4.5 stars 
 Lisa has worked hard to keep attention off herself, to be the typical, happy college student. Only Gabe knows her darkest secret, and she can only hope that it stays that way. As Gabe's friend, we got to know her pretty well in Toxic, or as well as you can get to know someone who is hiding in plain sight. 
 Tristan goes to Seattle with revenge on his mind. He is following a path outlined in a journal, seeking answers and resolution. But meeting Lisa makes him question everything he thought he knew and thought he was seeking. As a professor, he is knowledgeable and strict. As the story's hero, he is just as hard lined and persistent. 
 This was such a twisted story, I never quite felt settled while reading. Just as I started to get a feel for the way things were going, there would be a new threat, or a new truth would come to light, or an excerpt from Taylor's journal would be especially chilling. Even when I thought I understood where Lisa and Tristan were each coming from, I was never sure if I could trust those feelings. 
 Even Tristan himself was hard to trust. As his motivations come to light, I found it hard to put aside why he was even in Seattle in the first place and move beyond his initial impressions of Lisa. It wasn't until it became obvious that there was so much more going on that I started to warm up to him. As his identity came to light and his own protective nature was jumpstarted that I was able to get behind him as the hero. 
 As the third book of the series, we are well familiar with Wes, Kirsten, Gabe and Saylor. Gabe and Wes regularly show their protective sides, offering security and support as much as Lisa will allow (or they force her to accept when she won't allow it). The girls are less present in the story, as they are focused enough on their final semesters of college that their free time is sparse. 
 This had such a psychological thriller type feel to it, that at times the romantic aspects were overshadowed and rushed. As a thriller, I loved it. I thought I had it figured out pretty early on, so I was surprised and thrilled to find that I had only figured out part of the end. The final product was not at all what I expected from Shame, in the best possible way. It was intense, emotional, and as chilling as it was heated. 
 I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.