Title: A Shadow Of Wings
Series: N/A
Author: Linda Gayle
Genre: MM / Contemporary Fantasy
Length: Novel
Publisher: Linda Gayle
Reviewer: Thommie
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: 4.5 Hearts
Blurb: Thrown out on the street by his homophobic stepfather, Dylan struggles to get his life together. Years of being used and abused have left him tough and determined to make it on his own. When he sees a dog getting beaten, his protective instincts drive him to rescue her. But as the attackers turn on Dylan, out of the shadows comes a hero. One with mysterious eyes and a shy sensuality Dylan can’t resist.
Cam Coburn can’t reveal his true identity to the man he rescues. Nor can he reveal that he’s a freak among freaks, a cockatrice shifter with an unwanted gift for seeking out conflict rather than treasure. Newly independent from his mentor, Cam sees in Dylan his first chance to test the limits of his human guise. Defying every rule, Cam succumbs to Dylan’s seduction for just one night. But Cam finds he can’t let his lover go, and Dylan breaks down every barrier. For he is the one human who can gaze in a cockatrice’s eyes without fear.
Yet even as their bond deepens, danger closes in on them from all sides, and Cam’s dark secrets may save them—or lead to their destruction.
Product Link: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ashadowofwings-1076319-140.html
Review: Oh My God!!!
Yes, I’m excited and I can’t praise this book enough to my satisfaction. Some people simply have both talent and the ability to put that talent down and swipe you away in their beautiful, gorgeous, astonishing world of imagination. And no, don’t be mistaken to think that this story is place somewhere exotic, like a different world or another planet… It’s on Earth and in our times and yes there is the Church involved. Can’t help it, I’m a sucker for hidden groups that are Church/Conspiracy related, and when you throw in the mythical creatures that are bred in secrecy to be used for the High Power and a couple of hot guys, and I’m bound to melt on your feet.
Meet Cameron; oh my God what a character. He is a Cockatrice, a mythical creature whose species nearly got extinct along with the dragons centuries ago. Now his species is being bred by a secret brotherhood in the name of the God. Cam’s true form is a bit like a cock, a bit like a snake and a bit like bat (it’s his wings). However that form is subdued by a gold chain which allows him and his species to maintain their human form. Sheltered from humanity and literally not allowed to come into contact with humans, Cam feels like something is wrong with him. He is different from his kind, he feels compassion for humans and he has a special calling that urges him to help helpless people. And like this he bumps onto Dylan.
Meet Dylan; a throwaway. He never felt loved or cared. He lived on the streets and was in the wrong relationship that used and abused him. But he’s a stubborn man and doesn’t like to give up, or lose that one thing in him he holds precious, his humanity. It is like that he throws himself in front of a boot that was aimed to a poor dog. It’s like that he got nearly beaten to a pulp. And it’s like that he meets Cam, when his knight in shining armor steps in and beats his bullies away.
Cameron should have left after that and never thought it twice. He’s not supposed to contact humans and especially without his glasses. His eyes can kill yet he’s drawn to that man like the moth toward light. Dylan can’t fight the attraction either. This shy man who won’t meet his eyes call to him in strange ways, and when he finally looks him in the eyes the warmest feeling curses through his body.
Oh my God, again and again. This book is bloody fantastic. It got me from page one, from first paragraph and didn’t let me go till it ended. What a story, what a great plot and what amazing characters. I loved, loved, loved Cameron. I loved both his forms; I loved his incredible, submissive character; I loved his need to be loved and to do whatever it took to feel that feeling. But I adored Dylan; the flawed human, what some would call a lowlife. What a brilliant idea from this author to have the hero be a shabby guy nearly in the lowest step of human form. And how fantastic it was to see him rise and shine, fight for what he felt even before he knew what the heck that was. It might have been Cameron who saved his life, but damn, it was Dylan the true knight in this fantastic story.
And saying this was also one hot story, with some very heated scenes, would be the understatement of the year. Damn it, that pair of men had chemistry all over the place and you can feel it run into you while reading it. I loved how the author made it happen between them, the before and the after. Brilliant work indeed, and if there isn’t going to be a sequel for this I’m gonna be really, really disappointed. The end was a bit rushed in my opinion and while it was satisfactory, there were some questions left behind unanswered. The whole what happened to the order, what with the new species and what with the shadowy demons…
Anyway, back to this book; you’ll love it. It has action, suspense, mythical creatures, conspiracy, hot guys and an epic love story. What more do you want?
Strongly recommended!