Solid thriller, more of a 3.5 but rounding down for review purposes because sometimes the first person narration seemed overly simple. Very quick, fast paced read, and the beginning ratcheted up my medical anxiety to an 11 on the dial. It definitely made me second guess staying in an Airbnb and I already had too much pregnancy anxiety to be down with the concept of a babymoon. Reading so many thrillers, I can usually see the twist coming miles away, but in this case the twist surprised me and if there was any foreshadowing, I missed it. The epilogue felt a little forced, trying to get one last bombshell in, but it fell flat for me. Overall a quick, enjoyable read.

This book freaked me out right from the start. It opens with a pregnant couple waking up in the countryside when the wife goes into labor. The couple can't find the keys to their car. But that doesn't matter because they're locked inside the house, and their hosts are gone.

I thought this was going to be some horror story where the house is controlled by some evil being, and this young couple is doomed to stay inside the house forever--or something like that. But the story is much more disturbing than what I had imagined, and I couldn't get it out of my mind. I'd go to bed thinking about the book, and I'd wake up thinking about the book. If you love creepy psychological thrillers set in the English countryside, this book is for you!

I can't remember the last time I finished a book as quickly as I finished this one. Robin Morgan-Bentley has become one of my new favorite authors.

Thank you #netgalley and Robin Morgan-Bentley for this digital ARC! I was all over the place with this one. Some very interesting twists and plot changes come at you throughout the book. I didn’t like any of the characters which made this one fall a little flat in parts for me. But wow did some of the twists really take you to crazy land! And The ending I did not totally see coming. Overall quick domestic suspense.

Jamie and Victoria are expecting their first baby.
With a few weeks to go, they head off for a final weekend break in a remote part of the North Pennines. The small and peaceful guesthouse is the ideal location to unwind together before becoming parents. Upon arrival, they are greeted by Barry and Fiona, the older couple who run the guesthouse. They cook them dinner and show them to their room before retreating to bed themselves.
The next morning, Jamie and Victoria wake to find the house deserted. Barry and Fiona are nowhere to be seen. All the doors are locked. Both their mobile phones and car keys have disappeared. Even though it's a few weeks early, Victoria knows the contractions are starting.
The baby is coming, and there's no way out.
Wow really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press
I just reviewed The Guest House by Robin Morgan-Bentley. #NetGalley

A super chilling book with a lot of secrets. The cover alone drew me in and the story kept me reading. It is told in a dual timeline, before Danny is born and after. The dual timelines give you information just with you need it. I won’t give anything away but you will want to read this book until the very end!

Wow - this is full on! The pace is fast, the content dark and the detail sometimes excruciating. I loved the use of different perspectives as the plot was revealed - really kept me guessing. I read this in a sitting - really good, strong thriller.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press!

This was a fast paced, twisty thriller that I could not put down once I got into it. Also enjoyed the twist at the end!

Imagine going on a quick getaway with your husband before the birth of your child and waking up to find that you have been locked into the guest house, your phones and car keys missing. This book grabs you right at the start and then submerses you into a devious plan. Twists along the way will shock you in this page-turner, right up until the end.

I didn't think I could be triggered by a book until this book. As a mom it really hit home and I felt a sense of dread throughout the entire book, so much so that I had to read a romcom alongside this book just so I could ease off the edge of my seat. That's a first for me. While I did have this sinking pit in my stomach the entire ride, I think that's what made this a 5 star read for me. It's suspenseful and twisty in all the best ways. I love a good twist and the author did a great job shocking me.

The story follows Jamie and Victoria as they embark on one last relaxing vacation before their son is born. They book a guest house in a secluded area. When they awake the next morning, the owners are gone, things are missing and they're locked inside. Suddenly the baby is coming and there's no way to call for help or get out of the house. The book jumps back and forth in time throughout. During present day Jamie and Victoria are grieving, they keep receiving threats to keep quiet and their marriage is falling apart. What happened to them on that terrible trip to the guest house?

A special thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Holy cannoli. I finished this book in 2.5 hours. This is a psychological thriller with some interesting tension. It IS over the top but the entertainment value is high.

Jamie and Victoria go away for a weekend to a remote guest house right before their baby is due. Everything appears to be fine and their hosts, Barry and Fiona, are helpful. But when they wake the next morning, Jamie and Victoria are locked inside the house with their phones and keys missing. Victoria is starting to have contractions and there’s nowhere else to go.

Told in alternating POVs and dual timelines, the story is intense and pretty crazy. I didn’t love the aftermath of the major reveal but it needed to be wrapped up somehow. Still worth the read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC.

This was my first book by this author and wow, what a great first impression! I flew through this book basically in one sitting (had I not had training for school, it would've been a true one-sit read.) but nonetheless I finished it in a day.

It was that addicting; a true page turner. I had to know the truth of Danny, and what happened in the guest house. This book was suspenseful, atmospheric, and unexpectedly dark! I loved that, the darker the better. At times the characters genuinely pissed me off, which I think is a good thing if you can write a character I hate, or two for that matter.

I felt for Jamie and Victoria throughout this book, and just how I said it was unexpectedly dark, it was also unexpectedly emotional and heart-wrenching. I didn't see a majority of the twists coming, and said "what the f*ck" a couple of times too, which is always a treat.

I thought the ending wrapped everything up nicely as well. I'm going to check out this authors other books!

Thanks to @Poisoned Pen Press and @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Expecting their first child, Jamie and Victoria couldn’t be happier, but before their bundle of joy arrives they decide to enjoy one last peaceful vacation at a remote cabin. What could go wrong, right? Well, quite a lot actually. When they wake the next morning they find that not only are their hosts game, but Victoria begins to have contractions…weeks too early. They need to call for help or get to a hospital…the only problem is their cell phones are missing, as are their car keys, and they are locked in the cabin! This is one heck of a wild thriller with plenty of twists that kept me hooked from start to finish. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Guest House.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1098M853OLTD/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Pub date: 9/13/22
Genre: thriller
One sentence summary: Jamie and Victoria are on vacation before the arrival of their baby - but when the baby comes early, they realize they've been trapped in their isolated guest house with no way out.

I love an isolated country thriller, and this one delivered! Author Morgan-Bentley did a great job showing Jamie and Victoria's terror and desperation - and wow were their hosts Barry and Fiona creepy! Even your worst vacation disaster is nothing compared to this nightmare. I had some guesses about the plot, but I didn't manage to predict the twists or the ending! I think this will be a great winter thriller when it's too cold to go outside. You can definitely read it in one sitting.

Trigger warning: As you can tell from the plot summary, the plot contains the premature delivery of a baby in a non-hospital setting. If you are currently pregnant or squeamish about birth/pregnancy, this may not be the book for you.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing a NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oof. Having just had a baby 6 months ago this was (at times) tough to get through.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I enjoyed their writing, although sometimes it felt like some of the descriptions were simply unnecessary. I didn’t need to read about Jamie’s curly hair as often as I did. I thought the mystery was good, the “twist” wasn’t quite what I expected, and while it was clearly written by someone who had never given birth, overall I would read something by this author again!

At the start of this I was intrigued while simultaneously being completely confused. I’ve seen some rave reviews for this one but it didn’t work as well for me.

What I liked:
-The obscure creepy setting of an old church in a snowy field far from anything. (A very similar to the setting Rock Paper Scissors.)
-The twist was unexpected and creative.
-The epilogue.

What didn’t work for me:
-There were no truly likable characters. This isn’t always a deal breaker but makes it harder for me to connect to a story.
-A lot of build up and backstory that didn’t quite keep my attention like I’d have hoped.
- Felt long even thoughts it’s only 320 pages

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Guest House immediately sucked me in. I was speeding through the pages until about 50% in. At halfway I began getting frustrated with the storyline and why there wasn’t more action taking place. After the twist was revealed I understood more of the character choices in the book. And what a twist it was. Although I still don’t quite understand the reasoning behind the twist I thought the author wrote this novel in a way to keep the reader guessing throughout the whole thing which made it a very entertaining read.

I will say this book was not easy for me to read as a mom. It really tugged at my heart strings and it was really difficult to keep reading through parts. So, please beware of that going forward.

The Guest House by Robin Morgan Bentley

Special thanks to net galley and poisoned pen press

After many challenges trying to have a child; Jamie and Victoria are finally prepping for the arrival of their son. Anxious to get a weekend away, they find a secluded B&B with the hopes of getting a little reprieve. Their plans are turned upside down when Victoria goes into unexpected early labor and being miles and miles away from the nearest hospital isn’t their only challenge. They awake to find their phones, keys and other personal belongs are missing and most shockingly, they’ve been locked in the house. Told in alternating timelines between the birth and three months later we uncover the horrors these new parents endure and how they came to leave their child behind.

The initial storyline and first 60% of the book were great, kept me engaged and had several really well written, intense scenes that built up the horror of Victoria and Jamie’s situation. I was so enthralled by this original storyline that the pages turned easily until I reached the twist. The twist and ending is borderline unbelievable; its a risk that you run when dropping a major plot twist that had zero signals whatsoever, it makes the first part of the book not make sense almost. Looking back, I also had trouble connecting with the characters from the get go just for going along in general with leaving their newborn behind to an elderly woman; no matter how crazy or threatening she might be. While recognizing the couples physical limitations it still was hard to reconcile that. Overall I was really bummed, I was excited for a original storyline but just wish the hook had been a played out a little bit differently.

A thriller following a couple who plans a quick getaway before the birth of the child. However upon waking up, everyone is gone as are some of the items. This thriller was some great parts and some parts that just fell flat. The surprising twists along the way helped to keep the plot moving along.

Happy Publication day!!!

Disturbing plot with a great twist at the end. I have definitely not quite read a story like this before. The beginning definitely kept me reading and wanting to know what was going on, as it goes back-and-forth from the husband and wife’s perspective from basically before the babies arrival and after. You will just want to know what happened! Definitely some irrational decisions made throughout the story and some parts that were not quite so believable but overall I enjoyed the read and definitely would recommend. It was fast paced and fun.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!!

Unique and decently paced, this thriller has some surprising twists, but there was something about it that didn’t sit well. I didn’t much care for Victoria one of the main characters. She made me mad at almost every turn.

I don’t normally need trigger warnings, but I’m learning that books involving newborn babies being taken from their mothers are extremely unsettling. I didn’t know that going in to this one and I wish I had.