Review: Red Nights by Shari J. Ryan

Book Blurb:

Could I have saved him?

When my life changed in that smoky second, confusion rained down around me like

sparks from a fire. But yet I find myself falling for a sexy stranger I met in a dark park, and blatant lies I didn't know existed culminated into unfortunate truths.

At twenty-three, I thought I had life, men, and my future figured out. It turns out, I knew nothing.

In Shari J. Ryan's latest Romantic Suspense, Red Nights, you wonder how dark your world can get before all you see is red.

My Review:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Mystery, New-Adult--

Felicity wakes up to find her house covered in flames, barely surviving the fire. Little does she know is that her twin brother was in the house and did not get out. Felicity does not know what caused the fire to begin with, but feels the responsibility and the despair of her brother's death. Trying to piece back her life is proving to be almost more than she can handle, until she meets Hayes who has his own personal demons. The two are drawn together despite all the baggage and heartache. But then Felicity learns that the fire was set on purpose and everyone is a suspect.

I love a good mystery/suspense romance, and this was exactly that. I am happy to have stumbled across this author because she knows how to create a realistic setting, believable relatable characters and suspense. I now have a new author to add to my list of go-to reads. I will admit that I figured out who the arsonist/killer was pretty earlier on, but it did not hinder my enjoyment of the story. I had no ideas as to the motive of said villain, so it was interesting to learn the whys right along with Felicity, which I never saw coming.

Felicity was a hot mess, as she had every right to be. She lost her house and her twin in one go, and feel loss as well as responsibility. She has a secret habit of smoking just one cigarette at night to help her nerves, but never saw it as her being addicted. I thought it was interesting to watch her battle with the fact she could be responsible for the fire from her habit, and then the physical allure smoking has to her even when she denies she needs it. This was an anti-smoking message if I ever needed one. I rooted for her to put the pieces together even when she kept getting knocked back down and felt so alone. She and Hayes fit perfectly, and he was just who she needed to help her get order back. I liked that while they were both broken by terrible situations that they could become better, stronger people together.

Can I just say the ending was awesome! I was caught up in the joy of the moment and next thing I knew, a terrible scary wrench was thrown into the happiness. Way to stay true to the crazy. This is a standalone book, but it ended with a slight twist that I loved. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more by the author in the future.

I received this title form the author in exchange for my honest review.