Sugar & Spice: Everything is not so nice!

Behind A Closed Door is a thriller with an original and intriguing plot.

When a married couple decides to spice up their sex life, they turn to an app called Sugar & Spice for help and get sucked into a world fueled by greed. Little do they know they are part of a bigger plot built on manipulation, lies, and murder.

Told from the POVs of Abby, Brendan, and Romeo, none are particularly likable, but all are interesting and bring something different to the narrative.

There are many layers to the plot. Once I thought I had a grasp on where I thought the storyline was headed, a twist would come, moving things in a different direction. Things start off spicy, but the spiciness settles down and eventually moves into thriller territory. There is plenty of action, drama, and suspense.

The pace was fast, but even so, there were times when the plot dragged, and I was ready for events to wrap up.

Behind A Closed Door is an entertaining thriller with a unique spin. Parts required me to suspend my disbelief, but because the plot was gripping and I was immersed in trying to figure out what in the world was going on, I didn’t mind too much. I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a little something different. Be warned, the beginning is spicy, and there is some explicit language and sex scenes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press in exchange for an honest review.

What a wild ride this book was. I flew through the pages like I haven’t since I read Fourth Monkey. I have so much respect and admiration for the twisted and genius mind of this author!

Every time I thought I had my mind wrapped around what was happening and could make a solid guess as to what would come, I was thrown for a loop with a new twist.

This book was such an interesting concept and really makes you rethink allowing apps and devices to have all of your personal information!

Definitely recommend this incredible read. It was my very first NetGalley ARC!

Wow! 5 stars!

JD Barker has a way of making books so easy to devour. I usually struggle with a mental block with any books over 320ish pages, but this year I read the whole 4M series and this one and they were some of my fastest reads.

Behind A Closed Door jumps right into the steamy (or the lack of steam) relationship of Abby and Brendan. Their therapist suggests an app, Sugar & Spice. At first it seems to be just what they need to jumpstart the flames, but the app slowly takes over more and more control. Suddenly they appear to be pawns in a much bigger game. But who are the players? Who is the puppet master? Who can be trusted?

At times it felt a little over the top, making me question how realistic certain parts really were. That didn’t subtract points from. That’s the whole point. Brendan and Abby didn’t question things as quickly as I did as a reader because the reality is we click “okay” “accept” never expecting our choices to turn deadly, so why would they have assumed that. We already live with a certain comfort level of our devices/apps/websites knowing almost everything about us.

I recommend you read this if you’ve enjoyed other JD Barker books, like a little sizzle and spice, danger, and want to read a well written thriller.

Thank you NetGalley, JD Barker and Hampton Creek Press for this ARC opportunity.

Publication date: May 13, 2024

Thank you netgalley and to the publishers for this arc copy. I wasn’t really sure when I clicked on this title. It seemed very interesting and nothing like what I’ve ever read before. Also this author is a first for me won’t be a last I gave it 4 stars only because I’m still not sure if I like the part after you find out what the sugar and spice app is all about . I didn’t hate it I’m just not sure if me myself liked it 100% yet but everything else in the book was great the things they had to do in the book and other people .can’t wait to read another book from this author

JD Barker is back and better than ever! In this twisty tale, we get a look into relationships, app culture, conspiracies, and more. There is so much behind this closed door. I encourage you to open it immediately and dive in. Just be sure to read the terms and conditions first.

ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed reading this book thank you for the opportunity. This is only my second book by this author, the first being A Caller’s Game. Behind A Closed Door reminded me of A Caller’s Game with the action it offered. I keep wanting to call it Sugar or Spice, so maybe it deserved a better title, something more catchy and unlike similar titles by other authors. If it wasn’t JD Barker and I saw just the title and cover I would not pick up this book. Also I don’t consider it Horror another thing that would prevent me from picking it up. It was a great read but I think I like reading the Author’s Note more than the book itself, and I think the note after the first book is what has actually made me a fan. So was it worth the wait? Yes, absolutely and I will look forward to the stock pile of new releases that may come. It’s nice to have discussion questions included too.

