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Rejected
Echo Paisley has been on her own since her fiancé, Nash, died three years ago. She soon discovered that she didn’t know the man she was going to marry. He had cheated on her with the one person she thought had her back. But that wasn’t the only secret.
Echo is about to leave her past behind when she discovers one last secret Nash left behind, which threatens to turn her life upside down. Echo is forced to seek help from her estranged mother with no one else to turn to.
Echo is about to leave her past behind when she discovers one last secret Nash left behind, which threatens to turn her life upside down. Echo is forced to seek help from her estranged mother with no one else to turn to.
- GenresThriller
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2022
3 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
R.M. Demeester
23 books476 followersR.M. Demeester, from Saskatchewan, loves being a mom, reading books, and writing. She's been writing since she was very young. Today, she's known for her stories in women's fiction, romantic suspense, and thrillers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 9, 2025
This was definitely the perfect title for this book! Echo is being hit from all angles as bombs are dropped left and right with deception of those around her. As soon as a secret is revealed, she can barely breathe before another one is revealed. All the secrets and lies definitely made Echo feel rejected. A good read overall, with an easy to love FMC. I enjoyed the narrator in this audiobook.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 10, 2023
This follows echo on a mysterious journey. She is trying to grow from after a death close to her. Her character is well developed and the story keeps you turning your pages and makes you want more. It’s easy to follow as well. Definitely unique! Will be reading more by the author for sure.
August 18, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5 Stars
~ I read this book in audio format and am reviewing it as such~
☆I really wanted to love this book due to loving some of the other works by this author along with holding similar life events. This book unfortunately felt limited in depth, and I walked away hoping for a more polished ending. I liked the book and felt it to be a quick read.
☆The intro audio would not have been a selling point for me in initially picking up this book, but I am glad I continued on. That initial scene, though, is a heartbreak I'm all too familiar with. A mother I've known my whole life, but at times, I feel like a complete stranger. The conflicting thoughts roll inside the mind as you cross paths in person. That is what captivated a soul from a busted up life.
☆The first chapter has me annoyed at the character/fiance as she makes every excuse in the book, brushes things off, and holds such naivety that I want to scream at her to realize instantly---
Then the news comes... and more news. The suffocating weight, grief, and rage seething through.
♡It's easy to judge Echo.. dead-end roads and bank robberies... a family filled with rejection (her mom) seemingly associated with a bad crowd. I'd say luck just purely rejects Echo at this point. Multiple eye rolls were had by this reader.
☆The emotions I felt for Echo were intense, unexpected, and heartbreaking. That urge to get an apology after such life altering hurt. The helplessness in not knowing what would be a "solution" to repairing the mother daughter relationship. Wanting so badly to hold onto the beliefs you have of those you love. But, it doesn't change the lies and danger that lurked in the background.
♡ A mother and daughter putting their differences aside shows how having one person is better than nobody at all. The sad reality in question of wondering how much we actually know people. You want to desperately believe and hold onto "the good,... but that's never what reality has in mind.
My main critique was the voices used for the characters in this book. It was hard to decipher who was Echo and who were the others at times. The childhood flashbacks were also a struggle to decipher which sister was the focus. The scene of Echo's parents arguing and Evie leaving was also difficult to follow in the audio, but it eventually made sense.
The second thing I struggled with was Raya and her voice in this book... it was too childlike but detached from the emotional potential. The desired "vengeance" against Echo didn't come through emotionally.
Lastly, I felt the "big news" was a bit repetitive and underwhelming as it dragged out in a way that didn't match the maturity of Echo and her mom. Echo continued on the scene with an anxious ridden chaos that felt like "it was already answered." Maybe I'm just too picky, but I expected to feel what was being felt, and instead, I remained emotionally limited
~ I read this book in audio format and am reviewing it as such~
☆I really wanted to love this book due to loving some of the other works by this author along with holding similar life events. This book unfortunately felt limited in depth, and I walked away hoping for a more polished ending. I liked the book and felt it to be a quick read.
☆The intro audio would not have been a selling point for me in initially picking up this book, but I am glad I continued on. That initial scene, though, is a heartbreak I'm all too familiar with. A mother I've known my whole life, but at times, I feel like a complete stranger. The conflicting thoughts roll inside the mind as you cross paths in person. That is what captivated a soul from a busted up life.
☆The first chapter has me annoyed at the character/fiance as she makes every excuse in the book, brushes things off, and holds such naivety that I want to scream at her to realize instantly---
Then the news comes... and more news. The suffocating weight, grief, and rage seething through.
♡It's easy to judge Echo.. dead-end roads and bank robberies... a family filled with rejection (her mom) seemingly associated with a bad crowd. I'd say luck just purely rejects Echo at this point. Multiple eye rolls were had by this reader.
☆The emotions I felt for Echo were intense, unexpected, and heartbreaking. That urge to get an apology after such life altering hurt. The helplessness in not knowing what would be a "solution" to repairing the mother daughter relationship. Wanting so badly to hold onto the beliefs you have of those you love. But, it doesn't change the lies and danger that lurked in the background.
♡ A mother and daughter putting their differences aside shows how having one person is better than nobody at all. The sad reality in question of wondering how much we actually know people. You want to desperately believe and hold onto "the good,... but that's never what reality has in mind.
My main critique was the voices used for the characters in this book. It was hard to decipher who was Echo and who were the others at times. The childhood flashbacks were also a struggle to decipher which sister was the focus. The scene of Echo's parents arguing and Evie leaving was also difficult to follow in the audio, but it eventually made sense.
The second thing I struggled with was Raya and her voice in this book... it was too childlike but detached from the emotional potential. The desired "vengeance" against Echo didn't come through emotionally.
Lastly, I felt the "big news" was a bit repetitive and underwhelming as it dragged out in a way that didn't match the maturity of Echo and her mom. Echo continued on the scene with an anxious ridden chaos that felt like "it was already answered." Maybe I'm just too picky, but I expected to feel what was being felt, and instead, I remained emotionally limited
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2024
You won’t see the twists coming
Rejected is a gripping thriller that explores the dark side of sibling rivalry and family secrets. Echo Paisley is living with, and engaged to her high school sweetheart, Nash. She begins to be suspicious of some of his behaviors, but before she can talk with him about them, he is suddenly killed in a car/pedestrian accident. After his death it is impossible for her to move on because those suspicions seem to have merit. There is shocking evidence that he has been unfaithful, and even involved in illegal activities. She is torn between her love for him and her fear of the truth, until she discovers the shocking twist. Not wanting to give it away I’ll just say it has everything to do with her younger sister. There are many twists in the book, but the author brings them all together nicely. I was not left wondering about any dangling lose ends like in some books I have read.
The book is a fast-paced and suspenseful read that will keep the reader guessing until the end. The author does a good job of creating realistic and complex characters, especially the sisters, who have a twisted and toxic relationship. The book also explores themes such as jealousy, betrayal, trust, and forgiveness, and how they affect family bonds and personal choices. The book is a well-written and engaging thriller that will appeal to fans of the genre and anyone who enjoys a good story of family drama and deception.
I listened to this book on Audible, and my primary critique is that the narrator assigns voices to the characters that do not align with their personalities. It perplexes me why one character possesses a foreign accent or why the sister's voice lacks a more maniacal tone.
Rejected is a gripping thriller that explores the dark side of sibling rivalry and family secrets. Echo Paisley is living with, and engaged to her high school sweetheart, Nash. She begins to be suspicious of some of his behaviors, but before she can talk with him about them, he is suddenly killed in a car/pedestrian accident. After his death it is impossible for her to move on because those suspicions seem to have merit. There is shocking evidence that he has been unfaithful, and even involved in illegal activities. She is torn between her love for him and her fear of the truth, until she discovers the shocking twist. Not wanting to give it away I’ll just say it has everything to do with her younger sister. There are many twists in the book, but the author brings them all together nicely. I was not left wondering about any dangling lose ends like in some books I have read.
The book is a fast-paced and suspenseful read that will keep the reader guessing until the end. The author does a good job of creating realistic and complex characters, especially the sisters, who have a twisted and toxic relationship. The book also explores themes such as jealousy, betrayal, trust, and forgiveness, and how they affect family bonds and personal choices. The book is a well-written and engaging thriller that will appeal to fans of the genre and anyone who enjoys a good story of family drama and deception.
I listened to this book on Audible, and my primary critique is that the narrator assigns voices to the characters that do not align with their personalities. It perplexes me why one character possesses a foreign accent or why the sister's voice lacks a more maniacal tone.
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August 27, 2024From the blurb, this sounded like it could be interesting, unfortunately, that’s about as interesting as it got. Possibly, it could’ve been more intriguing with a stronger writer?
There was all ‘telling’, which does make for a very dull experience. But then there was the mis-use of words and the cheesy dialogue and the slow pace … so it was very hard to get through.
Examples:
Steamy scenes just sounded textbook, lacked passion of any kind and weren’t always plausible (positioning, etc.)
Misused word: ‘...Before I could intervene…’ referring to a bruise that already exists on a person walking away from her.
Perhaps a stronger team could help with some of these things, maybe a dev-editor and/or even beta readers or a critique partner. This could pass as an interesting first draft maybe, but shouldn’t have gone to press in this state.
No stars.
Audio:
Poor overall sound quality. I’m surprised the author or publisher found this acceptable, it seems like whoever produced this might’ve taken them for a ride, sadly. And the narration itself was poor, no performance-style narrating at all, more just dictating. If I didn’t mind the virtual-voice sound, I could just have Siri or Alexa read my (much cheaper) eBooks to me, so it’s always disappointing when a narrator sounds like a bot. 0 stars.
There was all ‘telling’, which does make for a very dull experience. But then there was the mis-use of words and the cheesy dialogue and the slow pace … so it was very hard to get through.
Examples:
Steamy scenes just sounded textbook, lacked passion of any kind and weren’t always plausible (positioning, etc.)
Misused word: ‘...Before I could intervene…’ referring to a bruise that already exists on a person walking away from her.
Perhaps a stronger team could help with some of these things, maybe a dev-editor and/or even beta readers or a critique partner. This could pass as an interesting first draft maybe, but shouldn’t have gone to press in this state.
No stars.
Audio:
Poor overall sound quality. I’m surprised the author or publisher found this acceptable, it seems like whoever produced this might’ve taken them for a ride, sadly. And the narration itself was poor, no performance-style narrating at all, more just dictating. If I didn’t mind the virtual-voice sound, I could just have Siri or Alexa read my (much cheaper) eBooks to me, so it’s always disappointing when a narrator sounds like a bot. 0 stars.
May 3, 2025
Echo has not had it easy. It seems around every turn she just keeps getting slapped in the face. Her fiancé died 3yrs ago, her mother left the family years ago, her friends betray her, her sister broke her trust.. and on top of that she’s learning some disturbing secrets that her past fiancé had kept from her. Unbelievably hurtful secrets. To get more answers she has to talk to shady people and reach out to her estranged mom.
The title is definitely fitting. I felt So bad for echo she definitely was rejected over and over again. It made my heart break for her. But her journey to discovering more about these secrets helped Echo find out who truly was there for her and who wasn’t. While there was a lot of loss (her fiancé passing, losing friends, and having relationships break) Echo is able to gain insight and some knowledge that makes her better off in the long run.
I was able to listen to the audio book narrated by Kathrine Weber, who did an amazing job!:).
I received a free copy of this audiobook via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The title is definitely fitting. I felt So bad for echo she definitely was rejected over and over again. It made my heart break for her. But her journey to discovering more about these secrets helped Echo find out who truly was there for her and who wasn’t. While there was a lot of loss (her fiancé passing, losing friends, and having relationships break) Echo is able to gain insight and some knowledge that makes her better off in the long run.
I was able to listen to the audio book narrated by Kathrine Weber, who did an amazing job!:).
I received a free copy of this audiobook via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 16, 2025
This audiobook was a sad tale of a broken family & a girl on her own. After Echo cuts her toxic mom off, & moves on with her life from a not good relationship with her sister & father, she begins to question her relationship with her fiance. When he suddenly dies & strange things start happening, she is left in an even darker spot.
I liked the audiobook narration. It was clear & easy to understand. The characters are relatable and easy to follow, & the plot is super fast paced & keeps you guessing as to who the bad guy is. It's a unique story, & I really liked it. It has a dark tone, but the ending is the perfect bit of light to leave you satisfied.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I liked the audiobook narration. It was clear & easy to understand. The characters are relatable and easy to follow, & the plot is super fast paced & keeps you guessing as to who the bad guy is. It's a unique story, & I really liked it. It has a dark tone, but the ending is the perfect bit of light to leave you satisfied.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 16, 2022
I liked this mystery story. Echo is ready to move on after the death of her fiancé three years ago, when she discovers secrets that crush her. Unable to trust those closest to her she turns to the last person who she expected to have her back. The characters were well developed, the plot was interesting and kept me reading. This story makes you rethink who can be trusted in your inner circle. I received a free copy of this book via Story origin, and I am voluntarily leaving my review.
July 1, 2024
We are taken into Echo's life, 3 years after the death of her fiancé Nash, she finds out things and that Nash, who she was supposed to marry, is not the one she thought he was. Not that he alone he cheated on her in a way she never expected. She wants to find out who Nash really is and what else he was hiding from her. A beautiful story that will keep your attention until the last page.
I received an Advance Reader sample of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an Advance Reader sample of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 2, 2024
Echo and Rhea's mom took off when they were young, leaving their dad struggling to make ends meet. Now an adult, Echo is engaged and somewhat happy. Then, her fiance is killed crossing the street, and Echo's life is no longer the same. This story is all about the shenanigans being orchestrated by a vengeful sister, ending with a satisfactory resolution. Very highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 15, 2022
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
October 17, 2022
It's not what I expected. I expected a little more tension, a little more suspense...
Echo is a young woman who is happy with her fiancé until he dies and she begins to discover that everyone around her has betrayed her and she doesn't know who to trust with her.
It is entertaining and a fast read.
Echo is a young woman who is happy with her fiancé until he dies and she begins to discover that everyone around her has betrayed her and she doesn't know who to trust with her.
It is entertaining and a fast read.
July 12, 2024
From the beginning to the end you know that what you are reading is going to take you in directions that are unexpected but when you get to the end, it really takes a turn that is both expected and unexpected. Can you ever believe your relatives again?.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 13, 2024
Echo is a very complex character.
Sometimes seem in control, even with all her grief, but sometimes seem really unhinged.
She felt all the range of emotions - from love to hate, to rage, to grief….
But most of it she felt rejected.
An emotional trip, that will bring her forgiveness.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sometimes seem in control, even with all her grief, but sometimes seem really unhinged.
She felt all the range of emotions - from love to hate, to rage, to grief….
But most of it she felt rejected.
An emotional trip, that will bring her forgiveness.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 15, 2024
Thrilling and intense story that has many unexpected twists and turns. Hard to put down and keeps you wondering what is going to be the outcome. Complex and interesting characters to follow along in this story. Good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 16, 2025
This definitely wasn't what I expected. The constant whining from the main character Echo and her sister drove me nuts. There wasn't much substance to this story, just a lot of whining. The small twists were ok, but weren't enough to really help the story. Disappointed.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 5, 2025
Rejected by R. M. Demeester is a good thriller/mystery. Katherine Weber did a great job with the narration. This story is not what I expected. A woman’s fiancé dies and she finds out things she didn’t want to know about him.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 19, 2025
Rejected is a gripping thriller with a shocking twist that you will never see coming. The plot is fast paced and suspenseful, the characters are complex and relatable, and the story makes you rethink who can be trusted in your inner circle. While not my first Demeester novel, it definitely, will not be my last either.
June 30, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book. This is well written, grabbed and held my attention. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 30, 2024
It's a great plot idea for a contemporary psychological thriller that was waylaid by poor editing and can be read in an afternoon.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 20, 2025
When Echo's fiance dies, secrets are revealed which have her questioning whether she actually knew Nash at all. Having nowhere else to turn for help, Echo is forced to reconnect with her estranged mother.
April 30, 2025
This is compelling story of Echo who is grieving the loss of her fiancé. Surprises await her when new truths come out, about the main she thought she knew.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 17, 2024
A very emotional tale with lots of twists. Disturbed characters with plenty of emotional baggage interact poorly due to a lack of ability to communicate effectively. A compelling read.
August 20, 2024
I love the narrator for this book! She did such a great job. The twists and turns I never saw coming! A great thriller with emotional twists. Well written.
August 21, 2024
Loved the way the narrator brought the story to life. The story was interesting to follow and try to piece together. I did enjoy listening to it.
October 2, 2024
The narration was excellent and the book well written. The book was a nice length. It was good, but did not really draw me in completely.
Review based on free copy.
Review based on free copy.
August 31, 2024
The scandal and betrayal!!!! I didn’t see that coming. I do find myself thinking are these people for real? The characters did annoy me, they seemed very immature. The narrator talked too slow, but when I used a faster speed it was much better and she did a good job at putting emotion into her reading. The plot and twists were great! Overall the story was good.
August 30, 2024
I listened to the audio version of this book and it was such a good listen. Echo was a woman engaged to be married to a man named Nash. Nash was killed but after he’s died, some circumstances come to light that has Echo questioning everything she knew about Nash. I didn’t see the twist coming. I was all in that he was a bad man. It was a little hard to keep me entertained in the beginning but by midway, I was intrigued enough to stick it out and I’m glad I did.
May 8, 2025
I really wanted to like this, as it deals with some tough life issues.
Echo and Nash's relationship was not as realistically portrayed as I wanted it to be. I felt for Echo after Nash's death, but also felt him annoyed at him for cheating on Echo, and I felt even more annoyed when I found out who it was with.
It's very fast paced, and it's a little repetitive with dialogue. I really felt for Echo because of everything she's been through.
The backstory was sprinkled in throughout the story which was good. I wished that the bad things that had happened in this book had no happened at all.
Echo is a victim of what her mother, father and sister did wrong, as well as Nash.
Can she trust her mother again if she's going to get help with the mess she's in through no fault of her own? I was so sad at the difficulties her mother had left her father in, with having to raise Echo and Rhea alone. The fact she wasn't there for them at all.
I enjoyed her search for her mother and her quest to find out the truth as to what had happened as much as possible. I thought she was brave and strong as well as somene to root for throughout the book. Her determintion and decisiveness were admirable.
I also felt bad for what her father and Rhea had done wrong.
I liked how the details of the robbery were revealed throughout the book, as well as all the other random characters that were in the story.
The story raises a lot of questions, and the sense of mystery was strong through the story.
The arguments between Echo and Rhea's parents were terrible.
Will she be able to rekindle what she once had with her mother, or will it be too late?
I did feel different emotions because of this book: sadness, shock, nervousness and hope.
Rejected is about learning to trust again, the struggle for the best life possible and fighting for things.
4 stars
Thanks to R.M. Demeester
I enjoyed both the Kindle version and the audiobook. The audiobook brings an already great story even more to life.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Echo and Nash's relationship was not as realistically portrayed as I wanted it to be. I felt for Echo after Nash's death, but also felt him annoyed at him for cheating on Echo, and I felt even more annoyed when I found out who it was with.
It's very fast paced, and it's a little repetitive with dialogue. I really felt for Echo because of everything she's been through.
The backstory was sprinkled in throughout the story which was good. I wished that the bad things that had happened in this book had no happened at all.
Echo is a victim of what her mother, father and sister did wrong, as well as Nash.
Can she trust her mother again if she's going to get help with the mess she's in through no fault of her own? I was so sad at the difficulties her mother had left her father in, with having to raise Echo and Rhea alone. The fact she wasn't there for them at all.
I enjoyed her search for her mother and her quest to find out the truth as to what had happened as much as possible. I thought she was brave and strong as well as somene to root for throughout the book. Her determintion and decisiveness were admirable.
I also felt bad for what her father and Rhea had done wrong.
I liked how the details of the robbery were revealed throughout the book, as well as all the other random characters that were in the story.
The story raises a lot of questions, and the sense of mystery was strong through the story.
The arguments between Echo and Rhea's parents were terrible.
Will she be able to rekindle what she once had with her mother, or will it be too late?
I did feel different emotions because of this book: sadness, shock, nervousness and hope.
Rejected is about learning to trust again, the struggle for the best life possible and fighting for things.
4 stars
Thanks to R.M. Demeester
I enjoyed both the Kindle version and the audiobook. The audiobook brings an already great story even more to life.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 19, 2024
I enjoyed this audiobook very much. The story was well written and Echo was so easy to connect with. She is a strong woman for sure. You would think that her fiance dying was awful enough, but the things that she was hit with afterwards would have broken many women.
I don't want to give anything away, there is so much happening it's a bit difficult to review and not spoil anything. It's a mystery, a story about a dysfunctional family and love.
The only thing I had a problem with was the narrator. I found her a bit flat but grew used to her as the book went on. Go ahead and pick this book up if you are a suspense lover.
I was given a free copy of this audiobook and my review is voluntary.
I don't want to give anything away, there is so much happening it's a bit difficult to review and not spoil anything. It's a mystery, a story about a dysfunctional family and love.
The only thing I had a problem with was the narrator. I found her a bit flat but grew used to her as the book went on. Go ahead and pick this book up if you are a suspense lover.
I was given a free copy of this audiobook and my review is voluntary.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews