An investigator’s search for a friend draws her into a world darker than she could have imagined.
Sara Adams awakes bling, unable to remember the most basic details of her life, but her darkness seems a blessing when she discovers the terrors of The Light.
Stella Montgomery investigates the news on the mean streets of Detroit, where she’s noticed a disturbing trend: young women are vanishing. When her best friend disappears, Stella investigates—despite warnings from her police detective boyfriend—following a twisted trail that leads her through the city’s most dangerous and forsaken precincts. There she uncovers something more sinister than she could have imagined: a shadowy organization known as The Light, led by the enigmatic Father Gabriel.
As Sara struggles to understand her place in these strange world she’s awakened to—an oppressive cult demanding unquestioning obedience—and her feelings for Jacob, the husband she can’t recall and whose harsh and tender attentions confuse and beguile her, Stella risks all to discover the truth. But enlightenment always comes with a price…
Sara
Though I’d hoped to learn more about his meeting, with the events of the day and the warmth of his silent embrace, in no time at all, I began to drift off to sleep. I was nearly there when Jacob moved. Rolling me to my back, he hovered close and smoothed my long hair away from my face.
“Are you still awake?” he asked, his minty breath blowing over me.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry…”
His simple apology had my full attention. I wasn’t sure I remembered hearing those words from him.
“…I meant to tell you how well you did at service.”
I smiled. “Thank you. I was scared, but Raquel and Elizabeth were with me the entire time. And Brother Benjamin,” I added, suddenly fearful of not acknowledging that a man had helped. He continued to run his fingers through my hair. “I didn’t want you to think that I’d been quiet because of anything you’d done. You were perfect.”
It was difficult for me not to ask the questions running through my tired mind, but Lying on my back helped me remember. “Thank you, Jacob. I want you to be proud. I’m sorry that I embarrassed you. I’m sure that’s what Father Gabriel was speaking to you about.”
His hand and breath stilled, as if he was considering his words carefully. “We’re leaving the clinic tomorrow. However, instead of going to our apartment, we’ll be staying at the pole barn for a while.”
“I don’t remember our apartment or the pole barn, but I’ll go wherever you take me.”
His lips brushed mine. The light touch ignited a park that detonated flickers of yearning throughout my body. I lifted my lips to his, wanting more than the chaste endearment.
“Sara, I…” Jacob didn’t complete his sentence; instead his hand slipped behind my heard, pulling me toward him. His kiss, no longer apathetic, devoured. Zeal radiated from his lips, and soon his breaths were labored. Like magnets we were drawn toward one another, closer and closer. My body liquefied, becoming pliable to his touch, while conversely, his hardened, ready to claim what was already his.
As the heat of our passion washed over us, I forgot my punishment. My attention went elsewhere. A tug on my hair propelled my head to tilt, while the persistence of his minty tongue encouraged my lips to part. Whimpers and moans reverberated in my mouth and bubbled forth. They were wordless sounds declaring my body’s approval.
The large, strong hands that had delivered pain now brought pleasure. I reached for his broad shoulders, opening my arms and willfully surrendering to his kisses. With a palpable hunger, his mouth moved from my lips to my neck and down to my collarbone. His actions sent shivers to my toes and tremors to my insides. Each kiss moved lower until he reached the neckline of my nightgown. The bra I’d worn to service was gone. My breaths quickened as each button cam undone, leaving me bare and exposed to his desires.
The sound of my heart echoed in my ears as he praised my beauty and whispered admiration for what was his. When he wasn’t speaking, his lips moved lower as his five o’clock shadow tantalized my sensitive skin. It was as his skilled fingers joined the assault, kneading my breasts and twisting my hardened nipples, that primal sounds came from in my throat. It wasn’t that I feared speaking. It was that words weren’t forming. Wanting what he could give, I reached for his head, wove my fingers through his hair, and pulled him closer.
Suddenly he stopped and pulled away, leaving me open to the cool air.
Dazed and chilled, I reached for my nightgown. Embarrassed and hurt, I began to button it.
“Did I do something wrong?”
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Robin’s Review
I thoroughly enjoy reading dark psychological thrillers, but there’s something about cults that really makes me uncomfortable. I put my complete faith in author Aleatha Romig when I began reading her first traditionally published novel – Into the Light – and I quickly became 100% invested in her story about a cult. Into the Light is the first part of a duology, with Away from the Dark coming out in just a few short months. And thank goodness for that – because days later, I still can’t get this story out of my head!
The plot of Into the Light is twofold, as Aleatha Romig alternates her story between Sara, Jacob and Stella’s first person points of view. Sara Adams awakens in a hospital bed with no eyesight and no memory whatsoever of what came before. She’s injured and completely dependent upon Jacob Adams, a husband she cannot remember. A husband who has complete responsibility for her actions and care.
Stella Montgomery is an investigative journalist who works for WCJB in Detroit. Her best friend and coworker Mindy has disappeared. In fact, there’s been a rash of women who have disappeared from the Detroit area. Stella is on a mission to find out who or what is behind their disappearances – and to find and bring her friend home.
Aleatha Romig has once again crafted another meticulously detailed story. Into the Light is a dark psychological thriller/mystery that I think will appeal to the curiosity of most readers. Clues can be found throughout this novel, and if you are not paying close attention when you read it, you may miss important indicators as to what is taking place. I’ve read Romig’s Infidelity and Consequences series, and I’m quite familiar with her modus operandi. I picked up on a few of Romig’s clues, but she STILL managed to pull the rug out from under me with a major plot twist at the end of this novel!
It’s obvious to me Romig put a lot of thought and planning into this story. Her writing flows extremely well from one sentence to the next, and the attention to detail is impeccable. While I was reading, there were moments when I marveled at how creative and entertaining Into the Light is – especially as Romig begins to fill in the blanks of her mystery. This story continues to build in intensity right up until the very last page, when I found myself scratching my head because of a killer cliffhanger!
Into the Light appealed to a wide array of my emotions. I remember feeling angry, anxious, suspicious, curious, and confused while I was reading. There are friendships and romance and sexy time in the midst of this dark tale, all of which caused me to have mixed feelings about many of the characters in Romig’s cult. I think I can safely say that Away from the Dark is easily one of my most anticipated novels during the second half of 2016. I’m giving Aleatha Romig a 6-star rating for Into the Light and adding it to my 2016 list favorites!
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Michel’s Review
Quite honestly… I don’t know how to review this book. The first thing that comes to mind is… Aleatha Romig is a brilliant writer! I am awed by her mastery of her craft. She creates a mind blowing story that takes multiple twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. Every theory is thrown out the door as the pages turn. Each revelation adds another layer of intrigue and mystery. By the time the reader gets to the final chapter they’ve gone through a mind boggling journey that ends with complete surprise and shock. A jaw dropper. A huge cliffhanger. The reader is left with the impossibility of predicting what is going to come next. BRILLIANT!
Into The Light is the first book in The Light Series. It is considered to be a dark thriller. It’s a combination of dark thriller and romance. The beauty of this story is we don’t know who is the leading man or who the heroine is. It will all make sense once the complete story is revealed. In the mean time there are a ton of women going missing in the Highland Heights and Detroit area. One of those missing women is an investigative television reporter. Her best friend, another investigative reporter, the crew at the news station, a suspicious coroner, and a Detroit detective are all beginning to question the disappearances. It’s a complete enigma. There are no common factors, traits, or evidence that link these women in any way. As the separate investigations begin to unfold there is one thing that is beginning to surface. A secretive religious cult known as The Light.
Aleatha takes the reader into The Light. The reader becomes very aware of the doctrines that govern The Light. They get an in depth look of what it’s like to be a member of this congregation through the eyes of a married couple belonging to the fold. It is downright creepy and hair raising. There is more to The Light than living in the righteous way.
As this story begins to unfold, it takes many twists and turns. The layers of deception, violence, and deadly implications continue to grow in abundance. With each revelation it becomes more of a monster with far reaching claws. The monster has many disguises and an invisible presence. It has an insatiable hunger. These missing women never had a chance.
Be prepared for shocking ending. Just remember this is not the end… only a pause … until the next book, Away From The Dark, releases in October 2016.
Aleatha Romig has earned the title of Bestselling author. She has gifted her readers with her unquestionable brilliance.
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Aleatha Romig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana. She grew up in Mishawaka, graduated from Indiana University, and is currently living south of Indianapolis. Aleatha has raise three children with her high school sweetheart and husband or nearly thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she’s not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!
Aleatha released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August 2011. CONSEQUENCES became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Aleatha released the first of her series TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE, INSIDIOUS, in the fall of 2014. The standalone thrillers continue Aleatha’s twisted style with an increase in heat.
In the fall of 2015, Aleatha moved head first into the world of dark romance with the release of BETRAYAL, the first of her five novel INFIDELITY series. She also began her traditional publishing career with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK will be published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016.
Aleatha is a “Published Author’s Network” member of the Romance Writers of America and represented by Danielle Egan-Miller of Browne & Miller Literary Associates.
Shanora Williams is a twenty-something that creates authentic romantic stories that, may or may not, make you question what a “Happily Ever After” truly is. After hitting the New York Times and USA Today bestsellers list at the mere age of nineteen, Shanora ventured further into the creative writing world, working even harder to create unique and memorable romances for all to enjoy.
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