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Eyes in the Shadows: A Stalker Romance
He was there to take a life.
She just happened to be in the way.
Eleanor Wilson is just trying to get by in Ulysses, NJ—clocking long hours in a chaotic kitchen, minding her own business and staying out of trouble. She never expected to come home to find a sniper set up at her apartment window. A calm, ruthless and damn fine man is just about to take out his target in the building across the street… until she interrupts.
James “Mac” Mackenzie is a hitman with a code—he kills the worst of the worst. No hesitation. No witnesses. But when Eleanor walks in mid-mission, he does something he’s never done. He lets her live.
And then… he starts watching her. Mac tells himself it's precaution. That he's protecting her and his team. But watching quickly becomes obsession when he can’t tear his eyes from her curvy body, can’t stop remembering how she trembled with desire when he had her at his mercy.
When Eleanor becomes a loose end the wrong people want tied off, Mac is the only one standing between her and a bullet. But the longer he stays in her life, the harder it is to remember she’s supposed to be afraid—especially as he starts fulfilling every fantasy she’s never told anyone about.
As Eleanor is pulled deeper into Mac’s violent world, she’ll have to decide. Can she risk loving a man like him?
Because in the shadows, right and wrong don’t matter—just how far they’re both willing to go for love.
Eyes in the Shadows is the first book in the Hitmen of Ulysses trilogy of interconnected stand-alone dark romantic comedies. It’s filled with dangerous men, moral ambiguity, intense desire and obsession, and the kind of love that could ruin them both. Perfect for fans of Navessa Allen, Brynne Weaver, and SJ Tilly.
morally gray hitman, protective antihero, stalker romance, "he falls first", forced proximity, danger brings them together, found family, fantasy fulfillment
Content Contains stalking, violence, adult language, morally gray behavior, and explicit scenes. Reader discretion is advised. 18+
She just happened to be in the way.
Eleanor Wilson is just trying to get by in Ulysses, NJ—clocking long hours in a chaotic kitchen, minding her own business and staying out of trouble. She never expected to come home to find a sniper set up at her apartment window. A calm, ruthless and damn fine man is just about to take out his target in the building across the street… until she interrupts.
James “Mac” Mackenzie is a hitman with a code—he kills the worst of the worst. No hesitation. No witnesses. But when Eleanor walks in mid-mission, he does something he’s never done. He lets her live.
And then… he starts watching her. Mac tells himself it's precaution. That he's protecting her and his team. But watching quickly becomes obsession when he can’t tear his eyes from her curvy body, can’t stop remembering how she trembled with desire when he had her at his mercy.
When Eleanor becomes a loose end the wrong people want tied off, Mac is the only one standing between her and a bullet. But the longer he stays in her life, the harder it is to remember she’s supposed to be afraid—especially as he starts fulfilling every fantasy she’s never told anyone about.
As Eleanor is pulled deeper into Mac’s violent world, she’ll have to decide. Can she risk loving a man like him?
Because in the shadows, right and wrong don’t matter—just how far they’re both willing to go for love.
Eyes in the Shadows is the first book in the Hitmen of Ulysses trilogy of interconnected stand-alone dark romantic comedies. It’s filled with dangerous men, moral ambiguity, intense desire and obsession, and the kind of love that could ruin them both. Perfect for fans of Navessa Allen, Brynne Weaver, and SJ Tilly.
morally gray hitman, protective antihero, stalker romance, "he falls first", forced proximity, danger brings them together, found family, fantasy fulfillment
Content Contains stalking, violence, adult language, morally gray behavior, and explicit scenes. Reader discretion is advised. 18+
337 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2025
136 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
About the author
L.M. Whiteley
3 books56 followersL.M. Whiteley is a self-publishing Indie Author living in Philadelphia with her husband and co-writer/cat.
She writes dark, steamy romance with morally gray male main characters, relatable female main characters, obsessive love and hard-won happily-ever-afters. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking, gardening, gaming, playing outside with her friends or letting book boyfriends written by other fantastic indie authors ruin her.
She writes dark, steamy romance with morally gray male main characters, relatable female main characters, obsessive love and hard-won happily-ever-afters. When she’s not writing, she can be found cooking, gardening, gaming, playing outside with her friends or letting book boyfriends written by other fantastic indie authors ruin her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
July 31, 2025
3.5⭐️ very spicy scenes with kink.
FMC is a curvy chef
MMC is a hitman, very OTT/J&P
He falls first
Found family vibes
Humour
Eleanor is such a weirdo in the sense that she didn’t react how a typical captive would if they were tied up by a hitman on a job. Their first meet cute was hilarious, he’s full on perving so I knew straight off the bat things were going to be kinky as shit🤣
If you’ve read this book then you’ll know what I mean about the staircase scene between Eleanor & Mac..yeah that bit wasn’t for me. I found some dialogues to be a bit on the cringe side. Overall, I enjoyed this book, I liked Dimitri & Wes’s pov. I can’t wait to read book 2, I’m a sucker for a grumpy Russian MMC😉
FMC is a curvy chef
MMC is a hitman, very OTT/J&P
He falls first
Found family vibes
Humour
Eleanor is such a weirdo in the sense that she didn’t react how a typical captive would if they were tied up by a hitman on a job. Their first meet cute was hilarious, he’s full on perving so I knew straight off the bat things were going to be kinky as shit🤣
If you’ve read this book then you’ll know what I mean about the staircase scene between Eleanor & Mac..yeah that bit wasn’t for me. I found some dialogues to be a bit on the cringe side. Overall, I enjoyed this book, I liked Dimitri & Wes’s pov. I can’t wait to read book 2, I’m a sucker for a grumpy Russian MMC😉
June 5, 2025
This was perfectly balanced with romance, plot, and humor.
Mac is part of a small group of hitmen, he's the sniper. They meet when they've cleared out Eleanors building for "fumigation". She's not supposed to be back for a few days, but she comes back because she forgot her medication. Mac is camped out in her apartment as a sniper when she comes back. He let's her live but starts stalking her, part so she doesn't go to the cops but mostly because he's becoming obsessed with her. She knows he's watching her, and she's not too torn up about it.
When her life becomes in danger, she goes to live with him and his hitmen friends.
I liked that the plot and romance moved forward simultaneously. Ellie was sweet and funny. She kinda rolled with the punches, while having realistic reactions. Her inner dialogue were hilarious. All the characters and side characters were well fleshed out. The banter between Mac and his friends was really good. Minor grammatical mistakes.
Mac is part of a small group of hitmen, he's the sniper. They meet when they've cleared out Eleanors building for "fumigation". She's not supposed to be back for a few days, but she comes back because she forgot her medication. Mac is camped out in her apartment as a sniper when she comes back. He let's her live but starts stalking her, part so she doesn't go to the cops but mostly because he's becoming obsessed with her. She knows he's watching her, and she's not too torn up about it.
When her life becomes in danger, she goes to live with him and his hitmen friends.
I liked that the plot and romance moved forward simultaneously. Ellie was sweet and funny. She kinda rolled with the punches, while having realistic reactions. Her inner dialogue were hilarious. All the characters and side characters were well fleshed out. The banter between Mac and his friends was really good. Minor grammatical mistakes.
July 24, 2025
this was an absolutely amazing read!!! i was not ready for it to end and im so excited to get to read the next book!!!
July 14, 2025
I loved this book! The story has everything a romance reader loves. There’s some light stalking (for the dark romance girlies), great spice, found family, and the banter is 10/10. I didn’t get annoyed with any of the characters, which is rare, but GREATLY appreciated. The plot, aside from the romance/spice, was interesting and engaging as well. Definitely recommend adding to your TBR. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series when it comes out🥰
August 15, 2025
If you want a book that has action , banter, tension, and lots of laughter, then this is the book for you !
This follows Eleanor, a line cook who barely makes ends meet. One day, she gets a notice that her studio and entire apartment building needs to get fumigated.
Enter Mac. Playing the exterminator and making sure everyone is safely out of the building before locking it down and choosing an excellent lookout point. As he's getting everyone out, he meets Eleanor and is immediately drawn to her anddd he finds her apartment to be the perfect spot to set up.
They make sure the residents are out of the building for 3 days, but Eleanor thinks it's okay to stop by to pick up her psoriasis cream .... only to walk in on a sniper in the middle of his job . Now she's involved in this whether she wants to or not.
fav quotes :
Dimitri looks over his shoulder and, seeing it's me, turns and waves the receipt at me. His face is red, like he's been working himself up for a little while now. "James, control your woman."
