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Review for 'Hush Little Baby' by J.A. Baker.


'The Perfect Parents' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Baker discusses/includes domestic physical and psychological abuse.

Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.

I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, secrets, lies, twists, drama and omg the ending!!! I DID NOT see coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS JA Baker!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that over and over and over!!! What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking domestic suspense books that I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with drama, shocks, secrets, twists, suspense, tension, deceit and more. There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I'm not going to go too much into the storyline as I don't want to give anything away and everything you need to know is in the incredible synopsis. However I do want to say that I absolutely LOVE the fact that this book we get to see the story from both Melissa and Nancy's perspectives and that it is set over multiple timelines! This book really does go to show that you never know what really goes on behind closed doors and that appearances can be very deceiving indeed. I am not going to go into details about the storyline as you can read that in the brilliant synopsis so to find out more you will just have to grab a copy of this gripping psychological thriller today to find out for yourselves! I have never read a storyline like this one and considering I have read hundreds of books that is quite a feat so a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS Baker on constructing a unique, intriguing and captivating page turner! Baker's fantastic evocative writing skills and descriptions really draws the reader into the storyline putting them in the middle of the suspense themselves with the characters, emotions and surroundings coming to life in front of their eyes! i am definitely looking forward to reading more books by this fantastic author!! I absolutely loved 'The Perfect Parents' by JA Baker and genuinely thought that there was no chance of getting better than that but Baker managed to up the game and blow it out of the water with this epic page turner!!

Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!!

I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. Baker has managed to create several realistic, flawed and questionable characters that she brings to life with her creative and evocative writing skills and puts them into what should be an everyday storyline but makes the reader question everything and everyone they are seeing, reading and meeting throughout!! As with the storyline I won't go into any details about the characters as I don't want to run the risk of giving anything away and spoiling this incredible storyline for future readers. Baker has done an amazing job with the multiple protagonists and multiple timelines and weaves all the different timelines and characters stories together perfectly not causing any confusion into whose point of view I read from or what timeline the chapters were talking about. If you want to know more you will just have to grab a copy today!! I promise you will NOT regret it!! All in all a great mix of characters that worked well with this storyline and regardless of whether you love them or hate them they all played their parts perfectly along with Baker's fantastic writing skills making each of them jump out of the pages coming to life in front of your eyes.

Congratulations J.A. Baker on an absolutely gripping, suspense packed and addictive page turner!! I cannot wait to get stuck into more of your books and I would definitely like to welcome you to my favourite author list!! here is to your next guaranteed success!!!

Overall an absolutely thrilling and unputdownable addictive psychological thriller!

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I have read and enjoyed many of Baker's books and I think I might just have found my new favourite!

As popcorn thrillers go, it's definitely well worth the binge. It's a pacey read told across dual timelines and takes us back to the harrowing childhood of Nancy and the abusive behaviour she received at the hands of her husband, a respected GP and to current day where we meet Melissa, a grandmother wanting to do the right thing by her grandson.

The twists came thick and fast, and the suspense was through the roof. The characters are engaging, credible and highlight the issues of what you don't see happening behind closed doors.

I really enjoyed it the book and would definitely recommend both book and author.

When Melissa Crawford sees a baby being mistreated, she knows she has to do something about it. She can’t let it happen again. Baby Gabriel is only four months old. He doesn’t deserve the amount of neglect he’s suffering at the hands of his parents, being shoved outside in his pram while they argue inside the house. They obviously don’t want him, treating him like that. She does, though, and she’s going to do them all a favor and take him. He’ll be better off with her, she tells herself. She will love him like his parents don’t. They will be happy.

Yet, starting their new life together doesn’t go as easily as she thought it would. A hit-and-run accident as Melissa tries to make her getaway with Gabriel may upgrade her from a kidnapper to a murderer. Fearful of what she’s done, she high tails it to the cabin she rented for them in the middle of nowhere, anxious to settle in and finally feel safe. But nothing is going as planned. She hasn’t even unpacked when an unexpected guest shows up, waving a gun. Going on the run again, she’s determined to get Gabriel to safety and start their new life. The cops are looking for her, but she doesn’t care. She has to keep going. If they catch her, they will send her to prison. They won’t understand that she’s just a loving grandmother protecting her grandson from her son and his horrible wife.

Riveting, tense, and horrifying at times, “Hush Little Baby” by J.A. Baker is a steady-paced, emotional exploration of the effects of domestic violence and trauma as seen through the character Melissa. As a child, Melissa watched the severe beatings her mother suffered at the hands of her father. She remembers living in silence as to avoid any noise or word that would trigger him. Even though he left while she was still small, the trauma she suffered was there for life, lurking in the shadows and waiting to reappear. It appears early in the novel when her temper nearly gets the best of her with a fussy baby Gabriel (she reminds you of her father), and it stays front and center as she runs from the police.

“Hush Little Baby” is told through Melissa’s first-person point-of-view (POV) in the present day and through her mother Nancy’s third-person POV in 1970 when Melissa was a little girl. It’s a little confusing at first, because it’s not clear who Nancy is and why she’s part of the story. But once it’s revealed, it takes the book from good to enthralling. “Hush Little Baby” is filled with heart-in-your-throat twists and turns. However, it’s also busting at the seams with emotion. There are enough gut punches to bring tears to your eyes at least a few times.

This book is brilliantly written and oh-so-addicting. The middle of the story seemed to go on a little longer than it should, but it gave me more time with Melissa, Gabriel, and Nancy — and that’s a win. Melissa’s POV is both emotional and action-packed. Nancy’s POV is written so well, it might traumatize you a little. “Hush Little Baby” grabs you by your attention span and doesn’t let you go, but it’s the final twist that will steal your breath from your chest as it breaks your heart and twists your tummy into knots. I read a lot of books. I’ve loved a lot of final twists. But this one? It broke me.

I have all the respect for author J.A. Baker. I don’t know if she cried as she wrote this, but I need a new box of tissues after reading it. “Hush Little Baby” is the first book of hers that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last.

A grandma snatches her grandson to protect him and is now on the run. This was a fast read that I finished quickly because I just had to know how things would turn out. I loved that nothing was as it seemed and that this book kept me guessing AND entertained. Also the ending left my haw on the floor!

This book is my worst nightmare as a mother because it’s a child being taken so I think that pushed me to reading this. Melissa our main character has dealt with a lot in her life especially as a child. Though she doesn’t make her life easier by kidnapping her grandson along with some other incidents. Though things aren’t as they seemed to Melissa due to her past trauma she isn’t always thinking clearly so we are trying to decide what is and isn’t real. One part of the book that had me laughing actually was t the way that the ashes were disposed of I thought was pretty great!

Thank you net galley for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review

Hush Little baby is a taut thriller not for the feint hearted. The chapters are under Melissa and 1970 where the mystery begins ie. what is the connection between the two. This is a story full of helplessness,hopelessness and terror. One is almost too afraid to turn the pages at times.

The writing is descriptive and suits the narrative of the story .
5 stars

This is another very good domestic thriller by JA Baker. The writing style is fast past and engaging and the book came with plenty of twists to keep me guessing.

This story is told in two timelines. One takes place in the 70’s and tells the story of Nancy who is married to a well respected doctor. The community and his colleagues think the world of him. But Nancy knows better. Behind closed doors, her husband is abusive and Nancy and her daughter have to walk on egg shells around him. When things come to a head, Nancy’s infant son almost loses his life.

The other timeline is current day and is about Melissa. Melissa is apparently estranged from her grown son, blaming his wife for filling his head with nonsense. Melissa keeps a close eye on her son’s home and is distressed to hear constant shouting and yelling coming from the home especially since her infant grandson is forced to live in this environment. Melissa has had enough and takes matters into her own hands when she sees her grandson alone outside in his pram. Acting quickly, Melissa takes her grandson and takes off.

What happens to both families separated by decades? And what is their connection? Will either have a happy ending?

This was a three star read for me. The storyline with Melissa was rather repetitive portraying her as totally inept to handle a baby while the baby seemingly did nothing but cry insistently.

I love the author’s books however and will always jump at the opportunity to read her works!

This was my first J A Baker novel, but I am aware that they have authored many well received novels. I was drawn to the book by the blurb, which sounded like it had all the ingredients of an excellent thriller. I really liked the way the book was written over two timelines - it helped to build Melissa's backstory and provide context for the present. Melissa was suitably flawed and unlikable, and I enjoyed analysing her character and trying to unpick her emotions and actions. There was a sense of vulnerability underneath the determined exterior, and she was clearly very troubled. I sometimes felt it would have been good to hear a bit about the other side of the story - what were the baby's parents thinking and feeling, how was the investigation progressing, etc. The final few chapters were a surprise and brought an interesting twist to the whole book. Hush Little Baby is tense and gripping with an interesting premise and a good twist.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

The narrative switched between the present day, and 1970. I was drawn in from the beginning, and I sensed something that felt ominous, and made me feel uneasy. My feeling of unease motivated me to keep reading. I found Melissa an intriguing character, and initially, I questioned her motivations and intentions.

I've read books by this author before, and I found they had a clever way of creating a tense and chilling atmosphere. I felt very aware of Melissa's emotions and everything that went on around her, and found myself on tenterhooks.

This was an addictive nail-biter that thriller fans will enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Hush Little Baby by J. A. Baker. I quite enjoyed this book. The ending was a twist that I did not see coming! It was a little slow at times but an easy read. There was some repetitiveness but not as much as a book I recently read! A lot of emotions while reading this book, heartbreak, sadness, shock, grief. This book is worth picking up and giving it a go. I gave it a 4 star rating.

The thriller had a gripping plot, but the writing style detracted from my enjoyment. It was pretty distracting from any tension I should have felt. The overly descriptive language and use of outdated synonyms made the narrative feel cumbersome, disrupting the story's flow and pacing.

W.O.W
This book was very hard to put down, it's written in chapters with Melissa the daughter and Nancy her mom who was abused by her husband Roger.....it explains how Nancy planned to leave Roger with her children Melissa and George.
Written as Melissa an adult, she takes away her grandson or is it? from what she thinks are his abusive parents. As they go on the run, things happen and Melissa realises looking after a baby isn't going to be easy......
I certainly didn't see the end coming !!
I was hooked.......
5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read in my opinion

I was into this book from 1st page but then had to stop and gather the info I had read! A little bit confusing but couldn't read this fast enough!! A great deal of the storyline is a bit far fetched but doesn't take anything away from the enjoyment. Was even more confused with the ending but so glad I read it all. A really good storyline, just a bit confusing at times.
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and publishers for allowing me to read and review this book

Hush Little Baby by J.A. Baker

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

When she hears the baby crying, she knows she has to do something to keep it safe. To protect it from its terrible parents. Even though the father of the child is Melissa's own son...

When Melissa Crawford snatches a crying baby from outside a house, she knows she's done the right thing. She can't bear to see the baby suffer one more day in that house, with those people. With her, baby Gabriel will be safe and loved. She is his grandmother after all...

But as Melissa is making her escape, she is involved in a terrible accident which forces her into hiding. She can't believe she's been so careless - now she has to lay low and let the dust settle.

Gabriel's parents won't care where he is, they'll be glad he's gone but if she goes to prison who will care for the little baby? Who will keep him safe?

But caring for Gabriel is harder than Melissa imagined. Why does he keep crying? Why won't he settle? Why does he remind her of another child she once loved...and lost?

My Opinion

Melissa kidnaps a baby and ends up having to go into hiding. This is the second book I have read by J.A. Baker and both have been entertaining. For a thriller I thought that Hush Little Baby had a relatively slow plot but the twists made up for it. If you are looking for something a bit different, then look no further.

Rating 4/5

I’m a massive fan of the author and this did not disappoint, the start instantly grabbed me, I need to know who this woman was robbing her grandson?!

The dual timelines worked really well together, Roger was awful, but through his actions, we saw how this affected Vanessa physically and mentally (even him speaking threateningly to her filled me with unease).

I also really enjoyed that we truly got to understand Melissa and my heart broke for her.

Well let me tell you this was such a great read! A story of abuse and how it affects someone long after they are out of the suituation. I was caught off guard by how things turned out. Not what I was expecting at all. Heartbreaking, thrilling, just a great story! I actually rated this 4 1/2 stars!

Hush Little Baby
by J A Baker
Pub Date: Aug 23 2024

Hush Little Baby is a psychological thriller involving domestic abuse. The story is told over two separate timelines, now and back in 1970. It has a really good storyline, at times a bit repetitive. There is some disturbing graphic descriptions that could trigger anyone that has been involved in a domestic abuse relationship. With this in mind, the author did do a good job of telling the story as respectfully as possible.

Synopsis: When Melissa Crawford snatches a crying baby from outside a house, she knows she's done the right thing. She can't bear to see the baby suffer one more day in that house, with those people. With her, baby Gabriel will be safe and loved. She is his grandmother after all...

Many thanks to #HushLittleBaby #NetGalley & Boldwood Books for providing me with an E-ARC of Hush Little Baby.

Hush Little Baby by J A Baker is another chilling story that took me on a wild ride.
A slow burn suspense filled with twists that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
An intriguing story with characters who draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.

Huge thanks to Boldwood Books, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Hush Little Baby!!

This book just went from 0 to 100. Melissa had a troubled past and sadly things have followed into her present. Family can cause problems, yes, but for some it’s more than that.
I felt lots of feelings about this book but it kept me reading up to the last.