Deceived by the Others (H&W Investigations, #3) by Jess Haines

Aug 31, 2011 Laura the Highland Hussy rated it 2 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

With all the hype this series has been getting, I was very excited for the chance at an early copy. And unfortunately I was incredibly disappointed in this book.
I almost DNF'd this book. I'm glad I didn't, as it wasn't awful by any means. I do think a lot of people will like this book, as the world was easy to slip into, the writing easy to follow, and the world was actually pretty cool. For me? I have a hard time enjoying a book when I hate the main character. I found Shia to be a stup...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Annie the Destroyer *Leather Lust* rated it 1 of 5 stars

Recommended to Annie the Destroyer *Leather Lust* by: Review request by author

Shelves: books-i-own, review-requests, signed-by-author, vampires, deserves-to-be-recycled, bitches-get-stitches, genre-urban-fantasy

DNF

Deceived by the Others was a DNF for me. But there are reasons why:
1. This being the third book, I was hoping that something in Shiarra would change. What I loved about the first book is the fact that Shiarra is a human who is actively taking part in a paranormal world. While I thought she held her own in the first book and she did okay in the second book, I just didn’t feel like Shiarra developed much over the course of the first two books. She’s still quite vulnerable, and while I loved t...more DNF

Deceived by the Others was a DNF for me. But there are reasons why:
1. This being the third book, I was hoping that something in Shiarra would change. What I loved about the first book is the fact that Shiarra is a human who is actively taking part in a paranormal world. While I thought she held her own in the first book and she did okay in the second book, I just didn’t feel like Shiarra developed much over the course of the first two books. She’s still quite vulnerable, and while I loved this in the beginning, now I don’t.

There were countless times in the first few pages where Shiarra is warned by multiple parties that something bad is heading her way and yet she completely ignores this to go to vacation with her boyfriend! Here’s a lesson that Shia needs to learn – You’re a human. And when supernatural creatures are tell you that shit is coming your way. You listen.

2. Shia’s relationship with Chaz, her shifter boyfriend has been an ongoing thing. And while this is an urban fantasy series and not a romance one, I just want to ask Shia, WHY ARE YOU WITH HIM? Chaz is rarely around enough to make me love him. And when he is around, he does that possessive growl thing that irritates me. He allows his temper and jealously to get the best of him. It just doesn’t seem right if he’s supposed to be the leader of his pack. When all you do is growl and hang on to Shiarra, it doesn’t make me swoon over your protectiveness. It makes me want to punch you. So here’s my message to Chaz – Stop being a pouty baby. You can’t get jealous over Shiarra when she handles business with Royce. You’re not even around enough to have a say in her life.

3. Idle banter is fun. Most of the time. But when I can summarize the first few chapters of your book in one and a half sentences, then you know there’s just way too much inner dialogue that can be cut out. For me, the pacing was just all over the place. Sometimes it was engaging...most of the time lagging.

But this isn’t to say that Haines’s writing style is bad. She has spunk and I enjoyed that with Shiarra. But there is a limit. Her books are easy to read, so if you’re able to get over the fact that Shiarra can be a little ignorant at times, then go on, read this book.

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Jul 20, 2011 Tamara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, reviewed, uf-pnr

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
When I finished reading Taken By The Others (H&W Investigations #2), I couldn't wait for book 3. And then, the synopsis of this book came out. It seemed like Deceived by The Others was going to be all about building up Shia and Chaz's relationship. I'm not going to lie, I don't like Chaz. Never have. So to say I was kind of disappointed is a bit of understatement. For that reason, I kept pushing it to the bottom of my TBR list. Then, came the reviews. I found out that Chaz was going to do so...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Katie(babs) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Deceived by the Others begins as a more laid back book. Shia and Chaz, along with his pack, go away for some R&R. Shia must decide whether she’ll be fully committed to Chaz. But then drama ensues when she and Chaz are targeted by some jealous werewolves who have it out for Chaz. The pack isn’t all that welcoming where Shia is concerned and some major shocks occur in this book that will have many readers divided. Jess does something with Chaz that will have you screaming and wanting to tear h...more

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Jul 04, 2011 Shera (Book Whispers) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, vampire, witches-mages-druids-wizards-other, werewolves, animal-shifters, arc-review-requests

Originally posted at Book Whispers.

Genre: Urban Fanasy

After the chilling events of the last book, where Shia faced her worst fear of being blood bonded to two vampires and made into a mindless slave, Shai is determined to avoid the supernatural drama. Even after the leader of the White Hats, New York's king vampire Royce, and a stalking reporter tells her that her latest adventure will put her at risk. She's determined to go to the ski resort with Chaz—her Alpha Were boyfriend—and his pack. It'...more Originally posted at Book Whispers.

