It may have been six years since they met, but when Juliet sees her—dark glossy hair, the casually expensive jeans, carefully manicured nails—she knows instantly who it is. But will Gracie Dwyer even remember her?

Gracie has it all: the handsome husband, the adorable child, the beautiful, glass-fronted home overlooking the river. The life that should have been Juliet’s too. Instead, she’s a single mother struggling to make ends meet, living in a shabby apartment in a concrete block with her five-year-old daughter, who her ex-husband is threatening to take away.

But when Gracie moves to Falcon Square, just streets away, Juliet sees an opportunity. If she can just get close to Gracie, maybe her fortunes will begin to change. And if cracks begin to appear in Gracie’s perfect life, well, it’s Juliet who will be there to pick up the pieces. Because no one’s life is really that perfect—and sometimes all it takes is a little push to expose the darkest of secrets…

***

***

Review

Are there people with a perfect life? I sometimes wonder. Everything may seem perfect on the outside, but who knows what goes on behind closed doors. Does not everyone have downfalls or things they would love to change? But you know what they say: the grass always seems greener on the other side and grwouldn’t you love to be on that side?

Uliet feels she has some unfinished business with Gracie and she has decided now is the time to settle the bill.

Juliet tries to worm her way into Gracie’s life. Will she be able to get what she wants?

This is a very twisty thriller and I loved it. I still have to pick my jaw up from the ground because that’s so ot what I expected. It was genius though.

In the beginning it was a bit confusing because there was a lot going on, but in the end it all came together in the most supurb way. 5 stars

Thank you

***

About the author

Sam Hepburn read modern languages at Cambridge University and, after a brief spell in advertising, joined the BBC as a General Trainee. She worked as a documentary maker for twenty years and was one of the commissioners for the launch of BBC Four. Since then, she has written several books, including psychological thrillers Gone Before and Her Perfect Life, and novels for young adults and children. She won the 2017 CWA Margery Allingham Short Story award and has been nominated for several other prestigious prizes, including the CILIP Carnegie Medal for her YA thrillers.

Sam has worked and travelled widely in Africa and the Middle East, and is a trustee of the Kenyan’s children’s charity, I Afrika. She now lives in London with her husband and children.

***

Author Links

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Sam_Osman_Books

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SamHepburnAuthor

Website: http://www.samhepburnbooks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samhepburnauthor/

***

***

Book Link

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08NT6F768/

A man is dead. And only I know why.

As we sit drinking wine by the river and I gaze into his dark brown eyes, I know I have finally met the man of my dreams. I have been hurt before, but this time will be different.

He has a terrible past and everyone tells me he can’t be trusted, but they don’t know what I know. I know deep down that together we can overcome anything.

Because sure he has secrets, but who doesn’t?

But now a man is dead. And the police are knocking on my door.

Was trusting him the biggest mistake I could make…? I don’t know where to go or who to turn to. What if I am next?

***

***

Review

When life gives you lemons, you try and make lemonade. That is exactly what Vanessa is trying to do after having taken some time to recover. Life surely has not been kind to her and it was great to watch her starting to make that lemonade.

She first made a glass, but once she has got the hang of it she fills jar after jar. You cannot not admire her for what she does and is still planning to do…

I had quite some scenarios in my mind about how I thought the story would develop. The one direction I did not picture, is the one the author picked and I have to say it was pretty brilliant.

It was shocking but in an oh so amazingly good way. I really totally loved this fantastic book. I am still working on picking up my jaw from the floor. This story is top notch. 5 stars

Thank you

***

About the author

Sam Hepburn read modern languages at Cambridge University and, after a brief spell in advertising, joined the BBC as a General Trainee. She worked as a documentary maker for twenty years and was one of the commissioners for the launch of BBC Four. Since then, she has written several books, including psychological thrillers Gone Before and Her Perfect Life, and novels for young adults and children. She won the 2017 CWA Margery Allingham Short Story award and has been nominated for several other prestigious prizes, including the CILIP Carnegie Medal for her YA thrillers.

Sam has worked and travelled widely in Africa and the Middle East, and is a trustee of the Kenyan’s children’s charity, I Afrika. She now lives in London with her husband and children.

***

Author Links

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Sam_Osman_Books

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SamHepburnAuthor

Website: http://www.samhepburnbooks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samhepburnauthor/

***

***

Book Link

https://geni.us/B0C4Z69WWGsocial

***

***

I see my son’s scooter lying in the undergrowth. Time stands still. Where is he? Deafened by my own heartbeat, I keep looking but I can’t see him. This is all my fault. My punishment for the things I did, and the things I should have done.

All I ever wanted was to keep my son safe. I married the perfect husband, built the perfect home. I’ve tried to give Finn the life I never had.

Everything was going so well. Until now.

It’s just small things at first – a punctured tyre, an open gate that I’m sure I locked. But then I see the photograph of two young girls, and a night I’ve tried to forget.

I know I have to stop pretending that nothing is happening. I can’t escape the truth.

Someone knows my secret. But what do they want from me?

***

***

Review

When are you considered being a good mother? It is because you give them everything money can buy but leave them hanging on the emotional side? Or is being poor, only being able to give them the basics, but love them with all your heart and show it?

Does being a good mother only applies to caring for your own children or can you love someone else’s so much you consider them your own?

Is being a good mother trying to turn your child into someone he isn’t or is it about letting them be their own person with their own strengths and weaknesses?

Are you a good mother when you only accept the child when you can use them to your own advantages or is it about putting your child’s needs before your own and fight for them with everything you have in you?

When you had an unhappy childhood, are you doomed to turn to crimes in order to stay alive? Sometimes unfortunately the answer is yes. You are vulnerable and thus an easy victim and when nobody takes notice, you are indeed doomed. Don’t forget there are some people who care and want to help you, but you have to let them. Be careful though, they might not do it for the right reasons, but do it because they have their own agenda…

The main character is Nicola. The author takes us on a trip through her life. We see pieces of the past to fill in the blanks in the present.

I loved this story. In my opinion the 5 stars are well deserved.

Thank you, Sam Hepburn and Bookouture

***

About the author

Sam Hepburn read modern languages at Cambridge University and, after a brief spell in advertising, joined the BBC as a General Trainee. She worked as a documentary maker for twenty years and was one of the commissioners for the launch of BBC Four. Since then, she has written several books, including psychological thrillers Gone Before and Her Perfect Life, and novels for young adults and children. She won the 2017 CWA Margery Allingham Short Story award and has been nominated for several other prestigious prizes, including the CILIP Carnegie Medal for her YA thrillers.

Sam has worked and travelled widely in Africa and the Middle East, and is a trustee of the Kenyan’s children’s charity, I Afrika. She now lives in London with her husband and children.

***

Author Links

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Sam_Osman_Books

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SamHepburnAuthor

***

***

Book Links

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08X79CDWRCover

Apple: http://ow.ly/rwSU50DItSm

Kobo: http://ow.ly/8mXz50DJthM

Google: http://ow.ly/mVsR50DItWq

‘My name is Phoebe Locklear. I think I’m your daughter.’

I rehearse the words as I walk up the path, clutching a faded old photograph of a little girl with thick dark hair.

When I knock, the door opens, and there she is: the woman I believe is my mother. The woman whose five-year-old daughter disappeared fifteen years ago.

Had I known what would happen next, would I have knocked on that door? Would I take back the lives I’ve destroyed?

But now that I’ve started, there’s no going back. I can’t stop until I find out who I really am.

Even if the truth could kill me.

Review

It took me a while to read this book and it’s not because it was not a good one. On the contrary…

It had a lot of things going on these last few days and that meant I had less time to read. It usually annoys me heaps but this time it was good. This story has so many twists and turns that on the one hand you need time to stop and think but on the other hand you want to rush and find out how it all will come together.

I would recommend to read at a slower pace and let everything sink in before you read the next part. In my opinion this is what this book needs or what you need to do as a reader. Of course, it’s all up to you how you do it, but this was my experience. 🙂

As I said before: lots of twists and turns that will leave your head spinning. I had to check sometimes whether mine was facing backwards or not. 😉

Take your time, let it sink in and you will be rewarded. It’s a complicated but great story. 5 stars.

Thank you, Sam Hepburn and Bookouture

About the author

Sam Hepburn read modern languages at Cambridge University and, after a brief spell in advertising, joined the BBC as a General Trainee. She worked as a documentary maker for twenty years and was one of the commissioners for the launch of BBC Four. Since then, she has written several books, including psychological thrillers Gone Before and Her Perfect Life, and novels for young adults and children. She won the 2017 CWA Margery Allingham Short Story award and has been nominated for several other prestigious prizes, including the CILIP Carnegie Medal for her YA thrillers.

Sam has worked and travelled widely in Africa and the Middle East, and is a trustee of the Kenyan’s children’s charity, I Afrika. She now lives in London with her husband and children.

 

Author Links

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Sam_Osman_Books

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SamHepburnAuthor

Book Links

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08CW5398ZSocial

Apple: http://ow.ly/vZFe50AxCta 

Kobo: http://ow.ly/HCyG50AxCru 

Google: http://ow.ly/qFIi50AxCv4