The Perfect Mother

by Caroline Mitchell

She thought they wanted her baby. But they won’t stop there. Roz is young, penniless and pregnant. All she wants is to be the perfect mother to her child, but the more she thinks about her own chaotic upbringing, the more certain she is that the best life for her baby is as far away as possible from her hometown in Ireland. Determined to do the right thing, Roz joins an elite adoption service and can’t believe her luck. Within days she is jetting to New York to meet a celebrity power couple desperate for a child of their own. Sheridan and Daniel are wealthy and glamorous—everything Roz isn’t. Her baby will never go hungry, and will have every opportunity for the perfect life. But soon after Roz moves into their plush basement suite, she starts to suspect that something darker lurks beneath the glossy surface of their home. When Roz discovers she isn’t the first person to move in with the couple, and that the previous woman has never been seen since, alarm bells start ringing. As the clock ticks down to her due date, Roz realises her unborn baby may be the only thing keeping her alive, and that despite her best intentions, she has walked them both into the perfect nightmare…

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

Audio CD

Published January 14, 2020

About the author

New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and International #1 Bestselling Author. Shortlisted by the International Thriller Awards for best ebook 2017 and the Killer Nashville Best Police Procedural 2018.

** See all my books in order here: https://caroline-writes.com/books **
**Join my writing course here: https://www.caroline-mitchell.com **

Now available:
Amy Winter thriller series: https://geni.us/AmySeries

Slayton thriller series: https://geni.us/Slaytonseries

Jennifer Knight thriller series: https://geni.us/JKSeries

The Islanders psych thriller: https://geni.us/TheIslandersCM

The Village psych thriller: https://geni.us/thevillage

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bang! Bang! Bang! Nobody’s knocking on heaven’s door! Zrrrrrrr!!! Nope, the postman also does not ring twice! The all special voice effects I wrote in words are coming from my head! I’m banging it against the wall and then resting it to the TV for making some kind of Poltergeist-ic connection to be more intelligent but nothing changed so far! Let’s drink!

Of course I’m punishing myself because this book is waiting too long on my dashboard and it deserves more attention because it’ s really fascinating one sit read. A great, exciting page turner you may finish at one night but prepare to have a sleepless, nightmarish time because this book is really really disturbing!

Here’s our blurb: Roz tries to survive in her hometown Ireland but unfortunately finds herself pregnant and she keeps secret the father’s identity, assisted by her bestie Dympna (unique name, isn’ it?) but she cannot take care of her unborn child so she applies to elite agency for adoption options. A few days later she finds herself jetting to never sleeping, ratty, trashy Gotham City because a celebrity power couple get interested to adopt her baby. Whaaattt? She is so freaking lucky. This couple is deliciously rich. They can give every opportunity, a brand new future to her child she’d dreamt of. But... you’re asking what’s the catch as like I did.
The catch is: there was a young resident was living in the same place where Roz resides now. She vanishes into thin air. Nobody knows what happened to her and where she is. Is she dead? Something tragic happened to her?
And what about Roz? This couple looks too nice to be real! What are they hiding? What are they keeping away from her? Is it too late to give up from adoption? If she changes her mind, what will happen to her?

So buckle up! Ride into this crazy train and get ready to jump several times at those bumpy roads because there are so many twists, surprises paved on your direction. My spider senses were not capable enough to save me from those sucker punching surprises.

As a summary: I had a quiet thrilling, entertaining, hysterical, full of semi-nervous breakdown-ish, excellent time. It’s a great choice for suspense, thriller genre fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas& Mercer to share this riveting ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review.

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well HOT damn! This was a WILD RIDE! Caroline mitchell has twisted the twisted! A deliciously disturbing page turner that completely sucked me in. Roz is in her early 20s a little uncertain of what she wants from her future when she finds herself pregnant. The one thing she knows is nobody can find out who the father is and that she is not ready to raise a baby. Roz signs up to an elite adoption service and soon fines that a rich famous “diamond“ couple is interested in her baby. Convinced that she has hit the jackpot Roz soon finds herself jetting off to New York leaving Ireland behind. When she gets to New York she finds out the couple interested in her baby is the most popular movie star couple of the moment. But as soon as she gets to the couple’s house and signs the nondisclosure things start getting a bit strange. First of all she is living in a basement apartment where the only access is an elevator, to which she does not have the pass key. No phone, no Internet, no way out, completely cut off from the outside world. And to make things even more creepy Roz is pretty certain that somebody has previously worn the maternity clothes they gave her, and who is leaving these newspaper and magazine articles for her to read?

Yikes! The story bounces between the perspectives of Roz and adopting mother Sheridon. Roz really could be any of us a little naïve, but really just wanting the best for her baby. Sheridon on the other hand is a psychotic controlling bitch. And as the book goes on she becomes more psycho, more controlling, and even more of a bitch. The only hope I had for Roz was husband Daniel. I was not certain what side Daniel was on and if he had any idea about his wife’s behavior. There were some pretty crazy twist in the story, plenty of things I did not see coming. Fast-paced, addictive, twisted, disturbing, dark, mind blowing. This was a thriller that made an impression!

This book in emojis. 🤰🏻 ☘️ 🎬 🗞 🚨

*** Big thank you to Amazon Pub for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

For more of my reviews and bookish thoughts please visit my blog

[Ceecee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard one to rate as it’s, to quote the cliche, a game of two halves. The start is four star as are a few other sections, the end is two star as is some dialogue, so let’s settle for three stars!! Twenty four year old Irish girl Rosalind (Roz) Foley finds she is pregnant after a one night stand. Her circumstances mean that it is difficult for her to keep the baby and so she signs up to website Miracle Moms to seek an adoptive couple. She chooses an NYC based pair who turn out to be celebrity couple Sheridan Sinclair and Daniel Watson. What unfolds is entertaining in a barking mad and probably unrealistic way but then, it is fiction!!!!!

Roz as a character is likeable but very naive as she trots off to NY without any real understanding of what she’s walking into. She won’t be the first and I doubt the last. The prize for likeability goes to her best friend Dympna and everyone should have a Dympna in their lives. There are times when I found Sheridan unbelievable as a character and I certainly wouldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her. Daniel is hard to work out as I don't think his character is sufficiently developed and Mike p, the fixer, is a stereotype. There is some tension at times and it’s certainly twisted and twisted.

Overall, a good premise, entertaining in parts but disappointing in others.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young pregnant woman moves to New York to meet what she Hope's will be the perfect couple to look after her new born baby. Ut it's not long before she discovers that all is ot what she expected it to be. Could her life be in danger?

The story starts off as a it of a slow burner. But the pace does pick up as the story progresses. This is a tense and suspenseful read. I really felt for Roz, a naive young girl who only wanted thr best for her unborn baby. Then the way she was treated by the couple was despicable. There are plenty of twists and shocks in store for the reader.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author Caroline Mitchell for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[L.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yikes! Read the fine line of a contract before you sign it, especially if you are going to have a baby for someone else. The very wealthy and popular NYC movie stars Sheridan Sinclair and Daniel Watson have it all and would like to have another baby, but have not been successful in that area. They place an ad on the Miracle Mom's Network so a woman who wants to give their baby a better life will allow them to adopt it.

When naive Roz finds herself pregnant after a drunken stupor with a one night stand, she becomes desperate enough to contact the couple. They will pay a high dollar to get what they want. What Roz doesn't know is the mother must sign a nondisclosure to keep the news from the media and must stay locked up in a basement until the birth. One reason is that the couple can pretend as if they are having the baby and no one will know what they have done after their last surrogate mother Kelly ended with her disappearance. Is that where they got their son from or is he theirs?

Roz has a very good friend Dympna who is worried about her flying to the U.S. and thinks she should just have the baby and she will help take care of her. When Roz leaves a desperate message asking for help, Dympna has no idea where she is or who she is with due to the nondisclosure. One of Sheridan's shady friends is "Mike, the fixer" that keeps people in line when needed. This was a dark thriller that I finished in one day on audio.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Mother is fantastic!! I love Caroline Mitchell's police procedural books and this stand alone story is just as addictive. I read this over just a few nights, needing to know how it was all going to end up for Roz. It is a twisty and surprising read, not at all predictable. I highly recommend you pick this book up as soon as you can!!

The story begins in Ireland and a young girl named Roz. She has just lost her job and finds herself pregnant after a one night stand. She is not ready to be a mother yet and worries that after her own upbringing that she cannot give the child what it needs. Her solution? She joins and elite online adoption agency and is snapped up by a Diamond couple - in New York. They are a rich, power celebrity couple and she is thrilled. But soon after she settles into her swish basement apartment she starts to realise that things are not what they seem. Her prospective adoptive parents are secretive and controlling and she soon starts to fear for both her own life and that of her unborn child.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

[Dash fan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆ A Taut, Unsettling, Gripping Psychological Thriller that was simply Unputdownable!

Wow what a thoroughly gripping and unsettling psychological thriller. One I'll be remembering for a very long time!

Just the opening prologue alone had me completely absorbed!

Roz has just found out she's pregnant. With no job and no money to pay her best friend rent money and revealing the father's identity would create chaos.
She takes desperate measures and seeks out a way to give her baby up for adoption and the best possible life.

Roz comes across Miracle-Moms website offering discreet and all expense paid adoptions.

Sheridan and Daniel are Hollywood stars. After some bad press Sheridan is determined to up their social popularity again and what better way than with another child.
So she signs them up with Miracle-Moms and finds Roz.

Things move extremely quickly and Roz flies to New York to meet them.
Everything is extremely Cloak and Dagger even down to their identity till she signs disclosure forms.
Moving Roz into the basement for the foreseeable pregnancy it's here she stays, no contact with the outside world unless Sheridan Says so!
But things are not quiet what they seem.
Sheridan is heartless, manipulative, calculating, has a very dark side, she's cold and only cares about fame and fortune.

Has Roz just made the worst decision of her life? Is Roz and her baby truly safe?

I felt compassion for Roz, her naivety and vulnerability shone through, she was only trying to do right for her baby.
Sheridan made me skin crawl, she was manipulative and power mad. But you can't help loving to hate these types of characters they make for a fantastically intense and believable read!

I absolutely loved, loved, loved, The Perfect Mother, it was unsettling, chilling, dark, secretive, so many juicy twists, It had me turning the pages till the early hours.
The story is told by several points of view which really worked especially as the tension ramps up.
The Characters are Perfectly Written and evoked the right emotions you expect from this genre.

So if you adore Taut Psychological Thrillers that will keep you up all night and a little unsettled then you have to read The Perfect Mother!
I would Love to see this book turned into a film, it would be brilliant! 

Thank you to Book On The Bright Side Tours and Amazon Publishing UK for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.



My Review is also on my Blog Website :-

https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...

[Bridgett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

An interesting premise which could have been amazing, but simply wasn't. Prepare yourselves for horribly cheesy dialogue and a large dose of suspension of belief.

And that's really all I have to say about that...

2.5 stars

**Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been a big fan of Caroline Mitchell, reading both her Amy Winter and Ruby Preston series. This stand alone takes on a young pregnant woman who decides to give up her baby rather than attempt to raise it alone. Through an elite adoption service, she is paired with a celebrity couple. She moves into their basement for the term of her pregnancy. We learn early on that things are not what they seem.

This book is all about the story. The characters seem more caricature than real life. It’s fast paced and a decent read, although extremely unbelievable. I do give Mitchell credit for making the lifestyle problems of a celebrity seem realistic as they attempt to keep below the radar (something very au courant with Harry and Megan in the news).

There’s a big twist at the end that I didn’t see coming.

Still, this book was average at best and I hope Mitchell returns to the police procedurals that she does much better.

My thanks to netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Caroline Mitchell's writing and enjoy her detective novels so it was intriguing to read this novel which is slightly different to her normal format.
A young woman named Roz is trying to make her way in her hometown in Ireland when she expectantly falls pregnant. She doesn't want people to know the identity of the father and she has no money so the future is not looking too bright for a this young catholic girl. She is convinced that it is best if her unborn child is adopted. Roz joins an elite adoption service and is dumbfounded when within days a mystery contact is jetting her to New York to meet a celebrity power couple desperate for a child of their own. Sheridan and Daniel are a wealthy and glamorous couple who want a baby to bring up as their own. They have so much more than Roz could dream of and she realises that her child would have everything possible. Circumstances change when Roz moves into their basement suite and she begins to suspect that there are dark secrets held by the couple.
Roz discovers that another woman moved in with them previously and has never been seen since. The clock is ticking to the birth of her child and despite her best intentions she has walked into a nightmare.
I was quickly into this one and was deprived of another good night sleep because I wanted to find out how it was going to finish. Roz is a good character and the plot is well paced, recommended.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and the author for supplying me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roz a penniless Irish girl suddenly pregnant
Sheridan, half of a Hollywood power couple, unable to have children and desperate to
Neither of them are a ‘perfect mother’ and neither of them would ever meet normally
But this is book world and they do via an anon ‘you have your baby, we keep it, heres a zillion dollars’ kind of web site

So, Roz goes over to NY and it all seems perfect, her life is going to be wonderful, money, clothes, the finest Dr’s.....all seems too good to be true, and, of course it is as she soon realises as she is led into her luxury quarters....in a windowless basement with only a lift for access

The story then takes off and Sheridan is a fab narcissistic psychopath character, hideous yet fascinating, Roz a petrified kidnapee and no one knows she is there...

It’s a full on psychological story that was good, true its full of ‘well hang on if she had done this then she would be free’ and ‘ WOW how daft can you be to fall for that’ but then some of the best stories ( and films ) are like this and thats half what makes them so enjoyable

There’s the obligatory twists but then quite a raised eyebrow one at the end that was a shock

Its well written, exciting, fun even though at times horrifying and a book I can say am glad have read

Predicable at times maybe but then thats why we read the genres we do, we enjoy them

8/10
4 Stars

[Ankit Garg · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Perfect Mother" by Caroline Mitchell is the perfect choice (no pun intended) for the fans of suspense thriller genre. If your mother recommended the book to you, she is the perfect mother recommending a perfect book which acknowledges her perfectness while actually talking about the perfection of a fictional character at the same time. If she didn't, you can be the perfect kid by recommending it to her, but only if she is into suspense thrillers.

It was a breezy read. The simple narration coupled with the exciting plot kept me hooked for the complete journey. The multiple point-of-views sure made it an interesting and wholesome read. I am definitely going to pick up more books from the author.

The protagonist, our so-called perfect mother, is not so perfect after all. She is way too gullible. That is the only unbelievable part of the plot. If you like your females leads strong, you might want to skip this one.

Favorite quote:

"Love is a dangerous emotion. It can lead to bad judgements and a lifetime of regret."

Thanks to the author and the publisher for the copy.

Verdict: Recommended.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t resist this book, with a tag line that says “They want her baby. Do they also want her life?” I was very excited to get started!!

When Roz 24 finds out she is pregnant after a one night stand, she tells her best friend Dympna, but does not say who the babies father is. She joins Miracle Moms website, where wannabe parents adopt babies.

Roz has a message from a diamond member, which means they are a celebrity and are a millionaire with more than one property. What could go wrong?

Roz finds herself flying to New York to meet the glamorous stars, as she settles into their posh apartment she realises things are not all what they appear to be and finds herself a prisoner in a gilded cage.

The adoptive parents are controlling and Roz is soon fearing for her life. Someone is leaving her magazine articles about the couple. Who is Kelly? And is someone trying to help her?

This book had me completely hooked and I read it in one sitting. I really didn’t know what was coming round the next corner and it made the hairs on the back off my neck stand on edge!! Full of characters that have their own secrets, not knowing who you can trust makes this a thrilling read.

Need a minute as my head is still spinning. Something bubbly may be needed!!!

A thrilling book that I highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

[Angela Marsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phew!!! I stayed up way later into the night than I should have done but I just couldn't put this book down until I knew the end and I was not disappointed. I really felt for Roz who wanted only the best for her unborn baby but boy did she get more than she asked for. Anyone wanting lessons in how to paint a true narcissist should take notes on this author's portrayal of Sheridan who just made my heart beat so fast with tension every time she was on the page. I have come to expect the masterful storytelling and characters that jump off the page. I've also come to expect taut, suspenseful drama and Caroline Mitchell never disappoints. If you want a twisty, turn ride of a book with a knockout twist at the end, allow this skilful author to take you on that journey. If you haven't already guessed it's a huge 5***** from me and is highly recommended.

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good thriller with twists and turns, it was also an easy page-turner.
Rosalind Foley 24 is broke and single she's also pregnant.
Sheridan Sinclair and Daniel Wilson are Hollywoods hottest power couple there also looking for a baby girl to pass off as there own as Sheridan is unable to have children herself.
A perfect fit and when they are put in touch by an exclusive adoption and surrogacy website it seems like all Roz's prayers for her child's future have been answered.
But be careful what you wish for whisked away to LA and put up in the couple's basement flat Roz is a prisoner to Sheridan's whims and strange moods.
Told mostly in dual format this flips between Roz and Sheridan and the later best friend Dympna also takes a turn centre stage.
This was suspenseful and managed to keep my attention effortlessly a thumbs up from me.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Perfect Mother.



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a saying that goes if something is too good to be true, it probably is. So when 24 year old, Roz, who is pregnant and broke, finds out that a famous and wealthy couple want to adopt her child, she thinks this is the perfect solution. The chance to give her baby the life she can't and the opportunity to leave her hometown in Ireland and jettison to the bright lights of New York.
She meets Sheridan and Daniel, the glamorous and famous couple, who are eager for another addition to their family. Roz's baby will make their life complete and perfect. Perfect ending to an unwanted situation, But as soon as Roz moves into the couples home, what seemed like a Hallmark movie with a storybook ending turns into Nightmare on Elm Street.
Alarm bells start ringing and Roz quickly realizes that they want her baby but there is more and they won't stop until Roz's baby becomes theirs. The perfect situation turns into the ultimate nightmare. Roz soon realizes that her unborn baby is the only thing keeping her safe and alive. With the clock ticking, can Roz escape in time or succumb to Sheridan and Daniels plan to eliminate the problem of too many mothers.
Caroline Mitchell delivers a fast-paced tense thriller that is full of twist and surprises throughout the book. Perfect Mother is the perfect summer read.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #ThePerfectMother

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I discovered the work of Caroline Mitchell, I've been a big fan! I've been following the Ruby Preston and Amy Winters series and have been blown away with each of the books. The Perfect Mother is not part of any series but is a suspenseful and captivating read! though there were parts of the book that were guessed correctly by me, I enjoyed the book from the start until the finish. Unlike the series she writes, that are rife with mind-blowing twists, this book was a bit more predictable. Nonetheless, I enjoyed experiencing all the twists and turns that made this story so good.

When Roz, a proper catholic Irish girl discovers she's pregnant, she has a choice to make - to give away her baby to a good family or bring it up on her own. Almost broke and afraid of being judged, Roz decides to give her baby up and registers on a website that promises to find the baby a decent home and a happy upbringing - something that she was never lucky enough to experience either. So when her profile is matched with a "diamond" couple in NY, US, Roz knows that her baby's future cannot get brighter than this. Packing her bags Roz leaves behind Ireland and flies to the US to deliver her baby to the millionaire couple who want her so bad! But soon Roz realizes that the couple although famous have a disturbing and dark secret. She comes to know that the person you see on screen is so different from the ones when they're behind the cameras. Roz is soon trapped in with no escape in sight. Pregnant and afraid, Roz must escape with her baby before the psycho-couple harm her and her baby.

I enjoyed the plot of this book. Told in multiple POV's I enjoyed reading through the parts of Sheridan and Roz the most. While the pacing was good, the ending felt a bit rushed. I would have liked to know more about Daniel, Monica, and George and how their relationship with Sheridan started out. The focus was primarily on Roz and Sheridan. I also loved the character of Dympna. She seems like a good detective in the making! Strong and sassy like her - these are the characters I really love reading about. Although I found Roz to be dull and unbelievably naive, I appreciate the need for such a character in the book. In all, I enjoyed this book.

Thank You, NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Caroline Mitchell for an arc!

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

When she finds out that she is pregnant after a one night stand Roz is in shock. She has no job and shares a flat with her friend.
She decides the best thing for her child is to have it adopted. She joins an upmarket group online to find a suitable match, looking for a rich family to pay her expenses and take her baby when it is born.
Roz is about the regret her decision.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio 5 Stars
Story 4 Stars

[Susan Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never been disappointed with any book I have read by Caroline Mitchell and this standalone psychological thriller is no exception. The plot involving a young woman selling her baby to famous celebrities is a real page turner. I had no idea as to what the outcome would be , but it was certainly a taut, tense and intriguing journey finding out.

[Priskah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,0 ✨✨✨

(Audiobook)

[Skyesmum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Caroline's police procedurals and was excited to see a different style of book.
The characters bring out all of your emotions, pity, disgust, antipathy and amazement.
It has a few twists in the book, some I was expecting and some that were a shock.

Ideal for people who love domestic noir.

[Adele Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline Mitchell’s The Perfect Mother is an edge of your seat read from start to finish. The storyline is fantastic and it draws you in from the beginning.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Perfect Mother is international bestselling writer Caroline Mitchell's third and latest standalone psychological thriller crossed with a domestic/family drama, and although the title and synopsis are both pretty standard when it comes to this genre this is actually a book with a lot more substance to it than its competitors. Roz is barely surviving the day-to-day, and quite frankly wouldn't be if it wasn't for her invaluable friends looking out for her, so when she gets pregnant she naturally has quite conflicting feelings about it all from the start; on the one hand, she would love nothing better than to be a doting mother, however, she decides in the best interests of the unborn baby to try and find a suitable, loving home in which he or she will be adored. Because let's face it she can barely look after herself nevermind having a newborn baby in tow. After doing some digging she discovers and enrols with an elite adoption agency based out of New York where she swiftly meets affluent celebrity couple Sheridan and Daniel who just happen to be desperate for a child. The Hollywood stars cover her expenses to reach the United States and move her into their sprawling mansion for the duration of the pregnancy and then everything turns ugly.

The author builds the tension slowly in the beginning but as time wears on and the intense and gripping tale unfurls it has you quickly turning the pages. I genuinely had no idea what was about to happen or how it would end and I felt an incredibly rare pang of anxiety as the way it is written ensures you are kept on edge from beginning to climax. It was so very disturbing to see a vulnerable young woman being taken advantage of, and as a former police detective Mitchell fuses together a compelling and addictive mix of fact and fiction where she allows her previous employment dealing with vulnerable victims to inform her cracking, difficult to put down stories. Mitchell captured me from the outset and kept me well and truly hooked right through until the conclusion and every step of the way my heart was in my mouth. This is far-fetched entertainment rather than been based in reality per se and is a superb escapist read but that makes it no less riveting and I have no problem admitting to tearing through it lightning fast with no regrets. Nothing is as it initially appears and the bottom line and takeaway message is to trust no-one; that way you can never be disappointed, and you may even get a pleasant, faith-restoring surprise. Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. On one hand, it has an intriguing, original premise and is a crazy wild ride from start to finish. On the other hand, it is extremely unbelievable and none of the characters quite rang true for me. Sometimes a crazy wild ride works for me, and sometimes it doesn’t, and sadly this one falls into the second category for me (which is why it has taken me so long to get it off my TBR pile).

In a nutshell, a young, unwed Irish girl decides to give up her baby for adoption through an elite adoption service and is linked up with a famous celebrity couple. But once she travels to America to meet the prospective adoptive parents, she gets a bit more than she has bargained for.

Besides lacking credibility, the story was further hampered by a bunch of unlikeable characters that seemed so crazy that they almost read like cartoon badies, right down to the basement where they imprison their pregnant captive. The story otherwise held little suspense or mystery, other than wondering how Roz will get out of her predicament. Seeing that Mitchell was a police officer, perhaps things like this do happen in real life, but the story didn’t manage to sell it to me, right down to the final twist, which made it even more absurd. On the upside, it was all so crazy that it made for a perfect escape from all that 2020 has thrown at us so far, so if you like your psychopath characters served up with a good seasoning of insanity and a side dish of suspension of disbelief, then you may enjoy it!


Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.

*blog* *facebook* *instagram*

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, what a ride of a book!

Roz was broke and pregnant. She knew she couldn't provide the best for her child. So, she went online and tried to find the perfect parents who'd adopt her child for money. And it turned out to be a celebrity couple. Actors Daniel and Sheridan in America seemed to be the best choice, and talks with them made her feel Sheridan would be the perfect mother. But was she?

My second book by author Caroline Mitchell, and it was thrilling and so addictive. I couldn't stop reading it. The moment Roz landed on American soils, I knew there was something dark waiting for her. The characters played to my fears well. They were hiding something, and the need to know what broke down my walls of my patience.

The way the couple treated her at their home had me gasping. I remember screaming - Run, Roz, run away. Wow!! The author's writing built up the suspense with every word, I literally couldn't leave my kindle alone. Just a page more was the litany in my mind which led to me reading the entire book at one go. Tap... Tap... Tap...went my finger on my kindle until I reached the end.

I was asked by a fellow blogger to analyze the ending. I agreed with her observations. Roz's friend was shown worried and actively investigating, yet there was no discovery by her in America. That subplot could have been used well. Nevertheless, the father of Roz's baby was a downright shocker.

My midnight to early morning read. A few pages more became the entire book read. What a book to lose sleep over!! Fun!

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cringe when I have to write a review for a book that just didn’t do it for me. I feel bad for the author; I can appreciate all the hard work that goes into such a huge undertaking. But I remind myself (1) I promised to be honest in my reviews and (2) that’s why they make chocolate and vanilla ice cream.
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style. The plot is good and believable. My big turn-off is the weak lead female Roz. She is just too gullible, too slow, too trusting to be responsible for herself and her unborn baby. I never sensed the “Mama Bear” kick in, and for those of you who have been pregnant or are now mothers, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
The other characters in the book are believable and flawed, so interesting to watch. It’s still a fairly enjoyable quick read, just not for those who enjoy a strong female lead character.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for making it available.)

[Karen R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far-fetched but even so, a page-turner that I couldn’t put down…until the last 100 pages. At this point it fizzled and never fully recovered. The story seemed to drag and I no longer felt the love for Roz. I enjoy twisty endings and admit this book had one, yet it also left me underwhelmed.

[Ruthy lavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a good read although a little predictable.
It took me longer than usual to read so I think that’s a good indication of how exciting it is. It deserves 3 stars because many fans of general fiction will love it, but I’ve already read much more gripping fiction stories this year.