A wild ride.

The book has an thrilling start. An intruder breaks into a family's home. The story then moves one year later and it slows down a bit. The same family is enjoying a nice vacation and they are still dealing with the aftermath of that night of terror.
The book goes back and forth between past and present. Although for the most part it is pretty slow in the middle, you can feel something brewing and I'd venture to say it does not disappoints.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this great book.

One of the best psychological/domestic thrillers that I have read this year, this was one scary, intense ride.

A year after a home invasion left them emotionally scarred, Andrew and Kate Brooks decide that a vacation would help them and their kids Willow and Noah to heal and bond as a family. While on holiday, Kate can't shake off the niggling feeling that they are being watched, especially since she knows that Paul, her delusional ex-boyfriend and the man who intruded their home has been released on bail. Soon Kate realises that her fears were right and that their dream vacation has just turned into their worst nightmare.

The plot had me hooked right from the very first chapter. The narrative style that alternated between the past and the present helped to build up the suspense and also to join the dots in what was a twisty, elaborate scheme to trap the Brooks'. And that plot twist was simply mind-blowing. I loved the climax due to the sheer terror it induced.

Overall, a nerve-wracking, unputdownable read. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review - What if the person you loved was not the person you thought?
Kate was dating Paul when she ran into Andrew and fell for him. And then one night someone is at the bedroom door and their lives will never be the same. When her husband decides they need a vacation so he rents a vacation home and things really begin to happen. Who is she married to? What is he thinking? Who are his friends?

This was definitely a read into the early hours. One of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a while. From the opening page when a masked man bursts into the home of Kate and Andrew, threatening the whole family until the last page, which I won’t mention here, this book is thrilling, gripping, cleverly written.

The way the story line alternates between now and twelve months earlier when the intrusion took place is an inspiration, allowing the author, Miranda Smith, to explore the affect this intrusion has on the whole family and their state of mind from the time of the event until the present day and how it shapes their actions and thinking. Because Smith gets inside the minds of her characters you can feel the fear and uncertainty this invasion has caused and even a year later Kate is still looking over her shoulder. If only that was all she had to fear.

I am delighted that this is not Smith’s first novel and am looking forward to reading everything she has written.

Wow! I tore through His Loving Wife by Miranda Smith in 2 days which is very fast for me. The story begins with a bang when the Brooks family’s lives are changed forever when they are faced with a dangerous intruder in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, for Kate and Andrew, and their two children, Willow and Noah, the family’s harrowing ordeal is just beginning. You think the book is leading you to one conclusion but it keeps providing one twist after another. I don’t want to provide any spoilers so that’s all of the plot I can give. Just know that you are in for one heck of ride with this psychological thriller.

With many unreliable and sinister characters, it was great fun trying to figure out where this story would end. I really enjoyed how the main character, Kate, shows tremendous courage and strength during her family’s ordeal. This novel also reminds you, you may never truly know someone until they are put to the ultimate test of life and death. Highly recommend this unputdownable thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

Book rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

After reading the 3rd thriller (The One Before) by @mirandasmith, I bumped her on my list of most loved authors.

But I lowered my expectations on this next release by her as I don’t want to be too disappointed; as was always the case when I read a 3rd or a 4th book by the previous authors I’ve loved.

So, let me take this opportunity to apologize to you Ms. Miranda for even thinking about it. You proved me wrong and I promise to never doubt your talent, ever again. I also promise to continue pre-ordering your books even after I’ve read them from @NetGalley.

You’re one of the few thriller authors who can still make me breaks out in cold-sweat, get my heart to skip a beat, and have me looking over my shoulder every once in a while just to make sure no one’ll be jumping on me anytime. As stressful as it sound, this just means you have got yourself an exceptional read that you won’t be forgetting for a long time.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Bookoture for the ARC.

To give any hint of this story would be to give the game away, and that would be a shame as, for me, this is probably the book I thought had worked out but really hadn’t 2021’, the book starts and the story pans out and as a psychological thriller lover I knew, 100% where it was going, I almost sighed and then, whooooosh it takes an unbelievable turn and you are in the midst of something very dark indeed
Very well written, good solid characters, not too in your face nor too pedestrian and a great setting make for a really good but very unsettling read

9/10
5 Stars ( has to be for how the book fooled me )

**3.5 🌟🌟🌟💫**

I enjoyed this book for the most part, I like how the book goes back and forth starting with the night of the “attack” and then going to the present and back until it arrives at the present fully.

Honestly, I had suspicions of Andrew from day 1. He always seemed so off to me. The moment I knew for sure he was sketchy was when he almost let Noah drown. Right then I knew he was a bad person and could not be trusted.

The story in my opinion seems a little far fetched… like
Andrew wants to murder his whole family because of one night? It just didn’t make sense. We also never really got closure on why he quit his job or why he was truly doing this. The author keeps using the phrase “to protect his family” and “make them whole again” but like what does that even mean and why does it require family annihilation?

This book was very slow until about 70% then it picks up the pace and I didn’t want to put it down because I had to know how it ended. However, the ending was a little flat for me. It ended kind of like Girl on the Train, in my opinion just meh.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I often find myself wondering what I would do in various emergency situations - including a home invasion. Will I freeze? Will I fight? Sacrifice myself for my family? Am I strong enough to win the battle?
A year ago, Willow and Andrew experienced a home invasion. Willow told her children to get out of the house to safety while catching the intruder off guard. This decision not only ensure the safety of her children, but also Willow was able to scare the intruder into leaving.
Months later they learn the intruder's identity - Paul, Willow's ex from college. Willow takes on the guilt of starting the chain of events - Paul and Willow ran into each other weeks before the invasion.
Andrew deals with the guilt of freezing - seeking an online community to cope.
The family goes on a beach vacation - yet Willow can't help feeling something weird is going on.
This plot definitely held my attention - the dynamics between parents and children, the impact of such a stressful event on a healthy marriage. Lots of positivity regarding seeking therapy for all members of the family.

Kate and her family’s life changed in an instant after a man broke into their home and confronted them. She is unable to feel safe, even at their vacation rental.

While this was entertaining, I did not love it. I kept getting confused with the timelines. They were both “after” a major event but at different points in time but that was hard for me to follow. The ending and twist seemed to come from nowhere and didn’t really fit in for me.

“The world, which only yesterday has seemed so big and colorful, vibrant, shrank to the size of a rice grain in those short, intense moments of panic.”

His Loving Wife comes out 10/4.

One of the best books I’ve read in a while! The Loving Wife did not leave me disappointed at all!

At first, I was wondering why we were getting so much background information without much suspense or thrilling happening. But let me tell you, I did not see what was coming my way. The buildup was much needed and appreciated for this story to work.

I couldn’t and didn’t want to put it down without finishing in one sitting!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for proving my with this arc for my honest review.

I haven’t read many domestic thrillers that I’ve liked in quite sometime, but this one met all my expectations. It was gripping from the very beginning. I was at the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. I enjoyed the fact that the story was told in the past and present tense. It allows the reader to gain insight as to why certain events took place and also gain Insight on the thought process of certain characters. Also, who doesn’t like a book with a good twist? I certainly didn’t see the twist coming. The thrillers I’ve read recently have been a bit predictable so it was a nice surprise that I didn’t foresee this twist.

I definitely recommend this one!

Did I guess where it was going? Yes, a bit. Was it a tad slow paced? Yeah. However, neither of those are necessarily a big issue as I was didn't want to put the book down and had such a fun time with it. It did that thing where its slow but not boring. Its a great build up and a marvelous time. Memorable? Not really but so, so fun anyway.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

A year ago, someone broke into our home. He stood outside our bedroom, with our children asleep down the corridor, and knocked on the door. But the worst moment came later, when I found out who nearly destroyed my family and why. Now my husband has booked us a surprise vacation. But I can't relax. I'm always looking over my shoulder. No matter how hard my husband tries to pretend, we both know it's not over.

When their home was broken into a year ago, Kate and Andrew had no idea that this would be the end for their family. The story has a dual timeline: the present day and one year ago that's told in flashbacks. Kate, Andrew and their two children, Willow and Noah are still recovering from the break-in. The pace is slow for the first 70% of the book, then it picks up speed. There's plenty of twists but I did guess where the story was going.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #MirandaSmith for my ARC of #HisLovingWife in exchange for an honest review.

A digital copy of this book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of the Brooks family, who survives a home invasion and how they deal with it a year later. Told from the point of view of Kate, the mother and wife, this alternates between the events from the night of the attack 12 months ago and leads up to "now". The family is rebuilding, the children in therapy, Kate and Andrew in marriage counseling and Andrew, being a introvert, has joined an online therapy group called Second Chances, for men who are overwhelmed. Now the family is on vacation and Kate still keeps looking over her shoulder for the attacker. Maybe it's paranoia maybe it's more... until events lead her to believe she and her family are in real danger.

I really enjoyed this book. My heart was literally pounding and I was fearful for Kate. This is a truly good book if you like underlying stories about stalkers and the fear they evoke.

Thank you NetGalley, Miranda Smith and Bookouture

Split in two, the book starts strong but left me struggling to continue with the story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

This was an intense read that kept me turning the pages well after bedtime!
A year ago, Kate opened her bedroom door to discover a man in their home, Paul! He was an old flame from Kate’s past and whom Andrew her husband also knew. Paul had been in prison awaiting trial but the family have been told that he has been released. Kate is scared he will come back.
Andrew decides to book a surprise family vacation to keep their minds off it, but Kate is still feeling uneasy, especially when she thinks she has spotted Paul, she is on edge constantly, watching her children even more closely than normal and what should be a relaxing vacation turns into something terrifying.
Wow, this was a book I could not put down, it had me thoroughly invested.
I liked the characters, and I can honestly say parts of the story were actually quite scary. It was a brilliant twisty thriller in which you really could not guess what would happen next.

Twisted and grabs the reader off the first page. Imagine having a home invasion rock your entire family, and as a wife and mother feeling like you have to put it all back together again. Kate, her husband, Andrew, and their two children, Willow and Noah, are recovering after a horrific event that took place a year ago. Each family member copes with the tragedy in his or her own way and has developed ways of dealing with the stressors associated with that terrible night. When news of a possible release reaches her, Kate takes Andrew up on his idea for a family vacation. However, after seeing a strange figure following her and finding a mysterious object in a bag from her home-town supermarket, Kate worries that their family is being targeted for another attack. Love and trust are on the line, communication is suffering, and still worse - the nightmare doesn’t seem to be over. There are several twists and turns, though if the reader’s paying attention, you can figure where the plot is going, but then it has another twist. The first 70% of this book was a slow burn for me- necessary, but slow. This is my first book by Miranda Smith, and I will be coming back for more. Nicely done.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for giving me an advanced copy of this psychological thriller.

Kate would do anything to protect her family, when an intruder breaks into her house while she’s sleeping, she does just that. She catches him off guard and attacks while her children escape.

The attack happens early and a lot of the book talks about the marriage struggles between Kate and Andrew getting over such a trauma. The end had me ‘just needing one more chapter’ before bed to finish it. Ends with a lot of twisty turns and woah, I don’t understand humans at all sometimes. I enjoyed it but I wouldnt recommend it to friends as a must read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me a pre release copy of this book to enjoy

A family is trying to heal from a traumatic episode. All is going well until panic resurfaces. But who is the culprit? The wife finds out some truths, but not after she still feels guilty for putting her family in danger. However, she’s not the only one with secrets. A chilling warped read.