Kira Douglas life is perfect she is reporter for the Atlanta Observer and a mother that she loves more than life. Then her mother is diagnosed with Renal Failure and get added to the donor list. After much determination she is tested as a compatible donor againist her mothers wishes. What she finds is that she is not only not a possible donor, but she is also not Kady Douglas's biological daughter.

Kira sets out on a mission to find her mothers biological daughter, which leads her straight to Max Payton and Leigh Westerfield some of the most promenient family in town.

Now Kira is faced with the task of finding her mothers biological daughter. Only the man that can help may also be the man with a bullet.

This was my first introduction to Patricia Potter's writing. This book packed a punch and was uniquly written. The conclusion of this book was wonderful, I felt that Potter wrapped everything up nice and tidy in the end. I look for to reading more novels in the future from this author. ( )

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Dec08

Romance and action steeped in suspense. “Behind the Shadows” by Patricia Potter kept me engrossed from the first chapter. In addition to the romance theme, this book also highlights today’s desperate need for organ donors. I also found myself pondering some interesting observations about what makes a parent, and what, if anything, would a child ‘owe’ a parent they never knew about?

Reporter Kira is frantic to save her mother’s life. It’s always been just the two of them and now with her mother’s kidneys failing, Kira is determined to donate one of her own to save the life of the woman who sacrificed so much and loved her all her life. When the doctor says Kira is not a match, she’s heartbroken. When he adds that she’s not even her mother’s biological daughter, Kira is livid. The hospital made a mistake…obviously. She and her mother have often discussed a newborn Kira’s fight for life after a difficult delivery. But the only ‘mistake’ apparently happened thirty-two years ago. Now Kira is determined to find out what happened to her mother’s baby. If she can find that baby, she will cajole, threaten, or beg to get a kidney for her mother.

Max is the successful corporate attorney and trust manager for Leigh, the sole heiress to the Westerfield fortune. When he meets Kira he feels a strong attraction. When Kira claims that she was switched as a baby with Leigh, Max is furious. Just another money-seeker! But when it appears Kira’s claims may be true, Max is torn. Leigh is like a sister to him, but he is drawn to Kira. Whose ‘interests’ does he represent--the apparent heir? The rightful heir? The woman he thinks of as a sister? The woman he’s coming to love? And when Kira is attacked, robbed, and shot within the space of three days, Max’s worries and loyalties will be tested like never before.

I can’t begin to tell you what a whirlwind of action this book contains. From the first page, there are mysteries within mysteries to solve. The story unfolds slowly at first and then seems to pick up speed with every chapter. I was impressed with how the author advanced the problem of organ donation without ‘preaching’ to the reader. The urgency and need is emphasized by every action the heroine takes, but we’re not beaten over the head with the issue.

I also found myself thinking about what I would, or would not, do if I were in the situation of any of the characters: the daughter, the biological daughter, and the lawyer/family friend. Tough questions which made me remember how blessed I am that I don’t have to face this in reality. Speaking of characters, the secondary cast was excellent! Almost every character introduced had real impact on advancing the plot. Patricia Potter’s “Behind the Shadows” was a heart-pounding read. And if everything came out a little ‘too’ neat and happy at the end? Well…this IS a romance after all. ( )