Review: The Shadow Guard by Diane Whiteside

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Brava (April 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780758225191
• ISBN-13: 978-0758225191
• ASIN: 0758225199

Purchase from:

Click the Amazon link

The Book Depository

The Shadow Guard. They are the darkest of Black Ops. A force operating outside the sphere of the CIA or FBI. Taking their mandate not from the U.S. government, but from magic. And sex.

Sahir. Astrid Carlson is one of them, a mage on a mission. With her wispy blond hair and those long, long legs, she can make a man forget himself. Until it's way too late.

Kubri. Jake Hammond is the only thing she needs, the human conductor who can focus all her strength, bringing her to a peak of power, or shattering her completely. Yeah, she's got a hundred or so years on him, but who's counting when there's an unstoppable assassin to take down--and unstoppable chemistry to take on. . ..

*****

The Shadow Guard is a paranormal romance with a difference. There are no vampires or werewolves, but there is magic. And sex. Astrid works for the FBI, but she is unofficially undercover. In truth she’s a Sahir, a mage. She wields magic to help humanity. Astrid is strong, capable and isn’t afraid to push the limits her superiors set. With a killer on the loose she enlists the help of her online gaming partner, Jake Hammond, who also happens to be a cop. Jack is tall, dark and handsome. He’s also a Kubri, a human conductor.  He strengthens her, to bring her to hit the highest point of her power. Although Astrid hides her true self from Jake, circumstances push her to reveal what she is, and what his role in her life now could be. A Kubri helps power a Sahir through sex. It’s electric between the two of them, but Astrid is afraid of losing someone else she cares for and, in the process she could destroy herself. Jake finds himself drawn to Astrid, and actually deals with the truth of who she and he are very well. He has faith. Together they work through the information they have to find and stop those responsible for the murder and an even bigger scheme, which I never saw coming. The battle at the end is quite spectacular. Astrid I really enjoyed the chemistry between Astrid and Jake. It was there from the get go, and never let up. They completed each other; the Sahir/Kubri relationship brought them even closer. The premise of Sahir’s and Kubri’s is very interesting, as I haven’t read anything similar before. There is definitely a lead on with two characters from this book, and I can’t wait to read their story.

There’s a lot of mystery woven into the story. It reads more like a paranormal romance detective story. Strange, you may think, but grab a copy of the Shadow Guard if you’re looking for a paranormal romance with a difference.

I give it 3.5/5.

This book was sent to me by the author.