Jump to content

Guarded 1. Camp Refuge

   (17 reviews)

Corbin has been a man on the run. Finally, he settles down in rural Idaho, far from his old life, ready to start anew. But, some things, simply can't be left behind.

Warning: There is a violent scene in this story, integral to the plot.  There will be an additional warning in the chapter where this violence appears.
Copyright © 2019 Wayne Gray; All Rights Reserved.

Story Recommendations (37 members)

  • Action Packed 31
  • Addictive/Pacing 30
  • Characters 36
  • Chills 3
  • Cliffhanger 16
  • Compelling 10
  • Feel-Good 5
  • Humor 5
  • Smoldering 9
  • Tearjerker 13
  • Unique 20
  • World Building 14

Select Chapter
Table of Contents
  • 1. Chapter 1
    • 5,127 Words
    • 12,669 Views
    • 54 Comments
  • 2. Chapter 2
    • 4,339 Words
    • 6,689 Views
    • 31 Comments
  • 3. Chapter 3
    • 4,931 Words
    • 6,766 Views
    • 36 Comments
  • 4. Chapter 4
    • 3,942 Words
    • 7,391 Views
    • 38 Comments
  • 5. Chapter 5
    • 4,132 Words
    • 7,367 Views
    • 29 Comments
  • 6. Chapter 6
    • 4,984 Words
    • 8,101 Views
    • 45 Comments
  • 7. Chapter 7
    • 4,345 Words
    • 6,941 Views
    • 27 Comments
  • 8. Chapter 8
    • 5,845 Words
    • 6,166 Views
    • 30 Comments
  • 9. Chapter 9
    • 5,096 Words
    • 6,789 Views
    • 29 Comments
  • 10. Chapter 10
    • 4,348 Words
    • 6,621 Views
    • 26 Comments
  • 11. Chapter 11
    • 3,998 Words
    • 6,806 Views
    • 35 Comments
  • 12. Chapter 12
    • 5,054 Words
    • 9,647 Views
    • 31 Comments
  • 13. Chapter 13
    • 5,039 Words
    • 5,879 Views
    • 24 Comments
  • 14. Chapter 14
    • 4,974 Words
    • 5,700 Views
    • 30 Comments
  • 15. Chapter 15
    • 4,427 Words
    • 6,700 Views
    • 58 Comments
  • 16. Chapter 16
    • 4,233 Words
    • 6,369 Views
    • 38 Comments
  • 17. Chapter 17
    • 4,355 Words
    • 6,469 Views
    • 30 Comments
  • 18. Chapter 18
    • 4,750 Words
    • 5,765 Views
    • 39 Comments
  • 19. Chapter 19
    • 4,549 Words
    • 6,297 Views
    • 52 Comments
  • 20. Chapter 20
    • 5,293 Words
    • 6,075 Views
    • 42 Comments
  • 21. Chapter 21
    • 5,209 Words
    • 8,427 Views
    • 92 Comments
  • 22. Epilogue
    • 1,910 Words
    • 4,429 Views
    • 48 Comments

Recommended Comments

User Feedback

View Guidelines

Create an account or sign in to leave a review

You need to be a member in order to leave a review

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

Ticklishboy30

· Edited by Ajbt2001

   2 of 2 members found this review helpful 2 / 2 members

If you take the time to read this story, you won't be disappointed. 

@Wayne Gray is an extremely talented and gifted author. The scenery is gorgeous and vibrant. His characters are brilliantly crafted and are so alive, that you'd expect to see one of them driving through the neighborhood.

Thank you Wayne, for bringing your humor, insight, talent, and pouring your heart and soul into this incredible story. 

  • Love 2
Link to review
Cane23

   3 of 3 members found this review helpful 3 / 3 members

This amazing story is great mix of crime drama, mystery, triller, Cosa nostra tale, with romantic and passionate love story. Author is building this story slowly, starting with charming and rather cozy encounter and relationship growing between Paul, a local firefighter, and Corbin, mysterious new neighbor; settled in rural Idaho. Story ends with such turns and twists that reader stays breathless. @Wayne Gray intelligently leaves tracks all around the story that you wonder at the end - how did I miss that?! I've been tempted to peek at the last chapter a few times during the reading and I'm glad I didn't. It would have been sad to spoil such a wonderful journey. 

Response from the author:

Thanks for the great review! This is my only mystery/suspense, and I think it came out pretty good. I’m glad it appealed to you. 🙂

  • Love 3
Link to review
weinerdog

   5 of 5 members found this review helpful 5 / 5 members

If you are into crime drama ,mystery and suspense then you have come to the perfect place.This beats any police drama you may have seen at the movies or on TV hands down.

I won't  say any details about the story for fear of giving away too much as the other reviews covered it well.What I will say is think of any great suspense writer and this author will compare favorably to him/her.The author has said this was his first attempt at this genre which makes my statement in the previous sentence even that much more incredible

  • Love 5
Link to review
raven1

   4 of 4 members found this review helpful 4 / 4 members

Corbin has found a nice cabin in the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho where he can remain off the grid and hidden.  His secret past means he can trust no one as he tries to tries to build a new life.  He struggles in this new and unfamiliar environment.  His past will not let him go and looms over him all the time.  This is a suspenseful adventure filled with mysteries that will have you on the edge as Corbin finds love, danger, and intrigue.  The story is compelling, smoldering and well paced. A great read!

Response from the author:

Thank you for taking the time to read, rate, and comment on the story! I am so happy you enjoyed it. I hope you find more of my work to read down the line.

  • Love 5
Link to review
quokka

   2 of 2 members found this review helpful 2 / 2 members

Awesome story… thanks for writing it…

I enjoyed every chapter of this storry.

Q

Response from the author:

Thanks for reading and taking the time to review! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

  • Like 1
  • Love 3
Link to review
G90814

   3 of 3 members found this review helpful 3 / 3 members

Excellent read (2nd time around). So I knew what happened in general, but had forgotten so many details!

Now to dive into the rest of the Camp Refuge stories!

Response from the author:

This really is the spring board into the Camp Refuge series. Though, you won't know it until WELL along. Still, I think Guarded is worth reading on its own, even if it has some mechanical issues that make me wince (we all start somewhere!). 🙂

Thanks for reading and rating!

  • Love 5
Link to review
Luke Past

   3 of 3 members found this review helpful 3 / 3 members

I enjoyed reading this story🙂

Twists and turns in plot and an unexpected conclusion.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds in the rest of the series.

Well worth a read if you enjoy this genre.

Response from the author:

Guarded was my only Suspense, though there are suspenseful elements in Camp Refuge that appear born from the connection to the story. And that connection won't become obvious until very late in the tale. But it's good you read it first. Characters are shared, and the rest of the series makes more sense now that you've read it.

Thanks for the review. I do hope you enjoy the rest of the series and my work. 🙂

  • Love 5
Link to review
sojourn

   7 of 7 members found this review helpful 7 / 7 members

Thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying read! 

Corbin and Paul are men of courage and integrity. These are folks you would like to count among your friends. This is a fast paced tale that smolders and slowly builds into an inferno of action and intrigue. It is so well written you feel like the other shoe will drop in the next paragraph if not then surely next chapter. 

There are plot twists that are more convoluted than any within "Game of Thrones".

You will see a tenuous relationship bud into a profound and lifelong love. You will see that love tested to its limits... If you enjoy edge of the seat excitement...  Then you will most definitely enjoy this tale.

Be forewarned!

If you like to think you can see the end, long before others, whether reading a story or watching a movie... be prepared to be somewhat humbled when it all comes down to that "AHAH!" moment. The pieces are scattered throughout the story and are all brought together so smoothly you will wonder why you hadn't figured it out sooner. Even after you relax and begin to think all is well... there are still surprises.

 

Response from the author:

Thanks for the fantastic review, sojourn!

This was a fun story to write, though it held many challenges too. The amount of tracking I had to do was a bit wild, and it taught me the benefits of writing an outline.

I'd love to meet a pair of guys like Corbin and Paul. Neither are perfect, but both try to be as good a person as he can be.

This was my only mystery/suspense I've written. Though I do plan to revisit the genre, I don't know when that'll happen. The right kind of tale really needs to smack me between the eyes for me to do this again.

I'm gratified to hear that I surprised you. That's fantastic. 🙂

Thanks again.

  • Love 8
Link to review
Atlboy

   3 of 3 members found this review helpful 3 / 3 members

Strong character development, well-plotted storyline, enough "spice" for those who like that (but not so much as to bore those who don't), plenty of surprises, and excellent editing.  

Well worth reading.

Response from the author:

Thank you so much for the great review!

I'm happy you found the story engaging, and that it struck the right balance for you. That's awesome to hear. Feedback like yours keeps authors writing, so I sincerely appreciate the time you spent to review Guarded.

