Forget Me Not
Crossroads Crisis Center., Book 1Crossroads Crisis Center #1 Inspirational Romantic Suspense Romantic Thriller
“Hinze has written a masterful, complicated tale of suspense that gains momentum with each turn of a page. Her writing flows surely, moving from one character to the next, one setting to another, with readers keeping the swift pace. . . . Hinze’s plot may have readers puzzling over how this tangled tale will ever resolve itself, but that underestimates the author’s talent for transforming the unlikely into something beautiful.”
THEIR ELUSIVE ENEMIES TOOK EVERYTHING. NOW THEY WANT MORE.
Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family.
Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace.
The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?
Crossroads Crisis Center, Book 1
Forget Me Not
by
Vicki Hinze
Prologue
July 12
“You know what I want.”
Hearing him behind her, she jerked and dropped her paintbrush. It slid across the canvas, streaking the emerald gulf water with a bold, jagged slash of white.
“Gregory,” she said, her voice half-croak, half-whisper, her eyes seeing far beyond the easel and canvas in front of her. She had made this confrontation inevitable, but she hoped to finish one last painting before—
“Well? Are you going to give it to me?”
Shaking, she turned. He stood closer than she expected, towering above her and blocking both studio doors. The one to the deck overlooking the gulf was closer, but with his stride and reach—she didn’t stand a chance.
Inevitable.
Putting down her palette, she squared her shoulders and stiffened, unable to see past the bloodlust in his eyes. Would her response push him over the edge?
Regardless, she had only one choice. Her mouth as dry as the sand between her and the surf, she hiked her chin and looked him right in the eye. “No.”
“Reconsider—and think carefully.” His hands curled into fists at his sides, his face darkened to red, and the blood vessels in his thick neck protruded. “Is that your final answer?”
How could anyone that angry sound that controlled? She darted her gaze from door to door, still seeking a way out. But there wasn’t one. No one would interrupt, would hear her scream. There would be no escape.
She glanced to a painting of a young girl, hanging on the wall. What more could she have done? The man was rich, powerful, and more manipulative than anyone she’d ever known. She had gone all the way to the mayor looking for help. Well, to his wife, Darla, but even she had to admit how outrageous her claims had sounded. Gregory Chessman did seem incapable of anything that wasn’t wonderful.
Yet she knew better. She studied the painting, the innocence and promise in that beloved face. If he found her—and sooner or later, he would—then she, too, would die. That left but one option. One. And who knew if it would work?
“I know the truth about you.” She injected her tone with confidence and a warning of her own. “If anything happens to me, others will know it too.”
“You tried that and failed.” He grunted. “You’re a crazy woman. No one believes a crazy woman, not even an airhead.” He followed her gaze to the painting.
Something inside him snapped. His face contorted and he closed the gap between them in a flash, clamping his fingers around her throat. Fury pounded off him in waves, rivaling the six-foot surf. With a throaty growl, he jerked, lifting her off the ground.
She fought hard, kicking and swinging her frail arms, trying to break his hold, but she couldn’t make contact beyond his forearms.
Her vision blurred, her starved lungs burned, craving air. Her limbs turned leaden.
Then the brilliant light flooding the studio faded to black, and she knew no more.
* * *
Gregory watched the life leave her eyes, taking pleasure in the fact that his would be the last face she would see. How dare she refuse him? Threaten him? The crazy fool.
When the last spark of hope for revival passed and she hung limp and lifeless a foot off the floor, he dropped her.
Her body crumpled in a heap.
He didn’t look down, just walked over her, knocked the aged painting off the wall, and then crushed it with the heel of his shoe. Three years, and the subject in it still taunted him. Still made him vulnerable to Alik Demyan. Gregory shuddered.
Now she would suffer for both, for trespassing on his peace.
The portrait lay tattered and torn, its brittle frame cracked. He went at it again, and kept at it until the painting was utterly destroyed.
Though he despised dirtying his own hands, NINA would be pleased. No one had messed up this one…
Chapter 1
October 9 “It’s a bad business decision.” Behind the wheel of the red Jaguar, she checked her rearview mirror, uneasy at being where she shouldn’t be after dark. “Maybe,” she braked for a traffic light, “but it’s a good heart decision.” The man on the phone grunted his true feelings; his words proved far more diplomatic. “I understand that position on some of your ventures, like your work building the children’s center, but I don’t understand it on this. We’re talking about a run-down beach house three states away with exorbitant taxes and insurance that you never visit. Retaining it isn’t logical.” Her aunt Beth had loved that run-down beach house, and they’d spent almost twenty wonderful summers together there. But maybe you had to grow up orphaned and denied the privilege of living with your last blood relative to understand the value of that. “It’s in hurricane country and eighty feet from the gulf,” she told her financial advisor. “Of course the taxes and insurance premiums are outrageous.” Two blocks ahead, a jazz funeral ambled down St. Charles Avenue. Bluesy music floated on the night. Not wanting to intrude, she flicked her little finger, tapping on the blinker, then turned at the corner and headed out of the French Quarter. Her uneasiness grew. There had been some police presence in the Quarter. Where she was headed, there wasn’t apt to be any. “That’s why you should sell it.” His sigh crackled static through the phone. “Look, it’s a good offer. Market value plus 20 percent is rare.” She looked down the deserted street. A group of teenage boys were hanging out in front of a half-gutted building. Yet another remnant of Hurricane Katrina; the kids had no place safe to go. She hoped to soon change that. In this neighborhood, being on the street at night wasn’t just unsafe, it was dangerous. “Now you’re upset.” “I am not upset.” If his tone got any stiffer, it’d make the trek from Atlanta to New Orleans without benefit of the phone. He was definitely upset. “Good.” She needed to get past this call and focus on returning to the hotel. Trash littered the sidewalk and clumped in a pile near a storm drain carved into the corner’s concrete. Smelly garbage, rain-soaked and muddy from that afternoon’s thunderstorm, assaulted her. Finger to her nose, she looked from the grungy walk back to the street. “Why are these ‘blind’ buyers offering more than fair market value anyway?” “You’ve refused their previous offers and they want the property.” “Yes, but why?” That just didn’t make sense. “Dozens of homes are on the market. Why not buy one of those? Why Aunt Beth’s place?” “Who cares? Just take the money and run.” She didn’t live her life that way. “See, that bothers me. When people hide who they are and push this hard, there’s a reason.” This property was in Seagrove Village. She couldn’t afford to forget that or not to be suspicious. “Their reason doesn’t matter. This is the perfect time to unload it.” “I don’t want to unload it.” Without the beach house, she wouldn’t have any personal family memories after age seven—a fact he well knew since he’d handled her estate from the time of her parents’ passing. How could he not understand? “If you’re going to ignore my advice, then why pay me for it?” She paid handsomely for it, but it was still a bargain. “You’re a very good analyst, and I value your opinion, but I make my own decisions. Since I’m accountable for them, that’s as it should be.” He should understand that; he’d taught it to her. She pulled up beside a car parked near a stop sign. Sitting stopped on dangerous streets gave her the willies. She wasted no time scanning for oncoming traffic, and then drove on. “Why are you so eager for me to sell?” Even before she’d reached legal age and he had gone from trustee and replacement guardian to financial advisor, he never pushed her this hard on anything. “It’s in your best interests.” “In your opinion, but not in mine.” “I know you make the final calls—and how you make them.” He sighed deeper, heavier. “You’ve prayed on this and it doesn’t feel right, so you’re not doing it.” Well, at least he understood that much. “Yes, prayer is my bottom line.” Saying the offer didn’t feel right would do, but it was an understatement. Down to the marrow of her bones, she felt certain she was supposed to keep the beach house. As certain as she was that she must never return to it. God’s reasons on both went far deeper than her own, and if and when He was ready to reveal them to her, she’d be eager to know them. Until then, she would act in trust. Follow His will. “There is another reason you should consider and aren’t.” “Oh?” His brittle tone had her stiffening. This wouldn’t be good news. “A man purporting to be an investigator showed up at your neighbor’s house this afternoon looking for you.” No. Not again. Please, not again. Fear streaked through her chest, squeezed. No sound came out of her mouth, so she waited on tender hooks for him to continue. “You’re going to have to run again. NINA’s found you.” NINA? She had been running from men, not a woman. “Who is she?” “Not who, but what. NINA is the name of the group looking for you.” The men were a group? They had been scary; this was terrifying. “What kind of group?” “Nihilists in Anarchy.” She swallowed hard. “So the biological terrorist threat is still out there, and it’s bigger than I thought.” A group. An organized group. The taste in her mouth turned bitter. “I’d hoped if I disappeared…” “It didn’t help. These are not fly-by-night thugs. I wish they were. NINA is a multinational organization—far too substantial to let one woman interfere with their plans.” Her muscles went tight, knotted, and the urge to cry swelled inside her. She blinked fast, fighting it. “I have to disappear again.” “If you want to live, yes.” Her nightmares were starting all over again, and growing worse. “Are they connected? The beach house buyers and these people?” “What interest would a major terrorist group have in a shack of a beach house?” “That was my question to you,” she reminded him. “None known to the FBI. I contacted my friend there and made a few inquiries—citing a hypothetical situation again, of course.” “And his advice remained the same,” she guessed. “That I should come in and get into Witness Protection.” “Actually, no. With this new development, he doubts he can protect you. His hypothetical advice is to get lost and stay lost somewhere far, far away.” “So he was already familiar with this NINA?” “Oh yes,” her advisor said. “They’re on multiple national watch lists.” Boy, had she fallen into it. “I told you the men after me were bioterrorists.” She’d overheard that much. “Bioterrorism is but one of the threats NINA poses.” “There’s more?” The news just kept getting better and better. “Much more, I’m afraid. NINA embraces the destruction of all political, social, and religious order. They reject morals and ethics as mere products of pressure. Life, to them, has no meaning. Good and evil are based on perspective, nebulous things. They even reject the significance of family.” Alien philosophies. Spooky ones. And wasn’t that just great? Having a duo of cutthroats after her hadn’t been bad enough. She had to run into an entire army of them. “Charming. How did you find out NINA was involved?” He hesitated and then sighed. “It’s safer that you don’t know.” Not from the FBI apparently. Two trucks blew past her. One had a back end full of wooden crates that wobbled. She tapped the brake to put more distance between them, not trusting the ropes securing them to hold. “Did you tell your FBI friend that the men could be members?” “Of course not. You’d be pulled in for questioning and be at even greater risk. NINA would know the moment you entered the building—even my friend couldn’t deny it.” That was her take on the matter too, but it comforted her to know he had hypothetically discussed the situation with a professional, and he was in agreement. Clearly, he considered the men and the anonymous buyers two separate events—and they well might be. At this point, she had no way of knowing. “How did they find me?” “No idea. You’ve avoided the press, public gatherings… Has the media caught wind of your reasons for being in New Orleans?” “No.” She’d had a close call with a reporter from the Times-Picayune, but no direct hits. She’d grown adept at avoiding television cameras long ago. “No public records filed?” “Only the beach house deed.” “That leads to me, not you, and it’s in another state.” He sighed. “I have no idea how they located your current home. But don’t delay down there. They’re one step away. Vanish.” In ordinary circumstances, it would be unfortunate to be skilled at vanishing, but in this case, her having a great deal of experience at it was a blessing. “I’ll wrap up here in a few hours and then go.” “A few hours? That’s risky.” “Yes, but necessary.” If NINA knew she was here, they wouldn’t have been at her home this afternoon talking to her neighbors. And since she didn’t know her neighbors and they didn’t know her, she should be safe for a few more hours. That would be long enough. The kids here needed the center. She couldn’t raise their hopes and then dash them by leaving without doing anything. “Invoke your power of attorney. I’ll contact you again in six months—sooner, if