Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Book Four in the Shadow Agents Series

Part of the Immortal Ops World!

Operative: Wheeler Summerbee

He’s solid as a rock...

Former Immortal Ops Agent Wheeler Summersbee has spent most of his life on the run from his own government. When he’d agreed to be a living test subject in their quest to genetically engineer the perfect super-soldiers he never dreamed he’d come out the other side of the testing a gargoyle-vampire hybrid who craved blood and had a serious allergy to sunlight. But that’s what happened. So, when he finds himself trapped in what feels like eternal darkness, encased in stone, with the prospect of never being free again, he abandons all hope. That is until he hears, the melodic voice of a mysterious woman he’s sure is a goddess. Could it be she’s his someone special? His perfect match? His mate?

She’s small but her will is mighty...

Samantha has finally landed her dream job and is putting the finishing touches on an upcoming gallery showing when everything that can go wrong does. There is a delivery mix up which leaves her with a very lifelike, not to mention a very life-sized, stone statue of a hunky dude who’s jeans aren’t quite buttoned all the way and who’s rippling six-pack are on display for all the world to see. And while she has to hand it to the artist for sculpting the most delicious looking man she’s ever seen, the giant statue is not the one she needs to make the gallery showing a success. When a bunch of heavily armed bad guys storm into the gallery, threatening her and the statue of all things, she learns there is a whole lot more to the art piece than just rock hard abs.

Fate’s special delivery has left these two potential lovebirds fighting for their lives in a race against The Corporation. Can they outwit and outmuscle the bad guys or is their budding new romance at risk of never reaching its final destination?

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 30, 2020

273 people are currently reading
155 people want to read

About the author

Mandy M. Roth

409 books1,981 followers
NY Times & USA Today bestselling author Mandy M. Roth® loves 80s music and movies and wishes leg warmers would come back into fashion. She also thinks the movie The Breakfast Club should be mandatory viewing for…okay, everyone. When she’s not dancing around her office to the sounds of the 80s, she’s busy writing paranormal operatives and kick-butt urban fantasy heroines. Mandy lives in Oxford, Mississippi with her husband and three boys. She has sold over 2 million books. Mandy has published with Harlequin, Random House/ Virgin Books, numerous small presses, and has had an amazingly successful indie career. She’s had bestselling books in a multitude of categories and genres at Amazon, Nook, Google Play, Apple Books, and Kobo.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
469 (69%)
4 stars
156 (23%)
3 stars
40 (5%)
2 stars
6 (<1%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer Hill.
86 reviews
February 8, 2020
Mandy hits it out of the park again! Wheeler and Sammy's book is so much fun. I love her snarkiness! Bill and Gus of course had me laughing again. I really love how past characters pop up again. Wheeler is such a treat. He's not against having a mate at all but, it seems he's all for it and I really like that about him. I really like Sammy too and how she doesn't really freak out too much. And when they are near each other before the ahem, exam room scene you can feel a sweetness about them. This is one alpha that just does it for me. I just loved it! I can't wait for more!
Profile Image for Rhonda Jones.
2,794 reviews17 followers
January 30, 2020
Love This Series

Dead Wheel (Wheeler) is one of my favorite characters. In the past, he has thought he loved women who ended up being someone else's mate. He took the rejection well, and was there to protect the women and their mates regardless of his feelings. Dead Wheel, a nick name given to him by Bill and Gus (I love those guys!), meets his true mate in this book. Thankfully, because he was left as a stone statute in the last book! This was an awesome read, it had Dead Wheel, Bill and Gus, and Mac and Car (hilarious twin highlanders). Great characters! Lots of laughs, love, and action as the guys come together to fight the evil Corporation.
Profile Image for Heather.
697 reviews
January 24, 2020
Did not put it down! I wasn't just hooked, I swallowed the hook with this book. It had heat and humor with some danger with baddies mixed it. When Sammy first sees Wheeler, he is hard a stone. Ok he is still in frozen in stone. No one has been able to reverse the magic that left him frozen. Sammy is frustrated that the wrong statue was delivered. Well, this statue she wants to climb. We know there is a HEA so unfreezing must happen. (Snicker) Another mighty Alpha has fallen. Sammy is more than human, she just doesn't know how much. She is very stubborn and just what Wheeler needs.
Bill is up to his usual antics. So, be careful if you decide to drink while reading.
The Corporation wants Wheeler for testing. How far will they go?
3,423 reviews20 followers
April 4, 2021
UPDATE: 4/4/21 I JUST LISTENED TO THE AUDIO VERSION. 5's across the board-Narration, story, overall. I loved the audio-somehow Bill is even funnier hearing him and after seeing a reader's concept of him I kept seeing him every time I heard his voice. Oh, look for the little man's heroic moves in this one.

Sammy was stuck with a giant stone statue of a really hot guy when she should have had a small sculpture to set up for the art show. With no one to help her what was she gonna do. The movers just left him--it--there. Suddenly she was falling and bleeding and some bad guys showed up.

So begins her introduction into the paranormal world--vampires, gargoyles, shifters, and some just crazy guys. Oh, yeah, her friend had discussed mates with her. Is she going to learn more up close and personal?

Wheeler had a problem. He was the stone statue and couldn't turn back. The Ops guys want to help and are working on it. Will they be on time before the really bad guys step in?

For ops fans, our comic relief guys are back in the form of PNR and humans. The author never fails to give us hilarious situations along with supervillains, hot PNR guys and their women who are often PNR as well. Oh, and plenty of steam. As a fan of gargoyles, I loved this one even more than usual. I recommend it to new readers and old fans alike.
Profile Image for Nikki Brooks.
3,563 reviews55 followers
January 26, 2020
Wheeler has been a super-patient lad waiting for his HEA!

When we last left Wheeler he'd just been encased in stone. Fast forward a few weeks and the gang still haven't been able to break him out. But something goes awry when the twins, Car and Mac, try to ship him to HQ. Somehow he winds up us a new exhibit at a local gallery!

Sammy is enjoying her new job at the gallery. She did not envision lusting after a new work that has been delivered to her accidentally. She was expecting a table top sculpture, not a life size Greek God wearing jeans that look like they may just fall at any time! Neither did she envision armed men, things with lots of teeth or said hunky statue springing to life to protect her! She has always had some freaky things in her life but this is an all new level of cray-cray!

As usual be fearful of drinking anything when Bill and Gus appear, you know you'll just end up snorting it all over the place! It appears there is a love triangle afoot between Gus, Mona and Aphrodite LOL! Wheeler may have been broken out of his prison but some bits of him seem still encased in throne whenever Sammy is around (Snort Snort)!

I so love this series and I'm desperate for Car and Mac to topple, my fellow Scots need to be felled by the love of a good woman!
Profile Image for Selina Durio.
2,523 reviews12 followers
February 5, 2020
This book was one of the best installments in this series! It includes my favorite characters from the recent books, as well as the mainstays. To finally discover what happens to Wheeler after being turned totally gargoyle in the last book and see how Bill and Gus were, as usual, instrumental in solving the case was great. Now we need one or both of the twins to mate!
Profile Image for Karen Fisher.
1,281 reviews12 followers
January 23, 2020
I loved this book! Sammy was amazing and didn't have the usual reactions to the operatives and their abilities. This is a fun read with enough sass and snark to keep a smile on my face. I received and advanced copy of this book from the author and freely leave this honest review.
244 reviews9 followers
January 25, 2020
It seems like the Corporation is every where and when you think you are safe....they are two steps ahead of you. Wheeler has been turned in to stone and his friends shipped him to PSI. Unfortunately for them he is rerouted and ends up in an art gallery. Sammy just moved to Savannah and started running this gallery when an unwanted sculpture shows up at her dock. Little does she know the sculpture she is lusting over and wishing was real is Wheeler stuck in stone. The Corporation isn't far behind and they're after both Sammy and Wheeler. Will they be able to save each other.

We came in to this story after the aftermath of the battle that made Wheeler stone. We run into some old friends we have met along the way. I laughed so many times I lost count. This story keeps you on your toes wanting to know what is going to happen next. I cannot wait to see some of my favorite Ops bite the monogamy bullet and get their stories. Mandy has created an amazing world and I will keep coming back for more.
Profile Image for Sydney M Neblett.
2,661 reviews26 followers
April 17, 2023
Helping him to loosen up
I laughed, I cried, I said “oh my”, and that was just in the first couple chapters. This author continues to pair her humor with amazingly detailed stories about love and danger in this newest addition to her Psi-Ops series. We get to see so many of our favorite single characters in action as they help Dead Wheel out of his stone suit and into his HEA. I love how real the author makes her characters and their situations, you almost feel like you’re in the room. And then again, some times you wish you were. I consider this book another big win for the author and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
76 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2020
I think Mandy has done a wonderful job,again, another brilliant story full of emotion and hilarity. I wonder if any of the guys will ever make a move to “eat” Bill?. Can’t wait for her next instalment.
Profile Image for Jan Janus.
871 reviews15 followers
January 22, 2020
Oh my, what a tremendous story this one is. The way, oh I don't want to do any spoilers, so will have to sum it up to one word....PHENOMENAL...The characters, as usual are amazing, the story line, and the entirety of the book, PHENOMENAL!!!!
Profile Image for Jennifer Lowrance.
207 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2020
Laugh out loud funny with tons of action included! The characters and the plot details, as always, are so detailed it's like you're watching it all happen right in front of you. I will never look at overhead sprinkler systems the same again! Excellent!
Profile Image for Jamoz23.
5,355 reviews46 followers
May 29, 2020
Entertaining and fun read.
I understand the need to put information in for new readers. But I find myself skimming so much repetitive stuff.
Apart from that an entertaining short read.
The usual shenanigans and humour abound but I do feel The Corporation will never be stopped.
The good guys need someone who is a lie detector so they can weed out the traitors.
Hope Rurik is better soon, hated him being hurt.
Read through Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Paula.
448 reviews110 followers
July 8, 2020
It was short. When I thought the book was starting I realized I was at 90%.
Profile Image for Kathy Tozzi.
239 reviews9 followers
January 30, 2020

It is time for Wheeler to shine and find his happiness!
Wheeler Summerbee had been a victim of the heartless Corporation many years ago, but like others he managed to escape their evil clutches. He became an outcast until he joined with the Immortal Ops teams.
Going back to the previous book - poor Wheeler was turned into his gargoyle form, frozen in mid run trying to save his friends.
This is where this book takes over!
Samantha Ledford (Sammy) is the head of an art gallery, she is working late one night to check in a high price piece of metal art. What is dropped at her feet is anything but metal art. Instead she is faced with a very handsome work of art. A very lifelike man she refers to as Hercules in Jeans.
Sammy finds herself drawn to the handsome piece of stone. She has some special abilities of her own she is trying desperately to hide from everyone but hearing the statue speaking into her mind is definitely not one of them.
The Corporation is once again up to no good, this time it is Wheeler and Sammy they are after.
Now he just needs to become a real man again to take down some bad guys while also trying to protect the little woman who calls to him. As much as he hates the thought, he needs to let both his darkness forms come forward. The fearless and strong Gargoyle and the blood thirsty Vampire.
I can't praise this entire series enough! Once you read one you just have to have more.
Out of the Dark: Paranormal Security and Intelligence Ops Shadow Agents: Part of the Immortal Ops World
Profile Image for April Symes.
5,013 reviews445 followers
February 2, 2020
Out of the Dark by Mandy M. Roth is bk 4 in the Shadow Agents series. This is Wheeler's story and it is fantastic!! In the last book, the ending left Wheeler in bad straits and in this book, it picked up with the gang trying to figure out how to fix things but just haven't been able to even do that. His current predicament gets him shipped to an art gallery where Sammy enters the picture.
She is a hoot!! The chemistry between them is sensational. I liked plot, the interaction between Wheeler's new form and Sammy and the gang and Sammy. Plus add the bad guys into the mix. It's a grand ole time!! Enjoyed the mix of awesomeness that is PNR fabulousness writing by Ms. Roth. I liked the action, laughs, heat and chemistry in this story and look forward to more!


My Rating: 4.5 stars *******
537 reviews3 followers
January 30, 2020
Sammy knows about others but she is still struggling to understand what it means. And then she gets a statue of a smoking hot man. When stone become flesh can Sammy accept just how close the changes in her life become?
I really enjoyed the latest story by Mandy M. Roth. I loved Wheeler and could not wait to see his happily ever after. I love that his mate fit him and saved him. Ms. Roth showed Wheeler that he has more friends than he knew and that it was time to come out from the cold. But can he convince Sammy to come in with him. I thoroughly enjoy this action pack story by Ms. Roth. She gave us a story full of laughter, compassion, passion and love. Even though it was quick, the chemistry between Wheeler and Sammy felt real and believable. I can't wait to see what Ms. Roth has in store for us next.
Profile Image for Theresa Derwin.
1,140 reviews43 followers
January 30, 2020
Between a Rock and a Hard Pec

At the end of the last Crimson Ops book, Wheeler has been turned into his gargoyle stone form by Landros’ enemy.
Wheeler is part gargoyle, part vampire - all outcast.
Experimented on years ago by the government, he is one of the free roaming outcasts who didn’t fit the expected mould.
Sammy, has just taken a job at a Savannah art gallery, when a sexy hard pecs, stone statue turns up, that she can hear speaking to her.
Sammy manages to save Wheeler from living his immortal life as a statue, and the pair soon realised they’re mate.
It’s fun, fast paced and quite sexy, and the addition of Rurik, The Twins and Bill and Gus, make it more enjoyable.
Great stuff
Profile Image for Lisa.
903 reviews12 followers
January 31, 2020
Who doesn’t love gargoyles? From the very beginning I adored this book. This author never disappoints. I keep thinking since she writes so many they will start running together and be same old same old, but no, everyone I read becomes my favorite. And the laugh out loud moments never stop. The main character hero is in the form of a statue with every detail chiseled out in finite detail. Including where Sam’s hand lands to keep from falling lol. This is when the stone guy talks yo her. Can I order one of these guys? There are intense moments and action. This doesn’t disappoint.
Profile Image for Dawn Dohey.
215 reviews
January 31, 2020
Awesome, Awesome book glad I didn't have to wait long for Wheeler's story. And so glad Mandy released it before it was scheduled. I was on edge and really didn't want Wheeler stuck in in limbo/ stone that long. He got his perfect mate that could kick ass and wasn't afraid when she found out what and who he was. And was the only one who could keep him from turning to stone again. OOPS SPOILER ....LOL I think Sammy is now one of my favorite females.
111 reviews2 followers
February 1, 2020
It was that good!

I received this book as an ARC and I bought it! It was that good! Mandy Roth continues her series wonderfully. It has the characters we have come to love. Her books are so very hard to put down and this one is no different!
Keep them coming Mandy! I loved this book as I do all of your books!
21 reviews
January 30, 2020
Wheeler meets his mate in a fight for his life. Sammy is preparing for an Art Gallery event and receives the wrong statue.
What follows is electric with some blood thrown in. Of course Bill and Gus make their appearance which adds fun and excitement to the story. This was another great addition to the ops series which just gets better with every book.
Eagerly awaiting the next.
Profile Image for Fran Zoch, LSoR.
2,142 reviews13 followers
January 30, 2020
I was so happy to get Wheelers book after what happened to him in the last one.
He has been turned to stone and was shipped to an art gallery,  and to his mate. but the corporation wants him to and now they want her but he blood turned him back human and we all know how alpha these guys get when it comes to their women pus she is friends with another mate.
Profile Image for Melvena Asa.
1,754 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2020
Out of the Dark

Excellent and Exciting. This book is so full of exciting twists and turns that you will not want to stop reading it until the last words. Some laughs also they come at the least expected places.
18 reviews
January 30, 2020
Loved this

Like all Mandy M Roths books, this was just amazing!!!! So well written I couldnt put down! Started this morning and already finished tonight ❤
Profile Image for Susan Ball.
32 reviews2 followers
February 14, 2020
Amazing.

I loved Wheeler and Sammy.

Sammy has always known she was different. After an incident at her old Job, Sammy makes the decision to leave and start over. She is at her new job for an Art Gallery and waiting for one last package for the upcoming Art Exhibit/show. Instead of the Table-top sized statue, she ends up with a big, hunky looking, real-life looking stone statue of a Man.

Yup, you got it, Wheeler arrived in his Gargoyle form. As Sammy is trying to solve the mystery of the mistaken delivery, Abel (who is involved with the Corporation) shows up with his crew to grab Wheeler and "eliminate" the girl. Abel comes from the same "blood-line" as Wheeler but is showing signs of the tainted, unlike Wheeler; so he is hoping for some answers.

I had definitely had some LOL moments.
I don't want to give anything away so let's just say Mandy's story-telling gave new meaning to Marinating and Bug Zappers ;)

Get ready for lots of Laughs, lots of action and some hot moments.

As always, Gus and Bill are there to steal the show. Now I have to "patiently" wait for the next one. *SIGH*
82 reviews
August 1, 2021
I have utterly fallen in love with this series. The guys are a hot, fierce and definitely dangerous. I was waiting for Wheelers story and I was not disappointed. Mandy has a way of writing her stories in such a way that the heroine doesn't know if she wants to drop her pants or poop her pants when she comes face to face with her mate. One thing is for certain is that is not going to be easy and each male has to go through his challenge in order to earn his mate. Also anytime Wild Bill and Gus are in a scene you are guaranteed to laugh out loud at their antics. I do also recommend trying the audio version. D.C Cole does a great job in my opinion especially when it comes to Wild Bill. Although I love to read her stories, my guilty pleasure is to listen to the audiobook just to hear him do Wild Bill.
17 reviews
April 29, 2020
oh my gosh, Oh My Gosh, OH MY GOSH! I am so excited. I was so hoping that Dead-Wheel would be up soon. I was freaking out at the end of Bound to Midnight when Wheeler was left as a stone statue. Samantha is fantastic. She is in my top five heroines of Mrs. Mandy's. What a fighter. The fact that true love is the key for Wheeler's dilemma warms my heart. Of course Bill and Gus are still part of the gang and I just cannot get enough of them. The twins are starting to be a blast to read about. I bet when those two get books (please tell me they get books) they will both be off the rails! I don't know how the beings in command have made it through centuries with these characters. What comic relief. Again, Mrs. Mandy did not disappoint.
Profile Image for Theresa.
4,133 reviews16 followers
August 3, 2020
When Wheeler tried to rescue Clara from Mirza he got caught in the sun and turned to stone. Unable to figure out how to turn him back his thoughtful friends shipped him to a PSI base, but he gets sidetracked to an art gallery in route. Fortunately his mate has the cure.

Since her BF Holland is mated to a PSI agent, Sammy is aware of the supernatural world. So when Wheeler drops into her life it doesn’t freak her out. But it does come with its problems.

Footnote: 1) If the dead bad guys turned to dust why didn’t they fingers? 2) Car plague idea is a 2-parter. The second step is pregnancy. Lol.

Fave scenes: the movers opening the crate, Car & Mac’s explanation of losing Bill & Gus, the monogamy plague and Gus’s spray weapon.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,518 reviews83 followers
March 31, 2021
This is my first time diving into this series and I started with book 4, and I absolutely love this paranormal world that the author has created. I loved how I could dive in mid series and I wasn’t lost in this world. Samantha was a unique character that I took to liking very quickly. This is definitely a fast pace read and I enjoyed the action as well as the insta-love! Wheeler was a swoon-worthy book boyfriend.
The outcasts were a fun group, but my favorite one was Bill’s character as he made me laugh with his antics.
The narrator was wonderful!! D.C. Cole used a wide variety of voices and inflections to portray multiple characters and it was quite refreshing. He certainly breathed life to the story and I truly enjoyed his narration skills.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.