Defiance: a Masters of the Shadowlands novella

I am a huge fan of this author whatever sub-genre of romance she is writing. For me though this was too short, and lacked any sense of tension so it left me feeling unsatisfied. She has written a couple of other shorter stories which have worked much better, but I think this was too much about introducing the new series and not enough about a tale needing to be told.I understand it is a transitional novella, meant as an introduction to the new series and it did that; but it isn't needed. Books don't have to be linked, and when the linking story seems contrived it disappoints rather than whets the appetite.However there were a lot of positives to this tale. Ms Sinclair handles emotion so well: anger and grief, PTSD, guilt and of course love in all its complexity. This book is no exception.As the blurb says, Z gets a death threat and decides to use his promise to a dying friend, to arrange the wake at his funeral, to get the stalker out in the open to catch him. For me, some of Z's actions didn't ring true to his character as shown in the Shadowlands novels but he seemed to recognise his mistakes eventually. Mako, the old Drill Sergeant was a larger than life character who I would love to have known more about. The brothers we meet are interesting and Gabe already has me hooked and signed up for the first in the new series. The stalker was not a very well developed character and he was very much a means to an end in this story which was a shame. However it is lovely to get another strand in the tale of Z and Jessica and their family.Overall this was not a particularly good story but the telling of it remains engaging because of the authors expertise in writing believable complex people.

I have read all of this authors books and have really enjoyed the series concerning Master X and his Dom/sub club known as Shadowlands where everyone is part of an extended and caring family that have had dealings with many undesirable aspects of society from crime to sex trafficking there never seems to be a dull moment.Z is contacted by Mako an old drill sergeant that has just discovered he has only a few months left and asks Z to help his four adopted son who are now grown men all at some time serving in the services to organise an Irish Wake in Alaska, this also happens to have come at an opportune moment as Z has an ex soldier/sniper trying to kill him. He has not informed his sub/wife Jessica what is happening but she knows Z well enough to suspect he is hiding something and decides that she will follow him to Alaska after leaving their eighteen month daughter with her grandmother.Jessica arrives at the wake much to z's startled surprise and quickly on the heels dread as he had just nearly been killed again, only a flesh wound, Jessica is ready to spit when she finds out that her husband has been lying and refuses to leave, she joins the wake meeting Mako's three sons and listening to lots of tall tales told by even taller and on occasion older men that served with the dad, he was as hard as nails but he had loved them all and had made men of therm.Z and Jessica promise to keep in touch with the brothers and Z promises Jessica that after the winter storms have abated he will snow mobile up to Mako's old cabin and visit with Gabe to ensure he is healing from both the physical injuries and mental injuries of his last deployment, along with the deaths of several me who decided not to listen to his orders. They paid the ultimate price and lost their lives!!This was a wonderful read and a great introduction to the new series Not a Hero - Sons of the Survivalist Series

Master z is back...This novella is beautiful sexy and has plenty of action .we get to see master z outside the shadowlands when he attends the funeral of his old pal mako (sarge) in alaska, where we meet three of makos sons who are all military men strong sexy and honorable (cant wait for there own stories)..Z has a stalker who wants him dead when he shots at z in a car park z manages to get away unharmed ( scratch) he realises the danger to his family and fear for them makes him head to alaska for his friends funeral alone in the hopes the stalker will follow and z can catch him with the help of makos sons and devires.. what will happen when jessica z wife leavea the safety of her mums and follows z to alaska? Unaware that her husbands life is in danger jessica sets out to be at z side .... will they catch the stalker before he takes his next shot!Will z survive!I love these shadowlands series they are not only fun hot and action packed with some kinky on the side but there like extended family the more you read the more you need.. love master z and jessica their chemistry is still of the charts... i cannot wait to read the makos sons stories...

Great lead on to the new series, and although I am looking forward to finding out more about the new characters I have to admit I will miss the Masters of the Shadowlands and hope it’s not the last we will hear of them. It would be too sad to think of never revisiting the Shadowlands again. I enjoyed this book and thought the author managed very well to tell the story of Master Z being stalked by a mad man while introducing us to the new characters that will be staring in the upcoming series.

This super novella is a great intro to what is sure to be another gripping series by a great author. We are lucky enough to meet Master Z and his feisty wife Jessica again. On a trip to mourn one of his past friends, he is being hunted by a former Marine and so has help from the yummy DeVries (always a treat to see him!). Hea guaranteed, we meet the Marine's four sons and hey presto the new Series is born. I cannot wait! If you love the Shadowlands and Dark Haven you will love this.