A great who done it type of story. Lots of suspense and random information about alot of different characters and then there is also a couple of timeliness. Not an easy read but not bad. Worth the read.

This is the first book in the series and the first book I've read by this author. There were a lot of characters introduced and some were like able. It was an easy book read that I read in one sitting. I cant wait to read more books by this author.

I liked this book but I just couldn't get into the story. I didn't like the writing style but overall the story was good.

"What Hurts the Most" by Willow Rose is a chilling and gripping thriller that takes readers on a suspenseful journey into the dark corners of a seemingly peaceful town. The story revolves around journalist Mary Mills, who is thrust back into her hometown of Cocoa Beach, Florida, when her brother is arrested for murder.

From the moment Mary receives the disturbing phone call, the tension begins to mount, and the author skillfully maintains it throughout the narrative. The small-town setting is vividly depicted, creating a sense of familiarity that adds to the story's unsettling atmosphere.

The character of Mary is a compelling protagonist, and her determination to uncover the truth and prove her brother's innocence is both relatable and admirable. As she reconnects with old friends from high school, the dynamics of their relationships and the secrets they harbor become central to the plot.

Willow Rose excels in creating a web of mystery and intrigue, as Mary delves deeper into the investigation, uncovering shocking revelations and confronting demons from her own past. The pacing of the story is well-executed, with each chapter delivering new twists and surprises that keep readers eagerly turning the pages.

The novel explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and the lasting impact of past actions. It also delves into the darkness that can hide beneath the surface of a seemingly idyllic community.

"What Hurts the Most" is a thrilling and suspenseful read that will have readers guessing until the very end. Willow Rose masterfully combines elements of mystery, psychological suspense, and family drama to create a story that is both emotionally resonant and highly entertaining. If you're a fan of fast-paced thrillers with well-developed characters and a riveting plot, this book is a must-read.

It was fun to read. Loved the characters too. Enjoyed till the end. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a free e-book.

Did not expect so much story from this one! It was a wild ride with many twists and turns.... and bumps. Overall, I really liked the quick and fun writing style and I look forward to reading more from this author.

WOW!! What an awesome, action packed mystery!!
Several timelines of different characters to lead up to an outstandingly twisted ending!
I was not able to put this book down, at first I couldn’t keep up with all the characters due to the timelines but it quickly moved on in year 2015.

Mary just lost her job in New York and her brother is in jail for murder. She comess back to Cocoa beach to stay with her father to try to help her brother. She is separated from Joey, but quickly starts to confide in him for comfort while trying to piece together her brother's prison sentence and the ongoing murders of a group of friends who went to her high school decades ago.

There’s a serial killer who’s picking off one by one that her close friends from high school knew. Mary and Joey’s friends join up surfing and supporting one another through the murders when it becomes dangerous for all of them.

This was my first book by this author and it did not disappoint. Such an easy style of writing that had me not wanting to put the book down. Can't wait to read more books from this author.

This is my second book by the author and I think the writing style just isn't for me. While I do like the short chapters, I find the story hard to follow. It seems to be all over the place. The chapters alternate between a first person POV, somewhere in the past, and then third person. The problem is that the chapters aren't clearly labeled and half the time I'm not sure who the book is even talking about. I know that many love this author's books, but I think the style is just not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Buoy Media, Mystery Series for a free copy.

Book Title: What Hurts the Most
Series: 7th Street Crew/ Mary Mills Mystery #1
Author: Willow Rose
Publisher: Buoy Media LLC
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Pub Date: November 20, 2015
My Rating: 2.5 Stars

Setting Cocoa Beach, Florida The story moves back and forth between 2015, 1995 and 1992.

Mary Mills is a reporter for the New York Times when she is let go and now is not sure how she is going to support herself and her young son Salter.
She needs a job.
When she finds out her bother has been arrested for murder. She returns to Cocoa Beach thinking she will be able to help him.
Mary reunites with her old high school gang, the 7th Street Crew ~
Sandra - her best friend.
Chloe - a computer hacker.
Joey - Mary’s ex-husband and Salter’s Dad, -Joey wants to help but do not want to get back with Mary ` which Salter definitely wants.

I downloaded this as I just read "Don’t Lei to Me" and thought it was GREAT!
I didn’t know anything about this story but I knew I liked the author.
At first I was surprised with all the nasty language as I am not a fan of colorful language which did not occur in “Don’t Like to Me” nor the sexual innuendos.

This story is chilling, as well as disturbing.
Somethings had me puzzled. This was published in 2015 and there have been a lot of cases of sexual harassment cases in the military. However, in this tory it is the women who are behaving badly. e.g. Surely someone like Liz would have been disciplined for her bad behavior and more than likely would have been thrown out of the military; and hmmm the wife of the General having sex on the beach, of course, not with her husband.

I was curious so hung in there. The ending was definitely a surprise! But I was shocked by the horrible act of violence that occurred.

In the ‘Afterward’ Willow Rose tells us where she got her idea for the story as well as the characters…. (Yes even Liz!). She also offers the links so that we can read more.

Want to thank NetGalley and Buoy Media LLC for granting me this eGalley.
Publishing Release Date was November 20, 2015

1.25/5 stars! The premise of this book was really interesting and I dove right in. Unfortunately, the story cannot measure up to the premise at all. The writing was poorly styled, with little to no pacing, and it felt like it hasn't been edited at all. I think the author probably has talent based on some of her other books, but this one felt like an afterthought that was sent to the printers without review. The story suffered from being overly descriptive and not making the reader feel like they were experiencing the story at all. It was pretty painful getting through this story unfortunately.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

This one was not for me.
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Don’t let the first few pages stop you from reading this mystery that is so intriguing…some rough language at first… however, this talented and gifted author has written a cannot put down story. The characters are intriguing…the story moves quickly. Friends and family…secrets and red herrings…love and marriage…separation…children…a brother who is difficult to understand…losing a job…going home…separation…themes running through this book. The mystery is difficult to solve…I was surprised at the ending…cannot wait to read the sequel. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author.

After being fired from her job as a journalist, Mary Mills was suddenly informed that her brother had been charged with murder. She decided to leave her job and go back to her childhood home in Cocoa Beach, Florida. However, she quickly finds herself running back to the people she left behind, including her manipulative stepmother, an ex-husband, a depressed father, and a group of friends she used to hang out with called the 7Th Street Crew.
The situation in Mary's case has become more unsettling as more bodies start to turn up. She gets threatened by the high levels of the military in her old hometown. As the past and present collide, Mary must decide if she should seek help from her old crew or be one of the next victims. This is a great psychological novel that I enjoyed reading.

The first few pages of the book are very slow to get your head around the various characters and their backgrounds. As you get more and more clues, you start piecing together the pieces of the puzzle. However, after a while, you realize that your assumptions are not correct.

The main idea of the book is to be read with artistic license as it involves various aspects of the characters' lives. However, after a while, you start questioning some of the actions and statements that they make. These can be overlooked to make the story more enjoyable.

Although the writing is good, I did find some jumps between the first and third-person perspectives of the characters that caused me to get a jolt in the reading experience. To sum it up, enjoy the story and take a deep breath before reading it.

This was hard to put down, very tense and contained lots of twists. I loved the Cocoa Beach, Fl setting and generally don’t enjoy investigative reporter stories but this was an interesting story with an explosive ending. TW for violence and gore. Thank you NetGalley, Buoy Media and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Available now

When I first started reading this I couldn’t quite put all the pieces together and then the longer you get into the book more things find themselves in the places to put the puzzles together.

I’m looking forward to reading the next book and totally recommend reading this.

Took me a bit to get into it, but once I did WoW! Mary has lost her job, she’s to good at what she does. Then she gets a call .for her dad saying .her brother is in jail, for murder! Can she save him!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Gallery. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

What Hurts the Most by Willow Rose is the first book in the Mary Mills series. Mary has just gotten fired from her reporter job for the New York Times when her dad calls to tell her that her brother has been arrested for murder. Mary heads home to clear his name. Now her old school friends are being murdered. In order to solve the murders, she must face issues from her past. A fast-paced novel full of intrigue, plenty of twists and turns and a very surprising ending. I can’t wait to read the next in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Buoy Media for this free eARC.

Sorry but this book just wasn’t for me, I’ve tried a few times to get in to it, but can’t. There are too much going on and I found it confusing.

This is the second series I’ve started to read from Willow Rose and I enjoyed this book…..it’s a 3.5 star read for me. I found the first few chapters a bit confusing and lacking more in-depth writing . I found as I read on the writing evolved more and my interest peaked and I enjoyed the book more. A great murder mystery book and I am looking forward to reading the remainder of the Mary Mills series.

I voluntarily received a free copy from NetGalley and all opinions are my own .

I would recommend this book and the series to my friends and family and my book clubs.