I've read a couple Minka Kent books in the past, so I was excited to give this one a try.

This book tells two stories: the life of two girls living in isolation, never having really experienced life outside their cabin, and the struggles of a woman who desperately wants a baby and fears her marriage is falling apart. The way the story jumped back and forth between two major characters made it compulsively readable. I zipped through it quickly, interested to see how their stories would ultimately intersect. I enjoy Kent's writing style and I'm typically happy to get on board with plotlines that seem a bit outlandish. The big reveal at the end of this one, however, felt like a stretch to me. I had a hard time suspending disbelief to fully enjoy how the story wrapped up.

I would gladly recommend Kent's books to a friend looking for something quick and fun to read, but I probably wouldn't encourage them to start with this particular novel.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing the early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book until the very end. Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it. The characters and writing are so very good. Great premise and execution, delivered by the two vastly different narrators.

I didn’t see where this was headed. I thought a few different, much darker, scenarios. This is a bit crazy but really more sad. The conclusion wasn’t bad but somewhat abrupt. I didn’t understand why Wren stayed versus going to Texas??

This is my second book by this author and I have enjoyed both very much, look forward to the next! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Thomas & Mercer for a copy in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed this book. The author's writing just flows along and draws you right into the story. The best part is definitely the much disputed twist at the end, but I, for one, loved it. The part of the story told by Wren's point of view was captivating and you can just picture her and her family living off of the land deep in the forest. It was expertly tied in to the other narrative of Nicolette who is dealing with her own struggles and hardships. This book is a real page turner and I found myself reading it all in one sitting because I couldn't wait to get to the end and see how everything resolved. You really don't want to miss out on this one!

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer, NetGalley and Minka Kent for the chance to read and review this book.

I tore through this compelling thriller in less than 24 hours. It was my first read by this author but it won’t be my last.

Wren and Sage have been alone since their Mama left with their sister Evie 63 days ago. Their supplies are dwindling and Wren isn’t sure they’ll survive the coming winter and is losing hope of Mama returning. The girls have never left their secluded cabin on the edge of Stillwater Forest, always cautioned to fear what lurks beyond it. But then a man knocks at their door claiming to be looking for their mother. He keeps asking questions and says he won’t leave without them so Wren decides they have to break Mama’s rule. They have to go into the forest. Gripping each other’s hands the sisters battle their overwhelming fear to escape and find help beyond the trees. But neither girl is prepared for what they find on the other side of the forest and for their whole lives to be turned upside down. Long hidden secrets are revealed and lies uncovered as the authorities try to discover the girl’s identities and search for their missing mother and sister.

I don’t like putting spoilers in my reviews which makes it difficult to say much about what happens after the sister’s leave their home. I was gripped from the first page and though I didn’t have any inkling of the twists, turns and revelations that would leave me reeling, I could tell this was going to be a book that saw seemingly unrelated things converge.

Wren and Sage are two of the most innocent characters I’ve ever read. They are oblivious to the real world, never having heard of electricity or a flushing, inside toilet. They are vulnerable, terrified, dazed and full of wonder at life outside the cabin. Wren in particular relishes the freedom to make simple choices and begins to see how dominating and deceitful her Mama had been. Having Wren as a narrator helped me connect to her and made the abnormal situations feel believable. I had a lot of empathy for the girls and I was rooting for them to have a happy ending after all they had gone through.

The Stillwater Girls is a thrilling, fast paced and compelling book that pulls you into the world of it’s characters. The author has the ability how to keep the reader in the dark about what’s coming but still keep them so emerged in the story that they can’t stop reading. The only downside for me is that it was over too quickly.

A thrilling story with great characters. Definitely a good read.

***

I really enjoyed this story. I flew through the pages in one sitting. The book starts with two completely different stories. One of, Nic, a wealthy woman who just figured out that her husband is cheating on her and one of Wren and Sage, two girls who were raised in a cabin in the woods.

Pretty much half of this book the two stories are completely separate. At first I thought I wouldn’t enjoy Nic’s story that much. On one hand you have this creepy cabin and the girls and a stranger and everything is super exiting. On the other you have this rich Nicolett woman, who has a lot of money and a unfaithful husband. But I was intrigued by her within few pages. Somehow Nic’s story was as interesting to me as the one of the girls.

Of cause you know that the stories will meet at some point. And that was actually happening quicker than I thought. But even though the strings where attached to each other, it took some time to figure out how exactly.

I did have a clue early on, which war partly correct. Still I had a blast reading till the very end.

The writing style suited me perfectly, I enjoyed jumping between the characters. Also this book is not very long, so I did not get bored at any point, due to the fast pace it was written in.

