Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend

by Nonnie Jules

*THIS BOOK IS FOR AUDIENCES 18 YEARS OLD AND OLDER. NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN!

"She was one horrible mess. Always looking over her shoulder and avoiding becoming too friendly with the neighbors. That anxiety stemmed from a horrible place. Always fearing that someone would recognize her face, she kept to herself and didn't go out much. And when she did, no matter the season, she wore some kind of hat or covering on her head, enough to shield her face.

Walter never understood why she was such a loner, avoiding people at all cost and just being very anti-social outside of the house. Houston was originally her home, not his, yet she didn't even want her own family and friends to know that she had returned. The only person she found herself being able to really open up with was Walter. And although she tried to make him feel otherwise, he knew that there was still a huge wall up that even he would never be able to see over or climb."

Marisa had a secret and if it was ever revealed, it would cost her her life and her freedom.

370 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 26, 2013

About the author

Nonnie Jules was born in TX in the mid-70s. When she was a mere toddler, her family relocated to Shreveport, LA, which is where she resides today with her husband and her two ANGEL daughters, as she often refers to them. They live on a huge strip of land, surrounded by every animal imaginable (her daughters are total animal lovers).

Nonnie's first book, "THE GOOD MOMMIES' GUIDE TO RAISING (ALMOST) PERFECT DAUGHTERS", 100 Tips on Raising Daughters Everyone Can't Help But Love! was written in 17 days and born out of the many questions she often gets when people meet her daughters for the very first time..."How did you do it?" and "How can I do it?" are just as normal for her to hear as "Mommy, I'm missing one of my socks!" People are constantly and genuinely AMAZED at the politeness, the kindness, the caring manner and the overall demeanor of my daughters. But, I have to say, I worked very hard at grooming them this way.

"When I was pregnant with my firstborn, I looked around the world and what I saw, I knew I didn't want my daughters to become. So, I made it my mission to raise my daughters in a different manner. AND I DID IT SUCCESSFULLY!"

Nonnie is new at the Author table, but she is definitely no stranger to writing. She began writing poetry at a very young age and continues to write poetry as well as short stories, fiction and non, novels and how-to guides. She coins herself a "multi-genre writer".

Her second book "Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend" is due for release in August, 2013. It chronicles the life of a teenager/turned adult woman and her journey through a life with an abusive mother and step-father. Tune in to find out if the character, Marisa James, comes out on top or loses in the end.

Nonnie says that she will continue to write as long as her readers continue to read. She would like to become a best-selling author, "not because she sold a ton of books because it was the latest craze, but because people actually read it and thought the writing was phenomenal."

Reviews

[Rave Reviews Book Club]

“DAYDREAMS’ DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND” was the true story OF the “character” Maiya James. Let’s clarify here {MAIYA JAMES IS ONLY A CHARACTER IN THE MIND OF THE AUTHOR}. This story, from page one had us sitting on the edge of our seats, prepped for the roller-coaster ride it promised to be. This is the journey of one young girl who suffers abuse after abuse, repeatedly, at the hands of those who are supposed to protect her. Because of her abuse, she is sent spiraling down a very dark road that in the end, proves to be her downfall. When she can’t stand the haunting memories any longer, which come in the form of her nightmares and daydreams, she snaps and does the unthinkable. Maiya is forced from one hell straight into another, where she experiences even more unfathomable abuse. Determined to break free and regain her life, she flees and then meets the man of her dreams. She and Walter build a beautiful life together but the ugly secrets of her past keep her from being the wife and the person she wants to be. Then one day, those secrets walk right up to her and threaten to expose and ruin her new life. Will she be thrown back into a hell she didn’t deserve to be in or will she get a pass for all the wrong that has been done to her?

