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At Risk
Colleen McElroy grew up wealthy and pampered, the daughter of a prominent society family in Lexington, Kentucky. But her privileged upbringing could not prepare or protect her from her cruel and abusive first husband. Although her calamitous marriage left her with physical and emotional scars that have yet to heal, they haven’t prevented her from doing her best to rebuild her life.
Charismatic Patrick McElroy has scars of his own from his traumatic childhood in the foster care system, but with his business partner, John, he has built a celebrated, state-of-the-art home for at-risk youths. When one goes missing, Colleen is plunged into a nightmare of uncertainty about the girl’s disappearance. Is she paranoid, seeing disasters where there is just bad luck, or does an unspeakable evil lurk behind the new life she’s made for herself? No longer sure of whom she can trust, Colleen will have to rely on herself to discover the truth.
Charismatic Patrick McElroy has scars of his own from his traumatic childhood in the foster care system, but with his business partner, John, he has built a celebrated, state-of-the-art home for at-risk youths. When one goes missing, Colleen is plunged into a nightmare of uncertainty about the girl’s disappearance. Is she paranoid, seeing disasters where there is just bad luck, or does an unspeakable evil lurk behind the new life she’s made for herself? No longer sure of whom she can trust, Colleen will have to rely on herself to discover the truth.
238 pages, Paperback
First published September 20, 2016
322 people are currently reading
499 people want to read
About the author
S.G. Redling
14 books313 followersS.G. Redling, a graduate of Georgetown University, has spent fifteen years waking up the good folks of Huntington WV and its environs on the WKEE-FM morning radio show. She recently wound up her headphones for the last time and is focusing on thrillers, mysteries and urban fantasy. When S.G. isn't writing, she loves to paint, travel and embarrass herself by speaking wretched Italian.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 27, 2016
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
3.5 Stars
This was my first S.G. Redling book. From the book description I thought it sounded like a book I would really enjoy.
Colleen McElroy comes from a wealthy and privileged family. But despite that, life hasn't always been easy. She barely survived her first marriage to a brutal man who not only beat her so badly that she required surgery, but stripped her of all of her confidence and self-worth. But meeting Patrick McElroy changed all of that. Patrick is kind, calm and gentle with Colleen. A solid and respectful man. He played a big part in helping her build up her self-esteem, and helped her heal.
Patrick McElroy and John Mulroney met in a foster home when they were in their teens. Both suffered from abuse and neglect but what Patrick lived through was beyond horrific. Because of how tight-knit they were they eventually became known as the Macaroni Brothers and now run a freight company. However, they are most proud of the work they do with at risk youth. When they were young they promised themselves that if they ever had the money that they would build a home for children that was clean and safe but would also provide education and training for successful futures. They built Green Fields Youth Home, and it's been a great success. John's wife, Bix also grew up in foster care and is an integral part of the Macaroni Brothers business. Green Fields means everything to the three of them.
Colleen has always believed that she's completely safe with Patrick. But lately things are starting to shake that belief. She often hears Patrick and John fighting, but when she asks her husband what's going on he doesn't give her a satisfactory answer. On top of that some of the people Patrick and John are in business with are definitely cause for concern. It's not long before she starts to feel like the safe new life she's made for herself with Patrick is being threatened. Is she looking for problems where there are none or does she have reason to be worried? Can Colleen truly rely on anyone but herself?
I had conflicted feelings about Colleen. At first I found her way too passive. I definitely felt bad about what she had been through but some of her decisions seemed odd. Especially when it came to her friendship with Bix. Loud and hot-headed, Bix could be a good friend to Colleen one minute but then the next minute she would be making passive aggressive comments to her, even downplaying what Colleen went through in her first marriage. Many times I wanted Colleen to stand-up for herself.
I have to say I could never have predicted how things would turn out. I liked not knowing what was going to happen but it almost seemed to come out of left field. After a rather slow beginning it built up to a frenzied pace in the last few chapters....my head was spinning. It almost felt like someone flipped a switch and everything (and everyone) went berserk. It did get quite graphic and although we aren't left hanging at the end, it did feel like it was a bit rushed.
All in all I thought this was a good read. I was intrigued from the start and read it rather quickly. Despite some mixed feelings with how it all played out, I did think that it had quite an original and interesting plot and I think I will enjoy reading more from S.G. Redling.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and S.G. Redling for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 24, 2016
This was one highly entertaining fast paced book! Some lovely language & phrases that I truly appreciated & characters larger than life like Bix! Great read!
September 2, 2016
Colleen McElroy was pampered by her wealthy parents. Her first husband was cruel and abusive to her. The marriage ended when he kicked her spleen out and it had to be removed during surgery.
Her second husband Patrick McElroy bears his own scars. Along with his friend John and his wife Bix they have built a state-of-the-art home for youths who are talking-risk. When one youth goes missing Colleen gets paranoid about the disappearance. Is she reading more into this or is it just bad luck. Who can Colleen trust or will she have to go it alone to find out the truth.
I got trapped in this novel from the first page. I was happy when I realised Colleen had a better life with her second husband but boy oh boy I never even thought of what was coming. Well written and a good character.ist.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Thomas & Mercer and the author S. G. Redoing for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Her second husband Patrick McElroy bears his own scars. Along with his friend John and his wife Bix they have built a state-of-the-art home for youths who are talking-risk. When one youth goes missing Colleen gets paranoid about the disappearance. Is she reading more into this or is it just bad luck. Who can Colleen trust or will she have to go it alone to find out the truth.
I got trapped in this novel from the first page. I was happy when I realised Colleen had a better life with her second husband but boy oh boy I never even thought of what was coming. Well written and a good character.ist.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Thomas & Mercer and the author S. G. Redoing for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2016
Full review on www.novelgossip.com
Despite what I read in the blurb, this book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. I assumed that it would be a domestic suspense novel with some thrills and chills. Instead, it was a slow and steady buildup to an frenetic and shockingly violent climax. I think the slower first portion of the book lulled me into a sense of calm and comfort so when everything began to ramp up, I was sort of blindsided.
Colleen is the main character and I truly felt for her. She escaped the horrific abuse of her first husband and has found happiness with Patrick, a kind and caring man who loves her unconditionally. He survived a truly awful childhood and they bonded over their shared horrors. Things are practically perfect now, they have each other and Pat has a successful business with his lifelong best friend, John. Colleen has a fragile, yet budding friendship with John’s wife, Bix and is slowly starting to heal old wounds. Despite her constant insecurities, Colleen begins to seriously doubt several things in her life even if she is not used to trusting her own intuition. Is she just being unreasonable or are there really secrets hiding that could have deadly consequences for her?
The truth, as it turns out, is far more shocking and abhorrent than I could have ever guessed. I love when an author manages to surprise me and this book definitely did that. In fact, while reading this I was sure this was going to be a three star read for me, if that. The last quarter of the book was so compelling and full of revelations that I bumped up my rating a full star. The ending was left pretty open ended, but for once I wasn’t put off by that. I was satisfied by the answers that were provided and maybe even a little hopeful that the author will do more with these characters in a future book.
This book was such a mixed bag because the majority was pretty tame, yet still engaging. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I wasn’t annoyed by the wait. But then when things start to actually happen, it turns gory, violent and disturbing. Some scenes were real nail biters and I was completely mesmerized. If you don’t like gritty and graphic scenes though, this book may be a problem for you and I feel the need to warn you because I think that it would be easy to assume that this one would be rather tame. And it is, for the most part, but the violent scenes were descriptive enough that I feel a heads up is necessary.
Despite what I read in the blurb, this book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. I assumed that it would be a domestic suspense novel with some thrills and chills. Instead, it was a slow and steady buildup to an frenetic and shockingly violent climax. I think the slower first portion of the book lulled me into a sense of calm and comfort so when everything began to ramp up, I was sort of blindsided.
Colleen is the main character and I truly felt for her. She escaped the horrific abuse of her first husband and has found happiness with Patrick, a kind and caring man who loves her unconditionally. He survived a truly awful childhood and they bonded over their shared horrors. Things are practically perfect now, they have each other and Pat has a successful business with his lifelong best friend, John. Colleen has a fragile, yet budding friendship with John’s wife, Bix and is slowly starting to heal old wounds. Despite her constant insecurities, Colleen begins to seriously doubt several things in her life even if she is not used to trusting her own intuition. Is she just being unreasonable or are there really secrets hiding that could have deadly consequences for her?
The truth, as it turns out, is far more shocking and abhorrent than I could have ever guessed. I love when an author manages to surprise me and this book definitely did that. In fact, while reading this I was sure this was going to be a three star read for me, if that. The last quarter of the book was so compelling and full of revelations that I bumped up my rating a full star. The ending was left pretty open ended, but for once I wasn’t put off by that. I was satisfied by the answers that were provided and maybe even a little hopeful that the author will do more with these characters in a future book.
This book was such a mixed bag because the majority was pretty tame, yet still engaging. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I wasn’t annoyed by the wait. But then when things start to actually happen, it turns gory, violent and disturbing. Some scenes were real nail biters and I was completely mesmerized. If you don’t like gritty and graphic scenes though, this book may be a problem for you and I feel the need to warn you because I think that it would be easy to assume that this one would be rather tame. And it is, for the most part, but the violent scenes were descriptive enough that I feel a heads up is necessary.
October 16, 2020
Mystery thriller blah.
Colleen married again to what's supposed to be a great hubby. Her hubby is a business man working with his friend to keep kids off the street.
Bix is John woman. John the business partner. Bix is a b**** she's very rude to colleen and colleen just takes her crap.
Colleen ex hubby was abusing her.
John and Patrick are keeping secrets about their business.
Finding out the mystery to it all and to who all was involved was blah...
Colleen married again to what's supposed to be a great hubby. Her hubby is a business man working with his friend to keep kids off the street.
Bix is John woman. John the business partner. Bix is a b**** she's very rude to colleen and colleen just takes her crap.
Colleen ex hubby was abusing her.
