Beyond the Thrill

by Katarina Mayer

Can building a new life be as simple as withdrawing from the old one?

They vowed to leave their gambling lives behind. They used to be homemakers by the day and high rollers at night. As the three friends try to examine their future plans, a regrettable disappearance of a priceless painting prompts an unexpected adventure.

Hannah lives in a cocoon of carefully blanketed lies. The last thing she wants is to have her friends poking around.

Laura has finally rekindled her relationship with her husband and children, but as she plans the future, the past comes calling.

Val has been trying to accept her choices for more than a decade. Bored and unhappy, she drags her friends into a potentially dangerous mission.

Will their thirst for thrill bring lasting happiness?

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2021

About the author

Katarina Mayer currently lives in Nickelsdorf, Austria. The life in a small village inspired her first novel, Gambling Wives. She believes that stories matter because they facilitate emotional journeys, inspire, and entertain. She writes because stories are a great escape, and probably the most beneficial addiction on this planet.
Katarina is mildly dependent on black tea, and loves travelling and fresh air (not just to breathe, but to feel really alive). She believes that life is about experiences, not the outcomes; about the journey, not the destination.
She lives with her husband, two sons, a dog and a cat, and daily deals with millions of small or larger issues and joys, just like any other wife and mother. That’s why female characters are at the center of her stories.

Reviews

[Janell Madison]

Three friends set themselves up for an unknowingly dangerous weekend when one makes a quick decision and another makes a decision based on worry in Beyond the Thrill by Katarina Mayer, book 2 in The Happiness and Other Chores series.

“Three women, three secrets, three lives in danger. Can they escape the danger or will it keep following them?-Green Gables Book Reviews

Laura is recently back together with her husband Robert, and they are trying to make things work. But, Robert spoiled the morning with questions Laura doesn’t know how to answer. She wishes she did. Laura forgets her cell phone when she goes to her parent’s old house to pick up the last of what she wanted to be saved from their antique collection. She is astounded to find one of the main items she wanted to be held back from the sale is missing.

Val is out walking in the rain to take up time during another day in her boring life. Her husband doesn’t think with their status in the community, she should work. And, since she and her friends gave up their secret gambling life, she is more bored than she has ever been. She needs a project, just something to fill the endless hours in the day. When Val sees a speeding car zoom past and recognizes her friend Laura in the passenger seat, she tries to figure out was driving. She knew it wasn’t Laura’s husband, Robert. When phone calls to Laura go unanswered, Val becomes concerned and leaves to try to find Laura.

Hannah is a bit annoyed by her unexpected guest, Val, who is looking for their friend, Laura. Hannah is tired from her recent international travel, doesn’t have time for the interruption, and cannot change her weekend plans. Her lifestyle literally will not allow it. When all three women end up at a social function, confusion comes into play. Val has no idea why they are there or who these people are, but Hannah’s… boyfriend?…gentleman friend?…insisted she joined them. Hannah is making the social rounds, and when Laura walks in, she is introduced by a different name, and Val and Hannah don’t know what to think. They are also confused about the person by her side. Why is Laura with, oh no, is it HIM?

Trust issues from their past life together (book 1) cause some problems and each woman has something happening in her own life that she doesn’t want the others to know. Hannah wants to keep her private life very private from Val and Laura. Laura somehow has to explain everything that is going on that caused this situation, and Val is always on her phone. But, there is danger lurking and coming from different angles.

Can they save each other, or will the danger continue to follow them? And who are they in danger from?

I received this book from the author to read and review. Thank you for trusting Green Gables Book Reviews with your words.

[Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story. I enjoyed reading it but I didn't know it was part of a series so I did feel like I was missing something which took away from the story for me. I finished it yesterday. I enjoyed the story-line especially the search for the missing painting. It was exciting to read to see if she could get it back and what she finds out along the way was shocking in places. I actually rate this book a 3.5 star . If your a horse book fan then this is for you as it contains riders and there is great fun at the races. It was a slow paced Woman's fiction that turn into an excited mystery. If you have kindle unlimited it's on there so it costs nothing to give it a go. Remember what is a 3.5 star read for me might be a perfect 5 star book for you. Always try and support indie authors wherever you can. This is book 2 of the happiness and other chores series

Many thanks to the author and publishing team for allowing me to enjoy this book.