📚 Book Review 📚 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With One Stone by Mark Jenkins
Releases May 20th

Nina was once a highly coveted, best selling author but she is stuck in a rut meanwhile others are passing her by and stealing her audience. How far is someone willing to go for happiness….murder, perhaps?

I was lucky enough to get my hands on this debut novel and let me tell you it was a great ride from the start! I found myself laughing at best friend banter that he NAILED and gasping at secrets I didn’t see coming! I was wondering how the title came into play and goodness gracious 🤯 GENIUS!!! I can’t wait to read more so hurry it up! ✍️
#withonestone #markjenkins #netgalley

This book had me from the very first page. Easily one of my favorite books I've read all year.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book is about a author named Nina who was struggling with severe writers block while trying to write her next big book, her life was in disarray because of it and all of a sudden people in her world start dying. This book is juicy with secrets and the twist is fantastic,you won't see it coming. I could not put it down. This is Mr Jenkins first book and I can't wait to read more from him.
I should note that their are some brief sexual potentially triggering descriptions in this book just fyi.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

•WOW• WOW• WOW•

There were so many unexpected plot twist & scenarios that I DID NOT see coming. I’m not sure I have ever cried while reading a psychological thriller but I had the snubs in one chapter 😅. So so so many secrets & deceptions. You will not want to stop reading. You will *gasp* multiple times all the way until the end.

Great job on your first release Mark Jenkins❗️
Thanks for letting me enjoy an ARC! You will do big things!

There is some potential sexual trigger warnings — just FYI..

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book! This book was a whirlwind to read, and I never saw a few of the twists coming! I feel like the ending is such a cliffhanger and I need more! I did give it 4 stars, because I felt some of the book gave details that weren't necessarily needed. All in all, it was a hit and I will be recommending it.

Wow, this was SO GOOD. Once I got into this I could not put it down. The SUSPENSE was so impressive, even something as simple as thanksgiving dinner felt suspenseful. I loved that we had our main event, so to speak, but there were also these other hidden secrets in the background that just created that perfect suspense all throughout the book. (I wonder how many times I can use the word suspense in this review- but honestly that’s what this was and I mean that in the best way possible)

Nina’s life seems to be chaos, she’s a best selling author who’s quickly losing her spot on that list. She still has her support system though; her husband, her children, her mother, her best friend, and her agent. And one of them will do anything to see that she’s back on top of the bestseller list and a few others seem to be keeping some secrets that will only hurt Nina. Reading how all this unfolds is thrilling and entertaining and one hell of a plot twist.

The writing in this blew me away, especially for it being a debut novel, I absolutely cannot wait to see what Mark Jenkins writes next. I highly recommend everyone pick up a copy of this ASAP.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nina Travers has written 5 bestsellers but is having a hard time writing number 6. Everyone thinks the solution is to hire a nanny to help with her children, Addy and Noah. Her mother, a bestselling author herself, totally agrees as does her agent Margo and Nina’s husband, Jack.
Secrets and lies. Secrets and lies. Between Nina and Jack. Between Jack and Kelly, Nina’s best friend. Between Jack and Owen, Kelly’s husband. Between Margo and everyone. Between Robin, the nanny, and everyone.
Not to mention the dead bodies that are piling up around Nina.
This book sucked me in from the very beginning – what a wild ride with a you-would-never-guess ending!
I can’t wait to read more books from Mark Jenkins!

WOW what a debut!! I had my theories (and they were wrong).

I am amazed this is Mark’s first book. I sure hope he is currently writing his second book.
I have another favorite author.

Each chapter left you hurrying to read the next.

Thank you NetGalley and Mark Jenkins for the opportunity to read this ARC.

How far is someone willing to go to keep her at the top?


📖 Nina Travers is a number one bestselling author of psychological thrillers. That is, she was, before a series of tragedies knocked her off her perch, and her once picture-perfect life now sits in the dark shadows of a fallen career and crumbling marriage.

Sadly, Nina’s former spot on the charts has been snatched up by her competitors. But her family and friends are desperate to get her back at the top, where she belongs.

Desperate enough to lie.
Desperate enough to keep horrific secrets.
Desperate enough to kill.

As the bodies stack up one by one, Nina is terrified she may be to blame for these untimely deaths. But she’s even more terrified she may be next.

What lengths will one go to ensure the success and happiness of those we love? This unknown individual will stop at nothing. Woah this book was a whirlwind. Shocking to say the least. Clever how just about everything came together. I took off one star because this book was long- really long. Some details feeling less important now that I’ve read the whole thing. Thank you Mark Jenkins and NetGalley for the ARC. This book publishes May 19, 2023.

I am a huge Freida fan, and she recommended this FANTASTIC book!!!!
I can’t believe this is the first book by this author. It was so good!!!!
Great plot, excellent twists! So very good! I’m going to order a paper copy!
Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC! Highly recommend.

With One Stone by Mark Jenkins was an interesting book to read. I did relate to Addy as, for years, she felt self-conscious about her birthmark and had been relentlessly teased about it by her classmates. I, too, had a birthmark that I would try to hide, and the kids at school would tease how it looked and it's texture.

The only issue I had with the book was calling the housekeepers "maids." I find the word maid derogatory. What also bothered me was some of the scenes or character actions were a bit implausible, where I had to bend a bit of logic as to why a particular character would act and react that way (I don't want to say too much as it could give away part of the plot).

There was a good reveal at the end, and the build-up to the ending was okay but a bit slow in parts.

Overall, an okay read for me. I would check out more by this author. I liked the cover art.

