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alexatthelake's review
4.0
I think it's funny, but interesting how differently I'll rate thrillers versus romance or historical fiction. It sounds terrible but it's almost like I don't expect as much from them, which isn't fair. But here we are. This book is getting 4 stars, even though it wasn't anything life changing or overly memorable in the world of thrillers, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and was interested throughout the whole book. It didn't really have my heart racing much and I wasn't super on the edge of my seat, but I was consistently interested in finding out the end and had me guessing for much of it.
lynnetteharris's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I wanted to like this book. The plot was really good but it was way way too long. This book had so much dialogue and wonderings it could have been half as long. Also the protagonist continued to defend her client who was clearly guilty from the beginning. I get that the author was trying to demonstrate some weird women for women thing but her blind faith just because she was a woman was ridiculous. Make this book get to the point without all the dialogue and out loud thoughts it would be four stars. Won’t read another by this author.
feeltheread's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
nisha_castelino's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
okiecozyreader's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
Love the cover for this book. I like the idea of this book - Cordelia comes to Arden, a crisis management expert to help revitalize her family’s image after her husband is declared innocent in a car accident in which a man died. Cordelia then disappears to a trip leaving Arden to meet with her husband to fix the mess.
I felt like it was predictable. The chapters often leave on cliff-hangers, so it keeps people turning pages.
“…he repeats that New Year’s Eve moment in his mind as if it were something he could edit or alter or hit some cosmic undo button…” prologue
“Truth is only what someone believes or can be convinced to believe.” Ch 9
“[she]…thought about truth and fairness and families and how one wrong word can ruin so many people and how the right words can sometimes, sometimes remedy that, or even better, prevent the damage in the first place.” Ch 15
“True enough. As if there were levels of truth.” Ch 23
“Politics was sometimes the science, the craft, the art of making things happen, the way you thought is best.” Ch 56
“What gives me joy… Joy, the thing that had changed her life me for the worse, and then for the better… What gives me joy, is guiding people through their tough times .. sometimes we have disasters not of our making… sometimes we have a hand in it, but … I want to be there, for those who need help…” ch 82
I felt like it was predictable. The chapters often leave on cliff-hangers, so it keeps people turning pages.
“…he repeats that New Year’s Eve moment in his mind as if it were something he could edit or alter or hit some cosmic undo button…” prologue
“Truth is only what someone believes or can be convinced to believe.” Ch 9
“[she]…thought about truth and fairness and families and how one wrong word can ruin so many people and how the right words can sometimes, sometimes remedy that, or even better, prevent the damage in the first place.” Ch 15
“True enough. As if there were levels of truth.” Ch 23
“Politics was sometimes the science, the craft, the art of making things happen, the way you thought is best.” Ch 56
“What gives me joy… Joy, the thing that had changed her life me for the worse, and then for the better… What gives me joy, is guiding people through their tough times .. sometimes we have disasters not of our making… sometimes we have a hand in it, but … I want to be there, for those who need help…” ch 82
harleybrewpup's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
marilynw's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
One Wrong Word by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Narrated by Gail Shalan
Now that the story is over, I realize I still have trouble getting my head around just what took place. Not surprising though, since several of the characters are liars, manipulators, cheats, and worse. Crisis management expert Arden Ward is stuck smack dab in the middle of this mess and while she took this one last job to minimize the fact that she was being fired, she's wishing she'd just took the firing and slammed the door behind her.
Thanks to being accused of doing something she didn't do, Arden feels forced to take the job of rehabbing the reputation of Ned Bannister, a Boston real estate mogul who was acquitted in a fatal drunk driving accident. Despite being acquitted, his reputation, business dealings, and family are suffering from the unwelcome notoriety and Arden's parting "gift" from her soon to be ex-boss is this one last job to show prospective employers just how well she can pull the shattered Bannister reputation out of the dumpster and make it all shiny again.
Arden is a smart and likeable woman and her heart is in the right place in that she really does want to help people. Too bad so many clients have something to hide and won't be truthful with her despite her insistence they tell her all their secrets. Ned's wife Cordelia is the one who asked for Arden's services but she can be cagey and seems to be holding back on the information Arden needs to help the Bannisters.
Narrator Gail Shalan added to this story for me. While Arden's inner thoughts can go around in circles, Shalan's vocalization of her thoughts brought out the humor in Arden's thinking. Really, how did Arden get into this huge mess she finds herself in now? What is usually an office job has turned into something very different and very dangerous. Add in two very cute kids and a savvy grandmother and I can't help wanting this story to continue if we get to see those three again. I can get so attached to side characters and it happened again for me in this story.
Thanks to my library and Libby for this audiobook.
Narrated by Gail Shalan
Now that the story is over, I realize I still have trouble getting my head around just what took place. Not surprising though, since several of the characters are liars, manipulators, cheats, and worse. Crisis management expert Arden Ward is stuck smack dab in the middle of this mess and while she took this one last job to minimize the fact that she was being fired, she's wishing she'd just took the firing and slammed the door behind her.
Thanks to being accused of doing something she didn't do, Arden feels forced to take the job of rehabbing the reputation of Ned Bannister, a Boston real estate mogul who was acquitted in a fatal drunk driving accident. Despite being acquitted, his reputation, business dealings, and family are suffering from the unwelcome notoriety and Arden's parting "gift" from her soon to be ex-boss is this one last job to show prospective employers just how well she can pull the shattered Bannister reputation out of the dumpster and make it all shiny again.
Arden is a smart and likeable woman and her heart is in the right place in that she really does want to help people. Too bad so many clients have something to hide and won't be truthful with her despite her insistence they tell her all their secrets. Ned's wife Cordelia is the one who asked for Arden's services but she can be cagey and seems to be holding back on the information Arden needs to help the Bannisters.
Narrator Gail Shalan added to this story for me. While Arden's inner thoughts can go around in circles, Shalan's vocalization of her thoughts brought out the humor in Arden's thinking. Really, how did Arden get into this huge mess she finds herself in now? What is usually an office job has turned into something very different and very dangerous. Add in two very cute kids and a savvy grandmother and I can't help wanting this story to continue if we get to see those three again. I can get so attached to side characters and it happened again for me in this story.
Thanks to my library and Libby for this audiobook.