"I'm trying, but she keeps getting out of the handcuffs."
Two people don't need the same interests to be compatible, they both just need to care enough to pay attention while the other person talks about theirs.
"Give me an inch, darlin', and I'll have you underneath me so fast your head will spin. Just know, once you do, I'm never letting go."
"Eleanor, why are you backing away from me? You lookin' to get chased, darlin'?"
Good thing I like 'em a little crazy. You can't really be completely ordinary and survive in my world.
This follows Eleanor, a line cook who barely makes ends meet. One day, she gets a notice that her studio and entire apartment building needs to get fumigated.
Enter Mac. Playing the exterminator and making sure everyone is safely out of the building before locking it down and choosing an excellent lookout point. As he's getting everyone out, he meets Eleanor and is immediately drawn to her anddd he finds her apartment to be the perfect spot to set up.
They make sure the residents are out of the building for 3 days, but Eleanor thinks it's okay to stop by to pick up her psoriasis cream .... only to walk in on a sniper in the middle of his job . Now she's involved in this whether she wants to or not.
fav quotes :
Dimitri looks over his shoulder and, seeing it's me, turns and waves the receipt at me. His face is red, like he's been working himself up for a little while now. "James, control your woman."
"I'm trying, but she keeps getting out of the handcuffs."
Two people don't need the same interests to be compatible, they both just need to care enough to pay attention while the other person talks about theirs.
"Give me an inch, darlin', and I'll have you underneath me so fast your head will spin. Just know, once you do, I'm never letting go."
"Eleanor, why are you backing away from me? You lookin' to get chased, darlin'?"
Good thing I like 'em a little crazy. You can't really be completely ordinary and survive in my world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A spicy, sweet, and laugh-out-loud gem!
Eyes in the Shadows completely stole my heart! I adored Eleanor finally, a curvy FMC who feels real, radiant, and utterly lovable. She’s funny, vulnerable, fierce, and so easy to root for. And Mac? Total swoon. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the spice? 👀 Perfectly balanced with sweetness and emotional depth.
The banter had me grinning, the steam had me blushing, and the found family element is so beautifully written. The way everyone comes together and supports each other through the chaos? Chef’s kiss. If you love romance with heart, heat, humor, and characters you’ll wish were your best friends don’t sleep on this one.
I already miss these characters. 🖤
Tropes I loved:
✨ Curvy FMC
✨ Grumpy/Sunshine vibes
✨ Found family
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Hidden depths
✨ Protective cinnamon roll MMC
A spicy, sweet, and laugh-out-loud gem!
Eyes in the Shadows completely stole my heart! I adored Eleanor finally, a curvy FMC who feels real, radiant, and utterly lovable. She’s funny, vulnerable, fierce, and so easy to root for. And Mac? Total swoon. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the spice? 👀 Perfectly balanced with sweetness and emotional depth.
The banter had me grinning, the steam had me blushing, and the found family element is so beautifully written. The way everyone comes together and supports each other through the chaos? Chef’s kiss. If you love romance with heart, heat, humor, and characters you’ll wish were your best friends don’t sleep on this one.
I already miss these characters. 🖤
Tropes I loved:
✨ Curvy FMC
✨ Grumpy/Sunshine vibes
✨ Found family
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Hidden depths
✨ Protective cinnamon roll MMC
July 26, 2025
This is the book you’ve been looking for! It has an amazing MMC(all the things we are looking for) & FMC is a curvy goddess with a sense of humor. Mad & Eleanors story starts out in a very unpredictable way at her being fumigated apartment.. or is it really being fumigated?? The chemistry doesn’t take long to ignite, and the way Whiteley writes the story of these two kept me wanting more & more!!! It has romance, spice, amazing characters, action, comedy, one liners, oh and more spice! He’s obsessed with her and you’ll see why when you read. I cannot wait for Kept In The Dark to be released to get the next story in the series & follow more of Dimitri, If you haven’t tried L.M. Whiteley what are you waiting for???!!
July 29, 2025
*Dark, Dangerous, and Utterly Addictive*
This dark romance drips with tension, danger, and desire that will consume you page after page. The chemistry? Explosive. The passion? Forbidden. Every twist pulls you deeper into a world where love is tangled with secrets, and pleasure walks hand in hand with pain.
Whiteley doesn’t just write characters; she crafts dangerous men you’ll crave and strong heroines who burn for more, even when they shouldn’t. The writing is hauntingly beautiful, the story deliciously twisted, and the emotions raw enough to leave scars.
🔥 Warning: Once you step into the shadows, there’s no going back. If you love morally gray men, slow-burn obsession, and the kind of love story that feels like playing with fire, this book will wreck you—in the best way possible.
This dark romance drips with tension, danger, and desire that will consume you page after page. The chemistry? Explosive. The passion? Forbidden. Every twist pulls you deeper into a world where love is tangled with secrets, and pleasure walks hand in hand with pain.
Whiteley doesn’t just write characters; she crafts dangerous men you’ll crave and strong heroines who burn for more, even when they shouldn’t. The writing is hauntingly beautiful, the story deliciously twisted, and the emotions raw enough to leave scars.
🔥 Warning: Once you step into the shadows, there’s no going back. If you love morally gray men, slow-burn obsession, and the kind of love story that feels like playing with fire, this book will wreck you—in the best way possible.
August 5, 2025
this book had me HOOKED from the beginning! the chemistry, the yearning, the banter - i loved it!
we meet eleanor, a chef and a badass, and mac, the obsessive and stubborn hitman that instantly craves eleanor’s presence. the storyline is quite short, but so eventful and i didnt feel like it went by too fast either. the characters are wonderful, my personal fave is probably wesley! the author also has a really nice writing style that made the read so comfortable!
the story is fastpaced, but you also get these tender moments inbetween, and dont even get me started on the spice! its delicious, and theres a lot, but not too much at all!
i really enjoyed this read, and cant wait for the second book to release!
we meet eleanor, a chef and a badass, and mac, the obsessive and stubborn hitman that instantly craves eleanor’s presence. the storyline is quite short, but so eventful and i didnt feel like it went by too fast either. the characters are wonderful, my personal fave is probably wesley! the author also has a really nice writing style that made the read so comfortable!
the story is fastpaced, but you also get these tender moments inbetween, and dont even get me started on the spice! its delicious, and theres a lot, but not too much at all!
i really enjoyed this read, and cant wait for the second book to release!
August 8, 2025
Possessive MMC
Insecure FMC
Found Family
This was such a fun read! A curvy chef and a possessive hitman? Yes please! The banter was witty and fun. Not only did you love the mmc and the fmc, you also find yourself loving the interactions with the side characters and wanting to read more of them! Spice was about 2.5 🌶️.
I loved that Eleanor slowly learned to overcome her insecurities with the help of Mac and his team. He was head over heels after their first meeting, always keeping an eye on her figuring out how to make her his. She may have found herself in a dangerous situation but this was exactly what she needed.
What’s love without a little stalking and high stakes?
I can’t wait for the next book with Dimitri!
Insecure FMC
Found Family
This was such a fun read! A curvy chef and a possessive hitman? Yes please! The banter was witty and fun. Not only did you love the mmc and the fmc, you also find yourself loving the interactions with the side characters and wanting to read more of them! Spice was about 2.5 🌶️.
I loved that Eleanor slowly learned to overcome her insecurities with the help of Mac and his team. He was head over heels after their first meeting, always keeping an eye on her figuring out how to make her his. She may have found herself in a dangerous situation but this was exactly what she needed.
What’s love without a little stalking and high stakes?
I can’t wait for the next book with Dimitri!
July 27, 2025
★★★★★♾️
My gosh, when I say I ate this book up, I meant it!!
I seriously couldn’t put it down, and it definitely gave me a very short night of sleep, haha. 😅
The story, the characters, the spice, and the humor were all absolute perfection!! I completely fell in love with Eleanor and Mac. Eleanor just felt so real and funny, and Mac had me falling for him right away. I was literally giggling and kicking my feet during their interactions together. ☺️
I also really loved Mac’s friendship with the other guys!They’re all so different, but somehow they fit together perfectly.
I can’t wait to see a certain knife lover’s story continue 👀👀
My gosh, when I say I ate this book up, I meant it!!
I seriously couldn’t put it down, and it definitely gave me a very short night of sleep, haha. 😅
The story, the characters, the spice, and the humor were all absolute perfection!! I completely fell in love with Eleanor and Mac. Eleanor just felt so real and funny, and Mac had me falling for him right away. I was literally giggling and kicking my feet during their interactions together. ☺️
I also really loved Mac’s friendship with the other guys!They’re all so different, but somehow they fit together perfectly.
I can’t wait to see a certain knife lover’s story continue 👀👀
July 31, 2025
This was such a good book! I thoroughly enjoyed the evolution of the mystery Mac and his teammates were working on and (obviously) adored the relationship growing between him and Eleanor ❤️ My only complaint is that I want to see more of their relationship!!
I started this book while on vacation with my family, which includes my two kids 😆 I can’t believe I still managed to finish this in two days despite everything going on! It was just too good to not steal time here and there…
I am so excited to learn more about Wes and Dimitri. I cannot wait for the next book! 📕 ❤️ Hopefully we can keep tabs on Mac and Eleanor too 🤞
I started this book while on vacation with my family, which includes my two kids 😆 I can’t believe I still managed to finish this in two days despite everything going on! It was just too good to not steal time here and there…
I am so excited to learn more about Wes and Dimitri. I cannot wait for the next book! 📕 ❤️ Hopefully we can keep tabs on Mac and Eleanor too 🤞
August 5, 2025
I couldn’t put this book down.
The way all the characters have chemistry; both the brotherhood between the guys and the attraction between the MMC and FMC. The characters are well developed and both likeable and relatable.
There’s just the right amount of spice within the storyline And a good sprinkle of humor throughout the book. This gave me action rom com film vibes and I would definitely watch if this was adapted for a film.
I can’t wait to read the next book, I’m already grinning with anticipation of how Mac is going to tease Wes and Dimitri when they find their ‘Eleanor’s’
The way all the characters have chemistry; both the brotherhood between the guys and the attraction between the MMC and FMC. The characters are well developed and both likeable and relatable.
There’s just the right amount of spice within the storyline And a good sprinkle of humor throughout the book. This gave me action rom com film vibes and I would definitely watch if this was adapted for a film.
I can’t wait to read the next book, I’m already grinning with anticipation of how Mac is going to tease Wes and Dimitri when they find their ‘Eleanor’s’
June 4, 2025
Stuck in a rut and coasting through a quiet life Ellie goes to work and comes home. However, this all changes when she finds herself facing a hit man in her apartment!
This meeting starts a roller coaster of a ride I did not want to get off, I loved every seductive second!
Obssession, banter, spice this has it all! Boundaries are tested and lines are crossed, seeing how far you would go and what you would be prepared to do.
I need a Mac and so much more of this please......
This meeting starts a roller coaster of a ride I did not want to get off, I loved every seductive second!
Obssession, banter, spice this has it all! Boundaries are tested and lines are crossed, seeing how far you would go and what you would be prepared to do.
I need a Mac and so much more of this please......
August 6, 2025
I loved this book! I can’t say enough about how fantastic it was. So well written! Gets you hooked from the start, and the couple… PERFECTION! I read it all in one sitting because I could not put it down! I wish I could go back and reread for the first time! Cant wait for what comes next!
August 8, 2025
As someone with a military spouse this book was IT for me. Also being a short person I could literally climb Mac like a tree & WOULD. Also who doesn’t love a curvy FMC, which we need more of!! The plot the spice all in all one my FAVE reads by far this year.
August 28, 2025
4.25/4.5⭐️
Action ✔️ Spicy ✔️ Love Story ✔️
Found Family ✔️
Eyes in the Shadows was definitely spicier than my normal reads but L.M. Whiteley had me laughing out loud with some of the banter. I don't know how you could read this and not love the characters. Dimitri is definitely my fave so far, but I loved seeing the FMC grow in the book and all that came with that.
Action ✔️ Spicy ✔️ Love Story ✔️
Found Family ✔️
Eyes in the Shadows was definitely spicier than my normal reads but L.M. Whiteley had me laughing out loud with some of the banter. I don't know how you could read this and not love the characters. Dimitri is definitely my fave so far, but I loved seeing the FMC grow in the book and all that came with that.
July 28, 2025
Loved this book! Slow start but then once it picked up, I could not put it down. Can't wait for Book 2!
July 29, 2025
Oh my, this book was so so good! I started this at 9pm, and finished it by 7pm the next day. It just sucked me right the heck in!
July 29, 2025
I absolutely love this book! I loved the writing and it really kept me entertained! I loved the whole hitman dynamic and I loved the FMC! I loved Dimitri and Wesley as well. Definitely worth the read!
July 5, 2025
Wow…if you’re looking for a dark romance with a possessive/obsessive, unhinged golden retriever MMC and a smart, curvy/plus size chef FMC, look no further! Mac and his crew work to take down seedy criminals. In order to get their next mark, they need FMC Eleanor’s apartment building. They evacuate it under the premise of fumigation, but when Eleanor comes back to the building too early, it compromises Mac’s mission. Thus begins our journey with Mac and Eleanor.
L.M. Whiteley weaves the perfect story that keeps you on your toes. She includes found family elements with Eleanor, Mac and his crew. And the spice?!?!?! Sooooo GOOD! We have primal play. We have praise kinks. He makes her crawl (because it’s a secret kink of hers) and it is the hottest thing ever.
This book is so good. You will not regret picking it up. This indie author is one to watch. I think this book will get super popular. The second book in the series is out this fall. Do yourself a favor and give this a go!
L.M. Whiteley weaves the perfect story that keeps you on your toes. She includes found family elements with Eleanor, Mac and his crew. And the spice?!?!?! Sooooo GOOD! We have primal play. We have praise kinks. He makes her crawl (because it’s a secret kink of hers) and it is the hottest thing ever.
This book is so good. You will not regret picking it up. This indie author is one to watch. I think this book will get super popular. The second book in the series is out this fall. Do yourself a favor and give this a go!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2025
A must read if you loved Lights Out! It checks ALL of the boxes. Morally grey MMC. Hitman. Stalker. Slow burn and he falls first. Found family.
July 18, 2025
Absolutely loved it! Anything taking place in Jersey, I'm in! Lovw the banter and how quickly they fall for each other.
May 28, 2025
I absolutely devoured this book and loved every second of it. It’s hard to believe this is LM Whiteley’s debut novel—it reads like the work of a seasoned pro.
Eleanor starts off living a fairly unremarkable life, clearly in need of a shake-up. That shake-up arrives in the form of a hitman using her apartment window as a sniper’s nest. Cue the obsessive, protective stalker-turned-lover, Mac. Suddenly, Eleanor’s world is flipped upside down, and her life is in serious danger.
Enter Mac’s team: Wesley, the charming British tech guy who had me melting every time he called her love (ugh, my heart!). Sadly, this isn’t a why-choose romance—tragic, I know. And then there’s Dimitri, the Russian operative. Whiteley nailed his dialogue so well I could hear his accent as I read.
I flew through this book in a single day and am now desperately waiting for the next two in the series. Huge thanks to LM Whiteley for the ARC—I’m officially obsessed!
Eleanor starts off living a fairly unremarkable life, clearly in need of a shake-up. That shake-up arrives in the form of a hitman using her apartment window as a sniper’s nest. Cue the obsessive, protective stalker-turned-lover, Mac. Suddenly, Eleanor’s world is flipped upside down, and her life is in serious danger.
Enter Mac’s team: Wesley, the charming British tech guy who had me melting every time he called her love (ugh, my heart!). Sadly, this isn’t a why-choose romance—tragic, I know. And then there’s Dimitri, the Russian operative. Whiteley nailed his dialogue so well I could hear his accent as I read.
I flew through this book in a single day and am now desperately waiting for the next two in the series. Huge thanks to LM Whiteley for the ARC—I’m officially obsessed!
June 30, 2025
6 star, god-tier. The first 90% was full of some of the most amazing writing, banter, spice, etc. the last 10% was filled of again, the most amazing writing & so much suspense i literally ate an entire thing of ice cream because i was so stressed,
To say Mac and Elenor’s story is going to live rent free ALWAYS in my head is not an exaggeration. I’m quite literally thinking about reading it again
To say Mac and Elenor’s story is going to live rent free ALWAYS in my head is not an exaggeration. I’m quite literally thinking about reading it again
June 23, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book owned me from the very first chapter.
