I finally got around to reading all of the books by this author. The other two are novellas, so I was glad that this story was a full-length novel. I really liked "Fire, Fury, Faith" and "Heat, Hunt, Hope," but "Of Fear and Faith" was my favorite. With the longer length, the author was able to really get into and establish the characters and the storyline. Which I loved. There aren't too many paranormal romance novels written with African/African Americans as the lead characters. The supporting characters were also well developed and I enjoyed getting to know Assefa and Sanura, as much as I did Mike and Makena. The paranormal elements blended nicely with the romance. But what I really liked was the care the author took with describing the scenes of magic. They weren't brushed over but shown in detail. And the mythological nature of a witch/shapeshifter novel was a nice and surprising touch. African gods. Nice. I'll definitely check out the next book in the trilogy.

Starts with action and keeps you interested through out the whole book - being a paranormal, witches & shape shifters are included along with very likable characters - Action packed, mythology, romance story...will read Trilogy 2 when it is on the market.

This book is a great start to what I expect will be an enjoyable series. While it's a paranormal romance novel, like so many others in its genre, the author integrates African gods, elemental witches, and shapeshifters into the story in a unique and entertaining way. The hero and heroine are likable characters, and the supporting characters are fun and well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what comes next in this new series.

This novel certainly lives up to the genre of paranormal romance. With a grounded plot, interesting characters, and a multitude of different personalities, this novel is a must read for any interested in a love action story with a mythological twist. I can't wait for the second book.

While reading this book, I was so impressed with how deftly Ms. Jones intertwined the romance and mythology while addressing the issues that arise in the couple's relationship because of their gifts.It is like no other love story I've ever read. I'm looking for to the next book.

A great paranormal romance with a balance of each aspect of the genre. Excellent character development creating people that you want to know more about. I can't wait for the next installment!

good book looking forward to the next one.

I though this was a very good mythological/paranormal read. There were no spelling/grammar issues that I noticed, which is important to me. I start reading like an editor and disengage from the story if I find too many problems. The H/H Sanura and Assefa were very likable and the story was unique. Secondary Characters had depth as well. Originality goes very far with me, and I had read nothing like this before. I found myself on the fence about were-cats being sexy. I decided they are, but found the purring different. I like witches. Sanura was great. The sex scenes were tasteful, and not trashy. Refreshing. There is a lot of African Mythology in this, but I really liked it! I would read the rest of the series, and recommend to fans of paranormal romance.
Gisele Walko- Author of The Vampire and the Necromancer: An out of Sequence Love Story

*ARC provided by Author*

I give this book 4 stars. The book started out slow so the first day that I started reading it I thought I wouldn't like it. However, I picked it up again a day later and could not put it down. The plot really picked up. The plot is interesting and has a good amount of suspense, but, I'm still unclear as to what's supposed to happen as it relates to the prophecy.

The secondary characters were provocative enough to make me want to know more about them and their lives. The main couple were HOT together. I really like the hero (Assefa). I think he was well written, sexy, and complex but not contradictory. The heroine (Sanura) was OK but her "fears" and reluctancy to get involved with Assefa were a little too unrealistic. I'm looking forward to reading more about them, the prophecy, and how their relationship develops.

The last novel that I read that was based in Baltimore was The Baltimore Chronicles by Treasure Hernandez. This novel took us from an opening scene in Africa over 500 years ago. The gods of Egypt played a role as the story unfolded. Their was unmistakable chemistry between two of the main characters, Assefa and Sanura, that led to memorable scenes in the book. Danger lurked in the form of creatures in the search of blood of a certain species. I loved the writing style of the author. I learned some things about the expulsion of European settlers from Africa based on the novel. I cannot wait to read the next installment of the trilogy.

This book had all the elements I look for in a paranormal romance. It had magic, legend, mythology, shifters, witches, you get the picture. For some reason, the book failed to grab my attention in the beginning and I struggled to get through it until about page 40. I believe around page 40 I began to see the MC Assefa's true character and nature. It seemed to completely change tones. I am, however pleased that I stuck it out. It became all I hoped for. It did have a bit of what annoys me in books with the heroine, fear of showing her true nature. I get why authors do that in books, for me it is just a personal preference and not a criticism of the author's vision.

The book is about a powerful witch who is fighting her true nature and her were-cat familiar who are just discovering each other and the power that is unleashed when their efforts are combined. It has romance, suspense, and murder. I have not read a book quite like it and hope that she continues the story. There are not a lot of books that take on the Egyptian gods in a convincing way. N.D. Jones nailed it.

WOO-HOO and Wow!

This paranormal story I really lost a lot of sleep over and I literally couldn't put it down til the very last page! Yes it is a trilogy but I'm sure if you love paranormal as I do, you will say that book one, N.D. Jones slayed "Of Fear and Faith (Death and Dying #1).

My checklist was all fulfilled: history or origin, legends, mythology, world building; multi-dimensional characters, prophecy, magic; strong antagonists, suspense/mystery on a mystical level and did I mention, ahh... oh-la-la-la, a strong and promising swoon-worthy relationship for H/h badassess, Special Agent Assefa Berger (Were-cat) and Psychology Professor, Sanura Williams (fire-witch).

I will not spoil anything to this book but please take it upon yourself to look up the origin of the H/h's names (yep, I've been told I'm anal like that) because N.D. Jones selected her character's names wisely and they blend extremely well with the stories' magical journey from Oyo Empire, 1500 to present day, Baltimore, Maryland.

This is a must read and I highly recommend it to all paranormal lovers. There is something so unique and exact about "Of Fear and Faith (Death and Destiny#1) and is is so noteworthy in a excellent way. So kudos N.D., you slayed book 1! Also, thanks for no grammatical errors! lol

This bible verse is so valid to this title on Sanura:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
- Hebrews 11:1 King James Version (KJV)

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The characters of both Assefa and Sanura were intriguing and exciting to watch develop throughout the novel. And the character of Mike was a much appreciated addition to the the story. Over all, I'd say that this book deserves a five star waiting due to the immense passion the author has for writing that is evident in the work, as well as the stunning presentation wtih which she delivers part one of what I'm sure will develop into a massively cohesive and amazing story. Definitely an author to keep an eye with her amazing writing skills, passion for what she does, and evident growth from her two novellas to this novel I'm looking forward to what she'll produce next, and I hope that everyone will do the same.

As a side note, I like the title. It seems to tie directly to Sanura's and Assefa's spirits respectfully. Sanura fears her fire spirit and rarely lets it out, while Assefa respects andhas Faith is his cat spirit and maintains control over it.

This book is soooooooooooooo GOOD! It gets so REAL. The writing is great and the cover looks great. This book is the full package. Like if I got a package in the mail and it had a whole bunch of junk food. It would be the full package like this book.

If I had to describe this book in one word, I would call this story gripping. It's a complete original. I love how the author blended in the paranormal with the story, and the characters have so many secrets and facets to their personalities that you can't help but be completely intrigued. Assefa is a special agent investigating a series of murders, and the author gives up these little intriguing glimpses into his past, and you just know this man is going to be more. So much more. And then there is Sanura, the goddaughter of a fellow investigator and a doctor helping the only living victim of a terrible murder. And you realize pretty quickly there is a whole lot more to this woman, too.

I really enjoyed how the author blended all this together, while allowing the reader to slowly peel back the layers to these complex characters. I'm not sure what I enjoyed more, the thriller aspect to the book, the paranormal aspect, or the romance itself. Paranormal romance fans will LOVE this book.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love everything paranormal and when you add gods, goddesses, and prophecy, well it can only be good and I absolutely loved it. We get gods, goddesses, witches, and demons or the devil himself oh yeah and we get shifters to. A prophecy older than time is about to come true but first they must find the serial killer. Sanura and Assefa find themselves drawn to each other and both know what it means. Can they conquer the demon however? And bring to life the prophecy? And will Sanura accept Assefa for her mate? Fully.

This was a very well written book. It was slow to start but wow when it did it was a no putting down book. The story itself begins in Africa fast forwarding to Baltimore and it has Detectives on the hunt for a demon serial killer. But we also get some comedy especially from Mike who is not human either and a whole lot of steamy hotness between our main characters.

I was gifted a copy of this book for an honest review.

A hugely entertaining read, when it comes to originality it doesn’t get any better than Of Fear and Faith, the first release in the Death and Destiny Trilogy series from N D Jones. A dark supernatural fantasy, Jones has looked to myth and legend for her inspiration to deliver a high octane read that confidently eschews well-worn clichés. Quickly building tension and suspense she plays with our apprehensions, maintaining focus and intensity whilst wisely avoiding easy shock tactics. In another author’s hand, it could have been a mawkish blend of two kinds of thrillers, police and supernatural, but the result is an intelligent narrative which retains a sense of combustibility throughout. Needless to say, the sparks fly between Sanura and Assefa as their relationship develops with Jones finding and holding a tantalizingly erotic tone for their encounters. They certainly make for original and compelling protagonists, but more importantly they have the luminosity to kick-start an exciting new series.

With an intriguing and competently executed plot, Of Fear and Faith is a hugely entertaining read that bodes well for future releases in the Death and Destiny Trilogy series. Sure to win N D Jones a host of enthusiastic new followers it is highly recommended!

One of the books I had the pleasure of reading during the month of February was "Of Fear and Faith" by N.D. Jones. This is the first book of the "Death and Destiny" trilogy. I accepted this book for review because it sounded so different from anything I have read before. I am a huge lover of mythology - I grew up hearing tales from Indian mythology and much of my own writing has been heavily influenced by these stories. When I was older, one of my favorite college classes was a world literature class. Most of these myths were from Asian and European countries. Unfortunately, I have had limited exposure to African mythology, which is why I was very excited to learn more.

The prologue hooked me right from the first sentence. The author set the scene beautifully, describing the ancient land of Yoruba, and the legend of the Fire and Water witches who would be born in 500 years. Once I finished this intro, I couldn't put the book down.

In the next few chapters we meet the main couple, special agent Assefa and Sanura, a psychology professor; as well as some of the supporting characters - Sanura's mother Makena, her godfather Mike (who is also Assefa's partner), and her ex boyfriend, Richard. The introductions are very well done and the characters are fleshed out well. Mike and Assefa are investigating the murder of a couple in their own home. Mike suspects that there is something unusual about this crime, so he asks his goddaughter to weigh in. Here we get our first clues that the main characters are not quite human.

Of Fear and Faith has a little bit of everything. It is a well written love story and compelling mystery. It has drama and horror and includes various paranormal creatures. The relationship between Sanura and Assefa develops at an appropriate pace, and the love scenes were well done. The various mysteries in the book kept me eagerly turning the pages.

My only qualm is that I felt that Richard's secrets, which were revealed much later in the book, felt like an afterthought. I would have liked a bit more insight into this character and the reasons for his actions in the book.

In technical terms, the book is well written with no noted typos. I am looking forward to learning more about the ancient legends of the fire and water witches as well as seeing how Sanura and Assefa's relationship progresses. I would be interested in reading subsequent books in this series as well as other works by this author!

Of Fear and Faith is phenomenal! I was quickly pulled into the story by the mythological background that creates the foundation for this intense plot. We meet a handful of awesome characters. Assefa is a powerful were-cat who has found his destined mate, Sanura Williams. She comes from a long line of fire witches.

In this present day story, readers experience a crime thriller, humor, and paranormal romance all rolled into one book. I really like Sansura. She is a strong female character. The attraction between of Assefa and Sanura is scorching hot. They must balance their electric feelings while locating the adze, a bat-like creature that's hunting witches. I highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed!

Reviewed by Saulė Drakšaitė

I had to read this book for a book tour and yet again I was surprised how good it was, somehow when I read for book tours I expect the books to be less great than those super popular hyped up ones, but really this one was better than a lot of the best-sellers I’ve read. It took me only a day to read it, my mom thought I was not home, because I started reading it around lunch and then came out of this trance when it ended in the evening. I think that is one of the signs of a great book on it’s own, when you are so lost in another world or someone else’s life that you seem to forget everything around you.

Of fear and faith is this amazing fantasy romance novel that I would describe as a more mature Vampire Academy, but with Egyptian inspired gods and myths instead of vampires. The reason for my, probably a bit weird, description is that the main power couple in the book feels a lot like VA’s Dimitri and Rose, I just get that feeling. They have a lot to overcome, yet are similar in so many ways and have this huge chemistry between them. So amazing to read a good romance plot without it being a love triangle or insta-love. I might say this a lot in this post, but this book is very beautifully written, I just liked the way it felt and grasped my attention from the start. Has a bit of a detective feeling since the world is not fully revealed to us and we have to pick up the peaces and put the puzzle together for ourselves as we move along the story. I also found the egyptian myths twist so enjoyable and new.

So diving deeper I would like to say that I’ve decided to give it a 4.5/5 stars and leave some place for improvement for the next book in the trilogy. The only real minus I saw in this one, was that the ending felt a little rushed and just not full, it might be just because it’s a first book and there are two more, but it just didn’t satisfy my hopes for it. Around the middle I could already guess where this first book is going to end and well I just wanted more of a twist for the ending or maybe it could have ended with more of a fluff and steamed filled chapter. Another thing that ticks me off a little is the cover art, I don’t judge the books by their covers, but I do love a pretty book and this cover is not too nice on the eyes.

The way the story progressed it felt a lot like the Falling Kingdom series as it also is written from multiple points of views, but this book had the thing I missed in those series, which is the capability of being completely lost in it, also has that one very clear romance plot.

It was very refreshing to have the main characters who are not teenagers and that steamy part to it. This was like my two favorite kind of books all in one. I enjoyed how the lemons didn’t seem out of place and even though there were quite a few it didn’t seem like too much. The character development is fantastic and we see these two people grow together as a couple and as two individuals. It feels very real and not overdone. I found it weird how for the first time in any sort of romance I was relating more to the male character than the female. And just let me tell you I fell in deep deep love with Assefa, if only all of us could have such an amazing man in our lives.

All in all, this was a total read instead of sleep kind of book and I would recommend it to all of you out there. It was refreshing, steamy and made me want to live in that universe and be an elemental witch and have a familiar cat of my own. I just loved how myths from different cultures were all intertwined and I’ve just never read anything like this book!

Series of brutal murder in Baltimore gets bone chilling, leaving FBI agent Mike and Assefa clueless about the barbaric murder until the only witness of the crime an eight year old Elizabeth Ferrell comes into scene and the special agents have to pull in a child psychologist Dr. Sanura Williams to get clue from the shattered lonely survivor Elizabeth. Sparks fly from the very moment Assefa and Sanura acknowledge each others presence revealing something unique and spell casting about their auras which can be only felt by the two of them.
Will Assefa and Sanura find connection with each other designed by destiny to save humanity?
Leaving readers restless and intrigued, author N. D Jones weaves her novel 'Of Fear and Faith' artistically with a perfect blend and balance of a strong, fresh story line with an African mythology which is unknown yet very interesting for those who have no knowledge about it.
Though the evil in the book gets horrifying and nerve wrecking by the turn of every page, author Jones leaves her readers in the safe company of her mesmerizing characters, battling to win over the bad.

'Of Fear and Faith' is an amazing paranormal romance which is a sure recommendation to all those looking for something fresh in the paranormal genre.

Are you a fan of the X-Files, Fringe and/or Star Trek? If you are, have you ever read a book that had the same galaxy charm to catapult your mind in out of space? If you haven’t, you are in for a delightful treat. Being a fan of fantasy, I have to say, Jones did an outstanding job of telling Sanura’s and Assefa’s love story. In fact, I rank her up there with one of my all-time favorite fantasy authors, Mitch Albom.

Assefa is a Special Agent with the FBI working under a special unit called Preternatural Intelligence. He’s on the hunt for a serial killer wreaking havoc on Baltimore destroying families and claiming souls. On one such night, as the Special Agent was called upon by his superiors to work the latest murders, a small child remained in the aftermath. Assefa was happy the child’s life was spared, but wasn’t exactly thrilled to know this child was going to grow up without her parents, no thanks to the murderer, and he vowed to avenge her parents’ killer by finding out who and/or what did this to them?
While the Agent was working the case, his partner advised him of a pscyhologist who could help them get through to the traumatized child. At this point, Assefa was willing to try anything so he wouldn’t have to deal with the child on his own. Dr. Sanura Williams walked into his case, into his life and into his heart and soul. The chemistry between the two of them was so potent, you’d have to be blind not to see the fire and sparks igniting between the two. Assefa could barely keep his mind on the case, let alone finding a serial killer, for this gorgeous beauty was occupying all his head space. After much prodding, luckily Sanura, being very professional and eager to get to the child, broke their spell for just a little bit. Obviously, there was a more serious matter at hand.

As Assefa and Sanura worked the case together, not only was their magic brought to the forefront on the battle grounds of fighting demons and evil spirits, that magic extended to the love they each felt for the other. Sanura was terrified to relinquish her heart to Assefa because she had a taste for dating full-humans. She nor Assefa were one hundred percent human, but their teachings brought them up to respect the Gods and damn it, fate had brought them to this place. Sanura had to do all she could to fight her insecurities, while Assefa had to be the patient lover-in-wait while Sanura came to some sort of conclusion. And readers, when I tell you the two of them came to a meeting of the minds, body and spirit, I can’t possibly say that enough. The love scenes in this book were so spot on, you’ll have an orgasm from the mere words alone. (chuckle).

I’d also like to point out that I do not feel, in any way, the man on the cover of the book adequately represents what my mind’s eye view says Assefa looks like. Uh-oh, no way! Assefa was fine as hell, and although the brother on the cover is alright, he’s NOT Assefa! OMG, I got chill bumps reading Jones’ description of this beautiful hunk of chocolate man. You may have heard the saying, ‘The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice.’ Good Gawd, umm yes, Assefa had it goin’ on ladies. Yes indeed! So with that I say, if you love fantasy, ectasy, romance, a fine-ass man, and paranormal activity and you don’t get this book, somethin’ is seriously wrong with YOU!

My only criticism would be, if I had to find anything, is I felt there were times the story lagged, but just briefly, and the story easily picked right back up. It was a little slow going for me in the very beginning, but that was my learning curve of the characters. Again, it doesn’t take anything away from the book. This story was the total package, and as much as my readers know I cannot stand romance novels, what sets this one apart from many others is that there was an actual storyline. That’s right! A! Story! Line! I can definitely live with that. I couldn’t get enough! Oh my, those love scenes were aah-maaa-zing! I had to fan myself a few times! (LOL)

The story was well put together, flowed nicely and pushed the characters through. There are many lessons Assefa and Sanura had to learn, and you will enjoy taking the journey with them. I was rooting for them the entire time I was reading and praying neither of them were killed. Thankfully, Jones gave us a wonderful HEA. (Happily Ever After).

This story has so many angles mixed in here it almost makes your head spin. God's, witches, and shifters are only the beginning. There's a different idea here for the role of a shifter than you are used to seeing. The main characters Sanura and Assefa are both interested in each other, yet can't open up completely with one another. The title is a very good reflection of the story line. I was given this story for an honest review and this is mine.

Sanura and Assefa are interesting characters. They are the witch and werecat from legend and didn’t know it until they found each other. Well they met each other due to a murder that was horrid. A murder that was terrible and caused by those who need a witches blood to live. Assefa feels the pull for Sanura right away the moment they met.

Sanura hides who she is but it comes through to Assefa because he isn’t your normal werecat. He wants to be with her. He wants to be her mate. Sanura though is wary. She was hurt by a human and she take this out on Assefa. Sanura is otherwise a sweet kind witch. She is quite powerful even if she doesn’t know why. With Assefa by her side as her familiar she is extremely powerful and can do more than others could imagine.

Assefa is a alpha male who all woman find an attraction too. He is kind and intuitive. He left his home so that he can make a name for himself outside of his family’s name. He wants to be his own man. And he is. He is caring and gentle. With Sanura he wants more and is afraid. Afraid she won’t want him back. She rejects him several times even though she performs the binding ceremony she keeps him at arms length. No matter how much he protects her and is there for her she pushes him away afraid of letting someone in. It is almost to late when she does.

The story is about these two being manipulated to find one another and begin the prophesy, the story of the adzes and her ex and how this puts them in danger, the pull of Assefa to Sanura, the story of Assefa and being accepted by Sanura. The story is fast paced and fascinating. Sanura’s feelings are seen through the pages and her wariness does grow on you. Assefa’s love for Sanura and his desire to have her see him as more than just her familiar. Assefa wanting her to accept him and see beyond his family. The story is intriguing and the characters will bring about feelings. Whether it is warmth for the grumpy drawf, hope for Assefa that he is accepted, desire to see Sanura finally let Assefa in and anger at the adzes and rooting Assefa on when he and Sanura fight the adzes and getting rid of them. The story has darkness but also light. We see the darkness of evil of the adzes, light of the love between Assefa and Sanura and how they respect one another and see each other for who they are and accept each other no matter what. A wonderful beginning to a series and with the way the book ends you wonder what is next.

I received this free book from ebook discovery in exchange for a honest review.

Absolutely loved it. Great story line. Characters likable. Hot and steamy. Great start to the series . Can't wait to read he next one. This author took paranormal to a whole different direction. Must have.

I almost passed on this book because I didn't like the cover art. That would have been a mistake. This is a very entertaining story which combines the supernatural with romance and a crime procedural. It actually could easily be split into two books pretty easily, but both are good (the first half being slightly better).

