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Sinful C.O.R.E. #2

Sinful Sacrifices

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Some sacrifices lead to murder…

A ski trip turns deadly when a bus carrying boys from an elite high school is hijacked and driven to an old abandoned amusement park. With a frozen lake on one side, acres of forest on the other, and up against a blizzard and sub-zero temperatures, the teens are trapped and at the mercy of their kidnappers. They have less than forty-eight hours to escape before the gunmen make good on their threats and begin killing them…one by one.

Chase Sawyer, agent for the criminal investigative firm, CORE, was a badass Crisis Negotiator with the FBI until a hostage situation resulted in the deaths of innocents. In the fallout, he left the Bureau, left the woman he loved, and left town. When a ransom is demanded for the release of fifteen kidnapped teens, Chase returns to Cleveland to work with the FBI and is forced to deal with past mistakes, along with the woman who haunts his dreams.

FBI Agent Summer Raines wonders why she still loves Chase. Before their breakup she’d been questioning their relationship. The man never could commit, and after becoming a crisis negotiator, had turned controlling and distant. Yet, five months ago, when he’d been in Cleveland for an assignment, she’d let him into her house and bed, only to be left brokenhearted once again. Now he’s back and about to get a huge surprise…she’s pregnant with a child he never wanted.

Chase is in for the negotiation of his life as he and Summer work to rescue the hostages and find a killer before more innocent lives are sacrificed…

390 pages, ebook

First published August 10, 2017

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About the author

Kristine Mason

38 books314 followers
Kristine Mason is the bestselling author of the popular romantic suspense trilogies, C.O.R.E. Shadow and Ultimate C.O.R.E. She is currently working on her next series, C.O.R.E. Above the Law, along with more Psychic C.O.R.E. novels.

Although Kristine has published a few contemporary romance novels, she focuses most of her energy on her romantic suspense stories, which she loves for their blend of dark mystery/suspense and sexy romance. She is fascinated with what makes people afraid, and is famous for her depraved villains whose crimes present massive obstacles for her heroes and heroines to overcome.

Kristine has a degree in journalism from Ohio State University and lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband, four kids, and two dogs. If she’s not writing, she’s chauffeuring kids, gardening, or collecting gnomes. Oh, and she makes a mean chocolate chip cookie!

Connect with Kristine on Facebook, Twitter or Goodreads. Or sign up for her newsletter at www.kristinemason.net.

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5 stars
35 (59%)
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16 (27%)
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8 (13%)
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Sherry Fundin.
2,089 reviews147 followers
August 10, 2017
Kristine Mason starts Sinful Sacrifices out with a BANG, but that’s no surprise. She manages to hook me from beginning to end in all her books. She loves to share her blood and guts imagination.

Brenna managed to get a quick text off before the kidnappers confiscated their phones. Kristine’s bleak description of the rundown park they would hide in mirrored his feelings of despair. I lived in Rochester NY near Sea Breeze Water Park, so this was easy to visualize, looking other worldly, alien and forlorn. The danger is very real and escape is on their minds…all the time.

When it’s discovered a Senator’s son has been taken, CORE is called in and Chase makes his appearance. Also, the Senator insists the FBI be in on it and we meet Summer. Kristine likes her hotties and simmering romance with flawed characters and I am always eager to see what she puts them through.

The push and pull of romantic suspense is some of my favorite reading, after the initial thrills of whatever tragedy brought them together. Communication is one of the most difficult things to do and one of the most common problems in any relationship.

Strength is letting your shield down, showing your emotion, letting someone really know you. Men see it as more of a weakness…or are they truly from Mars and we will never understand them. I want Chase to put his big boy pants on, quit wallowing in denial and talk to Summer. How else can they heal the wounds of their breakup?

I love Chase’s cute attempt to ‘help’ Summer. But taking away her coffee…that can be hazardous to his health and considered cruel and unusual punishment. I too count on my coffee in the morning and I feel her frustration.

I laughed out loud when Summer gave herself the finger at her scowling face in the mirror.

I love the scene in the kitchen, him cooking her breakfast. Humor in the morning is a good thing…a great way to start the day.

Summer has a bad feeling, but I don’t see why. Is it just experience telling her she’s missing something? I do agree with Summer, because Kristine always has more than meets the eye going on. She can twist and turn a story with the best of them. Her writing makes me feel as if I am there, at times….with the kids in the ghostly run down park, with Summer and Chase as they struggle to come to terms.

The romance is complicated. Kristine Mason’s men have ways of slipping into your heart and never leaving.

She keeps the mystery of the leader alive making me use my powers of deduction to figure it out. A process of elimination, if you will, but it took me a long time to get there. Good luck trying to figure out the mastermind.

Her stories are never about just a murder or just a kidnapping. They are elaborate, detailed, filled with convoluted characters whose motivation is of the most twisted and dark kind.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of Sinful Sacrifices by Kristine Mason.

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Profile Image for Cindy.
2,307 reviews168 followers
July 21, 2017
An unknown subject is pulling the strings in a game of greed and revenge with the lives of 15 teenagers. The players he has pulling off his twisted game are lacking moral compasses and the body count climbs pretty high.

Core Agent Chase Sawyer is sent to assist the FBI Cleveland Division on the case as one of the kidnapped kids is a US Senator's grandson. Chase used to work for the FBI as a crisis negotiator. During that time he dated and was in love with FBI agent Summer Raines. His guilt over how he lost a partner and that it also resulted in the killing of a teenager made him so overwhelmed with nightmares and self doubt about himself he walked away from both the FBI and Summer. Coming back to Cleveland opens up a lot of old wounds and demon and along with that having to face Summer again as she is one of the leads on the kidnapping case.

I liked how the roles were sorta flipped in this book. Summer is a strong confident FBI agent and woman. She knew Chase had commitment issues while they were together – even before the tragedy that changed him even more – but afterwards she knew he didn't think he was good enough for her and let him go when he ran. She still loves him but doesn't let his rejection poison her mind. She went on to get a promotion to running her own team – even with getting the surprise of her life – an unplanned pregnancy from a one night visit from Chase 5 months ago. I love a woman who can say I love you but I don't need you. Someone needed to make Chase get his head out of his ass and Summer's shocking news and her laying we don't need you gauntlet down finally got through to him..

Now the kidnapping of the 15 boys.. Two acts to this – the before they are rescued and the after.. Author throws some red herrings in and they are pretty good... The first act was suspenseful but the ending of the second act will blow your mind..

Not going to say much on this but Ian Ian Ian – you are a meddler.. Always enjoy a CORE book and look forward to many more..
Profile Image for Kristy Douglas.
7 reviews2 followers
August 1, 2017
What a great book filled with suspense. Book keeps you wondering who is responsible for the kidnapping of a group of highschool kids. The location they are being held is creepy and makes you want to know the backstory of the amusement park. Love Ian again meddling in the love life of others. When a love story had some hard times and time away they are able to find each other again. Grow from their past and realize they really love each other. Love the core series and this one doesn't disappoint. I have yet to find any series with this amount of books that I have loved everyone. Anytime anyone is looking for good books to read I tell them about C.O.R.E. These books discuss past characters which is always nice to hear about characters you previously read about. If you like murder mysteries, love stories this book and the rest of the series are the books for you. I hope that Kristine doesn't stop writing and adding on to these series.
Profile Image for Suzette Thurlow.
Author 2 books3 followers
August 3, 2017
A parents worst nightmare! Kristine Mason takes you on a freezing snowy trip, as a Lacrosse team is kidnapped and held for ransom at an abandoned mountain amusement park. Twists and turns keep you guessing as to who is behind this dastardly deed. Just when you think you have it figured out another twist happens.
C.O.R.E. Agent Chase Sawyer is assigned to assist the FBI forcing him to come to grips with the past. He also will have to face the love he walked away from.
FBI agent Summer Raines comes face to face with the one man she didn't think she would see again. The thing is he still holds her heart in his grasp and she has a secret that can change everything. Five months pregnant with his child, will he reject them both?
Can Chase and Summer work together to bring the team home safe or will tragedy strike? Sinful Sacrifices will keep you in suspense until the very end!
Profile Image for Read All About It.
1,769 reviews24 followers
July 30, 2017
A ski trip turns deadly when a bus carrying boys from an elite high school is hijacked and driven to an old abandoned amusement park. With a frozen lake on one side, acres of forest on the other, and up against a blizzard and sub-zero temperatures, the teens are trapped and at the mercy of their kidnappers. When I read this I thought OK!!! I should have know with Kristine Mason there is always a twist and boy was there.Murder,creepy backdrop,twists that keep you guessing until the end. Love story that overcomes all odds. That's why this author is on my auto buy list. If you haven't read the Core books your missing out.
Profile Image for Jena.
6 reviews
August 11, 2017
Another great book in the CORE series. Summer and Chase had a 7 year relationship that ended after an assignment went wrong for Chase. They met one time after the breakup and Summer is now expecting. Chase doesn't know and Summer isn't sure when she is going to tell him until they are thrown into a case together. 15 kids have been kidnapped while on their way to a ski resort. Summer and Chase will work together to find the kids. But wait - there's always a twist - there is a mysterious person involved with the kidnapping. Great characters and story.
Profile Image for Donna Kranz.
82 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2017
OMG. What a book. I loved it! Once I started it, I just couldn't put it down and I haven't had that happen in a very long time. This book is very well written and kept me guessing. As always Ms Mason puts just enough into each story to make you gasping for more. Loved it. A must read!
16 reviews2 followers
August 3, 2017
Do you like suspense, Intrigue, romance and humor? Yes of course, who doesn't. Well this author managed to take all that and wrap it around a great storyline that will grab a hold of you and drag you into the book. I swear I felt like I was one of the characters experiencing the gamut of emotions right along with the story. This author has a gift for weaving intrigue with just enough twists to keep you guessing. You never know what you may get when you pick up an ARC but this book had me rushing out to tell my friends to pick it up and read. Kudos to this author. A definite must read.
Profile Image for Renee.
897 reviews20 followers
August 26, 2017
Chilling!

