Customer Reviews

What Hides Inside

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What Hides Inside Bk 2 BCPI series WOW, Ally Blue pulls out all the emotional stops in this story. Bo is afraid to leave the closet, Sam is a little heartbroken, and Dean Delapore enters the picture. I wanted to slap Bo, hug Sam and kiss Dean. All the while, the plot thickens with paranormal activities that will put you off dark tunnels for life. The investigation is the main theme, which is a very creative story, but the romance is so Hot!!! Whew, I needed a cool down period with large amounts of iced tea. This is a fantastic book. I also read Bk 3 Twilight which is in e-book, and it is just as hot, just as heartwarming. I'm really enjoying this series.

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 7/10

PROS:

- The relationship picks up in intensity from the first volume to this second one. Not only are the characters more attracted to each other physically, but they're also more passionately (or passive-aggressively, anyway) at each other's throats when they disagree.

- There is sex in this volume (as opposed to the first volume, which doesn't go beyond kissing), and as I hoped it would be, it's incredibly sweet and passionate because the buildup to the relationship's physical aspect is so slow and gradual. (It won't seem as slow if you read this volume without reading Oleander House first.)

- The secondary characters are more fleshed out in this volume than the first, and I like especially the newest member of the investigative team. I wanted to smack him at the beginning of the book, but he endears himself throughout the rest of the story so that toward the end, I found myself wishing that Blue would write in a romance for him in one of the later volumes.

CONS:

- Not as eerie as the first book. Admittedly, I don't go for thrillers and/or horrors all that often, but the first volume seemed to set a precedent of creepiness that this book doesn't live up to. Put it this way: I got a little wigged out at one point reading Oleander House and had to stop reading it when it got too shadowy in my house, but I didn't encounter that problem with this volume.

- The big, climactic, facing-the-evil-interdimensional-creatures scene ends a bit quickly (it lasts for about 2 pages, at the end of which I sort of stared at the page with a puzzled expression and thought, "That's it?"), but to be fair, there is some dramatic fallout from that scene that takes up a good chunk of the story's conclusion, so overall I didn't feel all that cheated by the ending.

Overall comments: This book is quite enjoyable, as was the first volume, and this second one has a little bit of everything: an intriguing plot, likeable characters, sex, romance, and some good old-fashioned angst.

The synopsis is better reading than the story. I found the characters dull and the daily dialogue boring. Sam is out and Bo is in the closet but there was no heat or sexual tension created because of it. I got really tired of reading about their eye contact on page after page...Bo looked at him with hurt and lust.. Bo looked angry..Bo looked away...Sam....well, you get the picture. Enough already!

I got tired of David and Cynthia always hugging and kissing and sitting on each other's laps in the office. Dean was way over the top flirtatious for being a brand new guy in an interview!

The big lead up to finding the evil entity was very anti-climactic. Could Sam open a portal,could Sam close the portal, Sam should stay away from the portal...then poof it's over in half a page.

This novel was neither interesting, horrific, tense, sensual,sexual,erotic and the same goes for the characters. And just barely paranormal.

I felt like the author really had no idea of what to do in this story except promote Oleander House.

it was very good in a angsty kind of way.

in my opinion not enough sex but waht can you do.

even so it was enjoyable.

i would recommend it.

3.5 stars.

Even if I still have little patience with both Bo and Sam, I enjoyed this second book of the series a little bit more.

The paranormal part is very interesting. I liked the story of the high school built on an abandoned monastery. I also think the concept of the portals and of Sam's powers is becoming clearer and it's adding a purpose to the story. However I don't think there was enough of this element in this installment. Unlike the first book, the investigation wasn't as prominent and it seemed as if the author couldn't wait to get to the romance part.

The romance. Mmmmh, ok, I've already told that both Bo and Sam were annoying. Bo is still fighting to come out, but at least he is not denying he is gay. Sam is less pushy, but I don't like when he apologizes for telling what I think is right, for expressing to Bo his legitimate doubts about their relationship. I can't see their chemistry, I totally can't see their love! I was happy when Dean entered the story, because Dean is blunt and almost uncomplicated. I think he is the more mature character and I loved him for his sincerity. I almost hoped there would be more Dean and Sam's time, because I felt they fit much better together.

At the end of the first book I wasn't sure I would continue to read this series, but I enjoyed this one, so I'll be reading the third.

I will be sincere and I will state up-front that, even if I liked the first book in this series, I didn't continue with the reading sooner because that book had an impact in me that took several day to fade. There are different level of paranormal romance, from the almost funny approach, where, more or less, you are not worried for your characters since you well know that nothing of tragic will happen to them, to the deep horror, where you are not sure of anything, let alone that your duo will arrive to the end together (or complete of every essential body part).

The Bay City Paranormal Investigation series edges very much on the second level, and truth be told, also in the romance development it was not "classic": I clearly remember at the end of the first book that I thought, well, I'm not really sure that this couple will be together in the future. Where Sam was pretty sure of his feelings, Bo played the "straight" role for most of the story, and in the end, even if he came out to Sam, he was still deep in the closet to every one else, his family included. And above all he was married and his wife was not aware of his love for Sam.

Starting book 2 things are not really changed, other than Bo has introduced the possibility of asking a divorce to his wife Janine. But he has no intention of coming out, not to his family or his co-workers. Sam is still his little dirty secret, and even if when they are alone Bo is passionate and caring; Sam starts to feel the heaviness of the relationship. Doesn't help that another man, Dean, joins the group and he is handsome, flirting and willing to have an open relationship with Sam. Sam is drawn to Dean, not really on a physical level I think, but more to the possibility of living in the open their love, no hiding, no lies.

As the subgenre of the story is more horror than romance, also the romance itself is not following the canonical rules: while Sam loves Bo, in a way the love is not unconditionally, and in the end, he will fall into temptation. What Hides Inside is a step more into the evolution of Sam and Bo's relationship, but it's not again the conclusive step: Bo has only partially resolved his issues, Sam is still asking for more than what Bo is willing to concede; what has changed is that Sam tested his love for Bo, and he had the chance to ponder it in comparison to other alternatives, so now, if he is into the relationship, he is more aware and convinced of it.

This is the second book in the Bay City Paranormal Investigation series. I'm a little torn over how to review this book. It was certainly better than the first book, but many of the things I didn't like about the first book were still present in this one.

The Bay City team is back and is hired to investigate a local high school where kids have been disappearing. Rumors are circulating through the school that monsters reside in the tunnels under the school and are responsible for the disappearances. The problems sound and feel much like what the team experienced at Oleander House and everyone is on edge as they attempt to discover who or what is responsible for the disappearing kids.

This book has its own fair share of snags, which again seem to center around Sam and Bo. This time, however, there's a little extra thrown in with the addition of a new employee, Dean, who is openly bisexual and interested in Sam. Bo is still much the same moody jerk that he was in the first book. At least this time there seemed to be some resolution in the ending and it's didn't just seem to abruptly end, which was a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned.

Overall, I liked it better than the first book (by a lot) but I haven't decided it was enough of an improvement to keep me reading the series.

I really enjoy reading about paranormal activities. This didn't have nearly enough for me. Loved the characters and the plots. I was glued to it till the end.

It is so sizzling my Kindle pages were smoking!

And Miss Blue, honey you are a facinating writer.

This book was great. I can't want to read the next book of this wonderful series.

Bo is still hiding what he is from everyone, sometimes even himself. He wants Sam but not openly. He is afraid of admitting that he's gay and what that might mean for his life. Bo has finally left Janine, but he lives in fear and it colors the relationship he has with Sam. Right now all Bo allows them are hurried gropes in dark corners and covert touches. His life is in turmoil and he is afraid it's starting to fall apart.

Sam is agonizing about Bo. He loves him and wants to be with him, but Sam doesn't know how much longer he can stand hiding in the closet with Bo. Sam wants to be able to touch him and express his feelings without Bo panicking about being seen. Plus, this new investigation is bringing up a lot of things that too closely resemble what happened at Oleander House three months ago that it is leaving him scared and uncertain.

What Hides Inside is a classic Ally Blue story, fast paced and full of angst. Bo and Sam are very lovable characters, even when they are acting like idiots and you want to smack them for it. The books goes from funny to scary to sensual in ways that grip you and make you live the emotional journey the characters make. If you are a fan of Ally Blue's work you will love this book. Read What Hides Inside, you won't be disappointed!

Note: this is the second book of the series and it can be read as a stand alone, but you might miss some important references.

Sabella

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed