Member Reviews
Thank you to Rufous Press and NetGalley for the ARC of G.L. Redding’s book Her Every Secret. This was a spicy read that left me on edge with all of the secrets revealed and wanting to know how it would end. The writing flowed nicely to make this an easy read. I was kept interested the whole time. The ending was not what I expected, and I felt like there should have been more. Definitely a good first read overall of this author.
An innocent life is at stake.
The ransom? Every secret I’ve ever had.
Oh me, oh my! Her Every Secret, was a doozy!!!
G.L. Redding has left my panties in a knot and begging for more.
Are my cheeks red?
In just under 300 pages, Her Every Secret, is INTENSE. This book is equal parts thriller as it is steamy romance and I was totally into it. What was even more shocking is the fact that this is a debut author! My mind is blown. The writing style was enjoyable, the chapters fluid and the storyline was tantalizing . I could not get enough!!!
Hot Cop?
Say no more.
Check out this teaser :
Zoey Miller, is used to managing other people’s crises — not her own. That’s what ditching her flashy PR job and moving to small-town Missouri was supposed to be about: escape. But when a 911 caller demands Zoey’s dirtiest secrets in exchange for the life of an innocent young girl, it’s clear her past isn’t going anywhere. Instead, it’s about to board the town gossip train.
Anchored to his hometown by his grieving mother, Jack Moore’s big-city detective dreams have been replaced by a sleepy small-town beat. When his teenage crush unexpectedly ends up in his bed, Jack knows he wants more from Zoey than a no-strings fling. But then her ugly past is forced into the light by a malicious stalker, and Jack realizes he’s going to have to move quickly to keep the woman he loves.
As the case heats up, so do Zoey’s and Jack’s feelings — something Zoey can’t allow. Because nice men like Jack don’t like tainted women like her. And now, there’s nowhere to hide...
Thank you NetGalley and G.L. Redding for this ARC of Her Every Secret.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. The characters drew me in and I was 100% invested in the relationship between Zoey and Jack.
The twist completely got me! I loved it. I look forward to reading more from this author. I really enjoy easy to read thrillers, which this fit into perfectly. Reading is my mental escape and this was so great for that!!
#netgalley #hereverysecret
This one was a nice and fast read!
I thought the premise was really interesting, it’s a thriller and it did not disappoint, the story is told in dual POV and goes around timelines, between the past and the present, as it unfolds.
For me, Zoey's character was a little too much and annoying. But she is a very realistic character of a woman who suffered domestic violence and co-dependency. The way Zoey deals with her pain and trauma is very realistic to me; she blocks out memories that were too painful, zoning out and pushing the good away because she doesn't think she deserves it.
Jack was my favourite character, I loved that he didn't judge Zoey for her messy past and the plot twist at the end with him was really good!
Things that I didn't like:
I wish her secrets would have been revealed in a more drastic and shocking way during the book, it all happens in the first part with the phone calls, but I’d have liked to read more drama ( maybe everyone receives a link to the porn website with her vídeo, credit card statements with her fraud scattered around the city, etc). All we have is her talking on the phone, Jack and the sergeant listening to the calls after, yet the stories spread around town, how?! Didn’t make much sense to me.
There’s this chance her dead ex-boyfriend may be alive at a point but then we don’t have any more info regarding that plotline.
The final part with the stalker “Ned” was super rushed and very anti-climatic
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers with a touch of spice but doesn’t expect some complex plot.
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!
What a unique plot! I was so excited by the first few chapters and enjoyed the way it would jump from present day during the crisis to the memories of the secrets that Zoey was revealing.
The relationship development between Zoey and Jack was well done and I loved how sweet Jack was in his understanding of her past trauma and how it affected her choices.
The plot of this story had so much potential, but I feel like the writing skill, or lack thereof, just didn’t do it for me. The overuse of some words (please find a synonym for slam), and phrases (how many times in one sex scene can she “feel the heat build in her core”) took away from the story. It also seemed a bit rushed and predictable. Especially the climax of the story, It was lacking in so much detail and could have been done so much better.
Overall, I don't regret reading it, it just started out so promising and then fell flat for me, so I wouldn't read it again and am not sure I'd really recommend it.
I couldn’t finish this book. Something was just putting me off and I think it’s the way the topic was supposed to be serious but the writing reminded me of books I read as a teen. The language was just wrong as well. The ‘blow job’ wording didn’t fit for me but that could have been because it was in line with how I felt it was written like (teen book).
The thing that might stick out the most about reading this was the unnatural dialogue. The name “Zoey” is in the book 614 times. It doesn’t matter what pov a book is in, that’s very repetitive and people don’t speak to each other like that. A lot of things were repetitive. This is categorized as a romance thriller, but the thrilling part was extremely short, predictable, and slow. Not that thrilling to be honest. It was hard to care about the characters or their stories. The spice was decent and I think the general idea of the plot could have been something so much more.
Zoey returns to her hometown after 10 years living in larger cities chasing the life she dreamt about as a teenager. Being back home reunites Zoey with her teenage best friend Jack who spent most of his lifetime in love with her.
Classic enough from the romance side, this story is made interesting by the presence of a hit of suspense in the form of “Ned” who is determined to bring all of Zoey’s secrets, sins and wrongdoings to the forefront.
This book was a great read and my first book from this author, look forward to more reads!
I typically read books in the suspense/thriller genre but the description of Her Every Secret hooked me, so I decided to read this romantic suspense novel.
Zoey is a 911 operator and receives a call from someone who has claimed to have kidnapped a young girl. The caller promises to let the girl go if Zoey reveals all her secrets. We soon learn that Zoey is his true target and the young girl that was kidnapped is being used for him to get to Zoey. The story begins with this suspenseful start and moves at a fast pace till nearly the midpoint.
The suspense lessens when the focus shifts to the “b story”, the romance between Zoey and her close friend from high school, Jack. He is now a police officer and is investigating the kidnapper that has targeted Zoey. Narration flips between Zoey and Jack so we can see how both sides view the situation.
This is a tough book to review since it doesn’t fall neatly into a genre. It is classified as romantic suspense, and it certainly has elements of that, but romantic suspense novels typically follow the romance formula. This novel strays from that, which could cause some readers to be disappointed with the conclusion. Readers of thriller novels will be distracted by the amount of time spent on the romance portion of the book. It is also important to point out that there is a lot of sex, and some scenes are moderately spicy. I think many of the sex scenes are important since they help demonstrate how damaged Zoey was and the amount of growth that she needs to undergo in order to have a relationship with Jack. This book isn’t for anyone that doesn’t enjoy moderately spicy scenes.
This book is for readers who enjoy spicy romantic thrillers and who like books that don’t follow the typical formula. I believe there are many readers that will enjoy this one and as a result I have rated it four stars out of five.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Debut authors are a sweet spot for me lately. Overall I feel this author has potential but the writing is still not hire as refined yet.
The author tells us the story of Zoey a 911 operator that moved from Chicago to a small town to escape her past. The beginning of the book tells about kidnapping of a young schools age girl named Madison that Zoey must save by interpreting the callers clues and talking about what he wants her to reveal about her past.
In my opinion the book has two tones, in terms of the 911 call and the afterward. There’s chasing down zoeys old flames to reveal if they have motive.
The ending was a twist because at first it seems too easy and then you see that there wasn’t one stalker. There’s one plot hole in this book but ultimately it wasn’t that important in the end. I think this author will get better in time however for now this was a good debut book.
First thought: Wow! This one takes you for a ride. It was a spicy Romance Thriller that twisted and turned until the end, with characters you will love and cheer for.
Zoey moved home to escape her past and pickup the pieces from the disaster she left behind. Her plans did not include running into her old best friend Jack who is now a full fledge hottie. But one thing led to another and 4months later she’s regretting her daily hookups with him. She won’t ever let another man in her life again, but she also doesn’t want to hurt him and Jack definitely wants more. So she walked out and ended things.
A few days later Zoey finds herself at work answering 911 dispatches when she gets a strange call, a man that knows who she is and it sounds like a prank call. But he calls back and the situation quickly escalate it isn’t a prank. He has kidnapped a child and will only communicate with Zoey. Zoey has no choice but to reach out to Jack for help as he is a police officer.
Jack runs to her aide but that’s where things go side aways. The caller only will share information about the girl he has abducted if Zoey shares her darkest secrets. He makes her relive the darkest moments of her past very publicy. She is forced to play along and she will do whatever it takes to save this child. While Jack is forced to come to terms with who Zoey really is.
This is a thriller and it did not disappoint, the story is told in dual POV and flops around timelines as it unfolds. It was truly captivating and the chemistry between Jack and Zoey was on point!
Tropes you’ll find:
* Dark Past
* He Falls First
* Close Proximity
* Second Chance
* Secrets
* Spicy 🔥🔥🔥
Didn't completely hate it but didn't love it. Started out a good thriller and then turned into romantic nonsense and tried to end as a thriller. It might be someone else's favorite but not mine.
When starting to read this book you are sucked into the chaos of the crisis that the lead finds herself in. There is no world building nor character building, you are thrown into this crisis. And it works for this book! When you think it is over, it isn't. And when you then think it is over, it still isn't. A fun and suspenseful read. I will definitely read more from this author.
"Her Every Secret" by G.L. Redding sounds like a thrilling and suspenseful romance novel with a captivating premise. The description promises a story filled with secrets, danger, and a race against time, making it an enticing read for fans of romantic suspense.
The main character, Zoey Miller, seems to be facing a life-altering crisis when a 911 caller demands her deepest secrets in exchange for the life of an innocent girl. This high-stakes situation sets the stage for a tense and gripping narrative. Zoey's decision to move to a small town to escape her past, only to have it resurface in such a dramatic way, adds depth to her character.
The introduction of Jack Moore, a small-town detective and Zoey's teenage crush, adds a romantic element to the story. Their reconnection and the potential for a deeper relationship amidst the chaos of the situation promises both emotional and suspenseful moments.
The description hints at themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the idea that past mistakes don't define a person's worth. Zoey's reluctance to let Jack in due to her perception of being "tainted" adds complexity to their budding romance.
Overall, "Her Every Secret" appears to be a thrilling blend of romance and suspense, featuring well-developed characters and a compelling storyline. Readers who enjoy steamy romance with a side of mystery and danger are likely to find this book to be an exciting and engaging read.
Started out really promising. Zoey, a 911 operator who receives a call from a man as he’s about to kidnap another girl, which then triggers something from her childhood. I was hooked, everything was exciting for me but as the story kept going, it started feeling a little predictable for me. I wasn’t sure how the story was going to play out but I had a very strong feeling of who was behind everything that happened.
The description is what caught my attention since it's unlike any thrillers I've read in the past. The plot kept me reading and I didn't see the twist at the very end coming whatsoever! However, the 'steamy romance' parts of this thriller had me cringing. Don't get me wrong, I love some spice but the phrase 'bundle of nerves' is just not it. Regardless, I did still enjoy this quick read.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you for the ARC.
Synopsis: Zoey is a 911 dispatcher. When she answers a call the person on the phone knows her name. Knows her secrets. Says they've taken a little girl, and the only way to ensure her safety is for Zoey to start revealing her secrets.
2.5 stars (rounded up)
Review: This book was a bit of a cluster. I really really wanted to enjoy this because I thought the premise was really interesting. Unfortunately, one of the biggest issues this book had was pacing. The beginning of the book is so front loaded with the phone calls and the secrets that the end of the book feels super slow. This book also suffers from the problem of smut for smut's sake when it didn't make sense for the plot or help the story along. It felt as though the author cared more about getting spice and smut into the story than developing the characters. Overall, this book had a really cool premise but suffered from poor execution, both too fast and too slow pacing, and too much focus on spice, not characters.
This book immediately captured my attention and I was so excited to read it. The beginning. Wow! A small town dispatcher escaping her past is confronted with it and must confess her deepest and dirtiest secrets. It was definitely an easy and enjoyable read, but I didn’t find it memorable. I wanted to love it, but it started to lose momentum half way through. Great twists, but the story line could be pulled together better. If you like a book that combines thriller and romance, I’d love to hear your opinion on this one!
This book immediately drew me in! The thought and planning that needed to go into this crime as well as the back story must have been EXTENSIVE. Redding is certainly a genius in that regard. In addition, the spice mixed into this psychological thriller was a pleasant surprise! Redding has a knack for constructing and detailing adult scenes as well as creating psychologically manipulative AND traumatized characters. I have mixed feelings about the ending though—part of me wishes I didn’t read the last chapter and part of me enjoys a final twist. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys psychological thrillers with a touch of spice!!
Her Every Secret will be released September 26th—mark your calendars!!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Rufous Press, and G.L. Redding for this advanced readers copy.
I did not like the plot much of this book. It was hard to get through and boring to read at times. The book overall felt flat. Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this arc!