Shrapnel: Glow in the Desert Book 2

by Jacqueline McCall

Even the boy spat from the flames isn’t safe from demons in the shadows.

Jamie Weaver has a blinding smile. For his enemies, it’s the last thing they’ll ever see. But there are deep secrets behind that grin. When he gets roped into helping Noah solve the murders of the White Sand Mesa gang, the clues begin pointing to a past he thought he left buried in the ashes. If he wants to keep the few people he’s loyal to safe, he’ll have to find out what happened the night the flames spit him out. And confront the demons that linger in the embers.

Owen Zimmerman has finally left gang life behind. After a terror-filled few years, he’s paid off his school debts and landed his dream job. Now his biggest concern is which flavor of energy drink he wants and finding time for online gaming. But when Jamie shows back up on his doorstep needing a favor—and a shower—he finds he’s unwilling to turn the snarky assassin away. He doesn’t want anything to do with the violence of the Weaver Syndicate—so why is he so willing to follow Jamie into the flames?

Shrapnel is a slow burn romantic thriller with multi-POV. It features a snarky assassin, an anxious IT Tech addicted to caffeine, and their journey to stop a murderer and save each other from their pasts. There is sex, snark, gratuitous violence, dark humor, and a hard-earned happy ending.

518 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2023

About the author

Jacqueline McCall is a displaced Texan, living on a farm in Central Florida. Raised as an only child by a single mother, she was often left alone. To fill her time, she picked up reading. When hyper fixating on characters wasn’t enough, she started creating her own. Like her characters, she never pulls punches. Preferring to write characters that aren’t being rescued by the knight on the white horse, but rather a beaten, bloody, morally grey savior.

Basically nocturnal, she prefers long naps behind blackout curtains and energy drinks. She can never remember keyboard short cuts and hates when her phone updates. When not writing, she enjoys riding her horses, being judged by cats, and cursing.

Reviews

[Woodatsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon the first book in this series by accident and was immediately intrigued. Only a few chapters in and I was sold, so when Jacqueline asked me to beta read this book, I was astonished and honoured at the same time. I'll do my very best to give a worthy review!

Things seem to have quiet down a bit after Noah's takeover of the White Sand Mesas but nothing could be further from the thruth. An enemy is killing his men and is threatening everything he holds dear. His relationship with Elijah is still strong but they can't be too open about it. He's in dire need of some help to get to the bottom on things.

One of the people he can count on is Jamie. Jamie is an assassin who's actualy part of the Weaver gang but is willing to help Noah because of his connection with Elijah who's also a memeber of the Weavers. He has a very troubled past but always hides his pain through laughter. He's got a very caring nature beneath his murderous tendencies and will do everything in his power to safe the people he cares for and loves, which aren't many.

One of those people is Owen, he an IT specialist who finally managed to get out of his study debts, and has found a job he really likes. When he sees Jamie again after a very long time who's looking for a place to stay and to recover a bit, he reluctantly lets him stay.

This isn't a book for the faint, there is violence on page but also deep emotion. You get sucked into the story, get thrown from left to right with surprises you just didn't see coming.

It's a very slow burn, the relationship between Jamie and Owen unfolded bit by bit and was met with ups and downs. Both men didn't seem to realise they were falling for each other and when they finally do it was great to see how they gave their all. The scene where Jamie tells Owen about his past was just heartbreaking, I wanted to wrap the guy in my arms and give him the biggest of hugs.

I loved the gritty style of writing, you feel as if you're right there with the characters. The only thing I would have loved, was an epilogue, but that's just personal preference.

I greatly enjoying reading this book and am looking forward to the next one which I secretly hope will be Jackson and/or Rhetts book.

*I kindly received an ARC from the author in return for an honest review.*

[T.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartwrenching tale of survival and love

Another incredible book by an incredible writer!

Like its predecessor, "Shrapnel" leans hard into realism and pulls no punches. We are shown trauma and suffering, we are shown the harsh reality down to minute details that refuse to let us look away. I love stories that really seize my heart and make me feel all kinds of emotions, and this one does just that. There are high points where you're laughing right along with the characters, there are low points when your heart aches for them, and then there are the parts where you're afraid to keep reading and have to follow the characters' leads and find the courage to continue just like them.

I loved the first book, "Hurt," very much, so when I say that this one came in, stole my heart, and neatly stepped its way into the position of my favorite by this author, it genuinely means something. Jamie and Owen are both excellently written characters. I love the trope of hurt characters who hide their pain behind smiles and jokes, so falling for Jamie was a given, and Owen reminds me a lot of myself, which is endearing in its own right.

If you read "Hurt," you absolutely must continue the series and read this one. If you haven't read "Hurt," what they heck is wrong with you, go read it and then this one! :D

Jacqueline McCall is an incredibly gifted storyteller; I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

[Joy Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the books your college composition teacher did not want you to read. All of the rules about limiting the number of characters, limiting the plotlines, limiting the length of the book, in fact, any limits at all are out the window. Not many writers could pull off such a leap of freedom but McCall does. The book version I read was littered with typos like gauges that should have been gouges, shutters that should have been shudders, and boreds that should have been boards. And none of that matters. You barely notice as your finger races to turn page after page. The depth of the characters, the way they have developed since they appeared in the first book HURT, and the urgent need to know what will happen next, drive you keep reading. McCall creates characters and images that stay in your mind forever. In the first book, Grant cries out desperately to Kurt, trying to explain that he knows he is not a good person but he is still in love with Kurt. "I killed three men this morning, Kurt. And all the time I was thinking about what I would make for your dinner. I shopped for bell peppers with their blood under my fingernails." I, for one, have never been able to buy a bell pepper without thinking of Grant and Kurt since. This is the magic of McCall. You may wonder if the book is simp[y too much for you, Trust me: You will be the loser if you do.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second book of the series, Noah is leading the White Sand Mesa gang but apparently someone is not happy and is murdering his people. With Elijah to help him and Grant and Kurt back, he also finds help from Jackson and Jaime who brings in Noah. Jaime, a crazy assassin is falling for the clever IT wizard, Noah. Jaime has so much past trauma, there is so much action, danger and violence, that your head spins trying to keep up. Its thrilling and absorbing with shocks and surprises along the way. Very light on the sexy times, heavy on the thrills and danger with a complicated plot that kept me guessing. I received this book through BookSirens and this is my voluntary opinion.

[Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's “never a dull moment” in theory and then there’s this story— where there’s *really* never a dull moment. Be prepared for a lot here: a lot of action/adventure/violence/feeling etc. It’s an intense backdrop for the slow burn relationship trajectory and some interesting character development, and taken on its own terms makes for a heck of a ride. 4.5 stars.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book absolutely crammed full of complex characters. It's also packed with lots of action and violence, riveting to the end. Jamie was a badly damaged man with far more trauma than even he realised, and his tentative efforts to begin to find his way with Owen were very touching.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am happy to leave a voluntary review.

[Stephanie W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the complexity of this story. The plot, the characters, and the creativity kept me in a state of satisfaction.
Despite its length, it wasn't unrealistically drawn out. Everything pulled together beautifully.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MM Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shrapnel was quite a riveting story with interesting characters and their drama. The author did an excellent job of creating very deep and well-developed characters that seemed like someone you could know.