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Darkness Falls #1
In the Night
Ten years ago Kara Vanderbilt was abducted and tortured for four days. She fought her way out of the hands of a sadistic madman and struggled to safety, nearly dying in the process, only to have her world shattered once safely home. Fleeing her family home and the only person who loves her, she tries to start over, but distance does not heal all wounds. Kara goes home seeking closure and gets sucked into a murder case that sounds eerily familiar. But the similarities must be a coincidence, because the person responsible all those years ago died in a fiery crash. With her life in turmoil Kara meets a man she can start a life with. But will it be too late? With the help of Detective Caleb Montgomery, Kara races to find the killer before he finishes the job that was started all those years ago.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2017
207 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 10, 2019
This story was horrific and twisted!
It starts with a bang and keeps revealing more and more disturbing things!
It happens a very short time span and things get happening at breakneck speed!
Also there's an insta-love! They fall for each other the first time they see each other.
I usually don't like it, but here it was rather sweet.
The villains, when revealed, are really, really, REALLY sick! So sick that I couldn't think what their punishments could be - nothing could be enough!!!!
It starts with a bang and keeps revealing more and more disturbing things!
It happens a very short time span and things get happening at breakneck speed!
Also there's an insta-love! They fall for each other the first time they see each other.
I usually don't like it, but here it was rather sweet.
The villains, when revealed, are really, really, REALLY sick! So sick that I couldn't think what their punishments could be - nothing could be enough!!!!
August 25, 2021
Wow hard read
This book definitely isn't for the faint of heart. As it says in the description, the book opening has a rape of an 18 year old girl. she does escape though after four days of torture and abuse. Very disturbing and the whole book reflects back on it. The villain in this book is pure disgusting evil. I don't want to give too much away but it was pretty vile. Ten years pass and she is back in town and skeletons are coming out of a lot of closets. It was a little over The top. A little too gross in some cases. She meets her policeman brother's partner, Caleb, and it is Insta love. She has serious issues but he definitely breaks through and she is truly in love with him and vice versa. Then the evil is back and I was pretty much ready to give up on it did to some of the graphic content but I didn't. It ended I well and there was a great epilogue with the hero and heroine.
This book definitely isn't for the faint of heart. As it says in the description, the book opening has a rape of an 18 year old girl. she does escape though after four days of torture and abuse. Very disturbing and the whole book reflects back on it. The villain in this book is pure disgusting evil. I don't want to give too much away but it was pretty vile. Ten years pass and she is back in town and skeletons are coming out of a lot of closets. It was a little over The top. A little too gross in some cases. She meets her policeman brother's partner, Caleb, and it is Insta love. She has serious issues but he definitely breaks through and she is truly in love with him and vice versa. Then the evil is back and I was pretty much ready to give up on it did to some of the graphic content but I didn't. It ended I well and there was a great epilogue with the hero and heroine.
May 14, 2019
I'm not quite sure how to feel about this book. On one hand, it was truly disgusting and awful. The evilness and hatred are just....gross. I felt like it was a mushy instalove gushy romance with evilness thrown in. The quickness of Kara and Caleb's relationship was a little much. And how quickly Kara went from being completely a mess and traumatized to being open and loving Caleb, not believable. Especially after the event that takes place towards the end of the book. She bounced back rather quickly hours after being kidnapped again and witnessing a murder. I felt like the relationship part was just SOOO over the top.
It was a quick read though and entertaining.
It was a quick read though and entertaining.
February 23, 2018
In the Night by Melissa Sinclair
Book Lovers, I am in aww again. I have found a new genre that I love just as much as PNR/Fantasy Romance. And that is Suspense, Thriller Romance. I don’t know what it is about this genre, but I just love it so much, the way it creeps me out, and makes the hair on my arms stand, the way it makes me think. Why, How, Who, Where the authors takes us on these creepy adventures with these characters, I love it all.
In the Night is not a book for a weak stomach or is it a light read. It was far beyond this. When you open the book up it starts with a chilling opening, Kara goes through a tragedy that NO women should ever experience.
Kara survives a 4-day nightmare, that consist of Abduction, rape, torture, and more. Kara is a fighter and somehow escapes and wakes in the hospital with her brother explaining to her that the man who did this to her is dead. She has shitty parents, and a loving brother.
In the ten years that has passed she has become a Dr, a good Doctor and has moved back to her home town that she ran away from all them years ago. She has her reason why she has moved back, and they unfold as her story unfolds.
Ethan her brother is now a detective, and his partner is Caleb and they discover a dead body that makes Ethan run to his sister, you see they young women they find has similar markings that his sister Kara has.
