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Shadow Agents #7

Evidence of Passion

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Friends become endangered lovers in New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden's Shadow Agents: Guts and Glory miniseries.

Trusting the wrong man had almost cost EOD agent Rachel Mancini her life. Now, years later, the killer's back to make the hit he missed. But he won't succeed while Rachel's gorgeous partner, Dylan Foxx, is on the case. He's been the sexy ex-lawyer's friend for years and will do anything to keep her safe. And though it could prove fatal, he wants her in his arms...and his bed.

But first he has to stop the madman obsessed with Rachel. Ex-SEAL Dylan has the skills and determination to meet every danger the twisted assassin can unleash. A relationship has never had a place in his life...until he senses Rachel wants him as badly as he wants her.

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 15, 2014

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533 people want to read

About the author

Cynthia Eden

310 books6,802 followers
Award-winning author Cynthia Eden writes sexy tales of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. She is a New York Times, USA Today, Digital Book World, and IndieReader best-seller. Since she began writing full-time in 2005, Cynthia has written over one hundred novels and novellas.


Cynthia lives along the Alabama Gulf Coast. She loves romance novels, horror movies, and chocolate. Her favorite hobbies including hiking in the mountains (searching for waterfalls) and spelunking.

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5 stars
252 (39%)
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229 (36%)
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123 (19%)
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26 (4%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
Profile Image for Somia.
2,066 reviews169 followers
June 16, 2019
Friends and co-workers, ex-Marine Rachel Mancini and ex-SEAL Dylan Foxx have a spark, one Rachel has refused to act on, having been severely burnt by the last man she opened herself up to, and Dylan well he yearns for Rachel, and is fierce in his need to protect her, but is willing to just be her friend – at least he was. The two definitely complement each other, both as work colleagues and more personally.

Rachel used to be a lawyer but after trusting the wrong man and almost dying she joined the EOD. Now the killer (a smart assassin) is back for Rachel and this time he won’t let anything or anyone stop him from his purpose. Once Dylan realises the killer from her past his back, his protective instincts intensify, for him Rachel is more important than the agency and anyone else.

Rachel is an ex-marine and yet after a while she started to make some super dumb decisions, decisions that benefit the killer – which didn’t fit the woman the author depicted at the onset of the book. Luckily those decisions were, overall, not too painful/frustrating (maybe due to my mellow mood at the time – thank you chocolate). That being said, I liked how resilient and strong she was. She’s a survivor, independent and more than ready to protect the man she so strongly cares for.

If you know the work of Eden, the way things go will be clear to you, however that doesn’t mean this won’t be an enjoyable read - I liked it. That being said one thing that annoyed me was the fact that Dylan is another alpha hero of Eden’s who screws up and yet is forgiven relatively easily, I felt he needed to do more to redeem himself.
Profile Image for Farah.
242 reviews50 followers
November 26, 2023
Perfection Finally Rachel and Dylan's story .. I was losing hope here. The villain was brilliant .. he was unpredictable .. psychotic .. menacing and devious. I love it when books have clever villains who are actually a threat and not same lame wannabe who mimics doctor evil and actually thinks it could pass for serious.

Rachel and Dylan both surprised me as characters in this book. We've seen them a couple of times before but their story seemed pretty straight forward and I honestly had my doubts regarding their book since I'm not into the whole love secretly for years thing but just wow .. I should have known that Cynthia Eden would manage to do it with style. Overall I effin loved it and now it's time for the dragon
Profile Image for Kbird.
565 reviews13 followers
June 18, 2018
If you’ve read the other books in this series, you’ll like this one.

There were a few more twists, but sadly I think you might be able to figure them out if you’ve been paying attention to Eden’s pattern.

The H/h have been partners for 3 years, so even though things move fast between them, it’s been three years in the making.

Profile Image for Noe.
490 reviews25 followers
June 14, 2022
Now don’t get me wrong, I love Cynthia Eden, but this one just didn’t work out for me.