I can—and when I do, I want to hear that this center is up and running.” “I’ll take care of it,” he said. “Our usual financial arrangement?” Her life, the dire straits of the kids here, and he was concerned about money. The man had plenty and was still fixated on amassing more. “Our usual arrangement is fine.” “Very well. I’ll decline the offer for the beach house,” he said, caving on that issue. “And I’ll pay the taxes and insurance.” “Tell the buyers we won’t entertain future offers too.” This was their third attempt in the three months since Aunt Beth passed away, and the fear of a fourth offer dangling like a dark cloud on the horizon she did not need. Not knowing their motivations sparked worry. Every time these mysterious people made an offer, it triggered more, and she stayed knotted up like a pretzel for days. Now she discovered her pursuers, who might or might not be connected, had an entire organization behind them, and it was hunting her down and closing in. That made these anonymous buyers a lot less intimidating. “I’ll tell them. Though it’s never wise to close the door on future opportunities.” “If I’m wrong, it won’t be the first time or the last. I’ll live with it.” “Very well.” He clipped his tone. “I’ll handle the matter first thing in the morning.” “On this NINA group,” she said, determined to try one last time to learn more. “I know it’s safer for me not to know how you found out about them, but have you placed yourself in jeopardy? I need to know that much.” “No, I haven’t.” “You’re sure?” “Positive.” That didn’t give her much leeway to insist on disclosure. “Just in case, you’d better tell me all you can.” “No. I won’t take deliberate action that pushes you further into the fire.” “But—” “No,” he insisted, then softened enough to add, “Let’s just say that sometimes people are the exact opposite of who they appear to be.” Which told her nothing. Who was the exact opposite of who they appeared to be? “That’s it?” “That’s it.” “Fine.” No sense arguing. He wouldn’t budge. “Thank you for everything.” His warning could take her out of the line of fire. At least she knew they had found her home and were closing in on her. “Take care. I’ll call when I can.” “Be smart about it, and do stay alive. You know how I detest having to rearrange my schedule.” Boy, did he. And for him, this comment was intensely personal. So much so that a lump formed in her throat. “I’ll do my best not to cause you any inconvenience.” She would; she always had. But would her best be good enough to keep her alive?
* * *
“I found her.” A gravel-voiced man reported in via phone. “Interception is complete.”
“Excellent.” He stepped outside and permitted the long-held tension to drain from his body. He’d been expecting this call for weeks. “Where is she now?”
“Don’t worry. She hasn’t checked out of her hotel. She’s scouting sites for the new center.”
More good news. He glanced at his watch—7:15. “So you’ve enacted the plan? With the red Jag?” That car was crucial for two reasons. One, to signal their men, and the other to signal a key player who didn’t yet realize he was a key player. The car would serve notice he couldn’t miss.
“Yes, sir. The plan is active, the Jag is in place, and our men are in position. All I need is your authorization, and I’ll cut them loose.” He paused and then added, “It should all be over before you catch the nine o’clock news.”
He’d seen this moment in his mind’s eye a million times, and he’d studied at least that many possibilities seeking a different final solution. But all the seeking and sifting had changed nothing. In the end, the same simple truth remained. Pit anything—money, power, or blood—against survival and survival won.
“Two twenty-two,” he said, relaying the code.
“Code master?”
His mouth went dry and his tongue stuck to his teeth. He sipped from a crystal glass that cost more than most made in a week and then whispered on a hushed breath the word he had yearned and dreaded to speak. The word that opened craters of fear in those unfortunate enough to understand its meaning: “NINA.” ❖
Readers’ Group Discussion Guide
1.“Even when we forget who we are, at core level we remember whose we are.” That belief prompted author Vicki Hinze to write Forget Me Not. What core-level memory do you feel you could never forget? Why? Do you feel bad memories are more easily recalled than good ones?
2. Do you believe forgiveness means forgotten? The Bible states that repentance washes away our sins and that God no longer remembers them. Are human beings capable of that kind of forgiveness without God’s help? Have you struggled with forgiving but not being able to forget? Are there times when not forgetting is constructive?
3. Would it be a blessing to be able to forget parts of your past? Or do you feel it takes all of those parts—good and bad—to be the person you have become? Why? If you could wipe your memory clean and start over, how would you construct your life differently?
4. Do specific names evoke a specific emotion in you? If you could choose your name, what would it be? Why would you choose it?
5. The heroine in Forget Me Not is a woman of serene faith. It gives her certainty and calm in horrific circumstances. What has brought you calm and certainty in troubled times?
6. Much has been written about the power of prayer. What, to you, is the greatest benefit of individual prayer? Is a group united in prayer for a specific purpose more or less powerful than individual prayer?
7. The heroine is warned that “some people are the opposite of what they appear to be.” Have you found this to be true? What about people of great wealth, like Gregory, who endowed inspiring works of art, gave prestigious scholarships, and benefitted charities? Can people who do these things yet live dissolute personal lives be redeemed? Can enduring humanitarian works help erase the personal harm done by an unbelieving, evil, or corrupt personality? Or must that redemption be made solely through repentance and God’s grace through Jesus Christ?
8. We all have challenges and bear burdens. Matthew 11:28 inspired the entire CROSSROADS CRISIS CENTER series of books. In times of trouble and burdens, has your relationship with God given you rest? Has that aided you in coping with your challenges? Resolving your conflicts? Easing your burdens?
9. The hero and heroine are wealthy people. Is it harder, do you think, to be a rich or a poor Christian? What makes it harder or easier? Do material possessions impact a person’s inner life at all?
10. Repeatedly, the heroine hears God’s instructions: Be patient with him. The heroine listens and tries. It isn’t always easy. Is being patient difficult for you? What experiences have led you to trust God’s timing?
11. Ben had a loving, content marriage. As a widower, he had challenges starting over in a new romance. If you suffered such a loss, what would encourage you to (or discourage you from) “trying” again?
12. The heroine was orphaned, abused, and mistreated. Often in abuse cases, those abused become abusers. Yet she did not. Neither did she grow bitter or engage in destructive self-pity. Instead, she made God her escape plan from the abuse and learned to pray. She relied on Him and as an adult commits to helping others stay safe. That is this story’s tie to Matthew 11:28. Did her reliance on God, her trust in Him, break the typical cycle so often present in abuse cases?
13.Have you experienced situations like the heroine’s where you felt the hand of God at work in your life? If so, please explain.
To see what the Bible says about these things, you can begin by reading the following Scriptures from the New International
Version (niv):
“Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’” Exodus 20:20
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19
“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:198-20 (NIV)
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:14-16
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19: 23-24
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:13-15
“You saw with your own eyes the great trials, the miraculous signs and wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, with which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples you now fear.” Deuteronomy 7:19
Reviews
“Hinze has written a masterful, complicated tale of suspense that gains momentum with each turn of a page. Her writing flows surely, moving from one character to the next, one setting to another, with readers keeping the swift pace. . . . Hinze’s plot may have readers puzzling over how this tangled tale will ever resolve itself, but that underestimates the author’s talent for transforming the unlikely into something beautiful.” –Publishers Weekly
“Forget Me Not is a thriller you won’t soon forget, especially if you’re a fan of the romantic obsession mastered by Alfred Hitchcock in Vertigo or Otto Preminger’s Laura. Vicki Hinze’s latest blends disparate elements together with surprising ease, and the result is a darkly original tale where hope and faith provide the light. The story, though, isn’t so much about faith conquering all so much as coming to the realization of its limitations and learning to overcome them, which comes define Brandt’s very heroism. Such spiritual elements would’ve overburdened the tale in lesser hands. Good thing’s Hinze’s are as sure and steady as they come, making Forget Me Not not to be missed.” –Providence Journal
“Vicki Hinze’s name on the cover always guarantees a great read. “ –Jeff Ayers, Thriller Reviewer Library Journal, Seattle Post-Intellgencer, and Writer Magazine. ITW Interview.
“Vicki Hinze writes the most ‘sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for the other shoe to drop’ suspense I’ve ever had the opportunity to read. This book is truly a must read and is definitely a keeper. I can’t wait to read the next book in the Crossroads Crisis Center series!” –Review Diva, Kathy Boswell
“A thriller you won’t soon forget.” –Jon Land, Author Magazine
“This tale contains all of the danger, treachery, and action a reader could wish for, along with intrigue coming from all directions. Vicki Hinze’s enthusiasm for her stories highlights her sharp talent for conveying human emotions, and FORGET ME NOT also reveals the author’s deep spiritual faith. FORGET ME NOT is the first offering in a new series of Christian Suspense, and the outstanding characters and the author’s narrative leave the reader wanting more! More! More!” –Fresh Reviews
“Forget Me Not is an intense, “ripped from the headlines” suspense story that grabs you from the beginning and offers a tense, nail biting, roller coaster ride. This book is chock full of real life situations – loss, grief, murder, terrorists, bombs, amnesia, car jacking……..if it doesn’t hold your interest, I suspect nothing will! I think a warning should be issued with this book: May Cause Sleep Loss. –Cafe Lily Book Reviews
“FORGET ME NOT is [Hinze’s] first Christian-themed thriller, and it combines many elements that have made this relatively new genre so popular. A growing number of readers enjoy a complex suspense story with an underlying romance but would rather not be bombarded with endless obscenities and graphic sexual descriptions. For many years they were offered few choices beyond LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE. So Hinze has added her talent to the growing pool of writers who can combine faith and wholesome values with a rip-roaring good story.” — Reviewed by Maggie Harding, www.faithfulreader.com (www.bookreporter.com)
“Forget Me Not is similar in many ways to Teri Blackstock and Dee Henderson’s novels. Fans of their books will enjoy this one as well. It has a really good storyline and was a perfect choice when I wanted something on the lighter, more encouraging side. With a gentle touch and a sweet romantic angle, they reader is left with great affirmation of God’s omnipotence and a reminder that even when we don’t know where God is, He has not forgotten us.” –The Christian Manifesto
“Vicki Hinze has written a superb thriller about a woman whose faith sustains her and a man whose faith died along with his wife and son. There is plenty of action throughout this fast-paced tale but Forget Me Not is character driven by Benjamin and Karen ( and her real name) . Even with knowing who the villains are, fans will feel the stratospheric tension as double crosses and identity issues make for a powerful novel.” –Genre Go Round Reviews
“This tale contains all of the danger, treachery, and action a reader could wish for, along with intrigue coming from all directions. Vicki Hinze’s enthusiasm for her stories highlights her sharp talent for conveying human emotions, and FORGET ME NOT also reveals the author’s deep spiritual faith. FORGET ME NOT is the first offering in a new series of Christian Suspense, and the outstanding characters and the author’s narrative leave the reader wanting more! More! More!” –Fresh Fiction
“Vicki Hinze has written a high adrenaline rush in Forget Me Not. As the title suggests, you will have a hard time forgetting this high action packed novel. Those that crave roller coaster ride thrillers will definitely be pleased when they discover Forget Me Not. This is one book that will keep you on your edge of your seat.” –Midwest Book Review
Forget Me Not, by Vicki Hinze, is an action-packed, intense, crime-laden novel that changes plots on a frequent basis, keeping you alert, absorbed and hooked to the end. You will need to keep the circumstances and characters straight in your mind, but the pacing isn’t so fast that your lose your way. It’s complex, but that’s what makes it good! Vicki is definitely keen on character reactions and emotions. The intricacies of the many characters were handled very aptly. They were consistent throughout the book. Evil was punctuated with good, which were great antagonists throughout. In the life of crime, do you really know who your friends are?
