Book Beginnings, First Line Friday, & Friday 56: Shadow (Heroes of Renegade Book 7) by Susan May Warren

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. I'm also linking up with Carrie at Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. Friday 56 asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your ereader and share a non-spoilery sentence or two. It was started by Freda at Freda's Voice, but Anne over at My Head is Full of Books has taken over for the time being.

This week I'm featuring Shadow (Heroes of Renegade Book 7) by Susan May Warren. 

SYNOPSIS

The most dangerous man isn't the one who lies to you. It's the one who makes you want to believe him anyway.

SHE PROTECTS EVERYONE. EXCEPT HERSELF.
Daphne Cross hasn't lost a witness in thirty-two protection details. She's fierce, independent, and operates by one rule: trust no one. It's kept her alive. It's kept her alone. And it's kept her heart safely locked away since her father died a hero and she swore never to let anyone close enough to destroy her again.

But this job requires the one thing she's spent fifteen years avoiding—returning to the hometown where she buried her father and left her heart behind.

HIS JOB IS LYING. TO EVERYONE.
FBI Agent Asher Morrison has spent eighteen months undercover as a corrupt agent, feeding intelligence to the Shadow Syndicate while secretly working to destroy them. He's watched witnesses die. Betrayed colleagues who trusted him. Become the monster he's hunting.

All to bring down the criminal empire that murdered his sister seven years ago.

But when a coordinated hit exposes a mole inside the FBI and puts two more witnesses in the crosshairs, Asher's carefully constructed lies begin to crumble. Someone inside is selling witness locations. And his new partner—a woman with trust issues and a perfect record—suspects him.

HOW DO YOU TRUST SOMEONE WHOSE JOB IS DECEPTION?
To protect their witnesses, Daphne and Asher must pose as husband and wife—hiding in plain sight while the Syndicate hunts them and their own agency might be compromised.

Daphne knows better than to trust a professional liar. But Asher sees past her walls. He makes her laugh. He makes her feel. And that's more dangerous than any bullet.

Because the woman who protects everyone has no defense against falling for a man who might be exactly what he seems—or the greatest lie she's ever believed.

Good men are worth fighting for. But is he good? Or is she just another mark who wants to believe?

SHADOW is Book 7 in the Brave series—a heart-pounding Christian romantic suspense featuring an undercover hero who's forgotten how to tell the truth, a fiercely guarded heroine learning that some risks are worth taking, fake marriage with very real sparks, and a faith journey from darkness into light. Can be read as a standalone.

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light." —Isaiah 9:2

Book Beginnings / First Line Friday

Asher Morrison was tired of being a traitor.

Friday 56

This was what happened when you let your guard down. When you trusted. When you fell for the one person you had no business falling for.

What have you been reading lately?