Review: Illuminate the Shadows by Isobel Starling (Shatterproof Bond #2)
Note: This ARC was provided by Between the Sheets Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
After finishing, As You Wish, I thanked my lucky stars that I already had the sequel, Illuminate the Shadows ready and waiting for me to peruse because I would have gone absolutely batty if I had to wait to find out what Samuel Aiken and Declan Ramsay would do next. This first full-length novel in the Shatterproof Bond series penned by author Isobel Starling picks up a day or two after the out-of-the-blue revelation in the prequel novella. Declan is no longer reeling from the confessions made by the man he's fallen in love with, but Sam is wary and anxious, especially since he knows what lies ahead for Dec. If the first book was lighthearted fare that had these two meeting and falling for each other, this second one has bit of a darker feel to it, thanks to Sam's father and Declan's boss, former MI5 operative Sir James Aiken.
The choice that Sam made may have meant that he and Declan would be together, but it also carried with it consequences that would put both their lives in danger. Declan undergoes an "interview" of sorts and James Aiken's disdain for his son's homosexuality and his desire to test just how far Sam's boyfriend can be pushed showcase the kind of man James is. With the changes in both their lives, personally and professionally, the time has also come for Sam and Declan to share the news of their new relationship status with the two people closest and who mean the most to them--Sam's sister Annabelle and Declan's brother Oliver, who were married in Dunloch Castle with both Sam and Declan serving as best men. The rejection or acceptance of Belle and Ollie is just one more thing that the two lovers will have to deal with.
I absolutely dislike James Aiken. I totally, wholeheartedly, one hundred and ten percent do not like the man and think he's rather despicable. If he's hiding some sort of caring personality under that cold and calculating exterior, then it would be an even bigger shock than that twist in the novella. He's like this puppet master pulling every single string he's able to attach to both Sam and Declan, and it's clear that he isn't hesitant to manipulate them any way he can to get what he wants. As much as I hate the guy, he plays a pivotal role in the changes that Sam and Declan and their relationship go through and after having read the synopsis for the next book, I'm already itching to read it, and it has me expecting far more suspense and espionage but still with that chemistry that our two main characters have had from the very beginning.
Before you read this book, I'm going to suggest that you download the prequel novella and read that first, especially since it's currently free on most of the e-retailers that carry it, save for Amazon. I'm not sure if it's exactly the same as when Isobel Starling first released it as part of the Goodreads M/M Romance Group's Love Is an Open Road event, but feel free to compare. The prequel lays the groundwork for the relationship that Sam and Declan have but it also has the twist that will give you a better idea of what exactly is going on and why it's led to the events here in this novel. Going into the book after this one, I'm looking forward to seeing if there'll be more acceptance for their relationship among their respective families and what challenges they'll face separately and together. Four stars for Illuminate the Shadows. ♥
Date Read: 13 May 2016
Learn more about Isobel Starling.
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