Author, NONNIE Jules has done an EXCEPTIONAL job of creating characters that ring true and larger than life! Situations that felt all-too-real and made us too uncomfortable to read any further, yet caused us to stay put and hurry to turn to the next page. As any great storyteller would do, she made us FEEL Maiya’s pain as well as the pain of those who loved her. She took us inside the minds of the evil mother and step-father who abused her, causing us to feel great disdain for them both, and then she made us fall so deeply in love with the grandparents, Dea and Papa J. This book felt so real to so many and it was so well-written, it was hard to believe that it was a debut novel. It started out with a few editing errors, but Ms. Jules, being the perfectionist she is, took the time to pull it off the shelf and do a complete RE-EDIT of the entire book so that her wonderful readers would always have the best copy of “DAYDREAM’S DAUGHTER, NIGHTMARE’S FRIEND.” But even before her over-haul, the story still flowed seamlessly. Rave Reviews Book Club can only give this book a 5***** STAR RATING!!! We are HIGHLY RECOMMENDING it as a great read!!!

This is a collective group review.

[Bill Ward]

This is a gripping story about a poor girl called Maiya, abused by her Stepfather from a young age, who her alcoholic mother disowns when she finds her being raped, blaming the teenage child for leading her partner astray! I don't want to give plot elements away but suffice to say her being abused is only the start of her problems.
Fortunately Maiya has a kind and loving godmother she can turn to for help and loving grandparents who help her through the worst of times, which provides us with hope Maiya will have a better future. But nothing is easy in this young girl's life.
The author does an excellent job of making all the characters believable and I was quickly emotionally attached to our young heroine. I couldn't put the book down because I was caught up in the story and wanted to discover how Maiya would survive her many ordeals.
The book tackles a difficult but important subject matter and though not always an easy read as a result, it is very well written and I was very grateful to the author for the uplifting end.
I highly recommend this book.

[Janice Ross]

Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend introduces readers to the complex, and dare I say unfair, life of Maiya James. As parents, we are to protect and shelter our children. We are to keep them from harm. We are to stand in the face of danger and challenge it ever stage of the way. Sadly, that's not what happened for Maiya James. Author Jules does a remarkable job of drawing out an array of deep emotions, as she takes readers on an unforgettable journey. Just when you think that things were looking up for Maiya, here comes a whole different challenge to her already complicated life. Furthermore, each and every character had a significant role in Maiya's life - be it good or bad.

One characteristic that I look for in a hero or heroine is their resilience. In Nonnie Jules' Coming of Age novel Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend I found such a character. As I read this raw and shocking account of a young girl's jilted life, I couldn't help but shed tears from time to time. And even when this child grows up, with a family of her own, I became that much more enthralled at how things developed based on her upbringing. In a way, I now consider that this might've been a character study about the effects of abuse.

DDNF has ridden my mind since the day I finished reading it. That is the effect of Nonnie Jules' writing. The author has a strong command on language and excellent ability to carry a difficult plot, allowing for events to unfold as necessary. Moreover, the impact of this reading has quite simply stunned me. I am not one to give spoilers; however, I will say that DDNF can easily capture readers that are looking to be taken in by the realities of a less than perfect life.

[Dormaine G.]

DDNF is not for anyone under the age of eighteen even though it involves the young. Unfortunately, it deals with a subject that has and still continues to occur, sexual abuse of a child, which is terrible.

Maiya is a young woman that not only had to deal with poverty growing up, but she had to deal with the lack of affection from her alcoholic, mother to her step-father who showed her too much affection by sexually abusing her. This book delves into that cruel reality of abuse and its consequences. It houses revenge, numerous amounts of mistakes involving sexual promiscuity and an abundance of drug abuse. Clearly this is a sad story but a real one as it continues to occur in today's society.

Nonnie Jules does this subject matter justice by keeping it harsh, real, and raw. She pulls you in from beginning to end even though, at times, you want to turn away but you cannot. Her character and scene descriptions gives you such a clear picture of what is happening which, a lot of it, is hard to take in. Well done, Nonnie Jules, for writing a heart wrenching story that I could not put down. I highly recommend the book!

