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Chasing Shadows
She built a sanctuary to protect the innocent. He’s the one man who could destroy it—or save her.
Sheila McBride knows the bitter cost of trusting the wrong man. Three years after a devastating betrayal by someone she loved, she has carved out a quiet life running Chiricahua Coffee & Covers in Willcox, Arizona. Here, she secretly provides refuge to vulnerable families, trusting no one—especially anyone wearing a badge.
But when her young cousin Maria vanishes into the shadows of the Arizona desert, Sheila’s carefully guarded world shatters. Going to the authorities is impossible; a single misstep will expose the innocent families she shields. To save Maria, Sheila must rely entirely on her own wit and desperate prayers.
Then Matt Morrow walks into her sanctuary. He is guarded, dangerous, and carrying a past as scarred as her own.
Deep undercover to dismantle a perilous criminal ring from the inside, Matt has spent a decade running from his past, his grief, and his fractured faith. He never planned on a stubborn cafe owner upending his mission. But as the danger closes in on the border town the McBride family has called home for generations, Matt realizes Sheila is standing directly in the line of fire.
As suspicion clashes with an undeniable, reluctant attraction, Sheila uncovers Matt's true identity. The revelation brings fury, not relief. He is law enforcement. He lied. He represents everything she swore she would never trust again.
With time running out and the enemy closing in, Sheila and Matt must navigate a maze of deception. To save a missing girl, they will have to risk their lives—and find the courage to surrender their broken pasts to a higher power.
The McBride Legacy, Book 1, is a gripping, high-stakes tale of faith, second chances, and romantic suspense that will keep you turning pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of Lynette Eason, Terri Blackstock, and Dani Pettrey.
Sheila McBride knows the bitter cost of trusting the wrong man. Three years after a devastating betrayal by someone she loved, she has carved out a quiet life running Chiricahua Coffee & Covers in Willcox, Arizona. Here, she secretly provides refuge to vulnerable families, trusting no one—especially anyone wearing a badge.
But when her young cousin Maria vanishes into the shadows of the Arizona desert, Sheila’s carefully guarded world shatters. Going to the authorities is impossible; a single misstep will expose the innocent families she shields. To save Maria, Sheila must rely entirely on her own wit and desperate prayers.
Then Matt Morrow walks into her sanctuary. He is guarded, dangerous, and carrying a past as scarred as her own.
Deep undercover to dismantle a perilous criminal ring from the inside, Matt has spent a decade running from his past, his grief, and his fractured faith. He never planned on a stubborn cafe owner upending his mission. But as the danger closes in on the border town the McBride family has called home for generations, Matt realizes Sheila is standing directly in the line of fire.
As suspicion clashes with an undeniable, reluctant attraction, Sheila uncovers Matt's true identity. The revelation brings fury, not relief. He is law enforcement. He lied. He represents everything she swore she would never trust again.
With time running out and the enemy closing in, Sheila and Matt must navigate a maze of deception. To save a missing girl, they will have to risk their lives—and find the courage to surrender their broken pasts to a higher power.
The McBride Legacy, Book 1, is a gripping, high-stakes tale of faith, second chances, and romantic suspense that will keep you turning pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of Lynette Eason, Terri Blackstock, and Dani Pettrey.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 6, 2026
I received a free copy of the book via Booksprout, and the following review is entirely my own voluntary, and honest opinion.
After enjoying Bertie Stein’s “Angels Among Us” series, I was really excited to return to this world, and “Chasing Shadows” did not disappoint. The story follows Sheila McBride, who runs a café and bookstore in a small Arizona town while secretly providing a safe place for vulnerable families. When her cousin Maria disappears, Sheila refuses to sit back and wait for someone else to find her. She is determined to bring Maria home, even if it means putting her own life in danger. Then there is Matt Morrow, a man who seems dangerous and untrustworthy but is actually working undercover inside a criminal organization. As their paths intertwine, Sheila has to decide whether she can trust the one man she has every reason not to.
I really liked both Sheila and Matt. They are both carrying wounds from their pasts, and neither finds it easy to trust other people. Sheila's determination stood out to me most. She is understandably afraid, but her fear never stops her from doing what she believes is right. I especially admired her faith in God and the way she continues to pray and trust Him even when she has no idea how things are going to turn out. Her faith is not portrayed as the absence of fear, but as the courage to keep going despite it, which I found both beautiful and inspiring.
Matt was an equally interesting character. His undercover work has forced him to live behind lies and constantly question who he can trust, while his own past has left him struggling with grief and his relationship with God. I appreciated watching him slowly lower his walls and realise that he doesn't have to carry everything by himself. His relationship with Sheila also develops naturally from their difficult circumstances rather than feeling like an instant romance.
The suspense kept me hooked from the beginning. Human trafficking, drug trafficking, an undercover operation, missing girls, a dangerous cartel, and a constant game of deception give the story plenty of tension. There were several moments when I genuinely didn't want to stop reading because I needed to know what would happen next. I also appreciated the quieter moments that allowed the characters and their relationships to develop without taking away from the action.
I really enjoyed the McBride family as well. Sheila is the only daughter among a large family of brothers, and I loved seeing how protective and supportive they are of one another. They can be overprotective at times, but underneath it all is a strong sense of love and loyalty. Since this is the beginning of a new interconnected series, I'm already curious about the other McBride siblings and their stories.
And, of course, I was very happy to see the connection to “Angels Among Us”. It was especially nice to meet Holly and Dex again, even if only briefly. Seeing familiar characters return made the book feel like a continuation of a world I've already come to enjoy, while still giving the McBrides plenty of room to establish themselves.
Overall, “Chasing Shadows” was another great read from Bertie Stein. I was hooked from the start, really enjoyed Sheila and Matt's story, and loved getting to know the McBride family. I'm very happy to have another Bertie Stein series to follow, and I can't wait to see which McBride sibling gets their story next.
After enjoying Bertie Stein’s “Angels Among Us” series, I was really excited to return to this world, and “Chasing Shadows” did not disappoint. The story follows Sheila McBride, who runs a café and bookstore in a small Arizona town while secretly providing a safe place for vulnerable families. When her cousin Maria disappears, Sheila refuses to sit back and wait for someone else to find her. She is determined to bring Maria home, even if it means putting her own life in danger. Then there is Matt Morrow, a man who seems dangerous and untrustworthy but is actually working undercover inside a criminal organization. As their paths intertwine, Sheila has to decide whether she can trust the one man she has every reason not to.
I really liked both Sheila and Matt. They are both carrying wounds from their pasts, and neither finds it easy to trust other people. Sheila's determination stood out to me most. She is understandably afraid, but her fear never stops her from doing what she believes is right. I especially admired her faith in God and the way she continues to pray and trust Him even when she has no idea how things are going to turn out. Her faith is not portrayed as the absence of fear, but as the courage to keep going despite it, which I found both beautiful and inspiring.
Matt was an equally interesting character. His undercover work has forced him to live behind lies and constantly question who he can trust, while his own past has left him struggling with grief and his relationship with God. I appreciated watching him slowly lower his walls and realise that he doesn't have to carry everything by himself. His relationship with Sheila also develops naturally from their difficult circumstances rather than feeling like an instant romance.
The suspense kept me hooked from the beginning. Human trafficking, drug trafficking, an undercover operation, missing girls, a dangerous cartel, and a constant game of deception give the story plenty of tension. There were several moments when I genuinely didn't want to stop reading because I needed to know what would happen next. I also appreciated the quieter moments that allowed the characters and their relationships to develop without taking away from the action.
I really enjoyed the McBride family as well. Sheila is the only daughter among a large family of brothers, and I loved seeing how protective and supportive they are of one another. They can be overprotective at times, but underneath it all is a strong sense of love and loyalty. Since this is the beginning of a new interconnected series, I'm already curious about the other McBride siblings and their stories.
And, of course, I was very happy to see the connection to “Angels Among Us”. It was especially nice to meet Holly and Dex again, even if only briefly. Seeing familiar characters return made the book feel like a continuation of a world I've already come to enjoy, while still giving the McBrides plenty of room to establish themselves.
Overall, “Chasing Shadows” was another great read from Bertie Stein. I was hooked from the start, really enjoyed Sheila and Matt's story, and loved getting to know the McBride family. I'm very happy to have another Bertie Stein series to follow, and I can't wait to see which McBride sibling gets their story next.
March 16, 2026
Matt’s life as an undercover DEA agent inside a cartel was never simple, but it suddenly grows much harder when the cartel takes the niece of a woman who doesn’t know how to back down and will put her life on the line to try to save others. Sheila is frantic when Maria disappears, and not even warning visits from a threatening stranger will make her stop looking for her. But when he turns up injured on her doorstep and tells her Maria has escaped, she’s forced to review her opinion of him. Only by working together do they have any hope of bringing down the cartel and saving the hundreds of girls it’s trafficked – but the danger is only going to grow as they get closer…
This drew me in from the start and held my attention throughout. Matt's dilemma of wanting to save Maria but also not wanting to waste everything he's worked towards inspired sympathy in his early predicament, while Sheila's combined determination despite very reasonable fear had me rooting for their success - and very glad the immediate enemy is a friend in disguise. I also appreciated her family's support, however overprotective they could be. My one minor quibble was that a few things didn't quite hang together for me (the final takedown seemed much too easy, for a start), but it didn't stop me enjoying the book. I'm intrigued to see what the family face next. 4.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This drew me in from the start and held my attention throughout. Matt's dilemma of wanting to save Maria but also not wanting to waste everything he's worked towards inspired sympathy in his early predicament, while Sheila's combined determination despite very reasonable fear had me rooting for their success - and very glad the immediate enemy is a friend in disguise. I also appreciated her family's support, however overprotective they could be. My one minor quibble was that a few things didn't quite hang together for me (the final takedown seemed much too easy, for a start), but it didn't stop me enjoying the book. I'm intrigued to see what the family face next. 4.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 28, 2026
I am quickly becoming a fan of Bertie Stein and her romantic suspense novels. I loved this book that is the start of a new series about the McBride family. This is the story of Sheila, the youngest and only girl of the family. Her family's ranch is in Arizona and there are eight boys all having different careers from ranching including a priest. Sheila is the owner of a cafe and book store. She has been helping illegal immigrants including her cousin, Maria, by providing housing and food. When Maria is kidnapped by a cartel for trafficking and drugs, Sheila fights back. Matt, an undercover FBI agent, is the person who transports Maria and two other girls. He has to threaten and scare Sheila to maintain his cover until he realizes her faith in God is stronger than her fear. The action is intense and a romance begins. The characters are wonderful. You will have to read the book to see if Matt and Sheila survive to pursue the romance. I highly recommend this as a clean romantic suspense. This is my voluntary and honest review.
