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Only Devils Left
Sometimes, a lack of closure teaches you that no closure is the best closure to have.
Gabriella Bridges was denied the silver spoon that was rightfully hers all her life because of hate and envy from the very person that should have loved her. While her mother’s mission was to destroy, Zion Falls' mission was to help restore. Life has a funny way of ensuring that people eventually get their just due. When a detrimental life change happens in Gabriella's life will she be strong enough to separate the love for self from the hate of others? Will she allow the darkness of hate to kill the light of the newfound love around her?
Learning to love self comes before learning to love others. A part of loving self is being able to restore what’s broken.
Restoration is not only your responsibility; it’s your right! Even the Devil can’t take that.
Gabriella Bridges was denied the silver spoon that was rightfully hers all her life because of hate and envy from the very person that should have loved her. While her mother’s mission was to destroy, Zion Falls' mission was to help restore. Life has a funny way of ensuring that people eventually get their just due. When a detrimental life change happens in Gabriella's life will she be strong enough to separate the love for self from the hate of others? Will she allow the darkness of hate to kill the light of the newfound love around her?
Learning to love self comes before learning to love others. A part of loving self is being able to restore what’s broken.
Restoration is not only your responsibility; it’s your right! Even the Devil can’t take that.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2023
159 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Mel Dau
101 books653 followersMel Dau (Melvin’s Daughter) was born in Vicenza, Italy but raised in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. She is the baby girl and only girl of three. She has always had a love for books beginning with the Baby Sitter’s Club, R.L. Stine, and Christopher Pike. She dabbled in writing as she grew up but never took it as seriously as she should have.
Mel Dau graduated from from Wando High School, then later matriculated to Benedict College (BSW) and Webster University (MHRM). She is a mother of a teenage daughter, a HR Professional, and a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Her love for Urban Literature did not arrive until Mid-2016. Reading over 900 books from 2016 to 2017, she was obsessed with reading--an obsession that helped her cope with her father’s illness and death. In March of 2018, she decided to finally come from behind the wall and submit a short story which resulted in her first Book, Khiaere and Phy: A Charleston Love Story being published under Queens of Lit Presents. Under Queens of Lit Presents, she successfully published 15 titles that were all debuted in the top fifty on Amazon Top 100.
In May of 2020, she was signed to her new publisher B. Love Publications where she continues her growth as an author. Her purpose as an author is to provide her readers’ with her E³ formula, Entertain, Encourage & Educate. She achieved her first #1 Bestseller with her Erotica title, Pet The Kitty. In August of 2020 she founded Mel Dau Publications, LLC to pursue self-published projects. Penning in a lane all her own, her Informational Dramas fulfills her purpose with every release. Her overall desire is to use her fiction catalog to help change at least one person’s non-fiction reality.
Mel Dau graduated from from Wando High School, then later matriculated to Benedict College (BSW) and Webster University (MHRM). She is a mother of a teenage daughter, a HR Professional, and a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Her love for Urban Literature did not arrive until Mid-2016. Reading over 900 books from 2016 to 2017, she was obsessed with reading--an obsession that helped her cope with her father’s illness and death. In March of 2018, she decided to finally come from behind the wall and submit a short story which resulted in her first Book, Khiaere and Phy: A Charleston Love Story being published under Queens of Lit Presents. Under Queens of Lit Presents, she successfully published 15 titles that were all debuted in the top fifty on Amazon Top 100.
In May of 2020, she was signed to her new publisher B. Love Publications where she continues her growth as an author. Her purpose as an author is to provide her readers’ with her E³ formula, Entertain, Encourage & Educate. She achieved her first #1 Bestseller with her Erotica title, Pet The Kitty. In August of 2020 she founded Mel Dau Publications, LLC to pursue self-published projects. Penning in a lane all her own, her Informational Dramas fulfills her purpose with every release. Her overall desire is to use her fiction catalog to help change at least one person’s non-fiction reality.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
February 10, 2023
4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Somebody drop Johnika’s location. Ion wanna talk; I wanna whoop her azz! I’ve read plenty of books with some ain’t shyt mamas but, Johnika Sanders wins the crown as the worst ain’t shyt mama ever! Give that heffa her flowers because, she definitely earned this title. How you gon’ resent and hate your own kid just for existing?!!! Johnika chose to have a baby (a baby she didn’t want by the way) by a man she knew didn’t love her just to maintain a lifestyle she couldn’t afford. Then, had the audacity to be jealous of her infant daughter because of the love and affection Angel showed her. I mean, damn, the man was her daddy. Was he not suppose to love her?!!! When I tell y’all the shyt Johnika does to Gabby and how she speaks to her will leave you speechless. She was just bitter, spiteful, and evil for no damn reason and had absolutely no remorse for how she treated her daughter. Johnika is definitely the antagonist y'all gon’ love to hate. There are a lot of moving parts to this storyline and a lot to unpack. There’s an entire backstory on these characters that takes us from childhood to adulthood so, I’m not going to give a detailed review. But, here’s a cliff notes version. There’s an ain’t shyt mama (I’ve already introduced you to her), the murder of a main character, a huge secret that’s revealed, a BFF who sleeps with her BFF’s man and gets pregnant, arson, an unexpected death, plenty of hands being thrown (Gabby and Neytiri’s hands were rated E for everybody), and a well deserved HEA. Between all of the irrational jealousy, envy, pettiness, and hatred there’s not a boring moment in this book. You will definitely be entertained.
Somebody drop Johnika’s location. Ion wanna talk; I wanna whoop her azz! I’ve read plenty of books with some ain’t shyt mamas but, Johnika Sanders wins the crown as the worst ain’t shyt mama ever! Give that heffa her flowers because, she definitely earned this title. How you gon’ resent and hate your own kid just for existing?!!! Johnika chose to have a baby (a baby she didn’t want by the way) by a man she knew didn’t love her just to maintain a lifestyle she couldn’t afford. Then, had the audacity to be jealous of her infant daughter because of the love and affection Angel showed her. I mean, damn, the man was her daddy. Was he not suppose to love her?!!! When I tell y’all the shyt Johnika does to Gabby and how she speaks to her will leave you speechless. She was just bitter, spiteful, and evil for no damn reason and had absolutely no remorse for how she treated her daughter. Johnika is definitely the antagonist y'all gon’ love to hate. There are a lot of moving parts to this storyline and a lot to unpack. There’s an entire backstory on these characters that takes us from childhood to adulthood so, I’m not going to give a detailed review. But, here’s a cliff notes version. There’s an ain’t shyt mama (I’ve already introduced you to her), the murder of a main character, a huge secret that’s revealed, a BFF who sleeps with her BFF’s man and gets pregnant, arson, an unexpected death, plenty of hands being thrown (Gabby and Neytiri’s hands were rated E for everybody), and a well deserved HEA. Between all of the irrational jealousy, envy, pettiness, and hatred there’s not a boring moment in this book. You will definitely be entertained.
April 4, 2023
Wow! 4.5 ⭐️!
This book had me hooked from the prologue! Not only was it different because of the jumping timeline but the multi-point of view was done well for the main characters Angel Bridges, Johnica (the wack mom), Gabby/Devil (the main heroine), and Zion (the hero). At first, I was nervous I wasn’t going to be into this story because it started with a wild multi-chapter prologue and then started the story in Gabby’s junior of high school. Johnica always had hate for her daughter Gabby, even changing her name to Devil because she despised her. Johnica had her daughter living with her mom and that part confused me because of the prologue and how Gabby’s dad’s family loved her. Well, it took Gabby being expelled and sent to live with her mom for that revelation of what happened at the end of the prologue to take place. The journey of Gabby getting to know herself outside of her mother's hate wasn’t the easiest and came with its fair share of haters! Zion’s girlfriend Silver was the biggest one! She and the momma deserved everything they got in this book and more! I felt this was more an urban fiction book than a romance because the romance felt secondary at times. Zion and Gabby didn’t necessarily hate each other but the timing wasn’t really on their side so the back-and-forth fake not liking each other worked until it didn’t. And when it didn’t whew!! I was here for it! Zion protected Gabby every step of the way although I will say every member of that family had hands including Gabby! LOL! Johnica started treading lightly because of this fact lol! Ryne was trash and the more we found out about him the more disgusted I was that Gabby even dated him! Smh! Overall this book was a fun time and I hate that the mommy issues were so bad but everyone got what they deserved in the end! I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author!
This book had me hooked from the prologue! Not only was it different because of the jumping timeline but the multi-point of view was done well for the main characters Angel Bridges, Johnica (the wack mom), Gabby/Devil (the main heroine), and Zion (the hero). At first, I was nervous I wasn’t going to be into this story because it started with a wild multi-chapter prologue and then started the story in Gabby’s junior of high school. Johnica always had hate for her daughter Gabby, even changing her name to Devil because she despised her. Johnica had her daughter living with her mom and that part confused me because of the prologue and how Gabby’s dad’s family loved her. Well, it took Gabby being expelled and sent to live with her mom for that revelation of what happened at the end of the prologue to take place. The journey of Gabby getting to know herself outside of her mother's hate wasn’t the easiest and came with its fair share of haters! Zion’s girlfriend Silver was the biggest one! She and the momma deserved everything they got in this book and more! I felt this was more an urban fiction book than a romance because the romance felt secondary at times. Zion and Gabby didn’t necessarily hate each other but the timing wasn’t really on their side so the back-and-forth fake not liking each other worked until it didn’t. And when it didn’t whew!! I was here for it! Zion protected Gabby every step of the way although I will say every member of that family had hands including Gabby! LOL! Johnica started treading lightly because of this fact lol! Ryne was trash and the more we found out about him the more disgusted I was that Gabby even dated him! Smh! Overall this book was a fun time and I hate that the mommy issues were so bad but everyone got what they deserved in the end! I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more by this author!
February 19, 2023
What a doozy!!!! There is so much to unpack in this review that I don’t even know where to begin. This story was PACKED…. so much so that it lost itself a star 😩😩 Now don’t get me wrong this was a good story and I’m all the way locked in with Mel but sometimes less is more. Because soooooo much was happening I couldn’t connect with certain characters the way I wanted to. I wanted less of Johnika and more of everyone else.
So let’s get into it. We start out the gate, page one with Johnika’s low life äss. She had a me first fk everybody else attitude. She used her body to get what she wanted and lived by the motto that her fkn with a nįggà would always be worth her wild. If she was with a guy it was to her benefit even if it meant having a baby to ensure she was a kept bįtçh. Sadly the men she involved herself with became a casualty of war. Johnika’s hatred ruined Gabby’s life from infancy and her life only got harder as she got older. She grew up feeling like no one outside of her grandmother truly loved her and it wasn’t until well into her teenage years that the truth was revealed and when it was, ish got all the way real!
Johnika was beyond a piece of work! Not only do I need to get in line behind y’all to get a piece of her but I need to get in line behind Gabby, Neytiri, Deb, Lavesa, Joyce, Gram Bridges and pretty much everyone else’s in this book. Forget a kissing booth, we need a “Beat Johnika’s åss” booth! Whew ain’t no bītçh in the Bridges blood! They throw hands like toddlers throw tantrums, without warning! I swear every time a fist connected the heaven’s opened up and I heard Lola Brooke’s “Don’t Play With It”🤣😩! They were carrying bītçhês the way a father carries his worn out kids after a day at Disney!
Johnika got way too much page time if you ask me. It almost felt like the book was more about her and less about Gabby and I’m not sure if thats what the author intended 🤷🏽♀️😬. The story was jumping forward weeks and years at a time so important details and necessary character development was skimmed over and as a result I didn’t connect with Zion and Gabby the way I wanted to. There were so many characters and side stories that I didn’t know where to focus. There was Ryne and his foolishness then Alicia was thrown in, we got some of Cayjay and his people then Deb and Adam, Stan and Silver dollar and Andrew and lions and tigers and bears oh my 🤣🤣🤣 I think y’all get my point. With this many characters I need 500 pages or else lose about 20 ppl and focus on a few. I still recommend reading the book, it was a wild ride for sure and I enjoyed the entertainment.
So let’s get into it. We start out the gate, page one with Johnika’s low life äss. She had a me first fk everybody else attitude. She used her body to get what she wanted and lived by the motto that her fkn with a nįggà would always be worth her wild. If she was with a guy it was to her benefit even if it meant having a baby to ensure she was a kept bįtçh. Sadly the men she involved herself with became a casualty of war. Johnika’s hatred ruined Gabby’s life from infancy and her life only got harder as she got older. She grew up feeling like no one outside of her grandmother truly loved her and it wasn’t until well into her teenage years that the truth was revealed and when it was, ish got all the way real!
Johnika was beyond a piece of work! Not only do I need to get in line behind y’all to get a piece of her but I need to get in line behind Gabby, Neytiri, Deb, Lavesa, Joyce, Gram Bridges and pretty much everyone else’s in this book. Forget a kissing booth, we need a “Beat Johnika’s åss” booth! Whew ain’t no bītçh in the Bridges blood! They throw hands like toddlers throw tantrums, without warning! I swear every time a fist connected the heaven’s opened up and I heard Lola Brooke’s “Don’t Play With It”🤣😩! They were carrying bītçhês the way a father carries his worn out kids after a day at Disney!
Johnika got way too much page time if you ask me. It almost felt like the book was more about her and less about Gabby and I’m not sure if thats what the author intended 🤷🏽♀️😬. The story was jumping forward weeks and years at a time so important details and necessary character development was skimmed over and as a result I didn’t connect with Zion and Gabby the way I wanted to. There were so many characters and side stories that I didn’t know where to focus. There was Ryne and his foolishness then Alicia was thrown in, we got some of Cayjay and his people then Deb and Adam, Stan and Silver dollar and Andrew and lions and tigers and bears oh my 🤣🤣🤣 I think y’all get my point. With this many characters I need 500 pages or else lose about 20 ppl and focus on a few. I still recommend reading the book, it was a wild ride for sure and I enjoyed the entertainment.
May 7, 2023
Jonika might take the cake for the worse mother ever. How you just rename your child Devil because you hated her that much. It was fckd up Gabi never meet her dad Angel. Angel was killed b/c Jonika bxtchass. Gabis grandmother raised her since an infant and dealt with her for til 16. She sends to her mother and this where all the lies and drama unfolds. Secrets are revealed and Jonika just kept getting her ass beat. I know this family had to be raised on Knuck if you Buck. 🎶Yeah we knuckin’ and buckin’ and ready to fight 🎶
March 14, 2023
Damn Gabby went through it from and infant to an adult….this was a really good story although there were timelines inconsistencies and certain parts of the story that were unclear…I enjoyed the premise of the story.
March 14, 2023
Do you realize how insane you must be to rename your daughter Devil? All I can do is laugh. Jonika She never seems to amaze me, but Jonika Jonika is very possibly the worst person ever. One thing I can say she is consistent with her hate. This was a chaotic book, but I wanted to know more about Zion and Gabby because there were so many time jumps near the ending. I am glad Gabby got her happy ending she deserved it.
April 10, 2023
This the worst mama I ever read about!!!
February 15, 2023
Lawd, I am not a fighter! Like at all! But, I swear I would beat Johnika's ass! 🤬 This heffa here is just the lowest of the low, and evil! 😠 Why/How the hell could you hate and torment your child, YOUR CHILD for simply being alive? Miss Thang must not have gotten the memo, thinking that having Angel's baby was going to set her up for life, and make her a kept woman! Especially when you running around on him with lames in they damn feelings! Girl, what? Poor Gabby was just catching hell from her nothing ass mother, to trying to deal with all of the emotions of what her life had become. Thank God for Grandma Joyce, cause Gabby wouldn't have made it with her momma's triflin' ass! I was done when it was revealed that not only had this woman denied her child the life she rightfully deserved, but allowed her father's family to believe THAT LIE! Ughhhhhh............. 🤬🤯 Going to Bridge Falls was a blessing for Gabby. Til all hell breaks loose again! Silver was just a born hater, then to pair her with Johnika too? I swear those two had the hate game on lock, and they were zeroed in on Gabby! I loved how after a lil hiccup, Gabby and Neytiri were two peas in a pod, throwing hands together! 😂 Anybody could catch em! Gabby and Zion had chemistry from their first meeting, that they disguised as dislike. However, Zion was her protector and sort of friend, until they couldn't resist the pull any longer. Whew.... this was some messy drama all up in here ya'll! But, I was hanging on every word. 😂 You didn't disappoint Mel, as I was thoroughly entertained with this one! Great work! 👍👍👍
March 2, 2023
I know it fiction
But johnika I can't take her...
Mel is a awesome writer nd I love her books but this one I couldn't wanna finish
I gave ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nd my usual👍🏾😎
I know it's a Good read
But johnika I can't take her...
Mel is a awesome writer nd I love her books but this one I couldn't wanna finish
I gave ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nd my usual👍🏾😎
I know it's a Good read
February 8, 2023
Oh yes
I liked this new town and characters, minus the usual state plugs. I did not understand the mother in this story in real-time hating her flesh and blood. I could not wrap my brain around that fact. But overall, this was a good story. The hatred and an abundance of jealousy nearly took over the story. When the meant-to-be pair finally came together, I was exhausted from all the pettiness and hatred. Stay tuned to the story, as the good part will prevail, I promise.
I liked this new town and characters, minus the usual state plugs. I did not understand the mother in this story in real-time hating her flesh and blood. I could not wrap my brain around that fact. But overall, this was a good story. The hatred and an abundance of jealousy nearly took over the story. When the meant-to-be pair finally came together, I was exhausted from all the pettiness and hatred. Stay tuned to the story, as the good part will prevail, I promise.
February 10, 2023
I honestly have no idea where to start with this review! There was so much to unpack with this read. Mel Dau outdid herself with this book for sure.
I felt so much while reading this book; my heart went out to Gabby throughout this entire read. She went through it, but her strength barely wavered, and I loved that. This book was written so well, and I loved that we got to see the characters grow up and witness everything they endured. I can’t say I was a big fan of Zion until the end. He needed to mature more in this book to garner my attention but he eventually got it together🥴. This book was definitely a slow burn. We had so much going on that the love connection happening later than I was expecting was actually perfect.
I would love to see more from these characters. There are a few I feel need to see have their HEA!
I felt so much while reading this book; my heart went out to Gabby throughout this entire read. She went through it, but her strength barely wavered, and I loved that. This book was written so well, and I loved that we got to see the characters grow up and witness everything they endured. I can’t say I was a big fan of Zion until the end. He needed to mature more in this book to garner my attention but he eventually got it together🥴. This book was definitely a slow burn. We had so much going on that the love connection happening later than I was expecting was actually perfect.
I would love to see more from these characters. There are a few I feel need to see have their HEA!
February 9, 2023
Angel Wins
Another Mel Dau banger. I really enjoyed this one. There is so much to unpack, yet I'll try to keep it short and to the point.
While I love a good ol' young to old lovers story, this one definitely had dynamics of hate to like, to more hate to more like, to ok we like yet I'm not going all the way there, to were in love, type of vibe and I liked it.
I love that we get background on the main two characters, Gabriella Angel Bridges and Zion Falls, family lineage and how Bridge Falls even came to be. Black folks coming together to form legacy and generational wealth and community was so beautiful to me. Even in his short time, Angel Bridges was a great man who loved his daughter Gabby and was securing her future.
I don't want to spend too much time on her, so let's get her on out the way🙄. Johnika Sanders was pure unadulterated evil. I really didn't understand how a woman who could've had it all, had so much hatred and evil for not only her own friends and lover, yet for her own daughter. This piece of crap dogged Gabby from birth🤨. What woman hates a child so much that they legally change their name to Devil, just to spite them. Boy I was so done with her after that. I didn't have not one morsel of empathy for her. There were definitely some screws missing in her brain, yet karma showed her whole behind to her and served revenge on a platter. I hope she rots😒.
(Devil) Gabriella Angel Bridges. Spunky, determined, no push over, loving, damaged, hurt, bright light, and resilient. Just a few words I'd use to describe this young beauty who had it so hard, starting from birth. Hard in a sense that all the love that was being poured into her by her dad was constantly trying to be doused by her horrible mother. Hard in a sense that when her mother's mom, Joyce, took her in and loved her, that was overshadowed by whack young girls picking at her at school resulting in Gabby physically defending herself often. Hard as in when she finally finds out she actually has an abundance of family that have been longing for her, it's constantly tried by those who envy what she's recently discovered. This young lady and now woman had to endure so much yet she always kept going. Yes, she sat in hurt and pain, yet she didn't stay there and I loved that about Gabby. She also had come back lines for days, so you might want to watch what you say to her too😏.
Gabby and Zion almost immediately liked each other from afar, yet also disliked each other. The love-hate was strong, yet I like that no matter what, the loyalty on both ends was stronger. While I would've loved more on the actual relationship with these two, I definitely loved reading how they bonded from youth to adulthood.
Zion Falls was ok in my book. I'm not sure why he felt his ex Silver was a good choice for a partner, yet his loyalty was such a great quality to me. This man could've been with whoever he wanted and Silver took that for granted. She was a simple piece of nothing and that karma is serving her well now too. Just bitter and unhappy for no reason. Nonetheless, even if Zion might've made the fatal mistake by having a baby with Silver, he let her go and was a great father to their daughter.
The way Zion immediately took on his duties to protect Gabby was heartwarming. Even in their dislike at times, he wasn't letting anything happen to her. He definitely wasn't for anyone stepping to her wrong or it was a wrap. Once he and she got out of their own way, the immediate attachment and Love he had for Gabby was endearing. Definitely see these two cutting up and loving each other for a lifetime.
While it was nice getting bits of the Falls and Bridges families, I'm looking forward to more on this crew.
Mel Dau always brings the heat and this was no different.
Highly recommend. Great read.
Another Mel Dau banger. I really enjoyed this one. There is so much to unpack, yet I'll try to keep it short and to the point.
