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.

Our main characters, Jamie and Victoria, decide to go on a weekend get away just weeks before their baby is due. They think they are going to have a peaceful weekend away. But, when they wake up their first morning, they find the owners of the guest house gone, along with their car keys and phones. To make matters worse, they are locked in and Victoria is going into labour.

I am not going to say much about this book because the twists start early on in this story and I wouldn't want to give anything away.

This story is told from multiple points of view and over multiple timelines. This book started off in heart pounding suspense. But, I got to a point in the book where it actually just starting feel so implausible. But, there was something there that kept me reading, knowing there had to be more to the story. It was just such a multilayered story. As you kept reading more and more was revealed and the story definitely started coming together.

This is a story with some deeply flawed characters who make some very dark and disturbing choices in their lives, which end up impacting others in their lives in such devastating ways.

Our main character has a physical disability. I only mention that because it is really nice read a story where someone with a disability is represented and it is a main character. Our MMC is written from a place of real authenticity. For so many reasons, Jamie was definitely my favourite character in the story.

I'd definitely recommend this book. It is a compelling story, you want to keep reading to uncover what is really going on!

As much as I hate to give anything away at all. Definitely check for some trigger warnings.

The Guest House has all the ingredients a reader wants in a thriller -- fast pace, plenty of twists, a threatening overall mood that is strongly maintained throughout. A great read.

Holy moly! I wasn’t expecting my stomach to be twisted in knots and audibly gasping out loud for the biggest part of the book , but yea, just WOW! The suspense and the anticipation was spot on to deliver just the perfect thriller!!!

3.5 stars, in general I liked this book and the twists it provided.

After years of infertility, Jamie and Victoria are finally expecting their first baby. They decide to spend a couple of nights away in the remote countryside at a guest house before the baby is born. When they awaken in the morning, their phones are missing and they are locked in. Then Victoria goes into labor. What happens next is horrifying and unbelievable...

I liked most of this book, and was captivated by the narrative. It is chilling and creepy and shocking. As the story progressed, it got more horrifying and unbelievable, until for me it tipped over into Over the Top territory. There is a great jaw dropping twist, and then...without giving away spoilers, I started hating one of the characters and it never got better because I couldn't make my brain make sense of the choices made. The ending requires some suspension of disbelief, but overall it is an entertaining story despite its OTT moments.

One of the great things about this book is the disability representation. Jamie has cerebral palsy and it is portrayed realistically and as a fact of his life, not as a plot device.

If you can handle OTT and some implausibility, this is a worthwhile read. It's definitely unique and quick to get through because you'll want to know what on earth is going on and why!

The Guest House is a compulsively readable thriller but veers into OTT territory for much of the book.

Victoria and Jamie spend a weekend away at a remote guest house weeks before their baby is due. The morning after they arrive, Victoria wakes to discover she is going into labour. The owners of the house are MIA but, for some unknown reason, they have locked up all the doors and windows. And the couples’ cell phones and car keys have also mysteriously vanished.

What follows is a wild story with two timelines that go far beyond suspension of disbelief. But, no matter how outrageous the plot, I still felt compelled to read it and see how everything turned out. For that reason, it gets a solid three stars from me.

I did like that there was disability representation. The author wrote it coming from his own experience. It was nice that it wasn’t used as a plot device to frighten readers as so many other thrillers do when it comes to disabilities.

If you do not mind implausible thrillers, then you might enjoy this one.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

I am conflicted. I really like the premise of this book and was invested until about 60% but then my attention started drifting. The characters fell a bit flat and I didn’t care for them much. I didn’t hate or love anyone I really just felt indifferent. The pace moved a bit slow and it was repetitive at times. Like we get it, the FMC is a redhead. For me, a good thriller isn’t super out of the realm of possibility but I just thought the circumstances in this book didn’t convince me of that. You’re telling me your wife wants to go on a getaway to a super remote location WEEKS before her due date and you’re just on board with that? Nah, couldn’t be me. I will say for the most part the twists were good but I did guess a couple of them right away. The ending was a bit lackluster, and super unbelievable. I won’t talk specifics because I want readers to experience it authentically but I think overall this one was just not for me but it you’re a thriller lover, it’s worth a read!

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

In this chilling novel, two parent’s bonds with their newborn will be tested to limits unimaginable. It will take the strength and love and fight to endure the absolute unthinkable to pick up the broken pieces.

This is the story of a happy couple, awaiting the birth of their first child. They have decided to go away on a weekend vacation before their whole lives change. Little did they know it would change sooner than they thought. It would change in a horribly evil, sadistic way.

When Jamie and Victoria decided to take this vacation, they wanted to stay somewhere they had already been, but that being booked up, they made the choice to stay at a guesthouse run by an elderly couple, Fiona and Barry.

But on their first night there, Victoria suddenly goes into labor in the middle of the night. Barry and Fiona are nowhere to be found. Neither are Jamie’s and Victoria’s cell phones or car keys. It seems all the rooms are locked. What is happening? When Barry and Fiona finally appear, it is much too late to call for an ambulance. Fiona, a retired mid-wife must deliver the baby. What happens next and throughout the story can only be described as sick, evil and unspeakable.

When the couple returns from their “vacation” they are alone without their newborn son Danny. They begin to tell everyone something had gone wrong, and they had lost Danny, which was partially true.

But what no one knows is the sinister way in which their child was taken. Only Jamie and Victoria, Barry and Fiona know what really happened. And if they ever breath a word, they know they will be charged with murder.

Still in shock, Jamie cannot let go of what has happened and devises a plan to make things right no matter if he goes to jail for the rest of his life. But what he discovers is all is not as it appears and in reality, it is even more horrific than anyone could ever imagine!

The Guest House is a petrifying story in which given the ending which pulls all the sick pieces of the puzzle together, believe it or not will leave you both heartbroken yet rooting for the underdog.

Thank you #NetGalley #PoisenedPenPress #RobinMorgan-Bentley #TheGuestHouse for the advanced copy.

Grippy, interesting tale with excellent pacing. v enjoyable and a unique plot. would recommend to thriller lovers.

My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press, Robin Morgan-Bentley and Netgalley.
I kind of had a love/hate relationship with this story.
Everyone eventually got on my last nerve.
I started off questioning how this couple ended up at The Guest House, and throughout the book I kept wondering.
That question is what kept me reading.
I can't really say that I loved this book, although I liked it well enough! The ending was satisfying as anything. It answered questions and made me want to read more from this author.

THIS IS AN AMAZING STORY. Jamie and Victoria go for a weekend getaway at a remote B&B run by an older couple, Barry and Fiona. Then Victoria goes in to unexpected, premature labor. By the end of the next day not everyone in the remote house makes it out alive.
The story is told alternatingly from the days at the B&B leading up to revealing what the characters 'think' happened there, and two months later as Jamie and Victory try to move on with what they went through. Both timelines work towards a twist that I didn't see coming.
This story has everything to make a great mystery thriller, family secrets, family drama, unknown betrayals and enough red herrings to keep things exciting. I definitely look forward to reading more from Robin Morgan-Bentley.
Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to enjoy this e-ARC Mystery

Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review. Well this book was not at all what I was expecting, very intent and what a twist.

When Jamie and Victoria head to a quaint bed and breakfast for one final weekend away before their first child is born, they’re expecting a weekend of relaxation and connection. Instead, they find themselves trapped, Victoria in labor, and the victims of a kidnapping. Will they be able to save their marriage and rescue their son?

I had a hard time with this book. The plot left me cringing and horrified but the writing was fantastic. Overall, two stars because I didn’t enjoy the plot.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

The Guest House is a brilliant book, with twists that you would never have expected.

Jamie and Victoria are longing for a child, after IVF not working, they finally find out that Victoria is pregnant. They decide to visit a small Guest House in the Lake distract for a final holiday before the baby comes, but it all goes terribly wrong.

The book is a psychological thriller that you won’t want to put down. The pages are easy to turn as you want to know what’s happening next. The book is written with each chapter either Victoria or Jamie who share their side of the story. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy for an honest review.

The Guest House by Robin Morgan-Bentley

Wow, I had a really hard time reading this book. Not because it’s bad, which it isn’t. It’s just such a harrowing depiction of every parent’s nightmare, that was so vivid I had to put the book down time and again just to catch my breath before pressing on with the propulsive narrative.

Said narrative comes via different viewpoint characters, with chapters shifting back and forth in time as events unfold and our narrators look back on what happened with clearer, perhaps wiser eyes. Jamie and Victoria are our young married protagonists. They’ve struggled for a while to get pregnant, and are now anticipating the arrival of their baby with equal parts terror and joy. In the last few weeks before their due date, they decide to go off on a babymoon in a remote part of the country that has sentimental value for them both. When they find that the place they usually stay in is fully booked, they opt to stay at a cute little guest house run by older couple Fiona and Barry instead.

Alas, things go poorly almost from the start. The food is indifferent, and Jamie is understandably tired of people asking about his disability:

QUOTE
She ushered us in front of her, and out of the corner of my eye, I clocked Fiona noticing my limp.

“Oh, what have you done to your leg, Jamie?”

Here we go. If I were in a wheelchair and more obviously disabled, people wouldn’t be so brazen as to ask so directly, so quickly. I think people often use it as an icebreaker with me, expecting an anecdote about an injury sustained while playing rugby or falling down in a club.

“Oh, it’s a long-term thing, actually. I always walk like this.”

I gave my standard answer, and thankfully, Fiona didn’t push it any further.
END QUOTE

But then Victoria goes into early labor on their very first night there. What might have been an experience worthy of an indifferent Yelp review swiftly turns into an actual ordeal. Jamie can’t find their hosts, and every door and window is locked, trapping them inside the building. Worse, their keys and phones have gone missing. With Victoria’s labor pains sending them into an increasing panic, the couple desperately look for a way out. Fiona and Barry finally reappear, but it quickly becomes clear that they have less than merciful intentions.

Fast-forward a month and a shell-shocked Victoria and Jamie are back in London, without their baby Danny. They’re both trying to get on with life as normal, but are understandably having a difficult go of it. The trauma of losing their child is also causing them to react in different ways. While Jamie reaches out to his wife for solace, Victoria can’t help but push him away despite his loving overtures:

QUOTE
And for a moment I’m tempted, because it’s just so wonderful to be looked after like this. There’s a comfort in spending time with Jamie that I can’t get elsewhere.

But I can’t face the prospect of sitting down opposite him, having breakfast, and talking about Danny. About the threats in the post. Because that’s where the conversation will go. Every moment I spend with him is a reminder of what’s happened. It’s exactly why we need to spend time apart.
END QUOTE

As a mom who’s had a complicated history of pregnancies myself, I honestly felt overwhelmed at points while reading this novel. Robin Morgan-Bentley writes powerfully about some of the worst terrors expecting parents can face; it seems almost unfair that he also manages some truly inventive mystery novel twists and chills on top of all that.

I was also impressed by Mr Morgan-Bentley’s choice to feature a lead with cerebral palsy. Diversity representation is so important, and he does a terrific job of showcasing the interior life of an expectant father who already has to contend with physical limitations in his everyday existence, even before adding on the nightmare of what happens to him and his little family in that seemingly innocuous guest house.

This was a truly outstanding thriller. I may never be able to read it again because I felt it all just so deeply in my bones, but I won’t ever forget it.

If you have anything important to do, don't start this book. This book grips you from the start and doesn't let go! Robin Morgan-Bentley does a fantastic job of ramping up the suspense and throwing in some awesome twists to make this a must read! Jamie and Victoria have been married for several years trying to get pregnant almost as long.. They've tried IVF 3 times with no luck and they're desperate for a child. After their third IVF the doctor tells them to relax and take some time. During that time, Victoria gets pregnant!! Jamie and Victoria are thrilled and the pregnancy advances along nicely.

Victoria wants a weekend in the country before the baby arrives and rents a small guesthouse with a few weeks before the due date. It's quite a drive to the guesthouse and when they arrive the only people there are an older couple, Fiona and Barry. They tell Jamie and Victoria that there are no close restaurants, so they share some chili they had made. Jamie and Victoria take their bags to their room and fall into bed exhausted. When they wake early the next morning, Victoria is too hot and wants some fresh air. The windows in the room are locked and can't be opened. She decides to go downstairs and go out on the porch to cool off. Wait, where are their phones and keys? Why is the front door locked with no key around to open it? Why is the back door also locked with no key? As a bit of panic begins to set in, Jamie and Victoria realize that they're alone and locked in the guesthouse. As they're trying to find an explanation for this, Victoria starts to have some pain.....she is starting contractions!!!! No phone, no keys to get out of the house, no car keys and their first child seems ready to come out!!

This book will make you read on at a breakneck pace! Be prepared! Do Victoria and Jamie find a way out of the house? Do they find a working phone to call for help? Will the baby be delivered at the guesthouse or will help arrive? Who are Fiona and Barry and why did they take their phones and keys? Are Jamie and Victoria who we think they are? You'll have to read this fantastic thriller to get the answers! This book comes out on September 13, 2022 so don't wait to get it! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review. #NetGalley #TheGuestHouse