PHANTOM (Shotgun Saints MC 3) by Elizabeth Knox-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 10, 2026

She kept my blood from me. Now she’s going to give me everything
Phantom
Twenty-one years ago, I let Marlena Hutchins walk away.

She was eighteen. I was eleven years her senior, drowning in divorce and club business. I convinced myself pushing her out of Sharp was the right thing to do.Turns out she left pregnant with my kid.

A daughter I’ve never met. Twenty years of birthdays, first days of school, graduations—gone. Stolen by the woman who just walked back into my life like those two decades don’t matter.

Now Marlena’s back in Sharp. Back in my bed. And pregnant again.

My ex-wife wants her dead. My daughters want answers. And my secret daughter—Presley—is coming home for the summer, ready to meet the father who abandoned her. Except I didn’t abandon anyone. I didn’t even know she existed.

Marlena kept that from me. Lied for twenty fucking years. I should throw her to the wolves. Let my psychotic ex have her revenge. Let Marlena face the consequences of hiding my blood from me. But she’s carrying my child. My land. My bed. My rules. She’s not running this time. I’m keeping her at lockdown at the ranch where I can watch every breath, every move, every tear. Where she’ll learn that the Shotgun Saints’ President doesn’t forgive betrayal.

I collect debts, and Marlena owes me twenty years. I’m collecting in the only currency that matters—her complete and total surrender She wanted to keep secrets? Now she gets to live with a man who buries them six feet deep.
Welcome home, Marlena. You’re never leaving again.

•••••

REVIEW: PHANTOM is the third instalment in Elizabeth Knox’s contemporary, adult SHOTGUN SAINTS MC romance series, a ranching MC, a next generation spin off set in the author’s REAPER’S REJECTS world. This is Shotgun Saints MC president, fifty three year old Harlan ‘Phantom’ Lyle, and thirty-nine year old, hair stylist Marlena Hutchins’ second chance story line. PHANTOM can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Phantom and Marlena) PHANTOM follows in the wake of the arrival of Marlena Hutchins, and the daughter Phantom knew nothing about. Approximately twenty-one year earlier, a nineteen year old Marlena fell in love with Harlan Lyle, but Phantom declared Marlena too young, and sent our heroine off, without a second thought. Fast forward to present day, Phantom hires a new intern, twenty year old Presley Hutchins, unaware the young woman in question is the daughter he knows nothing about. Desperate to protect her daughter from the wrath of Phantom, Marlena comes face to face with he past, a past that comes with the ongoing threats that had sent her away.

The world building follows the rebuilding relationship between Phantom and Marlena, as our couple must navigate the vengeance of a woman scorned. Phantom’s ex-refuses to let go, and takes aim at our story line heroine. Meanwhile, the Los Diablos are requesting safe passage through Shotgun Saints territory claiming everything is above board and without illegal ramifications.

The second chance relationships between Phantom and Marlena is one of heart break and destruction as Phantom’s ex wife refuses to let go. Marlena will be both rejected and accepted by a smear campaign is about to threaten not only her business but her life as well. With Phantom by her side, the threats become more personal and dark, until our heroine must fight for her life, survive at all cost. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters included the return of road captain Banshee and Bex, Shadow and Grace, Shiver and Siren (Reaper’s Rejects MC), as well as Phantom’s daughter Grace, Marlena and Phantom’s daughter Presley, and Phantom’s ex Jolene.

PHANTOM is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, jealousy and threats, family and relationships, forgiveness and love. The character driven premise is detailed, dramatic and captivating; the second chance romance is provocative; the characters are desperate and determined.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy