Every Step She Takes by Kelley Armstrong was a gripping thriller from start to finish and I enjoyed reading this book. especially as it was full of good twists and turns throughout.

Genevieve lives a very quiet life in Rome. She has a lovely apartment, a very nice boyfriend, and the best bit, excellent and respectful neighbours. What more could you ever ask for? especially as Genevieve can be exactly who she wants to be, and no one asks her any questions. Just Perfect!!!! But is it?

Genevieve is a woman with secrets and lots of these. But these secrets are bubbling to the surface and time is running out for her.

After returning home from a normal grocery run, her front door is open! She knows she locked it when she left.

When she enters her apartment and looks around, everything inside, is just as she left it. . . . . . Except for a small box on her kitchen table, postmarked from the US. This is a box addressed to "Lucy Callahan." She is a name from her past and Genevieve has not used this name in ten years. 🥺

Why did Genevieve change her name from Lucy Callahan?

Now, her old life is calling her back! but why?

Who are they?

WoW, I highly recommend this book.

Every Step She Takes by Kelley Armstrong

I actually read this one sometime before I started tracking books and still read it all the way through on my second read. Fantastic book and enough twists and turns that I didn't remember them all a few years later and was still fully engaged. I love how this book covers being famous or infamous, the power of money and connections, growth in mindset and how one situation has a completely different reaction for men and women. A very thought provoking thriller.
#bookreview #2025 #thriller #mediacraze #netgalley

Lucy gets caught up in the tabloids as a young college student nannying for a celebrity couple. Finally the endless pressure from the press sends her on the run overseas. She’s older, following her dreams, and going by Genevieve.
Suddenly her ex employer wants to reach out to clear the air and make amends. But as Lucy returns to the US things start to go wrong. Someone is set to Fran her for murder and Lucy is back on the run not sure who she can trust or where to turn.
I enjoyed this book, but the middle was a bit slow for me. I had a hard time relating to her decisions. On the run and not getting a whole lot of anything done. Thankfully her PI friend was there to back her at that point. However the ending wrapped up the story line well and grabbed my attention again!

This book ended-up taking me somewhere completely different than I anticipated based on the blurb and I absolutely loved that it took me so completely off-guard. Massive props to the author for writing a story so captivating that the synopsis literally only covers the very first chapter of the story; there is a real skill in having a story so intriguing that just telling the reader the information they will find in the first couple of chapters in enough to secure them to pick up the book.

I really enjoyed the way that Lucy navigated the situation that she had been thrust into as well as the slow eeking out of the story behind her choosing to relocate to Rome, As a reader, you have an inkling of what the true story might have been and the fact that Lucy is so easy to like definitely helps you care and take her side in the story. There are themes of celebrity and the boundary-crossing that media will do as they view being in the public eye as being invitation into private life. There is also some discussion of the way that women may be judged harsher in some circumstances whilst a man's star will only rise as a result.

This book was generally just a really fun read and I liked the interpersonal relationships that were explored and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. I thought the conclusion to the story with unpredictable without coming across as gimmicky.

I really had a hard time putting this down once Genevieve got to New York and had the meetup with Isabella where we see what happened fourteen years ago and the fallout from that. It has so many thrills and while it is sad, it is so true that tabloids just want a story with juicy bits to get their readers excited, even if the truth has been twisted into something unrecognizable and false. As long as it sells, that is all that matters. And the woman is most often the one blamed cause the man just can't help himself. So, yes, I was rooting for Genevieve who after that scandal, was able to pick herself up and find happiness in Italy with Marco. And yes, I held my breath and was on the edge of my seat as she goes on the run to avoid being framed from the murder, not knowing who to trust, especially with the ease of how people and cell phones can find people and those who say they might help might not be trusted. Though there are still decent people which I liked because it showed that some people are not sheep believing whatever the internet spewed, truth and fiction intertwined.

This is a fast paced thriller that I really enjoyed reading and when you get to the last quarter it is impossible to put down though it ends nicely, at least for the people who don't go around murdering others! I will say that after reading several books by Kelley Armstrong, she has become an auto buy for me as I have yet to be disappointed by her stories!

A really strong start to this book sees Genevieve, living a simple and fulfilling life in Rome, receive a letter calling her back to her old life in New York. Genevieve was known as Lucy back then; what happened to make her change her identity and run?

An enjoyable read and, when events in New York cause Genevieve to go on the run again, the cat and mouse game was great as she tried to work out who she could trust and who was involved in what was going on.

What was disappointing though, was discovering the reason she had originally left, 14 years earlier. It wasn't all that shocking and didn't really substantiate the agony she had to go through in deciding whether to return.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Kelley Armstrong and Datura for an ARC of this book.

This isn't my normal read, in fact its almost as far from my normal read as possible but the I came upon A Rip Through Time from the author and fell head over heels in love I decided I needed to try some of her other books. When I saw this book as an option on Netgalley I had no choice but to get it. I'm not sure this book was for me, and you saw my 5 star review, what I mean is Im not sure I can handle thrillers even if this wasn't as intense as others (i don't know this was my first). I was freakin out reading this book, I had a hard time reading because I was freaking out but I loved it and couldn't stop reading it. Which I guess means this author more than did her job while writing this book. I can't watch suspenseful movies, when I was younger I tried and I literally couldn't sit still, I was loud taking to the screen, getting up and leaving the room, so because I love my husband I decided those movies were for me. I drove my husband crazy. That was this book all over again, but like I already said I couldn't not finish this book and I needed to know what would happen.

This book was amazing and after all of that crap I just said. I will still pick up her next book and read it, pray for my heart 🤣. I have come to realize Kelley Armstrong is just phenomenal at what she does, she doesn't just write well, or even great she has found her calling. I love her story telling, the world she treats and the characters she has come to life. This book blew me away!

Genevieve lives in Rome, she created a life even if she left another behind, but now someone from her past has resurfaced threatening to upend everything she created. Taking matters into her own hand Genevieve thinks she can control the situation however someone else has other plans and Genevieve will be the casualty unless she can outsmart them. I loved Genevieve and I loved the past and present back and forth in this story, so we see what happened to bring us to now and the present story. I started this book loving the story and very intrigued, then the story takes a turn and there's no stopping till the end. I couldn't have been happier with her "helper" and though I hate the act that gets us this story, I loved the ending. This is a must read!!!

*Thank you Netgalley and Datura | Datura Books for this arc

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review: Every Step She Takes by Kelley Armstrong

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of this book. This review reflects my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved the premise of Every Step She Takes—a woman with a hidden past, a mysterious package, and a life unraveling across continents? Yes, please. Kelley Armstrong delivers a fast-paced, action-packed mystery that kept me turning the pages.

That said, I did take off one star because I figured out the twist a bit too early. While that took away some of the suspense, it didn’t stop me from enjoying the ride. The characters were compelling, the pacing was solid, and the international settings added a cinematic flair.

If you enjoy thrillers with a strong female lead, a dash of danger, and a storyline that blends mystery with emotional stakes, I highly recommend giving this one a read.

EveryStepSheTakes #KelleyArmstrong #NetGalleyReads #StMartinsPress #MysteryThriller #BookReview #ARCReview #SuspenseReads #ThrillerFans

Genevieve has a nice life in Rome - a wonderful boyfriend, nice apartment, good neighbors, and she gets to play her viola while also teaching music. It isn't the life she had planned, but she is content. Then one day, she arrives home to find her front door open, and a box on her kitchen table, postmarked from the US, and addressed to "Lucy Callahan." . Genevieve is faced with two options – confront the past, or keep running. But maybe she’ll have to choose both.

I am a huge fan of this author's books. This one was a lot different from the others that I have read, which just showcases how talented this author is. It started out as a bit of a slow burn, but as I settled into the book, I was hooked, and then I refused to put it down. Lucy left the US under a cloud of shame and scandal when she was caught in a compromising position with the famous husband of the woman who hired her to tutor her children in music one summer. Paparazzi snapped photos of them in the hot tub and then posted the photos online. Her mother financed her move to Rome so she could start fresh, and she changed her name to Genevieve. Then the package arrived, calling her back home again. This kept me on the edge of my seat once Genevieve arrived in the US and met with Isabella Morales the first time, then arranged to meet her a second time only to arrive and find her murdered. Genevieve, trying to stay one step ahead of the police, media, bounty hunters, and everyone else who wanted to take her down, kept me on edge. I really liked her, and wanted her to figure out who was framing her. This is perfect for fans of Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown.

Kelley never fails to deliver. I loved this. Genevieve has had a bit of a rough go (understatement lol) but got her life turned around until someone drags it all back up. I loved the twists and turns in this, and it kind of gave me the same vibes as some of her other books, but had enough of its own unique flair that it felt fresh. 4.5/5 stars

This was a heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat! It was fast paced, edge of the seat thriller that was extremely well executed. I was gripped from the very first page!

I loved the characters and the storyline. I recommend reading this book straight away definitely 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book had it all it was a wild ride of lies and deceit that had many twists and turns which lead to a great but shocking finale!

I absolutely loved Every Step She Takes by Kelley Armstrong! It grabbed me right from the first page and never let go. I was stressed out as things went from bad to worse for Lucy, and just couldn't put the book down because I had to know what happened. I tried to put it aside and sleep, but that wasn't in the cards. So I was up much too late reading.
The characters are compelling, the subject matter is timely, and the book is well written. But that is what readers can expect from Armstrong. She has yet to disappoint, and I don't expect she ever will.
I greatly appreciate getting the ARC of #EveryStepSheTakes from #NetGalley.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

First, thank you Netgalley and Datura Books for this ARC!

The story is about Genevieve, an American woman living in Rome. Only Genevieve has not always been Genevieve. And when a small box appears on her kitchen table one day, it seems she can not run away from her past anymore, having to face whatever has happened then years ago...

This was really a good book! I am not sure if I've read anything by Kelley Armstrong before, but after Every Step She Takes, she is surely going to be on my radar.

Genevieve is a woman with secrets. And one is soon to be uncovered. After returning home from a grocery run, her front door swings open, unlocked. She knows she locked it when she left. She has no doubt. Inside, everything is just as she left it… except for a small box on her kitchen table, postmarked from the US. A box addressed to "Lucy Callahan." A name she hasn't used in ten years. With her old life calling her back, threatening to destroy the peace she has curated, Genevieve is faced with two options confront the past, or keep running. But maybe she’ll have to choose both! Good book! This book had great suspense, mystery, murder, dark past secrets, and some shocking twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Kelley knows how to write a good book. and she has honed the books she writes to perfection. i cant believe how each time she brings a book out they can be as kick-ass rock-in as they always are. new great plots, new great characters and just winning me and my time over each and every time.
the book brings us first to Genevieve. we know she is an American who has moved to Italy. we dont know quite why but we certainly know there is a reason. because shes trying to keep herself to herself. and it intrigues you from the off. you want to know more about her and her past. the book then slowly unravels this for us.
and when done well i do love a past and present story line. they can be so exciting when done well. and once again Kelley masters this one.
we are then learning about our characters past. but also her present and just how or if or why it all links. i wont give away just what those links are but they all fit and make each part worthy of the others.

I have to say I am not a fan of multiple timeline books - in my opinion they can be
a discordant note in the flow of the storyline
That being said I did enjoy the book overall
The way a young woman is hung out to dry by all forms of the media when she
is pictured in the arms of a much loved older , married actor leaves her feeling
there is no one she can trust , nowhere she can turn - the only way forward is to
forge a life in a new country .
This new life brings her contentment , even a new love .......... that is until she is contacted
by the much loved wife of her previous downfall , she wants to meet her back in the USA
to talk about and resolve the past .
But once again she finds herself at the mercy of the media after their meeting - because
she is drawn back to the hotel by text messages asking to meet again BUT where she finds
a dead body .......... someone is setting her up for murder , there is no one she can trust . Even her new
love in Italy knows nothing of her past until she becomes , once again a media sensation .
This is book full of twists and turns , with betrayal around every corner , where the media drives the
conversation , where you are guilty no matter the truth . where help and redemption appears
from an unexpected source.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Kelley Armstrong is one of my auto-buy authors regardless of genre, so I was very excited to read her latest thriller.

The story is told in first person, from the point of view of Genevieve, an American living in Italy. The first part of the book flashes between present day (well, 2019 so close enough!) and New York in 2005, as we learn more about the reasons that brought her to Italy. I don't want to say much more as obviously the unfolding of the story with its twists and turns is the fun part!

I believe this is a rerelease of one of her older books, initially written under the pen name K L Armstrong. As such, it's not quite as strong as most of her current books, but still makes for an enjoyable read.

A recommended read for fans of Kelley Armstrong and mystery thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Datura for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.