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Shadow Mountain #1
Fated
Two towns flank the looming Shadow Mountain. A dark myth of the Predator drifts through the dense trees, a tale Police Lieutenant Hart never paid much attention to. When one unresolved death follows another—some people dying without discernible cause while others are clearly, and often brutally, murdered—he can't ignore it any longer. Truth may lie in myth, but this one is spread to deceive everyone. The Predator exists, but he's not entirely human. Hart will have to find the connection between the mysterious figure and victims with only one thing in common: a faint tattoo on the backs of their necks, a mark left when someone healed their incurable diseases.
Isaac Lasko has been in love with Hart since he moved in across the street seven years ago. He’s been helping Hart renovate his home, and their friendship grows more intense with the years, but Isaac can't help wishing for a deeper bond. When he finally breaks through the lieutenant's armor, the mystery surrounding the Predator threatens them both. Help will come, but at a price.
Isaac Lasko has been in love with Hart since he moved in across the street seven years ago. He’s been helping Hart renovate his home, and their friendship grows more intense with the years, but Isaac can't help wishing for a deeper bond. When he finally breaks through the lieutenant's armor, the mystery surrounding the Predator threatens them both. Help will come, but at a price.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2014
63 people are currently reading
571 people want to read
About the author
Indra Vaughn
20 books210 followersAfter living in Michigan, USA for seven wonderful years, Indra Vaughn returned back to her Belgian roots. There she will continue to consume herbal tea, do yoga wherever the mat fits, and devour books while single parenting a little boy and working as a nurse.
The stories of boys and their unrequited love will no doubt keep finding their way onto the page--and hopefully into readers hands--even if it takes a little more time.
And if she gleefully posts pictures of snow-free streets in winter, you'll have to forgive her. Those Michigan blizzards won't be forgotten in a hurry.
The stories of boys and their unrequited love will no doubt keep finding their way onto the page--and hopefully into readers hands--even if it takes a little more time.
And if she gleefully posts pictures of snow-free streets in winter, you'll have to forgive her. Those Michigan blizzards won't be forgotten in a hurry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
October 19, 2018
Police Lieutenant Hart goes back to his home town to bury his father. While he’s there, he’s asked to help with an investigation of a brutal beating that’s left the victim in a coma. The investigation leads to trying to uncover the mystery behind the suspicious deaths of people who should have died, but were given a second chance at life.
I’m going to agree with Achim's review. This story definitely has an X Files feel to it. It’s creepy and strange. The story was by far more mystery/thriller than romance. Romance takes a back seat…way, way back, but the writing and the story sucks you in.
Book 1 ends in a cliffhanger. I’m hoping book 2 in the conclusion because I don’t see a book 3 or the promise of one.
I’m going to agree with Achim's review. This story definitely has an X Files feel to it. It’s creepy and strange. The story was by far more mystery/thriller than romance. Romance takes a back seat…way, way back, but the writing and the story sucks you in.
Book 1 ends in a cliffhanger. I’m hoping book 2 in the conclusion because I don’t see a book 3 or the promise of one.
December 16, 2015
4.5 Stars
First, I want to say that Fated is more of a paranormal mystery/suspense novel than it is a romance novel. So, those of you that need your romance up front and center might not enjoy this novel as much as I did.
I did make the mistake of reading the blurb of book 2 before finishing Fated, however, so I knew more than I should have about how some things played out. My advice would be to avoid reading the blurb for book 2 until after you finish this one. And, hell, even knowing those particular plot points didn't really prepare me for the happenings. I still cried.
So, Hart. We never learn his first name. He just goes by "Hart". He's a 34 year old homicide detective in Riverside, where he has lived for the past 7 years. He's never really let himself get romantically close to anyone. His best friend is Isaac, who lives across the street and is considerably younger (23). Isaac has been in love with Hart forever, now, and has just about lost his patience in waiting for Hart to figure out that Isaac is not too young. But Hart, he has trouble getting past it, even though he has definitely noticed lately that Isaac is no longer a boy.
I knew from reading the blurb, that the romance angle was going to ultimately be between Hart and Isaac, but before Hart gets his head out of his ass regarding young Isaac, he does have a short affair with Toby, while he is away in Brightly making arrangements for his father's funeral, and all that happens on page. I didn't mind it, though, because I came to like Toby a lot, even though I did not ultimately want him to be with Hart.
The mystery plot revolves around some weird murders and some very interesting medical miracles. And as we go along, we learn more and more about the mysterious Predator and his/its role in these murders.
I don't want to give away too much, here. I will say, I was pretty well riveted in the story, once it got going, and I found the paranormal element to be interesting. I've always enjoyed myths and legends kind of stories and this one did not disappoint me at all.
I'm looking forward to delving into Fragmented and I hope hope hope that book 3 will be out soon.
First, I want to say that Fated is more of a paranormal mystery/suspense novel than it is a romance novel. So, those of you that need your romance up front and center might not enjoy this novel as much as I did.
I did make the mistake of reading the blurb of book 2 before finishing Fated, however, so I knew more than I should have about how some things played out. My advice would be to avoid reading the blurb for book 2 until after you finish this one. And, hell, even knowing those particular plot points didn't really prepare me for the happenings. I still cried.
So, Hart. We never learn his first name. He just goes by "Hart". He's a 34 year old homicide detective in Riverside, where he has lived for the past 7 years. He's never really let himself get romantically close to anyone. His best friend is Isaac, who lives across the street and is considerably younger (23). Isaac has been in love with Hart forever, now, and has just about lost his patience in waiting for Hart to figure out that Isaac is not too young. But Hart, he has trouble getting past it, even though he has definitely noticed lately that Isaac is no longer a boy.
I knew from reading the blurb, that the romance angle was going to ultimately be between Hart and Isaac, but before Hart gets his head out of his ass regarding young Isaac, he does have a short affair with Toby, while he is away in Brightly making arrangements for his father's funeral, and all that happens on page. I didn't mind it, though, because I came to like Toby a lot, even though I did not ultimately want him to be with Hart.
The mystery plot revolves around some weird murders and some very interesting medical miracles. And as we go along, we learn more and more about the mysterious Predator and his/its role in these murders.
I don't want to give away too much, here. I will say, I was pretty well riveted in the story, once it got going, and I found the paranormal element to be interesting. I've always enjoyed myths and legends kind of stories and this one did not disappoint me at all.
I'm looking forward to delving into Fragmented and I hope hope hope that book 3 will be out soon.
June 16, 2015
OMG! What a book, what a brilliantly written first book of a series...
I'm totally drained, shattered, overwhelmed... and soooo happy the story didn't end with a cliff hanger.
When I heard that Indra was writing her first paranormal mystic novel and that it wouldn’t be a stand alone but rather a trilogy I was ecstatic. Then I saw the cover and the blurb of Fated, and I was sure I had to read the book as soon as it came out.
This review won’t be as detailed as others I have written because I don’t want to give away too much. Fated is a book you have to discover while reading, it’s a multilayered story and Hart, the narrator of the book, is a complex character. With every chapter you learn more about him, where he’s coming from, where he’s at the current point of his life... while investigating brutal murders and miraculous healings, and burying his dad he hasn’t seen for 10 years... and we might try to imagine
What I love about Indra’s writing is that her characters are imperfect creatures... and that she has the guts to create those characters. I loved that in her first novel The House of Hancock Hill. In the beginning Jason was a selfish coward and I couldn’t help it but admire Indra for having the nerve to bother with him and his antics. But she did, and I loved the way she did it.
I’m certain Hart is going to rub some readers the wrong way, too. Some of them just don’t want to read about characters with flaws ordinary people have, and definitely Hart is one of those douchebags (sorry Hart, I love you). Sometimes I wanted to yell at him, shake him, strangle him, or worse. But in the course of the story he learns... he suffers... and I suffered with him, fell for him. Hard. OMG, I cried with Hart, I even dreamed about him and Isaac, the cute guy who loves Hart deeply.
“I’ll tell you what I want… I want to start a new life together. I want to get rid of all those hideous bathroom tiles and that sperm stain on the carpet, only we’ll keep that for last so we can always remember and get horny when we look at it. I want to put down hardwood floors. I want to build an aquarium in your father’s old house. I want to make love to you in every single room and fuck you on every surface. I want to grow old together and play the violin for you on the back porch.”
The story itself is the first book of a trilogy, a paranormal mystery m/m romance. We get to know the main characters Hart and young Isaac, and we get a glimpse of what is going in Shadow Mountain. Mysterious murders and miraculous healings, and the legend of a predator keeps us on our toes.
Fated is one of those stories where it’s easy to love the supporting characters. I want to mention only a few: Toby, Freddie, Miller, Johnson, Julian... Jonathan Hart... I wish we’ve met him still alive.
All in all, Fated is a brilliantly written first book of a series, It’s nailbiting suspenseful, dramatic and passionate, and I can’t wait for the second book to come out. I’m sure many more mysteries are waiting for us... and I can’t get rid of the feeling that cute Isaac is in great, great danger…
I want to end my review with a moving quote of a character I first didn’t trust and then fell in love with. What happens to him just broke my heart and I’m still not whole again:
"But then you came along, and it was all worth it.”
Indra, you know who said that... *sniffs*
January 13, 2015
Fated was a really good read. A story with a mix of crime, thriller, mystery, romance, angst and a touch of the paranormal thrown in too. It's a strange one on the romance side, as the way you expect it to go, from what the blurb tells you, isn't necessarily where it does, at first, because the complexities of the plot dictate the path that particular thread of the tale takes. A side of the story you'll understand more when you read it.
It's one of those novels that because of its more complicated characters and involved storyline, would be spoiled if too much, outside of the blurb, slipped out; so you guys really need to pick this up yourselves, get nice and cosy and prepare yourselves for what's happening in the town of Brightly, where Police Lieutenant ("Just Hart") Hart's world proceeds to get turned upside down and inside out when he travels back to his original home town to deal with his estranged professor fathers death and a young, now comatose, mans vicious attack which links into some odd deaths and murders he's recently been investigating within his own jurisdiction, as his home now lies the other side of 'Shadow Mountain', a mysterious area that holds myths and legends of a creature called "The Predator" and separates Brightly from his new town.
As the book opens, Hart is dealing with the confused feelings he has for his young neighbour Isaac, who openly wears his heart on his sleeve where the older man is concerned. There's approximately a decade between them, age wise, and of course Hart is conflicted about this but his attraction for Isaac is growing stronger and it's clear that the crush twenty three year old Isaac has been harbouring for the past seven years isn't going away. But when (sad) duty calls, Hart has to pack up and go ASAP, leaving Isaac to look after his house for him whilst he's away, and things simmering but still unresolved between them.
'The silence that fell was a charged one, no sound apart from the refrigerator and the aquarium filter, and Hart's barriers began to rise. When Isaac turned around, chin lifted, eyes wide with defiance or a little bit of fear, Hart inwardly flinched. This dance of flirtation and rejection had started when Isaac moved back from college two months ago. And Hart didn't know how much longer they could go on like this...'
Once he gets to Brightly, things kick off pretty quickly as Hart gets pulled into an investigation that not only makes him step back and look more deeply into his difficult relationship with his father, but introduces him to certain concepts and intricacies surrounding the mysterious deaths and murders, that push his own beliefs to the limit. Paired up with feisty female officer Freddy: another Lieutenant in the Brightly police force, who becomes his trusty sidekick and support during his stay, he finds himself facing dangers from both worldly AND unworldly sources. There are twists, turns and moments of emotionally charged drama, especially surrounding Tobias Darwin, a man who throws Hart even further into a tailspin, as their involvement makes him question aspects of his own life that he's never allowed himself to fully face up to, involving deeply conflicted feelings for the people important to him....
Link to rest of review: http://bit.ly/1C2wURz
️SINFULLY...Addicted To All Male Romance
Formerly
It's one of those novels that because of its more complicated characters and involved storyline, would be spoiled if too much, outside of the blurb, slipped out; so you guys really need to pick this up yourselves, get nice and cosy and prepare yourselves for what's happening in the town of Brightly, where Police Lieutenant ("Just Hart") Hart's world proceeds to get turned upside down and inside out when he travels back to his original home town to deal with his estranged professor fathers death and a young, now comatose, mans vicious attack which links into some odd deaths and murders he's recently been investigating within his own jurisdiction, as his home now lies the other side of 'Shadow Mountain', a mysterious area that holds myths and legends of a creature called "The Predator" and separates Brightly from his new town.
As the book opens, Hart is dealing with the confused feelings he has for his young neighbour Isaac, who openly wears his heart on his sleeve where the older man is concerned. There's approximately a decade between them, age wise, and of course Hart is conflicted about this but his attraction for Isaac is growing stronger and it's clear that the crush twenty three year old Isaac has been harbouring for the past seven years isn't going away. But when (sad) duty calls, Hart has to pack up and go ASAP, leaving Isaac to look after his house for him whilst he's away, and things simmering but still unresolved between them.
'The silence that fell was a charged one, no sound apart from the refrigerator and the aquarium filter, and Hart's barriers began to rise. When Isaac turned around, chin lifted, eyes wide with defiance or a little bit of fear, Hart inwardly flinched. This dance of flirtation and rejection had started when Isaac moved back from college two months ago. And Hart didn't know how much longer they could go on like this...'
Once he gets to Brightly, things kick off pretty quickly as Hart gets pulled into an investigation that not only makes him step back and look more deeply into his difficult relationship with his father, but introduces him to certain concepts and intricacies surrounding the mysterious deaths and murders, that push his own beliefs to the limit. Paired up with feisty female officer Freddy: another Lieutenant in the Brightly police force, who becomes his trusty sidekick and support during his stay, he finds himself facing dangers from both worldly AND unworldly sources. There are twists, turns and moments of emotionally charged drama, especially surrounding Tobias Darwin, a man who throws Hart even further into a tailspin, as their involvement makes him question aspects of his own life that he's never allowed himself to fully face up to, involving deeply conflicted feelings for the people important to him....
Link to rest of review: http://bit.ly/1C2wURz
️SINFULLY...Addicted To All Male Romance
Formerly
May 28, 2020
This is a sad and gloomy book. Imagine me sitting in an armchair curled up under a blanket while heavy rain pelts the window and everything is quiet. That kind of sad.
Hart, our main character just lost his father, so he goes to his hometown to bury him. His thoughts are circling around his relationship with him, since they lost touch after he left town after high school. Regrets are piling up on him. Meanwhile he is trying to find a serial killer.
I really enjoyed the mystery, and for the most part that's thanks to the stellar writing. I am usually bored with the investigations but I this time I was excited and couldn't stop reading. The paranormal stuff is not heavy, in fact things get only revealed in the second half.
I would not call this a romance book though. Let's just say there are plenty of romantic scenes and hot sex scenes... and just leave it at that. If the next book will offer more in that regard, I can only hope so. I also hope we get to know Isaac better, because he didn't get nearly enough page time so the reader - or the main character for that matter - could connect with him. Because despite being said that Hart and Isaac known each other long and had deep feelings for each other (which they repressed until now), I didn't feel their connection.
Hart is not a very likeable person, though I liked him just fine. But he made mistakes in his personal and professional life, which I took as a realistic representation. I don't want to read about perfect characters all the time.
I feel like I should mention a third character, because he deserves it, but this will be somewhat of a spoiler.
Some things I already figured out that will happen in book 2, though the main character does not know it yet, and it will hurt. I expect the same melancholic vibe there. I'm going to save it for a rainy day. ;)
March 1, 2015
This is a very, very compelling book. Beautifully written. It's about a cop who is back in his hometown in order to bury his father. He's flawed, damaged even, but very likeable. He stumbles across a disturbing mystery and the novel is basically about trying to solve it. It's also about his dysfunctional love life, which is a diverting side-plot but not the focus of the book. It's a pretty cool mystery. I liked it. What I really like about this book, though, is that It's compassionate without being angsty. And Freddie. She's amazing. Cannot wait for the sequel.
May 3, 2016
*** 3 undecided stars ***
Hmm, I'm not sure how to rate this to be honest. There were stuff I liked and stuff I didn't like with the story.
First of all, I had trouble getting into the story, because the more I read the more confused I got.
The blurb tells of Police lieutenant Hart and friend/neighbor Isaac Lasko, who is in love with Hart, and the mystery of the Predator and several murders. Hart thinks Isaac is too young for him, though, and feel Isaac can do so much better than a fucked up, beat up cop. He's been aware of Isaac's long time crush on him, so he's kept him at arms length for years, with their friendship intensifying for the last months, but Hart hasn't let it come to anything, because of reasons I listed earlier. Hart has to go to the neighboring town to bury his recently deceased father and clean out his childhood home where his father has lived up until he died. Hart and his father has been estranged the past ten years, and part of the story is Hart coming to grips with the loss of his father. At the same time he starts investigating deaths (and one victim in a coma) that might be connected to a possible serial killer case he's working on in his home town. He pairs up with the local investigator, and start figuring out whether the myth about the Predator holds true or if it's something else.
What confused me concerning the blurb in relation to the story is that there is a brief scene in the beginning with both Hart and Isaac, that is to say in Chapter 1 (0-2%). Isaac doesn't show up again until much later in the book (percentage in spoiler) , except a few phone calls between Hart and Isaac. Hart on the other hand meets a doctor at the local hospital, whom he I really didn't like this, I got confused because the blurb promised me Isaac and all I got was this Toby guy who comes on to Hart, and plays an essential role in the mystery part, but it felt like he really didn't belong. And if he did, why did Hart and Toby It got really annoying. Where the heck is Isaac? When Isaac *do* show up, though, it's BOOM, insta-love. As if I hadn't read (length in spoiler) about his qualms with getting together with Isaac! Now Hart's reservations suddenly doesn't matter? *frustrated*
So, the romance part of the story didn't work for me at all. I feel the blurb threw me off the scent of this book, and I used a long time, if ever, getting it back, because the longer I read, the more I yelled "Why am I reading about Toby?" with increasing volume in my head. I think Hart and Isaac came together too easily when if finally happened too.
The mystery part was a bit better. I think. But this too also revolved a good deal around Toby, the doctor.
In short, this book is about Hart, the kinda fucked up cop, who is trying to sort out both his life, his relationship with his father and what he left behind, his relationship with Isaac, at the same time investigating murders and a dark myth connected to the looming mountain (Shadow Mountain, the series name) separating the two towns, at the same time having a , who might or might not have something to do with the murders and the myth.
I was tempted to give this book 2 stars and be done with it, but I ended up with 3. Because despite of what I've whined about above, the writing was excellent and I grew to like Police Lieutenant Hart, with the first name he refuses to reveal, even though he frustrated me with some of his actions. I liked the way the author made the Shadow Mountain almost its own character. I was curious to see how the myth and mystery resolved. I also liked Hart and Isaac finally getting together. Isaac had been pining for Hart for so long, and it was sweet when he finally got the man of his dreams. I also liked Isaac's .
So, do I recommend it?
What I do know is that I've already started #2 Fragmented. So there has to be something with this series...
It's probably the spooky mountain that holds lots of secrets...
Hmm, I'm not sure how to rate this to be honest. There were stuff I liked and stuff I didn't like with the story.
First of all, I had trouble getting into the story, because the more I read the more confused I got.
The blurb tells of Police lieutenant Hart and friend/neighbor Isaac Lasko, who is in love with Hart, and the mystery of the Predator and several murders. Hart thinks Isaac is too young for him, though, and feel Isaac can do so much better than a fucked up, beat up cop. He's been aware of Isaac's long time crush on him, so he's kept him at arms length for years, with their friendship intensifying for the last months, but Hart hasn't let it come to anything, because of reasons I listed earlier. Hart has to go to the neighboring town to bury his recently deceased father and clean out his childhood home where his father has lived up until he died. Hart and his father has been estranged the past ten years, and part of the story is Hart coming to grips with the loss of his father. At the same time he starts investigating deaths (and one victim in a coma) that might be connected to a possible serial killer case he's working on in his home town. He pairs up with the local investigator, and start figuring out whether the myth about the Predator holds true or if it's something else.
What confused me concerning the blurb in relation to the story is that there is a brief scene in the beginning with both Hart and Isaac, that is to say in Chapter 1 (0-2%). Isaac doesn't show up again until much later in the book (percentage in spoiler) , except a few phone calls between Hart and Isaac. Hart on the other hand meets a doctor at the local hospital, whom he I really didn't like this, I got confused because the blurb promised me Isaac and all I got was this Toby guy who comes on to Hart, and plays an essential role in the mystery part, but it felt like he really didn't belong. And if he did, why did Hart and Toby It got really annoying. Where the heck is Isaac? When Isaac *do* show up, though, it's BOOM, insta-love. As if I hadn't read (length in spoiler) about his qualms with getting together with Isaac! Now Hart's reservations suddenly doesn't matter? *frustrated*
So, the romance part of the story didn't work for me at all. I feel the blurb threw me off the scent of this book, and I used a long time, if ever, getting it back, because the longer I read, the more I yelled "Why am I reading about Toby?" with increasing volume in my head. I think Hart and Isaac came together too easily when if finally happened too.
The mystery part was a bit better. I think. But this too also revolved a good deal around Toby, the doctor.
In short, this book is about Hart, the kinda fucked up cop, who is trying to sort out both his life, his relationship with his father and what he left behind, his relationship with Isaac, at the same time investigating murders and a dark myth connected to the looming mountain (Shadow Mountain, the series name) separating the two towns, at the same time having a , who might or might not have something to do with the murders and the myth.
I was tempted to give this book 2 stars and be done with it, but I ended up with 3. Because despite of what I've whined about above, the writing was excellent and I grew to like Police Lieutenant Hart, with the first name he refuses to reveal, even though he frustrated me with some of his actions. I liked the way the author made the Shadow Mountain almost its own character. I was curious to see how the myth and mystery resolved. I also liked Hart and Isaac finally getting together. Isaac had been pining for Hart for so long, and it was sweet when he finally got the man of his dreams. I also liked Isaac's .
So, do I recommend it?
What I do know is that I've already started #2 Fragmented. So there has to be something with this series...
It's probably the spooky mountain that holds lots of secrets...
July 26, 2015
4.5 stars
Fated by Indra Vaughn came my way completely accidentally, recommended by author John Inman in the comments of a Facebook poll no more than a few weeks ago. To this day I haven’t figured out how it went unnoticed by me until that moment. What’s more, it seems to be somewhat overlooked by its intended audience, which is a crime, to be honest. The characters Vaughn has created deserve to be celebrated and talked about, they should inspire people to start discussions and street teams, and yet, they haven’t just yet. Why? Mostly because their beauty is quiet and unassuming, complex and deeply felt. They’re not instantly likeable or wildly entertaining, they just are… human, vulnerable and often wrong, just like everybody else.
We meet Hart, a police detective, in his own home, working on renovations with his much younger neighbor, Isaac. It’s clear from the start that the two have feelings for each other, but Hart is bothered by their age difference and quite used to a life of profound loneliness. When his father dies and he has to leave to handle his funeral, he’s oddly relieved to put some distance between him and Isaac.
