| Title | : | Hidden (Jacobs Family #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 360 |
| Publication | : | First published September 18, 2014 |
BENJAMIN MARSHALL is newly assigned to Dana’s office. Straight from a six year military deployment, he is not what Dana wants or needs. Ben knows God has a reason for putting him in this place at this time—to help Dana. When a local school is threatened, they open a case which leads them on a chase through the Enchanted Circle and Carson National Forest, pursuing a man filled with a bitterness Dana can understand. But her anger is different. It’s justified, it remains hidden inside, and it hurts no one.
Can Dana face her own mortality? And when she does, can she truly understand what it means to forgive and to be forgiven?
Hidden (Jacobs Family #1) Reviews
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This novel was one of extremes for me.
The main characters Dana and Ben were likable. Their backgrounds added to the story line. Dana's spiritual journey was credible and I enjoyed watching it unfold. The criminal and criminal acts were solid.
My main concern is the romance between Dana and Ben while ultimately believable, was not so initially. Dana was Ben's boss. He was near to declaring his love for her when they first met which was when he reported for his new job with Homeland Security. And the physical contact initiated by Ben very early on was not at all believable. Sexual harassment is what it would have been considered. Also, I don't know any 27 year old that would call the woman he cares about "honey". At the end of the novel the romance was credible, but there were a number of scenes leading up to that point that were not at all believable.
A secondary concern were some of the methods used by Dana and Ben in their role as professionals. For example, they entered a crime collection location without gloves. Largely, their actions as legal professionals were credible, but a few situations were not.
Overall, this one was a quick read. It was a bit of a mixed bag for me. -
Reviewed at The Power of Words:
http://tinyurl.com/lrvzozf
Have you ever picked up a book where the characters, steadily developing romance, plot, and setting all came together in such a way that you wanted to prolong the reading experience? That perfectly describes the way I felt about Vannetta Chapman's first romantic suspense novel, Hidden. I have long enjoyed Vannetta's Amish stories, and I'm not much of a suspense fan - so I literally found myself asking, Who are you, Vannetta Chapman, that you can write in such contrasting styles and effortlessly capture my emotions?
I simply think the quality of Vannetta's writing transcends the genre in which she is writing. Top-notch suspense and romance are strong elements, but it's the characterization, gentle humor, and sense of place that kept me engaged. There's good character depth - but more than that, it's like Vannetta really knows and is comfortable with her cast of characters and is able to convey that realism to the reader. Taos, New Mexico, is a fascinating setting and Vannetta did a great job bringing out the local flavor, culture, and natural beauty.
Dana and Ben are strong, appealing lead characters. Tough, smart, and extremely capable, Dana has risen to the top of her field as a local director of Homeland Security. Ben is all that a hero should be - brave, protective, and faithful, a former military leader who took the Homeland Security job "to keep American towns from being torn apart like the ones in Iraq had been." And while Dana lives with a painful past, disillusioned with God, Ben is comfortable in a faith that strengthens and sustains him.
One of the most moving characters is the elderly Apache, Tafoya, a man who honors the way of his people, but has embraced Christ . . . "This is what gives me peace, knowing I will be united with my son and even my wife who went before him. This is why I can work each day and do so with the strength of the hawk and the peace of the deer."
The spiritual themes woven throughout really brought everything home for me. Ben firmly believes that God guides his steps and that he has been placed on Dana’s team for a reason. Another thought is that God's plans are not the same as ours - something I know, yet always need gentle reminders. But it was Ben's words to Dana that especially spoke to me: "Sometimes we can accept God did the tremendous things - like create those stars you're staring at. Then we try to believe He can heal a fawn, or a person, and we stumble. Our belief falters."
Hidden is an impressive story on many levels, one that will be on my "best of" list for 2014 because of how much I enjoyed it. Highly recommended.
Hidden is independently published, but don't let that discourage you from picking it up, because this story stands out in comparison to much that is traditionally published. Hidden can be purchased in ebook format at a very reasonable price.
Thank you to Vannetta Chapman for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. -
This was okay writing wise, nowhere near as good as the first book of the 'Remnant Series'. Character development and pacing was wacky-not done well at all! Dana was annoying, and Ben, while I wanted to like him, was WAY too pushy about having a relationship with Dana! I mean, seriously! Ben has this INSTANT attraction to her, like CRAZY INSTANT! Then he's all like, "yeah, well, I have a feeling she's supposed to be part of my life so I am gonna bother her till she decides to date me." not to mention kissing her when she has made it clear up to that point she doesn't want to be with him!!! (Forget the fact that he doesn't even care she isn't a Christian and he's unequally yoked, that's not even as annoying as how pushy he is.)
But this wasn't even why I DNFed it. Once I reached the part where they find out the perpetrator has been creepily stalking Dana and has a lot of insane, crazy fascinations with her, I was done. EEUW! GROSS!
Highly DON'T recommend. -
Wonderful suspense with a side of romance
As a New Mexico girl myself, I was ecstatic to find a romantic suspense set in my home state. I haven’t spent a lot of time in the Taos area, but I knew enough about the areas she referenced that it felt familiar. The suspense itself was well written, note about the action, suspense, and finding their guy than identifying him, once he was revealed fairly quickly in. I enjoyed the push and pull between Ben, who was immediately interested, and Dana, who was resistant to her attraction. Everything was well developed and well paced and highly enjoyable! Looking forward to downloading the second book. -
Free on Amazon! (28.5.22)
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Favorite author, Vannetta Chapman, has now dipped her pen in the inkwell of contemporary fiction. Leaving Amish buggies behind in a cloud of New Mexico dust, she has woven a tale that moves with fascinating speed and intrigue in the dangerous world of Homeland Security.
A deranged man who has brooded for decades over a perceived wrong done his family when he was a teen has created a target that has eluded the team of professionals who secure our land. Dana is the female protagonist and is supervisor of a team of 30 Homeland Security personnel. Newcomer to the team, Ben Marshall, is an army veteran trained and experienced in explosives. Those talents and his experience become invaluable in the hunt for this desperado.
Got to factor in a teenage boy who has gotten in deeper with evil than he ever thought possible and all in the hopes he could help his Mom and two younger brothers. (The youngest brother is a real charmer that will capture the reader’s heart!)
The pace of Hidden is constant and fast. The dialogue and word pictures enrich the story and again reveal the talents that Vannetta Chapman brings to her writing.
This time Chapman has chosen to self-publish, but I foresee publishers clamoring for rights to publish subsequent books along this line.
Want to give HIDDEN a try! You can read the first few chapters for free at Amazon and also at
https://www.goodreads.com/story/show/....
GIVEAWAY: Vannetta has graciously agreed to bless one of Chat With Vera's readers with their own copy of HIDDEN. Begins October 12 & ENDS November 17 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT. Open to USA addresses only.
http://chatwithvera.blogspot.com/2014... -
Very good book about mistaken identity, but far more than that. There's a psycho who wants to kill Dana Jacobs, the director of Homeland Security in Taos, New Mexico. Drogan, an extremely angry man, plays a dangerous cat and mouse game with Dana, setting her up for his ultimate kill.
The whole staff of the office, plus a new employee, Benjamin Marshall, explosives expert recently released from two tours in the middle east, have a mission to protect their boss. This new employee turns out to be more beneficial to this team than anyone could have imagined. Drogan is illusive and his plot to kill Dana is extremely complicated including explosives of his own.
This book kept my interest from page one; I did not want to put it down. And although it was suspenseful and quite good, there's the issue of a pet peeve of mine with Christian authors. That is: when a dedicated Christian character pursues, falls in love with, and declares his/her love for a truly non-Christian character. The first of the discussion questions at the end mentions a portion of the book where Ben feels that God has directed him into the path of Dana Jacobs. It's one thing to be in her path to share the Lord with her, or influence her, or help her in the job set before them. It's an entirely different thing to enthusiastically pursue a non-Christian. I mean, in just days he's touching her, calling her sweetheart, and kissing his boss!! In less than three weeks he's declaring his love. Do Christian authors just totally disregard 2 Corinthians 6:14, like it's not even in the bible? Ugh!
Five stars for the writing, down a star for ignoring a biblical principle. -
A little unbelievable in the way two characters interact, though they are superior and underling at work. Lessons taught are meaningful. Great drama and satisfying ending.
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Dana Jacobs is supervisor in charge of the local Homeland Security office in Taos, New Mexico. Benjamin Marshall is the new guy in town, assigned to Dana's office after a 6-year military deployment. His charming personality rankles Dana to the core in spite of his brilliance as an explosives expert. His attraction to Dana sets her on edge, and is unwelcome. As dangerous events challenge Dana's best trained team she is forced to accept Ben's expertise and knowledge, along with a strong taste of romance she is unprepared to acquiesce. Dana struggles with bitterness from the past, difficulty with forgiveness, and loss of faith while Ben provides a calm strength and strong faith throughout their investigations into a threat to homeland security. Can she overcome her bitterness and accept the help of one who has the means and the devotion to assist her? Ben to Dana: "Trust me." His faith keeps him on an even keel throughout the most dangerous situations, and he knows that God has placed him where he is for a very definite purpose. He prays for Dana to discover that peace.
Vannetta Chapman is recognized for excellence in creating absorbing and captivating Amish fiction as well as Amish mystery. In her newest release, "Hidden," she has crossed over to the Inspirational Romantic Suspense genre, and has done a brilliant job of creating a suspense-filled, well researched plot that kept my attention throughout. Her first venture into the suspense genre without the Amish theme is highly successful! Each of the characters in "Hidden" is strong and unique, personalities the reader can identify with. Emotional and danger-filled, this novel takes the reader to multiple levels, each one creating a strong response to the events through the book. Poignant, composed with sensitivity, compassion and artistic expression, this is a compelling book you won't soon forget! The author has presented a high-pitched work of romantic suspense that will assure you that God has a purpose in all things!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review. -
(This review was originally published at
sarahruut.com.)
The perfect blend of gripping suspense, tender romance and patient faith.
Dana and Ben find themselves in the midst of an investigation that not only endangers their entire team and their community, but also threatens to undermine everything they have just begun. Will they be able to catch the perpetrator without losing what they hold most dear in the process? With short chapters, it should be easy to find a place to put the book down, but I doubt you'll find an easy place at all, except maybe after the last page!
Some suspense leaves nothing to the imagination. Hidden, on the other hand, includes enough details to create the tension of the situation without being gruesome; the descriptions create the scene in your mind without bogging down in the specifics. This is good for those of us who would prefer not to "see" some of the evil that lurks in the mind of antagonists.
My favorite character was definitely Ben. He was truly a well-developed hero, from his gentle smile to his cool-headed thinking. He was calculated and detailed and yet compassionate and steady -- just what Dana needed.
Dana's past has left her bitter, hurt, and defensive. Only God can heal hurts such as hers, but thankfully He is big enough to do it. There are so many hurting people in our world. I hope that they, too, will discover this wonderful story, and that (though it is subtle) the faith Ben embodies might encourage them to reach out to the One who can heal every hurt.
(I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author in exchange for my honest review. The thoughts expressed here are entirely my own.) -
Wow! No Other Words Necessary!
I have read all of author Vannetta Chapman’s Amish fiction books. I sit here amazed at the talent this author has. Yes, her Amish fiction books have been good but this story simply blew me away! I hated every minute that I had to put this book down. This is by far the best book I have read in a long time when it comes to suspense.
Where do I start? The characters were real and vivid. The scenery that this author painted was right there and I could see it in my mind’s eye. The terror was real and frightening. I went along with the team every time they headed out to a new place to check out. Evil pure evil lurked inside the pages of this book and I FELT it by the magnificent way this author described it.
I also loved the romance entwined throughout this story. I loved Ben and I loved Dana. Ben, strong, brave, and protective. Dana, broken, beautiful, and living with the pain of the past.
The fact that Ben and other characters had faith and trust in God brought it all home for me. There is a message we can all learn, especially at the end of the book.
I can’t finish this review without telling you, there were tears by the time I read, The End.
Vannetta Chapman, this book was awesome. While your Amish fiction stories are great, Hidden touched me in ways I didn’t think possible.
This book is more than a 5 star book. I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of it soon. You’ll be glad you did. Your adventure will start on Page One! -
In Hidden, Dana Jacobs manages the Taos office of the Department of Homeland Security. Her newest employee is Ben Marshall, an ex-Army explosives expert . . . which comes in handy when there’s a bomb scare at the local high school.
Ben senses an immediate connection with his new boss, a knowledge that God has brought him here for a reason. That alone makes this a step above most Christian romance—the acknowledgement that God guides His children. Ben also prays, something else that’s lacking in Christian fiction. Unfortunately, Dana pulls away every time he mentions his faith, and pulls away from any personal relationship as well.
This is a romance, so it’s no spoiler to say there’s a happy ever after ending. It’s Christian romance, so it shouldn’t be a spoiler to say Dana has to become a Christian by the end. So . . . there must be a conversion scene. On one hand, it’s well done, in that it fits in with the storyline (the primary concern of any novel), but it was a little weak from the theological perspective: it was more Dana realising God does exist and cares for her rather than actually turning her life over to him.
But even that places it head and shoulders above most Christian romance novels. I definitely rate Hidden as 5 stars in terms of the plot, characters and writing—the plot is strong, original and scarily believable. The characters are excellent, and the writing is strong.
Recommended. -
Inspirational… Romantic… Suspense…
Wow! That pretty much sums it up!
I wish I knew how Vannetta creates and describes her characters – they’re so full of life, so bigger than life!
I had barely made it into Chapter three when the descriptions I had been reading about fully enabled me to see, in my mind’s eye, the characters, office, even the file Dana was holding.
Vannetta has such a marvelous way with words that it is a pleasure reading her novels. I come away feeling like I’ve been reading about co-workers or neighbors – people I see often – and I begin wondering where the Homeland Security office in my small town is located. Obviously I need to look for a building that would “look” like anything but a Homeland Security office.
I don’t want to go further into what happens – you already have the synopsis (shown above) to lead you through the story – and I refuse to put any spoilers in my reviews.
But trust me when I say this is an awesome read and you will enjoy every moment of it!
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Vannetta Chapman wowed me with this romantic suspense! Superb imagery and intricate details pulled me right into the story and gripping suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved Dana Jacobs and Ben Marshall, as well as the wonderful cast of secondary characters. A captivating storyline, coupled with heartfelt, tender romance, make Hidden a must read! I am screaming for more in the Jacobs Family Series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All thoughts expressed are my own. -
This story was an abrupt change from Vannetta's Amish romances and I wasn't sure about it when I started reading. But then I was drawn into the plot of Homeland Security and the threat to Dana's life. As an animal lover, I could have done without the graphic descriptions of the bad guy slaughtering animals to leave a trail, but other than that, it was a pretty good read. I also quickly tired of Ben calling Dana 'sweetheart', I found it condescending as she is his boss. Not sure I would read another book if this is going to be a series.
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Just finished reading "Hidden" today, and it surely was different from the other books I've read by this author. Chapman does a credible job in this first book of her new series, "The Jacobs Family". The story line is full of action, and moves along quickly.
I always love how she develops her characters, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. -
Clean, faith based suspense and romance! Loved this book!
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Wow!
Having read just about all of Vannetta Chapman's books wasn't enough to prepare me for Hidden (Jacobs Family Series Book 1). One thing I knew for sure, if Ms. Chapman wrote it, it has to be a winner, and is it ever!
Ben Marshall recently ended his military career and is starting a new job with the Department of Homeland Security in Taos, New Mexico. He knows God has placed him there for a reason, and soon enough, Ben believes that reason is Dana Jacobs. Dana Jacobs is a woman with a very sad and troubled past, but every day she tries to put that past behind her in order to fulfill her job as supervisor in charge of the Department of Homeland Security. And the last thing she wants to be troubled with is Ben Marshall. However, that is easier said than done when a backpack left at the local high school begins a string of events that cause Ben and Dana to team up and join with the rest of the department in order to solve the series of mysterious events that follow.
Hidden is full of romance, humor, suspense, action, and enough twists and turns that will have you turning pages as fast as you can while literally sitting on the edge of your seat. Aside from being a romantic suspense story, it's also a story of faith, forgiveness, and redemption. It's an emotional roller coaster ride that you won't want to get off of. It's just that good. And by the time you're done, all you'll be able to say is, "Wow! That was amazing!"
*****I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and view points are my own.
#Reread -
Brilliantly written... until the very, very end. While it was decently written and wrapped up the story nicely, it was too much of the easy way out that many Christian writers take. I definitely recommend it as a Christian suspense. I like how the mystery comes to light and if the story had ended right after they finish with the villain, I wouldn’t have felt the need to add a caveat to my first comment. I probably would’ve preferred that the romance aspect was left hanging, with the potential recognized, but not realized the way it was at the end - if the end result is supposed to be marriage and it has to be outlined for us, have an epilogue with the proposal or wedding or even from fifteen years down the road as their teenage son acts just like his dad did as a child.
So, yes, read this book! Just don’t let the very, very end stop you from enjoying it. -
Beautiful
Impossible scenario? Vanetta Chapman made it realistic. She turned the characters into real people. I had to force myself to put this book down at night & to put it out of my thoughts during the day so I could do the things I needed to! Excellent book & the message of faith was beautifully told.
