When the Shadows Return

by kylie creed

He vanished when she needed him most. Now, he’s the man standing between her and survival.

Ten years ago, Ava Sinclair’s world shattered the night her best friend disappeared without a single word. Lucas Carter—the boy who once swore he’d never leave—became a ghost, leaving behind nothing but silence and scars.

Now, on the edge of losing everything, Ava steps into the most important job interview of her life… only to find the CEO is him.

Lucas Carter isn’t the boy she remembers. He’s cold, controlled, and wrapped in power like armor. He looks at her like she’s a stranger—but beneath that steel gaze, something is still burning.

Their past is a landmine. Their present, a tightrope.And the future? It’s balancing on the truth he never told her.

When ghosts of childhood trauma rise and Ava finds Lucas at his most vulnerable, old wounds begin to bleed again—alongside feelings neither of them buried deep enough.

Will love be enough to heal what silence destroys?
Or are some betrayals unforgivable?

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2025

Reviews

[Allie]

DNF @ 83% - Written by AI. On page 249, there is a paragraph that says "Here's your rewritten and expanded version - I kept everything you had, just enriched the dance scene with more sensual texture, subtle banter, and the emotional undercurrent before the chandelier drops." After that paragraph, there is a scene break to the dance floor scene. I had a gut feeling that this was written by AI the entire time I was reading but this just confirmed it for me.

[Natalia Ashida · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/🌶️

When the Shadow Return was a real emotional rollercoaster 🎢 for me.

Kylie’s writing style is amazing ✨, the story completely pulled me in, there were times I read 200 pages in a single sitting because I just had to know what would happen next. And the tension between the characters was so intense you could cut it with a knife 🔥 the entire way through.

Ava and Lucas are childhood friends who life eventually tears apart, but when Ava starts a new life, she runs into her childhood love again during a job interview.

Lucas is a cold, ruthless boss who wants revenge for the fact that Ava “abandoned” him when they were kids.
Ava, on the other hand, is a determined, stubborn, and intelligent young woman 💪 who desperately needs the job, so she refuses to back down.

The chemistry and tension between them was palpable from their very first encounter.

As the story unfolds, we also learn more about Lucas’s past, which was absolutely heartbreaking 💔 especially as we delved deeper into the flashbacks.

I loved the structure of the book, the way the secrets slowly unraveled, and how the characters grew and changed in response to everything happening around them. Both characters felt incredibly human and lovable 🥰. They stirred up so many emotions in me that at times I just wanted to step into the book and hug them 🫂.

I truly enjoyed this journey, it was full of excitement, emotions, and a beautiful ending 🌸.

I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a light yet really emotional read 📖.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic princess and the pauper love story flips upside down when Ava (princess) and Lucas (pauper) switch places later in life.
After reconnecting in their adulthood Ava finds herself to be a secretary to the hottest, most successful CEO - aka Lucas

This story is steamy and tense ! I finished it so quick because I had to know the ending !


However, the reason for my rating is - I didn’t like how short it was! I felt like there was a lot of information given in a short span of time. There was still a lot of unanswered questions

But overall I enjoyed this read and the relationship between Ava and Lucas

[Jordan Grilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the fast pace of this book
I loved the short chapters and how to the point everything was
I loved the relationship between Ava and Lucas
I loved the second chance aspect of it all
I loved the drama and the past life they supposedly had

BUT….

This book just didn’t hit for me as hard as I thought it would. I was expecting more suspense and more drama and it felt a little lack luster.

It was still a good book, don’t get me wrong I just wanted more. I wanted more info on the past between Ava’s dad and Lucas and what actually happened the night he left. I wanted more drama with Ava getting kidnapped. I wanted more info into Lucas’ backstory with the cage fighting.

Idk I just felt like i wanted more on every aspect
But still, it was good.

[Abigahil Ramos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't stop reading once I started, I loved the pace of the book. But I would have liked to read about the wedding and their married life and know what happened with the letter.

[Mrs Reads Between The Lines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Kylie Creed’s debut into the Dark Romance genre. And what a statement she made!

Quotes from Ava’s & Lucas’s initial reunion:

“Confidence doesn’t equal competence.” - Lucas
“And cruelty doesn’t equal strength.” - Ava

The story of Ava and Lucas will leave you with all the feels. Their past was fraught with fractures. Their present is an endless chasm they must cross without a safety net. Now their past is stepping into the light, making itself known. In order to overcome the silence, secrets and traumas they’ll also have to follow the past out of the shadows.

10/10 would recommend

[Ama Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Shadows Return is one of those books that stays with you long after you finish it. It’s beautifully written — emotional, raw, and full of quiet hope. The story feels so real, like it reaches into the darkest corners of life and still manages to find the light.

If you’re someone who believes in healing and holding on, even when everything hurts, this book will speak to you. It’s not just a story — it’s a reminder that even after the shadows, hope always finds a way back. 💭✨