Mandy M. Roth

Covert Affections

Shadow Agents: Paranormal Security and Intelligence Ops Shadow Agents® Series, #5

Shattered memories and deadly truths.

Jesse Culbertson, elite operative and cat-shifter, is convinced he's one of the bad guys. Enhanced by experimental serums and haunted by gaps in his memory, he knows something dark lurks in his forgotten past. With each mission, layers of deception peel away, leaving him to question everything—especially when his instincts scream that he's fighting for the wrong side.

Lindy Delgado has spent years perfecting the art of blending in, hiding her succubus nature from everyone—even her closest friend. But her carefully built facade begins to crack when Jesse walks into her life, stirring desires she’s spent months trying to control. Determined to keep him safe from her darker urges, Lindy resolves to keep her distance. But Jesse isn’t what he seems, and staying away proves impossible when he keeps turning up everywhere she goes.

As The Corporation’s grip tightens and deadly secrets come to light, Jesse and Lindy must navigate a web of lies—including the ones they tell themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions – Covert Affections

Q: Is Covert Affections part of a series?
A: Yes. It’s Book 5 in the Shadow Agents: Paranormal Security and Intelligence Ops Shadow Agents® series, set within the larger Immortal Ops World.

Q: Can I read this book without having read the others?
A: You can! Covert Affections works as a standalone. That said, reading the earlier books—especially Ground Training—will enhance your experience, since timelines overlap.

Q: What genres does it fall under?
A: Paranormal romance, romantic suspense, and shifter romance with strong action and intrigue elements.

Q: Who are the main characters?
A: Jesse Culbertson, a cat-shifter operative with dangerous memory gaps, and Lindy Delgado, a succubus heroine with secrets of her own.

Q: How steamy is it?
A: It’s a high-heat romance with explicit scenes woven into an action-driven plot.

Q: Will I see characters from other Immortal Ops books?
A: Yes! Fans of the world will enjoy familiar faces and interwoven storylines while meeting new characters.

Q: Is there a cliffhanger?
A: No. The romance wraps up within this book, though larger series threads continue in future installments.

Q: What kind of tropes can I expect?
A: Possessive hero, hidden identity, forced proximity, fated mates, and action-packed missions.

Q: Is this more romance or more action?
A: It’s an even blend—fast-paced missions and conspiracies balanced with a central, intense romance.

Tropes & Triggers (listed together because one person's yuck is another person's yum):

Enemies to Lovers
Instant Attraction
Forbidden Love
Morally Gray Hero
Forced Proximity
Fated Mates
Opposites Attract
Secret Identity/Hidden Nature
Shifter Dynamics
Captive Romance
Obsessive Love
Dubious Consent/Influence (succubus powers potentially compromising consent)
Possessive Love
Kidnapping
Death & Murder
Strong Language
Stalking
Supernatural Experiments
Memory Loss/Amnesia
Succubus/Supernatural Seduction
Mad Scientist/Corrupt Corporation
Superhuman Enhancement
Forced Transformation/Shifting
Genetic Manipulation
Non-Human Romance
Body Horror
Guardian Romance
Stalker with a Crush
Spy/Covert Operations
Rescue Mission
Psychological Breakdown
Memory Manipulation
Gaslighting
Surveillance Obsession
Corporate Espionage
Betrayal/Double Agent
Alpha Male
Reluctant Hero
Traumatized Hero/PTSD
Found Family
Antihero/Morally Ambiguous Hero
Protective Love
Hybrid Monsters
Laboratory Horror (experiments on supernatural children)
Social Isolation & Anxiety
Financial Hardship
Terminal Illness
High-Stakes Infiltration
Supernatural Combat
Rescue Operation
Voyeuristic Attraction
Animal Communication
Healing Powers
Conspiracy Within a Conspiracy
Reverse Seduction (Subverted Femme Fatale)
Mutant Experimentation