The Rising: Badlands Book 2, Morgan Brice

Far more ghostly and web-like than the first book in the series, The Rising takes us on a trip full of revelations, connections, historical reaching for the jugular of the present, self-realizations, relationship stumbling blocks, and foundation strengthening.  To say this was a crazy ride is probably an understatement.  While it took the whole story to finally bring everything together, it was a rather enjoyable journey that took turns bringing out the passion of the characters as well as the anxiety.  It's clear that this is a series to watch for a really great relationship that is built on both passion and real strength while having the driving force of the series still be carried on the supernatural threads.

Simon didn't carry himself as well in this book as he did the first, but I didn't like him any less.  There were quite a few pieces to this particular puzzle that weighed heavier on him and I liked the way he rose to the challenge and made smart choices in terms of communication and knowing who to include with the supernatural elements.  What was less appealing was his tendency here to let certain clues drop or be shelved for a longer-than-reasonable time.  Those moments seemed more intentional by the author so they could mean something later in the story, but I didn't think the way they were glossed over after their introduction spoke well to Simon's character.  If there had been a better integration and carry-over throughout the story I would have found all of it a bit more believable.  Well, as believable as a supernatural-themed story can be.

It was Vic that surprised me in a good way here.  He felt like a smaller role, unfortunately, even if he got as much page time as Simon, but his concern, his care, and his growing acceptance of all that Simon's gifts truly meant for their relationship was really great.  I liked that he sought advice from people he knew had good advice to give and didn't hesitate to put it into practice, he didn't let his pride stand in the way of what he knew was the right thing to do.

We're meeting new characters that will, hopefully, be around in more visible roles in the future and both Simon and Vic are well on their way to really becoming a powerful couple that I can't wait to read more about.  Drama in this story was big, much bigger than I anticipated, and it didn't all come together in a cohesive way, but it was definitely exciting to read.  I do wish things were connected along the way so the big picture wasn't so much of a constant barrage of new information in a relatively short period of time.  That would have kept the point of this particular story much more focused and less scattered.  Overall it was a great read and I'm really wanting more from this world sooner rather than later.

*$4.99 on Amazon!

A big storm is brewing, there’s a killer on the loose, and the ghosts of Myrtle Beach are restless. Psychic medium Simon Kincaide and his sexy cop boyfriend, homicide detective Vic D’Amato have their hands full helping the Grand Strand brace for rough surf, driving rain, and high winds as a winter storm roars toward shore. 

Everyone’s on edge, and rumors are rampant about sightings of Blackcoat Benny, a ghostly omen of danger, and worse, the Gallows Nine, the spirits of nine infamous criminals hanged back in the 1700s, a harbinger of disaster. Rough tides wash the wreck of an old pirate ship into shallow waters, high winds threaten to damage an old mansion with a dark past, and the citizens of the beach town hunker down to ride out the storm.

As the skies grow dark and the sea turns wild, several men from prominent local families end up dead under suspicious circumstances. Simon’s premonition confirms Vic’s gut feeling—the killing is just getting started. As Simon tries to reach out to the spirits of the murdered men to help the investigation, he’s attacked by malicious ghosts that don’t want anyone getting in the way of their long-overdue vengeance. 

With the storm hammering the coast, and new victims piling up, Simon is certain that the sins and secrets of the past are coming due, and that the murders have a supernatural link. Vic and Simon race to stop the murders against an unholy deadline, but as they battle rising tides and risen ghosts, can they save the intended victims without getting trapped themselves?