Title: Fated
Series: Shadow Mountain #1
Author: Indra Vaughn
Genre: Mystery, Paranormal
Length: Novel (284 pages)
ISBN: 9781632163738
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 31st 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Aerin
Blurb: Two towns flank the looming Shadow Mountain. A dark myth of the Predator drifts through the dense trees, a tale Police Lieutenant Hart never paid much attention to. When one unresolved death follows another—some people dying without discernible cause while others are clearly, and often brutally, murdered—he can’t ignore it any longer. Truth may lie in myth, but this one is spread to deceive everyone. The Predator exists, but he’s not entirely human. Hart will have to find the connection between the mysterious figure and victims with only one thing in common: a faint tattoo on the backs of their necks, a mark left when someone healed their incurable diseases.
Isaac Lasko has been in love with Hart since he moved in across the street seven years ago. He’s been helping Hart renovate his home, and their friendship grows more intense with the years, but Isaac can’t help wishing for a deeper bond. When he finally breaks through the lieutenant’s armor, the mystery surrounding the Predator threatens them both. Help will come, but at a price.
Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5894
Review: I don’t normally read paranormal books, but I really loved this author’s other work, so I knew I was going to give this a chance. This book was AMAZING!!! It kept me to the edge of my seat the whole entire time and I felt a level of anticipation throughout the entire book that I haven’t felt in a long time. I thought this was the perfect combination of suspense, intrigue, heartbreak and romance with a touch of paranormal that transformed this book from good to extraordinary. I can’t wait for the next one in this series!
Hart is a Police Lieutenant who’s investigating a series of mysterious crimes and miraculous healings, and his journey is full of intrigue. Hart is very attracted and somewhat in love with his neighbor and best friend Isaac, who is a lot younger than Hart. When Hart’s estranged father dies, he takes a short leave to bury him and take care of everything that’s left behind. Only the Predator strikes again in the town Hart’s father lived and Hart finds himself in the middle of an emotional storm. Hart is a deeply flawed character, he has a lot of personal problems that he has to work through, and his journey is absolutely heartbreaking. I liked him a lot, even though at times I felt like slapping him upside the head while asking him “why the hell did you do that for???” He was so frustrating! And other times, like when he buried his father, I wanted to give him a big hug because all that emotional pain was breaking my heart.
Isaac seemed like a very sweet, loving character. He was a very good friend to Hart and he loved him so much. We don’t get to see much of him in this book, because most of the interactions he has with Hart are through the phone; but seeing him through Hart’s eyes made me adore him even more.
The secondary characters were amazing, especially Hart’s temporary partner, Freddie. Freddie is a kick-ass chick, smart and witty, and I loved the banter between her and Hart. Toby, the orthopedic surgeon who played a major role in this book, well him I am not entirely sure I liked. Or maybe I would’ve liked him more if it weren’t for his involvement with Hart. The times when they had sex, I absolutely hated Toby since I was team Isaac and all that. I really think I could have liked Toby a lot if Hart would’ve kept his dick in his pants. Ugh!
Seriously, this book had it all; great flow, complex, imperfect characters, humor, heartbreak, suspense, mystery, VERY hot sex (even though it wasn’t only between the characters I wanted). I recommend this book to everyone, because it’s worth reading.