
Member Reviews

The Bitter Truth is a Page Turning, Captivating read. Jo and Dominic are One Powerful Couple and their Story is going to be Imprinted in your minds.
It's a Gripping, thrilling tale which pulls you in from the first page and you will keep on turning the pages. Highly Recommend it to all readers.

Another winner for Shanora Williams! This political thriller is ripe with deceit, lies and a bit of misogyny. Even though there is a bit to dislike in most of the characters, there are some that are definitely worse than others.
The main character, Jolene is wife to Dominic, the governor of North Carolina and the "king of deception." Everyone views them as a beloved power couple but they are anything but beloved. Their marriage has become more of a business transaction than a passionate romance and it feels like it may break her. When things start to surface which make her truly doubt Dominic's honesty and trustworthiness, The more she digs into his lies and deceptions, the more she knows she has to protect herself.
I really loved the twists and turns that this book took. This author can really write some good ones. Readers should be aware that it does have some difficult material to read and the trigger warnings shouldn't be taken lightly. Yet it is all intrinsic to the storyline. When one gets to the end of the book and looks back at the story as a whole, it is amazing to see how well designed this story was. I won't tell more details of the storyline because I don't want to ruin anything.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

This is my first Shanora Williams book, and wow—what a wild and emotional ride! The
beginning started off slow, but once the story picked up, it was unstoppable. The plot is packed with unexpected twists and turns, making it nearly impossible to predict what will happen next. Each twist escalated the tension, keeping me up all night trying to figure it out. The main male character made me so mad, and the secrets, lies, deceit, and drama sent me on an emotional rollercoaster. This book is a must-read. Great work, Shanora!
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read my first Shanora Williams book last year and I was hooked. She has a great (although twisted :) at times) mind. This political thriller was filled with twists and turns. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and just when I thought I knew what was going on…bam another twist. Definitely can’t wait for her upcoming releases.

DNF at 45%. I am always drawn in by a political thriller and thought this sounded great. However the execution didn’t work for me. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free book to review.

Shanora has done it again!
Many people show their representative, their mask to the world. That is what Dominic does. Well, he has to, in order to win the election. Dominic appears to be the perfect husband to his perfect wife, Jolene. Jolene learns Dom isn't who she thought he was, as his past actions
catch up with him. However, Dominic learns his wife isn't exactly who he thought she was, either.
The Bitter Truth took me on a wild ride. When I thought I knew what was going to happen, the plot took a different, thrilling turn. I enjoyed all of the twists and the ending.

Jolene and Dominic are a political couple. He is the governor of North Carolina and running for re-election when he begins getting threats related to his shady past. The story is told from three points of view. It has surprise twists and turns. It is an interesting story.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.
****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

I really enjoy Shanora Williams’ writing style! How you get the different character perspectives of situations. I can truly say that there were a few predictable instances, but the ending got me. It was one of those surprise after surprise books. I enjoyed this one!

Thrills, drama, deception, this book has it all!
Shanora never disappoints and The Bitter Truth was no exception. Dominic and Jolene were the picture perfect couple unless you looked closer and noticed the cracks.
This book took us on a journey into Dom's past and showed us Brynn, the high school sweetheart and mystery woman in Dom's life. I liked how Jolene, the FMC wasn't a complete pushover and had a backbone.
Dom was foul, crooked and just like most politicians, just sad, miserable and no good.
Definitely recommend for a good suspense read!

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.