Standing in the Shadows

A long way from his job as an FBI agent, Connor McCloud investigates unfaithful spouses these days. When an investigation with the FBI went badly wrong, resulting in his partner's death and his own near fatal injuries, Connor spent two months in a comma. Now only his morose reflections keep him company when he refuses to answer his brothers' calls. That is, memories that includes thoughts of Erin Riggs, the daughter of the man who had set him up to die. Now his nemesis, Kurt Novak, has escaped prison and only Connor understands the dire threat the madman poses for Erin. Her father's arrest led to the downward spiral of Erin's family. Her mother's psychotic break and her sister's self destruction all stem from her father's corruption. Now she struggles to pay her mother's bills and save her sister even as Novak closes his trap. He considers Erin's escape from a kidnapping attempt to be a personal insult. Now Novak poses as a collector of La Tene period Celtic artifacts, appealing to Erin's professional skills and knowledge to lure her into his trap. Neither Connor nor Erin have acknowledged the passion they share. First he had been much too old for her, then her father's arrest occurred before he could ask her out. Now her father's legacy silently keeps them at a distance. Only Connor's conviction that she is in danger forces him out of seclusion to protect her. But Erin's independent nature does not take easily to his determination to become her bodyguard. Worse, Erin comes to believe that Connor sees nonexistent threats. In BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, author Shannon McKenna established her gift for combining daring sensuality with tension filled danger. Her sequel, STANDING IN THE SHADOWS, once again proves her rising star vibrant, terrifying prose interlaced with sensuality. Specifically, the sexual tension between Connor and Erin sizzles, even as their passion echoes the deadly passion of a madman. A novel impossible to put down, STANDING IN THE SHADOWS earns the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.

Oh my! Whew!! Standing in the Shadows is one very steamy yet very well written book. It's not often that we see both of those important facets in the same book. We are provided with real life characters - not the paper cutouts that represent so many of the same old, same old, overwritten contemporary leads of today's romances. This couple also comes with a history - they have known each other for years and have secretly harbored an attraction for one other. That, in addition to the background created in McKenna's first romance suspense novel, Behind Closed Doors, provides the reader with a solid base and allows us to be totally immersed in the story from page one.Connor McCloud is an ex-government agent who has been badly injured carrying out his duties more than once. During the last episode, partially played out in Behind Closed Doors, Connor is so severely wounded that he will probably never be able to completely recover physically. He is now working with his brothers in their own private investigation agency. Connor is disillusioned with life, very depressed, and mourns the betrayal of his former FBI boss, Ed Riggs. Connor played a large part in bringing down Riggs and more than one of his friends died due to his boss's betrayal. But still, Connor is left feeling empty and somewhat guilty. Bringing down Ed Riggs was the right thing to do. However, Riggs left behind a family ? a family Connor had gotten to know very well over the ten years he worked with him. Now Connor is haunted by his former boss's daughter, Erin Riggs. Connor had always hoped for an eventual relationship with Erin. He has waited since she was 17 - knowing her to be too young at the time. Now that she is 26 and definitely available, Connor does not believe Erin can ever be interested in him after his active involvement in bringing down her father. But not all the bad guys from Behind Closed Doors stay conveniently imprisoned. When the meanest villain around, Novak, escapes prison, Connor instinctively knows he will come after both him and Erin Riggs.Connor approaches Erin for the first time since her father's betrayal to inform her that Novak has escaped and that she needs protection. Erin is living on a very tight budget and laughs at the thought of replacing the locks on her doors much less paying for protection. Connor gives her no choice in the matter and sets himself up as her bodyguard and protector. Both Erin and Connor are ecstatic to be near one another. Neither blames the other for her father's downfall. Soon, they have acknowledged their attraction to one another and the fireworks begin. The verbal interaction between the two is vastly entertaining. Connor is basically a gentle natured guy - you think - but has this really big alpha male hidden beneath his gentle exterior. He is a considerate man and very sexual as well. Connor and Erin's relationship is a huge battle of wills at times but the alpha male always ends up holding the edge

I have been very impressed with Shannon's other work and was really looking forward to Standing in the Shadows. I expected it to be very well written with fascinating characters, lots of tension, great suspense, and hot sensuality. What I was not prepared for was just HOW good this book was. It was SO good, that I read it while waiting for my late plane to take off, and was so wrapped up in the story I couldn't have cared less. Anyone who has ever had to wait for a late plane will understand just what high praise that is.The hero is wounded in both body and soul and is on the verge of giving up when circumstances throw him back into the heroine's life. She is having difficulties with money and her career, and is also at the end of her rope. They have loved each other from afar for years which has created almost unbearable tension between them. When it is finally released, the results are truly explosive. Don't let the trade size discourage you from buying this book. In my opinion, it was well worth it.

