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calturner's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture who gave me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I found 'The Betrayal' to be a bit of a slow burn to start with, but it soon ratcheted up the tension until I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next, terrified of what was to come. A psychological thriller with many twists and turns, some easy to guess, others not so easy, but all building up to a thrilling and emotionally satisfying conclusion. A definite page turner, that once started was very difficult to put down.
Nadine and Jake's troubled marriage and 'perfect divorce' was very real and believable. I quickly came to care about what happened to them and genuinely became scared for their safety, and for the safety of their 4 children. And though Karin was a character I felt no sympathy for to begin with, by the end of the novel I could understand why she felt the way she did a little bit more and, as scary as she was, could see why her psyche had become so damaged and fragmented by the shocking events of her past.
A chilling, page turner of a read and one I highly recommend. 4 stars.
I found 'The Betrayal' to be a bit of a slow burn to start with, but it soon ratcheted up the tension until I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next, terrified of what was to come. A psychological thriller with many twists and turns, some easy to guess, others not so easy, but all building up to a thrilling and emotionally satisfying conclusion. A definite page turner, that once started was very difficult to put down.
Nadine and Jake's troubled marriage and 'perfect divorce' was very real and believable. I quickly came to care about what happened to them and genuinely became scared for their safety, and for the safety of their 4 children. And though Karin was a character I felt no sympathy for to begin with, by the end of the novel I could understand why she felt the way she did a little bit more and, as scary as she was, could see why her psyche had become so damaged and fragmented by the shocking events of her past.
A chilling, page turner of a read and one I highly recommend. 4 stars.
nannyf's review
4.0
Wow, having just finished this story I am in awe of the author once again.
She has managed to weave a story with so many layers that it takes till almost the end of the book for everything to come out.
The story is reminiscent of films such as Fatal Attraction, in fact the phrase 'bunny boiler' is used in this story! It shows how something random can explode in a spectacular way, and how someone can hold anger inside for so long that it is released in shocking ways.
The depths the character of Karin goes to in order to achieve what she believes is justice will shock you. But each action is necessary to the story, and for the story to work as well as it does.
Loved it, I look forward to seeing what the author brings us next.
She has managed to weave a story with so many layers that it takes till almost the end of the book for everything to come out.
The story is reminiscent of films such as Fatal Attraction, in fact the phrase 'bunny boiler' is used in this story! It shows how something random can explode in a spectacular way, and how someone can hold anger inside for so long that it is released in shocking ways.
The depths the character of Karin goes to in order to achieve what she believes is justice will shock you. But each action is necessary to the story, and for the story to work as well as it does.
Loved it, I look forward to seeing what the author brings us next.
portybelle's review
5.0
Laura Elliot builds up the tension and sense of intrigue right from the first few pages of The Betrayal and I just couldn't put it down once I started! Who is the mysterious Karin who provokes such fear in Nadine when she glimpses her at the airport? What has happened between them when children which wrecked their friendship? Nadine and Jake married very young after she became pregnant but have agreed to an amicable divorce now that their four children have left home. But can there ever be such a thing as a perfect divorce, especially now that Karin has re-appeared in their lives?
In Karin, Laura Elliot has created a truly scary character. Whilst seeming petite and vulnerable she is in fact scheming and manipulative with more than a few stalkerish Fatal Attraction style tendencies. And everything she does is so carefully plotted so as to seem innocuous or can't be traced back to her. As the old saying goes, never underestimate a woman scorned!
As the novel raced towards the end, I found myself genuinely worrying for Nadine and Jake and their children. What was going to happen, what would Karin do next, how would this situation resolve? It's a sure sign of a writer's skill at developing her characters if you really care about what happens to them. This novel was well paced and well plotted and another brilliant read from Laura Elliot.
In Karin, Laura Elliot has created a truly scary character. Whilst seeming petite and vulnerable she is in fact scheming and manipulative with more than a few stalkerish Fatal Attraction style tendencies. And everything she does is so carefully plotted so as to seem innocuous or can't be traced back to her. As the old saying goes, never underestimate a woman scorned!
As the novel raced towards the end, I found myself genuinely worrying for Nadine and Jake and their children. What was going to happen, what would Karin do next, how would this situation resolve? It's a sure sign of a writer's skill at developing her characters if you really care about what happens to them. This novel was well paced and well plotted and another brilliant read from Laura Elliot.
caslater83's review
4.0
Good.
This book was okay, but it wasn't fantastic. I just struggled to get through it. Never really felt hooked. The ending was not what I had anticipated, but oh well. Moving on to a new book. Likely to delete this one.
This book was okay, but it wasn't fantastic. I just struggled to get through it. Never really felt hooked. The ending was not what I had anticipated, but oh well. Moving on to a new book. Likely to delete this one.
sjj169's review
3.0
Nadine's kids are all leaving the nest. Her and her husband Jake's business is on the skids and she starts looking back at her life. Nadine decides that her marriage is over but that she and Jake can have an easy, happy divorce.
She is interesting in living the life she didn't get to live and starting back to creating art while Jake wants to start up his teenage rockband again.
Their kids don't really understand why their parents are separating but they are all grown and pretty much on their own so mom and dad don't worry too much about them.
But a woman from the past is starting to catch Jake's attention.
Karin Moylan used to be Nadine's best friend before it all went sour one summer when they were fifteen years old. Now she is seeing Jake. She believes that Jake was taken from her by Nadine. That stupid Nadine just took everything from her. *sarcasm*
That's what love does, Jake. It fills us with the need to possess and cherish those dearest to us.
Jake begins to realize that all is not as it should be with Karin and then she starts inserting herself into the kids lives and popping up when she shouldn't be.
Jake should not have been thinking with his "other head."
I actually almost dnf'd the book because there is so much info in it that I kept thinking I would never finish it. When the action does pick up it turns into an interesting book but lots of talky-talking.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
I love this review here for the book so that is the one I'm spotlight this time. (None of my friends have braved this one yet)
She is interesting in living the life she didn't get to live and starting back to creating art while Jake wants to start up his teenage rockband again.
Their kids don't really understand why their parents are separating but they are all grown and pretty much on their own so mom and dad don't worry too much about them.
But a woman from the past is starting to catch Jake's attention.
Karin Moylan used to be Nadine's best friend before it all went sour one summer when they were fifteen years old. Now she is seeing Jake. She believes that Jake was taken from her by Nadine. That stupid Nadine just took everything from her. *sarcasm*
That's what love does, Jake. It fills us with the need to possess and cherish those dearest to us.
Jake begins to realize that all is not as it should be with Karin and then she starts inserting herself into the kids lives and popping up when she shouldn't be.
Jake should not have been thinking with his "other head."
I actually almost dnf'd the book because there is so much info in it that I kept thinking I would never finish it. When the action does pick up it turns into an interesting book but lots of talky-talking.
Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.
I love this review here for the book so that is the one I'm spotlight this time. (None of my friends have braved this one yet)
steph1rothwell's review
4.0
The Betrayal by Laura Elliot features a normal family in Ireland. Nadine and Jake were forced into a teenage marriage by pregnancy, had four children and run their own business. The children are now all adults and are following their individual dreams. The business has been badly hit by the recession and Nadine is getting cold feet about its future and their marriage.
When she drops Jake off at the airport she sees a face from the past, one that she wishes she would never see again. Karin used to be her best friend when they were at school but something happened on a holiday that destroyed their friendship and Nadine's life was left in tatters.
Karin is a dangerous person and not at all likeable. Nadine wasn't the only one who suffered through her actions, both in the flashbacks and in life now. She was very manipulative and would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. There were quite a few times throughout the tale that I felt on edge, not knowing what she would do next. The tension that all the characters, especially Jake felt was very convincing. I did guess at how it would end but didn't see the full reasons why, and one part I got completely wrong.
This is the third novel I have read by this author and my favourite one so far. I found it to be a novel that was very easy to read, very addictive and I loved the way that Ireland and Alaska were described. A great read, especially for a holiday. It is one that you could quite easily read in one sitting.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received for review.
When she drops Jake off at the airport she sees a face from the past, one that she wishes she would never see again. Karin used to be her best friend when they were at school but something happened on a holiday that destroyed their friendship and Nadine's life was left in tatters.
Karin is a dangerous person and not at all likeable. Nadine wasn't the only one who suffered through her actions, both in the flashbacks and in life now. She was very manipulative and would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. There were quite a few times throughout the tale that I felt on edge, not knowing what she would do next. The tension that all the characters, especially Jake felt was very convincing. I did guess at how it would end but didn't see the full reasons why, and one part I got completely wrong.
This is the third novel I have read by this author and my favourite one so far. I found it to be a novel that was very easy to read, very addictive and I loved the way that Ireland and Alaska were described. A great read, especially for a holiday. It is one that you could quite easily read in one sitting.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received for review.
sarahs_bookish_life's review
4.0
Having settled down so early in their lives, Nadine and Jake decide to part ways and lead their own lives. As it’s something that they both want, parting should be a smooth process, shouldn’t it?
The Betrayal is a story that is told between Nadine and Jake. Having decided that they are both going to go their own way, Jake bumps into Karin who Nadine used to be best friends with at school. It isn’t long before Karin and Jake start up a relationship but it doesn’t take long for Jake to realise what a big mistake it was to get involved with the stunning and confident Karin.
From the start it’s obvious that Karin has issues, especially with the way she treated her supposedly best friend Nadine in their childhood. The reasoning why they are no longer friends is something that is slowly revealed to the reader as we read on through the book.
The author has created an enthralling read which made me reminisce slightly of the film Fatal Attraction. Karin is certainly a strong character and very much a force to be reckoned with, who I for one certainly would not want to get on the wrong side of.
The Betrayal certainly makes for a tense read that had me at times literally on the edge of my seat.
I have read a few of this author’s books now and have enjoyed them all, if you haven’t read any yet you really don’t know what your missing out on.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
The Betrayal is a story that is told between Nadine and Jake. Having decided that they are both going to go their own way, Jake bumps into Karin who Nadine used to be best friends with at school. It isn’t long before Karin and Jake start up a relationship but it doesn’t take long for Jake to realise what a big mistake it was to get involved with the stunning and confident Karin.
From the start it’s obvious that Karin has issues, especially with the way she treated her supposedly best friend Nadine in their childhood. The reasoning why they are no longer friends is something that is slowly revealed to the reader as we read on through the book.
The author has created an enthralling read which made me reminisce slightly of the film Fatal Attraction. Karin is certainly a strong character and very much a force to be reckoned with, who I for one certainly would not want to get on the wrong side of.
The Betrayal certainly makes for a tense read that had me at times literally on the edge of my seat.
I have read a few of this author’s books now and have enjoyed them all, if you haven’t read any yet you really don’t know what your missing out on.
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.
rosemcc's review
5.0
Couldn’t put down
I was pleasantly surprised at how great this book was, considering I’d never heard of the author and it was featured for free at my library. I’ll be reading more of her works. Great characters, highly readable, and plenty of plot twists.
I was pleasantly surprised at how great this book was, considering I’d never heard of the author and it was featured for free at my library. I’ll be reading more of her works. Great characters, highly readable, and plenty of plot twists.
petra_reads's review
4.0
The Betrayal had me hooked right from the start. It is full of love, hate, grief, secrets, lies, revenge and tragedy.
Told in dual perspectives, the story follows Nadine and Jake who married because of an unplanned pregnancy while still in their teens. Another 3 kids and 25 years later with all the kids now out of the house, they decide it's time to pursue their individual dreams that were put on hold in order to raise the family. They plan "the perfect divorce". But Jake starts an affair with Karin, who used to be friends with Nadine when they were teenagers. This is where it gets really creepy and intense. When they were in their teens, all 3 of them had spent a memorable summer by the sea in Ireland. Bit by bit we find out what happened that summer while simultaneously watching Nadine and Jake's lives in the present fall to pieces from the moment Karin enters.
Laura Elliot has created a well-written family saga with true-to-life characters. I really felt I got to know the entire extended family as well as the side characters and felt what they were going through. The tension kept building at a nice pace, and the last third of the book I had to finish in one go. This was my first outing into the world of Laura Elliot but I've already added another of her books to my TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Told in dual perspectives, the story follows Nadine and Jake who married because of an unplanned pregnancy while still in their teens. Another 3 kids and 25 years later with all the kids now out of the house, they decide it's time to pursue their individual dreams that were put on hold in order to raise the family. They plan "the perfect divorce". But Jake starts an affair with Karin, who used to be friends with Nadine when they were teenagers. This is where it gets really creepy and intense. When they were in their teens, all 3 of them had spent a memorable summer by the sea in Ireland. Bit by bit we find out what happened that summer while simultaneously watching Nadine and Jake's lives in the present fall to pieces from the moment Karin enters.
Laura Elliot has created a well-written family saga with true-to-life characters. I really felt I got to know the entire extended family as well as the side characters and felt what they were going through. The tension kept building at a nice pace, and the last third of the book I had to finish in one go. This was my first outing into the world of Laura Elliot but I've already added another of her books to my TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
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