I was always on edge, wondering what would happen and when, with either the evil, vicious end of the book, as well as between Ben and the mystery ‘Susan’ woman, and those that they interacted with at the Crisis Center. For this, my first introduction to Vicki’s writing, I know I’ll definitely be reading more of her books! The spiritual truths presented are relevant to everyone. –One Desert Rose, The Suspense Zone
“The main story of a man who cannot let go of his grief and anger and a woman who wonders if anyone has ever cared about her is powerful. When our mystery woman finally remembers everything she wishes she was still in the dark. What she now knows is far too great a burden to carry and far too devastating to reveal to the man who has finally come to trust her. But the one thing she never forgot, her faith in God, may still yet prove the hope for both she and Ben’s tattered hearts.” –TE George, Fiction Addict
“Vicki Hinze is a newcomer to faith based fiction but is by no means a newbie to writing. With over twenty-five novels in print she demonstrates her seasoned ability to develop characters and ratchet up the tension as the plot progresses.” –Unveiled
“I thoroughly enjoyed this romantic suspense, with a good Christian background without being too preachy. The romance simmers nicely without being overpowering and is very believable for a man who dearly loved his wife and family and struggles with the new feelings of guilt and hope for his future. FORGET ME NOT is a wonderful read!” –Romance Readers Connection”
“A superb twist-filled ending, one that has me longing for more by Vicki. In all, she has made her way onto my ‘must read’ list, and I highly recommend her to suspense lovers everywhere! I’m giving “Forget Me Not” four out of five bookmarks with a necklace as a charm.” —A Peek at My Bookshelf
“Vicki Hinze has crafted a masterful inspirational thriller. She weaves together a very tangled web, and anyone could be the bearer of a little deceit. I love how the story is multi-layered. We are given glimpses into the activities of numerous characters, yet we are truly not certain who the bad guy is until the very end. I enjoyed the suspense and the underlying conviction that God will make sure things work out accordingly. FORGET ME NOT is a fast-paced, exciting read that will keep you riveted to the pages trying to piece everything together. I will look forward to Ms. Hinze’s next offering in this stimulating new series.” –Noveltalk
“I’ve found a keeper in Vicki Hinze and her debut novel, “Forget Me Not”. In what looks to be a promising new series, Vicki has created both unique characters and a different setting for her series.” –Titletrakk
“Forget Me Not is a riveting suspense novel that is intriguing from beginning to end. It is filled with drama, hidden agendas and a budding romance.” –Charisma Magazine
“A roller coaster ride full of suspense and mystery. The writing is crisp and FORGET ME NOT is a page turner with a plethora of secondary characters to move the action. With a sprinkling of bad guys, and some not-so-bad guys, it is hard to determine who is trying to kill the woman called Susan, and who isn’t. But her stalkers, the men who beat her, Edward and Harry, are being pursued themselves by the person who wants her dead. Edward and Harry have to either kill Susan or let her live, and what they decide will determine who will die next, as this story becomes a game of cat and mouse to stay alive. Fraught with tension and sharp edged suspense, FORGET ME NOT is a keeper.” –Romance Reviews Today
“This is a beautifully written mystery, suspense, thriller, and Christian novel. I think a lot of people outside of the Christian faith associate Christianity as a roadblock in experiencing things involved in its Faith, such as books. “Forget Me Not” was a majorly suspenseful novel. I think whether you are Christian, or not in my case (spiritual belonging to the Native American form of Faith), you will enjoy this book.” –Steven Foley
READER REVIEWS:
“Over the years I’ve read many books by very talented author Vicki Hinze. She is queen of the nail-biting, edge-of-the seat thrillers. This lady writes a mean mystery story! FORGET ME NOT, however, is the FIRST Christian thriller I’ve read from her talented pen and it does not disappoint! “Just who IS Susan? The very mysterious lady has lost her memory and has nothing to go on but a name and a necklace. Benjamin Brandt thinks she looks like his deceased wife, but could she be? What is NINA and why are they trying to kill Susan? These are but a few of the questions that fill the mind as you turn the pages of this excellent book. “If you are a lover of mysteries, this is one book you won’t want to miss.” –Judy @ The Princess Ponders