The Bitter Truth is a gripping thriller that shows the lengths a woman will go to uncover the truth about the dark secrets her husband is hiding. Jolene Baker, aka Jo, is a devoted wife to her husband, Dominic, who is running for governor in North Carolina. Jo support for her husband is tested when they start encountering a mysterious woman on the campaign trail, and the tour starts experiencing mishaps and dangerous incidents. As Jo tries to figure out why Dominic seems to be paranoid and terrified, she decides to look into his past, which she has never questioned before. However, she uncovers a series of frightening events that turn her friends into enemies and reveal a horrifying truth that leads back to a mysterious lost weekend. Jo's world begins to crumble as she tries to piece together the puzzle and determine whether she should risk setting things right or hide the bitter truth at all cost. I have fallen in love with Shanora Williams, twisty thriller side! She skillfully weaves a tale of deception, betrayal, and the lengths a woman will go to protect the ones she loves. This is a great psychological thriller to keep you up and reading long past your bedtime!

If ever you needed a warning to not mess with a female this book is it. We have Dominic who is the it man and a political candidate though he like most in politics have a lot of dirty secrets. When suddenly he thinks the biggest secret is alive Dominic is sent in a spiral of trying to find out what is going on with this person from the past who should have been taken care of. Mean while his wife Jolene is aware something is going on but he will not tell her and so she is left wondering until everything comes crashing down.

There were lots of secrets in this book and also I thought there would be even more betrayal at the very end though I’m so happy there wasn’t and that the story ended the way it did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the eARC.

Shanora Williams is always one of my go to's for a quick, twisty read. This one required a bit of belief suspension, but that did not make me enjoy it any less. I really enjoyed the political atmosphere of this book too, so good.

3.5 stars. I always enjoy a thriller from Ms. Shanora Williams. It’s always a good time with tons of twists.

That damn Dominic was diabolical you hear me! I love how the women banded together to take down his trifiling behind.

This story good, however I feel needs an editor. The run on sentences made me cringe. All of the plot and twist I saw coming and I felt you had to suspend your disbelief a bit.

I enjoyed this from beginning to end and I will continue to read her thrillers!

Dominic Baker is running for reelection as governor of North Carolina. He is married to Jolene, a charismatic woman who helps charm his constituents. Dominic’s upbringing was not good as his mother was mentally ill and eventually committed suicide. Jolene, on the other hand, had a good upbringing in that her father was quite wealthy. He made sure she worked through college and learned to appreciate the money he would eventually leave her. However, her mother is a very narcissistic woman who causes Jolene grief.

A strange woman begins to show up at the political gatherings and says she makes tea, gifting some to Jolene who has a tea business. Dominic does not have a good feeling about this woman and seeing her often frightens him. Ah, but Dominic is also a serial cheater and one night with a young woman turns out to be more than he anticipated and now he is truly running scared. What has he done and can he get away with it?

This book is scary and violent at times. It focuses on someone that is very narcissistic which makes them a bad person. The literal meaning of the word “bitter” is sharp, acidic and harsh which describes this person perfectly. I was more intrigued by the first part of the book that set the stage for the awful things that were occurring. The second half revealed the secrets all of the characters had which made it not quite as intriguing as the first part. However, a compelling story that I’m sure readers will like. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was all over the place but I really enjoyed it. It had good character development and some good twists I didn’t see coming. Also this was a quick read. If you’re looking for action and thrills you will enjoy.

This book is a masterfully gripping psychological thriller that kept me engaged from beginning to end. Shanora has the ability to weave a tale of suspense, mystery, and raw emotion, centered around a protagonist whose life unravels as she uncovers shocking truths. The characters are deeply developed, with their complex motivations and intricate relationships adding a layer of intrigue to the story. The writing in this book is sharp, creating an atmosphere of tension and unease that keeps readers on edge. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it nearly impossible to predict what will happen next. Each chapter builds upon the last, escalating the stakes and deepening the mystery. The Bitter Truth delivers a thrilling and emotionally charged narrative that stays with you long after you've turned the last page. It's a competing read for anyone who loves a well-written thriller, filled with depth, intrigue, and heart-pounding moments. 10/10 I would recommend this absolute must-read book that is a testament to Shanora Williams' talent as a storyteller.

THE BITTER TRUTH will have you on the edge of your seat as you try to figure out the dark past of Dominic and all of the secrets that he carries. I was very interested to see who was sending him threatening letters and I was not disappointed. There are a lot of corrupt characters here, so make sure to read the trigger warnings that the author shares at the beginning of the book. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I liked all the twists and surprises throughout, I can definitely recommend buying a copy!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

OMG this book is deliciously good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is thriller gold and Shanora Williams is our queen bee!!!!!!

The Bitter Truth is a dark and twisted thriller that captivates with its intricate narrative and multifaceted characters. Governor Dominic Baker of North Carolina is vying for a second term, with his wife, Jolene, personifying the perfect politician’s spouse. Their seemingly blissful marriage is tested when an enigmatic woman presents them with a gift at a political rally …

Ms. Williams perfectly balances a domestic thriller against a political backdrop without delving excessively into politics. She focuses on themes of deceit, vengeance, and subtly, female empowerment. The story is filled with twists, shocking turns, along with malicious figures in power, making it easy to empathize with the female characters.

The tension and anticipation make for a riveting read, leaving readers yearning for justice and revenge.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

This is an amazingly twisted book. I don’t usually enjoy books that have political figures as the main characters but I loved Shanora’s other thrillers and knew I had to read this anyway. Every character in this book has secrets and when you think you have it all figured out, more twists pop up. I loved the overall message of the book. The most important thing to take away from this book is to make sure you have a friend like Shavonne and always be a Shavonne.

Rating: 4.5

Are you looking for a summer read that leaves you suspecting every character of some wrongdoing - read The Bitter Truth! This thriller had me turning the pages to find out who was stalking the governor and if his wife was innocent in it all.

Meet Dominic, the governor of North Carolina and his wife, First Lady Jolene. Together, in the public eye, they look like relationship goals. She is the supportive wife in his drive for public service. The public loves her even more than they love him. But as they navigate the complexities of public life and reelection, the shadows of their past actions loom large.

Jolene is also a heiress, but not a spoiled one. Her father ensured she knew what it meant to work and get an education with his loving guidance. On the other hand, her mother may have sowed some seeds of self-doubt and low self-esteem. Dominic had the opposite upbringing; he raised himself since his mother had severe mental problems that led to her death while he was still young. She had a substantial impact on his life. He had to work extremely hard to make it to college and believes he needs to be in control for his life to make sense.

Now that Dom is preparing for reelection, someone keeps leaving messages regarding his past that he thought was dealt with. This leaves him on edge. Jolene noticed Dom's behaviour and saw certain activities that made her question her trust in him. But who is this woman, Eden, who keeps appearing around Dominic? Hmmm....keep turning the page.

The twists and turns of the book kept me turning the pages!!! It's an addictive thriller read.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Page-turner, Twisted, Unpredictable

This book started pretty slow for me but after the mid point I started having whiplash with all the twists I didn’t see coming and the story got really exciting ! I also loved the friendships in this book 🩵 it’s always nice reading about good friends - we rarely get them in thrillers !

Jolene “Jo” Baker, the dedicated wife of North Carolina Governor Dominic Baker, finds her loyalty tested as their seemingly perfect life unravels. Shanora Williams blends suspense and rich character development, making readers question the true motives behind each character's actions.

The story's strength lies in its intricate plot and the relentless pace of the narrative. As Jo grapples with the ominous presence of a stalker and Dominic's inexplicable paranoia, the tension escalates, leading to a series of shocking revelations. There were several times when I went "ope! plot hole!" just to realize that it was all part of the plan.

Fans of high-stakes thrillers and complex characters will find "The Bitter Truth" a gripping read. The book's exploration of love, loyalty, and the lengths one will go to protect their image is both thought-provoking and entertaining. Shanora Williams has crafted a rich-people-behaving-badly drama that is sure to leave a lasting impression. How far would you go to protect your image? How far would you go to exact the perfect revenge? This book will make you wonder.

Thank you Shanora Williams, Kensington Publishing, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I enjoyed this book very much! The characters were well developed and the storyline kept me engaged the whole way through. I’d definitely recommend this book to others.

I liked this one. I enjoyed the scandal and mystery surrounding this story, but I struggled to connect with any of the characters. The pace and overall believability were tough at times too. I did like it and will recommend it on my platform :)

This book was really good, so many twists and turns and so many ups and downs from each character in this story. It will have you all over the place, but I couldn’t for a second put this book down. I kept wanting to know what was about to happen. This follows the Governor of NC, Dominic and he’s married to Jolene Baker. They seem like the perfect couple and everything seems perfect until all these secrets of Dominic’s start coming to light. This book had me on the edge of my seat.

Wow what a thriller I could not put this down. I love the dual POV and whatever I guessed was wrong, it certainly keeps you on your toes.

Politics, history, seduction, lies and truths which is it. This was written so well and the character development top notch.

I loved this one so much! From start to finish it was packed with drama, mystery and suspense. I read this one so quickly because I could not stop reading.
One thing I love about this author is that her thriller books always hook you right away. There's no slow or dull moments. There were so many twists and turns! I loved the multiple povs and different time lines. I highly recommend this one if you love a good drama filled thriller with a satisfying conclusion.