Blood, Love or Both?
- Surrender to the Moonlight by Dria Andersen| Book One of the Georgia Arcana Series| A Book Review
Contains: magic, shifters, sorcerer, undead
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Nicole Oliver hasn’t been home since she was a child because of her mother’s attempt to avoid the family curse. But now she’s back to solve the mysterious murder of her grandmother and to stop running from the curse. Yet the curse lingers in the back of her mind as she falls in love with the town’s dangerous Alpha. Jeremiah Taylor, also known as JT, has no problem dancing with danger; it’s part of his job. But is he willing to risk his life by falling in love with the woman that walked into his bar and made his wolf howl?
“Don’t use that excuse to push me away!”
What Makes Surrender to the Moonlight by Dria Andersen A Good Read
- Family-Ties
I love the family relationships in the book from both the main characters’ families. While Nicole’s family is messy, I think the author creates a great family dynamic.
2. The Relationship
JT and Nicole are the perfect match for each other. I adore their energy and their understanding of one another, especially when one is acting out based on fear. And the chemistry between them is spicy-hot from beginning to end.
3. The Curse
One thing that I absolutely love about this book is the family curse. Well, I don’t like the curse itself, but I love how the author shows how the curse affects this family throughout each generation and how each generation’s decisions affect the next, both good and bad. I also like the idea that the curse doesn’t affect all members of the family.
4. The Fantasy
The author does an excellent job of blending fantasy into reality by creating a new world and placing that world into a small town that the readers can get to by traveling on I-95. The world in this book is easy to imagine and makes you think you can find it on a Google map.
What I Feel Some Kinda Way About
1. The Pacing
While I love the romance between Nicole and JT and think that their romance is spicy, I feel that their romance is somewhat rushed as they go from being attracted to each other to falling in love.
2. Side Characters
This book has amazing side characters. It hurts that they don’t appear more in the book.
3. The Murder Case
Although it is Nicole’s grandmother’s death that brings Nicole and her cousins to Georgia and is the reason for Nicole and JT’s meeting, I think that the mystery around the murder is a bit lacking and doesn’t keep the reader guessing ‘who did it?’ I find JT’s issue with his gang problem more interesting.
Book Review and Recommendation
Review: 4/5
Recommendation: 4/5
To check out more books by Dria Andersen, click here.
- Of Fear and Faith by N. D. Jones| Book One of Death and Destiny Trilogy| A Book Review
Genre: Supernatural/ Paranormal Romance
Contains: Witches, Shifters, Dwarf, etc
When Special Agent Assefa Berber meets Sanura Williams, he knows that he is the familiar to her witch and that he has to protect her and her community from the creature that lurks in the dark and hunts for witches.
Sanura is equally drawn to the were-cat that appears before her. However, fear and scars from the past cause Senura to place a barrier around her and make her unwilling to create the connection that they need. Yet, Sanura must learn to put her faith in Assefa as danger closes in around them, along with the start of a war that occurs every five hundred years.
“Would you like that? To go away together and forget all this madness…?”
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
What Makes Of Fear and Faith by N.D. Jones A Good Read
- The Mystery
One thing that I definitely love about this story is the author’s ability to keep us guessing. She keeps the mystery about the characters and subplots tightly wrapped until she reveals the secret while giving us bits of information here and there. Just when you think you have a character or subplot figured out, she throws you a curveball.
2. The Characters
I’m in love with the characters, especially Mike. What makes the characters unique are their personalities and their baggage that they have to work through. Yet, what really makes the characters shine and come to life is their dynamics with one another and other minor characters in the book. Also, the nonverbal eye contacts add flavor to different situations.
3. The Subplots -the Many Adventures
What sets this story apart from many others is that the story doesn’t end once the first problem or case is solved. The different subplots allow each main character to shine and give us a glimpse of their lives after happily-ever-after. The author does it in a way that doesn’t drag the story out but continues to draw the readers in, making us want to learn more about the main characters and their relationship.
4. From Sizzling to Firey
From the beginning, Sanura’s and Assafe’s attraction to one another was through the roof. As the story progresses, we saw mini fire bombs and amazing fireworks go off.
5. Creature from Diversity Folklore
The author did the research and put in the time and effort to add supernatural creatures from different cultures while giving background information on them. As a history ‘wannabe’ buff, I totally enjoy this.
What I Feel Some Kinda Way About
1. The Last Subplot
While I enjoyed the last subplot and its setup, I felt it is out of place and slightly affects the feel of the book.
Book Review and Recommendation
Review: 4.2/5
Recommendation: 5/5
If you want to read my Top Three Things of this book, which contains spoilers, click here.
To check out more books by N.D Jones, click here.
- The Alpha’s Affair by Dria Andersen| Book Two of The Hamilton Brothers| A Book Review
Genre: Supernatural/ Paranormal Romance
Contains: Witches and Shifters
The affair between Mercedes and her boss, Brent Hamilton, started off as a secret but can it stay that way?
Mercedes has caught the attention of her boss as well as his bear. While she knows that their attraction for each other may not be good – her boss being an alpha shifter, she doesn’t mind having a little fun until a good thing comes to an end. However, Brent doesn’t see his affair with Mercedes ending soon. In fact, he and his bear want something more permanent with Mercedes, regardless if she is a witch or not.
“All I could think about all night was you.”
What Makes The Alpha’s Affair by Dria Andersen A Good Read
- The Affair
The affair between Mercedes and Brent is everything that you would want in a good romance. Their romance is passionate, quick, and comforting without unnecessary drama. It’s also entertaining to read as they ‘try’ to keep it a secret.
2. The Characters
I am in love with the characters in this novella. From the main characters, Mercedes and Brent, to Mercedes’s grandma and friends and Brent’s family. Each character is unique and helps show different sides of the main characters. It is also nice to see Brent’s family again from The Friend Contract. The author does a great job of carrying over their personalities and characteristics from the first Hamilton Brother book to the second.
3. Magic in a Modern Day World
I think that the author does a great job of integrating shifters and witches into a modern world without making it the main focus of the book. Yes, they have powers, and yes, that affects their lives and relationship. However, they have a sense of normalcy and security. They are not fighting with humans nor are they in hiding. They are just living their lives with some magic into it.
4. Assertive but not Aggressive
One thing that I definitely like is Brent making sure that Mercedes is comfortable throughout the relationship. He’s her boss and he is respectful of how that can make her feel. He doesn’t pressure her to go out with him but he makes his intentions clear that he wants her.
5. Awareness
I’m glad that the author shed light on eminent domain cases and how companies pressure people, especially older folks, into selling their land.
What I Feel Some Kinda Way About
1. Nothing
Honestly, this is the first review that I didn’t have any complaints about. I think it was a well-written book with great characters that were well-developed and a seamless story that hit all the right points in the plot. It is a good read from beginning to end.
Book Review and Recommendation
Review: 4.4/5
Recommendation: 5/5
If you want read my Top Three Things of this book, which contains spoilers, click here.
To check out more books by Dria Andersen, click here.
- The Promised Ones: Book One by Tremain Mishoe | A Book Review
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Contains: magic, shifters, and wizard
In The Promised Ones, waiting for the perfect one can be tiring, especially if you know you and your brothers have a Promised One out there who was created just for you. Fortunately for the shifter Kasim, Binah – a famous choreographer – feels drawn to the town Impisi, where Kasim’s pack lives. And even more so, she feels drawn to him. With new beginnings and new love, everything seems perfect. But not everyone is a fan of perfect and Kasim finding a Promised One, unless Binah is in their hands. Can Kasim prevent history from repeating itself, or will Binah fall into the same trap that was laid years before?
“..and she deserves a great warrior like you to love, cherish and protect her. And you will…”
What Makes The Promised Ones: Book One by Tremain Mishoe A Good Read
- Swahili
From the name of the town, where the story takes place, to other words throughout the book it contains Swahili words, which is perfect since I am currently studying Kiswahili.
2. Gamma First
The first book of this series doesn’t start off with the alpha, but the gamma. This is a nice change compared to the normal. The Gamma also has his own dream and career instead of working with or under the alpha, and this is the same for the others in the pack. It really emphasizes being your own man but working as a unit with love and respect.
3. The Villain(s)
For me, this really makes the book. I think that the author really does a great job with the villain(s) personality. You never know when and how the villain is going to pop up. The layer of craziness and reasoning surrounding the villain is shocking as well.
4. The Pack
The pack members are sweethearts. I love their energy and their bromance. They are always making jokes and depending on one another. You can feel the love throughout the story.
5. The shades, sizes, personalities of blackness
The author does a great job of using different colors, sizes (mainly for the ladies), and personalities for each character. Throughout the book, you can feel the characters’ uniqueness and different voices.
6. Everything Black
I love that majority, if not all, of the characters are black. In addition, you have black consciousness throughout the book from the music mentioned at the beginning of the book to the explanations of the shifter and the names of the characters.
What I Feel Some Kinda Way About
- The Plot
I, personally, have a love and hate relationship with the plot. On one hand, I love the plot surrounding the villain and all the mystery and reasoning behind that as well as the twist near the last 25% of the book. However, on the other hand, I do not like the romance part of the book, which is why I read the book in the first place.
2. Time Frame!
If you already read my other reviews, then you already know I hate when the characters fall madly in love within a two weeks time frame. I usually make an exception for stories with destiny mates, sometimes…okay not really, but I need there to be more than ‘He/she is my mate. They are perfect.’
