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marissazupancic's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this book down. It was an absolutely fantastic and unique read. Impatiently waiting for book 2!
laus3012's review against another edition
5.0
Wow what a page turner. This book had fantastic characters and great edge of the seat writing. It had my pulse racing with the creepy atmosphere. It's the first I've read by the author and I definitely want to read the follow ups; I need to know what happens to the characters. I enjoy fantasy novels on witchcraft, but this was by far one of the spookiest I've read in a while. I'm just waiting for my pulse to slow down before o go to bed. Top marks.
scoutmomskf's review against another edition
4.0
Good book with three storylines. There is the developing romance between Jamison and Maddie, the drug runners trying to recover their drugs, and the sheriff's ongoing problems with his ex-wife. The romance was at times intense, but also believable as Jamison and Maddie have to let go of their pasts and learn to trust each other. The drug runners are determined to recover their loot but, not knowing the Montana wilderness, need to get some help without giving away their reasons. And Sheriff Frank Curry has to figure out how to stop his apparently unbalanced ex-wife from attacking him and going after the woman he cares for. There is enough going on that I couldn't put it down until I had finished it.
I liked Jamison and Maddie. Jamison is a former homicide detective from New York City who has come to Montana to get away from his memories back home. He is recently divorced from a wife who ended up not respecting what he chose to do with his career. She left him feeling like he hadn't been good enough for her. Montana is a whole different world and when he is called on to investigate the disappearance of Maddie's sheepherder he is somewhat out of his element. Maddie herself is unlike any woman he had ever known before. He is attracted to her but tries to fight it because of the circumstances. Though he knows nothing of sheep ranching, he has to go with Maddie to the high pastures to investigate. I loved the way that he constantly surprises her with his ability to adapt to his surroundings. Even though he is a "greenhorn" thanks to things in his own past (thank you Boy Scout camp!) he is able to keep up with her and be of real help. Jamison starts to think less about what is back in New York and to appreciate and enjoy the Montana wilderness. By the end he has to decide whether to return to his old life or embrace the possibilities of a new one.
Maddie is very independent and doesn't want to rely on anyone. She lost her husband and son in an avalanche four years earlier and has buried herself in her ranch work ever since, not letting anyone get close. With the disappearance of her sheepherder, she has to accept Jamison's presence as they look for him. She looks down on him quite a bit at first, thinking that there is no way he will be able to do what needs to be done to get to the high pastures where the sheep are and Branch disappeared. She is surprised at how capable he turns out to be. She is also attracted to him, which really surprises her. As they work together she discovers that there is more to him that she thought and the attraction grows stronger. I loved seeing her let go of some of her iron grip on her feelings and lean a little bit on Jamison's strength. By the end she had to decide if she was going to hold on to her grief or move on to a happier future.
The suspense portion of the story, with the disappearance of the sheepherder and its connection to the drug runners kept me turning the pages until the end. As we see more and more of them through the book the danger grows more intense to everyone who comes in contact with them. Their connection to a Beartooth native creates danger for him also as he is pulled unknowlingly into their problems. It was interesting to see the interactions among them, giving new meaning to the phrase "no honor among thieves". There were a couple interesting twists at the end. I'll be interested to see if there is any continuation of the storyline in the next book.
Sheriff Frank Curry is still trying to help his daughter, continuing his story from Redemption. When his ex-wife shows up in Beartooth and attacks him he worries about what she might do to his friend Lynette. Pam is able to avoid any charges and makes it look like she is a victim instead. Frank tries to pull away from Lynette to protect her, but doesn't tell her that's what he's doing. This creates mixed signals to her, creating tension between them. I'll be interested to see how this story progresses.
I liked Jamison and Maddie. Jamison is a former homicide detective from New York City who has come to Montana to get away from his memories back home. He is recently divorced from a wife who ended up not respecting what he chose to do with his career. She left him feeling like he hadn't been good enough for her. Montana is a whole different world and when he is called on to investigate the disappearance of Maddie's sheepherder he is somewhat out of his element. Maddie herself is unlike any woman he had ever known before. He is attracted to her but tries to fight it because of the circumstances. Though he knows nothing of sheep ranching, he has to go with Maddie to the high pastures to investigate. I loved the way that he constantly surprises her with his ability to adapt to his surroundings. Even though he is a "greenhorn" thanks to things in his own past (thank you Boy Scout camp!) he is able to keep up with her and be of real help. Jamison starts to think less about what is back in New York and to appreciate and enjoy the Montana wilderness. By the end he has to decide whether to return to his old life or embrace the possibilities of a new one.
Maddie is very independent and doesn't want to rely on anyone. She lost her husband and son in an avalanche four years earlier and has buried herself in her ranch work ever since, not letting anyone get close. With the disappearance of her sheepherder, she has to accept Jamison's presence as they look for him. She looks down on him quite a bit at first, thinking that there is no way he will be able to do what needs to be done to get to the high pastures where the sheep are and Branch disappeared. She is surprised at how capable he turns out to be. She is also attracted to him, which really surprises her. As they work together she discovers that there is more to him that she thought and the attraction grows stronger. I loved seeing her let go of some of her iron grip on her feelings and lean a little bit on Jamison's strength. By the end she had to decide if she was going to hold on to her grief or move on to a happier future.
The suspense portion of the story, with the disappearance of the sheepherder and its connection to the drug runners kept me turning the pages until the end. As we see more and more of them through the book the danger grows more intense to everyone who comes in contact with them. Their connection to a Beartooth native creates danger for him also as he is pulled unknowlingly into their problems. It was interesting to see the interactions among them, giving new meaning to the phrase "no honor among thieves". There were a couple interesting twists at the end. I'll be interested to see if there is any continuation of the storyline in the next book.
Sheriff Frank Curry is still trying to help his daughter, continuing his story from Redemption. When his ex-wife shows up in Beartooth and attacks him he worries about what she might do to his friend Lynette. Pam is able to avoid any charges and makes it look like she is a victim instead. Frank tries to pull away from Lynette to protect her, but doesn't tell her that's what he's doing. This creates mixed signals to her, creating tension between them. I'll be interested to see how this story progresses.
canadianbookaddict's review against another edition
4.0
I won this on GoodReads about a month ago.
I don't usually read Harlequin books any because I have gotten sick of reading them after reading them for so many years but this book sounded good so I decided to give it a chance.
Just like any other romance books like these the story was predictable but the story is very well written and I actually very much enjoyed it.
If you are into this genre of books I think you will enjoy this book.
abrswf's review
2.0
Pretty silly horror novel. I appreciated the nod to Stephen King and his book, Needful Things, but this writer isn’t in anything like the same class. The writing is clumsy, often ungrammatical, and even includes misspellings. The characters are cardboard and the plot is both derivative and predictable. And not very scary. I’d give this one a miss.
the_coycaterpillar_reads's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Forsaken rattles along at a breakneck pace with a plot that outshines its expectations from just a few pages.
I made a silent vow to myself that during 2023 I was going to read more from my TBR. I love reviewing for authors but I have neglected the books I’ve collected over the years. So, my first pick was Forsaken by J.D. Barker, and boy it didn’t disappoint. A story of a writer who has penned his best novel yet is so good that it comes to life. His life is turned upside down – with the details of his story coming to him, not only in dreams but in his waking moments too. I love stories about witchcraft, but I just haven’t read enough of them lately, this has ignited a fire that has me seeking out more.
This subgenre has everything I crave – an amazing storyline, an antagonist whose presence is etched upon every page and yet isn’t revealed until those ending chapters, and a narrative that is as propulsive as rocket fuel.
Thad McAllister has struggled with his writing career for many years. Like most writers, it isn’t just a case of writing a fantastic story and expecting your name to be on everyone’s lips. After years of hard work and dedication he has written his best work to date, his agent, Del is getting him places and a movie studio is interested in adapting it. He’s looking at millions in revenue. Life couldn’t be better. He has a beautiful wife, a lovely daughter, and another child on the way. It’s a great message about battling the current storm, although the outlook seems grim, it won’t last forever.
Thad heads to New York to hash out some of the details for the movie rights acquisition; meanwhile, his wife is at home with their young daughter, Ashley, and their housekeeper, Miss Perez. She’s having a tough time of it, what with the end of her pregnancy nearing, lack of sleep due to the vivid dreams she’s been experiencing, her daughter’s erratic behaviour, and her complaints about her imaginary friend.
The author writes with such tenacity and accuracy that you feel immediately connected to the wife and her child. You can understand the push and pull in Thad’s life. The need to be at home to support his wife and the need to sign on the dotted line to ensure their financial stability for years to come. Nonetheless, she’s struggling to get a hold of him, little insecurities start to resurface and she finds herself questioning his actions. Nothing brings out the anxieties quite like pregnancy hormones! But it’s not just that that is weighing heavily on her mind, just why has their garden died in the space of 24 hours including the huge oak tree that’s been there for hundreds of years? And just who is the old woman that comes to her in her dreams and demands she takes something precious from her?
I made a silent vow to myself that during 2023 I was going to read more from my TBR. I love reviewing for authors but I have neglected the books I’ve collected over the years. So, my first pick was Forsaken by J.D. Barker, and boy it didn’t disappoint. A story of a writer who has penned his best novel yet is so good that it comes to life. His life is turned upside down – with the details of his story coming to him, not only in dreams but in his waking moments too. I love stories about witchcraft, but I just haven’t read enough of them lately, this has ignited a fire that has me seeking out more.
This subgenre has everything I crave – an amazing storyline, an antagonist whose presence is etched upon every page and yet isn’t revealed until those ending chapters, and a narrative that is as propulsive as rocket fuel.
Thad McAllister has struggled with his writing career for many years. Like most writers, it isn’t just a case of writing a fantastic story and expecting your name to be on everyone’s lips. After years of hard work and dedication he has written his best work to date, his agent, Del is getting him places and a movie studio is interested in adapting it. He’s looking at millions in revenue. Life couldn’t be better. He has a beautiful wife, a lovely daughter, and another child on the way. It’s a great message about battling the current storm, although the outlook seems grim, it won’t last forever.
Thad heads to New York to hash out some of the details for the movie rights acquisition; meanwhile, his wife is at home with their young daughter, Ashley, and their housekeeper, Miss Perez. She’s having a tough time of it, what with the end of her pregnancy nearing, lack of sleep due to the vivid dreams she’s been experiencing, her daughter’s erratic behaviour, and her complaints about her imaginary friend.
The author writes with such tenacity and accuracy that you feel immediately connected to the wife and her child. You can understand the push and pull in Thad’s life. The need to be at home to support his wife and the need to sign on the dotted line to ensure their financial stability for years to come. Nonetheless, she’s struggling to get a hold of him, little insecurities start to resurface and she finds herself questioning his actions. Nothing brings out the anxieties quite like pregnancy hormones! But it’s not just that that is weighing heavily on her mind, just why has their garden died in the space of 24 hours including the huge oak tree that’s been there for hundreds of years? And just who is the old woman that comes to her in her dreams and demands she takes something precious from her?
zoes_human's review against another edition
2.0
This is an exciting, suspenseful plot-driven horror story. The universe built by J.D. Barker is fascinating, and the way he tied it in with the Salem witch trials was excellent. I also enjoyed his use of an epistolary flashback technique to slowly reveal the history behind the story. His pacing is also top-notch, and both the prologue and epilogue were executed perfectly. The prologue pulled me right in with that "Oooooo" feeling, and the epilogue closed out with a nice, satisfying "Ahhhhh, I see how it is."
So, why just 3 stars?
Character. The characters are shallow, borderline stereotypical, and, with the exception of Ashley, unlikable. Some of the dialogue of the antagonists is frankly on the cheesy side. If you consider yourself a lover of plot-driven fiction more so than character-driven, this may not be an issue for you at all. However, we've all got our thing, and for me it always comes down to the characters. Honestly, it's a tribute to how good of a story it is that I would give it 3 stars despite how I feel about the characters.
So, why just 3 stars?
Character. The characters are shallow, borderline stereotypical, and, with the exception of Ashley, unlikable. Some of the dialogue of the antagonists is frankly on the cheesy side. If you consider yourself a lover of plot-driven fiction more so than character-driven, this may not be an issue for you at all. However, we've all got our thing, and for me it always comes down to the characters. Honestly, it's a tribute to how good of a story it is that I would give it 3 stars despite how I feel about the characters.
jenndoesbooks's review
Absolutely loved this book! I went in blind as I like to do with books and this was a welcome treat. Jumping between current times and 16th century made it even more enjoyable! If you like horror then grab this book.
twistedreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
aquinas's review
1.0
Story was good until the end. Too many 1 page chapters at the end which became annoying. And the second epilogue was so terrible it pretty much ruined the whole experience for me.