Customer Reviews

Daughter by Spirit

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rivers has written a very convincing and refreshing book on friendship between a man and a woman. Redefining friendship as an intimate and spiritual relationship without sex, Rivers explores this concept with Christian and Maiya. These two characters develop such a strong emotional and spiritual bond between them that is powerful and inspiring. When Rivers throws us a few surprises that disrupts Christian's and Maiya's relationship, we read how Maiya kept the spiritual bond within her and passed it on to her daughter, Angelina.

However, no relationship is a solid one without honesty and trust. Both Angelina and Maiya learns this the hard way when Maiya keeps a secret from Angelina and Angelina discovers the secret. When Angelina knows, it threatens to break down that spiritual bond between her and Maiya, but Christian's spirit carries them through and forges a new and more real relationship between the two.

Rivers has a written an emotional and spiritual story that may truly touch the hearts of many. It is a well written story with believable characters, interesting plot, strong dialogue, and inspiring messages on the power of love and the spirit.

If you want to renew the feelings of love, I highly recommend this novel. Daughter By Spirit touches every fiber and essence of relationships. Mothers to Daughter, Friends, Lovers and even hatred and betrayal. V. Anthony Rivers beautifully illustrates the importance of expressing love and kindness in every aspect of life. The depths of emotions enriches the soul to assist all readers with positive energy. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Anyone who has a heart can't help but be affected by the splendid story V. Anthony Rivers gives us in "Daughter by Spirit." It is a wonderful read and when you finish, you will want to tell the people who mean the most to you have much you love them. V. Anthony Rivers shows his readers in this magnificant story the power of love and most importantly the power of friendship. This is a must read and I guarantee you will not soon forget the message of love and friendship learned in the unbelieveable story. I give V. Anthony two thumbs up!
YOU GO BOY!! MUCH LOVE FROM AUTHOR: DARRIEN LEE

"Dreams of being unconscious, lying next to me a past whose time I try to measure."

With those words began a literary journey I shall never forget. Daughter By Spirit was an extremely touching novel about friendship, betrayal, trust, and self-discovery. It spans sixteen years of Maiya's life. From her beautiful friendship with Christian, a friendship that most people believe is impossible for a man and a woman to have, to the loss of that friendship, and the birth of her daughter Angelina, a daughter who Maiya makes the decision to tell that a man who she has never shared an intimate moment with, is her father. Why? To give her what every child needs, a good father role model. But like all lies and secrets, the truth is revealed with the shining of the sun. However the discovery of truths is not easy for a 16-year-old girl, who discovers that she is not Christian's daughter by blood, but instead, his daughter by spirit.

This book is moving, captivating and is one that readers will feel deep inside of themselves. The articulate way the characters relate to one another will give readers what they have been craving for: a voice from realistic, yet warm, educated African American.

Grab your tissue box for this one, you will not be left unmoved, or untaught. You will also be adding another name to your list of distinguished male authors on the rise once you have witnessed the talent of this new author.

I give this book a 5, for originality, an off da hook cover, and unforgettable characters that will stay with you for a very long time.

Kudos V. Anthony Rivers!

JDaniels/ The Nubian Chronicles

Can a man and a woman have a platonic relationship based on mutual admiration and love? You will have the answer to this question when you finish reading V. Anthony Rivers' Daughter by Spirit. Moving and touching can best describe this novel. The positive and negative elements of love, hope, friendship, jealousy and deceit are plentiful.

Christian and Maiya are both searching for love and someone to share it with. Their paths cross but the timing isn't right. Maiya accepts Christian as her friend and Christian admires Maiya for her fighting spirit. Together they form an emotional bond of friendship that no one can tear apart.

Maiya encounters turmoil in her life and makes an earth shattering decision.
Angelina, Maiya's daughter, is sixteen and has always believed that Christian was her father. Angelina knows Christian through his poetry, articles, letters to her mother and through her mother's own words. What occurs when Angelina finds the truth? Will she continue to feel that spiritual connection to Christian?

This novel offers insight on love and friendship by forcing you to reflect on those that are most important to you. The contexts of Christian's letters to Maiya empower and motivate and are often lyrical in nature. The following is an example of this: "God placed me on a path of consciousness recently that united sincerity with determination and focus."

Daughter By Spirit is quick and absorbing read that may have you discussing what you would have done in Maiya's shoes.

Christian was the type of man every woman seeks: kind, loving, compassionate and sexy as all get out. Maiya knew a good thing when she saw it. Unfortunately, after a bit of a struggle, so did Tanya. Maiya was also too good of a friend to try to take what she knew could never be hers. However, that didn't stop her from raising her daughter to believe that a man that she had never been intimate with was her father. Her intentions were good: what was the point in letting her daughter know what a heinous man her real father was when she had such a sterling example of manhood to use instead. And that is what she did. Angelina grows up strong, confident, certain of her love for a man she has never met. But we all know that lies told in the dark eventually come to light. And the best intentions mean nothing when the person they were meant to protect ends up hurt anyway. When Angelina eventually learns the truth, will she be able to handle it? And will she ever trust her mother again, even though she has not always been so forthright herself?

V. Anthony Rivers writes a story that we don't usually get the pleasure of reading. A story that shows a man who values friendship, love and positive living, without apology. He also shows how we must be careful how we live our lives because you never know how much what you say and do can influence someone else's life. Additionally, he teaches the meaning of true, lasting, heartfelt friendship. I would highly recommend this book to all who want to experience a different type of read from the perspective of a truly sensitive man!

The heroine of Daughter By Spirit is an unwed mother who decides to tell a lie for her child's sake. Her daughter Angelina grows up thinking that Christian, a wonderful and upstanding man is her true father. He's not and when the truth comes out it is the emotional climax of the novel. I really liked this book. The characters are well written. You may agree with Maiya's decision but you understand it. This book is about love, friendship and the power of fatherhood. Check this out today and you'll be glad you did.

Kimberley Wilson, author of 11 Things Mama Should Have Told You About Men

I enjoyed this book so much..... It made me laugh, cry and remember all the beautiful & ugly experiences that I've ever encountered in present & past friendships and relationships. I never wanted to put the book down. Mr. Rivers keeps you in anticipation always. Mr. Rivers, is definitely on his way to the top with all the other big time writer's.

Many Blessings To Come....

After reading the editorial reviews and other readers reviews, I was expecting an intense storyline with a heartwarming ending. Instead, what I got was a story that took way too long to get to the point of the story and mediocre writing. The first few chapters jumped from person to person and started getting a bit confusing. The ending was sappy and everything in between was just o.k. Hopefully his next book will be a lot better.

Wishing doesn't make it so; but no one told Maiya. When Christian
was no longer a physical presence, because of her daughter she
still felt connected.

Christian meets Tanya in a grocery store and they exchange
numbers; the two become a couple, but only on weekends because
that's how Tanya wants it. Maiya, who has led a seemingly
sheltered life, meets Nicholas; Christian's best friend.
On a date with Nicholas, Maiya meets Chirstian but the two do not
hit it off. Then Nicholas does something that Maiya is unable to
handle and as a result, their acquaintance is abruptly severed.

Oddly enough Maiya and Christian now become best friends; Tanya
and Christian get engaged and Nicholas is odd man out. What
follows is an event so tragic it changes everyone's life and
causes Maiya to create a secret she hopes will be perpetual.
But is any secret ever perpetual?

Rivers has penned a story of a passionate man who is atypical
of most male characters found in contemporary fiction novels.
However, as a reader I felt that the characters were one
dimensional and that they were not whole characters, which made
it hard to empathize with them. The climax to the story was
relatively quick, so that by the end of the novel, you don't
feel that high excitement to the conclusion. But, Rivers writes
with a very sensitive voice, one that I will read again. And I
strongly suggest you read this book and form your own assessment
of the story.

Reviewed by aNN Brown