Sandy M’s review of The Missing by Shiloh Walker
Contemporary Paranormal Romance published by Berkley Trade 4 Nov 08

Wow.  I tried to think of some way to start this review and I ran through the story again in my head.  Once I did that, all that ever came to me again was, “Wow.”  I’ve really only read a few of this author’s books before this one, but I can safely say without a doubt that Shiloh Walker has outdone herself with this book.

We meet Cullen and Taige as they meet when they’re teenagers near Taige’s home where Cullen’s family vacation every year.  They see each other around, but it’s not until Taige is attacked by some local boys and Cullen comes to her rescue that their relationship truly begins.  They continue to see each other the rest of that summer and then each year as Cullen and his family return to the area, and each year their relationship progresses, despite Taige’s fear he’ll leave her when he discovers her psychic gift.  But love does eventually bloom for them both and then tragedy strikes, and Cullen blames Taige for his loss and cuts her out of his life.

Their lives go on, of course, in the intervening years, each going in a direction they hadn’t expected in those years together.  When they do meet again, it is due to tragedy one more time.  Cullen’s daughter has been kidnapped and when the police waste precious time looking at him as a suspect, his only hope to find his little girl before it’s too late is to go back to Taige.  He knows now that it was his grief that pushed her out of his life years ago and he prays she’ll help him.

Thinking she would always stay holed up in her hometown where folks are used to her and her gift, it was her guilt from not being able to help the one person who meant the most to her that caused her to hone her abilities to help others, mostly children.  So when Cullen comes to her she has a chance to make things right with him.  What neither of them expected is a connection to Taige’s dreams and visions she’s had most of her life are wrapped up in the hell Cullen is currently going through.  So begins their journey to find his daughter, other missing, and the evil villain who preys on the innocent.

Though they both realize their feelings still exist for one another, Taige tries to keep Cullen at arm’s length just as much as he tries to bring her closer.  Even their dreams are more real than even they could imagine. When they finally come together again, especially as adults instead of kids, it’s worth all the time they were apart.  Cullen and Taige are an awesomely dynamic couple.  The scenes when Taige has her visions are perfectly described, you feel like you’re right there in the middle of it all.  And the villain they have to fight personifies evil to the core.  Bringing that bastard down is not only satisfying to Cullen and Taige, but the reader as well.

This is a terrific story starting with a teenage love that grows over time, even when they’re apart, endures tragedy, and triumphs over evil in the world.  It’s a story of being accepted for who you are and loved anyway, having those you love not judge you, and it’s a story of forgiveness and faith that the love you lost and long for will be yours once again.

Wow.

Grade: A+

Summary:

Her psychic gift drove away the man she loved— and years later has drawn him back to her…

As a teenager, Taige Branch hated her psychic gift. No one could understand—except for Cullen Morgan, the boy who stole her heart. He did his best to accept her, until his mother was brutally murdered—and he couldn’t forgive Taige for not preventing it.

Now a widowed father, Cullen Morgan has never forgotten Taige. But what brings her back into his life is another tragedy. His beloved little girl has been kidnapped, and Taige is his only hope of finding her. Working together against the clock, Cullen and Taige can’t help but wonder whether—if they find his daughter in time—it isn’t too late for the overpowering love that still burns between them…

Read an excerpt.