Genre: Urban Fanasy

After the chilling events of the last book, where Shia faced her worst fear of being blood bonded to two vampires and made into a mindless slave, Shai is determined to avoid the supernatural drama. Even after the leader of the White Hats, New York's king vampire Royce, and a stalking reporter tells her that her latest adventure will put her at risk. She's determined to go to the ski resort with Chaz—her Alpha Were boyfriend—and his pack. It's time for her to prove she's serious about her relationship with Chaz to the point that she trusts him enough to sign a Contract with him.

Even if Shia leaves the warnings—and her artillery—at home the monsters aren't ready to let her get back to anything resembling normal. Trouble makers in Chaz's pack want to take his place as Alpha and they don't believe in playing fair. That's not the only trouble. A rival pack in the area is targeting Chaz and Shia. The true danger is closer to home to Shia then she could have ever imagined. Shia is betrayed by someone I never saw coming. That someone has put up such a front of lies and deceit that at one point I actually had to put Deceived by the Others down and go on a stress jog to cool my emotions down. Then another surprise had me out running my stress away!

Though the majority of the book takes place in the wilderness at the ski resort, Haines really dishes up a great tale. Getting into the Sunstriker's pack life was really fun and I could almost forgive that all the amazing side cast was left behind in New York City. Even the lesser doses of action didn't bother me, this book is unexpected in ways that I didn't think this series could pull off.

When Shia finally makes it back to the big apple a scandalizing article in the paper blows her big secret into city wide news (if not national). After the reporter who wrote the article is found dead—killed by Others—Shia and her closest friend Sara have to disappear. Leading her to seek refuge from the one person she never thought she would go to, Royce. She's prepared to sell herself to him and submit to a blood bond with him. Haines, however, was not done pulling huge surprises out of her hat. Royce does something so amazing that I have to shake my head in shame at all the doubts I've had about him. The new side of him is something I need to explore pronto, I've already got my Team Royce shirt ready for the next book!

Shia is turning into the bad ass that Urban Fantasy fans have come to covet of their female leads. If the excerpt of the next book is anything to go by Shia is going to be one beloved bad ass babe. Deceived by the Others has some staggering plot threads here, and at this point this book/series can not be overlooked! Characters you thought you loved will become the ones you hate, and the ones you've hated will become the ones you love. Haines has truly demonstrated she's not a gimmick in the genre of UF.

Sexual content: Kissing, heavy petting, sexual humor, and a reference to rape.

Rating: 4/5- Great! Really enjoyed it.

(less)

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Sep 04, 2012 Liz rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of paranormal and paranormal romance

Recommended to Liz by: Jess Haines

In Jess Haines‘ latest novel in the H&W Investigations series, “Deceived by the Others“, Private Investigator, Shiarra Waynest, is about to contract herself to her werewolf boyfriend, Chaz, but first she goes on a much needed vacation with him to his cabin in the woods. I don’t know, maybe it’s because I grew up with stories of Little Red Riding Hood but this immediately set up warning flares for me.

Shia is looking forward to some down time with Chaz but before she leaves, she receives two v...more In Jess Haines‘ latest novel in the H&W Investigations series, “Deceived by the Others“, Private Investigator, Shiarra Waynest, is about to contract herself to her werewolf boyfriend, Chaz, but first she goes on a much needed vacation with him to his cabin in the woods. I don’t know, maybe it’s because I grew up with stories of Little Red Riding Hood but this immediately set up warning flares for me.

Shia is looking forward to some down time with Chaz but before she leaves, she receives two very cryptic phone messages; one from Alec Royce, the other from Jack, the leader of the White Hats. Jack tells her “this time, it’s not us.” Royce’s message, “whatever happens while you are out of town is not my doing,” whips away any excitement she had about her vacation. Of course, Shia has had enough of both Jack and Royce trying to control her actions, so she ignores their warnings and gets out of Dodge. I was particularly offended when she didn’t even listen to me as I was yelling “Don’t go with Chaz!” Although to be fair, I couldn’t offer a valid reason other than the fact that I have never liked or trusted Chaz.

Shia and Chaz are still working on their delicate relationship which was ripped in pieces during the last book, “Taken by the Others”. Shia has finally decided that she wants to spend the rest of her life with the man she loves and that means signing the Notice of Mutual Consent to Human/Other Citizen Relationship and Contractual Binding Agreement which would make Chaz her partner forever. Although she signs the agreement, she doesn’t tell Chaz, opting to wait for the right moment.

Spending time with Chaz also included meeting his pack and giving everyone the opportunity to get used to each other. Shia wants to watch the pack as they change during the full moon. What starts out as a relaxing vacation/romantic get-away with Chaz quickly turns into a deadly mess, and not everyone wishes to welcome Shia into their midst.

“Deceived by the Others” is the third book in the H&W Investigations series and like the first two books, Haines takes us on a journey that is frightening and exciting. But this time there is a very unexpected twist and it will change Shia’s life from here on out. I was left shocked and angry, particularly with one character whom I will not name because you have to read it for yourself. (Ha!) This is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact, it’s a testament to the author for being so skilled at creating characters I really care about.

We will get to see more of Shia and how she deals with the events from “Deceived” in the fourth book, “Stalking the Others” which is due out July, 2012. The title alone gives me chills and I cannot wait to read it.

Get to know Jess Haines by visiting her website, www.jesshaines.com, and follow her on Facebook and Twitter (my goal is to get her to 1000 followers!) for news and updates on her other projects. These include her novellas, “Spark of Temptation”, a short story about Shia’s partner at H&W, Sara, and the mage we met in “Hunted”, Arnold. Additionally, Jess has written a short story called “What’s Yours is Mine”, which is included in “The Real Werewives of Vampire County”(less)

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Jun 25, 2012 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read, kindlepurchase2012, 4-wine-glasses

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Read for Fun!
Overall Rating: 4.00
Character Rating: 3.75
Story Rating: 4.25

First thought when finished: Chaz you BROKE MY HEART!

What I Loved: I really love Shiarra! I know she probably won't work for everyone but I love that she is so aware of who she is. Her life is not exactly going as planned but she is pulling herself up by the bootstraps one day at a time. I really loved (for the first half) getting to know Chaz more. It gave us a glimpse of what Shiarra sees in him and we had been missing th...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Paranormal Haven rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews-by-beth-guest-reviewer

2.5 Stars

Shiarra is a P.I. who has decided to take a vacation with her werewolf boyfriend, Chaz. He thought it would be a good idea to introduce her to his pack. As the weekend progresses it is clear that someone has some issues with Chaz, and soon these other people are not the only ones.

This is the third novel in the H&W Investigation series. I had a like-hate relationship with this novel. It starts out slow. In the last two books big things happened, huge things! In this the problems don...more 2.5 Stars

Shiarra is a P.I. who has decided to take a vacation with her werewolf boyfriend, Chaz. He thought it would be a good idea to introduce her to his pack. As the weekend progresses it is clear that someone has some issues with Chaz, and soon these other people are not the only ones.

This is the third novel in the H&W Investigation series. I had a like-hate relationship with this novel. It starts out slow. In the last two books big things happened, huge things! In this the problems don’t seem that big at first. There are a couple people pissed at Chaz, and because he took Shiarra along, she becomes the perfect bait. The mountain vacation, among all the pack members makes for a lot of meet and greets. This was handled well, and wasn’t overwhelming. What made it move at a crawl was that that our two main characters start to get pranked, and death threats. The threats are chalked up to younger pack members giving challenge to Chaz, who is the Alpha. The fact that this was shrugged off annoyed me. Another problem is that the characters constantly tell Shiarra to be safe, don’t go places alone, etc… but she doesn’t listen. Instead she is constantly off getting into trouble, kind of like Carl on The Walking Dead.

During the unveiling of what was behind the pranks Chaz and Shiarra suffered, something else is uncovered. I can’t say much more than that. If I did it would give far too much away, but it rocks the very foundations of Shiarra. What is uncovered happens towards the last half of the novel. This is where the story heats up, and then ends. The thread running through the novels has been, ‘the Others (Others- everything that isn’t strictly human) use Shiarra.’ I hope this novel is the end of that.

The novel suffers from the same issues as the ones before it. The story is told through Shiarra’s eyes, and she is not my favorite narrator. Her narrative is nearly always heavy. She also repeats her plans or thoughts to the point that I want to knock on the window between us, to say I got it. I really, really enjoyed this novel, and at the same time I really didn’t like it at all. There are some major flaws, the biggest one being that it isn’t finished. It was all building to the next book instead of a complete story. The ending feels like it is the middle, and a ton of the beginning feels like it shouldn’t have been there at all. Despite this the end of the novel is where it is at. Shiarra got a slap in the face, and I felt it as a reader. Towards the end, once Shiarra discovers something on her own, the novel picks up. Mainly because I wasn’t expecting what happened. It is a race to the end, only it has no end. It is a cliffhanger, but didn’t feel like that for me. Instead it felt like it should have been the middle, or turning point in the novel.

It isn’t this often I am torn between liking something, and disliking it. At the same time this isn’t a middle of the ground novel. It will invoke feelings in the reader no matter what. Yes, I cannot wait to read the next book, but not for the usual reasons. I was left unsatisfied, and because of that I want to read the next book. While the characters have continued to be the same, and the stories in the first two books were self-contained. This is not the case with Deceived by the Others. It suffers from the same flaws as the first two books, and has a couple more issues with the story. As much as I look forward to the next novel, I hope it does more.
- Beth (Guest Reviewer)(less)

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Jan 24, 2012 Gules rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Wow, that was a shocker! Now I can't wait to read the next book! I have to say that infidelity is something i have a major issue about, and reading about it really pulls up a lot of emotions.
Some criticisms... though it's believable that a PI may be tricked and kept ignorant of so many of the things that have hurt her, it seems a smart investigator would take the time to know all about the Others, not only for her own security but as part of her work. I know that she did not want to become invo...more Wow, that was a shocker! Now I can't wait to read the next book! I have to say that infidelity is something i have a major issue about, and reading about it really pulls up a lot of emotions.
Some criticisms... though it's believable that a PI may be tricked and kept ignorant of so many of the things that have hurt her, it seems a smart investigator would take the time to know all about the Others, not only for her own security but as part of her work. I know that she did not want to become involved with the Others at all - ever, but purely from a PI standpoint, knowing people's characteristics and capabilities would seem really important to her safety, knowing how to recognize and avoid dangerous situations and people.
There also seems to be an inconsistency with some of the characters. I know that people can seem one way, and be totally opposite of what you perceive. However, some of the flip-flopping between Chaz's character, Shia's fear/terror, and some of Sara's responses to things seem a little off. This may be because I'm used to novels and characters that are more predictable, though you usually get some type of "feeling" about a character that has you wondering how much you really know about them. Some of the signs are there, but perhaps because of the way it's written from S's point of view it's more easily disregarded and therefore comes as almost just as much of a shock to the reader as it does to her character.
Though what I've written sounds like a lot of criticism, I did enjoy the book. I cheered for S as she opened herself up to Chaz as well as when she wanted to kick his ass. She's someone who is forthright and isn't into playing the games that everyone else seems to be. I have to wonder what A is up to though. Is he really on the up and up? It was disappointing to see him involved in an intimate relationship with someone else, as he's been pursuing S all this time. Though men and women may see sex and relationships slightly different, I can't help but be disappointed in him in this. I'm too much of an idealist and would've wished that he could be more sensitive than the cheating w****-as~%[^ that Chaz was.
I've got to say that it has me impatient to find out what happens and what more about the Others and the characters personally, that S will find out next. As much as I liked the book, it's not one that I would reread often. I would be agonizing over everything until the end comes, knowing how much grief was coming.(less)

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Sep 02, 2011 Marty Shaw rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the third book in Jess Haines' H&W Investigations series, and it takes Shia, and the reader, into a brand new direction. After spending the first two books in adventures that almost cost Shia her life, she finally has a chance to get away with werewolf boyfriend Chaz for some nice, quiet R&R time... and losing her life might be the least of her worries.

I've always enjoyed Shia; the ordinary girl surrounded by 'Others.' She has powerful friends (?), some totally bad-ass armor, and...more This is the third book in Jess Haines' H&W Investigations series, and it takes Shia, and the reader, into a brand new direction. After spending the first two books in adventures that almost cost Shia her life, she finally has a chance to get away with werewolf boyfriend Chaz for some nice, quiet R&R time... and losing her life might be the least of her worries.

I've always enjoyed Shia; the ordinary girl surrounded by 'Others.' She has powerful friends (?), some totally bad-ass armor, and an enchanted belt possessed by the spirit of a vampire hunter, but she's just a regular person who frequently finds herself on the wrong side of trouble. I was wondering how a quiet getaway would deliver adventure and excitement, but there was more tension packed into this book than the previous two, and you know that's saying a lot if you read Hunted by the Others and Taken by the Others.

Things start off a little slow as all the characters are put into place, but it doesn't take long for seemingly innocent mischief to start taking place. As Shia puts her detective skills to use, she learns the mischief isn't all that innocent, leading to a revelation that changes everything. To say I was shocked about how events unfolded would be a huge understatement.

In addition to the characters we've met before, a new group known as the Nightstrikers is introduced and I'm hoping they make another appearance in the future. The group takes the were- concept into a seldom explored area and I would love to find out more about them.

Vampire fans might be a little disappointed to learn that Royce doesn't play a major role in most of the story, but he does show up a little past the halfway point and proves that he doesn't need to be a major player in the plot to be interesting. I've always considered Royce to be the perfect vampire; balancing charm and menace perfectly so that you can never be certain if he's a good guy or bad guy.

If you enjoyed the first two books in the series, then Deceived by the Others is must-read because this takes what you know and turns it upside down. New characters, an interesting plot-twist, and an ending that leaves you wanting more makes this a necessary addition to the TBR pile of anyone who loves urban fantasy. (less)

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Jul 23, 2011 Seduced By Books rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Can I just say BRAVO!

Haines had me eating out of her hand in this book – I was engrossed in Shia’s emotions throughout the whole book. It took me a day to come back to reality and I’m still not over it 100%.

Haines has given us Shia – a Private investigator that reluctantly gets wrapped up in the world of the Others. In Hunted by the Others (Book 1) Shia is forced in to the others as she’s being ‘hunted’ and she wants nothing to do with them – she just recently dumped her boyfriend when she foun...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Brittany rated it 5 of 5 stars

It’s that time of the month, and Shiarra Waynest, New York City P.I., is determined to take a vacation with her sexy werewolf boyfriend Chaz and his pack as they seek a refuge during their transformation. Despite warnings from the annoying reporter who’s stalking her and the sexy vampire to whom she’s legally bound, she leaves her job, her friends, and the city behind to head for the woods where she will face unexpected dangers from more than just the wildlife.
Deceived by the Others is the third...more

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Jul 14, 2011 A.Ivzir rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-paranormal, adult-romance

I can honestly say I loved reading this book. I flew through it and finished in one day! You are definitely missing out if you haven’t picked up this urban fantasy by Haines.

This book is all about Shia and Chaz. It takes place outside of the city on werewolf turf that allows Chaz and his pack roam around freely for the full moon. The sole reason for the trip to help Shia get use to the pack and there changes in wolf form. But with people threatening Chaz and Shia’s relationship. It’s hard enoug...more

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Jul 11, 2011 Roxanne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 5-stars

One word...AMAZING!!

This is now one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series ever. I'm still reeling from the turn of events in this book, I honestly didn't see any of it coming and was left slack jawed and staring at my kindle. I read the entire book in one sitting and can't remember the last time I've been so engrossed in a book. I feel like gushing about it for hours and hours!

What I didn't like in the last book was Shia's lack of growth and understanding towards the Others. In this book it all ch...more

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Jul 10, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shiarra Waynest and her partner Sara run a detective agency in a post 9/11 New York. When money troubles arise, they are forced to take on cases for the supernatural community of Others. Others and Shiarra do not mix well. They scare her. It is the main reason her ex Chaz is her ex. The first Other case Shiarra takes on, is doomed from the start. By the end of it, she is contractually bound to the sexy ancient vampire Alec Royce.

Now, Shiarra must keep her business in the black, while stuck betw...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Deceived by the Others, by Jess Haines is book three in the H&W Investigations series. In the first two books, Hunted by the Others and Taken by the Others, Shiarra Waynest finds herself in trouble when she takes an assignment to find a mystical object of power, ends up in a battle to save her life and those of many Others, then subsequently becomes hunted as an object of revenge for a life lost in the battle.

In Deceived by the Others, Shiarra is on the mends from the injuries sustained from...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Tynga rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shiarra Waynest had her share of Paranormal battles in the past and she’s now trying to stay out of trouble. Trying is the keyword here. She’s heading to a retreat in the woods for a vacation with her boyfriend Chaz, at the moon full, to meet his pack. She brought with her a contract that would legally bind her to him. Is she ready to take this big step? Will more trouble arise in paradise?

If I had to use only one word to describe Deceived by the Others it would be Unexpected. The entire plot li...more Shiarra Waynest had her share of Paranormal battles in the past and she’s now trying to stay out of trouble. Trying is the keyword here. She’s heading to a retreat in the woods for a vacation with her boyfriend Chaz, at the moon full, to meet his pack. She brought with her a contract that would legally bind her to him. Is she ready to take this big step? Will more trouble arise in paradise?

If I had to use only one word to describe Deceived by the Others it would be Unexpected. The entire plot line totally took me off guard and I regaled in the unknown. Aside from one particular event, I never saw coming any of the bricks falling on Shia’s head. Jess Haines succeeded at knitting a tight and surprising plot that will keep you on your toes.

Shia was a lot more levelheaded than she used to be (except at a very specific moment) so it was nice to see this growth. But with everything that’s happened in this installment, I can’t help but feel pity for her. Everything she’s going through is insane and I’m dying to know what’s gonna happen next, because even though Jess tidied-up the main plot line, two very important questions are left unanswered.

I have to say: Oh. My. Freaking. God. Chaz… What. The. Hell. You’ll know what I’m talking about when you’ve read the book *winks*

Royce is seriously growing on me. I love the guy more and more and I really hope he won’t disappoint me. I missed Arnold this time around, he is mentioned and Shia talks to him on the phone but I’m very fond of him and I hope he’ll get a bigger role in the next book. For some reason I just picture him like a World of Warcraft gnome in my head. Go figure. We also get to meet a trio of geeks and Shia didn’t understand a thing they said, whereas I knew exactly what they were talking about, which got me wondering over my sanity…

All in all, the H&W Investigations series is an amazing open Urban Fantasy world. Magi, Vampires & Werewolves alike will charm their way into your heart, be warned though, they might have dreadful intensions! Lock your doors and keep a weapon handy because in Shia’s world, you’re never really safe. (less)

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Jul 12, 2011 ൠSinful rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, contemporary, vampires, uf, shifters, series, magic-users, full-novel

I did fly through this book. And I did want to scream in frustration at one of the characters. Part way through the book it took a left turn and I was shocked by where the end took us. NOt that there was an end. It just stopped and you get to wait for the next book for it to continue. Kinda odd that way.

A book that sweeps me in is always good, and making me feel something, even frustration with a character, is one of the elements I really look for in a strong tale. Unpredictability is also a gol...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Melliane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Quel tome ! C'est vraiment une très bonne série ! Et quel retournement de situation, c'était fou, je ne m'y attendais pas du tout, il faut dire qu'on ne le conçoit même pas !

