Reviews

UPDATE TO MY PREVIOUS UPDATE Thank you to my fellow Goodreads buddy for letting me know my review has also been wiped off NetGalley :). Not misleading whatsoever....

UPDATE After reviewing this book, the publisher swiftly rejected my request for another one of their books stating my "review rating" on NetGalley wasn't high enough (needs to be 50% minimum). It's currently 94% with 29 books reviewed this year but go off LOL. I get that you don't want people "trashing" your books but... What if I actually liked the next one? And I can still read this book and review it once it's published soo???

Thank you Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.

Writing: 1/5 | Plot: 1/5 | Ending: 1/5

THE PLOT

Olivia is out of jail after being sentenced for hiring a hit man to murk her husband, Dominic, so she can trot off into the sunset with her lover, Jack. She knows she's innocent, and she's determined to prove it. But is she more determined than her husband is to stop her? Let's find out.

MY OPINION

Full disclaimer: I read every single word until the halfway point, but that's as far as my will to torture myself goes. From there I skimmed and then read the last 15% or so.

Ok Ms. Taylor, we need to talk. Whoever writes the synopsis for your books needs a raise or a book deal of their own. They ALWAYS get my ass, and then I start reading and I'm like wtf. This is literally a toxic relationship. Stop doing this to me!!!

So where do I start? Well it's a 1 star review so you know the vibes. This is honestly a rip off of Wendy Owen's [b:My Husband's Fiancee|58836902|My Husband's Fiancee (My Husband's Fiancee #1)|Wendy Owens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1633354341l/58836902._SY75_.jpg|92597631] but worse. Way worse. It's really the writing that makes it so bad, because I honestly don't care if it's a similar concept, but at least come through with some creative prose.

In this book we have:
- Random government names being used throughout even though we know the characters.
- Unnecessary play-by-play closed caption ass descriptions (literally: I knocked on her red door while I checked my cell phone. I promise you I don't care at all about the door colour)
- Illogical behaviour on everyone's behalf
- Shit that just doesn't make sense. Like why is Dani, a cop, also a personal trainer? How does she have the time?
- Affairs galore. Anyone ever heard of a divorce or nah?
- Unoriginal motive: something that happened 20 yrs ago
and it goes on and on...

PROS AND CONS

Pros: I was approved for this ARC quickly. I appreciate that.
Cons: everything else

karlyo83's review

Go to review page

1.0

Olivia is framed for trying to have her husband murdered and is sent to prison for 5 years. Her lover is no where to be found and her husband has a bagful of lies at the ready. When Olivia is let out of prison she is on a mission to prove her innocence and get her daughter back… will she survive the ride?

Sounds good right?? Well…. It wasn’t. I was completely let down!!

This book is told from multiple POV which I like…normally…but, why is this told in first and third person in the different POV… it makes no sense and it gives the whole book a wonky feel. I didn’t enjoy that at all.

You also get EVERY SINGLE DETAIL there the colour of the lanyard, the colour of the tape on the key. There were unnecessary references to a person’s race. Also when the taxi driver was speaking there was no reference to his race however his English was broken in the dialogue which came across as unnecessary and kind of racist if you ask me.

The story was was over the top and the ending was even more EXTRA. In the beginning you kind of get a bit of a view into Olivia in jail she seems like she has some scrap in her but when she gets out she is floundering around running from pillar to post to try and prove her innocence without having any rational thought. She has no common sense at all.

Dani is a crooked cop - and a PT WHY!!! That makes zero sense… she mentioned she doesn’t keep relationships due to the ridiculous hours she keeps at work but no worries can run a bunch of PT sessions in all her SPARE time… nope. Also she never actually seems to be at work in this book… just seemed unlikely to me and she was ANNOYING!!!

Dominic is a complete jerk, plays the part well but seemingly is keen to make a nice life for his daughter who he comes across as not giving two hoots about… the bullying she seemingly is either participating in or experiencing is dismissed by Dom but is never revisited so there are storyline’s galore that are never expanded so no resolution, which is weird because my hand was held every step of the way throughout the rest of the story.

There are so many storyline’s and characters that were not required - perhaps it was an attempt at ‘red herrings’ but for me it just messed with the story.

Overall the TWISTS that kept coming were annoying and nonsensical. This was not for me… I appreciate the opportunity to read before publish date but it did not hit the mark.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Publishing and the author for an advance copy for an honest review.