SHADOW MAN is a brand new mafia romance from the author of the bestselling Santiago series…
“Richly layered & unique… All-consuming and flawlessly written” – Sammy, Just Let Me Read
Cause and consequence:
Two words that haunt me:
When I was stolen, I learned to hate.
When he saved me, I learned to fear.
I ran from him, following a trail of the dead, from Miami all the way to … way to Colombia.
Now I’ve fallen into darkness again, and he’s the only one I see.
But he’s a shadow man.
A bad man.
A soldier.
A killer.
The red right hand to the devil himself.
We’re a dirty contradiction: I’m the girl who can’t be touched, whom he refuses to set free.
We’re a dangerous obsession: There’s damage running deep in both of our souls.
Caught up in a cartel war I want no part of.
Trapped between love and hate.
One night will change everything…
For years, Joseph Grayson killed in the name of Dante Santiago.
Now, he kills for me.
Shadow Man is the first part of a duet, but there are NO emotional cliffhangers.
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The Santiago Cartel continues
“Because I will hang my promise around my neck for all to see, my Luna girl. I will hang it there to remind you of just how flicking committed I am to it.”
That about sums up this episode
Anna is so lost.
Trapped in the darkness of her memories. Its easier sometimes to believe the bad –
To drown the pain – than it is to face it.
To fight your way out of the darkness not knowing what is on the other side.
But her Shadow-
he is keeping his promise.
He will be there keeping her safe until she is ready to step into the light.
Shots fired!
This was intense from the moment our girl picked up that $20.00 to the final pull of the trigger.
Each page revealed another twist,
Another betrayal.
Another wound.
I couldn’t look away.
An insidious blend of suspense and romance.
How Wiltcher balances it so flawlessly amazes me.
Don’t pass this one up and if you haven’t read Dante’s story – might I suggest grabbing the set?
You won’t be disappointed.
Yin and Yang. Dark to light. Grayson and Anna are interconnected, interdependent to thrive.
I love how broken both of them are but need each other to heal and move forward. Anna gets her power back in the most gruesome and brutal way and balls to the wall, she is up and running.
Grayson is unapologetic, murderous, a force to be reckoned with. He makes no bones about his intentions with Anna, and nothing or no one will stand in his way.
This story is dark, deviant, dirty. It is not for the faint of heart, and the ending leaves shivers because you know it only gets darker.
I read and reviewed a copy of this book.
Powerful Punchy Perfection.
I didn’t think it was possible for me to love Joseph Grayson anymore than I already did……now I stand corrected.
Catherine Wiltcher has managed to do just that. I’ve fallen even harder for the elusive Shadow Man.
When I first started the Santiago Trilogy Joseph stood out straight away. I’m a reader who’s always drawn to secondary characters no matter how much I love the main one.
I knew then that his story needed to be told and was going to be EPIC!!
Now we’ve had glimpses of Joseph’s personality from previous books. He’s an utterly lethal stone cold killer, he is Dantes right hand man after all.
But he’s always been an enigma throughout, stoic and impossible to get a read on. He fascinated me and with his dirty blonde buzz cut I was obsessed.
This story was everything I needed it was deeply emotional in a way I never expected, so it crushed me all the more.
It was necessary to show all the ugly that shaped not only Joseph but Anna too. Their story was harrowing, dark and brutal at times but it was also a beautiful journey of two damaged souls finding comfort together.
Anna and Joseph have this amazing connection I literally felt the pulse between them, they’re a chaotic mess but they work.
I loved the possessive side of Joseph it was fucxing hottt, he’s so masculine. I have massive love for Anna too.
The way the story ended has left me shocked and terrified but all kinds of excited for part two, it’s gonna be explosive.
One word INCREDIBLE a true masterpiece these characters will have you heart pounding i know mine was filled with excitement I almost couldn’t take it I was pacing the floors reading.
Joesph Grayson is the man my god he is Everything and I am so happy we got him along with Anna who is one strong woman and unforgettable these two and the angst will nearly kill you it’s that scorching.
Oh oh and yay we get Dante as a bonus god I love these men, the dialogue and this Authors words are beyond brilliant and I don’t think I will ever get enough.
This book…. oh this book… is fire on fire
I’m trying to wrap my head around what I just read, and..
It is Another masterpiece by Catherine Wiltcher.
It’s no secret I adore this author and her work is just amazing.
This book tells the story of Joseph Grayson. We met him already in the Santiago trilogy as Dante’s right hand man.
In the book he is trying to save Anna, a broken young woman, from her demons and from getting in trouble with her self destruct path she chose in life. Along the way we find more and more details about his past, the things he went through which shaped him up to the fierce man he is today.
