I really enjoyed this book by Shiloh Walker.  I found the book to be very compelling.  Her characters were very likable as Shiloh's characters usually are.  I read this book in a very short time though didn't review it on my blog.

Twisty, romantic suspense…

The power of one human being over another. The psychological games that can be played. And when they turn deadly, the stakes just get higher… Shadow knows all about physical and mental abuse, she’s been hiding from a relationship that brought her to the brink of death and has left her clinging to a life she holds onto with a fragile thread. As her life is once again thrown into turmoil Dillian Jenkins may be a light in her world, or he could be the one to end it…

“It was just him and me, and that incredible kiss.” 

This author knows how to dig into people’s heads – the good, the bad, the ugly – and reveal their truths. In this spine-tingling suspenseful read, that talent is on full display. I feel Shadow’s despair, her pain, as her past and her present snowballs into a litany of fear and danger. When Dillian shows up at her door, she is naturally wary but soon hopes, prays, he is what he is. A good guy, who will be there for her. It’s not always clear who is the bad guy in this twisty, turny story and the telling of it kept me on my toes throughout.

The ending left me unsettled. I guess that is not a surprise given the content and the curveball right at the end… There is more to this story, there has to be…

The story was definitely interesting, but it lacked a strong evolution of the characters that I found annoying to be honest. Also that inconclusive ending certainly didn't help matters.

Pieces of Me is a book about survival, first and foremost. Well, to me, anyway. Shadow Harper is living with the hell her ex created, and she’s learning to move past it—using whatever coping strategies she needs to use. Readers need to know that there’s a lot of domestic abuse and emotional abuse flashbacks in this book, and it isn’t for the feint-hearted.

I was really conflicted and made to think while reading this title, however. I think that Shadow did herself a solid—so readers will see a survivor. What I wasn’t so keen on was how it seemed like she let Jenks in pretty fast, but I could overlook that in the name of the ‘leap of faith’ I try to use when reading. I thought a lot, that’s for sure. I’m not even really sure her relationship with Jenks is important enough to legit be on the table. It’s the act of trusting again and finding balance that was important, in my opinion.

I struggled with the ending—things aren’t tied up in a neat little bow. I wonder if Ms. Walker is going to give us another title in this universe. There’s enough room for that to happen.

As is customary when I review a romantic suspense, I can’t write a lot in my review without spoilers, so I don’t. Just know this is an important story, and one that needs to be told. I was riveted to the page from beginning to end—in typical Shiloh Walker style.

My kindle has broken and I am unable to resend it as it has been archived

Whenever I see a new romantic thriller by Shiloh Walker I get excited.  This is the spot where I love Ms. Walker’s writing style the most.  Her stories always manage to bring enough of that thrilling edge to the story while still being sexy and romantic.

In PIECES OF ME we find our heroine a woman in hiding from her abusive ex husband.  She has a lot of trauma to still get through and recover from, even years later.  Drawing is her one outlet and it’s the very thing that gets her close to the mysterious Dillian she’s been lusting over and sketching for a while.

I was expecting a lot of unknown danger in this one and that’s not quite the direction of this story.  There’s still some but quite as thrilling as I was hoping for and I guess it was a nice change of pace from what I was expecting, but also left me a bit disappointed.  Our heroine is broken and fragile enough that it makes sense we don’t need to pile that much more on her.

I had to admire how she’s managed to survive on her own after something so traumatic.  Coping the ways she has to.  And slowly opening up to the touch of another man.  But I also found some other things about her interactions with Dillian to be a little strange, such as how easily she trusted him when everyone else seemed to be suspect in her eyes.  Shadow and Dillian had good chemistry together even if at first I thought he was moving a bit too fast and seemed too forward, but things made more sense in the end.  I also really liked his character and how protective and respectful he was of her.

PIECES OF ME has a dash of thrill with a good dose of sexy, but it was just missing a few key points to make this a stellar read.  Overall though, I still enjoyed it and can’t wait for more from Ms. Walker.

Pieces of Me is an odd one. If you know Shiloh Walker's writing you know she can get really dark and this one is no exception. Shadow Grace Harper was a young artist who met an older man and fell head over heals, as the years pass she finally break out of his controlling hold, he has manipulated her and abused her to the point she is no longer the person she once was. She has become so paranoid he'll come and force her back that she has become obsessive compulsive about her locks, windows and everything else. It's been three years and she is just starting to feel in control of her life, sort of. She has a routine she follows and any deviation will cause severe panic attacks.

One morning as her usual she spend down at the beach drawing, the man she nicknamed Lobo because his tattoo spoke to her. Caught completely by surprise she panics, it's only late she realizes she left her notebook, the same one she's been drawing very suggestive pictures of him. The whole day she spent worrying about her notebook absolutely certain it would be gone forever. But the next morning she finds it sitting at her usual spot but on one of the pictures her mystery guy wrote something.  She continues the morning as usual except this time he sits with her introduces himself, Dillian Jenkins.

Dillian is patient and kind to Shadow, he pushes her comfort zone but yet she feels safer with him than she has in the last eight years. But Shadow's ex-husband hasn't left her alone completely he has been paying someone to watch her and when Dillian comes into the picture he comes back to torment Shadow once again. But can Dillian offer her the much needed strength so she can finally get rid of her ex for good or will Dillian's own secret betray that trust.

Overall, the story was heartbreaking. The insta-lust between Shadow and Dillian was hot; sexual chemistry up the wazoo. Unfortunately this has one of those non-end kinda endings, it could be a cliffhanger but it doesn't feel like it. I enjoyed it it was an emotional journey for Shadow. Shiloh Walker knows how to write heroes I love.

Shadow Harper is a shadow of her former self. Each day is a ritual she must go by to keep her sanity while her obsessed ex still manages to keep his hold on her. After accidentally leaving her sketch book at the only place she finds peace, the man she’s been secretly watching begins to slowly try to break into her shell. 
This was such a great book. The author writes such a complex character with Shadow as she battles her PTSD and realizes she’s not the victim. The book wasn’t just about her battling herself but also her psychotic ex when nobody would believe her. I’ve read a lot of this author’s books and I think this is definitely my favorite. I highly recommend.

My Review:
I'm going to tell you right up front that this is going to seem like a wishy-washy review. Shiloh Walker can write a mesmerizing story and I was completely caught up in Shadow's story, but it's not a happy one. Shadow has been horribly traumatized. And honestly this is somewhat of a theme with Shiloh Walker's books...her characters have lived through awful things. I know that, so when I was reading it and wishing that the book was just a little more uplifting, that was my fault. Shiloh Walker's don't leave you with a happier, lighter feel for having read them. They are dark and gritty.

But I did find this one more than a little depressing. And I think my real issue was that we didn't get any of the story through Dillian's point of view...and I get that there's a very good reason for that. But Shadow is just so broken...and then at times so trusting, too trusting if you ask me. The dynamic just didn't quite work for me. 

But the book moves along and I kept waiting for the shoe to drop. In that regard, it's very well-written suspense. I kept turning the page waiting for the boogeyman to jump off the page and attack Shadow. 

I hated how little was revealed about Dillian. I know that his reveal was supposed to be shocking, but besides his protectiveness about Shadow, there was really very LITTLE insight into his character. I hated that. I still feel like I have no idea who he really was or if he was the right guy for Shadow. 

Overall, I liked Shadow. She's a strong character to have survived and overcome so many of her fears after all that she's been through. I loved her art and even her OCD and phobias made sense to me. A lot of other little things didn't make sense...most especially how her ex-husband was able to do the things he did without leaving any trace. That was never explained and it was all just too easy for me to buy. 

The other thing that didn't work for me was that ending. It was abrupt and extremely unsatisfying. Nope, I was NOT a happy camper when I hit the last sentence in the story, and I'll tell you right now that dropped my rating on this book from a 4 star read to a 3 star.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is an incredible story with harsh dark undertones. The brutality of Shadow's history was agonizing to read but, made me root for her to find some happiness. 

Great story, although jarring at times -recommended!

Shiloh Walker can write some seriously dark romance. But she always finds a way to have it flow without pulling away from the suspense aspect. In Pieces of Me we meet Shadow who we learn, over a few chapters, has been on the run from her estranged ex-husband due to the extremely horrid abuse he put her through. Her way to cope: her sketchbooks that she feels comfortable enough to put it all out on paper. Every fear, every ounce of anger, and even the moments of lust she feels for the stranger on the beach she sees almost every day.

In a case of fickle fate, Shadow leaves one of her more risqué sketchbooks on the beach and it is discovered by none other than Dillian, the stranger she's drawn over and over again. Dillian takes the suggestive drawings in stride and knows that behind the quiet and scared woman is the artist behind his every fantasy. For weeks he spends the time to earn Shadow’s trust and pull out her story and learn the truth about why she’s on the run. But even prince charming has some secrets…. And Shadow has to navigate Dillian’s evasive answers especially when her ex-husband comes after her one final time.

Every page left me clinging to the edge of my seat and wanting to know how Shadow could ever find safety. Not only do Dillian and Shadow have some incredible chemistry, the mysterious man also has a secret I was dying to know! It boggles my mind how Walker always keeps the suspense looming without ever making the story line drag. With and ending sure to leave you wanting more this new suspense romance is definitely not like the others and will have you jumping at every sound in the night!

Book Review of Shiloh Walker’s Pieces of Me

I am a huge fan of Shiloh Walker.  I have been for a very long time, so when I
heard about Pieces of Me I got excited.
I love all of Shiloh’s series and had read a good number of her other
works.  The great thing about Shiloh’s
work is that even within the same genre each story is unique.  Shiloh is able to really encapsulate the
feelings of her characters and this book did not disappoint.   If you like romantic suspense novels, this is
definitely a great read.  This book has
graphic sex and violence against women.
While the heroine does a great job being a survivor, it could be
upsetting to those who have experienced abuse.

You have the main
heroine, Shadow Grace-A woman who has been broken so completely she doesn’t
know how to survive.  She struggles to
make a life for herself while recovering from a traumatic experience that makes
Russian prison camps look nice.  Yet, as
broken as she may be, she clings to her art and has the talent to bring beauty
into an unforgiving world.  Shadow isn’t fully
healed but every day she is getting stronger and she dares to reach by starting
to fantasize about a guy she sees on the beach regularly.  Shadow barely dares to dream about a man, but
for some reason, this one-well he sticks in her brain.  And he doesn’t come out easy, even when
fantasy starts to merge with reality and they meet.

The hero of our story seems perfect in so many ways.  Strong, supportive and a little bit dark with
a body that doesn’t quit, Jenks seems like the perfect man.  As they start to build something together, he
doesn’t fall apart when Shadow starts the revelation process, in fact he seems
to stick a little harder.  But he has a
secret and once it is revealed-well things are not quite as simple as they
first seem.

Of course, the past comes back to haunt Shadow and not only
Jenks but some of the other friends she has made find themselves in
danger.  While Shadow know just how sick
and depraved people can be, others doubt that it could have really been that
bad.  When the past swallows all of them
whole, only a few will have the chance to survive.  And after that—life will never be the same.

Shadow manages to rebuild herself and truly become strong,
facing not only her past but her present and deciding that she deserves more
than what Jenks can give.  But when her
past still threatens her, she finds that safety can be found in a strong
partner and Shadow has to decide whether to stand on her own or chance being
hurt again.

My Review of Pieces of me by Shiloh Walker
My Rating 4.5 Stars
This was a suspenseful, obsessive story which kept me on my toes throughout the entire story. Shadow thought she had everything her heart ever wanted only to have the one person she trusted take it all away, on the run hiding out from the abuser and always looking over her shoulder. The intensity of this story kept me waiting for the ball to drop. I enjoyed this book and will watch for more from this author.
** I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of his book in exchange for an honest review from the Publisher through Netgalley & the Author **

I don't even know how to put this into words. So the writing is pretty good, and it could have been superb, if we had gotten an actual book, with answers.  When I first read the blurb, the first thing I thought of was sleeping with the enemy (I know I am dating myself) but anyway, I still love that movie, however it wasn't the same. Shadow was abused for years by Stefan, who was a lot older than her, of course the relationship did not start out that way, it was loving at first, and then it changed, then he was controlling, mentally and physically abusive. Luckily she was able to escape, and she did not know who to trust and with good reason. Eventually she meets Jenks, and this is where all my problems begin, (well that's a lie), one of my problems, she trusts him, why? she knows nothing of him, he keeps secrets, it is just lust, do you really want to take your life in your hands that way again? Is it really worth it? Can I really get a conclusion, to all my unanswered questions. I think I needed an Epilogue.

This book to me was hard to follow, and hard to get thru..

Pieces of Me read as a gritty, sexy, suspense for me and I really liked it. I enjoyed both Shadow and Dillian and I felt both characters were well developed. Although there were a few minor mistakes it was not enough to distract the story. I would recommend this book to readers of this genre.

I'm hooked with the teaser as soon as I read it at NetGalley.

Shadow Grace Harper is a very beautiful name for a woman who have been imprisoned and battered by her lunatic and obsessive ex-husband Stefan Stockman. My heart goes to her bad experiences and her fear that is still with her. I'm glad that Shadow survive and ready to fight her ex-husband now.

Lobo aka Jenks aka Dillian is a hot and mysterious guy. I was surprised about his real identity. I also felt how broken, he is and I'm pleased that whatever happened, he still sticks with Shadow.

I enjoyed reading this psychological romance thriller, but the ending... Is there a part two? Is Shadow really will find justice for what happened to her?

Kudos to Shiloh Walker! Great job! Thank you to NetGalley and  INscribe Digital for the ARC!

Shiloh Walker always manages to weave a suspenseful romance that has you anxious to turn each page.  In Pieces of Me, Shadow Grace is dealing with almost crippling anxiety and PTSD after escaping an obsessive and abusive ex-husband.   She finds refuge in the beach and her drawings.  When she accidentally leaves her sketchbook on the beach, she is besides herself until she finds it still on the beach, in the hands of Dillian.  Dillian is as different from her ex as night is from day.  Soon she finds herself beginning to feel the happiness she thought she would never feel again as she gets to know him.  When her ex-husband finds her again, she fears everything she is beginning to feel and hold dear will be taken from her, unless she can trust Dillian.  Will he step up and save Shadow or is he simply another man in her life who will disappoint her.

I really enjoyed this story.  The suspense kept me anxious to find out what would happen next and I loved Dillian and Shadow's characters.  Shadow was so strong, escaping her ex-husband and finding a way to live despite the terrible abuse she faced at his hands.  Dillian was the perfect romantic hero.  He was kind, compassionate and willing to help Shadow through her pain and be a support for her when she needed it.

*ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I'm a little torn with this one. For most of the book, I was hooked. I completely loved it. It was exciting, sexy, addictive. But somewhere around the 60-70% mark it sort of went downhill. Throughout the entire novels there was some editing errors (which I'm hoping is only because it's an arc copy) certain things just didn't quite make sense...For example, it would say the main character, Shadow, was outside but then it would say she stormed outside... I ignored those because of how much I loved the story (and again, I was hoping the errors were simply because I was reading an arc) 

I also didn't like that a lot of details were glossed over, or not included at all. The story is about a woman named Shadow who escapes an abusive spouse. She meets a man named Dillian, nicknamed Jenks, and the two form a relationship. The beginning of their relationship was pretty rushed, which I didn't mind at first, (I liked that it got right to the point in that aspect) and a lot of their earlier interactions were not on page (like their first date, important conversations, etc.) I liked that we got the beginning stages of the relationship out of the way because I was hoping that meant we'd get to read more about them as a couple, but later on I realized that the author did that with other important aspects of their relationship and Shadow's back story. When Shadow told Jenks about her past, I expected she would be telling the reader as well. That was not the case. We do get a pretty good idea of what happened to her but I picked up the novel because it was advertised as a "romantic thriller" and much of what would be described as the "thriller" moments were not there. In fact, the "thriller" moments barely added up to a full chapter.

Again, I ignored it because I really was loving the story. Towards the end, when things started to heat up with her abusive ex, I again felt like things were rushed and glossed over. Things weren't quite as polished as they could be. Too many little details were left out and it sometimes made things very confusing. 

This novel had the potential to be an amazing one. I loved Shadow and Jenks's relationship, the chemistry between them, and how he treated her. Jenks was sweet and protective, but not possessive. He never treated Shadow like a "victim." Shadow had been through hell and back but she came out stronger than most would. I admired her for that. She always made sure to stand her ground and listen to her instincts.  Unfortunately, the lack of attention to detail got in the way and the story fell flat. There were too many loose ends that weren't tied up. Too many questions that were left unanswered. It was so infuriating to read because I enjoyed the first half so much! By the end of the story, I felt that it wasn't even worth the read. Especially with those last couple of pages. *spoiler alert* -it ended with a HFN. Barely. I would call it a "maybe possibly has the potential to be a happy for now but not really." 

I was left VERY unsatisfied. I would not recommend this for romance lovers or people who are suckers for a happy ending (romance-wise) Shadow's ending was a happy one but Shadow and Jenk's as a couple...not so much. 

***3 Stars***

In terms of suspense this book was very well-written. It kept my attention and had me racing to finish. The ending was disappointing. After investing so much into the book - having no idea how things really ended. It also seemed sort of shocking how quickly she trusted Jenks considering what she went through.