Review: Between the Shadows

ABL Review at a Glance

• Title: Between the Shadows
• My Rating: 4.5
• Genre: Science Fiction, Time Travel, Historical Fiction
• Format: audiobook*
• Publication Date: September 24, 2018
• Author: Casi McLean

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Book Blurb

She never expected to confront deadly villains…let alone fall in love with one…

After her friend, York, encounters the ghostly image of a young woman, Mackenzie Reynolds seizes the opportunity to initiate a time jump, thrusting them back to 1865 Georgia. Resolved to thwart the girl’s untimely fate, Kenzi stumbles into a deadly conflict over a stockpile of stolen Confederate gold.

An injured Civil War survivor, James Adams departs for home with a war-fatigued companion he’s determined to help. After pilfering a horse and kidnaping a woman, he never dreamed his hostage would steal his heart.

Kenzi and James must unravel a deadly plot, while helping York save his ghost woman from a brutal death. But can she leave York in a violent past to save James’s life?

A Gripping Novel By Award-Winning Author Casi McLean

My Thoughts

This installment gave me major Outlander vibes, thanks in most part to heroine, Kenzi’s, spiffy medical bag from the future.

I really loved the setting of this particular time travel story. I was less emotional than book #2, because of obvious reasons (book 2 centered around 9/11), but without that impending tragedy, the drama came solely from the story. Different, but equally compelling.

I’m not particularly knowledgable about the civil war or the reconstruction following it, but it was so interesting picturing what their lives would have been like trying to return from the war as a whole person and a whole country. It’s easy to understand how difficult that could be.

I really enjoyed the dual love story. Because both stories were being told simultaneously, the author didn’t need to produce manufactured drama or obstacles, making the action the catalyst. The adventure and relationships were allowed to flow naturally, making reading/listening to Between the Shadows addictive and effortless.

Caci McLean thrives on weaving a tale with lots of thread but absolutely no loose ends. It’s honestly remarkable, because I almost got confused by the events and characters. Just when I thought someone or something was random character or event, she would bring them back as a major part of the story.

I’ve said before that I would listen to any Amy Deuchler reads. This holds true again. I don’t know how she came up with and could access all fo those different voices so fluidly, but bravo!

I hope you guys pick up this series because it’s an easy but entertaining audiobook journey. Made doing the laundry and dishes much more exciting!

*Special thanks to Casi McLean, Jess the Audiobookworm, and Wild Rose Press or providing a copy of Between the Shadows in exchange for an honest review.