Broken (Berkley Sensation) [Paperback]

As the story opens Ms. Walker gives readers a look at what Quinn Rafferty's, life was like as a frightened child who lived with a physically and verbally abusive alcoholic and drug addicted mother. Trapped in the depth of poverty and despair he seeks refuge from time to time at the local youth shelter for an occasional meal and a place to sleep. When his mother dies of an overdose, Quinn's father is finally contacted and he goes to live with him and his twin brother Luke on a ranch. Patrick Rafferty is a good man and does his best with his very angry, at times belligerent, and emotionally damaged son.

Fast forward 20 years and Quinn is an Army Ranger on a mission in Columbia dealing with the tragic loss under horrific circumstances of a woman he loved. Quinn blames himself for the circumstances surrounding her death. When he finishes his tour with the military he settles in St. Louis for a time and takes work as a bail bondsman with a private detective agency. Quinn has tremendous emotional baggage, he doesn't trust people easily, has difficulty communicating and after losing the woman he loved in Columbia has not become involved in a relationship. He has however been befriended by Theresa Kingston, a lovely older woman who owns a house in a decent part of town with a basement apartment that Quinn rents.

Sara Davis's life is in chaos, on the run for 2 years from James Morgan a wealthy, despicable, violent man who takes pleasure in controlling, beating and threatening the women in his life. Sara has nothing but the clothes on her back and the cash she earns from a job waiting tables. She is constantly on the move, living from day to day waiting for the call from a mystery caller who gives a report and signals it's time to move on again. Theresa befriends Sara too and after some impassioned discussion persuades her to rent the upper flat in her house. This is where Sara meets Quinn and there is an instantaneous sexual attraction that flares and combusts between them.

Neither of these people give their trust easily nor are they looking for a relationship. Quinn is a member of humanity's walking wounded, and Sara is constantly wary, ready to take flight from her tormentor at a moment's notice. Quinn finds communication about himself or his feelings a painful exercise, but something about Sara makes talking easier for him.

Quinn and Sara cannot resist their mutual attraction and after some awkward first 'chats' and encounters they become intimate. I found both of these characters to be very lonely and in need of the company and warmth of another human being as much as a physical relationship. The sensuality that Ms. Walker pens into the love scenes between Quinn and Sara is intense and lovely. Neither of these people share their secrets but they connect through touch, a look, quiet conversation and making love. Their relationship intensifies and just as Quinn feels ready to admit his strong feelings for Sara her phone rings signaling that she must flee once more, forcing her to leave him behind.

Sara doesn't know what Quinn does for a living and right at the time of her call, he learns something unexpected and devastating about Sara, a woman he has come to love. This leads to a heartbreaking scene where both suffer loss of trust in the other. I was left wondering how Ms. Walker was going to resolve what seemed like insurmountable issues and bring the hero and heroine of this story together.

Ms. Walker pens a surprising plot twist and climax to Quinn and Sara's story that was thrilling as well as suspenseful. At the end of the day, I wasn't disappointed.

I found Broken to be an emotional, sensual, suspenseful contemporary romance about two lost and quite tortured souls who find each other and happiness. If you enjoy Shiloh Walker's work or a novel with this type of theme you may like to give "Broken" a try. I know I will read this book again and can't wait to read "Fragile".

I have heard about the greatness of Shiloh Walker all over twitterverse for a while now.... but my time has been limited and being that urban fantasy is really my favorite genre, I had put her books low on my list. When the opportunity to join the ARC tour sponsored by the Book Vixen, I jumped at the chance! Thus my Shiloh Walker virginity is gone and I was oh so wrong to wait so long!
Sara is on the run, tho we don't find out why til the very end. I found myself assuming she was on the run because her husband was abusive, the snippet flashbacks point to that. Yet, everything we see of her personality led me to think there was something else going on. She is a fighter, she didn't seem like the running type. These contradictions had me invested in her character from the start. I love a good strong female lead who can be strong yet maintain her compassion and femininity and Shiloh Walker gives us that in Sara.

Quinn. I could say so much about this man, but the easiest thing to say? Wow. Somehow Walker crawled inside my head and created a man I couldn't help but drool over. He is broken, tormented, wounded. He is protective and strong, but still respectful of Sara as a person. He is so emotional within his own head, but expressing it was next to impossible. Somehow Walker makes this fault both endearing and lovable.

I loved the plot of Broken, great twists that I didn't see coming! I did wish for a bit more action throughout the story, but I am not sure it would have fit in and that doesn't keep me from loving this book. The development of the relationship between Quinn and Sara was certainly strong enough to carry the story. It was passionate and desperate in all the ways we book sluts love. One of my favorite dialogue scenes from the start of their relationship:

>>Sara cocked a brow at him. "Didn't you tell me a few days ago I'd be better off keeping my distance from you?"
>>"Yeah, I told you that."
>>"Hard to do if you come looking for me."
>>Quinn shrugged. "I don't see you walking away."
>>"I was here first," she said pointedly.

But what really gets me about this book is the smokin hot sex appeal of Quinn and his mouth. He talks at all the right times, and I love it. For a man who claims to not know how to flirt, he sure picks it up quickly.

>>Raking his teeth over the soft skin of her wrist, he said gruffly, "You really shouldn't look at me like that in a public place, Sara."
>>"Look at you how?" she asked, her voice almost as hoarse as his own. She blinked at him, looking a little dazed.

This book is not in a series, per say, but it is related to the previous book Fragile which features Quinn's brother Luke. I will be picking Fragile up without question. Broken is an excellent read for any romance reader and Shiloh Walker is definitely going on my "must buy" list of authors!

Whenever I read a Shiloh Walker story, I'm blown away how angsty and scarred yet overwhelmingly sexy her heroes are. She writes these men, who have alpha like tendencies, but underneath their bravado, have fears and self esteem issues, where they feel they'll never be good enough to be loved. Shiloh always makes sure her men get their happily ever after with their heroines, who also need love in their lives. In Broken, Quinn Rafferty is a lost soul. He grew up with a drug addicted mother who treated him like garbage. Because he was thought of as trash, that's what he feels like. When his mother dies of a drug overdose, his father and a twin brother he never knew of welcome him into their family. But still, Quinn doesn't feel he belongs.

Twenty years later he still feels unworthy, alone, and doesn't have much to live for. He's depressed, closed off and refuses to trust anyone. Quinn's job as a bounty hunter for a detective agency gives him freedom and some fulfillment, where he takes down those who hurt and abuse those they should love and cherish. But at the same time he feels it's a lost cause.

Sara Davis is on the run and in hiding. She moves around to keep a stalker off her trail and tried to stay under the radar. Her new home for the next few months is in St. Louis where she has met a very kind soul in that of Theresa Kingston, who reminds her of Mrs. Claus. Theresa helps those in need, especially women that have been abused. She assumes Sara is one of these unfortunate souls and gives her a safe haven. Theresa also has another tenant who keeps to himself. And when Quinn meets Sara, more than sparks fly between the two. It's like the second half of his soul that has always been missing has now been located.

Sara is wary of Quinn because he gives off this cold, don't mess with me vibe. But something about him speaks to her. Now you'd think Sara would keep her distance from a man like Quinn because of the current situation she's in. But because he's a "wounded warrior" who wears a mask, much like the one she wears, she finds a connection with her brooding neighbor and against her better judgment welcomes him into her life. And the moment Sara opens her arms to Quinn, there's no going back for these two. The horrors and shadows that haunt them disappear and Sara is able to break though Quinn's tough shell. Quinn shares his past with Sara and expects her to do the same. He knows she's hiding something and wants to help her. But her time is running out and she can't get too comfortable. She must leave Quinn, even though she knows it may destroy him.

Soon Sara is on the run again, but this time Quinn is on her heels because his next bounty is finding a missing woman, who happens to be Sara. He must bring her back to the one man who has driven her into hiding and may end up killing her.

Broken is the perfect title for this latest release by Shiloh Walker. Quinn and Sara are broken in their own ways. I can't help but compare these two like a puzzle. When they come together and click, like two pieces of a puzzle, they make an amazing couple. I loved how Quinn went from this lonely, standoffish man to a very giving and caring individual who finds peace and with a woman like Sara who can see how special he is. These two really connect on a deep emotional level that brings forth a lot of sparks and passion. And Shiloh can sure write some steamy sex scenes! These two crackle together. And when Quinn thinks of how starved he is for Sara, you really feel it. These two are very intense and oh so very good in terms of physical attraction.

I really appreciated the nice twist in regards to Sara and who she's running from and why. Unfortunately, I gave Broken a lower grade because I found the villain too tame and not scary or psycho enough. I wanted more drama and tension, especially when Sara confront this monster. Because there wasn't that final dramatic push, the ending fell a bit short for me. I also wanted more fireworks, mainly in regards to Quinn and Sara's reunion.

Even with the lacking ending, I found Broken to be a pretty sold read. How can you not enjoy reading a damaged hero who finds inner peace with a strong, tough cookie heroine who won't cower from those who feel they have the right to abuse the weak? Fans of Shiloh's will want to give Broken a read.

Katiebabs
Fragile