This another great book by Samantha Hayes. The characters are intriguing and well developed and the book atmospheric.
The ending was unexpected. Overall, I really enjoyed this book.

Even with thrillers, I expect quality writing, not just action. This book was lacking in many areas. The entire book was composed of plot and dialogue, with no nuance and no subtleties. The story seems very stilted and contrived. It doesn't flow very naturally, and the characters were not very believable. The tension was not convincing, and the set up took way too long for me to care about what happened next.

DNF

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!

Single Mother is the perfect mix of personal drama and suspense.

Having read previous books of Samanthas, I knew I wasnt going to be disappointed. This book was full of twists. This book grabbed me from the first page. There is alot of characters to keep you on your toes. The twist at the end I didnt see coming.

Reading Between the Wines book review #78/115 for 2021:
Rating: 4.5 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷 1/2
Book 📱: Single Mother
Author: Samantha Hayes
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
RELEASED on Jan 5, 2021!!!
Recommended to readers who like a creepy, twisty mystery/thriller.

Sipping thoughts: Wow, I did not expect what I read! I do not want to give much away because I think the reader should go in as blind as I did-well at least with just the book description. There were some expected twists but so many more unexpected twists! I loved how Hayes weaved all the characters into this one mystery that makes skeletons fall out of the closet…literally! The only negative I can say about this book is that I am mad at myself for not reading this gem earlier.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley, @samanthahayes.author and @Bookouture for an advanced copy of @SingleMother

#SingleMother #SamanthaHayes #Bookouture #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThriller

Perfect Little Dolls by Karen long is the second book in the DI Eleanor Raven series. Perfect Little Dolls was previously published as The Vault. Unfortunately this was my first time reading a book by Long but it will not be the last.

The discovery of a young womens charred body nestled in a trash heap sets in motion the discovery of one of the most bizzare psychopaths you will ever meet. Shockingly her body has been preserved and dressed to appear nothing more than a discarded "love doll".

The discoveries do not stop with body #1. More and more "dolls" are quickly found. Who has been collecting these human dolls and why? Can DI Eleanor Raven crack the case before a new doll gets added to the collection?

Perfect Little Dolls is a fast paced thriller that both shocked and appalled me in the best ways. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I am eager to read more of DI Eleanor Raven and do plan to go back and start at book one. While this book can be read alone I highly urge that you start at the beginning.

Thank you Bookouture for having me as part of this blog tour.I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Mel is a single mom to preteen Kate. They've been through it all .. Mel grew up in foster care and wanted much better for her daughter. A divorce followed by financial problems is not what she had in mind.

When she receives a letter informing her of an inheritance from an unknown benefactor, she can hardly believe that it's true. She's the new owner of a dilapidated seaside hotel that comes complete with a life-long resident who never speaks. A chunk of money goes a long way in getting the hotel in shape ... this could be the new life she wanted.

But then, something's going on with Kate. She's talking on the phone late at night .. but Mel doesn't know who. Kate wasn't where she should be when Mel picked her up at school. And she hasn't spoken a word since she found some bones buried on the grounds of their new home.

And now Kate is missing.

Where is she? Did she run off .. or was she taken? Why was someone buried on the premises? Who has Kate been talking to? Who is the silent resident who watches through a window? Who as her anonymous benefactor? So many questions ... so few answers.

The plot is well crafted, and although it started a bit slow, the suspense began to build and maintained its level until the unexpected conclusion. Characters are many, varied, and solidly drawn. The backdrop of a rundown hotel, and a small town swimming in secrets, gave me chills. Twists and turns are guaranteed to keep your eyes glued to each and every page.

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
3.5 STARS.

This was a bit of a forced read as it was a bit predictable for me. There was a lot going on at any one time which I couldn't always keep up with. I've read some of the author's other books and enjoyed them so this was a little disappointing.

Still worth a read though if you can keep up with it!

Thank you Netgalley.

I loved this book. Such a great read with a great story full of twists. Amazing characters and was desperate to find out what the outcome for them would be. I would recommend this to anyone.

Thank you @netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, the story and trying to decipher what was happening. At times the writing felt a little clunky, but I feel the original plot definitely helped me look beyond it. This book kept me guessing and every time I felt I was close or something new was revealed, another twist was thrown in. Overall, I’d recommend this book for those who want to read a suspense novel which is a bit different than any you’ve read before.

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 was just ok for me. It was a rather quick read but predictable. I appreciate the opportunity to read this this. Thank you.

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.

Single Mother
by Samantha Hayes
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Description :
I will do anything to protect my daughter. She’s all I’ve ever wanted and all I really have, but the moment I opened that letter and accepted the gift inside, I walked us right into a dangerous trap. I know I should have got her to tell me who she’s been talking to on the phone late at night, and where she was the day I went to pick her up from school and couldn’t find her, but she’s not spoken a word since she discovered a secret hidden in our new home. And now she’s missing…
🛑MY REVIEW🛑

The story had a great start but the middle kind of dragged on and got a little slow but as I kept reading the story picked back up. You just didn’t know what was going to happen next. I was turning the pages as fast I could and was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened next. There were characters in this book that I loved and others I don't like so much. What a twist at the end!!!!! It through me for a loop. I was lucky enough to be able to read and honestly review an E- ARC, courtesy of the publisher , NetGalley and the Author. Thank you !!! I voluntarily provided an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
#SingleMother
#SamanthaHayes
#netgalley

i LOVED this book!!! Such a great read with a great story full of twists and turns to keep you on your toes! I was invested in the characters and what the outcome for them would be.I will be recommending this and will follow the author.

I think this book has divided reviews. I must admit that I was a little disappointed as I thought the storyline was far fetched and not like the previous books by the author. Mel is a single mum as she and her daughter Kate left Billy, her abusive ex husband, who was sent to prison. She is very protective of Kate, her twelve year old daughter and when she is sacked from her job is devastated as to how they will manage. She also discovers that Billy has been released from prison and is worried that he will try to find them. Luckily she discovers that she has inherited a substantial amount of money and a hotel in Dorset from a mystery benefactor and decides that it will be the perfect place to live where Billy can’t find them. Mel is puzzled to who it can be as she was abandoned on a train as a baby and was brought up in care. She was informed that she had to upgrade the hotel and that the resident living there has to stay permanently. Mel and Kate love their new life in Dorset but soon things start to go wrong. Kate and her friend are devastated when the new extension is being built they find the remains of an infant in the ground, who could it be? As the story progresses secrets and a tragic past are uncovered, plenty of twists and turns with an unexpected ending which I found a bit too far fetched.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review.

I was given a copy of Single Mother by Samantha Hayes by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. I have read several other books by Samantha Hayes so was excited yo read this one. Melanie is a single mother who is just makingvends meet. She is left a guest house in Scotland for her and her daughter. When the move there strange things happen. The book was ok but found the ending really disappointing. A psychological thriller but not one of my favourites.

Samantha Hayes books are my brain candy. So easy to read, enjoyable, with UK slang, and a great way to escape the day.

Single Mother fits the bill! Struggling single mum Mel is wrongly fired from her job as a Carer (nursing aid at a retirement home for us silly Americans :) )At the same time her ex is released from prison, and begins to contact their 12 year old daughter, Kate. In the best of all worlds, Mel learns that she has inherited money and a small inn, restaurant and pub. Mel doesn't learn who passed away, as the deceased sealed the records, and she was adopted as a small child after being left on a train.

Mel and Kate take the opportunity for a fresh start, but of course not everyone is happy about Mel's sudden appearance at the inn. Others want their cut of the inheritance. Single Mother works through all the mystery, sadness, and drama to a perfectly satisfying ending.

I look forward to the next read Ms. Hayes! I cannot wait.

Thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher, Bookouture for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Single Mother was a near-great for me. The book started off in a great way & was compelling. I love books that open with chapters that shock & have me all excited about discovering the rest of the plot. I liked the premise of the book & reading the letter by the author at the end always helps with getting more insight into their thought process. This book initially felt like a cozy mystery with the setting but then soon started to cross over into the psychological thriller genre. The characters were great & I liked that the main character was emotionally stronger than most & doesn't do stupid things like run toward danger - a concept so overdone & which seriously gets on my nerves. Mel's response to most situations felt natural & real. I had reservations about Katie at the start but soon started liking her. The rest of the characters were great. The plot was long & twisted but ended very well. The last few chapters were twisted & extremely suspenseful. A few times I hazarded a guess & got them all wrong. Overall I liked the book a lot!

Thank you NetGalley, Samantha Hayes & Bookouture for an arc!

I thought everything, from the characters to the plot and even minute details, was well-done. The author did a great job of laying everything out so that it all made sense, even as the reader was trying to figure out the truth right along with the characters. I wasn’t sure what to make of Mel at first. The same could be said for Katie, her daughter. There was a gothic feel to the primary location: the mysterious acquisition, the reclusive tenant, and the odd occurrences all added to the atmosphere. I did like the parallels that were revealed between Mel and another character and thought that a couple of the surprises were well-done. A definite must-read. For a detailed review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.