Reviving Kendall

White Trash Trilogy, Book 1

By: Brandy Slaven

Narrated by: Riley Raye

Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Growing up, I've always lived on the wrong side of the tracks. I'm used to the stares, name calling, and disrespect. A tragic accident that leaves me short three of the only people I've ever loved has me devastated enough to try to end my own life. Just when I think there's no hope, I find a reason to live again, or four of them as a matter of fact. Lucas, Maverick, Teagan, and Goose.

But what happens when those bonds are tested? I'm not so sure that I'm strong enough to take yet another blow to the heart. My name is Kendall Davis, and what if my story doesn't have a happy ending?

This is the first book in a contemporary reverse harem trilogy. Recommended for listeners 17 years old and older due to mature language and situations.

©2018 Brandy Slaven (P)2018 Brandy Slaven

This book is perfection

I'm so in love with this series that I have no words to describe it! Brandy Slaven is one of my favorite writers right now!

Love it

This is one of my favorite books. I was so excited to be able to listen to it on audible. I love Kendall and her guys. I wish there could be different people for each guy but I realize that’s hard to do. I still loved it though

great series starter

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I received this book from a friend.

SHUT UP!! #WhyChoose is why I LOVE RH!!! My friend Mary was all “DUDE you need these books in your life” and then she gifted them to me. HOLY HELLS BELLS!!! I sat and read 50% before I knew it. Kendall is so awesome and feisty and yet so broken and damaged. The guys IE Mav, Teagan, Goose/Grant and Lucas made my heart just beat so fast and so hard for each of them. Each guy is so different but such a needed part to make Kendall whole again.

Kendall is the only girl who has the strength and NERVE to take on these 4 different guys. “The Quad”, as she calls them, are sweet and hard headed but so in love with our girl. They are so confused and yet they can’t wait to try and make her theirs separately and as a group.
Kendall has had so much hardship losing her parents, her nana, her dying grandpa and her VanPelt brothers AKA her boyfriends. She is just living and dealing with a jealous rival named Derrick. Kendall has no idea why he hates her yet he won’t leave her alone.

The Quad comes to her restaurant and she is none to pleased at their come on so gives them the business!! She may live in a trailer park and everyone might THINK she is less than, but she lives by a certain code of honor.

As the story unfolds, we see the guys showing up and helping her out but individually stealing kisses and moments. When a fun trip to the mountains turns sour, Kendall turns her back and runs. When her crappy life gets eve worse, she is shut off to the world until her guys come back and refuse to leave her.

When the 5 decide to give things a try, we can see the stress of the unknown disappear. When the decide to openly claim each other as THEIRS, we can see the group becoming closer and tighter. I can’t wait to read the net book and have it downloaded to start right away!!!

Such power and beauty in this story

Wonderful narration. Riley Raye captures Kendall exactly as I pictured her in my mind.

Kendall knows who she is, knows her place in the world. She's the daughter of convicted drug users. She lived in a trailer park. She knows the world sees her as white trash. That opinion does not bother her. For a period of time, she was happy. Her Grandparents were raising her, she had three best friends, her boyfriends, Brian, Will, and Casey. Her Grandmother died, then tragedy destroyed her world when she lost all three of her boyfriends in a car crash. Since then Kendal has gone to school, gone to work, cared for her Grandfather who is now dying, and suffered at the hands of a school bully. None of it matters. She wanted to die with her guys. Her life might as well be over. She tried to end it, unsuccessfully. There is no future for her. Then one night at work she catches the attention of four local golden boys, best friends, private school football stars, Lucas, Maverick, Teagan, and Goose. Kendall is not interested. Her heart is closed. She will never allow anyone in again. When you love, you can lose. She can't lose anything else. But the guys slowly work their way into her life, her heart. Teagan also has a younger sister that becomes a true girlfriend to Kendall, something that she's never had. Just as Kendall starts to live again, the guys prove her right. She knew that she shouldn't get involved with them. They are rich, she's from the wrong side of the tracks. It's fun to go slumming but getting hurt again may be more than Kendall can survive. There's only so much one person can lose.

What a book! There's such power and beauty in this story. Accompanying someone on their journey as they hit the bottom and barely keep it together and then rebuild a life is a rare privilege when written this well. Pain, heartbreak, heartache, loss, the struggle to make it through another day after your world has been shattered, hopelessness. Brandy Slaven has written a book that captures the raw emotions of Kendall. It was heavy and heartwrenching. Kendall was one of those characters that you fell in love with immediately and rooted for. She was genuine, rough around the edges yet smart and loving. She just couldn't risk losing any more of herself or losing anyone else she loved so she was closed off. Lucas, Maverick, Teagan, and Goose were all solid characters in their own rights. Lucas with his loving family and all those brothers, especially Lincoln. Goose with his vulnerability from having been ignored by his own parents. Teagan with his wonderful little sister Ryleigh and his micro-managing father and line of young step-mothers. And Maverick. Guarded, angry, capable of inflicting damage to others trying to protect himself. Each guy was a fully developed character, human, some flawed. The relationships seemed so organic, the mistakes made along the way so common. This was a truly believable contemporary RH. That makes it extraordinary. This is one of my favorite RH's ever.

Hardened by heartbreak

She is hardened by heartbreak and an endless stream of bullying. When four guys show up unexpectedly will she let them in or continue to live in the past. This story will make you cry. I really enjoyed the depth of the characters and story.

Overall I liked it.

Okay so pros. It’s a cute young love story of loving yourself being loved. It’s not a lot of sex & it’s definitely not descriptive. The narrator okay. So for the female voice she did great. But her voicing the dialogue for the guys is HORRIBLE, Not bad enough to make me stop listening, just not as fast as I usually would. I’m so happy that it was only told him her view. Because I couldn’t handle her reading chapters for them. Overall I liked it enough to get the second book, & continue to listen.

Can't do male voices

The book is great, the narrator is excellent but she can't do male characters. the voices for the men especially Goose who is supposed to be 6'4" and intimidating and built with a husky voice. She gave him the highest pitch voice. it's even higher than the main character Kendall and it just takes you out of the story because it's so unattractive and weird. He sound like a 4'6" prepubescent 4th grader. not 18 or 19 and built. Please get a new narrator. or make it a duet with a male narrator to speak for the guys and men, because otherwise it would have been great.

Loved Reviving Kendall and can't wait for more!!

Ok so where do I even begin. So I will first talk about the narration, since to me, this is the most important thing in terms of reviews for audiobooks. A narrator can either wreck the whole thing or elevate the story. I will say I have never listened to Riley Raye before and if I remove one character from Reviving Kendall she portrays, she is is my top 10 favorite narrators! I thought she brought life to Kendall and most of the quad. I will tell you that this audiobook is the first and only audiobook that has made me cry while listening. I am suuuper glad I wasn't listening to this on my ride into work, I was a blubbering mess haha. I don't want to give it away, but I almost experienced a loss like Kendall did and by sheer luck (my brother used all the hot water that morning), I was lucky enough to be home to help get my mom to the hospital in time. If I hadn't been there, she wouldn't have made it. So when that particular scene comes up and the emotion Riley gives in her performance, I couldn't help bawling. It was amazing how she sucked me into that moment. Bravo, Riley; thank you for helping to bring this story to life. MY ONLY GRIPE was her portrayal of Grant/Goose. Like when I read the book, I didn't imagine him having a higher voice and Riley makes him sound like a preteen who hasn't gone through puberty yet haha, but I was able to get past it and I loved her portrayals of the other guys, I thought they were spot on (especially Mav and Lucas).

For the story, I love this book by Brandy Slaven. The rawness she includes, makes it feel like I am there, like I am experiencing those things. I loved everything about this book and I am so happy to have listened to it on audio as well. I couldn't stop listening some days when I got home (I mostly listen while commuting) but there were some scenes I needed to get to the end of the chapter before I could do anything else haha. I think my favorite guys in the story were Lucas and Grant, but in the audio it was definitely Mav and Lucas haha. I loved that we got to see their first times with Kendall, some RH's kinda skip over some but each guy is a piece of the puzzle/harem and needs to have that time with her and Brandy executed it amazingly. There are so many amazing characters in this story, you will fall for some of the side ones as well as Kendall and her quad (some of the siblings for sure!). Kendall has to overcome a lot of tough things as a teenager, some that no teenager should have to face alone, and the quad is there for her when she needs it. I thought it was nice to see how much they needed her as well. I can't wait to see what happens on their next journey together post high school. Cannot wait for Book 2 to be on audio ❤️

Love the plot and story

I've ready this book before and enjoyed this audiobook tremendously. My only criticism is that the female narrator had multiple males to voice, and worked hard to give each of the lead characters a unique sound. Goose was not good.

Otherwise, this was a fantastic addition to the reverse harm genre. Great plot, great character development, and all wrapped up for more with no cliffhanger!

Story of resilience, building trust and true love

Reviving Kendall had the perfect title. The author takes you on a sometimes heartbreaking journey of a girl that comes from nothing, but holds her head up high even on the darkest days. She has the heart of a lion and can be as stubborn as a bull. However, there is something about her spirt and kindness that touches her “Quad” in a way that leaves no turning back. Yes, their relationship is beyond conventional. Brandy Slaven creates a world in which the reader can buy into it and even be slightly envious. Kendall has nothing. Yet, Kendall has it all. And there has never been a more grateful person than herself. This is a beautiful story about resilience, trust and love. Riley Raye did a great job overall and was well cast to play Kendall. I look forward to the next installment of this series!