Definitely one of my favorite series!! I absolutely loved Sinful Sacrifices! This story is well-written with engaging characters. I loved the idea of this story. I thought it was a fresh concept. Oh the bad guys were so bad!! Loved it!! This is an awesome read and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
1,396 reviews
September 20, 2018
Excellent

Really good story, thoroughly enjoy this author's work. The pages turn themselves, so many twists and turns and things I just didn't see coming. Excellent read
Profile Image for Danielle  Gypsy Soul.
3,127 reviews78 followers
August 21, 2017
Sinful Sacrifices is book 2 in the Sinful C.O.R.E. series but can easily be read as a stand alone book. I enjoyed this suspenseful book but surprisingly for me I was actually more invested in the plight of the 15 boys and the suspense angle than the romance in this book.

This book started out with a BANG and really caught my interest. I loved the scenes between the boys and how they were handling being kidnapped. The description of the abandoned amusement park was really eerie and it was obvious there was a lot more going on then a simple kidnapping for money.

The two romantic leads were Core Agent Chase and FBI agent Summer who had a previous relationship that we get glimpses of in flashbacks. I think this is one of the reason's I wasn't as invested in the romance. Personally I like to see the development of the relationship and I'm not a big fan of being dropped in after things have gone wrong (this is just my personal preference so I'm sure a lot of other people will enjoy the romance more than I did). Chase and Summer have broken up due to Chase feelings of guilt over a hostage negotiation gone wrong. Summer has moved on professionally but hasn't been able to move on personally and five months ago she had a "rebound" night with Chase that left her pregnant.

What I did really like about the romance was that Summer was a very strong woman and although she still loved Chase she was able to move on with her life and didn't need him in it. I wasn't a fan of the way Chase did a complete 180 when he found out Summer was pregnant and would have liked him to rediscover how much he wanted/loved her for other reasons. While I liked Chase he just wasn't as strong of a hero as some of the previous hero's in C.O.R.E. books.

The suspense in this book was fantastic and took what would have been a 3 star book up to a 4 star book for me. There were plenty of twists and turns and lots of surprises along the way. Plenty of things I didn't see coming and a villain I will remember for quite awhile.

A copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.
77 reviews
August 9, 2017
Only Kristine Mason can have me on the edge of my seat, desperate to turn the page to find out what happens but then also has me not wanting to turn the page for fear of what will happen next! I am true whimp at heart, mostly read just romance but from the first book I read with Celeste and John I was hooked! Kristine is the only author I will read in this genre, she keeps you guessing right up until the end. You cannot help but feel for all those involved and the twisted, evil things that our hero/heroines have to go against. But good always beats evil, they just get very beat up in the process.I am so very privileged to be able to read this book early as an ARC reader, devoured in an afternoon and eager for the next.
Profile Image for Diana Davidson.
113 reviews
August 15, 2017
Another 5 star read from Ms. Mason! The bulk of this story takes place in an abandoned Amusement Park, which only increases the creep factor. Thankfully, there were no clowns! Chock full of the twists and turns we’ve come to expect from the C.O.R.E. series, this one expertly delivers. I love Summer and Chase. Their chemistry leaps right of the pages. And the bad guys that you think you know are nothing compared to the mastermind behind this complicated crime. Truly gave me the willeys. This author is an Auto Buy for me, she’s just that good. I highly recommend not only this book, but Ms. Mason’s entire catalog.
Profile Image for Cherie.
19 reviews
August 5, 2017
This story is engaging because the author expresses the killers actions throughout the whole book without identification. Even with the withholding the identity, the killer is right there with you in the book. Every thought and action the killer makes is up close and personal. The author keeps you guessing and rethinking your choice of "who done it". Excellent read, keeps you focused. Not the typical murderer. Just saying!
Profile Image for Chelsie.
1,250 reviews
August 8, 2017
Another great fast paced thriller! Teen boys stuck in a situation most would never imagine. Will they work together or will their adrenaline and macho-ness prove them to be wrong in the end? There's always one bad seed! I thoroughly enjoyed how she brought C.O.R.E back in and I can't wait for the next one!
Profile Image for Cassie Braun.
22 reviews
August 29, 2017
This character Kristine has created is her most evil and diabolical to date. Not only did I not expect the villain to be who he was, but how thought out the plan was that this character had. As always, Kristine has written another winner with the perfect blend of thriller and romance. I can't wait to see if these characters come back into play in the future. Definitely would reccommend!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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