Books like 'Behind the Shadows'
Readers who enjoyed Behind the Shadows by J.A. Owenby also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary dark romance suspense forced proximity horror possessive hero praise-kink primal-play vengeance somnophilia
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Heartbreak Bay by Rachel Caine
Rated: 4.47 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsThey’re hunting a killer so silent, so invisible, that his unspeakable crimes are the only proof he exists. A car submerged in a remote pond. The bodies of two girls strapped into their seats. The mystery of their mother, vanished without a trace, leads Gwen Proctor and Kezia Claremont into dangerous territory... -
![Bitter Falls by Rachel Caine]()
Bitter Falls by Rachel Caine
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsShe’s investigating a cold case no one else could—by going places no one else would dare. In spite of a harrowing past still haunting her, Gwen Proctor is trying to move forward. Until a new assignment gives her purpose: the cold-case disappearance of a young man in Tennessee. Three years missing, no clues. Just Ruth Landry, a tortured mother in limbo... -
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![Buttons and Blood by Penelope Sky]()
Buttons and Blood by Penelope Sky
Crow Barsetti knows about me—and he doesn’t like it. I know he’s paying his top guys to dig up every piece of dirt they can find, but I don’t care what he discovers. There’s nothing I’ve done that he hasn’t done himself. All that matters is I love his daughter—and he’s going to accept it. I get a call in the middle of the night while Vanessa is dead asleep—and it’s him...Categorized as:
suspense possessive hero forbidden love m-f contemporary alpha male strong heroine sassy heroine -
![Seeds of Iniquity by J.A. Redmerski]()
Seeds of Iniquity by J.A. Redmerski
Rated: 4.34 of 5 stars · 32 ratingsVictor Faust’s new Order is growing. Business is good as there is no rest for the wicked in an underground world of hardcore criminals and contract killing. Relationships among the operatives have changed little over the past year—but things are about to change now, and all six high-ranking members of the new Order will be blindsided by an unlikely enemy... -
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![Rescuing Isabelle by Ellie Masters]()
Rescuing Isabelle by Ellie Masters
Rated: 4.80 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsKeeping her safe from a deadly cartel might be the easy part of our relationship…. As a former NAVY SEAL and Guardian, rescuing Isabelle LaCroix was my job. Falling for her was not. But that didn’t stop me. Boy, did I fall hard. Just my luck… Izzy isn’t looking for happily ever after. Especially not with a guy like me... -
![Easy to Fall by W. Winters]()
Easy to Fall by W. Winters
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsFrom USA Today bestselling author Willow Winters comes the epic conclusion to the heart-wrenching, edge-of-your-seat gripping, romantic suspense, Hard to Love series. With her I was always on the highest high. That's why it was so easy to fall. I never stood a chance without her. The two of us were made for one another. It's as simple as that... -
![Buttons and Devotion by Penelope Sky]()
Buttons and Devotion by Penelope Sky
If I don’t give her what she wants—I’ll lose her forever. When Sapphire became my muse, it was supposed to be a business transaction. We both got what we wanted—until she wanted something more. If I don’t give it to her, give her all of me, she’ll walk out of my life. My father already granted his approval—so he would be disappointed if I let her slip through my fingers...Categorized as:
suspense possessive hero m-f contemporary strong heroine alpha male dark explicit-plentiful -
![Hammer by J.E. Daelman]()
Hammer by J.E. Daelman
Rated: 4.55 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsAs the head of the construction business for the club, Hammer is off checking out new business opportunities. Some good, others not so good, but the Flower shop gives him more options than just construction. Adding in his relationship with Shar, the ex-husband after Tilly, the loan shark that wants his money and the kids causing trouble in town, Hammer and the club have their hands full... -
![Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires, Dima Zales]()
Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires, Dima Zales
A lethal mercenary bent on vengeance. The innocent woman standing in his way. Dr. Sara Cobakis’s quiet suburban life is turned upside down when a darkly handsome Russian assassin breaks into her home and tortures her for information. But the nightmare doesn’t end there. Because Peter Sokolov returns, and this time, he’s determined to keep the pretty young doctor for himself... -
![Mafia Don's Secret Twins by Vivy Skys]()
Mafia Don's Secret Twins by Vivy Skys
