This is a good old fashioned Psychological Thriller. You have no idea what is going on, what is going to happen, nor who to trust!
There is a lot thrown at you in this as there are quite a few characters that have a lot of depth. This really intensified the mystery surrounding everyone as any could have been doing things for any reason!
The protagonist, Mel, was written superbly. So often, women who don’t have anyone to turn to can end up being relatively weak and pathetic. However, no matter what was thrown at Mel, she stayed strong and determined. There was an odd occasion where her actions were questionable, but not enough to ruin the story. Kate, on the other hand, was quite frustrating, but then again, I don’t have any dealings with teenagers to know if this is normal behaviour. I wanted to give her a good shake, though to stop her from keeping secrets.
There are lots of shocks and twists at the end, and even when you think the story has been concluded, there are more to come. I didn’t see any of the outcomes coming and was shocked at every turn.
The storyline itself was refreshing as I’ve not read anything like this before. I was even getting quite excited at the thought of renovating the hotel and was coming up with all sorts of ideas. I wanted to jump into the pages ad help!
Overall, a really gripping and exciting book that I devoured way too quickly!

This book is rather good for twists and turns! While a bit far fetched, it was also rather good and kept me wanting to know what would happen.
I felt myself rooting for Mel and felt genuinely concerned for her.

Won’t change your world but an enjoyable read that kept me quite invested to the end!

Read through netgalley

Wow! Tears spilling like a torrent! I cannot help! Those mother and daughter were incredible! I truly loved them ! I just got lost the depths of emotional characterization of the story as soon as I got this book into my hands!

This book is not only great mystery reading, it was also great written, extremely heartfelt, tear jerker! Three generation’s story: the suffer, the pain, the abuse, the bullying they endure broke my heart several times!

It starts with poignant story of Mel and Kate. Mel is single mother, barely makes ends meet, taking care of her daughter after ending her relationship with the abusive bastard who called himself husband grabbed his jail card and got out of the picture.

She works at care house for elderly. But her boss is cutthroat Nazi bitch who scrutinize each move she makes to find a mistake to dumb her ass and finally she finds a chance to sack her by blaming Mel for theft!

Mel is already exhausted not to give a proper life for her daughter even though how hard she tries! And her daughter Kate has been bullied in school for a long time, rejecting her mother’s attempts to talk to the principal because talking will make things worst for her!

At the right time she gets a letter from a law company about unknown relative! She thinks it’s a scam but her best and only friend Michael forced her to connect with them and he is right: it’s not a scam. Actually it is an answer to solve for entire financial problems.

She does not only inherit a quiet satisfying amount of money but she also inherits a hotel which comes with one full time resident who is living there rent free and as long as she works she has to serve(including meals, laundry, cleaning) for that woman! She needs to renovate undertake renovation work and rebuild the floating hotel business. She is not allowed to sell the place!

But beggars can’t be choosers! Of course she accepts the offer! It can be clean skate for her and daughter but she has no idea what kind of troubles await them. The unfriendly staff who sabotage her is not the main problem she needs to deal! She accepts the offer for presenting her daughter a better life but somebody kidnapped her! She is missing!

As she starts looking for her she will also find the great mystery about her childhood which will shake her to the core and force her rethink everything she believes in her life!

I’m rounding up 4.5 to 5 stars because the last twist is well played and the dramatic depth of the characters, their heart wrenching stories are perfectly crafted!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this reviewer arc copy with me in exchange my honest opinions!

This psychological thriller certainly had me reading late into the night, determined to finish it and find out what was going to happen. An interesting plot and lots of interesting characters but maybe a little too hard to believe but I am willing to forgive that.


>Single parent Mel is struggling to get by while bringing up her daughter Kate, so when she receives an inheritance letter she can hardly believe it.

Mel has inherited a small seaside hotel, left to her in a strangers will. Could this be the chance to escape the money problems and the threats of her dangerous ex Billy. The hotel needs an over haul and Mel is keen to throw herself into the hard work in an effort to escape her past troubles. But everything is not perfect and Mel senses the whispers from locals and an uneasy feeling that her daughter is hiding something from her. Things start to improve but are brought to a sudden halt when a disturbing discovery is made under the foundations. The police are called and Mel's problems just seem to escalate.

Lots of twists and turns in this one and probably a few too many for me but still a good read from an author I plan to read more of.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was very good! Couldn’t leave it alone, had to keep reading. Mel, mum to Kate, is a carer at a residential home and is struggling with money and life in general. She adores her daughter and relies heavily on her best friend Michael. Mel and Michael met when they were children in foster homes together. There is an abusive partner, Billy, in the background, no money to spare and Kate is being bullied at school. Then an anonymous inheritance changes everything!
Whilst the book is a little predictable and the storyline is quite involved, the premise is good. The ending is unexpected and a real twist. Single Mother is a very enjoyable read and I would recommend. A good 4.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

Another hit from the author. The author keeps getting better and better. A fun book filled with a lot of mystery and suspense. And with a few twists thrown in, it made this book an enjoyable read from beginning to end.

Single mother is a strangely twisty chilling read that tells the tale of struggling single mum Mel, living hand to mouth month by month with her young daughter Kate trying to stay off the radar of her ex billy who had been in prison! A very mysterious but welcome inheritance suddenly provides Mel with an opportunity to escape Birmingham snd start a new life with her daughter by the coast! However this inheritance of a hotel, lump sum of money and a permanent resident doesn’t quite live up to mels expectations of a new life! Hotel life is fraught with unexpected occurrences,chilling discoveries, realisation and surprising twists.
Thank you netgalley for this early read.

Single Mother by Samantha Hayes is another addictive read from this not to be missed author. This one will have you hooked from the very beginning and will not let go.

Mel is a single mother to a daughter, Kate. Money is tight, and Mel struggles to make ends meet, but it is all worth it if they can only stay out of the clutches of her abusive ex, Billy. When Mel receives a surprise inheritance of a seaside hotel, along with a significant amount of money, she thinks that her prayers have been answered. It is a chance for her to start a new life with Kate, and to finally leave Billy in the past where he belongs. When she arrives at the hotel, a mysterious and permanent guest, and a series of unfortunate events will have Mel questioning if this inheritance has been a blessing, or if her problems have only multiplied with the windfall.

This is a twisty thriller that will keep you guessing, and I couldn't put it down until I got to the bottom of it all. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

#SingleMother #NetGalley
I couldn't put my kindle down.
Mel and her daughter Kate step inside the small seaside hotel left to her in a stranger’s will, Mel allows herself a rare moment of hope. Could this be the new start away from the school bullies that her little girl so desperately needs? Could they finally be out of reach of Mel’s dangerous ex?As Mel starts restoring the building to its former glory – ripping up carpets, giving the rooms a fresh lick of paint – it’s hard work, but the place feels a little more like home each day; she’s even made a few friends. If only she could ignore the locals whispering behind her back and the uneasy feeling that her daughter is hiding something from her. Is she reading too much into the threatening messages left around the hotel? Are the glimpses of her ex’s battered red truck real, or imagined?When the police are called to a disturbing discovery buried under the foundations,
Bookouture's Hit machine is back with a twisty psychological thriller.
I'm going to promote it among my fellow Authors Bloggers Family Friends and Followers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advanced copy of this psychological thriller.