Illuminate the Shadows

Shatterproof Bond #2

by Isobel Starling, Gary Furlong (Narrator)

(4 hours and 56 minutes)

A Scotsman and an Englishman fall in love…

After the most amazing week of Declan Ramsay's life, at Dunloch Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, in Scotland. The charming, mysterious Samuel Aiken has turned Declan's life upside down. Declan has experienced a remarkable change. He has come to terms with the fact he is bisexual, and he has fallen head-over-heels in love with his boss’s son Sam.
However, falling for his boss’s son was never going to be an easy path to happiness, mainly because the boss in question is multi-millionaire property tycoon and former MI5 operative, Sir James Aiken.
Sir James is repulsed by his son’s homosexuality, and so discovering that his employee Declan Ramsay- the man he installed to run his luxury property rental empire- is in a relationship with Sam, does not go down well.
The lovers cannot hide from the looming presence of Sir James Aiken for long! Soon enough James makes his move, and Declan finds out what he will have to endure to stay with Sam, and what he will have to give to feel worthy of Sam's love.


**The story continues in "Return to Zero" (Shatterproof Bond #2)**

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense, LGBT

5 pages, Audible Audio

First published May 9, 2016

About the author

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR OF GAY ROMANCE.

Born in Germany, Isobel Starling spent most of her twenty-year professional career making art in Ireland. Now she writes full-time and runs her publishing company, Decent Fellows Press.

The Shatterproof Bond series is Gay Romance bestseller in the US, Germany and France. It is also a bestseller in audiobook format, narrated by Gary Furlong

Isobel is currently working on "The Dark Harvest", (The Quiet Work #2) The follow up to her successful Fantasy novel "Apple Boy"

When that book is done Isobel will be working on "Infernal Vices" book #3 of the Resurrectionist Historical MM series, and then "The Rebel Candidate " Book #6 in the Shatterproof Bond series.

Reviews

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really had no clue how we were going to transition this story from being focused on Sam and Declan having a sexy little fling and falling in love at the wedding of their siblings to a story about intelligence agents…. but this kind of unironically worked?

Worth noting this is not a slow burn…. Sam and Declan are pretty much loved up and together from the get-go, this focuses more on the relationship development and the trust between the men as they embark on their first serious relationship together and Declan coming to terms with his bisexuality.

Sam and Declan continue to have some pretty explosive chemistry together and these books are fairly heavy on spice. Although, I still find the narrative jumps over some parts of the intimate scene to be somewhat jarring and the choices over what to skip and what to have on page don't always make sense to me.

While not a story running at a breakneck pace, this story is unfurling to become a fun piece of escapism for people who like English Intelligence/Spy Dramas with a bit of queer romance thrown in.

Gary Furlong continues to do a great job narrating this and his voices and accents are spot on as always. He really does bring some fabulous life to these characters.

I’m keen to continue on with these books and see where it takes us!

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two are so hot together... and dayum the dirty talk! As much as I enjoyed the first Shatterproof Bond story, Illuminate the Shadows is even better. I love the connection Sam and Declan make, it's a perfect opposites attract romance.

Isobel Starling is just getting started with the depth of the plot I know is coming - intrigue, double-crossing, and tons of sex and romance.

Gary Furlong is perfection, as always. His voices are spectacular, and the emotion he adds to every performance enhances my enjoyment to the n'th degree :)

[Kaity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread/Relisten #1 March 2024:

I thoroughly enjoyed this as much as I did the first time. These two just make me smile with their love and devotion to one another. I can't wait to continue on to book 3!

Original Read/Listen May 2023:
Audio: 5 stars

Book: 3.5-4 stars

Yes better than book one, while there is still a lot of sex, there was a lot of other things at play too.

Can’t wait for book three!

[Eugenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

re-listen June 20, 2019:
Just as HOT as the first time around!!!

Original review Nov 2018:
4.5 STARS!! OMG!! 😱😱 That Ending!! Just Divine!!

I’ve never, never, finished a book that ended quite like this one!!! To tell you how and where would totally spoil the surprise!!

It literally made me laugh out loud while yelling, “WTF?!” I loved it! 💕💕💕 Now I wonder if the third one picks up EXACTLY where this one stops...because not to do so would be brutally unfair!! 😉

This second book (audiobook) in the series picks up where the first one dropped off. Think of these as serial novels and you’ll realize that the ending of one book is simply TBC in the next. Just something to keep you wanting, and hungering for more!

The beginning of this one took a dark turn which surprised the heck out of me. Soon, though, things settled back into the delicious back and forth play between Sam and Declan. These two are scorching HOT 🔥🔥 together and Gary Furlong’s narration makes my toes curl. To be honest, my toes aren’t the only thing that are affected when he purrs out Declan’s delectable Scottish accent. His “Declan” voice is worth the price of this audiobook alone!!

Back to the plot...Sam and Declan start working together for James. Sam and Declan have loads of sex. Spy-like things happen. Family things happen: some good, some bad.
The two keep up their “Princess Bride” jokes. The two keep having hot sex. And the two continue to be funny, sweet and hot as hell.

I’ll leave you with with my two favorite frases of the book:

“Black fishnet mesh underwear.” (I won’t tell you who’s wearing them!)

Declan—“Have ye....ever edged with a lover?” (And what a scene this led to!!! 😱😱)

Sexy, funny and hot...you’ve got to meet these guys!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Full disclosure: I received a copy of this audiobook from the author In exchange for an honest review.

[Miriam still reading! HIATUS from GR · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars audio
4 much improved stars story. Still need to tone down the sex scenes though.

[Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've read As You Wish, then you know it was a fun little romp in the Scottish Highlands with an odd little twist, at the end. And while the author does a really good job of catching the reader up, in case they haven't read As You Wish, I'd suggest reading it, anyway. It will help set the flavors of the characters and, as I mentioned, it's a fun little story.

Illuminate the Shadows picks up pretty much where As You Wish leaves off and takes off running. Declan has been brought up to speed (sort of) on what his lover, Sam, really does for a living and that Declan will be brought into the fold. And after a rather grueling, and unexpected, interview process Declan gets a new company ID. Other than that, his day job remains fairly unchanged. For the moment.

There's all kinds of cloak and dagger stuff in this story. Is it believable? Oh, hell no, not in the least, so just suspend your urge to disbelieve at the first page and just go with it. You'll be better off and have more fun, guaranteed. Also, while there are a whole lot of threads introduced in this story, the progression doesn't really go that far. It looks to mostly be set up for the next book, which will be out in June. And I am looking forward to getting my questions answered and see where the author is going to take those threads.

Also, I'd be remiss if I failed to mention just how hot the sex was! Holy hell, the book starts with the aftermath of a blowjob and just keeps going. And there are jock straps and sexy underwear and a whole lot of naked playtime. And, I'm happy to report that Declan is getting quite comfortable with his ravenous desire of Sam. PDA and telling friends and family take a bit, but give him time and I'm sure these two will be snogging down at the local pub.

And please note that this story is not finished. Our boys do get a strong HFN here, but we'll have to wait a little longer for their HEA. I strongly suspect we'll get that when Return to Zero is released in June. Stay tuned, folks!

---------------
ARC of Illuminate the Shadows was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.

[~Mindy Lynn~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

RTC

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio 5 ++++ Stars
Story 4 Very Improved Stars

[Sybil aka Lala · Rating 4 out of 5]

I imagine this is what would happen if James Bond fell in love with Napoleon Solo. You get an unbelievable spy story featuring two hot and accented men with tons of snark, humour, bad guys and hot sexiness. If, ya know, one of these two had an underwear fetish.

I don’t even know where to begin reviewing this book because there is just so much to say about it! It has so many layers and so many intersecting plots that I will probably forget about something but what I can most definitely say is that this book had me hooked from the very first sentence. And what a sentence it was! I should have known right then that this romance would prove to be intensely sexy. *fans self*

Apart from all the steaminess this book delivered there was also a great and intriguing plot and it is hard to determine who can be trusted, what is actually going on and where it would all lead to. Isobel Starling wrote some scenes that were quite shocking and surprisingly gritted but did so with excellent humour and some touching romantic moments. I laughed about as hard I gasped with this and although this was an unbelievable story it was so SO entertaining.

I loved this book. It had danger, romance, hotness, a touch of the taboo, mystery intrigue and humour. Absolutely recommended.

(ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review)

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun steamy read. It picks up right where the first book ended, so it can't be read as a standalone. Both Sam and Declan are over the moon to finally be together but Sam has to tell Declan the truth about his life and exactly what his father, James Aiken, is capable of. But in the unexpected plot twist both Sam and Declan face challenges alone - Declan has to survive the encounter with Sam's father while Sam has to overcome his insecurities and figure out how both men continue after hell that Declan is being put through.

I loved the many humorous moments where Sam and Declan teased each other, the moments when both men opened up about their pasts and fears. It was time for them to get to know each other, and with every passing day their feelings intensified. Declan finally met the man who made him feel alive, and Sam finally found a man who made him want to create a life with and defy his father.

There are suspenseful moments where both men have to guard their backs, family gatherings and awkward conversations but also tender and steamy moments when both Sam and Declan can't keep hands off each other. This was fast-paced diverting story about a Scotsman and Englishman getting to know each other and puzzling out how to be together after so many years only relying on themselves. I was suitably entertained. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for the story, 4 for the narration

I listened to As You Wish, the first book in Isobel Starling’s Shatterproof Bond series a few months back, and while I had some issues with parts of it (there was a fair bit of head-hopping and the writing was choppy in places), I liked the characters and the premise sufficiently to want to give the next book, Illuminate the Shadows, a try. (Warning: Spoilers ahead for As You Wish.)

In As You Wish, brawny Scot, Declan Ramsey and his boss’s son, Sam Aiken, met online when they worked together to plan the wedding of Sam’s sister to Declan’s brother. Over a year or regular correspondence – Sam was working abroad – they got to know each other quite well, but nothing could have prepared Declan for the incredible pull of attraction he felt towards Sam when they finally met, especially as Declan had always identified as straight. Declan and Sam entered into a relationship (and had a lot of sex!) but at the end of the book, Declan learned that Sam, whom he’d been led to believe was an interpreter, actually worked for the covert security agency run by his father, Sir James Aiken, a former MI5 operative whose company now works with and for both MI5 and MI6. Sam wants out – but his father – who is already Declan’s boss because Declan works for his international property management company – gave the couple an ultimatum; Declan joins the agency or they can never see each other again. Unwilling to be separated, they go for option one.

At the beginning of Illuminate the Shadows, Declan is kidnapped by Sir James’ people and taken to his “interview” – which basically consists of his being tied to a chair, injected with various drugs and questioned for a week. (And it's all a bit silly, really!) We learn that Sir James has actually been interested in him for longer than Declan has known Sam, owing to what Declan avers is his completely unwitting involvement in a number of covert operations. When the “interview” is over, Declan is dumped, unconscious, on his doorstep, leaving Sam to take care of him.

And that’s about it as far as the plot goes. There’s an interesting snippet of information dropped about Declan’s childhood that I suspect may come to play a greater role in the overarching plot, but overall, I was quite disappointed with this story. I know that this is a serial, so each instalment isn’t self-contained, but other than Sam and Declan both being assigned to the same job, and a bit of drama when the couple tells their respective siblings about their relationship –and Declan’s brother freaks out – there’s not much going on here, other than Sam and Declan dirty talking, groping and having more sex. Which isn’t a bad thing, I just wanted a bit more story.

Sam’s father is a total git, freely acknowledging that he hates that his only son is gay, and so deliberately sends him to locations – Saudi Arabia, Russia – where actually engaging in homosexual acts could get him imprisoned or killed; he’s downright creepy. As with the previous book, there’s a lot of head-hopping going on, switching from a single PoV to an omnipotent one and back again; the first chunk of the book is pretty much entirely devoted to the “interview” and there’s not a lot of relationship development. Which there should have been, given these guys only met face to face a few months earlier, they’ve been apart for the last three months and Declan has never had a male lover before. I like them together and they’re clearly head-over-heels for one another, but I didn’t much sense of a connection that went beyond sex.

Gary Furlong does a more than decent job with the narration, and the Scottish accent he adopts for Declan is consistent (and sexy). He gets Sir James’ smarminess down pat, Sam’s youthful enthusiasm is expertly rendered and the secondary characters are all clearly delineated. His participation as narrator is the reason I picked up this and the previous book, but the story in this one isn’t strong enough to encourage me to continue with the series.

[Jo * Smut-Dickted * · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG the ending..it just...stops..I literally was on a trail on a run and I had to download the next book right there. Although there is miscommunication and troubles with Sam's dad for the most part these two are getting along pretty well for a couple of 20 something dudes. The subtle D/s relationship is not at all BDSM'y but rather fun and the way I would love it in my own life (were I to like D/s but I prefer S/m) which is kinda casual and well thought out but not overly planned. The spy stuff -- hmm...not sure how much I'm suspending belief there but that's ok. Narrator for audiobook (Gary Furlong) is AMAZING.

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I tell you that one of my favourite TV shows as a teenager was The Man from UNCLE you'll probably have a clue about just how much I'm loving this series from Isobel Starling.

Declan and Sam are an awesome couple, even if the Scotsman can't quite believe he's landed the beautiful younger man as his lover - especially when he'd never been attracted to men before he met the Englishman.

Things are moving along as quite a pace when Declan's snatched off the streets to be put through Sir James' interrogation trial to see if he's strong enough to become an agent.

There's a truly hilarious scene involving a younger version of Declan, a couple of other agents with dodgy accents and a half-Japanese former cleaning lady with a syringe of psychotic inducing drugs and a whole load of interesting coincidences are revealed which had me giggling out loud.

The sex is scorching, involving a role playing scene during which Declan simultaneously edges Sam to the point of orgasm while quoting lines from the torture scene in The Princess Bride. It's genius.

It ends with a bit of a cliffie and a couple of plots still hanging open so off to Book Three I go.

#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[Ed Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really different from the first book. In fact I don’t usually enjoy books about spies, but I like these characters and I like the way Isobel Starling writes. I’m obviously hooked since I already bought the third book in the series.

[Elaine White · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book – Illuminate the Shadows (Shatterproof Bond #1)
Author – Isobel Starling
Star rating - ★★☆☆☆
No. of Pages – 157

Cover – Okay
POV – 3rd person, omni-present
Would I read it again – No.

Genre – LGBT, Crime, Contemporary


** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **



**BEWARE: There WILL be adult language and spoilers ahead!**



Upfront, I'm going to admit that I always find it really squidgy to see anyone dating their brother/sister's brother or sister. It's just a little too close to 'related' for my tastes. However, as I knew this was going to happen, after As You Wish, I'm not going to let that affect my rating.

To start with, I have to admit that the accent still grated on my last nerve. Declan is meant to be from Edinburgh (though that isn't as heavily noted in this book as it was in As You Wish), but he has the accent of an Aberdonian or Highlands person. The misrepresentation is broadcast by the phonetic spelling, which really ruins the believability.

So, with a combination of that and jumping into a sex scene, right off the bat, it didn't go well. I hate starting a book with sex. Even when I know the characters, it just doesn't feel natural to begin a story with explicit sex. It's a pet peeve of mine. Though, having it continue straight from the events at the end of As You Wish was good.

For me, the writing is very confused and inconsistent. We jump straight into omni-present POV, though the majority is 3rd person, single POV. The switch between the two is unnatural and confusing at times, while completely disorientating at others. There's also inconsistency in the use of Declan's accent – at times it's confined to thoughts and dialogue, then it begins seeping into the main text unexpectedly.

There were moments where we were given quite quick and dismissive recaps of the previous book, which is awkward and strange, considering that reading As You Wish is only recommended, but not necessary to understand this novel. I'd disagree. There's a lot mentioned in this story that would be confusing and make no sense if you hadn't read the prequel. I'd say it's required reading.

Throughout, there are quite a few spelling and grammar issues – misplaced commas, capital letters where they're not needed, hyphenating “in-love” etc – (not caused by the conversion!) and a lot of flowery over-description. I have never heard the term “jobby jabber” in my life! It's kind of disgusting, as well. Some of the sex scenes, to be honest, were kind of cringe worthy and I ended up skim reading them more often than not.

There were numerous phrases that just didn't sit well with me. It's more of a personal complaint, as other people probably won't care, but they're definitely things that make me say “Ew!” and feel really gross about the whole thing. I'm not going to list it all, because it would take a while and it's not necessary. There were just numerous phrases, words and such that aren't romantic to be, but that were used in a 'seductive' manner within the story. It really knocked me right out of 'the mood'.
Not to mention the totally disgusting pervert that James Aikins is revealed to be.
“As always, he was enjoying the wonderfully eccentric spectacle of the thick, bulletproof glass ceiling, high above his head – doubling as the bottom of a 'lap lane' swimming pool which ran the length of the hall.”

It irritated me that Sam began the story by continually calling Declan by his last name “Ramsay”. He'd never really done that before and it felt out of place here, especially when used in the bedroom scenes. Both main characters – Declan and Sam – were the same as the prequel, As You Wish, but there were definitely moments that really didn't feel authentic to their personalities. Sam was much more authoritative and Declan a bit more weird and helpless.

Following on from that, I take serious issue to Sam's ridiculous thought processes, where Declan is concerned. When walking into a rank, unclean room, his first thought isn't to gag, then open the window. It's this, which is highly gross and insulting at the same time -
“Sam's instinctive first thought was that he wanted to roll in Declan's soiled sheets like a happy pig in muck.”

The fact that Declan nearly killed Sam, by strangling him, just because he suspected he might have cheated on him, was also a massive overreaction. It really made me mad, since Sam is really the only character of these two that I like. Sam's personality is the most open, fun and logical of the two, that he's the only one I feel connected to or care about. I certainly didn't like the way Declan often treated or spoke to him like a baby or a fuck toy.

I also have to say that I found the “interview” scenes to be unexpected, unwanted and a little incredulous. Not only were they misinformed (see point 1 below) but we got at least 10-20% of the “interview” process, but when it came to Declan doing his training at the end of the book, we were just told he was gone for six weeks and shown nothing. It felt inconsistent and a little half-assed, to be honest. As though the important stuff didn't matter.

1 – my big issue is with the BP machine, during Declan's “interview”. He has it placed on his left arm, then has a cannula inserted (it's not clear which arm this is on, at the time). That seems fine, until much later on when we discover that the cannula was put in his LEFT arm, on the same arm where the BP cuff was left on his arm for hours and continually rechecked, while the cannula was still in his arm.
This is HIGHLY inaccurate. A BP machine should never cut off circulation or blood flow to an arm that has a cannula inserted, as this can be dangerous and damage the vein being used. (This from someone who has had many cannula's and BP's attached)

Along with the “interview” I found some of the situations to be predictable and incredulous, sometimes at the same time. I can get over how selfish Declan is at times, blaming Sam for his kidnap by A.L.L. By saying “this is where havin' a curious fuckin' cock has led ye!”. This is just one of many reasons that I left this book feeling like Declan didn't deserve Sam.
I was also shocked that his first thought, after being kidnapped, was “Am-ant I supposed te be in bed, wi a full belly an' a satisfied cock?” As if that's the most important thing on the planet.
The fact that Declan could interfere with so many A.L.L. cases and remain completely clueless about it. He never read a newspaper report or online news report that spoke of an event happening where he had just been the night/week before? There was never any hint or wonder over the very strange incidents that were going on around him?

~

After reading this and the prequel, will I be continuing with the series? No. Sorry. Though I do believe that a lot of people will like the book and the series, there's something about this author's writing style that just doesn't work for me. I also have some serious issues with the research – the accent and medical knowledge included – when it comes to things that I know a lot about and have personal experience with. Our idea of “sexy” doesn't mesh either (e.g. I don't find jockstraps, the words “piss” or “spunk” sexy or enjoy the constant talk about 'holes' as though it should be a major turn on.)

For me, this is a book of 2 halves that doesn't really venture anywhere definitive. The first half is about Declan being inducted into A.L.L. Which, incidentally, I was unprepared for. I had no interest or expectation of reading about torture, hallucinations and mental fuckery when I picked this book up. The second half focused more on Sam and Declan's relationship, some weird stalker, and just felt like it was the beginning of another story altogether, that wasn't finished by the time I reached “The End”.

I expected a continuation of the “romance” vibe from As You Wish, with a little more spy work involved. I didn't expect the mental torture, the bondage, the edging and BDSM scenes. Nor was I in the mood to read them, so unexpectedly. For me, this probably should have been cut in half and released as two shorts – one about Declan's kidnap and the other as the start of a novel that continues in the next story, because the second half felt incomplete.

Personally, it's just not for me.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I kinda jumped into this series not knowing what to expect, all I knew was that I enjoy this author and the narrator for this series, especially. What I imagined was going to be a sweet contemporary romance, has really turned into a much deeper, more serious series - and I'm really, really enjoying it!

This story picks up where the first book leaves off - with Declan realizing that he is attracted to a man for the first time and coming to terms with that, and with Sam revealing the true nature of his job working for his father, and the two of them making a commitment to each other. If the two men want to stay together, it means that Declan must truly learn about the inner workings of the family business.

I don't want to say too much to give anything away. I truly enjoyed all the development and growth in their relationship, and the chemistry between Declan and Sam is just off the charts hot. I'm also enjoying the growing and building story of what I imagine will really escalate in the 3rd and 4th book.

Gary Furlong is excellent, as always. His accents - and now French! - are just to die for. He's definitely moved up in the ranks as one of my favorite narrators, his voice just flows so well.

Just started the 3rd book and can't wait for more with these two. I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second installment from As You Wish.
I think this one is better than the first book. Probably because I was getting used to Declan's accent.
The mystery was quite acceptable, James Bond's kind of mystery with betrayal, updated spy equipment and all which was very interesting. Especially the delirious factor that James gave to Declan.
Not so much telling about the 'love story' between the two men, this one was focus on 'how to recruit Declan to the organization'.
I wish I can see more of Declan and Samuel's 'romance' and chemistry on a third book, I hope?
Overall, this is a good story, if you like mystery and Scottish hero with accent.
There's a HFN for the hero, which was good, no cliffhanger :)

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

This feels more like an interlude book between the ongoing story line than a book 2 in the series. This story picks up immediately at the end of the first book in the series with Declan and Sam finally reunited together and committed to the relationship growing between them. But other than the brief interrogation scenes of Declan by ALL as they try to figure him out before bringing him into the fold, really not much happens in this book other than a lot of sex between our lovers. That is not to say that I don't love Declan and Sam together. I do. They're a fun couple and I look forward to seeing where their relationship goes, but the just wasn't much else to the story. Even Declan's training gets completely skipped over.

There are a few teases of things to come but those hints weren't enough to keep this book that interesting to me. Again I repeat it feels more like a book 1.5 than a book 2 to this series. Still I like the characters a bunch and I'm curious to see how things progress now with Declan aware of the world he's walking into by loving Sam. I hope there's more actual substance to book 3.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3 Stars

Ooooh, things are getting interesting.

There's got to be something shady/hinky behind why Declan's secret medical treatment/military records were "lost." Combine that detail with James' suspicions & Declan's uncanny ability to withstand the SERE scenario like he did by the dissociation & "seeing" his younger self (after having been enlisted for only THREE months)...I'm thinking Manchurian/Sleeper agent type thing? Prolly not, but I do love speculating.

Also, holy hell the sex scenes were hot. And James is still an arrogant asshole.

I mentioned that I wasn't all that enamored of Joel Leslie's Scottish Brogue for another book I listened to recently, but OMG, Gary Furlong's accent in this one for Declan was AHMAYZING!!! (Can't remember if I raved about it after the last installment; if I didn't, I really should have!)

[Rellim · Rating 5 out of 5]

After As You Wish, I was ready for the super-secret-spy action and Starling definitely delivers. This is one of those books where it’s really hard to share all the things that you love about it without spoiling it for others. Declan is initiated into Sam’s world in a way that neither of them expect, but James is in for some surprises as well. There’s a few scenes with Declan where Furlong’s performance combined with Starling’s pacing makes for an unnerving listen. It gave me chills. Amazing.

They also get their first assignment which is a lot of fun for Sam & Declan as well as the listener. And, of course, there are numerous steamy scenes as the guys are finally able to spend some uninterrupted time living together.

I’m immediately starting Return to Zero.

Gary Furlong continues a fabulous narration of the series. He’s consistent with all the accents and personalities and switches between characters effortlessly.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars – Illuminate the Shadows is the first full-length novel in Isobel Starling’s Shatterproof Bond series. The characters were introduced in a prequel novella, As You Wish, which I strongly recommend be read prior to reading this (and warning, there are spoilers for the prequel novella in this review, just so you are warned.) I had high hopes when I started this novel, but I have pushed them off to the next one in the series, because this volume really functions primarily as a second introduction, this time to the longer plot for the series instead of the characters.

At the very end of As You Wish, we learned Sam Aiken’s family secret, and it forms the basis for the series as a whole. Sam is an undercover operative, largely against his will, for an organization founded and led by his father, Sir James Aiken, a former operative with MI5, the British security service. Declan Ramsay works for Sir James in his cover business, a multi-million pound property management company. Sam discovers that his father, who is adamantly against the idea of his only son being gay, knows about the tryst that brought Sam and Declan together. For reasons that remain mysterious to Sam, Sir James allows them to be together, but only if Declan can pass the qualification “interviews” to become an agent in the organization. The bulk of Illuminate the Shadows chronicles this process, and the rest starts to lay the foundation for what could turn out to be a rather intriguing, suspenseful story line for the remainder of the series.

I have read many multiple-book suspense series in my time, and their structure has a fairly predictable formula: each individual book consists of a self-contained plot while furthering the series-long overarching narrative in the process. So that’s what I was expecting here because, like all good formulas, there is a reason for following it: it works to excite the reader during the individual volumes and keeps the reader wanting to see what happens in the next installment. Unfortunately, Illuminate the Shadows only follows the second half of this formula. There are plenty of nuggets of information laid into the story line that will obviously be important later and resolved by the time the series ends, but if we ignore those bits, what’s left is a rather dull plot for an individual book when compared to other suspense series. Perhaps this is because so much time is spent on Declan’s initiation, which by itself is rather odd, though it works very well to establish the character of Sir James as well as the father-and-son animosity between him and Sam. As a result of the lack of a self-contained suspenseful storyline, it’s hard for me to be overly enthused about this novel. Now if I put that disappointment aside, there’s certainly enough here, as an introduction to the series, to have kept me interested enough to read the second volume when it is released. A big part of me wishes that the prequel novel had been reworked to include it within this book one, because then I would have expected the full novel to function as an introductory work, and I might have been happier with the result.

The chemistry between Sam and Declan continues to work. I mentioned in my review of As You Wish that sometimes I didn’t feel it quite as intensely as the characters did. I did not have that problem in Illuminate the Shadows. The two guys go together wonderfully, their intimacy continuing the same sort of playful banter and roleplay they started in the novella. Their dynamic is the primary reason I’m looking forward to seeing how the overall series plays out, for there are many ways the author could choose to use this to build a powerful and suspenseful plot later in the series.

Unlike the novella, the point of view (POV) used for this novel is not just those of Sam and Declan. This is not a problem, especially since it looks like Sir James will be an important character for the duration of the series, and its additional POVs do nothing to detract from the feel of the story. The writing style and flow are good here, with none of the problems I mentioned with the novella. I feel I must point out that I did read an advanced copy of the novel which had yet to go through a final copy-editing pass. I really hope that editor is on the ball, because there were a lot of mistakes in the edition I read, and it would be a shame if even a small percentage of them made it through to the release edition, because they were a huge distraction for me. (Note, my rating does NOT take this into account, as I assume the corrections will be made.)

The Shatterproof Bond series has potential to be very good. As a standalone, though, Illuminate the Shadows left me wanting and not entirely in a good way. There is no suspenseful cliffhanger, and Sam and Declan are left in a decent, happy-for-now spot, so that isn’t the problem. I just wanted something exciting to happen in the book. And that really didn’t happen. Now that we’ve had a novella and full novel to introduce the series, I really hope that problem doesn’t happen again in the second volume. I don’t know if my attention span will hold to go beyond that if it doesn’t.

The author generously provided me a complimentary copy of Illuminate the Shadows in exchange for this fair and honest review.

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[Layla · Rating 1 out of 5]

"The Middle East has the strangest, most misogynistic of societies."

This is an honest to God sentence I just read in this MM book that was published in 2020. As someone from the "Misogynistic Middle East" as the author so eloquently described, I can also eloquently reply and say: What a load of utter crap.

Dear people, authors in particular, of the West: What you have been spoonfed by your media about the Middle East is 99% false. Using these stereotypes and clichés in your books is highly offensive, uneducated and plain racist. Bad people exist everywhere regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, religion, social standing and everything in between. Do better.

[Valentina Campi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing storytline, but sometimes still to vague or rushed over. Why doesn't Sam tell Declan more about how his father works. And what about his sister, was she spared of the same treatment/education? Does she know what is behind her fathers business? It all feels a bit off...

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the novella As You Wish, I was interested in reading more about Declan and Sam, the seemingly straight Scot and gay Englishman who met at their siblings' wedding. This begins right after the conclusion of the novella. Declan and Sam are reunited after several months of separation and loss. They are reconnecting and finally feeling happy, loved, and whole again. But getting involved with Sam means some changes in Declan's life. He was not fully aware of what his boss/Sam's father was involved in, but he is about to find out. Declan has to prove himself in various ways. Will he make the cut?

Declan's past is scrutinized. He is put in challenging situations. And Sam wants to protect him. They are trying to build their new life but are also having to deal with the business at hand that can include secrets, aliases, threats, surveillance, and covert ops. Declan does not always feel as prepared and as skilled as Sam who has been dealing with this all his life.

Declan is a big, burly Scot who is a bit awkward and goofy. But he is sweet, protective, funny, and has adapted well to his realization that he is bisexual and now in love with a man. But he suffers from fears, insecurities, and self doubt at times that has only been exacerbated by his recent life changes. He has a lot to learn and assimilate to be able to move forward.

Sam has dealt with a lot in his life due to his controlling, judgmental father's expectations. He wants to live his own life, but seems to keep getting sucked back in. He is intelligent, sexy, highly adaptable, and charismatic. And he just wants to be able to share a life with Declan.

They are trying to merge their lives and continue to build their relationship but have to keep dealing with outside influences. There were a couple things that I just found odd. There were some situations introduced to add mystery and suspense but were left unresolved for now. At times I found it amusing, sweet, and sexy. But other times I struggled to figure out where she was trying to take this story. There was not a lot that really happened in this installment. I felt like there was more development in the novella. I was already attached to Declan and Sam, so I enjoyed the banter, humor, and romance with them. But there are so many unanswered questions and the story was light on drama, so it almost felt like a placeholder book for me in between the novella and the next book, Return to Zero.

She really goes all out giving Declan a Scottish brogue so you can almost hear him talking in his accent. I love his big, bold personality, and I enjoy the dynamic relationship with Sam. I had some issues with the arc itself as far as editing, but was informed that there will be another editor pass so hopefully those will be resolved. I felt like it was a bit disjointed at times, but it might have been because of the additions to the story that are still a work in progress. But I do like the characters and the premise has the potential to add more danger and suspense once it is explored more throughly. I was just hoping for more development in this book. It paled a bit in comparison to the novella As You Wish, but I am still interested in continuing their story in Return to Zero and seeing how it all plays out for Declan and Sam.

I was gifted a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.75 stars

Illuminate the Shadows is the sequel to As You Wish, the novella that introduces us to Declan and Samuel. I loved that story, and I really loved Illuminate the Shadows. It was damn near perfect. There was just the right balance of intrigue, action, love, humor, and sex.

Isobel Starling’s writing style is very smooth. She also includes a lot of detail without it being overwhelming. I was able to imagine how everything looked…from Declan and Samuel’s faces, to the room where Declan is held during his tribulation. I was immediately sucked into the story she was telling. I felt like I was deposited right into Declan and Samuel’s lives.

I think enjoyed is the wrong word to describe how I felt about Declan’s ordeal. It was harsh and disturbing. He went through so much, but I was impressed at how he came through it. His love for Samuel was so deep, and it was that love that made Declan press forward and not give up.

Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.

[W · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Love is many things none of them logical". William Goldman - The Princess Bride.

This Audiobook check all my favorites boxes :

☑Unpredictable and entertaining plot.
☑Snarky and humorous banter.
☑Logical and common sense dialogues.
☑Fast paced.
☑Interesting, smart and likeable characters.
☑Lots of steamy , hot and graphic sexy times.
☑Romantic
☑Awesome narration by the brilliant Gary Furlong.

Tickle me pink, but think , I might be addicted to Isobel Starling unique writing style and offbeat sense of humor.

Illuminate the Shadowsis book two in the Shatterproof Bond series . Books should be listen in publication order .

Overall: 5 stars
Performance : 5 stars
Story: 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-28-19


#ILoveAudiobooks🎧 AudioCodes😍

[Mihaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

More! I want more!

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam e Declan tornano dopo “Ai tuoi ordini” e non posso fare altro che dirvi che sembrano una coppia di conigli arrapati, atti solo a darsi piacere per duecento pagine.

Avete idea cosa significhi leggere solo pagine di sesso, seppur gentile e amorevole, per più di metà libro? Beh, vi dico che dopo cinquanta pagine non ne potevo più e avrei lanciato il libro dalla finestra! Mi piace quando i personaggi sono innamorati e fanno l’amore ma magari non per tutto il libro, senza contare che trama e spazio per essa ce n’era parecchio e potevano essere approfonditi più aspetti. Sembra quasi che l’autrice abbia forzato l’idea della serie per poter scrivere di più e che poi abbia dovuto riempire dei vuoti, e quindi sesso a manetta!

Li avevamo lasciati con la scoperta che Sam e suo padre fossero agenti segreti e che in qualche modo anche Declan lavorasse per loro senza saperlo. In questo nuovo capitolo della serie, Declan viene messo alla prova e trasformato in un agente, dopo una serie di torture fisiche e psicologiche. Pensate che questo gli causi qualche trauma? No, tranne una scena in cui cerca di strozzare il suo compagno, per il resto liscio e pulito come l’olio.

Qualche accenno su Sam però lo abbiamo, capiamo cosa deve fare per vivere, le sue aspirazioni, il suo amore e le sue abilità. La famiglia e l’accettazione dell’omosessualità sono fattori ricorrenti in questo libro. Insomma le potenzialità c’erano, poteva diventare un ottimo inizio per una serie di spionaggio, magari con qualche passaggio piccante qua e là. Invece per quasi tutto il libro abbiamo frasi come questa:

" So chi sono quando sono con lui. Quando mi sveglio fra le sue braccia, sono così in pace che non voglio nemmeno uscire dalle coperte. Riesce a farmi piangere dal ridere e si prende sempre cura di me, per quanto io sia strano e scorbutico. Lo guardo, e per la prima volta nella mia vita mi sento davvero a casa."

Lo ammett0, è una frase bellissima, dolcissima, come tutto il libro in effetti, ma è troppo! Troppa dolcezza non rende bello un libro, non gli dà quell’azione che mi aspettavo. Quindi, se volete leggere qualcosa di zuccheroso, carino, dolce ma senza una trama particolare, questo è il libro perfetto. Non sono contro le storie dolci ma avrei preferito qualcosa di meno sessuale.
.
Danny - per RFS

[caroline wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book by the author and This is my honest opinion.
I'm really enjoying these books, Sam and declan just work so well together and with Declan now getting a more up and personal introduction to his boyfriends family secretive line of business through being kidnapped and interrogated for information.
This book was full of intrigue with twists and turns galore and which the words just flowed from the page creating a really detailed setting. Loved it😍 I also love the cover, which makes you eager to read into the story