The Marriage Trap by Sheryl Browne

My husband has been keeping secrets for a long time. He thinks I don’t know what he does outside of this house. But I know everything… 

Karla watches silently as Jason hurriedly packs his belongings into a suitcase. She knows that her stillness is unnerving him as she watches his every move from the doorway of their bedroom.

Clothes are screwed up and packed into the case, along with a watch she bought him for his last birthday and his precious laptop. He takes everything from his bedside table. Everything except the framed wedding photo, which now stands alone. Karla strains to see the smiling faces in the photo. If only she knew then what she knows now.

‘I’ve fallen in love with someone else,’ he’d said to her, just moments earlier. The brutality of those words hit Karla hard and she struggled to breathe as she took in each word in turn.

You may think you know what Karla will do next. But you’ll be wrong. Because Karla isn't who you think she is. Only she knows what's about to happen. And you will never see it coming.

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller for readers who loved The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Other Woman. With twists you’ll never see coming, you will not be able to put this one down!

The Marriage Trap by Sheryl Browne

AMZ: https://geni.us/B07SQ43947Social

Applebooks: https://tinyurl.com/y3nzzms9

Kobo: https://tinyurl.com/y2qggpr9

Google Play: https://tinyurl.com/yxdot4c7

My Thoughts

 

If you think your family is dysfunctional, crack this book open and you may change your mind. Whoa this was a whole bunch of crazy! This family is built on lies, deceit and secrets. Lots and lots of secrets! I flew through this book in just one night as I could not put it down. I love every book Sheryl Browne has put out and she is a "must read" for me. I was so excited to see she had a new book out and I jumped at my chance to get my hands on a copy.


The Marriage Trap revolves around Karla's family. Her family with her husband Jason and her parents Robert and Diana. I could not for the life of me figure out why Karla's father hated Jason so much. He made it clear that he did not want them to marry and even tried to get her to go to extremes in the manner of their children they had together. Robert has even offered to pay him off to leave Karla. What???!! Of all the reasons that I could dream up that Robert had for hating their relationship, I never dreamed the real reason. It is so shocking and dark, it literally blew my mind.

The secrets in this book are so well hidden that the lies and secrets build upon each other year after year. As Karla's marriage begins to unravel I found myself wondering if some of these problems stemmed from her strained relationship with her father and the death of her sister at such a young age.

There are so many different underlying issues that you will never predict how they all come together at the end. The ending shocked me to the core! I never saw that very last twist coming, well okay I never saw any of the twists coming. Once again I was left in the dark until the very end. Thanks Sheryl Browne for yet another fantastic book!

Thank you so much to Kim Nash at Bookouture for having me along on this Books On Tour!

Bestselling Author, Sheryl Browne, writes taught, dark, twisty psychological thriller and contemporary fiction. Sheryl's latest psychological thriller THE MARRIAGE TRAP comes to you from fabulous BOOKOUTURE. A member of the Crime Writers' Association and the Romantic Novelists' Association, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where she completed her MA in Creative Writing.

So why does Sheryl write in two genres? Quoting E. L. Doctorow, Sheryl says: "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights." This she thinks sums up a writer's journey, you never quite know where you are going until you get there. If Sheryl's not sure where a character is going, she simply has to trust him to show her the way. Plus, according to one reviewer, she also has a scary insight into the mind of a psychopath.

To find out more about Sheryl's novels, go to www.facebook.com/SherylBrowne.Author/ or follow @SherylBrowne on Twitter. To find out more about Sheryl, go to www.sherylbrowne.com

Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

There is a new girl in town...and she likes to play games...with your life!  Meet Roux the new neighbor. The girls met Roux when she invited herself to their night of book club. She breezed in the door and overturned their serious book talk with a game of Never Have I Ever. Let's just say adults probably should never partake in this game!

Amy Whey is about the most wholesome soccer mom type you could ever meet. I liked her instantly but is there more to Amy than we first thought? Roux seems to think so, in fact she seems intent to bring Amy down.

