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REVIVE
As the wife of Atlanta’s powerful mayor, Samira Sanders seems to have it all. Wealth. Prestige. A picture-perfect life. But when her beloved grandmother passes away, she’s forced to return to the last place she ever Thornville, Mississippi. The small, rural town where her love story with Emrys Davis began and ended in turbulent heartbreak.
When they both receive a letter from her late grandmother to fulfill a final request, they are reunited once again. It's been eight long years. And Emrys is nothing like the young man she remembered. Now forced to confront the past tainted by painful memories, buried secrets, and deep betrayal, Samira must Can they both honor her grandmother’s legacy and rebuild what they lost? Or are some wounds too deep to heal?
When they both receive a letter from her late grandmother to fulfill a final request, they are reunited once again. It's been eight long years. And Emrys is nothing like the young man she remembered. Now forced to confront the past tainted by painful memories, buried secrets, and deep betrayal, Samira must Can they both honor her grandmother’s legacy and rebuild what they lost? Or are some wounds too deep to heal?
492 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2025
34 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Taisha S. Ryan
17 books81 followersTaisha Ryan is a writer and artist from New York. Writing has been her passion since the age of 12, allowing her to express her wild imagination through words. Taisha has written short stories, novels, poems, songs, and screenplays. In March 2014, she published her debut novel, Cuffed. And since then, has published three additional novels. She would describe her stories as raw, creatively uninhibited, and true to life. Words are power. And her intent is to take readers on an emotional journey as they experience the world through her mind's eye, while also providing them with a sense of purpose with each word that drips from the page. And with her gift, she believes she can do just that.
Look out for more of her projects in the future!
Look out for more of her projects in the future!
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 14, 2025
“What’s meant for you will find you”. Second chances are always hard to read because it’s about confronting the past in order to build a future. Samira and Emrys would have always ended up together they were soulmates. I feel like their love story was realistic.
February 20, 2025
Revive was a full-length novel that read like a movie playing out on the page. It was emotionally driven, angsty, and thought-provoking. Taisha was able to evoke a plethora of emotions in me. I went from being frustrated, to cheesing like a Cheshire cat, to anxious to see things play out. And listen, around the halfway mark I was having a full-on panic attack, lol! The characters were stressing me out!
The story begins when Samira is getting married. Her nerves are shot, and she feels she is making a mistake, but she follows through with the ceremony. All I could think of was “runaway bride” because that’s exactly what Samira did, and I was beyond intrigued to learn about her backstory. When Samira leaves dramatically, she lands at the home of her ex-fiancé Emyrs home, it is not a welcoming experience. Emrys is a country boy to the core, the complete opposite of what the daughter of a Mayor would even entertain. He was a hard worker, humble, and a complex person - and just what Samira needed.
What I loved about this story was the full picture of Samira and Emyrs’ relationship. It was very detailed and an emotional rollercoaster ride. It’s like getting on a ride and slowly reaching the peak - anticipating the downfall and then reaching the peak until you reach the end. I couldn’t see the picture ending without a happy ending, but I was getting worried because both characters had their share of problems. I also loved how the story flowed; it flipped between the past and present tense. It was teasing and full of secrets. And when the big reveal came out, I was shocked because I didn’t see it coming. The character development and plot were strong and compelling. There are a few topics that can be sensitive, but I urge readers to have an open mind.
This is a book for those who enjoy second-chance romance, opposites attract, small-town romance, and flawed characters. It was worth every emotion.
*arc review
The story begins when Samira is getting married. Her nerves are shot, and she feels she is making a mistake, but she follows through with the ceremony. All I could think of was “runaway bride” because that’s exactly what Samira did, and I was beyond intrigued to learn about her backstory. When Samira leaves dramatically, she lands at the home of her ex-fiancé Emyrs home, it is not a welcoming experience. Emrys is a country boy to the core, the complete opposite of what the daughter of a Mayor would even entertain. He was a hard worker, humble, and a complex person - and just what Samira needed.
What I loved about this story was the full picture of Samira and Emyrs’ relationship. It was very detailed and an emotional rollercoaster ride. It’s like getting on a ride and slowly reaching the peak - anticipating the downfall and then reaching the peak until you reach the end. I couldn’t see the picture ending without a happy ending, but I was getting worried because both characters had their share of problems. I also loved how the story flowed; it flipped between the past and present tense. It was teasing and full of secrets. And when the big reveal came out, I was shocked because I didn’t see it coming. The character development and plot were strong and compelling. There are a few topics that can be sensitive, but I urge readers to have an open mind.
This is a book for those who enjoy second-chance romance, opposites attract, small-town romance, and flawed characters. It was worth every emotion.
*arc review
March 3, 2025
ABSOLUTELY A MUST READ!
This book was my top read of All time. The author wrote the heck outta this book. My emotions were all over the place. Hands down a great read!
This book was my top read of All time. The author wrote the heck outta this book. My emotions were all over the place. Hands down a great read!
October 13, 2025
4.5 ⭐️s I loved reading about Samira and Emrys’ second chance story. This is one of my favorite tropes.
Samira Taylor is a spoiled and entitled 21 year old who is sent to live with her grandmother in Mississippi to figure out her life after a scandal rocks her political family. She meets 22 year old Emrys Davis, her grandmother’s neighbor, and he becomes pivotal in her finding herself and finding true love. Emrys has his own unhealed demons that make him very guarded, but Samira’s love gives him a safe place to land. Their love is unbreakable… until it isn’t. They eventually go their separate ways and marry other people. Years later, Samira’s grandmother plots to bring them back together from the grave. They are forced to confront deep wounds, hurt, anger, resentment, bitterness, betrayal, lies, abandonment, and a love that refuses to release them. In the end, making the choice to heal and forgive leads them down a path to beautiful blessings that were being blocked by holding onto past hurt and anger.
Here are some of my favorite things about this book:
❤️ Samira and Emrys’ relationship.
❤️ Healed and sober Emrys.
❤️ Granny. She was full of wisdom, yummy peach cobbler, and memories. But I loved her no filter moments the best.
❤️ The cottage down by the bayou.
❤️ The Memorial Day BBQ.
❤️ Frank Ocean’s performance at the Bliss Festival.😏 IYKYK
❤️ Kenya and Leanne’s friendship with Samira.
❤️ Samira’s growth.
My least favorite things about this book:
❌ Landon.
❌ The Taylor Family (Douglass, Katherine, and Nadira) prior to the third act.
❌ The author’s overuse of incorrect words (for example, she kept using the word glare when she really means to use the word stare; or using the word swing when she means to use the word swig when referring to a drink).
The author’s incessant use of incorrect words are the reason for me shaving off half a star. There were other incorrect word usage besides the two I mentioned above and this caused disruption in the flow of reading for me. I had to keep figuring out what the intended correct word should be for the sentence to make sense.
Overall, I loved this story and would re-read this book again.
Samira Taylor is a spoiled and entitled 21 year old who is sent to live with her grandmother in Mississippi to figure out her life after a scandal rocks her political family. She meets 22 year old Emrys Davis, her grandmother’s neighbor, and he becomes pivotal in her finding herself and finding true love. Emrys has his own unhealed demons that make him very guarded, but Samira’s love gives him a safe place to land. Their love is unbreakable… until it isn’t. They eventually go their separate ways and marry other people. Years later, Samira’s grandmother plots to bring them back together from the grave. They are forced to confront deep wounds, hurt, anger, resentment, bitterness, betrayal, lies, abandonment, and a love that refuses to release them. In the end, making the choice to heal and forgive leads them down a path to beautiful blessings that were being blocked by holding onto past hurt and anger.
Here are some of my favorite things about this book:
❤️ Samira and Emrys’ relationship.
❤️ Healed and sober Emrys.
❤️ Granny. She was full of wisdom, yummy peach cobbler, and memories. But I loved her no filter moments the best.
❤️ The cottage down by the bayou.
❤️ The Memorial Day BBQ.
❤️ Frank Ocean’s performance at the Bliss Festival.😏 IYKYK
❤️ Kenya and Leanne’s friendship with Samira.
❤️ Samira’s growth.
My least favorite things about this book:
❌ Landon.
❌ The Taylor Family (Douglass, Katherine, and Nadira) prior to the third act.
❌ The author’s overuse of incorrect words (for example, she kept using the word glare when she really means to use the word stare; or using the word swing when she means to use the word swig when referring to a drink).
The author’s incessant use of incorrect words are the reason for me shaving off half a star. There were other incorrect word usage besides the two I mentioned above and this caused disruption in the flow of reading for me. I had to keep figuring out what the intended correct word should be for the sentence to make sense.
Overall, I loved this story and would re-read this book again.
April 16, 2025
DNF’d 80% in. I usually don’t write reviews especially on books I didn’t finish but I got far enough in this book to form an opinion.
Firstly, this book is very entertaining. The main characters have good chemistry and the plot is interesting and pulled me in. However, there was too much going on in some parts whereas other parts fell flat.
The good: the flashback scenes to the start of their relationship - a cute, small town love with a rich girl falling for a poor boy. Emrys seemed like a good guy and treated Samira well. I liked reading about their young love.
The bad: (TW physical violence by MMC) Their break-up didn’t make sense! We know Landon is a bad guy early on - but only in the present. His role in the flashbacks was not well defined until he comes out to be a super villain obsessed with Samira. I think this could have been fleshed out earlier in the flashbacks. He only shows up twice in the flashbacks and reveals that he was stalking Samira and was going to set up Emrys… and Samira just goes through with it? PLEASE! She was pregnant and engaged and I understand she didn’t want Emrys to go to jail but it would have made more sense to run away with Emrys than to get an abortion and break his heart. She should have told her father at least. I understand he had is scandal but c’mon! She gave in to easily… and then let Emrys constantly verbally berate her even though she knew she had a reason for breaking up with him.
This brings me to Marsha, Emyrs’ wife. She did nothing bad! I do not like cheating in 2nd chance romance when the ones getting cheated it on were not bad people (now I didn’t finish but at 80% in there was nothing that showed why Marsha would deserve what Emrys did to her). The reason I DNF’d was because Emrys became physically violent with Marsha. I had to stop there! Emrys was also forceful with Samira. He was a terrible man. I get Samira hurt him but that was no excuse for him to grab her or be violent towards Marsha. He was irredeemable at that point so I had to stop reading.
Firstly, this book is very entertaining. The main characters have good chemistry and the plot is interesting and pulled me in. However, there was too much going on in some parts whereas other parts fell flat.
The good: the flashback scenes to the start of their relationship - a cute, small town love with a rich girl falling for a poor boy. Emrys seemed like a good guy and treated Samira well. I liked reading about their young love.
The bad: (TW physical violence by MMC) Their break-up didn’t make sense! We know Landon is a bad guy early on - but only in the present. His role in the flashbacks was not well defined until he comes out to be a super villain obsessed with Samira. I think this could have been fleshed out earlier in the flashbacks. He only shows up twice in the flashbacks and reveals that he was stalking Samira and was going to set up Emrys… and Samira just goes through with it? PLEASE! She was pregnant and engaged and I understand she didn’t want Emrys to go to jail but it would have made more sense to run away with Emrys than to get an abortion and break his heart. She should have told her father at least. I understand he had is scandal but c’mon! She gave in to easily… and then let Emrys constantly verbally berate her even though she knew she had a reason for breaking up with him.
This brings me to Marsha, Emyrs’ wife. She did nothing bad! I do not like cheating in 2nd chance romance when the ones getting cheated it on were not bad people (now I didn’t finish but at 80% in there was nothing that showed why Marsha would deserve what Emrys did to her). The reason I DNF’d was because Emrys became physically violent with Marsha. I had to stop there! Emrys was also forceful with Samira. He was a terrible man. I get Samira hurt him but that was no excuse for him to grab her or be violent towards Marsha. He was irredeemable at that point so I had to stop reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2025
WOW! This book was AMAZING!
This book was so AMAZING! I love when a book takes us through all the growing pains of characters. This was just a good STORY. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning reading it.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is because I would have liked to see more of their current relationship develop and there were things about the older Emrys that didn’t match up with who he was as a younger man. I understand he was broken but I just had a hard time believing he would do some of the things older Emrys did. Other than that this was a GREAT read!
This book was so AMAZING! I love when a book takes us through all the growing pains of characters. This was just a good STORY. I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning reading it.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5 is because I would have liked to see more of their current relationship develop and there were things about the older Emrys that didn’t match up with who he was as a younger man. I understand he was broken but I just had a hard time believing he would do some of the things older Emrys did. Other than that this was a GREAT read!
March 27, 2025
Wow! This book was so beautiful. Honestly, I can see this book becoming a movie or short film. As I was reading, it felt like I was reading a movie? If that makes sense lol. I love the flashbacks to the past and present of samira and emyrys story.
The slow burn of it all was chefs kiss!! And I’m not just talking in the romance aspect. This author really knows how to build a story and weaving in intricate details so that when you do get to the climax it’s like “wow!”. I loved everything about this story. Taisha Ryan did that!
The slow burn of it all was chefs kiss!! And I’m not just talking in the romance aspect. This author really knows how to build a story and weaving in intricate details so that when you do get to the climax it’s like “wow!”. I loved everything about this story. Taisha Ryan did that!
April 15, 2025
Amazing Love Story
This is probably one of the best love stories I’ve read. So descriptive. So raw and full of emotions. A literal piece of art displaying a forbidden love between two people who no matter what, never gave up on their love. I enjoyed reading it so much! I know the author said it was a slow burn, but for me, it was so perfect. I love how it jumped from past to present and I just fell so in love with Samira & Emrys. Soooooo happy they got their happy ending!!
This is probably one of the best love stories I’ve read. So descriptive. So raw and full of emotions. A literal piece of art displaying a forbidden love between two people who no matter what, never gave up on their love. I enjoyed reading it so much! I know the author said it was a slow burn, but for me, it was so perfect. I love how it jumped from past to present and I just fell so in love with Samira & Emrys. Soooooo happy they got their happy ending!!
August 17, 2025
I think this was well-written with a realistic plot. The pace was good, flashbacks were cohesive, and the conflict was appropriate. However, the tension was way too thick until about 90%, for their reconciliation to be so abrupt . Emrys and Samira's story needed a second book for the rebuilding of their relationship.
February 23, 2025
Babyy this is what you call a book! It was a slow burn but it was needed to tell the story. I could not put this book down and devoured it in two days. This book definitely put me in my feelings and I felt every emotion from Emrys and Samira dripping from the pages. A must read!
March 14, 2025
Amazing love story!!
Beautifully written love story!! I went through every emotion!! Character development was top tier and the storyline captured my attention from beginning to end!Ms. Ryan… well done!!
Beautifully written love story!! I went through every emotion!! Character development was top tier and the storyline captured my attention from beginning to end!Ms. Ryan… well done!!
January 1, 2026
10/10 !!! AMAZING
This book was so beautiful, the story telling, the depth to the characters. My favorite read of 2025! I look forward to reading more of Taisha’s work! What an incredible writer!!!
This book was so beautiful, the story telling, the depth to the characters. My favorite read of 2025! I look forward to reading more of Taisha’s work! What an incredible writer!!!
February 23, 2025
as always I loved it
This book was amazing. I loved it. I am not a second chance girly but mannn this was well done.
This book was amazing. I loved it. I am not a second chance girly but mannn this was well done.
May 31, 2025
AMAZING!!!! This book had me hooked from beginning to end. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews