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Kelsey Woods #2
Dead Before Sunrise
Kelsey is settling nicely into her new life with Luke in Texas. College and volunteering at a local shelter takes up most of her time.
Hope Shelter provides a home to young adults who have aged out of the foster care system and Kelsey is passionate about volunteering there. She identifies with the kids and wants to make a difference in their lives; after all, she was one of them not so long ago.
Eve, a sweet girl from the shelter, shows up at Kelsey's local gym asking for help. Unforeseen events keep Kelsey from connecting with her and later she's shocked to learn Eve never made it back to the shelter.
Filled with guilt and remorse, Kelsey won’t give up until she finds Eve.
Hope Shelter provides a home to young adults who have aged out of the foster care system and Kelsey is passionate about volunteering there. She identifies with the kids and wants to make a difference in their lives; after all, she was one of them not so long ago.
Eve, a sweet girl from the shelter, shows up at Kelsey's local gym asking for help. Unforeseen events keep Kelsey from connecting with her and later she's shocked to learn Eve never made it back to the shelter.
Filled with guilt and remorse, Kelsey won’t give up until she finds Eve.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2020
39 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
C.P. Daly
4 books19 followersAbout CP Daly
My reading tastes are an eclectic mix of mystery, crime, historical fiction, romance and the occasional fantasy novel.
I made the leap from writing short stories to completing a mystery/thriller trilogy.
The Kelsey Woods trilogy:
Dead After Midnight
Dead Before Sunrise
Dead Days Ahead
Bloody Water, is my first stand alone thriller and was released in 2024. It is set in Nova Scotia, Canada.
I am busy working on my next thriller, which is set in Iowa and will be released in 2025.
I live in the beautiful East Coast of Canada with my family.
Member of Sisters in Crime.
My reading tastes are an eclectic mix of mystery, crime, historical fiction, romance and the occasional fantasy novel.
I made the leap from writing short stories to completing a mystery/thriller trilogy.
The Kelsey Woods trilogy:
Dead After Midnight
Dead Before Sunrise
Dead Days Ahead
Bloody Water, is my first stand alone thriller and was released in 2024. It is set in Nova Scotia, Canada.
I am busy working on my next thriller, which is set in Iowa and will be released in 2025.
I live in the beautiful East Coast of Canada with my family.
Member of Sisters in Crime.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 15, 2021
This is the second book I've read by C.P. Daly, and I found it just as well-written and enjoyable as her first book Dead After Midnight. C.P has a way of casting the line, hooking the reader, and slowly reeling them into a pulsating finish.
What I enjoy most about her writing is how she develops the characters. She delves deep into their emotions and brings forth their goals, personalities, and motivations. You can see it most clearly when her main character, Kelsey, settles into her new life in Texas with her boyfriend Luke and starts working at a shelter that helps give guidance to troubled young adults coming out of foster homes. She touches on their pain, their distrust of people, and their feelings of hopelessness and despair. I especially loved her character Pretty, who got caught up in street life. Kesley accepted who he was from the start, saw his need, and helped give him hope for a future.
I also loved seeing how Kelsey dedicated her life to changing the horrors of street life she had lived in the first book and used the knowledge to help others. A five-star thriller!
What I enjoy most about her writing is how she develops the characters. She delves deep into their emotions and brings forth their goals, personalities, and motivations. You can see it most clearly when her main character, Kelsey, settles into her new life in Texas with her boyfriend Luke and starts working at a shelter that helps give guidance to troubled young adults coming out of foster homes. She touches on their pain, their distrust of people, and their feelings of hopelessness and despair. I especially loved her character Pretty, who got caught up in street life. Kesley accepted who he was from the start, saw his need, and helped give him hope for a future.
I also loved seeing how Kelsey dedicated her life to changing the horrors of street life she had lived in the first book and used the knowledge to help others. A five-star thriller!
April 9, 2021
Dead Before Sunrise is the second installment in C.P. Daly’s Kelsey Woods series and I just want to say wow. This one was even better than the first. I usually steer clear of reading thrillers and prefer the happily ever after, less stressful contemporaries, but this was a very nice mix of both. I like how Kelsey is a strong character and is adapting to a new life in Texas by taking up kickboxing, continuing her education, and volunteering at a local shelter. As with the first in the series, this one was also a fast-paced, page-turner, compelling the reader to read it all in one go. I cannot wait to see what is next for Kelsey Woods.
August 26, 2021
I was excited to read this second book in the Kelsey Woods Thriller series . It did not let me down. An outstanding page turner that kept me hooked. I truly enjoy the characters of Kelsey and Luke and the excitement they find themselves involved in. The back story is equally as exciting! I’m beyond excited for the next book in the series !!
April 1, 2021
The moment my local book store (Dartmouth book exchange) advertised having these in stock, I sent a message and had my name out on one!
I have been waiting over a year to read the second book, and it was worth the wait. Again, easy to pick up, and hard to put down. I could provide detail, but definitely don’t want to spoil the book, you all need to read this for yourselves! And it’s awesome to support a local Nova Scotian Author!
I have been waiting over a year to read the second book, and it was worth the wait. Again, easy to pick up, and hard to put down. I could provide detail, but definitely don’t want to spoil the book, you all need to read this for yourselves! And it’s awesome to support a local Nova Scotian Author!
November 12, 2021
Having read CP Daly’s Dead Before Midnight, I was eager to read her second book in the series, Dead Before Sunrise. The protagonist, Kelsey Woods, is a captivating, complicated character in yet another thrilling story. She has weathered much in the previous novel but she’s a strong character, trying to pick up her life and begin over--a new life in Texas. She practices kickboxing and also tries to better herself by getting an education. This girl is a complex individual, who is most understanding of other’s plights, and therefore, volunteers at a local shelter. And herein begins the mystery! As with the first book in the series, this one is also a fast-paced, quick page-turner, compelling the reader to read it all way past bedtime.
There was only one small detraction from the story and that was, for this reader, too many characters with too many interchangeable nicknames.
There was only one small detraction from the story and that was, for this reader, too many characters with too many interchangeable nicknames.
November 17, 2022
Didnt realize this was a continued story.So I will try to read the rest of it . Kelsey was Lukes girlfriend , they both worked in a shelter for young kids. She also was a kickboxer. Luke helped his Mom run a horse farm and his brother Ian run the distillery which his Mom also owned. Her husband was deceased. Ian and Luke hated each other and were always arguing. One of the girls from the shelter never came back the next day. Then one of the guys started acting weird then. Kelsey tried to find out what happened to them. Cant say to much more because it will give away the story. By the way Kelsey had a background that she was trying to forget and get away from. Luke knew that but he still loved her.
August 20, 2022
(UPDATE at end)Almost gave this a 3. I had been enthralled by the 1st book in this series. I was extremely excited to read this 2nd book. My true one criticism is the extremely poor job of grammatical editing! I found these very numerous errors to be quite distracting & frustrating. I did, however, enjoy the storyline. For those who did not read the 1st book, they might have needed a touch more information re: her past. UPDATE: C.P. Daly has taken note of the errors. I will be continuing to read her books! Encourage you to do the same.
August 17, 2022
Dead Before Sunrise is the second book in the Kelsey Woods Series. When you read a great book I there is a certain level of expectations that you build up and I’m happy to say the Author CP Daly magnificently rises up to the challenge.
Having read BOOK I ‘Dead After Midnight’, there is a character arc that one is looking for and the author executes it beautifully. The way she breathes life into Kelsey is amazing. Kelsey is the heart and soul of the story with the entire plot revolving around her. Kelsey is shown to be vulnerable, caring yet strong. She is a woman who fights her own battles and at the same time never hesitates to step in to protect others even at the cost of her own life. The story line is engaging with a missing kid from a shelter in focus, while also giving a glimpse of Kelsey's attempts to integrate with Luke's family without compromising on her own core values.
For readers of thrillers, mysteries and suspense looking for stories with a strong woman at the core, I highly recommend this book.
Having read BOOK I ‘Dead After Midnight’, there is a character arc that one is looking for and the author executes it beautifully. The way she breathes life into Kelsey is amazing. Kelsey is the heart and soul of the story with the entire plot revolving around her. Kelsey is shown to be vulnerable, caring yet strong. She is a woman who fights her own battles and at the same time never hesitates to step in to protect others even at the cost of her own life. The story line is engaging with a missing kid from a shelter in focus, while also giving a glimpse of Kelsey's attempts to integrate with Luke's family without compromising on her own core values.
For readers of thrillers, mysteries and suspense looking for stories with a strong woman at the core, I highly recommend this book.
August 10, 2022
Significantly better than the first one. A good read.
August 18, 2021
I really enjoyed Book #2. Can’t wait for the next installment.
December 25, 2022
Such a great book but the end was anticlimactic.
I loved this right up to the end when it just dropped. It is but not really a standalone book. Great plot and characters. I just do wish the ending was better.
I loved this right up to the end when it just dropped. It is but not really a standalone book. Great plot and characters. I just do wish the ending was better.
October 1, 2023
I was excited to read the second book in the Kelsey Wood thriller series. This had me hooked from the first page. This is an outstanding page turner that keeps you hooked. I absolutely love the backstory of all the characters
December 20, 2022
great story
The story itself was pretty good, unique. My problem, the reason for the 3 star rating, is the editing is horrendous. So much so that I won’t be continuing.
The story itself was pretty good, unique. My problem, the reason for the 3 star rating, is the editing is horrendous. So much so that I won’t be continuing.
December 12, 2022
Dead before Sunrise is the 2nd book in C.P. Daly’s Kelsey Woods Series. In the interest of transparency, I have not read the first book yet. Did this make my reading experience difficult? The answer is no. Daly did what many authors forget to do leave trails of breadcrumbs to jog a previous reader’s memory of the first book or to entice someone like me to go back and read book 2.
Daly has crafted an intriguing story of mystery and murder with hard-hitting characters that are very lifelike and intriguing. The story grabs you right away as a young woman seeks to build a new and better life with her love interest, Luke, a former FBI agent.
Kelsey is not looking to make a superficial change in her life but a total suppression of the person she once was. Follow her as she uses the skills she learned on the streets of the East Coast in Texas to help the kids at a homeless shelter, only to fall headlong into a murder mystery with more twists and turns than a Gordian knot.
I will definitely go back and read Book 1 to discover if the clues CP gave me in Book 2 confirm my assumptions about Kelsey and Luke’s life prior to moving to Texas.
Daly has crafted an intriguing story of mystery and murder with hard-hitting characters that are very lifelike and intriguing. The story grabs you right away as a young woman seeks to build a new and better life with her love interest, Luke, a former FBI agent.
Kelsey is not looking to make a superficial change in her life but a total suppression of the person she once was. Follow her as she uses the skills she learned on the streets of the East Coast in Texas to help the kids at a homeless shelter, only to fall headlong into a murder mystery with more twists and turns than a Gordian knot.
I will definitely go back and read Book 1 to discover if the clues CP gave me in Book 2 confirm my assumptions about Kelsey and Luke’s life prior to moving to Texas.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews