SEDUCTIVE SHADOWS (Shadows #1) by MARNI MANN

So, you know one of those books where you have absolutely no idea how you feel about it after reading and you’re still thinking about it for a while after?! Well this one is just that book for me. I was intrigued throughout and I needed to know what was going to happen. At times I rolled my eyes at others I felt so emotional my heart was pounding. To be honest I’m still not sure how I feel so bear with me.

The premise is one we’ve read about in a lot of books, in fact it’s a really fabulous mix of a lot of the books I’ve enjoyed. Despite this I felt it was quite unique too and quite artistic in parts as the writing was brilliant.

The story was quite slow to begin with; it was setting the scene for what was to come yet in some way I think the focus was placed too much on the sexual nature of our heroine.

“Sex held me at night, kept me from dwelling in the pain, from remembering and regretting. It was the only time I didn’t feel alone……”

I completely appreciate that we needed to understand the part sex played in her life as it was part of her traumatised psyche. However, it became too much for me which made me irritated with her story at times rather than have her gaining my sympathy. I’m not sure I really connected with her. She was fascinating, but I didn’t quite get her. At times she was just a little bit too odd for my liking, though I appreciated that she was a tortured soul. I just didn’t learn what I needed about her in order to fully understand her, I think. I loved that she was an artist, and after all, it takes eccentricity and a tortured soul to create a master piece no?! So in that respect the Author was spot on.

But wow, once it got going it was un-put-down-able! It was intense, raw and dark and I was enthralled; swept away by some class writing.

Our heroine Charlie is extremely passionate. She comes from an abusive home where sex was the order of the day as in her Mum and every Tom, Dick and Harry in their tiny flat. It’s the only thing Charlie knew, and by watching her Mum’s behaviour, Charlie soon starts to equate sex with love and self-worth. Her existence is heavily weighted by her past and she almost lives in her own little world in the shadows of life.

When Charlie is given a proposition, which comes about under extremely bizarre and mysterious circumstances, she sees an escape, a legitimate reason for her behaviour. She almost sees it as an affirmation and a release of responsibility.

The mansion of intrigue and menace fascinated me, I thought it was a real exciting concept and twist in the story and once we got more and more involved I was left gobsmacked. Charlie’s journey of self-discovery and ‘secrets revealed’ are all instigated by the acceptance of a fateful proposition. A journey that will shock and devastate her and make her realise and question everything.

“The music reminded me of a haunted house. But the loudest sounds of all were those in my mind. Questions swirled with each step: would I be working in this mansion… where was he taking me…what job was I going to be offered…would I accept it…and why was I dressed like this? I was anxious to find out the answers…”

Then we have Cameron, the gorgeous sexy bad arse painter who comes with his own mysterious circumstances surrounding him. The scenes with Charlie and him are highly charged and sensual. I wanted more of Cameron in this story, I felt we weren’t given enough of ‘him’ as well as them together before all hell broke loose so it was difficult to get the complete connection and the development of their relationship.

Hmmm….sat here thinking about it, I wonder if I have talked myself into a higher rating? Gah!!! I just don’t know how I feel, but maybe that’s part of the overall appeal? Who knows….?

If I had to describe Seductive Shadows in 5 words it’d be: Compelling, Dark, Erotic, Emotional & Unique!!