Sawyer Matthews is a retired and presumed-dead assassin. Ripped from her life of shadows and secrets, she’s decided to gamble it all and accept a new chapter in her life—one that may lead to a brighter future.New beginnings come with new problems, though, and she’s always lived by the belief that she doesn’t deserve of redemption—a painful truth Sawyer has held in her heart for years.Their first … years.
Their first case takes the team to Texas, where members are confronted with more than just Sawyer’s painful past. The team is sent to deal with a series of suspicious deaths, but end up dealing with the community’s entrenched prejudices, an unregistered Magi at its heart. Nothing is what it seems as the killer enacts a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, and the team is sucked into a case even more sinister than they thought.
Can Sawyer’s first case with the International Magi Police Organization help her to realize she’s deserving of the redemption offered? And what about her heart? Will she overcome its core of shame to learn she deserves even more than redemption?
This is an Urban Fantasy reverse harem series of full length novels where the leading lady doesn’t have to choose from her romantic interests. This series will have M/M content.
These books are rated for mature audiences, 18+ due to violence, language, and sexual themes.
This series deals with several triggering topics including, but not limited to, suicide, child abuse, rape, and PTSD.
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I’m reading the box set, and I really enjoyed the second installment of this series! Sometimes I get tired of “police procedural” type stories (there’s so many on TV!), but this plot felt fresh and intriguing. I really couldn’t put it down, thanks to all the romantic tension sizzling off the page!
Don’t forget to read A Life Of Shadows (The Redemption Saga Book 1) first!
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
This book was just awesome!! the character development and the emotional issues that are addressed just blew my mind. The depths that were involved in this writing make it necessary to give mad props to the writer for not only going there but dealing with in a normal manner that is so easy to relate to using the characters we all got attached to in book one. The case they go on ensures some nonstop suspenseful action that really carries the book through all the other important pieces of the building the team into a unit. Sawyer is now my favorite leading lady showing how strong a truly remarkable can be when she chooses to. I cannot wait to see what happens next. If you enjoy action packed suspenseful reverse harem romance novels then you so have to read this book/series. i absolutely loved it so I give it 5/5 stars.
Explores the developing relationship between Sawyer and the guys, as well as exposes more of their histories and quirks. The evolution of Sawyer and the guys’ relationships was both sweet and satisfying, and there was just enough mystery and excitement to keep it from stagnating. I loved how, at least from the perspective of the guys, the possible dynamic of the relationship was carefully contemplated and discussed in advance. They were mature and thoughtful about it and each knew what they wanted – and were willing to compromise to get it. That was a delightful and unusual surprise that I found thoroughly refreshing.
Wow, it keeps getting better!
Devoured this audiobook like it was no one’s business!! I never read these books so it is nice that I am getting to listen to it with fresh eyes. I will start off with the story. I really fell for Sawyer and the guys in this one. The things Kristen describes in Texas is deplorable but done so well that you can’t help wanting to know more, to see how it ends. I thought the walls that Sawyer and the guys are slowly bringing down was very well paced and made me love them and their future relationships even more. I cannot wait until the others move forward with Sawyer, it will be well worth it when they do. I thought the storyline was great. I predicted who the big baddie was early on but it didn’t make it any less amazing. Already got the next audiobook and the other 2 books to read afterwards, because I am 1000% invested now haha.
I thought Lucy did a good job with emoting vulnerability in this one, especially with the children characters. I had to keep reminding myself sometimes that it was only her voice doing the whole thing. The thing with Elijah still irks me and feral is “fair-al” not “fear-al” haha. Anytime they mention it with Quinn I outwardly correct it haha. If those things were fixed I would have easily given this a 5 star across the board. The scenes that will stick with me for awhile are the reunions Sawyer had with Charlie, Liam, and the kids at the gym. Got me teary-eyed, Lucy did an amazing job convincing me that I had wanted to reach through the speaker to console the upset kids hahaha. Glad I mainly listen to these when alone driving to and from work .
Already listening to Book 3 and I can tell where this is going and I know that it is going to break my heart. Can’t wait to see how Lucy narrates that one. Amazing job yet again ladies, can’t wait for future collaborations
A Heart of Shame picks up right after, A Life of Shadows. The guys, especially Jasper, are trying to come to terms with her life as the Shadow, and they are all trying to adapt to life as a team and figure out their relationships. They end up having to take a case that brings up some past history for the team in various ways. I really love this series – it doesn’t shy away from the tough topics! I can’t wait for the rest of Sawyer’s story!
Supernatural. Rh. 5 Magi men. Guilt ridden, arrogant, bad ass, assassin heroine. After signing the WMC contract to be assigned to the team, Sawyer and the boys get an unusual case. Some Magi have died in an anti-Magi area of Texas and the team have called into take it. Being Sawyers first case, she must watch her step or the WMC will dispose of her. Will on the case all of them do some soul searching. This book has a decent focus on healing and their relationships. I love how strong Sawyer is. How her relationship with the guys is helping her and vise versa. That she can keep going when so much shit has happened to her/people she’s loved. The book is a bit more chill than the first. The action/mystery/plot is satisfying. You know with Sawyer around the bad guy will always suffer. Impatiently waiting for the next installment.
While this book to me seemed slower than the first book I still found it enjoyable and didn’t want to quit reading. Sawyer must work with the guys for the next 5 years and in those years, she has to prove herself to not only the team but the WMC. I loved that we get to see Sawyer get closer to her team now that all her secrets are out in the open and she is determined to not have any more secrets between her and her team – which doesn’t always end well. You see not only get close to her team but to trust them and push the boundaries with her team in ways that only she can do. In this book you delve into the past of some of the other characters and realize that not everyone’s past is squeaky clean, and everyone has something in their past that defines them. I noticed while reading that you are beginning to see that each guy brings something to the table that the others don’t, each one challenges Sawyer in a different way.
The only thing that was a mild let down (but didn’t keep me from enjoying it) was that the case seems anticlimactic compared to the last book…. Mind you I know Axel was a huge mastermind and someone of a smaller nature wouldn’t have the huge fight like they did with him. It felt as if the book was leading up to something epic only for it to not quite get there. Mind you I feel like this installment was more about her finding herself and learning that she needs to let go of the guilt of the actions she committed as the Shadow, as well as building her relationship with her team that she will have for the next five years. I am excited to see where the story takes us in the next book!
Gosh this series! It’s a great series. At times, all I think is, “Would you please just kiss him?!” Sawyer is a great character. The men we still are learning about them but so far I love them all. I like how this is a fairly slow burn RH she really learns about the men before jumping into bed with them. Not all series is like that so this is refreshing. On to the next one!
Overall: 5/5
Sawyer is growing and proving herself to the guys and to herself. She is doing good for others and battling her own demons while dealing with the evils in the world. Along with that she has the high levels of attraction that are being dealt with slowly. The guys are opening us more and I’m able to connect with them. I’m glad we got more Quinn time simply bc he is my favorite 🙂 can’t wait for the next!