Into the Fire

Secrets She Knew by D. L. Wood is Book 1 in the Secrets and Lies Suspense Series. 

For thirteen years now Detective Danielle (Dani) Lake has searched for anything that would lead to whom she believes is the real killer of a classmate who she discovered dead at the age of fifteen – instead of the man imprisoned for her murder. Every year when she returns to Skye, Alabama, from her home and law enforcement job in Boston, she heads up to the prison to see the convicted Dr. Beecher much to her close friends' frustration. Dani knows he isn't the murderer of the girl she found amidst the honeysuckle so many years ago, but no one else is convinced of his innocence. 

When once again she must return to Skye to box up her deceased parents' belongings and sell their home, the one she grew up in, the sorrow she faces, the class reunion for which she must help decorate with her best friend Sasha, a startling discovery when she can't resist returning to the crime scene for the first time since she discovered her classmate there, slight evidence that someone has been in her house while she's been out, and a new handsome detective on the Skye police force, all combine to up her anxiety level.

This is an enticing mystery borne out of a shocking discovery at the age of 15 while Dani's on her way to meet her best friends (Peter and Sasha). The pain she's carried since then believing with every part of her being that the man, the doctor, the husband and father to the children with whom she spent a summer being their nanny – that he suffered at the hands of the system and was incarcerated for a murder he didn't commit has not diminished over time. The story is filled with hints and twists, discoveries and disappointments, sorrow and frustrations, determination and ultimately survival. 

I think this is D. L. Wood's best work to date. It's a compelling story of a strong woman who remains unshaken in her belief of a man's innocence and her ability to fight the challenges she faces to right a wrong and overcome a killer. Well-written with that "creepy" element done just right. 

Faith factor is subtle but strong.

Father, please continue to bless D. L. in all she does to honor you with her writing. Encourage her and provide her with what she needs to do those things you've got just for her to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Remember this, fix it in mind,

   take it to heart, you rebels.

Remember the former things, those of long ago;

   I am God, and there is no other,

   I am God, and there is none like me.

I make known the end from the beginning,

   from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say: My purpose will stand,

   and I will do all that I please.

Isaiah 46:8-10 (NIV)

As a reader, consider these questions: How do you want a new novel advertised (or marketed)? What sells you on a new book? What in your opinion is overkill? How do you want to be convinced to invest in a new story? 

Authors, how would you answer the same questions? 

Father, help us authors to know your desires in the arena of marketing. We're desperate for you whether we know it or not. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Writers of novels all start at different ages, develop styles, figure out goals, and determine self-worth by measures that might be constantly evaluated, changed, or amplified by different data, opinions, or even trends. 

Some of us are ridiculously undisciplined, rigidly scheduled, or randomly selective of our writing times.

Most of us have at least one thing in common, but it might be something different with each author we meet. 

Our genres seem to choose us before we can choose them. Some of us write one genre but read totally different genres.

Our characters are our closest friends because we all know each other from the inside out. 

We're ordinary, eccentric, knowledgeable, focused, carefree, random, sequential, structured, outgoing, introverted, humble, proud, flamboyant, withdrawn, elegant, rugged, sloppy, neat, striving, or needy. Any, all, or nothing like the aforementioned characteristics. 

We ache to write that novel that touches you and leaves its lingering memory somewhere in your heart. If you read one or more of our books more than once, well, that's the highest compliment we'll ever receive. Our gratitude to our readers is huge. 

We are writers.

Lord, apart from you, I can do nothing. Cannot write a single word, have one idea, or complete a story without you. Nothing. Thank you for every word, inspiration, and completed book and WIPs. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Colton (Dark Water) fell in love with his best friend's and SEAL team leader's wife after blaming himself for his death. But it seems the entire team felt responsible for Daniel Oliver's death, each one knowing there was way more to this Black Ops gone wrong than they knew at the time. 

Dez (Safe Harbor), former SEAL team member with Colton and two others who together work for Blackout, has been assigned to protect Bree, the famous pop singer who's doing a concert at Lantern Beach. What Dez expects her to be is the exact opposite of who she really is, and, as he's put in harm's way to keep her safe, he realizes she's not like the one who broke his heart years ago. In fact, she's a much better person than his former love ever hoped to be. As expected, complications arise during the assignment, and figuring out who's intent on murdering Bree is definitely an unexpected challenge for Dez and his guys. Dez is a good character, but it was hard to match Colton from Dark Water, and there may have been a bit too many clichés used in this second book in the series. Suspense was good, and the story continues with the threatening vibe from the past resulting from that failed, deadly mission.

Griff (Ripple Effect) used his male logic when he left his wife Bethany and daughter Ada, crushing his wife's heart with no understanding of why the man she loved walked out of their marriage. Griff doesn't talk about it to anyone, not even his team brothers in Blackout. When he gets a frantic call from Bethany, he sets everything aside to protect them from an unknown evil. Trying desperately to figure out the reason for the danger his wife and daughter suddenly face, the Blackout team figures it must be related somehow to that mission. The terrorists who call themselves The Savages are proving to be far more technologically advanced than anyone seemed to realize, and someone is feeding them personal intel about the Blackout team. Somewhere in the chain of command, there has to be leak, a mole, a sleeper agent. When Bethany and Griff are thrown into a life-altering experience, they can no longer hide their love for each other if only they can survive. Griff is a great character, and this one is written well and full of suspense. 

Benjamin (Rising Tide) is the youngest and newest addition to the team and has come under suspicion from Colton more than once after joining Blackout. Unduly suspected of possible betrayal, he has to tread lightly at times and resents it. The newest resident to their group is the house manager CJ, and Benjamin has a problem with her. They bicker and she pushes all of Ben's buttons. However, when she defends a serious threat because of a text sent from an unknown sender, no one knows what to think. When the power goes out in the middle of the tourist season and a hurricane is on its way, the island is thrown into chaos. Something's not right with the developer of a piece of island property, and Ben and CJ are assigned to check out the guy in charge. Inquiries are being made by other team members as to what the government's doing to investigate the possible leaks to The Savages. And no one is giving them satisfactory answers. 

When Benjamin and CJ are also asked to checkout a disturbance at a homeless camp down at the beach, Ben is shocked when the man he's chasing turns back to look at him before diving into the water to get away. Nothing is the same after that moment. And suddenly, everything gets more complicated and even more threatening. This is a great conclusion to the series with a sad element to it, a clever twist, and my only disappointment came in not revealing the content of a certain letter. 

Very entertaining series with each story being a quick read with strong men and strong women characters. 

Father, you've made Christy a prolific storyteller. Please continue to equip her with all she needs to write the stories you have just for her to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The opening scene(s) to Benny and Joon with The Proclaimers doing the song. Again, one of my all-time favorite films.

Father, only you save souls. You're all we have in the end. Or not – if we choose. I'm desperate for you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Christy Barritt writes Book 1 of the Lantern Beach Blackout Series and gives readers an exciting mystery filled with former SEAL members who want to learn the truth about the death of one of their own. 

Colton Locke's best friend Daniel Oliver was his SEAL teammate and married to Elise, a psychologist. Colton, now out of the military after the horrible and tragic malfunction of a black-ops mission, blames himself for his best friend's death. He's begun a private security/protection company he's named Blackout with some of his former team located in Lantern Beach, North Carolina. Dark Water opens with an intense scene of a break-in to Elise's home, and she knows exactly who she needs to see to get help. 

But when she finally drives from her home in West Virginia straight through to Lantern Beach, she nearly collapses from the stress and fear of the previous night and the fact of what has been attached to her husband's death. Upon seeing Elise, Colton's guilt does a number on him and amplifies the blame he carries, but what's almost worse is his emotional reaction to the woman he's always considered near perfect. 

While there is the thread of a heartfelt romance in this suspense-filled mystery, Christy does a good job of keeping it in a tight balance between being important to the story but secondary to the troubling conflict of the reasons for the threats against Elise. 

Between bombs, coded information, multiple suspects with no real clues, many suspicions, distrust, and guilt, this good mystery takes off with oomph and meditates on the threats before zooming to a satisfying conclusion after that dark water nearly does its fatal job. Quick and entertaining read. But then, who doesn't like to read about a band of former SEALs? 

(The faith element is present but subdued.)

Father, please continue to bless Christy's writing. You've obviously given her a great talent at writing stories. Please provide all she needs to keep them coming. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

                         HE IS RISEN! 

                      Luke 24:1-8 (NIV)

This powerful song says it all. "Good" Friday paved the way for us sinners to seek the forgiveness paid in full in an excruciating and barbaric death on a cross. For all of us. Even those who refuse to seek Him. One day that window in time will close for those who choose to reject Him. After giving His life for us. Always their choice. 

Thank you, Jesus. 

Back in the day when "selfies" were taken with 35mm cameras using black and white film because, you know, the mood . . . 

Lord, you've watched over me my entire life, and I cannot thank you enough for protecting me and rescuing me when there is no way I deserved your grace. So thankful. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.