New Release Book Review: Shadow Touched by Becky Moynihan

 

Title: Shadow Touched (A Touch of Vampire #1)

Author: Becky Moynihan

Release Day: April 27, 2021

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal

About the book: Some truths are best kept in the shadows...

At nearly eighteen, I’m months away from escaping my aunt’s secrets and lies. Except, I’m harboring a big secret of my own.

A red-eyed man cloaked in shadow has been stalking me at night.

I wanted Rosewood, Maine to be my final destination before college. My chance at normalcy. But strange, unexplainable things are threatening to derail my plans.

The red-eyed man followed me here, and he’s not the only one. Two hot guys transfer to my new high school right after I do. They track my every move, especially the aloof and mysterious Lochlan D’angelo.

As I’m sucked into a dangerous world embroiled in secrets, I start to question everything I’ve ever known. Including who I am.

Fans of Twilight, Vampire Diaries, and modern Beauty & the Beast retellings, sink your teeth into a world of dark mystery and forbidden desire.

SHADOW TOUCHED is the thrilling first installment in a steamy upper YA/NA paranormal vampire romance series. If you like enemies-to-lovers and fated mates, heartrending twists, a tough heroine, and a sexy antihero, this book is for you. (From Goodreads)

My thoughts: I hadn't read the entire Goodreads description before reading this book and upon finishing thought it was a good mash-up of Twilight and Vampire Diaries - and then laughed out loud when I saw the write-up from Goodreads.  This may have elements of both of these well-known vampire stories, but it doesn't stop there.  There are other supernatural elements at play that add some spice as well as intrigue to the story.  Just when you think you know where the story is going, the first book ends and it is not at all what you thought.  

I liked the characters in this story from the main two - McKenna and Lochlan, to Mckenna's girlfriends - Isla, Peyton and Hailey, as well as Kade - Lochlan's sidekick.  I hope that the next book will delve into the story of the town and some of these secondary characters a little more, because I think there is something there to tell.  You are definitely kept in the dark and are just fed bits and pieces up until about the last 1/3rd of the book - then the facts start coming a little faster as the climax builds. If you are a fan of the vampire novel, then you should add this one to your list.

And on a side note - isn't that a beautiful cover???

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author.