Friday, July 2, 2010

Take Me to Another World Contest Day #12: Shiloh Walker



The wonderful and talented Shiloh Walker is here today, giving away a copy of The Missing, which is being reissued in mass market. If you haven't read this book, make sure you comment. It's the first book of Shiloh's I ever read, and it made me fall in love with her writing. The main character, Taige, is such a strong, sympathetic character that she stayed with me long after I finished reading the book.





Blurb:


LOVE LOST
As a teenager, Taige Branch was able to do things with her psychic gift that others couldn’t understand—except for Cullen Morgan, the boy her stole her heart. He did his best to accept her abilities, until his mother was brutally murdered—and he couldn’t forgive Taige for not preventing her death.
PASSION FOUND
Now a widowed father, Cullen Morgan has never forgotten Taige. But what brings her back into his life is another tragic event. His beloved little girl has been kidnapped, and Taige is his only hope of finding her.
A LOVE THAT NEVER DIEDWorking 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…





Excerpt:

After all these years . . . she’d known she’d see him again. Even when she drove away from Cullen Morgan’s home in tears, she’d known it wasn’t over between them.
Why he was coming to her now, she didn’t know and honestly, just then, she didn’t care.
She was so desperate to see him again, it was almost pathetic.
No, it was pathetic. It had been twelve years, and she was all but panting at the thought of seeing him, of staring into those amazing eyes and standing close enough to smell him. How much had he changed? Taige wondered. Instinctively, she knew that Cullen would be as devastating at thirty-three as he’d been at twenty-one. The truck came to a stop close to the house. She couldn’t see anything beyond the back bumper, and when the taillights went off, she jerked as though somebody had used a Taser on her.

She took a deep breath and then groaned as her shirt dragged against her nipples. They were stiff and erect, throbbing under the thin layer of cotton. Embarrassed, she folded her arms over them and wished she could manage to get a damn bra on. Her hand hurt too much to manage it, though.
Facing Cullen braless and in her bare feet: how much more disconcerting could it get? She held herself stiff as the knock came, pounding on the door as though he wanted to tear the door from its hinges. It came a second time, and third. Finally, she made herself move, shuffling through the dark living room with her arms crossed over her breasts, the wrap on her cast abrading the bare skin of her left arm and rubbing against her nipples.

Nerves jangled in her belly. No butterflies; this felt more like she had giant gryphons taking flight inside her, gryphons with knife-edged wings. She reached out and closed her left hand around the doorknob and slowly opened it, half hiding behind the door. She kept her gaze focused straight ahead so that all she saw was the way his white T-shirt stretched across his wide, muscled chest.
Through her peripheral vision, she saw that he held something in his hand. Something clutched so tight, his knuckles had gone white. She hissed out a breath and forced herself to look upward, up, up, up until she was staring into his eyes. It took a little longer than it should have; he was taller than he had been. At least by an inch. She was five foot ten—she didn’t have to look up to many people, and she decided then that she didn’t care for it at all.
“Taige.”

She didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. Her throat felt frozen, and forcing words past her frozen vocal chords seemed impossible. She just stepped aside to let him come in, and when he did, his arm brushed against hers. She flinched and pulled away, backing away until a good two feet separated them. Once he was inside, she closed the door and leaned against it, resting her left hand on the doorknob and holding her right hand against her belly and studying the fl oor.
He turned to stare at her. From under her lashes, she watched as his shoulders rose and fell, his chest moving as he blew out a harsh breath, almost like he’d been holding his breath the same way she had.
“God, Taige . . .”
Shoving away from the door, she kept her head down as she moved around him and headed into the living room. He followed behind her slowly. She heard a click, and light flooded the room. She shot him a look over her shoulder, just a quick glance, enough to tell her just how dead-on her dreams had been.
“So, are you going to look at me or just let me stare at the back of your head all night?” he asked softly.

