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Blackwater Falls #1
Dark of the Moon
Census taker Jace Miller is sent to the remote town of Blackwater Falls to complete forms not returned by the local inhabitants. From the moment he sets foot in the small community, he realizes that something isn’t right, from the hostile reception he receives to the strange uneasiness of the residents. Sheriff, Hawke Sutherland has told him in no uncertain terms to get out of town by nightfall and to come back at a more “convenient” time. Angrily, he complies, but on the way down the mountain, his old truck quits running. Walking back up the dark mountain road for help, he hears strange sounds in the woods around him. When he’s viciously attacked by a huge mountain lion, he thinks he’s facing certain death, but awakes the next morning to find that handsome sheriff Hawke has rescued him. The attraction grows between them over the next few days, but Hawke makes one excuse after another not to let Jace leave. When Jace runs, the sheriff has him picked up and hauled back up the mountain. Why? Has Jace seen too much, and just what is going on in Blackwater Falls?
139 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2013
28 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 30, 2014
**Spoilers, I guess.
....soooo. wow.
This was my fault. There's only so many books you can read and hate by the same author before it's your fault, and here we are. I already knew this wasn't going to be what I wanted it to be.
During the story, Hawke kidnaps and drugs Jace multiple times. It's beyond the pale--holding Jace down and forcing him to swallow Xanax. Even more frustrating, Jace never really gets angry about it.
I'm curious actually, where this trope comes from--the sub always being blamed for what the alpha does. If we looked at things from Jace's perspective, he's been drugged, he's been attacked, Hawke lied about Jace's car being at the shop. When Jace tries to run, he's taken in by sheriff from another town, and Hawke tells them that Jace is mentally ill so that he can force Jace from leaving. He handcuffs and spanks Jace, he has the gall to be angry that Jace is upset and cursing at him, so he blasts music to drown Jace out (so, no respect there). He pulls the car over and forces a kiss. I mean... this guy belongs in jail.
The more I think about it, the more upsetting this is. Jace has zero agency, and Hawke never shows him any empathy. Which makes believing Jace would fall in love him impossible.
This actually had the scene I've always wanted--kinda, and then it failed; Jace starts crying from actual fear and frustration. See ... we always have these abusive alpha males in West's stories, but then we also have these punching-bag subs that seems to be able to take the worst kinds of breaches of trust, as well as out-and-out abuse, without suffering any lasting trauma or resentment.
I'm just going to say again, this was my fault, I've read enough of Shannon West's books to know what I was getting into.
My wish for this one would be that Jace actually escapes and goes back to his job, so he can have some perspective away from creeper Hawke.
....soooo. wow.
This was my fault. There's only so many books you can read and hate by the same author before it's your fault, and here we are. I already knew this wasn't going to be what I wanted it to be.
During the story, Hawke kidnaps and drugs Jace multiple times. It's beyond the pale--holding Jace down and forcing him to swallow Xanax. Even more frustrating, Jace never really gets angry about it.
I'm curious actually, where this trope comes from--the sub always being blamed for what the alpha does. If we looked at things from Jace's perspective, he's been drugged, he's been attacked, Hawke lied about Jace's car being at the shop. When Jace tries to run, he's taken in by sheriff from another town, and Hawke tells them that Jace is mentally ill so that he can force Jace from leaving. He handcuffs and spanks Jace, he has the gall to be angry that Jace is upset and cursing at him, so he blasts music to drown Jace out (so, no respect there). He pulls the car over and forces a kiss. I mean... this guy belongs in jail.
The more I think about it, the more upsetting this is. Jace has zero agency, and Hawke never shows him any empathy. Which makes believing Jace would fall in love him impossible.
This actually had the scene I've always wanted--kinda, and then it failed; Jace starts crying from actual fear and frustration. See ... we always have these abusive alpha males in West's stories, but then we also have these punching-bag subs that seems to be able to take the worst kinds of breaches of trust, as well as out-and-out abuse, without suffering any lasting trauma or resentment.
