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profromance's review against another edition
5.0
Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Nothing makes me happier and excited than to go back to Rivers Wilde, the fictional home of some of Dylan Allen’s best characters. When you return to Rivers Wilde, there are three guarantees: a compelling story, an epic romance that burns the page, and human truth that challenges your thinking. Each and every time, Allen takes her readers on a journey of a 1000 sighs, tears, and smiles. And her newest book, The Jezebel exemplifies this beautifully.
In looking at The Legacy, The Legend, and The Jezebel, it is impossible to choose a favorite because they each hold a specific character and voice that feels necessary. In true, Allen fashion The Jezebel is special. You might say, “well, why, Professor A?” The answer is quite simple: the female experience through history is underscored and challenged on each page. And this includes all women. This book is a scion for “herstory” in the romance community. In other words, this book is pro-woman. That’s right. The Jezebel is PRO-WOMAN. Why is that important? Because the world outside of romance demeans the existence of romance. They infantilize it to $ex. They don’t recognize the autonomy, authority, and agency of the feminine spirit in romance. They reduce it to actions. In The Jezebel, Allen centers her epic romance in the belief that women’s history must be heard, that the history we’ve been taught reduces women to objects, and that this same history fails to represent the truth of history, filtering the experiences through the specter of maleness. Time and time again, from its title to her story, Allen offers a rallying cry that the beginning of empowering women starts with giving them their due in the historical annals of time. If you read this story and miss this message, then you are missing out on Allen’s temerity as a writer.
Added to this is a romance for the ages. Honestly, Allen’s writing voice is grounded in large, sweeping romances. If you’ve read her books, then you know that the beginning, middle, and end of a romance feels necessary. When you choose to read The Jezebel, you must know that Allen is going to take you on a journey where you will fall deeply in love with her characters. Stone and Regan’s characterizations are done so tastefully and carefully that, as the book ends, you mourn the end of The Jezebel. You simply want more of their story because Allen has allowed you entrance to their beginning, their middle, and the start of their future. As such, you want more of her description, narration, and story-building. As characters, Regan is my favorite (I love Stone for his tenacity. Boy, does this hunk of a man love hard!) because she is the ultimate illustration of Allen’s message about women. One of my favorite stories in my study of American Literature is The Scarlet Letter (a sister story to the story of Jezebel). Hester Prynne is demonized and exiled from society. Yet, she proudly wears that badge even though the consequences are heavy on her, and she must carry it alone when her lover fails to acknowledge his role. Hester Prynne is stalwart, humble, and willing to bear her punishment with grace. In The Jezebel, Regan is a modern-day Hester Prynne. She too is stalwart, humble, and willing to bear her punishment at the expense of her own happiness, and this sacrifice invests you in her character. You want to scream at Regan to push back, but she maintains her sense of self through her challenges. You can’t help but admire the type of woman that Allen has created in The Jezebel even if she hides it behind her carefully-constructed walls.
And with a heroine whose experiences have left her with strong boundaries and the resignation of forgoing her own personal happiness, Allen had to craft a hero such as Stone. Interestingly, Stone is younger than Regan. While this is a reverse age-gap romance, Allen is so careful to create their romance. Nothing feels untoward. Instead, these two feel destined for each other from the beginning. Stone has a resolve and a maturity so early on that it’s believable that these two should end up together. Allen’s care in intertwining Stone and Regan is impressive. Then, she writes Stone as a hero who can stand with her other alpha-heroes: Hayes and Remi. Neither of these two overshadows Stone, which again points to Allen’s ability to construct believable characters.
When I finished Dylan Allen’s The Jezebel, I felt both satiated and hungry. Those seem as odds obviously. I knew that Allen had weaved her magic once again in creating a gripping, sweeping tale of romance in one of my favorite imaginative places, Rivers Wilde, but I was hungry for more of Stone and Regan. I still have so many more questions for their future which I hope her bonus epilogue might slake. Needless to say, Allen’s newest romance feels necessary in the world of romance. The more times we allow women’s voices to be heard and acknowledged, all women, the more we can change attitudes about their treatment in society. We are far from equality; we are far from having a place; and we are far from being protected from patriarchal attitudes that deride the power of women. Allen takes a leap and reminds us that every romance is an opportunity to give women their place, their presence, and their purpose. The Jezebel is a must-read romance.
Nothing makes me happier and excited than to go back to Rivers Wilde, the fictional home of some of Dylan Allen’s best characters. When you return to Rivers Wilde, there are three guarantees: a compelling story, an epic romance that burns the page, and human truth that challenges your thinking. Each and every time, Allen takes her readers on a journey of a 1000 sighs, tears, and smiles. And her newest book, The Jezebel exemplifies this beautifully.
In looking at The Legacy, The Legend, and The Jezebel, it is impossible to choose a favorite because they each hold a specific character and voice that feels necessary. In true, Allen fashion The Jezebel is special. You might say, “well, why, Professor A?” The answer is quite simple: the female experience through history is underscored and challenged on each page. And this includes all women. This book is a scion for “herstory” in the romance community. In other words, this book is pro-woman. That’s right. The Jezebel is PRO-WOMAN. Why is that important? Because the world outside of romance demeans the existence of romance. They infantilize it to $ex. They don’t recognize the autonomy, authority, and agency of the feminine spirit in romance. They reduce it to actions. In The Jezebel, Allen centers her epic romance in the belief that women’s history must be heard, that the history we’ve been taught reduces women to objects, and that this same history fails to represent the truth of history, filtering the experiences through the specter of maleness. Time and time again, from its title to her story, Allen offers a rallying cry that the beginning of empowering women starts with giving them their due in the historical annals of time. If you read this story and miss this message, then you are missing out on Allen’s temerity as a writer.
Added to this is a romance for the ages. Honestly, Allen’s writing voice is grounded in large, sweeping romances. If you’ve read her books, then you know that the beginning, middle, and end of a romance feels necessary. When you choose to read The Jezebel, you must know that Allen is going to take you on a journey where you will fall deeply in love with her characters. Stone and Regan’s characterizations are done so tastefully and carefully that, as the book ends, you mourn the end of The Jezebel. You simply want more of their story because Allen has allowed you entrance to their beginning, their middle, and the start of their future. As such, you want more of her description, narration, and story-building. As characters, Regan is my favorite (I love Stone for his tenacity. Boy, does this hunk of a man love hard!) because she is the ultimate illustration of Allen’s message about women. One of my favorite stories in my study of American Literature is The Scarlet Letter (a sister story to the story of Jezebel). Hester Prynne is demonized and exiled from society. Yet, she proudly wears that badge even though the consequences are heavy on her, and she must carry it alone when her lover fails to acknowledge his role. Hester Prynne is stalwart, humble, and willing to bear her punishment with grace. In The Jezebel, Regan is a modern-day Hester Prynne. She too is stalwart, humble, and willing to bear her punishment at the expense of her own happiness, and this sacrifice invests you in her character. You want to scream at Regan to push back, but she maintains her sense of self through her challenges. You can’t help but admire the type of woman that Allen has created in The Jezebel even if she hides it behind her carefully-constructed walls.
And with a heroine whose experiences have left her with strong boundaries and the resignation of forgoing her own personal happiness, Allen had to craft a hero such as Stone. Interestingly, Stone is younger than Regan. While this is a reverse age-gap romance, Allen is so careful to create their romance. Nothing feels untoward. Instead, these two feel destined for each other from the beginning. Stone has a resolve and a maturity so early on that it’s believable that these two should end up together. Allen’s care in intertwining Stone and Regan is impressive. Then, she writes Stone as a hero who can stand with her other alpha-heroes: Hayes and Remi. Neither of these two overshadows Stone, which again points to Allen’s ability to construct believable characters.
When I finished Dylan Allen’s The Jezebel, I felt both satiated and hungry. Those seem as odds obviously. I knew that Allen had weaved her magic once again in creating a gripping, sweeping tale of romance in one of my favorite imaginative places, Rivers Wilde, but I was hungry for more of Stone and Regan. I still have so many more questions for their future which I hope her bonus epilogue might slake. Needless to say, Allen’s newest romance feels necessary in the world of romance. The more times we allow women’s voices to be heard and acknowledged, all women, the more we can change attitudes about their treatment in society. We are far from equality; we are far from having a place; and we are far from being protected from patriarchal attitudes that deride the power of women. Allen takes a leap and reminds us that every romance is an opportunity to give women their place, their presence, and their purpose. The Jezebel is a must-read romance.
nicandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Another great addition to the Rivers Wilde series!
I’ve spent one day reading The Jezebel and I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed reading Stone and Reagan’s story and I especially fell hard for Stone!!! This story was full of angst and drama but it tore at my heartstrings in the best way. Stone had me captivated from the moment we met him and while Reagan frustrated me at times, I could understand her reasoning.
I have fallen in love with Rivers Wilde and I hope Dylan Allen gives us more in this fantastic series!
