The only thing more dangerous than their chemistry…is their enemies!Mild-mannered Xenoarcheologist Dr. Alec Coimhead and his best friend, Dr. Clemy Armistead, are certain that they’ve just found the ancient location of an apocryphal battle between demons and angels. Whisked away on a rollicking adventure, Alec finds himself under the watchful eye of Rafe, a taciturn mountain of a man with a … with a mysterious past.
with the enigmatic Praesidium, which claims to have protected humanity for generations, Alec clashes with his ethereally handsome bodyguard. As the New Watchers pursue the rambunctious pair across the globe, Alec and Rafe will have to battle ancient terrors and mythical creatures come to life. Racing to the ancient tomb of a fallen angel, Alec and Rafe may lose it all – and each other – to save the world. The Watchers: In The Valleys Of The Earth is the first book in an MM paranormal romance series.
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Overall: 4.25 Stars!
Performance: 5 Stars!
Story: 3.5 Stars
In the Valleys of the Earth is R.R. Pearl’s debut novel and as such, it shows a lot of promise.
I liked Rafe and how protective he was of Alec. Alec, on the other hand, was a bit of an acquired taste. He seemed to excel in everything he did, be it in his profession as a xenoarchaeologist or in battle, which rubbed me the bad way. In the interest of trying to enjoy the book, I decided to just go with it and accept that Alec was a regular Indiana Jones and leave it at that. Their relationship developed a bit fast for my liking, and some of the s*x scenes seemed out of place and not particularly needed, which led to me ffwding those in favor of getting to the actual plot. *shrugs*
I was really impressed with John York’s narration. Going from Alec’s Scottish brogue to Rafe’s nearly robotic “proper” English accent to Clemmy’s American one, and those of all the rest of the characters takes some serious talent. Bravo, Mr. York!
The plot was interesting, fast-paced, action-packed, and kept my interest until the last page. As the first book in a series, it was good enough to make me want to listen to book 2 when it comes out.
Independent reviewer for Gay Romance Reviews, I was gifted the audio file of this book.
Don’t you just LOVE it when you get totally blown away by a book?? AND the narration?? This book, right here!
Alexander finds himself in the middle of an age old war, between good and evil. But who can he really trust?
I loved this book, I really did. There is a MUCH bigger picture that I’m not seeing yet, especially after that last chapter and epilogue.
The story itself moves at speed, but it does take a little while to pick up that speed. Once it does, it does not let go. It reminded me a little of another archaeologist who gets up to lots of adventures! There are many references to the Book of Enoch, but you don’t need to be familiar with it, when Alexander quotes, he explains.
I fear there is much we haven’t been told yet, but that’s not a bad thing, not at all! I love being kept on my toes! I love the hints though, that make you think, make you *try* to put it together, butI can’t yet, not properly! Rafe drops a LOT of hints!
John York narrates.
I’ve not listened to him before and I really enjoyed his narration! His reading voice is deep and even, with a vaguely English accent, but I can’t be certain with my rubbish hearing. His voices are all clearly identifiable and the accents for all the characters are spot on. So many accents delivered here!
My only niggle for the book and the narration is this: only Alexander has a say. Rafe has MUCH to say, I think, especially with all the hints he keeps dropping and the dreams Alexander has, but Rafe isn’t given a voice and I wanted him to! Not enough to detract from my 5 star rating though, but just because I’m greddy and like to hear from everyone! Given that lots of other characters are given a voice, but not Rafe, it annoyed me, is all!
Given the cliffhanger of an ending, and that this is the author’s FIRST book, and that I was fully engaged from start to finish, I need more! I NEED MORE!! Are you listening, RR Pearl?? MORE!! So write quicker, if you please!
4.5 stars for the book (for not giving Rafe a voice!)
5 stars for the narration
rounded up to 5 overall
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
R.R. Pearl brings to the forefront the ancient Hebrew apocalyptic religious text from the “Book of Enoch”. The author builds this new series “The Watchers” around two significant texts. The Watcher’s had made God angry because they provided: magic, technology and forbidden knowledge to mankind and eventually the Watcher’s met their demise. Also, the text that speaks of the Fallen Angels and the Angel Raphael, who was told by God too imprison Azazel in Dudael. With these two text Pearl creates a new novel that’s fast paced, adventurous, suspenseful, intense and exciting. But it’s not without humor or some campy lines which gives this an Indiana Jones-ish feel.
This adventure all starts on a dig in Egypt for the Israeli Antiquities Authority. Dr. Alexander “Alec” Coimheed, (not comb-head), an expert Xenoarcheologist, uncovers a stone tablet. When it comes to his work Alec is more than inquisitive, in fact he’s overly exuberant at times and it leads him into trouble. He has a good friend in Dr. Clementine “Clemy” Armistead, that never fails to tease and give Alec a bad time. She loves to call him “numpty”.
Even though Clemy tries to warn Alec about the stone tablet he just can’t resist touching it. The mysterious blue light causes a strange effect. Alec finds himself still at the dig site but there is a strange war going on around him. If things couldn’t get any weirder, (and they do), Alec and Clemy find themselves in the midst of the strange world of the of the Praesidium and a stranger known as Rafe.
Rafe is a protector with a secret. He’s not very friendly and just too serious. Alex swears he knows Rafe from somewhere but even his snooping doesn’t get him answers. Gradually Rafe loosens up and joins in with his dry humor and a spark starts to grow between him and Alec.
With the function of the Praesidium, Alec and Clemy start to learn about the mystery of the Watcher’s. What are the New Watchers and has Alec truly found Dudael? All the answers will lead Alec, Rafe and Clemy into danger and the clutches of the New Watchers.
Pearl gives us plenty of characters that bring so much to the storyline and there’s sure to be more to come about all of them. There’s great banter between Clemy and Alec and eventually Rafe. Alec’s Grandma Rose is delightful along with his pirate friend Theodore Quora. The Praesidium introduces: Dr. Avigdor Azarya, Dtrs. Goldstein, Professor Nori Lee-St. Clair, Director Baroness Von Fabres, and Oliver Winston. Of course, it’s not with our the evil demons and the New Watchers: Eris Erebos, Markus Lee-St. Clair and Azazel.
This is a first time read for me by R.R. Pearl. I’m hooked and this is a page-turner for me! I highly recommend “The Watchers” for anyone that loves action, excitement and great characters. “The Watchers” has really great potential to become an interesting and fantastic new series. I’m really curious and looking forward to find out where Pearl will take Alec, Rafe and Clemy next!
I liked the premise of the book, the general plotline, the suggested background story and some of the actions. I wanted to like it a lot more though. If I’d read this more as action/adventure novel, I think I’d have liked it even more. Since I was thinking this also was action romance, I wasn’t as happy. The characters didn’t have a chemistry since a lot of things seemed to be glossed over. I’d probably read the second book just because I like the base story and want to find out what happens, but I’d read it more as a non-romance novel.
Alex and his best friend Clemy are on a dig in Israel when they make an astounding discovery, one that will impact their lives and possibly the whole world. The Praesidium is protecting the world from the Watchers. A group that wants to bring hell to earth.
This books presents the reader with many suppositions. All the bad guys are really bad and all the good guys are really good. Ancient beings roam the earth bent on its destruction. Angels battled demons eons ago for control of said earth.
What I came away with is somewhere in the middle of the facts as presented. Bad guys are bad. I would trust most of the good guys to look after their own agenda (which isn’t necessarily the right one.) Ancient being aren’t very nice. And as for the Angel question it wasn’t answered.
Imaginative writing with hints of truth tossed here and there. There seemed to be plenty of backstory but it just wasn’t quite enough. Lots of action kept it interesting. Sort of improbable that people with Alex and Clemy’s background are able to stand against superior evil and survive. Maybe the next book will answer the burning questions I have.
While the love story between Rafe and Alex was supercharged, it still left too many questions. The book ends on what I’d call a soft cliffhanger.
A new author with this book.
Okay its got me intrigued straight away with an adventure ahead me thinks, yah a it of an understatement. Wow werried things happen and poor Alec doesn’t know what to believe. Clemy doesnt either as his work partner one the dig site. oh when Rafe comes into the story i had to chuckle at Alec. The worlds of the paranormal and of earth humans are slightly at battle with the New Watchers causing death’s and drama. Angels and Demons and the like in the days of Enoch tellings. Who really was Rafe?
• dramatic fight scenes
• Book Passport: Israel, Scotland, England, Egypt, just a few.
A great story of adventure, dramas and romance plus heaps more. I loved the characters and the twisting storyline. Written with multiple POVs for a slow romance.
Dr Alec was xenoanarchaeologist in Israel, from Glasgow finds a small statue puts them all in disbelief. A stone tablet with powers and visions transporting him to Azazel half man half goat Watcher’s time.
I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for the next one! Alec and Rafe are just perfect together. Add in the other characters and wow!! Great world building! Highly Recommend!!
This was an intense beginning to what promises to be an epic series. Alec and Rafe were brave and fearless, and I enjoyed watching their efforts to keep the world safe from evil spoken of since biblical times. The romance that developed between Alec and Rafe in the midst of terror and carnage was gratifying. While the ending was satisfying overall, I was left with a lot of questions. I will definitely read the next installment, and I hope these heroes can continue to enjoy their love as they fight the forces of evil.
Side note: I found it interesting that, while there were multiple points of view shown throughout the book, none of those was from Rafe. I do hope to get in his head in the future.
I think Alec and Rafe are fantastic and this story is very unique with some twist and turns and with the romance between the MC’s. The side characters are great. This has your action, adventure and romance. I definitely recommend this book.
As a fan of Dan Brown, Clive Cussler and Orson Scott Card and m/m romance, this book checked lots of boxes for me. The thriller aspects were well mixed with the world building and I found the character’s profession of xenoarchaeologist a great change from the everyday. I cannot wait to find out more about all the secret organizations, who is a good guy and who might turn out to be a baddie and the backstories of all the characters. A wonderful set up for a new series I will definitely continue to follow.
IN THE VALLEYS OF THE EARTH is the first book in The Watchers series, and you delve into the Book of Enoch from the bible, with angels and demons at war, and the poor unsuspecting humans cannon fodder in the middle.
Alec and Clemy are at a dig site in Israel when Alec reacts strangely to one of the objects found. Then all hell breaks loose – literally. They find themselves saved by a group of people they’ve never heard of, in a situation never thought of. Alec and Rafe have an intense connection but, be warned, there are a helluva lot of secrets here so be prepared for a bumpy ride.
If you are looking for a slow burn then you’ve found the wrong story. This is instalust at its finest. Alec is Indiana Jones by any other name and, to be 100% honest, slightly annoying with his constant font of all knowledge and back-and-forth with Rafe.
Right then, 3-stars means I found this book to be GOOD. It didn’t blow me away, but I finished it AND I enjoyed it. At 233 pages on my Kindle, it felt like a hefty read – one to really sink my teeth into. The supporting cast does its job brilliantly, and there are more than a few characters who stand out for their own reasons. The pacing can be a bit jerky at times, but that just helps when it’s an action-packed segment, and then you get time to breathe afterwards.
All in all, this was a book to be enjoyed. I do recommend it, especially if you are looking for something a little different.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
RR Pearl is a new author to me and one I will keep an eye out for in the future. At a dig, Alec, along with his best friend Clemy, finds a stone tablet that begins an adventure that neither ever could have imagined. Rafe is their protector with secrets. As the three of them begin their journey, you will be pulled into it and never want to leave. The characters are well-developed, interesting, and even the secondary characters are well thought out. You will enjoy their interactions and the snark is very well developed.
First time read from this author and I am pleased to have done so.
There were several twists and turns so it took me a moment to become immersed in the story line. Lot of intrigue and excitement to keep you fully engaged. Characters worked well with one another. Made you laugh.
Dr. Alexander “Alec” Coimhead is a Xenoarcheologist who loves his work despite the days in the blazing sun. Rafe is the hot bodyguard who is nothing short of a worthwhile distraction. Together, these two battle creatures and terrors of past. Can their desire to save the world interfere with the need for one another.
**I received this book via Gay Romance Reviews for my honest feedback.**