I'm just going to say again, this was my fault, I've read enough of Shannon West's books to know what I was getting into.
My wish for this one would be that Jace actually escapes and goes back to his job, so he can have some perspective away from creeper Hawke.
October 7, 2013
The first book of the Blackwater Falls series is a great romance with surprisingly enough Cougars.
Hawk is the sheriff of a small town full of shifters and has his hands full trying to protect their secret. Jace is comes to the small town to get census forms not completed by the inhabitants of the town. Jace is attacked by a cougar and when he wakes up he finds himself in the home of the sheriff.
Their attraction is immediate and builds throughout the story, but the sheriff is hiding something and Jace doesn’t know if he can trust him. The buildup of emotions that the authors convey is excellent, the reader can’t help but get involved and root the characters on or even want to tell the sheriff a thing or two. When the two finally have sex, it is well written and off the charts hot.
The authors have created characters with strong personalities that draw the reader deeper into the happenings of this small town. The setting is an awesome background for hidden shifters, a whole community in southern backwoods, away from large towns, adds to the mysterious world of these cougar shifters with their unique origins.
I found this HEA romance to be an entertaining read and I will be looking for more books in this series.
Hawk is the sheriff of a small town full of shifters and has his hands full trying to protect their secret. Jace is comes to the small town to get census forms not completed by the inhabitants of the town. Jace is attacked by a cougar and when he wakes up he finds himself in the home of the sheriff.
Their attraction is immediate and builds throughout the story, but the sheriff is hiding something and Jace doesn’t know if he can trust him. The buildup of emotions that the authors convey is excellent, the reader can’t help but get involved and root the characters on or even want to tell the sheriff a thing or two. When the two finally have sex, it is well written and off the charts hot.
The authors have created characters with strong personalities that draw the reader deeper into the happenings of this small town. The setting is an awesome background for hidden shifters, a whole community in southern backwoods, away from large towns, adds to the mysterious world of these cougar shifters with their unique origins.
I found this HEA romance to be an entertaining read and I will be looking for more books in this series.
January 22, 2022
This was a fun red. It’s my third book by Shannon West and I’ve enjoyed them all.
October 10, 2013
I don't think Shannon West can write a bad M/M story.
Jace is sent to Blackwater Falls because he is a census worker and a large number of the population there haven't handed in their forms. He approaches the sheriff to help him. Hawke is shocked and surprised to find his mate in front of him...at the worst possible time. Cougar shifters are rare and he has 6 youngsters about to go through their first shift that night at the dark of the moon...a time fraught with danger. He must convince Jace to leave
I really enjoyed this book and think it deserves 4 stars
Jace is sent to Blackwater Falls because he is a census worker and a large number of the population there haven't handed in their forms. He approaches the sheriff to help him. Hawke is shocked and surprised to find his mate in front of him...at the worst possible time. Cougar shifters are rare and he has 6 youngsters about to go through their first shift that night at the dark of the moon...a time fraught with danger. He must convince Jace to leave
I really enjoyed this book and think it deserves 4 stars
April 12, 2015
2.5-3**
Hmmmm. .I didn't like the constant use of drugs to keep Jace in town with the sheriff. And Hawke was pretty much an Ass during most of the story. . I'm not sure if I'll finish this series even though I have all the books. Maybe I'll try the next one before I decide. ..
Hmmmm. .I didn't like the constant use of drugs to keep Jace in town with the sheriff. And Hawke was pretty much an Ass during most of the story. . I'm not sure if I'll finish this series even though I have all the books. Maybe I'll try the next one before I decide. ..
October 5, 2014
The one thing I didn't like is that Hawke drugged Jace over and over again in order to keep Jace stayed with him...
That really bugged me.
Other than that, I quite liked it. :)
That really bugged me.
Other than that, I quite liked it. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2021
O.M.G. I tried, but couldn't lessen the antagonism & irritation for either Hawke or Jace.
Hawke didn't behave like an Alpha, nor did he give anybody a reason to change their attitudes. He allowed their disrespect, hostility, and plain brattiness from the younger generation, including Jace, who deserved a slap, spanking, or some other punishment. Aarrgghh! I hated this book for makong its characters like like children and hillbilly idiots! Talk about stereotyped roles and lifestyles!
Don't waste your money on this -- if you must read it, use the Kindle borrowing feature. One star.
Hawke didn't behave like an Alpha, nor did he give anybody a reason to change their attitudes. He allowed their disrespect, hostility, and plain brattiness from the younger generation, including Jace, who deserved a slap, spanking, or some other punishment. Aarrgghh! I hated this book for makong its characters like like children and hillbilly idiots! Talk about stereotyped roles and lifestyles!
Don't waste your money on this -- if you must read it, use the Kindle borrowing feature. One star.
January 15, 2018
Hm... it was entertaining enough, but not that much more to it.
June 18, 2020
Just not as engaging as I expected - might be my mood because I usually love this author.
January 2, 2014
What was wrong with this book:
1. Info dumping: there is a lot of mythology behind these shifters and it was all told at the very beginning of the story. It was too much in too little time.
2. Erotic dreams: I never have been and never will be a fan of these in books. Good things come to those who wait and substituting the real thing for a dream just seems like a cheap, easy fix.
3. The shifters: female shifters had two traits: vicious and nasty. Period. While I enjoyed that the women seemed to be stronger than the men for once in a shifter story, they weren't simply meek and fragile or worse, didn't exist at all, it got boring quick to read about how every single woman was only capable of snarling and glaring and men had to tiptoe around them.
4. Dragging storyline: the big conversation about mates and pretty much any explanation that Jace deserved about his attack, the town, etc was put off time and time again, to the point where it wasn't only frustrating, it verged on ridiculous. Hawke always had another morning at the office, another nap to take and another nighttime patrol and unfortunately his way of dealing with this was:
5. Drugging his mate!
1. Info dumping: there is a lot of mythology behind these shifters and it was all told at the very beginning of the story. It was too much in too little time.
2. Erotic dreams: I never have been and never will be a fan of these in books. Good things come to those who wait and substituting the real thing for a dream just seems like a cheap, easy fix.
3. The shifters: female shifters had two traits: vicious and nasty. Period. While I enjoyed that the women seemed to be stronger than the men for once in a shifter story, they weren't simply meek and fragile or worse, didn't exist at all, it got boring quick to read about how every single woman was only capable of snarling and glaring and men had to tiptoe around them.
4. Dragging storyline: the big conversation about mates and pretty much any explanation that Jace deserved about his attack, the town, etc was put off time and time again, to the point where it wasn't only frustrating, it verged on ridiculous. Hawke always had another morning at the office, another nap to take and another nighttime patrol and unfortunately his way of dealing with this was:
5. Drugging his mate!
July 19, 2014
When? When will I learn to check GR instead of making impulse buys? Oh, wait, maybe I bought this and then decided not to read it, and then forgot that I had decided not to read it. Either way, I ended up reading it. *sigh*
I get that with shifters it is a different world and there are a lot of things I will let slide in a shifter/paranormal story but constantly lying and drugging your mate (not including not telling them you are a vampire/shifter/etc - I give a little leeway on that one) even in the name of protection - that is just a big no. Treating your mate like a child. Lying to other law enforcement to keep your mate from getting away from you...this book just went super down-hill during that last bit. It was almost slightly redeemed when Jace started to cry and I thought "Finally, a real response" and Hawke seemed, just for a moment, while I blinked, like maybe he was going to remove his head from his ass, but no, I was too hopeful.
I need a butler or something to keep track of this stuff for me and stop me from buying, or at least, reading, these books after I read bad reviews. Yeah, a butler, like in Kuroshitsuji...I could work with that. (But don't tell my husband, he always nixes my best ideas.)
I get that with shifters it is a different world and there are a lot of things I will let slide in a shifter/paranormal story but constantly lying and drugging your mate (not including not telling them you are a vampire/shifter/etc - I give a little leeway on that one) even in the name of protection - that is just a big no. Treating your mate like a child. Lying to other law enforcement to keep your mate from getting away from you...this book just went super down-hill during that last bit. It was almost slightly redeemed when Jace started to cry and I thought "Finally, a real response" and Hawke seemed, just for a moment, while I blinked, like maybe he was going to remove his head from his ass, but no, I was too hopeful.
I need a butler or something to keep track of this stuff for me and stop me from buying, or at least, reading, these books after I read bad reviews. Yeah, a butler, like in Kuroshitsuji...I could work with that. (But don't tell my husband, he always nixes my best ideas.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2013
This about sums up my feelings on this book:
Just when you think it would get better something happened. Therefore, this gif is also appropriate.
Just when you think it would get better something happened. Therefore, this gif is also appropriate.
November 2, 2014
Omg, I'm in love w/Hawke & Jace's story. I absolutely love the first book in the backwater falls series. Cougar shifters & sexy male/male action. I'm so there. I kept turning page after page to find out what happened. The cover sold me from the get go. The writing flowed and made me want more. This is the first time i've read anything by Susan E Scott. I can't wait to continue on. All I have to say is read the book if you love M/M stories & shifters. :D
May 29, 2014
Shannon West writes some interesting stories, but they always seem to fall short, just like this one. I agree wholeheartedly with Crouck's review (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), so no need to add to it. I keep holding out hope that the author will improve, which she was, but unfortunately, this book is a regression, not a progression.
December 2, 2015
I Really enjoyed it but I thought it was a little odd how Hawke treated Jace like a cross between a child and a pet. Like handcuffing him and gagging him whenever it was convenient for him to do so. But it wasn't really a sex thing... believe it or not that's what made it odd to me lol. So other than being a little put off with how Jace was treated, I found the book enjoyable.
October 8, 2013
i cant keep reading it. After 5 pages i have to put it down. sorry, its really giving me the heavy feeling(like i'm studying a history book) instead of giving me a pleasure in getting to know more of the story.
October 12, 2013
I only made it through a couple of chapters before I gave up...the writing or something was just not working for me AT ALL. Just a bunch of telling, not showing. Whatever it is, I'm passing on this one and moving on to another story.
May 16, 2014
Ok, I was taken aback by Hawke's behavior to the point of holding Jace against his will. Once I finished the book, I wanted to see what was up next because I there were some open threads. I see this the first is the series, mmmmm.
September 11, 2016
Big disappointment.
I've officially come to the conclusion that Shannon West should return to writing as a solo author. The books written in collaboration with other authors just doesn't have the spark her solo works do.
I've officially come to the conclusion that Shannon West should return to writing as a solo author. The books written in collaboration with other authors just doesn't have the spark her solo works do.
January 8, 2014
3.5 stars
October 10, 2013
Ummm weird. That's all I can say about this one. It was just... Weird.
June 22, 2014
Given this a 3 star as I can't decide between 3/4, book was ok
March 5, 2014
Started out good but as it went on the story got ridiculously unbelievable (and I don't mean the shifter aspect!) - cannot carry on with this series!
April 30, 2014
Yeah, the repeated drugging and kidnapping, and all around assholness of the Hero kinda made the book suck. I'll probably read the sequel. It can't be as bad.
February 10, 2016
Excellent. Love how Shannon creates the characters and makes you feel what they are feeling. Will read more of Shannon's work. Thank you
August 2, 2014
Available at www.darkhollowspress.com, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords.
October 30, 2013
2.5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews