ARC Review: Shades of Desire by Virna DePaul

Shades of Desire

by Virna DePaul

Natalie Jones, an accomplished photographer is now partially blind due to a degenerative eye disease. But with an abused past and the progression of her disease, she is left fighting a dichotomy of weak and being strong willed. Though she continues battling this disease and copes well enough, she has become recluse. To make it worse, she was physically attacked in the safety of her own home. And to put cherry on the top, same man is now stalking her with a chance that he has murdered just recently. Protection from this sick-o will be a definite need.

Liam McKenzie aka Mac from the Special Investigations Group (SIG) is assigned to handle Natalie’s case. He is well known for what he does and very good at his job. With his past of failed relationships, Mac has set his mind concentrating on his career and having a relationship is just unthinkable, until he meets her.

I love how Ms. DePaul was able to bring an alpha male in current time story. Mac is over protective, possessive, upfront with his desires and very comfortable with his sexuality. Rawr! And Natalie, as a disabled heroine, IMO is still a strong leading lady. Despite her disability, she is trying her best to cope with everything that has gone wrong in her life.

Mac and Natalie's attraction for each other was real and palpable. Even the suspense part of the story is just too believable, as I know it can happen in real life. I enjoyed the multiple points of views, especially the POV of the perp(s) of the story. Reading what was going on in his mind was a bit disturbing. I remember learning in college about certain mental illness that can lead to committing certain crimes. Scary sh*t!

I'm new to Romantic suspense genre but I felt that this book had just the right amount of suspense and romance. I have yet to read Ms. DePaul's Para Op series but this one is an auto follow for me as well as Ms. DePaul’s vamp series, Beyond Human Novellas.   

Purchase Links: Amazon