If I loved him in the previous books, I love him even more so now (though my heart will always belong to Dante lol)
Anna, was taken by a Russian trafficking ring, and was brutalized. She is a broken soul. And she is trying to push past the ghosts and shadows that are haunting her but with out much luck. She finds herself in a foreign country in the middle of nowhere and just when you think she is drowning, she is learning to live again. The question is – the waves which threaten to drown her, can she ride them or let them down her to the bottom?
This is no typical love story. Can the light of Grayson get through the cracks of her broken soul? Can she break the walls around his heart?
The book is remarkably written. The plot is vivid and keeps you edge. We get to meet again some of the characters from the Santiago trilogy, and even some Dante POV (yayyyy!!!)
There are a lot of dark themes in the book, which makes it even more perfect!
And the sex scenes are HOT!!!!
It’s a highly recommended book!
Top 5 stars from me
Shadow Man: Grayson Duet is the first book in this duet and she is a new to me author. Although I have been promoting her books for a while. I decided it was time to check her writing out. Lord knows I thought the blurb was interesting. I do love me a good mafia romance…. (yes I know that was poor grammar)
Joseph Grayson is “the Shadow Man” I have to say evidently because I haven’t read Santiago Trilogy but Joseph worked for Dante Santiago and was Dante’s right hand man. Anna Williams was also in the Santiago Trilogy. BTW I do wish that I had read the Santiago Trilogy first. That way I would have been totally in on these characters. I will be checking The Santiago Trilogy.
As it is, I really felt for Anna and all that she has been through.
Towards the end of this book were some nail biting moments! And Shadow Man ends where you know there will be more to the story.
Joseph’s and Anna’s story is a dark one. Be aware there could be triggers in reading this book.
By the way I loved listening to the soundtrack!
Wow. what can i say about this book. If i could give it more than 5 stars i would. I loved the Santiago trilogy and this book slides right into the thick of it and fills in so many blanks. Giving you a more complete tale of who and what joseph Grayson really is. Anna on the other is an incredible character. seeing her transform from the wreaked creature she was into a fierce entity was magnificent. I will admit I was close to tears near the end, when the final pieces of the puzzle locked into place. But the possibilities that left you wanting more, only have me begging this author to hurry up with book 2 of this duet. so I can see what’s instore. An amazing read.
Damn, this woman can write! Catherine Wiltcher’s writing skills are beyond great. She spins stories you can easily sink into. You can feel the pain and anger, the lust and love. From the very first chapter I could feel Grayson’s emotions deep down in my belly. It was all consuming and I was hooked. And he is just the first person we get to know! Even if you start this series out of order, as I did, you will crave to hear more this author has in store for these characters.
I can’t even explain what this book did to me. You just have to experience it for yourself.
Wow, the heart pain was real! Debra @janise’s Jivin’ Book Blog
You can’t be afraid of the dark to read this! The story takes you deep inside of a tragedy and a world that rarely sees the light.
The characters are beautiful in their darkness and realness and I embraced them for that! I was pulled into our authors world and felt satisfied greatly with the journey.
What happened to Anna weighs heavily on Joseph’s shoulders. He bears the guilt but he can’t repair the broken. Only she can do that. Two broken souls who can only find peace in each others arms.
After Anna’s escape from Joseph she stumbles into a stranger, Vi. A Thelma and Louise journey as the cartel is closing in on them.
When Joseph is on his death bed Dante rushes to his side.
A cartel war is brewing.
Dante discovers who Vi really is. Will he kill her?
Can’t wait for next installment of this duet!!
WOW!! This story is… well, it is hot, tension filled, mysterious and addictive. Not to mention the alpha and his devilish ways! The way the author creates the mystery, tension and passion is amazing and she allows the reads just a tiny bit of the mystery/puzzle at a time so the reader has no choice but to keep reading (not that that is a hardship). I loved the way the story flowed and emotions what I experiences while reading. I was yelling at the characters, talking back to them, trying to understand certain choices. It was all a very interact read for me. I cannot wait for book two to get the answers to my many questions and to spend some more time with these characters. 5 stars all the way!
Catherine Wiltcher is one of my go-to authors, I know for a fact she is NOT going to disappoint! Shadow Man’s blurb gives nothing away which is just a genius thing to do to us readers. And then to have to write a review, because you know you want people to read this wonderful story, but NOT give anything away. How do you give it justice, as Catherine did with this book?
Joseph is everything you want in an alpha hero bookman. You want to save him, hate him, and love him all at once. Anna is his light, his salvation in his darkness. And he will do anything he can to save it.
I had to read this book in one sitting. Shadow Man is not a book you can put down and go back to. Catherine keeps you flipping pages and wanting to know what will be next. I can not wait to read the next book!
Wow! This book grabs you and doesn’t let go! It’s an “in our face” kind of book and there are really no “good guys”. There is a bad/sometimes not so bad guy with lots of issues, his evil/sometimes not so evil boss, a woman who endured kidnapping and sexual assault and has turned to drugs to help her not feel, a promise made, a trip to Columbia, cartel leaders, murder, mayhem, finding of self and love. This is a duet but you get a happy for now and I didn’t mind it at all. Looking forward to reading the next book.
I’m still fairly new to this author’s work, but am loving what I’ve read so far.
This book takes place between some other series, but I was still able to understand what was going on. I just may not have recognized all the characters, that others who have read them would. Either way I still loved this dark, heart-pounding tale. The chemistry and draw between these characters is hot, and the thrill of the chase is constant in this book.
This is the first in a duet and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I definitely plan on reading the other books, so I get the whole picture of what is currently going on in this story, especially with what would be familiar faces.
Wow…. What just happened?
If you’re like me, you’ve been devouring the Santiago Trilogy story arc and couldn’t wait to dive into Joseph and Anna’s story. Oh, did I get what I came for – stellar writing, characters with heart and depth plus… A darkness and pain I wasn’t prepared for. At all. Each scene ping-ponged from one life-threatening situation to the next, with friends and enemies sometimes wearing similar masks…
Dim. Shadowy. Starless. Gloomy. Overcast. Sunless. Yes, I googled similar words for dark because my own couldn’t come up with enough to describe it. Dark, yes, but also suspenseful, full of angst and surprisingly, a beautiful (if unconventional) love story. Anna was thrust from one nightmare to the next yet even as she and Joseph battled to survive, love found a way. There were no victims or saviors but instead, heroes and heroines you cheered on. And just prayed they made it…
Not for the faint of heart, this story, this series, is all about what goes on in the shadows and the incredible people who live, love and survive in them… I can’t wait for more!
*Reviewed for Nerdy Dirty & Flirty
Anna Williams was taken 6 months ago and held captive until she was rescued by a man named Joseph Grayson. Since her release, Anna has struggled with drugs and alcohol and has really had trouble getting over everything that happened to her while she was being held.
Joseph Grayson, known by many as El Asesino, has never gotten attached to a woman in years since losing many loved ones. Yet there is something about Anna that he needs to protect and keep her safe and healthy.
When Joseph’s attempts at getting Anna to rehab one more time results in her leaving the country he will do whatever it takes to get her home safe. Unfortunately Anna finds herself in a lot of trouble when she lands in Columbia and getting out of this alive may take more than just her Shadow Man.
This was such a great book and I can’t wait for more of this series and I am definitely going to have to go back and read the other series.
I thought Anna was a great character who had been through hell and now had to deal with the aftermath and she was struggling. I wish she had just kept up with the rehab that Joseph put her in but it was obvious that she wasn’t ready to heal. She found herself in so much trouble in Columbia once she met Viviana and I was never really sure on whether or not to trust her after the first things that happened.
I really liked Joseph as even though he had a dangerous past and line of work, I knew how much he cared about Anna. It was strange though as he struggled to let people really in after everything that had happened in his own past but I really gave him credit for trying and still protecting her with everything he had.
I was happy when Joseph finally got to Anna and helped clean up the messes she had found herself in. I was so mad at Viviana for her actions and how she really had an ulterior reason for doing what she did, although she proclaimed it was a mistake once she knew what Joseph meant to Anna. I was proud of Anna for making a certain phone call and I knew it was going to lead to something big.
I was proud of the girls toward the end for making a big bold move to secure their future!
I was wondering if the end of the book was going to happen like it did as I felt like Viviana had so much hatred and had to have a reason.
Can’t wait to see what’s coming next!
4.5 Stars
By Rebecca
Dark, dirty, and one of the most suspenseful romances I have had the pleasure to read, Anna, each day brings a new addiction so it seems and Joseph Grayson is the man who shadows and always does the right thing until the night she run to escape and falls into hell, now she knows what it means to need Joseph. This is a must read, yes it’s a cliffhanger but I cant wait for more, fabulous read. I voluntarily reviewed this book
Five “loved it” stars!
Oh, I had been waiting impatiently for this one! I needed Joseph’s story like I need blueberry scones. Which is to say—a lot. Because I need blueberry scones a lot.
Joseph, El Assasino, is every bit as hot (but also delightfully cold) as I knew he could be. His infatuation with Anna has only grown since the first moment he laid eyes on her during the Santiago trilogy. He saved her from a physical Hell, but he is struggling with how to save her from the trappings of the Hell in her own mind. He is used to enemies he can kill. Maim. Cut. When the enemy is figurative, and requires Anna to willingly take part in the slaying, the problems start. How can he save someone who doesn’t WANT to be saved?
Or, does she?
Anna is all over the place at the beginning- apathetic, chasing the next high. Accepting the bad things that happen rather than fighting. And what she seems to be most afraid of is Joseph; her feelings for him. She is also afraid of her own brokenness; wondering if she can ever be fixed after what she endured while in captivity. So what does she do?
She runs. Right into trouble’s warm, waiting arms. And her name is Viviana. Her new “friend.”
“You want to disappear,” she states again, blinking slowly. “I can help you.”
Instead of a safe haven, Anna finds more danger than what she left behind.
I ran a thousand miles to escape from men exactly like them.
I loved the growth Anna experiences during this book- rising from a quivering, hollow woman into a fierce force to be reckoned with. And when she gives in to her attraction to Joseph? Explosive. Fire. Oh my. Just excuse me for a minute…
This book has it all- action, suspense, and steam. Also violence, secrets, reveals, and a twist I sure didn’t see coming.
Tick.
Tick.
Boom.
I loved “seeing” the characters from the previous Santiago books. It was like seeing old friends. And Dante? He is just as hot as ever. Might be time for yet another re-read of the Santiago trilogy.
This is book one of a duet, but didn’t end on a brutal cliffhanger. It ended the same way a season of Outlander ends: with a setup for the next part of the adventure. It was perfect. I am excited for the next book as opposed to on the edge of my seat and angry, left without the resolution of an intense scene. So, thank you for not doing that to us!
I find that the more I read, the more fussy I get. Books that I loved a year ago just don’t do it for me anymore. My list of go-to, always-good authors has dwindled. But, Catherine Wiltcher will always be on my list. I have yet to read a book of hers that didn’t have me fighting sleep and flipping pages.
Highly recommended, as always. And safe even for those who are otherwise bingers since it doesn’t end on a brutal cliffhanger.
My heart has just barely stopped pumping after finishing the next part of the Santiago epic. Yes, this is an epic tale of revenge, loyalty, and fierce protective love worthy of a William Shakespeare himself. If you haven’t started this series, get in it asap! These alpha men aren’t exactly patient.
This book dives deep into Joseph Grayson’s background and psyche. For those who haven’t read the earlier books yet, I won’t ruin it…But essentially Joseph is trying to help Anna deal with the demons she acquired while kidnapped by traffickers. He’s a man in a mission to save her from herself, while all she wants to do is implode. The story crackles with intensity and wit that will remind you of a Philip Marlowe novel. Shadow Man’s sharp dialogue drags you in right away.
“The war may be over like Dante said, but there’ll be re-runs and bonus scenes.”
“Dante is tapping out a thesis to his wife, Eve, on his phone, while my own reflections are loud enough to fill the SUV.”
“I’m back in South Beach. I know that much. The rest isn’t worth remembering, not even a description of Mr. Faceless who just sold me a couple of grams of shut-the-hell-up-world.”
There’s no filler meat in this mafia sandwich. Everything matters and everyone is important. We get bits from Rick Sanders, Dante Santiago, and Eve Santiago, but the story stays tight for the most part on Anna and Joseph. They collide like thunderbolts, simultaneously attracting and pushing each other away…like a beautifully broken ballet. Joseph is fascinated by Anna, but part of him doesn’t think he’s worthy. Anna is fascinated by Joseph, but scared of the part of him called El Asesino (Killer).
“But amid all the chaos, she’s coming back to life out here. She’s a butterfly emerging from a blood-soaked chrysalis, and it’s stunning to watch. She killed to defend herself, she snatched the power back for herself, and that’s the most beautiful metamorphosis of all.”
“She isn’t like any other drug I’ve ever known. She’s an elixir for all the dead and useless parts of me.”
No one does allegory like Wilcher. She writes with a devotion to her characters ‘ flaws, making them truly realistic, even among the bullets and chaos. You will love Joseph Grayson for his commitment, loyalty and devastating patience. You will love Anna Williams for her spirit, pride and strength. This is only the first book in their story, and it ends with a HFN and a promise for a bigger story full of blood and family secrets. It reminds me of a Philip Marlowe author Raymond Chandler quote: “When in doubt have a man enter the door with a gun in his hand.”
After devouring the Santiago trilogy and then Devils & Dust, I was eager to dive into Joseph’s story. His journey doesn’t disappoint! So many deliciously dark twists and surprising turns held me in rapt attention. I literally read this straight through in just a few short hours. Oh, and the ending….speechless! I need the second part of this duet yesterday!