Book: Carved in the Shadows by A.L. Jackson
Reviewed by Karina's Magical Reads
Rating: 5/5
Immaculately written Brother's Best Friend story with so much yearning!! I devoured this book while on vacation and could not put it down. This is the second book in the Crimson Crows series, and it did not disappoint! Trevan is our tall, dark, and menacing MMC and also the best friend of Silas, the MC and Crimson Crows president. Trevan has been tasked with looking after his best friend's younger sister, Elena, for several years. As she gains her independence to move out on her own outside of the club compound, Trevan is asked to be her roommate in order to make sure she stays safe. Knowing that he feels something more than friendship with Elena, he knows this is a bad idea, but his need to protect her beats out any reservations he has. The club is facing retaliation from an enemy, so Silas and Trevan refuse to risk Elena's life in the process but want to allow her some freedoms. This is the best solution they can agree to, and Elena jumps at this opportunity with so much joy! Elena is our beautiful, spunky, and sweet FMC who has been in love with Trevan for years. As you can imagine, the yearning and temptation between the two as they learn to live together is palpable and so freaking hot. Elena wants to live as normal a life as possible and open her own gift shop within their community; with the help of Trevan and her family, this dream becomes a reality. But when you think their story is on a path to happiness, the plot twists and dark forces take hold while things get terrifying. Trevan risks everything to keep her safe and protect her while trying not to fall completely for the girl he is bound by oath to protect and to never touch romantically. She's a forbidden fruit, but still his little apple, and sometimes love trumps an oath. Even if it is the last thing he may ever do.
I cannot sing the praises of this series enough. Amy does an amazing job with her storylines, but more importantly, with her character development. You truly get to know not only the main characters but so many amazing side characters. They feel like family and friends, and you are wholeheartedly invested in what happens to them. My heart and emotions were wound up so much in their love story. The yearning nearly did me in. I loved every second of their story and was sad but also so happy when it was done. The silver lining in this is that I know Amy will write them into the next books, so this won't be the last time we get to experience how awesome these two are. The spice, tension, and yearning were so fantastic, and the banter was so much fun.
Thank you, Amy and @valentine_pr, for the gifted e-ARC copy. These are my own honest thoughts and opinions on Carved in the Shadows!