[Kindle Ninja]

Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend by Nonnie Jules was not an easy read, and yet I finished it in record time. And I think I know why. I wanted it to end so badly because I didn’t know how much more of Maiya’s suffering I could take. I agonized at her helplessness and I was tormented by the vicious cycle of sexual abuse and violence that she had to endure. Part of me was saying, 'if you’re not gonna kill this monster of a stepfather, I would!'

Such is the effect of a well-written dark and haunting novel that mirrors a reality that is largely unnoticed, or worse, ignored.

Maiya’s transformation is the effect of years of abuse and neglect, yet she managed to go on and live a life that has a semblance of order and normalcy, or so we thought.

Jules succeeds in taking you to a dark place rife with uncertainty, yet offers some kind of a reprieve and a faint assurance that there’ll be better days ahead for all the Maiyas of the world.

[Susan]

Nonnie Jules has done an incredible job on taking you into the dark, twisted world of abuse from the eyes of a young woman named Maiya James. She did an excellent job in taking the reader on the powerful, emotional roller coaster through the life of this girl, and addressing the real cycles of poverty among all sorts of abuse. The tale of Maiya's fears, pains, hopes, sadness, and joys created much suspense while the story constantly tugs at your emotional heart strings. Maiya was definitely a character you could connect with.

[Winter Sophia Rose]

Twists, Turns, Gripping, Spellbinding, Heartbreaking, Dark, Intense Page Turned! A Powerful Read! I Loved It!

[Alex Jones]

Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend is the story of Maiya James, a young African-American woman born into an impoverished Houston family. She is the daughter of Aurelia “Daydream” James, a woman who is both emotionally and physically abusive to Maiya. But Daydream’s biggest crime is emotional neglect - turning a blind eye to the sexual abuse being doled out by Maiya’s stepfather, Duran Lee.

As a writer, who is also a psychologist, I was very interested to have the opportunity to read this novel by Nonnie Jules, especially since it deals with very similar themes to my first novel. The story reads more like a memoir than a fictional novel, but the author’s style of writing works well for this particular story, which grabs the reader and evokes our empathy for Maiya right from the opening line. It is an endearing story that is very gritty and hard to read at times, given the graphic descriptions of abuse that are necessary for us to really understand what Maiya endured.

Daydream’s Daughter skilfully captures the reality of how abuse affects the lives of its victims - from substance abuse to periods of dissociative amnesia and rage and violence, to sexual promiscuity and difficulty with being able to trust true adult intimacy. It is obvious that the author has an excellent understanding of the nature of domestic and sexual abuse and its tragic consequences. Despite the often heavy subject matter, the author’s writing style is light and easy to read. Overall, Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s friend is a beautiful debut novel from a writer with a talent for telling stories that encompass both the dark side and the loving side of life.

[Beem Weeks]

Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend by Nonnie Jules opens with a shooting. A teenage girl appears to have pulled the trigger. What would lead an outwardly normal, well-adjusted girl to shoot the primary breadwinner in a home stricken with poverty? Author Jules lures the reader in, sparing few details in this dark read. Think Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison for these modern times.

Maiya’s mother is a physically abusive alcoholic with little patience for her daughter (one of seven children fathered by several different men). Bad things happen, which leads to unimaginable and awful secrets far too heavy for a young girl to be forced to bear.

Maiya does have allies in her corner: a godmother who helps the girl deal with the consequences of abuse; a best friend, Charlotte, who wants to shield Maiya from the horrible realities in her corner of the world; loving grandparents who try to do what they feel is right by their granddaughter; and others who drift into her life at various times. But this story is about Maiya, about her struggle for a normal life, about one girl who seeks triumph in the face of certain defeat.

Nonnie Jules has proven herself a skilled storyteller of the first order. As far as debut novels go, this one ranks high on my list. There are some sexually explicit scenes, so this is not a novel for the youngsters. But for those who enjoy a good, solid story, Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend is one you’ll want to read.

[Ria MacAlister]

Wow. Just wow. This was an incredibly difficult book to read, but one I couldn't put down. A conundrum, for sure.