March 30, 2026
Another captivating and intense read by Bertie Stein. This is the start of a new series and is the story of Sheila McBride and Matt Morrow, a DEA agent who's deep undercover in a cartel operation. From the first page I was captivated and couldn't be bothered until I finished it. Truth be told Bertie Stein has become a fast favorite and I look forward to reading more every time. Highly recommend reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 29, 2026
there’s always hope, when faith holds
I don’t even like to think about trafficking, but I know it exists. The people who fight it everyday are heroes who see unthinkable things, risk their lives everyday. Telling this story of the people who live it and combining faith, hope and belief that God is present, that he sends angels to help is amazing. Understanding that bad things happen because of man’s free will is difficult but true. But, miracles sometimes happen as in this story. I look forward to the next part of this story of the McBrides.
I don’t even like to think about trafficking, but I know it exists. The people who fight it everyday are heroes who see unthinkable things, risk their lives everyday. Telling this story of the people who live it and combining faith, hope and belief that God is present, that he sends angels to help is amazing. Understanding that bad things happen because of man’s free will is difficult but true. But, miracles sometimes happen as in this story. I look forward to the next part of this story of the McBrides.
March 17, 2026
This book is intense! Chasing after human traffickers, Sheila is trying to save her cousin. Her ex Matt ends up helping her. But Matt doesn't tell her everything upfront, and Sheila is determined to get her cousin back. When Matt puts everything on the line to help her, they both end up in witness protection. However, the twist at the end will totally shock you. This was a really intense but great read!
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March 18, 2026Another great and intense read by Bertie Stein! This is the start of a new series, which is a spinoff from the Angels Among Us series. I was hooked from the start and couldn’t put the book down. Both Sheila and Matt are running from past hurts, but they learn to work with each other to save her cousin Maria.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 20, 2026
This is an action packed and fast paced read. Its about trusting even when you have no reason to. Maria is kidnapped and Sheila is determined to find her and get her back from the traffickers. Sheila is getting in Matt's way and putting his life in danger. She causes him to get found out and blow his undercover assignment. Great visual description and personable characters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 25, 2026
This story kept me reading until the end. I really didn’t want to stop (even for sleep or anything else). The suspense grabs you from the start and just doesn’t let up. Sheila has a faith in God that gives her the strength and courage to go against the cartel. She aids Matt even before she learns he is undercover. So inspiring and emotional. I can’t wait for book 2.
I received this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 16, 2026
While this book can be read as a standalone, it is part of an interconnected series with overlapping characters. Can't wait for the next book.
Drug trafficking
Human trafficking
Undercover
Large family with widespread influence
Dangerous cat and mouse game.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Drug trafficking
Human trafficking
Undercover
Large family with widespread influence
Dangerous cat and mouse game.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 18, 2026
I enjoyed reading this book. This is the first in the series and I was quickly pulled in. I am looking forward to finding more by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 7, 2026
great read
Bertie Stein weaves great story lines with inspiring reminders of faith and trust. Evil often appears to have the upper hand, but God uses everything to create the steps of His larger story. Stein emphasises that with great story telling.
Bertie Stein weaves great story lines with inspiring reminders of faith and trust. Evil often appears to have the upper hand, but God uses everything to create the steps of His larger story. Stein emphasises that with great story telling.
June 2, 2026
The Story Continues
I’m glad to see this story continue with characters that reader of the trilogy before this one will recognize.
I appreciated this one more than #3 in that this was more complete and not repetitive thoughts of the characters.
I’m glad to see this story continue with characters that reader of the trilogy before this one will recognize.
I appreciated this one more than #3 in that this was more complete and not repetitive thoughts of the characters.
July 2, 2026
I really liked it and I'm looking forward to the next book.
The characters were very believable and interesting. Love was the main reason I kept reading.
I highly recommend this book and series.
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August 12, 2026Great story!
Good enough for me to want to read the next book. I like the characters, Holly and Dex . Dr. Noah, Shield and Matt.
Good enough for me to want to read the next book. I like the characters, Holly and Dex . Dr. Noah, Shield and Matt.
March 11, 2026
This is a Christian Romantic Suspense, and this is the first book in the McBride Legacy series. I really got into this story, and I enjoyed getting to know all the characters. This book had a great mix of suspense, drama, and romance. I really enjoyed reading this book. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews