Throwback Thursday: Her Best Friend's Lover by Shiloh Walker

Author: Shiloh Walker
First published in 2003 by Ellora's Cave

Dale Stoner loved women, and women seemed to love him right back. He danced around the line that led to seriousness, but any time one woman got too close, he two-stepped back, quick and pretty as you please. He’s fallen in love before and he doesn’t want to go that route again. No woman was ever going to get close to him again.

The only exception is his best friend, Lauren. She’s the only one who really matters. But she’s his friend…and guys don’t sleep with their best friends, do they?

Lauren wasn’t the kind of woman to believe in love at first sight, but then she met Dale. He’s everything she shouldn’t want—a flirt, a woman chaser…and he’s also in love with somebody else.

But one hot, steamy night changes everything…

I usually like this author's books, so I was eager to read this early one as it is being reissued this week in print and ebook form.  In Her Best Friend's Lover, Lauren has been in love with Dale for five years, but he has kept her in the friend zone.  He has never been able to get over his first love from high school.  One night changes everything for both of them.

Normally, I like friend's to lovers stories.  But, I had a hard time getting behind this one.  Their first time together Dale is totally drunk and doesn't remember who he slept with.  I thought it was a little icky that she cleaned up the evidence so that he would never know.  Then she finds out she is pregnant and keeps it from him.  Even after he realizes he loves her and marries her.  I'm not really a huge fan of secret baby story-lines in general.  I also never felt the connection between Dale and Lauren.  

This isn't a bad one, but it's not her best.  Her later stuff is much better.

2 in 1: Deeper Than Need & Sweeter Than Sin by Shiloh Walker

Today, I have the first two books in the Secrets and Shadows series by Shiloh Walker.  There are actually 3 novellas that came out earlier this year that introduce the town.  You can read my reviews here.

The first book, Deeper than Need (St. Martins Press, 2014) is the beginning of what looks to be a story arc that will span at least the next three books.  I'm not sure if this series is more than just a trilogy.  While it is a romantic suspense, the subject of the story arc is pretty dark.  I won't say much more because it would ruin the ending of the book.  

But, I can tell you that Trinity has just moved to town with her son and is trying to build a new life away from the mess her ex-husband got himself into.  She has bought the one house that Noah hates more than any other place.  It is the place that his girlfriend disappeared from 15 years earlier.    When the renovations on the house unearth a horrific secret in the house, there is a domino effect that rocks the entire town.

As I said before, the mystery part seems to span a few books, so there isn't too much resolution to that in this book.   But, the romance is very sweet.  I loved watching Noah and Trinity fall in love.  It was a lot of fun to watch them finally find a deep connection with another person.  

I found the second book, Sweeter than Sin (St. martins Press, 2014), really hard to put down.  There

is a lot going on in this book.  Much of which I can't talk about because it would mean some major spoilers. Let's just say a mystery woman is back in town and she may know something about the body found in the basement of Trinity's house in book 1.

One of the most shocked residents to see her is Adam.  He is elated and needs to figure out how to help her and get her to stay this time.  I did feel like their relationship was a bit rushed, I know he has been pining for her, but I wasn't so sure I bought her side of the romance. I'll have to see how it plays out more in book 3.

I don't recommend reading this book before you read Deeper than Need.  To me, it was not a stand alone book.  There was a cool twist in this one.  But there are still a lot of secrets that have yet to be revealed. There is a killer still on the loose.  I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong.   I can't wait for book 3, Darker Than Desire to come out later this year.  Hopefully, we can get some answers!

Secrets & Shadows novellas by Shiloh Walker

Today is release day for Long for Me by Shiloh Walker.  To celebrate, I have all three novellas in the Secrets & Shadows series.  These three novellas lead up to her new book, Deeper Than Need which comes out in June.

Also make sure to check out today's earlier post!  Ms. Walker is having a big giveaway that you will want to check out!

This trio of novellas introduces the readers to the town of Madison and the Bell siblings.  Their mother disappeared without a trace years before and it still haunts them today.  

In  Burn For Me (Secrets & Shadows 0.5) (St. Martins Press, April 2014)  Tate Bell and Ali have been "friends with benefits" for a couple of years.  The problem is that Ali is in love with Tate, but he keeps her at a distance.  He thinks that his father killed his mother, Nicole, and as a result, he fears that he may turn into an abuser.  

I liked this one because it did a great job setting up the back story for the siblings.  I also loved Tate and Ali.  I was really hoping they would make it.  I thought their ending was really sweet.  

In Break For Me ((Secrets & Shadows 0.6) (St. Martins Press, April 2014), Jensen Bell who is the middle child, has grown up to become a cop in town.  There is major chemistry between her and the new DA, Dean West.  Out of the three, I think I liked this one the least.  I thought Dean and Jensen's relationship was a bit rushed.   But I could see the potential for a HEA for them. 

Dean's back-story was really heartbreaking.   We also learn some more about the disappearance and death of the the siblings' mother.  It ended with me wanting to finally know what happened 12 years before.

The final novella, Long for Me (Secrets & Shadows 0.7)(St. Martins Press, May 2014) was my favorite of the three.  I really loved Christina and Guy together.  Guy has been in love with Christina forever. I really love friends to lovers stories.  I was really rooting for Christina to realize that the love of her life has been in front of her all along.   

In this one, we finally learn the truth of what happened that night. This trio of short stories was a great way to introduce the people in the town.  I look forward to reading Deeper than Need when it comes out in June!

Series Week - The Ash Trilogy by Shiloh Walker

If You Hear her (Ash Trilogy Book #1)

Author: Shiloh Walker

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Date of Publication: October 2011

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. 

Ezra King is on leave from the state police, but he can't escape the guilty memories that haunt his dreams. 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.
  
This is the first in a recently published series by Shiloh Walker.  I haven't read much by her, but this series looked good, so I gave it a shot.  If You Hear Her was really good.  I loved Lena and Ezra together. Neither one is looking for a relationship, but it is almost too hard to resist. Lena is a great character.  Even though she is blind, she lives a relatively normal life.  When she hears a woman scream in the woods late at night, her investigation sets off a series of events that rocks the whole town. The mystery isn't really solved in this book.  It seems that it is a story arc through the whole trilogy. There are a lot of other interesting characters that round out the story nicely and probably appear in the other books. In all, not a bad start to the series.

If You See Her  (Ash Trilogy Book #2)

Author: Shiloh Walker

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Date of Publication: January 2012


Hope Carson may not look like a survivor, but she has escaped an abusive ex-husband and recovered from a vicious assault. 

 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.

I liked the second in the series.  Hope and Remy are adorable together.  I loved how Remy courts her and takes his time earning her trust.  Hope had been through so much in her life, yet in the end she was a really strong person.  Her ex-husband learns of her whereabouts and is back to stalk her.  There were some pretty tense moments in the end.   The mystery of the who killed the girls is still not solved in this one.  While it is pinned on someone, that person so obviously did not do it.  I was pretty sure I had it figured out by the end of this book. 

If  You Know Her (Ash Trilogy Book #2)

Author: Shiloh Walker

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Date of Publication: February 2012  


Nia Hollister doesn’t scare easily. She’s returned to Ash, Kentucky, with a vengeance—and with a mission: find the killer who brutally ended her cousin’s life. What she didn’t count on was trembling 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 her sister’s killer still roams free?

This is the conclusion to the series.  I was happy to see that I was correct in my guess as to who the killer was in book #2.  I love it when that happens.  That said, it was a satisfying wrap up to the trilogy. 


 While I ultimately liked Law and Nia together, I wasn't sure I really bought their attraction at first.  It was really more like a lust at first sight, not love.  I felt a little forced to me.  But, I loved Law so I hoping for his HEA!  


I definitely recommend this trilogy.  I would recommend reading them in order to make the mystery arc flow better.  I know I'll be seeking out more by Ms. Walker!