Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

I am a huge Miranda Smith fan. This unfortunately was not my favorite. It took me awhile to get into this book….it was very slow and at about 60% started to pick up. The twist although a good one, was wasted on the slow build up.

I didn’t like any of the characters, the husband being the weakest man alive and a wife that’s bitchy and moody, but having Andrew as a husband I could understand. The back and forth chapters I wasn’t a fan of.

I hate giving bad reviews but this was a miss for me.

This story was weirdly addicting yet predictable at points. I kept reading because I wanted to see how it was going to pan out for the family, but I could see things happening a mile away. The wifi was spotty and unreliable at their vacation house... suspicious! When Karen found the cell jammer I wasn't surprised in the slightest. The last twenty percent had me on the edge of my seat, it definitely took a good turn! Overall I did like the book and would recommend it to people.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'His Loving Wife' by Miranda Smith.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Miranda Smith, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 4th October 2021.

This is the third book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'The One Before' and 'Not My Mother' which I highly recommend.


I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors and Gillian Flynn will be completely hooked by His Loving Wife.' I am a huge fan of 'The Girl On The Train so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Miranda and if this is half as good as 'Not My Mother' and 'The One Before ' it is sure to be a page turning read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists 50 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is written in a mix of both first person perspective and third person perspective with the main protagonists are Kate and Andrew. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.

WHAT did I just read!!!! WOW!!! I mean seriously Wow!! I was NOT expecting that lot fairplay!!! This has GOT to start with a MASSIVE WELL DONE MIRANDA SMITH!!!! Ooopps sorry, yes, needed a minute to get over that but I've just left you hanging there... Sorry.... Let me tell you more...

Firstly let's start off with the writing style, etc!! Extremely well written book which had me hook line and sinker!!! It is so smoothly and beautifully written I completely forgot I was even reading a book a few times. The blurb, title and cover really fit the storyline.

As you can tell I LOVED the storyline. I found it to be realistic, very fast paced and I read it in a day. I loved the setting and atmosphere and just well... Everything!!! Twists after shocks after turns!!! Arggghhh... Its so hard to NOT say anything about them as it will give too much away and spoilt it for future readers but it definitely left me speechless over and over!!! I have read hundreds of psychological books and I really do think this one is definitely in the top 3 when it comes to dropping bombshells. I am, in fact still shell shocked!! Just brilliant fairplay and all links in and wraps up perfectly!!!

THE plot throughout is rammed with suspense, mystery, lies, surprises, tension and did I say surprises!!! Well done Miranda you have most definitely hit my favourite author list!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your books and when oh when is this going to be turned into the movie of the year!!! Gone Girl and many others have NOTHING on this one!!!

It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

I loved getting to know the characters and thought they were portrayed perfectly with great character development. I was completely invested in them and thought they were all unique with their own quirks. I was completely shocked when it came to the reveal but I can't say anything else without spoiling it for others.

Congratulations Miranda on yet another racing success!!! This is why your one of my favourite psychological thriller authors. Here's to many more successes 🥂!!!

Overall an absolutely page turning, explosive must read that will leave you shocked!!!

Genres covered in this novel include Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Psychological Fiction and Crime Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of The Girl on the Train, Behind Closed Doors, fans of Miranda Smith's previous books, Sheryl Browne, Shalini Boland and Gillian Flynn


299 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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What a ride! A non stop roller coaster of emotions where you will think you have it all figured out just to be blind sided by an unforeseen curve. Fast paced and action pack this book was hard to put down.

What a page turner! It was an incredible read that gripped my attention from beginning to end. A dark and twisty psychological thriller that will be sure to satisfy fans of the genre.

Thank you to Bookouture,  NetGalley, and the author for an advanced reading copy.

I really enjoyed this one, really quick and easy to read. It felt really atmospheric both in the present and the past sections of the book. I had no clue what was going on but felt there was more than meets the eye. I always find stories about home invasions that bit creepier as it could actually happen so I definitely double checked the door before bed.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Miranda Smith for the copy of this book. All views are my own.*

Families are stronger when they work as a team, in the same direction to complete their uniques goals. That's what I thought this was about, I was so wrong. Something changes and that is when everything becomes dangerous!

I loved the way it keeps you guessing, especially when every page is a clue and you don't even notice. Until you get to the scenes where love may not be enough. It felt so real, so capable of happening in real life.

More than scary and awful I found it sad, it's not easy to just read it without falling for the main characters, and then finish the book without a hangover.

Kate and Andrew experience a burglary in the middle of the night. It turns out the burglar was an exboyfriend of Kate's, and it has her feeling scared following the incident. Fast forward a year, and Andrew has planned a getaway at a cabin in the woods. They are hopeful that this time away will help their family and their marriage. However, there is something that is leaving Kate feeling uneasy and it was become a test.</p>



This was a good and unexpected thriller. Kate was a pretty good lead of a character, and as a reader, I began to trust her. There is definitely something off in the background, and I figured out what that something was rather quickly. Even with that, it was still a great read. It's uneven in some places and kind of unbelievable at times, but it was still fast paced and a page turner. Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture.

Kate and Andrew are sleeping when Kate is awakened by noises in the house. She wonders if it’s their daughter, Willow, 15, or their son, Noah, 9, moving around. But Kate knows it’s someone who should not be there. Opening the bedroom door, she encounters a large man dressed and masked in black. It was a home invasion by a man later found to be Paul Gunter. He is an ex-boyfriend of Kate’s from college.

Kate is a college professor and recently happened to run into Paul while she was having lunch. They chatted for a bit and caught up on old friends. She never thought more about it until the invasion. Now, all of them are getting counseling to help with the scare.

Life has been difficult for Kate and Andrew and Kate is hoping that the counseling can keep their marriage together. When Andrew surprises the family with a a vacation at the beach, they are excited and hope the time will allow them to relax and regroup. But much more is afoot that will test them all.

When I first started reading this book, I felt like Kate and Andrew were just not supporting one another and it was going to be a book about a crumbling marriage. Boy, was I ever wrong! This book exploded with surprises that made my mouth drop open. This is a book you don’t want to miss. The perfect thriller!

Copy provided by the NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Oh my goodness! To start with, I was reading this book at a bit of a slow pace - still getting to terms with the characters and the storyline, however, when those last chapters kicked in, I couldn't have turned the pages fast enough! This was a thriller in which you believe you know exactly how it is going to pan out, only for all of your predictions to be whooshed to the side and an eruption of shocking twists and turns to come in their place. A fantastic and suspenseful read, I would highly recommend!

This wasn’t a bad book but I was a bit disappointed with the ending . It was a bit disjointed in places . Not sure if I’d recommend it or not as it wasn’t as good as I expected.

I couldn’t put this put down!!! It starts off with Kate and her husband Andrew encountering a man breaking into their home. Their lives spiral downhill after that. Andrew decides to rent a beach house to bring his family some peace and happiness. I don’t want to say too much because this plot is amazing!! The twists and turns really kept me guessing. This was my first book by Miranda Smith, but it won’t be my last!
I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

When their home is invaded by a masked intruder, Andrew, Kate & their two children are left traumatised - especially Kate when she finds out that the intruder was an ex-boyfriend, Paul. A year on & the family are on holiday & things seem to be getting back onto an even keel, but on a trip out for groceries, Kate is sure she sees Paul. Has he followed them? What does he want, & what is he prepared to do to get it?

Told in alternating chapters from mainly Kate's POV, covering each month from the past year & counting down to the present day, this thriller is a treat. The reader knows something is not right but it's difficult to put your finger on exactly what it is. There's an undercurrent of menace but where is it coming from? I tore through it eager to find out what was happening & it wasn't until about halfway through that I realised where it was headed. I love books that can keep the reader guessing. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bookouture, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

What a scary concept. An old boyfriend breaks into your home intending you and your family harm.
He is jailed for his crime, but now it’s time for him to be released. It’s a trauma you still live with, so your husband decides to take you all away on a family vacation. It’s a surprise, so it’s bound to be safe, isn’t it?
An incredibly suspenseful and gripping story that held me from the first to last page. Plenty of twists and turns and lots of scary moments make this a ‘must read’ for all lovers of psychological thrillers.
My thanks to Bookouture, Miranda Smith and NetGalley for an ARC of His Loving Wife in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to Miranda’s next gripping thriller.

3⭐️

I loved how suspenseful the story was as Kate put the pieces of the truth together! I was feeling “what the hell”… and “how did we get here”! You will be shocked at the turn of events!

This was a quick and satisfying read. While the jumping timelines left me a little disoriented, overall I found His Loving Wife to be fast-paced and well-plotted. There was a decent amount of red herrings mixed in with suspicious behaviors, which really helped obscure the big reveal.

I’m torn on how to review this book. The things I liked about it- characters, writing style, storyline- I really enjoyed. The things I didn’t like- predictability, slow pace, the ending- I really didn’t like. I would probably read another by the author if I came across one that looked interesting but I’m not sure I would actively search for one.

Edit- I went back and checked and have reviewed another book by the author that I rated 5 stars. Based on that fact, I would certainly try more from the author.

[ BOOK IG: @clumsyciel ]

overall rating: 3.5/5⭐️
time taken to read: ~4 days
number of notes: 32

"A seed of anger had been planted, would be nurtured by her loneliness in the months to come, until it blossomed into resentment."

