Already a father to a four-year-old daughter with his ex-wife, Cash makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to marry his girlfriend of five months, Lexi, when she unexpectedly falls pregnant. Three weeks later, still in the throes of newlywed bliss, Lexi is brutally attacked in an underground parking garage, resulting in the tragic loss of their baby. Freshly discharged from the hospital, she returns home to find her car spray-painted with a horrifying message from someone threatening to finish the n ext time the knife goes through your heart. It’s the beginning of a nightmarish chain of events that won't end well. As a dangerous net of harassment tightens, Lexi begins to question everyone around her, including her new husband. - A high-octane thriller with a spellbinding cast of characters and a breathtaking twist! -
Will you enjoy All But Safe? If you read any of my favorite psychological and domestic suspense thriller authors including K.L. Slater, Shalini Boland, Kiersten Modglin, Freida McFadden, Kathryn Croft, Lisa Gardner, Louise Jensen, Gregg Olsen, Mark Edwards, or Rachel Caine, the answer is a resounding yes!
NYT and USA Today bestselling author N. L. Hinkens writes twisty psychological suspense thrillers with unexpected endings. She’s a travel junkie, coffee hound, and idea wrangler, in no particular order. She grew up in Ireland—land of legends and storytelling—and now resides in the US. Her work has won the Grand Prize Next Generation Indie Book Award for fiction, as well as numerous other awards. Join her VIP Reader Club for hot new releases, stellar giveaways, exclusive content, behind the scenes and more. https://normahinkens.com/
Thirty-five-year-old Cash, anxious not to let this one get away, proposes to Lexi, his girlfriend of 5 months, when she tells him she’s pregnant with his child. Cash’s track record with the women in his life isn’t the best, but he has a great relationship with his six-year-old daughter, Mila. Lexi and Mila are the two positive forces in his life that help him face off his “axis of evil” - the horrid trifecta of his manipulative mother, his ambitious ex-girlfriend, and his greedy, money-hungry ex-wife. Cash is eager to start anew and carve out the life he wants.
When threatening, anonymous notes start appearing in their mailbox, Lexi begins to question what she’s getting herself into and doubt starts to creep into all her relationships. With Cash seemingly unalarmed and unwilling to get to the root of the notes or bring in the police, things escalate and Lexi suffers trauma as a result. It’s obvious someone doesn’t want her to be with Cash. Is he really worth fighting for? Why does someone want Lexi out of the way?
The campaign of sabotage was fantastic! Hinkens’ conflict between characters is her secret sauce and it delivers tension, friction and complications to her characters' journeys. I was in awe of Hinkens' ability to skillfully manipulate my alliances with her characters - she’s definitely mastered her POV choices. By allowing me access to the minds of Lexi and Cash, the author kept me on my toes and made it difficult for me to trust either version of the story that she was unveiling at one time. Her characters were richly drawn and felt real and the reality they presented ranged from seemingly subtle to riotously unreliable. My interest level remained high because of the continuous conflict scenarios that frustrated the characters and left me feeling misdirected. I had to keep reading to find out who sent the notes and why. I wasn’t prepared for the twist.
This highly readable, mind-challenging domestic thriller needs to be on your night table ASAP!
I will eagerly be searching out this author’s backlist as she writes how and what I like to read.
I was generously gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I read this story in a few hours. One of the characters was really spineless and irritating, but I guess that was part of the plot. It’s a quick, enjoyable read!
I have read all Norma Hinkens books. I love her style of writing, character development, and plot twists. This new book does not disappoint. She ratchets up the suspense early and doesn't stop till the end. Cash marries Lexi, his girlfriend of 5 months, when she becomes pregnant. His mother doesn't like her and thinks this was a rebound romance after he broke up with his longtime girlfriend Jess. Mommy Dearest makes Lexi's life as miserable as she possibly can. She's a great character-the perfect nasty mother-in-law. Soon after their marriage the couple starts getting threats-letters, texts, even graffiti painted on their house. You have to feel sorry for poor Lexi when she loses the baby and is being threatened. She just wants a happy life with her soulmate Cash. Cash is a bit of a cad when he admits to himself anyway that he is still in love with Jess. Lexi finds out Cash is still in touch with Jess and of course suspects her. There is also a sketchy next door neighbor who was portrayed a bit stereotypically as a druggie loser. Could Mommy Dearest be in cahoots with someone to break them up? All will be revealed in the end and with Ms. Hinkens usual twists, it won't be what you expected. Great book!
I'm a huge fan of Hinkens. I always jump at getting any new book she publishes.
Cash and Lexi are married and expecting their first baby. All seems right. Until someone starts vandalizing their life, leaving cryptic messages that imply they don't deserve a baby and want back in their life. So, the race to figure out who's behind it all begins.
Intriguing and complex characters with hidden agendas. I had guessed the culprit correctly but still went on a wild ride to the end.
I received an ARC of this book from the author; I always find her books well-written and suspenseful. This one is a page-turner from the start. Someone is trying to sabotage the new marriage of Cash and Lexi, and it seems like everyone in Cash’s life is in on the plot. But the person tormenting them knows too much about their schedules and how to infiltrate their lives. About halfway through, it becomes apparent that either Cash or Lexi is an unreliable narrator, but it’s not clear who. Or why? It takes the police investigator to put the pieces together and pinpoint who is messing in their lives and why. I had one complaint. I found that their neighbor, Wade, was depicted as a stereotype. Everything about him was disgusting—his hair, his teeth, his dress, his smell, his attitude—and it was all attributable to his smoking weed. I’ve known potheads in my life, and the worst that can be said about them is they don’t do anything—the hair, teeth, dress, and smell could be a result. But his attitude and his behavior resembled that of an alcoholic more than a pothead, like the aggressiveness. It just seemed like Lexi and Cash were both very judgmental about him because he smoked weed, when there were plenty of other reasons to avoid him. Furthermore, I’m not sure where the story takes place, but it has to be a state bordering Mexico. In how many of those states do they aggressively pursue people with marijuana? With a drug-sniffing dog? I can attest there are drug-sniffing dogs once you enter Mexico, but not at a gas station near the border.
My problem with the way Wade is presented does not detract from the story. He’s a minor character, so it’s not critical. The plot, overall, is wonderfully tense and mysterious. It wasn’t until very close to the end that I started to understand what was happening, and that was intentional on the part of the author. This book is just as good as any other from this author, and if you enjoy a good suspense, I recommend it.
"All But Safe" by N.L. Hinkens is a high-octane thriller that delves into the dark and unsettling world of suspense and danger. The story revolves around Cash and Lexi, a newlywed couple who, in the midst of their blissful honeymoon phase, face a horrifying tragedy when Lexi is brutally attacked and loses their unborn child. The nightmare doesn't end there, as a series of harrowing events unfold, including menacing threats and a tightening net of harassment that leaves Lexi questioning the trustworthiness of those around her, including her husband.
This novel is described as a psychological and domestic suspense thriller with a spellbinding cast of characters. It delivers the kind of tension and excitement that readers of psychological thrillers enjoy.
This is the ninth book by Hinkens that I have read, with each book getting either a 4-star or 5-star rating. The author effectively created a campaign of sabotage with tension, conflict, and complications that kept me on my toes. There was a manipulation of alliances between the characters with alternating points of view that added layers of complexity to the narrative.
The characters were well-drawn and felt real, with richly developed personalities. The unreliable narration from both Lexi and Cash kept me engaged and questioning the truth of the story. The continuous conflict scenarios and the need to uncover the identity of the person sending threatening notes contributed to the book's page-turning quality.
Overall, "All But Safe" is a compelling read for fans of psychological thrillers.
I received an advance copy of the book. The opinions expressed here are entirely mine.
An edge-of-your-seat thriller with ominous, almost maniacal undertones, this was a quick read for me.
Following a whirlwind romance and a shotgun wedding, newlyweds Cash and Lexi are riding the high of marital bliss, when a torrent of threats and spiteful attacks bombard their life. From menacing letters and messages, to breaking and entering, and property damage, it's become clear that the stalker is obsessed with Cash and is targetting Lexi. But among the many women in Cash's life who've still got their hooks in him, who is desperate enough to harm Lexi?
From the very first line, the author sustained an intense level of suspense that simply didn't let up until the final few chapters. The stalker led such a reign of terror against the protagonists that amped up my anxiety with every turn of the page. The author's skill at hiding the antagonist in plain sight was simply applause worthy and with an entire crew of unlikeable characters, this was no mean feat.
Cash was an absolute loser, IMO, who gave his girlfriend - the one he called his soul mate - an ultimatum to choose between him or her studies and then when she chose herself, went on to cry 'Woe is me' for the rest of the plot. Lexi was insecure throughout the plot, making one wonder why she still stuck around when it was clear as day that her husband still held a torch for another woman. The over-bearing mother-in-law, over-friendly ex-girlfriend and the greedy ex-wife made for flawed but relatable characters.
Overall, a compelling read. Thanks to the author N.L.Hinkens for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
WOWSERS!! I was rendered speechless after reading this book! I've read a couple of N.L. Hinkens' books but this one was off the charts!
"All but Safe" is a heart-pounding thriller that takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of suspense from beginning to end. Hinkens' knows how to keep readers on the edge of their seats.
The story revolves around Cash, a devoted father, who impulsively marries his girlfriend, Lexi, after discovering she is pregnant. Their happiness is shattered when Lexi becomes the victim of a brutal attack, leading to the tragic loss of their unborn child. As Lexi returns home from the hospital, she finds her car defaced with a chilling message, and soon, a terrifying chain of events unfolds.
Hinkens' skillfully weaves a web of suspense as Lexi finds herself trapped in a nightmarish situation, plagued by relentless harassment. As the net of danger tightens, Lexi's trust in those around her is shattered, including her new husband, Cash.
Just when you think you have it all figured out, the author throws a curveball that will leave you stunned.
"All but Safe" is an adrenaline-fueled thriller with its relentless suspense, and an astonishing twist, this book is a must-read!
I absolutely loved All But Safe by N.L. Hinkens. I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading All But Safe. It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Who does not love a psychological suspense thriller with a surprise ending? Once again N. L Hinkens has shown that she is a master storyteller and continues to be one of my favorite authors to read. I love how she developed the story line and the characters. It was an incredible psychological suspense thriller and has me guessing who was behind all the events taking place in the story. It was impossible to put it down and I loved every moment on every page of this wonderful page turner. I love that the story is told from the perspective of the main character. I loved getting inside the thoughts and feelings of the character. I love all the plot twists and turns in All But Safe. I never saw the identity of the who is behind the events in the story until it was revealed. It truly took me by surprise. All But Safe is the story of newlyweds Lexi and Cash Reisinger. It is the second marriage for each Cash who has a six-year-old daughter, Mila with his ex-wife, Anya. Lexi and Cash married recently after finding out that Lexi is pregnant. Vandalism occurs on their house as well as threatening notes. Other events also occur threatening Lexi’s life, and she ends up suffering a miscarriage. Lexi and Cash filed a police report and believe that Cash’s former girlfriend Jessica Spicer is behind the events. No one has seen her lately. I kept trying to figure out who was behind the events, and it appeared that it could have been any one of the characters. I loved following the investigation. I love how the story details what really transpired and who was behind the mystery. My favorite part was the surprise ending, I did not see it coming. It was an incredible thriller. Looking forward to reading more books by N.L. Hinkens. Looking for a great thriller, then I highly recommend All But Safe. I received an advanced copy from the author.
Five months into a new relationship and it seemed that nobody seemed to be pleased about it, including the mother, his ex-wife, and his ex-girlfriend. Threatening messages have been coming at them. Somebody was targeting this new couple and their unborn baby. But who? Whoever was behind this was making this couple’s life a living nightmare.
Drama and tension kick up between Lexi and Cash as they try to figure out this frightening ordeal. This whole thing grabs you and makes you really wonder who’s behind this: the mother, the ex-wife, or the ex-girlfriend.
Sounds like Cash marrying Lexi was a mistake. Sounds like Jess was actually better for Cash than Lexi. I mean, he clearly still loved Jess. Needless to say, the premise grabs and you just gotta find out what’s going on. It’s kind of a long story to get through, but it still keeps you reading. The way it all turned out was not that surprising.
Cash and Lexi got married after only five months of destined meeting with each other after finding out Lexi is pregnant!
They both thought that it’s time to settle down and start a family together, and live happily ever after!
However, Cash and Lexi started to receive some creepy and threatening notes or messages that were sent to their house or cell phones… This is just the beginning of their terrifying nightmares! They feel all but safe, even in their own house!
Buckle up because the suspenseful ALL BUT SAFE will take you on a hair-raising and heart-pounding ride and keep you on the edge of your seat until the end! N.L. Hinkens is an excellent author, and her forte is writing gripping and captivating thrillers that are entwined in mysteries and unexpected twists and turns with a surprising ending!
Cash and Lexi have been married a short time , she is pregnant with their first child when she is attacked and left frightened for her life . But who is behind the attacks, ex wife Anya, Cash's former girlfriend Jess or his mother Eleanor . Lexi feels very unsafe with more bizarre happenings and N.L Hinkens was able to draw me into the book and had me wondering right to the end of the novel Told from alternating points of view and time periods, this book was a heart pounding thriller with lots of twists., and a great ending. I thoroughly recommend All But Safe to anyone who enjoys a thriller and thank the author for an ARC copy to read and review
All But Safe: A psychological suspense thriller (Wicked Ways Collection - Standalone Thrillers), my ninth amazing (252-page/7-hour 13-minute) read from author N.L. Hinkens. I enjoyed the outstanding suspense story-line with its intricately woven twists and turns, more knots than Alexander the Greats Gordian Knot, I saw the end coming with about 2 1/2 hours remaing but had to read to the end to know! Norma (N.L.) Hinkens is on my radar of great authors! I was given an Audible copy of this book and am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Narrator Daniela Acitelli's narration added to the book's enjoyment. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
I enjoy a messy ass plot just like the rest of you! But this was not it… I saw the “twist” from a mile away, and I didn’t want to be right. I wanted to be surprised. The characters were spineless and flat. I didn’t really find myself rooting for anyone, and I was just waiting for the book to be over.
I loved the element of the hunt and the slow build. However, the story got pretty redundant until we got to the reveal. BUT, I enjoyed the ending. That last line was unsettling and the author ate that one thing.
2 stars because while I wasn’t a fan of the book, I am a fan of literature. 🥴 ⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have been reading N.L. Hinkens since she penned her first psychological thriller. She has become more adept in the genre with each successive book. All But Safe kept me turning this way and that trying to determine who was behind the threats and vandalism the couple experienced. I nearly read non-stop to find out what would happen next. I found this to be a very good read.
I received an ARC of All But Safe. My opinion is given voluntarily.
Goodness me, this was WILD. Thank you so much, author Hinkens for offering me a copy for review. This is exactly the type of read I love! So fast paced, unputdownable and so completely twisted. Fans of authors like Daniel Hurst and Freida McFadden will adore this author. She has a very similar writing style, when you are gripped and want a 'read in one sitting' book. I am thrilled to find such a fantastic 'new author for me', well more like she found me! Cannot wait to read more of Hinkens' books!
I’ve come to love N.L.Hinkens books. This is the 4th one I’ve read. She does psychological thrillers very well.
I didn’t see the twist in this one coming at all. I had my mouth hung open. Whaaaa?!
If you enjoy domestic-type psychological thrillers you will really like this one. I can’t say more, lest I risk giving something away about it. Give it a read.
5 stars all the way! A gritty, intense, fast-paced, riveting, artful melding of stunning psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense. Edgy, atmospheric and full of dark secrets, shocking plot twists and pulse-pounding, palpable tension. A MUST for fans who thrive on superbly-written, unputdownable thrillers!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
Until the perp said, “Anya has to go too”, I didn’t have a clue”. Very well written story! As you’re ready really take in what the characters are saying and you might know what’s really going on before I did. You can barely put this book down once you get in to it. A very suspenseful read. He got what was the very most important thing he needed in the end, but he lost much!
This is the first book in a long time that I truly could not put down! I love how the author builds the suspense and the characters. Lexi and Cash were fun to root for until they weren't. Cash's mom, Eleanor, was a real piece of work and, you grew to "hate her" quickly. They story takes you in, spins you around and spits you out with an unbelievable ending! A must read!
Another page turning thriller from N.L. Hinkens. Cash has an ex-wife that he has a child with. He also has a controlling mother that speaks her mind. Cash also stays in touch with his ex-girlfriend Jess. A series of attacks and vandalism leads you in one direction, but a twist and surprising conclusion.
I love all Ms Hinkens stories and I will one click immediately. This book has well developed characters and twists that had me second guessing myself throughout. Ms Hinkens has the knack for coming up with compelling stories and the characters to make them come to life. I would definitely recommend this book. I received an advance copy of this book via the author and this is my honest review.
I wanted to like this novel, but no. There’s something wrong about a first person POV where your instincts tell you you’re being lied to. It was pretty obvious from the beginning what was going on, so nothing was really a surprise. On the upside, it’s a quick read and a clean read. I appreciate the lack of profanity.
Another well written story that is full of suspense. Cash’s wife gets attacked. He needs to find out the truth quickly. They seem to be in the middle of some danger that he can’t figure out. Fantastic characters. Won’t let you down
Amazed at how the craziness was so well hidden in this book. Going along believing what was written was in fact a giant ruse. Pointing the finger in so many directions. But ultimately.....
This book did not disappoint as a psychological thriller!! Lots of questions came up as I was reading. Some twists but not too many to make it unreal. One of the best books I’ve read. Definitely recommend.
Lexie wants what every girl dreams of......a family of her own. And she will do what it takes to stop anyone who gets in her way of making that dream come true.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. I have read other books by this author and liked them too.