Customer Reviews

SLEEPING WITH A D-MAN

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sleeping with a D-Man by Mel Hopkins
Genre: Urban Fantasy
APOOO rating: 2.5
Amazon.com rating: 3

Conjuring Up the Dark Side

In Sleeping with a D-Man, Mel Hopkins brings myth, religion, fantasy
and black magic together to tell the tale of loss, love and growth.
The reader is introduced to all of these elements through various
characters, most specifically by the main character, Nicole
Jettison. Nicole loses her father and puts up a wall that she builds
to try and save her soul and heart from further pain and suffering.
This wall is in jeopardy of toppling and crumbling when Nicole meets
Drew Michaels. Drew is a star athlete that Nicole believes to be
her soul mate. Drew comes with baggage and with secrets that have
not even been revealed to him. The obstacles that stand in their
path to happiness may be too many and too uncommon to overcome in a
relationship in which both parties are young and naïve. Especially
when these hurdles come in the form of magical and mythical
proportions.

This book may be too much for the reader to overcome as well.
Hopkins throws a lot at the reader with the many characters in the
book, their separate storylines, and the many biblical,
mythological, spiritual and voodoo references. It may cause the
brain to overload with all of the information that is put out there
in one novel. At times, the magic and the fantasy become
overwhelming and start to chip away at the storyline (which happens
to be not too bad).

Sleeping with a D-Man may not be what the reader bargains for. The
cover copy is very misleading. The reader is led to believe that
this is a "coming of age" novel with murder, secrets and intrigue
weaved into the plot. This seems a weak attempt to hide what the
novel is truly about. This book is far from being about the
everyday common hurdles faced in relationships that Hopkins wants
one to believe. This book could have been so much more but fell
short. The biblical references may leave one with a research
assignment to confirm their authenticity. This book may not have
what it takes to appeal to the masses; however, Hopkins may have a
following with theology and mythology fans and scholars.

Reviewed by Sharon Russ
APOOO BookClub

I really like the book; for one, it isn't the average novel. Most novels I have read have plenty of characters, but only the main two or three have any depth. Many of the characters in the book have depth and have their own story, and they are able to leave their mark in the book. The shaving scene on page 126 was amazing! I've gotta find someone to do that to me! The picture she painted was all-too-real. That was one of my favorite parts of the book, yet it was so simple. People who are into the Word will get something from it as will people who are followers of Egyptian Mythology. If they aren't, then it may inspire them to learn a thing or two about them, because it plays an integral part in the book. It's definitely a page-turner, but there are times where she will challenge the reader and even have them look at themselves and the life they are living.

I really enjoyed this book, and the fact that I know her via online made the story so much better.
As I was reading, I was so anxious to know what was going to happen next, I skipped paragraphs to find out.
I just couldn't wait.
When you finish reading this book, I can promise you, you will want more. Like me, you will want a sequel!

Not the best literature I've read, but having known the author really made me enjoy the book. First print had many errors, but I believe that was fixed with the next printing.

SLEEPING WITH A D-MAN is Nicole Jettison's story of growth, redemption and revelations, while finding answers to the question; do we ever know enough about our mates? At the age of seventeen Nicole's father, a NY police officer, was shot and killed. And for a moment her dreams were buried with him, but Nicole had a destiny to fulfill.

Fast forward to Nicole's entrance into college, she was a spirit renewed as she adjusted well to college life. She was enveloped by one of the elite groups on campus and became the main woman of a star athlete. But even renewed, Nicole needed closure for her father's murder. Her existence was at times surreal, and her curiosity did not come without trepidation.

Drew Michaels was perfect in everyway, except for two ex-girlfriends who would not let go. As Drew attached himself to Nicole, he learns the depth of true emotions, the wrath of a woman scorned and the price he would have to pay for love. Drew has a family secret that is almost unbelievable; one that could destroy more than their relationship. When Nicole learns of the magical, and mythical background that completes Drew's life she realizes she is out of her league.

SLEEPING WITH A D-MAN is an ethereal story that captures the imagination. This is not a cookie-cutter book, and it reveals that Hopkins took time to research history about mythology and biblical times. Although several of the characters had their own story, which seemed to run concurrent, they lacked a certain clarity and depth. Also, the focus surrounding the death of Nicole's father was overshadowed as the story unfolded. Biblical scholars and followers of Mythology, should enjoy the history and mysticism of this story.

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Ok, when is the next one....this is the start of a wonderful series......I need more....read the book in one sitting , could not put it down.....actually finished reading it a second time.....great....when is the movie comming out....

signs of home NY,,,, i can see it .....felt it , like I was home...and I did not even have to click my heals...

great book can not say enough...on an international flight .. no movie needed, I had SLEEPING WIHT A D MAN.......

Be blessed continue to reach and achieve....

This book is incredible! You are an amazing writer. Reading this book is like watching a movie. Speaking of which, I hope that we can see the film version of the book in the near future. (I can only imagine what it would be like on film.) For those of you who haven't read the book, and for those of you who have, I urge you to read/re-read the shaving scene on p.126 (Snow Daze). How sensual is that scene? Man, I want to try that!!!

If Vickie Stringer is the Queen Bee of Hip-Hop publishing, then Mel Hopkins is surely her Lauren Hill. Mel has managed to take a romance between two well to do college students and turn it upside down into a vision of betrayal, mental abuse and religious awakenings. And I don't mean the kind that you'd normally find in a Church in this country (no matter what the Denomination). This story takes the reader on a dizzying tale that travels from Queens N.Y. to West Virginia, Jamaica West Indies and even to Ethiopia. Dubbed an Urban Fantasy by the author, it sometimes reads as if a lot of this has actually happened. As I was reading it the visuals that ran through my head seemed almost familiar, as if taken from the pages of newspapers past. It left me wondering if a young woman could really face these types of situations and circumstances and yet become a productive citizen or, is it the work of a woman with an extremely complex imagination. Her characters sometimes come off so real, while at the same time so disturbing that I have to do a double take and start the page over again to make sure of what I'm reading. The various spiritual and religious ceremonies, I believe are based on actual facts, both known and hidden. Either way, whether fact or fictional, the research that went into this is due to be noted as Mel breathes life into each ritual, incantation and spell that is cast.

This story starts out up and running from the opening line, as if it was written to be a major motion picture. We witness almost first hand an event that will later be pivotal to the process of understanding the main characters. Nikki Jett and Drew Michaels both have a few skeletons in their closets. The only question now is who's got the keys that open the doors?

Cheda' Jones - The King of Urban Media

I just finished reading "Sleeping with a D-Man" and I am still catching my breath! With all the twists and surprises, I was too excited to find out the ending (& I was not disappointed!). As I write this Ms. Hopkins, I hope you are writing a second installment. Here's to more novels from Mel Hopkins!

Reading your book "Sleeping With A D-Man" was like watching a classic Black & White film. Your book opened all areas of my mind and put me in your hopes and dreams. Fantastic! Great Work!