Kate's life has been in into ever since the night her home was broken into. Kate blames herself when she finds out that she knew the perpetrator beforehand.
desperate for a sense of normalcy that the family once enjoyed, Andrew surprises his family with a surprise vacation, an extra week at the lodging; where it is next to a beautiful lake.

however, Kate starts to feel dread as paranoia bubbles up within her as the days slowly pass. she worries that the perpetrator will return, this time to the lake-house, and that this - is far from over.

indeed, i liked the book!
but, i really wanted to love this book.
the plot itself sounded promising when i first read the synopsis.

not that the book was bad - the writing style was great and i loved how the author described the settings! i also loved how the author described Kate's love for her children. i could really feel her motherly presence through the words :)

i found that the pace was rather slow and predictable. i was able to guess the plot twist early on in the book - perhaps that is why i didn't enjoy it as much.

the 'thriller' part (it was more of a marital drama between Kate and her husband) took up a good chunk of the plot. the real 'thrill' factor that i was looking for, came in in the last few 25% of the book. i wish that it had come in earlier, then perhaps i would have appreciated the plot more.

however i am sure that if me, from a few years ago (a newbie at thrillers) read this, this would have been a solid 5/5⭐️! this is right up my alley for my previous preferences in thriller books.
it's just that my preferences have changed over time and though this is well-written, i wasn't able to appreciate it to its full potential.

all-in-all, if you're looking for a psychological thriller mixed in with some family drama, maybe His Loving Wife is for you! it is officially out on 4th October, 2021 <3

thank you to BookOuture, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC of HLW 🤎

FEAR. TRAUMA. SILENCE.

The Author has described the series of events in the dates stamped timelines, then & now.

A year ago, a home invasion was happened with the lovely couple. Kate was a college professor & writer. She is wife of Andrew & mother of two children i.e. Willow & Noah. Willow was 15 years old & Noah was 9 years old when they had witnessed an intruder at home in the midnight which created trauma & fear afterwards.

A year later, Andrew went with his family on a vacation to the beach. Cops had informed Kate & Andrew to take care of the family because an intruder who had visited last year is none other than "Paul Gunter". When Dr. Marshal initiates this news, Kate is trying to conquer her fear. She is not feeling safe, on her vacation also. To overcome from the past happenings, all 4 have joined the counseling sessions. The first half plot was a bit slow, but post second half the suspense of events was page turner & it keep me hooked till the climax of plot.

One of the best psychological thrillers I have read. This is my first novel from @mirandasmithwriter Author. I would recommend this book to the one who loves to read thrillers.

What do you think what had happened with Kate & Andrew? How did Kate cope up from all? Did Andrew really love Kate from bottom of the heart? Does Paul want revenge from Kate?

3.5 stars (rounded up)

His Loving Wife is the latest standalone psychological thriller by author, Miranda Smith. This is my first book by this author.

The story follows Kate, 12 months after an intruder broke in their family’s suburban house terrifying her husband Andrew and their two children. The family are set for a two-week beach vacation but Kate can’t relax, she’s too busy looking over her shoulder wondering if her family are safe and how well you really know those closest to you.

The vacation beach setting is a nice contrast to the chilling feeling of fear and unsafe that permeates this story. Kate is presented as a strong female mother who would do anything for her family, she’s had to be strong after the trauma of the break-in. I felt the author portrayed the impacts of this event well on the various family members and depicted a realistic picture of PTSD and trauma and how it can impact individuals differently. I liked Kate and wanted her to succeed.

The story is told with dual timelines, the present with the family at the beach and a reverse linear timeline from the incident to now. I like the dual storylines and felt this helped to give some context and backstory to the family’s behaviour and impacts of the incident. I didn’t like the change in POV between chapters (present is first person and past is third person) and found this pulled me out of the story and I felt less connected to the main character in these chapters.

The pace of the story initial is quite slow; however, this picks up around 75%. It felt a little like the first half was more of a family/domestic drama with some elements of mystery, rather than a psychological thriller. The last quarter or so was quite suspenseful and I felt the author created a lot of tension and uncertainty about what would happen.

The subject matter is quite dark and disturbing, and I’d note a trigger warning for family violence. It’s not graphic but could be difficult for some readers.

The ending was probably the part I liked the least. While not bad, I expected a little bit more to unfold and was waiting for that last final twist that never came. The character's motivation doesn’t seem fleshed out enough and their actions at the end I felt could have had more time devoted to explaining them. The end felt a little rushed to me.  There are a couple of chapters devoted to other characters which do help add some backstory and context.

Overall, this was a fun and quick read (299 pages). I enjoyed the themes of family, survival and PTSD and felt the characters were realistic and interesting. I’d recommend this to fans of psychological thrillers which focus on family and mothers. I’d read more by this author.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book.