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He’s been waiting for her heart to heal, but did he wait too long to make his move?

Head of the family business, Nick “Shadow” Salinger’s job is to keep people safe. Employees, clients and family all look to the former Special Forces Operator for guidance, but the one woman he’s been holding back from for fear of hurting her, is adamant she needs him, not his protection.

Annabelle Lewis is tired of feeling like damaged goods. A former undercover agent with the FBI, she spent years in DeMarchis’ sex-trafficking ring before her and her son were rescued by the man who makes her long to throw caution to the wind – if only he’d let her. Tired of Nick’s chivalry, she’s determined to let him know she’s his for the taking, but there’s a bigger threat looming.

Louis DeMarchis is ready to make his move against the Salingers, destroy them once and for all and reclaim the woman who is rightfully his. With Colonel Robinson and Admiral North accompanying the new man in charge of Force Recon, will he succeed?

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2024

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52 people want to read

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Naomi McKay

11 books102 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Paula (In & Out).
880 reviews12 followers
January 20, 2024
SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So after debating for days whether or not to DNF it, I finally ended up finishing it and my initial opinion has not changed. Besides the trope(s) that this one contains which I loathe and will get into in a moment, the author’s style of writing here is so discombobulated that it feels from start to finish as if one entered into a story midway and don’t have the facts of who, what or when to make any sense of it. Reading it felt at times as if I was trying to get in the author’s head to see what the heck she was thinking and where she was going with this.

For example, when story starts, heroine has already been rescued over 2 years ago, knows/is close to all the players (aka Hero’s family & team), has moved in with Hero I think by 2nd or 3rd page, both already in love and thinking of marriage, etc.

Hero did not know heroine before she was rescued. He did not rescue her himself (his siblings did) and there was no mention of how/when they got close in the 2 years after her rescue for him to feel that she was the one he was going to marry. No POV from heroine about that either. All we get is that these 2 are horny for each other.

So now for the things I loathe. Heroine is a single mother of a 4 or 5 year old. I HATE the single parent trope unless the kid is the MCs and/or a relative.
Then there’s my 2nd hated trope and that is rape or prostitution (especially if it's one of the MCs).

It was stated very briefly that heroine used to be a cop and I think she got a promotion to go undercover for a sex ring but somehow ended up captured and for 2 years she was “passed around from man to man”. It is never explained how or why she was captured. Was she acting alone? Did she not have a team? For someone who was a cop or something, she had skills that she could find a way out of the situation she got herself like a certain character in the story (her BFF) was always able to get out of bad situations. And that is one of my pet peeves here because she acted helpless and stupid all the time and just waited for someone to come rescue her. Either Hero, her BFF or one of his siblings. For a cop, why didn’t she have any skills & street smarts at all?

Why did she allow herself to be used for sex by all these men? Why didn’t she fight them and tried to find a way out? HOW did she get rescued & why? Who was her kid’s bio Daddy? And on and on the questions here went.

Typically when I love something, I end up placing quotes of scenes I love. With this one, besides the scenes with Hero & her son that were so cute together, I honestly could not find anything to like. The mystery/suspense and the “baddies” was lame. The heroine was pathetic. The Hero I liked to a certain degree but I could not understand why or how he came to love this pathetic creature. At the start of the story, she is hesitant to get involved with Hero because she feels “dirty” and can’t see why Hero would want to be with her. I couldn’t either.

Safety:
No cheating.
No OW. Some OM in the form of the one who captured her delusional in trying to get her & “his” kid back when he wasn’t his.
Hero celibate for 2 years waiting for heroine to “recover”.
Heroine not a virgin obviously. They said they both lost their virginity in HS to their partners and she had other lovers before she was captured and plenty when she was captured.
HEA with a proposal at the end.
Profile Image for ♡Anieta♡.
38 reviews
January 14, 2024
Arc Review 4/5 ⭐️

Thank you, Naomi Mckay, for this amazing Opertunity ❤️

This is a very astonishing book, I adore Nick and Anna so much.They have a beautiful story.The ending is HEA.This book is a part of a series ... run now and read the whole series, you will not regret it🌼



💛Book Description💛

He’s been waiting for her heart to heal, but did he wait too long to make his move?

Head of the family business, Nick “Shadow” Salinger’s job is to keep people safe. Employees, clients and family all look to the former Special Forces Operator for guidance, but the one woman he’s been holding back from for fear of hurting her, is adamant she needs him, not his protection.

Annabelle Lewis is tired of feeling like damaged goods. A former undercover agent with the FBI, she spent years in DeMarchis’ sex-trafficking ring before her and her son were rescued by the man who makes her long to throw caution to the wind – if only he’d let her. Tired of Nick’s chivalry, she’s determined to let him know she’s his for the taking, but there’s a bigger threat looming.

Louis DeMarchis is ready to make his move against the Salingers, destroy them once and for all, and reclaim the woman who is rightfully his. With Colonel Robinson and Admiral North accompanying the new man in charge of Force Recon, will he succeed?


Release Day 16th of January 2024🫶🏻
Profile Image for Miki.
1,038 reviews43 followers
January 12, 2024
Oh my i love this series and i was really happy to see Nick and Annabelle 's story. Those two are perfect together both protectors but sometimes too much. Nick protect everyone and because of that he thinks he needs to give Annabelle more time before revealing his feeling for her but time yes eternity now and he is starting to understand he may be making things worse ...but aside from his romance he still has to protect his growing family as Demarchis is always ready to strike.

Annabelle is independent but despite all what she endured she is still strong and a kind heart just doubting herselve. She is in love with Nick but she does not think she is worth enough and she think he is avoiding her ...stubborn she does not recognised the signs until they slap in her face.

I really loved to see how both Nick and Annabelle needed help understand their feeling so obvious for everyone except them.
I also loved the all actions part, with the strategies etc, the suspense was very well balanced to keep us hooked on the story.

Really the only part i feel was missed was that we don't know ( yet hopefully) what happens to those Louis Demarchis cites...i hate betrayer and i would have loved to see them caught and punished. Hopefully it will be in next book


really an enjoyable romance suspense full of action, romance and courage
Profile Image for Terri-Lee Olivier.
84 reviews1 follower
January 15, 2024
⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.5/🌶️

"Shadow" by Naomi McKay took me on an adrenaline-fueled ride that left my heart pounding and my emotions in a whirlwind! The love story between Nick "Shadow" Salinger and Annabelle Lewis is nothing short of amazing. This book is not just about protecting the ones we love but also about finding the courage to embrace love when it comes knocking.

Nick, a former Special Forces Operator, is the epitome of strength and protection. His internal struggle to shield Annabelle, the one person he yearns for, adds layers to the narrative. Annabelle, a former undercover FBI agent, brings resilience and determination to the story. Tired of being treated delicately, she's ready to claim the love she deserves.

The plot is a rollercoaster of suspense and passion, with a looming threat from Louis DeMarchis keeping me on the edge of my seat. McKay's vivid storytelling made it feel like I was watching an action-packed movie. The pacing was perfect, and the chemistry between the characters was electric.

"Shadow" isn't just a romance novel; it's a thrilling journey into the world of danger, love, and redemption. I couldn't put it down, and the characters lingered in my mind long after I finished the last page. If you're a fan of heart-stopping romance with a dash of danger, "Shadow" is a must-read! 👏📚💖
Profile Image for Victoria Rebecca Hawkes.
459 reviews1 follower
January 9, 2024
Head of the family business, Nick “Shadow” Salinger’s job is to keep people safe. Employees, clients and family all look to the former Special Forces Operator for guidance, but the one woman he’s been holding back from for fear of hurting her, is adamant she needs him, not his protection.

Annabelle Lewis is tired of feeling like damaged goods. A former undercover agent with the FBI, she spent years in DeMarchis’ sex-trafficking ring before her and her son were rescued by the man who makes her long to throw caution to the wind – if only he’d let her. Tired of Nick’s chivalry, she’s determined to let him know she’s his for the taking, but there’s a bigger threat looming.

Wow this book was an amazing read from beginning to end. When I was reading this book I cried, laughed and at one point I wanted to hit someone but couldn't. I found it very hard to put the book down it was that good it was definitely a page turner. The characters really made the book flow and it was worth every minute. Naomi McKay has gone and written another fantastic book, I would highly recommend reading all the books in the series. I loved these books and if you love military romances these are the books for you.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
763 reviews7 followers
January 2, 2024
Nick and Anna’s story.

Shadow closes out the Salinger Security series. I was anticipating the conclusion of this thrilling series, and I loved Nick and Anna’s story. When Nick decides to make Anna his, he’s all in. Anna is more than ready for their relationship to evolve. She’s been through some very difficult circumstances in her past and I love that she is doing what it takes to move forward with her life. Finding Nick gives her the necessary push to stand up to her past and show how strong she is. I enjoyed the relationship between Nick and Anna’s son, Matty. It is sweet and endearing. The loyalty and support from the family and friends as they all banded together to take down the villain gave me the warm-hearted feelings I always get from Naomi’s characters. They are tough and protective, yet warm and compassionate. There is some foreshadowing for more from the Salinger family and friends and I’m looking forward to the next story. I received an arc of this book, and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for theartfulreader.
136 reviews6 followers
January 17, 2024
This is the fourth book in the Salinger series and it follows Nick "shadow" Salinger, a former special forces operator, the head of the family business. At Salinger Security their main task was keeping people safe, Nick faces a dilemma when, Annabelle Lewis, a former FBI undercover agent insists she needs Nick beyond just his protection. The story was everything you want in a romantic suspense novel, there is danger, love and strong family bonds. The characters were well developed and made it easy to get invested in this book. I did not read the other books in the series but will rectify that really soon to see how the previous events impacted this story. Although it is a standalone the series is inter connected. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for people who like the romantic suspense books. If you like a man in uniform and a resilient single mother then this book is for you.
Profile Image for Carmela Dimattia.
1,921 reviews22 followers
January 13, 2024
I am very sad to see this series end. I have loved the Salinger Security series and I have loved reading about the Salinger Family. So much drama with lots happening especially to Anna but this book also had lots of very steamy moments between Anna and Nick Salinger. Nick has always know that Anna and her son Matty were his and Anna was a bit slow coming to that realisation but in this book she can see just how determined Nick is, not only to make her his woman but also to protect her, Matty and his family at any cost. This is a great book with great characters and it will have you on the edge of your seat. I have read may books by this author and I have loved each and every one and I am excited to see what Ms McKay writes next.

I received an arc copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Profile Image for Heather Wray.
622 reviews5 followers
January 6, 2024
Nick “Shadow” Salinger finally gets his girl in the fourth and final SFOA: Salinger Security book.
Nick and Annabelle Lewis have danced around each other since her rescue two years ago. Anna’s ready for the dancing to stop, and the mating to begin. However, with DeMarchis out there still bent on revenge and retrieval it’s not going to be plain sailing.
If you’ve read the previous books, then you know you’re in for a great read. With plenty of action, a slippery villain, and a great found family at their back.
Like the first three I really enjoyed this one, and look forward to the move to Salinger Private Military Contractors books coming Mar ’24.

I received a review reader’s copy of the book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Profile Image for Gazelle.
848 reviews10 followers
January 11, 2024
Annabelle and Nick have been dancing around each other for awhile now. Nick wanted to give Anna the time she needed to heal to be ready to accept love/relationship. Anna doesn’t want to be pitied after everything she’s been through and it takes a couple good friends pointing out the obvious for her to realize what she could have. Only there is one big obstacle between her, Nick and Matty having a HEA and it’s the villain set on claiming her and her son while making sure Nick loses everything he loves. This conclusion to the series will have you hanging on to see what happens next and who actually best the villain. I love how the family comes together and that the woman are strong characters who are willing to fight not hide in a corner.
Profile Image for Daisy Nijs.
1,023 reviews15 followers
January 19, 2024
Shadow is the fourth book in the Salinger Security series, and it finally Nick and Anna’s time to shine.
This book is filled with passion, suspense, great chemistry, pages that you can’t read fast enough, just to know what will happen. I really enjoyed it.
Nick is the protector and he will make sure you are feeling safe/okay before he can think about expressing his feelings.
Anna is a single mom. She and her son have been rescued from the trafficking world after two years. Now that she has Nick in her life, she can find the courage to go after what she wants. After all that she has been through, she finally finds her strength again.
Another amazing book in the Salinger Security series.
2,716 reviews33 followers
January 1, 2024
Fantastic book!!
With a human trafficker after her again Annabelle and her son, Matty was under the protection of Salinger Security especially Nick.
These two had amazing chemistry, after everything she had gone through and was going through, the fact she found it hard to believe Nick still wanted her and he certainly did. An attraction that was wonderful to read about.
Very well done, characters that were both likeable, and made the story more real life. A plot that gripped and held me captured till the last.
Naomi McKay knows her stuff and can't wait to see what else is coming from her.
Brilliant book!!
Profile Image for Julie Booklover.
2,128 reviews105 followers
January 16, 2024
The series is complete! Another edge of your seat, drama filled, story of Anna and Nick/Shadow. I enjoyed the Salinger Security series and meeting the family.

