I was left wanting more from this book. While there were some unexpected twists, especially towards the end, something felt off. The multiple POVs and different timelines didn’t mesh well for me. Overall, it’s a fun, light read that you can breeze through, but don’t expect it to be a mystery masterpiece.

Oooh, I loved this one! It kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. Sally Royer-Derr knows how to cook up a mystery, and she certainly knows how to keep her audience entertained and engaged with the story. Bravo!

The Forever Home
by Sally Royer-Derr
Pub Date: Jul 16 2024

The Forever Home by Author: Sally Royer-Derr is a psychological thriller told in two time lines that will keep you guessing and leave you utterly breathless. It alternates between the present and several years back when Aimee was a member of a commune. Full of twists and turns and much more. Lots of double crossings, surprises, and the ending was totally shocking. It was hard to put this book down! I highly recommend this one!

Synopsis: I can’t contain my smile as we open the white screen door and step into our new home. Building a life with my amazing new husband Archie in this historic farmhouse is my dream come true. This is where we’ll grow old together, and where I can finally forget about my past. Or is it? After years of running, someone has finally found me. My new home, our safe haven, has been threatened.

Many thanks to #TheForeverHome #NetGalley & #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.

It is the perfect home. It is everything that Aimee dreamt of with plenty of land to grow food. Her husband, Archie, will be teaching at the local elementary school. It seems everything has fallen into place perfectly for them. Nothing is truly perfect, as you will soon learn.

There are actually two "stories" taking place with a dual timeline. The present with Aimee and Archer, and the second is the year 2016 when Aimee (known as Sunny) lived on a commune with her boyfriend, Dream. Their names say it all, so you can well imagine what type of place this is. She has a bad experience that causes her to flee the commune and put the past where it belongs.

I was trying to piece together what her past has to do with her present. I understand that she is happy to be where she is today, but I kept wondering why the author was providing so much information about the past. I knew it was relevant, but boy oh boy I did not see what was coming to tie everything together with the mind-blowing conclusion that left me slack-jawed. So the beginning was a little slow. However, the ending more than made up for the slow start which is why I can gladly give this book five stars. Wow! I am still sitting here in complete shock.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for the book #TheForeverHome by #SallyRoyerDerr. Archie and Amy move into their dream home. Amy thinks she can out her past behind her until a photograph shows up. Who knows about her past and why are they doing this?

When Anne and her husband move into their new home the future looks bright but then mysterious things begin to happen around the house that scare Anne, leaving here wondering if it's linked to her past that she is trying desperately to put behind her. Then her newest friend is found dead from a peanut allergy but was it an accident or murder.
The story lulls you in to believing it's a cozy mystery and then the twists start. I was disappointed in the development of the characters but it was meant for the conclusion of the story. By the ending I found I ready for it to end.

The second book I have read this year by Sally Royer-Derr and again I enjoyed a fast paced thriller that was a quick read for me. Looking forward to more books from this author. Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Sue Watson book but it will not be my last. I loved that the story evolved around a remodeling project of Carly’s childhood home, which turned into a home improvement TV show (very timely).

What seems like a perfect life, however, is not so perfect. The story evolves into twists and turns and unexpected events. The backstories and character development got me “invested” but the plot twists and turns kept me up far too late reading.

This will not be my last Sue Watson novel. Check it out- you won’t regret it!!

#TheForeverHome #NetGalley
Brilliant.
It’s our fresh new start. If we live to enjoy it…
I can’t contain my smile as we open the white screen door and step into our new home. Building a life with my amazing new husband Archie in this historic farmhouse is my dream come true. This is where we’ll grow old together, and where I can finally forget about my past. Or is it? First, it’s a light left on in the attic, and music playing when no one is home. Next, a faded photograph of me on a hazy summer day long ago, delivered in an unmarked envelope. After years of running, someone has finally found me. My new home, our safe haven, has been threatened. The question now is, what am I going to do to protect it?
I enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for giving me an advance copy.

Looking for a twisted psychological thriller? Look no further. The Forever Home by Sally Royer-Derr is out for publication tomorrow, July 16, 2024 and should be one of your next reads!

Archie and Aimee just purchased their dream farmhouse home out in the country and have made incredible upgrades. Living on an expansive farm property is a dream for Aimee, and one in which Archie quickly becomes accustomed. Opportunities open for them such as a teaching position and self-owned business. Aimee and Archie are doing what they love in a new location, where they have effortlessly adapted. They each meet people they befriend, but mysterious occurrences surround Aimee and these new found friends.

I was hooked with the dual time lines within the novel. I had to keep reading, knocking chapter by chapter out of the way to try to figure out the connections and what was going to happen. The twists and turns leading up to end were certainly surprising and will not disappoint! This is my first book by this author. I have already put others from her on my Goodreads list.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Storm Publishing for the chance to review this novel. The Forever Home by Sally Royer-Derr is out for publication July 16, 2024. This is definitely a book to put on your list to read this month!

I would like thank Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Sally Royer-Derr for letting me read The Forever Home. The dual time line sets the mood for the whole story. If you are looking for a book of the unexpected then this is the book for you. Nothing is as expected or as it seems. This is a must read. I couldn't put it down.

5/5 ✨

What more could you want? A cult, multiple POVs, and multiple twists?

This is my first Royer-Derr title and will not be my last. I loved the overall story, the writing style, and how descriptive Sally is without being overbearing.

My favorite quote: “Danger is not in locations, it is inside people lurking and unpredictable when it may explode.” I feel like this one line sums up a LOT about each character in this book.

A twisty psychological thriller. Archie and Aimee move from the city to a small country town. Strange things from Aimee's past begin popping up in the house which terrifies her. This story also follows Sunny and Dream in a dual timeline multiple POV story that will have you on the edge of your seat.

"The Forever Home" by Sally Royer-Derr is a captivating blend of romance, mystery, and suspense that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The novel follows the journey of a woman looking to start anew with her husband, Archie, in a picturesque, historic farmhouse that promises a fresh beginning and a chance to leave her troubled past behind.

Royer-Derr's writing shines in her vivid descriptions of the farmhouse and the emotional depth she brings to the characters. The sense of warmth and hope as the couple steps into their new home is palpable, making the initial stages of their fresh start truly heartwarming. However, the author skillfully introduces a chilling undercurrent with subtle, eerie occurrences—a light left on in the attic, mysterious music playing, and an unmarked envelope containing a faded photograph of the protagonist. These elements inject a gripping tension into the narrative, making it hard to put the book down.

The protagonist's struggle to protect her new life and sanctuary from the shadows of her past is both relatable and compelling. Royer-Derr does an excellent job of balancing the internal conflict of the protagonist with the external threats, creating a multi-layered plot that keeps readers guessing.

However, while the suspense builds effectively, there are moments where the pacing slows down, and certain plot twists may feel a bit predictable for seasoned readers of the genre. Despite this, the emotional resonance of the protagonist's journey and the atmospheric tension more than make up for these minor shortcomings.

In conclusion, "The Forever Home" is a thrilling read that expertly combines elements of romance and suspense. Sally Royer-Derr has crafted a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever sought a new beginning while grappling with the ghosts of their past. It's a testament to the idea that while we can run from our history, we must also confront it to truly find peace. This book is a must-read for fans of domestic thrillers looking for a story that is both heartwarming and chilling.

Aimee and Archie move to a historic farmhouse, building an idyllic life with her new husband following a whirlwind romance.
Strange things start to happen, Aimee is worried her past is catching up with her.
The story is told in the present but also in 2016 when Aimee was living her life in
Listening Lark commune, what happened in her life that could possibly threaten her present.
The first 3/4 of the book was fairly slow but the twist was areal shock to me and I was hooked. Overall I would rate 3.5 🌟
Thank you NetGalley, Sally Royer-Derr and the Storm Publishing for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own.

I'm a bit on the fence about this one. It was very different to most of the other domestic noirs out there and I was certainly captivated. It's written over a dual timline from the pov of the main character who isn't the most likeable but fair enough. It's quite a slow burn but it felt like puzzle pieces were dropped in through the chapters and that's what kept me engaged to see how it all pieced together. I think the writing style was maybe what made me a bit disconnected but it was certainly well plotted out and executed. I think if you like character driven books then you'd love this

3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Sally Royer-Derr for this ARC and chance to give my honest opinion.

Aimee and her husband Archie are just moving to a new town to settle down. They've been married 1 year and are finally getting a place to call their own. They are expecting to meet with their realtor for their keys but a different realtor shows up to help them and informs them that their former realtor had been murdered 2 days prior. This is the first of strange things to start happening in their new town of Poplin. Followed by weird feelings, unexpected deaths, and numerous secrets and lies.
At the same time the storyline looks back on Aimee's previous life living in a commune and going by the name Sunny. These parts are told in the point of view of her former lover, Dream. Could her past be coming back to haunt her?

The last 30% of this book was very fast-paced and well-written. I enjoyed the big reveals of their secrets and pasts. I really liked the snippets of the past on the commune. It was something different and unique. It gave off Midsommer vibes. It was an easy read, not overly complicated.
I felt like the beginning was very slow - nothing super drawing in until about 60-70% in. None of the characters drew me in enough to be invested in their story/perspective. I would have liked to see the drama spread out more from the beginning of the story rather than all at once at the end.
Overall a good read I did enjoy.

This is one of those books you have to read in a single sitting. I had to know what happened and I wasn't disappointed with the story telling. Its hard to say too much without giving anything away.

Weaving together different time periods through different chapters isn't usually something I enjoy, but Sally Royer-Derr does it very well. The changing times weave together a story filled with different bits of a puzzle that didn't fit together, it was that disconnect that kept me going to see how it worked out. It was a little frustrating and I do generally prefer a linear story, but I stuck with this one because it seemed unlikely to fit - I just had to know.

The characters were great, well set to their time and their setting. As the two time frames are two different worlds the characters are very different which helps stop the bleeding between the time frames. And then there's Aimee, I really didn't like the lead character and maybe that was the point given everything that happened. However, I found Aimee to be very unlikable and boringly flat which did detract from the story for me. The secondary characters did help make up for her.

Overall a great, quick read that will keep you guessing and second guessing all the way to the wrap up. Grab this book for a twisty tale.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great read, I was hooked right away. I loved how the plot developed through building up the pace, suspense and tension as we find out dark secrets.

4 stars

I can say for certain that I really enjoyed this book. It's a trope that I haven't come across a lot and it made it very unique. Sally's writing really appealed to me, it was simple and fast paced which I love.

There's not much I can say about the plot without giving it away, but it sure is one fun ride. We follow two timelines. One being Aimee's past and one being the present. All the characters are easy to follow.

There's more and more hints within each chapter, so it's almost like dangling a carrot in front of a rabbit and leading it where you want it. Sally used her creativity to keep the pages turning, but didn't reveal too much until it was appropriate. I think this book was very well written and deserves praise. I definitely recommend it to lovers of psychological thrillers.