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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
This is a new to me author. Her debut novel and it’s a good one. This book pulled me in and kept me turning the pages. From the start it held my attention. Wanting to know what happened next and why any of it was happening was the pull for me. I loved it. I have to admit I truly loved this book and look forward to more by this author.
Told from two different voices, Emily and Scott, this book is about some deep emotions. About a family and what they will go through for their child.
Emily’s life is really messed up. She doesn’t have anything, no job, no money and soon no place to live, when Scott offers her the chance of a lifetime. She embarks on a new adventure that will change her life forever. She will meet Scott’s wife and daughter and become a part of their lives in ways she never knew possible. A place that is far from ordinary and is most beautiful. She’s to help in many ways and just be a part of the everyday life. It’s perfect for her. Until it’s not.
Scott thinks Emily is the perfect person to help his wife and hires her as a housekeeper, grounds keeper of sorts, to care for their child, help with animals, redoing the guest house and anything that needs to be done. He goes through a lot to get her to accept the position and she is so very grateful. Until she’s not.
This book is so good. It’s setting is a beautiful place that you can visualize. The people that you meet are both good and not so good. But you will like them and you will have mixed emotions about what is happening. You will feel like you are right there through this whole story. From the edge of your seat thrills to the touching feelings of a mother’s love. It’s a roller coaster of a ride for sure. It had me turning pages at a fast rate. I wanted to know who did what and why. One thing I did figure out but mostly I was wrong on most of what I thought was going to happen. This author did a fantastic job of writing this book to keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. I applaud her for that.
It’s honestly a very good book. I could picture so many of the scenes as they played out. How they would look if it was a movie. That is what it felt like, a movie. Only in book form that had me holding my breath at each turn.
Thank you #NetGalley, #AnnaDownes, #StMartin’sPress Minotaur for this ARC. This is my own review.
I gave it 5 stars and a huge recommendation to anyone that likes a good thriller.
Told from two different voices, Emily and Scott, this book is about some deep emotions. About a family and what they will go through for their child.
Emily’s life is really messed up. She doesn’t have anything, no job, no money and soon no place to live, when Scott offers her the chance of a lifetime. She embarks on a new adventure that will change her life forever. She will meet Scott’s wife and daughter and become a part of their lives in ways she never knew possible. A place that is far from ordinary and is most beautiful. She’s to help in many ways and just be a part of the everyday life. It’s perfect for her. Until it’s not.
Scott thinks Emily is the perfect person to help his wife and hires her as a housekeeper, grounds keeper of sorts, to care for their child, help with animals, redoing the guest house and anything that needs to be done. He goes through a lot to get her to accept the position and she is so very grateful. Until she’s not.
This book is so good. It’s setting is a beautiful place that you can visualize. The people that you meet are both good and not so good. But you will like them and you will have mixed emotions about what is happening. You will feel like you are right there through this whole story. From the edge of your seat thrills to the touching feelings of a mother’s love. It’s a roller coaster of a ride for sure. It had me turning pages at a fast rate. I wanted to know who did what and why. One thing I did figure out but mostly I was wrong on most of what I thought was going to happen. This author did a fantastic job of writing this book to keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. I applaud her for that.
It’s honestly a very good book. I could picture so many of the scenes as they played out. How they would look if it was a movie. That is what it felt like, a movie. Only in book form that had me holding my breath at each turn.
Thank you #NetGalley, #AnnaDownes, #StMartin’sPress Minotaur for this ARC. This is my own review.
I gave it 5 stars and a huge recommendation to anyone that likes a good thriller.
This was a really good read and one which I would recommend.
Honestly this book had a little bit of a slow start for me. But after about 50 pages I could not put it down. I very much enjoyed it. Thank you for the advanced copy!!
Emily Proudman starts a job working for her ex-boss Scott, at his second home in France. Swapping her flat for a glorious estate in France sounded like a perfect swap. Emily's arrival at this perfect haven in France sets off a dangerous chain of events. We meet Scott's wife, Nina and daughter Aurelia. A terrible truth begins to reveal its self, dark devastating secrets emerge. Emily needs to find a way out.
This high tension exciting thriller creeps up on the reader in this compelling novel.
I thank Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Author Anna Downes for allowing me to review pre-publication.
This high tension exciting thriller creeps up on the reader in this compelling novel.
I thank Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Author Anna Downes for allowing me to review pre-publication.
3.5 stars.
This was a quick fun read, although a little predictable. Those that enjoy domestic thrillers will no doubt lap this one up.
This was a quick fun read, although a little predictable. Those that enjoy domestic thrillers will no doubt lap this one up.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was an interesting enough story that I wanted to finish listening to this one, but I ultimately became impatient enough to know where things were going that I listened to the last third of the book on 1.25.
There's enough mystery around Nina and her daughter that I appreciated that I was left guessing for some much of the middle of the book- you know something nefarious is going on, but it's hard to say what it is exactly. Once the reveal happens, you can't help but know that there's limits in how this can end in a satisfying manner.
I liked that Emily experienced growth as a character but it was still occasionally hard to watch her bumble through so many things.
There's enough mystery around Nina and her daughter that I appreciated that I was left guessing for some much of the middle of the book- you know something nefarious is going on, but it's hard to say what it is exactly. Once the reveal happens, you can't help but know that there's limits in how this can end in a satisfying manner.
I liked that Emily experienced growth as a character but it was still occasionally hard to watch her bumble through so many things.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Car accident, Alcohol