The lengths that some people will go to exact revenge are the focal points of this work of psychological domestic drama by Carola Lovering. The story is told from dual alternating unreliable narrators and the plot twists just keep on coming. I love a book that portrays a complete turnaround and keeps readers on the edge of their seats and Lovering successfully accomplishes this. I look forward to reading more from her.

WOOHOO! This was a fun, fast-paced and super twisty ride! I highly recommend Carola Lovering’s sophomore novel.

“Too Good to Be True” is on several anticipated reads lists for Spring, which is why I signed up to read this via NetGalley. I went in blind and boy-oh-boy, am I grateful that I did. I had no clue what to expect and the plot kept thickening! What a fun mystery.

Definitely check out the audio version, narrated by the very talented cast of Amy McFadden, Andi Arndt and Stephen Dexter. It’s well worth the 6 hours of listening (just be sure to put it on 2X speed).

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for the advanced reader ebook. This is my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was an unputdownable story, alternating between points of view of the three main characters in present time and in the past. There are lots of twists, turns and surprises along the way!

I recommend this for anyone who enjoys a thriller with a surprise ending!

If you're looking for fast-paced, can't put down, and stay up late to finish novel you need to pick up Too Good to Be True! Skye Starling seemingly has it all-including crippling OCD as a result of a traumatic loss as a child. When she meets gorgeous Burke Michaels their whirlwind romance seems...just a little too good to be true. Told in multiple view points, including letters to his therapist, it appears that Burke is too good to be true-and very married with a very deceptive end-game for Skye. Add in a third perspective set years earlier Skye and Burke find themselves on a collision course no one will see coming. This book will have you questioning everyone, with twists around every corner. Pick this one up today!

I really enjoyed Lovering's latest release. The characters, while slightly unrelatable, were flushed out and great detail and attention given to Skye's OCD. The book moves at a great pace where the twists keep coming-one of my favorites this year so far!

Thanks to the writer, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

It took me some time to get into this one. We have one story told from multiple viewpoints. Burke is married to Heather. Burke also dates and married Skye. The courtship of Skye and Burke is told through the POV of Skye and a journal that Burke is writing to his marriage counselor. It's a little weird and you know right away that there is a level of unreliability happening. Heather's story is also told, but for it we go way back to her childhood and a really inappropriate relationship with her boss, Libby, a bored, rich housewife.

Part 1 sets it all up and Part 2 brings it all together. I can't say it did so perfectly. There were some cringe moments, but all in all I liked the way it came together.

Read Too Good to Be True by Carola Lovering. Don't read my review, just go dive into the book, don't come up for air until you're done reading and then come back and tell me what you think. Twisty suspense wrapped around three intense characters. There's the married man who is working on conning Skye and then there's Heather....Burke's first love from his past. Unique ways of finding out what is going on, and an ending that just may surprise you! Loved the suspense and how we get to know the characters! Lovering is definitely on my list of authors to love!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and author Carola Lovering for this temporary advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own!

Eeek!! I LOVED this book. Right from the first page I was hooked and nothing makes me happier than a story like that. I really enjoyed the dual perspective as well. Before we even got Burke's perspective you knew that something was a miss right from the beginning with Burke. I hate to have that pessimistic view of life, but then again I've read too many thrillers to not be suspicious of everyone! Then it was just a roller-coaster ride until the end. It was so page turning and heart thumping. I loved that the message was drilled in right from the beginning, " if it looks too good to be true, it probably is."
Carola Lovering is a new author to me but this will not be the end. I absolutely want to read more from this author.

You know how the old adage goes - 'If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is.' This saying takes on a whole new meaning in this rollercoaster of a book. Skye has major OCD issues that started when her mom was dying. Many years later, she was still struggling with compulsion. It had ruined many relationships in her life. It wasn't until she met Burke that things started to change. Little did she know that Burke was married and their paths had crossed when she was just a baby.

It is told from multiple points of view - Skye, Burke and Heather. I found it to be engaging and a quick read hat kept me on my toes. I can't wait to read more from Carola Lovering!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and the author for a #gifted copy of this book.

3.5 stars, rounded up

I recommend going into this book blind. Don't read the synopsis or any reviews. Don't keep reading my review unless you've already read the book. It's good, trust me, if you like domestic suspense go ahead and give it a try.

That said, this is an interesting ride. Told by three narrators in the past, present, and through journal entries bracketing both, it's a wild trip to discover who is telling you the real truth, who is telling their own version of the truth, and who is outright lying to you. There are some surprising twists throughout that kept me guessing which of those things I was reading.

I listened to part of this as an audio book and the narrators are fantastic. Each character's section has its own narrator, giving the characters their own voices. If you enjoy audio books, it's a great way to experience this one.

Some of the surprises aren't really surprises and some of the things that happen are way, way too convenient and not even believable in the slightest way. Overall, I enjoyed this novel and found it a fast-paced, intriguing domestic suspense offering.

I enjoyed this book but the first 50% was a bit slow for me. I felt like there was a lot of filler in this one and while the idea was fabulous, it had a lot of fluff. Still 3.5 from me!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the free book.
This was super twisty and interesting for the first half. I was absorbed in the story and just had to know where it was going. After the beginning of part two, though, it got super repetitive and I found myself skimming chapters. I didn’t need the same story from all the characters POVs. Enjoyed the ending, though. Glad Skye grew throughout this story.

If he seems too good to be true...well he probably is! Holy twist!! I love a good twist and well this one got me good. This is best to go in blind because...well it just is...so on that note..

Skye has trouble with men. They can't seem to accept her for who she is. Sure she is pretty, rich and fun.. but she has OCD and that has lead to some cruel treatment by...pretty much everyone...then along came Burke. Gorgeous, older and totally in love with Skye. He sweeps her off her feet. However, not everyone is as blown away by Burke...

My heart broke for Skye- all the cruel behavior she had endured. I hoped that she finally found "the one" but I was like her BFF Andie...we didn't quite trust old Burke.

I need to stop right there because seriously this book is super twisty and I don't want to give it away. Afterwards I was like...why didn't I see that coming??? Yet, I didn't! This was a fun, wild ride!

***So I dropped the ball on this review. It was meant to be reviewed as an ARC, but I missed the publish date. I read this back in July of 2020 and was waiting until closer to its publishing date before releasing this review. I thought it was in my calendar to publish the review, but it was not. This book was released on March 2, 2021 so you can get it now!!!***


What a good book! If you are a mystery & thriller lover, then this is a book for you! This is my first read by author Carola Lovering and not my last! The plot is original, the characters are so well thought out and described... I can't say enough good things about this book!

It's a book filled with secrets, deception, jealousy and envy. As each page turned the plot got crazier and crazier until I got to the end and my mind was blown! I will try my hardest not to give away any spoilers.

The story is told from different perspectives and in different timelines, and it gives the reader such good insight to what each character is thinking and what their motives could be. For awhile I even wondered how they all even came together in the overall plot, but the mysteries and revelations kept me turning the pages, and I was eager to get to the end.

The character development in the novel is superb! I got such a complete feel about everyone. Skye is a rich young woman. Insanely rich. Even though she is a trust fund baby, she still chooses to work from home as a book editor because of her crippling OCD. She has also been very unlucky in the love department.

Burke is a 40 something year old married father. He's a once successful business man who has fallen on hard times. He's also an addict. His life is soon to be falling apart and he comes up with a plan- lure the rich and beautiful Skye into a relationship.

Back in the past, Heather is a teenager who gets a taste of the good life when she becomes a babysitter for a rich family. She sees their life and now knows what she wants- the big house, the nice cars, the handsome husband, and the perfect children. She comes from a family of addict parents, who forget they even have kids and it is up to Heather to care for her younger sibling.

All three of these characters have secrets, dreams, and plans for their future. All three narratives start to intertwine. The ending I did not see coming!

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for allowing me a digital copy to read and give my honest review. It was a 5 star read for me!

Like mentioned at the start, this book was released in the U.S. on March 2, 2021 so get your copy now! Perfect ready for a rainy, spring weekend!

Happy Reading!

Reading Between the Wines book review #29/115 for 2021:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 📱: Too Good to be True
Author: Carola Lovering
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers | Women's Fiction
RELEASED on March 2, 2021!!! Get your copy!

Sipping Synopsis: Skye never thought she would find love due to her debilitating OCD diagnosis. So, when Burke pops into her life and takes her on this whirlwind romance it just seems too good to be true. And it is. Burke is a liar and a manipulator who is just after Skye’s money. Heather, years earlier, was Burke’s girlfriend and maybe his one true love. Why is Burke set on destroying Skye and will Heather a victim or accomplice in his deceit?

Final sipping thoughts: I literally haven’t wanted to fight, shake, or scream at a group of characters as much as I NEEDED to with these characters. I could not put this book down when I first started it and just could not wait to see what in the world was going on and why Burke would do what he was doing. I loved the multiple POVs and I just did not know what to believe. The first part of the book was unputdownable. The middle part of the book became a lost a little oomph and the ending picked up a little. Based of the first 50% of the book, I was sure I would be rating TGTBT 5 stars but the somewhere a little of the intensity and thrills fell, but just a little. I still rated it a 4 star because I cannot wait to talk to others about it.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley, @carolatlovering and @StMartinsPress for an advanced copy of @TooGoodToBeTrue

#CarolaLovering #TooGoodToBeTrue #StMartinsPress #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #WomensFiction

I loved Too good to be true. It was told from three points of view following the past and present time frames. It was a very quick and easy read that kept me turning the pages. I was never quite sure who to believe while reading this story. It was shocking but revealing and a fun one. I can see someone enjoying it at the pool one afternoon or at the beach. A great one.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for my advanced copy. Truly enjoyable.

