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If You Hear Her (The Ash Trilogy #1)

by Shiloh Walker (Goodreads Author)

3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 · rating details · 1,243 ratings · 195 reviews

A CRY IN THE WOODS

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

Ezra King is on leave fro...more

Kindle Edition, 400 pages

Published October 26th 2011 by Ballantine Books (first published October 25th 2011)

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Jan 15, 2012 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-vixen-reviews, first-reads-arcs-won-a-copy, contemporary, crime-police-mystery-private-invest, deaf-mute-blind-mad, excellent, read-2011, romance, serial-killer, series, suspense

This is my first book by Shiloh Walker. I’d heard good things about her, but I never seemed to find the time to seek her out and give her a try. Let me just say, this was a great introduction to her work and I’m glad I finally took the plunge. Romantic Suspense doesn’t always work for me. I find that a lot of authors tend to focus more on one of the elements; Romance or Suspense. But some authors have the skill to balance both features well. Walker is one of those authors. I never felt cheated o...more

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Dec 30, 2012 || Tammie || rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romantic-suspense

Romantic suspense is a genre that I often find lacking. Either the romance takes a backseat to the suspense or the suspense overshadows the romance. Very few authors can make me completely happy on both.

From the opening scene of If You Hear Her, I felt Shiloh Walker might be able surpass my high expectations. She doesn't shy away from the tough stuff. Instead, the book begins with the Big Bad, raping and killing his latest victim. By the third page I was in tears reading this powerful passage.....more

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Oct 30, 2011 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If it was the authors intent to get you so invested in all the characters and then leave you hanging until January dying to know what happens next then she succeeded. The end of this book has so many cliffhangers.

As this was the first book in the series its a little slow going at first as we get to meet the characters. Actually the first character we get to meet is the killer and his victim. We do not get to find out who the killer is in this book. I dont even have a guess yet as to who the kil...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Auntee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Romantic Suspense fans who like it extra steamy and a little grisly

Shelves: romantic-suspense, 2011_reads

No plot rehash, just some thoughts...

One of the best romantic suspense books I've read all year! If you're a fan of Karen Rose-type suspense (grisly, with diabolical, twisted villains) but you'd like a little more in the romance department--then this book is what you're looking for. Some really hot, steamy scenes between the hero ( a tall, dark, and sexy (and somewhat tortured) state cop named Ezra King on leave from his job) and the very independent heroine Lena Riddle (an auburn-haired chef at...more No plot rehash, just some thoughts...

One of the best romantic suspense books I've read all year! If you're a fan of Karen Rose-type suspense (grisly, with diabolical, twisted villains) but you'd like a little more in the romance department--then this book is what you're looking for. Some really hot, steamy scenes between the hero ( a tall, dark, and sexy (and somewhat tortured) state cop named Ezra King on leave from his job) and the very independent heroine Lena Riddle (an auburn-haired chef at a B&B who happens to be blind) had me reaching for a cold drink! This book is part of a trilogy, but it's unusual in that the reader is left with a major cliffhanger (which drove me crazy for a couple of days!) Shiloh Walker leaves you guessing throughout the book about who the killer may be in small town Ash, Kentucky--with some careful reading you can eliminate the suspects one by one, and maybe come up with a theory about who the bad guy may be (she doesn't give you much to go on but I have someone in mind...). The book has a few slow spots about a third of the way in--the author veers away from the main couple to introduce characters/couples who will appear in the later books, which slows the pace down a bit. But hang in there, because the last half of the book goes by at a blinding pace and will have you biting your nails and worrying about the main characters...will they fall victim to the killer?

Sexy and smart Ezra...

I cannot wait to read the next two books in this exciting trilogy--If You See Her (January 2012) and If You Know Her (February 2012). I want to find out the reason for the killings (and if I'm right about who he is!) and I want to see how the romances play out. Based on this first book, which is filled with enough details and juicy backstory on our main characters (who are just purrrfect together) I think Shiloh Walker has a winner of a series here, and I'd recommend it to any romantic suspense fan. 4 1/2 stars

P.S.: Pay attention to the heroine's guide dog, Puck. I think he knows who the killer is...

Puck...

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Oct 25, 2011 TheBookVixen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, c-b

Why I Read this Book: I love romantic suspense and I am a fan of Shiloh Walker’s writing. ‘Nuff said.

What I Liked: It was very interesting, and eye-opening, to read from a character’s POV where that character is blind. Lena doesn’t let her handicap hinder her abilities in the slightest; it only makes for a unique vulnerability that forces her to do things differently. She has to completely rely on her other senses – specifically her acute sense of hearing to get around and sense other people's...more Why I Read this Book: I love romantic suspense and I am a fan of Shiloh Walker’s writing. ‘Nuff said.

What I Liked: It was very interesting, and eye-opening, to read from a character’s POV where that character is blind. Lena doesn’t let her handicap hinder her abilities in the slightest; it only makes for a unique vulnerability that forces her to do things differently. She has to completely rely on her other senses – specifically her acute sense of hearing to get around and sense other people's emotions. And because of her being blind, her attraction to Ezra is honest and sincere, in that it is not based on outward appearance but on his inner intellect, personality, and character.

Shiloh Walker doesn’t hold back. The parts told from the villain’s POV where dark, haunting, and chilling. He’s evil and ruthless. The author gave such life to the villain, he scares the shit of out me and he’s just a fictional character!

I was so into the story that when I came to the end, it caught me off guard. Although I’m not sure who the villain is at this point, I am satisfied with how the book ended. I am anxious to get my hands on the next two books, If You See Her (out January 2012) and If You Know Her (out February 2012). I love when books come out back-to-back like that.

What I Didn’t Like: There was an abundant amount of characters who shared the last name Jennings. It was confusing for me to keep track of who’s who in the Jennings family so I made a list.

Some of the text – dialogue and emotions – felt a bit redundant, especially parts from the victims and villain’s POV. It felt like some things were being reiterated but I didn’t feel that that was necessary.

Overall Impression: The author laid the foundation in If You Hear Her nicely for this trilogy. Shiloh Walker fans will definitely want to read If You Hear Her and romantic suspense fans will enjoy trying to figure out the ‘who done it’.

You can find this review, and many more, on my blog The Book Vixen.(less)

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Jun 26, 2012 Taria Reed rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: suspense, romance, 2012-audiobook-month

2hrs into the audiobook and I'm annoyed at all the damn POVs the author is cramming into the story. I've counted 8 different POVs so far and there's still quite a bit of story left.

BE WARNED!! This is one of those books that never end. Meaning there is no resolution to the plot it gets continued on into the next story.

I HATE CLIFFHANGERS!! I hate that authors feel they kinda have to "force" you to read the next book to find out who did it and why by not giving each book in the series a satisfyi...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Pamela(AllHoney) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cops-fbi-dea-cia-etc, disabled-injured-scarred, chefs-cooks-bakers-etc, redhead-heroine, serial-killers, rs-mystery-thriller, challenge-2012, pet-or-animal-in-story, 1st-in-series, my-4-star-romances

If You Hear Her is the first in the Ash Trilogy by Shiloh Walker. Ezra is a police officer on leave in Ash, Kentucky. He meets Lena and is attracted but he is reluctant to get into a relationship at that time. Lena is a chef and is also blind. One night she wakes up and hears a woman screaming for help. Unable to physically do anything herself she calls the police.

Very suspenseful with a nice romance. I loved the story but I hate that the story continues on to the next book in the series so we...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, mystery-suspense-thriller

3-1/2 stars. Part of my struggle with this book (at least in the beginning) was shifting gears to more open to the suspense portion of the story.

I liked it. Lena is a strong, independent woman working as a chef at the local inn. Oh, and she's blind. Not just a little, but completely blind. The blind heroine was pretty cool. She's strong, sexy and in control of her own life. That was great. Ezra is big(ish) city detective on leave after an incident in the line of duty injured him. That incident...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Saly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cops-law-enforcement-security, read-in-2012, romantic-suspense, single-titles

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I liked Lena and independence. Despite being blind she was a full person and had fought hard for it(her mother was the overprotective sort). I loved it that she was a cook.

Ezra the hero is a cop on leave. He is staying at his grandmothers house doing nothing. He isn't sure he wants to go back. Six months ago he was shot by his partner and lover and he has had nightmares ever since. He doesn't trust his judgement, he killed someone who was his best friend even if...more

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May 17, 2012 Maggie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've decided to order the next two books in this trilogy, as obviously I'm intrigued in to following the outcome to finding out who murdered Jolene Hollister and the cop Prather. I realized that this book was the first in the trilogy that continues on in next book until you come to its final conclusion in the last book.I was being cautious in not getting the three books together until I read this book first, to see if this story entailed enough interest for me before deciding to get the other bo...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Joyfully Reviewed rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: joyfully-reviewed-miranda, contemporary, series, suspense

If You Hear Her is a Joyfully Recommended Read

Lena Riddle is a blind chef living in Ash, Kentucky. She prides herself on her ability to be a fully functional blind woman. When she awakes to screams in the middle of the night she is determined to find the victim. Unfortunately, the local police aren’t taking much of an interest in her screaming woman.

Detective Ezra King has come to Ash to recuperate and figure out what is next for him. He never anticipated falling for a beautiful woman or becomin...more If You Hear Her is a Joyfully Recommended Read

Lena Riddle is a blind chef living in Ash, Kentucky. She prides herself on her ability to be a fully functional blind woman. When she awakes to screams in the middle of the night she is determined to find the victim. Unfortunately, the local police aren’t taking much of an interest in her screaming woman.

Detective Ezra King has come to Ash to recuperate and figure out what is next for him. He never anticipated falling for a beautiful woman or becoming involved in a mystery. Ezra isn’t quite ready for anything serious but Lena makes him wonder what forever could feel like.

Things are getting spooky in Ash. Danger lurks around the corner but the citizens of this sleepy small town are none the wiser. One of their own could be a vicious killer. As Ezra and Lena attempt to find a life together their lives in Ash seem to be unraveling. Can they find everlasting love and a killer before it’s too late?

If You Hear Her is a phenomenal and thrilling romance! Shiloh Walker has struck gold with her Ash series! I was engrossed from the first gripping pages of If You Hear Her to the last pulse-pounding moments! Lena Riddle is my kind of character. She is a super strong, independent and enchanting woman. She is the kind of character that you root for! Ezra is super-hot and has that alpha male thing down pat. Lena and Ezra have just waltzed onto my favorite couples list! When these two are together the pages shine. Ms. Walker has outdone herself with character building here. Lena and Ezra as well as the other residents of Ash are the kind of people that you hope are really out there: strong, stubborn and willing to fight for what is right.

Okay so I could gush forever about how much I love this couple and their friends but I don’t want to leave out how fantastic the mystery is. If You Hear Her packs a punch in the suspense department. I was constantly trying to figure out who is horrid murderer is. I just love it when a book makes me second guess myself over and over again. I’m not usually a fan of getting the killers perspective in books but Ms. Walker had me perfectly on edge with her snippets of the killers creepy psyche.

If You Hear Her is a must read and I’m Joyfully Recommending it!

Reviewed by Miranda
For Joyfully Reviewed
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Feb 12, 2012 Sandy M rated it 5 of 5 stars

As most of you know, Shiloh Walker is an absolute favorite of mine. I have a feeling with this new trilogy, a lot more fans are going to be coming out of the woodwork to follow this very talented author.

Ezra King has come to Ash, Kentucky to recuperate in both body and spirit. His grandmother left her home to him, so he’s healing amid a bit of grief and nostalgia. He’s been content to piddle around the place – until he meets Lena Riddle. The woman not only shoots lust through his system, but she...more As most of you know, Shiloh Walker is an absolute favorite of mine. I have a feeling with this new trilogy, a lot more fans are going to be coming out of the woodwork to follow this very talented author.

Ezra King has come to Ash, Kentucky to recuperate in both body and spirit. His grandmother left her home to him, so he’s healing amid a bit of grief and nostalgia. He’s been content to piddle around the place – until he meets Lena Riddle. The woman not only shoots lust through his system, but she demands respect and admiration for her determination and love of life.

Finally living on her own with no one to tell her how to do it, Lena is happy in every aspect of her life – she’s a chef for the local B&B and she’s surrounded by loving friends. When a man with a sexy voice shows interest in her lasagna, his interest in her piques even further after they share a meal or two together. But then Ezra puts on the brakes, and for a little while is one of those men who says he’ll call but doesn’t. He has his reasons, and once you learn of them you can understand why he’s so hesitant to start up a relationship with this fascinating and beautiful woman. Lena tries to forget the man, even when they run into each other in town, but after so many meetings and too much temptation, Ezra gives in and pursues Lena into a wonderful blossoming relationship.

What brings them together finally is the scream Lena hears one night outside her home at the edge of the forest. The only people who believe her are Ezra and Law, one of Lena’s best friends, and the local sheriff. But on investigation, no evidence is found of anything untoward. Lena can’t let it rest, however, and makes a trip to the sheriff’s office, where Ezra is making his own unrelated complaint. While the deputy helping Lena doesn’t believe a word she says, it’s Ezra who gets things moving to further investigate the matter, but everyone is baffled at the lack of evidence.

The reader knows exactly what’s happening, though, and sees what an evil villain lives and breathes in these pages. What he does to the women he kidnaps slowly weakens and breaks them until they’re praying to die. It’s his latest victim who Lena hears from her bedroom this fateful night that changes life for all concerned – including our villain. And from this point on, you are immersed so deeply in both the romance between Ezra and Lena and the deceptive and evil mind of a madman whose identity is kept from you the entire book. And the second book. You won’t know who it turns out to be until the last book. Talk about tension!

I love Ezra and Lena. Their romance is swift and sure. Ezra turns into the typical alpha cop he is when danger is unveiled around them and their friends. Lena is a sassy, smart, and independent woman, but she knows when to let go and do as she’s asked so everyone survives whatever situation is going on at the moment. Their lovemaking is vintage Shiloh Walker – steamy, intense, and loving. We also meet Remy and Hope, who are featured in the next book, and you love them on sight just as much as you do Ezra and Lena.

Pins and needles having nothing on this storyline. Tenterhooks is more apropos for all the goings-on, especially the suspenseful aspects of the story. If you’re ready for an edge-of-your-seat read that you can’t put down until it’s read, this is it. And do be sure to read this trilogy in order. They’re tied too closely together and left open ended to start in the middle or, heaven forbid, with the last book.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com (less)

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Nov 07, 2011 Brie C. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Oh Shiloh Walker, you evil mastermind! What have you done to me?

I’m a huge fan of Ms. Walker’s work, especially her romantic suspense novels, but when I got this book I did it under the wrong impression. I don’t know why, but I thought this was one of her romantic suspense stories with a bit of a paranormal touch. I think I was confusing the book with The Departed, her January release which was the book I was eagerly anticipating (and still am), so w...more Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Oh Shiloh Walker, you evil mastermind! What have you done to me?

I’m a huge fan of Ms. Walker’s work, especially her romantic suspense novels, but when I got this book I did it under the wrong impression. I don’t know why, but I thought this was one of her romantic suspense stories with a bit of a paranormal touch. I think I was confusing the book with The Departed, her January release which was the book I was eagerly anticipating (and still am), so when I realized that this wasn’t it, I was a bit disappointed. The disappointment lasted about two seconds, the time it took for If You Hear Her to captivate me and make me forget that this wasn’t the book I originally wanted to read.

The story goes something like this: Lena Riddle is a blind chef. One night she hears a woman screaming but when she calls the police they find nothing and tell her that she must have imagined it. Thankfully there’s Ezra King, the hunky detective with the tragic past. On leave from the state police, he shares an explosive chemistry with Lena and believes what she’s saying. He’s afraid that Lena’s in danger because regardless of what the police thinks, she’s a witness, so now they are working together trying to figure out what's going on, but also fighting the attraction they feel for each other. Needless to say, the attraction wins.

I know I’m making it sound like a very simple, straightforward story, and in a sense it is, but there’s much more going on, including a set of secondary characters just as engaging as the main couple and a murderer that’s one of the most evil characters I have read this year. But the most important of all is that this is truly a suspenseful read, one with a surprise ending that left me thinking: "what am I supposed to do now?"

Lena was a fantastic heroine and perfect for a romantic suspense novel. She is strong, smart and self-assured but also vulnerable. I think Ms. Walker does a fantastic job portraying her disability, the fact that she was blind never felt like a gimmick just to create a sense of constant danger to the heroine. In fact, I almost forgot that she was blind. I think it was an accurate portrayal of a blind person and how sometimes the obstacles don’t come from the disability itself but from how other people perceive and treat that person. Lena wasn’t helpless at all but the people surrounding her treat her in a certain way because to them she was helpless. That’s why I also loved Ezra, he never sees her as a weak person and when he worries, is because he loves her, not because he thinks she needs some extra help.

Ezra wasn’t your typical overbearing and possessive alpha male. He is protective of Lena, he feels strongly about her, but he also lets her be. We get to see a glimpse of vulnerability when we find out what happened to him and why he had to take a leave from his job. I admit that there’s that almost magical, lust at first sight thing that is ever present in romance novels, and for a change I would love to see the relationship develop more slowly, but the chemistry between them was just explosive.

The sex scenes deserve a mention because they were scorching hot. I think they were one of the hottest scenes I have read all year, not because how graphic they were, but because the connection between the characters was amazing and very strong, so when they get to the sex you can feel the passion. Also, Ms. Walker knows how to write a sex scene. That first sex scene between Lena and Ezra is going to my Top 10 list of Best Sex Scenes Ever.

There’s also a strong cast of secondary characters that are likeable and intriguing. You know some of these characters are being set to be the leads of the books to come, but there’s also the mystery. I was impatient to get to the end to find out who the bad guy was, and then I got to the final twist. I don’t want to give away anything because I was so surprised by the direction the book took, and by what the author is doing with the series, that I if I tell you I’ll ruin it. Once you read it, you will know what I mean when I say that Ms. Walker is an evil mastermind. This is a book meant to be discussed and talked about, and the wait for the next installment feels like torture.

There were a couple of things that bothered me. As I mentioned before, there are a lot of characters in the book, and at some point in the story we get their POVs. Some of those POVs made sense, but some of them didn’t. I understand that this is a "who done it", and that all the secondary characters are suspects, so having their POVs might give us some clues or point us to the right -or wrong- direction depending on what the author wants us to believe, but it was confusing and a bit annoying. Maybe this will make more sense in the next book. The other problem I had was with the violence. This wasn’t the most violent book I've read and I’m not usually bothered by this, but what happens to the victims in this book was too much, I started to skim thought those parts because it made me feel uncomfortable. The descriptions aren't graphic or gory, but they are disturbing and very sad.

Despite that, I had a great time reading this book. The romance and the suspense are perfectly well-balanced, I was kept on the edge of my seat until the end, the heroine doesn’t have one single TSTL moment and the ending was unexpected and original. This book doesn’t follow the usual recipe for romantic suspense, and once you’re done with it, all you want to do is read the next one. This is a highly recommended and addictive new series, by a highly addictive author.(less)

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Oct 30, 2011 Aemelia rated it 5 of 5 stars

CAN YOU HEAR HER was an electrifying tale, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I followed all the twists and turns this story took. There was never a mundane moment in the entire tale, as I tried to piece together the great mystery of who the killer was.

The chemistry between Lena and Ezra positively sizzled from the moment they first met. They both had their vulnerabilities that made me root all the more for their HEA (happily ever after). I loved how Lena strove to keep her independence and a...more

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Oct 29, 2011 Readersentertainment rated it 5 of 5 stars

The latest romantic thriller from author Shiloh Walker begins with a scream, literally and doesn't let up until the end. Set in small town Kentucky, where everyone thinks they know everyone else, Lena Riddle hears a scream echo through the night.

Calls to police are worthless as law enforcement can't find any evidence of a crime. But Lena knows what she heard.

Her only saving grace is Ezra King, a cop on leave after dealing with his own demons. His cop instinct knows Lena is in danger, his heart's...more

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Apr 08, 2013 K. Bird rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars, actually.

The concept of this one got it a reading. The main character has a disability, but its handled in a fairly believable way (other than the tendency for all Lena's friends to go overboard on outrage on her behalf whenever her ability to live independently is questioned).

She hears a woman screaming outside her window in the woods one night, but when the police come looking they find nothing.

Meanwhile, a new neighbor, ex-police, starts a relationship and then backs off quickly, m...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Ria rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, cops, romance, suspense

This is a 3-star book that left me with a 2-star feeling. There are lots of points in If You Hear Her's favour - I liked that the book's heroine is blind and she is drawn to the hero not only because of his sexy voice, but because he doesn't treat her like an invalid. The mystery throughout was upsetting but in a dramatically effective way and questions are left unanswered by the book's close keep interest levels high.

Yet by the time I reached the end, I found myself unable to really care about...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Maldivianbookreviewer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: against-the-wall-smexing, arcs, brooding-hero, brooding-heroine, charming-hero, commitment-phobic-hero, commitment-phobic-heroine, contemporary-romance, dangerous-hero, endearing-hero, endearing-heroine, explosive-passion, favorite-alpha-heroes, favorite-heroines, good-for-nothing-ex-girlfriend, haunted-by-the-past-hero, hot-as-sin-hero, hottest-first-kiss, hottest-sex-scenes-ever, independent-heroine, intense-connection-between-hh, law-enforcement-hero, loner-hero, not-yet-released, opposites-attract, part-of-a-series, possessive-hero, romantic-suspense, sizzling-sexual-tension, small-town-setting, some-violence, stalker-villian, serial-killer-villian, tortured-hero, violence, dark-romantic-suspense

Certainly different from the various other published works by the author, book 1 of the Ash Trilogy signifies the growth of Shiloh Walker as an author towards excellence and beyond. Even from the very start, ever since I stumbled upon Ms. Walker’s Her Best friend’s Lover, I have been drawn towards the effortless ease with which she draws the reader into the story that makes a book hard to put down and of course the way she delivers scorching hot scenes of passion that one cannot help but absolut...more Certainly different from the various other published works by the author, book 1 of the Ash Trilogy signifies the growth of Shiloh Walker as an author towards excellence and beyond. Even from the very start, ever since I stumbled upon Ms. Walker’s Her Best friend’s Lover, I have been drawn towards the effortless ease with which she draws the reader into the story that makes a book hard to put down and of course the way she delivers scorching hot scenes of passion that one cannot help but absolutely revel in. If You Hear Her delivers on all of the above and takes it just a step further with a bone-chillingly maniacal and yet methodical villain together with a lot of multi-faceted and appealing characters that just makes this book one of her best stories yet!

Laying the groundwork for the rest of the titles in the trilogy, Ms. Walker introduces the reader to characters whose stories are just begging to be told, the next book of which I am just practically itching to get my hands on. Though at first I was of the mind that there wasn’t enough focus on Ezra and Lena to do them justice, I did a complete turnaround once I realized where the story was heading. The story especially picks up pace after the first couple of chapters, leaving the reader with no doubt that the ride ahead would turn out to be an edge-of-the-seat one at that.

Ezra King with his unusual name turned out to be such a compelling hero. There is no doubt that he is tortured, sweet, sexy, determined & dangerous all rolled into one. Ezra’s past keeps on tormenting him, making him question his abilities in judging people which is more than a requirement when it comes to being a cop. Ezra never expects to find anything more than the peace of his mind when he moves to Ash, Kentucky, and he certainly does not expect to find himself falling for a woman who makes his senses reel and heart beat faster just with her presence alone.

Lena Riddle’s entrance into the story surprised me big time. Ms. Walker has done such a swell job with her character that its hard not to “see” her in your mind’s eye as you read along. She is strong, confident, sassy and beautiful inside out, her keen sense of hearing one of the reasons why the nefarious killer’s less than stellar activities comes to light. Even though Lena faces ridicule from the one law enforcement official who made me grind my teeth out of sheer frustration, it is Lena’s determination that she would not give up until someone believes her well enough to at least try and find out the reality behind the gut chilling screams that jump starts the series of events which just seems to accelerate in intensity as time passes on.

While the passion between Lena and Ezra burns hotter than wildfire with each encounter, with it comes forth the more tender emotions which neither of them counted on, but inevitably embrace with the danger escalating to proportions neither foresaw coming. I loved each and every passionate encounter between Lena and Ezra and I have to yet again bow down to Ms. Walker’s superb ability when it comes to delivering on just the right amount of passion, suspense and character development to make a story that much harder to part with.

I nearly whimpered in agony when the story was over, leaving the reader with no choice but to pray that the publication date of the next book rolls in before you die out of sheer curiosity. Most of the time when it comes to suspense novels, its almost always pretty darn easy to identify who the killer is, but in this case I have a feeling that Ms. Walker is going to be keeping the reader guessing until towards the very end, which would mean a job well done for the author and continued ravage of my fingernails in the foreseeable future.

For die-hard fans of Shiloh Walker like myself, this is an absolute must-read. For fans of romantic suspense, I dare you to pick this up, just to find out whether you can pin-point who the killer could be. And for fans of character-driven romances with a strong element of suspense, this one’s just what the doctor ordered for the day.

Rating=4.75/5

Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance

My quotes included below the review!(less)

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Nov 04, 2012 Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romantic-suspense

This book is part one in a trilogy and the story won't be finished until the last book, so if you aren't willing to invest the time for all three this probably isn't for you.

Why this book is a five star book for me: I didn't want to put it down. I felt like I knew the characters and really wanted to know what was going to happen next.

I personally enjoy reading a book with more than one POV, and this book tells the story from all sides. It didn't feel like a set up for the next H/H, it flowed na...more

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Jul 03, 2012 Lynsey (The Demon Librarian) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: whodunnit, sweet-romance, romantic-suspense, romantic-elements, hot-smexy-times, cracking-mystery

This is book one of a trilogy, and the plot centres around a serial rapist/killer/bad bad man living in the small town of Ash, Kentucky, and the rest of its inhabitants. You should be made aware, I think, that you will not get a resolution to the mystery in this book; that is set to span the entire trilogy. I wasn't aware of it, I thought we'd get a separate mystery for each new couple, so I threw a little paddy when it finished with everything still up in the air. If I'd have known going in I t...more This is book one of a trilogy, and the plot centres around a serial rapist/killer/bad bad man living in the small town of Ash, Kentucky, and the rest of its inhabitants. You should be made aware, I think, that you will not get a resolution to the mystery in this book; that is set to span the entire trilogy. I wasn't aware of it, I thought we'd get a separate mystery for each new couple, so I threw a little paddy when it finished with everything still up in the air. If I'd have known going in I think it would have helped, but, luckily, I at least already had all three books to hand. If I'd have had to wait for the next ones to be released? Well, let's not even go there...

But even with things unsolved you still get lots of glimpses and clues to whet your appetite. It's written third-person omniscient and we enter the mind of the killer and his victims at times which is more than a little disturbing. He's a real nasty one that's for sure. I'm pretty sure the killer is going to turn out to be a character we met in this book, but I don't have the first clue who it is at the moment. To be honest I had a bit of trouble keeping all the names straight in my head of all the secondary characters and the police and the victims. And then sometimes people would address a character by their surname (which naturally I'd forgotten) and I had no idea who they meant.

So it wasn't without a few hiccups but I did find the romance quite sweet. It took until way into the second half to get going but I enjoyed it once it did. Lena is a blind chef, fiercely independent. Ezra is a cop on leave after an 'incident', taking a time-out to see if he wants to remain in the job. I liked their interactions and how sweet Ezra was about Lena's blindness. He didn't coddle her which I, and she, appreciated. She manages to maintain a job as a chef after all, she doesn't need someone talking to her like she's not a full Shilling just because she can't see.

"He had the sexiest damn voice, Lena thought. Sexiest voice . . . and he was still staring at her, too.
She could tell, all but feel the warmth of his gaze. Feel it, almost like a ray of light traveling over her body, leaving seductive warmth in its wake."

So, all in all not a bad start, but not amazing either. I will move onto the next one to hopefully get at least a few more clues. I will work it out, I will! And I'm looking forward to Remy and Hope's story. I have a feeling it's going to be very 'Sleeping with the Enemy' in theme.

3 Stars! ★★★
(less)

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Mar 15, 2012 Tina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads, romance, thiller-suspense

The important thing to know about this trilogy is that if you want to find out who killed the women, you have to read all three books. While the 'romantic' part of the the romantic-suspense is resolved at the end of each installment, the you have to get to through the final book to satisfy the conclusion of the 'suspense' part.

Of the three books, I thought this was the strongest, but I liked them all and give the series as a whole a solid 4-stars.

You meet all the important players in various wa...more The important thing to know about this trilogy is that if you want to find out who killed the women, you have to read all three books. While the 'romantic' part of the the romantic-suspense is resolved at the end of each installment, the you have to get to through the final book to satisfy the conclusion of the 'suspense' part.

Of the three books, I thought this was the strongest, but I liked them all and give the series as a whole a solid 4-stars.

You meet all the important players in various ways right in this first book. This book features the first of our three couples, Lena and Ezra --- ok. I have to stop right there and say how much I love his name. One of my romance novel pet peeves is the names the characters are given. There is a samey-sameness to them all, with lots of hard consonant sounds. Ezra is just so not the same. It sounds sweetly old-fashioned.

Anyway, Lena hears a woman screaming in her woods and it sets off a chain of events, the least of which it alerts people in the small town on Ash, Kentucky to the fact that something hinky is going on in their town. It is also sets off a domino effect of bad decisions by the killer. Up to now he had been serial killing in perfect peace & quiet, but one girl managed to escape briefly and his activities might now be discovered. He goes into damage control mode, but it doesn;t quite work out the way he needs it to.

Lena is not given to flights of fancy and she refuses to be put off by the authorities. Because she is so credible the local sheriff and Ezra, an ex-cop, are inclined to believe she really did hear something out there in the woods.

I won't say more about the plot because as I mentioned above, the serial killer doesn't get revealed until the final installment and a lot happens in the interim.

In the meantime, Lena and Ezra start to build a relationship. I really liked both of them and I loved how the author dealt with Lena's blindness. She made her imminently capable, but it is still acknowledged that she can be very vulnerable too.

We also meet the other couples from the rest of the trilogy. Remy is the DA and a member of the town's leading family, Law is Lena's best friend and a bit of a mystery man to the rest of the town. Hope is new in town, fleeing from a bad marriage. She is Law's best friend and comes to work for him. And then there is Nia, who is the cousin of one of the victims.

All three couples have a large part of play in the sometimes pursuit/sometime cat-&-mouse game with the killer.

Good series that I read straight through in no time flat.(less)

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Feb 09, 2012 Kindle-aholic rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense-thriller, romance

Between 4 & 4.5 stars.

Most of the Romances I read have some kind of paranormal element. This one is Contemporary, but it is a Romantic-Suspense with a REALLY evil big bad in it. It's also different in that it's not fully contained in one book. The main relationship is, but the overall mystery will span 3 books, each with a different couple as the main focus, but still with the other characters involved. This is very different from other romances I've read and I think it really works for me....more Between 4 & 4.5 stars.

Most of the Romances I read have some kind of paranormal element. This one is Contemporary, but it is a Romantic-Suspense with a REALLY evil big bad in it. It's also different in that it's not fully contained in one book. The main relationship is, but the overall mystery will span 3 books, each with a different couple as the main focus, but still with the other characters involved. This is very different from other romances I've read and I think it really works for me. If everything had been solved by the end, it would have been too neat. Too easy. I've read a few too many Romantic-Suspense books where in between the all night marathons of fantastic sex to the exclusion of all else, the hero and heroine are also able to capture the villain who has been giving the authorities the run around for years. I'm not saying that this concept hasn't been done well (for instance, I loved Linda Howard's Dream Man), but in more than a few I haven't been satisfied with the end, mostly because there wasn't enough balance between mystery-solving and romance-building.

I liked the characters. There are a lot of different POVs here (it's all 3rd person, just following several different characters), but that didn't bother me. It worked for the story. Being in the killer's head was creepy as hell. He's a sadistic torturer-rapist-killer. You don't get really graphic, explicit details, but sometimes what's NOT told is even scarier as your mind makes up the difference.

Lena, our lead female character is blind with a fierce independent streak. She's worked hard for the life she's built, is fiercely loyal to her friends, and has a wicked sense of humor. Ezra is a cop on leave following a shooting - I won't spill what happened, as it's pretty crucial to his whole attitude, but I thought it worked. There were plenty of times I called him an idiot, but his actions were understandable. I bought their relationship. It's not one that starts because of the villain, although circumstances involving the mystery do bring Lena & Ezra closer together. The romance was hot - there was no skimping on that end at all.

I am definitely reading the next one.(less)

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Oct 12, 2012 Png rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads, romance

I was one of the lucky winners to receive this free copy (thank you Shiloh Walker and Goodreads!). I finished this book two days ago and here's my impression of it.

Overall, the book (first in a three-part series) had a nice pace and was (surprisingly) well-written. Usually romantic suspense authors, I find, tend to write the stereotypical alpah male, feisty damsel in distress, cliched storyline with one genre (read: romance) dominating over the other (read: suspense). Shiloh Walker, however, did...more

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May 09, 2012 Nina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, fake-boyfriend-parade, murder-she-wrote, romantic-suspense, series, sexy-banter, small-town, southern-setting, super-steamy, swoon, tortured-hero

This book was a breath of Yes, Finally in a world of mediocre romantic suspense.

The door of this genre was opened to me by classic Sandra Brown. Super sexy alpha males and the witty, sexy smart women that kept them on their toes battling it out as crazy crimes and mysteries unfolded. And neither ball was dropped. I was always just as wrapped up in the mystery as I was in the tension between the leads. Those are the books that keep me up all night, and why this genre became one of my favorites....more This book was a breath of Yes, Finally in a world of mediocre romantic suspense.

The door of this genre was opened to me by classic Sandra Brown. Super sexy alpha males and the witty, sexy smart women that kept them on their toes battling it out as crazy crimes and mysteries unfolded. And neither ball was dropped. I was always just as wrapped up in the mystery as I was in the tension between the leads. Those are the books that keep me up all night, and why this genre became one of my favorites.

Then in came the duds.

Maybe it's because it seems to formulaic that some believe it to be an easy enough story to tell. Cast the hot leads, make them bang it out, someone is killing someone, and hell, make the murderer a serial killer and wait a minute, have them also be one of the perspectives the reader will read from, but wait! Don't tell them who it is! That'll be the mystery! Throw out some red herrings and then a twist and bam!
A winner.

But no. Because it's so predictable, and because certain elements are expected, a writer has to take the expected and make MORE. Cut me, gut me, make me fall in love and worry over this town of people who has a killer in its midst.

And Shiloh Walker did it. She did it so hard, and I've fallen back in love.

Ezra is tired and haunted but he's real and surly and smart and damn, he's got a thing for Lena. She's got that spark. That thing that makes people take notice. She's warm and funny and damn it all, she's going to stand on her own two feet, thank you very much. She's blind, she's a chef, and she's a dazzling redhead. He's a burnt out cop with bloody dreams and a sore leg. And these two together? Holy hell. It's love and it's sweet but it's hot and humid and he's grabbing her and she's grabbing him and I'm looking for a fan.

And this town is drawn for us and filled with the expected, and I see them clear as day. I get it, and I love it, and the tangling of relationships with who is married to who and she's friends with her, who is cousins with him and let's all go down to the diner for the latest gossip because something cray cray is going on in Ash, Kentucky. You get to meet characters who you know are getting the next book, and that's what I love about a series like this.

The killer? I have no idea. I'm bouncing around ideas, but it's not being served to me on a silver platter. The scenes with the victims are heartbreaking. The way each one is introduced by name, solidifying that these women are people who were living full lives before being caught by this monster.

And who is this monster? Because he's here. He's in Ash and he's walking amongst them and I couldn't pick up the second book fast enough. (less)

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Mar 16, 2012 Alyssa Ricks rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review is really for the whole Ash Trilogy; I don't feel that the books stand alone. There is an overarching plot, the mystery/thirller part, that continues on through the whole trilogy and then each book has a separate couple as it's focus, however, all of the characters are heavily involved in all three books.

If You Hear Her - this installment focused on Lena and Ezra; she's a blind chef at the local inn and he's a state cop on leave after getting shot by his dirty partner (don't worry,...more This review is really for the whole Ash Trilogy; I don't feel that the books stand alone. There is an overarching plot, the mystery/thirller part, that continues on through the whole trilogy and then each book has a separate couple as it's focus, however, all of the characters are heavily involved in all three books.

If You Hear Her - this installment focused on Lena and Ezra; she's a blind chef at the local inn and he's a state cop on leave after getting shot by his dirty partner (don't worry, she's dead). Not too long after Ezra comes to town Lena hears a woman screaming in the woods near her home, but the police aren't doing much about it. Ezra takes a special interest in Lena, they date, (view spoiler) and then the book just ends. I though my kindle accidentally jumped me or something and went back into the book to see where the ending was.

If You See Her - this installment focused on Hope and Remy; she's an old friend of Law's and has come to act as his assistant and stop running after 2 years on the move trying to make sure her abusive ex-husband can't find her and he's the local DA. Law and Hope are attacked and it's made to look as though Hope beat him with a baseball bat and then slit her wrists. The sheriff and Remy know something's not right, but they're prepared to arrest her anyway until evidence proves it wasn't her. After Law is threatened Hope grows a little back bone and isn't the cowering mouse she was when she first arrived in town. After Remy and Hope have been dating a while her ex shows up in town (view spoiler)

If You Know Her - focusing on Law, a close friend of Hope and Lena and major supporting character so far, and Nia, Joely's cousin, and wrapping up the trilogy. I have to say that I really liked Law and, though their chemistry worked, I didn't really like Nia; I'd have preferred someone else for him. Things start to unravel for the killer when Nia and Ezra, who is now sherrif, both know that something isn't right with pinning Joely's murder on Joe Carson and they discover evidence to the contrary. The killer's identity is finally revealed and I felt like Walker sort of tricked us (view spoiler)

Overall, I felt like things were wrapped up a little too quickly and that we'd need another book to see the final results/repercussions and the end of Nia and Law's story.

I'll probably try other works by this author, but they aren't on my auto-buy list.(less)

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Oct 21, 2012 Djg rated it 3 of 5 stars

"If You Hear Her" (Ash Trilogy, #1) by Shiloh Walker

I liked the hero and heroine Ezra and Lena and the secondary characters were interesting. SW did a good job of letting their backgrounds and motivations unfold. There are some fringe characters I'm intrigued by and I suspect they may emerge as important to the overall arc of the trilogy.

The first half was a bit challenging for me, I'm used to having more interaction between the main H & h characters. It made it a little hard to fall under t...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Sunny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chemical-rxn, own, reviews, favorite-series

4.5 stars.

Lena Riddle
Ezra King (Love the name Ezra)

I loved, loved, this book. This is the near perfect romantic suspense novel. It is well balanced and so satisfying. If You Hear Her is Book 1 in the Ash Trilogy.

Ezra King is a detective with the Kentucky State Police on leave recuperating from a near fatal shooting in which his partner and lover are killed. He continues to try and heal his mind as well as his body. Lena Riddle is a independent, well-liked chef and long time resident of Ash, wh...more 4.5 stars.

Lena Riddle
Ezra King (Love the name Ezra)

I loved, loved, this book. This is the near perfect romantic suspense novel. It is well balanced and so satisfying. If You Hear Her is Book 1 in the Ash Trilogy.

Ezra King is a detective with the Kentucky State Police on leave recuperating from a near fatal shooting in which his partner and lover are killed. He continues to try and heal his mind as well as his body. Lena Riddle is a independent, well-liked chef and long time resident of Ash, who is also blind.

One night, Lena wakes up to sound of screams for help coming from the woods near her home. She reports it to police, but they are skeptical that it is more than just Lena’s dreams. The truth is that there is a serial killer on the loose and now it’s a game of cat and mouse to find him/her before it is too late.

Being the first book in a trilogy, there are more than a few characters introduced in this story. Not only do we have the main characters, but also the leads in the next two books - Remy Jennings and Hope Carson (If You See Her) and Law Reilly and Nia Hollister (If You Know Her). They are somewhat quirky characters representing the privileged, the battered and beaten, the guilt-ridden and the crazy, paranoid, scattered mind of a creative writer. Because of the underlying story that runs through all three books, instead of Book 1, it feels like Act 1 in a play. I expect that we will see the entire story unfold over the next two books and with this start, I highly anticipate an explosive conclusion.

I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship between Lena and Ezra. They both bring baggage into their union. Lena, being completely blind since her teenage years, is fiercely independent and has fought hard to be that way. Ezra is guarded and feels damaged because of his trauma that almost killed him. He has crazy nightmares that keep him in a constant state of fatigue. But he is also fiercely protective of and attracted to Lena. After a few stumbling stops and starts, their mutual attraction leads to some sizzling interactions that left my Kindle on fire and me needing to stand in front of an A/C.

Ash, Kentucky becomes a minor character in itself. From the dense dark woods surrounding the town, to the people who live in it, the place plays a role in setting the tone. And to me, one of the most memorable elements of the book is the moody, eerie tone of the book. Maybe because although we are involved in the story of Lena and Ezra, when we read about the serial killer, it is through his/her eyes in the first person perspective. It is a little creepy but it keeps the story taut and suspenseful.

In a nutshell, for a deeply satisfying, suspenseful read, get yourself in a well air-conditioned room and read this book! (less)

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Jun 24, 2012 Steph rated it 5 of 5 stars

4 1/2 stars

This book is quite a departure from my usual reads. Thanks Heather for suggesting it. I couldn't quite tear myself away from it until I reached the very end. This had one of the best mix of mystery, thrilling-tense drama, and romance I've ever read, well, at least for quite some time. I think what made it extra good was the mix, and not some saccharinely sweet romance that took center stage. I can't say the mystery is all that unpredictable, but the drama surrounding it was enjoyable...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Isis FG rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Isis FG by: Auntee

Shelves: condition-new, format-mmp, series-ash-trilogy, 2012, bought-barnesnoble, info-full, published-2011, reviewed, genre-romance-suspense, stars-5

A) I'm really glad that Auntee recc'ed this book to me. And B) I'm really glad that I decided to wait and read all three books in a row.

Series Note:
First book in Shiloh Walker's “Ash” romantic suspense trilogy which is centered around the people who live in the small town of Ash, Kentucky and the strange things that begin happening in the town. This series really should be read in order as there is an overall story arc throughout the 3 books.

Summary:
Ezra King moves to the small town of Ash, Kent...more

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May 27, 2013 CPW rated it 4 of 5 stars

I apologize if this review is a little vague. I did not want to post any spoilers.

This book pulls you in right from the first page. Shiloh Walker paints a very grisly picture from a tortured victims point of view. There are scenes in the book that completely make you want to cringe and bawl for these characters. If you have a hard time reading about some torture and rape then this murder thriller is not for you.

I think one of my favorite things about this book is the strong female character. She...more

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About Shiloh Walker

Hello... 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.
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My other me.... J.C. Daniels

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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 anyt...more

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Quotes from If You Hear Her

“[Lena] “This is crazy, you know. How can you know me well enough to love me?”
“Lena.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “I know what I need to know. I know that your laugh makes me want to smile, and I know that when you’re sad, it bothers me. I know I love to watch you, I know you blush when you realize I’ve been staring at you, even though it makes you smile, too.”
He combed a hand through her hair, angled her head, and brushed her mouth with his. “I may not know everything there is to know about you, Lena, but I do know I’d like to spend my life learning the things I don’t know.” — 6 people liked it

“So. Are you going to see him again?"
"Technically, I haven't seen him at all . . ." (Heroine is blind - LOL)” — 4 people liked it

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If You Hear Her (The Ash Trilogy #1)

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