It’s a psychological thriller with paranormal elements that continues the story of newly-minted angels Mike and Lucas.N.N. LightThe twists and turns in this story are amazing. Just when you think you know where the adventure is going, it switches to the unexpected. Definitely kept me entertained and on my toes!Jacqui NelsonShe didn’t expect to land in the crosshairs of a serial killer.When Julie … land in the crosshairs of a serial killer.
When Julie Crenshaw is offered a news reporter’s job on beautiful Vancouver Island she didn’t expect to land in the crosshairs of a serial killer.
Connor O’Rourke has seen his share of human depravities during his fourteen years as a homicide detective, but is still sickened by the murderer terrorizing his island shores.
And threatening his key witness.
As the stakes rise, can two people get a second chance at love?
Or will a killer become the winner?
THE BEAST WITHIN by Jacquie Biggar did not disappoint! These books are a great blend of contemporary romance with added suspense and the paranormal element of guardian angels that have ties to the main characters.
Avonna
From USA Today Bestselling Author Jacquie Biggar, Can two displaced angels save a woman from the clutches of a vicious psychopath?
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A wonderful blend of multiple genres, The Beast Within, is the second book the Mended Souls trilogy, but it also reads as a stand alone. I had no problem picking up the storyline involving Guardian Angels, Lucas Carmichael and Mike, both of whom died in the same car crash. While struggling to overcome their animosity for each other, they’re also charged with watching over Mike’s wife, Julie Crenshaw. A reporter, Julie, is still adjusting to life without Mike, as well as the loss of her unborn baby girl when she begins investigating a string of bizarre serial murders. Enter Conner O’Rourke, a homicide detective who is working the case.
Biggar does well in providing insight to her myriad cast of characters. Paths cross, lives become entwined, and puzzle pieces (you’ll find an interesting side line with them) slot into place while others veer in unexpected directions. The story provides suspense, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural along with a romantic sub-plot as Julie and Conner discover mutual attraction for each other. The writing is polished with excellent scene setting, vivid descriptions, and a storyline that provides multiple twists with plenty of danger. The author is clearly a pro and knows how to deliver a tale that will keep you entertained from beginning to end.
A Gripping Supernatural Suspense
This is the second book in Jacquie Biggar’s Mended Souls series, and I can’t believe I managed it, but I read it even faster than the first one.
We pick up not long after the first book ended, and we learn more about the relationship between begrudging teammates Lucas and Mike—or rather, we learn how much that relationship has degraded.
We also get to see how the survivors have moved on, particularly Julie, Mike’s widow. She’s now a reporter, and she’s stumbled onto a career-making story. It could be the big break she’s been hoping for. It could also spell disaster, as it lands her on a serial killer’s radar.
We get the chance to further explore the personal histories of the main characters while watching a romance bloom and a mystery unfold. The escalating stakes and the increasing inner turmoil (for all the characters) had me racing to the end.
I thoroughly recommend this second novel in the series for fans of supernatural suspense novels, and I’m eagerly awaiting the third.
Definitely kept me entertained & on my toes. This is a great addition to the Mended Souls series. I loved tagging along with Julie Crenshaw as she went from grieving widow to feisty journalist — with a little help from two angels at odds and one (as Ms. Biggar so perfectly describes him) “tall, dark, and annoyingly handsome” detective named Connor O’Rourke. The twists and turns in this story are amazing. Just when you think you know where the adventure is going, it switches to the unexpected. Definitely kept me entertained and on my toes! Loved reconnecting with Lucas, Scott, and Natalya from the first book and meeting new characters as well. My fingers are crossed that I’ll be reading more about Officer Tate in a future book!
If you’re looking for a white knuckling mystery, with gutsy paranormal and a hot sucker of a romance, THE BEAST WITHIN, Book 2 of The Mended Souls Series is the story for you.
Although I didn’t read the first story, there was enough info in the Beast for me to catch up with the plot.
Here’s the skinny: Lucas and Mike are two feuding angels. Mike has a secret, and Lucas dearly needs to know what it is, while Mike’s forced to watch his widow Julie Crenshaw getting hot and bothered over Connor O’Rourke, a determined detective with much on his plate.
Oh, by the way, there were times I wanted to scream, “For the love of Pete, are these two ever gonna get it on?”
Julie’s a reporter and accidentally discovers ‘evidence.’ So, she’s now on the case of a brutal murder, a real grizzly one – actually there are quite a few, all with the same MO, which means there’s a serial killer on the loose. Connor’s the detective in charge.
Who else is in the murder’s sights – how will he choose his next victim?
Throughout much of the story I was left wondering why the serial killer dismembers his prey the way he does. Discovering the reason for his depraved calling card was something I didn’t see coming.… but it wasn’t pretty.
I had so many questions while reading the story, and not enough answers, exactly the way a story should be presented. Bravo, Ms. Biggar! You had me at the prologue, the first chapter, and until the brilliant ending.
Since I don’t divulge spoilers, I sure hope you’ll take my word and give this fabulous story a read.
Highly recommended = Five well deserved stars.
I am open minded about the existence of other worldly beings, and would love to think that there were a couple of guardian angels looking out for me and mine.
Julie Crenshaw needs all the help she can get as she is at risk from the very serial killer she is investigating for her paper. Still coming to terms with being widowed, Julie is fighting the temptation to be drawn into a new and complicated relationship with the good-looking lead detective, all the time being watched over by the husband she lost to a fatal car crash.
He in turn is at odds with the angel he has been partnered with, and who is responsible for the crash that killed him. They are supposed to be working together to get over their animosity, but there is a lot of work needed to achieve that.
Despite picking up the story in the second book, the author introduced the previous characters in a timely fashion which meant it was easy to get right into the plot as a stand alone thriller. From the middle of the book the story gathers pace, as Julie researches the possibility there is more to the killer than meets the eye, racing towards an exciting climax as the characters of this world and the next come together.
I will be reading more of this author’s books as there is certainly plenty to choose from across the romantic genre.
The Beast Within is a well written and interesting novel. I was hooked from the beginning. It kept
you curious and guessing who the murderer was. To say I was surprised to find out that the
murderer was someone close to Julie ( main female character) is an understatement
In the Beast Within you read form the third person which allows you to look inside certain
characters. It was interesting how Jacquie Biggar captures the murderers mental mind and how he
kills victims creepy but well written.
The Beast Within’s characters are human and angels. Before Julie and her boys moved to Vancouver
Island she was married to the love of her life, pregnant and raising her 2 boys with her husband.
They were happy and loving life until a tragic fatal accident that took the life of her husband and
unborn daughter and the life of the driver of the other car.
Now Lucas and Mike (Julie’s husband) are angels and there is to keep her alive
The Beast Within is a MUST READ, you won’t regret it. I want to read more!
I have been looking forward to reading and reviewing this second book in the Mended Souls series. THE BEAST WITHIN by Jacquie Biggar did not disappoint! These books are a great blend of contemporary romance with added suspense and the paranormal element of guardian angels that have ties to the main characters.
I loved this book as much as the first in this series. Ms. Biggar’s characters come to life emotionally in scenes that move you in every way. The second chance at love, the letting go of previous love lost, forgiveness and understanding. Both plotlines intertwine into a moving read that has me anxiously awaiting the next book!