Eyes in the Shadows is everything I crave in a dark romance—danger, obsession, and that slow unraveling of control when a ruthless man finds his weakness in a woman who has no idea the storm she’s walking into.
The setup is killer (literally): a group of hitmen uses a shady apartment complex as a cover for their next job. But when our curvy, sharp, and refreshingly real heroine—walks in on a hit gone sideways, it flips everything. He misses the shot. She sees too much. And just like that, she becomes his problem… and his obsession.
I was hooked on the tension from the jump. The stalking? Unnerving and intimate. The chemistry? Off the charts. And the way he goes from cold-blooded to completely feral when her safety’s threatened? Yes, please.
The plus-size rep felt natural and confident, not performative. She holds her own, and he sees everything about her—and wants it all.
Dark, fast-paced, and just the right amount of twisted. Can’t wait for the rest of this series.
This book owned me from the very first chapter.
Eyes in the Shadows is everything I crave in a dark romance—danger, obsession, and that slow unraveling of control when a ruthless man finds his weakness in a woman who has no idea the storm she’s walking into.
The setup is killer (literally): a group of hitmen uses a shady apartment complex as a cover for their next job. But when our curvy, sharp, and refreshingly real heroine—walks in on a hit gone sideways, it flips everything. He misses the shot. She sees too much. And just like that, she becomes his problem… and his obsession.
I was hooked on the tension from the jump. The stalking? Unnerving and intimate. The chemistry? Off the charts. And the way he goes from cold-blooded to completely feral when her safety’s threatened? Yes, please.
The plus-size rep felt natural and confident, not performative. She holds her own, and he sees everything about her—and wants it all.
Dark, fast-paced, and just the right amount of twisted. Can’t wait for the rest of this series.
June 5, 2025
Eyes in the Shadows isn’t just a book — it’s an experience. The kind that slips under your skin and whispers, “keep reading.” It’s haunting, seductive, and masterfully written, with a tone that lingers long after the final page.
Whitely doesn’t shy away from the dark — she embraces it. The story is thick with atmosphere, the tension slow-burning and intoxicating. Every interaction crackles. Every word feels deliberate. And the romance? Obsessive, forbidden, and impossible to look away from.
It blurs the line between fear and fascination, control and surrender — and does it with elegance and emotional depth. You’ll question your morals, your loyalty, and possibly your sanity. But you won’t stop reading.
Trigger warnings noted by the author.
If you love your romance dark, dangerous, and utterly consuming — this is your next obsession.
Whitely doesn’t shy away from the dark — she embraces it. The story is thick with atmosphere, the tension slow-burning and intoxicating. Every interaction crackles. Every word feels deliberate. And the romance? Obsessive, forbidden, and impossible to look away from.
It blurs the line between fear and fascination, control and surrender — and does it with elegance and emotional depth. You’ll question your morals, your loyalty, and possibly your sanity. But you won’t stop reading.
Trigger warnings noted by the author.
If you love your romance dark, dangerous, and utterly consuming — this is your next obsession.
January 5, 2026
✨5 Stars – Suspenseful, Hilarious, and Deliciously Spicy✨
Eyes in the Shadows had me grinning from beginning to end. I seriously don’t think there was a moment where I wasn’t either smiling, laughing, or swooning. This book delivers on so many levels…action, humor, steam, and a swoony hitman who falls hard for a woman who doesn’t even realize how beautiful she is.
Eleanor is a curvy, self conscious FMC, and I absolutely loved seeing her through Mac’s eyes. The way he’s drawn to her right from the start? Heart melting. Watching her slowly start to believe she’s worthy of love was just so satisfying.
But it’s not just a romance…there’s a full on hitman plotline, and it keeps you on your toes! Questioning who’s good, who’s bad, and what’s coming next. And then there’s the found family vibes with Mac, Wesley and Dimitri…chef’s kiss. The banter had me giggling, especially Dimitri’s Russian-English mix ups and Wesley’s relentless corrections. It gave the story so much character.
Oh, and the spice? *Spicing.*🔥 Mac and Eleanor have serious chemistry, and the steamy scenes do not disappoint.
This was my first read by L.M. Whiteley, and I’m hooked. I don’t know if this is her debut or not, but I’m fully signed up for whatever she writes next…Kept in the Dark, here I come!
Eyes in the Shadows had me grinning from beginning to end. I seriously don’t think there was a moment where I wasn’t either smiling, laughing, or swooning. This book delivers on so many levels…action, humor, steam, and a swoony hitman who falls hard for a woman who doesn’t even realize how beautiful she is.
Eleanor is a curvy, self conscious FMC, and I absolutely loved seeing her through Mac’s eyes. The way he’s drawn to her right from the start? Heart melting. Watching her slowly start to believe she’s worthy of love was just so satisfying.
But it’s not just a romance…there’s a full on hitman plotline, and it keeps you on your toes! Questioning who’s good, who’s bad, and what’s coming next. And then there’s the found family vibes with Mac, Wesley and Dimitri…chef’s kiss. The banter had me giggling, especially Dimitri’s Russian-English mix ups and Wesley’s relentless corrections. It gave the story so much character.
Oh, and the spice? *Spicing.*🔥 Mac and Eleanor have serious chemistry, and the steamy scenes do not disappoint.
This was my first read by L.M. Whiteley, and I’m hooked. I don’t know if this is her debut or not, but I’m fully signed up for whatever she writes next…Kept in the Dark, here I come!
December 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m pretty sure I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading this book. It truly has everything I could ask for in a modern romantic adventure: there is this refreshing thread of humor that runs through the whole book. Eleanor is one of the most authentic FMCs I’ve read in a long time. I honestly feel like she’s a friend of mine. Our MMC, James “Mac” Mackenzie, is literally the perfect man: he is stalker-level obsessed, growly and overly protective, and a highly trained killer. He also respects the hell out of his woman and would do absolutely anything for her. And *damn* but he is sexy.
The supporting characters are well developed and so lovable—I cannot WAIT to see who captures the hearts of Mac’s teammates Wesley and Dimitri. The plot is smart and moves quickly. Honestly, I’m trying to think of one single thing I would change about this book but I’m coming up empty-handed. Five stars without a doubt.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I’m pretty sure I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading this book. It truly has everything I could ask for in a modern romantic adventure: there is this refreshing thread of humor that runs through the whole book. Eleanor is one of the most authentic FMCs I’ve read in a long time. I honestly feel like she’s a friend of mine. Our MMC, James “Mac” Mackenzie, is literally the perfect man: he is stalker-level obsessed, growly and overly protective, and a highly trained killer. He also respects the hell out of his woman and would do absolutely anything for her. And *damn* but he is sexy.
The supporting characters are well developed and so lovable—I cannot WAIT to see who captures the hearts of Mac’s teammates Wesley and Dimitri. The plot is smart and moves quickly. Honestly, I’m trying to think of one single thing I would change about this book but I’m coming up empty-handed. Five stars without a doubt.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 11, 2025
Reread 9/10/25 was 5 now 4.5 ⭐️ still love it, needed to reread before Dimitri’s book
This was so good! SJ Tilly (Nero) vibes for sure but honestly this was way more well rounded. Mac and Eleanor connected emotionally, physically and every other way. And we love a man who worships his (plus size) queennnnn. I love that she had his friends Dimitri and Wes wrapped around her finger while staying in the house and they decided to stay ❤️ Mac was really sweet to her and uplifted her and supported her dreams and really never let her doubt their relationship and I loved that. HE never doubted their relationship. Perfect balance of humor and plot and character connection which is hard to find in “dark romance” books like this! But I loved them allllll and can’t wait for Dimitri and Wesley’s books
This was so good! SJ Tilly (Nero) vibes for sure but honestly this was way more well rounded. Mac and Eleanor connected emotionally, physically and every other way. And we love a man who worships his (plus size) queennnnn. I love that she had his friends Dimitri and Wes wrapped around her finger while staying in the house and they decided to stay ❤️ Mac was really sweet to her and uplifted her and supported her dreams and really never let her doubt their relationship and I loved that. HE never doubted their relationship. Perfect balance of humor and plot and character connection which is hard to find in “dark romance” books like this! But I loved them allllll and can’t wait for Dimitri and Wesley’s books
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