She’s a city girl with a secret, on the hunt for a way to make her dreams come true. He’s a big, growly mountain man with plans, and secrets, of his own.Rhea’s a woman on a mission.She wants to make a difference in the world. Shine a light on the injustices that happen right under our noses using the lens of her camera.When the opportunity to work with an internet celebrity takes her to the tiny … internet celebrity takes her to the tiny mountain town of Greenlea, she’s sure the most difficult part will be keeping her calm around the bratty millionaire who hired her.
But once she crosses paths with their grumpy, bearded and sexily rugged tour guide, it becomes clear her problems are only beginning.
*
Hagen is focused on one thing and one thing only.
Building his family’s businesses. Bringing jobs and money to their tiny corner of the Appalachian mountains.
It’s money the people around him need. Money that could feed families and change lives.
That’s why he agreed to let a camera crew in. To attract the tourist traffic he needs.
But a fire-haired camerawoman with a backbone of steel threatens his plans. His future.
His sanity.
Rhea is the one thing he never wanted to see in Greenlea.
She might also be the one thing he never wants to let go.
Mountain Calling was previously published as Hagen, book 1 in the BIG series.***
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Good variations on the Bigfoot theme ! Realistic characters, believable story.
Like the way the book flowed. The enter action between the characters, looking to see what comes next in the series
So many times I’ll pick up a novel from Amazon because it sounds sort of entertaining, and it’s free, so what the heck. Then I’m surprised because it turns out to be a VERY engaging story. This is one of those books and I’ll be paying for the rest of the series, I liked it that much. A good story that makes you want more. And – there is! I’ll be starting on the rest of them soon.
My first by Whiteaker and definitely won’t be the last!! Really, really enjoyed this original paranormal story!! Excellent characters and world building!! Can’t wait to read the rest of this series!!
Completely unexpected. A paranormal romance that took me down plot paths I was not expecting to enjoy as much as I did. The plot pacing and characters are solid. And the subject, even with being paranormal, somehow were still very believable. A page turner from the start. Riveting. Highly recommended.
What a great PNR! Never read a story about Bigfoot before so I was a little wary. But it engaged from the start! Very vivid details, and great plot with a steady pace! Also loved the romantic tension between the leads. Can’t wait to see what’s next!
Hagen (Big, #1)
by Janice M. Whiteaker
5 Stars
This is the first book in the Big series by Janice M. Whiteaker. This is also my first book by this author. This book is a paranormal romance and i really enjoyed it. It was different than many of the paranormal books that i have read. I enjoyed the authors writing style, the story flowed so easily. The main characters are Rhea and Hagen. Rhea is part of a group traveling to the woods to try and capture proof that bigfoot exists. Being from the city, Rhea and her group decide to hire a guy and that is where Hagen comes in. They are both such interesting characters and i enjoyed them both.
I am looking forward to reading more of this series and more by this author!
Review By Anastasia D.
I have to say that I was completely taken by surprise when I read Hagen by Janice M. Whiteaker. This book has just the right amount of paranormal that I like reading.
We get to meet Rhea – who seems to be a professional photographer and is working with her best friend Stewart and his love interest Chauncey to “discover” the myth that is Bigfoot. In the process, she comes across Hagen, who lives in the small town in the Appalachian Mountains.
What happens once those two (Rhea and Hagen) meet is nothing less than extraordinary. I loved every aspect of this book. From the character development, to the storyline and the way in which it grasped my attention and didn’t let go. I was completely enthralled and couldn’t stop reading, until I was able to get to the end.
I seriously can’t wait to get my hands on the next book and learn more about the characters and all that they have to offer and trust me – it’s quite a lot. I loved how sexy and brooding the story and its characters felt. I loved that Rhea was a strong female, who made her voice heard no matter what – even when there were alpha males all around her. She was such a refreshing view in this story. I definitely think that this was a 5 Star Book. Everything about the book pleased me as a reader.
Hagen is the first book in the Big series and I loved it. It’s so different from everything else I’ve been reading. This book can be easily read from beginning to end in one sitting. It will literally suck you into its world and not let you go. The flow is flawless and the writing are flawless. I love paranormal books because these worlds are so creative and different than our own that I love the escape it gives you. This is no different! Each aspect of the book was pictured perfect in my head and I can’t wait for more!
Wow what a brilliant start of a series it pulled me in right from the start right til the very end with its beautifully written storyline. I found the story incredibly captivating and it kept me on my toes throughout highly enjoyed every second and can’t wait to read more from this author and be taken on a another amazing journey.
First book of this paranormal romance series, BIG, and what a good start. Enough to make you come back for more.
Rhea, as a camera operator, joins a famous youtuber and his crew in the middle of nowhere to find the famous Bigfoot. Little did she know that her life will change forever with this “discovery”. Hagen is the main character of the story with a secret his family is keeping for more than 100 years. He sees himself like a cursed man and just survives one day after the other when the fiery redhead comes into his life to give it meaning.
Interesting characters with the special skills or without and the story is so believable that flows and takes you into a mythical world that you wish to be a part of.
Hagen (Big#1) by Janice M. Whiteaker
Rated 5 stars
LOVED this book! So much excitement to read this! This is my first BIG Foot book! What a cool idea for a book series! I loved the story! The writing is wonderfully fast paced with snappy dialogue. The characters…Whoo Wee! Each of the characters flies off the pages and comes to life. They are all something else! The banter between the characters kept me looking for more.
Hagen is big, broody and has a mother who won’t quit interfering in his love life. Rhea is stubborn and snarky red head who doesn’t take crap from anyone. Together they are magic! They had many wonderful/scary moments at first and second meetings. Everyone had their shot at being embarrassed by someone in the group. Even Rhea didn’t get out of being embarrassed…When she had to empty out her bag and show everyone what she carried in her survival pack in the woods?? Hilarious!!! I laughed and laughed at the men.
Stewart is the best! He makes me laugh! His reaction to bodily fluid discussions…OMG! I also LOVE what he calls Hagen! “Big and Scary” HA HA! Even to his face! That takes guts! Stewart added so many light and fun moments to the story! He was the BEST supporting character ever!
Jerrik? His little toothpick quirk! Cute! He is a great brother to Hagen. He made me laugh and giggle while he irritated Hagen. Rhea hit the nail on the head when she made the comment about siblings always being there for each other. Because that sums up Jerrik and Hagen to each other perfectly.
There were a couple things that frustrated me about this story. First Rhea and her “powers”. Confusing to me at first then part way I completely understood. But then another wrench was thrown In with little to no explanation. (Sorry trying not to give spoilers.) Also the ending..well really the last chapter. Maybe epilogue with a time difference would have been better. I thought it was the next morning going in and had to reread a couple times to figure out what I missed.
On that note..will I read the next installment? Yes. I couldn’t wait to get back and read this every time i left. It made my day brighter. The first half was amazing it slowed down a bit in the second half. Looks like the next one is about “Bigger and Scarier” to quote Stewart.
Ps I loved all the characters names! So unique!
5 Stars
Hagen is the first book in the Big series by Janice M. Whiteaker. What a fun and original story this turned out to be. It is a paranormal romance with Bigfoot playing a leading role! It was funny, emotional, and very steamy.
Rhea is a 28-year-old camera operator who has travelled all the way to the Appalachian Mountains for a job that she hopes will be the big break she has been dreaming of. She meets up with the director and the rest of the crew at the bed and breakfast that they will be using as their headquarters during filming. They are making a documentary about Bigfoot, which means hiking into the forested mountain to try and capture their prey on film. This project will require them to camp out overnight as well. They have hired a local to guide them into the wilderness and to help keep them safe. When Rhea first lays eyes on the guide she knew immediately he had the power to break her. There is definitely something different about him that intrigues her, and she is determined to work out what it is.
Hagen feels cursed and thinks fate has robbed him of the chance of a normal life. This has left him a little bitter and lonely. Now he is going to be stuck in the woods babysitting a bunch of city slickers with plans on capturing convincing footage of Bigfoot’s existence. Not if he has anything to do with it. But having Rhea in close proximity for the whole time, as well as a meddling mother and an old prophecy to contend with- does he really stand a change at remaining indifferent and standoffish? What happens when BOTH their secrets are revealed?
This is my first paranormal story with Bigfoot and I can honestly say it was fantastic. I really enjoyed getting to know Hagen and Rhea and following their journey. Now I can’t wait to dive into book two.
Thank you, Ms. Whiteaker!
Hagen- Janice M. Whiteaker
5-star review
Hagen by Janice M. Whiteaker is the first book in her Big series and what a great start it is! This is my first book by this author, but it certainly won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed this story from start to finish, the storyline flowed so well that I was able to read it in one sitting as I just couldn’t seem to put it down. Hagen is a paranormal romance book unlike anything I’ve ever read which certainly added to my reading experience. This story had the perfect blend of drama and humour which made it easy to connect with these characters. All of the beautiful and clear details made it easy to picture everything playing out in my mind. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for their next paranormal read!
a great read about he truth not being what you expect. Rhea is a camera photographer trying to make a living unveiling truths to the world. when her boss asks her to go to the Appalachian mountains to find and film the mythological Bigfoot she is skeptical at first. traveling into the forest to find the myth, strange events start to happen and Rhea and her friends begin to wonder if the myth is true
a great read. well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. well developed characters like Rhea standing up for herself with a caring nature underneath or Hagen struggling to control his inner nature while still being a kind person. I loved the sense of family and tradition in Hagens family with a combination of different tempers. their strange nature captivates the reader to keep reading to discover their true nature with a sense of the unnatural often found in fantasy. this with the sense of adventure for Rhea and her friends was a great combination for a compelling story. a great mix of realism with science and cameras and fantasy elements with creatures and curses and visions which was beautifully written.
I also adored the visual detail used throughout the novel like the inside of the B&B and the lions or Hagens colourful house. I also loved the visual detail of the forest with trees and springs as if you were there in nature with its sense of fantasy in a small isolated town. I also adored the sense that there is more to the myth than what we know. overall, a brilliant read and I would give it five stars
Hagen (Big Book 1)
By: Janice M. Whiteaker
5 out of 5 stars
The story Hagen (Big Book 1) by Janice M. Whiteaker is a paranormal romance book. This is a wonderful story that I loved reading. I loved the characters of Hagen and Rhea. Hagen is a man that has resigned himself to being alone. He believes himself to be cursed and that he will not experience happiness with anyone. That is until he meets Rhea. Rhea is a woman that has not had success in relationships. She is ‘sensitive’ and even her own family doesn’t fully understand her. Then she meets Hagen and begins to experience feelings that are deeper than she ever has before. Rhea is also someone that wants to make a difference in the lives of those that need help. These two find themselves together as Rhea is hunting a beast whose existence is in dispute. The pull that they feel towards each other is strong. Will Rhea find the beast that she is searching for? Will Hagen and Rhea take a chance on their feelings and find their happiness together? Will they get an HEA? When this couple is together you can feel the heat and electricity between them. Paranormal romance is a genre that I love and this story that is a wonderful example of why. It is a story that I found myself getting lost in. It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. I also enjoyed reading about the other characters in the story and there are times when the interactions between everyone was quite humorous. This is a story that hooked me in from the beginning and I didn’t want to put down until I had read the final page. It is the first story that I have read by the author and it will not be the last.
Hagen by Janice M Whiteaker is the first book I have had the pleasure of reading by this author and I intend to read more. Straight away you are right in there, the writing style the author creates engages you from the very start. The characters are so well described they are instantly attachable, relatable and you become emotionally involved with them.
The book begins with Rhea and the crew heading for the mountains, not for a vacation but to find the mysterious beast that lives with the mountains. Rhea is hoping that being part of finding the beast will catch her a break and get her to where she wants to go. After gruelling plane and bus journeys they finally reach their destination. This is where their adventures begin and Rhea finds that he beast she found was not the beast she was looking for!
Hagen is book 1 in the Big series from author Janice M. Whiteaker. This is my first read from this author but it most definitely will not be my last! She has written a read that is captivating and compelling with some amazing characters and a brilliant storyline that you couldn’t help but enjoy from start to finish! I can’t wait to see what else this author brings to this series.
This book was suspenseful, fast paced & thrilling, it has romance, passion, sexiness. This is an amazing imaginative read that hooks you from the beginning and brings you on this amazing rollercoaster filled ride, with incredible characters such as Rhea and Hagen, Jarrik & Stewart. I don’t think I couldn’t wish for a more brilliant paranormal, sexy read than this.
From the get-go I loved Rhea, you could tell she was going to be an independent, strong women who will go after what she wants. I also like that we got that added extra of Rhea and her special abilities. She awakens them more with being in Greenlee and develops them to be more powerful.
You can tell Greenlee will be a place that will be central to everything thing that occurs in Rhea and Hagen journey, improving it and helping out others that have it tough.
We do get thrown a couple of twist and that we don’t expect but I’m glad that everything works out in the end!
But her dynamic with Hagen straight off the bat is what got me even more invested into this story! The chemistry that is between Hagen & Rhea is instantaneous, yet they both his it from one another, that is until it gets too powerful for them to don’t. you can’t help but fall for Hagen yourself, he is sexy, powerful, strong & your typical alpha male he is caring, considerate and shows more compassion and feeling than others which makes him perfect. At first you think he is just a broody male but after you find out his story and what he has given up and suppresses you can’t help but live him more and feel his pain! I can’t help but route for Rhea and Hagen throughout this entire read, They just seem perfect together and that they could really make a difference together and to top it off they have undeniable passion!
This is an incredible start to a series with some amazing characters, I hope this isn’t the last we hear from Hagen & Rhea, and that they continue to get the HEA they both deserve.
Hagen (Big #1) by Janice M. Whiteaker is the first book in her big series. This was a great story to start off the series. I have never read anything by this author, but I can assure you it won’t be the last. I LOVE books about shape shifters especially when they are fighting against themselves about what they are. In the small town where Hagen and his family lives, the tales of Bigfoot or legendary. People fall from every corner of the world to hunt this mythical creature. Hagen and his family are the creature they hunt. Thinks of it as a curse while his brother embraces it a lot more. Rhea is a cameraman and darn good at her job. She takes a job with a reality producer hoping that this job will help her get her message at about sad situations right at home. She doesn’t really care about hunting the Beast because something is pulling her towards Hagen. This book had me from the very first page and took me on a roller coaster ride. I loved how the feeling is off the pages. The story made me want to go and hunt Bigfoot. The characters were like able and sometimes over-the-top, that’s what made them so great. You couldn’t help but root for Hagen and Rhea. This is a book that you will start it and not want to put down and read for the next one as soon as it’s over. This author did a phenomenal job of pulling you to the story. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series
Hagen (Big Book 1) by Janice M. Whiteaker is the first book in her Big series. This is a paranormal romance that will keep you engaged until the last page. This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed how she was able to pull me in right from the beginning. She made me feel as if I was right there with the characters. Her writing style is easy flowing and engaging. Her characters are both relatable and lovable. They took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions along with the twists and turns that left me sitting on the edge of my seat. This story is about a man who feels that he has been cursed by the beast that he is. He pretends that it doesn’t really matter to him when deep down it does as it has taken his happiness. Then she comes into his life. She has a sensitivity that stops her from getting close to people. It has effected her life to the point she has lost some jobs and relationships. Now she finds herself at his door step. Her job is to hunt a beast that doesn’t exist and honestly she doesn’t care about her job either. What they find are each other and never care about breaking rules. He makes her want to break her rules and she makes him want something he shouldn’t have. Will they break each other? One has walls to be torn down and the other wants to be the one to tear them down. I loved both of these characters. They have such chemistry together that I just wanted them to be together. They both have insecurities that need to be tore down and built back up again. They believe that they are no good for each other but you will have to read this book in order to see what happens to them. Paranormal romance with shifters are one of my favorite types of books and this one didn’t let me down. I highly recommend this book. Find out what happens with two people who think they are not what the other needs but the attraction is so much bigger.