I’ve spent one day reading The Jezebel and I couldn’t put it down. I really enjoyed reading Stone and Reagan’s story and I especially fell hard for Stone!!! This story was full of angst and drama but it tore at my heartstrings in the best way. Stone had me captivated from the moment we met him and while Reagan frustrated me at times, I could understand her reasoning.
I have fallen in love with Rivers Wilde and I hope Dylan Allen gives us more in this fantastic series!
bibliophile90's review against another edition
4.0
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
The Jezebel was a very multi-layered contemporary romance. The main characters Regan and Stone are very likable, and share a strong connection that I could really feel coming off the pages. I loved that instead of flashbacks we got to see it all happen in a linear storyline from the moment they met when Stone was just ten years old and Regan eighteen. Regan gave him a place where he could stay safe and be himself, and the friendship that developed was pretty wholesome. However, after an incident Stone, who has developed a crush on Regan, feels betrayed when he sees her with her 'boyfriend' and they don't see each other again for the next seventeen years.
These two are reunited in Mexico and they become intimate. However, Regan who even though has been living separately from her husband for the last five years is still legally married. What happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico is how Regan is feeling about the whole situation at first. However, Stone is already too invested and will do anything in his power to show Regan that they are meant to be together. Honestly, Regan did a good job in trying to control her feelings and make sure her 'perfect' world shown to the outside wouldn't collapse. She has her family and kids to think of, but the heart wants what it wants.
"It's his wonder, his compassion, his conviction, his tenderness. It's the way he wears his heart on his sleeve and the way he listens."
Stone was such a nice, possessive, and drool-worthy boyfriend. He is also very smart and very protective. Regan is a strong and loyal woman, who finally decided to take the step to live the life that she deserves to be living. These two were such a great match and I loved their interaction. It was very poetic and sweet, and it really brought a smile to my face. Stone's determination was very admirable, because Regan sometimes didn't make it easy for him. It was also nice to see what all the characters from the previous books in this series were up to. The relationship of the main characters with their siblings was very complex, but I enjoyed seeing them interacting with each other.
The Wilde and Rivers families are much more interconnected then they could ever imagine, so the added suspense/mystery layer was refreshing. I can't continue without mentioning that the sex scenes were super hot and steamy. I couldn't get enough of them, especially Stone was very eager and talented. Furthermore, the author did a good job in telling Stone and Regan's story and I was glad this book was a bit longer than a normal full-length novel, because it really needed all those extra pages to fully tell it.
The Jezebel was a very multi-layered contemporary romance. The main characters Regan and Stone are very likable, and share a strong connection that I could really feel coming off the pages. I loved that instead of flashbacks we got to see it all happen in a linear storyline from the moment they met when Stone was just ten years old and Regan eighteen. Regan gave him a place where he could stay safe and be himself, and the friendship that developed was pretty wholesome. However, after an incident Stone, who has developed a crush on Regan, feels betrayed when he sees her with her 'boyfriend' and they don't see each other again for the next seventeen years.
These two are reunited in Mexico and they become intimate. However, Regan who even though has been living separately from her husband for the last five years is still legally married. What happens in Mexico, stays in Mexico is how Regan is feeling about the whole situation at first. However, Stone is already too invested and will do anything in his power to show Regan that they are meant to be together. Honestly, Regan did a good job in trying to control her feelings and make sure her 'perfect' world shown to the outside wouldn't collapse. She has her family and kids to think of, but the heart wants what it wants.
"It's his wonder, his compassion, his conviction, his tenderness. It's the way he wears his heart on his sleeve and the way he listens."
Stone was such a nice, possessive, and drool-worthy boyfriend. He is also very smart and very protective. Regan is a strong and loyal woman, who finally decided to take the step to live the life that she deserves to be living. These two were such a great match and I loved their interaction. It was very poetic and sweet, and it really brought a smile to my face. Stone's determination was very admirable, because Regan sometimes didn't make it easy for him. It was also nice to see what all the characters from the previous books in this series were up to. The relationship of the main characters with their siblings was very complex, but I enjoyed seeing them interacting with each other.
The Wilde and Rivers families are much more interconnected then they could ever imagine, so the added suspense/mystery layer was refreshing. I can't continue without mentioning that the sex scenes were super hot and steamy. I couldn't get enough of them, especially Stone was very eager and talented. Furthermore, the author did a good job in telling Stone and Regan's story and I was glad this book was a bit longer than a normal full-length novel, because it really needed all those extra pages to fully tell it.
cnapierkowski's review against another edition
4.0
This one took me a little longer to get into but I'm SO GLAD I hung in there! This series has really sucked me in. :)
ninadonata's review against another edition
5.0
AHH collecting my thoughts after this book is hard. Because it touched me in such a special way.
