Lottie Everyone told me not to fall for him. They said I was too young to wait around, and he was too old to love a girl like me.
But it only took one night with William “Teddy” Kavanaugh and I fell. Hard. Now, he’s all but a ghost. The only thing I have left of the man I remember are the emails he sent me after he deployed.
Because the man who returned to me isn’t the same one who left.
I believed the only demons I had to fight were the ones haunting Teddy. Little did I know, I had demons of my own, ready to pull me into their darkness.
Teddy She was my guardian angel, the only reason I made it out alive. And I hate her for it.
Lottie was the epitome of the girl next door. She was way too young to have piqued my interest, but her magnetism wouldn’t let me go. Her emails were my saving grace while I was overseas, and the picture I kept in my front pocket guarded me until the very end.
I shouldn’t have survived that IED. No one in my unit lived through it, and God knows I didn’t want to either. But here I am, a broken shell of a man, trying to fit into a world I no longer recognize.
Yet, Lottie looks at me as if I’m whole, like I hung the moon just for her. If only I could get her to see I’m not the person she believes I am.
I’m not the hero of this story. I never will be. And I refuse to let my demons drag Lottie into the darkness with me.
Age Gap Good Girl x Bad Boy PTSD Rep Ex-Marine True Crime Podcaster Romantic Suspense
One night and an unforgettable connection. Into the Shadows is a beautifully written story of love with a dash of suspense.
Teddy. My heart. He returned from overseas, broken not only physically but mentally and emotionally. His story broke my heart and I loved the way Lottie helped him overcome his past and make him whole. He has the sweetest nickname for Lottie and it will melt your heart. She’s his guardian angel through the darkest days and their love story is one you will not be able to put down.
Lottie. She a true crime podcaster and golden girl of Sonoma. The way she believes in Teddy and breathes life back into him was so beautiful. Her work on a local cold case brings a suspenseful element and I really enjoyed the realistic feel of the storyline. Her determination to find answering and her unwavering love makes her such a lovable character.
Into the Shadows is an incredible reminder of what it truly takes to love someone. Read. This. Book.
Thank you Shelby for allowing me to read an ARC of Into the Shadows.
I went into this book blind; I am loving the second generation Sonoma, the Lost Letters series. I was busy and took the leap. What a story!
Teddy and Lottie stole my attention; I could not put the book down. Sneaking pages here and there. How a chance meeting in a diner sets up a moment and impression neither forgets, even over time.
Add in suspense, and a man who will do anything to save Lottie. Lottie sees Teddy for the man he is, not his view, and his shadows. The letter, the banter, her father, the story, and the nugget of what is to come.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Shheeellllbbbyyyyy..... These Two.... Oh My Heart..... From the moment Lottie and Teddy met there was an undeniable spark. However, Teddy is a Marine who is about to go on tour. After spending just a few hours together Lottie was not ready to let him go forever.... "How old-fashioned would it sound if I asked to write you letters?" While Teddy scoffs at this he agrees to exchange emails.
The journey from this moment... We get... age gap, unrequited love, angst, lust, desire, insecurities, a little suspense, found family, love, and some heart-wrenching / sensitive PTSD moments.
Oh Teddy! The man that you are... The way he didn't think he deserved someone as sweet as Lottie and tried to push her away so his shadows wouldn't put out her light... Yet... While on tour, Lottie secretly became his guardian angel.. His thoughts of her, the photo... oh my heart!
Lottie is a heroine that is impossible not to adore. She's sweet, caring, strong and determined. It's definitely easy to see why she is so loved by everyone in town and also by Teddy. These two were made for each other. They balance each other out beautifully. Teddy brings the protective alpha and Lottie brings light to his life.....
"You're everything I dreamed of and more, Sparkles." "I love every single piece of your cracked soul, Teddy."
I'm loving this little small town world and the characters. The family always provide some humour and heartwarming moments. I Highly recommend this series!! And.... That little spoiler... I can't wait for the next book!
Just finished Into the Shadows by Shelby Gunter and I am deep in my grumpy/sunshine feels! This small-town romance brought me a broody Marine hero, a bubbly true crime podcaster, and enough slow-burn tension to melt my Kindle.
The banter? Chef’s kiss. The twists? Had me clutching my blanket. The vibes? Immaculate.
If you love guarded hearts, golden retriever energy, and just the right amount of suspense to keep you reading way past your bedtime—this one’s calling your name!
Lottie: “Everyone told me not to fall for him. They said I was way too young to wait around, and he was too old to love a girl like me.”
Teddy: “She was my guardian angel, the only reason I made it out alive. And I hate her for it.”
Heading back to Sonoma for another chapter in Shelby’s Sonoma series is always a treat, but this one felt extra special. Getting to reconnect with so many familiar faces was such a joy!
Swoon-worthy quote: “You’re a bright spot in the distance. I want to reach out to you, but I know the minute I do, my shadows will put out your light. I’d rather die than drag you down into the mud I live in every day. -T”
Thank you to Shelby Gunter for this ARC copy, I THOROUGHLY enjoyed it!!
Rating: 5/5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (If I could give it 6 stars, I would!)
Lottie fell for Teddy as soon as he stepped in the diner where Lottie was waitressing. Lottie immediately let Teddy know she was interested. Lottie emailed Teddy while he was deployed overseas. Years go by and Lottie graduates college as a true crime podcast host and Teddy is out of the military but not the same man he was before. Lottie and Teddy reconnect.
Lottie is great in knowing what she wants and goes for it. Teddy does a great job of supporting Lottie, and being open and vulnerable while still protective of Lottie. This book did a great job of handling Teddy’s PTSD. I love that there are two mysteries to solve at the same time Teddy and Lottie are falling in love.
Shelby does a great job of connecting the book to her previous series. I enjoyed all the characters since more characters means possibly more couples/books. There is plenty of intrigue with a mystery that is continued throughout the books of this series.
I’m looking forward to the next book of the series. If looking for some suspense and spice I recommend this book. This book can be read standalone, but better as a series.
Age Gap Good Girl x Bad Boy PTSD Rep Ex-Marine True Crime Podcaster Romantic Suspense
Teddy came back from abroad, shattered both physically and in terms of mental and emotional well-being. His story had my heart in little pieces, and I adored how Lottie assisted him in conquering his past and restoring his wholeness. He has the most adorable nickname for Lottie that will warm your heart. She serves as his protective angel in the bleakest times, and their romance is one you won't be able to stop reading Lottie is a podcaster focused on true crime and a beloved figure in Sonoma. Her faith in Teddy and the way she revitalizes him was truly lovely. Her investigation into a nearby cold case adds an element of suspense, and I truly appreciated the authentic atmosphere of the plot. Her resolve to seek answers and her steadfast affection make her an endearing character. Lottie became smitten with Teddy the moment he walked into the diner where she was working as a waitress. She quickly informed Teddy of her interest, she also sent an email to Teddy while he was stationed abroad. As the years pass, Lottie completes her college education and becomes a true crime podcast host, while Teddy leaves the military but is not the same person he used to be.
FMC: Lottie Jackson MMC: Teddy Kavanaugh Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Pages: 275 Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, Age Gap, Small Town Romance, Military Veteran MMC, Romantic Suspense, PTSD Setting: Sonoma, NC
Thoughts: I really liked this book. I loved the instant connection Lottie and Teddy shared. I loved the connection that grew in 3 hours and they both clung to for eight years. The way they finally came together felt a little like fate. Lottie knew what she wanted with Teddy and never really gave that up. Teddy had a terrible childhood and was fighting even more demons when he finally ended up back in Sonoma. Lottie and her family accepted Teddy into their fold seamlessly and that went a long way in helping him find his way. I enjoyed the lost letters plot that started at the end of Noah and Lillie’s book and pulled Lottie’s friends into a mystery that seems like it’ll be featured throughout the series.
I received this book as an ARC. The characters in this series are the second generation of the found family group in the Sonoma series (which I loved). But it can be read as a stand alone. And while there is some suspense, Sonoma no longer seems to be the Cabot Cove it once was…Lottie is a town golden child. Teddy is a marine passing through on his leave. What starts as pen pals leads Lottie to dream of a happily ever after. But will Teddy live up to her expectations? And with such a different background will her found family and town sheriff dad feel he is good enough? Will he ever feel good enough? Expect banter with friends who are considered cousins, protective men, successful women and some especially good spice.
💚Small town suspense 💚Grumpy/ Sunshine 💚Age gap 💚Marine veteran 💚True crime Podcaster 💚Good girl/ bad boy 💚Second generation 💚Spicy
I will read anything Shelby Gunter writes, and she did a great job with this small town suspense story! I loved the chemistry between Teddy and Lottie from their first meeting. It might have been innocent in the beginning, but it was monumental in their minds. She was his guardian angel, and he was the guy no one lived up to. The emails they sent in the following years were heartbreakingly beautiful to read. She knew how to calm him down even when that was their only communication. I also couldn't get enough of seeing the former generation. There are so many familiar faces! I can't wait to read more in this series!
The second installment of “the lost letters series” into the shadows wasn’t what I was expecting!
Honestly Lottie and Teddy were so cute, who knew just a few hours could change the whole trajectory of your life. 18 year old Lottie, was finishing her diner shift when Teddy walks in, but an older man and insatiable connection leaves the two of them with a simple memory, a feeling and to many years without each other.
I loved how Lottie wormed her way back into his life when he showed back up and how even through the years their connection was there even though he tried so hard to sever it! Teddy an Ex Marine comes back after being medically discharged and Lottie finds him and insists that she help him! Little do they know some feelings never go away, Teddy is willing to save her no matter what and Lottie is saving him from his own shadows.
Read if you’re into -ex marine -ptsd rep -true crime podcast -insta lust -age gap -found family -small town suspense -good girl/bad boy
Lo único que no me gustó fue que Lottie esperara a Theo y no estuviera con nadie más, mientras que él sí lo hizo. Solo tuvieron una cita que no pasó a más porque él se iría al extranjero por mucho tiempo. Después de eso, su comunicación fue únicamente por correo; nunca fueron más que amigos, y aun así ambos se enamoraron, pero como nunca se confesaron sus sentimientos, ella bien pudo haber tenido otras relaciones y no esperar algo que no iba a suceder.
Shelby once again wrote an amazing story! I am absolutely loving this second generation Sonoma series! I absolutely loved the mix in of previous characters including Jackson. I loved the second chance feel! Shelby did a great job with being sensitive with the PTSD, wounded warrior trope as well. I loved the added suspense, and of course the chemistry between Lottie and Teddy! Highly recommend this series!!
“I love every single piece of your cracked soul, Teddy.I’ll do whatever it takes to stand by your side for the rest of my life. But you have to let me do that. You can’t run every time something goes sideways.”
Love these second generation stories.
Poor Teddy was a broken soul after his time in the military. Lottie is a strong woman who doesn't need a man, but she fell for Teddy and never gave up on him.
My two favorite tropes, Age gap and grumpy sunshine rolled into one!! This is probably the hottest book so far. Teddy is everything you could want in a military hero. Lottie is that small town girl that you can’t do anything but love. How they meet and how their relationship progresses is everything!! I love that Shelby referenced Travelin Soldier by the Dixie Chicks. It’s so fitting for their story. You won’t be able to put this book down. You might want to stretch before you start!
Like most of Shelby’s books this was another I didn’t want to put down, Shelby brings all the emotion and feels with Teddy in talking about his past and letting Lottie in that you feel for the little boy that he was, Lottie was definitely the perfect woman for all of Teddy’s broken pieces, I love reading about the second generation in Sonoma!
I'm really enjoying this series. Shorter stories but still really good character and relationship deployment. Lottie and Teddy were great, he changed but didn't let it it affect his feelings for her. She knew exactly what she wanted and was patient enough to get it and give him exactly what he needed.
I enjoyed Teddy and Lottie. They are grumpy/ sunshine which is one of my favorites. I liked the hint of mystery the story had. The storyline was good and I liked the characters. It was a good story I read in a couple hours.
This was a sweet story with a little drama added in. Shelby Gunter does a great job of hooking you into the story, even with the jump ahead in the time POV. I look forward to reading more books following this group of family/friends.
This was such a good book. Getting to see Lottie and Teddy and their relationship build and the way Teddy thought he was doing what was best for Lottie. Lottie was such a strong FMC. I loved it!!!
This book hit me with a little bit of nostalgic vibes because it reminded me of a song from when I was younger. Into the Shadows tells the tale of of Lottie, the diner server who falls for Teddy, the man about to be deployed overseas. Their relationship was fueled by a spark, and they became pen pals for a time, until Teddy stops replying to Lottie for reasons only known to Teddy.
Years pass, and now Lottie is a successful true crime podcaster and Teddy is finally home from overseas. While originally he is grumpy and tries to push Lottie away, she is determined to stay by Teddy's side. I loved seeing their relationship bloom into more as Teddy was working through his PTSD and lasting scars from his time deployed.
I enjoyed being back in Shelby's world. From the found family feels to the suspense plots, each book has so much to give the reader and I could not get enough!
Thank you so much to Shelby for an early copy of Into the Shadows!
tropes: Pen pals Small town suspense Grumpy Sunshine Found Family
4.5⭐️ Once again Shelby did not disappoint! What a great way to spend my Sunday enjoying the next generation of Sonoma. If you’re a fan of grumpy/sunshine (and maybe the Dixie Chicks—IYKYK 😉) and like a little suspense in your romance you’ll enjoy this story. Thank you for sending this one to me. 🫶📚
I'm 100% loving this 'second generation' and 110% loving these podcaster girl characters! I never actually knew I needed a true crime podcaster character and this is second one I've read this year. First--Teddy--my heart. 😫 This man returned home from war with all the battle scars, physically and mentally and whew...was he ever wrote perfectly with PTSD(I) (I'm not sure which is politically correct currently and don't want to rock any boats). He struggled with getting back into what society deems as normal every day life and I can 1000% wholeheartedly say that moving to Sonoma was EXACTLY what he needed. This town (and Lottie) healed him. I was not prepared to be emotionally damaged for him 😭 I loved watching this small town take him in, how everyone just seemed to know he was going to be good for the town's 'golden girl' and Lottie's family and friend group opening their arms. Teddy and Lottie clicked together from page one. she's not afraid to battle the darkness with me And the darkness was there. But Lottie didn't leave. She didn't give up. And I love that she just laid there with him to get him thru. Lottie--your heart was way too big for your body and the love you poured out for everyone you met 🥰🤌🏼 I love her. I loved watching her with her podcast and diving in to new mysteries. And how she was fully capable of flipping some sort of switch so that those cases didn't bleed into her every day life and consume her thoughts. I would not be able to do that lol She cared big and loved even harder. She believed in Teddy thru and thru which is what every relationship needs at the foundation. i'm never going to give him up And boy did she ever. Even with just the one day in the beginning of the book before Teddy shipped out, Lottie was determined to be some sort of bright spot in his life and watching her thru the years never finding that kind of spark again until he came home with heartwarming.
Lottie was the girl that was going to hold his hand and walk by his side thru the darkest of dark days while Teddy was going to be her grounding center when her head/heart soared too high. They were both protective of each other...sounding boards...guiding lights...just all around the best kind of love story. I was excited to see that Noah just befriended Teddy immediately, no questions asked and I'm more excited to see him in the next book and how he grows with this family. Next book....YES PLEASE! I'm ready for that flightly girl of the Scooby Doo gang to get her TRUE happy ending. Thank you Shelby Gunter for gracing the world with these two and their love story. Thank you for writing Teddy's character. As somebody who's been thru hundreds of deployments with my best friends...it grabbed my heart in such a way that makes me want to squeeze Teddy hard. Thank you for trusting me with an early copy too!