his was my first reading from Ms Rijk and I do have to say, I would read novels by her again. The Godchild was a very easy read and I could not put it down. There were some parts of the novel towards the middle, but it picked up quickly. I absolutely love trying to figure out the twist in theses novels and Ms Rijk had me thinking one thing, but it was something completely different. During the Godchild I was kind of able to figure the story out, but not completely. I would recommend anyone who likes a mystery to give this novel a try and explore a new author if you hang already read novels by her!

The Godchild is another great read from Mirander Rijks. It had me hooked straight away and I just could not put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my ARC.

I’ve read most of Miranda Rijks books and have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I did find that this one was slightly preposterous in places - would you take in a child that you essentially had not met since they were a baby? As a teacher, I also found that some of the processes and procedures within the fictional school setting were a little unconventional. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book, just with a few tiny misgivings.

*ARC Review*

When Carina's goddaughter shows up at her doorstep after years of not having contact, things slowly start happening. Carina has a perfect life with her husband Don and three children, Tegan, Arthur and baby Ethan. Alicia, Carina's goddaughter shows up and ask for a place to stay, everyone seems to love her after a few days except for Tegan who has a feeling Alicia is hiding something. This book will definitely keep you on your toes and will not want let you put it down.

Thanks to author Miranda Rijks, Netgalley and Inkubator books for the opportunity to ARC read this book.

I could NOT put this book down once I started it. Once the twist stared to unfold my jaw was on the floor. If you are a fan of Freida McFadden I think that you should definitely give this book a try.

Perfect for book lovers that enjoy twists that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was an addicting, bingeable read I couldn't get enough of. I enjoyed every second. This was my first book by the author and I will definitely be picking up more reads by Miranda Riijks in the future. Carina and her husband Don have a quiet, normal life with their 3 children, Tegan, Arthur and Ethan. Carina is the headmistress at the private school Tegan and Arthur attend, while Don is a stay at home writer/dad who stays home with baby Ethan. One day, Alicia, shows up at their door, who is Carina's godchild. Immediately things start to go wrong for this family.
"They were just a normal family living normals lives. Then Alicia arrived"
This was a jaw dropper that I would definitely recommend.
Thank you netgalley and Inkubator books for the ARC.

Wow
What a book. This had me hooked pretty early on and I could not stop reading it. Ended up finishing it in on go and loving every minute.
I was skeptic to the plot in the beginning but it worked out so good and I did not expect anything that happens.

4,5⭐️

This book was an amazing read, from start to finish I loved everything about. All the twists and turns kept me guessing and I would highly recommend this book to everyone

The plot in this book was absolutely great. Fast paced, mind boggling and a another crazy villian made this book very entertaining. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for a review

“The Godchild” is another fast paced psychological thriller. I recently discovered Miranda Rijks and she has quickly become an auto-read author for me. If the book has her name on it, I'll read it. The story grabs your attention and refuses to let go until the final twist. Some parts of the plot are predictable for a seasoned thriller reader. Even if you sleuth out some of the story elements, Rijks injects enough surprises and twists to keep readers thoroughly engaged. The narrative unfolds through a dual timeline, weaving together past and present, adding layers of complexity to the storyline. "The Godchild" is a gripping, page-turning thriller that will satisfy thriller fans. If you love red herrings, secrets, lies, deception, drama, and twists, you’ll want to add this 4 star book to your list.

The Godchild is a fast-paced, twisty, rollercoaster of a book.
Carina opens the front door one day to a surprise - her seventeen year old goddaughter Alicia. Alicia's mother has died, and when she asks if she can stay with Carina and her family, she can't say no despite not having seen her for at least ten years and feels she owes it to her deceased friend. Alicia is the daughter Carina wishes she'd had with her brains and determination to succeed. But her husband, Don, and children Arthur and Tegan feel something is off about Alicia they just can't put their finger on what...
When Tegan gets accused of a crime, the family starts splitting at the seams, and Carina finds herself facing her dark past. Is Alicia set out to destroy her family, and if so, what will she have to do to stop her?
This was a mindblowing twisty read that flows between past and present-day. I did piece together some of the twists and ending, but it still contained a few shocks and red-herrings I didn't expect.

📱E-Book Review📱

The Godchild
Miranda Rijks

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I have to say that I'm building up quite a good collection of books by this author now and I've really enjoyed every one.
This is my favourite genre and although I do like to check out new authors' works - it's great to come back to those that you know you'll love!
When I spotted the name now, I know that it will be a great read and I'm on auto-buy...

I think in general, the writing style is consistent and so I went into this knowing what format to expect - this grabs you right from the start with an interesting mix of characters.

Alicia seems lovely and it's no wonder she's welcomed by her godmother after there mother had gone missing.
Given the title (and blurb) I obviously wasn't buying this and neither was Tegan (Carina's daughter)

Things then start to go wrong for the family, when Tegan is accused of a nasty crime and I was on high alert waiting to see Alicia slip from her perfect facade and reveal her real motives. I really felt for Tegan and hoped that she'd be able to clear her name before it was too late.

I love how the authoreaves is clues throughout the book as to where the plot will go, but then confuses theories with twists and turns and ultimately shocks us with an ending that we didn't see coming.
I knew roughly where this would end, but didn't put all the pieces together before the reveal.

This was another tense and fast-paced read which I raced through over the weekend. I'm already looking forward to my next one....

This is a new author to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed her book, The Godchild. When Carina's 17-year-old goddaughter, Alicia, shows up saying she has nowhere to go, Carina lets her stay "for a few days". A few days turn in to weeks and the family begins to spiral out of control. Is Alicia really who she says she is? Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

17-year old Alicia shows up on her godmother, Carina's, doorstep. Carina hasn't seen Alicia in well over a decade, but cannot turn her down. Carina invites Alicia to stay with her family - her husband, her 16-year old daughter, 14-year old son, a young baby. Alicia quickly fits in with the family. She is funny, outgoing, smart, and likeable. Carina is the head of an elite prep school, so she is able to help Alicia fit in and get a great education, Carina's daughter, Tegan, isn't so sure about Alicia, however. Something must be off...Alicia can't be that amazing, can she? And then, the unthinkable happens. Tegan is accused of a heinous crime. The "perfect" family shatters.

Before Carina can figure out what is going on in the present, she has to encounter her past - her college days with Alicia's mom. Does Carina's past have anything to do with what is going on now?

This book was just so predictable. It is still an okay read, but the predicability really took away from the suspense level. This book actually reminded me of a couple other books I have read in the past - one of which "The Family Guest" by Nelle Lamarr. I think this storyline is really overdone - a long last family member (or something similar) shows up to the door and the family lets she or he live with them. Fast forward, this person isn't who they said they are.- surprise! Strange things start happening - oh, surprise, it's the random person you let into your home!

Normally a big fan of Miranda's novels, but this one was just way too predictable for me. Still enjoyed it as I like her writing style and it was a quick read. I look forward to her next novel!

Thank you Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book kept me awake until the wee hours of the morning. I couldn't put it down. I didn't want to miss anything so I finally gave up and went to sleep, but picked it up first thing when I woke up.
Carina had not spoken to her college roommate, Gina in years. However, when this young woman shows up at her house claiming to be Gina's daughter, and her godchild, she could not turn her back on her. Alicia tells Carina and her family about the horrible life she has had with her mother growing up. Carina tells her husband Don they cannot turn Alicia away, she has no one and no where to go. So they bring her into their home. Carina helps her to get into the school where she is head teacher. Alicia seems to do well in school and settles into Carina's home. However, Teagan., Carina's daughter is not happy about sharing her room with Alicia. She doesn't trust her. Things start happening that will turn Carina's world upside down.
There are so many twists and turns to this story, I absolutely couldn't stop reading. Miranda Rijks does it again. Her books are always page turners and this one is no different. It will keep you reading until the shocking conclusion.

First, I want to thank MirandaRijks, Inkubator Books, and Zooloo Book Tours for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review. OMG Miranda Rijks’ s storylines keep getting better and better with each book she writes! In Fact, The Godchild is one of her best written and most creative writing pieces to date! The Godchild is unpredictable, intense, and totally shocking! Miranda jam packed so many powerful storylines with so many messages in The Godchild. It literally felt like I was reading three books into one. Infact, there are a few storylines that could possibly be turned into a sequel! There were so many aspects to the story that I questioned. Like who would show up unannounced saying they were your long lost Godchild and you have no idea where your Mom is? Carina is way more trusting than I would be welcoming a stranger in the home and letting them stay. I liked that Miranda jumps back to the past where we get to learn more about Carina and Gina when they were younger. Those two were total opposites in their way of thinking and mannerisms. Miranda out of nowhere throws us off the path and in come’s Teagan’s storyline. Even though I loved Teagan’s storyline I wondered how it intertwined with Alica’s storyline-if it did. The Godchild is an addicting, fast paced, intense read that is packed with a lot of good life messages.

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

Be careful who you let into your home...

Wowsers! This is so not what I was expecting. With a title such as this, I'm thinking something to do with a new baby (especially with that cover) and all that follows in such domestic thrillers. But no. The godchild is not a baby at all. Not even a child. But boy, she is something else!

Carina and her husband Don have been together since their university days and have three children - Tegan (16), Arthur (14) and baby Ethan (9 months). Carina is the head teacher at their local selective school at which her two children attend whilst hubby is a stay at home dad to Ethan working on his novel.

Then one day a knock at the door reveals Alicia, Carina's long lost godchild and daughter of her old uni friend Gina. After the scene she created at their wedding nearly two decades before, Carina has not set eyes on Gina since. And the news Alicia brings tells a familiar tale of woe that seems to follow Gina. Drugs, alcohol and who knows what or where Gina is now.

But Alicia arrives with her bags in tow and nowhere else to go so Carina begrudgingly invites her to stay, if not as a nod to her old friend. Don is not best pleased and neither is Carina's teenage daughter who finds herself having to share her room with Alicia.

And from there, everything seems to go downhill...especially for Tegan, who finds herself the subject of bullying. But it's not just that...mysterious things begin happening...and while the Ruff family's world begins to implode, Alicia is the only one who seems to be sitting pretty. But their bad luck just continues with the death of a student, bullying, drugs and secrets and lies in abundance.

Unfolding through the THEN and NOW format, this is another stellar read by Miranda that is indeed easily devoured in one sitting. Plenty of twists, plenty of red herrings and oh so many secrets, lies and deception. Despite some of its predictability, this is one compelling read that will still manage to shock you even if you can easily figure out much of what it going on.

I would like to thank #MirandaRijks, #Netgalley and #InkubatorBooks for an ARC of #TheGodchild in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Miranda Rijks has quickly become an author whose work I actively seek out at book stores and libraries. She is so creative and has a great ability to keep you glued to her stories. The Godchild was no different!

The Godchild is unhinged in the best, most entertaining way! When Carina’s estranged godchild comes to visit after years and years, her family begins to unravel. But, whose fault is it? Her godchild, her children, her husband, school students, co workers?! It’s a roller coaster of a ride getting to the finish line.

I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars because, although the plot was great and the story was fast-paced, I did feel that the twists were a little obvious and that can get frustrating at times for me.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator books for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC novel before its intended released date of March 31.

It's hard to review this book without giving too much away, so I will touch upon the themes in the book.

Responsibility
If you accept the responsibility of being a godparent, are you still responsible morally if you've lost ties with the child's parent? Carina definitely feels a moral responsibility, while her husband, Don, is not sure the family can support another mouth to feed with their one wage earner family. Her daughter Tegan would rather not have to share her bedroom with a stranger, Alicia, while Arthur is infatuated with her and baby Arthur loves the attention.

Work
If you are responsible for an entire school, where do you draw the line between work and family? Carina must face that question when everything converges at once, creating emergencies both at school, at home, and in her personal life.

Trust
Is there ever a time when you should believe a stranger over your own family? Carina is torn between Alicia, who appears to be good, smart and mature, and her own daughter and son whose behavior is less than exemplary.

Once again, Miranda Rijks has written a fast paced, engaging, and suspenseful novel!

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkubator Books, and Booksprout for an advance reader's copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of The Godchild by Miranda Rijks. This story has a dual timeline, the past and the present. It is a very suspenseful read. It was fast paced and kept me engaged. It is a drama thriller with some surprising twists and turns. This is my second book by this author and she did not disappoint. I would recommend this book to others. A 4 star rating from me.