John and Patrick are keeping secrets about their business.
Finding out the mystery to it all and to who all was involved was blah...
September 7, 2016
Colleen survived being married to a brutally abusive man. She grew up with money and married into more money, but that didn't save her--she was lucky to survive her marriage alive.
She thought her life was on track when she fell in love with Patrick, who'd grown up in foster care and has visible scars to prove it. The scars Colleen can't see he doesn't talk about. Patrick and John and Bix became close friends in their years in foster care together--when they weren't in a foster home, they were together at a group home. John and Bix got married. Bix is a loud mouth who, like her husband, drinks too much and behaves far differently than the genteel way Colleen was raised.
Patrick McElroy and John Mulroney are such good friends they become known as the Macaroni Brothers. They start a business called Macaroni Brothers Freight Company. Bix helps with many aspects of that business and the charity they fund for a group home in which the goal is to truly help kids from abusive homes stay off drugs and get an education--not just keep them alive between the times they are farmed out to abusive homes with abusive social workers.
The conflict in this book doesn't really start until you're a third of the way through it, and then it really doesn't heat up until halfway through the book. The writing is good but in a suspense novel, I want to feel a sense of dread and tension right away. This is written in a calm, genteel way that undercuts the impact of the abuse that all four main characters have survived . . . and one or more of them may now be repeating in a new cycle of abuse.
The ending of the book was not satisfying--possibly because I didn't feel the build-up to the conclusion. I can't say more than that without giving plot points away.
The writing is good but the book is not great.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for giving me the opportunity to review this novel.
For more of my reviews, please visit http://theresaalan.net/blog/
She thought her life was on track when she fell in love with Patrick, who'd grown up in foster care and has visible scars to prove it. The scars Colleen can't see he doesn't talk about. Patrick and John and Bix became close friends in their years in foster care together--when they weren't in a foster home, they were together at a group home. John and Bix got married. Bix is a loud mouth who, like her husband, drinks too much and behaves far differently than the genteel way Colleen was raised.
Patrick McElroy and John Mulroney are such good friends they become known as the Macaroni Brothers. They start a business called Macaroni Brothers Freight Company. Bix helps with many aspects of that business and the charity they fund for a group home in which the goal is to truly help kids from abusive homes stay off drugs and get an education--not just keep them alive between the times they are farmed out to abusive homes with abusive social workers.
The conflict in this book doesn't really start until you're a third of the way through it, and then it really doesn't heat up until halfway through the book. The writing is good but in a suspense novel, I want to feel a sense of dread and tension right away. This is written in a calm, genteel way that undercuts the impact of the abuse that all four main characters have survived . . . and one or more of them may now be repeating in a new cycle of abuse.
The ending of the book was not satisfying--possibly because I didn't feel the build-up to the conclusion. I can't say more than that without giving plot points away.
The writing is good but the book is not great.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for giving me the opportunity to review this novel.
For more of my reviews, please visit http://theresaalan.net/blog/
August 29, 2016
I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher Thomas and Mercer for an advanced ARC of "At Risk" by S.G. Redling. The author wrote a novel that was intriquing, thrilling,mysterious.and some parts were terrifying. Some of the characters were portrayed as both good and evil. In my opinion the author is showing people, who have advantages, and those who had no advantages in society and the consequence, and choices that were made. I did enjoy this novel, and would recommend it .
January 6, 2017
I really enjoyed this book! I saw S.G. read at a Noir at the Bar several years ago and was impressed but this is the first of her novels I've read. Fast-paced and really well-drawn characters. No spoilers but the ending left me a little breathless (a good thing). Good stuff and I look forward to reading more by S.G. Redling.
October 26, 2016
3.5-star read
I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Have you ever read a story that was so twisted that you had to think about it for awhile, set it aside, then pick it up to reread it just to make sure everything you thought had happened actually happened? Well, AT RISK was that type of book for me.
Colleen Dooley Seaton McElroy was raised in a loving wealthy family in Lexington KY. Her first husband, Heath Seaton, was also a member of the upper class in Lexington and loved to beat, humiliate, and demean his wife. After a brutal beating, Colleen was able to leave her husband and successfully sue for divorce (to give you an idea of how dysfunctional the Seaton family is, her ex-sister-in-law wanted Colleen to be sued for damages her brother incurred as a direct result of his beating and kicking Colleen into the hospital). Fortunately, Colleen survived the Seatons and found a new love, Patrick McElroy. Just when Colleen is getting used to her new husband and his friends (namely his partner John Mulroney and his wife Beatrice "Bix) and their growing business, she's thrust into the fire once again. Bix confides that she thinks her husband John is cheating on her and asks for her help. Colleen goes to her friend and lawyer, Allysa Rovito, for help. The information she receives doesn't quite add up and before she knows Colleen is in the fight for her life.
I found AT RISK to be a fast-paced and wholly engrossing read. Ms. Redling provides just enough twists and turns to keep the reader off-kilter for much of the second-half of the story. There's a lot going on in this story (no, I'm not going to tell you what...read it for yourself), but this is a taut psychological suspense thriller that I enjoyed just as much the second time around as I did the first. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Redling in the future. (BTW, loved the Marshall University shout-out!)
I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Have you ever read a story that was so twisted that you had to think about it for awhile, set it aside, then pick it up to reread it just to make sure everything you thought had happened actually happened? Well, AT RISK was that type of book for me.
Colleen Dooley Seaton McElroy was raised in a loving wealthy family in Lexington KY. Her first husband, Heath Seaton, was also a member of the upper class in Lexington and loved to beat, humiliate, and demean his wife. After a brutal beating, Colleen was able to leave her husband and successfully sue for divorce (to give you an idea of how dysfunctional the Seaton family is, her ex-sister-in-law wanted Colleen to be sued for damages her brother incurred as a direct result of his beating and kicking Colleen into the hospital). Fortunately, Colleen survived the Seatons and found a new love, Patrick McElroy. Just when Colleen is getting used to her new husband and his friends (namely his partner John Mulroney and his wife Beatrice "Bix) and their growing business, she's thrust into the fire once again. Bix confides that she thinks her husband John is cheating on her and asks for her help. Colleen goes to her friend and lawyer, Allysa Rovito, for help. The information she receives doesn't quite add up and before she knows Colleen is in the fight for her life.
I found AT RISK to be a fast-paced and wholly engrossing read. Ms. Redling provides just enough twists and turns to keep the reader off-kilter for much of the second-half of the story. There's a lot going on in this story (no, I'm not going to tell you what...read it for yourself), but this is a taut psychological suspense thriller that I enjoyed just as much the second time around as I did the first. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Redling in the future. (BTW, loved the Marshall University shout-out!)
October 8, 2016
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was not impressed by this book. The story was preposterous, and just continued to get more and more ridiculous as it went on.
This book had poor writing, and poor storytelling. I don't even know how to fully describe what happened, but it was a thriller on par with the writing of 50 Shades of Grey. I just couldn't deal with it, and had to force myself to push through to the end.
The characters were flat and unlikable. They have experienced terrible things, and it was impossible to muster up any sympathy for them. Any. At all.
The direction this book was heading in was obvious, and the "twist" was not a good one. I do not recommend this book.
I was not impressed by this book. The story was preposterous, and just continued to get more and more ridiculous as it went on.
This book had poor writing, and poor storytelling. I don't even know how to fully describe what happened, but it was a thriller on par with the writing of 50 Shades of Grey. I just couldn't deal with it, and had to force myself to push through to the end.
The characters were flat and unlikable. They have experienced terrible things, and it was impossible to muster up any sympathy for them. Any. At all.
The direction this book was heading in was obvious, and the "twist" was not a good one. I do not recommend this book.
September 20, 2016
Before I start my review, I would like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me to review At Risk by S.G. Redling.
**All opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone. I received At Risk from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley as an e-ARC for my honest review.**
Now onto my review:
This book was fantastic!! Mysteries are usually not my cup of tea, I can usually figure out who the murder was by the middle of the book and then get bored reading. But not this book. The bad guys, for the most part, are clearly stated from the get go. One emerges at in the middle of the book and the last couple of bad guys emerge at the end of the book.
It is the build up that got me going. The book starts slow and slowly picks up steam as you get deeper and deeper into the book. By the end, its full throttle to the climax of the book. I very rarely read a book that is able to keep that momentum going. So bravo to the author!!!
The beginning of the story was great. It starts off with Patrick, Colleen, Bix and John at a fundraiser for Patrick and John’s project….a state of the art home for at risk youth (yes, I stole from the blurb…lol) and you quickly get a sense of the strange dynamics among the foursome. Colleen is newly married to Patrick and considers herself an outsider to the trio. Patrick and John met when they were children at a group home and then they met Bix when they were teenagers in another home.
Colleen notices that something is off with Patrick and he is being secretive and he keeps telling her that he doesn’t want her involved with what he was doing. Hrrrmmm….big red flag there. One day, Bix approaches Colleen with a phone that she cloned from John (she suspects he is cheating on her) and someone texts a list of names. Colleen agrees to play detective and stumbles into something that goes beyond a cheating husband.
As for the characters, I did like Colleen the most. She started off as a timid mouse of a woman, still getting over her ex husband’s abusive ways (and man, he was a monster). By the end of the book, she blossomed into this woman who wasn’t going to take crap from anyone.
I totally didn’t understand her friendship with Bix. It was a love/hate relationship between them, with the hate being on Bix’s part. I will tell you this, if someone ever talked to me the way Bix talked to Colleen, I would have laid them out flat. She was an abrasive, unlikable character.
I really didn’t like John either. He came across as very slimy, very secretive and is always drunk. He rubbed me the wrong way from the first time he was introduced into the book.
Patrick was OK. He seemed to be easily influenced/pushed around by Bix and John (who are married, btw). He keeps dismissing their behavior and the way Bix treats Colleen as leftover mannerisms from when they were in foster care (and let it be known that BK would have been out on his ass if someone talked to me like that).
The ending was explosive and it just showcased how strong Colleen was. It also showed that you never truly know a person, no matter how close you are to them.
How many stars will I give At Risk? 5
Why? This is a true mystery that keeps you guessing until the end of the book.
Will I reread? Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes
Age range? Adult
Why? No sex but there is mention of a forced sexual situation. Also a ton of violence and language.
**All opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone. I received At Risk from Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley as an e-ARC for my honest review.**
Now onto my review:
This book was fantastic!! Mysteries are usually not my cup of tea, I can usually figure out who the murder was by the middle of the book and then get bored reading. But not this book. The bad guys, for the most part, are clearly stated from the get go. One emerges at in the middle of the book and the last couple of bad guys emerge at the end of the book.
It is the build up that got me going. The book starts slow and slowly picks up steam as you get deeper and deeper into the book. By the end, its full throttle to the climax of the book. I very rarely read a book that is able to keep that momentum going. So bravo to the author!!!
The beginning of the story was great. It starts off with Patrick, Colleen, Bix and John at a fundraiser for Patrick and John’s project….a state of the art home for at risk youth (yes, I stole from the blurb…lol) and you quickly get a sense of the strange dynamics among the foursome. Colleen is newly married to Patrick and considers herself an outsider to the trio. Patrick and John met when they were children at a group home and then they met Bix when they were teenagers in another home.
Colleen notices that something is off with Patrick and he is being secretive and he keeps telling her that he doesn’t want her involved with what he was doing. Hrrrmmm….big red flag there. One day, Bix approaches Colleen with a phone that she cloned from John (she suspects he is cheating on her) and someone texts a list of names. Colleen agrees to play detective and stumbles into something that goes beyond a cheating husband.
As for the characters, I did like Colleen the most. She started off as a timid mouse of a woman, still getting over her ex husband’s abusive ways (and man, he was a monster). By the end of the book, she blossomed into this woman who wasn’t going to take crap from anyone.
I totally didn’t understand her friendship with Bix. It was a love/hate relationship between them, with the hate being on Bix’s part. I will tell you this, if someone ever talked to me the way Bix talked to Colleen, I would have laid them out flat. She was an abrasive, unlikable character.
I really didn’t like John either. He came across as very slimy, very secretive and is always drunk. He rubbed me the wrong way from the first time he was introduced into the book.
Patrick was OK. He seemed to be easily influenced/pushed around by Bix and John (who are married, btw). He keeps dismissing their behavior and the way Bix treats Colleen as leftover mannerisms from when they were in foster care (and let it be known that BK would have been out on his ass if someone talked to me like that).
The ending was explosive and it just showcased how strong Colleen was. It also showed that you never truly know a person, no matter how close you are to them.
How many stars will I give At Risk? 5
Why? This is a true mystery that keeps you guessing until the end of the book.
Will I reread? Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes
Age range? Adult
Why? No sex but there is mention of a forced sexual situation. Also a ton of violence and language.
November 2, 2016
this review is also posted at: the Blacksheep Project. I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
* * *
Well written, intriguing and suspenseful!
At Risk features Colleen McElroy, a privileged woman who went through an abusive relationship with her first husband. Now, she's married to Patrick McElroy who came from a foster care system.
NOW, how is this intriguing?
Slowly but surely, S.G. Redling introduces a conflict between best friends and business partners, Patrick and John. I like how both of them were established - their life during the days in the foster system and their character at present (Patrick as the responsible one and John as the drunkard who gets them in trouble). The two of them are polar opposites and they complement each other. The problem that rises between the two of them is far more bigger than I expected and Colleen's involvement in this is the part that's really interesting to read.
While the development of the mystery was quite slow, the climax was a real thrill! It was fast and really kept me reading until 2:00AM! Just what is going on here? Just some revelations and running for lives and horrific things. Oh you know, the usual stuff. But seriously, the revelation was perfect and gripping climax was just too crazy for me to miss!
OVERALL, At Risk is slowly and carefully written mystery that kept me intrigued right from the beginning. I like the slow development of the story and how it was able to perfectly establish the characters and develop its main character. The revelation was perfect and Colleen's life threatening moment was completely thrilling! At Risk is highly recommended for mystery-thriller readers!
* * *
Well written, intriguing and suspenseful!
At Risk features Colleen McElroy, a privileged woman who went through an abusive relationship with her first husband. Now, she's married to Patrick McElroy who came from a foster care system.
NOW, how is this intriguing?
Slowly but surely, S.G. Redling introduces a conflict between best friends and business partners, Patrick and John. I like how both of them were established - their life during the days in the foster system and their character at present (Patrick as the responsible one and John as the drunkard who gets them in trouble). The two of them are polar opposites and they complement each other. The problem that rises between the two of them is far more bigger than I expected and Colleen's involvement in this is the part that's really interesting to read.
While the development of the mystery was quite slow, the climax was a real thrill! It was fast and really kept me reading until 2:00AM! Just what is going on here? Just some revelations and running for lives and horrific things. Oh you know, the usual stuff. But seriously, the revelation was perfect and gripping climax was just too crazy for me to miss!
OVERALL, At Risk is slowly and carefully written mystery that kept me intrigued right from the beginning. I like the slow development of the story and how it was able to perfectly establish the characters and develop its main character. The revelation was perfect and Colleen's life threatening moment was completely thrilling! At Risk is highly recommended for mystery-thriller readers!
September 20, 2016
Yay! Won my first giveaway! So excited! :)
Whew. For those who might not know yet, this is definitely a thriller. Things get wild, things get violent. Hints are clear enough to pick up on for the experienced reader who's paying attention, but subtle enough to keep the surprise factor going. Doesn't go past my personal threshold for the violence because it never lingers like some books do, I wouldn't have been able to stand it if it lingered. It hits hard, then it keeps things moving. Very good at keeping to that fast thriller pace, every time you think there's gonna be a breather, nope! Off you go again.
Wasn't sure about Colleen at first, but as the story goes on, the more you see what she must have been like before the story starts, versus how she is now, versus who she's starting to be at the end. It's got to be hard to get a character arc really going in a thriller, you can't stop for the moments you would have in a slower paced book, but we get signs that it is happening through her actions, even if there's not time to go in depth.
Liked this one a lot, no surprises there, I've liked all her work. :)
I will say, if you are sensitive to domestic abuse, this may not be for you. More behind the spoiler tag on that.
Whew. For those who might not know yet, this is definitely a thriller. Things get wild, things get violent. Hints are clear enough to pick up on for the experienced reader who's paying attention, but subtle enough to keep the surprise factor going. Doesn't go past my personal threshold for the violence because it never lingers like some books do, I wouldn't have been able to stand it if it lingered. It hits hard, then it keeps things moving. Very good at keeping to that fast thriller pace, every time you think there's gonna be a breather, nope! Off you go again.
Wasn't sure about Colleen at first, but as the story goes on, the more you see what she must have been like before the story starts, versus how she is now, versus who she's starting to be at the end. It's got to be hard to get a character arc really going in a thriller, you can't stop for the moments you would have in a slower paced book, but we get signs that it is happening through her actions, even if there's not time to go in depth.
Liked this one a lot, no surprises there, I've liked all her work. :)
I will say, if you are sensitive to domestic abuse, this may not be for you. More behind the spoiler tag on that.
January 22, 2017
I would rate this book between 3 and 3.5 stars. Colleen is from a well heeled and rich background but who has survived an emotionally and physically abusive marriage. She meets Patrick who comes from the other side of the tracks having being brought up in foster care homes. They are attracted to each other and the hurt in their lives is a common meeting ground despite their differences in upbringing. Patrick and life long friends John and Bix (also from foster care) have established a business and aim to give back to the foster care system financially and practically with help to the children. Colleen is able to enhance their business with admittance to private clubs and the upper echelon of society. But then Colleen discovers lists with foster children's names on it and a child goes missing. Who is at risk and what risks will have to be taken to ensure the safety of the children?
The first two thirds of the book deal with the effects of trauma on the characters and you are drawn into the character's lives and how they are surviving and this was the better part of the book for me. The end third suddenly becomes very busy with action and is quite exciting and a little grisly but still entertaining. There are surprises and twists and overall it is a satisfying read with generally likeable characters and the ones you like to hate. If you are looking for a thriller with an interesting premise which will deliver an explosive and pacey ending this book could well fir the bill. Thank you to the author, publisher and all involved in producing this ARC at NetGalley.
The first two thirds of the book deal with the effects of trauma on the characters and you are drawn into the character's lives and how they are surviving and this was the better part of the book for me. The end third suddenly becomes very busy with action and is quite exciting and a little grisly but still entertaining. There are surprises and twists and overall it is a satisfying read with generally likeable characters and the ones you like to hate. If you are looking for a thriller with an interesting premise which will deliver an explosive and pacey ending this book could well fir the bill. Thank you to the author, publisher and all involved in producing this ARC at NetGalley.
September 20, 2016
ARC/Suspense: This book hasn’t come out yet, so no spoilers here. I have read a few S.G. Redling books and I really enjoyed most of them. I was hesitant about getting this one because I was not too enthusiastic about the last one.
I loved this one.
I was reading it while at the receptionist desk at work and completely ignored someone coming up to me; from the beginning, it was so intriguing. I found my heart pounding hoping Colleen would get out of the bind she was in. On my final sitting, I caught myself holding my breath. “Breathe, breathe,” I told myself, “This isn’t happening to you”. Then I found myself doing my best Whoopi Goldberg impression, “Colleen, you in danger, girl.”
Yes, the book has issues with continuity and plot. I so did not care. I loved it. It was short, fast-paced and I loved the heroine. I definitely recommend this book.
I did get this from NetGalley in lieu of a honest review. I loved it anyway.
I loved this one.
I was reading it while at the receptionist desk at work and completely ignored someone coming up to me; from the beginning, it was so intriguing. I found my heart pounding hoping Colleen would get out of the bind she was in. On my final sitting, I caught myself holding my breath. “Breathe, breathe,” I told myself, “This isn’t happening to you”. Then I found myself doing my best Whoopi Goldberg impression, “Colleen, you in danger, girl.”
Yes, the book has issues with continuity and plot. I so did not care. I loved it. It was short, fast-paced and I loved the heroine. I definitely recommend this book.
I did get this from NetGalley in lieu of a honest review. I loved it anyway.
November 6, 2016
The premise of this story was good and for a while it was very intriguing and a page turner. It moved well and the writing style was good. Then somehow the whole book collapsed. The characters were just all over the place. The situations that came up were so unbelievable and out there that you could only shake your head in parts. It's one thing for a character to not be what you think, but for EVERY character to not be true to what was laid out is rather ridiculous and the reactions to the circumstances and plot in the book were very over the top. I just couldn't find any of the last quarter of this book believable and I also struggle with women that are portrayed as simpering, confused, self deprecating morons and that is how the main character seemed to be set up. You just couldn't really like anyone in this book and the "plot twists" were absurd and the drama excessive.
September 5, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This was a good story that turned into a very intense mystery. The story flowed smoothly and kept my interest throughout. I thought the ending was very creative and left the door open to visit these characters again. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
December 2, 2016
I received this arc from Netgalley.
I enjoyed reading this book. Lots of suspense kept the pages flipping. The twist at the end really threw me for a loop. I would have liked for the ending to be a little more fleshed out. All in all a great read.
I enjoyed reading this book. Lots of suspense kept the pages flipping. The twist at the end really threw me for a loop. I would have liked for the ending to be a little more fleshed out. All in all a great read.
September 22, 2016
*GIVEAWAY WINNER*
Great concept. Good Character development. Intriguing unique story.
Great concept. Good Character development. Intriguing unique story.
January 30, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After surviving an abusive marriage, Colleen is now married to Patrick, a calm and kind businessman who is trying to build his freight business from the bottom up. Although there wasn't a lot of action at first, there was a strong sense of suspense that caught my attention right away. I couldn't really pinpoint the problem, but there were certainly undercurrents that felt off. I had mixed feelings about Colleen, who is clearly a victim--the type of woman who is always underestimated and patronized. However, we also know that she's a fighter trying to get away from her wealthy but unhappy past. Now she shares her life with her new husband and his 2 close friends who all grew up on the wrong side of the tracks but became successful business owners and have opened a home to take care of at-risk kids. Patrick is steady and calm, which is exactly what Colleen wants. But now that the business is growing, the cracks in his composure are starting to show. He still felt like a somewhat shadowy figure, but we sense his goodness through Colleen's eyes. I particularly liked the title since it, on the surface, refers to the at-risk children in the home, but then we start to wonder if someone else is at risk in this story. After lots of slow but inexorable suspense throughout, the final scene was totally action-packed and filled with plot twists that surprised me (but shouldn't have, I suppose). I liked that the author didn't belabor the point at the ending or continue with an unnecessary epilogue or wrap-up. Instead, the book satisfyingly ended with the action just coming to a close, hardly time for the reader to relax before it was over.
After surviving an abusive marriage, Colleen is now married to Patrick, a calm and kind businessman who is trying to build his freight business from the bottom up. Although there wasn't a lot of action at first, there was a strong sense of suspense that caught my attention right away. I couldn't really pinpoint the problem, but there were certainly undercurrents that felt off. I had mixed feelings about Colleen, who is clearly a victim--the type of woman who is always underestimated and patronized. However, we also know that she's a fighter trying to get away from her wealthy but unhappy past. Now she shares her life with her new husband and his 2 close friends who all grew up on the wrong side of the tracks but became successful business owners and have opened a home to take care of at-risk kids. Patrick is steady and calm, which is exactly what Colleen wants. But now that the business is growing, the cracks in his composure are starting to show. He still felt like a somewhat shadowy figure, but we sense his goodness through Colleen's eyes. I particularly liked the title since it, on the surface, refers to the at-risk children in the home, but then we start to wonder if someone else is at risk in this story. After lots of slow but inexorable suspense throughout, the final scene was totally action-packed and filled with plot twists that surprised me (but shouldn't have, I suppose). I liked that the author didn't belabor the point at the ending or continue with an unnecessary epilogue or wrap-up. Instead, the book satisfyingly ended with the action just coming to a close, hardly time for the reader to relax before it was over.
July 5, 2020
"Colleen McElroy grew up wealthy and pampered, the daughter of a prominent society family in Lexington, Kentucky. But her privileged upbringing could not prepare or protect her from her cruel and abusive first husband. Although her calamitous marriage left her with physical and emotional scars that have yet to heal, they haven't prevented her from doing her best to rebuild her life. Charismatic Patrick McElroy has scars of his own from his traumatic childhood in the foster care system, but with his business partner, John, he has built a celebrated, state-of-the-art home for at-risk youths. When one goes missing, Colleen is plunged into a nightmare of uncertainty about the girl's disappearance. Is she paranoid, seeing disasters where there is just bad luck, or does an unspeakable evil lurk behind the new life she's made for herself? No longer sure of whom she can trust, Colleen will have to rely on herself to discover the truth."--Page 4 of cover.
January 5, 2022
This was not my most favorite book about foster care. Why? Because the heroes are really villains in this book. The plot seems so out of left field for me. Thank God Coleen was a baseball pitcher in High School, or she would never have survived to be in the last chapter of this book.
I'd rather have read about the characters in this book doing something bad for the good of foster children instead of vice versa. But alas I did not write the book I only read it. I want to mention I was a survivor and at-risk child. Plus, I aged out of foster care. So read a lot of books on this subject, and I would never take it lightly when writing about foster care children. This Author used foster kids as a prop. I didn't like that.
I'd rather have read about the characters in this book doing something bad for the good of foster children instead of vice versa. But alas I did not write the book I only read it. I want to mention I was a survivor and at-risk child. Plus, I aged out of foster care. So read a lot of books on this subject, and I would never take it lightly when writing about foster care children. This Author used foster kids as a prop. I didn't like that.
July 11, 2018
Pretty Good
I do read descriptions and reviews before purchasing a book. This book is definitely a little different. What spurred me along was my need to find out what the heck was going on because I wasn't sure. I really wanted to believe that Patrick was the good partner of the Macaroni bros. He was just as crooked as John. How on earth did Patrick revert back to his former self just from Bix talking to him after John was shot? Shock? I don't know, somewhat far-fetched. To have him turn on his own wife didn't seem believable. So glad Colleen finally and truly let Mad Dog resurface at the end!
I do read descriptions and reviews before purchasing a book. This book is definitely a little different. What spurred me along was my need to find out what the heck was going on because I wasn't sure. I really wanted to believe that Patrick was the good partner of the Macaroni bros. He was just as crooked as John. How on earth did Patrick revert back to his former self just from Bix talking to him after John was shot? Shock? I don't know, somewhat far-fetched. To have him turn on his own wife didn't seem believable. So glad Colleen finally and truly let Mad Dog resurface at the end!
January 28, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy of At Risk by S. G. Redling. Colleen grew up wealthy and privileged in Kentucky. She escaped her first marriage to a man perfect for her on paper, but who abused her. She is now married to Patrick who grew up poor and in foster care. Patrick and his best friend John (who also grew up in foster care) have founded a shipping company and also run a home for at-risk kids. The description of the book states that one of the girls from this home goes missing and "Colleen is plunged into a nightmare of uncertainty..." However, this disappearance doesn't happen until about 80% into the book and then everything goes crazy.
The first part of the book is quite slow and just has a lot of squabbling and drama mostly over the different types of childhoods that Colleen and Patrick had. Once the girl disappears, the pace picks up and a lot happens, but it doesn't really fit the story that had been developed. It was an exciting ending, but too over-the-top and crazy, and a bit abrupt.
The first part of the book is quite slow and just has a lot of squabbling and drama mostly over the different types of childhoods that Colleen and Patrick had. Once the girl disappears, the pace picks up and a lot happens, but it doesn't really fit the story that had been developed. It was an exciting ending, but too over-the-top and crazy, and a bit abrupt.
June 4, 2025
An anxiety inducing thriller!
I was creeped out before I had even finished the first chapter. I thought, oh no, the puzzle pieces we begin the game with cannot lead to anywhere good, and I was right, but the bad place we arrived at was not one I ever saw coming. The tension starts strong and never lets up as you question the motives of every single person in Colleen's world. I cannot recommend it enough.
I was creeped out before I had even finished the first chapter. I thought, oh no, the puzzle pieces we begin the game with cannot lead to anywhere good, and I was right, but the bad place we arrived at was not one I ever saw coming. The tension starts strong and never lets up as you question the motives of every single person in Colleen's world. I cannot recommend it enough.
December 6, 2016
Pretty darn good suspense! Colleen occasionally isn't the sharpest but would you be in these circumstances? What you know to be true versus what you think is true versus what you want to be true. There's a twist in this one, which makes it better than the norm. It's well written and a fast, page turning read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
April 4, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and S.G. Redling for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
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January 12, 2020
Not my cup of tea.
Nothing wrong with the writing style or characterisation. Plot was also ok.
My problem was that it just didn't engage me and I found the pacing slow and boring. At least one third of the book was spent on setting the stage without any real pacing of the plot. That is simply too long for my taste.
Nothing wrong with the writing style or characterisation. Plot was also ok.
My problem was that it just didn't engage me and I found the pacing slow and boring. At least one third of the book was spent on setting the stage without any real pacing of the plot. That is simply too long for my taste.
April 14, 2021
This book was really good. I thought the main character was a little whimpy for what she had been through, but she got her gumption in the end. I liked the twists and turns, although when she found out her husband was doing business with her ex, I would have demanded an explanation immediately and also that they never speak again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2021
Thrilling story about a woman who left her abuser and married the perfect man. A man she loves but comes to know she doesn’t understand as much as she once thought. Befriending her husband’s former foster friend, she discovers parts of their childhoods she never would’ve imagined. It all goes downhill from there.
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