Title: Razed
Series: Barnes Brothers, Book 2
Author: Shiloh Walker
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: December 2, 2014 by Berkley
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 does exist…for her.
Why I Read This Book: I read and enjoyed Wrecked (my review), the first book in this series, and I’ve been waiting for Razed for a year and a half now.
What I Liked: Keelie’s feelings for Zach (the guy who co-owns the tattoo shop with Keelie, who also happens to be Zane’s brother) weren’t easily dismissed but at the same time I was glad that she finally realized there was no chemistry between them. She had to sort through her feelings and realize on her own that the two of them were not meant for each other.
Keelie has a secret in her past she’s been trying to distance herself from but she comes through when someone needs her help. Keelie has this tattoo with the quote “Storms make trees take deeper roots”. This didn’t make sense to me at the time, but later on when parts of her past were revealed it all came together.
Zane was very perseverant when it came to Keelie, without being annoying. There was a mutual attraction between the two and when Keelie didn’t initiate a relationship, Zane made a move.
After the secrets spilled out, I liked Keelie and Zane even more. Kellie is very down to earth and a low maintenance kind of person living well below her means. But I can see where the guilt was holding her back from enjoying life. The reason and way Zane got into photography was very touching. He, too, has secrets in his past that were heartbreaking to read.
What I Didn’t Like: The first half of the book was slow for me but it really came alive in the second half. I was also a bit disappointed we didn’t get a steamy photography session with Zane and Keelie, with him being a professional photographer and all.
Overall Impression: Razed was a good read, though the first half of the book did drag on a bit. I will most likely skip the next book in this series, Busted, because I don’t think I’ll be able to emotionally handle Trey’s story, with him being a widower, especially when there’s a child involved. I am, however, definitely interested in reading both Travis’ and Sebastian’s books, the latter I am hoping will be a celebrity/commoner trope, which is one of my favorites.
Brianna’s Rating:
Oooh, now that you've mentioned it, I would have liked to have read a steamy photo session between Zane and Keelie too :)
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