  • Love 5
Link to review
PJGee

   5 of 5 members found this review helpful 5 / 5 members

Ok, I am lousy at writing reviews but I agree with Droughtquake, I used a lot of tissues.

I thought I knew where it was heading, but buggar my days, I missed the mark each time.

A very good read which tends to get you to follow  a train of thought but evolves into another. Love the intrigue, implied suspense.

Taught me some Italiano

Response from the author:

Thank you, Peter! I’m glad you enjoyed the story. This is my first real book, so there are some issues, but I like the plot.

Thanks again!

  • Love 6
Link to review
Timejun

   4 of 4 members found this review helpful 4 / 4 members

I have finished reading this magnificent story for a second time and it was as amazing this time as the last.

I have 'Camp Refuge' and am rereading it as well.  Your stories are a true literary work of Shakespearean proportions and I truly hate that you end them so abruptly.  Many more chapters could be written in each story.

 

Respectfully,

          Robert

Response from the author:

Hi Robert.

Thanks for the great review! I will say that the length of the works rival mass produced novels (Guarded is over 100K words, and printed is 336 pages long), but I'm glad they feel short to you. It means I'm doing something well.

There's more to come from me. Thank you again.

  • Love 5
Link to review
pvtguy

   4 of 4 members found this review helpful 4 / 4 members

Wayne Gray is a gifted writer.  In this story, he provides intrigue, mystery, and finding oneself with the gift of finding a home complete with relationships which form a "family".  Great read!!!

Response from the author:

Thanks for the review!

You've followed my work for a while now, and I sincerely appreciate your readership. I'm glad you enjoyed the story!

  • Love 5
Link to review
tabaqui

   5 of 5 members found this review helpful 5 / 5 members

great written story about Corbin and Paul, with an interesting plot.

it catches you into binge reading it.

Response from the author:

Thank you for reviewing Guarded!

I'm so glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

  • Like 2
  • Love 5
Link to review
Former Member

· Edited by droughtquake

   8 of 8 members found this review helpful 8 / 8 members

Corbin is a man with a mysterious past who moves from the big city to a very small town in rural Idaho. He buys a house, paying all cash. These two things alone make him a figure of much speculation by the townsfolk.

Throughout the story Corbin meets other residents and begins to establish roots. But his secret history catches up with him with frightening and potentially deadly results. Corbin is unsure who his friends and allies are.

A wonderful blend of love and suspense that will, at times, make you reach for the tissues, and at other times, keep you on the edge of your seat!
;–)

Response from the author:

I missed replying to this.

Thanks for the great review, droughtquake. I appreciate that you took the time to read, comment, rate, and review the story.

  • Love 3
Link to review
Mikiesboy

   9 of 9 members found this review helpful 9 / 9 members

Lots of twists and turns, and an unexpected, yet satisfying end. Worth reading!

Response from the author:

Thank you, for taking the time to read and review this story, tim.  I'm happy that you found it enjoyable.  🙂

  • Like 2
  • Love 10
Link to review
chris191070

   9 of 9 members found this review helpful 9 / 9 members

This is the fantastic story about Corbin who moves to Idaho, with a past that he’s trying to forget. He meets Paul the local firemen. We follow these two guys as the mystery of Corbin’s past comes back to haunt him. The mystery is well paced with clues throughout. With a fantastic ending.

Highly recommend this as a fantastic read.

Response from the author:

Thanks for the great review, Chris.  I said it before, but it bears repeating - you've been there from the start of this one, and it has been great to get your feedback and emails concerning the story.  I appreciate the constant encouragement.  You rock!

  • Like 2
  • Love 10
Link to review
JeffreyL

   11 of 11 members found this review helpful 11 / 11 members

Corbin and Paul are two guys you will enjoy getting to know. They are interesting and fully developed characters. Their story takes place in rural Idaho as Corbin comes there to start over. He is hoping for quiet anonymity in this small town, but he is wrong. This mystery is well paced. The author reveals clues slowly, allowing tension to grow. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I highly recommend it!

Response from the author:

Thanks for the review!  I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the story of Corbin, Paul, and associates.  It was a great story to write - frustrating at times, but all the sweeter when it was done.

 

I appreciate your time reading, commenting, and reviewing.  🙂

  • Like 2
  • Love 13
Link to review
  • Newsletter

    Sign Up and get an occasional Newsletter.  Fill out your profile with favorite genres and say yes to genre news to get the monthly update for your favorite genres.

    Sign Up

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Our Privacy Policy can be found here: Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..