Shot Through the Heart

by Claire Donniere

Genres: LGBT, Lesbian

312 pages, Paperback

Published April 20, 2026

Reviews

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️ enjoyed this book from newbie writer Claire Donniere. It was a thriller with Nicole as the chief of staff for a woman US Senator being nominated for vice president. Nicole has had a nasty breakup with her ex who commits suicide after the break up. Nicole believes it’s her fault and can not get over the guilt she feels. Sercret Service agent Allie Gordon comes back from recovering from a bullet wound on her last assignment. She and her team are tasked with the protection detail on the Senator. Allies boss tells her to stay in the background and to seduce Nicole to find out if she is the person sending threats to the Senator.

I liked the plot, it got a bit convoluted in the end and of course a bit far fetched. I didn’t like Nicole’s character as much, she’s supposedly a player with sleeping with different women on a weekly basis. Her personality didn’t fit that action for me. And as the Chris of staff for the Senator it seemed totally unprofessional and it seems it wouldn’t be acceptable behavior in her position. I also thought her guilt and mourn g for her ex was excessive.

I liked Allie’s character, she’s supposedly was tough and smart and a good team leader. Of course she fell for Nicole and risked her life to save her in the end.
I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Jo reece · Rating 2 out of 5]

Struggled with this one.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice debut book with a romance involving a Secret Service agent, Allie and a senator's Chief of Staff, Nicole. They had an instant connection when they met randomly at the airport. Then Allie's job necessitated her to investigate Nicole undercover. Romance develops amidst death threats and assassination attempts. Both Allie and Nicole also has to deal with issues from their past in order to find trust and love.
There are some places where the plot might lag a little bit or there's too much information, but overall, an enjoyable read.

[kingdomofash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this sapphic political thriller. I enjoyed the romance and never knew what was coming next. This could have been your standard story of an undercover agent falling for her target but the love between them was really genuine and beautiful and the fear of loving again after being hurt is something that I think anyone can relate to. The plot twist was really clever and unexpected and I absolutely love that this was sapphic! This was full of romance, twists and turns and hot lesbians! What more could you want from a thriller? The way these two were OBSESSED with eachother. I yearn for it. Also if a woman took me to her favourite place and it was a bookstore I’d fall immediately in love with her too.

Pub date: April 14 2026

[LezLibros · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun and interesting read, perfect for escaping the day. I enjoyed the clandestine suspense nature of the story and the slow burn of the romance between Allie and Nicole. The mystery was well developed and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep my attention. Just when you think you have all the clues, more pop up! There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but that makes sense given the scope of the story. The story itself is interesting and I think the romance developed naturally in the context of everything going on around Allie and Nicole. I was really invested in them and I’m really glad they got their Happy ever after.
the author does a fantastic job of tying up the mystery at the end; a very satisfying read!
I’m looking forward to more by this autHor.

[Sue Plant · Rating 4 out of 5]

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this debut book

to be able to say that you have read the first released book by someone and watched their journey is an amazing experience for a reader and its exciting to be able to say this about claire donniere plus this book isnt a bad experience for anyone

its full of red herrings and intrigue, you never knew who the master mind was right up till the end, and the characters were likeable

its a great first effort and i cant wait to see what else this author comes up with next

[Sandy Souder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

The mystery and suspense was good.characters were believable. I don't buy all for books (can't afford them), but this purchase was worth it

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 Stars). I struggled getting into this novel. In the beginning there were too many characters introduced and it was hard to keep track of who was who. I did get on board with the mystery once I got the people figured out. Threats are being made against a US senator who has been selected to run for Vice President. Allie Gordon is a secret service agent and part of the team trying to figure out who is behind the threats. She goes undercover and gets close to Nicole Lancaster, the chief of staff for the senator. Nicole has things in her past that make her look suspicious.

I do enjoy mystery thrillers and I did not guess the culprit until it became obvious. I’m not sure if everything that happens would really take place within the secret service. Things like hacking computer files for quick access to information. But I will go with it as a way to move the story along quickly. I’m also not convinced that someone in Nicole’s position would be picking up people weekly at bars. It didn’t fit her personality once Allie came into the picture.