I rate this a 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded to 4).

#WithOneStone #NetGalley @XpressoReads

This book was excellent. Did not see that ending. Great characters.Would recommend. There should be a Kelly/Owen sequel!

This is a great book! The characters are so well developed. The ending left me hanging so I hope it has a sequel!

With One Stone by Mark Jenkins is a psychological thriller about an author of psychological thrillers. Nina is an author once at the top of the charts, but she has fallen down due to some personal tragedies including her marriage which is not doing great. She has a lot of pressure to deliver her next book. Nina has a lot of people around her, including her two children, her husband, her mother, her agent, and her best friend. All of them love her and want her to get back to the top of the charts. One of them will do anything to see that happen. Suddenly, there are a series of deaths and Nina is worried that she is to blame.

I really enjoyed the fast pace of this book and the multiple twists and turns. There are a lot of characters and perspectives in this book and the author does a great job of making sure that each character is memorable and that it is easy to remember what each characters relationship is to Nina.

It is hard to believe this is the author’s first book. It is well written, suspenseful, and thrilling. This book comes out on May 20th, 2023 and I highly recommend it. I will be looking forward to Mark Jenkins next novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Mark Jenkins for this ARC!

Thank you to #NetGalley for allowing me read and review #WithOneStone by #MarkJenkins. I would also like to thank #FreidaMcfadden for suggesting this book. It was absolutely amazing. I loved the back story, the present day and all the lies and deceit in between. I can’t wait to read more of Mark Jenkins.

First let me say that I very much enjoyed this book! This is one that I will purchase and pass on for others to read. The twist and turns I never saw coming, The separate parts of the book that leave us wondering who the killer is and then tracking her every move... So very well done! It wasn't a quick read which is a good thing; there's a lot of meat in this book. The descriptions at times were very powerful. Well taking the subway on the hot day to meet Owen, I literally felt the heat she was experiencing. The connection to Robin was hinted at throughout the book and I was sort of waiting for it. You pulled it together quite nicely at the end. Very very well done. Thank you for the opportunity to read this in advance! Here's the feedback that I have...

Prologue

people are so packed on the sidewalk...(remove "so")

The sign will tell us with a little green man of when...(remove "of")

Chapter Four

It's almost bedtime...(missing a quotation mark)

Chapter Eight

In the right time at the right place... Should be in the right place at the right time.

Chapter 11

With sea green shutters with multiple glass doors... (That's a couple of widths close together maybe use and instead)

And colors when... (Should be which)

A thin, veil... (remove the comma)

Chapter 13

But Nina didn't have an answer... (Remove the first but)

Not really sure of all that yet ...(remove the comma after that)

Chapter 23

Started with him and eliminating her... (Remove and)

Chapter 34

Macy's day Thanksgiving parade should be Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade

Lead Jack down the hallway to a bedroom at the other end of the hallway...(too many hallways, try lead Jack to a bedroom at the other end of the hallway)

He said I was glad he told him... Should be he said he was glad I told him

Chapter 45

Hugging and kissing each other... Maybe try embraced Willa otherwise it sounds like everyone is hugging and kissing each other

Had she gone too far... I'm not sure you need this sentence. It seems a little stronger to just let Nina's shiver allow the reader to judge how far she had gone.

Chapter 46

On this part of town... Should be in this part of town

Chapter 50

Hanging on to her senility... Should be hanging on to her sanity

Chapter 51

Harris could have murdered his family... The reader knows at this point that Harris did murder his family. Maybe just state Harris murdered his family.

Chapter 53

Jack used Owens want... Desire is a stronger word

Chapter 71

Planning on how... Remove on for a stronger sentence

Still a little girl who loves princesses and happy endings... I don't think she would describe herself as a little girl and happy endings has a double meaning which is odd for a child to say... Perhaps she would say I'm still a girl who loves princesses and happily ever after.

I'm a big girl remember... Again that's odd for someone her age to say. She might say I'm pretty grown up or I'm mature or I'm a young lady. Big girl is usually reserved for younger kids.

This was a very fun book, the twists were great and I went back and forth of who the killer was. It did take a little for me to get into to, don’t know if it was slow or it was just me but once it started rolling, I was hooked. It was a little hard at times to figure out which person the chapter was focusing on. I really loved how the title of the book was brought it. This may be Mark Jenkins’ first books but I will definitely read more of his.

Thank you NetGalley and Mark Jenkins for the ARC of this excellent book.

Just when I thought I had this book figured out! NOPE! What a twist! This is about a writer, Nina Travers, who writes thrillers and has always been at the top in booksales. Lately, she has been going through a low time in her life with marriage struggles and writer's block. Other writers close to her end up dying. Is she knocking them off one by one? This was a great book, kept me up late to finish it. Thank you Net Galley and Mark Jenkins for the ARC of this excellent book.

Wow!!! This was a book with so many secrets, Lies, twist and turns. I could not put this book down. This follows a family of 4 with to children. Mother is a Author. She has challenges writing but what happens beyond that is enough to keep you on your toes. This a Debut Author I would read again. Great start Mark Jenkins. 👏 Bravo!!

This was such a phenomenal read! I absolutely loved it! I thought the plot was great and it really drew me in. I loved the pacing. I loved some of the characters and loathed others. I was gobsmacked by the reveal at the end of the book. Very well done. This is one of my favorite releases this year!

The prologue hooked me right away and made this difficult to put down! Parts were a little out there, which broke immersion for me, but otherwise it was a solid read and I look forward to more from this author!