Mine to Keep

by Wendy Hudson

Erin Carter is alone. Plagued by childhood nightmares since the loss of her mother, she embarks on a journey to trace her father, hoping to find some semblance of family and put the darkness to rest. A tentative thread leads her to Hopetoun, in rural Scotland, and the welcoming Cornfield Castle. There she meets Abigail Miller, the castle chef, who quickly becomes her tour guide and search partner. Along with Abigail's brother, George, they decipher village gossip from truth, fact from folklore, and offer Erin sanctuary within the castle walls. But when Erin's nightmares start to close in, can she defeat them and learn to live again? Contains mature themes.

Genres: Thriller, LGBT, Lesbian, Lesbian Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery, Crime

Audio CD

Published December 28, 2021

About the author

Wendy Hudson is an award winning author based in Scotland.

Her debut novel "Four Steps" won a 2017 GCLS Debut Author Award, was a Diva Literary Award Finalist 2017.

Her second novel "Mine to Keep" was a 2018 GCLS Finalist.

All her novels are set in Scotland among the stunning landscapes that first inspired Wendy to write.

In her spare time, Wendy has a love for travel, as well as camping, skiing, football, festivals and reading.

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book that I have read by Hudson. It was okay, but didn’t really live up to my expectations. This is a romance-thriller, but for my personal tastes, it did not have enough thriller in it.

I think Hudson writes well, I just didn’t care for some of her storyline choices. My biggest issue with this book is you could see everything coming. It was like the book was following a formula about how things would play out. There were no surprises or heart thumping moments that I love in thrillers. And the one small twist, ended up being predictable, but also a bit unrealistic.

I also thought the book was really slow going in parts. It really didn’t pick up until close to the end. I found myself having to stop myself from skimming. I wanted the thriller parts, but it took forever to finally get there. I will say the last 20% or so was pretty exciting. Although the scenes at the river, I had such trouble picturing what was going on in my mind. I could not tell what the two main characters were doing at times. I can’t get into this more because I don’t want to spoil anything, but it was really frustrating. At the most exciting part, I was confused who was where and what it was supposed to look like. Usually books are like movies in my mind, but that didn’t happen when I needed it the most. I think I was more making up what I guessed would be happening, more than what I was actually reading. I’m curious if I’m the only one who had this issue or not.

The romance was pretty sweet. Not fantastic, but it was a decent go of it. I did not care for the manufactured angst that was thrown in. I didn’t think it was needed and it is a subject that drives me nuts. The two main characters were both pretty likeable. And I also like the secondary character of the brother.

This book is not bad by any means. It’s just pretty down the middle for me. I think I had some really high expectations, and they just were not met. I really enjoy a good thriller; this just was not enough thriller for me. Hudson does write well, so I will go and read her first book at some point. Hopefully that will be a little more to my liking.

An ARC was given to me by YLVA, for a honest review.

[Bugs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I should have read this book earlier especially with an irresistible cover like this one (more about this and the title later!) and because I thought "Four Steps" was a brilliant debut effort by Wendy Hudson, which put her on my radar in the world of lesfic reading. But for some reason, I thought I'd read it all this time until I happened to review my reading queue and surprise sur-bloody-prise, "Mine To Keep" was still sitting there staring at me with that bloody mesmerising cover taunting me! Gobsmacked, I was! Bloody hell! Reckon me mind's done for! Too many books, too little time! Grrr! Anyway, by this time, I'd read her 3rd and latest book, "Meant To Be Me," already. But just like everything else, things happen for a reason, don't they? And timing is everything, innit? Won't bore you with the deets about what it means except I can firmly attest that "Mine To Keep" is now my favourite Hudson book! Her best one, thusfar, as far as I'm concerned! Hence, this book has effectively renewed my continued interest in her writing and creativity whose craft I'll always be looking forward to exploring! Well done, Ms. Hudson!

Whilst I utterly enjoyed "Four Steps" (which summarily landed Hudson on my author-to-watch list, in the first place), I absolutely loved "Mine To Keep," from start to finish. Every aspect and angle of Hudson's craft in this particular book just clicked with me, from the mystery, darkness and thrilling intrigue of the plot, the characters - main and secondary, alike - to the camaraderie and romance. Nevermind the breathtakingly beautiful and mesmerising scenery of the Scottish lands which Hudson vividly illuminated with colours, temps, ambience that could stir the soul which she extended to the interior surroundings, particularly the castle and its endless corners, hallways and doorways, which only enriched the Scottish feel for the reader, well, for me, rather! Yes, I've always been partial to Scotland and its majestic views and tranquillity they exude. In this book, Hudson's visual descriptions had effectively brought the entire story to life, in all aspects. There was only one thing I could do. I devoured the book at top speed, so quick my head was spinning....with utter joy, elation, satiation, pure satisfaction!

In essence, "Mine To Keep" was a brilliantly crafted and told psychological mystery-thriller surrounding a captivating romance, not to mention, some white-knuckling action intrigue at the end. One thing I want to mention is the plot itself.....

Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words

[Jane Shambler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kind of caught me off guard. You get dropped in at the deep end. You don't really know what is going on and I guess it's sink or swim. Erin has just lost her mother and has come to Hopetoun looking for her father. She has a sketchy memory of him as she hasn't seen him since she was a child. Her mother took her and ran from him as he was abusive to them both.

The hotel where she is staying is run by a sister and brother Abby and Charlie. Abby is the chef and Charlie is kind of doing everything else. Abby and Erin start a relationship. As you can guess love never runs smoothly. Abby's ex turns up. Why does the ex always turn up?

Apart from being dropped in it without any idea it was actually a good story which unraveled gradually. Which taking into account Erin's issue with speaking was quite a feat. Erin is pretty insular. She doesn't have any family or real friends hence why she has come searching for her father. She meets Abby and her brother and learns what a real family feels like. Kind of a discovery for Erin. The end has a really good feel and will make you smile. However, I do feel the author just ended it. I am assuming Thea is going to have some issues. The author never mentioned these. Maybe there will be a second. who knows? Enjoy!


*ARC provided by publisher via Ylva Publishing*

[Ted · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF'd around the 75-80% mark. This book died in my hands around the 50% mark with the stupid ex drama. Then the violence hit and I couldn't care what happened after that. Shame really as her first book Four Steps I *really* liked.

[Gaby LezReviewBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three things made me read this book: its cover, the title and Ms. Hudson's excellent debut novel 'Four steps'. So I had high expectations that unfortunately didn't quite deliver for me. 'Mine to keep' is a romantic suspense with the romance sweet and tender but the suspense quite predictable. Because the reader can guess where the plot is heading, there is more a question of when rather than if things are going to turn for the worse. This can work for some readers but, personally, I prefer thrillers that keep me guessing. My other issue is that even though the characters are generally well developed and multilayered, some of their actions seem unrealistic in, for example, some of the characters reactions to trauma. However, the villain is very well portrayed, as the reader can actually see his conflicts and shortcomings.

Having said all these, I think the book is worth a read. It's entertaining and well written, the description of the landscape is vivid and the romance is satisfying.

Overall, an entertaining read if you don't mind a bit of predictability in a thriller. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

See my other reviews at
www.lezreviewbooks.wordpress.com

[Tiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea of a romantic thriller, and when done right you have two amazing genres converging for those final moments to keep you riveted to your seat. Will the heroines survive the vicious maniac and live happily ever after? Gripping, right? In my very humble opinion, you need those two plots points to be really tightly woven. The romance needs to pull in the reader. That couple has to ring true, their love must conquer all. The thriller part needs to increase your anxiety level, get the blood pumping. I think for me in Mine to Keep both parts fell short of really capturing the reader's attention on both fronts.

Erin is this stoic, enigmatic character that you want to love because she has had so little of it in her life. Abigail, the local chef, feels a bit unsettled in being the chef at her parent's castle turned hotel. Could she have been a renowned chef like her ex if she had left this sleepy little town? So you have two interesting characters and the beginning starts off so well, then just meh. Meh, because once they admit their attraction out loud, there was no more push/pull until you introduce the ex, who just happened to show back up after being gone years. Come on! How much more contrived can you get. The romance between Erin Carter and Abigail Miller felt a bit flat and uninspired.

The thriller, you could see coming from a mile away. No twists and turns, you knew what was going to happen and the book just stayed the course. I wanted so much more, anything, just a tiny swerve would have made a huge difference. Not to mention the character decisions that just didn't totally add up. The thriller was flatter than the romance and the ending was way too glossed over.

I thought Wendy Hudson had an amazing first book. This one is a good one, it just needed more thriller or more romance. Neither was done to full potential. I left me wanting more. 3 stars.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high expectations for this second novel, after enjoying the excellent 4 steps. The opening to the story was great, but for me it fell short on the thriller side of the story. I love thrillers, but I found the lack of suspense not to my personal taste. It was also very predictable how the situation with Erin and her father was going to play out. I did also find the reveal about Abby's brother George at the end not very believable.

This is really a sweet romance story, well written with good characters. I did find the introduction of the ex a little tedious, and not required.

The scene setting of Scotland is fantastic. If you like sweet romances you will enjoy.

Arc received from Ylva for an honest review.

[Jane Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Mine To Keep has a good plot, but I felt the book doesn’t quite fulfil its potential. For a thriller, there’s not enough suspense – or maybe it’s more that the level of suspense I’ve come to expect from a thriller wasn’t reached. It become clear fairly early on in the story what would transpire between Erin and her father, but when it happened I didn’t really feel the anticipation, fear or panic. Perhaps that’s just me though.

The romance is handled much better. There’s a chemistry between the two main characters that is sweet and tentative. If you like detailed, raunchy sex scenes you won’t find them here but the love scenes are still well done.

One of the things I liked about the book is that Erin’s father was not a caricature. Although he’s the villain, his warped motivations were conveyed so that we can understand them. He’s not completely evil and has a tender side. Too many novels convey the villain as totally cold and blackhearted, but if this were so in real life then killers would be easy to identify – and they’re not.

I also liked Abby’s brother, George. However, I didn’t particularly care for the twist concerning him at the end of the book. It wasn’t necessary for the plot and I find it hard to believe that George’s character wouldn’t have been more affected by such a development. That’s a minor, and personal, gripe though.

The Scottish countryside was also beautifully depicted and made me want to visit the area. I enjoy stories with a good sense of place.

All in all, although I found the thriller part of the book a little disappointing, this was an enjoyable read and I’d certainly read more of Hudson’s work.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kay Sillars · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Four Steps so was very excited about reading Mine to keep and I wasn't disappointed. It is a very different book from the first: less of a crime novel more of a scary romance. It was a relief to find that she has other stories to tell and didn't produce a rehash of the first.

In the first novel I was rushing to get to the end to find out what happened, this time I found myself turning pages slowly with dread, worried about how it was all going to end. Its an odd feeling to actually start to read slower because you're not sure you what to know what happens next in case it make you cry.
Of course I did turn those pages and it was well worth it.

As with the first book she writes really well, building a great sense of place and pace. The romance builds well, neither Mills and Boon nor 50 Shades of Grey but real people who've been hurt before and are realistically insecure.

What I liked about both books is her ability to capture of the reality of male violence and control over women. There's no cartoon "baddy", no genius setting traps, no quotations from nursery rhymes or ancient Greek as clues for an equally damaged genius to solve. Its about ordinary people and the real things that can happen.

I hope she has another book on the way

[lauraღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The desire to be someone to Erin grew with every touch.

2.5 stars. The rating seems harsh; I really didn't dislike this book. It's just not the type of thriller that I best enjoy, both in terms of the plot, or the way it's written, and the romance moves too quickly to be actually satisfying. Our main character is Erin, who travels to a small Scottish town after her mother's death, trying to catch wind of her father. She meets Abby, the chef at the hotel/castle that she's staying at, and Abby helps her with parts of her search, while she and Erin get closer.

My biggest problem with the mystery part of this is that we get a prologue that basically spells out to the reader what happens to Erin's father. Like, it doesn't take long at all before it's clear to the reader that one of the people in the prologue is her dad. So for us, there's zero mystery there. This is also the type of book where we get the villain POV interspersed with the chapters of the main characters, so really, after not too long, the reader has all of the information, and we're just waiting for the protagonists to find out what the villain knows, and for the villain to find out what the protagonists know. Literally THEE most boring format for a thriller. I've read books like it before and I like it less every time. Meanwhile, on the romance front, things just move too quickly, as I said before. They seemed to get entangled in deep feelings after a couple days, and nothing about the trajectory of the relationship was plausible, or hit me profoundly enough to believe that they had gotten so close so quickly. There was exactly the type of ex-girlfriend drama that I hate, and tbh, neither woman really grew on me. A lot of overreactions and stuff.

There was some action near the end that kept the momentum going, there was a side character I really loved/felt for, and the epilogue had some romantic moments that were really sweet, and that did go towards saving the book for me. It was well-written, too, and I liked their walks and the descriptions of the small Scottish town and countryside; really charming. The plot itself was maybe a bit melodramatic, but in forgivable ways.

Listened to the audiobook as read by Ruth Urquhart, and it was lovely. Scottish accents are so musical to me, and I'm beginning to really love this narrator in particular. I'm sure I'll try this author again, because it's always nice to read a sapphic romance that isn't your typical contemporary, and that's set in Scotland to boot. This first one just wasn't my fave.

Content warnings: death, death by drowning, description of domestic violence, child endangerment and neglect, violence, blood

[Carol Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge of your seat stuff!

Erin heads to Scotland in search of answers to childhood nightmares. Staying in a picturesque location, she quickly finds a connection with Abigail and her brother George who run the castle where she is staying. When she starts asking around, they all have to work out what is just gossip and what is the truth. Erin embarks on getting to the bottom of all she has learned, only to find herself still haunted and having to face her fears in a much more realistic way than before.

Well…Wendy really delivered with this one! I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what the truth was going to be, what Erin was going to discover, and just wondering what was going to happen when she did. It was quite intense and Wendy cleverly lulled me a few times into forgetting just what might be coming with nice, cosy moments shared between Abigail and Erin as their friendship blossomed into something much more.

The imagery of the scenery in which this story was taking place was just beautiful, I could see it all so clearly from the wonderful descriptions and in a way it was magical. That nice edge to offset the darker elements surrounding Erin’s story. I cried with Erin when she was going through more difficult moments, and my heart was in my throat when everything started to be revealed. I was so glad though that she had such a good friend in George, and that Abigail was there to support her, even if she had her own securities and doubts over getting involved with Erin.

This is what I admire so much about Wendy’s stories though, they have an element of romance but they are different, focusing on the mystery and thriller, using darker themes that can at times be controversial and I just love that. It gives her stories that edge that makes them memorable, and Mine To Keep is definitely an unforgettable story. The journey you are on with Erin is deeply emotional and stays with you, whether you have been through a similar experience or not.

I really enjoyed reading this and highly recommend the story. I am excited for what is next from Wendy and can’t wait to find out. Hopefully we’ll also see more from Erin and Abigail in the future too!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erin comes to a rural town in Scotland looking for her father, who she hasn't seen since she was a child. She's staying at Cornfeild Castle where she meets Abigail, chef and daughter of the owners. Their attraction is immediate. But something more sinister and dangerous lurks in the shadows around the village and threatens to turn Erin's life upside down.

I was slightly disappointed i this book because the author's first novel was so incredible. I think this one was just a tad too short to do justice to both the romance and the thriller aspects. I thought that the romance was a little rushed and the thriller wasn't as developed as it could have been. That was my only complaint however. Wendy Hudson is an extremely talented writer, technically impeccable, brilliant personable characters and great drama.

I loved the setting! I'm a sucker for castles. Add in a cast of fascinating characters and a perfect romance and it's a winner. I love Abigail, she's amazing. I love her confidence, I love how she's unapologetically herself. Her brother George was a really great character as well, he's funny and warm and helpful and a good listener and wise beyond his years at the same time as being a bumbling teenager. Ahhh and Erin, she's quirky and relatable and lovely!

The author is really talented with creating mystery and tension. Her bad guy is multidimensional - he's twisted and violent but he's also loving and believes he's doing the right thing in the name of love. So darn good!

