Secrets in the Fade

Secrets of the Sequoia #2

by Deidre Huesmann

Two years have passed since Rachael Adair was thrust into the world of lycans. And it's finally time for Aaron to make good on his promise.

Jackson is back.

But upon his return, little kids go missing. Many turn up dead. In Aaron's pack, a lycan who cannot control his rage must be put down. Rachael desperately wants to prove her brother's innocence, but it seems Aaron blocks her every move. And when she tries to turn to Holden for support, she finds he and Aaron are at each others' throats again. With the men trying to kill each other and her friends growing distant, will Rachael be able to find the proof she needs to keep Jackson from an old-fashioned lycan killing?

246 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2015

About the author

When she isn't writing, Deidre works full-time in the local shipyard, decked out in safety gear and getting her hands dirty. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, enjoying the changes in seasons year-round. When she isn't working either job, she's catching up on the stack of books on her dresser, kicking it with her children, or playing RPG video games.

She also writes adult LGBTQ erotic romance under Laelia West.

Reviews

[Jamie Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gads

You know the heroine that cries all the time and wines? That kind that wants her own way and is considered pushy with not much intelligence? Rachel is this type. She so annoys me. I gave the first book in this series a four star rating even though Rachel was a cry baby because of the interesting storyline and characters this SQL did not captivate me and I eventually skipped around to speed it up. Where Rachel love interest towards the end is not the way I'd like it to be. I'm not reading anymore but I hope Rachel grows up fast and annoys readers less.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows Rachael, a precocious young woman who's brother has finally returned after having been turned in to a lycan. Because her brother, Jackson, is still in the training stage, some of his more horrifying lycan abilities are still yet uncontrolled and he is being blamed for the death of a young girl, and several missing children in the town. But before he can be ceremoniously killed by the head lycan, Aaron, Rachel pleads for time to find evidence in her brother's favor. She is given a week, but its not a lot of time, and much of it is spent separating Aaron and her love interest, Holden, from gnawing at each other's throats.

This novel is a very good character development read. Though I do find there was more action and definite page turners in her first novel "Howl of the Sequoia," this book allows the reader to delve deeper in to her characters.

I really wish there was an option to do four and a half stars, because its very refreshing to read a novel where you are always unsure who the bad guy is. Each character is fully developed, and has both sadness, anger, a grudge, or things that happened in their past that fully justify the way they are acting now. So the tension is always palpable because you're never sure who you are rooting for, because they all have redeeming qualities or hindering qualities. The clan of lycans hold strongly to their beliefs and i'm reminded of the deep moral complications that plague them and such mythological creatures that have a different mindset in a human world.

The only reason I removed a star was because of the pace of the story. It definitely drags, but this isn't uncommon with a story that tries to inform you in depth of the characters, and it does have a killer ending that leaves you waiting for the next installment.

All in all, if you are a fan of stories like 'Interview with a Vampire' were the book brings you in to the mind frame of a society that has different rules and regulations that might be construed as terrifying or immoral, than this story will definitely appeal to you!

Regardless of your preference, you'll still really like this book!

[Iva Kenaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the first book of the series, I was very curious to continue with this story. Secrets in the Fade starts off two years after the end of Howl of the Sequoia. After Rachael’s mom passed away and her brother Jackson became lycan and disappeared, Rachael’s father is angry with him, thinking he has abandoned his family in the hardship. But Rachael knows what he’s been going through and worries about him. After Jackson finally returns, Rachael is grateful to Aaron, who has been taking care of him, despite the fact that he caused the trouble in the first place. Tension between Aaron and Rachael’s love-interest, Holden culminates, and even more so when they all find Jackson beside a dead body in the woods…

The situation between Rachel, Aaron and Holden seems to develop into a love-triangle, but on a very subtle level, which I find interesting. I also like that the main antagonist, Aaron is such a multidimensional character. On one hand he’s still the bad guy, but on the other he’s nice to Jackson and Rachel…He has depth to him, and good heart, or so it seems. However, as Holden said at one point, maybe he’s fooling the other characters and us, the readers alongside? Who knows who the enemy really is here...Nevertheless, I hope they’ll all do the right thing in the end.

I felt that Rachael was even stronger and wiser in this book and I love how protective she is of her brother. I think the author did a great job with this installment and I look forward to read another book in the series.

[Shoulanda August · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Rachael has been through so much in her short life. Her brother came back finally but was disowned by their father. Her life has been turned upside down and not for the better. I hate how it ended but can't wait to read the next installment!!

[Runningrabbit · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book FREE; complete trilogy on Kindle Unlimited
Bored with the YA relationship which is of the indecision and repetitious in nature.

[Deidre Huesmann]

Book 2. Rachael realizes that loving Holden comes with grave consequences.

Thank you for your support!