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Soul Survivors Series #1
Seminole Song
When Panther, War Chief of a small Seminole Indian band, attempts to rescue a fellow tribe member from a Floridian plantation, he is captured by the owner, Reddin.
Knowing Reddin will likely kill Panther, Caldia, a half-black slave, secretly frees him.
Reddin decides to make Caldia pay—in his bedroom, but his wife discovers them. Enraged, Reddin murders his wife, makes it look like a Seminole Indian is to blame, and calls in the Military.
Caldia escapes and is deep in the Everglades trying to survive when Panther finds her. With enemies closing in on all sides, the pair face an even greater danger: the forbidden love growing between them.
REVIEWS:
"Munn brings into sharp relief the hesitant attempt of slaves and Indians to bridge vastly different cultures and experiences in order to find love and freedom." ~Publishers Weekly
"An entertaining, fast-moving, fascinating, and well-researched work of historical fiction." ~Affaire de Coeur
THE SOUL SURVIVORS SERIES, in series order
Seminole Song
Spirit of the Eagle
Wind Warrior
The River's Daughter
ABOUT VELLA MUNN:
Vella Munn is a third generation writer who has always felt the need to write. Vella's earliest creation was a comic book staring the Lone Ranger's horse, Silver. Then Vella fell in love with America's first people, the American Indian, and committed herself to bring their stories to life amid the pages of historic romance novels.
Knowing Reddin will likely kill Panther, Caldia, a half-black slave, secretly frees him.
Reddin decides to make Caldia pay—in his bedroom, but his wife discovers them. Enraged, Reddin murders his wife, makes it look like a Seminole Indian is to blame, and calls in the Military.
Caldia escapes and is deep in the Everglades trying to survive when Panther finds her. With enemies closing in on all sides, the pair face an even greater danger: the forbidden love growing between them.
REVIEWS:
"Munn brings into sharp relief the hesitant attempt of slaves and Indians to bridge vastly different cultures and experiences in order to find love and freedom." ~Publishers Weekly
"An entertaining, fast-moving, fascinating, and well-researched work of historical fiction." ~Affaire de Coeur
THE SOUL SURVIVORS SERIES, in series order
Seminole Song
Spirit of the Eagle
Wind Warrior
The River's Daughter
ABOUT VELLA MUNN:
Vella Munn is a third generation writer who has always felt the need to write. Vella's earliest creation was a comic book staring the Lone Ranger's horse, Silver. Then Vella fell in love with America's first people, the American Indian, and committed herself to bring their stories to life amid the pages of historic romance novels.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
43 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
About the author
Vella Munn
81 books79 followersI had to edit my biography, changing my status from married to widow. Since I'm often asked how I'm doing, I'll put the answer here. For the most part I'm doing all right thanks to loving family and understanding friends.
I have two sons and four grandchildren. Two rescue dogs allow me to hug, walk, and feed them. In exchange they give me unconditional love and the occasional need for the carpet shampooer.
As the product of a rural upbringing, the wilderness, particularly mountains and evergreens are in my blood. I live in a small southern Oregon town which boasts four distinct seasons, an awesome river, and the ocean within a short drive. Ditto with Crater Lake.
Setting plays a big role in most of my writing as witness by two recent contemporary romance series set in Montana's awesome mountains.
Also writes as Dawn Flindt and Heather Williams.
I have two sons and four grandchildren. Two rescue dogs allow me to hug, walk, and feed them. In exchange they give me unconditional love and the occasional need for the carpet shampooer.
As the product of a rural upbringing, the wilderness, particularly mountains and evergreens are in my blood. I live in a small southern Oregon town which boasts four distinct seasons, an awesome river, and the ocean within a short drive. Ditto with Crater Lake.
Setting plays a big role in most of my writing as witness by two recent contemporary romance series set in Montana's awesome mountains.
Also writes as Dawn Flindt and Heather Williams.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 30, 2015
THE CAPITULATION OF THE SEMINOLE NATION
I was so moved reading this story, but I had to stop and go and read a little bit of actual history of the war of the Seminoles and President Andrew Jackson, and then it became emotional and real. This isn’t just a story; this is historical events, a reality of how Negroes and Indians were demeaned and considered no better than an animal. How white slave owners used and abused their Negro slaves. The characters are well described, and the environment of where they lived and how they had to survive. Although this story takes historical events, the author has taken liberties to create a story of survival, hardships, and love. Calida is a runaway slave being pursued by a possessed master, Reddin Croon. His obsession with her is never ending. From the time she saves Panther, leader of the Egret clan, they forge a bond. The plot kept me captivated, and I was engrossed into this story, the dialog is raw, open, and honest. Readers must take in the period of 1820-1830s and the language used is crude but in context. The cast of characters all bring life to this fascinating tale of the Seminoles, Slavery, and the United States government. Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book from eBook Discovery Read & Review Club in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and ratings are my own.
I was so moved reading this story, but I had to stop and go and read a little bit of actual history of the war of the Seminoles and President Andrew Jackson, and then it became emotional and real. This isn’t just a story; this is historical events, a reality of how Negroes and Indians were demeaned and considered no better than an animal. How white slave owners used and abused their Negro slaves. The characters are well described, and the environment of where they lived and how they had to survive. Although this story takes historical events, the author has taken liberties to create a story of survival, hardships, and love. Calida is a runaway slave being pursued by a possessed master, Reddin Croon. His obsession with her is never ending. From the time she saves Panther, leader of the Egret clan, they forge a bond. The plot kept me captivated, and I was engrossed into this story, the dialog is raw, open, and honest. Readers must take in the period of 1820-1830s and the language used is crude but in context. The cast of characters all bring life to this fascinating tale of the Seminoles, Slavery, and the United States government. Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book from eBook Discovery Read & Review Club in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions, and ratings are my own.
August 6, 2016
I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for my honest review. This is my first time reading anything by this author, and native american historical romance is one of my favorite reading genres. I was very impressed by Ms. Munn's research and the historical facts included in this book, but I was disappointed in the romance between Panther and Calida. It was easy to connect with the hero, Panther, but at times the heroine Calida frustrated me with her impulsive and emotional actions that often endangered Panther's life. I greatly enjoyed reading about the secondary characters of Gaitor and Winter Rain. The Seminole Tribe of Florida and escaped slaves had an alliance that benefited both groups and makes for compelling reading, both fictional and non-fictional. I feel this book is worth at least one read, but romance lovers may find the romance lacking.
May 14, 2013
The story just drags on and on and on. The author makes it very clear, repetitively, that although the heroine is black, she's only a tiny, eensey-weensey bit so. This is the key to her beauty. All of the men want her, okay? Big no-no and huge turn-off.
Finally, the villains are way over the top in their villainy and craziness.
I actually returned this kindle item for a full refund. Avoid.
Finally, the villains are way over the top in their villainy and craziness.
I actually returned this kindle item for a full refund. Avoid.
December 8, 2015
Hard to read because I got so emotional and involved. I stayed up late to finish it. Panther and Calida owned my heart. I was also rooting for Gaitor and Winter Rain. From the start, Calida rescues Panther, who was helping to rescue Gaitor. The women are as strong as the men. They make sacrifices and step up when needed. The intricacies of the situation of the Seminoles and the slaves that they helped against the army that lied and had so much pressure to recapture the slaves and force the Seminoles to run, die, or the reservation.
It's the true hopelessness of the situation and how real it represented that had me in tears about halfway through the story. I could truly identify and experience a bit of what it might have been like. No easy choices and a way of life threatened.
Calida had an opportunity to be free at a high cost after witnessing a crime. This led to her being chased and Panther making some tough decisions. The description of the time and place was vivid and aided in the storytelling. Absorbing. There were some things that were a bit of a cliche, but the characters, the dialog, the events made up for any minor flaw.
Even the ending fit the story. This is story of warriors, never giving up, and love. Love for the mothers, a people, friends, as well romantic love. Intense.
The love story between Calida and Panther grew slowly along with the story. No insta-love here. They rescued each other. And Calida's secret is shared. The bond between them seems unbreakable, though threatened by the army and Reddin. Everything works: the love story, love between mother and child, the Seminoles and their struggles, the 'freed' slaves, and the evil Reddin.
I was not familiar with the author and would not have found or read this if not for the review club. I am so grateful that I chose it. I cried for the first time as I got to get a small bit of understanding of what it was like for the Seminoles and slaves at that specific time in American history. It felt up close and personal, instead of some distant time and a past event.
Note: I received a review copy for free in exchange for an honest review by the eBook Discovery Read and Review Club.
It's the true hopelessness of the situation and how real it represented that had me in tears about halfway through the story. I could truly identify and experience a bit of what it might have been like. No easy choices and a way of life threatened.
Calida had an opportunity to be free at a high cost after witnessing a crime. This led to her being chased and Panther making some tough decisions. The description of the time and place was vivid and aided in the storytelling. Absorbing. There were some things that were a bit of a cliche, but the characters, the dialog, the events made up for any minor flaw.
Even the ending fit the story. This is story of warriors, never giving up, and love. Love for the mothers, a people, friends, as well romantic love. Intense.
The love story between Calida and Panther grew slowly along with the story. No insta-love here. They rescued each other. And Calida's secret is shared. The bond between them seems unbreakable, though threatened by the army and Reddin. Everything works: the love story, love between mother and child, the Seminoles and their struggles, the 'freed' slaves, and the evil Reddin.
