Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Review: Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

 
 
Midnight Secrets
By Ella Grace
(Wildefire #1)
 
 


I knew I wanted to read this book as soon as the series was announced. My only concern was whether it would meet my expectations or was my excitement going to build them up too high. It was needless worry.






The Set Up
Triplet sisters Savannah, Samantha and Sabrina Wilde lost their parents in a brutal "murder-suicide" in Midnight, Alabama when they were 10 years old. It was blamed on their father but we know that's not so from the prologue. Their paternal grandfather is left to raise them and when Savannah was 18, she fell in love with Zach Tanner, a noble boy from a troubled home.

The Conflict
It's 10 years later and Savannah returns to Midnight for a couple of months, not having seen Zach in all that time. He's hoping for forgiveness for what tore them apart and she's not sure she can handle seeing him again. Both have secrets that they've held back.

The Mystery
Somebody murdered Beckett and Maggie Wilde 18 years ago and they killer or killers are still out there with no one really aware someone other than Beckett committed the crime. The suspense element slowly elevates as the story evolves.

What I Loved
Zach and Savannah. I felt like I knew exactly who they were in their teens and again ten years later. They were always true to character, and awfully appealing ones at that. There's a humble nobility about Zach...he's not perfect but he comes close. And, Savannah epitomizes beauty, grace and Southern elegance. Having the undiscovered and unsolved murder as a backdrop added a subtle edge to the entire story. Their romance was poignant, tragic, lovely, steamy...all of that. And, it was always at the forefront of the story. The Southern element was pitch perfect, too..no caricatures here, just a realistic portrayal of what's true about the culture.

What Didn't Work
Nada. This is the complete package.

What's Different
There are three timelines in the story: the parents' murder when the girls were 10 years old; Savannah at 18 when she begins seeing Zach; and, Savannah at 28 when she returns home.

Bottom Line
This is a strong start to what promises to be a really good series. The romance was utterly satisfying, the suspense creepy enough, the mystery puzzling and the Southern setting appropriate to the story. We already know enough about the other two Wilde sisters, Samantha and Sabrina, to anticipate their stories and there are a couple of other characters whose stories would reel me in. I really liked this book. It's 4.5 halos!

(I received an ARC from NetGalley)



 
 



About the author  
 

Ella Grace is the pseudonym used by Christy Reece, author of the Last Chance Rescue series. She grew up in the South and is currently living in Alabama, her home.

2 comments:

  1. Oh nice! Sounds like an excellent read. I love Southern books being a Southern girl but some of them grate since they just don't get it right. Love that she did :)

    Definitely looking forward to trying this one now :)

    ~Anna
    herding cats & burning soup

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm from the south and she got it right. You'd enjoy what she captured. I hope you enjoy it.

      Delete

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