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nikkitaylor19's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
spclteach's review against another edition
5.0
Riveting
This was a free book, but so worth your time to read! If you like suspense, you’ll like this book!
This was a free book, but so worth your time to read! If you like suspense, you’ll like this book!
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is one twisty-WTF-suspense novel that is full of secrets and will have you questioning everything!!!
Emily Carpenter is a new-to-me author and I’m so glad I was given an opportunity to read and review this book! This was a Traveling Sisters read and though everyone had a slightly different take on it, we all felt the ending was a WOW moment! This book takes a few chapters to get into, because the character dynamics are untraditional. But once you’re in, prepare to be questioning everything and everyone in a slow-building suspense novel with a thrilling conclusion!
Daphne has finally found her own person to call her family…
Daphne was raised in foster homes and a girls’ ranch, and has had no family to speak of her whole life. But Daphne is a survivor—strong and intelligent, and scrappy as all-get-out. When she met Heath, she instantly knew she had found her partner. Heath and Daphne fell hard and fast, and are engaged to be married. Sounds perfect, right? There’s a catch: Daphne and Heath have an agreement to never discuss their pasts. But what happens if the past comes out?
Heath needs help processing his past demons…
Despite their agreement, Heath’s past can’t be ignored any longer. Wracked with horrible nightmares, Heath knows he needs to work through his issues to finally be free. When Heath asks Daphne to attend a week-long couple’s retreat with the esteemed Dr. Cerny to delve into his past, Daphne is understandably hesitant. The Retreat involves camera footage of the couple taken most of the day and evening, and intensive therapy sessions to work with Dr. Cerny. But Heath needs this, and Daphne reluctantly agrees, on the condition that she will not be doing the therapy, and will only be there to support Heath.
They arrive for the Retreat, only to find that all may not be as it seemed…
As they settle in, Daphne quickly becomes curious about Dr. Cerny and his methods. Stealing around the house and grounds, Daphne begins to question everything. Are the cameras really turned off at the designated times? And why isn’t she allowed to befriend the other couples on the Retreat? And most importantly—if Heath’s past comes out, will hers have to as well???
Reflection
Initially I found Daphne and Heath tough to connect with, because they are very nontraditional. They live in the present and future, and are both terrified of dark pasts. I enjoyed learning about each of their pasts as the book went on, through some clever plot mechanisms that allowed it to be revealed to the reader. I am a communicator, so their lack of communication drove me nuts! But that is the point of these two characters. They saw their counterpoint in the other, and it works for them.
The creepy house, and the premise of the retreat were so intriguing to me. I loved the descriptions of the grounds and the house itself, as well as of the characters. And what a cast of characters this book has!!! You may not like them all, but I dare readers to try to find a boring character among the lot! The theme of secrets and hidden pasts really carried this book. There was always the sense from every single character that you don’t have the full story, and it kept me reading to want to know more.
As for the ending—I found it so satisfying! A total "Wtf?!" ending! It certainly was a twist I didn’t expect, and there was enough plot remaining after the BIG TWIST to wrap the loose threads up in a way that I left the book feeling like I got closure and enough answers. I highly recommend this book to suspense-lovers! Particularly to those who like the psychological aspect to mysteries. This one is a doozy and has its own enigmatic psychologist to go along with it!
Thanks to Brenda and Norma for including me in their Traveling Sisters read! And thanks so much Nikki, Susanne, Kaceey, Diane, and Melisa for the awesome discussion!
Many thanks to Emily Carpenter, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read this book!
This is one twisty-WTF-suspense novel that is full of secrets and will have you questioning everything!!!
Emily Carpenter is a new-to-me author and I’m so glad I was given an opportunity to read and review this book! This was a Traveling Sisters read and though everyone had a slightly different take on it, we all felt the ending was a WOW moment! This book takes a few chapters to get into, because the character dynamics are untraditional. But once you’re in, prepare to be questioning everything and everyone in a slow-building suspense novel with a thrilling conclusion!
Daphne has finally found her own person to call her family…
Daphne was raised in foster homes and a girls’ ranch, and has had no family to speak of her whole life. But Daphne is a survivor—strong and intelligent, and scrappy as all-get-out. When she met Heath, she instantly knew she had found her partner. Heath and Daphne fell hard and fast, and are engaged to be married. Sounds perfect, right? There’s a catch: Daphne and Heath have an agreement to never discuss their pasts. But what happens if the past comes out?
Heath needs help processing his past demons…
Despite their agreement, Heath’s past can’t be ignored any longer. Wracked with horrible nightmares, Heath knows he needs to work through his issues to finally be free. When Heath asks Daphne to attend a week-long couple’s retreat with the esteemed Dr. Cerny to delve into his past, Daphne is understandably hesitant. The Retreat involves camera footage of the couple taken most of the day and evening, and intensive therapy sessions to work with Dr. Cerny. But Heath needs this, and Daphne reluctantly agrees, on the condition that she will not be doing the therapy, and will only be there to support Heath.
They arrive for the Retreat, only to find that all may not be as it seemed…
As they settle in, Daphne quickly becomes curious about Dr. Cerny and his methods. Stealing around the house and grounds, Daphne begins to question everything. Are the cameras really turned off at the designated times? And why isn’t she allowed to befriend the other couples on the Retreat? And most importantly—if Heath’s past comes out, will hers have to as well???
Reflection
Initially I found Daphne and Heath tough to connect with, because they are very nontraditional. They live in the present and future, and are both terrified of dark pasts. I enjoyed learning about each of their pasts as the book went on, through some clever plot mechanisms that allowed it to be revealed to the reader. I am a communicator, so their lack of communication drove me nuts! But that is the point of these two characters. They saw their counterpoint in the other, and it works for them.
The creepy house, and the premise of the retreat were so intriguing to me. I loved the descriptions of the grounds and the house itself, as well as of the characters. And what a cast of characters this book has!!! You may not like them all, but I dare readers to try to find a boring character among the lot! The theme of secrets and hidden pasts really carried this book. There was always the sense from every single character that you don’t have the full story, and it kept me reading to want to know more.
As for the ending—I found it so satisfying! A total "Wtf?!" ending! It certainly was a twist I didn’t expect, and there was enough plot remaining after the BIG TWIST to wrap the loose threads up in a way that I left the book feeling like I got closure and enough answers. I highly recommend this book to suspense-lovers! Particularly to those who like the psychological aspect to mysteries. This one is a doozy and has its own enigmatic psychologist to go along with it!
Thanks to Brenda and Norma for including me in their Traveling Sisters read! And thanks so much Nikki, Susanne, Kaceey, Diane, and Melisa for the awesome discussion!
Many thanks to Emily Carpenter, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read this book!
duchessofreadin's review against another edition
4.0
Secrets can be devastating...
Daphne and her fiance are hitting a rough patch in their relationship, but when they head off for a couple's retreat, she is going to learn there is a lot more at play than she thought. Not only has she kept her past secret, but he is hiding some major ones as well, and she may not be ready to deal with the full truth of what she is about to learn...
WOW, this is a great book for those "I need a weekend getaway," with a little mystery and drama thrown in!
Daphne and her fiance are hitting a rough patch in their relationship, but when they head off for a couple's retreat, she is going to learn there is a lot more at play than she thought. Not only has she kept her past secret, but he is hiding some major ones as well, and she may not be ready to deal with the full truth of what she is about to learn...
WOW, this is a great book for those "I need a weekend getaway," with a little mystery and drama thrown in!
stephaniethereader9's review against another edition
3.0
The way this was written- alternating between glimpses of “now”, the story leading up to it, and also the back story several years prior - kind of made it hard for me to keep straight. BUT it was an excellent story, great plot, though I didn’t find myself especially attached or invested in the main character. She was a bit annoying and frustrating. It did successfully elicit feelings of suspense, intrigue, frustration, and mystery. Great twists too!
heavahh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
furey's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. It took me a long time to read this book. It was an enjoyable read, and I remembered the story line, but I did not feel compelled to continue reading. So, I'm kind of perplexed as to why I think it was a good read, but definitely not great, or at least not compelling. I liked Daphne, but did not like Heath, and did not really understand why she was willing to go through everything for him.
sharesb's review against another edition
4.0
Hmmm well this was an interesting novel. Just when I would think I knew what direction it was going in, it proved me wrong and went in a different one.
A few “as if” moments but overall a good read. Lots of suspense and twists.
A few “as if” moments but overall a good read. Lots of suspense and twists.