Not Mine to Keep: A gripping, emotional suspense novel

by Samuel Wolf

Gracie knew she wanted a baby. But she never thought things would go this far.

Gracie Brookman has a seemingly perfect her husband George, a successful military intelligence officer, is absolutely crazy about her, they live in a big house, and she has all the free time she wants. But as the days start to blend into each other, an empty feeling gnaws at Gracie as she realizes something is missing.

Then, one night, as she sits in her car in a vast parking lot of a rural mall, Gracie receives a phone call that will shatter her George is gone. For good. Gracie can’t remember exactly what happened next. All she knows is that she saw the woman in the car nearby leave the door open, and there she a sweet baby all by herself. Next thing she knows, the baby is in Gracie’s car, as she speeds away as fast as she can.

Looking for a safe home for her and the baby, Gracie reconnects with her childhood friend, Jordy, and it’s as if she can breathe again. But Gracie can’t keep running forever. She knows the secret she is keeping is bound to get her. She knows that this baby is not hers to keep.

A gripping and suspenseful page-turner full of twists and turns, Not Mine to Keep is perfect for fans of Laura Elliot and Emma Robinson.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

241 pages, Paperback

Published February 19, 2025

Reviews

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Mine to Keep by Samuel Wolf is a contemporary romance with strong elements of drama and emotional tension. The story centres around complex relationships, personal struggles, and the idea of connection versus independence, following a cast of characters navigating love, desire, and difficult choices.

The plot focuses on the dynamics between the main characters, with particular attention on the female lead and her emotional journey. There is a strong emphasis on intimacy and relationships, with romance and physical connection playing a key role in moving the story forward. Some readers may appreciate the openness and boldness in how these themes are explored.

The characters are written to be flawed and human, with messy and layered relationships that may feel realistic to many readers. The author takes a direct and unapologetic approach to storytelling, and there are moments where the emotional intensity comes through clearly.

That said, this one wasn’t quite for me personally. I found the writing style a bit immature for my taste, and the portrayal of the female main character didn’t fully work for me. Some of the more intimate scenes and overall storytelling style didn’t quite resonate, which made it harder for me to fully connect with the book.

However, this is very much a matter of personal preference. What didn’t work for me could easily work for another reader, especially those who enjoy emotionally charged, raw romance with a more explicit edge. There is definitely an audience who will appreciate this style.

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and author Samuel Wolf

Publishing date: May 30th 2026

[Ayesha Mashiat]

pre read:
Got my very first arc 😭

[✩｡°⋆ Lala ⋆｡°✩ · Rating 2 out of 5]

• ARC Review •

[Not Mine To Keep]
🔥 Release Date: [May 30 2026] 🔥
Thank you to eBookPro Publishing, Samuel Wolf, and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
★★☆☆☆

Not Mine to Keep has a premise that should’ve hooked me, grief, a sudden death, a mysterious baby, and a woman whose life cracks open in an instant. There are layers here, and I can see what the story is aiming for with the emotional unraveling and the tension beneath Gracie’s seemingly perfect life.

But for me, the execution didn’t work.

The writing felt choppy and disjointed from the start, almost like two different books stitched together. The tone shift after Blinkey’s death was so abrupt that it disrupted the flow of the narrative.

I also struggled with the plot logic, not in a twisty or intriguing way, but in a way that made it difficult to stay engaged or understand where the story was heading. The suspense never really built for me, and the emotional beats didn’t land strongly enough to carry it. I found myself more confused than invested.

There is potential in the concept, but it didn’t come together for me as a whole.

[Marla B James · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not good!

This book was poorly written. There was no story so the author included some gross graphic sex that was not even a part of the story. Not sure why that was included but just made it worse. I am not a writer and I could have written this book in a weekend. Glad it was free so all I wasted was my time vs also wasting money.

[Emily Morris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it was an intriguing enough hook. The way a car wreck is intriguing. A grieving widow randomly kidnaps a baby from a car and hits the road. Okay, I want to bite.

But it just wasn't that good. Not particularly gripping, emotional, or suspenseful. I kept waiting for Gracie to have some semblance of. consequence for her crime, but nothing comes of it. In fact, after the kidnapping, not much actually happens.

In fact, she seems to conveniently become the kidnapper of a rather neglected and abused child. The ending, where you think something finally might happen, is basically as close to a "see, it all works out" end as one could force, but doesn't come with the emotion or even plot that it should have. Yup, it turns out no one seems to actually be looking for the baby.

Oh, she finds new love and there are some terrible sexual scenes clearly from a man's perspective.

Sadly, this has the opportunity to be something truly cool. But it winds up being boring and irritatingly convenient.

[danie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley for the ARC of this one.

I was so, so excited to read this book but I honestly wanted to dnf about 3 pages in. The story didn't make any sense, the writing was extremely choppy, the editing was not well done and in my opinion it should not have been publisher the way it has.

There are some extremely graphic and very badly written sex scenes that don't make sense and depict spousal rape with no warnings.

I honestly wish I had something positive to say because I really don't like to leave bad reviews, but while I think the idea for this book was great and the premise was excited and enthralling, the execution was done poorly and it was not ready for publication.

[Nocturne Pages · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not Mine to Keep by Samuel Wolf is a literary fiction novel gifted to me by Netgalley but was released on April 27th, 2025. Mostly, for me, it had TONS of potential. I don't think I could fully get past both of the main characters. Maybe if the dialogue was more fleshed out to suit the tone the book was meant to portray the theme could have been more apparent. Except, most of the scenes were monotonous and MAYBE that's what this book was about. Showing the monotony of marriage, simple life, and the blurred line being in those roles take (there shouldn't be one). These characters angered me to no end with their actions. I'm sure someone will read this and resonate with it, but for me it just felt like it was reading too much into “the wife needs to do whatever to keep her husband happy”. AND FOR GOODNESS SAKES STOP USING THE WORD COFFEE AS THE ONLY DIALOGUE. 

  SPOILER ALERT: she didn't actually want to be a mom it seems from her actions. 2.5 ⭐ 

[Helana Starr · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to start with this. Just awful.
The synopsis made it sound really interesting and intriguing, that’s pretty much all this book has going for it - the synopsis is good. The execution is absolutely woeful, the characters are so unlikeable and their conversations are just atrocious. So unrealistic, no one talks like that. A few quotes from this story are “Mmm”, “Coffee”, “Ah” and “Nnn”.
Genuinely felt like everyone in the book had been given a lobotomy and I felt like I’d had one too when trying to read it.
Really do not recommend.

[Jill S · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fever dream without an ending.

[kathleen comer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dumb

One of the stupidest book I've read, or started anway. Had to stop. And vulgar as well. Don't know where the good reviews came from!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

"He vanished from my life as quickly as he left the living world and joined the world of the dead.
She realized she didn't miss him. Not even a little; didn't even think about him. It was fine when he was around, it really was, but now? Now that he's gone, it's even better."

I can't remember the last time I held so much disdain for a character, from page 1; so much repulsion, that when that said character is eventually killed off, I breathe a sigh of relief. Blinkey, I am sorry, my friend, but this book was much better when you were plucked from the story.

For our main character, Gracie, it was not a secret that she wanted a baby. However, it seemed everything else in her life was perfect: she has her husband, George (Blinkey), who leads a successful military career, a big house, and all the time she wants to do anything she pleases. She still felt like something was missing.
Until one day, she is in a mall parking lot and receives the devastating news that her husband, Blinkey, has passed away in a tragic accident. Before she can even process this information, she sees an opportunity present itself. A baby is left unattended in a vehicle, and Gracie kidnaps the child. Thus, Gracie finds herself on a journey; a journey of loss, reconnection, and motherhood.

When I say I had disdain for Blinkey, it may have been the tone in which his character was written. I believe he had love for Gracie in some capacity, but it did not expand much past what she had to offer him physically. The graphic sex scenes in the beginning of this book were almost enough to make me DNF. Sex can have its place in literature, as it does in many avenues of society. However, the graphic sex felt like it was simply thrown in. It was random. It was bizarre and uncomfortable.
Leading up to Blinkey's demise, the writing also seemed choppy, thrown together. Once the story shifted primarily to Gracie, I remember thinking to myself, "Am I reading the same story?"

Overall, the premise for this drew me in, but I feel like it was not executed in the way I was expecting. I was hoping for some more mystery. Where is the suspense that the novel was promising on the cover? I don't think I was "gripped" in any way.

Reading this novel felt like I was back in my old teenage bedroom, late at night, watching a bizarre, raw, Indie film that my mother would NEVER have approved of. And many of those were pretty entertaining, albeit strange stories.

Advanced reader copy provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Britney Ireland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to #NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this novel. From the moment I encountered the blurb, I was instantly captivated by the premise and the promise of a deeply engaging story. Receiving a copy was a true pleasure, and I was eager to delve in and provide my thoughtful review and feedback.

The novel's storyline proved to be exceptionally strong, remarkably well-developed, and undeniably intriguing. The author masterfully constructed a narrative that kept me guessing, and I was genuinely shocked by the numerous twists and turns woven throughout the book. This narrative complexity was one of the book's greatest strengths, maintaining a high level of suspense and investment from the reader. Furthermore, the characters were a highlight; they were compelling, felt fully realized, and I thoroughly enjoyed following their individual journeys and interactions.

Unfortunately, my experience took a disappointing turn as I approached the conclusion. Up until that point, I had been prepared to enthusiastically rate this book a solid 4.5 stars. My excitement, however, was significantly dampened by the ending. 😔 I am genuinely sad to report that the final chapters did not deliver the satisfying resolution I had hoped for. The ending felt abrupt and, frankly, incomplete. I strongly believe the narrative would have benefited immensely from at least another chapter or two to properly tie up the loose threads, provide a more organic transition, and ultimately bring the story to a truly great and memorable close.

The underwhelming nature of the conclusion has therefore regrettably necessitated a significant deduction from my initial planned rating. Due to the dissatisfaction I felt with the ending, I am only able to give this novel a final rating of 3 stars out of 5.
#notminetokeep

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Mine to Keep is one of those stories that quietly unsettles you from the first chapter, the kind of domestic suspense that slips under the skin because it’s rooted in longing, loneliness, and the fragile edges of identity. Gracie Brookman’s life looks glossy from the outside—big house, devoted husband, endless time—but the stillness of her days has begun to echo. There’s a hollowness she can’t quite name, only feel.

When her world shatters in a single phone call, that emptiness rushes in like a tide. What follows is a moment of impulse so raw and human that it’s impossible not to hold your breath: a baby left alone in a nearby car, a door open, a split‑second decision that changes everything. The novel never treats this as a simple act of right or wrong; instead, it lingers in the murky emotional space where grief, desire, and desperation blur into one another.

As Gracie flees toward the only person who ever made her feel grounded—her childhood friend Jordy—the story softens for a moment, offering a glimpse of safety and belonging. But the tension never fully loosens. The truth shadows every page, and the author does a beautiful job capturing that creeping sense of inevitability, the knowledge that borrowed happiness can’t last.

This is a gripping, quietly haunting read, full of twists that feel earned rather than flashy. What stayed with me most wasn’t the suspense, though—it was Gracie herself. Flawed, aching, and painfully human, she’s the kind of character who lingers long after the final chapter.

A compelling, emotionally charged page‑turner perfect for readers who enjoy domestic suspense with heart and depth.

With thanks to Samuel Wolf, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[bookedupnurse · Rating 1 out of 5]

A grieving widow fearing her motherhood journey has just ended finds a baby and dog unattended in the back of a car. She does the unthinkable and takes both … driving cross country to start a new life.

Who Gracie trust? And how possible is it to start a new life with a baby no one knew you had?

The blurb caught my attention but unfortunately, this story just fell flat for me. Too many plots, too many offensive opinions towards different groups of people, unnecessary sexual scenes and very unlikeable characters. There were some very powerful themes going on that could have been developed on and this didn’t occur. I wanted Gracie to acknowledge her behaviour and take responsibility for the decision she made that day in the car park and the continued lies she loved … but to no avail. And the ending? Just no.

The way this book was written - if it wasn’t for mentions of phones and tablets - felt like it was based in the 1950s with the choice of language, behaviours and authors style. There was no suspense, thrill or mystery unfortunately.

Thank you to NetGallery, Samuel Wolf and ebookPro Publishing for the ARC copy of this book.

[Píaras Cíonnaoíth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gripping Emotional Suspense...

Samuel Wolf’s Not Mine to Keep blends raw emotion with breathless suspense, painting the protagonist, Gracie, as neither hero nor villain but a hauntingly relatable figure trapped by circumstance. The plot accelerates from simmering tension to breakneck urgency, punctuated by sharp twists and textured side characters. While the opening lingers on Gracie’s ennui, it fuels the payoff, making her moral freefall all the more visceral. A provocative exploration of motherhood, loss, and the lines we cross for love, this novel grips like a vice and refuses to let go.

Not Mine to Keep is ideal for fans of psychological suspense, lingering like a shadow, asking what any of us might sacrifice to fill life's empty places. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[GG · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like the writing style, I kept feeling like I’d missed something when it moved onto something else so abruptly. Even for a short book this felt extremely rushed. I wasn’t a fan of Gracie or George as characters, and for a short story there were way too many other unimportant characters referenced. The constant use of ‘mmm’ in the early chapters became annoying, and the adult scenes were overly graphic and both excessive and unnecessary to the journey. The story itself, had a really intriguing premise, but the plot holes were terrible, and the ending was a total flop. I think the only thing I enjoyed was the expectation the blurb gave me, and not much else happens than what the blurb describes.

I feel guilty writing this bad review, but I prefer to keep all my reviews honest and true to my experience.

[andrea nelson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hmmm… I’m not sure where to start. This was an interesting concept, and I was intrigued by the summary, but upon reading it I was thoroughly disappointed. The sex scenes were pretty unnecessary and graphic, the conversations were a bit disjointed… The themes were of misogyny, snippets of homophobia, and an unrelenting pursuit for the nuclear family lifestyle. This was a quick, unenjoyable read. Yikes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Samuel Wolf, and eBookPro Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Debbie Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

odd book…very strange but…

This book tells a lot about human emotions and how humans survive the worst life has to throw at us. It is a story of oddness and yet hope. I liked this book a lot.

[Kimberley H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely different but entertaining despite the oddities.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 6/25

[Leanne Glover · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this book really didnt grip me.

I hate to DNF though so I persevered. I had hoped it would get better but the writing style and the way it ended were disappointing

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think this book was for me. The writing was very rough and choppy. And I kept feeling like I wanted this story to get a move on in the first half.

[Dark Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately a DNF for me. The premise was good, but the writing didn't quite execute on the promises that were there. The writing style was disjointed, and the dialog needed work as well.

[Mariesa Leyva · Rating 0.5 out of 5]

This book was everywhere. So many spelling errors/mistakes. Too much going on. I don’t recommend. The ending was terrible too.