Shadows in the Dark by Anise Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adrian is a private man with a dark past. He is plagued with sleepwalking and not knowing what he has done. He often woke up several miles away from home or in different rooms, with no recollection of how he got there. Adrian has sadistic tendencies and enjoys being a dominant at Lotus, a BDSM club that requires a specific invitation. He rarely invited anyone more than once.
Brynn’s sister, Blair, was found in the San Francisco Bay. After she moves into Blair’s former condo, Brynn accesses Blair’s laptop and discovers a shocking secret. Blair had a darker side; she was a submissive who found pleasure in pain.

Brynn discovers her sister’s stash of journals inside a secret compartment in a wall. She researches the lifestyle in detail after meeting Erebus69. After following Erebus69’s verbal instructions, Brynn receives an invitation to Lotus. What she is unaware of is that Blair had been one of Erebus69’s submissives. However, Erebus69 doesn’t know that Brynn is the half-sister to Blair.

Brynn’s work environment has become uncomfortable because of Randall’s attempts to get her to go on a date with him. He is her boss, and she has always refused his invitations. After Brynn’s condo is broken into, the only item missing was a pair of panties that Erebus69 had sent her. When Adrian learns about the incident, he asks for her number and hires Barry to watch her. Adrian doesn’t have feelings of love for anyone, but he feels a strong attraction towards Brynn.

For a story full of suspense and a slow-burn romance, Shadows in the Dark is an exceptional book. A dark past mixed with the painful memories of a lost loved one plagues both sides of this story. Brynn never knew her sister’s affinity for being a masochist. Adrain’s guilty conscience for his twin sister’s death. The isolation of both characters puts them at risk of harm. If Adrian is possibly killing people in his sleep, Brynn is a prime victim. Their shared time on Olympus and trysts on Lotus bring the steam factor in a tasteful way. The emotions that the sexual acts are displayed, the primal desire for dominance driving both to trust the other. The intricate details lead the plot into unforeseen circumstances for both characters. The story sets a solid foundation for the trilogy, and the intense end left me anxious to read the sequel. This is definitely a 5-star book I recommend for mature adults who like to delve into the BDSM world, featuring two lost people meeting physically. Will they also connect on an emotional level?

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