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDino and Marisol's story. She's the ultimate prize—I'd risk my life just thinking about this mafia princess, let alone claiming her innocence. We had one night. Then she vanished. I found her. I thought that Marisol, my dream girl, was lost. After I woke up and never saw her again, it seemed like something that was a complete non-starter. She wasn’t with me. I didn’t know her last name... -
![The Savage by Stella Andrews]()
The Savage by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIvan may be my name but I am best known as The Savage. Born and bred Bratva heir and loving every delicious minute of my life. That's why it was easy to kidnap the entitled Charlotte Richmond from her finishing school in England. It was my pleasure to hide her away while her depraved father searched for her. I have no heart, no emotion, and no morals. She is a bargaining chip, a means to an end... -
![Buttons and Betrayal by Penelope Sky]()
Buttons and Betrayal by Penelope Sky
Conway paid off Knuckles to keep me—but he expects something in return. I belong to him exclusively, to fulfill every order he gives, personally and professionally. I’m more just his muse now. I’m his in every sense of the word. I live a life of luxury in his mansion, but he treats me like a servant. I can’t deny my attraction for him, but I despise the kind of man he is...Categorized as:
suspense possessive hero m-f contemporary dark strong heroine alpha male explicit-plentiful -
![Winston by Lane Hart, D.B. West]()
Winston by Lane Hart, D.B. West
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsWinston Prescott has been a grumpy SOB for the past ten years. None of his brothers in the Savage Kings MC knew why, not until the day one of them made the mistake of posting a sexy centerfold on the wall of the clubhouse. The gorgeous model posing topless on sports cars and motorcycles isn’t just any girl. Her name is Zoe Donahue, and she also happens to be Winston’s stepsister... -
![Detained by Luna Mason]()
Detained by Luna Mason
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsFrankie. I don’t have to hide behind a mask anymore. I rule New York, and now all I have to do is finish what I started ten years ago. To destroy the man who took my life from me. No one can get in my way. That is until I am arrested for murder and have my first taste of Detective Zara O’Reilly. The woman hell bent on ruining my plans... -
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![A Dark Mind by T.R. Ragan]()
A Dark Mind by T.R. Ragan
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsA serial killer is terrorizing Sacramento, preying on happily married couples and unleashing unspeakable cruelties upon his victims. The ordeal rekindles disturbing memories for private investigator Lizzy Gardner, who barely escaped a serial killer clutches only years ago... -
![Andrey by LeAnn Ashers]()
Andrey by LeAnn Ashers
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsNicole. Since I was a little girl, raising my younger sister had always been my main priority. I never imagined, however, that taking care of her would put me in danger. Men came for her, but kidnapped me instead by mistake. Then he rescued me, and on that day, he claimed me. Andrey is mine just as much as I am his. Andrey. The second her eyes met mine I saw the fear in them... -
![A Fine Line by MercyAnn Summers]()
A Fine Line by MercyAnn Summers
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThis book is an interconnected standalone within the Ends World. While you don't have to read the Ends Duet before reading this book, it is recommended that you do in order to understand the entire Ends World up to this point. Carolina. I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt. That wasn’t my intention. And I knew he would come for me... -
![Stolen Mafia Vows by Vivy Skys]()
Stolen Mafia Vows by Vivy Skys
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings**An Age Gap Surprise Pregnancy Dark Romance**. “When can I touch you where no one else has? ”. One reckless text. That’s all it took to start a mafia war. She was untouched. And she let me watch her fall apart—moaning my name through the phone like I already owned her. So I married my wild Irish rose. Filled her with my seed. Marked her as mine. Then my father’s orders caught up to me... -
![Charming Villain by Cora Kent]()
Charming Villain by Cora Kent
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsI don’t want a wife. But in the mafia, marriage isn’t about love—it’s about power. When the Family demands I marry Giovanni Lucatello’s sheltered daughter, I drown my frustration in whiskey and meet a woman who’s everything I shouldn’t bold, sharp-tongued, and tempting as sin. One night with her is unforgettable. But by the next morning, she’s gone. Or so I thought... -
![Blackout by Janine Infante Bosco]()
Blackout by Janine Infante Bosco
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEvery fairytale is just a tragedy with a twist. And happily-ever-after is a fantasy. Give me the real, ugly love of two people battling their demons to make it work. Two people like us. When the stakes have never been higher, I turn to my past. After all, it's our favorite sins that always do us in. But even in the midst of my blackout, there she is. The beacon of light I don't deserve... -
![Pretty Evil by Stella Andrews]()
Pretty Evil by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen the cage door opens, freedom is a difficult temptation to ignore. Serena VieriMafia princess, protected her entire life for a very good reason. There is a target on her back. Her family believed she was better off not knowing but with knowledge comes a certain kind of power that she could sure use right now... -
![The Thief by Nikki J Summers]()
The Thief by Nikki J Summers
Five… minutes. That’s how long I was supposed to be there. Get in, get out. Job done. Four… guns pointed at my head. It wasn’t supposed to go down this way. Three… years old, and she clung to her mum as we sat huddled together on the floor, chained to the pipes on the wall. Two… choices, when my time finally came. To let it all play out or fight with everything I had...Categorized as:
suspense m-f abduction contemporary length-medium explicit-open-door dark insta-love -
![A Shade of Evil by Stella Andrews]()
A Shade of Evil by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsRevenge is a dish best served cold. Shade Vieri has no mercy. No compassion and no empathy. He is cruel, enigmatic, and deliciously dark. His instructions are clear. Find the Achilles heel of the enemy and destroy it. The enemy is a woman who slides across his soul like spun silk. A breath of fresh air in a dark, depressing world... -
![Worth of Waste by Bethany-Kris]()
Worth of Waste by Bethany-Kris
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsDeLuca Duet, Part Two. The Chicago Mob is the same as it has always been—violent, greedy, and excessive. The Outfit families have turned their backs when they were needed the most one too many times, but Dino DeLuca didn’t expect anything different. His whole life has been lived for the Outfit—for his family. He has a whole new set of reasons to live and fight now... -
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![The Last Party by A.R. Torre]()
The Last Party by A.R. Torre
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 37 ratingsA loving mother. A notorious murderer. They both have reasons to hide their secrets in a novel of escalating shock and suspense by New York Times bestselling author A. R. Torre. Perla Wultz lives with her husband, Grant, and their precious daughter, Sophie, in a gated Pasadena community. Affluent, sociable, and accomplished, Perla plays the part of loving wife and mother to perfection... -
![Secret Vendetta by Kathy Lockheart]()
Secret Vendetta by Kathy Lockheart
LUNA. Baptized in blood, I’m marked for death. Each time it comes, he appears. My masked protector. Saving me for reasons only known to him. But the Vigilante is playing a deadly game. One I must stop before he claims another soul. My new boyfriend, Hunter, vows to keep me safe. But what if we become the final casualties in the Vigilante's secret vendetta? VIGILANTE...Categorized as:
suspense vengeance forbidden love forced proximity possessive hero abduction dark super rich hero -
![Sapphire Scars by Nicole Fox]()
Sapphire Scars by Nicole Fox
He’s my ex’s brother. A terrifying mob boss with a past too dark to share. And when he finds out I’m pregnant, he becomes something else, too:. The husband I never asked for. Kolya Uvarov crashed into my life at a funeral and saved me from a mega-creep. Classic meet-cute, right? Not exactly—because it was his brother we were burying. A. k. a. , my ex-boyfriend. A. k. a... -
![Vindication by Alex Grayson]()
Vindication by Alex Grayson
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAs the Sheriff of Malus, Texas, JW takes his oath to protect its citizens very seriously. Born from an ugly past, he swears no child, woman, or man will ever endure what he and his brothers have. As he seeks retribution of the ones who have wronged him, his past and his present finally collide. Secrets are laid open. Ones that are so heinous, they'll rock the very foundation of JW's life... -
![Live for Me by Ember Nicole]()
Live for Me by Ember Nicole
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe’s hell bent on settling the score. He’ll do anything she asks. This is the third book in The Broken Bounty Series. It is not a standalone. The building blocks for this story begin with Break for Me by Ember Nicole. This is a dual perspective, dark romance and is intended for readers over 18 years of age. There are trigger/content warnings listed within the first pages of the book... -
![Vengeance by Alex Grayson]()
Vengeance by Alex Grayson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFierce, loyal, controlled. Three things Judge became at a young age. Enduring unimaginable horrors no child should, he swore no person would dictate his or his brother’s lives again. Revenge fueled him, setting a path destined from the moment he and his brothers escaped their hell... -
![Consumed by Truths by Ella Miles]()
Consumed by Truths by Ella Miles
