Book Review: The Missing by Shiloh Walker

The Missing
Author: Shiloh Walker
Series: The FBI Psychics (Book 1)
Publication: Berkley (October 30, 2008)

Description: Her psychic gift drove away the man she loved? and years later has drawn him back to her?

As a teenager, Taige Branch hated her psychic gift. No one could understand -- except for Cullen Morgan, the boy who stole her heart. He did his best to accept her, until his mother was brutally murdered -- and he couldn't forgive Taige for not preventing it.

Now a widowed father, Cullen Morgan has never forgotten Taige. But what brings her back into his life is another tragedy. His beloved little girl has been kidnapped, and Taige is his only hope of finding her. Working together against the clock, Cullen and Taige can't help but wonder whether -- if they find his daughter in time --it isn't too late for the overpowering love that still burns between them...

My Thoughts: This was an intense paranormal thriller. Mixed-race Taige Branch was orphaned at ten and sent to live with her only relative - Leon Carson. Leon is a religious fanatic who tried to beat Taige's psychic ability out of her. 

When she meets Cullen Morgan when she is sixteen and he is seventeen, she's used to not trusting anyone and keeping away from people. Sometimes her gift overwhelms her and she makes daring rescues of children in trouble. 

Cullen and his family visit the coast for vacations. When he meets Taige, he is smitten. They form a close friendship during his vacations and fall in love. He's able to accept her psychic gifts and she is able to touch him without being overwhelmed by his thoughts and feelings. However, their relationship falls apart when his mother is kidnapped, raped and murdered and he blams Taige for not being able to save her. 

Twelve years pass during which Taige works as a consultant for the FBI on harrowing child kidnapping cases and Cullen becomes a fantasy writer, married, and is widowed when his wife dies in childbirth leaving him to raise their daughter Jillian on his own.

Though they don't see each other, they have a psychic connection that manifests itself during dreams where they are lovers. Each thinks the dreams are theirs alone and indications that they still love each other. 

When Cullen's Jillian is kidnapped, he goes to Taige for help in finding her. It turns out that Taige has been seeing visions of Jillian since before she was born. Jillian has psychic talents of her own which Cullen recognizes and so does her kidnapper.

Jillian is rescued but her kidnapper escapes. The only thing to do is for Taige and Cullen to team up to find the kidnapper (and murderer) and bring him to justice if they ever want Jillian to feel safe. 

The story was very emotional. Cullen and Taige still love each other, but his guilt and her fear of risking her heart again, make formidable obstacles to any new relationship. Through it all runs the shadow of the villain who is one creepy dude. 

This is the first of a five book series. 

Favorite Quote:

Taige knew she hadn't ever gotten over him, and truth be told, she had little interest in trying. It wasn't that she was pining after him. She was just protecting herself, keeping her heart closed off because she didn't want any man to ever have the power to hurt her again.

I bought this one December 23, 2008. You can buy your copy here.