Nick never had a doubt that Anna and her son were his; Anna was not as quick to come to this conclusion. She is slightly leery of relationships, but Nicks's determination convinces her. The road to happiness is not easy, the action is plenty, the villain is a smart one, and the found family is everything.

We also get to see where this author is taking us in the future and good things to look forward to.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Profile Image for PepperP0t .
5,108 reviews86 followers
September 14, 2024
This romance had been hinted at in the prior outings leading one to believe with DeMarchis about to step over the crazy town limits, its well past time, family business leader, Nick ‘Shadow’ Salinger and former trafficked FBI Agent Annabelle Lewis got busy!

Unfortunately, this outing made this reader thankful it was a series wrap (at least for phase I). To my taste, DeMarchis lost some of his insidiousness; Nick and Anna seemed to lack chemistry; while team names had been given at the start of each read, this was the only time they were used, I wasn’t a fan of the ending and OMG the pacing here drove me nuts!
Rating: 2.75stars
Profile Image for Cora Paul.
23 reviews
December 29, 2023
Nick and Anna had an anticipated story and I was so excited to finally read it. Their story is super sweet and I love seeing Nick also embracing fatherhood with Matty. So super sweet and fun to see! Their story was very well written and Anna’s personality is fierce. No second half breakup and the suspense is spot on. Kept my attention the whole time and had a perfectly happy ending. Left some room for a second generation series I hope! I’d love to see the kiddos get books! Can’t wait to see where Naomi goes with her writing next!
Profile Image for Sue Smith.
749 reviews7 followers
January 4, 2024
I received an ARC copy of this book via the author, and I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review.
It's a fantastic ending to the first series, and hopefully, we'll read more about other family members in the new series.
Wow... I just loved Nick and Anna's story. I've been waiting for this one, and it was so worth it!!
Nick Salinger has been waiting for Annabelle to recover from her ordeal, but has he left it too late......
Annabelle is tired of waiting for Nick to make a move and takes matters into her own hands.....
Brilliant storyline with fantastic characters and a wonderful HEA.
438 reviews7 followers
January 17, 2024
And the Salinger Security series finishes with the story of Anna and Nick Salinger. I really enjoyed this book as Nick and Annabelle have been giving us tantalising hints of their feelings for each other for a while. As always with the books in this series there is an exciting story line, plenty of romance, and believable and strong characters making you feel totally immersed in their lives. I have followed Naomi McKay since she published her first book and she has become one of my go-to authors, I cannot wait to see what this talented author has in store next. I highly recommend this book
993 reviews6 followers
January 17, 2024
Shew...finally Nick and Anna cross that imaginary divide! If you've read the series from the beginning (which I definitely suggest) then you also have been waiting patiently (maybe?) for these two and adorable Matty to get their HEA. Naomi gives readers a captivating story as danger continues to lurk from the Salingers biggest enemy, and the family and new friends execute the final showdown between them and Louis DeMarchis. Action, danger, and suspense collide amongst love, secrets and new set ups for future stories Naomi's imagination is ready to tell.
Profile Image for Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase .
4,834 reviews179 followers
January 22, 2024
Waiting and biding his time, Nick has been in love with Annabella since the team rescued her. Not only does he feel the connection to her but to her young son as well. So when they finally admit their feelings, it is the exact time the hatred against the Salingers comes into play. Can they last through the turmoil? Or will it be too late? Wow - the level of love versus hate comes full circle. The brothers find their way, the bad guy loses and love prevails. I only wish there were more to the series as I do not want to see this end.
Profile Image for Chavonne Browne.
55 reviews
January 2, 2024
Please order yours immediately!! The way Nick is so gentle and so protective makes my knees feel like jello.