My first book by Minka Kent, and how great it was! It is told from two different perspectives. From the beginning, it is difficult to tell how the characters are connected, but in turn, that makes you invested to find out. Clever writing style to keep you hooked!

Pleasantly surprised with the way this one turned out, which is nothing like I expected. The final plot twists were a little unbelievable but I sure enjoyed the ride -- such great writing!

The Stillwater Girls is like if you took two different thrillers and tried weaving them into one. Both are fascinating stories in and of themselves, but combining them together just makes it way too melodramatic. I don't mean this to say that this is a bad novel because it's not. It's just a lot of drama that could have fit into two different novels. Is this a story about Wren and Sage, or is it a story about Nicolette and Brant? Their separate stories would have worked much better as their own standalone pieces.

Minka Kent's writing is easy to follow, and she does a good job of differentiating voices between the narrators. When Wren's speaking, the reader can clearly identify it just as when Nicolette is speaking, the reader picks up on it in a heartbeat, so Minka Kent is a skilled writer in handling a variety of narrative voices. The big plot twist, though? I didn't believe it for a moment. I don't mind the unreliable narrator trope, but there are just far too many loopholes for it to be written off as believable. Everything else before then, even as wild as it may seem, makes sense, but there are just way too many legal issues involved with the major plot twist that don't add up to make it plausible.

Overall, The Stillwater Girls is an interesting thriller that served as a quick read and made me curious enough to know what happens next. Would I watch it if it were made into a movie? Probably. Would I read it again, though? Probably not.

Strength. Resilience. A will to survive. The Stillwater Girls is a heart wrenching and heart warming tale. Nothing is what it seems. Everything is a lie. A mother’s love knows no bounds. This thriller is one that is for the big screen and I couldn’t put it down until I finished the last page.

My second Minka Kent book and certainly not my last! Such an enjoyable read that kept me gripped the whole novel. A must read for any thriller fans. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

This book is SO good. Loved the writing style and the thriller aspect of it. The story is told through the narration of two characters and it captivates from the first page. Great quick read that you won't be able to put down. LOVED!

I’ve read all of ten author’s other books and they’re all really easy, fun reads. This one is not as much of a thriller as the others, however it still held my attention and I read it quickly in about two days.

Thanks to Netgalley the the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The beginning of this book introduces two sisters, Wren (19 years old) and her younger sister Sage. It is clear from the outset that they are in dire straits. They live in an isolated, primitive cabin surrounded by forest and the severe weather, bleak, lowering landscape with little or no food or comfort. Water and wood are hard come by. They have lived in this hard, inhospitable condition with their Mother and younger sister, Evie, for as long as Wren can remember. Some weeks prior, when Evie became ill, Mother and child left seeking medical help. Since then the two girls have just about existed. The fear is – will they last until help comes? Help comes in the form of a stranger, a man who intrudes upon their lives, demanding answers to their questions and they are helpless. They manage to escape into the dark forest and inclement weather, despite their mother’s admonishments never go beyond the forest.

It is difficult to discuss what happens next without spoiling the secrets and lies that will be revealed. This is a well-structured plot with surprises aplenty, and great characters. I was shocked at the revelations; astounded by the time-line (I thought this was set in a completely different time), and I was keen to devour the book.

Excellent writing and clever; very clever.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Minka Kent became a favorite when I read the memory watcher. She knows how to put you on the edge of your seat and completely engage you. The Stillwater girls reminded me of another book I just read and loved. This is a thriller and will emotionally wreck you. Read it!

HAPPY TEARS!!!!
Listen, coming out of this book, I'm a wreck


I received a copy of The Thinnest Air by Kent a good while back and just never got around to reading it. I WILL BE READING IT NOW, THANK YOU.

Minka Kent delivers a roller coaster ride of emotions in The Stillwater Girls.

Their primitive cabin in the middle of the woods where they live with their mother is all Wren, Sage, and Evie have ever known. They are cautioned against the evils of the world and are told to NEVER go beyond the forest. Until one night, the youngest, Evie, falls ill and their mother has to rush her through the woods and into town to get her medicine. Only, their mother and Evie never return. Months go by and the two remaining girls fear the worst. They're running short on food and supplies. Winter has arrived and it is BRUTAL. Then, a man shows up claiming he knows their mother and he is there to take them from their isolated lives. He makes it very clear that they haven't a choice and he is NOT leaving without them. Wren, 19, and Sage, 18, are about to embark on a journey and discover that their life and their world is not at all what they were led to believe.


THIS BOOK
I was entranced from the beginning. I was able to connect to the characters from the start. Mind you, once we met all the characters, I had pretty much figured the book out. I had the gist anyway. To me, though, this did not take away from the story at all. I was so invested in the characters that by the end of it all, I didn't care that I had it figured out from the get go. I ugly cried at work, people!

This book definitely tickled my emotions which, as you all know, are always kept in check. I felt all the emotions on this journey. I was infuriated, I was frustrated, I was nervous, I was hopeful, I was overwhelmingly sad, and then I was overwhelmingly happy.

*sigh*

This was SO SO good.

I really enjoyed the way the story was written. We are told the story through the narration of two characters. Their perspectives take turns, guiding us through what's happening and it flowed so wonderfully.

I'd also like to take a moment to appreciate Brant's character. I know that I'm meant to be furious with him and hate him but... I just couldn't. I was rooting for Brant the entire time. He was definitely my favorite character. Although, there wasn't a character in the book I didn't like. Except maybe one... or two... Yea, just two. And you'll know who they are. Trust me.

I honestly don't give books 5 stars (or cats) unless I have nothing to complain about. And guys, I have NOTHING to complain about. Some people may be a bit weary as, again, it is one that you may be able to figure out early on. But the ending... and the journey to the ending... it was so good. Well worth the read, in my opinion.

I'll just be reading The Thinnest Air now, k, thanks, bye.

Special thanks to the publisher and author for the ARC via Netgalley.

First, thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC of The Stillwater Girls in exchange for a review. This book started out good enough and the premise of the story is interesting but a little over halfway through the book it was like a different author had taken over. The plot was pretty far-fetched after that in comparison to the first part of the book. There wasn't enough backstory explained so the big plot twist just came out of left field and not in a good way. I wish it had been developed better because as mentioned above, the storyline is solid.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC ecopy for my Kindle.
The Stillwater Girls is a suspense/mystery novel. Two teenage girls, Wren and Sage, are left in a cabin in a remote forest for over 2 mths. after the mama left to take their sickly younger sister Evie to "the man" for help. Next, the book introduces a wealthy woman Nicolette and her photographer husband Brant. The couple have been together and/or married for over 10 yrs . Nicolette had an emergency hysterectomy and can not get past the fact that she can't have children, so she is determined to try foster care. The paths cross when the 2 teenage sisters run away from the cabin when a stranger appears and end up at Nicolette & Brant's front door.
As the book continues, the police and other law enforcement try to determine who the 2 girls are and what happened to their mama and younger sister. The girls stay with Nicolette and Brant until their families can be located. In the meantime, Nicolette comforts Brant about some things that has caused her to doubt Brant's faithfulness to their marriage. Brant tries to explain away her suspicions and reveals some things that surprised me. At this point I was looking forward to reading just how the story would play out, but then the last few chapters felt too rushed and not quiet believable.
Overall, a decent book for anyone who enjoys mystery/suspense novels.

This has easily been one of the most enjoyable books I have read this year. I was utterly engrossed from start to finish and read the entire book in one sitting. The Stillwater Girls is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that is told from the viewpoints of Wren and Nicolette. It is a completely original tale that moves at a breath taking pace and has believable characters that readers will quickly become attached to. I absolutely adored this book and have no hesitation in recommending it to other readers.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC.

I am a sucker for any fiction involving people off the grid or living in isolation, so when I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I wanted to read it ASAP. And I was not disappointed. This is the first book I have read by the author, Minka Kent, and I really enjoyed it.

The book is told from two different perspectives and switches back and forth every other chapter, which I really enjoyed. I have seen some criticism that this book was really predictable and I have to disagree with that. It is obvious from the beginning that at some point, the two characters who perspectives we are reading from, are going to interact, but beyond that, I really didn't find it predictable. Like most thriller or suspense books, I spent a good deal of time in the second half of the book trying to figure things out or guess the ending. Some things I figured out, but there were many that I didn't.

I like Wren as a character and I enjoyed the chapters from her point of view. It was interesting to hear what she was thinking going from living in complete isolation to being exposed to the outside world. Actually, I really enjoyed all of the characters in the book. The plot moves along at a steady pace and I ended reading this book in 2 days because I just needed to know what happened. I don't want to give anything away in the review, I think it's better to read the synopsis and not much more before reading the book. I definitely recommend this one and I can't wait to read some of the author's other books in the future.

Thank you to the publisher, Thomas & Mercer, and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review

This started out as a solid 4 stars, Well paced, enough action and intrigue to keep the pages turning and characters just flawed enough to invest you in them without making them unlikable. I really felt for the girls and for Nic, having had a hysterectomy at a young age myself.

And then the big twist came and ruined it all! Totally unbelievable and far too coincidental, it really spoiled the book at the final hurdle.

Still, this is just my opinion! The first 3/4 of the book were excellent and someone else may find the twist exciting. Worth picking up for a read in the bath or on holiday, but I wouldn't put it at the top of a TBR pile!