Standing in the Shadows (The McCloud Brothers, Book 2) [Paperback]

Shannon McKenna (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2003

From the national bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors comes a compelling new erotic thriller. In Behind Closed Doors, which Lori Foster called "an erotic thriller you cannot miss, " Shannon McKenna penned a dazzling tale of obsession and desire. Now, the first author to introduce romantic suspense to the Brava line is back with her highly-anticipated new novel, Standing in the Shadows. This is the sequel to Behind Closed Doors and picks up where that book left off - same villain, new hero. Ex-undercover FBI agent Connor McCloud has been marked by betrayal, scarred in body and soul. He was betrayed by Ed Riggs, trusted colleague and friend, losing his partner and almost his life in the process. It cost him everything he had to flush out the traitor and bring him to justice, along with the vicious madman Kurt Novak who corrupted and blackmailed Ed. Now fate has betrayed Connor too. Riggs's shy, lovely, dark-haired daughter Erin is the woman that Connor has been seeing in his dreams for years. The storm of violence that ensued from fulfilling his duty has put her beyond his reach, but it hasn't abated the dull ache of wanting that torments and depresses him. Things go from bad to worse when Novak's fabulous wealth and underworld connections spring him from his cage, for both Erin and Connor have been marked for revenge. Connor will protect her with everything he has left, whether she wants it or not, whether she hates him or not--but he can't hide the fire she kindles inside him, no matter how desperately he tries.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Brava Books (August 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758204531
• ISBN-13: 978-0758204530
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #605,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shannon McKenna is the NYT bestselling author of over ten action packed, turbocharged romantic thrillers, among which are the stories of the wildly popular McCloud series. She loves tough and heroic alpha males, heroines with the brains and guts to match them, villains who challenge them to their utmost, adventure, scorching sensuality, and most of all, the redemptive power of true love. Since she was small she has loved abandoning herself to the magic of a good book, and her fond childhood fantasy was that writing would be just like that, but with the added benefit of being able to take credit for the story at the end. Alas, the alchemy of writing turned out to be messier than she'd ever dreamed. But what the hell, she loves it anyway, and hopes that readers enjoy the results of her alchemical experiments. She loves to hear from her readers. Contact her at her website, shannonmckenna.com, or join the newsletter by signing up at http://eepurl.com/hb3JY.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

206 of 212 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the best in many ways!, September 10, 2003

By 

"readinganddreaming" (Green Country, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standing in the Shadows (The McCloud Brothers, Book 2) (Paperback)

Oh my! Whew!! Standing in the Shadows is one very steamy yet very well written book. It's not often that we see both of those important facets in the same book. We are provided with real life characters - not the paper cutouts that represent so many of the same old, same old, overwritten contemporary leads of today's romances. This couple also comes with a history - they have known each other for years and have secretly harbored an attraction for one other. That, in addition to the background created in McKenna's first romance suspense novel, Behind Closed Doors, provides the reader with a solid base and allows us to be totally immersed in the story from page one.

Connor McCloud is an ex-government agent who has been badly injured carrying out his duties more than once. During the last episode, partially played out in Behind Closed Doors, Connor is so severely wounded that he will probably never be able to completely recover physically. He is now working with his brothers in their own private investigation agency. Connor is disillusioned with life, very depressed, and mourns the betrayal of his former FBI boss, Ed Riggs. Connor played a large part in bringing down Riggs and more than one of his friends died due to his boss's betrayal. But still, Connor is left feeling empty and somewhat guilty. Bringing down Ed Riggs was the right thing to do. However, Riggs left behind a family ? a family Connor had gotten to know very well over the ten years he worked with him. Now Connor is haunted by his former boss's daughter, Erin Riggs. Connor had always hoped for an eventual relationship with Erin. He has waited since she was 17 - knowing her to be too young at the time. Now that she is 26 and definitely available, Connor does not believe Erin can ever be interested in him after his active involvement in bringing down her father. But not all the bad guys from Behind Closed Doors stay conveniently imprisoned. When the meanest villain around, Novak, escapes prison, Connor instinctively knows he will come after both him and Erin Riggs.

Connor approaches Erin for the first time since her father's betrayal to inform her that Novak has escaped and that she needs protection. Erin is living on a very tight budget and laughs at the thought of replacing the locks on her doors much less paying for protection. Connor gives her no choice in the matter and sets himself up as her bodyguard and protector. Both Erin and Connor are ecstatic to be near one another. Neither blames the other for her father's downfall. Soon, they have acknowledged their attraction to one another and the fireworks begin. The verbal interaction between the two is vastly entertaining. Connor is basically a gentle natured guy - you think - but has this really big alpha male hidden beneath his gentle exterior. He is a considerate man and very sexual as well. Connor and Erin's relationship is a huge battle of wills at times but the alpha male always ends up holding the edge over the forthright female. The sensual scenes are interwoven throughout the story and are every bit as erotic as many other interviewers have stated. They rate a solid 5.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). It is some delicious reading as we see the leads' relationship mature further as friends, develop as lovers, and progress to commitment.

Connor is lovingly overbearing at times. He wants Erin for his own and makes no secret of it. Erin has a couple of TSTL (too stupid to live) moments that make you want to shout "Think! Don't be so foolish!". But overall, both characters are very likable. This is not a book that relies on the misunderstanding theory of romance writing. The leads are too truthful with each other - if anything. The secondary characters are interesting reading - not just there to fill the holes as seems to be so often their fate. The villains are a little too mean for my comfort level and a few of the scenes were too gruesome for me to do anything but skim over them.

This is Shannon McKenna's second novel. The first, Behind Closed Doors, was a tremendous hit and is the prequel to Standing in the Shadows. Both can be read as stand alone books but you will probably enjoy them more if you can read them in order. The two books are very entwined and I would not be surprised to see another book or two added to this series. There are at least two single guys left from this group of mighty men. Although others have said it - I must as well comment on McKenna's talent. Her writing abilities are superb! She has the ability to combine many lusty scenes with very well rounded characters and even writes the suspenseful portions skillfully. It is difficult to find an author that can master all four of the following components for such a tremendous reading adventure:
1. Good flowing story line.
2. Well-developed characters.
3. Detailed sensual scenes that are an intricate part of the plot.
4. Suspense situations that warrant the substantial pages given to them.
McKenna has a rare talent that blends all of these elements into such a well-written book that you will remember long after you have sadly finished it. This is a definite book to keep and read again if there ever was one...

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dark and brooding, August 24, 2003

By 

Desmond Chan (Bishan North Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standing in the Shadows (The McCloud Brothers, Book 2) (Paperback)

We last saw Connor McCloud in Shannon McKenna's sensational debut Behind Closed Doors rushing to save Erin from the grasp of one of his nemesis Kurt Novak's henchman Georg. Standing in the Shadows continues from the prequel, focusing on the romance between ex-FBI agent Connor and Erin Riggs.

McKenna's protagonists are as usual brooding and tortured. Connor nearly died from a fatal explosion masterminded by his nemesis Novak; he is betrayed by his corrupted boss Ed Riggs who is now put behind bars when Connor testified against him. He feels guilt towards Riggs' daughter Erin and dare not find her despite his deep-seated crush for her. Erin is scandalized by her father's misdeed and is saddled with unemployment. Her mother Barbara is afflicted with depression while her sister Cindy is led astray by new-found lover Billy.

When Novak escapes from jail, all hell breaks loose. Connor is determined to protect Erin and emotions run high. Erin and Connor are forced to acknowledge their passion but with Connor's scarred childhood and regimental father - Erin is not sure whether Connor's fierce protection and jealousy stems from his past history of mental depression. Erin learns from his colleague Nick that Connor is afflicted with paranoia. Frustration also comes in when Connor hinders her job as a curator for Celtic-antique owner Mueller.

McKenna's sophomore effort pulsates with sizzling tension and passion but her debut was more focused. The exquisite emotional intimacy found in Behind Closed Door is sorely missed. Behind Closed Door was shorter but was leaner and held much more impact in its balance of romance and thriller. Despite this, Standing in the Shadows isn't a disappointment. It is enriched by McKenna's blisteringly intense hero who gives the tale a tantalizingly dark, shadowy edge.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Liked it, but a little predictable?, October 1, 2003

By 

Romance Lover "vt2949" (Sacramento, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standing in the Shadows (The McCloud Brothers, Book 2) (Paperback)

I loved Behind Closed Doors, because it was so original. Steamy sex, alpha-male/malleable female who were three-dimensional, great suspense -- that book offered something most romantic suspense is missing. Standing in the Shadows had that too, but that's the problem. This book was almost a complete replica of BCD. Especially the sex scenes, where the insecure alpha male repeatedly uses aggressive sex to control the heroine. Throughout the book, I kept thinking, "been there, done that." Also, although I loved the graphic, steamy sex scenes, I agree with other readers that the amount of sex didn't make sense in the context of the book. I mean, Connor knows that an insane, evil, maniacal man is out to kill Erin, and could come around the corner any minute, and yet Connor and Erin engage in 72 hours straight of sex, in her house, which is the first place the killer would come looking for her? It made the book seem silly. Don't get me wrong, even with it's faults, this book is head above other stuff in this genre. And I look forward to reading stories featuring Connor's brothers, Davy and Sean. I just hope that the author will take a new approach with those books, perhaps making the men a little more sensitive, and the women a little more assertive.