My biggest complaint is that the story gets distracted with excessive sex scenes at times.

Recommended for mature readers due to lots of graphic sexual content.

“I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery in exchange for my honest review.”

I will say it did start out kind of slow for me in the first few chapters but it is definitely worth a read. Loved how they incorporated witches and shifter cats.

Baltimore has a vicious serial killer on the loose and this time he left a survivor that might be able to help capture it. Sanura Williams is a psychology professor and a witch. Her Godfather asks her to help him with a case he’s working on. That’s when she meets agent Assefa Berber and everything suddenly becomes a little bit more complicated because Assefa isn’t exactly what he seems to be.
Will they be able to find the killer? Will Sanura be able to trust? Or will something ancient stop them.
N.D jones managed to hook me from the start. The way she manages to mix ancient legend, thrilling plot and a paranormal romance seamlessly keeps you reading. The characters are very well written and I found myself desperate to see what would happen. The supporting characters are just as well developed as the main couple and I loved Mike who brought a humor to the book.
The book kept me reading until the last page with action to the end. This was a fantastic start to a series which I’m sure will continue to entertain. With a well-developed plot, interesting characters and a scorching hot passion between Sanura and Assefa it’s a must read. I will be looking for the other installments and will eagerly recommend it.
Independent Review for Romance Author’s that rock on

When I read Paranormal I want a storyline that is imaginative and an author who can bring their characters to life. I got both with 'Of Fear and Faith' and it made a genuinely enjoyable weekend read. As a start to a series I thought there was more than enough to get me hook and the parameters of the author’s paranormal world diverse enough to get me hooked.

An absolutely exciting read! From the very beginning, you're thrown into a world of mythology, mystery and sizzling hot romance. The storyline is very unique and original, the dialogue was well rounded and the characters were complex and intricate. I loved how a paranormal thriller murder mystery is easily intertwined with some hot romantic tension! The characters are very intricate with layers of intrigue that slowly get revealed throughout the book and the original storyline is absolutely gripping! I've never read a book about African mythology, and I must say I'm heavily impressed and will definitely love reading more books in this series!

When I read Paranormal I want a storyline that is imaginative and an author who can bring their characters to life. I got both with 'Of Fear and Faith' and it made a genuinely enjoyable weekend read. As a start to a series I thought there was more than enough to get me hook and the parameters of the author’s paranormal world diverse enough to get me hooked.

I won this in a giveaway.

I liked the action and the pace was pretty good. At times I liked the back and forth between Sanura and Assefa, but at the same time I'm not overly invested in their relationship. I liked most of the characters, except for Mike. Could've really done without the sexist being presented as lovable without any true character development. Saying he's a dwarf doesn't excuse it because I've seen plenty of dwarven characters grow throughout the story. And I'm over the simple "these are the good guys and these are the bad guys, no exceptions" stories, but overall this was a pretty enjoyable read. If you like romance and/or urban fantasy, you should give this a try.

Warning: There are explicit scenes at times, if you prefer clean romance.

Content, content, content. You cannot get around the authentic feel of this one. There was a feel of realness to this one. I could almost transport myself to this time, place, and scene as it was taking place. The words came off the pages to engage and entice you to believe. I absolutely love paranormal read of all kinds. I love even more paranormal romance. Add to that there was something of all the paranormal supernatural genres that kept me turning pages and getting excited for what was coming next.

Gods, goddess, witches, demons, destiny, death, and then there was more. Getting immersed in this world of paranormal/supernatural activities was a breeze. ND Jones made the flow enjoying and inviting. The mix of romance and mystery with some suspense all capped in a paranormal world packed in Baltimore.

I could not get enough and I am looking for more. I had the please to snag an interview with the author herself. That would be contained below.

**This ARC was provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

Wow! This book was an amazing read for me. It has everything I want in a great paranormal book: depth in the story, action-oriented thriller, hot, scorching sex, heartfelt romance, and out-of-this-world magic. You have a sexy, banging alpha male, yet a gentleman with a golden heart seeking to win his fire witch of legend. What's touching though, he didn't see her as the fire witch of legend, but a vulnerable woman yearning for acceptance of her true self. Even more, he's an FBI agent whose side gig was owning a multi-billion dollar company. Say what? Kick-ass, hot, smart, considerate, and savvy with money? Sign me in! He's a hero that would make any woman's heart melt for sure.

I liked the heroine as well. She's a woman with smarts and great emotional depths--a simmering molten, fiery lava underneath her psychologist persona. At first, Sanura's emotional reticent from the delicious hunk agent Assefa annoyed me, but I found out why later on and everything started to make more sense. Furthermore, I loved that the author used the gods and goddesses from Yoruba Orishas/Kemetian (Egyptian) lores. If you think Zeus/Hera were powerful, wait till you meet these unsung legendary gods and goddesses.

NDJ definitely slayed this thrilling book! I'm psyched to read the next installment and look forward to future work from this author. If you have not read this book, please do! You won't regret it.

"Of Fear and Faith" is the first installment in what promises to be a very fun, readable paranormal romance/romantic thriller series with a twist. I have the slash because it combines elements of both genres: Sanura, the female lead, is a child psychologist brought in to help with a serial killer case by the male lead, FBI agent Assefa. Only Sanura is also a witch, descended from a line of powerful Nigerian witches, and Assefa is a shifter, descended from a line of powerful Sudanese shifters. When they come together, sparks fly...

I enjoy both the paranormal and the thriller subgenres of romances, and they are combined effectively here. Because there's a lot going on, the narrative jumps around, but for the most part it's easy to follow. The characters themselves have a lot of the elements you'd expect from the genres indicated--Sanura is smart, educated, and feisty but also delicate and dealing with emotional pain from her past; she's also, as befits any decent heroine of a paranormal romance, the Chosen One; Assefa is the strong silent type with a secret past and a heart of gold--but are also compelling and sympathetic individuals, so that the plot and the relationship between them feels fresh and engaging, even though fans of the genre will have a pretty good idea where things are going. Which is in no way a critique: this is solid romance novel plotting and characterization and is very enjoyable as such. The twist is that both the main characters have close ties to Africa and the use of African mythology to create the system of magic that underlies the paranormal element of the story.

This was probably my favorite aspect of the novel: the author skillfully combines elements of European-based witchcraft--witches have covens and familiars--with African mythology and legends, so that the characters pray to Egyptian deities and the witches' familiars are men who can shift into large cats in order to protect them. The result is a rich magical system that is both familiar enough for a Western reader to understand it easily, but different enough to stand out. The total result is very readable but also unique.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shifters, Witches and Mythology.
Book- Lovers, in the beginning I wasn’t getting into it straight away, but eventually it turned into a decent solid read.
About 20% it picked up some, and the story for me got interesting!
A witch and a shifter=AWESOME
The romance, suspense and wait for it *dun dun Dunnnn* a murder was written good, for a PNR junkie this is seriously a lovely little treat. #angfriendly
I found the characters to be lovable, overall I found the writing to be good. I think the world creating was fantastic.
I think for me it’s more a 3.5 stars hovering towards 4. I just wanted more, I’m not sure what of, but it just needed something, I dunno I just go with the flow, and at the end of the story I felt like this.
Recommend, Yes of course! It is a Perfect lazy afternoon read.

"Of Fear and Faith" is the first installment in what promises to be a very fun, readable paranormal romance/romantic thriller series with a twist. I have the slash because it combines elements of both genres: Sanura, the female lead, is a child psychologist brought in to help with a serial killer case by the male lead, FBI agent Assefa. Only Sanura is also a witch, descended from a line of powerful Nigerian witches, and Assefa is a shifter, descended from a line of powerful Sudanese shifters. When they come together, sparks fly...

I enjoy both the paranormal and the thriller subgenres of romances, and they are combined effectively here. Because there's a lot going on, the narrative jumps around, but for the most part it's easy to follow. The characters themselves have a lot of the elements you'd expect from the genres indicated--Sanura is smart, educated, and feisty but also delicate and dealing with emotional pain from her past; she's also, as befits any decent heroine of a paranormal romance, the Chosen One; Assefa is the strong silent type with a secret past and a heart of gold--but are also compelling and sympathetic individuals, so that the plot and the relationship between them feels fresh and engaging, even though fans of the genre will have a pretty good idea where things are going. Which is in no way a critique: this is solid romance novel plotting and characterization and is very enjoyable as such. The twist is that both the main characters have close ties to Africa and the use of African mythology to create the system of magic that underlies the paranormal element of the story.

This was probably my favorite aspect of the novel: the author skillfully combines elements of European-based witchcraft--witches have covens and familiars--with African mythology and legends, so that the characters pray to Egyptian deities and the witches' familiars are men who can shift into large cats in order to protect them. The result is a rich magical system that is both familiar enough for a Western reader to understand it easily, but different enough to stand out. The total result is very readable but also unique.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great storytelling! Add a witch, some more supernatural magic, a Special Agent or two stir with more magic and dead witches. A great thrilling adventure and love between mates.

I was given a copy for an honest review.

At first glance I wasn't sure what to think. It looks like just another romance story. NOT!!!
Wow! Not only do we have a witch, but preternaturals, and Gods, but African Lore and history to boot!
I love the way Ms. Jones ties everything together. She pushes aside the niggling doubts of Sanura to be free to be with Assefa. Sanura made the mistake of telling a prior boyfriend about who she is, a witch. Richard Houghton has some secrets of his own. Ones Sanura doesn't know. My question is, why would Sanura tell an outsider, human even, what she is to begin with? They couldn't bond, they couldn't anything. It just didn't make sense to me. It would be like admitting to someone that you see ghosts, to coin a popular series. If that person doesn't believe, or also see ghosts, they're going to look at you like you have two heads!
Anyway, that snafu aside, I hope Ms Jones gets into Assefa's background a bit more, and him and Sanura are able to go meet his father and such. It sounds like an interesting place.

I'm sure some more heat and wetness is coming for both Assefa and Sanura. Oh get your minds out of the gutter and just read the book to understand where that came from :) Although, there are some pretty explicit sexual scenes, so if that bothers you i guess you could just skip over them.

Book Review
Of Fear and Faith
by N. D. Jones

5 stars

Genre: African-American, Contemporary, Fairy Tales/ Myths, Paranormal, Shape-shifter & Paranormal Romance Length: 101,566 words

Received this book for free by author in order to give a truthful and fair review.

I will start by saying this book definitely surprised me. I read allot for authors who give me free books in order to get a fair review. This is one. I have not read anything by her at all and I am pleasantly surprised.

Writing was done well very few editing errors, nothing that would cause someone to loose interest. Characters are definitely multidimensional. Action packed, and full of adventure. Never had I read a book with its content. Totally new twist on the paranormal.

The book starts off with the Gods talking to each other, at war with one another, angry. Every 500 years two witches are born to finish the fight. One water one fire witch will fight for the God’s they will have special characteristics. Saunura displays the unique physical characteristics of the legend. She is a beautiful, smart, broken hearted woman who meets Assefa who is the temporary partner to her Godfather.

Assefa and Sanura are the main characters in this book. Assefa is Sanura’s familiar. As most would think, a witch’s familiar to be an animal, black cat maybe…Well Assefa is a were-cat. (I won’t tell you what kind, its part of the allure of the book) Sanura has her walls up in order to protect herself from love, but the Gods have a different plan.

Assefa has many secrets in his world that he is afraid to express to Sanura. This big beautiful FBI agent is surprisingly head over heals in love with this woman almost instantly and knows she has been hurt and doesn’t push her but is always there for her. They are compatible in body, but will they be compatible in mind? In order for all three part of the ritual to bind them to be finished, they need to know if this is who they want their forever with.

During their journey though the book, they battle demons of all kinds. They are aware of the fact that more demons have come in their path in the past couple months than they have ever seen in their life. (Yes, the gods have something to do with this) Oddly, they also notice that their magic, after just the first part of the ritual, is bigger and more powerful than any other witch. The woman who is so afraid to let her true self out for fear of being burned. Assefa, afraid to allow his cat to scare his witch. All this fear they try to overcome.

There are great characters in this book that I can see being developed in other books. The book ended in a way that you want more, but…it was complete on its own which I love. No huge cliffhangers. You know there is more that needs to happen, but doesn’t force you to require closure. Over all a very good book. Very unique read…likely a book you have never encountered the ideas. Love it!

I very much enjoyed this story with a mix of shifters, witches, demons and Gods. Sanura and Assefa must learn to trust each other to be all they can be and are well on their way. I am anxious for the next book in the series. If you love the paranormal and mythological, this book is for you.

I am giving the book a 4 star rating.
I thought it was a bit wordy and slow for my taste.
Being an adult novel I was impressed that the sex didn't overwhelm the story line.
I loved the were cat and witch love story. I enjoyed both Sanura’s and Assefa’s characters.
I think this is well worth a read for paranormal and fantasy fans.

A quick glance at the cover of this book and you might reasonably believe this was a straightforward romance. In fact it is anything but. The prologue dismisses those thoughts immediately. This is a paranormal fantasy with strong characters and non-stop action. Technically it is very well written and researched. This genre has a legion of fans all over the world and I'm sure the series will flourish.
I admire writers who can step away from reality and fashion a fantasy world with terrible creatures, witches and warlocks, spells and incantations. If you are a reader who enjoys stepping away from everything you know and understand and immersing yourself in such a fantasy world, then this is definitely going to be a book you'll love.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for an honest review

I received this book for an honest and fair review. The fantasy, the fear, the love, the challenges, all work together to created a master piece! The supernatural creatures created in this story, some so original, are awesome!!! This is a book to keep your mind working, wondering... Whats next!?!?!?

Before I begin my review, I want to thank N.D. Jones for allowing me to review Of Fear and Faith. **All opinions expressed in this review are mine and I received Of Fear and Faith for free from the author**. Now onto the review:

My review:

3 things I liked about Of Fear and Faith:

1) The characters. While I loved all of the characters, Assefa and Sanura were my favorites. I liked that the author didn’t reveal everything about Assefa until about midway through the book. Little hints here and there that kept you guessing but when she did reveal it, it was HUGE!!!

2) New paranormal monsters. For some reason this got me really, really excited (I know, no life here). Usually, in these types of books, the author trots out your typical monster. Usually a rogue vamp or were animals. But not here. Oh no, there are sirens, Raven Mocker and Adze (I included the links in case people were wondering what they were). I was THRILLED about this. (again, no life here).

3) The sex scenes. Talk about hot, hot, hot!!! The chemistry between Sanura and Assefa was out of this world and it translated to epic hot sex.

3 things I didn’t like about Of Fear and Faith:

1) Sanura’s ex. He was a creep and just came off as unpleasant. Not going to say too much about him. You need to read the book!!!

2) Mike. I know he’s a dwarf and I know that he is supposed to be Sanura’s godfather but he was just so unpleasant in the beginning of the story that I couldn’t like him.

3) Sanura’s reaction to Assefa’s big secret. Again, not going to give anything away (read the book) but I felt that she was being a little over the top with her reaction.

How many stars will I give Of Fear and Faith? 5

Why? This was a very well written, well researched paranormal romance. You can’t help but get attached to the characters (even the not so nice ones!!!) and the sex scenes were out of this world.

Would I reread it? Yes

Would I recommend it to family and friends? Yes

Age level: Adult

Why? Very descriptive sex scenes and violence

Wow! I am glad this is a series because I am going to need more. I love a book that develops the character right before my eyes, and even better when the characters have to learn about each other in order to proceed in the book. Here you have a man and a women that are said to be destined to be together, but are just not putting their whole heart out there to get full power of that destiny. Seems like so many of us. Besides just the character you get this amazing mythical back story. The writing keeps me wanting more and flows smoothly. Looking forward to August 18th when second book comes out! I got this book free for an honest review. This is no problem for me since during most weeks I read between 2-4 books.

I am not one for supernatural or paranormal I have read some books, that being said this was an enjoyable read for me Loved the characters. Really surprise story line was good Special Agent Assefa Berber was the man really loved his no nonsense approach Sanura got on my nerves with her flip flop, but her compassion when dealing with the child Elizabeth was good. Sanura mom was the bomb and Mike kind of grew on me now his character was a surprise. It's all about destiny and once Sanura really understood Assefa was her mate it was on. Like I said not much for paranormal books but I will tell you this I would buy book 2 of this author's book because she pulled me in from the beginning very suspenseful & really great read. This book was a free read & I was not disappointed. Kudos N.D. Jones

I absolutely loved this book. It drew me in from start to finish. It was so hard to put this book down. All the different characters were great and had their own story. The two main characters were very likeable, both strong yet vulnerable. The story itself is fast paced and not once did I get bored or disinterested. Every thing is explained as the story progresses but not overly so. I can't recommend this book enough and I can't wait for the next one in the series.
I received this free for an honest review.

This book started out not for me, but as I read I got hooked' I wanted to write the review for it before I was finished reading. Fast paced,
different than I thought. This book made me rethink what I knew of witches. If you are looking for a good read pick up a copy of this book.

A cold-blooded killer is on the loose. The victims are mutilated and drained of blood, but this time he’s left a witness behind, and the child may be vital to understanding what’s behind the string of murders. Sanura Williams and Special Assefa Berber are up for the challenge, but little do they know that the real key to stopping the crimes can be found in an ancient prophecy.

OF FEAR AND FAITH is the 1st book in Ms. Jones’ DEATH AND DESTINY TRILOGY. The story was recommended to me, and this was my first time reading Ms. Jones. Can I just start this review off by saying a little something about the beginning? It’s SENSATIONAL! One of the best starts ever, so be prepared for some chills!

Of course, chills aren’t the only thing happening in this tale. There’s also the smoldering romance going on between fire witch Sanura Williams and hunky werekitty Assefa Berber. Dang if Ms. Jones doesn’t tease us along, but it’s worth the wait—I promise. When she finally delivers, the heat is on! Keep your air conditioners going!

The main characters are all very likable and well fleshed out. The descriptions are just enough and we root for Sanura and Assefa to prevail. This connection pulls us further into the story while the twists keep us off balance and constantly surprised.

There’s also a complexity of plotline locked into this story. Add in magic, folklore, and a fate that awaits Mother Earth and you have a slam bang of a tale that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat right up until the end. Yes, there’s everything you want and more packed into these pages. The dialogue was solid and very real despite the fanciful touches. I think that’s an important component for books delving into the paranormal to have. Without this type of grounding, the story doesn’t work this beautifully.

As for Ms. Jones’ writing, LOVING IT! Great flow, intelligent choices in vocabulary, construction, etc. And aside from the technical adeptness, there’s the ability to keep us hooked. But for me, it’s in describing this mysterious netherworld that Ms. Jones really excels. The terror-filled moments are fantastic and conveyed with an intensity that is unexpected. It really amps up the fear factor.

OF FEAR AND FAITH is a great read and great start to the DEATH AND DESTINY TRILOGY. I highly recommend it and I’m interested to see where this story goes! 4.8 stars from me … and I want a werecat!

I spent my day off reading ND Jones' book "Of Fear and Faith", I was fighting with myself the entire time, because, this was my only day off and that meant, everything that should have been done through out the week, was not getting done, but, it was totally worth the evening of getting my house and everything else put to rights, so I was able to finish Ms. Jones' book and now have something to look forward to for the next book in the trilogy.
Of Fear and Faith, has everything that I could want, Witches, supernatural beings, suspense and so good old fashioned romance thrown in the midst.

Was given for an honest review. The Ferral home has has been massacred. The only survivor is little Betsy. They think it's a serial killer except for two detectives and a child physiologist. Paranormal activity is at work here. Loved this read. Extremely interesting and entertaining!!! Great job . Miss Jones

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This was a little different from the usual paranormal I read and I can’t really remember the last book I read that had witches as the main characters besides the Harry Potter series or The Drake Sister series by Christine Feehan and they were nothing like this.

There was quite a bit of information but I was never lost because the author kept the reader informed while keeping the plot going smoothly.

I also really liked the fact that the readers get with the gods at least twice to find out what is going on or what is going to happen, however vague.

I didn’t really get that much connection with the characters though, I felt a little something for them but not as much of a connection as I would have liked. Now, while I didn’t feel a strong connection with the characters, the story never got boring and kept me interested through the whole thing.

When I thought that a spot was good enough for the book to end, it would keep going and while I did think that it ran a little long, I think the author made a good decision in making the book as long as it was, it allowed the romance and the plot to have equal time.

The cover is beautiful, the plot is a great little romantic mystery and the idea for this book is a well executed one that kept my attention.

I absolutely loved this book. For starters, this is a grown up "teen angst scifi love story" for me. I love those type of books, and I always felt like something was missing..... Something being the characters needed to be adults. I don't know why every "vampires shifters ghouls etc" type stories always star such young characters. I appreciated the grown up love story. I was a huge fan right off the bat when FINALLY we have some variation in the supernatural appearance- people of color. Because duh, not every supernatural being would be "pale" which is the word to describe the skin of so many main characters in the books I read. I am a visual person and I enjoy imagery the most in a novel- this was a huge bonus for me.

Secondly the plot was great, the story was awesome, no bumps it flowed perfectly. What I also loved was that the "love story" wasn't typical. There wasn't an obvious damsel in distress who pounced on the first man, nor did she magically fall in love after having sex. I appreciate a real modern day woman's perspective.

Great book, I can't wait to read more. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are always my own.