The pacing felt off and I never was able to connect with the characters. The surprise wasn’t very surprising.
395 reviews12 followers
March 6, 2017
So far, this has been my favorite in the series. This had the best storyline to date and kept pulling out surprises left and right, catching me off guard. I found it to be very enjoyable and hope that the author will create characters more like the ones in this book. They're normal and have their head on straight the way they should be. Dylan and Rachel were my favorite couple of the series. Actually to be honest, they're the only couple I rooted for. I loved Cale and Gunner there's no doubt about that but the girls they were paired up with, NOT so much. This couple was like a breath of fresh air and made me feel like I wasn't being too picky about this author's heroes and heroines. I just have certain expectations for them and I can't help but dislike when she throws in the ones without a functioning brain or the ones who have that entitled jerk trait. Dylan and Rachel were neither of those so I know she's capable of including likable characters. It just seems like she tends to have a go to formula that she depends on for most of this series, which I'm not really a fan of.

I loved Dylan's dedication and clear love for her. Although he made a bad decision it was done with good intentions. He was as honest as he could be without pushing her or scaring her off. I loved his patience and understanding of what she wanted and need. It was admirable and earned my respect. He was honorable in waiting for her until he thought she was ready to take a chance on someone else. He didn't try to force her into something she didn't want or what he wanted. His first priority was always focused on what she wanted and keeping her safe.

Rachel was a heroine I admired. She wasn't selfish or petty and put her brain to good use. She didn't depend on Dylan to do all the work for her, she was capable of helping and not getting in the way or making his job more difficult by not following his orders. I loved that she stayed true to her character in being hesitant on trusting even Dylan. He may have been her best friend and partner but going from friends to a relationship is a big step especially for someone of her background. I also loved that she actually quit after Dylan pulled rank on her to get her off the case, it was exactly what I imagined in my head to get back at him and prove a point. When it happened it was one of the most amazing things I've ever read in a book. She also didn't go overboard and kept a level head while also making sure he knew he messed up.

I guessed who the killer was early on. Although I was right, it didn't ruin the book for me because it still threw in other things I didn't catch or plan on. I loved how it played out and it definitely set itself apart from other books similar to this. It didn't depend on any over the top drama or way out there characters that you just couldn't stand. I will read this book again if not to remind myself the author can write decent characters, it will be for the storyline I thought I had worked out only to be caught off guard in the end by other things. This one is a keeper for me.
Profile Image for Susan.
4,805 reviews126 followers
November 3, 2014
Very good book that started with action and never stopped. It starts with Rachel, a military lawyer, held captive by a man she thought she was in love with, but who had been hired to kill her. She was rescued by agents of he EOD, one of whom was Dylan Foxx. He swore to her then that she was safe and he would make sure she stayed that way. Shortly after that, Rachel herself joined the EOD and became part of Dylan's team. They became partners and very good friends.

What Rachel didn't know was that Dylan felt more than friendship for her. He has been attracted to her from the beginning, but has worked hard to maintain their professional relationship. He was doing a god job keeping himself under control until the killer returned, determined to finish what he had started. With the stress of knowing that she's in the crosshairs again, Rachel realizes that she's feeling more than just comfort from partner and friend Dylan. She's always known he was sexy, but suddenly her hormones are getting in on the action too.

I loved the relationship between Dylan and Rachel. There is definitely a mutual respect on their professional sides. Rachel is well aware of his capabilities as he has saved her life on more than one occasion. Dylan knows what Rachel can do, as he trained her himself. But when "Jack" returns and Rachel is in danger, Dylan's feelings for Rachel overcome his ability to see what she can do and he goes a bit overboard in trying to protect her. I loved seeing her insist on her own involvement in whatever actions are planned. When Dylan goes too far in his efforts to protect her, and Rachel finds out why, she feels hurt and betrayed. I really liked seeing Dylan realize what he had done and then try to figure out how to fix it. He learns a lot about himself thanks to her.