This love story doesn’t begin like most other romances and it certainly doesn’t end that way. Their road isn’t easy or predictable, but the feelings are palpable and incredibly real. Hart makes ridiculously many mistakes along the way, but each stems from a very believable place and seems entirely genuine. While in his home town, he stumbles upon a mystery with paranormal elements he’s not quite ready to accept. When Isaac follows him and gets involved, it all becomes too much for him to handle.
The mystery is fascinating and excellently paced, but the soul of this novel is Hart himself. He is lonely and very set in his ways, and it’s clear that giving his heart to a much younger man terrifies him. Vaughn’s writing is a thing of beauty, a work of art in and of itself, and the setting is gorgeous, vivid and deeply atmospheric. She has such an excellent sense of her story and characters and everything is so well defined, but she skillfully keeps things hidden from us and builds tension to almost unbearable levels.
The sheer gorgeousness of this story cannot be put into words. It is not a conventional romance, nor is it your average paranormal mystery, and yet somehow it’s both. It may be a bit difficult to swallow at times, but it is a story that ultimately soothes, enriches, and makes us reevaluate ourselves.
July 16, 2015
2.5 stars
Woah. Obviously a case of it's-me-not-you, in my reaction to this book. And, judging by the other ratings, this goes on my everybody-loves-it-but-me shelf.
Why was this not for me? I wanted it to be darker and grittier and I didn't like the simplistic resolution to the mystery. A detective goes to his home town to bury his estranged father and is asked to help solve a mystery- it should have been deliciously dark and sad and depressing. Yes, that would be normal, right? But Toby's relentless flirting and Freddie's smug banter at inappropriate times seemed really ..off. Like, totally unrealistic. The MC, Hart, is in mourning and seems pretty fucked up emotionally, actually. Yay! Just the way I like 'em. And so I found the comedic, snarky banter peppered throughout, obviously to lighten the story, jarring and it took me out of that wonderful, spooky atmosphere every time.
I guess I was expecting something deeper, darker. Skimmed like mad to finish. Will not be reading book 2.
Woah. Obviously a case of it's-me-not-you, in my reaction to this book. And, judging by the other ratings, this goes on my everybody-loves-it-but-me shelf.
Why was this not for me? I wanted it to be darker and grittier and I didn't like the simplistic resolution to the mystery. A detective goes to his home town to bury his estranged father and is asked to help solve a mystery- it should have been deliciously dark and sad and depressing. Yes, that would be normal, right? But Toby's relentless flirting and Freddie's smug banter at inappropriate times seemed really ..off. Like, totally unrealistic. The MC, Hart, is in mourning and seems pretty fucked up emotionally, actually. Yay! Just the way I like 'em. And so I found the comedic, snarky banter peppered throughout, obviously to lighten the story, jarring and it took me out of that wonderful, spooky atmosphere every time.
I guess I was expecting something deeper, darker. Skimmed like mad to finish. Will not be reading book 2.
November 21, 2019
My summation of Fated by Indra Vaughn would be – melancholy, sometimes a hard book to read, and the MC, Hart – who refuses to give his first name – is someone who interested me, frustrated me, but is not someone I loved. I’m unsure how I fully feel about Isaac as he wasn’t in this book a lot. All of that said, the thriller and law enforcement aspects of the book are well written.
The general writing around Hart paints a melancholy man well. There is a strong subtext to the actual words people say or what they think. I found this book to be metaphorical, allegorical about a number of things, with foreshadowing of what I feel in my bones will be events to come. I’ll be reading book #2 as soon as I can. I know Indra Vaughn is a writer I’ll be reading more of in the future.
Podcast review at-
The general writing around Hart paints a melancholy man well. There is a strong subtext to the actual words people say or what they think. I found this book to be metaphorical, allegorical about a number of things, with foreshadowing of what I feel in my bones will be events to come. I’ll be reading book #2 as soon as I can. I know Indra Vaughn is a writer I’ll be reading more of in the future.
Podcast review at-
December 31, 2014
I have had the pleasure of beta reading the first two books in this series, and let me just tell you, folks, it just gets better and better! This first book introduces us to the main players and the paranormal/mystery aspect of the series. We meet Hart--a man's man cop, damaged and brittle inside, and too in love with his much younger neighbor. We meet Isaac, the college kid next door with secrets and passions of his own. We meet Toby, the mysterious doctor with desires and needs that drive him. And the big, fat mystery and some pretty awful murders! I won't say more because the unfolding is great, the drama super fun, and the escalation and culmination the perfect lead up to Book 2. I have massive love for one character in particular, but I won't say which one until Book 2 comes out. :D Highly recommend this series, and thus Fated is the place to start! Go forth and buy so you can love this series too!
June 3, 2015
FATED by Indra Vaughn had three things I really love in a book. It had wonderful writing, a really good mystery, and a sweet romance. It even had a dash of the supernatural sprinkled through its pages. More than a dash really. This book was terrific. I've been lost in it for days. The sex scenes were exceptionally well-written. The police procedures, as far as I could tell, were well-researched and executed perfectly. And as the end of the story crept near, I was invested enough in the characters to be heartbroken because I thought Detective Hart had truly let Isaac go. That's not to say he didn't. Hehe. I don't want to drop any spoilers here. And to top it all off, I also love the cover art by L. C. Chase. It's a great cover for a mystery. I have to say this book makes it into my all-time top ten favorite books that I've read from Dreamspinner Press. It's one I'll definitely grab off the shelf again one day. And I know I'll love it just as much the second time I read it as I did the first.
June 28, 2015
4.5 stars
This book wasn't on my radar and I wasn't really expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, so I have to seriously thank Leta Blake for the recommendation. This was a really good mystery with a paranormal twist I didn't expect. It read a bit like an episode of The X-Files or Fringe so that was definitely a plus for me.
Hart is a bit broken, a loner who is fighting off the advances of his young neighbor Isaac, who has recently returned from grad school just short of graduating. Hart, who is more than 10 years older, is convinced Isaac's long time crush is nothing more than that and he is trying to keep him firmly in the friend zone, but Isaac seems to slowly be wearing him down.
Hart finds himself returning to Brightly, the town he grew up in on the other side of the mountain from where he lives, after the death of his estranged father. If that isn't difficult enough, he is getting increasingly caught up in an investigation that has followed him over the mountain. As mysterious deaths continue to occur, with all the victims seemingly cured of their fatal illnesses shortly before being murdered, it appears his father may have had some sort of connection. Hart is paired up with Freddie, a Brightly detective who has her own problems in and out of the department, to investigate the most recent murder attempt. This brings Toby, an orthopedic surgeon, into Hart's sights. Toby is very clearly determined to get Hart into his bed, but he also may just be suspect in the most recent attack.
I don't want to give any more details on the plot as it would definitely take away from the story. There are lots of twists and turns in this one and the investigation kept me wondering just what was going on and who was responsible. I'll admit that there were times where Hart was unlikable and clueless, but he's a good person and I liked his character nonetheless. For me though, the bright spot in this whole story is Isaac. I completely fell in love with his character and I am now itching to get on to the next book to continue his story. Definitely recommended if you want a different, well written romance with a good mystery that isn't just an after thought.
This book wasn't on my radar and I wasn't really expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, so I have to seriously thank Leta Blake for the recommendation. This was a really good mystery with a paranormal twist I didn't expect. It read a bit like an episode of The X-Files or Fringe so that was definitely a plus for me.
Hart is a bit broken, a loner who is fighting off the advances of his young neighbor Isaac, who has recently returned from grad school just short of graduating. Hart, who is more than 10 years older, is convinced Isaac's long time crush is nothing more than that and he is trying to keep him firmly in the friend zone, but Isaac seems to slowly be wearing him down.
Hart finds himself returning to Brightly, the town he grew up in on the other side of the mountain from where he lives, after the death of his estranged father. If that isn't difficult enough, he is getting increasingly caught up in an investigation that has followed him over the mountain. As mysterious deaths continue to occur, with all the victims seemingly cured of their fatal illnesses shortly before being murdered, it appears his father may have had some sort of connection. Hart is paired up with Freddie, a Brightly detective who has her own problems in and out of the department, to investigate the most recent murder attempt. This brings Toby, an orthopedic surgeon, into Hart's sights. Toby is very clearly determined to get Hart into his bed, but he also may just be suspect in the most recent attack.
I don't want to give any more details on the plot as it would definitely take away from the story. There are lots of twists and turns in this one and the investigation kept me wondering just what was going on and who was responsible. I'll admit that there were times where Hart was unlikable and clueless, but he's a good person and I liked his character nonetheless. For me though, the bright spot in this whole story is Isaac. I completely fell in love with his character and I am now itching to get on to the next book to continue his story. Definitely recommended if you want a different, well written romance with a good mystery that isn't just an after thought.
January 19, 2015
Loved this book. This really isn't your typical m/m romance, and while romance still played an important role, the mystery takes center stage in this first book of the Shadow Mountain trilogy. Great writing and characterization, and I was really rooting for Isaac to show up and knock some sense into Hart. Hart's grief for his recently deceased father was palpable and heartrending, and I really enjoyed his growing frendship with Freddie. Very much looking forward to book two, and more Isaac, who I adored. I enjoy an age difference in MCs, and Isaac and Hart have great chemistry. They give me feels. More soon, please!
February 8, 2016
The characters in this story are not always likeable (except Freddie) or easy to connect to. There are a lot of mistakes made especially by Hart who came to Brightly to burry is father with whom he had no contact for a decade for stupid reasons but then we all tend to make such mistakes. So in his vulnerable state he's dragged into a mystery case which becomes quickly a paranormal one which gave me quite an X Files feeling. That's what I liked best, that and that this story is not the common M/M romance where the mystery is more a background noise to keep the romance rolling. It's a satisfying and atmospheric paranormal mystery with a romance as its backbone although obviously that romance needs more time to grow. Hopefully it does that in the next part and then maybe I get the chance to fully connect with Hart and not only temporarily.
May 29, 2015
I really, really wanted to give this book five stars, but I spent far too much time inside Hart's head and it made for a very slow-going first half. The writing was quite good, with a fascinating storyline. It was well edited, the characters had depth and breadth, and the region in which the story took place was nicely developed and described. The romance aspect was quite...interesting. Overall, a great start to the series.
February 17, 2015
Wonderful, riveting MM mystery/romance. Totally fell for Isaac and am starting book 2.
June 14, 2016
Suspense good, but romance not so much.
May 9, 2016
Fated
This was an entertaining, gripping, and thoroughly fleshed emotional tornado that had me kicking and screaming and whooping until the end. The police work was interesting, although I was rather confused as to how they linked all the cases in the first place. There had to be something to make the police look into the backgrounds to find the medical information, and since they didn't all have the mark, and they didn't have anything in common--not all of them even looked like murders--I'm not sure how the cases were thought to be connected in the first place.
But if I suspend disbelief and believe it makes sense to link all the cases together, it was definitely an intriguing, unusual, and baffling case. I had no idea what was going on or why, and that was wonderful.
Not all the police procedure made sense, though. When someone tries to kill the MC, even though he isn't in that jurisdiction, he is taken off the murder case (which he's just supposed to be looking at) and put on the investigation of his own attempted murder.
I really hated that the main love interest is barely in it but another potential love interest is a main character. At first, I felt like he was an afterthought like obviously something bad is going to happen with Toby but people want a happy ending. But about halfway through, Isaac becomes a main player, and things become more complicated.
I wanted to dislike Toby, but I loved him. That was really hard. I don't like love triangles. I don't like when MCs are with someone other than the main love interest in the beginning, and certainly not for half the book, even though they weren't exactly together. The relationships between these three men is what was so heart wrenching. The only thing I didn't love between Isaac and Hart was that I kept forgetting Hart was only in his early 30s. He was described as and acted like he was in his early 40s, so I kept picturing a guy too old for Isaac. Which is silly. But once I got past that, together they are beautiful. Poor Toby.
The medical stuff was also odd. Some rooms in the hospital had more than two beds (up to six!), and they left a clipboard with patient info hanging from the beds like in an old war movie. That is totally illegal in the US with HIPAA. It was probably the US since the text mentioned states and didn't say "Oxford University" but "Britain's Oxford University." I think only we Americans are that ignorant that we don't know where Oxford is.
The book was impossible to put down during the last fourth or so. I was riveted really from about halfway in. My heart was bleeding and I needed to know what happened next and then the action really commenced and my leg was bouncing with anxiety. The reveal was a bit to easy but the endgame was great action and peril.
Unfortunately, the ending was abrupt and therefore really aggravating. The fact that the sequel was just published and it's a trilogy has me worried. I can read the next one, but will I be left hanging again? Can my heart take it?
A couple little points:
Flesh tone as a color? On a black woman no less? What the fuck color does that mean?
A jerk cop named Lassiter rudely called Lassie? Is that an homage to the TV show Psyche?
Basically, the book started out bland and average but kept getting better and better until it was a five star read at the end. But th abrupt ending, and the Toby situation were frustrating and upsetting enough that I'm only giving this one 4 stars.
This was an entertaining, gripping, and thoroughly fleshed emotional tornado that had me kicking and screaming and whooping until the end. The police work was interesting, although I was rather confused as to how they linked all the cases in the first place. There had to be something to make the police look into the backgrounds to find the medical information, and since they didn't all have the mark, and they didn't have anything in common--not all of them even looked like murders--I'm not sure how the cases were thought to be connected in the first place.
But if I suspend disbelief and believe it makes sense to link all the cases together, it was definitely an intriguing, unusual, and baffling case. I had no idea what was going on or why, and that was wonderful.
Not all the police procedure made sense, though. When someone tries to kill the MC, even though he isn't in that jurisdiction, he is taken off the murder case (which he's just supposed to be looking at) and put on the investigation of his own attempted murder.
I really hated that the main love interest is barely in it but another potential love interest is a main character. At first, I felt like he was an afterthought like obviously something bad is going to happen with Toby but people want a happy ending. But about halfway through, Isaac becomes a main player, and things become more complicated.
I wanted to dislike Toby, but I loved him. That was really hard. I don't like love triangles. I don't like when MCs are with someone other than the main love interest in the beginning, and certainly not for half the book, even though they weren't exactly together. The relationships between these three men is what was so heart wrenching. The only thing I didn't love between Isaac and Hart was that I kept forgetting Hart was only in his early 30s. He was described as and acted like he was in his early 40s, so I kept picturing a guy too old for Isaac. Which is silly. But once I got past that, together they are beautiful. Poor Toby.
The medical stuff was also odd. Some rooms in the hospital had more than two beds (up to six!), and they left a clipboard with patient info hanging from the beds like in an old war movie. That is totally illegal in the US with HIPAA. It was probably the US since the text mentioned states and didn't say "Oxford University" but "Britain's Oxford University." I think only we Americans are that ignorant that we don't know where Oxford is.
The book was impossible to put down during the last fourth or so. I was riveted really from about halfway in. My heart was bleeding and I needed to know what happened next and then the action really commenced and my leg was bouncing with anxiety. The reveal was a bit to easy but the endgame was great action and peril.
Unfortunately, the ending was abrupt and therefore really aggravating. The fact that the sequel was just published and it's a trilogy has me worried. I can read the next one, but will I be left hanging again? Can my heart take it?
A couple little points:
Flesh tone as a color? On a black woman no less? What the fuck color does that mean?
A jerk cop named Lassiter rudely called Lassie? Is that an homage to the TV show Psyche?
