New York City ~~ Present Day

Tristan St. Blaise has lived in the shadows for four hundred years. In another time, the alchemist Benito Achilles turned him into something dark, and Tristan has spent his life as a contract killer to appease the blood lust that lives within him. Only the most despicable die by his hands, and the city of New York has plenty to slake his thirst. When Tristan saves a woman from a would-be rapist, he becomes infatuated with Angelia Lightheart, feeling a peace in himself that he hasn't felt in ages. But Tristan has sworn off love because of what he is. Will Tristan be able to let Angelia go before he hurts yet another innocent woman?

When her attacker is killed right before her eyes, Angelia Lightheart doesn't know whether to run from her rescuer, or stay and thank him. As her mystery man disappears into the shadows, she's torn between calling the police and keeping her mouth shut. In the end, Angelia does the right thing...but anonymously. Yet when she meets Tristan St. Blaise once again, Angelia can't help but feel that inside he's a good man, and decides to get to know him better. Unlucky with men in the past, she doesn't know if she can trust Tristan, who definitely has secrets of his own. Will she be able to handle the truth of what he is and love him anyway?

There's a lot going on in MK Mancos's book, and at times, all the different characters and the continuous flashbacks into their lives became confusing. But, despite that, THE HOST: SHADOWS is a stirring romance about two people haunted by their pasts who find comfort, and love, with one another. Tristan is scarred emotionally by what Benito did to him and has spent his life ridding the world of evil men such as Benito. His heart has been shut off from the rest of the world for a long time, but when he saves Angelia, all that changes. Angelia has her own issues when it comes to trusting men; in the past, they have either abandoned her or lied to her. Even though Tristan is different from all the others, there is still a part of her that can't seem to believe that he could be the real thing. Secondary characters, such as Tristan's misguided son Julien, and the sinister alchemist Benito Achilles, add plenty of flavor to this paranormal romance.

However, THE HOST: SHADOWS is not the end for Tristan and Angelia, as MK Mancos leaves their fate in the air with a rather abrupt ending that might not sit too well with some. Hopefully, we will see their romance resolved in a future book.

Courtney Michelle