David was a man driven by the same desires and double-standards as most men. Michal saved his life, jeopardizing her own, yet he repayed her by continually taking other wives. “It’s different for me, Michal. I’m a man. Why can’t you just accept your place? Stop being jealous like a man!” Although that’s not written in the bible, I can just hear him saying those words to her.

Concerned more with how he was viewed by the people, particularly his men, than how he managed his household, time and again, his prideful, insensitive actions drove him to cruelty toward Michal, knives to her heart, and wedges between them. The helpless, powerlessness of women opened old wounds about the gender inequities we have yet to rectify today, but Ayala managed to show strength in Michal even in her seeming masochistic love for David, and I reveled in those rare times when she owned her power.

A victim of the common practices of her culture, she still owned fire, spirit, and power beyond her time, and she knew and understood God’s word. Despite David’s roving eye (and every other body part), it was these qualities that made him love her most of all. It was Michal who made him want to possess her and strike down other men who wanted her, yet he refused to understand that she felt the same way about him. His love for her, as often is the case today, was more possessiveness than true love. He also refused to obey God’s law regarding “one man for one wife,” continued to abuse God’s law with the customary double standard of faithfulness being required of women, while men had as many women as they desired.  This was a constant bane to Michal. David’s desire to possess more and more, was his eventual undoing, yet through all of this, he was a good-hearted man who did hurtful, sinful things, paid for some of them, and she loved him. Despite everything, Michal loved him and David knew that she loved him more and knew him better than any of his other women.

It got a little wordy near the end, but perhaps that’s because I was so fed up with David by that time. Ayala was so true to the laws and culture of biblical times, as well as David’s relationship with God and his people, the only thing I disliked about the book was the dark reality of David’s selfish insensitivity. Need I say more? Five stars!

 

Tomorrow’s Fridays With Friends Guests: “Dark Creations” Authors, Jenny and Chris Martucci!

Hi, Everybody! I want you to meet Chris and Jenny Martucci! They write as a team, and their series is fascinating! Here’s just a little taste, but mark your calendars so you can learn more about them on my blogger site tomorrow! Oh, and I’ll be in two places at once again. While the Martuccis are visiting with me, I’m being interviewed by Gemma K. Murray! So when you stop by to meet the Martuccis, please check my book tour schedule and come over to Gemma’s to say “hi.”

 

Melissa Martin was not prepared for what she experienced when a new student walked into her English class, how she felt the first time they spoke; she did not believe in love at first sight. At seventeen years old, she envisioned love but never dreamed it possible.

That was before she met Gabriel James.

Gabriel was different from other boys. With otherworldly attractiveness, gallantry, charm, and intelligence, Gabriel was everything boys her age were not. As her relationship with Gabriel grew, she realized his kindness and generosity matched his extraordinary physical appearance. Melissa found her feelings for him growing stronger with their every encounter.

But Gabriel had a secret, a dark secret.

Gabriel was no ordinary teenage boy. His exceptional attributes were not random inheritances from his ancestry. His origins were far different.

Gabriel James was not born of man and woman. His DNA was hand-picked and refined by Dr. Franklin Terzini and grown in a clandestine facility in the Russian Far East. Dr. Terzini created Gabriel to be the future of the human species, a perfected version. The crucial difference between Gabriel and the rest of humanity, however, was his inability to experience emotions. His lack of emotion was not by accident, but by design. Dr. Terzini believed that humankind would best be served without sentimentality, that feelings were the root of every ill within society.

Gabriel supposed Terzini’s theory to be true; until he met Melissa.

Jennifer James Released “Love Kinection” Today, and I’ll Be Hanging Out With Her Tomorrow!

Hi, Everyone! The wonderful Jennifer James released “Love Kinection” today! Woohoo! I’m blessed to get to hang out with her tomorrow in continuation of my “Dark Sentinels” book tour! Please come join us Oh, and it’s my birthday tomorrow!!

Two Big Events For Me And Other Readers/Writers!

Great things happening in the writing/reading world. I’ll be gracious and share the news about the group first: Lenore Wolfe had the wonderful foresight to start a hangout for authors and readers to post about upcoming and ongoing blog hops, book tours, etc. 

The World Literary Cafe is featuring my new release, “Sable” (Dark Sentinels) series book one, all week, starting August 1st! They are really wonderful resources for authors and readers. Please stop by and say “hello.”  Oh, and don’t forget to check out my book tour as well. You’ll find the schedule here.

 

 

Why There’s No Review Today, and What’s Coming Up Tomorrow!

My plan was to have “Michal’s Window” by Rachelle Ayala reviewed and posted today. All I can say is that it’s a book to be savored. You won’t want to rush through to the end because the story thus far is a beautiful, emotionally engaging  journey. If the ending is as good as the story up to this point, this could be my first five star review. I can hardly wait to see!

As for now, please join us as the “Dark Sentinels” book tour for Book One continues tomorrow, day eight. I’ll be continuing the tour at  Patti Roberts’ site!  Just got my new author page at Amazon  a week or so ago. Please drop by and “like” my page if you get a chance, but more importantly, please “like” & “tag”  the “Dark Sentinels” page. The entire tour schedule is posted at my blogger site. Again, hope to see you there 

 

“Dark Sentinels” Book Tour Day Seven

Please join us as the “Dark Sentinels” book tour for Book One continues tomorrow, day seven, and the wonderful Katie Jennings will be my guest! I’ll be doing double duty at my site with Katie, and continuing the tour at  Doris O’Connor’s site!  Just got my new author page at Amazon less than a week ago. Please drop by and “like” my page if you get a chance, but more importantly, please “like” & “tag”  the “Dark Sentinels” page. The entire tour schedule is posted at my blogger site. Again, hope to see you there 

Tomorrow’s Friday With Friends Guest: Interview With Katie Jennings!

Mark your calendars for tomorrow’s Friday With Friends! Katie Jennings is back with an exciting upcoming release, the first in her “Vasser Legacy” series, “When Empires Fall.” Stop by and catch a glimpse of the book trailer

Day Six! “Dark Sentinels” Book Tour

Thank you so much for helping me choose my second “Dark Sentinels” hero’s sir name! It was a unanimous decision – Torin DuMont!

Please join us as the “Dark Sentinels” book tour for Book One continues tomorrow, day six! Come over and see us at Chantel Rhondeau’s site! Just got my new author page at Amazon, too. Please drop by and “like” my page if you get a chance, but more importantly, please “like” & “tag”  the “Dark Sentinels” page. The entire tour schedule is posted at my blogger site. Again, hope to see you there

Vote For the Best Sir-Name For My Sexy Hero – “Dark Sentinels” Book Two

The next “Dark Sentinels” hero’s given name is Torin. Torin is a Sentinel, of course (for more about the Sentinels, click here), lives in a small town along Biscayne Bay in South Florida near the Everglades. He has a degree in biochemistry and works as a forensic specialist with the local sheriff’s department. Please choose one of the names below, and vote for your favorite in comments.

Torin Chambliss

Torin Cordier

Torin Coulson

Torin DuMont