Sandy M’s review of Deeper than Need (Secrets & Shadows, Book 4) by Shiloh Walker
Contemporary Romance published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks 3 Jun 14
When I finished reading this book, my first thought was I should have read the other books in the series. Then I discovered the previous three books don’t have much of anything to do with the horrible mystery in this story. So what is it that leaves me with a feeling of discontent?
Maybe it’s because there’s so many people involved in that horribleness in Madison; there’s a lot of point-of-view changes that had me reeling for a while. And then there’s the fact that there isn’t a total resolution in this book, it’s to be continued in Book 5, but that’s not a huge deal breaker for me. Mostly I think it’s because this story starts out a bit slow, which has never happened for me with a Shiloh Walker book. For a good part of the book we’re being introduced to not only the main characters, but others who have been affected by the insidious actions of a select membership of morally corrupt men, as well as those villains themselves. Things really don’t start moving until our heroine opens herself up to our hero, and then the pace hardly slows down at all.
Noah is a recovering alcoholic who’s lived in a fog for years when his world exploded when he was a teenager. Guilt has been his constant friend for many years, but the second he meets Trinity Ewing, color is once again part of his life. She and her son are exactly what he wants and needs, but how can he make them a part of his life being as messed up as he is?
Trinity is thinking along the same lines. She’s put her past behind her the best she can, keeping in sporadic touch with her ex because of their son. Meeting Noah makes something within her click into place, but does she really need another relationship this soon? And though he’s a former preacher, she just knows she’s going to hell for all the thoughts she’s having about the man.
So for the first at least half of the book, we’re getting to know Noah and Trinity as they get to know one another. Everything is revealed at a much slower pace than I’m used to from Ms. Walker, all interspersed with other characters in Madison who are also somehow involved in the goings-on. I like both Noah and Trinity a lot. They’ve been through so much and they’ve survived in their own way. Also quite likable is Trinity’s son, Micah, especially the way he and Noah bond. I enjoyed the interactions between these three, along with other interactions with townsfolk. Now with all this being said, this is not a bad book or even a mediocre book. Far from it. I’m just used to being totally sucked into anything with this author’s name on it, so this slower pace takes me surprise.
However, once we reach that point when Trinity decides to trust Noah, the book perks up. Finally getting to the meat of half of the story brings it home. Noah is still a bit on the timid side when it comes to sharing his past, his is much worse than Trinity’s, but when he finally does, the acceptance he gets from her is exactly what he needs. There’s also still the mystery to be solved, and that’s going on full force around them. When we get to the meat of that story, holy hell. It’s indescribable the little we do get, and the culprits who are revealed and still around will be taken care of in the next book. At least I hope so, because these are some evil SOBs.
All in all, a good story with great characters. It just needs the pick-me-up to happen earlier for me. Otherwise, I enjoyed it just because it’s Shiloh Walker.
Grade: B+
Summary:
Time heals all wounds
Eager to put a dark, troubled past behind her, Trinity Ewing buys an old house that will make the perfect refuge for her and her young son once renovations are complete. The last thing on her mind is finding someone new…but the contractor she’s hired is an irresistible distraction—and Trinity can’t help but fantasize about all the business they could be doing behind closed doors.
So does one man’s touch
Noah Benningfield thought he’d put his demons behind him. But the moment he lays eyes on Trinity, the temptation he feels is too powerful to deny. Soon the attraction between them explodes into something neither of them could have imagined. But their desire will be put to the test when a shocking local murder has them dodging danger at every turn. Can the beautiful and damaged Trinity trust someone like Noah, whose own past is as haunted as her own? The only thing she knows for sure is that she can’t live without a man who makes her feel this good—over and over again…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
