As promised for my August 16th post, today I am reviewing books one and two for the duet Isaac & Dallas: Light and Shadow.
Title: Isaac
Series: Light & Shadow, book one
Author: N.N. Britt
Genre(s) M/M Mafia Romance
Tropes Forbidden Romance, Undercover Agent/Gang Leader, Slowburn, Morally Gray Leads, Enemies to Lovers
Heat Rating: 4 Flames
Length: 86 000 words
Release Date: September 12, 2024
In the heart of Sin City, two men on opposite sides of the law collide in a dangerous game of power, passion, and betrayal.
Blurb: Isaac Thoreau, the son of a notorious crime boss, has spent nine years behind bars for his father’s murder. Driven, cunning, and unfeeling, he’s now back to claim what’s rightfully his. But when an enigmatic security guard named Hawk is hired to work at his nightclub, Isaac finds himself distracted… and inexplicably drawn to Hawk, despite his best efforts to resist.
Special Agent Dallas Bradley’s mission is clear: infiltrate the Hellhounds and bring their leader, Isaac Thoreau, to justice. Posing as Hawk, Dallas is determined to uncover the secrets of the Thoreau criminal empire. But as he delves deeper into Isaac’s world, the lines between right and wrong blur, and soon an undeniable attraction grows between the two men, forcing Dallas to question everything.
Walking away before he’s compromised would be the smart choice, but Dallas can’t resist Isaac’s magnetic pull, even if it means risking his life.
As love and duty clash, only one question remains: will Isaac and Dallas survive the fallout?
Note: Isaac is the first installment of Light & Shadow Duet. It can not be read as standalone. This is a dark MM mafia romance that explores various sensitive subjects like violence, abuse, PTSD, etc.
Having previously read and reviewed another duet by the author, and being a dark romance lover, I said to count me in when the Light & Shadow duet came up for review.
As stated in the blurb, Isaac is on the wrong side of the law. He’s a thinker, always deep in thought. After serving time and attempting to recover from a horrific childhood, Isaac is all about control. Nobody is going to make him do anything against his will again.
Enter Dallas, an FBI agent, dedicated to truth and justice, and posing undercover as Hawk to infiltrate Isaac’s gang.
I must say, that light and shadow are the perfect metaphors for this novel. The author dusts it with many shades of grey that leave the reader wondering who’s right and wrong. It reminds me of an episode I watched on Murdoch Mysteries called Murdoch in Wonderland, when the detective, a true believer in truth and justice, finds himself in the same predicament (mind you Murdoch isn’t being sucked into a gang of evil who make their living on the wrong side of the law, or falling for the leader). Still, this book delves deep into who has the right to dole out punishment for the wrong-doers. Who has the right to claim themselves as the law.
The author’s prose is extraordinary, painting a dark world full of dark thoughts with Las Vegas as the backdrop. It’s easy to get lost in the novel when the setting is used so brilliantly. It matches the mood of the main characters. Both are brooding men, always watching and observing, and not until they meet do they let their guards down…very slowly. As a matter of fact, I had hoped it’d been even slower because of the subject matter. But the author still does well when it comes to bringing Isaac and Dallas together.
What she created between them is believable. Both are questioning their motives and their feelings as their romance plays out during a criminal war.
The author does a great job of also breathing life into the piece through dialogue, gestures, visceral responses, and their thoughts. Dallas and Isaac do become true-breathing people who step off the pages of the novel.
I most enjoyed Dallas’ arc as he’s sucked in deeper. But there is also a change in Issac. Not much but it’s subtle, present like the haze of cigarette smoke that the characters enjoy indulging in.
I will say I was shocked when one character did the unthinkable. And that is why it reminds me so much of that Murdoch Mysteries episode.
This is more than a romance. It’s a dark look into the mind, and I can hardly wait to read the second half of the duet.
****
Title: Dallas
Series: Light & Shadow, book two
Author: N.N. Britt
Genre(s) M/M Mafia Romance
Tropes Forbidden Romance, Undercover Agent/Gang Leader, Slowburn, Morally Gray Leads, Enemies to Lovers
Heat Rating: 4 Flames
Length: 65,000 words
Release Date: September 26, 2024
Prepare for Betrayal and Redemption in Sin City.
Blurb: As the leader of the Hellhounds and a valued member of the notorious Thoreau crime syndicate, Isaac has it all: power, money, fear. Falling for someone has never been on his radar. But for the first time in his life, Isaac thinks he’s found someone he can truly trust—the mysterious security guard who shattered through his icy defenses and became the one person Isaac could be himself with.
Until everything goes up in flames.
Dallas Bradley has been treading an unstable line of deceit between righteousness and criminality. Isaac Thoreau’s world is slowly turning him into Hawk, the man who doesn’t exist, the man who’s ready to do bad things to survive and remain close to Isaac. But when a dangerous deal goes south, in order to save Isaac’s life, Dallas is forced to reveal the devastating truth—he’s a Special Agent sent to infiltrate the Hellhounds and bring down Isaac.
Heartbroken and enraged, Isaac can’t stand the man who betrayed him so deeply. However, when it’s clear Isaac’s fate is prison, Dallas strikes a bargain with his boss: help save Isaac from life behind bars and keep Dallas undercover to clean up the mess.
Isaac hates Dallas more than ever, but to escape the crosshairs they must work together once more. As tempers and stakes flare in the streets of Sin City, Dallas will risk everything to redeem himself in Isaac’s eyes. But can their undeniable connection survive when trust has turned to ash?
Note: Dallas is the second installment of Light & Shadow Duet. It should be read after Isaac. This is a dark MM mafia romance that explores various sensitive subjects like violence, abuse, PTSD, etc.
Dallas picks up where Isaac leaves off. Whereas the first book is dark and erotic, the second is romantic suspense. The heroes have a lot to work through after the end of the first book. I enjoyed how the author brought resolution to the conflict the duo faced after the big surprise Isaac learns about Dallas at the end of book one.
But they still have many obstacles to face. Isaac is painted true to character. All he’s known is crime and his family. His family is who he protects at all costs. Now he’s asked to do the unthinkable which he loathes. But the pickle he’s in leaves him with no choice. He’s backed into a corner with nothing left to do but play ball. I liked how the author wrote this part of the plot because Isaac would never do the unthinkable unless he had no choice. He’s that loyal, something Dallas’ bosses could take a lesson from.
As for Dallas, he’s the one with the most to lose. I felt for him. Really felt for him. After Afghanistan, he’s been existing, not living. All he has is his job and his family—and he hasn’t seen his family in eons. I like how he learns through Isaac what a family truly is. Whereas Dallas shuts everyone out of his life, Isaac embraces his “family” and would lay down his life for them.
The romance between the two also reaches new heights. They are no longer just lovers enjoying sex and intimate talks. In this novel, they forge a true connection, one they will have to make a decision on. Isaac knows what he wants. But does Dallas?
The novel may be romantic suspense, but the author doesn’t forget what is most important: Isaac and Dallas. Everything happening around them doesn’t detract from the growing relationship between the two. As a matter of fact, they need what’s happening to push them to make decisions that must be made, considering both are on opposite sides. The author does a great job here.
My only quibble is the two new POVs that came out of nowhere. I found them unnecessary. Everything could have been conveyed through Isaac or Dallas as they learn the truth about what’s really going on.
As stated in my previous review, Light & Shadow is appropriately titled because there are so many shades of grey running through this duet. There is no right or wrong. There are only decisions made based on circumstances.
This is a great read. Do yourself a favour and get a copy. If you like dark romance and characters on opposite sides, you’ll enjoy Light & Shadow.
Maggie Blackbird 