This was an intriguing debut novel. I was impressed with the pacing and for keeping me guessing. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC and I am leaving an honest review.

[SusieQ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shot Through the Heart offers a compelling blend of romance and detective fiction, with a subtle hint of fantasy that adds an extra layer to the story. The plot is engaging from start to finish, combining suspenseful investigation with emotional depth.

What stood out most to me were the main characters. Both Allie and Nicole are well-developed, with multiple layers that make them feel real and interesting. There’s a strong, believable connection between them, but it’s balanced by hesitation and a clear fear of the unknown—both in terms of their personal feelings and the situation they’re caught in. That tension adds a lot to the overall atmosphere of the story.

The mix of trust, doubt, and growing attraction keeps things intriguing, especially as the stakes rise and the mystery deepens. It’s not just about solving a case, but also about confronting emotions and past choices.

Overall, this is a well-rounded story that successfully combines romance and suspense. Definitely worth reading if you enjoy character-driven stories with both emotional and investigative elements.

I am voluntarily leaving a review after receiving a free copy of the book.

[This · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like a good thriller so I thought I would give this a go.
At first I wasn't sure as it was a little slow but it soon picked up the pace.
A senator being protected by the secret service - with the protagonist being the agent in change of protection. How good is this agent? Well, she's just back from sick leave after being shot on duty - because she threw herself in front of the bullet. Not a job for me. I think I'd rather get the sack.
On her way to the job she bumps into a woman at the airport. A little flirting - nothing major. She just happens to work for the senator, has a history of dead ex's, is a suspect. And of course a lesbian.
She needs to be tested by an undercover op.
There's a few new agents on the team who need to prove themselves, a couple of baddies, a bucket of paint and blood, a few set ups, has the team all running around to try and figure out who to trust and who is trying to get at the senator.
The story is entertaining with a few red herrings swimming about.
I would say the actual baddie was obvious to the reader- but it didn't detract from the story.

I would recommend this - it was a fun read.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting mystery. Lots of investigative content, twists and turns. All very realistic, clever and sensible. It is so refreshing to read a good mystery that all comes together in the end.
It took me a while to get into it though. Many, many characters with many, many names to try to remember. But after about 30% the story really starts and then moves at a good pace.
I guessed who the villain was twice. Meaning I was wrong the first time. The ending was a bit of a surprise and made sense.
The romance was very slow and not too exciting. But it was necessary for obvious reasons for the story. But it wasn't too exciting.
But there were many exciting scenes regarding the mystery.
Epilogue really wasn't necessary. The main characters had already said everything we needed to know in the last chapter.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest

[Kasley.K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shot Through the Heart got me on the edge of my seat. I had so much fun trying to piece together the clues to solve the mystery behind the threats against Senator Fleming. Claire Donniere managed to create multiple trails for the reader to follow without making the identity of the perpetrator too obvious or too unexpected.

I love how Nicole and Allie’s burgeoning relationship is integrated into the investigation/ mission. Their connection feels genuine, and it progressed nicely. I enjoyed witnessing them fall for each other.
Even if the cast is larger than in the books I usually read, it’s made of other interesting characters, with a special mention for Senator Fleming. I wouldn’t mind a book focusing on her.

I had a blast reading Shot Through The Heart, and I will be on the lookout for more stories from the author.

[Aleana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


Nicole feels guilt for her ex girlfriend suicide because she believes is her fault. Nicole is the chief of staff of a US senator who been nominated for vice president who has been receiving threats. Allie is shot from her last assignment is task in going undercover and finding out who is threatening the senator they suspect it’s Nicole. Allie rule for not getting close becomes harder when she starts to fall for Nicole knowing she could be the threat. Good read some great twist and turns even though I did guess the villain it’s still kept my interest like that the romance was slow burn it’s wasn’t rush the mc characters had chemistry. I can’t wait to read from this author again keep making mystery thrillers with romance.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phew, there were a lot of characters and complex twist and turns in this book, which would have been really great had there been a clearer introduction to them all. Some were presented in depth but others mentioned and then turned out to be key to the stories development and so I had go back a re-read parts. Aside from that, I was gripped by the story and wanted to see how it would end, the thriller part is a complex story of planning a political execution and how to protect people in the age of constant surveillance which can also work against you. There is a surprising romance in the middle and I wonder if the author perhaps focussed a little too much on that and not enough on building the thriller tension. Overall an enjoyable page turner.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one didn’t quite land for me, even though the premise had real potential. I struggled to connect with the characters and found the pacing uneven, which made it hard to stay fully engaged. The emotional beats didn’t always feel earned, and some plot turns felt more told than shown, so I never quite settled into the story the way I hoped to.

That said, there are elements readers may enjoy — especially those who like high‑stakes drama and a more plot‑driven style. It just wasn’t the right fit for my tastes, but I can see it appealing to readers who connect more easily with the characters or the central storyline.

ARC received for an honest review

[Jennabeebs79 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shot Through the Heart is a perfect mix of suspense and romance with characters that are easy to invest in. The combination of political intrigue, hidden motives, and the growing relationship between Allie and Nicole kept the story interesting from beginning to end. Plenty of twists and emotional moments along the way make it a book that keeps you guessing while also giving you a relationship that you are invested in. If you enjoy romantic suspense with strong characters and a fast-moving plot, this one is definitely worth picking up.

Check out my complete review at TheLesbianReview.com

[Kristen Tallau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, light, sapphic read. I enjoyed that it was more of a political thriller than just a regular romcom, which is what I tend to find in sapphic literature. Loved Allie and Nicole, and was rooting for them the whole time. I did take away a star due to slightly clunky writing, and at points it was difficult to figure out whose voice the story was being written in, but overall loved the story and characters. Some good twists and turns to keep you reading, even when you think you know who did it. Overall an enjoyable read and look forward to reading more from this author

[Shannon bagnall · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s not much I can say without spoiling the story, my only issue was there was a lot of information that could have been cut out to make the story flow better however there’s people who need the extra information or it repeated so that’s just me personally.

The characters were great, I wished we’d of had more scenes with Chris but that leaves the author with the possibility to write her own story 🤞🏻

Overall a really enjoyable read, I can’t wait to read what this author writes next.

* full disclosure I was given this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley*

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book by this author, but not my last.

It had my attention from the get-go and kept it till the end. It was definitely romantic suspense and a very enjoyable read. The book kept me on the edge of my seat while trying to guess what would happen. Allie and Nicole were easy to get invested in and root for their relationship. It had plenty of twists and turns that was great till the end.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jamie R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sapphic suspense story. The whodunnit quality kept me guessing and the intrigue kept me reading, unable to put it down! I found the characters likeable and interesting, which deepened my commitment to know more about them. The writing flowed well and kept me engaged throughout.

I look forward to reading more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the arc. I leave my review voluntarily.

[JAYNE · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a blinder of a debut! This romantic suspense had me hooked from the start with one burning question—who can you really trust?

When your heart says one thing but your instincts as a secret service agent say another, things are bound to get complicated. The enigmatic chief of staff to the US governor kept me guessing right up to the end. Was she behind the threats or just caught in the crossfire? By the halfway point, I was on the edge of my seat and pretty much stayed there until I finished. The writing’s great, the tension perfectly paced, and that cover? Absolutely to die for!

If you love romantic suspense with a slow burn, opposites attract, hidden identities, and characters whose pasts add real depth to the story, you’ll adore this one. A brilliant start to what I hope will be a long career for this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an advanced reader copy in return for an honest review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great action packed adventure starring multiple female leads. Really well written with fantastic characters and plot twists. Definitely looking up this author’s back catalogue. Thank you to the author. Thank you to # NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[Elizabeth Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery spy thriller. This plot has many twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, turning pages, and asking "what's next?" I highly recommend this book for its fantastic writing and well-developed characters. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. If you're looking for a book that has mystery with twists and turns (I did not in fact guess whodunnit), action, suspense, and romance, check out this debut.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

this was an okay read but it didn’t really hook me or leave me wowed