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Cover of Light in Shadow

Light in Shadow

First published 2004 · 577 pages

A snappy, sun-drenched romantic suspense where hidden psychic gifts and a dangerous past collide with witty banter and hard-won trust.

What it feels like

Reading this book feels like stepping into a sun-drenched Arizona sanctuary that slowly reveals hidden shadows. It masterfully balances the cozy, pragmatic world of interior design with the creeping dread of a past that refuses to stay buried. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging clip, driven by the sharp, witty banter between two highly competent adults who are reluctant to bare their souls but impossible to keep apart. There is a subtle thread of the paranormal woven into the grounded mystery, adding a layer of atmospheric tension to the romance. It delights readers who crave a smart, suspenseful love story where the characters must learn to drop their carefully constructed defenses and trust each other to survive.

Mood
  • tense
  • mysterious
  • sun-drenched
  • cozy-yet-dangerous
Tone
  • witty
  • suspenseful
  • pragmatic
  • romantic
Pace
brisk
Themes
escaping the past · hidden identities · trusting a partner · the weight of secrets · found sanctuary
The writing
Snappy and accessible, driven by sharp dialogue and a seamless blend of romantic banter and suspenseful pacing.
The arc
The protagonist moves from a state of guarded, fearful independence to vulnerable trust and shared strength in the face of danger.
Who it's for
Fans of romantic suspense who enjoy competent, mature characters, a dash of psychic intuition, and witty banter.
Content notes
  • stalking
  • past trauma
  • violence
  • threat of abduction

About the book

Zoe Luce is a successful interior designer in the Arizona town of Whispering Springs who's developed an unusual career specialty—helping recently divorced clients redesign their homes, to help them forget the past and start anew. But Zoe knows that some things can't be covered up with a coat of paint. And when she senses that one of her clients may be hiding a dark secret, she enlists P.I. Ethan Truax to find the truth.

Working together, they solve the mystery... and barely escape with their lives. But Ethan's exquisite detection skills are starting to backfire on Zoe: she never wanted to let him find out about her former life; she never wanted to reveal her powerful, inexplicable gift for sensing the history hidden within a house's walls; she never wanted him to know that "Zoe Luce" doesn't really exist. She never wanted to fall in love with him.

Now, no matter how much she resists, Ethan may be her only hope—because the people she's been running from have found her. And just when Zoe dares to dream of a normal life and a future with the man she loves, her own past starts to shadow her every step—and threatens to take her back into a nightmare.

Description from Open Library.

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