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The Hermit
There are some things you just can’t live without.
About the Story
When Dr. Ryan Wallace retreats to the Alaskan wilderness to find peace with his past, the last thing he expects is to stumble across a broken woman barely clinging to life.
As he watches her fight her way back from hell, his own problems begin to pale in comparison. When she returns to her world, he finally understands...there are some things you just can't live without.
Discover two people strong enough to fight their personal demons and find a love that trumps their pasts. Another dramatic romance from Always the Good Girl, Shayne McClendon.
About the Story
When Dr. Ryan Wallace retreats to the Alaskan wilderness to find peace with his past, the last thing he expects is to stumble across a broken woman barely clinging to life.
As he watches her fight her way back from hell, his own problems begin to pale in comparison. When she returns to her world, he finally understands...there are some things you just can't live without.
Discover two people strong enough to fight their personal demons and find a love that trumps their pasts. Another dramatic romance from Always the Good Girl, Shayne McClendon.
123 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2012
About the author
Shayne McClendon
87 books618 followersShayne McClendon is the author of more than fifty published books and over six hundred short stories (and counting).
She writes heart-pounding romantic fiction as Shayne McClendon, thrilling paranormal romance as Sabrina Rue, and LGBTQ+ action-packed erotica as Charlize Rojos. Recently, she started writing light novels as Honeycomb and is absolutely loving how fun it is!
Shayne spends most of her waking hours writing in one genre or another. Currently living in Tulsa, Oklahoma near her kids (who are all grown up now) and kept company by the best furry companions on the planet, this author takes the hermit lifestyle to a whole different level.
Coffee consumption is too high, amount of sleep is too low, but the words always feel just right.
If you’re looking for your next great read...look no further than Shayne McClendon! Her dramatic and erotic romances will grab hold and not let you go until the very last page.
Stop by her website Always the Good Girl and read short stories for free!
She writes heart-pounding romantic fiction as Shayne McClendon, thrilling paranormal romance as Sabrina Rue, and LGBTQ+ action-packed erotica as Charlize Rojos. Recently, she started writing light novels as Honeycomb and is absolutely loving how fun it is!
Shayne spends most of her waking hours writing in one genre or another. Currently living in Tulsa, Oklahoma near her kids (who are all grown up now) and kept company by the best furry companions on the planet, this author takes the hermit lifestyle to a whole different level.
Coffee consumption is too high, amount of sleep is too low, but the words always feel just right.
If you’re looking for your next great read...look no further than Shayne McClendon! Her dramatic and erotic romances will grab hold and not let you go until the very last page.
Stop by her website Always the Good Girl and read short stories for free!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
January 8, 2017
2.5 Stars
This novella is both ugly and beautiful. It deals with a very difficult subject matter delivering a beautiful message of how even the most broken can be repaired through mutual healing, love and hope. The idea for the story is very original.
I liked the story but I didn't connect with the characters, probably due to the shortness of the novella. The interaction between the hero and the heroine seemed too cheesy for me. For a broken man, the hero was just a bit too perfect and sweet.
This novella is both ugly and beautiful. It deals with a very difficult subject matter delivering a beautiful message of how even the most broken can be repaired through mutual healing, love and hope. The idea for the story is very original.
I liked the story but I didn't connect with the characters, probably due to the shortness of the novella. The interaction between the hero and the heroine seemed too cheesy for me. For a broken man, the hero was just a bit too perfect and sweet.
April 1, 2015
My friend Erika Recommended this book, and I figured that it would be a quick good read as me and Erika have similar taste. This book blew me away. OMG this book was raw, emotional, so very touching and beautiful. I loved this book. It is one of those books that sticks with you and you'll be thinking about it for weeks. This book shows you a real look at dark evil, souls with scars, and the beauty of healing with love. So moving. I am glad I read this book. I will be looking up other books by this Author for sure!
March 20, 2017
4.5/5
Such an emotional and poignant read.
The author knows how to come up with a moving plot that captured me right from the first page to the last. I felt tons of emotions while reading this book. The Hermit was a heart-rending yet beautiful story of two broken souls who brought light into each other’s life and finally found peace and love in each other.
Daphne Pierce used to have her happy life, until three scumbags ambushed her and ripped it all away from her. After surviving hell, she could never be the same person again. No matter how many therapy sessions she went through, she still felt as if she didn't belong anywhere, except for one place where a man who saved her life was.
