By: Terri Blackstock
ISBN: 9780310332367
Series: (Moonlighters, #3)
Publisher: Zondervan Fiction
Publication Date: 2/3/2015
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars
When Holly's secrets backfire, is the mess too big to unravel?
Holly Cramer has worked hard to keep the identity of her daughter's father a secret, shamed and embarrassed by the one-night stand. But when the police knock on her door searching for Creed Kershaw, she realizes his identity isn't as hidden as she thought. The fact that Creed is a person of interest in a recent drug-related murder only increases her humiliation.
When Holly's and Creed's paths cross, Holly is unsure whether to be terrified of him or trust him. His tenderness with their daughter makes her want to believe his story that he had nothing to do with the murder. Then she discovers that Creed has a connection to Leonard Miller-who killed both her sister's fiancé and her brother-in-law, and kidnapped her nephews-and things only become more complicated.
Will Creed lead them to the man who has plagued her family, or become another of his victims?
My Review
A special thank you to Zondervan Fiction and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Talented Christian and crime writer, Terri Blackstock returns with the thrilling suspense Moonlighter trilogy, with an action filled, fast-paced thriller, TWISTED INNOCENCE (Moonlighters Series #3), focused on sister, Holly and her baby daughter. Of course, the sisters and other familiar characters are back for a novel of family, love, forgiveness and faith.
If you read Blackstock's last book Distortion (Moonlighters Series #2), focused on Juliet, and Truth Stained Lies (Moonlighters Series #1), focused on Cathy; you will be familiar with the characters introduced, as we have been anxiously awaiting their fate. In previous books we met Juliet, her husband, children, and sisters Holly and Cathy who all team up with PI Michael Hogan.
Set in Panama City, Florida-wild child biker chick-like, Holly is trying to settle down. Now a mother of beautiful daughter Lily. As a single mom, she is working two jobs, trying to make ends meet with the PI business with her sisters, and a cab driver.
However, as the book opens, the cab driver job becomes dangerous, when she is robbed by two meth druggies and wrecks her cab. Her sister Juliet is worried about her and wants her off the streets. She decides to get rid of the pink streaks in her hair and cover her tattoos, to be a responsible mother and give up loser boyfriends.
However, worst possible timing-- the father of her daughter, is back. Creed has a past and he happened to be a one-night stand (something she is not proud of and has not told anyone the identity). She does not want her family to know, as she is trying to live life on the straight and narrow, and she does not need the complications or a reminder of her past poor choices.
To further complicate things, Michael is in jail (on a technicality and the girls are working hard to get him released, before Cathy’s wedding – blogger sister Cats Curious, from Book #1). And their worst nightmares come to life with Leonard Miller. The drug kingpin and murderer responsible for Cathy’s husband’s death, and Michael’s brother, kidnapping, among other horrific acts. He is back in town.
Due to a woman’s testimony and the defense attorney’s focus, the jury had reasonable doubt about the police department’s integrity and found Leonard not guilty. After the trial, Michael was convicted of lying under oath. He lost his job at the police department since as a convicted felon, he could no longer carry a weapon.
Needless to say, Miller went on to kill other as he climbed the ladder of his deadly drug trafficking ring. When Michael Hogan later took up arms to save Juliet and her children from Miller’s murderous cruelty, he violated probation. The hero did not fight the charges and his marriage proposal to Cathy came as they hauled him off to jail. Of course, due to all this injustice, Cathy quit practicing law.
While Cathy and Michael are planning the wedding, they have bigger fears. She is praying Michael will be released as they need him to help track down Miller before he kills again. He lost his police career trying to save them last time.
Miller is wanted for drug trafficking, distribution, conspiracy, kidnapping and murder and he would be insane to show his face; however, as Michael’s mentions, these guys are not so smart. Plus Holly has to worry about Creed and now Holly’s baby is caught in the crossfire-a bomb, a shooting, drug dealers, and lives are on the line as the intensity, tensions, and emotions are high. Is Creed connected to Miller? Will Creed save the day?
Many twists and turns keeping you guessing the good guys from the bad. For fans of mystery, crime thrillers, suspense, romance, women's and Christian fiction.
Even through Terri has been around for quite some time as a successful novelist, I only recently discovered her when I started reading this series. I was amazed how she seamlessly weaves many genres in one book, using flawed characters, highly charged subjects of drugs and crime and strong Christian faith.
Well-developed characters and excellent writing, grabbing you from beginning to end. She demonstrates how all of us experience trials and are led astray, and how God uses the hard times for a bigger plan and purpose. God knows where we started and how we got there.
Highly recommend this series and cannot wait to read more from Blackstock. As a fellow Floridan, loved the setting!.
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