Bound By Shadows (The McAllister Justice Series, #2)

Kaylee is starting over, her past won’t define her. I loved her character development over the story. She is trying to overcome so much and find herself at the same time. Her strength and grit to fight back make her a strong heroine. While she doesn’t need saving, it’s nice that she was given a vulnerability to embrace the strength given to her. I don’t want to spoil this story but I liked how smart she was. Reily writes really strong, smart, and capable heroines in her stories. Sure they find love, but all it does is add to their strength of character.
Caden is back and I enjoyed that we got to see him in a new light. Wo,w he was given such a genuine weakness but it turned out to be a strength in the time of need. Family, while annoying, means everything to him and they will stop at nothing for Caden. I love the dynamics he has with each brother and the bond. With out a doubt you know that Caden is loved even if he wants to throttle them all. He really steps up for Kaylee and becomes the guy he imagined he would be.
This story has action, suspense, romance, and so much more. I cannot wait for the series to continue. If you want thriller and romance get this novel today.

this was another great entry in the McAllister Justice series, it had what I enjoyed from the first book and I think improved on it. The characters were great and the suspense was well done.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This is book two of The McAllister Justice series and this one features Caden McAllister, the Private Investigator, and Kaylee Tate, who had just moved back to Portland, Oregon about a week ago, for a new start and to recover from a very recent family tragedy. She finds herself walking up, with a fuzzy, drugged head and no memory of what has happened to her. She is locked inside a cage and another woman is in one the other two cages in what seems to be a cave underground. The other woman prompts her to grab a stone, to attack their kidnapper when he returns, as she isn’t tied up as yet. But he is not alone, she can hear another man and a woman in the tunnels, and the chances to escape are going to be slim. She manages to evade the main kidnapper, once he comes into her cage, but isn’t able to get the other woman out of the other cage, and has to leave her behind. She promises to return with help and manages to make her way to the police station and practically falls into Caden’s arms. He gets his brother, a K-9 officer, to follow her tracks and they get to the tunnels and find no trace of the woman. Kaylee feels immensely guilty and at fault for not stopping to save this woman, but if she had, she would no doubt have been dead or taken far away.
Going back into the tunnels is a difficult choice for Caden, having been poisoned and almost dying in a horrific manner, under the efforts of a serial killer, and only survived thanks to Lexi’s bravery. After being checked out at hospital, Caden takes Kaylee back to her new flat, but still has worries about her safety. His worries are proven right, when he hears her scream and finds her under attack. It seems the kidnappers want to eliminate a witness, but is it from something she saw in the tunnels, or had she managed to snap a photo of someone, as she was taking photos around town during the previous days? The continued ad unknown danger facing Kaylee, leaves Caden insisting she come and stay at his cabin in the woods, far out from town. He moved there some months ago, but hasn’t settled nor even unpacked all his boxes. When Kaylee gives a description of the other woman in the cages, it turns out she was one of Caden’s past lovers and he already had issues with her family and her ex-boyfriend, who then went onto become her abusive husband. He and his family have to clear his name when he is framed for his ex-girlfriend’s murder!
He and Kaylee get comfortable with each other, but he refuses to act on their feelings for each other, while they have people after her and now framing him as well. It is too dangerous to get distracted and more attacks keep coming, leaving him distraught when Kaylee and someone else important to the McAllister’s, are taken by the killer. The members of the McAllister family have been working to find out what the end game is from the kidnappers and sex-traffickers, and who is behind it all. Kaylee’s observations and her photos, provide them with well needed hints to some of the criminals, but the killer is not finished with Kaylee and will do what they can to ensure there are no witnesses left behind, ruining any chances of Kaylee and Caden having a happy ending. Caden will put his own life on the line, to save the woman he has come to love, amongst all the issues from his past experiences. There is lots of ribbing and comments from his brothers and even his sister Abi, but the saving grace in one part of the tale is having one of his brother’s dog Damien, stay with them, giving them warning at a crucial point! Lots of references to the rest of the family and scenarios from the previous book, amongst all the witty interactions between the brothers, but easily read as a standalone story still. Having read the previous book, it just helps you to get to know all of the McAllisters and all of their roles within law enforcement and more. A dangerous and thrilling read, with plenty of action and strong family links. Add in a couple of extremely well trained dogs and then some puppies to end, it brings a bit of everything to the storyline. Definitely a series to watch out for and I can’t wait to read some more. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

Our heroine escaped once and fell into the care of our hero. But he has a past which he is going to have to overcome if he wants to save her a second time.

This is book two of the series, but it does just fine as a standalone. There are some references to characters from the previous book, but nothing essential to this plot.

This is a romantic suspense story with a heavy accent on the suspense and thriller aspects. The romance sort of occurs naturally as a byproduct, which works perfectly for me. The story is well written, but not always easy to read as there is a lot going on. The plot also takes several turns that keeps the reader guessing and certainly kept me turning pages. Along the way, we get to know our hero and heroine very well and they turn out to have excellent chemistry. I really enjoyed how this entire thing developed and I definitely am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Highly recommended

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes

Book two in the series brings Kaylee and Caden’s story. The author does a great job developing their story and pulled me in right from the start. I was glued to the pages with all the suspense as well as the romance. She moves the story fluidly with descriptive and detailed scenes as well as the dialogue. Her supporting characters play a huge role in bringing the story around. Loved and recommend this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

Exciting romantic suspense. Horrendous situation that has one hoping the protagonist is able to escape. She does, but that is not the end. It appears to be only the beginning of her trials and troubles. Fortunately she has the McAllister family to aid her in evading capture or death. Just when you think all is over and safe something else happens. A page turner for sure. Thanks to the author for providing a copy via Booksprout.

Emotional fear of what can be, past or present?

Kidnapping and murder never crossed Kaylee’s mind when seeking a fresh start in Portland, a new beginning to shed the remnants of tragedy dogging her steps. After escaping from an underground cage, she fights to stay one step ahead of the killer bent on silencing his only witness. Kaylee.
Two months after dodging a sociopathic murderer’s best efforts, Caden McAllister flounders within a social sinkhole, unable to move forward, too stubborn to step back. Guarded and wary, the private investigator’s stagnant lifestyle detonates into chaos when a bloody young waif stumbles into his care. Framed for a murdering a past lover, Caden must clear his name and overcome his charge’s doubts while keeping her out of the sex-slave trade. When betrayal ends with Kaylee’s re-capture, Caden must conquer his past and risk all or lose the one he has come to love. Murder, mystery, underground tunnels, and romance are intertwined in this standalone romantic thriller, the second installment of the McAllister Justice Series.

What did I like? Well, who wouldn’t just love these brothers and all the trouble that just up and finds them? Caden was in the first book and I fell in love with him then and this book just makes me love him even more! I love photography, so Kaylee and I hit a love spot. She is so independent and wanting to start her life over after a bad experience, you just have to love her for that.

@ddeegott What will you like? After the McAllister boys and Kaylee, this story will take you on a very emotional train ride that just keeps getting deeper and deeper. It is action-packed, with so many twists and turns that it threatens whiplash! Caden and Kaylee fight their own emotional battles with the support of the McAllister family and each other. Just when they think they have a handle on things, they get thrown another curveball when Kaylee gets captured again. This is a fast-paced, never a dull moment romantic thriller that does not leave out any details. Love this series and I am off to the next adventure, Inconclusive Evidence. I borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited.
@ddeegott