Shattered
Quinn Rafferty is working as a bounty hunter and bail bondsman in St. Louis when a new neighbor catches his eye. He’s tempted by her beauty—but he knows from experience that anyone desperate enough to live in his building is damaged goods. Besides, he has his own soul to mend before he can worry about anyone else.
Desperate
Sarah McElya is on the run, but not for the usual reasons a woman goes on the lam. She’s not an abused wife, and she’s not a criminal. But she does have a plan for her future. And as much as she finds herself attracted to her gruff, tough neighbor, she can’t risk telling him the secrets she’s hiding. There’s just too much at stake.
Driven to desire…
But Quinn must get closer to Sarah when she turns out to be the target of his new missing persons case, and he discovers that there is something more complex and dangerous to her than he thought. Now, both Quinn and Sara will have to expose their true feelings—as well as their fragile hearts—if they hope their love will survive…

Broken by Shiloh Walker
March 2, 2010
Contemporary Romance
Paperback, 336 Pages
Berkley Trade
Reviewed by Mandi

Favorite Quote: The way she looked…sex and sin The way she smelled…sex and sin The way she sounded…sex and sin She would taste like sex and sin.

Why I read: I asked for the review because I had never read Shiloh Walker and heard great things about her books.

The title for this book describes Quinn perfectly. He is absolutely broken. Growing up he was abused by his mother until she overdosed. From there, he found a family, his actual father and twin brother he had never met. He made a life for himself joining the army and now works as a private investigator. But just because he is working and he stays in contact with his dad and brother doesn’t mean his past still doesn’t haunt him. While in the army, he fell in love, only to have her die, as he was unable to protect her. He has so much anger, tension, and guilt inside of him just waiting to explode. He is very quiet and keeps to himself – never one to strike up a conversation or have a wide circle of friends.

Sara may have had a nice life growing up, but her adult years have been terrifying and challenging. She is on the run from a man who wants to do her harm. She has been hiding for two years, and is exhausted. She never lets herself get to close to anyone for fear she will be discovered. But both of their lives are about to take a surprising turn when they become neighbors.

Broken is a book that has two characters so desperate and alone – they each have so many secrets. They want so badly to be able to trust each other, yet their awful pasts don’t allow that. Instead, they come together on a physical level, and their lovemaking becomes so raw and emotional, it is their outlet for all the bad that has surrounded them. They want to know about each other – they want to have a”normal” relationship, but their mental capacity is full and muddled with extracurricular things.

Quinn is intense, gruff, alpha, and let me think….ALPHA. He has the lethal stare, the immense physical presence, and is super good in bed – what else does a girl need? So what if he is not the best conversationalist? He does open up to Sara, more than he ever has to anyone else. He trusts Sara on a certain level, and his feelings for her totally overwhelm him. Besides his extreme cold exterior, he is a softy on the inside…way deep down. He waits for her at the bus stop, he would stop and do anything for their elderly landlord. Sara on the other hand can’t afford to let her guard down, but even her best defense can’t keep Quinn out.

There are some great twists in the plot at the end. At one point, Sara and Quinn get to a point where their relationship takes an ugly turn. They refuse to open up and tell the other what is going on, and then a mass miscommunication occurs, pitting them against each other. At this point, I knew the twist in the story was coming, and I knew it had to be solid for this split between them to work. Sara absolutely refused to tell Quinn anything about why she was on the run, and at some points, Quinn was almost begging. I didn’t see WHY she could not tell Quinn. When the twist comes, the big “aha” moment, I got it. I still don’t know if I one hundred percent believe into the fact that Sara would not have turned to Quinn earlier, but overall it makes sense and the ending is very satisfying.

In closing, Broken is the first book I have ever read by Shiloh Walker and I definitely want to kick myself for not reading her sooner. She not only writes a great tension filled story, but some of the absolute hottest, intense, emotional sex scenes I have read. And they are super naughty, my favorite kind.

Rating: 4.5/5

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