Caleb, and Kara’s relationship is lovely. She hasn’t been able to be close to a man, since the day she was taken, let alone be close to anyone she has tough walls surrounding her for reasons, she has over the years put things together that doesn’t make sense, or has made sense. Kara witnessed and herd something that makes her leave home and never come back till now. Now she wants back her life, she wants control, she wants to love, live and be happy. This is a story about survival about Kara, discovering secrets, lies and the truth about her abduction. Caleb is everything that Kara needs to help her get through some of her pain and anger, trust issues and everything else that has been fester over the years, some people might say there is to much romance, but I say it has the perfect amount, she feels safe for the very first time, and she wants to take back the last 10 years! I like how the author wrote their relationship.
I loved the twists and turns in this story, for a debut story I was shocked at how well it came together, the writing is fantastic and how the story read fast and not boring. Never once did the story slow down, it was continually moving along fast, I didn’t once skip ahead or skim. I read each word, scared myself half the time, obviously when you read thrillers read them with your doors locked, lights on curled up in a blanket.
In the Night, made me jump, pace and sit on the edge of my chair, flipping the pages not quick enough to see what was going to happen next. Yes, it is graphic, yes it was disturbing but I loved every single moment.
The ending had me like HOLY MOLY, BATMAN!
Like I’m still sitting here like, Did. I. Read. That. *Claps Hands* the last few or more chapters were a rollercoaster ride of emotions and shocks!
Before I was even finished with this book, I was on amazon purchasing book number 2, which is about Ethan. For me that says a lot, I really enjoyed my experience with this one. I am really looking forward for reading about Ethan and I think I might know who his lady friend might be. I haven’t read the blurb, I’m just excited to read another book by the new author to me.
So, to say I loved this story, is an understatement, I really loved it, I loved the characters, the writing, the journey that Melissa takes us on. If I could rate it more than I defiantly would!
5 stars I would recommend to everyone who loves romance with there suspense, thrillers. I would most definitely be buying this in paperback.
No arc was given for an honest review, I purchased my own Kindle eBook copy.
Ang, PNR Book Lover Reviews
Book Lovers, I am in aww again. I have found a new genre that I love just as much as PNR/Fantasy Romance. And that is Suspense, Thriller Romance. I don’t know what it is about this genre, but I just love it so much, the way it creeps me out, and makes the hair on my arms stand, the way it makes me think. Why, How, Who, Where the authors takes us on these creepy adventures with these characters, I love it all.
In the Night is not a book for a weak stomach or is it a light read. It was far beyond this. When you open the book up it starts with a chilling opening, Kara goes through a tragedy that NO women should ever experience.
Kara survives a 4-day nightmare, that consist of Abduction, rape, torture, and more. Kara is a fighter and somehow escapes and wakes in the hospital with her brother explaining to her that the man who did this to her is dead. She has shitty parents, and a loving brother.
In the ten years that has passed she has become a Dr, a good Doctor and has moved back to her home town that she ran away from all them years ago. She has her reason why she has moved back, and they unfold as her story unfolds.
Ethan her brother is now a detective, and his partner is Caleb and they discover a dead body that makes Ethan run to his sister, you see they young women they find has similar markings that his sister Kara has.
Caleb, and Kara’s relationship is lovely. She hasn’t been able to be close to a man, since the day she was taken, let alone be close to anyone she has tough walls surrounding her for reasons, she has over the years put things together that doesn’t make sense, or has made sense. Kara witnessed and herd something that makes her leave home and never come back till now. Now she wants back her life, she wants control, she wants to love, live and be happy. This is a story about survival about Kara, discovering secrets, lies and the truth about her abduction. Caleb is everything that Kara needs to help her get through some of her pain and anger, trust issues and everything else that has been fester over the years, some people might say there is to much romance, but I say it has the perfect amount, she feels safe for the very first time, and she wants to take back the last 10 years! I like how the author wrote their relationship.
I loved the twists and turns in this story, for a debut story I was shocked at how well it came together, the writing is fantastic and how the story read fast and not boring. Never once did the story slow down, it was continually moving along fast, I didn’t once skip ahead or skim. I read each word, scared myself half the time, obviously when you read thrillers read them with your doors locked, lights on curled up in a blanket.
In the Night, made me jump, pace and sit on the edge of my chair, flipping the pages not quick enough to see what was going to happen next. Yes, it is graphic, yes it was disturbing but I loved every single moment.
The ending had me like HOLY MOLY, BATMAN!
Like I’m still sitting here like, Did. I. Read. That. *Claps Hands* the last few or more chapters were a rollercoaster ride of emotions and shocks!
Before I was even finished with this book, I was on amazon purchasing book number 2, which is about Ethan. For me that says a lot, I really enjoyed my experience with this one. I am really looking forward for reading about Ethan and I think I might know who his lady friend might be. I haven’t read the blurb, I’m just excited to read another book by the new author to me.
So, to say I loved this story, is an understatement, I really loved it, I loved the characters, the writing, the journey that Melissa takes us on. If I could rate it more than I defiantly would!
5 stars I would recommend to everyone who loves romance with there suspense, thrillers. I would most definitely be buying this in paperback.
No arc was given for an honest review, I purchased my own Kindle eBook copy.
Ang, PNR Book Lover Reviews
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2017
This is not a book for a light read. The h, Kara, deals with a tragedy no woman should ever have to experience. She gets no support from her parents, in fact, she has always been treated with indifference while her brother Ethan was given the love that every child should have. Kara survives a 4 day nightmare and 10 years has passed before she comes back home. Her time was not wasted while she was away she comes back home a doctor.
Ethan is a policeman and his partner , Caleb, gets swept away from the first glance of Kara. Kara never thought it possible that she would ever be able to feel anything for a man. Things move rather fast between the two but it is a step by step process. I did get tired of hearing that Devon was killed. He was the man who abducted her and when she escaped all evidence lead law enforcement to believe Devon was dead. It became repetitive to read this. Also I found it hard to believe her place was not checked better for cameras well before they did. It made the police look so amateur. They knew they was dealing with a sick individual that was one step ahead of them and they don't check her house better. When the house was broke into the first suspect should have pointed right to the realtor because he had keys. There was never any further check into his background.
The twists in this book are many and while sick in spots I liked being surprised by things you didn't see coming. I would recommend this to anyone who is a into dark stories not turned off by brutal images that are painted. Some of the problems that I had trouble with early on were explained as the book went on. I also agree with another reviewer who stated the early rape can be skimmed over at the beginning. She does have reflection on this later but it too can be skipped over. I did not skip passed it and can say it is not as graphic as I originally feared but it was close. I definitely couldn't read too many like this in a row and am looking forward to a light and fluffy read after this one. One final note is that I felt the author felt at times as though she was following a outline instead of letting the story take a more organic feel. What I mean by this is the characters were trying to show the reader the stages a victim goes through instead of doing. If that makes sense.
I just felt like Kara never talked about what she went through and Caleb explains it would help her if she opened up about it. Next thing you know shes able to just tell everyone from other detectives to Caleb's parents and on and on. Other PTSD symptoms would come up too and then it would be overcome. I like the idea of a character growing but it felt like a how to more than, wow, look how far she's come. It was still an interesting read.
Ethan is a policeman and his partner , Caleb, gets swept away from the first glance of Kara. Kara never thought it possible that she would ever be able to feel anything for a man. Things move rather fast between the two but it is a step by step process. I did get tired of hearing that Devon was killed. He was the man who abducted her and when she escaped all evidence lead law enforcement to believe Devon was dead. It became repetitive to read this. Also I found it hard to believe her place was not checked better for cameras well before they did. It made the police look so amateur. They knew they was dealing with a sick individual that was one step ahead of them and they don't check her house better. When the house was broke into the first suspect should have pointed right to the realtor because he had keys. There was never any further check into his background.
The twists in this book are many and while sick in spots I liked being surprised by things you didn't see coming. I would recommend this to anyone who is a into dark stories not turned off by brutal images that are painted. Some of the problems that I had trouble with early on were explained as the book went on. I also agree with another reviewer who stated the early rape can be skimmed over at the beginning. She does have reflection on this later but it too can be skipped over. I did not skip passed it and can say it is not as graphic as I originally feared but it was close. I definitely couldn't read too many like this in a row and am looking forward to a light and fluffy read after this one. One final note is that I felt the author felt at times as though she was following a outline instead of letting the story take a more organic feel. What I mean by this is the characters were trying to show the reader the stages a victim goes through instead of doing. If that makes sense.
I just felt like Kara never talked about what she went through and Caleb explains it would help her if she opened up about it. Next thing you know shes able to just tell everyone from other detectives to Caleb's parents and on and on. Other PTSD symptoms would come up too and then it would be overcome. I like the idea of a character growing but it felt like a how to more than, wow, look how far she's come. It was still an interesting read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2017
This author has one twisted mind. I've been reading this genre for many years and I was shocked at the depravity of the killer. And that ending – skin crawling. But the biggest shocker is that this is the first book from the author – home run first time out.
Now a little about the story. When Kara Vanderbilt was 18 she was kidnapped, raped and brutalized. She managed to escape and was told the man who kidnapped her was dead. As Kara's home life consisted of two unloving parents, which only got worse when she escaped, she left home and got her medical degree in emergency medicine. Now its 10 years later and she has come back to town that changed her life. Even though her parents never gave her any nurturing love, she always had the love and support of her brother Ethan who is now a homicide cop in their hometown. Unfortunately, on the day Kara returns to town another prominent daughter who was kidnapped turns up dead with a message for Kara. Seems someone was waiting for her to come home.
Kara has been unable to have any type of romantic relationship since her kidnapping but after she meets her brother's partner, Caleb Montgomery, she finds herself having feelings she has never experienced before. Caleb was also instantly drawn to Kara and knows she needs protecting as its looking like the killer (copycat or partner) continued killing during the 10 years she was away and is taunting her that they want to finish what they started all those years ago.
That's just a little taste of what the books about – my recommendation is to go get your copy and read it!!
Now a little about the story. When Kara Vanderbilt was 18 she was kidnapped, raped and brutalized. She managed to escape and was told the man who kidnapped her was dead. As Kara's home life consisted of two unloving parents, which only got worse when she escaped, she left home and got her medical degree in emergency medicine. Now its 10 years later and she has come back to town that changed her life. Even though her parents never gave her any nurturing love, she always had the love and support of her brother Ethan who is now a homicide cop in their hometown. Unfortunately, on the day Kara returns to town another prominent daughter who was kidnapped turns up dead with a message for Kara. Seems someone was waiting for her to come home.
Kara has been unable to have any type of romantic relationship since her kidnapping but after she meets her brother's partner, Caleb Montgomery, she finds herself having feelings she has never experienced before. Caleb was also instantly drawn to Kara and knows she needs protecting as its looking like the killer (copycat or partner) continued killing during the 10 years she was away and is taunting her that they want to finish what they started all those years ago.
That's just a little taste of what the books about – my recommendation is to go get your copy and read it!!
October 1, 2017
Ho. Ly. Crap. I read this book all in one sitting, and loved every bit of it. Ten years ago, high school senior Kara is abducted from her prominent family home and tortured for four days before she manages to escape. Now, she is back in her hometown, her brother Ethan is a police officer, and her parents (whom she despises) are in the governor's mansion. The body of a young woman is discovered in her town, and immediately, Kara is swept back into the terror of her nightmare from ten years ago. But the bad guy is dead. Right?
Ethan has always been Kara's saving grace. Her parents were indifferent towards her, and this is the first time in the ten years since her ordeal that she's returned home. Ethan's partner is tall and handsome Caleb Montgomery, and Kara feels an almost instant connection with him. The romance is there and definitely satisfying, but the author doesn't shy away from the dark and depraved. I couldn't put it down, dying to get to the end (no pun intended), and it did not disappoint. I can hardly wait for Melissa Sinclair to write more!
Ethan has always been Kara's saving grace. Her parents were indifferent towards her, and this is the first time in the ten years since her ordeal that she's returned home. Ethan's partner is tall and handsome Caleb Montgomery, and Kara feels an almost instant connection with him. The romance is there and definitely satisfying, but the author doesn't shy away from the dark and depraved. I couldn't put it down, dying to get to the end (no pun intended), and it did not disappoint. I can hardly wait for Melissa Sinclair to write more!
January 8, 2018
I’m in the minority here, but this book didn’t work for me as a suspense or romance.
None of the characters behaved the way you’d think they would. I think the problem was that there wasn’t nearly enough dialog between the characters to flesh out the story. It also didn’t help that the heroine/Kara pulled more than one TSTL stunts. I almost gave up, but kept going.
I’ve ready plenty of villainous characters over the years and this cast of crazies was just so over the top I almost burst out laughing at the big reveal at the end. It was just too bonkers to believe.
Mild romance - zero steam.
August 19, 2020
How are people rating this more than 1 star?! I’m even being very generous! I’ve never read this author before...the premise sounded good, the reviews were pretty good. And yet the book was NOT. It felt so amateur I couldn’t stop rolling my eyes. There were so many grammatical mistakes, the Instalove was fake feeling, and the dialogue was horrible. That’s what killed it for me- the dialogue. It was cheesy, forced to the point of feeling formal and robotic and absolutely not how anyone would ever talk. I’m an actor so I know dialogue can kill a story if it’s not believable. This book had me cringing, for real. I skimmed the last 1/3.
October 20, 2020
Want to read the full review? Read on: www.onreviewbysara.com
Posted: October 22, 2020 at 5PM
I was lucky enough to read this book after the author reached out to me. I hope the prospective reader will read this review fully before making any prejudgments on the book. I will give the book my thoughts, good and bad. Also, this review contains opinions that are my own and not the author’s. My thoughts will be different from your thoughts and just know that before reading the book.
DISCLAIMER: This book I have to give a disclaimer for. To any readers who read my blog or are interested in the book, please know that there is strong language and sexual themes in this book. I believe it not suitable for readers under the age of 18 and not suitable for anyone who is easily triggered by horrific events. I recommend you enter reading this book with that in mind and you know that some of the things in this story are disturbing. I would compare it to Game of Thrones.
My Rating: I do think that this book is wonderful. I loved the writing and the story. Although, there were moments where I would cringe because it was so difficult to read. I think what won me over was the fact that it wasn’t all difficult, there were just some sections that are harder than others. I think that is also why the story is so good. I think that it is difficult to read straight through without taking a break in between, but I did read it in one sitting because I was captivated and couldn’t put it down. I don’t usually love to read books that are so dark, but I loved this one. I give this book 5 stars. I will read it again, but not anytime soon. I have to say that getting into Melissa’s head was dark, but absolutely fascinating.
I hope this review helps you in making your next book choice. Happy reading!
SECONDARY DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Melissa Sinclair
Posted: October 22, 2020 at 5PM
I was lucky enough to read this book after the author reached out to me. I hope the prospective reader will read this review fully before making any prejudgments on the book. I will give the book my thoughts, good and bad. Also, this review contains opinions that are my own and not the author’s. My thoughts will be different from your thoughts and just know that before reading the book.
DISCLAIMER: This book I have to give a disclaimer for. To any readers who read my blog or are interested in the book, please know that there is strong language and sexual themes in this book. I believe it not suitable for readers under the age of 18 and not suitable for anyone who is easily triggered by horrific events. I recommend you enter reading this book with that in mind and you know that some of the things in this story are disturbing. I would compare it to Game of Thrones.
My Rating: I do think that this book is wonderful. I loved the writing and the story. Although, there were moments where I would cringe because it was so difficult to read. I think what won me over was the fact that it wasn’t all difficult, there were just some sections that are harder than others. I think that is also why the story is so good. I think that it is difficult to read straight through without taking a break in between, but I did read it in one sitting because I was captivated and couldn’t put it down. I don’t usually love to read books that are so dark, but I loved this one. I give this book 5 stars. I will read it again, but not anytime soon. I have to say that getting into Melissa’s head was dark, but absolutely fascinating.
I hope this review helps you in making your next book choice. Happy reading!
SECONDARY DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Melissa Sinclair
January 24, 2019
Well, I read that this was the first book from the author and I will definitely be following her work. It would have been a 4 starts for me, as the police investigative skills were quite poor and some things were kind of too much in terms of twists, but the fact that this is her first published book upped it for me. I'm so tired of reading the same formulas over and over... this was refreshing.
I really liked the writing style and the story, even if it was insta-love it was credible. And both MC were endearing, especially Kara. It has strong scenes but I wasn't uncomfortable with them, as they were very well written. If you like a good mystery and romance with a strong female character, give it a try.
I really liked the writing style and the story, even if it was insta-love it was credible. And both MC were endearing, especially Kara. It has strong scenes but I wasn't uncomfortable with them, as they were very well written. If you like a good mystery and romance with a strong female character, give it a try.
June 8, 2018
Dark and disturbing. Kept me on edge wanting to know the rest of the story. Kara’s abductor died, so what’s happening now? At least Kara has her brother Ethan and his partner Caleb to help her through. The romance was really sweet, in contrast to the other things going on.
December 6, 2017
holy twisted book, batman! I NEVER would've expected this book to end the way it did. Definitely kept my blood pumping and was definitely a book I stumbled on by chance.
September 5, 2017
It is difficult to believe this is a debut novel. It has everything readers want: mystery, romance, likeable characters, well-written............and waiting for another book by Melissa Sinclair!!!
September 6, 2024
My first book by Ms. Sinclair and won’t be my last. This book was fantastic. Kept me on my toes throughout. Ten years ago Kara’s life changed in the most awful way. She heads home after all these
years to see peace. What she does not expect is reliving things, finding out another murder was committed which may or may not be linked to her abduction. The biggest surprise was meeting Detective Caleb Montgomery. He isn’t like anyone she’s ever known.
She’s not sure what will happen, but also hopes just maybe there could be something..
Highly recommend this book.
years to see peace. What she does not expect is reliving things, finding out another murder was committed which may or may not be linked to her abduction. The biggest surprise was meeting Detective Caleb Montgomery. He isn’t like anyone she’s ever known.
She’s not sure what will happen, but also hopes just maybe there could be something..
Highly recommend this book.
May 21, 2018
DNF at 55%
The story had a lot of promise, and clearly I’ve been on a Romantic Suspense kick recently, so I decided to give it a shot. But it was just too painful to finish. The dialogue was stunted and awkward, with the characters speaking without contractions and speaking unrealistically. Overall it was more than kind of a mess, and as much as I hate not finishing books, I just couldn’t make myself finish it.
The story had a lot of promise, and clearly I’ve been on a Romantic Suspense kick recently, so I decided to give it a shot. But it was just too painful to finish. The dialogue was stunted and awkward, with the characters speaking without contractions and speaking unrealistically. Overall it was more than kind of a mess, and as much as I hate not finishing books, I just couldn’t make myself finish it.
May 21, 2018
Honestly, after hitting about the tenth chapter I just skimmed until the end. Not enough believable dialogue between the characters and the writing in general wasn't great. This had the potential to be a great book due to the story line but the villains and their background was ridiculous.
November 25, 2023
The way this book was written wasn’t for me, but some parts of the book were/could have been interesting.
Caleb and Ethan, Kara’s brother, go to a crime scene and Ethan finds something disturbing and tells his partner that they need to see his sister. Kara has just arrived back in town for the first time in ten years, when she was kidnapped and tortured. Ethan tells her about the scene and the story takes off from there.
One thing that I found annoying was how the book constantly comments on how smart Kara is and that even though Ethan isn’t as smart, he’s still clever. I might not have minded that if Kara was actually shown doing smart things, but she was just like any other character. I think the author tried to make her seem… mysterious? Or secretive? But I thought that that was another negative about her because she would make a big deal about telling her story, and then leave things out. How was that smart?
At the beginning, it says that Kara is still afraid of men, and yet the minute she meets Caleb, she trusts him. She has a guard dog, Sam, and yet he’s never with her so what’s the point of including him in the book?
I was indifferent when it came to Caleb. His relationship with Kara was insta-love, so I was bored with that, and I didn’t think he had much of a personality. He worried about Kara but didn’t really do much investigating. In fact, it felt like this whole book was about Kara repeating what happened ten years ago because no, or very little, investigating happened in this book.
The things that were revealed at the end were interesting, but there were still some annoying things. It’s mentioned a lot how Kara is intelligent and basically made out to be so special, but she never acts in a way that would make me agree. In the epilogue there’s a wedding, and it talks about how Caleb’s father asks Kara to call him Dad. The thing that I thought was bizarre was how Bob, Caleb’s captain, was acting so close to Kara and it talked about how she sees him as a father figure too. Bob isn’t even that big of a character in the book and Kara doesn’t have any interactions with him that aren’t to do with the case, and yet suddenly he’s a father figure to her? I just didn’t understand it.
The idea for this book could have been good, but I didn’t like how it was executed. I’m not continuing with this series, and I don’t know if I’ll want to try other books by this author.
Caleb and Ethan, Kara’s brother, go to a crime scene and Ethan finds something disturbing and tells his partner that they need to see his sister. Kara has just arrived back in town for the first time in ten years, when she was kidnapped and tortured. Ethan tells her about the scene and the story takes off from there.
One thing that I found annoying was how the book constantly comments on how smart Kara is and that even though Ethan isn’t as smart, he’s still clever. I might not have minded that if Kara was actually shown doing smart things, but she was just like any other character. I think the author tried to make her seem… mysterious? Or secretive? But I thought that that was another negative about her because she would make a big deal about telling her story, and then leave things out. How was that smart?
At the beginning, it says that Kara is still afraid of men, and yet the minute she meets Caleb, she trusts him. She has a guard dog, Sam, and yet he’s never with her so what’s the point of including him in the book?
I was indifferent when it came to Caleb. His relationship with Kara was insta-love, so I was bored with that, and I didn’t think he had much of a personality. He worried about Kara but didn’t really do much investigating. In fact, it felt like this whole book was about Kara repeating what happened ten years ago because no, or very little, investigating happened in this book.
The things that were revealed at the end were interesting, but there were still some annoying things. It’s mentioned a lot how Kara is intelligent and basically made out to be so special, but she never acts in a way that would make me agree. In the epilogue there’s a wedding, and it talks about how Caleb’s father asks Kara to call him Dad. The thing that I thought was bizarre was how Bob, Caleb’s captain, was acting so close to Kara and it talked about how she sees him as a father figure too. Bob isn’t even that big of a character in the book and Kara doesn’t have any interactions with him that aren’t to do with the case, and yet suddenly he’s a father figure to her? I just didn’t understand it.
The idea for this book could have been good, but I didn’t like how it was executed. I’m not continuing with this series, and I don’t know if I’ll want to try other books by this author.
September 20, 2018
I was enthralled from the start!
Overall I really enjoyed the story. There were a few parts that I thought were badly written, but again, overall I liked it. The beginning had me enthralled though, so I had to finish reading it. I was able to figure out part of the mystery, but I definitely kept trying to figure out all the pieces of the puzzle until al was revealed.
Kara, when she was 18 years old and just worrying about finishing her final exams and getting away from her controlling and domineering parents, was home alone and studying late one night when she was abducted by an associate of her father’s who was working for his gubernatorial campaign. Kara was held for 4 days where she was drugged, raped, and tortured. It was only by luck or divine intervention that she was able to escape and make it out alive. And finding out that the man who was her terrorizer has died in a car crash. Once she was recovered, she couldn’t get away from her home fast enough. Fast forward to ten years later when she is still struggling to survive but has become a successful doctor in the meantime. She moves back home to a new home, new job, and the only person who she loves. Her older brother Ethan, who is a detective. It’s then she meets Caleb, Ethan’s partner, who begins to heal her. And other things. :) Unfortunately Kara’s terror isn’t over. With a fresh murder of a young woman that has a lot of similarities to Kara’s own experience, Kara, Caleb, and Ethan, realize that there is more to what happened to Kara, then even Kara suspected. Will Kara be able to withstand another emotional bearing? Will Caleb be able to help her and stop the responsible monster? Or monsters?
Overall I really enjoyed the story. There were a few parts that I thought were badly written, but again, overall I liked it. The beginning had me enthralled though, so I had to finish reading it. I was able to figure out part of the mystery, but I definitely kept trying to figure out all the pieces of the puzzle until al was revealed.
Kara, when she was 18 years old and just worrying about finishing her final exams and getting away from her controlling and domineering parents, was home alone and studying late one night when she was abducted by an associate of her father’s who was working for his gubernatorial campaign. Kara was held for 4 days where she was drugged, raped, and tortured. It was only by luck or divine intervention that she was able to escape and make it out alive. And finding out that the man who was her terrorizer has died in a car crash. Once she was recovered, she couldn’t get away from her home fast enough. Fast forward to ten years later when she is still struggling to survive but has become a successful doctor in the meantime. She moves back home to a new home, new job, and the only person who she loves. Her older brother Ethan, who is a detective. It’s then she meets Caleb, Ethan’s partner, who begins to heal her. And other things. :) Unfortunately Kara’s terror isn’t over. With a fresh murder of a young woman that has a lot of similarities to Kara’s own experience, Kara, Caleb, and Ethan, realize that there is more to what happened to Kara, then even Kara suspected. Will Kara be able to withstand another emotional bearing? Will Caleb be able to help her and stop the responsible monster? Or monsters?
April 14, 2019
Over the Top Suspense
First the author does have talent, but the plot of this book was way over the top. The premise was a very interesting one, but the execution, was too unbelievable. Possibly the book might have done better as a series of books, as the pacing in this book at breakneck speed. There was too much drama in such a short period of time, too many revelations, and talk about insta love; this one could be the champ of insta love. The author tried too hard in the suspense mystery aspect of the story. To the point that the victim knew move about investigation than the cops did. Ummmm.... then way did she never go to the police about the years of taunting emails? Also a huge point was made about the main character having a guard dog, which was very anticlimactic, and a very poor representation of a guard dog. I think the author needs some guidance in letting her characters tell a story instead of preaching the story to the reader.
First the author does have talent, but the plot of this book was way over the top. The premise was a very interesting one, but the execution, was too unbelievable. Possibly the book might have done better as a series of books, as the pacing in this book at breakneck speed. There was too much drama in such a short period of time, too many revelations, and talk about insta love; this one could be the champ of insta love. The author tried too hard in the suspense mystery aspect of the story. To the point that the victim knew move about investigation than the cops did. Ummmm.... then way did she never go to the police about the years of taunting emails? Also a huge point was made about the main character having a guard dog, which was very anticlimactic, and a very poor representation of a guard dog. I think the author needs some guidance in letting her characters tell a story instead of preaching the story to the reader.
August 27, 2023
Melissa Sinclair weaves together a story that is not for the faint of heart. The heroine (Kara Vanderbilt) suffers a terrible trauma that may trigger sensitive readers. And the tale treads down a dark path that keeps the pages turning. If you think you know where that path leads, another element falls into your lap, forcing you to re-evaluate everything. The events progress at a steady pace and keeps the reader on their toes even as their heart breaks for Kara, who is struggling with her past, and her present. The one light within this dark story is the cop (Caleb Montgomery) who walks into her life. The reader is instantly pulled into their spark of attraction for each other and is ready to hang on to see where their story concludes.
November 7, 2017
A good first book
OK...this was a good first book. Too much romance for my taste and I think the author went way too far with graphic details and a flood of "f" words that could have been left out without hurting the story. The villains were no surprise and I did not believe the heroine as a physician for 1 second. And as a dog lover, she forgot about her dog a lot more than I would have. I may read her next book. I think she has a ton of potential as a writer but do your research Ms Sinclair and rely on your talent of weaving a tale more than your use of gratuitous use of language and graphic detail.
OK...this was a good first book. Too much romance for my taste and I think the author went way too far with graphic details and a flood of "f" words that could have been left out without hurting the story. The villains were no surprise and I did not believe the heroine as a physician for 1 second. And as a dog lover, she forgot about her dog a lot more than I would have. I may read her next book. I think she has a ton of potential as a writer but do your research Ms Sinclair and rely on your talent of weaving a tale more than your use of gratuitous use of language and graphic detail.
October 19, 2017
In the night
I enjoyed this book.its a great book for a first time writer...the only problems I saw were it had some editing issues and the insta love was waaaaay too instant...for me, it's hard to root for people or really enjoy the romance part when 2 people who don't know each other are head over heels in it for the long haul an hurt after they meet..I like the build up personally...the suspense parts were awesome tho. Much better even than some very well known authors who have been writing for years .
I enjoyed this book.its a great book for a first time writer...the only problems I saw were it had some editing issues and the insta love was waaaaay too instant...for me, it's hard to root for people or really enjoy the romance part when 2 people who don't know each other are head over heels in it for the long haul an hurt after they meet..I like the build up personally...the suspense parts were awesome tho. Much better even than some very well known authors who have been writing for years .
May 30, 2021
Left hand/Right hand
On one hand the book was great. The story was interesting with twist the reader didn't see coming. The lead female character was portrayed as an extremely intelligent woman . Then on the other hand the lead female character would do something so incredibly stupid, I felt like I was reading about two different people or reading two different authors. Having said that, over all I would recommend.
On one hand the book was great. The story was interesting with twist the reader didn't see coming. The lead female character was portrayed as an extremely intelligent woman . Then on the other hand the lead female character would do something so incredibly stupid, I felt like I was reading about two different people or reading two different authors. Having said that, over all I would recommend.
May 8, 2019
Great page turning read!!
Wonderfully written story!! Not to sappy but a happy ending! The strength shown in Kara shines throughout! She earned her happy ending in such a horrific way! Great on your seat twisting story that keeps you turning the pages! Can’t wait to read additional books by this author!
Wonderfully written story!! Not to sappy but a happy ending! The strength shown in Kara shines throughout! She earned her happy ending in such a horrific way! Great on your seat twisting story that keeps you turning the pages! Can’t wait to read additional books by this author!
December 31, 2017
Not usually a book I would pick up, but I love trying local authors. I'm glad I read this one-read it in just over a day! The romance was a little too fast, but the suspense of the mystery made up for it. A very good story with some great suspense. Looking forward to reading her next book.
September 20, 2017
Wow....Just Wow
You must read this book! It is so well written, I didn't even skip the sex scenes. While I had an inkling of who the bad guy was, I was really surprised at the end.
You must read this book! It is so well written, I didn't even skip the sex scenes. While I had an inkling of who the bad guy was, I was really surprised at the end.
January 29, 2018
Good Book
This was a good book kept you guessing.Caleb and Kara found each other when she needed it most.There was suspense and moments of not sure what would happen.And the ending was a surprise.Had a happy ending.
This was a good book kept you guessing.Caleb and Kara found each other when she needed it most.There was suspense and moments of not sure what would happen.And the ending was a surprise.Had a happy ending.
March 22, 2018
,Could not put it down
loved this book.New author for me.She kept me totally interested in the story and the characters. The story was packed with suspense. I would recommend this to readers of Sanford and Connolly
loved this book.New author for me.She kept me totally interested in the story and the characters. The story was packed with suspense. I would recommend this to readers of Sanford and Connolly
March 26, 2018
This was fantastic -- just the right amount of suspense and romance in one. I certainly didn't see the ending coming as presented. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this new author. For this being her first book published, it's really very good. I look forward to reading more from this author!
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