READ: Nightshade by Molly McAdams ~ Sarah A’s Review. PDF, EPUB online free reviews.

My life has never been my own. From the time I could walk, I was trained to be the mob’s hardened assassin. To be a monster. I’ve been told what to do, when to kill, and who to love. The minute I strayed, I lost everything.

Then I met Jessica.

She swept into my life like a storm of heartache, seduction, and intrigue. She’s everything I hate, but with one look, I can’t stay away. With one touch, she ignites a craving unlike anything I’ve ever known.

But her secrets threaten to destroy everything closest to me. Including her…

Together we’re poison. A destructive combination of darkness and chaos. And I want to savor every drop in my veins.

***The Redemption series is a series of interconnected romantic suspense standalones***

Once again, Molly McAdams proves she is the queen of rip-your-heart-out romances. My body physically aches after reading Nightshade; it kept me so tense while reading. My heart hurts, my lungs burn, my shoulders won’t relax; it was intense and amazing. This is the epitome of what I look for in a romance novel.

Nightshade is the third book in Molly McAdams’ Redemption series. These books are all interconnected stand-alones so you can read them independently, but I would highly recommend reading them all and in order as each book – especially the final two – is built on the world of the what came before. It’s told in dual POV, by Jessica and Kieran. Experiencing both of their fears, desires, demons, and love made this book outstanding.

I loved Kieran in Firefly; he was, and is, terrifying, but just underneath that frightening shell it was obvious he was damaged, destroyed even, by a life that wasn’t his. The delineation between Kieran and Nightshade, how it was demonstrated was fascinating. His growth arc, especially when you take into account who he was in Firefly, made this book. Watching him realize he was wrong about what he was sure he’d wanted and needed his entire life was incredibly healing.

Jessica nearly broke me; her story was beyond heartbreaking. I appreciated how delicately Ms. McAdams handled her character. She was hands-down one of the strongest, fearsome heroine’s I’ve read, while also being one of the most wrecked. Jessica could have easily made a thousand different choices which would have changed every aspect of her life, but she never strayed from her purpose.

Jessica & Kieran were phenomenal together. They each fulfilled a deep need in the other and were able to soothe the aching pieces of the other’s soul. Their chemistry was explosive, but it was the moments where they simply offered each other solace from the world that completely bowled me over. These two were perfect for one another in every way. Witnessing them learn how to be together, how to heal their gaping wounds, how to read every nuance of the other’s persona was beautiful and a little heartbreaking.

This book nearly broke me at several points. The plot was wonderful and suspenseful; it was intense and intricate, it was near perfection. There were so many moving parts, so many forces working against Jessica and Kieran and the people they loved; it was a wonder they were able to unravel the web that had been woven around them and find a way out. The final chapters of Nightshade shredded my heart; I absolutely was taken aback by what happened, by how they happened, by how devastated I was when the dust cleared.

Molly McAdams is a go-to author for me, she’s yet to disappoint me and writes emotionally charged, devastatingly beautiful romance unlike anyone else. Her prose is always perfectly matched to the characters and the world in which she is writing. Ms. McAdams knows how to rip her readers’ hearts out, fillet them and send them on the path to healing in a way that is uniquely hers. I know every time I delve into a new novel she’s written I will be wholly engrossed and deeply impressed, and she did a wonderful job of proving that, yet again, in Nightshade.

The muscles in Kieran’s jaw ticked, and the anger rolling off his body suddenly felt like a living thing. But his stare never wavered from mine as I soundlessly opened the knife at my side.

“Or did I hit a little too close for comfort last night?” I asked, my voice both seductive and mocking as I took another step closer to him and then another. “Could you just not satisfy her?”

“Enough.”

My brows rose at the growl behind his demand. “Is that right?”

His eyes held so much warning as I took the last step to press my body against his.

My body trembled and begged to get closer still, but I forced myself not to move.

I hated him for the way he felt.

I hated him for the way my body craved more and betrayed me.

I hated him for everything he was and for making me want him in a way I’d never wanted a man.

I hated him.

“Who knew the mob’s feared assassin was lacking.”

One second I was in front of him, staring into those wild eyes, the next I was pressed face-first to the wall with Kieran’s hard body caging me against it. His strong hands were pinning mine to the wall. My knife was gone.

His chest moved roughly against my back, his breath made my hair dance along my cheek and lips, and I ached to push against where I could feel his hardened length in his jeans.

Oh God.

What is wrong with me?

I tried to force a wild laugh from my lungs.

I tried to taunt him.

But there was nothing.

“How long?” he demanded, his voice hoarse.

I curled my hands against the wall and shivered beneath him when his body moved closer and he pressed our hands harder to the wall.

“What?” I asked breathlessly.

“How long have you been watching us?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

A huff tumbled from my lips when his mouth met my ear. The sound ended on a whimper when the movement forced my butt against his erection.

I needed the heavy, sickening feeling weighing my body down. I needed the disgust and hatred at having a man so close. I needed the reminder of who I was and why I did what I did.

But all I could smell was the subtle hint of his soap.

All I could see was his tattooed arms twisting over mine.

All I could feel was his lean muscles crowding around me in a way that felt so foreign and good.

And I wanted more . . .

Weak. So weak.

“How long?”

My body tensed.

If he had yelled the question, it might have been easier. But there was something truly terrifying in the soft tenor of his voice. And for the first time, I was afraid to be in the same room as him.

But I wasn’t scared for my life.

I was scared for my soul.

I slowly looked over my shoulder and forced myself to hold his disturbing stare. “Nearly half my life.”

Molly grew up in California but now lives in the oh-so-amazing state of Texas with her husband, daughter, and fur babies. When she’s not diving into the world of her characters, some of her hobbies include hiking, snowboarding, traveling, and long walks on the beach … which roughly translates to being a homebody with her hubby and dishing out movie quotes. She has a weakness for crude-humored movies and fried pickles, and loves curling up in a fluffy comforter during a thunderstorm … or under one in a bathtub if there are tornados. That way she can pretend they aren’t really happening.