Wendy Black Farley resumes the life of Cori Sellers from Season’s Stranger to Season’s Shadows. Life is a whirlwind for Cori when she returns to Laurel Ledge after a visit to her brother and sister-in-law in Arizona. The “stranger”, Michael Flores, continues to see Cori, and she finds he is an attentive boyfriend when their schedules allow dating time. As a counselor for Amity Associates, they often call on her to travel for on-site counseling and to assess problems for the company, which is how she ended up in Xi’an, China. The travel wasn’t so bad; it was the man they expected her to work with, Stewart Montgomery. The man who was hired at one point to seduce her. Though she finds him attractive, she doesn’t trust her feelings around him, and besides, she is dating Michael. Stewart’s job is a PI, but he excels in extracting people who are caught in human trafficking. Stewart and Cori find themselves in trouble when they uncover the truth about what is hidden in a warehouse of the company they are called to assist.
Season’s Shadows is unique as Wendy Black Farley focuses on issues that secretly plague every country; slavery, human trafficking, disease, and abuse. Cori is a complicated character as she is dealing with when to let go of her brother as his medical caretaker, who are her real parents, and a boyfriend who wants to shelter her from any disappointments in life. Her job demands a quick pace and Stewart always includes some kind of action wherever he is. I found Cori lovable though she was dealing with stressful situations continually. Michael was sweet but clingy, whereas Stewart was focused and constantly looking for the next rescue. I found the book ended on a great note while looking forward to another adventure in Cori’s life. Multiple activities with a spiritual undertone make this a must-read for Christian mystery fans.