First, I have to say that Maiya's story could have been my own, in many ways. I wrote my own first novel to deal with abuse issues in my past and I'm wondering if Ms. Jules has done the same, as the book is so descriptive and thought-provoking, the story had to have come from the depths of her soul. The pain, terror, horror and frank disregard that poor Maiya suffered through as a child was heart-wrenching and soul-rending for me, as it ripped open a lot of my past wounds and I nearly bled to death. And here I thought I had slammed the door on those damned demons! While it wasn't my father or step-father who molested me, I was nevertheless molested as a child, and Maiya's mother, with her uncaring, unloving, downright hateful "parenting" could have been MY mother, alcoholism and all.

You cringe while reading this story, almost reading as though watching a horror movie through your fingers, yet you keep on, hoping beyond hope that soon Maiya will have what she deserves--love first and foremost. A life lived without fear. Some pride in herself. Happiness. I won't spoil the book by telling you how it ends, but I will say that I was thankful I stuck with it, old demons beatin' on my door and all :)

[Harmony Kent]

Maiya is abused by her stepfather, routinely. Events quickly get out of hand. What follows is an evocative account of her life, and the many trials and tribulations she goes through.

I felt that the character development was very well done, so much so that I was moved to tears at times. There were points at which the main character came across as a bit numb, but really this is so realistic to how she WOULD be reacting in real life. The biggest defence is to close off . . . that, or go crazy. The plot and pacing were also very well done, and the ending was well finished.

The narrative is written in a passive style, but reads well regardless. There are some minor proofing issues, as well as some equally minor editing tweaks called for. None of which diminished my overall enjoyment of the read. Some of the writing is in informal style, such as "thru" for "through", but this is consistent throughout the book, and it didn't take long for my brain to adjust. I suspect that as a UK reader, this may have stood out for me more than it would do for an American reader.

I have read books by this author before, and I will certainly read more in the future. 'Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend' gets a strong four stars from me.

[Nicholas Rossis]

Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend starts with a bang, and continues, relentless in its pacing. The first third is particularly heart-wrenching agony that caused a turmoil of emotions within me. I felt sick at the abuse the hero suffered, and couldn't put the book down until the resolution of the various crises. This, of course, is a testament to Jules' writing skills, the immediacy of her descriptions and the punch her word carry.

Most characters, with the nuanced exception of the heroine, whose growth and maturing is beautifully portrayed, tended to be either very good or terribly bad. This makes for gripping reading, but I would have enjoyed it more if the "good" guys also had a dark side to them, and the "bad" ones a lighter one.

Still, it's telltale that I read it within a couple of days, ignoring minor distractions like my birthday (!), and stealing time away from work to follow the heroine's dark tale of crime and redemption until the very end. This is a thriller that may be too dark or explicit for some, but just perfect for others.

[Tamika Christy]

Daydream's Daughter, is a tale of the misfortune and tragedy of young Maiya James. Maiya is abused, neglected and misled yet she manages to keep pushing forward. This book is intense all the way through and Nonnie manages to weave the reader into Maiya's world and shares all of the pain this young lady endures.

Even when we think Maiya has found some semblance of normalcy and peace, trouble finds its way into her life over and over again. I was drawn into Maiya's life and ached for this young lady, hoping for a bit of good fortune or change of luck for her. This story takes you to the deepest depths of abuse and neglect and reminds us all how strong we can be when faced with even the toughest situations.

If you are looking for a feel good book with a happy ending, this isn't it, but it is an honest look at strength, relationships and redemption. I wished the author had shown us more of the dynamics of Maiya's life rather than just tell us and there were a few editing issues but otherwise a solid book. Definitely a recommended read!

[Shelley Young]

This book is definitely not for the faint in heart. If you are a fan of Sapphire, author of Precious, you may like this book. My issues with this book was the explicit details that described the abuse of a child. Yes, this issue needs to be discussed. I totally agree with that, but most readers do not appreciate such harsh realism while reading UNLESS they specifically chosen a book for this purpose. In defense of the author, I did not read any excerpts before buying. This is my fault. Overall, the book wasn't bad, it just had many moments hard to swallow. As a published author of Thriller/Suspense novels, I often write about murders, conspiracies, betrayal. My lead character of my Dardian Dreshaj series is a contract killer. In otherwords, my books are most definitely dark. Some of my favorite authors also write dark pieces. Still, I say that this book was just TOO dark for me. However, it may not be dark to others. Becuase of that, I give this book four stars. If you do decide to buy and want to discuss what you got out of it, contact me.

[Bethan]

This is a fairly well written but disturbing story about an abused girl who kills her step-father one day while in a daze.

The description of her internal thoughts in the first part of the story is so realistic that it's easy for the reader to feel her absolute despair and the helplessness that has pushed her over the edge. The narrative then goes back to explain what led her to the act and how the events have escalated over several years until she reached the point where she could not take anymore.

The story brings home the limitations that children and teenagers have when they grow up in loveless or abusive homes. The mother's alcoholism is all too typical of very real situations where this kind of disfunctionality is found in families. While I found the story disturbing to read, I think it could be cathartic for women who have suffered some form of childhood abuse and have felt unable to let those negative feelings go or felt they had to keep the events secret. Kudos to Nonnie Jules for shining a light in the darkest corners.

[Devinder Dhiman]

When the protectors turn oppressors, life for children can be nothing less than nightmare. Maiya, a nice girl, had to face such humiliation, torture and abuse at the hands of her step-father and mother nicknamed ‘Daydream’, that her life became a burden on her. One day, the anger built up inside her caused her to take the life of her step-father, thus she landed in jail. In jail also, she found no peace, she was physically assaulted twice and landed in hospital. With help from her grandfather, she ran from the prison and lived with a different name and disguise under consistent fear of getting caught by the authorities. Maiya,good at heart, wanted to live a normal peaceful life, but her destiny made the life so difficult for her that you really feel for her while reading her emotional story lived in horrendous conditions. The story is well written, depicting the psychology of a badly treated child. Inner goodness of the child and the troubles she faces in her life, keep you interested in the story throughout.

[Stevie Turner]

Young, powerless and vulnerable, I was shocked at the abuse poor Maiya had to endure at the hands of the people who should have been protecting her. I am in awe of what this young lady has gone through. The saying is true that 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger', and Maiya must now be a very strong woman indeed and well-prepared to take whatever else life has to throw at her.

There were a few editorial errors, but the narrative flowed well and had me reading right until the end.

There's one thing that might cheer Maiya up. She states that her mother-in-law hates her, but this is definitely the mother-in-law syndrome. I am white and my mother-in -law is white, but she still hates me. In fact I think she would have probably hated every girl that her son brought home!

I thoroughly recommend this book!

[Kathryn]

I found this book to be a page turner. Author Nonnie Jules, does a wonderful job drawing in her readers with descriptions that allow them to feel the pain and fear of Maiya James (the main character). The topic of abuse is all too familiar and Daydream's Daughter, Nightmare's Friend draws attention to this sad but true occurrence.

This is a must read.

[Shirley]

Nonnie is an amazing writer. Her main character Maiya went through hell most of her young life being abused at the hands of her stepfather. She finds her way out of the nightmare but not without paying a terrible price. You could feel her pain as Nonnie takes you on a wild ride from insanity to redemption.

This is a good book to read and I recommend it.

[Karen Ingalls]

This book is spellbinding while you read the tragic life of a young girl and cheer her on as she makes new life choices. The books speaks to the important roles of trusting and loving family member; how total strangers can minister to any one of us; and the gift of unconditional love. It is a book I highly recommend.

[Bruce Borders]

Intriguing. Shocking. Gripping. This book is a compelling read! You'll feel as if you are there - and then wish you weren't! Excellent!

[Karen Ingalls]

A story that breaks your heart and then lifts you back up. The tragedy of child abuse, neglect, and a young woman's fight to rise above it. Highly recommend this book.

