Helpful Score: 4
Second book in an excellent new series. Just as good or better than Tiger Eye. (It is a stand-alone story but I highly recommend reading Tiger Eye first.) Elena Baxter heals with her mind. Artur Loginov is a Russian emigre who can read minds, shape-shift, and start fires. They are captured for their talents, cornered, isolated & caged. Their love story starts in their sleep a dream of a face, a brush of a mind, the hint of a kiss, and finally, at long last a shadow touch. They join forces to escape. Very romantic and full of action.
Helpful Score: 2
Liu became one of my favorite authors as soon as I began reading her first book, Tiger Eye She is a relatively new author, all of whose books so far involve characters who work for Dirk & Steele, an undercover paranormal organization / detective agency. Primary characters in this book will turn up in supporting roles in subsequent books and vice versa. One reviewer didn't like that. I had no problem with it. It was nice to learn more about the other characters in subsequent books. Most of the paranormals are shape changers or have psychic abilities.
Fast paced. Likable characters. A story that sucks you in right away and is hard to put down. Liu doesn't write "bodice rippers," but there's plenty of romance. It's just a GOOD book.
Fast paced. Likable characters. A story that sucks you in right away and is hard to put down. Liu doesn't write "bodice rippers," but there's plenty of romance. It's just a GOOD book.
Helpful Score: 2
I really liked this book! It wasn't really "romancey" but I got so caught up into the story and the action, I didn't mind! If you like the paranormal, give her a try!!
Helpful Score: 2
I have to say, I love Marjorie M. Liu's writing style. The first book in this series, Tiger Eye, was a page-turning delight. This book matched that with wonderful setting, interesting characters, and beautiful romance.
Artur and Elena are captured by a crime organization because they each posses psychic powers that the organization wishes to exploit. They meet while imprisoned and immediately form a deep, psychic/emotional connection. They conspire with other prisoners to escape and go after the head of the organization herself, a woman of incredible power and horrific ambition.
The psychic connection between Artur and Elena was my favorite part of this book. Not only did it offer beautiful imagery, it also made their intsant all consuming love more believable. I also enjoyed some of the other characters introduced--Rik and Amiri, both shapeshifters, were intriguing. As mentioned above, the setting was gritty and fit the plot very well.
My minor complaints are that I felt the plot was slow in a few places--it wasn't as well paced as Tiger Eye. I also really missed the band of characters that were introduced in Tiger Eye--Dela, Dean, Blue, etc. were largely absent from the story. Overall, however, this book is an excellent addition to the series and can also stand on it's own as very enjoyable fantasy/romance.
Artur and Elena are captured by a crime organization because they each posses psychic powers that the organization wishes to exploit. They meet while imprisoned and immediately form a deep, psychic/emotional connection. They conspire with other prisoners to escape and go after the head of the organization herself, a woman of incredible power and horrific ambition.
The psychic connection between Artur and Elena was my favorite part of this book. Not only did it offer beautiful imagery, it also made their intsant all consuming love more believable. I also enjoyed some of the other characters introduced--Rik and Amiri, both shapeshifters, were intriguing. As mentioned above, the setting was gritty and fit the plot very well.
My minor complaints are that I felt the plot was slow in a few places--it wasn't as well paced as Tiger Eye. I also really missed the band of characters that were introduced in Tiger Eye--Dela, Dean, Blue, etc. were largely absent from the story. Overall, however, this book is an excellent addition to the series and can also stand on it's own as very enjoyable fantasy/romance.
Helpful Score: 1
Very good read. This was the second time I have read this book and I enjoyed it as much as the first time.
Helpful Score: 1
This is the 2nd book in this series and it is every bit as exciting as the first. It is a very quick read as I just couldn't put it down. It is very fast paced and the characters are exciting.
Helpful Score: 1
2nd in paranormal series,good story.
Stephanie C W. (stephanie13w) reviewed Shadow Touch (Dirk & Steele, Bk 2) on + 300 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Good story.
Helpful Score: 1
Paranormal romance, very riveting
An OK book.
Loved this book as much as Tiger Eye. Great read!
Second in a series. It is an involved fantasy that is very well written.
I love a good psychological thriller and this one fit the bill. Although it was a romance, the sex was tied to one interlude. A nice love story.
I like this auther, her writing is very intence and the was she intergrates outhers into the story is very good. I have injoyed reading this series.
Paranormal romance. A good, quick read.
From back cover:
Elena Baxter can work miracles with her hands. She can coax bones to knit, flesh to heal. She can mend the mind. She has been doing such work for almost all of her twenty-eight years. That is why she will be taken.
The media called it a rampage of terror, the recent murders. But fighting crime is why Artur Loginov joined Dirk & Steele. The international detective agency specializes in the impossible, and their creed is simple: Help those in need, no matter how difficult, and no matter what, keep the secret safe. For the agency helps its employees, too; people like Artur -- the gifted, the tormented. Dirk & Steele gave the Russian emigre purpose, protection, community...and refuge from his past, for who can trust a man who can start a fire with his mind, or shape-shift, or read others' thoughts as easily as drawing breath? For his similar talent, Artur will be taken.
Into the darkness Elena and Artur will be drawn, into the clutches of evil. Cornered, isolated, caged, they will fight for their very souls. But salvation awaits. it exists in a form least expected: a dream of a face, a brush of a mind, the hint of a kiss, and finally, at long last, a SHADOW TOUCH.
Elena Baxter can work miracles with her hands. She can coax bones to knit, flesh to heal. She can mend the mind. She has been doing such work for almost all of her twenty-eight years. That is why she will be taken.
The media called it a rampage of terror, the recent murders. But fighting crime is why Artur Loginov joined Dirk & Steele. The international detective agency specializes in the impossible, and their creed is simple: Help those in need, no matter how difficult, and no matter what, keep the secret safe. For the agency helps its employees, too; people like Artur -- the gifted, the tormented. Dirk & Steele gave the Russian emigre purpose, protection, community...and refuge from his past, for who can trust a man who can start a fire with his mind, or shape-shift, or read others' thoughts as easily as drawing breath? For his similar talent, Artur will be taken.
Into the darkness Elena and Artur will be drawn, into the clutches of evil. Cornered, isolated, caged, they will fight for their very souls. But salvation awaits. it exists in a form least expected: a dream of a face, a brush of a mind, the hint of a kiss, and finally, at long last, a SHADOW TOUCH.
I liked the first book, Tiger Eye, better. Shadow Touch was very off-putting to me due to scenes of horror and tortue throughout the first half or so. The bad guys were a high degree of nasty. I wasn't expecting it to that extent.
Awful story, had to keep skipping pages to try to find something interesting about the story. The bad guys were so horrid I didn't want to read about all that they were doing.
Yuck, am swapping book ASAP.
Yuck, am swapping book ASAP.
This is a good light read for summer. It dose seem as if this book was longer and was edited to fit a certain size book. It doesn't always flow smoothly.
Fabulous couple in excessive peril. Love all the shifter characters and even Rictor who can be very scary.
This is the second book in the series. Liked this book as well as Tiger Eye (1st book) and Red Heart of Jade (3rd book).
Great paranormal adventure.
Elena Baxter can work niracles with her hands. She can coax bones to knit, flesh to heal. She can mend the mind. She has been doing such work all of her twenty-eight years. That is why she will be taken. This is a spell-binding book. I could not put it down.
Wonderfully fantastic! A great follow-up to Tiger Eye.
A private detective who picks up people's memories through touch, Artur Loginov isn't entirely surprised when he's kidnapped and imprisoned in an asylumlike facility; his former days as a Russian mobster taught him to believe he'd come to a bad end. But he's surprised to find the other prisoners are paranormally gifted as wellincluding Elena Baxter from Wisconsin, able to perform miraculous healings and now stunned to realize she's no longer alone in the world. Aided by a pair of shape-shifters, Elena and Artur escape only to discover their captors' sinister goaland that they are the only ones who can thwart it.
slow start but quickly took off. some of the same characters as in tiger eye.
This second installment in the Dirk & Steele books is just as good as the first. I enjoyed the story and the fact that it leaves so many openings for future books. Excellent character development and I liked the new characters that have been added. Hopefully a few of them get their own stories.
Wow. What a rush!! Absolutely awesome read. I'm so glad to finally know more about Artur. And Elena is a great lead female. Very believable. Snappy dialog, fast action and more new characters.
this is the second book in the dirk and steele set. enjoyed it a lot.
This is the first in series of books that started with Tiger's Eye. The author has done an amazing job making the supernatural seem natural. Wether the characters are psychic, shape-shifter or something else; they all have fears, desires, and hopes. The hero in this book learns to love by literally letting someone else inside. We get to see his softer side, that makes all the more attractive. At the same time she never lets you forget that he is and always will be dangerous. The heroine finds strength in the hero's weakness. There is an instant connection when they first meet. Along the way they make some amazing new freinds. This book while while full of intriuge and action, is also full of passion and love scenes that either make you melt or laugh your head off.
This book was okay. It was fairly well-paced. I'm not fond of this trend to constantly set up sequels and large casts of secondary characters. Liu did this with the first book in the series, and had the GALL to more than double the number of secondary characters AGAIN in this book. Disgusting overpopulation of minor characters. Needs to kill off some of these people - she feels free to kill off lots of bad guys/villains, but the good folks just keep piling up with their tortured past, psychic gifts, and charming good looks. Blah, totally unbalances the books. The main characters in this book were introverts with severe issues when touching other people, yet are SURROUNDED by people during the whole book. Sacrificing plot and what makes sense for the characters in order to fit in all this plotting for many sequels.
Second in a series. Interesting the way the author brings in the Orient.
Good paranormal romance from an up-and coming author.
Great story! Second in a series. Read Tiger Eye first.
"Elena Baxter can work miracles with her hands. She can coax bones to knit, flesh to heal. She can mend the mind. She has been doing such work for almost all her 28 years. That's why she will be taken. Artur Loginov is a a detective working for Dirk & Steele: an agency that specializes in the impossible, and their creed is simple: Help those in need, no matter how difficult, and no matter what, keep the secret safe. Dirk & Steele gave the Ruxxian emigre purpose, protection, community . . . and refuge from his past, for who can trust a man who can start a fire with his mind, or shape-shift, or read others' thoughts as easily as drawing breath? For his similar talent, Artur will be taken."
Artur Laginov is an agent for Dirk and Steele. He specializes in the impossible. For his talent, he will be taken. Elana Baxter can work miracles with her hands. That is why she will be taken. ...isolated and caged thay will fight for their lives and their souls....
Elan Baxtercan work miracles with her hands. She can coax bones to knit, flesh to heal. She can mend the mind. She has been doin such work for almost al of her twenty eight years. That is why she will be taken.
The media called it a rampage of terror, the recent murders. But fighting crime is why Artur Loginov joined Dirk & Steele. The inrenational detective agency specialiZed in the impossible, and their creed is simple: Help those in need, no matter how difficult, and no matter what, jeep the secret safe. For the ageny helps its employees too: people like Artur- the gifted, the tormented. Dirk and Steele gave the Russian emiigre purpose, protection, community....and rfuge from his past, for who can trust a man who can start a fire with his mind, or shape-shift, or read others' thoughts as easily as drawing a breath? For his similar talent, Artur will be taken.
Into the darknes Elena and Artur will be drawn, into the clutched of evil. Cornered, isolated, caged, they will fight for theeir very souls. But salvation awaits. It exists in a forn least expected: A dream of a face, a brush of a mind, the hint of a kiss, and finally, at long last a ....shadow touch
The media called it a rampage of terror, the recent murders. But fighting crime is why Artur Loginov joined Dirk & Steele. The inrenational detective agency specialiZed in the impossible, and their creed is simple: Help those in need, no matter how difficult, and no matter what, jeep the secret safe. For the ageny helps its employees too: people like Artur- the gifted, the tormented. Dirk and Steele gave the Russian emiigre purpose, protection, community....and rfuge from his past, for who can trust a man who can start a fire with his mind, or shape-shift, or read others' thoughts as easily as drawing a breath? For his similar talent, Artur will be taken.
Into the darknes Elena and Artur will be drawn, into the clutched of evil. Cornered, isolated, caged, they will fight for theeir very souls. But salvation awaits. It exists in a forn least expected: A dream of a face, a brush of a mind, the hint of a kiss, and finally, at long last a ....shadow touch
paranormal romance
Some of the Dirk and Steele books are not terribly exciting to me... I prefer Liu's other series. However, I was intrigued by this character and enjoyed the story. The intimacy of the main characters was fantastic, not overtly sexual but yet tantalizing. It was a refreshing change.
Elena Baxter can work miracles with her hands. She can coax bones to knit, flesh to heal. She can mend the mind. She has been doing such work for almost all of her twenty-eight years. That is why she will be taken.
The media called it a rampag of terror, the recent murders. but fighting crime is why Artur Loginov joined Dirk & Steele. The international detective agency specializes in the impossible, and their creed is simple: Help those in need, no matter how difficult, and no matter what, keep the secret safe. For the agency helps its employees, too: people like Artur -- the gifted, the tormented. Dirk & Steele gave the Russian emigre purpose., protection, community... and refuge from his past, for who can trust a man who can start a fire with his mind, or shape-shift, or read others' thoughts as easily as drawing breath? For his similar talent, Artur will be taken.
Into the darkness Elena and Artur will be drawn, into the clutches of evil. Cornered, isolated, caged, they will fight for their very souls. But salvation awaits. It exists in a for least expected: a dream of a face, a brush of a mind, the hint of a kiss, and finally, at long last a... Shadow Touch.
The media called it a rampag of terror, the recent murders. but fighting crime is why Artur Loginov joined Dirk & Steele. The international detective agency specializes in the impossible, and their creed is simple: Help those in need, no matter how difficult, and no matter what, keep the secret safe. For the agency helps its employees, too: people like Artur -- the gifted, the tormented. Dirk & Steele gave the Russian emigre purpose., protection, community... and refuge from his past, for who can trust a man who can start a fire with his mind, or shape-shift, or read others' thoughts as easily as drawing breath? For his similar talent, Artur will be taken.
Into the darkness Elena and Artur will be drawn, into the clutches of evil. Cornered, isolated, caged, they will fight for their very souls. But salvation awaits. It exists in a for least expected: a dream of a face, a brush of a mind, the hint of a kiss, and finally, at long last a... Shadow Touch.
Elena Baxter can work miracles with her hands. She can coax bones to knit, flesh to heal. She can mend the mind. She has been doing such work for almost all of her twenty-eight years. That is why she will be taken.
