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Beneath #6
Beneath These Shadows
Beneath These Shadows is a STANDALONE romance set in the world of the Beneath series. You DO NOT have to read any other books in the series to enjoy it.
From USA Today bestselling author Meghan March comes a new dangerously sexy alpha hero...
The only permanent thing in my life is the ink I put on my clients.
I drift from city to city, in and out of beds, from one tattoo shop to the next.
Every time I start to put down roots, I rip them up.
Until New Orleans.
Until her.
She’s everything I’m not.
Full of fire and life. An innocent where I’m a sinner.
I want to consume her. Protect her. Keep her.
But first, I have to escape from beneath these shadows.
From USA Today bestselling author Meghan March comes a new dangerously sexy alpha hero...
The only permanent thing in my life is the ink I put on my clients.
I drift from city to city, in and out of beds, from one tattoo shop to the next.
Every time I start to put down roots, I rip them up.
Until New Orleans.
Until her.
She’s everything I’m not.
Full of fire and life. An innocent where I’m a sinner.
I want to consume her. Protect her. Keep her.
But first, I have to escape from beneath these shadows.
390 pages, Unknown Binding
First published October 25, 2016
1049 people are currently reading
4654 people want to read
About the author
Meghan March
75 books16.6k followersMaking the jump from corporate lawyer to romance author was a leap of faith that New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author Meghan March will never regret. With over thirty titles published, she has sold millions of books in nearly a dozen languages to fellow romance-lovers around the world. A nomad at heart, she can currently be found in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, living her happily ever after with her real-life alpha hero.. She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 772 reviews
October 25, 2016
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review
A sexy symphony of passion, suspense, and raw chemistry!!! With her trademark of unapologetically sexy romance, Meghan March continues to deliver stories that are riveting, palpable, and consuming. And in her latest installment to the Beneath Series, Meghan has readers craving for their very own, Bishop, an alpha tattooed hero in Beneath These Shadows.
“I want you. I’m not making any secret of that, but now I’m going to wait until you admit that you want me just as much.”
Beneath These Shadows is the sixth book of the series but it can most definitely be read as a standalone although past characters of the series are brought back into the mix of the story. New Orleans is a city notorious for it’s nightlife. Who wouldn’t want to visit the Big Easy especially during Mardi Gras? So what happens beneath the shadows of New Orleans? Will an unlikely pair find love?
Eden Matthew has lived all her life in a protective bubble. As one of the illegitimate daughter of a notorious mob boss, Eden never got to experience freedom that is until her father’s right hand man informs her that she must go into hiding as her father is being investigated and targeted by the FBI. It is there she is informed to pack her bags and not make any contact with her father till it is safe. With a new form of identification, Eden decides to go to New Orleans.
“Eden had plowed through my walls without trying, and from the moment I’d met her, everything had become more vivid. She was the turning point. She was a wild card.”
Given the fact that Eden has lived a very sheltered life, she didn’t take into account that hotels in New Orleans are booked because of Mardi Gras. So when she went walking along the streets of New Orleans, she finds herself in trouble when it became obvious that she was an easy target for criminals. Luckily for her, Bishop happens to spot Eden and rescues her before any trouble could happen. It is in that moment that Bishop finds himself helping out Eden several more times. Maybe it was her beauty or innocence that attracted Bishop to Eden but in the end, he couldn’t help but fall for her hard.
It didn’t take long for Eden and Bishop to become a couple as he found it easy to fall for her. She was sweet, simple and yet she was bold. Eden is no wallflower as she begins to spread her wings. Slowly, readers begin to see a new side to Eden. A woman learning to fly and gain her independence. But what happens when her time in New Orleans comes to an end and her return back to New York is inevitable? Will Eden discover that her wings are once again clipped? Or will this new Eden learn to soar beneath the shadows and into the light?
“The orgasm hit me so hard and so fast, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Stroke after stroke, I writhed beneath him and begged him not to stop. It was a revelation. It was everything.”
Meghan March stays true to her word when she states that she writes unapologetically sexy romance because Beneath These Shadows was that and so much more. I absolutely loved Bishop and Eden’s chemistry. Their transition from friends to couple was undeniably explosive. I loved that Meghan showcased different sides of Bishop. Yes, he was a protective alpha male but he was also understanding and loving. What especially drew me to this story was that Meghan beautifully weaved the sights and sounds of New Orleans in the backdrops of a romance that was taking center stage. So if you are looking for a love story that had heart, steam, suspense and passion then Beneath These Shadows is the book for you.
Meghan March
A sexy symphony of passion, suspense, and raw chemistry!!! With her trademark of unapologetically sexy romance, Meghan March continues to deliver stories that are riveting, palpable, and consuming. And in her latest installment to the Beneath Series, Meghan has readers craving for their very own, Bishop, an alpha tattooed hero in Beneath These Shadows.
“I want you. I’m not making any secret of that, but now I’m going to wait until you admit that you want me just as much.”Beneath These Shadows is the sixth book of the series but it can most definitely be read as a standalone although past characters of the series are brought back into the mix of the story. New Orleans is a city notorious for it’s nightlife. Who wouldn’t want to visit the Big Easy especially during Mardi Gras? So what happens beneath the shadows of New Orleans? Will an unlikely pair find love?
Eden Matthew has lived all her life in a protective bubble. As one of the illegitimate daughter of a notorious mob boss, Eden never got to experience freedom that is until her father’s right hand man informs her that she must go into hiding as her father is being investigated and targeted by the FBI. It is there she is informed to pack her bags and not make any contact with her father till it is safe. With a new form of identification, Eden decides to go to New Orleans.
“Eden had plowed through my walls without trying, and from the moment I’d met her, everything had become more vivid. She was the turning point. She was a wild card.”Given the fact that Eden has lived a very sheltered life, she didn’t take into account that hotels in New Orleans are booked because of Mardi Gras. So when she went walking along the streets of New Orleans, she finds herself in trouble when it became obvious that she was an easy target for criminals. Luckily for her, Bishop happens to spot Eden and rescues her before any trouble could happen. It is in that moment that Bishop finds himself helping out Eden several more times. Maybe it was her beauty or innocence that attracted Bishop to Eden but in the end, he couldn’t help but fall for her hard.
It didn’t take long for Eden and Bishop to become a couple as he found it easy to fall for her. She was sweet, simple and yet she was bold. Eden is no wallflower as she begins to spread her wings. Slowly, readers begin to see a new side to Eden. A woman learning to fly and gain her independence. But what happens when her time in New Orleans comes to an end and her return back to New York is inevitable? Will Eden discover that her wings are once again clipped? Or will this new Eden learn to soar beneath the shadows and into the light?
“The orgasm hit me so hard and so fast, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Stroke after stroke, I writhed beneath him and begged him not to stop. It was a revelation. It was everything.”Meghan March stays true to her word when she states that she writes unapologetically sexy romance because Beneath These Shadows was that and so much more. I absolutely loved Bishop and Eden’s chemistry. Their transition from friends to couple was undeniably explosive. I loved that Meghan showcased different sides of Bishop. Yes, he was a protective alpha male but he was also understanding and loving. What especially drew me to this story was that Meghan beautifully weaved the sights and sounds of New Orleans in the backdrops of a romance that was taking center stage. So if you are looking for a love story that had heart, steam, suspense and passion then Beneath These Shadows is the book for you.
Meghan March
December 7, 2016
➦This was the first book I've read from this series. It can totally be read as a standalone, by the way! The narration by Sebastian York certainly didn't hurt but the book would have been good for me even if I had to read it and not listen to it. There were books narrated by York that I have DNFed before (shocker, I know!)
➦The story is about this woman who is a daughter of this big mobster. She is sheltered all her life but dreams of traveling the world. Some shit goes down and she is required to go into hiding. A perfect opportunity to go to some place new and experience new things, right?
➦So where does she go? Well, Mardi Gras is happening so I guess New Orleans it is. She finds herself on the streets of Mardi Gras with her luggage and no place to stay, because, well, she didn't have time to book a hotel. #notsmart Not very safe either, bunch of drunks with grabby hands around.
➦Lucky her though, because hot tattoo artist to the rescue, everyone! This dude is broody and hot and a complete opposite of hers. But you know what they say... So he helps her out and they because friends. He'll show her around town, no problem. It's quite dangerous for her to go alone. Will she ever tell him who she is and what she's running from?
➦It's a pretty hot romance, I loved the characters. There were some secondary characters' appearances that made me want to read other books in the series. May be some day. :) Recommend to those who like romances with a bit of crime in them & broody tattooed bad boy heroes who don't fall in love easily.
October 27, 2016
You wanna get dirty in NOLA, cupcake?”
Give me a man bun and some tattoos, and I'm putty in your hands. Putty I tells ya!
I became an instant Meghan March fan when I first discovered her Beneath series years ago. I've been anticipating every single book like lunatic since. There's something about these books that just hits the spot so good for me. There's suspense, uber possessive alphas, sassy heroines, and a story with a little zing and a whole lot of oompf. I love them. There's a certain intensity to her writing that I've grown addicted to and I can't get enough.
Beneath These Shadows is the story of the mysterious tattoo artist Bishop. And let me tell you, I was just A LITTLE excited to finally get his book. Bishop is a man of quiet intensity and many secrets and I was dying to get to the bottom of what demons he's running from.
There's a bit of an interconnecting story line running here between Beneath and Meghan's Dirty Billionaire series. If you haven't read it, don't worry, you won't be lost. But if you have, you'll definitely appreciate the way Eden is connected to all of it.
That being said, as much as I wanted to love this story, I felt myself struggling to connect. As much as I loved Bishop, there was just not enough bits and pieces of his past to satisfy this reader. Eden was not my favorite heroine. I've loved all the heroines in this series for their strength and sass. And even when they weren't kick-ass heroines, they still have a core of strength to them. That was missing for me with Eden. She was entirely too naive and sheltered for my tastes. While I understood her motivation for some of the things she did, I also wanted to shake her to see reason. But ultimately it was that typical Meghan March sizzle and intensity that was missing from me here. There was more time spent on driving the plot than developing the characters. So while the suspense part was interesting, some of the character motivation was missing for me. I just couldn't help but feel like something was missing the entire time reading. Sure, it was sexy in a way that only this author can write, but I've come to expect more from this series. I suppose if you're looking for a sexy romance with a broody hero and a bit of suspense thrown in, this will hit the spot nicely. Unfortunately for me, it just didn't hit all the spots that the rest of the books in the series have. I'm still a huge fan and will eagerly read the next installment, because after all, you can't love them all, right?
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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December 27, 2016
Good things come to those who wait, and ever since I met Bishop in the previous books in the series I just knew that his story would be worth every bit of the anticipation. Meghan March has yet again done a great job on this sixth installment that I enjoyed a lot!
Bishop is a man-bunned, tattooed giant artist drifting from city to city to escape dangerous people from his trouble past. Now located for the time being in new-Orleans and finding solace at Voodoo Ink where he’s working, Bishop is content with his simple life. Flying under the radar is all he knows, and more than he expects.
Eden is the illegitimate daughter of an infamous New-York mob boss, Dom Casso. She grew up an outsider, sheltered from the real life. Forced to flee the imminent fall out of her father’s empire, she ends up in NOLA. On her own for the very first time in her life, Eden is scared but determined to start over a new life, and to not fail at this.
Bishop is not the kind to get involved and try to help people ever. Until the fateful day he had to save prim and proper Eden from being assaulted by some drunk men. Bishop knows trouble when he sees it, and he sees it in Eden the minute he meets her. Eden infuriated him in ways no woman ever had, yet he can't get her out of his mind.
As the temptation to have her grows deeper with each passing day, Bishop is also convinced that Eden’s running from something and he wants to know what she’s hiding behind those layers of innocence that kept drawing him in. Never before Bishop has considered the possibility of something permanent because his life hadn’t left room for it. But Eden gave him something to look forward to each day and giving him hope, and made him want to be more than what he’d become.
When Eden decided to come to New-Orleans on Mardi gras, she didn’t know what she was getting into. And nothing could have prepared her to meet fascinating, sexy and broody Bishop. The attraction between them is immediate and the more time they spend together, the more she realizes that inked man is more than what he appears, an addiction she never planned on having. Eden was supposed to be laying low, not attracting attention or rising questions while she waited for her summons. And instead she’d aroused the curiosity of a man who have the tenacity of a bulldog and who’s hell bent to discover her secrets and to be her keeper no matter what.
I enjoyed pretty much everything about this book. Bishop and Eden’s story was hot and sexy, with just the right amount of romance, drama and emotional punch. A winning formula that will find its audience in every reader who gets a thrill whenever a bad boy falls so hard for his girl, that his entire perception of life changes. The chemistry between these two was sizzling hot and I loved the way their relationship evolved. Meghan March is definitely one of my top favorite authors. All her heroes share the same strong alpha gene and It is nearly impossible not to love them all. I just can't get enough of this amazing series!. :D
Bishop is a man-bunned, tattooed giant artist drifting from city to city to escape dangerous people from his trouble past. Now located for the time being in new-Orleans and finding solace at Voodoo Ink where he’s working, Bishop is content with his simple life. Flying under the radar is all he knows, and more than he expects.
Eden is the illegitimate daughter of an infamous New-York mob boss, Dom Casso. She grew up an outsider, sheltered from the real life. Forced to flee the imminent fall out of her father’s empire, she ends up in NOLA. On her own for the very first time in her life, Eden is scared but determined to start over a new life, and to not fail at this.
Bishop is not the kind to get involved and try to help people ever. Until the fateful day he had to save prim and proper Eden from being assaulted by some drunk men. Bishop knows trouble when he sees it, and he sees it in Eden the minute he meets her. Eden infuriated him in ways no woman ever had, yet he can't get her out of his mind.
As the temptation to have her grows deeper with each passing day, Bishop is also convinced that Eden’s running from something and he wants to know what she’s hiding behind those layers of innocence that kept drawing him in. Never before Bishop has considered the possibility of something permanent because his life hadn’t left room for it. But Eden gave him something to look forward to each day and giving him hope, and made him want to be more than what he’d become.
When Eden decided to come to New-Orleans on Mardi gras, she didn’t know what she was getting into. And nothing could have prepared her to meet fascinating, sexy and broody Bishop. The attraction between them is immediate and the more time they spend together, the more she realizes that inked man is more than what he appears, an addiction she never planned on having. Eden was supposed to be laying low, not attracting attention or rising questions while she waited for her summons. And instead she’d aroused the curiosity of a man who have the tenacity of a bulldog and who’s hell bent to discover her secrets and to be her keeper no matter what.
I enjoyed pretty much everything about this book. Bishop and Eden’s story was hot and sexy, with just the right amount of romance, drama and emotional punch. A winning formula that will find its audience in every reader who gets a thrill whenever a bad boy falls so hard for his girl, that his entire perception of life changes. The chemistry between these two was sizzling hot and I loved the way their relationship evolved. Meghan March is definitely one of my top favorite authors. All her heroes share the same strong alpha gene and It is nearly impossible not to love them all. I just can't get enough of this amazing series!. :D
June 16, 2017
Second favorite book in the series. It started off super cute then started spiraling downwards. But I have to keep going, I've invested too much time and energy into this series. Lol.
LOL quote - "I was ready for more, he gave me more, I got more "
LOL quote - "I was ready for more, he gave me more, I got more "
December 28, 2016
I can't believe I waited months to read this story! I love this series and all of the characters so I have no idea how I let this book sit on my Kindle for so long without reading it. Not only am I huge fan of Meghan March but I love books set in New Orleans so I must have been going through a crazy spell since October.
In Beneath These Shadows we're introduced to Eden, a mob bosses daughter who flees to NOLA when her life is put in danger. There she's met with a series of unfortunate events that has tattoo artist Bishop saving her life on multiple occasions. The clearly too rich for his tastes woman isn't one that he would normally bother with but once he see's Eden on the streets, lost in the chaos of Mardi Gras, he knows he has to help her.
These characters had the usual Meghan March flare and I loved them for it. There were times the Eden's character and her sheltered life were a little frustrating, but Bishop saved the day and made up for it. I loved him and his protective side that came out whenever Eden was around. His broodiness just upped the sexiness level, too, and I wanted to fly down to New Orleans to find him and jump his bones.
Characters like Bishop are the one thing that make me mad at this author. Why? Because they're too damn sexy! I mean, how can I read this and not want a man like Bishop all for myself? Plus the romance was done beautifully so I never once doubted the connection that he and Eden shared. Bottom line, read this series! Or even just this book if you want, it can easily be read as a standalone.
