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The Sheltered Prey
Vivian Blackthorn has spent years dedicating her life to abandoned animals, finding comfort in the broken creatures that pass through her shelter doors. Quiet, kind, and fiercely devoted to the animals in her care, she's built a life that keeps everyone at a distance.
Including her own family.
Carrington is assigned one simple task: Uncover the secrets hidden behind the powerful Blackthorn name.
Watching Vivian should have been easy.
Instead, he becomes obsessed.
The longer he follows her, the more he notices that things don't add up. The way she flinches. The fear hidden behind her smile. The exhaustion she tries so desperately to hide. What begins as an investigation quickly turns into something far more dangerous as Carrington realizes Vivian isn't protecting her family's secrets--
She's surviving them.
As dark truths come to light and the people closest to Vivian reveal just how far they're willing to go to maintain control, Carrington finds himself willing to destroy anyone who threatens her.
But some enemies are harder to kill than others.
And just when freedom finally feels within reach, a single phone call threatens to change everything.
The Sheltered Prey is a dark romance featuring an obsessive protector, found family, trauma healing, animal shelter themes, suspense, slow burn, and a HFN ending.
Including her own family.
Carrington is assigned one simple task: Uncover the secrets hidden behind the powerful Blackthorn name.
Watching Vivian should have been easy.
Instead, he becomes obsessed.
The longer he follows her, the more he notices that things don't add up. The way she flinches. The fear hidden behind her smile. The exhaustion she tries so desperately to hide. What begins as an investigation quickly turns into something far more dangerous as Carrington realizes Vivian isn't protecting her family's secrets--
She's surviving them.
As dark truths come to light and the people closest to Vivian reveal just how far they're willing to go to maintain control, Carrington finds himself willing to destroy anyone who threatens her.
But some enemies are harder to kill than others.
And just when freedom finally feels within reach, a single phone call threatens to change everything.
The Sheltered Prey is a dark romance featuring an obsessive protector, found family, trauma healing, animal shelter themes, suspense, slow burn, and a HFN ending.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2026
About the author
Shevonne Campkin
2 books1 followerShevonne A. Campkin writes dark, emotionally driven romance where damaged hearts, dangerous secrets, and the promise of healing collide. Inspired by her experiences in animal welfare and her fascination with resilience in both people and animals, her stories explore survival, loyalty, obsession, and the courage it takes to trust again.
Her debut novel, The Sheltered Prey, is a deeply personal story of trauma, hope, and finding light in unexpected places. She lives in Canada with her husband, four cats, and a dog, and is rarely far from a book, a notebook, or a shelter animal in need.
Her debut novel, The Sheltered Prey, is a deeply personal story of trauma, hope, and finding light in unexpected places. She lives in Canada with her husband, four cats, and a dog, and is rarely far from a book, a notebook, or a shelter animal in need.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 9, 2026
Where do I even start
This book had my hooked from the synopsis. I love to read dark romances but finding one placed within an animal shelter setting had me sold from the very first page.
As someone who also works in the field, this book holds a special place in my heart long after I finished reading the final page.
The determination and strength Vivianne showed throughout the story and her resilience to not let her traumatic past and life interfere with devoting herself to helping other souls in the world just spoke to my soul on such a deep level.
And dont even get me started on Carrington and his inability to let Vivianne and Coda slip through his fingers. The protector and patience and understanding she always needed from someone. Im SWOONING
I cant wait to read the next one and so grateful to have experienced this story!!!!!
This book had my hooked from the synopsis. I love to read dark romances but finding one placed within an animal shelter setting had me sold from the very first page.
As someone who also works in the field, this book holds a special place in my heart long after I finished reading the final page.
The determination and strength Vivianne showed throughout the story and her resilience to not let her traumatic past and life interfere with devoting herself to helping other souls in the world just spoke to my soul on such a deep level.
And dont even get me started on Carrington and his inability to let Vivianne and Coda slip through his fingers. The protector and patience and understanding she always needed from someone. Im SWOONING
I cant wait to read the next one and so grateful to have experienced this story!!!!!
July 2, 2026
“I wasn’t capable of wanting more. Then she appeared and ruined me completely.”
Vivian and Carrington 🖤🥵
Stalking becomes obsession, obsession becomes desire, and desire becomes the one thing you can’t be without.
Absolutely ate this up, hoping and praying there will be a pt 2. The progression of the characters and the plot is just phenomenal spicy and so much urning.
Vivian and Carrington 🖤🥵
Stalking becomes obsession, obsession becomes desire, and desire becomes the one thing you can’t be without.
Absolutely ate this up, hoping and praying there will be a pt 2. The progression of the characters and the plot is just phenomenal spicy and so much urning.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Okay, but WHY did I inhale this book in one sitting?
From an assignment to an obsession, this is the story of Carrington and Vivian ( & Coda 🐾)
The Sheltered Prey is the kind of dark romance that grabs you from chapter one and refuses to let go. If you're into obsessive MMCs, "touch her and die" energy, stalking romance, and a FMC who deserves happiness, you'll love this!
Vivian absolutely broke my heart. Watching her pour so much love into rescuing abused animals while secretly surviving horrific abuse herself was devastating. The shelter became such a safe space that I found myself dreading every time she had to go home.
And Carrington.....
This man is a walking red flag and I loved every second of it. The fact that he starts out watching Vivian as part of an assignment and slowly becomes completely consumed by her! Obsessed & unhinged. Exactly what I want from a dark romance hero. The way he notices every little thing about her before she even realizes he's paying attention had me questioning my morals.
The chemistry between them is full of tension from the start. Every interaction had me waiting for something to happen.
Please check your triggers. Vivian's situation is genuinely heartbreaking, but that emotional weight is what made me so invested in her getting her happy ending.
The four stars is purely because for me there wasn't enough spice, it was minimal and I feel like a bit more heat could have taken this to another level. That being said...there's clearly going to be a second book and I'll be eating that up too!
I was provided an advance copy of this book from the author.
From an assignment to an obsession, this is the story of Carrington and Vivian ( & Coda 🐾)
The Sheltered Prey is the kind of dark romance that grabs you from chapter one and refuses to let go. If you're into obsessive MMCs, "touch her and die" energy, stalking romance, and a FMC who deserves happiness, you'll love this!
Vivian absolutely broke my heart. Watching her pour so much love into rescuing abused animals while secretly surviving horrific abuse herself was devastating. The shelter became such a safe space that I found myself dreading every time she had to go home.
And Carrington.....
This man is a walking red flag and I loved every second of it. The fact that he starts out watching Vivian as part of an assignment and slowly becomes completely consumed by her! Obsessed & unhinged. Exactly what I want from a dark romance hero. The way he notices every little thing about her before she even realizes he's paying attention had me questioning my morals.
The chemistry between them is full of tension from the start. Every interaction had me waiting for something to happen.
Please check your triggers. Vivian's situation is genuinely heartbreaking, but that emotional weight is what made me so invested in her getting her happy ending.
The four stars is purely because for me there wasn't enough spice, it was minimal and I feel like a bit more heat could have taken this to another level. That being said...there's clearly going to be a second book and I'll be eating that up too!
I was provided an advance copy of this book from the author.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!! It's messy and heartbreaking, but also full of hope. Very well done for a debut novel!!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews