Author: Penelope Black

First Published: 14 December 2023

Series: Rosewood

“I let you walk away one. I won’t make that same mistake again.”  

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank so much Penelope Black and the team over at Valentine PR for sending a copy my way!

This is a sequel; I will try and keep my review as spoiler free as possible but just be wary if you haven’t read first book, Moonlit Temptation.

A whirlwind romance of small-town secrets, why choose dilemmas, and heart-stopping suspense.

In Rosewood’s scorching summer, I’m torn between the irresistible playboy with a haunting secret, my ever-present white knight, and the broody single dad.

I foolishly thought the hardest thing I had to do was entertain the five-year-old boy I spent my days nannying.

But I should’ve known better. I should’ve known danger lurks in the most unlikely places.

And as the shadows close in, I find myself faced with an impossible choice. One that I know that will change everything.

Oh my god! What an ending! My mind is racing what is going to happen to Evie now. Seriously, no one does a cliffhanger ending like Penelope Black. I am counting down the days for the sequel, Midnight Salvation. I have my fingers and toes crossed that everything works out for Evie and her guys.

After the massive cliffhanger of Moonlit Temptation, Evie settles into her new job as a nanny and is navigating her budding relationships with two of the three St. James men. She’s healing from the ordeal and trying to navigate an increasingly tense stand-off with her family, her mother in particular, who are after the house she inherited from her grandmother.

I adored the little slice-of-life moments we got in Shadowed Obsession. Evie has her hands full between looking after five-year-old Hunter and her unconventional relationship with Nova and Bane. Honestly, Hunter has to be one of the cutest kids I’ve read. He is obsessed with baking and all things chocolate chips. I love all the baking moments in here. We really get to see Evie healing from the loss of her job and her mother’s disapproval. She is starting to find her confidence. We do have a little setback when her horrible mother shows up, but thankful Bane was there to stop her mother from walking over Evie like she has done all of Evie’s life.

I love the way the relationships between Evie and her guys are developing. Bane truly is Evie’s white knight. Even from their first meeting eight years ago, he has done everything he can to support her and make her realise that she is more than what her mother thinks of her. Honestly, if it was not for Bane being so calm and supportive, I don’t think Evie would have the confidence to pursue an open relationship or convince Nova to get on board. There are still some big questions that haven’t been answered about Nova but they don’t get explored apart from him reeling from the discovery. Thankfully, I don’t think it is what I first thought. I adore Nova’s flirty nature. While he does get a little competitive with Bane about who should be with Evie, he settles down once ground rules are set in place. I love getting to see more of his artistic side. And then we have Silas, oh boy, he is so hot and cold when it comes to Evie. I completely understand her frustration. One minute he’s doing something stupidly sweet like risking his life in a tornado warning to save her grandmother’s furniture and next, he is treating her like some kind of whore. Honestly, he better grovel when he finally gets his head out of his ass and realises that he also wants to be with Evie. It is the least she deserves.

The suspense plot is really ramping up. Evie has found some weird documents that her grandmother was hiding. Also, her mother seems to be involved with the robber. I get the vibe that she is up to something. A gang war seems to be brewing as dangerous MC gangs, Hell Hounds and the Savage Souls, have joined forces to target the Rosewood Reapers. Silas reveals a hit he undertook years ago to disband the Savage Souls, which might be the cause. Secrets are starting to come out and it is shaking the solid trust between the St. James men. I have no idea where this is going to end, but I am here for the ride.

I never thought small town and MC romance would go together, but Penelope Black has made it work and has me hooked. I need the sequel ASAP because I have questions, so many questions.