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Behind the Shadows
Kira Douglas’s mother, Katy, will die unless she receives a new kidney. Kira is the likely donor candidate...until blood tests reveal that she isn’t Katy’s biological daughter.
If she isn’t Kira Douglas, then who is she? And how can she save her mother? The only answer is to find Katy’s true daughter by birth. Kira’s search leads to Leigh Howard, an heiress to a $50 million trust fund, and her formidable protector, Max Payton, a charismatic attorney who doesn’t trust Kira or her theory that she and Leigh were accidentally switched at birth.
When Kira’s life is threatened, it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want the truth to come out or allow Kira to lay claim to the legendary Westerfield fortune. Now Max is torn between his loyalty to Leigh and his powerful desire for the woman who has upset their privileged world. But he may be too late to stop a legacy of hate and greed that was set in motion decades ago—and is about to come full circle.
If she isn’t Kira Douglas, then who is she? And how can she save her mother? The only answer is to find Katy’s true daughter by birth. Kira’s search leads to Leigh Howard, an heiress to a $50 million trust fund, and her formidable protector, Max Payton, a charismatic attorney who doesn’t trust Kira or her theory that she and Leigh were accidentally switched at birth.
When Kira’s life is threatened, it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want the truth to come out or allow Kira to lay claim to the legendary Westerfield fortune. Now Max is torn between his loyalty to Leigh and his powerful desire for the woman who has upset their privileged world. But he may be too late to stop a legacy of hate and greed that was set in motion decades ago—and is about to come full circle.
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First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 10, 2008
Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Dec08
Romance and action steeped in suspense. “Behind the Shadows” by Patricia Potter kept me engrossed from the first chapter. In addition to the romance theme, this book also highlights today’s desperate need for organ donors. I also found myself pondering some interesting observations about what makes a parent, and what, if anything, would a child ‘owe’ a parent they never knew about?
Reporter Kira is frantic to save her mother’s life. It’s always been just the two of them and now with her mother’s kidneys failing, Kira is determined to donate one of her own to save the life of the woman who sacrificed so much and loved her all her life. When the doctor says Kira is not a match, she’s heartbroken. When he adds that she’s not even her mother’s biological daughter, Kira is livid. The hospital made a mistake…obviously. She and her mother have often discussed a newborn Kira’s fight for life after a difficult delivery. But the only ‘mistake’ apparently happened thirty-two years ago. Now Kira is determined to find out what happened to her mother’s baby. If she can find that baby, she will cajole, threaten, or beg to get a kidney for her mother.
Max is the successful corporate attorney and trust manager for Leigh, the sole heiress to the Westerfield fortune. When he meets Kira he feels a strong attraction. When Kira claims that she was switched as a baby with Leigh, Max is furious. Just another money-seeker! But when it appears Kira’s claims may be true, Max is torn. Leigh is like a sister to him, but he is drawn to Kira. Whose ‘interests’ does he represent--the apparent heir? The rightful heir? The woman he thinks of as a sister? The woman he’s coming to love? And when Kira is attacked, robbed, and shot within the space of three days, Max’s worries and loyalties will be tested like never before.
I can’t begin to tell you what a whirlwind of action this book contains. From the first page, there are mysteries within mysteries to solve. The story unfolds slowly at first and then seems to pick up speed with every chapter. I was impressed with how the author advanced the problem of organ donation without ‘preaching’ to the reader. The urgency and need is emphasized by every action the heroine takes, but we’re not beaten over the head with the issue.
I also found myself thinking about what I would, or would not, do if I were in the situation of any of the characters: the daughter, the biological daughter, and the lawyer/family friend. Tough questions which made me remember how blessed I am that I don’t have to face this in reality. Speaking of characters, the secondary cast was excellent! Almost every character introduced had real impact on advancing the plot. Patricia Potter’s “Behind the Shadows” was a heart-pounding read. And if everything came out a little ‘too’ neat and happy at the end? Well…this IS a romance after all.
Romance and action steeped in suspense. “Behind the Shadows” by Patricia Potter kept me engrossed from the first chapter. In addition to the romance theme, this book also highlights today’s desperate need for organ donors. I also found myself pondering some interesting observations about what makes a parent, and what, if anything, would a child ‘owe’ a parent they never knew about?
Reporter Kira is frantic to save her mother’s life. It’s always been just the two of them and now with her mother’s kidneys failing, Kira is determined to donate one of her own to save the life of the woman who sacrificed so much and loved her all her life. When the doctor says Kira is not a match, she’s heartbroken. When he adds that she’s not even her mother’s biological daughter, Kira is livid. The hospital made a mistake…obviously. She and her mother have often discussed a newborn Kira’s fight for life after a difficult delivery. But the only ‘mistake’ apparently happened thirty-two years ago. Now Kira is determined to find out what happened to her mother’s baby. If she can find that baby, she will cajole, threaten, or beg to get a kidney for her mother.
Max is the successful corporate attorney and trust manager for Leigh, the sole heiress to the Westerfield fortune. When he meets Kira he feels a strong attraction. When Kira claims that she was switched as a baby with Leigh, Max is furious. Just another money-seeker! But when it appears Kira’s claims may be true, Max is torn. Leigh is like a sister to him, but he is drawn to Kira. Whose ‘interests’ does he represent--the apparent heir? The rightful heir? The woman he thinks of as a sister? The woman he’s coming to love? And when Kira is attacked, robbed, and shot within the space of three days, Max’s worries and loyalties will be tested like never before.
I can’t begin to tell you what a whirlwind of action this book contains. From the first page, there are mysteries within mysteries to solve. The story unfolds slowly at first and then seems to pick up speed with every chapter. I was impressed with how the author advanced the problem of organ donation without ‘preaching’ to the reader. The urgency and need is emphasized by every action the heroine takes, but we’re not beaten over the head with the issue.
I also found myself thinking about what I would, or would not, do if I were in the situation of any of the characters: the daughter, the biological daughter, and the lawyer/family friend. Tough questions which made me remember how blessed I am that I don’t have to face this in reality. Speaking of characters, the secondary cast was excellent! Almost every character introduced had real impact on advancing the plot. Patricia Potter’s “Behind the Shadows” was a heart-pounding read. And if everything came out a little ‘too’ neat and happy at the end? Well…this IS a romance after all.
February 17, 2009
Piece of poo romantic thriller from yet another crappy romance writer. I stopped reading around page 50, after the supposedly dead-sexy laywer (info-dumped to the reader in a single paragraph of description) randomly calls the supposedly hot reporter up out of the blue for dinner, after bumping into her once and *gasp* holding her in his arms after she knocks into him. Ultra cliche phrasing and lack of build-up, from the moment the reporter lay eyes on him and immediately wanted to "reach out and run her fingers through" his tendrils of hair, to stupid laywer stud thinking "She'd felt good. Hell he'd been away too long without a woman". Stupid romance-novel style of writing where the character thinks out an explanation of every thought and action (i.e., every other paragraph) until there's nothing interesting to intuit.
And just because I'm so irked, I'll say the main character is annoying from page one, after hasselling the doctors for so many paternity tests after it's been settled that she's not a daughter by blood.
And just because I'm so irked, I'll say the main character is annoying from page one, after hasselling the doctors for so many paternity tests after it's been settled that she's not a daughter by blood.
October 15, 2015
3.5 STARS
August 6, 2025
What if the family you grew up with was not really yours?
When Kira Douglas finds out she was switched at birth and her mother now needs a kidney transplant, she races against time to find the real daughter and uncovers a world of secrets, danger, and unexpected love.
The story was fast-paced. It had emotional twists. However, Kira was stubborn, and she steam rolled many times, which put me off, actually. I can understand the anxiety a person might feel when they do not get the organ transplant, and they cannot donate, and there is someone who can, but the way she forces and is admanat that Leigh should donate is very irritating. Again, it is my take on this.
When Kira Douglas finds out she was switched at birth and her mother now needs a kidney transplant, she races against time to find the real daughter and uncovers a world of secrets, danger, and unexpected love.
The story was fast-paced. It had emotional twists. However, Kira was stubborn, and she steam rolled many times, which put me off, actually. I can understand the anxiety a person might feel when they do not get the organ transplant, and they cannot donate, and there is someone who can, but the way she forces and is admanat that Leigh should donate is very irritating. Again, it is my take on this.
October 28, 2024
Enjoyable
First time with this author and I enjoyed the book. Did take off a star for some repeated inconsistencies. Chris was stated as being a former police lieutenant then each time after that as a former captain. Kira was living in her mother house but it keep being referred to as her apartment. The next day after an incident, it was inferred that several days had passed. Only occasionally were there missing or wrong words.
First time with this author and I enjoyed the book. Did take off a star for some repeated inconsistencies. Chris was stated as being a former police lieutenant then each time after that as a former captain. Kira was living in her mother house but it keep being referred to as her apartment. The next day after an incident, it was inferred that several days had passed. Only occasionally were there missing or wrong words.
September 2, 2023
Kira and Max
Her mother needs a kidney but DNA says she’s not her mother’s biological daughter. Investigation points to an heiress being the true daughter.
Now how does Kira convince Leigh to donate a kidney to the mother she never knew. And who is trying to kill them both?
Good mystery and interesting characters
Her mother needs a kidney but DNA says she’s not her mother’s biological daughter. Investigation points to an heiress being the true daughter.
Now how does Kira convince Leigh to donate a kidney to the mother she never knew. And who is trying to kill them both?
Good mystery and interesting characters
January 25, 2018
It was a good story in all. A little cliched in a few ways but there was a nice twist. I thought I had it figured out but I had all the reasoning wrong. The sex scenes weren’t explicit enough to be embarrassing which I liked.
April 28, 2020
One of my Patricia Potter favs. Fast paced. Well written.
February 3, 2022
A bit cliche and predictable but i enjoyed reading it, thank u
September 25, 2023
Good read of love conquering all. Should have been proof read for grammatical errors and incorrect words before being published.
January 21, 2025
fine. pretty convenient, but fine.
September 13, 2023
It has been a long time since I have read a book by Patricia Potter but as soon as I saw Behind the Shadows, I had to grab it. It was a great as I remembered her books being.