The suspense of the story was fantastic. The first encounter with "Jack" definitely shows just how awful he is. But there's also a hint that his treatment of Rachel is different than the way he handled his other victims. When he reappears three years later to finish what he started, that obsession is even more obvious. I liked the part that Noelle, the profiler, played in giving insight to the way that "Jack" was behaving. There were some very interesting twists to his actions and the motivations behind them. The final confrontations were intense and had me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see if everyone was going to make it through to the end. I liked the epilogue and its setup for the next book.
Profile Image for BBMoreB ~.
784 reviews
Read
February 18, 2020
Adam Wright’s betrayal -
“You’re mine,” he told her. His hands lowered to his sides. “Either mine to kill or mine to love. The choice is all on me…I knew it from the beginning.”
leads Rachel Mancini reluctantly into the protective arms of Dylan Foxx.
“I’m going to take care of you,” Dylan promised her. “We’re the good guys. We’re going to keep you safe.” A pause. “I’m going to keep you safe.”
Cynthia Eden dialogue and writing style, regardless of genre, always keep this reader intrigued. This is the first book in The Shadow Agents: Guts and Glory line that I have read; each is stand alone. Dylan is everything a heroine needs – sexy, protective, and 100% devoted. I loved his intimation tactics…they always brought a smile to my face. Rachel complements his character perfectly. Considering she has a killer obsessed with her I expected a meeker woman – someone in need of fortification. Instead Ms. Eden gave us an independent survivor who stands beside (or in front of) her hero.

I have added the other installments to my TBR…and if you like romantic suspense I recommend this line of Harlequin Intrigue.

Disclosure: This book was provided to me free of charge for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.
Profile Image for Larena.
441 reviews19 followers
August 1, 2014
Contemporary, Romantic Suspense


Washington, DC


Rachel Mancini is an ex-lawyer now an EOD agent that trusted the wrong man and almost lost her life because of it. Now the killer is back years later to finish the hit he missed. Rachel’s gorgeous partner, Dylan Foxx is determined that is not going to happen as long as he is on the case. Dylan and Rachel have been friends for years and he will do anything to keep her safe. Knowing it could prove fatal he wants her in his arms and his bed.

Dylan being an ex-SEAL has the skills and determination to meet every danger the twisted assassin that is obsessed with Rachel can unleash. Dylan never had a place for a relationship in his life until the moment he sensed that Rachel wanted him as badly has he wants her.


This is another great book in a series that is proving to have all the action any reader could possibly wish for. The plot is different and has some great twists in it that makes for a great read. Rachel has some damage that she has to overcome to get her happy ending and as she works through the emotional toll that her past has taken on her life it makes for an engrossing read. Readers will hate to see this one end because it is so very intriguing and pulls the reader in with every page they turn. This is proving to be a series that shouldn’t be missed.
Profile Image for Madison Warner Fairbanks.
3,396 reviews495 followers
September 28, 2014
Evidence of Passion by Cynthia Eden

Action, adventure, romance and a bad guy to capture. These are the perfect ingredients for a Harlequin Intrigue and Cynthia Eden has done a marvelous job of weaving a story that flies through the elements and adds danger and suspense to the mix. I loved how the hero was invested from the beginning but waited for the right time. Even though he makes mistakes in the winning of the heroine we forgive him because he does it out of protection and love.

Minor spoilers*
I was so scared that secondary character Thomas was going to be killed. Isn't the guy left out on the sidewalk, or in the car watching the house the sacrifice? I knew the minute we met him that he was going to die. Until the event happened, I was so tense and trying not to like him. Great save not killing him. And now he gets his own book next. Excellent.

I won a copy of this book in a contest by the author. I would have bought it anyway and have marked the calendar for the release date of the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Pamela(AllHoney).
2,688 reviews376 followers
January 7, 2016
The seventh book in the Shadow Agents: Guts and Glory series by Cynthia Eden. Three year before Rachel Mancini was a lawyer and nearly killed by "Jack", an assassin. Now she works for EOD (Elite Operations Division) and her partner is Dylan Foxx, an ex-Navy SEAL. Now it looks like Jack is back.

I love Cynthia Eden but this one didn't grab me as much as her other books normally do. It was just a fair read for me.
Profile Image for Linda.
2,042 reviews64 followers
August 6, 2014
Rachel and Dylan are colleagues in a covert agency, EOD. Now that an old adversary is back and targeting Rachel, Dylan can´t hide his feelings any longer. Will Rachel trust him not only to have her back, but with her feelings as well?
Action, suspense and smutty fluff in a fast paced entertaining combo.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for lily bookscation.
491 reviews
February 8, 2022
always fun to read this series.

but i have one complain though. Rachel was a Marine and now an EOD agent. she should be tougher than this.

yes the hero is protective enough but still the heroine should be more kick ass and tougher. I notice this thing happens with the other books. Sydney, Noelle, Rachel should be more kick ass. they're an elite agent after all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Aoi.
862 reviews84 followers
May 4, 2015
It was all going well, until more than halfway into the book,

Then, the heroine went for a vacation into nitwit territory and made stuff absurdly easy for the killer. She is supposedly a Marine.
Profile Image for Wendy W.
437 reviews2 followers
August 4, 2014
A good mix of both romance and suspense. (Well done by Ms. Eden) I was able to complete this book in one day.
Profile Image for Emmi.
520 reviews
October 18, 2014
Love this series. Easy reads filled with intrigue and badasses, what more could a girl want!?
Profile Image for Fabiola Chenet.
Author 30 books31 followers
August 15, 2015
Lu il y a quelques jours en français.
Je retrouve Cynthia Eden et je reconnais sa patte. Tout ce que je demande pour apprécier son histoire.
1,577 reviews54 followers
March 27, 2021
I can't say I liked this much at all. Okay not exactly true. I didn't mind the first 50% or so. That was alright. Not great, but not terrible. And then they had sex and all of a sudden Dylan is sending her away and ignoring the three years they've worked together and her skillset and it was bullshit. I really didn't like him at all at that point. Even when they made up I just wasn't feeling it. Plus the whole reveal about just didn't work for me. I feel like it would've come up with his supposed best friend at some point in the last three years.

I wasn't the biggest fan of Rachel either. I didn't really get any real or strong feelings from her. The chemistry between them was pretty meh. I didn't see what she saw in him or what he saw in her. The mystery was alright but something was missing. I think it was the characters - there wasn't the same camaraderie of teammates that was present in the rest of the series and it just didn't work for me.

So not the best book in the series. 2 stars.
Profile Image for Perdani Budiarti.
489 reviews27 followers
February 16, 2025
Obsesi seseorang masa lalu membuat hubungan Rachel dan Dylan berubah. Bekerja dalam satu tim yang sama selama tiga tahun terakhir tidak selalu membuat keduanya satu pemikiran dan saling memahami. Terlebih lagi ketika hubungan keduanya berkembang menjadi seperti yang selama ini diperkirakan oleh pimpinan mereka. Namun, salah paham dan rasa kehilangan masing-masing membuat keduanya tanpa sadar dipermainkan oleh musuh.

Tebakan tentang siapa orang dari masa lalu Rachel dan Dylan sudah kuduga. Namun intrik lain menyisakan misteri untuk buku selanjutnya.

3/*5
Profile Image for Dorel.
4,339 reviews38 followers
September 8, 2024
EVIDENCE OF PASSION by Cynthia Eden: I enjoyed the action in this story. I enjoyed the hot 🔥 & steamy scenes. I enjoyed Dylan's character. I enjoyed Rachel's character. I enjoyed the ending. This book's storyline was okay. OVERWHELMING FORCE by Janie Crouch: I liked this book's storyline. This story made me laugh 😂. I liked the action in this story. I liked the hot 🔥 & steamy scenes. I liked Joe's character. I liked Laura's character. I liked the ending.
9 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2018
Almost done with series

This so far has been the best series I have read. I really don’t want it to end. One more to go
Profile Image for Sonia Cristina.
2,271 reviews79 followers
October 29, 2018
Que horror que foi ler este livro! Ou ando a perder o entusiasmo pelo género suspense romântico ou Cynthia Eden já não funciona para mim...
Profile Image for Brittany Hopkins.
182 reviews
April 22, 2024
I’ve always been a fan of Harlequin Intrigue! This book was incredible. Had me on the edge of my seat! Definitely didn’t see any of the plot twists coming!
Profile Image for Belinda.
1,134 reviews1 follower
July 12, 2016
if you have read the other books you can tell there is something between Dylan and Rachel..they are close and have worked lots of missions together..but this one is different..someone from Rachel's pass is back..He wants her and think no one else can have her...But Dylan is trying to keep her safe...They become more than friends....they get close...They are both about killed along with other agents at the EOD....Jack as the guy from her past is known..kills and leaves the Jack of Heart card...He doesn't want to kill Rachel but he kidnaps and drugs her...She almost gets killed trying to get away from him..Dylan comes to the rescue..but there is more going on than with them...A great read..I had the killer figured out in this book..I was pretty sure it was the one I suspected and i turned out to be right!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews

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