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Tangled Roots
Twelve years ago, Clark Delaine drowned at his lakehouse. The police called it an accident. They were wrong. Now, an anonymous letter threatens to expose the truth and the five strangers who've been keeping it buried.
As their lives collide, dark secrets surface about the man everyone thought they knew. But in a story where no one is telling the whole truth, the biggest shock is yet to come.
Some secrets don't stay buried. They grow roots.
This novel contains dark, mature themes including abuse, violence and trauma. Reader discretion advised.
As their lives collide, dark secrets surface about the man everyone thought they knew. But in a story where no one is telling the whole truth, the biggest shock is yet to come.
Some secrets don't stay buried. They grow roots.
This novel contains dark, mature themes including abuse, violence and trauma. Reader discretion advised.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2026
About the author
Candace Nicole
8 books22 followersCandace Nicole is an indie author of contemporary romance and psychological thrillers. She writes stories built on complex characters, layered secrets and tension that stays with you after the last page.
Her catalog includes Made to Love, Made for You, Made by Us, A Sunday Affair: Delilah's Deception and Tangled Roots, Book 1 of The Root Series. Based in Central Virginia.
Love, lies and everything in between.
Her catalog includes Made to Love, Made for You, Made by Us, A Sunday Affair: Delilah's Deception and Tangled Roots, Book 1 of The Root Series. Based in Central Virginia.
Love, lies and everything in between.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 23, 2026
Holy freaking shit!! This thriller is EVERYTHING a thriller should be and needs to be. Told from 5 POVs, it details a scheme much larger than I originally thought. I dont want to spoil or say much as anything for reasons but I think anyone who loves thrillers will love this. The cover drew me in but the story and the writing kept me guessing
May 15, 2026
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tangled Roots by Candace Nicole
Release date: May 15, 2026
First of all, thank you for allowing me to read this story and emotionally crawl headfirst into those tangled roots like an absolute idiot with zero self-preservation skills.
I want to start with a quote from the epilogue because honestly… it perfectly captures the entire feeling of this book:
“They say the truth will set you free. But some truths are more dangerous than lies.”
Yeah. That. Exactly that.
This is one of those stories where the title fits so perfectly it almost feels like a warning label. And I should’ve listened. Because somewhere between chapter one and my rapidly declining emotional stability, I got completely swallowed whole by this story.
The lies in this book don’t just exist. They breathe. They spread. They crawl under everyone’s skin until nobody feels trustworthy anymore — not even the people trying to do the right thing. Every character carried something heavy, something cracked, something rotten underneath the surface, and you can feel it in every conversation, every silence, every tiny detail hidden between the lines.
And honestly? I was rooting for almost everyone while simultaneously wanting to shake at least one character like a broken vending machine. I’m not naming names because I refuse to rob anyone else of that deeply personal experience of yelling “ARE YOU FOR REAL?” at a fictional human at 11PM.
Now the dangerous thing about books with this many POVs and this many moving pieces is repetition. And yes, I did feel that sometimes. Certain moments repeated information in ways where my brain basically went: “Okay babe, I got it three emotional breakdowns ago.” Some perspectives added incredible depth, but others felt like they lingered a little too long in places that didn’t need quite that much attention. That’s honestly the reason this sits at four stars for me instead of five.
But here’s the thing:
I could not stop reading.
Because from the very beginning there was something lurking underneath all of it. One secret nobody fully touched. One truth sitting in the dark like a loaded weapon waiting for someone stupid enough to turn the light on.
And when it finally came out?
I genuinely almost wished it hadn’t.
Not because it was bad.
Because it made my stomach completely flip inside out.
It made me angry. The kind of angry where you just sit there staring into space for a minute reconsidering humanity as a whole. So… congratulations to this book for successfully ruining my evening and my blood pressure.
This story is dark in a way that sneaks up on you. It’s about pain, manipulation, betrayal, power, and the horrifying damage people can do when they know exactly where your weak spots are. It’s about becoming a shadow inside other people’s suffering and carrying pieces of it with you long after you stop reading.
So if you like stories filled with secrets layered on top of secrets, morally messy characters, emotional damage wrapped in pretty lies, and the constant feeling that everything is about to explode at any second… read this.
Just be prepared for the possibility that you may want to throw your Kindle across the room while also desperately wanting to hug half the cast afterward.
Which honestly feels emotionally confusing, but here we are.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tangled Roots by Candace Nicole
Release date: May 15, 2026
First of all, thank you for allowing me to read this story and emotionally crawl headfirst into those tangled roots like an absolute idiot with zero self-preservation skills.
I want to start with a quote from the epilogue because honestly… it perfectly captures the entire feeling of this book:
“They say the truth will set you free. But some truths are more dangerous than lies.”
Yeah. That. Exactly that.
This is one of those stories where the title fits so perfectly it almost feels like a warning label. And I should’ve listened. Because somewhere between chapter one and my rapidly declining emotional stability, I got completely swallowed whole by this story.
The lies in this book don’t just exist. They breathe. They spread. They crawl under everyone’s skin until nobody feels trustworthy anymore — not even the people trying to do the right thing. Every character carried something heavy, something cracked, something rotten underneath the surface, and you can feel it in every conversation, every silence, every tiny detail hidden between the lines.
And honestly? I was rooting for almost everyone while simultaneously wanting to shake at least one character like a broken vending machine. I’m not naming names because I refuse to rob anyone else of that deeply personal experience of yelling “ARE YOU FOR REAL?” at a fictional human at 11PM.
Now the dangerous thing about books with this many POVs and this many moving pieces is repetition. And yes, I did feel that sometimes. Certain moments repeated information in ways where my brain basically went: “Okay babe, I got it three emotional breakdowns ago.” Some perspectives added incredible depth, but others felt like they lingered a little too long in places that didn’t need quite that much attention. That’s honestly the reason this sits at four stars for me instead of five.
But here’s the thing:
I could not stop reading.
Because from the very beginning there was something lurking underneath all of it. One secret nobody fully touched. One truth sitting in the dark like a loaded weapon waiting for someone stupid enough to turn the light on.
And when it finally came out?
I genuinely almost wished it hadn’t.
Not because it was bad.
Because it made my stomach completely flip inside out.
It made me angry. The kind of angry where you just sit there staring into space for a minute reconsidering humanity as a whole. So… congratulations to this book for successfully ruining my evening and my blood pressure.
This story is dark in a way that sneaks up on you. It’s about pain, manipulation, betrayal, power, and the horrifying damage people can do when they know exactly where your weak spots are. It’s about becoming a shadow inside other people’s suffering and carrying pieces of it with you long after you stop reading.
So if you like stories filled with secrets layered on top of secrets, morally messy characters, emotional damage wrapped in pretty lies, and the constant feeling that everything is about to explode at any second… read this.
Just be prepared for the possibility that you may want to throw your Kindle across the room while also desperately wanting to hug half the cast afterward.
Which honestly feels emotionally confusing, but here we are.
August 23, 2026
A Thriller That Doubles as a Study in Human Behavior
★★★★★
Some books entertain you. This one implicates you.
Tangled Roots opens on a death everyone agreed to call an accident, and then spends the next two hundred pages proving how much work it takes to keep an agreement like that intact. Candace Nicole has written a psychological thriller that earns the first word in that phrase — the suspense here is not manufactured through chases or cliffhangers, but through the far more unsettling mechanics of what ordinary people do when telling the truth would cost them something.
Chapter thirteen is where the book stopped being a good read for me and became something I had to sit with. Without giving anything away: it is a quiet conversation in a kitchen, no violence, no revelation shouted across a room — just one character forced to name the thing he has spent his entire adult life circling. It is one of the most honest portraits of complicity I have encountered in fiction. I read it twice.
The characters are drawn with real discipline. Anika carries a weight she never asked for and never earned, and I felt for her from the first page to the last. Joseph I never fully trusted, which I suspect is the point — the author makes you keep re-evaluating him, and every re-evaluation costs you something. Raymond unsettled me every time he appeared. That is a difficult effect to sustain across a novel, and Nicole sustains it.
The ending is strong and genuinely unanticipated. Not a trick, not a sleight of hand — an ending that reframes what came before and holds up when you go back and check the work. That is the hardest kind to write.
What impresses me most is the range on display. Candace Nicole built her readership in contemporary romance, and this is a full turn into psychological suspense executed with complete confidence. She is a talented writer who appears capable of whatever she sets her mind to.
I recommend this beyond the thriller shelf. Detectives, psychologists, behavioral analysts, and anyone studying human decision-making will find a case study here dressed as entertainment — one that examines guilt, denial, bystander behavior, and the long half-life of a secret with unusual precision. It belongs on college reading lists.
Read it. Then think about what you would have done.
★★★★★
Some books entertain you. This one implicates you.