3.5 Was It True Or Good Stars
* * * 1/2 Spoiler Free-A Quick Review
What if there was an answer to all of the problems you have...
Yes, it is thinking out of the box...
And could be thought of as cruel and deceitful...
Oh, and if you care about whether is it criminal...

There is that...

But hey, remember it is the answer to all of your problems...
So here we go...

A romance set to be the dream for a woman who has issues...
Issues that have stopped her from achieving a loving relationship...
Now she has met the man who will make that dream come true...

Or does she...

Skye Starling has finally found the man of her dreams,someone who accepts and loves her despite her crippling OCD. Burke Michaels is older and at forty six years old, nothing like the immature men she used to date who quickly left because of her quirks. But is Burke all he claims to be when he asks Skye to marry him? Burke is hiding secrets and not little ones either. Burke is already married with kids and Skye is his big ticket to freedom. But, sometimes the truth is not that simple and Skye is about to find out that nothing is as it seems. Will the truth finally set her free?

Too Good to be True is one giant soap opera and much like daytime TV, this story is also filled with lust, greed and envy. It kinda makes me miss not watching daytime soaps any longer! This story would give Days of Our Lives a run for its money!

This story is told through Multiple POV’s and dual timelines. The story is set in the present told through both Skye and Burke and also thirty years prior with Heather, a young teenage girl. Little by little we see glimpses into each of their lives while pieces of the puzzle are slowly revealed. But who is telling the truth and who is lying is the big question throughout most of this story. Believe me when I say once the reveals start emerging, it is quite shocking! I never really figured out most of the story as there are plenty of twists and red herrings throwing you off the scent. Carola Lovering has really outdone herself with Too Good to be True and has definitely kept up the tense momentum throughout the entire story forcing you to keep flipping through the pages at record speed while trying to get down to the bottom of it all. Oh the drama is real!

Lovering really did a phenomenal job with her characterization of Skye, Burke and Heather. They were all three dimensional characters and while you may like them all at different parts of the story, there will be times when you might think one or two of them may be a little crazy. Although, I do admit really liking Skye and how she tries to live her life despite having a crippling OCD which is really brought to the forefront in many scenes and in one heartbreaking scene later in the story.

As far as the romance aspect of this story, I am kind of on the fence about it especially with the ending, but it is in a way original and nothing I have ever read happening in any other books especially not in the thriller genre. I can see why and how it happened, but I am not sure it worked for me. I know this is kind of cryptic, but once you read this story you will realize why.

If you love an edge of your seat, twisty and drama filled story with just a sprinkle of crazy then you will definitely want to read Too Good to be True.

Sometimes a title says it all, and that was certainly the case for me with 𝐓𝐎𝐎 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐄 by Carola Lovering. I can have a sticky relationship with domestic thrillers, but when one works for me, it really works.⁣
⁣
This is the story of a man and the women he’s married to. Yes, I said “the women.” Through twists and turns Burke Michaels finds himself with two wives, and a whole lot of reasons why. I don’t want to reveal too much about the story itself, but loved hearing alternately from Burke, his longtime wife, Heather, and his young new wife, Skye. With each chapter the knots grow tighter until finally they begin to unravel. For me this was a propulsive read that I simply could not put down. (One might even say it was "too good to be true.") Obviously, I highly recommend 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘉𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘦 and I want to 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 with one of you.⁣
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My thanks to St. Martin's Press who generously sent me this beautiful finished copy..

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley I exchange for my opinion of it. If you meet a guy that is too good to be true then he probably is. Irritating how two of them called each other goose. Told from views of 3 people which was somewhat distracting. Just a crazy read.

Skye Starling, a wealthy young woman with debilitating OCD, is about to marry her dream man, except what she doesn’t know is he’s already married! When the truth is revealed, her world falls apart, but even more startling revelations are to come in this rollercoaster ride of suspense by author Carola Lovering.

Too Good to Be True is told from the alternating viewpoints of Skye, her fiancé Burke and his wife Heather. I’m not generally fond of the multiple narrator technique, but in this case the individual voices are distinct and contribute greatly to the effectiveness of the storytelling.

Character-driven rather than action packed, Lovering creates an in-depth study of the characters, providing an ample amount of backstory to support their motivations. The book contains lots of twists and turns. It takes a lot to surprise me but this unique thriller did just that! The story is well-written and precise and I was anxiously turning the pages until it reached its more than satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended.