Deadly Ties

A Novel
Crisis Crossroads Center, Book Two
Vicki Hinze
2011
Multnomah

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

Just when you thought you had read all the books that were your absolute favorites, here comes a new one.  A book that leaves you yearning for more of the story.  I loved the first book in the Crossroads Crisis Center series, but this one just topped it!  Vicki Hinze is such an excellent author, and her way with suspense and mystery sets her high on my list of favorite authors. 

Centered once again around the Crossroads Crisis Center, this story is more detailed about the people of the center, than the actual center.  Lisa Harper, has had a rough life, her dad died of a supposed accident when she was young, her mom married a control freak with an evil streak, and eventually Lisa and her step-dad clashed so much that Annie sent Lisa away for her own protection.  She sent her to live at the Towers apartments, with some of her trusted friends from the Center.  Now twelve years later, Lisa is celebrating obtaining her license as a medical doctor, and her new job at the hospital.  Now, Lisa will get her mother away from the evil Dutch Hauk, and they will live together peacefully.  At least that is what she hopes, but Dutch has other plans, even if it means having Lisa's mother killed. 
What should have been a happy occasion, is the beginning of a nightmare.  An exciting series of events that will have you on the edge of your seat as you follow the horrors that could be.  Discovering that her mother has been beaten and left for dead, Lisa rushes to her mom's side at the hospital, only to be abducted.  As she realizes the dangers that she and the other two women in the truck with her are in, she begins re-living a nightmare.  The only problem is that nightmare was real, it was what happened to her as a young child.  All these years of believing her dad died while on a mission trip to Haiti, Lisa is horrified to have flashbacks of him being murdered, and her being abducted.  Will she survive this time, or will she live long enough to be beat to death in a fight to the death match?  The horrors she faces are real, and she has got to keep her wits about her, it is the only she will survive and be able to help the other women survive too? 
Mark Taylor, the security chief for the Center, and for the owner of the center is on the job.  He loves Lisa and the only person who doesn't know that is him.  But he vows to Lisa's mom that he will find her and he will bring her back safe.  How is he going to do this? He has no idea, but knows he has to trust in the Lord to keep her safe and to help him find her. 
A face paced book, you can not put down.  I laughed and cried through the entire book and it will go into my permanent library.  Do not miss this book!! Readers guide included.  323 pages US $13.99 5 stars.

This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.  Visit Vicki Hinze at her website to learn more about her books. 

See my review of Forget Me Not, the first book in this series HERE