Connor McCloud is a former FBI agent who was almost killed when an investigation went bad. He spent two months in a coma and still suffers from the burns and a leg injury he sustained in the explosion. Since leaving the FBI six months ago, he's been wallowing in depression and self-pity until he learns that the man responsible for his injuries and the death of his partner - his nemesis, Kurt Novak - has escaped from prison. Though his former FBI co-workers assure him that Novak is in France, Connor cannot shake the feeling that Novak is closer to home and a threat to Erin Riggs, the daughter of Connor's former FBI boss. Ed Riggs, unbeknownst to his family or co-workers had been corrupt for years and his corruption contributed to the death of Jesse and wounding of Connor. He was also blackmailed (with the threat of Erin's abduction) into working for Novak, but failed in his task contributing to Novak's incarceration. Connor is sure Novak will want revenge and decides that if the authorities will not protect Erin, he will. After all, he's been silently in love with her for years. But since it was his testimony that put her father in prison and brought her family ruin, will she even accept protection from him? Man, she must hate him!Erin Rigg's life could not get much worse. After all the mess with her father, she lost the job she loved in the Celtic antiquities section of a museum, her sister has begun to run wild, basically dropping out of college and she fears that her mom is losing her mind. If it weren't for the couple of freelance jobs authenticating Celtic artifacts for millionaire philanthropist Claude Mueller, she'd have no income at all. She's finally going to meet the reclusive Mueller in person on a job out of state, so maybe things are finally looking up. But when Connor McCloud shows up at her place, the ground shifts under her feet. She's adored Connor since she was 17, never showing it or acting on it and especially not after learning of her dad's corruption and involvement in Connor's near-death. Man, he must hate her! The ground shakes again when Connor tells her that Novak is again on the loose and that he has appointed himself her bodyguard. Of course she balks at this, especially since she's set to meet Mueller at a resort for her latest job. Connor smells a rat and shows up at the airport to meet her flight and refuses to let her out of his sight. Spending so much time in close proximity unleashes their deep, passionate feelings and they finally become lovers after all those years. But as days pass, Erin is persuaded to think that Connor is obsessed with Novak and that he sees threats that are not really there. Especially when it comes to Mueller who has now offered Erin the job of a lifetime that will put her family and life back together - and Connor questions why. Is Connor's obsession making him a little crazy or is he the only one who recognizes the true threat?This sequel to Behind Closed Doors is mo

Following up from Behind Closed Doors, the reader is again introduced to Connor McCloud, the quiet and brooding man that we were curious about in BCD.Connor has spent the last year in a slump, which is putting it nicely. After the murder of his partner, Jesse, and then the downfall of his boss, Connor has lost faith in just about anything. And he's lost the girl. He has loved Erin Riggs since she was seventeen and he was twenty six, but he knew she was way too young. She is also his bosses daughter and considered off limits. While he has many fantasies with her involved, he just waits for the day that he can make them reality. Then he is part of the team that puts her father behind bars for murder, among other things. Suddenly Erin is looking at him with betrayal in her eyes, and Connor makes a strategic retreat.Erin Riggs' life is falling apart around her ears. The only good thing is the work she is doing for Claude Mueller who is a collector of celtic artifacts. When Connor McCloud suddenly shows up at her door and tells her Kurt Novak has broken out of prison, Erin is skeptical about Connor's claims that he will come after her. Standing in the Shadows is exactly what I have come to expect from Shannon McKenna. I waited for this book since last year when BCD came out and I was not dissapointed. With the steamy sexuality and dark eroticsm, you will be hooked by this book from the first page. We finally get a conclusion of Novak who is one creepy guy. I'm also wondering if McKenna will bring back Mara as a heroine. Who knows!Don't miss it!!