ARC Review: Sweeter Than Sin By Shiloh Walker

Title: Sweeter Than Sin (A Secrets & Shadows Novel, #2)

Author: Shiloh Walker

Publisher/Publication Date: St. Martin's Press, September 30, 2014

Format/Source: E-ARC, Publisher/NetGalley

Genre: Romantic Suspense

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Book Summary From Goodreads

CAN’T FORGET THE PAIN

It took years for Adam to stop drowning his regrets in alcohol, and running the local bar doesn’t make it any easier—especially not when everyone he knows gathers there to discuss the shocking allegations that have shattered his hometown. When another murder rocks sleepy Madison to its core, it becomes chillingly clear that even more vicious wounds are waiting to be exposed.

WON’T RESIST THE PLEASURE

Nothing is sacred anymore, and no one is safe, least of all the mystery woman who shows up in town out of the blue, looking like every fantasy Adam’s ever had. She may have her own dangerous secrets, but she can’t ignore the urgent heat between them any more than he can. As a killer’s quest for vengeance explodes into violence, Adam is tempted to lose himself in the delicious promise of her body—until he realizes he’ll risk anything if she’ll give him her heart…in Sweeter than Sin by Shiloh Walker.

My Thoughts

I have read a few of Shiloh Walker’s books. Sweeter Than Sin is the first book written by Walker that I started reading and didn’t finish. As is usually true with the books I’ve read by Walker, it is filled with dark elements and characters with demons in their closets/troubled pasts. After several attempts to complete this novel, I finally decided to call it quits. No, it wasn’t because it was poorly written. And yes Walker stayed true to what she usually writes, but I felt that the storyline started out a little too dark, and I didn’t like the frequent reminders of the vile acts committed in the small town.

Although Sweeter Than Sin might be for some, this book just wasn’t for me. However, I will continue reading books by Walker, because from the books I’ve read by this author in the past—She Owns Me and Stolen, she skillfully presents difficult topics and brings troubled characters to life.

Actual Rating DNF

I received an e-arc of Sweeter Than Sin from the publisher/NetGalley for this review.

ARC Review: You Own Me by Shiloh Walker

ARC REVIEW YOU OWN ME BY SHILOH WALKER

Title:  You Own Me

Author:  Shiloh Walker

Publisher, Expected Publication Date: Shiloh Walker, Inc., August 4, 2014

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Format/Source:  E-ARC, Author

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BOOK SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS

Ten years had passed since the doors slammed shut behind Decker Calhoun, taking away his freedom, but more importantly, locking him away from Elizabeth Waters, the only woman he’d ever loved—the woman he’d given up everything for. 

The day he was sentenced, he’d looked at her and said, No regrets, Lizzie. But he lied, because he did have one. Although he’s been out of jail for three years now, he was a year too late. Lizzie never knew how he felt and just months before he was released, she found somebody else and it’s too late. 

Or maybe not. It seems that Lizzie’s boyfriend wants an open relationship and two can play at that game. Now all Decker has to do is convince Lizzie that he’s the better man…and has been all along.

MY THOUGHTS

You Own Me by Shiloh Walker broached the topic of open relationships. And it reflected on how self-esteem issues can result in bad decision making. You Own Me was written well and I loved the depth of the characters.

Walker’s character development was impressive in such a short book.  Lizzie suffered from low self-esteem, which resulted in some really bad choices. I found it troublesome that she did things just to make others happy. She actually lived on the side of danger and was blind to what was best for her. It was questionable who the real bad boy was in this erotic romance novella. There was Decker, an ex-convict, who was also caring and compassionate. His dark past seemed to interfere with him going after what he wanted. His character was intriguing and was what really kept me reading the story. On the other hand, there was Noel who can best be described as self-centered. The contrast between Decker and Noel and how they treated Lizzie succeeded in creating an engaging story.

Rating 4/5

I received an e-arc of You Own me from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Razed by Shiloh Walker

RAZED, a sexy romance by award-winning author, Shiloh Walker, is the much awaited sequel to WRECKED in the Barnes Brothers series and it releases this December from Berkley!

Take a look at the cover and let us know what you think!

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed paperback copy of WRECKED, along with some fabulous swag! (Yes, it’s international :))

About RAZED

Tattoo artist Keelie Jessup can handle that someone else has claimed the man of her dreams. She’s just not pleased with her remaining options…

                 

Keelie doesn’t believe in the “perfect man.” But the men who are worth the trouble are usually taken—like her business partner Zach Barnes. After a string of bad luck and the lost chance with Zach, Keelie decides that maybe flying solo—and living with suppressed desires—is the key to happiness.

           

As a photographer, Zane Barnes has an eye for the human form, and his eyes can’t get enough of Keelie’s curves. Unfortunately, Keelie is like most women—always fawning over his little brother, Zach. Zane is about ready to give up, but then a few stolen moments at his brother's wedding have him thinking maybe there's a chance there after all. Now he just has to prove that the perfect man does exist...for her.

Indiebound | BN | BAMM | iBooks | Amazon

Also in the Barnes Brothers series: WRECKED by Shiloh Walker!

Excerpt

Humiliation burned in her.

Rejection turned her blood to ice while her skin shrank down about two sizes too small.

She wanted to sink into the floorboards, turn into something thin and vaporous so she could just disappear.

Pushing against his chest, she focused on the navy blue polo.  “Then how about you let me go, huh?  My mistake.”

The hand on her throat didn’t move.

It should have felt threatening.

But the feel of him touching her just made her melt that much more…and it was now a heavy ache inside because he—

His lips brushed her ear.

“You want to know what I want from you?” he asked, the words velvet, stroking over her like a caress.

Keelie closed her hands into fists to keep from reaching for him. He was messing with her.  It pissed her off—and, to her disgust, it hurt.  It almost felt like a betrayal, too, because she hadn’t expected to see this in Zane.

“Back off,” she warned, putting an edge into her voice and preparing herself to make him back off.  So what if he had some moves on him?  He hadn’t seen her moves yet.  Not really.

“I want…” He slid his hand down from her throat, to rest on her chest, fingers spread wide where it rested above her heart.  “This.”

The simplicity of the gesture stunned her into passivity.

She held still as he lifted his head and stared down at her.

She blinked, not moving, as he continued to stand there, his hand on her chest.  “I want five minutes of your time…over a cup of coffee.  An hour for lunch.  I want you to pick up the phone when I call, talk with me for a while,” he said, staring into her eyes while the blue-green of his gaze cut into her.

Then he leaned in and pressed a hot, open-mouthed kiss to her chest, just above the neckline of her sweater.  “I want to peel your clothes away, learn each and every one of these insanely sexy tattoos…each tattoo, and the reason behind them.  I want to know what makes you laugh, and I want to know what makes you mad.  I want to know what sort of book you’re reading whenever I’m in the office—I’ve asked, but you always toss it down when I walk by and you never answer me.”

His breath was a caress on her flesh and she broke out into goosebumps.

Her heart raced in her chest and she couldn’t even begin to understand why there was a knot in her chest.

About Shiloh Walker

Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid... she fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah... serious vampire stories. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, but most all anything romantic. Once upon a time, she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest. She also writes under the pen name J. C. Daniels.

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