If You Hear Her

If You Hear Her
Shiloh Walker
Ash, book one
ebook, 320 pages
Published October 25th 2011 by Random House Publishing Group
ISBN 9780345517579

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 from the state police, but he can’t escape the guilty memories that haunt his dreams. When he sees Lena, he is immediately drawn to her. He aches to touch her—to be touched by her—but is he too burdened by his tragic past to get close? When Ezra hears her story of an unknown woman’s screams, his instincts tell him that Lena’s life is also at risk—and his desire to protect her is as fierce as his need to possess her.

I loved the initial unfolding of this story. (Does that make sense?) Lena and Ezra first meet as we first truly begin to meet them, and for someone who hasn't had a first date in ten years--me--it absolutely tickled my fancy.

Lena is blind-surprise! The reader, this one at the very least, figures it out just as Ezra does.

But Ezra has issues--so the two agree to a casual friendship and the story drifts to allow the entrance of other characters. Edward Lawson aka Law, Hope, and Remy, and yes, many more. With such a mass of supporting players the story tends to stretch, drift, detour, and flat out drag on for a long while. When Walker labeled this one a 'trilogy' she wasn't kidding. Lord of the Rings held more progression.

So the suspense part of the story plays out till the very last page and will continue to do so until, likely, the very last chapters of book three. As much as I enjoyed this one's good points, I can't see myself enduring through to the end of the series and therefore I'm forced to put an end to my venture into Ash right here. Remy, I liked. Hope and Law? No way. Uh uh. 2 out of 5 stars.

Other books in this series: