Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson

“Grace, Henry, and Ally grew up together on the same block. They used to be best friends--until Grace's testimony put Henry's brother, Jake, away for killing their English teacher. Now, two years later, Ally and Henry hate Grace, and Grace is doubting what she thinks she saw that night. 

It feels like everyone's getting a second chance, then, when due to a mistrial, Jake is suddenly released. And Henry knows his brother is innocent, but when Grace reaches out to say she’s rethinking what she saw the night of the murder, Jake’s reaction is confusing. He doesn’t want Henry—or Grace--getting involved.

For Ally not getting involved isn’t an option, and there’s nothing Grace can say to convince Ally she’s not the enemy. But can Ally afford to push Grace out when she’s one of the only other people willing to believe in Jake’s innocence?  

The clock is ticking. Jake’s new trial date is about to be set, and he's sure to be found guilty again unless there's new evidence to prove he's innocent. Grace, Henry, and Ally are going to have to decide whether you can trust an old friend now that they’re your enemy. - taken from Goodreads.

Told in three different points of views, this trio of former friends work together to clear one brother’s name and uncover who the real culprit is. Suspenseful until the end.

Visit Liz Lawson’s website.

Dangerous Lies by Becca Fitzpatrick

"Stella Gordan's life is a lie."

Stella Gordon, not her real name, is given ten minutes to say goodbye to her boyfriend Reed. The two are entering the Witness Protection Program because her testimony will put Danny Balando in prison. Balando, her mother's drug dealer, is facing a first degree murder charge as well as multiple counts of drug possession and trafficking. Stella, who hates her new name, is heading to Thunder Basin, NE while her mother is going to rehab. She is angry at her mother and blames her for the situation that she finds herself in. Stella hopes to never see her again. She is estranged from her father because he refused to join her in the Program. Reed doesn't know where he is being relocated. She will never be able to come back home to Philadelphia and knows that Balando and his henchmen will never stop searching for her. Before the two are separated after being given ten minutes to say goodbye, Reed whispers in her ear to remember their joint email account.

Agent Price drives Stella to the middle of nowhere, small town Nebraska. He tells her about Carmina Songster, the retired cop Stella will be living with for the next three months until she turns eighteen. Everyone in town likes Carmina. They call her Gran and she knows the truth about Stella. They arrive after dark and Carmina is waiting on the porch for them. Right away, Stella knows this isn’t home. Her life and everything in it is back in Philadelphia.  She isn’t very receptive to Carmina’s welcoming gestures. Getting out of the car, she has a flashback to that night at her house where everything went wrong. Agent Price thinks everyone will be better with a good night’s sleep. Inside the house, Stella feels like she is in a time warp back to the twentieth-century. Carmina tells her that breakfast is at 7am sharp. Her room looks like it hasn’t been occupied in a while and a few of the previous inhabitant’s things are still there. She begins to wonder about Carmina’s past.

Stella is awoken by the sound of a lawn mower. She looks at the clock and sees that it is only 5am. Looking out the window, she sees a fit guy around her age. He doesn't hear her yelling because he has headphones on. She goes into Carmina’s room. She tells Stella that his name is Chet Falconer and he likes to get his work done early before it get too hot. Carmina instructs her to go back to bed. Since she wasn’t allowed to bring her iPhone, she will find something else in a dresser drawer. Back in her room, Stella pulls out a Walkman and rummages through the cassette tapes before finding one to her liking. She turns up the volumes and goes back to sleep. Stella goes down to the kitchen around ten and finds that breakfast is over. Carmina is out back, weeding her garden. Carmina tells her that bacon and eggs aren’t good cold and Stella states that she gets it; if you snooze, you lose. Stella hasn’t had a parent figure in a while and can do for herself. Carmina tells her that they are going into town to look for her a job, something Stella has never done. Stella thinks that maybe Carmina is looking for a fight but Stella decides that two can play at that game and goes along. She isn’t looking to get past her anger and open up to Carmina. On the way into town, the two pass by Chet at a house with a toolbox in hand. Stella starts to ask questions about Chet and Carmina warns her off. She states that he has enough problems without her adding to them. His parents are deceased and he is now the man of the house. Stella is surprised to find out that he isn’t looking to see what she considers a dead end town. After applying for several jobs while dressed in cut off shorts, the continue to trade barbs on their way home.