[Brian O'Hare]

Plays Havoc with your Emotions

When reviewing a book, it is necessary for the reviewer to step back after reading it and ask himself one essential question. What is that sets this book apart? What is it that gives it that essential individuality that sets it above the ordinary?

Invariably the usual answers tend to obtrude. Perhaps it’s the writing? The characters? The storyline? Certainly the storyline of Daydream’s Child, Nightmare’s Friend by Nonnie Jules is unusual and dark and plays havoc with the reader’s emotions. The characters, too, are very real and there can be no reader who, given the chance, would not go looking for a shotgun to shoot the utterly loathsome Daydream.

The writing, too, offers significant opportunity for comment. Jules, in her wisdom, has chosen a very difficult vehicle in which to carry her narrative, a stream-of-consciousness technique that allows the reader to inhabit the abused teenager’s mind throughout her suffering and trials. The problem with this technique is that, since the objective is to reflect the often immature and fuddled elements of a child’s mind with its limited vocabulary and imagery, the protagonist’s inner agonisings can seize upon the narration, can impose themselves upon it, thus inhibiting normal authorial flow. It can make the writing seem uneven at times, even awkward, and it is important that the reader be able to distinguish between character angst and any suspicion of defect in the writer’s skill.

All of that said, however, it was not any of these considerations that came to my mind when I stood back and asked myself the essential question, what sets this book apart? The answer jumped at me: IMPACT. This story strikes the reader like a sledgehammer, leaving him dazed and reeling, days after he has put the book down. Because of the writing technique, the action is all too real and I found the early pages extremely painful to read – the helplessness of Maiya, the brutality of her stepfather, the unnatural cruelty of her mother. How could any sixteen-year old girl be allowed to suffer so much? Anyone with an ounce of empathy will be shattered emotionally after reading about the violent abuse visited upon this child, and about the series of future misfortunes that seem to dog the young woman as she progresses through life.

This is a worthy attempt to deal with the never-ending issue of childhood abuse and, while it is fascinating to read, I am sure that most readers would do well to read the book in small sections. To try to read too much in one sitting, is to risk having your emotions ripped to shreds.

If you are one of those readers who love to get emotionally involved with the characters in a book they are reading, then I can thoroughly recommend Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend.

[Valerie]

I found the abuse in this story quite believable, accurate and heartbreaking. This book is a peek into a world that unfortunately many children grow up in today. It is not common that a mother would have no love or affection for one of her offspring, but in cases involving substance abuse it is possible.
The title character is Maiya who is sexually abused repeatedly and because of her fear never reports her abuse. She has a support system in place but never uses it until she needs money. She turns to her godmother who helps her very lovingly and trustfully but even when asked, Maiya still does not reveal the truth.
Unfortunately for Maiya, keeping quiet is the worst thing she can do. It is also not plausible because it is clear her mother does not love her and she does not love her mother, so she has nothing to lose by revealing her abuser. She has two separate refuges available to her and fails to make the move that would allow her to go to either one of them.
Finally the truth comes out and it is the best thing to ever happen. Maiya is a good girl so we expect her to pull herself together and make the most of her new, happy and loving home. Instead, Maiya then makes decisions and irrevocable mistakes that systematically destroy the only people in the world who truly love her.
This book is so true to life it and so familiar to me that I am never surprised by Maiya’s poor choices. Maiya knows how to “act” nice but continues to disappoint with her lack of character. It is heartbreakingly disappointing because of her seemingly high potential in the beginning.
Maiya is one very fortunate young lady, she gets more breaks than one could ever expect in real life. She is so damaged by the abuse she suffered that she is never truly grateful to those who really cared for her. She abuses her caregivers by not doing what she should, abusing drugs, lying and more.
This is a realistic story of contemporary family dynamics and issues. Nonnie Jules takes the very real problem of child sexual abuse and shows how even those who have strong support systems in place need more than love, shelter and material needs to recover. The author grasps and relays the psychological hopelessness that comes with physical recovery. Though she is able to feel guilt, Maiya never gets that psychological recovery and has clear symptoms of post-traumatic stress. The ending of the story is ambiguous which is an artful move by the author. As much as we want a happy ending, there is no way to make it so without losing credibility.

[Jan Sikes]

This highly charged emotional story is one of tragedies that can only be imagined by most. When young Maiya James finds herself in a situation of being repeatedly abused, sexually by her stepfather and verbally as well as physically by her mother, she feels only shame. As I was reading, being a former employee of Child Protective Services, I cried out to her to ‘please just tell someone…anyone.’
But, Maiya couldn’t bring herself to reveal this horrible secret and so the abuse continued. Two pregnancies later (both caused by the stepfather), she finally reaches out to her godmother, G-Anne. At last, I thought the abuse would be over, only to have the hope that she would finally be freed from this unimaginable hell crushed when G-Anne is involved in a near fatal car crash on her way to get Maiya and take her from the situation.
So, now Maiya carries not only the shame of the abuse, but tremendous guilt for having caused G-Anne to be so distraught that she wrecked her car. There seems to be no way out for young Maiya. She is trapped.
Eventually, she calls her grandmother for help. She’s suffered a particularly brutal beating from her mother after catching the stepfather in the sex act with Maiya. She is out of the home, but the memories haunt her. She is still not free.
Then, one night, Maiya does the unthinkable. In a drug-induced state, she walks into the home she’d lived in and shoots the stepfather six times. He is dead. He can no longer hurt her. And yet the nightmare continues.
Maiya is sentenced to prison for murder and even though she is only seventeen years old, she is sent to an adult prison.
All through the book, my heart broke for Maiya. I wanted her to finally have revenge for the horrors that had been inflicted on her. I wanted her mother to be brought down and suffer consequences for her own part in the abuse. I wanted redemption for Maiya.
Does she find it? You’ll have to read the dramatic tale by Author, Nonnie Jules to find out. I give this book four stars.

[Kenneth Kerr]

Potential NY Times Bestseller
Maiya James is a phenomenal lead character in a powerfully told story. Growing up poor in a dysfunctional home with an alcoholic mother, Daydream, and a sexually abusive stepfather, Duran Lee, plus five brothers and sisters in the projects of Houston, TX, she has one friend her own age, Charlotte, and is close to her grandparents, Dea and Papa J, and her god-mother G-Anne. After two pregnancies by her stepfather followed by abortions, her mother, in a drunken state, finally walks in on them, blames Maiya, and throws her out on the street. After moving in with her grandparents, who love her like her mother never did, they enroll her in a new high school for her senior year, which creates another set of emotional issues for her. She returns to her home and murders Duran Lee, is arrested, and agrees to a plea deal to serve 7 to 15 years in a minimum-security prison in the Texas State Penitentiary System. After one year in prison, being raped by another inmate and almost killed, her grandfather plans an escape for Maiya. She spends several years with a loving couple in southern California, and then moves back to Houston to see her grandparents one more time. She meets and marries a successful lawyer in Houston and has two children with him. At a party, her former warden recognizes her voice and has her arrested. I may have already said too much, so I will stop before I give away the ending.
This is a powerfully written story about the life of a teenage girl growing up in a poor, dysfunctional family where the unloving mother is an alcoholic, and the stepfather physically, emotionally, and sexually abuses her for years. The author has written a great story and describes Maiya's life so well the readers can feel all her emotions. This quality of writing does not come along very often. It is definitely bestseller material. I highly recommend this book. Great job, Nonnie Jules.

[Jo Robinson]

There’s a paragraph written by Nonnie Jules in the front of this book, before the first chapter, before the title page, that made me think that it should be printed out, and handed to every parent on the day that they first hold their child. Maiya’s story drew me in immediately. At so many points I personally wanted to hurt those who hurt her so badly. Her mother most of all. I don’t want to include any spoilers, because at no point in Maiya’s journey do you know what will happen next. This book is written in a compellingly visual style that made me feel as if I was right there all the time, and the characters are all so real that I really hated some, and built up a great affection for many others.
This book shows what it’s like to start off your life with everything stacked against you. The story of a child unloved, and put in the way of the worst kind of harm by those who should be keeping harm away. It also shows that the law isn’t always just, and that love and protection can come from those who society have thrown away. I loved that Maiya never gave up no matter how terrifying or painful her life got, and that she remained “real” and relatable, right the way through to the nail-biting, beautiful finish. Now I find myself wanting to know if Marisa will stay, or Maiya return instead, and what will happen next.
I’m sure it’s not normal to add a book’s acknowledgements in a review, but I must add that the time this author took to thank so many people, and the warmth and affection that flow from her words are something I’ve never seen before. Her thanking of the real “Dea” really brought a smile. This book had me on the edge of my seat all the way, and I thoroughly recommend it

[Jennie Sherwin]

"Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend" by Nonnie Jules is a page turner! What makes me want to read fiction is simple. Did the author create believable characters I can care about and does the plot draw me in so that I want to know what happens next? "Daydream's Daughter…" scores a big YES on both counts. And I must admit that being drawn into this story as much as I was caught me by surprise. Why? Well, I don’t usually read stories set in the criminal justice system. When the book was recommended to me by a friend, I decided to read it just to see what it was that had attracted my friend. And then I met Maiya, the protagonist of "Daydream’s Daughter…", and I was drawn into her story. It made me mad as hell that someone so young could be the victim of abuse at home and then be brutalized by our system of justice that punishes rather than reforms and educates the people who are judged to have broken the law. "Daydream’s Daughter…" persuaded me, if I needed persuading at all, that our society needs to bring a new perspective to how we view and treat the broken souls who wind up in our criminal justice system. As for the writing in this book, the author obviously had done her homework on the processing of offenders. She provides authentic detail. I recommend this book as an accomplished first novel of an author who should be supported as she develops her craft. We will see great things from her in the future.

[Ernesto Giacomo]

Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend starts with a proverbial bang and doesn’t let up. The saga of the main character Maiya James is a gut-wrenching punch from beginning to end. It makes the reader want to rail against the hypocrisy of our so-called justice system, and against dysfunctional parents.
However, Author Nonnie Jules balances all things. She presents us with starkly good and evil characters. For example, evil parents are juxtaposed with saintly grandparents. The same goes for the representations of guards, inmates, peers, and lovers.
With that said, I purchased the print version of Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend, and found quite a few format errors. Double spacing between paragraphs, no indentation, all dialog in italics (sometimes all caps), and quite a few instances of choosing to “tell” instead of “show.”
Normally, the mechanical errors listed above serve as a large stumbling block to a reader, but I got accustomed to it after a couple of chapters. With such a powerful story and characters, I looked past the formatting because I was pulled into the novel.
The psychology of the main character is believable. I’ve read about others who have had experiences like Maiya; her personality traits and habits were quite realistic. However, further explanation would constitute “spoiling.”
Congratulations Nonnie Jules, your first novel is certainly a page-turner.

[J.L. Campbell]

Daydream’s Daughter, Nightmare’s Friend is a tear-jerking read that gives plenty of food for thought. Sexual abuse of children is always a difficult subject to handle, particularly when parents who are supposed to protect them are in the picture, but do nothing. Maiya’s journey to disaster begins in this way and picks up speed when she acts against her abuser. It is ironic that her life is destroyed because she took the only route she thought was open to her.

The relationship between mother and daughter is one of the worst I’ve seen in fiction, but unfortunately, situations such as Nonnie Jules describes are all too common in life. Irresponsible parenting and looking the other way clearly leads down one road—abused and emotionally deficient children who become young adults incapable of managing their emotions.

The writer also captures vividly, the pain and suffering Maiya’s grandparents go through as a result of Maiya’s action. I followed Maiya’s path to her becoming Marisa, wondering when her past would catch up with her.

Eventually, it did.

I think the ending of the story could have carried more details, but I was relieved that Marisa was given another chance at happiness. Based on what she’d gone through, I couldn’t help but wish her well, despite her past mistakes.