October 25, 2016
THREE BISHOP STARS.
"I’m totally out of my league with him. He’s all tough and tattooed and way too sexy for his own good."
Whenever I start a Meghan March novel I get ready and set to find myself on the book wheel of fortune. On the one hand I can easily be found to fall straight into love with her work and give out the full five stars with ease. On the flip side sometimes I find myself not as connected as I would like. This time around I was a little underwhelmed but don't fear there was still enough for me to enjoy about this tale and with a hero as alpha as 'Bishop' it would be hard for any romance reader to not feel a little weak at the knees.
What did I like?
This series is an overall winner for me. It allows the reader to jump
Into a world that quite honestly at times is certifiably crazy. With plenty of action and a fiction story stretched to its maximum you can't accuse March of being short of the dramatics. There is entertainment by the pageful and plenty of steamy, steam to keep all those erotica junkies happy and with just enough sweet and swoon to soften those edges. March, has produced a romance book that will win over her dedicated readers and a likeable addition to this series that flows on from the rest.
Why not five?
I think this story would have had more weight behind it if was not being read as a standalone. I felt like I was missing out on some of the character interaction and I didn't feel as connected to the protagonists as I would have liked. Sadly for my tastes the book came across a tad cliched and I found myself a little disappointed in struggling to find anything original about this storyline. Overall I didn't dislike this novel I just wanted to feel a little more enthusiastic about the characters and their story. However it wasn't all a disaster I was eager to see what would become of this stories couple and I was happy to turn to the last page.
Final thoughts ...
I can always find something to like about this authors story telling. Meghan March has produced five star worthy novels in the past, sadly this time around it didn't wow me like I would have liked but I still found enough to enjoy to find myself happy to have 'met' these characters. Already established fans of this series will be glad to see the usual themes and steam that March loves to include in her story telling and I'm convinced there will be many a happy reading hours spent. Enjoy, kisses.
"I’m totally out of my league with him. He’s all tough and tattooed and way too sexy for his own good."
Whenever I start a Meghan March novel I get ready and set to find myself on the book wheel of fortune. On the one hand I can easily be found to fall straight into love with her work and give out the full five stars with ease. On the flip side sometimes I find myself not as connected as I would like. This time around I was a little underwhelmed but don't fear there was still enough for me to enjoy about this tale and with a hero as alpha as 'Bishop' it would be hard for any romance reader to not feel a little weak at the knees.
What did I like?
This series is an overall winner for me. It allows the reader to jump
Into a world that quite honestly at times is certifiably crazy. With plenty of action and a fiction story stretched to its maximum you can't accuse March of being short of the dramatics. There is entertainment by the pageful and plenty of steamy, steam to keep all those erotica junkies happy and with just enough sweet and swoon to soften those edges. March, has produced a romance book that will win over her dedicated readers and a likeable addition to this series that flows on from the rest.
Why not five?
I think this story would have had more weight behind it if was not being read as a standalone. I felt like I was missing out on some of the character interaction and I didn't feel as connected to the protagonists as I would have liked. Sadly for my tastes the book came across a tad cliched and I found myself a little disappointed in struggling to find anything original about this storyline. Overall I didn't dislike this novel I just wanted to feel a little more enthusiastic about the characters and their story. However it wasn't all a disaster I was eager to see what would become of this stories couple and I was happy to turn to the last page.
Final thoughts ...
I can always find something to like about this authors story telling. Meghan March has produced five star worthy novels in the past, sadly this time around it didn't wow me like I would have liked but I still found enough to enjoy to find myself happy to have 'met' these characters. Already established fans of this series will be glad to see the usual themes and steam that March loves to include in her story telling and I'm convinced there will be many a happy reading hours spent. Enjoy, kisses.
November 27, 2021
The man-bunned giant!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Romance: 💙💚🖤💜❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎🌍
Character development: 😳🤬😏🤓🥰
The heroine: Eden - the illegitimate daughter of the most successful mobster since the 1970’s. Eden grew up in a gilded cage in New York always dreaming of traveling the world. She had a wall in her apartment with destinations around the world and to-do lists of all the things she would do in each of the locations. So when she was sent away because things started heating up with her family, she chooses New Orleans during Mardi Gras as the place she will be hiding.
The Hero(s): Bishop - He works at Constantine’s Voodoo Tattoo shop in Nola. He is a huge tattooed monster of a guy with a man-bun and women constantly hitting on him left and right. He has always been a bit of a gypsy, moving from place to place and he is running from a past that he can’t get out of his mind.
The Story: Eden is different than all the women that constantly hit on Bishop, but for some reason he helps her out and can’t get her out of his mind. He rescues her more than once and worries about her more than he should.
This story was quite good with both Eden and Bishop hiding things about their pasts and waiting for their pasts to catch up with them. The chemistry between them was sizzling hot and the romance was great. I liked both of these characters and the loved the fact that Eden is a sweet good girl who is naïve and trusting, while Bishop is a world weary and super sexy.
The narration was terrific and done by Andi Arndt and Sebastian York as most of the other books in this series. As I have said before, these two are awesome narrators and I really like them both. This entire series has been great and I may listen to it again at some point.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Romance: 💙💚🖤💜❤️
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌎🌍🌏🌎🌍
Character development: 😳🤬😏🤓🥰
The heroine: Eden - the illegitimate daughter of the most successful mobster since the 1970’s. Eden grew up in a gilded cage in New York always dreaming of traveling the world. She had a wall in her apartment with destinations around the world and to-do lists of all the things she would do in each of the locations. So when she was sent away because things started heating up with her family, she chooses New Orleans during Mardi Gras as the place she will be hiding.
The Hero(s): Bishop - He works at Constantine’s Voodoo Tattoo shop in Nola. He is a huge tattooed monster of a guy with a man-bun and women constantly hitting on him left and right. He has always been a bit of a gypsy, moving from place to place and he is running from a past that he can’t get out of his mind.
The Story: Eden is different than all the women that constantly hit on Bishop, but for some reason he helps her out and can’t get her out of his mind. He rescues her more than once and worries about her more than he should.
This story was quite good with both Eden and Bishop hiding things about their pasts and waiting for their pasts to catch up with them. The chemistry between them was sizzling hot and the romance was great. I liked both of these characters and the loved the fact that Eden is a sweet good girl who is naïve and trusting, while Bishop is a world weary and super sexy.
The narration was terrific and done by Andi Arndt and Sebastian York as most of the other books in this series. As I have said before, these two are awesome narrators and I really like them both. This entire series has been great and I may listen to it again at some point.
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October 26, 2016
“You’ve always got a choice. It all depends on how much you’re willing to sacrifice to get what you want.”
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Who can resist a sexy alpha hero swooping in to create swoon worthy chemistry with a heroine? Beneath the shadows gives us this and more. Bishop is a brooding, talented tattoo artist covered in ink with a beard and man bun to complete his sexy look. This story has all the ingredients to ensure many romance will enjoy the sexy brooding tale of the bad boy hero falling helplessly in love with the sweet sassy girl who has more to her background than one assumes at first glance. For my personal tastes, although I enjoyed the light easy read this story offers, I found the writing to be not as succinct or organic as I prefer. Some elements felt more plot driven than depicting character motivation and I felt some aspect may have been redundant in the task of moving the story forward. That said, the plot and the affable characters, in particular the brooding hero, kept my interest until the end. I was rooting for their happy ever after and I appreciated the way this author pulled everything together in the last 20%, showcasing the layers and links that weaved light suspenseful nuances throughout this romance, giving me a truly satisfying conclusion to the story.
Beneath These Shadows is a STANDALONE romance set in the world of the Beneath series. You DO NOT have to read any other books in the series to enjoy it.
Advance copy provided for my honest review thoughts
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November 28, 2016I guess I need to create a shelf for "heroine is an absolute fucking idiot"
The heroine was an absolutely fucking TSTL dumbass. I wanted to slap her across the face for being such a pathetic damsel in distress. These are some of my least favorite types of heroines. I can't stand the stumbling, blushing, bimbo of a heroine that's so innocent she can't even use common sense.
Couldn't even bother finishing and stopped at 28%. Lets not even get into the disgusting graphic scene of the H/h walking into a hotel room where two girls were fingering each other and waiting for the H.
No, I don't find it sexy when authors throw whores into the book to show how desirable the hero is. It doesn't make me squee with delight that he asked them to leave it makes me want to vomit. All I'm imagining is his syphilis infested dick from all his years of banging sluts. We are NOT swooning over how he picks the simple heroine over "bombshell" whores. It's disgusting. PLEASE STOP DOING THAT.
The heroine was an absolutely fucking TSTL dumbass. I wanted to slap her across the face for being such a pathetic damsel in distress. These are some of my least favorite types of heroines. I can't stand the stumbling, blushing, bimbo of a heroine that's so innocent she can't even use common sense.
Couldn't even bother finishing and stopped at 28%. Lets not even get into the disgusting graphic scene of the H/h walking into a hotel room where two girls were fingering each other and waiting for the H.
No, I don't find it sexy when authors throw whores into the book to show how desirable the hero is. It doesn't make me squee with delight that he asked them to leave it makes me want to vomit. All I'm imagining is his syphilis infested dick from all his years of banging sluts. We are NOT swooning over how he picks the simple heroine over "bombshell" whores. It's disgusting. PLEASE STOP DOING THAT.
December 20, 2021
As if I couldn’t love this series any more, she goes and drops this bomb on me. First off, that cover? Holy hell. 🤤Second, what an amazing and adorable love story! I was chuckling all the way through and even shed some happy tears. Highly recommend. It’s technically a stand alone from the Beneath Series BUT I think you get more out of it by reading all the books prior to this one. 🖤
January 24, 2018
Beneath These Shadows is the sixth book in the Beneath Series, but it is a standalone and can be read without missing a beat. I typically don’t like reading out of order, but sometimes it just can’t be helped. I can say that after reading this, I just want to read the entire series to get the dirt on the many characters that I got a chance to meet. And I’m going to be doing just that. Five books, one week? I think I can do it ;)
I am not a new reader to March, but I feel like I’m always so darn surprised when I read one of her books. In BTS, Eden is escaping New York on orders from her father and finds herself in New Orleans. Ready to finally live a little and explore this new found freedom. But showing up in the midst of Mardi Gras makes this exploration a bit more difficult and just a tad bit unsafe.
Enter Bishop. A tattoo artist, beard-man-bun having hulk of a man. He’s not the kind of man to put down roots and he’s still trying to outrun his past when he spies a woman far too innocent to be alone on the streets in the midst of a mob. Bishop isn’t anyone’s knight in shining armor but there is something about Eden that screams PROTECT.
I am a sucker for an alpha man (with issues) that gives into the instinct to claim and protect. And it’s even better when they fight those instincts just to fail over and over again. And Bishop pinged all the must haves in an alpha hero. He was perfect.
I loved the way this story wove these two characters together. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of all the other characters who came first without being told too much. Too many times in these standalone series the author gives away EVERYTHING about the co-staring characters, but March flawlessly teases you, making you want to instantly get your hands on their books.
So let’s just get to the sexy times. Holy-SHIT. Between the ‘get the list’ done scene at the pub and the way that Bishop took total charge – I was a goner. I needed a fan to cool me off while reading this. Bishop was intense in his everyday life and that carried into the bedroom. Because let’s be honest, an alpha in the streets is just an asshole if he can’t pull it off between the sheets. And Bishop was all the things.
Beneath These Shadows was a fast paced suspenseful romance that had me white knuckling my Kindle as I devoured the pages. A thrilling ride in the Big Easy with complex characters and a plot that kept you guessing at every turn. I can’t wait to start the other books in this series!
January 29, 2018
Another 3-star book in the series
Here is what I think about Book 6 in short:
- I liked the hero, Bishop – not loved him as much as I loved Simon and Con, though, or not as much as I loved Lord.
Yeah yeah, he had a man-bun, that was the allure for me for sure 😊
And I may have liked his protective caveman mode but I am definitely not admitting that!
People stepped out of my unlikely rescuer’s way as though he were a force of nature unto himself. He was a man-bunned, tattooed giant. A man-bunned, tattooed giant who had saved me from being assaulted by drunk, grabby men.
***********************************************
- As for the heroine, I don't have the same warm feelings. I sometimes wanted to beat the sense out of Eden. She was ultra-naïve and sometimes annoying.
She had a sweet innocent side, too, I should add.
The fact that she was practically virgin bothered me. (She had sex only one time when she lost her virginity and it was lame). I also didn't like it when Bishop said how much he liked her innocence. It rubbed me the wrong way.
Also, I disliked Eden when she did slut-shaming on the girls who Bishop had a one-night-stand before. That wasn’t cool.
The writer pushes too many exes into Bishop's way to create an ex drama and at a certain point I was yelling, “OK, enough is enough, I understand he is the guy everyone wanted but couldn’t keep; don’t rub it in my face anymore than necessary - or in Eden's face!”
Oh, and the way all those exes ignored or humiliated Eden was also not cool!
***********************************************
- The plotline was just OK – two people from different parts of the world meet and fall in love and then, their whole life story comes in a circle, binding them in an interesting way.
Add Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans, the mobs and the Feds to the story and you have a mixed cocktail !
***********************************************
- The insta-lust/love was a bit too insta for me. And I couldn’t feel it. In some books, the sexual tension and the strong emotions are strongly felt through the pages but not in this one, not at least for me…
And I just couldn’t understand what Bishop found in Eden so that he changed from "the brooding and aloof guy with the principle of no-relationships" to "the possessive man whose caveman mode was turned on"! It was all of a sudden as soon as he saw her.
***********************************************
- The characters from the previous books made the most appearances in this book. They even went on a “rescue mission” altogether (Ocean’s Eleven style!)
***********************************************
All in all, this book was just OK, I may have liked parts of it but surely, I didn't love it as much as I loved Book 1 or 2.
Here is what I think about Book 6 in short:
- I liked the hero, Bishop – not loved him as much as I loved Simon and Con, though, or not as much as I loved Lord.
Yeah yeah, he had a man-bun, that was the allure for me for sure 😊
And I may have liked his protective caveman mode but I am definitely not admitting that!
People stepped out of my unlikely rescuer’s way as though he were a force of nature unto himself. He was a man-bunned, tattooed giant. A man-bunned, tattooed giant who had saved me from being assaulted by drunk, grabby men.
***********************************************
- As for the heroine, I don't have the same warm feelings. I sometimes wanted to beat the sense out of Eden. She was ultra-naïve and sometimes annoying.
She had a sweet innocent side, too, I should add.
The fact that she was practically virgin bothered me. (She had sex only one time when she lost her virginity and it was lame). I also didn't like it when Bishop said how much he liked her innocence. It rubbed me the wrong way.
Also, I disliked Eden when she did slut-shaming on the girls who Bishop had a one-night-stand before. That wasn’t cool.
The writer pushes too many exes into Bishop's way to create an ex drama and at a certain point I was yelling, “OK, enough is enough, I understand he is the guy everyone wanted but couldn’t keep; don’t rub it in my face anymore than necessary - or in Eden's face!”
Oh, and the way all those exes ignored or humiliated Eden was also not cool!
***********************************************
- The plotline was just OK – two people from different parts of the world meet and fall in love and then, their whole life story comes in a circle, binding them in an interesting way.
Add Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans, the mobs and the Feds to the story and you have a mixed cocktail !
***********************************************
- The insta-lust/love was a bit too insta for me. And I couldn’t feel it. In some books, the sexual tension and the strong emotions are strongly felt through the pages but not in this one, not at least for me…
And I just couldn’t understand what Bishop found in Eden so that he changed from "the brooding and aloof guy with the principle of no-relationships" to "the possessive man whose caveman mode was turned on"! It was all of a sudden as soon as he saw her.
***********************************************
- The characters from the previous books made the most appearances in this book. They even went on a “rescue mission” altogether (Ocean’s Eleven style!)
***********************************************
All in all, this book was just OK, I may have liked parts of it but surely, I didn't love it as much as I loved Book 1 or 2.
November 9, 2024
Бишъп и Ейдън Матюс
"Под тези сенки" в Читанка
Ех, доживях да дам на тази поредица засложени 5*****. Честно казано, не се бях замисляла, че първите книги от поредицата са и първи книги за авторката и тогава още не е била развила страхотния си стил, който сега обожавам. Тъй като чета книгите разбъркано, първо 1-ва, после 2-ра, след това 6-та и сега съм на 3-та, между първите две и шестата градацията на авторката е огромна. От страхотния й стил започват да се забелязват наченки и в 3-та книга, но за нея друг път.
Тааа. Ейдън Матюс е незаконна дъщеря на мафиотския бос Доминик Кассо. Който е чел "Порочен милиардер" и "Порочно момиче" веднага ще направи връзката, кой е баща й, и съответно кои са братята й ;) Та, винаги закриляна от баща си, който не й отделя много от вниманието си, Ейдън е живяла в позлатена клетка през целият си живот. Не й е позволено да има приятели, да излиза свободно да прави каквото и да е. Дори елементарни неща, като да отиде сама до магазина за нея са напълно забранени. Тя живее в малкия си изолиран свят, гледайки през прозореца как останалите хора живеят. Затова, след като в мафиотското семейство настава раздор, и баща й иска Ейдън да е далеч, докато борбата за власт не утихне, тя получава шанса си да разпери криле. Да живее, да отмята точки от купчината списъци, които си е правила. Така тя се оказва в Ню Орлянс, точно преди Марди Гра.
Меко казано нашето вечно закриляно птиче има доста проблеми, сблъсква се с какво ли не, и в този нов, цветен, малко страшен и много луд свят, тя открива един мъж, за който дори не е смеела да мечтае.
Бишъп е вълк единак. Той е грамаден, татиуран брадат мечок, който не обича много да общува с хора, въпреки, че професията му на татуировчик го принуждава да го прави. Той е мъж, който не пуска корени, който никога не се задържа дълго на едно място. Докато не среща една дребна, русокоса красавица, която е въплъщение на всичко, което той смята, че не заслужава. Нежна, наивна, очевидно богата и закриляна, той смята да стои колкото се може по-далеч от нея, но Ейдън непрестанно се забърква в какво ли не, и след като я спасява няколко пъти, Бишъп не може просто с лека ръка да й обърна гръб. Той изпитва невероятна нужда да я закриля, без значение дали тя иска да бъде закриляна или не.
Честно казано, въпреки, че съм чела първите 2 книги от тях не успях да добия особено голяма представа за Ню Орлянс. Тук обаче, все едно бях там. Града показан през очите на един екзалтиран турист, какъвто беше Ейдън, ме накара да се почувствам, че и аз съм там, че вървя по улиците на Френския Квартал или гледам парадите организирани за Марди Гра.
Обикнах Бишъп, който бе сладък, грижовен. Смеех се с глас на начина по който жените му се натискаха, а той се чудеше как да се отърве то тях. Бях съпричастна на дилемите и борбата му. А Ейдън бе толкова щастливо слънчево и объркано момиче. Обожавах как като се засрамеше започваше да бъбри без спир, обичах еуфорията й от всичко ново, дори малките обикновени неща които я караха да бъде щастлива правиха и мен щастлива.
Края не го очаквах. В смисъл, такова развитие, представях си всичко по коренно различен начин. Мегън отново ме изненада с въображението си. Това, което не харесах бе, че не се спомена много за батковците на Ейдън. Защо ги нямаше батковците. Да се появят да й ударят едно рамо да й метнат някой милион. Щеше де приятно. Ама нищо, и така книгата си е пълна 5-ца <3 <3 <3
"Под тези сенки" в Читанка
Ех, доживях да дам на тази поредица засложени 5*****. Честно казано, не се бях замисляла, че първите книги от поредицата са и първи книги за авторката и тогава още не е била развила страхотния си стил, който сега обожавам. Тъй като чета книгите разбъркано, първо 1-ва, после 2-ра, след това 6-та и сега съм на 3-та, между първите две и шестата градацията на авторката е огромна. От страхотния й стил започват да се забелязват наченки и в 3-та книга, но за нея друг път.
Тааа. Ейдън Матюс е незаконна дъщеря на мафиотския бос Доминик Кассо. Който е чел "Порочен милиардер" и "Порочно момиче" веднага ще направи връзката, кой е баща й, и съответно кои са братята й ;) Та, винаги закриляна от баща си, който не й отделя много от вниманието си, Ейдън е живяла в позлатена клетка през целият си живот. Не й е позволено да има приятели, да излиза свободно да прави каквото и да е. Дори елементарни неща, като да отиде сама до магазина за нея са напълно забранени. Тя живее в малкия си изолиран свят, гледайки през прозореца как останалите хора живеят. Затова, след като в мафиотското семейство настава раздор, и баща й иска Ейдън да е далеч, докато борбата за власт не утихне, тя получава шанса си да разпери криле. Да живее, да отмята точки от купчината списъци, които си е правила. Така тя се оказва в Ню Орлянс, точно преди Марди Гра.
Меко казано нашето вечно закриляно птиче има доста проблеми, сблъсква се с какво ли не, и в този нов, цветен, малко страшен и много луд свят, тя открива един мъж, за който дори не е смеела да мечтае.
Бишъп е вълк единак. Той е грамаден, татиуран брадат мечок, който не обича много да общува с хора, въпреки, че професията му на татуировчик го принуждава да го прави. Той е мъж, който не пуска корени, който никога не се задържа дълго на едно място. Докато не среща една дребна, русокоса красавица, която е въплъщение на всичко, което той смята, че не заслужава. Нежна, наивна, очевидно богата и закриляна, той смята да стои колкото се може по-далеч от нея, но Ейдън непрестанно се забърква в какво ли не, и след като я спасява няколко пъти, Бишъп не може просто с лека ръка да й обърна гръб. Той изпитва невероятна нужда да я закриля, без значение дали тя иска да бъде закриляна или не.
Честно казано, въпреки, че съм чела първите 2 книги от тях не успях да добия особено голяма представа за Ню Орлянс. Тук обаче, все едно бях там. Града показан през очите на един екзалтиран турист, какъвто беше Ейдън, ме накара да се почувствам, че и аз съм там, че вървя по улиците на Френския Квартал или гледам парадите организирани за Марди Гра.
Обикнах Бишъп, който бе сладък, грижовен. Смеех се с глас на начина по който жените му се натискаха, а той се чудеше как да се отърве то тях. Бях съпричастна на дилемите и борбата му. А Ейдън бе толкова щастливо слънчево и объркано момиче. Обожавах как като се засрамеше започваше да бъбри без спир, обичах еуфорията й от всичко ново, дори малките обикновени неща които я караха да бъде щастлива правиха и мен щастлива.
Края не го очаквах. В смисъл, такова развитие, представях си всичко по коренно различен начин. Мегън отново ме изненада с въображението си. Това, което не харесах бе, че не се спомена много за батковците на Ейдън. Защо ги нямаше батковците. Да се появят да й ударят едно рамо да й метнат някой милион. Щеше де приятно. Ама нищо, и така книгата си е пълна 5-ца <3 <3 <3
October 27, 2016
This is my first book by the author and I was pleasantly surprised. I loved that the story was set in New Orleans and was intrigued by the background of Bishop and Eden. There was a nice slow burn surrounding the characters which drove the story nicely.
Bishop is a tattoo artist and manages Voodoo Ink. He has secrets and has never wanted to settle with anyone. Eden is temporarily relocated in New Orleans. She has secrets and should lay low but she's in New Orleans during Mardi Gras and she wants to live a little. So these two meet and have a connection. They are total opposites- Bishop is inked and broody and Eden is sweet and naive- but it works for them. But with secret, they eventually come out and usually chaos follows.
I loved that this story also included family and friends that have a connection with Bishop. They are there to help with these two and it was a part of the story that created a family component that I adore in stories. It definitely makes me want to read the stories prior to this book.
I found the story flowed well, I liked the beginning and loved when Eden and Bishop finally got together and then the ending turned a little wild and crazy. The story is told in his and her POV which is always an added bonus to get into the heads of both characters. Overall, I liked the story. I will definitely read more Meghan March in the future.
*advanced copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
April 13, 2021
5 Stars ⭐
From where I'm going to start, this book stole my heart from chapter one! Bishop and Eden become my favorite couple from this series! I still have one book left, and then I will say goodbye to this world, and I hope it will be as wonderful as this one!
So this book is about the couple that I already mentioned. The story began when the father of Eden, the head of a powerful mafia in New York decided to send her away to protect her because the shit went down in his world! Eden always wanted to go to New Orleans, so of course, she ended up there where she met Bishop, our hero! And Eden had to keep her identity a secret so no one can find her!
The Characters:
Eden:
I think I'm in love with her! She is just so cute and innocent for her own good. She has been sheltered for her whole life, because of the danger that she can be through. So, she knows nothing about the real world! I think this is what drew me to her!
Her desire to finally get free, independent, and to take care of herself even though she was close to being hurt so many times fascinated me! I think if I was her, I just stay home and never go out! TBH, there were moments where she annoyed the hell out of me, but I felt like her actions were excusable, taking into consideration her situation.
Bishop:
Nothing makes me melt as a possessive and protective man. He was there for Eden from the first time he ever met her! His instinct to protect her light up from the first moment he saw her!
He has his own demons and secrets from his past that kept him unease and moving from city to city, but he was willing to fight them for her, and just this fact made my heart full! Besides, who am I not to love a man with a beard, abs, long hair, and tattoos?
The plot was so good, I didn't get bored at all, I was excited about everything to come! The connection between Bishop and Eden was heartwarming!
This book showed the real meaning of love and true friendship. I loved the appearance of the couples from the previous books. It added so much to the book! I have no word to describe my feelings when I was reading about how much they supported each other! They welcomed Eden and made her a part of their family! And they helped Bishop when he needed them!
I'm not jealous! Not at all!!
This book left me content and happy! And I adored the ending so much!
I think this book became my favorite book by this author!
From where I'm going to start, this book stole my heart from chapter one! Bishop and Eden become my favorite couple from this series! I still have one book left, and then I will say goodbye to this world, and I hope it will be as wonderful as this one!
So this book is about the couple that I already mentioned. The story began when the father of Eden, the head of a powerful mafia in New York decided to send her away to protect her because the shit went down in his world! Eden always wanted to go to New Orleans, so of course, she ended up there where she met Bishop, our hero! And Eden had to keep her identity a secret so no one can find her!
The Characters:
Eden:
I think I'm in love with her! She is just so cute and innocent for her own good. She has been sheltered for her whole life, because of the danger that she can be through. So, she knows nothing about the real world! I think this is what drew me to her!
Her desire to finally get free, independent, and to take care of herself even though she was close to being hurt so many times fascinated me! I think if I was her, I just stay home and never go out! TBH, there were moments where she annoyed the hell out of me, but I felt like her actions were excusable, taking into consideration her situation.
Bishop:
Nothing makes me melt as a possessive and protective man. He was there for Eden from the first time he ever met her! His instinct to protect her light up from the first moment he saw her!
He has his own demons and secrets from his past that kept him unease and moving from city to city, but he was willing to fight them for her, and just this fact made my heart full! Besides, who am I not to love a man with a beard, abs, long hair, and tattoos?
“You down with that? You wanna get dirty in NOLA, cupcake?”
The plot was so good, I didn't get bored at all, I was excited about everything to come! The connection between Bishop and Eden was heartwarming!
This book showed the real meaning of love and true friendship. I loved the appearance of the couples from the previous books. It added so much to the book! I have no word to describe my feelings when I was reading about how much they supported each other! They welcomed Eden and made her a part of their family! And they helped Bishop when he needed them!
“There’s no way in hell we’re sending you into this without backup."
“Yeah, I’m definitely going to have to go shopping.”
He pulled me into him and squeezed me tight. “I think your girls would be more than happy to help you with that.”
My girls.
My man.
My life.
My everything."
I'm not jealous! Not at all!!
This book left me content and happy! And I adored the ending so much!
I think this book became my favorite book by this author!
“For now?” He laughed. “Fuck that. With Eden, it’s all about forever.”
November 12, 2016
3.5 stars
What I love best about the characters in Meghan March's Beneath series is how down-to-earth they are and this story is no different! The heroine was adorably sweet and the NOLA setting with all of the captivating descriptions made me feel like I was there for Mardi Gras, too! I loved how the author lightly incorporated the mafia element into this story, but the quick way in which the hero developed such hardcore feelings for the heroine wasn't believable to me and the ending wrapped up too quickly and neatly. Overall, this was still an enjoyable read.
What I love best about the characters in Meghan March's Beneath series is how down-to-earth they are and this story is no different! The heroine was adorably sweet and the NOLA setting with all of the captivating descriptions made me feel like I was there for Mardi Gras, too! I loved how the author lightly incorporated the mafia element into this story, but the quick way in which the hero developed such hardcore feelings for the heroine wasn't believable to me and the ending wrapped up too quickly and neatly. Overall, this was still an enjoyable read.
November 16, 2016
Needing to escape her life in New York, Eden Matthews takes a one-way flight to New Orleans. She arrives in the city with only her luggage. She has no hotel reservation and it’s the week before Mardi Gras. It doesn’t take long for her to run into a bit of trouble, but luckily she’s saved by a sexy tattooed giant. Bishop is immediately intrigued by the innocent newcomer. He tries to deny her effects on him, but he can’t deny his need to protect her.
What I liked: Meghan March writes some of the sexiest alpha heroes I’ve ever read and Bishop is no exception. She had me hooked at his description - Huge, tattooed, and sporting a man-bun. Yep, that’s all I needed. This is a fast-paced read that’s full of action. We can always count on Meghan to deliver squirm worthy steamy scenes. She did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the appearances from all the couples of the previous Beneath books.
What didn’t work for me: I didn’t connect with the heroine, Eden Mathews. I found her to be naïve and immature. I really struggled with her stumbling into mishap after mishap while sight-seeing in New Orleans. After finishing the book, I get how those scenes played into the storyline. However, while reading it I was annoyed. I absolutely love New Orleans, so that’s totally on me. I also struggled with both the main characters hiding behind their secrets throughout most of the story.
Audiobook review: Sebastian York and Andi Arndt are a dynamic duo of awesomeness! They did an exceptional job narrating this dual POV novel. I would recommend the audiobook version.
Overall, the book is entertaining and the narration is exceptional. It just didn’t click with me on all levels. I rate it 3.5 stars
What I liked: Meghan March writes some of the sexiest alpha heroes I’ve ever read and Bishop is no exception. She had me hooked at his description - Huge, tattooed, and sporting a man-bun. Yep, that’s all I needed. This is a fast-paced read that’s full of action. We can always count on Meghan to deliver squirm worthy steamy scenes. She did not disappoint. I absolutely loved the appearances from all the couples of the previous Beneath books.
What didn’t work for me: I didn’t connect with the heroine, Eden Mathews. I found her to be naïve and immature. I really struggled with her stumbling into mishap after mishap while sight-seeing in New Orleans. After finishing the book, I get how those scenes played into the storyline. However, while reading it I was annoyed. I absolutely love New Orleans, so that’s totally on me. I also struggled with both the main characters hiding behind their secrets throughout most of the story.
Audiobook review: Sebastian York and Andi Arndt are a dynamic duo of awesomeness! They did an exceptional job narrating this dual POV novel. I would recommend the audiobook version.
Overall, the book is entertaining and the narration is exceptional. It just didn’t click with me on all levels. I rate it 3.5 stars
January 10, 2017
I love this whole series and I have never been disappointed by any one of the books and their Alpha males. This story follows a Mob boss's daughter Eden who flees to New Orleans to lay low while he is under investigation and there she bumps into Bishop a sexy alpha who works as a tattooist and has a few secrets of his own. The story line is addictive, the characters are lovable and it also includes other characters from previous books. And to top it all off you have 2 of the best narrators in the business, Andi Arndt and Sebastian York who always bring a story to life.
November 6, 2016
3.5 stars
Sweet, light read with not much drama. Review to come
Sweet, light read with not much drama. Review to come
April 26, 2019
I am not stranger to romance book with mafia suspense. This is second book by miss March. I like this book OK. The story of damsel in distress who got saved by brooding alpha male. A very sexy alpha male with man bun.
I think the story is too dragging between Eden and Bishop. I know Miss March wants to build and develop her characters, but its just to dragging. And the characters end up bit boring.
3 stars
I think the story is too dragging between Eden and Bishop. I know Miss March wants to build and develop her characters, but its just to dragging. And the characters end up bit boring.
3 stars
October 30, 2025
UPDATED with new info and additional read dates.
Eden Matthews (24, clueless) needs to hide out for a bit while her mob boss dad is being investigated by the FBI, and what better place to do that than New Orleans? Unfortunately, Eden didn’t have a chance to plan ahead, so she ends up landing in NOLA during Mardi Gras with absolutely no hotels in sight. As she roams the streets trying to figure out her next steps, she finds a dick in her hand, and then a sexy man-bunned, tattooed giant steps in to save the day.
Bishop (33, tattoo artist) has been laying low in NOLA for the last ten years, hiding from a complicated past. He has absolutely no desire to hook up with anyone, so when a naïve country club girl crashes into his life, he’s eager to get rid of her. After helping her find temporary accommodation, he’s willing to walk away, but the girl keeps popping up. When their lips meet for the first time at the 32% mark, that boy is knocked on his ass!!! He still tries to keep away, but he's fighting a losing battle at this point.
Mardi Gras, skinny dipping, Bourbon Street, beads, hurricanes, cemeteries, secret identities, coffee, ink, invasion of privacy, rescues, and an HFN.
SEX: JFC we’re forced to wait way too long for this. They don’t get dirty until the 61% mark!!! WTF is MM trying to do to us?!?! It’s not even good! It’s less than a one pump chump! And again, stupid freaking condoms!! BUT…. At the 74% mark they start fucking without condoms. Yay!! Also on the plus side, she rides his beard. That’s always a win!
EDEN: She’s ok for the most part, other than the girl is always tripping over a crack in the sidewalk. Damn! The main thing that pissed me off, besides keeping her identity a secret for so long, is the scene with the gambling. I think she was very insensitive and tried to flex her independence for a stupid reason. When you’re in a relationship, you compromise, and I don’t feel like she put forth enough effort to do that.
CROSSOVER: Eden’s dad is Dominic Casso. He’s also a small player in the Dirty Billionaire trilogy, a big player in the Dirty Girl duet, and a really big player in the Dirty Mafia duet. Eden & Bishop appear briefly in that book.
CLIPPED WINGS: There’s a FanFic by Helena Hunting called “Clipped Wings & Inked Armor” (later published with a similar title with all of the good stuff edited out), and there are a couple of things in this book that made me think of Clipped Wings. Both MMCs are tattoo artists. In Clipped Wings, the FMC is obsessed with cupcakes. This book the MMC calls the FMC “cupcake”. I didn’t think much of those things by themselves, until I read this line, “I don’t do clipped wings. Not anymore.”. That line right there made me think there was some inspiration taken from the other book. Those are the only things that are similar, so it’s really not a big deal. I just thought I’d mention it in case anyone else caught that, as well. Also, if you get a chance to read the original FanFic of Clipped Wings & Inked Armor, do it. It's so fucking good. I don't know who the fuck pressured Helena Hunting into butchering her book, but they should be unalived.
AUDIO: This is mostly Eden’s POV, and our girl Andi Arndt is still narrating. Sexy man Sebastian York narrates for Bishop and he’s a perfect fit, it’s just too bad there isn’t more of him. Sadly, this isn’t a duet.
“You make me feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life to meet you. Like everything was in a holding pattern until I got here, and now I’m finally getting a chance to live.”
Eden Matthews (24, clueless) needs to hide out for a bit while her mob boss dad is being investigated by the FBI, and what better place to do that than New Orleans? Unfortunately, Eden didn’t have a chance to plan ahead, so she ends up landing in NOLA during Mardi Gras with absolutely no hotels in sight. As she roams the streets trying to figure out her next steps, she finds a dick in her hand, and then a sexy man-bunned, tattooed giant steps in to save the day.
“You were the first one to walk into Voodoo who I didn’t want to see walk out. If I could’ve, I would’ve dragged you up to my apartment and stripped you naked and tossed you onto my bed….. some things are worth waiting for, and you’re one of them.”
Bishop (33, tattoo artist) has been laying low in NOLA for the last ten years, hiding from a complicated past. He has absolutely no desire to hook up with anyone, so when a naïve country club girl crashes into his life, he’s eager to get rid of her. After helping her find temporary accommodation, he’s willing to walk away, but the girl keeps popping up. When their lips meet for the first time at the 32% mark, that boy is knocked on his ass!!! He still tries to keep away, but he's fighting a losing battle at this point.
“You make everything I’ve walked past a hundred times seem new again. It’s like I’m seeing it through your eyes, and the world is a hell of a lot brighter that way. You make me happy, Eden.”
Mardi Gras, skinny dipping, Bourbon Street, beads, hurricanes, cemeteries, secret identities, coffee, ink, invasion of privacy, rescues, and an HFN.
“……you don’t have a fucking choice anymore, Eden. You’re mine. I don’t have much, but what’s mine I keep. I protect. I don’t ever let it go. I’ve been waiting for you my whole fucking life, and I didn’t have a clue.”
SEX: JFC we’re forced to wait way too long for this. They don’t get dirty until the 61% mark!!! WTF is MM trying to do to us?!?! It’s not even good! It’s less than a one pump chump! And again, stupid freaking condoms!! BUT…. At the 74% mark they start fucking without condoms. Yay!! Also on the plus side, she rides his beard. That’s always a win!
EDEN: She’s ok for the most part, other than the girl is always tripping over a crack in the sidewalk. Damn! The main thing that pissed me off, besides keeping her identity a secret for so long, is the scene with the gambling. I think she was very insensitive and tried to flex her independence for a stupid reason. When you’re in a relationship, you compromise, and I don’t feel like she put forth enough effort to do that.
CROSSOVER: Eden’s dad is Dominic Casso. He’s also a small player in the Dirty Billionaire trilogy, a big player in the Dirty Girl duet, and a really big player in the Dirty Mafia duet. Eden & Bishop appear briefly in that book.
CLIPPED WINGS: There’s a FanFic by Helena Hunting called “Clipped Wings & Inked Armor” (later published with a similar title with all of the good stuff edited out), and there are a couple of things in this book that made me think of Clipped Wings. Both MMCs are tattoo artists. In Clipped Wings, the FMC is obsessed with cupcakes. This book the MMC calls the FMC “cupcake”. I didn’t think much of those things by themselves, until I read this line, “I don’t do clipped wings. Not anymore.”. That line right there made me think there was some inspiration taken from the other book. Those are the only things that are similar, so it’s really not a big deal. I just thought I’d mention it in case anyone else caught that, as well. Also, if you get a chance to read the original FanFic of Clipped Wings & Inked Armor, do it. It's so fucking good. I don't know who the fuck pressured Helena Hunting into butchering her book, but they should be unalived.
AUDIO: This is mostly Eden’s POV, and our girl Andi Arndt is still narrating. Sexy man Sebastian York narrates for Bishop and he’s a perfect fit, it’s just too bad there isn’t more of him. Sadly, this isn’t a duet.
December 27, 2016
4.5 Stars "The Tattoo Artist Saves the Mob Boss' Daughter" Stars!
Source: Library-loan.
Source: Library-loan.
November 15, 2016
4 "You wanna get dirty in NOLA, cupcake" stars
Oh yes we get a hot, tatted man-bun alpha!
Enjoyed being brought back to Voodoo Ink along with the rest of the gang.
Oh yes we get a hot, tatted man-bun alpha!
Enjoyed being brought back to Voodoo Ink along with the rest of the gang.
October 14, 2016
I love me a grumpy hero, add tattoos, a beard and a man bun and swooning commences. I loved Bishop all that bad attitude, badass, possessive alpha thing he had going on. I also absolutely adored Eden, her strength and how sassy she was. I really enjoyed watching these two fall for each other and seeing couples from previous books. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.
ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review
ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review
February 7, 2024
DE BR SPECIAL Feb 2024
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My Least Favorite
3.24 Stars
While I love Meghan March and she is a new discovery for me, I really didn't care for the last half of this story. Here's a list of my problems;
#1. Very long winded. It needed to be shortened a great deal. To many words that went no where.
#2. Eden & Bishop never really trusted each other with their secrets throughout the ENTIRE story.
#3. Excruciating Slow Moving.
#4. No real action or suspense until around 75%. The steam does pick up around 48 or 50%. But the relationship is full of problems. Lack of trust and opening up to each other NEVER happens.
#5. The last 25% felt rushed and VERY unbelievable.
I was loving the story until around 45%. The situations Eden finds herself in added humor and dimension to her character and also Bishop's. But when things should have really started happening we got stonewalled by their refusal to open up to each other. And by this time we should have more action happening. Something to sink our teeth in.
Apparently the situations Eden found herself in was a part of what was really going on but we as readers never knew that. It wasn't even alluded to that there was anything nefarious happening.
So, the 3 stars is for the first 45%.
The lack of action, suspense and relationship building AND the incredibly unrealistic ending cost this story 2 stars.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
My Least Favorite
3.24 Stars
While I love Meghan March and she is a new discovery for me, I really didn't care for the last half of this story. Here's a list of my problems;
#1. Very long winded. It needed to be shortened a great deal. To many words that went no where.
#2. Eden & Bishop never really trusted each other with their secrets throughout the ENTIRE story.
#3. Excruciating Slow Moving.
#4. No real action or suspense until around 75%. The steam does pick up around 48 or 50%. But the relationship is full of problems. Lack of trust and opening up to each other NEVER happens.
#5. The last 25% felt rushed and VERY unbelievable.
I was loving the story until around 45%. The situations Eden finds herself in added humor and dimension to her character and also Bishop's. But when things should have really started happening we got stonewalled by their refusal to open up to each other. And by this time we should have more action happening. Something to sink our teeth in.
Apparently the situations Eden found herself in was a part of what was really going on but we as readers never knew that. It wasn't even alluded to that there was anything nefarious happening.
So, the 3 stars is for the first 45%.
The lack of action, suspense and relationship building AND the incredibly unrealistic ending cost this story 2 stars.
October 25, 2016
Java Girl's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4.5 stars
Thanks, Meghan March! Bishop was such a minor character, working at Voodoo Ink, I didn't even realize I needed to know him better. It never occurred to me how much more there was to this man, or how much I would LOVE his story. So, thank you for recognizing his story needed to be told.
At first glance, Bishop and Eden shouldn't work together, they're the very definition of opposite. He's cynical, taciturn, and a little scary. Eden is innocent, shy, friendly, and open. Watching her stretch her fledgling wings, experiencing independence and freedom for the first time was so much fun--even when some of those attempts went awry. There's certainly nothing innocent about Bishop, a man with a past who hasn't let himself consider putting down roots. Eden and Bishop bring out hidden, or maybe, long-buried hopes and dreams for the future. Watching them navigate their budding relationship was sweet, funny, and crazy, sexy, hot! Both have secrets they're unable to share, and it would have been easy (and predictable) to use these secrets as an obstacle or conflict, and I'm so grateful that Ms. March didn't go in that direction. I found both backstories to be intriguing and heartbreaking, with more than a hint of danger. The story took a couple of twists and turns I wasn't expecting, but they worked perfectly and all the pieces fell neatly into place. I love when that happens!
Other fans of the Beneath series will probably be as excited as I was to catch up with old friends from previous books, but I don't think it's necessary to have read the first five books, or the Dirty Billionaire or Dirty Girl series (there is a series crossover) in order to enjoy Beneath These Shadows, but I'd recommend them because they're great, y’all!
Review copy provided for an honest review.
4.5 stars
Thanks, Meghan March! Bishop was such a minor character, working at Voodoo Ink, I didn't even realize I needed to know him better. It never occurred to me how much more there was to this man, or how much I would LOVE his story. So, thank you for recognizing his story needed to be told.
At first glance, Bishop and Eden shouldn't work together, they're the very definition of opposite. He's cynical, taciturn, and a little scary. Eden is innocent, shy, friendly, and open. Watching her stretch her fledgling wings, experiencing independence and freedom for the first time was so much fun--even when some of those attempts went awry. There's certainly nothing innocent about Bishop, a man with a past who hasn't let himself consider putting down roots. Eden and Bishop bring out hidden, or maybe, long-buried hopes and dreams for the future. Watching them navigate their budding relationship was sweet, funny, and crazy, sexy, hot! Both have secrets they're unable to share, and it would have been easy (and predictable) to use these secrets as an obstacle or conflict, and I'm so grateful that Ms. March didn't go in that direction. I found both backstories to be intriguing and heartbreaking, with more than a hint of danger. The story took a couple of twists and turns I wasn't expecting, but they worked perfectly and all the pieces fell neatly into place. I love when that happens!
Other fans of the Beneath series will probably be as excited as I was to catch up with old friends from previous books, but I don't think it's necessary to have read the first five books, or the Dirty Billionaire or Dirty Girl series (there is a series crossover) in order to enjoy Beneath These Shadows, but I'd recommend them because they're great, y’all!
Review copy provided for an honest review.
November 30, 2019
5 'Cupcake' Stars!!!!!
I have really loved each story from the 'Beneath' series. This book is definitely a standalone BUT in my opinion reading the others books will only help you understand and love all the other characters making a recurring role even more. The series just gets better and better, and I want more (please let the next book be Hennessy!!!). Lucas and Yve have been my absolute favorite couple of the series until Bishop and Eden. WOW! He is one sexy dark alpha male. YUMMY! The chemistry between Bishop and Eden is off the charts. Eden might be a little naive, but she is not to be underestimated. I love her drive to become a strong independent person when in actuality she already is, she just needed to believe it for herself. They both have secrets they are trying to hide from until their pasts finally collide. Enjoy the ride!
One of the best things about this series is the location, New Orleans. It is one of my favorite cities in the states. The way Meghan describes and uses the location as part of the story, makes me love the story even more. For me, it makes it more relatable, I can see myself in those places that i have been before.
This is now my favorite book in the series. Definitely recommend it as well as the other books in the series. They are hot and a lot of fun.
I have really loved each story from the 'Beneath' series. This book is definitely a standalone BUT in my opinion reading the others books will only help you understand and love all the other characters making a recurring role even more. The series just gets better and better, and I want more (please let the next book be Hennessy!!!). Lucas and Yve have been my absolute favorite couple of the series until Bishop and Eden. WOW! He is one sexy dark alpha male. YUMMY! The chemistry between Bishop and Eden is off the charts. Eden might be a little naive, but she is not to be underestimated. I love her drive to become a strong independent person when in actuality she already is, she just needed to believe it for herself. They both have secrets they are trying to hide from until their pasts finally collide. Enjoy the ride!
One of the best things about this series is the location, New Orleans. It is one of my favorite cities in the states. The way Meghan describes and uses the location as part of the story, makes me love the story even more. For me, it makes it more relatable, I can see myself in those places that i have been before.
This is now my favorite book in the series. Definitely recommend it as well as the other books in the series. They are hot and a lot of fun.
August 10, 2017
5 Beneath These Shadows Stars
Oooo Weee this was another great book!! I love that they are all stand alones but yet can be connected if you do read the series.
I mean really how cool was this book. Eden is sweet and innocent and Bishop is mysterious.
I love that he has a rule no clients he doesn’t sleep with the clients. I love that even though all these women throw themselves at him he sticks to his guns.
I felt so much for Eden, she really needed this adventure even if things go wrong and Bishop is there to save her.
I think I like that she didn’t want his help but she obviously knew when to shut it and take it.
I think I liked that each character from past books were there to help, but you don’t have to have read any of them to like or even understand this book.
Again great narration! Andi and SebYo nailed it.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
Oooo Weee this was another great book!! I love that they are all stand alones but yet can be connected if you do read the series.
I mean really how cool was this book. Eden is sweet and innocent and Bishop is mysterious.
I love that he has a rule no clients he doesn’t sleep with the clients. I love that even though all these women throw themselves at him he sticks to his guns.
I felt so much for Eden, she really needed this adventure even if things go wrong and Bishop is there to save her.
I think I like that she didn’t want his help but she obviously knew when to shut it and take it.
I think I liked that each character from past books were there to help, but you don’t have to have read any of them to like or even understand this book.
Again great narration! Andi and SebYo nailed it.
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
October 28, 2019
Είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο που διαβάζω από τη Meghan March και οι εντυπώσεις είναι πολύ θετικές!
Η ιστορία του Bishop και της Eden ήταν απρόσμενα καλή και απρόβλεπτη για βιβλίο τους είδους.
Ένα ευχάριστο διάλειμμα. Ένα σφηνάκι δροσιάς. Ένα ανάλαφρο ανάγνωσμα για να περάσεις όμορφα!
“You’ve always got a choice. It all depends on how much you’re willing to sacrifice to get what you want.”
Η ιστορία του Bishop και της Eden ήταν απρόσμενα καλή και απρόβλεπτη για βιβλίο τους είδους.
Ένα ευχάριστο διάλειμμα. Ένα σφηνάκι δροσιάς. Ένα ανάλαφρο ανάγνωσμα για να περάσεις όμορφα!
“You’ve always got a choice. It all depends on how much you’re willing to sacrifice to get what you want.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 772 reviews