Shot in the Dark by Marie James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As an IT expert and hacker extraordinaire, Wren Nelson is no stranger to discovering all sorts of secrets online.

He’s a warrior…when he’s behind his computer, that is.

And awkward at best in social situations.

His long hours with Blackbridge Security don’t really provide many opportunities to go out and meet people.

So what is he supposed to do when a wrong delivery—a questionably large box of bedroom toys—ends up in his hands instead of its intended target?

Online stalking has always been his go-to to accumulate information on people, but only seeing Whitney through digital displays isn’t enough. Approaching her doesn’t seem like the best plan either.

What he doesn’t know is that this woman is possibly the only one in existence able to give him a run for his money.

Shot in the Dark

Awkward Genius Meets His Match

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💛💚❤️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋🙂😁😛😘
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

Characters & Plot Summary

Wren Nelson has always been the behind-the-scenes guy at Blackbridge Security. He is a brilliant hacker, but can be anxious, and is happiest when he is buried in code. The story kicks off when a very large box of bedroom toys is delivered to his door by mistake. The intended recipient is Whitney Nelson, a woman he has only ever seen online. That moment sets the tone for their entire dynamic. Wren is mortified, but he cannot help being fascinated by her. He starts digging into her digital footprint the way he would any case, and I found myself torn between laughing at his awkwardness and cringing at how far he goes.

Whitney is confident, sharp, and not easily intimidated. When Wren finally works up the nerve to approach her in person, she surprises him by matching his energy with her own brand of bold curiosity. One of my favorite early scenes is when she calls him out for knowing too much about her. She is not scared, just amused, and that reaction flips the power dynamic in a way I did not expect. Their relationship grows through a mix of accidental encounters, intentional stalking on Wren’s part, and Whitney’s refusal to let him hide behind his computer forever.

The plot stays close to their developing connection rather than a large external suspense arc. Wren’s work with Blackbridge Security is present, but the emotional core is the push and pull between two people who are complete opposites in how they move through the world.

Highlights & Limitations

The biggest highlight for me is Wren’s character growth. There is a moment when Whitney shows up at his place unannounced, and he practically short circuits trying to figure out how to act like a normal human. It is funny, but it is also sweet because he genuinely wants to be better for her. Whitney’s confidence is another strong point. She never lets Wren’s awkwardness become a burden. Instead, she challenges him, especially in the scene where she drags him out of his comfort zone and insists he stop hiding behind screens.

I also loved the humor woven into their interactions. The mistaken delivery scene is unforgettable, and the way Wren obsesses over it afterward made me feel protective of him.

If I had to pick a limitation, I wished the external plot had a little more weight. Blackbridge Security is known for action and danger, but this book leans heavily into romance and character development. I enjoyed that focus, but I did find myself wanting one more high-stakes moment to balance the emotional beats. Another small thing is that Wren’s online stalking sometimes goes a little far. I understood why the authors wrote it that way, but there were moments when I wished he had pulled back sooner.

Narration & Performance

Jacob Morgan and Callie Dalton deliver a strong duet performance. Morgan captures Wren’s nervous energy perfectly. There is a scene where Wren tries to talk to Whitney without rehearsing first, and Morgan’s voice cracks just enough to make the moment feel real. Dalton brings warmth and confidence to Whitney. She nails the tone in the scene where Whitney teases Wren about the box delivery, giving the moment a playful edge that made me smile.

Their voices complement each other well, and the transitions between POVs feel smooth. I especially appreciated how Morgan softened his delivery during Wren’s more vulnerable moments, while Dalton leaned into Whitney’s boldness without making her sound harsh.

Final Opinion

Shot in the Dark is a character driven romance with a quirky, awkward hero and a heroine who refuses to let him retreat into the shadows. I cared about Wren more than I expected to. His anxiety, his intelligence, and his desire to connect made him one of the most memorable characters in the Blackbridge Security series. Whitney is exactly the kind of heroine who can handle him. Their chemistry is unconventional but incredibly satisfying.

I would recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys opposites attract romances, socially awkward heroes, and stories where emotional growth takes center stage. It is funny, sweet, and occasionally chaotic in the best way. I only wish the suspense element had been a little stronger, but the relationship itself more than made up for it.

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