** spoiler alert ** What a thriller this story was. Miranda had me glued to the book from the moment I started reading.

When Laila moves after a messy divorce and moves into Violet Lane, her life as she knows it will never be the same. The neighbours are all so welcoming and kind. Her new job is less stressful than her previous one working with her ex. But it all seems to perfect.

Laila has been drawn into dramas that are suddenly popping up around her area. But why did they suddenly occur. After she finds herself in a situation that she always dreamed about, she needs to,try to control the situation, not just for herself, but for her surprise.

This story had me biting my nails with all the fear and guessing that the book had in it. It really opened my eyes to thrillers.

Her perfect home. Her perfect man. How wrong can she be...?

Well...that was different. I love Miranda's books with her fast-paced thrill-rides-a-minute and this was no different in that respect. But what did I just read? Lots of steamy sex scenes (granted, the author did warn us of the fact beforehand) but honestly did that turn the main character's brain to mush in the process?

Laila has just gone through a long drawn out divorce with ex-husband Jacob and has moved to Violet Lane for a fresh start. As a criminal lawyer working in the same firm as her ex, Laila had to leave her job and start afresh at a local firm where she is made more than welcome. She's barely unpacked the boxes when she receives an invitation to a BBQ to welcome her to the Lane at neighbour Phyllis' house on the weekend - the last thing she feels like doing. But she makes the effort and meets the rest of her neighbours.

When she first sees Max standing at the BBQ, a static of electricity runs through her. His eyes meets hers and she feels it again. It isn't long before her thoughts keep returning to the hunky paramedic next door watching him mow his lawn without a shirt, his muscles rippling.

Then Max comes knocking and it isn't long before Laila finds herself embroiled in a steamy affair with the gorgeous Adonis that is Max. She knows nothing about him but could trace every line of his stunning body. And the way he makes her feel sends her weak at the knees. Everything about him is perfect, and she soon finds herself falling for him.

But the tranquility of their little street soon turns into chaos when Laila returns home one day to find the place crawling with police. Young mother Jackie has gone missing and though her husband seems to be the police's prime suspect it isn't long before the finger is pointed in her new boyfriend's direction. Just how well does she really know Max?

In a long line of bad decisions, Laila makes another as she takes on the role as Finn's lawyer thus further tangling her in the complex web. Then threats are made towards her and her life placed in danger, thrusting her even closer to Max when she is beginning to question everything she thought she knew about him. Laila feels trapped and doesn't know who or what to believe.

It's hardly surprising. Laila has seemingly followed bad decisions with even worse ones since moving into Violet Lane. There were plenty of eye-rolling moments as I shook my head every time Laila opened her mouth or followed through with yet another bad decision. She was so blinded by sex that not even Ludwig's dislike of Max registered with her. But as soon as I saw his reaction, I knew he wasn't to be trusted. I just didn't like him. He made my skin crawl. But is he a killer? And can he really be trusted?

Not one of Miranda's better thrillers, it was readable with plenty of eye-rolling moments and a quick enough read that I did so in a few hours.

I would like to thank #MirandaRijks, #Netgalley and #InkubatorBooks for an ARC of #VioletsAreBlue in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

This is an enjoyable book, with lots of intrigue and twists. It kept me involved to the very end!

New to the neighborhood, Laila forms an immediate connection with next door neighbor, Max.
When two other neighbors are murdered, , Laila begins to wonder about Max, and his secret past. Struggling with Max’s lies, she has to decide if the relationship should end.

There is a lot of tension in the story, right up to the final twist!

Thank you to Miranda Rijks for another engaging book,Inkubator books, and Net galley. My review is unbiased.

I’m a big fan of Rijks. And Violets Are Blue by Miranda Rijks is another phenomenal thriller.
A fast paced thrill ride that kept me engaged from start to finish, devouring it in one day. A quick fast paced read that won't disappoint psychological thriller fans.

I wanted to give this 4 stars but the prologue seems like it's from a different book. I must be missing something. Otherwise, it was a good read! Lots of twists and kept me interested.

I enjoyed how so many emotions from relationship issues come up for Laila. It felt authentic how she tried to work through them and the issue of trusting your instincts is a major takeaway from this book.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC.

I have read and enjoyed many books by Rijks, Violets Are Blue was no exception.

It's a addictively good thriller that's fast on pace, full of suspense and surprises. I wasn't expecting there to be an extra serving of spiciness though. That certainly added a little layer of something extra into the mix didn't it? Phew!

As always I had my suspicions and found myself questioning everyone and everything, yet somehow I still didn't get it! How did I miss that one?

Tbose nice, friendly neighbours of Violet Close, that close knit community....don't trust 'em...appearances can be extremely deceiving as I found out!

Here's to more like this! Fab book, great ending and an enjoyable thriller to boot.

📱E-Book Review📱

Violets Are Blue
Miranda Rijks

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I'm sure that you'll know that I'm really no stranger to Miranda's books with this being my eighth read ....and with them all being 4 or 5* reads, how could I not pick up this exciting new release!?

Now, I've absolutely loved all of the books I've read so far and I wasn't expecting much different with this read.
When you have a great formula, why mess around with it?

Well, this book really took me by surprise as Miranda introduced a little bit of a spicy, dark romance to the mix!
Thriller and dark romance are really my go to genres and this made me so happy!

I loved the way this was well written into the storyline and flowed naturally for our characters.
This wasn't placed there just for the sake of it - the spice gave our characters an authentic feel and gave them as a couple, a real depth.

When a neighbour goes missing though, we swiftly divert back to our mystery and start looking for clues and uncovering some dark secrets among the neighbourhood.

As ever, this kept me guessing and it was great to make my theories throughout, only to find the twists coming fast and throwing me off track.

This was such a fast paced read and I was completely hooked and raced through this in only 2 sittings ....I just couldn't stop!

A brilliant addition to my growing collection - loved the slight change with the spice - I wonder what direction the next read will take....

Ohhh Miranda… I did not expect this level of spice, suspense, and seriously sinister vibes!

When Violet moves into a secluded countryside cottage for a fresh start, she thinks she’s finally putting the past behind her. But her new neighbor is a little too charming, her landlord seems way too involved, and someone seems to be watching her every move.

As anonymous messages start arriving and danger creeps closer, Violet realizes her safe haven may be anything but. And when one shocking secret comes to light, everything she thought she knew about her new beginning is turned upside down. Twisty, addictive, and darkly seductive—this one had me hooked start to finish!

Rated 4 stars, this book released April 6th so go secure your copy today!

Thank you NetGalley, Miranda Rijks, and Inkubator Books for granted me a copy of the book in exchange for review.

Violets Are Blue by Miranda Rijks was another excellent psychological thriller and very addictive read. It was fast-paced,with brilliant twists and turns throughout that I just could not put it down until I had finished it.
Miranda writes all her books that will have you wanting more and this one was no different! It was a roller coaster ride. . . . .

I highly recommend this book. 5 star read.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my Arc.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Zooloo's Book Tours.

Following her divorce, Laila moves to Violet Lane, where she hopes to have a fresh start and put her broken marriage behind her. Laila feels an intense and surprising attraction to her neighbour, Max, and the feeling seems to be mutual. When a local woman disappears, and seems to have a connection with Max, Laila begins to question whether Max is exactly who he says he is.

This book was enticing, sultry and seductive. At the beginning, I felt a sense of peace, as I imagined Violet Lane to be somewhere secluded, tranquil and calm. At the same time, there was an eeriness, and a feeling of uncertainty, that had me turning the pages with bated breath. As I carried on reading, I started to feel almost as though I was being lured in, seduced, to a point where I could almost imagine myself in Laila’s shoes. Max was irresistible, and I too felt seduced by him.

This was a dark and spicy thriller, and my bookish appetite found it quite delicious. It kept me guessing until the final page, and it left me craving a little bit more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Zooloo's Book Tours, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

Another great read from Miranda Rijks.

You never know who you can trust. When Laila moves into her new house she meets her neighbors and feels she got lucky moving into the neighborhood.
After a short time she is courted by her single neighbor whom she is very attracted to. One thing leads to another and she is hooked on this guy.
After a short time she starts to notice things aren’t as they seem.
Crazy things start to happen in the neighborhood and Laila starts to feel there may be something wrong with the relationship she is in.
She will do anything to figure out why she has these feelings of deception and betrayal.
And what she finds is just too abhorrent to continue on with the life she has created. What she does next will determine if she lives or dies.

Wow. I am a huge fan of Rijks books but this one might have just swooped and taken the top spot. Everything about this book was utter perfection; the characterisation of Laila and her exploration, the constant twists and turns on every page, the inability to trust anything that a single soul says. I honestly devoured this book in almost one sitting.

The narrative was extremely fast-paced, twisty and kept me on the edge of my seat - literally. As the reveals came thick and fast, I spent so much time trying to piece the information I had together and pin this disappearance on someone - except I just couldn't! I find 'small town thrillers' where all the houses are like a family one of my favourite types of settings, simply because of all the backstabbing, and this was just what the doctor ordered. The introduction to Max was so interesting, as was the dynamics between the households and quite frankly I had a blast forming my own opinions of them all.

I thought I'd sussed it all out, and I was so confident. Boy, was I wrong. I just absolutely loved every single word that Miranda wrote in this novel and I can honestly say I am her biggest fan. This blew me away. I am amazed and have not stopped thinking about it.

Miranda Rijks delivers another addictive psychological thriller with Violets Are Blue—a fast-paced, twist-filled ride that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go. The pacing is razor-sharp, the suspense expertly crafted, and before you know it, you’ve devoured the final chapter wondering where the time went.

What truly makes this novel shine is Rijks’ ability to keep readers on their toes. The twists come at just the right moments—unexpected yet completely satisfying—making it impossible to put the book down. Each reveal is layered and calculated, adding depth to a plot that’s both entertaining and emotionally charged.

The story feels complete, yet there’s enough intrigue left on the table to imagine a possible sequel. With a title like Violets Are Blue, it’s hard not to hope for a follow-up—Roses Are Red, perhaps?—to dive even deeper into the world Rijks has built.

Violets Are Blue is the kind of thriller that demands to be read in one sitting. It’s suspenseful, smart, and thoroughly engrossing—another standout in Miranda Rijks’ growing collection of unputdownable novels.

Violets Are Blue by Miranda Rijks is a gripping psychological thriller with plenty of suspense, some spice, and twists that will keep you hooked!!

Laila, a criminal solicitor, is left feeling adrift after discovering her husband had been cheating on her. Moving into a new house on the idyllic Violet Lane seems to be the perfect place to start her newly single life. After a welcome to the neighborhood barbecue, Laila begins a steamy relationship with her neighbor Max. Max seems to check all of the boxes for a perfect man, he is charming, handsome, plays piano, and is a paramedic. But Laila's new life is put on hold when another neighbor, Jackie, suddenly vanished. Called to defend the missing woman's husband, Laila quickly learns that Violet Lane is not as peaceful and tranquil as it seems. As buried secrets and frayed relationships come to light Laila will start to wonder exactly who she can trust...

Wow!!! I have read almost all of Miranda Rijks books and this one is right at the top of my favorites!! The added spice which is not in her other thrillers adds a new element that kept me enthralled throughout. Rijks character development is top notch as usual, making all of the characters complex and fully fleshed out. The tension and suspense is thick all the way through and the twists are perfectly placed. Miranda Rijks is definitely an auto-read author for me!! 🖤🖤

Thank you to NetGalley, Miranda Rijks, and Inkubator Books for this ARC!!! Publication date is April 6th 2025.

Miranda Rijks returns following The House Swap with her 25th novel— VIOLETS ARE BLUE, a dark, sinister, steamy psychological thriller with a wickedly delicious, jaw-dropping twist! While maintaining Rijks' signature psychological depth, this novel takes a darker and more intense turn than her previous works.

Welcome to Violet Lane! Move over, Desperate Housewives.

What would you do if something terrible happened to you? Evil can lie behind great beauty.

About...

Laila has recently divorced and has moved to Violet Lane. As a criminal lawyer, she is excited about her new life and home in this idyllic neighborhood. She is best friends with Jazmin, and her ex-husband is Jacob, whom she caught with his assistant.

She soon meets the charming, handsome neighbor, Max, and they begin a hot affair. Laila feels alive. Things become passionate and intense, but does Max have a dark side?

Then, the horrible news comes. Jackie, a young mother, is missing from across the street. Her husband is the primary suspect, and Laila is hired as his attorney to defend him.

Laila soon discovers the quiet neighborhood is hiding deadly secrets, and things are not as they seem. She gets pulled deeper into a twisted web of deception and lies. Trust no one.

The closer she gets to discovering the truth, the more danger she is in. When there is a second murder in the neighborhood, there are suspects and motives to unravel and untangle. Can she trust Max? However, are there others? What secrets is this neighborhood hiding?

My thoughts...

Miranda spices things up in this twisted, heart-pounding domestic thriller that will keep you guessing with every page turn and that unexpected, jaw-dropping twist you do not see coming—which made the book! (signature Miranda Rijks style).

VIOLETS ARE BLUE is a terrific, clever title following Miranda's earlier book, ROSES ARE RED. An edgy, explosive, sultry, sexy thriller full of chilling characters, romantic suspense, shocking twists, and who and why dunit MURDER.

Dark and sinister, tantalizing and twisty, it is different than the author's previous books, yet filled with plenty of mystery, suspense, manipulation, deadly secrets, and surprises—she is not afraid to step outside the box. (Nature vs. Nurture)

Recs...

VIOLETS ARE BLUE is for fans of the author and those who enjoy books by Colleen Hoover, Kaira Rouda, A.R. Torre, Sandra Brown, and Jenova Rose. It shares the intense psychological depth of A.R. Torre's works, the domestic suspense of Kaira Rouda and Jenova Rose novels, and the unexpected twists, romance, and spice of Colleen Hoover and Sandra Brown books.

Thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for providing a gifted advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: April 6, 2025
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Whoa! This book has everything a psychological thriller needs to have and then some: a missing person case, lots of suspects, plenty unexpected twists and turns and even - new to this author - steamy romance. But what starts as a romance quickly turns into a fast paced and suspenseful mystery that gave me a mix of Stepford Wives and Psycho vibes. Miranda’s writing is so easy to follow and pleasant to read that you can’t stop turning the pages. The way she develops her characters is exquisite, and you keep second-guessing each one of them until the end. I was hooked from the beginning and truly enjoyed this book. I can only recommend it, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.
In true Miranda Rijks fashion, the ending is a total surprise that I didn’t see coming. I really love her stories, and she has become one of my favorite authors and automatic reads. Can’t wait for her next book.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Inkubatur Books and especially Miranda Rijks for the opportunity and honor to read a gifted advance copy. The above is my honest review and own opinion.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Violets are Blue by Miranda Rijks, published by Inkubator Books

I really enjoyed this twisty psychological thriller, an easy read with likeable characters. The story was easy to follow in great setting.
The author has created some thrilling adventures through the main character, Laila. She has common sense, or does she? Who should she really trust, and is being jn another relationship really the right time? Definitely some spice in this novel
This was a fun, fictional story where you want to shout at the main character "Don't do it!"
Great ending. Devoured this in 24 hrs
I've read many of Miranda Rijks books and always enjoy them

This is the best book by Miranda Rijks yet, which is something special as I’ve loved all of her other books.
I was drawn quickly into the characters and was completely engrossed with all the twists. It’s one that I’d definitely recommend and it’s more than worthy of 5 stars.

Laila is a criminal attorney who has moved into a small neighborhood after a bitter divorce. She's almost immediately invited to a neighbor's for drinks and a BBQ where she meets her charming neighbor Max. A whirlwind romance ensues, there's a murder in the neighborhood, and soon Laila is right in the middle when she is called to represent the suspect. And can we talk about the dog, Ludwig? A victim of Laila's divorce, she only gets to see him occasionally, but he gets a starring role!

Miranda Rijks is an auto-buy for me. I thought this was a fun and fast-paced story with a bit of spice that turns out to be integral to the plot.

Thanks to NetGalley, Inkubator Books, and BookSprouts for an advance reader's copy

Laila has endured heartbreak, betrayal, and uncertainty—only to find herself caught in a web of even darker secrets. After discovering her husband cheating with his assistant, she was left reeling from an unexpected divorce. With no job and nowhere to live, she spent the past three years relying on the kindness of her best friend Jazmin while she struggled to rebuild her life.

Laila finally finds stability in a charming new community, and forms an instant steamy connection with her neighbour Max. Suddenly, Jackie—another neighbor—vanishes without a trace, the peaceful neighborhood descends into chaos. Old wounds resurface, and buried secrets come to light, leaving Laila questioning everything and everyone around her.

This steamy thriller is fast-paced and packed with murder, deception, and suspenseful twists that keep readers guessing until the very end. It was an exciting, easy read!