Midnight Sacrifice

I loved the development of the characters in this story. It's great to see a story where everyone isn't 'perfect '. Melinda weaves a great story that can pull you in. She's able to make you see just where this is taking place. You can feel the cold, smell the mountain air- feel the passion.

This was a different Melinda Leigh, almost totally different. Glimpses from the past sneezed through occasionally but I felt unusually lost right up to the final chapters. Then is was the usual whiz-bank flaming climax and then the sweetest ending ever. Read this one slowly and let it sink in gradually. You’ll be glad you did. Still 5 stars and an Atta Girl‼️Phil Calkins👌

Finished in a few hours. Interesting setting and characters. You'll love itPlease don't forget to pursue her other books!

. Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Mandy Brown used to work at Nathan's diner; she now runs the family Inn.Nathan owns the local diner.Jed Garrett is Mandy's best friend.Danny Sullivan is Jayne's brother; he's an ex-soldier.Bill Brown is Mandy's brother.Kevin and Hunter Dougherty are father and son.Conor Sullivan is Danny's brother.Dr. Louisa Hancock runs a local museum.2. Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐The story opens with Nathan telling Mandy to get in his SUV. Jed tells Nathan to leave her alone. Nathan stabs Jed and Mandy would not leave his side. Nathan tries to grab Mandy but someone tackles him.Four months later, Danny is on his way back to Huntsville to talk to Mandy. He finds her and he asks about Nathan. His sister, Jayne, lives in Philadelphia and is afraid that Nathan will find her and kill her. Mandy doesn't want to talk about Nathan.Danny heads to Reed's place. Reed is with Jayne and he's trying to sell his house. Danny plans to stay there for a few weeks; until he finds Nathan.Kevin and Hunter are fishing. As they were on their way back up the trail, Kevin heard footsteps. Out of nowhere, Kevin is tazed. The man grabs Hunter and takes him to the river. Then he goes back to get Kevin.Nathan has built wooden cages for his "offerings" to the Beltane. Nathan believes that once he completes the ritual, everything he wants will come true.Danny tries again to talk with Mandy but she has a secret she doesn't want to reveal to anyone; especially Danny. He confronts her but she doesn't give him information.Nathan hears three women walking on the trail. He's going to abduct them for his ritual. He tazes them... When the women don't return to the Inn, Mandy and Danny call the police. They go ahead of the police to try and find them.While Mandy is away, Nathan goes to the Inn to kidnap Mandy. He is angry that she's not there. He decides to take Bill; he tazes him and takes him to the ritual site. When Mandy, Danny and Jed get back to the Inn, Bill is nowhere to be found and her mom is very ill. Will Danny and Mandy find Bill and the others? Will Mandy reveal her secret to Danny? Time is running out...3. Writing Structure ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Melinda has weaved an absolute page-turning read! Mandy has a secret and is afraid to tell Danny; he has given her a reason to live life to the fullest. Danny is a complicated man; he cares for Mandy and wants to protect her; he also wants justice for Jayne. As an ex-soldier, he fights his demons but wants a better life for himself. I found Nathan's backstory important to the overall story. Melinda combines mystery and romance and they compliment each other. It's a well-written story... I'm in book heaven!4. What an incredible ending! All the pieces fit and the questions all answered. The story ends on a happy note and all is well with Danny and Mandy!5. Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This is Melinda Leigh's second book in the "Midnight" series. I've read her other books and I throughly enjoyed each and every one. She writes stories of mystery, romance and family. I'm looking forward to reading book 3, "Midnight Betrayal"!

Huntsville, Maine has picture perfect views but it also harbors evil. Deep in the forest a Celtic Druid plans human sacrifices in hopes of gaining the favor of the gods to rid his family of a curse.Four months ago terror reigned in the little Maine town. While one of the men who were responsible is dead another escaped but not before trying to take Mandy Brown with him. But Danny Sullivan saved her and her best friend Jed.Now Danny has come back to town to try and find the killer so his sister can finally feel safe. Mandy wants nothing to do with him and his cause as she has been getting threatening pictures reminding her to keep her mouth closed if she doesn't want any harm to come to her fragile mother and mentally challenged brother.Mandy had no idea she was sleeping with a killer. Her father's abandonment when she was a child has left her with issues of needing to feel that human connection with another person and blinded her to a killer's true identity. She feels extreme shame over this and tries to keep her secret even though it means not only lying to her best friend Jed but also lying to Danny whom she has become attracted to but knows nothing can become of it.Danny is the youngest of the Sullivan's. He was also the most messed up of them when he was growing up and feels a strong sense of protecting his family. He still suffers from PTSD and has extreme nerve damage in one arm that at times messes with his self image but deep down he is a honorable man who wants to do right by his sister and doesn't understand Mandy's push and pull feelings.The secondary characters were just as engaging as the main. Jed was a man with such a good heart and loved Mandy so much even though she didn't love him the same way. Mandy's brother Bill was such a sweet man/boy you couldn't help but fall in love with him.The author once again takes us into cultural druidism Celtic history. Even though it's used for a bad purpose in the book you can't help but be a little fascinated by it.Will Danny be able to keep Mandy from becoming the part of the madman's tool in a ritual?On a side note I have to say that the thoughts of Danny throughout the book were downright hilarious.

What a couple of intense books! I accidentally started listened to this book before realising that I should have read book 1 first so found myself staying up all night long to finish both.This gripping book was full of twists and turns with enough suspense and romance to keep me listening until the end and beyond! My heart was racing and I was perpetually on edge never sure what was going to happen next, wondering how Danny, Mandy and their friends and family would survive? Although it was obvious they would get together, it is a romantic suspense story after all. What was less obvious was how they would get there. What would they have to face, to sacrifice before they got their HEA?Each book focuses on different characters and can be read individually but I would not personally recommend this. The characters are interconnected and a lot of what happens in this book is as a direct consequence of events in Book 1.This is a family saga and I fell in love with the Sullivans from the beginning. I really, really needed to know what happened to each of the siblings. Everyone of the characters tugged at my heartstrings, even dare I say it the Villain. I found myself laughing, crying and internally screaming throughout the whole book and begging for more.It is rare that I become so invested in a series from the get go. I have read/ listened to many good Romantic Suspense novels but this series is certainly one of the best.Melinda Leigh is an Incredible author and Christopher Lane is an amazing Narrator really bringing these complex characters to life. This book and the entire series is a must read / listen to for all adult readers who love action-packed romantic thrillers. Due to the content I would not personally recommend this series to young readers.All books are available to read and listen to for free with Kindle Unlimited which was a definite bonus as I might have missed out on this incredible series otherwise. I can't wait to listen to more books by Ms. Leigh and will be buying the whole series as I am not prepared to say goodbye to my new friends quite yet.

Mandy and Danny are both trying to outrun their memories, both trying to move on, but to do that they need to face their shared past, find the threat that is still lurking and help each other to heal.This is book two in the series, you do need to read book one first as this picks up where that finishes, but both are available on Kindle Unlimited.Mandy has found an inner strength she wasn't aware of but she is tired, physically and mentally, she was hoping if she laid low and ignored the threats they would stop but they are only increasing. Her heart tells her to trust Danny, but her heart has been wrong before...will he ever forgive her for doing what she must?

There was a lot of back story that is condensed in to a few paragraphs, which I assume was a synopsis of the first book. Leigh summed up the previous book well as it didn't take too long and detract from this next instalment that I was on. I didn't feel I had missed out any not reading the first book.I enjoyed the story, it moved along well and I liked how the relationship developed between Mandy and Danny. However, their relationship was the reason the book only got four stars. I hate it when characters are described as being perfect for each other and fit perfectly together physically, emotionally and mentally. When it is this sickly sweet it really puts me off. They can be compatible and have a lovely relationship, it just needs to stay believable.The author must be doing something right though as I had a nightmare about witchcraft the night I finished the book!

After reading previous reviews I felt this book worth a read. I was disappointed then, to find that the plot far fetched and some of the dialogue and descriptions repeated throughout the book. For example being told constantly that 'cops don't believe in coincidence' as a bit off putting. Other examples are there but I won't labour the point.Don't be too put off by the down side to this review - I did read both this book and it's sequel and found them pretty easy going apart from the above comments. However I'd agree with other reviewers I prefer a conclusion at the end of each book I read rather than being 'forced' to buy the next book to find out.

This was another great story from Melinda Leigh. She is my favourite thriller writer and her finances and love stories in her books make them all the more enjoyable. This one has twists and turns as all her books do. Look forward to reading the next in the series. This book gets my HIGHLY RECOMMENDED tag.