3. Fluff Romance
While Kasim and Binah are cute together, their romance is full of fluff. It is like watching that moment in Sleeping Beauty, where the prince and princess met for the first time. He is perfect, and she is perfect. Everything that he/she does is perfect. It is kind of annoying because you don’t get to see them grow or develop in love, compare to the growth and development in the sexual tension.
4. Acceptance
When it comes to the main characters, they just accept everything about each other, like no questions ask. For a female, I find it a little, no very, concerning. I had questions that I wanted answers for but the main female, and the guy at times, seems to go along with whatever because of love. I can’t.
Book Review and Recommendation
Review: 2.8/5
Recommendation: 2.5/5
Would I try this author again? Yes*
*Despite my low review and recommendation of the book, I will read another book by this author. I have a feeling that Tremain Mishoe will write amazing books in the future. This book, unfortunately, for me, isn’t one of them.
If you want read my Top Three Things of this book, which contains spoilers, click here.
- Redemption: Earth’s Cry by Edwina Fort | Book Two of Redemption Series| A Book Review
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Contains: supernatural abilities and power
Earth’s world is her daughter Rain, and she will do anything to keep her. Anything includes kidnapping her late husband’s brother and holding him for ransom. Too bad she kidnapped the wrong brother. On the other hand, Melech is more than happy with Earth’s mistake and being tied down by her. After all, he has been lusting after her since she married his younger brother. Now, his brother is dead. The fire inside him still burns for her, and he plans to consume her with it. When he leaves her ropes, he plans on taking her and Rain with him.
Redemption: Earth’s Cry (Melech & Earth’s Tale) is part two of the Redemption Series. If you haven’t read part 1, it’s okay. You still can read this book as a standalone; however, I suggest reading the first book of this series when you have time. It’s really good, and I will do a review on it later. This is my first book by this author, so I want to do a review of this book first.
“You promised you would never look at me this way…Like I’m a monster.”
What Makes Redemption: Earth’s Cry by Edwina Fort A Good Read
- The multitude of characters
We get to see a variety of characters and their connections to the main characters. While the second half of the book characters’ personalities are not shown as much as the first half, you still felt the relevance of each character.
2. Diversity in the black community
I love the representation of different black people in the book. You have at least three different ethnic groups and three different classes of blacks; rich, low-middle, and low class. And their interaction with one another is perfect.
3. The Villain(s)
For me, this really makes the book. I think that the author really does a great job with the villain(s) personality. You never know when and how the villain is going to pop up. The layer of craziness and reasoning surrounding the villain is shocking as well.
4. The Jargon
I like that this book has a combination of proper English, black urban English, and Jamaican Patwah. Do I need to say more?
5. Historical Information
Any author that has historical information in their books, I will automatically love them. And this author includes some in the book. This book contains information about Black Seminoles. I think this topic, as well as other topics of Black relations with other racial groups, is often overlook and under study. Thus, this was a nice surprise inside this book.
5. Earth’s Strength
As the main female, Earth isn’t a damsel in distress. She fights for herself and those she loves. She doesn’t roll over and gives into love. She fights for an equal place of respect in her relationship with Melech. She,as well as the other women in the book, are powerful beings.
What I Feel Some Kinda Way About
- The biblical reference and supernatural tying together
This is my first supernatural book that includes Christianity in such a major and positive way. It is not like vampire stories where the vampire will die if holy water touches it or books with archangels. It is something different. I truly don’t know how I feel about it. I haven’t processed it fully since it is so new to me. If you know other books like this, let me know.
2. The time frame of the relationship
This is a pet peeve for me. All of the reviews that I gave thus far have this in the ‘do not like’. While I feel the love between the two mains, the time fame just isn’t for me.
3. Brianna
The way they talked about Brianna. I know she isn’t the brightest in the bunch and a little ridiculous sometimes, but she has Earth’s back.
Book Review and Recommendation
Review: 4.5/5
Recommendation: 5
If you want read my Top Three Things of this book, which contains spoilers, click here.
- A Shift in the Stars by Dandridge Monroe| Book One of Power Within the Stars| A Book Review
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Contains: shifters, mystical abilities
In A Shift in the Stars, we travel to a realm that mirrors Earth’s East Africa. A realm call Ajabu. In Ajabu, we are greeted by the King of the Westlands, Ozouf Odhimabo-Njeri, or simple Oz. His land is losing its magical powers due to poor decisions and the increasing number of ‘The Other’ occupying his land. But there is hope in the form of Rieka from the In-between. She seems to be the light to brighten up the stars in the Westlands as well as its magic. However, the question is: is she willing to stay and help correct the mistake her mate made; especially after he chose someone else before her?
“I love you too…. From now until the stars fall from the skies.”
What Makes A Shift in the Stars by Dandridge Monroe A Good Read
- The relationship between Oz and Zo
Zo, or Zorion Mwanga-Kimani, is the Prince of the Eastern land. While most novels have the two most powerful kingdoms as rival or one stronger than the other, so that the main character is the strongest, this is not the case here. Both Oz and Zo are strong in their own rights and are great friends. The bromace is real!!!
2. Positive Families
Throughout the story, we see example of two positive black families that are supportive and caring, yet have different dynamics. The dynamics, I think, match with the characters that are placed in each family.
3. The Others
I really like how the author explains the background of the others. It is a different take of explaining race relation and how two apples from the same tree can taste different. (I don’t want to give away the explanation since it is an important part of the series).
4. The Realm
The description of the realm is very beautiful, even though we don’t get to see much of it outside of the palaces.
5. Different Shifters
While the main kingdom shifters are a wolf and a lion, we also get to see other shifters that are not commonly mention in shifter stories. Although, we don’t get to see them in action, it is nice to have them.
6. Girl Power!!!
I know what you are saying: “Why isn’t this under what the things I love?” Because it is only shown near the end of the story. We are able to see what Rieka is truly made up of, but Princess Isabis’s (Zo’s mate) power is never but on display. BUT I love that the females are stronger than their mates, and their mates are cool with it.
What I Feel Some Kinda Way About
1. Lack of Romance
I can’t feel the love between Oz and Rieka. It just isn’t there for me but I think it is due to the other 2 reasons on this list.
2. Rush
For a story with 217 pages, it feels rush. Eventful moments and rising actions fall to a horrible climax. It feels as if the author had a lot to say and end up missing the delivery.
3. Oz
oh Oz ..just smh. Read my Top 3 Things here. The top 2 are fill with OZ.
Book Review and Recommendation
Review: 3/5
Recommendation: 3.5/5 A great in-between books read.
- A Destiny Awakened by Dria Andersen| Book One of the Destiny Series| A Book Review
Genre: Supernatural Romance
Contains: vampires, shifters, goddess/gods/ psychic abilities
The plot, for the book, as well as this series, begins over 500 years ago with the destruction of the Ajo’s temple and the enslavement of the Ajo people. Fast forward a couple of centuries later, we meet Zahara, a normally complaisant woman, who stumbles onto her destiny, This is the beginning to the end of the Aje’s punishment as well as an upcoming war. This is all thanks to a drunken decision to help her sexy neighbor, Fynn. However, Fynn doesn’t need Zahara’s help. In fact, what he needs is to get his beast in control around her if he desires to protect her and help her fulfill her destiny. Can a stolen artifact and the magic surrounding it bring them together, or keep them apart?
“I don’t envy you when she wakes.”
What Makes A Destiny Awakened by Dria Andersen A Good Read
- The African goddess and gods in it
Do you know how hard it is to find supernatural books with black goddesses and gods in them? Hard, very hard.
- But the author added three: Oya (a Yoruba goddess with the power to control the weather), Rubaga (an Ankore, a Ugandan group of people, god of creation), and Azar, (the ruler of Azreal, which is the angel of death in Islam and some Jewish cultures.)
2. The Characters
I found the characters to be realistic in actions and thought. Zahara, for example, doesn’t just fall in line with her new situation but question her sanity and the supernatural powers that she obtains. Ajain, a side character with a stick up his butt, is not quick to care or respect Zahara just because she is the main piece to their puzzle.
3. Sub-plots
The author does a great job of expressing the emotions and telling the stories of the different side characters without taking away from the main plot. She actually makes you interested in the other characters.
4. Black Awareness
The book ties together the kidnapping and disappearance of our brothers and sisters with the plot of the book.
5. The Relationship
The connection between Fynn and Zahara is strong and comforting. The fact that they were crushing on each other for 2 years is a plus. Throughout the book, you can see that they care for each other deeply and want to help each other with their problems. This is enough for me to root for and respect them as a couple; however, the passion is slightly lacking, except for the scene at the end of the book. Furthermore, I like Fynn’s honesty about how he feels being mated with Zahara and why he wants their relationship a certain way.
What I Feel Some Kinda Way About
1. The Time Framed
Even though the book doesn’t feel rush and the time is well-paced, the majority of the story happens in a short time period. I guess a lot can change in a short time, but I prefer my love stories to spam a longer time frame.
2. The Eyes
One of my pet peeves is when authors write black characters with hazel eyes. Don’t take this the wrong way, hazel eyes are pretty. However, so are the different shades of brown and black eyes. Yet, all three of the females of importance in the story have hazel eyes. (Note: The author has different colors of brown eyes in her other books).
Book Review and Recommendation
Review: 4/5
Recommendation: 4/5
If you want to read my Top Three Things of this book, which contains spoilers, click here.
To check out more books by Dria Andersen, click here.