Dylan composed a story that played like a music. So many epic scenes in this book, wich cought my heart from the first page.
All this words were perfectly choosen to deal with all this serious themes that this Author did in this story.
I was drawn in to the story because of the way the characters gave in to their feelings. Again there was a special energy between hero and heroine that set my heart on fire for them. So many sparkles jumped over on me from the pages.
All those dynamics in one story made it so much more than just a love story.
This intensity in this book took my breath more than one time. The other moments i cried oud loud and then there where moments where i laughed.
Epic characters epic story addicting words made it really hard to put this book down. Seeing rivers wild from Stones and Regans perspective, because they seemed like interesting characters in former books in that series.
Reagan is a strong women who knows how to overcome hard things and she does everything for the persons she loves. She has a lot of energy and love to give. Firce and brave are words to describe her well.
Stone is a young man who is strong and ready to fight for what or who he wants. If he loves you he does anything for you. Family is important to him.
To conclude i'll say that all words i can use to try describing aren't doing justice to this wounderfull story Dylan created here. Drama plus smalltown story, plus love. Yo need this story in your live. This combination is epic and perfect and pure addiction so it gets all the stars from me the magic seven stars.
Dylan composed a story that played like a music. So many epic scenes in this book, wich cought my heart from the first page.
All this words were perfectly choosen to deal with all this serious themes that this Author did in this story.
I was drawn in to the story because of the way the characters gave in to their feelings. Again there was a special energy between hero and heroine that set my heart on fire for them. So many sparkles jumped over on me from the pages.
All those dynamics in one story made it so much more than just a love story.
This intensity in this book took my breath more than one time. The other moments i cried oud loud and then there where moments where i laughed.
Epic characters epic story addicting words made it really hard to put this book down. Seeing rivers wild from Stones and Regans perspective, because they seemed like interesting characters in former books in that series.
Reagan is a strong women who knows how to overcome hard things and she does everything for the persons she loves. She has a lot of energy and love to give. Firce and brave are words to describe her well.
Stone is a young man who is strong and ready to fight for what or who he wants. If he loves you he does anything for you. Family is important to him.
To conclude i'll say that all words i can use to try describing aren't doing justice to this wounderfull story Dylan created here. Drama plus smalltown story, plus love. Yo need this story in your live. This combination is epic and perfect and pure addiction so it gets all the stars from me the magic seven stars.
duntax's review against another edition
4.0
I think this was the best story of the 3 books. I really liked Regan and her background and was pleasantly surprised it stood quite on her own. Stone was the bomb. I want a Stone.
kodom251999's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t tell you how much I loved this book. Regan & Stone came alive and were in brilliant color. I loved how they started. I loved that she told him “I water you, you water me. Together we are gonna grow.” It truly should be the way to live life.
I hated that she had to walk thru so many trials. Regan carries so much guilt from the beginning of her story. We don’t know exactly why, but as the story unfolds it is clear why she does. I don’t believe she should’ve shouldered it all, but from an early age she has been taught it.
Stone is a great character even as a young boy. He felt responsible for his brothers, and was determined to help. He needed someone in his corner, and Regan became that for a short time. I loved that he never let go of the feeling she left in his heart.
Their story is just beautifully written. I want more! I don’t want to leave these characters. I won’t tell you about the ones I hated. You will see who and why I hated them. I fell in love with this author’s words, and the pictures she painted of Regan and Stone. This story took many twists and turns. You don’t want to miss it!
I hated that she had to walk thru so many trials. Regan carries so much guilt from the beginning of her story. We don’t know exactly why, but as the story unfolds it is clear why she does. I don’t believe she should’ve shouldered it all, but from an early age she has been taught it.
Stone is a great character even as a young boy. He felt responsible for his brothers, and was determined to help. He needed someone in his corner, and Regan became that for a short time. I loved that he never let go of the feeling she left in his heart.
Their story is just beautifully written. I want more! I don’t want to leave these characters. I won’t tell you about the ones I hated. You will see who and why I hated them. I fell in love with this author’s words, and the pictures she painted of Regan and Stone. This story took many twists and turns. You don’t want to miss it!
karenka's review against another edition
3.0
I think it was such a good story with strong characters and a reverse age-gap!!!!!….. but it was way too long!!! The audiobook was 15-hours long!!!!
Regan was a strong female lead and although Stone was a great guy, I didn’t like that he was too raw when talking about sex or desire, it felt out of character
Regan was a strong female lead and although Stone was a great guy, I didn’t like that he was too raw when talking about sex or desire, it felt out of character