I read this book with some hesitation. I enjoyed Walker’s handling of a recovering alcoholic ex-pastor Noah in Deeper than Need, but I found the romantic suspense plot which centered on exposing of a ritualistic child-sex abuse ring somewhat triggering. This book continues with the fallout of the abuse scandal.

Lana Rossi fled Madison as teenager when her attempt to help her friend David escape his abusive parents went wrong. She has been in hiding for decades, emotionally and physically scarred from years on the street. Lana is drawn back to Madison hoping to finally get answers about what happened the night she fled town, and to make sure that the ring is truly shut down.

Adam Brascum’s life went into a tailspin right around the same time Lana left town. The uncertainty of not knowing what happened to her, of failing to protect her, turned him into an alcoholic. Sober since his parents’ death, but not quite healed, Adam’s world is rocked when he recognizes Lana despite her disguise. He is confused and angry to find that she has been alive all these years and conflicted about what to do. He is torn by guilt at wanting Lana when she was his friend’s Noah’s girl and for wanting her now, when he knows so little about where she has been.

I felt that once again the suspense plot overshadowed the love story in this novel and while Walker answered a lot of my most nagging questions about Caine and the peculiar Amish, I am not sure I can take more of the grimness to read his story. 3 out 5 stars

A review copy of Sweeter than Sin was provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley

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Deeper than Need by Shiloh Walker