Due to his tragic past, Dr. Ryan Wallace left everything behind and had lived as a hermit for four years in the remote Alaskan wilderness. One day, during his hike, he found a battered woman lying unconscious on the ground. He brought her to his cabin and took care of her until she began to regain some strength. He swore to himself he would hunt those men down and make them suffer for what they had done to her for almost two years.
I loved both Ryan and Daphne. Ryan was a wonderful man in every way. He had a very, very beautiful heart. How he took care of her had me swooning big time. His endless patience and tenderness touched my heart deeply. I’m not sure words can describe how wonderful this man was!
Daphne was such a strong heroine. She was a fighter. A survivor. Considering all horrific things she had been through, it was a miracle she hadn't gone insane. I admired her inner strength, how honest she was to herself, and her courage to live life on her own terms, not the life others expected of her.
Reading this book had me shedding some tears over their losses. I felt their pain and my heart went out to them both. Some parts of the story made me sad, some parts made me mad, some made me cringe, but the others made me rejoice. My heart swelled with delight as I saw them finally find the love of their lives in each other. No more loneliness, no more painful past, the empty hole in their hearts had been filled…
My only complaint about this book is the dialogue. It sounded a bit unrealistic and cheesy to me at times. Aside from that, I can’t find anything I didn’t love about it.
Thanks Shireen for recommending this book to me. I’m glad I gave it a try. It was a great read, indeed!
Such an emotional and poignant read.
The author knows how to come up with a moving plot that captured me right from the first page to the last. I felt tons of emotions while reading this book. The Hermit was a heart-rending yet beautiful story of two broken souls who brought light into each other’s life and finally found peace and love in each other.
Daphne Pierce used to have her happy life, until three scumbags ambushed her and ripped it all away from her. After surviving hell, she could never be the same person again. No matter how many therapy sessions she went through, she still felt as if she didn't belong anywhere, except for one place where a man who saved her life was.
Due to his tragic past, Dr. Ryan Wallace left everything behind and had lived as a hermit for four years in the remote Alaskan wilderness. One day, during his hike, he found a battered woman lying unconscious on the ground. He brought her to his cabin and took care of her until she began to regain some strength. He swore to himself he would hunt those men down and make them suffer for what they had done to her for almost two years.
I loved both Ryan and Daphne. Ryan was a wonderful man in every way. He had a very, very beautiful heart. How he took care of her had me swooning big time. His endless patience and tenderness touched my heart deeply. I’m not sure words can describe how wonderful this man was!
Daphne was such a strong heroine. She was a fighter. A survivor. Considering all horrific things she had been through, it was a miracle she hadn't gone insane. I admired her inner strength, how honest she was to herself, and her courage to live life on her own terms, not the life others expected of her.
Reading this book had me shedding some tears over their losses. I felt their pain and my heart went out to them both. Some parts of the story made me sad, some parts made me mad, some made me cringe, but the others made me rejoice. My heart swelled with delight as I saw them finally find the love of their lives in each other. No more loneliness, no more painful past, the empty hole in their hearts had been filled…
My only complaint about this book is the dialogue. It sounded a bit unrealistic and cheesy to me at times. Aside from that, I can’t find anything I didn’t love about it.
Thanks Shireen for recommending this book to me. I’m glad I gave it a try. It was a great read, indeed!
June 20, 2014
For such a short read, this still packed an emotional punch.
While camping in the Alaskan wild, three awful men come across Daphne and her husband. They kill her other half, and then take Daphne to a cave where over the next couple years they commit unimaginable and horrific acts to her.
She does escape, yet is barely alive. Luckily a man finds her and attempts to patch her up. Ryan has been living alone on the mountain for years as a hermit in hopes of escaping his past.
This was a story about courage, trust, vengeance, and moving forward. Some things were truly brutal and the reader should be warned. I thought it was a pretty deep story about fate and looking ahead.
If this sounds like something you can handle, I would check it out. It's a quick read, yet you won't easily forget it.
While camping in the Alaskan wild, three awful men come across Daphne and her husband. They kill her other half, and then take Daphne to a cave where over the next couple years they commit unimaginable and horrific acts to her.
She does escape, yet is barely alive. Luckily a man finds her and attempts to patch her up. Ryan has been living alone on the mountain for years as a hermit in hopes of escaping his past.
This was a story about courage, trust, vengeance, and moving forward. Some things were truly brutal and the reader should be warned. I thought it was a pretty deep story about fate and looking ahead.
If this sounds like something you can handle, I would check it out. It's a quick read, yet you won't easily forget it.
December 31, 2020
Is this book for real?
All those barf-inducing love proclamations were just surreal.
rating: ★½
All those barf-inducing love proclamations were just surreal.
rating: ★½
April 1, 2015
Overall rating: 3.5 stars!
Triggers:
HEA:
This was a short and sweet story about moving on after loss and tragedy. Why not 5 stars? Well .. it was very short for starters. And I don't really know. It could be a result of the fact that I am in a massive book hangover right now, but also I felt torn between liking this (because it didn't hit on a SINGLE one of my triggers) and really liking it. The hero and heroine were both very likable characters.
Triggers:
HEA:
This was a short and sweet story about moving on after loss and tragedy. Why not 5 stars? Well .. it was very short for starters. And I don't really know. It could be a result of the fact that I am in a massive book hangover right now, but also I felt torn between liking this (because it didn't hit on a SINGLE one of my triggers) and really liking it. The hero and heroine were both very likable characters.
October 3, 2016
So, I think this is going to be a case of it's me and not you. This book did not really work for me romance wise. While Ryan is absolutely perfect in the way he takes care of Daphne, I just did not feel that they were actually in love with each other. TO ME, it felt more like she was just in hero worship and he wanted to protect her from all hurt because he failed to do that with his woman and child in the past. Don't get me wrong, I think they did love each other but it was all because of circumstances and not because there was an initial mutual attraction.
Warning: What happened to Daphne was horrible. While it was not "live" it is retold in a more clinical manner as she recalls details and a doctor documents her injuries. She was truly a strong person to have survived as she did. I absolutely LOVED how Ryan took care of her captures. That truly made my day.
I think most of my struggles though, was the writing. If it had been first person and we actually had each of their POV's, I think I would have "felt" the love more. Like I said, clearly, it was just me because several of my friends rated this 4 and 5 stars.
Warning: What happened to Daphne was horrible. While it was not "live" it is retold in a more clinical manner as she recalls details and a doctor documents her injuries. She was truly a strong person to have survived as she did. I absolutely LOVED how Ryan took care of her captures. That truly made my day.
I think most of my struggles though, was the writing. If it had been first person and we actually had each of their POV's, I think I would have "felt" the love more. Like I said, clearly, it was just me because several of my friends rated this 4 and 5 stars.
December 12, 2012
Amazing job Shayne McClendon. She captures her characters in such a great way in this book. Absolutely loved it. Very hard to put down. So glad I can just lay in bed all morning and finish this in one seating.
Daphne accompanies her husband Stephen to Alaska on one his projects. She is a pushover always wanting to make everyone else happy before she puts her self first. But then she wakes up the next day and her whole world is ripped away from her. She is taken and brutalized raped for 2 years. You do not get the details of the whole 2 years.
Then you meet Ryan a damaged soul hermit that lives in his Alaska cabin. He has not seen another human for 4 years until he stumbles upon Daphne in the woods laying on her death bed. Ryan takes her back to his cabin cleans her up adds lots of clothing on to her. He takes such good care of her more then I would have even thought too. Ryan heals and takes care of Daphne while she rest. Then the moment Daphne wakes up she is scared, broken, damaged. Her trust in all men have been gone.
The struggle Daphne has been through is horrified. She is a survivor. They both find each other and the healing process begins. Ryan is so good to Daphne while all that she has been though you can not help but to love him. It breaks your heart but you can not put to help rooting for them.
A must read for sure...
Daphne accompanies her husband Stephen to Alaska on one his projects. She is a pushover always wanting to make everyone else happy before she puts her self first. But then she wakes up the next day and her whole world is ripped away from her. She is taken and brutalized raped for 2 years. You do not get the details of the whole 2 years.
Then you meet Ryan a damaged soul hermit that lives in his Alaska cabin. He has not seen another human for 4 years until he stumbles upon Daphne in the woods laying on her death bed. Ryan takes her back to his cabin cleans her up adds lots of clothing on to her. He takes such good care of her more then I would have even thought too. Ryan heals and takes care of Daphne while she rest. Then the moment Daphne wakes up she is scared, broken, damaged. Her trust in all men have been gone.
The struggle Daphne has been through is horrified. She is a survivor. They both find each other and the healing process begins. Ryan is so good to Daphne while all that she has been though you can not help but to love him. It breaks your heart but you can not put to help rooting for them.
A must read for sure...
March 20, 2013
I don't often give five stars, so this novella was excellent! I devoured THE HERMIT in a few hours, even with my kiddos bugging me. The story pulled me in, and I didn't want to stop reading! The story and characters are well-developed for such a short book. THE HERMIT is a darker read than many I like. The two main characters have both gone through hell - true hell on earth. The extreme circumstances that brought this couple together may not have been believable if the writing wasn't so good! The pace of the story was just right, and the romantic relationship developed at a realistic, comfortable rate. The setting in the Alaska wilderness was interesting. I think every woman deserves a patient lover like the character Dr. Ryan Wallace! This would be an ideal read for a trip because it is a complete story that can be read in a few hours. I fully intend to read more writing by Shayne McClendon.
November 12, 2012
What a read!!!
I'm not sure how to express the emotional turmoil I had while reading this book. I really wish I knew how to do those picture things, because sometimes words just don't say enough.
This book had me pounding my fist on the arm of the chair, biting about 4 layers of skin off of my two pointer finger nails while alternating with the lip biting. I honestly have no idea why it took me this long to get to this book.
Ryan and Daphne are amazing and so well attuned to eachother. This book gave me chills, tears and the most important for me, the gut-clenching tugs.
Shayne McClendon has done it again!
Love it.
I'm not sure how to express the emotional turmoil I had while reading this book. I really wish I knew how to do those picture things, because sometimes words just don't say enough.
This book had me pounding my fist on the arm of the chair, biting about 4 layers of skin off of my two pointer finger nails while alternating with the lip biting. I honestly have no idea why it took me this long to get to this book.
Ryan and Daphne are amazing and so well attuned to eachother. This book gave me chills, tears and the most important for me, the gut-clenching tugs.
Shayne McClendon has done it again!
Love it.
April 24, 2013
After suffering long-term, horrific and shocking treatment at the hands of probable in-breds and definite psychos, Daphne finally collapses in the woods after escaping her captors. She is found by extreme loner Ryan, who has reasons for extreme measures at escaping society. This is the story of what happens when two people, in desperate need of healing, find that tender solace in each other.
5 well-deserved stars to the author for her amazing empathy in bringing to life these two damaged and lost characters, and leading them to each other.
5 well-deserved stars to the author for her amazing empathy in bringing to life these two damaged and lost characters, and leading them to each other.
November 30, 2013
This was a book I found difficult to put down.
Despite its shortness I couldn´t find a single thing missing here.
One sentence in the first chapter developed such a hard pull, I had a hard time putting this down! It simply grabbed me and didn´t let me go...
The characters are well developed and I felt for them almost instantly...both are survivors from the cruel and horrible things that happened to them.
Both realize through the course of time that they finally found their missing piece to make them whole again...
WOW! Such a great read!
Despite its shortness I couldn´t find a single thing missing here.
One sentence in the first chapter developed such a hard pull, I had a hard time putting this down! It simply grabbed me and didn´t let me go...
The characters are well developed and I felt for them almost instantly...both are survivors from the cruel and horrible things that happened to them.
Both realize through the course of time that they finally found their missing piece to make them whole again...
WOW! Such a great read!
January 19, 2015
4.5 SHOCKINGLY GOOD STARS
This was a short story, but by god it had a hell of a dark deep storyline, I read it this afternoon, I couldn't put it down. Both the H and h meet, both having endured horrific events, and although it affects them greatly, they deal with it in such a way you are just in awe of how strong they both are. I loved it and will be reading more from this author in the future.
This was a short story, but by god it had a hell of a dark deep storyline, I read it this afternoon, I couldn't put it down. Both the H and h meet, both having endured horrific events, and although it affects them greatly, they deal with it in such a way you are just in awe of how strong they both are. I loved it and will be reading more from this author in the future.
January 12, 2013
Wow! I was so very very happily surprised by this book! I was not expecting this to be so good, but It was great! I absolutely adored Ryan. He is was just amazing. Daphne was an excellent heroine. I usually love angst, but this book didn't need it. Honestly I just really enjoyed this book. Well done Shayne McClendon, I loved the writing and these characters.
Amazon freebie 1/12/13
Amazon freebie 1/12/13
October 8, 2016
I'm not exactly sure about my rating for this book but it's definitely closer to a 3 stars read than a 2.
---------->>
**Trigger Alert**
Daphne, the heroine, is abducted, held in captivity and raped for 2 years.
---------->>
Daphne's rescue and Riley's character are written beautifully.
Riley is PERFECT with her from the first to the last page.
Buuuuut.....
●
I suspect Daphne's "journey" is planned out to deliver a specific message and I didn't connect to how it was delivered.
I think the author wants the reader to see how Daphne's horrid nightmare in the end makes her stronger but, in my opinion, it isn't emotionally conveyed through the writing in so very few pages.
●The MC's bond is strong but heavily due to their circumstances (Riley's past and Daphne's gratitude toward him).
●The story feels too rushed (expecially toward the end).
**2.5 stars rounded up to 3**
---------->>
**Trigger Alert**
Daphne, the heroine, is abducted, held in captivity and raped for 2 years.
---------->>
Daphne's rescue and Riley's character are written beautifully.
Riley is PERFECT with her from the first to the last page.
Buuuuut.....
●
I suspect Daphne's "journey" is planned out to deliver a specific message and I didn't connect to how it was delivered.
I think the author wants the reader to see how Daphne's horrid nightmare in the end makes her stronger but, in my opinion, it isn't emotionally conveyed through the writing in so very few pages.
●The MC's bond is strong but heavily due to their circumstances (Riley's past and Daphne's gratitude toward him).
●The story feels too rushed (expecially toward the end).
**2.5 stars rounded up to 3**
October 29, 2012
It's a token of how magically written this is that you end up enjoying this book despite the gobs of heavy, unsettling emotion crammed in so few pages. You'd have to reach for a horror novel to match the level of hell inflicted on this poor heroine. Thankfully, Ms McClendon doesn't take you through the nightmare as it happens. Rather, she begins the story with the hero stumbling upon the barely alive woman in the Alaskan wilderness.
This is a precariously balanced plot because you want the romance to catch fire even as you know how raw and irreparable the heroine's wounds are. Without hesitation, he offers her an unconditional friendship, one that flirts with what-ifs and balances itself satisfyingly between being quixotic and practical. As their attachment to one another adapts with time, their emotional honesty remains constant, making it impossible to emerge from this story unscathed by its sentimentality and sensuality.
This is a precariously balanced plot because you want the romance to catch fire even as you know how raw and irreparable the heroine's wounds are. Without hesitation, he offers her an unconditional friendship, one that flirts with what-ifs and balances itself satisfyingly between being quixotic and practical. As their attachment to one another adapts with time, their emotional honesty remains constant, making it impossible to emerge from this story unscathed by its sentimentality and sensuality.
July 8, 2013
****************** Stats **********************
Hero : 5 Heroine : 5 Peak Factor:5 Plot:5 Writing:5
**********************************************
Overall Star rating: 5
Oh my! I absolutely loved this short book. It had me hooked on the edge of my seat for the entire hour and a half it took me to read the book. I felt for the characters I cried with them through the good times and the bad. I will never understand how people can be so cruel but Shayne McClendon does a great job of making you feel as though you are part of the book!
Hero : 5 Heroine : 5 Peak Factor:5 Plot:5 Writing:5
**********************************************
Overall Star rating: 5
Oh my! I absolutely loved this short book. It had me hooked on the edge of my seat for the entire hour and a half it took me to read the book. I felt for the characters I cried with them through the good times and the bad. I will never understand how people can be so cruel but Shayne McClendon does a great job of making you feel as though you are part of the book!
January 13, 2013
***(spoiler)*** ok this book was good to a point. Unfortunately I have read a very similar story of this recently. Biggest part that bugged me was how easily the woman was able to have intimacy and orgasm and sex and enjoy it after such horrid ordeal. I feel the book could have been better and longer with that part better dealt with. But all in all. Dr Wallace is a great character!
January 15, 2014
Unique read
This was an emotionally packed read. And it was a plot I had not seen done before. It was very refreshing. A total page turner. Glad I read this and I will look for more of this writer's work.
This was an emotionally packed read. And it was a plot I had not seen done before. It was very refreshing. A total page turner. Glad I read this and I will look for more of this writer's work.
April 2, 2015
This is a beautiful story of healing and new beginnings and love.
When you feel like living hurts more than dying, your inner strength can and will prevail if you let it.
I look forward to reading more from SM.
When you feel like living hurts more than dying, your inner strength can and will prevail if you let it.
I look forward to reading more from SM.
April 5, 2015
Following the absolutely tragic first half which had in tears over and over was a beautiful little piece of heaven in the second half - WOW! Well worth taking a chance on if you're looking for an Alaskan survival story with a great HEA.
June 23, 2013
4.5 well earned stars.
Wow. Just. Wow.
I fell in love with Ryan so many times, I can't even tell you.
What a heartbreaking story yet a story so full of love and caring and compassion.
Wow. Just. Wow.
I fell in love with Ryan so many times, I can't even tell you.
What a heartbreaking story yet a story so full of love and caring and compassion.
August 15, 2017
I went into this book after having my heart ripped out by the same author (previous book I read). I wasn’t hesitant to read another once since a) I’m addicted to her books and b) I’ve loved almost all the others…but this one wasn’t screaming at me. Weird, right? Well…I decided to start it…not intending to read it in one sitting. But that’s exactly what happened. AND I DON’T REGRET A MINUTE OF IT.
This book is hands down my favorite. I know, it’s probably a weird choice. Daphne went through some horrific things and survived to tell the tale. She’s one of the strongest females I’ve read about in a long time (although Shayne McClendon does excel at strong heroines)…and I loved Ryan. There was just something about him that spoke to me. And don’t even get me started on the justice he doled out on Daphne’s behalf. Swear to god, that scene…I literally swooned. Yes, it might be an odd scene to swoon at, but I love fictional men that will go to the ends of the earth to protect and avenge their woman. Even if I hadn’t be devouring the book by that point, I would have instantly fallen in love with it. I literally had to put my kindle down and message my bff and tell her that this book was beyond awesome and perfect and that she had to read it!
This is one I’d recommend to anyone looking for a great read!
This book is hands down my favorite. I know, it’s probably a weird choice. Daphne went through some horrific things and survived to tell the tale. She’s one of the strongest females I’ve read about in a long time (although Shayne McClendon does excel at strong heroines)…and I loved Ryan. There was just something about him that spoke to me. And don’t even get me started on the justice he doled out on Daphne’s behalf. Swear to god, that scene…I literally swooned. Yes, it might be an odd scene to swoon at, but I love fictional men that will go to the ends of the earth to protect and avenge their woman. Even if I hadn’t be devouring the book by that point, I would have instantly fallen in love with it. I literally had to put my kindle down and message my bff and tell her that this book was beyond awesome and perfect and that she had to read it!
This is one I’d recommend to anyone looking for a great read!
April 29, 2013
First off, this book has some very dark themes. Torture, sexual torture, a woman who survives by sheer force of will and her journey to battle back from that dark, dark place she was taken to. It's not for the faint of heart. That said, I think author Shayne McClendon did a really outstanding job of capturing Daphne's fear and pain as she fights to pull herself together again.
It's not pretty, but neither were the things that were done to her.
As far as other characters go, Ryan has also had a tough life. No, he wasn't tortured but mentally he's just as twisted up as Daphne. He's a man who has done things that most people could never contemplate doing. He's a man who tried to do good things after his world fell apart and instead found himself in the middle of a nightmare.
My one niggling little complaint was that the characters said each other's names CONSTANTLY. Every time they spoke it was "Ryan this..." or "Daphne that..." This didn't *ruin* the story for me, but I did notice it as I was reading and I kept thinking "If you're talking to one other person and you're the only two in the room, is it really necessary to keep saying their name?" I will freely admit that this might be a ME-thing, though. Freely.
Dark but with a nicely powerful message that strength can be found within. I wouldn't recommend this to everyone because of the themes and the violence, but those who are brave enough to give it a try might be surprised at how layered and complex the characters are.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
The Hermit was a free Kindle book I downloaded on 04/28/13 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
It's not pretty, but neither were the things that were done to her.
As far as other characters go, Ryan has also had a tough life. No, he wasn't tortured but mentally he's just as twisted up as Daphne. He's a man who has done things that most people could never contemplate doing. He's a man who tried to do good things after his world fell apart and instead found himself in the middle of a nightmare.
My one niggling little complaint was that the characters said each other's names CONSTANTLY. Every time they spoke it was "Ryan this..." or "Daphne that..." This didn't *ruin* the story for me, but I did notice it as I was reading and I kept thinking "If you're talking to one other person and you're the only two in the room, is it really necessary to keep saying their name?" I will freely admit that this might be a ME-thing, though. Freely.
Dark but with a nicely powerful message that strength can be found within. I wouldn't recommend this to everyone because of the themes and the violence, but those who are brave enough to give it a try might be surprised at how layered and complex the characters are.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
The Hermit was a free Kindle book I downloaded on 04/28/13 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
March 18, 2013
So . . . the lovely Shayne offered this free over the weekend and I was happy to snag it up late last night. I had read the reviews, and the Synop many times but couldn't bring myself to buy it.
I finished her other short story, Being Delightful while nursing my newborn at 5am this morning. I should NOT have started it . . . of course, I couldn't stop. It isn't a book you can put down.
You may consider this a SPOILER . . .
This is story is rough. No, this is down right heart wrenching. I was hysterical with tears and emotions. You honestly feel for Daphne, not just emotionally - but physically. I swear, as a woman, my body ached for her . . .
I think it is honestly the worst story I have ever read - it makes you feel for so many women that are brutalized daily, all over the world. It makes me sad to think that while this story is fiction - it could be closer to the truth for someone.
That being said . . . this BOOK is good. It has your emotions all over the place. It made me sad, and happy. And while not everything always has a happy ending, it brings me peace to know someone, like Daphne, might find it in a nice person that shows compassion & safety when a person thinks there is none left in the world. I hope there is a Ryan out there for them.
Get your tissues, and ugly cries ready.
I finished her other short story, Being Delightful while nursing my newborn at 5am this morning. I should NOT have started it . . . of course, I couldn't stop. It isn't a book you can put down.
You may consider this a SPOILER . . .
This is story is rough. No, this is down right heart wrenching. I was hysterical with tears and emotions. You honestly feel for Daphne, not just emotionally - but physically. I swear, as a woman, my body ached for her . . .
I think it is honestly the worst story I have ever read - it makes you feel for so many women that are brutalized daily, all over the world. It makes me sad to think that while this story is fiction - it could be closer to the truth for someone.
That being said . . . this BOOK is good. It has your emotions all over the place. It made me sad, and happy. And while not everything always has a happy ending, it brings me peace to know someone, like Daphne, might find it in a nice person that shows compassion & safety when a person thinks there is none left in the world. I hope there is a Ryan out there for them.
Get your tissues, and ugly cries ready.
November 12, 2013
Really a 4.5 stars. This is a wonderful short book about a former doctor who has taken to living in the wilds of Alaska because he just doesn't feel like he belongs in regular civilization any more after the things he did and saw in the military. One day during a camping trip away from his cabin, he finds a woman in the snow. The woman has obviously been brutalized and starved and looks very close to death. He rescues her and takes her back to his cabin.
At the cabin, he tries to comfort her as best he can in his outback home, knowing that she needs more help than he can provide. But while she's with him, she regains consciousness and is so frightened and skittish that she refuses to let him call in a helicopter to take her to a regular hospital. So he provides the best care he can and tries to get her to trust him and let him know what happened to her. Eventually she tells him her story about three men that killed her husband and kept her captive for two years.
This is a beautiful story of two people, afraid of being in the real world, who find love and comfort in each other. And this love and comfort allows each of them to return to some kind of real life, together. A great read.
At the cabin, he tries to comfort her as best he can in his outback home, knowing that she needs more help than he can provide. But while she's with him, she regains consciousness and is so frightened and skittish that she refuses to let him call in a helicopter to take her to a regular hospital. So he provides the best care he can and tries to get her to trust him and let him know what happened to her. Eventually she tells him her story about three men that killed her husband and kept her captive for two years.
This is a beautiful story of two people, afraid of being in the real world, who find love and comfort in each other. And this love and comfort allows each of them to return to some kind of real life, together. A great read.
October 21, 2012
This is the first story I read from this author but it will not be the last.
Awesome survirors story with an amazing concept. The story catches you from the first page till the last.
This story for me it was a five star. The writting I believe it could be much better so it was a three stars for me.
That's how I came with the four stars.
Spoiler Alert from here on!!!! Don't read if you haven't read the book yet!!!
I found myself saying many times, Realy?! while reading this story. The writing at some points didn't flow well with the story. Like when Ryan first finds Daphne almost dead in the snow and his main feeling is to be deeply curious. "The itch that told him he couldn't rest until he knew how she'd come to be here. "Really?!!! At that moment?! If he was deeply worried instead of puzzled and curious that would make more sense with his character. And the curiosity thing could be mentioned later when he had her in his cabin. I will not go on with the other points but just say that I believe this writter is talented and she can step it up. I wouldn't take the time to say anything if the book was not worth it.
Awesome survirors story with an amazing concept. The story catches you from the first page till the last.
This story for me it was a five star. The writting I believe it could be much better so it was a three stars for me.
That's how I came with the four stars.
Spoiler Alert from here on!!!! Don't read if you haven't read the book yet!!!
I found myself saying many times, Realy?! while reading this story. The writing at some points didn't flow well with the story. Like when Ryan first finds Daphne almost dead in the snow and his main feeling is to be deeply curious. "The itch that told him he couldn't rest until he knew how she'd come to be here. "Really?!!! At that moment?! If he was deeply worried instead of puzzled and curious that would make more sense with his character. And the curiosity thing could be mentioned later when he had her in his cabin. I will not go on with the other points but just say that I believe this writter is talented and she can step it up. I wouldn't take the time to say anything if the book was not worth it.
March 18, 2013
No matter how much you try to distance yourself from people, there is always that one person who can break through your walls. Ryan had erected walls around his life, afraid to get close to people for his reasons. Daphne was scared of everything, including Ryan. Being held captive and tortured for years, she didn’t know what to expect. Through his patience, Ryan was able to help her heal, but she also helped heal him as well.
This book was amazingly powerful in so many different ways. The strength that it shows of two complete strangers who help each other heal, it gives you hope in people. This is not a "normal" love story, but it shows the love that starts out as caring grow into something more serious. It is amazing what people can go through in their life, yet still manage to come out stronger than they were before.
It also shows that sometimes, the most important thing that you can do for a person in need is to just answer the phone and listen to them.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new read; I have actually purchased several copies of this book for friends of mine. I think this book is a must read for everyone.
This book was amazingly powerful in so many different ways. The strength that it shows of two complete strangers who help each other heal, it gives you hope in people. This is not a "normal" love story, but it shows the love that starts out as caring grow into something more serious. It is amazing what people can go through in their life, yet still manage to come out stronger than they were before.
It also shows that sometimes, the most important thing that you can do for a person in need is to just answer the phone and listen to them.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new read; I have actually purchased several copies of this book for friends of mine. I think this book is a must read for everyone.
October 22, 2012
Shayne has done again. She has used her words to take me on a journey. A beautiful heart-wrenching book. Shayne tells the tale of two damaged souls, one of a man who suffers such emotional anguish that he needs to seclude himself and one of a woman, who has been physically and emotionally abused in the worst way possible. They find each other and the healing begins. You can't help but fall in love with Ryan, his sadness and controlled emotion is at times overwhelming. The book was an emotional roller-coaster, making me cry, sigh, laugh and love. Bravo Shayne on another journey will done!
Post-Note: the punishment for the crimes committed made the woman in me stand up and holler HELL YEAH!
Post-Note: the punishment for the crimes committed made the woman in me stand up and holler HELL YEAH!
April 24, 2013
This was the second book I read by Shayne McClendon. I found myself devouring her books, not just casually reading them.
The Hermit is a well written tale, littered with damage, survival, guilt and a lesson for each of us. As I read, I found myself relating to the characters, feeling their pain and I even found myself in tears, relating to their battles and celebrating their victories.
The Hermit was a most amazing journey. I found myself rereading it STILL fresh, STILL thrilling and JUST AS GREAT the second time around.
A GREAT BOOK. WELL WRITTEN and ONE HELL OF A JOURNEY~!
The Hermit is a well written tale, littered with damage, survival, guilt and a lesson for each of us. As I read, I found myself relating to the characters, feeling their pain and I even found myself in tears, relating to their battles and celebrating their victories.
The Hermit was a most amazing journey. I found myself rereading it STILL fresh, STILL thrilling and JUST AS GREAT the second time around.
A GREAT BOOK. WELL WRITTEN and ONE HELL OF A JOURNEY~!
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