Tangled Roots opens on a death everyone agreed to call an accident, and then spends the next two hundred pages proving how much work it takes to keep an agreement like that intact. Candace Nicole has written a psychological thriller that earns the first word in that phrase — the suspense here is not manufactured through chases or cliffhangers, but through the far more unsettling mechanics of what ordinary people do when telling the truth would cost them something.
Chapter thirteen is where the book stopped being a good read for me and became something I had to sit with. Without giving anything away: it is a quiet conversation in a kitchen, no violence, no revelation shouted across a room — just one character forced to name the thing he has spent his entire adult life circling. It is one of the most honest portraits of complicity I have encountered in fiction. I read it twice.
The characters are drawn with real discipline. Anika carries a weight she never asked for and never earned, and I felt for her from the first page to the last. Joseph I never fully trusted, which I suspect is the point — the author makes you keep re-evaluating him, and every re-evaluation costs you something. Raymond unsettled me every time he appeared. That is a difficult effect to sustain across a novel, and Nicole sustains it.
The ending is strong and genuinely unanticipated. Not a trick, not a sleight of hand — an ending that reframes what came before and holds up when you go back and check the work. That is the hardest kind to write.
What impresses me most is the range on display. Candace Nicole built her readership in contemporary romance, and this is a full turn into psychological suspense executed with complete confidence. She is a talented writer who appears capable of whatever she sets her mind to.
I recommend this beyond the thriller shelf. Detectives, psychologists, behavioral analysts, and anyone studying human decision-making will find a case study here dressed as entertainment — one that examines guilt, denial, bystander behavior, and the long half-life of a secret with unusual precision. It belongs on college reading lists.
Read it. Then think about what you would have done.
September 25, 2026
Five stars.
I went into Tangled Roots knowing this wasn't my usual kind of read. There’s no spice and no dark-romance relationship driving the story. Instead, Candice Nicole gives us suspense, family secrets, trauma, morally complicated choices and multiple lives connected by one central figure: Clark Delane.
And I couldn't put it down.
The story begins with his murder, but rather than turning into a simple whodunit, Tangled Roots becomes an exploration of everything surrounding that death. We move between different characters and gradually learn what they witnessed, what they knew, what they buried and how their individual histories connect.
The title couldn't be more appropriate. These characters aren't conveniently thrown together for the sake of the plot. Their connections feel deliberately and meticulously constructed. Candice allows us to know them individually before gradually exposing the roots running beneath all their stories.
I especially appreciated the moral complexity. There are characters who genuinely didn't know what was happening, characters who suspected something but accepted comfortable explanations, people who witnessed things and remained silent, and survivors who simply wanted to bury the past and live beyond it. The story doesn't treat all forms of silence as though they are morally equivalent.
Raymond's journey particularly stood out to me. His desire to understand the biological father he never knew eventually forces him to reconcile the absence he felt growing up with the devastating reality of what that man's presence meant for others.
And just when the pieces finally begin fitting together, the ending widens the scope of everything we've learned. Suddenly, what appeared to be the central story feels like the entrance to something much larger.
The pacing worked. The suspense worked. The character development worked. Most importantly, the reveals felt earned.
Candice Nicole planted a seed in Tangled Roots and made damn sure I wanted to dig into Deeper Roots.
Five stars from a reader who didn't expect this book to grab her nearly as hard as it did.
I went into Tangled Roots knowing this wasn't my usual kind of read. There’s no spice and no dark-romance relationship driving the story. Instead, Candice Nicole gives us suspense, family secrets, trauma, morally complicated choices and multiple lives connected by one central figure: Clark Delane.
And I couldn't put it down.
The story begins with his murder, but rather than turning into a simple whodunit, Tangled Roots becomes an exploration of everything surrounding that death. We move between different characters and gradually learn what they witnessed, what they knew, what they buried and how their individual histories connect.
The title couldn't be more appropriate. These characters aren't conveniently thrown together for the sake of the plot. Their connections feel deliberately and meticulously constructed. Candice allows us to know them individually before gradually exposing the roots running beneath all their stories.
I especially appreciated the moral complexity. There are characters who genuinely didn't know what was happening, characters who suspected something but accepted comfortable explanations, people who witnessed things and remained silent, and survivors who simply wanted to bury the past and live beyond it. The story doesn't treat all forms of silence as though they are morally equivalent.
Raymond's journey particularly stood out to me. His desire to understand the biological father he never knew eventually forces him to reconcile the absence he felt growing up with the devastating reality of what that man's presence meant for others.
And just when the pieces finally begin fitting together, the ending widens the scope of everything we've learned. Suddenly, what appeared to be the central story feels like the entrance to something much larger.
The pacing worked. The suspense worked. The character development worked. Most importantly, the reveals felt earned.
Candice Nicole planted a seed in Tangled Roots and made damn sure I wanted to dig into Deeper Roots.
Five stars from a reader who didn't expect this book to grab her nearly as hard as it did.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Disclosure: I received an eARC of Tangled Roots in exchange for an honest review.
How does an author transition from romance to a thriller this compelling, this dark, and this utterly skin-crawling?
Tangled Roots is a masterfully executed descent into the lives of five strangers bound by a twelve-year-old lie. It is a story of powerful people who believe they are untouchable, only to realize that secrets don't just stay buried—they grow roots that eventually strangle everything in their path.
The Narrative Impact:
This book left me fighting my own gut. Candace Nicole isn't playing around with the dark label; there were moments where I genuinely felt a physical reaction to the depravity and the power dynamics on display. The author has woven together a cast of characters that range from hauntingly deep to absolutely disgusting. Some of these figures wield control like gods, and the psychological weight of their actions is staggering.
The Diagnostic:
The pacing is relentless, and the twisting and turning required to keep these many threads connected while maintaining a constant sense of dread is a brilliant feat of writing.
While the resolution isn't neatly conclusive, it fits the messy, brutal reality of the world Nicole has built, as well as the world we live in today.
It is gold—vile, brilliant, and terrifying gold.
The Verdict:
Please read the trigger warnings carefully. This is not a light thriller; it is an immersive, traumatic, and brilliant exploration of the darkness people hide.
I am both eager and terrified for the next installment.
How does an author transition from romance to a thriller this compelling, this dark, and this utterly skin-crawling?
Tangled Roots is a masterfully executed descent into the lives of five strangers bound by a twelve-year-old lie. It is a story of powerful people who believe they are untouchable, only to realize that secrets don't just stay buried—they grow roots that eventually strangle everything in their path.
The Narrative Impact:
This book left me fighting my own gut. Candace Nicole isn't playing around with the dark label; there were moments where I genuinely felt a physical reaction to the depravity and the power dynamics on display. The author has woven together a cast of characters that range from hauntingly deep to absolutely disgusting. Some of these figures wield control like gods, and the psychological weight of their actions is staggering.
The Diagnostic:
The pacing is relentless, and the twisting and turning required to keep these many threads connected while maintaining a constant sense of dread is a brilliant feat of writing.
While the resolution isn't neatly conclusive, it fits the messy, brutal reality of the world Nicole has built, as well as the world we live in today.
It is gold—vile, brilliant, and terrifying gold.
The Verdict:
Please read the trigger warnings carefully. This is not a light thriller; it is an immersive, traumatic, and brilliant exploration of the darkness people hide.
I am both eager and terrified for the next installment.
May 17, 2026
Tangled Roots pulled me in much faster than I expected. From the opening chapters, there’s this quiet tension running underneath everything, the kind that makes you lean in because you can feel something bigger lurking beneath the surface. Candace Nicole has a way of writing atmosphere that feels both eerie and intimate, and it made the story incredibly easy to sink into.
What I loved most was how unpredictable it was. Just when I thought I understood where the story was heading, it twisted in a direction I didn’t see coming. The reveals are timed well, the pacing stays steady, and the emotional weight behind the characters’ secrets gives the story real depth. It’s dark in places, but never gratuitous, the themes feel purposeful and handled with care.
The characters themselves are layered and flawed in a way that feels human. Their choices, their guilt, their fear, it all ties back into the central mystery in a way that makes the story feel cohesive and grounded. Even when the plot surprised me, the emotional logic stayed intact, which made the twists hit even harder.
Overall, this was a genuinely engaging read. It’s atmospheric, twisty, and emotionally sharp, and I’m really grateful I had the chance to read it early. A solid four‑star read that kept me turning pages and thinking about the characters long after I finished.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What I loved most was how unpredictable it was. Just when I thought I understood where the story was heading, it twisted in a direction I didn’t see coming. The reveals are timed well, the pacing stays steady, and the emotional weight behind the characters’ secrets gives the story real depth. It’s dark in places, but never gratuitous, the themes feel purposeful and handled with care.
The characters themselves are layered and flawed in a way that feels human. Their choices, their guilt, their fear, it all ties back into the central mystery in a way that makes the story feel cohesive and grounded. Even when the plot surprised me, the emotional logic stayed intact, which made the twists hit even harder.
Overall, this was a genuinely engaging read. It’s atmospheric, twisty, and emotionally sharp, and I’m really grateful I had the chance to read it early. A solid four‑star read that kept me turning pages and thinking about the characters long after I finished.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book absolutely sank its claws into me from the very beginning. I could not stop turning the pages.
What I loved most is that this isn’t a story packed with nonstop twists and turns just for shock value. Instead, it slowly burns its way into your brain and your heart. The story lingers with you long after you finish the last page, and the emotional weight of it hits deeper because of that.
One of my favorite parts was watching Mara grow throughout the story. Seeing her become stronger, more determined, and truly step into herself made the entire journey so satisfying. Her character development felt natural and powerful, and I was rooting for her the whole time.
And BETHANY??? The way her storyline came to fruition completely blindsided me. I literally sat there saying “WTF” because I did NOT see that coming. That reveal hit hard and changed everything I thought I knew.
Between the emotional depth and characters that feel painfully real, this book delivered in every way for me. Now I’m sitting here desperately craving book 2 because there’s no way I’m emotionally recovered from that ending yet.
What I loved most is that this isn’t a story packed with nonstop twists and turns just for shock value. Instead, it slowly burns its way into your brain and your heart. The story lingers with you long after you finish the last page, and the emotional weight of it hits deeper because of that.
One of my favorite parts was watching Mara grow throughout the story. Seeing her become stronger, more determined, and truly step into herself made the entire journey so satisfying. Her character development felt natural and powerful, and I was rooting for her the whole time.
And BETHANY??? The way her storyline came to fruition completely blindsided me. I literally sat there saying “WTF” because I did NOT see that coming. That reveal hit hard and changed everything I thought I knew.
Between the emotional depth and characters that feel painfully real, this book delivered in every way for me. Now I’m sitting here desperately craving book 2 because there’s no way I’m emotionally recovered from that ending yet.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I dove into this story and took notes at the start and then next thing you know I was just consumed. I didn't consume the book, it consumed me. I loved how everything unfolded in this story and it really keeps you engrossed in what is going on. The truths. The lies. Once I thought I knew everything...... I learned that I definitely did not. I didn't see certain parts coming and the way the book ended I need the next one.
I loved seeing how everything connected and having my own little red string murder board in my head to connect all the dots of everyone and everything. The characters were wonderfully done and definitely keep you invested in their story.
If you love books where you don't know who's telling the truth, who's behind it all, is full of emotional depth that is going to make you attached to the characters, and making you say what several different ways and staring at your wall waiting for the next book I'd recommend giving this one a go. I thought I knew what was happening in the end..... I didn't.
I loved seeing how everything connected and having my own little red string murder board in my head to connect all the dots of everyone and everything. The characters were wonderfully done and definitely keep you invested in their story.
If you love books where you don't know who's telling the truth, who's behind it all, is full of emotional depth that is going to make you attached to the characters, and making you say what several different ways and staring at your wall waiting for the next book I'd recommend giving this one a go. I thought I knew what was happening in the end..... I didn't.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Alright folks so this book takes you on a journey! I at one point had to go back and reread about relationships because my brain wasn’t picking up on the familial relationships, so that got me lost in the sauce for a moment. But once I got everyone figured out, I was thoroughly invested! I enjoyed how quickly we learned things out and it wasn’t drawn on for ages but I was still second guessing what was happening, and that’s perfect for me! And the TWIST! I can genuinely say I wasn’t expecting that at all, and I audibly said out loud to my dog “hold the phone, what’s happening?!” There was a plot line I was hoping wouldn’t be bypassed and very glad it wasn’t, it answered all relevant questions for THIS book and I imagine the other questions I have will be answered in the next book. As they pertain more to that story. I will be along for the journey. Thank you for the opportunity to be an ARC Reader!
May 18, 2026
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of the book.
I thought this was going to be more of a murder mystery of what really happened the night Clark Delaine drowned at his lakehouse. What really happened is explained early on (I believe by chapter 11) so I was left wondering what the rest of the book was going to be about. The book does touch on heavy themes (thank you to the author for putting the trigger warnings) and easily reflected what's going on today with the Epstein files. The only unrealistic part for me was that the bad guys actually get punished for their crimes unlike those involved with the Epstein files.
Minus one star because there were too many characters to keep track of and their involvement in that night and their relationship to each other. But the author does set up the last chapter and the epilogue for a second book and leaves us knowing the story isn't over yet.
I thought this was going to be more of a murder mystery of what really happened the night Clark Delaine drowned at his lakehouse. What really happened is explained early on (I believe by chapter 11) so I was left wondering what the rest of the book was going to be about. The book does touch on heavy themes (thank you to the author for putting the trigger warnings) and easily reflected what's going on today with the Epstein files. The only unrealistic part for me was that the bad guys actually get punished for their crimes unlike those involved with the Epstein files.
Minus one star because there were too many characters to keep track of and their involvement in that night and their relationship to each other. But the author does set up the last chapter and the epilogue for a second book and leaves us knowing the story isn't over yet.
May 18, 2026
Arc review
Wow. This book was amazing. There are alot of characters and it got hard to keep track in the beginning but as the story unfolded, it got easier. This story deals with heavy topics, so please take care if you read it. I personally had to put it down a couple times due to how relatable some of the things in the story were to me.
The way this book was a slow burn, its intense, supsenful, devastating, with twists and turns I didn't see coming.
I didn't know whether to root for all the characters, or which ones to not root for.
I liked how the story displayed how the justice system works when victims try to come forward, because as much as it should be cut and dry, its not always.
All the characters had secrets and the writing in the story kept you guessing until the end.
If you like your stories to keep you engaged, on the edge of your seat, and making you question absolutely everything about the story long after you finished, check this one out.
Wow. This book was amazing. There are alot of characters and it got hard to keep track in the beginning but as the story unfolded, it got easier. This story deals with heavy topics, so please take care if you read it. I personally had to put it down a couple times due to how relatable some of the things in the story were to me.
The way this book was a slow burn, its intense, supsenful, devastating, with twists and turns I didn't see coming.
I didn't know whether to root for all the characters, or which ones to not root for.
I liked how the story displayed how the justice system works when victims try to come forward, because as much as it should be cut and dry, its not always.
All the characters had secrets and the writing in the story kept you guessing until the end.
If you like your stories to keep you engaged, on the edge of your seat, and making you question absolutely everything about the story long after you finished, check this one out.
June 17, 2026
Tangled Roots is riveting, trilling story with topics of a darker nature.
What I thought was just going to be a regular murder cover up story was so much deeper and darker than that.
The story is 5 strangers bound together to a 12 year old incident because each person played a part in it, whether knowingly or unknowingly. The story is shocking, twisty and unpredictable.
The only reason I did not give this 5 stars was because... there's so many things happening and so many people involved, it's hard to keep track of. A story like this, I'd need to take the time to sit down, take notes, and annotate just to try to keep everything together and I was not able to do that this time around, as I read this on a trip. I love that the story is so layered and so are the characters, but it is a lot here.
Aside from that, I think this story is great. It's a compelling, addictive read and I definitely recommend giving this one a read!
What I thought was just going to be a regular murder cover up story was so much deeper and darker than that.
The story is 5 strangers bound together to a 12 year old incident because each person played a part in it, whether knowingly or unknowingly. The story is shocking, twisty and unpredictable.
The only reason I did not give this 5 stars was because... there's so many things happening and so many people involved, it's hard to keep track of. A story like this, I'd need to take the time to sit down, take notes, and annotate just to try to keep everything together and I was not able to do that this time around, as I read this on a trip. I love that the story is so layered and so are the characters, but it is a lot here.
Aside from that, I think this story is great. It's a compelling, addictive read and I definitely recommend giving this one a read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This Psychological Thriller was impeccable! The plot twist, the lies, the secrets… wow! I found myself going “what?!?” In the best ways as I started getting to the end of the book! The pacing is great! It keeps your attention throughout the story! The way the author describes her scenes, you feel like you’re in the book! The multiple POV was a great touch to the book because I loved the different personalities that each of the characters had and I loved trying to figure out what was going to happen next! If you love puzzles and psychological thrillers, you’ll love this book!! There are definitely some triggers that need to be reviewed before reading, so be sure to review those first! This is ranked in my top five psychological thrillers in 2025-2026!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh. My. God.
This book was all I expected and so much more! From the mystery, to the friendships and the secrets, Tangled Roots was absolutely perfection. The epilogue and that one Bethany chapter (you'll know when you see it) had me shook and waiting for the next book to find out more about the story. All the characters had their complications and growth, but no one more than Nina and Mara and I loved every minute of their chapters. The female characters in this story all have their own roles in the story, and all of them are wonderful characters with amazing plots. Even Joseph and Raymond were interesting characters that made you wholly curious about them.
Loved the book and I absolutely commend the author for writing such compelling characters. Cannot wait for the next book!
This book was all I expected and so much more! From the mystery, to the friendships and the secrets, Tangled Roots was absolutely perfection. The epilogue and that one Bethany chapter (you'll know when you see it) had me shook and waiting for the next book to find out more about the story. All the characters had their complications and growth, but no one more than Nina and Mara and I loved every minute of their chapters. The female characters in this story all have their own roles in the story, and all of them are wonderful characters with amazing plots. Even Joseph and Raymond were interesting characters that made you wholly curious about them.
Loved the book and I absolutely commend the author for writing such compelling characters. Cannot wait for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow! Tangled Roots is a dark, captivating, thrilling, amazing story! It definitely deserves 5 stars! I was sitting on the edge of my seat, biting my nails with every page turn! I could not put this book down!
This story takes you on a thrilling journey through multiple characters' dark pasts and how they are all connected. It's like putting a puzzle together with someone guiding you to put the pieces in the right place at the right time, but that someone is also holding onto some key pieces to keep the whole picture from being seen... Yet.
This story is beautifully written! With every word I read, I can see and feel what's happening throughout the story. I can't wait to read more in this series!
Thank you Candace Nicole and Candace W. (PA) for including me as an ARC reader!
This story takes you on a thrilling journey through multiple characters' dark pasts and how they are all connected. It's like putting a puzzle together with someone guiding you to put the pieces in the right place at the right time, but that someone is also holding onto some key pieces to keep the whole picture from being seen... Yet.
This story is beautifully written! With every word I read, I can see and feel what's happening throughout the story. I can't wait to read more in this series!
Thank you Candace Nicole and Candace W. (PA) for including me as an ARC reader!
May 17, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)
Tangled Roots completely wrecked me in the best way possible. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, another jaw-dropping twist hit and changed everything. The emotional depth in this story is gut-wrenching, and the characters felt so raw and real that I couldn’t stop thinking about them even after finishing the last page.
The pacing keeps you hooked from beginning to end, layering secrets, tension, and heartbreak so perfectly that putting it down was nearly impossible. Every chapter seemed to raise the stakes, and the twists just kept coming right up until the very end. If you love emotional stories packed with suspense, drama, and shocking reveals, this one absolutely delivers. I’m already excited for book 2!
Tangled Roots completely wrecked me in the best way possible. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, another jaw-dropping twist hit and changed everything. The emotional depth in this story is gut-wrenching, and the characters felt so raw and real that I couldn’t stop thinking about them even after finishing the last page.
The pacing keeps you hooked from beginning to end, layering secrets, tension, and heartbreak so perfectly that putting it down was nearly impossible. Every chapter seemed to raise the stakes, and the twists just kept coming right up until the very end. If you love emotional stories packed with suspense, drama, and shocking reveals, this one absolutely delivers. I’m already excited for book 2!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received as an ARC from the author this is my honest review.
Hold onto your seat with this psychological thriller debut! WOW!
Unputdownable. Instantly hooked, pulled right into this story of deception, lies, and secrets.
This does have dark content, be sure to check your triggers before diving in.
What a different way to tell a story!
Descriptive and emotional writing.
The multiple POVs gave it depth, I actually enjoyed seeing from all different perspectives. Kept me guessing, that's for sure.
Talk about found family... and character revelations... I was not prepared.
Definitely looking forward to book two of this series.
Hold onto your seat with this psychological thriller debut! WOW!
Unputdownable. Instantly hooked, pulled right into this story of deception, lies, and secrets.
This does have dark content, be sure to check your triggers before diving in.
What a different way to tell a story!
Descriptive and emotional writing.
The multiple POVs gave it depth, I actually enjoyed seeing from all different perspectives. Kept me guessing, that's for sure.
Talk about found family... and character revelations... I was not prepared.
Definitely looking forward to book two of this series.
May 15, 2026
I received a free ARC from the author in exchange for my honest reviews.
This was so intense!
I will admit it took me a few times of going back to understand the relationships between the characters but once I got used to it I flew through the pages. Despite their flaws, I couldn’t help but root for most characters.
My favorite part of any thriller is trying to guess the ending as I go and I can confidently say I had no idea where this was going. I audibly gasped, felt my heart racing, and even said “what the f?” a few times! Every chapter was so unpredictable I felt my theories changing constantly.
I can’t wait to see what else Candace Nicole has in store for this series!
This was so intense!
I will admit it took me a few times of going back to understand the relationships between the characters but once I got used to it I flew through the pages. Despite their flaws, I couldn’t help but root for most characters.
My favorite part of any thriller is trying to guess the ending as I go and I can confidently say I had no idea where this was going. I audibly gasped, felt my heart racing, and even said “what the f?” a few times! Every chapter was so unpredictable I felt my theories changing constantly.
I can’t wait to see what else Candace Nicole has in store for this series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This psychological thriller will keep you engaged from start to finish! I ate it up!
Some darker topics are discussed so be sure to check the trigger warnings.
The twists and turns, the betrayal and lies. You follow the path of 5 people on a journey to unbury the truth.
They all saw something that night, no one told the truth. Bounded by trauma and 12 years of lies. Now they work to untangle the lies that have twisted and buried themselves deep like roots.
Can you figure out who is telling the truth?
Some darker topics are discussed so be sure to check the trigger warnings.
The twists and turns, the betrayal and lies. You follow the path of 5 people on a journey to unbury the truth.
They all saw something that night, no one told the truth. Bounded by trauma and 12 years of lies. Now they work to untangle the lies that have twisted and buried themselves deep like roots.
Can you figure out who is telling the truth?
May 15, 2026
Omg!!! This book completely consumed me. Instead of relying on nonstop twists, it slowly sinks into your mind and stays there long after the final page. Mara’s growth felt raw and powerful, making her impossible not to root for. And BETHANY?? That reveal absolutely shattered everything I thought I knew. With gripping pacing, layered POVs, and emotional depth, this psychological thriller delivers in every way. I’m still not over that ending.
July 26, 2026
My first psychological thriller and easily the hardest thing I've written. Contemporary romance has an easy flow; a thriller demanded a completely different kind of plotting, one where every scene has to hide something as much as it reveals something. Smith Mountain Lake became almost a character itself once I started drafting there. This one changed how I think about pacing going forward and it's the book that convinced me the Root Series had to be three books, not one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don't make it a habit to read a book in one sitting, but this one I did. All I can say is wow, just wow. The world building, character descriptions, and how each character point of view flowed after each without overlapping was fantastic. The characters were lovable, though Bethany rubbed me the wrong way. I can't wait for the second book to continue reading this story.
Read
May 11, 2026I received an advanced copy this book by the author I was hooked from beginning to end had me on the edge of my seat the twist had me shocked didn't not see that coming 😳 the Anonymous letter that threatened to expose it all and the secrets that finally came out so good loved it can't wait for the next book
Did Not Finish
August 15, 2026DNF at 37% - A bit repetitive and at 37% most of the infromation already came to light. I know I still don't know who the "girl in the hoodie" is, but hoenstly, it doesn't really matter. We know whoe the murder is from chapter one. We know how everyone else is involved within the first 20%. It just wasn't enticing enough for me to want to know more.
September 23, 2026
This thriller was a great read really had me pulled in. When I thought I knew what was coming. It swung me into a spin if you’re a thriller reader, then this should be a must read one quote that takes the whole book and will take you is, “ they say the truth was too free, but some truth are more dangerous than lies”. That’s all I have to say oh and another thing go run and read it.
June 3, 2026
Thank you for allowing me to read this book by advanced copy.
What a ride....I am still shooketh. I did NOT see it coming. There are no words right now thar wont spoil the ride except Go grab yourself a copy
What a ride....I am still shooketh. I did NOT see it coming. There are no words right now thar wont spoil the ride except Go grab yourself a copy
August 26, 2026
The story was laid out meticulously. A bread crumb here, a bread crumb there....and still you never saw it coming! The story that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. If youre reading this review...Just read the book already. You won't regret it.
September 17, 2026
Wasn't expecting that
1 Secret that leads to an even bigger Secret. I did not see that coming. The twists are some giant curveballs. That is not where I expected this story to go and can't wait to see what happens next.
1 Secret that leads to an even bigger Secret. I did not see that coming. The twists are some giant curveballs. That is not where I expected this story to go and can't wait to see what happens next.
September 19, 2026
3.75 ⭐ This was so close to being a 4 star read, but the amount of repetition of details was a bit frustrating and I think too many POVs initially. I was a bit lost on who was connected how. The start was slow, but then I was hooked and read the remaining 70% in one sitting.
May 15, 2026
This thriller was an addictive page turner . The past has come back to bite someone in the a**. Some secrets did not stay buried . This is an excellent read .
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