I received an ARC via YLVA in exchange for an honest review.

[MiskaCZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC from ylva for my honest review.

This is a my first book from W. Hudson. The main character Erin is about to find out about her past and her father.

I didn´thave any expectation but after the first chapter I couldn´t lay the book away. Yes, it is somewhat clear, what will happen, but I liked the storyline and the slowly building relationship between Erin and Abby (the other main character).

I must confess, that some place in the book are really disturbing, but so is the real life.

[Crystal Chard · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's rare that a book hits me on a deep and personal level but this one did exactly that. There were times when I felt like Hudson had burrowed her way into my head and was writing my life (you know, aside from the murdery stuff). I found myself pausing the audio to take a slow breath before hitting play again. If you're someone who grew up not knowing a parent, then tissues at the ready.

It's no secret that I'm here for anything Hudson has to offer, but I've got to say that this book has shot straight to the top of my list and I expect it'll stay there for a long time.

Hudson's romance writing is exceptional (actually, I'd quite like to see her go all in on a pure romance one day, but we'll see). Inevitably, she had me rooting for the MCs from the off by making them both relatable and likeable.

As always, there were many exquisit descriptions peppered throughout, and she did a grand job of bringing places and scenery to life - especially the tower *raises eyebrow.

All in all, another fantastic read from this author and I simply cannot wait to see what she does next. It's official...Wendy Hudson is my favourite Lesfic author. *Hands over trophy.

Also...massive props to Ruth Urquhart who did an incredible job on the narration. I'll be looking out for more from her.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Hudson. I somehow missed her first book. However, I can’t wait to pick it up now. I’m an instant fan and look forward to seeing what she writes in the future. Once I started this book, I had a hard time putting it down to take care of things needing finished. Hudson is an awesome writer, and the book is well done. This isn’t surprising as YLVA always delivers well written books. I do not typically seek out suspenseful reads, but for me this was more than enough to keep me interested. The first scene of the book sucked me in, and from that point forward I couldn’t put it down. Page turner book with a nice romance thrown in is pretty perfect for me. Hudson wrote likeable characters, and the romance between Erin and Abby was believable. I also liked Erin wasn’t in the best of places when this book started, and she grew as a character as the book progressed. Good read and I highly recommend.

[Aj Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book, it was more troubling than Ms Hudson's previous novel, Four Steps, not just in terms of its subject matter but in how it's dealt with by the author. At the moment, rather than writing a review, I'd prefer to hash out my thoughts on the ending and epilogue...but that would be just a touch self-serving and not exactly fair on anyone who decided to read this!

So, basically Erin is off in search of her estranged father despite the fact that her mother fled from him (taking little Erin with her) twenty years ago because he was an abusive nutter. Her search leads to the hotel where the lovely Abby is head chef and sparks fly. Erin's fears and daddy issues, however, combine to throw a whole toolbox in the works.

Worth a read but doesn't quite live up to the promise of Four Steps.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected at all. I was looking forward to some grand thriller after all the hype from 4 steps. The cover looks enticing, the title is good, the story is very... OK.
I expected a thriller, but it isn't much of one. And what is there - not much - is incredibly predictable. The latter part of the thriller part also didn't work for me, for a baddie who is so careful, the ending is rather careless and unbelieveble. So it did not do it for me on that score.
On the whole this is essentially a romance, and even if I ignored the anticipation of a thriller, I did not care so much for the characters, and it didn't really do much for me. The drama of the ex-girlfriend was unnecessary and did not enhance the plot at all.

Having sid that, I will read Four Steps, and it is on my kindle wish list for some point.

[Colleen Corgel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ylva is not afraid to let their authors talk about more difficult topics. And the authors, for the most part excel at this. Wendy Hudson, whose debut novel I haven't gotten my hands on, has written a thoroughly entertaining read.

Erin is a great character, and I like that we meet her as she is - messed up, angry, and sad over the loss of her mother. Hudson doesn't judge Erin for running all over the UK trying to find her estranged dad, she just let's her do the work. So, while Erin is staying at a castle hotel, she meets Abby, the castle's chef and de-facto owner. I love that Abby just toes the line of being an archetype (The bubbly opposite of the brooding main character) but Abby is much more than her personality. She wrestles with what it means to be ambitious and handling other difficult emotions in regards to the castle and her parents.

Hudson does use Abby's ex to create some easy tension between Erin and Abby, however that wasn't as annoying as I thought it would be and I felt like the characters didn't change in order to fit with that particular order. Also, Erin's father hits on all the notes of a domestic abuser and doesn't feel like he's a cartoon villain. I got the creeps from him and his mantra were slightly repetitive, but he's convincingly sinister.

Hudson has a great writing style and adds a ton of depth to her characters. I look forward to reading more from her.

*I received this ARC from Ylva in exchange for my honest opinion.*

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Ylva in exchange for a honest review

It has a good plot and good characters but the thriller part of the book is too predictable but no surprises. The romance falls a bit short and there are a few storylines that don’t completely line up and are left in the end.
All in all it wa a good story idea but it was too predicable.

[Kaplinsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book from Wendy Hudson. A sweet romance with lovable characters, and some edgy suspense thrown in for good measure. I didn't put it down for a second until it was finished!

I love the writing style of this author which is consistent with her first release 'Four Steps'. The pace of the storytelling is perfect, with everything coming to a gripping head at the end.

I was sad to say goodbye to the characters who by the end, I felt I had really got to know. I cannot wait for more books from Wendy Hudson in the future, and I'm hoping for a sequel or spin off of Mine to Keep which follows the next chapter of the main characters lives.

[A.J. Schippers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mine to Keep was the first book of Wendy Hudson that I've read, but it most definitely will not be my last.

From the very first page Hudson paints a beautiful picture that you just cannot look away from. We start our story with Erin Carter. She's on a journey to find her father and some peace of mind. Erin isn't your typical lesbian character, or at least she didn't feel like one to me. Erin is angry, quiet, reserved and doesn't speak much.

I like that Abigail lets Erin be Erin. She isn't actively trying to change her, she accepts Erin for who she is and through that acceptance is how Erin learns to open up.

I really enjoyed George's character. He provided some comic relief, but also some genuine interactions with Erin that tug at your heart strings.

In the beginning of the book I struggled with some words. That's not on the author, rather me not being a native speaker and it's an attribute to Hudson's writing style. I don't often find myself having to find the meaning of a word, so it provided me with a good opportunity to learn.

Anyway, Mine to Keep was intriguing from start to finish. Erin's journey is beautiful and relatable. Abigail's acceptance of Erin as a person really spoke to me and I appreciate the author's effort in writing in this character as well as she did.

Without giving away spoilers, this book was well worth the read. It will definitely be on my 'to read again' list and I can't wait to read more of this author's work.

Also, Wendy Hudson, should you read this, the song choice in this book is superb. It was a song that my aunt used to sing and she passed away many years ago but it really brought back some memories for me that I had forgotten and that were... well, comforting. So, thank you for that!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read that kept my attention. We know from the beginning that Erin is searching for her father and that her deceased mother left him. The opening chapter clues us in to the kind of man her father is. Despite the clues, I still enjoyed the mystery that the main character had to solve about her missing father. Her ambivalence felt real, too, about both meeting her father and her budding romance with Abby. The setting was wonderful. Erin takes a room in a Scottish castle near the border where she meets Abby to whom she is attracted. The vignettes of daily life in and around the castle were enjoyable. The book slowly builds an ominous tension with the detours into the pubs and countryside and the scenes of the father. There was a thrilling ending with some danger involved for all which kept me riveted.

[Alealea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aaah I feel so disappointed ! and sad. I pushed it to two-stars, but it wasn't easy.
I was expecting so much from this book >_<

I liked Four steps. The writer took her time and her characters felt real.

Here, it goes from obvious to odious. Pallid characters, cliché story, and the castle-turned-to-hotel background... It gave me a toothache.

I so need to read something else ...

[Della B · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been awhile since I stayed up all night to finish a book. And I enjoyed every minute of it. Mine to Keep slowly builds the tension and suspense to it’s riveting conclusion. Well paced with unique main characters makes this a Must Read novel. If I could I would give it 4.9 stars.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are the necessary elements here for a good psychological mystery, and it's set in Scotland, a land full of mystery itself. There is tension and danger as well, which helps move the story along. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful thriller.

[susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turning thriller...

This the first book I have read of this author's. All I can tell is this thriller had me hooked from page one. This is definitely a nail biter on the edge of your seat book. The characters were believable and great. I definitely recommend this book.

[Kexx · Rating 5 out of 5]

kept me engaged all down the line - liked both main characters & brought into the back cast. Got a bit picky towards the end - is there a follow-up? I hope not as that'll mean more angst! 1st I've read of her's...

[Fiona Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mine to Keep, the brilliant second novel from Wendy Hudson, is a fast-paced romance, set utterly believably in a castle with a fairy-tale tower. Erin Carter arrives at the imposing hotel after a prologue that lets us know, in true Taggart-style, that ‘there’s been a murder.’ But Erin doesn’t know that.

A teacher, she’s starting her summer holiday with an open-ended booking at Cornfield Castle, determined to track down her father, who’s been out of her life since she was little. Chef Abby and her brother George hit it off with Erin and help out with some local knowledge, as the search for clues takes them all into dangerous territory.

The developing relationships sparkle with witty dialogue as the three find out just how much they can, and may need to, trust and rely on one another. As with Four Steps, Hudson’s debut, this is a page turner, with some real shocks along the way. Even with some foreshadowing, Hudson sets up a strong feeling of tension, making this an unputdownable tale. It’s no wonder that she won the Golden Crown Literary Society’s Debut Author award for Four Steps, which is also shortlisted for the crime award in the 2017 Diva Literary Awards, alongside famous Scottish crime writer Val McDermid.

Mine to Keep is a title with a double meaning, potentially very sinister, and Erin is right to feel shaken when she senses someone watching her in the cemetery. Abby provides comfort but can they find a recipe for true love or will both their pasts poison the mix? A highly rccommended read.

(Thanks for the advance copy to review. Apologies for not managing to do so before today...publication day.)

[Jeannette Rodriguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly found this book hard to get through. It wasn't until the last few chapters that the suspense kicked up and a flew through the book.

Mine to Keep is about a woman named Erin who goes to stay at a castle while looking for her father. At the castle she meets Abby and George, who are siblings. The three of them quickly become friends and Erin and Abby even more. While searching for her father, Erin hears the stories about a man named Eddie but the stories are all a little different. Could Eddie be her father? Could she have a sister? What really happened to make her mother decided to leave her father? What really happened to Eddie's second wife?

I enjoyed the characters of Abby and George with George being my favorite character in the book. Their sibling relationship was entertaining to read. Also you could tell that these two would do anything for each other. George was funny and caring and a joy to read. All the characters in the book were well written.

The perspectives in the book change so we get to see the thoughts of different characters. The parts told from Eddie's perspective really made me dislike him more than I already did. Then getting Abby's and Erin's perspectives helped me as a reader understand how they were each feeling in their developing relationship.

The epilogue did a good job of tying up the book up and giving us some closure. I was satisfied with the ending.

For those who might be triggered by abuse this book is not for you.

Overall it was an okay book for me.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wendy Hudson has quite the gift for startling me-as I was reading the prologue for this volume, absorbed in the seemingly perfect idyll of a young family, the direction that I was anticipating for the mystery to evolve was dramatically shifted by the destruction wrought by Eddie. I found the relationship between the protagonists to be a secondary plot consideration to the cycle of grief, depression and searching that Erin was absorbed in for most of the novel. That was disappointing, as both women, especially Abby, had unresolved commitment issues that might have been explored more thoroughly before they came together. However, the facet of the tale that left me most wanting was the lack of context offered for the malevolence displayed by Eddie-what caused such a man to exist and why did the townspeople not seek more than superficial answers into the death of his second wife? Also, the emotional damage wrought on Thea by her lifelong captivity was too easily glossed over and would have offered fertile territory for Erin to have to contend with while establishing a relationship with her younger sister. The climax in the action arose too quickly and I was left wanting more development for all of the characters introduced by Ms. Hudson.

I was provided with an arc of this volume through the generosity of the author and publisher.