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Illuminate the Shadows by Isobel Starling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The continuation of the story of Sam and Declan from As You Wish, Shatterproof Bond, #1)

Declan Ramsay's life was turned upside down at his brother's wedding in Scotland by none other than his new sister-in-law's younger brother, Sam Aiken. Sam took a grumpy sad bachelor who'd all but given up on love and showed Declan that love was not only possible but that he was, in fact, bi-sexual. Declan fell hard and fast for Sam and the feeling was mutual.

The thorn in their romance, though? Sam's father - Sir James Aiken (the BASTART!), head of a shadowy private covert ops organization that worked closely with MI6, who is also a raging homophobe and treats his son like a weapon, not a child. Before the Sam and Declan had a chance to fully explore their relationship Sam was ordered out of country for 3 months, not that Declan knew the reason why at the time.

When the three months were over Sam delivered an ultimatum to his father - he gets Declan or he walks. His father, surprisingly, caved, and allowed Declan to be 'read in' on the family business. Sam surprises Declan and they manage to have a weekend together, reuniting, before Declan is abducted and interrogated, tortured and pumped full of drugs by none other than Sir James (the Bastart!) his boss and Sam's father - all in the name of making sure Declan can take being an agent, and is worthy of being part of the organization.

Declan manages to surprise James and is reunited with Sam for the second time, but all is not smooth sailing for the couple. Declan's brother reacts poorly to his involvement with Sam despite Sam being his wife's brother, someone breaks into Declan and Sam's home and strange things start to happen. Declan feels inept and unready for his life with Sam but Sam is afraid of Declan losing his innocence to the shady world of espionage Sam has lived in his entire life. The two men have just found each other but the world seems primed to tear them apart.

This book is a good set up for the rest of the series as it brings Declan into the fold and establishes the dynamic between James and Sam, and James and Declan. I look forward to reading book 3!

**A copy of this book was provided for an honest and unbiased review by Lescourt Author Services**

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