Willow Rose did it again with this suspenseful page turner based in Coco Beach Florida. The sleepy surf town hadn’t seen anything like what rocked their world in this book. Eva Rae got more than she bargained for when she moved back home after her divorce to be closer to her parents. She never would have guessed who was the killer and I bet you won’t either!

You Just Never Know About Some People

Former FBI Agent Eva Rae Thomas has a hard time adjusting to being just a regular mom in Willow Rose’s psychological thriller, “Don’t Lie to Me,” after her husband leaves her and their three children for another woman.

Returning to her small Florida hometown of Cocoa Beach—where at least she has parents nearby to support her emotionally—Eva Rae finds that not only aren’t her children safe there, all children are at risk because a child serial killer is on the prowl.

Before long, Eva Rae is consulting as a profiler with local authorities trying to identify and track down the perpetrator(s) of these heinous attacks on area youths. What ties the crimes together? What messages are being sent? The explosive and unexpected surprise twisted ending is a real shocker.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Willow Rose, and Publisher Buoy Media for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

This was a good one that left me completely surprised. Eva Rae quit her high profile job as an FBI profiler and moved with her children back to her home town after her husband left her. She has a book to write but she is struggling as a single mother who had not previously been responsible for keeping schedules straight. When a second child disappears from her small town she can't help wanting to be involved in solving the crime and eventually her old flame in the local law enforcement requests her help. This has the possibility of a good series and I will look forward to sequels. Thanks to NetGalley for and arc and for not influencing my review.

When Eva Rae Thomas' husband abruptly leaves the family for another woman, she quits her job at the FBI and moves south to Cocoa Beach to be near her parents. Her ex was the stay at home parent, while Eva brought home the bacon and the move is showing her just how inadequate she is to take care of her three children.
Not long after the move, children start turning up dead in her hometown and Eva gets pulled into the investigation into a serial killer. Add an old boyfriend on the local police force into the mix and a cold mother who is hiding major secrets, this book is complicated from the get go. Too complicated. There is too much going on IMO. This is not a bad mystery. It is just an average one and the red herrings thrown to distract don't seem to really add to the narrative. There is also a very big reveal that should have evoked more emotion in the aftermath and it was just treated as a kind of..."oh well." I would round down and give this a 2.5/5.

I had never heard of WIllow Rose, but I like a good detective/murder/suspense book. I'm glad I gave this book a chance! It was fast paced and was a quick read. I was excited to find out this is the first in a series - I'm sure I will check out more in this series! I liked Eva Rae - she was smart and seemed to know what to do under pressure. I will say that I thought there was a lot happening in this book. Would it have been possible to have removed some of the details without compromising the story? I don't know, but I felt like there was a lot going on. But in the end, it didn't matter because I enjoyed this book. Can't wait to read more Eva Rae adventures! Thank you NetGalley and Buoy Media for a digital arc of this title.

Synopsis (From Netgalley, the provider of the book to review)
*******************************************************

When twelve-year-old Sophie Williams went on a Girl Scout summer camp, she never returned home.
Three months later, her body is found inside her sleeping bag in the most frequented area of Cocoa Beach, and the town is outraged. The girl isn't just any child. She's the town's most beloved surf idol, and it was believed that she could be the next Kelly Slater.

As another child, the son of a well-known senator is kidnapped, and the parents receive a disturbing video, FBI profiler Eva Rae Thomas — who has just returned to her hometown, divorced and out of a job — plunges into the investigation, breaking her promise to her children not to do police work again.

Local law enforcement, with her old flame Matt Miller in charge, are the ones who ask for her help in a case so unsettling that only she can solve it. But the deeper they dig, the deadlier it becomes for Matt and Eva Rae. Soon, everyone she holds dear is in grave danger as this case hits a little too close to home.

I am 99.99% sure that I read this when it first came out in 2019 but it was wonderful to return to it and read it once again. The first in a series, I recommend picking upas it is a great stand-alone book and thrilling mystery. Highly recommended.
#shortbutsweetreviews

The opening paragraph had me right away! The story unfolded in such a way that it kept you engaged with suspence and information about the characters. I did not predict the ending til the last chapter. Was put together very fast and did not seem as good as the story. Felt flat to me and felt rushed. Liked the story and recommend.

The twist at the end was unexpected and the book overall was enjoyable. There were some parts that were unrealistic and some parts that were slow moving but a good read overall.

"Don't lie to me" delivers a gripping and suspenseful thriller that plunges readers into a world of crime, abduction, and high-stakes investigations. The story opens with a haunting mystery as a beloved young surfer idol is found dead in Cocoa Beach, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community.

The author wastes no time in setting a tense and engaging atmosphere, as the abduction of a senator's son adds another layer of urgency to the unfolding drama. At the center of it all is Eva Rae Thomas, an FBI profiler with a complex past who is drawn back into the world of crime-solving against her own promises.

Hays skillfully weaves a web of intrigue and danger, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Eva Rae Thomas and local law enforcement, including her old flame Matt Miller, race against time to solve the case. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it nearly impossible to predict the outcome.

One of the strengths of this novel is the character development, particularly with Eva Rae Thomas. Her internal struggles, personal sacrifices, and determination to solve the case make her a compelling protagonist. The supporting cast of characters, each with their own secrets and motivations, adds depth to the story.

The pacing is well-executed, with a perfect balance of investigative work, suspenseful moments, and emotional depth. As the investigation deepens, the danger escalates, and the stakes get higher, drawing readers further into the story.


"Don't lie to me" is not just a thrilling mystery; it's a story about resilience, redemption, and the enduring bonds of family and love. Willow Rose has crafted a captivating tale that will keep readers hooked from the first page to the heart-pounding conclusion. If you're a fan of suspenseful thrillers with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you guessing, this book is a must-read.

I was surprised how much I liked this book. This book was so creeoy because it was so plauible and relatable because it is every parent's worst nightmare. Each character's story is related but how..... hmmmm. The twists were well placed and I thought this book was going to be a predictable mess; it was not!

I have never read anything by this author prior but if her next book is as good as this one, I am here for it. Definitely recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley, Willow Rose and Buoy Media Mystery Series for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available.

Ex FBI agent Eva Rae Thomas and her three children find themselves to be on their own when Eva’s husband leaves the family for (wait for it) a younger woman. Eva returns to her Florida home town to be closer to her parents and literally comes face to face with her high school boyfriend (a cop…..what else) as well as a serial killer of young children.

Now I am probably one of the few readers who found this novel less than satisfying. First, the plotline has been done over and over and over again. Then there are a bevy of characters who are dead on the page…….no backstories to speak of and no reason for most of them to be included since they do nothing to advance the story. All I really got from this saga is that Eva has questionable talent and motivation in the areas of romance and motherhood and that divorce damages the developing psyche of young people.

Sorry, but this is an indigestibly sour work of fiction that lacks juiciness but overflows with messiness.

wanted to like this book, I really did. I was intrigued at the beginning and felt like this book had real potential to be great but after the first couple of chapters it just falls apart for me. I didn’t find Eva Rose to be relatable at all and there are just too many side plots and stories to appreciate the “twist” at the end. I read this book and then also gave a go to listening to it on audible as well. Probably wouldn’t recommend this one.

She is not a stranger to me. I've read several books. This was one was just as entertaining as the others. Very interesting.

The book summary pretty much introduces the first part of the story. The prologue was chilling with the kidnapping of Sophie, a local, 12yr old surfing champion, who was taken from her tent one night during a girl scout outing. The cast of characters in this story is large: there is Eva Rae, newly divorced mother of three and former FBI profiler from D.C. “comes back home” (that usually leads to no good) to Cocoa Beach, FL to be near her parents. There is also Matt, a local detective of the Cocoa Beach PD and an old friend of Eva Rae’s. While the book summary makes it sound like they were childhood sweethearts, that wasn’t the case. Matt has pined for her since then, but the feelings were not mutual.

There are also Sophie’s parents Jenna and Todd, who are divorced and bitterly fought over custody of Sophie and the money she earned surfing. There is also a kidnapped victim named Maddie (10yrs old), who lives with her sex worker mother, who disappears for days at a time. This happened pretty early in the story so it’s not a spoiler.

The story flips back and forth between now and then. In the then period, there is a secondary storyline around a boy and his younger sister whose parents divorced, and the kids are supposed to split their time between their parents. However, the mother, a drug addict, is really neglectful and is always forgetting when it’s her time for them and when to pick them up. There is also another secondary storyline about the nightmares that Eva Rae has regarding the kidnapping she witnessed of her sister, Sydney, when she was a kid, that her own mother blamed her for when she was a kid. Lastly (yeah, I know, a lot going on here), there is another secondary storyline of one of Eva Rae’s friend who lands in the hospital after a pretty severe beating. I can’t say anymore or that would be a spoiler.

Now, I’m not the kind of reader whose enjoyment of a story is contingent on the level of believability of the story. That’s why it’s called FICTION!!! However, I was even rolling my eyes at some of the ridiculous behavior of Eva Rae. For instance, she is no longer an FBI agent, yet she insinuates herself into the investigation of a kidnapping and tells the parents that she’s FBI like she’s still active and leading them to believe that the FBI are involved in the case. OMG!!! Impersonating an FBI agent!!! Seriously??? What an idiot!!! Stupid stuff like this didn't end there.

Well into the second half of the story, another kidnapping and death are revealed and at this point, I’m at a loss as to who the kidnapper(s)/killer(s) are; it could be any number of people. The end comes pretty quick in a shocking (never saw that one coming) and intense standoff with the Eva Rae, the killer, and two kids. Without a doubt, the ending was the best part of this story.

I’ve got mixed feelings about this book. While some readers don’t have to like the MC in order to enjoy the story, I do, and I didn’t like Eva Rae or most of the other adults in the story. Eva Rae got on my nerves with her stupid and annoying behavior and all her whining about how she couldn’t understand why her husband left her to take care of the kids all by herself. Oh please! While I don’t condone her husband’s infidelity, I’m certainly not team Eva Rae either. This is a woman who was pretty much an absent spouse and parent off pursuing her FBI career for most of her marriage and kids’ lives while her husband was at home and the primary caregiver for their kids for most of their lives. Now a single mom, she is absolutely clueless about how to take care of her kids and now depends on her parents and her oldest daughter to pick up the slack where she falls short. Pretty much everything is more important than taking care of her kids. I actually felt sorry for every kid in this story for getting stuck with such crappy parents. This is one of the reasons I end up not liking a lot of domestic thrillers.

Anyway, for me, a halfway decent ending can be the difference between a 2star or a 3star rating, hence, the 3star rating, which is actually pretty generous. This series is going to be a one and done for me. I want to thank NetGalley and Buoy Media for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #BuoyMedia #DontLietoMe

When a young teenage girl goes missing it’s the worst nightmare of any parent. Three months later, young Sophie is found dead in her sleeping bag. Former FBI profiler Eva Rae Thomas takes on the investigation to catch the monster who did this. Will she find out who did this before another child
gets hurt? The clock is ticking…..

Eva Rae moved back home with her children. She promised them that their lives would be less eventful. As soon as Sophie is found Eva Rae knows that, as a mother herself, she has to do everything in her power to catch the killer. She never expected it to hit so close to home.

Don’t Lie to Me is a dark ride and I couldn’t put it down. Author Willow Rose surprised me with some exciting twists and turns which kept me glued to the pages. If you’re looking for a fast paced, thrilling story I’d certainly recommend this first book in the Eva Rae Thomas series.

While this book was in the romance section, there wasn't a whole lot of romance. Becuase of that, I will highly recommend it to people in my bookclub who prefer suspense with light romance instead of vice versa. Eva Rae Thomas was an FBI agent who specialized in serial killer profiling. She had to move home becuase her husband left her with three kids. So, she "retired" and is writing books. While she is having trouble acclimating to civiian life, she works on recouping old friendships including a police investigator who is in the process of solving a missing child case. Well, when Eva rolls into town - all the pieces start popping up and it is up to her to step on toes and get the crimes solved. This book is book 1 in a book of series of 5 so far on KU.

Exactly what i need in a thriller. i have to get blown away at the end and can’t predict what’s going to happen. I found it hard to connect with the main character at first but after i past the first half i was so into it.

It was hard for me to like the main character, Eva Rae. It was hard to follow Eva Rae as an experienced FBI agent. There was not much depth or development of the characters and the relationships. The book was fast pace with events happening back to back. The ending was a surprising twist. This book does include missing children which can be triggering to some.

Great thriller that will leave you guessing. Great read that went by quickly because it was so well done. Definitely recommend this one if you enjoy a thriller/ who do it type book.

The characters were well-developed, and I found myself invested in their lives. The plot was well thought out and had enough twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat. I appreciated the attention to detail, and the author did a great job of creating a vivid world that was easy to picture in my mind.
The themes explored in the book were thought-provoking and gave me a lot to consider. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story with well-developed characters.
Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with this book and would definitely read it again. It was a great addition to my reading collection, and I can't wait to see what else this author has in store.