Basically, the book started out bland and average but kept getting better and better until it was a five star read at the end. But th abrupt ending, and the Toby situation were frustrating and upsetting enough that I'm only giving this one 4 stars.
December 18, 2015
I'm frustrated! On to Fragmented
June 5, 2023
Give me time, he wanted to say. Give me time to put this house and this town behind me, and then I will come for you and lay you down and love you.
3.5 stars. This didn't really play out in the ways that I expected it to, and was a bit disappointing in a couple ways, but it captivated me enough that I think I'll continue the series. This is an m/m romantic thriller/suspense that follows a cop in a small mountain town, trying to track down a killer with seemingly supernatural abilities. The possibility of a speculative bent isn't really a spoiler, because I guess it's hinted at in the blurb, but it was still a surprise to me. Even more surprising was the fact that this was a love triangle. That is far from my favourite trope in romance; call me boring, but in most cases I prefer to know right off the bat who's the love interest. Luckily, that didn't end up impeding my enjoyment much. I loved both love interests a lot (though I was definitely rooting for one over the other).
The plot is interesting, if a little generic. Hart's father dies, and when he goes to the next town over to settle his affairs, a new assault takes place that might be connected to his case, so he settles in to work it from this town and this angle. Something about the way the case/the murders were mapped out just didn't click for me. It might be because we come into the case halfway through, after Hart has already investigated a few murders in his town. The way in which the reader is given that info/is brought up to speed was kind of clumsy, and none of the details ever really stuck in my mind. Like, if the reader is meant to be following along with the detectives, then we should have a clear picture of the victims and the peculiarities of their cases and at least a vague idea of how they differ. Certain details were mentioned once, and then never brought up again, and it might just be me, but it made it really tough to follow imo. The writing was also a little frustrating because I feel like we didn't get all the emotion we needed from certain scenes. The writing style wasn't exactly stark, because there were a couple passages now and again that touched me or spoke about the characters in ways that I loved, but I felt like we could have gotten so much more depth out of these characters.
The romance was pretty good; as I said, I liked both love interests. Toby is a flirty, older doctor that Hart meets in the new town; Isaac is the younger college student who's been crushing on Hart for years. I have to admit, things really picked up for me in the later half when a certain character began getting more page time, and I really really enjoyed the relationship. That's pretty much what upped the rating for me. I love pining so much! I also liked the speculative reveals; even though it kinda feels like this doesn't fit in with this story, it's an interesting concept.
A lot of the events in the end didn't make a lot of sense to me, and seemed a little rushed and all over the place. However, I'm sufficiently invested enough in the plot and romance that I'll continue it some day. Bit annoyed that I read the blurb for the second book; unlike the blurb for this one, it gives away way too much imo. :/
Read
November 19, 2022I thought I was on track for a 4-star read, but then some things didn’t sit right with me. Like, Hart’s known Isaac for many years but doesn’t know that he plays the violin? Then he tells Isaac he can’t tell him anything about the case and he’s to stay in the car when he goes to talk to a person of interest only to then tell him everything and say he can come in to speak with the man?? And I really couldn’t buy that he’d let his boss take him away from Isaac after Isaac was injured. WTH, dude? But the biggest problem was the out-of-left-field, no-reason-for-it breakup which he almost immediately regrets. What was the point?? Lastly, I thought the wrap-up was too rushed after all the investigating. I don’t think I could explain it to anyone because it’s not fully clear in my mind without a reread.
On a side note, describing someone as your lover is okay, if you absolutely must. But addressing your SO or hookup as lover, eww.
Now, after all that, I’m still giving it three stars because it kept my interest.
On a side note, describing someone as your lover is okay, if you absolutely must. But addressing your SO or hookup as lover, eww.
Now, after all that, I’m still giving it three stars because it kept my interest.
June 19, 2015
This was very interesting. I loved the paranormal aspect of it and I need to know more about it. Not much romance in this one, but I am hoping the next book will delve more into the relationship between Hart and Isaac and they'll spend more time together. I really enjoyed this one and will dive right into the next one.
April 22, 2020
Before I go into the deep end and gush all over this book, I have to say: read it! Don’t bother with the reviews, blurbs whatever… just go ahead, dig in because you won’t be sorry.
But hey, if you need more incentive, read on ;)
Indra Vaughn is going into my precious vault of favorite writers after this series. Both Fated and Fragmented were spectacular! It could be a case of the right book at the right time during the right mood… But I’m one to think that this is something special. The writer had the right dose of inspiration and magic and poured it all into creating this beautiful work of art.
Fated is this great triller with hints of comedic, romantic and paranormal elements. Each handled with this light and steady hand.
You get a little bit of everything
Fated romance
Age Gap
Mythology and local folklore
Paranormal elements
Police procedural
Ethnically diverse characters
Fated is told from the perspective of Lieutenant Hart and it unfolds during an eventful week where he returns to his hometown to bury his father, pack up his childhood home and solve the case of the Tattoo Murders that has followed him home.
I fell in love with Hart from the very beginning. Indra Vaughn has a way of making you feel instantly connected and invested. I loved how imperfect and complex Hart is and how rattled he is with the internal war he is battling.
Hart is precariously balancing grief, guilt, responsibility, romance, insomnia, alcohol abuse, disappointment… He’s overload, tired and sort of disconnected in a sense.
He’s coping, and the moments of laughter and joy is as much a relief to the reader as it is to Hart.
There is angst, and it’s not necessarily light or heavy, it has an almost subdued aura which perfectly describes the mental state Hart is in during the majority of the story.
I loved how Indra Vaughn tied the environment to Hart’s feelings, the way the mountains, the weather… everything beautifully reflected the tone of the book
There are moments when I cried, when I felt Hart’s anguish so strongly it physically impacted me… I have to say, it’s rare that I cry over a book these days… sure I feel things, but to cry… a rarity
Hart pulled at all my heart strings. He’s such a likable character, a gentlemen, caring, sincere, vulnerable.
His fated love, Isaac… well it’s a bit complicated. It’s there, it’s present in the story line but it’s not necessarily the focus of Fated the way it is in Fragmented. I can’t tell you much about him because Fragmented is the book where you really get to know Isaac.
You will feel their connection from the very first chapter. They’re meant to be together, and you won’t doubt it… but there is this sort of acceptance that this is not the time, yet. The slow build up is everything. The anticipation, the push and pull really works here.
Indra Vaughn has a way of creating Isaac’s presence without his actual presence in scenes. It’s so incredibly well done, phone calls, texts, thoughts… Isaac has this constant presence, almost like this soothing background noice. It’s beautiful the way she does this.
He is the calm, the balm to all of Hart’s pain. He is this support system that Hart doesn’t even realize he has. He is sweet, young, utterly infatuated with Hart. He’s a big flirt and it’s so endearing. Though I didn’t know much about him, I still fell in love with the idea of him.
I can’t end this without mentioning Freddy… because I LOVED HER. Freddy is Hart’s partner while he’s back in his hometown. She becomes a friend, helper and provides the much needed comedic relief. She lightens the mood and opens Hart up. She’s a treat, you’ll love her.
I also must say I like the way racism is dealt with in this book. I was impressed. It’s shown instead of told. Shown in the way the other cops treat Freddy ( who is black and unapologetically woman). I liked that the writer didn’t shy away from it. I really liked the way Freddy dealt with it all fierce and glorious. Doing her job, kicking ass, and being better than all of those idiots combined. It’s a pleasure to see such a strong and likable black female character in MM romance. I loved her red nails, pink blouses, rum spiked hot chocolate and her damn purple pajama pants with hearts on them. Can’t be said enough how much I loved Freddy.
I don’t want to give away too much about the plot or the paranormal elements because it’s so much more fun for you to read it. I’ll just say this it’s dark, engrossing and seriously suspenseful. Indra Vaughn had me guessing the entire time. I enjoyed the misdirections and the utter feeling of shock and surprise when the villain was revealed. The villain will not disappoint, incredibly well crafted with a twisted but believable reason for his/her/their ( not telling) actions.
I will leave you with this, though there is a second a book ( and I loved it to pieces & you should read it!) But I would have been satisfied with this ending. I love the promise of a HEA as much as I love an actual HEA. It was so beautifully hopeful, it left me with this buzz of contentment that just maybe, maybe everything will be okay. I think it’s magical when a writer can do that, leave you satisfied but still curious to continue rather than a cliffhanger that leaves you frustrated and anxious.
But hey, if you need more incentive, read on ;)
Indra Vaughn is going into my precious vault of favorite writers after this series. Both Fated and Fragmented were spectacular! It could be a case of the right book at the right time during the right mood… But I’m one to think that this is something special. The writer had the right dose of inspiration and magic and poured it all into creating this beautiful work of art.
Fated is this great triller with hints of comedic, romantic and paranormal elements. Each handled with this light and steady hand.
You get a little bit of everything
Fated romance
Age Gap
Mythology and local folklore
Paranormal elements
Police procedural
Ethnically diverse characters
Fated is told from the perspective of Lieutenant Hart and it unfolds during an eventful week where he returns to his hometown to bury his father, pack up his childhood home and solve the case of the Tattoo Murders that has followed him home.
I fell in love with Hart from the very beginning. Indra Vaughn has a way of making you feel instantly connected and invested. I loved how imperfect and complex Hart is and how rattled he is with the internal war he is battling.
Hart is precariously balancing grief, guilt, responsibility, romance, insomnia, alcohol abuse, disappointment… He’s overload, tired and sort of disconnected in a sense.
He’s coping, and the moments of laughter and joy is as much a relief to the reader as it is to Hart.
There is angst, and it’s not necessarily light or heavy, it has an almost subdued aura which perfectly describes the mental state Hart is in during the majority of the story.
I loved how Indra Vaughn tied the environment to Hart’s feelings, the way the mountains, the weather… everything beautifully reflected the tone of the book
There are moments when I cried, when I felt Hart’s anguish so strongly it physically impacted me… I have to say, it’s rare that I cry over a book these days… sure I feel things, but to cry… a rarity
Hart pulled at all my heart strings. He’s such a likable character, a gentlemen, caring, sincere, vulnerable.
His fated love, Isaac… well it’s a bit complicated. It’s there, it’s present in the story line but it’s not necessarily the focus of Fated the way it is in Fragmented. I can’t tell you much about him because Fragmented is the book where you really get to know Isaac.
You will feel their connection from the very first chapter. They’re meant to be together, and you won’t doubt it… but there is this sort of acceptance that this is not the time, yet. The slow build up is everything. The anticipation, the push and pull really works here.
Indra Vaughn has a way of creating Isaac’s presence without his actual presence in scenes. It’s so incredibly well done, phone calls, texts, thoughts… Isaac has this constant presence, almost like this soothing background noice. It’s beautiful the way she does this.
He is the calm, the balm to all of Hart’s pain. He is this support system that Hart doesn’t even realize he has. He is sweet, young, utterly infatuated with Hart. He’s a big flirt and it’s so endearing. Though I didn’t know much about him, I still fell in love with the idea of him.
I can’t end this without mentioning Freddy… because I LOVED HER. Freddy is Hart’s partner while he’s back in his hometown. She becomes a friend, helper and provides the much needed comedic relief. She lightens the mood and opens Hart up. She’s a treat, you’ll love her.
I also must say I like the way racism is dealt with in this book. I was impressed. It’s shown instead of told. Shown in the way the other cops treat Freddy ( who is black and unapologetically woman). I liked that the writer didn’t shy away from it. I really liked the way Freddy dealt with it all fierce and glorious. Doing her job, kicking ass, and being better than all of those idiots combined. It’s a pleasure to see such a strong and likable black female character in MM romance. I loved her red nails, pink blouses, rum spiked hot chocolate and her damn purple pajama pants with hearts on them. Can’t be said enough how much I loved Freddy.
I don’t want to give away too much about the plot or the paranormal elements because it’s so much more fun for you to read it. I’ll just say this it’s dark, engrossing and seriously suspenseful. Indra Vaughn had me guessing the entire time. I enjoyed the misdirections and the utter feeling of shock and surprise when the villain was revealed. The villain will not disappoint, incredibly well crafted with a twisted but believable reason for his/her/their ( not telling) actions.
I will leave you with this, though there is a second a book ( and I loved it to pieces & you should read it!) But I would have been satisfied with this ending. I love the promise of a HEA as much as I love an actual HEA. It was so beautifully hopeful, it left me with this buzz of contentment that just maybe, maybe everything will be okay. I think it’s magical when a writer can do that, leave you satisfied but still curious to continue rather than a cliffhanger that leaves you frustrated and anxious.
January 2, 2015
4.5 Stars. Full review to come on ShamelessBookClub.com
August 4, 2017
Great plot, interesting ideas, looking forward to seeing how the next book developes
November 21, 2020
Character issues
Very suspenseful but Hart is not very likable at all with how he treats almost everyone in the story. Too little development of Isaac as a character, not even on page after brief initial appearance until more than halfway through. Certainly held my interest in the mystery, just hoping the next book makes me enjoy Hart’s character more.
Very suspenseful but Hart is not very likable at all with how he treats almost everyone in the story. Too little development of Isaac as a character, not even on page after brief initial appearance until more than halfway through. Certainly held my interest in the mystery, just hoping the next book makes me enjoy Hart’s character more.
February 14, 2015
Review can be read at It's About The Book
Hart is heading back to his hometown to bury his dad. It’s been years since he’s been back or spoken to his dad. What should be a few days to clear out his dads house and bury him turns into an extended stay. There’s been a break in a serial murder case he’s been working in his town. Bodies keep showing up with weird tattoos on them. It’s odd that now there’s one found alive in a coma in his hometown. Hart has to team up with a local detective now that this killer seems to be traveling outside Hart’s area. Soon Hart deduces it’s not the killers first victim in this town either.
This was a pretty good read. There’s quite a bit going on in this story. Two love interests present themselves for Hart. I honestly liked both and thought things were going to play out much different than they did. Can’t say I’m totally happy about who gets the guy but it worked.
The story is told from Hart’s POV. He’s struggling with a lot in this story. The death of his father whom he’s estranged from is supposed to be his main focus but the murder is a huge break in the case and it’s too convenient he’s there to not join in the investigation. I think the murder mystery was the most interesting part of the story for me personally. I like the little nuggets dished out while Hart ( and me the reader) try to figure out what the hell is going on. The paranormal aspect was like a shadow the entire book. Hanging over everything. There but barely. I’d have liked more personally since it was the most intriguing part of the blurb for me. I understand Hart being skeptical of the myth and that part of the story however. Just felt teased with it I guess.
Hart’s temporary partner is a lot of fun. She brings some humor to a much more serious Hart. The doctor love interest lightens up the book as well. His character seemed to intrigue me the most. Sexy, witty but with depth. His character also adds a lot to the plot and story. Which highlights the fact I didn’t really ever connect with Hart. I think I understood his character but didn’t find myself attached to him in any way. As the book goes along you get why he has some of his issues but it didn’t really help me connect to him. There was a story line that never really developed about the second love interest? Maybe it will in the sequel?
Overall a pretty good read. Another new to me author that had me checking out what else they’ve written. Fated was a sexy and suspenseful story with a creepy touch. I think Hart learned a lot in the first book and is freed up to be happier, hopefully. He’s definitely more open to possibilities. I am interested in seeing what comes next, so I’ll be checking out the sequel whenever it comes out.
Hart is heading back to his hometown to bury his dad. It’s been years since he’s been back or spoken to his dad. What should be a few days to clear out his dads house and bury him turns into an extended stay. There’s been a break in a serial murder case he’s been working in his town. Bodies keep showing up with weird tattoos on them. It’s odd that now there’s one found alive in a coma in his hometown. Hart has to team up with a local detective now that this killer seems to be traveling outside Hart’s area. Soon Hart deduces it’s not the killers first victim in this town either.
This was a pretty good read. There’s quite a bit going on in this story. Two love interests present themselves for Hart. I honestly liked both and thought things were going to play out much different than they did. Can’t say I’m totally happy about who gets the guy but it worked.
The story is told from Hart’s POV. He’s struggling with a lot in this story. The death of his father whom he’s estranged from is supposed to be his main focus but the murder is a huge break in the case and it’s too convenient he’s there to not join in the investigation. I think the murder mystery was the most interesting part of the story for me personally. I like the little nuggets dished out while Hart ( and me the reader) try to figure out what the hell is going on. The paranormal aspect was like a shadow the entire book. Hanging over everything. There but barely. I’d have liked more personally since it was the most intriguing part of the blurb for me. I understand Hart being skeptical of the myth and that part of the story however. Just felt teased with it I guess.
Hart’s temporary partner is a lot of fun. She brings some humor to a much more serious Hart. The doctor love interest lightens up the book as well. His character seemed to intrigue me the most. Sexy, witty but with depth. His character also adds a lot to the plot and story. Which highlights the fact I didn’t really ever connect with Hart. I think I understood his character but didn’t find myself attached to him in any way. As the book goes along you get why he has some of his issues but it didn’t really help me connect to him. There was a story line that never really developed about the second love interest? Maybe it will in the sequel?
Overall a pretty good read. Another new to me author that had me checking out what else they’ve written. Fated was a sexy and suspenseful story with a creepy touch. I think Hart learned a lot in the first book and is freed up to be happier, hopefully. He’s definitely more open to possibilities. I am interested in seeing what comes next, so I’ll be checking out the sequel whenever it comes out.
January 10, 2015
I don’t normally read paranormal books, but I really loved this author’s other work, so I knew I was going to give this a chance. This book was AMAZING!!! It kept me to the edge of my seat the whole entire time and I felt a level of anticipation throughout the entire book that I haven’t felt in a long time. I thought this was the perfect combination of suspense, intrigue, heartbreak and romance with a touch of paranormal that transformed this book from good to extraordinary. I can’t wait for the next one in this series!
Hart is a Police Lieutenant who’s investigating a series of mysterious crimes and miraculous healings, and his journey is full of intrigue. Hart is very attracted and somewhat in love with his neighbor and best friend Isaac, who is a lot younger than Hart. When Hart’s estranged father dies, he takes a short leave to bury him and take care of everything that’s left behind. Only the Predator strikes again in the town Hart’s father lived and Hart finds himself in the middle of an emotional storm. Hart is a deeply flawed character, he has a lot of personal problems that he has to work through, and his journey is absolutely heartbreaking. I liked him a lot, even though at times I felt like slapping him upside the head while asking him “why the hell did you do that for???” He was so frustrating! And other times, like when he buried his father, I wanted to give him a big hug because all that emotional pain was breaking my heart.
Isaac seemed like a very sweet, loving character. He was a very good friend to Hart and he loved him so much. We don’t get to see much of him in this book, because most of the interactions he has with Hart are through the phone; but seeing him through Hart’s eyes made me adore him even more.
The secondary characters were amazing, especially Hart’s temporary partner, Freddie. Freddie is a kick-ass chick, smart and witty, and I loved the banter between her and Hart. Toby, the orthopedic surgeon who played a major role in this book, well him I am not entirely sure I liked. Or maybe I would’ve liked him more if it weren’t for his involvement with Hart. The times when they had sex, I absolutely hated Toby since I was team Isaac and all that. I really think I could have liked Toby a lot if Hart would’ve kept his dick in his pants. Ugh!
Seriously, this book had it all; great flow, complex, imperfect characters, humor, heartbreak, suspense, mystery, VERY hot sex (even though it wasn’t only between the characters I wanted). I recommend this book to everyone, because it’s worth reading.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hart is a Police Lieutenant who’s investigating a series of mysterious crimes and miraculous healings, and his journey is full of intrigue. Hart is very attracted and somewhat in love with his neighbor and best friend Isaac, who is a lot younger than Hart. When Hart’s estranged father dies, he takes a short leave to bury him and take care of everything that’s left behind. Only the Predator strikes again in the town Hart’s father lived and Hart finds himself in the middle of an emotional storm. Hart is a deeply flawed character, he has a lot of personal problems that he has to work through, and his journey is absolutely heartbreaking. I liked him a lot, even though at times I felt like slapping him upside the head while asking him “why the hell did you do that for???” He was so frustrating! And other times, like when he buried his father, I wanted to give him a big hug because all that emotional pain was breaking my heart.
Isaac seemed like a very sweet, loving character. He was a very good friend to Hart and he loved him so much. We don’t get to see much of him in this book, because most of the interactions he has with Hart are through the phone; but seeing him through Hart’s eyes made me adore him even more.
The secondary characters were amazing, especially Hart’s temporary partner, Freddie. Freddie is a kick-ass chick, smart and witty, and I loved the banter between her and Hart. Toby, the orthopedic surgeon who played a major role in this book, well him I am not entirely sure I liked. Or maybe I would’ve liked him more if it weren’t for his involvement with Hart. The times when they had sex, I absolutely hated Toby since I was team Isaac and all that. I really think I could have liked Toby a lot if Hart would’ve kept his dick in his pants. Ugh!
Seriously, this book had it all; great flow, complex, imperfect characters, humor, heartbreak, suspense, mystery, VERY hot sex (even though it wasn’t only between the characters I wanted). I recommend this book to everyone, because it’s worth reading.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
August 28, 2015
I am not one to give away spoilers when I review a book so it will be really hard for me to put into words why I liked and at the same time was not a fan of parts of this book.. So I will try to explain while trying not to give away any spoilers the best that I can.
What I liked.. The mystery/ supernatural part of this book was so good and I really liked it! Those parts of the book had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who did it.
So on to the parts I did not like.. Let me say I am 100% not a fan of one of the MC's playing Leap Frog between two beds. Let me explain why I felt like Hart did that without hopefully giving away too many spoilers. Two days before you were in bed with someone else then next thing you know your are instantly in love with other MC as soon as you see him. Yea I am not believing that at all.
Now when I read the blurb I had thought this would be Hart and Isaac. Well you get maybe 10-20% of them together. The rest of the book is mystery and Hart with someone who was not Isaac. So I went into this book after reading blurb thinking it would be totally different then this book ended up being.
I can't really go into to much more of what I was not a fan of without giving a lot of this book away so I will leave this review with.. While some parts I really liked, there were some parts that were very unbelievable to me so it knocked down the rating for me.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
What I liked.. The mystery/ supernatural part of this book was so good and I really liked it! Those parts of the book had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who did it.
So on to the parts I did not like.. Let me say I am 100% not a fan of one of the MC's playing Leap Frog between two beds. Let me explain why I felt like Hart did that without hopefully giving away too many spoilers. Two days before you were in bed with someone else then next thing you know your are instantly in love with other MC as soon as you see him. Yea I am not believing that at all.
Now when I read the blurb I had thought this would be Hart and Isaac. Well you get maybe 10-20% of them together. The rest of the book is mystery and Hart with someone who was not Isaac. So I went into this book after reading blurb thinking it would be totally different then this book ended up being.
I can't really go into to much more of what I was not a fan of without giving a lot of this book away so I will leave this review with.. While some parts I really liked, there were some parts that were very unbelievable to me so it knocked down the rating for me.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.
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