Review and Giveaway: Razed

Razed (Barnes Brothers - Book 2) by Shiloh Walker

Publication Date: 12/02/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0425273903
ISBN-13: 978-0425273906

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Sensation)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, itunes

Shiloh Walker on the WEB: website, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads

Books in the series: 

Barnes Brothers

1. Wrecked
2. Razed

Coverart: Click the Image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from, Razed, courtesy of the author's website.

WARNING: This book may be inappropriate for readers under the age of 18.

Synopsis:

Tattoo artist Keelie Jessup can handle that someone else has claimed the man of her dreams. She’s just not pleased with her remaining options…
 
Keelie doesn’t believe in the “perfect man.” But the men who are worth the trouble are usually taken—like her business partner Zach Barnes. After a string of bad luck and the lost chance with Zach, Keelie decides that maybe flying solo—and living with suppressed desires—is the key to happiness.
 
As a photographer, Zane Barnes has an eye for the human form, and his eyes can’t get enough of Keelie’s curves. Unfortunately, Keelie is like most women—always fawning over his little brother, Zach. Zane is about ready to give up, but then a few stolen moments at his brother's wedding have him thinking maybe there's a chance there after all. Now he just has to prove that the perfect man doesexist...for her. 

Thoughts:

Shiloh Walker tells her second story about the Barnes Brothers in Razed. Readers looking for an adult contemporary series that focuses on the often tumultuous relationship between brothers will love this family drama. Walker must have siblings because she writes family dynamics like a pro. Zane's romance with Keelie is fraught with a lot of demons from their pasts, and hidden secrets that will eventually come out. Walker does a great job with character development and readers will fall in love with all five brothers, Barnes!

What I liked:

I have read some of Shiloh Walker's work, but nothing like this book. It took me by surprise and drew me in quickly. Keelie is at the wedding of her boss and former crush Zach. She has had a thing for him for awhile and now he is marrying the love of his life from the first book, Abby. She has known the Barnes brothers for a long time but she hasn't really taken anyone but Zach seriously. But she quickly figures out that Zane, Zach's older brother makes her uncomfortable in a very good way. 

I was intrigued by her relationship with Zach and the fact that they worked together in a tattoo shop, Steel Ink, but what really caught me off guard was Keelie's character, herself. She had spunk and grit and she wasn't exactly a girly-girl. She had a lot of passion everything she did even a horrible blind date. She was exceptional. Walker did a great job of making her easy to relate to and mysterious in a lot of ways because of her past. 

Zane has liked Keelie for a few years, asked her out every once in awhile, only to get rejected. He didn't realize that she thought he was kidding and she really did think he was making a joke or that he had no real intentions to make anything more of it. Besides she liked his brother. Zane had a lot of depth to his character as well, he was keeping a lot of stuff down deep inside that he hadn't shared with anyone and the fact that Keelie was like that too, drew them together.

I loved the way the story unfolded and how the past comes out and both Zane and Keelie have to face down their own demons before they can go forward together. As they start to build their relationship Zane, Zach starts to clue into what's going on. Now he's married to Abby and he loves her with all his heart, but that thing that happens between brothers kicks in. There is always some sort of rivalry and jealous bone that strikes when least expected. I loved that sibling dynamic going on in this book. I am sure it will carry through the rest of the series.

Bottom Line:

It's a good thing there are three more Barnes brothers because Shiloh Walker is on to something with this series. I loved the family dynamic and how similar and different each of the brothers was. I enjoyed how they all interacted with each other as well. The romance was sweet, tender and a times a little haunting. Zane and Keelie were perfect for each other and Walker wrote their story with such passion. Very well done!

Razed is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid... she fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah... serious vampire stories. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, but most all anything romantic. Once upon a time, she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest. She also writes under the pen name J.C. Daniels.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Razed by Shiloh Walker.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 19th.

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