Shadows & Lies (Shadows, #1)
Author: Eden Butler
Genre: Romantic Suspense | Mystery
Release Date: March 26, 2015
A web of lies can destroy it.
Neil Ryan was a good Navy SEAL. He was an even better detective, but when an unmarked envelope lands on his desk, long-buried secrets are resurrected and Ryan questions everything he thought he knew about justice, including who killed his mother.
Alex Black is a distraction Ryan doesn’t need—she’s loud, obnoxious and a common thief, but her eyes are haunting, her lips irresistible and Ryan happens to love her filthy mouth.
Alex is also the only one able to help Ryan find the leads he's missing. She's the only one who can lead him to the one person who has the answers he seeks, but following her could cost Ryan everything.
Secrets get told, lives get wrecked and in every shadow, the truth is hiding.
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“I’ve never seen you cruel before. Didn’t know you had it in you, Boy Scout.”
“You know, lady,” there was a hum in my voice I didn’t recognize. Alex had put it there with just the low dip of her gaze, “you got all these ideas that you know me. You don’t.”
“Ditto.”
Her eyes moved with the shake of my head, following the slow nod, the moment becoming something tactile, obvious as the heating air between our bodies that dampened our skin. Two looks, two held breaths and something had shifted. Hell, who was I kidding? It had started, brewing, way back, the second I grabbed her arm, stopping her from taking that wallet. It simmered when she snuck onto my balcony asking for my help. Now it crackled—that attraction, the symmetry in the breath that mingled between her mouth and mine.
“Alex?” It was only her name falling from my mouth that moved her gaze off my lips, a small glance that was all the answer she’d give me. “I’m not a fucking Boy Scout.”
There are times when you can’t think. Those are the clustered moments when the energy, the zing of the moment you’re in breaks apart any awareness you have. There is no logic in the swell of sensation or the liquid heat that drives one body closer to another. It’s the feel of warmth, the hope of touch that pulls you in no matter what your brain tries to make you understand about right and wrong, friend or foe. I wasn’t supposed to touch Alex Black. I wasn’t supposed to see her as anything but a mission. I was supposed to find her stalker and keep her safe.
But I had always done what was expected. Seems she had to, as well. The difference was that my expectations fell on the side of justice. Hers ran along the tracks of corruption. Both meant we survived however we could.
I didn’t think about the case or what had brought her to me in the first place, and what kept her coming back to me. I reached for her because I knew that’s what we both wanted. I touched her because she let me and once I had her against my chest, felt the smooth brush of her fingers on my neck, sensation shattered judgment.
The last sound I heard before I kissed her was the strangle of laughter falling into a moan. Hers, not mine. Alex was a woman—beautiful, sensual, parts that went in and out just like they’re supposed to, but she did not kiss me like any other hesitant, docile woman I’d ever touched.
She touched me like she was still hungry, like the meal we had just shared had not filled her. Like nothing would.
“You know, lady,” there was a hum in my voice I didn’t recognize. Alex had put it there with just the low dip of her gaze, “you got all these ideas that you know me. You don’t.”
“Ditto.”
Her eyes moved with the shake of my head, following the slow nod, the moment becoming something tactile, obvious as the heating air between our bodies that dampened our skin. Two looks, two held breaths and something had shifted. Hell, who was I kidding? It had started, brewing, way back, the second I grabbed her arm, stopping her from taking that wallet. It simmered when she snuck onto my balcony asking for my help. Now it crackled—that attraction, the symmetry in the breath that mingled between her mouth and mine.
“Alex?” It was only her name falling from my mouth that moved her gaze off my lips, a small glance that was all the answer she’d give me. “I’m not a fucking Boy Scout.”
There are times when you can’t think. Those are the clustered moments when the energy, the zing of the moment you’re in breaks apart any awareness you have. There is no logic in the swell of sensation or the liquid heat that drives one body closer to another. It’s the feel of warmth, the hope of touch that pulls you in no matter what your brain tries to make you understand about right and wrong, friend or foe. I wasn’t supposed to touch Alex Black. I wasn’t supposed to see her as anything but a mission. I was supposed to find her stalker and keep her safe.
But I had always done what was expected. Seems she had to, as well. The difference was that my expectations fell on the side of justice. Hers ran along the tracks of corruption. Both meant we survived however we could.
