Portland, Oregon - Present Day

Kyla Justice knows something is wrong when standing at the dedication for the grand opening of Mountain’s Edge Outlet Mall and feels no excitement. She looks around at all the hoopla, the newsmen, the cameras, the ribbon cutting...yes, this is her work. Kyla Justice owns one of the largest construction companies in the Pacific Northwest; her company built this mall, but so what? Even her boyfriend, Mason, a contractor, mentions that maybe she should sell her business to him, stay home, and become his wife. Kyla knows that is not what she needs, because Rafe Murphy, with those dark eyes and that enigmatic smile, keeps creeping into her thoughts.

Like most big cities, Portland has its share of bad areas, deserted warehouses, boarded up houses, with streets labeled as turf, and where gangs rule. This is the site where the Blessed Hope Fellowship Church once had a thriving congregation. The church has closed, but Fredrik Tischler and the elders have a dream of converting the old church into a youth center for inner-city kids. The only problem is somebody does not want this to happen. The local gang called the 22’s, aka Blood Brotherhood, has been most violent in their opposition to the youth center. It looks as if they may get their way after all. Three different contractors and their crews have quit, but Fredrik knows God will help them build the center.

Kyla gets a phone call in the middle of the night from Fredrik, and she is asked to complete the center. Fredrik was a friend of her late father, and Kyla finally realizes what’s lacking in her life -- purpose. Now that she knows her prayers have been answered, can she be stopped? Can she and her crew meet the deadline?

As Kyla views the project, she worries about her involvement. The project is not the only shock for Kyla; Rafe shows up at the site, and he is an old friend of Fredrik and the elders. Kyla discovers that Rafe is involved in mediations with the gangs; he grew up in the area, and he knows them well. Fredrik, sly old fox that he is, knows of the attraction between these two. He knows Rafe is in love with Kyla, and she is just the right person for him. Fredrik also knows that Rafe will keep Kyla and the elders safe.

WHAT LIES WITHIN weaves the main characters into a complex web of danger, suspense, and death. How many innocent lives will be lost? Can Kyla and Rafe sort out the tension between them while trying to finish the youth center? Can they learn to rely on each other and turn to God for wisdom? Fredrik is a puzzle, yet endearing to the story. He is strong in his faith in God.

The author has delivered a compelling story; the pages of the story jump out demanding to be read. The blend of suspense and a romance is just right. WHAT LIES WITHIN contains a message that will stay with any reader.

I invite you to read this novel. Enjoy! I did.

Deborah Jackson