This is a well written story, but honestly I'm not surprised. Coming off the 4MK Series I had high expectations, but J.D. Barker did not disappoint! I never knew what was going to happen next, it was such a crazy entertaining ride from beginning to end!

Thank you to Netgalley, Hampton Creek Press and J.D. Barker for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date for Behind A Closed Door is May 13, 2024

BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR
by J.D. BARKER
Thanks to NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for the opportunity to read and review BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR.
I am sure I was on book four of a series. I just did not not what I read. Too often, sex is added as fillers or word counts, Just felt it was less .

This story really had me going for a while. At first, I wasn't sure what kind of story it was, after all it starts out with a couple who is trying to overcome an issue in their marriage. But then there are odd murders thrown in being done by a couple that randomly targets people? But it was the ending that blew me away! I thought, what the hell just happened?! Excellent job!

J. D. Barker does it again! His books are always captivating with "out there" plotlines, but they never fail to draw me in and keep me racing through the pages. This book starts with an app, a fun way to spice up your love life! From there it's a crazy ride with threads galore, that end up coming together in a satisfying manner. This is an author who has earned his place on my auto buy list. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

I love every book by JD Barker, but this one takes the cake. The plot is outrageous, but totally realistic. The twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time. If you're looking for a book to keep your heart racing and keep you up late at night reading one more chapter, this is it.

When a couple finds a card for a therapist underneath their windshield wiper and decide to take her advice and download a saucy little app that "Sugar & Spices" up their marriage all is well until of course it isn't. Because naturally the requests become crazier and crazier and well, the secrets, and you know...

J.D. Palmer does his thing again and I am there for it as always.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

One hell of a crazy ride! Being a fan of 4MK trilogy I am thankful to NetGalley for allowing to read this pre-release copy. A conniving thriller we starts off with ways to repairing a broken marriage and dives into relatable themes of how apps and internet on a whole have such a strong hold on our lives, particularly when it comes divulging our privacy.

Running a bit longer than I would have expected to, author J.D. Baker keeps every page engrossing and intense, with some sweet and hilarious moments peppered throughout to keep readers like myself completely involved till the last page.

Sugar & Spice, the latest frenzy of an app, has swept the globe like a whirlwind. However, for Abby and Brendan Hollander, diving into its world leads to a perilous game of life and death. As the app presents them with a series of increasingly forbidden tasks, they soon find themselves entangled in an intoxicating web of desire and brutality in this dark and sensually charged thriller.

Barker, the masterful and captivating writer, weaves a chilling tale that steadily builds, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. With a breathtaking twist at the end and a cliffhanger finale, his storytelling leaves us precariously hanging by our fingertips.

This narrative unfolds on multiple layers. We meet Abby and Brendan Hollander, our protagonists, along with their circle of friends. Yet, there are also Romeo and Juliet, who carry out the sinister deeds instructed by an unknown figure through a phone.

The complexity of this book surpassed my initial expectations. When all the pieces fall into place, epiphanies abound, and I couldn't help but acknowledge Barker's cunning and strategic craftsmanship. The story becomes a tantalizing puzzle, with suspense, intensity, and an abundance of twists. Each chapter concludes with a thrilling cliffhanger, keeping us firmly ensnared in the trainwreck of Brendan and Abby's lives. The plot is meticulously constructed, tighter than Barker's previous works, resulting in a sharper and more focused reading experience. The tension mounts relentlessly, making it action-packed, and deserving of a blockbuster film adaptation. This wild ride is undeniably entertaining.

The meticulous composition of this book and its unique storyline captured my attention. However, it dawned on me – perhaps we should read the terms and conditions before mindlessly accepting any app. But who really delves into that? We rarely take the time. Perhaps now, I'll think twice before downloading any app, no matter its purpose. What if, indeed?

In conclusion, this book is an unputdownable gem. I was thoroughly engrossed, unable to tear myself away. Congratulations in advance, as it undoubtedly possesses the potential to become a captivating movie.

I have just read Behind A Closed Door by Author J.D. Barker

WOW, Does J.D. Barker know to start off a book, and this one starts off fast and furious, and as always with the Author got my attention right away.

He is one of my favourite Authors and is an excellent storyteller.

This is to be a major motion picture soon, and I can see it really being written so.

The main characters Abby and Brendan Hollander and having some marital problems, and have gone to see a therapist.

The therapist has recommended that they download an app that will be of assistance to them.

This is when the story really takes off.

It is a story unlike any that you have read before, and covers a lot of topics, and the modern day connections to a computerized society and the use of APP’s

I really like J.D.. Barker’s writing, stories and books. He is creative beyond words.

However I did start to lose a bit of interest about 2/3rds in. However a very exceptional read

3.5 Stars


Thank You to Hampton Creek Press, NetGalley and the Author for my advanced copy to read and review.

This book was so good! It was intriguing and really drawed me in. I'll be reading more of this authors work.

This one is a little different from the author's previous books. Abby and Brendan Hollander have decided to see a therapist to work on some of the issues in their marriage. When their therapist suggested an app titled Sugar & Spice, they decided to give it a try. It will bring a little heat, sizzle, and steam back to their marriage. Things start interesting enough but soon the app is giving them more twisted and dangerous things to do. There are many layers to this story. We have our main characters - Abby and Brendan Hollander and their friends. But there is also Romeo and Juliet who are killing people that an unnamed person (on a phone) is instructing them to do so. There is a lot more at play in this book than I initially thought there was. When everything came together, I had several "aha" moments and thought very clever and well played, Barker, well played. It becomes a real puzzle you try to connect, it’s so suspenseful, intense, tense and naturally, twisty, twisty. I love the cliffhangers that many chapters finish on which certainly keeps me glued to the train wreck of Brendan and Abby‘s lives. It’s well plotted, it’s much tighter than some of his other novels, which makes a sharper and much more focused reading experience. It builds and builds, it’s absolutely action packed, and most certainly action movie worthy as it barrels and turns to a cracking end. it is definitely a wild train ride but it’s an entertaining one. I very much so enjoyed this one!

I loved the Fourth Monkey series, but this one didn’t quite do it for me. I wasn't personally a fan of the increased romance angle as it seemed to come at the cost of well developed and carefully thought out action. Still worth reading, but less of a memorable book that blended more into the rest of the genre for me.

Wow! what a unique and detailed storyline.
This book drew me immediately at the beginning.

It's different from what I usually read but that's one of the reasons why I requested an Arc for this book. We also need something different so that we don't get bored or lose interest in reading. This book is long but when I read the first sentence. I said "Oh! wait what?!" I'm not prepared haha. I just didn't expect that.

This book is very well written, such a unique storyline that caught my attention. But wait, should I read the terms and conditions first before accepting an app? Oh no! But seriously no one really reads that. Yeah, we don't usually read that. Maybe I'll think twice about downloading an app or whatever app it is. What if, right?

Overall this book was a page turner. I just couldn't put it down. Advance congratulations because it will be a movie/series.

“Thank you NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.”

Unlike any book I’ve ever read…in a good way

Once again we are brought into the lives of some really great characters, and some really really horrible ones. Abby and Brendan find themselves addicted to an app filled with innocent dares to spice up their marriage. As they become more addicted, the dares become not so innocent and in Barker fashion, all chaos ensues and you cannot stop reading.

I really enjoyed the majority of the book, but some parts were a little too unbelievable…I will not go into detail. Overall this was a solid 4/5 and I’m excited for what’s to come.

Thank you Mr. Barker for making words and sharing them with your people! And thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was so excited I didn’t have to wait until 2024 :)