She shot him another quick, almost nervous glance over her shoulder, and Cullen blew out a breath.
When he spoke again, his voice was closer. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m here?”
Aren’t you going to speak to me at all? Cullen wanted to ask.
Instead, he waited until she finally turned around and faced him. In the brightly lit room, he noticed two things. The first was that she had her arm, her right arm, in a cast that went halfway up to her elbow. A chill raced down his spine. The second was that her left eye was puffy and nearly swollen shut, a dark, ugly bruise that Cullen suspected was every bit as painful as it looked.
“I already know why you’re here. You need my help.” A bitter smile curved her lips as she stared at him. “Why would else would you be here?” She glanced at the file in his hand and held out her hand.
Cullen swallowed and lifted it, staring at it with the metallic taste of fear thick in his mouth. “You don’t owe me a damn thing, Taige. I know that. I’ve got no right being here, and I know that, too.”
She sighed and dropped her head, covering her eyes with her uninjured hand. “Cullen, stop. You want something. Out with it. I’ve got better things to do than stand here and have you brooding all over me. So just spill it.”
“I . . . look, if I didn’t have to have your help, I wouldn’t be here. But it’s not me that needs you—just . . . just don’t—”

Taige cocked a brow. “You don’t have much of an opinion of me, do you, Cullen? Whatever brought you here in the middle of the night twelve years after kicking me out of your life has to be pretty damn important, and considering the kind of help you probably need, I’m going to assume there’s somebody else involved.” She stared at him, her gaze shuttered. “You think so little of me that I’d refuse to help whoever this is just to make you suffer because you and me got some history?”
History . . . Is that what we had?



Question of the Day: How do you feel about reunited lover books? Some authors never write them, some authors always write them. Do you like books about lovers who have been separated for years and then find their way back to each other or do you prefer ones where they meet for the first time on the page?

47 comments:

  1. I can't say which I prefer, if well written both can be intriguing. The Missing sounds great!

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  2. This is a wonderful book, love Shiloh Walker! Please don't enter me since I already have it! :)

    I do like reunited lovers stories! I just read one by Heidi Betts that was really good. The emotions and dynamics between 2 people who were together once, separated for whatever reason but now back together can be amazing!

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  3. Oh what a great book!
    Well. I guess reunited love, if done right... can be a great story. I am tying to think of any recently stories I have read.....
    But I imagine it would make for some steamy scenes! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  4. I like reunited books because sometimes when two people met the first time it wasn't the right time for them so I like the second chance love. As long as they get together in the end I am happy.

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  5. I don't really have a preference, but I do admit there's just something about that love which has withstood the test of time and distance. It's like the stars have been aligned and this one love was always meant to be. Ahhh, I love a great love story!

    Thanks for the contest!
    Have a great day every one!
    Kate (aka YzhaBella's BookShelf)
    mleger0546(@)rogers(.)com

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  6. I enjoy both types of books. I haven't read this one, but it sounds like a wonderful book.

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  7. I like both types of books.I agree with the others as long as its written right.
    The Missing sounds like its a great book,nice excerpt.

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  8. i love reunited love books. the missing sounds like a great book. i would love to read it.

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  9. I rather like reunited love books. I prefer them over the "i've only known you for a day, but i want to marry you and have your children" books. The characters often have more backstory and its more interesting to read about.

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  10. They're my very favorites! The emotion seems much more real than books where the H/H fall in love in less than a week.

    ~Lindy
    aromagik@gmail.com

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  11. The Missing is one of my fave books ever (fave cover too) so don't enter me. Just wanted to say hi & to pimp the book. It a wonderful, deeply emotional, sexy read.
    Reunited lovers is one of my fave themes.

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  12. If it's done right, then it can be fablous. If not, then...well the book doesn't work. But from your excerpt it looks like you nailed it!

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  13. I think that I prefer the ones where they meet for the first time. Some authors have a habit of going so into the characters past that they detract from the story that they are trying to write. In the end the book would have been better if they had just told the story of their past instead attempting to make it about their reunion.

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  14. I love the reunited lovers theme, especially if they were forced apart by a big 'misunderstanding'.

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  15. I love a good romance story….all kinds. Reunited lovers is always a wonderful plot as well as love at first sight or first bite….Hehehe.

    The Missing sounds great….I just finished reading Broken by Shiloh and it was a terrific story too.

    Thanks for the chance to win this great book!!!
    Have a Happy 4th of July!!!
    mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

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  16. i like them! i mostly like the how most of the time both to of the lovers fight their attraction even if has been a really long time. Reading about that is always fun to me!

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  17. I prefer for the characters to have some history - something other than just a sexual chemistry to draw them together. It gives the story much more depth and texture. Looking forward to reading this one.

    Jerri98@hotmail.com

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  18. I do like them when it's the right time for me *g* it depends on my mood...

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  19. I like reunited lover stories, but I prefer ones that meet for the first time

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  20. It all depends on how it is written. Most of the time people break up over choices, or misunderstandings, or plain out just shouldnt be together. I think bringing a couple back together can be magical. My step mom and dad married when I was 2 divorced when I was 16 and just moved back in together after figuring out the reason they were both so unhappy was they still wanted to be together. I laughed when they told me, it's been a long 9 years since they split and to hear they can get past the past was great.

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  21. Usually my heart feels a little sad for reunited lovers that they lost so many years they could ahve spent together in happiness :-( However it is completely different if they were friends and then later when their paths cross they find themselves attracted to each other ;-D

    stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

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  22. I don't prefer them, but I don't mind them. Sometimes they can make a story amazing and full of romance, to know that they were really meant to be together. Other times it can get on your nerves when the character finds a good person and then their ex comes back into the picture and -good-bye new character- is it!
    Either way, I suppose it depends on how it is written. I have read many books where I loved it, so it all comes down to the authors style! he he

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  23. I enjoy both types of stories.

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  24. I love reunited lovers stories--I love the idea that sometimes we get a second chance, and that if the timing and other things are right, then maybe this was meant to be.

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  25. I like reunion stories, but I prefer ones where they meet for the first time in the book.

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  26. host pretty much stated my thoughts. I enjoy both and as long as they are well written, I'll enjoy them.

    Thanks,
    Tracey D

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  27. I'm a sucker for reunited lovers. I like to know the history and the problems and seeing them work it out if they can. They have to be well written though.

    That said I wouldn't turn down a first encounter story line either. I love wallowing in the missteps and misunderstandings as they work toward that HEA.

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  28. I like both kinds of stories. Each can be great if the story hooks me.

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  29. It depends on the author and the storyline. But I think I prefer the first time meet. There sometimes needs to overcome so much emotional baggage for reunited lovers. It's always more intense.

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  30. i prefer meeting for the first time..

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  31. I loved this book. Love is love no matter the time spent apart, one day or one year or ten years; so long as the story flows well it doesn't matter.

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  32. I actually prefer both, reunited love is nice because it shows that sometimes feelings will only get stronger in time. It also shows that sometimes love can withstand just about anything.

    New love is good too because the couple doesn't have to go through as much as a reunited couple might have to. Like I said I prefer both.

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  33. I love both. This book sounds really good. Love the cover.
    Sue B

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  34. I love the reunited lovers stories because they usually show how characters have changed. I don't prefer one over the other because the lovers that meet for the first time are just as enjoyable.

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  35. I do enjoy both, but I have a fondness for the reunion of lovers stories.

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  36. I enjoy reunion stories. Seeing characters at different points in their lives, and seeing them evolve, makes for a more emotional read. You see how the changes affect the couple's relationship.

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  37. I absolutely love the friends to lovers story line. Reunited lovers to me is slightly different, but also works well because there is so much history and angst. There has to be a good reason for them splitting up though - and I guess and dealing with it. I don't believe stories where the hero/heroine have been apart for 10 years and one of them has been bitter the whole time.
    I think the premise of The Missing is super interesting.

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  38. I have no preference if the story is done well, but the one thing I hate is when a separation is a result of one of those "big misunderstandings" that could have been cleared up in five minutes if they'd just bothered to talk (and listen) to each other.

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  39. I love a good reunion story because it can make the relationship feel so much deeper that much quicker in a book. :)

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  40. I actually like both kinds of books. I like it when one part of the couple goes away for years and comes back a different person for whatever reason and they re-kindle the relationship or have a relationship when there was never anything more than a spark between the two of them.

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  41. I do like reunited lover books but I find that I can't read too many at one time because they make me happy and kind of sad. In the end they get their happy ending but then they miss all the time that they could of had together so it ends up feeling bittersweet.

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  42. Either way it's fine by me as long as the characters behave realistically and the plot makes sense - my usual criteria for a good book anyway.

    cories119[at]yahoo.com

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  43. I enjoy both. There is something wonderful about rekindled love & passion. New beginnings can be fraught with delight too.

    marypres@gmail.com

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  44. Honestly I like the both. I do love a good reunion story though. And if the separation has been long enough or without contact it is very similar to a new meeting type since they have to get to know each other all over again.

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  45. I do not mine it but i perfer ones where thay meat for the first time.

    sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com

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  46. I love all types of love stories and it depends on the author.

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