Mesmerized by Nevaeh Ryn is a must-read for lovers of paranormal romance. Set in southern Louisiana in the fictional town of Gaville, the story is filled with witches, ghosts, werewolves, and vampires. 20-year-old Kamika LeBlanc is back in Gaville for her grandmother’s funeral. Four years earlier, during Kamika’s annual summer visit, Suzanne abandoned Kami because she discovered her granddaughter's affair with Larissa Harris. Religious, self-righteous, and judgmental, Susanne immediately sent Kamika back to Miami.
Kami never spoke to her grandmother again. Now, she's dead, and they can never make up. Kamika decides to remain in Gaville to support her mother as Suzanne's house is cleaned out. In the meantime, Larissa introduces Kami to her cousin, Delaney, a beautiful woman who recently moved back to Gaville after graduating from Tulane University. Delaney has secrets that make her fight her attraction to Kami. Her hesitancy allows a mysterious man named Beauden Hugo Valois to enter the picture and steal some of Kamika’s attention.
Mesmerized has it all: a sultry Louisiana setting on the banks of the Mississippi, detrimental secrets, family drama, sexual tension, and references to Twilight. Kamika loves the series. Delaney and Larissa do not. Kamika’s interest in both Delaney and Beau is as eye-opening for the reader as it is for our protagonist. They both have qualities that draw her. Although she is bisexual, she has always shown a stronger interest in women, so I have an idea who she will choose. Mesmerized is more than a romance or a love triangle. It is a granddaughter's journey of grief, regret, and love. She grieved her grandmother long before her actual death, but at least there was always the possibility of reconciliation.
As Kamika’s hurt and anger disintegrate and she begins to understand her grandmother’s motivations with the help of her ghost, she heals and grows in a beautifully written journey. Nevaeh has a way with words that not only tells Kamika’s story but also breathes life into the world of Mesmerized. As a Louisiana native, I am truly impressed by the author's vivid scenery. I urge you to read this paranormal romance, the first book in the series. I'm ready for Bewitched, book 2!
