Shadows Never Leave: MM Brother's Best Friend Romance (Shadow Duet Book 2)

This duology honestly felt like one massive emotional spiral because I tore through both books so fast that there was never really a moment to breathe between them. The second I finished book one, I had to jump straight into book two because there was no way I could leave Ryan and Dominic’s story where it ended. These books made me miserable in the absolute best way possible. The tension between Ryan and Dominic was incredible from the very beginning. The pining, the angst, the constant push and pull between them? All of it was so addictive. Every moment they shared felt heavy with emotion, and even during the softer scenes there was this lingering sense of dread hanging over everything. After the prologue, I got to watch these two fall in love while sitting here waiting for the moment it inevitably fell apart 💔💔💔 Ryan and Dominic loved each other so deeply, but they were also so toxic together at times. They wanted each other with everything they had, but sometimes love alone just isn’t enough. That’s what made their relationship so compelling to read. Even when they frustrated me, I couldn’t stop rooting for them 😭 And Max absolutely drove me insane. I genuinely detested him for so much of the story. You can understand some of his bitterness when you see things from his perspective and realize how deeply he believed Ryan was the “golden child,” but he said such cruel, unforgivable things that made me see red. What hurt the most is that if Max had really opened his…

Book 2 of this Duet. Must read book 1 Another home run by Lark Taylor! Are you ready to laugh, cry, be heart broken, have your heart be healed, and all the other emotions? Well if yes these are the books for you. Be lucky they are both out. I was in limbo and waiting for this one to come out after finishing the first.

4.25-4.5 ⭐ Tropes: 💕second chance 💕high angst 💕ex-military 💕"it's always been you" 💕forced proximity 💕slow burn Despite getting ARCs for this book, I did actually wait until I had both in hand because I just KNEW I would need to immediately start Shadows Never Leave after finishing Shadows Never Lie 🤭. 10 years after the end of Shadows Never Lie, Ryan and Dominic are back in each other's orbits. Ryan, "happily" engaged, and Dominic back from the military and ready to take back what was always his (aka Ryan). Oh the absolute ANGST in this book! Definitely the "right person, wrong time," and, as much as I hated Dominic leaving (definitely could've gone about this better), I loved seeing him doing what he needed to do for himself to actually BE the person that Ryan needed him to be. And now that he was ready, not quitting until he won Ryan back. I totally condone the meddling in this case. But also totally understand Ryan's hesitancy because how did he know that Dominic wasn't going to do something like he did all those year ago. Now about some of these side characters....WE BETTER BE GETTING MORE BOOKS.

Devoured… devoured….DEVOURED!!!!!!!!! Talk about a binge read! I loved this duet these characters all of them! Every last one! Redemption Arcs are my thing and there were so many in this book! I. Want. More! Lark Taylor give me more please!?

Lark Taylor is wonderful at taking readers through all of the emotions as her characters go through their relationships. The characters are relatable, imperfect, and you want to see them succeed, even as you wonder if pride and fear will win.