Lie by Night
by: Cathy Marlowe
Release Date: 3/24/14
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Synopsis:
When Emma Bailey’s brother disappears, leaving her in possession of dangerous information, there’s no one she can turn to for help. Her desperate search for her brother leads her to a remote island where she discovers the one man who can help her is a man she can’t trust.
Cole Stevens is on a mission to bring down the drug mastermind who threatens to destroy the lives of his family. His plans take an unexpected turn when Emma runs head first into his investigation. Not only is she a danger to his heart, but her brother is one of his key suspects.
Cole and Emma reluctantly join forces to unravel a web of deceit that reaches deeper into their lives than either had imagined. As the lies unravel they will be forced to choose between fear of betrayal and their willingness to put their emotions on the line in order to save the people they love.
My review:
Lie by Night is an Out of Darkness novel by author Cathy Marlowe and the first of her work that I have read. The cover alone had my attention and the story kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
Emma Bailey was used to not knowing where her brother was, what type of mission he was off doing, or how long he would be gone for but one thing she always knew was that he would call her every Sunday. After all, they only had each other as family. So it was extremely unnerving when she didn’t get that Sunday phone call. Even more unnerving was the package she received from her brother for her birthday a couple of days later. Enclosed in the package was a cryptic note telling her not to trust anyone along with some important looking information. Without a doubt she knew he was in danger and she knew she was the only one that could save him. So she did what any sister would do…packed her bag and went in search for him.
Right in the middle of his top-secret investigation into one of the most dangerous operations headed by one of the most devious men, the last person Cole Stevens expected to see was Emma Bailey. But here she was in a very dangerous spot…literally. After saving her from her precarious position, he now realizes there is no was she is leaving his side. For too many reasons to count. One being she needs help finding her brother, the brother he has a suspicion may be a part of the operation he’s trying to squash. The operation that has already hurt too many people. Cole wanted to make sure no one else had to suffer…especially Emma.
Each with reservations about working jointly, Emma and Cole decide that maybe working together could actually be beneficial to taking down an operation that time and time again has proved to be infallible. But as time passes, and they spend more and more time together, their relationship threatens to grow from old acquaintances to so much more.
The story line in Lie by Night was intricate and weaved with deceit, drugs, danger, disloyalty, and murder. It was also weaved with love and compassion. All of that created a great balance and it kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. There were a lot of players in the plot that I was unsure of and that kept me guessing and I really enjoy that aspect of a romantic suspense. Cole and Emma were well matched and were equally stubborn and yielding when it mattered. Overall, I was pleased with all facets of this story and the last few chapters had me almost speed-reading because I was so nervous! My lips are sealed but know that it was intense and, ultimately, very satisfying.
Thank you, Cathy, for a fantastic and suspenseful read!
Four Loves
Book links:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | EP Link
About the author:
Cathy lives in Missouri with a huge chocolate lab whose crazy antics occasionally appear in her books. She’s blessed with a supportive husband and three wonderful children. When not writing, she coaches soccer and works to create a safe world for children. She loves dark chocolate mint M&Ms accompanied by a steaming mug of coffee, and smart stories that touch the heart while making you laugh, cry and stay up all night turning pages.
When her children were young, she wrote stories for them. Her daughter encouraged her to pursue publication, presenting her with a card that read “God is cheering for you and so am I.” This sign of support has been a source of inspiration for her throughout her writing career.
She believes in the power of each of us to change the world, by word and by deed, in big ways and small.
Her first published novel, Lie by Night, was a winner in the Entangled Smackdown Competition held during National Novel Writer’s Month. A romantic thriller, Lie by Night will be available in March 2014.
Email: cathy@commonpurpose.biz | Website | Twitter: @Cathy_Marlowe | Facebook | Goodreads