Veil of Secrecy

Shadows, Book 1

By: RM Alexander

Narrated by: Shana Pennington-Baird

Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Rachel Brackett arrives in Sullivan, Montana with simple goals: relocate, settle an estate, and manage her own antique store. Her parents and friends back home called it running away. That's just fine with her.

Rachel's curiosity leads her into the forest, and she finds creatures who know more about her ominous heritage than she does. The creatures only exist in nightmares - grotesque mutants and shapeshifters. They seek vengeance for hideous crimes in genetic engineering, and Rachel is the prime target for retribution. While Rachel searches for the truth behind the family she never knew, a bounty hunter stalks her every move. Only Leonardo, a figure shrouded in the shadows, offers protection. A were lion with the perfect blend of human and feline features. Terrifying. Impossible. Alluring.

When Rachel's home is ripped apart and a friend attacked, it's clear there is no safe haven. She is no longer running from her past, but trying to survive to make it to her future.

©2012, 2014 RM Alexander (P)2015 RM Alexander

A great story loved it

Any additional comments?

I thought this book was very interesting with a different twist. The author gives you some really heartbreaking scenes, betrayal no doubt of the worse kind along with starting over. It is never easy to start over when your love one has been killed. For it to happen why in the military to a almost new bride goes beyond the call of duty. I have always said the spouse serve our country just as the ones at war. This book shows that over again, what do you do when it feels like everyone is against you, his family blames you for his death, your military friends are no longer your friends. You pack up and go where? Home? There isn’t anything waiting there for you, with nowhere to go or run to lick her wounds Rachel decides to go to the one place she has never been. The grandmother she has never met left her a big estate. Everything, money, a big house and a note that said I am sorry. The mystery begins as Rachel starts over rebuilding her life. What she finds is life might not be as safe as she goes into the forest, she feel something there she is afraid, then it attacks, something or someone comes along, she passes out and wakes to a voice that said do not be afraid I will not hurt you, you are safe. She sees nothing but feels comfort, the voice keeps her there until morning than tells her how to get home and never come back. She doesn’t know what to feel or think. There is a man who is watching her making her feel uneasy, he comforts her which even unsettles her more. What is he talking about, what could this all mean….Danger is near, nearer than she thinks….There are to many secretes that she must uncover to find the true meaning and just what did her grandmothers note mean? She finds not everyone is happy she is there, to many things go wrong, to many people are on the hunt…but for what?

The narrator Shana Pennington-Baird I thought did a great job of narrating. Her different voices added a lot to the audio. It was easy to tell which was male and female and what emotions she was trying to betray. The only problem I saw in this audio was at the beginning of some chapters her voice was louder than the one she just finished. I am guessing this is when she took a break and came back to start recording again. I cannot say it took away from the audio it was more of wow that is different but it isn’t long before you get right back into this story. It was a story I did have trouble setting down and really wanted to continue it. There was no background noise at all just nice smooth listening with just the voice getting louder at the beginning of some chapters. Would I listen to more by this narrator you can bet the bank I would. She really does have a smooth voice that pulls you in and holds you there, at times with your heart in your throat.

The author gives a story with many twists and turns that will keep you interested as she tells you a heartbreaking story of love lost and starting over. She takes you on a journey through the forest of the unnatural and Rachel pieces together her family, their lies, betrayal which will cause her lots of pain. It is heartbreaking to see these half human half animals and all they have had to deal with. Life is dangerous as a bounty hunter is following her wanting information she doesn’t have. He will get his information at all cost whatever it takes.

You get to meet some wonderful characters that have their own painful story to tell. They come together to unite as a family keeping all those like them safe. Each are special in their own way but Leonardo stands out as he keeps Rachel safe through the many different issues that happen. As a reader it is hard for your heart not to go out to these characters when you learn their story. Rachel at times I just wish I could have pulled her out of the book to safety and take her sorrow away. The author gives you characters you do not know if you can trust one minute and the next they are dearing and you just love them. Do not believe everything you see for it might not be. As I listened along thoughts started stirring and I thought this it is how it is. To find out I was correct I was like YES but I never thought it was going to be that way. I would have to say the ending is painful and heartbreaking but at the same time sweet and happy. You are torn between how you think it will go and how you want it to end. This is a series and I am so looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for me. This story can go many different ways and with this authors mind you just never know. If you haven’t read anything by RM Alexander this would be a great one to start with. The audio is outstanding as the book is.

Loved!

Greatly written and I loved the narrator! I fully recommend! I can't wait to hear the rest of the trilogy!

Unique Paranormal Story

This paranormal story is unlike anything I've read before. It has so many twist that it keeps you glued until you finish the book. Yes I finished it in one day because it's that good. The flow of this story is what keeps you reading plus the unique characters that pop up a long the way. Can't wait to see what happens with these characters in the next book. I love that this story is clean and the romance tugs at your heart.

Interesting

This book was given to me for my honest opinion. All I can say is that this book isn't one I would normally pick. But I'm glad that I decided to give it a try because it turned out to be good. It's a little bit different then I thought it would be and I will definitely read the others when they come out.