September 28, 2010
4.5 stars. Excellent, entertaining mystery. Didn’t want to put it down. The ending was good but weak.
STORY BRIEF:
Kira’s mother Katy is dying and needs a kidney. Kira wants to donate her own kidney but blood tests reveal she is not the biological daughter of Katy. She eventually finds Leigh a wealthy heiress who is the biological daughter. They were switched at birth. Leigh doesn’t want to believe any of this and is reluctant to take a DNA test. Meanwhile, someone is trying to kill Kira. Max is an attorney who manages Leigh’s inheritance. He’s been close to Leigh’s family for years. Kira and Max are drawn to each other, yet they are on opposite sides of this conflict and potential law suit.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
During most of the book I kept thinking this is a fabulous story. I didn’t want to put it down. When I did, I couldn’t wait to get back to it to read more. However, the ending was a little weak, as described in the Spoiler below. There was a happy ending, but it didn’t wow me as much as the rest of the book did. This was mostly a mystery with some suspense and some romance. I usually prefer more romance than what was here, but the story and characters were so good that I didn’t mind having a little less romance than normal. However, the romantic developments were warm and satisfying. Overall, the book was a great escape and left me with some thoughts I’ve pondered since.
DATA:
Story length: 324 pages. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 7. Setting: current day Atlanta, Georgia. Copyright: 2008. Genre: mystery with some suspense and some romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
To date, I’ve read one other book by Patricia Potter. My 2.5 star review of “Beloved Stranger” copyright 2006 was posted 3/22/09.
CAUTION SPOILER:
Toward the end, the heroines did something stupid and against character for the sake of the plot, which bothered me. Because of several murder attempts, security people are with Kira at all times. The bad guy calls Leigh with a lie to get Leigh to come to him. Kira then drives Leigh to that location. Kira doesn’t ask the security guys who are currently with her to come. Also, when they get to the location, the security guys who should have been there were gone. But, the two women go right on in to the clutches of the bad guy. That troubled me. Kira was smarter than that. It was the only weak part of the book.
STORY BRIEF:
Kira’s mother Katy is dying and needs a kidney. Kira wants to donate her own kidney but blood tests reveal she is not the biological daughter of Katy. She eventually finds Leigh a wealthy heiress who is the biological daughter. They were switched at birth. Leigh doesn’t want to believe any of this and is reluctant to take a DNA test. Meanwhile, someone is trying to kill Kira. Max is an attorney who manages Leigh’s inheritance. He’s been close to Leigh’s family for years. Kira and Max are drawn to each other, yet they are on opposite sides of this conflict and potential law suit.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
During most of the book I kept thinking this is a fabulous story. I didn’t want to put it down. When I did, I couldn’t wait to get back to it to read more. However, the ending was a little weak, as described in the Spoiler below. There was a happy ending, but it didn’t wow me as much as the rest of the book did. This was mostly a mystery with some suspense and some romance. I usually prefer more romance than what was here, but the story and characters were so good that I didn’t mind having a little less romance than normal. However, the romantic developments were warm and satisfying. Overall, the book was a great escape and left me with some thoughts I’ve pondered since.
DATA:
Story length: 324 pages. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 7. Setting: current day Atlanta, Georgia. Copyright: 2008. Genre: mystery with some suspense and some romance.
OTHER BOOKS:
To date, I’ve read one other book by Patricia Potter. My 2.5 star review of “Beloved Stranger” copyright 2006 was posted 3/22/09.
CAUTION SPOILER:
Toward the end, the heroines did something stupid and against character for the sake of the plot, which bothered me. Because of several murder attempts, security people are with Kira at all times. The bad guy calls Leigh with a lie to get Leigh to come to him. Kira then drives Leigh to that location. Kira doesn’t ask the security guys who are currently with her to come. Also, when they get to the location, the security guys who should have been there were gone. But, the two women go right on in to the clutches of the bad guy. That troubled me. Kira was smarter than that. It was the only weak part of the book.
September 19, 2009
A well done romantic suspense that got moved up a star simply because
I appreciated the way that Patricia Potter handled the very volatile
topic of organ transplant and organ donating. The emotional toll that
it must take on both or more parties was handled with honesty, simplicity
and sensitivity. Because of this aspect of the storyline inside a regular
romantic suspense plot, it bumped the rating of this book up from a 3 star to
a 4 star rating.
I appreciated the way that Patricia Potter handled the very volatile
topic of organ transplant and organ donating. The emotional toll that
it must take on both or more parties was handled with honesty, simplicity
and sensitivity. Because of this aspect of the storyline inside a regular
romantic suspense plot, it bumped the rating of this book up from a 3 star to
a 4 star rating.
October 1, 2016
Having experienced the wait of a transplant Ms. Potter got the details right with the wait, anxiety and elation when it is received. Then she adds the drama of finding the right match with such a drama made the book a very fulfilling read. The romance and mystery of who done it was just enough.
June 29, 2013
The suspense is 1st class. The beginning was a bit slow but things pick up towards the end.
April 6, 2014
Easy read, a real chick book.
November 14, 2009
Crime & Mystery
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews