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Twisted Pearls

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Join two best friends who find themselves heartbroken and bitter after divorcing their high school sweethearts. Together, they decide to take the trip they’ve always dreamed of. What started as a vacation meant to heal their hearts and minds ended how they never could have imagined. One woman leaves with the possibility of new love, while the other woman leaves with an ominous feeling and a chill right to her core. Follow these ladies in a story full of love, heartache, and self-enlightenment, as they make their journey through life and encounter their biggest fears yet. Trigger warnings include but are not limited to, Rape and other forms of sexual abuse and violence, child abuse, animal abuse or death, self-harm, pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage, eating disorders, traumatic medical diagnosis, blood and gore, explicit sex and nudity, swearing, foul language, drug and alcohol use.

387 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2024

16 people are currently reading
151 people want to read

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Whitney Mayoral

9 books89 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
Profile Image for Han.
128 reviews17 followers
February 14, 2024
2.5 ⭐️.

TWs: Addiction, drug use, rape, sexual assault, stalking, toxic friendship, murder.

*~*~*~*~*

Please note that this review is my honest and opinion and my views are my own.

The author contacted me one day vim TikTok mentioning her debut novel to me, I said I’d be interested in reading and reviewing it as long as I had a follow on my social media accounts. I must be honest, I saw the cover and felt as though not a lot of time or effort had been put into it, I also thought that the cover wasn’t big enough to fit a paper/hard back. Despite his, I read the synopsis and was immediately intrigued at the story being both romance and thriller based, especially when in most thrillers you see the idea of a romance but it’s never elaborated on!

Downloading the book on KU, I settled down for the night and opened it up. Straight away, the layout out me off and it came across that the story hadn’t been formatted properly, this is a big turn off for me as a reader and I like to feel as if things are neat, and I don’t enjoy seeing a new chapter on the same page as the previous one.

It was very clear from the start that the story was focused on two women who seemed to be going through a mid life crisis, two women who are complete opposites yet have a friendship that is built on a tough foundation. I loved Mackenzie instantly and couldn’t understand for a single second to why her husband would divorce her, she’s an actual sweetheart and thinks so much more about others than she does herself. I also found Mackenzie to be relatable in certain aspects of her personality, she was a character that I was constantly rooting for!

Faith came along, and I started to become frustrated. With all respect to the author… her daughter is more mature than Faith through out the entire story. The way Faith acts is really off putting and made me want to put my kindle down numerous times and DNF the story. While disliking Faith, I did feel bad for the fact that her ex husband was such an ass. She deserved better than what he did to her, and I’m glad she found that in the end, but I can honestly say that Faith is someone I would’ve preferred to not be in the story and simply have the book focus on Mackenzie, or at least have Faith be less rude, immature and loud.

Although there were little things taking place that you would involve in a thriller, I wouldn’t say that the still didn’t actually come across as a thriller until at least 20% in. This was really disappointing; I was more concerned as to when it was going to start to be more thrilling than I was about guessing who was causing the women hell.

As the story continued to progress, I was curious to where the trigger warnings were present because I couldn’t find any and let me tell you, THERE NEEDED TO BE. Some of the things that took place in this story was very detailed and having no trigger warning is dangerous! I truly hope the author is able to go back and do something about this because people are going to be in for a shock numerous times otherwise.

I will note, I really enjoyed the romance that took place between Mackenzie and Anthony! I loved how sweet he was towards Mackenzie and how protective he was over the two women instantly. My heart was breaking for Anthony too because of his own back story, especially when a little twist came in with his own family. Him and Mackenzie were really two peas in a pod and meant to be, and I love that they both got that chance at love from a chance meeting on the beach. The only thing that didn’t feel right was the book having spicy scenes. If you want spicy scenes, I think the romance and thriller aspect should be separated COMPLETELY because it then took over the story and downplayed the thriller side again.

Despite what other readers think, I found it way too obvious to who was causing all this trouble through out the story, it was very clear from how the character was portrayed by the author which also made the story less thrilling for me.

All in all, I am truly sorry to the author that I have found so many negative points within this story, I love the idea that you tried to execute, but I feel as though there’s still a lot that could be improved on. I wish her all the best with this book and her future endeavours.
Profile Image for Maggie 💜.
118 reviews
April 6, 2024
I have no words. I need to think about what should be said about this book.
Profile Image for Poppyflowerjj.
266 reviews
Want to read
May 31, 2024
I am working late cus I'm a reader...
Profile Image for Tiffani Grawe.
139 reviews
January 20, 2024
For being the authors first book, this book hit the spot! The storyline is clever. The suspense will keep you hooked. There were parts that had me laughing out loud. Overall, it's a great read!
Profile Image for Debz78.
189 reviews9 followers
February 22, 2024
Faith is bi polar owns a cafe and had a daughter named Emma. Her chef Mike is very hot 🔥 she is a loose wire, very out there and had anger issues 😂
Mack is a Christian works in a home for adults with downs syndrome and has ocd. Very straight laced in a way
Both best friends but like chalk and cheese! As you can tell from their descriptions

Both recently divorced
Both work very hard but things have been weird, like very strange?
Dead cat on faiths doorstep? Dead bird with a knife in it, flat tyre, strange text message from a number she doesn't know? What is going on.?.?

A single yellow rose.. Now a bunch of yellow roses and a note?
They finally agree to go on holiday and meet these two guys Adam and Anthony.

Adam seems very odd and Anthony is a cop!

Ant and mack
Faith and Adam
. Nearly half way and Adam comes across like a creep and aggressive, like why be posessive and aggressive towards faith? whereas Ant is a gentleman and very taken with mackenzie. His mum has cancer and lives with him and the treatment has given her dementia. He is an all round good guy!

Is Mike jealous? Is he the one who sending the roses and texts etc? Just my thought 💭

On guy in the black hoodie is freaking me out now, why is he on the beach and coming out of the apartment building... Who is he?

Mack and amAnts first time.. Wow. I'm really enjoying watching their relationship develop. It's beautiful.
"what in the flying donkey fuck is she going to do with a pillow"
I swear I laughed so much at this.
Love faith and her quirkiness she's hilarious 😂

Well faiths stalker had just stepped up a level and I can't put this down.

So they are home in tennesse after their holiday in florida and both very paranoid, but who can blame them after being stalked so much!
Mine is staying with faith to protect her and Emma and faith is realising she has feelings for Mike..

Omg Adam and Ants sister? I have no idea what to think at this point, I'm fuming, never mind Ant!
Now we hear some of Ant's story... Heartbreaking 😔

Poor faith it's not stopping even now she is home. I want to find this person myself and put an end to it all for her. A little part of me suspects Mike and I don't know why?

Omg poor Ant, I'm so rooting for him and mack. Their faith in God is amazing also. He really is a great guy and the perfect guy for her.

What the actually f**k my heart is broke for faith and I'm proper scared for her now, this is getting so damn bad, whoever this is seems very dangerous!
Thank God for mack, Emma and Mike.. Who I don't suspect anymore by the way. Hope Ant can get to them too.

Aww ☺ yay love this 💗
This part is so perfect.
Ooooo 76% I hope I'm right thinking what i am right now and if you've read this I hope you are too ☺
Luke seriously my heart can't take much more, this is a bloody roller-coaster.. I'm loving it but I can't cope lol.
I'm literally holding my breath ffs 🤦‍♀️
Omg no!!!! I knew it, I fecking knew.. Omg faith!! Please someone come help her! 😢

That ba*ta*d!!! my freaking heart 😭 poor faith, I'm angry, sad and worried all at the same time.

Omg this book has me broken into pieces but I am so happy at the ending. I thought it was gon a go differently at one point.

Omg please go read this if you haven't already! ❤️
Profile Image for Kristina Brand.
322 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2024
This book was a fantastic read! The storyline was well put together. Characters were relatable and loveable. Faith is quite quirky and brings a fun spunkiness to the book while dealing with real-life issues. The mystery within the book was suspenseful and kept you guessing when crap was going to hit the fan. The happy moments had my heart happy! Sad moments had me all in the feels right along with em....Loved it and look forward to more works from this author!
Profile Image for Summer Crunk.
271 reviews
January 20, 2024
This book has something for everyone: suspense, romance, family drama, hope after heartache, addiction and illness, positive relationships with police officers and first responders. The characters are easy to relate to and well developed, and the story has enough smoke and mirrors to keep you guessing until the very end.
Profile Image for Jacqueline Lutes.
27 reviews
April 9, 2024
Definitely Twisted!! Great Book!

Twisted Pearls is a fast page turner of BFs, MacKenzie and Faith's vacation, and the chaos that follows. A well written and compelling romance mystery. Trope ⚠️
Profile Image for Cassandra Voight.
50 reviews
June 12, 2024
There are triggers in this book so please look them up before starting as the kindle version does not include any trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.

I really wanted to enjoy this book but it unfortunately did not meet my expectations. I had a difficult time getting into the writing style and it left much to be desired.

The story itself was intriguing in parts but ultimately wasn't for me. The insta love story between Mackenzie and Anthony was a turnoff for me as it didn't feel natural like it sometimes can. While there is spice in this book, it left much to be desired and was not well written until you got to the rape scene which was much more detailed than any of the others.

This one just wasn't for me.
Profile Image for Tabitha Michelle.
186 reviews7 followers
March 22, 2024
This book was full of adventures & suspense! Such a great read!

Kept you guessing who was stalking Faith!
Profile Image for Ashlee Counts.
9 reviews1 follower
April 21, 2024
5 stars for the author
1 star for the editor
Books take a team to be great!

This book has all the makings of an amazing book! It had a good storyline and kept me wondering what was gonna happen next. My biggest complaint was the editing. I honestly wanted to take a red pen to it. Had the editor been able to help guide the writer better, this book would not have been put down! Bravo for a first book, self published! I am eager to read her newest release and see if the editing was improved upon. Because it takes a special talent to actually build a complete and complex storyline. This author has the making to be great!
11 reviews1 follower
March 12, 2025
I was absolutely hooked on this book from the very beginning. I love that the characters are so real, not over the top or too dreamy. These women are your neighbors, and friends. That is how they feel. The story like is amazingly done and very captivating. I cannot say enough good things about the quality of this read. The mystery and suspense, the plot twists, the heartache and the romance... It ticked all the boxes that make for a captivating and amazing story. Thank you Whitney for blessing the world with this amazing and astonishing story. The story follows Faith and Makenzie as the navigate life after divorce. These 2 best friends each face their own struggles and have decided it is time for a much needed girls vacation. One comes home with the possibility of new love and the other with a stalker. The end of this book is equal parts heartache and blessing. I cannot wait to read the rest of the books by this astonishing author.
Profile Image for Ali Alley EscapeThroughABook.
739 reviews23 followers
February 9, 2024
Absolutely loved this book. This book is exciting! It had a feel good vibe, along with some dark mysterious who dun it vibes. It was super cool. Devoured it!

This Contemporary Romance is a wonderful suspense filled read.
Being that this is a mystery filled romance there might be a few situations that may make you uncomfortable. The book moves past those scenes quickly. Never lingering on any of the more uncomfortable scenes for long,
The MCs are written beautifully with an emotional depth that’s captivating.
The book will ensnare you with its mysterious, and thrilling additions to the romance.
The main focus romance is sweet, and endearing between the MCs.
The book has very mild tasteful spice.
The book is fast paced keeping you on your toes at all times.
The world building is excellent. Allowing for ease to step into the books world.
Profile Image for Mary.
22 reviews
February 26, 2024
I enjoyed the book, to me it’s a quick read. The only issue I saw was the flipping from each pov, sometimes it was 1st person, sometimes it was 2nd, it was kind of confusing to me.

The story and the characters were great. I loved the relationship between Mackenzie and Faith. I also love that the story line involves Mackenzie falling in love with a police officer. Being a LEO girlfriend, I loved that part. I was shook when I found out who the stalker was. Also I loved that in the end, through all the crazy and heartache that the main characters endured, they found love in the end & the book ended on a good note. For this to be Whitney’s first book, I think it was great!
Profile Image for K.V. Wilson.
Author 9 books78 followers
June 19, 2024
4.5 stars (a few formatting issues, but the content itself was exciting and entertaining).
My favourite thing about this book was the contrast between the two protagonists, Faith and Mackenzie. Faith was loud and proud and struggled with keeping her bipolar under control. Mackenzie was more reserved and worried too much. They often got on each other's nerves, but watching them meet in the middle and be best friends despite their differences was satisfying. Regarding the stalker/thriller aspect of the story, it was exciting and gave me chills. A little bit of why-would-you-do-that horror, but it was still satisfying and I was happy with the ending.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
71 reviews
February 15, 2024
This book was well written. For her first book she deserves a round of applause. It has a little bit of everything. The character building was great. She really did amazing at letting us get to know who they were. Definitely an easy read. I got lost while reading and I don’t mean that in a bad way. Before I knew it I was almost done with the book and didn’t even realize I’ve made it that far. I’m glad she reached out and asked if I would give this book a read because it’s something I’m glad I read. I don’t want to give any spoilers at all. So give it a read yourself and you will see.
Profile Image for Cody Tylor 📚.
69 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2024
There are a few trigger warnings, so take caution before diving into this one. The dynamic between the two friends Mackenzie and Faith was perfect. The author does a great job at setting the backstories of each main character and she made them to be very relatable to her audience. There's a perfect balance of mystery, suspense and romance. Once I thought I had certain things figured out I was hit with another plot twist, and this quickly turned into a page turner for me. As my introduction to the romance genre, I give this one a 4/5 ⭐
Profile Image for Diana Lessig.
120 reviews5 followers
November 22, 2024
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START!!

⚠️ CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS ⚠️ So yes at first for me this was a slow read but as soon as the chaotic craziness starts it catches your attention. Throughout this whole book my emotions were all over the place, creeped out, shocked, happy, really creeped out, ecstatic, horribly terrified, then happy again. This is a psychological thriller with trigger warnings, please make sure to check the trigger warnings ⚠️ before reading. Another Great read, created and written by the Amazing Whitney Mayoral. I truly hope there is a part 2 to this story though?
3 reviews
February 9, 2024
Twisted Pearls

This book is a must read. I love how the storyline starts and leads the reader on in anticipation. The twists and turns add to your anticipation for what will happen next. The more I read the harder it was to put it down. The end was a complete surprise when I found out who the stalker was. Would recommend this to everyone who likes a book with unexpected twist and turns.
7 reviews
April 28, 2024
Good Plot

This book had a great plot. There were some good moments and tension. I do think there should be a Trigger warning as there is SA scene that is graphic. I love the character development, but I believe that the story seems a little choppy as you read it. It is sometimes hard to keep up with the story. Overall I enjoyed the book and would be willing to read more from this Author.
Profile Image for Shara.
7 reviews
July 21, 2024
When I first read the synopsis I thought it sounded great BUT the romance and thriller aspect of it downplayed each other. They needed to be tied together. I just feel like there was entirely too much going on for them not be tied together . In my opinion, Adam being the accomplice would have tied a lot of the missing pieces together. However, it was a good read. This being the second book that I’ve read by this author, I can say that I’m excited to see what else she comes out with .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for BeBop19.
487 reviews4 followers
May 23, 2025
good for a wild ride

It was a bit confusing to follow but it was a very good story. Love and infatuation are two different things. It touches on topics that as women we face regularly. The uncertainty and confidence in ourselves. The way we beat ourselves up sometimes. These characters were very relatable. The author writes about topics that have been hidden because women are supposed to be confident and. Secure no matter what we deal with in life
Profile Image for Sami.
94 reviews
February 2, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! I am very impressed with this author as this is her first book. I was really rooting for these female main characters! They were going through some very relatable life events! It has a little bit for everyone. I can’t wait to see what else Whitney has to offer!
Profile Image for Rebecca Nichols.
1 review
February 9, 2024
One of the best books I have ever read. Keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting for the next twist and turn. The ending brings tears to your eyes knowing everyone is happy, finally. Definitely worth the read!!!!
Profile Image for Tara Ramey.
64 reviews
February 10, 2024
I really enjoyed diving into this book, and loved it even more since it is this authors debut book. The characters where easily relatable, and the storyline was very well developed. I had a hard time putting it down to get a good nights rest, and HAD to finish the next day. A must read!
Profile Image for Kimbooksnthings.
7 reviews
February 11, 2024
🖤🖤🖤

This book was a surprising enjoyable read for me. It was outside of my usual genre but I enjoyed Faith and Mackenzie’s journey all the way to the end. Both characters have distinct differences and were complete opposites but best friends through it all and I loved the book 🖤🖤
Profile Image for Christina  Asher .
160 reviews2 followers
February 17, 2024
This book was just what I needed. It is a great story of friendship, love, and mystery. Two best friends take a trip and are forced to either grow together or apart. This book will leave you on the edge of your seat and a smile on your face!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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