I was not familiar with the author and would not have found or read this if not for the review club. I am so grateful that I chose it. I cried for the first time as I got to get a small bit of understanding of what it was like for the Seminoles and slaves at that specific time in American history. It felt up close and personal, instead of some distant time and a past event.
Note: I received a review copy for free in exchange for an honest review by the eBook Discovery Read and Review Club.
June 14, 2015
Wonderful look at a dark and troubling time in our history.
January 15, 2017
Excellent Book!
Loved, loved, loved reading this book! I've always known that the Seminole action took in runaway slaves but this book really brought the history to life. The characters were wonderfully deep, which is exactly what was needed to tell this part of American history.
Loved, loved, loved reading this book! I've always known that the Seminole action took in runaway slaves but this book really brought the history to life. The characters were wonderfully deep, which is exactly what was needed to tell this part of American history.
May 5, 2013
I read this as an audio book. I found the book to be too long. I might have liked it better if I'd actually read it. It is a historic love story about a female slave running from her master who had planned to kill her since she was the only witness to his crime. She runs to a Seminole that she had freed earlier. She is more or less welcomed into the clan, and the two of them eventually fall in love all while trying to complete a peace treaty.
April 29, 2018
Amid rising tensions in 1830's Florida, The Seminole Indians retreat into the swamps of the Everglades rather than be sent to reservations. They are joined there by slaves fleeing cruel plantation owners. One such slave is Calida, who once saved the life of the war chief Panther, and who witnessed her master murder his wife. Soon, Panther and Calida are deeply in love--with enemies closing in on both sides.
I have always been interested in how the Seminoles survived as a people by going deep into the Everglades. This book brought that history to life with Panther and Calida. Enjoyable read and some romance on the side.
I have always been interested in how the Seminoles survived as a people by going deep into the Everglades. This book brought that history to life with Panther and Calida. Enjoyable read and some romance on the side.
May 30, 2017
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I could not put it down. It is based on real events and real people with a romance weaved into it. I plan to purchase and read the other books in this series. It was a joy to read. Very well written. The way the Seminoles as well as other Native Americans were treated was awful. The treatment and keeping of slaves was also an awful part of our history.
November 21, 2022
I finished Seminole Song by Vella Munn and loved it, but was saddened by it. It is a well-written story love story built around the decline of the Seminole Indians (due to progress, back then 🥺). Since it was not published as a romance, I didn't know if it would have a happily-ever-after type ending. I loved that it kept me guessing to the last page.
January 15, 2025
Check out my review: https://twojadedminds.wordpress.com/2...
June 24, 2021
The writing style is really excellent.
September 7, 2016
Jesus I remember getting this ages ago, probably at 16 or 17, when I found it at a garage sale my mom dragged me to. I snuck it in a pile of shirts and a few Lisa Frank folders, slipped the lady fifty cent on the slick (she winked) and stuck it hastly in my purse so my mom wouldn't see it. I didn't actually get around to reading it till I was about 23.
Lord. This is garbage.
Other than saying it's literally an excuse for a white woman to type nigger a billion times and pass it off as an African American character falling for a Native American guy, it was really just...well, a white woman who wanted to type nigger a billion times and pretend her heroine was an African American but was really mostly white and that's why she was so goddamn pretty.
Nigga please.
Don't read this. Don't buy it for 50 cent. And don't forget to toss it so years later your mom doesn't find it and questions your morals and sanity.
Lord. This is garbage.
Other than saying it's literally an excuse for a white woman to type nigger a billion times and pass it off as an African American character falling for a Native American guy, it was really just...well, a white woman who wanted to type nigger a billion times and pretend her heroine was an African American but was really mostly white and that's why she was so goddamn pretty.
Nigga please.
Don't read this. Don't buy it for 50 cent. And don't forget to toss it so years later your mom doesn't find it and questions your morals and sanity.
August 24, 2016
3 Stars
An easy read. A good plot and story line. Callida seemed to get over everything but guilt to quickly to be believable. There is not much emotional development. Callida seems to not feel anything in some places. I loved the realistic descriptions of the swamp and the animals found within the Everglades.
An easy read. A good plot and story line. Callida seemed to get over everything but guilt to quickly to be believable. There is not much emotional development. Callida seems to not feel anything in some places. I loved the realistic descriptions of the swamp and the animals found within the Everglades.
August 24, 2016
Historical fiction about the Seminoles of Florida who find that the government's promises are false, and refuse to join the thousands of other native Americans who follow the sad trail westward.
April 24, 2017
I`m a sucker for a historic Florida setting. Great easy read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews