Review: Caller ID

Caller ID
by Rachelle J. Christensen
Published by Sweetwater Books
Expected Publication March 13, 2012
NetGalley copy


From Goodreads:


When twenty-three-year-old Courtney Beckham is abducted near her home, the search turns up more than just a kidnapping crime. FBI agent Jason Edwards investigates the ten-million-dollar ransom and stumbles upon something he wasn't meant to find. When Courtney catches a glimpse of the caller ID in her kidnapper's home, what she sees turns her world upside down.


My Thoughts:


I enjoyed this book! There was a lot of suspense and twists and turns. Just when you thought you'd figured out the bad guys, there was another twist in the plot. Courtney is a likable heroine, she's vulnerable, but not a pushover. I thought this was a debut novel when I first started reading it and I later realized that there was a first novel, Wrong Number. I'm eager to read this one as well. I really did enjoy this book. It was an easy enjoyable read and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys the twists and turns of a suspense thriller.

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!