Been Waiting For You

"Been Waiting for You" by Mariah C. Bond is a thrilling novella that perfectly blends romance, self-discovery, and the powerful secrets of New Orleans. The story immediately hooks you with Lovely, an aspiring actress who moves to the Big Easy for a fresh start, only to have her dreams derailed by a dark past and mysterious people who refuse to let her go. Bond absolutely nails the New Orleans setting. You can feel the heat and hear the jazz in the French Quarter; the atmosphere is intense and totally believable. The romance between Lovely and Jackson is a sweet, unexpected second chance, but the book keeps you completely hooked with a twisty, fast-paced plot full of dark magic, betrayal, and voodoo-fueled mysteries. I was completely invested in both the relationship drama and the supernatural elements. What I loved most was seeing Lovely grow. She starts off scared, running from her history, but she ends up embracing her own strength and power, especially her deep connection to the spiritual side of the city. The ending is really satisfying—seeing her ditch her original acting dream to build her own thriving makeup business shows her finding true happiness and success on her own terms. While the plot moves incredibly fast, which keeps the pages turning, the core message about fighting for your future and owning your power shines through beautifully. If you love a story with plenty of passion, drama, and supernatural surprises set in a vivid location, you need to pick up "Been Waiting for You"!

"I really enjoyed this journey with Lovely. The author does a great job of blending family tradition with the mystical atmosphere of New Orleans. Seeing Lovely's transition from dabbling in voodoo to navigating the complications it brought into her life after her return from London kept me turning the pages. The romance with Jackson felt like a breath of fresh air amidst the tension of the curse, and I loved the supportive role that Lauren played in the story. It was heartening to see Lovely find a way to break free and find her 'happily ever after.' A great read for anyone who loves stories about second chances, mysticism, and the power of friendship!"

The core of this voodoo story is intriguing, but it often trips over itself. Lovely is thrust into New Orleans' heart and must embrace her gifts to survive. Each chapter is interesting but they don't flow together. Sometime times it felt like they were out of order. This could be a great story, but it needs polish.

This captivating story blends mystery, voodoo, romance, and personal growth as Lovely fights to break a haunting curse while discovering her true strength. With rich New Orleans atmosphere and heartfelt relationships, it delivers an enchanting tale of resilience, friendship, and empowerment.

The mystery at the heart of this story is engaging, and I enjoyed the character development, especially the relationships between Lovely, Lauren, and Jackson. The New Orleans setting and voodoo elements add a unique atmosphere. That said, the prose can feel repetitive at times (She couldn't help but...was used over 10 times in the first chapter!), and the story would benefit from tighter editing. Overall, a good read with an intriguing premise and memorable characters.

This book is well written with surprising twists and turns. I highly recommend this book.

There's possibly an interesting story here, but it's not well told. The writing isn't horrible, but it's not good, either. There's a lot of telling instead of showing, not enough description about the things that matter--I mean, it's set in New Orleans but the way it's written, it could have been set anywhere--and the phrase "couldn't help but" is used sooooo many times.

"Been Waiting for You" delivers an engaging blend of romance and supernatural suspense set against the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans. Bond effectively captures the mystique of the French Quarter, weaving voodoo elements seamlessly into Lovely's journey from aspiring actress to someone caught in dangerous supernatural forces. The relationship between Lovely and Jackson develops naturally despite the chaotic circumstances surrounding them. The author does well building tension through the mysterious stalker and curse subplot, though some plot threads feel rushed toward the end. The New Orleans setting is practically a character itself - Bond's descriptions of the French Quarter, voodoo culture, and local atmosphere are vivid and immersive. The pacing keeps you turning pages, even when some supernatural elements stretch believability. While the ending wraps up perhaps too neatly, it's a satisfying read for fans of paranormal romance. The book successfully combines modern romance with Southern Gothic elements. A solid debut that transports readers to the enchanting, dangerous world of New Orleans mysticism.