On retrouve Shia qui est bien décidé à ne pas se laisser embarquer dans une quelconque histoire que ce soit par rapport à Jack ou encore à Alec. Ils en ont déjà assez fait et elle ne veut plus se retrouver mêlée à leurs problèmes. Quoi de mieux pour cela, que de prendre des vacances avec Chaz afin de partir rencontrer sa meu...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was a little disappointed with this book. The whole beginning part thru me for a loop. The messages that were being left for Shia at the office were so vague it seemed like something was going to happen in town while she was away. Sooo...I'm expecting this big ole fight waiting for her when she comes home...but of course Royce clarifies this issue later. The beginning was slow. I didn't get into this book until about 2/3rds of it. This book was more about her spending time with Chaz and his pa...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Tori [Book Faery] rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, highly-recommended, read-in-2011, signed

See this review in it's entirety at:
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com

Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

I love the creative endings Jess has for each book. In HUNTED BY THE OTHERS (HBTO), we had a final showdown that had me rooting (out loud, I might add) for the good guys. I turned into a bloodthirsty little bitch, too as I prayed for the villains to be murdered. In TAKEN BY THE OTHERS (TBTO), we have another kickass showdown that had me cringing away from all the gore and violence. It was actually at this...more See this review in it's entirety at:
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Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

I love the creative endings Jess has for each book. In HUNTED BY THE OTHERS (HBTO), we had a final showdown that had me rooting (out loud, I might add) for the good guys. I turned into a bloodthirsty little bitch, too as I prayed for the villains to be murdered. In TAKEN BY THE OTHERS (TBTO), we have another kickass showdown that had me cringing away from all the gore and violence. It was actually at this point where I felt more sympathetic towards Shia. And finally, in DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS (DBTO), I was left with a feeling of intense excitement. More on that later in the review.

If anyone has read my past reviews, they might have ascertained that I have a feeling of ambivalence towards Shia; in the beginning of this series, it was her intense fear of vampires that frustrated me. For whatever reason, I was unable to feel any sort of sympathy, and thus was willing to write her off as a pain in the ass... that is, until she sucked it up and did what she had to do by the final showdown.

In TBTO, she once again went back to frustrating me because of her fear of vampires. Thankfully, that fear was not as intense, and I was willing to overlook it this time around. She also made me feel bad for her as she experienced murdering someone for the first time.

Thankfully, in DBTO, we have no intense fear of the bloodsuckers that transforms Shia into a scaredy cat. In fact, if anything, I think Shia was fairly kick ass (and this is reinforced upon reading the beginning of book 4). I could have done without all the lovey dovey pet names Chaz and Shia had for each other, and I certainly would have enjoyed a little bit more action in the beginning, but by the midway point, I was not disappointed. It seems with most UFs there is a buildup, and once a person has the patience to stick with it, they are greatly rewarded, as is the case with DBTO.

For fear of spoiling the great surprise, I will say no more about the plot. But I would like to say this: DBTO finally has me switching teams now. Eff Chaz, Royce all the way, bebe!

As for the ending, since I said earlier I would touch upon it more: it was not intense and action-packed like the prior two books. And you know what? Since this book wasn't like the others, I'm okay with that. What made me adore it almost as much as its predecessors was the sense of well... normalcy, and a slumber party. I love books that capture the essence of the latter.

I highly recommend DBTO. The author's writing skills have improved exponentially since the start of this series, and I am happy to say that the characters have grown on me, too.(less)

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Jul 27, 2011 Kara-karina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jess Haines's writing got way better, because the third installment in series jumped from being very good to excellent.

Gripping, heart-breaking and gut-wrenching. Shia's whole world comes crushing down in Deceived by The Others. She is literally falling apart, there is so much deception and hurt and drama. I abso-freaking-lutely loved it.

The book is fast-paced, I read it in one go. Chaz's Nemesis is unexpectedly funny, what with all the geek gamers talk. The situations and Shia's reactions to th...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Fallon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, paranormal, pnr, sleuth, vampire, mystery, series, shifters

I liked this book a lot, it was far more personal a story than the previous two which made it much more intriguing, and we get to see more about were's than the previous books. Shiarra isn't an other so she's more vulnerable but she seems to get tougher as time goes on and she's now a bit of a celebrity thanks to her destroying the Dominari Focus back in book one. She's being tailed by a reporter, but that's not a main focus. I have never been a fan of Chaz, he is a super jealous, dominating guy...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Kaza rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a great book!! I simply can not wait till the next book comes out! Jess Haines proved that her series H&W Investigations is as good as the best and brightest urban fantasy series. I was expecting something great with this book after the previous installments but it exceeded my hopes and turned into one of the best reads of this year.

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Apr 30, 2012 Beth Dawkins rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

2.5
Shiarra is a P.I. who has decided to take a vacation with her werewolf boyfriend, Chaz. He thought it would be a good idea to introduce her to his pack. As the weekend progresses it is clear that someone has some issues with Chaz, and soon these other people are not the only ones.

This is the third novel in the H&W Investigation series. I had a like-hate relationship with this novel. It starts out slow. In the last two books big things happened, huge things! In this the problems don’t seem...more 2.5
Shiarra is a P.I. who has decided to take a vacation with her werewolf boyfriend, Chaz. He thought it would be a good idea to introduce her to his pack. As the weekend progresses it is clear that someone has some issues with Chaz, and soon these other people are not the only ones.

This is the third novel in the H&W Investigation series. I had a like-hate relationship with this novel. It starts out slow. In the last two books big things happened, huge things! In this the problems don’t seem that big at first. There are a couple people pissed at Chaz, and because he took Shiarra along, she becomes the perfect bait. The mountain vacation, among all the pack members makes for a lot of meet and greets. This was handled well, and wasn’t overwhelming. What made it move at a crawl was that that our two main characters start to get pranked, and death threats. The threats are chalked up to younger pack members giving challenge to Chaz, who is the Alpha. The fact that this was shrugged off annoyed me. Another problem is that the characters constantly tell Shiarra to be safe, don’t go places alone, etc… but she doesn’t listen. Instead she is constantly off getting into trouble, kind of like Carl on The Walking Dead.

During the unveiling of what was behind the pranks Chaz and Shiarra suffered, something else is uncovered. I can’t say much more than that. If I did it would give far too much away, but it rocks the very foundations of Shiarra. What is uncovered happens towards the last half of the novel. This is where the story heats up, and then ends. The thread running through the novels has been, ‘the Others (Others- everything that isn’t strictly human) use Shiarra.’ I hope this novel is the end of that.

The novel suffers from the same issues as the ones before it. The story is told through Shiarra’s eyes, and she is not my favorite narrator. Her narrative is nearly always heavy. She also repeats her plans or thoughts to the point that I want to knock on the window between us, to say I got it. I really, really enjoyed this novel, and at the same time I really didn’t like it at all. There are some major flaws, the biggest one being that it isn’t finished. It was all building to the next book instead of a complete story. The ending feels like it is the middle, and a ton of the beginning feels like it shouldn’t have been there at all. Despite this the end of the novel is where it is at. Shiarra got a slap in the face, and I felt it as a reader. Towards the end, once Shiarra discovers something on her own, the novel picks up. Mainly because I wasn’t expecting what happened. It is a race to the end, only it has no end. It is a cliffhanger, but didn’t feel like that for me. Instead it felt like it should have been the middle, or turning point in the novel.

It isn’t this often I am torn between liking something, and disliking it. At the same time this isn’t a middle of the ground novel. It will invoke feelings in the reader no matter what. Yes, I cannot wait to read the next book, but not for the usual reasons. I was left unsatisfied, and because of that I want to read the next book. While the characters have continued to be the same, and the stories in the first two books were self-contained. This is not the case with Deceived by the Others. It suffers from the same flaws as the first two books, and has a couple more issues with the story. As much as I look forward to the next novel, I hope it does more. (less)

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Jul 08, 2011 Fictional Bookshelf rated it 5 of 5 stars

The story was amazing and such a joy to read. This is the first book in the series that I’ve read but the author, Jess Haines, provided enough back story about 1 & 2 that I didn’t feel lost or like I was missing a piece of the puzzle. I definitely want to read 1 & 2 as well as any other books that come out in the series.

There are many reasons why I liked the story - maybe too many.

1. Shiarra, the main female, was a likeable character who actually surprised me a time or to. She wasn’t a p...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Ferdy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Spoilers

To show her commitment to Chaz - her werewolf boyfriend, Shia decides to spend the weekend away with him and his werewolf pack. Of course, Shia's weekend doesn't go according to plan when Chaz and his pack are attacked. Naturally, Shia investigates the bad guys.

-Shia has become less and less likeable. It was annoying how idiotic she was — she ignored everything going on around her, buried her head in the sand and then acted all surprised when she found out about Chaz's infidelity. She g...more Spoilers

To show her commitment to Chaz - her werewolf boyfriend, Shia decides to spend the weekend away with him and his werewolf pack. Of course, Shia's weekend doesn't go according to plan when Chaz and his pack are attacked. Naturally, Shia investigates the bad guys.

-Shia has become less and less likeable. It was annoying how idiotic she was — she ignored everything going on around her, buried her head in the sand and then acted all surprised when she found out about Chaz's infidelity. She gets played way too much by everyone around her — she's more or less powerless without Chaz, Royce, Arnold and the White Hats. I was hoping that Shia would become more in control of her life and wouldn't let anyone walk all over her but she was still very much a victim.

-Chaz was a grade A dick and a half. He actually thought it was ok for him to cheat and lie to Shia, and then on top of that he acted like he was the victim and blamed Shia for everything.
I think the only reason that Chaz was portrayed as such a bastard was to make Royce seem like the better love interest. Royce was still a slimy jerk though, all he's ever done is manipulate Shia and put her in danger. He's such a rubbish love interest, it's obvious he doesn't love her — the only reason he shows any interest in her is because she doesn't want him.

-I really don't know how Royce is even a love interest?! He threatens, uses and intimidates Shia, he also sleeps around and lusts after other women. From his actions and words, its clear that Shia's nothing special to him but because he's good looking and occasionally flirts with Shia everyone thinks he's her HEA. I just don't get it.
If they do get together, I hope it's just sex and they don't magically fall in love with each other. A romance with Royce isn't believable since 1) Shia doesn't like being involved with Others 2) Royce treats Shia like dirt 3) Royce has blackmailed, beaten and lied to Shia repeatedly and 4) Shia's family would never make accept her if she dated a vampire. It won't make any sense for them to all of sudden claim they love each other.

-Shia's parents were dicks, they disowned Shia because she was attacked and possible infected with lycanthropy. What the fuck sort of parents would blame their daughter and act ashamed of her when she gets attacked?! I'm guessing Shia will probably just forgive them because she's pretty weak like that.

This was disappointing - Shia was a dumb doormat, Chaz was a bastard, Royce was a douche and the plot was boring.(less)

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Apr 05, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Holy Cow! Get ready for the action and suspense to heat up in Deceived by the Others!! I literally (not exaggerating) read this in one sitting. I could not put this book down! Of course, now I'm jonesing for the next book to come out because I have to know what happens next!! I don't want to give too much away, but if you haven't picked up this series yet - what are you waiting for?!? I went through so many emotions along with Shia that I felt like I was in her shoes. I guess Shia really can't t...more

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Jun 13, 2011 Larissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

*Spoiler Free

It is very hard nowadays to create something original and worthy of following through book after book, when it comes to Urban Fantasy. I mean, there are SO MANY Urban Fantasy series out there that for one to shine more than the others it doesn’t only have to be different but also offer such compelling characters and world that you won’t care that it all has been done before.

Jess Haines has been able to do it all. I me...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

In this third installment of Haines’ H&W Investigations series, readers are introduced to some of the more private, inner-workings of the were pack and their traditions. In an effort to introduce Shiarra to his pack, and to see how she deals with a whole gaggle of shifted Weres during a full moon, Chaz takes Shia on a mini vacation way up in the Catskill Mountains. Hunter, New York is home to the Pine Cone Lodge, a shifter friendly (and shifter run) vacation spot, perfect for this late fall...more In this third installment of Haines’ H&W Investigations series, readers are introduced to some of the more private, inner-workings of the were pack and their traditions. In an effort to introduce Shiarra to his pack, and to see how she deals with a whole gaggle of shifted Weres during a full moon, Chaz takes Shia on a mini vacation way up in the Catskill Mountains. Hunter, New York is home to the Pine Cone Lodge, a shifter friendly (and shifter run) vacation spot, perfect for this late fall getaway…Mind you, Shia may not think of the Pine Cone Lodge as perfection by the end of the weekend!

As if the whole idea of hanging out with a bunch of shifted Weres wasn’t stressful enough, it takes no time at all for Shiarra to find out that not everyone in the Sunstrikers pack is excited for her to be there. From catty female pack mates to snarky punks hell bent on becoming alpha, there is no shortage of tension amongst the ranks. But, regardless of how scared shitless she really is, Shia takes whatever they can dish out with a bravery and determination that would make any sane person shake their head in awe and admiration.

I so totally DID NOT see that coming! ...

Ok. So in my review of Taken By The Others , I made it no secret that I have a total girly crush on Alec Royce, but I never really mentioned what I thought of Chaz…It’s official! Chaz is a dick of epic proportions! As this is an early review, I’ll keep the details to a minimum, but let’s just say that Haines does one hell of a job foreshadowing in the previous two books of the series. In both Haunted By The Others and Taken By The Others , I always felt there was something slimy about Chaz. Granted, readers are told up-front how he lied to Shia about what he truly was; revealing well into their relationship (a physical one at that) about his true self. But still, readers are treated to Shiarra’s willingness to forgive Chaz for his transgressions and asked to move beyond this rather major issue. However, all through out both HBTO & TBTO , I continued to feel that there was something “off” with this relationship. While neither story really delves too deep into their reconciliation, whenever the reader was led to focus on this relationship, there was an ever present feeling of mistrust and even mild disgust for Chaz.

As with the previous two books, Haines presents readers with a wild, tension filled adventure from start to finish. With solid foundations already established in the previous two books, Haines carries on the adventures of Shiarra Waynest with vividly described settings, a perfectly balanced cast of characters, and one hell of a kick azz protagonist whose believable personality and willingness to admit fear will have readers identifying with her and feeling as if they are experiencing this adventure right along side Shia.

In closing, Jess Haines finally gives us “pro Alec Royce” types a sneak peak of what is to come…can we say squeeeeeeeeeee! Me thinks Shia is in for some pretty exciting new adventures and I am definitely signed on for the ride!

Kudos to you, Jess! Your H&W Investigations series has a permanent place on my shelf and I am certain Deceived By The Others will be at the top of many "favorites" lists for 2011!

Hunted By The Others (H&W Investigations, #1)

Taken By The Others (H&W Investigations #2)

(less)

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Deceived by the Others (H&W Investigations #3)

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