While I love a good ol' young to old lovers story, this one definitely had dynamics of hate to like, to more hate to more like, to ok we like yet I'm not going all the way there, to were in love, type of vibe and I liked it.
I love that we get background on the main two characters, Gabriella Angel Bridges and Zion Falls, family lineage and how Bridge Falls even came to be. Black folks coming together to form legacy and generational wealth and community was so beautiful to me. Even in his short time, Angel Bridges was a great man who loved his daughter Gabby and was securing her future.
I don't want to spend too much time on her, so let's get her on out the way🙄. Johnika Sanders was pure unadulterated evil. I really didn't understand how a woman who could've had it all, had so much hatred and evil for not only her own friends and lover, yet for her own daughter. This piece of crap dogged Gabby from birth🤨. What woman hates a child so much that they legally change their name to Devil, just to spite them. Boy I was so done with her after that. I didn't have not one morsel of empathy for her. There were definitely some screws missing in her brain, yet karma showed her whole behind to her and served revenge on a platter. I hope she rots😒.
(Devil) Gabriella Angel Bridges. Spunky, determined, no push over, loving, damaged, hurt, bright light, and resilient. Just a few words I'd use to describe this young beauty who had it so hard, starting from birth. Hard in a sense that all the love that was being poured into her by her dad was constantly trying to be doused by her horrible mother. Hard in a sense that when her mother's mom, Joyce, took her in and loved her, that was overshadowed by whack young girls picking at her at school resulting in Gabby physically defending herself often. Hard as in when she finally finds out she actually has an abundance of family that have been longing for her, it's constantly tried by those who envy what she's recently discovered. This young lady and now woman had to endure so much yet she always kept going. Yes, she sat in hurt and pain, yet she didn't stay there and I loved that about Gabby. She also had come back lines for days, so you might want to watch what you say to her too😏.
Gabby and Zion almost immediately liked each other from afar, yet also disliked each other. The love-hate was strong, yet I like that no matter what, the loyalty on both ends was stronger. While I would've loved more on the actual relationship with these two, I definitely loved reading how they bonded from youth to adulthood.
Zion Falls was ok in my book. I'm not sure why he felt his ex Silver was a good choice for a partner, yet his loyalty was such a great quality to me. This man could've been with whoever he wanted and Silver took that for granted. She was a simple piece of nothing and that karma is serving her well now too. Just bitter and unhappy for no reason. Nonetheless, even if Zion might've made the fatal mistake by having a baby with Silver, he let her go and was a great father to their daughter.
The way Zion immediately took on his duties to protect Gabby was heartwarming. Even in their dislike at times, he wasn't letting anything happen to her. He definitely wasn't for anyone stepping to her wrong or it was a wrap. Once he and she got out of their own way, the immediate attachment and Love he had for Gabby was endearing. Definitely see these two cutting up and loving each other for a lifetime.
While it was nice getting bits of the Falls and Bridges families, I'm looking forward to more on this crew.
Mel Dau always brings the heat and this was no different.
Highly recommend. Great read.
February 8, 2023
Crazy love story
I don't know what made me read this book but I'm glad I did. I was literally scrolling Facebook and it was on my timeline so I bought and read it same day. This is the first book I've read by this author. I was pleasantly surprised. The beginning had me thinking that this book was solely about the horrible mother daughter dynamic between Gabby and Johnika. Must to my surprise it wasn't. I loved me some Zion from the beginning. I wouldn't have been mad if the author chose to kill of Johnika and Silver. I wished that Angel character could've stuck around for a bit longer. I was intrigued by him. I also loved the family element of the book. The Bridges wasn't nothing to play with.
I don't know what made me read this book but I'm glad I did. I was literally scrolling Facebook and it was on my timeline so I bought and read it same day. This is the first book I've read by this author. I was pleasantly surprised. The beginning had me thinking that this book was solely about the horrible mother daughter dynamic between Gabby and Johnika. Must to my surprise it wasn't. I loved me some Zion from the beginning. I wouldn't have been mad if the author chose to kill of Johnika and Silver. I wished that Angel character could've stuck around for a bit longer. I was intrigued by him. I also loved the family element of the book. The Bridges wasn't nothing to play with.
February 8, 2023
Wow and wowwwwww
This was definitely a page turner. The book draws you in immediately and from the start Johnika was not my favorite character. She perfectly fit the role of the antagonist.. How bitter and spiteful you could be to legally change your daughter's name to Devil? Whew! I loved that Gabby found love even if it did not come from her evil mom. I wanted more details on the pairing of Gabby and Zion even though I was glad that they came together. Silver and Ryne were both messy. This was a good read.
This was definitely a page turner. The book draws you in immediately and from the start Johnika was not my favorite character. She perfectly fit the role of the antagonist.. How bitter and spiteful you could be to legally change your daughter's name to Devil? Whew! I loved that Gabby found love even if it did not come from her evil mom. I wanted more details on the pairing of Gabby and Zion even though I was glad that they came together. Silver and Ryne were both messy. This was a good read.
May 25, 2023
Wow! That was WILD!
As unhinged and far out as Johnika's character was, she was believable. We were made to love Angel right off the bat. We rooted for Gabby to get it together, get some love thoughout the book. The town and how it was founded, just delightful.
This story was just everything!
As unhinged and far out as Johnika's character was, she was believable. We were made to love Angel right off the bat. We rooted for Gabby to get it together, get some love thoughout the book. The town and how it was founded, just delightful.
This story was just everything!
April 19, 2023
Review to come soon… ❣️
September 6, 2024
When The Enemy Is Near
Mel Dau, this read right here was something surreal. To know it's evil people like that in the world is the saddest thing. You would think the person that should be your protector actually is the demon spawn.
I was so glad Gabby loved herself, and she was able to finally find what was missing in her life. Mel, your pen, baby baby 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Mel Dau, this read right here was something surreal. To know it's evil people like that in the world is the saddest thing. You would think the person that should be your protector actually is the demon spawn.
I was so glad Gabby loved herself, and she was able to finally find what was missing in her life. Mel, your pen, baby baby 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
December 29, 2023
I’m quick to down a book for numerous errors, so I hesitated reading this after reading the reviews. I recently rediscovered this author and decided to give it a shot anyway. I must’ve missed the errors because I became thoroughly engaged immediately. There were a few spots where the book dragged with the teenage drama, but I could overlook it for the meat of the book.
Johnika, Gabby’s mother, was akin to Cinderella’s stepmother. How anyone could hate their own child that deeply is beyond me – I mean especially since it started at birth, with no provocation from the child. Johnika is the kind of person that should never have been allowed to have children (however that works.) Really, she was irredeemable. Ironically, she renamed her child what she herself should have been named.
Gabby’s come-uppance further fueled her mother’s hatred and the karma was nowhere close to what it should have been, especially when there’s no remorse for any of her actions to anybody.
I couldn’t deal with the foul mouths of these young folk, especially when the adults didn’t squash it and for that I rated only four stars.
Johnika, Gabby’s mother, was akin to Cinderella’s stepmother. How anyone could hate their own child that deeply is beyond me – I mean especially since it started at birth, with no provocation from the child. Johnika is the kind of person that should never have been allowed to have children (however that works.) Really, she was irredeemable. Ironically, she renamed her child what she herself should have been named.
Gabby’s come-uppance further fueled her mother’s hatred and the karma was nowhere close to what it should have been, especially when there’s no remorse for any of her actions to anybody.
I couldn’t deal with the foul mouths of these young folk, especially when the adults didn’t squash it and for that I rated only four stars.
February 18, 2023
the nerve of some people
From page 1 i knew johnika was going to be a piece of work the crap she pulled with Angel and then just drop her child Gabriella on her mom, claim she dead, live a ho life and then repeat….but to change her name to devil 👿… but I must say Gabriella was ready for anyone who stepped to her sideways when she first meet Neytiri and Zion she was about those hands and when her aunt Deb found out her being alive she threw them hands at johnika…her birther put her through hell just because she could but I got to give it to her she didn’t fake how she felt even if it was wrong …now what I don’t understand is what did Zion stay with Silver even he did it like her bs ways yet he stayed and then to find out she slept with his boy because they assumed Gabb and Zion would eventually get together was. Silver and johnika sabotaged themselves. But jail was to good for johnika…this book has you all over the place I laughed ,cried ,laughed again Mel Dau you haven’t disappointed me yet
From page 1 i knew johnika was going to be a piece of work the crap she pulled with Angel and then just drop her child Gabriella on her mom, claim she dead, live a ho life and then repeat….but to change her name to devil 👿… but I must say Gabriella was ready for anyone who stepped to her sideways when she first meet Neytiri and Zion she was about those hands and when her aunt Deb found out her being alive she threw them hands at johnika…her birther put her through hell just because she could but I got to give it to her she didn’t fake how she felt even if it was wrong …now what I don’t understand is what did Zion stay with Silver even he did it like her bs ways yet he stayed and then to find out she slept with his boy because they assumed Gabb and Zion would eventually get together was. Silver and johnika sabotaged themselves. But jail was to good for johnika…this book has you all over the place I laughed ,cried ,laughed again Mel Dau you haven’t disappointed me yet
April 7, 2023
Envy and jealousy is a crime...
There is nothing worst than a confused and ungrateful, self gratification unethical type of bish. Mel you did this one because if I could I would've took Johnika and Silver out thru the screen... seriously how do ppl allow life to get that deep in misery that you can't let go of something you never had control over... The AUDACITY! The fact that she (Johnika) still had daily life even after all she had done is very strong karma and will power on the Bridges side. When Gram Bridges and her own Mom came to the same conclusion and smacked fire from her because of her decisions she was truly in the right position to off herself. Never would I ever want or try to understand that type of daily horror. It got to be a total nightmare to be in that constant state. Thankful Gabby was able to Rise but it seriously took alot of strength to do so... Thank God for a strong and solid foundation that she could gain all that was tossed by the waste side except her mother. Truly a Good Read!
There is nothing worst than a confused and ungrateful, self gratification unethical type of bish. Mel you did this one because if I could I would've took Johnika and Silver out thru the screen... seriously how do ppl allow life to get that deep in misery that you can't let go of something you never had control over... The AUDACITY! The fact that she (Johnika) still had daily life even after all she had done is very strong karma and will power on the Bridges side. When Gram Bridges and her own Mom came to the same conclusion and smacked fire from her because of her decisions she was truly in the right position to off herself. Never would I ever want or try to understand that type of daily horror. It got to be a total nightmare to be in that constant state. Thankful Gabby was able to Rise but it seriously took alot of strength to do so... Thank God for a strong and solid foundation that she could gain all that was tossed by the waste side except her mother. Truly a Good Read!
February 14, 2023
Oh Wow!!!
This book started out with the early background of the main characters which I'm glad the author included. I was sad that Angel lost his life because he truly showed Gabby love from the day that she was born. I was glad Gabby was able to find love from Angel's family and her maternal grandmother after never receiving love from Johnika. Johnika has to be the worst mother that I have ever read in a book. She was truly evil. Who in the world would be so jealous of their child that they would torment them their whole life? From the beginning when he was tasked, Zion was always Gabby's protector and I was glad that they were able to find love with each other. This book was filled with lies, deceit and jealousy. The characters also didn't mind laying hands anytime, anywhere.😆 This is the first book that I read by this author and I truly enjoyed it.
This book started out with the early background of the main characters which I'm glad the author included. I was sad that Angel lost his life because he truly showed Gabby love from the day that she was born. I was glad Gabby was able to find love from Angel's family and her maternal grandmother after never receiving love from Johnika. Johnika has to be the worst mother that I have ever read in a book. She was truly evil. Who in the world would be so jealous of their child that they would torment them their whole life? From the beginning when he was tasked, Zion was always Gabby's protector and I was glad that they were able to find love with each other. This book was filled with lies, deceit and jealousy. The characters also didn't mind laying hands anytime, anywhere.😆 This is the first book that I read by this author and I truly enjoyed it.
February 21, 2023
Niceee 👍👍 Definitely a 4 1/2 stars!!!!
Everything was going so well and good and vining but by about 70%ish into the story, if you didn’t have your running shoes on, well you we’re running without them on your feet. The book, to me, took a nosedive around that time and just kept on running. Now you have these two people who somewhat loved each other since they met in high school but they didn’t know it and I for sure did not see this one. Then they leave, go doing their stuff respectively and still returned within their vicinity but nothing happens until boom, a vodka shots and that’s that…. Boom 🤯 we got a forever can’t live without you type of thing.
In any case, with all that, Johnika was the absolute worst thing ever, then came the weakest link, Silver and the Rayne. The best were the Bridges from Deb to Angel to Neyarti and of course grandma Joyce…. But even with all that I will always dropped what I am doing to grab a MS. Dau whenever it comes up on my feed/etc….
Loved it !!!!!
Everything was going so well and good and vining but by about 70%ish into the story, if you didn’t have your running shoes on, well you we’re running without them on your feet. The book, to me, took a nosedive around that time and just kept on running. Now you have these two people who somewhat loved each other since they met in high school but they didn’t know it and I for sure did not see this one. Then they leave, go doing their stuff respectively and still returned within their vicinity but nothing happens until boom, a vodka shots and that’s that…. Boom 🤯 we got a forever can’t live without you type of thing.
In any case, with all that, Johnika was the absolute worst thing ever, then came the weakest link, Silver and the Rayne. The best were the Bridges from Deb to Angel to Neyarti and of course grandma Joyce…. But even with all that I will always dropped what I am doing to grab a MS. Dau whenever it comes up on my feed/etc….
Loved it !!!!!
April 27, 2023
Potential
Only Devils Left has potential to be a 5 star read if there weren’t so many typos, inconsistencies, and misplaced names spread throughout the story. The typos could be overlooked or read through if the pacing wasn’t off.
As readers we don’t actually get the buildup of love and romance with the two love interests. Instead we get more drama based on Gabby’s mother hating and being jealous of her.
Gabby and Zion went from supposedly not being able to stand each other for years to having relations in the span of about two pages, if that. Their relationship was very backstory and definitely not centered in everything that was going on.
We know more about Gabby’s mother’s jealous nature than Zion’s character as a love interest.
While not completely horrible, this reads as a first draft and needs a bit of fine tuning before it’s a 4 or 5 star read.
Only Devils Left has potential to be a 5 star read if there weren’t so many typos, inconsistencies, and misplaced names spread throughout the story. The typos could be overlooked or read through if the pacing wasn’t off.
As readers we don’t actually get the buildup of love and romance with the two love interests. Instead we get more drama based on Gabby’s mother hating and being jealous of her.
Gabby and Zion went from supposedly not being able to stand each other for years to having relations in the span of about two pages, if that. Their relationship was very backstory and definitely not centered in everything that was going on.
We know more about Gabby’s mother’s jealous nature than Zion’s character as a love interest.
While not completely horrible, this reads as a first draft and needs a bit of fine tuning before it’s a 4 or 5 star read.
February 15, 2023
🔥🔥🔥
From the reviews I seen that Gabby’s mom was something else and they are all right if she was a real person she deserves all of our hands ON SITE because baby how can you be such a hateful person to your own child. How can you hate someone but you always around them its not like Gabby wanted to be around her after she left. Silver was no better and should have been Johnika’s child. I feel like Gabby didn’t really need closure from Johnika, she should have known that she wasn’t going to get it so why continue to waste your time.
I wish we could have gotten more of the relationship between Zion and Gabby everything else overshadowed a little, this was still an amazing book like any other book Mel Dau puts out.
From the reviews I seen that Gabby’s mom was something else and they are all right if she was a real person she deserves all of our hands ON SITE because baby how can you be such a hateful person to your own child. How can you hate someone but you always around them its not like Gabby wanted to be around her after she left. Silver was no better and should have been Johnika’s child. I feel like Gabby didn’t really need closure from Johnika, she should have known that she wasn’t going to get it so why continue to waste your time.
I wish we could have gotten more of the relationship between Zion and Gabby everything else overshadowed a little, this was still an amazing book like any other book Mel Dau puts out.
July 10, 2024
Family Love
This book had me all in my feelings!!!…Johnika had all this anger and bitterness towards her daughter when she created all the uneasiness in her life, and all the losses she suffered!!!…
How can one person be so selfish and bitterness!!!…To change your daughter’s name to Devil, that is rotten soul!!!…
2 different women with anger twds one woman, who was put in a position she never asked to be in!!!…
I’m so glad that Gabriella found her family and her peace because she deserved all of it!!!…
Johnika didn’t get enough time and to keep sending her letters let you know she needs some serious mental health therapy!!!…
She was the whole devil and should have changed her own name!!!…
This book had me all in my feelings!!!…Johnika had all this anger and bitterness towards her daughter when she created all the uneasiness in her life, and all the losses she suffered!!!…
How can one person be so selfish and bitterness!!!…To change your daughter’s name to Devil, that is rotten soul!!!…
2 different women with anger twds one woman, who was put in a position she never asked to be in!!!…
I’m so glad that Gabriella found her family and her peace because she deserved all of it!!!…
Johnika didn’t get enough time and to keep sending her letters let you know she needs some serious mental health therapy!!!…
She was the whole devil and should have changed her own name!!!…
February 12, 2023
What a book!
Chile what a ride I was on reading this book. All I can say is I have to agree is that some people hate just because they can, no reasonneeded. Mental illness is real. I'm just happy that Gabriella came out stronger in the end. With the love and support from Zion and her fathers family. Love from your mother is what we all crave, but to be intentionally deprived of that from your mother can and will weaken you down. I'm happy Gabriella has Zion and his love so she doesn't allow the lack of love from her mother to make her become bitter or just like her mother.
Chile what a ride I was on reading this book. All I can say is I have to agree is that some people hate just because they can, no reasonneeded. Mental illness is real. I'm just happy that Gabriella came out stronger in the end. With the love and support from Zion and her fathers family. Love from your mother is what we all crave, but to be intentionally deprived of that from your mother can and will weaken you down. I'm happy Gabriella has Zion and his love so she doesn't allow the lack of love from her mother to make her become bitter or just like her mother.
February 18, 2023
Wow, just wow
Oh man, this story was truly something. I have read about some bad mothers and sadly knew some in real life, but this with Johnika makes the worst of bad mothers look good. The level of hatred that Johnika had for Gabriella was totally CRAZY to change your daughters name to DEVIL and tell her father's family that she died the same night as her dad was hatred at its highest. Loved me some Bridges family and their acceptance and love of Gabriella once they discovered she was alive. Zion and Gabriella were a sweet couple once they finally got their act together. Great story. I totally recommend it for new and old readers of Mel Dau's work.
Oh man, this story was truly something. I have read about some bad mothers and sadly knew some in real life, but this with Johnika makes the worst of bad mothers look good. The level of hatred that Johnika had for Gabriella was totally CRAZY to change your daughters name to DEVIL and tell her father's family that she died the same night as her dad was hatred at its highest. Loved me some Bridges family and their acceptance and love of Gabriella once they discovered she was alive. Zion and Gabriella were a sweet couple once they finally got their act together. Great story. I totally recommend it for new and old readers of Mel Dau's work.
April 4, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was for sure entertaining. A whole lotta something stuffed into onion of a story.
If the author would’ve cut down 30% of jonika’s foolishness, this would’ve been at least a 4 star read. At some point it was like, her behavior was being romanticized and the real tea… Gabby and Zion were minimized.
I definitely wish this was longer and we had more unrevealing of their story. Maybe some more of the implied chemistry and tension. We had brief hints of it, but I didn’t get a chance to experience it. The story focused more on the drama.
Overall, the author has captured my attention, so I’m going to check out more of her work.
This was for sure entertaining. A whole lotta something stuffed into onion of a story.
If the author would’ve cut down 30% of jonika’s foolishness, this would’ve been at least a 4 star read. At some point it was like, her behavior was being romanticized and the real tea… Gabby and Zion were minimized.
I definitely wish this was longer and we had more unrevealing of their story. Maybe some more of the implied chemistry and tension. We had brief hints of it, but I didn’t get a chance to experience it. The story focused more on the drama.
Overall, the author has captured my attention, so I’m going to check out more of her work.
May 13, 2023
Awesome Read
Gabby went through life suffering because her mother hated her. It didn't matter how much her grandmother, Joyce, loved her she still felt inadequate. Once her grandmother took her back to her mom, she found out she had so much love in Bridge Falls. Zion knew the first time he saw Gabby, that he would protect everything about her forever. Johnicka showed that the world is hateful, evil people! She never tried to change her ways to benefit either of her children. She and Silver received the karma they deserved for their ways! Gabby stayed happy and successful with everyone standing beside her! This was an amazing read!
Gabby went through life suffering because her mother hated her. It didn't matter how much her grandmother, Joyce, loved her she still felt inadequate. Once her grandmother took her back to her mom, she found out she had so much love in Bridge Falls. Zion knew the first time he saw Gabby, that he would protect everything about her forever. Johnicka showed that the world is hateful, evil people! She never tried to change her ways to benefit either of her children. She and Silver received the karma they deserved for their ways! Gabby stayed happy and successful with everyone standing beside her! This was an amazing read!
August 30, 2023
not bad but not good either
This book started off good but it had no plot, no moment where some excitement came. Truthfully it was obvious what was going to happen in the end. Not surprisingly, Zion and Gabby ended up together, I figured he wasn’t gonna break up with Silver until after she had a baby and him and gabby would end up raising the child together. Like I after they graduated high school I knew everything that was gonna happen before reading it. It was just not an interesting book. They also didn’t really go into Zion’s character enough and there were too many errors and grammar mistakes.
This book started off good but it had no plot, no moment where some excitement came. Truthfully it was obvious what was going to happen in the end. Not surprisingly, Zion and Gabby ended up together, I figured he wasn’t gonna break up with Silver until after she had a baby and him and gabby would end up raising the child together. Like I after they graduated high school I knew everything that was gonna happen before reading it. It was just not an interesting book. They also didn’t really go into Zion’s character enough and there were too many errors and grammar mistakes.
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