I didn’t think about the case or what had brought her to me in the first place, and what kept her coming back to me. I reached for her because I knew that’s what we both wanted. I touched her because she let me and once I had her against my chest, felt the smooth brush of her fingers on my neck, sensation shattered judgment.
The last sound I heard before I kissed her was the strangle of laughter falling into a moan. Hers, not mine. Alex was a woman—beautiful, sensual, parts that went in and out just like they’re supposed to, but she did not kiss me like any other hesitant, docile woman I’d ever touched.
She touched me like she was still hungry, like the meal we had just shared had not filled her. Like nothing would.
Review:
I knew going into Shadows & Lies that it was going to be different from what I have read in the past from Eden Butler. I have devoured every single book in her Seeking Serenity and Thin Love series, and I could not wait to see what she had up her sleeve for Shadows & Lies. I read much more NA books than Romantic Suspense novels, and I was really excited to see if it's the kind of novel that I would be interested in.
Neil Ryan and Alex Black have one thing in common; they want to solve the mystery behind the death of their loved ones. Both these characters have had a rough time dealing with what happened and working together is the only way to solve this big mystery. What neither of them expected was to feel a strong connection to each other. As they work side-by-side, Alex and Ryan will have to deal with shadows lurking around and unexpected danger. Will they be able to find the clues to solve this mystery?
The first installment of Eden Butler's new series, Shadows, was an enjoyable reading escape! I have to admit that I like my books filled with romance and swoon. There was a warning at the beginning of the book that said that there was more of a mystery feel to this story. I'm really glad that the author issued that warning. The romance between the main characters was slow building, but their chemistry was instant. Their banter was the great and the story was fast-paced. I don't want to say too much about what happens with this story because I don't want to give anything away. As a reader you will want to figure out the mystery by yourself.
We get both Alex and Ryan's POV, which in my books is always a plus for a reader. I got to know them pretty well by the end of the book. Their pasts were very well explained and I was trying to figure out what was going to happen next every time we got a new clue in the case they were working on.
Alex and Ryan were great characters to follow. It was easy to connect with them. Alex is strong and determined. She gets under Ryan's skin even if she knows that it could only mean trouble for her. Ryan is very focused on his mission to find who killed his mother. What he never expected was for Alex to take so much place in his life. He did a fantastic job at making her open up about her past. He got to discover who the real Alex Black is.
Overall, this was a great first installment to this new romantic suspense series by Eden Butler. This was very different from what I usually read, but I really enjoyed it! I am anxious to see what will happen next!
Rating:
I give Shadows & Lies, by Eden Butler, 4 suspenseful, sexy, intriguing, enjoyable stars!
Teasers:
The giveaway is open internationally and ends 04/21/2015 @ 11:59 PM CST.
~ (2) $25 GIFT CARDS (AMAZON OR B&N)
~ (5) eBook copy of any Eden Butler back list title
Eden Butler is an editor and writer of New Adult Romance and SciFi and Fantasy novels and the nine-times great-granddaughter of an honest-to-God English pirate. This could explain her affinity for rule breaking and rum. Her debut novel, a New Adult, Contemporary (no cliffie) Romance, “Chasing Serenity” launched in October 2013 and quickly became an Amazon bestseller.When she’s not writing or wondering about her possibly Jack Sparrowesque ancestor, Eden edits, reads and spends way too much time watching rugby, Doctor Who and New Orleans Saints football.
She is currently living under teenage rule alongside her husband in southeast Louisiana.
Please send help.
thank you for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteThat was one lead-up to a kiss. I love that she called him boy scout and he says he's not. Hehe.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance
ReplyDeleteGreat review! And I loved the teasers... thanks for sharing and for the awesome giveaway
ReplyDeleteSuch a fabulous post thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post and your thoughts on this new book by Ms Butler. I love her past books and it is exciting that she is giving us something new! I love suspense romance and a book with great banter is a must for me! I am very excited to read this!
ReplyDeletelove that cover :) thanks for the thoughtful review and spotlight!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read it!
ReplyDeletegreat cover and thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteWow!! I love the teasers!! This is one book that I have to read!!!!
ReplyDeleteI need a fan when I read these! WHOOOO they look mighty naughty :) But actually I like the storyline and it seems like there is just enough "adult" content but not too over the top for me :)
ReplyDelete