A Mãe da Noiva

by Samantha Hayes

O dia do meu casamento devia ser o mais feliz da minha vida. Mas, com a minha mãe por perto, pode tornar-se num verdadeiro pesadelo. Ela controla tudo — o vestido, o bolo e até os meus sentimentos. No fundo, sinto que não quer que me case. Quer manter-me dela… para sempre.

Quando o grande dia finalmente chegar, será que me deixará partir? No ano passado, a minha irmã esteve prestes a casar, mas o noivo foi assassinado no dia do casamento. Pior ainda, encontrei o ramalhete da minha mãe junto ao corpo…

Agora, caminho em direção ao altar com um sorriso radiante — mas por dentro, o pânico aperta-me o peito e uma voz interior grita «FOGE!».

O Owen, o meu futuro marido, é tudo para mim — cabelo cor de areia, olhos azuis cintilantes. Insiste que está tudo bem, mas o olhar frio da minha mãe, entre os convidados, diz o contrário. Rezo para que esteja certo enquanto deslizo, com mãos trémulas, a aliança dourada pelo dedo dele.

Este devia ser o dia mais feliz da minha vida. Só espero estar errada acerca da minha mãe e que o Owen esteja em segurança! Mas, quando o padre pergunta se alguém se opõe, viro-me para trás e todos olham em frente, menos ela. Por baixo da aba do chapéu, os olhos gélidos estão cravados em mim. Será que a vida do meu marido está em perigo? Ou será a minha…?

UM THRILLER PSICOLÓGICO TENSO E IMPOSSÍVEL DE LARGAR DA AUTORA BESTSELLER N.º1 DA AMAZON.

PREPARE-SE PARA SEGREDOS DE FAMÍLIA, OBSESSÕES PERIGOSAS E REVIRAVOLTAS QUE O VÃO DEIXAR A QUESTIONAR TUDO — ATÉ À ÚLTIMA PÁGINA.

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks, Fiction, Suspense

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 26, 2024

About the author

Hello!

Thanks for stopping by my Goodreads page!

My latest psychological thriller THE ENGAGEMENT is out on 10th January 2023 from Amazon, available in ebook, paperback and audio formats. I do hope you love it!


If you love a good 'domestic noir' thriller that will mess with your mind and keep you turning the pages, then my books are for you! You can check out all my titles on my Amazon page here:

https://amzn.to/3jZ83zU

I do hope you'll love getting stuck into my books and enjoy reading them as much as I love writing them. And do let me know what you think - it's great to hear from readers! You can get in touch via my website where you'll find lots of info about me and my books - www.samanthahayes.co.uk or come and 'Like' my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SamanthaHayesAuthor or follow me on Twitter too @samhayes or @samanthahayes.author on Instagram.

Happy reading!

Samantha xx

Reviews

[Clace · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.00!

Now, from where do I start?

This has me hating the genre of thrillers because I have never read such a dense, watered down thriller ever. There has not been a single thriller as of yet which has been bad for me, I have enjoyed most of them and have even rated them more than a four, who knew this would be the first one starred thriller I read because I sure as hell did not, after that captivating synopsis.

The writing bugged me the most, it often felt like the author had no sense of direction and was running through circles and the repetition was too much. The plot was not well plotted tbh because I saw the twist and turns coming before we even got to the foreshadowing part. Not well thought. Not well written. Not well executed.

The characters were so insufferable. Our main female character accuses the mother of being a murderer without having any concrete proof and by just going along with the vibes AND while accusing her, doesn't shy away from letting her mom pay for all her wedding expenses and for the accommodations and the living. The male main character was like a female main character from a Rina Kent book. He had no backbone and was naive as fuck and the twist that everyone probably saw coming felt so out of place.

This audiobook was of 9 hours and tbh the narrator did a well job but the book itself was so boring that the first half I knew I would have dnf'd this book if I wasn't listening to it whilst studying. OMG there was even a part where I slept through and when I woke up inly 3 hours were left lmaoo but I had to go back (felt guilty) there honestly came a point where I turned my reading speed up to 3x (keep in mind, I listen to audiobooks at the speed of 1.75-2) so yeah not a great read at all and definitely broke my streak....I need good thriller books now *sighs*
___
Another audiobook because I can not find the time to read *sighs* It is a thriller and I have not read any bad thrillers yet..hopefully the streak continues!!

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ March 26, 2024
Page Count ~ 382 (p+ 58 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 51 minutes
Narrator ~ Tamsin Kennard
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ family drama, controlling parent, secrets, references to suicide

Lizzy and Owen are in a tough spot financially, so they've temporarily moved in with her mother, which she is adamantly against. She's already suspicious of her and living with her sounds like it's a nightmare with her sneaky and controlling ways. But mom is paying for the wedding, so she'll just have to deal with it for a few weeks.

It's not all about the wedding, though. There's still talk about sister, Shelley's, husband, Rafe, dying on their wedding day last year. Her father being in a care facility gives us another side plot. Lastly, Lizzy's old crush from school has started coming around to help move the story along.

Overall, a solid, fast paced read with some repetition. I totally called the big zinger, but there was a nice one at the end that I wasn't expecting and I think it'll take you by surprise, too.

Narration notes:
Tamsin did a wonderful job.

*Thanks to the author, Bookouture Audio & Netgally for the audio. I'm voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-3.75 Stars

Lizzie and her fiancé, Owen, had been eagerly planning their wedding and looking for a place of their own. However, they were unexpectedly asked to leave their friend's place before they could secure a flat, due to some misunderstanding. Now, they are left with no other option but to stay with Lizzie's mother, who is notoriously overbearing and controlling.

Not soon after, Lizzie begins to notice that her mother is behaving unusually and keeping secrets from her. She becomes increasingly concerned and starts to wonder if her mother has something against Owen. Lizzie's fears are compounded by the fact that her mother has always been fiercely protective of her, and Lizzie can't shake the feeling that her mother may be trying to sabotage her relationship with Owen.

As tensions rise and suspicions deepen, Lizzie finds herself caught in a web of uncertainty and doubt. She is determined to protect her relationship with Owen, but she can't help but wonder if she can keep him safe from her own mother.

I found this thriller to be quite entertaining, with several unexpected twists that kept me engaged. Although I was able to predict the big reveal, it did not diminish my overall enjoyment of the story. However, I do wish Lizzie had been more forthcoming with her family or Owen instead of keeping secrets to add complexity to the plot. If you are a fan of the crazy mother or mother-in-law storyline, I would definitely recommend giving this thriller a try.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Samantha Hayes, and Bookouture Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book by one of my favourite authors. There’s been a few of hers that I enjoyed but not as good as this one.

I’m glad I have Bluetooth EarPods! I was able to clean house and do shopping while “reading” my book as I really was glued to every word.

I definitely won’t be forgetting this one in a hurry and will be on my top ten for sure this year in its genre.

Twisty family saga. Love it. Especially when you get duped at the end and all what you think goes out the window.

If you love family secrets, twists and unreliable characters……you won’t go wrong reading this.

[Natilie Bell]

⋆˙⟡♡ pre-reading

books have been so good to me lately, i’m super excited to start reading this one especially! love everything to do with wedding drama 😇

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your typical nightmare mother-in-law thriller. Lizzie is getting married. She only hopes her fiance’ will live to see the day. Her mother has a track record of trying to control her daughters’ lives. Shelley, Lizzie’s sister never had the chance to walk down the aisle on her wedding day. Her husband tragically and mysteriously died minutes before the anticipated event. Lizzie fears her mother is somehow involved and is panicked that her wedding day will also have a deadly ending. As the plot unfolded I was certain I knew where it was going. Needless to say, I was blown away by the final twists. To say I was surprised is an understatement. The epilogue also had a shocking twist. I was intrigued by this addictive thriller from start to finish. The narrator masterfully brought the characters to life while adding suspense and a constant sense of foreboding. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to be prepared in this read to not get too frustrated with the main character ( as I did from time to time ) because what looks like she isen’t doing turns out just as well as the story goes (makes sense honestly 😎 )

I did a lot of presuming in this book, took a side and resolutely stuck to it and the last say 5/6 chapters really unravelled my ideas of pretty much every character

As a Mother of the Bride Sylvia is obnoxious, she is fab to read but a walking disaster and a nightmare to all, which of course makes her brilliant for us, beware of Sylvia though as she has more to her than meets the eye…

A good read, red herrings a plenty and a resoundingly unexpected ending, all told a book enjoyed

[Jessica Webber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not stop with this book! I was hooked. I only thought my family was dysfunctional haha I wanted to scream at times, these characters were getting me so worked up. I was able to figure out one of the big twists but it didn’t make it any less exciting! I definitely recommend this one.

Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook!

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother of the Bride was captivating from the very beginning. There are 2 sisters, Shelley and Lizzie. Shelley’s wedding was all ready to happen when all of a sudden her soon to be husband drops dead right before. What happened? Was it an accident? Lizzie’s planning her marriage a year later and there’s more drama with her! The ending was shocking - I was not expecting it at all! Mind blowing ending! I can’t wait to read more from Samantha Hayes. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published March 26, 2023.

[Iris Bicho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gostei mais do que o outro da autora, sinto que este efetivamente me cativou mais e conseguiu surpreender numas partes. Muito curiosa para ler mais livros dela :)

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by Samantha Hayes and I chose this one because I enjoyed The Reunion, a thriller I had read in 2021. I was looking forward to another good thriller.

Description:
My mother is obsessed with every detail of my wedding – controlling my dress, my ring, my happiness. But when the day finally comes, will she really let me go? Last year, my sister’s fiancé was murdered on his wedding day. And I found my mother’s corsage next to his body…

I’m beaming as I walk down the aisle, but my smile masks a prickling fear, even though this is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.

My husband-to-be, Owen, is everything to me, with his sandy hair and sparkling blue eyes. He keeps telling me it will all be fine. I pray he’s right as I slip a gold band onto his finger with trembling hands.

Please let me be wrong about what my mother did. Please let Owen be safe.

But when the priest asks if anyone objects, I turn to look at my mother. Her eyes are icy beneath the brim of her hat, and she’s staring right at me.

Is my husband’s life in danger? Or is it mine…?

My Thoughts:
Silvia is perfect in the role of a nightmare mother of the bride. She's over-bearing and controlling, and difficult. Shelley's wedding day was horrible when her fiance died just before the wedding. Lizzie has her moments of wondering what really happened to Shelley's finance. Did Silvia have something to do with his death? Lizzie can't help thinking her wedding day, planned by her mother, would be difficult, but she was hoping for the best and finally became determined to get through it. She was hopeful. Surely it couldn't happen again.

This book was filled with drama and angst. It was tense. There was mystery there. It was easy to dislike Silvia and label her a possible killer. Also, I had to wonder why Lizzie would ever allow her mother to control her life so much for any reason whatsoever. Not very smart.

This was a drama-filled domestic thriller and if you like a good drama and mystery you will like this one.

Thanks to Bookouture through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication on March 26, 2024.

[Jayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here comes the bride.....

And here comes the "Mother of the Bride", too!

A pregnant bride-to-be is planning her wedding.

But the bride is worried.

WHY?

Last year, the bride's sister's fiancé was murdered on the couple's wedding day and her mother’s corsage was found next to his body.

Will this happen again?

Although I was intrigued by this book's compelling premise, I had an issue with the book's pacing.

The first half of the book was very, very S-L-O-W with repetitive text.

Fortunately, the pace picked up and I enjoyed the book's twisty ending.

I listened to the audiobook read by Tamsin Kennard who did a superb job with the narration.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

What another great book Samantha Hayes has written, I was totally captivated.

Lizzie becomes engaged to her boyfriend Owen after only a short period of time knowing each other. Lizzie has always had a difficult relationship with her mother and slowly we are given pieces of information about her mothers personality and how it has affected the family. Lizzie's dad is in a care home being looked after due to psychological issues and has not spoken in many months. Lizzie has a sister she is very close to but there are tragic circumstances surrounding her as her husband to be Rafe was murdered at their own wedding. Lizzie has long suspected that her mother may have had something to do with this, and as the book progresses she tries to find out if this suspected involvement could be true.

Against her better judgement Lizzie and Owen move into her mothers house after being unable to find a home of their own to purchase, soon issues arise that make Lizzie's life a living nightmare, just like episodes of her childhood. Owen tries to get Lizzie to give her mother some slack but her mother is completely overwhelming and domineering in wanting to take over the organisation of their wedding which is why Lizzie did not tell her mother of her engagement immediately after Owen proposed. Other events occur leaving the reader questioning what is really going on, was Lizzie's mum involved in the death of her sisters husband and is she really the monster they all believe she is?

This is a very well executed story and the characters are very well developed, there are times it was a bit predictable but that did not effect my enjoyment of the book. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own. Highly recommended.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of Mother of the Bride by Samantha Hayes. This book was quite fast paced and it kept my interest. I was able to figure out what was really happening but it did not ruin the story for me. I continued to read it and enjoy it. I would definitely recommend this book to others for a good read and some entertaining fun. A 4 star rating from me.

[Joana Alves | Juca Mindscape · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beeeeem… se foi uma leitura viciante? Foi, os capítulos são curtos e acabamos por virar facilmente página atrás de página.
Contudo, o início enrolou bastante e o facto de ter adivinhado o final bem cedo no livro tirou muito do suspense do livro.
Foi um livro ok, algo fácil de ler.

[LerThriller.Andreia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mais um thriller psicológico empolgante e difícil de largar. Estão prontos para uma noiva num estado de nervos que só visto? É uma Motherzilla??
Não desilude!

[Maria João (A Biblioteca da João) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lizzie e Owen são os protagonistas deste livro. Mas quem dá título ao livro é Sylvia, a mãe de Lizzie, uma mulher controladora, que de forma subtil (ou não), tenta que tudo seja feito à sua maneira. Para agravar ainda mais a situação, Lizzie desconfia que a morte do noivo da sua irmã, no dia do próprio casamento, não foi obra do acaso...

Por isso mesmo, faz de tudo para manter a mãe afastada da sua vida, no entanto, as circunstâncias acabam por quase obrigá-la a ir para junto dela. E para agravar ainda mais a situação, Owen, que desconhece os antecedentes, parece encantado com Sylvia, fomentando a temível aproximação...

Esta é a premissa deste thriller, Lizzie quer manter a mãe longe da sua vida, já que acha que ela poderá fazer mal a Owen. As razões para tal, iremos descobrir ao longo da leitura...

Depois de ter gostado bastante do "A Governanta", que conseguiu apanhar-me de surpresa, este "A Mãe da Noiva" tornou-se bastante previsível quase desde início, o que me tirou parte do entusiasmo com a leitura. É um livro que se lê muito bem, e que, no seu género, está bem escrito, mas, na minha opinião, uma informação foi entregue cedo demais, deveria ter ficado reservada para mais tarde.

Literalmente no final, o livro ainda nos reserva uma pequena surpresa, contudo não foi suficiente para compensar o pouco impacto das revelações anteriores.

De qualquer forma, Samantha Hayes é uma autora que pretende continuar a acompanhar, porque gosto bastante das personagens que cria e dos enredos em que as envolve.

Opinião detalhada em vídeo:
https://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.co...

[Joana Aguiar · Rating 4 out of 5]

só digo... grandes plot twists, mas mesmo grandes!!!

Havia li partes previsíveis, a autora força a perspetiva do leitor a 100% para o óbvio. Estamos a ler e a sentir" Ah ta bem, é só isto" e nos capítulos finais uma volta de 360º graus e um portal para outro universo. Só acho que a primeira metade do livro devia ser mais cativante, não me viciou logo.

[Trina Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following the fallout from her sisters wedding a year ago and the feeling that her mum was involved in Rafe's death, Lizzie is loathe to present her fiance Owen to her mum. Lizzie's mum is controlling, unpredictable and organised to the point of taking over everything. So begins the wedding pressures and dilemmas from The Mother of The Bride. No bridezilla, just mumzilla.
I found this a fast paced novel, Samantha Hayes has the ability to draw you into the storyline and keep you there, just one more chapter isn't going to be enough. I confess I did guess where the story was going in a few places but was still blindsided by the ending.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Publication Day!

This audiobook was made available to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Tamsin Kannard was the perfect narrator for this story. Even though this novel uses a single pov character, the narrator still uses different infections to highlight different characters: the mom, the fiancé, the sister, etc. It adds depth and texture to the story. This narrator has a kind of soft voice that serves to make the creepy elements of the story sinister. It's subtly done and had a great impact on the overall story.

This is a domestic thriller featuring toxic family drama, my favorite flavor! Lizzie has  returned to the UK from teaching abroad with her new fiance, Owen. Lizzie was teaching abroad in an effort to pay off her financial liability from her previous romantic entanglement when she met Owen about 6 months before the story began. A surprise pregnancy prompted a return to the UK and engagement. Back in the UK, Owen is awaiting payment for his work abroad while the couple is staying at Lizzie's friend, Peter's, flat. Lizzie's mum invites them for the weekend so she can meet Owen. Soon Mum is pushing a rushed wedding on Lizzie & Owen. Lizzie wants away from her toxic mom and to avoid a situation like her sister, Shelly. Shelly is a large animal vet recovering from her own wedding nightmare, at which her fiancé, Rafe, was found dead of a probable heart attack the morning of. Only Lizzie isn't sure Rafe died of natural causes. 

Lizzie's mom has shades of narcissistic parent syndrome and reminded me of several Reddit posts on the narc parents subreddit thread. Lizzie seems like the 'black sheep' and her sister Shelly is a classic 'golden child' but there's much more to the story than what appears on the surface. 

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read/listen to and review this novel. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own. 

[Shauntelle (shauntellereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book thinking I would know exactly what was going to happen. The title, the blurb, and the buildup throughout the book had me curious about what would happen that I hadn't already figured out. This plot was executed well, and the characters were well developed.

There were times when Lizzie's thoughts seemed repetitive. I feel that the book could've been shorter if the repetitiveness was eliminated. Also, Lizzie had flashbacks to the past and those weren't always easily identifiable. I was slightly confused at certain points, but not to the extreme that I couldn't follow.

Now back to the plot. Everything I thought I knew while reading this was WRONG! The last 5-6 chapter blew my mind! They made the book in my opinion. My mouth hung multiple times during the unfathomable ending. Very worth the read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I have read other books from this author that I liked more than this one. The main character irritated me so much, it seemed a bit slow. And so many things seemed to be repeated over and over. It was a nice read though, I liked the ending way better than the start of the book.

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This highly addictive listen told from the point of view of the bride to be us full of twsts and turns. The conplex family history revealed as events trigger memories . I loved the way the mother of the bride evolved and i felt the complexity of her character and the place she has within the family and the relationships she has. Each character is complex but the talent here is how the twists and turns lead you one way and then bam bam you are proved so wrong. The ending was fab and i liked the fact the story and its sub plots were revolved . The naration showed rral emotion and is of high quality.
It was a binge listen compelling me to carry on to find out the truth..
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator for this 5 star listen.

[Leandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este livro prendeu-me desde a primeira página, pois logo no prólogo temos uma ideia de como esta história vai terminar.

Lizzy e Owen vão casar.
Devido a dificuldades financeiras, vão viver com a mãe da noiva até terem condições para viverem na sua própria casa.
A mãe da noiva, muito entusiasmada com o casamento, encarrega-se de organizar tudo à sua maneira. E "ninguém diz não a Sylvia."
Durante todo o livro ficamos imersos num clima de suspense e desconfiança.
Há muitos segredos de família escondidos e um possível homicídio para resolver.
O final é mesmo surpreendente e sem pontas soltas.
O que menos gostei foi da forma de ser de Lizzy. Irritou-me um bocadinho.

[Cláudia Oliveira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super inesperado, mas o início foi muito repetitivo e bem calminho (às vezes um pouco secante mesmo). Parecia que não acontecia nada.

A segunda metade lá foi melhor e já prendeu um pouco, mas adivinhei o plot twist final… foi muito previsível.

[ELisabete Marques · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Kendra Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother of the Bride had me hook, line, and sinker from the very beginning! Who doesn't love a tense family drama based around one of most stressful (to plan) days in someone's life, add the possibility of a dead groom to the mix and you've got a winner! All of the characters were so well rounded and played out so well and the pacing felt like I was running a race, things just kept happening that made me want to keep reading. That ENDING...ugh it was so good.

Thank you to Netgalley and Samantha Hayes for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Mother Of The Bride' by Samantha Hayes.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Samantha Hayes, Bookouture publishers, Bookouture Audio, Hachette UK, and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 26th March 2024.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have also read 'The Trapped Wife', 'The Engagement' and 'The Inheritance'. I would highly recommend them all!
This novel consists of a prologue, 58 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THOSE TWISTS!!! MIND BLOWN MUCH!!!
Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.

I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, drama, suspense, lies, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see them coming at all!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Samantha!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you managed it big time!!! What an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with shocks, suspense, secrets, drama, lies, family, tension, deceit and family. In this fantastic book we meet Elizabeth, more commonly known as Lizzie and Owen. After a whirlwind romance and discovering that Lizzie is having an unplanned pregnancy they are now also engaged. Lizzie is dreading telling her controlling mother but after some financial difficulties it isn't just the news she needs to tell her but also to ask for her help. The last family wedding was her sister's Shelley where she was meant to be marrying Rafe but it ended in a tragedy with Rafe being found dead the day of the wedding. Will Lizzie and Owen be able to get through their wedding without any disasters or tragedy? What really did happen to Rafe? Will Lizzie's mother take control of all plans? Well, you'll just have to grab your copy of this absolutely gripping page turner to find out for yourselves!!!! Filled with wedding plans, drugs, a controlling mother, death, suicide, falls, lies, twists, complex characters and an explosive ending you would have never seen coming you will not be able to put this book down!! With Sam's absolutely amazing evocative writing skills and Tamsin's brilliant narration I was walking around with my earphones constantly in while I was doing the washing, cleaning the house and driving around. When I was listening to it sitting down I was on the edge of my seat and I found myself biting my nails throughout!! This really is an absolutely compelling, addictive, action past and speedy psychological thriller that i devoured in one sitting as will anyone who picks it up!! The storyline is multilayered and along with wedding plans there is Lizzies dad in a mental care facility, the search for the brother of a boy who committed suicide after a teacher taught them the wrong syllabus, stolen money and a police investigation into the death of Rafe, each with their own twists and turns to give you whiplash!! It really is like being on a rollercoaster reading this book as it will have you speeding in one direction then a twist and a turn and your shooting off in a completely different one at the speed of light!! I thought I had it all worked out at one point but nope, I was completely wrong. Please do not let my partner know that I said that though as of course, I am never actually wrong!!! It was intriguing to see the dynamics between the characters which were intricate and complex. Another gripping and addictive storyline from this fantastic author not to be missed! There were at least not one, not two but several explosive bombshells I did not see coming!!! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The storyline is scarily realistic and what happens in the book. Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!!

This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Tamsin Kennard who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Tamsin did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Samantha but also to listening to more books narrated by Tamsin! I have previously listened to 'Her First Child' by Sheryl Browne, 'The Suspect' by Kathryn Croft, 'Love You Gone' by Rona Halsall, 'My Daughters Boyfriend' and 'Her Husband's Mistake' by Daniel Hurst that were all also narrated by Tamsin Kennard and I would highly recommend listening to or reading them all as it they re other fantastic page turners from other great authors!! I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity. I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Samantha but also to listening to more books narrated by Tamsin.
I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. this is one of those books where how I felt about each of the characters changed throughout the storyline so I wont go into what I thought about them as I don't want to run the risk of spoiling the storyline for future readers. Sam and Tamsin both do an amazing job of portraying the individual characters personalities with their fantastic writing and narrative skills really bringing each of them to life in front of your eyes and you feel like you can reach out and touch them. I had no idea who to trust and who were hiding secrets, especially as it seems that every one of the characters had something to hide. There was definitely mixed feelings with some of them and some major shocks to be had!! Regardless of whether I loved them or hated them they all worked perfectly together to create an absolutely gripping and tension packed storyline!! If you want to know more you will just have to grab your copy now!! All in all a great eclectic mix of unique characters that worked perfectly with this storyline.
This is the EXACT reason that you are one of my favourite authors Samantha!! Bring on the next one!!! I cannot wait!!! Here's to your next success 🥂

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue of Samantha's 'Date Night' which promises to be another explosive page turner and one I am looking forward to reading myself!!

Overall an absolutely heart racing, nerve wracking, compelling and unputdownable addictive psychological thriller!!!

382 pages/ 9 hours 51 minutes

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited, £9.99 in paperback and £16 for the audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

#MotherOfTheBride #SamanthaHayes #TamsinKennard #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous #HachetteUK #NetGalley #BookReview #BlogTour #BooksOnTour #Goodreads #NetGalley #Amazon #AmazonKindle #Bookstagram #Bookblogger #KindleUnlimited #BookoutureAudio #Audible #Audiobook #KindleUnlimited

@MotherOfTheBride @SamanthaHayes @TamsinKennard @Bookouture @BookoutureAnonymous @HachetteUK @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Goodreads @Netgalley @Amazon @AmazonKindle @Bookstagram @BookBlogger @KindleUnlimited @BookoutureAudio @Audible @Audiobook @KindleUnlimited


https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...

https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...

https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...

https://mobile.twitter.com/kcmw86

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/a...

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother of the Bride
By: Samantha Hayes
5 👰‍♀️👰‍♀️👰‍♀️👰‍♀️👰‍♀️

I was absolutely invested and obsessed with the Mother of the Bride and her daughter. When I say that EVERYONE had a secret, that is JUST the beginning. One heck of a roller coaster of a ride!
👰‍♀️
After a short engagement Lizzie and Owen finding themselves staying with her mother. Her mother is controlling, to say the least and Lizzies childhood was bumpy because of her mother and her moods. Her father and sister are close by but not living at their home. Lizzies sister’s fiancé was murdered at her wedding a year ago, so things are intense.
👰‍♀️
Strange things start happening to Owen and Lizzie’s best friend, and she is fearful that someone close to her is involved! Will Owen and Lizzie make it to the alter? Is someone planning a repeat of last year?

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here comes the bride...and here comes the mother of the bride!

Lizzie has returned from a six month working hiatus in Dubai with a fiancé in tow. She met Owen at her employer's pool party when she had inadvertently stepped back into the pool. Owen jumped right in to save her citing she already had his attention, she didn't need to nearly drown to get it.

Now they are back in London having stopped at her friend Peter's place for the duration until they got the money together for a place of their own. But they were nearing outstaying their welcome when Lizzie took a phone call from her mother who then invited them to come and stay with her. Having grown up in the same house and then escaping when she was 18 to university, Lizzie couldn't think of anything worse. She simply did not want to risk her mother getting her claws into Owen and ruin this chance of happiness.

Arriving at the Cotswold house, adorned in roses and blooms galore, Lizzie grit her teeth and bared the two days they were to stay. But then the fates aligned, or maybe conspired, to keep them there when Peter told them not to return and subsequently blocked her. Lizzie was stunned. But she had more pressing concerns. Her mother had discovered their engagement and thus took control of everything, organising their entire wedding for two weeks' time.

But at the back of her mind, Lizzie remembered the outcome of her elder sister Shelley's wedding the year before when her groom Rafe was found dead in their kitchen before the ceremony. Lizzie never told anyone but she found her mother's corsage beside his body. She had hidden it and intended to confront her mother about it later but never did.

Did Owen have a similar fate ahead of him?

With thoughts of poisoned berries, accidents on the stairs, of being locked in the cellar to the mournful strains of Mozart's death requiem, Lizzie can't be sure that they are safe staying with her mother.

This tale of a complex and rather dysfunctional family is an addictive read from start to ‌finish. Sylvia, the mother of the bride, is someone you really love to hate but then there are added complexities to her character also. And I just loved the setting of this one...the beautiful picturesque Cotswolds. It almost felt like an episode of Midsomer Murders!

I went into this book knowing that not all is as it seems...I mean why would it be? The title, the description...it was all a little too convenient. So it's not surprising I had the big twist figured out before the reveal. But it didn't ruin my enjoyment of this stunner of a thriller. The thrill is in the ride and Samantha Hayes has given us just that. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.

I would like to thank #SamanthaHayes, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #MotherOfTheBride in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.