I wasn't sure quite what to think about Roux as there seemed to be something a bit "off". Other than her abrasive behavior at book club, there seemed to be something amiss. She had the best clothes and it appeared the best botox in town, plus she drove a fancy sports car. Yet she moved into the dumpy rental house nicknamed the "Sprite House" because it was painted the color of a sprite can. It just didn't make sense. Although she seemed to be a doting mom, there was a hard, aggressive side to her that the little yuppy neighborhood was not used to.

Wow this book was filled with secrets, twists and turns. I made quite a few assumptions while reading this book and let's just say I was wrong...a lot. The author did a fantastic job of throwing me off track numerous time and the ending was shocking. I never saw that coming. I really enjoyed my first Joshilyn Jackson book! I flew through this book with my book group the Traveling Sisters.

Thank you so much to William Morrow for this gorgeous ARC! The ARC is so pretty I can't wait to see what the actual book is going to look like. Thank you also to Joshilyn Jackson for this gripping, twisty read.

Instructions For Falling In Love Again by Lucy Mitchell

What would you do if your late husband left you a list of instructions on how to fall in love with someone else?

Pippa Browning is faced with this exact dilemma, three years after the death of her husband, Dan.

Buried at the bottom of a drawer are a collection of notebooks full of Dan’s advice on how to live without him.

Pippa’s notebook is red and contains his instructions on how to fall in love again.

But Dan doesn’t just want Pippa to fall in love with anyone – Dan’s crazy suggestion is that Pippa should date his handsome friend, Mikey Stenton, a known thrill-seeking ladies’ man.

Reluctant to follow Dan’s advice, Pippa enters the world of dating. She embarks on a humorous journey of self-discovery, with the help of her children and two best friends. 

It isn’t long before Pippa is finding it hard to ignore Dan’s instructions and Mikey Stenton.

Is Mikey really the man that everyone thinks him to be? Or was Dan right, and Mikey’s simply been misunderstood? 

A heart-warming romantic comedy about motherhood, friendship and finding love, the second time around.  

My Thoughts

As soon as I read the description of this debut I knew I had to get my hands on it. I loved every single minute of this book! The premise is so unique and intriguing that I had to see what it was all about. Listen to this and tell me if you are not just as intrigued as I was...Pippa recalled that Dan had stated to her that by leaving her the notebook he wanted her to "rewrite her fairytale." Oh my lord, right then and there my heart melted.

After three long years without her husband Dan, it is finally time for Pippa to reluctantly read through the notebook he had written her. Her heart strings were tugged at as she recognized his messy writing and she relived their moments together in her mind. Yet surprisingly this was not depressing at all, as the author manages to make this into such a cute, funny book I found myself wanting to actually laugh out loud, I must admit I actually did a couple of times!

Pippa wonders what state of mind her husband was  in to suggest she should fall in love with his buddy Mikey Stenton. Oh she knew who Mikey was. Mikey who shows his bare bottom on Instagram, wandering around the pubs with various women. Life's a party for Mikey Stenton, how could Dan think this was a good fit for a mother of three? Dan had left four notebooks, one for Pippa and one for each of the children, giving them a guideline on how to move on after his death. This struck me as such a thoughtful gesture, as he was "giving them permission" that life needed to go on and it was fine to move forward,  he encouraged it. Except there was a fifth notebook written...who has that notebook and why?

Oh my gosh this book has so many hilarious scenarios and the journey that Pippa took made this a absolute joy to read. Fantastic debut Lucy Mitchell! I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next!

Thank you so much to Sarah Hardy from Book on the Bright Side that invited me along on this fantastic tour! Huge shoutout to Lucy Mitchell for this brilliant debut!

Author Bio:

Instructions For Falling In Love Again is the debut novel from Lucy Mitchell. She lives in South Wales with her husband, her two teenage daughthers, a giant labrador and a gang of unruly cats.

Lucy is the author of the award winning blog, BlondeWriteMore and was a Featured Romance Author on Wattpad. When she is not working or writing, Lucy can be found listening to audiobooks in a muddy field with her dog or sat outside her local pub in the sunshine enjoying a glass of wine.

Instructions For Falling In Love Again is out in June 2019.

 

The Two Lila Bennetts by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke

Well okay it is official, this writing duo is on my "must read" list! Whew holy psychological thriller. I have always loved their books in the past but this just took it to a new level. Admittedly I have never seen the movie Sliding Doors, I know **gasp** but I can defiantly get the picture of what inspired this book. Such a thrilling, unique crazy concept of the different paths a life can take based on your decision making process. All actions result in a consequence, whether good or bad. Some choices may threaten your actually being and life as you know it.

Lila Bennett is a very successful defense attorney. Did she get to the top by just plain old hard work or did she instead do ANYTHING it took to get to the top? This girl is ruthless in and out of the courtroom. It doesn't matter who she hurts or who she takes down in the process. She "screws over" her husband, best friend, former friends- I mean really there are too many to list. So when this story splits in two, with chapters labeled Free Lila and Captured Lila I had no idea what to think. Who is hell bent on making Lila pay for her past actions?

This book took a terrifying turn as Lila is kidnapped by some creepy hooded monster that makes it clear she is going to pay for what she has done in her life. My mind was racing to figure out who this was but Lila had too many enemies to even guess. Free Lila also is dealing with terrifying daily encounters that prove that someone is intent on revenge. Either way Lila is forced to face her past.....who  knows everything she has done? Who wants her to pay? Will Lila be able to get out alive  in either scenario? Can she turn her life around? Or is it too late?

This book was such a edge of your seat page turner. This unique take on life and consequences  kept me flipping the pages until late into the night. Loved it! Thank you so much to Lake Union Publishing for this gorgeous ARC physical copy. Thank you to Lisa & Liz for yet another fantastic book!

A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell

Well hello there you fantastic psychological thriller! Wow this book is simply fantastic! It was a 5 star read from page one. I have read and loved Campbell's other books but this one is hands down my favorite.
 What happens when you have it all, the perfect marriage, home and life and then....you find out your husband is not being totally honest with you? Your husband of 20 years is acting strangely after you move to your dream home. He appears to be cheating on you and doesn't even make an attempt to hide it. You get revenge! Except sometimes revenge doesn't always work out how you thought it would. Whoa what a wild ride this was!

Caroline is standing in front of her newly built beach house, breathing in the salt smell of the ocean. The view is absolutely breath taking...and then she sees a man staring back at her. What is the guy doing staring at her and her home? Is he casing it? Yet he doesn't look away, he doesn't seem to care that she has seen him. Eww this sent a shiver down my spine as I felt creeped out. Who is this mysterious figure and what does he want? Is he stalking Caroline?

Life starts to spin out of control as Caroline tried to cope  with her husband Jason's sudden cold demeanor. She starts to act quite irrational and spontaneous.  As this twisty web is spun I began to wonder if I really knew what was going on or if some of the character's were a bit, well maybe delusional?

I loved this book as it was able to just suck me right in from the very start. I flew through this one really quick as it was very suspenseful. I could just picture the gorgeous beach house! I loved reading this as a group read with Brenda, Norma and some other Traveling Sisters. It made for a great group read as we tried to play detective and decipher what was truly going on. I must admit I was on the wrong track and was in for quite a shock when the ending caught me completely off guard.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press for this gorgeous print ARC. I loved every minute of it. Thank you to Michele Campbell for yet another great book. I highly recommend getting your hands on this book! Publication date is right around the corner on July 23rd!!

Lucy's Last Straw by Debbie Viggiano

 It was the toothpaste smeared around the sink that broke my marriage. As I rubbed it away AGAIN, I was reminded of everything else I’ve put up with these twenty-five years. My husband’s obsession with his pension, his ability to charm me into every single one of his ideas, never being taken on a romantic date, let alone ravished on the patio (like the woman who lives next door)… small things, but the realisation was huge. 

Just when Lucy Jones thinks her marriage is about to screech to a halt over toothpaste, her husband, Leo, announces he wants to move to tumbledown (clapped-out) Rose Cottage, and Lucy knows she’ll be the one managing the renovations.

Then along comes gorgeous builder Will, ten years younger and the only person actually listening to Lucy. His twinkly eyes and blowtorch smile are causing Lucy to break out in a hot sweat – but is it love, lust or simply dodgy hormones that are causing her heart to flutter?

Lucy loves her husband, but everyone knows that little things build up. And then they explode. Can Lucy keep it together, or will there be one last straw she might not be able to get over?

A laugh-out-loud romp with an ending that will make you gasp! Perfect for fans of Tracy Bloom, Sophie Kinsella and Dawn French.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B07R27VF4LSocial

Apple Books: https://apple.co/2UYzQmQ

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2GwXNaz

Googleplay: http://ow.ly/HaYc30owgbi

 My Thoughts

I loved this book! OMG I flew through this book in one day. I found it so entertaining and hilarious I just could not put it down. This is my second book by Debbie Viggiano and I must say I absolutely love her writing style.

365 days a year...for 25 years...that is 9,125 times of cleaning the damn toothpaste off the sides of the sink!  Lucy was cracking me up as she came up with these perhaps "menopausal" thoughts as her life was quickly moving into another chapter. Her husband Leo of 25 years was constantly on her radar as every single thing he did pretty much irritated her. How much was actually Leo and how much was just Lucy's own issues as she realized she is fast approaching 50 and her children have left the nest?

As Leo  pretty much forced Lucy into yet another adventure of renovating a new home called the Rose Cottage- aka the dumpy cottage he got for a steal, they hire a builder. This builder has more plans than just fixing up the cottage! Will Lucy be able to resist the attention of the younger hunky builder?

This book was simply adorable, funny, crazy and made me laugh. I literally found myself smiling and laughing at all the crazy situations. If you want a feel good read that you can't put down, grab yourself a copy! 5 fantastic stars!

Thank you so much to Noelle Holton and Bookouture for having me on this Books on Tour. Thank you so much to Debbie Viggiano for this fantastic book that I loved!

Prior to turning her attention to writing, Debbie Viggiano was, for more years than she cares to remember, a legal secretary. She lives with her Italian husband, a rescued pooch from Crete, and a very disgruntled cat. Occasionally her adult children return home bringing her much joy... apart from when they want to raid the fridge, or eat her secret stash of chocolate. Follow Debbie's (intermittent!) blog: www.debbieviggiano.blogspot.com Tweet @DebbieViggiano or look her up on Facebook!

Author Social Media Links:

Website: www.debbieviggiano.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.viggiano.5

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/DebbieViggiano

 

The Marriage Betrayal by Shalini Boland

The Marriage Betrayal: Another totally gripping and heart-stopping psychological thriller Shalini Boland

‘Daddy has been lying.’

Faye Townsend has planned the perfect summer trip for her family. But returning to the small seaside town her husband grew up in does not go to plan, the rain pours and the long days become stifling. And then the unthinkable happens…

Her husband Jake and her six-year-old son Dylan go for an early morning walk along the beautiful, windswept clifftops. They don’t come back.

As the hours tick by, Dylan’s red baseball cap is found on the beach and Faye finds herself being questioned by the police. They want to know everything about the man she married - is Faye ready to face her husband’s dark past? Or will she have to confront her own secrets first?

And just how far will a mother go to save her only child?

From the million-copy-bestselling author of The Secret Mother and The Perfect Family, this utterly gripping psychological thriller will make you gasp out loud as you race towards the unforgettable twist. If you loved The Girl on the Train and The Wife Before You this book is for you.

