**ARC Reader, all opinions are my own!** Welcome to the Chicagoland town of Bolingbrook. Picturesque, quiet, a place where a person can set down roots and raise a family. Not too close to the craziness of Chicago, but not out in the sticks either. Unbeknownst to the citizens of our fair town, darkness lurks in the shadows, things that go bump and bump back in the night. These two novellas tell the beginning of the story of the town of Bolingbrook, IL (a real place, but, as far as we know, not host to unknown supernatural phenomena). In the first, we meet Miriam and Sara, two young women whose lives haven’t really gone the way anyone expected. Miriam is alone and on the run, and Sara is working at a failing newspaper that exists under the thumb of a powerful yet corrupt mayor. Both of them are offered a choice that could change their lives; they need only take the first step, one into darkness, the other into the spotlight that shines on the things lurking in the dark. In the second book, 20 years have passed, and we meet Lydia (who we find out we’ve met before) and Sara—yes, that Sara. Time has changed them both, one as a human, the other as a vampire who can’t help but feel (even though vampires aren’t supposed to be able to do that!). When weredeer (yeah, it’s new to me too, but I think I’m here for it!) begin amassing around the town with a huge event on the supernatural side of things, and enforcers from the Kingdom of Chicago (yeah, I know, right?) show up to look into it, the two women’s paths cross, leaving one bruised but victorious and the other none the wiser. These two books offer an interesting and engaging look into the world of The Bolingbrook Babbler, a gossip rag that has more sales and does better business than 5 other papers in the state combined. It helps that they report on the big stories, like vampire, weredeer, and bat boy—you know, the big stories. In “Pathways to Bolingbrook,” we meet two of the series’ main characters at the crossroads that will result in their lives never being the same, and we get to know them a bit to learn about why they’ve chosen the path they have. In “A Fire in the Shadows,” we meet up with our protagonists 20 years later. Their lives have completely changed, but their paths are set to cross in what could be yet another crossroads. I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobooks for both, and I enjoyed them. The descriptions, though straightforward, are effective in painting the picture, and the story is a good time. Having the time jump initially made me wonder, but soon I’d gotten where we were going, and I was here for the ride. I recommend these books, especially if you’re into urban fantasy and Harry Dresden’s old Chicagoland stomping grounds. Enjoy!

I was entertained by this short story, which was the first experience I have had with this author. I thought this brief introduction was intriguing. I would be interested in exploring more in this creative world with these complicated individuals. I thought Rachanne Lumayno's narration added to the story's entertainment. I was gifted an audiobook through audiobooks.com. I volunteered, without financial gain, to leave this review which included my honest opinions regarding this tale.