“The moment you entered my world, you set it alight. Until there were no more shadows left to hide in.”
Abi Merchant has been on the run for five long years. Panic and paranoia have been her constant companion. In an effort to survive the tortured memories of her past, she’s had to live within her mind. But five weeks into a new identity and new location Abi knows her past has caught up with … up with her. That itch between her shoulder blades and that bullseye she imagines on the centre of her back have returned. During one last ditch effort to escape a fate worse than death she meets him; a handsome, mysterious stranger who dwells in the shadows. Hiding just like she is, in plain sight. But can she trust him? Ben Tamati is following her for a reason. Abi just doesn’t know if it’s the same reason that has had her running for the past half decade or not.
A constant threat of capture and a life lived on the run finally wears Abi down. Attempted abductions, shoot-outs in back alleys, frantic and drastic evasions, determined police detectives and passionate gun-toting investigators all culminate in a showdown with Abi’s past. A past that she has to face in order to discover who she really is in the end. But can she find the courage to confront the one man who has never stopped hunting her? And can she draw her shadow man out his shadows, just as he has drawn Abi out of herself?
Love at first sight has never been so dangerous and so very delicious at the same time.
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Oh. Emm. Gee!! Nicola, you blew me away with this one. BTW, you are so naughty for getting me all riled with the prologue then effectively dousing me with cold water so abruptly. Lol. Sweet Seduction Shadow is book three of the Sweet Seduction series. This whole series has been fantastic so far, but this book in particular was amazing. I can’t say it enough.
Summary:
Abi Merchant has been living the past five years with fear, paranoia, guilt, determination, and a whole host of other emotions while hiding in plain sight. She doesn’t settle any one place for too long, keep the same identity location to location, make friends or draw attention to herself. Now, she’s in Auckland as Abi, but after only five weeks in her new life, she feels the same foreboding itch between her shoulder blades that hints her cover is blown. She’s been on the run since her eighteenth birthday. Running from a drug lord intent on claiming her as his own while insuring she doesn’t spill some very sensitive information in which has been in the unfortunate position of witnessing. She’s beginning to get weary of the way she must live to survive. It seems impossible that there is a light at the end of the tunnel; especially since she has yet to achieve her final goal in being free. She has to keep going or be captured and suffer a fate worse than death. With her fear of discovery increasing, Abi makes a final effort to escape out of Auckland before being found. Before she can get far, she’s halted by a handsome, mysterious yet intimidating man. Ben Tamati has been hired to shadow Abi for the past three weeks. He hides in the shadows, there but not. Abi fears he is here to take her back to the past she so desperately fought to escape, but Ben says he means her no harm. She isn’t sure she can trust him, after all, there has to be a reason he’s following her. Something deep inside tells her Ben is just like her. Hiding behind an impenetrable mask that protects the real person underneath. Exhausted from the strain of hiding and living with the threat of capture and retaliation, Abi follows her instincts and forms an unbreakable bond with Ben that surrounds them and sets them free from their demons. With Ben, Abi can face her past and end her’s and others’ torment for good. Of course, the road to freedom is never free of obstacles. Ben and Abi will have to open themselves fully to each other and draw on their shared strengths in order to survive kidnappings, gunfights, and gun-toting men from both sides of the law. Abi will have to gather her courage and will to survive to face down her dangerous past and the man who hunted her so calculatingly, in order to find who she truly is underneath all of the facades she had adopted. It will be the biggest fight of her life, but the reward is knowing she can draw her shadow man from his shadows, just as he sets her free.
Abi was Da Bomb! Totally kick-ass. I hate the reason she had to do it, but to be able to change your appearance so easily and seamlessly is amazing. Abi is a strong heroine, showing her fears and weakness, but not letting them get her down for long. She had an inner strength that amazed along with loyalty, honesty, and integrity. Ben, oh Ben! What can I say? He was even more intriguing than I ever could have imagined. He was strong, stoic, menacing, and had the ability to disappear into the shadows (which is badass, and he can shadow me anytime). The story was so focused on our couple, and it was fantastic. I feel like this aspect really focused our attention, and helped to build anticipation as to what would happen next. This book was about so much more than love at first sight. It was about knowing who you are deep inside, courage, and knowing when to do the right thing. I did love seeing the rest of the gang, except that Koki dude. He is totally gonna have to do some groveling to get back in my good graces. Kelly was the best. I think she will be one of my favorites in this series. I can’t wait to get her story and see more of her spunky personality, humor, and understanding. These books get better and better as we go on. I am ecstatic to have Jason and Katie’s story next, and will definitely be impatiently waiting for future books. Lol. <3