Re'enev (Paperback)

by Mike Maranhas (Author)
Key Phrases: trigger shaft, trip pedal, fern fields, Mount Wili'a'inmea, Mount Kilialioni, Van Gogh (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Luke and Meesha Ferless, college sweethearts now professionals in their thirties, are hiking in a rain forest far from civilization. Their vacation to the idyllic island, Re'enev, is a major step toward rejuvenating what was once a beautiful marriage--a marriage whose decline, due to Luke's betrayal, prompted Meesha to attempt suicide. While hiking, they unknowingly venture into forbidden territory. When they separate briefly in the dense flora, Meesha vanishes.

Tragedy has separated Luke and Meesha once, emotionally; they were beginning to heal. Now it has struck again, this time physically. Luke has to find her; but the elements are against him while his mind, his only ally, can also be an enemy.

Mainstream fiction spiced with mystery, romance and suspence, Re'enev captures both the beauty and fragility of marital love and human life. The story is unique in the way it conjoins an urbane couple with primitive danger, blissful sensuality with unbridled brutality, and a cerebral protagonist with a world that seems to lack reason; then, the conclusion brings unexpected redemption, but with a stunning twist and a lethal caveat. Re'enev is that rare novel that appeals across genders and genres with its intense plot, poetic prose, sharp dialogue, and candid depiction of the human psyche through relationships, crises, perceptions, and emotions--most notably, love and fear.

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: Pink Granite Productions; 1 edition (December 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977780996
• ISBN-13: 978-0977780990
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,784,943 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will appeal to readers who like mainstream fiction, romance and suspense, January 3, 2007

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

They met in college, knew they were in love and got married. They had an idyllic union until Luke's brother died in a senseless accident. He withdraws from his wife Meesha, whose insecurities of abandonment turn her into a shrew. Meesha confronts him about a woman named Sandy at work when he comes home smelling of her scent. He goes off on Meesha, telling her the ugly things he feels about her.

When he awakens in the middle of the night Meesha is not in the bed. He finds her in the cellar bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. They work to save their marriage and Meesha gets therapy and they get therapy as a couple as well. To cement their new beginning they fly to the Pacific island of Re'Enev with the blessing of their counselor. Luke persuades Meesha to explore the jungle with him only tragedy strikes on the isolated trail and she is badly injured. Luke tries to get help but he has difficulties of his own; without a miracle, both will die.

Great characterizations, a fast paced plot, an exotic locale and a touch of intrigue make RE'ENEV a novel that will appeal to readers who like mainstream fiction, romance and suspense. The two protagonists are so realistic that readers know people like them. Luke makes some bad decisions and finding a way out of his dilemmas take all the courage and fortitude he possesses, which is plenty, but may not prove enough.

Harriet Klausner

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finding a Style, May 16, 2007

By	Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Mike Maranhas makes an impressive debut as a writer of romantic fiction and mystery, a book that seems to have at its heart some healthy messages about self perception, about relationships, and about the influence of familial expectations in carving out a personality of one's own. It is an interesting story, paced with a speed that drives the reader to the surprising end, and it demonstrates some very strong characteristics of an emerging fine writer. There are flaws present, inconsistencies in writing style that do not seem to bother those who have reviewed this book, but in writing an honest evaluation of a novel it would not be helpful to the writer to ignore these correctable glitches.

Luke Ferless is the son of a military father, brother of a fearless macho military risk taker (Hunter), and has always lived in the shadow of these powerful male role models. In college he meets and marries the beautiful Meesha and they enjoy the perfect marriage until Hunter's accidental death crushes Luke, his grief isolating him from Meesha who reacts with rather vicious behavior. Luke finds solace in a young girl whose perfume lingers on Luke's neck only to be discovered by Meesha: Meesha attempts suicide and has a near death experience. With therapy the couple decide to vacation on a tropical isle - RE'ENEV - and while the trip begins as a path toward healing, a walk in the jungle results in a tragic accident for Meesha and the couple become separated. Luke is desperate and begins his search for Meesha, knowing that he must find help or his wife will die of blood loss and infection in the jungle. His quiet personality is gradually transformed by his response to his situation and he finds he is capable of all the traits of his dead brother and military driven father: he, too, becomes a savage killer and by novel's end his personal transformation affects his relationship once again.

For this reader the problems with this novel (matters that defer a higher rating) are the incongruities of style. Maranhas has the ability to write poetically, if somewhat too rigidly archaic, and when he is describing nature or thoughts waxing philosophical, he sets a standard for storytelling that promises to be elegant. Then as his characters are introduced he dips into the vernacular, electing to depend on spelling of phrases such as 'Hon, I gotta tell ya...' and 'I hafta work fast' that remove the elegance of language into the pulp expression category. He also elects to create metaphors that are jarring: 'The symptoms snag my eyes faster than would a male Northern Cardinal perched on freshly fallen snow' and 'My organs react like Wall Street traders during a market plunge'. A judicious editor might have discovered the jarring inconsistencies, as for the most part the writing is accomplished and often exemplary.

But given the criticisms, each minor in nature, Maranhas remains a very promising writer, one who will doubtless grow after his first exposure to the reading public. RE'ENEV is a terrific airplane book as it holds attention from beginning to end. If the latter half of the book (the jungle portion) borders on superhero comic book style, the jolt provided at the end of the tale proves that no matter the flaws, this writer has something to say. There is depth of thought in addressing the very human way of approaching life that is as hefty as many of our finest writers today. He is most assuredly a young writer to watch! Grady Harp, May 07

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST BOOK I READ IN 25 YEARS, December 12, 2006

By	abw - See all my reviews

I love a writer with a an excellent command of the English language, tremendous perception and insight to human behavior, and the ability to tell a smoking story. That is why I truly believe this is the best book I've read in twenty-five years