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Euphoria #2
Saving Euphoria
Hailey Langley and her children struggle to cope with the shocking and mysterious death of her husband Mark. Her teenaged son is rebelling, and Hailey is dealing with physical and mental challenges as well.
Tom Parker, Hailey's former partner from the Special Crimes Agency, comes back into her life. He warns her to trust no one even as he tries to rekindle the flame that connects them.
Everyone has secrets, even Parker, and some of those from the past threaten to destroy the present. Hailey fights to move forward after losing Mark, but she needs to figure out if she can trust Parker and risk taking another chance on love.
Tom Parker, Hailey's former partner from the Special Crimes Agency, comes back into her life. He warns her to trust no one even as he tries to rekindle the flame that connects them.
Everyone has secrets, even Parker, and some of those from the past threaten to destroy the present. Hailey fights to move forward after losing Mark, but she needs to figure out if she can trust Parker and risk taking another chance on love.
- GenresRomantic Suspense
424 pages, Paperback
Published May 9, 2022
1 person is currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
C. Becker
3 books42 followersC. Becker is an award-winning author from western Pennsylvania. Becker earned a B.S. degree in Medical Technology and MT (ASCP) certification. She has worked in clinical settings analyzing body fluids and testing drugs of abuse.
As an author, C. Becker has published multiple stories in various genres.
As an author, C. Becker has published multiple stories in various genres.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 6, 2022
The explosive second book of this incredible Euphoria series doesn't disappoint. Hailey is back and her trials continue. With the seeming loss of her husband and a family in turmoil...where will she turn?
The action is intense and keeps the reader on the edge of the seat. The pressure situations make it nearly impossible for someone to stop reading. The levels of conflict and drama reach almost terrifying levels.
Truly a brilliant addition to this spectacular series. Fans of the first book will break down the doors to get their hands on this one. Fans of incredible female leads will love this book. The third book can't come out soon enough. This book series would be a mega-hit for a streaming service.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes we'd review it. My thoughts are completely my own.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
The action is intense and keeps the reader on the edge of the seat. The pressure situations make it nearly impossible for someone to stop reading. The levels of conflict and drama reach almost terrifying levels.
Truly a brilliant addition to this spectacular series. Fans of the first book will break down the doors to get their hands on this one. Fans of incredible female leads will love this book. The third book can't come out soon enough. This book series would be a mega-hit for a streaming service.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes we'd review it. My thoughts are completely my own.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
May 8, 2022
This book is chocked full of twists and surprises with an interesting and deadly drug called Euphoria causing chaos and death. The author knows her science yet she makes it easy to understand and interesting by providing just enough but not too much detail. Hailey is an awesome main character. She’s endearing and strong while trying to survive mothering two teens under crazy circumstances with her husband out of the picture and a lover from the past wandering into her life. A must read! Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2022
C. Becker has penned a good mystery novel with a gripping plot that will keep readers turning the pages!
Read full review in the 2022 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2022 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
March 8, 2022
Six years after surviving the physical and psychological trials of her effort to destroy the power of drug lord Manuel de Mendoza in Euphoria (Book One), Hailey Langley enjoys professional satisfaction as a university science instructor and domestic tranquility as a wife to her crime-fighting husband, Mark, and a mother to her teenaged children, Anna and Ethan. Yet from the first sentence of Saving Euphoria—“Mark was up to something.”—Hailey suspects her life is about to change. Unfortunately, instead of the surprise anniversary trip to Hawaii she expects, a catastrophic fire demolishes her serene suburban life and pulls her once again into a world saturated with illegal drugs. Targeted by both Manuel de Mendoza and his father, José, she must save not only her own children but also an innocent she has never met.
Euphoria readers will welcome the return of familiar characters like Tom Parker, and C. Becker deftly supplies necessary background for new readers. Her scientific expertise also provides pertinent information without overwhelming you. Although the story primarily belongs to Hailey, Becker’s skillful use of three point-of-view characters heightens the suspense as the plot takes more dips, curls, and twists than a good roller-coaster ride. Saving Euphoria moves briskly, and just when you think it’s safe to take a breath (or stop reading), another crisis makes you turn the page. Spoiler alert: Although the mysteries of Saving Euphoria are resolved by the end of this book, the story itself will continue in Book Three.
