Teaser Tuesday (August 21)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

Paybacks are a bitch... Taylor had no idea who'd coined that phrase, but whoever it had been, he or she had known exactly what they were talking about. Crouching next to Dez in the cold, dark night, he stroked his fingers down her cheek and waited for her to wake up.

- The Departed, Shiloh Walker

"Waiting On" Wednesday

Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a bookish meme where were share upcoming releases that we are waiting on.

Stolen
by Shiloh Walker
Published by Random House
Expected Release 10/30/12

From Goodreads:


Shay Morgan has stayed hidden for a long time. Living a reclusive life in Earth’s End, Alaska, she’s as far away as she can get from the trauma of her childhood and the man who hurt her long ago. But terror takes over Shay’s life yet again when an unknown stalker steals away the fragile peace she’s built for herself—targeting not only her but the one man who’s ever managed to get past the walls she’s built around herself.
 
Elliot Winter has lived through being falsely accused before—it ruined his military career. Now it’s happening all over again. And this time, his accuser is a twisted impostor who’s targeting his ex-girlfriend, Shay. Despite a fierce mutual attraction, Shay and Elliot broke up because Shay couldn’t let her guard down, couldn’t let Elliot in. But now they both need to trust each other to confront a psycho who seems to know all their secrets.


I have been a Shiloh Walker fan forever, but her recent Ash Trilogy was amazing. I'm looking for to more in this genre from her, so I can't wait to read this one!

Promo: Hunter's Rise by Shiloh Walker

 B & N | Amazon | Indiebound | Book Depository | BAMM

Hunter's Rise is the final book in Shiloh Walker's Hunter Series! Read the excerpt and order your copy today!

Excerpt 
 
[100]


Snippet (warning... Toronto is something of a smart-ass)


Not the ideal place for a fight. He'd done it before and managed to
avoid human casualties, but he suspected that Sylvia James was a
different breed from what he was used to. Ferals fought to live, so they
could kill—by nature, most of them weren't always clearheaded.
Sylvia, like him, was a trained killer. Shewould be clearheaded. It
would make a difference.
 
He hunted the ferals.
 
She hunted for money.
 
In the end, he'd win, because he was stronger.
 
But he didn't want to have to fight her. He wanted to have sex with
her—down and dirty sex, maybe up against a wall, in the light so he
could watch her. Then on a bed, her body under his, or over . . . his
hands tangled in that dark, silken hair.
 
"You know, most men would at least bother to introduce themselves
before the guy starts picturing the woman naked," she drawled,
coming to a stop eighteen inches away.
 
Toronto smirked. "That's bullshit. We see a woman, we frequently
picture them naked. We mess with the names when we want to actually
think about getting them in bed. Some of us, at least." He skimmed a
look over her body, taking in the sleek muscles, the powerhouse curves.
Then he focused on her face again, smiled slowly. "So. What's
your name?"
 
Due out 4/3/2012

Review: If You Know Her by Shiloh Walker

If You Know Her

by Shiloh Walker
Published by Ballentine Books

ARC recieved from author

FAIR WARNING! If you haven't read the first two books in the series, If You Hear Her and If You See Her, then this review will contain some spoilers. You can find my review of the first book HERE, and I suggest that to be where you start, and my review of the second book HERE.

From Goodreads:

A SHADOW IN THE WINDOW. 

Nia Hollister doesn’t scare easily. Come hell or high water, she intends to find her cousin’s killer. She returns to Ash, Kentucky, for answers. What she doesn’t expect is to ache with desire every time she sees Law Reilly. If any man can help her escape the nightmares for a while, it’s him. But can she allow herself to take comfort in those strong arms when a murderer still roams free? 

Unknown to Nia, as she quietly slips into Law Reilly’s home, is that she’s being watched—by someone who is waiting for an opportunity to strike. 

Timing is everything, though he can’t wait forever. If she’s not frightened, she soon will be. Nia has made a vow to find her cousin’s killer. She should be careful what she wishes for.

My Thoughts:

This book was a perfect ending to the series. On the romance side of things I was so happy to see Law finally find someone, and become a little more confident in himself. In the first book I saw him as a sad little puppy dog who couldn't get the girl. In the second book he was like a big brother looking out for Hope, but Nia brings out his stronger side and he does a little more taking charge in this book, and I really liked that.

Nia is a really interesting girl. I love the bad ass persona she has, albeit the grief stricken gun wielding girl from the second book had me nervous. She's leveled out some in this book though. She comes back to Ash because she simply isn't satisfied that her cousin's murderer is really Hope's dead ex-husband. She starts digging around and finds some pretty disturbing facts.

When we discover who the killer is, and find out the totality of his MO, it's incredibly disturbing! I was excited that the killer was who I suspected though. That's my favorite part of reading a mystery, trying to figure out "who done it" before the author tells us!

This was an incredible series, I highly recommend it! My book club is reading If You Hear Her for March's meeting and I can't wait until they get into this series so I have more people to talk about it with!

Review: If You See Her by Shiloh Walker

** SPOILER ALERT **

This trilogy is meant to be read in order! If you don't read the first one, don't be surprised if you have trouble following the second. Also, if you haven't read If You Hear Her, stop reading now. You can find that review HERE. You definitely need to start there. 

If You See Her
by Shiloh Walker
Published by Ballentine Books
Expected Release January 25th, 2012
ARC provided by Author for Review

From Goodreads:


A FACE IN THE MIRROR. 

Hope Carson may not look like a survivor, but she has escaped an abusive ex-husband and recovered from a vicious assault. Now she endures the painful memories and suspicious rumors surrounding her involvement in the attack. Her ex is a cop, so the last people she trusts are law enforcement officials—and she certainly doesn’t trust how the local DA makes her feel inside. 

Remy Jennings should know better. He has no business falling for a woman who he suspects may have a deeply troubled mind. And even if he did make a move, she’d bolt like a frightened rabbit. But how can he deny a burning desire that threatens to consume him? As Hope’s past catches up with her in the worst way, Remy is determined to break through her defenses, earn her trust, and keep her safe in his arms—before it’s too late.


My Thoughts:

I am loving this series by Shiloh Walker. I knew with the first book that Hope would be my favorite character in this series and, unless I'm proved wrong with the next one, I hold that opinion.

If You Hear Her picks up right where If You See Her left off. Hope and Law are still in the hospital and Law is still unconscious from the attack at the end of the first book. Hope is the prime suspect because of her "mental history" that has been set in place by her bastard ex-husband.

Through the suspicion and ultimate exoneration of Hope's involvement in the attack, Remy finds himself even more fascinated with Hope (if that is even possible). Hope, of course, is suffocating with everyone trying to protect her, even as she becomes more and more aware that perhaps she needs that protection after all. We see a lot of growth in Hope as she realizes how much she has changed, and how strong she has become as an individual.

This book is a real page turner as we now see into the warped minds of two cold-blooded criminals instead of one. We learn some pretty interesting stuff about the killer from the first book. He has a fascination with Hope, but not like you would expect.

I had a few thoughts in the first book as to who the killer might be, and I narrowed my options some in this book, but there are still a handful people I think it could be. One person I think we are supposed to suspect, and that probably means it isn't him. I could be wrong though! Anyway, I'm bad about trying to figure it all out before the end. I can't wait to read the third and final book in this series. It really is a great story and I think that everyone should read it. I give it five cups!

Review: If You Hear Her by Shiloh Walker

If You Hear Her
by Shiloh Walker
Published by Ballantine Books
Released October 2011
Received as a gift (RAK rocks!)


From Goodreads:


A CRY IN THE WOODS 


The scream Lena Riddle hears in the woods behind her house is enough to curdle her blood—she has no doubt that a woman is in real danger. Unfortunately, with no physical evidence, the local law officers in small-town Ash, Kentucky, dismiss her claim. But Lena knows what she heard—and it leaves her filled with fear and frustration. 


Ezra King is on leave from the state police, but he can’t escape the guilty memories that haunt his dreams. When he sees Lena, he is immediately drawn to her. He aches to touch her—to be touched by her—but is he too burdened by his tragic past to get close? When Ezra hears her story of an unknown woman’s screams, his instincts tell him that Lena’s life is also at risk—and his desire to protect her is as fierce as his need to possess her


My Thoughts:

Squeel! I loved this book! It was everything I hoped it would be. I've always loved Shiloh Walker but the more I read her work the better it gets!

In Shiloh Walker’s new release we meet a handful of friends and acquaintances from Ash, Kentucky. I really enjoy Lena Riddle, the main character. She is a cook at a local Inn and she hears screams coming from her woods. When she reports the incident to the police she can only tell them what she heard because she is blind and couldn’t actually look out to see who might’ve been there.

Her grit and determination with the jerk deputy really made me love her. She and Ezra King, a town newbie and off-duty state cop, are thrown together by circumstances as well as by their growing attraction for each other. Ezra has his own dark past and he’s a wounded and sometimes broody character. Overall though, I really liked him too. He’s got a fierce protective streak, not only for Lena but for anyone who may need it. He’s a good cop and notices things about people. When we get to read portions from his point of view I feel like we get a lot of insight.

Law O’Reilly is a good friend of Lena’s and hopelessly in love with her. Although, I’m not sold on his dying devotion. He steps aside far too easily for Ezra and his fascination with Hope seems more than brotherly. I know that isn’t supposed to be the case, but that’s how it feels. He’s got this puppy dog thing going on. I want him to get aggressive and heated. I’m hoping that the third book will bring some romance for him and we’ll get to see him grow out of his reclusive shell.

Hope is possibly one of my favorite characters. I know she takes a more prominent role in ‘If You See Her’ and I can’t wait. She is introduced as this mousy little woman who has been beaten down by her past and needs protecting. As the story progresses though she has this surprising strength! There is a scene (no spoilers) where she puts this busybody woman in her place for talking about Law and it really made me want to hug this girl! I cannot wait to see how her story continues to unfold in the next book.

I really loved this book. This trilogy definitely has to be read in order and together. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

Serial Review: Grimm's Circle Series

Grimm's Circle Series by Shiloh Walker

All Summaries from Goodreads

Candy Houses


So you think you know fairy tales? Guess again.

Greta didn’t get her happy ending her first time around. And now that she’s a Grimm—special kind of guardian angel and official ass-kicker in the paranormal world—romance is hard to find. Besides, there’s only ever been one man who made her heart race, and the fact that he did scared her right out of his arms. Now Rip is back. And just in time too, because Greta needs his help.

On a mission he knows is going to test all of his strengths and skills, the last person Rip expected to see is the one woman who broke his heart. Working together seems to be their only hope. But, when faced with a danger neither of them anticipated, the question is, how will they face the danger to their hearts—assuming they survive, of course.

No Prince Charming

Her Happy-Ever-After has been a long time coming…

Elle spent years trying to get over her so-called Prince Charming, and she’s finally getting the hang of it. A Grimm—a guardian angel with unique gifts—she spends her nights trolling for demons and kicking ass, and lately, her days have been spent with her on-and-off-again lover, Ren, a fellow Grimm. But fate has other plans in store for Elle, plans that include Michael, the prince from her youth who broke her heart.

“What do you choose…live for her? Or would you rather die?” That was the choice Michael was given all those years ago. Although he knew she’d never forgive him, when Michael was given the chance to become a Grimm, he took it. Still, he isn’t so sure Elle needs him in her life. With a lover at her side and a mission before her, Elle looks like she’s doing just fine without him.

But the not-so-charming prince isn’t going to back off that easily…not if there’s a chance she might need him again. He’d do anything to save her. Kill for her, live for her, die for her…

Warning: This dark, twisted version of Cinderella involves demons, deceit, desire, and debauchery between a princess and two sexy guardian angels, both determined to win the fair Cinderella.

Crazed Hearts
Ren has always danced along the fine line between being a little bit crazy and being overcome by a darkness that’s haunted him since his mortal days. As an empath, he prefers to live far from people who would leak their emotions all over him, so he’s not expecting the woman who drives right into the heart of his wood. She has a cursed book with her and demons hot on her heels. Even more surprising are her abilities and the reaction Ren has to her.

Aileas is on the run. She just isn’t certain if she’s running from something real or imagined. One thing is for sure, her brother is dead and she’s certain the book she found has something to do with his death. She really starts to doubt her sanity when she meets a hot but somewhat crazed man in the middle of nowhere.

He calls himself Ren, and although he doesn’t seem to be out to hurt her, he definitely seems to want something. She just doesn’t understand what. She does know what she wants though. She wants him, and the shadows and darkness she glimpses inside him don’t matter. At least, right up until he claims to be a guardian angel. 

And she thought she was going crazy.

Tarnished Knight

The mind forgets, but the body remembers. Everything.

One look at Jack Wallace and Perci knows he’s going to be trouble. Even surrounded by soul stealers, he’s a one-man wrecking crew. What does he need Grimm training for? He’s already hell on earth, a warrior bent on destruction. And something…more.

He’s too strong and fast to be a mere mortal. Even covered in blood, he makes her forget she’s only here to do a job and get out. It’s twisted. Sick. She hasn’t felt this alive in three centuries.

Born with a natural talent for killing unnatural things, Jack has always known things he shouldn’t. The fact that Perci is one of them glows all over her. Giving him an unholy urge to see just how far he can push her before don’t touch me melts into touch me there.

When they come together, it isn’t careful or cautious. It’s heaven and hell, exposing all their raw and wounded places to healing heat, resurrecting memories of a destined love from the distant past. But the evil that destroyed them once before has tracked them here, threatening their second and last chance at forever. Demanding a sacrifice no one—Grimm or human—should ever be asked to make…

Warning: Dark, sexy, a little bit scary—this fairy tale is only for grownups and is best saved for bedtime.

Locked in Silence

Dying is hard enough. Coming back to life is brutal.

Vanya has been hunting and killing demons ever since one of them scarred her face and killed her sister. Correction—since she was forced to kill the demon possessing her sister.

Then some sort of angel offers her a deal she can’t refuse—that if she becomes one of them, she gets to kill even more demons. Tonight, she’s made that choice. The death she smells on the air will be her own—and she welcomes it.

Silence feels a darkness is looming. Change—something he has every reason not to welcome. The deeply hidden memories that robbed him of his past, of his own name, render him unfit to teach anyone the ways of the Grimm. Yet here he is in the dankest sex club in town, waiting to assume his charge—after he stands by and watches her die.

When Vanya awakes, their complicated, dangerous dance begins. And so does something else—a searing need that blisters along their unexpected mental connection. Silence shouldn’t be drawn to his student, but once they touch, he can’t think of a reason to stop. Even though acting out their darkest desires puts them in more danger than they realize.

Warning: This book contains sex-starved demons, lonely angels, demon-angel sandwiches, blood, violence, death and a happy-ever-after.

My Thoughts:

I can not possibly say enough good things about this series from Shiloh Walker. I've read the whole series so far, including the free eBook "I Thought It Was You." Where the loose ends from No Prince Charming are tied up before the story in Crazed Hearts begins.

A society of once human Guardian Angels who fight demons and protect the innocent? It absolutely rocks! I love re-tellings of the classics and the way Shiloh Walker has taken Fairy Tales and Classic stories and turned them into something completely different is amazing! In the early books you know right away which fairy tale characters are based on the Grimm, but in the later books you have to read the book before finding out. They are awesome stories. I highly recommend each and everyone of them.

I can't wait to see whose story comes next. There are two characters in particular that I wish could get full-length novels. In fact, that has been my only complaint of any of the stories. There is so much to unpack, I wish each story were a full-length work on it's on. 

The first two stories are available in print in The First Book of Grimm. All of the stories are available in eBook format. 

** These books contain explicit sex and violence. Not appropriate for children or teens under the age of 18.**

Review: The Missing by Shiloh Walker

The Missing
by Shiloh Walker
Berkley Trade
Got through Bookswap


From Goodreads:


Her psychic gift drove away the man she loved and years later has drawn him back to her…

As a teenager, Taige Branch hated her psychic gift. No one could understand, except for Cullen Morgan, the boy who stole her heart. He did his best to accept her, until his mother was brutally murdered, and he couldn't forgive Taige for not preventing it.

Now a widowed father, Cullen Morgan has never forgotten Taige. But what brings her back into his life is another tragedy. His beloved little girl has been kidnapped, and Taige is his only hope of finding her. Working together against the clock, Cullen and Taige can't help but wonder whether, if they find his daughter in time, it isn't too late for the overpowering love that still burns between them….


My Thoughts:


I really enjoyed this book. I was a little disappointed that the synopsis tells us why she and Cullen broke up to begin with. I think I would have liked not knowing from the beginning. The novel starts when the two meet in high school and works through the summers that they spent together until their break-up. Part Two, which is probably about 70% of the book, picks up just before they meet again. Finding Cullen's daughter is only the first obstacle to overcome.


I am so afraid of giving too much away in this review. I hate to include spoilers for a book that I recommend because I don't want to ruin it for anyone! Taige's personal struggles with her gift evolve and change throughout the book and the woman that we meet at the beginning of Part Two is an exhausted shell of a woman.

She continues to dream about Cullen but even in her dreams she can't let her guard down. She was so hurt by him, and yet she still loves him completely. Taige, like many romance heroines, has a hard exterior but it barely hides the vulnerability of a broken woman.

The connection between Cullen and Taige is so strong it's hard to ever believe that they won't end up together. It's hard to believe that Cullen was ever married to another woman. He even admits that he didn't love her as well because he was still in love with Taige.

This is a suspenseful read and I really enjoyed it. I give it four cups and highly recommend it!

Dirty Little Secrets (3)

Dirty Little Secret is a weekly meme hosted by Under the Covers. Every Thursday they get to know other bloggers and their readers more intimately by asking them a question hoping to reveal their dirty little secrets.

To participate in the meme all you need to do is:

1. Be a follower of Under the Covers.

2. Create a post in your blog taking the meme image and copy instructions. 

3. Answer the question! This can be done in any way you like, post a video, write a post etc.

4. Then add your link.

This weeks question:

"Who is your author crush? And if you were to write them a fan letter what would you say?"


I think is it HILARIOUS that this is the DLS question this week. I already said yesterday that I feel like a crazed Shiloh Walker fangirl this week. I actually have two reviews that I'm holding onto right now just so that I'm not literally posting about her work ALL week. Oh well, what can I say? I definitely have an author crush on Shiloh Walker.


I've never written a fan letter. I am always afraid that they might come off a little creepy to the recipient. That probably isn't true, but all the same. If I was to actually write her a letter though I would probably be raving about how much I love her Grimm's Circle series and could she please write full length novels for both Will and Sina. I'm dying to see how their characters end up, and I really want to know about Sina's history and how the Snow White story was twisted from her past.

The Hunters: Declan and Tori by Shiloh Walker

I'm just a regular Shiloh Walker Fangirl this week! 3 posts in two days about her awesome books!

Shiloh Walker is re-releasing The Hunters Series as the books revert back to her. If you haven't checked out this series before now is the time to do it! You can't beat the prices!

(Don't you just LOVE this cover?!)


Reissued at a new, lower price...available at ARe  Nook & Kindle

Book 1

Tori McAdams was a sensible woman. She didn't believe in hocus-pocus, she didn’t believe in ghosts, and she definitely didn’t believe in vampires…not until the night she was attacked by one. Alone, starving and afraid, she doesn’t know what’s happening but at least she had somebody to turn to…

Declan Reilly was normally the last person she’d go to for help, but now he was the first on her list. He can help; she knows he can. She never could have planned on what happens next, though…the sexy detective is so much more than he appears.

Warning: This book contains violence, sex, more violence, a maniacal murderer, sex, more violence, and a menage or two thrown in for good measure. There are also sighs, happy endings, a romance, a hero, a heroine, and a little bit of falling in love.

**Please note this work has been previously published. While it's been edited, no new material has been added.

Read an excerpt

"Waiting On" Wednesday: The Departed by Shiloh Walker

Hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a bookish meme where were share upcoming releases that we are waiting on.

The Departed
by Shiloh Walker
Berkley Trade
Expected Release Jan 2012


From Goodreads:


A LIFELONG OBSESSION

FBI Special Agent Taylor Jones has made it his mission to save those in harm’s way by any means necessary—including employing psychic agents like Desiree “Dez” Lincoln, who can communicate with the disembodied spirits of the dead. Taylor is haunted by his own ghost, his kid sister, gone missing at age six. For a quarter of a century he has been tortured by her loss and the mystery of her disappearance.

A NIGHT’S INDISCRETION

When Dez is seriously wounded, Taylor can no longer hide his feelings for her. Getting involved could spell disaster for both of them—not to mention those who rely on them for help—but once Dez lays her hands on him, he can’t resist the fierce attraction. But after giving in to his desires, Taylor pulls back, and Dez strikes out on her own.

AN INESCAPABLE PASSION

Responding to the call of another anguished spirit, Dez is led to Taylor’s old hometown. As the two are forced to come together to save a girl in peril, Dez may be able to help Taylor finally find the answers he’s been looking for…


I am really looking forward to this one! I'm reading The Missing right now and I've met these characters. I can't wait to read their story!

What are you waiting for?

WoW: If you hear her by Shiloh Walker

Linking up with Jill over at Breaking the Spine for Waiting on Wednesday!

Title: If You Hear Her
Author: Shiloh Walker
Publisher: Random House
Expected Release Date: October 25, 2011


A CRY IN THE WOODS

The scream Lena Riddle hears in the woods behind her house is enough to curdle her blood—she has no doubt that a woman is in real danger. Unfortunately, with no physical evidence, the local law officers in small-town Ash, Kentucky, dismiss her claim. But Lena knows what she heard—and it leaves her filled with fear and frustration.

Ezra King is on leave from the state police, but he can’t escape the guilty memories that haunt his dreams. When he sees Lena, he is immediately drawn to her. He aches to touch her—to be touched by her—but is he too burdened by his tragic past to get close? When Ezra hears her story of an unknown woman’s screams, his instincts tell him that Lena’s life is also at risk—and his desire to protect her is as fierce as his need to possess her.

What are you waiting for?