Skip to main content

Review: Hidden

Hidden Hidden by Kelli Clare
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A Romance novel with a twist that fans of Romance and Fantasy will likely enjoy!

Well, thus ends my streak of amazing 4- and 5-star reads! It had to end sometime, and this book was it. I hope to provide some fair feedback for readers considering this book, because though it wasn't good to me, others may enjoy it.

I want to be honest and state that I am a poor fit as a reader and reviewer for this book. I had agreed to review it because it is marketed as a Mystery/Thriller, but this book is firmly in the Romance category and the thriller subplot is only background tension for the relationship between the two main characters. I think readers who are fans of Romance, and also enjoy Fantasy or Young Adult books will enjoy this book.

In terms of writing ability, Kelli Clare has a gift with prose, and that was the part of this book I found rewarding. I think Clare will achieve success applying this gift to the romantic fiction world, and I would love if one day she branches out into other types of fiction. I certainly would consider reading more from her in a different genre.

The book tells the story of Ellie James, who spots a mysterious stranger across the pier and can't seem to get him out of her head. Until she returns home, that is, and finds her grandmother and sister murdered and a photo of the stranger from the pier in her sister's pocket. Ellie is confused, how does her sister know him? When the stranger shows up to rescue her, the connection becomes clear. Ellie and her niece Lissie are whisked away before they suffer the same fate. In a whirlwind of action, Ellie simultaneously learns that she is part of a royal lineage that a group of assassins is trying to eliminate, and Will and his family has been tasked with protecting them. Meanwhile, Ellie can't help but fall for Will, the passion between them is intense and undeniable. Will he be able to save her??

This is a fast-paced novel with a lot of momentum, broken only by the stolen moments between Ellie and Will. Ellie is a classic beauty, incredibly delicate and fragile, but with a bit of spunk. Will is barbaric and mysterious and dangerous, but fiercely protective and controlling. This is my nice way of saying that feminists will likely struggle with this book. Ellie is so fragile to the point that she can't keep food down, routinely passes out and needs to be rescued, and there is a lot of comment on how delicate and feminine her ... anatomy is. Will is prone to flying off the handle when any male goes near her, even with good intentions. Though I found the gender archetypes to be disappointing, I don't think all readers will feel that way. I think many readers will enjoy the relationship between Ellie and Will. Their passion is undeniable.

I also want to warn readers that this book has many graphic sex scenes. Some readers will love this, but others may not want that sort of read. To those who do enjoy this book, please leave me a comment and let me know what you liked! I tried to point out a few things that I did enjoy in this review, even if the book as a whole didn't work for me.

Thank you to SparkPress, NetGalley, and Kelli Clare for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: When Never Comes

When Never Comes by Barbara Davis My rating: 4 of 5 stars Sometimes learning to let yourself be happy is the hardest lesson of all… Though the premise of this book may sounds like it veers towards thriller, it is anything but that—in a good way! Davis’s When Never Comes is a beautiful story of resilience, finding yourself, and learning to be open to happiness. It’s a story about a woman who ran away or hid her entire life, until she was forced out of hiding. This book is an incredible addition to Women’s Fiction in 2018. I think many readers will find this story to be a starting point to reflect on their own lives and identify the ghosts we all have following us around. Christine lives an enviable life… Married to handsome, charismatic, best-selling author Stephen Ludlow, book-editor Christine has the perfect marriage. They live in the very house one of Stephen’s books was filmed in for the movie-adaptation. They have no children (by choice), and Christine ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Don't Believe It

Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars The last 40% of this book is mind-blowing—I had to go back and reread passages to make sure I read what I thought I did!!! This is my first book by Charlie Donlea, and what a fantastic introduction to this author!!! This book already drew me in with the premise, but the writing and the way the story was executed kept me engaged until the very last page. This is a book that is fueled by the plot. Some thrillers take place mostly in the minds of the characters, but this book is action driven. There are no slow points—every single chapter is moving you towards the shocking conclusion. You’ll want to pay attention, because a LOT happens in this book! 10 years ago Grace Sebold was convicted of murdering her boyfriend… Grace’s life was on the right track. Grace recently found out she was accepted in the medical residency she wanted in NYC with her boyfriend Julian, who is unbeknownst to her about to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: The Girl I Used to Be

The Girl I Used to Be by Mary Torjussen My rating: 5 of 5 stars A wonderful, psychological thriller that will make you wonder what you would do if this happened to you!!! I am a big fan of Mary Torjussen’s last book Gone Without a Trace . As a psychologist, I always find books that deal with the character’s mindset effectively to be so compelling, and this is an area Mary really excels in as an author. This book was one I read in two days (which, for someone who works full-time and has a dissertation to write is quite an endorsement). The steady building of suspense in this book had the reader feeling slightly off-kilter along with the protagonist—and that is what made it so hard to put down! I found myself skipping my lunch break to read a bit more, and turning down plans for drinks after work because I just had to know what would happen next! Plot Gemma owns her own real estate business and loves her career. She has a wonderful husband and a beautiful son, but...
1 comment
Read more