I am not usually a fan of security romance reads but this one was really really good and I definitely want to read more of the series.

The spice was about a 3 in this one.

I can’t really say more about the story without spoilers as there were a couple of scenes that had me almost nail bitting. I was smiling like an idiot at some of the sayings between the siblings.
Profile Image for A.
793 reviews
January 7, 2024
Shadow is the fourth book in the Salinger Security series. It is a marvelous addition to the series. I recommend reading the other books first. Naomi McKay writes excellent characters. I am so happy that Anna and Nick got their happily ever after. Shadow is a fabulous mix of suspense and sexy romance. I couldn’t put the book down. I love the big family that keeps expanding. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Tarien Barnard.
3 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2024
I absolutely loved this story of Nick and Anna.
I have not read the first three books, but after being addicted to Shadow, the other 3 books are already in my cart.
The stubbornness and independency that Anna has is a good fit to Nick' careful(with reason) and overprotective nature. The tension definitely ran hot between the two and I'm glad that I got to dive into their story.
The suspense definitely keeps you hooked until the end and I would definitely recommend this book as a good read!
Profile Image for Ela La1978.
593 reviews14 followers
December 28, 2023
Love, love, love it. It took time and patience to get to Nicks Story and it is absolutely worth it. The story brings new news, familiar faces, love, friendship and of course Drama. Through this book we laugh, cry and want to punch someone but can‘t, and can’t stop reading because its captivating.
Worth every minute of reading time.
564 reviews5 followers
January 11, 2024
This was a thrilling conclusion of this series. While Nick was patiently waiting for Anna to get over her trauma (maybe a little too patient), she was ready to move on. Even with threat of Louis DeMarchis still out there, she wanted to move forward, hopefully with Nick. I enjoy the way Ms McKay writes. I’m looking forward to reading more of Ms McKay’s work.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
2,537 reviews3 followers
January 14, 2024
Omg loved this book!! Nick salinger and his family are bound and determined to bring down Louis DeMarchis so Anna and little Matty will be safe, Anna wants nick but thinks she's too damaged for him but will his love so her a different story and once their enemy is gone will they all get their happyly ever after?
Profile Image for Monique Westwood.
515 reviews5 followers
December 31, 2023
I loved Anna and Nick. Throw in little Matty, and perfection. I enjoyed the continued camaraderie and sense of family. The continuing story arc through this series is pretty much concluded. I am looking forward to the next series, as I hope to read more about a few of the characters.
Profile Image for Sue.
4,371 reviews5 followers
January 8, 2024
I wasn't disappointed with this book. There's plenty of action, suspense, danger and heat. They are still trying to find Louis, Anna's kidnapper, who is still causing havoc. Family is a great thing and they all stick together to protect their own. HEA.
Profile Image for Anne (Izzie).
382 reviews1 follower
January 20, 2024
Another excellent story from this great author, she’ll keep your attention from the first page. At long last, after two years, Nick realises that it is time to make his feelings for Anna and her little boy clear, even though DeMarchis is still on the prowl and needs to be dealt with. Their happiness does not come without lots of help and support from tne rest of Nick’s family and friends, but what a group of friends and family to have in your corner! I really enjoyed this well written book, and although this series is finished I am so looking forward to her new series, Salinger Military Contractors.
1,095 reviews
February 5, 2024
This was not my favorite book in the series and that is disappointing. It just seemed to fall short in the storyline department . I felt like so much more could have been done with the characters. It was a shame. But it should absolutely be read to close out the series.
154 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2024
read like a second draft

First of all, this is not a standalone. I have not read the previous books in the series and I felt like I was missing A LOT. secondly, this must not have been edited at all, because it was sometimes very hard to read. Ultimately, DNF.
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