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsEnzo is my heart. My soul. My breath. I never thought I could be so dark. Never knew love meant losing myself and getting reborn. The lies and truths have finally caught up with us. We may have stolen an empire, but we aren’t ready to give it up. It’s ours. He’s mine. And our love will find a way to the truth. Consumed by Truths is book 6 and the final book in Enzo and Kai's story. -
![Crown of Bliss: A Billionaire Mafia Romance by B. B. Hamel]()
Crown of Bliss: A Billionaire Mafia Romance by B. B. Hamel
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsHis obsession. Her salvation. At my lowest, I accept an unimaginable clean up a murder scene to earn one-hundred-grand. Problem is, my employer doesn’t plan on letting me survive the night. That’s when I meet Lanzo Torrent. He’s gorgeous, chaotic, frustrating, and my only salvation. He says he can save my life, but I have to trust him first. Lanzo drags me into his war...Categorized as:
suspense forced proximity vengeance contemporary new adult mafia age difference length-medium -
![Born Evil by Stella Andrews]()
Born Evil by Stella Andrews
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSome devils come dressed in sharp suits with eyes that seduce and a check box beside every wish you ever had. Some victims come dressed in innocence and ignorance, disguising a soul of pure fire. I am Troy Remington. Ruthless billionaire with a heart of steel. I offered Laura Kincaid the job of a lifetime for a very important reason... -
![Blackness Within by Norma Jeanne Karlsson]()
Blackness Within by Norma Jeanne Karlsson
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsFighting to find his worthy place in life…. This is the story of a woman that has worked tirelessly to build her own life from nothing. While the task has been exhaustive, it’s been worth every drop of sweat to earn her own slice of normal. Natasha Reynolds has built a life beyond an absent mother and a drug addict brother to become a home-owning, dog-loving nurse... -
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![Savage Bratva King by Vivy Skys]()
Savage Bratva King by Vivy Skys
I stole the Italian mafia princess days before her wedding to my enemy—. an alliance crafted to destroy my Bratva. The plan was simple:. Break her. Take her innocence. Send her back ruined, panting only for me. I locked her in my basement, fed on her defiance, and filled her with my seed until she sobbed my name like a prayer. She was supposed to be a message:...Categorized as:
suspense m-f possessive hero abduction forced proximity mafia from hate to love length-medium -
![Son of a Gun: A Marked Men and The Point Crossover by Jay Crownover]()
Son of a Gun: A Marked Men and The Point Crossover by Jay Crownover
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsHeavy is the head that inherits the crown. The only thing on Daire Archer’s mind when she pulled a disappearing act on Christmas was proving she was worthy of being her father's daughter. She was born an Archer, which was a blessing and a curse, and Daire was determined to show everyone she deserved to carry the legacy that came with her name...Categorized as:
suspense forbidden love forced proximity m-f contemporary new adult bad boys tortured heroine -
![Daddy's Orders by K.C. Crowne]()
Daddy's Orders by K.C. Crowne
I knew he wanted to punish me for my father’s dealings…I just never expected to enjoy it. A dark past hardened me, scarred me,. Making it difficult to give a d*mn about relationships. Then comes along Emily. Fifteen years younger. The innocent virgin and daughter of the man I despise. She's twenty-three and drop dead fu*king gorgeous. My trousers tighten the moment we meet... -
![Silent Vendetta by Kathy Lockheart]()
Silent Vendetta by Kathy Lockheart
LUNA. I just uncovered the secret identity of the Vigilante. Now, he holds me prisoner in his vault of vengeance. And nothing is as it seems. Bound in this abyss of secrets and darkness,. I ache for Hunter’s warmth and light. And vow to reclaim my freedom. But how does one escape…. …being the obsession of a killer? VIGILANTE. The monster inside of me always hungered for death... -
![Dark Stranger by Piper Stone]()
Dark Stranger by Piper Stone
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsI was a stranger, a mysterious caller in the dead of night, a monster seeking revenge. Instead of destroying her, I made her mine. Sierra Wynters believes her fiance is dead, victim of a horrible accident. But I know better. Little does she know a predator is stalking her, a dangerous hunter refusing to believe in her innocence... -
![Scotch by Mhairi O'Reilly]()
Scotch by Mhairi O'Reilly
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAshby ‘Scotch’ Feilding returned from the military not feeling like a hero, but as a man fractured by the horrors he witnessed, a shadow of the man he once was. Unable to fit into the normalcy of ordinary life, he finds solace in the roar of engines and the brotherhood of The Devil’s House MC, serving as their tech wizard... -
![Lethal Lover by Kristen Luciani]()
Lethal Lover by Kristen Luciani
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsFans of scorching hot hate to love captive romances will devour the final explosive book in the VENGEFUL VILLAINS Dark Mafia series by USA Today bestselling author Kristen Luciani! Ready for a dark contemporary enemies to lovers romance with no cheating and an HEA? Then scroll up and one-click on LETHAL LOVER today! Publisher's LETHAL LOVER contains explicit and mature content and graphic...Categorized as:
suspense vengeance forced proximity from hate to love mafia arranged marriage dark humor -
![The Villain by Nana Malone]()
The Villain by Nana Malone
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsGuess who's having the craziest week EVER? That would be me. Sunday: I get dumped by my boyfriend—right before a couple's bungee jump. Monday: My little sister informs me that she’s invited our evil, estranged mom to the wedding I’ve spent months helping her plan...Categorized as:
suspense vengeance forced proximity new adult super rich hero multicultural from hate to love dark -
![Borgata by Katarina E. Tonks]()
Borgata by Katarina E. Tonks
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSamantha finds herself imprisoned in a world of illegal trade and criminal activity, where she must face the consequences of her actions and repay her father's debt. She also will try to resist a mob boss, who understands her on a much deeper level than her heart can allow. -
![Reconcile by Leah Steele]()
Reconcile by Leah Steele
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsI always thought it was best to keep my darkness hidden, outta sight, outta mind. But my stalker has been showing me the errors of my ways. He’s been guiding me into nurturing that side of myself, and now that it’s been set free, there’s no going back. I’ve killed three people, and with each new kill, I learn more about myself. But I crave more than the bloodshed... -
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![Deceived by Jennifer Rose]()
Deceived by Jennifer Rose
The first time my gaze locked and held with the doe-eyed beauty named Devyn, she unknowingly became mine . I’ve watched from the shadows, biding my time and planning our future, waiting for the right moment to prove to her that she belongs to me. She gave me the perfect opportunity when she fled to Hollow Hills Campground in the RV, running from her past... -
![Pleasure & Prey: vol. 1 by A.J. Merlin]()
Pleasure & Prey: vol. 1 by A.J. Merlin
Depraved. There’s nothing out there. That’s what I keep telling myself while I walk back from a campfire to my isolated cabin. Brutal. Nothing bad happens at summer camp. That’s what my fellow camp counselors have convinced me of when the nights around the lake get a little eerie. ViciousOne, two, he’s coming for you. Three, four, better run some more...Categorized as:
horror forced proximity suspense dark contemporary mystery length-epic explicit-plentiful -
![Horror and Chill by Cassie Lein]()
Horror and Chill by Cassie Lein
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsAgatha thrives on the thrill of the unknown, pushing boundaries for her devoted audience. As a cam girl, fear is just another tool to drive up the tips—dark fantasies, twisted requests, she’ll try anything once. So when an anonymous subscriber asks for a chase scene, she slips into the woods in barely-there lace, ready to put on a show. But the shadows aren’t empty... -
![Hide and Seek: A Dark Stalker Romance by Sheridan Anne]()
Hide and Seek: A Dark Stalker Romance by Sheridan Anne
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsWhen darkness wants to claim you, do you run or do you step into the light, daring it to catch you? Forensic Pathologist, Harper-Rayn, is no stranger to darkness. She has seen it all in the cold silence of Blackstone’s one and only morgue, revealing the mystery of death on her autopsy table—until the bodies start speaking to her in eerie, calculated ways...Categorized as:
forced proximity m-f suspense dark age difference contemporary mystery first-in-series -
![Wicked Little Words by Stevie J. Cole]()
Wicked Little Words by Stevie J. Cole
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsEdwin Allen Mercer. I want them all to read my words. And they do. Every last blood-stained sentence, they've read and praised me for. They love the gore and violence, the realness. And I get a sense of power with it all because I know a secret: the victims in my books—they’re real and have all died on my table. And maybe that’s why the last book had such awful reviews... -
![Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan]()
Finding Claire Fletcher by Lisa Regan
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsNewly divorced and with his career in jeopardy, Detective Connor Parks takes solace in the arms of a beautiful woman he meets at a bar. The next morning, Claire Fletcher is gone, leaving nothing behind but an address and a decade-old mystery...
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