Four Crows
By Lily White
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Buy: Amazon / B & N / I Books / Kobo
Synopsis
“You’ll have to forgive me, Darlin’, for all the unforgivable things I’m about to do…”
Loyalty is never easy – especially when you’re forced to choose between family and the man you would do anything to possess…
Born into a world that no child should endure, Magpie “Maggie” Crow is doted on by her loving father and over protective brothers. As much as she loves them, she fears them, especially when she learns secrets they’ve kept hidden.
Elliot McLaughlin joined the U.S. Marine Corps right out of high school to provide for his wife and son. He’d never intended to become a father so young, but was willing to do what it took to give his family everything they needed.
After Elliot’s family goes missing, he returns from war to an empty home. Obsessed with discovering who took his family, he investigates their disappearance and plots his revenge.
Passion brings Maggie and Elliot together. Obsession pushes them apart. As a bitter battle begins between Elliot and the Crows, Maggie’s heart hangs in the balance.
**Disclaimer: This book is intended for audiences 18 years of age or older. The subject matter of this book discusses sensitive topics that may be a trigger for some readers.**
Exclusive Excerpt
Standing by the edge of the bed, I locked my eyes with his and allowed the towel to slide down my body.
He didn’t move a muscle, didn’t pull his intense gaze from my eyes. “Are you sure, beautiful? Are you sure you can do this?”
Nodding my head slowly, I watched him with timid fascination. “You seem to ask me that question a lot, Elliot. And there hasn’t yet been something I couldn’t do when you were standing there next to me.”
Tracey’s Review
Since his wife and son went missing fourteen years before, Elliot McLaughlin has been fighting his demons. Returning from serving his country to find all that he loved gone without a trace has left him a broken and bitter man, and the only thing that he wants is revenge.
Maggie Crow’s upbringing has been what you might call unconventional. She knows that strange things happen at the parties that her father and two brothers have, and she’s learned that it’s best not to understand exactly what goes on behind those closed doors, best to let the music drown out the screams.
When I read the synopsis for FOUR CROWS by author Lily White, I knew that this was a book that I wanted to read. I have not read any of Lily’s other books, but this one sounded so dark and captivating that it went right to the top of my TBR, and I could not wait to get going with it. And I can say with certainty that I have not read a book like this in, oh, ever. This book is, indeed, dark, rife with violence and uncertainty, with loss, betrayal, and, finally redemption, and it’s sure to be one of the books that I’ll read this year that will stay with me for a very long time.
I do enjoy a darker, less HEA read sometimes, but, let me tell you, this book is not for the faint of heart. There is a lot, a lot of violence, both implied and overt, so, if that’s not your thing, you might want to steer clear. But this book is fascinating to me, too, a picture of such twisted evil that I could not stop reading.
With all of that being said, though, FOUR CROWS is more than just a dark read. The freeing up of people bound by the things tethering them to the life that they’re given, the decision to be more than they are, the ability to rise above and create beauty from the pain, Lily’s written a book that demonstrates all of these things. I don’t want to give anything away, because I really believe that a book like this one should be gone into without preconceived notions or spoilers, but I will say that this book is much more hopeful than I would have thought. Do I recommend it? Absolutely yes, although proceed at your own caution, because the triggers are there, and they’re not pretty. That being the case, though, FOUR CROWS is an easy 4 stars for me, and I will look forward to reading more by Lily in the future.
***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***
Michel’s Review
I have a very vivid imagination and with every book I read, it plays out in my head like a big screen film. When I saw the blurb for Four Crows by Lily White, I knew this was a book I wanted to read. I love dark, twisted tales that are loaded with suspense and intrigue. Add a romance to the mix and it’s pure gold for me.
Four Crows begins with a very dark moment told through an innocent child’s point of view. The innocent reasoning combined with the twisted reality automatically gives the reader chills. It sets the story in motion.
Elliott McLaughlin’s wife and four year old son went missing fourteen years ago. They disappeared without a trace while he was serving his country. For fourteen years Elliott has lived with the guilt of not being there and protecting his family. He has searched high and low. He has researched missing women and children throughout the country. The one thing he has found in several of the missing cases leads back to the Crow family.
The Crow family is transient. They move throughout the country under the pretense of a business involving storm clean up. When they are in certain areas, women and children come up missing. How are they connected? Elliott intends to find out.
When the Crows return back to their home base, the town where Elliott’s family went missing, Elliott’s ready for them. He has discovered the best way to gain information is through Maggie Crow, the youngest and only daughter of the Crow clan. Once he meets Maggie and gets to know her, he realizes that she is an innocent victim of her family as well. Rather than destroying Maggie along with the Crows, he hopes he can save her as well.
As the story plays out and the Crows once again begin their evil deeds, it will be up to Elliott to put an end to their atrocities . Although Maggie is innocent of their deeds, she is still a Crow. She may choose family over justice for those who lost their lives at her family’s hand.
Lily White wrote an intense thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. There were some disturbing scenes that were graphic enough to get the overall picture but not overly graphic to where the reader was cringing. Through it all, Elliott and Maggie were finally able to face the demons and move on with their lives. Nothing can replace the loss of life but there can be peace found once the bad memories are put to rest.
I would highly recommend this dark romantic thriller.
***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***
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Author Bio
Lily White is a dark writer who likes to dabble on the taboo side of eroticism. She is most known for her Masters Series (Her Master’s Courtesan and Her Master’s Teacher), Target This, Hard Roads, and Asylum. She’s co-authored Serial (a four part serial series). When she isn’t writing as Lily White you can find other books by her under M.S. Willis where she has penned the Control Series, the Estate Series, Because of Ellison (contemporary romance), and Standard Romance Story (Romance Comedy). Lily enjoys stretching her writing muscles by continuing to challenge herself with each book she publishes.
In addition to writing, Lily is an avid reader, gummy bear slayer, and a gold medalist in puppy naps.
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