About:
Pecca Gallegos moved to the tiny town of Walton, Georgia, to protect her son and escape the dangerous lifestyle that once defined her. When a series of strange circumstances evolve into threats, Pecca finds herself confiding in an unlikely ally–her stubborn patient.
Army veteran Colton Crawford is desperate to recover from the undiagnosed disorder that is ruining his life, and his instincts are on high alert when threats against his nurse and her son force him to take action. But Colton’s involvement only ramps up the danger when he uncovers a family secret revealing that whoever is after Pecca is closer–and more deadly–than they realized.
With this suspenseful new story, Natalie Walters welcomes you once more to Walton, Georgia, where everyone knows your name–but no one knows your secret.
AMAZON /// BOOKBUB /// GOODREADS
Review:
After putting my copy of Silent Shadows in my closet, eh, I mean library, I told my mom I was off to write my most disappointing review of Natalie Walters’ newest release.
Let me step back a minute… before this I was walking by Mom on the way up the stairs I yelled triumphantly, “I was right! It’s Natalie’s best book.” I hurried upstairs and *groans* tossed my bag on my bed, so no, my book isn’t in the proper place it should be but I’ll fix that … After I finish my review.
You see it is the best of the series and yet it is disappointing since I can’t read another of her books FOREVER. Like so long. And I want to cry because her books are SO GOOD AND SO REAL.
All right, all right, on to my real review.
This book has been on my to be read list since the day I read the first book in the series, Living Lies, that was even before I knew what Silent Shadows was about, or even knew the title of the then unknown book. It’s funny really, I nearly didn’t request the first book for review because I thought the cover looked haunting, and the author was a new author, her debut book was about to release, Living Lies, which ended up to be a top five favorite in 2019, but back to the subject at hand … Silent Shadows!
I loved the different name that the heroine had, Pecca. It is definitely not one you hear every day! And I saw the author’s reason for using it and I liked it even more. (Ask Natalie Walters about it on Facebook/Goodreads/social media etc. because I would butcher it. ;))
Before I get to Colton I want to talk about the veteran side of the story, which was so awesome, I knew that Silent Shadows would have some military/Vet themes in it but, oh, goodness, it was even better than I expected. The men in the book were hilarious, and I loved the jabs they gave each other about being in different branches of the military. (I’M ALL FOR AIR FORCE OF COURSE…), and the love that Pecca had for the wounded warriors she cared for made her character so real.
Then there were the cute little boys who are quite daring at times (they remind me of my middle brother, honestly.) and Maceo, I absolutely loved his story. #saynomoreforspoilers
Now, Colton, after loving both of Mrs. Walters’ first two heroes, Charlie, and Ryan I wasn’t sure if I’d like Colton as much as I did them but now? After reading all three books I have to say they are tied, I can’t pick a favorite!
The suspense, oooh, I can nearly always predict what happens in a suspense. It’s not so with the Harboured Secrets series! I got until the last quarter of the book and I had a guess as to why the bad guys were after Pecca (I was right, but I was also unable to figure out why.) and I am so happy that each of Natalie Walters’ books were truly suspenseful! I was am so happy that I found a suspense that was suspenseful.
I still haven’t gotten to say anything about Colton, have I? Well, he was not quite what I was expecting, I’ve read many books with soldiers suffering from PTSD and yet they don’t always feel real or they are cliche stories, it’s not so in Silent Shadows. I understand some of PTSD (my dad’s had PTSD half of my eighteen years.) and it’s tiring to see it done over the top, or badly which was one of the reasons I’m glad that Colton didn’t have PTSD.
And I loved, loved, loved, loved Colton and Maceo’s relationship; it was so well written! (Go grab a copy and come back and we can talk about it!)
I loved the rubbing Colton got for “Hot Tamale” and all of that part of the book. The guys were all developed even though they were side characters, as I’ve seen in each of the Harboured Secrets books Natalie Walters is good at writing all of her characters, and giving them character, all of them. Even the character that only shows up in a book once, they still seem like real people in the book.
Now, let’s talk about that ending, shall we?
It was good, so good. But it was not where I wanted it to end. I wanted to know more about a certain character that came into the story, I need them to have a story! The unexpected person to come into the book was making me need more!
I would love to see that character’s backstory, it would make me so happy if it happens.
All right, I’ve said all this, but I should warn you that this is not a book for the faint of heart. It deals with a lot of tough stuff. Like …
Drugs.
Unmarried pregnancy.
PTSD.
Soldiers who were wounded.
Prison.
Murder.
Crimes.
Beatings.
Being held at gunpoint.
A sniper tries to take someone out.
Threats of killing a kid.
Threats of taking someone out just like the person had killed someone else.
So, lots of things that make this book a read for mature readers and those that like suspense that has hard topics in it.
I can’t believe I got to this point in my review without mentioning the cover! You know how I just mentioned (up there somewhere…) that I almost didn’t read Living Lies because the cover looked haunting? Well, that would have been a BIG MISTAKE (*chuckles* Read the book, you’ll want to read about the “mistakes” and apologies.), I now love the covers since they have the three main colors I love. And they are so pretty in a serious, almost scary way.
While I loved the Harboured Secrets series I am slightly sad that it has ended but look forward to what Natalie Walters publishes next, she is a favorite suspense author as of the first chapter of her first book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
About the author:
My world revolves around GIJOE and our three adult (or almost adult) children who keep my life anything but predictable. Our boots hit the ground wherever the Army sends us but home is when we’re all together no matter the zipcode. My passion is writing stories where adventure meets love and share my belief that life rooted in purpose is a story worth telling.
Abigail Kay Harris 
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