 Buy here: AMZ: https://geni.us/B07RL8LM2BSocial Apple Books: https://buff.ly/2Jd8Loc Kobo: https://buff.ly/2FTerBY Googleplay: https://buff.ly/327zRVe

My Thoughts

Wow! I have never read a Shalini Boland book that I have not loved, this is no exception! The Marriage Betrayal is one twisted psychological thriller that I could not put down.

Faye surprises her husband Jake on his birthday with a trip to his childhood town. The gorgeous town lined by cliffs and ocean seemed like a fantastic getaway to Faye. Except her husband seems less than thrilled to be returning to the close knit town he grew up in. Does he have something to hide in his past? When he and his son go missing during a hike, Faye can't help but wonder if they have had an accident or did someone want Jake gone?

Oh my word, this book had me guessing all the way until the very end. I was on edge the whole time wondering what was going on with Jake. He seemed to want to get out of town as soon as possible, what on earth was he hiding? The more I learned about Jake and his sister Lainey, the more I began to question what had happened in their past. Neither seemed to ever want to talk about their childhood, much less revisit it on a vacation. Did Jake just get mad and leave or did something far more sinister happen?


 As the story escalated I couldn't believe the direction it took. Was this really happening? I was completely floored at the finely twisted web that unraveled at the ending. I must say my detective skills failed me again as I never saw it coming. This is exactly why I find myself grabbing this author's books as soon as I can get my hands on them, because I can always count on a fantastic read!

Thank you so much to Kim at Bookouture for having me along on this fantastic Books on Tour! Also a huge thanks to Shalini Boland for another thrilling page turner!

Shalini Boland is a USA Today and Amazon bestselling author of psychological thrillers 'THE GIRL FROM THE SEA', 'THE BEST FRIEND', 'THE MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE' (optioned for TV by Legendary Studios), 'THE SECRET MOTHER', 'THE CHILD NEXT DOOR', 'THE SILENT SISTER' and 'THE PERFECT FAMILY'

Shalini lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two children and their cheeky terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but now she spends her days writing psychological thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

Be the first to hear about her new releases here: http://eepurl.com/b4vb45

She is also the author of two bestselling Young Adult series as well as an atmospheric WWII novel with a time-travel twist.

http://www.facebook.com/ShaliniBolandAuthor
http://www.shaliniboland.co.uk
https://twitter.com/ShaliniBoland

Never Look Back by Alison Gaylin

Wow! Just flipping wow! This book captivated me from the very first page and never let up. Sometimes a book starts out with a bang and you think that surely the author will not be able to keep up that type of  intensity all the way through the book, well this one does. This book was not on my radar and yet it is one of the best I have read so far this year!

How well do you know those closest to you? Perhaps you think you know everything about your loved ones, but you may be surprised. Everyone has their secrets, but just how dark are they? The 1970's string of grisly murders by a Bonnie and Clyde type couple April Cooper and Gabriel LeRoy were the furthest thing from Robin's mind. She wasn't even born yet and why would she have any concern with the so called Inland Empire Killers? 40 years later they are all she can think about. Every single waking moment she thinks about them.

Quentin Garrish has a popular true crime podcast and he has reason to believe that Robin's mother Renee may in fact have a connection with the killing spree. Even though April and Gabriel have been long gone for 40 years after they met their demise in a fire, Quentin is determined to convince Robin that her living mother Renee is deeply involved.

Talk about not being able to put a book down! This book had so many dark, twisted turns it kept me guessing until the end. I thought I had it figured out and then a new shocking twist would come to light. I can't recommend this book enough! I read this with one of my best book buddies Brenda at Two Sisters and a Coulee and this was a fantastic buddy read. I can't thank William Morrow enough for sending this ARC print copy my way. I have just found a new favorite author and will be reading her other books! This book is a must read in my opinion! I highly suggest you get your hands on a copy now!