Carmina leaves Stella home alone one night while she attends a bible study. To combat a flashback she has, Stella goes to her room and pulls out one of Reed’s letters that she snuck with her. While reading it, she recalls one of the last things Reed said to her and she remembers their email account. Stella decides she must find a way to get to the library. She looks in the barn to see if she can find a bike but discovers an old Mustang instead. Locating the keys, the car easily starts and Stella heads out. She is disappointed to find that Reed hasn’t left an email but she leaves one instead. Heading out to her car, she is panic stricken to find that it won’t start. A guy comes up offering to help but she doesn’t want to take it. He states that the car was his before he sold it to Carmina last year. He wants to know if he needs to call the police. Turns out the guy is Chet. Stella tells him that Carmina is her foster parent and he is shocked. Chet can’t figure out why a loner like Carmina has taken her in. Stella gives Chet her cover story and he seems to buy it. He will start the car if she does a favor for him. Stella is worried that she won’t beat Carmina home. She agrees and heads to the diner to listen into a conversation that Chet is interested in. Getting the needed information, Stella comes back to find the Mustang running. Chet tells her a short cut. Hiding the car back into the barn, Stella thinks she is in the clear until she finds Carmina waiting for her in the house. Stella will be attending church with her tomorrow and now has a curfew. She isn’t happy and drowns her sorrows by reading one of Reed’s old letters.

People in church are shocked to see Stella with Carmina. She steers clear of any questions someone might ask and they want to ask. Stella begins to wonder what Carmina’s cover story for her appearance might be and why she was picked by the U.S. attorney’s office. Stella asks Carmina what she is getting in return. That is the answer Chet wants to know as he sits down in the pew behind them. Carmina isn’t answering and the conversation turns to Chet’s past. Carmina had arrested Chet in the past. She is surprised that Chet and Stella were together the night before. Stella is talked into staying for the church social after the service. Talking, Stella discovers that she listened in to a conversation between Chet’s young brother Dusty and Cooter Saggory, the town’s drug dealer. Chet fears that his brother is going to get caught up in something that will land him in prison. Their parents’ death hasn’t been easy on him. Stella wants to stir clear of the conversation because Chet’s problems with Dusty are all too familiar to her. Carmina come to retrieve her to go home. Stella tries to get out of leaving with her but Chet won’t play along. The Reverend tells Stella that he hoped to see her again. She comments that Carmina keeps her on a tight leash but Carmina comments that she isn’t Stella’s parole officer. H offers to see if Chet can find a church softball team to join. Stella is all to happy to play.

What occurred that caused Stella to enter the Witness Protection Plan? Why has Carmina taken in Stella? What is in Carmina’s past that she isn’t telling anyone?  Can Stella open up about her problems to Carmina or will she continue to shut her out? Does Chet uncover the truth about Stella? What secrets is Chet hiding? Can Stella and her mother ever repair their relationship? Will Stella ever see Reed again? What happens when Stella’s cover is blown?

Visit Becca Fitzpatrick’s website.

On the Edge by Allison Van Diepen

“Love is a dangerous thing.”

Life is looking up for Maddie Diaz. Her mother’s divorce from her stepfather is almost final and a letter arrived in the mail. Not only was she accepted to Florida State but she is getting a scholarship for tuition for four years. Her best friend, Iz, throws her a party after work to celebrate. After striking out with the latest guy Iz sets her up with, not her type, she leaves after 1:30am with another friend, Abby. They head off in different directions and Maddie cuts through the park. Its quiet but she sees Hector, a homeless man, talking to himself on a bench. Hector is a long time fixture in the neighborhood. Maddie is startled when she sees two gang members from Los Reyes sitting on the playground equipment. She passes by trying not to draw their ire and breathes a sigh of relief when she makes it out of the park. Hearing laughter, she turns to look over her shoulder. Maddie sees that the two gangsters have turned their attention to Hector. They start beating him and Maddie knows there is nothing she can do to help him. Several blocks from home, she ducks into an alley to call 911. The dispatcher tells her to stay on the line and to continue to watch what is happening. Hector stops moving and Maddie tells the dispatcher to send an ambulance. One of the Reyes pulls out a lighter and sets Hector’s clothes on fire. Maddie screams and takes off sprinting towards him. The Reyes run from the scene. Maddie attempts to help extinguish the flames but she keeps burning herself and is unable to help him. The EMTs arrive followed by the police. The flames are put out and Hector, unmoving, is placed in the ambulance. The cops question Maddie and she answers before thinking through the ramifications. At the police station, they have six men in a lineup before Maddie. With her wits returned, she hesitates answering anymore questions. The two men who set fire to Hector are there. Detective Gutierrez leaves Maddie alone in the room. She starts to question her safety when the detective returns. He tells her that Hector has died. Maddie tells him that suspects number one and six are the men responsible. Maddie goes home, fearful.

Maddie calls into work the next day and it seems everyone in the neighborhood has heard the news. Her mother even stayed home from work to stay with her, upset over the previous night's events. Begging off from hanging out with her friends, Iz brings some friends over to the hangout anyway. While watching television, they decide to go the the neighborhood market for some snacks. Unfortunately/fortunately, the good looking cashier is working. He watches them in the store, seemingly suspicious of their activity. When Maddie goes to look at him, he looks away. She decides that he has heard the news. Everyone but Maddie tries to flirt with him. As they are walking away, Maddie sees him watching her through the window.

A week later, Detective Gutierrez comes by to discuss the particulars of the case. She is a good witness and commends her for speaking out. He doesn't think the Reyes will retaliate but she should stick to public places and not take any midnight strolls through the park. At work the next night, Manny, a former gang member, talks with Maddie. He has been worried and offers to take her home from work. She asks him if he thinks the Reyes will come after her for talking. He doesn't think so since their leader, Salazar, has bigger problems to deal with right now, mainly a rival gang. After work, she goes with her friends to a college party. Sitting in a corner, she sees the hot guy from the market and promises herself that she will talk to him before the night is over. A girl, Julia, starts talking to her and they click, talking about college. Julia’s boyfriend Eric is throwing the party.  The two sit down and she introduces Maddie to a couple of her boyfriend's boxing buddies. One of them is the hot guy from the store. He looks at Maddie and says "hey". Julia is surprised that she knows Ortiz. After a bit, Ortiz turns and asks if she is Maddie Diaz. He admires what she did for Hector. They begin a conversation and Maddie begins to wonder about the possibilities of the two of them. She is crushed when he looks at his cell phone and says that he has to go. Later while at Denny's with the girls, Ortiz comes up in the conversation. They want to know if Maddie gave him her number. She tells them he didn't ask before he abruptly left. She vows not to go back to the store for two weeks.

While waiting at the bus stop, Maddie feels like someone is watching her but doesn't see anyone. Feeling like she is going crazy, she meets with the school psychologist. She asks if Maddie has been to the police. No, because she is embarrassed. She doesn't feel the way she did that night in the park when the two Reyes watched her. Maddie leaves. She meets up with Julia one afternoon and she notices Maddie is jumpy out in the open. She tells her about her past run ins with gangs. Julia knows just the place they can go for her to feel safe. They go to Eric’s boxing club and Maddie does. Eric is there but so is Ortiz. Julia comments that Ortiz is very nice to look at and Maddie is a bit embarrassed. After a few sparring matches, Eric and Julia ask Maddie to join them. She begs off saying she needs to work on the school newspaper. She notices Ortiz coming their way. Not wanting to be rejected again, she hurries off to catch the bus. While waiting at the stop, a black car pulls up and beeps the horn. It is Ortiz and her offers to drive her home. Maddie accepts. They talk along the way and Maddie isn’t for sure if he is flirting with her. She tries to keep her distance so as not to get hurt. He drops her off and she thanks him. Maddie is impressed that he doesn’t drive off until she opens her door.

One night while at the bus stop with a crowd of people,  Maddie’s worst fears come true. She was feeling paranoid and with good reason it turns out. She looks up when a car squeals its tires and she gets knocked down from behind. The men, definitely Reyes, beat her before dragging her to a waiting car. Everyone just stands and watches, unable to stop them. Maddie fights to remain conscious, knowing it is her only chance for escape. She is dropped to the ground and sees several guys fighting one another. The car peels off from the curb. Two guys drop down beside her and a blue eyed one tells her it is going to be okay. He picks her up and reassures her that he is there to help. She wakes up in the backseat of a car, her head cradled in someone’s lap. The guy up front asks Lobo how they are going to handle the situation. The guy holding her says her will carry her into the hospital. All of the guys have bandanas covering their faces. Lying her on a hospital gurney, he tells her that she is going to be fine and “until the next time.” Before he leaves, he tells the nurses that her name is Maddie Diaz.

Waking up in the hospital, Maddie is hurting. Her mother won’t leave her side. Iz promises her mother that she will stay with Maddie until she goes to sleep. She finally leaves so that the two girls can finally talk. When Maddie mentions the name Lobo, Iz freaks out. Lobo is the leader of the Destinos, the rival gang that has been screwing up the Reyes plans. Salazar will do anything to find out who Lobo is. Maddie has no idea what he looks like. She does knows that his kindness wasn’t faked and that she will see him again.

Who is Lobo? Why is he trying to stop the Reyes? Can he protect Maddie until she is able to testify? Who is Ortiz? Why is he taking an interest in Maddie? What happens when Maddie and Lobo aren’t able to stay away from each other? Will she discover his true identity? Can her heart survive an encounter from Lobo?

A great read for all the fans of Simone Elkeles’ Perfect Chemistry trilogy.

Visit Allison Van Diepen’s website.