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Hold Me in the Dark
From the author of Mount Mercy and The Double, a standalone, scorching romantic suspense that will leave you breathless. He believes he's beyond redemption. She believes she's beyond loving. Apart, they're broken. Together, they're unstoppable.As an FBI agent, I've seen a lot of evil. But I've never seen anything like this. A serial killer whose victims have nothing in common, who covers the crime scenes in equations even our best people can't solve. Only one person can a mysterious, reclusive genius. When I track her down, her fragile beauty and amazing mind take my breath away. All she wants is to be left alone but to catch the killer, I have to drag her back into the world.As we work together, something starts to happen.I don't have friends. But she starts to feel like a friend.I don't have a partner. But she starts to feel like a partner.I don't fall in love. Not after what happened. But....I look into her eyes...and I can't look away. I glance down at her lips and I find myself leaning forward. There's a soul-deep longing neither of us can fight. We might be the only people who can fix each other. But I have to resist. If she knew the secret I'm hiding....When the case turns dangerous, all I want to do is protect her. But she's as stubborn as I am. She's the bravest person I've ever met. And she leaves me no choice.This case could destroy us both but the only way we're solving it...is together.Standalone Romantic Suspense with guaranteed HEA
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2020
691 people are currently reading
376 people want to read
About the author
Helena Newbury
30 books1,339 followersWant to contact me? helenanewburyauthor@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
January 13, 2020
3.8 stars
August 31, 2022
Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK
This probably would have been 4 Stars from me but that ending just went way off the rails and had me completely baffled. I was already a little iffy about Sam since we didn't get to learn too much about him, at least not with great detail, and then the ending came and what I liked of his character went away very quickly. He was supposed to be some hardened FBI agent and yet he was going to go along with some crazy, out there, idea? Just didn't make sense to me.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
This probably would have been 4 Stars from me but that ending just went way off the rails and had me completely baffled. I was already a little iffy about Sam since we didn't get to learn too much about him, at least not with great detail, and then the ending came and what I liked of his character went away very quickly. He was supposed to be some hardened FBI agent and yet he was going to go along with some crazy, out there, idea? Just didn't make sense to me.
January 7, 2020
She did it again! Funny, I just realized that all of my reviews for Helena's books start with the same sentence 🤭
But I can't help myself 🤷🏻♀️
Her books are amazing.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Helena wrote again a book that takes you on a rollercoaster of nerve-wracking, teeth- clenching and breath-holding adventure.
It's just what she always does.
Her books are never slow or builds the excitement, NO!, her books go straight in the action and stay this way the whole time.
This book is of course like all her books unbelievable gripping and exciting.
It's a combination of crime, action and romance story, that makes you feel all the dramatic, hair-raising parts and leaves you emotional wrecked and shiver with fear, but afterwards the epic HEA gives you all the warm and swoony feelings.
Have you read a book without taking a breath, because you are afraid you will miss something? That's about 50% of this book. I love this book and I love the characters.
Yolanda and Calahan are two
tormented souls, that don't think they are enough, but completely each other so unbelievable beautiful.
I just love the unique and very special way Helena writes her books. You're constantly full in the story. You're feeling like you're part of the story.
I know a lot of you doesn't know the author because she is never active on a social media, but her books are amazing, beautiful written and captivates you through the whole story. I've read all her books and loved all of them and this is her 19th book.
I recommend this book to everyone that love the excitement of a crime, action and mystery in a romance story.
Enjoy this amazing book ❤
But I can't help myself 🤷🏻♀️
Her books are amazing.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Helena wrote again a book that takes you on a rollercoaster of nerve-wracking, teeth- clenching and breath-holding adventure.
It's just what she always does.
Her books are never slow or builds the excitement, NO!, her books go straight in the action and stay this way the whole time.
This book is of course like all her books unbelievable gripping and exciting.
It's a combination of crime, action and romance story, that makes you feel all the dramatic, hair-raising parts and leaves you emotional wrecked and shiver with fear, but afterwards the epic HEA gives you all the warm and swoony feelings.
Have you read a book without taking a breath, because you are afraid you will miss something? That's about 50% of this book. I love this book and I love the characters.
Yolanda and Calahan are two
tormented souls, that don't think they are enough, but completely each other so unbelievable beautiful.
I just love the unique and very special way Helena writes her books. You're constantly full in the story. You're feeling like you're part of the story.
I know a lot of you doesn't know the author because she is never active on a social media, but her books are amazing, beautiful written and captivates you through the whole story. I've read all her books and loved all of them and this is her 19th book.
I recommend this book to everyone that love the excitement of a crime, action and mystery in a romance story.
Enjoy this amazing book ❤
January 8, 2020
The best way to start 2020 reading Challenge was with this high-octane romantic suspense from the one and only, Helena Newbury.
This book was very special. It was a bit different from what we are used to expect from Helena. Now, this was not a bad thing, on the contrary, I found myself getting sucked into the story from the get-go and I did not want to stop reading until I got my perfect ending.
After a horrific accident in which Yolanda lost more than her ability to walk, she has dedicated her life to help track criminals by hacking and using her incredible mathematical skills. So far she has found a way to cope with her disability by alienating herself from everyone.
Sam Calahan, an FBI agent, is in desperate need of a genius to help him decipher a message in his latest murder case, all he needed was to find the contact, get the information and move on, however, meeting Yolanda totally shifts his world of his axis and he just can't seem to get her off his mind.
Together, Yolanda and Sam suddenly find themselves in the middle of one of the most gruesome murder cases, Sam knows he needs Yolanda to help him, nobody has her mathematical brain but being close to her also means spending more time together and letting someone into his life. For Yolanda the case becomes something of an obsession but it also means putting herself back into society, showing her vulnerability to the rest of the world and realizing how desperately she would like to turn back the time and be complete again.
The story is explosive. There is not one dull moment. Helena has the reader second-guessing where the plot is heading to and to be honest I had no idea the twist we were going to encounter at the very end.
This book played out in my mind like a blockbuster movie. It had suspense, romance, plenty of steamy moments and both characters are cleverly written, so well researched! I was totally blown away.
I cannot express my gratitude to Helena for allowing me to receive an advance copy of this book.
She is my go-to author when I'm looking for something current, intelligent, explosive and fast-paced. Hold Me in the Dark did not disappoint.
5 GENIUS STARS
This book was very special. It was a bit different from what we are used to expect from Helena. Now, this was not a bad thing, on the contrary, I found myself getting sucked into the story from the get-go and I did not want to stop reading until I got my perfect ending.
After a horrific accident in which Yolanda lost more than her ability to walk, she has dedicated her life to help track criminals by hacking and using her incredible mathematical skills. So far she has found a way to cope with her disability by alienating herself from everyone.
Sam Calahan, an FBI agent, is in desperate need of a genius to help him decipher a message in his latest murder case, all he needed was to find the contact, get the information and move on, however, meeting Yolanda totally shifts his world of his axis and he just can't seem to get her off his mind.
Together, Yolanda and Sam suddenly find themselves in the middle of one of the most gruesome murder cases, Sam knows he needs Yolanda to help him, nobody has her mathematical brain but being close to her also means spending more time together and letting someone into his life. For Yolanda the case becomes something of an obsession but it also means putting herself back into society, showing her vulnerability to the rest of the world and realizing how desperately she would like to turn back the time and be complete again.
The story is explosive. There is not one dull moment. Helena has the reader second-guessing where the plot is heading to and to be honest I had no idea the twist we were going to encounter at the very end.
This book played out in my mind like a blockbuster movie. It had suspense, romance, plenty of steamy moments and both characters are cleverly written, so well researched! I was totally blown away.
I cannot express my gratitude to Helena for allowing me to receive an advance copy of this book.
She is my go-to author when I'm looking for something current, intelligent, explosive and fast-paced. Hold Me in the Dark did not disappoint.
5 GENIUS STARS
January 6, 2020
AUTHOR REVIEW
Standalone romantic suspense, guaranteed HEA. An FBI agent who doesn't play by the rules. A genius mathematician who's withdrawn from society. Apart, they're broken. Together, they're unstoppable.
Standalone romantic suspense, guaranteed HEA. An FBI agent who doesn't play by the rules. A genius mathematician who's withdrawn from society. Apart, they're broken. Together, they're unstoppable.
May 12, 2020
OK, so this book had a great premise, and although our main character was way too daring, and had very few consequences for this daringness, I was still accepting of the premise and story. And then the ending came... The ending just plain and simple ruined it for me. It was too "super effects movie" and much less plausible plot line (although the plausible plot was still a little shaky for me to begin with). I was glad it was free through the Kindle.
January 10, 2020
Awesome, except for the small part where it went into « we believe in magic mode », but it only lasts for 3pages
January 9, 2020
Another Great Story
I love this author. I read the other books that mentioned Callahan and I loved that she really switched it up for this book. However a couple of “plot holes” bugged me which is why I gave it 4 stars. First this author has written a medical based story before and while I expect some leeway releasing medical information on a baby would be the highest violation of medical confidentiality. So while I get she needed to move her plot along in this day & age there is no way a midwife would release that information. Second, I’m pretty sure her brother would have called her by her real name and not her hacker name. That just seemed off to me. And regarding her hacker name “Yolanda” really?! Violet seems just as “hackerish” as Yolanda. So not very imaginative. But still loved the rest of the story!
I love this author. I read the other books that mentioned Callahan and I loved that she really switched it up for this book. However a couple of “plot holes” bugged me which is why I gave it 4 stars. First this author has written a medical based story before and while I expect some leeway releasing medical information on a baby would be the highest violation of medical confidentiality. So while I get she needed to move her plot along in this day & age there is no way a midwife would release that information. Second, I’m pretty sure her brother would have called her by her real name and not her hacker name. That just seemed off to me. And regarding her hacker name “Yolanda” really?! Violet seems just as “hackerish” as Yolanda. So not very imaginative. But still loved the rest of the story!
January 19, 2020
Well. I can certainly say that this book spine tingling. The story and the characters were definitely unique. It was also long. IMHO, it could have been tightened up a bit and I would have enjoyed it much more. But, that is only my opinion.
October 13, 2020
Great premise. Poor execution. What start a an interesting story line, turned quickly to the implausible and then to the utterly ridiculous.
February 17, 2022
Sam and Yolanda
Gah! I’m flying through this authors backlist (10 books in 4 days so far 😳) and I just don’t see how she can continue to create stories that are so GOOD! But she does! Book after book, I just can’t stop reading!
I’ve ran into Agent Calahan in previous stories and liked him a lot. Getting to read his second chance at love was WONDERFUL. This story was fast paced and exciting, interesting and unpredictable.
Gah! I’m flying through this authors backlist (10 books in 4 days so far 😳) and I just don’t see how she can continue to create stories that are so GOOD! But she does! Book after book, I just can’t stop reading!
I’ve ran into Agent Calahan in previous stories and liked him a lot. Getting to read his second chance at love was WONDERFUL. This story was fast paced and exciting, interesting and unpredictable.
February 18, 2020
I was really digging the creepy thriller vibe as a mathematician and FBI agent teamed up to solve a string of murders. The writing painted pictures in my mind about a serial killer who wrote messages in blood:
“There was no one place you could say looked like eyes, and yet it felt like you were being watched. There was nothing that looked exactly like a mouth, but you felt you were about to be devoured. When you looked closely, the entire thing was made up of writing, the letters packed so close they formed solid lines.”
Things started getting a little outlandish around 70%, but that seems to be fairly common in this genre, and so I continued, still enjoying the story. But then around 85% things turned into WTF territory. Like seriously, WTF?
It was all so weird, and I don’t know if this is typical for this author? But pretty sure I’ll never read her again.
“There was no one place you could say looked like eyes, and yet it felt like you were being watched. There was nothing that looked exactly like a mouth, but you felt you were about to be devoured. When you looked closely, the entire thing was made up of writing, the letters packed so close they formed solid lines.”
Things started getting a little outlandish around 70%, but that seems to be fairly common in this genre, and so I continued, still enjoying the story. But then around 85% things turned into WTF territory. Like seriously, WTF?
It was all so weird, and I don’t know if this is typical for this author? But pretty sure I’ll never read her again.
January 19, 2020
Fascinating
Not read any of your books before I could not put the book down once in had started .so many different emotions , Sam Calahan is a FBI agent and Yolanda who is ahacker and her field is math.Sam has horrid case and needs her help.they both have strengths and complement each other.while reading I anxius, cried, enjoyed the suspense, and romance. Brilliant book will read more
Not read any of your books before I could not put the book down once in had started .so many different emotions , Sam Calahan is a FBI agent and Yolanda who is ahacker and her field is math.Sam has horrid case and needs her help.they both have strengths and complement each other.while reading I anxius, cried, enjoyed the suspense, and romance. Brilliant book will read more
March 15, 2020
The author clearly has a formula. This is my second book of hers and it starts with both people wanting each other but believing they can’t have the other. Then they get together and then there’s some sort of crazy event at the end. I enjoyed the beginning and middle but the ending completely lost me. I hated that it ending up being her brother and hated that she believed his madness. I hated that he locked her in and raced down so she couldn’t come with him. I’ll read more of hers but I don’t know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2020
Not a bad read at all - interesting characters and plot. It was overlong and needed some judicious editing, but overall a well written and entertaining story. But...... then we get to the last couple of chapters.
The whole brother thing was really asking for a level of ‘suspension of disbelief’ too far, but I tried hard to go along with it. And then Yolanda - this incredibly intelligent, amazingly gifted woman - starts to believe the ‘magic madness’. Immediately ruined it for me. The twin brother had an excuse for being driven mad - she didn’t! This totally ruined the book for me. Such a shame because I loved the h/H and their journey.
The whole brother thing was really asking for a level of ‘suspension of disbelief’ too far, but I tried hard to go along with it. And then Yolanda - this incredibly intelligent, amazingly gifted woman - starts to believe the ‘magic madness’. Immediately ruined it for me. The twin brother had an excuse for being driven mad - she didn’t! This totally ruined the book for me. Such a shame because I loved the h/H and their journey.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2020
OMG OMG I loved this book. Helena has written another superb book, the way she writes just kept me gripped from the start and how she gives you little teases through the story to try and make you guess is great. The characters are brilliant and the chemistry between them is off the charts. I cannot wait to read again, definitely recommend this book aswell as her other stories.
March 1, 2020
Chilling
I devoured this book in one sitting. It alternates between heartbreaking, creepy, steamy and thrilling. Have a bright light, tissues and a strong beverage ready while reading it. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
I devoured this book in one sitting. It alternates between heartbreaking, creepy, steamy and thrilling. Have a bright light, tissues and a strong beverage ready while reading it. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
January 12, 2020
Holy crap! What an amazing book! Kept my attention the whole time. Couldn’t put it down! Such awesome characters. And, the villain??? Shocking, but not surprised. Can’t wait to read more from this author...
December 7, 2021
Upon finishing this book I was so frustrated that I wanted to drink... a lot. It is a miracle in and of itself that I did in fact finish reading this confusing as shit story. Pardon the long rant, but I need to get this out or I’m going to keep irritating my husband by making angry whale noises and reaching for the whisky. Fair warning, there will be many spoilers, so proceed with caution.
Here we go...
Let’s start with Sam “To stupid to live” Callahan. This man. Dear Lord in heaven he frustrated the hell out of me. He’s supposed to be this big, hot-shot, badass FBI detective, but he is instead the most ADHD man-child I’ve ever read about. He is so unobservant and unconcerned with protocol that he is to blame for most of the shitty situations they end up in. I appreciated his rebellious “get the job done no matter what” approach in the beginning, but his character became one confusing contradiction towards the end. He wars with himself the entire book about not deserving happiness, but he follows Yolonda around like a pathetic, mentally deranged puppy the entire book. He puts her in SO many dangerous situations and takes her to crime scenes she has NO business going to, and does nothing to actually ensure her safety, either physically or mentally. But he panics regularly about her being safe and okay 😶 It also really bothered me that he kept comparing himself to her and calling himself a “dumb jock”... you’re literally an FBI agent the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SPECIALLY REQUESTED FOR A TOP SECRET MISSION... we will get back to that clusterfuck of a plot hole in minute... like, seriously dude, have some self respect and grow a pair.
There’s also the fact that he has a worse reaction to his girlfriend being killed, because of an extremely sensitive and dangerous case, than his female love interest does from being one of 8 survivors of a 300 causality disaster, becoming paralyzed, losing her twin brother, living with survivors guilt and severe PTSD, THEN losing her boyfriend, her job, and all of her friends... her defensive, prickly personality was more than justifiable, but his hot and cold attitude was... less understandable.
And to top it all off, there’s just SO many stupid decisions he makes throughout this book... let’s discuss the big ones:
He literally allows a MURDERER to escape an active crime scene so he can hold a woman he didn’t even shoot (which, let’s talk about the fact that he shot a gun towards a gas tank in a chemical factory and didn’t immediately haul ass out of there!?) then THROWS A PARALYZED WOMAN 10 FEET ONTO A METAL GRATE... what!?!? Like yeah she didn’t fall with him, but it wasn’t even that far down, and throwing her can’t be good for her already weakened legs! Unfortunately, he only lost IQ points from there. When they get home from almost being burned alive, and finding out her brother is alive and a murderer, and good ol’ Mrs. Hulk getting them to safety after leaving a kidnapped child WITH A STRANGER, and neither of them having no serious injuries (!?!) he wants to open up and talk about getting his girlfriend killed? Really? That’s the best time for that? Nothing else you can think of to talk about with her, dude? 🙄 THEN, not only did he trap his “partner” in a goddamn elevator, but then feel bad and almost get smucked by a car returning to the building, he drops his phone because he HITS IT ON THE SIDE OF THE VR HELMET HE FORGETS HE IS WEARING.... let that sink in... he is using a drone to follow the car his beloved was just kidnapped in (and also he just stares at her through the back window instead of getting her out of the car?!?) and attempts to call for backup but he smacks himself on the headset and throws his phone down a hole... 😳.... oops, oh well, he just goes by himself to save the day! Except.. he doesn’t. When he’s entering the building he literally thinks that he should be quiet and carefully check every corner so the MURDERER doesn’t get the drop on him, but then disregards literally all safety protocol because there’s no time... and then proceeds to get the crap beaten out of him. 😑. When his paralyzed girlfriend, who has no official training, shoots her BROTHER in the leg to save his ass, after freeing herself like the warrior princess she is, he agrees to let her brother BLEED HER TO DEATH TO GO BACK IN TIME TO AVOID THE BRIDGE COLLAPSE!!🤯the argument that talked him into this asinine plan? “The math holds up”. “THE MATH HOLDS UP”!? And then he’s just like, “Sure honey you can let your psychotic brother, who literally was going to murder a child and has already killed three people, drain all the blood out of your body so you can go back in time through a magical worm hole so you were never injured, and we never meet, and I will just sit here and watch as you die. Also don’t worry about changing your mind because I won’t make sure we can get out of the flooding building if you don’t want to die at the hands of your brother...” GUYS! THEY KNEW THE BUILDING WAS FLOODING AND THEY COULDNT GET OUT IF THEY NEEDED TO! It didn’t bother him!!! He didn’t even care!!! 😲
Also none of them seemed concerned that Josh had basically made friends with... demons!? Like some real Princess and the Frog Voodoo bullshit! THAT HE SPOKE TO WHEN HE WAS ON LSD! Huh!?!? The only reason they didn’t all die was because she actually had a fucking brain and realized that messing around with a satanic ritual to rewrite history may be SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS! NO SHIT! You don’t mess with that dark art shit, have you ever seen any horror movie ever!? Apparently the spell may have actually worked, but resulted in gates of hell opening up?? 😵
So yeah, Sam is, by far, my least favorite “hero” of all time.
Let’s talk about Yolanda, or Violet Hepler. My first thought was “really, her name is Yolanda”? It’s not a terrible name it’s just... not the name befitting the magical, airy, exotic, forest goddess that Callahan describes literally way to freaking much. The author never circled back to why she hates her first name so much or why no one calls her that? Not a big plot hole, but I’m still curious. I prefer the name Violet and it seems to suit her more than her screen name.
I will say, I was extremely intrigued when I realized she was paralyzed from the waist down, but the author WAY overcompensated for her weakness by basically giving her the physical abilities of Wonder Woman, and the brains of mad genius. Seriously, she crawls down an unknown amount of stairs, in a flaming building, after being tossed through the air, then drags a big ass unconscious man to a window slide thing? She shoved them both through head first, and they land in metal rubble and come away injury free? She also climbs a metal storage until and “George of the Jungles” her way out of the room on the ceiling... I can’t decide if she’s a bad ass or just WAYYYY overpowered.🤷🏻♀️
One plot hole that was never cleared up was the pain she felt in her legs... it’s mentioned once, to emphasize how much she was missing Sam, but it’s not brought up when she suffers more injuries and physically traumatic situations. Would that effect her pain? Make it worse? It should have at least made it worth mentioning? 🤔
Anyway, I do have to say, I was drawn in by the thought of her “going deep” episodes. As a counseling psychology graduate that really fascinated me. The scene where her mind “snaps” from the LSD was very well written and legitimately creepy. The other scenes with her loss of time and awareness were eerie and a nice touch to the thrilleresque feeling of the story.
Overall, Yolonda was a fairly well written character, with a truly tragic back story and a back bone of pure steel, and the only character that wasn’t completely flat. Throughout the course of the story she comes to terms with her injury and actually opens herself up to the possibility of a happy future. She lets her friends and family back in, rejoins the world, falls in love, and begins working with the FBI as their token math genius and hacker extraordinare. Good on her. I liked her quippiness, her “take no shit” attitude, and her ability to remain a kind individual even though the world gave her every reason not to care. I hated the way people treated her and the discrimination she faced due to her disability. It hurts my heart knowing this may be an accurate depiction for some people, but even after all of that heartbreak and trauma she was the only part of this assbackward book that didn’t make me want to rip my hair out.
Now, let’s talk about the biggest plot hole of all... THE FUCKING MIND CONTROLLING MURDER CULT THAT WAS LITERALLY NEVER DEFEATED AND STILL AT LARGE. You heard me. A cult that was capable of complete mind control, and had already assumed control of countless powerful individuals within the government, to ensure their plan wasn’t thwarted. What was the plan?? Who are they?? How do they control minds?? Why is the entire book not about them?? Callahan literally just... what, stopped working on the case the PRESIDENT assigned him because his girlfriend drank the poison meant for him?? THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY BIG DEAL! His old boss was part of this crazy ass organization! Was he killed? Found out? Why did he leave the FBI? Why was this not talked about more?? Why did Yolanda not ask all of these questions?? My brain hurts just thinking about the lazy planning with this!!! That’s right Helena you are giving me a migraine!!
One more thing that truly frustrated me was the over-dramatization of how terrifying the crime scenes were. I could see Yolanda losing her shit at something like that, seeing as how she is a civilian... but seasoned cops and feds? I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen at least 10 seasons of Criminal Minds... I know for a fact there are WAY worse crime scenes to walk in on, and this wouldn’t even make a top 10. It’s an interesting plot to combine math and magic written in blood in the shape of monsters, but it would not have been the scariest thing detective dumbass ever encountered, and the author tried to force the shock and aw factor instead of allowing her writing to create it for her.
Last, but certainly not least, is the romance. Where to start? The uncomfortable, out of place eye contact conversations these two strangers have WAY to frequently the first few times they meet? The near obsessive curiosity and creepy interest Sam has towards Yolonda, for literally no other reason than the author made him? And I’m not saying she wasn’t a lovable character, because she was, but the actual relationship was cringey and forced. How about the poorly timed sex scenes? She’s supposedly the victims’ only hope, but she can take a sex break to be with him for the first time? Interesting... ALSO!! Can we talk about how Sam did literally nothing to stand up for her to his coworkers, OR to help her off the fucking sidewalk when her chair tipped?? He just watched her struggle!!!!!! 🤭 I can’t. I just cant. No part of their relationship made me swoon, or happy sigh, or feel anything other than indigestion and frustration.
My brain is traumatized from reading this book, and that is 5 hours of my life that I can’t get back... I gave this book a 2 rating for two reasons. One, I have really enjoyed some of Newbury’s other books that I have read, and two, I actually finished this book. If I had been forced to DNF it, I wouldn’t have been merciful with the second star. But don’t let that second star sway you, this book is not worth the headache and anxiety. Trust me.
Here we go...
Let’s start with Sam “To stupid to live” Callahan. This man. Dear Lord in heaven he frustrated the hell out of me. He’s supposed to be this big, hot-shot, badass FBI detective, but he is instead the most ADHD man-child I’ve ever read about. He is so unobservant and unconcerned with protocol that he is to blame for most of the shitty situations they end up in. I appreciated his rebellious “get the job done no matter what” approach in the beginning, but his character became one confusing contradiction towards the end. He wars with himself the entire book about not deserving happiness, but he follows Yolonda around like a pathetic, mentally deranged puppy the entire book. He puts her in SO many dangerous situations and takes her to crime scenes she has NO business going to, and does nothing to actually ensure her safety, either physically or mentally. But he panics regularly about her being safe and okay 😶 It also really bothered me that he kept comparing himself to her and calling himself a “dumb jock”... you’re literally an FBI agent the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SPECIALLY REQUESTED FOR A TOP SECRET MISSION... we will get back to that clusterfuck of a plot hole in minute... like, seriously dude, have some self respect and grow a pair.
There’s also the fact that he has a worse reaction to his girlfriend being killed, because of an extremely sensitive and dangerous case, than his female love interest does from being one of 8 survivors of a 300 causality disaster, becoming paralyzed, losing her twin brother, living with survivors guilt and severe PTSD, THEN losing her boyfriend, her job, and all of her friends... her defensive, prickly personality was more than justifiable, but his hot and cold attitude was... less understandable.
And to top it all off, there’s just SO many stupid decisions he makes throughout this book... let’s discuss the big ones:
He literally allows a MURDERER to escape an active crime scene so he can hold a woman he didn’t even shoot (which, let’s talk about the fact that he shot a gun towards a gas tank in a chemical factory and didn’t immediately haul ass out of there!?) then THROWS A PARALYZED WOMAN 10 FEET ONTO A METAL GRATE... what!?!? Like yeah she didn’t fall with him, but it wasn’t even that far down, and throwing her can’t be good for her already weakened legs! Unfortunately, he only lost IQ points from there. When they get home from almost being burned alive, and finding out her brother is alive and a murderer, and good ol’ Mrs. Hulk getting them to safety after leaving a kidnapped child WITH A STRANGER, and neither of them having no serious injuries (!?!) he wants to open up and talk about getting his girlfriend killed? Really? That’s the best time for that? Nothing else you can think of to talk about with her, dude? 🙄 THEN, not only did he trap his “partner” in a goddamn elevator, but then feel bad and almost get smucked by a car returning to the building, he drops his phone because he HITS IT ON THE SIDE OF THE VR HELMET HE FORGETS HE IS WEARING.... let that sink in... he is using a drone to follow the car his beloved was just kidnapped in (and also he just stares at her through the back window instead of getting her out of the car?!?) and attempts to call for backup but he smacks himself on the headset and throws his phone down a hole... 😳.... oops, oh well, he just goes by himself to save the day! Except.. he doesn’t. When he’s entering the building he literally thinks that he should be quiet and carefully check every corner so the MURDERER doesn’t get the drop on him, but then disregards literally all safety protocol because there’s no time... and then proceeds to get the crap beaten out of him. 😑. When his paralyzed girlfriend, who has no official training, shoots her BROTHER in the leg to save his ass, after freeing herself like the warrior princess she is, he agrees to let her brother BLEED HER TO DEATH TO GO BACK IN TIME TO AVOID THE BRIDGE COLLAPSE!!🤯the argument that talked him into this asinine plan? “The math holds up”. “THE MATH HOLDS UP”!? And then he’s just like, “Sure honey you can let your psychotic brother, who literally was going to murder a child and has already killed three people, drain all the blood out of your body so you can go back in time through a magical worm hole so you were never injured, and we never meet, and I will just sit here and watch as you die. Also don’t worry about changing your mind because I won’t make sure we can get out of the flooding building if you don’t want to die at the hands of your brother...” GUYS! THEY KNEW THE BUILDING WAS FLOODING AND THEY COULDNT GET OUT IF THEY NEEDED TO! It didn’t bother him!!! He didn’t even care!!! 😲
Also none of them seemed concerned that Josh had basically made friends with... demons!? Like some real Princess and the Frog Voodoo bullshit! THAT HE SPOKE TO WHEN HE WAS ON LSD! Huh!?!? The only reason they didn’t all die was because she actually had a fucking brain and realized that messing around with a satanic ritual to rewrite history may be SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS! NO SHIT! You don’t mess with that dark art shit, have you ever seen any horror movie ever!? Apparently the spell may have actually worked, but resulted in gates of hell opening up?? 😵
So yeah, Sam is, by far, my least favorite “hero” of all time.
Let’s talk about Yolanda, or Violet Hepler. My first thought was “really, her name is Yolanda”? It’s not a terrible name it’s just... not the name befitting the magical, airy, exotic, forest goddess that Callahan describes literally way to freaking much. The author never circled back to why she hates her first name so much or why no one calls her that? Not a big plot hole, but I’m still curious. I prefer the name Violet and it seems to suit her more than her screen name.
I will say, I was extremely intrigued when I realized she was paralyzed from the waist down, but the author WAY overcompensated for her weakness by basically giving her the physical abilities of Wonder Woman, and the brains of mad genius. Seriously, she crawls down an unknown amount of stairs, in a flaming building, after being tossed through the air, then drags a big ass unconscious man to a window slide thing? She shoved them both through head first, and they land in metal rubble and come away injury free? She also climbs a metal storage until and “George of the Jungles” her way out of the room on the ceiling... I can’t decide if she’s a bad ass or just WAYYYY overpowered.🤷🏻♀️
One plot hole that was never cleared up was the pain she felt in her legs... it’s mentioned once, to emphasize how much she was missing Sam, but it’s not brought up when she suffers more injuries and physically traumatic situations. Would that effect her pain? Make it worse? It should have at least made it worth mentioning? 🤔
Anyway, I do have to say, I was drawn in by the thought of her “going deep” episodes. As a counseling psychology graduate that really fascinated me. The scene where her mind “snaps” from the LSD was very well written and legitimately creepy. The other scenes with her loss of time and awareness were eerie and a nice touch to the thrilleresque feeling of the story.
Overall, Yolonda was a fairly well written character, with a truly tragic back story and a back bone of pure steel, and the only character that wasn’t completely flat. Throughout the course of the story she comes to terms with her injury and actually opens herself up to the possibility of a happy future. She lets her friends and family back in, rejoins the world, falls in love, and begins working with the FBI as their token math genius and hacker extraordinare. Good on her. I liked her quippiness, her “take no shit” attitude, and her ability to remain a kind individual even though the world gave her every reason not to care. I hated the way people treated her and the discrimination she faced due to her disability. It hurts my heart knowing this may be an accurate depiction for some people, but even after all of that heartbreak and trauma she was the only part of this assbackward book that didn’t make me want to rip my hair out.
Now, let’s talk about the biggest plot hole of all... THE FUCKING MIND CONTROLLING MURDER CULT THAT WAS LITERALLY NEVER DEFEATED AND STILL AT LARGE. You heard me. A cult that was capable of complete mind control, and had already assumed control of countless powerful individuals within the government, to ensure their plan wasn’t thwarted. What was the plan?? Who are they?? How do they control minds?? Why is the entire book not about them?? Callahan literally just... what, stopped working on the case the PRESIDENT assigned him because his girlfriend drank the poison meant for him?? THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY BIG DEAL! His old boss was part of this crazy ass organization! Was he killed? Found out? Why did he leave the FBI? Why was this not talked about more?? Why did Yolanda not ask all of these questions?? My brain hurts just thinking about the lazy planning with this!!! That’s right Helena you are giving me a migraine!!
One more thing that truly frustrated me was the over-dramatization of how terrifying the crime scenes were. I could see Yolanda losing her shit at something like that, seeing as how she is a civilian... but seasoned cops and feds? I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen at least 10 seasons of Criminal Minds... I know for a fact there are WAY worse crime scenes to walk in on, and this wouldn’t even make a top 10. It’s an interesting plot to combine math and magic written in blood in the shape of monsters, but it would not have been the scariest thing detective dumbass ever encountered, and the author tried to force the shock and aw factor instead of allowing her writing to create it for her.
Last, but certainly not least, is the romance. Where to start? The uncomfortable, out of place eye contact conversations these two strangers have WAY to frequently the first few times they meet? The near obsessive curiosity and creepy interest Sam has towards Yolonda, for literally no other reason than the author made him? And I’m not saying she wasn’t a lovable character, because she was, but the actual relationship was cringey and forced. How about the poorly timed sex scenes? She’s supposedly the victims’ only hope, but she can take a sex break to be with him for the first time? Interesting... ALSO!! Can we talk about how Sam did literally nothing to stand up for her to his coworkers, OR to help her off the fucking sidewalk when her chair tipped?? He just watched her struggle!!!!!! 🤭 I can’t. I just cant. No part of their relationship made me swoon, or happy sigh, or feel anything other than indigestion and frustration.
My brain is traumatized from reading this book, and that is 5 hours of my life that I can’t get back... I gave this book a 2 rating for two reasons. One, I have really enjoyed some of Newbury’s other books that I have read, and two, I actually finished this book. If I had been forced to DNF it, I wouldn’t have been merciful with the second star. But don’t let that second star sway you, this book is not worth the headache and anxiety. Trust me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2025
Currently breaking the fourth wall and staring at the camera because what the hell. This pissed me off. It had such an interesting concept and honestly wish they would’ve just played into the paranormal aspect that it was trying to do. Like if you’re gonna do this far-fetched plot at the end at least follow through with it… I would’ve preferred that ending because then it would’ve felt worth it.
Bringing her brother back just to have him die “again” was dumb. He did all of this to basically turn back time and we don’t get to see if it would’ve worked or not. The “unbalanced” thing was lameeeeee. Then he drowns…like get out of my face.
I can’t even enjoy the relationship between the main characters because I never believed their connection. Something about them just never clicked together for me. Also hate when characters talk to ME in the book. You’re not supposed to realize I’m here so why are you saying “you’re probably thinking….” STOP IT. I think maybe it’s cause I didn’t really like Callahan‘s character. He was a hot mess.
I’ve noticed a pattern… in some of these books the mmc’s keep saying they’ve done something horrible and they don’t deserve love. So they drag this past out the whole book and just constantly keep reiterating that they’re unworthy because of what they did. It starts to get repetitive and annoying, especially since it happened in multiple books. Of course, the thing that is so bad that they did isn’t actually their fault. Speaking of, he starts talking about this cult and then it’s just never a part of his plot line again… did he just forget about it after his ex died??? It’s an entire mind controlling cult that the president assigned him and it’s just an afterthought in this book. Yolanda doesn’t even ask questions about it. This cult will forever be at large I guess… Never to be found apparently.. The fact that his old boss was a part of it and we just don’t find out what happened to him either? Did Callahan try and find out which one of the people in his apartment cleaned the glass that had the poison in it? So many questions never to be answered.
I think this book had a lot of potential because the actual plot line was super interesting. The sacrificial killings with the equations and darkness/going deep was GOOD. This book was just never able to push the plot where it needed to go…
When I realized this one was interconnected with kissing my killer, I should’ve known I wouldn’t like this one because I didn’t like that one either. That being said…this author has written 3 of my FAV books so I will still be reading her!
Bringing her brother back just to have him die “again” was dumb. He did all of this to basically turn back time and we don’t get to see if it would’ve worked or not. The “unbalanced” thing was lameeeeee. Then he drowns…like get out of my face.
I can’t even enjoy the relationship between the main characters because I never believed their connection. Something about them just never clicked together for me. Also hate when characters talk to ME in the book. You’re not supposed to realize I’m here so why are you saying “you’re probably thinking….” STOP IT. I think maybe it’s cause I didn’t really like Callahan‘s character. He was a hot mess.
I’ve noticed a pattern… in some of these books the mmc’s keep saying they’ve done something horrible and they don’t deserve love. So they drag this past out the whole book and just constantly keep reiterating that they’re unworthy because of what they did. It starts to get repetitive and annoying, especially since it happened in multiple books. Of course, the thing that is so bad that they did isn’t actually their fault. Speaking of, he starts talking about this cult and then it’s just never a part of his plot line again… did he just forget about it after his ex died??? It’s an entire mind controlling cult that the president assigned him and it’s just an afterthought in this book. Yolanda doesn’t even ask questions about it. This cult will forever be at large I guess… Never to be found apparently.. The fact that his old boss was a part of it and we just don’t find out what happened to him either? Did Callahan try and find out which one of the people in his apartment cleaned the glass that had the poison in it? So many questions never to be answered.
I think this book had a lot of potential because the actual plot line was super interesting. The sacrificial killings with the equations and darkness/going deep was GOOD. This book was just never able to push the plot where it needed to go…
When I realized this one was interconnected with kissing my killer, I should’ve known I wouldn’t like this one because I didn’t like that one either. That being said…this author has written 3 of my FAV books so I will still be reading her!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2020
Helena Newbury would not write an ordinary romantic suspense novel about a FBI agent who takes too many chances to solve cases and a brilliant female hacker who does not have the use of her legs working together to crack a kidnapping case. Oh, no, she would not.
What Helena plots is an intricates web of madness and murder, of blood and seemingly senseless numbers that even seasoned cops have a hard time viewing. Her readers are seduced with a beautifully crafted storyline that joins, tough Special Agent Sam Callahan of the FBI with wheelchair-bound, ethereal beauty Yolanda, a mathematician, a hacker, and a genius. Two people could not be more opposite. Two souls could not be more damaged. Two people could not need each other more both professionally and personally.
This book follows Sam and Yolanda as they try to untangle the exorbitant amount of numbers and equations left at the crime scenes of murders of total strangers. People who were killed for no apparent reason. These equations are trying to tell a tale, or are they? Yolanda had to go deep inside her head to read the signs the killer was leaving as hints. But would she be able to survive? Would Sam be able to survive his demons?
But as they worked together, Sam and Yolanda began to have feelings for each other. Damaged souls began to heal in chaos all around them. Attraction is blossoming; sexual tension is building between these partners. Would they catch the killer in time to prevent another murder? Would they rescue each other from danger and reach a happily ever after?
Spoiler alert! Helena wraps everything together in a very satisfying conclusion. I just hope that this is not the last that the author has in store for Sam Callahan and Yolanda. I would to follow them in a whole series!!!
What Helena plots is an intricates web of madness and murder, of blood and seemingly senseless numbers that even seasoned cops have a hard time viewing. Her readers are seduced with a beautifully crafted storyline that joins, tough Special Agent Sam Callahan of the FBI with wheelchair-bound, ethereal beauty Yolanda, a mathematician, a hacker, and a genius. Two people could not be more opposite. Two souls could not be more damaged. Two people could not need each other more both professionally and personally.
This book follows Sam and Yolanda as they try to untangle the exorbitant amount of numbers and equations left at the crime scenes of murders of total strangers. People who were killed for no apparent reason. These equations are trying to tell a tale, or are they? Yolanda had to go deep inside her head to read the signs the killer was leaving as hints. But would she be able to survive? Would Sam be able to survive his demons?
But as they worked together, Sam and Yolanda began to have feelings for each other. Damaged souls began to heal in chaos all around them. Attraction is blossoming; sexual tension is building between these partners. Would they catch the killer in time to prevent another murder? Would they rescue each other from danger and reach a happily ever after?
Spoiler alert! Helena wraps everything together in a very satisfying conclusion. I just hope that this is not the last that the author has in store for Sam Callahan and Yolanda. I would to follow them in a whole series!!!
January 8, 2020
This story was Ingenious! I was obsessed with it, captivated by it, holding my breath and biting my nails in fear of it. It was a masterpiece that blew me away! It sucked me in from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. The characters were ingenious. The plot, is masterful. Fast paced, full of twists and turns, that are packed full of gripping, disturbing, diabolical action. Leaving you emotionally wrecked.
Sam Callahan is a FBI agent who meets Yolanda when he needs a hacker to track a missing woman. Their attraction is instantaneous for both of them. Sam can’t help but be drawn to this beautiful, brilliant, mathematician genius, who uses her amazing mind to help others. But their time is brief and they both think they will never see one another again. But they both can’t stop thinking about and dreaming about each other.
Yolanda has been living in seclusion since a tragic accident left her in a wheelchair, not even revealing to her few associates of her condition, or her grief.
But soon Sam and the FBI, needs Yolanda’s mathematical expertise again, on a disturbing murder, where math equations were written in the victim’s blood all around the body. She agrees to help, but as she works the case, she figures out that there will be another killing in a few days. Which means they have a serial killer on the loose. And Sam just put Yolanda way out of her comfort zone. And possibly in the sights of a killer.
But even as the horrors of the cases bonded them inseparably. Their time together will bring these two broken souls together. Telling their secrets and their sorrows to one another. Helplessly, hopelessly besotted. You won’t see this ending coming, as Helena Newbury works her magic to give our characters a Spine-tingling, hair-raising, epic ending.
Warning!! You might not want to read this in the Dark!!
Sam Callahan is a FBI agent who meets Yolanda when he needs a hacker to track a missing woman. Their attraction is instantaneous for both of them. Sam can’t help but be drawn to this beautiful, brilliant, mathematician genius, who uses her amazing mind to help others. But their time is brief and they both think they will never see one another again. But they both can’t stop thinking about and dreaming about each other.
Yolanda has been living in seclusion since a tragic accident left her in a wheelchair, not even revealing to her few associates of her condition, or her grief.
But soon Sam and the FBI, needs Yolanda’s mathematical expertise again, on a disturbing murder, where math equations were written in the victim’s blood all around the body. She agrees to help, but as she works the case, she figures out that there will be another killing in a few days. Which means they have a serial killer on the loose. And Sam just put Yolanda way out of her comfort zone. And possibly in the sights of a killer.
But even as the horrors of the cases bonded them inseparably. Their time together will bring these two broken souls together. Telling their secrets and their sorrows to one another. Helplessly, hopelessly besotted. You won’t see this ending coming, as Helena Newbury works her magic to give our characters a Spine-tingling, hair-raising, epic ending.
Warning!! You might not want to read this in the Dark!!
January 14, 2020
“The math works” - it was at this point in the book, which was probably around the 92% mark, that I almost DNF’d this book. Up until then I had found the book mostly enjoyable, and had especially appreciated an unusual heroine that was a brainiac mathematician who had become disabled from an accident a year ago. Add in a strong likeable hero, and I could just ignore the overly dramatic moments peppered throughout. However, then came the confrontation with the serial killer at the end of the book, highlighted by the heroine’s comments “the math works” and all of a sudden I was in WTF-land. Literally one of the stupidest f***ing scenes I’ve read in a long time and that’s saying something. I did finish the book but only because I was pages away from doing so, but the stupidity of all that ruined what had actually been a pretty decent book until then. “The math works” - oh, please.
January 7, 2020
Sam Calahan, FBI agent, finds himself seeking help from a mathematical genius/expert hacker named Yolanda. At first, Yolanda is reluctant, but finding missing women, before they are sold into slavery, is her specialty and she is exceptional at it. They save a life that day and go their separate ways.
Now Sam is in need of Yolanda's expertise regarding math to break a code used by a new killer. Yolanda is surprised to see Sam after their first meeting. It seems he couldn't close that first case fast enough. Her tragic accident? Maybe that's the reason for his abrupt departure. If only she had met Sam sooner, before the accident that changed her forever. The truth? Sam couldn't deal with his feelings after their first meeting. He felt a strong connection and an intense need to protect Yolanda, all along knowing that he wasn't good enough for her. Every time his heart tried to overrule his head, his past quickly reminded him of that fact. Now he was bringing danger to her door.
One genius, another, carrying the weight of the world in his shoulders. Both broken, with a lot of baggage between them. How could they possibly deserve more from the other? How could they not see how perfect they'd be together?
SUPERB WHODUNIT - SUSPENSE FILLED STORY ! I COMPLETELY LOST MYSELF IN THIS STORY ! ! ! ORIGINAL, WELL WRITTEN STORYLINE THAT FLOWED EFFORTLESSLY ! UNPREDICTABLE AND INTENSE, I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN ! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK ! ! !
Now Sam is in need of Yolanda's expertise regarding math to break a code used by a new killer. Yolanda is surprised to see Sam after their first meeting. It seems he couldn't close that first case fast enough. Her tragic accident? Maybe that's the reason for his abrupt departure. If only she had met Sam sooner, before the accident that changed her forever. The truth? Sam couldn't deal with his feelings after their first meeting. He felt a strong connection and an intense need to protect Yolanda, all along knowing that he wasn't good enough for her. Every time his heart tried to overrule his head, his past quickly reminded him of that fact. Now he was bringing danger to her door.
One genius, another, carrying the weight of the world in his shoulders. Both broken, with a lot of baggage between them. How could they possibly deserve more from the other? How could they not see how perfect they'd be together?
SUPERB WHODUNIT - SUSPENSE FILLED STORY ! I COMPLETELY LOST MYSELF IN THIS STORY ! ! ! ORIGINAL, WELL WRITTEN STORYLINE THAT FLOWED EFFORTLESSLY ! UNPREDICTABLE AND INTENSE, I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN ! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK ! ! !
January 30, 2020
I’ve been a fan of Helena Newbury for a while, and was super excited to read her newest romantic suspense, HOLD ME IN THE DARK. At its core, this is a story about an FBI agent who has to rely on a hacker to help stop a serial killer. But it’s the details that pull you in and hold you. Agent Sam Calahan is a good agent, but he marches to the beat of his own drummer. He takes risks and gets shit done, rules be damned. And when he reaches out to a woman known as Yolanda, who is part of a trio of female hackers known as the ‘Sisters of Invidia,’ he forces her to take a risk, too. Because Yolanda has a secret bigger than the way she spends her time on the computer. She’s a genius mathematician and her brain, as much as her technology prowess, is what Sam and the FBI need to catch the killer. I love everything about this book. The fast pace, the sexy chemistry, the math (ugh, right!) … but perhaps what is most appealing is Sam’s helpless attraction to Yolanda, and the absolute certainty he has in her intelligence and bravery. Really, is there anything sexier than knowing that your mind is what most attracts your partner? For me, HOLD ME IN THE DARK sets the romance standard for the year.
*Originally published at Frolic.Media: https://frolic.media/januarys-must-re...
*Originally published at Frolic.Media: https://frolic.media/januarys-must-re...
January 8, 2020
Yes! Her best work to this date and I have been with Helena's characters and twisted plots for a while. But this one..man!! Helena's characters always have depth but with Yolanda and Sam she went even deeper. You literally live in their bodies, feel their loneliness, insecurities, desires, it's just there with every turning page.
With as many books as I read it's hard to get a subject that I haven't read about it before. But all this mathematical genius stuff that Yolanda is part of really took me by surprise and kept my attention. You will say that her being a hacker it's expected but upon reading this book you will realize that is more than that. She is absolutely brilliant and of course it took a man like Sam to see her for what she's worth rather than a weird geek.
I read it in one go as I always do with Helena's books but this time I had that crazy fear that i will miss something if I put it down. A roller coaster with so many plot twists, action, crazy chemistry, runs after clues, you will feel like you can't take a breath. The ending is sweet and sour but I wouldn't have it any other way :) Oh, and the title of this book, it's so spot on! You will get what I mean once you're done reading it ;)
With as many books as I read it's hard to get a subject that I haven't read about it before. But all this mathematical genius stuff that Yolanda is part of really took me by surprise and kept my attention. You will say that her being a hacker it's expected but upon reading this book you will realize that is more than that. She is absolutely brilliant and of course it took a man like Sam to see her for what she's worth rather than a weird geek.
I read it in one go as I always do with Helena's books but this time I had that crazy fear that i will miss something if I put it down. A roller coaster with so many plot twists, action, crazy chemistry, runs after clues, you will feel like you can't take a breath. The ending is sweet and sour but I wouldn't have it any other way :) Oh, and the title of this book, it's so spot on! You will get what I mean once you're done reading it ;)
March 24, 2020
Another brilliant book in true Helena Newbury style. This book grips you from the first page and you just can't put it down, there is mystery, suspense, crime, romance and a twist that keeps you on the edge of your seat, you can visualise everything that is going on.
This is the story of Yolanda and Calahan, she is a highly intelligent hacker who after an unfortunate accident is left in a wheelchair so all she has is her maths. He is an FBI agent who doesn't always abide by the rules but gets the job done.
There is a serial killer on the loose and they leave clues in very complicated math equations which Calahan knows that if he has any chance of catching the killer Yolanda is the only person he knows that can, he doesn't want to spend time with her as he is attracted to her but has no choice, they both feel the chemistry and try their hardest to keep it at bay.
they are both broken in their own ways but together they are genius and the partnership is strong, as it needs to be to get ahead and solve the crimes
Once again I would give more than 5 stars if I could, loved this book and can't wait for the next one. congratulations Helena on yet another brilliant story!
This is the story of Yolanda and Calahan, she is a highly intelligent hacker who after an unfortunate accident is left in a wheelchair so all she has is her maths. He is an FBI agent who doesn't always abide by the rules but gets the job done.
There is a serial killer on the loose and they leave clues in very complicated math equations which Calahan knows that if he has any chance of catching the killer Yolanda is the only person he knows that can, he doesn't want to spend time with her as he is attracted to her but has no choice, they both feel the chemistry and try their hardest to keep it at bay.
they are both broken in their own ways but together they are genius and the partnership is strong, as it needs to be to get ahead and solve the crimes
Once again I would give more than 5 stars if I could, loved this book and can't wait for the next one. congratulations Helena on yet another brilliant story!
May 1, 2023
Brash, rule breaking workaholic FBI agent Sam Calahan begs for access to reclusive, handi-capable mathematician/hacker ‘Yolanda’ for help on a rapidly developing case. Yolanda became too familiar with people’s awkward reactions since her accident and cautiously holds her initial reaction to Calahan; though the guilt he’s carrying over a dead love, Callahan is helpless in stopping the overwhelming emotion he feels for Yolanda.
Calahan and Yolanda can’t stop thinking about each other and almost a month later, Calahan is baffled by a gruesome case that the FBI braintrust can’t begin to unravel. Reluctantly, Calahan calls Yolanda and in a short time she has clues for him to follow but on the other hand feelings on both sides grow deeper quickly/ Meanwhile, the killer challenges the psyche with another horrific crime scene.
To my taste, Yolanda and Calahan were uneven, he lacked depth; the slow pace didn’t suit and; the story started interestingly but lost focus with fantasies; the villain worked but didn’t fit seamlessly in the read and romance before fleeing headlong into lets-be-stupid-ville. Those issues left energy to nitpick things like a finger wag wth a pat on the head and indulgent smile tells me there aren’t any rules to break.
Rating: 3.25stars
Calahan and Yolanda can’t stop thinking about each other and almost a month later, Calahan is baffled by a gruesome case that the FBI braintrust can’t begin to unravel. Reluctantly, Calahan calls Yolanda and in a short time she has clues for him to follow but on the other hand feelings on both sides grow deeper quickly/ Meanwhile, the killer challenges the psyche with another horrific crime scene.
To my taste, Yolanda and Calahan were uneven, he lacked depth; the slow pace didn’t suit and; the story started interestingly but lost focus with fantasies; the villain worked but didn’t fit seamlessly in the read and romance before fleeing headlong into lets-be-stupid-ville. Those issues left energy to nitpick things like a finger wag wth a pat on the head and indulgent smile tells me there aren’t any rules to break.
Rating: 3.25stars
January 7, 2020
Hold Me In the Dark takes you on a roller coaster ride of satanic murder, math and terrifying action. Yolanda is the smartest hacker around - beautiful, brainy and rich, she spends her days holed up with her computer as her only company in her luxury Manhattan penthouse. When troubled FBI agent Calahan bangs on her door in a life-or-death race to save a kidnapped woman, Yolanda breaks her own rules to help him. Shaken by their mutually strong attraction, the two part thinking they'll never see each other again. But they THINK about the other. They dream about each other. And when a murder occurs with hideous, Seven-like circumstances and monstrous drawings made up of equations and calculations, Calahan knows that the only person who can solve the puzzle is Yolanda. Unwilling to involve her due to his dark past, his dilemma is excruciating, but he only has one choice. Yolanda is a survivor of a terrible incident that took her twin brother and left her a virtual hermit in a wheelchair, so solving the complex mathematical puzzle is her chance at redemption.
Disturbing, thrilling and utterly ingenious, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat - absolutely amazing!
Disturbing, thrilling and utterly ingenious, this story will keep you on the edge of your seat - absolutely amazing!
January 9, 2020
Helena is back! The Queen of sexual tension building has a new story with some familiar names that you’ve always wondered “What about them?”
Sam and Yolanda were two characters that played big parts in other couples stories but didn’t get their due. Well, now is their time and what an exciting, thrilling, suspenseful journey these two take together.
Sam is an FBI agent...Yolanda is a hacker/numbers whiz. Perfect match. Sam needs Yolanda’s help with a new case that requires her particular set of skills. When they first land eyes on each other, done. Quick glances, heated touches and heartbreaking confessions make these two become not only partners in the to catch a killer but partners in life.
Now, the meat and potatoes of this book. The action and mystery of who and what the killer is doing kept my interested until late in the night. It was good. It got my heart racing and breaking at the same time.
I’m always happy when authors finally give closure to the secondary characters of pst books and this put a smile on my face. And...I’m glad she released a new book! I’ll be looking forward to the next one!
*I voluntarily accepted an advanced reader copy for my honest review*
Sam and Yolanda were two characters that played big parts in other couples stories but didn’t get their due. Well, now is their time and what an exciting, thrilling, suspenseful journey these two take together.
Sam is an FBI agent...Yolanda is a hacker/numbers whiz. Perfect match. Sam needs Yolanda’s help with a new case that requires her particular set of skills. When they first land eyes on each other, done. Quick glances, heated touches and heartbreaking confessions make these two become not only partners in the to catch a killer but partners in life.
Now, the meat and potatoes of this book. The action and mystery of who and what the killer is doing kept my interested until late in the night. It was good. It got my heart racing and breaking at the same time.
I’m always happy when authors finally give closure to the secondary characters of pst books and this put a smile on my face. And...I’m glad she released a new book! I’ll be looking forward to the next one!
*I voluntarily accepted an advanced reader copy for my honest review*
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