Dirk and Steele: Book 2
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Liked It “Shadow Touch is my favorite book in Majorie M. Liu's Dirk and Steele Series. It is the second book of the series and I fell in love with Artur and Elena. Elena Baxter is kidnapped one night while she is volunteering in the children's cancer ward. See, Elena has the special ability to...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“Shadow Touch is my favorite book in Majorie M. Liu's Dirk and Steele Series. It is the second book of the series and I fell in love with Artur and Elena. Elena Baxter is kidnapped one night while she is volunteering in the children's cancer ward. See, Elena has the special ability to heal people's bodies. Apparently, someone knows her secret and they decide to kidnap her and run experiments on her. Meanwhile, Artur Loginov works for a detective agency, Dirk and Steele. This agency employs people who have special abilities. Artur can sense a person's memories by touching an object they have touched. He too, is kidnapped from his home and brought to the same facility that Elena is at. There they forge an unbreakable bond and work together to escape their captors.
Jill D wrote this review Wednesday, September 30 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I love everything about this book and it works for me on so many levels. First of all Elena and Artur are wonderful characters. Artur is so damaged from his tragic childhood. He had to do things to survive that no child should ever have to face. Artur really believes that he is not a good man because of his past and the things he has done. Because of his gift that he uses to find missing people and solve murders, he is constantly seeing the worst in people. It's as if he has lost his faith in humanity. His own and others. Then he meets Elena and everything changes for him in the matter of a few moments.
The way Liu writes Artur and Elena's story it is so poignant and touching. Often times I find stories that take place over a couple of days rushed and the romance lacking a certain believability. This is not the case at all with Shadow Touch. It is like two old souls coming together. Liu is able to pen and incredibly touching love story between these two people. Huge bonus to her for being able to do this without the characters mentally lusting for each other.
All the characters are well drawn, but Liu is able to leave somethings a mystery. For example, there is a fascinating, ambiguous character Rictor. Elena and Artur sense that he is not human, but just what is he? Readers will be wondering right along with the characters, yet Liu leaves some questions unanswered in regards to Rictor. Not to worry, I know for a fact that Rictor appears in other books later in the series.”
“Love love loved this book! A romance that felt real between the characters, with lots of action to keep things exciting. Definitely recommend this to anyone who liked paranormal romance!”
Zevon Price wrote this review Sunday, August 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I have certain expectation for paranormal romance novels and this book did not live up to some of them. Marjorie Liu did some things very well and other things poorly. The book is very well written and the story the author weaves will keep you interested and make you want to finish the book. The plot isn't predictable at all and the characters are all well developed and likable. All around this book has some very good writing, which I think is rare in this particular genre.
Amber B wrote this review Friday, July 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
With that being said, the book wasn't "hot". The point of reading romance is to fall in love with the love story and I found that I couldn't do that with these characters. I became so wrapped up in their escape and the plot that at points I thought it was inappropriate for them to even be thinking about love, or sex. There is a serial killer after you, should you really be thinking the guy who is helping you escape is hot. Constant fear for one's life is a turn off. The plot was very fast paced and that is what made it difficult to believe the love. The characters never spend any real time with one another and they are so busy saving their own lives that they shouldn't have had time to fall in love. Even when the author allows a few day for the characters to spend time with one another the female spends that time in a comma. After reading this I think she could have left the love scenes out of the book and had it categorized as Fantasy instead of Romance and the book wouldn't have lost anything at all.
All in all I recommend this book only because its well written with and interesting story. This book will not leave you glassy eyed with lust over the male lead nor will you be overly touched by the instant unrealistic love story. You will, however, enjoy the plot. ”
“I was so excited when I brought this book home from the library and found out it was about Artur! When I met Artur in Tiger Eye, I knew he had to have a story. And soon. Naturally, it was the next book in the series. Elena was the perfect woman to balance this former Russian Mafia, psychometric PI. Ha. Artur is such a complex character. He's been nearly destroyed by all that his life and gift have forced him to experience. And then, after being kidnapped and on his way to being tortured, he meets Elena. And she saves his life. What a first meeting. I was glad to find out about more shifters also. Hari was so lonely in the first book, it's good to see them gathering more of his people around.”
Ley wrote this review Saturday, May 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is the second book in the series that started with Tiger Eye. It took me a while to connect the two, because they're very different stories, and in fact I didn't remember the Dirk & Steele Agency from the first book, which is how they're connected. Give me a break--it was almost a year ago.
DKayeS wrote this review Saturday, November 22 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Shadow Touch begins with two investigators from Dirk & Steele at a murder scene. Artur Loginov is a touch sensitive, and he's using his gift to try to find the killer, who's strangely invisible to Artur's senses. It's painful for Artur, but he sees the pain as penance for his previous life as a Russian mobster, and pushes himself, even when those around him are urging him to stop.
Elena Baxter, on the other hand, believes she's alone in the world. She has a healing gift, which she puts to use working in a hospital, though she's cautious to keep her gift a secret.
Then both of them are kidnapped and find themselves in a research facility. I thought of Dark Angel, but there are plenty of creepy research facilities in movies and TV to choose from.
From then on, Artur and Elena have to figure out who has them and why, withstand the torture and experiments, try to escape and rescue a couple of shapeshifters, try to stop the evil mastermind, and deal with their personal demons.
And oh, yeah. They fall in love. Look at the spine of the book--you knew that was coming. This romance was done quite nicely, and there's no question of whether they're actually in love with who the other person is.
There are quite a few intriguing developments and characters I'll be hoping to see in the future. I've put the next book on my to-buy list.”
“This is the first Marjorie M. Liu book I read, but not the last. She is an amazing writer. She simply rocks.”
Clover A wrote this review Saturday, August 30 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
0 of 2 members found this review helpful“Reviewed on my blog”
Laurie Gold wrote this review Monday, June 16 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is my favorite of the series because the characters are so genuine. I couldn't help but get emotionally involved in their plight. However, once again this is a highly complex storyline that leaves more questions than it answers. ”
Laura G wrote this review Friday, May 2 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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Megan_Bamford wrote this review Thursday, November 15 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
A single touch can cripple psychic Artur Loginov, flooding his tortured mind with alien thoughts and feelings. Forced to keep his entire body covered to stay sane he faces each day with an inner strength. Everything he touches contains memories that he cannot control, but to save the innocent it is a pain he willingly accepts.
Elena Baxter can cause healing with a touch. For a long time she has worked in secret, unable to resist healing the terminally ill children, until the night her secret is discovered and she is taken.
Held and tortured for information he will not give Artur finds refuge in Elena's mind. Her touch alone brings him peace, her compassion is greater than the bad thoughts found in everyone. When the darkness threatens to consume them only by combining their strengths and gifts will they be able to fight.
Second in the Dirk & Steel series Shadow Touch sees Artur having to face his dark past and painful gifts to claim the woman of his dreams. Full of turbulent emotions and a sensuality that will leave you breathless this keeper will have you waiting impatiently for Ms Lui's next book in the series The Red Heart of Jade.”
“Marjorie M. Liu's book follows her debut Tiger Eye, but the books are so loosely connected, it doesn't matter if you've read the first one or not. The hero is a Russian with a paranormal talent--he can read history from everything he touches. The heroine has her own talent--healing. They're kidnapped by the same evil organization and encounter each other while being dragged through the corridors. This is another taut thriller with some very interesting additions and some great angst. My favorite of the Dirk & Steele books so far...”
Gail Dayton wrote this review Saturday, August 18 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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