Euphoria readers will welcome the return of familiar characters like Tom Parker, and C. Becker deftly supplies necessary background for new readers. Her scientific expertise also provides pertinent information without overwhelming you. Although the story primarily belongs to Hailey, Becker’s skillful use of three point-of-view characters heightens the suspense as the plot takes more dips, curls, and twists than a good roller-coaster ride. Saving Euphoria moves briskly, and just when you think it’s safe to take a breath (or stop reading), another crisis makes you turn the page. Spoiler alert: Although the mysteries of Saving Euphoria are resolved by the end of this book, the story itself will continue in Book Three.
May 10, 2022
4.5 Stars. This thriller romance is packed with suspense. The action starts with the opening chapter and never really stops. The author supplies a well-developed cast from the leading characters to secondary members which all have a crucial role in the plot. The story has a lot of characters and is told in a few different points of view, but they are easy to follow and doesn’t hinder the read. The suspense and action are intense and includes a few surprising twists…and a sad character loss. This book is the second in the Euphoria Series. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the first book, so I missed out on some background information, but it was still an enjoyable read. The ending chapters hint to another book in this series, which I will definitely pick up. Reviewed for Still Moments Magazine.
May 8, 2022
PART THRILLER, PART MYSTERY, PART TWO
In this second installment in “The Euphoria” series, Becker takes readers deeper into the lives and travails of protagonists Hailey and Mark, who are battling the invasion of a drug called Euphoria, as well as the family in Colombia developing and pushing the drug. I hadn’t read the first entry and found myself a little confused early on, but that cleared up quickly as I moved through the pages.
The story is told through multiple POV’s—both Hailey and Mark as well as one of the primary antagonists, Manuel. Becker weaves the story, the mystery and the thriller through these alternating perspectives. A few times, this proved to be redundant—replaying the details of a scene from different perspectives--but usually it worked well, sending the reader through the twists and turns of the narrative, sometimes at a nail-biting pace. But the author also makes skillful use of the POV’s to expose the angst and torment of each character, Hailey coming to terms with incredible loss and trying to single-parent, Mark struggling desperately to heal physically and psychologically, second guessing himself along the way, and even Manuel agonizing about lost love and trying to find some humanity within his cartel family. One of the author’s strengths is writing which allows reader to see these events from each character’s perspective and to gain insight into the motives and motivations of each, imbuing each character with greater credibility.
The novel entwines several storylines, some connected to book one, others originating in this entry, and by the conclusion, Becker ties these lines together, providing readers with some nice ah-ha moments along the way and leaving some threads unresolved. (Can anyone say book three?) If readers thrive on novels with multiple storylines, they’ll likely find themselves engaged and buckled-in for a crazy ride with Saving Euphoria.
In this second installment in “The Euphoria” series, Becker takes readers deeper into the lives and travails of protagonists Hailey and Mark, who are battling the invasion of a drug called Euphoria, as well as the family in Colombia developing and pushing the drug. I hadn’t read the first entry and found myself a little confused early on, but that cleared up quickly as I moved through the pages.
The story is told through multiple POV’s—both Hailey and Mark as well as one of the primary antagonists, Manuel. Becker weaves the story, the mystery and the thriller through these alternating perspectives. A few times, this proved to be redundant—replaying the details of a scene from different perspectives--but usually it worked well, sending the reader through the twists and turns of the narrative, sometimes at a nail-biting pace. But the author also makes skillful use of the POV’s to expose the angst and torment of each character, Hailey coming to terms with incredible loss and trying to single-parent, Mark struggling desperately to heal physically and psychologically, second guessing himself along the way, and even Manuel agonizing about lost love and trying to find some humanity within his cartel family. One of the author’s strengths is writing which allows reader to see these events from each character’s perspective and to gain insight into the motives and motivations of each, imbuing each character with greater credibility.
The novel entwines several storylines, some connected to book one, others originating in this entry, and by the conclusion, Becker ties these lines together, providing readers with some nice ah-ha moments along the way and leaving some threads unresolved. (Can anyone say book three?) If readers thrive on novels with multiple storylines, they’ll likely find themselves engaged and buckled-in for a crazy ride with Saving Euphoria.
May 9, 2022
In book 2 of the Euphoria series, former government agent Hailey Langley now works as a university professor while mourning the loss of her husband, Mark, and trying to raise their distraught children. She’s not ready to move on with her life, but she still has feelings for Parker, her former partner with the SCA.
Mark Langley chose to help someone who didn’t deserve it, and now he’s shut himself away to recover in secret. Only his best friend, David, is his outlet to the outside world.
Wow! What a heartbreaking story. Hailey, Mark, Parker, and David are wonderful, complex characters. They’ve all suffered heartache and trauma, but life goes on, and they have to make do. Something horrible happens to one of the more important characters at the end—sorry, no spoilers!—so make sure you have some tissues handy.
While book 1 had more action and suspense scenes, this story had more of a downbeat vibe, which worked well since Hailey and the majority of the characters were grieving and coming to terms with what they’ve lost.
The story flowed well and kept my attention, but sometimes I had to stop reading and jog my memory about certain book 1 events that were alluded to in this one. For new readers to the series, you should be able to read this as a standalone, but you will have some unanswered questions if you skip the first book.
Anyway, I definitely recommend this trilogy, and I look forward to reading book 3, which was set-up beautifully in the last couple of chapters.
4 Stars
Mark Langley chose to help someone who didn’t deserve it, and now he’s shut himself away to recover in secret. Only his best friend, David, is his outlet to the outside world.
Wow! What a heartbreaking story. Hailey, Mark, Parker, and David are wonderful, complex characters. They’ve all suffered heartache and trauma, but life goes on, and they have to make do. Something horrible happens to one of the more important characters at the end—sorry, no spoilers!—so make sure you have some tissues handy.
While book 1 had more action and suspense scenes, this story had more of a downbeat vibe, which worked well since Hailey and the majority of the characters were grieving and coming to terms with what they’ve lost.
The story flowed well and kept my attention, but sometimes I had to stop reading and jog my memory about certain book 1 events that were alluded to in this one. For new readers to the series, you should be able to read this as a standalone, but you will have some unanswered questions if you skip the first book.
Anyway, I definitely recommend this trilogy, and I look forward to reading book 3, which was set-up beautifully in the last couple of chapters.
4 Stars
May 9, 2022
Saving Euphoria: It was a very intense story but well written. I could not put it down when I was reading it. The characters were amazing throughout the story! C. Becker really had great dialog through and really did a great job putting her all into the story! It was sad what Mark had to do to protect his family even though that really wasn't work. It was his strong love for his family that kept him going and pushed him to live. He had a long fight. It was very hard for him to be away from his loved ones. It was an amazing story!
May 9, 2022
In C. Becker’s latest book, Saving Euphoria, Book Two Euphoria Series, the emotional and compelling story of Hailey and Mark Langley continues as they battle the diabolical Mendoza Colombian drug cartel and struggle to keep their faith and love for each other. Ms. Becker has written a vivid, full-throttle romantic thriller that drew me in from the first page and kept me on the edge of my seat until the last word. This book is a must read, and I’m already anxiously waiting for the next book in the series. Well done, C. Becker!
May 12, 2022
Saving Euphoria had me flipping pages well into the middle of the night, constantly wondering what was going to happen next. The multiple layers in this story are intricate with 3 POVs, but well done and easy to follow. The characters were enjoyable and C. Driscoll made it easy to fall in step with their thoughts, really pulling me into the story.
Hailey Langley’s husband, Mark, had been acting strange. As a Drug Task Force agent, he often worked tough cases that demanded his attention. But when his life is suddenly ended in a mysterious fire, Hailey believes his most recent case may be the reason. New friends and old come out of the woodwork to help her cope, but who can she trust? Something fishy is going on and she will stop at nothing to find out the truth.
I received a copy of this book from the author in hopes that I’d review it. All opinions expressed are my own.
Hailey Langley’s husband, Mark, had been acting strange. As a Drug Task Force agent, he often worked tough cases that demanded his attention. But when his life is suddenly ended in a mysterious fire, Hailey believes his most recent case may be the reason. New friends and old come out of the woodwork to help her cope, but who can she trust? Something fishy is going on and she will stop at nothing to find out the truth.
I received a copy of this book from the author in hopes that I’d review it. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 19, 2024
4.5 stars. I love a good thriller, and my scientific knowledge knows enough to be convinced the author knows her botany and chemistry well too!
Having not read book 1 (didn't twig there was one tbh) I was happily thrown into the storyline which had enough backstory for me to feel comfortable moving into this story. One thing I adore in a book is multiple POV and this one follow 3 which feels just enough. Besides the very likeable main characters, I actually found myself empathising (just a little....) with the drug lords. I cannot believe I'm saying that but they felt like well-rounded characters, not just 'bad for the sake of it' as some authors may have been tempted to do. With enough highlighting of the economic and societal 'issues' they face (even if you disagree with their methods), and explaining some of why they run the cocaine business, I found their motives uncomfortably plausible.
I also found it a very 'human' novel with much to empathise with on other levels - bringing up teenagers for example, and the exploration of moving on with life whilst still grieving was excellently handled. In some books, a level of showing us 'normal life' can be dull, a filler, but not so in Saving Euphoria. Here, the inclusion of it contrasts with the action, like getting comfy on the sofa just for the door to get banged down!
There were a few moments where the multiple POV seemed to show the same scene but from a different perspective, which is why I'm not giving this otherwise well written and pacy thriller with a bit of a romance thrown in a full 5*.
If you enjoy contemporary thrillers or procedurals, twists and turns, heart-warming and likeable characters and a plot to keep you turning the pages, I recommend this book!
Having not read book 1 (didn't twig there was one tbh) I was happily thrown into the storyline which had enough backstory for me to feel comfortable moving into this story. One thing I adore in a book is multiple POV and this one follow 3 which feels just enough. Besides the very likeable main characters, I actually found myself empathising (just a little....) with the drug lords. I cannot believe I'm saying that but they felt like well-rounded characters, not just 'bad for the sake of it' as some authors may have been tempted to do. With enough highlighting of the economic and societal 'issues' they face (even if you disagree with their methods), and explaining some of why they run the cocaine business, I found their motives uncomfortably plausible.
I also found it a very 'human' novel with much to empathise with on other levels - bringing up teenagers for example, and the exploration of moving on with life whilst still grieving was excellently handled. In some books, a level of showing us 'normal life' can be dull, a filler, but not so in Saving Euphoria. Here, the inclusion of it contrasts with the action, like getting comfy on the sofa just for the door to get banged down!
There were a few moments where the multiple POV seemed to show the same scene but from a different perspective, which is why I'm not giving this otherwise well written and pacy thriller with a bit of a romance thrown in a full 5*.
If you enjoy contemporary thrillers or procedurals, twists and turns, heart-warming and likeable characters and a plot to keep you turning the pages, I recommend this book!
September 14, 2022
Hailey Langley is grieving over the loss of her husband Mark. Mark dies in a gruesome fire after being targeted by a drug cartel he was investigating. Hailey struggles with caring for her teenage children who are sad or rebelling. A former partner at the Special Crimes Agency where she worked comes back into her life. Will love blossom, or is her hurt too deep?
Mistrust and strange happenings are all around her. The story moves slow at first then picks up speed as Hailey develops odd neurological symptoms, smells strange cologne in her house, and starts to trust no one. Who is lying to her? Is her husband really dead? Is David, Mark’s best friend and partner, or the handsome landscaper, Santino, friend or foe? The author unpeels shocking revelations as Hailey races to find out the truth. And what about Mendoza, the Columbian man who threatens all of them in his quest to turn the drug Euphoria into the next cocaine. Or does he simply want the daughter he didn’t know he had? Part of the story is even told from his POV.
There are a few inconsistencies and jumping to conclusions, but the tense plot kept me reading. I recommend reading the first book in the series, "Finding Euphoria", to fill in some of the blanks. So many threads are left dangling there should be a third book. A riveting read.
Mistrust and strange happenings are all around her. The story moves slow at first then picks up speed as Hailey develops odd neurological symptoms, smells strange cologne in her house, and starts to trust no one. Who is lying to her? Is her husband really dead? Is David, Mark’s best friend and partner, or the handsome landscaper, Santino, friend or foe? The author unpeels shocking revelations as Hailey races to find out the truth. And what about Mendoza, the Columbian man who threatens all of them in his quest to turn the drug Euphoria into the next cocaine. Or does he simply want the daughter he didn’t know he had? Part of the story is even told from his POV.
There are a few inconsistencies and jumping to conclusions, but the tense plot kept me reading. I recommend reading the first book in the series, "Finding Euphoria", to fill in some of the blanks. So many threads are left dangling there should be a third book. A riveting read.
January 4, 2025
A stand-alone book in the C. Becker’s Euphoria series, this drug-crime suspense novel follows Hailey Langley after her husband Mark dies in a fire. As she carries on, struggling to raise two teenagers as best she can, a few male friends step in to help her—but who can she trust?
Not all is as it seems in Hailey’s world. Slowly, the author reveals outlying incidents that directly affect her: the development of the bixine drug, police officers on administrative leave, a drug war, a recovering victim, and a feud within a drug lord’s family. If you like war-lord crime novels you'll like this. Becker distracts the reader with red herons and then pieces the story together with subtle clues while coaxing her readers to fall in love with Hailey and her children.
The overall storyline kept me turning pages.
Not all is as it seems in Hailey’s world. Slowly, the author reveals outlying incidents that directly affect her: the development of the bixine drug, police officers on administrative leave, a drug war, a recovering victim, and a feud within a drug lord’s family. If you like war-lord crime novels you'll like this. Becker distracts the reader with red herons and then pieces the story together with subtle clues while coaxing her readers to fall in love with Hailey and her children.
The overall storyline kept me turning pages.
June 17, 2022
SAVING EUPHORIA by C. Becker is a mystery/romantic suspense thriller. I did not realize it was part of a series but that did not hinder my enjoyment. I’ll be getting the first, FINDING EUPHORIA, now I’ve finished the second. Hailey, mother of two children, is dealing unsuccessfully with grief. The other ingredients are a designer drug, a possible miracle drug, a drug kingpin, and two attractive men, one of whom may be working for a cartel. It kept me guessing and now I’m looking forward to the next installment.
May 10, 2025
Saving Euphoria by C. Becker is the second book in the series, but don’t worry if you haven’t read the first, the drama and intrigue will soon have you hooked. The novel maintains a solid momentum throughout and the (many) plot twists are well-placed and surprising. The ending is full of heart-pumping action and sets up the third book enticingly.
The characters are sympathetic and believable and the juxtaposition of the minutiae of their domestic lives to the nail-biting action works especially well. An excellent read!
The characters are sympathetic and believable and the juxtaposition of the minutiae of their domestic lives to the nail-biting action works especially well. An excellent read!
April 11, 2025
Fantastic thriller that'll put you through all. the. emotions! The suspense and slow-burn romance drew me right into the story. It's got some epic villains and a badass FMC, Hailey, who is resilient yet soft and relatable. The ending left me wanting to know more... and had me downloading the next book immediately!
December 7, 2024
Engaging and nail biting plot line with well thought out characters, Saving Eurphoria is an excellent read. It was interesting to show grief so intertwined with grief, which a lot of people how close the two are. Would recommend.
November 27, 2024
When I started this book, I didn't realize it was number 2 in the series. I could tell as soon as I started reading, but there was enough background that I could follow easily. This well-written story was non-stop intrigue from beginning to end, twisting and turning, with characters that kept me invested. Hailey is a strong and endearing main character dealing with ALL of it: chaos, love, death, and teenage children. I highly recommend this story!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews