Shannon K. Butcher Follow

4.5 stars---- ROUGH EDGES is the fifth installment in Shannon K Butcher’s EDGE series. This is US government operative Victor Temple, and Edge owner Bella Bayne’s storyline.


BACKGROUND: The EDGE is a group of elite, military trained personnel who have all been ‘conditioned’ and ‘trained’ as killing machines, and are somehow linked to a 20 year old experimental operation known as The Threshold Project. The Threshold Project was a failure that left many children, who are now adults, on the brink of psychological collapse and physical destruction. The Edge is a private security company backed by Payton Bainbridge (a former member of The Threshold Project), and owner Bella Bayne who search for the victims of Dr. Stynger and Dr. Sage. With the inclusion of female victims of The Threshold Project the Edge series is similar to the premise behind Christine Feehan’s Ghostwalker series.


Told from third person point of view ROUGH EDGES follows Victor and Bella as they search for Gage Brink-Adam’s brother (Edge of Betrayal #4) –a man who volunteered to return to Dr. Norma Stynger’s labs but is currently MIA and has not checked in with his new employer. What ensues is the hunt for Stynger’s location and the desperate attempts to avoid the assassins sent to take down Bella Bayne.

Bella’s prime directive is to destroy Norma Stynger for the abuse, torture and experiments she performed for close to twenty years in an experiment known as The Threshold Project. Bella is one of Stynger’s victims and she hopes to give assistance to all of Stynger’s former and current subjects. Victor Temple is a member of an elite group of trained personnel who has been contracted to both protect and aid Bella in her search for Gage and other victims of The Threshold Project.

The relationship between Bella and Victor is one of forbidden romance-Victor is on loan from the US government and Bella is technically Victor’s new employer. Their physical and sexual attraction to one another is palpable but Bella is a strong willed, independent and alpha heroine whose history with men is dark, damaged and heartbreaking. Bella refuses to submit to any man’s demands-both in and out of the bedroom. While Bella likes to be in control out in the field, Victor likes control in the bedroom. The $ex scenes are seductive and captivating.

There is a secondary storyline building as it focuses on Gage Brink. Gage has been imprisoned at Stynger’s compound but becomes enamored with Jordyn Stynger-Dr. Stynger’s daughter-and a victim of her mother’s torture and abuse. When Jordyn offers Gage an opportunity to escape it comes with one demand-Gage must take Jordyn with him.

The world building continues to focus on the men and women who have been victimized by Norma Stynger. As Bella searches for the people whose lives have been destroyed by the evil doctor, Bella herself becomes the target of betrayal and revenge. Her relationship with Payton Bainbridge is strained since the revelation of his involvement with the original Threshold Project and his presence continues to eat away at Bella’s calm and in control façade.

ROUGH EDGES is an intense, fast paced and action packed storyline focusing on an experimental project that all but destroyed the lives of everyone involved. The now adult victims must relive the nightmare time and time again but with Bella’s assistance there may be hope to stop the cycle of pain and torture. The premise is suspenseful and will keep you on the ‘edge’ of your seat. The characters are colorful, animated, impassioned and inspiring; the romance is emotional and dramatic. The intrigue and thrilling final scenes are tense and dramatic. Reserve your seat for the next installment of Shannon K. Butcher’s THE EDGE.

Some Background: The Sentinels are three races descended from an ancient race of guardians who defend and protect mankind from the demons at the door. The Theronai are the protectors, the Sanguinar are the healers (as well as blood feeders) and the Synestryn-the demons. The Sentinels are descended from an ancient race of guardians known as the Thernai, and without a mate to absorb the excess of power to save their dying souls, the Sentinel warrior suffers immense pain and their Tree of Life-lifemark begins to lose its leaves.

To be honest, the book blurb is a little misleading. Our heroine Rory is not aware of her heritage. Her mother was a drug addict and her father was an unknown, and she was raised by her Nana. What we have is a strong woman, with visions-not of the future- but of everything that goes on around her. And to stop these visions, Rory is determined to find the one person who has the ability to ease the pain and the blinding sight. But when Rory finds herself trapped in a fight for her life, it will be the Sentinel Theronai Cain whose touch quells the images in her mind.

Cain is a Theronai warrior whose lifemark is nearly empty. At one time Cain believed he had found the one woman to bring him peace but with her betrayal, Cain never wanted to experience the loss of love and family again. But finding Rory, who called to his very soul left Cain confused especially when she was able to syphon off his powers for her own use.

Cain has always wanted a family but the Theronai warriors have been cursed with infertility. With the recent discovery of a possible drug to help with the fertility, Cain dreamed of a future with Rory, but Rory never promised –forever. They shared their most intimate thoughts and dreams, as well as their fears and mistakes, and in the end it was Cain’s luceria that made the choice. They were meant to be together but convincing Rory wasn’t so easy.

As the story progress, Shannon overlaps several smaller storylines that have all culminated in Falling Blind. We revisit a couple of Sanguinars: Ronan and Connal–one willing to help and another who makes a fatal error. The murder of a woman will have the compound on lock down and the discovery of some letters reveal more information than ever thought possible. The whereabouts of several missing women will be revealed, and the possibility a love match for one of the Sanguinars is revealed at the very end.


FALLING BLIND is another amazing and dramatic storyline in Shannon K Butcher’s Sentinal War Series. Shannon takes the reader on a heart pounding, heart breaking and revealing look at the lives and loves of the Theronai warrior. And in Falling Blind-love will conquer all-even for those who are blinded to the reality of love.

WILLING SACRIFICE is the eighth storyline in Shannon K. Butcher’s paranormal, romance, fantasy series-The Sentinel Wars. The Sentinels are three races descended from an ancient race of guardians known as the Athanasians, who defend and protect mankind from the demons at the door. The Theronai are the protectors, the Sanguinar are the healers (as well as blood feeders) and the Synestryn-the demons.

The premise follows Torr as he is commanded to Temprocia in an effort to quell the forces on the hunt for Brenya-one of the most powerful females known to the Theronai. As the legions of Hunters, demons and the Warden draw near Torr will be paired with his one-time love Grace-a woman who has no memory of Torr or of their relationship. What ensues is Torr’s need to keep the woman that he loves safe from harm when she continuously goes out of her way to protect the stranger who has been sent to save her world. Grace is drawn to Torr, for reasons she cannot explain, but the more she looks deep into herself, the more her memory begins to return.

WILLING SACRIFICE is a story of second chances in a world where staying alive is a daily struggle. The reader is pulled into an engaging and suspense filled storyline where a human places a stranger’s life above her own. Call it woman’s intuition or a self-sacrificing soul, but Grace cannot explain her need to protect the man who calls to heart-a heart she didn’t know could feel so much love.

There is little to no reference about the previous storyline characters or premise. Willing Sacrifice focuses on three people: Torr, Grace and Brenya. Most of the storyline revolves around the struggle to prevent the Hunters and Demons from discovering the whereabouts of Brenya and Torr’s attempts to keep Grace safe from harm. The storyline’s connection to the Sentinel Wars is limited in its’ affects on the series or any of the original premise.

Shannon K Butcher weaves a tale of lost love in a world of death and destruction. Torr and Grace are soul mates who will get a second chance at happiness-if they can only survive the demonic attacks and each other.

4.5 stars

SOME BACKGROUND: The Sentinels are three races descended from an ancient race of guardians known as the Athanasians, who defend and protect mankind from the demons at the door. The Theronai are the protectors whose Theronai lifemark-The Tree of Life-begins to lose its’ leaves if a Theronai warrior does not find his mate. The lifemark is a visual gage of a soul’s health, and all of the warriors suffering with the pain are running out of time. The Synestryn have killed most of the female Theronai and the warriors are in need of women whose DNA and heritage will match with their own: the Sanguinar are the healers (as well as blood feeders) and the Synestryn are the demons whose humanity has been lost for centuries.

BINDING TIES is the ninth full length installment in Shannon K Butcher’s SENTINEL WARS paranormal romance, fantasy series. This is Slayer Lyka Phelan and leader of the Theronai Joseph’s storyline. BINDING TIES can be read as a stand alone but for cohesion and history, I would suggest reading in order as many of the storylines overlap and continue in each successive installment. Shannon is an author who builds up future storylines in many of the previous novels.

The premise finds Lyka as a ‘guest’ of the Theronai. To keep the tentative peace between the Slayers and the Theronai, Lyka’s brother Andreas and the Theronai leader Joseph have inked out a plan for a provisional truce between the once combative enemies. The accord offers a member of each race in exchange for peace and understanding. Lyka was sent to the Theronai while Joseph’s adopted daughter was sent to the Slayers. Lyka believes she is nothing more than a prisoner in a gilded cage.

Joseph is in constant pain as his lifemark continues to lose its’ leaves. Nearing the end, Joseph is a man whose desire to lead his people is waning; he is tired of the battles and knows that he does not have much time left but Lyka’s presence eases his pain and without knowing, Lyka may be the answer to all of Joseph’s prayers. There is something about Lyka that calls to Joseph’s heart-something that Lyka would like to keep secret from all Theronai Males.

Lyka’s pack has been decimated. The demons have destroyed their village and Lyka’s brother Eric and the youngest members of the pack are missing. Lyka’s need to search for her brother finds Joseph on the hunt alongside his potential mate. What ensues are several demon attacks, a near death experience for both Joseph and Lyka, and the revelation that someone is controlling the demons-behind the scenes. Lyka’s brother Eric will sacrifice himself to save the youngest members of his pack.

The world building finds several smaller storylines continuing to develop as per Shannon’s writing style. Ronan, the Sanguinar and Theronai healer, perseveres in his search for the woman who saved his life. This woman is familiar to Ronan but he is unable to place her identity or the nature of the battle she fights within herself. Connal is still missing and his actions have caused a rift between the Sanguinars and the human feeders who once opened their homes as safe houses for the warriors and healers.

SHANNON K BUTCHER is an amazing storyteller. The SENTINEL WARS is an infinitely detailed series about a supernatural species that defend and protect but a species that is also dependent on the people they protect. There are moments of anger and betrayal; lust and need; romance and love. But there are also times that romance on the run can be difficult when facing the demons who want to destroy your life. There is an urban fantasy feel to Shannon’s Sentinel War series as the Theronai continue to do battle with a foe that refuses to stop the hunt. There is always something or someone waiting on the other side.