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The Ash Trilogy #2
If You See Her
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.
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.
372 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
54 people are currently reading
1520 people want to read
About the author
Shiloh Walker
202 books2,436 followersHello... thanks for swinging by. I don't log into Goodreads much, so if you have questions, please visit my website to email me through my site.
Thank you!
My other me.... J.C. Daniels
And an experimental me that I put to sleep. J. Dallas
Bio...
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, and nearly every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.
To contact the author, please visit her website!
Thank you!
My other me.... J.C. Daniels
And an experimental me that I put to sleep. J. Dallas
Bio...
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, and nearly every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.
To contact the author, please visit her website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
April 6, 2017
The second book takes off right where the first one ended. It seems the killer did a pretty good job of making everyone suspicious of Hope Carson. Hope might have broken once under the hands of her abusive and controlling ex-husband, but she’s a survivor. One that escaped the hell she was living in and for two years she’s been trying to get over her fears. But the safe haven her friend Law promised her has turned into the hunting ground of a vicious killer. Now she’s surrounded by memories of attacks and people suspecting her of being mentally unstable. Because her ex is a cop and his badge let others believe the lies he told, she fears law enforcement officials. And she knows she can’t trust Remmington Jennings, the local DA. Especially not with the way he makes her feel.
Remy Jennings doesn’t know who to trust when it comes to Hope Carson. The evidence and her ex-husband says she’s mentally unstable, but his gut instinct says otherwise. Since the moment he first saw her, he’s been smitten with her, wanting to protect her and make her his. Can he trust his own judgment when his desire for her threatens to consume him? And can he earn her trust, keep her close to him in order to keep her safe before it’s too late, before her past comes back for her?
She’d stopped running from her past, and she wanted to stop running from the things that terrified her—
Remy did a lot more than just scare her, so she wasn’t sure he really qualified.
I liked Hope in the first book and although I understood why she was the way she was and I sympathised with her after everything she had been through, I just couldn’t love her. Her constant fear and her timidness made her appear weak and broken. However I definitely changed my mind about her in this book. The recent attack and what happened to her afterwards, the way she was treated and almost everyone thinking she was responsible basically forced her to reach her breaking point, which was a very good thing. Suddenly she wasn’t so fearful anymore. The steel backbone she briefly showed in the first book when she stood up for Law was back in full force in this book and I loved seeing her stand up for herself, realising that she wasn’t broken, that she wasn’t weak. And watching her take back control over her life was awesome.
From the second he’d laid eyes on that woman, she’d affected him on a personal level and he’d be damned if he could completely understand it, but there was no denying it.
Of course I loved Remy and how instantly drawn he was to Hope. Even when he had his doubts about her, he still couldn’t stop desiring her, wanting to protect her. I especially loved that his charm, which usually worked so well on women had no effect on Hope. And the way he would lose his composure around her was adorable.
He was already lost. Lost to her, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. Nor did he want to do anything about it and it didn’t matter that it was a mess.
I loved their romance and the slow burn of it. It worked perfectly for them, especially with Hope’s past and her fears when it came to trusting others. And I loved how patient Remy was with her, how hard he tried to win her trust.
The killer wasn’t as prominent in this book as he was in the first book, but he managed to be just as creepy especially with his sudden interest in Hope, the way he watched her constantly. And I liked the twist and added danger caused by Hope’s past catching up with her.
As always the plot was very gripping and I enjoyed all the secondary characters. Especially Law who really shined in this book. His loyalty to his friends, how fiercely he tried to protect Hope was so damn sexy. And I loved his intense reaction to the new character, Nia Hollister, the cousin of the woman who was found dead at his house. And of course I loved bad-ass Nia, she was just awesome!
This series just continues in strength and intrigue with us still now knowing who the killer is. I can’t wait to read the next book, especially not after the way this one ended and to see what is going to happen between Law and Nia. This series is a definite must read for everyone who loves their RS to be dark and chilling with intense and sexy romance. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
July 16, 2017
5 If You See Her Stars
This book continues on where book 1 ends, Lena and Ezra are still going strong.
Hope and Law’s friendship is becoming stronger and stronger.
But Hope has her eyes set on someone.. Remy someone.
It’s kind of nice to see her coming out of her shell and learning not everyone is like her EX.
I love that Remy not only gives Hope the space she needs but he also goes to Law and talks to him. I think that was aces, she needs her friend and her lover to be friendly.
The killer is still lurking but no one has any leads and the lead they do have are small until stuff starts happening.
This book were where I was still flopping at who done it.
But I have a suspicions and it’s been there for a good part of this book so I am thinking its him.
But I am not ruling anyone out. You just never know. But I have my page of suspects and he is number one. No I am not going to tell you who. :p But I will say he sure flies under the radar if it is him.. Hmm
On to the Next!
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
This book continues on where book 1 ends, Lena and Ezra are still going strong.
Hope and Law’s friendship is becoming stronger and stronger.
But Hope has her eyes set on someone.. Remy someone.
It’s kind of nice to see her coming out of her shell and learning not everyone is like her EX.
I love that Remy not only gives Hope the space she needs but he also goes to Law and talks to him. I think that was aces, she needs her friend and her lover to be friendly.
The killer is still lurking but no one has any leads and the lead they do have are small until stuff starts happening.
This book were where I was still flopping at who done it.
But I have a suspicions and it’s been there for a good part of this book so I am thinking its him.
But I am not ruling anyone out. You just never know. But I have my page of suspects and he is number one. No I am not going to tell you who. :p But I will say he sure flies under the radar if it is him.. Hmm
On to the Next!
*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*
February 19, 2012
*3.5 Stars*
After reading the first book in this trilogy, If You Hear Her, I was very excited to dive into this book. The serial killer plot spans the whole trilogy, the romances are the only things resolved in the individual books, so I couldn’t wait to see what came next. The first book was great! And the way it ended whetted my appetite to see what would become of Hope and how she and Remy would eventually hook up.
If you’ve read the first book, you are probably familiar with Hope’s past. She was abused by her husband for years. Not just physical abuse, either. She was cut off from everyone and lived in a small town that worshipped her husband. Her attempts to tell the truth about him were ignored, and he was eventually able to convince everyone that she was mentally unbalanced. After trying to commit suicide to escape him, he manipulated the system and had her committed. She’s been free of him for two years, but she has still not recovered. Her best friend, Law, finally got her to quit running and come stay with him. But things got complicated in the last book and now no one is sure what Hope will do.
****NOW’S THE TIME TO STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE FIRST BOOK****
This book picks up right after the first one left off. Hope is suspected of being behind the attack on Law and everyone thinks she tried to kill herself again. Remy is put in the uncomfortable situation of having to dig into her past to find out how disturbed she really is. He doesn’t think she’s guilty, but he’s afraid that his attraction to her might be clouding his judgment since the facts don’t support his belief. While working to find out the truth, he discovers more about her past and has to come to terms with how impossible a relationship between them might be. But the attraction between them won’t go away, regardless of any hesitation on their parts.
Jumping into this book, I thought that we would spend a lot more time on the serial killer plotline than we did. It was still there in the background, but we didn’t get to see any further investigation on it or find out anything new. I found that really disappointing. This book was all about Hope, her past, and her mental state—both in the past and in the present. I found her interesting, and liked the slow building romance between her and Remy, but I found myself impatient at the same time. The lack of suspense made the book feel like it was dragging by the end.
We had the development of a stalker pop up, which the serial killer got involved with, but it didn’t satisfy my craving for more development on the original storyline. I actually found it pretty unbelievable that the serial killer was tied into the stalker plot at all. I never understood why the woman he wanted to protect was different from all the rest, and I ended up feeling like she was different only because the serial killer had to be tied into the story somehow. I still found the story enjoyable to read, since I enjoy the way Walker writes, but I don’t think I’m wrong in saying that this will be my least favorite of the trilogy. It felt like a bridge book and that was just not what I wanted or expected.
Despite my issues with the book, I still enjoyed a lot of things about it. Hope, for one. The events of the last book were finally enough for her and instead of crumbling, she developed some steel. She finally gained strength and sass and started to recover from the abuse she had suffered. Remy was so nervous about spooking her that it was cute to watch him slowly try to woo her. I really enjoyed them together. I also liked seeing more development with Remy’s nephew, Brody. I felt bad for the kid and I hope that one day his dad will stop being a douche. I won’t hold my breath, though.
For all you Ezra and Lena fans, there are some parts with them in this book too! There was a development at the end involving them that made me grin. Unfortunately, Law lost some of my admiration in this book. I’ve always loved his rock solid friendship with Hope and his devotion toward her, so it was like a bucket of cold water in my face to see that shaken. And for such a lame reason! Hope may have taken steps toward forgiving Law, but I’m still ticked. Hopefully he’ll convince me he’s not such a thoughtless little turd when I start reading his book.
Once again, the author impressed me with her realistic characters and engaging writing. I may have been disappointed with the lack of development about the murders, but I guess that just means the author is saving it all up for the third book.
Favorite Quote:
*Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen*
*For a sneak peek, check out my Tempting Teaser at Fiction Vixen*
After reading the first book in this trilogy, If You Hear Her, I was very excited to dive into this book. The serial killer plot spans the whole trilogy, the romances are the only things resolved in the individual books, so I couldn’t wait to see what came next. The first book was great! And the way it ended whetted my appetite to see what would become of Hope and how she and Remy would eventually hook up.
If you’ve read the first book, you are probably familiar with Hope’s past. She was abused by her husband for years. Not just physical abuse, either. She was cut off from everyone and lived in a small town that worshipped her husband. Her attempts to tell the truth about him were ignored, and he was eventually able to convince everyone that she was mentally unbalanced. After trying to commit suicide to escape him, he manipulated the system and had her committed. She’s been free of him for two years, but she has still not recovered. Her best friend, Law, finally got her to quit running and come stay with him. But things got complicated in the last book and now no one is sure what Hope will do.
****NOW’S THE TIME TO STOP READING IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THE FIRST BOOK****
This book picks up right after the first one left off. Hope is suspected of being behind the attack on Law and everyone thinks she tried to kill herself again. Remy is put in the uncomfortable situation of having to dig into her past to find out how disturbed she really is. He doesn’t think she’s guilty, but he’s afraid that his attraction to her might be clouding his judgment since the facts don’t support his belief. While working to find out the truth, he discovers more about her past and has to come to terms with how impossible a relationship between them might be. But the attraction between them won’t go away, regardless of any hesitation on their parts.
Jumping into this book, I thought that we would spend a lot more time on the serial killer plotline than we did. It was still there in the background, but we didn’t get to see any further investigation on it or find out anything new. I found that really disappointing. This book was all about Hope, her past, and her mental state—both in the past and in the present. I found her interesting, and liked the slow building romance between her and Remy, but I found myself impatient at the same time. The lack of suspense made the book feel like it was dragging by the end.
We had the development of a stalker pop up, which the serial killer got involved with, but it didn’t satisfy my craving for more development on the original storyline. I actually found it pretty unbelievable that the serial killer was tied into the stalker plot at all. I never understood why the woman he wanted to protect was different from all the rest, and I ended up feeling like she was different only because the serial killer had to be tied into the story somehow. I still found the story enjoyable to read, since I enjoy the way Walker writes, but I don’t think I’m wrong in saying that this will be my least favorite of the trilogy. It felt like a bridge book and that was just not what I wanted or expected.
Despite my issues with the book, I still enjoyed a lot of things about it. Hope, for one. The events of the last book were finally enough for her and instead of crumbling, she developed some steel. She finally gained strength and sass and started to recover from the abuse she had suffered. Remy was so nervous about spooking her that it was cute to watch him slowly try to woo her. I really enjoyed them together. I also liked seeing more development with Remy’s nephew, Brody. I felt bad for the kid and I hope that one day his dad will stop being a douche. I won’t hold my breath, though.
For all you Ezra and Lena fans, there are some parts with them in this book too! There was a development at the end involving them that made me grin. Unfortunately, Law lost some of my admiration in this book. I’ve always loved his rock solid friendship with Hope and his devotion toward her, so it was like a bucket of cold water in my face to see that shaken. And for such a lame reason! Hope may have taken steps toward forgiving Law, but I’m still ticked. Hopefully he’ll convince me he’s not such a thoughtless little turd when I start reading his book.
Once again, the author impressed me with her realistic characters and engaging writing. I may have been disappointed with the lack of development about the murders, but I guess that just means the author is saving it all up for the third book.
Favorite Quote:
"You know, you didn't have any problem cussing last night around me."
He snorted and rolled out of bed. "There's a difference between cussing and talking dirty. And my mother would have my hide for cussing around a lady."
"But not talking dirty?"
"Well, I don't see you telling her."
*Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen*
*For a sneak peek, check out my Tempting Teaser at Fiction Vixen*
February 3, 2012
Story Rating 4 stars
Character Rating 4 stars
Romance Rating 4 stars
Heat Level 3 stars
Overall Rating 4 stars
This was the second book in a continuing series. I really liked the story but the first book was a much better read for me. It was more exciting and the Evil villain did all his wickedness in the first book. Oh we had a bad guy in this book too but the really evil one stood back and just watched everything happening. The heroine was a bit wimpy but I completely understand why she was that way. LOVED the hero but did not quite understand why he feel for the heroine at first sight. The heat was slow in coming on this book and the level of it was not as hot as most of Shiloh's other book's but it was there I just wished it would have been more.......
I have this feeling book 3, If You Know her is going to be the icing on the cake. I can hardly wait to read what the evil villain will be up too and how they catch him. Thank goodness I only have to wait until 2/28 for book 3's release. At this point I have NO idea who the villain is other than he is right under our nose's.
Character Rating 4 stars
Romance Rating 4 stars
Heat Level 3 stars
Overall Rating 4 stars
This was the second book in a continuing series. I really liked the story but the first book was a much better read for me. It was more exciting and the Evil villain did all his wickedness in the first book. Oh we had a bad guy in this book too but the really evil one stood back and just watched everything happening. The heroine was a bit wimpy but I completely understand why she was that way. LOVED the hero but did not quite understand why he feel for the heroine at first sight. The heat was slow in coming on this book and the level of it was not as hot as most of Shiloh's other book's but it was there I just wished it would have been more.......
I have this feeling book 3, If You Know her is going to be the icing on the cake. I can hardly wait to read what the evil villain will be up too and how they catch him. Thank goodness I only have to wait until 2/28 for book 3's release. At this point I have NO idea who the villain is other than he is right under our nose's.
February 19, 2019
This is a really good addition to the series. The first book was still my favorite, but I think Hope and Remy's story is solid and suspenseful.
March 13, 2012
If You See Her by Shiloh Walker is book 2 in her Ash Trilogy, book 1 of which entitled If You Hear Her crept the bejesus out of me and introduced a whole lot of characters that certainly piqued my interest on more levels than one.
The small town of Ash, Kentucky with a population of 8,312 is rocked by the series of vicious murders happening in their own backyard. The whole town is shocked to say the least and the last round of violence in which Hope Carson is suspected to have beaten up her best friend Law Reilly and then nearly gone on to kill herself which shocks the District Attorney Remington Jennings (Remy) more than he lets on.
From the moment Remy had laid eyes on Hope and her beautiful eyes filled with a fear and pain that pains him and makes every protective instinct within him want to embrace her and keep her safe, Remy knows that he wouldn’t have an easy time out of prosecuting the one woman who rouses the very primal instincts deep inside of him.
Hope is a woman who has been on the run for the past 2 years from her ex-husband. Scared and jittery as she might be, the one thing Hope vows is to never return to her ex-husband because living in the darkness that had been their marriage with no way out of it is not an experience that Hope wants to repeat. Hope doesn’t want or need a man in her life, and the merest thought of even getting close to someone of the opposite sex leaves her with a bad taste in her mouth. But Remy, the man who nearly arrests her for a crime she is innocent of is the one man to whom she has a difficulty showing her indifferent side to.
If You See Her is an installment in the series that contains very little of the elements of suspense that made book 1 such a hit towards the end. I missed the presence of the creepy killer and craved to know more about him because Shiloh has certainly done a swell job of creating his character, leaving the readers practically tied up in knots trying to guess as to who the killer could be. So needless to say, when the killer didn’t make much of an appearance in the story I felt cheated out just a bit.
Rather than focusing on the suspense element, the novel delves deeper into the growing relationship between Hope and Remy and continues to reveal the different facets of the multitude of characters that bring this trilogy to life. There are family problems, there are problems between friends, and then there is the budding romance between Remy and Hope where Remy forces himself to tread very carefully in order to win a woman who has seen more than her fair share of violence and depravity.
The moment I fell in love with Remy was a bizarre one. It was the moment that Remy let Hope take the lead role in emerging as an independent woman, a person who is more than capable of starting out on her own even if fear continues to walk right along with her on her quest to assert herself. It was how Remy went against his instincts and let Hope do her thing, let her be herself and let her come out of the shell she had hidden herself in to emerge as a woman who is breathtaking as she revels in the freedom that being with Remy brings her that I knew Remy was definitely the man for Hope.
It is always a must to appreciate how Shiloh brings the passion between her characters to life, and I reveled in every minute of how Remy and Hope finds that special someone in each other and forges that deep connection with each other that made me just a teeny bit envious even as I rejoiced in their love.
If the suspense element had been more, if the pace of the story had been just a tad faster, I would have definitely enjoyed this a lot lot more. But having said that, If You See Her is still a decent addition to a trilogy of which the last book I have already started on in my quest to get acquainted with the killer and finally find out who Shiloh has so masterfully created and hidden in plain sight so very well.
Recommended for fans of the series and fans of Shiloh Walker.
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
Rating=4/5
The small town of Ash, Kentucky with a population of 8,312 is rocked by the series of vicious murders happening in their own backyard. The whole town is shocked to say the least and the last round of violence in which Hope Carson is suspected to have beaten up her best friend Law Reilly and then nearly gone on to kill herself which shocks the District Attorney Remington Jennings (Remy) more than he lets on.
From the moment Remy had laid eyes on Hope and her beautiful eyes filled with a fear and pain that pains him and makes every protective instinct within him want to embrace her and keep her safe, Remy knows that he wouldn’t have an easy time out of prosecuting the one woman who rouses the very primal instincts deep inside of him.
Hope is a woman who has been on the run for the past 2 years from her ex-husband. Scared and jittery as she might be, the one thing Hope vows is to never return to her ex-husband because living in the darkness that had been their marriage with no way out of it is not an experience that Hope wants to repeat. Hope doesn’t want or need a man in her life, and the merest thought of even getting close to someone of the opposite sex leaves her with a bad taste in her mouth. But Remy, the man who nearly arrests her for a crime she is innocent of is the one man to whom she has a difficulty showing her indifferent side to.
If You See Her is an installment in the series that contains very little of the elements of suspense that made book 1 such a hit towards the end. I missed the presence of the creepy killer and craved to know more about him because Shiloh has certainly done a swell job of creating his character, leaving the readers practically tied up in knots trying to guess as to who the killer could be. So needless to say, when the killer didn’t make much of an appearance in the story I felt cheated out just a bit.
Rather than focusing on the suspense element, the novel delves deeper into the growing relationship between Hope and Remy and continues to reveal the different facets of the multitude of characters that bring this trilogy to life. There are family problems, there are problems between friends, and then there is the budding romance between Remy and Hope where Remy forces himself to tread very carefully in order to win a woman who has seen more than her fair share of violence and depravity.
The moment I fell in love with Remy was a bizarre one. It was the moment that Remy let Hope take the lead role in emerging as an independent woman, a person who is more than capable of starting out on her own even if fear continues to walk right along with her on her quest to assert herself. It was how Remy went against his instincts and let Hope do her thing, let her be herself and let her come out of the shell she had hidden herself in to emerge as a woman who is breathtaking as she revels in the freedom that being with Remy brings her that I knew Remy was definitely the man for Hope.
It is always a must to appreciate how Shiloh brings the passion between her characters to life, and I reveled in every minute of how Remy and Hope finds that special someone in each other and forges that deep connection with each other that made me just a teeny bit envious even as I rejoiced in their love.
If the suspense element had been more, if the pace of the story had been just a tad faster, I would have definitely enjoyed this a lot lot more. But having said that, If You See Her is still a decent addition to a trilogy of which the last book I have already started on in my quest to get acquainted with the killer and finally find out who Shiloh has so masterfully created and hidden in plain sight so very well.
Recommended for fans of the series and fans of Shiloh Walker.
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
Rating=4/5
January 25, 2012
Posted at Life As A Spaz
After reading the first book in Shiloh Walker's romantic suspense Ash Trilogy, If You Hear Her, I could not wait to get my hands on this one. If You See Her picks up right where the first book left off and there is a nasty killer still on the loose in the small town of Ash, Kentucky. We know all of the characters in play by now, while the romance arc is between Hope and Remy. As we get to enjoy the happily-ever-after play out, we are also watching the town from the killer's perspective. The whodunit aspect, which spans the trilogy, is so much fun!
One of the things that I love about this book, and the series overall, is the evolution of the friendships between all of the characters. The authenticity of the relationships created is profound, and I love the give and take among the full cast. They are all sensible, and actually talk to each other when they need to and don't unnecessarily withhold information from each other. Nobody suffers from dumb-itis, and the lack of forced angst is refreshing. This definitely affects the pace, and keeps it flowing at a nice fast speed.
I enjoyed watching Remy cherish and adore Hope. From the systematic mental and physical abuse she has suffered at the hands of her ex-husband, Hope is initially terrified of Remy. I don't mean just playing hard to get, she is sincerely terrified of him, and I believed it. Watching her come around to his endearingly charismatic pursuit is enjoyable and endearing. And Law. Love, love, love Law. We've spent the most time with him, since he's remained a solid figure in the first two books and he finally moves to center state in the finale book of the trilogy, If You Know Her. I can't flippin' wait for him to get some nookie! :P Oh yeah, and to find out WHO THE KILLER IS. I have no idea, peeps!
Grade: A. I totally spazzed when I finished this book.
After reading the first book in Shiloh Walker's romantic suspense Ash Trilogy, If You Hear Her, I could not wait to get my hands on this one. If You See Her picks up right where the first book left off and there is a nasty killer still on the loose in the small town of Ash, Kentucky. We know all of the characters in play by now, while the romance arc is between Hope and Remy. As we get to enjoy the happily-ever-after play out, we are also watching the town from the killer's perspective. The whodunit aspect, which spans the trilogy, is so much fun!
One of the things that I love about this book, and the series overall, is the evolution of the friendships between all of the characters. The authenticity of the relationships created is profound, and I love the give and take among the full cast. They are all sensible, and actually talk to each other when they need to and don't unnecessarily withhold information from each other. Nobody suffers from dumb-itis, and the lack of forced angst is refreshing. This definitely affects the pace, and keeps it flowing at a nice fast speed.
I enjoyed watching Remy cherish and adore Hope. From the systematic mental and physical abuse she has suffered at the hands of her ex-husband, Hope is initially terrified of Remy. I don't mean just playing hard to get, she is sincerely terrified of him, and I believed it. Watching her come around to his endearingly charismatic pursuit is enjoyable and endearing. And Law. Love, love, love Law. We've spent the most time with him, since he's remained a solid figure in the first two books and he finally moves to center state in the finale book of the trilogy, If You Know Her. I can't flippin' wait for him to get some nookie! :P Oh yeah, and to find out WHO THE KILLER IS. I have no idea, peeps!
Grade: A. I totally spazzed when I finished this book.
July 12, 2012
Hope was introduced in the first book of the trilogy and man she had such a brutal past. She spent a decade married to a monster who abused her physically and mentally and when she got the courage to leave, had her admitted to the psych ward. No-one believed her after all he was the town's golden boy and a cop and Hope almost lost herself. She got out two years ago but the the years have left scars, she isn't that confident and has fragility to her. She came to town because her only friend Law called her, he needed her help and wanted her close. So, Hope has been helping him as an author's assistant.
In the last book both Hope and Law were attacked and an officer killed. All the evidence combined with Hope's past makes it look she is guilty. Remy, the DA talks to her ex who tells him she is manipulative as hell but he comes to see differently. I liked seeing how uncertain Remy was around her, he was attracted to her but afraid of what was between Law and Hope.
Best of all I loved seeing Hope become stronger and regaining parts of herself, even if it was getting her hair cut, something her ex hated or speaking up for herself. It was not smooth sailing for her, she has flashbacks to her past and breaks down but still continues forward and I loved her romance with Remy, it seemed perfect.
I also enjoyed seeing Ezra and Lena. We are also introduced to the heroine of the last book who pulls a gun on Law and Hope, thinking they killed her cousin Jolene. The sick serial killer is still around and takes care of her ex. I was sad to see what happened with the Sheriff.
I am dying to read the next one to find out who the sick killer is.
In the last book both Hope and Law were attacked and an officer killed. All the evidence combined with Hope's past makes it look she is guilty. Remy, the DA talks to her ex who tells him she is manipulative as hell but he comes to see differently. I liked seeing how uncertain Remy was around her, he was attracted to her but afraid of what was between Law and Hope.
Best of all I loved seeing Hope become stronger and regaining parts of herself, even if it was getting her hair cut, something her ex hated or speaking up for herself. It was not smooth sailing for her, she has flashbacks to her past and breaks down but still continues forward and I loved her romance with Remy, it seemed perfect.
I also enjoyed seeing Ezra and Lena. We are also introduced to the heroine of the last book who pulls a gun on Law and Hope, thinking they killed her cousin Jolene. The sick serial killer is still around and takes care of her ex. I was sad to see what happened with the Sheriff.
I am dying to read the next one to find out who the sick killer is.
d-n-f
October 6, 201310%. That's how far I made it before the 15 different story lines made me give up. I heard great reviews about this, so I was excited to finally read it. But 5 pages after a conversation, we've touched on 3 different scenes with secondary characters and I've forgotten who or what happened 5 pages ago.
March 19, 2012
I have to say that I didn’t know this book was a sequel until I started. It was very apparent as I began that I was jumping into the middle of something!
We are quickly introduced to Hope Carson, who is being accused of an assault on a best friend, as well as a murder of police officer. The local D.A Remy Jennings contacts Hope Carson’s ex-husband, in order to collect as much information regarding Hope as he can provide. The problem is that the information the ex-husband provides doesn’t match up with the observations Remy has made of Hope. So Remy goes to speak to Hope and her best friend Law Reilly (whom Remy Jennings knows well) in order to begin solving this puzzling crime.
As Remy continues his investigation, we learn that Hope Carson moved to Ash, Kentucky to heal from her divorce. She was a victim of an abusive marriage and she moved to Ash to be closer to friends like Law Reilly. Once Remy talks to Hope, he can see that it would be very difficult for such a mild-mannered woman to have perpetuated such a crime against two able-bodied men. Thus we have a murder, an assault and a cover-up attempt. Who is the culprit? While the police investigate, Remy finds himself drawn to Hope. He finds her attractive and all his instincts are screaming at him to protect her. How can he effectively do his job when Hope Carson is a person interest? It is clearly a conflict of interest and his feelings leave him compromised. But there is a murderer in town and the people of Ash need this crime solved fast. What’s a D.A to do?
I didn’t know what to expect when I read this book. I wanted to try a book written by Shiloh Walker and that is why I picked this one. Her writing style was very suspenseful. I just couldn’t put it down. I was rooting for Remy and Hope, but I also wanted to know who was trying to frame Hope, and why? The author did a good job of juggling the two issues. I like the pace of the relationship. It was built slowly and that increased my angst. I also appreciated how the character of Hope Carson grew. She started off as a helpless victim—scared of her own shadow and ended up as a woman telling her ex-husband to get lost. She learned to use her voice and to fight back. Bravo! The author did a great job building with character building.
I didn’t get a lot of the secondary character’s issues because I didn’t read book 1. I will have to go and read book 1, so I can understand to the “Who’s” and the “Why’s”.
If you love suspense and romance, then you need to read this trilogy. Get ready for a great ride.
**copy received from Netgalley**
We are quickly introduced to Hope Carson, who is being accused of an assault on a best friend, as well as a murder of police officer. The local D.A Remy Jennings contacts Hope Carson’s ex-husband, in order to collect as much information regarding Hope as he can provide. The problem is that the information the ex-husband provides doesn’t match up with the observations Remy has made of Hope. So Remy goes to speak to Hope and her best friend Law Reilly (whom Remy Jennings knows well) in order to begin solving this puzzling crime.
As Remy continues his investigation, we learn that Hope Carson moved to Ash, Kentucky to heal from her divorce. She was a victim of an abusive marriage and she moved to Ash to be closer to friends like Law Reilly. Once Remy talks to Hope, he can see that it would be very difficult for such a mild-mannered woman to have perpetuated such a crime against two able-bodied men. Thus we have a murder, an assault and a cover-up attempt. Who is the culprit? While the police investigate, Remy finds himself drawn to Hope. He finds her attractive and all his instincts are screaming at him to protect her. How can he effectively do his job when Hope Carson is a person interest? It is clearly a conflict of interest and his feelings leave him compromised. But there is a murderer in town and the people of Ash need this crime solved fast. What’s a D.A to do?
I didn’t know what to expect when I read this book. I wanted to try a book written by Shiloh Walker and that is why I picked this one. Her writing style was very suspenseful. I just couldn’t put it down. I was rooting for Remy and Hope, but I also wanted to know who was trying to frame Hope, and why? The author did a good job of juggling the two issues. I like the pace of the relationship. It was built slowly and that increased my angst. I also appreciated how the character of Hope Carson grew. She started off as a helpless victim—scared of her own shadow and ended up as a woman telling her ex-husband to get lost. She learned to use her voice and to fight back. Bravo! The author did a great job building with character building.
I didn’t get a lot of the secondary character’s issues because I didn’t read book 1. I will have to go and read book 1, so I can understand to the “Who’s” and the “Why’s”.
If you love suspense and romance, then you need to read this trilogy. Get ready for a great ride.
**copy received from Netgalley**
December 6, 2012
I enjoyed this book as much as the first one. This one doesn't have as much with the suspense, which took a backseat to the romance, however, I enjoy that and had no problem with it at all.
I have just started the third book and it has become clear there is a repetitive aspect, which is that each H fell instantly in love with the h when he saw her, which I do believe can happen ... well, lust that turns to love eventually ... however it is a tad unbelieveable that these women are so outstanding that these apparently exceptionally good looking Hs would instantly fall head over heels and over-protectively in love with them. And in each book it was the H who was lovesick and saying "I love you," virtually within days of meeting the h, and first, with the h hesitant. Yeah, right....
It's quite unbelievable and took away from the books for my part. I suppose I like a bit more growth in the romance, I prefer that the H have a believable attraction to the h and find compatibility and love with her over a reasonable time, and that just doesn't happen here. I don't need a reason for Hs and hs to fall in love, after all love is just an emotion that has no explanation as to who will fall in love with whom, however, for them to fall so hard, so fast, so unbelievably in each book got a bit ridiculous and I kind of had my eyes rolling (a lot). I've never seen any man in real life act that protective, except maybe a stalker, it was inordinately silly, I thought.
Apart from that, in this book, I really liked the way the "mouse" h stood up for herself in the end and I liked the H and h together - just wish they'd had a more believeable romance.
These three books run on from each other, they are almost like one book, but split in three with the three romances taking centre stage and the suspense part runs from book to book and is going to conclude in the third book. In this series, it is very important to read all three in order.
I'm enjoying this series, even though I probably won't particularly remember it after I've finished. Nothing outstanding, not particularly memorable, but well-written and enjoyable.
I have just started the third book and it has become clear there is a repetitive aspect, which is that each H fell instantly in love with the h when he saw her, which I do believe can happen ... well, lust that turns to love eventually ... however it is a tad unbelieveable that these women are so outstanding that these apparently exceptionally good looking Hs would instantly fall head over heels and over-protectively in love with them. And in each book it was the H who was lovesick and saying "I love you," virtually within days of meeting the h, and first, with the h hesitant. Yeah, right....
It's quite unbelievable and took away from the books for my part. I suppose I like a bit more growth in the romance, I prefer that the H have a believable attraction to the h and find compatibility and love with her over a reasonable time, and that just doesn't happen here. I don't need a reason for Hs and hs to fall in love, after all love is just an emotion that has no explanation as to who will fall in love with whom, however, for them to fall so hard, so fast, so unbelievably in each book got a bit ridiculous and I kind of had my eyes rolling (a lot). I've never seen any man in real life act that protective, except maybe a stalker, it was inordinately silly, I thought.
Apart from that, in this book, I really liked the way the "mouse" h stood up for herself in the end and I liked the H and h together - just wish they'd had a more believeable romance.
These three books run on from each other, they are almost like one book, but split in three with the three romances taking centre stage and the suspense part runs from book to book and is going to conclude in the third book. In this series, it is very important to read all three in order.
I'm enjoying this series, even though I probably won't particularly remember it after I've finished. Nothing outstanding, not particularly memorable, but well-written and enjoyable.
March 6, 2012
Another great addition to the Ash trilogy! Really enjoyed the romance between Remy, the yummy district attorney, and Hope, Law's emotionally damaged best friend who we met in the first book. I still can't believe what happened to those two in the last book (Law and Hope)..it was AWFUL..just awful!... but they were able to get through it and Hope finally got her HEA..was all the more enjoyable because of what she'd been through with her ex-husband!
This book was slightly different than i was expecting it to be. The first book was very much surrounded around the serial killer...this one wasn't...he was there...but he was in the shadows..just watching. He didn't take any new victims in this book..although being as how things ended in this book..he was obviously just buying time and trying to get everyone's attention focused on anything else but him which has me a little bit nervous now because i have a feeling he's going to come back with a vengeance in the last book!
Moving on to next and final book! Can't wait to find out who the killer actually is!
This book was slightly different than i was expecting it to be. The first book was very much surrounded around the serial killer...this one wasn't...he was there...but he was in the shadows..just watching. He didn't take any new victims in this book..although being as how things ended in this book..he was obviously just buying time and trying to get everyone's attention focused on anything else but him which has me a little bit nervous now because i have a feeling he's going to come back with a vengeance in the last book!
Moving on to next and final book! Can't wait to find out who the killer actually is!
July 25, 2015
The second book in the Ash Trilogy by Shiloh Walker. This book concentrates on Hope and Remy. Hope has come to Ash to work for her friend, Law. She was married to an abusive husband who was a cop and has some major trust issues. Remy is a lawyer and due to a situation that carried over from book one, has to check into Hope's former life.
This was a good continuation but it's not done yet. The story continues into the third of the series. We did get a nice romance with Hope and Remy but there are still those unresolved issues. I think I know who dunnit it, though. ☺
This was a good continuation but it's not done yet. The story continues into the third of the series. We did get a nice romance with Hope and Remy but there are still those unresolved issues. I think I know who dunnit it, though. ☺
June 16, 2013
This was another good book in the series. I am so curious to find out who the killer is. I have my thoughts about who it is but I've also changed my mind more than once.
After the attack on Law and Hope, things heat up in this book. Remy, the town DA and golden boy, acts on his feelings towards Hope. Hope's ex-husband arrives in town, Hope and Law have a disagreement that strains their relationship.
This was a fun read, there were motorcycles, people following people, chases and the killer made an appearance and joined in the search for the missing person (so as not to give a spoiler away).
I'm anxious to read the next book and finally find out (for sure) who the killer is. The book was a total set-up for what is going to happen in the next installment. Nia and Ezra will most likely have starring roles.
A solid 4 stars.
After the attack on Law and Hope, things heat up in this book. Remy, the town DA and golden boy, acts on his feelings towards Hope. Hope's ex-husband arrives in town, Hope and Law have a disagreement that strains their relationship.
This was a fun read, there were motorcycles, people following people, chases and the killer made an appearance and joined in the search for the missing person (so as not to give a spoiler away).
I'm anxious to read the next book and finally find out (for sure) who the killer is. The book was a total set-up for what is going to happen in the next installment. Nia and Ezra will most likely have starring roles.
A solid 4 stars.
February 6, 2012
Great sequel in the Ash trilogy. After all the pain and suffering Hope recieved at the hands of her ex husband I wanted her to finally have some good happen to her. Remy is just the guy to help her overcome her fears and let her be herself. I can't wait for the next book. Law's and Nia's story. I think I know who the killer is so we'll see.
March 25, 2012
Rating: 4.5 / 5
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but yet I didn't find it to be as good as the first book in the series.
Series Note:
Second book in the "Ash" trilogy, about a small Kentucky town, the people who live there, and the weird things that begin to happen there. This series really should be read in order because there are continuing storylines and an overall story arc throughout the trilogy.
Summary:
Hope Carson has been through complete and utter hell in her life and she's only just beginning to put all the pieces back together. Part of that process is moving to the small town of Ash, Kentucky to work with her dear friend Law Reilly. But once there, things start going crazy, leaving others to think that she's crazy. One of those people is local DA Remy Jennings.
But Remy can't ignore his instincts that something is very off, and he can't deny his attraction toward Hope. Nor can she. Remy makes Hope feel things she'd thought to never feel again. Neither can stop the feelings developing between them. But Hope's past is about to catch up with her and Remy could lose her for good.
Review:
This book has a bit of a different tone than the first book in the series. The first book (If You Hear Her) is an excellent romantic suspense, very evenly balanced. It had me totally engaged. But this book isn't quite as balanced. The suspense element isn't nearly as strong, not as tense, creepy or mysterious. The story has a more psychological and emotional element as Hope tried to put her life back together and develop a relationship with Remy.
So from that point of view, this book wasn't as good for me. I love romantic suspense and prefer a very strong suspense element, which this book didn't quite have. It wasn't that I didn't like this one because I did. It was a very engaging read that I zipped right through, but I missed that stronger suspense element that existed in the first book.
The psychological and emotional drama though almost makes up for the lesser suspense angle. Poor Hope. That woman's been through hell and as a reader your heart breaks for her. But you have to also admire her strength in pulling herself up and trying to move on with her life. Getting to read about her growing and changing, beginning to believe in herself more, gaining that confidence...it was very well done. And the romance that blooms between her and Remy during such a tense time is very sweet. Maybe not quite as steamy as I'd hoped for but still hot.
The suspense aspect of the book (which is still there even if not as significant) is a bit of a two-pronged bit. There's the continuing mystery of the serial killer, and the predictable plot point of Hope's past catching up with her. You can pretty much guess where the book is heading, but the author does add some interest twists in there two keep it from seeming too trite.
Similar to the first book, this one doesn't answer all the plot points. Some are left to continue in the third and last book in the trilogy. Which does have a certain level of frustration because you really want to know who the serial killer is but it's also a kind of intriguing way to do a trilogy that you don't come across to often. And considering that I have the third book ready and waiting for me to read, I don't really mind that you're left hanging, waiting to get the final answers.
And like the previous book, you get a lot of the secondary characters. There are POV scenes involving the other 4 big characters in this series. You get to read more of the developing relationship between Lena and Ezra (book 1) and see the first meeting of Law and Nia (book 3). It really gives the series a great sense of continuity that Walker uses the characters in such a way throughout the series. I'm definitely intrigued about Law and Nia...they had a very...explosive...first meeting.
Two minor criticisms...1) the characters in this series blush way too much. You can go more than a couple pages without someone (female & male) blushing. I'd noticed it offhand in the first book but in this one it really stands out. It was just a bit overkill. And 2) having the heroine have a big falling out with her best friend in both books was a bit repetitive. Minor issues, though, and didn't really effect my enjoyment of the story. Just something that would have been tweaked.
And yeah, my review isn't quite as glowing as my review for the first book. But really, I highly enjoyed this one. I just liked the first book better. This was still a great read, though. Great characters, great romance, lots of emotion and drama. It just needed a little more suspense to compete with book 1. I'm very much looking forward to reading book 3 and seeing who the big bad really is. I have 3 guesses, leaning more toward one than the other two...can't wait too see if I'm right.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but yet I didn't find it to be as good as the first book in the series.
Series Note:
Second book in the "Ash" trilogy, about a small Kentucky town, the people who live there, and the weird things that begin to happen there. This series really should be read in order because there are continuing storylines and an overall story arc throughout the trilogy.
Summary:
Hope Carson has been through complete and utter hell in her life and she's only just beginning to put all the pieces back together. Part of that process is moving to the small town of Ash, Kentucky to work with her dear friend Law Reilly. But once there, things start going crazy, leaving others to think that she's crazy. One of those people is local DA Remy Jennings.
But Remy can't ignore his instincts that something is very off, and he can't deny his attraction toward Hope. Nor can she. Remy makes Hope feel things she'd thought to never feel again. Neither can stop the feelings developing between them. But Hope's past is about to catch up with her and Remy could lose her for good.
Review:
This book has a bit of a different tone than the first book in the series. The first book (If You Hear Her) is an excellent romantic suspense, very evenly balanced. It had me totally engaged. But this book isn't quite as balanced. The suspense element isn't nearly as strong, not as tense, creepy or mysterious. The story has a more psychological and emotional element as Hope tried to put her life back together and develop a relationship with Remy.
So from that point of view, this book wasn't as good for me. I love romantic suspense and prefer a very strong suspense element, which this book didn't quite have. It wasn't that I didn't like this one because I did. It was a very engaging read that I zipped right through, but I missed that stronger suspense element that existed in the first book.
The psychological and emotional drama though almost makes up for the lesser suspense angle. Poor Hope. That woman's been through hell and as a reader your heart breaks for her. But you have to also admire her strength in pulling herself up and trying to move on with her life. Getting to read about her growing and changing, beginning to believe in herself more, gaining that confidence...it was very well done. And the romance that blooms between her and Remy during such a tense time is very sweet. Maybe not quite as steamy as I'd hoped for but still hot.
The suspense aspect of the book (which is still there even if not as significant) is a bit of a two-pronged bit. There's the continuing mystery of the serial killer, and the predictable plot point of Hope's past catching up with her. You can pretty much guess where the book is heading, but the author does add some interest twists in there two keep it from seeming too trite.
Similar to the first book, this one doesn't answer all the plot points. Some are left to continue in the third and last book in the trilogy. Which does have a certain level of frustration because you really want to know who the serial killer is but it's also a kind of intriguing way to do a trilogy that you don't come across to often. And considering that I have the third book ready and waiting for me to read, I don't really mind that you're left hanging, waiting to get the final answers.
And like the previous book, you get a lot of the secondary characters. There are POV scenes involving the other 4 big characters in this series. You get to read more of the developing relationship between Lena and Ezra (book 1) and see the first meeting of Law and Nia (book 3). It really gives the series a great sense of continuity that Walker uses the characters in such a way throughout the series. I'm definitely intrigued about Law and Nia...they had a very...explosive...first meeting.
Two minor criticisms...1) the characters in this series blush way too much. You can go more than a couple pages without someone (female & male) blushing. I'd noticed it offhand in the first book but in this one it really stands out. It was just a bit overkill. And 2) having the heroine have a big falling out with her best friend in both books was a bit repetitive. Minor issues, though, and didn't really effect my enjoyment of the story. Just something that would have been tweaked.
And yeah, my review isn't quite as glowing as my review for the first book. But really, I highly enjoyed this one. I just liked the first book better. This was still a great read, though. Great characters, great romance, lots of emotion and drama. It just needed a little more suspense to compete with book 1. I'm very much looking forward to reading book 3 and seeing who the big bad really is. I have 3 guesses, leaning more toward one than the other two...can't wait too see if I'm right.
March 15, 2016
Second book in the Ash Trilogy, which I will not be finishing.
That should tell you all you need to know right there.
I disliked this book for many reasons. It was another book that wasn't bad... but it wasn't good. There was much less character development, if that could happen. We had an ENTIRE book with Hope this time, and we learned little more about her than what we already knew from If You Hear Her.
Spoilers ahead from both If You Hear Her and this book:
My main complaint with this book is that the entire thing is just a tangent. The first book was about a murderer, and then somewhere along the line, the train derailed and now we're talking about Hope. All about Hope. Hope, Hope, Hope. I read this book, even though I didn't particularly enjoy the first of the series, because I wanted to know who the killer was. That was the only thing holding my attention and then I started this, and oh! Look! Something shiny! It's almost as if the murder didn't happen. I mean, they go through some of the motions, but the cops come off looking like dumb, backwoods hicks with their thumbs up their butts!
Humor me a minute, k? You're the sheriff of this town. Here's your badge. Yes, yes, I know. It's shiny. See that woman there? She just came into town. She's new here. You're going to investigate her, just a little, because this is your town. Head on down to the watering hole and ask around, I'll wait.
:
::
:::
::::
Oh, you're back. What did you find out? Oh. Hmm... She is scared of cops because she was... maybe... allegedly... abused by her cop ex-husband. You believe her? Ok. Good, me too. Well, it's terrible. While you were down at the watering hole, she was attacked and someone cut her wrists in an attempt to make it look like she committed suicide. And they attacked the guy friend that she's living with and working for. You're the sheriff, can you think of any suspects?
:
::
:::
Anybody?
::::
:::::
::::::
No one comes to mind? Oh, here's the DA, who is all caught up. Because you know, he likes the lady. Likes her , likes her.
:::::::
Nothing, guys? Well, damn. Me neither.
It is on page 229 of 277 that the sheriff finally gets a clue!
I just... can't. I don't think that the sheriff was supposed to come off as a complete idiot, but really, is there any other way to see it?
I didn't like the romance between Remy and Hope, there was nothing there that made it special, I thought Remy (the DA) was also given an idiot card for not putting things together. Even Hope herself didn't once think that Joe might have tried to murder her (even though he wants to murder her).
On top of all that, there's the introduction of Nia, the murdered girls cousin, who flies in on her Harley for the funeral, then goes to Law's house and loses her bananas, then rides off into the sunset. But she's taken Law's heart with her, because he luuuuuurves her. The third book is about Nia and Law. You can see why I'm not reading it, right?
I am going to go see if I can find a spoiler post on If You Know Her, because I would like to know if my suspicions about the killer are correct. He only popped in a couple times in this book, but nothing led me to change my suspect, so I do want to know if I was right. But definitely not enough to suffer through another of these terrible romances with nothing but idiots involved.
That should tell you all you need to know right there.
I disliked this book for many reasons. It was another book that wasn't bad... but it wasn't good. There was much less character development, if that could happen. We had an ENTIRE book with Hope this time, and we learned little more about her than what we already knew from If You Hear Her.
Spoilers ahead from both If You Hear Her and this book:
My main complaint with this book is that the entire thing is just a tangent. The first book was about a murderer, and then somewhere along the line, the train derailed and now we're talking about Hope. All about Hope. Hope, Hope, Hope. I read this book, even though I didn't particularly enjoy the first of the series, because I wanted to know who the killer was. That was the only thing holding my attention and then I started this, and oh! Look! Something shiny! It's almost as if the murder didn't happen. I mean, they go through some of the motions, but the cops come off looking like dumb, backwoods hicks with their thumbs up their butts!
Humor me a minute, k? You're the sheriff of this town. Here's your badge. Yes, yes, I know. It's shiny. See that woman there? She just came into town. She's new here. You're going to investigate her, just a little, because this is your town. Head on down to the watering hole and ask around, I'll wait.
:
::
:::
::::
Oh, you're back. What did you find out? Oh. Hmm... She is scared of cops because she was... maybe... allegedly... abused by her cop ex-husband. You believe her? Ok. Good, me too. Well, it's terrible. While you were down at the watering hole, she was attacked and someone cut her wrists in an attempt to make it look like she committed suicide. And they attacked the guy friend that she's living with and working for. You're the sheriff, can you think of any suspects?
:
::
:::
Anybody?
::::
:::::
::::::
No one comes to mind? Oh, here's the DA, who is all caught up. Because you know, he likes the lady. Likes her , likes her.
:::::::
Nothing, guys? Well, damn. Me neither.
It is on page 229 of 277 that the sheriff finally gets a clue!
I just... can't. I don't think that the sheriff was supposed to come off as a complete idiot, but really, is there any other way to see it?
I didn't like the romance between Remy and Hope, there was nothing there that made it special, I thought Remy (the DA) was also given an idiot card for not putting things together. Even Hope herself didn't once think that Joe might have tried to murder her (even though he wants to murder her).
On top of all that, there's the introduction of Nia, the murdered girls cousin, who flies in on her Harley for the funeral, then goes to Law's house and loses her bananas, then rides off into the sunset. But she's taken Law's heart with her, because he luuuuuurves her. The third book is about Nia and Law. You can see why I'm not reading it, right?
I am going to go see if I can find a spoiler post on If You Know Her, because I would like to know if my suspicions about the killer are correct. He only popped in a couple times in this book, but nothing led me to change my suspect, so I do want to know if I was right. But definitely not enough to suffer through another of these terrible romances with nothing but idiots involved.
November 21, 2017
This was a good addition to the series, not as scary as the first book, but still well done.
I'm looking forward to the final book If You Know Her, hopefully all loose ends will be wrapped up.
4.25 Stars
I'm looking forward to the final book If You Know Her, hopefully all loose ends will be wrapped up.
4.25 Stars
December 24, 2015
Review copy provided by author
Why I Read this Book: I needed to know if my suspicions as to whom the killer is were right.
What I Liked: Ever since reading If You Hear Her , I had a theory on who the killer is. And I was so convinced that I had it figured out. Until page 300-something (I’m not going to give you an exact page because you’ll either jump straight to the page or it’ll preoccupy your mind when you should be paying attention to the story), I knew it was [insert character who I thought was the killer]. But then [insert event that happens that squashes my theory] occurs. The choices for the killer are somewhat limited; there’s one detail regarding the killer that’s given away in the first book (no, I’m not going to say what that detail is but it’s an important one) and most characters don’t fit the profile because of that small detail. In fact, I do not even know who fit’s the killer’s profile now. *scratches head*
I love how Remy challenged Hope, in more ways than one. Remy would ask Hope how she was feeling and she would reply I’m fine or I’m okay and he’d rebut her by calling her out as a liar. It made me chuckle but I’m glad he didn’t let her get away from addressing her feelings. I think an important thing with someone who’s as broken as Hope is to get them to express their feelings instead of keeping it all bottled up inside. And Remy did a fine job at coaxing it out of her.
I had the notion that the author was so wickedly forthcoming with some details (like internal dialogue). A new detail came to light regarding the person I *thought* was the killer and yet, I was still in denial. I was ready to go back and skim through the entire book to prove to myself that my theory could still hold weight. But I decided to keep reading and another new detail came to light and completely derailed my suspicions. I now have absolutely NO IDEA who the killer is. And I like it! Otherwise it would have felt too predictable. And if’s there’s one thing If You See Her is NOT, it’s predictable.
What I Didn’t Like: There was a time or two when Remy just needed to be a little more cautious with his physical movements around Hope. He knew better.
There were a few times when the descriptive narration felt repetitious. I’d read a sentence and think I just read that.
Overall Impression: By the end of If You See Her, my theory on who the killer is was completely debunked. I am now stumped and thoroughly confused. I have been completely and utterly invested in figuring out who the killer is and I can’t wait to read If You Know Her.
Why I Read this Book: I needed to know if my suspicions as to whom the killer is were right.
What I Liked: Ever since reading If You Hear Her , I had a theory on who the killer is. And I was so convinced that I had it figured out. Until page 300-something (I’m not going to give you an exact page because you’ll either jump straight to the page or it’ll preoccupy your mind when you should be paying attention to the story), I knew it was [insert character who I thought was the killer]. But then [insert event that happens that squashes my theory] occurs. The choices for the killer are somewhat limited; there’s one detail regarding the killer that’s given away in the first book (no, I’m not going to say what that detail is but it’s an important one) and most characters don’t fit the profile because of that small detail. In fact, I do not even know who fit’s the killer’s profile now. *scratches head*
I love how Remy challenged Hope, in more ways than one. Remy would ask Hope how she was feeling and she would reply I’m fine or I’m okay and he’d rebut her by calling her out as a liar. It made me chuckle but I’m glad he didn’t let her get away from addressing her feelings. I think an important thing with someone who’s as broken as Hope is to get them to express their feelings instead of keeping it all bottled up inside. And Remy did a fine job at coaxing it out of her.
I had the notion that the author was so wickedly forthcoming with some details (like internal dialogue). A new detail came to light regarding the person I *thought* was the killer and yet, I was still in denial. I was ready to go back and skim through the entire book to prove to myself that my theory could still hold weight. But I decided to keep reading and another new detail came to light and completely derailed my suspicions. I now have absolutely NO IDEA who the killer is. And I like it! Otherwise it would have felt too predictable. And if’s there’s one thing If You See Her is NOT, it’s predictable.
What I Didn’t Like: There was a time or two when Remy just needed to be a little more cautious with his physical movements around Hope. He knew better.
There were a few times when the descriptive narration felt repetitious. I’d read a sentence and think I just read that.
Overall Impression: By the end of If You See Her, my theory on who the killer is was completely debunked. I am now stumped and thoroughly confused. I have been completely and utterly invested in figuring out who the killer is and I can’t wait to read If You Know Her.
March 3, 2012
This review contains spoilers for If You Hear Her so please don’t continue if you haven’t already read that book.
I’m thinking I should have waited until all 3 books in this trilogy were available and read them in a oner. I read If You Hear Her months ago and was totally enthralled by it and sucked in by its atmosphere. It took me about half of the second book to finally get that back. It wasn’t as if I had forgotten what had gone before, I had just lost the atmosphere. Many months and far too many books have passed since I read it. Glad I’ve waited now and can just move straight onto book 3.
Anyway, we pick up the action immediately where we left off. Hope and Law are lying in hospital beds – Law beaten to within an inch of his life and Hope having nearly bled out due to deep lacerations in her wrist which everyone believes are self-inflicted and Prather dead on the floor of Law’s house. Remy, our hero and the local DA, is about to arrest Hope for, at least, the attack on Law. He doesn’t want to; he has a thing for her and doesn’t believe her capable of such violence. Thankfully, at the last second, evidence is identified that exonerates her and Law and Hope return to his house.
Remy can’t get his mind off Hope and her evil, abusive ex and, eventually, a relationship develops between them. I have to say this is s-l-o-w . We’re nearly half way through the book before it really gets going but when it does, it’s lovely. Remy has a protective streak a mile wide and, when Hope starts seeing her ex in fleeting glances, he’s worried. He’s right to be because Joe Carson is most definitely a sandwich short of a picnic and he doesn’t like seeing Hope with another man.
It all culminates in a highly explosive showdown between Hope and Joe which claims yet more lives. Of course, we have the villain out there who murdered Jolene Hollister and he’s almost forgotten in this book – the story hardly moves forward at all in that respect but he is watching and plays a pivotal role in the big drama at the end. We still don’t know who he is – he is hiding in plain sight. I have a theory and, so, it’s onto If You Know Her without delay to get Nia and Law’s story and to wrap the series up.
4 stars romantic suspense – mostly romance to be fair.
I’m thinking I should have waited until all 3 books in this trilogy were available and read them in a oner. I read If You Hear Her months ago and was totally enthralled by it and sucked in by its atmosphere. It took me about half of the second book to finally get that back. It wasn’t as if I had forgotten what had gone before, I had just lost the atmosphere. Many months and far too many books have passed since I read it. Glad I’ve waited now and can just move straight onto book 3.
Anyway, we pick up the action immediately where we left off. Hope and Law are lying in hospital beds – Law beaten to within an inch of his life and Hope having nearly bled out due to deep lacerations in her wrist which everyone believes are self-inflicted and Prather dead on the floor of Law’s house. Remy, our hero and the local DA, is about to arrest Hope for, at least, the attack on Law. He doesn’t want to; he has a thing for her and doesn’t believe her capable of such violence. Thankfully, at the last second, evidence is identified that exonerates her and Law and Hope return to his house.
Remy can’t get his mind off Hope and her evil, abusive ex and, eventually, a relationship develops between them. I have to say this is s-l-o-w . We’re nearly half way through the book before it really gets going but when it does, it’s lovely. Remy has a protective streak a mile wide and, when Hope starts seeing her ex in fleeting glances, he’s worried. He’s right to be because Joe Carson is most definitely a sandwich short of a picnic and he doesn’t like seeing Hope with another man.
It all culminates in a highly explosive showdown between Hope and Joe which claims yet more lives. Of course, we have the villain out there who murdered Jolene Hollister and he’s almost forgotten in this book – the story hardly moves forward at all in that respect but he is watching and plays a pivotal role in the big drama at the end. We still don’t know who he is – he is hiding in plain sight. I have a theory and, so, it’s onto If You Know Her without delay to get Nia and Law’s story and to wrap the series up.
4 stars romantic suspense – mostly romance to be fair.
January 10, 2013
And the mystery continues...
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did the first book. I thought Remy and Hope were great. But because there was just so much going on, especially with solving who the murderer is and also the added complication of Hope's ex husband, I wasn't as enthralled in the love story as I was in Lena and Ezra's romance.
I wanted more Hope and Remy, and more about their relationship, and how their relationship grew and more focus on how they overcame obstacles such as Hope's inner strength and how she found the strength to enter into a new relationship when she had such a bad marriage that she's still running from. The scenes with Hope and Remy together were great though. The sex scenes were pretty steamy but the love scene in her apartment made my toes curl because it was soft and romantic. I loved it.
The pacing in this was good and the storyline moved quite quickly but it was done in the way that it kept the reader on their toes.
We didn't find out who the killer was, of course. I have a possible candidate who I think it is but I have no evidence to keep back it up so I guess we'll have to wait until the next book to find out.
I'm looking forward to reading Law's book and getting into his mind. I'm interested in getting to know Nia who we were further introduced to in this book. She's angry, I know, and full of grief. But I hope we get to see another side of her in the next book. But most of all... I'm so excited to read the next book because I'm dying for this mystery to be solved.
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did the first book. I thought Remy and Hope were great. But because there was just so much going on, especially with solving who the murderer is and also the added complication of Hope's ex husband, I wasn't as enthralled in the love story as I was in Lena and Ezra's romance.
I wanted more Hope and Remy, and more about their relationship, and how their relationship grew and more focus on how they overcame obstacles such as Hope's inner strength and how she found the strength to enter into a new relationship when she had such a bad marriage that she's still running from. The scenes with Hope and Remy together were great though. The sex scenes were pretty steamy but the love scene in her apartment made my toes curl because it was soft and romantic. I loved it.
The pacing in this was good and the storyline moved quite quickly but it was done in the way that it kept the reader on their toes.
We didn't find out who the killer was, of course. I have a possible candidate who I think it is but I have no evidence to keep back it up so I guess we'll have to wait until the next book to find out.
I'm looking forward to reading Law's book and getting into his mind. I'm interested in getting to know Nia who we were further introduced to in this book. She's angry, I know, and full of grief. But I hope we get to see another side of her in the next book. But most of all... I'm so excited to read the next book because I'm dying for this mystery to be solved.
February 20, 2012
Not sure why I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did If You Hear Her: A Novel of Suspense. I liked the main characters, but I think there was too much happening in the background to really enjoy the growth of the relationship and heroine's discovery of her inner strength. The story line moved along quickly though and I did enjoy the few scenes there were of Remy and Hope together.
Definitely not a stand alone book. I suggest reading book one before reading this one to get a better grasp on all the supporting characters and background.
Not sure if I'll read the next book even though I do want to know who the killer is (I have a guess but nothing solid to back up my assumption). I did not enjoy what I saw of Nia (too abrasive, angry) and I'm not sure if I like her matched up with Law.
Definitely not a stand alone book. I suggest reading book one before reading this one to get a better grasp on all the supporting characters and background.
Not sure if I'll read the next book even though I do want to know who the killer is (I have a guess but nothing solid to back up my assumption). I did not enjoy what I saw of Nia (too abrasive, angry) and I'm not sure if I like her matched up with Law.
February 6, 2012
This book might have been 3*, it is a second in a trilogy and should not be read as a stand alone (wich I did),Imo. That could have been why I never felt a connection with any of the characters,felt lost through much of the story line and in the end,just skimmed through it to end it.
Hope (h) wakes up in a hospital,her wrists have been slit, her best friend horribly attacked and a man murdered and everyone is longing their fingers at her.
Remy (H) has a job to do whether he likes it or not. As the town Lawyer he has to arrest Hope,all the evidence points to her but something in his gut tells him she's innocent.
As new evidence comes to light and Hope is released from the hospital and from suspicion,Remy cant get her off of his mind. He has to find a way to get her to trust him,she seems so afraid of everything and everyone,it will be no easy task.
Hope (h) wakes up in a hospital,her wrists have been slit, her best friend horribly attacked and a man murdered and everyone is longing their fingers at her.
Remy (H) has a job to do whether he likes it or not. As the town Lawyer he has to arrest Hope,all the evidence points to her but something in his gut tells him she's innocent.
As new evidence comes to light and Hope is released from the hospital and from suspicion,Remy cant get her off of his mind. He has to find a way to get her to trust him,she seems so afraid of everything and everyone,it will be no easy task.
June 17, 2012
3.75 stars
Loved it. It wasn't as intense as the first book, I was so scared and horrified and didn't know where it was going after the first read...
This second installment continued with its great characters, dialogs and enriched plot. I was very happy to see all the characters embraced and continued onto the second book instead of dropped off or just having a few lines here and there. The romance was bittersweet and wretching since Hope had survived such a brutal marriage, moving on would be a great personal triumph bc her past overshadowed and dictated her every move. Thank goodness she has a georgous lawyer, Remy, to remind her what to do with her past....
Even though it wasn't gruesome but I did needed a little break and this read was perfect as it lead onto the third book!
Loved it. It wasn't as intense as the first book, I was so scared and horrified and didn't know where it was going after the first read...
This second installment continued with its great characters, dialogs and enriched plot. I was very happy to see all the characters embraced and continued onto the second book instead of dropped off or just having a few lines here and there. The romance was bittersweet and wretching since Hope had survived such a brutal marriage, moving on would be a great personal triumph bc her past overshadowed and dictated her every move. Thank goodness she has a georgous lawyer, Remy, to remind her what to do with her past....
Even though it wasn't gruesome but I did needed a little break and this read was perfect as it lead onto the third book!
November 21, 2015
!!SPOILER!!!
Etwas schwieriger Einstieg, da ich mich an wenig von Teil 1 erinnern konnte. Ich war auch ein wenig enttäuscht, dass der Hauptfall ja noch immer nicht gelöst ist - klar es ist eine Trilogie, aber trotzdem passierte dahingehend zu wenig für mich. Die Abläufe in der Hütte und das "Verschonen" fand ich ja dann irgendwie unglaubwürdig, aber ich mochte die beiden Protagonisten, die Beziehung der beiden. Remy - der Anwalt, Hope - die für verrückt erklärte Tatverdächtige. Und der Schluss mit den beiden war auch gut, deswegen gibt's einen halben Punkt dazu.
2.5 Sterne
Etwas schwieriger Einstieg, da ich mich an wenig von Teil 1 erinnern konnte. Ich war auch ein wenig enttäuscht, dass der Hauptfall ja noch immer nicht gelöst ist - klar es ist eine Trilogie, aber trotzdem passierte dahingehend zu wenig für mich. Die Abläufe in der Hütte und das "Verschonen" fand ich ja dann irgendwie unglaubwürdig, aber ich mochte die beiden Protagonisten, die Beziehung der beiden. Remy - der Anwalt, Hope - die für verrückt erklärte Tatverdächtige. Und der Schluss mit den beiden war auch gut, deswegen gibt's einen halben Punkt dazu.
2.5 Sterne
March 9, 2012
*Starts breathing again* holy intense batman! I think I know who the villain is now...but I am still not sure. I am going to read some Betty Neels to lower my blood pressure. Really should have started this while it was still light outside. There is the serial killer some sub villains, small minded gossips and a whole cast of other characters, literally.
April 3, 2012
4.5*
I loved how the relationship between Remy and Hope developed. Hope was such a strong brave woman, working up the courage to trust someone, a man, after what her ex-husband did to her. Remy was great, he had patience with her and he encouraged her in everything she wanted to do.
It would have been a 5* book if not for having one crazy serial killer and one crazy, abusive ex-spouse.
I loved how the relationship between Remy and Hope developed. Hope was such a strong brave woman, working up the courage to trust someone, a man, after what her ex-husband did to her. Remy was great, he had patience with her and he encouraged her in everything she wanted to do.
It would have been a 5* book if not for having one crazy serial killer and one crazy, abusive ex-spouse.
May 15, 2012
I'm loving this series. Its amazing how versatile Shiloh Walker is. With every book that I've read of hers its like I'm reading a different author.
Remy and Hope are my favourite couple in this series. Though I am looking forward to Law getting some loving!!
Remy and Hope are my favourite couple in this series. Though I am looking forward to Law getting some loving!!
March 5, 2012
Great suspance!!! Great writing!!! Grate H/h!!! Grab this trilogy and read it; you'll not regret it!
March 21, 2012
Shiloh Walker has written a great series- on to #3
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