The Memory Child

Memory #1

by Steena Holmes

When Brian finds out that his wife, Diane, is pregnant, he is elated. He’s been patiently waiting for twelve years to become a father. But Diane has always been nervous about having children because of her family’s dark past. The timing of the pregnancy also isn’t ideal—Diane has just been promoted, and Brian is being called away to open a new London office for his company.

Fast-forward one year: being a mother has brought Diane a sense of joy that she’d never imagined and she’s head over heels for her new baby, Grace. But things are far from perfect: Brian has still not returned from London, and Diane fears leaving the baby for even a moment. As unsettling changes in those around Diane began to emerge, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.

A woman’s dark past collides head-on with her mysterious present in this surreal and gripping family drama.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary, Book Club, Drama, Thriller, Chick Lit

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 18, 2014

About the author

Steena Holmes is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with nearly 3 million copies of her titles sold worldwide, including The Patient, The Forgotten Ones, and Sister Under the Stairs.

Named in the Top 20 Women Author to Read by Good Housekeeping, she won the National Indie Excellence Award for her breakout novel Finding Emma and the USA Book News Award for The Word Game. Steena has been featured in various newspapers and magazines, websites such as Goodreads, BookBub, RedBook, Glamour, Coastal Living and Goodhousekeeping.

One of Steena's passions is to travel with her readers, so she created her Sweet Tours, where she shares her love for the sweet life with her readers, whether in Paris, Italy, or exploring Christmas Markets.
To learn more about her books and join her on the next Sweet Tour, visit her website at http://www.steenaholmes.com.
You can also find Steena on the web at:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsteenaholmes
Facebook: SteenaHolmes.author

LIST OF HER NOVELS STARTING FROM MOST RECENT:

THE TWIN

ENGAGED TO A SERIAL KILLER

THE SISTER UNDER THE STAIRS

THE PATIENT

THE FORGOTTEN ONES

SAVING ABBY & ABBY'S JOURNEY

THE WORD GAME

Stillwater Bay Series:
Stillwater Shores
Stillwater Rising
Stillwater Tides
Stillwater Deep

The Memory Child & The Memory Journal

FINDING EMMA series:
Finding Emma
Dear Jack
Emma's Secret
Dottie's Memories
Megan's Hope

Reviews

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Memory Child was a great psychological drama that I read a few years ago. I was thankful that I was on holidays as I was immediately engrossed in this story and didn't want to put it down. I finished it in one day.

Brian and Diane have been happily married for 12 years when Diane becomes pregnant. Brian is ecstatic at the news however, it doesn't seem to Diane like the right time to have a baby. They are both doing very well in their careers and she doesn't see how a child would fit into their busy lives. Brian would also be out of town opening a new branch for his company. But mostly Diane is terrified with the thought of being a mother. Something in the past has made her wonder how she could possibly raise a happy and healthy child. Brian tries to reassure her that all will be fine. So they forge ahead even moving into a new home. Diane goes into labor when Brian is working out of town, and she gives birth to a baby girl named Grace.

A year later and Diane's outlook on motherhood has completely changed. She loves being a mother and is hesitant to let Grace out of her sight for a second. She can't possibly fathom going back to work and leaving Grace. Brian is still working out of town and Diane is anxious because he doesn't respond to her emails or phone calls.

As I read I knew there was something I wasn't seeing but I couldn't completely figure it out. Is anything what it seems? I would think I had figured it out and then a minute later I was doubting myself. Although I was partially right in my thinking I was still so pulled in by what was happening. It was an incredible read that builds up into an intense and emotional ending.

I thought the plot was fantastic and the character development was great. The story flowed very well. I feel that even if I had figured out the twists I would still have enjoyed this book.

I have been a fan of Steena Holmes for many years. After reading Finding Emma I was hooked and I became an even bigger fan after reading The Memory Child.
I can't wait until her next novel.

I highly recommend this book!!!

[boogenhagen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review has spoilers, huge spoilers, so don't read it unless you're like me and just have to know what you're getting into.


Now that I have dispersed with the 16th century playwright's diverse alarums and scarums let me describe why I gave this book one star.

The writing is good, really good and the story is suspenseful with a lot of tension and speculation which does tend to keep you reading til the end.

The ending devastated me. I read this on the advice of a former friend who really liked it and thought I would too. However, I am a dedicated HEA reader - in other words I only want to read a story if there is an HEA and I don't care what genre it is. Therefore I usually only read Romance and book rec's are important to me cause I really don't like nasty surprises 200+ pages in, when I am committed.

This ending sucked big time. All of Diane's present was one big hallucination. (kinda like season 7 on Dallas when Pam woke up in season 8 and Bobby was getting out of the shower and not dead, it was all a dream)

Brian, her husband had died in a car accident on the way to his business trip and the baby was still born. Diane had received a lifelike doll of her child by mistake and fell into a fugue state where the doll was a real baby and Brian was off on his business trip. She lost her reality big time and imagined the present part of the book and her having to finish removing a large part of her life just depressed the heck out of me. All the cat picture's on the internet couldn't take the devastation away from this one and that's the last time I get a book rec from my former friend.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian and Diane have been happily married for the past twelve years and both have successful careers. So when Diane discovers that she is pregnant it should be the happiest day of her life, but it isn't. For Diane the timing couldn't be worse as she has just been promoted at work and she has no idea how or where a baby is going to fit into her busy life. She also worries about the tragedy that took place when she was younger and if this could affect her when she becomes a mother.

Brian couldn't be happier once he finds out that Diane is pregnant as he has wanted a baby for many years. Trying to reassure Diane that everything will be alright certainly won't be easy. In the meantime they decide to move from where they are living into their dream house. Then the company that Brian works for needs him to do a bit of travelling and seeing as Brian is very experienced in his job he knows he can't say no even though the timing couldn't be worse.

Whist Brian is away with work Diane goes into labour and delivers a beautiful baby girl who is named Grace. Diane can't believe the change in herself since Grace has been born. Wanting to spend every minute she can with Grace and having no idea how she will cope with going back to work. Having a nanny should ease her mind knowing that Grace is being well looked after, but she can't stand the thought of being away from Grace not even for a minute. Diane loves taking photos of Grace and sends them to Brian, so he doesn't miss out on anything. But Diane is confused as she can't work out why Brian never responds.

Oh my goodness what a fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping and very emotional read by Steena Holmes and can't wait to read her other novels. The ending was brilliant and I had no idea that was how it was going to end. I have no hesitation in HIGHLY recommending this novel.

[Li'l Owl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!
Reality. There's such a fine line between what is true and what we want to be true. Between what is and what isn't. And how do we know what side of the line we are on?

I'll be thinking about this book for a very, very long time! I'm not sure if I loved this book or if I hated this book. I think in the end it's a little of both. Beautifully written, screams with suspense, anxiety, drama. What a mind blowing ending!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian and Diane were extremely happy and successful in their lives – Brian was one of the top IT consultants in his company and Diane had just been promoted to CEO of her company. They were still deeply in love, and had been married for twelve years, when suddenly Diane discovered she was pregnant. The panic this created in her was intense – the worry about her past and her family’s history, but also her career – she had no time to have a baby in her life.

But Brian was ecstatic – a baby, their baby, would make their lives complete, he just knew it. He just needed to convince his beautiful wife that she could do this, they would do this together, and he would always be there for her. Moving from their condo to the house of their dreams was a challenge, but they did it. And dining at their local Italian restaurant often, with Marcello taking care of their culinary needs was always a pleasure…

Diane couldn’t believe the change the arrival of her beautiful daughter Grace had brought – her thoughts had changed; she didn’t want to go back to work, she wanted to spend all her time with Grace – rocking her, talking to her, telling her stories, delighting in her sweet smile. But she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her either, even for a minute. With Grace’s nanny, Nina helping her out though, she was able to stay calm and take each day as it came.

She couldn’t understand why Brian hadn’t returned from London – she always missed his call, she only reached his message bank when she called – where was he? Why wasn’t he at home spending time with their little Grace? And who was Nina talking to on the phone when Diane entered the room? Diane could feel pressure building inside her – what was happening to her?

Oh wow! What an amazing, brilliant, fantastic piece of writing! The tension, the pressure, the build-up and the not-knowing is intense! I would go so far as to say this is a psychological thriller, but it’s called family drama – which it most certainly is, but - AND THE REST! It is emotional, gripping and thrilling, and is a book which I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

[Susanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

This might be one of the most predictable books i've ever read. It wasn't even very interesting. I only finished it to see if i was in fact correct in my assumptions about the book. I almost gave it one star but the writing wasn't atrocious so I decided to give it two. And it was a fast read, so I'll give it that. I finished it in 3.5 hours. That said there were no surprises at all even though the review boasts a "surprise ending." The main character isn't likeable. Diane is shrewish and unkind. Her husband is a patsy. The book is not worth your money or your time. I can't understand how anyone could give it 3 stars let alone 5. We must have been reading different books completely.

[Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I enjoy this book: You know how sometimes you drink too much and end up with a knot in the pit of your stomach the next morning – not because you’re hung over, but because you’re certain you’ve embarrassed yourself in some unforgiveable way? Yeah. You know. Your heartbeat is erratic, your breathing is all breathy and weird, and for some reason you’ve got the tingles even though you’re certain none of your limbs are asleep. It’s not a freight train, but there’s certainly something loud and uncomfortable ricocheting around inside your skull cavity. Eating day-old sushi or smelling that thing in the back of your refrigerator sometimes creates the same effect.

That’s what this book is like. It’s brilliant. It’s terrifying. I was mostly nauseous the whole time I read it, but I promise you I gave up both food and sleep to finish it, and so should you.

Would I recommend it: I just did.

Will I read it again: I’m going to go with an utterly honest “maybe” response… it depends on the status of my mental health next time I consider it. =)

As reviewed by Melissa at Every Free Chance Book Reviews.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

http://everyfreechance.com/2014/03/bl...

[Marcia · Rating 2 out of 5]

There really is no surprise to the ending. There are 3 basic components to the "surprise". One, I knew even before I read the first sentence; I knew from the book title. One I was 98% sure of from the second chapter. The third is simply how the first two came about and it's not much of a surprise either- basically a coin toss. This book was a disappointment.

[Kelly Hager · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is going to be fairly vague so as to avoid any sport of spoiler.

I had read Steena Holmes before (her Finding Emma and Emma's Secret duology) and very much enjoyed them. This book is completely different. (Well, all three are incredibly well written, so that's the same, but beyond that? Completely different.)

When I was a few chapters in, I was pretty sure I knew what was going on.

Nope. COMPLETELY off base.

What I CAN tell you is that Diane's past is dark. The kind of dark that makes her pretty sure she doesn't want to have kids...and then she gets pregnant.

As most moms will tell you, when she holds her daughter Grace for the first time, her life is completely changed and Diane knows that she'd do anything for her. But why hasn't her husband come home from his business trip yet? And even though she's a first-time mom, is it weird that she has extreme separation anxiety whenever she has to leave Grace?

I LOVED this book. It's an absolute page-turner and it sucked me in almost immediately.

This is a story I won't forget.

Highly recommended.

[Julie Orman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, kept me interested, but this author (at least the Kindle e-book version) desperately needs either a new editor or a proofreader. A generous three stars. Again, intriguing story, but the grammar and style errors drove me wild.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Steena Holmes since discovering the first book I have read by her, Finding Emma.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. The title interested me, as did the cover. I read the blurb and I was hooked in.

As soon as I opened the first couple of pages I could tell this was going to be a book I was going to enjoy, after all, intriguing title, have read a book by Steena Holmes before, the blurb sounding great.

I just love how this authors gets right inside the characters heads.

Brian is over the moon that his wife Diane is pregnant. Diane is into her carer though and finding it hard to adjust to even wanted this baby. She also has a dark family secret that comes out in this book showing how the past can very much mould us. And our future.

I can't say too much about the book and storyline as it would be giving too much away. Its not as straight forward as it seems. I'd put this down to a book verging on a huge big twister of events.

When Brian has to go to London, Diane tries to reach him with sent photo's of their daughter Grace, yet Brain never replies.

All is not what it seems though and although halfway through the book you KNOW some things are just not adding up, and little sentences are being dropped here and there, at times you don't realise that the clues are there. Nothing is at straight forward as it seems, you've been warned!

I just ADORED this book. I REALLY did.

Would I recommend it? Hell yes!
Would I purchase it? definitely YES.
Would I recommend it to family and friends? Most definitely AMEN TO THAT!
***I was given this book to read by Amazon Publishing for an honest review***

[Jennifer Donovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy of this book.

I've read one other book by Steena Holmes. I like that the books tend to be "clean" and suspenseful, dealing with real-life contemporary issues, though perhaps they are a bit out of the box, such as this one which deals with a woman's fear of having a child due to her own mother's post-partum psychosis which resulted in her killing her newborn son and then herself.

Because of that, Diane knew that she did not want to have children, at least biologically. She and her husband Brian are very much in love and for Diane, career and husband was enough. When she gets pregnant, she embraces her fears and she and Brian make plans for the baby's birth.

But life doesn't always follow our plans. Diane and Brian are both offered promotions, and Diane has to go on bedrest while Brian is traveling, so they hire Nina to take care of her and serve as a nanny after the baby is born.

The story is told from both Brian and Diane's point of view, going back and forth between the present and the past. The reader knows that something is wrong, but we aren't sure exactly what. The truth is unveiled in bits and pieces. I read this short novel very quickly, because I wanted to know what was happening.

It did wrap up a little quickly, but all in all, it was a good read, especially if you like character-driven suspense.

[Melodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A upwardly mobile couple, married for twelve years, find themselves with a baby on the way. While the husband is ecstatic, the wife is full of doubts. Not only because of the changes it would mean to their lifestyle, but because there is a history of postpartum psychosis in her family. Her mother committed suicide after smothering her infant son.
This is one of the most sensitively written portrayals of postpartum depression/psychosis I have read. Steena Holmes invests the reader in her characters. Well developed plot line that moves along steadily letting the reader experience for themselves the roller coaster of emotion that the characters go through.
Steena Holmes has become one of my favorite authors of women's fiction.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm 60% finished with this book and hating it. Diane is a thoroughly unlikeable character, whether in her present deranged persona or in the past, in her business mode. (I'm assuming she's deranged; haven't solved that "mystery" yet.) Brian seems to be a 12 year old's fantasy of a man: utterly selfless, putting his wife ahead of him in all instances. Ptui. Totally without personality or character.

He's missing in the present; the baby - I think - is a doll; the nanny - I think - is a psychologist or something; the story is boring. Just waiting for something to happen...

I'm sure there will be a mental break and the author will finally reveal the fake baby and tell us what happened to Brian. And then I can delete this drivel from my Kindle. (I know: no one is making me read this, but at this point I just want to know where Brian is, and then I can go on my way.)


ETA: Just finished it. No surprises here.

[Nenette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would like to rate this higher because of the theme, but it was overly dramatic for me (and I love drama!). It was too dramatic, it bordered on fake. The title itself was a giveaway, and about a quarter into the story, my hunches were confirmed.

This is a story about postpartum psychosis. I had a mild case of postpartum blues myself after I gave birth to my first child - what with my mother and even my mother-in-law, both hovering over me - so I can somehow relate. The story is a different one though, as tragic events were the trigger. To her credit, even with all the drama, the author kept it short. The actual circumstances were not revealed until the last few chapters,

This would make a good movie, I think. With a good playwright and director, it might even turn out better than the book.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Steena Holmes hits once again with another powerful topic. I read this book in one sitting, refusing to go to bed until I was done as I was that captivated. Since page 1, I had this underlying sense of dread that something wasn't quite right and even though I had a hunch early on what was occurring, I could not put this book down. Holmes kept me interested and though I knew what was going on before the main character did, I felt everything along with her. By far her best work.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Memory Child by Steena Holmes is a very well-written women’s fiction suspense novel dealing with postpartum psychosis, the rare illness that can include rapid mood swings, delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, strange beliefs, and sometimes, infanticide.

This is a topic that is quite difficult for me to write about. My mother has a variety of mental problems, and it is believed that she experienced postpartum psychosis following my birth. Note: There is a difference between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, and although my mother was never diagnosed by a doctor, she is believed to have experienced the latter. My mother was not depressed, she was bat-shit crazy. It is undetermined whether postpartum psychosis is hormonal or hereditary; my mother had hormonal problems (including Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), and is also bipolar. I have inherited PMDD from my mother; this is something that has developed over recently years, starting in my mid to late twenties. PMDD is basically very terrible PMS that includes symptoms such as mood swings, irrationality, severe irritability, and depression. As someone that wants to have children, the possibility of experiencing postpartum depression or psychosis absolutely terrifies me, especially since I have already inherited other hormonal problems from the mother.

So yeah – this book.

Diane and Brian are going to have a baby, but Diane is terrified; her mother smothered her infant brother and committed suicide as a result of postpartum psychosis. Brian is an amazing, loving husband, extremely excited for the birth of his first child, while Diane is more than a little hesitant, and actually considers an abortion. Fast-forward one year: Diane has had her baby, is completely enamored of her child like most normal mothers, but… why hasn’t Brian returned from his business trip?

The story is told in alternative perspectives between Brian, during Diane’s pregnancy, and Diane, following the birth of her baby, Claire. Supporting characters include a nanny that Brian hired for Diane prior to his business trip, as well as Diane’s younger sister.

It is clear very early on that something is seriously fucked up, and we do not know what could have happened. I had ideas early on – in fact, I was almost convinced at one point that I had guessed the ending, and I was fairly confident because I read a lot – but I am happy to report that I was wrong. Why does everyone act so off around Diane? Where is Brian, the husband-of-the-year?

The writing was very good. I have never read anything by Steena Holmes, and did not know what to expect. She gives the reader a good mind-fuck with this one. Highly recommended, with an ending I did not see coming. The pacing was perfect, and the end satisfying.

Unfortunately, I am more apprehensive than ever to have a child. But I knew that that would occur going in. I just couldn’t resist.

Only four stars, because there is something at the end I personally wanted done a little differently, but that didn’t affect the readability of this novel at all. Fast-paced and hard to put down, The Memory Child is a must-read for anyone that likes a little bit of mind-fuckery with their family drama.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I don’t want to talk about the plot if I can help it, because I really don’t want to spoil anything for the reader as it is one of those reads that the less you know at the start, the more enjoyable it is. It is a psychological drama in which the central character Diane is a new mother. Right from the start you know that something is not right in Diane’s world and you have a pretty good idea what that something is – and you are supposed to think that way, the author leaves the clues there for you. You are immediately drawn in, wanting to know if you are right, and if so, why – what exactly happened? It is a story told from two sides, that of Diane in the present, and that of her husband Brian over the past year and it is not until the two stories converge that you find out exactly what happened. Even then, I was left thinking “Oh, so that is why X said Y to Z!”

It is a dark intense read that grips you from the start and really entices you in to Diane’s world. The author gets right inside her head so that at the end of the read you are left feeling quite wrung out. It is a really good, addictive read, one that once you start, you just have to finish it in one go. It is a story that will certainly stay with me.

I loved psychological dramas centred around women and their relationships and family, and this one certainly ticked all the boxes. A highly recommended read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't see this book coming. It is thought provoking, sometimes sad and well put together. I felt so in sync with Diane. I think most of us who've had children have a bit of postpartum blues. It's natural and we move on. Diane is different. I don't want to give away any of the plot. But, the characters were so interesting and the book so well plotted that I actually felt like I was looking into their lives. I knew there was something up, but couldn't quite figure out what it was. This is a super read and I loved it.

This would be a great book club read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.

[Deborah Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steena Holmes has captured the very essence of postpartum psychosis. This book is an absolutely riveting read. It draws you in from the first page and does not let go till the end. This is a book that will keep you thinking for a long time to come. It is a heart wrenching portrayal of postpartum depression/psychosis. The characters are well developed and the book flows effortlessly throughout. It is powerfully written and exquisitely executed. I highly recommend this book to all. This is a book that you will remember and recommend to others. Well done, Steena. This book is absolutely mesmerizing.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader's copy of The Memory Child from the publisher through NetGalley.
In a nutshell, I gave this book 3 stars for solid, decent writing, but I would rate it 3.5-4 stars for enjoyment. Here's why:
The Memory Child is the story of Diane, a new mother of a gorgeous daughter named Grace, and loving wife of her high-powered husband, Brian. Brian and Diane have both had successful careers, and Diane initially was ambivalent about the changes that being a mother would bring to her emancipated lifestyle. However, after giving birth to Grace, Diane falls in love with her new baby, and with being a mother. However, all is not as perfect as it might first appear in Diane's world. Brian is absent from Grace's birth, due to an unavoidable business trip, and for some reason, Diane is unable to reach him by phone.
This is the unsettling premise of The Memory Child, which is told in alternating chapters from Brian's perspective moving forward from a year in the past and Diane's perspective, going forward in the present day.
The thing is, Diane has no memory of the days immediately following Grace's birth, so her narrative has a lot to do with trying to recall her life backwards. Diane is piecing together how she got to be living alone with Grace and a nanny, waiting for Brian to come home. In this way, Brian's narrative and Diane's recollections move towards each other in time, and as they get closer to converging, the reader gets closer to understanding the shocking truth of their lives.
This said, I guessed the gist of the big reveal within the first few chapters of the novel. I think many other readers who are familiar with the popular domestic-noir genre will also catch on to the twist quickly. Author Steena Holmes gives us quite a few clues, so I would be interested to know how much she meant for the reader to understand during the novel.
However, although I knew the twist, I didn't know the details of how it happened, and so, my knowing the end result was almost inconsequential to my enjoyment of the story. I was riveted to find out what had really happened between Diane, Brian, and Grace. I have to admire the author for keeping me completely interested in the story, even though I had a good sense of the ending.
I really enjoyed The Memory Child. It was a surreal, but effortless read. If you enjoyed Precious Thing by Colette McBeth, Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes, or Under Your Skin by Sabine Durrant, you'll have fun reading The Memory Child.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brian and Diane have been married for 12 years. Both have good jobs, and are still progressing in their careers. They have always agreed that they would have children after 10 years, so when Diane finds out she is pregnant, they are initially overjoyed.

Diane starts to panic because of her family history - her mother suffered from post-partum psychosis and as a result there was a terrible tragedy when Diane was little. Terrified she will follow in her mother's footsteps, Diane has to come to terms with the pregnancy and with the realisation that history doesn't always repeat itself.

Or does it? The story is told by both Brian and Diane in alternating chapters. Diane's are written in the present and in the first person, so we get to see what's going on in her head. Brian's chapters are written from the time Diane found out she was pregnant, and in the third person - so we slowly get to piece the story together until it all comes to a devastating conclusion.

If you liked SJ Watson's "Before I Go To Sleep" I think you'll like this. It's an easy read - while I did guess one part of the story due to little clues early on, I never would have guessed the ending. The temptation to read forward or google spoilers was immense, but I think you should try and read it without spoilers. If you like a happy ending, I wouldn't recommend this one!

[Angela Holtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Lilac Wolf and Stuff

What a ride! This was by far the most terrifying book I've ever read. And I can't even tell you what happens. Just trust me.

You've got a high powered couple expecting their first child. Brian is over the moon, Diane is understandably nervous. She never wanted to have children. But they are clearly in love and it's a happy time. But once Diane has the baby with her she is happy, except that Brian is off in London. Luckily she has her nanny.

The story jumps from Diane's perspective in the present and Brian's in the past it's like this building crescendo that knocks you off your feet.

This is Steena Holmes' best book so far. Keep it up, girl!

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this psychological family drama, following the trail of clues the author scattered throughout the book and trying to work out exactly what happened. I managed to figure out most of the twists, then second guessed myself as I read on. I love it when authors can make me do that. The characters were vividly written and the plot well thought out. The topics of post-partum psychosis and how becoming a mother can change your life are explored.

I listened to the audiobook edition. The narrator was fabulous and well suited to this book.

[Sandy Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book to read and review.

It was very hard for me to put this book down. It captivated me and drew me into each of the characters. The ending wasn't quiet what I thought it would be and it did make me cry, but still, if an author can make me cry and feel all of these emotions while reading their book then in my opinion she is a very good writer.

[Sara Freitag · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book to read and review.

Yes 5 Stars! I finished it a few hours ago and it still is with me. Tugs at your heart through out the book! It is clean book and it is dealing with issues that happen in real life to real people. I have read her other books and I just love her writing! Thank you Ms. Holmes for yet again another amazing book.

[Sandy Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book to read and review.

It was very hard for me to put this book down. It captivated me and drew me into each of the
characters. The ending wasn't quiet what I thought it would be and it did make me
cry, but still, if an author can make me cry and feel all of these emotions while
reading their book then in my opinion she is a very good writer.

[Mami · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author did a very good job leaving hints throughout ... I started figuring things out about 30% in, and pretty much figured out the whole scenario about half-way through. So yes, a very predictable story ... No shocker. But I still cried a little at the end. Nicely done.

[Shonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a love it or hate it read; I’m still on the fence. While the writing was spectacular and the premise fantastic, I often wanted to throw it out the window due to how unrealistic it was. A psychiatry nurse does not moonlight as a prenatal nurse. A woman with a high risk pregnancy, on bedrest, does not get in a car for an unnecessary drive…nor does her overly protective husband or prenatal nurse let her do so. Casually throwing out electro shock therapy made roll my eyes. But will I think about this book for weeks to come? Yes. And will I read another one of her books? Heck yes.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself reading this at 4am today, and having gone back to sleep, found myself having to pick it up again as soon as breakfast was over.

The ending felt a little rushed, but the book was beautifully written, and I really enjoyed it.