Blog Tour ~ Illuminate The Shadows (Shatterproof Bond, #1) by Isobel Starling ~ (Review, Excerpt + Giveaway)
Title: Illuminate The Shadows (Shatterproof Bond, #1)
Author: Isobel Starling
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: May 9, 2016
Synopsis
The thrilling, funny sequel to 'As You Wish'.
A Scotsman and an Englishman fall in love…
After the most amazing week of Declan Ramsay's life, at Dunloch Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, in Scotland. The charming, mysterious Samuel Aiken has turned Declan's life upside down. Declan has experienced a remarkable change. He has come to terms with the fact he is bisexual, and he has fallen head-over-heels in love with his boss’s son Sam.
However, falling for his boss’s son was never going to be an easy path to happiness, mainly because the boss in question is multi-millionaire property tycoon and former MI5 operative, Sir James Aiken.
Sir James is repulsed by his son’s homosexuality, and so discovering that his employee Declan Ramsay- the man he installed to run his luxury property rental empire- is in a relationship with Sam, does not go down well.
The lovers cannot hide from the looming presence of Sir James Aiken for long! Soon enough James makes his move, and Declan finds out what he will have to endure to stay with Sam, and what he will have to give to feel worthy of Sam's love.
**The story continues in "Return to Zero" (Shatterproof Bond #2)** This second book will be released on 6th June 2016
Purchase your copy today!
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Excerpt
Sam and Declan have invited their siblings to dinner at their home, and during the meal they decide to share their relationship status. Declan’s brother, Oliver, does not take the news that his brother is bisexual, at all well.
“Declan strolled out of the living room, a look of determination on his face. He wanted to punch his brother in the mouth for what he’d said, and had to breathe deeply to harness his bubbling anger. Sure enough, when he turned to the top of the stairs, Oliver sat half-way down, looking a little queasy. Declan parked his arse on the top step and looked down at his baby brother.
“Ye’ve only been sharing fer a few weeks… he’s a fast worker, that one,” Oliver said with a sarcastic sneer.
“DON’T” Declan said roughly, barely keeping the anger in check. He was so very disappointed with his brother. “What the fuck is yer problem? What does it matter who I love? What I get up te in the privacy of my own home, with my body is, frankly, none a yer damn business.” He paused to take a couple of calming breaths and simmered with frustration at the look of disinterest on his brother’s face.
“This is important te me. Sam and I are a couple, and we wanted to share our happiness with you and Belle, just as you shared yours wi’ us.” Declan glared at Ollie who now wouldn’t even look him in the eye. The silence was palpable, and the more Declan looked at his brother, the more he began to pity him. After several minutes Oliver couldn’t hold his pinched, scowling expression any more.
“It wasnea supposed te be like this,” He burst out suddenly, sounding like a whiny brat. “You were supposed te meet a nice lassie, and we’d have son’s and take them te football, and hiking an’ fishing. Normal stuff, ye know”
Declan winced at the outburst. Normal stuff… bollox te that!
“Oliver, that’s not me. That was never me. And as fer meetin’ a lassie, I’ve tried, a lot. I tried for so many years te be like the other lads, but I hated the man I became. I was goin’ through the motions, and it made me so fuckin’ unhappy.” Declan ran his hands over his bearded face and into his hair. Oliver was silent and taciturn. Declan decided to try another strategy.
“When you wake up in the morning wi’ Belle sleeping beside ye. How’d ye feel?”
Oliver’s glance darted to meet Declan’s. “Why?”
“Just say, fer fucks sake” God, my brother is stubborn bollox.
“I guess I feel… peaceful, contented, I suppose. She looks beautiful, like a fairy princess, or sum’ thin’,” He admitted candidly.
“And you know ye love her, fer certain?”
“Aye, from the moment I laid eyes on her at that Aikens corporate party”
“Well, since when do straight people have first dibs on happiness? Eh?” Declan challenged. “I’m attracted te women, and I’m attracted te men, but I have never woken up beside anyone feelin’ anything, but discomfort, like I was in the… wrong place. I felt sick, I felt like a liar. Every. Time. And it ate away at me. It’s no’ fair te me, and it’s no’ fair te the women I was foolin,’” Declan took a breath to organize his thoughts.
“But Sam… Sam is different. Jesus, if I could only put into words how he makes me feel” Declan felt the tears crowd his eyes. Talking about his feelings had always been difficult. He’d been the stereotypical emotional cripple before Sam, but this time words flowed unbidden.
“I know who I am when I’m wi’ him. When I wake up in his arms, I’m so at peace I don’t wantae get out of bed. He makes me laugh until I cry. He always cares for me, no matter that I’m a maudlin, moody control freak. I look at him, and fer the first time in my life, I’m home.” Declan paused to catch a breath “If you truly think our love is wrong… well… tough shite. This is my life, and he is who I choose to live it wi’. If ye cannae be happy fer us, I just feel sorry fer ye.” The words felt clumsy and poorly constructed, but he needed to say them, and he hoped his brother would hear and accept them.
Sam and Annabelle stood in the open doorway, listening to their partners talk. Belle’s hand was absently rubbing her brother’s back for comfort as Declan explained how he felt for Sam. “I’m so happy for you” She said “I can’t believe we’ve hooked brothers” She drew Sam into a hug and when they parted Declan was standing at the door.
“Can I have a go?” he asked with a wry smirk on his face. Sam gripped the front of Declan’s shirt and pulled him into an embrace. The downstairs door slammed.”
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***
Illuminate The Shadows is the sequel to As You Wish, Isobel Starling's debut novel that you can find for free on ARe, it's part of the Shatterproof Bond series and should be read in order.
In the prequel, Sam and Declan finally meet after sustaining a year long e-mail friendship. It was hate at first sight, but they soon bond through their mutual love of The Princess Bride and set upon being the best best men they can be for Sam's sister and Declan's brother's wedding. Declan thought he was straight, and he's mildly confused by his attraction to Sam, although their chemistry is too strong to deny, and Sam is gay, so they quickly find themselves giving in to their attraction, only not everyone is happy about them getting together.
Sam and Declan are happy with their new relationship and growing closer by the day. However not all is good for them, seeing as Sir James, Sam's billionaire dad and an ex-MI5 operative isn't too fond of his son being gay and Declan is about to find out that his boss and Sam are not who they seem to be.
I read both books back to back and it was quite an entertaining read. It definitely was not what I expected, since there are some action elements blended in with the romance, especially in the second book. Some of the things were a bit too Bond-ish for me, and I could've done without everyone calling, thinking or referring to Sam's dad Sir James almost all the time, including Sam. Still, the plotline kept my interest and the writing was very good and fast-paced. Sam and Declan are lovable, well-developed characters, that I am happy to root for and can't wait to find out what else Isobel Starling has in store for them.
Very recommendable!
Rating: 4 Stars!!!
More In The Series
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