Posted as a guest review over at paranormalhaven.com

Ella Grace’s MIDNIGHT LIES is the second book in her Wildefire series. It’s not necessary to read the first, MIDNIGHT SECRETS in order to enjoy MIDNIGHT LIES. Grace does touch upon a few events that occurred in Secrets, but I don’t see them as spoilers.

Samantha Wilde and Quinn Braddock can’t keep their hands off each other and sparks flew the moment they made eye contact. For Samantha the relationship with the ER doctor works just fine because she often works odd hours due to her job as a police officer. Quinn can’t believe he’s found a woman worthy and one that makes him believe in love. Quinn receives a call from his ex-wife and he loathes her calls, but when she mentions she’s willing to give him an item he’s been wanting, he figures it will be a quick visit. Unfortunately, he doesn’t anticipate finding his ex murdered and becomes the number one suspect. Samantha is devastated when she learns of Quinn’s predicament because it just proves you can’t ever know a person. Years ago, her own mother was killed by her father and she knows first hand about secrets. Still she works to prove his innocence, but when Quinn wants nothing to do with her, she heads home to Midnight broken hearted. Quinn realizes his mistake and tries to make amends, but she doesn’t want anything to do with him. When a local Midnight resident is found murdered, Quinn is once again a suspect and it’s up to Samantha to stand by him and prove he isn’t a killer.

Character development is good though at times Samantha came off as ditzy. She’s supposed to be a trained police officer and yet she’s able to be captured by the killer. When she tries to out run him and fails, I wasn’t surprised. I expected her to be more adept with regards to being able to spot the killer. I mean she does have a law enforcement background and opened up a security agency. Why disregard her personal instincts? As for Quinn, he’s had a difficult childhood and when his past is explained, you wonder how he survived. I wanted to know more about his time in the military and in Iraq other than the brief info we are given. Also, we’re told he’s a good doctor, but I would have liked to have seen him in action at the hospital. The real treat of MIDNIGHT LIES is the relationship between Samantha and her sisters. I loved getting to know Savannah and her husband Zach. We don’t get much of Sabrina, but I can’t wait read to her story. Plus there’s a few Midnight town residents that are a real hoot!

I liked Grace’s MIDNIGHT LIES, but the constant ping pong relationship between Sam and Quinn drove me crazy. One moment things were great and the next, she was calling it quits only for things to be peachy again. I wanted Quinn to finally open up and share his feelings with her. I realize he was being cautious because he made a wrong choice with his first wife, but after being accused of murder twice, I would have expected him to be more willing to communicate. Sam’s indecision of loving him to not wanting him and getting jealous because he gives another woman the time of day, grew old. It just became frustrating especially since it was dragged out. It felt at times as if Grace needed them to go through the motions to fill the plot. As for the identity of the murder, I had my suspicions on who it would be. I had two theories regarding that person. Some things regarding Quinn’s past didn’t make sense and even when everything is revealed, I still had questions. I’m just happy my theory played out.

Overall, Ella Grace’s MIDNIGHT LIES was a satisfactory read. I’m looking forward to the third book series and in the meantime I’m going back to read MIDNIGHT SECRETS.

Title: Midnight Lies

Series: Wildefire book 2

Author: Ella Grace

Genre: Romantic Suspense

IT’S ALWAYS HOTTER AT MIDNIGHT.

The winds of fate have blown cruelly on a family that once had it all: money, power, prestige. The lives of three beautiful daughters were forever changed when, on a sultry night in Midnight, Alabama, a murder-suicide shattered the Wilde family. The girls grew up to live separate lives but now have returned home, each to face a danger no one can see coming.

Former homecoming queen Samantha surprised everyone by going into law enforcement, but beneath her tough façade lies a wary heart. The tragedy that struck her family is an ever-present reminder that nothing is ever as it seems. When the man she loves, Quinn Braddock, a doctor and Iraq war veteran, is accused of murder, Samantha assumes the worst. Brokenhearted, her confidence shattered, she returns to Midnight. Though exonerated, Quinn still feels the sting of Samantha’s doubt, but he can’t forget his feelings for her and follows her. Soon after his arrival, a shocking murder terrifies the town, and once again, Quinn is under suspicion. This time, Samantha will not turn her back on the man she loves—even if it means walking into a killer’s trap.

Let me start by saying that I reviewed the first book of the Wildefire series Midnight Secrets here on the blog and LOVED it. SO I was super excited be able to read the second book in the series a little early and have the numerous questions answered that I was left with at the end of the first book… and once again Ella Grace/Cindy Reece did NOT disappoint!

Midnight Lies opens “5 months ago” so it was an interesting overlap with book 1 (Midnight Secrets) that gave us a more detailed account of what was going on in Samantha’s life at the time that we were focused on book 1 and the lives of Savannah and Zach. This might sound a little confusing as I try to explain it but believe me when I say that Ella Grace does the explaining much better than I do. Even if I had not read the first book I still would have been able to follow along…

Of the 3 sisters, Samantha is the one who has always dreamed of the white picket fence and children and happily-ever-after so until that happens she works as a detective in Atlanta. She meets the good doctor when their paths cross while both are on their respective jobs. Quinn and Sam have major chemistry and fall into a shallow yet satisfying ‘for now’ kind of relationship. Their feelings are tested and fail when Quinn is accused of the murder of his ex-wife. Sam quickly realizes that her doubts of Quinn’s innocence were unfounded and works quietly behind the scenes to clear the doctors name.

Sam heads home to Midnight to her safe haven in the arms of her sisters. When Quinn is hit over the head with the fact that Sam obviously cared enough to help clear his name he soon follows determined to win back her heart. The story continues to evolve while the girls take their first case in the detective agency and a mystery guy comes to town acting a little too fishy… and then there’s another murder that can conveniently be blamed on Quinn. This time Sam stands by her man!

Midnight Lies is a steamy romantic suspense that weaves a good story told from multiple points of view and kept me turning the pages to see what happened next. We get some tantalizing tid-bits into the next story featuring the 3rd sister Sabrina. I cannot wait to read it!!

Grade A
Review by: Jeananna
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